Astak Pan/Tilt Night Vision IP Network Camera (Black)

I've always been curious about what goes on at home when I'm not there. What do my dogs do all day? Can I watch my new little baby play and maybe take its first steps while I'm at work? This product is one of the simplest electronic products I've ever set-up. All I had to do was plug-in the camera, attach it to my home router and log in to the Astak site. My cameras were up and running.

This product can be used for so many different purposes: to be a video security/surveillance system, check on things at a business or home, or whatever else you can think of doing. Check out the stuff posted on You Tube. People actually caught people robbing their business.

This is what I like about this product:

1. Setup was a breeze

2. Only one wire to plug it into an outlet for power.

3. I can move the cameras around as needed. For example, some days I put it in my garage to watch the dogs while I'm gone. On other days, I have the camera sitting on the dresser in the babies room.

4. They are linked to your internet wirelessly

5. The website and camera functions are very easy to use

6. The image quality is great and the night vision works awesome.

7. I can share my camera with my family anywhere so that they can see whats going on. (Even my Brother-In-Law in the Army)

8. The range of my camera seemed just as good or better than my wireless home phone.

9. Works great with my iPhone to check in via the web.

10. The Yoics software program is very easy to use and easy to see other family members camera on a secure network. ( Many additional features also for remote desktop applications)

11. Directly posts videos to You Tube

12. Email alerts, motion detection, scheduled recording times, etc.

13. 270 degree turning radius with full tilt

14. Audioso you can remotely hear what's going on

15. Remote viewing,sharing, and controlling

This is what I wish the product would do better:

1. Provide me with an iPhone app soon so that I can quickly check-in with one push of a button

2. Have a way for me to zoom into an area to get more clarity.

3. Have a battery back-up

Overall, I think the product is excellent for people that want to see what's going on in places when they are not there and they are not tech savy enough to hook up more difficult systems. I would recommend this for anyone and plan on buying more cameras in the future.

Pros:

Initial setup very easy.

Able to view easily from the web on computer or iPhone.

Email alerts for motion detection works great.

Video capture works well and will automatically upload to You Tube.

Works well on wireless.

Came with a 2GB SD Card (maybe only for Costco purchases).

Night time pictures are decent, better than expected.

Cons:

Initialy could not view from the Mac or PC. See FAQ:

Software on the CD is worthless. Mac version did not work, didn't bother with the PC version. Recommend ignoring the CD.

Software downloaded from for the Mac worked once, then after would never load. Ended up removing it. Recommend ignoring this software as well.

No ability to delete images or videos stored on the SD Card from the camera. You need to remove the SD Card and delete the files from a computer.

When trying to watch a video stored on the SD card, it may crash the browser. You need to save it to your computer first then play the file.

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For those interested here's my setup guide:

Mole Camera Setup:

Get started:

-Plug in LAN cable.

-Plug in power.

Register Your Camera:

-Go to:

-Create a new account, it will detect your camera and bring up your camera's home page.

-Note: If Yoics' site is down (unlikely), you can go directy to your camera's home page by typing in the IP address, e.g. 192.168.0.111

Update browser:

-At this point your camera is running, but you may not see a picture.

-Reason is that you need to install an ActiveX Plug-in and/or QuickTime.

-Instructions:

Setup Wireless:

-Attach WiFi antenna.

-From your camera's web site, click the [Advanced] --> [Network] tabs.

-Click the [Search] button and select your router.

-Enter in the security settings for your router.

-Unplug the power to your camera, unplug your LAN cable, plug the power back in. This will reset the camera so that it will now start using WiFi.

Setup Alerts and Remote Storage:

Setup email notification:

-From your camera's web site, click the [Advanced] --> [e-mail] tabs.

-For this you need to have an email account with SMTP. This is so that the camera can send the alert using this email account.

-Enter the your email account settings.

-Typical email settings:

Setup Alarm:

-From your camera's web site, click the [Advanced] --> [Alarm] tabs.

-Check "E-mail Alarm".

-Check "Send with Picture".

-Check "Save Picture on the SD card".

-Check `Save Video on the SD card". Must have this checked to upload to a remote storage.

Setup Remote Storage for Video (optional):

-Create a YouTube or Twitter account. This is if you want to upload your videos on the web so you can view them easier.

-You can make these uploads private so that no one else can view them.

-From your camera's web site, click the [Advanced] --> [Remote Storage] tabs.

-Enter your YouTube and/or Twitter account settings. Select "Private Youtube Upload" if you want to.

-Note: You need to have selected "Save Video on the SD card".

Setup Motion Detection and Schedule:

Setup Motion Detection:

-From your camera's web site, click the [Advanced] --> [Motion detection] tabs.

-Select the areas where you want the camera to detect motion. I just used one window and expanded it to the full screen.

-Select the sensitivity for each window. I set mine to 26. At 45 I was getting too many alerts.

Setup Schedule:

-This is when you want the camera's motion detection to be running. Generally you want to schedule it when you're not home.

-From your camera's web site, click the [Advanced] --> [Schedule] tabs.

-Set the days and times.

Setup Auto Capture (optional):

-This is if you want to pictures to be taken at regular intervals.

-I didn't bother with this.

-From your camera's web site, click the [Advanced] --> [Remote Storage] tabs.

