PureDigital has been in the pocket camcorder business for several years now, having started with disposable video cameras. Their newest, deluxe version comes in multiple colors, like an iPod Nano and can shoot up to an hour of video at a time. They've kept to the mantra of "keep it simple". The gizmo is nearly foolproof. Four buttons control most of the functions: on/off, record, play, and delete. A small LCD on the back is used for playback and as a viewfinder. There is even a small built-in speaker so you can hear the sound on the videos without the need for any tv or computer connection. The camera has a digital zoom for getting close in on the action. While I prefer optical zooms, given the somewhat limited resolution of the camera, the digital zoom performed adequately.
This year's update to Pure Digitals line of pocket camcorders is long on looks, but not all of the changes are for the better. The formerly convex record button, is now inexplicably recessed in the middle of a flower petal of other buttons. Often I thought I had started a video, but found that I hadn't pressed hard enough, or had missed and hit the zoom button instead.
For all but the most fashion obsessed users I would recommend the cheaper Flip Video camcorder. It puts function over form.
The camera hooks up to the computer with a built in USB connector that pops out of the side of the unit, so you don't need to hunt for the cable when you want to transfer content to the PC, although you can use one if that is more convenient. The camera comes complete with cables to allow viewing on a tv.
The camera doesn't even require a driver disk with WinXP; even the software to produce and send movies is built into the camera.
The camera's light weight and small size made it a pleasure to carry around. It was great for family get togethers where we just wanted animated snapshots of the day, rather than a full blown movie. The quality was less than you might get from more expensive digital cameras, particularly in terms of "sharpness" and saturation, but it was certainly adequate to capture the "feel" of the day.
Some of the camera's other features will be seen by some as virtues, and by others, flaws. For instance, the cameral does not come with rechargeable batteries – it uses standard AAs instead. There is no tape, and no expandable memory slot. You get only one hour of shooting and after that you can't record any more until you delete or offload to a computer.
The bundled software is designed with newbies in mind. It handles all the steps needed to create a YouTube or AOL video account . Once created, your films can be uploaded with the press of a single button. One limitation of the included software was particularly frustrating. While you can edit movies and post them online, the only way to make a DVD with the built-in programs is to take your creation to a photolab. There is no disk burning software included.
At less than two hundred dollars PureLogic's camera has a lot going for it. It is light, small, and very easy to operate. No manual is needed, you just click and shoot. It makes an excellent second camera. While I was shooting with my digital SLR I sometimes keep this one on my wrist to catch action that can't be conveyed in a still image, and then blend the videos and stills together into a movie. Unfortunately, this restyling leaves a bit to be desired. The good news is that the previous model is still available for sale, offering most of the same functionality at a cheaper price.
