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Charles Moore Reviews l’espion Mini Digital Camera
I don’t know about you, but over the past couple of months I’ve been bombarded with spam messages advertising “the world’s smallest digital camera” and suchlike. I almost never open spam email, but I did take a peek at a couple of these, and even visited the Website of one out of curiosity. I would never, on principle, buy anything from a vendor that advertised via spam email, and as it turned out, the cameras being flogged on that Website were Windows only anyway. 
However, the specs. looked remarkably similar to those of the little l’espion digital camera sold by the good folks at a British company called Digital Dream, who, I want to strongly emphasize, DO NOT USE SPAM ADVERTISING. And l’espion supports the Mac. 
I’ve had a l’espion for over a year, and it’s been a great little camera within its limitations. Measuring just 2.25in by 1.5in by .5 in. and weighing a feather-light 1.5 oz, I don’t know whether it can make a claim to be the world’s smallest digital camera, but it fits fits comfortably in the palm of your hand, or in just about any pocket, making it possible to have a camera at the ready virtually anywhere and anytime. It will even take (very short) movies. 
However, as I mentioned, there are limitations. l’espion is cool, but one has to adjust one’s expectations of its photographic performance with reference to its size and price (£29.99 or plus shipping). The mainstream standard for digital cameras is now about three megapixels resolution. l’espion is a 0.1 (point one) megapixel camera, so while the photos it takes are not bad at all for a tiny, low-priced device with a lens the size of a large pinhead, even its “ high-resolution” mode (352 x 288 pixels) is pretty mediocre compared with what the normally-sized and priced digital cameras offer. However, the resolutions available are not bad for emailing to friends or posting on Websites. Digital Dream also makes higher resolution digital cameras. See Appendix below. 
The real point of l’espion is the take-anywhere fun factor. It’s not intended to replace a full-size, full-featured digital camera, or a 35 mm film camera for the shots you really care about, but it will be a lot more likely available for the shots you otherwise would never have taken. 
l’espion comes fully-equipped and ready-to-use, complete with a conveniently standard AAA alkaline battery, a USB cable for downloading photos to your computer, a software CD, a a built-in keychain attachment, and even a miniature, soft camera case with a convenient belt loop. (The bundled photo editing and web cam software on the CD are regrettably Windows only). Just pop the battery into its compartment (which takes up about a quarter of the camera’s physical volume), and you’re ready to shoot. 
l’espion has only two controls -- a mode selection button on the front of the camera, and the shutter release. A small, LCD window below the mode button counts remaining shot capacity in the camera’s 2 MB memory, and indicates which shooting mode is selected. Mode options include the two image resolutions, continuous shooting mode for recording (very brief) video clips, clearing the memory, and a 10 second self-timer. The mode readout automatically shuts off after 30 seconds of inactivity to conserve battery life. There is no manual on/off switch. 
The camera beeps when you take a photo. After each shot, the LCD Panel will show the number of remaining shots available. A warning beep (longer and lower tone compared to normal beep) will emit if exposure is too dark or bright for the camera to process. No image is taken when this condition occurs. 
Continuous Shooting Mode allows you to take multiple frames of images when holding down the Shutter button while aiming at your subject. A maximum of 20 or 80 shots can be taken depending on which shooting mode you are in. Continuous shooting under 20 Shots mode takes about 1.5 seconds to fully consume the 20 frames, while it takes about 6.5 seconds under 80 Shots mode. A slide lever on the lens side of the camera extends and retracts a little optical view finder. I wear glasses, and I find that I can only get my eye close enough to see maybe two-thirds of the finder image, which I either have to try and compensate for, or remove my specs. when framing shots. Naked eye viewing is more satisfactory for those with unimpaired vision. 
The camera’s f2.8 - f3.9 lens is fixed focus, and it allows you to get within about 2 ft. of the subject, but with a 57 degree lens viewing angle (moderate wideangle perspective), that’s not close enough for what could legitimately be called close-ups. Here’s a hand-held self-portrait taken last winter. 
Despite its low-price, l’espion looks and feels well made. The mode switch and shutter release have a reassuring feel to them, and the camera is nicely finished. In nearly a year of use, I’ve encountered no reliability problems. Installing the download software (supports Mac OS 8.6 - 9.xx/OS X Classic Mode/OS X 10.1/ OS X 10.2 - see below) on my Pismo PowerBook took only a few minutes, and it works as slickly as can be. Once the software is installed, you just plug the USB cable into a standard USB port on the computer and into l’espion’s proprietary USB port respectively. The download dialog pops up almost instantly on the screen. Then just specify a destination on your hard disk for your pictures, and click the download button. A progress bar monitors the download, which only takes a few seconds, and then asks if you want to erase the camera’s memory. 
