DXG DXG-305V Best Price, Reviews, Compare

Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 8:27 pm

Product: DXG DXG-305V

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Well, I've only had the DXG-305v for a couple of weeks now, but have learned quite a bit about it in that time. It was a gift for my 11-year-old, although I of course had to thoroughly check it out myself first. I like the product a lot, but I do have a few complaints and some primary "secrets" to boom in this review, so read on...

Specifications: The exact specifications for many of the camera's features are almost impossible to decide from DXG's published information. In many cases, completely different specifications appear on the downloadable data sheet, the downloadable user manual, the printed user manual, and the product box! Which (if any) of these actually apply to the camera? Fortunately it is possible to resolve what the camera can do through experimentation, and to analyze the digital files it produces to score some salubrious specifications. The specifications on the product box seem to be the most apt.

Memory capacity: There is a total of 32MB of built-in memory and about 30MB of that is available for your consume (some of the older specification sheets say it's only 14MB out of 16MB total), but that won't glean you very far. You'll need to consume at least one SD memory card. The specifications say that the camera supports up to 512MB cards, although DXG technical befriend says it will probably also look 1GB cards. Since I have serious doubts that the back people really understand this product, I stuck with 512MB, which is plenty. This will beget up to 90 minutes of video, or 500+ high quality photos, or about 8 hours of typical MP3 files.

Battery life: Recent users will complain that the camera goes through AAA batteries scheme too swiftly. The fact is that you MUST collect rechargeable batteries for this camera. A situation of rechargeables will rush the camera for more than an hour of continuous video recording, or about 3 hours of audio recording (with the LCD turned off), which is really very valid. These batteries are inexpensive and they can be recharged hundreds of times. There are also chargers available that can recharge all four batteries in as limited as 15 minutes. Repeat: Forget about regular AAAs - score some rechargeables and a mercurial charger!

Still camera: I'm an experienced photographer, and have customary many different film and digital cameras. The results from the DXG-305v are nothing to gather indignant about, but they're better than I expected, at least for outdoor expend in suitable light. Indoor shots are bad unless the room is well lit. The white balance setting is adjustable, but I got the best results leaving it on auto. Again, I'm referring to outdoor shots - changing the white balance for indoor shots has virtually no accomplish on the image.

Flash: The flash works as described. It's really only effective up to maybe six feet away, but it does the job. You can turn the flash off if you want to, but unfortunately, you can't station it to fire with every shot. It only works in auto mode, meaning that it will fire only if the camera decides that the light level is too shameful. Also, the flash will refuse to fire at all if the batteries are not freshly charged. Once the charge drops a dinky, the flash does not retort even though the rest of the camera operations are attractive. Disappointing! Also, the flash is positioned in a area where it's very easy to screen with your fingers when shooting.

Video: Video image quality, like aloof image quality, is considerable better outdoors than indoors. The crude resolution (320x240) video mode works as advertised and delivers 30fps. In high resolution (640x480) mode, however, the camera does not converse the 15fps rate claimed in most of the product literature. Precise results in high resolution mode are about 10fps, as described on the product box. In my view this uninteresting frame rate is mighty too choppy and makes the high resolution video mode unusable. The hurry of the memory card is not a factor in this. I tried two different types of memory cards - the relatively dreary standard SanDisk 512MB card and the noteworthy faster SanDisk Ultra II 512MB card - and got exactly the same results. An output jack and special cables are included for connecting the diagram to other audio/video components for playback.

PC camera: I conducted some PC camera tests using Windows Movie Maker 2. When connected to a computer with the USB cable, the DXG-305v at first appears to state 30fps in high resolution mode, but this is only half legal. In this scenario the sensor is actually working at only 320x240 and this vulgar resolution image is simply scaled up in size to 640x480. Changing the resolution to accurate 640x480 via software settings drops the frame rate down to about 20fps maximum. On the plus side, the software settings do allow a large deal of control over how the camera behaves in PC mode. Adjustments are included for brightness, disagreement, saturation, sharpness, and hue. The internal microphone does not function in PC camera mode - you'll have to employ your computer's microphone instead.

Audio recording: The audio recorder function generates 4-bit 8kHz mono files, which are obliging enough for utter recording but not exactly first-rate to listen to. For some queer reason the audio is stored in WAV format instead of the far more efficient MP3 format. With these settings a 512MB memory card can enjoy about 12 hours of audio. But how often will you want to picture half a day's worth of uncouth quality sound? I would considerable rather have higher quality audio options with reduced recording times. Audio recording can urge for about 3 hours on a elephantine battery charge if you maintain the LCD note closed.

MP3 playback: This is a feature that currently sets the DXG-305v apart from most other combo cameras. The draw recognizes and plays stereo MP3 files transferred from your computer, and music playback quality is beautiful when using a gracious pair of headphones. Playback through the diminutive built-in speaker is sparkling unpleasant, but that's to be expected. Music playback can hasten for about 2½ hours on a fleshy battery charge if you sustain the LCD note closed.

Software: I have briefly experimented with the included video editing software, and it looks very profitable. In addition to editing your videos, you can apparently also exhaust the program to burn VCDs (but not DVDs - to win that ability you'll need to pay for an upgrade) . If you remove, the camera's ASF video files can be edited in Windows Movie Maker 2, or presumably impartial about any editing program. I haven't yet experimented distinguished with the included photo editing software.

Miscellaneous: The internal clock/calendar does not preserve good time, and it resets itself whenever you change batteries. And although the camera has a self-timer, there is no tripod socket! This is unprejudiced bizarre and inexcusable.

Conclusion: Although I understanding it was critical to point out issues in this review, let me snarl you that I really like the camera. It's certainly not perfect, but it does more than anyone should reasonably query for the designate. People who belief to utilize it as their only camera are likely to be disappointed. It's remarkable more appropriate as an extra camera for fun and experimentation. I believe it will appeal mostly to gadget-heads and pre-teen kids.

Anyone enthusiastic in the DXG-305v is invited to join the current DXG-Digital user group at Yahoo! to discuss all DXG products:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxg-digital

This camera was a display for my 13 year dilapidated son and he could not be more ecstatic. Neither could I, and now I want one myself. It takes distinct pictures and the video is ample in adequate light. I had exertion when I transferred over the mp3s because the title tags did not indicate up on the DXG. I wrote to CS at DXG and received an immediate response with a number and a person to call. I called the CS person who told me how to fix the dilemma. I also emailed to ask about mac compatability and was again given an almost immediate retort. I was really impressed with their customer service. A 512 sd card is a must. It does expend up batteries ravishing rapid, so the next item on my list is an AAA battery recharger and rechargeables. My son was contented with the sound with the included headphones. It sounds tinny without them, but you can hear it very well. All in all, it was a stout reveal.

I don't know great about cameras, I impartial want to be able to represent or steal pictures for events and such. This camera is perfect for that. I appreciate the exiguous compose, it's very easy to handle. My only beef is that this camera does not do well in obscene light. Unless its the middle of the day and I have all my curtains launch, it was impossible to bag a pleasurable relate inside the house., I've only had my camera a month and I'm detached getting to know my camera, but other than the lighting, I am very elated with my catch.

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