Nikon D3100 Digital SLR Camera Body (Kit Box) No Lens Included

I got this to replace my D60. I really wanted the D5100 but couldn't afford it. It has all of the basic features I wanted but is missing the additional resolution of the D5100, 14.2 Meg vs 16.2 meg, and the adjustable screen which is OK. The most important thing to me is that it uses all of my lenses and attachments I had for the D60 and uses them as well or better than the D60. It's a very nice camera.

It takes very nice HD video. It is limited to 10 minutes but when you think about it thats a pretty long video.

I'm glad I bought it!

I already own a Nikon D5000 and ordered the D3100 because of it's lower light capability and better HD video capability. HOWEVER, I was disappointed that some of the features I loved about the D5000 have been omitted with the D3100. The D3100 has no "scene" mode ideal settings for beach, snow, autumn leaves, pets, etc. This mode was replaced with a "guide" mode... not needed if you refer to the manual and if you are familiar with the camera.

Also, regarding my order, Cameta Camera stated that the camera, (body only), "includes ALL original camera accessories (the Nikon USA Warranty Card, Batteries, Cords, Instruction Manuals, etc.)" but NO cords were shipped with the camera. I will contact Cameta Camera about this.

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I agree with the reviewer who indicates the features lacking on this camera, including the warranty card from Calumet; however, those features are not ones I care about, want or use anyway (except the warranty card), especially the folly of video in a still camera. What I wanted was exactly what I got: the new Expeed 2 image processing engine found in the top end Nikon D3S and D7000 cameras, a new 14.2 MP CMOS (not a CCD), a very small size and a very light weight, without being flimsy or junky.

My complaint on professional gear and I have some is that it is too big and too heavy and it scares small children and others in the Third World. However, I want the high end picture making capabilities and muscle of the top professional gear in a light weight and small walk around camera and lens. That is what the D3100 is all about, plus, for the body only, it is still tremendous bang for the buck, especially when then used with a super standard zoom lens like the Nikon 16-85mm (forget the 18-200mm with its problems which I have also reviewed here).

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I am incredibly happy with this camera! First off, the ability to buy just the camera body was very helpful, as it saved me about $50 on the kit 18-55mm lens, which I was able to put towards a 18-105mm lens. The camera itself works really well in a number of conditions. It has a really high max ISO, so you can shoot inside without flash and with high enough shutter speeds to prevent blur. Outside I was able to capture some great shots of sports games, where the "series" option and high shutter speed proved very helpful. If you are looking for a relatively inexpensive digital SLR camera, and are willing to drop a couple more bucks for a better lens/already have other Nikon lenses you can use, this is the perfect choice.

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I got around to writing review after more than a year since buying this camera. It meets my needs perfectly because I was looking for light-weight camera that gives good results indoors and has low shutter-lag. Indoor photos don't washout the subjects with excessive flash allowing natural skin tones to show. Shutter lag is low enough for capturing fleeting smiles. Size and bulk is small enough to hang on the neck or carry in a backpack.

Most of my pictures are taken in Auto-mode but I love the results. Only once I fiddled around with manual focus, ISO and Aperture settings for 4th of July fireworks. Pictures I got were magazine-worthy.

Battery life is long enough for over 400 shots, 16GB card is sufficient for lasting over couple of trips. I use Picasa for organizing photos and Sony's PMB for importing.

I skipped buying the kit from Costco because I know I would not carry around two different lenses, let alone switch them. Instead I bought 18mm-105mm lens and thank my good judgment every time I use my camera. Lens is good enough for wide angles and perfect for portraits. Bokeh effect is as expected (can never get that from even high-end aim-and-shoots). I have taken shots of rainbows, closeups of kids, super close-ups of flowers, city-life, dance performances, beaches, sunsets and whatever else I fancy.

I have never felt buyer's remorse for owning this. I just thought it is worth the expense to capture priceless memories of my kids before they grow up. I only wish D3100 had adjustable LCD like D5100's for taking ground-level photos or other unusual angles.

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In Focus IN124 DLP Projector

I've used InFocus before in the workplace, and had to replace my older projector anyways, so started viewing the InFocus again as a product to satisfy both business and personal needs.

Pros:

1. It does great for presentations. Very bright. Not the smallest projector on the market, but one of the brightest I've seen in a business projector.

2. This projector can do 3D with the refresh rates posted.

3. At 3200 lumens, this projector beats those so-called "home theater" projectors in this price range which often tap out at 2700 lumens. (more lumens = brighter)

4. I've gotten movie images to over 10ft x 20ft (see my uploaded product image).

5. Fan noise isn't a distraction

Cons:

1. The projector made a loud popping noise the first few times I turned it off. It has not made the noise since then, but I am going to keep an eye on it.

Summary:

I was weary buying this without any reviews, but the lumens and overall specs beat projectors in this price range that were highly rated, so I figured I'd give it a shot. So far, so good!

Had to replace a projector in a bar and this units specs hit the mark. Happy when we received it and even happier with the performance. It's quiet and bright and the picture is better than anything else in this price range.

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I was so impressed with the performance of this projector for the price. (Under $500.00 The lumens are incomparable at this price point.

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It seems all of these projectors, from various brands, are built in the same Chinese factory. They are all variations of the same case with different labels and this one was total junk. I wound up returning it, the 4th in a long line of projectors we tried. This one kept searching for inputs in spite of them being there, and the image seemed to pulsate while on the screen. Also, it's incredibly loud and the fan comes on after 2 minutes. Stay away!

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I travel 70% of the year internationally so I was seeking a projector that is light, affordable and with enough lumens so I can use it in almost every presentation I make. I really like this INFOCUS IN124 DLP Projector. As for this projector, it would be nice to have the ability to run files using a USB port, but besides that, I really recommend this projector. Overall is perfect. At the very beginning I was looking for pico projectors and I found some up to 500 lumens, very portable but very limited in terms of features, and also expensive.

JVC GR-AX750U Palm Size Compact VHS Camcorder

This camcorder is nice for the amateur or anyone looking for an inexpensive camera. The variable-speed zoom and fades/wipes are features that can add a professional touch. It is light enough to take anywhere, and has a long enough battery time to withstand the long haul, unless you're planning on filming a low-budget movie with it (Blair Witch?). I enjoy this device, but I would urge anyone with a bit more cash to go for a higher-end model.

This is my second JVC camcorder, and it isn't bad at all. I haven't had it for very long, but it was pretty easy to use. It is not feature-rich, but it has enough to keep me occupied. I am a beginner camcorder user, and I was shooting and playing tapes back with ease very quickly. The focusing isn't great, but on the upside, it does pretty well in darker environments. I was shooting in dim conditions and the picture was nice and clear. The sound is OK too. Playback was alright, but somewhat grainy. The appearance of the camera isn't all that sleek, but all in all it is a reliable, easy to use model.

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I am a fan of the VHS-C format, even though my previous camcorder, a Panasonic, was somewhat tempramental. No problems here, though, as what we have is a sturdy, inexpensive gem of a camera with enough features to satisfy the average user not too many extarneous ones that you really don't need anyway! The zoom is just fine, the fade is a nice touch on a model of this size, and we're looking forward to creating our answer to Wallace & Gromit once we try the animation setting! Great value.

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I like the idea that it is small. Since i have bad shoulders and can't carry anything very long this is great. It also works in the VCR so that you can watch it on TV. The price is great since most ar so expensive you can't often afford one. But this price anyone can.

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The JVC camcorder is good but when you use the cassettes directly in VCR it's giving some sort of troubles the view is not good. When we watching using camcorder it's viewing littile bit good.

Kanex iAdapt VGA

My VGA monitor looks great using this adapter, coming from my Early 2011 MBP. That is to say, when it is not displaying periodic jitters and other, similar scan/sync disturbances ranging from almost never to every few seconds.

My HD monitor on the other hand, will -notgo full screen using the sister adapter to this one, coming from my Early 2011 MBP. I could have sworn it had been full screen initially, but I guess that can't really be confirmed. I updated the video drivers with no improvement, and reinstalled the initial BootCamp/Windows drivers with no improvement.

The thing that really hurts, and is the inspiration for the title of the review, is the absolute, z-e-r-o response I have gotten from the Kanex support people, or support person, or support wall poster. I submitted two different, fully documented support requests that included phone information in case their emails weren't getting through.

If this thing cost 4 or 5 bucks, that would be one thing. But it's going on 30 bucks, and for that kind of pocket money, you better produce life signs if need be.

I would never, ever buy anything from this company again, for that reason, and I would suggest that you do not either, since there's no way to guarantee it's going to be smooth sailing out of the box, or you're stuck w/a piece of relatively useless hardware and no one to stand behind it.

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Canon EOS Rebel T3 12.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Zoom Lens & EF

The camera is awesome. Takes some great pictures. Needs some getting used to. Arrived as advertised with all the accesories. Would recommend this camera to anyone who wants to start taking great pictures for good memories. Throw that point and click away and get a Canon rebel.

