Pentax *ist DS 6.1MP Digital Camera with Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL Digital SLR Lens

Introduction

As an advanced hobby photographer, I often compete in galleries in my area. I normally shoot with 35mm and medium format, and I scan the negatives and edit them in Photoshop CS. I hesitantly took the plunge into the world of digital SLRs several months ago, and the *ist ds exceeded my expectations. Like any camera, you will need to learn how to get good photographs out of it; it won't take them on its own. I print everything on the i9900 Canon large format printer. The following review should help decide if this camera is for you:

Size and Weight

The most noticeable advantage of the Pentax is its size and weight. I don't have small hands, but the competition makes them too bulky and heavy (some may disagree), sometimes with buttons out of reach. You can program the buttons on digital SLRs to do different things, but only the ds has the buttons within reach to be useful when shooting. For instance, the "ok" button can be pressed to temporarily switch to manual focus. Many people with other digital SLRs buy a separate smaller digital camera to use normally, which in my opinion, defeats the purpose of buying the SLR, since you'll end up almost never using it. But the Pentax is small and light enough to carry around normally, such as to a party or on vacation, especially now that they created the super slim 40mm lens that weighs next to nothing.

Outdoor Picture Quality and RAW format

For artistic shots, I always use the RAW format, which Adobe recently updated for the RAW plugin. Blowing up these shots to 13x19, I have found them to be quite sharp and clear. Keep in mind that I have read several books in Photoshop, and like in the darkroom, it takes skill to get quality prints out of any media.

I mostly shoot outdoors, and have been impressed at how balanced shots come out in harsh lighting. Even if the sky is partially blasted out, the highlight/shadow option in Photoshop brings them right back in, with virtually no loss in detail in the clouds. Realize that this is not the case with the 8-bit JPEG format, which doesn't blow up nearly as well. For quality prints, you'll need to use the RAW mode, which maintains the sharpness and color detail.

The biggest picture difference in other SLR's and the DS is that Pentax calibrated the camera to interpret with a more neutral color balance. Some may feel disappointed by this, but from an advanced editing perspective, this is a blessing. It allows me to have total control over the photo. If the camera has oversaturated an area from the beginning, and you need to do an adjustment, there may be a lack of detail in that area afterward. The Pentax appears much more natural looking, and with minimal adjustments from the Adobe RAW plugin, you can easily make the photos look exactly how you want. With my Canon i9900 printer, which tends to print vivid photos, the combination produces realistic, vivid photos, not oversaturated and cartooning images.

Even objects far away and in deep shadow areas have been quite clear and detailed, and overall, I have been extremely satisfied with the picture quality. When blowing up photos to 13x19, make sure to use "bicubic smoother" when increasing the resolution size. I have found that this completely eliminates any type of stairstepping that may occur. I had the opportunity to compare with a friend 8mp Canon SLR, and found no difference in sharpness of the image. I also found there was less noise in my camera (we both took them side by side of the same landscape).

Indoor Photography

I have only done this in personal situations combined with the 360 FGZ flash, which is a fantastic unit. The bounce flash works perfect automatically, with uniform and realistic lighting. Red eye has also not been a problem. The built in flash, like with most SLRs, is just a backup, and works O.K.

Unlike the *ist d, the *ist ds doesn't connect directly to the wireless flash units. If you have a wireless flash unit like the 360 FGZ, however, it will connect to other wireless flash units. I have not had the chance to test this out myself.

Portrait Photography

Flesh tones are realistic and pleasing, and hair maintains detail when enlarged. This of course, depends on the lens used, but most results have been surprising pleasing, especially compared with 35mm color and medium format color film. I still, however, prefer B+W film for portraits, but when I shoot in color, I have come to prefer the digital. Against harshly lit backgrounds, shots have come out surprising evenly lit and vibrant.

Night Photography

Long exposures, also during the day, come out quite sharp, especially after the new firmware update that corrects some issues with night shots. The camera is well programmed to handle night photography, and it usually is close to the correct exposure. The camera also has the ability to lock up the mirror 2 seconds before the exposure to minimize camera shake.

Focusing

The actual rotating speed is slower than my 35mm SLR, but this camera is more deliberate and actually gets to the correct focusing spot faster. Red dots inside blink to show where the lens is focused. The 16 segment metering is impressive, and I have found myself rarely using the manual focus option. Even when shooting birds in trees, the focusing system doesn't get distracted by the braches.

In action mode, the camera switches to a continuous focusing system, which has been very reliable for action shots, such as sports or when people are walking toward you. This feature only works in action mode, however.

Custom Settings and Ease of Use

You can program the buttons to do extra functions while in shooting mode. For instance, the OK button can be used to temporary switch off the autofocus or to use center metering. Make sure to go through the easy to read manual and the custom settings menu, since you will find some important features, such as changing the color to Adobe RGB instead of sRGB.

Nothing is "hidden" on the camera, and everything is easy to use and quick to locate. The well written manual is worth reading front to back, and gives useful information. The custom features require some knowledge of how you like your camera to operate, and others require light technical knowledge. Both beginners and advanced users will be satisfied with features and ease of use.

