Showing posts with label child video monitor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label child video monitor. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Gold Plated Premium Micro HDMI to VGA Adapter with Audio Support Black

Gold Plated Premium Micro HDMI to VGA Adapter with Audio Support BlackThought I ordered mini, but mistakenly ordered micro, I have not used. Did not discover until I had it for about six weeks when I needed to use it. When I have a moment, I'll try it on my Droid's micro HDMI

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Thursday, February 27, 2014

Canon PowerShot N 12.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 8x Optical Zoom and 28mm Wide-Angle Lens (Black)

Canon PowerShot N 12.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 8x Optical Zoom and 28mm Wide-Angle LensJust received the camera....so far all I can say is that I purchased the white version and it is a gorgeous little camera! BUT please be aware to purchase a microSD card! It doesn't mention this anywhere in the description so I need to get one before I can test out the camera...stay tuned...

Update: May 5, 2013

Camera takes pictures just as good as my Canon S90. Totally different experience though...it is more like my iPhone. Intuitive but requires being open to a camera that handles differently than any before it. The camera is small and subsequently the buttons are small also. Even though the buttons are small they are easy to hit and because of their location, do not get pressed accidentally. The touch screen works very well, only requiring a very light touch. Being able to touch the screen to focus on the area you want to be in focus allows for very quick focus targeting. Also, using the screen to sweep through the pictures is very convenient. The zoom is very quick and the swing out screen is very handy. The creative burst feature has been a favorite of my high school age daughter. She has borrowed the camera quite a few times to take pictures and post them to her social accounts. I found the slow motion video to be a addicting...there are two speeds to choose from...taking slow motion video of my son's golf swing allows us to see everything very clear and in very cool slow motion. I have used it to capture my other children practicing gymnastics, bike riding and trampoline jumping...it gives us all a good laugh. Most importantly, and the reason I bought the camera, is the wireless capability. So far for me it has worked great. If I want to post something or want to send a friend a picture I start up the CameraWindow app on my iPhone and I can view all the pics on the camera. I then select what I want transferred to my iPhone. The transfer has been quick and effortless.

So far I have not explored all the capabilities of the camera but I can say I am very happy with the camera. I have also had positive reaction and have shown the camera to a number of interested people who have seen me while using it public. For the price it has exceeded my expectations.

Update: May 10, 2013

Still enjoying the camera! I want to add some additional thoughts on this camera. I have not altogether replaced my compact point & shoot with this camera. This camera is for someone willing to try something unconventional and is not looking for a replacement for their S95 or G10. It does not have the traditional manual functions of an enthusiasts camera but it has more capabilities than a camera phone (does use a similar sized flash however). The camera is more of a curiosity that lends itself to the fun picture taking. There is a dedicated button that allows you to shoot a quick succession of shots (some randomly of the background and not the subject!) and adds creative filters to them. This is the type of customer that I believe Canon is focused on. My teens love it and get a kick out of it when sometimes a stranger in the background shows up as the main subject of one of the random creative shots. Also, if you do not want to upload your pics via WiFi to your phone then this probably isn't the camera for you. ... Just some thoughts if you are looking for a serious point & shoot camera to replace an old favorite...

So on a lark I bought the Canon Powershot N . It is a nifty piece of technology but a great photographic tool. Its small size and ease of use makes it a perfect pocket camera that you will actually carry in your pocket and take out and use!!. I am a professional photographer in New York and have bought several pocket cameras over the years in the hopes that I will carry and use the thing..Finally I have found that camera. I have not been happier with a pocket camera and use it more often than I thought I would. I have to say the semi articulating screen is a definite plus allowing you to shoot from the hip or even lower. And the any way up allows you to shoot above your head and still view the screen. I would recommend this to any other photographer and even plan to buy a couple more as christmas gifts to family and friends.Canon PowerShot N 12.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 8x Optical Zoom and 28mm Wide-Angle Lens (Black)

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I usually shoot with professional grade equipment but there are always times when you want to carry a very small camera for shooting casual pictures. I have tried several over the years but the results were never satisfactory, or the camera was slow and not responsive enough. The PowerShot N is the perfect machine! Its very fast, images are excellent sharpness across the zoom spectrum and low light or odd light images are very good.

