Toshiba Camileo S20 Basic Full-HD Camcorder (Silver/Black)

I've seen mixed reviews, but I've been using this video camera for months now. It works great. I can choose what quality to record, including full HD, which is fabulous quality. Or smaller quality if I want to fit more hours on my SD card. I bought a 32GB memory chip, which gives me 8 hours + of recording. The still image isn't great, but the video is wonderful. No reservations. Buy this camera.

This camera seemed like a good buy. For only $80 or so you get a 1080p video camera. Also it has a 16 mp camera and not just a 5 mp camera like it says. at least in the menu you can choose 16 mp for the pictures

The camera feels pretty flimsy and whenever I shift my hand (even just slightly) it makes a really loud noise on the camera. The big kicker for this thing was the sound quality. I dont know if it was just my model but the sound always had a hiss to it, and that is why I returned it.

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great deal, much cheaper than anywhere else. comes with camera and usb cable only. takes pretty nice videos (audio is mono, but sounds okay). if you want to take 1080p vid you'll need to buy a tripod, but 720p works well by hand with stabilization function. recommended for the average person wanting to capture some memories.

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This is a good basic camera. I bought it for my stepson on sale for under $100. He has been using it for a while with no issues. The video quality looks perfect and the camera is very easy to use. One thing that I am not happy with is the audio. There are no filter settings so when it records, especially outside, you hear a lot of popping/hissing. Another thing is that this camera produces AVI video files. We tried editing on a MAC with iMovie 11 and it does not recognize the video files. On Windows they play fine in WMP and you can edit them in Windows Live Movie Maker but you need to download and install the K-Lite Codec pack with FFDSHOW for the video/audio to play properly. My stepson got tired of Windows Live Movie Maker to edit videos so we got him Sony Vega Movie 11. With all the codecs installed the video plays but the sound does not. It's not a problem with the software because we tried another camera and everything works OK. It's just the way this camera encodes the audio doesn't seem to be standard.

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excellent was the order the video camera is very well recorded worldwide recommend the videos 100% ok was what nesitaba

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Cable Matters 2 Pack, High Speed Micro HDMI to HDMI M/M Cable with 3D & Ethernet 6 ft

I bought this cable for my kindle fire hd. I love it because I can plug it into the tv and have enough length to have the kindle in my lap where I can still control it instead of having to get up! (lazy, I know.) Works great!

Works great and let's my Kindle Fire HD play through my TV for a great low price.

Definitely recommended to others with Kindle Fire HD

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works on my Acer Iconia Tab A500, connected it to my big screen tv without issues. Note on the TV, for Samsung plasma users, if your TV has a game mode, you should use it, scrolling looks much smoother with game mode on for me.

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This is a review of the cable and the cable distributor Cable Matters since the package did come directly from them and not Amazon warehouse.

First, the cable does work as advertised, although only after a return and re-order because they shorted me by five-feet of the 15 with the first order.

Second, the cable is not exactly as advertised. In the picture the connectors are gently tapered and have the "Cable Matters" logo on slick plastic oval inserts. The actual cable connectors are plain black and rather block shaped. I have no doubt that sounds trivial to some people. But in my book this still constitutes a classic bait and switch.

I was baited with a product that had cool looking white plastic inserts that could actually aid me in locating the head of a cable in dim light.

I was switched to a product that I was not expecting.

To those who may scoff, I say consider this. This is no different than ordering a shirt of a certain color and getting a different color. It's the same style and the right size, but I wanted and ordered a specific color based on the advertising description and photos. If I wanted a different color I would have ordered such.

Shame on you "Cable Matters."

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This cable is well-made and works great. It is a great product for a very good price. Enables me to hook up my Xoom to my TV to watch movies on HD.

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Nikon COOLPIX S30 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 3x Zoom Nikkor Glass Lens and 2.7-inch LCD (White)

This is the second Nikon waterproof camera we've purchased. The first was the AW100, and I like both cameras for different reasons. I bought the AW100 for me to use while scuba diving in shallow water, and I got the S30 for the kids to use in the pool. It's perfect for them. The buttons are large and easy to use, and I like the setup the shutter button and video record button are both on top, separated by the on/off button, and all the menu, feature and playback buttons are on the back. I think this is a great design for kids.

Many of the "fun" options in the camera are definitely designed to appeal to kids, but I'm looking forward to trying some of them, too, such as the time lapse and fireworks modes.

In terms of images, the HD videos are very sharp, and the photos are also good, as long as you make sure to set the camera to the highest resolution. Note that if you select the option to add an in-camera frame to your images, the camera seems to default to the lowest resolution 2 MP so I would avoid this setting if you want good quality photos. You can always add a digital frame later with photo editing software.

I think this is a great camera if you just want something to take to the pool or the beach and you don't want to worry about the kids dropping it in the water or on the ground. It's easy to use, takes good photos, and you can't go wrong with a Nikon. The only things I don't like about this camera are the AA batteries (I wish it used the same rechargeable as my AW100) and the battery/memory card door; I have to use both hands to slide the lock one way and slide the door the other way. You won't have to worry about the kids accidentally opening it, which is a good thing, but I much prefer the design of the AW100. Other than that, however, I think this is a great camera for the price.

My daughter was excited to receive this camera from me. There are several kid friendly elements to the camera like the placement of the shutter button, power button, and video button. Also, the flash is centered, so it is much less likely she will cover the flash with her fingers. She likes the camera and the LCD screen is fine. I can attest that it is rugged and waterproof since it was both dropped on vacation and used underwater at the pool.

There a few things I don't like about the camera. The shutter button is difficult for her to press. There is no way to disable the digital zoom. She likes taking closeup pictures of things, but the S30 doesn't do well unless set in macro mode. However, the macro setting is only available after a few button clicks in the menu instead of a dedicated button. Also, my daughter likes to use the Decorate option to frame her photos as she takes them, but using decorations fixes the photos at small 2 megapixel shots. Low light performance isn't great for focusing or photo quality.

She still enjoys the camera and picture quality is fine in good light. Much better than the typical "toy" child's camera.

Note: Twice the camera has became stuck which prevented me from changing any settings or turning on the flash. This was fixed by choosing to Reset All in the camera settings.

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I purchased this camera approx. 2 weeks ago and wanted my 4 year old son to get some use before rating. I feel I can provide a pretty fair summation now.

So far he likes the camera a lot but there are a couple items that annoy me as the parent supervising said 4 year old.

So...

First the Gripes

Number 1The constant clock and date reset when changing batteries drives me nuts. If you skip it you get an annoying flashing warning!

Number 2Picture quality in lower light is poor to say the least. The camera has to be held very still and then it's a gamble. When the image does come out it looks like VGA phone cam quality. The auto-flash works when it wants, most times its out to lunch.

Number 3The resolution of the screen is marginal so its hard to see if the shot is ok or poor.

Number 4As another reviewer wrote, it would be great to disable the digital zoom. It blows right through optical and into the digital very easily.

Number 5It tends to make very vibrant colors look fake. See Hibiscus of the pictures I have attached...

Now the Positive Stuff

Number 1The flash is in the center so the little guy won't cover it with either hand.

Number 2Battery life is outrageousI got 532 outdoor shots out of a single pair of rechargeable Sanyo Eneloops and had battery life to spare but it was time to go home.

Number 3In outdoor use, in direct sunlight, the pictures are very vibrant.

Number 4There is virtually no delay when hitting the button for pictures. This makes a 4 year old very happy.

Number 5We spent 4 hours plus with the camera directly in water and often submerged. We were merciless as we're still within the return period.

Number 6Underwater shots are terrific and fun!

My initial impressions when my son used the camera in our home were very bad mostly due to poor, blurry indoor images. Had we not given it a thorough tryout at a water park yesterday this review would look very different. The great pictures this camera created yesterday really helped me like the camera much more.

In summary, this camera is good for a 4 year old with little adult assistance. This is not, however, a "Family Cam" as people old enough to use a more advanced camera will insist on doing so.

Update 9/16/12

We went swimming this weekend and after a few shots underwater I noticed condensation in the lense and display... Will contact Nikon this week. Only the third time in water and less than 5 feet deep. Hope to resolve soon.

