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Whistle Stopper - Aiptek A-HD 720P 5MP CMOS High Definition Camcorder
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List Price: $199.99
Our Price: $134.84
Your Save: $ 65.15 ( 33% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Aiptek, Inc.
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Batteries Included: 0
Binding: Electronics
Brand: Aiptek
Display Size: 2.4
EAN: 0653886020701
Feature: 1280 x 720 H.264 Video @ 30fps
Floppy Disk Drive Description: None
Is Autographed: 0
Is Memorabilia: 0
Label: Aiptek, Inc.
Manufacturer: Aiptek, Inc.
Minimum Focal Length: 7.45
Model: A-HD
Optical Zoom: 2
Publisher: Aiptek, Inc.
Studio: Aiptek, Inc.
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Features
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1280 x 720 H.264 Video @ 30fps
Connect to TV/VCR/DVD player to record video, pictures and audio
Charge with USB or AC Adapter without removing battery
5MP CMOS sensor with still images up to 8MP
2x digital zoom with fixed focus
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Great value
Comment: This handy little unit creates really nice video for the price. It's compact and easy to charge with either a power adapter or a computer usb port.
The main point to remember when using a video camera with a slow cmos sensor like this is that you must shoot from static locations -- there is no built-in image stabilization. Bouncy, rapid movement results in screen warping because the sensor cannot keep up. As long as you're aware of this fact and use a tripod (or brace the camera against something) while filming, the result will come out great. Trying to hold the unit still in your hand will result in less-than-spectacular clips (and probably something that will make your audience seasick). Use something like the tiny Joby GP1-01EN Gorillapod Flexible Tripod to rest the camera on a bench, table, car hood, etc.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great for your nickel!!!
Comment: It is a good product to record memorable moments of your life and your loved ones. Zooming is average, but do not use it often. I use mostly for outdoor and the picture is very good.
Camcorder is very light and fragile I'd say, so be prepared to use it gently and do not throw it on the ground when you girl will dump you-it is not a camcorder's fault it is your idiotic behavior.
Overall excellent product and I'd recommend to purchase!!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Broke in 2 weeks
Comment: I got the camera for vacation and It is very easy to use and the photos and video came out very well. I didnt have a problem so much with the sound. Out of nowhere the middle joystick button broke. It moves up down, right left fine but it wont push in anymore and click like it used to. I can still use it but I have to ave very light pressure on the joystock or else it will think im clicking down allthe time. PITA. Thats the only bad flaw that I have with it. The zoom in and out flickers somtimes and you cant hold the camera still at all if its zoomed in but what do you expect for under 150 bucks.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Fun, easy to use, cheap and good video quality
Comment: I own an expensive Sony HD camera that takes great video and decent sound. But I hardly ever used it. After taking trips to Hong Kong and Costa Rica wit the Sony, and coming back with almost no footage, because the camera was too bulky and expensive to want to carry around, I decided I needed to look into something better suited for my needs. The Aiptek is something I use all the time. I purchased this camera so I could take quick videos of my son, or anything else I wanted to post to YouTube or Vimeo. I did some research by going to Vimeo and searching for Aiptek A-HD. I found some great clips that showed me exactly what the camera can do in HD.
The Good
Picture quality is very good. It doesn't beat my Sony, but it will beat just about any camera you could have purchased for under $2k 5 years ago.
The camera couldn't be much simpler. Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (White) is obviously the easiest camera to use, but the Aiptek is not going to stump anyone.
Fast upload. Unlike the long time my Sony took to bring video in from DV, the Aiptek is super fast at transferring those movies onto my machine.
Good use of space. I have a 4 gig card in mine, and it looks like I can get a little over 2 hours at full 720. Cards are so cheap now that I think I should have just got an 8 gig that should cover 4 hours.
Small and light. I take this camera everywhere. I hardly ever shot video with my Sony, but this thing I use all the time.
All cables included. This was a nice surprise for such a cheap camera, especially in a time of 1 game controller in $400 game system. The box included USB to mini USB, power cord, and even cords to hook up to the TV for normal and HD TV. No HDMI.
The Bad
Sound quality. The microphone is not great, and it's set to the rear. It feels like Aiptek set this up so that the person shooting the video could narrate the shot. But the lack of a external mic jack does limit the use of this camera.
No optical zoom. The camera does have a 2X digital zoom, but that's not ideal. The slightly more expensive Aiptek GO-HD High Definition 720p Camcorder with 3x Optical Zoom has 3X optical zoom if yo
Construction. With a low price comes low quality material. When I got my camera in the box, the "camera" button had already fallen off. Not wanting to deal with returning the camera through Amazon, I just superglued the thing back on and it's worked fine since. The camera feels sturdy enough when you hold it, but it does feel a little cheap in the buttons.
No stabilization. Since this is a cheap camera it does not come with any built in stabilization, so your shots can come out a little shaky if you're not steady handed.
As a digital camera the Aiptek works about as well as most inexpensive point and shoot models. The pictures are acceptable, and the built in flash does a good job exposing details.
Like most people will say, this is a great camera for the money. If you're someone who wants to take serious videos and need things like stabilization and external mic jacks, this isn't for you. But if you're someone who would like a good camera to shoot everyday events so you can post them online or save them to disk, this is a camera you should be happy with for a couple of years.
It does fit the need for travel as well. It's small enough to throw in my cargo pant pocket, and cheap enough that if lost or damaged, it wouldn't ruin my vacation.
I do think it's likely that I'll outgrow this camera as I want to do more video. I'm waiting to see the Sony HDR-TG1 4MP High Definition Handycam Camcorder with 10x Optical Super Steady Shot Zoom (4GB Memory Stick Included), which is about 6 times the price, but looks to be amazing. Maybe a Christmas present for myself.
This camera would also be great for teens to start shooting footage beyond their camera phones. I'll likely just hand mine over to my son when I upgrade.
When you transfer files to your computer they come in Quicktime, which works great for me since I'm on a Mac. This is perfect for iMovie.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great
Comment: this product works very well. I like the style and the HD quailty is amazing. I still need to use it more, and I will on my vacation to the Bahamas in June.
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Editorial Reviews:
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The A-HD performs 720P high definition video quality to provide a whole new high quality DV experience. One-touch recording allows you to capture stunning HD (1280 x 720 - 16:9 aspect ratio) video clips at 30 frames per second with advanced H.264 technology. Connect the camera to your TV/VCR/DVD player to record video clips, pictures, and audio recordings, and playback directly on the built-in 2.4" color LCD. Record Video from DVD's, TV, VHS, or from Any Device that has RCA outputs for entertainment on the go! Equipped with 5 mega pixel CMOS sensor, the still image resolution of the A-HD is enhanced to 8 mega pixels. Auto-Focus helps you get the best pictures every time! 2x real time digital zoom allows you to Zoom In/Out while recording video! Review and playback you HD video clips and hi-res pictures in real time. LCD swivels 270? for unlimited video and photo taking. Enhance image quality while capturing photos in darker environments with your A-HD. Conveniently charge your new A-HD via the USB cable when connected to your PC or use the AC Charger cable included. No need to remove battery from camera. Connect your A-HD to your HDTV Component input ports to display your high definition video clips and still pictures, sharing them with friends and family. The A-HD allows you to use up to 8GB of SD card storage to record longer video before having to upload to your PC.
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