Panasonic HDC-HS100 Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 60GB Hard Drive & 12x Optical Zoom

The marketing is a bit deceiving. It states that it is full 1920x1080 HD. While it is true that it records in this resolution, the sensors' native resolution is not even close to 1920x1080, so the recording is up scaled. It's not even 1280x720. If you read the specifications on the Panasonic web site, each sensor is only 610k (1280x720 is 900k and 1920x1080 is 2025k). The x3 they advertize does not mean that the total resolution is 610k*3, because each sensor is for a separate color channel. Even if it was 610k*3, it still falls short of 1920x1080. The color contrast is really impressive, but the low native resolution produces an image that is grainy (even with sufficient light levels) when compared to other HD content on my 1920x1080 Samsung television. I have since returned the unit.

For the price I suppose it's a quality HD video camera you can get. Image quality is solid and the built in 60 gig storage is awesome.

If you have a mac, it will easily sync with any version of iMovie after iMovie '08. I had iMovie HD on my 3 year old mac and was disappointed when I found out I had to purchase a new version of iLife to unload the video files.

Another horrible design is in how you have to hook it up to the computer or TV. Apparently the designers are chronic crack heads because all ports are behind the battery. You have to remove the battery, use the charging cord to plug the camera into an outlet, then plug in the video cables or USB cable where the battery was. It's quite possibly the worst design ever because it makes it impossible to sync the camera with battery power.

If not for this horrible design flaw I'd love this camera. Every other aspect has made me happy. Well, the built in microphone isn't great, but it is okay. Due to the battery issue I do wish I had done a little more research to see if there's an alternative HD video camera.

*UPDATE (July 19, 2010): I originally rated this with 4 stars. I paid around $600 for this camera about a year ago. Now that I see it costs up around $1000 I'm dropping my rating to 3 stars. This is nowhere close to being a $1000 camera. Actually, due to the fact that all the ports are behind the battery I'm not 100% sure it's worth $600.

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This camera has a good options and very good for a home use. Great lenses and compact size make this camera very handy

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This camcorder is packed with features and is very easy to use. Being full HD the image quality is absolutely amazing. I was considering buying an SD camcorder and was so glad I decided to spring the extra cash for HD. Optical zoom is fantastic & it fits in the hand easily. Favorite feature would have to be its' easy compatibility with my Panasonic BD-60 Blu-Ray player. You won't be dissapointed with this one!!!

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I go from shooting video on the beach with my boy's to YouTube 1280x720 6000 b/s effortless using Pinnacle 12 Studio. With one click I either make MP4 or write to DVD or Blue ray. Now all that for 550US for the cam and 100US for Pinnacle.

I for one am verry happy

Essentials Bundle for Nikon D3200, D5100 & D5200 Digital SLR Camera and 18-55mm VR Lens with 3

there are a lot of things in the kit, the most valuable thing will be the wide angle and tele. if u put the wide angle on your lens, it will cut the four corners of the image. other stuff in the kit is fine

Kodak Easyshare C360 5 MP Digital Camera with 3xOptical Zoom

When I read the the other reviews it sounds like they're talking about another camera!

This camera is great.

I haven't had any of the exposure problems that the others talk about.

It takes great pics and great video. I hardly use my digital cam corder anymore because I usually have this camera in my pocket with a 1 Gig Memory Card, ready to go.

All video captures are not made equal. This camera has no limit on the video length, like most do.

Also, go to the Kodak site and compare the Video Size and Frames Per Second (fps) with other cameras and you'll see they don't compare.

For the price, I think you'd have a hard time finding a 5 MP camera as good as this one.

I don't know what the other reviewers are talking about. I bought this from Costco and it is awesome, I love it! There are so many modes to take pictures in!

It works pretty well under low light conditions, and the viewfinder is bright and easy to see. The controls are intuitive and easy to use. I just bought it for snapshots, but you could really get some wonderful shots with this camera! Much more than I expected. It's really small and compact. Mine came with a camera dock which is pretty cool to use. It also came with rechargeable battery so I am set! I love my new camera and will post some pics I took soon!

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Kodak C360 ($129+)This camera is very easy to use because it has automatic popup text messages that tells you what each setting is, the battery life is good (you should buy rechargeable batteries and 1GB of memory), and the picture quality is good even under low light conditions. (Night/close-ups You need to try different settings so your images do not look grainy or dark.) The unlimited movie play/record mode (depending on your memory card) is awesome. The playback is loud and clear. Other cameras did not do as well. And I really like the flashing green light when the camera is turned on/off just like a cell phone.

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This camera has all I expect...and more, great zoom, excellent resolution. And very easy to use no matter how your level of knowledge is in photography. The only thing I recommend to have in mind is the cost of batteries. Is better to buy rechargeable bateries (Niquel Metal).

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I received this camera/printer dock setup as a Christmas gift. I am always randomly taking pictures, and end up paying to develop film with pictures that either don't turn out well, or I didn't really want... So finally, I own a digital camera.

