Olympus PEN E-P2 12.3 MP Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 17mm f/2.8 Lens

I had shot with Leica film cameras for years but when I made the full transition to digital, moved away from them. The M8 and M9 are great cameras, but too pricey, even on the used market. For years, I used a Canon G-series as my carry-everywhere camera and, while it produced very good photos and was bullet-proof reliable, the small chip size and very short focal lengths bothered me a lot.

When the E-P1 came out, I was intrigued. When the E-P2 came out, I became lustful. I had a chance to borrow one for a week and got hooked I had to have it.

The larger chip means a cropping factor of 0.5x, so the 17 mm lens gives me a field of view close to the 35 mm I always had on my Leica M4-P. The larger chip means a longer lens which means more background control and that is what I craved the most. The ability to separate my subjects out from the background means my images pop again, just like the old days. (And like on my full-frame Canon DSLRs.)

The camera is small, light and feels extremely durable. The lens, I'll admit, doesn't feel as strong as the camera, but I hear rumors of new lenses in 2011 with a wider maximum aperture, so I may buy a new one if that pans out.

The raw files look very good at ISOs below 500. Above and they get a little chunky, but usable.

Buying this camera has re-invigorated me. I made a commitment to shoot with it (and post photos online at mejphoto.com) every day. I'm coming up on 30 days and, so far, with one exception (when I decided to get out a big lens on a DSLR to shoot a hawk), I've made and posted a photo every day with it. It is my constant companion and is helping me to see my world again.

As for the strange pricing ... I'd been keeping my eye on the E-P2 kit with the 17 mm lens and the viewfinder for a while. I knew I wanted it, I knew I wanted it by early December to start a year-long project, but the price had been holding steady at $1099. In late November, the price for the viewfinder was about $250, the camera and lens about $900, putting the separate prices higher than the kit. Then the camera/lens combo started to drop. $750, matching the kit price.

$700.

$675.

$635.

$535.

I have no idea what Amazon was doing, but ended up with the camera, lens and viewfinder for a combined $785, more than $300 off the kit price.

So, um ... thanks, Amazon.

I love this camera. i graduated from a travel zoom point and shoot and have had loads of fun getting to know this camera.

Micro 4/3

If you are new to the micro 4/3 idea, do some research but I am completely satisfied with my decision to stay away from big dslr's and glad i moved up from point and shoots. these camera's can go with you in places that DSLRs cannot. Additional lenses for these cameras are expensive, but you can also by adapters to sort you out with all sorts of legacy glass.

Olympus vs Panasonic

Once again, do your research. THe GF2 is nice but expensive. Panasonic lenses have in-lens stabilization whereas olympus has it in the body, which i like and it means IS will work with any lens. Panasonic takes slightly better video.

Olympus EP-2

I would definitely get this camera over an epl-1 (and the new epl-2 for that matter). It's solid, with lots of steel. Everyone who has seen it loves its retro look. It has got tons of options that I will be able to use more as I become a more experienced photographer.

This deal (the one with 17mm f2.8 lens):

This deal is awesome! It is super compact with pancake kit lens. However, panasonic has a 20mm (without image stabilization) that people absolutely love. Therefore, a great way to go as well is the deal with the 14-42 lens and buy the panny 20mm. I personally love this deal. My next lens will be a better zoom than the 14-42 kit lens (although you can find great deals on those online), perhaps 14-200, or a wide angle. I will probably tag this review to the 14-42mm deal as well, as the other sections of the review (and somehwat this one) are relevant and the 17mm deal has one left.

Accessories needed:

also, buy a filter (spend about 80 dollars on a multi-layered uv filter so there wont be as much flare when shooting into the sun), an extra battery, and of course a data card!

Buy Olympus PEN E-P2 12.3 MP Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 17mm f/2.8 Lens Now

I've been involved with photography for a long time and have always tried to get a combination of high image quality in small, very portable systems. My best SLR combo was the Nikon FE with a couple of great prime lenses. We have had two DSLR's a Canon and a Nikon, both great but too much gear to travel with. We went to a Canon S90, great picture, lots of control and very portable but small sensor image limitations. Started looking at micro 4/3's in the summer of 2010 and ended up deciding on the Olympus E-P2 after a trial with the Panasonic GF1. My decission was driven by the amazing JPEG quality of the E-P2. I shoot RAW when necessary but like to avoid post processing. We have added a Panasonic 20mm F1.7 lens and this makes shooting in low light a dream.

The E-P2 will give you results that closely match a good mid-level DSLR. The camera is small and portable with a pancake lens.

Pros:

Small, thoughtful compact design.

Outstanding build quality with a solid feel.

In body stablization that works very well.

Very good LCD screen and class leading EVF

Excellent comtrols with dual control wheels.

Terrific JPEG image quality.

AF tracking in still and movie modes.

Great video quality.

Very good color rendition.

Very high resolution.

Excellent high-ISO performance.

Poster size prints that will amaze.

Cons:

Short battery life.

No built-in flash.

Steep menu learning curve.

Accessory port limited to single accessory use, can't use EVF with flash.

EVF, although great, is an expensive but necessary accessory.

No built-in flash, optional flash is expensive.

Read Best Reviews of Olympus PEN E-P2 12.3 MP Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 17mm f/2.8 Lens Here

The camera itself works really well. I usually use the manual mode and I like the fact you can switch which dial adjusts which setting. I find it easier for the sub dial to adjust shutter speed and have the main dial adjust the f-stop. Factory default is the other way around. The camera takes great photos. It took me a while to get used to the LCD display being so bright with Live View Boost on as it made determining a correct exposure a little confusing since what you are looking at is not changing with changes in the settings. I finally turned Live View Boost off but with a reminder to turn it back on in low light situations. On my camera with the 17 mm lens, when set to f-16 or higher, a small round spot, just a little darker than the background, will show up in the photo especially when taking a photo of the blue sky or a subject of a single light color(like the side of my white pickup). I have determined that this is the aperture hole somehow showing up in the photo due to some optical deficiency of the lens. At larger apertures the lens seems to work fine. And to be fair it doesn't seem to appear when taking photos of subjects with contrasting areas, only of subjects of one single color, like the blue sky or a white background. Overall, I recommend the E-P2 even with the 17mm lense and just work around what you know may be a problem. Another review I read about the 17mm lens recommended the 14-42mm zoom over the 17mm stating it was a superior lens. If like me, you find an E-P2 priced just right but with the 17mm lens, go ahead and get it with confidence.

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This camera has a larger sensor than most point and shoots. The 17mm 2.8 is definately a high resolution lens. I have a 11x14 of an Amishman where you can count hundreds of whiskers individuality! Great lens. Also have photo of an Italian ceramic mostly of roses. Captured item beautifully.

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Defender Sync 19 Inch LCD All-In-One Security System with 8 Hi-Res Indoor/Outdoor Surveillance Came

THIS IS A POOR SYSTEM, MY 1ST. ONE DID NOT WORK RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX, CALLED DEFENDER THEY ADVISED SEND IT BACK TO THEM (AT MY EXPENSE)

AND THEY WOULD SEND ME ANOTHER ONE ( 4 WEEKS LATTER!) I SENT MINE BACK TO AMAZON, HAVE ALREADY HAD A CAMERA GO OUT AND HAD TO SEND IT BACK, (4 WEEKS LATER I RECIVED A NEW ONE) JUST SENT ANOTHER CAMERA BACK THAT STOPPED WORKING, IT WILL BE 4 WEEKS BEFORE I GET A NEW ONE. NOW THE DVR IS GIVING ME PROBLEMS, AND DEFENDER WANTS ME TO SEND THE DVR (THATS BUILT IN TO THE SYSTEM) BACK TO THEM, DO WITHOUT A SECURITY SYSTEM FOR.......YOU GUESSED IT, 4 WEEKS! THIS SYSTEM IS CHEAP MADE IN CHINA JUNK!!!! CUSTOMER SERVICE IS A JOKE. BEWARE OF ANY DEFENDER PRODUCTS WHEN SHOPPING FOR A SECURITY SYSTEM!!!!! IF I COULD GET MY MONEY BACK I WOULD!!!!!!!!!!

