Aiptek MPVR-3 Flash Media Camcorder

If you want more than this for the same money, I think you're being unreasonably greedy. (NOTE- MOST of the AIPTEK Camcorder models are VERY similar - this review should apply to several of them.)

OK, it doesn't wash dishes or clean the garage. But there doesn't seem to be much more this unit can't do. And while you won't be shooting a movie to project on a 7 foot HD screen in your home theater, chances are you'll more be often pleasantly surprised by this unit than you'll be disappointed by it. It's the Swiss Army knife of electronics, and a cheap little Chinese-made product that actually makes you feel like you're getting what you paid for.

I STRONGLY recommend this for pre-teens and teens who want a video and/or still camera because it's so tough and versatile - they get an MP3 player in the bargain! No real reason an adult shouldn't or wouldn't enjoy it either.

This is a small unit, as wide and thick as a pack of cigarettes, and about 3/4" taller. It weighs just under 6 oz. That's six first class letters.

The unit operates as a still camera, digital video recorder, voice recorder and MP3 recorder and player. Oh, and you can connect to virtually any media player's RCA outlets using the provided cable (or to RCA outlet adapters on a mini plug or ?" plug adapter) and record from them onto the AIPTEK unit.

I purchased this unit as a replacement for an earlier model that we gave to one of my pre-teens two years ago. That one became such a constant companion for her that the whole family was a little crushed when it was destroyed in a very hairy skate board crash. Having started out treating it like it would never sustain minor jostling in a heavily padded case, in two years it had earned a reputation for being able to sustain virtually anything. But given the road rash and fairly severe injuries the user sustained in that skate board crash, it seemed eminently fair that slamming the digital recorder to the asphalt finally killed it.

The new unit includes some wise upgrades from the earlier model, including a long-lasting Li-ion rechargeable battery, instead of running through a pair AA batteries every hour or so. The rechargeable battery IS replaceable, or perhaps I'm the only one who hates learning a rechargeable battery that eventually dies out in an electronic product is the manufacturer's way of letting you know they consider it to be a "disposable" product.

The estimates on battery life are about an hour and fifteen minutes of constant video recording, or 3 hours (180 shots) of 3MB stills.

OK, so what's so cool about this thing, other than the many tasks it can handle, and the rechargeable battery? For starters, the video recorder feature includes an image stabilizer. There's also a "night shot" feature for low-light/no-light video recording. And, of course, there's also a light for shooting in dark rooms or at night. You DID notice the unit goes for about $125, right?

Now, to that purchase price, you DO have add the expense of purchasing an SD card. A 1GB card will allow you to record and store up to 240 minutes of video, or 1,200 still photos (those are based on the lowest resolution). We use a 512 MB card, which perhaps obviously halves the storage capability spelled out previously, and it has always been more than enough before making it to a computer to download.

The maximum SD card it can handle is 4GB, which stores up to 960 minutes of video and 4800 still shots.

The unit produces 720x480 30fps MPEG and MPEG 4 files that are easily downloaded to a PC, with or without the software that's included. After connecting with the included 2.0 USB cable, you can open and view or copy the files with standard Windows and Mac file explorers. In video it can shot D1, VGA or QVGA. You can also chose between display and capture options of a 16:9 screen or 4:3 (wide screen or regular, for those who don't know).

The viewfinder is the 2.4" color display screen that folds out and rotates . The user also selects the function in use from a menu presented on that same screen. Unlike the screens I have on some substantially more expensive cameras, I can actually see this one in bright light.

This screen is also used to review index copies (thumbnails) of the still/video files already stored.

OK, how about the digital camera function? Oh, just a 8 mega pixel shot that allows you to store 560 shots on the 1GB SD card! But you can set it for two lower resolution settings, 5MB and 3MB. Again, remember, this camera/recorder/player costs $125! The 5 MB and 8 MB shots are far superior to most of the now ubiquitous cell phone cameras, and 8 MB exceeds or matches the size an sharpness of the shots taken by many still cameras that cost 2,3 and 4 times as much. And THOSE cameras don't play MP3s, or record an hour of video.

Of course, given that price there is no optical zoom, but there's a 4x digital zoom available for video or still. But there is a macro lens for extreme close-up, both in video and still shots. There is a strobe flash, though using it will consume the battery faster and reduce the shot counts noted above.

The still shots are also easily downloaded to a computer, or to anything else with a USB port.

The MP3 and voice recorder functions are self-explanatory.

Included with the unit is a software CD that handles downloading and organizing stills and video, and some rudimentary editing software. (But as mentioned previously, Windows and MAC software will recognize it as another USB storage device, too.) There is also a decent-quality pair of ear phones and, I still don't get this, a remote control! (Did I mention this unit costs about $125?)

The remote controls all of the functions and all of each function's features, so you can start and stop recording, zoom, play, pause, rewind, skip tracks, etc., and switch from one function to another.

Because this unit can also record from other media, my daughter has been able to watch a show she recorded (listening through headphones) while we were on a plane, then used to video and camera functions when we arrived at the vacation destination. And at night she'd listen to the music she recorded before leaving.

All of the controls and menus are relatively simple, though I'm not wild about the tiny button "joystick" that offers faster access to a couple of features such as the flash, and serves as a pointer to move through menu items/options.

There are some minor bells and whistles. For example, the video can be set for standard color, B/W or sepia toned. For still shots, 20 "frames" are offered, a standard array of artwork to surround your shots. The default setting for these is "off," so you don't get stuck with the "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" frames if a week later you're taking pictures at a wake.

Finally, there's a wrist strap, and a female port for connecting to tripods.

I've seen these all over the place on line, but also at outlets like Target and similar department stores. The prices seems to vary by $5-$10.