Canon PowerShot G2 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

The Canon PowerShot G2 is a digital camera consumer's dream come true, and a nightmare for other digital camera manufacturers.

Make a list of features you'd expect and not expect to find from a "prosumer" digital camera, and chances are you'll find them on the G2. This is a little camera that was designed to act a lot bigger than many other digital cameras in its class.

You only have to pick up a G2 to realize that there's a lot more to it than meets the eye; this camera's significantly heavier and feels sturdier than any other camera in its class! The extra weight means better camera stabilization. The G2's sturdiness inspires confidence and makes the camera feel like a photographic tool, not an electronic gizmo.

From the tilt-and-swivel LCD, the magnification loupe for manual focusing, dedicated and fully functional flash hot-shoe, evaluative metering, IR autofocous assist mechanism, ISO 50, RAW image format, etc., etc., this camera has it all!.

Many photographers will argue that the real measures of any camera lie in the controls and results. The G2 doesn't disappoint in either of these respects. Although you'll have to familiarize yourself with the camera's controls initially, you'll soon find them very intuitive and actually use them more often than not.

The quality of images captured with the G2 is nothing short of superb! You'll get clean, detailed, very high-resolution photographs with the G2, especially if you use the camera's RAW mode at ISO 50.

The Canon PowerShot G2 is still a point-and-shoot digital camera. Anyone who's ever used an SLR will miss the optical viewfinder, true manual focus, and lens selection not available in the G2. However, this can be said for any other digital camera in the G2's class. In every other respect, the G2 rises above its inherent limitations and really challenges its competition to try and keep up!

Beyond the camera itself, Canon has really done the consumer proud by offering most every accessory that you would want included at no extra charge, i.e. an remote control unit, high-capacity rechargeable Lithium Ion battery, and remote capture software.

If you're in the market for a capable digital camera at a reasonable price, thank Canon for making the choice really very simple.

Positives:

extensive feature set

excellent build and design

superb results, especially in RAW mode at ISO 50

Excellent lens produces very little distortion and chromatic aberrations

extremely reasonable price

All the accessories that should come standard do come standard.

Negatives:

Certain exposure adjustments, i.e. flash compensation, aren't available in full manual mode.

The fact that the G2 isn't an SLR.

Not much else.

I consider myself an advanced amateur photographer. I own a Minolta 3xi SLR, and this Canon G2 is my first digital camera. I have done extensive research on 3MP to 4MP digital camera. The final candidates are: Olympus C-4040Z, Canon G2, with G2 being the winner.

Things I like about G2 (from personal experience):

swivel LCD very useful in quite a lot of situations.

swivel LCD protects LCD when not in use.

long battery life. I have bought an extra battery just in case, but I have never used it so far (I have been using G2 for more than 3 months now). On average, I can use one charge for about 200 shots, with 50% of shots taken with flash; or > 300 shots on normal usage. I think I will use the extra battery when I go on travelling...

manual focus magnifies the subject, thus allowing easy and accurate focusing.

ability to show 9 thumnails at a time, and ability to let you jump 9 photos forward/backward at a time.

remote control comes very handy. The downside is: I always forget to turn on the remote control feature on the G2, and I wonder why my remote control is not working... I wish future cameras will allow use of remote control, without having user to remember to turn on/off the remote control feature everytime he wishes to use it.

G2 normally produces good and sharp photograph.

Things I dislike about G2:

slow to focus: causing me to miss many great photos.

unable to auto focus: the camera could not auto focus during night time even with street light. The G2's light assist does not help much and is of little to no use. Fortunately, manual focus is available. On another situation, I cannot auto focus on subjects are close (less than 1.5 foot) to the camera.

video recording has max time limit of 30 seconds. This is useful for short clips, but generally videos require much longer than 30 seconds block. Note: Olympus C-4040Z has no video time limit.

unable to zoom in or out after you have started video recording. However, you can zoom in or out before starting a video session.

flash insufficient. When taking indoor pictures, flash assisted photos will look artificial, and gives you a feel that there is insufficient light (i.e. subject too bright, background too dark). I have read that adding an external flash will solve this problem, although I have never tried it. In the meantime, I use Night mode to compensate for this artificial lighting. With Night mode, your photo will look natural. The drawback is: the subject will need to stay still a little longer for the shot, so that there is more exposure for the darker areas. Unfortunately, my subjects do not always stay as long as I want them to.

auto stitching does not work very well. Initially, I was impressed by auto-stitching. But upon further examination, I find that the stitching is done correctly only on certain parts of the photo. For example, auto-stitch is done correctly at the bottom half joining two pictures, but somehow auto-stitch did not stitch the top half correctly (i.e. top half is misaligned). In all, I would give auto-stitching a Bto C+ grade.

photos taken tend to be more magenta in color. Fortunately, I can resolve this by setting Saturation level to Low (from Normal).

noise found in higher ISO. Generally, G2 produces good quality photo at ISO 50 or ISO 100. I do not recommend using any ISO higher than 100 since I experience a lot of noise at these higher ISO.

Summary of main points: G2 is an above average digital camera for an advanced amateur, with many bells and whistles to play with. 3x zoom might be a little too small, but sufficient for most shots. Main problems of camera are slow focusing and sometimes inability to focus. Strengths of G2 are swivelling LCD and sharpness. Considering its price, it gives good value for money, but there is much room for improvement.

Note: You will definitely need a 128MB CF card. 32MB just isn't enough for a 4MP camera.

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I've had my G2 for about 3 weeks and (thanks to a Big Event) had the opportunity to pump several hundred images into it over a four day period. Once I got used to it, I found it to be a very satisfying replacement for other cameras I've used (SLRs, digital video as replacement for still camera, point and shoot compacts).

I especially enjoy taking candids in available light, and this is the first compact camera I've used that actually lets me do this effectively. This is because I have reliable control over the flash and I can review pictures taken in questionable light to see if they worked or not.

I also used the G2 on a tripod to make a photographic copy of a large family oil painting, and the results were about what I'd expect from typical 35mm film in the hands of a casual user. I used the "remote capture" mode with a laptop, and must say that this mode works, but not as smoothly as you might expect.

When using available light, I admit I'm disappointed that the ISO setting maxes out at 400, but in my experience that's usually been enough, especially with an f2.0 lens, and the G2 can generally provide f2.0 (though you lose that maximum opening at longer focal lengths). The G2 gamely tries to take pictures even when the light is a bit too low, and it simply tries to warn you to hold the camera extra-steady.

The low-light picture results were comparable to what I achieved with film some sharp, some blurry, some grainy, often depending on the quality of the lighting. The level of detail I achieved in my JPEGs was comparable to what I'd seen under similar conditions with a good film camera.

I often ran the G2 in "slow motor drive" mode since this would allow you to take several pictures in a row. Otherwise the camera would pause dramatically between shots as it pushed the previous image onto the compact flash card. In a sense, this was the biggest adjustment I had to make to this camera -its computer would occasionally go off and do things, leaving the camera insensible to my need to take a picture, and I'd have to wait a second or two for it to catch up with me. The motor drive mode helped minimize this problem.

Of course, the digital camera, and the G2 in particular, carries benefits that were only fantasies in the world of film. I installed a 256K CF card, and the thing held HUNDREDS of pictures! And even though I overused the motor drive setting, I could go back and discard the less interesting pictures WITHOUT WASTING FILM. So by the end of my 4-day event, I had already edited out many of the less promising pictures I'd taken.

Another G2 shortcoming is that there's no way to change the orientation of a picture stored on the CF card. Even if you tell the camera which way to orient a picture (there's a menu entry), you lose that information if you simply copy the picture off of the CF card. I found that surprising. (For that matter, today's smart camera ought to sense which way is up, and store the image appropriately.)

