Optoma BI-EXTGB, Wireless VGA Dongle for TX542, TX612 & TX615

This device would seem to work with straight up text, however my presentations usually have either video in the background or a video itself and this really can't do that at all. Choppy is not even the right word for it. So I'm returning it.

CE PRODUIT EST TRÈS INTÉRESSANT POUR CONNECTER QUATRE PC PORTABLE A LA FOIS ET FACILE POUR L'INSTALLATION.A UTILISER POUR LES DIAPOS, IMAGES ET PHOTOS.

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Canon Elura 40MC MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/ 2"LCD, MMC Card and Digital Still Mode

Armed with lots of research and my wife's two criteria for selecting a camcorder (it had to be small and easy to use) we bought the Elura MC 40 for its list of features in a very small and very cool package -plus the canon quality. This one has all the features of a full-sized DV cam, but fits into a small, padded waist pack with a couple of tapes, batteries, and the charger without a problem. This was key as we are expecting our first child and didn't want to add too much to the extra baggage we'll be carrying.

This one doesn't have megapixel stills at 1020x960, but it's still tons better than 640x480 on most compact cams, and we have a 35mm for the serious photography anyway. Lots of great on-camera editing and shooting features, and some basic photo and movie editing software included. If you're going to do some serious movie editing, I'd recommend purchasing a better software package or taking advantage of one of Canon's mail-in rebate deals.

Mac users, you'll love this one. We had a pre-USB Powerbook running OS 8.6 and bought USB and Firewire PCMCIA cards for it. It runs just great without spending the extra cash upgrading the OS like the card manufacturers say to. Also, I wouldn't spend the extra cash on the expensive firewire cards that a Mac specific. I picked up an inexpensive IBM card [$$] at the local computer store, plugged it in, downloaded the supporting drivers from Apple, and it fired right up.

You will have a lot of fun with this cam. We took it out for the first time on July 4th, and everyone was amazed by it. Plugged it into the S-video on the nearest TV, and we had a great time watching the day's events!

I bought this camcorder for a trip to Europe and I love it. I could store it in my jacket pocket when not using it and didn't have to drag around a huge bag with a bunch of useless equipment. This is my first camcorder (and first camera since an old Olympus 35mm), so I'm clearly an amateur. It's got more features than I'll use in 2 lifetimes, so there should be enough to satisfy almost everyone.

Video--is excellent, especially outdoors. Weather doesn't matter, as long as it's outside. It was cloudy all but one day and the video is awesome. Indoor is grainy if the light is too low, but reading reviews of other camcorders, I couldn't find one which said "great video quality indoors." All are grainy indoors. Live with it. You buy this for the size.

Still Pix--are not great. But are you buying a camcorder or camera? If all you care about are still pix, save yourself a few hundred bucks and buy a still-camera. No small camcorder offers a 4 or 5 megapixel resolution with stills. Even the Sony MicroDV only offers 2MP still resolution. With the exposure set to "super fine" I was pleased with the resolution, but I've seen pictures from a 4 MP still camera, and the images don't compare. The pix are not bad, but not excellent. But then, I care about video...not pictures--it's a camcorder afterall.

Sound--I think is great. Yea, there is the motor whine when it's quiet. But guess what, after a few seconds, you tune it out and forget about it. It is not very annoying at all. It does tend to amplify the voice of whomever is doing the recording. But what microphone doesn't amplify the sound closest to it?

SD/MMC card--is only tested by Canon to 64MB (per customer service) which is bad. They recommend not using anything higher than 64.

Battery--doesn't last too long, especially the smaller one. I forked over the money to buy the larger battery and it is well worth it. This way, when it runs down, you pop in the small one and you have another 30-50min of filming.

Ease of Use--I had filmed some items and was watching it on TV within 20 minutes of taking it out of the box. I had the still camera and fader/digital effects figured out within another 20 minutes or so. You must read the manual. It's real easy.

Buttons--are not small considering the size of the camcorder. If you need bigger buttons, buy a bigger camcorder. Remember, you buy this for the size.

Overall--it is great. Fantastic outdoor video and sound pickup with unbelievable portability and ease of use. This is not a "professional" camcorder. It should be used for "hobby" filming and as a great travel-size camcorder. If you need more bells and whistles (external mic mount, attached light) you need a bigger camera. As far as the "save yourself the trouble and buy a Sony" crowd, I've owned many Sony products and find they don't perform any better than anything else. But Sony always seems to want a few hundred more of your hard earned dollars to make you think their product is better. Ask someone about software compatability with their MicroDV camcorder...then watch 'em squirm.

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Okay, I did a little bit of research before I bought. And I do mean little. I did read reviews here and other places. Most of the thumbs down reviews are correct about their statements. Here is what I dislike:

1. There will be a some what higher pitched noise when veiwing the recorded data on Mdv tapes. However, if there is a decent amount of background noise or the object you are focused on is making noise/speaking, it is not that noticeable.

2. Low light complaints are somewhat valid. It does become a little grainy and it records at a slower frame rate, so no fast movements by camera! The focusing during low-light mode is pretty bad if you are are @; which I would estimate, more than a 5x zoom. However, lowlight feature does "enhance" the availiable light quite a bit.

And as long as you do not need a perfect 520 line resoultion (which I don't), it is fine.

3. Included battery will barely get you by, so plan on buying an additional one.

4. The users hand will often get in the way of the optic finder or whatever helps do the focusing, if you are not mindful.

What I do like:

1. Size.

2. Once you become a little familiar with it, it is pretty easy to use.

3. Price, see below.

4. The camera does have a lot of (special) features...but I will probably never use half of them. They are mostly a novelty thing.

5. The still photo quality are not that bad at all.

I haven't used the included software, but one doesn't buy a camera for the software anyhow. Plus if you buy soon it comes with, what I have heard, is pretty decent software as a rebate.

...

... ... Or better yet, go somewhere to test it, record on an MDV tape and play it back on a good TV w/ a S Video input and listen for the hum and check the low light feature. YOu will know right away whether this is acceptable or not. For me it turned it is, especially for recording my 1.5 y/o.

Generic conclusion, if you are going to use it mostly outside and for live action, go for it.

Read Best Reviews of Canon Elura 40MC MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/ 2"LCD, MMC Card and Digital Still Mode Here

Just picked up this camcorder the other day. I had been debating between getting one of Canon's ZR cameras or an Elura for a while. Finally settled on the Elura, mostly due to it's tiny size. Haven't had too much time to play around with it yet, but so far I just love this camera. Fits right in the palm of my hand to carry around and shoot video wherever I go. Works great with iMovie using a firewire cable (not included, grrrr.)

So far, my only gripes are 1) the included battery gives you less than an hour of recording time, making spare batteries ... a must; and 2) the LCD screen and viewfinder is a bit TOO small... way smaller than on the ZR series. Definitely try before you buy. But those are small complaints given the overall coolness of this camcorder.

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I got mine a month ago for a trip to Europe and love it. I could fit it in my jacket pocket so the size is perfect. This is my first camcorder (or first camera other than an old Olympus 35mm), so I'm clearly an amateur with this stuff. But, the video looks fantastic, especially outside. Weather doesn't matter since it was cloudy everyday but one. Video still looked as good as any TV image. It has more features than I know how to use, or even care to use.

