Canon Elura 40MC MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/ 2"LCD, MMC Card and Digital Still Mode

Armed with lots of research and my wife's two criteria for selecting a camcorder (it had to be small and easy to use) we bought the Elura MC 40 for its list of features in a very small and very cool package -plus the canon quality. This one has all the features of a full-sized DV cam, but fits into a small, padded waist pack with a couple of tapes, batteries, and the charger without a problem. This was key as we are expecting our first child and didn't want to add too much to the extra baggage we'll be carrying.

This one doesn't have megapixel stills at 1020x960, but it's still tons better than 640x480 on most compact cams, and we have a 35mm for the serious photography anyway. Lots of great on-camera editing and shooting features, and some basic photo and movie editing software included. If you're going to do some serious movie editing, I'd recommend purchasing a better software package or taking advantage of one of Canon's mail-in rebate deals.

Mac users, you'll love this one. We had a pre-USB Powerbook running OS 8.6 and bought USB and Firewire PCMCIA cards for it. It runs just great without spending the extra cash upgrading the OS like the card manufacturers say to. Also, I wouldn't spend the extra cash on the expensive firewire cards that a Mac specific. I picked up an inexpensive IBM card [$$] at the local computer store, plugged it in, downloaded the supporting drivers from Apple, and it fired right up.

You will have a lot of fun with this cam. We took it out for the first time on July 4th, and everyone was amazed by it. Plugged it into the S-video on the nearest TV, and we had a great time watching the day's events!

I bought this camcorder for a trip to Europe and I love it. I could store it in my jacket pocket when not using it and didn't have to drag around a huge bag with a bunch of useless equipment. This is my first camcorder (and first camera since an old Olympus 35mm), so I'm clearly an amateur. It's got more features than I'll use in 2 lifetimes, so there should be enough to satisfy almost everyone.

Video--is excellent, especially outdoors. Weather doesn't matter, as long as it's outside. It was cloudy all but one day and the video is awesome. Indoor is grainy if the light is too low, but reading reviews of other camcorders, I couldn't find one which said "great video quality indoors." All are grainy indoors. Live with it. You buy this for the size.

Still Pix--are not great. But are you buying a camcorder or camera? If all you care about are still pix, save yourself a few hundred bucks and buy a still-camera. No small camcorder offers a 4 or 5 megapixel resolution with stills. Even the Sony MicroDV only offers 2MP still resolution. With the exposure set to "super fine" I was pleased with the resolution, but I've seen pictures from a 4 MP still camera, and the images don't compare. The pix are not bad, but not excellent. But then, I care about video...not pictures--it's a camcorder afterall.

Sound--I think is great. Yea, there is the motor whine when it's quiet. But guess what, after a few seconds, you tune it out and forget about it. It is not very annoying at all. It does tend to amplify the voice of whomever is doing the recording. But what microphone doesn't amplify the sound closest to it?

SD/MMC card--is only tested by Canon to 64MB (per customer service) which is bad. They recommend not using anything higher than 64.

Battery--doesn't last too long, especially the smaller one. I forked over the money to buy the larger battery and it is well worth it. This way, when it runs down, you pop in the small one and you have another 30-50min of filming.

Ease of Use--I had filmed some items and was watching it on TV within 20 minutes of taking it out of the box. I had the still camera and fader/digital effects figured out within another 20 minutes or so. You must read the manual. It's real easy.

Buttons--are not small considering the size of the camcorder. If you need bigger buttons, buy a bigger camcorder. Remember, you buy this for the size.

Overall--it is great. Fantastic outdoor video and sound pickup with unbelievable portability and ease of use. This is not a "professional" camcorder. It should be used for "hobby" filming and as a great travel-size camcorder. If you need more bells and whistles (external mic mount, attached light) you need a bigger camera. As far as the "save yourself the trouble and buy a Sony" crowd, I've owned many Sony products and find they don't perform any better than anything else. But Sony always seems to want a few hundred more of your hard earned dollars to make you think their product is better. Ask someone about software compatability with their MicroDV camcorder...then watch 'em squirm.

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Okay, I did a little bit of research before I bought. And I do mean little. I did read reviews here and other places. Most of the thumbs down reviews are correct about their statements. Here is what I dislike:

1. There will be a some what higher pitched noise when veiwing the recorded data on Mdv tapes. However, if there is a decent amount of background noise or the object you are focused on is making noise/speaking, it is not that noticeable.

2. Low light complaints are somewhat valid. It does become a little grainy and it records at a slower frame rate, so no fast movements by camera! The focusing during low-light mode is pretty bad if you are are @; which I would estimate, more than a 5x zoom. However, lowlight feature does "enhance" the availiable light quite a bit.

