A small camera worthy of Big Attention: You want to read this!
Written: Jul 28 '04
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Ease of Use: |
 |
|
| Durability: |
|
|
|
Pros: Videos or Photos, it's small but comes with everything you need.
Cons: No image stablilization, limited recording time.
The Bottom Line: This technology will improve in the next few years, but it's here now, and it's really worth looking at.
|
|
|
| mothra3's Full Review: Fisher FVD-C1 Digital Camera |
My 11-month old is threatening to walk any minute. He’s our third child, yet we still do not own a video camera…well, until now, that is…
I’ve been harassing my husband about this for quite some time, but to no avail. When I gave him a bit of an ultimatum—that I wanted one by my birthday so we could capture the Bud’s first steps—he finally caved and told me to start researching…and so I did.
After a lot of looking, searching and reading, I decided I wanted a Canon, since they have a reputation for having the best product for the price. (Sony, from what I’ve heard, is comparable in quality, but more expensive…why pay more?) I couldn’t decide which model I wanted though…
One of my prerequisites was that I didn’t want to buy a separate digital camera (yeah, we don’t have one of those either…did I mention I’m a stick-in-the-mud?)—in fact, I didn’t want to be carrying around more than one camera, period. Nearly all video cameras now offer the capability of taking still photos, but with a few drawbacks:
►Most only take up to 2 megapixel photos: good, but not good enough to convince me to get rid of my 35mm camera.
►Most video cameras either provide no “memory stick” or SD card for storing the photos—or one that’s too small to be very useful
►Many had no flash.
Add to this the dilemma of battery life issues (many come with inferior batteries…), and you’re not looking at buying just the camera, but a whole package: extra battery, separate charger, SD card, software, a carrying case for all this stuff, and, of course, DV tapes. Your $400-600 camera becomes a $900 purchase.
Then fate intervened in the form of a magazine ad. I normally don’t pay any attention to them, but since I started my “research,” I’d begun noticing how many video camera advertisements there are in my magazines. I saw the ad and I heard music; the clouds parted, and a voice said, “Arthur, King of the Britons!” No wait, wrong idiom.
Could this be possible? A combination video camera/digital camera that takes 3.2 Megapixel photos and yet is small enough to fit in your back pocket? (Not recommended, but possible…) How is this accomplished? I had to know. I didn’t rest that night until I had read everything I could find online. The upshot was that most agreed it was pretty good, though a bit pricey at $899. But the best advice of all was…
The “Open Box”…
Though I did see this product listed on Amazon.com during my research, the only other place that carries it is Sears. Occasionally, someone will buy it, try it, and return it. Sears has to sell it as an “Open Box”, and that means you save money.
The first thing I did the next morning (OK, not the very first, but you get the idea…) was to call my local Sears store to find out if they had any in stock--but more importantly--if they had any that were “open box”. When I found out they did have one for $559, I knew I had found my video camera.
I went. I saw. I bought it. I brought it home.
Inside the box was a bewildering array of small items--11 total, not including the camera itself or the manuals. But the included “Quick Guide” cut right to the chase, and helped me get it set up and charging in a matter of minutes.
And while the battery charged (for about 90 minutes), I read through the User’s Manual so I’d be ready to shoot right away.
The Manual
As might be expected, the first 20 pages (yes, 20!) were the typical warnings intended to be helpful only to the pathologically litigious or the terminally stupid:
“Do not use the camera in the bathroom.” Thanks, I hadn’t planned on it.
”Do not look through the camera into the sun.” Awww…but I was planning on filming some sunspots!
And my personal favorite:
”When using your camera while walking, be very careful of your surroundings and especially the traffic to avoid accidents.” Oh, very helpful indeed.
But in all seriousness, I felt that the rest of the manual was quite helpful—well written (thorough to the appropriate extent—it is not a textbook on photography…) and well illustrated—and may I say, free from the pidgin English often found in the literature of imported electronics.
Perhaps my only criticism would be that while there is a Table of Contents, there is no index. Given the plethora of effects and various doohickys requiring explanation, it would be nice to be able to find the section on each without having to flip through the entire thing.
