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Vivitar DVR794HD Action Cam: You get what you pay for
Like many TUAW readers, I'm one of those people who has been drooling over the GoPro Hero4 Black action camera since it was recently released. But at US$500, it's a bit on the high side for someone who doesn't actually engage in a lot of activities that would would benefit from the high definition video - I don't skydive or scuba dive, and I'm not a snow or skateboarder. So I was fascinated to hear about a much less expensive Wi-Fi enabled action camera from Vivitar - the DVR794HD (US$99, £75.99), and quite happy when the venerable camera and accessory manufacturer offered to send a review unit, even when it's not available yet in the US. Read along to see how the DVR794HD works (or doesn't...) in the Apple ecosystem. As with most of the action camera genre, the DVR794HD is tiny - just 2.44 x 1.57 x 1.26 inches (62 x 40 x 32 mm). With the battery installed, the bare camera weighs just 2.8 ounces (79.4 grams). It wouldn't be an action camera without being waterproof, so Vivitar ships it with a clear plastic waterproof housing. There's also a helmet mount for capturing your skydives and heliskiing, and a handlebar mount for those times where you're racing through the pines on your mountain bike. They don't include one necessity - the MicroSD card that photos and videos are stored on. However, those are really quite inexpensive, with a 64 GB Class 10 MicroSD card selling now for as little as $25 online. Setting up the camera is simple and fast; you just pop the included battery pack into the back of the unit, plug the camera in until a small blue LED goes out, and then you're ready for action. The waterproof case goes on easily, with a nice snap-on lock that keeps it securely shut. That case is good to 30 meters (about 100 feet), so it shouldn't have any issues with taking a dip in a swimming pool or going snorkeling. Of course, the point of cameras like this is that they're supposed to shoot incredible video through a wide-angle lens. The DVR794HD uses a fixed focus 2.9 mm lens at F3.1, so it certainly fits the bill there. The controls are fairly simple. On one side are a power button and a button for linking to the camera from your iOS device using Wi-Fi and the free Action Cam app. On top is a button to toggle between video and still photography, and also to start and stop video or take a still photo. The only display on the camera is a tiny LCD display that is almost worthless. It shows if the camera has turned on or is turning off, and has almost microscopically small icons to denote video/photo mode, battery capacity, and the remaining duration for the camera while filming. According to the app, at 64 GB microSD card should give me 11 hours and 3 minutes of filming capacity (although the battery won't last that long), but the display just showed 1:03. By the way, on the other side of the camera is the microSD card slot, a port for an external microphone, a micro-USB port for charging, and an HDMI port for viewing your output directly from the device. To power on the DVR794HD, you long-press on the power button. By long-pres, I mean about five seconds. A barely audible beep tells you that the camera is turned on, and the LCD shows "On". To link to the camera via Wi-Fi, you press the Wi-Fi button and it begins to blink on and off. Selecting the camera (ActioncamXXXXXXX) in Wi-Fi settings makes the Wi-Fi light go to a steady red glow. One interesting bug - being connected to the DVR794HD Wi-Fi, my iPhone 6 Plus didn't show the usual Wi-Fi icon. However, opening the free Action Cam app showed a connection to the camera. Tapping on the button, I immediately received an image from the camera showing me what it was seeing. At the bottom of the screen are a toggle for video or photo mode, a large red record button, a time-remaining indicator, and some buttons to set rudimentary white balance and resolution settings. I found the software to be relatively useless; yes, the app can be used as a remote control, but the Wi-Fi connection dropped out on a regular basis. About the only thing it would be useful for is setting the resolution, as the manual method of doing that involves pushing the power/mode button repeated times to bring up those miniscule icons on the LCD. When Wi-Fi was turned on and actually working properly, the battery indicator on the camera would sometimes show a drained battery, even when it had just been charged. My suggestion? Don't use the Wi-Fi. There's just no point to it with the poor iOS app and connectivity issues. About this point, I started seeing a number of other issues with the camera and the app. On occasion, the camera would totally lock up to the point that the battery pack had to be removed in order to reset everything. Sometimes the device would simply shut itself off. I would assume that it's an auto power saving mode, but there's no way to set the auto power-off time. So the iOS app is pretty worthless, how about Mac software, AKA "The Vivitar Mobile Experience"? Well, the brilliant minds at Vivitar included an installation CD, which shows just how out of touch they are with the world of Apple. Most Macs haven't come with optical drives for years, and none of them can read the "mini-CD" that was included. A look at the Vivitar website was relatively useless as well - it doesn't even show the DVR794HD as a current model, and there's no software to be found in the scanty online support section. Even Google couldn't help, as most of the links to the Vivitar Experience Image Manager software for Mac actually went to Windows downloaders or to sites that were so questionable there was no way I was going to download anything from them. The app is available for iPad, but I chose not to download it just out of spite at this point. Fortunately, there was a way to get the photos off of the camera - the microSD card had an adapter that could be used with my Mac. How does the DVR794HD stack up? To start with, all images - video or still - are going to be wildly distorted by the wide angle lens. That's understandable, since you're going to be