In closing, let me comment on battery usage. I bought a second battery and didn't start using it till the THIRD DAY of shooting! Note that I mostly relied on the viewfinder, and rarely used the flash. But I regularly used the LCD to review and edit the pictures I'd taken. I never plugged in the camera during the entire four days, since I'd already charged up the other battery. So you can push A LOT of pictures through a single battery charge.

Plusses: the benefits of digital technology, film-like resolution, lots of control, a relatively fast lens, a usable viewfinder, awesome battery life.

Minuses: ISO tops off at 400, the camera's computer can be slow, and you must use separate editing software to orient pictures. But I suspect the G2 is comparable, if not better, than most other digital cameras in these respects.

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After months of exhaustive searching, I finally decided to purchase the Canon Powershot G2 (it's a wonderfully re-designed upgrade to the Powershot G1). The clarity of the images that this camera takes is spectacular. Combine that with the list of outstanding features that aren't included on any other digital camera: ISO 50, RAW image capture, a flip out LCD screen (which is much more handy than you would think), an infrared remote for long exposures and self-portraits, and easy menu functions -this camera is without equal in it's price range.

It's definitely not for the beginner, but, if you're familiar with photography, you'll be able to take sharp, beautiful pictures with this camera. Skin tones are perfect and the built in flash with exposure compensation does a good job for portraits. And, if you're considering a Sony, this camera uses the more inexpensive Compact Flash memory storage system. Compact Flash memory cards are cheaper than the Sony Memory Stick and are compatible with more peripherals than Memory Stick.

All in all, if it's in your price range, you will be very pleased with the Canon Powershot G2.

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After working with this camera at the store at which I am employed, I have come to the conclusion that all around, this is the best high-end consumer grade digital camera. There are several ways in which this camera comes out on top over the cameras made by its competitors.

More than likely, the camera people will compare this to is the Nikon Coolpix 995--at least these are the two cameras most people narrow it down to. Each camera offers things that the other doesn't, but I find the Canon is superior in several ways.

1. The Canon is *far* more user friendly. The controls are laid out in a way that makes them easy to find. SLR users that are converting from film to digital will find the switch to be a little easier with the Canon. One thing I don't like about the Nikon is the way manual control works; hold down this button, move this switch, push down that button while moving that switch, etc etc. Way too complicated for the average consumer. On the Canon it's a breeze. Switch the control to "M" and the 4-way pad on the back up the camera controls aperture and shutter speed. That's it.

2. The Canon uses an anti-reflective coating on the screen. Nikon and Olympus *still* don't do that with their consumer grade cameras. The anti-reflective coating helps heaps when you're out in the sun, where the screens on most other cameras get faded out and are impossible to see.

3. The rechargable battery that comes with the Canon lasts far longer than other camera batteries (i.e. AA's or the rechargables Nikon uses). You could easily get over 200 shots from a single battery, with the LCD screen on.

4. The software package the Canon comes with blows away what Nikon and Olympus give you. Adobe Photoshop--the standard in the graphics industry.

5. The Canon comes with a 32 megabyte card, which is 2x what most manufacturers ship the camera with.

6. Two words -hot shoe. Right on the camera. Who wants to carry around a bulky flash bracket when you can buy a camera that a standard flash attaches right to?

If you've read reviews from computer magazines or from digital camera websites, you'll see that the Canon gets consistently high reviews. In a recent review, the G2 was rated #1 over the Coolpix 995, which the reviewers claimed produced pictures which weren't quite as sharp as the ones from the G2. I've been waiting to buy a digital camera. When I have the means, I am very confident this is the one I'll go with.

Leica D-LUX 4 Digital Camera Special Limited Edition (Titanium)

Leica craftsmanship is undeniable...and if you are reading this review, you probably know that already. This TITANIUM edition is spectacular, even by Leica standards. The D-Lux 4 is a truly great point and shoot, with all the freeedom one would need to control the image being recorded. The TITANIUM version is unique as only 10,000 are ever going to be made and for $995, one has the chance of owning a Leica limited edition at a fairly affordable price point. This camera is chic, stylish and a gotta have for all those people who want to own the best of the best! The only difference between the TITANIUM and regular version is its collectibility...to me that was worth the extra $300. EVERYONE asks to see it and hold it it is that cool looking! Enjoy!!!

Sure you can weigh the pros and cons of buying this Leica D-Lux 4 Titanium or saving money and getting it's cheaper counterpart. If you have the money...just do it...splurge a little, you won't be disappointed. Filled out the warranty online, which gives me 3 years total. Updated to the newest firmware 1.20 which was very easy using my SDHC card. The average person doesn't know the beauty of this camera, but those who know will instantly praise this beauty. Beautiful pictures and surprisingly really good HD video in 16:9 aspect ratio. There are many settings that are easily accessible with the quick user interface. A large and bright LCD makes taking pictures very easy. Compared pictures with this and my fathers Olympus, this blows it away, the light that this lens brings in is truly amazing. With it's matching case this is CLASS all the way around, you will get compliments from those that know.

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Looks Amazing and build quality is perfect. Even in snapshot mode the photos all look very good.

A few minor issues though.

1. You'll have to get a cord for the lens cap. Putting it in your pocket every time becomes a hassle.

2. When shooting video, the camera will constantly adjust the exposure. So if you pan across an area with shade and sun it will go up and down as you pass different areas. This may just be a setting I have not figured out yet though.

Apart from that this camera is perfect. I haven't even used my SLR in months.

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Things you need to know:

1. This takes INCREDIBLE pictures. i can take professional quality pictures and have to lug around.... essentially nothing.

2. The learning curve was a little rough but once you get it, everything is perfection.

3. It is beautiful. stunning. it was worth the extra money when I bought this.

mine was stolen from my house during a home invasion. I got it back because in searching craigslist and ebay, etc., when the limited edition popped up on my end of the state, i gave the cops the serial number and had them pick it up. i had had tons of stuff stolen (laptops, jewelry and so on)and it was the one thing i actually had cried over. I was elated to have it be the one item that was ever recovered.

i loooove it.

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This camera is simply wonderful. The quality of the images captured belies its size and format. Highly recommended. I can shoot fully manual, RAW. The bokeh of the lens is sublime. I have a full Canon SLR setup with all 'L' lenses and a 5D mark II, and as much as I like that, I will often take this one out because of the way the camera draws the images.

Sony DCR-SR68 80GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam Camcorder (Blue)

I bought this with 3 basic needs, 1.I wanted something compact, 2. I wanted the capability to take pictures. 3. I wanted it to have a night vision light. You would think these 3 things would be easy to find in many cameras at a decent price range, but they were not! So how did this fair up? This camera is one of the most compact, even smaller than I expected. 2. It's picture taking ability I was least impressed with. It was pretty grainy. 3. The night vision light was pretty weak, but hey I expected that for such a small camera. The battery life with the standard battery was about avg. 4 hrs. As far as working the camera, it was VERY simple, figured it out in 5 minutes w/o reading instructions, needless to say, there are VERY few menu screens, touch screen is kinda nice, but would also liked to have the capability to tape w/the viewfinder closed. All in all, i'm pretty happy w/the purchase, just don't buy it if you want it to take good pictures, i've had phones that took clearer pictures.

I bought this at a store, not Amazon. I read good reviews about earlier models, and was a bit hesitant to buy this camera because a few people said the video quality was bad. I took the risk, but they were right. The video (and digital picture) quality are unacceptable. Even in decent lighting, the pictures are very dark and grainy, as if they were taken by an old webcam. Even at high quality, there was no improvement. Also, the autofocus was very poor and did not adjust to fast-moving subjects. Don't be fooled if you try it in a store; the LCD screen has great resolution (better than an iPod) but when you see the video on a computer screen (even when not blown to full size) or on a projection screen, the video quality is so bad. It looks average on a traditional TV. And the zoom mic also does not capture sound effectively. I was going to use this for business videography, but it would have been embarrassing to use this camcorder. I suspect similar camcorders (i.e. 1/6 CCD) may have similar inferior quality. The size, zoom quality, and touch screen might be nice features, but my Canon A570 digital camera from four years ago took better video.

