A really nice lens great for capturing peoples faces when they are not posingThe lens is large and you may find yourself walking backwards a lot to get the full image but then etc.
The set of filter etc also added to the value.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Sony Alpha NEX E-Mount 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS Zoom Lens with 3 UV/FLD/PL Filters + Cleaning Kit for
A really nice lens great for capturing peoples faces when they are not posingThe lens is large and you may find yourself walking backwards a lot to get the full image but then etc.
The set of filter etc also added to the value.
CamRade WetSuit Camcorder Rain Cover for JVC GY - HM100 / HM150
J'ai été agréablement surpris par la rapidité de la livraison. Le produit est arrivé à la maison intact et en parfaite condition. Impeccable ! Un magasin que je recommande fortement.Save 15% Off
Fujifilm Finepix A350 5.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
After much research and trepidation I bought this newly released camera. There were no real reviews available because it just became available in the US the end of March. I am replacing a Finepix A310 which for the price was a decent point and shoot but was damaged beyond repair in an accident.For features and picture quality I believe the price is hard to beat. After experimenting for a week, I have found the photos to be excellent both in doors and out doors with various modes available such as portrait, landscape and even a night mode. The one thing that plagued other cameras in this class was underpowered flash..the flash is more than adequate for a camera of this size and I am extremely pleased with the results.
It is smaller but more solid than my previous finepix and very intuitive controls and miserly on battery usage while most others are simply battery hogs. It even does video with amazing good quality however the sound is monoraul and leaves something to be desired.
If you need a point and shoot with some manual adjustments available, good battery usage, compact and occasional video then this is the camera for you. Again..proof is in the photos themselves. Oh..this thing powers up ready to shoot amazingly quick...
Enjoy..you can't go wrong with this one..latest technology and usually can be found up to 30% off its list price.
At first some pics were blurred, until I learned the secret of standing against something to brace myself, holding my breath as I shot the photo, and just using the focus feature like it says in the manual. And behold! Great pictures! I'm a big fan of natural light, and shoot most of my pictures without a flash, and try and fill the frame. That's what works for me anyway. Some people love to "set up" the shot, and that's fine but I've learned that's not for me, I don't have time to fiddle espicially when it's catching children in unaffected and natural states of being. I love spontaneous shots. And with this camera, those are within my reach.
It looks as nice as the "upper end" purse/pocket sized Cannons, (same size but a tad thicker), it's much less complicated to use, and the price is unbelievably reasonable. Everyone should have one even if it's just to have as a back up. You'll find yourself using it more than the one it's backing up. :)
Buy Fujifilm Finepix A350 5.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Now
This is my seventh Finepix..A205 A210 A330 A340 A345 and A350 in addition to Finepix s602. I am teaching Digital Photography to Seniors and I highly recommend the Fuji Products. Those thatcomplain either are not holding the camera steady or not making
sure that the focus is right in the center.. When I move up to the next model camera, I usually give the older model to my niece, nephew, or granddaughter. Many of my former students are
making great photos with various digital cameras because they
are: Holding the camera steady, pressing the shutter release
halfway so the camera focusses and sets the exposure. Then after
clicking the shutter, holding the camera steady for about a second. I even recommend using the self timer for still subjects
so there is no chance of blurring the picture
Read Best Reviews of Fujifilm Finepix A350 5.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Here
I received this camera as a gift last Christmas. Unlike a reviewer below, I took some time with it before writing this review. I also don't care what the camera looks like. Sure, its small and sleek, but I prefer that over big and chunky....Anyway, I have had a generally good experience in the 60 -70 pics I have taken with it. One thing I really like is the menu system is very intuitive. I didn't read the manual at first, just started messing with it, and I was able to take good quality pictures, and figure out the movie mode. It has a simple menu system for those that don't like reading the manual. (read the manual anyway, there's good stuff in there) Another feature I like is the macro mode. I took some VERY close shots of my pets and various car parts and they all turned out excellent. Flash has worked well. Not perfect though, as I've occasionally had to take the pic again when the pic showed too dark. I picked up the 1GB memory card for more memory, as the 16MB card it comes with will only take about 20 pics at the best quality. 1GB will let you take a little over 700.
My only complaint is the LCD is a little dark and slightly fuzzy. The pics turn out much better than the LCD screen shows, but you sometimes can't tell in preview mode if the pic you just took was great or kinda crappy.....
Overall, I'm happy with it, and my wife got it for a good price. If you're looking for a no fuss, easy to use camera, find this one on sale and you won't be disappointed.
Want Fujifilm Finepix A350 5.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Discount?
It's an outstanding Digital Camera . its size is small to compare other Digital Cameras but its features and options are so vast , it doesn't have many functional bottons or arrow keys on the body of the Camera but it has many features ,options and camera control Functions through Menus appearing on the LCD , you can scroll , move , select and manage the menus on the LCD by the Simple Arrow Keys and bottons implemented on the body of the camera . The Quality of the pictures are outstanding for printing and seeing in the computer and you can easily zoom in to the objects because of the advanced quality ,however when you attach the camera to TV to see them on the TV screen ,some pics apear to be Blur and hazy but when you zoom to the objects you see a clear image on the TV screen, anyway the Quality of the pictures are so great when you download and see them in your PC . it's also capable to record with sound with a reasonable quality .Fujifilm FinePix XP20 Green 14 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD
You have to baby this thing if you want it to weather all. Dont change battery or sd card out on the beach or anywhere where particles can get in. make sure to keep the seals clean so clean after a day of rugged use. Make sure the flimsy door is clicked shut so it remains water proof. Do not use it in pounding surf. If you blow it clean after ever use and wipe it, this camera can last you a long time. It takes amazing photos and the telephoto makes for very interesting shots. If you want a rugged camera this could fit the bill... but you HAVE to be careful with it. And it really makes sense to do these things anyway. Even if you dont open the compartment on the beach small bits will get into chamber somehow so blow it clean with canned air. Green I think is best color. ( :
In a dark room, this camera isn't so great. Outside in nature, this camera does it's job.
Buy Fujifilm FinePix XP20 Green 14 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD Now
The camera lasted 3.5 snorkeling trips then its waterproof function turned to a waterlogged function. I had read the reviews and brought an old camera as a backup on our trip to Cozumel. This camera may be great for motorcycle trips where it may get a little rain on it from time to time, but as for a underwater camera don't wast your time. It took okay pictures outside but inside like many reviews said the images are yellowed and washed out.NOT ANY GOOD FOR SNORKELING IT WILL WATER-LOG AFTER A FEW TRIPS OUT.I have had this camera for two weeks. Before I bought it I read all of the other reviews. It seemed like the biggest complaint was water leaking into the camera. So I played with the battery compartment (where most people said it leaked) and I could create a condition where the case would appear to be locked but not completely. Bottom line I found was to push the cover closed hard, with two thumbs AND LISTEN FOR A LOUD CLICK! Make sure one of your thumbs is not on the release lever when closing the door. Experiment closing the door many times before taking it under water. I was even able to get a tiny click out of closing the battery door and it was not securely latched! Make sure you get a loud click. If you let anyone borrow this camera educate them on this feature. So far I have not had any troubles with this camera and I am enjoying it. Thank you all of the other reviewers that alerted me to the battery door closing issue.I love my new Fujifilm FinePix camera. I have owned several Olympus cameras both 35 mm and digital. I was looking for a new one that had certain features. As I searched for the latest Olypus models a list came up and the Fujifilm Finepix appeard on the list so I checked it out. I liked the features and decided to order the green one. I am very happy with the camera so far. I know there are lots of features I haven't tapped into yet but plan to do some more practice. I just returned from a vacation and used my camera on auto. I was extremely happy with the ease of use and the results of the pictures, especially the movie feature. The easy record button is much better than having to stop to change mode settings on my previous camera. I have not tried the water proof feature (under water) but was near a waterfall spray with no problems or worries of affecting my picture taking. So far so good. Nice size and easy to carry.
