Pentax Optio S40 4MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

I've been using the Pentax S40 for the past three weeks, and am pleased with my purchase. I too selected this model because of the AA battery capability and have found the battery life to be very acceptable. I took over 100 flash pictures yesterday on a fully charged set of NiMH batteries. Spare NiMH batteries and a charger are quite cheap and most folks would carry a second set anyway.

The photographic results are quite impressive. Certainly on par with my other digital camera which is the (much larger) Sony DSC-F707, though the slightly lower resolution (4mp to 5mp) would likely show on an 8x10. The viewfinder doesn't show the full size of the scene being framed on the LCD screen, but I believe this is true of most digicams.

The telephoto works smoothly, and the LCD screen provides a clear and smooth look at the scene being framed. As with most LCD displays, it becomes less useful in bright sun.

The camera is easy to set up and its menu system is intuitive and logical with a surprisingly large array of photographic options. It can also be used as an auto focus point and shoot camera with good results as my 12 year old daughter did recently on a school trip. Subsequently she spent a bit of time learning the camera, and now navigates the menus, etc., with ease.

I'm using a 256mb Simpletech Secure Digital (SD) Pro-X High Speed card which has a much faster (10MB/sec) transfer rate than a standard SD card. The faster write speed frees the camera for its next shot much more quickly, and you won't believe how fast it transfers 256mb to a PC over a USB 2.0 (separate USB 2.0 reader needed) connection whew!

I also purchased the Pentax Optio Warranty Extension which gives this camera a full three years of coverage. I figured my family will be using this camera for at least that long.

All in all, this is an excellent and fully featured camera in a very small package.

hi all, i've been eyeing this camera since the announcement from pentax in feb and quite pleased when i got it from my local retailer.

all in all, i like the fact it's using 2 AA batteries only and that it's really slim and compact without bulging parts. pictures are good enough for an average consumer who isn't looking for "national geographic" standard pictures or anything like that. functions and features are good as well as the ergonomics.

some might find the lcd blacking out while the flash is charging annoying, but it's actually good to me in the sense that at least i know i can't take pictures since the flash isn't ready! (lcd display returns when flash is charged, ie it's ready for another shoot!)

battery power isn't all THAT bad... unless u really shoot alot and left it on most of the time. the camera heats up slightly after about 5 mins of it being switched on. i recommend getting a 256mb SD card since the video capture can take long video clips.

those with problems with video capture: have to hold the shutter button halfway down until it registers before fully depressing it to start capture. to stop just a full depress will do.

i had some problems downloading the pictures initially. apparently i need to have the camera switched on BEFORE i plug the usb connection and not switch on the camera AFTER i plug as stated in the manual.

great camera for it's price as i think you can't really get any better camera that's cheaper! AA batts are great since i really like the flexibility of buying off the shelf if batt runs out when i'm out.

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Camera has a good mechanical interface that is very well designed and easy to use. Picture quality looks to be very good. Size is wonderful.

The software interface on the other hand. Manual does not mention it does not work with Windows 98. There are a lot of people still out there using Windows 98, the manual does mention it does not work with 95. I had to contact Pentax Tech Support to find out this gem. So I am awaiting my order of an XP Upgrade. I was not impressed by the Pentax Tech. Support on their web site. Very weak FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). Ability to search any type of knowledge base was also very weak. Sony at least had the information on their site, when I had problems with my Sony camera, even if finding it was very frustrating.

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I already have a Nikon D70, and I just wanted something I could carry around in my pocket. I got it through Amazon.com at a refurbished price, and for that price I have to give it four stars. If I had to pay list I'd only give it 3 stars.

I've been having a lot of fun with it, and it's a great little camera that didn't cost me much.

Good points: Very small and easy to use for beginners. Lots of settings that should please anyone. 4 megapixels for adequate 8x10 prints. Good closeup and super closeup macro modes. Lots of data for each picture, including a histogram. Uses easy to find AA batteries.

Bad points: Small LCD screen. Very noisy (grainy) expecially at low light levels. No way to manually set shutter speed or aperture. Very slow starting up and writing to memory. Relatively short battery life (get rechargeables). Flash seems to want to go off for any shot in low light, even outdoor's shade.

Otherwise, the camera seems to be fairly rugged. Again, perfect for someone who wants a go anywhere camera for taking snapshots. If you want great quality images I suggest you pay more and get a better camera, but this one was hard to beat at the refurbished price.

