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Sharp's
Internet Viewcam - Size Matters...
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Whoever
came up with the saying, "size doesn't matter" was living
in a dream world. This is a family show here at Hot Hardware, so we
won't get into the specifics of the saying's origin. :-) However, as
with most things in life, size DOES matter especially when it comes
to file sizes that are being displayed or transferred over the
internet.
Although, many people around the world are fortunate enough to have
high bandwidth internet services like Cable Modems and DSL, the vast
majority, at least for the time being, are limited to a 53K dial-up
connection at best. Remember the last time that insensitive T1 Web
Screaming so-called friend of yours sent you that 15MB video clip
via email and your email inbox took 4 hours to download? We're glad
you didn't commit murder at that point but the judge would have let
you off if you did. Perhaps, you remember the time that cool new
First Person 3D Shooter Game was close to being released and the
developer's web site had a real sweet looking MPEG clip of in-game
action. Then you saw that the little trailer video was actually a
12MB monster MPEG, so you decided "nah it can't be THAT
good".
Let's face it, most folks still aren't "big" on large file
sizes (sorry that was rough). If your video clip takes too long to
download or stream, they'll be moving on to something a little more
byte sized (I know, I'm on a roll here). For those of you not
blessed with the "digital phat-pipe", Sharp is trying to
make life a little easier. For those of you who's job it is to
deliver exciting content to the masses via the internet, Sharp has a
weapon for your arsenal that could prove to be invaluable. This is a
Hot Hardware Exclusive look at the Sharp Internet Viewcam. |
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Product
Definition
Those
of you with marketing backgrounds will understand this concept,
although it's not rocket science. What is the product's intent,
feature set and value to the consumer? We didn't want to mislead
anyone with this review as to the application that the Viewcam is
supposed to address. This product is not designed to compete with
Digital Still Megapixel Cameras. It is also not designed to compete
with Real-Time Live Webcams.
Rather,
the folks at Sharp have carved out another niche' for Mainstream
Internet Video Production. Frankly, it is not fair to call this a
niche' product since applications for it are so vast with a
potentially large end user market. Now that we have that out of the
way, let's look at the genetics of the Sharp Internet Viewcam. Hence
forth, we'll call it the "IVC" for simplicity sake.
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Specifications
- Model
name:
VN-EZ1U
- Motion
picture compression format: MPEG-4
standard
- Still
image compression format:
JPEG standard
- Recording
format Motion picture:
ASF, Still image: JPEG (Exif 2.1)
- Recording
medium SmartMedia:
(SSFDC) 3.3V type 2MB, 4MB, 8MB, 16MB, 32MB memory cards
- Image
pickup device:
1/4-inch CCD with approx. 350,000 pixels (total number of
pixels), progressive scanning CCD Square pixel, RGB filter, 4x
digital zoom (can be used only while recording in LP, Normal, or
Fine mode)
- Lens Fixed
with macro: F=3.4,
f=3.8mm (equivalent to 35mm camera with conversion value of
37mm)
- LCD
Monitor:
1.8-inch TFT LCD color monitor (61,380 pixels)
- Power
consumption:
3.4W (when recording), 2.7W (when playing back)
- Continuous
operating time: Approx.
1 hour [with included alkaline AA batteries] Approx. 2 hours
[with rechargeable nickel hydrogen batteries (1450mAh)]
- Speaker
output: 100mW
(monaural)
- DC input jack
For included AC adapter (6V DC rated input)
- External
dimensions:
(W x H x D) 81.4 x 89.5 x 42.0 mm (3.2" x 3.5" x
1.7")
- Weight:
Approx. 148 g (5.2 oz) [approx. 240 g (8.5 oz) with SmartMedia
card and 4 alkaline AA batteries
- Voltage
supply:
6V DC (alkaline AA batteries, corresponding rechargeable nickel
hydrogen batteries, or AC adapter)
- Supplied
accessories:
4 alkaline AA batteries, 4MB SmartMedia memory card, floppy disk
adapter, hand strap, soft case, application software on CD-ROM,
AC adapter
Movie
Record Modes
Still
Image Size and Capacity
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The tables above
show you how long a movie or how many still shots you can take and a
what resolutions. Note that this little camera can use up to a 32MB
SSFDC (Solid State Floppy Disk) Card and record up to 2 hours and 17
minutes on it. Now, in long play mode, the MPEG compression will be
high so the quality will suffer but it is nothing short of amazing
to get that kind of record time in a portable camera. You can record
in two resolutions 160X120 and 1/4 VGA - 320X240.
Also, just in
case you haven't seen a Solid State Floppy Disk, prepare to be
amazed again...
SSDFC
( Solid State Floppy Disk)
Everything about
this set up from Sharp is small. I mean we're talking "James
Bond" kind of small. SSFDC has been around for a couple of
years now and is big in digital still cameras as well. I am not sure
if you can get a sense on how thin the SSFDC is compared to that
penny, so I will tell you that it is less than half the thickness.
The MPEG Movies this camera produces are recorded in ASF (Advanced
Streaming Format) so they are perfect to send via email or post on
the web for streaming without the need to wait for a full download.
The first time a user opens a file encoded with this, MS Media
Player will download a new CODEC directly from Microsoft as long as
you are connected to the net when you do it. You only have to
download this CODEC once and it is only 100K or so. Once it is
installed, you'll be able to view this format without the need for
the download again.
So, you're
thinking... "how the heck do I get that tiny little floppy disk
to go in my computer's floppy drive?" With the SSFDC Adapter
that Sharp gives in the kit, of course.
Still
Image Taken By Sharp IVC - Click for larger view
That little
notch on the side, near my thumb, is where you insert the SSFDC and
then you just pop the whole thing into your floppy drive and you can
access the files. Before you can use the adapter, you need to
install a small set of drivers that come with the camera. These
allow your standard floppy drive to read the SSFDC and the Flash ROM
that is inside it.
As you can see,
close up image quality is fair. Things look at little grainy and you
can only shoot up to 640X480. However this camera is not designed to
compete with Megapixel Digital Still Cameras. Think of the IVC as a
Digital Video CAM for the PC that has the ability to snap still
shots.
Also, it is
important to note that this camera needs LOTS of light. Don't plan
on bringing it to the Disco for some funky groove movies unless they
have some serious flood-lights on the mirror ball. The camera does
not come with an on board flash or light. In order to get good
quality movies or stills, you'll need out door light or a well lit
room.
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| So
you seen enough snap shots, right? How about some video footage? |
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Look
out Dan Rather!
Here
comes Hot Hardware's Davo-Cam !! -------->
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