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| Brand: Aiptek
Category: Photography
List Price: $199.99
Buy New: $109.99
You Save: $90.00 (45%)
New (6) from $109.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  67 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Optical Zoom: 2
Display Size: 2.4
Minimum Focal Length: 7.45
Shipping Weight (lbs): 4
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 6.8 x 3.2
MPN: A-HD
Model: A-HD
UPC: 653886020701
EAN: 0653886020701
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 Video editing difficult on PC February 26, 2008
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
For the money, I give the hardware 5 stars. I recommend a tripod since cheap cameras don't do good with motion. Video is very nice, but the sound could be better. Because the manufacturer casually forgets to tell you that you won't be able to edit your videos on a PC, I give this camera 2 stars.
Video files are complex - you have the container (.mov, .avi, .wmv, .mpeg), you have the video encoding, and you have the audio encoding. This camera creates Apple Quicktime .mov files encoded with the latest video and audio codecs. My friend was able to play & edit the videos easily on his Mac. However, if you have a PC it's a different story. On a PC, the movies will play using Quicktime or using Windows Media Player if you install the codec on the supplied CD. Editing the movies is much more difficult on the PC. Windows Movie Maker won't even open a Quicktime .mov file. My Sony Vegas video editing software will load the video, but not the sound. After digging around the Aiptek web site, it appears that their more expensive camera comes with a video conversion program. I downloaded this $30 software. It was able to convert the .mov video to Windows .wmv format, but with significant loss in quality. Haven't had as much luck converting it to .avi or .mpeg (lots of different problems happened).
Anyway, I recommend this camera if you use a Mac or if you are o.k. leaving your videos as individual Quicktime .mov files. Too bad the camera doesn't create old-fashion DVD MPEG-2 files. Most manufacturers think their newfangled video decoder is better, but at the expense of being incompatible with most software. For the same money, you might try the Flip Video camera. It's not as high resolution, but at least you can pull the video clips into Windows Movie Maker, combine them, and burn to a DVD.
 Plastic Fantastic. November 2, 2007
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
I bought the Aiptek A-HD about a week ago. I wasn't expecting too much since I only paid about $100 for the thing. But after using it for a week I have to say I'm stunned. The video qualty is very good even in low light. The pictures are even better. Pictures are sharp and the colors are very accurate. Better than my old Pentax. I have had no problems with the sound as some others I have read. My only complaint is the lack of any image stabilization, the video does tend to bounce around alot. Aiptek has finally produced something here that is not a joke. Kudos to Aiptek! For the money you can't go wrong.
 Excellent entry level HD (you get what you pay for) November 29, 2007
8 out of 11 found this review helpful
To begin with, this is -not- a conventional digital camcorder.
Unless you find it too toy-like as others have found, it seems to be delivering exactly what it promises:
The lowest cost HD DVR for sale on the market.
A point-and-shoot eight megapixel digital camera.
Digital playback device that can show Quicktime media (when storage cards greater than four gigs are used (max 32 gig SDHC) (compatible with Apple products).
The quality is excellent and the only drawback I've seen so far is that the playback speaker is too small and delivers very nasty tinny audio. Much like the audio from almost any small microspeaker. Use your headphones when watching playback. Much better.
Of all the video resolutions you can use,(there are three) the smallest (CIF)(352x240) gives you the most bang for the buck in storage....
A two gig SD card will hold up to 320 minutes of video. That's -five- hours plus! You'll need to recharge the battery at least a couple of times to fill a one or two gig card at that rate.
The middle resolution is (D1) (720x480) is very close to VGA (slightly wider) and you can only cram 144 minutes full video onto a two gig SD.
The HD resolution is full true HD (1280x720) and will only record for 60 minutes before filling up that same two gig SD card. However, there are larger cards available now, and I still like have a few extra two gig cards in my pocket.
Battery life is estimated to be 90 minutes (factory spec) but I haven't pushed that far yet. My other Aiptek, the IS-DV, maxxes out at VGA (640x480)resolution, cannot handle longer than 48 minutes before depleting the battery.
The difference? The IS-DV is 2 year old design, and Aiptek is pushing the envelope.
Final verdict?
This is a very good product, worthy of consideration from both first time buyers and jaded users who are used to far more expensive gadget loaded camcorders.
It weighs nothing, a cellphone is slightly smaller, and the battery lasts and lasts. It has very few moving parts, and only one mechanical slide switch that operates the macro mode focusing.
I can't wait to see what's next, Aiptek. Perhaps even smaller? More resolution? Image stabilization?
I'd rate this a nine out of ten, the only fault is that playback speaker.
And it's not really a deal breaker, in my opinion.
Before you Purchase August 29, 2007
7 out of 17 found this review helpful
4x digital zoom, and led lights . are not incuded in this model. the lens angle wil force you to hold a downward grip. the flash will becoveered, and the record button located on front too small foryour index finger? the camera micseems just a tad lower not a problem as the go is over sensitive?
the Camera has no issues or maulfunctions
the batter ylife is good over 1 hour plus, Low light is not as powerful as the Go
but 170.00 at the debut it is a steal for "NEAR DVD QUALITY" it is a h-def came 720P excellent film there are great videos at sites
here is a Full blown view ENJOY
go to metacafe look for Aiptek A-HD 720P hi def review
 480p not really 720p November 30, 2007
7 out of 10 found this review helpful
This camera might be able to technically record at 720p but compression is higher and motion is chopy in my tests. The D1 mode yeilds the most balanced video. The lens is fairly slow, F3.0 and is somewhat soft. It's also fixed so it can be difficult to judge focus at times.
low light shooting? I'd say the minimum the sensor and compression can handle would the amount of light in a standard bathroom with two 60 watt bulbs or around 50 lux. Any less light and the compression and sensor noise start to become noticeable.
video in is a nice feature. quality is ok. playback on a computer is poor but on a stardard def tv (tested on 20" memorex) was almost good. It was watchable.
the built in flash is a joke. but it could be used to trigger other cheap ($20) slaves
picture quality is better than most camera phones but the lens is the weak link. they claim the sensor is 5mp so why on earth would you want to interpolate in such a cheap camera? You don't gain anything. if anything there is a loss of quality.
memory: if you have files on the internal memory, you can only access them once the SD card is removed. you have to get the firmware updates via email from tech support. The rear port cover is annoying, record button is small. It should have been placed where the flash is.
I am a DP and photographer by profession. I bought this camera because it is small, shoots on SD, $120 and you can take it anywhere.
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