30 April 2008 @ 9:56Aiptek Action HD

Speaking of Aiptek HD camcorders(#), Aiptek also makes a model called Aiptek Action HD. This model has two notable features over the Aiptek A-HD+: 3x optical zoom and autofocus. those two features alone are probably worth the extra $30. Other than that, the specs seem almost identical.

1080P High Definition Digital Camcorder:
Capture stunning HD 1080P (1440 x 1080 – 16:9 aspect ratio) video at 30 frames per second with advanced H.264 high end compression technology. Playback on your HD-TV, Standard TV, and your PC or Mac!
Perfect for Sports & Fast Action Events w/ 720P HD @ 60 FPS:
Capture stunning HD 720P (1280 x 720 – 16:9 aspect ratio) video at 60 frames per second. Perfect for any sporting events! Playback on your HD-TV, Standard TV, and your PC or Mac!
Personal Media Player & Recorder:
Connect the camera to your TV/VCR/DVD player to record your favorite movies, TV shows, and other favorite videos. Playback directly on the 2.4″ LCD or create your own Digital Video Library. Records from any device that has RCA outputs for entertainment on the go!
Digital Still Camera:
Capture 8 Mega Pixel images. Macro lens enables you to take exceptional quality close-ups.
3x Optical Zoom w/ Auto Focus:
3x Optical Zoom with Auto Focus while recording for the best possible movies and photos.
Swivel-Reversible 2.4″ TFT Color LCD Display:
Review and playback you HD video clips and hi-res pictures in real time. LCD swivels 270° for unlimited video and photo taking.
2-inch Macro Zoom:
Capture 2 inch close-up still image or video clips.
Night Shot:
Enhance image quality in low light situations.
LED Lights:
Built-in LED lights for video recording in low light situations.
Convenient Power Charging:
Built-in Charger! Charge via computer USB port or via AC adapter.
HDTV Component Output:
Connect your Action HD to your HD-TV Component input ports to display your high definition video clips and still pictures, sharing them with friends and family.
Removable Hard Disk and SD/MMC Card Reader:
The Action HD allows you to use up to 32GB of SD card storage to record longer video before having to upload to your PC.

Something I have noticed during use of the Aiptek Action HD is that if you are recording in a quiet setting, you might noticed some noise from the autofocus motor as the camera tries to adjust the focus on a scene. You won’t notice this if you are mainly recording sports other activities where the “natural” noises will overpower the sound of the autofocus motor.

Speaking of autofocus, the Action HD does have some difficulty focusing in low light situations. The camera continually tries to focus, back and forth to no avail. To aid this just a bit, there are LED lights on the front of the camera that will provide some light to the scene, albeit somewhat unnatural light.

The Action HD is a great camera to toss in a bag or stuff in a pocket, and you won’t have to worry about taking out an insurance policy to cover it. You will more than likely record more video with an Action HD than you you would if you had a larger, more expensive camera, because it is so easy to carry around.

So, what is my opinion of the Aiptek Action HD? I feel like it is a great value compare to the standard definition offerings by other companies. The Action HD has some flaws, but nothing that can’t be overlooked for the sub-$200 price tag.

If you are interested in seeing some sample video clips from the Aipteck Action HD, follow these links:
Action HD 720p 60fps
Action HD 1080p 30fps

It seems that Wal-Mart is the only reseller of the Aiptek Action HD, and it is currently priced at $199.84.
Click here to buy the Aiptek Action HD from Walmart.com