Setup Camera as Virtual Web Server (Optional):

Normally you should be able to access the camera from

However, if you want to remove any dependency on Yoics' server, then you can setup your router to operate the camera as a virtual web server. I did it mainly for fun.

Setup User Access:

-Out of the box, camera authentication is not active, which is ok if you're going to access via Yoics' site. But if you want to access your camera directly then you'll want to enable authentication.

-From your camera's web site, click the [Advanced] --> [User] tabs.

-Check "Enable".

-Enter passwords for Admin, User and Guest.

Find out your camera's IP Address:

-From your camera's web site, click the [System] --> [Device Information] tabs.

-Note the IP Address.

-The default port is 80. Unless you changed it at [Advanced] --> [Network].

Log in to your router's home page:

-Typically:

-Find out what your router's public WAN IP Address is. Finding this information depends on the router, e.g. 111.222.333.444

-Go to the virtual server settings.

-Select the public port you want to use. e.g. 6000.

-Enter the camera's IP Address and port. e.g. 192.168.0.111 port: 80

-Save the settings and you can now access your camera using your IP Address and port. In this example it would be:

Buy Astak Pan/Tilt Night Vision IP Network Camera (Black) Now

I recently purchased this from Costco. I was looking for a wireless IP Camera to use as a baby monitor that could pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) and that I could view it from my computer or Android phone . This camera seemed to fit the bill. Setup was pretty easy and I can barely use Excel; I was able to connect it to my router via wifi fairly easily and could view it on my computer and my phone over the network by typing in the camera's assigned router IP address. While it says it supports all browsers, it works best with Internet Explorer. Unless I'm missing something, I could only get sound when using H.264 streaming using Chrome and Firefox. JPEG streaming would only produce a picture and no sound. I prefer using IE anyway, so it's no biggie to me, but might be to others. Also, there is virtually no delay with PTZ when using IE, but a slight delay with other browsers. PTZ was more delayed and the video choppy when using my Android phone. And since Android does not have a Quicktime plugin for their browser, I didn't have sound. They also have instructions on how to view the camera through dyndns.org if you were away from home without going through their Yoics website. This was the hardest part for me because I didn't know how to open a port on my router. Once I figured that out, it was easy. They say it's less safe, but someone would have to know your IP address and know which one of the 65,000 ports the camera was on. If you are paranoid about someone accessing your camera, you can always set up a security password in order to view the camera. I actually prefer going through dyndns as it's less choppy and it's free. I would recommend not going through their Yoics setup as it's not necessary and is only there so they can get you to sign up for their premium service. The night vision is good, although the edges of the video are a little dark. Motion detection is great; you can set up 4 zones and choose how big each zone is and how sensitive the detection is. Email notification setup was easy and pictures were sent quickly and came in pretty clear. I haven't tried the built-in DVR yet.

Now for the things I don't like about this camera. As I mentioned earlier, I can't get sound when I use my phone's browser, but that's not a big deal. What I really wish you could do with this camera is turn off all the LEDs. Unless you cover up the LEDs, the camera isn't incognito at night. Sometimes our baby wakes up in the middle of the night and stares directly at the camera. Also, the IR lights around the camera used for night vision have a red glow and click when turning on and off; it would have been nice if they did not light up like our Summer Infant baby monitor camera and was quiet. It also gets a little warm to the touch. I would give this camera a 3.5 star if I could, but since I can't, I rounded up. I'm on the fence about returning this camera, but I have not found another one that is wireless and has all these features for about the same price. Turning off the LED lights and having a no-glow infrared would make this 5 stars.

Read Best Reviews of Astak Pan/Tilt Night Vision IP Network Camera (Black) Here

I just read a news about a guy called police after he got the self phone email alarm from his camera. I think this is exactly what I need for my second house. I started to search on the web for suitable products and the astak camera came out. I bought it, spent about 15 minutes to setup and now it is working like a charm. I got a whole bunch of emails in the first day because I set the sensitivity too high. Now it is working perfectly along with the youtube upload. Great product!"

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This camera delivered as promised with sheer ease of setup. There are cheaper wireless IP cameras out there but guaranteed they can be very frustrating in the setup process. I tried couple of other brands but they all require that you have technical knowledge about network protocol, port forwarding, dynamic DNS, etc. By comparison, the Mole's instruction was easy, non-technical and I was viewing the camera within a few minutes. Works well with the iPhone so that I can view the camera from anywhere.

Prompt tech suport is another plus. Many reviews of products neglect to examine and report on a company's tech support. What takes companies like Apple from good to great is their outstanding tech support.

There are a lot of extra bells and whistles with this camera (video recording, motion activated capture, email alerts when motion is detected, etc.). Since I use this camera as a "granny cam" I haven't had the need for the extras but it's good to know they're there should I need it in the future.

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Opteka CXS-300 Dual-Grip Video Shoulder Stabilizer Support System for DSLR Cameras & Camcorders

I've been looking for not only a rail mount system for my DSLR but a shoulder mount. I found this rig and fell in love with it! Not only is the price awesome but this rig is sturdy and amazing! The awesome universal rail system lets you mount a ton of my gear on there like the follow focus and matte box. The rails are long to so you can adjust it as much as you can. The best part is under the shoulder mount there is a place to put a tri pod shoe. It fits the one for my 501 perfectly! I can go from tri pod to running around in just seconds! Great deal!