I know, you don’t care about the manual, you want to hear about the camera! Well, now that it’s all charged up, let’s take a look!
What is this thing, and what does it come with?
First, it is smaller than my 35MM camera. Lighter too. It has no viewfinder, only an LCD monitor that rotates 180°. Though this monitor is small (1 ½”), it is sufficient for recording video without any problems. It is very sharp and can be viewed easily, even at an angle.
The camera comes with a docking station that can simultaneously connect it to a power supply (for recharging) and either your TV (via an included AV cable) or your computer or printer (via an included USB interface cable). [However, it cannot charge while it is downloading.] Setting it up is quick and easy, and once it’s in place, you simply pop the camera into this base to view, download or print your photos and video clips. ( If you have an SD card reader, you may prefer to remove the included 512 MB SD card and download that way, which is much faster.) This docking station can even be controlled with an included remote control, which allows you to view your video clips on TV from the comfort of your easy chair.
Of course, for those times when you’re traveling and don’t want to tote the docking station with you, you can recharge by removing the included Li-ion battery and popping it into the included charger. You can then view, download or print by attaching the tiny included adapter, which allows the camera to be connected to the AC adapter and the USB or AV cables. (Unfortunately, the camera cannot be charged via this adapter, nor can you remove the battery to recharge it if you wish to download…)
That’s already a pretty fair amount of equipment, but over and above this is a handstrap, a lens cap (which attaches to the handstrap with a small cord so it doesn’t get lost), a semi-soft carrying case (though it’s a tight fit) and all the software you’ll need to process, store, edit and print or burn to disc your photos and videos. This includes QuickTime 6.3 (for viewing), Motion Director SE 1.0 (for removing motion blur from video clips), Ulead PhotoExplorer 8.0SE Basic(for processing photos) and Ulead VideoStudio 7 SE DVD (for editing video clips, or creating still shots from videos).
Heck, about the only thing it doesn’t come with is a tripod, a DVD burner and a photo printer…
Using the Camera
Well, I’m ready to use it. I simply open the LCD monitor, press the on/off button, and I’m ready to shoot. I can record videos by pressing the button on the upper right (conveniently marked with a videocamera icon), and stop recording by pressing it again. To take still photos, I press the button on the upper left (marked with a camera icon). Between these two buttons is the sliding button that controls the zoom, and below these three are the menu button and a toggle button that allows me to navigate and select from the on-screen menus. The type of video, as well as dozens of other settings, can be programmed using these two buttons. Switching between the record and playback functions is as easy as flipping the easily marked switch on the top of the camera. And of course, as already mentioned, when I’m done, I simply pop it into the docking station to download and recharge.
So what does it do?
You can record 5 different types of digital video with this camera, of differing qualities, for different uses. This list describes each, giving the resolution, number of frames per second, and the maximum length that can be stored on the provided 512MB SD card:
TV-SHQ : 640 x 480 pixels, 30 fps, low compression--21 min. 2 sec.
TV-HQ : 640 x 480 pixels, 30 fps--30 min. 39 sec.
TV-S : 320 x 240 pixels, 30 fps--1 hr. 21 min.
Web-HQ : 320 x 240 pixels, 15 fps--2 hr. 3 min.
Web-S : 176 x 144 pixels, 15 fps--2 hr. 42 min.
These are stored as MPEG-4 files on the SD card.
Based on the relatively small amount of time available for the top quality video types, I had hoped that the TV-S mode would work, but when I viewed it on the television, it was far too pixilated. The TV-HQ works fine, however, and I’ve never been in a situation (yet) where I’ve needed to record for more than a minute or two at a time. (Let’s face it, much more than that is so boring, you’ll never watch it anyway…)
The two modes at the bottom of the list are ideal for shooting clips of a manageable size for e-mailing to grandma (make sure she has QuickTime installed so she can view them…). This is an incredibly cool feature, because it meant that when the Bud finally took those first few steps this week, I was able to e-mail the moment to friends and family very easily. I just downloaded the video clips using the provided software, clicked the “share” button, entered the e-mail addresses, and clicked send.
