Heh heh, good one!

cliffisadude wrote:Your very own Stark Industries miniature arc reactor!

Heh heh, good one!

adkstrider wrote:Heh heh, good one!

elf move, not so good...sorry.

emailrob wrote:i THINK that's for the non-HD version right? Looking at the videos, the HD to normal was quite a difference. They list two versions on their website, this is the HD one.

http://actionshotcam.com/shop/

The non-HD was jerky as if it was also at 30 fps. In SD mode it should be smooth video at 60 fps but at lower resolution.

radi0j0hn wrote:CMOS or no CMOS, I'm not sure why anybody would seriously think that a $60 camera with a pinhole-type aperture would work in low light.

Get real folks! The laws of physics haven't change since going digital. Dark is still dark and little apertures are still little.

You bring out a great point John. Unless you want to live with heavy video noise just to brighten the image, this tiny arperture just can't deliver the low light sensitivity one would like.

carrottop432 wrote:Anyone remember Flight of the Navigator? Looks like the pilot from that movie to me.

DUDE! It totally does! I practically wore out my VHS of Flight of the Navigator. Recorded it off TV from the Disney Sunday Movie.

Check out the 0:43 mark :-)


Don't forget to feed Bruiser!

CaptVerde wrote:Recorded it off TV from the Disney Sunday Movie.

I'm betting the takedown notice is only moments away, lol.

I suspect the basic "camera on a chip" is used in gum cams and other similar devices. Some of the real cheapies have a non-removable date imprint that is tough to adjust.

There could be improvements in the chips and firmware, and lens qualities may vary. I have two gum cams, a keychain version, and no two have similar quality.

Oddly, the audio on one gum cam is really quite good. Go figure.

My point is that these companies selling these gadgets go to international trade fairs, buy from China and don't have a lot of control of the maker switching this component or that.

When you are buying them for $3.00 each in bulk, you don't ask too many questions.

Fluffy215 wrote:Reminds me of a shower head LOL

This!

carrottop432 wrote:Anyone remember Flight of the Navigator? Looks like the pilot from that movie to me.

I thought the exact same thing.

radi0j0hn wrote:CMOS or no CMOS, I'm not sure why anybody would seriously think that a $60 camera with a pinhole-type aperture would work in low light..In a few years, when we have ISOs of a half million, it will be a different story.

The pinhole-type aperture isn't what's stopping it. Current smartphones have similarly tiny cameras that are surprisingly decent in low light right now. The problem with this camera is just that it's cheap.

When the description goes out of its way to say "*Action Shot Camera has been optimized for outdoor & daylight use. For best results indoors use in well lit areas," that's just code for "Don't expect this thing to work if you don't see the sun above you."

beokabatukaba wrote:Indeed it does (record with sound).

Thank you. You'd think that in two pages of posts there would be at least a little discussion of the sound quality, especially as the description doesn't even make it clear that the thing has a microphone at all. I also have to wonder about how usable the video is, with no image stabilization...

Curiosity begs the question... Sound quality?

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=15189536 <- FYI - the action shot video viewer comes with the party as a $30 value according to Toys R Us. That really does manage to up the value...

All the negativity.. I bought for my son a month back. He is 17 and he uses it for skateboarding and bmx riding videos. Between the flip video cam and this he likes this cam better. So if this is what you want it for a gift for a teenager its great!!
Happy trails
M

carrottop432 wrote:Anyone remember Flight of the Navigator? Looks like the pilot from that movie to me.

Compliance!

42 bux at target.

The same thing is on Toysrus.com for $49.99...

pixelpadre wrote:42 bux at target.

plaidbunny wrote:The same thing is on Toysrus.com for $49.99...

First off, you need to link things if you're talking about them. Target Toys"R"Us. Second, if you had bothered to read before you posted you'd notice that these are not the same product. Neither of them is HD, and neither of them comes with most of these accessories. Please only post price-comparisons with identical products, or at least note the differences.

This is a stupid ridiculous good deal!
At first I too thought it would've been for the SD model as the HD model is a fairly new product and woot normally sells the older model but nope! This is legit, plus it comes with all the add-ons they typically sell separately. Absolutely one of the best deals woot has had in some time if you ask me (wait till I receive the product and test it of course ha).

Maybe people won't confuse it for the SD one if you replace your wording from 'Hi-def' to 'HD'. Even the term 'Hi-Def' seems to be outdated this day in age hahaha.

ThunderThighs wrote:Ok, what the heck is going on in North Dakota? No sales?

I don't think they have the internet up there yet, maybe woot is delivered via pony express...

sheriff92 wrote:im thinking of getting this to wear during games for my flag football league. would be nice to have video of the games from field perspective..edit..

just saw this
Recording Capacity:
(on included 2GB card) - 10 mins (HD)
- 20 mins (SD)

is there a maximum size SD card this will support?

32GB is the max, gets you over an hour of footage.

theguruguys wrote:I love the marketing peeps! It has horrible low light performance, therefore it was 'optimized for outdoor use'...

You bought one and know for a fact? Or are you trolling?

theguruguys wrote:There are 7 reviews rating it 2 out of 5 stars overall at Target where it costs $42 for the basic camera. Many of the reviewers complain about the lack of viewfinder and the lack of video quality.


