One of the problems with devices like this, is the lack of reviews by professional camera/camcorder review sites. In the rare case that they do a review, they will be given a poor score because the reviewers seem to always look down at them from a prosumers point of view rather than as a consumer. Consumers quite often are simply looking for a fun device that provides convenience, is inexpensive in case of loss, and does the job rather than something that produces output fit for a movie theatre with a price to match! Therefore customers like you and I either have to take a chance and make sure the store has a good return poilcy or hope that another customer has already done so and written a basic review, and here is mine.
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br /The video quality in it's high quality mode of 640x480/30fps is very good and clear for the price of the device. It is very easy to use and you can get it up and running without much reference to it's manual. You can record up to 80 minutes of video in high quality mode per 1GB and considering it can take a 2GB card, this should easily be more than enough for most people.
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br /One thing you have to remember though, is that these devices are very poor in low light such as indoors in the evening unless you have very good lighting. If you intend to use it mainly outdoors you won't be bothered by this.
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br /The device has a small non swivelling 1.5 inch LCD which makes it a little more awkward to use than those equipped with the swivelling type. The SD/MMC card slot is at the rear under a rubber flap and there is a tripod socket on the bottom.
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br /This is one of the first devices of this type to incorporate an LED video light to help with the low light but unfortunately it seems to be little more than a gimmick. It is not that the LED's are not bright enough (They are almost blinding!) or that they don't illuminate a close subject enough. It just seems that the devices sensor is only sensitive enough to pick out the very brightest center portion giving you a tunnel effect. If used to film someone in low light or darkness for example, you get a similar effect to a flash light being held up to their face in that it is only a their face and little else that is visible. I don't expect miracles with a cheap device like this, but I would've thought it would've have been at least better than this so it would pick up their shoulders for instance.
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br /The summary is that this camera seems like it would take a few knocks and is very compact ie a true palmcorder. If you ignore the useless LED video light and only intend to use it during daylight hours outside, then this would make a great beach camera for instance as you wouldn't be as worried dropping this in the sand or water given its price!

This is a great camcorder if you are filming sloths with a tripod. If anything moves, it blurs. The video is noticeably choppy, the stills are blurry. The sound is questionable. You can't fill up a 1 GB memory card on one set of batteries (about 40 minutes). From the time you hit the button to take a picture until it actually takes it is at least 3 seconds. It does not remember settings from power off to power on, I had to set the flash to auto repeatedly.
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br /It is small, it is light, it will fit in you pocket. It is actually quite amazing for so small a device.
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br /If you are filming for your website, this is cost effective, buy rechargeable batteries. If you are filming for posterity or a DVD to give grandma, don't bother.

I returned this new Aiptek IS-DV2 for refund for two reasons: Return Reason #1: Video and Audio are not exactly in sync. I used this camcorder (in its two and only two video modes: VGA (640x480pixels), and QVGA (320x240 pixels) to record dance performances and I was disappointed that the video dance movements did not match with the music. The video and audio are off by a fraction of a second, and is very noticeable, and very annoying. Return Reason #2: While recording dance performance, and other normal sounds, the audio is very distorted. The distortion on the audio is so bad that the audio is unusable. I hope Aiptek can fix this two problems. If Aiptek fixes these two problems, the camcorder will be a good camcorder, because all the other features on this camcorder are good. (I also have the Aiptek DV5100M which is very good and I kept. Also, I have and I like the Aiptek DV3100, Fidelity DV3100, and the first model Aiptek DVII.)

This was purchased for my 12 year old son to take on a trip to Europe. It is a great camera/camcorder for the money. He took 1,000 on a 1 GB card we purchased for him. Some of his pictures were better than ours. While you will not get top quality videos and pictures, it is excellent quality for the money spent. He loves it!

My 10 year old daughter just love it. Very easy to use. My computer inderstood the camcorder right away. Perfect for youngster. Not the best pictures.

This camera is a poor excuse for a camcorder; the picture quality (and I hate to use that term here) is pretty terrible; whatever stabilization this has seems non-existent. Don't bother using this without a media card or you'll only have room for about 20 seconds of video or 5 poor resolution pictures. To even compare this camera to camcorders from legacy manufacturers would be an insult to those fine brands. One additional note- if you are an Apple MAC user, don't even bother. Repeated attempts to install drivers or upload pictures only resulted in failure, frustration and hostility. Spend more money and get a real camera.