There are also 3 resolution levels for still shots. This list shows each one, with the number of stills that can be captured on the provided SD card.
3.2 megapixels (2048 x 1536 pixels) : 491 images
2.0 megapixels (1600 x 1200 pixels) : 785 images
0.3 megapixels (640 x 480 pixels) : 3,290 images
Each of these is stored as a JPEG file on the SD card.
You can also record sound only, for up to 8 hr. 40 minutes.
And you can shoot still photos while videotaping.
(Note: the capacities given for each mode are estimated based on use of that mode only. If both video clips and still images are recorded, the time available will be shortened accordingly. The estimated capacity available can be easily checked by looking at the upper left hand corner of the monitor for the number of stills, or the upper right hand corner for the time available for video clips—and each is marked with an easily understandable icon, so it’s easy to tell which is which.)
Battery Power
Everything that I read regarding this camera described the battery life as being very good. I myself have never had a problem with depleting the battery during use, and the remaining power is easy to check by pressing the menu button and looking in the lower right hand corner. In addition, as the power gets low, an icon will show on the monitor during use indicating the percentage of battery power left.
The manual lists several benchmarks for battery life:
60 minutes video recording in TV-S mode;
160 still images, captured at 20-second intervals, flash used 1 in 3 times;
130 minutes in continuous playback mode.
But there are also several different ways that this camera conserves power: Power Save mode and Standby mode. After one minute of non-use while in record mode (5 minutes in playback mode), the camera will automatically switch to Power Save mode. (These settings can be modified using the on-screen menu.) You can “wake up” the camera by pressing any of the buttons, or by closing and opening the monitor.
Closing the monitor automatically switches the camera to Standby mode, which uses almost no power. As soon as the monitor is opened again, the camera is on and ready for shooting. This is a very convenient feature, since it saves you the step of turning the camera on each time, and allows you to very quickly grab the camera and start shooting when you need to. At the level at which I use the camera, I have found that I can leave it in standby mode like this for 2-3 days before it needs to be recharged.
What other capabilities does this camera have?
I could list everything, but at that point, you’d be better off looking up the camera specs yourself. I’ll touch on the most important.
Zoom
The lens has a 5.8x optical zoom, with an extra 10x digital zoom. While this is not phenomenal compared to others, I have found it to be sufficient. It does not zoom too quickly, though it is not always easy to steady the camera while operating the zoom, unless you use both hands.
Focus
The camera’s autofocus seems good—not exceptional, but good enough. It will of course struggle with fast pans and with maintaining focus on fast moving objects, but I imagine this should be expected with many cameras. Particularly in low-light situations, the camera will sometimes pop in and out of focus as it struggles to adjust. This can be remedied somewhat by engaging the focus lock (moving the toggle switch upwards). The focus range can also be manually adjusted to optimize close-range or mid-to-far-range subjects.
Flash
It’s small, but it’s there. The default setting is auto flash, but this can be manually set to on or off as well. Also, the flash does not operate when shooting stills during videotaping.
Self-timer
Self-explanatory. 2 seconds or 10 seconds, videos or stills.
Edit/Print
It is possible to edit video clips using the camera itself, by cutting the first or last part of a particular clip, or by joining clips. You can then choose to delete or to keep the original clip while saving the new clip.
Because this can take a while, you may want to do it only while it is plugged in using the AC adapter.
You can also print your still photos directly from the camera without having to download them to your computer. There is a screen that allows you to choose the print settings (date printed on the photo, number of copies, index print) for each image or for all images.
You can even save frames from video clips as stills and print them this way.
Filters
There are a few filters worth briefly mentioning:
Cosmetic enhances skin tones and supposedly helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
”Slim” changes the vertical proportions of the subject (Think of the end of Ben-Hur…)
Black and White or Sepia…self-explanatory.
Ghost gives a trailing “radiant effect” on images.
So that brings us to How well does this camera perform?
I’m glad you asked.
Both my husband and I really like it a lot.