And as long as you do not need a perfect 520 line resoultion (which I don't), it is fine.

3. Included battery will barely get you by, so plan on buying an additional one.

4. The users hand will often get in the way of the optic finder or whatever helps do the focusing, if you are not mindful.

What I do like:

1. Size.

2. Once you become a little familiar with it, it is pretty easy to use.

3. Price, see below.

4. The camera does have a lot of (special) features...but I will probably never use half of them. They are mostly a novelty thing.

5. The still photo quality are not that bad at all.

I haven't used the included software, but one doesn't buy a camera for the software anyhow. Plus if you buy soon it comes with, what I have heard, is pretty decent software as a rebate.

...

... ... Or better yet, go somewhere to test it, record on an MDV tape and play it back on a good TV w/ a S Video input and listen for the hum and check the low light feature. YOu will know right away whether this is acceptable or not. For me it turned it is, especially for recording my 1.5 y/o.

Generic conclusion, if you are going to use it mostly outside and for live action, go for it.

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Just picked up this camcorder the other day. I had been debating between getting one of Canon's ZR cameras or an Elura for a while. Finally settled on the Elura, mostly due to it's tiny size. Haven't had too much time to play around with it yet, but so far I just love this camera. Fits right in the palm of my hand to carry around and shoot video wherever I go. Works great with iMovie using a firewire cable (not included, grrrr.)

So far, my only gripes are 1) the included battery gives you less than an hour of recording time, making spare batteries ... a must; and 2) the LCD screen and viewfinder is a bit TOO small... way smaller than on the ZR series. Definitely try before you buy. But those are small complaints given the overall coolness of this camcorder.

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I got mine a month ago for a trip to Europe and love it. I could fit it in my jacket pocket so the size is perfect. This is my first camcorder (or first camera other than an old Olympus 35mm), so I'm clearly an amateur with this stuff. But, the video looks fantastic, especially outside. Weather doesn't matter since it was cloudy everyday but one. Video still looked as good as any TV image. It has more features than I know how to use, or even care to use.

Yes, the still pix are lower quality, but what MiniDV camcorder has a 4 or 5 megapixel resolution?? Sony only offers a 2 MP resolution on its MicroDV. But who's kidding who? If you're buying this camera for it's still picture ability, save yourself a few hundred bucks and buy a still-mode camera, not a camcorder. If you want a very small and highly portable camcorder which takes great outdoor video, then this should be on your list. Yes, the indoor video is not as great as the outdoor video, but realize this--you buy this for the size--it can't possibly be everything to everyone. If you need a camcorder for exclusively indoor action, buy one designed for that with all the low light/night modes/infrared/light attachment gizmos.

As far as the "motor whine" picked up from the mic, I don't find it all that annoying. You do hear it, but after a few seconds you forget about it and tune it out. However, I believe the audio is great. I have no issue with the sound. It picks up distant voices and sounds just fine. Yes, if you hold the camera too close to your head as you narrate, then your voice does seem amplified compared to others. But then, what camcorder doesn't amplify the voice closest to the microphone?

I have big hands but I don't have any problem with the buttons. Realize, this is a small camera so if you need big buttons, get a bigger camera.

Canon customer service told me they have not tested any SD/MMC card over 64MB, so they recommended I not use anything larger. I do admit, this is a big drawback, as one 128 or 256 card is much cheaper than 2 or 3, 64MB cards. Plus you'd have fewer cards to keep track of.

I don't believe this camcorder was designed for strictly professional use. If it was, it would be 5x the size and 10x the weight. You buy this camera for its size/portability. This should be used for "hobby" filming and as an excellent travel camcorder.

As far as the "save yourself the trouble and buy a Sony" crowd goes, I've bought numerous Sony components over the years, from TV's to cordless phones. For the $$, Sony doesn't work any better than anything else out there. They just want a few more hundred dollars of you hard-earned coin to make you think you got a better item. Ask the Sony-lovers about software compatability for the MicroDV...and then watch 'em squirm. Read the Amazon.com reviews of the DCRIP7BT. That's what kept me away from Sony.

Sony HXR-NX5U NXCAM Professional Camcorder

I went straight to 720 60p and have not shot in anything else since i bought it... Its just so clear and sharp... I'm so happy with the image quality (out of the box), i have not even felt the need to start tweaking, plus i think i'm now a AVCHD convert too, seems to handle fast motion really well.

The real kicker is its just so nice to pop the SDHC card out and be able to instantly view the footage on my laptop, without the whole tape download/cineform convert/render thing ....

