Home > Consumer Reviews > Vivitar Vivicam 3640 2MP Digital Camera

The price made me investigate this camera for my daughter's birthday, but when I used it I wanted to keep it for myself!!! This camera is SO easy to use and figure out. The user manual is clear and straight forward, and you even get a case with it!! My "good" digital camera didn't come with a case! This is a great "first" digital camera for the kids that they can learn to use in a snap!

I was looking for a cheap digital camera which let make take pictures of a decent quality, and I got more than what I expected. This camera has 600x800 normal and fine, 1600x1200 normal and fine and 2048x1536 super resolutions. It has 8 mb internal memory, which lets you take from 7 to 60 pictures. Even in the lowest resolution, you can take good 4x6 sized pictures. It has settings for close ups, night pictures and a 10 second timer, which works great for when you want to be in the picture. It has zoom functions and different flash settings. It works as a webcam, works good in Yahoo! messenger. It takes 60 sec video but with no sound, so it's not very useful. It comes with the USB cable and it's worked great for this past 6 months with Windows XP. I don't like the editing software that comes with the cam, but you don't have to install it, you can use anyone you want. You can also buy a DC adapter on the Vivitar website, they have excellent customer service in case you have any questions. I recommend rechargeable NimH batteries or if not you'll have to buy good Energizer alkaline batteries for it to work well. I tried using Panasonic and Rayovac alkaline batteries and they only last for 2 or 3 pictures and don't work at all with the special features. Overall, it's a really good camera for that price!!!

I was given this camera for Christmas, 2003, and it stopped working one month later. We live in Spain, so we were told to send it to be serviced in Barcelona. From Barcelona, it was sent to France. We received it back months later, and it worked for 4 days.

Last July, while on vacation at home in the States, I sent it to the service center in California, requesting the camera be replaced. I received a "replacement" camera in August, which stopped working six months later. I am now fed up with Vivitar and I have bought another brand.

If my three experiences are any indication, you can expect this camera to work an average of 71.3 days, so you should make every day count!