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I purchased this camera at a store, believing the SONY brand name and previous good reviews about similar Sony camcorders. There are several flaws to this product.

Cons

1. Picture quality is very poor, Indoor and outdoor pictures in good light appear with a bluish tint all over. If you wear a white /gray cloth it appears bluish on video. Like wise the sunlight coming inside your house through window /blinds all appears light blue!! Even with good lighting the quality of images are very bad, lacks sharpness, This in comparison to my old Panasonic PV GS120 is not even close to true color. If you view the pictures on a TV screen it will definitely appear lacking the sharpness. If you are transferring the video to computer using the supplied software it appears very blurry and grainy.

2. There is no way you can charge the battery when camcorder is in use even if there is a spare battery because the battery charging is done hooking up the AC adapter to the camcorder! This seems really stupid. Sony could have made a battery slot on the AC adapter to do this.

3. There is no separate viewfinder. So if the LCD is brokeneverything is gone.

4. Audio quality does not seem to be that good but average.

5. I can not find the resolution of the camera for still shots, nothing is mentioned in the manual either. You can not shoot a still picture while recording the video, you have to capture it from the video shots already made. Yea the resolution does not matter in that case.

6. Battery life approximately less than an hour

7. The LED for lighting seems silly

Pros

1. Small size, you can carry in Pants pocket

2. Provision to use SDHC card instead of the "Sony's own" memory stick duo only. I have not used one yet though.

3. LCD is very clear and sharp (good resolution), and it responds well to the touch.

4. Video transfer is quick and easy once the basic Sony software is installed. I would use some other software to edit it though.

5. 80 GB storage space is great

6. The Sony software has a calendar to see events on a chronological order, that looks great if you are time conscious about the video

Overall I am not satisfied with this camcorder. I will return it soon.

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I'm disappointed in Sony's response to my camera's errors. I would expect a much better response.

"Buffer Overflow" problem, along with lost data. Hard drive errors.

I would not recommend anyone to purchase this camera.

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I had been looking for a second video camera, one with a sizeable internal hard drive to store a lot of footage. I was partial to Sony, having purchased many Sony products over the years that gave good service. I did my homework and checked out reviews and Tech websites. Finally I settled on this camcorder. When it arrived, I was excited to test it out. I took some footage of my garden, about one minute. Then I downloaded the clip into my computer. Gasp! It didn't look crisp and clear. It looked hazy and fuzzy. To compare, I took a comparable video with my other camcorder and downloaded it into my computer. Much different. Better! Crisper! Clearer! What I had been used to. The second camera, let me say, is also a Sony, but one that uses mini-video-tape. I compared the size of the files downloaded on my computer, each roughly one minute long. Whereas the file from the old Sony was about 276 MB's, the file from the new camcorder was about 75 MB's, about one-fourth the size, more compressed. No wonder!! I called Sony, and registered my complaint. No comment or suggestion on how to improve performance. I called Vanns, the vendor, to arrange a return. The only good thing about the transaction was the great service from Vanns. A prompt refund. No questions asked. Of course, I had to pay the return postage. I saw some very glowing reviews on this product before I bought it. The only thing I can say is these people probably had nothing to compare the quality of the video to. Otherwise, I can't imagine how anyone can think that this is a camcorder that delivers high-quality or even decent-quality videos.

Nikon Coolpix S7c 7MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

This camera is stylish, thin enough to be comfortable to carry in a pocket for entire day, has a large screen, but the performance is overall disappointing.

Battery life was hardly 100 pictures.

Focusing and taking a picture is very slow...usually more than 4 seconds when it has to use the focus assist light indoors. Everyone comments on that when I'm taking their picture. In addition, unlike most cameras that have multiple focus points (7,9,11,etc), this camera only focuses on the middle point of the picture by default. There is a nice feature that lets you manually move the focus point around to anywhere in the scene, but it takes a lot clicks and time so I don't bother using it.

The lens is not wide enough for daily use and most pictures come out very soft in the center with bad chromatic aberration and a lot of distortion at wide angle.

WIFI is slow and useless in all but the most rarest of situations. They should have just used Bluetooth so that anyone could use their phone to email the picture or at least be able to email/ftp directly to any email/ftp you want.

The screen smudges very quickly, but it's easy to clean and can't see the dirt when the back light is on.

The camera decides when the electronic VR (image stabilization) gets used and most of the time doesn't activate it. And even when it does activate it, it just increases the noise and the picture still comes out soft. There is an option to clean up the image after it's been taken, but the camera tells you that it's not able to do it for many images.

The camera corrupted my Sandisk ultra II sdcard, something that my former compact digicam didn't do in two years.

The movie mode, on the other hand is very good. The movie files do get fairly large...about 1mb per second, but very smooth, very stable and have good color. There is a constant buzzing noise in movies though.

The scroll wheel is fantastic and should have been incorporated into many other cameras. It makes browsing pictures and menus extremely fast and easy. It really saves thumb fatique. The camera is quite fast at switching between pictures, modes, etc. So that...(plus the movie and style factor) are the ONLY redeeming features.

It's also very hard to get used to not having an actual switch to switch between movie and picture mode. Having to go trough though the menu can sometimes make you miss a photo opportunity because the camera is set in video mode and switching to photo is not a one button operation.

Overall, I don't think it's worth the price. What am I getting to replace this one?.....the Canon SD800.

Pros:

-Small size and weight; Can fit into pocket or purse without feeling you are carrying a brick. Sleek design and large 3" LCD has 230,000 resolution, which means when you take a picture you can actually see how clear the picture is and you don't have to zoom in to see what it looks like. Not the case with SD 600/630. The new canon model coming out soon has highter resolution.

Takes great snapshots with flash or without flash with plenty of light. Not for those that love to play with tons of settings and I would agree with previous reviewer that ISO settings worsen the quality of the picture. Adjusting the exposure isn't difficult and you would need to click through the menu to adjust it, but that's something that all digital cameras require.

-The color of the picture is more true to color than what I've experienced with Canon powershot A70, SD 600/630 and the flash isn't so powerful that it creates an unrealistic brightness or whiteness to people's faces. The flash creates an even brightness throughout the entire picture as opposed to just adding light to your face and leaving the background pretty dark

-Very easy to use; Very easy menus

Cons:

-The picture isn't as sharp as the Canon SD600/630 when you take a picture inside without the flash and don't have adequate lighting, but it is perfect with the flash on.

-You have to hold camera steady and any slight movement might blur the shot, which is true of other digital cameras, but the Nikon s7c is a little more sensitive to that. Same thing with moving objects.

-Smaller buttons, but the camera is small and thin to begin with, thus, you can't expect to have a tiny little thing with large buttons.

-No viewfinder, which didn't bother me, because I don't use it to take a picture, but some people prefer to have it.

-Lithium ion battery doesn't last very long (other digital cameras use a lithium ion battery as well, but there are some that use double AA size batteries so when the recharecheable batteries die, you have an alternative. Those would be larger cameras, of course.)

Overall, this is a camera that takes great snap shots. If you are in low light, use a flash, don't bother with iso settings. It's just not meant for those things and when I go to any event, I really don't have the time to play around with settings and just want a good quality picture without pushing too many buttons. I was looking for a camera that takes true to color photos with a flash that adds flattering light as opposed to overexposed faces that make people look frighteningly pale.

I love it, but no camera is perfect with every feature.

Try it out and compare it to others and look for the features that matter to you!

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I don't get all of the negative reviews about the S7c. I got one for Xmas and find it great. I had a Pentax Optio S (circa 2002) and the Nikon is a major step up in quality and features. I'm no photo geek, so I have pretty realistic expectations what a point-and-shoot digital camera is for and what it's limitations are.

