Aiptek A-HD 720P 8MP CMOS High Definition Camcorder (Silver)
by Aiptek Inc.
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List Price: Our Price: $83.99 You Save: $116.00 (58%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Aiptek A-HD 720P 8MP CMOS High Definition Camcorder (Silver)
Customer Review: Great buy
Summary: 4 Stars
The headline pretty much says it all. I originally bought the camera, along with a 4 GB memory card, for $160. It turns out it was well-spent cash.
For non-professional and personal use, the camera does pretty much everything you could ask for. It shoots quality video in three different size versions. All files are digitally recorded on the memory card and there is no tape.
The "Web" mode shoots video designed for upload to YouTube and is a smaller format, allowing you to easily e-mail the file. The "DVD" version is pretty comparable to that quality, but is a bit larger. The third format is High Definition, which is designed for viewing on HD TVs. When looking at this video on the computer, there isn't too much of a difference from the DVD quality, but the file is huge.
The camera boots up quickly and holds a battery charge for roughly an hour when in video mode. The flip-out LCD screen rotates so you can actually shoot video of yourself. I've actually self-produced several news standups in DVD mode that were usable for television, although the audio was not very good because the camera lacks a microphone input.
Perhaps the best thing about this camera is its ease of use. The camera has several different modes: Video camera, still camera, my files and an options menu. All video and photos shot are available in the "my files" mode. The auto white balance works well, but I still prefer to do so manually (it only takes a second).
This is not to say the camera doesn't have limitations. As mentioned, though audio quality with the built-in microphone is good, it does not have a port to plug in an external mic. Another complaint is that there is no manual focus. Users must rely on the automatic focus, which is often poor in low light conditions. On that note, the camera tends to have trouble adjusting its iris and overexposes when there is a mostly dark shot with one or two hot spots (ex: sunlight coming in through a window). The camera shoots its best video in moderate lighting conditions.
Overall, I enthusiastically recommend the device. It's inexpensive, but functional for the casual user. It would also make a great gift for a younger person. He or she could actually use the camera, and you won't be spending a fortune on it.
Customer Review: The PERFECT little camera
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently purchased the Aiptek A-HD 720P. I thought it would be a good idea to experiment with it before I wrote a review. Here are my thoughts...
I love this camera. I thought, for the money, I would get a decent camera that I could just throw in my bag and go, and get a fairly OK picture out of it. It exceeded my expectations and then some. First of all, it is really the coolest looking gadget. The perfect size to take anywhere, and fairly sturdy. I read some other reviews talking about the camera's frailty - if you're not throwing it around the room and are generally careful with it (which should be standard for any electronic gadget), you'll be fine. Also, this camera is SO easy to use. Basically, open the screen, take off the lens cap, hit record and go.
The picture quality is VERY good. In low light, it tends to be a bit grainy, but I fully expected that. In good lighting (especially anything outdoors in daylight hours) the picture is beautiful - on my PC AND on my 42" Hi-Def TV. It's hard to believe that I am getting a crystal clear Hi-Def picture out of this little inexpensive camera.
Sound quality is pretty OK. Not nearly as bad as some others have said. The mic is on top of the camera, so if you're recording and speaking, you come in loud and clear. Everyone else is medium, but audible.
I also love that this camera hooks up to my Hi-Def cable box so that I can upload TV shows on to the camera, then ultimately to my iPod. It is a fanstastic feature.
As far as uploading to my computer, I had no real issues. I had to play around with what program would play back video the best. I ultimately went with the software that came with the camera. The videos can also be converted to iTunes compatible (took a while with my PC to convert, but once it was done, it looked great).
The camera also takes very good still pictures and has a flash (FYI - the flash is only used for still pictures - does not function for video). Also, very straightforward and easy to upload pics.
All in all, 2 thumbs up for Aiptek. I highly recommend this camera to someone, like myself, who wanted a nice, easy to use, small-sized, inexpensive HD camera that can literally be taken anywhere.
Customer Review: Cheap & easy... could it get any better?
Summary: 4 Stars
Aiptek A-HD 720P 8MP CMOS High Definition Camcorder
Aiptek A-HD 720P 8MP CMOS High Definition Camcorder
This is the second model from this manufacture I have bought. I bought the first one before Christmas at a Walgreens for $90 with a $20 mail-in rebate. I found a second battery, from a cell phone supply store, a 110 charger, that is a stand-a-lone, plus one more option; a 12 volt car charger. The battery problem was solved which left me needing to cover the memory questions. I wanted to make sure I had plenty of SD cards and the prices are reasonable for the no-name brands. This all happened preceding a vacation to Cancun. I was ready. All of this set me back less than 150$.
