Logitech ClickSmart 510
Is it a digital camera? Is it a webcam? Actually, it's both, a hybrid approach that brings as many problems to the table as it does advantages for Logitech's entry into the budget digicam world.
From a technical perspective, the ClickSmart 510 sits at near the bottom of our budget digicam pile. It's a 1.3 megapixel camera with no preview LCD, a fault shared with the technically inferior FujiFilm Slimshot. At least the ClickSmart has upgradeable memory, although it uses the aging SmartMedia format rather than the more common SD/MMC format cards. An 8MB card is provided with the ClickSmart camera.
Installation of the ClickSmart camera can be rather more convoluted than most of the cameras we've reviewed here, but that's primarily because in its dual webcam/digicam mode, the ClickSmart comes with more software than the average camera. Aside from Logitech's QuickCam software, you also get copies of MGI's Photosuite 4.0 SE and VideoWave 4.0 SE.
The ClickSmart 510 itself is a pretty chunky unit, even when removed from its webcam base. As mentioned, there's no preview LCD; a fairly run-of-the-mill LED is kept quite busy tracking shot quality, flash and battery charge level. The ClickSmart 510 runs off four AAA batteries, which could make it an expensive proposition to run as a standalone camera.
The other problem with the ClickSmart is the price. Logitech lists the ClickSmart 510 at an RRP of AU$349.95, which puts it in the middle of the field of our cameras. At that price you could have either the HP Photosmart 320 or Kodak CX4200 and still have some pocket change left over. It is worth noting, though, that some very quick web searches did reveal a number of outlets selling the ClickSmart 510 for much less than retail price.
Logitech ClickSmart 510
Company: Logitech
Price: AU$349.95
Distributor: Selected resellers
Phone: (02) 9972 3711
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I have just seen an advertisement for the CX4230 in a pop up when I went to the Korean Herald newspaper at http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/index.asp . It was selling there for 185000 Won which equals AU$204, half what we would pay for it. I wonder why we can't get it at that price here?