I am glad I purchased this instead of the other HD camcorders in this price range.
I was about to return this and get an aiptek a-hd+ but its a good thing i found some raw MOV files of the aiptek a-HD+ on forums.
After seeing the quality of the aiptek a-hd+ raw MOV files I decided to keep the DXG 581v.
After comparing the raw MOV files of both camcorders, DXG 581v looked so much better, and sharper. The aiptek a-hd+ looked like it was only upscaled and was actually only 480p...the aiptek lacked sharpness and detail
The DXG's 480p at 60 fps is smooth as butter and still sharp and detailed. UPDATE: The 720p mode and the 1080 mode is also smooth - change sure your frequency setting is set to "50 hz" and change "TV format" to PAL. This will smoothen out the panning...i guess the electronics inside are PAL but the software is set to NTSC because the unit is sold in the states.
The problem with the raw MOV files I saw with the aiptek was that it would sometimes skip frames. It appeared aiptek found a way to double the frames of its 720p at 30fps mode...it is a faux 60fps and doesn't look good.
If you want an HD camcorder that can catch a clear view of a car's license plate as it unintentionally passes by your camcorder's line of sight then get the DXG 581v.
Pros:
- large lcd screen.
- Sharp even at 480p
- smooth 480p at 60 fps compared to the other HD camcorders at $130+
-UPDATE: also smooth 720p and 1080 after changing TZV format to PAL and frequency to 50
- comes with cables:
> composite inputs and USB input.
> mini HDMI to HDMI
- audio passes through the HDMI connection
- good audio quality...very detailed and can pick up deep bass sounds.
- can change resolutions on the fly - pressing right on joystick
- can change exposure on the fly - pressing up/down on joystick
- can turn on the LED flash during video recording - press left on the joystick
- very light
- very small- you can actually hide it in your fist.
- comes with pouch you can attach to your belt.
- 720p and 1080i are very good quality. can catch alot of detail.
- macro switch is firm and in perfect spot if you want to quickly change to macro and back to normal mode
- autofocus does a good job of getting every detail.
- works with my 16gb class 6 sd card
- battery is rechargeable and only costs $3. It uses FUJI NP60 battery.
- battery life long - i will update this and do a battery test. battery gave me 2 bars out of the box. UPDATE: did a continuous recording at 1080i which lasted 1 hr 30 min. using my replacement battery gave me 2 hour recording continuous.
-voice recording is great. I was able to record a lecture 30 feet away from the professor and could hear his voice clearly during playback.
- when camcorder is plugged into HDMI slot of HDTV it enters playback mode. Files will play continuously and will loop.
- can upload the raw MOV files directly to popular video sharing sites
- battery is secure...no wobble.
- camera is more steady then other camcorders. (less shaking)
- was able to attach camcorder to tripod.
- able to keep camera stable without tripod.
Cons:
- 720p and 1080i run at 30 fps.
- 1080i only. it is not 1080p (1920x1080)...it is actually 1440x1080.
- no lens cap
- does not include an SD card.
- movie mode and voice recording mode must be selected in the menu. After shutoff movie mode is set as default. you must go back into the menu to enable voice recording.
- raw MOV files do not play on the xbox 360
- only 32 mb internal memory. about 5 seconds video, or 20 photos, or 1 minute of voice recording.
Since I can change resolutions at a click of a button on the joystick, I use 480p when I am recording a fast motion video, where I know there will be alot of panning.
Then I will use 720p or 1080i, when the video calls for slower or litte to no panning, and details need to be captured. UPDATE: after changing TV format to PAL and Frequency to 50 hz panning is now smooth. so I use 720 and 1080 most of the time now.
In staples I was hunting for a laser copier. I could have used my phone to take photos of each copier and price tag but using the DXG 581v made it so much quicker and easier to review when i got home.
I used the 1080i resolution. took a full body shot of one copier then focused on the price tag while switching to macro mode and taking a shot of hte price tag. Did this for the whole aisle of laser copiers. It was quick and I ended up with everything I needed on one file when i got home.
UPDATE: Attended a trade show in Las Vegas and I have to say the DXG did an amazing job.
I recorded each workshop and seminar at 1080i and during playback the video quality was so clear. The power point presentation on the projector screen which I recorded was very sharp on playback.
Using the replacement battery I purchased for $4 here on amazon, lasted 30 minutes longer than the original battery that came with the DXG 581v.
UPDATE:
To hook up the camcorder to an old HDTV with the HDMI port that doesnt support audio.
1.) plug the usb cable with composite out and left channel out to the dxg 581v
2.) plug the left channel audio out to the audio input of the HDTV
3.) plug the HDMI cable to the HDTV
4.) plug the other end of the HDMI cable into the DXG 581v camcorder
You will now have audio while using the HDMI portof the HDTV. DXG DXG-581V - Camcorder - High Definition - widescreen - 5.0 Mpix - supported memory: SD, SDHC - flash card
Prior to a March 2009 vacation to Disney World, I was looking for an inexpensive HD camcorder to take along. I almost bought the Kodak Zi6, which records up to 720P. Then I saw an article from the February Consumer Electronics Show that mentioned the DXG 581V, which records up to 1080P. I had to make a purchasing decision before I could find any reviews of the DXG, but decided to purchase the DXG any way- for about the same price as the Zi6. I was not disappointed. Shooting in both 1080P and 720P, the DXG captured very good quality HD video. The proof of this was provided by connecting the camera directly to my 52 inch Sony LCD TV via the provided HDMI cable. On the 52 inch screen, the 1080P video was crisper than the 720P, but not by much. Shooting in 720P means you can fit much more video on the memory card, and it greatly reduces the processing time if you are making a movie in Apple's iMovie or something similar. Until Blu Ray burner prices come down, I will continue to shoot in 720P.
Outdoor shots in sunlight are excellent, while indoor shooting in low artificial light is not great, but is useable for my purposes. The camera does not have image stabilization, and it is essential to really concentrate on keeping the camera steady when panning, etc. The camera is very easy and intuitive to use, except that the LCD screen is tough to see in strong sunlight (a common problem). The camera also shoots 5 MP stills, which are pretty good. However, at Disney World I carried a little pocketable Pentax digital camera that shoots 8 MP stills and has a 7X optical zoom for more versatility.
Battery life with the included 1200mAh battery is very good (20-30 minutes). I purchased an 8 GB SDHC memory card, and used only about 60% of its capacity in shooting 1.5-2 hours of mostly 720P video. The 4X digital zoom is useful, although an optical zoom would obviously be better. However, considering the $150 price, the features provided are very good in my opinion. The included belt holster is not much bigger than a cell phone holster and is convenient with its velcro flap.
My one complaint is that the built in microphone is extremely sensitive to wind, which can completely overpower any other ambient sounds. When wind wasn't a problem, the camera did a good job of recording music and other ambient sounds in the Disney World attractions. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with the DXG 581V. - High Definition - Camcorder - Hd Camcorder - 1080i'
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