EEVblog #595 - World's Shittiest Camcorder: Teardown

[WattSekunde]

My problem with those cheap stuff is that I like to buy things for more than a decade of use. YES I try that also with clothing. Try to buy as few as possible from companies like Nike, Adidas, Polo,... All day stuff not from ALDI, LIDL, KIK, ... These are a few of the bigger german discounter offered "every week new crap you don't really need" shelves.

I know today global industry is to cross linked together to easy separate good and bad. But can that be an excuse not to try it at least?
Example: I can buy a cheap desk from xyz who cares "brand" or a 10 times more expensive one from a local carpenter / cabinet maker. The last one can be a joy for generations.

1. Buy what you really need. (Saves you a lot of money for the quality things.)
2. Try to buy local.
3. Try to buy quality or try to DIY.
4. If this don't help restart at point 1.

I don't need every two years a new cellphone. I bought a new one only if the old one dies and I can't repair. For me that's the real "bigger bang for the buck".
The cheap (and unrepairable) products are a waste of resources, energy and environment. They and their parts mostly produced under inhumane and unhealthy conditions to rise the profit. They are also often unsecure, unhealthy and don't work as long as expected.

Video from 30C3 in 2013 (DE/EN) Dead Man Edition - The way to fair electronics, by example of capacitors
http://media.ccc.de/browse/congress/2013/30C3_-_5293_-_de_-_saal_6_-_201312301600_-_dead_man_edition_-_sebastian_jekutsch.html

Don't buy this products for your kids! Most of this crap is extreme unhealthy especially for wet kids finger.

[Sylvain]

Hi,

I certainly won't give this video a thumbs-down because it is in fact really interesting but, like others, I find this "hate" unnecessary.

I would have understood that if the product had been dangerous (for health and/or environment and/or ...) or if it would have been clearly prone to die within some hours of usage and contrary to many low end multi-meters/chargers/... this one isn't.

Clearly, this thing is made down to a price but I'm in fact surprised how well It's made/engineered *for the price*.
OK, the video/sound is not at all on pare with what we are used to see on the Eevblog but for me it is still "watchable". Dave, take a look back at your first videos for this blog, they weren't really better ! ;-)

To conclude, I think there is a market for this kind of thing (children, developing countries ...) and I also think the engineers who made *that one* shouldn't be ashamed. I'm sure there is is much more shitty camera on some markets.

Sylvain.

[EEVblog]

Got to say I dont understand the hate displayed for this camera.

+1.
Plenty of arrogance in this video.  Thumbs down.

Perhaps you missed the parts where I actually praised it a few times?
Got to say I don't quite understand why so many people don't get what this video was about it

[tom66]

It seemed to be mostly about how crap you could say any particular product is.
It's a cheap camera, it's not meant to give high quality video results or pictures.
I'm actually very impressed they can sell that for about $16 all in and still make a profit on each unit sold (presumably.)

[EEVblog]

Not one of your better video's to me a camcorder under ten dollars for a child's present is good.I think you must have been acting on the video for effect.

Now you might be starting to get it...
This WASN'T a review, and it does seem like I seem to be being bashed for what I didn't say. i.e. I didn't say this an absolutely fantastic value camera and has it's place blah blah 
Fact is, when you put any value or niche use aside, it's an awful camera, complete garbage. It is what I claimed any everyone expected, the worlds shittiest camcorder.
It was a teardown, not a review, and I actually somewhat praised the engineering in it for the price.
People really need to lighten up a little I think, the video was mostly for entertainment value because people ask for it

[EEVblog]

It's a cheap camera, it's not meant to give high quality video results or pictures.

And I didn't say otherwise, it's exactly what you'd expect. Extremely low quality for an extremely low price.

I'm actually very impressed they can sell that for about $16 all in and still make a profit on each unit sold (presumably.)

So I am. Once again, I made no commentary on that in the video, and that seem to be half the problem.