This is easily one of the best HD Cameras on the Prosumer level of any kind. The quality of the image, thanks to the Zeiss lens is incredible. I shot on the run in New Zealand in the middle of winter, and was able to get great definition from everything from the foreground to the background. Leaves and grass are clearly separated and not like in most HD cameras all bunched up together. Stunning. Audio real good, but you need to buy an extra mic/mix as the one that comes with the camera does not work for filming, but it's good enough for quick stuff.

To export footage into computer is a breeze, but time consuming. I use Final Cut Pro 7 and it took no time to get the footage into bins directly.

F-stops/shutter/focusing is manual, which increases the quality of the picture shot. Zeiss lens is incredible. Low light is beyond believe and we pushed the grain as high as possible, and the range is quite big. Great for low light situation. We pushed it as far as a night shoot in a moving car with only the inside light on, and you could still get definition on the blacks. Granted in the end the image is way too grainy, but this is an example of how far you can push the camera.

You can use up two mics at the same time. Cards are regular SD cards for media.

Overall an INCREDIBLE camera for most indies and even a b-camera for bigger projects. It's light and portable. Only negative, if you can say that, is that you can't change the lens but then again for under $4,000 this is FAR SUPERIOR to the EX1 series (obviously not as good as the EX3).

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I am not a professional videographer but have been creating and editing training videos in digital since 1998 or so. The camera is surprising light for it's size, easy to operate and has a wonderful variety of configurations for audio. I recorded some samples using a 32GB SD card (very cheap!) using the highest FX 1080i setting. when you go straight to a TV via hdmi to view footage it is absolutely stunning. Even with no lighting except indoor flourescents i found the video sharp and bright. Editing was a snap using sony vegas 12. It handles AVCHD files extremely well (hello, sony) and gives a staggering number of ways to render your master video. I found that even when things are compressed considerably (9mbps for DVD quality) the regular DVD produced is still remarkably good (for DVD mind you) What I like is that I can take the highest resolution video and use it to create either blu-ray or standard dvds. I also purchased the sony uwpV1 wireless lavalier mic and though it is pricey (500-600 bucks) it is easily the best wireless mic i've ever used. Works easily with the camera with the receiver mounting to the camera shoe. You can also use two sources at once (audio) and alter the levels. The camera is just a joy to use and even if you're not very sophisticated you can pretty much point and shoot using the standard presets. I like the dual SD slots too. If you use both slots and two 32bg SD cards (you can get two for under 100 bucks) you could record at the highest possible resolution and bitrate for something like 7 hours or so and transfer couldn't be easier, just pop out the card and pop it into a usb card reader and boom! I'm very pleased with the purchase so far!

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DV tape is a thing of the past. Tons of recording formats to choose from, personally love the 720P quality. Operating in full manual is a bit tricky but not bad. There are 8 preset buttons, 2 XLR inputs, plenty of outputs, which together make this camera AWESOME.

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Product Highlights

3 1/3" CMOS Sensors

1080i/1080p/720p AVCHD (@24Mbps)

Native 1080/24p, 720/60p

Wide Angle 20x G-Lens

HD-SDI & HDMI Output

SMPTE Time Code In/Out

Dual XLR Inputs

Simultaneous HD/MPEG-2 SD Capture

Uses Memory Stick PRO Duo / SDHC Cards

Built-in GPS

Lorex LH108321C8B 8-Camera Network Video Surveillance System with 320GB H.264 DVR (Black)

My intended use for the eight camera system is home monitoring. The capability of watching my home from other locations is an important feature I plan to utilize. This is my first video monitored security system, so my comments will reflect only my observations of this equipment. I have three PCs in my home on a local area network connected to the Internet with a wireless router. I will be attaching the system to a 22 inch monitor.

After unpacking the box I plugged the DVR into the wall and then connected it to my router with the supplied Ethernet cable. Then I plugged the power supply for the eight cameras into the wall and plugged it into the back of the DVR and attached a camera to it. Then I inserted the DVD into my computer thinking it might have some essential software on it I found four buttons, one for the" user manual " (a hard copy of the manual is included in the box,) "acrobat reader" (if not already loaded on your computer so you can read the manual,) "warranty information" and "buy accessories."

When I plugged the DVR into the router it automatically got a network address and then I put the address in Internet Explorer and a log in screen appeared on my monitor. Passwords are disabled as a default, but I'm sure I will change that setting so it requires a password. When completely installed, the screen shows frames for each of the eight cameras.

The first camera I set up was in a pitch black room (it was evening. I wanted to test the night vision. As soon as someone approached the doorway they appeared on the monitor with the entire room illuminated on the screen. In night vision's usual black and white, at a distance of 12-14 feet, a face was clearly visible and identifiable. Frankly, I was wowed -this was one of those "isn't technology amazing" moments. Next, after temporarily mounting all the cameras, I checked the playback (recording) feature on each camera (automatic default)to ensure that feature was working. So, far, no problems.

