Mustek VDC 200

I use this camera for pictures on a web site for a non profit featuring animals. It is the only camera I have found that does not have the 1-2 second delay when you snap the picture. For animal pictures this is imperative because they are always moving and the delay shutter misses the picture I see and want. I have used a couple others with the delay and every picture is either slightly or greatly blurred. For pictures that the scene does not move other cameras are probably better. But I am very pleased with what I get for use on the web.

What I see when I snap the shutter is what I get.

higher resolutions for printing photos would be better

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Limited use of but not overly consumer concerned. Would probably answer questions but do not go out of the way.

As no category was setup for the VDC-300, its features are similar enough to the VDC-200 to include it here. Nice bonuses with the 300 include: a USB cable for downloading images. AC adaptor is included in the package. 640x480 is the only resolution it uses for still images, but offers three quality settings (Hint: ignore the lower quality settings) Includes ViewFun software for timelapse video capture on the PC.

Versatile camera for basic snapshots. Very simple menus make it easy to use. Works with or without compactflash cards. separate No CompactFlash card reader needed to download pictures. RS-232 or preferably USB is all that's needed. Decent video capture when used with a VCR.

The PC video capture via ViewFun software leaves much to be desired. Best to stick with a VCR for video. Image quality is ok outdoors. Poor indoors casting a heavy green tint regardless of white balance setting. Lower picture quality modes (standard and economy) destroy fair images to begin with. TO be fair, standard might be ok for test shots (have plenty of batteries handy)

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I read lots of not so good reviews on the Mustek but I have had mine for almost a year now and I really don't have that many complaints. Only real problem I have is a bad color imbalance on some photos. Yea it sometimes uses up batteries fast, so you have to learn how to manage it!!! Color problems can be fixed with editing software. If I had paid over $500.00 for this camera I may be very disapointed, BUT for the price you can buy one of these for, I think it is a great beginners digital. Have not used the camera in many situation requiring the flash. I have used it a lot to take low cost photos for my work as a police officer (auto accidents and such) and I give it two thumbs up.

lots of features LOW PRICE DID I MENTION LOW PRICE!!

Color imbalance

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There you have it sports fans! In six months we've gone from low end Mustek to mid-range HP C-30 to the top of the line Nikon 950. Here's the interesting part: I am selling the HP C-30 and keeping the little Mustek. Why? It's far simpler and easier to operate than the HP (even though print quality suffers noticably.) The HP is too slow by comparison and I'd rather have a "fair" Mustek 3 1/2x5 in hand than MISS a HP 5x7 altogether. (I should mention that the Nikon can be infuriatingly slow also due to the menu system. That's the curse of versatility. But the C-30 is slow and it's not remotely versitile!) So dump any illusions about the Mustek. Down and dirty SNAPSHOTS ONLY. With that in mind, I'd do it all over again.

Absolutely DEAD SIMPLE to use. It is to digital photography what Polaroid is to standard photography. Instant small scale gratification. No muss. No fuss. Very little thought required. Easy to hook up and tansfer. Print quality rivals cheap 35mm 3 1/2 x 5 drugstore prints (but you CAN color correct and sharpen them with software. Try THAT with Walgreens!) The 200 is light, has two apertures for sun and shade and the flash is good to about 10 feet. Menu functions are a snap, The LCD is far better than many (Notably the HP C-30 which looks like a bad acid trip if you pan it.) The Compact Flash Memory is great and, at up to 32 megs, this will give any user a TON of 640 x 480s! Perfect for internet sites where small shots with high resolution are not required. Also EASY to e-mail with the small file sizes. Recovery time between shot isn't bad either.

The VDC 200 is a snapshot camera ONLY. If you look at the other reviews here, most buyers suffer(ed) under the illusion that a $200 camera is going to rival higher priced, feature rich competitors. That's simply not true. This is a camera for granny or the kids to take quick shots. You stick one in the glove compartment or your pocket (just in case you run into something...) That's it. The "eats batteries" complaint isn't really an issue. ALL digital cameras do! Buy NiMh batteries and have a nice life! (Search ASKJEEVES: Thompson Destributors. Appx $2.20 for NexCell rechargeable AAs. Slaps heck outta Best Buy @ #8.99 for 2 AAs!) Problem "sol-ved!"

Went from the VDC 200 to the HP C-30. Bad mistake! Pix quality is 5x7 easy enough ***BUT*** The C-30 is a bear for trying to capture any action.The viewfinder looks like The Blair Witch Project when you move it... The 2x digital zoom was nearly worthless. After a month of C-30 hell, we moved to the Nikon CoolPix 950. (Thank ya, Jesus!!!)

We purchased Mustech VDC-200 off the internet for around $200. Not a bad deal....however, just like everyone elses reviews, the batteries never lasted more than an hour....so we invested in the Nickel Hydradium batteries...they work beautifully....takes approximately 40 high resolution pictures before having to recharge them....and they recharge in less than 1 hour....True, the picture quality is not anything to write home about, but for a beginner and something for everyone to learn with it works great...it has provided a lot of fun showing the pictures on the TV screen, great quality there...If you're looking for an inexpensive digital camera with a LCD, then you should consider this VDC-200...after all, did you go right out and buy a Mercedes or Cadillac for your first car?Give it a chance....great fun.