Canon PowerShot S50 5MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

I have been a dedicated film camera user for several years and a skeptic of digital photography. Until now.

I chose the Canon S50 after about two months of research into contemporary cameras. I relied upon a digital photography portal called "Digital Photography Review" to compare different models, and then used Amazon to compare prices. If you are making the move to digital, it is wise to factor in the price of image editing software (I use --and highly recommend--Adobe Photoshop Elements), an upgraded memory card, and an additional battery. The S50 does not come with a case, so add that to the list as well.

There has been some fair criticism leveled at digital camera manufacturers for their emphasis on mega pixels. I cannot argue with this; however, having 5-mega pixels over 4 (at a slight price premium) does give you the flexibility to later crop images to your liking, yet, retain good resolution. One of the common complaints against the S50 (over the slightly less expensive 4-mega pixel S45) is the issue of purple fringing at wide angles. My own experience has been that, even at the widest angle, color distortions are virtually non-existent in this camera. The image quality is excellent and skin tones are very good even when using a flash. The flash is a tiny band at the top right (when you face the lens) but, despite its small size, it is very effective for indoor pictures. The camera is quite small for all it can do. The number of manual controls is astounding; I have a feeling this camera offers much more creative freedom than my previous one, a film SLR from the mid-eighties, which came with three detachable lenses, a separate flash unit, and a large carrying case that, when filled with all equipment, weighed about 8 pounds!

Digital cameras generally have one drawback--shutter delay, and this is one area that the S50 does not perform well. I have seen shutter delay to vary between almost no delay to little more than a full second. Of course, I have not used other digital cameras, so I cannot tell how this compares. Another weakness is the flimsy lens cover: you have to be careful when closing the cover. I also managed to scratch the LCD screen within a few days of receiving the camera, although this does not affect the images in any way. A protective case would have helped (why doesn't Canon include one!). The included compact flash memory card has a capacity of only 32MB. I would recommend buying a much larger card (such as a 512MB card) that can store a very large number of images (several thousand at lower resolutions). With a large card, the battery inevitably runs out out before the card is full. Buy a spare!

Overall, I enthusiastically recommend the S50, especially if you are making the move away from film cameras. The S50 has irreversibly drawn me away from film cameras, even though I did not think that was possible just a year ago. Perhaps it will also transform your perspective.

This is my third digital camera, my previous was a 3.2MP Casio QV3000EX. While Casio is not a well known name in the US for cameras, it's still hard to find a digital camera today that matches the QV3000EX feature/price point. The S50 does this and more!

The Good:

1. Made in Japan (not China as some other Japanese cameras ie Minolta).

2. Metal case, and it feels like it is well made (heavy). Buttons give a solid feel.

3. Turns on quick 4 seconds.

4. Small size. This will easily fit into your shirt pocket. The S50 has the features of a G3 and the compactness of the S400. The best of both worlds. No other 5MP camera comes close to this size, with the exception of the Minolta F300.

5. Extreme manual control: 10 aperature settings (most digital camaras have 2), 45 shutter settings! You will not find a camera with more control at this price.

6. Lens can zoom in macro mode. Others such as Minolta S414 cannot.

7. Fast Canon lens great pictures in low light and little to no blooming (purple fringe). In my opinion, Canon makes the best digital camera lens. The Casio QV3000EX has a Canon lens, and it takes great pictures. The lens makes or breaks a camera, don't compromise here.

8. Will NOT turn on when in your pocket. It's just plain annoying that manufacturers continue to make knobs that turn at the slightest touch. The dial on the S50 gives a solid and metal sounding click.

9. Battery charger is small an unobtrusive. Fits into the smallest of camera bags.

The Bad:

1. You pay a price for Canon. But you get what you pay for. You can get a cheaper digital camera, but you will not get one that has perhaps the best lens, great auto focus, and exreme manual control, and in the end great pictures. Take a look at the sample pictures at Canon's site. Compare them to similar cameras. You will wonder why you thought of buying another brand. Also consider the S400 for a more limited point and shoot, or the G3 for professional/traditional SLR look and feel.

2. Uses a proprietary battery. To be honest, I'd rather use AA Ni-MH batteries. But with the Canon system, you probably get bettery power management since they can monitor the battery state better than if it is generic rechargables. In the end it's probably a wash. Buy a second battery.

