Too good for a toy, but priced like one
Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 5.7 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
Thanks for your feedback
The DXG-505V is an inexpensive, value-packed multi-function device that tries to do everything, but is spread a bit thin in terms of practicality. As a camera, its pictures are mega-sharp although it's surprising to experience internal mechanical focusing noise (and such short battery life) on a solid-state camcorder that has no moving parts. DXG should have really bundled in the optional NP-60 Li-Ion rechargeable battery (found online for under $11) and a 2GB SD card (about $25) and raised the price accordingly, because you WILL be buying these items.
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br /As far as features go, let's run down the list:
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br /1) Pictures. Quite good! Very basic lens, but sharp with decent color, 5.1MP resolution, auto-focus, flickery electronic flash.
br /2) Camcorder. Grainy, even in HQ (640x480) mode, with rather low color resolution. Spend $25 and get yourself a 2GB SD card. Haven't tried the Direct Printing support, but it's in there.
br /3) FM radio MP3. These work, barely. Clumsy and primitive.
br /4) Webcam. Yep, this works. You can capture pics or movies with it in Pinnacle Studio or Vegas. Bonus for also being able to record and playback via NTSC.
br /5) Flash drive. Works just like any other, very easy to get your files in and out of the camera.
br /6) Audio recorder. Primitive. Sound is fixed at 12KHz mono, and record levels are not adjustable.
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br /So, you get the idea. The LCD rotatable LCD display is excellent, and the firmware is very well done for the most part - so as long as you keep your expectations modest, it's a very fun device but strictly for kids and hobbyists.
It's decent at everything BUT the video recording
Rating: 2 out of 5
Weight: 4.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
Thanks for your feedback
What this is supposed to do best is probably the worst feature of this product, which is recording video. If you don't mind low res video, and just want something to mess around with, then it's fine. It does take good pictures, but if I wanted good pictures, I would've bought a digital camera. Same goes for the mp3 player, radio, and voice recorder. I wanted this for capturing decent video, and it does a really lousy job with what they should have made thier number one priority. I didn't expect too much from this camcorder for it's price, but it's pretty bad when my brothers digital camera, which was cheaper than this, takes much better quality video. So yea, your probably just better off buying a digital camera that records video, because it'll probably be better at pictures and video than this sub-standard camcorder.