The SD Chip and Camera Performance

Make sure to buy a 60x chip, like the ATP which I have, or the SanDisk Ultra II. I have tested the cheaper media, and they slow down the camera so that when the buffer runs out, instead taking 1.5 frames (I'm guessing) per second, its taking about 1 every 3 seconds. The 60x chips really aren't that much more. The SD chips aren't made quite as large and are more expensive than CP, but it contributes to making the camera smaller.

The buffer is comparable to the competition, with almost 3 frames per second until it reaches about 8 or 9 and then slows down about half way. In RAW mode, it will start slowing down at about 5 or 6 frames. I have never had a problem where it didn't take the picture when I wanted it to.

The Optional Included Lens

For another $100, it is a useful lens, especially for personal shots in small rooms, where you'll need a wide angle zoom lens (and when you don't want to risk damaging a really expensive lens). Its fairly light and compact.

There is also a slim 40mm lens coming out soon, make sure to check it out on amazon. Maybe you'll want to get this one instead, since other people will feel more at ease taking a picture for you.

Batteries

The camera used four AAs or two CR-V3. I prefer this over a propriety battery, since when the battery dies, you can't just pop by Wal-Mart and buy more. Also, with newer NiMH rechargeable AA's, you can buy batteries just as good, and use the same batteries as in your hotshoe flash. With lithium AAs and CR-V3s, you can take over 400 pictures before the batteries die out, making it nearly impossible to have dead batteries on vacation. And if you did, you can just pop by anywhere and get more. I have not yet had a situation where my 2500mah rechargeables died on me. I have heard that CR-V3 batteries fit rather tight into the compartment, but have not had this problem myself.

Summary

Overall, I've found the *ist ds quite impressive. Even if you don't already have a collection of Pentax lenses, you'll find this camera to be a good alternative to the competition, with excellent build quality, easy of use, light weight, and compactness. A large line of Pentax lenses will also impress you, but that is another discussion. Although this hasn't replaced my other cameras, it has replaced my use of 35mm color film, since it's far sharper, with better color and detail.

Like any other camera, it will take some time to learn how to get the best pictures possible out of it. However, even beginners will find that quality results are easily possible. Good luck camera hunting!

I've had this camera about 4 months now, and I'm more satisfied than ever that I chose this over the Canon (20D) and Nikon (D70) that I tried for several days each.

First I didn't even consider the Canon Rebel (other than picking it up for a few moments at the store). The Rebel is cheaply built plastic, and feels like toy. I'm sure it's more durable than it feels, but if I had bought the Rebel, I would have regretted it every time I picked it up. Plus, why would you buy one when the Pentax is available for about the same price, and the Pentax feels much more like a professional camera should.

I tried the Canon 20D and Nikon D70 for several days each before deciding to buy the Pentax. First on the D20, there is no doubt that it is a better camera than the Pentax or the Nikon in several ways. First SPEED. The D20 is by far the fastest camera of the 3, and will take something over 5 frames per second I believe. It focused very fast, and had very little noise, even at high ISOs. However it is at least $600 more than the the Pentax or the Nikon, and I decided the extra fps speed was not worth it for what I need a camera for. The Pentax is no slouch at 2.4 fps, and I've found that to be as fast as I need.

Compared to the Nikon D70, both cameras take good pictures (the should, they both use the same 6.1mp Sony sensor), but I like several things about the Pentax better. 1st, the Pentax is a MUCH smaller camera, and I really didn't like the behemoth size of the Nikon. If you've never held the Nikon, be sure to go to a store and try it first. You won't believe how huge it is. 2nd, The LCD screen on the Pentax is bigger and brighter. 3rd the viewfinder on the Pentax is a pentaprism, which gives you a much larger and brighter image than the pentamirror (cheaper) on the Nikon. 4th, I like the menu system much better on the Pentax (much more intuitive). And finally, I like the fact that the Pentax uses SD memory as opposed to compact flash memory, and it uses AA batteries (rechargeable) as opposed to a proprietary battery.

Try the Pentax *ist DS, you will LOVE this camera.

Buy Pentax *ist DS 6.1MP Digital Camera with Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL Digital SLR Lens Now

My first three digital cameras were Canon. I still own a Canon G3, but when the ist DS came out I was interested.

I did my research on the Canon Rebel and the Nikon D70 and the Pentax and after all was said and done I chose the Pentax! I am very happy with the camera.

It is much smaller size than the others and seems very solid. Pentax lenses are also cheaper than similar Canon and Nikon lenses (You are paying for their marketing efforts). Also Pentax lenses from 30 years ago can be used with this camera.

Pictures thus far are excellent and I work with it each day. I enter many photo contests and this camera holds it own!

Read Best Reviews of Pentax *ist DS 6.1MP Digital Camera with Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL Digital SLR Lens Here

As an enthusiastic early adopter of digital photography, there were simply some aspects of SLR photography that I missed, especially for situations when I wanted specific control of exposure or focus via shutter speed or aperature size. This camera is loaded with functionality and features that return such control, yet most of its functions can be learned in one sitting with its fantastically written user manual.

If you are an old-school SLR shooter who wants to return to mastery of composition through control of aperature or shutter speed, this will get the job done.. It also offers typical autofocus/auto exposure/autoflash when you are just making snapshots.