The bag that comes with it allows storage for most of the needed accesories. The filters are not that good. But filters can be purchased anywhere.

Overall a great purchase and arrived as promised.

This camera has been fabulous for us. Easy to use and provides far more picturing taking options than we knew or need. We were beginners but this camera has given us a ton of great action photos from our kids' sporting events and it has been a dream for us. Everything was new as described and came in perfect condition. Very, very happy with this purchase!!

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I have always used point and shoot cameras and have been looking to purchase a dslr camera for awhile. When I saw this deal I just couldn't resist so I purchased it and I could not be happier. Once I received the camera I couldn't wait to use it. This camera is very easy to use and it takes amazing pictures. I would recommend this camera to anyone. Also the amount of stuff that came with it was awesome. This is a great company to deal with. Their shipping was amazing. My camera came within 2 days. Once again a great company to deal with.

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This is a GREAT package deal for everything you get with it. It might not all be the best of quality, but for someone on a budget having all these items come with the camera is a great money saver until you can save up to buy better quality items.

I bought this camera on June 19th around 9am and was very surprised when 2 hours later I got an e-mail telling me that they had already started to ship my items! I was so excited I tracked the package every morning and night until finally June 21st, 2 DAYS LATER, it finally got to my house! I am VERY pleased with the speedy delivery of this camera package.

I've played around with the camera since I opened the package and so far everything looks great! The camera takes amazing pictures, the quality is great! It's easy enough to use if you play around with the settings for about an hour. The only thing I do not like that came in the package is the "starter kit" which comes with cleaning supplies for the camera and screen protectors. The cloth that came with it is very cheap and my shirt cleaned the screen better than the cloth did, and the protector is one that you must cut on your own which makes it look funny when placed on the screen.

Both lenses that come in the bundle are wonderful! And the carrying case has the perfect amount of storage space for everything that comes in the package, except for the tripod, which comes with its own bag.

Other than the "starter kit" I have no other complains as of yet. I am very happy with my purchase, and I would definitely buy from this seller again!

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Nikon Coolpix 995 3.2MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom

Strengths:

1. 4x optical zoom. Most digicams in this price range only have 3x, and most lower-priced cameras only have a 2x or no zoom at all.

2. Pop-up flash. Many owners of the Coolpix 990 and 950 have significant red-eye trouble. Popping up the flash on the 995 gets it far enough away from the lens to eliminate most red-eye troubles.

3. High resolution. 3.3 megapixels in a quality camera like this is more than enough for most serious amateurs. The only time this will become a limitation is if you want to make obscenely large prints (probably 16" x 20" or larger, and even then I don't think it would be a significant degradation) or if you want to crop significantly and make an 8" x 10" or something in that range. I have been very pleased with my results, even in...

4. Auto mode. The 995 has a steep learning curve if you want to really take advantage of its full feature set. But its auto mode is intuitive enough that you can take the camera out of the box and start taking quality shots immediately. The auto mode is no more complicated than any point-and-shoot camera. Excellent feature.

Weaknesses:

1. 16 mb CompactFlash card. This one is really a joke. Nikon should have included at least a 32mb card and probably a 128. I strongly suggest purchasing a larger CF card immediately. Most CF cards have fallen to the 50 cents per meg range now (January 2002), so you should be able to get a good name-brand 128mb CF card for $60 or so. Do it. Now.

2. Digital zoom. Worthless. The pixellization is horrendous, and unless you have a huge amount of light the lens speed is such that you really need a tripod to avoid camera shake.

3. Lens speed. With no zoom the aperture is f/2.6. The further you zoom, the worse it gets. If you don't have a tripod, I strongly suggest one (the 995's mount is sturdy and well-made, by the way).

4. No case included. Again, something you definitely need. I've had very good luck with LowePro, and they're reasonably priced.

5. Complicated menu system. To take advantage of all the features of this excellent camera, you really need to spend significant time reading the manual and exploring the extensive menu system. Not for the faint of heart.

I've given 4 out of 5 stars, with one star removed due to the above weaknesses. But this is a fantastic camera. I've had mine for only about three weeks and I've already taken more than 300 shots, many of them excellent. I highly recommend it.

Oh the Debates in our household. She wanted something cheap and cheerful me having done photography for a living, wanted something I could control, a camera that wouldn't fight back. This was the the perfect solution. (Except that she wasn't so cheerful that it wasn't so cheap!)

A Auto settinga simple point and shoot

M Manual in the loosest sense of the word gives access to the miriad functions and adjustments available.

I suspect that many of the problems other users have reported have come from not reading the instructions sufficiently, I still find myself refering back to it every so often to make sure there's something I've not missed. That said the manual control options are very straightforward if you already know ones f-stop from ones elbow...

Complaints that the 995 produces softer pics than the 990 arise I suspect, from the fact that the 990 automatically applies more sharpening in-camera. Enter the 995's menu and change its auto sharpening setting to max and the result is an image so sharp yer eyeballs bleed. personally I prefer to back off from crystal tip clarity and apply sharpening later with Photoshop if neccessary. At least the 995 allows control.

The same is also true with colour saturation. here I habitually adjust the 995 saturation to +1 which really brightens up our cooler British colours but there's also the option to go the other wayright back to black and white images.

YesTotal manual control of aperture and shutter speed is impractically fiddly, however there is a very practical and effective workaround.

In P program mode, adjusting the thumb dial cycles through the various combinations of Apperture/shutterspeed whilst maintaining correct exposure with its insurpassable matrix metering system. BUT if you want to adjust the estimated exposure, touch the function 2 button, It's right there, right between the thumb dial and the shutter release, just where you need it. Touch that and then use the thumb dial to exposure compensate + or 2 stops. I find this way far easier than adjusting the Apperture and shutter independantly so I've no complaints.

Finally the hotshoe issue. The Nikon speed flash is marvelous piece of kit and when I used to work with one it's TTL system NEVER let me down (much!). However at over 300 quid over here for the flash and another 90 just for the bracket!! tieing us soley into that system seems just a wee bit small minded and besides, I have a perfectly servicable Mecablitz CT45 already thankyou very much Mr Nikon san.

Here's how I use them together

Set the camera to aperture priority, and match its aperture to the flash's output setting. You can't connect the flashes lead directly to the nikon so instead connect it to a photo electric 'slave' sensor. My tiny slave has a sucker on it so I can stick it anywhere! Activate the cameras on board flash. position the slave so that it is triggerd either by the flash directly or by the flash reflected back from the subject. The slave sees the flash from the camera and triggers the CT45 which I bounce off the ceiling. Works a treat, well usually.

I love this camera, it comes everywhere with me. That's the final bonus, It clicks 'flat' and slips neatly into my jacket pocket.

Couldn't do THAT with my 35mm kit!

Buy Nikon Coolpix 995 3.2MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom Now

I will start off by saying I've had a CoolPix 800 for 1.5 years and was very satisfied with it. However, as I progressed with learning photography, the camera did not allow me to do all I was wanting to do. The 2x zoom got old having to deal with the teleconverter which did not allow a wide shot to be taken while on without a periscope effect. The lack of settings control wore thin as I experimented with more advanced picture scenes. I decided to upgrade to the 995 with the 4x zoom being a big factor in my decision along with allowing more control. I now had 4x zoom without my cumbersome teleconverter and could trick it to use my wide angle WITH the flash. Note: That is with the old WC-E24 lens, not the WC-E63. You'll still get a 'shadow' by trying to use the flash with the WC-E63 lens. Here is what I've gained from my use thus far:

This camera is suited for those who want more control. Auto mode works pretty well for anyone just like my 800, but if you aren't going to take advantage of the Manual mode, you may be paying for too much camera. That being said, I had gotten used to my CP-800 doing most of the work. I was completely mortified in the beginning that my 'better' 995 was producing much softer, almost out-of-focus pictures. As others have mentioned, READ READ READ the manual. I'm still in the learning process of this camera since I do not take pictures every day. However, I have absorbed more knowledge of how to use this camera. My pictures have now exceeded what I could do with the CP-800 after tweaking image sharpening, overriding shutter/aperture/etc settings, and turning continuous AF off. The latter reduces lag in taking pictures and stops most of that clicking noise the lens part makes (normal for this camera).

The camera has tons of features and it pays to check up on how to use them. ISO settings go up to 800, although the pictures genuinely turn up noisy (use noise reduction!). Try also 'bulb' (ISO 100) if you have a tripod and steady night subject it'll turn out vastly better. The QuickTime inclusion was a nice bonus, but more of a gimmick. This is no digital video camera. The new rechargeable battery is wonderful. I thought this would be bad, but with only one extra battery, I was able to shoot around 200 pictures with the second battery still going. Be sure to get the 8x or higher speed CF cards as the writing lag will drive you crazy on the old 4x ones. The 16MB that comes with the camera is 8x. The new Quick Review is great to quickly see your picture while being able to still take another. You can even zoom in on your pictures while reviewing them to get a better idea of what you got (or didn't get) in the picture. The pop-up flash reduces red (and evil green cat/dog) eye while also allowing the WC-E24 to work (don't tell it that the lens is there and it'll work without a nasty shadow). There are many more resolution settings with a 3:2 setting for those wanting a 35mm-sized picture. TIFF is available in 2048x1532 and 3:2 (2048x1360) for those 'perfect' shots. I could go on and on about all of these features, but I'm limited in space :-). It's sufficient to say that most everything is selectable and it takes a while to get used to all of them.

