Nutone Color Video Front-door Surface-mount Speaker/camera

The unit was easy to connect to my AiPhone phone system. Very compatible. It is also compatible for the house system video secure system. It is a rugged unit. It was easy to secure the unit and use a standard door bell to ground the I/O voice like to "call". The bright white LED lights are a great addition also.

Bob Shaw

Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and

My last digital camera was a 3.1 MP Kodak EasyShare DX6340 -a nice little point and shoot in its day, but that was seven years ago! Though it still works like a champ, I decided it was time to upgrade to something a little more compact that also offered better picture quality *and* HD video. I spent over a month shopping around, looking at Canon, Panasonic, and Sony models, and toyed with the idea of sacrificing small size (and HD video) to go with the new Canon G11. Finally, I settled on the new SD940 IS as a reasonable compromise between size, features, and picture quality. I'm very happy I bought this thing -so far it has really impressed me!

This thing is TINY -it's about the same size and weight as my old Motorola RAZR cell phone (when folded closed). Still, it feels quite solid. Despite the compact size, it delivers amazing performance. It boots up quickly, menus are snappy, and shot-to-shot delay is minimal. Picture quality is very good -nothing extraordinary, but nothing to sneeze at either. I shot a number of test photos over the past couple days and I'm quite pleased. Macro mode shots are amazingly crisp and detailed. Outdoors in medium sun, I did notice some tell-tale "purple fringing" around high contrast areas (the dark green leaves of a tree against a white cloud had a discernible purple halo around them when I zoomed in on the image). I don't know that other P&S cameras of this size will necessarily do any better with the purple fringing, but I didn't find it to be too bothersome. On my monitor colors looked quite natural, not overly-saturated nor washed out. I tried some of the manual ISO settings and below 400 I didn't notice any grain or problematic fuzziness. Obviously, you can't expect SLR quality with a P&S, but I'm very happy with the pictures this thing turns out.

The aspect that really sold me on this camera is the HD video. Of course, I mostly wanted this to take stills, but I wanted the flexibility to switch to video when the moment calls for it. For such a tiny camera, the HD video quality is stunning! Very fluid motion, sharp picture, and remarkably clear audio! The video is best in brightly-lit situations of course, but it does quite well in low light too if you don't mind a little grain in the image. You can choose between several memory-saving standard-def settings and high-def (which switches to widescreen format automatically). While the optical zoom cannot be used in video mode, you CAN use the digital zoom up to 4x while recording -a nice little bonus. The video files produced are .MOV files which I was able to import into iMovie on my Mac with complete ease (and very quickly too!).

The control buttons are indeed small and flat, but I have had no trouble managing them (it helps if your fingernails are not trimmed too short). People with larger hands or very short fingernails might have a little more difficulty. I'm still getting used to menu navigation on this, but it seems fairly intuitive. I spent ten minutes reading through the "getting started" guide that comes with it, and that was helpful in outlining the basic features, but there are a lot more that the guide doesn't cover. This *does* use a proprietary battery, but the charger is fortunately very compact and charges the battery to capacity in 90 minutes. It doesn't bother me that the battery has to be taken out of the camera for charging. So far, after two days, I have not depleted the battery, so I can't comment yet on how long battery life is, but mine has already lasted through several hours of use and is still going strong.

This may not be the most versatile camera on the market -full manual controls are limited -but for a simple-to-use, high-quality P&S camera with crisp pictures and HD video, I think it would be hard to beat the SD940 IS. It is extremely small and lightweight and does all that most casual users could want. It may be a bit pricey compared to some others, but it's worth every penny. By the way, if you plan to use the HD video feature, be sure to get a Class 6 or higher SD memory card for best results. (Lower-rated cards may not be fast enough to capture the stream of information being written to the card). Don't skimp on the card -cheap off-brands are not always reliable and may soon die, taking your irreplaceable photos and videos with them. I got a few SanDisk Extreme III 8GB Class 6 cards to go with this and they work great!

Highly recommended!

I have had many Canon cameras over the years, so I expected a lot from this camera. Prior to this one I had a SD880IS which was larger but had a really good design with a larger LCD and raised controls (not flush like this one).

More about the camera .....

The main thing I don't like about the camera is that with the auto mode I got some blurry shots. That was indoor on auto with flash off while subject is not completely still.

I had much better luck in program mode. I think for what I was trying to do the "kids and pets" scene mode would have worked better.

I always take shots with the flash off because I want natural lighting so maybe I'm just expecting too much of the camera.

What I do like:

Black color, very nice looking

VERY portable. With the leather case I could keep it with me all the time. The leather case has a belt loop and fits the camera very well.

HD movie mode, although it can get jumpy if you are indoors and moving around, so the camera needs to be very steady (using both hands helps a lot).

The menus are OK but I'd like access to ISO via a dedicated button rather than through the menus.

So, I am selling mine at a very low price. The other reviews, IMO, are accurate -I am probably just expecting too much from this camera's auto mode.

Update:

I sold the camera today (1-11-2010). The camera I bought to replace it is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3. It produces much better pictures in Auto mode, produces consistently good pictures in other modes, has better HD video that is much more stable, and many other things that I prefer (including 12x optical zoom).

Note, however, that it lacks one major advantage that the Canon SD940IS has -the incredibly small size. It was a hard decision to sell the SD940IS because with its small size and the excellent belt case available that fits it perfectly, I could have it with me wherever I went and I would hardly notice it on my belt. For a lot of people that will be the deciding advantage, so it's a matter of priorities.

In the end, I decided that it was too confusing for me to have two cameras. I have found that every camera has its learning curve, and that to take good pictures with many cameras one must take the time to experiment with the various settings. The Panasonic is much more forgiving and produces better point-and-shoot pictures with less experience. I suspect that the Canon SD940 can also provide good results but that to obtain them I would have had to spend more time learning how to use the manual settings.

I will still keep my eye on the Canon Elph cameras and predict that I will come back to them at some point in the future. For now though the Panasonic meets my needs better -your mileage may vary.

Update 4-2-2010

I bought the successor to this camera, the SD1400IS, and like it much better. It seems like it sometimes takes Canon a few iterations of a "form factor" before they get it right (in my opinion). The pictures are clearer, and the video much more smooth on the SD1400IS. I wrote a review of that camera and suggest people skip the SD940IS and consider the SD1400IS instead.

Buy Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and Now

Please do not be scared away from this camera because of the idiotic 1 star review over battery charging preferences. This is an amazing camera that takes terrific quality photos. The auto mode is fantastic. Just literally take out of the box and start to point & shoot and pictures are clear, lighting perfect ,etc. The IS function is great. This was lacking in my 750 (which I loved but had to replace when I lost it). Also added HD video which is a nice touch. My videos are super clear and the sound is quite good as well. Setting it to Manual mode is quite fun and can really enhance pictures, especially low light and outdoor photos. The ISO settings aren't nearly as good as my now ancient Fuji F10 but just ok. However, this camera makes up for it with its incredible auto mode, lightweight feel and crisp clear photos. If you are looking for SLR quality then go buy one of those. If you are looking for a very portable camera that you can take with you everywhere and makes new meaning to the saying 'point-and-shoot', then this camera is for you. Don't miss any shots while trying to find the perfect settings. Set it to Auto and go! This camera will not disappoint.