I did tons of research and narrowed my choice down to the Nikon and the Canon SD630 (both have 3" screens). Among professional reviewers, the Canon did come out a bit ahead (e.g., cnet), but all of the professional reviews of the Nikon were very positive (and I don't have nearly as a discerning eye as the pros). I went with the Nikon because it has 7 megapixels (the Canon has only 6), I liked having fewer mechanical parts (no mechnical retractable lens), and the wifi seemed like the next big advancement in photo sharing.

Pros:

1. Great photos in most conditions.

2. Large screen size.

3. Simple and intuitive menus.

4. Small # and good placement of essential buttons on camera.

5. Wifi is the best. It took some effort to get it set up (Nikon tech support was great), but once I got it going, downloading to my PC is fast and easy. I've also used the Coolpix Connect to send email to family and friends, and it worked seamlessly. Every camera should have wifi!

6. Pictmotion is a great and fun feature.

Cons:

1. In some indoor light, the flash goes off when it doesn't need to, causing overexposure.

2. Nothing else to speak of at this point.

Overall:

I'm really pleased with the purchase.

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I have been searching reviews of the Nikon coolpix s7c to make sure that it wasnt just me and I am finding that indeed countless other reviewers are having the same problem, and many have taken it up with Nikon only to be told 'sorry'.

In a nutshell, I am a professional photographer and have owned about a dozen digital cameras ranging from the early elph to nice new SLR models. I purchased the Nikon coolpix s7c for my wife, and it is by far the worst one I have owned for many reasons, but the chief problem is they have simply screwed up the way this camera does things automatically and the result is HORRIBLE PICTURES.

The 'electronic VR' is simply digital image sharpening, the ISO adjustments in low light are terrible, and what I simply cannot believe is how terrible the autofocus is. Couple that with the design of this camera that makes it difficult to shoot steadily, and you literally end up getting more than 50% blurry pictures.

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Is somtimes difficult to understand some of the reviews for that camera. One review for instance says that the quality of the pictures is fantastic and the next one says that it's terrible. This camera is (like most cameras of this kind of any brand) basically a point and shoot camera and it will of course never have the performance of a Nikon D 200 or even of a D50. It is not the same range and not the same price. But for what is is, it's an excellent camera that takes great pictures. I bought one to update my "old" S1 and to take everyday pictures, I am quite satisfied with it. It takes great pictures , great videos, is fast enough for a "normal" use, the display frame is one of the best and wifi works well.

Canon PowerShot SD4000IS 10 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 3.8x Optical Zoom and f/2.0 Lens (Red)

I purchased this over the acclaimed S90 and glad I did. Ultimately, I decided to wait on this camera in lieu of purchasing the S90 due to the video features and low light capabilities. It the past, it's the low light abilities of a camera that really separates one camera from another (while retaining detail / minimizing noise)

Naturally these are main features along with the fast lens across all optical zoom levels as well as a decent wide angle (28mm equivalent).

I already own a Canon 7D and 20D so wasn't concerned about RAW capabilities. I ultimately wanted a very compact, highly versatile camera that I could take everywhere. This camera accomplishes all of that and then some.

PROS:

-Low light shooting exceeds expectations. Slightly better than average noise for low lighting shooting.

-HD video shooting in 720P exceeded expectations as well. It is so good that I will probably use it more than my Canon 7D due to the ease of HD shooting. Allows zooming (optical and digital) and macro while shooting.

-240 fps / shooting is a lot of fun. Definitely low resolution is very noticable and subject to amount of light in terms of quality, but can still shoot fun videos in somewhat lower light conditions. I use it to capture our dogs playing and chasing after toys. A very fun option to have in a camera and icing on the cake.

-Fantastic macro. I was wondering about the macro as there was little information available. Be rest assured this macro is great.

-Build quality is great. The black matte is solid feeling in the hand and has a slight "rough" texture that makes it easy to hold and hopefully wear easier.

-When zooming out in picture-preview mode, the camera previews 130 pictures on the screen at once! Very cool.

-Small / light enough to pocket it easily ... even in a shirt pocket.

-Beautiful 3" LCD viewing screen. One of the best ones I've seen.

-Very intuitive controls. Takes a tad to get used to them (especially after using SLR cameras), but once you use them, they are a breeze to navigate and control. Amazed by the versatility of the simple layout / controls.

UPDATE: Stereo microphones, I believe.

CONS (I really don't mind any of these, so just a few minor issues):

-Can hear lens zooming while recording video, minor compared to my 7D (granted the 7D has much larger motors).

-During slow motion playback, there are no controls for "fast forward / rewind" to get to the parts of the video quickly for review. This would have been very useful, but not included however.

-Optical zoom lacking at only x3.8. Could stand for a bit more.

-UPDATE: The ports are annoying to get to (USB / HDMI). They are behind a hard plastic cover vs. a soft rubberized that is in normal circumstances. However, this is most likely due to the limited size of the camera and having to put the ports on the side where it is more desirable to have a better wearing hard cover.

UPDATE 6/21/10: I just got back from camping and bringing only this camera. I am more and more impressed by the low light capabilities and versatility. I wasn't aware of some interesting features / gimmicks that I actually like. Examples include a faux fish-eye image modification, tilt-shift image miniaturization effect (blurs top and bottom of the frame), color accent feature (keeps a selected color in the image while the rest is B&W), color swap (change a color in scene to another while shooting), and a panoramic stitch assist to help align pictures while shooting multiple frames ... to name a few. It has other features, but these are the most notable in my opinion.

What is also interesting (I haven't had a chance to test it out) is that it has a timer / shutter release function based on 1) a smile is detected 2) a wink is detected and 3) a new face entering the scene. If this works, it sure is an interesting feature.

I still intend on updating with new video samples. Thanks for reading.

UPDATE 7/22/10: If you are considering this camera and budget isn't an issue, Panasonic just announced their new line of compact cameras and most notably the Lumix LX5 which appears to outshine this camera on most if not all capabilities. It will be approximately $500, however.

UPDATE 8/18/10: Warning! Canon just announced the SD4500IS as well as the S95. You should most likely wait for those or another camera at this point. The S95 adds an HDR mode (cool!) as well as shoots in 720P. The SD4500IS shoots in 1080P! The S95 has hybrid image stabilization (for macro?) and the SD4500IS has dynamic image stabilization added. Anyhow, just some tidbits to give you an idea. Good luck.

The Canon SD 4000 IS has been on my "watch list" since its announcement a couple of months ago. I have purchased many Canon compacts over the years, and have often been supremely happy with them. My Canon PowerShot S80, for example, which I purchased back in 2005, was one of my favorites Canon ever made, and I used it far into the next cycles of camera production. With this latest Canon, touting a wide-open aperture of f/2.0 coupled with a back-lit CMOS sensor, and with the physically diminutive yet stylistically beautiful design, the promise for me was that the SD 4000 IS camera would meet my latest needs for a low light portable camera. Having already purchased the Canon S90 a few months ago, I was eager to see if the newest incarnation of Canon's low light portables really kept its promise, because the SD 4000 also tempted with HD video recording, which the outstanding S90 unfortunately omitted due to its implementation of the Sony sensor which does not support HD mode.

The results? Well, we are seeing quite a number of early positives about the SD 4000 IS, and most of them I cannot knock. It's really a fun camera to use, and many people will find it to their liking. Here are some of the true highlights that I can confirm with my own testing:

1. Startlingly beautiful design in a very small form factor with smooth curves and edges

2. An outstanding "rough" finish on the camera which makes holding the tiny device much more secure

3. True f/2.0 shooting (only at the widest end of the zoom) that allows use of the device in low lighting situations where other portables would be unusable

4. Outstanding video recording in 720i HD format videos look really great

5. Good display, though not up to the standards of what we would hope for today

6. True wide-angle lens

7. Some control over shooting settings

8. Excellent macro shooting capability (in part due to the large aperture, allowing for shallow depth of field shots at close range)

Nevertheless, having used the camera for a while, I would have to say that this camera is not a "no brainer" for everyone. There are some notable shortcomings from my own testing:

1. Noise levels are not what I had expected the S90 has less noise than the SD 4000 IS at equivalent settings, and noise levels are apparent even at the lowest ISO settings. This was my biggest letdown.