Next I needed to get a personal web address to view the cameras remotely from the Internet. On page 44 of the instruction manual the Lorex DDNS website is noted. Once there, I was prompted for my MAC (media access control) address found by going to the "main menu," selecting "advance" and then "info." At that time, a customer server name will also be selected. Perhaps this is obvious, but for security purposes, it would be wise to use something other than the address of the property. The equipment will also be registered at this time, along with a password, user name, etc. After that process is complete, an email will arrive from Lorex with some additional information that is needed to be entered into the DVR to maintain the DDNS connection.

Note, port 80 is used to view the cameras from the Internet outside of your home/business network. The problem is some people may already be using port 80 to host their own website. If you want to change it to a different port, there is information on Lorex's website on how to configure your router to forward to a different port. Then to configure the DVR to use the forwarded port, the instructions are in the user manual Appendix C. Go to the main menu displayed on the monitor and select "advance", "network" and then use the mouse to change the web port from 0080 to something else. Select a number larger than 1024, in order to avoid using a port that may be in use by one of your other devices. Then to monitor your security cameras from the internet, enter your personal web address and follow it with a colon and the new port number. I checked the set-up from a remote address and it worked perfectly it looked the same as viewing it on a web browser on the local area network.

Turning the DVR off is a two step process, and it isn't described well in the manual. And, the process isn't intuitive. First hold the button on either the DVR or remote control down until the DVR goes into standby mode which is reflected on the monitor. In standby mode the screen is blank but the lights are still illuminated on the DVR, so to complete the off process hold the power key in until the DVR lights go out and the fan goes off. If you just push the power button on the DVR in and then let go, nothing happens.

If the DVR needs to be disconnected or in the event of a power loss, all of the changes in settings will be lost, including the time and address. Purchasing a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) and plugging the DVR into it is an essential step to protect against power surges and power loss to ensure continuous recording and avoid repeated re-configuration. And, obviously, the user should not frivilously disconnect the system once it is set up.

Batteries are included with the remote control. Note: there are no buttons on the remote control that light-up so when the batteries are dead it will be a matter of trial and error to determine they need to be replaced. I found the remote had to be aimed straight at the DVR. It didn't respond well if the remote was pointed slightly above, below or to the side.

There is no way to mount the camera in a fixed position where it won't move. No matter what I tried there was always a little play. So, if installed outside, a camera will be vulnerable to a strong wind, an object being hurled at it or even a stick being poked at it, so if possible mount the cameras in a sheltered location.

There is approximately 30 inches of cable attached to the camera that is then plugged into the 60 foot cable. For exterior installations, that section of cable needs to be installed inside a wall because the connections aren't weatherproof. Some security cameras run the cable through the mounting bracket so it isn't exposed at the installation site, and thus it is protected from both the elements and an intruder who can simply cut the cable to steal or disarm the camera. That is not the case with this camera, so there is ample reason to install as much as the cable into the wall as possible, leaving little exposed at the installation site.

The stated temperature range for operation is 4 below zero to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. For my purposes this is an issue because in Colorado, it occasionally gets colder than 4 below. So, my cameras will be installed inside the property aimed through windows. One of the photos I attached shows the monitor with four of the cameras installed. The poorest quality of the group is the one on the upper right corner (camera 2) which is currently pointed through a window screen. That camera will ultimately be installed through clear glass, but I included it because even through the window screen, the picture on my monitor is clear and impressive. That street is 135 feet from the camera. For reference, the distances for each of the remaining three shots on the monitor measured from where the camera is mounted to the picture on the screen are 12 feet, 14 feet and the 25 feet. The 25 foot shot is the one pictured in the single monitor screen photograph, and it is quite clear.

Other than plugging in the DVR, no electricity is required in connecting the cameras, so if you have access either through an attic or basement, and a tool to thread the cables through your walls and a drill, it is a viable do-it-yourself project. Dropping the cables through the wall and fishing them down into an unfinished basement and then to the DVR will, in some locations, require more than the included 60 foot cables. On the website, additional 60 foot cables can be purchased for $24.99 each plus $4.50 for the connector needed to attach the two cables together.

Ultimately I am impressed with this system. Granted, it isn't a commercial grade set-up, but for a homeowner, the price is very reasonable and the cameras have a strikingly clear picture, even in pitch black applications. The downside for me is the temperature range, which although broad, isn't quite broad enough for me to safely install the cameras outside. Exterior installation in Colorado might always be an issue considering the number of snowstorms experienced each winter. The cameras might be frequently covered in snow and not provide helpful pictures even if the temperature range permitted installation.

