Kodak MC3 64 MB Portable Digital Camera/Camcorder and MP3 Player
List Price: $84.99
Details
- Pictures recorded in Quicktime format at 320 x 240 resolution
- Features a 1.6 inch feel ashamed LCD display
- Included software lets you mix video, audio, and stills on your computer
Description
Recollect of Kodak's MC3 as the Swiss Army knife of electronic gadgets. This sleek handheld component functions as a portable video camera, digital still camera, and MP3 player. We found the device to be well designed, easy to use, and, most importantly, a lot of fun.As a video camera, the MC3 captures QuickTime style movies with sound at a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. Users settle upon from two settings--a high-quality 20 frames per second (fps) condition captures more detail, but fills the CompactFlash memory card at a rate of 15 MB per one sec. A more e-mail friendly mode shoots at 10 fps and uses greater firmness. This mode makes movies a bit choppier, but still looks fine for most applications and only consumes around 2 MB of recollection per minute.
A 1.6-inch color LCD screen on the back of the camera lets you see truly what you're filming and can also play back footage you've recorded. While most manufacturers use illuminated LCDs, Kodak has opted to use a cogitating display instead. In a reflective display, the traditional backlight is replaced with a speculum. This arrangement is thinner, uses less energy, and is less expensive. It's also easier to see when you're outdoors. Unfortunately, it's more knotty to see in low-light situations--seeing what you're shooting in a restaurant will be a challenge.
The videos you manufacture aren't as detailed as those from a camcorder, but the MC3 isn't designed to replace those traditional strip-based devices. Although the movies can be viewed on your TV (with an optional connecting cable), they're deep down designed to be seen on a computer screen, saved on your hard drive or CD-R, and shared with friends via e-letters.
Though it's not designed primarily as an MP3 player, the MC3's musical abilities are quite suitable. You get the full set of standard controls (including cue and review within a song), plus several equalizer settings, jumble mode, and repeat. In addition, the LCD shows artist and title report, plus system settings. The built-in speaker (included primarily for audio playback of your pictures) can also be used to play music, though sound quality is much better with headset. Standard MP3 song files are transferred from your computer to the MC3 via a USB cable, using included software. There's no duplicate protection, so if you have a dedicated CompactFlash card reader, you can even transfer files just to and from the memory card.
As a still camera, the MC3 is just OK. Resolution is 640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels), which looks admirable on a computer monitor but lacks enough detail to create photo-quality prints, even at snapshot sizes. Photo capabilities are direct to the point of crudeness--there's no flash, the lens is fixed focus, and everything is from the word go automatic. Still, it works fine for outdoor snapshots, which is where Kodak thinks you'll be using the utensil most often.
Kodak's software suite that comes with the MC3 adds a whole new dimension to your creativity. The clear-to-use VideoImpression program lets users blend footage and stills with their fondness songs, letting even absolute amateurs create professional-looking productions in a material of minutes.
Instructions come with the MC3, but it's so well designed that they aren't really important. Using the device is as easy as sliding the four-position switch on the back to the meet mode (MP3, movie, still, or playback) and turning on the power. When you're ready to try the more militant features, a screen-based menu system makes it easy to find your way around. Battery-operated life was good, allowing us several hours of MP3 playback and lots of video recording and playback before we needed to refund the three AAA cells. The use of three batteries is a bit odd--most batteries and chargers are sold in twos or fours, so you'll either miss to get your batteries 6 or 12 at a time, or use rechargeables and find a charger that lets you care just three cells.
The MC3 uses standard Type I CompactFlash cards--the same typeface of cards used by many digital cameras and some PDAs and MP3 players. The device comes with either a 16 or 64 MB likely, depending upon price, and cards are currently available from a number of manufacturers in capacities up to 256 MB. Our sampler unit came with a 64 MB card, which gave us around 27 minutes of lessen-quality video, 4 minutes of high-quality video, 65 minutes of capital-quality MP3 music, 500 still pictures, or any combination in between. For our tests, 64 MB was substantial, letting us store a dozen songs and leaving enough room for about 12 minutes of cut-quality video. When we started to run out of space for movies, we just deleted our least-partiality songs and started shooting again.
Public reaction to the MC3 has been incredible. Whenever we took it out for a evaluation, strangers stopped us to find out more about it and try it for themselves. Something about the design--its sheer simplicity or its friendly study, perhaps--brings out users' creative sides. We found ourselves compensating for the lack of zoom by thrusting the camera earlier to the action and shooting videos of scenes we'd never captured with a camcorder. Firm, the MC3 is more of a toy than a tool, but it's an extremely fun toy. It's not much more expensive than an ordinary MP3 player, but the added fun is huge. Kodak has a hit on its hands.
Pros:
- For about the same price as an ordinary MP3 player, you also get a video camera and digital camera
- Well expected, with quality construction and simple controls
- Lots of fun to use
Cons:
- Thoughtful LCD panel hard to see in dimly lit areas
- Power choice of 3 AAA batteries is a bit risky