Although this is my first experience with any digital camera, I have to say that I have had ZERO problems with it. All the pictures look great; I love the autofocus feature (beware that when this is activated, it does drain battery power); the printer dock prints beautiful pictures just like having film professionally developed (this is a huge plus for me as well). I like that this runs independently from the computer I haven't even hooked it up to my computer yet because I haven't needed/wanted to share pictures. I like the small size, portability, ease of use for the camera and printer, the quality of prints, the quality of the stills and video, and the variety of preferences/options for use.

This would be a great camera for people who aren't highly computer literate, who don't require expensive high tech gear for professional photography, and who want good quality pictures without much hassle.

Savage 107" x 12yds Background Paper (#54 Charcoal)

While the thickness, color, consistency, and appearance of this paper seems very good, I lost over 10% of it even before I had a chance to use it due to its having ripped in several places during shipping. I realize this is just paper which is susceptible to tearing, but for this kind of money I would not expect that the first 4 feet of this roll would be useless. Perhaps you will be luckier than I was--but just be prepared to be disappointed.

Update: contacted Savage directly, and they promptly sent me a new roll free of charge. Great, responsive customer service!

JVC BN-V312U Lithium Ion Battery for GRDVM76/96 Camcorder

not easy to find this battery on the digital market. However, I find it here. I bought two batteries here. The durability is good. I will give five stars to this seller

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OKEBA 3 in 1 Mini DisplayPort |ThunderBolt to HDMI /DVI/ DisplayPort Cable Adapter for Apple MacBoo

The only reason I keep this one is...because the HDMI works; the rest...nope. My mcb air doesn't recognize the other outputs.

Very timely with delivery and the item is exactly what I expected. I have a small work area where I use a 13" Mac book pro and a second monitor. I run Mac apps on the main screen and a VirtualBox session running Windows 7 on the second screen. I have used the DVI port and the HDMI ports to connect to my 22" display and and both work as advertised. One issue I did have had nothing to do with the adapter, but my Mac didn't detect the proper screen size of my display so I used SwitchResX to manually set the resolution -no problems since then.

Great product!

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I got exactly what I paid for and hoped for. This does not feel cheap and works perfectly fine. Exactly what I expected paying a little extra for.

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VGA output is unstable, sometimes got black screen for a glance, so I use HDMI which works fine, haven't try DVI display.

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HooToo® HT-IP006 Outdoor Wired / Wireless Network IP Camera, Fixed Dome Camera with Waterproof Des

Well, the camera arrived on time, and I installed it. This is my fourth HooToo ptz camera, but the first one of this style with the enclosure, that I've purchased. It configured easily. Took about an hour to get it set up and tested for the features I use, and about 30 minutes to mount.

There was a quality control problem, which was somewhat easily solved. Although, it's a "gotcha" and would most likely drive a less experienced person crazy (I'll go over that further down in this review). The physical installation went well, but again, there is one small design flaw that was annoying, and which added maybe ten minutes to the process. However, over all, it was pretty easy and painless.

The camera was shipped and delivered on time. Out of the box, it was in good shape, and all components were there. I was pleased to see a 6dbi antenna, instead of the usual 3dbi that come with these low-end cameras. I did not have to do any readjustments or tweaks to the optics. Picture is Chrystal clear, and the 4x mechanical zoom is sweet. The ptz movement is nice and smooth, too.

Initial configuration of the camera is exactly like all the other cameras in this class (Hootoo, and other brands). Connect it directly to the router, via ethernet, find it's ip, connect and play with it to make sure everything works, and then set the admin password, ssid, wireless security configuration, etc. Then, disconnect the ethernet and test for wireless connectivity. This all went fast and easy.

I then took it out to the location and mounted it. It is a nice compact unit, but it is difficult to get a screwdriver to the screws. I had to remove the camera and housing from the base so that I could get a screwdriver to the mounting screws. Then, once the base is screwed down, remount the camera. Not real difficult, but I managed to lose two of the teeny tiny screws that hold the camera to the base. and now have to find a couple more that fit. Not a huge problem, but annoying!

The primary "gotcha" was the fact that the MAC address listed on the camera housing was not the actual MAC address of the camera! I found that out when I was trying to reserve an ip address , and set port forwarding for the camera (to view remotely, via DDNS). I had copied the MAC down from the one listed on the camera housing, but that was not the same address that the camera reported to the router. The MAC that the router sees is the "real" MAC address. The one listed as "Device ID" in the "Device Status" window (in the on-board management software) is also correct. The one on the case was 100% different (i.e. not a typo, or incremented by one, etc). This is sloppy quality control on the part of HooToo, and will probably prevent many people who buy their product from being able to set up DDNS!

The software cd that came with this camera is not too good either. I installed it just to see what it was, but intend to uninstall it. I don't think it would be real helpful in setting up the camera, and probably will add some confusion for the novice, or someone who has not dealt with these cameras before. Also, the little manual that comes with it is good for comedy relief, but not much else.