using this device on a helmet or bike to get action videos, right? Still images on this camera are taken at 4000 x 3000 pixel resolution - a 12 MP image. iPhone 6 Plus images are done at 3264 x 2448 resolution, about 8 MP images. Resolution isn't a guarantee of good photos. The DVR794HD images were grainy, colors were off, and the shutter speeds were so slow in some cases that handheld images were blurred. Here are segments of two images (scaled to fit the page, of course) of the same subject under identical lighting. First, the DVR794HD: Now the iPhone 6 Plus: Despite all of those extra pixels, the DVR794HD photo looks like something I shot with my first camera phone in the early 2000s. What about the video? The following two short clips are taken from the same spot under similar lighting conditions. First, the DVR794HD: Next, the iPhone 6 Plus: Sure, the iPhone 6 Plus is not an "action cam". But as a video camera it's much, much better. There's less distortion, the iPhone 6 Plus handles changes in light intensity much quicker, and the colors are much more authentic compared to what was seen with the DVR794HD. Conclusion I've already wasted enough time, both mine and yours, reviewing this product. The Vivitar DVR794HD is yet another example of "You get what you pay for", and the $99 price tag on this action camera should not be an enticement to anyone to buy this, unless you want a digital lump of coal to put into someone's Christmas stocking. Between poor image quality, bad Wi-Fi connectivity, an iOS app that has very limited utility even when Wi-Fi is working, a truly nonexistent Mac app, a tendency to lock up and/or shut down unexpectedly, and an on-device display that practically requires a magnifying glass to make any sense of, I cannot recommend the DVR794HD, even when it does finally make it to American shores. I'll give it a half-star just for having bike and helmet mounts and an infrared remote, and because that waterproof case is kinda cool. But if you really want to shoot action video, get a GoPro and forget this Vivitar product. For $30 more, you can get the entry-level GoPro Hero and I can guarantee you'll much happier, even without Wi-Fi. Rating: One-half star out of four stars possible
Hands-on with Vivitar's kid-friendly Camelio tablet
In addition to announcing availability for the XO tablet, Vivitar is outing the new 7-inch Camelio slate at CES. Like the XO, it has a family-friendly bent, with optional $20-$30 "personality kits" that customize the user experience with themes like Thomas the Tank Engine. Vivitar had the slate on hand -- and even provided approximate pricing and availability info -- but it's mum on specs for the moment, as it still considers this device to be in the prototype phase. About that MSRP: it will be about $129, with a release date in late spring. We spent a few minutes playing with the Camelio, and though there were no pre-loaded kiddie apps or personality kits to play with, it's clear that this device is made for the younger set. The slate isn't incredibly thin, but its rounded edges and textured backing make for a grippable design that looks ready to withstand a few drops. The 7-inch screen doesn't dazzle with bright images; we'd guess the resolution is a standard 1,024 x 600. When the device ships, expect it to run Android 4.2. At least on the version we saw today, there's not as much of a personalized skin as you'd expect with a child-friendly tablet. That's likely because most of the customization comes via the optional theme kits. Each of those kits includes a case for the tablet along with a code that unlocks wallpapers, widgets and other branded content. Along the edges are the standard volume toggle, power button and headphone jack, along with a microSD card slot and a micro-USB port. This is a WiFi-enabled device, and Vivitar said battery life is rated for seven to nine hours. Check out our hands-on gallery, and check back for a video soon.
Polaroid cameras back from the dead (again) after deal with Vivitar-owner Sakar
Polaroid's heart stopped beating a long time ago, but its brand has marched on in a number of zombified licensing agreements and celebrity hook-ups. The latest of those deals, however, might just have a glimmer of soul in its bugged-out eyes: Sakar International, the long-time owner of Vivitar, has acquired the rights to develop a "line of Polaroid-branded digital still cameras and digital video products" for sale in North America and parts of Latin America. The press release after the break gives no clue as to what might make these new Polaroids different or special, but hopefully someone is about to give that some thought.
Vivitar DVR 790HD puts 3D video recording in the palm of your hand for under $100
Sure, you could get yourself a 3D-capable phone to handle your three-dimensional recording needs, though with all the new svelte superphones coming out, we can understand why you wouldn't want to. But, just because your phone can't satisfy your need for 3D, that doesn't mean you have to go without. Vivitar, favorite of cost-conscious cinematographers everywhere, has unleashed its DVR 790HD 3D camcorder with 16MB of built-in memory and a 5.1 megapixel fixed-focus shooter. It records video in three dee and 720p at 25fps, and stores all your gift-giving triumphs and gift-receiving disappointments on SD cards (not included) up to 32GB in size. The price? A mere $99, which leaves you plenty of leftover dough for your holiday shopping -- sure, it's the thought that counts, but we bet your significant other thinks diamonds are far more thoughtful than cubic zirconia.
Vivitar rolls out 690 HD camcorder: waterproof, 720p, $60
Vivitar may have bad-mouthed newfangled digital cameras last year, but that hasn't stopped it from selling them. The company's latest is the 690 HD, a compact, Flip-like camcorder that records 720p video and is rated for use up to ten feet underwater. You'll also get an SD card slot for storage and a 2-inch LCD 'round back, but you'll have to make do without other niceties like an optical zoom or HDMI port -- compromises that shouldn't be too hard to take considering the $60 price tag.