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Friday, November 29, 2013
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V 18.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Camera with 16x Optical Zoom and 3.0-inch LC
The HX10V is a solidly built and solidly performing camera. Is it perfect? No. As one reviewer remarks, the color accuracy is not entirely accurate. To my eye, over saturated and having difficulty with gradations of blue and red. Reminds me a bit of Fuji Velvia. Color can be adjusted, though it is a minor hassle. I find the camera also has a bit of trouble with a yellow/green shift in indoor lighting-less than ideal white balance in tungsten and fluorescent light. Using flash or fill flash eliminates the issue. Flash exposure is decent in low light. Fill flash is very good in bright light. The camera's flash has quite a bit of punch for a P&S. The camera has a bit more noise reduction than I prefer. In fact, the noise reduction reduces the effective sharpness of the lens. The lens on the 10V is quite impressive, especially when considering it is 16x. It is resistant to straight on flare, but tangential flare is an issue. If only the lens had a provision for a lens hood... The distortion in the lens is well controlled. It isn't up to full on architectural work, but who would use a P&S for architecture? All in all, an impressive and ambitious optic. The i modes of the 10V are the real deal. They slow down some of the responsiveness of the camera, but they deliver superior results in specialized situations. Personally, I love the background blur mode. Excellent pseudo-bokeh. The AF system is very speedy and tracks very well for a P&S. Facial recognition is excellent. The camera's video modes are quite competent. I am not a video expert, but the image stabilization, sound, and resolution are excellent considering it is a P&S. When looked at as a complete package, the 10V is well worth the price of admission.Addition 8/2012: After using the camera for a few months, I have found more quibbles: difficult getting a good sunset exposure, wishing there was more manual over rides, AVCHD eats up hard drive space on a Mac. On the plus side, I really have to praise the optics on the camera again. Great optic for the zoom range. The camera is quite fun to use and competent with a very high percentage of shooting conditions.
I gave four stars mostly for the design. The flash on the top pops up when you are holding the camera. Of course my finger is always over it. The big screen on the back is nice, but if you drop the camera on the corner just right there is nothing that is going to protect it from cracking. And lastly, although all Cyber-shots have the same dial, my finger struggles to hit the middle button just right.
Other than that. Great camera!
UPDATE-12-5-12 Camera display stopped working. The very concern I mentioned above regarding the screen cracking and being to close to corner has proven to be a worthy concern. Camera was in protective Caselogic case and never dropped. Screen just went blank. Had to send it back to Sony for repair. Waiting for repairs. I'll keep you posted on costs.
Conclusion 1-15-12 Camera back and fixed. Sony didn't charge me for repair. Took two weeks. I had to pay for shipping to Sony. Camera works great. Only problem with repairs is a hair on the screen in the casing. Drives me nuts but doesn't seem to effect camera. Plus I don't want to be without it for another 2 weeks. Just live with it. Sony was very responsive. Positive customer service experience.It's a Sony. The HX10 is a great point and shoot camera. It is impressive and feature packed. The specs are well documented. This takes Great Pictures! You will love this camera.
The 16x optical zoom can go to 32x with digital zoom. You get 18.2 megapixel sensor. High def 1080i videos look awesome. This is why you want this over a cell phone camera.
The Ion Lithium battery can take 320 pics. Great battery life but I recommend a spare battery and charger available on Amazon. Note: The battery can also be charged in the camera with supplied cable.
The camera is well built and solid made in Japan by Sony.
This camera will make you forget about buying a DLSR.
You won't go wrong purchasing this camera. It is a good value.I have had a steady shot before and I loved it! But this one is so much better! It recognizes when I am taking a picture of an infant. Its playback options are so fun. The shutter speed is so fast! And no blurring. I Love the option of taking video and it is great quality! I baught this to replac emy video camera and my old digital camera and I am so pleased! So easy to use! The zoom is amazing and so clear when used to take a picture! Its screen is a great size and I like that the button in the back turns like a wheel to scroll through pictures. You can turn the volume up and down and I like that it has a help guide on the camera so you dont always need your book to troubleshoot. I cant say enough nice things! Love sony and I love this camera I just cant stop playing with it!!!NOTE: Right before my 30 days was up, the on/off button quit working, but I love this model so much I'm getting a replacement. Hopefully, just a fluke with the camera I had. Update: Received my replacement today, I decided to order a different color instead of the white like I had before. Apparently, it depends on which color you choose where the camera is made. The white camera I returned was made in China, the black and red cameras are made in Japan, not sure where the silver cameras are made.
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This is my second Sony camera, the first Sony I tried 2 years ago got LOUSY pet shots on the Pet scene setting, but was a good camera otherwise. I returned it since shooting pictures of my cats is the reason I purchased it Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-WX9 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Still Camera with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 5x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and Full HD 1080/60i Video (Black).
Let me tell you this HX10V runs rings around the WX9 (all these model numbers get confusing after awhile!). The camera feels solidly built. Several camera blog/review sites say it's metal, but it feels like plastic to me, although sometimes aluminum feels plastic-like so I will give them the benefit of the doubt. The tripod mount is metal, and the battery/SD card door feels a little flimsy like most do, just be careful with it and you should be OK.
This is a KEEPER! On the Pet setting, it takes excellent photos and the default setting keeps the flash and also the focus assist button turned off these usually will bother your pet's eyes if left on so this is an excellent decision on Sony's part...for instance: I'm a Panasonic camera lover usually and Panasonic's Pet setting leaves the default flash on auto and the red-lamp (focus assist) is also turned on and it's hard to get a photo where my cats' eyes aren't shut. Sony put some thought into the set-up here.
And me being a Panasonic lover (in the not too distant past) I was never satisifed with the softness of a Panasonic camera photo. I always had to tweek them in Picasa to sharpen them up a bit, as well as make the colors a little brighter. Not with this Sony. I have done no post-processing other than cropping.
PROS:
> Photos almost always turn out PERFECT! Just the right amount of color and sharpness!
> BEST VIDEO of any point & shoot camera, even expensive $600.00+ cameras I have tried! In fact, if you set the HD to the highest setting on this camera, it gives you a warning that if you are burning to a DVD, you need to make it Blu-Ray it's so good.
> Solid build, although mine was made in China. I think some are made in Japan, some China.
> LCD screen is amazing, 921,000 dots, the reviews of the pictures looking at it on the camera almost look better than on your PC monitor.
> Sony G Lens...an excellent lens used on their more expensive cameras.
> Easy user-interface on the menus. I have only had to look at the manual once (looking for the macro setting).
> Background Defocus...No need for a full manual camera to achieve the blurred backgrounds; this does a great job but you have to be around 30cm (approx. 12 inches) from subject for it to turn out well.
> Battery life is excellent.
> For those of you who don't want to fuss with a bunch of different settings, you can set this camera to EASY SHOOTING mode, it gives you all the "basics" to get great photos, but the wording on the LCD screen is in larger print, making it easier to read, and since you don't have many shooting options, very easy to take a photo and still have it turn out exceptional. The EASY SHOOTING mode is PERFECT for anyone new to digital cameras (there may still be a few!)
CONS:
> I don't like having to charge the battery inside the camera, but that is remedied by buying a separate battery charger.
> LCD screen glare is a little iffy outdoors, I may pick up a matte screen protector to help.
> 18 MegaPixels! Really, this is a con with a sensor this size, you don't need over 12 MP in a camera, more is not better in this case; but I will have to say, it doesn't seem to affect quality much on this camera.
THE ZOOM: This camera has 16X optical, it will show on the screen when it starts becoming digital (digital is known for being horrible quality)...with either optical or digital, to look good you will need a tripod. The digital goes to 32X but photo quality will be poor with digital. (You can disable the digital zoom in the Tools Menu).
GPS: Once you take your camera outdoors or near a door/window, that will trigger the GPS to initialize. Personally I don't care if I have GPS, whenever I upload a photo online, I don't want people to gather even MORE information about me, like my latitude/longitude coordinates. So I disabled this feature in the Tools Menu.