Yes, the still pix are lower quality, but what MiniDV camcorder has a 4 or 5 megapixel resolution?? Sony only offers a 2 MP resolution on its MicroDV. But who's kidding who? If you're buying this camera for it's still picture ability, save yourself a few hundred bucks and buy a still-mode camera, not a camcorder. If you want a very small and highly portable camcorder which takes great outdoor video, then this should be on your list. Yes, the indoor video is not as great as the outdoor video, but realize this--you buy this for the size--it can't possibly be everything to everyone. If you need a camcorder for exclusively indoor action, buy one designed for that with all the low light/night modes/infrared/light attachment gizmos.

As far as the "motor whine" picked up from the mic, I don't find it all that annoying. You do hear it, but after a few seconds you forget about it and tune it out. However, I believe the audio is great. I have no issue with the sound. It picks up distant voices and sounds just fine. Yes, if you hold the camera too close to your head as you narrate, then your voice does seem amplified compared to others. But then, what camcorder doesn't amplify the voice closest to the microphone?

I have big hands but I don't have any problem with the buttons. Realize, this is a small camera so if you need big buttons, get a bigger camera.

Canon customer service told me they have not tested any SD/MMC card over 64MB, so they recommended I not use anything larger. I do admit, this is a big drawback, as one 128 or 256 card is much cheaper than 2 or 3, 64MB cards. Plus you'd have fewer cards to keep track of.

I don't believe this camcorder was designed for strictly professional use. If it was, it would be 5x the size and 10x the weight. You buy this camera for its size/portability. This should be used for "hobby" filming and as an excellent travel camcorder.

As far as the "save yourself the trouble and buy a Sony" crowd goes, I've bought numerous Sony components over the years, from TV's to cordless phones. For the $$, Sony doesn't work any better than anything else out there. They just want a few more hundred dollars of you hard-earned coin to make you think you got a better item. Ask the Sony-lovers about software compatability for the MicroDV...and then watch 'em squirm. Read the Amazon.com reviews of the DCRIP7BT. That's what kept me away from Sony.

Nikon D200 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-135mm AF-S DX f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF Nikkor Zoom Lens

No matter how you slice it, this is a great camera.

If you're considering this camera you likely to be in one of two camps: A Nikon person trying to determine whether or not to buy the N50, N70 or the D200; or you already know you want something more on the pro end of the pro-amateur spectrum and are trying to choose between a Nikon and a Canon. If you're in the latter camp then you can't go wrong with either the D200 or any of Canon's offerings. They both make excellent cameras. If you're already a Nikon person, get the Nikon; if you're already a Canon person, get the Canon.

That said, I'm a Nikon person, and after 5 years of having fun with my film-based N80 I wanted to make the leap into real digital photography. I say real, because I've had a Canon Sureshot for 4 years and it's great for snapshots, but when it comes to landscapes or dealing with any kind of lighting issues, it just doesn't measure up. Since I'm a Nikon person (all my lenses work with the new digital SLRs) I looked at the N50, N70 and D200. There are plenty of sites out there that compare these three cameras (against each other and the competition) to death, so I won't bother with all the details.

We buy cameras to take a variety of different pictures and my choice was driven by my needs, so my review is going to be colored by the kinds of pictures I tend to take. My favorite pastime is landscape photography. For this, any of the three cameras will take great pictures. The 6 mega pixels on the N50 and N70 are more than enough to take great pictures I've got a 20x30 poster of Yosemite's Half Dome taken with a friend's N70 that is as crisp as anything I've seen. Having 10mps gives me more room to play with when it comes time for cropping, though, and that's always nice, but hardly a reason to shell out an extra grand.

My next favorite photography subject is my yellow lab, Happy. If he's standing or sitting still, then all three of these cameras take excellent portrait shots. But when he's moving, such as launching himself off the end of a pier to fetch a toy in the lake, the D200 really shines. Its 5fps burst mode takes perfect pictures. It focuses each shot and with its rich 25 picture buffer built into the camera, I've yet to fill it up. What this means is that it doesn't matter what speed your memory card is. The camera takes its pictures and puts them into its buffer. Then a separate set of processors moves the picture from the buffer to your memory card. I would have to hold the button down for over 8 seconds before the burst mode would slow down (it would simply slow down to the speed of your memory card here it wouldn't stop taking pictures). This clarity of the pictures in burst mode is what made me choose the D200, and with the 18-70mm DX kit lens you'll get some brilliant photos.

While all three cameras let you take great picture, the D200 makes it very easy to change the most often used settings. Picture quality (e.g. resolution and depth), White Balance and ISO can be changed by holding down a single button with your left hand and rotating the command dials with your right. This means you don't have to take your eyes off of what you're looking at through the viewfinder in order to change these settings, and I find myself changing at least one of these on almost every picture I take. To be sure, you can change them on the N50 and N70 as well, but just not as quickly or easily.

Other things I liked about the D200 are:

o Build. It's made of metal and has a very nice heft to it. The D50 and D70, much like my N80, are made of a very good plastic, and I've never had any problems with the N80, but the D200 just feels good

o LCD. The 2.5 inch LCD makes it easy to determine whether or not you're happy with a picture in the field.

o Color. The auto white balance for the D200 is awesome and the colors are brilliant.

o 4 settings banks. You can preprogram four settings (ISO, WB, Picture Quality, etc) so you can get to it quickly.

One last point the D200 is very difficult to get a hold of these days, but it's slightly easier to get in kit form (which comes with a lens). The 18-55mm lens is nice, but I prefer the 18-70mm (remember, with digitals you have to multiply the focal length by 1.5 to compare it with their film counterparts, so the 18-70 for digital is more like a 28-105 for film). The 18-70mm kit will run you about $300 more than the body itself, and it's worth it.

If you don't already have a big zoom lens then the new 18-200mm Nikon VR lens is awesome (equivalent to 28-300 for film). It takes stunning pictures and has all the zoom you're likely to need. It runs between $700 and $800 and is even harder to get than the D200 (which is why I don't have one yet :-).

In summary, you can't go wrong with any of these Nikons. The D200, however, is definitely the king of the hill. Happy picture takine!

I just had the opportunity to use 2 nikon D200 cameras on a trip to Antarctica. All I can say is "wow"! I have been hesitant to make the move to digital due to the relatively low resolutions of the early amateur digital SLRs. The specs for the D200 caught my eye. Of particular interest were the 10.2 MP resolution, the magnesium body and the enhanced environmental sealing. In fairly adverse conditions the cameras performed flawlessly. Particularly notable were their ability to work in cold conditions, something I was concerned about at the beginning of the trip. While other people's cameras were having battery issues in the cold, the D200 kept shoothing. The camera handles very well and is easy to shoot with. There is a bit of a learning curve to understand all the custom settings and menus. The good news is that most of the controls build off of familiar Nikon concepts so they are not hard to pick up. The output of the camera is amazing and while I have not had the chance to review my shots on anything but a laptop, the early returns are very positive. The new autofocus system is quite good, though one of my few complaints is that it sometimes seemed balky with certain subjects. I am willing to write this off as perhaps my not have a full understanding of the various focusing modes, but time will tell. The monitor on the camera is really good and viewable in bright light. Being able to shoot at 5 fps was nice when trying to shoot diving humpback whales. In this case the DX size sensor comes in handy, extending effective focal length by 1.5 the 35mm equivalent. With wide angle the DX is a little more frustating and I see a new lens in my future. I am very happy with the D200. I think Nikon is feeling some heat from Canon and had to come up with an offering that upped the ante on the price performance curve. The D200 looks like they got a lot of it right.