Update 9/18/12

Called Nikon. Connected with a rep very quickly but sound quality and accent made it difficult to communicate. Rep said camera should not have been taken in the water and the camera is not waterproof!!! WOW!!!

I stated the body of the camera, packaging and manual said otherwise. He said maybe he was wrong. Asked for my name and email and is supposed to be sending me a link with warranty info etc.

Update 9/21/12

Reviewed emails sent by tech. These aren't even form letter type emails. They are just links to the Nikon help website. In the email I was directed to an automated form to setup return. Guess what? The camera I am trying to return for service is not on the list. So called tech support again. "Estimated hold time is 2 minutes..." Took 13 minutes to connect. I mentioned the camera model is not on the service site. He informed me just to type up a note, print it and drop in the box. He then provided the address and recommended I ship with UPS. As I live next to a Fedex facility I asked if I could use FedEx. He mentioned he only recommends UPS as they give you a tracking number...hummm...

Update 10/15/12

Received camera back from Nikon. Everything was exactly as I sent it. I received a $0 invoice for cleaning and testing. There were no notes about anything found, just a poor photocopy of a page from the owners manual about the possibility of lens/ display moisture. I assume this means moisture in the body is normal? The phenomenon described in the paper was similar to what I experienced so I will try to use again and see what happens...

Read Best Reviews of Nikon COOLPIX S30 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 3x Zoom Nikkor Glass Lens and 2.7-inch LCD (White) Here

My 5-yo daughter dropped and broke my old Canon PnS that I gave her to use and since she has interest in taking snaps, I looked for a rugged camera that could survive her hands and yet be economical. This camera fit the bill. It is by and far the cheapest rugged water/shock proof point an shoot you can find. It makes cute animal sounds as alerts and the buttons are well placed. The user interface is simple and clean. It's like this was designed expressly for kids. I have no complaints at all except that you cannot set it to force flash. It's either auto or off. The camera does not activate the flash in many circumstances where it should be used. This results in blurry, grainy images where they should be flash-lit and fine. It waits for really dim light before it activate the flash. This is the only significant flaw in an otherwise well and appropriately designed camera.

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I purchased this camera to take on a cruise last week. The photos were fine before we tried to use it in the water. Took the camera on a snorkeling trip and afterwards there was water behind the lens. The camera never functioned properly after that, photos continued to get progressively worse until finally it stopped working altogether. The camera's waterproof level indicated 10 feet. We never had it more than 3 feet under and it was never dropped. We had to buy disposable cameras for the rest of the vacation. So disappointed. I am returning today.

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Panasonic AGHMC70PJU AVCHD 3CCD Flash Memory Professional Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabili

As the retired chief technology officer for a Fortune 100 company that developed their own digital cine camera, my fundamental interest was in image quality. This 3-CCD, 1440 x 1080i anamorphic 16:9 format camera produces outstanding image quality -closer to the theoretical limits of performance of 1/4 inch sensors than anything in its price range.

The complex optics (zoom with a telecentric focal length converter ahead of the prism assembly) should be expected to reduce the available contrast ratio because it has so many glass surfaces. Without the sophisticated equipment to measure MTF (modulation transfer function) at home, I measured effective resolution instead, which was 576 lp/pw vs. the theoretical limit of 719 lp/pw in the horizontal axis. This is an indication that all the glass surfaces are, indeed, causing a significant loss of contrast ratio.

Even so, the camera performs very well in almost all respects. Panchromatic dynamic range excedes 6 stops (I cannot reliably measure more than that) vs. a theoretical limit at room temperature of around 9 f-stops given the 4.4 um pixel size (horizontal axis). Color saturation falls off sharply with non-optimum exposure. It measured out at ASA 100 with 0 dB of gain.

It has two XLR inputs.

So far, it warrants about four stars.

Now for the bad part: User features are poor. Perhaps they are adequate for ENG work and action footage, but nowhere near adequate for professional photography. This is like a kiddie toy wrapped around a very high quality lens + sensor package. This mystifies me: Putting a Trabant or Yugo body around a Mercedes engine. Here are the problems:

* The body is a big, mostly-empty box with mold lines showing, in a medium gray color, with labels for connectors and controls being molded in vs. silk-screened (which makes them totally unreadable in most lighting situations)

* No manual focus ring. Manual focus can be attained, but only by running the focus motor through pushbuttons. THIS MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE THIS CAMERA FOR FOLLOW-FOCUS SHOTS, and will therefore completely disqualify it for use by anyone that must have this capability.

* No manual iris ring, either. Again, buttons must be used with the menu to set depth of field.

* Gain cannot be set higher than 0 dB when the iris is closed below full-open. This takes away an important variable in depth of field control.

* Iris full-open is not marked. I still don't really know what it is. It's probably around f/1.6 or some odd number like that.

* White balance is available in only one of four pre-select modes.

* There is no optical anti-alias filter, so any pattern with detail approaching half the pixel-limited resolution will generate moire patterns; even weave patterns in clothing.

In summary, this looks like two different design teams were involved. One for the internals and a separate (and thoroughly incompetent one) for the user controls, form factor, and externals.

For my purposes, this is a high-quality hand-held prosumer camera in a kid's toy shell and I cannot really use it for professional work. But, if you need a shoulder-mounted ENG camera for outdoor action photography, this might be just the ticket.

i am one of those few people who own both hmc70 and hmc150.while my hmc150 is top notch product,i cant criticize my hmc70 if i look at the fact that it cost 1/3 of what hmc150 did to me.

hmc70 is consumer camera fitted into big body,but........this consumer camera will put lots of other professional camera to shame.

if u are looking for hd quality under two grand look no further.i bought this camera when it was on sale 3 weeks ago.price went up since then.

pros: great picture(under good light though),sound is good even with in built mic,very reasonably priced for 3ccd ,2 cold shoe,volume indicator ,decent view finder,great professional look for this price,and above all no more tape(sdhc recording is really a revolution in professional video business)

1.this camera has 3ccd(1/4) which you cant find in other canera at this price range(i always thought panasonic give more value to your money than sony,jvc let alone canon -canon dont have technology to make ccd so it use pana ccds thats why it is always expensive)

2.these 3ccd produce very good and almost clean picture even when u record at full 13mb/sec settings(you need good amount of light thoughbuy one on camera light , 100 watt at least.)

3.recording on sdhc card has changed equations forever,u will not look back to mini dv sony or jvc cameras.

dumping whole movie in to your computer is similar to dumping photos from still camera.

4.avchd recording can be edited on corel video studio 12,adobe premier element 7,pinnacle 12,power director 7( i would suggest COREl because it does not render avchd after u finish editing,than mean u save time and image keep its quality,although u need to turn on smart proxy for avchd editing,but then u can even edit this on single or dual core,u dont need quad core computer.)

5.if your customer need regular dvd,u can still use this camera and then before u do editing,transcode this avchd to mpeg 2 using any of the above softwares.( trick here is that u should transcode avchd to mpeg with at least 9 mb/sec variable bit rate setting,so in case u need to put 2 hour on single layer dvd ,u will get better quality,but if u have faster computer u can always edit in native avchd then output final file into mpeg2 )

5. best sdhc card is transcend,but you buy pana,kingston,sandisk,never buy adata brand)

6.buy one extra battery(sad thing is No other generic battery is available so prepare to spend 169 more for decent pana battery)

please note this camera has few cons (because pana sont want to give you everything for this price)

what those thing missing

1. no zoom ring

2. no focus ring(infact there is no ring on this camera)

3. no zoom control jack(so you cant use this camera with tripod remote)

4.nedd lots of light(understandable ,becuase u are paying under 2 grand and ccds are only 1/4 inch)

overall if you are in transition phase from dv to hd ,and dont want to spend lots of money then this camera is number one choice,other wisebuy hmc150

Buy Panasonic AGHMC70PJU AVCHD 3CCD Flash Memory Professional Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabili Now

OK, I am not a professional videographer, but I know what looks good on a nice television or screen. I tried the smaller HD camcorders (Canon HF 10, and Sony HDR-SR11), and they have excellent video quality if you do not move the camera. I mean don't follow your kids around the yard or try to video a bird in flight or pretty much anything moving. What happens is that you get a kind of ghosting in the video, so the High Def picture I was shooting for looked very pixellated and low quality. I decided to try a prosumer type video camera, and this one was the least expensive HD available at the time. Once it arrived at my house I used it to video several different scenes that gave me difficulty with the hand-helds. The quality of the video was astounding. I could get the same quality during moving shots that I could get with the static shots using the hand-helds. Great I thought I solved the problem of pixellated video in HD. However, there was one small problem. This Camera is Ginormous (Gigantic+enormous) Considerably larger than the old VHS style camcorders. I love the video quality, but it is too big to carry to Disney World or a soccer game or pretty much anywhere that you are not set up to shoot video. The flash memory is excellent, and I have not noticed a huge difference in the picture quality of this camera utilizing flash memory and my current Sony HDR-FX7 utilizing tape.

