SVP, Breica, Genesis, Megxon

[TrappistJD]

I had the idea I wanted a digital cam for basic internet stuff. I bought one of those 7 megapixel svp's on ebay. I like the idea in theory that a gray market company can offer more for less. To my eyes the digital cam market is artificially inflated big time. With tier level offerings, anything under $200 being a mere shell. Just wonder if anyone has had experience with these brands found on ebay. I understand that they are all made by the same group. Most of them have 3.1 megapixel sensors, but they are sold as having up to 12 through interpolation. There is only one megxon I saw, the prototype I guess, which is plainly advertised as having a 3.1 megapixel sensor(the ugliest one of the bunch). Just wondering if anyone here has had any experience with these brands. I havent got the thing in the mail yet, but its paid for. Dont think they offer refunds. Im the type of person that can believe something is good just because I paid money for it so dont worry about offending me. Thanks

[ProAc_Fan]

Well okay then if you want brutal honesty, any of those cheap chinese made cameras are a waste of your hard earned money. I'll get on my soap box now.... Only buy digital camera's from CAMERA manufacturers. Nikon,Canon, Fuji, Minolta etc.. These companies have a track record and a brand image to protect and enhance. Who the hell cares if some Asian no name company with a sound alike brand name makes a piece of crap? IMHO you just pissed your money down the drain. With the progress made in digital camera's you could have bought a very nice used camera from the above mentioned manufacturers for not a whole lot more. Penny wise and pound foolish is no way to go through life.

Mike

[TrappistJD]

Tier level brand consciousness, and perceptions of quality. Im not a photographer, but maybe I'll post a pic just to demonstrate its resolution, and color. Just wondering if there were any other test subjects out there for the Megxon corporation.

[ProAc_Fan]

Okay TrappistJD you post your pic with your brand new camera and I'll post one with a now 4 year old Canon G3 and we'll see where the rubber hits the road. :)


Mike

[Photobitstream]

I have to second what ProAc Fan stated. Out of curiosity I looked up the auctions on SVP cameras and, in my professional opinion (yes, I am a pro photographer) these cameras are junk. The 8x digital zoom is worse than useless. All it does is crop the photo at the sensor, thus decreasing the already small 3.1 megapixel full-frame resolution. The interpolated resolution is nothing more than a marketing gimmick. You'd get better results upsizing the photos in PhotoShop or dedicated interpolation software.

You'll be lucky if you can get a sharp picture without putting the camera on a tripod. The shutter lag will require you hold perfectly still for one second or more while waiting for the camera to take the photo. The fixed focus with three manuals settings is a clear indication the lens is a piece of crap. You'll have to stop down to at least f/8 to get enough depth of field to have a prayer of getting anything in focus.

I suggest you take advantage of the seven-day return privilege and look for a good used camera from a camera manufacturer.

BTW, my money is on ProAc Fan's G3.

[TrappistJD]

Yup, exactly as you describe Photobitstream. I had never even tried a digital camera until this point. The little bit of photography experience I have is with a mechanical SLR. It was so nice to be able to "focus" on a subject. The new camera is now permanently mated to a $10 tripod, a perfect companion. This SVP 7.0 has like three ranges, of which I’m not yet familiar. I’m not convinced it has even 3.1 mega pixels. It goes through a pair of AAA battery's in 4 minutes, not a plus. Rechargables last twice as long though. It’s tiny and fragile (credit card, 20mm thick), and you have to cram the button down for like 3 secs. That combined with the tripod you could knock over with your shadow. Yet, it does take "pictures", and videos with sound. It’s a webcam (no USB power), and comes with two games. :no:

Here is a pic of a printing calculator I took with my SVP 7.0. A not quite in focus 2048x1536 picture reduced to 640x480 with Lancos filter:

http://img218.echo.cx/my.php?image=canon130eo.png


It is not an entry into any kind of competition, ProAcFan. Since your G3 is going for 3 times, or more than what I paid for mine, it’s not a fair economic comparison. Not to mention it has more mega pixels, and real optics. This thing is a toy pocket camera. I kind of skewed the issue when I said below $200. I was shopping for something around $50 or $60. I wasn’t shopping for a serious camera (basic internet stuff). I still feel camera companies have been milking the digital "transition" for too long, and prices could have been lower a long time ago. I’m considering the return option, but it might tide me over till I get something better. Those of you with jobs can pretty much ignore this whole thread; just get a Nikon or a Canon. If I was rich I would get a sack full of Leica's just to have. A Google search on these cameras came up with one useful result. Hopefully, now there will be two. Yes, Megxon Svp 7.0 is a joke, but a comparable joke to other new cameras in the price range (below $70)? Don’t pay more on eBay.

[Photobitstream]

Hey, at least you're realistic about this camera's (in)capabilities. I just hope it holds up long enough for you to get your money's worth. Getting warranty service could be a problem, or maybe not. Good luck.

And I agree with you about digital. Camera companies are cramming digital down people's throats, when the truth is the majority of consumers would be better off with film. I went digital four years ago and haven't looked back, but I've been shooting about 100,000 photos per year. Didn't take long for film/developing savings to repay the price of my cameras.

[ojTHEd]

TrappistJD, that picture looks plenty good enough for selling stuff on eBay. As long as they all come out that good without a lot of effort, it looks like that camera will be just fine for "basic internet stuff"

[TrappistJD]

Thanks for the responses, all valid points. Just a little digital crash course for one newb. I can see if I spent a $150, or so I would have had a much more useful camera. This thing needs some kind of autofocus, or a real lense. On the open market, worth what I paid, not much. As for warranty, if I get a year I wont bother. They have a Taiwan address, and a website. Looking forward to trying a nice digital SLR.

[daubett]

Now that I've wasted my money on the SVP 7.0 MP digital camera, can anyone tell me how to contact their tech support (if they have one) or find a driver for it that will make it compatible with Windows XP. I'm at my wits' end with this thing. I can't download the pictures I've taken onto my computer because it is imcompatible with XP. I can't find an updated driver for it, nor can I find tech support for it. It came with Ulead 8.0 software, but their tech support can't help me. They say to contact the camera's tech support.