Mustek DV4000 Digital Camcorder

Customer Reviews:

Good camera and reasonable camcorder.......2004-05-20

The Mustek DV4000 is a multifunctional device providing camcorder, still camera, voice recorder, MPEG player, PC-cam, card reader and portable hard disk functionality. It is probably the camcorder and still camera function, which is most often used. Accordingly the following review will focus on those functions.
The DV4000 comes with a 32 MB Multimedia memory card (MMC) and it is recommended as with other digital cameras to buy additional MMC or SD cards; some SD cards give rise to problems, while all MMC cards work well and are also slightly cheaper. For example the 32 MB card (128 MB) allows the following recording times (in minutes) or photos:

Video high quality (640x480, 15 fps): 2:50 (26:00)
medium quality (352x288, >25 fps): 4:40 (43:00) (this is no mistake!)
low quality (320x200, >25 fps): 3:00 (27:00)

Photo high quality (2304x1728): 25 (234)
medium quality (1600x1200): 41 (375)
low quality (640x480): 218 (1947)

There is no reason to take high quality photos as they are generated by hardware interpolation, which yields the same quality as picture resizing using software. The DV4000 is essentially a 1.92 Megapixel camera. The pictures are of good quality and it is possible to take pictures indoors, when daylight is coming through the windows. Pictures and video at night require a 100 W lightbulb for illumination.
The most usable video mode is the medium quality mode at 352x288 resolution as the high quality video gives only 15 pictures per second, which causes motions to appear not smooth but rather flickery. However, it could be used on a tripod for slow moving objects or for high-speed photography. The medium quality video mode provides the same resolution as VHS, which is not comparable to the resolution of standard digital camcorders of 720x576 at 30 fps. However, within its limits the camcorder provides reasonable videos at this resolution, also the sound quality is acceptable. Compared with professional VHS-videos, the low quality of the lense leads to videos which are not always very clear. The digital zoom is as expected not comparable with optical zoom. It is possible to take videos indoors at daylight; at night a 100 W lightbulb provides sufficient illumination.

Given the price of this digital camcorder and its small size no wonders can be expected and it is possible to take good photos and reasonable quality videos with it.

However, even within this price range a few negative points should be mentioned, which are

1) No manual controls of exposure (apart from exposure lock).
2) Automatic white balance has difficulties to switch to artificial light.
3) No manual white balance.
4) No flashlight.
5) No control of compression quality for jpeg photos.
6) Supplied software Ulead Video Studio V6 is extremly slow and somewhat difficult to use (Windows Movie Maker is much better but does not support 352x288 resolution and creation of mpg files).

Excellent toy.......2004-05-12

Obviously a Digital video camera that you can land for under a £100 is not going to compete with big names going for five times that much. However, as the video equivelent of a disposable camera, it is great. Perfectly suited for commemorating parties and gigs, it is small enough to tuck in a pocket and not so valuable that you have to worry about it too much. Sure, everything tends to look a bit 'Blair Witch' crossed with CCTV, and the internal mic picks up button presses but it is enormous fun and there is no comparison for price and convenience.

Do yourself a favour and upgrade the SD memory card, they aren't expensive and for £30 or so more you could have 80 minutes of filming as opposed to 5-10 on the included one.

I have heard some reviewers complain about poor focussing or colour shift. Mine seems to have no problems in either regard which does seem to imply there may be some variance between individual cameras.

Overall- Excellent, Not to be confused with the kind of DV camera that will set you back £500, but a good fun way of recording pictures and sound in a highly portable, cheap and easy to use package.

QUALITY PRODUCT!!!.......2004-05-05

Best buy EVER!!! You may wish to also purchase a larger memory card if wishing to take longer film, but 32MB is normally sufficient. Works extremely well in most light conditions. "Night" function improves vision in those darker rooms. Perfect quality images and film....handy for keeping a few MP3s on as it comes with free earphones!!!
ENJOY

Great gadget.......2004-04-24

OK, first remember that this is a CHEAP (in price) GADGET. it costs around£100, you are NOT gonna get DV quality results.
No thats out of the way i have to say that this camera is cool! Im aMedia tech student so naturally have played with lots of natty things overthe years and i have to say this is the mutts nutts! First impressionsare good, although its surprising how small it is. It has an air ofquality about it, although my power slider is a bit sticky and i have touse my fingernail.
It's easy to operate. The two main functions are both acceptable. Ifound the negative comments about light slightly exaggerated. I foundthat with a bit of experimentation nice results can be achived. The videois low quality but the middle setting is fine really with a greatframerate.
The MP3 function is hilarious! Who would ever have thought that theycould squeeze that in! It weird to hear music emanating from a camera.
The downpoints of this camera is definietly the software, but as a mediastudent im used to adobe premiere et al, and i found the camera hard toconfigure via the menus. It also needs a decent memory card which costsextra (i got my kodak card from this site).
Overall cool gadget, great to have a laugh with. It does what it settingout to do very well.

A worthy purchase!.......2004-04-23

I'm not an experienced review writer so I'll just list the good and thebad.
Positive points:
- Very small! The DV4000 sits easily into the palm of your hand. You canslip it into your bag or pocket and have a camcorder or camera for thoseKodak moments.
It also feels solidly built (apart from the flimsy power switch). Notcheap as what can be expected from other electronic equipment at thisprice.
- Li-ion battery. This battery is similar (same size, different voltage?)as a normal Nokia phone battery. It can be charged through USB as well asan AC plug. Doesn't suffer from the memory effect.
- Multifunctional and cheap! If you've read a bit about this camcorderyou'd know that it does several things (read description) at about£100.
- Complete packaging. The box comes with all the necessary cables (USB,AV, power, headphones), software, mini tripod, carry case, hand straps andmanual. There's no need to buy anything extra other than a larger memorycard.
Negative points:
- Badly written manual. The manual explains the basics of the camcorderand how to operate it, but it misses a few details such as charging time,approximate usage time on full battery.
- Misleading advertising. It is advertised as a 4.0 megapixels camerahardware resolution. To people who know their technology and cameras,they'll know it's not a true 4.0 megapixels (it's actually a 2 megapixelscamera). To the uneducated public (technology-wise that is) they'd beunaware of this and may buy it over a 'proper' camera.
- Small memory card. It comes with a 32mb memory card which is much toosmall for any long periods of video recording. I estimate about 5 minutesof video on the 32mb card (very roughly).
- MP3 function. The MP3's sound fine it's just how you have to operate it.The controls are the same ones under the LCD screen so whenever you needyou change track or volume, you have to lift the lid. This is a personalnegative though. If you don't mind lifting/leaving the lid open then Iguess it's okay. Maybe it would have been better to utilise the outerbuttons instead somehow?
Other points:
- I read a lot of reviews from other owners of this camcorder beforepurchasing. It seems as though many of the people who gave it really badmarks expected the quality and build of a 'proper' camcorder, camera, MP3player, dictation device etc. Obviously a device this small and cheap isnot going to offer that kind of quality. If you want something to makefamily home videos with and put them on DVD, then this is not for you. Itis a simply a gadget that you can make quick and unimportantvideos/pictures with. And on to...
- Quality of images. Yes, after that I'm going to say the recordingquality is not great. Blocky, under/over exposed video, mono sound (thoughthe microphone picks up sound quite well!). But I expected that and I'mnot complaining. Again, if you want quality video, buy a £300+ videocamcorder.
Overall I can say this is one of my better purchases. No regrets.