It's surprisingly lighweight. The controls and data information displays/interface are extremely user freindly. Some retailers are offering an additional aftermarket 70-300mm zoom lens in a bundle. Whether you purchase through them or this single lens offering via Amazon, you'll be doing high quality digital SLR shooting for about the cost of other DSLR bodies alone.

The included software has some terrific features, including dual monitor support for slideshows. For the serious amateur or professional looking for a cost effective "working" tool...this is a great deal.

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This is a very very good camera for anyone considering a digital SLR. Especially considering the price. If you already own Pentax lenses, this should be an easy decision.

This is my first digital SLR. I've had Pentax and Sony digital point-and-shoot type cameras and Nikon Coolpix 8700. Also, I've been using Pentax SLRs for past 20 years.

Others have already detailed many reasons to buy this camera and dpreview has done a good job comparing the image qualities, but I should highlight the following advantages of ist DS:

1. Flexible power source. ist DS can use AA batteries. I use NiMH rechargeable AA batteries ... about $10 for 4 of them compared to $50 for proprietary batteries for Canon or Nikon SLRs. But the fact that the camera can use AA batteries is great when I'm traveling. Also, the fact that external flash light uses AA batteries make it easy in that you only need to worry about one type of batteries.

2. Sturdy and compact design. The camera simply feels solid in my hands.

3. Good image quality. Some have said and documented that the JPEG image isn't as good as Nikon or Canon because of the weap processing power within the camera. BUT, if that's the concern, shoot in RAW format and use your computer to process the images. If you are the type that don't want to bother with doing that much work, you probably won't notice the difference in JPEG image between ist DS and Nikons or Canons anyway.

4. Easy controls. Controls are intuitive and easy to access/learn. You won't need a manual to learn the controls. (In contrast, Nikon Coolpix 8700's controls were simply difficult. Really needed the manual for the camera.)

5. SD card rather than using Compact Flash card. I like it because SD card is much more compact and easy to move it from the camera to the computer ... any computers.

The 18-55 mm kit lens is worth it for the price. If you buy a package, the price of the lens comes out to be under $100. I think Pentax is planning on introducing 12~24 mm lens in about a year.

Canon EOS Rebel T4i Digital SLR Camera Body & EF-S 18-55mm IS II Lens with 75-300mm III Lens +

I recently purchased the Canon Rebel T4i bundle as a Christmas gift for my wife. We had been talking about a camera and she had mentioned the Rebel a few times. She was very surprised when it arrived and has used it in family gatherings and especially for taking pictures of our infant son. She loves it, she is very happy with her gift and I am happy that she is happy.

the set corresponded totally to description.

The packaging was great, safe and ... big!!!

very entusiastic to try all the items.

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A great buy. I love my camera. I use it all the time. Canon is the best quality camera. Great seller and fast shipping. Thank you. Would buy again. A+++

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Fast to ship and great deal. I would recommend this package to anyone looking for a camera. I would do business here again.

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This camera is just perfect. great picture quality. it's gonna take me some times to get used with all the features.

Digital Life High Performance VGA Monitor Cable - 16 ft. High Performance VGA cable

I purchased this cable to display video from my laptop to my TV. Initially went to a major electronic store to purchase the same item for a little over 50% than Amazon's cost. Other than the great deal, the cable was easy to plug into the laptop and TV. The settings on the laptop and TV was somewhat a puzzle for me but I just pulled out the manuals for each. The quality of the cable works for me on the most part. The display image is sharp but I am not liking the size displayed on the TV. I am not sure if I can adjust the size but this has nothing to do with the performance of the cable.

I was extremely hesitant to purchase any VGA cable that was priced as low as this. All the reviews for similarly priced cables talk about how the picture is bad because of color, flicker, etc. I decided to search for a Monster VGA cable, because the name suggests high quality. I never expected to find a Monster, name brand, cable for under $20. I bought it with the hopes that it would work fine. This cable is excellent! I have an HD Laptop. This cable delivers the same HD picture to my HDTV and the cord is 16 ft long. I feel like I got a great deal.

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Bought this in May to connect my laptop to my hdtv. Around 5 months have passed and it is starting to malfunction. The tv started turning purple and flickering and I checked the connection. Wiggling the cable at the connection was confirmed to cause the problem. It is not the connector on the tv... it is where the cable goes into the connector on the cable itself.

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This cable works fine but I cant screw it into my Mac adapter. I need longer screws. The connection's not super tight so occasionally it disconnects and I have to plug it back in. I think I'm going to tape the two together since I never use it any other way. All of my other vga cable always screwed in fine. Don't know why this one doesn't.

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This cable was ordered for my office. It was exactly what we needed and exactly as described. We would order it again if necessary.

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Pentax K-R 12.4 MP Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 and 50-200mm f/4-5.6

I was looking at different cameras while I was making the switch from point and shoot to dslr. Pentax had really nice features but was not nikon or canon. I was a little nervous about it since Pentax does not have as big of a market share as some of the other camera companies. Everything I read was very positive about the k-r and so I decided to go for it. At this price, it was a bargain compared to the ones with similar features.