Buy Canon PowerShot S50 5MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom Now

INTRO:

I've had this camera now for 2 weeks and absolutely love it. I already have a Sony F707, and was looking for a camera to take around that still had the 5 mp output, but a smaller form factor. When it came down to it, it was either this camera or the Olympus C50Z and I'm glad I decided on the S50. You just can't beat the Canon for features and design. Plus, the C50Z supposidly doesn't have a mic for video.

PROS:

From what the reviews have said, this is just a scaled down version of the Canon G3, but with 5 mp output vs. 4 with the G3.

It's got a very solid construction and I love the brushed metallic look of the body. It's not quite pocket sized I tried lugging it around in my pocket for a day...a little bulky for that, but i'd say it's a great compromise for those that want more features than what the digital Elph series offers.

Speaking of which, it's got a great bundle of features. Images are bright and very real to life. From what I can tell, it's very similar in general shooting modes as my Sony. I leave the camera glued to Program AE, as I seem to get the best quality and still have the ability to adjust the different modes on the camera. The continuous shooting mode is excellent and the intervalometer (time lapse photo shooting) is definitely a nice new feature. Further the stich assist and video modes with sound make it a better buy over the C50Z.

Also, the camera is very fast from taking it out of the bag to turning it on, it's a little less than 4 seconds and it's ready to shoot.

Further, the camera uses non-memory lithium ion I have yet to drain the battery fully from a days worth of shooting. I almost never turn off the view finder and the battery's held up like a champ. It also uses standard compact flash, which I picked up at Amazon (256mb Viking) [at a good price]after rebates. Just can't beat that...

COULD IMPROVE ON:

The only thing with the construction that got me a little concered was the slide door for the lens. If you moved it a certain way, it can move up and down. Still, the overall construction is very solid.

The macro is pretty average. It says in the guide that you can get as close as 5 cm or thereabouts, but the closest I could get in focus was about 3 inches. I guess it's the size of the optics.

Also, why only the black? I really like the brushed stainless look of the S45, but you can't get that flavor with the S50. From what I've heard, it's only available in Europe. I guess it's a marketing thing, but still... Don't get me wrong, I like the black, but it'd be nice to have the choice and black tends to show dust quite easily.

And while I like that it uses standard compact flash, I've noticed it's a little slower in tranfers and reading than Sony Memory stick.

Anyway, these are negligible issues and overall, Canon has really outdone themselves again.

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Pros: Compact size, 5 megapixel resolution, ease of use, lots of creative photography options, Solid all metal compact body, Quality Canon lens, quality, enlargeable images, sturdy, macro capability.

Cons: No provision for add-on lenses or filters, Expensive, 5MP is probably overkill for most users, Underwater housing does not allow full control, not as sharp as most 4 MP cameras, 4-way Navigation Button & Proprietary Battery, Some photos had red eye, doesn't come with carrying case.

Summary: This compact Canon digital camera really impressed me in the week I've had mine so far. I've been looking and playing with the Sony DSC-P9 for some time but took a chance with the S50 sight unseen, with a few recommendations, and my expectations have been well exceded. Excellent image quality and easy to learn interface with ample effect, memory, and capture options are not compromised by the camera's size (slightly chunkier than the Sony, but still slips into a pocket easily). Crisp and bright image replay on the rear color LCD monitor. Easy downloads to PC with USB and unimposing Canon software, and fairly quick battery recharge too. This is a really great compact digital camera for those looking for great images in different conditions without a bulky, intrusive large body reflex. The movie capture is better than on previous Canon models, though still slightly choppy at 12 frames per second (not that making movies is your first choice in features for selecting pocket cameras). Nonetheless, after looking around I believe this is the best deal for quality/function/money versus size in the compact digital camera market.A+

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The Canon PowerShot S50 is a terrific small digital camera. It packs in an amazing array of features, starting with the generous maximum 5 megapixel image size (you can make them smaller to conserve space on the CompactFlash card). Several modes are available to you such as Sports (high shutter-speed and high resolution shots), Portrait, Night, etc. You can put it in complete Idiot Mode (okay, Automatic mode) and let it select your shutter speed and aperture, or you can pick one or the other and let the camera pick the missing one, or you can go full into Manual mode and pick both. There's even a Movie mode, complete with sound!