Buy Nikon D200 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-135mm AF-S DX f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF Nikkor Zoom Lens Now

The Nikon D200 is a professional camera which is also aimed at the serious amateur digital photographer. It is essentially the upgrade unit from the D100/D70s, and it incorporates solid improvements over those excellent cameras.

The most obvious upgrade feature of the D200 is the 10.2 megapixel images that it creates. The advantage of more megapixels is twofold. Firstly, many digital photographers "crop" their images in post-processing. For example, if you take a photograph of a flying bird such that the bird occupies only a quarter of the image, you may want to crop the image such that you eliminate half of the image, leaving the bird dominant. More megapixels means more detail will survive the cropping, which is essentially a form of magnification. Secondly, if you wish to print images larger than about 8 x 10, more megapixels again equates to more detail.

In my opinion the most impressive improvement in the D200 over the D100/D70s is the autofocus system. The D200 gives the user numerous different autofocus modes over and above those offered by the D100/D70s. These are designed to make it easier and more effective for the user to photograph moving and erratic subjects, such as fast-flying birds, or athletes on the playing field for you sports photographers. This, combined with another big improvement of the D200--the fabulously bright and wide viewfinder--makes it much easier to photograph difficult fast-moving subjects. The D200 viewfinder is wonderfully bright, making acquisition of difficult subjects much easier. Combined with the improved autofocus, I am bringing home more "keeper" photographs of erratically flying birds in which these photos are in perfect focus.

The D200 also offers up to 5 frames-per-second continuous shooting, and has a big buffer so that the camera will not slow down to write to the CF card. This is really useful when shooting fast-moving subjects. When combined with the excellent autofocus system, the user can shoot fast shots with confidence that most or all of them will be in focus. This is another improvement over the 3 FPS of the D70s.

Another obvious improvement of the D200 is its body construction. The quality and durability of the D200, which is housed in an all-metal body which is weathersealed at all critical points, has to be experienced to be appreciated. The unit is built very solidly, but happily does not sacrifice weight for durability like some Nikons (remember the F5?) have done in the past. Despite being all-metal, the D200 is light enough that you will probably not mind carrying it all day on vacation (like I like to do) or during outdoor photo shoots. Although this camera body is of pro-quality, it nevertheless retains enough lightness and is sufficiently compact that amateurs will not feel overwhelmed by its size or weight when carrying it around on vacation or whatnot.

Other reviewers have noted that the D200 is much more similar to Nikon's other professional cameras, and I am inclined to agree with this. I am only an enthusiastic amateur, and I am convinced that the D200 is about as much camera as virtually any amateur can effectively appreciate.

The D200 menu system is very good, and it is an improvement over the already very good menus contained in the D100/D70s. The camera allows the user to set up four "banks" of settings that are completely independent of one another. Thus, you can have one bank with settings optimized for portraits, one for fast-moving subjects (e.g. birds), one for landscapes, and one for point-and-shoot "party" shots. (This is how I have mine set up, credit to "Nikonians"). While this sounds complicated, the way Nikon set up their menus actually made this quite easy to grasp, and after about thirty minutes of playing with the camera I was quite proficient with the menus. Good job Nikon.

By the way, the exposure system on the D200 is also an upgrade from the D100/D70s. Nikon really spared no effort to make the D200 a quantum leap over its already excellent line of amateur DSLRs. This is the first amateur digital camera that I have used that seems to get exposures as good as my old F5 film camera (one of the great Nikons during the film era) although the D100 and D70s came pretty close.

With the D200 Nikon continues its tradition of offering a nice on-board flash. This flash is fine for snapshots and fill-flash of close subjects. Serious shooters will want either the SB-600 or SB-800 external flash units. Again, here Nikon has given the camera pro features--the D200 built in flash can act as a "command" unit for other flashes. Serious amateurs and pros will appreciate this feature.

As if to prove that it re-engineered the D70s/D100 from the ground up, Nikon also improved the battery situation with the D200. The D200 battery has built in voltage testing, which means that the battery indicator on the D200 is actually accurate, a first in my experience with any DSLR camera. This means that when it says that the battery is half-discharged, that is actually the case. (On other, earlier units, when the battery indicator moved from "full" this usually meant full discharge was imminent.) This is important because the D200 does go through a battery significantly faster than did the D100/D70s. This is partly because of (yes, another upgrade) the larger LCD viewer on the back of the camera, and partly just to the more complex electronics in the unit. Serious users will want to buy one or more extra batteries to stash in one's pocket or vest.

The 18-70 DX kit lens is a very nice little lens. It features some ED glass for better contrast in the images. Since it is a DX lens, it is small and light, while sacrificing nothing in image quality. This is a great first lens or walkaround vacation lens for portraits, snapshots, and landscape shots.

One very minor quibble with the D200. The default sharpening settings are somewhat soft. Some users have been unhappy that when they take the D200 out of the box and start shooting, that their images are not tack-sharp, as to be expected from a high-end camera. Not to worry, simply set sharpening to +1 or higher in the camera and it will produce sharp images. Better yet, experiment in post-processing with sharpness settings. Bottom line is that the unit will and does produce tack-sharp images, but not with the default menu settings.

Overall, the D200 is a pro camera at amateur pricing. It is used by pros and serious amateurs, and with its feature set and impeccable quality and ergonomics, it is an impressive offering by Nikon. This is one of those cameras that is really fun to use, and it produces fine, sharp, and bright images limited only by the skill of the photographer. Highly recommended.

Read Best Reviews of Nikon D200 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-135mm AF-S DX f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF Nikkor Zoom Lens Here

When the D200 was announced with its feature set and price, I was shocked at the low price. I was on the wait list at several places, but luckily picked up one at BHphotovideo. I've had one or two minor glitches such as the mirror/shutter locked up. A quick call to NikonUSA and tech support told me to reset the menus. I did that and I was back in action in 10 minutes. The images it produces are incredible. I upgraded from my Nikon D70 which is also an excellent camera, but I wanted several features that the D200 has. My AI/AIS manual focus Nikkor lenses can be used on the d200 and exposure metering & Aperture Priority mode are features I really wanted. This makes macro photography a snap with my AIS lenses. Other added features included Mirror Lock Up, 5fps drive, faster read/write on the CF cards, vertical grip, improved focus speed and the list of other improvements is long.

Image Quality This is was photography is all about. The colors jump out at you as they are vibrant. The 10mp images allow for cropping when necessary and you can still print large. The b&w mode is great. This camera beats the medium format film cameras and I have a Hasselblad and a Rollieflex as well. So when I want higher quality than my d200, I have to grab my 4x5 camera...

Shooting raw NEF the files are about 16mb. But shoot compressed raw and the files are only 8-10mb and no one has been able to tell the difference in quality.

Cons: Still very hard to find as demand is so high. Need big CF cards, get 2gb or 4gb CF cards as you will not want to stop shooting this gem.

Bottom line: The D200 is a pro quality camera body for a consumer price. Wedding photographers have embraced it. There are few photographers who could outgrow it. It's got a ton of features so be sure to read the manual while you're charging up the battery. Unless you shoot high speed action sports, this should be all you need. If you need a faster motor drive, then get the D2x.

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The excitement over this camera is justified!