This is a great product. I have owned two other shoulder rigs from competitors one which fell apart the other was uncomfortable and cost 3 to 4 times the amount. The Opteka CXS-300 is a solid and comfortable product that supports the indie filmmaker. It perfectly fits my DFocus follow focus and there's enough space on the rig for my audio and monitor mounts. My only criticism is that the tightening levers are a bit stiff, but I highly recomend this product and doing your business with 47st photo for their great efficiency, quality products and friendly customer service.

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For the price this is a fantastic deal. I have looked for camera rigs and was going to settle for Zacuto, until I found this. It has the standard universal 15mm rail system that allowed me to connect my IKan monitor as well as my follow focus and it cost 1/10th the price.

Read Best Reviews of Opteka CXS-300 Dual-Grip Video Shoulder Stabilizer Support System for DSLR Cameras & Camcorders Here

I think this rig is an excellent value and features very solid construction. I spent a lot of time researching video rigs before deciding on this one and, while I don't regret my choice, there are some considerations to take into account.

The unit seems to be "inspired" by the Red Rock Micro, which is a much more expensive rig. That is a very good thing. The rails, shoulder pad, and handles are excellent. The shoulder pad has a tripod mount at the front (like the Red Rock) and is sturdy and comfortable. The front handles are mounted on fixed asymmetrical rods and they're comfy and attractive. The entire unit is very solid feeling, which is what you want in a rig. The 15mm rails themselves feel smooth, strong, and uniform. I also think the main rails are the perfect length for this type of rig, long enough for lots of customization options.

My major gripe with the unit is with the camera mount. I like that the mount sits low to the rails, since it lets me use a battery grip on my DSLR and still mount a follow focus. Like the rest of the kit, it seems nice and sturdy. However, the mount attaches using an allen wrench and does not hold the camera well at all. It's just absurdly inconvenient. I'm used to having to pull out a quarter to tighten a screw, but needing to keep track of an allen wrench during a shoot is too much. To top it off, even after tightening the screw as much as I dared, I could not get the mount to hold my camera tightly. I think the rubber pads on the mount may actually do more harm than good my camera slides around on them easily.

If you mount a quick release or other plate to the camera mount, you should be able to avoid this problem. I'm replacing the mount entirely, with the low-profile "Barely Mount" from Hondo Garage. I will probably use the original camera mount either with a digital recorder or to rig up a counterweight.

As an aside, I also think the orange wingnuts are rather ugly. The front handles are actually anodized red under the foam, which clashes quite horribly with the orange (it's not visible in the photos, but definitely is on the unit itself). I like that they're metal and chunky, but the color just looks a bit cheap. I may replace them with black ones.

Also, Opteka made a counterweight specifically for this unit (the CBW-2), but it seems to be out of production and is very difficult to find online. I don't mind rigging up my own counterweight system, but keep it in mind.

Despite my complaints, I do highly recommend this rig. A well-made dual rail system with good handles and an excellent shoulder pad usually goes for much more. With a different camera mount, this would be a five star rating from me for sure.

UPDATE: I've done a bit of customization to the rig and am very pleased with the results. I did replace the camera mount with the "Barely Mount" by Hondo Garage (look them up, they're great). This allows me to use the original mount to hold my digital recorder behind the camera. Since the Hondo mount has holes for tripod mounting on the bottom (unlike the original), I am also able to flip the shoulder pad around. I find this 1) more comfortable and 2) an extremely convenient way to mount a counterweight, since the shoulder support is drilled with 1/4" and 3/8" holes on the bottom. I was unable to replace the wingnuts, since they are not the M5 wingnuts usually used on stabilizing rigs. (Possibly M7? Not sure.) I spray painted them black instead and I think the result is much sleeker looking than the orange.

I still think this is a 4/5 star product and I still recommend it highly. For the price, you are getting a very nice set of high-quality components. If you are willing to do a little customizing particularly with the camera mount I think this rig will serve you very well.

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...this is a useful and customisable inline shoulder support that can be used for DSLR as well as HDV cameras... Its design is highly remiscent of a familiar blue accent themed line of gear at a FRACTION of the cost...an excellent and proper price for all that you get...let's face it, the price of the established companies' DSLR rod gear is masochistically overpriced and a complete wallet-rape... Reps from the companies go on about how machining processes and customisation of individual parts are costly, but this is proof that it is not...

This is good, solid [slightly weighty (which is good for stabilising a superlight DSLR)], infinitely adjustable, and affordable... with the multitude of affordable add ons out there, this is a GREAT foundation from which to build up.

I have shot a couple of conventions, several walk n talk segments, a wedding, and assisted with 3 short films with this device...

if you can find it...GET IT!

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Sharx Security VIPcella-IR SCNC2700W Wifi Wireless b/g/n IP network camera with MicroSD DVR and Tru

I work at home. My wife and I are usually downstairs, and our two little girls sleep upstairs. And we often want to see how they're doing when they're upstairs:

1. Are they asleep or awake? We wonder this (1) shortly after we put them down for naps or for bed, (2) periodically while they are supposed to be sleeping, and (3) when we anticipate them waking up.

2. Are they OK? We may wonder this if we hear a strange noise or hear them crying or simply want to check on them for peace of mind--whether they're playing or supposed to be sleeping.

