3M CP45B Camcorder Projector Review
Positive:
Ergonomically good. Awesome design. Has all you need to get started with the option to expand memory and option for display beyond just projecting to walls.Negative:
A mini tripod should be in the package. Display at less than 720p recorded via Projector should be improved but not a great deal of problem when displaying videos on the fly. The buttons can be touchy sometimes; they sometimes respond to sensitively or sometimes they take few touches before it responds.The next generation 3M Camcorder Projector is a camcorder‚ camera and projector‚ all in one. Create stunning HD video and photo content‚ then project and share it instantly – anywhere!
The next generation 3M Camcorder Projector is a camcorder‚ camera and projector‚ all in one. Create stunning HD video and photo content‚ then project and share it instantly – anywhere!
[flagallery gid=22 name="3M CP45B "]
Product Features:
- Brightness: 20 lumens of brightness produces a large 65″ (diagonal) screen size. Use the bright LED light next to the lens to record even in low light conditions
- Power: A 2100 mAh battery provides 150 mins recording time or 100 mins projected playback.
- Media: Record HD video and 5mp photo’s straight onto the device or download content from your favourite digital media sources: smartphone, iPod®, iPad®, portable DVD player, game console or laptop*.
- Convenience: Record on the go and project straight back on to any flat surface at the touch of a button!
- Control: Touch buttons make up an easily navigable control panel with one button record, playback and projection.
- Sound: In built mono speaker with AV out connect to external speakers.
- Connect: HDMI, Audio, Mini USB output with AV input
- Storage: 2GB of built-in memory and a MicroSD card slot for expanded memory up to 32GB.
Technology is moving fast and sometimes it’s difficult to keep up. Most users like myself would never have thought in years we’d have projectors that fit in our pockets, cameras that would fit in our pockets ,a phone case that has a pico projector built in. I have seen lots of technology been combined to be smart or to actually make life easier, for example a washer machine combined with a tumble dryer but in the early days, that didn’t work out very well. Then I saw the 3M CP45B Camcorder Projector, a combination of a 5Mega Pixel HD camera that will record at 1280×720 (720p) and a projector that will display videos up to 65 inch although during this review I had room to go up to 50 inch.
Design
Opening up the packaging, they are very well thought through proving so many accessories to get you started, and the different charger tip for when you travel anywhere in the world and would like to capture every moment. The 3M CP45 it’self feels solid with a nice white glossy finish. It has on the front a 2.4-inch LCD display that you can use as a monitor while taking photos and video and also use as a display for playback if you’d rather not use the projector.
The right side includes a wheel focus control, microSD card slot, and power switch. Facing it down, you can see a very well placed camera lens and tripod socket for steady placement on a surface. The USB port on the left side doubles as a power connector, letting you charge the unit while it’s connected to your computer or plugged into a power outlet with the included power adapter. They also added the mini HDMI port and a mini-plug jack so that you can playback your videos in the full 720p via a HDTV, if you decided not to you will not be able to view the full 720p via projector playback.
The single mini-plug is for both audio output and composite video input using the supplied cable with RCA phono connectors for video and stereo audio, I found it a bit of a problem having one output for both audio and video because when I have my Y split audio jack inserted it was impossible to then insert the RCA phono lead.
The size is very small at 125(h) x 61(w) x 24(d)mm making it a very portable gadget for easy packaging when travelling.
Using the 3M CP45B as a Camcorder Projector
Without getting technical, using the 3M CP45B Camcorder Projector is very straight forward making it easy to simple tap buttons to record or take photos, and once you have done that, option to playback via the Pico Projector on to any surface you like. Finding videos recorded is very easy and the settings hardly needs to be touched unless you need to as the default settings are there ready to go. If you are like me, you can even take the recordings from the device for further editing. The shape of the 3M CP45B Camcorder Projector is designed with prolonged used handheld in mind without any issues holding it upright for recording although when viewing I would recommend a gorilla pod or something similar. One thing I would to see change would be the fact that you can only view at 800 x 600 4:3 ( no HD, no wide angle) when using the projector.
Verdict
The 3M CP45B Camcorder Projector is a fun gadget to own and use, it delivers very well and the minor negatives are not so much of negatives that stops you from enjoying it. IT will be useful for various occasions and having expansion slot for a microSD card is a plus although it has 2GB built in for immediate use. If you thin of the cost of buying a 5MP HD camcorder and a Projector separately, you will realize that the 3M CP45B Camcorder Projector is very good for value.
Where to buy
You can purchase the 3M CP45 for £229.99 front Personal Projector LED and Portable projector specialists.