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Decided to look for an inexpensive shoulder mounted high definition camcorder: there are currently, as Feb. 2009 two models available. The Sony HVR-HD1000 and the Pansonic AG-HMC70 (HMC70P, HMC70PJ are NTSC models, PAL models use different numbers). After checking out online reviews by Digital Content Producer and VideoMaker, I decided to go with the Panasonic camcorder.

The shoulder models both use "professional" versions of consumer handheld cameras. So don't think that for 2 grand you are buying a camcorder that can compare to the more expensive models. The Sony records HDV compression to Mini-dv tapes V.S. the Panasonic recording in AVCHD (13Mbps highest option) to SDHC memory cards. While the HD video quality is sharper with the Sony, the Panasonic AVCHD still looks good without the blocky artifacts you sometimes see when recording motion in HDV compression. The biggest reason for me going with the HMC70 was that it had XLR inputs (use external mic instead of camera's mic), while the Sony only had mini-jack for mic input. I also wanted to use memory cards instead of tapes.

Check out online reviews for yourself before buying either camcorder.

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This is the first "prosumer" HD camcorder I've used. For the money I can't see the need for anything else. The video is great (as long as you get the correct lighting kit) and adding external audio via a mic is a snap. Make sure you invest in a larger SD card. The 2Gb card that comes with it only gives you about 20min of video on the highest settings. Other than that the unit is constructed well and is light weight.

NIKON D2HS SLR 4.1 Megapixel Digital Camera - BODY ONLY (Refurbished by Nikon U.S.A.)

Most of my friends suggest that I buy a camera by Canon. It would be only 1/3 the price, maybe half the price. But they spend most of the time correcting the RAW files in Aperture or Lightroom and I have always perfect pictures. No corrections, no electronic image retouche. Just great pictures!

And yes, it's worth the price. You save countless hours and tons of GB harddisc space. Don't accept a second best solution. If you can afford a Nikon D2HS SLR go for it!

I just thought I'd point out that this is a sports camera with an amazing buffer + continuous shooting mode. Here are the specs:

* Continuous High [CH] 8 fps

* Continuous Low [CL] -1 to 7 fps (programmable)

* Buffer size 50 JPEG frames, 40 NEF (RAW) frames *

THIS is the only reason to buy this camera over the D1X or D70. But if you're looking for a great studio camera, the D1X won't let you down, and if you're just getting into DSLR's, the D50/ D70 are great bodies to get started on.

Thanks for reading!

-Jason

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Added to D2X, D70 and Fuji S3 collection. Image quality is much better than the 4.1 MP suggests. Equal to or better than D70 (better at iso 400 and above than D70), Slightly less resolution than S3 and about same noise up to 800, Fuji pulls ahead at 1600 but you have to look at a 100% crop to see it. Much less noise than D2X.

Speed in continuous shooting, saving files and focus is much faster than S3 no contest. Focus is much faster than D70.

D2X advantage is solely a result of the 12MP sensor higher resolution, however, it is visible only very slightly in 8X10 print.

Battery life is stellar, like D70 and D2X all day or two shooting.

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I OWN ONE OF THESE CAMERAS. INFACT I HAVE TWO LENSES WITH MINE AND IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL. YOU CAN BUY ALL SORTS OF CAMERAS WITH LARGER MEGAPIXEL BUT THEY WON'T COMPARE AND WON'T OUT LAST THIS VERY HEAVY CAMERA. IT'S AWESOME FOR MY DAUGHTER'S CHEERLEADING AND ACTION SHOTS. SADLY, I NEED TO SELL MINE BECAUSE I AM HAVING BACK PROBLEMS AND IT'S TOO HEAVY FOR ME TO CARRY FOR HOURS ON END. BUT IT'S THE BEST CAMERA OUT THERE YOU CAN'T BEAT IT...

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This is a great camera but Amazon has lost their mind selling it at 5,900+

heck you can buy a NEW D700 with a great lens for less....

Buyer beware...

Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D 6MP Digital SLR with Anti-Shake Technology (Body Only)

I am a professional photographer and have shot Minolta since the advent of the first auto focus, the Model 7000. As the years went by, Cannon and Nikon seemed to kill them with lens selection and features. I still hung in there. I had about $11,000 in lenses alone and was more than a little pleased with the new Maxxum 9 when it came out. What a great camera! However, digital was rapidly becoming king.

About the time I decided to chuck it all for a new Cannon digital system, I heard rumors of a Minolta digital. This was previously stated to NEVER happen. Minolta would not build a digital body. Thank God for Konica! Shortly after the purchase of Minolta by Konica, the probability of a digital was rumored. I decided to hold out and am glad I did.

The camera is packed with an enormous array of features that can pretty much be found on most upper end Digital's. However, three main things have made me absolutely ecstatic with this camera:

1. The image viewing screen is absolutely huge compared to others. I can actually do legitimate critical proofing with this thing. I don't think you could even fit a bigger screen on it without making the camera larger.

2. The anti shake body is impressive...very impressive This is not new technology for Minolta. They have had this incorporated into their fixed lens digital for a while now. Bottom line is that it works! I sat it on the hood of a running car with the stabilizer on and then off (300mm 2.8 lens). The two photos were unbelievably different. One was blurred, one wasn't. That simple.

3. It shoots the same way my Maxxum 9 does. When I turn it on, it is ready to shoot. No waiting. The buffer size allows me to shoot continuously without missing important photos while waiting for the camera to catch up to me. This is extremely nice and not what I am used to.

When I heard of the possibility of this camera being introduced (more than a year before it actually finally hit the market) I purchased an Olympus E20 to get me by for the time. I have been very happy with the Olympus in the studio. However, the screen was too small to proof with and I was always waiting on the camera. It is now my back up. I LOVE this new Minolta and can't wait until they put their 8 meg chip in another model. Perhaps a 9D?

Hmm I hope so.

At any rate, I am impresed. I will now be purchasing another as my back up.

Thank you very much, Konica/Minolta...Finally

It's really a no-brainer if you already have some Minolta AF lenses, but even if you don't have an SLR kit this camera should give you something to consider. The Canon 20D is a fine choice, too, but although it has a higher resolution sensor I'd rather have the 7D if I were just beginning to put a system together.

Why? The Minolta is a shooter's camera. The ergonomics are absolutely brilliant. Near perfect, even. Plus, the viewfinder is a whole lot better than Canon's or any other body in its range that I know of. That may not sound like a big deal, but it's very, very nice to have, especially if you do any macro work or need to focus manually for whatever reason. Everybody needs to see what they're shooting! I don't know why the other manufacturers don't realize this. Another great feature of the 7D is the large LCD that automatically orientates itself when you shoot vertically.

Then there's Minolta's anti-shake thing. It really does work as well as advertised, so if you know how to hold the camera you can really bend the rules with low-light shooting. The flexibility is awesome. Now, it won't work miracles. Don't expect it to give you a sharp photo if your subject's moving and you're shooting at 1/4". And you'll still want to use a tripod with that 300mm unless it's really bright out. But, say you have Minolta's great 50mm f1.4 mounted on the camera. You really can get away with handholding at 1/4" in a lot of situations (provided, of course, that you have good technique). That's what AS is for.