We used to creep upstairs as silently as we could and crack open a bedroom door to check on them, but often this would wake them up.

So I researched baby monitors and security cameras to see if I could find one that meets five criteria:

1. Wireless. We wanted to mount it in our children's rooms, where there are no computers, modems, or routers.

2. Streaming. We wanted to easily stream the video on a computer (Mac or PC), iPhone (or other web-enabled smartphone), iPod Touch, and iPad--whether connected to the Internet via our home WiFi or another way when away from home.

3. Day/Night. We wanted a clear picture regardless of the lighting in the room.

4. Audio. We wanted the option to hear as well as see what's happening.

5. Secure. We wanted the video to be password-protected.

We decided to get a Sharx Security Camera, which meets all five criteria, and we love it. We use it constantly day and night. We recently added a second one.

The camera has other features beyond the above criteria (e.g., DVR recording, motion detection, timed emails, FTP uploads). Installation is not difficult if you follow the instructions, and the email customer service is prompt and helpful (info@sharxsecurity.com).

I bought this camera (white) due to user reviews. My main requirement was that the ip camera has to have its own DVR. The Sharx has that and on top of that user reviews raved about the Sharx customer support. Cust support was very responsive and complete but the camera did take me about an hour to set up as my ip forwarding was not working correctly but Sharx did figured out that my firmware needed upgrading. Once done it worked as advertised. The IR did not worked so well for me because I had to turn it off as my camera has to monitor our drive way through a window. This caused my night videos to be black and white but I understand that this is a limitation with other cameras as well. The range is pretty good as it was still recording from one end of the house to the second floor. The night video is sometime choppy...but the recording was pretty smooth.

One thing I wanted to point out is that the micro SD capacity was not mention on the Sharx web site so I purchased a 32GB micro SD for longer recording at the same time as I ordered the Sharx from Amazon but when the camera arrived the Sharx manual mentioned that it was limited to 16GB. I formatted the 32GB SD and stuck it into the camera and it shows available size as 32GB so it worked after all...

Buy Sharx Security VIPcella-IR SCNC2700W Wifi Wireless b/g/n IP network camera with MicroSD DVR and Tru Now

We own 3 Sharx cameras. If we need any more, we will likely stick with Sharx.

Setup:

Setting up ANY ip camera can be complicated -your wifi router, Internet service provider, and general computer situation is very specific to you. If you live in an apartment building that provides Internet service you may have firewalls or other security measures in place that require additional setup steps for ANY ip camera to work.

The Sharx camera is easy to set up on your own if you are an intermediate level computer user. If you are not, the Sharx folks will literally talk you through setup step by step until yours is working. They are helpful and patient.

iPhone iPad Android compatible:

I have no idea why the other reviewer said that this doesn't work well with iOS devices. It is simply not true. It's an IP camera you need to get an app for viewing IP camera videos. I am watching my kids on my iPhone with ease right now using the NetcamViewer app. Plug in the IP address and port the camera is on and specify its a Sharx and it works no problem.

Nighttime viewing:

This gives a great night time feed. You do need to take care on camera placement, however. The camera has a dim red ring of lights at night that are easily reflected off of some high gloss or mirrored surfaces. These reflections degrade camera performance. With proper placement, night vision is great. This is better than your regular baby video monitor because you aren't restricted by the strength of the cameras signal.

Record function:

You can monitor what's going on with a live feed. Or you can go back and look at what's on the miniSD card. This function really gives you peace of mind. We set ours on a loop of XX hours. Want to know what percentage of time the nanny was on her phone yesterday. You can check! We did a 'dry run' to make sure we had set up everything properly. I would recommend such testing to anyone who needs to be able to go back and review. ( I certainly would if I was counting on this monitoring my business, or in my case my kids!) Our record function let us review what really happened when our daughter had an accident under the Nanny's care.

Clarity:

The lens on this camera is a significant step up from previous Sharx models. ( we also own the 2606 and the 2607 in addition to this one.) This one covers an area that is 40' long, and it is high enough resolution to really see what is going on at the very end. It is sharp in both day and night viewing. I do wish there was a way to force the night time viewing on in low light conditions, though.

Customer service:

After 2 years, our 2606 model stopped working. This was beyond warranty, but the Sharx folks let us trade up for this version for just a bit more that the price difference between the two.

Read Best Reviews of Sharx Security VIPcella-IR SCNC2700W Wifi Wireless b/g/n IP network camera with MicroSD DVR and Tru Here

I ordered 3 of these bad boys and so far the only problem I've had is one of the cameras had to be rebooted manually (unplug). The setup was pretty easy. I was able to get these configured and running within two hours which included installing DD-WRT firmware on a new TP-LINK TL-WR1043ND Ultimate Wireless N Gigabit Router instead of using a 2wire wireless gateway. When I ordered these I didn't realize it supported Wireless N, so that's a bonus on my part. I'm also able to use Google Chrome to view and hear. I installed the quicktime and activex plugin for chrome, and I disabled the 3D acceleration in Quicktime. Just click on "primary stream", allow permission, and it works. If you are on a Mac using Safari, just click on "primary stream". Should start playing without having to install plugins.

