Is this incredibly cheap videocam any good?

[hackmole]

Can someone advise. I saw a deal that is almost too good to turn down at Buy.com. It is for a pocket-size videocam (and looks like combination camera) for 59.99 and if you sign up for a visa card it's only 29.99. The ad also said FREE shipping.

Will this videocam really work or is it a piece of junk no better than a cellphone camera. I know that I would probably have to buy a 4 gig a 8 gig memory stick for it to get longer time for the video but still that's a pretty good price and I love the small ipod-like pocket-size.

The ad says that this company's regular price is $199 but I know there is another company called Insignia that has such a videocamera for $100.

Let me know what you think. I'm not looking for super high quality video but would like good quality. I just would love to have a camera I can carry around with me all the time in my pocket. Here are the specs for the videocam below from buy.com.

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MoviePix DV-80 Digital Camcorder/8MP Camera - 2" TFT LCD, 8X Digital Zoom, 16MB, SD Slot, TV Out, Webcam, MPEG4 - CMMEDV80S

 

[996GT2]

Do yourself a favor and buy a real camera instead

$99 Panasonic LZ8 is better both in photos and videos by...oh...a factor of...100?

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

I'd avoid it. Even if it were able to take usable photos and videos, chances are the electronics are so poor that it wouldn't last very long when exposed to normal wear-and-tear.

Some cellphone cameras are actually pretty decent these days.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle
I'd avoid it. Even if it were able to take usable photos and videos, chances are the electronics are so poor that it wouldn't last very long when exposed to normal wear-and-tear.

Some cellphone cameras are actually pretty decent these days.

I've been blown away by the quality of pictures from some of the newest cell phones. Not because I expect them to rival DSLR or anything, but more of a "you took that with a cell phone?!!" type of reaction.

My wife just got my son a Samsung Omina (sp?) as a reward for high grades. I was rather impressed with the video and pictures he was able to take, and all the other stuff it can do. (Then again, I generally shun cell phones & prefer to know little about them, so I'm not exactly sure what's out there.)

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle
I'd avoid it. Even if it were able to take usable photos and videos, chances are the electronics are so poor that it wouldn't last very long when exposed to normal wear-and-tear.

Some cellphone cameras are actually pretty decent these days.

I've been blown away by the quality of pictures from some of the newest cell phones. Not because I expect them to rival DSLR or anything, but more of a "you took that with a cell phone?!!" type of reaction.

My wife just got my son a Samsung Omina (sp?) as a reward for high grades. I was rather impressed with the video and pictures he was able to take, and all the other stuff it can do. (Then again, I generally shun cell phones & prefer to know little about them, so I'm not exactly sure what's out there.)

Wow, a $600+ phone just for grades? I wish my parents were more like you guys when I was in high school...

 

[ghostman]

Originally posted by: hackmole
Let me know what you think. I'm not looking for super high quality video but would like good quality. I just would love to have a camera I can carry around with me all the time in my pocket. Here are the specs for the videocam below from buy.com.
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MoviePix DV-80 Digital Camcorder/8MP Camera - 2" TFT LCD, 8X Digital Zoom, 16MB, SD Slot, TV Out, Webcam, MPEG4 - CMMEDV80S

I have no experience with this camera, but you have to be realistic about what you'll end up getting at this price point. The regular price of the DV-80 is probably never $199 and it is more likely around $95 based on a quick google search. And unless you need another credit card, signing up for a Buy.com Visa just to take advantage of a $30 savings sounds like a bad idea.

Buying a 4 or 8GB SD memory for this would be pointless, because the specs state: "Built-in SD slot exp to 2GB." There is no optical zoom (just the crappy "digital zoom") and there are no specs on the video resolution.

I'd probably be willing to buy this for $5 shipped, at most. Listen to what 996GT2 said and invest in a cheap, but real camera that can handle video.

 

[vshah]

Digital zoom = no no

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: 996GT2
Wow, a $600+ phone just for grades? I wish my parents were more like you guys when I was in high school...

Ahhh, no wonder it does so well. But, he was due for an upgrade, so it was only $150. Still though, if you were thinking of spending $100 for a pocket camcorder, just based on my brief evaluation of what his phone did, I'd think the phone was a pretty good deal.