And finally, the camera does not see infrared. At night it will only see areas lit with normal light ... So, if you have a well lit area, then go for it.

This camera will work well for anybody that does not have a need for night vision. The 4x mechanical zoom is awesome. For those installing it, remember to verify the MAC via the router and/or with the management software in the camera. Also, the CD and manual that comes with it are pretty much useless, but this is no different than any other security camera in this class (including the more expansive Foscam). I did give 4 stars due to the lack of IR, but all other features of the camera are very good.

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NOTE: My original review of this camera was pretty harsh, because of the lack of night vision. I have changed my review, due to the extremely good customer service of Sunvalleytek. It has been amazing! They immediately went to work setting things right. Paid for the return of this camera, and sent me a replacement camera, which does have night vision.

Sunvalleytek provides good quality products, and superb customer service. I am now very satisfied with this Amazon purchase from Sunvalleytek.

The video quality is grainy. I wish some other people would post a video or snapshots of their camera so I could have compared it against others. I am not sure if my camera is defective or if all of them are like this.

Unboxing was easy. You must unscrew the dome, counter-clockwise, to get the foam out of the dome. It was EXTREMELY difficult to unscrew the dome. I wish I would have read that on here. Putting it back on was easier as I took a dot of dish soap and put it on my finger and went around the threads on the dome and was careful not to cross thread it when I put it back on. Just be aware that the dome may be VERY difficult to get off.

The software that came on the CD was not useful to me. I used the Ethernet cable and plugged it into my router so it would get an IP address. I went into the router and determined what the IP address was under DHCP client list. It was easy to identify as the hostname appeared as ipcam or something like that. I then hit the IP address with my browser (Chrome), logged in as admin and a blank password, and set the network settings. I set my camera to have a static IP, otherwise I'd be playing guess the IP every time my router reboots. Then I went into the wireless settings, clicked scan, clicked scan again, selected my wireless network, set the security settings (look on your wireless router security settings for the correct encryption settings), put in the wireless password (I really hope you have one), saved the settings, put some user accounts on it, and unplugged the Ethernet cable. I then tested it to make sure it worked on the wireless. I then mounted it to a wall, outside.

You will need to drill a 7/8" hole, possibly 1", to stick the cables through. I was a bit disappointed there wasn't a harness you could disconnect so you could drill a smaller hole. I didn't end up drilling a hole and ran the cable up under my eve since I mounted it on a shed building. The camera pans all the way around no problem. You can adjust the left and right endpoints of the horizontal pan by using the two small screws at the top where the top of the dome connects to the mount. I mounted mine to the corner of my shed to get even a better viewing angle. I did this by bending the mounting bracket ears to about 45 degrees instead of the 90 degrees they were originally at. I did that using a vice, vice grips, and then finally mounted one ear of the bracket and then held the camera securely with one hand while tapping the other ear with a hammer to get it flat against the wall. Holding the camera made sure it didn't get the vibration from tapping on the mount with the hammer. Mounting was quick, it only took me less than half an hour. Once it is mounted, get power to it and you're good to go.

One thing I am disappointed in is the vertical pan. It can't pan up past the dome. So essentially I can't get a picture up hill. That is aggravating for me since my camera is mounted at the bottom of a hill where my horses are. It would have been great at the top of the hill! I figure most of them have this limitation, but I thought I would point it out. Technically if the camera were lower in the dome and then allowed to pan upwards more, it would be possible to make a PTZ that could pan up higher, so maybe the expensive ones do. Horizontally you couldn't ask for more. Unless you mounted it to slim pole or hung it by a string, the camera's blindspot is simply your wall, which you don't need to see. The zoom is ok, the optical 3x is better than nothing.

The web interface is easy to use. If you want to use IE to use the ActiveX component, which allows you to record video (that is what I used for the video), then you'll need to go into IE, add it to your local intranet zone or trusted sites zone, and configure the local intranet zone (or trusted sites zone) to prompt for installing and running activex by untrusted publishers. For goodness sake don't do this for your Internet zone for security reasons. Personally I use Chrome or Firefox most of the day so I don't care for the ActiveX component.

I was able to easily poke a hole through my router. The camera only works on port 80 so it is disappointing that your credentials are being transmitted over the net in plain text. Hence, use a password you don't care to lose. I used my router settings to put it on a different port on the outside of my router since I don't like running things on port 80.

Personally I use IP Cam Viewer (by Robert Chou) for Android to view it remotely. All the PTZ functions work with it. I found an article on the Zoneminder forums about getting the HooToo cams to work with Zoneminder, although I couldn't get it to work in 90 seconds so I gave up for the moment.

I will be curious how well the mount and dome stand up over a couple years outside. They seem painted good so let's hope for the best. The dome has a rubber seal so I don't expect it to get condensation in it.