2. Image quality is good, but I had again expected IQ to be at levels quite similar to the S90. I cannot say that the image quality, however, is the same as the S90. There is also a general softness to the images which is not as strongly seen in the S90.

3. Total programmatic control over all camera settings is not possible. The camera is rather designed to be used with its predefined scene settings. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but one should understand that the SD 4000 IS is not fully controllable, such as is the case with the S90.

4. Video quality is great, but if you are looking for 1080i capability, this camera does not provide it.

It seems then, that you will like this camera truly based on your own preferences and willingness to accept compromise. If you want a very small, portable and stylish camera that shoots good video, does macros exceptionally well, and can handle low light situations, this camera is worth looking into. Having said that, you have to accept that the SD 4000 IS will not produce noise free images, and you'll likely be dealing with some noise even at the lower ISO levels. If that's OK, you'll have a blast with this camera.

If you are looking for a DSLR replacement for certain occasions when you don't want to lug around your gear, but also want noise free images in low light, I'm not sure this is your baby. I would rather consider the slightly larger Canon S 90IS, forgo the HD video, and have the manual controls (plus RAW shooting) that the S90 provides.

A number of other camera manufacturers are rumored to be releasing more of these types of cameras as the year progresses. It will be interesting to see if any of these can push farther forwards the low light shooting technology, because it's really something we are all wishing for. The SD 4000 IS is a great camera, but it comes with limitations (particularly in the area of noise), and others will be trying to beat what Canon is attempting to do with these portables.

Four stars for image quality (but with noise), three stars for price (too expensive, in my opinion), and five stars for quality.

Compare:

Canon PowerShot S90 10MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3-inch LCD

Canon Powershot S80 8MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Wide Angle Optical Zoom

Panasonic DMC-LX3 10.1MP Digital Camera with 24mm Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD (Black)

Buy Canon PowerShot SD4000IS 10 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 3.8x Optical Zoom and f/2.0 Lens (Red) Now

I was in the market for a point-and-shoot to take on vacation when a photographer I know recommended this new model to me. I was intrigued by the description, because I have a child who does gymnastics and it's virtually impossible to get clear shots in a dark gym where flashes are prohibited. I won't bother discussing the specs since they're all in the product description, but after a week of playing with this camera, I'm simply blown away by the technology. This is, without a doubt, the best point-and-shoot I've ever owned for low light and action shots. Macro shots rival what I can get with my Nikon DSLR-you can get so close to your subjects that I actually bumped a strawberry with my lens. HD video is impressive as well.

Controls are easy to use. The menus make sense, and it only took me an hour or so of tinkering to find everything. The battery is good for about 250 shots on one charge.

If there's one negative (so far), it's that the SD4000 is very small and sleek, and I never feel like I'm holding it securely enough. My old A530 was a much more natural fit for the human hand. It's a minor complaint, really, but I have fairly small hands; I imagine it would feel even more undersized to someone with large hands.

Read Best Reviews of Canon PowerShot SD4000IS 10 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 3.8x Optical Zoom and f/2.0 Lens (Red) Here

First of all, I'm a Canon PowerShot fan, owned the SD700IS, SD800IS, SD870IS and now the SD4000IS. In making this last purchase, I heavily considered the S90 (borrowed a friend's to test), and even the Sony CyberShot TX5.

SD4000IS over TX5:

Easy win. Sony has a slimmer profile and waterproof durability, but ultimately those were all gimmicks compared to the picture quality and color. Reinforced why I always come back to Canon, and reminded me that I wanted an extended warranty this time around.

SD4000IS over S90:

Tougher decision, but in the end, the S90 is really for the prosumer and those who love all the manual controls. S90 really make a huge leap with the ring and controls, while the SD4000IS keeps the same repertoire of manuals as previous models (exposure, color, ISO, etc.) which was enough for me, even though I'd classify my use of the manual controls as "above average". Also don't tweak pictures more than just what Picasa gives me, so RAW on the S90 was not that important for me, though others have raved about it.

Pros

+ Video quality: this was the biggest selling point, big step above any previous Canon point-and-shoot video quality.

+ Video zoom: Previous Canons only had digital zoom in video (worst ever--you'd zoom in to see something clearer, and it just made it more pixelated and unclear), but SD4000IS now has optical. Other reviews complained about lens noise captured on the audio, which I also experienced, but it was just a very low mechanical hiss, enough to hear if you're listening for it but not enough for a "what the heck was that??"

+ Low light: a BIG upgrade from my previous Canon models, I was surprised how much better they really are with this new processor and lens

+ Wide angle: Wider than S90, about the same as SD870. Great especially because my wife and I still do the whole taking pictures of ourselves by ourselves thing.

Cons

No flash level setting, which was the coolest thing on the S90. Don't think any other PowerShots have that either.

In streamlining the camera buttons in the back, the interface is not as straight forward as previous models. Feel like I'm often adding one more click for every option I'm trying to get to, but not a big deal.

LCD screen is widescreen, which means you have the black side margins when in camera mode (as opposed to the video mode which is full widescreen), and that makes the viewable space a bit smaller than a 3" display. Not a big deal either for me.

No miniHDMI cord provided

Other

Some complained about slow focus, which I did notice it slightly but it's not like I'm a photographer for the NFL. For regular shots, even with toddlers, I've been fine with it.

Get an extended warranty. It wasn't out of choice that I've had 4 Canons in the last 4 years. But in all fairness, I don't carry my camera in a case; I carry it around a lot and often in my pocket, but I never drop it either.

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I purchased this camera as the best option (for me) among the ~300.00 P & S cameras. The most important factors for me-

1) Low light. The reviews all over the internet that rated this camera unusually good for low light pics were correct. You can take pics indoors without flashthey look great, much more natural than with flash. It is a major plus and none of the other cameras in this range were capable. The sacrifice for low light performance at this price point was zoom rangeit's not a monster zoomer but it is decent and I'll take the low light capability any day.

2) Wide angle. I like wide angle viewing for architecture pics.

3) Canon history. Canon has been a rugged, reliable camera brand for my entire life as a serious casual photog.

4) Portability. I'll take this camera everywhere. I have large hands but have no issue with any of the controls.

Since there is a vocal minority of people that experienced blurry pics when at full optical zoom, I just benchmarked the performance in my yard. Pics at full optical zoom appeared very sharp on my computer when viewed at full widescreen size on my computer. Even zooming in to 100% of image (you get a small fraction of the pic on your screenuse irfran view or other photo viewer that measures percentage of image size when viewing) the images was not razor sharp but was still usable and did not fall off that drastically from the non-zoomed setting. This is not a professional camera but I am very happy with the results. In short, I could not duplicate the blurry zoom issues even when zooming in on the picture with my computer image viewer.

The 4 star rating was vs. a comparison to a professional camera as a reference, in other words, 5 star image quality is achieved only with cameras costing much more.

The controls are also very easy to use once you go through them a few times. The rotating selection ring works well. I prefer this over a touch screen.

If you value portability, solid feel, sharp images and natural indoor pictures without flash that can only be obtained with a camera that has great low light capability, this one is for you.