The cameras work beautifully, and the computer set up was smooth. I haven't attempted to contact customer support so I can't speak to their responsiveness. For me, the wiring issue was minor, but that may or may not be an issue depending upon the installation site. So, far I am very pleased with the system. The ability to check on my dogs and my house remotely, and when home, being able to see who is approaching my driveway and front door, is to me invaluable. I don't know how the system will hold up over time, but I will update the review if I run into any problems.

I purchased this unit about 2 weeks ago. I will say that installation and use ability of the system was good, also live video is very good. The main issue that I have is in watching the video that has been recorded. The whole point of home security system is to have recorded video that I can review later if something happens. So far that has been an almost complete failure. While the unit is recording and it does show me in the web interface of the unit that the files are there, I have been unable to view them. I have tried several PC's and several different versions of IE. (By the way the unit only works with IE it does not work at all with Chrome, Safari, Firefox Etc...) I have tried several times to contact tech support on the matter and have not had a response.

Update: I was finally contacted by tech support 10 days after emailing them; we have corresponded serveral times since then with no luck in fixing my problems.

Update: 1-10-11 This unit is junk, it started dying quickly after I started using it (Fan Died, VGA output Died), and the Support from LOREX is absolute and completely useless. My recommendation is to NEVER, NEVER buy anything from this company!!!!

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I'm no techno whiz, just your above average home DIYer. I felt comfortable with the installation and setup of this system but it is not without it's difficulties. The remote viewing setup was not what I would call simple which involves assiging port numbers on your LAN and port forwarding your router and such, but with a couple of calls to the Lorex technical assistance team all was setup properly. They were very helpful and are able to log onto your computer network and make changes to allow the system to work. However, I'm still not able to use remote viewing because my ISP service is too slow (which is no fault of Lorex). I have sattelite internet and to upgrade from my home plan to the pro plan would cost more than I want to spend. Beside that, the system is easy to operate with either the mouse, remote control, or front panel keys. The video quality is just okay, not great. The DVR's hardrive is noisy (a constant low hum). It will do the job I want it to do which is to allow me to monitor the outside of my home and record activity while I'm gone. It might assist with identifying an intruder by what clothes they wear or what type of vehicle they drive, but I don't think the camera is capable of a tag # or facial recognition unless the subject is very close to the camera. As far as I know, this system is as good of one as you will get for this price. That being said, I am satisfied with my purchase.

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I purchased the Lorex LH108 8 Camera DVR from Amazon and the system arrived within the expected time. The packaging was quite good. The DVR is in one box and the cameras and cables in another box. Both boxes were then inserted into a larger box.

I was particularly impressed with the "Do it yourself" nature of the items. There were small zip lock bags with Rawle plugs and screws for each camera mount (2 per camera). Each camera had a 60' Siamese cable which included the power and BNC connectors, wrapped along a plastic cable holder which when removed allowed the cable to unravel without tangling. This simple feature can only be appreciated when you begin installing with 8 cables being strung together and they begin to tangle while you are on a ladder. The 60' of cable was sufficient for my installation, but I can easily see where there might be the need to extend the cable.

The cameras offered good resolution for distances less than 15'. Beyond that things become increasingly fuzzy. The installation went well. In configuring the DVR, some areas of the user manual could have had more clarity. For example in explaining the network access password, which in this case can be different from the typical user and admin password.

I was able to login on my LAN and view the images remotely. The images were very much compressed and were 80% black and white. I assume this is to allow the images to pass through the outgoing bandwidth I have. This is not a big issue. I also realised that you cannot access the images remotely using any smartphone. You cannot use a Blackberry for example, only a windows based phone, which I did not have. I would have expected this important fact to be stated clearly in the advertising documentation for the product. I configured the DDNS feature using dyndns.com and while I was able to get the login screen, I was unable to login. The login failed on every occassion. I removed the passwords and still the logins failed. However on the LAN I would get the same login screen and be able to login without any problems. It did not make technical sense but I thought maybe "Lorex does not like dyddns.com" so I setup the Lorexddns feature. I had the same problem. I could not login remotely via the Internet, even when the password was removed, yet on the LAN, I had no problem logging in. I have spent several hours on this without success.

I e-mailed tech support about my problem, but have not gotten a response as yet, and don't expect to. It is obvious that the Lorex web site has a strong "sales" focus and very little "support" focus. I called Tech Support and after listening to several minutes of what appeared to be an essay recital, I was able to speak with someone. Tech Support was friendly and very helpful. I gave Tech Support my password and removed the password from the system, but they too could not login. They suggested I update the firmware. I downloaded the firmware and udated the DVR. Of course all the settings would default and you would have to reprogram IP address, passwords, names etc. The DVR still displayed the same login challenges. I will call Tech Support again and update this review. As of this stage I am giving the system a 3 star rating, but if I get to login remotely, then I would rate the system with 4 star. For the money spent, the system is good value....without the challenges hopefully. At this stage, I am dissapointed, but hopeful. If anyone can offer any suggestions to me on fixing my login problems, I would be appreciative.