The 7D isn't quite perfect, though. Hopefully they've addressed this issue, but a lot of the early 7Ds (mine included) had to be sent back to KM to repair a backfocus problem. In some cases they had to be sent back more than once (mine included again). To their credit, KM has great customer service. They're fast, attentive, and will pay for your shipping if you're unhappy. They've also been known to give away batteries and such to people who've had trouble with their new 7D. And it should be said that Minolta isn't the only company who has had problems like this. Canon had it on their 10D (and may have had it with the 20D for all I know).

Other than that, it's hard to find complaints. When I got mine, it cost a little more than its competition and that kind of hurt when I bought it. Now that I've had the camera for eight months, though, I can say it was definitely worth it. I'm very happy with my choice and I wasn't even compelled to go with Minolta because I had a bunch of their glass. If I had Canon or Nikon glass I probably would've stuck with them...I'm not sure that it's worth several thousand dollars to switch over (unless you have money to throw around).

But do keep in mind that this is a long term decision. I've alluded to the fact that lenses are the real investments in photography, not bodies. In the long run you'll want to go with a brand that makes the glass you'll want to use. If you're going to be a pro photographer, it may be best to stick with Canon or Nikon because they offer up a little broader selection of lenses than Minolta.

But there's still another way of looking at it. How often are you going to need something strange like a tilt-shift lens? They're so expensive and so rarely used it doesn't even make sense for most people to buy one. You can rent them if you need to, though, and you can also rent the body to go with it. So I don't know if I'd be too afraid to go with a 7D if that's what I wanted.

Anyway, if that review kind of rambled you have my apologies.

Buy Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D 6MP Digital SLR with Anti-Shake Technology (Body Only) Now

The Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D is a digital SLR (DSLR) which is built on Minolta's Maxxum 7 body in terms of buttons, knobs, and layout. In terms of build quality, it is more like the Maxxum 9 professional 35mm film body. It has an APS-size CCD as its image sensor which crops an image by 1.5X in comparison with its 35mm film counterpart. The 7D has a large, high-resolution LCD, matched by only two other DSLRs, as of this writing: the Nikon D2H and D2X, both of which are twice the price of this camera. It has a maximum ISO of 3200, matched by few other cameras. Even the Canon 1Ds has a maximum ISO of only 1250 and the Canon 1D Mark II of only 1600. The 7D has a resolution of 6 mega pixels, which some might find disappointing, given the plethora of new digital cameras which have come out over the past year having a resolution of 8 mega pixels. The big news, of course, is the built-in image stabilization, introduced in the Minolta A-1 prosumer camera. While Canon users, and, more recently and to a lesser degree, Nikon users, have had to choose a lens here and a lens there on which to spend their hard earned cash if they wanted image stabilization, owners of the 7D will pay a fair price for it once and will then gain the benefits of it with every lens in their arsenal; wide, long, macro, or special effect (e.g., soft focus). This is something that was impossible with film. It really is a brilliant idea.

Although there are some caveats, this is an excellent digital SLR with great features, handling, and performance. Please read my full review on my website.

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I have been shooting a Minolta 35mm (Maxxum 7000) for over 15 years, the last three years as a professional portrait photographer. About 18 months ago I decided to experiment with the world of digital and purchased a Canon Rebel, along with much additional equipment required in the digital darkroom. After close to $2500 in equipment and supplies and $3000 in wasted lab bills that brought me nothing but "plastic" looking prints, I packed it all in a box and sold it to the first person who would take it...vowing never to touch digital again.

But recently I kept reading reviews about Minolta's first digital SLR. With the benefit of being able to use all my existing lens and equipment, I slowing got the bug to try it.

I'm thrilled to say that after a brief review of "where are the buttons", I shot a few test frames around the house. And then added it to my next few portrait sessions (shooting both film and digital). With some minor light adjustments in studio,

my next two shoots went digital...

I may never buy film again.

My biggest problem now is ... quit shooting so many frames just because I can!

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If you are looking for a semi-pro digital SLR that can take pictures of the family at Disney or in your professional studio, this is it. It won't break your budget, and you will be the "Apple" user of the DSLR prosumer market. (i.e., secretly envied by Canon and Nikon users, but most won't admit it!).

This camera has some real positives over other manufacturer's cameras in the same class. First and foremost, it has 'anti-shake' built into the camera body. For those that don't know, this is similar to the "steadycam" technology used on consumer camcorders to help stabilize your shots. There is one big difference between Konica-Minolta's implementation and everyone else's on the market: you get anti-shake built into the body of the Maxxum 7D! What does this mean? It means virtually EVERY lense you buy is now anti-shake! Every other manufacturer makes you buy special lenses that have a similar feature built into the LENSE, not the BODY.

YES, it really works to. A convenient little indicator inside the viewfinder tells you just how much anti-shake each shot is needing.

Wouldn't it be great to quickly change almost any option on your DSLR camera and get back to shooting pictures without delay? Ever tried to change some feature, only to have to wade through two or three levels of menus on some small LCD? This is not only frustrating, but embarrasing! Imagine your wedding party not having to wait for you to make adjustments or you are at some sports event and the opportunity to take the picture is a one shot deal. No more! The Maxxum 7D has no top LCD. That's right...this is a positiveNO top LCD. Instead, almost every major function can be changed with a knob or button on the top or side of the camera. Yes, this presents a little bit of a learning curve. Yes, I was a little nervous about Konica-Minolta's choice to go this way in the design. I can tell you now, after less than a week of ownership, I love it!

In addition, there are hundreds of lenses and accessories available for this camera, the body itself feels solid and comfortable, the 2" LCD screen on the back is enormous compared to the competition, the camera can save in RAW and JPEG format AT THE SAME TIME, and for a DSLR, it is just plain fun to shoot with.

The ONLY drawback I have found is that Konica-Minolta chose 6 megapixels for this model, while some of the competing models are at 8 megapixels. Honestly, if you know photography, the difference between 6 and 8 megapixels is really non-existent to 99% of those who would view your photos. If you are trying to decide between the Canon D20 and the Maxxum 7D for example, the anti-shake feature FAR outweighs any small benefit you could get from the additional megapixels on other models. (This camera's features really should be compared with camera's like the Canon D20, and not the entry level Canon Rebel XT line).

One other feature no one seems to have mentioned is the built in Depth of Field Preview button. This is a really convenient feature that allows you to check and see your depth of field before taking the shot. (Depth of field is simply how much of the background is your picture is in focus. For example, a close up portrait might have the background out of focus while a shot of the mountains will have everything in focus).

Overall, this camera will meet almost any level photographer's needs. Although the controls have a small learning curve, within less than an hour of shooting you will love them. Whether you have a lot of photography experience, or almost none at all, this is one digital SLR you should really consider.

Dropcam HD Wi-Fi Wireless Video Monitoring Camera

My review is focus on one aspect so as not to be too long, but still useful. **Please note the updates at the end**

The Dropcam is a very good, very easy to use device. Many of the top rated reviews here do an excellent job of listing the pros and cons. Also, the firmware has been updated since many of the negative reviews were posted, so there have been subtle improvements (not enough) with motion detection, and also the iOS and Android apps are now easy and great.

The best use case of this camera, by far, is indoor remote surveillance of a kids room, a family room, or a workplace.

Here's the real, overpowering negative about the device for me: it uses about 60GB of upload data capacity each month. The camera transmits its HD video feed to the DropCam cloud servers ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. The cloud service is what makes the user experience so easy, and what allows you to view your camera from multiple places, phones, tablets, all with just a userID and password. It's good in that you don't have to learn about firewalls, IP port forwarding and such just to make it work. But, that also means that it sends enormous amounts of video of a room with nothing at all happening in it. If your ISP has a quota or a limit to how much you can send per month, this camera WILL DEFINITELY USE A LARGE PORTION. In Canada and with some US ISPs, the limit is 50GB...i.e. less than this camera sends!

Lots of ISPs offer a quota of 250GB, so this camera won't put most US customers over their limit. Just know that this will soak up a good portion of your allotment.

