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RCA Small Wonder EZ101 Video Camcorder Review |
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Written by Don Lee
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Tuesday, 30 May 2006 |
 RCA Small Wonder EZ101 video camcorder was designed to offer consumers a more
affordable and user-friendly video capture device. Small Wonder
EZ101 camcorder is a lightweight camcorder that is almost the exact the
size as an Apple iPod. But don’t let the device size fool you as this
pocket-sized camcorder can do some pretty nifty things.
The package comes with everything you will need to get started such as the Small Wonder EZ101 camcorder, two AA batteries, USB cable, TV AV cable, wrist strap and a small drawstring bag to hold your accessories. To get started, just slide open the battery cover on the side of the device and install the two AA batteries. Then press the power button on the back of the camcorder and you are all set.
When the Small Wonder EZ101 powers up, you will see the 1.5-inch color LCD display begin to display whatever you are pointing the camcorder at. The LCD will show the word “Ready” in the upper left hand part of the screen and the time remaining to record at the bottom of the screen.
The camcorder does not use any tapes but you are limited to 30 minutes of recording time. The device keeps track of each recording and continues to display the remaining recording time after each use. The EZ101 also display the length of each clip you record.
All of the camcorder controls appear on the back of the device. There you will find three buttons for the power, video playback and deleting files. There is also a control pad that is for volume/zoom control. You will see a red button on the back and that is to start and stop video recording. A built-in USB control arm is located on the left side of the camcorder. Don’t try to force the USB arm free as you will only damage it. Just pull the slide button all the way down the side of the camcorder to release the USB arm.
While you can connect the camcorder directly to your system, sometimes making the connection can be a little tough. This is when you use the enclosed USB cable to connect the camcorder to your computer system.
Recording is as simple as pointing the camcorder and pressing the big red button on the back. Press up on the center pad to zoom into your subject and press down to zoom out. The zooming function works smoothly but you should probably be as close to your subject as possible instead of depending on the zoom. When you are done recording, juts press the red button again to stop recording. The camcorder will keep track of each of your recordings so you know how much time is remaining to record.
Don’t worry if you leave your EZ101 camcorder on by accident as the device will power itself off after two minutes of inactivity.
To play back your video, just click on the Play button on the back of the camcorder as it will play the latest video your recorded. If you want to play other previously recorded clips, you can cycle through your recorded clips using the control pad and press play when you want to play the one you want. To stop playback, just press the Play button again. The length of the clip will appear inside the LCD display.
Deleting video clips is also a breeze. Just cycle through your video clips and when you decide which one you want to remove, just press the Delete button on the back of the camcorder. The device will prompt you first but a second press of the button will actually delete the file. Once you have deleted the file, the camcorder will adjust the amount of the recording time remaining. You will find a TV jack on the side of the camcorder so you can connect the device to your TV using the AV cable that is included.
Another great feature of the Small Wonder EZ101 camcorder is that you don’t even need to use your personal computer to transfer video to DVDs. The camcorder uses Pure Digital technology so you can visit a location near you (can be found in some chain pharmacies and camera stores) and transfer your video to DVD using their kiosk.
I really enjoyed using the RCA Small Wonder EZ101 video camcorder but there were a few issues. I wish there was some sort of lens cover because there is nothing to protect it. With the size of the device and ease of portability, you can expect a few bumps along the way so I was surprised they didn’t consider a way to protect the lens. They could have developed a cover for the LCD display as well. The audio quality is pretty good but it could probably be improved. The ease of use and inexpensive pricing makes this camcorder a good choice for those who are just getting started in videography.
RCA Small Wonder EZ101 video camcorder is Apple Macintosh and Windows PC compatible. It offers the most basic features of a typical digital camcorder without costing you a fortune. The RCA Small Wonder EZ101 video camcorder earns a 4 out of 5 star recommendation. Pick up the RCA Small Wonder EZ101 video camcorder or visit the product website at http://www.mysmallwonder.com/
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