Home > Consumer Reviews > JAZZ 11MP DIG MOVIE CAM W/ 2.0 LCD HI DEF

So far so good... The device is great if you need to capture something happening on the spot, but for any kind of production it is simply useless, well maybe it's good enough for web production.

Discovered Specifications:
1280x720 Mode: ~3000kbps MPEG-4 AVI
720x480 Mode: ~1700kbps MPEG-4 AVI
Either this is a low quality fast-mode MPEG-4 codec designed for embedded devices, or there is too much noise and/or distortion in the picture for the codec to produce a descent looking output. If I were them, I would crank this device up to 5000kbps on 1280x720 Mode and 3000kbps on 720x480 mode and offer a firmware update. I have found that only by capturing in 1280x720 Mode and converting down to 720x480 Mode in software was I able to achieve a somewhat descent picture quality.

Audio: 88kbps 22kHz mono ADPCM
The mic is okay, and does not distort easily, but the audio is not by any means CD or DVD quality. If I were them, I would crank this device up to 44kHz mono and offer a firmware update.

Other features include:
- Motion Stabilization
- Black & White
- Sepia
- Negative
- Digital Zoom (Unknown Multiplier)
- TV Out
- HDMI Out
- Audio Out
- Built In Speaker
- Manual Exposure Settings
- White Balance Presets
- Built In Light for night filming

You can choose 1280x720, 720x480, 640x480, or 320x240. 1 minute of High Definition video in this device's format is roughly ~26MB

You can't zoom whilst recording, which is no big deal if not a good thing. Most home movies are plagued with overuse of the zoom feature in my opinion.

This device is small enough to comfortably fit in my pocket. It's good for recording stuff for the web, but that's about it. I will be returning this for something that captures better quality video.

Flaws leading to its return includ:
- Can't film with the display closed, the device shuts off.
- Fixed lens with no auto or manual focus settings.
- Emits a startup sound when you power up the device.
- Sometimes ignores its buttons being pressed.
- Feels like it would be trivial to break the display off.

EDIT: Good for the price.

Had high hopes for this product. Video quality is disappointing for what I had hoped, but a clear improvement over similar cameras from 2-3 years ago. I wanted it for filming stage performances, and the spotlights washed out the faces, and this couldn't be adjusted with exposure settings. The zoom is digital only, and not smooth. As a still camera, it suffers from poor flash placement, and a very weak light, and no jitter-compensation. Since it is hard to hold for stills, this makes it almost useless as a photo camera -- too bad, as photo quality is not bad, if you can somehow steady the thing enough. Voice recording quality on video is weak, and mono only. No external mic jack. Voice-only recording quality is inferior to similar-priced voice-only recorders.

Good features are the external SD card, so you can hold much more video than a Flip camera, and it interfaces with a PC well. It has the screw opening on the base for a tripod. The monitor screen is large.

For the price it is good for many simpler video requirements, but for a little more money you can get Kodaks with better features. Compared to a Flip with only 1 hour of recording time it holds up well. MJF.

I spent several weeks searching for a simple but powerful Digital Video Camera. I looked everywhre on line and couldn't find anything in my price range other than the flip video which was NOT even remotely comperable to what the Jazz Elete camera. Not only is it a regular digital camera with flash capibility, it is also a digital voice recorder, MP3 player and ofcorse the ability to make and play videos in HD in both regular and widescreen. It's small and compact and is easy to learn to use and some interesting features such as adding a frame to your photo on the camera. It also has several lighting levels and grains for your picturs. If you are considering buying a good but small video camera with a nice large screen then go with the Jazz Elete!

A BARGAIN CAMERA FOR THE PRICE AND EASY TO USE.I WAS SURPRISED WITH THE QUALITY OF VIDEO, EVEN IN VGA MODE IT WAS BETTER THAN MY JVC MINI DV. THE STILLS LOOKED GOOD TOO, FOR A FIXED LENS CAMERA. PERFECT TO SLIP IN YOUR POCKET FOR EVERY OCCASION.CA'NT GET THESE IN THE UK, HAD TO BUY THIS OVER HERE. A VERY GOOD CAMERA AT A VERY GOOD PRICE.

Was really wanting a fairly decent digital camcorder but didn't have the big bucks. I bought a lesser priced Jazz model, tried it a few days, but didn't have enough, so I took it back and traded up on the Jazz Elite. Very happy with it. Some of the complaints I have read on other reviews are really trivial in my opinion. I wanted true HD quality, and with an 8 GB SD card, can get some decent recording times. I bought mine at Wal-mart for $119 on a close out. Those that have looked at mine are most impressed and want to buy one as well. Feel like I got good resolution for a bargain price. Very easy to use.