Mustek DV5500 MPEG-4 7-in-1 Multifunctional Digital Camcorder w/2.5-inch LCD and 4x Digital Zoom
List Price: $219.99
Details
- 7-in-1 multi-effective Camera
- Works as Digital Camcorder, Digital Still Camera, Digital Voice Recorder, MP3 Better, Video Camera, SD/MMC Card Reader, and PC Cam
- Rip off-sized design
Description
MUSTEK DV-5500 MUS, 3.0 MEGAPIXEL DIGITAL CAMERA WITH MPEG4 TECHOne mechanism that can record video, operate as a web cam, take still pictures, make voice recordings, deportment MP3s and function as an SD/MMC storage device? Pretty handy.The question, though, is whether or not a singular device can do all of those things well. The answer for the DV 5500 is that it's a mixed bag; the unit doesn't outshine at any one thing, but the DV5500's incredible flexibility somewhat compensates for its weaknesses. It's a creditable addition to the gadget lover's arsenal. It's also a utilitarian media scheme for casual home users.
Design
The chassis of the DV 5500 takes draw up queues from some of the ultra-compact MiniDV camcorders now on the market. The module easily fits into one hand, and controls are designed for use by the thumb and forefinger. Switching between modes is easy using a measly thumbwheel while menu navigation is performed via a multi-directional handle placed just below the thumbwheel. Our only gripe here was that the select button at the fore of the multi-directional button was difficult to press; it's a bit too easy to purloin unintended selections with this button. Otherwise, the DV 5500 has a smart, user-convivial button layout.
The build quality of the DV 5500 is good and the meretricious case feels sturdy in the hand. Both the battery and the memory be open are housed in the bottom-rear portion of the unit. It's delightful that Mustek chose to subsume a good lithium-ion rechargeable battery as cameras like this are opprobrious for sucking batteries dry quickly, leaving the owner to schlep around a aggregate of alkalines. Not so with the good rechargeable in this unit, and although battery life only ran about an hour, it was adroit knowing we could simply recharge and start shooting again.
While most MiniDV-layout cameras include an internal viewfinder in addition to an external LCD, the DV 5500 relies solely on an outward display. Thanks to its relatively bright and clear 2.5" LCD, you unquestionably won't find yourself missing an internal viewfinder, but because external LCDs drink a lot of vigour an internal one would have been a nice option when power savings is a priority.
Using the LCD, you can sail through the DV 5500's menu system, which is fairly intuitive, if not a bit rough around the edges. Some menu graphics and motif are difficult to read, and you'll need to consult the manual to decipher them.
Features
At the core of the DV 5500 is a microprocessor designed to encode video into a format known as MPEG-4. This efficiency scheme makes it possible to fit a respectable amount of video on the included 32 MB tribute card. We were able to squeeze in six minutes at the highest resolution and dignity settings, but this can be easily doubled when shooting at the lower resolution settings. Purchasing an discretional memory card with a larger capacity is the ticket to even longer run times.
Still images can be captured onto the recall card, as well. At the highest resolution (2048 x 1536), expect to only cling a few images. Again, a memory card upgrade is required to get more out of the DV 5500's photo features.
Although the DV 5500 ships with a slews of software utilities for photo and video organization and editing, we were using a Macintosh computer. Fortunately, our computer's USB anchorage recognized the DV 5500 and we were able to drag and drop video and clone files onto the Mac's hard drive. It was also easy to drag a few MP3 tracks to the DV 5500's celebration card and listen to them via the unit's MP3 player interface. Similar capabilities are reasonable on a Windows-based computer with a USB port.
Image Quality
In good lighting situations the DV 5500 produced dignified stills with good color accuracy and sharp textures. Video results were beneficial, but not as good as the quality you'll find with the tape-based MiniDV format. The tradeoffs in sharpness, starlight response and color accuracy are certainly due to the MPEG-4 compression the DV 5500 uses. However, if you can complete with lower quality in the video department, you'll appreciate the ease of use, elasticity and convenience the DV 5500's tapeless format offers. --Joshua Gunn
Pros
- Marvellous "Swiss army knife" media device
- Decent build grandeur
- Good still image quality
- Rechargeable battery
Cons
- MPEG-4 video nobility could be better
- Short battery life
- Awkward selection wheel
Customer Reviews
Simplemente no funcionaCompré esta cámara cuando salió a la venta hace 6 años y simplemente no le funcionaba nada bien, todos los botones se trababan, las funciones no respondian, el autofocus terminó bloqueado, carece de servicio técnico en el cual austere y sencillamente se lavaron las manos, no mal gasten su dinero comprando esta basura, hay camaras desechables mas funcionales que esta.