We've all heard about the excellent build quality and it is true.

This is in many ways the best camera I have ever owned. The interface is intuitive and really is beyond compare in my experience. Every adjustment is right there at your finger tips making it fast and easy to change settings as different lighting and situations present themselves. This camera fits my hands like a glove!

So far the matrix metering is impressive. The amount of detail captured in the shadow area is exceptional!

Contrary to rumors I have read the D200 does offer capture in black and white mode.

Nikon has done a lot right here!

One other thing the software is another excellent feature. You can import existing pictures, regardless of brand camera used to capture. The upload is quick and offers the ability to tag, export, mail, adjust, resize and more. Very nice and comprehensive user interface there as well.

Packaging and accessories are first class!

One side note, the battery does not last anywhere near the 1800 captures described in the descriptions I have read. One battery does not get me through a day of shooting, particulary when using a VR lens. Plan on getting a couple of hundred shots in between charging possibly more if using manuall focus and shutting off frequently.

Overall I am very happy with the purchase of this camera. It's the best value on the market in my opinion.

*Continued assessment after even more extensive use.

Ok...I am even more impressed than I was when I wrote the above portion of this review.

The amount of well thought out features on this camera expand the photographers capability greatly.

Start with having four custom menu's that can be set and ready to use just a click away. For instance, one set-up for sports, one for flash portraiture, one for night capture and so on.

This camera produces the best life-like as witnessed at the time of capture color I have expereienced since discovering photography almost 30 years ago.

I mean superb color! Pariculary in the greens and blues. Every color really!

The images produced have the least amount of digital noise I have seen. This means better pictures, enlargements and best of all a lot less time spent in the processing. I even jack the ISO(International Standards Organization) up to 800 or a 1000 with excellent results! There is some noise at 1600. About the same as some of the other cameras I've used when set at ISO 200.

The EV(Exposure Variation) adjustments are easy to access and you can set the increment value to 1/3, 1/2 or 1 full stop depending on personal preference.

Oh! You can do picture Overlays in the camera! Yes right in the camera as long as they are captured in RAW and on the same memory card.

Add to that multiple exposure capability as well.

This camera puts a lot of capability in your hands!

Good luck!

Tripp Lite P568-050-EZ Easy Pull HDMI Monitor Cable w/ Connectors - 50ft

This Cable could not deliver a good signal at the other end for the projector. I will have to return it.

Although this product will fit into 2 inch electrical conduit (which the dummy who installed the av system in my house 3 years ago decided to use), it will not make it around a 90 degree bend in that tubing. The connector on the end is still to big/stiff. I'll have to drill open the wall at the corner, take out the corner and feed this through.

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Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens + UV Filter + ES-62 Lens Hood + Tripod + Accessory Kit for EOS 50D, 60D

this is a great bundle o have gotten my moneys worth from this buy. the lens is great and the lightweight rip pud has come in hand plenty of times

As expected (from other reviews) this lens has really good results. Only issues (also not any surprise) are the poor build and loud noise the lens make when auto focusing. All in all it is a cheap alternate for a 50mm lens. I still don't understand why Canon would make it this way. Perhaps, they are trying to keep the cost down as well.

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WiFi Baby (2012 Version -1st Gen) - iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, PC Baby Monitor. Wireless Video, Au

I was able to setup the camera on my home wifi network following the instructions that came in the box with very little trouble. It was when I tried to set up the camera for external viewing that I ran into issues. After giving it a go myself I caved and contacted customer service. I expected the worst and was actually completely blown away by their service. I emailed them just last night at 11pm and received an email back this morning. Gary setup an appointment with me tonight. You read that right, the same day, AND they work nights and weekends to accommodate their customers!! And he called me at the precise time that we agreed to. No offense to my Indian friends, but Gary is definitely American (as far as I can tell haha), is super nice, and is very patient. Within a half an hour, on the phone and with the screen sharing, he had everything working. THEN he sent me an email summarizing everything he showed me and all my settings. Are you kidding me? For the customer service alone, this company deserves more business! That is VERY rare these days. And the only reason I had trouble with setup was I was attempting to port forward on my Apple airport instead of my Verizon router. Otherwise the setup for everyone else should be a breeze. If not just contact Gary and experience what real customer service should be like (someone listening at Verizon, Comcast, AT&T...?), serious.

As for the product, the camera works great, the night vision is very clear, and audio is very good. I have only used it on wifi for a few hours so we'll see how well it holds up. Baby isn't coming until January so I'll spy on the dog until then. I downloaded the baby monitor app on iPhone and iPad and they work great. Only wish the app were cheaper, but I'm fine with that.

What really sold me was the use of the wifi network, so no interference, and external viewing, because my parents are on the other side of the country. With everything finally setup the way I want it, I'm a very happy customer.

Oh, and you can always get a slight discount if you buy direct from their website by purchasing 2 wifi babies. I split it with my neighbor who is also pregnant. Highly recommend this product. That is all

I am very tech savvy, but have spent over 40+ hours with technical support trying to get this to work properly. Yes, their tech support has tried and made some progress but it still doesn't work after all the effort. I have had to purchase additional devices for my home network and completely reconfigure it several times and have nothing to show for it. I just want a baby monitor and not a second career as a network engineer.

I would have returned it, but it was given as a gift. Read the fine print before you purchase, WiFi Baby will not accept returns after 30 days. Unfortunately someone purchased this more than 30 days before gifting it to me, so I am stuck with it.

The product description is VERY MISLEADING if not completely false. First of all, the service you purchase only works from a PC or MAC. You must purchase the iPhone / iPad app separately. That's right, you are stuck in front of a desktop or must carry around a laptop unless you shell out a couple more dollars to buy a third-party piece of software to use with your smart phone. The 'anywhere' access is misleading. They require you to use a third party DDNS service, which they do not own or support. You can choose to use free DDNS hosting sites, which may not have any guaranteed reliability, or pay again for another service.

You are looking at $250 for the WiFI baby (which is really just a $150 Y-Cam with the WiFi Baby logo on it), plus ~$60 for the network extender since the camera has such limited range, plus $12 for the app to use your smart phone, plus way too much time configuring and debugging your network config, plus a couple of calls to your ISP to make sure they will allow DDNS and port forwarding to work, which all adds to one humongous waste of time since you still don't have a working video monitor at the end of it.

Update:

After several more hours of testing, I am able to get a connection on an iPad about 75% of the time and about 25% of the time on an iPhone. I am trying to contact the software vendor to diagnose the issue since WiFi Baby tech support will not respond to me anymore.

I have since contacted Tech Support with online 'tickets' about 5 times and no one will respond to me. After many calls, I was able to finally speak to a person, who told me my only option was to submit help tickets online and didn't really care that no one had responded to my requests for 2 weeks. I have found that manually powering off and re-powering the camera sometimes solves the connection issues, but it is aggravating to have to walk to the baby's room to fix the camera so you can monitor the baby...

The camera picture is high quality and the night vision feature is really quite good. However, the sound is terrible. My camera produces an awful grating sound, not white noise, when there is no ambient sound.

Buy WiFi Baby (2012 Version -1st Gen) - iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, PC Baby Monitor. Wireless Video, Au Now

Sometimes you come across a brand experience that was just so amazing, you have to tell people about. For me, that experience came this weekend from an unlikely place a baby monitor manufacturer.

