Customer Reviews

Pure Digital PSV351 Point & Shoot Video Camcorder

5 star:		(111)
4 star:		(47)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Any less-than-5-star reviews of this camcorder that were written during Summer 2006 simply miss the point of the device. The Pure Digital Point and Shoot camcorder is one of the most easy-to-use electronic devices I have ever used. With only 6 buttons (on/off, play, delete, zoom in/out, backward/forward, and stop/pause) one is able to digitally record and save events with the greatest of ease. Very little instructional material is packaged with this device because it is simply not needed. Coming complete with batteries, I was able to start recording immediately out-of-the-box. For the price and convenience - currently only $130 and virtually no setup time for recording spontaneous events - the Point and Shoot camcorder simply cannot be beat. There are two drawbacks to this device: memory and image quality. With only 512MB of unexpandable memory, the device only stores 30 minutes of footage. However, downloading footage to your PC or laptop is incredibly easy as the device has a built-in USB port that connects directly with no additional cabling needed. After downloading footage to computer, the memory can be cleared from the device and recording can resume. Image quality is decent but not great. If capturing life events on a budget is all that is needed, you will not regret purchasing this camcorder. Please be aware that according to a recent Wall Street Journal review, Pure Digital has licensed its technology to other firms, which are expected to release similar products with greater quality and features in the future - in my opinion it is probable that such products might be introduced to the marketplace as soon as Christmas 2006. If you cannot wait, however, $130 is a small price to pay to be an early adopter of such technology.

This is a nifty little unit that functions exactly as billed. It might be considered a "fast food" version of a camcorder. The video quality is acceptable -- MPEG4 resolution which is roughly equivalent to VHS. But where it shines is the simple user interface. If you want to capture a moment quickly, you can be shooting within 20 seconds. And you can email a brief 20 second clip in 90 seconds after shooting it (assuming your computer is in the same room!). The controls are simple, with nothing to set, and it's much simpler than trying to shoot video with your digital still camera. You can use Nero 6.6 or 7 to burn your videos to a DVD or a VCD. The zoom lens is digital, not optical, so there is a noticeable decrease in quality when you use it. And the little built in microphone doesn't have much range. But given the price, this gizmo can't be beat. I loved mine so much, I bought 2 more as birthday gifts for friends.

If you need something simple to record life's daily events, this is what you have been looking for. Very easy to use, bright colors, outstanding audio. You can take the camera into an "authorized reseller" and have your full memory transferred to a DVD (for a price, of course) or you can save your videos directly to your computer. There is 512 megabytes of built in memory, so you can do the math as to how many 30 minute videos you can save. Of course, you can also burn your own DVD's then remove the saved videos from your computer.

I had some big problems trying to dump the video off the camera onto my HP laptop. The built in software created error messages, and couldn't load onto the computer. The camera would turn off in the middle of transferring the video (after I FINALLY got the software loaded). I never did get the laptop to accept the camera. I emailed the company and, as of this writing four days later, never got a response. I solved my own problem by trying the camera with my desktop PC and everything went perfectly.

The software is very easy to use and transfers are quick. When you finish, you can easily delete the video(s) off the camera.

Battery life seems to be okay. I haven't used up the orginal set, but I haven't shot that much video yet (although I spent a LOT of time trying to get the camera to play nice with my laptop).

Bottom line: if you buy the camera you will like it; if you have troubles, don't expect any help from PureDigital!

I always felt that Pure Digital would make a permanent camcorder like the single-use camcorder that they supply to CVS and Rite-Aid, selling for $29.95. So don't buy the single-use camcorder version because you won't get the camcorder back. The single-use one has only 20 minutes recording time. Buy this camcorder for $98.00 and it will pay for itself. Considering the low price, this little camcorder is an excellent buy!

The Pure Digital Point and Shoot digital camcorder is the easiest camera I've used since the old days of Kodak box cameras. Results are excellent and the camera is virtually foolproof. Even my wife, who is technologically challenged, has made excellent vidoes with this compact jewel. We are looking forward to using it on an Alaska cruise in September. The only drawback, so far, is the warning not to use rechargeable batteries. It seems the same AA batteries I use in my digital still camera should function just as well in this camcorder. I would also like to be able to insert a larger capacity chip for more than 30 minutes recording time.

Unbelievably easy to use, it is compact and ready at a moments notice. When your ready to put the videos on your computer, plug it into a USB port and the software loads itself. Software is just as easy to use. Video is fine for what it is, zoom is not so good. The software will compress the images for e-mailing, but with a resulting loss of quality. I used Windows Movie Maker to edit my videos and burn them to a CD. The 30 minute capacity doesn't sound like much, but I took it on a 4 day trip and still had 12 minutes left. Lots of fun.

I like the small size and weight of the product. Its simplicity makes it something that I am beginning to carry around with me to "see what happens". I am thinking abt making a short film using it. The only suggestions I have is that there should be a small bit of documentation in the package that explains that the software to export the files and play them on a PC or Mac are stored in the camera and that there is a special driver that needs to be installed to use with other software like Adobe Premier Pro. Other than that I have been satisified.

Jack

I got one of these recently and I couldn't be happier. It's a lot more compact and "pocketable" than any other camcorder I've seen. These video quality is surprisingly good. Good sound too. The best part is how much easier it is to watch the movies on my computer than other camcorders. Just plug it in with the built-in USB arm and the viewing software runs. It also helps you email the videos by compressing the files for you to attach to emails. Great product and a great value!

I have trouble taking pictures and videos in parts of my house due to low lighting. i had no problem with this camera even at night. the camera is sooooo easy to use. it comes with wonderful video software. the picture quailty is great and the sound it perfect. my only complaint is the battery life. if you play back videos on the camcorder be ready to replacing 2 double A batterys with each use.

Bought one after reading the positive review in the Wall Street Journal. Was wary that 30 minutes would not be enough time as I was traveling over the Memorial Day weekend, but it lasted the entire trip and then some.

The camera lives up to its billing; couldn't be easier to use, just took it out of the package and went to town. Never even looked at the manual until we got home. Connecting and viewing the video was easy, too. Just pop out the port, plug it right in, and it starts playing.

Picture quality was better than expected, especially given the price point. I have another camcorder in the $150 price range but the images on that camcorder are often stilted and dark; the Point & Shoot camcorder was much closer in quality to my $500 Sony than my cheap one.

Overall, a great product and a very good buy.