Due to its size, it is so easy to carry with you and quickly pop it out whenever you want to shoot photos or videos. It’s also not as distracting as a big camera, so after a week or so, my kids barely notice I’m using it. It’s far from being a spycam, but its size does make it inconspicuous.
Of course, it’s also very lightweight, and the only drawback to this is that it is actually difficult at times to keep it steady, or refrain from accidentally bumping it—especially when trying to operate the zoom. I have found that the best remedy for this is to use both hands. And with practice, you will improve.
Because standby mode uses so little power, I rarely bother switching the camera off. This way, all I have to do is pop it open and it’s ready to shoot—which is very handy with little ones around—you never know when they’re going to do something new or funny.
It seems very durable and solid, especially given its size. It is not plastic, but metal. This also makes it very attractive. It is a nicely made piece of electronic equipment.
Regarding its performance in low light, I wouldn’t say that this camera is exceptional, but in all reality, very few cameras are going to cope without supplementary light. (What, did you think that all those night scenes in the movies were really filmed in the dark???)
Another common complaint with this camera is that pushing the shutter button causes the camera to move, resulting in a blurry picture. Either they’ve changed the camera since then, or I’m afraid those who are complaining are mistaken. As with many digital cameras, the actual shutter fires nearly a full second after pressing the shutter button. Of course, this does not solve the problem of blurry pictures, because it is sometimes difficult to a) remember to hold the camera perfectly still for a full second after firing the shutter; and b) get a squirmy child to sit still for a full second. I have tried taking photos of my 11 month old with absolutely no success whatsoever. So I guess I can’t throw out my 35MM yet.
Then there’s the complaint about noises being recorded by the camera, particularly the zoom mechanism. I have noticed this in situations where it’s extremely quiet, but the mechanical noise, though somewhat noticeable, is really not a huge issue. (Besides, it is so rarely that quiet in my house!) As for other noises, like the shutter noise, being recorded when taking photos while filming, they can be manually turned off.
But now that we’re getting into the negatives of the camera’s performance, I think I should mention the flat-out drawbacks:
1. No image stabilization. Why? I don’t know. Perhaps this would require more size, or too much battery power. But given the less-than-perfect stability of this lightweight camera, it could really use it. Is it terrible??? No. But while this is not a dealbreaker for me, if quality is absolutely top priority to you, you may have to pass on this camera for now.
2. The flash is rather small. This hasn’t been a problem for me yet, but I will be curious to see how it will perform where truly needed.
3. The time limit. 20-30 minutes of filming is not stellar. If you plan to use this camera for filming longer segments, you can purchase a larger SD card, but as far as I know, the biggest is a 1 GB, and it will cost you $250-300…
4. The lens cap is not very easy to remove. You will want to protect the lens of your camera, but removing it in a hurry can be frustrating, since it has no clasp but is more like a Tupperware lid that clings securely to the lens. I end up putting it on loosely, at a slight angle—just enough to keep it on, but so that it comes off easily. Of course, I always worry this way that it will fall off, and if I put it in my purse to bring it somewhere, I have to secure it. This could stand some improvement.
5. Screen menus for all modifications. For things like flash settings or timer functions, I’m spoiled from having old-fashioned cameras with dedicated buttons that make choosing these settings quick and easy. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not hard to do using the on-screen menu, but I guess it takes some getting used to.
Lastly, I found that I was quite lucky to have found this camera not only in stock at my local Sears, but to have found it open box, too. It seems that every other store in the surrounding area was not only sold out, but had backorders. You may have trouble getting your hands on one of these!
So in my final evaluation of this camera, I gave it four stars because it has so many good things going for it, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. If you can wait a year or two until this technology really takes off, I think that may be wise. But if you’re in the market for a camera like this, and you don’t want to wait, this is an excellent choice.
As usual, I welcome any questions I may not have covered…just leave me a comment, I’ll try to respond as soon as I can.
Thanks for reading!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 600
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
mothra3
|
 - Top 1000 |
|
Location: oblivion, awaiting a heroic rescue
Reviews written: 48
Trusted by: 27 members
About Me:
Loss of mind now complete. I am, however, feeling much better...
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.