The camera showed up and I took it the next day to photograph my sister's wedding. All weekend I played with it, taking pictures of family and friends, decorations, kids, etc... I had a great time and came away with some really solid looking pictures. My brother was shooting with a nikon D90 (which is a little older camera) and I thought my pictures looked sharper and more true to color. My wife was worried that she would not be able to use the camera due to the complexity of some dslrs. She loves the camera and uses it constantly. It has actually gotten her very excited about photography. One negative thing is the plastic-y built lenses that it comes with. The lenses work very well, turn out great pictures, but aren't quite as solid feeling as others I've held. I have not had any issue with them and may never have any issues with them. One more issue is the shutter noise which is very robust. I actually enjoy the sound most of the time but have noticed when I'm trying to take candids of our baby, it can call attention to the camera and lose the shot. The camera itself is built very solidly and is very responsive. The grip is large and feels very comfortable (I have large hands and Canon cameras were way too small for me). It will take pictures as fast as you can click and the features are fairly easy to navigate once you get going. I really like the option of using the included rechargeable battery or buying the adapter and sinking in some AA batteries. The focus matrix on the viewfinder was one of the reasons I chose this over the k-x and I'm glad I did because I use it all the time. Another plus is the camera does not weigh too much so it was much easier than I expected to take with us. I'm very happy with my purchase and do not regret anything about it. I think the Pentax k-r is a very solid camera and even after using the cameras of friends and family, I would make the exact same purchase that I did a month ago.

Great product.

I love Nikon, and tend to be a Nikon fanboy... but wow! Pentax is superb! Image quality, AF, ISO, and all are amazing out-of-box, and even better on manual mode (if you know what you are doing haha)!

I had such a tough time choosing between this and a Nikon D3100. I kept on looking and looking and looking at reviews, previews, test images...etc. And all ACTUAL proof or side-by-side comparisons showed that this Pentax K-R (and even the K-X) was the winner.

Yeah, it only has 720p, but that is still HD quality. I'm not buying this for filming, I'm buying it for a friggn camera. And I tested out the video on it, and it looks really sharp! Don't know why so many people with their biased opinion based on the video quality? They must have not ever have actually touched either cameras.

I snagged an amazing deal on this one with the 2 lenses and paid $595 instead of the listing price ($699 for the cheapest at the moment), So it was just a amazing find. Loving it, and will treasure it for many years to come.

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I wanted to make a transition from the point/shoot used camera I own. I felt that I need more liberties, more decisions to make when taking pictures. I am not pretending to become a serious enthusiast or even a professional, but I would like to improve my skills. I have used an old mechanic Pentax K-1000, and I trust this dear brand. I made some research for entry level DSRL. I have read reviews and compare features, and known since then that K-r was for me. K-x is the cheaper sister for this, but it does not have a lithium battery as K-r does. The kit deal for this one is incredible: two zoom lenses! I have used telephoto zoom lens and have no complains about it. I have not used the other one yet.

The camera has behaved nicely. It does offer the quality results it features here and at pentaximaging website. I have only used the MF because I need to practice in doing myself (XD), but the AF has received feedback that it would not work at certain light conditions. It does have expanded ISO sensibility, but it does have a noise drawback after higher ISOs. Its HDR mode is really fantastic because it offers pictures taken in ways you would not dream about with a point/shoot camera, and it does not need to be blown out or over-saturated. And I have only started using few of its many features, and I cannot wait to test the rest of them.

If you are another person really interested in photography as a hobby, and want to expand or improve your skills, this entry level DSRL is for you. You could start little by little changing from auto mode to priority mode, and then moving into fully manual mode. And this kind of camera is made for that, and more! I highly recommend this camera. Of course, there are better DSLR out there, but this one works more than just fine, and at a very good price (I only wish it would be weather resistant as K-7). This has been the best purchase I have ever made on Amazon, or else.

Read Best Reviews of Pentax K-R 12.4 MP Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 and 50-200mm f/4-5.6 Here

This review was written by someone who buys a new camera every year, always seeking better photos, bigger zoom, more mega pixels. My quest for outstanding photos led me to my first SLR, a Pentax K-r with two lenses. Rejected was my first love, an Olympus Pen camera which has a lens factor of 2x meaning a 200mm lens has an equivalent of 400mm. The Pentax has a lens factor of 1.5x so my 200mm lens has an equivalent of 300mm. For wildlife and bird shots even that reach seemed lacking, so I bought a 50-300mm zoom lens and a 1.4x teleconverter. After a few uses I sold the teleconverter because of its finicky focusing and noise. The 300mm lens has enough reach for most occasions, but I still lust for that far-reaching mega zoom which may propel me to sell the 300mm lens and buy a new Nikon with an advertised 42x zoom. It never ends with me.

So how does this first time SLR owner like his Pentax K-r? For the most part I do like it, and I have taken some outstanding photos along with hundreds or thousands of throw away shots. Having an SLR doesn't guarantee photographic success. The K-r's 350 page operating manual would indicate that this is a complex piece of apparatus that takes time, practice, and study to achieve those longed for great shots.

