Demystifying a Product: Micro Stainless Steel Digital Camcorder Review − 7 December, 2007
A review I wrote recently:
You might have been wondering what Thinkgeek's Micro Stainless Steel Digital Camcorder is all about. You can try to Google the item, but all you get is the Internet echo chamber and annoying syndication of Thinkgeek's description of the item, but not a true review of the product. Check my full review here!
Box Front
When you first get your package, you'll notice the rather compact box featuring the camcorder. I have no idea who the manufacturer is and it looks more like an item you'd buy from Sharper Image.
Box Back
The stats on the back are virtually meaningless to folks who don't understand tech specs for cameras. In most cases, you'll notice that the stats aren't exactly top-of-the-line when compared to other types of cameras and camcorders, particularly for 2007. However, just remember that you're getting a multimedia device for just $200, which really isn't that bad.
Slightly excessive packaging, but you got to jazz up the packaging if there's really not much inside the box.
Yes, that's the camcorder. It seems they only made the box so huge to trick your eyes into thinking that the device is small and compact. However, you'll see in the next photo that...
...it's not exactly small. It's bigger and heavier than an iPhone. Size-wise, it's similar to Kyocera digital cameras from a few years ago.
Screen face down
Speaker is in the corner. Sound-wise, this thing can belch out some serious decibels with that tiny speaker. It's about cellphone quality sound, so you might need to rely on earphones if you want to get better quality.
Screen flipped face up
You see that the screen is a generous size and comprises almost half of the width of the device. Picture quality is great for an LCD and glare is minimal when used outdoors.
SD card goes into the left side and batter on the right.
Back of unit
This side faces you while in operation.
Power button - Hold for 2-3 seconds to turn on/off. There is an auto-shut off feature that you can enable/disable through the Menu.
Mode button - Rotates among different modes, including camcorder, camera, and voice recorder in record mode. In play mode, you can rotate between video, photos, voice recorded clips, and mp3-player.
Flash button - Switches between auto-flash, always flash, and no flash. Camera memorizes the flash setting, so you don't need to change it each time you turn it on and off.
Record-play toggle - Tiny switch that switches modes.
Record/Snap photo button - Button is small and not raised very high. Big finger types might not enjoy the firm press needed to record/snap photos.
Zoom d-stick - Joystick style navigation allows you to zoom/pan during record mode. It is also used to navigate the Menu. Pressing into the stick is the same as "Enter".
Menu button - 3 tabs allow you to change settings for the camcorder, including video/photo quality, SD card management, and other standard settings.
Front
This side faces your subject.
Lens - With no optical viewfinder, this unit solely relies on the screen. The lens is positioned quite well at the top of the unit and angles are good when held upright.
A/V input/output - In most cases, you will be inserting earphones for listening to MP3's. You can also insert the included A/V wires to watch videos/photos on a TV.
Charger input - It uses a compact AC adapter and unit recharges completely in about an hour. You can also use the included USB cable to connect the camcorder for webcam functions and charging.
Accesory Box
Rechargeable lithium battery
Unfortunately this is not a standard battery size that you normally see for digital cameras nowadays. It would have been better if you could swap it out with a more popular size for long time use without having to stop and recharge.
Earphones, USB cable, A/V cord
AC charger
Base stand
You can only use the base stand for webcam mode. It's not a dock and is not a comfortable way to set the device for recharging. Due to the shape of the hole, the unit only fits in one direction. It is stable and made from rather cheap, but durable plastic.
Instruction manual
It's not very detailed. It doesn't do a very good job of telling you all the functions.
Software
CD includes software for converting video to DVD format. It is not required to move video clips and photos from the camera. Use a SD card reader and you can move it directly.
You might have been wondering what Thinkgeek's Micro Stainless Steel Digital Camcorder is all about. You can try to Google the item, but all you get is the Internet echo chamber and annoying syndication of Thinkgeek's description of the item, but not a true review of the product. Check my full review here!
Box Front
When you first get your package, you'll notice the rather compact box featuring the camcorder. I have no idea who the manufacturer is and it looks more like an item you'd buy from Sharper Image.
Box Back
The stats on the back are virtually meaningless to folks who don't understand tech specs for cameras. In most cases, you'll notice that the stats aren't exactly top-of-the-line when compared to other types of cameras and camcorders, particularly for 2007. However, just remember that you're getting a multimedia device for just $200, which really isn't that bad.
Slightly excessive packaging, but you got to jazz up the packaging if there's really not much inside the box.
Yes, that's the camcorder. It seems they only made the box so huge to trick your eyes into thinking that the device is small and compact. However, you'll see in the next photo that...
...it's not exactly small. It's bigger and heavier than an iPhone. Size-wise, it's similar to Kyocera digital cameras from a few years ago.
Screen face down
Speaker is in the corner. Sound-wise, this thing can belch out some serious decibels with that tiny speaker. It's about cellphone quality sound, so you might need to rely on earphones if you want to get better quality.
Screen flipped face up
You see that the screen is a generous size and comprises almost half of the width of the device. Picture quality is great for an LCD and glare is minimal when used outdoors.
SD card goes into the left side and batter on the right.
Back of unit
This side faces you while in operation.
Power button - Hold for 2-3 seconds to turn on/off. There is an auto-shut off feature that you can enable/disable through the Menu.
Mode button - Rotates among different modes, including camcorder, camera, and voice recorder in record mode. In play mode, you can rotate between video, photos, voice recorded clips, and mp3-player.
Flash button - Switches between auto-flash, always flash, and no flash. Camera memorizes the flash setting, so you don't need to change it each time you turn it on and off.
Record-play toggle - Tiny switch that switches modes.
Record/Snap photo button - Button is small and not raised very high. Big finger types might not enjoy the firm press needed to record/snap photos.
Zoom d-stick - Joystick style navigation allows you to zoom/pan during record mode. It is also used to navigate the Menu. Pressing into the stick is the same as "Enter".
Menu button - 3 tabs allow you to change settings for the camcorder, including video/photo quality, SD card management, and other standard settings.
Front
This side faces your subject.
Lens - With no optical viewfinder, this unit solely relies on the screen. The lens is positioned quite well at the top of the unit and angles are good when held upright.
A/V input/output - In most cases, you will be inserting earphones for listening to MP3's. You can also insert the included A/V wires to watch videos/photos on a TV.
Charger input - It uses a compact AC adapter and unit recharges completely in about an hour. You can also use the included USB cable to connect the camcorder for webcam functions and charging.
Accesory Box
Rechargeable lithium battery
Unfortunately this is not a standard battery size that you normally see for digital cameras nowadays. It would have been better if you could swap it out with a more popular size for long time use without having to stop and recharge.
Earphones, USB cable, A/V cord
AC charger
Base stand
You can only use the base stand for webcam mode. It's not a dock and is not a comfortable way to set the device for recharging. Due to the shape of the hole, the unit only fits in one direction. It is stable and made from rather cheap, but durable plastic.
Instruction manual
It's not very detailed. It doesn't do a very good job of telling you all the functions.
Software
CD includes software for converting video to DVD format. It is not required to move video clips and photos from the camera. Use a SD card reader and you can move it directly.
Comments:
druide (December 29, 2007. 09:40pm)
What about image quality and light sensitivity??
hanta (January 31, 2008. 01:44pm)
Anybody else have this thing just fail to record anything? Or rather, it records blackness, as if the lens cover was blocking the lens? Major bummer, I'm returning mine. I just wish there was something else similar to exchange for.