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I bought the Optio S and quickly returned it as I was really disappointed by the photo quality. But I loved the features so I thought I'd give Pentax one more shot (pardon the pun). The Optio S40 really fits the bill for what I wanted; a compact digital camera that I can carry with me when my Minolta A1 is to cumbersome that would produce reasonably nice prints. The S40 can be a little picky at full telephoto but otherwise it seems to perform very well and quick too. I'm sure once I learn about this model's capabilities I will be even more pleased with my purchase. At $100 bucks less than Canon's S410, it's a real bargain. By the way, if you are comparing this model to the Minolta Xg, don't bother. The Xg was an even bigger disappointment that the Optio S. Happy Shooting!

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Lilliput 7-inch 667gl-70np/h/y Hdmi Monitor for Hd Camera with Ypbpr Input +Du21 Battery + Battery

Ignore original review. Product changed but has same name as earlier product that was for an entirely different automotive application.

liliput monitor is a good buy, I share my feelings with this brand new for this monitor, I'm testing. is a very good choice and great benefits including HDMI and the YRB is a good size and very good weight.

I highly recommend them.

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Fujifilm Finepix F10 6.3MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

Finally this camera repreents a major move for Fuji. After years of trying to hype up interest in their cameras with SuperCCD claims of 12 MPs etc But falling completely short with excess noise, Fuji has come out with a decent camera this time. This camera compares very well to the 7MP cameras like the Canon SD500 and the Sony P200 and in some cases even better results than the Nikon Coolpix 7900, Sony 150. I think its closest competitor is the Casio Exilim EX-Z750 which although priced slightly higher than the Fuji has some really compelling features.

Here are the PROS

1) It has a nice sturdy metal body, although not as sleek as and thicker than the Canon SD line.

2) Low noise although has purple fringing on some pictures.

3) Low light: Actually usable ISO 1600 setting. In some cases this eliminates the need for the the image stablization.

4) Very good battery life. Fuji says 500 pictures per charge...really good for this small camera.

5) Priced very well. Blows away pricing as compared to the 7 MP cameras which it compares to very well. For example the Canon SD500 is about $175 higher or about 50% MORE than the Fuji F10 with rebate. It is up to you to justify whether the SD500 takes 50% better pictures than the Fuji. I dont think so. In the SD500' defense it does look and feel better than the Fuji and uses the cheap SD cards.

6) Finally a good movie mode (at 640 x 480 and very crisp 30 fps)

Here are the CONS

1) Uses those pesky xD cards which are harder to find, more expensive and smaller capacities than the SD cards.

2) No optical viewfinder. This will come back to haunt you in bright sunlight when the LCD gets completely washed out.

3) Really stupid design flaw of the use of the dock/adapter for any of the ports, including USB, A/V out, or Power. You just have to remember to carry the dock/adaptor with you at all times.

4) Hard to use menu system. Canon and Sony totally blow away this camera is ease of use menu system

5) Slim to None manual controls but you are buying this camera for its point and shoot capabilities and not manual controls.. right !!

this camera is plain simply awesome. when i finally ran out of battery, i realized i had been using the thing for a FULL WEEK without recharging. the battery life is amazing. and so is the speed. the camera is on with zero delay, it focuses instantaneously, there's virtually no shutter lag. the menus need some getting used to if you come from other brands, but ultimately they're well laid out. the image quality is excellent. iso 80 thru 200 images are virtually noise free. the camera allows you to push the sensitivity all the way up to iso 1600. this means, no flash for interior shots, evening outdoor shots where flash wouldn't reach far enough anyway, all with no shake and very low noise. there is plain simply no other compact digicam out there that can do that. others give up at iso 400, the f10 easily goes up to 800. iso 1600 pix are a bit noisy, but still usable.

the only thing the camera is lacking is more manual controls. if you want shutter or aperture priority, you'll have to seek elsewhere. however, there is exposure correction and manual white balance controls.

this camera is a milestone. it's worth the money.

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I've just replaced my Sony DSC-W1 camera with the Fuji F10. All that time, I thought my Sony delivered good picture quality; well, compared to the Fuji it is nowhere close.

Based on dcresource and dpreview Web Sites, I decided to purchase that Fuji F10. The pictures it takes are simply truly amazing: colors, accuracy, full of life. For the first time ever, people are actually saying "wow, this picture of me with your baby is great, could you e-mail it to me?". The flash is so powerful, that I'd recommend turning down the ISO (you can actually switch to post-shot mode and take the same pic three times and compare them live). Movies are great (compatible with Windows and Mac, even iMovie). The so-called 'terminal' (very tiny connection box used for A/V, USB and charge) is not annoying, though a cradle would have been better.