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ADVANCED Mini HDMI to Standard 1.3c HDMI Cable

I ordered this as a substitute for the expensive Canon brand HDMI cable and it works great. Like most high priced branded cables, these cheaper ones are no different. The only thing they lack is marketing and branding that has to be paid for by the consumer. People who buy Monster, or any other high branded cable are wasting their money. Buy cheap cables, they're all the same.

Have used it for over a year and have had no issues. This is a quality cable at a great price.

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I used this cable for my new Nikon dslr that was purchased at Christmas. It allows me to see my pictures/video through the tv without downloading them off the camera. Solid performance so far.

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This cable gets the job done. Its construction is as good as anything you might pay much more for in the electronics stores around town. I can't imagine why anyone would buy those high-price cables.

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This cable did not provide a reliable, flicker free connection with my Canon HF200 Camcorder. It is either defective or poor quality. I did not attempt to return it due to its low price. I recommend the Mediabridge Ultra Series 6ft High Speed HDMI Cable Version 1.3 Category 2 Certified 1080p Blu-Ray PS3. ( I have the 10 FT length MediaBridge cable.)

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

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

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Sanyo Xacti HD1A 5.1MP MPEG4 High-Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom

Yes, technically this is a HiDef camcorder. No, its video output is not on par with traditional HDV camcorders such as those from Sony, Canon, etc. But, it is important to understand that this is a hybrid device with a unique feature set and good performance with a cost point that is about half of what a low-end HDV camcorder would cost. The video quality (in HD mode) is superior to regular DV camcorders and the stills are better than my 5-year old Sony 4MP camera. If I'm going to shoot critical production video or capture stills for color-separated print work, I going to use the proper tools. But, I'm not going to haul pro gear to a high school soccer game or a family BBQ. I can throw this thing into my pocket, shoot for hours and have fun doing it. For me, the unique packaging, versatile operation and efficient battery life means I will shoot more memories. Sometimes, that's more important than the compression scheme or low-light performance. Highly recommended.

This is the best HD camera for the price. It's the lightest HD camera of any kind. The quality is equivalent to professional SD cameras from 10 years ago if you're careful. You can get more resolution, more features, and more weight, for more money. It depends on how much you want to spend and how much excercise you want.

Now the bad news. You have to be careful to get the best quality from it. It has to be tripod mounted. You must keep ISO at 50 or 100. Keep the shutter speed below 1/100 or it produces very grainy images. Lower shutter speed seems to enable noise reduction.

It experiences blooming when shooting bright objects or the Sun. Don't bother using the still picture support. Get a digital SLR for still pictures.

The lens is cockeyed. You have to angle your tripod down to shoot level and you can't use the docking station for shooting. It won't stand up on its own without a tripod because it's top heavy.

The tripod mount occupies the same space as the power connector. You have to remove it from the tripod to run it on AC and download movies off it.

The tripod mount is plastic. Sooner or later it's going to strip. Be prepared to fabricate an alternate tripod mount for it and glue it on or try the restripping compound at OSH.

The biggest problem is there's no exposure lock function and no lightmeter function. The settings it says it's using in auto exposure are not correct, and it only applies manual exposure settings during recording.

The only way to lock exposure is to try different settings in manual mode and record test clips.

For auto exposure, keep it in "measure multi". The spot modes don't work.

For focusing, keep it in 5 point auto focus. The spot focusing doesn't work and the screen is too small for manual focusing. Locking the focus tends to lock it just out of focus most of the time.

Buy Sanyo Xacti HD1A 5.1MP MPEG4 High-Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom Now

The HD1 is a wonderful, amazing camera. And it is small enough that you can always have it with you -I've carried mine for months in my front pants pocket in its protective case, and been able to capture family and work stills and video that would otherwise have been lost. Even if the quality were not up to par, I would have something instead of nothing. But the quality is great! I'll expand on the quality below.

This camera is genuinely high definition, more than three times the resolution of NTSC. This is best shown by comparing a DV image captured with firewire (no NTSC modulation artifacts) on a computer monitor, to the HD1 image transferred from its SD card. Notice that this comparison should favor the DV -but instead, it makes the increased resolution of the HD1 clear.

HD televisons and monitors are already commonplace, and video captured at less than HD quality will not be as highly valued (like 8mm, good for historical content). Capturing now in HD preserves the value of your video. And this camera fits in your pocket! My bet is anyone who thinks the video from this camera is not significantly better than DV is looking at its output downconverted to letterboxed NTSC, probably on an old TV.

The HD1 records in 720p30 format for an hour on a 4GB sd card (about $70). There is no transport noise picked up by the on-board microphones, as there is no tape transport! Even lens and finger noises are attenuated by the intelligent placement of the microphones on the back of the fold-out screen, where unlike other cameras, they are pointed at the subject! It also has an external microphone jack, missing in other cameras.

Once the camera is turned on, folding the viewfinder puts it in standby mode with no apparent impact on battery life. This way, the camera is ready to go in a couple of seconds after the viewfinder is opened. Mine stays in standby, sometimes for days between uses. Battery life is very good (but keep a charged spare with you, just like you keep a second SD memory card).

The still shots from this camera are as good as or better than most dedicated still cameras. I would rate it just below the Sony DSC-T7. However, the HD1 has a 10x optical zoom, which reduces the need for cropping, thereby preserving resolution. Look at the stills and video from the HD1 on steves- (different Steve), which is a blowaway excellent web site for comparing cameras.

The output of the HD1 is not as clean as the output from the Sony HC3 or the Canon HV10 HDV comcorders, both of which capture at a higher resolution. Ironically both use CMOS sensors which have historically been much noisier than CCDs like the HD1's. I suspect that this is due to better post capture processing, so I'm eager to try something like Noise Ninja or NeatImage on the HD1 output. However, as is, it is easy to mix the video from all three using Vegas Video (and I'm sure other editors), especially when the HDV cameras have been used for tripod shots and the HD1 for handheld, more casual shots. Of course, the HV10 and HC3 each cost about twice the HD1, and as wonderfully compact as they are, neither fits in your pocket.

The program Jet Audio is the best I've found for playing the MPEG-4 video directly from the HD1 SD card on a PC. Even the free version does a great job.

Two other general purpose digital imaging notes: Always make two copies of your image files on different media before erasing the original! And rent some Internet space from a web host somewhere across the country (or world) and copy your image files to a non-public area on your web server space. This costs as little as $6 / month for 150 GB or so somewhere in a secured, backed up facility. And you can still use the public part of the space to create a web site. If there is a tornado, hurricane, earthquake, fire, etc. your "irreplacable family photos" (including any old ones you've scanned or reshot on your digital camera and uploaded) will still be safe. I understand at this point there are folks offering this sort of a service directly, although typically at a higher cost.

Another review mentions the "drawback" of the video freezing briefly when a still is captured while shooting video. On the other hand, this camera in video mode is shooting 30 1MP stills each second! Take your pick and always get the right moment.