The CP-995 is a great camera for those wanting more from a digital camera. Those wanting a quick, out-of-the-box camera may want to look to some of Nikon's less feature-filled cameras (CP-800 is highly recommended!) The 995 really shines once you start to learn to use the features. It will take some time to figure which settings work best, but the results are absolutely worthwhile. Feel free to ask me any questions on the camera.

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OK, if you can afford it, this _is_ the camera to buy. It's easy to use, it's fun, it's intuitive, it takes great pictures. Save up, buy this one.

First of all, notice the swivel design? This means that no matter how you hold the camera, you can see the LCD while you take the picture. Over your head, for when you are in a crowd. At knee level, for taking pictures of your grandchildren. Twisted backwards, you can take self portraits while seeing yourself on-screen (this makes for some very nice pictures!).

You can look at the camera in your lap, point it in any direction, and take pictures of people without their realizing it. No more rigid poses. No more uncomfortable expressions.

The 995 features incredible macro capabilities, allowing you to take pictures of flowers or rings (ebay time!) from under 2 inches away! The detail you'll se is amazing. It also features a 4x optical zoom (very nice, the 990 only went to 3x) and ISO up to 800, which is very rare with a digital camera. Evening photos are now a possibility without a flash.

About the only people who I would recomend not upgrading are people who already own the 990. The 995 is lighter than the 990, the flash is directly above the lense (the 990's flash was to one side, making shadows from the side), the flash is a pop-up, virually eliminating red-eye. The differences are small enough you can just wait till the next camera comes out to upgrade.

I would recomend saving bit of money for accessories, though. A 100 meg memory card is very nice (1078 pics at lowest resolution, 7 at full TIFF), an AC adapter is handy, a card reader might be nice for long photo shoots. You won't need spare batteries, unless you are away from power for a very long time, the camera comes with rechargable lithium batteries (2 hours of life, with the LCD on! VERY nice), so you'll save money there. The batteries seem to charge very quickly, and will last even longer if you use the viewfinder instead of the LCD. Can fit optional lenses, but I haven't had a chance to play with that yet.

Let me give you a parting example. I took a picture of a silver ring. When I expanded it, I could see myself in the ring. I could read the 1 inch high words on my shirt. In real life, my reflection was about a millimeter high. You will LOVE this camera.

Indra

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I have owned 2 or three 35mm SLR cameras and based on

reputation, decided to go with the Nikon 995 for digital photography. I could not be more pleased with this purchase. Whether you point and shoot with the auto mode or

go for controlled effects with manual, this thing makes wonderful pictures. The 995 has it all--the pixels, the zoom, the monitor, the close-ups, the convenience AND simple to use. Like the camera, accessories are precision made albeit somewhat pricey, but hey--you're getting the quality of a Nikon.

Every conceivable option is available including telephoto

lense, wide-angle, fisheye, and assorted filters to name a few. The camera design allows 360 degree vertical rotation so

one can look into the monitor AND shoot the photographer.

The location of the built-in flash reduces redeye over prior models. I have read a few reviews where someone had trouble loading onto their computer. I am a computer neandrethal and this puppy was up and running in a few minutes without a single hassle. Color is fantastic, but it helps to orchestrate your lighting for professional results. I could go rambling on,

but let's keep it succinct, "you get what you pay for" has

never been more true than with the Nikon 995.

Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera (Body) + 16GB Deluxe Accessory Kit

There is no need for me to review the t3i (because its amazing) so, I'll review the deluxe kit.

The Bag: is decent, it has (bright orange) padding inside. The seams/thread on the inside is a mess. The bag holds my t3i, 18-55mm, canon 50mm, 2 filter kits, extra batteries. This bag will be limited to carrying about 2 lenses max. Outer appearance is good. It has many outside pockets.

Tripod: Somewhat flimsy but I mainly use the tripod for inside use so it worked out for me. The top portion of the pod comes off with a lever, you can screw it onto your camera body and lever it back into the tripod. Comes with a carrying case which is a plus.

Extra Battery: is NOT a Canon battery but it does what it supposed to do.

All in all I'm glad I got this package.

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Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD (Body Only)

Summary:

Outstanding (absolutely stunning) image quality, especially in low light and difficult lighting (high dynamic range) situations

19 point-and-shoot auto modes great for beginners new to D-SLR

Extremely easy-to-use menu system

No compromises feature set not stripped of high-end features

Bright vari-angle screen with LiveView for hard-to-reach shots, but don't consider this a replacement for the viewfinder for most situations

Nice compact body easier to travel

D5000 vs. Nikon D60:

Dramatic improvement in low-light and difficult light image quality

Improved auto white balance (but still not perfect)

Slightly bigger (taller and deeper) body, slightly heavier

11 autofocus points, 3D matrix metering, Auto D-Lighting

Faster continuous shot performance (4fps vs 3)

Up to 63 JPEG/11 RAW images in continuous burst mode (the D60 can capture up to 100 JPEG/9 RAW images)

RAW+JPG with choice of JPEG compression

Full feature set including bracketing

13 additional auto / scene presets

Additional in-camera editing including perspective control and fisheye

Slightly smaller viewfinder, but adds optional grid line support

LiveView with HD Movie Mode

Multi selector supports diagonal movement instead of 4 directions

Quiet shooting mode reduces shutter noise in quiet situations

support for optional Nikon GPS unit

HDMI output

same outstanding 18-55VR kit lens

D5000 vs. Nikon D90:

Equivalent image quality, altho D5000 tends to underexpose capturing all detail vs. D90 tendency to overexpose high contrast shots

D5000 LiveView mode adds subject tracking

Easy to use auto / scene presets along with context sensitive help

More sophisticated interval shooting and time-lapse mode

Additional in-camera editing including perspective control and fisheye

Significantly more compact, lighter body

No autofocus motor in body for older or more professional lenses

No top LCD; must use back display to review settings

No depth of field preview

Lower resolution screen than D90 but vari-angle allows you to compose hard-to-reach shots

Slightly slower continuous shot performance (4fps vs 4.5)

Up to 63 JPEG/11 RAW images can be captured in continuous burst mode (the D90 burst is limited to 25 JPEG/7 RAW images)

Quiet shooting mode reduces shutter noise in quiet situations

.78x Pentamirror viewfinder vs. the D90's brighter .94x Pentaprism

Single command dial means more access to Menu for changing settings

Built-in flash cannot command external flash units with Nikon Creative Lighting System

No option for extra battery grip

Kit lens only 18-55VR vs 18-105VR

D5000 adds Airflow Control System in addition to dust reduction system

Better value, especially body only

Detailed Review:

Having bought my first D-SLR (a Nikon D60) last November, I was intrigued with the announcement of the D5000. At the time of my D60 purchase, I was considering the D90, but after holding both in person, I chose the D60 for its the much smaller form factor, lighter weight, and much lower price tag. I have been largely happy with the D60, although its low-light performance while dramatically better than my old point-and-shoot camera still wasn't fantastic.

Given the D5000 uses the same sensor and imaging sensor as the D90, but in a smaller lighter case, I decided to upgrade. And I must say I'm exceptionally pleased with the D5000.

What is to like over the D60?

1) Stunning Image Quality even in Low Light, without a tripod or fast lens

The D5000 takes exceptional pictures, especially in low-light and in challenging lighting scenarios. The D5000 is the first camera I've owned that can take a picture at night and capture everything (and in some cases more than) my eye sees. And this is in Automatic mode (flash off), without a tripod, using an average-speed (f3.5-f5.6) Nikon VR lens. Truly impressive.

I went back and took the same night shots in the same settings with the same Nikon 16-85 VR lens and the results are noticeably better on the D5000 vs my D60. The difference between the D5000 and D60 is almost as dramatic (in low light) as the difference between my D60 and point-and-shoot camera. I've posted a few example images to illustrate.

Images captured even at ISO 1600 have exceptional detail and very low noise. Even when you zoom to 100% the D5000 renders these tough shots beautifully.

Highlights are controlled and not blown-out, while even low-contrast areas of the picture are captured.

2) Ability to capture details in challenging light, automatically

The D5000's ability to capture all details of an image, even at night, with areas of highly contrasting lighting is even more impressive than it's low-light performance. As some have noted, the D5000 has a tendency to slightly underexpose these pictures to preserve detail. (The D90 tends to over-expose these shots, illustrating that the D5000 is not entirely a "D90 in a small case".)

In one example (posted to the customer images), a night-shot of the famous Castro Street theater the D5000 captured the bright neon signs, architectural lighting of the facade, and even the mosaic tile and billboards in the very dimly-lit entry. All again in automatic mode, no tripod, F3.8 ISO 800. When I post the sample pictures they will tell the story better than I could ever describe.

