Vivitar Minicam 4.0

After three weeks ownership, I can summarize this... euh camera/video thingy as ... read on...

The controls are relativly easy to learn but read the instructions first. Three (on/off, zoom/film and photograph) buttons let you take pictures, videos or record sound. A second group of three buttons on the flip out screen combined with the zoom button let you adjust resolution, image size, EV and white balance. A final little knob lets you adjust the lense for "macro" or infinity settings.

Focus and exposure are automatic... neither work very well but after a while one can adjust for some shortcomings... fool the auto system.

Still photography at MAX resolution gives results equivalent to a miniature camera costing 20$. Videos resemble Security Camera videos of a tobacco store hold-up... almost, but worse.

Small size,
2" screen.

The lense: I have obtained better optics out of a cereal box. The lense on this thing could be used to demonstrate every optical fault possible. Resolution is horrible, flare and color distortion are off the scale. Shutter speeds are so slow that included tripod is a must to obtain anything resembling an image. Video is laughable. The price is outrageous for this quality and the token 16meg SM card included of little use. (I bought a 1-Gig card... 512 meg is a minimum (Add 60$)

I am a professional photographer (retired) and rarely have I seen such "Crap".

Radio Shack "Spy Camera" (19,95$)

Needless. Give this thing to your two year old.