One of my tasks on my to do list was to set up our two newly purchased baby monitors at the house. Being the geek that I am, we had purchased cameras from WiFi Baby that would be viewable on the iPhone, iPad and Android. Initial set-up was a breeze but I ended up running into some pretty technical problems with the dynamic IP's on the cameras. After wasting a few hours trying to solve it myself, I decided to drop an email to WiFi Baby to see if they would be able to help.

Since their website clearly said that customer service was only available during the weekday, I didn't expect to hear anything from them till Monday. But in the first of many pleasant surprises, it only took them about 30 minutes to get a response on Saturday afternoon from Gary, the WiFi Baby Technical Supervisor. While the speed of response was impressive, its really what came next that set WiFi Baby apart. In their email back to me, Gary offered to set up a time over the weekend at any point that I would be available. Once we had a time, he followed up with a simple program to install for screen sharing so he can help me with the problem I was facing.

Once the appointed time rolled around, Gary called my cell phone and we got to work. He immediately took the control of my computer and walked me step by step through everything that needed done. It took about 15 minutes and everything was running perfectly. He even tweaked a few of the settings on the camera that would make for a better experience (changing the date stamp and fixing the lighting). If that wasn't enough, he even helped me get the app set up on my iPhone, which was impressive since it was third party software. Almost any other company would have claimed to not be able to help due to it not being their program. But WiFi Baby recognized that customer service was the ultimate goal and that meant helping at each step of the process. And I almost forgot the best part. Gary followed up about 30 minutes after our call with an email detailing every single step he took so I could fix it myself at a later date. And it wasn't just a generic note but a detailed email with every personalized step. Wow.

Everyone knows of the great customer service from companies like Zappos or Apple. But it is really amazing when you have a chance to run across equally stellar service from a small business. WiFi Baby clearly recognizes the value of going above and beyond for their customers. Needless to say, they have won me over as a loyal customer.

Read Best Reviews of WiFi Baby (2012 Version -1st Gen) - iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, PC Baby Monitor. Wireless Video, Au Here

This product is AWESOME! It's exactly what we hoped it would be. For a moment after we'd set it up, I was a little concerned it wasn't going to work like I'd thought though. Thankfully they have amazing free phone tech support. Anyways, here are what I consider to be the most important things to know about Baby Wifi:

1. Great camera quality (both daytime, night vision, etc.)

2. Great sound quality.

3. Camera looks to be well-built, is attractive, and low profile.

4. It's pretty easy to set up yourself for indoor wifi-only use (if you're somewhat tech savvy and know how to follow instructions).

5. You'll need to download a separate iPhone/iPad/Android app to use on your mobile device. We purchased the one Baby Wifi recommends called Baby Monitor HD by Sunshine Apps. It cost another $11.99 for each device.

6. It works with 3G/4G networks as well when you cannot be on your wifi network. This was the BIGGEST selling point for us, but this was precisely what we couldn't figure out how to set up on our own and was our reason to call tech support. It turns out you need to go through some additional steps to have a static IP address for the "Away" mode on the app to use this feature. This was a bit over our heads, and so I was very thankful for Gary's help (our phone technician).

As a last note (directed more to the people at Wifi Baby), the Wifi Baby website should probably be updated in several places that relate to setting up the Baby Monitor app. I found a few places where links, instructions and tutorial videos didn't make sense because the Baby Monitor HD app must have had a new release recently. Although I completely understand that this is a small growing business and they're just trying to keep pace! Anyways....can't fault them though...again b/c the customer service was phenomenal!!

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I have been using the ycam along with the Baby monitor app for about two weeks now. Getting it setup was alittle tricky so I finally gave in and submitted a help ticket on the babywifi website. I was able to setup an appointment that same evening. This item is basically a ycam with in packaging from wifi baby. But the extra $50 is totally worth having someone set it up for you step by step. Gary from wifi baby is awesome. There is about a 4 second delay in the sound. But otherwise pretty good. I have it setup on both my husband and my iphones, an itouch, and have the website viewing bookmarked on our laptop. Yes it is a little annoying that you have to pay for the Baby monitor app separately. The app running continuously drains your battery so you have to just keep the phone or itouch plugged in at night. But at least I know with this camera system there are no random strangers that can pick up images of my child in his crib like a monitoring system that uses radio frequencies. Over I have had a great experience with this product.

Logitech WiLife Digital Video Security--Hidden Add-On Camera

We purchased this camera as an add-on to our system. Thirteen months after purchase the camera quit working and all troubleshooting has failed. Wilife will only repair the device if it is under warranty.

Great concept, terrible execution. I have (used to have) two add-on hidden cameras connected to the WiLife system with regular in-door camera.

Power connector on the back of the camera/clock simply does not connect, if you finally wiggle it into woking position, every time you dust around it or even walk by, you are risking disconnecting the power. After a while (for me it was 2 and 6 weeks), hidden camera stops connecting to the server, just works as a clock. Amazon replaced the first failed camera, replacement stopped connecting after a couple of weeks. At this point, neither of two cameras connect, just using them as clocks, even that is frustrating because after the power loss the time has to be set, and that is a project since while pressing the buttons, the clock is losing power.

I am dreading contacting Logitech support for warranty replacement, had terrible experience while installing the system: I could not connect any of the cameras to the server, their solution was 'install newer server software, we have an upgrade on the web-site', turns out that I was attempting to connect through USB hub, as soon as I plugged directly to the USB port on my computer, all three cameras connected.

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I like this product for how it blends in to the decor, has great photo imaging; however the cord is touchy and will quit working at times.

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Great idea but the cameras are a constant problem. I bought fourteen cameras for home and office. Within a year four died. They replaced them. By the end of the next year only six of the eighteen (14 plus four) are working. The exterior cameras are particularly bad. The "hidden" desktop camera has never worked properly. These products are very cheaply made and the manufacturer will not warrant them for more than a year. Even the ones that still work drop off line at various times and have to be "rediscovered". Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not. If you plan to use these for security you are taking a chance.

It's cheap in the beginning but frustrating and expensive in the long run. Better to buy a DVR system. You get what you pay for.

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I have to agree with many of the other camera users; these cameras do not last long. I have two of the clock cameras and they have been in stable room temperature environments and not moved around at all. Yet one camera will not maintain connection at all and the other one is becoming very intermittent. These cameras are crap.

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Manfrotto 311K Video Monitor Platform 311 with Super Clamp and Double Ball Joint 155 - Replaces 315

This is one of the finest designed, engineered and manufactured tripod accessories for a laptop for tethered photography or to hold a monitor, depending on your needs. I cannot believe how well designed and how solid this Manfrotto product is. In addition and perhaps more important, it took only 3-5 minutes to install it on to my tripod. My MacBook fits just perfectly on it and it is adjustable, as I had expected. The two straps that accompany the stand are also well made and well connected to the stand itself. The straps designed for the stand, however, are made to be optional, since both can easily be removed...This device is well worth the price and should last and be functional for many, many years. Treat your photography and computer equipment with care& respect, by starting with the Manfrotto 311K Video Monitor/Laptop Platform 311...You even might try dancing on it.Manfrotto 311K Video Monitor Platform 311 with Super Clamp and Double Ball Joint 155 Replaces 3152K (Gray)

This was much too small for any of my laptops, and the 'ridges' on the edges will scratch the heck out of anything that is larger than it's small footprint. Based on the previous review I bought this to put my laptop on the tripod, and now regret it... Will be returning.