I can only think that this performance is related to a combination of improvements over the D5000: 11 autofocus points, 3D matrix metering, next-generation Active D-Lighting, latest Nikon EXPEED processor.

3) No-compromises feature set that is still easy to use for the beginner

One thing that annoyed me about the D60 was its lack of some features (eg. bracketing) intended to "dumb the camera down". The D5000 has every control you would ever want, yet its menu system remains extremely easy to use even for a beginner.

Example features the D5000 offers that are not available on the D60:

RAW-JPG ability to select JPEG quality (Std,Basic,Fine)

bracketing (useful for HDR post-processing)

and I'm sure there are many others I have missed.

The D5000 also includes a number of additional SCENE modes (a total of 19) for the beginner used to point-and-shoot simplicity. Everything from Night Landscape, Sunset, Food, Pet Portrait, Sports, and more.

4) Useful Live View and Vari-Angle Display for those hard-to-reach shots

A first for Nikon, the D5000 includes a "vari-angle" articulated LCD. Despite the specs on paper (230,000 pixels vs the 920,000 pixels on the D90) the screen quality is outstanding very bright and easy to see even in sunshine.

Using the Live View mode, you can take pictures in hard-to-reach angles such as above a crowd, or looking up from a low angle, or taking a self-portrait. What doesn't work so well in Nikon's implementation is that the hinge is on the bottom of the camera, so if you're using a tripod your choices are limited.

New to the D5000 LiveView (not on the D90) is subject tracking, which keeps focus on a moving subject within the frame.

As others have pointed out, the D5000 LiveView autofocus performance is very slow. The more that I have used it, I must say that LiveView performance is probably worse than your point-and-shoot camera. Some other owners on the Nikon forums have reported complete failure of LiveView autofocus, although on my D5000 it works.

As it is, I compose 99% of my shots in the viewfinder, which gives you the super-fast response of a DSLR in the first place. For me the ability to use LiveView in hard-to-reach situations is a nice feature.

What could be improved?

Well, first of all, the video is more of a marketing idea the sound is monoral, you can't change auto-focus once you start recording, and the video has the infamous "jelly effect" when moving from side to side

Although the case is much smaller than the D90, it's still over 1/4" taller than my D60, and doesn't feel nearly as comfortable in my hands.

The tilting screen is great, but the bottom-hinge design is of limited effectiveness when using a tripod.

Live View autofocus is very slow for a D-SLR (even worse in some situations than a compact digital camera)

Auto White Balance just doesn't get it right with certain lighting. But it's easy enough to correct with a custom white balance (if you have the time when taking the shot) or post-processing the RAW image. I just don't understand why my $300 Canon SD870 does auto-white balance so much better.

All in all, however, the outstanding image quality especially in low-light, and features offset the very minor areas that could be improved. For that, the D5000 gets my 5-star vote.

I got this camera back on July, its serial number is inside the range of the recall. But mine havent failed yet after 2 months of full time use.

So I just wont send it to repair until it fails, crossing fingers here though. Anyway if it ever presents a problem I will just send it to Nikon since it has full warranty and Nikon's policies are to repair the unit no matter the time or when it fails, could be a lot of time, they will repair it fast for free.

Ok now to performance, this camera performs as good as the D300 or D90 step up brothers IQ wise. High ISO performance is top notch, a few reviews over the net show that it has less noise than D300.

This little consumer grade camera will do just about everything than other more expensive DSLR's. Like full manual settings, high exposure shots, D-Lighting, in camera editing, etc, etc.

The little screen is just perfect, the size and weight too. The menu is user friendly, everything it has looks like a true 2009 model. 5 stars, cant find a flaw.

This camera lacks an integrated autofocus motor, but that feature is for use of older lenses and some exotic ones. So it has 87 variety of Nikon and aftermarket lenses to choose from,

that is one of the reasons I bought this camera, saving money discarding a feature that I wont ever use since Iam new to phootgraphy and Iam just starting making my own lens collection, with only new AF-S type of lenses that come with their autofocus motor. It doesnt have a top LCD display but I really dont like them, they look old. They are usefull, but really not a need.

It has the video feature, wich it isnt as a camcorder quality but way better than a Cybershot, and its a DSLR so I wont go deeper about its video performance, wich anyway is HD 720p, for short clips is perfect.

The 4FPS continuous shot is quite good, not professional but works pretty good, almost no different or noticeable than the 4.5FPS on the D90.

The thing I like most, is the lightweight, coupled with my 70-300vr its ironic how light it is next to a ton of weight from other cameras with heavier lenses.

Cant go wrong with this little camera. This is a great choice if is your first DSLR, or if its your 2nd body. Because if you are serious about photography, for more money u can get a more solid, body with more features, that are usefull for the professional photographer. But for everyone else, this 12.3 MP sensor is the same as the D300 or D90. The Image quality brings a tear to the eye, Period!

Buy Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD (Body Only) Now

If you're looking at this camera, my guess is you've done your home work and figured out that if you want a good DSLR on a budget, your choice is pretty much down to D5000 or Rebel. I came to that conclusion fairly quickly but making that decision was not easy. On paper Canon had better specs for the price but both cameras looked close ...

There are numerous reviews comparing those cameras. Most of them are long, detailed and come to the same conclusion both cameras are good not really helping much at the end. So here I'll try to keep it focused and tell about the key differences which helped me to set my mind.

1. Low light shooting. Recently I went to a party and a friend of mine gave me his Rebel. What I didn't realize before is in order to autofocus the Rebel needs to pop up flash and fire it a few times. Of course, it's not at full power, but still it ruins everything because you can't take a picture without distracting people. You catch some interesting face, point, shoot and those few flashes totally distract the person. Nikon has a white lamp, it's enough to focus but most people won't get distracted. So if you plan to take pictures of people in party like set up Nikon gives you an advantage. (well, to be fair you can get an external flash which has a lamp for autofocus assist, but we are talking about the cameras here)

2. Tilting LCD. Rebel has bigger and better LCD. However, I'm not a paparazzi, but time to time i need to shoot over a line of people in front of me (parades, street performance, small crowded room etc). With the tilting LCD you can raise the camera above your head and still be able to frame the picture. I found that very useful and Nikon has an advantage.

3. Extra preset modes. Probably like the most people I used to keep the dial on "Auto" most of the time. And it worked ok most of the time. But I never could quickly figure out how to take a picture of my daughter blowing birthday candles or perfect sunset or something white on white etc. So when I tried the extra "Scene" preset modes on Nikon, I was really surprised how much better can those pictures be comparing to the "Auto". Try them out and keep in mind Rebel doesn't have many of those modes.

4. Feel. Nikon has very solid feel in your hands. Maybe it's subjective, but I do like this feeling.

So overall, Rebel does have a lot of specs slightly better than Nikon. It's smaller, lighter, the screen is bigger and has better resolution, it has more megapixels. Yes, it's all nice to have but this is a choice between good and even better. However Nikon offers some things Rebel just doesn't have (see above). So I bought Nikon and feel happy about it.

A few side notes. The cameras are getting better and better and in a couple years you'll be able to buy a much better camera for the same price. The lenses and flashes on the other side are not changing much and hold value really well. So if you have a choice, try to buy the best lense (and for an expensive lense don't forget to buy a protective filter) and flash you can afford and maybe save some money on the body and upgrade it in a couple years if some new cool technology pops up.

Hopefully my review will help you to decide one way or another.

Read Best Reviews of Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD (Body Only) Here

I did a lot of research before I decided to go with D5000 including going to BestBuy and other camera stores and handling the camera to make sure it feels right. In the end I got the best deal through Amazon (even though a D5000 kit at Costco had an unbelievable deal). I choose not to buy a kit because I wanted specific lenses with the camera. I wanted one lens that I can travel with without the need to change lenses and another that I can use primarily in doors in low light conditions. I got the Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM IF Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras and Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras lenses. I also got a Nikon SB-600 Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras and an Eye-Fi 4GB Pro SDHC Wireless Flash Memory Card EYE-FI-4PC to wirelessly upload pictures to my laptop (D5000 has built in support for Eye-Fi SDHC cards). Last week Eye-Fi came out with Eye-Fi 8GB Pro X2 SDHC Class 6 Wireless Flash Memory Card EYE-FI-8PC that has more features and almost the same price (bummer!). I also got UV filters for both lens to protect the expensive lens glass.

The cameras I compared before buying were, Nikon D90, D60, Canon Rebel iTL, xTi, etc.

I have used it for two weeks now with great results. Camera is very easy to use, I still have not looked through the manual and have been able to find advance setting easily. The auto-focus with both the lenses is very fast (faster if using the view-port than using LiveView). I still have not been able to find a camera case that I feel good with that is compact enough to easily carry around and I can get my essential accessories in.

One big factor for me for selecting this camera was the swivel lens. Being a big guy, I run into scenarios where I do not have clear line of sight to the subject I am capturing and have always wanted the ability to move the camera higher or away from my body to take great shots and the swivel LCD does a great job at it. My tipod mount has not had any problem with restricting the swivel movement, but I have seen it at a store, where the tripod mount was huge and restricted the LCD movement.

