Mustek DV5500 MPEG-4 7-in-1 Multifunctional Digital Camcorder w/2.5-inch LCD and 4x Digital Zoom

It has been almost 15 months since I received one of these as part of a large conference promotional give away. I can honestly say this camera is terrible in every aspect.

At the conference, about 650 of these cameras were distributed to attendees. The new out of box failure rate was over 10%. Those units had to be returned for a new one and a few of those had to be returned.

The camera has a cheap feel throughout with a noticeable poor build quality. From the buttons to the plastic door covering access to the battery and SD card to the lens and LCD screen.

Video quality compares to my camera phone which is unusable in poor light and mediocre in bright sunlight. About the only good thing you can say would be the ease of making small clips and then uploading them from the SD card to the web. They are recorded in a ready to use mpeg format. Audio is ok but there is no option for an external microphone.

The battery life is also poor and it doesn't hold a charge over several weeks between uses. Any use must be planned in 12 hours advance to allow for charging.

Honestly, you can find true video cameras such as Canon MiniDV - Canon ZR800 MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom
- models on Amazon for a few pennies more and feature rich models for about double. Look for them and skip the Mustek. (If the price point was about 29.95 then I would give it 5 stars. Instead it gets one.)

I bought this camera 2 years ago and I have had no functionality problems. The reason I give it a 4 is because of the price.

Granted, it has no optical zoom (but my limited knowledge at the time that I bought it kept that from disturbing me), so if you want to zoom in, it's better just to try to get close to whatever you're taking a picture of. Despite it being a somewhat low MP, the quality of the pictures are quite nice. I've been pleased with it. However, it is not so good with action pictures. It does better when you have it in the action setting, but it still has issues sometimes. Great for portraits. No need to worry about dark pictures, the flash is crazy strong. Sometimes it's better not to use the flash, even when in slightly dim light.

The video quality is so-so, but works for the sake of taking small segments of whatever you need to record (though I think the microphone being on top of the camera is a slight design flaw). I have a number of videos that are worth keeping.

The voice recording has proved useful. My husband used to take recordings of my orchestra concerts from quite far away in the auditorium, and the quality came out pretty decently. You need to make sure that you aren't tapping the camera or shifting around too much when doing so, but setting the camera down on something and recording works well.

If you have a large enough memory card, the mp3 player is useful. I think it's a fun little feature.

I used it as a webcam a couple of times. The only real flaw with that is that when the USB cord is plugged into the front, it pulls the camera down, so you have to be careful and position it effectively on the tripod while using that function.

I like that it comes with AV cords to hook up to the tv. And the rechargable battery is one feature that I will look for in future cameras because I hate replacing batteries and it lasts longer than regular rechargable AAs or AAAs (whatever the camera might take). The buttons on it are a little tough to deal with sometimes because the arrows are sensitive and the buttons on the inside of the screen aren't quite sensitive enough. But once you get the hang of it, it's fine.

Basically, after two years of owning it and using it thoroughly, I would like something with newer technology (more MP, nice optical zoom, that sort of thing), but I would still keep this camera as a secondary. When I bought it, it was $175, and I think it was well worth it.

I am really impressed with the quality of both the still images and the Video that this camera is capable of producing. It's like I bought the Sony DCR DVD505 for half the price! I definitely think that it's worth the money. It also looks very stylish and I love the docking function.

The DV5500 is a piece of garbage _ the day I got it it wouldn't focus right and I called for help and they told me I was shaking and that's why pictures weren't clear, I used the tripod and took a video and it did improve somewhat, I put the camera in it's docking station and about 5 months later tried to use it again and found out it WAS NOT FOCUSING AT ALL so I called them again, the FIRST thing they asked was WHEN I bought it and since it was over a year, they said it was OUT OF WARRANTY and they DID NOT FIX any out of warrantry cameras, in other words THROW it AWAY because no one else does either. I wouldn't buy another MUSTEK product if they gave it away

I've had this camera for 6 days and I have already had to return it. It wouldn't stay on.....just kept shutting off. Mustek kept giving me the run around when I tried to return it, and then had the nerve to ask for 3 copies of my receipt. I can't tell ya how well the camera performs cause I haven't had the chancec to use it, but so far its a big fat Zero.