RE: SUPERIOR AUTO VS. INTELLIGENT AUTO (on the Mode Dial). You have more settings to choose from on Superior, but I have noticed the camera processes more slowly between shots. On Intelligent Auto I get better results and the camera processes between shots seconds faster, almost instantly.
SOFTWARE: There is no CD in the box; the software is stored inside the camera. Once you plug the camera into your PC for the first time, it will download and also get the latest updates off the web. PlayMemories is the name of the software and I like it almost as much as Photoshop Elements.
For good quality video and fast camera processing I recommend a Class 10 SDHC card:
Sony SF16NX/TQM 16GB SDHC Class 10 Memory Card
If you're looking for a well-made case and don't want to pay the high price for a Sony OEM case:
Case Logic TBC-312 Pocket Video Camcorder Case with Storage (Black)
Keep checking back, I'm in the process of uploading photos, but it takes awhile for Amazon to approve them.
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Professional Monitor Lilliput 9.7'' 969 A/o/p Color LCD Monitor with Hdmi, Ypbpr, Dual Audio Input
This is a good choice for a "big enough" portable monitor. We've had plenty of trouble from smaller and larger monitors, and unless you're willing to pony-up at least three times the price of this unit, there's really little reason for complaint. So far I get about 2 hrs of continuous use with Sony F970 batteries.So, the downsides first...
This is a 4:3 panel.
16:9 is fairly easily set, but only after accessing the menu. (no shortcut)
Advanced features work, but only in 4:3 mode. (16:9 must be manually reset)
This unit requires a sturdy arm for tripod attachment.
Less intuitive menu.
No Sharpness adjustment.
No VESA mount.
Good stuff...
Big enough to focus with. 1:1 pixel zoom is nice.
Pass-through HDMI is lag-free. Very nice when viewing on another monitor.
Sturdy stand.
Lots of inputs.
Works with DSLR.
Overscan toggle.
Works with common batteries.
Folding shade is very snappy.
I baught
Lilliput 9.7'' 969 A/o/p
I want to ask you wiche kind of battery I use for this screen
thanks alott is unfortunate that a company that has good presence in the audiovisual market, have such poor judgment in the development of their products, this monitor could be one of the best but it was because you have so marked and inconceivable mistakes: if you have the screen in 16:9 and want to use some of the functions F1 to F4 for example false color, peaking focus, zebra, and other setting, it automatically jumps to 4:3 which is unacceptable and unprofessional, besides annoying to the extreme
Sony Cybershot DSCV3 7.2MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
I own several photo equipment and nothing will suit every situation. For huge enlargements needed for professional work nothing beats medium and large format film. Which is not what these cameras are made for. In the 7MP range the V3 is the best choice. Fairly priced and very good quality picture in a reasonably compact body.Canon G6 may have a little better quality image, but what is also important for snapshots is shutter lag time, that is the time between the moment you press the button and when the picture is taken. Here the V3 is unbeatable with less than 0.1 sec. This means that you won't loose the photo or have a blur instead of your children recorded. This is why I bought this camera, it is better to have a little less detail looking through a lupe than loosing the picture. Despite the startup time, 3 sec, which is not too long I think that this camera beats the other 7MPs because of the smaller shutter lag.
Another thing that helps is that it accepts Compactflash. the only problem is having to buy a MS pro to be able to record high quality video, but I can live with that.
When I can carry heavy stuff I bring film equipment or my Canon 10D. Otherwise the V3 is my choice, the ultra compact ones just don't have good enough picture quality for printing and the shutter lag is usually unbearable, so I think it is better to carry something a little bigger.
If you want very high quality pictures, film like quality, you have to buy bulkier equipment like the Canon 20D (US$1,500.00). And for professional work Canon 1DS Mark II or a medium format digital, but then you have to spend from US$8,000.00 to US$25,000.00.
So there is no point in people complaining about picture quality in a compact US$700,00 digital camera that delivers pictures with about the same quality as its competition. Sony makes very good digital cameras, not miracles.
1.BIG LCD screen!! At last you can see what your shooting! Don't bother with the eye piece however, it just about useless!
2.Easy to read and navagate menus. If you want to start messing around with shutters and apatures this is your camera.The scene settings are great too, but I recomend using "P" mode for most of your picture taking! (just remember to have a tri-pod ready in low light!)
3. Video, video, video Sony is the undisputed king of on board digital camera video! Great sound, great Resolution It aint DVC, but it ain't bad either! You can get upto 44Minutes worth on a 1GB card (stick)! NO MORE CLIPS!!
4. Decent battery life. About 220 minutes per charge. Im not sure about the G6 (A friend of mine owns one, and he said he got about the same.)
5. Dual memory capability! A huge plus here! The ability to carry twice the memory ready and available right on the camera!Just flick the switch!If you are a volume picture taker this is a Gift from above for you. One minus however the V3 can't use Micro-Drives. (Maybe on next years model!?!?) The V4?
6. Picture. The V3 takes clearer shrper pictures than it's counterpart, bottom line. Not to mention the fact that you can crop your shots within the camera, and even select the resolution of the new image!! Fantastic! Beat the snot out of the G6 in ambient and low light settings. The G6 does have better ISO response, but not by enough for me to reccomend it over the V3.
7. A sane, Useful array of shutter speeds, and apature settings. I hate it when a camera adds a 40 or 60 second shutter delay, or a 1/2000 shutter speed, and then charges you 300 or 400 bucks for your trouble! Most mortal picture takers like you and me don't need these! (hell Im a professional photographer and I rarely do) the V3 shutter speeds range from 30 seconds all the way up to a scorching 1/1000, the apatures are set up likewise, It's a nice selection of speeds, allowing the use some really nice creativity options!
the apaturesThe Bottom Line, and what is it?
Sony has again set the new standard for so called point and shoot cameras, by increasing functionality and power while maintaining a compact size.Just search through Amazon here and you will be astounded at all the extra's available for this little camera! I like to call these new cameras Hybrids because they combine a little of both worlds. Sony proved they are the masters at this when they released the DSC-F828 which in my opinion is one of the most amazing digital cameras ever made! Tempramental but amazing! And that is where I can best describe the V3, It has many of the features and most of power of its predacessor (F-828) but is much more user friendly and tolerent of misgudgement on the photographers part. With the G6 like the 828 I found I have to work for great shots (not that I mind working) but with the V3 they just seemed to happen. The camera seems to act like an extension of yourself, and that is what any great camera should do. So to Sony I say Bravo again!! I bought one for my father, one for me and every damn accessory for it I can lay my hands on! If your ready this could be and will be the last digital camera you'll ever have to buy. To the Canon people out there don't get mad, the G6 is a fantastic camera in every sense of the words, but the V3 is an experience in photography not just another tool for taking snapshots!Sorry!
This is (if you'll excuse the pun) the best buy!
Buy Sony Cybershot DSCV3 7.2MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom Now
If one is looking at this camera you should be glad that this camera can record not only on Memory stick but also on CompactFlash Type I cards. So, for anyone trying to upgrade from Sony digicams with plenty of Memory Sticks, you can't beat this one. Also, for all those who complain about expensive Memory sticks, you have no reason to complain on this Sony ;-)!V3 has lot of advanced features professional photographers demand like those found in F717 while having all the auto features needed for normal family photographer.
For someone trying to move from V-1 to V-3, you will be glad about the higer capacity battery and larger LCD, while you will miss the compactness of V-1. If you prefer smaller pocketable size, this will not fit your needs. You should consider DSC-W1.
I feel V3's main strength is it's capability to take excellent indoor pictures. As a dad of two, I take most of my pictures indoors at parties and home and this camera stands up to the best digital camera I used for indoor photography namely, Sony's DSC-F717.
Read Best Reviews of Sony Cybershot DSCV3 7.2MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom Here
This camera though very similar to the Canon G6 comes out ahead in some aspects:1) Cool Sleek Black Body with a nice feel and made out of metal and plastic;
2) Several Night shooting modes including a very nice laser hologram focus tool;
3) Dual memory slots for CF and MS;
4) This one is the killer: Full Screen VGA video (G6 does not even come close);
5) Pictures are more detailed and sharper than G6.