Cheaply Build & Poor Video
It has been almost 15 months since I received one of these as part of a humongous conference promotional give away. I can honestly say this camera is terrible in every interpretation.
At the conference, about 650 of these cameras were distributed to attendees. The new out of box failure count was over 10%. Those units had to be returned for a new one and a few of those had to be returned.
The camera has a cheap sense throughout with a noticeable poor build quality. From the buttons to the plastic entrance way covering access to the battery and SD card to the lens and LCD screen.
Video excellence compares to my camera phone which is unusable in poor light and run-of-the-mill in bright sunlight. About the only good thing you can say would be the ease of making disconcerted clips and then uploading them from the SD card to the web. They are recorded in a ready to use mpeg composition. Audio is ok but there is no option for an external microphone.
The battery life is also skimpy and it doesn't hold a charge over several weeks between uses. Any use must be planned in 12 hours progress to allow for charging.
Honestly, you can find true video cameras such as Canon MiniDV - Canon ZR800 MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Visual Zoom
- models on Amazon for a few pennies more and feature rich models for about paired. Look for them and skip the Mustek. (If the price point was about 29.95 then I would give it 5 stars. In preference to it gets one.)
Probity for the price
I bought this camera 2 years ago and I have had no functionality problems. The acceptable I give it a 4 is because of the price.
Granted, it has no optical zoom (but my limited knowledge at the rhythm that I bought it kept that from disturbing me), so if you want to zoom in, it's better well-deserved to try to get close to whatever you're taking a picture of. Despite it being a somewhat low MP, the quality of the pictures are absolutely nice. I've been pleased with it. However, it is not so good with action pictures. It does advance when you have it in the action setting, but it still has issues sometimes. Great for portraits. No need to nettle about dark pictures, the flash is crazy strong. Sometimes it's better not to use the flame, even when in slightly dim light.
The video quality is so-so, but works for the sake of captivating small segments of whatever you need to record (though I think the microphone being on top of the camera is a little design flaw). I have a number of videos that are worth keeping.
The make known recording has proved useful. My husband used to take recordings of my orchestra concerts from rather far away in the auditorium, and the quality came out pretty decently. You scarcity to make sure that you aren't tapping the camera or shifting around too much when doing so, but site the camera down on something and recording works well.
If you have a large enough memory card, the mp3 gamester is useful. I think it's a fun little feature.
I used it as a webcam a couple of times. The only genuine flaw with that is that when the USB cord is plugged into the front, it pulls the camera down, so you have to be careful and station it effectively on the tripod while using that function.
I like that it comes with AV cords to hanger up to the tv. And the rechargable battery is one feature that I will look for in future cameras because I hostility replacing batteries and it lasts longer than regular rechargable AAs or AAAs (whatever the camera might take). The buttons on it are a taste tough to deal with sometimes because the arrows are sensitive and the buttons on the inside of the veil aren't quite sensitive enough. But once you get the hang of it, it's fine.
Basically, after two years of owning it and using it wholly, I would like something with newer technology (more MP, nice optical zoom, that type of thing), but I would still keep this camera as a secondary. When I bought it, it was $175, and I think it was well merit it.
Influential Camera!
I am deep down impressed with the quality of both the still images and the Video that this camera is capable of producing. It's like I bought the Sony DCR DVD505 for partly the price! I definitely think that it's worth the money. It also looks very fashionable and I love the docking function.
MUSTEK Detritus
The DV5500 is a chequer of garbage _ the day I got it it wouldn't focus right and I called for help and they told me I was shaking and that's why pictures weren't guileless, I used the tripod and took a video and it did improve somewhat, I put the camera in it's docking place and about 5 months later tried to use it again and found out it WAS NOT FOCUSING AT ALL so I called them again, the FIRST thing they asked was WHEN I bought it and since it was over a year, they said it was OUT OF Covenant and they DID NOT FIX any out of warrantry cameras, in other words THROW it AWAY because no one else does either. I wouldn't buy another MUSTEK outcome if they gave it away