Review: RCA Small Wonder Camcorder EZ-101

So you want to make videos but find the cost or the complexity associated with digital camcorders a bit on the high end. The RCA Small Wonder camcorder EZ-101 solves both of these concerns and then some.

I shopped for a digital camcorder for months looking for a good deal and found few people willing to share what digital camera they use. (Afraid of YouTube competition?) Well, I managed to finally unravel one budget gadget secret and nabbed a new RCA Small Wonder camcorder for $69 (plus $10 shipping) on eBay. Plus, I received a $30 rebate form good until May 31, 2007.

No, that is not a misprint, nor is the RCA Small Wonder camcorder a piece of junk. Corny or not, it truly is a small wonder for the price.

No Memory or Software Needed
The RCA Small Wonder camcorder is not much bigger than an iPod. It is a self-contained unit needing no software installation or memory cards. These features are built into the RCA Small Wonder camcorder unit. All that is needed is double AA batteries to power the gadget.

Ease-of-use is what the RCA Small Wonder camcorder is all about. This digital camcorder offers point-and-shoot, one-click video recording and hassle-free video transfer to most any PC.

Easy Video Transfer
To transfer videos from the RCA Small Wonder camcorder, simply push-slide a button and a short USB 2.0 plug (looks like a rectangle) pops out. The USB plug can be connected to any computer with a USB slot. An USB extension with a 12" inch cord is also provided with the RCA Small Wonder for more convenient access.

When the RCA Small Wonder camcorder is connected to a PC, the video program either automatically opens (dependant on your PC settings) or it can be started by a simple click of the mouse.

E-mailing videos is also a snap with the RCA Small Wonder video program as it will compress the files in the right file format with just a few clicks.

Video Capabilities
Void of external bells and whistles, the RCA Small Wonder camcorder provides 30-minutes of video recording, 2X zoom capacity, a 1.5 inch LCD display, and decent video quality. The video quality of the RCA Small Wonder is at least a step above most video-enabled cell phones and much easier to use.

As with most digital camcorders the better the light source the better the video obtained with the RCA Small Wonder camcorder. It lacks some definition as it doesn't pick up text as clearly as I'd like, but for the price the picture is largely pleasing and worthy of YouTube, Google, or AC.

Reviewing and deleting videos on the RCA Small Wonder camcorder is a snap. Press Play, Forward, or Delete for these functions. The Delete button prompts a confirmation to minimize accidental removal of video files.

Audio - The Main Drawback
A microphone is built into the front of the RCA Small Wonder camcorder near the lens and this creates one problem. If the zoom is utilized as you record a click can be heard during video playback.

Further, I found the audio on this digital camcorder to be somewhat weak. Narration and nearby sounds can be recorded adequately, even if a bit subdued. The positive side to RCA Small Wonder camcorder audio is that background noise is minimal to non-existent.

TV Playback
Surprising with an inexpensive digital camcorder is that the RCA Small Wonder camcorder comes equipped with AV plugs and movies can be played directly on TV. The quality is comparable to older VHS, and not well designed for a big-screen HDTV perhaps, but it is a nifty and useful feature to view home movies.

DVD Creation
If you do not have the know-how or the software to create DVDs, simply take the RCA Small Wonder camcorder to an authorized Pure Digital retailer (e.g. Target, Costco, CVS, Rite-Aid) and you can get one made for about $10. A coupon for a free DVD may be found with purchase.

Additional Information

• The RCA Small Wonder camcorder EZ-101 is the same technology and capacity as the Pure Digital PSV-351, the latter receiving more reviews.
  
• For those who want 60-minutes of recording capacity and a built-in tripod, go for the RCA Small Wonder camcorder EZ-105 model.
  
• A new EZ-201 model is scheduled for release in Spring 2007 so you may find the RCA Small Wonder camcorder EZ-101 at a deeper discount in the near future.

(Note: eBay aside, average price for the RCA Small Wonder varies considerably by retailer, from an average of $89 -$129)

Conclusion
The RCA Small Wonder camcorder EZ-101 makes a nice entry level camcorder for people who want something easy to use. The video is fair to good for amature use, but with limited zoom capability. If you can find the RCA Small Wonder for under $100 it is well worth the price but keep an eye out for later models that may only cost a few dollars more.