Coby Snapp HD Cam5002 HD Camcorder Review

There are a few things that you can always count on: death, taxes, and prices on electronics going down. Up for review today is the Coby Snapp HD Cam5002, which is an example of that last fact. I remember when an HD camcorder cost over $500. While the Coby Snapp HD Cam5002 does not have many of the fancy feature of a full sized camcorder, it still does HD video. And it does it at a retail price of around $49.99.

The features and specs of the Coby Snapp HD Cam5002 include:

Memory Type: Flash Memory Max 32MB

Flash Hard Drive Type: SD card/SDHC-compatible, max 32GB

Display Size 2.0

Display Type: Color TFT LCD

Connections:Audio Output Integrated Speaker

Video Output: HDMI / 3.5mm composite video

USB Port: USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (integrated plug)

Video Sensor: CMOS Media/Format Support

Video Format Support: AVI (Motion JPEG), HD (1280x720) @ 30 fps, VGA (640x480) @ 30 fps

Photo Format Support: 5.0 MP (2592 x 1944)

Additional Functions: LED Light Certifications CE, FCC

Battery Type: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (removable)

Unit Dimension: (WHD) 2.2" x 4 4" x 0.7"

Package Dimension: (WHD) 6.7" x 9.65" x 1.75"

Packaging was a typical cheap plastic box that also showed off the camcorder, so shoppers can see it. Included accessories comprised of a cloth case, hand strap, manual, charging cable/video cable, software CD, and a rechargeable battery. I was a little surprised with the lack of a dedicated charging cable, but it was not necessary. Included is a USB cable to upload video to your computer, and it doubles as your charger.

Fit and finish was sufficient. The plastic body was as expected at it's price point. It seemed put together well. On the back is the color LCD display, navigation buttons, mode and trash buttons. On the bottom is the threading so the Coby Snapp HD CAM5002 can be attached to a tripod. On one side is the power button as well as connections for HDMI and audio/video cable. On the other side is the SD memory card slot and the button for the USB connection. I thought the design of the USB charger connection was pretty cool. It is hidden in a small compartment at the top of the camcorder which is spring loaded. So when you push the button down, out flips the USB charger connector from the top of the device. The front of the device houses the rechargeable lithium-ion battery compartment, the microphone, speaker, and lens.

I liked the small size of the devise. It is small enough to carry in your purse of pocket. It also included 32MB of on board memory. That really isn't enough to record video on the included memory. You can only record around 20 seconds worth of 720p or double that for recording in VGA. But 32MB is big enough to be able to take several pictures. It can save 17 at 5MP, 28 at 3MP, and 69 at 1MP. Pressing the trash button will also take you into the settings menu.

Performance of the Coby Snapp HD Cam5002 was about as expected at its price point. The battery is only 800MAH, so using it record a 2 hour long concert won't work. But using it to record your shorter precious moments works great. The colors came out ok. And while the video was a tad jittery, the video was still very usable. The bonus is the included muvee video editing software that lets you edit your movies, and upload them to sites like You Tube. My kids loved using it to record home movies of themselves, and then watch themselves on the big screen.

Overall, the Coby Snapp Cam5002 performed well. At it's given price point, being able to record in HD will make for happy customers and also make for a great Christmas gift. Based on it's quality, price and performance, it has earned our Value Award. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.cobyusa.com.