I took the Small Wonder with me this last week end and took some videos. Included are the YouTube links. After watching the uploaded videos on my Mac, I have these comments:
1) The video looks best when there is some contrast. Taking a shot from a very long distance away is not where this device is strong. Up close shots from 3-10 feet, or shots where there is lots of color and light yields the best results.
2) The Zoom feature works well for up close shots, but far away shots that are zoomed seem to give up some clarity in the image.
3) It seems to do pretty well in low light, which is nice for such a low end device. One of the example clips is taken in my office where only a desktop lamp is turned on. As a pan across the room, you can see how well it adjusts for the low light condition. If you watch the video closely, you can see the device adjusting the light as I go from the dark objects on the desk to viewing my computer monitor.
Like I said in my earlier post, this isn't a replacement for a high-end consumer grade camera. If you need something for everyday YouTube style videos, or something small and light to carry around, then this could be a decent solution.
Links:
These clips are all from YouTube, so a little bit of the quality has been lost during the upload process, but they should give the general impression of what is possible with the device.
My Pet "Buddy"
A close up in low light
Tortoise Walking
Shows how close you can get before the image gets blurry
Ferret Wrestling Match
Shows using the zoom and the quality of a normal shot. You can hear the button "clicks" when I press the zoom key. This is a side effect of changing the zoom while recording.
Ocean Seascape
Waves and cliffs at the Oregon Coast
Low light test clip
Taken in a room in the evening with only a lamp and LCD monitor
Also, if you have a pre-teen that is computer savvy, this would make a great gift, since it is easy to use, the videos are small, and would allow the creative kid to express themselves.
1) The video looks best when there is some contrast. Taking a shot from a very long distance away is not where this device is strong. Up close shots from 3-10 feet, or shots where there is lots of color and light yields the best results.
2) The Zoom feature works well for up close shots, but far away shots that are zoomed seem to give up some clarity in the image.
3) It seems to do pretty well in low light, which is nice for such a low end device. One of the example clips is taken in my office where only a desktop lamp is turned on. As a pan across the room, you can see how well it adjusts for the low light condition. If you watch the video closely, you can see the device adjusting the light as I go from the dark objects on the desk to viewing my computer monitor.
Like I said in my earlier post, this isn't a replacement for a high-end consumer grade camera. If you need something for everyday YouTube style videos, or something small and light to carry around, then this could be a decent solution.
Links:
These clips are all from YouTube, so a little bit of the quality has been lost during the upload process, but they should give the general impression of what is possible with the device.
My Pet "Buddy"
A close up in low light
Tortoise Walking
Shows how close you can get before the image gets blurry
Ferret Wrestling Match
Shows using the zoom and the quality of a normal shot. You can hear the button "clicks" when I press the zoom key. This is a side effect of changing the zoom while recording.
Ocean Seascape
Waves and cliffs at the Oregon Coast
Low light test clip
Taken in a room in the evening with only a lamp and LCD monitor
Also, if you have a pre-teen that is computer savvy, this would make a great gift, since it is easy to use, the videos are small, and would allow the creative kid to express themselves.
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