My primary purpose was to add to several other bullet cameras I currently use on two other systems. I wanted to be able to pan around and watch my horses in the pasture while being able to track anything else I wanted. I should also mention I am on satellite Internet since we can't get DSL or cable in the boonies. It seems to work fine, although because of the satellite latency the PTZ is not as quick as if you are sitting at your computer at home. However, it's good enough for me. I'll use the bullets to identify someone if God forbid I had to, and this HooToo to be able to give me peace of mind watching my horses in the pasture.

UPDATE: I did contact HooToo support who offered to refund my money for the camera. I am in the process of obtaining a new CMOS sensor board (the part that captures the image) to see if I can get a better picture from the camera. If so, I will post an updated video and would definitely give the product a higher rating.

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I bought this camera to use as a barn cam to view my cattle while they are calving. It arrived in good condition and installation was tricky but acceptable for someone with computer/network experience. The IP Camera Tool software that comes with the camera is useful for obtaining the IP address. It is necessary to have DHCP enabled on your router for the tool to locate the ip address. The IPCamClient software that came with the camera is good and allows up to 64 cameras to be attached, and port forwarding to view the camera remotely. There are only 9 preset positions, but otherwise it works well. I found an updated software version on the web that worked better than the version on the disk, which seemed to have some glitches. The picture quality is quite good when there is adequate lighting. Daytime viewing is in color which is accurate, but night time switches to b/w. The IR led lights around the housing cast a limited amount of light in total darkness, but seem to help when there are some lights on. The zoom is a useful feature but could be higher power. Auto focus, white balance, and iris function are good. PTZ control is good wired but a little jumpy when used wireless. Once you have your presets set it works well. I have tried this camera in two locations. The first was outside mounted on a yard light pole. Daytime viewing was good, but nighttime was not bright enough. The second location is in a 40X80 calving barn. With several lights left on this camera is working well, but in total darkness you will only see shadows up to about 20 ft. I purchased a Loftek camera after this one because it looked identical and was cheaper, but the picture quality has not been as good. Overall, this is a good camera for daytime use and with supplemental lighting. The lens is good quality and the camera seems to be well made. It has been operating for about a week. I will update after I have used it for a longer time.

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Good camera with a decent picture. I mounted this in an upstairs window to keep an eye on my courtyard. The PTZ function works flawlessly. The set-up was very simple. Overall, amazing camera for the price. This is a perfect solution to log into your camera system software online from anywhere in the world and see what's going on at your house/business/etc. Additionally, Sunvalleytech's customer service was AMAZING a lost art in today's world. Overall, pleasantly pleased with the product and the experience. Keep in mind, this camera is not onvif compatible. So if you have a NVR that requires onvif compatibility, this camera will not function through your NVR. Again, this is a perfect online solution camera.

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The setup for this camera is nearly identical to the other brands on here, and if you run into any problems there's a wealth of info on the forums. It always helps to do some research first, and it can save you a lot of headaches especially if you are not the tech saavy type.

Overall, I was surprised how easy this was to setup. I basically just plugged it into my router via a cat5 to access the web interface, setup the wifi, then moved it to my place of choice. I was happy with the quality of the video and smoothness of the pan & tilt, and the zoom in/out function is a plus. The infrared night vision works great, and for android phones, I recommend the TinyCam monitor pro app for $3.99 which works with the Kindle Fire as well.

Unfortunately, this doesn't have a mic/speaker so look elsewhere if you need one with that feature. However for an outdoors camera, I would say it isn't really needed.

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Nikon COOLPIX S9500 Wi-Fi Digital Camera with 22x Zoom and GPS (Black)

I have had a Nikon Coolpix S600 for 5-6 years now and it has been my go to camera to have around because of it's handy size and it has never let me down, except that recently the zoom function is intermittently working. So, I decided to replace it with the S9500 and just got it this past week and really wanted to put it through the paces a bit to see how functional it would be around town and in the field.

The wi-if transfer is really handy when your out and about and want to transfer photos to a cell phone or tablet that has data capability so they can be uploaded to a website or to just back them up on another device. I used my iPad and the free app from Nikon called Wireless Mobile Utility (WMU) which can be found in the App Store, it's really quick and easy to use. It also allows you to setup your camera and remotely take pictures with the app, I found that I could only be about 30 feet away from the camera with my iPad before the wi-if signal was lost so it has range limitations.

The 22x zoom is fantastic for this size of a camera, it takes really nice clear photos even zoomed all the way out. The anti vibration works well also if you al moving about and taking action shots.

One big complaint I have so far is the placement of the record button for starting video recording. I have hit this button numerous times on accident and there is no way to disable the video record function, it's always at the ready when you are in photo mode.