This camera is okay as long as you are willing to send it for repairs immediately after you get it because it will probably break down quickly. I sent it several weeks after getting it and received it back repaired and it has been fine since (5 months)It is an ok camera for quick shots and video you may or may not want to keep. The video is equal to something you would get streamed on the internet in asf or wmv format. Overall I am pretty pleased with the camera after the repairs.

If you want a "good" digital camera, dont buy this one. Its ok for close ups only. You can play with taking different pictures like: negative, sepia, black & white, solarized, plastel, regular and sketch photos. If you scrapbook and want a different look for your layouts, this is ok. But this is about all I use it for. The buttons and dials are so small and very easy to hit something else because there so sensative. It says digital zoom is 4X but then its so grainy you cant see well. And make sure what-ever you are taking pics of is really well lit or that wont work either. Better yet, just take outside pics.

You are better off getting the Kodak Easyshare Z740 which is much better and alot easier to use.

I purchased a smaller Mustek camera last year to take to Iraq. Great but did not last being run over by a HUMMV. I liked the small camera so I purchased the DV5500 as the replacement. I find that the controls all located in the one button on the rear of the camera are very senitive and hard to get to the right screen when you need them the most. The fact that the DV and the picture button are in two differnet locations was also difficult to someone who wants to take the camera and just start shooting. THe video quality is ok but the long lag time for focus is not suited for someone who needs results - like going on combat patrols and getting GOOD images! I did like the larger LCD screen and the fact that it rotates. The camera was much bigger than what I was looking for - but for the price it does take good pictures. For someone looking for a small camera that fits in your pocket I would suggest the Sony DSC T1 that does all the things this camera does and fits in the pocket - but of course is twice the price! For the price and what it can do and if you have patience and time to learn the features it is a good camera for the price - if you have non of the above - DO not buy this version of this camera wait for Mustek to catch Sony in development and bring the price down!

The DV5500 is junk; do not buy. First, all inputs,
controls and fittings are sloppy and poorly made ( a
button/dial/knob etc. had to be "worked" in order to
get it to function; when it fundtioned at all. The
camera failed in operation within a month; would not
turn on or accept a charge. It was returned for service
following all prpper protocals. All I received for my
efforts was the same broken camera back - and something
more for my efforts. They had swiped the battery and
chip out of the camera to use elesewhere; your camera?
Can you believe that? They returned it missing the
battery and chip along with a preprinted form stating
there is nothing wrong with the unit. MUSTEK - NO !!!!

What if?

They included an FM radio with preset stations
An optical view finder
Some 4X level of optical zooming
Ensured constant production quality (early production line was crap)

Then it would be worth buying, even at a higher price.

Hope Mustek engineering read this, and act on it for the announced revamp of the product in August 2005.

I strongly agree this camera sucks. The time stamp has a mind of it's own and regularly changes to a random time stamp. The controls are extremely difficult to use. Amazon was kind enough to replace it but the replacement has all the same problems. Mustek's suggestion to shut off the auto-focus during video recording had no effect. The playback was still noisy with clicks and burps. This piece of junk deserves 0 stars. If you think the zoom feature is continuous you will be disappointed. The zoom function click stops at four zoom levels only which looks ridiculous on playback. Every single function sucks and there is absolutely no use for this camera. Please save yourself the aggravation and DON'T BUY THIS CAMERA!!!!!

when I received the camera it had a great solid feel,charged the battery shot some video footage,the main reason for buying it,I wasn't interested in the other functions long story short,the motor has a very loud noise during the taping & watching playback,the worst part was turning it off, it had a mind of it's own, sent it back, hope this review helprd!