PS. I have this one in the blue color. Be careful it scratches easily. Get a protective sleeve if you are concerned about that kind of thing. I however am more concerned with the quality of my photos. ;)

Read Best Reviews of Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and Here

Having finally decided that it was time to replace my reliable old Canon Powershot A95, I went ahead and bought this brand-new model, based on the fact that I'm already familiar with Canon products and I've liked what I've seen. The new camera definitely delivers, and I'm happy I chose this over a super-zoom model that wasn't anywhere near as compact.

Pros: Much, much less shutter lag than my five-year old model (not surprisingly!), very quick start-up and equally quick focus, sharp and clear photos, accurate color, and remarkably compact considering all the features -fits easily into a pocket. The wide-angle is a bonus, although I haven't had a chance to play with it much yet. The software that comes with the camera is the updated version of the older software I had, and is easy to learn and use.

Cons: yes, the battery has to be removed to be charged, but this is a very minor inconvenience and is no different than previous models. However, scrolling through the menus to get to the various settings is a bit of a time-consuming drawback, mostly because I was used to being able to select modes directly from a scroll wheel on the older model.

Want Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and Discount?

I just received my Powershot SD940. Originally I had purchased the Powershot SD780, but when this one came out two days later I returned it. I liked the bigger LCD on the 940 rather than the 780's smaller LCD with an optical viewfinder. The 940 also has a 4x optical zoom compared to the 780's 3x optical zoom. Something else I had not noticed until I received the product is that the 940 has an updated menu system. The menus are laid out more logically and can display help menus to inform the user of the cameras functions and options. This feature is not offered on the 780. After owning both cameras, I would recommend upgrading to the Powershot SD940 unless you need an optical viewfinder. The 940 offers better zoom, bigger LCD, updated menus, and stronger performance (I found that the menus operate more smoothly and with much less lag than the 780). These are both great cameras, and I should note that the 780 is a bit smaller and lighter. Unfortunately they both have rather flat buttons that are not raised above the surface which made it a bit hard to operate at first, but I quickly got used to it. I still STRONGLY recommended!

Covert MPEG4 DVR Recording System with Built-in Color Pinhole Surveillance Camera Hidden in a Motio

I got to admit I was cautious about buying this hidden cameras as to how it/they would work for example, and what had to be used to actually record, plus how long a recording would be possible.......

All I can say now after owning this for a little over a month now is "WOW-WOW-WOW and WOW" I never expected this little camera to be as good, as powerful and as easy to use and setup, and even view what was recorded as it is!!!!

Gee I can set it up to record for several days at a time and the best part is, it is all self contained in the unit.

Some pinhole cameras need something like a recorder to do the work recording which can be an issue all by itself running the wire or even wireless signals between the units can distort some video signals, this unit has no audio and really in a security camera that's not really needed, this Defender Stealth1 has a Color pinhole camera and without audio to take up memory can be setup to record for about 30 some odd days, but the bigger Memory card you use the longer it will record, gee you can record continuously for 6 months to a year if maybe longer if need be, just think about how many VHS tapes you would need to record using a VCR for example, plus this is self contained that you can use long life battery's in or even short life AA(double A) for quick places you need surveillance, it also comes with a cord you can plug in to 110V house current if one is available, but if your out in the woods, or in a tent out in the middle of NO-Where, where there is no electricity; your hidden camera would still work, all you need is maybe extra memory cards as you needed to keep and store what you recorded, unless you had a really large memory card I might should add. You can also plug the memory card into most Laptops and view what you recorded and/or edit it by removing chunks(Blank spots if you will) from the memory card so your action stays closer together if you will. I'm really impressed that something like this didn't cost more!!!

12/10/2009 from Mesa, Arizona

A bit funky control wise but once you put the camera in place & record it's worth the price. SD card mates with my laptop & easy to merge the 10 second clips. I play back through the big screen tv & VGA quality is OK clear enough. I wish they had a similar model that recorded sound with the clip.

Buy Covert MPEG4 DVR Recording System with Built-in Color Pinhole Surveillance Camera Hidden in a Motio Now

Great Product! It does what it says it does. Easy to manipulate. Highly recommend it.

Read Best Reviews of Covert MPEG4 DVR Recording System with Built-in Color Pinhole Surveillance Camera Hidden in a Motio Here

Sony DCR-TRV130 Digital8 Camcorder

I bought this cam-corder because of budget constraints. Even tough I wanted a unit with many more features I find myself very pleased. I sold camcorders and known about home versions since they first became available. And of course Sony was number one then. The 130 is my third unit I owned, the others being VHS. Having a zoom up to 560, night shot, steady shot, I-link, many fades, and filming features are a big plus. I had it for about a month and find it lite and easy to use. The built in light is also a plus (eats batteries). Lot's of accesaries are available from Sony. All it lacks is a micrphone socket, wich will help zoom in on sound while elimnating background noise. Other than the mike jack you get A LOT OF BANG FOR THE BUCK.

I'll be honest and admit that if you want to spend a thousand dollars on a camcorder than you will definitely find something better. However, if you are somebody like me who had limited funds to spend but wanted all the everyday features a ... person would want, then this is the camera to buy! All the basics are included (still photo shots, fantastic zoom abilities, picture stabilization, ability to film in complete darkness and amateur picture manipulation capabilities).

It also hooks up to a PC using a fire wire cable (IEEE1394) and a video capture board, which I recommend buying the StudioDV from Pinnacle Systems that includes both for ... then getting sucked for ... by purchasing Sony's brand. Also I found the Laser Link feature to be the best features, allowing me to play back my tapes on the TV without having to hook up the camera to it every time.

Overall, the DCR-TRV130 is a great camera for what you're going to spend on it.

Buy Sony DCR-TRV130 Digital8 Camcorder Now

The Sony DCR-TRV130 is a good cam for the money. Two things that you should consider before you buy: Your computer may need to be upgraded to allow you to download digital images... and don't expect Sony to help you out with software issues. I got the Belkin firewire card... which came with VideoWave III software and a HP CDR to store images..., I also had to upgrade to Win 98 SE. But once you are set up its a breeze. You don't have to shot any digital photos with the capture button on the camera just export individual images from the video. Also, the camera itself is simple to use, which is great for our family because my wife can use it and so can our nieces.