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Let me start off by saying we have a small business that consists of a used car lot and repair shop. Every once in a while we have items stolen from cars on the lot or find that someone had dumped their garbage in our dumpsters. The Lorex LH108321C8B 8-Camera Network Video Surveillance System hopefully is going to put a stop to the invaders.

After opening and inspecting the items in the box, we decided where we would set up the cameras to have the best visibility on the premises. We began installing the cameras at 10am and we finished by 3pm. Installation was simple and did not involve any really hard work except drilling holes into the aluminum siding and feeding the camera cables to an upstairs office. Only two screws mount the cameras. The only negative comment I can say about the installation is that the knob to secure the cameras does not "finger" tightened every well. When a strong breeze flew by, the camera would move. We used a wrench to tighten the position of the camera but made sure not to strip it. We connected the DVR to a 20" computer monitor by using an HDMI connector cable. We were impressed with the quality of the images. Colors are vivid and no really noticeable fuzziness. The only thing we noticed with the images is that scenes directly in front of the camera are crystal clear but as you look further past it starts to become less clear. We could not wait to see how the night vision worked. The next morning we reviewed the previous night's recording. It only used 47GB of the hard drive after 18 hours of continuous use. You do have the options of setting up specific times you want the video to record so you use less space on the hard drive. The night vision worked well except in areas where there was floodlights or streetlights. The images from those cameras were fuzzy. Just make sure to mount the cameras in areas that the camera view is not directly facing some type of night lighting. When reviewing the video you are able to pause it and zoom in on images. The DVR interface is extremely easy to navigate. You can select your options manually by using the buttons on the DVR or use the included mouse.

I cannot really comment on the remote access options since we do not intend to use those features. However I will mention that I found it amusing how the instructions had a little picture and stated if you had to be highly skilled for certain connections. Included a one long ground cable which we had no clue where to put it since the directions did not mention it.

The unit only comes with one "warning premises under 24 hour video surveillance" sticker. I wanted to have one warning sticker on all four sides of the building. You are able to purchase additional stickers, cable extensions and accessories directly from the manufacturers website. I ended up buying generic stickers and you can get them really cheap from Amazon, here is the link Security System Warning Stickers, 4-Pack.

Overall, great camera system for a home or small business. Easy to install and operate.

Manfrotto 311 Video Monitor Platform with Straps - Replaces 3152

My 10 inch Thrive fits fine. I have it on a double connection bar with the camera on the right and this, with the tablet, on the left. It is a little unsure, in the "wild", but, when connected, it works just fine on a manfrotto tripod. The straps can be problematic when they slip and block the screen. I downloaded a SLR program so I can manipulate the camera directly from the tablet. It works well, though set up takes a few minutes.

Solid construction. Good, simple design. Compact size. Decent value. Makes just about any stand a monitor stand. What more can I say.

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Nikon COOLPIX S800c Android Wi-Fi GPS Digital Camera (Black) with 16GB Card + Battery + Case + Trip

Great Camera, Shipping was right on time as specified. I have enjoyed the use of this camera, the ability to connect wifi and submit my pictures to just about anywhere makes my life so much easier then transferring to computer and then uploading. Take great pics as well. Overall very satisfied with purchase!

Joby JM3-01WW GripTight GorillaPod Stand (Black)

I have a Studio Neat Glif (from Kickstarter) that lets me attach an iPhone to a regular tripod. It works quite well. But it requires me to remove my phone from its Mophie battery case. The Mophie gives me an extra 2000 mAh to run my phone -perfect for battery-slamming uses like video and timelapse photos. The case doubles the runtime of the phone.

So I was thrilled when the Joby arrived. It's compact, light, and like all Jobys, it has an extraordinary ability to grab onto anything for support. The spring-loaded clamp easily holds my phone plus the Mophie case, and it's easy to pop the phone in and out.

I've only had it a couple of weeks, so I can't give you a long-term report. But right now, I'd say this thing has become an indispensable addition to my kit. Highly recommended.