6) Great 2.5-inch LCD which auto-brightens in low light
7) Full on high speed USB2.0. Canon G6 has the older slower USB 1.0.
I have always found the Sonys to be more reliable than the Canons.. So as far as this one is concerened..I went for the Sony
Want Sony Cybershot DSCV3 7.2MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom Discount?
Took about 100-150 photographs before realizing this camera needed a little help with both indoor and outdoor photographs.Indoor: The onboard flash is just not sufficient. Large amounts of redeye, pets eyes looked like something off a horror movie and picture colors weren't the quality I was expecting. I spent 3-4 hours touching up my first set of pictures with photo software (not included). I purchased the HVL-F32X flash and the whole indoor world changed. Redeye almost totally disappeared, my pets look friendly again and colors were much richer and fuller. So add $140-150 to the price for an external flash, don't go cheap here.
Outdoor: Pictures weren't as crisp as expected. I believe it was caused by sunlight glare and the cameras aperture choice, so I added the VAD-VHA adapter and a Circular Polarizer which helped along with opening the aperture a little. Other online reviews can explain how to do this.
So my second set of photos needed almost no editing and I am very impressed by the quality. The camera is solid and time from shot to shot is amazingly fast. I am using a High-Speed MSX-512N Sony memory stick and a 256MB SanDisk Ultra II CF Card. I noticed the write speed on the memory stick are slightly faster than the CF card. But to be honest, I don't think the difference is that much to justify the extra cost of the memory stick.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Glidetrack Shooter HD 21inch (0.5m) Heavy Duty Slider/Mini Dolly for DSLR Video, Anodized Aluminum
The Glidetrack Shooter HD is a great multifunctional slider that acts equally well as a shoulder stabilizer rig. I was very surprised how the shoulder stabilization was comfortable and adequate for stable results! Yes, it doesn't look as cool as a real shoulder rig by some other brands 3 times the price; but you're getting a pretty good shoulder stabilizer and a slider for the price of one! The slider is not ball bearings and so it's not quite as smooth as some of the other products out there... but for the price, this is completely acceptable and I managed to get very smooth shots when trying it with my 7D, 5Dmk ii, and AX-10. Yes, it's slightly more resistant (more friction) during a slide than my other Kanova Slider (1.2meter)... but again, this is a .5 meter model, which means that it's perfect for travel... and it doubles as a shoulder rig! So, I'm happy with it. There's also a handle grip in the middle that allows you to stabilize the shoulder rig with one hand, which frees the other to pull focus. It's aluminum railings and not ball bearings but is smooth enough for good results. If you use your DSLR's internal microphone you will likely hear a hissing sound due to the friction between the carriage and the railings; but if you're using a slider it generally means you know what you'e doing enough not to use your DSLR's internal mic! I do wish this unit had a nice carrying case, like the one Kanova has. Hopefully the manufacturers think of something since it's great for travel but you don't want to keep the loose items in your luggage. So far, I think the size and price makes this a winner for the range of functionality it offers.Pentax Optio A30 10MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom with Shake Reduction System
When I first purchased and received this camera I was delighted. It's small and light weight so I can carry it in my purse all the time. The big bright screen is wonderful to show off photos of my new grandson without having to carry photographs and the camera took great photos. The 10MP photos allows me to crop a lot and still have a beautiful 8x10 printed photo. The stabilizer works wonderfully. I can take photos of this little 6 month old and never get a bad shot. I gave my A10 to my daughter, because I was so pleased with this new little camera, that now uses the new high capacity SDHC memory cards.Then, after about a week the camera starting getting these bright purple streaks through the pictures, from the glare of light. Even with a flash the photos were so bad you couldn't even make out what you were shooting. This is my 4th Pentax digital camera and the first bad one. What's worse is that, I sent it to Pentax for repair and a month later got back the same bad camera, but without my battery. They were real nice about offering to send me my battery, but that doesn't help me since the camera isn't worth using.
Where ever there is the slightest natural light coming through a window, the camera picks up a purple glare, that is in the photograph. It's also in the movies. When I sent it in for repair I sent print outs of the pictures so they could see how bad it was. I had to call and beg to get my camera back, they promised it would only take 15 days. But they received it a week before they even logged the camera in for repair, then put it in a line (ups tracking information shows when it was signed for on the dock). When I called two weeks later they pulled it from a place in line, and finally started to work on it.
They sent it to me 2nd day, but without the battery. I used the battery from my A10, only to find that the purple glare is still there. It's not as bad as it was, but still awful. Not just a little... a lot. Previously I owned the z550, the z750 and the A10, All those were wonderful, hence my willingness to purchase the new A30 and comfort in giving away the A10 right away.
Now they want me to return the camera to repair so that they can try to repair it again. It's already been nearly 3 months since I purchased this camera, 3 months less warranty on a lemon of a camera. I asked to have a new camera sent to me and I'd return this one, but they wouldn't do that; so I called corporate offices.
What a difference in attitude! They said they'd send me out a new camera 2nd day and issue a call tag so I can return this entire camera kit. They were so nice. So, if you have a problem and repair can't or won't take care of it for you, so right to the top... it's worth the trouble.
The new camera is great, what I hoped for when I first purchased it. Since having this awful problem, I have noticed a slight purple cast on some of my other photos with other cameras, that I never noticed before... it's so slight. Not anything like I had with this A30, where the whole photo was purple and you couldn't even see what you were trying to shoot. The replacement camera is fine and takes beautiful photos. I'm concerned as to why it did get so awful and afraid it will come back, but so far it's been wonderful. I carry it with me all the time. The movies it takes are the best I've ever taken with a still camera. They are actually very good. I hardly use my Mini DV movie camera anymore. All in all, I really like this camera and there is no other camera with the same features for close to this price. If it stays as good as it is now, I'll be extremely happy.
BTW, Amazon was great. When I couldn't get ahold of Pentax and it had been slightly over the 30 day return date, Amazon still was willing to take the camera back and give me a refund. But I couldn't find another camera that was this small and light that uses the new SDHC cards. So thanks Amazon, for the wonderful service!
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I was impressed by the Optio A30's color accuracy, ease of use, extensive manual options, and small size. The pictures are free of the aggressive noise reduction I've seen in many compact 10MP cameras. However, the Optio A30 has some downsides, some of which I have not yet seen mentioned in reviews, but are evident in the sample pictures I have taken myself and in pictures in posted reviews.The battery life leaves much to be desired. Reducing the LCD brightness to its lowest level seems have given me a couple dozen more shots, but I have yet to get more than 200 per charge. The quality of the optics also left me a little disappointed. While the Optio A30 has a wonderful shake reduction feature, this camera suffers from problems with the compact optics which plague many other compact cameras. At the wide end there is significant vignetting (dark areas in the corners). Also at the wide end, pictures are very blurry near the outer 15% of the photo (much more severe than I can remember seeing in other compact cameras). This is particularly noticable in landscape photos. The blurriness does not occur at full telephoto. I've seen these defects in both my own photos as well as those in reviews, so be aware that your camera will likely have these problems. How much it will bother you is anyone's guess.
The Optio A30 is a decent choice for anyone looking for a compact 10MP camera. The camera has some great features, but some unfortunate setbacks keep me from recommending this camera to anyone who is serious about photography.Going on a day trip, sunday drive, vacation just around the block HEY got your camera? YOU CAN ALWAYS be ready with this little Pentax! I don't leave home without it! Loads of features BUT sometimes depending on lighting conditions has a hard time focusing.... Im sure many small compact camera do. BUT 10MP max res and all the other goodies make up for it ANOTHER DISAPPOINTING NOTEDIVIX format for video is not supported on MAC I get video playback with NO SOUND. Terrible when video is kids or vacation! If camera was waterproof it would be even better! Build quality is very good! Not too small to hold. Black shell feels solid and professional.
