Even though the Coby CAM3000 has a puny 1.3 MP pixels (1280 x 960), I’m pleasantly surprised that the quality of the video looks very descent on my 21″ monitor (@ 1680 x 1050 screen resolution); it looks only very slightly pixelated. Considering how affordably priced this mini camcorder is, I’d say it’s a real bargain.
- Build Quality
The build quality is really quite good — this mini camcorder does not look cheap to be sure. Although it has a shiny, not rugged, plastic exterior, it seems to be fairly scratch resistant. All the buttons are firm, not jiggly.
- SD Card Expansion Slot
The mini camcorder has about 20 MB of built-in memory, which is sufficient for only a few seconds of recording (makes me wonder why they even bother including the built-in memory). No problem – it has an SD card expansion slot. I have no trouble getting the mini camcorder to recognize my high-capacity SD card. I’m using a Kingston 8 GB microSDHC Card with an SD card adapter (came with the Kingston package).
- Digital Zoom
This mini camcorder actually has digital zoom-in/out, as opposed to optical zoom (better). The trouble with digital zooming is the image gets pixelated when you zoom in. The zooming is also a little choppy.
- LCD Screen
The display on the LCD screen is very clear. The LCD screen is somewhat smallish, but it’s perfectly adequate nonetheless.
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For the price, this mini camcorder produces some very descent 1280 x 960 videos. The quality isn’t on par with that from a regular camcorder, of course, but it is more than adequate if you’re planning on using your videos on y0utube. It’s ultra portable and perfect for some quick and casual takes.