The fact that I don't have to remove my Element Case on my 4S makes me confident my phone is protected just in case the tripod falls :)

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Test Devices:

HTC EVO 4G LTE

Samsung Galaxy S II

Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Aiptek MPVR

Ever since I got my first GorillaPod, which was back when they first came out, I've been a fan of the products. Still have it, and it still works great. So when I saw this one, I decided to go ahead and pick it up. It doesn't disappoint. Each of the phones I put in it fit snugly, held in place by the spring action arms. Even when intentionally shaken about, they devices did not slip or fall out. Getting the phones in and out of the grip arms is easy and quick. True to the original, the GripTight is, at its core, a camera tripod. The grip arms are just an (attachment with is being sold mated to the JOBY JB01249-0EN GorillaPod Original. So, I was able to unscrew the attachment and attach the stand to my cameras. Very much worth the purchase price and cheaper than buying each piece individually.

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This little tripod has a few possibilities. I bought it so I could do time-lapse movies with my Android phone. It can double as a phone stand on your desk, or anywhere you need to mount your phone for convenience. The part that holds your phone is detachable, and the tripod can be used with anything that has the standard female threaded mount, like found on cameras. My only concern is losing the phone bracket at some point.

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It's a very useful and flexible tool to use hands free with iphone video & photo shooting. There's no issue with covering audio or cam apertures.

Epson America Inc 3000 Lumens

We did a lot of research when it came to replacing the eight year old LCD projectors at our church. The colors on that one were always wrong and washed out, no doubt because it was only 1600 lumens. So one of our priorities was much higher lumens and the other was accurate color definition. This Epson does both extremely well. Whatever color shows up on our LCD computer monitor is the same color that shows up on the screen, and the brightness of this projector is amazing. Epson makes a point to say that they use a different scale for measuring brightness that compares to other projector brands with higher advertised lumens and I would be inclined to believe them. This projector was the best compromise of low price and high brightness and features we could find, though after we started using them we see no compromise at all. The best feature that was never mentioned in the advertising and only found out after installation was that the image fills the screen even after correcting for keystoning. Our other projector corrected the keystone effect but it overshot the screen and we were always missing part of the image. I just cannot find anything negative to say about this projector, and am a huge fan of Epson projectors now.

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Panasonic SDRSW20S SD Camcorder

Panasonic SDR-SW20 is pretty specific camcorder designed for pretty specific individual. Having wrote that, allowed me to explained some of the good points about this camcorder. First thing you notice is that its a pretty small camcorder and very light. In fact, this camcorder is smaller then some of the point and shoot cameras out there and I brought a p/s camera case to stored this camcorder in. Second thing is that its super easy to use. Its very minimal in design and dial switch with simple on and off button to record. And yes, this camcorder is waterproof and you can dunk it up to five feet as noted. If it waterproof, then it got to be dustproof as well. I haven't tried bouncing this camcorder off the floor but I'll take the manufacturer's word on the shock-proof. It has a 10x optical zoom that worked just fine while recording and an electronic stabilizer that works pretty well. The camcorder do come with several scene modes, manual focus as well as aperture and shutter speed control although its at a pretty basic level. The 2.7 inch LCD worked just fine and its in widescreen mode. The still photo are shot in 4:3 mode. All videos and photos are save on the SD card. I recommended that you get at least 2 gig to get started. It does accept SDHC cards although the manual states that you are better off using a Panasonic brand or else it might not work properly. I'll just buy more 2 gig cards instead.

For the negative side of this camcorder, the video image isn't very good. I would regard the video image to be just average, nothing to blow your mind on but its better then you hope for. The video image really get "noisy" when shooting in dark locations or night times. Its still acceptable but barely at times. Its far superior then the Flip video device but far less then some of the more expensive ones. Let me put it this way, bigger the screen, worst it will look. Smaller the screen, better it will look. This applied even at the XP mode, their highest rating. This camcorder does take still photos but only at .3 mpx, no better then a phone camera. The audio is bit on the weak side and you will get a lot of debris noises no matter what you do.

Reason for my four stars is this, despite of the video image shortcomings, this camcorder fitted my need. I wanted something small, light and bombproof from the elements in a camcorder. I can live with the average video in such a trade off. Due to the size and weight, I can take this camcorder anywhere and used it almost anytime. I like to hike, bike and backpack so this camcorder is perfect. (Of course, bring extra batteries since battery life is pretty short due to the small li-on battery they use for this camcorder.) I supposed it even possible to attached this camcorder to dashboard or on a bike handle and used it that way. The LCD cover does not have to be open for this thing to record. My camcorder fit my needs perfectly but unless your needs are like mine's, you may not be happy with this camcorder since the video image is not as good as bigger ones out there. Just be aware of that.

Very happy with it until it slipped out of it case and fell 4' while hiking. The screen stopped showing images and was white only.

Evidently it is not as rugged as advertised. :-(

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D-Link Securicam Network 10/100TX Fast Ethernet 2-Way Audio Internet Camera

I paid ~$50 under retail for this on some special deal. I wasn't going to spend retail price on it, as I'm on a budget.