Read Best Reviews of Sony DCR-TRV130 Digital8 Camcorder Here

I've bought my camcorder about a month ago and find it to be a dream. This is an upgrade of my 5 year old Sony camcorder and it has all the useful features that you would expect. It also includes a Lithium battery, a built-in light and a night-viewing system that allows you to shoot in total darkness.

I would fully recommend this to anyone looking at camcorders.

Want Sony DCR-TRV130 Digital8 Camcorder Discount?

This camera is excellent. Excellent Price, excellent features. Picture quality excellent with Stereo Sound. Digital8 holds it's own against MiniDV. And for the price I paid for this Sony CamcorderYou will not be disappointed. Believe me. Nightshot is Off the hook. Super Nightshot is unbelievable. Digital Stills on tape is good, would of perferred a memory stick but for [money], can't complain. To sum everthing up, If you want a guality digital camera for a cheap price, do not overlook this camera. You would be a fool if you did.

Nikon Coolpix S70 12.1MP Digital Camera with 3.5-inch OLED Touch Screen and 5x Wide Angle Optical V

I love everything about this camera, except.... it takes a terrible picture.

The good:

The form factor is great

I like the way you slide the cover to open the lens and turn the camera on. Makes turning on fast and easy.

The touch screen is great. Very easy to change settings. Screen is responsive. You can touch where you want to focus, which is really cool.

The ability to shoot in 16:9 ratio is nice, but you're limited to 8MP in that mode.

The Bad

This camera just wouldn't take a good picture. Outside in daylight I could get a pretty good photo, but anything indoors was poor at best. Even indoors during the day when there's decent light. After taking my first set of shots I assumed I must be doing something wrong, so I read the manual, tried all the different "scenes", I tried adjusting ISO, resolution, etc.

Granted, I'm a fairly novice user, so perhaps a more experienced pro could get a better picture out of this camera. I finally pulled out my old Canon SD200 3.2MP camera that I was looking to replace. I took many photos side by side. I never took the Canon off "auto" mode and I tweaked the Nikon a million ways. Virtually every time the Canon was sharper, and more color accurate.

So, I thouht maybe I got a bad camera. I went to Best Buy and tried their display model. You could see on the camera screen that the images just weren't that great. Maybe if I didn't have a side by side comparison it wouldn't have been so noticable, but I really expected this Nikon to be better than my very old Canon.

If anyone believes it's the operator and not the camera I'm more than open to advice, because I loved everything else about this camera. I did return it, but would buy it again if I found out it was just operator error, however, I really don't think it was my error.

The above reviewer hit the nail on the head, Great design, functionality, touchscreen is the only way to go...

But, the camera will not take a sharp photo. I took my card into the store and shot numerous people and signs at all iso's

and image styles and basically I got mush. I brought my card home and opened it in Photoshop and no amount of tweeking or sharpening could save these images. It boggles my mind that a company like Nikon will release such a camera.

Look for this $400 camera to be $125 by Christmas. Hint to Nikon, all the features in the world won't sell a camera if it won't take a decent image.

Buy Nikon Coolpix S70 12.1MP Digital Camera with 3.5-inch OLED Touch Screen and 5x Wide Angle Optical V Now

When I first read the specs on this camera I was very excited about getting my hands on it. I was especially interested in the OLED touch screen and the compact lens design. I went ahead and purchased the camera despite the mixed reviews it has received so far.

There are several problems with this camera. First, I took a number of shots both indoor and out on several settings and the picture quality is not very good. The pictures taken on my old 5 MP Minolta Dimage are far superior to this camera. Second, the design of the camera makes it almost completely unusable in normal shooting situations. The OLED screen takes up the entire back of the camera and is very touch sensitive. I found myself inadvertently activating functions without intending to. Also, the location of the lens is so close to the side of the camera my fingers continually ended up getting in the photo. So between the touchscreen and the lens location you end up with a continual camera holding balancing act that you can't win.

Overall a great feature set, but less than adequate picture quality and design. I returned it and purchased the Panasonic DMC-ZS3, and having now tried it out it beats the Nikon hands down.

Read Best Reviews of Nikon Coolpix S70 12.1MP Digital Camera with 3.5-inch OLED Touch Screen and 5x Wide Angle Optical V Here

The new S70 lives up to all of the Nikon claims. Like most Nikon cameras I have owned, it functioned perfectly right out of the box. Having been highly disappointed with the previous S60, this new S70 seems to have corrected all of the shortcomings of the S60 and much more. The new OLED touch screen is a joy to use sensitive and responsive. The screen visibility and clarity is excellent under all lighting conditions. Nikon also substituted a more robust battery which in combination with the OLED panel should extend camera use between charges.

Perhaps more important is the clarity and sharpness of the images taken with the S70. They are impressively sharp and clear under magnification. The menus are intuitive and easy to navigate. The touch screen focus and shutter release function is a nice touch. The simplified and enhanced in-camera cropping and retouch functions are well done and welcome additions. The Easy Auto mode handles very well all of the major camera settings and functions required for a good picture when a quick "point & shoot" situation arises. I would have preferred however an out-of-camera battery recharging system as I usually charge and carry a spare battery. I will be purchasing an external charger.

I have owned Nikon film and digital cameras for the last 25 years and I consider my new S70 to be a very worthwhile addition. It is stylish, functional, fun to use, and takes great photos. When you need a high quality pocket sized camera, you should take a close look at this one. I would highly recommend the S70.

Want Nikon Coolpix S70 12.1MP Digital Camera with 3.5-inch OLED Touch Screen and 5x Wide Angle Optical V Discount?

I have not tried the S70 yet (so disregard star rating) but I have noticed several reviews with frustrations about poor image quality. I also saw in the CNET Editor's review that they suggested that the user sets the Auto ISO limit to 80-200 for best results in most conditions and 80-400 max under difficult lighting conditions. Anyone who is experiencing photo quality issues might want to try that to see if it makes a big improvement. I expect that it will make a big difference since CNET said the pictures were "very good for a snapshot camera" once those settings have been changed. My guess is for some reason the camera is trying to use a ridiculously high ISO setting (1200-6400) and producing predictably grainier photos as a result. As Wikipedia explains regarding ISO speeds, "In both digital and film photography, the reduction of exposure corresponding to use of higher [ISO] sensitivities generally leads to reduced image quality (via coarser film grain or higher image noise of other types)." If that is in fact the problem it would still be a design flaw but one with perhaps a simple and very tolerable workaround.

From CNET:

"The photo quality from the S70 is very good for a snapshot camera...The camera lets you limit the auto ISO range to either 80-200 or 80-400. If you're in daylight or bright conditions, I recommend locking it down to 80-200. Again, it did perform well through ISO 400, but it's at its best below ISO 200."

Good luck with that workaround.

Also, anyone who has problems tapping the screen by accident should probably set the camera to only use the shutter button.