I will probably update after more use (especially in low light situations), but so far this camera is great for what I will use it for. I love concerts so that is my main point of having a camera and then for family/friend get togethers. I love the zoom on this camera and the many functions it comes with. I can easily and quickly touch up photos right on the camera, which is a great function. The GPS is there too, if needed, but I haven't really had the need to test that out. It powers on quick, there are several settings to choose from, the look and feel of the camera is great! I'm not too fond of where the flash is because I always end up putting my finger there to take a picture and have to remove it for the flash to come up, but that's just a habit I'll have to start putting my finger elsewhere!

I originally went in to buy the Nikon P510 because I heard that was great in low light and has amazing zoom, but it was just too big for me at this time. Maybe down the road I'll go toward that size, but it's not for me right now and was informed the S9500 had really good zoom and low light qualities as well.

Two reasons for the 4 stars are:

You have to charge the battery IN the camera. The camera doesn't come with an external battery charger. I had to buy an external charger (another $20) that plugs directly into the wall without the cord to charge the battery outside of the camera. Nikon does sell an external batter charger for this but it's a charger that has a 4 ft cord that plugs into the wall case that came with the camera, again, not very functional unless you don't mind a long cord to charge your battery. The cord for me would have sufficed if I couldn't find a different charger, but I did. This comes in a few days so if it works, great! If not, then I will go back and get the corded charger.

The second reason is the WiFi. Not a deal breaker for me, but it seems to be a bit finicky and doesn't stay connected very long. The app needed for the WiFi isn't the greatest and the functions are very limited and you will need to set the settings on your camera to where they need to be before connecting WiFi because once WiFi is on, you cannot change settings on your camera (unless I'm missing something), only through your phone and those functions are limited to zooming in and out and is not quick at all. It also took me some time to get the WiFi to connect, but I think this was because the instructions on it weren't the clearest.

Overall, great camera for what I will use it for and the WiFi and battery aren't deal breakers for me. I will update later once I put it to test in a concert setting.

Update 4/28/13: I took this camera to a concert last night and was rather impressed. It took great pictures in the low light and the zoom is awesome! I didn't zoom to the fullest as it wasn't needed, but am impressed. And my battery was hardly used at all and I took about 100 pictures within a matter of a few hours.

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In the couple of weeks I've had the camera, I've really enjoyed it. In good light, it takes great pictures with vibrant colors and the flash works very well. The menu system is well designed which provides easy access to all of the camera's functions. I especially like the GPS features and panorama and 3D modes. Of course, the 22x zoom is great.

One big problem however is the cameras operation in even moderately low light situations. There are times when it refuses to focus even in normal indoor lighting especially when the zoom is being used. This prevents even taking a flash photo. It's especially frustrating since it seems to start out with a good focus and then veers away from it when it locks in. I'm hoping this is just a bug that could be fixed in firmware. My son's camera from a competitor works perfectly every time in identical situations.

The omission of an AC adaptor that allows operation of the camera (in addition to charging) is baffling. The cumbersome battery substitute adaptor is a poor alternative to this obvious feature. Not a deal breaker though.

Most importantly, certain basic functions are missing from the firmware. It's as if a marketing guy told the engineers to get rid of every extra item that could confuse a user rather than sensibly tucking them away into a separate area for when the user gains more experience. Here is a list of seemingly simple changes that I hope find their way into a firmware update before I have to decide whether to return the camera:

1. Get rid of the GPS log warning when powering down or at least let the user dismiss it. Waiting 10 seconds before you can put it back in your pocket gets annoying very quickly.

2. Provide basic shutter and aperture priority modes. The camera often makes wrong decisions, especially in dim light, and this would provide a fallback.

3. Provide additional focus modes for infinity (without having to be limited to a landscape scene) and maybe a distance focus control for situations where the automatic modes don't work. This may not be necessary if the engineers can get the low light focusing to work properly.

4. Allow control over how long the preview shows after taking a picture.

5. Allow edited images (zoomed, softened, etc) to be transferred via wifi. The instructions don't say they can't be transferred but they are disabled with an X through them on my iPhone with the Nikon app.

6. Allow full res images to be transferred to a smart phone via wifi.

There are probably more missing basic features but these are the ones I noticed right away. The first three especially are reason enough to return the camera if they are not fixed. It would be a shame for such a great camera to be hobbled by substandard firmware. Since I generally enjoy using the camera, I really hope Nikon is listening and has the technical skills to fix the problems.

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I was excited to get this camera as I'd had earlier versions of this Coolpix series and overall they are great cameras. It takes a good photo and is easy to use. But after using it for about 2 weeks, it started freezing after taking a few shots. I'd have to take the battery out to reboot and after that it would work for a few shots. The problem is getting progressively worse and I'm sending it back today for repair. For it's class this is a relatively expensive camera and it's disappointing to find this problem with the Nikon. Now in surfing the net I see that this is a more systemic problem than a one off outlier as I see others are reporting this too.

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The Nikon S9500's wide angle and premium zoom were excellent features that worked well. I had the camera for one day when the battery, after a couple dozen shots needed to be recharged. It charged for several hours but the error message was only ever "battery exhausted." I was exhausted trying to get it to charge. This camera seemed to have a lot of potential but didn't want the headache of dealing with something that didn't work well right out of the box so I took it back.