This small camera fits in a purse easily (okay, not a small purse), and doesn't get in the way if you're shouldering it in a case (not included). That means the optical zoom is limited to 3x. And unfortuately, the S50, like all the PowerShot S family, starts out at 11mm, which is a very wide-angle value. Even at 3X you will only come in to 55mm, often not as close as you'd expect. There is a digital zoom, but so what? Crop your picture in software later rather than play with that silly feature. But getting back to the range, I found it insufficient for shooting

across a large (but crowded) room. If you work closer in this won't be a problem.

I agree the sliding door that covers the lens (and turns on the camera) seems flimsy. That's because it can cause problems. My 3YO niece got ahold of mine and ripped the door off. I was able to reattach it but now it's like a loose tooth, just waiting to fall off again. Even under warranty, my choice was to send it back to Canon for 12 weeks or live with it. I couldn't live without the camera, so I kept it, loose sliding door and all. I've just learned not to lend it to people who can't baby it; a good push and that door is off the camera again.

Then I bought a Canon Digital Rebel, which is an even better camera, but not the same type as the S50 at all. The latter can fit into a generous shirt pocket; the Digital Rebel is a big ol' digital SLR (single-lens reflex camera, a through-the-lens viewfinder, typically with interchangeable lenses).

One of the S50's limitations is a slow shutter response. I can't tell you how many shots I've missed using it; I frame it lovingly, I see the perfect moment, I shoot... but no score. The people have moved on, the sun has set, the universe suffers heat-death, and finally the shutter clicks. If you want a fast shutter then you must have a digital SLR, as almost all the compact-style digital cameras such as this one have the delayed shutter issue. Another note of annoyance on the PowerShot S family: they come with a wrist strap but no shoulder strap. I don't know what use a wrist strip is for a camera; if I'm not using it then I want my hands free. I bought a generic shoulder strap but it wasn't a great fit. At least Canon should offer one as an extra-cost accessory.

I still give this camera 4 stars for putting so many features in such a small package. The pictures are reasonably good, and at this size you can crop plenty out and still print good 4x6 inch images. The PowerShot S50 comes with software, but you'll probably want to buy your own image editing package. The one provided is fairly limited. Useful software includes PhotoStitch, which allows you to make your own panaramic style images from a series of linked shots. The included CompactFlash card is also too small for typical use, so plan on buying a bigger card.

TOP Secret Spy Camera Mini Clock Radio Hidden DVR- Continuous power or battery

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Updated video and comments.

> Video is 640x480, high quality, LED IR ON and Night-Vision ON.

> 5 feet then 7 feet. Dark room, then room lights on.

> The black target left of the clock is a 6 inch diameter bull's-eye for pellet pistols.

> For detail note the small tassel on the right door handle in the 7 feet / lights on version.

Thanks to Nick (the seller) for his helpful advice in making this video.

============= ORIGINAL REVIEW FOLLOWS =============

I decided to buy one after seeing the quick response, by the seller, with regard to the individual that had a problem.

Item arrived quickly ahead of Amazon's estimate which impressed me as we are on opposite sides of the USA.

The other reviews here are positive but brief. I want to add detail. It really IS a sweet little item.

I've tried a number of these for office security and MANY are JUNK. Go ahead, check my other product reviews. It's a relief to find one the seller stands behind. Now I do also.

1. The unit fits in the palm of your hand. It is a nice travel clock. LED display is not too bright. Tiny and easy to pack. Discrete.

UPDATE: If you find the display too bright as a nightstand clock, use a screen protector for a cellphone. For $2 the "High Quality Privacy Screen Protector Verizon BlackBerry Tour 9630 Sprint" (Amazon) covered (and dimmed) the screen but did not block the cam so you won't have to move the protector in the AM for security "duty".

2. The AC adaptor is both 110V and 240V THANK YOU! so you can use it in Europe / China / etc outside the USA. My Sonicare toothbrush can't do that. International AC adaptors are a must in my opinion. Travelers: The cord is about 2 feet. See seller comment to this review for longer cord options. Note that it does have a USA plug so for China/Europe you'll need plug adaptors but you do NOT need a voltage change.

3. VIDEO: I intend to use this as a security cam in my hotel room as I travel often for business. A little extra "peace of mind".

You can choose 320x240 or 640x480 for video resolution. These choices are pretty standard for security cams. I set it to 640x480 and "high" quality. Looks NICE!!! Obviously, more quality image means more memory used. Follow the seller guide (included see item 4).