Sure, it's nice and compact and has a cool flip screen, but if your subject is not perfectly still, it's blurry. It doesn't zoom out enough and when it does, it's choppy. I'm in college trying to take pictures of my friends doing weird stuff and that stuff usually happens once, hard to repeat. This camera takes nearly 10-13 seconds from "power on" to the first picture. By then, the moment has passed. If you want your 11 year old to have a camera for a short time (sucks batteries like a hoover), consider it. However, my strap broke due to normal use in only 2 months. I concur with the other reviews concerning poor quality and sound and shoddy LCD light.
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br /Still, I got it for Christmas and it's there when I need it.

Easy to use -- lightweight -- nice for someone just starting out -- the picture seems very nice too -- even my husband the "camera enthusist" was impressed with the quality of the picture.

I got this camera for christmas and i use it on occasion. It takes descent videos on the highest quality but you cant move it too quickly. The photos are horrible. You have to hole it completely still and it still comes out blurry. You also cant put extera lenses on it. Overall its okay but i definately would suggest a camcorder with a hard drive or mini dv or just any one with a rechargeable battery.

I bought this video camera for my 12-year-old son who enjoys recording moments and events with his friends. It does not provide the best quality and since I purchased it a week ago, he has had to change the AA batteries three times.
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br /This camera is okay for the price, but I would not recommend this camera if you wanted to record high quality material.
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i purchased this for my husband for when he goes offroading. we have a 500$ one and there was no way i would let him take that one out there. so i bought this one for him at a circuit city for $80. def good for the price. since he may end up breaking it or losing it on the trails this is a great inexpensive camera. he loves it and the videos come out pretty good on it. i would recomend this camera to anyone that wants one for recreational use or cant afford for drop half a grand on a great one.

Ok, so this thing isnt the greatest camera in the world, but for $100 getting a picture camera, video camera, MP3 player and voice recorder all in one that fits in your pocket its not bad. sure you could buy the iphone and get all that, but that has some strings attached.
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br /as for my review of this.
br /Pros: picture size, light weight, small, battery life
br /Cons: Picture quality, menu set up, lens, LCD doesn't swivel, no flash control, LED video light is useless.
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br /Ok so there are more cons for me than there are pros, but remember its $100 and it does a whole bunch of stuff. i recommend this for kids and those of use that are adventurous (you dont want to break an expensive camera or bring too much gear. really i think this thing is great for hikers, all in one to get pix and jam out on the way.

its great..i bought it for Christmas and my mom tried to break it by trowing it on the floor..and guess what?
im still using it...its THAT long lasting
its worth it BIG time

This camera records audio fine but as for video....it's terrible. Any movement at all produces huge blurs leaving my entire 32 minute video I made completely incomprehensible besides the audio. There are many many other choices for a video camera and I urge you to choose any of them in the place of this one.

the photo button broke off and it eats batteries like they dont cost $6 a pack already.... go for a bigger investment... a rechargeable battery will be worth it

this is the first digital camcorder i've had but i expected it to have a little better resolution. i have an older vhs-c camcorder and it takes clearer video than this. i really don't think it is 6 mega pixels though. my regular digital camera is 4 mp and takes a lot clearer picture. overall it's ok for the price. i plan on using it to take quick video clips of my kids and i think it will work for that.

this is the newest Aiptek device out for the Northern region, but not the only one to come. there are other models soon to hit. first tawain, england/france//germany then the USA
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br /the IS-dv was the first stabilizer hybrid, this is not the IS-dv2 it is the done over models simular to the dv3300-4500 series.
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br /an aa battery system makes it better for fast replacement offresh ones, the led lights do no have magnifications , and that will limit to 3 feet of portraid shots.
br /simple science
br /take a led plash light amd place directly in or below the lens, ot and away to the object. You gt a video or shot ofa person, that's what Aiptek thought it would do. threw in 3 cents of leds and found a way to fraw battery life quicker out of the camera
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br /on a good note. Consumers have to remember it is a PC camcorder, not a home movie orpro camcorder. on the fly, snap it ot and 7 secs you have instant vid in a 20 foot surrounding
br / what more then 20 feet to view a professional device is better.