I still like the specs of this camera so plan to check it out at the local Best Buy with my own SD card and I will be playing with these settings and I will update my review once I have.

Panasonic HC-V520 HD Digital Camcorder with 80x Zoom and Wi-fi (Black)

I work with baseball players and bought this unit for its 60P capability and long zoom. The zoom is more like 58X or 62X, but that's still VERY powerful. The image quality is good, even at max zoom and the image stabilizer seems to work well. This video-camera also seems to work very well in lower light conditions (it's at least one stop better than my other cameras, I assume due to a bigger sensor). It has a full range of manual controls that seem to be available in all modes. It's also VERY small and light. Battery life on the included battery seems better than average (compared to my Canon HV-30).

The only downsides -and the reason why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 -are that I literally can't buy another (or really two or three) battery for it, which is an issue for me because I am a semi-professional photographer and film entire baseball games and like to have 2 or 3 batteries in my bag just in case. Panasonic also charges a ridiculous amount for accessories like batteries and an external battery charger. They are pricing the camera low and then getting you with the accessories, so understand that the effective price of this camera is more like $500 or $600 if you need more than just what comes in the box.

P.S. The BIOS is buggy. I am getting increasing numbers of card write/read errors, despite using premium, high bit rate Sandisk cards.

I like it very much. very simple to use. good quality video & pictures.the zoom is very good. The main reason I bought it is for live streaming. I like the shape and features. Battery life is only one hour when using HD.

Buy Panasonic HC-V520 HD Digital Camcorder with 80x Zoom and Wi-fi (Black) Now

Magnific Zoom, great queality.

I like this product. It is very good and small, but excelent quality. Buy it now

Read Best Reviews of Panasonic HC-V520 HD Digital Camcorder with 80x Zoom and Wi-fi (Black) Here

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras

The short version:

Pros:

The optical quality is great, the speed is terrific, and it compares well to the 70-200mm lens that people like to say blows this out of the water (I believe they are wrong but we will get into that later) and finally, the price cannot be beaten. Buy it.

Cons:

No hood, extends as it zooms, and the quality of the picture in low light situation lessens a little.

The long version:

I am writing this in simple terms. I found several, several reviews on this lens but they were all in technical terms and leaves you scratching your head a little. So, if you are like me maybe this review will help you.

I bought this lens a couple months ago from US1Photo.com (check these guys out. They regularly have significant sales and terrific customer service). I use this lens with a Canon 40D.

I take several types and styles of pictures so I needed a lens that would do the best job at several things and have a very affordable price (right at or less than $1,000). I looked through new, used, third party (Tamron, Sigma, etc) lenses, and read too many reviews and looked at too many images to count, and spent four hours in a photography store playing with lenses before I decided to spend money and take advantage of this lens. All in all I spent about a week's worth of time in research and testing before I bought this lens.

---

Edit:

Okay, so amazon won't let me put a link here. This is how you find me.

~Go to Flickr

~Then type in a "/" then "photos" then "/" and last type in "gman_five0"

And that should take you there.

---

Test of comment #1:

~The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM does not track moving objects very well and the farther to the end of the zoom the slower the tracking.

(Flickr Gallery page 2)

This, I have found, to be completely wrong. I have used the lens at several sporting events and found that it tracks rather nicely. I was able to track every step of a base-runner from first base to second, slide, and recovery after the play without losing ONE shot.

To see what I am talking about check out my gallery on Flickr. The older ones are NOT done with this lens or camera and taken, actually, several years ago. I will reference the pictures in question.

Safe, Got There By a Mile, Breaking Up That Double Play (please note that as time goes on from the date that this was posted the pictures may have been re-moved). Also, "Safe" was used instead of another shot taken at the same time and angle with a 70-200mm IS lens.

To take these shots I used "AI focus" and the "H" settings on my camera for quicker tracking and the H settings for about 6 frames per second.

Test of Comment #2:

~The 200-300mm range is nice in theory, but a tack-sharp photo from the 70-200mm f/4L at 200mm is going to look better cropped than a 300mm full-frame photo from this lens.

Again, I found this to be wrong. Though I have no actual "full sized" picture for this if you comment back with an email address then we can arrange a viewing of one. Otherwise, take my word for it, I own several lenses and this one stacks up well.

(Ref Flickr Gallery)

The pictures from the Dance Theater and Tashina were all taken at the 200-300mm focus lengths. Again, they are not full sized because of photo pirates, but if you email me we can see about full sized shots.

Test of Comment #3:

~The IS motor is loud

I do not know what these people are talking about, but if you call that loud...

On the other hand, I have heard (once), the sound of the IS motor, but if you are not listening for it you will not even notice it.

Things I have found about the lens:

If you spend some time with the lens will be one of your best friends. It is a great lens especially for people on a budget (like me). To take the best pictures you cannot just twist it on and go to shooting. Take the time to LEARN about the lens (change shutter speeds, ISO settings, aperture, white balances, etc) and it will show you where it shines just like the L series lenses and the 70-200mm IS.

This lens has a solid make and feels like it will last forever. Then again, as you zoom the lens does extend and is plastic. So, watch out if you are doing sports. You may get it knocked off. It did well for me, though. Extending while zooming makes putting a hood on the lens a bit (very little; so little that you cannot tell) awkward and it looks kinda goofy.

I like the lens because it is not as bulky as the 70-200mm lens and it is extremely mobile. It is as quick as some other lenses, not as quick as some, and quicker than others. It will give you great quality pictures. It does have its limits, however: in low light situations not being able to take it back a couple stops and get a wider aperture will not give you the same shot as a 70-200mm. Then again, like I said, it doesn't drop to that f/2.8 and does not cost all that money. This has been the single drawback for me about the lens.

I use this lens for portraits (Tashina, Samantha), for sports (see gallery), and music (Shawn Pander See Gallery). So, it's pretty versatile. I have yet to use with it flash, but that is because I simply do not like to use flash. I have yet to use it in a studio setting, but when I do I will amend this review and add a couple of those pictures as well.

This lens comes highly recommended from me. I am not a big time, highly paid, or well known photographer. I just like to shoot and like what I shoot to be of the best quality that I can have AND afford at the time. So, if you are like me and cannot spend the needed $1,500 $1,700 on a 70-200mm IS lens then spend your money on this lens. You will not be sorry for it.

---

On another note, comments are welcome. This is my first ever review on here so let me know if there anything else that you would like to know about and I will do my best to answer the question in the most plain terms as possible.

After debating between this and the 70-200 L series I decided to purchase this lens. I have been pleasantly surprised by the results. I also own the 17-85 and the 50mm 1.8 lenses and I have found that I have gotten the "most pleasing" results from this lens. The pictures have been very sharp from my 20D even in the 200mm 300mm range. I've also been happy with the quality of the bokeh.