I've tried many other units, as I setup a DVR on the parking lot in front of my apartment. I tried a Leadtek capture card with Linux Zoneminder, but the quality wasn't very good. For camera, I used a Q-See infared 420line outdoor b/w camera, with very bad results. The image quality was horrible. I couldn't make out a person's face on camera at ANY distance. The only perk was the night-vision was decent maybe good if you're ONLY watching for large objects moving.

Okay on the DCS-3220, I'm very happy with it. The 10/100 is a very good feature of the product. I have it in an outside enclosure recording a parking lot. The night vision is very poor when in low-light, but that can be expected. The C-CS mount is good because I plan on getting a zoom lens for ~50 dollars to zoom into certain things. The management interface and program is very good. It is setup to handle 16 of these cameras without any problems so scaling up is no problem in the future. When recording, this thing eats up alot of disk space. I gave mine a dedicated 300gig drive to put its recordings on. All-in-all, it offers more than I need, which is exactly what I need.

If I can find a need for another in the future, I'll buy another.

I bought this camera after an incident at my house while I was at work. Luckily a neighbor witnessed the incident and helped me recover damages, but I realized that I needed something to watch over my property when I was not at home.

This camera has proven to be a great match for my needs. I have it set up to record to my computer hard drive. It sends me email alerts when it detects motion in the covered video area, which is my driveway. I can easily review the video of anyone who drives down my driveway and what they do in front of my house.

The video quality is great, you can read license plates very easily, and can take snapshots from the videos or export the files to avi format.

One minor complaint is that the exported avi format isn't as good as the source format. But I really haven't had a need to export video from the supplied software application.

The software that comes with the system is great. You can monitor one camera or 16. The software wizards have you up and running in minutes. You can even access live video from your camera over the internet also real easy to set up and access.

I plan to purchase an additional camera to monitor the back side of my house.

The optional weatherproof outdoor housing unit is of good quality and is recommended for outside use.

The system has been up and running continuously for almost 6 months now with no problems.

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Camera and the web interface work well. But, I had problems with the management software. D-Link said to downlowd v3.20. That worked the first time.

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I just purchased and setup 6 of these for a customer. I used 2 1TB HDD's in Raid 1 and 2x80 gig drives also in raid 1 so I had some good redundancy. The camera's are great compared to their little brother the DCS-2100+. The software on the D-Link website is great, you must download it. Stick with a good D-Link Switch and router and everything will work flawlessly. I have over 5 years working with D-Link products and have even written software for D-Link cameras. I see a lot of complaints online but I think most of the issues are user based.

This is a great product at a even greater price. Buy it now!

Chris Fields

Grantsville, UT

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JVC GZ-EX355BUS - HD Everio Camcorder 40x Zoom (Black) with 16GB Bundle

16G built-in memory is great, no reason to really buy more, 40x optical is great for 99% of normal shooting, most others are only 25x, AVCHD file format and normal file name numbering (no hexadecimal numbers) makes for a very compressed and high quality file format. Remote controls via app and browser and even internet are great, but who would really use it for a full surveillance camera, leaves the screen on full the entire time. Zoom button and had controls have bad placement for a large hand, give cramps, also cannot use hand grip with power cord plugged in. Record and photo button are in bad positions compared to others, also the zoom is very hard to use in slow mode, others have a much better button. Must open the screen to download, plug is behind screen. No charging via USB, and no built in USB plug like most others and the Wi-Fi cannot be used for file copying without installing the 3rd party junk software which just does a massive backup dump and puts it into a goofy calendar format (just let me open it and select my files and copy them), over fancy and clumsy, it defaulted and copied all my files to the Administrators folder instead of my User folders. Wi-Fi is buggy at best, seems to not like protected WPA/WPA2 that much, very difficult to connect to LAN at times, no real reason. Remote Scoreboard feature sounds great, but plops it right in the middle of the screen and you can turn it off without stopping the entire game, who wants the score written over the players faces and in the middle of the play the entire time, would be great to have an option to turn off after a few seconds or shrink it down. Great phone quality, better than my old camera, video and sound seems ok, big diff between my old non-HD JVC. If you are buying it for UStream, forget it, don't work without the junk 3rd party software and even when all loaded up and connected properly, you just get a blank screen, another great idea that didn't pan out. The 3rd party software company (LoiLo) and UStream all offer no support (mentioned in the online doc multiple times). Firmware update online did not address any of the issues, so JVC has a great idea, but didn't back it up on delivery. Still a nice camera for quality photos and video, photo quality does drop considerable when shooting pics in video mode. Hopefully a firmware update will fix soon, great potential... Can buy the same basic functionality for less in a lower model JVC without the Wi-Fi (recommended)...