My success has been mixed. I've found that it's best to concentrate on one aspect at a time before moving on to another. The filters alone and the various scene settings take many hours of practice to master. Some produce excellent shots, and others just aren't worth the effort. One can process images in-camera with a slew of filer effects; the effects can be eye-pleasing, but I prefer to post process photos on a big screen using software. I will say that in the scene mode the night scene HDR setting for low light pictures has produced some magnificent results, without the extremes of highlights or shadows.

Random thoughts:

The camera comes with software for organizing and retouching photos. I loaded it onto my computer but have seldom used it.

Even with intensive searching I haven't been able to find any supplementary books about the K-r. I did download an e-book for the K-x that's actually pretty good and most of the content also applies to the K-r which is a very similar camera.

I don't like lugging around three lenses and a handful of filters. Mostly I just keep on the 50-200mm filter and back up if I'm too close to the subject.

Be aware that though this camera can use AA batteries, you have to buy an adapter to make that happen, an adapter that isn't cheap. I've had no problem with the battery life of the standard battery. It's actually very good.

The Pentax K-r feels good in the hand, comfortable and sturdy. With practice accessing the controls can become second nature. My problem is that I have three cameras with different ways to access the same features, such as bracketing.

The on camera menu is extensive and quite complicated. When on vacation, I made sure to keep the manual in the camera bag for ready reference.

This camera really shines in the bracketing mode. I've achieved some of my best photos using this technique and later processing the pictures with Photomatix pro. Taking the three bracketed shots in the raw mode has produced even better results.

Finally Looking to step up to SLR? The Pentax K-r with its self-cleaning CMOS sensor is not a bad choice if one is willing to devote time for practice and study. Other options are the smaller but more expensive SLR's from makers like Olympus, Panasonic, and Sony. Just don't expect all of your photos to be great right out of the box.

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I'll cut right to the chase on this one. There are several issues that this camera has which make it an iffy choice for the newbie just getting their first DSLR. First off, the camera significantly overexposes high contrast scenes which plays a role in the second major issue which is clipped/burned out highlights. And I can tell you that this problem is way worse than competing Nikon and Canon models. IF you are willing to dial in some negative exposure and utilize the highlight correction option (which only fixes the problem to a point) you will get better results. And shooting RAW doesn't give you much latitude either. To be fair, the K-x had some issues along these lines too, but they seem to be worse in the K-r. Also the K-r seems to be applying more noise reduction in this camera over the K-x which takes a bite out of fine detail. The default settings also produce images that are flat and lacking in contrast. Some intervention in the image style can fix that issue, but why should I have to go through all that trouble when cameras like the T3 and the D3200 can produce much more acceptable results by just using the regular manual settings (shutter speed, aperture, and ISO) and don't require a trip into the menu system. Overall, I don't particularly like the K-r's output. It does have good high ISO performance, I will say that. But my advice is to get a used K-x or wait for the K-30.

Video mode is okay. And the video looks okay. But it is nothing to write home about. You really don't get a lot options in video mode. If you are looking for a sub-$1,000 DSLR that can double-duty as a stills and video camera, the Canon Rebel T2i or T3i is your best bet.

The camera feels nicely made and is very solid. It is a rather small DSLR but it is very comfortable to hold in the hands. There aren't a lot of direct access buttons on the camera, but that is very typical for this class of camera. However, changing most settings is a breeze on this camera. The menu is very similar to Canon's in how it is laid out. Including a straight-forward menu with the most commonly accessed shooting settings.

The LCD is much improved over the K-x and is more viewable in direct sunlight. The viewfinder is the same viewfinder found on the K-x, and it was a very decent viewfinder, so I have no complaints about the K-r's viewfinder. The camera also features a hybrid battery bay which allows the use of the supplied lithium ion battery, or (with a special adaptor) 4 AA batteries. The one relative let down is that I think that the battery life with the supplied Lithium Ion battery is mediocre. So buying the extra adaptor so you can use AAs in the camera is highly reccomended.

The camera's performance is pretty solid. It has nice start-up and shot-to-shot times. It can shoot 6fps and has a pretty decent buffer, so if you are wanting a good budget action shooter, this is an excellent choice. The autofocus speed is pretty good even with the kit lenses. However, the autofocusing with the kit lens is somewhat loud and it sort of sounds like a power tool. The camera is also loud when snapping a photo. So if quietness and discreetness in a camera is a major consideration for you I would probably stay away from this one. However, I personally like the sounds this camera makes because it has a solid, old-school sound to it when it takes a picture (if that makes any sense).

For what they are, the kit lenses are not bad. But they are not the sharpest lenses in the world. But compared to the kit lenses supplied by some other manufacturers, they are not bad. Fortunately there are a number of nice kit lens upgrades in the $300-$500 range which will provide a noticeable upgrade in image quality over the kit lenses.

The K-r has some important improvements over the K-x which improve on its photographic usability. Better burst shooting, better LCD on back, the hybrid battery bay and improvements to the Autofocus system. But as I mentioned before, the image quality has too many flaws by default to reccommend to the first time DSLR owner.

LiveWatch ADC-V720W Wireless Outdoor IP Bullet Camera w Infrared

In short, I disagree with all the comments of the 1 star rating from others. This is the best quality for this money. I think the issue is that pele are perhaps not clear with configuration and setup flexibility. Very happy with these.