The primary drawback I see is that the AF tends to hunt a fair amount when confronted with low contrast images. That being said, I used it for some flying bird shooting at the wildlife refuge and was surprised to see how many of the shots were in sharp focus. However, it was a little bit of all or nothing. Several shots were also wildly out of focus. Since the lens is fairly slow to focus, you never know what you're gonna get with such a fast moving object against the distant sky.

I had much more consistent results when shooting soccer, softball and football in the park. The AF speed did not present an issue for any of these activities and the results were excellent.

I wish the lens were a little less expensive but I the prints I have gotten from my 13 X 19 printer have been worth the extra money.

Buy Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras Now

I bought this lens as a replacement for the earlier 75-300mm IS lens. I was generally happy with that lens, but it had definite limitations I needed to shoot at f8 or f11 and bump up the ISO to get a decent shutter speed.

This new version seems sharp at full zoom even wide open, allowing me to use a lower ISO setting. Size is similar to older version, but the IS seems more effective looking through the lens when it kicks in you can actually see the image become more stable and less shaky. I got this over the Canon 70-200 f4 L because of the extra reach, smaller size (slightly) and the images I've seen from both are very similar.

UPDATE: There have been reports of soft images when using this lens in a verticle orientation however I have not experienced this on my copy. I'm happy to say that after months of using this lens, I still consider it great.

Read Best Reviews of Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras Here

I owned this lens' predecessor, the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS. That lens was horrible. When I read many good things about this new 70-300mm IS lens, I thought it was time to upgrade. But, it was difficult to decide whether buy this lens or the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L. I bought this lens and it was my mistake.

While it has numerous improvements over the 75-300mm IS, there are still some shortcomings with this lens that keep it from competing with the similar-priced 70-200mm f/4L.

First, starting at around 150mm-200mm and getting worse as you approach 300mm, this lens gives images that look soft (no, I'm not using any filters!). This is not an issue of focus, but of low-cost consumer-grade optics. You can stop the lens down and get some improvement, but then you lose your depth of field. (EDIT: The sharpness problem with my lens was the result of using it in portrait-orientation, a defect among the first batches of this lens. Canon repaired the lens for free and it became sharper, no matter the orientation, but still not as good as the 70-200mm f/4L).

Second, the focusing speed is slow. New in this lens is variable-speed focusing; as the zoom passes 200mm, the focusing speed slows. I assume this is to prevent the missed-focus hunting common with its predecessor. But, this makes it harder to track moving objects and keep them in focus.

Third, this lens suffers from very ugly purple chromatic aberration. This lens really shows this problem too, in that even small bright objects develop purple halos.

Finally, the lens gets larger as you zoom, the lens gets larger when you focus, the front of the lens moves when focusing, the focus ring moves when auto-focusing, the zoom retracts by itself when pointed upward (EDIT: last item was fixed by Canon during the above-mentioned service), and I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting... But none of these problems exist with the 70-200mm f/4L.

This is not "the hidden L lens" as one reviewer said, it is nothing but a common consumer lens with a big price tag. The IS feature is the single sole benefit. If you have very shaky hands you might just need this lens. If you have very steady hands, with IS you can use this lens in the dark of night (assuming you have a very still subject). The 200-300mm range is nice in theory, but a tack-sharp photo from the 70-200mm f/4L at 200mm is going to look better cropped than a 300mm full-frame photo from this lens.

If what you want is a very high quality lens that will give you sharp photos in daylight; buy the 70-200mm f/4L lens instead, it even comes with a hood. The hood for the 70-300mm IS lens is another $40, making the 70-200mm f/4L a lower priced lens (and it even comes with a bag!).

UPDATE 10/3/11: I'm now using my 70-200 f/4L with a Canon 7D and it is fantastic. I cannot fathom why people even consider this 70-300 given the economical availability of the 70/200 f/4L. The extra 100mm and IS isn't worth it given the major drawbacks of expanding size, rotating front element, plastic construction, and lack of comparative quality. You don't need IS as much as you think you do, especially if you've been taught how to shoot steady and follow the simple rule of using exposure speeds that are numerically higher than your current zoom setting (at 200mm make sure it's at 1/200 exposure time or faster).

Want Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras Discount?

The Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM telephoto zoom lens replaces the first Image Stabilizer lens of its kind, the Canon 75-300mm f4-5.6 telephoto zoom lens. It offers now up to three as opposed to two apertures in image stabilizing mode, as well as slightly wider focal length. The current June 2006 Popular Photography issue has a fine test report on this lens, showing that it is capable of excellent contrast and resolution in the range from 70mm to 200mm; at 300mm, both contrast and resolution decline slightly to very good, but still an excellent result for a zoom lens in this class. It is also fully compatible with Canon's digital SLR cameras (112-480mm equivalent), with improved lens coatings optimised for digital sensors. Without question this is an excellent lens for the Canon photographer interested in excellent nature and landscape photography, without resorting to a sturdy tripod to hold both the camera and lens; thus it is also quite suitable for handhold panning shots at most outdoor sporting events held under good weather conditions.

Canon DC330 1.07MP DVD Camcorder with 37x Optical Zoom

I don't know why amazon includes the sony mini-dvds on this page, because they do NOT work with this camera! I ordered them based on amazon's recommendation and they are not compatible. I'm having a tough time finding a mini dvd-rw that will work with the camera. Otherwise, it is ok. The movie editing software isn't very easy though, but the picture quality is fantastic. Colors are true to life and recording is easy. My two complaints are mini-dvd-rw issue and crappy software for editing.

UPDATE: Spoke to Canon and now know the difference is the plus/minus! This camcorder requires DVD-R/RW (notice minus sign) and cannot use the DVD+R/RW (notice plus sign). When purchasing mini dvds make sure to get the minus and then just about any brand should work (verbatim definitely does).

I have camcorders since 1987 and this one is great. I like the DVD recording where I can see what I just recorded direct on my TV, via my DVD. The size is very small, however the buttons are fine. Good quality for the price. For the record: My experience with Canon customer service has been great in the past: Free service on my A95 and A75 digital cameras, even after the warranty expired (black LCD screen).

Buy Canon DC330 1.07MP DVD Camcorder with 37x Optical Zoom Now

This is an amazing camera. I don't know the picture quality of an HD camcorder, but in comparison this camera is an excellent buy for the price. Perhaps I'll buy an HD in a few years when the price drops.

Only warning about buying from Amazon be careful with recommended accessories make sure you purchase mini DVD's and not regular DVD's as I mistakenly did.

I have not taken single frame pictures with it yet and suspect that the 1 MP quality will not be great, but I have an excellent digital camera and do not need the multiple capability. I purchased the camera primarily for wildlife video and think it will do an excellent job.

