An MP4 Digital Camcorder: The Vivitar DVR-510

Most people are familiar with MP3 players. But a new generation has evolved known as the MP4 player. This means that it not only plays audio, but has other capabilities as well. Usually this means that it can play music videos or movies, but the term MP4 can apply to other functions as well. The Vivitar DVR-510 branches beyond just music videos, movies, and music, and provides a lot of capability in a very small, very inexpensive package.

The DVR-510 is approximately 4" X 3" X 1 1/4". Its size is disarming, and you start wondering whether you will be able to even see the image you are trying to capture. To begin, you open a small flip screen on the side, and rotate it until it is in a good viewing position. The view screen is two inches measured diagonally, and three buttons are on the screen. These three buttons give you access to the menu functions. Push the on/off button to turn it on, and it will immediately ask you to set the time. After you refer to the instructions to complete this, you are able to access the DVR-510 functions.

There is a button marked with an "M" right under the Vivitar DVR-510 power button. This allows you to switch between the various functions. It starts on digital camcorder mode. If you push it again, you switch to camera mode. A second time will take you to audio recording mode. And a third push of the "M" button will allow you to view or listen to the various things you have recorded and stored.

The digital camcorder records to the 14MB internal memory, or you can save it to a digital memory card that you buy separately and insert into the camera. When you wish to record a video, you push a small red button located under the "M" button. This button slides up and down and allows you to zoom up to 8X. When you are done recording, you simply push a button with a picture of a camera, located directly under the red button. It is somewhat strange trying to figure out the multiple buttons you must use to record a video, but it is something you quickly get used to.