Again overall highly recommended camera.

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Having had the D5000 for a few months now, and having used it with a few different lenses, I figured I'd better chime in here, in hopes of pushing this one's rating just a bit higher. It's certainly deserving. One of the reasons this camera got a bunch of bad reviews all over the place at first was because of the recall. Definitely a bummer. But by the time I received mine, the problem had been dealt with, and I received a perfectly working model. So how is it?

In a word: fantastic. I've owned one other dSLR in my life, and it was a Canon, and it was a while ago. Needless to say, this was a HUGE step up for me.

In getting truly serious about my photography, this camera has been the tool I've dreamed of having for a long, long time. It's fast, light, takes wonderful pictures, and is reasonably priced to boot. The menu system is well laid out, and there's a very useful info button if you want the quick-and-dirty of what a particular setting does. I've used this camera with Nikon, Sigma, and Tamron lenses, and with all of them it has just performed seamlessly. Of course, now that I know everything there is to know about this camera, it only makes me want a D3X that much more. But parting with 7k for a camera is more than a little crazy, especially at my level.

So my parting advice is this: if you really, really know what you're doing, you'll probably be a little disappointed and somewhat limited by this camera. While it does an admirable job at higher ISO's, it's no $7000 camera. In fact it's no $3000 camera. Meaning that you will see noise at the higher settings, plain and simple.

But if you're not expecting miracles, then this little gem of a camera might just surprise you with a few.

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Nikon COOLPIX A 16.2 MP Digital Camera with 28mm f/2.8 Lens (Silver)

Update: Check images on my dalethorn site or dpreview.

The Coolpix A is small enough at 4.5 x 2.6 x 1.6 inches to fit into a closed zippered pouch that fits into an average shirt pocket, yet has a level of image quality that no other pocket camera can approach. I've shot a few samples that potential buyers can find on my website by searching my name. One of those, the bridge in rain and fog at ISO 400, has detail I've never seen in this kind of low-contrast image before. Since the Coolpix 'A' has a fixed 28mm effective focal length lens, it's most suitable for images where no zoom is required, or only moderate cropping would be necessary. This would be landscapes, group people photos, architecture and so on. The macro setting allows shooting no closer than ~4 inches, so the Coolpix 'A' would not be ideal for photographing small insects and similar sized objects.

Manual focus with the focus ring surrounding the lens is actually a manually-assisted electronic focus, which may obtain the same end result as a completely manual focus, but I wouldn't assume that the focusing distance it represents in one situation would hold true when the camera is moved and pointed at another subject, unless checking the meter on the screen confirms the proper distance. Focusing manually via the screen image is difficult or impossible without magnifying the image quite a bit, but then you would need to un-magnify to recompose, and that's a hassle. I would like to see a magnified partial frame superimposed on the screen while focusing so that recomposing is unnecessary. Perhaps there's a way to do that now that I haven't discovered.

I shoot most of my photos in bursts using the 'Continuous' option, which is a good way to increase the likelihood of getting sharp images when shooting handheld without a support. Since the Coolpix 'A' does not have vibration reduction, but produces highly detailed images, the slightest camera shaking in the hand could cause smearing of details in the photos. The downside of this kind of redundant burst shooting is having to compare multiple images on the computer at 100 percent view to find the sharpest image in the group. The Coolpix 'A's sensor type is 'APS-C', which is so large for this camera size that it required two major developments by Nikon: One, a special lens with a fixed effective focal length of 28mm, and the other a series of "microlenses" around the sensor to reduce distortions caused by having the camera's main lens so close to the large sensor.

The above developments are not new technology per se, but in making the smallest 'APS-C' camera to date, Nikon had to bend light to a greater degree than anyone else while insuring an undistorted final image. The Coolpix 'A' came with a neck strap only, which is odd given the design for a very small camera body. Since I had several wrist straps on hand, I skipped the neck strap and attached a wrist strap instead. There are lugs on either side of the camera, and strap rings are attached to those, so I removed the plastic protectors on the rings and then removed the rings, then attached the wrist strap to the lug on the right side. If someone wanted to carry the Coolpix 'A' in a pocket, and since dust can work its way into the camera and ruin the sensor, I recommend a small zippered bag like the Coach 'Clutch' series. Mine is 6.5 x 4 inches and fits the camera easily. For carrying on a shoulder, I use the Leica '18727' case, which is a perfect fit with a very classy appearance.

I don't have much to say about camera settings, since they're different in some ways than what I'm used to. Reading the manual is very important, at least to get the settings right. I shoot JPEG (.JPG) only, and I changed the default image quality from normal to 'Fine'. I haven't figured out the ISO settings yet I'm used to setting 'Auto ISO' for most shooting, but with the Coolpix 'A' in 'P' (Program) mode, I had to select a specific ISO, and I chose ISO 400. This works well for what I do, but it would be better if I could select 'Auto ISO' with a maximum limit of 400 or 800 as some other cameras allow. Maybe what I'm seeing here is Nikon's way of saying that 'Auto ISO' belongs only with 'Auto' dial modes and not P/A/S/M. The Coolpix 'A' is a very high quality and expensive camera, and I recommend against trying to skimp on batteries or memory cards, which are relatively cheap. Always use a genuine Nikon battery, and choose a name brand memory card with a good speed rating, with 16 gb or greater capacity.

I LOVE this camera. I was looking for a camera which produces great images and compact. My DSLRs are great, but I tend to leave them on my bookshelf and snap everyday pictures with my iphone. Once in awhile, would kick myself for not having a DSLR camera with me. Now, this one is with me everyday..

I do agree with the reviews out there about slow focusing on low light. But there's not a camera that's perfect for everything. One just have to pick the one that best suits one's need.

About wifi and GPS, all these extra features will add weight to the camera. For me, if there's a picture I know I want to share with my friend on FB, I would snap an extra using my iphone.

Can't wait to take this camera on my next overseas trip.

Buy Nikon COOLPIX A 16.2 MP Digital Camera with 28mm f/2.8 Lens (Silver) Now

I have Nikon Coolpix A and Nikon D800 cameras. The Nikon Coolpix A camera is highly compatible and complementary

to DSLR cameras due to its engineering and similarity during use. The quality of your pictures will astound you and anyone else who has the good fortune to see them. For a grab and go camera, your not going to beat it. I want to keep it with me all of the time, just in case. From a six generation photo family starting in the 1850s, you can bank on it.

Only negative is finding the Nikon camera case which is designed for the Coolpix A. I did talk my son into lending me one of his leather cases he uses with his Nikon Coolpix P6000. The P6000 is a great camera too. That claim is validated by Dr. Anson, head to the History Department at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock after I gave him a little over 3,000 pictures taken in Turkey, Greece, and Italy. He called those pictures spectacular. That compliment makes you feel good towards life. Thanks Nikon! L. Nicholson, Arkansas

Read Best Reviews of Nikon COOLPIX A 16.2 MP Digital Camera with 28mm f/2.8 Lens (Silver) Here

I've owned numerous Nikon SLR bodies over many years. I have a trove of beautiful Nikon lenses that I treasure. I traveled to the Netherlands in April-May and decided one of my SLRs would just be too heavy. I splurged on the Coolpix A.

The camera is unbelievable. Please note, it is a fixed focal length lens, but the optics are fantastic. The many diverse options and controls suit me perfectly. Most are consistent with the higher end SLRs with the addition of some very intelligent and useful ones. There is, for instance a quite serviceable close-up feature.

I have to add one unanticipated characterisic. I was in an accident in Amsterdam; hit by a tram. I suffered some broken bones, etc., but am recovering well. The camera was in my vest pocket and received the full impact. Some metal was sheared off the lens casing, but the camera is perfectly sound and fully functional. All I can say is "wow, and kudos to you, Nikon."

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Bottom Line Up Front: Exceptional images, tack sharp and great color. Quick focus. Quality build, feels good in the hands and handles well. All the essential settings and knobs are accessible. Highly recommend if your shooting style is compatible working with a fixed wide angle lens (28mm full frame equivalent). Light, small and unobtrusive. Discrete, not intimidating and doesn't scream "professional." An excellent carry around camera and back up to a full DSLR. Seems a bit pricey, but you're getting what you pay for high quality images. Great for street scenes and environmental portraiture. I consider the 28mm equivalent lens a bit too wide for tight head shots, but have used it with success in a pinch. I'm a professional documentary photographer and a pro DSLR mounted with a prime 35mm or 85mm is my primary tool of choice; however, there are times when whipping out a large intimidating professional camera wouldn't be appropriate enter the Coolpix A. I've been looking for a compact carry-around camera that will produce high quality images and this little Nikon fills the bill. I've been shooting the camera extensively for about a month now and have been very pleased with the camera's performance and the images that it's produced. Ensure that shooting with a fixed wide angle lens (28mm FX equivalent) suits your style. If so, then this camera is definitely worth considering. If you want a mirrorless camera that can change lenses or zoom, then look elsewhere. If you are looking for a compact, robust, rugged wide angle fixed lens camera that produces excellent images, the Coolpix A may be for you. Would definitely recommend seriously looking as this camera.

