Cheap Digital Camcorder

Flint · 09-03-2006, 10:54 AM

I got a Pure Digital Point & Shoot Video Camcorder as a gift at a baby shower. It's not a product aimed at techno-files (the literature all about how easy it is to use). It has 512mb of built-in flash memory (not expandable) and I don't have very high expectations of it. But, before I open it, I do want to know that it isn't shooting in some proprietary format, because it looks like they want me to take it to "an authorized dealer" and pay $13 to have a DVD made. So what format does it record in? Well...

This review says "The video is recorded using a special version of the DivX compression format at 640x480 resolution, and the audio is mono."

This review says "It uses MPEG-4 encoding to ensure small file sizes" but then says "the Point & Shoot Digital stored the video clips as AVI files" ???

Not getting a very straight answer here. The manufacturer includes zero technical info on their site.
Their business model seems aimed at having people drop these things off at the developer for $13 a pop.

If all else fails, I guess I can run the video through a media PC and re-capture it.

I hope I don't have to do that . . . but, after all, this thing was free.

Anybody have any idea how these cheapie video recorders are configured?

09-03-2006, 10:54 AM	#1
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	Cheap Digital Camcorder I got a Pure Digital Point & Shoot Video Camcorder as a gift at a baby shower. It's not a product aimed at techno-files (the literature all about how easy it is to use). It has 512mb of built-in flash memory (not expandable) and I don't have very high expectations of it. But, before I open it, I do want to know that it isn't shooting in some proprietary format, because it looks like they want me to take it to "an authorized dealer" and pay $13 to have a DVD made. So what format does it record in? Well... This review says "The video is recorded using a special version of the DivX compression format at 640x480 resolution, and the audio is mono." This review says "It uses MPEG-4 encoding to ensure small file sizes" but then says "the Point & Shoot Digital stored the video clips as AVI files" ??? Not getting a very straight answer here. The manufacturer includes zero technical info on their site. Their business model seems aimed at having people drop these things off at the developer for $13 a pop. If all else fails, I guess I can run the video through a media PC and re-capture it. I hope I don't have to do that . . . but, after all, this thing was free. Anybody have any idea how these cheapie video recorders are configured? __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

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