[MOD: See post below. That's not the HD model.]

The one on Target:
- is standard def
- doesn't come with the view finder

The one on Woot:
- is HD
- comes with the view finder and a whole lot more

What's the relevance of your comment re Target?

gregbowman wrote:Bought one locally thinking it might actually be good enough - it wasn't, and I returned it the same day. But, for the price, it was worth the risk. Jakks Pacific doesn't really impress me as a whole, bottom line: this is a TOY, this is not a Swann or a GoPro - you'll be disappointed unless you're 13. But, if you have a 13 year old to buy for, this may be absolutely perfect, and you'll save a ton o' cash . . . they'll love it, and they'll love you for it. For THAT, it is good enough.

This is the first time HD has been made available anywhere - are you talking about the regular standard def version?

Dozer11 wrote:Yep. Even the new Go Pro 3 uses a CMOS sensor. It's how they can make it affordable for us we're-not-in-the-film-industry-so-we-don't-need-to-spend-thousands-yet-now-have-access-to-HD-video people. And CMOS usually uses less power, but that difference is changing with CCDs.

And all of these action sport cameras do poorly in low-light areas. Indoors is darker than most people think. Heck, a lot of video cameras, including phones have horrible to mediocre performance indoors.

Excellent point, Dozer - there's a reason people use lighting rigs when shooting indoors.

... I know I say this about all the cameras... but wouldn't this be fun to Steampunk as an eyepatch?

XD

robejacobs wrote:First off, you need to link things if you're talking about them. Target Toys"R"Us. Second, if you had bothered to read before you posted you'd notice that these are not the same product. Neither of them is HD, and neither of them comes with most of these accessories. Please only post price-comparisons with identical products, or at least note the differences.

Yeah I figured I would get nailed on that minor differenc. When you're talking about a pinhole camera....don't dont even do down that road about HD. People who make REAL HD cameras would find it ludicrous that anyone could label a pinhole camera as HD.

pixelpadre wrote:Yeah I figured I would get nailed on that minor differenc. When you're talking about a pinhole camera....don't dont even do down that road about HD. People who make REAL HD cameras would find it ludicrous that anyone could label a pinhole camera as HD.

It isn't really a minor difference, the video quality is massively improved. Compared the Woot! blog video in the product description (exclusively the dogwalking parts, the others are obviously retouched) to this video of the SD model that I found on Youtube in five minutes of searching:


Beyond that, this also contains two accessories that are not in the package at Target or Toy"S"Us, the waterproof case and the viewfinder/playback unit, each of which appear to retail for a penny shy of $20. Seems like a good deal.

Wow, in QVGA sucker does 120fps! :D

Source: http://actionshotcam.com/shop/action-shot-hd-camera/

zikzak wrote:The pinhole-type aperture isn't what's stopping it. Current smartphones have similarly tiny cameras that are surprisingly decent in low light right now. The problem with this camera is just that it's cheap.

When the description goes out of its way to say "*Action Shot Camera has been optimized for outdoor & daylight use. For best results indoors use in well lit areas," that's just code for "Don't expect this thing to work if you don't see the sun above you."

Heh-heh...they spent more time working on the copy than on the lens!

Hey Matthew,

I appreciate the real actual field test video; but please make it more "real actual field test" next time.

Dude walking a dog is cool, but there is so much more you could do with a video camera like this. Stop being lazy!

Do you really think people want to spend 60 bucks to take videos of them walking their dog? Give them ideas of how to use it like, strapping it to your car bumper. Or, use it like a Russian dash board camera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlxHPJAONpE

I am sorry, but you guys have lack the creativity which made you successful. I'm sure you're making cash hand over fist, but don't you really need to be creative again.

You could have done a clown car parody. With either real people or the Woot monkeys. I am sorry, but you guy are writers, and not creatives.

Moueska wrote:... I know I say this about all the cameras... but wouldn't this be fun to Steampunk as an eyepatch?

XD

I'm really considering building an arc reactor around it....maybe even attach it via several body piercing mods if I get funky enough.

leonshotme wrote:I'm really considering building an arc reactor around it....maybe even attach it via several body piercing mods if I get funky enough.

I was with you all the way up to the body piercing. Dude, if it ain't there already from some other extreme nonsense, this camera probably isn't worth your pincushioning.

XD

(BTDubz - I C WHUT U DID THAR)

Just got mine and unfortunately it doesn't seem to work. Even after charging, I have to reset it to make it turn off and it won't change modes.

Googling these symptoms comes up with nothing.

I love this thing used it today while ice riding! works great - nice HD resolution - easy to use and 1/7th the cost of a gopro hd.

heres some video, i could only upload at 720 resolution otherwise it would take forever on my slow DSL!



[MOD: Embedded video]

doc20002001 wrote:I love this thing used it today while ice riding! works great - nice HD resolution - easy to use and 1/7th the cost of a gopro hd.

heres some video, i could only upload at 720 resolution otherwise it would take forever on my slow DSL!

Nice video! DSL is miserable, my parents live in the woods and finally dished out the money to have a cable line ran back there. Expensive, but totally worth it. From barely 1 meg of download to 50!