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Review: L'espion Miniature Digital Camera--Can a $60 Camera Measure Up?
by Paul Cesarini and Kaye Puthoff
| Digital Dream | ||
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| SRP / SP: | under $60 / NA | |
| Requirements: | PowerPC, Mac OS 8.6 or later, 32Mb RAM, 10 Mb+ HD, USB port, VGA Monitor, CD ROM drive | |
| What's Hot: | Incredibly small, holds up to 80 photos, takes short video clips | |
| What's Not: | Included photo-editing software not Mac compatible, poor resolution, no OS X drivers yet | |
Teenagers rejoice: your digital camera has arrived. DigitalDream has recently introduced the L'espion Miniture High Performance Digital Camera, measuring just 2.25in by 1.5in by .5 in. and weighing in at just 1.5 oz. With 2Mb internal memory, this camera is capable of storing 20 pictures at 352 by 288 resolution or 80 pictures at 176 by 144 resolution. The L'espion is also capable of become a digital video camera (about 10 seconds max.) for PCs or Macs and a web cam on the PC side only.
The L'espion may be a decent match for home or novelty use. It's small size and low price make it ideal for amateur photographers interested in saving space when packing for vacation or avoiding lugging around bulky equipment. 
Pictures taken with the camera are by no means framable artwork, but the resolutions available are not bad for emailing or web sites.
Using the camera is a cinch. A built in retractable Optical Viewfinder allows you to center subjects and keeps the protruding piece safe when not in use. There are only two buttons on the camera, one being the Shutter/Select button, and one being the mode button, which allows you to display the surprising amount of various options. These options included switching resolutions, continuous shutter for recording video, clearing all pictures from the memory, and the always-helpful self-timer. Also convenient is the use and easy installation of a single AAA battery, avoiding the annoying (and expensive) battery hunt that is often involved for many cameras.
Drivers compatible with OS 8.6 - 9.xx are included. What's missing, unfortunately, are OS X drivers. According to Digital Dream, these are currently "in the works" and should be available soon. Until then, Classic compatibility only. Once the driver is installed, the pictures are downloaded through an included 4 to 6 pin USB cable. There is no confusing software to fight through, only a simple save dialogue box and a quick download time. 
Once the pictures are on your computer, it's up to you to use your favorite software to manipulate, publish, or print your photos. Video clips are conveniently stored as one file, and storage space runs between 400 and 500k.
The L'espion does come with its share of flaws. The software CD ROM included contains not only the driver, but Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05, ULead PhotoExpress editing software, and EyeStar Mail web cam software. The Acrobat Reader version included outdated and the photo editing and web cam software are Windows only, leaving Mac and Linux users without photo-editing software high and dry.
The camera itself is slightly awkward to use. Its small size and small viewfinder make it somewhat difficult to get a well-centered picture. On top of that, most photo subjects only appear clear and sharp if they are between 3 and 6 feet from the camera. Subjects farther away or closer appear far more blurry onscreen and in printouts. The camera also lacks a flash, so photos in dimly lit areas are out of the question.
Picture quality, on the whole, is quite similar to those photo booths we've all seen and used at arcades. As mentioned before, the resolutions available are ok, but for detailed work, this camera is simply unsuitable. The "high" resolution mode allows for 20 pictures at a whopping 352 by 288 resolution, and the "low" resolution mode allows for 80 pictures at minuscule 176 by 144 resolution. Original size pictures print at about 3.5in by 4.5 inches and are mildly blurry. Photos shrunk and upped to a higher resolution come out a bit clearer, but the size definitely has to be compromised to get a sharper image.
Aside from the driver CD, the L'espion also comes with an equally tiny carry case (complete with a belt loop), a built-in keychain attachment, the previously mentioned USB cable, one AAA battery, and a coupon good for six free glossy photo prints from Digital Dream. The L'espion isn't currently available in the U.S., but can be ordered via U.K. sites. Digital Dream expects this camera to touch down in the U.S. sometime during the next few months. Pricing has yet to be determined, but current exchange rates with the British pound would suggest a retail price of about $57. Admittedly, this price is somewhat high for such a limited feature set. However, size is perhaps worth a small premium.
The L'espion is a handy little camera coupled with limited options. To be perfectly frank, if you're a professional digital photographer, you're not going to buy it. If, however, you want a spare digital camera to keep in your car, or keep in your pocket, you might. The ridiculously small form factor seems ideal for getting all those impromptu UFO photos and secret agent-type pics we often miss. It could easily serve the needs of kids and adults interested in a camera devoid of bulk, weight, and confusing details.
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Published by Doug B. Landry and contributing staff. Trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., and others reserved. ©2002 Delta Design. Publishing headquarters is located in Santa Cruz, California. Index version 1.1.2