Read Best Reviews of Canon DC330 1.07MP DVD Camcorder with 37x Optical Zoom Here

Just purchased the DC330 camcorder in late July 2008. I must say the video is very clear and the colors saturated. The most impressive thing to me was the zoom. It's incredible! I video recorded my kids when they were getting surfing lessons. I was probably 30 yards from them. The resulting video made it seem as though I was right beside them. I even captured a decent audio from them! I wish the still picture capability were better than 1M but the video is superb. My only real issue was that one of the CDs that came with the camcorder was scratched on delivery and I am not able to load the software at this point. I am in contact with Canon at the moment. We'll see how their customer service is I guess.

Want Canon DC330 1.07MP DVD Camcorder with 37x Optical Zoom Discount?

This camcorder is very easy to use and set up. The quality of the video is very good and the optical zoom allows you to capture close-up video without disturbing the subject.

Nikon D5200 Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens (Bronze) with 32GB Card + Backp

I absolutely love this bundle. It is an amazing camera and accessories. Only downfall was I had to wait for an additional shipment to receive some on the accessories. But once I received them all was fine. I was frustrated that the nikon remote shutter didn't come with instructions. I had to go online to a completely separate site to fine out from another manufacturer how to work it. Overall I am pleased with my purchase.

Nikon Coolpix P7000 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 7.1x Wide Zoom-Nikkor ED Lens and 3-Inch LCD

Let's get the facts out first. I've been a Nikon shooter for several decades, currently with a D300 (haven't made the leap yet to full frame, but that's next). I'm an amateur, but shoot at a pro level. My focus is on music and sports photography, and I like to have a good camera with me when I travel (my last ride-along P&S has been a Lumix DMC-TZ5). I shoot in a variety of conditions, but what I need must a) provides high quality images, b) be really portable (fits in my purse, can get into concerts that ban DSLRs unless you're shooting on assignment) c) have a longer lens option (200mm is 'table stakes') and d) provide the flexibility to twiddle the dials to find the best combo of ISO-aperture-shutter speed for a particular situation. Having HD capability is a nice-to-have.

I've been shopping for a new P&S easily for a year. Got interested and then uninterested in the Canon G11/G12/S95 because the lens is too short (even the extenders don't push it out far enough). Similar higher-end P&S cameras don't have the length I was looking for, or didn't fit the size criteria (ruled out the 'super zooms' largely because of this).

Nikon got my attention first with the P100 but I read about image quality issues. When I learned about the P7000, I was intrigued. Could Nikon overcome its perceived issues and produce a P&S that makes picky photo people happy?

I made the plunge and bought the P7000. After reading a few more reviews and having a burst of post-purchase cognitive dissonance, the best plan was to just take the new acquisition out and A:B it against my D300 and the Lumix in a variety of conditions.

I'm glad I did. First impression: lots of dials to set and menus to learn, so to make it easy I just left it on the 'green' setting and let the camera make the decisions. Immediately it was clear that the Lumix's photo quality wasn't even in the same class as the P7000 (it looked good until you held it up against the others). The P7000's quality should be compared against the DSLR class.

After carrying a DSLR rig around, the P7000 seemed like a featherweight around the neck. Great build quality solid metal feel. I don't like the AE-L and AF-L button being next to where you thumb is, but my fingers will learn. (Wish there was a wriststrap option that shipped with the camera too.) LOVE the display, and the ability to see the histogram data. Feels like my D300 in many ways.

Now to the images. Shot with the D300 and the P7000 looking up a tree trunk. Depth of field, image clarity and WB were surprisingly similar. Wow. Tried it again in both indoor and outdoor conditions, and saw little to no difference. In fact I preferred the P7000 images several times to the D300 they looked better (Note 1 below). After several hours of shooting both cameras, my post-purchase cognitive dissonance was gone and I am eager to learn more about my new traveling 'friend'.

I do agree with the reviewers who note that the dials and settings aren't particularly intuitive. The instruction manual is about on the scale of a DSLR. It also for now lacks the really long lens capability I'm looking for (I believe that Nikon will be introducing accessories soon, including a telephoto extender). I wish that the lens were faster in the lower end, and I wish that Nikon did a better job of removing high ISO noise (this is a criticism for non-full frame Nikon bodies in general; I'm hoping that RAW and post-processing will clean this up). But the advantages of the camera DSLR-like photo quality, Nikon fit/finish and build, and a longer lens than comparable high-end P&S make me believe that Nikon is going in the right direction and that this is a break from its previous P&S cameras.

If you don't have size constraints (as I do), buy a DSLR you will get more in the long run. If you want DSLR-like performance in a P&S, definitely take a look at the P7000.

(Note 1: A good DSLR rig with good glass will take better photos than a point-and-shoot in virtually all situations that's simple physics. I've not given up my DSLRs, but am recognizing the fact that the P7000 has the ability to shoot photos at the same level of quality in the outdoor/daylight conditions low ISO in which I ran my comparison. Higher ISOs for low light conditions do introduce more noise, and this is an expected function of the sensor in this class of camera. When I'm shooting 'serious', I still take the DSLRs. Use this camera on the path to a DSLR, since it has many of the same control features, or as a supplement for times when you don't want to carry the 'big rig' or can't because of constraints where you will be shooting.)

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

UPDATE: I've put about 1,000 shots into the camera over the past week, including one day of a music festival where I shot all but maybe 3 shots with the P7000 (see the photos here -data is on). Net: though I still have not figured out the nuances, you can get really good photos out of the camera, but it does require learning how to use its capabilities. It is slower than the DSLR, but not so bad that it gets in the way of getting the shot. The P7000 has developed an issue where the lens cover will not retract completely, which causes the corners of the frame to be shaded. So, this must be sorted out. This is unfortunately not what I expected from Nikon, even in the first release. I'll report back in based upon what I find out, but for now I'm keeping the 5 star rating.

UPDATE (NOV 2010): The camera returned from Nikon in time to take to SFO. Nikon adjusted the shutter (works fine now) and the white balance. Interestingly the shot count was advanced about another thousand, so I trust they took the time to really check it out. I've finally figured out how to do quick aperture/shutter speed adjustments in manual mode, and am finding as I learn its controls and tricks, it's easier and easier to get great shots. I'm amazed at the 'night' setting never fails to render something really interesting and usable. White balance in this mode has been most impressive even in darkened rooms and in street shots at night, the photos come out rendered in the right colors, in focus and with plenty of light. I'm keeping the 5-star rating.

UPDATE (Feb 2011): The shutter has not hung up again but the service guy who looked at it last noted that he thought some of the parts were 'worn'. I still really enjoy the camera, but did purchase a 3 year extended warranty. I would recommend that anyone else do the same if they buy it in the near future, up until the time that the reports of the shutter issue die off. I'm attributing it to the initial release of a very new camera design, and there are often things they will improve upon over time. But in contrast, my new D7000 is working like a champ right out of the box, leading me to surmise that their design and manufacturing standards may be higher for their DSLRs than their P&S cameras. Just an observation does anyone else have a similar experience?

