I have to admit that I thought the Kodak V610 was a bit clunky insofar as what I need and desire for a pocket camera. It’s too big and the dual lens thing is kind of odd. That said, the camera is a functional still camera but as a diminutive movie camera it’s amazing. I now use it to make short videos that I can post on Dvorak Uncensored.
There are plenty of reviews of this camera floating around regarding the quality of the pics and the ease of use. There are a lot of complaints too but not really that many more than any typical small camera manages to attract. Would it be my first choice for a pocket camera? No, I still prefer the old Minolta X50 for that. The extra resolution (6.1 MP) obtained by the Kodak also doesn’t seem to improve upon the X50’s 5 mega pixels in any noticeable way. The 10X zoom, though, turns out to be more useful than you’d think.
But the camera does two things incredibly well. The first is that the camera has the best built-in panorama software I have yet to use. It’s quite amazing and helps make up for the overall picture quality. But the main thing is the fact that it takes a great little 640×480 30 fps movie with terrific sound. And the camera lets you trim the stream in-camera to hack off awkward beginnings or ends.
But most impressive is the sound. It’s so good that I thought they might be doing something special. Kodak told me there was nothing particularly special about the microphone or the sound circuits. So why was the sound so good?
I contacted an audio engineer friend of mine who was familiar with the mics used in small cameras. Apparently the quality varies enormously and it would cost $150 a camera to calibrate them for consistency. So they don’t. The fact is that I got lucky. And that’s all there is to it. My mic is simply exceptional by coincidence. But for all I know my mic still isn’t the best one out there.
Here I use the camera on the Cranky Geeks video podcast set to make a point about the microphone:
Considering the fact that the sound is going through a pinhole, you have to be impressed.
What is particularly cool about using a camera like this to take vids is the fact that nobody knows you are taking a movie and if they think you are then they can hardly take it seriously. This allows for excellent candid “filming.” With a gigabyte card you can capture about an hour. Although there is no way one battery charge would allow this to be continuous. In still mode with a few short vid clips and a few flash shots you get about 200 pics per charge.
The camera is also peculiarly stylish and might be a fashion statement in some circles if worn on a lanyard.
The movie function on these small consumer cameras is an afterthought that began a few years ago and nobody took it too seriously. None of the camera companies I spoke with seemed aware of the YouTube phenomenon in regards to these little cameras and how useful as camcorders they actually are. Thus none have a mic input for an external or lavaliere mic. What you see is what you get. This attitude may or may not ever change, but if you’re looking to make short vid clips this is the camera for you. It’s a keeper.
related link:
PC Magazine column
Check out Samsung’s Digimax L85 (8.1 MP). It shoots video at roughly 30 fps on 640×480 with superb sound too…though it deteriorates when zooming. Also, is the first to enable HDMI sharing. Retails @ a modest $379.99.
I’m am an amateur student photographer & had results of magnum proportions. To check out some results check the link i’ve link I provided, but if you don’t support social networks it’s understandable.
I have to say that mic does have very nice pickup.
Not that multipurpose, integrated electronics are anything new, but every time I hear about a phone that functions as a shoe or a cell phone with it’s own, bult in taser/joybuzzer, I have to wonder…
Why can’t I just buy one of these, instead?
I agree with your comment about taking discreet videos with these pocket cameras. Brilliant!!!
A feature I find particularly useful on my Casio Exilim (probably now spread to other models) is the setting to run video through a looping 5 second buffer. When you hit the button, the previous five seconds are written to disc and the video carries on recording. Great for catching those kid moments!
#1 the Samsung was ravaged by PC Magazine as junk.
I know it is a bit bigger but I have the canon SLS1 and it is amazing in movie mode. This camera has a 12x optical zoom that you can use in the movie mode and record up to 1 gig videos at 640 x 480 30fps. The part that I like is that it has a record button so you don’t have to switch modes to start the video recording.
this camea does a better job of video than my min dv camcorder, I think in the future you will only buy one camer for both jobs
I too am very impressed with both the sound and video quality.
I don’t like the idea of surreptitiously videoing people. Although I do recognize that it will be done and is done everyday right now.
Gotta trust the mag. Should’ve consulted to the site before the comment.
i don’t think pointing a camera at someone makes it surreptitious.
A professional photographer friend of mine carries the Kodak V610 around constantly. We debated for a bit about it, my take is that the V610 is the 2006 equivalent of the old Leica M3, but he fiercely disagrees. I took a picture of him disagreeing with my Leica M6, and will post it to my own blog shortly.
For my money though, I’ll never turn to digital, no matter how sexy it gets.
#10, yttrx
I’m sorry to hear you are stuck in the film crowd. While I wasn’t the first to get on the bandwagon, I was there early. Since I got my first digital for Christmas, 1999, I have shot less then 10 rolls of film. And they were because my clients demanded them. Shoot, even my Dentist is using digital x-rays that use 1/10 the power of the fastest film. And he gets better pictures.
It isn’t sexy to use digital. It’s practical.
#11, Mr. H. Fusion:
Well, when there’s a digital camera with glass that can match my Leica Summilux lenses, an instantaneous shutter response, and HDR capabilities that match Berger emulsions and paper, maybe I’ll consider switching.
But that’s a good 20 years off.