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Geek Culture / Bought a Polaroid A500 Digital Camera Today , but..

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Pincho Paxton
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Posted: 3rd Apr 2006 23:27 Edited at: 3rd Apr 2006 23:28
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It records video for just ten seconds, and then says Memory full. It has a 128 MB SD card inside, and is supposed to be able to record 7 - 10 minutes on that size card. I look at the card properties after it is supposed to be full, and it is barely used at all. Mostly pink (Not Used), with just a line of blue.. (Used) The video is on the card, and plays back fine for the ten second period. Everything is brand new, and garanteed.

I suppose I need to take it back, but do I swap the card, or the camera?

Alfa whatsitsnamecalledamajig???

Edit: sorry, got a too many alfanumeric characters error in thread.
Pincho.

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Me!
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Posted: 3rd Apr 2006 23:37
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you did format da card?

read manual?

my two most common failings (what do you mean read the manual?...it`s only a camera!)



Dr Frankenstiens mum told him to make some new friends, not knowing where this was going to lead.
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the_winch
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Posted: 4th Apr 2006 00:31
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Are you sure it can actually record for more than 10sec? Probably just means it can fit 10 min worth of 10sec clips.

By way of demonstration, he emitted a batlike squeak that was indeed bothersome.
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BatVink
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Posted: 4th Apr 2006 00:31
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Some cameras have an "MMC" option these days, where it only records what can be sent in a mobile video message. You'd need to swap it to "Maximum Capacity" or words to that effect.

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Pincho Paxton
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Posted: 4th Apr 2006 01:01
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It doesn't have many menu options. I formatted the Sd Card in the camera, later I formatted it again on the computer to see if that helped. If it can only record lots of 10 second AVI's then I will swap it anyway for being so cruddy.

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spooky
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Posted: 4th Apr 2006 01:09
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I downloaded manual for it from Poloroids website but it says it should record long movies with no problem. Even using the 16MB card you get with it you can record 0.75 minutes at 640*480 or 1 minute at 320*240

With a 128MB card your manual says it should record between 8 and 11 minutes of video.

Sounds like either a dodgy card or camera.

Did you get the base 16MB card with camera? Can you test that.

Boo!
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Pincho Paxton
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Posted: 4th Apr 2006 01:13 Edited at: 4th Apr 2006 01:14
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You get 16mb internal memory. It lasts about the same length of time. But yes the SD card is being used, the camera automatically switches to the card when it is installed, and anyway the videos are on the SD Card when I put the card in my Palm. I think actually that the SD card is not compatible with the polaroid, but it also annoys me that you have to buy particular brands of SD cards, so it still goes back. The card is Fuji, and is recommended by all brands of Digital camera, but I noticed that Polaroid do not recommend it as their first choice like all of the other companies do.

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Saikoro
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Posted: 4th Apr 2006 03:19
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Does anyone remember the good ol days of video cameras?

And the meek shall inherit the Earth...
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indi
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Posted: 4th Apr 2006 10:09
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what format allows for 7 - 10 minutes? mpeg?

what format are you recording in? higher level format perhaps>?

If no-one gives your an answer to a question you have asked, consider:- Is your question clear.- Did you ask nicely.- Are you showing any effort to solve the problem yourself 
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Me!
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Posted: 4th Apr 2006 13:51 Edited at: 4th Apr 2006 14:05
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since it`s only using a miniscule part of the total storage capacity I would say its got a problem, the format can`t be the issue since it never uses much of the memory it has, if they get stroppy then ask them to demonstrate it working with more than ten seconds of video in the store, one of two things will happen

a)..the "in store geek" will walk up and humiliate you totaly by recording 25 minutes of video on the card, probably in 3d with surround sound

b)..they won`t be able to get it to work either and will swap it (they can hardly claim it`s ok if they can`t work it)

personaly I like Fuji cameras APART from the fact they use XD media cards, I still use Fuji cameras but it is annoying having to use a special media card for the camera when I have loads of SD cards floating about the place.



[EDIT] IMO Polaroid cameras are a bit tacky/plasticy too, they look clumpy and cheap, just my opinion

Dr Frankenstiens mum told him to make some new friends, not knowing where this was going to lead.
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indi
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Posted: 4th Apr 2006 14:06 Edited at: 4th Apr 2006 14:10
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the video format i can see on most pages for this camera is avi.
the size of this is 320 x 240 (QVGA)

it doesnt mention the fps it grabs at.

640 x 480 uncompressed AVI at 30 seconds is about 500 megs.

10 minutes of DVPAL/NTSC uncompressed is 3 gigs.


perhaps that time quote is using the largest memory stick available eg: 1 gig and perhaps even tho it says avi its probably a heavy compression codec in the avi.

perhaps its the user and not the camera jk

If no-one gives your an answer to a question you have asked, consider:- Is your question clear.- Did you ask nicely.- Are you showing any effort to solve the problem yourself 
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Pincho Paxton
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Posted: 4th Apr 2006 15:40 Edited at: 4th Apr 2006 15:43
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The camera can only record avi, and says 7-10 mins for a 128 card. Anyway the card was hardly used up when it said out of memory after 10 seconds.

I have swapped the camera, and the card in the shop. Got a 256mb card just in case.

Now I have a different camera..

Vivitar DVR 310.

Woops... I kept the CD from the other camera with the software editing tools.

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soapyfish
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Posted: 4th Apr 2006 20:08
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Woops indeed.

I AM A MORON
and won't change my sig until I get off my oversized behind and finish a project.
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Saikoro
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Posted: 4th Apr 2006 21:00
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APRIL FOOLS soapyfish!!!

jk.

You are in fact going to take the CD back, right? <.<?

And the meek shall inherit the Earth...
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Pincho Paxton
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Posted: 4th Apr 2006 21:05
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No need really. They will just throw it away with the rest of the stuff probably. Goods that are sold used are considered to be fraudulently sold.

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