ViTiny Pro10 Plus Portable Digital Microscope 10x - 200x

• Built in 2.8" full color TFT LCD screen: 320 x 240 pixels for preview; Magnification: 10x to 200x (Optical zoom: 10x to 40x, Digital zoom: up to 5x); View Range on 2.8" LCD Screen: 6x4mm at 10x magnification
• Digital Camera: 2M pixels; Photo Resolution: 1600 x 1200 pixels, JPG file; Video Resolution: 1600 x 1200 pixels, AVI file; TV Image Output: MP4 file; Web CAM Function
• USB Cable: 1.1 speed for transferring images to a PC; AC Adapter: 100-240 Volt, 50/60 Hz for world-wide power requirement; 32MB internal Flash memory for saving images; Micro SD Card Slot: optional cards used up to 2GB
• Multi-LED Lighting Function: adjustment of light source from different direction; Special Effects: Grey Scale, Inverse, and Embossed; Measurement Function: measurement of length, perimeter, area, angle, etc.
• Set of 5 support accessories for the Pro10 LCD digital microscope: Shallow Contact Cap (1) - to examine soft materials such as cloth, paper, hair, skin, etc; Deep Contact Cap (2) - to observe coins, screws, SMT Components, etc; Non-Contact Supporter (3 ) - to examine fragile items such as Printed Circuit Boards, flowers, wounds, insects, etc; Deep Tank (4) - to observe larger objects such as flies, rocks, etc; Shallow Tank (5) - to study smaller objects such as fish eggs, spores, sand, droplets, diamonds, etc.

I used this microscope to observe small particles with several hundred micrometers. It is easy to operate and convenient to carry around. I can take good pictures and videos and share them with my colleagues. The multi-modes LED lighting helps me observe the particles with different shapes and orientation. Also the comparison mode and length ruler on the screen are very useful for my quality control work. The software coming with the device is useful for editing and preview images. Overall I like this pocket size microscope.

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This microscope is perfect for field technical service work. The microscope is the size of a small camera and works perfectly. The price was also very reasonable.

HD Wireless Network Camera KaiCong Sip1018 (White) Ip Camera Pan/Tilt/ Night Vision Built-in Microp

This is a price and value leader for IP cameras. I have bought six or seven from various vendors and this is as good as or better than any in its class. And the fulfillment by AMAZON is superior to shipment form China.

Remember that the product will require some setup including a little knowledge of LAN and IP addressing schemes UNLESS YOU USE THE INCLUDED SOFTWARE.

Because the software and support information is not originally intended for the USA market, it tends to be obscure, incomplete, or buggy.

Sometimes disastrously so. Operating the camera directly from the browser interface ( not using the special software ) with a static IP address is extremely reliable.

Not included in the specs are details of the 4-pin port ( connector included ) for external switched devices. This IP camera is much more powerful and much more sophisticated than the product description would suggest.

Also I prefer to use DynDns rather than the free dynamic DNS service from the manufacturer. To access the device over the open internet it is necessary to know the IP address assigned to your internet modem connection ( which will likely change from time to time) and a port number if the port is OTHER than 80.

Additionally the modem will have to be configured to accept and pass-through traffic to the camera's port ( even if it is "80" )

Given all that I can hit all four of my active cameras either through dyndns or by puting the ( known ) IP address + port number in my browser as the URL. and example ( fictional ) might be: 72.21.194.1:82 . the" :82 " would be the port number " 82 ".

For all the features and the EXTREMELY good price, not only am I impressed by this product but I expect to buy more while they are available.

One last thought the maximum resolution is 640 x 480 which is VGA and looks very good an a computer display. It is not HD and you will not be able to read the name tag of the UPS guy standing outside your front door.

The IR illuminator is good over a limited distance and revealed what animal would visit in the dark and "decorate" the mag wheels of my car in the driveway.

And you will be amused by the approximations of English in the support materials. You're buying an excellent IP camera from China, not Shakespeare!

I bought this to use as a nanny-cam at my home to keep an eye on my son with the babysitter.

The plug included was a Euro-style plug (the two-round prong only). On top of that, there weren't any instructions at all. I tried messing with it for a little bit, but even with the correct adapter, I wasn't able to figure out how to work it.

I'd recommend going with a Foscam if you want something easy to setup and use.

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It works ok and it is useful only if you have software that can record video. I setup this camera to send pictures to my email whenever motion is detected. It works as expected but images very poor, even with slight movement you get blur images. I dont think somebody going to stand still when they tresspass your property so a big disappoint. It is okay to use as baby monitor or other simple task.....just count on it for home security.

Read Best Reviews of HD Wireless Network Camera KaiCong Sip1018 (White) Ip Camera Pan/Tilt/ Night Vision Built-in Microp Here

Overall this camera is exactly what it claims to be. Its a decent IP camera with pan, tilt and 640x480 resolution. For what I paid I consider it a pretty good deal. However, unlike the previous reviewer, mine seems to have come with a small set of issues. First, the power adapter they sent is not a US adapter, it is the European style (2 pole connector). Luckily I had a set of adapter plugs I had purchased for a trip several years ago and was able to adapt it to the US style socket (you can get inexpensive ones at Walmart or Target). Second, while everything was packed quite well, for some reason they appear to have forgotten a software installation disc. The only manual that came with it was a 3 leaf insert all in Chinese. Since I have worked with similar cameras at work (and they pretty much all seem to come from the same factory), I was able to utilize the software for those cameras and got it up and running. If you happened to get one of these cameras sans disc, you can download the same free software from companies such as EasyN (this camera is pretty much the same as their FS-618A series). If you can get past the issues, it's a decent camera and good value for the price. While this camera works great, I am giving it a 4 out of 5 stars for the power plug and missing installation disc issues.

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JVC Everio GZMG77 2.0MP CCD 30GB HDD Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom

Well friends, if you have been searching for a bevy of great features, simplicity of use, great video and audio quality all in a micro-sized package, this unit may be the end of your search.

I had spent a great deal of time and effort comparing the various camcorders on the market before I made the move to the JVC Everio GZMG77 2.0MP CCD 30GB HDD Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom several weeks ago. I was looking for a full featured product that would travel well, provide long operational time, give me plenty of built in functionality yet one that didn't bust my budget.

This unit has proven itself worthy across the board. The "77" is so small that I find myself forgetting that I am carrying it around in the palm of my hand. When things happen that I want to capture I just flip open the view screen and within a few seconds the "auto on" feature has my camera in hot stand-by ready for action as it unfolds. The (30GB) hard drive has proven sufficient to record a wedding, HS graduation, two trips to the beach, a weekend to Disneyland and stuff around the house with over three hours to spare (all in the ultrafine mode)!

Downloading and producing DVD's is a snap and the quality is superb even on my DLPLCD 16:9 format Display at home.

If your considering this unit I have a couple of (must have) recommendations for maximum usability with minimum of fuss:

First off get additional batteries. The one hour is small and light weight and last me around 45-50 minutes. I purchased two additional batteries. One is rated at 3 hours and the other at 5 hours (a little large on size but great run time)! This gives me more then enough "pocket power".

The second recommendation would be to purchase one of the many stand alone battery charges on the market. I ordered a battery and charger package on Amazon (ESPOW Equivalent JVC BN-VF714, BN-VF714U Battery and AC/DC Charger Set. [ 1400mAh ] ) This charger allows you to charge a battery without having to use the Camcorder itself. This particular model even provides AC or DC charging options.

Bottom line... I am very pleased with the JVC "77" and believe you will be too.

Bought this for a trip to southern Africa. It is my first camcorder I was always turned off by the idea of lugging around tapes or blank DVDs. I have used ultrazoom digital cameras for all my other trips, so I am familiar with making manual adjustments for different situations.

I was amazed at 1) how easy the Everio was to learn and use, 2)how small and light it is, and 3) the large storage capacity of the HDD.

I had to set manual adjustments for lighting and exposure a lot of the time. The AUTO setting is best when it's bright sunlight and fairly even brightness of objects other times of the day, or when there are dark AND light objects in the field of view, you're better off using MANUAL. Video I shot at sunset and sunrise came out good with very little grain, but it is best if you use MANUAL setting and keep the camera stable.

