Shoot Review: Supacam DVX

Take one part videocamera, one part digital still camera, add a MP3 player and a digital voice recorder, and what do you get? The new Supacam DVX multifunctional digital media device.

The Supacam DVX has a palm-size form factor with a flip-out 2.5in. LCD screen for playback and realtime monitoring. Despite the multimedia device''s considerable cool factor, its MPEG-4 video output generally is not up to professional par.

Before the DVX from Supacam were the DV4 and DV6. This latest version has been shipping since the first of the year, and by most accounts it's an improvement over the previous versions. It also scores very high on the coolness meter. It's about palm-sized and opens like a Star Trek communicator device, and it's available in black/silver and red/silver color configurations. Think of it as a sort of digital media Swiss Army knife. The unique aspect of the Supacam DVX is its miniature all-in-one approach, so there's no need to carry two or three additional items when you are out and about. But the feel of the DVX is decidedly more consumer than pro.

In addition to the functions I've listed, there are lots of useful features like image stabilization, auto white balance, built-in flash for indoor stills, eight exposure levels, and photo effects like B&W, sepia tone, picture-in-picture, and photo frames. For PC users, the camera is also a webcam and supports fast data transfer via USB 2.0.

A major plus is the company's unique 14-day user return policy. Supacam also provides a one-year warranty. Technical support is available through phone or email. For me, the support staff was fairly responsive and knowledgeable about the limitations of the camera. The printed version of the manual is nearly useless, but the updated PDF version available on disc and on the website is much better. Let's look at some of the main features of this “multicam.”

The camera uses the MPEG-4 compression standard to record AVI video files to SD memory cards (up to 2GB, and you'll probably want to max out your storage). It also captures JPEG still files. In my tests, a high-speed SD card made a huge difference with playback and content transfer. With a standard 1GB SD card (which goes for around $40 or $50), Supacam DVX records about 90 minutes of what the company calls “high-resolution” video (actually only 640×480) or about 300 digital photos at 11Mpixels.

At press time, the company was considering support for the new larger capacity (4GB) SD cards, and I encourage that. The DVX has 32MB of memory built in, which allowed me only a couple of high-res pics and a few short movies.

But the magic of recording to these handy little SD storage cards is finally here, and I like it. Soon there will be 8GB cards, and maybe even larger. Very handy indeed.

Speaking of handy, for realtime viewing of video the DVX features a 2.5in. LTPS TFT LCD screen that can rotate 180 degrees and secure back into the camera, which makes it nice for just viewing the videos. It's almost a miniature television screen.

There's also a cool Loop video mode that plays the same video over and over. Naturally I'd like a larger and sharper screen, but as with everything else there are tradeoffs to be made: size, weight, cost, power usage, etc.

I found the realtime view through the LCD to lag behind what the lens was actually shooting. Playback was not a problem, however. Playback from the DVX through the supplied composite AV cable to a TV monitor was fine as well.

I used the Supacam DVX camera in a variety of shooting situations, from bright sunlight outdoors to low light indoors. Put simply, the camera is not crazy about dim light, either for video or stills. There are three quality settings for both stills and video. The higher the setting, the larger the file.

With the 5Mpixel sensor, video is captured 30fps at 640×480 with the high setting delivering “DVD quality,” according to the company. The Supacam DVX uses the XviD MPEG-4 video codec. The low-quality setting for video has a smaller screen size of 320×240, which is great for video emails (and vlogs; see p. 30 for my Serious Magic Vlog It review). Stills are captured at resolutions up to 3856×2892 for an 11Mpixel image, according to the specs.

Before we go any further, I need to say that despite these impressive numbers, I found the image quality lacking. Those hoping to intermix DV clips with MPEG-4 video from the DVX need to look elsewhere. The still pictures were better than the video clips that I shot, but the JPEGs were less than razor-sharp and a bit washed out color-wise — even at the highest quality setting.

To be fair, considering its size, functionality, and price, what Supacam is asking the internal engine to do is big work. For example, when shooting it needs to perform many operations: auto focus, auto white balance, stereo audio capture, etc. For the most part, the internal chip performance is adequate. In the future, better and cheaper chips (and better codecs) are going to power all sorts of cool devices like this.

The DVX is bundled with some useful software. Windows users get Ulead's VideoStudio 8 for editing video and burning DVDs and Ulead's Photo Express 5 for dealing with digital photos. Perhaps most importantly, there's a file converter that converts video into the MPEG-4 XviD format that the camera uses. For Mac users, Supacam has a link on its website that provides a free AVI-to-MOV file converter. I had some problems using the device with a Mac OS X system and getting clips to play in QuickTime, iMovie, and Final Cut Express. The company has already addressed past problems and says that it is committed to ensuring that the DVX and future products work well on the Mac.