Each additional camera will add to the bandwidth you use.

Consider that you are also downloading the video feed from your ISP, so if you are in the same place as the camera viewing it, it doubles the bandwidth used. Yep, that's right, your video goes up to the cloud server, then back down to you.

FYI, the upload rate is about 400-600 Kbps

The camera does use excellent compression, so the HD video is as compact as it can be in 2012.

If you have anything less than awesome Internet service, the camera will slow down your uploads of other stuff, like photos, attachments, etc. Upload speed is always much slower than download on consumer Internet service, and that's what this camera uses.

So, take this important point into consideration. It may still be a great product for you, but you need to know the costs. For me, I planned on using this at a lake house with slow Internet, so it doesn't work for me. I'll have to find another use for it.

****Update, September 2012

The camera has just received a software update that lets you switch between SD mode and HD mode. All DropCams that are turned on and connected to the Internet will get the update automatically. The standard definition mode uses half the bandwidth of the HD mode. Overall, there is a big improvement regarding the problem I cited in my original review. The update has other benefits in motion detection, etc.

As for me, the 30GB a month is still too much, so I will continue to use the available software switch to turn the camera on and off, and only enable it when I want to watch.

I spent some time researching the different options (Logitech, foscam, dropcam, adt, x10, cisco, ...) in this product category. I decided to try out a DropCam HD. So far (3 days of use), I'm delighted. The product does everything it promises.

It took me about 5-10 minutes to complete the full setup process (open the box to getting video streams online). In fact, it took me longer to figure out where I was going to put it.

Other solutions require special software to be installed and/or a PC/Mac system to be running to capture the video. I don't want to keep a computer on while I am away on travel + have to maintain/update the software. The DropCam HD solution removes all this extra effort/time/pain.

pros

====

easy to setup (5 minutes of work)

can view online or via android/iphone

can share your camera with friends securely

motion tags allow you to jump to interesting sections

no need for special software or a PC running to capture all the data

surprised by 2way audio feature. Fun to use while you are away.

cons

====

monthly dvr pricing for saved streams (free if you just want live views)

still testing

=============

low light/night video capture

Buy Dropcam HD Wi-Fi Wireless Video Monitoring Camera Now

I have to say, I am loving this Dropcam! I put it in my living room to see when the kids are home from school. The setup process was done lickety-split, and all I had to type in was my wireless password (which admittedly I had to hunt through a dozen post-its to find). Now I can see it on my iphone and also from my computer at work! Cool!

Some details:

1. I tried another camera like this before and it couldn't see the entire living room from its perch in the corner. On the other hand, the Dropcam can see almost my whole living room while sitting on the same bookshelf in the corner. Faces appear a little small, but I definitely like being able to see the kids whether they are on the couch or laying on the floor

2. The night vision is a really nifty feature. I could just make out my husband on the other side of the room (about 20 feet?). We don't have a big use for it since our kids are older, but it would make a great baby monitor. I guess if somebody breaks in (eek!) we will have the video for America's Most Wanted!

3. There's a little clicking noise here and there on the audio (not sure what that is?) but you can definitely hear what's being said ... I had to wear headphones to really make it out though because my laptop's speakers aren't too great

4. The talking feature is already a family favorite at least for Mom, that is ... let's just say I think a lot more homework is about to be done after school and before dinner time....

5. It's bee-yoo-tee-ful! I really can't tell you how many of these electronic doo-dads are ugly as sin. It looks and feels like a little art sculpture sitting next to the other knick-knacks on the bookshelf, and the white cable blends in nicely with the wall.

I think that's about it! I don't normally write reviews, but I just felt like this gem deserved it. Thanks Dropcam!!

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I pre-ordered this item 2 1/2 months ago, so I was very excited for its arrival this past weekend. However, upon setting it up, it worked for less than 15 minutes before it overheated & shut down. (Same problem another previous reviewer reported). I have been unable to get it to turn on ever since.

I have submitted a ticket to customer service, over 48 hours with no response so far. I will update my review if they can make it right, however at the moment I am VERY unhappy.

EDIT 4/20/12: I gave up waiting for an e-mail back and called customer service. Took about 10 minutes to get through, and after a series of questions, the agent agreed that the camera I had (or possibly the power cord) was defective. He sent me a prepaid shipping label to send it back to them, and immediately sent me out a new unit 2nd Day Air. So big kudos to their customer service team.

I received the new unit lastnight, and spent some time playing with it to make sure it was not going to do the same thing as the first one. It seems to be working pretty well so far. My intent is to use this to keep an eye on my baby when he arrives this summer, but for now I am using it on my dog while I'm at work. I have been able to peak in at him a few times today. I really like that you can turn the camera off or on from the iphone app, so it doesn't have to stay on all the time. I also LOVE that the audio is two-way, that was an unexpected bonus that blew my husband and I away! It works very very well.

That being said, the device is not perfect, there are definitely some kinks they need to work out. It takes a lot of patience to make any changes or turn the camera off, the settings on both the app and the website are pretty slow to come up. The video delay is only about 2 seconds though, which is what really matters in my opinion. The video is pretty darn clear too, and the night vision is impressive.

Occasionally when I turn the camera on or off from the app, it "freezes" and I have to back completely out of it and go back in. Not a huge deal since it works once I go back in. Also, it'd be really nice to be able to control the panning/zoom from the app.

I'm also stuck with two video feeds in my account now that I had two separate cameras, I went through every available option, and there's no way to delete the non-working one. Annoying.

Overall though, as long as it continues to work, it's a pretty cool gadget, and will definitely come in handy with keeping an eye on our little one once he arrives!

EDIT 11/19/12:

I wanted to come back and update my review now that I have been using the Dropcam for 6 months, 3 months of which have been on our new baby. We absolutely could not be happier with the Dropcam. It stays on 24 hours a day, every day and has caused us no problems with overheating or anything. There have been several updates to the iphone (and now ipad!) apps, and website, and I find them all to be much more user-friendly now. We chose this in lieu of a traditional monitor, and we have no regrets. I especially love that we can leave the baby with a sitter and peek in on him no matter how far we are from home. We would obviously not have that option with a traditional monitor.

My one (tiny) gripe is that it does tend to disconnect several times throughout the day and night. Every time this happens, I just have to exit out of the app and go back in. I believe this is more of an issue with our internet connection and/or router, but I wish there was something dropcam could do to make it automatically reconnect whenever this happens.

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1) Form over function. The power cable pulls camera out of stand and made it difficult to position camera.

2) Low quality video. I was never able to get 720p video quality even with my business class Internet.

3) Heat. When the camera is using night vision it turns into a hot piece of coal.

4) No local access. There is no support to connect to the camera within your own network. You have to use their cloud service which potentially decreases video quality.

5) Network stability issues. I would find the camera disconnected every few weeks and never reconnected until I power cycled camera.

I tried really hard to love it but I ended up being totally disappointed with the camera. It is a good concept but it just has too many faults for me.

HDMI Cable - 2 Male Connectors - 2 Meters

• Connectors: HDMI male to HDMI male
• Gold Plated for better quality
• Fully HDCP compliant to Provide highest level of signal quality
• Supports multiple audio formats, from stereo to multi-channel sound
• Transfer rate up to 5 Gbps

This cable is exactly what I was looking for using it to connect my Blu-Ray player to my receiver. Also purchased another one to connect my DVR to my receiver. Great product for the price! Honestly, don't know why anyone would spend more!

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I JUST WANT TO SAY I BOUGHT A COUPLE OF THESE CABLES AND THEY WORK WONDERFULLY WITH MY AUDIOPHILE GRADE HOOK UP. I ENJOY BLUE-RAYS AND MUSIC. THESE CABLES WORK BETTER THAN MORE EXPENSIVE BRANDED ONES IN FANCY PACKAGING. THIS IS A TRUE EXAMPLE OF CUTTING OUT THE MIDDLE MEN FOR A GOOD DEAL ON A GREAT CABLE.

THANKS,

KRIS

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Recieved cables within a few days of ordering, no problems, and would buy again. Saved money and am happy with results.