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Aiptek GO-HD High Definition 720p Camcorder with 3x Optical Zoom

I've owned this for about a week and am taking it on a trip to do a more complete analysis. I'll post back later. I currently have mixed feelings on this camcorder. It does take good video and is priced right. There are a few negatives to be aware of though which (I guess) are to be expected on such an inexpensive unit:

1. The battery life (for me) is sucking. I will take it on my trip for a better test and if the batteries can't record more than 10 or 15 minutes each it'll go back. If I can get the 30 minutes that it is documented to have, I'll be happy. Note: I do realize that 30 minutes is probably "up time" for the unit whether it is recording or not. The batteries are only 1000Mah and have a loose feel inside the camera too. Will a more robust non-oem battery be coming out?

2. The buttons (to me) were ackwardly positioned causing a "shake" on the camera... and I guess I didn't realize how much my other camcorder's image stabilization must help me. Really needs 2 hands to hold without a shake and I can adjust but really, I think that the design, grip, and button placement could be a ton better.

3. The thing completely froze up on me once and I had to reboot it by removing the battery. I read online there is a firmware update but haven't pursued that yet. And I don't know what the firmware actually fixes.

4. The sound quality is not consistant. Many times I speak as I'm taking the video and mostly it sounded like a towel was over the microphone. The quality of those further away from the camcorder was only marginally better. Almost like the gain is turned up to far or something? I don't know and will test further.

5. No lense cover? Come on Aiptek. That's just cheap and plain dumb. And if I find the lens starts getting micro-scratches over the next week or two it'll go back for certain. It does have a descent carrying case included though. However, the safty loop that you wrap around your wrist so you don't drop the camera STICKS to the velcro on the carrying case whenever you take it out or put it away. This loop will end up being frayed or looking abused shortly because you have to "umph" to rip it off the velcro. This makes me wonder how much real world testing went on before this cam hit the street.

Besides these negatives the fact that I can throw it on my belt and carry it on my trip without feeling encumbured makes me want to use it more before making an ultimate decision as to keep or return. It will really come down to battery life (maybe it will improve as I use the batteries a few more times) and sound quality.

Oh, and it does work with BOTH the A-DATA and Patriot 8G SDHC card that I have.

So I'm giving it 3* for now. Doesn't mean I'll keep it or bring it back... just trying to give a fair review. I'll update my rating (if possible) and the review after a real road test shortly.

UPDATE: 3 WEEKS LATER, AFTER ROAD TEST

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Well I really wanted this little wonder to work. And it did for the first day of my trip. Then it just quit working. The only thing I can figure is that the roads I was on (Tijuana) were very bumpy. It was in the protective case 100% of the time when not in use but the plastic shell housing must be tell-tale of the low build quality on the inside. It just plain stopped working. The screen backlight would come on, but the camera would not initialize. Conclusion: THIS ITEM IS NOT VERY RUGGED AT ALL. It does not hold up to any real use and certainly not the tumbling that my old Canon digital camera (s410) always holds up to. It is a dead clunker now and it is going back to where I purchased... fortunately... with a good return policy. Moral of the story is buy this only from a site that has a descent return policy.

I'm not upset. It was great just throwing the broken cam in the bottom of my laptop bag where it took virtually no room at all. That is the point of a "go anywhere" sized camcorder. I was willing to trade some features for price... but not ruggedness. After all. It is the size itself that makes it something you want to bring anywhere. I'm going to hold off and wait for a similar product that is rugged. It is only a matter of time. It is too bad Apitek didn't built something with more stamina but someone will and I'll be there to buy it when it is out. After all, other than the zoom there are no moving parts in this thing to wear or break. So it must just be bad build quality.

Amazon won't let me change my star rating but if I could, I'd rate it down to 2 stars: more than one star because of price, features, and innovation but no more than that because... well... it has to KEEP working in the real world.

In short, unless you are willing to treat this thing with kid gloves (and I pretty much thought I did) I'd avoid it. The cheap price is tempting, and only spend as much as you can afford to lose because if you read other reviews, you'll also read about the cheap plastic on the outside among other quality issues. I'm here to tell you that what is cheap where you can see it, is evidently even cheaper where you can't.

There are three reasons to buy this: 1) size, 2) resolution, and 3) cost. My old camcorder was huge, and the thought of lugging it around on vacation this summer in Europe motivated me to look for a new one. This thing fits in your pants pocket (the use of the SD card keeps it small). I wanted something with hi-def resolution so I don't look at the videos in 5 years on my hi-def TV and think how old-fashioned it seems. And I didn't want to spend a thousand or more dollars. This fit the bill on all counts.

Some problems: 1) There doesn't appear to be any image stabilization, so I've needed to hold on to it with both hands to keep it stable. 2) It deals poorly with movement. I'm not sure if this is the codec or the optics or what, but panning around can introduce some weird artifacts. 3) The zoom is quite noisy. If you're filming some quiet scenes, it's probably better not to zoom. 4) As with most camcorders, it needs light. It does have a built-in LED light, but it doesn't do much. 5) As with most camcorders, the microphone picks up the filmer's voice fine, but not the subject's very well. 6) The battery life is low. It comes with two batteries; you'll need them both. If you keep these limitations in mind, the size, cost, and HD resolution can make it worthwhile. If you can afford it, get the HV20 or another $1000 HD camcorder and many of the above issues will be reduced or eliminated.

A note for Mac users: I couldn't get my Mac to see the camera directly, but a card-reader plugged into the USB port could read the video/still files just fine.

Buy Aiptek GO-HD High Definition 720p Camcorder with 3x Optical Zoom Now

I picked up this camera not expecting anything much... but I was surprised!

The video quality is very good and its pretty much a no brainer to use.

For mac users it works great since its a .mov file . All I had to do was pull the sd card out of the camera and into a reader hooked to the mac and copy the files over... they play with quicktime as is with no further processing. I used quicktime pro to edit what I wanted and all went well. But since these are h2.64 files you will need to use viddy up or divx to send your creations to youtube.

Over all the camera exceeded my expectations. these kind of camera's are really designed for quickie type videos that you want to view on your pc . They are convenient because the file is ready to go with no need for tape conversion then the dreaded compression which take forever... they are ready set go as soon as you copy the file. Also a 1gb sd card yields 30 mins and a 2gb is one hour. the camera comes with TWO batteries.

For the price you really cant go wrong.

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I am fairly happy with performance so far. The zoom motor is loud. My wish list would be for a microphone in. Low lighting isn't too bad for video, but not good for stills (there is a good flash strobe though).

Docking station [called "Instant Theater" ] is for the most part a box padding [really is an alarm clock or whatever, I don't get it]. This "dock" doesn't really integrate well with this camera as it is designed for the lower end Aipek cams with mp3 function (this doesn't have that). It was hope that you could charge the battery or cam and it doesn't. You can only charge one battery at a time (there are 2 batteries in the box, last 30 minutes each) with either USB or DC adapter.

I ordered an 8GB SDHC card and it hasn't arrived yet so using a 512 MB card for now. The manual doesn't address the SDHC (at least the printed one), but I believe the web site at Aiptek does.

You save a lot of $$ over the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2, but the Sanyo does offer HDMI and 10X zoom. Most HD video files are so large that it is hard to computer-edit. I've found these files small enough with the H.264 codec that it isn't too bad. One can use NERO to do this [DVD burner suite]. The low light video is simply fantastic at this price point. The cons are mainly sound [mono only], lack of fine controls [maybe a plus], fantastic sills at 5 megapixels, no videotape, and small pocket size. THIS ISN'T A CHEAPIE TOY, it is well-built.

Two batteries came with mine ~ but remember only 30 minutes with each battery for video. You can charge through USB or AC adapter.

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I had this guy for 3 days before it went kaput, in those three days I shot nearly 3 hours of video, in various lighting conditions. So I think I got a pretty good taste of its capabilities.

First the Pros:

1. PRICE!! HD 720P for under $300...its a steal! Lose it or break it, you won't be crying (as hard) like you would over your $1200 HDR-CX7.

2. Size, its tiny, it literally does fit in your pocket, without you looking like you have a Camcorder shoved in your pocket. No excuse not to have it with you all the time.

3. Video is decent, especially outside in the sun

4. Shoots H.264 (Pro and a Con, as you will see later on)

5. Very fast power up and shooting time, no more waiting for a shot or between shots.

6. Looks sweet when playing back directly from the camera on my HD SRXD TV

Now the Cons:

1. Auto focus is awful, its loud and its no very accurate, I wish they at least gave you a manual focus ring to compensate

2. Optics are small, low light shooting is bad (what can you expect from such a little inexpensive camera though)

3. Its build quality leaves a little to be desired, you can see where they saved the money

4. 2 sets of cables to output HD Video, The camera has 2 miniplugs for AV output, one hidden under a tab (the HD) and one above it, not hidden. If you want to output to an SD TV the Yellow/Red/White work just fine, if you want to output to an HD (which I would assume is why you bought the camera in the first place) you need to open the tab, connect the composite cables Red/blue/green, then connect the analogue SD cables and steal the Red and white audio connection from them, leaving the yellow to dangle.