Did I mention that the HD1 is a genuine High Definition video camera / recorder that fits in your pocket so you can always have it with you? What an outrageous step forward! I hope you like yours and find it as useful as I do mine.

Aloha,

Steve

Read Best Reviews of Sanyo Xacti HD1A 5.1MP MPEG4 High-Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom Here

After vigorous research and investigation, I decided on this camera because of portability with quality. Bigger cameras may provide better HD picture quality but I believe you may lose lots of opportunities since the camera is not in your pocket.

I used 4GB SD card to take about 1 hour of HD video. With two 2GB SD cards, I am pretty much covered in most occasions. With recent purchase of an 80GB portable hard drive that I can dump SD card to, I don't have to worry about running out of storage.

Battery life is also reasonable: I didn't measure the actual hours but I used all three SD cards with one charge.

Flash is also relatively powerful, but like other digital camera the built-in flash is not effective once it passes 10 ft or further.

Ergonomical design is the best of all like-kind portable video camera. I can control the button with one hand without too much worry about dropping the camera.

High Definition quality is not as nearly good as bulky ones such as Sony HDR-HC1, but much better than average among the same level of pocket size cameras. With a little adjustment on ISO, you will capture better images that you want. However, ISO 400 presents noticeable grain. 5 MP still camera image is not as good as my Canon digital camera but is good enough to print and share with friends and family.

Overall, I finally settled down with my seemingly endless research and enjoy this camera.

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For the size and compactibility you can't get any better. Takes great digital stills and good video. Looks great up on my plasma better than my old dv camcorder. If I wanted something large to carry around, then I would go for the Sony HD camcorder with 5.1 sound; but I just want something you can place in your pocket and run out with. Great for travel and for taking to parties places where you don't want to be carrying a lot of equipment.

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM Zoom Lens + Canon 2400 DSLR Gadget Bag Case + Tripod + Accessory

I ordered an accessory kit from this vendor in Thanksgiving, received it till mid Dec. and found out that it is a regular telephoto lens, not the USM one they put on Amazon, called them, they argued that "somebody ELSE put the wrong information/photo on Amazon for them", ridiculous! can you guys believe that?

They refused to exchange a USM lens for me, only let me return the package, however, after 6 days, I haven't received the return tag yet, still fighting with them.

Guys, do not risk your money and time with this cheater!

This package was qn exceptional value! The lens is perfect and the tri-pod lightweight and easy to carry. The accessories are fantastic. Very happy.

Buy Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM Zoom Lens + Canon 2400 DSLR Gadget Bag Case + Tripod + Accessory Now

Tripp Lite P502-010-RA 10ft SVGA / VGA Monitor Extension Cable with RGB Coax Gold HD15M / Right-ang

I needed this to hook old emachines to new flat screen tv which had pc plug on back. It was the correct pin number and long enough to reach . It works great.

If you remove (temporarily), the thumb screws from the right angle end, the connector will fit through spaces that a normal VGA end will not. I used this cable to run the VGA signal to my TV that is hanging on an articulated arm that has a space about two inches in diameter to run cables through. I now have this cable, the power cord, one RG6 cable, all of the Wii (original, not U) cables, and four right angle HDMI cables all neatly routed through the bracket.

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I needed a VGA cable that would fit through a cable hole that a conventional connector would not fit through. This one went through perfectly and performs perfectly. It connects my ASUS laptop PC to our 60" Sharp video conference TV.

Read Best Reviews of Tripp Lite P502-010-RA 10ft SVGA / VGA Monitor Extension Cable with RGB Coax Gold HD15M / Right-ang Here

Seems to be very well built. I used this to mount a TV monitor on the wall, and the 90 degree connector allowed this. However, the cylindrical bulges near both ends stick out too much, and kept the monitor from mounting flush to the wall, so I had to trim them a little with a knife blade (which worked OK, and was quick; to make it 1/4 inch thinner).

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It works like a Charm. I am kind of xtreme with the order of my computer cables, hate the hanging cables, stuff like that, my laptop does not receive a docking so I have to buy angled wires. Thumbs up.

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Campro Low Profile Triple Hot Shoe Light and Sound Bracket

When the item arrived I was impressed by the build, it didn't look like much much in the photos but it's quite thick and feels more solid than bar designs that do this stuff. Remember you have a little less in the way of options for mounting (ie a microphone MUST go on top if it has shock mounts or it won't sit right (I have a Rode VideoMic Pro), and the monitor will most likely need another small arm to get it the way you want if you use it as suggested. I turned it sideways, so there was one shoe mount on top, one on front, one on the back, my monitors included little arm went into the back and now hangs over the viewfinder of my Canon 5dm2, which is perfect, and of course can be swiveled up and down. It seems to lock the mic and monitor in very well, will only say you need to screw it on TIGHT or it may swing left or right a bit, needs more traction, or maybe I've put too much weight on it. The other advantage over the bar or V style is everything stays close to the camera, less leverage ripping at the hotshoe, which is why I have this and the bar type but use this now.

I would recommend. Well built and a life saver.. Used this to mount my Zoom H1 along with two Nanguag 5400K LED Video light lamps

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I couldn't be any happier with the fabulous service from HD Toys. Everything arrived on-time (or early) and works perfect! 5-Star service from this company and I of course would purchase further items (and plan to) without giving it a second thought. I trust HD Toys.

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As others have noted, this item is very well built and well thought out. I use it for my camcorder, attaching an Azden shotgun and a Sony wireless receiver. Due to the 90 degree mounting setup, everything fits without interference. Only caveat is that with heavy items attached, you probably cannot screw the mounting attachment down tightly enough to keep the unit from swiveling during use. I used some break-free Loctite on the threads and everything is now stable and works like a charm.

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This does exactly what you want it to do, and it's very durable. I had to take off one star becase the bottom mount (which connects it to the camera) can be a little frustrating, where it's difficult to fully tighten it without twisting the whole thing (so the lights, mic or whatever you're mounting are point to the side). It can be done, though, so it's a very handy piece for a good price. But if you're trying to prep quickly for a real tight shoot, don't be surprised to find yourself cursing at this thing before you get it all mounted properly.

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Olympus XZ-1 10 MP Digital Camera with f1.8 Lens and 3-inch OLED Monitor (White)

After shooting with this camera for about a month now, I'm still glad I bought it, but I am a bit disappointed with the video.

I heard some bad reviews about the XZ1 video, but you seem to get some bad reviews with any camera. Here's what I found with mine:

1) Auto-focus on video is pretty much unusable. You get random focus jumps during the video even when you and your subject are barely moving. I tried all sorts of settings changes to deal with this, but I found none that work reliably (except manual focus).

This is not as bad as I thought it would be. I find that most of the videos I take are short and don't require focus adjust. But it does require you to switch between auto for stills and manual for video. Kind of defeats the purpose of having a dedicated video button. I find I some times mess up when switching and wind up taking stills in manual focus, or getting a random bad video. Seems to me that Olympus must know the auto focus is hosed. Why not make video manual-only? Or at least give a menu option to set that up?

2) You get some vertical lines on the video and while in 'preview' if you have a bright light source in the frame. They do not show up in the still pics though. It's not outrageously bad, and other cameras have the same issue, but I figured I'd point it out.

So short answer is if you must have great video look elsewhere (try maybe the Panasonic LX5?). The XZ1 video is good enough for me to use when I HAVE to have a video, but that's about it.

But the stills on the XZ1 camera are fantastic. It really shines when taking pictures of kids indoors with so-so lighting and no flash. And if you like taking close ups of flowers, prepare to be amazed. I got some amazingly crisp shots just pointing and clicking in full auto mode.