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Works perfectly! Works just as well as cables costing $30 or more. We have had it for quite awhile with no loss of quality. We have also gotten them for family members who report no problems at all.

I've purchased over 6 HDMI cables (over the span of a few years) from various vendors on Amazon. Each time the deals change, but I have yet to find a seller send me cables that didn't match the advertising. Until now.

First, there are no ferrite cores on either end of the cable as the picture suggests.

Second, the picture depicts a fairly thick cable (that is, well insulated). What I got was far from it... they are positively the thinnest HDMI cables I have ever received. I went back to read the description of the product and realized I was a sucker! The text "premium cable" and "heavy duty" is absolute b.s. because it flat out states the wire is 28awg (28 gauge)... that's .321mm thick! Think about it... a third of a millimeter! And not only is the wire inside very thin, but so is the shielding and insulation. I got had!

No, I haven't tried them out yet (they're for my father-in-law's system and I'll hook them up this weekend). I'm sure they'll work, but given the flimsy-ness of the cable, I clearly can't place them where interference is likely.

Pentax K-30 Weather-Sealed 16 MP CMOS Digital SLR (White, Body Only)

DISCLAIMER: This review is from a still-shooter's perspective. I don't use video that often so look elsewhere if you want an in-depth review of the video functions on this camera.

The K-30 is a really great photographic tool like most of its predecessors were. Despite Pentax trying to distinguish it from its previous offerings...it performs pretty much the same as the K-5 in almost all areas.

Image quality from this camera is excellent. It has the same look as files from the K-5 (except for slightly inferior dynamic range)..bright, punchy, and sharp. The camera produces exceptionally clean files right through ISO1600 and even through ISO6400 it does a good job balancing noise, noise reduction, and detail capture. The 18-135 WR is a good starter lens due to its focal length. It's sharp at the wide angle but gets very soft at the telephoto end (not an uncommon problem with zoom lenses). If you're looking for a good sharp zoom lens to go with the camera...the older Pentax 18-250 is a great choice. But it is discontinued and very hard to find these days, and also not weather-sealed like the 18-135 WR. The Sigma 18-250 is also a great choice.

Speaking of RAW files... Pentax saves RAW files in the Adobe dng file format exclusively with this camera and does away with the .PEF format on their older cameras. This is a wonderful feature because this universal file format will open in most photo editing software (I use Apple's Aperture and I had no problem opening the files).

The only real downsides to this camera image quality-wise that I can think of is that the camera has a tendency to underexpose a little and the colors are somewhat inaccurate (and a tad oversaturated) in its default setting. However, these are only minor demerits and are easily adjustable in the camera settings. And on the exposure issue, I would rather the camera underexpose and retain detail than overexpose which makes it harder to recover lost detail in some instances.

In other areas of performance... the AF performance is a distinct improvement over the K-x and K-r and is about on par with the K-5. In most shooting situations, it performs quite well, but it can struggle in low-light situations sometimes. One good thing about the 18-135 WR lens is that it has a built-in focusing motor so that helps AF performance overall. Shot-to-shot times are good, and the camera's burst speed performs as advertised with a decent buffer.

The K-30, like its predecessors, offers a pretty good set of still shooting features for the enthusiast crowd. Things like Chromatic Aberration adjust as well as the highlight correction option which helps preserve detail. You can also convert JPEGS back to RAW in this camera which is something very unique. It also has a RAW button on the front of the camera like the K-5 did. The viewfinder is great, 100% coverage with a high degree of magnification.

The camera is comfortable hold and shoot with. It is not a light camera overall, but it feels very solid and well-made and of course its weather-sealed. I have yet to test its weather-sealing so I can't vouch for how good it is, but from the reviews I've seen, it works as advertised (just don't completely submerge it in water though). I especially like having dual dials which is something that isn't terribly common on a sub-$1,000 DSLR. Overall the menu system is similar to its predecessors although the main interface has been redesigned a little to make it look more modern. The LCD on back is generally nice but has issues in direct sunlight like a lot of them do. One thing the camera does have is pretty snappy AF performance in live-view, which sets it apart from most other DSLRs. It's not lightning-fast, but it is faster than any other DSLRs I have seen, and is only bested by Sony's DSLT models and most Micro 4/3rds cameras as well.

The battery port is the same as the K-r. It comes with the same Lithium Ion battery pack which delivers okay battery life. However, like the K-r, AA batteries can be used with the same adaptor that was used with the K-r. So that's one bonus if you're thinking about upgrading from the K-r.

As for the video... it's good from what I have seen and an improvement over its predecessors. But Pentax does not offer an external microphone jack... which is a puzzling omission at this price point. If you are equal parts stills and video enthusiast.... the Canon Rebel T4i/650D is a better choice in this class of camera.

So, overall, a great camera for still shooters who only occaisionally dabble into video. It is an excellent choice for travelers on a budget who want excellent still-shooting performance in a rugged body with a flexible powersource. From a still-shooting perspective, it's photo quality is some of the best you are going to find from an APS-C camera. However, it's very clear that Pentax still views video shooting as a secondary feature on the camera and if that is just as important to you as stills are, you might look elsewhere first.

...GONE!!! Pentax, in my opinion, has smashed a home run with this camera. I am a current K-x owner and that camera has served me very well for the past couple years. I wanted to upgrade to a newer/better version of a Pentax. This camera offers everything that the K-x had going for it, and expands what made that camera great into what I consider is an awesome camera.

It's high ISO pictures are extremely good. I've cranked it up to ISO 6400 and notice no noise in my Christmas light photos. I'm sure that when you approach 12800, or expand up to 25600, you will notice significant noise. But I would have no lack of confidence in shooting 6400 and below.

The viewfinder is a pentaprism. Which in it's price range is a rarity. Most similar cameras offer pentamirrors. What's the difference? With the pentaprism you get 100% view coverage, what you see in the viewfinder is what will be taken.

I have not found fault with the 18-135mm lens I bought with the kit. I haven't and normally do not pixel peep. It seems like a very solid lens. I like that it covers a very nice range from wide angle to moderate telephoto.

Weather resistance is AWESOME for this price range. I've already taken it out in the rain, and have had my 3 year old son splash it while I was photographing him in his bubble bath. I can't wait for some snow storms (as long as it doesn't drop below 14 degrees F) or next spring/summers thunderstorms when I try to get a perfect lightning shot. You honestly don't understand the piece of mind this weather resistance offers until you have had it. I used to scurry indoors with the K-x.

I mainly, almost exclusively use the camera for photos, not video. The K-30 shoots video in 1080p/30fps, so that is a selling point for some of you. Although is doesn't have stereo mics. Again, no biggie to me, I photograph things, not video record them. I could purchase a $250 video camera that would blow almost all cameras out of the water if I wanted to take videos.

The display is worlds better than the K-x, I can't do justice to the upgrade it is versus the K-x. 3" and 921K. A very solid display, sure no flipping and moving, but the camera is water resistant after all. Doesn't bother me that it's fixed. I do 99% of my photography through the viewfinder anyway.

I can't really give a fair review of the live view composing, I have tried it, and with the new bigger, crisper display it seems to make it easier. Focusing is much faster than the K-x, and it does have focus peaking when composing your shot/vid. Again, I can not fairly review this feature.

I bought this camera instead of the K-5, K-5II, and K-5IIs mainly because it's cheaper, but in all honesty I like that fact that if I am pressed for time I can choose a scene and let the camera do the computing, and if I want to set into full manual I can do that as well. Pentax also offers Av, TAv, Tv, User modes, etc; in which the camera selects one (or more) of Exposure, Aperture, ISO, and you choose the rest. Very nice feature.

Honestly I can't think of anything to bash this camera on. For the price, compared to similarly priced DSLR's; in true Pentax tradition, you get A LOT of bang for the buck. Class leading APS-C images, weather resistant body, fantastic ISO images, etc. I only wish that Pentax spent more money on marketing, and re-introducing themselves to the USA market/stores. These cameras are extremely good, and I love the fact that nobody seems to know this.

