Aiptek Pocket DV5800 MPVR Plus 5MP MPEG4 Media Player & Video Recorder

In the description of this item on the Amazon product page for the camera, it states it can work on a memory card of up to 4 GB. Thats not true. The max is only 2 GB. It was stated in the User Manuel for the camera and there was a card error when you try to format. Also, if you insert a card larger than 2 GBs, anything you record will go directly to the camera's internal memory of 15 MBs. So this is a great camera, great for little things, but nothing High Def.

Okay, this camera is pretty much outdated now that Aiptek and others have come out with their various HD cameras, but I got mine at a deep discount a couple of weeks before Christmas '07, so it was worth it to me.

I already had an Aiptek camera and decided to get this one because each camera has features that the other doesn't. My first one can be used as a webcam, which the mpvr+cb can't. The mpvr, however, has A/V in and can be used as a personal video recorder/player, which is a feature my other Aiptek doesn't have.

I use the older Aiptek mainly as a dashcam in my car, since its shape allows it to sit upright, leaning slightly on the lcd screen. It attaches to the dash with velcro.

I use the MPVR+CB for general video shooting and photo taking, and in places where using/carrying my Mini DV would be difficult. I also use the MPVR to record from other video sources, such as my Mini DV or TV broadcasts, as one might use a TiVo or other DVR. The one downside to this is that the audio and video often end up out of sync when recorded with this camera, so I have to synchronize them myself using video editing software.

Now, if I'd paid several hundred dollars for this camera and it had this issue, I'd return it. But it didn't cost near that much and I bought it knowing it had this issue and that I'd have to deal with it in editing.

I use this camera, and use it often, due to several factors:
1) it's small; it can fit in a pocket, purse or small camera bag
2) it has no moving parts; it records to SD cards. The max I've tried so far is 4 gigs.
3) it's very easy to transfer the video to my computer for editing; no firewire or recording to another digital source like I have to do with my Mini DV.
4) the video and picture quality are decent for what this camera cost.
5) it's got a somewhat usable image stabilizer and slightly less usable night shot mode

It is somewhat limited.
1) Already mentioned the A/V sync problem.
2) It's got a digital zoom only, which means you're not going to get good close-ups of something down the street or high up in a tree. If I need a powerful zoom I go to my Mini DV.
3) The Night Shot mode works by slowing down the shutter, which produces an effect that some people don't like. Probably better to use a flashlight if you're going to shoot in the dark. :)
4) It would be great if it had a place to plug in an external microphone as the built-in mic is somewhat limited in range and power

Not much in the way of manual settings. You can change preset white balance settings (auto, sun, 2 types of indoor lighting, shade) and change exposure settings somewhat. You can choose video quality (QVGA (320x240), VGA (640x480) and D1 (720x480).

I've never used the MP3 player since I have a Sansa and a Nano for playing music/podcasts and I also haven't tried the voice recorder because I have a digital audio recorder for that kind of thing, so I can't comment on those two features.

Overall, I like this camera, even with its faults. I didn't pay what Amazon's charging for it, but if you understand what this camera is(consumer level pocket-sized video camera, digital camera, PVR) and what it isn't (it isn't meant to be a super-duper pro level camera--you're not going to get that at this price point). Before anyone buys a camera or camcorder of any kind they should do some research so they know what to expect. That's exactly what I did and I'm very happy with this camera.

I received mine (I bought it direct from Aiptek) a dew days ago and this camera has none of the issues others describe. Perhaps theirs were earlier iterations; I don't know. But mine worked perfectly right out of the box. Capturing video from VCR or DVD is flawless; my YouTube videos are better than ever - crisper, cleaner and not at all "de-synched". My only (minor) complaint is that if the ambient light isn't real good there tends to be a bit of fluctuation in the light of the vid but that's a very minor thing to me. Overall this is simply an astoundingly good piece of gear for the money. Easy to use and easy to love :-).

Charlie Hayes, author of many YouTube videos and author ofPerfect Peace: An Introduction To Your Natural State

This unit, like some other Aiptek cameras, has a slight problem with video and sound synchronization. It is fixable, however, by downloading a free firmware upgrade from Aiptek's website. Go to their website and find Support at the top of the page. Go to E-mail Support and click on the line that says "Do I need a firmware update?". Firmware is a little bit of information in the camera that makes it perform. They will want your model and serial numbers and will send you the update via e-mail. I got mine back in two days and installed it. Tip: Be sure to press the button on the screen first, then the other button for installation. You will need an SD flash memory card to install the firmware. All is fine now. An average computer user will have no trouble with this at all.

This is a nice little camera with a fabulous set of features. However, still photos I'm finding to have highly irregular lumination with bizarre dark bands across the photos, and in video I see desynchronization of the audio and video by around half a second with image stabilization, or a 1/10th of a second without synchronization. I'm checking with customer support to ascertain if this specific unit is defective or if they're all like this.