UPDATE (Mar 2011): Spoke with a Nikon person during SXSW who advised me to make sure I had the firmware updates loaded into the camera. Another reviewer commented that it's still in beta I would tend to believe that. Still enjoying the camera. I did tell him that I am wishing for them to take a great low-light sensor and put it into a P&S footprint, and he noted that pretty much everyone wants that too. Nikon where is this on your product roadmap? I'll camp out to buy one of these!

This is a great camera if you're looking for an extremely customizable compact camera.

Size and Handling -This really just depends on what you are looking for. If you want a pocket camera that can fit into shirt pockets, jean pockets, etc then this is not the camera for you and you really should look elsewhere. For me, it's the perfect size, not too big and not too small. The camera is solid but not too heavy.

Picture quality -I shoot mainly in RAW and the quality so far is excellent. Little noise up to ISO400 and usable to ISO800. Can go to 1600 in a pinch.

Autofocus -Focus is fast and accurate. There are options for Autofocus, Macro Focus, Infinity, and Manual Focus. Be sure to read the manual and spend time understanding the focus options. Some people are reporting focus issues and I believe many are related to users not learning enough about the focus system.

Write speed -This is where I would have given a 4 1/2 instead of a 5 if I could. JPG write speeds are good but RAW is fairly slow and doesn't appear to buffer. It doesn't affect me much based on the way I take pictures but there are times that it would be nice if it were faster. Of course if you shoot JPG then this is a non-issue.

Pros

Customization

Battery life

Viewfinder (I don't use it too often but nice when you need it)

Image quality

Zoom range

Menus (intuitive, easy to use. Even better if you're familiar with Nikon DSLR menus.)

Works with Nikon remote and Nikon flash

Preset zoom

Cons

Have to select Playback button to scroll through images (I like the ability to scroll after taking a photo like the D90)

No articulating screen (If I have to choose, I'll take the higher res LCD but every once in a while the articulating screen would come in handy).

RAW write speed (will be a bigger con for some than it is for me)

In summary this is a great camera and I highly recommend it as long as you aren't confusing it for something it's not like a pocket P&S with limited controls or a full sized DSLR!!

Buy Nikon Coolpix P7000 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 7.1x Wide Zoom-Nikkor ED Lens and 3-Inch LCD Now

I purchased this camera for my wife for Christmas. In March while out on a photo shoot of wildflowers the Lens Cover stopped opening fully. Since it was past Amazon's 30 day return window I went to Nikon's Website and set up a return to repair facility. At this point I was somewhat disappointed but understanding of the fact sometimes things don't go completely correctly and had high expectations of Nikon making things right. I sent off to Nikon(on my dime) and after a few weeks they replied the camera would be repaired under warranty. So far so good. After about a month and a half the camera was returned. The first time we took it out it immediate exhibited the same Lens Cover not retracting issue.

Now I will have to look forward to sending it back to Nikon (on my dime) and waiting a couple of months for Nikon to "repair". Not what I expected from Nikon. We have vacation planned for next month and the whole idea of purchasing this camera was to have one which took quality photos but was easier to carry around than our D40x. Now it looks like I will have to purchase an equivalent size camera from Canon or another company if we don't want to carry the D40x.....

I should have read others reviews before purchasing as I see this issue is not unique to us.

Update:

I contacted Nikon Customer Support and they sent me a pre-paid shipping label since the problem was back less than six months from their "repair". I can't complain that I had to ship back "on my dime". Still unhappy the camera has been at repair facility for about 1/3 of the time I have owned it.

Update:

After a few weeks my wife called and checked on repair. Nikon stated it was shipping out the next day. After a couple of weeks it hadn't showed up and she checked back. Nikon then stated the repair had not started yet. Since it was less than a week until our big trip my wife was upset and let Nikon know it. They agreed to send a NEW camera to replace our original one. It arrived in time for trip and so far it works OK. Hope the lens cover issue does not reappear. I will update if anything else goes wrong or if everything goes right (fingers crossed)

Update:

Camera performed flawlessly during vacation. Took ~ 1500 photos. However, the week after our return the *NEW* camera started exhibiting the same lens cover problem. So far we have had to send to Nikon twice, once for repair and once for replacement.

We plan on contacting Nikon and asking for a refund.

Read Best Reviews of Nikon Coolpix P7000 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 7.1x Wide Zoom-Nikkor ED Lens and 3-Inch LCD Here

I've been waiting for a camera like this from Nikon for years and was about to go for the Canon G11 when the P7000 (and G12) came out. The specs were exactly what I'd wanted a lower pixel count with higher ISO, larger, higher res screen than the P6000 with faster RAW processing and a greater range in the lens. I looked at the G12 but decided on the Nikon and I'm glad I did.

I shoot a D700, but wanted something I can take everywhere and I've just been blown away with the P7000. The controls take a little getting used to if you are familiar with the Nikon DSLR range, but ISO, QUAL, WB setup are almost the same and you get three custom settings U1, U2 and U3 where you can save common configurations such as low light (as the auto ISO ranges from 100-200, 100-400 and 100-1600 so it is a good idea ifyou use low light and want 3200 or Hi1 to set this up as a U setting rather than changing the ISO I setup mine as U3). You can also reprogram 3 of the standard buttons to shortcuts and there is a MyMenu which is really hand for commonly used settings.

Manual is a bit fiddly as the +/sensor is a bit slow and too small to use dynamically as the light meter setting shows up yellow on white (not much contrast) whereas the Aperture and Shutter priority are as fast as they are on a DSLR and are really clear. One really nice feature is the real time histogram, if you use histograms this will save you a lot of time and missed shots as you can see your shot will be over or under range before you shoot but then the matrix sensor is pretty hard to fool. I'm not a fan of bracketing, why not get the shot right first time around, but if you are a bracketing fan this too works well on the P7000 and can be setup on another U for when you want to make doubly sure you get the shot.

Image quality is amazing for a point and shoot like this, even at full optical zoom it will really make me think twice when travelling as to whether to lug your DSLR.

There is plenty of distortion in the lens, but not complex and easily corrected in Photoshop (not sure if NX2 does this automatically as with the D700).

I've no idea why Nikon bothered with the flash hot shoe, if you stick a flash on it you may as well use your DSLR and with the low light handling and VR of the P7000 as well as a steady hand you can take superb low light shots, and the little inbuilt flash more than suffices when high ISO's are not enough.

One thing I love is the view finder. I'm happy to use the screen to take a shot but in daylight you are often guessing at what you are shooting and the viewfinder provides an pretty good alternative. An accurate DSLR viewfinder it isn't, but it zooms as the lens zooms and it is accurate enough to get the shot. Apparently it is an 80% viewfinder, I think that is an average as it seemed to vary over the range but you do get used to it pretty quickly, especially with the P7000's zoom stops.