This camera sounds expensive at first, but for the features it is a reasonably priced camera compared to others. Shop around and you can find prices in the mid-200 range. I bought this to replace a motion sensing still camera for keeping an eye on our porch, and it does a great job if configured correctly.

Images: It supports multiple resolutions, so you need to set it up correctly for your needs. It has 1280x800, 640x480, and 320x240 for live and recorded video (and 176x144 for live).

Dimensions: (D x W x H) 27.94 x 88.9 (mm), 5.9 x 2.3 x 2.3 (in)

Weight: 22.2oz (629.36g)

Operating Environment: -4° to 122°F (-20° to 50°C)

Field of view is 56° x 42° (Horizontal x Vertical)

Low-light sensitivity: 0lux at F1.8 (IR LED on) at 30 feet

Image Adjustments: Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, Sharpness, Exposure

Video Motion Detection has 3 Windows, Adjustable sensitivity and threshold

Digital Input Trigger, and a 10/100Mbps RJ-45 Ethernet connection

5 Simultaneous viewers

Supports power over Ethernet (with an injector) or uses the included 120v adapter

The frames per second can be configured up to 5FPS, as it is a progressive scan image sensor. This is more than sufficient for security purposes as someone cannot run past it fast enough to avoid it. Keep in mind this is not a live motion camera for recording sporting events and such it is a security camera. The night vision is reasonable up to about 25-30 feet away. It is easy to configure if you have WPS on your router, otherwise you have to manually configure the camera. I found I had to open the ports to the camera on my firewall to fully communicate with it. Your monitoring station tech support can help with this if you can't do it yourself.

Also, to ensure clear pictures, make sure you remove the plastic protective coating sheet from the lens when installing it. I've even used it through a window and gotten great pictures (still and video clips). Power is the biggest problem, as you want to install high to prevent theft. A POE injector makes this more convenient.

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The camera looks solid and it connected very easily but it has the worst picture ever.... Its like comparing a Nintendo DS to an ATARI. Only 5 Frames Per Second recording, bad graphics and really bad alert triggers, not to mention that night vision is really good for 10' at most. Not worth $300.00

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Sony MVC-FD90 Mavica 1.2MP Digital Camera with 8x Optical Zoom

We bought this camera and the starter kit (extra higher capacity battery and carrying case) in time for a weeklong family vacation. After shooting 2000 pictures and 200 video clips on $15 worth of floppy diskettes during the trip, I want to say this is a great camera. The film developing costs saved on this trip alone could have paid for the camera!

The mpeg movies are a great feature.

I almost settled for the FD85, I'm glad we didn't because of extra features gained. This camera is smaller and cheaper than the FD95, and smaller than our "good" SLR but a bit bigger than the average point and shoot.

The FD90 works completely auto with the full range of point and shoot features found on our similarly priced SLR, or you can "cursor" through the on-screen menus and set a number of options including exposure and white balance. The "AE program button" allows you to quickly select "twilight mode", "twilight plus mode", "landscape mode", "panfocus mode" or "spot light-metering mode". The camera has a manual focus ring if you need to use it, and the flash can be set auto, manual on, manual off, or redeye. The camera also has a macro mode. I'm not a professional photographer, so I found myself playing with the manual settings learning what makes for a good photograph. It is great getting instant feedback on the digital screen. If it didn't work, I just reviewed, deleted and tried again something I've longed for using our SLR. This camera is as fun as it is useful! The FD90 is an easy point and shoot or if you want, you can control some of the action if you are just willing to read the manual and learn the controls. The camera is capable of more than just point and shoot, but the controls are unique.

Did I mention that this camera can also record short videos?

No hassle floppy diskettes are almost free these days and are available almost everywhere, only Mavica cameras write directly to them. Great feature when vacation down south got extended unexpectedly in winter months due to bad weather canceling flights back north. Windows 98/ME/2000 PC users don't need any additional software to view the pictures stored on the floppies the camera creates an HTML page right on the diskette linking pictures and movies for easy viewing. There is also a freeware utility floating around the Internet specifically written for Mavica owning PC users that will thumbnail your shots if you are into quick website creations.

You can zoom into and crop pictures, copy and format diskettes, etc. right on the camera so you don't need a PC to enjoy this camera especially with the supplied cable that plugs directly into composite inputs on your Television/VCR. Regarding the resolution, I take most of my pictures on the lowest resolutions and they are still good they print 3 x 5 no problem, even larger with very little distortion. On screen (or my TV with the supplied cable) they are great at the wimpy 640 x 480, especially with the camera in slide-show mode. Plug the camera into a VCR directly and set it on a tripod at family or church events and you have an extra camcorder! It's when you try to "blow up" a picture, or digitally zoom into a recorded shot that the extra pixels matter.

I did take 20 or 30 pictures at higher resolutions, but rarely the highest. After visiting with friends who are digital camera owners, a few with 2 mega pixel and higher possibilities, I'm hard pressed to believe most of us care for more than a mega pixel, as evidenced by the popularity of the Mavica FD73 that doesn't even have the ability. If you are a true photography buff/professional, or have some specialized business need for super clarity, I can see the mega requirement. If you rarely venture beyond 200 speed 35mm film in your SLR, and you rarely deviate from dropping your film off at the local supermarket for developing doubles on 4 x 6 with an index print, lets be realistic. For me the pictures are for memories rather than for artistic impression, and with this camera I get hundreds where I used to get dozens. With the manual features I can tinker with art when so inclined. I almost forgot to mention the solarize, B&W, Sepia, and Neg.Art effects.