For my DNS i used "No IP". They give you 3 free hosts, which is something I couldn't see on DynDNS. All I saw was options to pay :(

I've only had these for 4 days and will continue to update as time goes by, but so far so good. I haven't messed with the quality much, but right now I'm using 16GB memory card and at best quality i'm getting 3 days of recording, but I will be dropping the quality to something less intensive. Should give me at least a couple of weeks based on my experience with other cameras.

Again, great cameras and setup was as easy as I've seen. The manual book is very easy to follow incase you get stuck.

I hope these continue to run and impress as time passes by. Oh, and I use an iPhone as my mobile device and picture quality looks good. Love that you can increase and decrease window size just like you would any other website.

Want Sharx Security VIPcella-IR SCNC2700W Wifi Wireless b/g/n IP network camera with MicroSD DVR and Tru Discount?

Purchased several of these to replace Panasonic network cameras in my set up mainly for the night vision capabilities, including one as a baby monitor. The IR LEDs are a nice feature. The included instructions are very detailed, well-written and helpful. I'd encourage buyers to read thoroughly. Even though I didn't need it for setting things up, email support is prompt. I was inquiring about advanced features. Overall, I'm very impressed with the build quality, instructions, and support. Features such as the multi-window motion detection are also a nice touch.

For the benefit of Mac users, they do include instructions specific for AirPort and Time Capsule setups. My setup was on a Mac with a TIme Capsule and a Buffalo NAS for recording alarms. Connecting to a DDNS provider for remote viewing was also easy. I mostly access the cameras through an iPhone app (Netcamviewer) and otherwise through Firefox or Safari with no problems. Having Internet Explorer is nice if you want to have the ability to view the motion detection thresholds being triggered, but you can fine tune the settings in any browser. If using IE, use the 32-bit version (not 64-bit) it's mentioned in the manual, but I'd skipped over it.

I do miss the pan-tilt features of the Panasonic, more so because it allows for easier installation (you can point and adjust after the fact). Most applications that I have don't require the pan-tilt afterwards during normal operation. The Sharx has a slimmer profile, although I wish the included mounting bracket was smaller. It's a sturdy bracket, but just relatively large. Panasonic cameras also have an IR sensor in addition to motion detection, which proves more flexibility for triggering.

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Sony DCRVX2000 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, Memory Stick & BuiltIn Digital Still Mode

Before buying this camera, think carefully about what you'll be using it for, and when. I also recommend playing with one at a store, to feel its size and weight. (Even if, like me, you'll ultimately buy it at Amazon.)

I've owned the VX-2000 for over a year now, and I'm very happy with the results. Arguably, the picture quality is better than the Canon XL-1 (and the vx2000 is significantly -thankfully -smaller), it's rugged and reliable, and it's somewhat portable. I carry mine in a backpack that has a padded pocket designed for laptop computers. It was the best solution as most smaller camera bags don't fit this beast. Those that do aren't useful for toting other things as well.

Anyway, I know a handful of other people with this camera. Some of them are *filmmakers* and these people use their VX-2000's to document events that they'd later like to make movies of. The filmmakers, as a whole, LOVE this camera. I also have a friend who does casting for television ads. Often, for his boss, he walks around with a VX2000 and shoots people on the street, later bringing the tape to the boss for evaluation.

The other people I know own the VX-2000 because they *like electronics*. They *Like To Own The Best* and they like to play with gadgets. I advise, if you're one of these people, and really, I KNOW YOU ARE, get a different camera. Something smaller... granted the quality will be slightly less, but you're more likely to have it when you witness your kid's first words (or your best friend's wife in a rendevouz with a neighbor. you get the point) Furthermore, this camera is somewhat lacking in toy features. No night vision, no silly effects (save for a few wipes, swipes, fades, and sepia, etc.), no bluetooth transmitter, etc. It's just good, strong, somewhat rugged, and takes a great shot.

I give this camera a 5 for quality (sharp, beautiful, accuracte colors, good in medium/low light, backlight compensation remarkable, optical steadyshot rad). Just keep in mind what you want... this camera is neither professional nor amateur, and therefore I believe it serves best a select, picky subset of the population.

Last, if you do buy it, go for (1) a bigger battery, well worth the cost, and (2) a wide angle lens. Both are cool.

You can take one of two attitudes about the VX2000. Many folks (including Sony) prefer to believe this is the ultimate consumer camera, with professional features finally offered at a consumer price. Sure, it's the extreme high-end of consumer pricing, but rich technophiles ought to be able to afford it. In this view, this camcorder combines the best of both worlds... high quality video in an easy to use regular-joe/jane product. Truly a renaissance cam, if there ever was such a thing.

The other attitude is this camera is an awkward fit into either environment. Pros (i.e. people who get paid to deliver quality video) will probably object to the noisy audio. There's lots of discussion on other webpages, so I won't delve into it here. Yes, the noise is present. No, it probably won't bother consumers shooting their vacation in Hawaii. Yes, it stands a reasonable chance of annoying a client who paid for a corporate training video. No, it probably won't annoy a client who paid for a wedding or funeral video. So take either view, depending how much you enjoy living on the high-end.

If you want to make commercials or big dramatic productions, just pay the extra cash for truly professional gear that won't leave you shopping for a better camera after a few projects. Yes, there's a special case for documentary work. Don't take $5000 cameras into volcanoes, jungles, or skydiving. Use cheaper gear that'll still do the job, like this cam. Also, there's a reasonable case to be made for interviewing people with smaller, less intimidating, consumer cameras. So those particular applications might prefer the 'best darn consumer camera around'.