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Casio Exilim EX-Z29 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Purple)

I really, really like this camera. It takes awesome photos. To be honest, at first I was disappointed. It turned out to be a lot bigger (thicker) than I expected, which was just error on my part for not clarifying dimensions. The user interface is very elementary and I felt like I didn't have a lot of control. Then, the way that the screen displays the images-it was rather mediocre. There didn't seem to be anything special (well, that is, 10.1 MP special) about them.

Anyway, I decided that it was such a great deal that I could deal with these quirks. I'm so glad I decided to stick with it! Once the photos were uploaded, they looked INCREDIBLE!!! I couldn't believe that I took them (I wasn't even trying to pay attention at quality, and a lot of the pictures were taken when I wasn't actually sober...).

I don't really use the Best Shots, but the camera pretty much does all the work for me. So, yeah--if you're looking for an easy, straightforward, inexpensive (you wouldn't believe how much research I did on inexpensive digital cameras.. this one is by far the best value), digital camera, this is a great choice!

This is my first digital camera, so I don't have any other to compare it to; but I have used film type off and on for many years, including some semi-pro SLR types my ex-lady owned. Right out of the box, using quick start/dummy settings, this one took some impressive pictures! I have yet to mess around with some of the more advanced manual and auto settings, but I can see already this camera is a great deal for the price. Picture quality and ease of use are outstanding! My only complaints so far; the buttons are a bit small, and I have had to back track through the menu a few times to make up for my thick fingers, and I can tell already the lens assembly is a bit delicate...watch your fingers when the camera is on! Also, I would recommend buying a case to go with; though this is a 'stick it in your pocket' size camera, it looks like the lens and LCD screen will not hold up to that sort of treatment in the long run.Casio Exilim EX-Z29 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Purple)

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Well, I my review might be a little jaded since I'm used to using DSLR cameras that produce brilliant pictures but I'll give you my opinion anyway. For $70 bucks I guess it's worth it to have a camera that you can just throw in your pocket and use for snapshots. In low light your gonna get allot of "redeye" because the flash is so close to the lens. Outside in well lit area i.e. daytime the camera works good. It's also very slow between shots (must be the processor) again I'm used to cameras that can take several shots a second.

Bottom line: If you want a basic camera to take ok snapshots and you can get this camera on sale for $70.00 I'd say it's a good buy. If you want more speed and better pictures in low light look somewhere else.

UPDATE: 5/28/10 My son dropped the camera into the dogs water bowl that was full. The camera was submerged for 10-20 seconds. Without turning the camera on I removed the battery and the memory card and let the camera dry for twelve hours. The camera works fine.

UPDATE: 6/24/10

I've owned this camera for two months now and It's just a piece of crap. Theres no better way to put it. Whites are too easily washed out. Redeye is awful, and the time it takes the camera to process the pictures in between shots is forever. Do yourself a favor and look elsewhere.

UPDATE: 2/26/11

The Camera has been sitting on a shelf for months now. I'll either lug my big Canon DSLR around or use the camera in my iphone 4 before I use this camera.

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Please note that this review is about the product, not about Amazon's service. As usual, their service was great. I bought this camera for my daughter. She used it about one month and then the flash unit quit working. I sent it to Casio for warranty repair, and their response is that they'll repair it for $69 plus $10 to ship it back to us. That's about the same amount as the original purchase price. I won't be buying a Casio camera of any kind again.

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Had the camera for about a week and the lens locked up. Sent it back to Casio for repair. Let you know how it goes..

Fancierstudio 11" inch Articulating Magic Arm for mounting HDMI Monitor LED lights Camera Flash Bra

I bought this because I have a fancier tripod. I use a lilliput 7" monitor and mounted it to the side of the 1/4 mounting in the fluid head. Make sure you have that tight, hold on to the monitor while tilting to confirm it won't move then your good to go. I am ordering a couple more for the other side of my fancier fluid head mounting hole for my digital recorder.

Canon PowerShot A60 2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

If you're reading this review, you're probably like me, a novice user buying his first digicam. And like me, after having read and re-read reviews of several dozen cameras, this camera keeps showing up your short list. Still, there's so many options out there you keep obsessing about making the right choice. I finally decided to take the plunge and order this camera, and I'm amazed how correct my choice was.

Here were my main areas of concern while I was trying to decide on whether to buy this camera (they'll probably sound familiar) and how my actual experience stacked up against my concerns:

1. "Low" resolution of 2 Megapixels:

Unless you plan to blow your shots up to poster-size, 2MP is ideal. Don't get caught up in the "my MP is bigger than yours" race, as another reviewer said 2MP is the sweet spot for photos. Just leave the camera at its max settings and it's perfect, the file size is reasonable yet you'll still get every amazing detail. For example, I took a shot of my cat and you can see every hair and every whisker, even a little bit of "sleepy stuff" in the corner of her eye since she had just woken up from her nap. And this was just the third shot I took after removing it from the box. Yes, it's that good.

2. "Not enough zoom":

I'll admit, this was a huge issue for me. I was bound and determined that i wanted a camera with a higher zoom capability, like one of the Olympus 10x models. But actually having gotten a chance to use it, i've found the zoom capability, while nice, isn't the holy grail I thought it would be. Certainly not enough to spend a couple hundred dollars more to get.

3. Size

The photos make the camera look tiny. I thought it might be better to get a bigger camera with big Tonka-toy buttons and that it would be easier to handle. Don't worry, the camera feels great in my hands, and i'm over six feet with big stubby fingers. I'm sure it will fit your hands just fine as well.

4. Other competing models in the Canon line:

This was another problem area. The A-series and G-series cameras all seem so good, that i wanted badly to get one of the more fully-featured (and expensive) models like the A80 or G5 to make sure i wasn't missing out on anything. And looking back now, most of the features I thought would make a huge difference don't seem to matter now. What seems important to you now when you're trying to make a buying decision probably won't be when you're actually out there using the camera. Out in the field, you'll want something which is relatively straight-forward and not tediously complex, but flexible enough to change a setting if absolutely necessary. This camera offers exactly that.

Trust me, when you're out in a picture taking environment, you're not going to be telling yourself (or wanting to tell your photo subjects), "hold on for a couple minutes while I put on the wide-angle lens."

5. Controls and the learning curve:

For a novice, the controls look a bit intimidating. And they can be, if you don't read the manual at all or spend any time going through the settings. But thankfully, the camera controls are well set-up, intuitive, and easy to learn. Yes, you can start shooting straight out of the box, but if you spend as little as 15-30 minutes reading how to operate the controls before you begin, it'll be well-worth your time. That won't be enough to learn everything the camera can do, but is enough to get you started on the right foot, and will put you weeks or months ahead of the game. I spent about 20 minutes learning about my camera after I got it, and my first pictures already looked better than the ones my father takes with his Canon G5 that he's owned nearly a year but never bothered to read the manual for.

THE BAD:

Shutter lag is perhaps my biggest gripe. Depressing the shutter fire button half-way focuses the camera, then depressing it the rest of the way fires the shutter. There's a brief but noticeable lag between depressing the button and the photo being taken, perhaps a half-second or so. Not a huge issue, but sometimes annoying, and can definitely get frustrating if you're trying to get just the right shot of a non-cooperative subject. Like with my cat, I'd wait for the exact moment when she was looking at me, I'd press the button, and the lag meant that she was no longer looking at the camera when the photo actually gets captured. I'm sure it would be more of the same if you were trying to take photos of an infant or child. Not a deal-breaker, but it can make for some frustration.