Don't get me started on the Audio Only "docking station"

5. Not many manual settings, or overrides, the controls are very very basic

6. The Audio recording is not so good, I think the problem is cheap mikes

Playback and editing (Be careful what you wish for)

I have an old computer, a P4 2.4 with 1 Gig ram, and Nvidia 7600 AGP video card. Playing the HD output files from this camcorder I was not able to get over 10 FPS, from the 30 FPS in the file (this is not a knock on the camera) The issue is the codec's complexity combined with my computer's old age made for a very frustrating playback (it almost made me buy a mac)

Editing was tough for my poor machine, to convert 6 minutes of HD into a FLV files of 640x320 took 3 hours! Again not the camcorder fault, but if you think you will be whipping off Discovery channel HD type documentaries with this baby make sure you have the rig to handle the task

The idea behind this camcorder is great, the price is even better they could have executed a little bit better, I was willing to forgive a lot of the short coming because of the price and the newness of it, and I probably would have kept it, had it not started adding the sound of film projector ticking to all my movies on the last day.

Remember a poor quality video, is better than no video.

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Canon Powershot S80 8MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Wide Angle Optical Zoom

When I was looking at which camera to buy I found an extreme shortage of reviews on the Canon Powershot S80. So I hope that my addition to the growing number of reviews helps.

The following format for my review will start with the Pros, then the Cons, and finally a small summary blurb about the camera...

PROS:

-Appearance

~The Powershot S80 is surprisingly small for the power it packs, which helps make it a suitable pick for anyone who travels.

~Style... I wouldn't be surprised if famous personalities started wearing this camera on their neck chains as "Bling". It is very sharp looking, though one can determine what they think of it by looking at pictures I suppose.

-Operation

~You can find out most of the information regarding this camera's operation and statistics on various websites, but I have a few things to mention that I was not able to find online, or didn't think of looking for.

~After using this camera it is easy to see that a significant amount of effort went into gearing it for point and shoot photographers. Have no fear though, it does offer advanced settings that I have not actually been able to play with yet on my S80.

~8.0 effective mega pixels (8,000,000 pixels) worth of resolution means for example, if you turn on the Macro setting (at least 4 CM or 1.6 inches from the subject) and take a picture of your index finger, then, upload it to your computer and zoom in on your fingerprint you will actually be able to see the tiny particles or dirt stuck between the many crevices that make up your fingerprint. It is really amazing. The resolution has been incredible for every photograph and video that I have taken thus far.

~The video recording capability of the S80 is unmatched for any other camera in its size or price range for that matter. One of the important factors that I was looking for when shopping for my camera was that the video format was basically anything but ".mov". The S80 uses .avi which means that you can use windows media player to watch the video that you record and more video editing tools to manipulate footage that you record. The video resolution of the S80 goes up to 1024 x 768 at 15 until you consume up to 1 Gigabyte of memory. I recorded a video last night and watched it (with the cables provided in the box) on my 32'' television. I am still amazed at how clear the image was. I will even go so far as to say that this camera will second as a camcorder for certain purposes, which would then imply that I think that it is a good 2 for 1 buy. Which it is ;-). You can also record in lower video resolution up to 1 Gigabyte too. If you are planning on using the highest quality picture and video settings, buy a SD memory card with lots of memory, I bought a 2 Gigabyte card myself. Ah, and I took a 48 second video on the highest resolution and the file was 87.8 Megabytes, which will give you some rough idea of how much footage you will be able to shoot on the memory card of your choosing.

~The battery and charger that come with the camera are great, the prongs on the charger can fold inwards when it's not plugged in (obviously). Which is good for travel. I have had my camera for 2 days now and I have not needed to recharge the battery yet, which is nice that I have been using it constantly to play with the settings and have taken almost 100 pictures or videos. Another reason that you might want a camera like the S80 is that it does not use AA batteries, or any disposable batteries for that matter. My old camera was A Kodak Easyshare 3.1 Mega pixel camera. I got about 8,000 pictures out of it before it died in a very irritating manner. It gradually got less and less use time out of new batteries until it would literally take 2 pictures and then turn itself off. Now it totally refuses to function. Also, my friend had his camera die due to a simple mistake in battery purchase, he put Lithium AA batteries in his camera (I forget the make and model, it was a 3.2 MP though) instead of the Alkaline batteries he was supposed to be using and it totally broke. I was amazed that such a simple mix up could kill a 200$ purchase. When I helped him bury his camera (in the trash) I swore to myself that I would only go with rechargeable in the future.

~For its size the S80 offers just a little more than the norm with a 3.6x optical zoom. Which is really cool. Don't even turn on the digital zoom. It's worthless and probably one of the worst ideas ever conceived. You might as well take a magnifying glass and hold it up to the picture, the quality suffers when you zoom in with the digital.

~The LCD screen is massive (2.5 inches) which is good for video playback and reviewing your photos before downloading them to your computer. It also appears to be very strong, which is a definite plus.

-Price

~Let me just put it this way, for what you are getting this camera is a bargain buy compared to most of the other cameras in its price range on the market right now.

-Accessories

~I bought the waterproof case for the Powershot S80, though I have yet to actually take it underwater I can say that It offers almost 100% use over the cameras controls. There is a way to rotate the dial (which is one of the controls on the back of the camera) by pressing the "share" button apparently, but I have yet to figure that out. The only thing that you cant do, well as far as I know, is turn off the camera wile underwater, though you can turn off the LCD screen which will save your battery life for ages. Oh, and something that I was concerned about because I couldn't find information about it online was whether or not I would be able to use the optical zoom and flash easily underwater. Well, you can, the case leaves room for the lens to extend as far as it can and the waterproof case comes with a flash diffuser that snaps onto the case in front of the camera for good underwater lighting. The case also comes with a... Well, I don't know what to call it but I guess I could say that its an "open ended chamber" (there is a real word for it but I guess that its just not in my vocabulary today) that snaps onto the exterior of the case for easy viewing of the LCD screen underwater, though it doesn't really seem necessary. There is also a nice underwater neck strap and wrist strap included in the package. The waterproof case comes totally assembled, and it's pretty easy to open and close. There are no good pictures of the case online that I could find at the moment unfortunately (well, ones that show the back where all of the controls are). But its very well put together and looks far more high-tech than I thought it would. As they say, engineers are the underappreciated (except monetarily) inventors of today's society. To summarize about the case; It supposedly goes up to 40 meters or 130 Feet underwater and remains watertight. Take care though, not all people are rated for that depth ;-). Oh and be sure to use the silicone lubricant for the rubber seal that is provided before you use the camera underwater. Just to be same make sure that you test your case underwater as a reasonable depth FIRST without the camera in it. Juuuuuust incase. I'm not sure if the Waterproof case is made for use in salt water, but I'm assuming that it is, I mean, who dives for and takes pictures of Trout that isn't either making a television documentary, or documenting their ventures in illegal freshwater harpoon fishing, hehe.

~The accessory kit for the Powershot S80 is a good buy if you are looking for a spare battery (which I recommend for trips without wall sockets (which of course, are the best kind of trips). It also includes a large, rugged, steel chain neck strap (which is much more convenient than the wrist strap that comes in the box with the S80. The steel neck strap is coated in plastic to prevent possible scratching on parts of the camera. You get a nice little carrying case that the camera will barely fit in, the carrying case has a strong belt loop on the back if you want to wear your camera on your hip with a belt.

CONS:

(The cons will need less explaining)

-I would have liked the Macro setting to be a little closer than 4 CM.

-The camera offers digital zoom (which virtually all digital cameras offer unfortunately).

-The lens is surprisingly noisy on camera startup and when you change the zoom. This isn't really as much as a problem as it's just that I take lots of wildlife photos and it might someday ruin a great photo opportunity if I have a close encounter with a frantic creature.

That's about it, I took a good long amount of time to try and think of more negatives but couldn't. I could probably add more pros but I think that this review is long enough. I have only seen 2 negative reviews for this camera and they were on different websites, one was because the person who bought the camera disliked the fact that the Powershot S80 changed to SD memory cards. That was the only reason in that review that I could find. And the other negative review was because the S80 does not give you the ability to shoot in the "RAW" format. Which could be a drawback for some of the more advanced photographers, but it didn't bother me that much. Anyways, that was my lengthy review. I tried to keep it from being dry which is tough when you're writing a review on something so technical, hah.

Oh, and if you were thinking about buying this camera, the only reason that you shouldn't is if you absolutely need the RAW format or higher optical zoom.