My best advice is to decide what you really want to do with a camcorder. If you want to take home vids of your kids AND brag to your neighbor (who last year outdid your VHS-C camera by getting a Digital 8), this is probably right up your alley. Get it and bask in the pure pleasure of it.

If you want to simply capture your personal world on tape, get something (much) cheaper and smaller. Cheaper and smaller means you're more likely to take it along. Remember, there are good shots and ok shots, but the only bad shots are the ones you missed cuz you left the camera at home. Don't let price and bulk mess with your creativity. That'd be a crying shame.

UPDATE: After receiving some email from readers, I thought I'd clarify my opinion. Yes, the VX2000 is a good camera. But does the average non-professional need one? I'm skeptical.

A home video enthusiast can do just as well with an $800 model, perhaps even better, since it's easier to carry a smaller consumer camera around. Web-movies to be shrunk by 75% and then MPEG compressed don't need a 3-CCD camera. And an independant filmmaker will probably find it cheaper to rent better gear on the shooting days.

Buy this camera if you are highly confident that you can get massive enjoyment or a monetary return on your investment. Don't get it if it's just going to sit inside its case.

Buy Sony DCRVX2000 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, Memory Stick & BuiltIn Digital Still Mode Now

The VX 2000 is a good all round camera, it is easy to use and has many features which would encourage someone to use it. From the outside we see that the camera has a focusing ring and a zoom ring, both accesible at the same time unlike with other camera models. The focus ring is fairly easy to use although it takes a little bit of time to become fully proficient. The zoom can be controled by servo or manually at different speeds, when the zoom is controlled manually though the motor is taking feedback from your fingers for speed rather than being applied directly to the lens.

With the lens we find incorporated two neutral density filters giving us a choice between three options, first one is without filter letting all light fo through the lens to the three chips, second setting is a neutral density filter to take away some contrast. We then arrive at ND2 which is a stronger neutral density filter which is normaly used during full daylight. In order to control exposure there is a button on the left which needs to be pressed in order to go into manual iris, there is a wheel below where the aperture can be controlled.

There are three chips to capture the light information rather than a single chip thus improving the look of the image. If we find that we are in a dark room then we can boost the gain if we want but if someone does not want to use the gain then it is possible to take the shutter from 1/10 000 of a second to 1/3rd of a second . The shutter speed is controled from the back of the camera via pressing the shutter speed button on the back and turning the wheel below for the correct speed. This greatly increases the light coming into the lens. As an illustration I have shot scenes with light far too low for cameras such as the Canon XL-1 to cope with and the most spectacular part is how little noise shows up on screen afterwards.

For sound we have an onboard mic which is good for ambiance sound and it is possible to plug in a mic with a 3.5mm plug. We have two settings for the microphone, either as microphone (plug in power) or as line in. Once the microphone is selected we can check the sound levels through preswsing the audio level at the back which will display the sound. Through the menu it is possible to choose between automatic or manual. By selecting manual the level may be adjusted with the db meter in camera showing -30 -20 -12 -8 -4 0 etc. so that the sound engineer may get the correct level for recording.

Additional comments

The centre of gravity is well placed on the tripod so that it lies at the same place as the mounting plate making it easier to use on a tripod. The tape compartment is accesible at all times closing in two stages, firstly getting the mechanical part in place, tape winded and ready to shoot followed by shutting the door to avoid dust coming in. With there being two record buttons, one close tothe front right of the camera and the other in the normal position there is a greater variety of shots possible.

An interesting feature with this camera is the possibility of creating an edit decision list within the camera so that it can behave as an edit controler to dub scenes onto a second device. It is dv enabled thereby allowing to copy material from one dv tape to an other. Included with this is the possibility to play from any device directly into the camera for copying tapes etc. onto a dv tape.

Read Best Reviews of Sony DCRVX2000 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, Memory Stick & BuiltIn Digital Still Mode Here

Another reviewer here with his facts mixed up about this cam's preformance , said the Blair Witch was shot with the VX1000(almost same ability as vx2000)and that it has edge bleeding problems. Blair Witch was shot with a Hi-8 camcorder (with some 16mm shots). Not with the Sony vx1000 or with any DV camera.

Some claim the VX2000 is dated (like sales people and others inexperienced types). While that may be partially true

for videographers, this is far from the truth for filmmakers. I own the newer Sony PDX10, the best widescreen resolution than any other cam under 10 grand. But the VX2000 is Fantastic for low-light shooting(2lux!)

while the new trv950 and pdx10 have over 1 megapixel per chip (3 times more than the VX), VX2000's color performandce is virtually the same.

The PDX10 and TRV950 are great for outdoor and well-lit shots. But neither come even close to the VX2000 for "low-light performance", which is the most important feature for moody, cinematography-style lighting. It get's down to VX's larger 1/3 chips.

For serious indoor filmmaking and if you're set on using a 3ccd cam, then only consider a Canon XL1 or a VX2000 and nothing else. And forget the dvx100 in my opinion. It doesnt shoot widescreen at all. The DVX shoots in 24p for going out to film but with 25% less resolution than xl1 or vx2k because it does not pick up any extra pixels in widescreen mode.