Inserting batteries in the dark can be a pain, unless you have memorized the pattern for which batteries go in which direction. Again, not a huge issue, but can be frustrating.

CONCLUSION:

If you're trying to decide between the A60 and either another manufacturer's offering or another Canon A-series, get this camera. This is a better camera than the competing Nikon, etc. and if you're thinking you'll need the additional features or MP of a more expensive model, you likely won't. If you did, you'd know that already and wouldn't be looking at this camera. So save your money and get this instead, it will MORE than meet and surpass your needs. You'll be very happy you did. I already have my Dad thinking she should switch cameras with me, and considering his costs about triple what mine did, that tells you that this little gem is a winner.

I just had a chance to test my friend's A60. After taking several pictures, here are what I came up with....

Goods:

Fast start up time: less than 3 seconds. You are not gonna miss a quick shot. 3x optical zoom is also fast and quiet. The other nice thing is...it doesn't have a separated lense cap. This is what I hate about my Olympus C3040.

Good picture quality: A60 produces properly exposed pictures and saturated colors in several different light conditions.

Aperture and Shutter priority modes: you probably need this feature to take advanced shots.

Great macro capability: you can take a picture of flowers as close as 2-3 inches. Focus is also fast. Compared to my minolta f100 and olympus c3040, I love A60's macro better.

Improved night/indoor mode: this is what I don't see in canon s200 and the only reason I returned that little S200.

Movie w/sound record: this camera records and playbacks movie with sound in AVI format at 15 frames/second. It runs pretty smooth.

Lens adaptor: This camera can accept external wide-angle, tele, and filters.

Use standard AA batteries: I think A-series is the only canon line that support AA batteries. If you don't wanna spend [money]for a second propietary battery, get A-series. Four fully charged batteries seem to last very long. I took about 100 pictures with LCD turn on, it's still full.

Fast and easy USB connectivity: Compared to Olympus c3040 and Minolta F100, it takes very short for my windows xp to recognize this A60. In addition, you DON'T NEED a software at all.

Feels: this camera is not too big or too small. It just comfortably fits in my hand. The body looks like metal and the handle is plastic. It's a good combination since you don't wanna touch a cold metal camera in winter.

Low price

Bads:

Ocassionally, purple fringe is visible in very high constrat shots.

Poor auto white balance under tungsten light.

No 1280 x 960 resolution. It has 1600 x 1200, 1024 x 768, and 640 x 480.

Small LCD: could be 1.8" instead of 1.5".

Rubber USB/AV port cap: with frequent uses, it can be broken soon.

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Ok I've been looking for a digital camera for about a year now, I'm cheap so I waited until I found a product that had what I want for the price I wanna pay. .... the 2 mega pixels is just fine for ANYONE taking pictures and printing them.. 2MP Cameras print out great 8x10 photos so if you dont need to print anything bigger than that save your money and stay with a 2 mega pixel. In less than 10 mins i had this thing out of the box and taking pictures. It has some advanced manual features that I probably will not use because Im not a professional. The control are eays to use, the LCD display is fast and looked just like tv looking at the screen, the compact size fits great in your hand and doesn't take up much room.. Amazingly the batterys last for an very acceptable amount of time. I have a set of hi cap recharagable batterys from radio shack and i've been using it for a week taking movies and pictures and its just now getting low on batterys.. This is my first digital camera and Im very satisfied that I made a good choice first time around. There are many cool accessories (tho they are not cheap) like telephoto lenses and underwater cases too.. ....

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I bought the Canon PowerShot A60 as a replacement for my two year old Fuji Film 4700 Zoom, and I am extremely impressed. The camera at its highest resolution (1600x1200) takes gorgeous photos, with rich warm colors. No pixilation and very little purple fringing appear on the images. The camera itself includes some very advanced features for its price, all of which can be adjusted in manual mode. However, most users will never touch these options, instead opting for the simple Auto mode, which automatically chooses the perfect settings. The only downside to the camera itself is that instead of using metal, the casing is plastic, and therefore feels somewhat cheap. Nonetheless, the build quality is generally good and the buttons and ports are conveniently located. The camera is small, but is by no means one the smallest and lightest digital cameras on the market.

Along with the camera, the box includes an industry standard puny 16MB Compact Flash card, that should be immediately replaced, and four alkaline batteries. The battery life is very good; the camera can operate for several days of heavy use without replacement. Nonetheless, I recommend Ni-MH Rechargeable batteries, which provide an even longer life. The included `Zoom Browser EX' software very easy to use and incorporates some fairly powerful features.

If you don't want to spend much money and want an easy to use digital camera with great image quality, look no further than the Canon PowerShot A60. However, if you want a camera that can take larger photos and has more powerful features try the Canon S45, S50, or the Canon G3. If you want a smaller camera you might want to consider the Canon S400 or the S200.

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Since there are already plenty of positive reviews, I will focus on the few lacks of this camera.

Impossible to record the "date picture taken" on the image.

(Trying to pass for professional camera? :) Many simplier models have this useful feature).

Zoom lever is not most conveniently located. It would be easier if it was on the back of the camera.

Navigation buttons look strange being round instead of arrow shaped. This is changed in Power Shot A80.

Power on/off button is easy to be accidentally activated. Sliding type would greatly decrease the chances.

-Every time the camera is turned on, a lot of energy is used to mechanically extend the telescopic lenses. If they were fixed with attachable cap, battery performance could be improved; size, however, would definitely suffer. Reliability of lenses moving motors is naturally limited, which possibly could be the the cause for the famous Error 18.

-Ergonomics. "Set" button, could be better positioned somewhere near the side navigation buttons on the right, as set up on most cameras.

-Camera also doesn't come with sufficient memory card and reliable battery/charger, requiring spending additional money on accessories. This is, however, what keeps the price at its level.

-Side rubber cover can break if used repeatedly over a long period of time. Design could be more reliable if the cover would open freely.

-Very important issue batteries have to be removed every time they need to be charged, which places great strain on the plastic battery cover that would eventually break with extensive use. Cameras that enable batteries to be charged without removing them, greatly exceed the durability in the long period of use.

-Plastic tripod thread, less durable compared to metal ones.

Despite all the listed cons, this is a very modern camera with superior image quality and outstanding set of features and controls. I am very pleased with PowerShot A60 so far and would not hesitate to recommend it to many photo enthusiasts.

Kodak Easyshare DX6340 3.1MP Digital Camera w/ 4x Optical Zoom

I did my homework and researched this camera before I bought it, and I am so glad I did! What I found is that this camera can work wonders! I took about 50 pictures today in varying light of the Atlanta scene. I printed one out on my printer just to see what it looks like, and I was just amazed at the quality of the pictures! There is absolutely no need to get anything higher than a 3.1 MP. I took a picture of my grandmother close up on the Portrait mode and I can see every little pore and hair! (Perhaps it's a bit too good?)

This camera is for my 63yo grandmother who has trouble operating a mouse. She already, after only one day, knows how to use this camera. It's extremely easy to use. Neither my grandmother nor I needed to touch the manual to work it.