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Lilliput 569ho 5" On-camera Hd LCD Fireld Monitor W/hdmi in Hdmi Out Component in Video in Video Ou

I decided to buy this 5-inch monitor as opposed to the 7-inch versions because I shoot with a GH2, which is a small camera compared to other larger DSLRs. This monitor is jus the right size and looks great on my rail system next to my follow focus! They buying experience was somewhat of a hassle. I purchased this for the first time a month ago from the VIVITEQ seller. It arrived with a cracked screen (not their fault) and a couple accessories missing and/or not as described on Amazon. The battery was not a Sony-F550, and there wasn't a Sony adapter plate, so I couldn't even use the battery that was included! After contacting VIVITEQ, they offered to replace the damaged monitor and to get me a Sony plate adapter, but they said they don't have the actual F550 style batteries in stock. Since I have a few F550 batteries already, my main reason for purchasing this unit was so it could run off those type of batteries. I decided to return the item, and once I got my refund I re-purchased it through the only other seller listed at the time, SmallRig. What a difference! Even though they ship from overseas, it arrived via DHL in about 4 days! Everything I expected was included in the package, plus extras that I did not expect. There is a 7-inch adjustable arm designed to mount the monitor to your rail system! This was something I thought I'd have to purchase separately (about $20-$25) but it was included!!! Also there is some other device, but it's not exactly clear what it is so I won't try to explain it. There is no base mount to support the monitor "off-camera", but since I plan to have it attached to my rig at all times that doesn't matter to me at all. Overall, the hassle to finally get the correct version of this product was well worth it! I hope you can learn from my experience and if you really need the F550 battery option and want the adjustable arm included, go with the SmallRig seller and not VIVITEQ.

The picture is not as crisp as some monitors out there, but other monitors cost between $500 $2,000. So, for the money it's a solid product.

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Nikon D800 Digital SLR Camera Body with 24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S ED Lens + (2) 32GB Cards + Case + Acces

I always like the package deals that amazon provide in there sales and I couldn't pass this one up because of the 24-70mm f/2.8 lenes with the CF cards sold me on the deal the camera bag and cleaning things was just the cherry on the top.

Q-See Premium CCD Camera with 100 Feet of Night Vision QD5401B

I have these same cameras but rated at 60' of night vision. This camera cost a lot more but I don't see much difference between them

I bought this camera to replace another Q-see camera that had failed, amazingly after the warranty expired it expired. Now this one has done the same thing, but it at least did it before the warranty was up. The housing seems very solid, but the electronics in it apparently are not. The image was blurry on the edges and the night vision is barely 30 meters. The camera started to intermittently quit with out warning.

The only good thing I can say about it, the company normal replaces them with little issue when they are under warranty. Other than that, I would not purchase this item again. Definitely not worth the cost. Next time I will look to buy from a different maker.

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I have no problems with it it does what it is suppose to do, the video is good it has good night vision.

Read Best Reviews of Q-See Premium CCD Camera with 100 Feet of Night Vision QD5401B Here

Canon VIXIA HG20 AVCHD 60 GB HDD Camcorder with 12x Optical Zoom

I got this camera today, I wanted to get HG10 as it is cheaper, but I went with this one as it has higher Hard Disk capacity with small price difference.

The first test video taken was indoors and with low light, I noticed lot of dots in the frame, however, after setting the AWB to indoor and exposure to low light, the video looked much better, then I tried the sport setting with 24p and the video was impressive!! I hooked the camera to my 40" HD LCD TV, and the colors and sharpness are breathtaking!!

One tip is to use the P (Programmed AE) setting with different selections of White Balance, the LCD screen is clear enough to make a quick decision on the fly to pick the best selection, I used 3 different settings walking in day light, then on a shady area, then inside a shop.

One thing to note that the battery works only 2 hours, Canon offers better battery with 4 hours duration priced around $100.

You also need to read the pros and cons of the video codec, there are lot of information on the Canon HG10 reviews, and very useful. In general the higher the frame bit rate and resolution, the longer it will take to process and edit the video and much longer to burn it on DVD or BluRay.

I actually found out that Google's Picasa 3 application (free download) can open the videos recorded by the camera, this tool can export any clip (or portion of it) to wmv format, once the file is exported, you can use any video editor like Microsoft Movie Maker to compress the file or change it to DivX format, etc.

