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Vivitar DVR 850w Review (Man. ID=0030709) Kid Tested!

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Vivitar 850W Underwater Camera

The Vivitar DVR850W Digital Camcorder - Red (8.1MP, 2.4 inch TFT, 8 x Digital Zoom) is a great camera for above as well as below the waterline. With an 8.1 megapixel still camera and the ability to take snapshots as well as movies, it's a great all around camera in a nice slim package.tweet

What You Get

What's in the Package

The blister pack contains the Vivitar 850W Underwater Digital Video Recorder, a USB cable/AV cable, Vivitar Experience (TM) Software CD, Quick Start Guide, one Rechargeable Lithium battery, AC Charger, and a 1 Year Warranty.
NOTE: You need to purchase an SD Card (up to 8GB) in order to use this as well.

Pros

What's great about this camera

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  • Ruggedly built - metal case and rubberized bumpers and surfaces makes this a camera that can take some abuse
  • Built in Flash - a bit of a no brainer, but very handy, especially in low light and murky water situations
  • Slim design - fits easily in the hand, streamlined enough to swim easily with, as well as fit in a pocket if you're kayaking.
  • Software - easily upload videos and pics to youtube, flickr, etc., without having to know much about importing/exporting
  • Long life Lithium Ion battery - keeps the design slim, the battery lasts a good two plus hours of use in our tests (my daughter is a bit of a fish, so she put it through it's paces)
  • (up to) 8GB SD card storage - enough to store a good amount of video and a lot of pics

    • Cons

    What needs improvement

  • With memory following Moore's Law closely, it would be nice to have it utilize 32GB SD cards
  • The proprietary Lithium Ion battery means you'll have to get another one plus a charger instead of just swapping out a few AAA batteries. That being said, they would have to compromise the slim factor if they did.
  • "Garage door" design could break off with rough handling
  • mini-usb connector is the Achilles heel on this design, since it will be the first part to fail. If you're planning on using this camera a lot, I recommend an external charger.
  • Slow refresh and sluggish response in camera mode. The camera's primary function is as a video camera. With that in mind, the 8.1 megapixel camera that's built in is a no frills secondary addition. While it has auto flash, zoom, and several other good functions, if your primary use is going to be stills, this is probably not the camera for you.
  • Screw mount is recessed too much for most camera mounts! Need to add an adapter if you can find one, or make one if you're going to use it on a tripod of any type

    • Useability

    Reading over the pamphlet and going over the functions once or twice, you'll be right at home with this camera. My daughter didn't bother reading and was able to utilize the camera immediately. It went into the tub, it went to the pool, it took videos at Christmas and shots of the birds outside. Getting to the detailed functions is pretty easy, allowing you to set the automatic flash an other functions easily. My daughter also found that the camera floats to the surface faster when the display is closed. They supply a bright yellow wrist strap that's quite comfortable, too.

    Summary

    Fuji Finepix vs Vivitar 850WCompared with a Fuji FinePix, the resolution is quite good, though the Fuji beats it in resolution and speed as a still camera. This is a great camera for the outdoor person, swimmer, kayaker, sports enthusiast. Rugged, slim, easy to use, this camera is great for adults and children nine and over (younger if they're careful with their belongings). Despite the cons, it's a great camera especially if you find it at close to the $100 range.

    Duel Debate Module

    What do you think is better?

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    A camera especially made to go under water?

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    2011 Update

    One swap, now it's purple, and it's still working!

    type=textAlthough my daughter has almost outgrown it, it still finds itself in the pool or lake every so often. Still working despite all the dunks and dips, all of the offended fish and unintelligible underwater talking.

    by

    aperkins

    computer tech, avid gardener, dabbler in LED grow lights,and a scrimshander (http://scrimshaw.com)for over 25 years. more »

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