The sole reason I remove a star from its rating is due to the software. Mine was corrupt, so I had to Download it from Kodak.com The software is also a very poor tool for editing your pictures. If you plan on editing them much, I suggest getting a program like Adobe photoshop or Microsoft Photo Editor. The software does make it slightly easier to Download pictures from the camera, but if you have a program like Adobe or Ulead Photo Explorer, the software is not necessary at all.

Ofoto, the website Kodak recommends to upload your pictures to, is great! I like the way they show the pictures online in not only clickable thumbs but also slide shows.

So far, the battery life of the camera is fine! I used it all day today, on and off constantly and there is still no flashing battery light.

Just a word of advise: I would definately invest in at least a 128MB memory card for this camera. 16 is simply not enough, especially once you realize how much you love this camera, and trust me, you will! I'd also recommend rechargeable batteries as Kodak gives you a pair that are not rechargeable.

Oh, and the Dock is a waste of money and a collector of dust. Don't bother with it. First of all it's useless, unless you got the one with the printer attatched, but even if you did get the dock with its own printer, you'd still be spending more on the dock than professional photo developing.

I hope this helps. Enjoy your camera, whichever one you choose.

I previously had an Epson 850Z digital camera, but was constantly missing those key photo moments on our 2 yr old daugter. I read the reviews and narrowed my selection to this Kodak and the Canon 300. I tested them at Best Buy and found this camera to be quicker--quicker from the time you pressed the buttom till the photo snapped--key with a 2 yr old that won't sit still. I have been 100% satisfied with this camera in all settings and environments. The movie function is a nice addition, thought beware, the file size gets large quickly. Highly recommend this camera for both beginners and intermediate users--can't beat the features for the price. I've had the camera for 3 months now and don't regret my decision one bit. Great camera.

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I bought this camera after much deliberation and searching through endless catalogues and department stores. It was between this Kodak and the previous model (the DX6330). We decided to go with this camera though and we certainly haven't been disappointed. The picture quality is amazing. There are so many different modes of actually taking the picture (i.e. close up, landscape, night shot) that no matter what your conditions are, there is an option for taking a brilliant picture.

The menus are easy to navigate through and downloading the pictures couldn't be easier. Some people have said that the battery life doesn't last long but i've been using my camera for weeks now, taking maybe 200 pictures and I haven't changed the batteries once.

The camera also does movies up to the limit of the memory not any set time as other cameras do, meaning as long as you have free memory you can film, which is a nice feature.

The only think I would recommend is additional memory, but I think thats the same with every camera. Finally, we chose the 6340 above the 6330 as it was an additional $50 for a slightly better zoom and two more options to choose when taking a picture (moving and landscape or something like that).

I'm no digital camera expert, i only wanted to take some pictures when I went out and about and this is the perfect camera for capturing those perfect moments!

Read Best Reviews of Kodak Easyshare DX6340 3.1MP Digital Camera w/ 4x Optical Zoom Here

After a month of research and reading a lot of customer reviews, I narrowed my choices to Nikon Coolpix 3100, Fujifilm A210, Canon A70, and the Kodak DX6340. I ruled out the fujifilm A210 because of it's limited features, and the fact that it requires Fuji xD memory cards...xD cards are expensive, and are not as common as compact flash or secure digital cards! The Nikon 3100 had plenty of features, however it was too small for my hands and lightweight. I felt I hard to curl my fingers to avoid covering the lens hence I could not get a comfortable grip on the camera. The Nikon is made of 100% plastic and I wasn't about to spend $245 on a toy-like camera!

The choice was tough between this kodak camera and the Canon A70, but I finally decided on the kodak. Both cameras have similar features, both take and process shots at similar speed. The Canon has an AF assist lamp, the Kodak has a similar low-light AF mechanism. Unlike the canon A70, the kodak DX6340 does not include a memory card, however, it's 16MB internal memory allows you to practice and familiarize yourself with the camera right out of the box. Both cameras have a solid, heavy feel to them and are made of metal and plastic.

In comparing pictures taken with both the canon A70 and the kodak DX6340, the kodak produced sharper images, and the color in the kodak prints was right-on! Indoor shots with the kodak are great! The sport mode on the kodak Dx6340 does a good job in capturing objects in motion without any blurriness. The kodak also has an image orientation sensor that's really cool! The Easy Share software that comes with the DX6340 is easy to use, and the pictures transfer quickly with no problems to the computer. By default, the software runs automatically when starting windows which can slow down start up, but you can turn this feature off through Windows.

I would recommend a larger capacity memory card, and rechargable batteries with this camera.

Some things to keep in mind when shopping for a digital camera:

1.) Size matters! Those small, lightweight, mint box cameras are nice, but if you have shaky hands be prepared for blurry images!

2.) If you plan on printing pictures at home, make sure your printer supports a higher resolution...you can spend $1,000 on a camera, but it won't do you much good if you'll be printing low res images.

3.) Don't fall into the 'Mega Pixel Trap.' I have enlarged my pictures up to 11" x 14" and still get high quality print outs with this camera!

You can't go wrong with the kodak DX6340! Easy to use, great pictures both indoors and outdoors, and user-friendly software.

Want Kodak Easyshare DX6340 3.1MP Digital Camera w/ 4x Optical Zoom Discount?

I have to laugh at comments that I hear about this camera not having enough controls and bells and whistles. To delete, press the delete button. For flash, press the flash button. Every function is clearly marked on the buttons, and the more complicated functions are clearly written on the menu. You don't even need the manual for most of the cameras functions. I find it hard to understand people who complain at the ease of this camera. I believe it to be a virtue. I believe that I will take pictures with this camera that I would have missed with more expensive digitals. As a matter of fact, I gave my 'better' sony to my son. I kept the Kodak. Did I mention that it takes great pictures? Best wishes, Jon

Marshall M-LCD7-HDMI-BNEL3 7in Portable On-Camera Field Monitor with Nikon EN-EL3e Battery

The screen does what it's supposed to do without complaints or problems. Brightness and contrast are pretty good. Color accuracy is just fair I don't expect much more for a device like this at this price point and it's not much of an issue for framing and focusing. The adapter cable is a bit bulky but covers a bunch of use cases and you can always use a smaller, lighter cable suitable for your particular need. The ability to use a standard camera battery to power the unit is a fantastic idea although for Nikon use, it shipped with the older EN-EL3 battery rather than the EN-EL3a used currently. The charger, however, should work with either battery (so you get another battery charger for your camera system bonus points).

I've used the screen for both a Nikon D700 and a GoPro movie camera in both cases I was pleased with the ability to frame and focus. The resolution isn't particularly stunning but again, appropriate for it's intended use.

I have two concerns about the product the build quality of the screen and the supplied accessories. It's built like typical Chinese electro junk. Thin, flimsy plastic cases. Mushy buttons that undoubtedly are just springs and a metal tab. Little physical protection for the cable mounts. At the price point that Marshall is pitching this screen, it should be put together with more foresight and care.

The second issue is the quality of the numerous accessories. Total junk. It comes with a hot shoe mount that snapped in half on my first attempt to tighten it. Since that is likely the most useful of the mounting options, I would have hoped it would be a tad more robust. Fortunately, you can get better hot shoe to 1/4 inch threaded mounts pretty much anywhere. The charging adapters are again of minimal build quality and dubious longevity.

So in summary, a fairly good value but I think it could be a much more useful, robust system with a bit more attention to quality.