Great camera. The biggest flaw is not the 60 gb drive which is bigger than you will ever need, or the menu interface which is easy, intuitive and user friendly, the biggest flaw is the lack of the view finder on this camera. Big deal you say, its got a modern screen instead of a view finder, but that modern screen in really bright sunlight kinda washes out (like all those screens do) and might lead you to adjust the settings or force you to trust your autoexposure when you are taking those priceless outdoor shots. The hg 21 has the eye piece viewfinder which is a reliable indicator of what you are shooting in those conditions, but for the extra 300 USDs it's hard to justify. The AF is super in this camera, no distiguishable periods "out of focus" as you rapidly zoom in and out. Also the head set or yellow AV jack, is a must have. Ever record tons of footage and find out the only thing you can hear is the wind buffetting your microphone? Record wearing regular ipod type headphones and you don't have to review the footage to find out if you have the shot. Don't get a camcorder without that or the mic input which this camera has. Terrific simultaneous video record and still photo to the regular full size SD card, cool, works great. Requires class 4 SD card, the speedy type. I think the HG21 with the 120 gb has tons of storage, but it's overkill and takes longer to do a full hard drive clean than the 60gb hg20, but both have a quick clean function for the hard drive. Finally don't expect much from the packaged software if you really want to edit. Corel has pro x2 which works great for avchd. Last thing is the battery. It charges when the camera is pugged in and it works great. I was made to believe that this camera is useless without an external charger and tons of extra batteries, which is not true, 95 min is good. Or just stay plugged to the wall. As a guy who typically struggles with technology, I hope all my "research" helps some one else and as the owner of the hg20 this camera delivers and is simple for anyone to use.

Buy Canon VIXIA HG20 AVCHD 60 GB HDD Camcorder with 12x Optical Zoom Now

The HG20 is great. Super Picture. Sound is ok. The HDD makes some noise. SW runs on older PC with 1 GIG Ram and 2.5 GIG Pent. But its right at the edge. Could use a Video Light. Cost goes up and down on this model a good bit. Computer HDD space to edit and store will need to be high. Mini HDMI cable is a must for HD sets. Did a test with A HD tv, by recording the TV. Its interesting. Have not tired yet with a IR light source. When the Cam is off, the Lense protector shakes a little. Battery is min. Will get High cap battery for trips. Lots of Warnings on Care for this unit. But at a good price, this unit have a lot of value. The HF10 and HF100 are good buys also. the HF11 is much more. The HG21 is much more, but has some added features of a view finder. Camrea Mode take Point and Shoot Pictures will. But you have to be still. Lots of manual controls. The Menu system takes a little getting used if you are use to the old canon MiniDV. Wanted to wait a little more, but the old canon ZR45MC is past 6 years. But it analog pass thru. I may use that or a Dazzle unit to put video for family and the web instead of trying to convert the MT2S files. With the video files as big as they are, having a Laptop will not be good with the unit or any HD machine.

Again wanted to wait, but old camera was looking pale on HD TV.

Good Things:

60BG harddrive, LP and SP still good for video.

Optics are great. 12X. Attachments.

Easy Button

Connections (HDMI, USB, Analog outputs), Mic in, Head Phones,

Lots of things to add on with Canon (battery, Optics)

Card Slot option

Auto Lense Cap.

Bad things,

Joy Stick control on view finder.

Heavier than Full Flash based unit.

Some Rattles (Not in function mode, just in off mode with Lenses Protector.)

Not much Software or Hardware to edit with. (Vista Requirements seem twice that of XP).

Things to consider:

Add Battery Pack (One big one, or 2 small ones).

Tripod

Optics (Filters, Wide Angle, Telephoto)

Video Light for low light.

Quad Core, 6 MB Ram, 1 TB HDD computer for editing video.

Read Best Reviews of Canon VIXIA HG20 AVCHD 60 GB HDD Camcorder with 12x Optical Zoom Here

My wife and I were looking for something to replace our aging DV camcorder, and decided to step up to HD.

Since we've been happy with our Canon Digital Rebel XSi SLR, and the XTi before it, Canon seemed the logical choice.

The biggest obstacle in choosing a new camera was deciding between the HG20 and the Canon VIXIA HF10. After a ton of research, we found that the HG20 and HG10 are basically the same camera. The HG20 has a 60GB hard drive, the HG10 has 16MB flash. Beyond that, the optics and Digic processors are the same (though the HG20 is capable of recording at a higher bitrate, due to the hard drive).

Since the HG20 gives you the option of writing to SDHC cards, it seemed a better value.

We've had the camera for just over a week now, and the image quality is generally outstanding. In low light, the HG20 produces an acceptable picture, though it is a bit grainy and "digital" looking. With adequate light though, the picture is outstanding.

The image stabilization works better than expected, especially when you're zoomed in, but keep in mind that this is the primary reason it's there. If you have jittery hands and aren't giving some thought to what you're shooting, you're still going to produce movies that look like they came from any old camcorder.

Taking still pictures is reasonably easy, and the camera's ability to focus and take a decent photo at full zoom is incredible. However, if you have a digital camera that's less than three years old, it's probably going to take better pictures. This is definitely a "nice to have" feature, but you shouldn't go in to this expecting it to replace a point-and-shoot digital camera.

If you're familiar with Canon Digital Rebel, PowerShot, or Elph cameras, the menus on the HG20 will make perfect sense to you. All of the settings are where you'd expect them to be. And if you're not familiar with other Canon products, learning the menu system is quite easy.

