V:U camcorder drops through the price floor

Low-cost digital video camcorders are coming to the market. For HK$1,480, you can buy a 2.1-megapixel digital video camcorder from Japan's NHJ, which makes the tiny Che-ez! digital camera.

Called the V:U digital video camera, it records to a Secure Digital card. A 256-megabyte card can record up to 60 minutes of video. Do not expect broadcast-quality digital video. It records using the AVI format which is grainy and the viewing size is small. On the V:U's colour 1.6-inch liquid crystal diode display the video resolution looks acceptable, but when you run it any larger on a computer, details are lost. Video is recorded on a selection of three resolution settings - 448x336, 340x240 and 192x144 pixels. At the top setting, video runs only at 15 frames per second so there is a slight jerkiness.

It also takes still photographs, with three resolution modes - 1600x1200, 1280x960 and 640x480 pixels.

Video playback on television is full screen. You can transfer images and video to your PC using a USB connection and a software driver is not required. It works only with Windows PCs. Weighing just 108 grams, it is as light as many mobile phones and can fit in a large jacket pocket. Modelled after digital video camcorders, it is simple to operate but the low-quality video means it is not meant for serious shooters.

Che-ez V:U video recorder

Specifications