BIG PLUS... the IR LED lighting is 940 nm! Who cares? 940nm is invisible to the eye. Many cams use lower nanometer levels which glow RED the universal signal that you are recording. I viewed THIS item with another IR camera and only then did I confirm the lighting was "on". Nice!

NOTE: See the first comment to this review, from Nick (the seller), regarding the amount of video time per gigabyte of memory.

4. The instructions included are TINY but the seller forwards you a LARGE size version PLUS a two-page "get started" guide. I was functioning in under 10 minutes. Follow the seller's guide step-by-step. Honestly, if you have a micro SD card reader you are ready to go in no time at all. No software necessary. There is a micro DVD included with English User's Manual, video example, etc but I found the seller doc more useful.

5. When you check your micro SD card you will see FOUR folders have been added Music, Pictures, Rec, Video

Any use of the cam goes into the "Rec" folder (there is another "video" folder in "Rec"). Why mention this? Because it really IS a clock/radio/MP3 player combination. I put a set of songs into the "Music" folder and it plays them well. Sound is not bad considering it's so small. It will also auto advance to the next song. I'm listening to it now. If you have an iPhone or iPod you might not use it but then an iPhone doesn't have night vision.

6. Mine is silver as in the first photo above (detail page). Some of the photos show other colors. I'm happy with silver. I think that is the default. Contact the seller if you have a question.

7. Travelers... it has a small pull-string sack to carry it. That will help protect it and the accessories in your luggage.

***** The clock has no alarm ***** But it has so many other features (cam, true IR, radio, mp3 player, etc) the lack of alarm is not a deal breaker (for me).

------------

Bottom line: The item is impressive. Make sure you're buying from onlineenterprises888. Don't know him. Not connected in any way. But I have to admit the item and the service make the purchase risk free.

That's how it should be. Thanks!!

.

I use this to monitor my home while at work. I turn on the recording when I leave the house and off when I return. The unit in plugged into the AC charger all the time and since I have the spy camera set to loop record there is no need to delete files from the device ever.

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I wish I could expound on how wonderful the camera is (and it does seem to be), but we purchased it to catch a thief ~ literally. Before we had a chance to set it up, another neighbor caught the scumbag in the act. But, what I can attest to is the integrity of this seller. The product, once ordered, was immediately responded to and then sent out in a very timely manner. Great instructions and product support. The seller includes his name and a way to contact him personally. Wow!!!!

As mentioned above, we had a very specific reason to buy the camera and once that was resolved, I asked to send it back. Again, without hesitation or problem, a return was issued.

We are all familiar with the ways of Internet purchasing and most don't involve personal contact....may I just say that as disconnected as the process seems, this gentleman makes it honest, genuine, and as close to "home" as the Internet can.

I wholeheartedly endorse purchasing from this seller!!!!

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Very good image quality although I haven't tried the low light setting yet. No motion detection which was sort of a surprise for a spy camera, but the fact that you can leave it plugged in and can use a big (32 gb or maybe larger MicroSD) gives you an awful lot of hours to record. And it can loop, deleting older videos as necessary if you set it that way. It is fairly tricky to learn, with a tiny instruction booklet, but the seller has an online video and a PDF of a blown up copy of the manual so that's very helpful. These products, at least cheaper ones, are often impossible to figure out from the broken English instructions. This one is not difficult.

As for cons, it will only display 24 hr time; no AM/PM setting. The base has a very bright blue light which is annoying but is easily hidden by a piece of electrical tape and it actually looks good that way. I ran into an audio issue. Quicktime on XP, at least on my machine, produced a screeching audio track. But any other playback application (VLC or Nero Showtime) worked fine.

Summary is that it is a very solid device, nice looking, and works well.

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I spent a lot of time researching similar products. Anything else of similar features and ease of use will cost you 4x more.

Included features that were a must for me:

-Discrete (UV lights are invisible to the eye)

-User friendly (watch their video. Google search "youtube VIDEO DEMO! Spy Camera, Top Secret Mini Clock Radio"

-Wall plug-in continuous recording (this one runs on battery as well)

-Continuous loop recording (this one accepts up to 32gb micro SD, days worth of space before looping)

-AUDIO (unless a product specifically says audio, it doesn't have it!)

Other nice features:

-Displays a small, inconspicuous dot when recording

-Has a screen and speakers to play back footage

-Hides all camera functions and files unless you know how to get to them.

