Conclusion:
The bottom line on the Jazz Elite HDV-188 5MP HD video camera is that it is a cool little gadget that is fun to use. It takes good photos and makes decent videos, but the conditions seem to have to be just right. It required a bit of experimentation to master the settings and to learn the limitations of the device, but I am generally happy with it. As long as you don't expect "HD video" like you might get from Blu-ray or digital cable, you might not be disappointed.
The camera itself is lightweight, compact, and easy to use; all of which are great attributes if you actually want to carry it around with you. Until now I have never owned a video camera, and rarely even carry my digital camera with me, just due to the hassle. The HDV-188 fits comfortably in my pocket, and for the last few weeks I have had a camera on me for all the instances where I used to wish I had my camera (and for the others where my wife nagged that I should have had the camera with me).
In addition to being able to transfer movies and photos to a computer via USB, the HDV-188 makes it easy to enjoy your memories without a PC. The 3" LCD screen is clear and bright (except in direct sun light), and movies and photos look great on it. You can even transfer other movies, photos, and music to the device and use it like a portable media player; a task it excels at. You can even play back movies or photo slideshows on your TV thanks to integrated HDMI and component audio/video connections.
Geeks.com currently sells the Jazz Elite HDV-188 5MP HD video camera for $147.50, and I have occasionally seen it go on sale for around $125. This sale price seems to be about what I would expect to pay for such a device, as going much higher puts it in competition with devices that might offer better quality photos and videos. While the device is packed with features that make it fun and easy to use, if you spend too much money the fun factor quickly fades. Much more serious cameras can come with much higher price tags (as in several hundred dollars more), while cheaper cameras with a similar design aren't much more than glorified webcams. The HDV-188 seems to find the middle ground in terms of price and performance.
As long as people don't expect too much from a device like this, it should prove to be a fun, useful, and practical gadget to own. Tempering all of the positives it has to offer with the desire to have better quality photos and videos, the Jazz Elite HDV-188 5MP HD video camera earns the Bigbruin.com award of "Recommended".
Pros:
» Fun to use!
» Takes decent photos and videos in the right conditions
» Camera is compact, lightweight, and attractive
» On-screen menus are attractive, well detailed, and rather easy to navigate
» Wide variety of features for special photo and video effects
» 3" screen has wide range of motion, and can be turned around for "self recording"
» HDMI connectivity lets you enjoy audio and video on HDTV directly
» Includes a generous bundle of cables and accessories
» Includes replaceable, rechargable battery that provides several hours of run time
» Expandable memory via an SDHC slot (rated to accept up to 8GB cards)
» An 8GB SDHC card provides over 4 hours of "HD" recording, 9 hours of "VGA" recording
Cons:
» Flash is poorly positioned and very weak
» Video may record at 1280x720, but it doesn't look like HD to me
» Indoor / lower light photos and videos come out grainy
» Screen is completely washed out in sunlight
» Device only includes 64MB of onboard memory
Special thanks to Geeks.com for providing the Jazz Elite HDV-188 5MP HD Video Camera to Bigbruin.com for review!
Please drop by the Bigbruin.com Forum and feel free to post any comments or questions.
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