The zoom control is pretty sensitive takes some getting used to being careful about how fast you zoom the lens.

Would have liked this model to have a light for night video rather than just a flash for still photos.

The battery recharged quickly and I bought a second one from a third party. The battery life is as advertised, which isn't bad considering the power it must take to run the big LCD display and the hard drive.

I think the video quality is excellent. Incorporated the video along with digital stills into a travel DVD we produced. The quality when displayed on my large LCD flat panel TV is great. (Remember though that this is NOT an HD camcorder.)

On my trip, I ran into a fellow who had the new Everio model with the 3CCD sensors. Our videos of the same scenes looked very similar in quality.

It's simple to edit the video files with the supplied Cyberlink software. Upgrade to the full version is reasonably priced compared to buying Adobe Premiere Elements.

Overall, I thought this was a good first camcorder purchase. I'll carry it along on other trips.

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This unit has a very user friendly interface and is very easy to figure out for the average consumer. I work in the motion picture industry as a cameraman, so I do have a unique perspective. It does take a while to figure out the software and the the best way to download the video, but once you get it, it's as good as apple pie. The one downside is this unit's operating temperature. It gets very hot the longer it's powered. But that's the price you have to pay with a hard drive camcorder this small. Even with the state of the art Professional High Definition cameras in the motion picture industry, you still have over heating issues as well as power consumption issues. Eventually this will be solved, but for now, this is as good as it gets.

Read Best Reviews of JVC Everio GZMG77 2.0MP CCD 30GB HDD Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom Here

The zoom is incredible. The camera's multi shot works great. The colors recorded are perfect, the sound great. I can record up to 8 hours (depending on battery life)and combine still shots and video on one recording.

Totally awesome. The best camera/camcorder I have seen after weeks of detailed research.

If you want quality and a reasonable price, buy this one.

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P.S. If you are a Mac user and want to import these videos into iMovie i have found the perfect app. (note: i have no affiliation with them). I searched around for weeks and tried every app i could get a demo for and I have to share that VisualHub by techspansion is the best of the best. it was effortless to install and use. I didnt change any defaults and it converted the widescreen .mods perfectly into dv format which i then imported into imovie. the jvc included app Capty does not do this, it squashes the dv files and you are forced to use other means to get the aspect right.

visual hub is also universal binary and thus very fast on the mac...

the demo is free and i highly recommend it to mac users.

until iMovie can read .mod files i can live with this one extra step!

Enjoy your Everio!

CZR

Sony DCR-TRV11 MiniDV Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode

I have never had my own camcorder before, so I spent days looking at all makes and models trying to learn as much as I could. I even read several reviews here and after having held each one, trying out the features and driving salesmen crazy I finally got the Sony DCR-TRV11.

First, the display screen seems better. I looked at JVC and Panasonic and the Sony screen just looked better defined. Also, when panning, the autofocus reacted faster to my movements. My wife has small hands and this was one of the smallest ones out there so remember to consider size and weight. The resolution is very clean and the controls are all well placed. I didn't use the software that came with it, opting for Pinnacle's StudioDV. It comes with the Firewire card, software and cables. It's works great and is easy.

The Sony has a few key features like a mic input, which is important. If you are getting better picture your going to want better sound. The built in mic works good, but if you zoom on something distant, you're going to want an external mic. The hotshoe takes intelligent accesories, like a zoom mic or a flash that syncs with the still pics. It takes both DV tapes with and without chips in them. Be sure to get the tapes with the chip in them. You need the chip to index your pictures. This is important when connecting to your PC. The included 4MB memory stick holds about 30 pics at 640x480 (60 at lower resolution) and allows you to mix stills with your video for some nice effects. In addition to the night shot feature, the stabilization is far superior than any others I tried. Some only worked until you zoomed, others said they had it, but I couldn't tell. All the Sony's seemed best here. The battery life was about 50 min using zoom and the flip out display. The display tells you how much time in minutes you have left to record. Much longer lasting batteries are available, but there is no memory effect so you can charge at any time.

The camera is great for quality, feel and ease of use. I did have to download a driver to use the camera as a netcam and it would have been nice if it came with the Firewire cable in addition to the serial cable. We restled over the price and, while you can get a very good camcorder for less, we just couldn't pass up the Sony after holding it and comparing the features and quality. My wife and I are very happy with it and, if you can afford it, this ones the one to get.

This is a very good mid-entry Camcorder with the more than the standard features. This extremely compact unit nails the basic necessities (LCD screen, LCD swivel, steady-shot, 2-nightshots, and excellent output options IEEE, S-video, RCA). You get all the Sony amenities of scroll-select dial and a slew of A/V rec/playback options. Sony pushes the value-added package with the tight Carl Zeiss lens; the true optical zoom capabilities has something to be desired with the 1.7-3.3-33 ratio. However, you can't complain too much with the 20x and 120x digital option that performs quite decently. The color view finder can extend and pivot quite a nice mechanical option while having the ability to save battery life or if you're doing fixed-position video taping.

The digital photo on Memory Stick is a thing of beauty (transfer to tape and vice versa also an option). The TRV11's size is comparable to a digital camera. This allows me to just carry the TRV11 around having the option of motion or still capture forget the digital camera (as long as you've got good lighting).

My only complaint is a Catch22 the MV tapes can only be inserted from the bottom of the unit. This creates a problem for tripod mounted shooting. Sony organizes all this technology into such a small package it's hard to complain. 4 stars for the standard Sony-pricing premium though.

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I was looking for a camcorder that would provide me with excellent video recordings and the ability to transfer the recordings to the PC for editing and then sharing them with my friends and relatives.

The Sony TRV11 has an excellent imager and the Carl Zeiss Lens is the best available. I am completely satisfied with video recordings. The color viewfinder and a 3.5" display that can be rotated to face the subject are really worthwhile. I have found that kids are better on camera when they can see themselves. The instant replay on the LCD is also a very good feature. As a novice getting used to STBY and REC, I have used this feature a lot to record over bad shoots. Also, if you plan on shooting still images on tape or memory stick, this feature allows you to instantly determine whether you need more shoots to get the best pose. I strongly recommend a color enhancement light if you are doing indoor recordings, which is available as an accessory. I didn't want to spend on that right now so I move my halogen torch lights into the rooms that I wish to record. It is inconvenient but works great. TRV11 offers a 3 way PC link by means of an adapter for the memory stick, a serial port or a firewire port. If you have an ancient computer like I do and do not want to spend on a new computer, you will appreciate this.

Read Best Reviews of Sony DCR-TRV11 MiniDV Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode Here

This is a great camera and they've packed a lot into this tiny unit, but for Mac users, beware: the PictureLite software that comes with the camera is for Windows users only. Be prepared to plunk down another $60+ for an adaptor in order to access jpgs on the Sony memory stick in the camera. Don't bother looking on Sony's website for answers to why there is no Mac version existing or coming...the issue simply isn't addressed anywhere and related Belkin products that promise to transfer still images do not transfer jpgs; only still video frames.

Want Sony DCR-TRV11 MiniDV Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode Discount?

I bought the Sony DCR-TRV11 specifically for an African Safari, and am extremely pleased with the performance. I filmed through drenching rain, low-light conditions, over horribly bouncy roads, and the results are amazing. It is easy to learn to use the basic functions (I only had it for a week before departure, and didn't have much time to practice filming), and the quality makes even the most novice film-maker look good. Battery life is great (I took two with me and never ran out of power--even on days when the Safari Lodge generator failed and I couldn't recharge), and while the outside casing is a little worse for the wear, the camcorder performance is undiminished.