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Bought this camera with the movie in mind. I knew it would take very good pictures and 10 megapixel come in handy when you have to crop, zoom etc.Best part for me was the fact that it records movie in the DivX format. I can record a 90 minute movie on the 2GB SD card (about 15 bucks!!) then, quickly and easily trasferred the movie to my laptop. Burned a DVD on my lap top, and I was blown away by the quality of the movie that this camera takes.
DivX format play in lot of DVD players. However, if you have an older DVD player, it might not work.
Obviously it does not have all the bells and whistles of the video camera, but boy it takes great movies, with sound and all.
Bottom line, I am retiring my video camera.
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Sanyo VPC-GH2 High Definition Camcorder and 14 MP Camera w/12x Optical Zoom
I never write reviews but depend on them heavily when making purchases, so I am going try to help someone else out. I was looking at a higher end xacti camera and was about to pull the trigger when this was released. I couldn't find any reviews but one Radio Shack in town actually had one of these cameras. My son had a baseball tournament that weekend so I figured I buy it and try it out. For $200 I wasn't expecting much and assumed I'd return it. I was blown away at the quality as was everyone else who viewed it. There are some gotchas though.First, you obviously can not buy plain old flash cards for this. I tried class 4 and it was useless at 1080p. Class 6 works much better but also has a problem. When filming a baseball game I set it on a tripod and the 1080 was amazing. When filming a football game I didn't use a tripod and I got a choppy mess. It cannot keep up with writing the video when panning at 1080 even with class 6. I have not tried the class 10 yet, but everything I have read tells me that no video camera needs class 10 memory. Having said that, I cannot see much difference between the 1080 and 720 quality except the video file sizes which are huge. The 720 setting is perfect on motion, panning, and quality. At 60 fps you have the ability to really slow down the motion while easily controlling it on a computer with the arrow keys. It is fantastic for analyzing a baseball swing or golf swing and see the point of impact.
The battery is the weak spot. Buy extras and have them ready. If you get over an hour of continuous filming, you are lucky. Research your flash memory based on user reviews from sites like newegg or amazon. DO NOT go to the local Best Buy and just grab something off the shelf. Never buy a class 6 stick over 8GB, and preferably nothing over 4GB. They larger sticks have many problems with corruption and you can spend a lot of money replacing these things. A reliable 4GB can be found for around $20 and get you 2 hours at high quality.
Power button can be irritating, and the record button can as well. Those are things you will work out though.
Simply put, you cannot possibly argue that the quality of this camera far outweighs the cost. It is the best purchase I've made in a long time, and I am a really difficult customer to please.
I tend to be overly verbose which is why I don't write reviews so I apologize for that.
I picked it up from Radio Shack for $199. The one I got is black in color with a plastic casing and feels kinda cheap but I expected that. Basically, this is your typical budget, entry-level point/shoot/share digital camera and HD video camcorder. I'm pleasantly surprised with what it can do and I am happy with it. It works as advertised just don't expect high quality. With an 8GB card will give you 61 mins of full HD or 1690 14MP shots assuming you do one or the other, less if you do both.
If you will do a lot of video/pictures, I suggest getting a 2nd battery and a higher capacity SD memory card. The battery can drain pretty fast. The SDHC card that I got with this camera is a Gigaware brand class 2 because it was all they had in stock. What a MISTAKE. You definitely need a class 4 SDHC card or better for HD video. Also, a bit of warning, indoor video is terrible even with the high sensitivity setting on (a setting that supposed to compensate for low light) decent lighting or outdoor HD video should be no problem. BTW.. I played the video on VLC, video was terrible. My suggestion is to make sure you have the proper codecs installed on your computer to view the video files.
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Better than a Flip -this tiny pocket camcorder is packed with features you'd expect in more expensive camcorders. However, the only two significantly useful features are the electronic stabilization and swingout LCD. Compared to Flip-style camcorders or digital cameras with fixed LCD viewfinders you can shoot useful hand-held video from a variety of positions without the shakes.The auto-focus works great, giving you better composition compared to fixed-focus Flips. Turn on macro focus and you can shoot tiny bugs 1cm away.
The 5x optical zoom works fine but its little button is tough to control, especially during one-handed shooting. The GH2 is easy to operate with the right hand: flip the LCD with a pinkie, press the top record button with the thumb, shoot from the hip.
Audio is surprisingly good due to the microphone placement on the LCD cover, facing your subject.
The flash is great for taking indoor stills, with still picture quality comparable to other small digital cameras.
Battery life is ok, I got 1.5 hours in SD shooting (a static shot). However, in "field use" recording clips in HD, taking several flash pictures, and using focus and zoom, I get about 45min battery life.
Low light picture quality is average (as all camcorders are) but turn on the "high gain" feature and you'll capture usable video that most camcorders won't get.
Manual features available made me LOL! There's a lot. You'll have to read the manual a few times.
Picture quality is pretty good. Shots taken at 1080i setting viewed on a 52" 1080i TV look great, with good detail and color. The GH2 records 1080i video at about 17Mbits/s. You'll need a decent computer to edit HD files.
Webcam: Fixed at VGA size @15fps and no manual control it's a very basic webcam.
Cons:
Bugs: the GH2 locked up on me once -popping the battery cures it.
Construction: the GH2 feels like an large clamshell cellphone. Not as robust as a Kodak Zx1, for example. Just don't drop it.
Overall a great value in a convenient little package.This is a great little camera. The ability to shoot 16:9 wide screen high resolution images in addition to true HD video is a great plus.
The jpeg compression is a little excessive, compared to my Nikon camera, but the pictures still come out great.
Just remember that there is a bit of shutter lag, especially when using flash.
I did discover that I had to upgrade my computer before it would play the high resolution videos that I shot.
The battery life is right in line with spec at about 90 minutes of continuous recording.
The Sanyo power supply for the camera is unfortunately rather expensive, at about $50.-
In conclusion, there is a mix of good and bad. However, for the money I think this is a very good camera.
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This camera is much smaller than I expected from the pictures, just about pocket-sized for a guy. 1080i HD video looks great too. It has a ton of features for the price, optical zoom being a notable one. The camera claims to come with onboard memory, but don't expect to use it. It holds about 20 seconds of HD video. Don't let that turn you away though! Get a 16GB Class 6 SDHC card (like this one: Transcend 16 GB Class 6 SDHC Flash Memory Card TS16GSDHC6E [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]), and you'll have 2 hours capacity. I'd make sure the card is at least Class 6 so as to minimize saving delays, this way you can rapid-fire several HD clips without waiting for the camera to finish saving.Saw elsewhere in the reviews that the manual is hard to find. It is indeed! Once you finally track down the PDF on Sanyo's site, that turns out to just be the shorter "User Guide". This directs you to download the full Manual, but neglects to tell you where!
Fortunately I managed to track down the English manual on the Japanese Sanyo support site. Edit: See comments on this review for the link.
The URL says GH1 but the manual is actually for all GH series cameras, this one included. Bookmark this for later if you order =)
QQ-Tech HDMI to HDTV Adapter for iPad/iPhone
I previously ordered and received the APPLE DIGITAL AV ADAPTER,MDO98ZM/A, cost $45Since it was in Apple product, I expected it to work. I connected it into my Ipad and my Ipad2. In both cases I received the message DEVICE NOT COMPATIBLE.
Very disappointed, I returned the item.
I then ordered this product for $32. I was hesitant because this is not made by Apple. I LOVE IT! I tried it with the Ipad and the Ipad2 to view netflix and YouTube, and my own pictures on my big screen TV. Works beautifully.
Have not tried to download pictures from my camera yet.
The only negative I can see is that there is no way to connect the Ipad to a power source, so it has to run on battery power. Don't know if this will be an issue as I have not determined how long the battery will last.