Vivitar's new full frame 35mm film camera
You hear a lot lately about bringing high-end DSLR functionality to the consumer, mostly thanks to the wild new world of Micro Four Thirds, but Vivitar is really breaking the price barrier with its new $10 point and shoot. The camera shoots to full frame 35mm film (there's even a 24 shot roll included, roughly equivalent to 512MB), and yet its single button operation and automatic motorized advance should make the high-end shooter accessible to the novice photogs among us. Of course, a built-in flash and auto focus will appeal to the feature hungry enthusiasts as well. The best news? If you buy one of these today, you can actually get a second camera and second roll of film for free! [Thanks, Michelle]
Vivitar goes retro with new ViviCam 8027
Vivitar is hardly the only camera manufacturer to go back to its roots with some of its digital offerings, but that's hardly a trend we're going to complain about, especially when the cameras in question are such a marked improved over the company's standard fare. Of course, there's a decidedly less substantial difference once you move beyond the appearance, with this new ViviCam 8027 packing the same 8 megapixels, 3x optical zoom, and 2.4-inch LCD as its blander 8025 counterpart, plus the usual anti-shake measures, a basic movie mode, red eye reduction, and a rechargable lithium ion battery. No word on a price just yet, but it looks like you'll be able to snag this one in your choice of black or yellow in addition to the red.[Via Chip Chick]
Sakar kicks out new Vivitar cameras, DSLR lenses
Vivitar may not have quite the same fervent fan following as some other camera manufacturers, but it looks like parent company Sakar is doing its best to keep things as Vivitar-y as possible at CES, with it rolling out a trio of new cameras and a few other goodies. Those include the 8.1 megapixel Vivitar V8400P underwater camera, which packs a 2.4-inch LCD and will run you $130, the $250 Vivitar DVR840XHD camcorder, which sports a 5x optical zoom, a 3-inch LCD, and some basic media-player functionality, and the barebones Vivitar V8025 (pictured above), which boasts the same 8-megapixel resolution as the underwater cam, plus a touchscreen and an even cheaper $100 price tag. Those that have moved beyond point-and-shoots will also soon be able to pick up a number of new Vivitar Series 1 DSLR lenses, which'll range in price from $150 to $400, and anyone looking for yet another universal charger will be able to grab Vivitar's $50 Ultimate Smart LCD Charger, which promises to charge a whole host of devices and, apparently, comes equipped with an LCD.
Vivitar's pocket-friendly DVR565HD camcorder does high-definition
Regrettably, there's not a whole lot of deets on Vivitar's latest camcorder just yet, but we do know that this ultra-compact unit will log clips in beautiful 720p. The DVR565HD is said to capture in H.264 / MPEG-4 at 30fps, while it can pipe that video back out in 1080i via the HDMI output. Also of note, it should be available in black and silver motifs, and while the 3-inch flip-out LCD monitor is a nice touch, the apparent inability for it to accept anything more capacious than a 4GB SD card is somewhat disappointing. Then again, it is rocking the Vivitar logo, and if history tells any story whatsoever, we'd bet this one comes in well under most budgets.[Via Slashgear]
Vivitar rolls out flurry of point-and-shoot ViviCam digicams
Although Vivitar spent most of its time boasting about the underwater shooting abilities of its 6200W at PMA, the firm apparently had a flurry of additional digicams awaiting release too. While none of the remaining launches tout any truly distinct features, the ViviCam X625, 6385u, 7388s, and DVR530 span between five- and ten-megapixels, and all manage to do an excellent job in fitting in with every other middle-of-the-road shooter already out there. The 7388s touts a seven-megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, three-inch LCD, and MP3 playback, while the 6385u features just six-megapixels but comes in an ultrathin metallic enclosure in six different colors. The X625 ups the ante to ten-megapixels, offers a fairly respectable 6x optical zoom, and a nifty "retro" pop-up flash to boot. The five-megapixel DVR530, as the name implies, focuses on capturing 640 x 480 video at 30fps, and makes playing back video on TVs a sinch with the built-in video output. No word just yet concerning price or availability, but considering the lackluster packages found on most of these, bargain hunters should keep an eye out.
Vivitar ViviCam 6200W handles underwater shooting
It was just about this time last year that Vivitar snuck out of the woodwork to unveil a few ho hum shooters at PMA 2006, and now the firm is making a literal splash with its 6200W at this year's event. Deemed one of the company's first offerings since the recent acquisition by Syntax-Brillian, the six-megapixel compact touts underwater shooting abilities (up to ten meters), a practically worthless 4x digital zoom, SD card support up to 1GB in capacity, 16MB of built-in storage, PictBridge support, and a two-inch color LTPS display. Wrapped in "rubber armor," this rugged beast should take the abusive conditions of YMCA pools and oceanside fun with ease, but considering there's a complete lack of a flash onboard, we'd suggest snapping your photos whilst barely submerged. While there doesn't look to be a hard release date set just yet, it should reportedly hit shelves for around $233 whenever it lands.[Via TGDaily]