This camera sucks, I'm on my second camera and it still sucks. The video (which can only be filmed in asf format) keeps crashing my video editing software. I create animations for multimedia and know there is no fault with my system. The shutter placement means the 7 out of 10 pictures are blurry. MP3 playback is real tinny. I have no use for it, my supplier is refusing to admit that it doesn't do what it says on the box. I may stamp on it to get some kind of satisfaction from it. I think all the positive reviews here are written by one crank!

first one i bought never worked. second one worked for 1 day. don't buy it! I've wasted more money on shipping it back and forth than anything else. Mustek sucks. They're technical support staff even seems to know the product sucks.

i repeat DO NOT BUY IT

I bought this camera and had to return it, because it was not worth a flip. I used it to record my daughter's Christmas program a few weeks ago, and I was just lucky that I brought another camera. The image was so blurry, you cannot even see anything but fuzz. If I would not have brought our digital camera, I would not have any memories taken from this event. This camera is so unreliable. I would not recommend this to anybody but maybe a child who wants to use it as a play video camera.

I bought both the Aiptek DV-5300 and the Mustek DV-5500 from Amazon... not to have both but to evaluate them and pick the "best one"... the price was a little more for the Mustek, but only by $40 or so. The Mustek worked well and the 2.5" LCD was very, very nice. The 1.5" LCD on the Aiptek is small and is not as nice as the Mustek. Both took nice pics... video and stills. But the Mustek was MUCH bigger and MUCH heavier than the DV-5300. If size doesn't matter to you, then you might want to get the Mustek. One other note: the shutter release for the Mustek really has to be push in hard... and that made the camera move on me and caused some blurry pics... the Aiptek uses a micro-switch and is MUCH easier to depress. Hope this helped youl

Preordered item from Target.com. Awaited nearly a month for the item to arrive to Target from the factory. Target did an excellent job shipping it out fast. Received shipment within days. Opened box and put batteries in. LCD screen does not work! I could hear the normal beeps and tones when I turn on power and when I click the button to take pictures but the LCD shows nothing... Returned to target and still awaiting refund to my credit card. The whole construction seems very flimpsy. As I recall, it was made in China not Japan or USA. The feel of it seems more like a toy than an expensive Video Camera.

Purchsed the DV-5500 for daughter for Christmas and it is back in the box and on the way back to Amazon. Yuck. Camera is cheap and plastic and as if that is not bad enough the video quality is HORRID. Can't speak for the digital camera portion, she only wanted to record video. Forget shooting in your home during the day, even in the brightest of rooms video was dark. Computer software was not user-friendly and we are all computer savvy in this house! Please spend a little more money and get a quality camcorder, we opted for the Samsung Mini-DV.

After owning the Mustek DV5500 for one day, I fell in love with it. I own the Mustek DV4000 and was looking to replace it. The DV5500 can operate in lower light conditions then the DV4000, has way more options and has a built in flash for still pictures only. Only draw back is flash can't be used in camcorder mode. If you're looking for a good quality camcorder for under $200 then this is a good bet. Also functions as MP3 player:)

I was very nervous about getting this camera after reading all of the negative reviews posted on Amazon. I have owned and used a Mustek DV4000 for quite some time and I wanted to get the next in the lineage of this product. To say that I was more than pleasantly surprised with this product would be a huge understatement.


Overall Build:
The quality of the device is very good. It feels very solid and sturdy in your hands and you are not afraid to push buttons on it. It can be tricky to select the right options with the multi-directional pad - but it is more than acceptable to use. The LCD screen is one of the best I have ever seen (and that goes for any camera currently on the market). The new CCD lense blows away the CMOS lense of previous models. BTW, the slight clicking sound you hear is the autofocus lense constantly adjusting and is normal. All newer CCD cameras do that.


