SiPix StyleCam Blink

This digital camera is small. Measuring just 5cm x 5cm x 1.5cm it will fit into the smallest of pockets to be taken anywhere.

For its size, it packs a lot in. It has 8Mb of memory to store up to 300 photos, with video making and webcam facilities as great added extras.

It's a doddle to operate, having only two buttons: a shutter release for taking photos, and a Power/mode button - press and hold to turn on/off, press to rotate through modes. The current mode and picture number are displayed on a tiny monochrome LCD.

The Blink can run in Hi & Low modes, offering 640 x 480 and 320 x 240 pixel images respectively. Hi mode gives you a maximum of 100 images, while low mode ups this to 300.

Select between indoor and outdoor modes depending on your location, and exposure time is altered accordingly. The lack of a flash means it struggles a bit in low light, but for the price you can't have absolutely everything.

Select Streaming Snapshot mode and upon pressing the shutter button, continuous shots are taken until the button is released. Transfer these to a PC and they can be compiled into a movie via the extremely simple bundled software.

It is equally simple to transfer images to a PC, for saving or opening in an image editor. View images as thumbnails before transfer and save time by retrieving only the images you need. Thanks to a USB connection, transfer is speedy and simple.

Image quality isn't brilliant but it's more than adequate, especially for its size and price. The images are perfect for web use and printing achieves surprising results.

Add a keyring attachment, desk-mount and CD packed with software - including four graphics programs for editing images and video - and the SiPix AVI Maker, and you have a basic but complete package. Install drivers only, and the Blink will work with any image editing/webcam software you already have.

Offering impressive functionality and image quality, it is hard to fault the Blink, especially at a piffling £40. Compared to similar-priced competition it has more style, feels better built and stores more images.

System Requirements
Windows 98/98SE/ME/2000/XP; Pentium processor or higher; 64Mb RAM; 90Mb hard disk space; minimum 28.8Kbps modem (webcam functions); USB port; CD-ROM drive.

Contact
SiPix: 020 8899 6026 www.sipix.co.uk