Customer Reviews

RCA "Traveler" Small Wonder EZ210 Digital Camcorder with 4 Hour Recording and 2GB Included SD Memory

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I was searching for a compact camcorder that used standard batteries instead of the usual rechargeable packs and discovered the RCA and the Flip Video which both use AA batteries. I found a demo Flip unit and thought the picture quality looked surprisingly good, but I really had to repeatedly mash the button to start or stop recording. Too tough for the family to use. So I ordered the RCA and an 8-Gig Micro-SD (memory) card which is unbelievably tiny; about the size of your pinky fingernail. With it I could record more than 4 hours in high quality mode or 16 hours in web quality mode. Amazing and very inexpensive! It powers-up instantly and the record button is easy to push. It also shoots still photos easily. It's simple transferring the files to a computer with it's built-in USB connector. The video files are AVI, so being a Mac family we have to convert them to use with iMovie or iDVD, but that's not a big deal using Quicktime Pro. The only other slight drawback is that the zoom is only about 2 to 1 and noticeably degrades the picture quality. But for it's size, cost and ease of use it's an easy trade-off. We'll shoot a lot more video because it's so quick and fun to have along, and use the bigger cameras for more zoom intensive shoots.

This little digital camcorder is giving Flip some competition, finally! My primary complaint about the Flip is that it has internal memory only, so if you want more recording time you have to upgrade your Flip to the newest model or download the video to your computer and erase the recordings on the Flip. With this camera, you can just upgrade to an 8 GB micro SD card (if the 2 GB included card is not enough for you).

The RCA Small Wonder Traveler has solved a lot of problems for our family. First, both of our Flips have broken over the past year and a half, so that put me in the market for a replacement. I stumbled upon this, and was decided to give it a try.

There are several reasons why this is superior to the Flip. First, it comes with a 2 GB micro SD card that will record one hour of "high quality" or four hours of web quality. We have been using the high quality mode which does a great job adjusting for the various lighting conditions whether or not we are indoors or out.

Secondly, this comes with a lens cap to keep your lens free of debris and scratches when stored.

Additionally, this is a very rugged camera and would be great for outdoors and use by less than careful children. If you find that one hour of high quality recording (or four hours of web quality) is not enough time, you can upgrade to an 8 GB micro SD card to quadruple your time. This camera has been dropped a couple of times without injury.

Although the buttons are similar in function to the Flip, I was surprised to find a still photo button, so that makes it easy to use this as both a still camera and a video camera. Although the quality is certainly not as good as an 8 MP digital camera, I think this would make a nice back up camera or child's camera since it's so rugged and has both video and still modes.

This camcorder also comes with a tripod screw mount, so it works with the Joby GP1-01EN Gorillapod Flexible Tripod (Grey) for easy attachment in various places such as door handles, dressers, tables, chairs, buckets, railings, and more.

A USB extension cable is included to make it easy to hook up to your computer, as well as a carrying strap and pouch, 2 AA batteries, and a set of AV cables so it can be hooked up to the TV for instant playback.

the camera looks nice, has a full size seperate SD card and a large viewing screen, and uses AA batteries..all these are pros.

the cons are, the video is very inferior compared to the flip (we bought both the rca ez210, ez205 AND FLIP ULTRA). the ez210 has slightly better video than it's smaller version the ez205...but still is fairly blurry, unable to see deatails the flip has no problem with. e.g. i video-ed a phone book ad and the flip was easily read but both rca's you could not read the printing...colors on the rca are washed out compared to the flip, and the rca does not nearly as well in low light and gets washed out in brighter colors, especially if there is any difference in gradients...my wife's face was washed out when the light from the outside window was on her, not so with the flip.

the rca ez210's video is only slightly better than the ez205. the rca takes a totally different jack connection when hooking to the tv than does the flip, the access to the USB connector on the rca is totally bizzare...you have to remove the carrying handle then push a button and then slide up an arm, which is very very short and not easliy connected to the computer. in doing so it is very easy to loose track of where the carrying handle was put...plus a few times doing this, i think the carrying handle would suffer a break at the plastic ends.

i got the rca for 111 at amazon, but another 20 off using buy later. i got the 1G flip for 50 at dellhome on a special. i feel the flip was far better in a deal and you could buy two of them for what i paid for the rcaez210. i sent the ez205 back as it's video was horrible. i am close to sending the rca ez210 back, but only the bottom line of 91dollars keeps me from doing that...plus the snapshot feature, the sd card and large screen,,,i just can not rate this anymore than 2 stars, and then only because i got a decent price, more money---it is just NOT worth more.

It's always a bit unnerving buying something sight unseen that has less than a 5 stars review. No problems with this unit though.