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I bought this to run movie out of Netflix from my iPhone to my TV in my cabin. I tried this out in my home first and then took it to my cabin (in country). This product worked with Samsung and Toshiba TVs in first attempt. I would recommend this product!Read Best Reviews of QQ-Tech HDMI to HDTV Adapter for iPad/iPhone Here
Got this for my dad and it doesn't disappoint. Watching videos or just browsing through the net it just looks so much better and works perfectlyWant QQ-Tech HDMI to HDTV Adapter for iPad/iPhone Discount?
I plugged this into my iPad 3, connected the HDMI cable from my Vizio HDTV to it, launched a Netflix movie and it played on my flat panel just fine. No real complaints other than it feels rather cheap.The picture of the unit tied to my order is incorrect. This is what I ordered and received: QQ-Tech® iPad iPad2 iPad 3 the new iPad Iphone 4 Ipod Touch 4 to HDMI Adapter Cable Audio Video Cable Apple Dock Connector
I have not tried the USB port yet, but the HDMI was what I wanted this for.
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Canon PowerShot A100 1.2MP Digital Camera
Wonderful Camera! This is my first digital camera, but I've used them and work and my wife has one also. This Canon A100 is easy to use, Takes clear pictures, and does not drain the batteries. It has been a real joy to own. The only drawback was no optical zoom, but that I still think for the price it is a great camera to own, I take my everywhere.
To our suprise, the camera performs very well in all lighting conditions. We have taken several shots indoors without the flash (to protect the baby's eyes) and they generally turn out great.
This camera also has a video mode the performs quite well. It takes 20 second clips (without sound) and performs better than other cameras I've tried that cost twice as much.
For a good, all purpose, all around camera that you aren't afraid to use (drop, have stolen, misplace) I believe you cannot do any better.
You must purchase rechargable batteries, so keep that in mind when comparing to other cameras.
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After having a terrible experience with a 2.0 MP machine I strongly recommend this machine if you want an easy to use digital camera which can take very good pictures especially in darker environments. :)Read Best Reviews of Canon PowerShot A100 1.2MP Digital Camera Here
I still believe in the quality of Canon cameras but after using this one for a few months, it's been increasingly difficult to get it to take pictures. When I press the button for it to take, it often does not actually take the picture and must be pressed repeatedly for it to take. I thought perhaps this was just a problem with my camera but my friend has a PowerShot A200 and complains of the same problem. This presents a frustrating problem because I cannot ask other people to take pictures for me as they do not necessarily know how to "coerce" the camera. The other problem I've encountered is that you can't change the manual/automatic settings without turning on the LCD. This causes an enormous drain on the battery. The settings are also difficult to find if you don't have your user's manual at hand.Other than these problems, this is a great little digital camera at a good price. The pictures I have taken successfully with this camera have all turned out good and clear.
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I ordered this because I wanted a simple camera. BOY IS THE INSTRUCTION BOOKLET COMPLICATED. Explanations are very poor. Installation is tricky. Have to read VERY carefully because nothing is explained well. There is also no telephone support from Canon. Strictly, do it yourself.The camera eats up batteries. The instructions say when you download pictures to your computer you should have the camera connected to the electric supply. However, the AC adaptor is an extra cost item that doesn't come with the camera. Also, the camera cannot draw power from the USB plug in. Why not?? A wonderful feature of USB is that it can power accessories. Lastly, the USB connection is via a propritary cord, not a standard USB connector. I was very disappointed to find such inconvenience and lack of thinking from Canon. Yes, the pictures are fine.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Vivitar Series One Digital SLR Camera/Laptop Sling Backpack - Small (Black) Holds Most 14'" Laptops
This product was extremely easy to put together and is very easy to use. I have a home Portrait Studio and it works well with my shots! I love this product and would purchase more if I needed them!Cable Matters Gold Plated Premium USB 2.0 to HDMI Audio Video Adapter in White & 10 ft White High S
works perfect, was able to hook up the hdmi to the tv using this converter easily. Now we can watch movies off of the lap top on the tv.
I didn't give it much hope given the relatively inexpensive cost... but low and behold... it arrived and was easy to connect and install. Now our new larger screen can screen DVDs, the web, PowerPoint presentations and even allow for real-time note taking/share with a group during brainstorming sessions.
Now for those two annoying issues:
1It's very cumbersome to figure out the configuration if you're not going standard. I wanted to mirror my left screen to the new 42" monitor..but it took an hour of trial and error until we could tell the system which was our primar monitor and which one to monitor. Surely the program could be made easier to manage this.
2This problem is stickier. Once all is connected and working, my PC and system audio wouldn't work (since it assumes that all audio should now be redirected to the new screen #3). The only work around we could find was to disconnect the Cable Matters hardware until I need to show/display video with audio on screen #3...otherwise my system is rendered "mute."
Any workarounds from users ...or the developer... would be appreciated.Item arrived in timely fashion and was well packaged. More importantly it works as advertised. Watched Rise of the Planet of the Apes via Amazon instant video and the picture quality was perfect. I just wish I had invested in this adapter earlierthis came with 10f HDMI cable, very good price.
I had a problem that this adapter shuts down my PC so I read many articles and found that my PC graphic system needed to be adjusted. PC is Sony Vaio Laptop vista and TV is Panasonic Viera 42'. After I connected adapter, I need to right click on desktop to open NVIDIA control panel then choose "connect to other monitor" to let the system detect TV. After that PC and TV monitor show exact same "mirror" mode, I get online Netflix and choose the movie I want to watch and hit play! Also I adjust TV screen mode to fit all pictures.
Due to my DSL speed (lowest...), picture freezes sometimes but I know the reason and I can deal with it. It sounds very nice, too.
The device is very small and gets power from USB through PC, simple 1 cable.
I looked other device which uses VGA, Audio, HDMI and power cord but that just has so many cables so I am glad I got this USB adapter.Very good quality product and easy to install. Best solution to watch movie,you tube video, internet on your HD tv. You need to buy long female to male HDMI wire to enjoy from your sofa without getting up. I would recommend to everyone.
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eForCity 2 Pcs For HDTV Plasma LCD HD-Box 15 Ft 4.6m HDMI Cable M/M Gold 1080p
I received theses very fast and i live in hawaii.I don't understand all the bad reviews about the cables don't work or other bad stuff people put on their reviews.My cables both work just fine and have had them for 2 months and the picture is great. Just like anything you buy in any store you can have a bad product, just don't blame it on the seller which is unfair. The seller wants you to receive products that work because it causes more headaches for the seller when in all actuality it's the manufacturers fault that some products don't work correctly or a person buys the wrong type of accessories that aren't compatible with whatever product they're buying the product for. I definately will buy my cables needs from this seller again.
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These inexpensive HDMI cables are durable and very well constructed. I would recommend these cables to anyone who needs long HDMI cables.I wish I had tried these cables sooner. Even though I had bought these cables back in December I just now tried them and both of them are defective. The picture on the TV keeps blinking when using either of these cables. I tried them on a Roku and a Direct TV receiver. The Direct TV is currently connected with an HDMI cable from Direct TV and is working fine; it also works fine with the Roku. Now they say it's too late to return or exchange.Want eForCity 2 Pcs For HDTV Plasma LCD HD-Box 15 Ft 4.6m HDMI Cable M/M Gold 1080p Discount?