Sony Cybershot DSCT300/R 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot (Red)

Lets get to the bottom line:

The Good:

This camera takes excellent pictures as a response to CNET and other reviewers who note that the DSC-T300's pictures are soft/noisy/high contrast/ et cetera are reviewing this from a professional photography point of view. Comparing this to an SLR or any other non-subcompact isn't reasonable. Just like we wouldn't compare a Chevy Pickup with a BMW sedan. Photos taken with this camera are intended for "everyday shooting." I will use this for vacations, parties, or tours. I would not use this to photograph my own wedding. For everyday shots, the quality is superb. If you are looking for a professional camera in a subcompact chassis, then this is about as close as you will come.

The optical zoom is fantastic, as is the image stabilization -I do not have a very steady hand. Of the first few test shots that I took with this camera, one was of a license plate from a car parked about 100 meters away. I zoomed in with full optical and digital zoom, and snapped a photo of what looked like a very grainy and pixelated white blob jerking quickly around the screen. To my surprise, when I viewed this shot, the camera had cleaned it up so that not only was there no motion blur, the license number was perfectly visible. I could even see the county name on the bottom! Needless to say, I won't be taking many pictures from this far away, but still it is good to know that the feature is there if I ever need it.

The smile shutter works surprisingly well, and I use it all the time. What not many of the other reviews that I read talked about was the functionality of the smile shutter. When the feature is enabled, the camera is not in normal photo mode. You will have to take it out of Smile Shutter mode if you want to resume taking pictures. Once enabled, the smile shutter constantly looks for faces, and puts an orange box around each one. It will identify up to 9 faces. Once a face is ID'd, it judges how much the person is smiling, and if they are smiling enough, then a picture is taken. It will take pictures of smiles until you take it out of smile mode. In fact at a party of mine, I put the camera on a tripod, set it up for smile mode, and told people to go smile in front of it. By the end of the night, every single person had a smiling portrait in my camera. Excellent feature. The funny thing is, no one believes that the camera actually can determine who is an isn't smiling so when they finally see the red-eye flash go off, 90% of people cant help but smile a real, and perfectly captured, smile of pleasant surprise. When in this mode, this camera only captures happiness.

The Add-A-Smile Feature is completely useless, but because of it, your camera will be a hit. I have tried the add-a-smile feature on 20+ people and more often than not, they end up looking creepy. However, this is hilarious. You will never seriously use this feature, but its a joy to have all the same.

Video is surprisingly good. When in "fine video" mode, I would be hard pressed to tell the difference between this and broadcast quality. "Fine video" does take lots of memory though 1 hour ~ 4 GB. To fit more video on the card, you can switch to "standard" but unless you are using this ONLY for youtube, don't bother with standard.

Touch Screen Once you learn it, it is a very intuitive interface.

The Bad:

There is a learning curve on the touch screen Most people will be turned off initially by the touch screen. I have found that the learning curve has put people off from borrowing my camera to take pictures. I always have to explain how to use it. Not a huge deal, I bought the camera for me, not for people who want to take pictures of me.

Fingerprints collect on the screen well, its a touch screen, what do you expect?

Bottom Line: This is a great camera for everyday shots. For shots that you do not intend on editing professionally, this is a great camera. For shots that are for viewing pleasure, this is a great camera. If perchance you do want to edit professionally photos taken by this camera, the resolution gives extreme detail.

All in all, I have never considered returning this camera.

As the previous reviewer stated, this camera overall is a joy. The quality is great, both in build and pictures. Very little 'fringing' in the Zeiss lens, zoom is fast (faster than previous DSC-T models) and quite.

My biggest problem on the new design (it's a thinner and has less physical buttons than a T-30 or 50) is the relative design flaw of not having a good way to open and close the lens cover. This was a lot better on previous models.

It definetely takes getting used to.

Another issue is with Sony it's so apparent they are getting ever so stingy, in that they are including less and less in the box. The biggest insult to consumers in my opinion is the MISSING smart battery! Until now, Sony supplied batteries that would tell you the exact amount of minutes left on the charge; and they were quite accurate. In the 300 no more. But, 'don't despair' it can still do it, only Sony didn't want to spring for the cash to include said battery in the box. If you want the 'feature' of telling time left on the battery there is an insert in the box, pointing you to Sony's website and how to spring another $50 to buy said battery (Amazon carries it too).

It's just too bad I don't even mind the extra charge so much as I don't see the point of Sony offering less features on their new top end DSC camera and then charge extra to get back 'up to spec'. Charge $20 more from the get go and include the darn thing....

Buy Sony Cybershot DSCT300/R 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot (Red) Now

I'm a big fan of the Sony's T series, I've already own the very first DSC-T1, the discontinued T-33 and now T-300.

I sticked to Sony after the DSC-T1 because I wanted to keep using my MS Pro Duos; but soon after I realized that Sony makes cameras that are not only great for pics, but also their designs make an statement (bring this baby to a party and you should be aware because 99% of the party would like to take it to their homes).

So, now that I shared my reasons for buying this camera, here comes my review, quick, simple an concise.

The automatic mode is not flawless, especially in indoor night pictures, you should adjust the scenes mode so the camera really uses the flash automatically. The program mode haven't change since the T-33, basically the same options, and if you know how to use it, you get good pics.

The remarkable "new" setting is the Smile Shutter, once you have configured (personally i prefer it in high sensitivity) is a really fun tool. And the face detection is Amazing. Sony has really improved himself in this issue.

But as I mentioned in the title of my review, more MPs is not equal better quality. Once you start zooming the pics you can notice some rugged edges, distortion and a little bit of inaccuracy in the colors; but you would never notice that in a printed A3 pic. Once again, this is a amateur camera, and you are not paying over $1000 like in the 10 MPs pro cameras, so complaining is not that fair.

Once you can get used to the touch screen controls, using it is a breeze... I might complain that ask for confirmation for almost everything, but I guess the worst OS ever aka Windows Vista has already got me used to that....

Finally a few recommendations: Buy the camera together with the LCD screen protector and the Sony LCJTHC/B Genuine Leather Jacket Case with Stylus for the DSC-T70 & DSC-T200 (Black); if you want to keep it with scratches from the very beginning. And a large MS Pro Duo 8GB and up I recommend.

Read Best Reviews of Sony Cybershot DSCT300/R 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot (Red) Here

This camera had a lot of features that I wanted:

* good size of LCD screen

* cover for lens

* internal zoom so no mechanical lens in/out

BUT I forgot to check on these things that it DOESN'T have

* Ability to connect to PC via mini-USB (uses a Sony proprietary USB connection)

* Ability to charge the battery inside the camera (uses a separate charger)

* Ability to use a "standard" SAN disk (uses a Sony memory stick)

* A view-finder, so that I don't have to try to use the LCD screen outdoors

It's a good camera, but I probably would not have purchased it if I had done a better job of my research up front.

Want Sony Cybershot DSCT300/R 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot (Red) Discount?

I researched cameras for over 2 months, but could never find one that was right for me. I went to BestBuy, Walmart, Target, and other stores looking and trying out their various cameras. One day I came along the T300.

It is extremely user friendly, has a long battery life, and an excellent zoom (wonderful for novices and professionals). The camera has many options including environmental settings, flash, image size, timer, and macro settings.

The video has wonderful quality, with the option to sync your camera to an HDTV.

The only negative part of the camera is that I had to buy a new memory stick (Sony Memory Stick PRO Duo), because the camera only accepts these types of sticks--it does not accept the conventional SD memory sticks.

The touch screen is very easy to use, and can be used with your finger or the provided stylus!

I had been planning to buy the Panasonic DSCW170, however, after trying both out and comparing it the the Canon and Casio cameras--the Sony T300 was the best. I know that you will be satisfied!

****UPDATE****

I have been using the video alot on the camera, it is excellent! You have many choices, such as the quality, and the aspects of where it will be viewed (email attachment, HDTV, Computer...).

Also, the provided component cable/USB cable, give you easy connection to your compatible TV, it is beautiful on my Panasonic HDTV!

Defiantly recommended!

Enjoy! :)

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.

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

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