Once the pictures are downloaded, you can use your favorite image editing software to work with and enhance your photos. Video clips are stored as one file -- about 400 - 500k. 
l’espion’s 2MB internal memory can hold 20 shots in “ high-Resolution” (352 x 288) mode, and a whopping 80 shots at “low-resolution” (176 x 144 pixels), if you don’t mind REALLY tiny images. There’s no flash, nor any provision for one, but I have been quite gratified at how well l’espion handles low light shots, such as the one below taken at near dusk in light from a window. 
The Lens’s edge sharpness leaves a lot to be desired, and the little camera also has a bit of trouble rendering sharp contrast gradations such as between trees and sky. 
I’ve found that image quality is best when there is no radical contrast between bright and dark areas to contend with, but sometimes you can surprise yourself with interesting effects. 
Battery life is cited in the specs as up to 1,000 pictures. However, I started getting the low battery warning (the digital readout flashes) after only about 30 shots, and this little camera eats batteries even when it’s not being used. I’ve found that the best solution is to remove the battery when the camera is not in use (after first downloading any pictures to the computer, of course). 
You may have guessed that I really like l’espion. It works as advertised and has given no problems, doesn’t cost a whole lot, and is great fun. I’m giving it an Applelinks four A rating.
System Requirements: • Apple G3/G4 with USB Port • 32MB RAM • CD Drive • 10MB Minimum Hard Disk Space • Mac OS 8.6 or above • Image application supporting Adobe Photoshop plug-ins • Apple QuickTime for viewing video clips 
l’espion is currently available online from Digital Dream’s U.K. Website. The price has recently been reduced from £39.99 to £29.99, which helps compensate somewhat for the hefty £25.00 shipping charge to North America. beta OS X drivers from iOXperts are available for USB cameras at: The latest software for l’espion is called MN100 Digital Camera V0.99F - l’espion features and specs: You can check out l’espion and several other camera models from DigitalDream here (or see Appendix below): beta OS X drivers from iOXperts are available for USB cameras at: The latest software for l’espion is called MN100 Digital Camera V0.99F -
Appendix l’espion isn’t the only digital camera available from DigitalDream. Here is a rundown of what they have to offer: l’Espion Digital Camera l’espion digital camera l’espion digital camera only 55 x 38 x 15mm.
It’s size and price (£29.99), combined with an impressive array of features, including a Web Cam, a short video clip function. Simple USB connection make it the gift of the year. Specifications System Requirements Price: £29.99 l’espion Xtra This is the big brother of the l’espion digital camera. It’s only marginally bigger at 60 x 40 x 15mm but with increased capacity in a stylish metal case. 
Features Resolution and storage on internal 8MB memory (normal setting). Small in size (60 x 40 x 15mm) 0.48 Megapixel interploated, massive storage capabillity holds up to 478 shots on the internal memory. Records video clips. Price: £49.99 epsilon 1.3 Megapixel True 1.3 megapixel camera capable of interploation to 2 megapixel. Record video clips with sound, web camera function and superb TV output for Playback of full screen video clips and images. 
Package contents include: epsilon 1.3 Megapixel digital camera, pouch, USB cable, TV output cable, carry strap, CD-Rom & 4 x AAA batteries. Features • TV Out • Audio – record up to 33 minutes of sound with the built in microphone on the internal memory. Resolution and storage on internal 8MB memory (normal setting). epsilon 1.3 received the Macworld Magazine 4 Star award in the November 2002 issue. Price: £79.99 enigma 1.3 The world’s smallest true 1.3 megapixel camera with flash. 
Features Small and compact only 70 x 50 x 23mm. Metal body for durability. Records movie clips. Takes “Digital film” (Smart media) for increased image storage. Built in Flash. Price: £69.99 Eclipse 2.0 True 2.0 Megapixel digital camera capable of 3.0 Mega pixel images, with flash, smart media slot & screen in a durable metal case. 
Features Resolution and storage on internal 8MB memory. TV Out - view and record the images and video clips on Television/video. Flash - Auto/On/Off. Digital zoom - zoom in up to 4 times magnification.Webcamera when connected to the computer. Takes “Digital film” (Smart media) for increased image storage. Price: £99.99 enigma 1.3 True 1.3 Mega pixel digital camera. 
Price: £79.99 epsilon 1.3 Megapixel True 1.3 megapixel camera capable of interploation to 2 megapixel. Record video clips with sound, web camera function and superb TV output for Playback of full screen video clips and images.
Package contents include: epsilon 1.3 Megapixel digital camera, pouch, USB cable, TV output cable, carry strap, CD-Rom & 4 x AAA batteries. Price: £99.99 For more information, visit:http://www.digitaldreamco.com/index.shtml or http://www.digitaldreamco.com/shop/acatalog/
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