This cable allows me to watch programs and conduct presentations from distances I was not able to before without compromising the quality of the sound and/or image. I would remcomend this prodict without a doubtJVC GR-DVL505U Digital Camcorder
Recently purchased this after a month of research on it and other camcorders. The good things about this camcorder are this: 1) Unlike other camcorders that bombard you with numerous buttons placed about for you to awkardly control, JVC has devised a centralized control system, where that 90 % of what you do with the camera is done by the On/off/PLay Switch, Menu button and the Zoom, which is nicely put in a localized area that your right hand can operate with no problems. 2) The image and sound quality is exceptional. VHS,VHS-C, hi-8, cant compare to the quality of this DV Cam. 3) At 1.2lbs.( give or take a oz.), this camera is very light and easy to handle. Sony D8's are all about twice as heavy as this cam, good excercise tho. 4) Good bit of editing tools, such as Fade effects, video effects, etc. could use a tad bit more tho in this area, but suspect, its a good arrangement of editing features for the avg. consumer. Lots of manual configurations you can set too also. 5) Zoom is good, after about 20 X(10 X opitical + 10 X digital) image suffers dramatically. But very nice below this, may suggest buying a telephoto converter that will increase your optical zoom by 2 X if you are serious bout your photography. By the way, can zoom in and out on things while playing back tapes or looking at pics 6) Digital camera side of this camera is good, takes very good pics outside, inside, better be sure you got plenty of light or it will come out a bit grainy..Suggest using Photo Software to edit pics. But I'd say the digital camera part of this beats out any digital camera in the $200-300 range, and if it had a flash.. man, what it could do indoors. Definitely a great web cam. One drawback to this camera is the included battery which only lasts about 35 min. if you use LCD screen and zoom a lot. So plan on buying an additional battery. On the plus side, it only takes 1.5 hours to charge the battery. And you can get 50-55 minutes if you only use the viewfinder, but, you will soon find out how hard it is to use the viewfinder as opposed to the LCD. If you got any questions about this cam, feel free to email me. And I can also help you save big money on this product to, if your interested. Take care
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I was very anxious to get ahold of this baby when I saw it at a trade show. A week later I went out and bought it. The MiniDV format RULES!!! The resolution is Crystal clear. The controls are right at your finger tips making the JVC Digital Camcorder Just Plain AWESOME!!!!Another Great Feature that I was really impressed with was the ability to take digital pictures. They come out crystal clear at really really close up range. Not blurry like my digital camera does. This is more like a 2-in-1 digital Camera/Camcorder in one!!
I highly reccomend this as a great first camcorder. Its pretty light weight the Battery could last a bit longer. Over all I Love it!!!
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This is a replacement over a Sony 8mm camcorder I owned, which was broken mechanically. So I was not a Sony fan when choosing a replacement.JVC 505 camcorder certainly meets my expectation when price and performance are considered. For its basic function, the video taken is very clear and colorful, with very little distortion. It amazed me in responding to sudden change in background lighting very quickly, which was not the case with Sony 8mm. Video stabilizer kicks in when you are shooting on moving feet. Sound quality is reasonable. Battery life comes close to book value, if you refrain from zooming or using LCD. Digital still camera works like a charm, making us wonder if we should buy any more films for our Canon SLR camera.
Speaking of its outlook, it's not the smallest in size, but definitely light in weight.
Over all, 505 certainly qualifies as a family camcorder. With the price in the lower range of its class, you get good value for your money.
--Below is an update on 1/1/2002.
After I upgrade my computer from Windows 98 to Windows XP, the Multimedia Navigator program that you need to download pictures to PC stopped working with a "connection error". Searching for JVC's website returned for only one unrelated item in the entire "software update" catagory, and FAQ specifically says no software available for NT, which XP is based on. If you know a working software for NT/2000/XP, please let me know.
I give one star downgrade as a result.
...
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I have this camcorder since august 2000 and i bought it after a long time of research and comparaison between differents products. Now, i can say that my choice was the best. Very easy to use, video and sound are excellent. I highly recommend this camcorder.Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Nikon Coolpix P80 10.1MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle Optical Vibration Reduction Zoom (Black)
If you don't care to know about the art of photography and you don't like to read manuals, don't buy this camera and you can stop reading right here. Otherwise, read on.I can take any camera and take bad shots with it. But if I use most modern cameras to their full potential, I tend to end up with great shots. By that I mean using correct focus, exposure compensation when necessary, and selecting the proper ISO, shutter speed, and aperture for the situation. Those are just the basics. There are also other adjustments and tweaks like Face Detection, D-Lighting (Nikon's term for bringing out more detail from dark areas of the photo), white balance, etc..
Essentially, if you know how to use all those things (and your camera lets you adjust them yourself), you can end up with some pretty great shots from any camera. You can get creative in ways that auto-only cameras will not allow. Some people end up with blurry shots because they don't know how to take sharper shots. Better shooters can take sharp shots or they can make them blurry on purpose for an artistic effect. I personally can't stand blurry shots except for the occasional shots where only the subjects are a bit blurry (to accentuate motion).
This camera has 6 settings that affect the sharpness of the photo and that doesn't include aperture. One of them is the macro focus setting. Although normally used for close-ups, you can keep it in "macro focus" in most of the different shooting modes (Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Program, etc.). The other setting is the Sharpness setting. By default, the camera is in the middle of the scale. Some might consider the middle of the scale to be too soft. Simply click it up to the "sharp" level, or one more for the sharpest level. There are also two clicks down to increase softness. 1 macro + 5 sharpness levels = 6.
Why would someone want a soft (not so sharp) photo? One example is portraits. In general, people don't like portraits of themselves that show every pore and hair on their skin. Softening particular subjects can also convey a delicate beauty say a ballerina resting on a chair.
So for those who complain about this camera not taking sharp pictures out of the box, all you have to do is turn it up. For extra measure, use a small aperture and a good tripod. You will see the difference.
Not all sub-SLRs offer as many options as the P80. In particular, I like the high-powered zoom, the camera's ability to correct wide angle distortion, the overall compactness (considering the zoom), and the logical way things are laid out. The image tweaking controls that are most useful are also the easiest to access via the circular multi-control on the back. I also like that the flash doesn't pop up unless I want it to (it has a manual switch to pop it up).
The P80 is easy to carry around and covers all the bases (video, wide angle, super zoom, full manual control, etc.). If you know the features of this camera and know how and when to apply them, you'll end up with spectacular shots. It's that simple.
This camera has nice features that you may not always use, but for those special occasions, they are nice to have. One of these features is the ability to move the focus point around. With your trusty tripod set up, you want to get a surfer off to one side, gazing out over the sea. But you don't want the ocean to be in sharp focus because you want to immediately draw your viewer's eyes to the surfer. By clicking the circular button, you move the focus point over the surfer and set the camera to also meter on the focus point (so that the surfer is perfectly exposed). Add a little flash fill if you like, and Voila! Instant art.
Night shots really benefit from an adjustable focus point. Say you want a shot of a lonely lighthouse on a cliff at night. It's off to one side of your shot to give it a more dramatic frame. With the focus point in manual and the camera set to meter on the focus point, move the focus point closer to the lighthouse until what you see in the LCD looks properly exposed. If you have to keep the exact focus point a little bit away from the lighthouse to get the right exposure, no problem, just set the focus to lock on infinity (I'm assuming you aren't standing right next the lighthouse). The same concept will work for public Christmas tree displays at night. To get the right exposure and focus, move the focus point onto or near the tree that most interests you.
Want to take pictures of your friends, and maybe get in the shot yourself? Switch on face detection, hit the self-timer and take your place next to your friends.
The sports mode will have your friends lining up to get their golf swings and tennis serves photographed. The camera shoots 13 frames per second in the default mode, sacrificing everything for speed (aperture, ISO, etc.). So while your shots from this mode won't make the cover of SI, everyone will get a kick out of seeing themselves in a stop motion sequence (up to 30 frames).
The camera has two modes which help you get the best shot in unusual circumstances. In Best Shot Selection mode, it shoots up to ten shots as long as you hold down the shutter release button. Then it automatically selects and saves the sharpest picture in the bunch, discarding the rest. In Exposure Bracketing mode, it applies three different levels of exposure to the same shot. One of them is likely to be just what you wanted. Exposure bracketing can even be fine tuned to your liking (read the manual to learn how).
With a single press of the shutter release, this camera can automatically take and assemble 16 shots, 1.1 seconds apart, into a single picture. You get a picture made of 16 consecutive "scenes". This is good for things like a cat playing with a ball, or you and your buddy making funny faces.
Do you wonder who or what knocks over your garbage cans when you're not home? The P80 can shoot time lapse sequences, firing once every 30 seconds to once every hour. It turns off between shots to conserve power, or you can buy an external power supply.