-Also plays files you upload onto it in a different folder, audio, video, pictures

-Has aux line in for use as a speaker

-Plays radio

-Displays time and date

Disadvantages (although few and minor)

-Only displays time in 24hr format

-No alarm clock feature

-A little bright with the clock display

-UV lights are only effective for 2-3ft.

Go ahead and search for similar products in this price range, there is always something (usually multiple things) that really suck about them.

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Defender ST101 Covert Pinhole Color Security Camera Pen with 4 GB USB Memory

Is a camera pen cool? Definitely. Can you have fun with *this* camera pen? Possibly.

As advertised, the Defender ST101 Covert Pinhole Color Security Camera Pen (with 4 GB USB Memory) takes still pictures and video. Provided your lighting is adequate, your pictures will be adequate, too. Nothing glorious, but they'll do the job. The video is choppy, but being able to clip the pen to your pocket and stroll around with the camera running is easier than holding your cell phone and walking around (or maybe it's just me that has that problem). Sound, of course, would have to be added in post-production.

You can surreptitiously photograph people/things, though concealing the amber/blue light may be an issue. I've taken random candid shots and pictures of notes on a whiteboard and they came out "good enough." Nothing I couldn't have done (better) with a cell phone, but the USB was a handier option than Bluetooth or cable syncing with my computer. That said, I suspect most potential purchasers will be plenty happy with the technology they already own rather than add this pen/camera/USB drive to their kit.

If you're not prone to buyer's remorse and/or your therapist doesn't have your secret agent obsession handled with medication or hypnosis, give the camera pen a go. Otherwise content yourself with the more-powerful options you likely already own. (Likewise, although the pen works just fine, any halfway-decent clicky pen is just as good at a small small fraction of the price.)

The only reason you are going to want to buy this pen/camera is to record things you shouldn't, whether it be spying on your kids or other unsuspecting people, or using it for your own private use. The picture is surprisingly clear, and the date and time stamp are easy to set (open the files on your computer and click "WriteTime.")

Their are few problems with the pen however. One, there is no sound. And two, there will always be a blue light on when the camera is filming. So, your pen will be discovered if you aren't careful where you put it.

This is a nifty camera you can put to good use or just have a lot of fun with. Oh, you can also write with it.

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I don't own a cell phone, so this pen has been a fun way for me to always have a camera on hand. It's very easy to use, requiring only the information in the little booklet that comes with it. I would have given it three stars except that it doesn't work very well as a pen. The ink flow is too unreliable to be worth the trouble of trying to use it.

I've found the quality of the photos and video to be pretty decent if the lighting is good and the pen is held level while photographing. Any angling of the pen, close-ups, or low light results in blurry and/or useless photos, which means it wouldn't be too helpful for a real spy. Also, you have to hold the pen vertically at eye level to be sure that what you're seeing is roughly what you're photographing. This would make you look mighty suspicious if you were trying to be secretive.

One thing I've found inconvenient is that you have to unscrew the two halves of the pen to switch back and forth between video and still shots. Also, that switch is tiny and hard to operate, and might be prone to breakage with frequent use.

If you want a fun toy that's easy to operate and handy to carry, this might suit your needs. Even if you decide against it, the company might be worth looking into for other products because they have 24/7 live support.

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I got this because it seemed so James Bondesque. Just a cool little clandestine piece of technology to play around with....so for me it was fine. There is a light that indicates when you're recording, so one would have to be careful with that, if the goal is to be sneaky. The memory is serviceable; it IS a small device, after all. I love the way the top half is a USB. It's a fun little device, but certainly won't set the world on fire.

DYB

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I got this pen camera more for the fun factor than trying to spy on someone and that's a good thing as it's definitely not suited to legitimate discreet needs. The pen writes well and has a functional USB, though my computer detected spyware embedded in the USB so be careful when loading. Unfortunately the camera is very poor quality for pictures. I found the pictures were blurry unless you were very close to the subject. However unless you're holding the pen camera up (like you would a regular camera) aimed at the subject, the pictures are low quality and not useful. But that does take away some of the "cool" factor since you can't really discretely take pictures and video. Additionally the videos have no sound though the quality of the video is slightly better than still pictures.

The pen is fun to play around with if you're a gadget fan but it's not really something useful even if it's just used for messing around with family or friends. I enjoyed messing around with it but it soon lost its luster due to the poor quality of the pictures, the questionable USB software (after the first warning I didn't want to plug it in again), and no sound on the videos. $50 is a bit much for such a gadget that doesn't function as well as described.. though in fairness it does do everything that it says it does, just not well.