All in all the P7000 is just superb. I'm glad I waited and at 85% of the weight of the G12, longer zoom (the lens is rated slower at 5.6 vs 4.5 with the G12, but then the P700 runs to 200mm whereas the G12 is 140mm they are probably similar at around 140mm).

I'm sure Nikon will have a better model in 2 years, but at this stage I can't even imagine what would entice me to buy it as the P7000 has it all.

Thank you Nikon and well done.

Want Nikon Coolpix P7000 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 7.1x Wide Zoom-Nikkor ED Lens and 3-Inch LCD Discount?

I really get tired of people who write reviews and have no idea of what they are talking about. I have been a photographer since 1958 and haave used/experimented with everything from (A) Alpa to (z) Zephyr. A Nikon devotee I will say right up front that the Coolpix P 7000 is not a camera for those who are given to setting cameras in the (P) mode and white light balance to Auto. With the D3x, D700 and D90 in my camera cabinet I can tell you that the P7000 deserves to be in that company. Yes there is a bit of a lag if you are shooting in the Fine mode with both RAW and JPEG files being recorded, but that would be true of any camera in this "Bridge Class" of cameras.

I put this camera through its paces at the Newseum here in Washington DC and in areas where flash was forbidden, historic documents and front pages with White Light balanced to incandescent the aging document colors remained accurate and at ISO 1600 I was able to hand hold without difficulty and without loosing a shot, producing 300 DPI 11 (x) 14 and 16 (x) 20 print files. In fact the only time I used the flash, set a fill-flash was to photograph a brass Lion outside of the Capital Grill. Bare burning sunlight lit up the right side and the fill flash balanced the left side shadow area to absolute perfection. That photo is a flawless 16 (x) 20 file that reveals every bit of weather damage and Pigeon droppings.

Spot metering the interior of a hanging Helicopter interior, conveniently approximately 50% Grey value the sensor recorded every color, hue and tonality faithfully.

Exterior photos from the observation deck produced picture perfect postcard renditions of the Capital and surrounding buildings.

The camera uses all of my external Nikon Flash cords and set up on a Stroboframe Pro "T" bracket makes for a very appropriate compact carry unit Compared with a good number of cameras in this class, all competent, the controls of the P7000 suit me to a, excuse me, a "T". The Stroboframe 300 QRC plate is a wonderful fit for tripod mounting. I have left it mounted to the camera as I habitually carry the small Bogen Manfrotto 3422 Table Top tripod around with me and use when needed bracing it against anything handy.

I used that setup in the nearby St. Mary's Cemetery doing some test scouting in anticipation of Fall Fog and Winter Snow. The rendering of the head stones was simply amazing; no other word, and the detail of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in the back ground was superior to anything my Canon G cameras have produced.

Every camera has its strengths and weakness. If you want a swing out display buy something else and don't Complain. I don't like them and too many of my friends have had to send their equipment out for repair after minor knocks. I'm old school I guess and I carry a 4 ft. square of Black denim in my camera Bag and play Matthew Brady when I need to see the LED display in overwhelming light. It works just fine.

After over 250 photos with this camera I have dumped two. They were my errors.

If you read/study the manual, practice and utilize the white light balance control, change ISO appropriate to the Challenge, change meter pattern as dictated you will love this little gem.

As for any 1,2,3 ratings; I have to assume that those folks are either novices or Canon detractors. I have used them all and don't slant my appraisals. The Canon G series has much to offer but the Nikon P7000 does everything I want it to. Also you might want to looks up some of the reviews from the recent Photokina Trade show in Cologne where the P7000 was the hands down winner over the G12.

Can't wait for the accessory attachment tube to available. Heavens knows what I'll be able to mount on it...maybe Precision Optics +7 diopter close up lens.

Save 47% Off

AudioQuest Cinnamon 8.0m (26.2 ft.) White HDMI Cable PVC Jacket

We used these cables to run in-wall HD A/V to our over the fireplace TV. THey were durable during the installation process and are working great now that they're sealed in.

In today's market, you can find cheap HDMI cables for a fraction of the cost of this.

I bought these to connect a Denon receiver to a Sony 3D projector when I was building my home theater. I wanted to to use good cables given these were going through the walls and I didn't want to have anything go wrong.

I haven't hooked up any cheaper cables for an apples to apples comparison, but the image quality is great!

You wouldn't want to waste money on these to hook up your kids 19" Symphonic TV the bedroom. If you are not building a high end theater, skip these cables. Especially if it will be run outside the walls. You can always get something much cheaper and replace it if you have a problem.

If you are like me and are using high end equipment in a custom home theater...Go For It!

Buy AudioQuest Cinnamon 8.0m (26.2 ft.) White HDMI Cable PVC Jacket Now

eForCity 25ft Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable, Version 1.3, 1080p, 25 ft

Order this 25FT HDMI cable and worked fine from my desktop to my HDTV. I didn't have any issues what so ever. I hear that many people tend to have issue with their cable (cables that are abnormally long, 25FT, 50FT, etc); you need to be sure not to bend the cable at a sharp angle. If it needs to be bent, bend it so that it curves. HDMI cables have very intricate wiring and these can be broken, therefore you must take care when setting up your home theater system or wiring through the wall.

Bottom line, cable works and I'm happy.

This was a cheap and easy way to get my macbook to my big 52" screen. It was dirt cheap (FU Monster Cable), works well and coils up nicely when not in use.

Buy eForCity 25ft Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable, Version 1.3, 1080p, 25 ft Now

Hard to review a cable: if it works, you don't think about it. If it doesn't work, you hate it. I don't hate this cable, but I wouldn't say it is a love affair... OTOH, I do love my TV and if this thing helps my TV, it is like a friend of my TV and me... I mean, it brings us together into a more perfect pixel world. And who could ask for more than that? Remember: "An Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable is a TV's best friend" (which is more than you can say about a dog).

Read Best Reviews of eForCity 25ft Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable, Version 1.3, 1080p, 25 ft Here

I needed about 20+ feet from my PC to HDTV and this worked pretty good.

I can't see any loss in picture / sound quality.

Want eForCity 25ft Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable, Version 1.3, 1080p, 25 ft Discount?

Nothing wrong with this product at all, the picture is nice and crisp.

At first, there was a lot of flickering, but I found that for connecting a computer to a TV with an HDMI cable, the computer should have a 1080i output, not 1080p. After switching these settings, it was fine.

Nikon D5100 16.2 MP Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens with 55-300mm VR Lens +

I had read in many reviews that you could get rid of your camcorder by having both camera and camcorder in one device. That is not the case with this camera.

If the subject isn't moving and the camera is still this will take really good video, but if the subject is moving the camera cannot keep up with the focusing and the image is blurry. That is a major downside to using this for video since movement is the whole point.

That said, the camera itself is great if you don't count on it to record video.