For me the kicker that got me to buy the XZ1 over the LX5 was the cheap underwater case available for it:

Olympus PT-050 Under Water Housing for Xz-1 Digital Camera

I'm dying to take it underwater. Maybe I'll post some pics when I do.

Some odds and ends:

The XZ1 doesn't come with an external battery charger, so you need to charge the battery in the camera. That is unless you buy one of these for like 5 bux. It works just fine and so cheap. And generic replacement batteries are available on Amazon for cheap. Haven't needed one yet, but I may get one before I go on vacation.

Premium Battery Charger with Car Charger Adapter for Olympus LI-50B Digital Camera & Camcorder

High Capacity LI-50B Replacement Lithium-Ion Battery for Olympus Stylus Tough 8000, 6000, 1030 SW, 9000, 1010, 1020 Digital Camera

The lens cap is a bit annoying if you are not used to the removable type caps. I was considering buying one of those auto-retract ones, but I don't want to add bulk to the camera. Instead I just attach the cap to the camera with the included lanyard. It pops off when the lens comes out.

Edit 5/27/2012 Here's some thoughts after using for a few months:

I'm really liking the full-auto mode more than I ever thought possible. Unless I'm doing something very unusual, I'll use this mode for all my stills. Even for macro shots it works really good. It's great to go hiking and be able to stop for 10-15 sec and still get a decent shot of that pretty flower. With my last camera it would be a 1-2 minute stop with me fiddling with the controls and my friends whining. I posted one of these quickie full-auto flowers to Amazon.

I've noticed that indoor low light shots have pretty poor automatic white-balancing. You can use "capture white balance" to correct it, but not in "full auto" or "low light" mode which are my 2 favorite modes for taking stills. Also this takes time to do, so mostly I don't bother. Right now my solution is to either live with the bad white balance or if I have a real "keeper" shot, I'll use post processing to clean it up a bit. The included olympus software is not half bad for stuff like this.

For video I've learned a few more tricks to deal with it, but it's still not ideal. I notice that the auto focus problems are much less severe if you are outside on a bright day, so if this is the case, I feel comfortable taking videos in full auto. Also if I plan to do a video where I'm deliberately moving the camera a lot, I will use auto since you don't notice the focus hunting as much with lots of camera movement. For indoors or where the camera will be still, I have my "P mode" on the dial set to manual focus permanently for video use. So the steps to go from still to video are:

1) switch dial to P

2) Hit 'info' and adjust focus if needed

3) start video

Quick, but not that quick.

Edit 9/03/2012 Finally got to try out my underwater case in Hawaii. Unfortunately I got sand in the camera lens on day 2 of my trip, so I only got in one day of snorkeling with it. I'm looking to get it repaired by Olympus so I'll update later on how that goes. I added some samples to the page. 2 full frame (5mp) shots and 2 100% crops.

Overall I was very pleased with the underwater pics. Even when it was overcast and I was diving down it seemed like the shutter speed "auto selected" by the camera was almost always faster than 1/100, so I got very few blurry fish (unlike every other camera I've ever used). The colors seemed to be improved with using the underwater mode vs normal auto, but I'm sure they could be better with manual white balance (which I did not try).

Was pretty torn between this and the Panasonic Lumix LX5, but ended up with this one because I already owned an Olympus camera that used the same battery and also had an external charger, so I'd essentially have an extra battery already. Also, a big selling point on this camera was the lens, even though I'd have preferred the 24mm wide angle on the LX5, the depth of field you can get with the lower aperture range on the XZ-1's 28mm lens seemed better, plus the aperture was more favorable throughout the entire zoom range of the XZ-1. After using the camera for a little while, I was very impressed at the image quality it produced. Overall, it was a great camera, but I ended up returning it because the price dropped over 60 dollars from the time I bought it before the return window closed, and I found an LX5 for only 306 dollars from amazon warehouse deals. It seemed to me that the difference in price was well worth whatever differences there were between the cameras, and I knew I'd prefer that 24mm lens. However, after having the LX5 for a few days now, I cant quite reproduce the excellent image quality and depth of field I got from the XZ-1. But, with the difference in price, I may just end up living with the LX5, it's by no means any slouch, and I think the menu system and flexibility of the options is better than the XZ-1. And as much as people seem to love that control ring around the lens, I didnt find that I missed it at all with the adequately intuitive controls on the LX5.

One last thing, be aware that the white version of the XZ-1 appears to be made with more plastic, as from what I understand, the body of the black version is metal. So to me, the build quality of the white version wasnt as good, and as cool as I thought it looked initially, in practice, I felt like a bit of tool when using it in public and would definitely go with the black version if I were to ever purchase again.

Buy Olympus XZ-1 10 MP Digital Camera with f1.8 Lens and 3-inch OLED Monitor (White) Now

***

update: I really enjoy this camera. It is fun to use and very adaptable to any shooting situation. I find myself shooting a lot more in Manual than I expected. The exposure indicator on the front makes that possible to have the right shutter speed and aperture combo based on your ISO selection. iAUTO mode does a great job for those who feel more comfortable with no adjustments. I took about 300 shots (600 writes to a 16 GB 30MB/sec SanDisk Ultra SD card, 1 RAW and 1 High Res Jpeg at the same time) before the battery gave in. The 3" OLED screen is good enough to "talk back" to the Texas bright sun, which was one potential concern since it does not come with a viewfinder and I did not want to spend the additional money for the available optional unit. I also recommend to buy a second battery Olympus LI-50B Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery for Select Olympus Digital Cameras Retail Packaging(http://www.amazon.com/review/RP3Y4CKKCDRCB/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm) and the following leather case COSMOS Black Leather Case Cover Bag For Olympus XZ1 XZ-1 Camera + Cosmos cable tie(http://www.amazon.com/review/R2ZTHOZ11ALJ2M/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B005IJTNI8&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag=). If closer than ~2 ft to subjects, set the AF to Macro. You will still have zoom. In super Macro zoom is not possible, but you can take pics of bugs as close as ~ half an inch. The camera has settings for bracketing in exposure settings and white balance. You can also set custom settings for one mode dial position. What a versatile, complete, fun, high quality compact camera! Beginner or pro, this camera is great for making good shots when the DSLR has to stay at home.

***

INITIAL REVIEW:

I just received this today, purchased it after playing with one my friend just received, really was impressed, and for $199 on Amazon it is a steal deal and a complete no-brainer! And since I was looking for a serious compact camera that also gives me DSLR capabilities like choosing shutter speed, aperture, ISO or all...or absolutely nothing ... this is the perfect camera. And with the fast lens from f1.8 to 2.5 over the complete zoom range, the lens is worth the $199 alone as any DSLR owner can attest to. I am using this as my back up camera for the Nikon D7000 DSLR that I am privileged to own and used exclusively over the past 15 month ... and my cell phone (which doesn't cut it ... better than nothing, a 8MP camera cell phone). This camera is also for those times when I simply cannot justify taking the D7000 with, which happens seldomly, but when it does, this camera fills that void beautifully.

So for those who have no clue about cameras: You cannot go wrong with this camera. You cannot find a more simple and feature rich camera with PLENTY of quality mega pixels than this one (10 MegaPixels is enough) at such a low price. $199 is a lot of money for many, but the quality of this camera makes the price laughable. You will be happy you purchased it. Buy it. You will invite me to your family picture for this recommendation...(you don't have to) (Note: The current suggested retail price from Olympus for this camera is $499 as of November 2012, and rightfully so).