You have to spend a little time getting accustomed to handling the camera as it is quite small and the shutter is on the lens ring. However in a very short time it all makes sense. Overall its very simple and intuitive, and the wifi feature is an extra bonus. You don't have to accept smartphone quality pics if you have this camera (which is smaller than a phone). Its also very well built, quality materials and finish, feels good in your hand. Some will be turned off by the price but if you want a really high quality very small camera that can shoot high quality images, this is it!

Read Best Reviews of Canon PowerShot N 12.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 8x Optical Zoom and 28mm Wide-Angle Lens (Black) Here

Love everything about this camera. Just wish the battery would last longer but other than that im happy with the camera. My third canon camera.

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I purchased this camera with my gift card. So far I love it. I own several compact digital camera's and think this one will probably be my favorite. The size is great. I love the focus lens an touch screen is awesome. The flip screen has so far been great too.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Sony HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector & 96GB HDD

Sony HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector & 96GB HDDI sometimes shoot high-end videos for my company with dSLRs to get beautiful, shallow depth of field, but I bought this mostly for my family. I have 10 grandkids under the age of 7 and you can't follow them around with a dSLR and catch all the action without being out of focus and shaky. To my surprise, the footage looks so good from this camcorder I can use it for certain commercial footage too.

Its #1 feature is the floating lens. It's so freaky to look at the lens while moving the camera back and forth and see how it absorbs the shake more than any camcorder ever has that I know of, by far. Where the floating lens is most amazing is when you zoom long and you're trying to hold steady but your shaky hands can't quite get it still enough. They can now. It has a 17x zoom, so long is really long.

What I expected is it would provide a look like a Steadicam does. Unfortunately, it's not really that and it took me awhile to understand why. For one thing, it's so light that it's easy to rotate it right or left as you're walking or running with it and it's hanging down by the handle. A steadicam doesn't roll right or left easily because it has a long vertical axis. The floating lens doesn't prevent that. Also, since it's so light, it's easy to move it up and down, side to side, and the floating lens only partially helps that. It's the shake when zoomed in and you're holding it fairly still but the lens is so long that it normally would make it all shaky where it seriously smooths out the shake. In other words, actually moving it sideways is not where the floating lens helps so much; it's when you rotate it left and right quickly that it does.

Since the sensor is small, you don't get shallow depth of field like you do in a dSLR, but for run 'n gun chasing children, doing documentaries, shooting action, etc., when you want things in focus and sharp, it's seriously good at that. It's surprisingly good at low light but not like a Canon 5d MKII or MKIII. The sound is awesome. It's really simple to use and the white balance, auto exposure and auto focus are amazing. I can't understand how they made it so great with so small a unit.

The only annoyance for me is getting the video off the internal memory is a pain. I had to use that funky Sony cable that it comes with that I lost, and hook it to an external drive formated with a FAT file system. I finally figured it out, but I use a Mac and it was such a pain I ended up just using memory cards. I'm told you can import into Final Cut X, but I couldn't even get it to recognize my MacBook Pro Retina.

A feature that seemed like pure gimmick to me is the projector. You can project onto a wall or car or something what you just shot. Oh my gosh. My kids and friends are addicted to that. I would sometimes shoot amazing footage on a Disneyland ride because it smooths out the shakes so well, then entertain everyone in the line by projecting the footage.

A month after buying it and shooting nonstop for two straight weeks with it, I'm still in awe of how good it is. I'm usually a very tough critic of camcorders because this is the first one I've really loved after having owned and sold 8 of them.

I bought this camera for my business and with new technology very skeptical when cameras go compact. I took a chance and bought it with very few reviews. Using 3-CCD cameras this little had many of my peers had doubts this would do anything but professional filming. When it finally arrived, I had them look over the controls, the touch screen, the options, settings. They were all impressed with this little package from a cosmetic view and economically felt really nice to handle. On my first shoot, I had to get used to the different locations of the buttons and focus knob. I found focusing very easy and used a HDMI external monitor. I also used a couple wired Lav's for my piece and found all the controls as easy to use as the bigger models. The biggest surprise was the low light quality and setting the camera to low lux on, it picked up colors that my other cameras would not. In a small room with a 80watt bulb, it did a terrific job. The floating lens is also a fantastic feature of this camera and the light weight meant I could maneuver it much easier in tight areas.