If you need an interchangeable lens unit, go with the XL1. But if not, you'll save $$$ with the vx2000. The VX2000 is still the best DV filmmaking prosumer machine out of the box.

Want Sony DCRVX2000 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, Memory Stick & BuiltIn Digital Still Mode Discount?

I have had the VX2000 for a couple of months now and I've shot countless hours of footage for a couple of low-to-no budget independent movies (and more in the making) and this camera is fantastic! It can be incredibly easy to use yet quite flexible if you need it to be. No, it's not a palm-sized recorder that you'll be toting casually to family get-togethers and if that's really your only need for a camcorder, go with something smaller, lighter, and less expensive. However, for those who want to play on the edge of prosumer recorders, this camera is a joy to have. Beyond picture quality there's also sound quality. The VX2000 records STEREO sound unlike most lower end camcorders and I can't imagine using anything else now. For the down-side of things, yes, it is rather hefty though I find the extra weight actually helps with smoother motion and the battery that comes with it is completely inadequate for any lengthy shooting "in the field". The optionally purchased bigger batteries do add to the weight but you won't run out of power in the middle of that important shot if you get the largest one. (I can shoot all weekend and never drain a single one of those big babies and I have two in my kit.) It doesn't come with a camera bag or case and you really need something to protect the investment. (I purchased the hard body aluminum case made for the VX2000 and though it's big and bulky, my camera can breeze through on-location shots without fear of injury. Another investment that you will want to consider with this camera is a tripod but when selecting a tripod make sure you take the camera's weight in consideration. And if you want to play further, check out the Sony gun/zoom mike that works great with this camera, the optional hotshoe light for casual shooting, the lens filters, the.... Well, you get the idea. Personally, I've played with one of the smaller, lighter consumer Sony camcorders and absolutely loved it but I wanted more beef, better quality recordings, and greater flexibility because of my involvement in independent movies. Is this camera overkill for the average consumer? Certainly! Is it great? You betcha'! Do I regret investing serious bucks in the VX2000? Heck no! I would gladly recommend this camera TO everyone but not FOR everyone. Judge what you really need and really want before purchasing a VX2000 because, for most people, it IS overkill and the purchase of the camera itself is just the first investment. You can easily double the price of the camera by the time you get done with a case, batteries, charger, filters, special mics, windscreen, camera cover, light, etc., etc. Obviously many of the optional accessories you can do without but once you have the camera it will be that much harder to resist getting that really neat camera stabilizer or that LANC zoom/focus controller or....

Wansview NCH-536MW Wireless/Wired Pan & Tilt H.264 Megapixel IP/Network Camera with Night Vision, I

I was attracted to this camera since it's one of the very few IP cams with greater than VGA resolution.

Setup was straightforward, typical of this sort of product. Understanding networking basics helps a lot. Couldn't get video using Firefox, it tried to use a Quicktime plugin, and couldn't handle the stream. Works OK with IE though. Web server is an enhanced version of what is supplied in the Smarteye H-series camera, very straight-forward to use.

The main problem is just a profound lack of sensitivity. It is far less sensitive than a cheap Foscam I use. In dim room lighting, I get nothing in daylight mode. Totally black. Turning on IR mode, I get enough light for maybe 3-4 feet of range, with brightness cranked full up. I do have the camera mounted upside down, it's possible the IR cut filter is always active, which would explain the lack of IR performance. I'll experiment next time I have the chance.

Performance with daytime lighting is adequate, noticeably better than VGA quality. Motion detect seems inconsistent, but that seems to be common in cheap IP cameras from what I've seen.

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Update after a couple more weeks of use. I was afraid I might have been a bit harsh. Not so. Motion detection is terrible, I'm using a sensitivity of 40 which gives some false alarms due to cloud movement. Camera is pointed down towards the ground from the second story, but shadows still trigger. Unfortunately, sometimes a truck can drive right through the middle of the scene, and the camera won't trigger, or won't trigger until it's already through. Also, the thing can crash when you're administering it, requiring a power cycle to recover it. Real inconvenient when it's 40 miles away.

This was originally a one-star review (see below I left the original review below this update), but in the meanwhile this camera grew on me. Finally, after a few days of begging, Service has actually replied, and sent me a firmware update (without which the camera was essentially useless). I installed the new firmware V1.4.0.1.5 and this update solved all problems I had with the camera. It works great with iSpy, and the video quality is sufficient for my purposes. It is just a pity, that the company refused to realize (despite complaints all over the web not only here on Amazon) that their camera is essentially useless with the original firmware or maybe there are other reasons why it is such a struggle for wansview to give out new firmware...?

Anyway, for me, this camera finally was a good deal, and I already bought two more to set up my home surveillance system.

I still dont want to give it more than 3 stars, because it shouldnt be necessary to go through such a struggle in order to obtain a decently working product.

ORIGINAL REVIEW

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

The camera hardware itself is probably ok, but there are too absolute dealbreakers:

1. The camera seems to be shipped with an outdated firmware (V1.4.0.1.3), full of bugs (brightness bug as mentioned in the above review, cannot set rtps streaming port, cannot access h.264 stream via lan, etc). I looked at the Demo NCH-536MW that the company put up on their website, and the firmware version is V1.4.0.1.4. Here, brightness bug is resolved, I dont know if the stream bugs are also resolved. Furthermore, I stumbled across their downloadable user manual, showing a firmware version V2...