Hate crooked pictures? Push the DISP button to lay down a grid which you can align with horizontal or vertical objects. The grid also helps you position subjects according to the "Rule of Thirds", which even amateur photographers should know.
The digital zoom is cool! It doesn't just enlarge and crop it interpolates to fill in detail that might otherwise be lost. If you go full optical and full digital zoom, you can see the craters and "seas" on the moon! Use a tripod, lock the focus on infinity, turn off VR, and use a 2 or 10 second delay to allow the tripod vibration to settle.
I'm quite pleased with my purchase. If you're the creative type and a camera nut (you actually read the manual and experiment), you'll probably be very pleased; producing countless pictures suitable for framing. If you just like to point and shoot, this camera is probably not for you.
But don't just take my word for it. Go to Flickr and do a search on "Nikon P80" to see what this camera can do.
First, it is nicely made, and feels good in the hand. It works smoothly, and is relatively quiet during operation. The lens is high quality, and it has the standard Nikon layout on the selection dial. Curiously, it maintains the separate setting on the dial for SETTINGS which should be standard for all creative zone options. This is similar to all other recent Nikon cameras.
In use, the camera feels more like a point and shoot than a true tool of the trade -and therein my average review. If you are working your way up from a point and shoot and not quite ready for a dSLR, this might be the camera for you.
But based on my observations: the camera had a difficult time focusing in low-light conditions, and then defaults to grainy high ISO defaults -sure you can set that, or use Manual mode, but it won't work right out of the box in auto or Programmed Auto or Aperture or Shutter mode.
The image quality is fair -many photos needed saturation boosts -they just seemed bland out of the box. Again, this is programmable, for those who venture into the menu, or those who like playing with photoshop.
In general, all photos looked soft, and they all need sharpening in photoshop. This is something I would clearly not want to waste my time on with every photo taken that I might want to use for print purposes. The image quality just us NOT what you would expect with a camera of this price. That being said -the image quality is consistent from closeup to faraway landscape. There is no noticeable loss of IQ with longer focal distance shots, which is better than most superzoom compact cameras I have seen. Closeup macro shots appear the sharpest: if you like taking photos of bees on flower blossoms, this is your baby.
While the photos do not lose IQ at the far range of the considerable 18x optical zoom -they suffer from severe purple fringing at that end -worse than many other superzoom ultraportables I have seen.
The VR works as promised -provided you are moving and your subject is not moving. I couldn't get clear images of moving objects without significant futzing with the settings.
The shutter lag is considerable, nowhere near the rapid response of a dSLR -and compared to my Canon G9, significantly slower than that as well.
This compares favorably to the Canon S5 and might in fact be better than that camera -but the image quality is not better than the Canon G9, which remains the absolutely best Image Quality camera out there at this price point (without the zoom lens, of course).
I'm not going to rant and rave and say this is a terrible camera -it just seems incredibly average at this price range -take a look at the Canon G9 for faster shutter speed, better image quality, and similar manual control.
I will say one thing -for those who like to isolate their subject from the background (i.e. blur your background, with good depth of field) the Nikon P80 excels at that -I haven't quite seen as nice aperture priority images in a point-and-shoot as I have with this camera.
But overall, it's a highly priced point and shoot, which won't satisfy advanced camera users.This is what practitioners of Kyudo, the Japanese martial archery, seek: "correct hitting is in correct shooting". And this is how this camera makes you feel after mastering and getting used to its controls and abilities.
After months of research I decided and bought this ultrazoom. SLRs take better pictures but I refuse to carry all the extra equipment when on vacation. NIKON P5100 was the choice on the other end but it lacked both the x18 tele and the wide end zoom.
The (close) second contender was OLYMPUS SP-570UZ but here is why I found the NIKON a better choice and did not regret it: although the OLYMPUS comes with a larger zoom (x20) it is controlled solely by an awkward (motorized) ring that requires both hands and has an uneven feeling. Moreover, both cameras sport 10MP but, contrary to the OLYMPUS which just had more mega-pixels crammed onto the old (550 & 560) sensor, the NIKON comes with a newly developed sensor. On top of that, I avoided the slow and limited XD-cards OLYMPUS seems stuck on. On the other hand, I missed on 2mm of wideness and x2 on tele zoom.
I have been using the camera with undiminished enthusiasm for over a week and I have only good things to tell you about it. It took me a while to familiarize myself with the settings full auto will not get the best results under any conditions. Once that harmonious point is reached though, this is the camera you would want to be using in most situations.
Where it looses the 5th star: the flash does not pop up automatically when needed. Forget to do so and a high (and noisy) ISO creeps in. So yes, this piece of equipment is not without its caprices...
Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle (and Zen masters) warn about the observer altering the event being observed. With NIKON P80 one can obtain the shot visualized either from very close or from afar. And it does so with simplicity and style.I've been using this camera in a variety of situations and subject matter and I just love it. As a professional in the field, I wanted a camera that would have the zoom capability and the image quality of more costly (and heavier, bulkier 'pro' equipment) combined with the spontaneity and efficiency of a point a shoot, one-hand camera. This camera DELIVERS all that for me in a great little package that is easy to use, light to carry, superbly intuitive to navigate and still yields excellent high quality images. At $400 out the door at a retail store, I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I compared it with everything else in that price range and it just blew the others away. If you have $800-$1000 sure, go ahead and get one of the next level dSLRs like the D40 or D60. But if you don't want to be messing with lens changes and like to 'shoot-on-the-go', then you simply can't do better than this camera. It's a versatile, easy to use product at a reasonable price.I'm a Nikon fan, and saw this as a economical way of getting DSLR-like features. In particular the "super-zoom" functionality and sports shot setting -seemingly perfect for the games my children play -motivated me to pull the trigger on this purchase.
I'll leave the in-depth analysis of the camera to others who are more knowledgeable but what has me disappointed are the streaks of light that showed up on several hundred photographs I took, using the high speed continuous setting in the sports mode, late in the afternoon (between 4:15PM-6:00PM) on Saturday, May 10th.
After consulting the manual I found the following on page 47: "If bright objects such as the sun or electric lights are captured during high-speed continuous shooting, vertical streaks of light may appear in the recorded images. We recommend that you avoid capturing bright objects during high-speed continuous shooting."
Precisely my problem.
There are multiple settings in the sports mode (as well as the manual setting) to try, so I will be doing that before delivering the box to UPS for return, however it is troubling to discover that the fastest programmable shutter speed (1/4000) is best suited for . . . shooting in the dark?
If I fall in love with this camera (and end up keeping it) I'll be sure to update this review.
UPDATE: Went out recently and tried other settings/features -images are crisp without any hint of the problem encountered in the sports setting. As a result I'm bumping my rating up to three stars (though it doesn't appear that Amazon will allow for such a revision?).
Will continue to update as developments warrant :)
FINAL UPDATE: I emailed Nikon support about the light streaks that appear in photographs when using the sports mode (what they called "bands of overexposure"). They were very honest in their assessment -there's no way to eliminate the problem entirely. Their recommendation was to utilize the exposure compensation setting (-0.3 or -.07) to ameliorate the effect. Though disappointed, the quality of the images overall (especially macro) is so good that I have decided to keep the camera. The overall rating of Amazon reviewers (3.5 as I write this) seems absolutely correct!
FINAL, FINAL UPDATE: Purchased a filter adapter from NEXTPhoto.net and a circular polarizing lens. This has all but eliminated the bands of overexposure that showed up in the high speed continuous, sports shooting mode. I have also discovered that, with an infrared filter (R72) the P80 is capable of some nice infrared photography (as long as I keep the ISO setting at a maximum of 200 -400 and above is very noisy)!
FINAL, FINAL, FINAL UPDATE: As my meager skills as a "photographer" improved the limitations of this *class* of camera (i.e. "superzooms") left too much to be desired, especially in low light, fast action situations (i.e. image resolution was very poor, and very noisy). Ultimately, I sold the P80 and am looking at entry level DSLRs (e.g. Canon Rebel Xsi).
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