After the shoot, it was fun to project the video to my client. They were surprised as I was to have this feature and the quality of the built in 24mp camera pics really made a big impression. I found this camera identical to its Sony HDR-XR520V with a smaller internal memory (compared to 240gb), has the same internal GPS but without maps, has a mechanical floating lens, bigger capacity battery and added the dual XLR handle. The better processor with a 24mp camera is amazing. The pictures are crisp and saturated very nice. The extra L.E.D fill light/flash is also a bonus. Overall, this is a great camera and 1/2 the cost of 3-CCD that beats our current camera in capturing low light situations and the useable bells and whistles make it a perfect small business pro equipment must have.

Cons: Using the eye piece that small is unrealistically unusable. They could of knocked off another $25 to keep that off the camera and leave the LCD. The touch screen feels old and outdated compared to my smart phone. The lens hood lock and release is a joke. Otherwise, the external mic and built-in mics are very good. Because I have large hands, I found slipping it into the handle sleeve a bit cumbersome so I bought a threaded pistol grip that worked quite well. I will be buying a couple more.

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This is a really great camcorder. It is the camcorder with the built in steady cam. I've noticed this: you can film under fluorescent lights with camera set in auto white balance, and the colors will turn out PERFECTLY. Never seen anything like this before. This is really a camera with a built in steadycam. If you've ever tried to use a steadycam, you'll know how difficult they are to balance and operate. Not with this camera. Very difficult not to get a steady shot every time. Steady walking, steady everything.

Read Best Reviews of Sony HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector & 96GB HDD Here

I am a motion graphics designer and bought this camera for graphic uses. It's small, has great features, and is easy enough to use by a non-professional videographer. Works great with my Mac, the camera is recognized and I can just drag the files to my computer. The files import easily into After Effects which is my app of choice.

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Defender SN301-8CH-008 8 Channel H.264 Smart DVR Security System with Coaching iMenu and 8 Hi-Res C

Defender SN301-8CH-008 8 Channel H.264 Smart DVR Security System with Coaching iMenu and 8 Hi-Res CCD Night Vision Surveillance CamerasThe Defender SN301-8CH like the average security camera system that sells to the general public averages in resolution around 420 TV lines which is barely enough to clearly identify anybody over 10 ft. Therefore if you ever catch a criminal on camera beyond that range and you want to press charges, I found it useless to use that in court. If you are looking for good image with longer range you have to start at least with a resolution of 550 TV lines per camera which could bring the price for a 8 channel system to over $1200. Other than that system serves the purpose of monitoring your property and the software is very user friendly.

I waited about 2 months to write this review so I can give a bit more thought to it. No worries it will not be lengthy, but rather to the point.

Purchased this for a mobile audio business to watch over the shop and surrounding area, but with the cost in mind. The Defender SN301 fit the bill perfectly !

After literally weeks of searching for the 'right' one to get, browsing many stores as well as Amazon I came to this one. Granted though, I still tried to find

more for my money, simply put, there was nothing. Comparable ? Perhaps, but nothing else stood out to be a better purchase. Combined with Amazons price and quick shipping (Prime member)

it was a no brainer.

Pros:

8 Channels

Large DVR

Very easy to use web interface

Clear viewing in low light.

Cons:

None really of significance, but figured I would still mention for those wondering.

No 'real' zoom. However for the price it should not be expected, really, it shouldn't.

The zoom that it does have is digital and just single zoom or not. When zoomed

the image appears pixelated and difficult to view. Otherwise quite clear when not using zoom.

Again, must mention this was not an expectation I had, but wanted to mention for anyone wondering.

The Blackberry access .. it is simply that access via your browser. Not an 'app', but just logging onto

the site to browse your cameras. Not a big deal at all !

So in summary, would I recommend ? Absolutely.

I did have one problem when installing. The cameras use two power cables at the DVR that are pigtailed into

four 'outlets' if you will. In other words two sockets on the back of the DVR power 8 cameras, 4 per socket.

One of the pigtail harnesses was bad out the box. Odd, but true ! All cameras worked flawlessly, but without that

second pigtail you can only connect a maximum of 5 cameras 4 on the pigtail and one direct. I contacted Defender ..

Minimal hold time ( a couple minutes maybe) and I was told they would send a new one out right away. All that was required was a proof

of purchase ( from Amazon is fine). Unfortunately I never got around to this yet, but so far I will give their customer service

a huge thumbs up !