Video Quality:
The video on the default out of the box setting (400x304/~30fps) is very smooth and the resolution can compare to that of most low-end Hi-8mm/VHS-C cameras available. The 640x480 resolution is smoother than it was on the DV4000 and is usable. A light for video would've been nice but they more than made up for it with the new lense which can work in far lower lighting conditions than the previous models (CCD compared to the previous CMOS). The zoom while filming could've been better (it is choppy and seems to take place in steps as opposed to a smooth zoom)


Photo Quality:
Here is easily the biggest improvement on the device. Picture quality is excellent. Again using the default settings (2048x1536 - 3.1mp with no h/w interpolation), the pictures I took were stunningly bright and clear. In fact, I have no need to use the even higher 5mp hardware assisted resolution. The shutter speed is much faster than the DV4000 and the flash is used very effectively. I took a picture in a pitch-black room (just pointed the camera and snapped a photo) and the picture came out fine. I compared two pictures - one taken with a brand new Canon Powershot SI IS and the same picture taken with the DV5500 and the picture quality wasn't that far off. I am now confident that I no longer need to carry my Olympus digital with me everywhere I bring my DV5500.


MP3/Voice/Storage:
The MP3 playback hasn't changed much from the DV4000 - it does sound a bit richer though which is nice. The voice recorder to me is just gravy as far as I'm concerned as I probably won't ever use it. As a card reader, it is fine.


Software:
The new MaxConsole software is much better than the previous DV Console provided with the DV4000. Picture/Video transfer is faster and there finally is a progress bar. The photo touch-up suite allows you to normalize lighting conditions (remove backlight/red-eye/darkness) and even restore pictures that may be slightly out of focus. Installation was easy and everything worked on the first shot.


Conslusion:
I sometimes feel that the people who post these reviews are looking for a $1000.00 camera quality in a device that I paid around $160.00 for. Yes if you are George Lucas looking for a new digial camcorder to film the next Star Wars epic, you will be disappointed with this camera. I was looking for something small and inexpensive that would allow me to take videos and pictures of family affairs and my soon to be born son and for that, this camera fits the bill perfectly. Could it be better? Sure. But for the price it is well worth the money.


Pros:
- Huge improvements over previous models
- Extra batteries are inexpensive (~$10.00 on eBay)
- Standard memory card format (SD/MMC)
- Attractive price

Cons:
- Zooming is not smooth while filming
- Could've used a light for video recording (night shot works well though)

Beware of the 'reviewss" below. My guess is they are all one crank. they use the same diction, and all are reviwers with just one review.

I have had this camera for a year it has taken a lot of abuse and not one single problem.

I did some reasearch and didnt find any negative opinions before purchasing and decided to buy it.
Finally I have received the camera, followed all the instructions, charged the battery, but it never worked!!!
The camera appears to be turned on, but LCD Screen flashes just once and goes off again... nothing more happens.
Now I am in Australia, Warranty applies to USA and Canada customers only, they have no distributors in here and dont know what to do with this garbage, its gona cost me more than the camera if I want to return and claim for replacement

I bought it, IT works fine in good lighting condishons. other than that IT SUCKS! Focus sucks, after about 5 feet its gets blurry and My files Cept on geting corrupted in the camera. It frezzes alot. Dont buy it at all.

Wow at first this camera looked great got it worked for a week and then the focus broke, so i thought no big deal ill refund it for a new one. Get the new one and pow the stupid thing dosnet charge. So im really mad, never buy this camera. Im getting my money back, Amazon should take this off there website its losing them sales. I dont care if i came with a tripod and software, how are u gona use it if you have no camera.

Well in a nutshell, my intel webcam that i've bought 2 yrs ago for 40$ has a better quality that this one! Couldnt focus, even with the highest quality. When i used it as a webcam, bad resolution too! Not recommended. Be aware.

It is only

Low 30fps
Economy 25fps
Fine 10fps

Not 30fps like it claims at its highest quality. Buyer beware.

I just received this and it had many problems:

1) Battery wound not charge
2) Focus did not work - always blurred
3) Could not find the Memory card
4) joystick like menu buttons are not very accurate - frustrating when trying to browse on screen menus. You want to go right and it selects down.

I have never bought an electronic device whith so many problems!

Regardless of the quality problems. It is my opinion that the current line of tapeless budget camcorders are still a few years away from maturing to usefulness. I was hoping that this model would offer it but I will have to wait for another unit.

If you read the reviews, it is clear: Mustek has a big time quality problem. If you plan on ordering this you sould order a bunch and hope one of them works!