Why not perfect? Well, the shutter hesitation does take some getting used to, and the camera seems to struggle a bit in low lighting although I'm not convinced I just haven't learned how to manually compensate with so many available options. I believe there is also an optional external flash. Lenses, external charger(s), memory sticks etc. are also available for this camera at an additional cost.

Oh, ya, this camera makes MPEG movies, up to 60 sec of audio/video per 1.44 diskette in the low-res mode!

We researched several cameras, and I am very pleased with this purchase. I think the Mavica FD90 has the best mix/compromise of digital camera features. For me the FD90 has set the standard for all others to compare. Sony has done it right.

I hemmed and hawed for quite a while before making the plunge to buy a digital camera. I wanted something to use for online auctions, and take pix to use on my web site. I had been taking analog pix, getting them developed, scanning them, and tossing them in a box. I was going to get the FD-73, but decided I might want higher resolution, so I stepped up to the FD-90. Wow! The #1 selling point for me was the floppy disk storage; friends of mine have cameras with cables and whatnot, and it seems like a big pain. I like not being tied to a proprietary hardware and software interface. I can take pix in the car, and unload them at home, work, or at a friend's house. If I need more "film" I can stop at any supermarket or office supply store and pick up a box of floppies. Just this weekend, I took some pix of a car that a friend was selling, then just handed him the floppy to take home and upload to his own computer. Now the kicker: this camera has MPEG movie capability, which I wrote off as a "well, that's cool, but I probably won't use it" feature. I couldn't have been more wrong that's the coolest thing about this camera! In addition to the pix I took of the car, I also created a "walk-around" video as well! Downsides? The zoom control is kinda awkward being on the front; they should have left it on the back, so you could work it with your thumb while working the shutter. It takes a great deal of dexterity to work the zoom while shooting a movie. The camera should also ship with the longer-life battery that's available as an option. And they should ship some sort of protective case with it.

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I own the MVC FD-88, which was the camera model just before the FD-90. I have to say I prefer the FD-88, which is unfortunate as Sony seems to have just stopped making it.

My major beefs with the FD-90 are first that you can only recharge the battery in the camera. This really stinks. I hate having to place an expensive piece of equipment on a shelf while it acts as a $20 battery charger. What a waste. The FD-88 came with a nice seperate charger, which actually took up LESS room than the equipment included with the FD-90, and you could go out and take pictures with a second battery while the first charged. Can't do that any more.

Secondly, the FD-90 pauses and freezes the image while you're focusing to shoot, which is really disorienting to me. Not to mention it doesn't get the fine-tuning in auto-focus on close-up subjects, even using the Macro option. I was really disapponted in that.

I've used the FD-88 a lot, and the FD-90 was a new toy to try out (my company bought it). I would have to say that I would wait on buying this camera until the "nest best thing" came out.

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I own the model that the FD 90 replaced, the FD88 and I have been using it for about a year. I feel I can review the FD90 because it is so similar to the FD88, and is an improvement over mine in a few important respects. The cameras are identical otherwise, except that Sony has made the FD90 into 1.6 megapixel instead of 1.3. This increases the resolution for larger prints and when you compress them (say to e-mail), they won't be grainy. Sony has also added their memory stick capability a great feature. Let me tell you about my FD88 and since the FD90 is even better, you can judge for yourself. The Sony Mavica FD88 is a terrific digital camera, especially for someone new to the genre and not necessarily extremely Computer literate. It takes great shots and the floppy disk storage medium is very easy to use and download to your PC. While its rated 1.3 million pixels is not as high as some other high level models from other manufacturers, in reality not too many people are going to appreciate much of a difference; the pictures look great, crystal clear, and very professional. Since the FD90 is improved in several respects over an already terrific camera, including somewhat higher resolution (1.6 million pixels), the FD90 has to be a real winner. The memory stick capability is an added bonus especially if you buy the memory stick-floppy disk converter. Then you can store literally dozens of shots. Well worth the price.

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I was enjoying my FD-90 and the combined convenience and hassle of having it record images onto a floppy disk (convenient in that you can easily transfer images to the computer--hassle in that you are constantly changing floppies), but now I love it. I purchased a Memory Stick and adaptor. Now, I can shoot away and not worry about having to change the diskette after every fifth shot. I also purchased a Sony photo printer for the computer. I am even more pleased with the camera now that I can get almost "lab-quality" photos from my home computer.

Samsung P400 DLP Lumen Pocket Ultraportable Projector (1.9 Pounds)

I bought this as I often give presentations to small groups and wanted a "portable TV" when traveling. I was torn between this and the Dell M109S. I did a ton of research on both items and bought the Samsung in the end, even though it was $200 more. The Samsung is MUCH brighter, has sound, and can be bought from Amazon with its better customer service than Dell.

