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CMOS High-Definition Camcorder by Aiptek below 100 USD

Written by Handycam Reviews on 13 November 2009

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Aiptek A-HD 720p 8 MP CMOS High-Definition Camcorder (Black)

Apitek gives you the high definition media player and recorder within your budget. Use it as your camera, video recorder and watch movies on screen in high quality! Above all, it fits just within your palm! The camcorder also has a stylish look. If you are thinking about buying a low cost camcorder, but not really looking for the flat pocket camcorders, this gives you an opportunity to think and decide. A great camcorder as gift during the X-mas time.

Aiptek A-HD 720P Highlights

1280 x 720 – 16:9 ratio at 30 FPS for recording movies 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.

Personal Media Player and Recorder 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-inch color LCD. Record video from DVD’s, TV, VHS, or from any device that has RCA outputs for entertainment on the go.

Max. Resolution up to 8 Mega-Pixel 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.

Digital Zoom 2x real time digital zoom allows you to zoom in/out while recording video.

Swivel-Reversible 2.4-inch TFT Color LCD Display Review and playback you HD video clips and hi-res pictures in real time. LCD swivels 270 degrees for unlimited video and photo taking.

Night Shot Enhance image quality while capturing photos in darker environments with your A-HD.

Recharge Battery via USB 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.

HDTV Component Output 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.

Removable Hard Disk and SD/MMC Card Reader 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.

Amazon.com Price: $123.99 (as of 2010-09-10 19:27:55 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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Aiptek A-HD 720p 8 MP CMOS High-Definition Camcorder (Black)

Manufacturer: Aiptek, Inc.
Customer Rating:
List Price: $99.99
Sale Price: $123.99
Availibility: View Product Availability

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Product Description

A-HD is your 720p HD camcorder, digital camera, and personal media player/recorder. The A-HD 720p captures true-to-life vibrant colors and astonishing high def images like you've never seen--right in the palm of your hand. The A-HD comprises 720P (1280 x 720 resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio) at 30 frames per second (FPS) using advanced H.264 technology. The A-HD also functions as a 5 mega pixel digital camera with a CMOS sensor and your personal media player / recorder, allowing you to record from your TV/VCR/DVD player. Replaying your video and images is a snap as the A-HD offers virtually unlimited choices and compatibility. You can choose to view instantly by playing them back on the A-HDs 270-degree swivel-reversible 2.4-inch TFT color LCD display or connect the A-HD directly to your HDTV, HD monitor, standard TV, or PC. Once in a lifetime moments, family events, outings, or just goofing around can now be captured, replayed, and relived in a whole new way. Aiptek makes your life in HD, possible.

Product Details

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

Video Reviews

Derwent Resevoir County Durham/Aiptek pocketcam review

New Camera Test

Customer Reviews

Excellent for web video

Review Date: July 10, 2010

Reviewer: bgnoisetv,

I produce a weekly Internet TV show that is shot against a green screen. I bought one of these cameras to try it out and have fallen in love with it. It does exactly what I'm after and is a huge improvement over using MiniDV tapes and SD resolution. Very surprising...

The Little Camera That Could

Review Date: June 11, 2010

Reviewer: M. Stoughton, Massachusetts

I have had this camera for about two years. I bought it to be a knockabout camera for daily snapshot use, and as such it's proven to be "The Little Camera That Could". I've taken thousands of pictures with it. I've dropped it, splashed it with salt water, left it recording for hours, used it as a video recorder using the output from a better camera, frozen it, fell on it, let my 10 year old and her friends play with it, strapped it to helmets, and subjected it to countless other abuses over the time that I've had it. The only time that it ever gave me a problem was when I completely submerged it in salt water. Aiptek replaced it for free, no questions asked. It's outlasted my Nikon Coolpix point and shoot camera that I got at almost the same time.

The video quality is good, but is a bit overcompressed. It looks great on a big screed Hi-Def television, but tends to look fuzzy on a computer monitor. I can edit the footage with no problem in iMovie, but it has to render in Final Cut Express before I can do anything with it.

The still photos look very good for snapshots, but don't use the camera for landscapes, the cheesy optics lose resolution (get fuzzy) with objects that are more than 100 feet away. There is also a slight yellow cast to the images, something that is easily fixed in iPhoto or other editing software.

There is a large element of "you get what you pay for" with this camera. It feels flimsy, The optics stink compared to a Sony or Canon. The audio is a little bit muddy, but only when you compare it to a better piece of equipment. The digital zoom is useless. Sometimes the rolling shutter effect, where the bottom of the picture lags behind the top, can be seen when following fast moving objects, although I've heard the same complaint about the $2,500 Canon 5D Mark II.

All that said, I love this little camera, and wouldn't hesitate to buy other Aiptek products based on the service this one's given me.

Great Camcorder for the Price!

Review Date: February 7, 2010

Reviewer: ThisOnePlease,

This is a fantastic camera, particularly for such a great price. It does a fantastic job at recording at 720p, and it has built in standard resolution modes for things like DVDs, or the web, so you just pick the one you want - very handy. I read a couple of reviews about these types of cameras that say that it is hard to stabilize the picture without a tripod - I don't know what they are talking about. The video is very stable, no jittering at all. The menus are easy to navigate, it is light and fits well in your hand, and the screen is great and can be moved around so you still see what you are shooting no matter what the angle. It records in low light very well. Great extra features like video out, HD video out, audio visual in (so you can record from a tv, gamebox or other source). It comes with all the cables you would need for any of the options. And as for being well-made - our kitten got hold of it (he liked the little handstrap) and ran it around the house, banging into walls and such, and it still works great, not a scratch on it. The only drawback is the sound - it needs a foam cover on it or something because it picks up sound almost too well - there is no filter. I would definitely recommend this!

Great Entry level flash based HD camcorder!

Review Date: January 26, 2010

Reviewer: Master Crash, Buford, Ga, US

We love this camcorder!

The price is excellent and if you understand you get what you pay for you won't be dissapointed...
It does't have a lot of features, but that's what makes it great, it's just really simple.

Open the display and press record to sart/stop! That's exactly what I wanted and that's what I got in this handy device...

With good lighting it has crisp video recording and the mic works pretty good too...

With a 4gig flash card we get 120 minutes of video... I wouldn't recommend a flash card bigger than 4gig since the battery doesn't hold past 90 minutes with average use...

I'd also recommend making short clips (2-5 minutes) even if the event you're recording is longer than that. Files get big fast and easier to author a DVD if clips are already parsed.

The camera starts up quickly and recording is near instant from the press of the button...

Aiptek could have saved time and not installed the flash and camera feature... It's not that great unless you don't want to carry a 2nd 'real' camera around. But handy sometimes when you just want to snap a picture of something you want to remember later...

Overall, I would recommend it and looking at getting one of their higer end models in the future...

Great camera for the price

Review Date: January 24, 2010

Reviewer: W. Schultz,

I bought this for $60. on sale, so it was a great buy. Haven't used it a whole lot yet. But, the few times I have it worked well and the picture was good on my HDTV.
The instrucions sucked, as I need good directions, but eventually figured it out.