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I specifically purchased this unit because of the e-mail alert feature, and was very disappointed to find out it wasn't true. The product is advertised to generate e-mail alerts to up to 7 e-mail addresses. I have yet to get it to work with one address, and more than one is impossible. This is a quote from the Defender support center; "Unfortunately there is no resolution to the issue, it appears there was a typo in the manual and on the website. We are looking into resolving this discrepancy right now but unfortunately, I cannot see a resolution to this issue in the near future, if at all, so if this will not meet your needs you may want to look into returning for a refund."

If you don't require this feature the unit appears to operate normally. It could not have been a "typo", it was obviously false advertising.

Read Best Reviews of Defender SN301-8CH-008 8 Channel H.264 Smart DVR Security System with Coaching iMenu and 8 Hi-Res C Here

I purchased the Defender SN301-8CH system six months ago from Amazon. I will give the good/bad about this system.

I purchased this system because my vehicle was broken into while parked in my driveway. I paid to have system installed even though I could have done it myself.

My wife did not want me on the ladder. I told her she would still get paid by the insurance company if I died from a ladder fall :)

The Defender system works well under both day and night conditions. The problem is with the quality of the cameras (cheap). My system came with four Defender cameras with my 8 channel system. I purchased an additional four cameras from another manufacturer, (VideoSecu). The quality of the Videosec is much superior to the Defender cameras. (this must be a case of you get what you pay for). Not only are the Videosecu cameras visual better but the mounts and the thick quality of the BNC cables are superior.(better connection than the Defender RCA/adapter type cables).

The VideoSecu and other camera manufacturer makes several different types of cameras. I purchased small domed under eves mount cameras for the front of my home (hardly noticeable by people and don't detract from the looks of the home.) However, criminals know that they are there.

On the side and rear of the house, A good adjustable (bullet type)Camera with range and clarity are best. The bottom line, Defender makes a good control unit but they cut corners on the cameras. Buy the control unit without the cameras. I hope this has helped someone with their purchase.

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Do not waste your money on this product! Clarity of camera is horrible. I purchased this product to monitor a retail store I own. I wasn't expecting HD but I was expecting a clear picture! I purchased a Samsung 4ch unit from Sam's last week for a smaller store that was tens times better than this unit from Defender. I decided to try this brand after checking the company's website and viewing the sample footage from the system. There is no way they used the same camera to take that footage. I would not recommend buying this system for any reason.

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Friday, February 14, 2014

Minox DCC 5.1 Classic Digital Camera

Minox DCC 5.1 Classic Digital CameraMade in Germany with a Leica lens and classic styling, the camera is a bargain with limitations:

+ controls are easy to reach and use (mode/up/down/shutter release)

+ 6 degrees of zoom (controlled by up/down buttons)

+ 3 quality settings (low, normal, high)

+ adjustable focal length (using a functioning ring around the lens)

+ adjustable white balance (daylight or cloudy, lamp or tungsten) and exposure value (+ or 0.3)

+ detachable view finder

+ video

+ 128 MB built in storage (accepts HD storage cards up to 16 MB, sold separately)

+ self-timer

+ wooden presentation box

no image-stabilizationn (accepts a mini tripod, but that defeats the "spy camera" function)

no built-in flash (external unit available, again defeating the "spy camera" function)

apparently does not support Mac OS 10.7 (claims to support OS 9 and 10, but has no drivers for download; prepare to use a card reader)

apparently no manuals for download from the Minox.com site (despite printed claims packaged with the camera)

pricey though non-essential add-ons (if you want them, check Amazon for sellers packaging the camera with flash and accessories)

Overall a fun camera if it isn't your only one. Five stars for looks, two stars for functionality.

I purchased this camera to keep on me at all times when I'm out and about as my pro camera is too heavy and too pricey (if lost, damaged, or stolen). I've had this camera for about a month. The look and size make it a fun little gadget. Works like a camera phone. You must have a steady hand for sharp images. I think for the price it should offer a bit more function and quality, but I knew what I was getting when I bought it. Overall, I'm happy with it.

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The question arises as to whether this adorably cute mini replica of the classic Leica film camera is a sophisticated toy or a real camera with practical uses. As a long-time aficionado of the Leica M3, which I used for 20 years from 1960 until I finally retired it with the advent of SLR cameras with zoom lenses, I find this miniature a nostalgic reminder of a bygone era, but surprisingly, with a bit of care it is capable of taking quite decent pictures.