For those who know everything about cameras: You will agree from the lens specs alone, from knowing what Olympus produces, knowing that the image sensor is large for this compact camera (Large, High-Sensitivity 1/1.63" CCD Sensor). It is build of the highest quality materials targeted for a much higher price bracket. You also will agree that the XZ-2 isn't worth $400 more. Buy it. You will want to send me a post card for this recommendation.

This camera is very heavy due to the high quality build. The front half shell is a type high end powder coated steel or aluminum shell while the back half shell feels like a powdercaoted surface, but it's made of a high quality plastic.

All control elements are of high quality. Easy to see. Easy to use. Intuitive. You get a quick feeling for it. The rear OLED 3" screen is nice and the user interface is appropriate to the principal mode dial on the top right of the camera. If you want to see all the adjustments you could adjust, then put the mode dial to 'M' (manual control) and you can dial with the rear dial/selection control through the menus (always enter the adjustments by clicking the right side of the dial where the flash symbol is; then you you can select adjustments on a symbol strip to your right and select the options on the bottom symbol strip of the display ... you'll see, it is quite intuitive). The objective ring also lets you dial through options of the menu. The ring's function changes also depending on the mode dial...for example mode dial on 'M' (Manual Shooting) the objective dial controls the aperture from f1.8 to f8.0...mode dial on 'S' (Shutter Priority), the objective ring control the exposure/shutter from 1/2000 sec to 60 seconds...mode dial on 'Aperture Priority', the objective ring controls the aperture from f1.8 to 8.0 (as 'M')...mode dial on 'P' (Program auto sets aperture and exposure), the objective ring controls the ISO from ISO Auto, 100,125,160,...to 6400. In the scene mode on the mode dial you can use the ring to select all the different scene modes. Very easy to use.

I think after a while it becomes natural to select your settings quickly and accurately, because it is very intuitive. The user interface is really ingenious.

The flash release is very fast and might scare you the first time. You will seldom need it because of the low light capabilities of the lens. Also to note is that the mode dial has a dedicated automated lowlight mode, where the camera is already optimized for night shots or in little light conditions. The flash can also be metered full, 1/4, 1/16, 1/64 besides forced off, red eye reduction, normal flash.

The lens cap that comes with the camera takes getting used to it. It's magnetically held and pops off if one simply turns on the camera if you forget to take it off. Both ways work. There is an Olympus cap that opens up mechanically upon turning on the camera and the objective driving out to photo modeOlympus LC-63A Lens Cap for XZ-1 Digital Camera. There are third party ones too. I don't own it, won't need it myself.

There are accessories available, like a TCON-17 teleconverter lens expanding the tele to 190mm (in 35mm comparable terms)Olympus Tcon-17 1.7x Telephoto Converter Lens. for ~$200. A viewfinder can plug into the hot shoe for about $250 Olympus VF-2 Electronic ViewFinder (Black).

For me the accessories like the teleconverter lens and the viewfinder make no sense. The camera costs $200. If I NEED the eye viewfinder (which is very nice to have), I have to just use my DSLR. It doesn't make sense to me to have this camera with a million accessories. It takes away what I purchased it for. It's got to be in the 'box'. Not to mention, for $600 you can buy a DSLR these days. My old Olympus SP-350 had one build in (that camera is for sale now, but you are better off to buy this XZ-1).

The camera did not come with a SD card, so make sure you buy one. I bought a SanDisk Ultra 16GB which has a transfer rate of 30MB/sec which is plenty. Don't stick a crappy low end SD card into the camera. It will take away from the speed of this camera (or any camera when writing to the chip). Use 15MB/sec min, 30MB max. 45 MB/sec (San Disk Extreme) is overkill. It's inexpensive 'film'. With 16 GB you can shoot over 1300 RAW pictures (uncompressed pictures) or more than 2770 10MP fine JPEGs (1/4 compression rate). In other words, plenty of pics. Or you can record RAW and JPEG at the same time (~890 shots). NICE!

The first pictures I took are incredible. Look at flickr.com/groups/xz1/ for pics XZ-1 owners took. Low light pictures are amazing without flash. At ISO6400 the camera behaves just like film would. It's incredible one can take pictures with this camera at that sensitivity.

This camera is amazing. It's fun. It's real quality. It is unique from the design. The user interface is well thought through, the controls are first class. It's ideal for the beginner with the potential to grow and become a better photographer the easy way. It's a serious camera for professionals when one cannot take that DSLR or doesn't want to.

It takes HD video too, but if you want video, buy a video camera. Don't expect this to be a video camera. It's not. But it is, kind of.

Video recording format: AVI Motion JPEG

Recording time: HD: 7min, SD: 14min

Video file sizes: Maximum 2GB

Video with sound: Yes

Built in microphone type: WAVE

External microphone option: Yes

Don't judge a picture camera for video. If it has video great. If the video is great that's even greater. But this is a camera for pictures.

I had my Olympus SP-350 for over six years now. This XZ-1 will be my new companion for a long time to give me the best non-DSLR option.

And yes, the XZ-2 is not worth $450 more. For that advice you can give me half of the difference and I invite you to a beer.

Here are the complete specs for your convenience from Olympus for those who know what they are looking for. For all others, you cannot go wrong!

It truly is a Xtra Zip #1 pic machine haha!

Camera Type: Compact

Effective Megapixels: 10 MP

Image sensor type: CCD High Sensitivity

Image sensor size: 1/1.63"

Image processing engine: TruePic V

ISO range: Auto: 100 800

Manual: 100 6400

Movie: 200 1600

Low Light: 100 3200

Lens focal length: 6.0 24.00mm

Film lens equivalent (35mm): 28 112mm

Widest aperture: Wide(W) F1.8; Tele(T) F2.5

Optical zoom range: 4x

Digital zoom: 4x (16x maximum combined zoom)

Nearest focusing distance: Normal 0.6m

Macro: 0.1m (W); 0.3m (T)

Super Macro: 0.01m

Viewing screen type: OLED

Viewing screen size: 3"

Screen resolution: 610,000

Secondary viewfinder: with optional VF-2

Image stabilisation: Sensor Shift

Autofocus system type: Contrast detection AF system

Focus modes: Manual focus, Single AF, AF Tracking, Face Detection AF, Macro mode, Super Macro mode

Low-light AF assistance: AF Illuminator built-in

Metering modes: ESP light metering, Spot metering, Centre weighted metering

Scene modes: Portrait, e-Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Night+Portrait, Indoor, Self Portrait, Sport, Sunset, Fireworks, Multi-Exposure, Cuisine, Document, Beach & Snow, Under Water Wide, Under Water Macro, Pet

Panorama recording: Yes

3D recording: No

Creative filter system: Art Filters (Photo & Movie)

Photo Magic Filter types: Pop Art, Soft Focus, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama, Dramatic Tone

Video Magic Filter types: Pop Art, Soft Focus, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama, Dramatic Tone

Shutter speed range: 2 1/2000s

Self timer: 12/2 seconds

Remote: with optional RM-UC1 Remote Cable

Flash type and power: Built-in

Flash hotshoe for external flash: Yes

Compatible external flash units: with optional FL-36R, FL-20, FL-14, FL-50R

Wireless flash capability: Yes

Wi-Fi Compatibility: No

GPS: No

Electronic Compass: No

Date imprint: No

Memory card type: SD/SDHC/SDXC

Internal memory: 54.6MB

Photo recording format(s): JPEG, RAW+JPEG

Video recording format: AVI Motion JPEG

Recording time: HD: 7min, SD: 14min

Video file sizes: Maximum 2GB

Video with sound: Yes

Built in microphone type: WAVE

External microphone option: Yes

Computer interface (Cable type): USB 2.0 High Speed

AV interface (Cable type): HDMI (CB-HD1 Type D); AV cable (CB-AVC3)

Battery type (model): LI-50B

Battery charging: In-camera via USB

Battery charger: with optional LI-50C External Charger

Battery life (CIPA standard): Approx. 320 shots (with 50% flash on)

Manometer: No

Dimensions WxHxD: 110.6 x 64.8 x 42.3

Weight: 275g

Box content: XZ-1 Digital Camera, USB Cable & Charger, Instruction Manual, [ib] Software CD, Audio/Video Cable, Wrist Strap, Lithium-Ion Battery (LI-50B), Warranty Card.

