Digital Camera Review : Vivitar Vivicam 8300s 8.1-Megapixel with 2.5-Inch LCD Screen

Vivitar Vivicam 8300s 8.1-Megapixel with 2.5-Inch LCD Screen

The super-slim, feature-packed Vivicam 8300s digital camera is ideal for all your digital imaging needs. The camera is equipped with an 8.5-megapixel, 24-bit color CCD image sensor that delivers a maximum resolution of approximately 3,250 x 2,500 pixels, along with a 3.x optical power zoom lens that ranges from 7.5 to 22.5 mm. Add in the vast selection of exposure modes and controls and a small chassis that fits easily in most pockets and you have a camera that lends itself to both creative photographers and snapshot hobbyists. In addition, the oversized 2.5-inch LCD is big enough to make critical framing evaluations during recording and playback.

While the zoom lens captures photos from afar, the macro function lets you take a much closer look--as near as 2 inches--without losing focus. The macro mode is great for shooting insects, flower petals, and other detailed but tiny objects. Beginners and casual photographers, meanwhile, will appreciate the Auto Exposure mode, which instinctively assigns shutter speeds from 1/2 to 1/1,500 of a second using center weighted or spot metering so you don't have to adjust the settings yourself. And should the 3.x optical zoom prove insufficient, the camera also includes a selectable 4x digital zoom.

In addition to taking topnotch still images, the Vivicam 8300s captures movie clips with audio. The recording quality ranges from 640 x 480 to 320 x 240 (at 24 frames per second) until the memory card is full. Users can also add voice memos after the images are recorded thanks to the built-in microphone and speaker.

Finally, the Vivicam 8300s comes with photo editing software. The software is particularly convenient, as it preps the photos for e-mail, posting to the Web, or printing. And because of the camera's high-resolution output, you can rest assured that even large print images will look detailed and vivid. Additional features include auto focus with both spot and multi-point metering, automatic white balance with five presets and manual override, exposure control, built-in auto-flash, and a self-timer with 2, 10, or 10+2 second settings.

The Vivicam 8300s, which measures a mere 3.7 by 2.2 by 1.1 inches (W x H x D), comes with USB and video output cables, a lithium-ion battery pack, and an AC adapter/charger. It's also backed by a one-year warranty.