This lifts it well above the toy category, but not without serious limitations. The accompanying "mini" manual is silent regarding some major technical details like aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc. It is essentially fixed focus from infinity down to two meters, with manual adjustments for 1 meter and 0.5 meters (19"). It is aperture priority, with variable shutter speeds depending on lighting conditions. Based on a check of "Properties" after downloading, all my photos so far are at an ISO of 100, so that interior shots require a steady hand with a slow shutter speed, as the maximum aperture appears to be f3.7. A rather cumbersome flash attachment is available as an expensive accessory, and so it's best to avoid low-light photography with this camera. There is a very limited movie option, which I will most likely never use.

The lens is 9mm, or 42mm in 35mm format, which users of typical point-and-shoot digitals accustomed to a 28mm wide angle zoom lens will find seriously limiting. A wide angle attachment is available as an accessory for $80, which I do not have, and which would detract from the camera's small-size advantage. Also the very helpful but non-adjustable optical viewfinder atop the camera is not usable either with the wide angle attachment or the 4X digital zoom option, but in that case the 2" LCD viewing screen offers an acceptably bright and clear image in all but the brightest sunlight conditions. Internal adjustments can be made to White Balance and Exposure Value to compensate for overor under-exposed images. The Leica-like film advance lever and rewind knob atop the camera are non-functional props only, which is a pity, as it would have been more impressive if they could have been integrated into operational features of the camera.

Downloading photos to a computer and to an editing program such as Picasa is easy and permits corrections and enhancements. With 5.1 MP and a CMOS sensor, the resolution, color and contrast of most images are quite good. This is undeniably a fun camera to use casually and is certainly a conversation piece with other photographers familiar with the old Leicas, but in terms of performance it cannot compete with modern point-and-shoot minis that are equally small and similarly priced, but far more versatile.

Bottom line: I fully agree with the reviewer who observed that the Minox Digital Classic Camera (DCC) rates a `5' for design and a `2' for function.

Read Best Reviews of Minox DCC 5.1 Classic Digital Camera Here

This digital camera is cute and great conversation in a bar but it takes lousy pics. Although it's a 5.1 MP digital camera, the pictures are blurry. It is nearly impossible to take a clear pic, steady hand or not. So for the price it is NOT worth it. If it cost $20 or $30 like a toy camera, then it would be worth buying if for nothing else than the fun and conversations of it in a bar. But then again, why waste those good photo opportunities with blurry result from a cheap digital camera? Save your money and invest in a better camera!

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Camera was delivered promptly and appeared to be as represented; however, it would not take a charge. Contacted the Minox Corporate offices directly and they forwarded a ship label and sent the camera to them. New camera came in and took a charge, and now we begin to play and see how it works. So far, so good and expect that it will work and play as advertised, otherwise I would have given it 5 stars.

Bafo 2-Meter HDMI To HDMI M/M Cable

Bafo 2-Meter HDMI To HDMI M/M CableThis was exactly what we needed for our new HD-TV, at a much better cost!!!

It came in just a few days, and when installed---our picture came in Spectacularly!!!

Thanks!!

The HDMI cables arrived before I thought they would. They seemed durable and well made. The cables fit correctly and worked flawlessly. I recommend these cables to any new owner of a flat screen.

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Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Canon EOS Rebel T3i 3 Lens Pro Kit Featuring Canon 18-55mm IS Lens + Canon EF 75-300mm III Lens + C

Canon EOS Rebel T3i 3 Lens Pro Kit Featuring Canon 18-55mm IS Lens + Canon EF 75-300mm III Lens + Canon Normal EF 50mm f/1.8 II Autofocus Lens, Also Includes: 0.45x High Definition Wide Angle Lens & 2x Telephoto HD Lens, 16GB SDHC Memory Card & Reader, Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash, Replacement LP-E8 Battery, Deluxe Backpack and Much More...The camera and canon lenses are great! However, I wish the other items were better quality and not so generic. Also, the ad listed a deluxe backpack, but came with a slim sling bag( one shoulder).

But, I do need to say seller I purchased from has excellent customer service!

At first glances, this was a phenomenal bundle with so many great accessories. Indeed when my package arrived, i had everything that I thought I wanted. After using these products for a month, one lense fell completely apart, my camera's calibration is tilted, and the backpack has ripped in so many places. The memory card only holds a 12mp on each picture when the camera takes a 21.1mp. One battery is the actual canon battery while the other is a unmarked generic battery that has little life to it. Everything is so generic in this package, nothing is extra special nor a must buy. I could buy this low quality tools on my own for less than this marking price. I am not pleased with with this bundle at all.

