Posted By
Mel Martin
February 6, 2012 at 7:27am
I have to admit I was pretty excited when I saw some ads and reviews of the Vivitar DVR 790 HD digital video recorder. It has a 5.1 megapixel resolution, 2 built-in cameras for 3D of course, a digital zoom, a built-in microphone and speaker, TV out, HDMI out and 60 min. of recording time
The camera also has a tripod mount, a USB interface, and Mac and PC compatible software. It can shoot your videos in AVI format, and your still photos are JPEG’s. The camera also has anti-shake capability and face detection.
And to all that a very attractive US price of $99. So where do I get one? Well the cameras are beginning to show up in stores, so that’s all positive. It’s only when you begin to look into the manual you find a few gotchas.
Gotcha number 1: the camera does not include an SD memory card which is required for normal use. You’ll have to buy one. A 32 GB card will set you back $30-$40.
Gotcha number 2: the camera is probably not the 3D camera that you are envisioning. It shoots anaglyph 3D, hardly the state-of-the-art in camcorders. Of course you can watch your videos and view your stills on any TV or computer monitor, and certainly anaglyph 3D is still widely used. We use it all the time here our website because it’s easy to distribute. But I think the average consumer, seeing a 3D camera advertised would expect something more than a camera that uses red/green glasses.
Most of the reviews of this camera I found on the web don’t even comment on this ‘feature’. People will simply discover it when they open the box and start shooting.
Of course $99 is a pretty good price for a camera that does some sort of 3D video and stills. But nowhere on the Vivitar site is it revealed that the camera only produces anaglyphic images. This still might be a fun camera to play around with. The higher-end cameras like the Fuji W3 and its more expensive cousins will provide a better 3D experience, but can’t be viewed on just any computer or monitor.
The Vivitar is worth a look, but only if you understand the limitations, limitations that Vivitar is in no hurry to disclose.