The included CD-ROM has a DVCAM driver, a codec for Windows Media Player and Adobe Acrobat, and the documentation. The software bundle is welcome and useful.

Also included with the DVX is a power adapter, a USB cable, an AV cable, an NP60 battery, a Quick Guide, the CD-ROM, an earphone, an IR remote control, and a belt-attachable nylon carry case. Nice accessories. But for professional media production, Supacam is all but a novelty.

However, it's great to have a camera on me at all times. In a pinch I can get away with using the footage for a brief cutaway, especially if I've captured something compelling. Also, because of its small size, I was able to attach it to the end of a K-Tek boom and raise it to get a shot high above the subject. This proved very effective.

There are a few other things I like about the DVX. It records in NTSC or PAL. I'm able to create video emails and vlog posts easily. I can use the Supacam DVX as a sort of webcam. I can play back my MP3 music and my AVI movies and use its digital audio recording function as a personal voice notebook.

On the negative side, in addition to the things I've already mentioned, there's no lens cap, it takes three hours to recharge the battery fully, the zoom and the digital image stabilization will not work at the same time, and there is no focus ring. (Instead, for focusing, there's Macro Mode, Portrait Mode, and Normal focus settings.)

The previous models also had some problems, according to online user groups, but to its credit Supacam seems to have improved the DVX in quality and performance over its previous models. Additionally, this is a small, new company that has had some growing pains but believes in its product. That's evident in its 14-day return policy. If a customer is unsatisfied for any reason, he or she can return the product for a full refund (minus a 15-percent restock fee). I know of only one other company that has such a policy. Novelty or not, a two-week, no-questions-asked return policy is a good way to do business. Despite their real and subjective limitations, the DVX and the other Supacam models over the past few years have been groundbreaking in size, feature set, and price.

With some capital, a translator, a list of a features, and lots of persistence, one can go to the places where high-tech gadgets are made (China and Taiwan, mainly), place an order, and get 1,000-5,000 units of a product stamped with one's very own brand name. Digital chipsets make this possible. Such is the case with Supacam, and I predict we'll see more innovative little companies using this sort of guerrilla approach to high-tech product development and marketing.

I applaud Supacam's direct sales and promotion approach, as it cuts out the middleman and in general means savings for the end user. Of course, somewhat unsurprisingly, there are very similar products (some are almost exactly the same) with other brand names on the market — and some are even cheaper than Supacam.

I wanted to love this product, but there are things I really like about it. After all, putting aside quality concerns, you've got most if not all of the tools you need to live the full “digital media life.” I think the concept of the DVX and similar cameras is very sound; in fact, I think it's the wave of the future. Witness the popularity of the Apple Video iPod and cell phones that take pictures and play MP3s. Next time I'm in China, I'll ask them if I can have a DV camera like the Sony DCR-PC100 combined with a MP3 player like an Apple iPod. Then I'll have them add a great digital still camera and an audio recorder, and have everything record to tiny digital media cards. (And for the power version, add a cell phone and a GPS device.) Hey, I can dream, right? But mark my words: The first manufacturer to pull off a professional (DV/DVCAM) version of a device like this will sell a boatload of them.

So the DVX is good, but not great. You might be smart to wait for an even better version. The company seems committed to continually improving the product via firmware and software updates. I'd also like to see its price come down. For just a bit more, one could purchase a MiniDV video and still camera, although those don't have the audio features of the DVX. In my opinion, the price gap is small considering the vastly increased image quality you get with MiniDV.

As it stands now, the DVX does not achieve professional-level video and still recording. I found the image quality of the CCD lacking both in color rendition and sharpness.

That said, from the standpoint of a utilitarian power user, or a cool-gadget guy, the Supacam can be a fun and useful tool. Using the supplied case, I kept it attached to my belt for a week. I liked having a video and still camera, MP3 player, and audio recorder with me at all times. Despite its shortcomings, the DVX can be a good tool for some users. Consider it carefully.

Company: Supacam
Santa Monica, Calif; (310) 664-1505
www.supacam.com

Product: Supacam DVX

Assets: Small and lightweight, four media tools in one, low cost.

Caveats: Low image quality, digital-only zoom.

Demographic: Those who need a small multifunctional media tool for casual, “always with you” use.

PRICE: $328 (MANUFACTURER-DIRECT)

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