[EEVblog]

Despite the "hate" he couldn't hide being impressed by the actual effort made by the electronics engineers...

Yay, at least someone recognised that I actually said something good about the camera 

[EEVblog]

It's interesting to contrast the difference in this video with say the old Agilent OLED multimeter video.
I coped a whole heap of abuse for giving the thumbs up to a really nice Agilent multimeter with basically only one major flaw (battery life). And then in the follow-up video I coped even more abuse for defending the fact that products have their niches.
And now I got a whole heap of abuse for calling a crap product crap, in a teardown that was meant to be humorous and wasn't a review, and not mentioning that products have their niches.
 

Welcome to the world of the video blogger where it is impossible to win...   

[nihilism]

The community wanted you to do this tear down, you did it and gave your honest opinion, which regular viewers of the eevblog should expect. I didn't have a problem with the video, it was the truth.

Personally my dislike for cheap products like this is the fact that they have such little value that they're just a throw away item. 98% of these cameras will end up in landfill somewhere with little use.

I do agree that it would probably make a good gift for a 10 year old. Kind of like a poor mans go pro.

Thanks Dave.

[peter.mitchell]

I'm with Dave entirely on this one, it is a peice of shit.
People say "oh, it's so cheap, and it actually at least does something, that makes it good value for money" no, that doesn't make it good value for money, that just means it isn't complete trash, in the same way you can buy cheap lithium batteries from china that hold almost no charge, but you don't hear anyone saying they're good value, no, because they aren't.

The camera costs $7 bucks, whoopdie fricken doo. Most $40 mobile phones will be able to record video equally as well, except they'll be smaller, thinner, have better battery life, be useful for other things, and more than likely, you'll already own one.

Why does Dave hate on it so much? Aside from the "feel" of the plastics, they also contribute to usability problems, like the battery cover, the latch on that will snap off quick smart, the hinge on the LCD will crack, the lense will scratch, heck, the LCD bezel is already falling off! If you spend any amount of time buying products like this, you'll know that in a week or two you'll throw it out because it has broken or has become unusable in some way or another, contributes to more companies making crap like this, and more crap going into landfills.

Though, as Dave recognises, it is pretty well made for its price, it uses actual screws, seems to offer somewhat decent board mounting, the macro switch works and uses chips you can find a datasheet on! That said, it still doesn't make it a good buy.

[peter.mitchell]

The community wanted you to do this tear down, you did it and gave your honest opinion, which regular viewers of the eevblog should expect. I didn't have a problem with the video, it was the truth.

Personally my dislike for cheap products like this is the fact that they have such little value that they're just a throw away item. 98% of these cameras will end up in landfill somewhere with little use.

I do agree that it would probably make a good gift for a 10 year old. Kind of like a poor mans go pro.

Thanks Dave.

Nah, if you want a cheap camera for a kid, get em a 808 keychain camera or something of the sort.

[RoTTe]

I love this irony teardown. It's fun, and make my smile.

Take 10 of this camera, put it in epoxy ( transparent epoxy ) and use the maximum legal weight of explosives that you can handle on your country (leave the USB cables outside the epoxy for data recover).

BTW: Note that this shittiest camcooder uses STANDARD USB CONNECTOR, thats is a thumbs up for me!

[EEVblog]

I do agree that it would probably make a good gift for a 10 year old. Kind of like a poor mans go pro.

Totally agree. If it wasn't in the bin, and Sagan already didn't have multiple cameras to chose from, I'd give it to him to play with.

[EEVblog]

If Dave wants to take me way out of my comfort zone then I just want him to know. It might amuse him and the vast majority of viewers, but I found it too far over the top. That's my honest opinion.