***RANDOM TIP: Remember to always BACK UP YOUR DIGITAL PHOTOS and other information. I was vacationing in New Zealand about 9 months ago and had my laptop stolen with every single digital photo that I had ever taken on it, none of which were backed up anywhere. The laptop was probably worth 500$, but all of my pictures of the vacation of a lifetime and everything before that(about 8,000 pictures or so) were priceless in the most literal sense. Just so I dont make New Zealand sound bad; It does have one of the lowest "violent" crime rates in the world and I have decided to move there for a year, It's actually the reason that I purchased my Powershot S80. Steal my pictures and I will just go back and take more, heh.

Thanks for reading,

Matt

I bought my S80 on the recommendation of those fine people at dpreview, who describe this camera as suitable for a serious photographer wanting DSLR capability in a compact. After a week of fiddling and testing in various conditions, I'm really impressed with both the camera and the accuracy of the dpreview.

No, this tiny little box will not replace your DSLR. It's small sensor and lens handicap it in medium and low light. Faint noise begins appearing in shadows at ISO 100, noise is visible at ISO 200, and very visible at ISO 400. You probably won't go beyond 4X6 size at ISO 200 with "good" results. Zoom is restricted, and there are some corner problems when the lens is wide. I've found it tricky not shaking this tiny, light machine when I press the trigger without support. Autofocus is reliable and efficient, but not "fast" by DSLR standards.

But at ISO 50 (and sometimes 100), this camera can shoot smooth, clean pictures with rich, accurate colors and resolution good enough for 8X10 prints (maybe even larger) that could be suitable for framing. For a compact, I think this camera's dynamic range is terrific---it can capture small tonal and color differences in both the light and dark areas of a picture almost as well as my Canon DSLR, and that's saying a lot. Even at ISO 200 and 400, when noise begins to mar the picture, you still get an admirable amount of detail and color.

And, wow, who ever heard of a compact non-DSLR that can fill an entire 1 gig card with continuous full size fine jpegs? In shutter priority mode, my S80 has shot 17 frames in ten seconds (7 frames in ten seconds in aperture priority) without having to come up for air! I used both SanDisk Extreme and Ultra II SD cards, and the little guy just didn't stop clicking.

There is no raw mode, but if you enjoy fiddling with your pics in Photoshop, take the sage advice from the dpreview people and turn down the constrast, saturation, and sharpness. You will get a raw-er jpeg image out of the camera, that can be custom tweaked in post-processing. I've been amazed at some of the results.

If you're accustomed to DSLR performance, you'll be giving up a lot when you put the S80 in your pocket and leave your camera bag at home. But I've been having a blast just exploring the limits of this camera, and am convinced it will capture some great impromptu pictures over the next year. The flaws I've noted tempted me to rate this camera a 4, but that just wouldn't be fair. The S80 is made to go in your pocket, and you just can't expect a cigarette box sized camera to perform like a two pound DSLR with an L lens. There are 8X10's I've shot with my S80 that look like they were shot with a DSLR, and that's why I'm impressed (again) with those guys at Canon. My S80 is going a lot of places with me. It is the best compact I've ever owned.

Buy Canon Powershot S80 8MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Wide Angle Optical Zoom Now

I had been extremely reluctant to forgo my beloved 35mm cameras and go digital. I own a Canon 7E SLR and an Olympus 28mm-80mm point-and-shoot. When I finally decided to go digital, I planned to replace both 35mm cameras, starting with the Olympus point-and-shoot. After much research, I decided to go with the Canon S80.

I have just returned from a 3 week trip to India. The S80 blew me away! I am so impressed with the camera's features that I have decided not to buy the Canon 20D digital SLR! For starters, the S80 packs a mind boggling amount of features. Just like Canon's SLRs, the S80 goes from fully automatic to fully manual. I have never before owned a point-and-shoot that allowed me to fully control the shutter speed and aperture. Sure, the S80 does have limitations vis-à-vis Canon's $1,000+ digital SLRs (for example, the shutter will only stay open for 15 seconds max). However, for the serious amateur (or a photo novice who seeks to improve his/her photo taking skills), I think this camera is perfect. It is surprisingly easy to use with intuitive features, especially if you are used to Canon's mode settings. I was pleasantly surprised with its flash. I can increase and decrease the megapixels of my pictures with the push of a button. The S80 is a bit thicker, and heavier than other 8 megapixel cameras. But the slightly increased size and weight is well worth the added features packed into the S80. I bought a CaseLogic pouch and carried the camera around my belt for three weeks, no problem at all. Finally, the zoom is "noisy." But seriously, who cares.

Oh, one more thing...be sure to buy a 1 gigabyte SD card that has at least 133X speed. The 32MB card that comes with the S80 is woefully inadequate considering that (a) you can only fit about 8 pictures at the 8 megapixel setting and (b) the card is extremely slow as compared to 133X speed cards.

Read Best Reviews of Canon Powershot S80 8MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Wide Angle Optical Zoom Here

I have owed many digital cameras over the past 8 years (at least 6), plus fancy Nikon SLRs before digital. I concider myself an amateur photographer. My last camera was a Canon SD500 (i carelessly dropped it hard and it died, it took other drops and was fine) I used it very often for about a year. I loved it!!! But it did not have the manual features I really like, but overall it did do most artistic type shots that I wanted. I personnaly prefer a quality small camera over any larger camera. I have also compared other brands use and prints, and nothing beats a Canon, IMHO. Canon's just seem to print out what you original saw on camera without having to make any changes on the computer.

The s80 is amazing! You just can't go wrong! It Canon's latest evolution as of Spring 2006. Its everything the SD500/550 is plus a lot more, although it is a bit heaver and larger, but not too much so. It is so easy to use and has a scroll wheel that is really effective. It has so many features and options, but the s80 still manages to keeps them fairly usable.

Please ignore other reviewers argument over RAW. Snobby purists insist on RAW. RAW takes hours of work for marginal improvements. JPEG is better for almost all applications.

Pros:

Does everything possible short of being an SLR!

Nice intuitive controls

Great picures with superb resolution and lighting

Really, it has everything!

Could be used as a web cam (with additional software)

Does higher res movies with audio (works great)

Does time lapse; braketing (three shots in one); flash offset

Cons:

Besides personal opinions of style, comfort, and

minors issues of SD vs. CF cards NO major Cons. I much

prefer SD cards (smaller, cheaper, more standard)

It has a slightly noisy zoom (not too bad)

If you have big fingers, it would be harder to use.

OVERALL, if you really just want point a shot camera, the s80 can do that, but is really more than you need, get the SD550 or A95 instead. Just about any 5-6mp camera will do most family snapshots.

If the 5-6mp camera can print 8x10s, why would anyone need a >6mp camera? A: Cropping, cropping lets a novice take about any picture that has way too much space over people's heads and frame it more professionally (according to books). Cropping can create better eye flow and more detail. Even cropped you can print great pics. Also, if you really want to print good poster size prints then 8mp will do the trick.

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*** Digital SLR vs. Digital Compact/Snapshot Cameras:

I have had many types of cameras and lenses. Overall each has its purpose and target user. But, I feal that a compact like the s80 has as many or more features and abilities as larger good SLRs.

I think that SLRs main current strength is that they have:

1) Easily changable lenses

2) Perhaps better f-stop ranges (greater depth of field)

3) Longer battery time

4) More shots per second

These SLR advantages do not outweight the large bulky form factor and high cost when compared to a good compact. The s80 is the first really good compact that meets or exceeds a good SLR in terms of features and resolution. The s80 meets 98% of my needs. I value being able to pull it out of my pocket for a quick candid type shot over having an obvious bulhy camera that it all too often stuffed in a camera bag. And when I need full manual setup with tripod and lighting and remote triggering the s80 is full cabable and its printed photos are as good or better that other SLRs I've used. Plus, it is much easier/cheaper to use underwater with special case (I dive it works great). Woefully, a compact camera just doesn't look very professional, but that is psychcological.

Want Canon Powershot S80 8MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Wide Angle Optical Zoom Discount?

Everyone has already written about the features of this product. I agree with them completely. This is the best point and shoot you could ask for. I just want to warn those of you looking to purchase...

I love this camera. I do not regret buying it. I travel all over the world as I currently work on a cruise ship. My old point and shoot was compact and convenient but took horrible low light pictures (low light meaning anything that was not outside). It was stolen so I needed to buy a new one.

I am a bit of a tech head and love gadgets. If I had my choice I would have bought the Canon 20D as I have been drooling over it for some time. But, the 20D is not always convenient for going to the beach, etc... So I bought the best point and shoot I could find. This camera is awesome.

That being said it also broken now. I only got about a month of use out of it. The problem starts with its size. Sure it fits in your pocket but is definately bulky. Basically what happened is that while it was in my pocket the slide cover slipped up and the telezoom lens tried to go out (this happens everytime you turn it on). It being in my pocket kept it from doing so and now the motor is broken and I have to send it for repair.

This was completely my fault as I was a bit careless.

I just want to warn those of you who want to be able to put this point in shoot in their pocket... DON'T DO IT!!!! Buy a case!

Otherwise, by all means, buy this camera. I love it and can't wait to get it fixed.