First, identify what it is. Or rather, what it isn't. If you just got that grant for the PBS documentary, or your kid got accepted to Film School and you are looking for the congrats gift you should look elsewhere.

But if you are looking for an inexpensive, extremely easy to use unit for vids you'd normally miss, THIS is the piece.

I bought two, sight and trying unseen. One for my in laws and one for my wife. BOTH of them say they love it. (Do you know how hard it is to please that group?!?)

Personally, I prefer more photography oriented stuff. I shoot Leica, Nikon, Hassy for stills. But this camera IS great and I like using it. Three or four buttons to shoot and record and playback, period. No scores of user screen menus to wade and get lost through. It fits in ones hand really well. And it is a great size. Big enough that you don't feel like it will break if you squeeze it, but small enough to be carried places.

And of course, that is the key. An Instamatic takes much better pictures over a Leica M8, IF the Leica is home and the Kodak is in your hand. This is a camera you or your giftee will use and carry.

On the techie side, comes complete with batteries and card. Open the clam shell (ugh!) and it is ready to shoot. Has a neat pop up USB connector so it plugs right into your computer (no cable to carry.) Lens cap is rubber (good). I'd say the only design flaw is the weird cover over the USB connector. What is that about? Even so, this is a 100 out of 100 in my book. I wouldn't hesitate to buy this as a gift for anyone.

Go ahead, spring for it.

revised in June 09. Not only did I spring for it the first time, my wife lost hers on vacation and I bought the exact same one for her again. It still lives up to what I said in my review.

I just bought my small wonder recently, for a trip my family was taking to florida. I absolutely loved using this... It has a huge display, which makes it really easy to see what I recorded, and also comes with 2GB SD Card inside. I literally recorded for my whole trip without having to delete anything... It also uses regular batteries which I prefer, because I would'nt have had a chance to charge while on the beach... The pictures are good, and I am glad i picked a camcorder with this ability...

also the ability to upload directly to Youtube was a nice feature, it was a one button process with the software....

I did need to update the software, but it wasnt a big deal, and found it quickly on [...].

Overall Great Experience!

I was really excited about this product. I wanted something small, durable and easy for myself and my wife to carry around to get video of our daughter.

The pros:
1. easy to use
2. has a lens cap
3. uses regular batteries

The CONS:
1. poor audio
2. batteries don't last long
3. the software is painfully slow when you try to do even the simpilest edit
4. you can't use any other edit software, so your stuck with theirs.
5. It's also much bigger than I thought it would be (check the dimensions)

If you just want to shoot video and just watch on the screen or TV it would be ok.

If you want to make simple edits and send to the family I would recommend a regular small video camera.

~~~I'm sending mine back for a refund today~~~

I just received this camcorder, and i have used it so much since i received it. I have other expensive cameras, but this is so unique. It takes great videos and stills and has so much recording ability. Easy to use., no guesswork. At my job people are amazed how good the pictures come out and the videos. I would recommend this for anyone on the go and wanting the ability to use something so easy.

I bought this camera about a month ago and have been taking videos with it at local New Orleans parades, events, concerts etc, and it rocks! Its a little chunkier than the competition but when you can replace batteries and memory on the go and take the shots you need it really shines. The video quality is fine, its not HD but instead looks like 1990s era home movies. I have dropped this thing multiple times and its not even scratched (knock on wood) and I love it. Someone told me when they saw it "wow you have a huge phone!" but for the most part all my friends think its awesome, especially the part about being able to swap in memory and fresh batteries. I travel outside the country alot and having a camera that requires hooking up to a computer all the time like the flip and others just doesn't work for me. If you get off the beaten path your going to want to take more pictures of cool and wild things, not less. It also has a solid feel, its got some substance to it but still discreet enough that I can pull it out and film without people really noticing (its all about how you hold it). I am now working on making some video montages to music but haven't messed with the software that comes on it yet, so no review on that. I have a SD card reader and just take the card out to transfer videos compared to the built in USB it came with. It isn't shiny or sexy and if thats your thing look elsewhere.

When I first received the RCA EZ210,could not get it to work properly and thought I would have to return it.However,my nephew came for a visit,he is very good with electronics and fixed the problem for me.Now I have so much fun with my 'baby'camcorder. I take it everywhere with me and am very pleased with its performance.Other relatives and friends are now going to order one.Thanks RCA and Amazon.

If you are looking for a convenient pocket camera which takes nice video and has space to store the results, this is the one. It is well built and very easy to use. The price is unbelieveabe for the features and ability of this camera. I have used it for about a month shooting video and still pic's and I have only changed out batteries once and thats after shooting a baby shower that lasted 2hrs. For the money you can not go wrong, if you are looking for high end quality look for a larger unit with a bigger price tag.