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By Jem Loh, CNET Asia
Oct 18, 2006

Creative has long been lauded for bringing fun and value to the masses with its extensive range of digital entertainment products. The DiVi CAM 516, the company's latest digital video camera, is no exception. A video camera, still camera, voice recorder, MP3 player, Webcam and mass storage device all rolled into one, the DiVi CAM 516 offers amateur videographers and non-geeks more bang for their buck with a single, fuss-free device for all their prime multimedia needs.

Design
At first glance, one has to marvel at the compactness of the DiVi Cam 516. No bigger than a digital camera, the DiVi Cam 516 is lightweight yet reassuringly sturdy. The device is designed to fit snugly in the heart of your palm, but users with bigger paws may find it awkward to manipulate the controls on the fly.

	Shoot some Creative videos with these.

Available in three colors (black, silver and light blue), the DiVi Cam 516 also comes with a black nylon pouch that will fit into any school bag or briefcase. It is no fashion gadget, but the smooth finishing on its light chassis gives it a gleam of simple elegance.

The left door of the DiVi Cam 516 opens up to a swivel 1.7-inch TFT LCD that supports a screen resolution of 480 x 240. The LCD screen is simply too small, but Creative minimizes eye squinting with large, simplified icons and a foolproof setup menu. The Display button directly above the LCD toggles the view for icons and other settings.

Opening the LCD gives you access to the memory card slot for SD or MMC cards. The microphone is positioned near the top of the camera, allowing for better audio capture. The controls at the back of the DiVi Cam 516 are relatively well-aligned and easy to reach. The power switch is sensitive and wisely placed at the bottom of the camera to avoid accidental startups. Left-handers may however find the camera frustrating to use as the majority of the controls are positioned on the right side of the LCD.

A light nudge of the Play and Menu buttons reveals the camera menu setup options on the LCD. Navigation is achieved using either the four-way joystick at the top of the camera or the jog-wheel scroller directly beneath it. These options may confuse users at first, as settings can be selected only by pressing the scroller and not the prominent Shutter button of the four-way joystick. The tactile buttons vary in responsiveness--the four-way joystick requires extra prodding while an overgrown nail could easily activate the scroller by mistake.

The Macro switch and Mode dial are located on the right side of the camera, above the battery cover that slides open and close with ease. The USB port and TV-out port are aligned at the front of the camera, as are the flash, the headphone jack and the protruding lens. Creative has thoughtfully thrown in a camera strap that can also be attached to the detachable lens cap.

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