And fair enough too. It is simply impossible to please everyone. I get complaints whether I do an extra sweary video, or I speak the queens english and have rainbows and ponies. So it's pretty much business as usual for me, although this one has generated more than the usual complaints.
What annoys me is people who complain about stuff (either directly or implied) that I didn't mention in the video. e.g. I didn't mention that it might useful and "good value" for some people. As I've said, this wasn't a review, and wasn't the point of the video.
But stuff like, I used the word shit too many times, ok, fair enough complaint. (I don't care of course, but fair enough  )

[JoannaK]

Personally.. I like the video.. Of course Dave is a bit loud and sometimes use quite harash words ... But hey.. he's aussie. 

IMHO that thing has it uses. Not that I'd want one these days, but I'm sure there are places where that one woudl fit just fine. And for a price, even if considered just as a cheap child's toy, it's not overly expensive.

Was expecting to see some hammer or other way of destructive teardown.

[kizzap]

I personally disliked the fact that there was no attempt to use percussive maintenance to open the case. 

-kizzap

[mixt]

I think most people aren't as outspoken as you are Dave, nor do they have a habit of verbally (and physically haha?) attacking inexpensive hardware. I think some just felt sorry for the poor little camcorder that was the focus of your wrath. You did say a few nice things about it, but I guess those comments were kind of buried under a mountain of disgust that you had for it. I think it was a little harsh, but not the end of the world. Time to move on, I'm sure everyone is looking forward to seeing what's in the Agilent boxes!

[matej]

I usualy dont react on the forum just just sitting back an enyoing Dave's videos. However I felt that I should make my first post

I actualy liked the video - its a teardown not product review and I laught my ass

Iam kinda surpriesed at ppl reaction as they should be used to your video style (thats why I'm watching...)

Keep up the good work

[John_Edward]

The teardown was a little over the top, but that was clearly the whole idea of the video, and you executed it very, very well.
The only problem I had was the first few minutes; bashing and accusing the design and build quality even before opening it, but instead of just mindless bashing and ranting, you pointed out the good and interesting points as well. You even praised good design choices a few times!

From me, definitely a thumbs up, keep at it you crazy aussie bloke

[han]

Actual the video is very funny and amusing if i'm not a engineer, sadly i was.
And when someone hard work is mocked at that degree, it's doesn't feel right.

But now i'm sure it's only a joke and acting.

But if the world's-shittiest-camcorder maker watch it, there is a chance make he/she commit suicide 
I say it's properly design with poorly component, i'm sure the designer can do better if he/she have a better component option.



 

[EEVblog]

The only problem I had was the first few minutes; bashing and accusing the design and build quality even before opening it

But it is pretty crap quality from the outside, and from the operation of it
Exactly what's you'd expect of such a cheap camera of course, but that's a different point entirely.

[c4757p]

But if the world's-shittiest-camcorder maker watch it, there is a chance make he/she commit suicide 

I guess there's always that chance... but really ? Suicide?

So we can't ever criticize anybody because he might go freakin' kill himself?

[han]

But if the world's-shittiest-camcorder maker watch it, there is a chance make he/she commit suicide 

I guess there's always that chance... but really ? Suicide?

So we can't ever criticize anybody because he might go freakin' kill himself?

that's is a joke..

but, still there is a chance of it. (at least on kid)
http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/bullying-and-suicide.html

[EEVblog]

You did say a few nice things about it, but I guess those comments were kind of buried under a mountain of disgust that you had for it.

That's actually a very real effect I see in most videos to some degree. People get overly passionate/annoyed/disgusted about one particular thing I said, or thing I missed, or thing I got wrong etc, and they subconsciously ignore all the other stuff that kinda makes their complaint look rather silly in the big picture. There is probably a proper psychological term for it? For now, I'll call it simply being over-passionate 
The same effect can manifest itself in other ways too, like complaints about my video frequency, quality, type etc.

Did I mention I get a lot of complaints daily? 

[EEVblog]

So we can't ever criticize anybody because he might go freakin' kill himself?

In today's politically correct world, sadly, many people would say yes 
Of course, I really only praised the designer somewhat, they did well for the constraints no doubt given to them by management and/or price point target.