Buy Canon EOS Rebel T3i 3 Lens Pro Kit Featuring Canon 18-55mm IS Lens + Canon EF 75-300mm III Lens + C Now

I recently got this camera after wanting it for quite some time. It's a fantastic camera. It's great how you can use the auto settings for quick shooting and beginners, and also that you can use advanced settings and modes to do manual shooting and improve on your skill as a photographer. It's definitely worth the money. :)

Read Best Reviews of Canon EOS Rebel T3i 3 Lens Pro Kit Featuring Canon 18-55mm IS Lens + Canon EF 75-300mm III Lens + C Here

It's very complete, a good camera, 3 good lenses and some toys to play! Buy and enjoy it, I'll do it!

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This is an amazing starter kit. I have had it for 8 months now, got use to it (still learning) and now have my own business getting going. Thanks for a great product! I will look this company up when it is time to upgrade.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Remanufactured Minolta Dimage Xt 3.2 MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

Remanufactured Minolta Dimage Xt 3.2 MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical ZoomI've been looking for something to replace/augment my giant three-year-old Sony, which I love but is just too big and heavy to cart all over Europe and around town. Plus the shutter lag drives me nuts. I needed something that was shirt-pocket small, fast, but with enough features to be useful for more than the most basic snapshots.

Specifically, I wanted a bit of optical zoom. When I travel, I find I'm using the zoom constantly to frame up the shots a little better. Frankly, I don't care about resolution; 2 megapixels is plenty for me, and that's what I'll use my Xt for most of the time.

I compared all of the leading contenders (as of July 2003) -various Canon ELPHs, Casio Exilim, Pentax Optio S, and even the new "lipstick" Sony DSC-U30. Everybody loves to rag on Memory Sticks, but if you already have a Sony camera and a Sony laptop and a good supply of big Sticks, they're a plus, not a minus; going with SD or CF was going to cost me a lot extra. But the Sony dropped out early because of the lack of zoom. The others, well, people like to pretend that making a decision like this is science, but it's not. I read everything I could and took a stab at it. Frankly, from what I've seen I would have rated the others just as high because they are all AMAZING. But I chose the Minolta. And I love it.

In short: Optio too slow, ELPH too heavy, Casio has no TV-out (and was out of stock in my local shop, or I might very well have bought it instead).

One thing I noted to my great relief with all of these, and which is usually stated nowhere on any of the manufacturer's pages even, is that they all have battery chargers that are small and 110-240 volt, which means you can charge batteries in Europe without a bulky converter -just the right-size plug adapter, which you can get anywhere for almost nothing. So the problem with the battery isn't a problem at all -buy a second battery and keep them both charged up overnight and you can snap all day with any of these cameras in any country in the world (unless you're camping or something).

What sold me on the Xt was the folded prism lens. Less mechanicals is always good with miniature things, and less fragile things poking out of the front is good too. The Minolta's not as small as the Optio (which is the clear frontrunner in the micro-coolness stakes -that phrase "fits in an Altoids tin" is very tempting. But the Minolta STAYS small even when you're shooting, and because it doesn't have to run a motor so much, it takes faster pictures. Which was probably my #2 criteria after size.

I haven't had any trouble at all with the small controls; they're extremely well-designed and you can figure out 90% of what it does just by fiddling with it -I read the manual but I don't have to carry it with me! If anything, and this is a general complaint with all cameras in this range (and others), there's TOO MANY features, most of which can be found in PhotoShop later. "Digital zoom" is a con and could be left out, and who really uses the "sepia" setting? But the stuff I DO want is all there, within reason (no f stops, but ISO and Exposure Level controls). I do like the many presets in the Casio, but realistically I know I'll never use them. I'm pretty adept in PhotoShop/PaintShopPro. Note that I have horrible eyesight, thick specs, and big stubby fingers and have no trouble. You might want to trim those nails, though; fortunately I don't have any.

Picture quality is excellent. I believe it's a little better than the contenders. The flash is very good, better than I expected; in fact it's a little TOO good if you're at the close end of the scale; I'm going to try the "square of white paper" trick on it. Is it the best camera on earth? No. But it's better than the other sub-micros.