I used it to watch an entire movie with a group and they loved it. We projected it onto just the plain wall and the brightness was just fine with a lamp light turned on nearby. You won't be able to use it during broad daylight for a movie (presentation perhaps).

The thing I love about it is that it's on full brightness all the time! My friend bought a $1500 projector a while ago and he's always concerned about bulb time, the brightness level, etc. I don't have to worry about any of it. It's so refreshing to have a projector where you don't have to worry at all about conserving the bulb. It's a HUGE stress reliever. That's what you want in a portable projector, one that you can just pack and go and not worry about everytime you use. The bulb will last the lifetime of the projector.

Yeah, the 800*600 resolution isn't HD, but it's ok. It's good enough for presentations and movies. You're never going to use HD for presentations putting up tons of text onto a screen will drive the audience crazy!

I carry the projector in my laptop bag with all its accessories. So in on medium size bag, I have my Dell M1210, the Samsung P400, and all the necessary wires and power. It's great!

The only negatives are that the power brick is huge! It's about 1/3 to 1/2 the size of the projector. The second negative is the sound. I read reviews that the sound was decent, but it's only decent for presentations. But for movies, it's not the best... having a portable speaker would greatly help. I have the Logitech MM portable speaker which is great and tiny.

And oh! One huge thing that I hadn't read is that the Samsung has a tripod mound. The Dell does NOT. Because these projectors are so small, using a tripod greatly stabilizies the projector.

I have it almost 1 month. It works well. Now I can enjoy 100+" Display with this 600+ dollars. Of course, I need to close the curtain when I use this 150 ANSI lumens only project. But don't forget: It's LED, i.e. it is supposed to be used for 10 hrs, 365 days a year, and 5 years long. And it weights 2 pounds only! I am really satisfied with it... as long as it can operate as long as a normal LED product should do.

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I was very skeptical because of that LED technology and only 150 lumen

but I have to say I am very nicely surprised. Sure with bright light in the room the image is quite dim but who watch movies during the day??? Same thing and quality as in theater. It can be still visible with full light in the room but when you dim the light quality is like in regular LCD screen, really great colors and contrast.

I was thinking about buying 52 inch LCD TV soon to my living room but I've changed my mind, what for paying over 4 time as much money and have 52 inches heavy, non portable screen when I have 80 inches which I can bring with me in my laptop bag! plus I can watch it anywhere I want, on the wall, on the ceiling etc. It's also great addition for a party, I can display some images or video clips on the wall with music from my computer.

For a moment I was undecided between viewsonic PJ513DB projector which was much cheaper but the cost of the bulb is just not worthy. With samsung I don't have to worry about bulbs at all, and it's half the other projectors weight and it's also quieter. Although the power supply is like a brick :) I definitely recommend it.

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This projector is awesome, for what it is. It is best suited for presentations, as the native resolution is 800 x 600. I was able to drive other resolutions, such as 1280 x 960, but the image is relatively fuzzy at those resolutions for looking at small text or web pages. For PowerPoint, I can't tell a lot of difference, and for my slides, the 800 x 600 is fine for PowerPoint.

I am driving this with a MacBook Pro using Apple's DVI->SVGA adapter. Works great out of the box.

Some reviews has mentioned that this projector is challenging in low-light situations. I have found is more than suitable in my office, where I have it sitting on my desk, pointing at a wall for an 80" screen size. The projector is about 10 ft from the wall. With the lights off, the image is, of course, much nicer, but even with the lights on, colors are good and the image is more than readable.

There is a bit of a "screen door" effect when looking at the image up close (a few inches) but it's unlikely your audience is going to be that close to the image.

Physically, the projector is very small. It's about as tall as a package of dental floss and takes up about the same desk space as a paperback book. Although it is very light at 2 lbs, beware that the power supply weighs about 1 lb as well, which I hadn't considered when looking at the weight.

There is a focus knob on the left of the projector, though there is no adjustable foot on the bottom. There is a threaded hole on the bottom for mounting, most likely upside down, and a software setting can be used to flip the image.

The case is very slick plastic that attracts fingerprints, but regardless it is very sharp.

Because the bulb is an LED, the projector puts out very little heat compared to most others, and it doesn't seem to have the complicated shut off procedure that most projectors have. There is a little bit of fan noise from it, but it's low enough that I don't mind having it on my desk.

I was surprised, but the project comes with a remote that enables access to the on-screen menus, toggling the source input, and so on. The remote is about the size of an iPhone, but a bit thinner. It uses a circular battery like a watch does, but I imagine it will last a long time.

So the only real negative for me is the huge and weighty power supply. However, given the low price, the great quality, the eliminated consumable cost of $300 bulbs, this project is perfect for presentations and other low-res work like video conferencing. However, if you want to use it as a desktop monitor, you're going to want something that can do higher res. As another reviewer mentioned, this projector doesn't come with a carrying case, so an older camera bag or something might be handy to protect it before throwing it in your carry-on. I intend to travel with this projector, and will update this review with how it fares in a few months.

I am very, very happy with this product.

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Unit is nice and compact and easy to operate(great for the business traveler). However, unless the room is darkened a bit, the projector's brightness via the LED technology can be a bit challenging to view. We plan to hold on to the projector but we will be a bit more selective in its use than originally intended.