The biggest let-down is the sound, with wind noise and occasional audible zoom noise. There's no microphone input, so if you do want clear sound you'll need to sync with an external recording device, which is a world of effort that the buyer of this kind of camcorder probably won't want to enter.
We had some issues with the supplied software, too. It's basic, and does the job, but anyone looking to edit in better programs might have a problem. The .mov H.264/Quicktime format files struggled with Windows Movie Maker, for example.
Conclusion
The Aiptek AHD Z500 Plus is a simple camcorder at a decent price. The problem is, it's HD picture with YouTube sound. We're in two minds over whether or not this is a false economy, and whether anyone with a glorious sound setup on their HDTV should bite the financial bullet with an HD JVC Everio or Sony Handycam. Footage looks good in decent lighting, so it's worth thinking hard about what conditions you actually want to use it in, and if night shooting or crystal-clear sound aren't high on your agenda, this is a budget camcorder to consider.
Edited by Marian Smith
iPhone App 
Newsletters 
RSS Feeds 
Send Us Tips
User reviews1
Add your review
tradestead 3 February 2009
Good: Supporting SD/MMC/SDHC.
Bad: the price is too high
Comment: this digital camcorder is a necessity. It sports the sleek design, high quality video and excellent performance. What’s more, its compactness and lightweight make it excel in the portability department. The attractive unit also comes in the widescreen format so as to accommodate the framing and playback of widescreen images. In addition, it can double as a digital camera.
http://www.tradestead.com
See all user reviews