I own a very good Canon mini dv that is comparable to the GL-2 that I love to shoot. This little Aiptek does not replace the superior Canon but I will use it 5:1 because of the bulk. The Aiptek fits in a shirt pocket and the batteries last through 3- 2GB SD cards.
The quality is what you get for a 100$ dollar camera but that's okay if you know this going in. I do a lot of ATV riding and this will record 10 times better that my helmet cam. The end results are similar to a high end camera phone. All cameras capture is light. This one does fine if the lighting is good, not too much or too little light and you will be pleased with results.
I have shot video off my Grizzly 700 with web quality video and then post it on my blog for other like trail riders to view. I liked the camera so much I gave it to my son and bought me a new one.
I use an iMac to edit video for publishing and the Aiptek works smoothly with both Final Cut and iMovie. I sometimes open files right off the camera using QuickTime Pro and edit the simple movie with that software. No problems.
This is a great pocket-sized camera for what it was designed for. The big players wont have to worry about this camera drawing away a lot of revenue. I am not chucking my Canon.
Customer Review: Nice for the price
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought the Aiptek A-HD 720P 5MP CMOS High Definition Camcorder about a month ago, and unfortunately, haven't used it quite as much as I'd envisioned. Still, the few times that I have used it, the open, point, and shoot simplicity, the image quality, and the ease of exporting to my Macbook Pro have certainly been well worth the price.
For under $150, this is a fairly impressive little camera. It works pretty well in fairly low light conditions, the audio quality is quite good, and the picture quality, while probably leaving a bit to be desired if the unit cost several hundred more, is quite good, particularly when rendered in native resolution. Manipulating and exporting the resulting video and still image files is straightforward, and the file sizes it produces can be very reasonable once converted for web delivery.
With the limited opportunity I've had to use it, I can't really comment on overall battery longevity, but I can relate that after fully charging the unit via the USB interface to my Macbook, it sat around for a couple of weeks before the next use, at which point it performed as advertised, and I probably had it on for well over 45 minutes total shooting and reviewing video items, without the battery indicating it was about to give up the ghost. Looking at the numbers, however, lead me to believe that with a 4GB card in the slot, you'd probably run out of battery before you ran out of storage space for whatever you are shooting.
Overall, very light weight and easy to control, with excellent preview via the screen.
The only negatives to report are a slight shutter delay from the time you press the button until the camera actually captures a still image - almost a full second or so. Kind of limits the unit for 'action stills' applications. Also, in a 'busy' close up environment, the autofocus has an annoying tendency to base focus on all sorts of things except what you're shooting, but this only occurs at ranges of 3 feet or less.
Generally, I'd say that I'm satisfied with the product!
Customer Review: Aiptek A-HD (Mod'ed)
Summary: 4 Stars
So I was looking for a cheap and small camcorder to record short films in HD, and possibly post on youtube. I searched around and found this Aiptek model, and found that the main problem people had with it was the sound and indoor shots, but I found a good price online for a open box one and got it. I had the Aiptek MPVR before which I loved, but it also didn't do so well indoors.
With that in mind, I got the camcorder and started to test it out. The video quality outside is superb, but is mediocre outside (as expected).
The sound, however, was way worse than what I expected, and was very annoying. It was too bad for me to bare it, so I began searching online, and found that there was a mod to attach an external microphone, and replace the internal one. I have never Moded anything before, but decided to give it a shot (because of the cheap price I got it for). If you decide to Mod, I claim no responsibility if your camcorder gets messed up, and it is YOUR sole responsibility.
After the mod, it's an amazing camcorder!!! The only downside is that it has no image stabilization, but i ALWAYS use a tripod, so no worries there for me ;D
Inside, you might need some extra lighitng, but outside it's got pretty amazing footage. The files are quicktime files, which can be converted with free programs online (not sure if it comes with software, cause I had a great video converter by kyotosoft)
I've recently started using Adobe Premier pro, which readily accepts the files as is (which is awesome!)
Overall, it's a great buy after the Mod, but before so, I wouldn't recommend it. The sound is too crackly and annoying.
P.S. The external mic mod adds a small (half an index finger) sized mic on top of the camcorder, whereas the internal mic mod changed nothing. I chose to do both before then i could add any mic externally (because it has a hot-swap jack) but the internal mic mod is fine on it's own (the external is better though ;D ) Sorry if i confused you with all that