Please ask me questions and I will try to respond...if you've read this, and were hesitating on purchasing, DON'T...this camera ROCKS

Buy Pentax K-30 Weather-Sealed 16 MP CMOS Digital SLR (White, Body Only) Now

FIRST OFF I am not a PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER there are plenty of reviewers who can tell you the facts of this camera from a true photographers perspective. I am just an average consumer guy who likes to take QUALITY STILL PICTURES of whatever strikes my odd AUTISTIC WEREWOLF fancy's! My problem, I've found the standard point and shoot camera's lack the enhanced image quality I demand. Point and shoot cameras are designed with built in compromises to compensate for its single lens. Most point and shoot camera's are horrible in low light conditions. Most point and shoot cameras create images with too much image noise in them for my liking.

I think the Pentax K30 is the best Digital SLR Camera you can buy. Right out of the box on automatic mode you will take pictures that will likely astonish you and make friends drool. The standard low end kit lens does a perfectly acceptable job photographing most subjects. The built in flash does a great job illuminating most close range subjects. If you just used this camera on fully automatic mode you would have at your command a photographic instrument capable of producing picture quality far superior to any mere point and shoot mongrel out there. If ever you decide to be adventurous the Pentax K30 Camera has ample button's knobs and other controls needed to manage iso, aperture and other vital photographic settings. The full color display is large and clear. There is a rare and great optical view finder, I think goes the distance in making this a truly awesome camera. For those who love using video only to frame their shot that mode is made easily available with the change of a few settings. This camera is killer awesome in most low light situations which is much better than most other camera's I have used. The pictures have VERY LITTLE NOISE in the final images. This camera takes pictures in RAW formats that are compatible with Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements 10 and Adobe Lightroom 4. The advantage of capturing images in RAW format is that you do not lose any video information. You see exactly what the video sensor saw without loss caused by processing images into JPEG \ JPG format images. More video image information contained in the RAW image format gives you greater freedom to manipulate your raw images during post production.

The Pentax K30 is a camera the average customer can grow into at their own pace. The Pentax K30 camera makes it easy for a DSLR newbie like me to experiment with light, shutter and focus settings without fear of breaking something. The Pentax K30 Camera has an optional adapter that allows it to take conventional AA Batteries which means fresh batteries are always close as the next market, pharmacy, mini mart or other full service store. You will never lose the opportunity to take that terrific shot because your special camera specific batteries lack sufficient charge. The Pentax K30 Camera uses any of the K TYPE LENSES which are numerous and made adequate for most any situation.

The Pentax K30 Camera is on a whole well made. I find the battery closure mechanism to be the cheapest most ill engineered part of The Pentax K30 Camera and its not bad just it should have been more strongly engineered. I have a Pentax K5 Camera and the Battery closure mechanism is far more secure. The Pentax K30 Camera is made out of plastic and while I like the feel and weight of a metal Pentax K5 camera more, The Qaulity Thick Plastic Pentax K30 Camera does not feel at all cheap. One of the finer things about the Pentax K30 Camera is its size and how it feels in my hands. I have small hands with unusually long fingers and the Pentax K30 Camera feels as if it was made exactly for my hands to hold. The Pentax K30 Camera is so perfectly sized for me; it is almost as if the Pentax K30 Camera is part of or an extension of my body. The camera is not heavy at all. My brother is a really BIG DUDE, 6 feet 8 inches tall and about 320 pounds, he has HUGE hands about the size of baseball mitts, with huge fingers. While my big brother can use the Pentax K30 Camera it is less comfortable for him. My MUCH larger \ younger brother favors my Pentax K5 which by it self is still on the small side for his BIG HANDS but becomes better suited for his HUGE GRIP with addition of its optional extra AA battery compartment. Despite its plastic \ Polycarbonate body the Pentax K30 Camera feels surprisingly solid in build quality. The Tripod Mounting Point is metal not cheap plastic. The Pentax K30 Camera hot shoe is covered but easily accessible. The Pentax K30 Camera has various doors and flaps that are on a whole easily accessible. The rubberized flaps used to access the USB and hot shoe take time to access until you get the "Hang of It!"

The Pentax K30 Camera's digital view screen color is rich and true. The lettering on the menu screens can be sized to normal or LARGE for those like me with older eyes. The Pentax K30 Camera has many do-dads and special features that let you do lots of in camera processing too many for the likes of me to list. Another cool thing about the Pentax K30 Camera is the radical luminescent cobalt blue color that literally jumps out at you. The blue color dances in your eyes and is so different from the standard plain jane black cameras. The blue camera makes a bold statement even when it is sitting still not being used. For those artists who demand their equipment stand out from the photographic equipment pack this camera is sooooo YOU! I am not prone to writing great reviews for any product at a drop of the hat BUT this Pentax K30 Camera is no ordinary photographers best friend. Some time effort and thought went into designing this Pentax K30 Camera and in almost every aspect of its execution the lavish attention to detail certainly shows. This Pentax K30 Camera is the perfect crossover camera for those tired of the point and shoot dull-drums that are not ready for the high-tech buttons of a full out professional grade DSLR. The Pentax K30 Camera puts and keeps the fun in entry level DSLR photography. The Pentax K30 Camera is the perfect storm of near perfect out of the box ease of use and mind blowing options for the experienced photographer. Finally this Pentax K30 Camera is a workhorse camera that is sealed against weather if used sensibly. This Pentax K30 Camera is not so delicate it will break at the slightest environmental challenge. Yes there are better cameras in the world but, the Pentax K30 Camera is a near perfect fusion of form and function that is solidly built. The K30 lacks some of the versatility of the K5 but the K5 lacks many of the consumer driven ease of use and image manipulation features of the K30. The Pentax K30 Camera appears to be aimed squarely at consumers looking to trade up to entry level DSLR's from Point and Shoot Camera's and if I am right the Pentax K30 Camera hit almost center of its intended audience bullseye!

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I have 40 years worth of Pentax SLR and DSLR cameras. The K-5 and the K-30 can stand right along with their 35mm equivalent cameras. They are great cameras. I bought the K-30 a few months ago, and have used it for portraits. It has far more features then I need, since I really only need a camera with a manual setting.

It is an advanced camera for advanced users. It can use any Pentax lens made for any previous Pentax SLR or DSLR model, including the older 35mm film cameras. All Pentax digital models have been water resistant. They simply tightened the seals for this camera.

Many people here will list all of the benefits of this camera, and it has many really nice features.

But it also has two down sides.

1. Unlike the K-5, this camera does not have a PC plug for external flash units. I use a wireless transmitter which sits in the hotshoe. You can also use an adapter with a PC Plug. (The camera has a wireless system for using a wireless flash, but I have yet to get the camera's wireless system to operate correctly with studio flash units.)

2. Like all auto-focus cameras, it does not always auto-focus correctly on very black skin.

In the end, all that matters are the photographs. This camera makes great photographs. If you don't want to spend enormous sums of money on Nikon or Canon DSLR cameras and lenses, but you want the same great photographs, then this is the camera for you. Plus it will go where Canon or Nikon wishes they could go.

(I like Nikon and Canon cameras. Mainly, I like Nikon. But I don't like the amount of money that you wrap up in them. That is why I have always ended up with Pentax. Same quality. Nearly the same features. Less price.)

OK, I read a review here where a person purchased this camera, but didn't like it because they couldn't figure it out. I understood the feeling. I am now 62, but when I was 14, my Aunt, who had been a magazine photographer, gave me a Leica 35mm camera. I took it home and tried to figure it out, but couldn't. I had been used to using drop-in cartridges in cameras with simple lenses. No one at home knew how to operate it either. I gave it back to her a couple of months later. In later years, I wished that I still had it.

DSLR cameras are great for advanced amateur photographers and professional photographers. People who get into doing things with cameras that automatic features and setting just won't handle. Or they need to sometimes use a +1,000 mm telephoto lens, or a 15mm wide field lens, or some other uncommon situation. Or these cameras are for people who want to learn to do these things.

If you are not in this group, and you don't wish to invest the time and effort necessary to learn the art of creating nice images, then a small point-n-shoot camera is probably a better choice for you.

I hope that this helps. I really like this camera.