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Nikon D7000 Digital SLR Camera Body with 18-300mm VR Zoom Lens + 32GB Card + Case + Filter + Remote

D-7000 is as expected V.good :). The 18-300mm lense is heavy but has good depth in pic's and v.good zoom range, will recommend if you are travelling. Nice lense.

Would give zero rating for tripod and other accessories. For the price I paid close to 2G for total package you expect better quality product. Only after 1 week travel the tripod is falling apart. The cleaning kit is a waste, remote does not work and the carry bag does not have a zip and is bulky. I used a different bag for the travel because I am afraid of camera falling out of bag.

Over all recommends to buy the camera + Lense. Great lense :)

Do not be fooled like me in package (all the other stuff is cheap stuff which is useless).

After using Nikon D90 for about a year, I and my wife decided to get a Nikon D7000. Although we are still learning the features of D7000 with 18-300mm lens, there is no doubt that D7000 is another super product made by Nikon. This package comes with a Nikon case, which is perfect for the camera.

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As an amateur using this for work, I've found the camera and lens to be easy to use but providing great quality photos. I could not be happier with the camera and lens. The tripod that came with it in this package is ridiculously weak, barely strong enough to hold the camera and not anywhere strong enough to count on to hold the camera up. I don't understand what caused anyone to pair this weak tripod with such a camera as it ends up being counterproductive: I want a tripod to take stable photos but end up with something less stable than if I was to hold the camera with my own hands.

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Whatever the camera is good or not, I am really unhappy. The sellers were so inefficient. I could not believe that this package took them over 48 hours to prepare and send. I chose stand shipping because I thought that I could get the package in five days. My order was issued at the night of October 14th, but it arrived at October 23, which was not as same as what the Stand Shipping described. Angrily, when I wanted to change my shipping speed before the package was sending, the sellers just told me the package was in the shipping department and was not able to change. I was just blowed off by him. To be honest I hate those kinds of attitude for customers.

By the way, last time, when another camera package which I bought months before came without one item, this seller did not give me any massages until I connected with them by myself; than they finally told me about the missing item. At last, they sent that missing item to me, and I got that missing item two weeks later than it should arrived.

The last thing that I want to say is that the D7000 is a really high-performance camera. It is much better than the D5100 which I had before. Maybe the few disadvantages are: 1st: It is much heavier than D5100. 2nd: its LCD screen cannot turn as D5100.

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Bell & Howell DV3HD ZoomTouch 1080p HD High Definition Digital Video Camcorder & Case with

During playback on the camera, you cannot hear the volume at all.

During playback on the computer, you have to turn the volume up, almost all the way, and then you get a lot of background noise because you had to turn the volume up so loud.

Even though the battery indicator shows two bars, the camera keeps shutting down from low battery.

I was really dissappointed in this item.

The item was as pictured & described. I tested it on several types of subjects ranging my band, The Rock Czars, to kittens & the pics + videos came out well. It would have been nice to have the option to select a master file video format/codec other than the default ".MOV" (Apple) for compatibility w/Windows editing software. Nevertheless, the combination package of the items included are welcomed to keep the product maintained in a well-conditioned state.

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Lorex LNZ4001i Wireless Pan Tilt Easy Connect Network Camera (White)

Lorex advertises these as "Easy Connect" WiFi Cameras that any halfway computer literate person could setup on their WiFi in their home. That is "NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING TRUE". I am an Electronic Technician with 25 years of experience and I bought $600.00 worth of them trusting the Lorex brand name. I've got about 50 hours now into setting these up and still many key functions are not working. I bought (3) cameras and went through setup step by step.. all went well for awhile.. but they would not connect wirelessly to the WiFi.. I called technical support, held for 45 minutes only to get somebody in India telling me I needed to do a 30 minute product registration on-line before they could talk to me.. hung up.. did that.. held for another 45 minutes to an hour.. finally got an Indian gentleman that didn't speak good enough English to understand much.. after he went through the same exact steps that I had done 50 times before said " that's all there is.. it must be your wireless router" "I can do no more.. get a new router"... I knew that wasn't the problem since every other wireless device works fine with my WiFi.. but bought a new router.. 2 hours setting it all up.. went though the camera setup again and it failed exactly the same as before.. Worked on it myself for 30-40 hours.. got parts of it to work.. called back technical support in India at 7:00PM to get help.. held another 45 minutes only to get someone to take my name and phone number that would call me back later..They called back around 10:00 after I'd went to bed.. Bottom line.. Camera Sounds Cool..Does Have Cool Features If You Can Get Them To Work.. Setup and Most Features are much to complex for the average person to setup (and actually get to work).. Customer Support is Non Existant.. Lorex if you are listening and have any shred of concern about your reputation.. my cameras are still not working.. give me a call (but please not from India..) Phone 620-235-4829..