The menu navigations are clumsier than Sony, Canon or Casio, but you'll get used to it in a matter of minutes.

My only wishes would be a way to adjust the shuter speed so that going up in ISO does not brighten the subject so much, a live histogram, and a cradle.

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I have spent endless hours reviewing almost everything that I can find online about small digital cameras and have looked at numerous ones in stores. I recently narrowed my decision down to the Canon A620, Canon SD550, and Fuji F10. The Fuji F10 was actually the camera I intended to get in the first place but was somewhat swayed by a store clerk and Canon users. The A620 was bigger than what I wanted, and I actually saw no difference in print quality between it and the SD550 Digital Elph when using the auto setting. I am an amateur, though and do very little with manual controls.

I don't doubt for a minute that Canons are good, and it may depend on what you are looking for. However, there is absolutely no comparison between the SD550 and Fuji F10 when shooting in lowlight areas and quite often for color on the finished product. I took several shots in different settings with the cameras set on auto and no flash. The Fuji captured pictures that Canon couldn't get. I personally also found the Fuji easier to handle. With one hand, you can flip between review and photo mode and don't have to keep re-setting the flash preference each time you use it. Once I got used to the menus, I personally had little problem finding anything and maybe even less than with the Canon.

Fuji's battery life is unbelievable. Although I don't understand the reasoning behind the dongle setup, I didn't find it to be a big deal. I may buy a separate more portable battery charger for travel that can be plugged into the cigarette lighter too but probably wouldn't need it given how long the juice lasts. As is the case with many digital cameras, the memory card isn't sufficient. I plan to get a 1GB card and shoot away. I am currently not using a card reader and understand that there may be a particular reader that is needed for a 1GB card.

I must admit that I do like Canon's Zoom Browser better than the Fuji software, but you can use whatever software you want. The main drawback that I can see to the Fuji is the lack of an optical viewfinder when taking pictures in bright sunlight, but there is an adjustment for brightening the screen. If you are shooting under those conditions, you should probably have the sun behind you anyway and could probably simply shadow the screen with your head. There is also no histogram, but I enjoy seeing the shutter speeds when I am focusing.

From what I have read, I am also less concerned about a cracked LCD screen or finish wear on the Fuji. Time will tell. I also considered the Fuji to be a good value at $100 less than the Canon. Sorry, Canon.

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I'm a professional photographer. I like to have a small camera to keep in my pocket at all times. I used a Pentax Optio S4i for a year. It was a great little pocket camera (tiny) but the image quality really fell apart when you set the ISO higher than 100. I wanted a pocket camera with image quality rivaling a professional DSLR. This is the camera. There are plenty of things to complain about... the confusing menus, the lack of manual controls... etc. But I shopped around a LOT and this camera has the best image quality (I've seen) at 400 thru 1600 of any pocket camera on the market at any price. It operates very, very quickly too.

VGA to HDMI Video Only Cable M/M, Black (Video Card Support Necessary) (6 feet)

They should have a disclaimer letting you know that VGA to HDMI is not possible simply through a cable. VGA is an analog output, whereas HDMI is a digital output. Without some kind of converter between the two it doesn't work. So a cable that has VGA on one end and HDMI on the other end will not do what you think it will do.

I'm sure there must be some use for this cable, but I don't know what it is. Don't buy it if you're trying to convert VGA signal to HDMI signal.

Ok, so I'm really not all the tech savvy, so I figured it'd be really easy to just get a cable that runs from my laptop to my pc ready tv... someone told me that all I needed was a VGA to HDMI cable. This is wrong. VGA is an anolog signal plug, whereas HDMI is digital. VGA is also graphic signal only, so your sound will have to come from your computer speakers. You will also have to reset all of the video settings on both your tv and pc to make them agree with each other.

If you are not very good at fiddling with these settings, i'd recommend you stick with what you've got... or pay the few extra dollars and get a tv conversion box for your pc. That will save many headaches.

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VGA is an analog medium. HDMI is digital. A VGA to HDMI cable will never work unless your video card provides for digital output through the VGA port. You must use a converter box to convert the analog VGA signal to a digital HDMI signal.

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Don't buy this cable unless the following is true:

1. your computer video card supports analog to digital conversion, all the way to output. Warning: very few computers will actually do this, primarily high cost systems.

2. you actually have a conversion box that will accept analog signal from your computer, and then convert it to a digital signal that it sends to your TV. If you don't have a converter, this cable is worthless to you.