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Sold my Nikon D40 and had some decisions. Was looking at the Nikon D5100, D7000, and the Canon T4i. Considered waiting to decide until Nikon introduces the inevitable D5200, but after weighing all the options, and considering the phenomenal value that is the K30 I bought it. (white body w/standard 18-55 lens sexy) I'm new to Pentax and glad to have made the change. Nothing against Nikon or Canon, but on top of taking excellent pictures, there is something unique about having the Pentax. I prefer the menu system over both Nikon and Canon simpler for me to navigate. (Though deleting photos on Nikon remains simpler hitting the 'delete' button does it all.)

I'm waiting for Sigma to release their newish 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM in a Pentax mount then all will be perfect. They already have it for Nikon/Canon gets great reviews. Not water-resistant (the Sigma lens), but that was never a decision making factor in the K30. (Though nice to have.) I wanted a great camera to fit a good all-in-one lens onto and be done. It lets me take great photos (and it does even with the stock 18-55 lens) and ease into more complex picture taking as I feel fit.

People dog the video, on this and other DSLRs. My response is get a video camera. Video in the DSLRs has been something of a gimmick since introduced. DSLRs aren't great for video, camcorders aren't great for stills. I wanted great stills the K30 fits that bill.

Love the grip, ergonomics, the picture quality, build quality, and value compared to competition. Highly recommended if new to the DSLR world, or like me upgrading from D40 or the like.

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Nikon Coolpix S3500 Digital Camera (Silver) with 32GB Card + Battery & Charger + Case + Tripod

For what we need to do with it, it's ok.

We took 500+ pictures in 13 days and we are happy.

We bought it because of all the accessories included with the camera.

A great price for the bundle.

A pity there is no international delivery, but we managed to have it delivered in the United States and retrieve it.

So, so far so good.

Nikon COOLPIX L25 Silver

I've used a Nikon Coolpix for years now. When they get old, I get the same, only a newer model. This one seems to be just as good, or better. I really like the zoom feature, much easier to use, for me. Shipping was great, the whole transactions was!

Sorry, my mistake. I purchased the XP50, which is waterproof, not the L25. I havent figured out how to get the original (wrong) review off..

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Sony Cyber-shot DCS-P30 1.3MP Digital Camera

I already had a Sony DSC S50 for myself and was looking for another less expensive camera for my daughter. I purchased the P30 for her and assumed that it was accessorized like my own camera. After purchase, I realized that the camera kit DID NOT INCLUDE a rechargeable power supply or recharger. The supplied AA batteries will only last about 2 hours under the best conditions. The batteries were shot by the time I familiarized myself with the operating manual. You can purchase an accessory kit from Sony for about $99 that includes a rechargable lithium battery, charger, and a camera case. I would have preferred to purchase the camera with this equipment included.

Most of the customer reviews so far have expounded on two key facts: 1) This camera has very good functionality for the price, and 2) Sony did a poor job with power supply. It comes with alkaline batteries, which the manual says you can't use to transfer files to a computer. It's hard to call the power adapter and a battery upgrade (e.g. nickel metal hydride) anything but a necessity.

Left out of the reviews is a third factor which people haven't seemed to mention yet. The cameras, or perhaps just some of them, don't function properly with FRESH AA alkaline batteries. After mine quickly used up the two that came with it, I put in good fresh ones that tested well, and the camera wouldn't turn on in either record mode or moving picture mode (and would turn off if I moved into those modes from others). In playback mode, the battery indicator verified that the batteries were good. This led to emails to Sony which led to inane computer-generated responses reminding me to change the batteries. Eventually I got through to a representative on the phone who said the problem I was having was common. Got that MANY people had the same problem. Best Buy doesn't accept the returns because Sony, wary of the problem, includes a label in the packaging saying something like "if malfunctioning do not return to the store." They don't offer you your money back as part of your warranty. Now I'm stuck having to ship it to PA and hoping they return it working properly. Meanwhile I've bought Nickel MH batteries and a charger which has seemed to be a quick fix. I've sent pictures to the computer without the AC adapter that Sony indicates is mandatory.

I've edited this review to add that I now believe I've purchased enough equipment to get around the power supply problem. NiMH batteries, a charger, a 32 MB memory stick, and a USB memory stick reader all appear to make the camera fully functional. It takes good pictures. Still, [those dollars are] a lot to throw at a $... camera, and Sony's skeletal warranty and lack of forthrightness are troublesome.

Buy Sony Cyber-shot DCS-P30 1.3MP Digital Camera Now

Ive had a few digital cameras in the past 2 years, but none of the came to the quality and features that I wanted. Being the techno freak I am, I wanted a camera that could do anything I wanted it to. I was almost set on an Olympus when this Sony came in at my work. It was love at first site. For a bit more money I was getting a much better zoom, movie recorder and Sony quality. Needless to say, I got it on my Birthday and I could not be happier. Setting it up is incredibly easy *as most of Sony products are* and using it makes even a novice an expert with a few hours of practice. The layout of the camera is comfortable and lightweight, Easily held in one hand to take pictures. The LCD is bright and crisp and show almost no slowdown when viewing it. A very nice turn nob selects the mode on the camera, No more fiddling with menus on the LCD. The 3xoptical zoom is great when you want to get a little closer. An optional 6xdigital is there to, but the pictures turn out to fuzzy. This camera could do anything you want it to, macro shots, low light, fast action, low light, low background light, movies,clip art, clip motion, red eye reduction and more! The menus system is very straightforward, hard to screw up. Picture quality is awesome. Though sometimes a bit soft, easily rectified with the Photosuite 8.1 the camera comes with. It would be hard pressed to get a better program without spending alot of money. Installation of the USB software takes just minutes, and a full 32 meg Stick takes just 30 seconds to upload. *no more serial!*

One bad side, this thing eats batteries like Joan Collins goes through makeup. I went through 6AA alkaline in 3 hours the first day. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND getting rechargebles, Nickel Metal Hydride perferred, this camera loves its batteries.

Also, recommend getting a bigger Sony Stick, the included 4 meg only does 6 pics at highest setting, a 32meg will get you 50. *what I use*

In all, I am very much enjoying this camera and taking great photos. If you interested in seeing what some look like email me at icewind@montana.com and I'll give you a link. For people who want to get into the Digital realm but want a low price for great quality, the SONY DSC-P30 is absolutely hard to beat!

Read Best Reviews of Sony Cyber-shot DCS-P30 1.3MP Digital Camera Here

I took the plunge and bought this camera. I liked the style and the features, I read the reviews and disbelieved the battery problems. Everyting everybody writes here is is true...this thing eats up batteries like you won't believe! 15 20 minutes per pair of batteries max. Wow. It's incredibly frustrating. Then, if you want to upgrade to the Lithium battery, . . . the charger, the DC adaptor, or upgrade the memory (the 4MB is a joke) to 32MB, etc. etc All are sold seperately. You can't just grab some no name accesories either. It must be ($$$$) Sony!

I returned this camera in less than 12 hours after purchasing. I won't be tethered to Sony for the rest of my life. If you want a similar camera, at the same price, that has more memory(16MB), uses RECHARGEABLE long-life Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries and includes the charger, try the FujiFilm FinePix 2600 Zoom.

Buyer beware! The Sony has great features. But what good are they when the batteries keep dying?

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After much online reasearch I decides on this digital camera for the price and list of features. In a day of online shopping I found this camera for $267 including shipping charges. I'm a longtime 35mm user (an Olympus IS-30 DLX)and wanted something that was compact, had good image quality and could record short video clips. This camera does all this just fine. The bad part is that only a 4 mb memory stick is included and when taking photos at the highest res this camera ofers you'll get abt 5 pics on the memory stick. Also get the rechargable battery the 2 AA's that came with the camera lasted me 4hrs or abt 20 pics. For the prcie and list of features you get, I don't think this camera can be beat. An additional gripe is that the memory sticks are quite pricey but once you pic up one 64 mb stick you shoud be fine. Sev people I know have this camera and there computer is running windows ME and they had problems. My pc is running Windows ME, the upgrade from windows 98 (1st edition) and it works fine.