Now, some caveats...

Right off the bat, editing AVCHD video is going to pound on your computer. If you're using a Mac, a current-generation MacBook Pro is probably the minimum you'd want to use for any sort of editing. On the bright side, iMovie 08 (and 09) will see this camera and do its thing without any hiccups. But actually getting a full-res movie from the camera to your computer is only marginally faster than DV (to those who may be confused: it takes about as long to import the video as it does to play it).

The next issue -which is true for so many Canon products -the Genuine Canon accessories are ridiculously expensive. Unlike their digital cameras to date, a third party battery isn't going to work 100% properly in the HG20. So if you're not prepared to deal with not knowing the "real" charge on your battery, plan on spending more for a battery. The included battery claims to get about 108 minutes on a full charge. Step up to the Canon BP-819 Lithium Ion Battery Pack, and you'll get in the high 200's without having a massive battery pack jutting out of the back of the camcorder.

On a similar tangent, a big irritation for me is that you have to connect the camera to wall power to import video to your computer. If you're planning on going on the road with your camera and laptop, you might want to look at a power inverter for your car. Otherwise, you're not dumping video until you get home (or somewhere with an outlet).

That said, there are some universal accessories you can pick up without breaking the bank. I own these all, and can confirm that they work just fine with the HG20:

Tripp Lite Mini-HDMI to HDMI Cable (6 feet)

Lowepro Edit 140 (Note: this bag is just about perfect for the HG20's size, and can hold all of the included accessories, as well as an HDMI cable and two filters)

Sunpak CF-7026 UV 37mm Ultra-Violet Filter

Sunpak CF-7051 CP Circular Polarized Filters 37mm

Now that the 2009 models are out, you can pick the HG20 up for an excellent price. Considering the features and picture quality, the camera is a great value. And as long as you go in to it knowing you're going to need to spend some more money for accessories (or computer upgrades, video editing software, etc.) you won't be disappointed.

Want Canon VIXIA HG20 AVCHD 60 GB HDD Camcorder with 12x Optical Zoom Discount?

This camera was on sale for $300.00 off MSRP at a local chain Amazon.com had it even cheaper, but I was in an unusual hurry to tape my son's event that evening. I wasn't looking for an HD quality recorder, but for the price, I couldn't really pass it up!

This thing has an "Easy" button, which meant I didn't need to read the manual before heading out. I packed up my tripod and set up my camera within a few hours I used the power cord.

The camera performed very nicely, auto adjusting for lighting condition and color, with the "Easy" button turned on. If you have ever video-taped in a gymnasium, you know how not-wonderful that light can be.

The next morning I installed the included software to convert the AVCHD format to AVI for editing in Pinnacle Studio 12, Ultimate. While I had a lot to learn about the editing software, the camera software transferred the file very simply [I had read terrible reviews of it, but seems to work well.]

My final movie was proof that the camera adjusted well for lighting conditions, and that the stabilization and auto focus worked nicely. I don't think one could go wrong with this camera it seems to be a lot of bang for the buck. I can't wait to get into the advanced, priority modes, and other features.

Caveats??? Of course you knew there'd be something I'd only given four stars!

1 Small battery, but detailed battery meter. You will need to get a back-up. A high-capacity battery is available;

2 Battery only charges on the camera no separate battery charger;

3 No on-camera view-finder. For that you need the HG21, and a few more $$$.

4 Only 12x optical zoom. BUT... I normally won't use digital zoom, but I needed it to get in close enough my son was across the gymnasium. The digital artifacts were not distracting it did a very nice job. ALSO, note that a telephoto extender, and a wide angle adapter, are both available if you need this capacity.

So far, that's all I've got. I thought I had some "buyer's remorse" at first, but when I saw the output, that went out the window. Thank for reading I hope this helps.

REVISITED 05/10/2009:

So... That was a very encouraging review, wasn't it? Well, sorry to disappoint... I took the Vixia HG20 back... it even cost me a restocking fee to return it. "But why?" you ask... Go ahead, ask...

Although this camera made phenomenal videos, and was lightweight and very easy to use, and had great features, the most important factor for me was edited output. I don't think it is this camera's fault. From my research I have discovered that this AVCHD video format is simply not yet supported efficiently by the major editing packages. I have tried several, including Ulead, Pinnacle, Microsoft, etc... This format is unusable. I've even downloaded conversion software to create MP4, AVI, MPG, and other file formats. The AVCHD file is way too compressed, and this causes problems.

Don't get me wrong. For straight-out-of-the-camera use, I don't think you can find a better deal. Personally, I'm going to find a good digital tape recording unit getting harder to find these days, and I'll just suffer through the download times prior to editing. This will give me an uncompressed file, and a cheap media for backing up the original recordings.

I hope this helps. Please don't take my word for it; research AVCHD and see what the rest of the world says.

Thanks.