I have 4 of these cameras and two of the less expensive 3003i cameras. All of them suffer from software quality problems. They are decent cameras when they work, unfortunately they need frequent reboots since they stop serving out video periodically. Roughly once per week, I have a camera that just stops working.

Another gripe when you reboot the camera, it does not return to the position you want. It returns to its default position, which is not usually where you want to point the thing.

Low-light/night performance of this camera is quite good.

The yoics remote access service is also sketchy. Registering the cameras with the service requires persistance, but once they are registered, they seem to work that is, until they need to be rebooted.

Forget about support hardly any is offered, and there are no software updates (for these cameras) published on Lorex's site. This is not a good sign for the longevity of these cameras. The iPhone app for accessing these cameras is broken in iOS 5. It did work well in iOS4.

Bad software all-around ruins what could have been a decent product.

Buy Lorex LNZ4001i Wireless Pan Tilt Easy Connect Network Camera (White) Now

The design of this camera is very simple. It looks cool and it turns and swivels to almost any angle, however it is not the most accurate. It will not stop on a dime, so to speak. The worse part of the camera is the tech support which you will need. They have out sourced this task to india and you know how that goes. Huge language barrier and some person behind a computer saying that they don't see a problem and the problem is on your end. They keep blaming problems on the user end networking, which they do not touch. Another huge problem is that you have to open your ports on your router. Which leaves you computers and your home network exposed. Which is horrible from a security stand point. They wanted me to set up my router under the DMZ which is like a fire wall and my entire network was exposed on the internet. Now I would like to use and operate the cameras but I do not want my home network exposed and get hacked. There are too many ID thefts happening and I do not want to be a victim.

Not a plug and play. Exposes your home network security to use. Look for something better and easier to set up and use.

Read Best Reviews of Lorex LNZ4001i Wireless Pan Tilt Easy Connect Network Camera (White) Here

If you have cable internet such as Comcast, you only have maybe 2 ports open for port forwarding.

Port 80, and maybe 85. This Lorex needs 4 ports if you want the Iphone to work using the Lors2 app for Iphone from Itunes apps. Also you will not be able to use port 80 with Comcast home internet

Want Lorex LNZ4001i Wireless Pan Tilt Easy Connect Network Camera (White) Discount?

I bought my new Lorex LNZ 4001i IP camera and tried to follow the quick start guide to get it installed. I wasn't having much luck, and after a couple of hours trying, I registered it to activate the warranty then called tech support. I went through support levels 1, 2 and 3 before the 3rd guy, an American, got it to work on my iphone. After I hung up, I noticed I could no longer access the camera on my desktop computer. Also,now my existing Lorex eco dvr system could not be assessed from my iphone or the computer. The problem is, the dvr and the ip camera are set up to use the same router port 80, so the tech had to change settings on my dvr. By that night the ip camera couldn't be accessed from the iphone anymore. I didn't panic though, I just called tech support again the next morning. The first tech sent me on to a level 2 tech because she was not a router port expert. The level 2 tech, an Indian guy, was a real expert. He straightened everything out in a couple of minutes. I wish I wrote down his name or number so I could give him credit. He explained what he was doing, but I probably won't remember well enough to do it myself next time. Anyway, It's working great now. The only problem is the iphone app. For one thing, it does not let you use the digital zoom and the picture keeps freezing and dissappearing untill you tap on the camera you want to view again. I think its a great camera and it works great on Internet explorer, but the problem is with the iMobile2 app. I'm sure that can be improved.

Spider S-HDMI-0003 S-Series Ultra High Speed HDMI with Ethernet

This HDMI cable is very reliable, its powerful and fast, no complaints at all. i am using it to connect my Apple TV to the LG LED TV and works awesome. fully recommended.

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