bit-tech Shopping: Mustek DV-5200 SD/MMC Card Digital Camcorder

• Internal Memory
• MultiMediaCard
• SD Memory Card

• ASF
• MPEG-4

• NTSC (analog)
• PAL (analog)

• Auto
• Preset Modes

• Built-In Microphone
• Built-in Speaker
• MP3 Player
• Self Timer

• A/V Output
• Headphone Jack
• USB - Universal Serial Bus

• Battery
• Cables
• Carrying Case
• Editing Software
• Neck Strap

• (2) AA Battery
• Battery

Rating: 8

Time with product: 15 Days

Strengths: good starter camera for young adults to peek interest before moving to a more expensive model.

Weaknesses: It's cheap.... Not practical for long term family use.

Summary: The mustek brand has been out for years. Mostly knock off quality but as I stated it's a good starter camera to see if theirs true interest (in this case video cameras) then if the interest is there to purchase a higher end camera.Good value for the price.

Rating: 6

Time with product: 7

Strengths: Cheap, Light, No mechanical parts. Fun

Weaknesses: Poor image in low light, Small internal memory, 15fps at fine quality video (640x480). No Mac support. ASF output

Summary: Got the 5200 as a tool for learning video editing. Just needed to shoot my own video. This camcorder does what the price says. Its good enough and cheap enough for learning with before going out and spending a small fortune on a good DV camera. Quality is OK, but the good thing is that for parties and such, stick a big SD card in and you can give it to the kids to use and there is little chance of it coming back broken. Mounted it in the car and as no moving parts can survive all the potholes and the engine vibration without a special mount. Has gone across the car while cornering with no damage other than shutting off. ASF format video a pain as needs to be converted for the Mac to plain Mpeg4 or other format. Overall a good little camera but don't expect HD quality. You get what you pay for.

Rating: 6

Time with product: 5 Days

Strengths: light, easy handling, dirt cheap

Weaknesses: senary screen too small, low quality of image

Summary: I just got this toy-Dv for fun. What should I say? A product with this price can do? Low quality image, just so so of so-called MPEG-4. But as a toy, What else you can expect for? The built-in storage space is far too small to be satisfied.