RRP AUD: $499.00

Underwater housing option: Yes

Read Best Reviews of Olympus XZ-1 10 MP Digital Camera with f1.8 Lens and 3-inch OLED Monitor (White) Here

Amazing camera. F1.8 makes photos like if they were taken with a DSLR. If you attach a RICOH lens protector will interfere with the flash, but you wont need to use it anyways, night times pictures are stunning. I have the lumix LX3 and the olympus take much better photos, though it has a narrower lens (LX-3 24mm, really wide photos)

Like other reviewers said the video quality is no match for current lumix cameras with AVCHDLite, or even the iphone 4, but that's not the point of having a camera.

Want Olympus XZ-1 10 MP Digital Camera with f1.8 Lens and 3-inch OLED Monitor (White) Discount?

This is my first Oly camera I've been a Canon fan entirely. I'm replacing a $130 point and shoot with this XZ-1 because I unfairly compare these things to my wife's Canon 5D and an old Canon SureShot I had in the $400-range that performed admirably.

My primary desire in this camera was the low-light sensitivity of the lens. At 1.8, it allows me to use flash less, and stick to lower ISOs to eliminate days. Most of the pictures I take are not in the full sun as I'm sure many of you can relate with. The camera performs pretty well at 1.8, though it is a far cry from the 1.8 85mm portrait lens on the Canon 5D (DSLR). However, it can take some comparable images with less flexibility as is expected in this format. The key to making the best use of this capability is to use more manual settings. Full auto will result in the camera leveraging higher ISOs first so as to maintain the fastest shutter speed possible. Most people should be able to take a steady picture at 1/60 with a subject that isn't moving a great deal. The auto settings in the camera think you need 1/125 and so adjust the ISO gain accordingly.

The other beaut of a feature is the built-in ND filter. You have to enable it through a menu, unfortunately, but it can be a real boon in sunnier settings where you happen to also want a larger shutter (lower fstop).

The only aspect of the camera that I really don't like is the auto focus in video mode. For some reason, the video will periodically blur and refocus every 15 or 20 seconds.

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GTMax 10FT Red/Black Gold Plated Micro-HDMI to HDMI Cable with Ethernet for Asus VivoTab Smart ME40

Daniel Berenyi

The cable is thin but surprisingly strong. Once I moved my Samsung in my lap and the micro HDMI connector "unplugged" itself because of the rigid cable. Otherwise connection is super. I would recommend this cable.

With this I am able to sit on my couch with my tablet and plug it into my 60 inch hdtv to watch movies. All I need now is a remote for my tablet. The build of this cable is great and I love that it came with a Velcro wrap to keep the cable neat when not in use.

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I use this cable with my Asus TF700 Transormer Pad Infinity, with great results. Even though with HDMI the quality of the build is not as critical as with analog cables, this cable has a very premium feel to it (gold plated connectors and all). Bargain price, too.

Read Best Reviews of GTMax 10FT Red/Black Gold Plated Micro-HDMI to HDMI Cable with Ethernet for Asus VivoTab Smart ME40 Here

Frezzi Energy Systems HGS-2 Hand Grip Stabilizer for Any Video Camcorder or DSLR Camera

OK, it is pricey for what it is, but this is a well built piece that absolutely has helped my hand-held shots with a large prosumer P2 camcorder. I can't get over how much this has helped when I need to shoot before grabbing the 'pod.

Toshiba Camileo Z100 3D Digital Camcorder Camileo Z100

I've used a Toshiba Camileo Z100 3D camcorder for several months, and am highly impressed with it. While it won't do quite everything that the thousand dollar plus 3D cameras will do, at a quarter of the price or less it can still do plenty, and it can shoot genuinely beautiful 3D (and 2D) video and still photos. My favorite 3D video modes are 1080p30 (you can watch on the built-in 3D display, or looks fantastic plugged into a 3D TV with an HDMI cable) and 720p60 (great for fast action scenes, and the only camcorder I know of for less than several thousand dollars that can shoot 3D at 60 frames per second). It has a considerable number of manual settings available, many of which work in 3D mode, including several exposure (auto, center, spot, backlight, night), ISO, and white balance settings. The filter effects are fun to play with shoot 3D or 2D in black and white, sepia tone, or color negative (3D black flames and waterfalls). The still photos are great for viewing on a 3D TV or the web, or for printing in 2D at moderate enlargement (I wouldn't try a poster-size enlargement). To see what it's capable of, search for "Camileo Z100" on video or photo sharing sites there are many spectacular videos and photos out there, either straight from the camera or edited using 3D editors.

The Z100 also has some nifty 2D-only modes, including slow motion and time lapse video.

The Z100 can do a fantastic job if you use it for the things it does best. A few tips:

(1) Focus is sharp from about 1 meter to infinity. Closer than 1 meter and your images may be out of focus.

(2) The stereo base (distance between the left and right lenses) appears to be about 28mm, pretty close to many other modern 3D cameras. That means the best 3D will be at close to medium range, maybe about 1 meter to 5 or 6 meters, though it still shows some depth at greater distances. I shot some nice 3D video of carnival rides with clouds in the background, and an object at 30 meters is visibly closer than an object at infinity. But fairly close up will show the best depth.

(3) The camera is digital zoom only, no optical zoom (well you can't get everything at this price). This means that the more you zoom the more the image quality is reduced. Some people use the digital zoom, but I prefer to shoot full wide angle to get the very best image quality.

(4) There's no optical image stabilization. If you shoot video full wide angle and have a steady hand it can do a good job handheld, but if you want really rock-solid steady video (maybe for a professional production), it's best to use a tripod or camera stabilizer (actually that's good advice for any camcorder).

(5) The best lighting appears to be in sunlight with the sun at your back, though the camera does surprisingly well indoors with the lights on, or outdoors after sunset or at night with streetlights.

(6) While the basic modes are pretty simple to use, it's best to read the manual to learn about the optional settings and how to use them.

There are more capable 3D camcorders available, but at several times the price. At the price the Z100 is good for someone who's starting in 3D or for teaching a kid how to shoot 3D, but it's also a great second 3D camera for someone who has higher end equipment small, portable, and as I mentioned before it can shoot 720p60 in 3D (which no other consumer camera I know of can do) as well as 1080p30. I rate the Z100 five stars for the beautiful 3D imagery it's capable of producing, and the many features it provides for the price.

For $150 this camera takes 3D HD videos that look pretty good. It's a great start on low end 3D video.

It has a small screen that you can view in 3D with out glasses. Has a time lapse, slow motion, motion sensing settings.

In 3D you have to pan very slow or shot makes you dizzy. Need a lot of light to get good 3D. The zoom is very jerky. But all in all it cost me $200 for camera and 64 gig mem card/

If you want to try 3D this is the camera to get.

I'm starting to look for a high camera now.