The coolness factor isn't as high as the Pentax, but then how could it be? But it's faster-shooting. And, really, if the Pentax is a "10" for coolness, the Minolta is a 9.6. It doesn't fit in a tin, but it's smaller than you can believe, and the engineering is just as amazing (just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not amazing -quite the opposite, I'd say). And, of course, I have a friend with an Optio (and another with an ELPH), so you'll understand I had to have a different one!

One unanswered question: is it "DIMM udjge" (like "image") or "dim AJZH" (like "DiMaggio")? Another one: why does Amazon "recommend" batteries that don't work in this camera?

Bottom line: it does everything my big camera does and more, and when I put it in my shirt pocket it doesn't even sag. Comes on fast, shoots fast, enough for no-look street candids. Easy to use. Flat-out amazing. What else are you looking for?

the Dimage Xt is the third generation of minolta's X-series ultracompact cameras. the first X was a hit because it was ahead of its competition. but that competition has not stood still and today, there are other (better) cameras at the same price point with the same capabilities.

pros:

3MP resolution, 3x optical zoom.

smaller size than the Xi (this camera's predecessor) with dimensions of 3.4 x 2.6 x 0.8 in, weighing in at 4.2oz.

colors are vivid and natural-looking.

automatic white balance performs well.

has spot metering.

AF locks rapidly and decisively in good light.

short shutter lag in good light.

fast startup.

fast shot-to-shot speeds.

ability to record in movie mode until memory card is full.

supports TIFF mode.

cons:

above average noise at ISO 400.

frequent underexposures.

some purple fringing.

corners are soft.

some vignetting.

above average barrel distortion.

some redeye occurrence.

no manual controls.

RAW format not supported.

no AF illuminator this would really help shutter lag when using this camera in low light.

so-so battery life.

16MB SD card provided is inadequate so add $$ to your budget to buy more memory.

uses proprietary batteries so again, more $$ for a spare.

the Xt is a great looking ultracompact camera but the quality of the images you take could be better. as already mentioned, there's more competition for the dimage X-series these days. i would recommend the optio s or casio ex-z3 over the dimage Xt. for even better image quality (in a slightly bigger package), also consider canon's sd100.

i hope this helps you with your buying decision. peace.

Buy Remanufactured Minolta Dimage Xt 3.2 MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom Now

If your looking for a tiny digital for the average "point and shoot" person (and let's face it....if your a pro...stick to film and a 35mm) then the XT is your camera. Here's the breakdown:

Pros:

Size.....believe what you hear....this camera fits in your shirt pocket, pants, small purse (for you ladies) without weighing or pulling on your pockets. I carried it in my dress shirt and slacks at New Years and it didn't seem bulky or noticeable to me or my girlfriend !! The buttons are all useable by both men and women....its tiny without feeling ridiculous or too delicate....its got a durable feel to it....very solid without being heavy !!

Battery....I was worried about the battery lasting throughout the night but it never let me down.....all night we snapped pix and of course had to look and show them to everyone on the viewer and it never conked out !!!

Tons of features with easy to navigate menus....the ability to take movies and patch them into the tv is a really cool feature !!

Cons:

The 16MB memory is a joke....do yourself a favor and buy a 256 sd card right away !!! This will allow you to approximately 6 rolls of pix (comparably speaking)...instead of 5 or 6 pix !!

You will have to practice with it to become proficient....but assuming you took my advice on the memory upgrade...this won't be a problem....its your new toy so play with it !! Practice, practice, practice and you will get good pix. Snap pictures in all types of lighting.....it doesn't take long. I practiced at home before going out on New Years and even after several drinks (or maybe because of them...haha) I was able to take tons of great nighttime pix !!

Lastly...you'll have to train your subjects to hold their poses a little longer at night...due to the redeye reduction "spraying" effect. Tell them to hold until the second flash !!

Tips:

1.Practice (can't stress this enough)

2.Use the redeye nighttime setting for all night pix....inside or out !! IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE !!

3.The auto flash mode is great for all other pix

4.Set the camera to the FINE setting (just below TIFF)

5.Use the highest resolution for all pix

6.Save the pix you want to cd or take the memory card to a professional film developer...you could develop your shots at home but the beauty of digital is that you see all the shots you have as you take them. BE SELECTIVE !!! I've found that with old film type cameras...not every shot was a keeper....even with digital....not every shot you take is worth putting on paper...so be selective then for mere pennys on the dollar you can have a pro develop your more memorable shots !! Don't waste your money on software...put it into the memory uprade!!

