3.3 Megapixel add-on for the Ultimate Gadget ! (Archos AVCam 300)

Member Name: perkulator

Product:	Archos AVCam 300
Date:	11/11/04 (348 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Takes Photos & Videos!!, Saves straight onto the Archos, Is a Must-Have!

Disadvantages: Keep your hands still when taking photos

As I said in my Archos av300 review, 'is there nothing this gadget can't do' ?

This camera module is yet another add-on to the archos av300 family.

At 3.3 Megapixels it is a very good competitor with everyday digital cameras.

But not only is it a digital camera for taking still images, it also doubles as a digital camera for taking video images and uses the built in microphone in the archos to take the sound. This can also be played back and edited on the archos.

At the moment 11/11/04 its average price is £150 so it does make you wonder if it is worthwhile geting this camera or actually getting an actual digital camera and then downlaoding your images to your archos av300 through a computer or through an archos add-on which reads digital camera flash cards.

The quality is superb (if you need examples, just email me, ian@ambleweb.com) and there are various settings to choose the resolution, size and quality of the shot.

I have an archos av380 (80 gb) so this camera module is great as i have more than enough space to store and view my photos taken by the camera module.

The camera clips onto the left of the archos which is very useful for left-handed people and doesnt really make too much of a problem for right handed users as long as they can use their left hand to press the 'shoot' button!

The camera runs off the same power as the archos av300, and can take about 140 shots after a full charge. Bear in mind that if the built in flash is used the number of shots will be decreased.

Unfortunatly this camera does have a couple of bad points:

1. It does take a little while from turning the archos on to being able to take a picture which can be agrevating if you need to take a photo in a hurry.
2. You need a little practice at taking shots with the archos camera attached as it does make a rather large camera to physically hold and keep still. I noticed that I was getting blurry images when i started using the camera but i soon learned that the exposure time can be changed and I got used to the fact that you have to keep your hands REALLY steady.

All in all, this is another really useful add-on to teh archos av300 family and a great gadget to have.

Any questions or sample requests, just email me - ian@ambleweb.com

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