Buy Toshiba Camileo Z100 3D Digital Camcorder Camileo Z100 Now

Easy to use. Clear picture and 3D! I have used it a few time so far and for what it cost you can't beat it. I can copy the output files to a usb drive and play them right on my LG 3D TV. For the money and 3D you won't get optical zoom or steady shot but what you do get for a quarter of the price is great. The camera does need good light and outdoor filming is great. Indoor a little washed out but still ok.

Read Best Reviews of Toshiba Camileo Z100 3D Digital Camcorder Camileo Z100 Here

Bought this and a Fuji still 3D Camera. The Fuji has the same lousy battery life, but has amazing 3d. This only has 3d if you are 5 to 10 feet from the subject. really not useful.

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The camcorder is intuitive to use, with very few buttons to press, and a touch screen for more settings. The 3D created by the camera is saved as a Side by Side L image first MP4 in 1920x1080. With this camera and a copy of CyberLink's PowerDirector 11, I find it extremely simple to shoot video and then add 3D effects and titles afterwords. That's a fully realized 3D movie creation package for well under $500! (Given that you have a 3D monitor for video editing)

The video looks great, and as many other reviewers note, the best range is at least 2 feet away from your subject. It's a blast to set up a tripod for super stable video, and then have your subject wave swords or other long objects at the camera. It looks very convincing in review, and appears a bit closer than was shot. My daughter noticeably jumped when she was reviewing video of herself waving a stick with some embers on the end of it about 18-24 inches from the camera. She said it looked very much like it was coming right at her face.

Shoot in well lit areas. The sensors are not great in low or back-lit scenarios. The footage will look a bit grainy. Not surprising for an economy class device, just something to be wary of.

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Flycam 5000 Professional Action Stabilizer Steadycam for Dslr Cameras/Camcorders (upto 8 pounds)

Let me start off by saying that I am by no means unsatisfied by this product. If I could, I would give it a 3 1/2 star rating.

The price was a bit steep for the amount of engineering / materials used to make this device.

But then after I bought it, I found it on another site for $100 less, so you can find it for what you would normally find p.o.s. steady-cams.

The whole weight set up is more than awkward, with having these little compartments for the weights to go into. Why not just have a longer screw and wing nut? OH! And the weights are anything but accurate. You will need to go out and buy some flat washers so that you can better fine tune the amount of weight used.

All things considered, you can (with practice) achieve high quality stabilized footage with this product. I have used it on many occasions; including, several half day, and full day sessions. With the addition of the Arm Brace, you can wield this device for longer periods with less effort.

All in all, find this for less than $200, and then buy it. OOOHHH, make sure to buy the QUICK RELEASE ADAPTER for the mounting plate, or you will find yourself like me, spending time undoing the camera from the device instead of just releasing the quick release adapter.

i'm needing practice, but this is very very very sturdy and well built, great product!!! might not be great for you but its cool for me

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I read multiple reviews before buying this product and despite the multiple reviews where people say they cannot balance their steadycam I thought to myself 'ehh, I'm sure mine will work fine'. So, I went ahead and bought one and I found i have the exact same problem as everyone else. The issue is, while you can get the static balance correct (its balanced facing forward) as soon as you turn the camera to the right left or 180 degrees, everything gets thrown out of whack. So, after I found this, I emailed the company and they were good about sending me another one... Guess what, same exact problem. So, I think it is just a quality control issue. With this sort of thing every hole, every axis, every screw needs to be perfect or it wont balance correctly and a lack of quality control shows in this product. While this product is useable and is better than running with nothing, I would STRONGLY urge you to save up the extra few hundred and get one of the entry level glidecams because it is simply not worth the stress, time and effort needed to make this product even remotely useable.

Read Best Reviews of Flycam 5000 Professional Action Stabilizer Steadycam for Dslr Cameras/Camcorders (upto 8 pounds) Here

Sony DSCP8 Cyber-shot 3.2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

Sony really got everything right on this little camera. My wife and I already own the higher end DSC-717 5 megapixel Sony. That camera is unbelievable in its own right, but I do home inspections and wanted something I could slip into a shirt pocket. This little Sony does that well, but it does so much more. I still can't believe all of the features they packed into something this small. It's 3.2 megapixels which is more than fine for 95% of the shots you'll take; that will print up to almost 8x10 with no noticeable loss of detail. Flash works very well, offering red-eye reduction if you want to use it. Zoom is very good, offering both digital and optical zoom modes. I personally don't mind the digital zoom, although some people prefer the optical only. In the >3x zoom mode, the digital only kicks in for the last tiny bit of the zoom, so I don't see it as a pro nor con. Battery life is amazing, as it has been for the past two years with all Sony digital cameras. The new Lithium batteries just last forever; well over 100 shots, easily. As we already have one Sony digital camera, I didn't have to install a thing; everything from the software to the transfer cable to the PC worked from the older Sony. Thankfully, Memory Stick prices are coming down; a good 128mb stick will likely be all you'll need. I'm using 64mb sticks and with the resolution set at 2mb, that's over 30 pictures per stick. And since it's digital, you can instantly delete what you don't like, so, literally, all of your shots, in the end, are keepers. Has an incredible movie mode; even better than the over $1,000 DSC-717; it eats up a ton of memory sticks to do it, but I'm thinking about tossing the videocam; it's really that good. Menu options allow filters for sepia (so nice to see interiors in sepia; makes them look turn-of-the-century), solarize, black and white, negative, etc. Plus it offers seven 'scene' modes, such as the beach (which corrects the balance to show the ocean in its correct shade of blue), fireworks, distance shots, etc. Also has a very good macro capability if you like shooting flowers in close detail. All in all, I spent some two hours with the camera when I first got it homeand was truly taken back by how many features it offers. And don't forget the biggest feature: IT IS SO SMALL!!!! Not so small like the new cell phones that are TOO tiny; just the right small so that you can put it in your shirt pocket. It doesn't weigh a thing either (it's in the ounces category). Just a real tour-de-force of what can be packed into a small package, still remain user-friendly, and put a true grin on your face when you use it. There are a ton of under 5 megapixel cameras out today; Sony, Canon, Olympia, Kodak, HP, Panasonic, Leica, Epson, etc. all make cameras that compete with this Sony. Yet I don't see any of them offering all of the features this camera has. I don't give out many 5 stars on products, but this one earns it in every way. If you're just starting out in digital photography, you'll appreciate getting this many features in such a small package and one that doesn't need a PhD in Engineering to operate. If you're a seasoned pro in the digital world, you'll love having this little guy in your pocket, just so you don't have to lug around the bigger equipment. Highly recommended in every way.

Sony has really done it this time!

For a full review see Jeff Keller's Digital Camera Resource Page (he does a great job).

Hits:

This camera has the perfect balance of features for those who are "on the go." The durable all-metal body is sleek and small, fitting into most pockets easily. The battery life is excellent (second only to the DSC-P72/92). The 3x zoom is suitable for 95% of travel shooting situations. With the addition of a 128mb Memory Stick (which are very cheap after rebates, see Lexar/Sandisk), this camera at full 3.2 megapixel resolution can fit tons of shots.

The video mode is what sold me! Imagine taking 640x480 resolution video, with sound, for as long as the Memory Stick can hold... (Heck, I returned the DV camcorder I just bought, and waited for a month for this camera to be released.)

Good selection of accessories (although pricey). Best accessory? Two words: Underwater Housing.

The controls are VERY easy to use! I haven't look at the manual yet... but I will soon... there are probably many new tips/tricks to learn.

Quality of photos:

The wonderful thing about this camera is that on full-auto mode, the shots are outstanding. Are you in a tricky shooting situation? Take control with "Scene Modes," making those snowboarding pictures come out awesome!