2. Now the crazy thing: I understand, that sometimes products are shipped out prematurely, often with (hopefully) minor bugs still lurking to be discovered. And I am also fine with doing the one or other firmware update on these products myself. But after discovering that firmware updates for this camera can not be found anywhere on the web for download, I sent a friendly request to Wansview for a firmware update. Here is the entire conversation:

Hello, I am desperately looking for a new firmware for my NCH-536MW (purchased via Amazon, but problems with brightness adjustment).

Can you email it to me?

Thank you so much!

J.B.

Dear J.,

I am glad to help you.

But the firmware for NCH536MW is not allowed to be sent.

Dear Wansview Team

The software on my camera is buggy (similar to other users that bought this camera on Amazon just have a look on Amazon!).

The software on my camera is an older version than the software on the Demo camera on your website (my camera has software V1.4.0.1.3, the camera on your Demo site has V1.4.0.1.4 and does not have the brightness bug any more).

The software on my camera is an older version than the software shown on the user manual (user manual shows a software version of V2...).

And you cannot give me the newer version??? Are you serious???

No Answer

Buy Wansview NCH-536MW Wireless/Wired Pan & Tilt H.264 Megapixel IP/Network Camera with Night Vision, I Now

The main attraction of this camera is the tradeoff between the cost and the full list of features it possesses. Comparing it to other brands it is unbeatable: for the cost you get the full featured camera: IP, Pan & tilt, WiFi, SD card, Motion detection, 2 way audio, Infrared, etc. Similar brands with the same list will cost 2X and more.

On top it has higher resolution than many other security cameras, namely HD.

It took me a while to activate it, since I am not a PC wizard, but all features of the camera worked just fine. I tried to activate them all: IR, motion detection, save into the SD card, etc.. no malfunctions. Infrared view at night was great up to about 5 meters, sound quality is reasonable. Pan and tilt are great, huge range, quiet operation.

Picture quality is not perfect, I expected somewhat better from HD, but for a security camera it is OK.

2 minor issues:

1) Infrared was turned ON all night, although I set it to AUTO. I was expecting it to be turned ON only when you access the camera or during a motion detection event.

2) When I tried to access the camera from a notebook with Windows 7 Starter operating system I could not obtain the video, although I could access the camera settings and audio. Not sure what the problem was. I guess it has to do with the ActiveX stuff (whatever that is...). Anyways: with Windows XP is works great.I did not bother to investigate it further since XP is my operating system of all my PCs.

Summary: great value for the money. I consider buy few more for my business security.

Read Best Reviews of Wansview NCH-536MW Wireless/Wired Pan & Tilt H.264 Megapixel IP/Network Camera with Night Vision, I Here

I am amazed by its clarity of video. It takes some time to set it up and get it running and I hope later on this product will be easier to configure.

But so far, this a great video monitoring product especially for the price. I highly recommend it.

Want Wansview NCH-536MW Wireless/Wired Pan & Tilt H.264 Megapixel IP/Network Camera with Night Vision, I Discount?

The cam is attractive, produces exclusive output. The cam provides bright videos, I gate much clear video at dim light. Total configuration of this cam is sufficient, very easy to configure. Sound quality is very much clear. Infrared at night is really great.

Nikon D5200 Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens (Red) with 55-300mm VR Lens + 6

I purchased this camera for my husband and he loves it. The color of the pictures are crisp and bright, the camera is much lighter than his older Canon, and it is very easy to use. I would recommend this camera to anyone. I have purchased 4 cameras through Cameta and my family has enjoyed them all. We get a great camera, with accessories for a very reasonable price. I have not had any problems with the cameras or Cameta.

Love the camera and takes wonderful pictures. Also the 55-300 lens is so incredible. You wouldnt believe the closeness of the zoom.

Buy Nikon D5200 Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens (Red) with 55-300mm VR Lens + 6 Now

My wife and I were really into 35mm cameras about 13 years ago, but it got expensive and was a pain to deal with developing and scanning on to a pc. She had her eye on a digital SLR for a long time but the $$ was never there. So we settled on several different digi cams. Finally things were right for us and I decided to surprise her with this camera. I did a lot of research, I compared Nikon against Canon and even Nikon against Nikon. I actually almost bought the lesser D3200 until I read more and more. I compared till I was almost confused again. www.snapsort.com really helped out with my final decision to buy this camera.

The D5200 is soooooo much more than a digi cam. The picture quality is superb, it is fairly easy to use once you spend some time getting to know it. It does some pretty amazing things as well, such as selective color. The viewing screen flips out and rotates so you can hold the camera above your head and still see what your focusing on, that was a key factor for me. And it was a great value when you purchase it in a kit like this. On that note as well, the zoom lens is a Nikon lens where some of the kits offer other name lenses. Not a big deal as the other lenses will work and come from other mfg's that I have heard of and have used back in the day with 35mm, but if I'm getting it all in one package I figured I should go with all Nikon. I have not used the tripod yet, but compared to some I have used, it is a pretty nice one with dual bubble levels built into it and seems to be sturdy. Having two batteries is always nice, the bag is on the small side for all that comes in this kit but it works if your creative. 64 gig of storage should keep you happy for a long time!!

If I had to do it again, I would!

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

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

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

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

There are only 3 weaknesses with the camera:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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