PreTec DV4200i MPEG4 Camcorder with 2.1 Megapixel CCD, Color LCD, 64MB SD and AV input

Rating:
Summary: GREAT CAMERA FOR PRICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review:
This is a review for the Pretec DV-4200i. I was looking for an SD camcorder and I can tell you that I got a LOT more with this camera! The camera shoots at 30fps (currently the ONLY one at this price at MPEG4 quality). It also will record your VHS and DVD tapes onto it so then you can transfer it to your computer! I've transfered and videotaped all kinds of things and sent them to friends. If you have old home movies....transfer them to your computer with the camera and then save them on disk! It also is a fairly good Digital still camera. It is also an mp3 recorder and audio recorder. THERE IS ONE REVIEW FLOATING AROUND OUT THERE THAT STATES THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT BATTERY FOR THIS CAMERA......THIS IS WRONG!!!!!! THEY DO HAVE REPLACEMENT BATTERIES AT WWW.PRETEC.COM!!!!!!
I use this all of the time and if you are looking for an awesome little video camera.....THIS IS IT!!!!!! The software that is included with it is AWESOME also. It lets you edit and transfer the videos OR still images. I cannot tell you how pleased I am with this camera. If you are looking for a camera that shoots DVD quality....THIS IS NOT THE ONE FOR YOU!!!!! So spend the money to get one. For the price, and what this little camera does (VHS quality) it is well worth it! Remember, MPEG4 is the NEW format file. Lets say you shoot a 6 min. video....It will save at MP4 @ 20 mb. Compared to the 800mb at the old AVI file. It compresses it very well and the video looks great!
Cudos to Pretec!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also there is a new camera coming out from PRETEC that does shoot at DVD quality.


Rating:
Summary: Cheap piece of plastic!
Review: First of all I was highly unimpressed with the appearance and "feel" of the unit. Second, I went to load the supplied CD and it was either a blank, or a defective copy. I checked my CD Drive to be sure and it loaded other software with no problem. So, I guess I can't really comment on the performance of the unit, as I never got to the point of shooting anything with it. I have waited some time for the release of this Camcorder and was quite dissapointed with its "cheap construction". There was no written manual supplied with the unit, so I assumed that the instructions to be on the supplied CD, which as I said, would not load onto my computer. I drew a blank, I will now go back to the Mini DV technology, or wait for the Samsung unit to be released. I have returned the unit to Amazon.

Rating:
Summary: Cheap piece of plastic!
Review: First of all I was highly unimpressed with the appearance and "feel" of the unit. Second, I went to load the supplied CD and it was either a blank, or a defective copy. I checked my CD Drive to be sure and it loaded other software with no problem. So, I guess I can't really comment on the performance of the unit, as I never got to the point of shooting anything with it. I have waited some time for the release of this Camcorder and was quite dissapointed with its "cheap construction". There was no written manual supplied with the unit, so I assumed that the instructions to be on the supplied CD, which as I said, would not load onto my computer. I drew a blank, I will now go back to the Mini DV technology, or wait for the Samsung unit to be released. I have returned the unit to Amazon.

Rating:
Summary: No Replacement Battery
Review: I purchased the DV-4200i from Amazon as soon as it was available. It is a fine product. There are 2 major exceptions however.

1. You can not buy a replacement battery. I have been in contact with Pretec with no success. I have searched the internet and local stores. No one sells this battery. I suggest that amazon stop selling this product until batteries are available.

2. I had to buy my own software to combine clips taken with the camera. The company did not know where I could buy the program nor did they suggest a product name. I did the research and found that ACE is a fine program to combine the clips. I passed this info on to the company.

It is a shame that such a fine product should have such major shortcomings. I wonder if their purchasing Dept. gets the batteries from. The won't tell me.

The battery is a rechargeable Li-ion 7.4 700mAh. It is proprietary battery.
if anyone who is reading this knows where I may buy the batteries, please email me at
[e-mail]



Rating:
Summary: Pretec? The leadind CF card maker?
Review: This is not a review, I just want to make sure that the 'Pretec'
is the famous 'Pretec' I knew for a long time? For they made very high quality CF cards.

What about Samsung? Nothing to expect!