7. Hold the shutter button down until you hear the "click" !! Many folks used to 35mm cameras (namely my girlfriend) seem to want to press the button down half way or press it and let up before the "click"....this seems to cause the pix to blur more often !!

ENJOY !!!

Read Best Reviews of Remanufactured Minolta Dimage Xt 3.2 MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom Here

First, the bad news:

1) The plastic tab on the handstrap of the XT can stratch the LCD DON'T use the strap if you are going to keep the camera in a confined space, such as a pocket the strap will drift over the LCD and the damage will be done. This is clearly a design defect. If you must use a strap, make your own, one without the power to abrade the LCD.

2) The optical viewfinder shows far less than what the camera sees I understand about 35% of the image is not visible in the optical viewfinder. This problem, however, is much easier to deal with than a scratched LCD.

3) Shutter lag all digicams shutters seem to suffer slow response time. This makes it tough to photograph people or pets on the move the continuous shooting option on the Xt helps, so does pre-focusing.

That said, this camera has just about perfect, at least for my purposes: on-the-go nature and travel photography. There are just enough controls for unusual conditions exposure compensation, choice of ISO, white balance, etc but not so many that they get in the way of simply making a quick or well thought out photograph.

True, manual control of f/stops and shutter speeds and focus is lacking but there are other cameras out there with this option. Again, exposure compensation, continuous shooting mode, and pre-focusing help.

In particular, I like the east of operation what controls there are can easily be accessed via the few menus, and the dial and/or various buttons that adorn the camera. Recourse to the manual printed or on-line was, for me, not necessary.

My primary purpose for the camera is to use it on bike rides but it's also a great camera for hiking, as well as for travel where you don't want to be burdened with a lot of photo gear (and I have way too much photo gear). For use at social gatherings in large, dark rooms, this might not be the camera of choice, because the on-camera flash is not very powerful but it does work, particularly if people are fairly close to the camera, rather than across the room.

This camera cries out for one accessory an extra battery. And perhaps two extra batteries. Maybe I like to take A LOT of pictures because I'm a part time professional, but if film is no longer an issue and I can shoot all the pictures I want (subject to the amount of memory I have), why should I be limited by a lack of battery power? And trust me, if you make a lot of photographs, you will run out of battery power! (My extra battery fits in my bike's little patch kit.)

I've found that there are generic batteries that will work in the camera ...

By the same token, I spent a little more money on storage I have 256 and a 128 memory cards and, with a 3 megapixel camera, this is more than enough for a at least a few day's of normal photography. (I usually bring a laptop with me, whether or not I have a camera, so I can always download pics from my memory cards to make room for more pictures).

To sum up: except for the plastic tab on the strap that can scratch the screen, and a viewfinder that shows less than what the camera sees, and the shutter lag (which occurs with all digicams) I'm completely satisfied with the camera.

Oh, one more thing cameras this small are still a novelty it makes for a great conversation piece/ice breaker when I pull it out of my pocket.

...

Want Remanufactured Minolta Dimage Xt 3.2 MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom Discount?

So small! (its smaller than most cellphones).

3.2 megapixels is just great clear picture; moreover, minolta has some cool technology that helps to correct the picture if needed.

Strong enough flash but in the dark, sometimes, pictures are grainy needed to change the ISO setting by hand a couple of times. 128 mb sd card definitely recommended. (can take fine quality pictures at a low compression rate = better picture quality!).

Love the cool feature of being able to record your own sounds. The LCD is super clear, so when viewing pictures (esp. when showing it to others just after having taken a picture) its really good. The compactness, I cannot emphasize enough. Its smaller than a nokia 3595, and lighter too (with battery). I'm scared that I'll forget it sometimes, & not realize if I have it or not!

The internal zoom rocks!!!! and that causes the startup time to be so fast! I barely turn it on, & its on unlike most other digital cameras.

Good, clear pictures. Easy to use for both video, & pictures. What else do you want?

Might not be as good as cannon s400, but almosst as good definitely in the same league. You cannot make out the difference 99 times of 100.

Oh yes, I've used this as webcam to videoconference too, & it works flawlessly. muchh clearer than most webcams out there! (of course, this should not be your sole critereon when buying this camera ;))

A con --

A couple of times, it gives a picture a blue'ish tinge with some pictures, but never anything that I cant fix in ACD Foto Canvas (good software free download go get it, if you have ANY digital camera).

I love this camera, and I still have to read through most of the manual!