The camera does lack fully-manual control over exposure, whitebalance, and f-stop, but my wife does not have the patience to learn photographic theory, nor does she have the patience to wait for me to tinker with the shot. Most of the photos I've taken have been in full-auto mode, and I'm very pleased at the results.

Misses:

No remote control... I love this about my Canon film camera. You don't realize how handy this is until you don't have it. Also, the add-on lenses require a plastic snap-on adapter. But that's the price you pay for unbelievable portability.

Slow focusing in low light (especially outdoors). Sometime you have to hold the shutter release button down for five seconds before it will fire. Set to (P) program mode and manually set the focus distance to speed up the process.

Conclusion:

Excellent camera for the price. Resolution is more than adequate for my shooting situations, and it fills up the Memory Sticks slower. Video mode is the best out there. Portability, durability, reliability.

Buy Sony DSCP8 Cyber-shot 3.2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom Now

This is my first digital camera, however before I purchased it, I did a lot of research and tried the various ones available in the market. Ok first off, if you are not planning to enlarge the picture greater than 8" by 10" [inches], then you dont need a camera with more than 3 MP[mega-pixel] resolution. The greater the MP, the more you can enlarge a digital picture without causing to blur. Just for comparison, the 'old' film [35 mm] camera took a 1 MP picture, so practically with a 3 MP camera, you can enlarge it about 2-3 times without causing it to blur, so make sure you keep that in mind before going for the 8 MP camera. Next, the zoom....consider only the optical zoom of a camera to get a great picture. The digital zoom, is a computer enhanced image, which is not so great.

Having said all this, this camera is unbelievable! The results are incredible. It allows you to take pictures in an email mode, which stores two copies of the same picture, one for emailing and one for printing[full size]. Also the flash is quite extraordinary. The best is the result with movie mode. The movie is with sound which is also incredible. However you would need at least 128 MB memory stick to get a 4 and a half minute video. Dont get fooled by the 90 min video advertisement, that is only in VGA mode, and quite unacceptable for viewing or showing it to friends. Other than that, the camera works great, results everyone will enjoy and you will cherish. Sony ROCKS!!

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The camera has superb picture quality. It has SCN modes, that takes amazing pictures at night, snow, beaches, and in very bright condition. Live Histograms helps in taking good pictures and setting light focus. The camera also shows shutter time for its current setting. Its a good feature for doing good photography.

P8 has MACRO mode that takes superb closeups. For the naive photographers, it has auto option. You can take movie of 640x480 with sound till you fill up your memory. It is a superb option. The movie is very clear in daylight.

No other camera with this specification, in market can take better quality of indoor pictures as Sony Cybershots.

The camera is small and light in wieght. Sony has once again come up with the product that rocks in the market. I think its worth paying for this camera.

Camera comes with lots of options that helps in taking good pictures at different times. I recommend you to take tripod and extra memory stick.

Want Sony DSCP8 Cyber-shot 3.2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom Discount?

I looked for months every website out there that compares cameras, has user reviews and etc... Finally decided on the DSCP8 and am SOOOOO happy I did. I've had the camera for six months and didn't want to write a review till I took it on a trip. I'm now back and must tell you the only problem I had with this camera was trying to get night shots really need to have the tripod for a serious shot. Everything else about this camera is amazing! I have the 128mb stick and can hold over 100 photos at the 2m setting.

The good stuff:

QUICK charge time (I have a spare battery for those long hikes)

Tons of built in settings for SCN's

Size this thing is so small yet the LCD screen size and quality is unmatched on the market.

Great quality prints come out of this camera!

Skip all the rest the Sony DSCP8 is the only way to go!

Sony Cybershot DSCL1 4MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver)

Many times what determines whether you will use the technology alot is whether you have it readily available when you need it. This is particularly true for cameras, especially if you want to capture all those spontaneous moments in life. Size therefore plays a major factor.

In this camera, Sony proves that size doesn't mean less capability. To be able to pack a 4M pixel camera with 3X optical zoom, and NTSC resolution full motion audio/video capture (with no time limit) in a form factor the size of a candy bar is pure genius.

The interface is easy to use. I picked up the camera and started using it without having to read the manual.

There are only 3 weaknesses with the camera:

1. the microphone is positioned on the top left hand side of the unit so it is easy to cover it up when you are holding the camera to take videos.

2. when in video shooting mode, zoom is fixed but autofocus continues to operate.

3. flash pictures in dark environments can sometimes yield lens flaring.

I just bought this camera and am extremely happy with it. I have already had the chance to use it under different lighting and it works great with the preset functions. I also bought the sports pack and am absolutely thrilled with it. I took it skiing on the weekend and the camera was perfectly safe. In summer I can take it to the beach and not worry about getting sand or water in it.

When I used it in the snow I used the preset "Snow Function" and the pictures were amazing. It really contrasts the individuals from the extremely bright backgound.

In all, a great camera the size of a candy bar.

Buy Sony Cybershot DSCL1 4MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver) Now

The good: This camera is very attractive: compact and sleek. Pretty easy menu system and the most important functions are readily accessible. When conditions are right, it takes clear, beautiful photos. Rechargeable internal battery means you don't spend a fortune in double A's. LCD screen is a good size.

The bad: Focus problems!! In certain lighting conditions (e.g. fluorescent lights) you cannot take an in focus picture using the automatic setting. I missed so many potentially great holiday pics of my kids due to fiddling around with the settings. Mostly, I simply gave up trying to get a clear pic. I finally contacted Sony tech support and they acknowledged the focus problems under certain lighting conditions, including bright sunlight. They suggested changing the white balance and shutter speedbut when you're a novice photographer, changing these settings is not so intuitive!

Bottom line: Buy a Canon elph. I wish I had. It would have been worth the extra money!

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Well, this is my 3rd digital camera, and my second Sony. I recently sold my Canon SD110, which was an excellent camera but I needed the $$$. This camera I wanted it to be an upgrade, so I went from a 3.2 to a 4 megapixel camera. I am very happy so far.

Probably the biggest selling point is the SIZE, Wow! My Canon was a bit thinner, but this is smaller and with more megapixels for 25$ less than my Canon when I bought it new.

For me, Canon and Sony are in a dead heat when it comes to consumer friendly/amateur/high resolution/amazingly compact cameras. Canon has a bit of a technical edge because they seem to have more features and better photo quality (probably not discernable to the naked eye). But Sony has the technical edge on simplicity and size. You decide which is best, but both brands are excellent.

I am happy so far, and I highly recommend this camera. If you want great, high resolution photos, with a metal encased camera the size of a chubby snickers bar(just shorter) for about two-fifty$, then this is the camera for you.

Want Sony Cybershot DSCL1 4MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver) Discount?

After loyally toting around my first Sony digital camera for over 6 years, I decided that I needed a smaller one. I have had this the L1 for over 6 months. It is so easy to use, and the pictures are magnificent. The camera was worth every penny. I think that you really pay for the camera's design as the specs are quite average compared to other cameras of the same price. I am a Sony girl, though, and am willing to pay the extra cash for a high quality product.

My only mishap with the camera was with the flash. I set the flash to SL (Slow synchro) not knowing that this setting is for low light which slows the shutter speed. All of my pictures were horribly blurry! Thank goodness I dug up the manual and read up on camera's settings. While I was able to use the camera immediatly after bringing it home, I highly recommend that you take a few moments to look over the advanced settings and the LCD icons in the manual... You never know, it may save you a few moments of confusion someday!

I highly recommend this camera. It is easy to use and tiny enough to carry in your pocket or purse perfect for those impromptu pics. Whether you print at home or professionally, you will be 100% pleased with the quality of your prints.