The solution:

1. Buy a converter.

2. Use a VGA to VGA cable. This will allow you to transmit the video. Then have a separate audio cable to connect your computer to your TV for sound. This will get the audio/video to show up on your HDTV. Be forewarned however, that since you are still dealing with only analog, the picture quality will be less than you may be used to on your digital HDTV. It is not the fault of the TV or the computer or this particular cable. It is just a compatability problem.

I hope this helps.

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i was told this cable would work to hook my computer up to my TV in order to use my HDTV as a monitor. It is the wrong cable! The cable you actually need is a VGA to VGA cable. This is used for an entirely different purpose! It is used to hook a non-HDMI component (such as VCR, DVD, Tivo, etc) to your HDTV. I'm sure the cord works wonderfully for that purpose, but I was mislead as to it's function. I hope this review helps others not to make the same mistake.

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Zacuto Z-Find-Pro3 Optical Viewfinder

Pros: Great Viewfinder. Well made, the anti-fog coating covers are wonderful. It is simply great, fits perfectly on my T2I. I suggest buying the "Z-Finder Mounting Frame" if you have the Canon T2I so you don't have to unscrew the mounting plate every time you have to change the battery. Plus if you have only one viewfinder and a spare camera, you can swap between the two.

Cons:It is very expensive...there are much cheaper ones, but I am unsure of the cheaper one's quality.

Final Thoughts: I took off one star for the price, but in my opinion, when filming video on these DSLRs or any video for that matter, one of the most important things is seeing what you are recording. Focus is SO important. So I decided to not skimp out with this one item, and I am very happy I did not skimp out. Dont get me wrong, you may be able to get similar results out of another viewfinder, but I have not found any that are 3x and that have anti-fog and a diopter. Plus most others use magnetic strips which...I don't like the idea of magnets near my electronics.

This product review is more about application and less about the product itself. This viewfinder is great, the gorilla mount is super heavy duty, the viewfinder is rugged and solid, and most importantly it works really well and does not fog up. Even the fact that it snaps onto the plastic clips, which originally seemed like a flaw and something that would wear down and eventually stop working, have held up pretty well for me.

The issue is, I use it less and less. I have a Canon 7D and a Canon 60 D at my disposal, obviously this presents a problem with the 60 D because it'll eliminates the FlipOut LCD screen. On the 7D, it's fine but I find I'm constantly popping it off and on because otherwise it limits your shots. We do a lot of run and gun shooting for weddings and corporate events and I found that this viewfinder sits in my bag more than it sits on the camera. That being said its great for shooting a speech or conference because you don't always have the luxury of getting a critical focus at the beginning of a speech and nothing is worse than being out of focus for a full speech (in 12 minute increments of course...damn limited recording time!)

Bottom line, it's something good to have, but if you're starting out building your kit and you keep reading all these reviews that you can't trust the LCD screen on your camera that's not true either. If your on a limited budget and it's between this and something else you might need like a mic or a lens, get that first.

If someone reads this and thinks I'm full of it and has a better workflow for running and gunning I'm all ears by the way :)

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I've looked at all the options for a compact solution to solve the question:

What product will help me improve my focusing ability on my DSLR?

This is it.

Excellent construction and handling. Fits perfectly, works perfectly.

Note: Some may prefer the 2.5x version. If I had to do it again, I might get that version, because the 3x makes the screen of my Canon 5D mk2 look a bit pixelated (ie: not enough resolution for this much magnification).

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Purchased this for my new Nikon D7000 which I acquired primarily for video shooting

As a long time Pro Photographer I wasn't used to shooting with the LCD screen on my dslrs...manual focus was proving problematic at best while shooting video so I decided to add a loupe to assist until I can justify getting a SmallHD D6 video monitor (check it out...it's the ultimate hddslr wish list item ;-).

First tried the Hoodman combo and returned it after one day...the rubber they use attracts dirt, fingerprints and dust like a magnet so it looked beat up after a few hours attempted use. I say attempted because it moved around a bit when used as a third brace point and wasn't the most comfortable against my eye...the $16 rubber band is a joke and kept blocking the lens opening during changes.

This was what I should have ordered from the start...pro build quality, excellent optics and feels solid and comfortable against my eye with or without glasses. The slight offset it's mount causes when adding a quick release plate actually worked well for me with my Shape Composite Stabilizer shoulder rig adding just a touch more offset of the camera on the rig and placing it directly in front of my eye...set up was quick and easy as I didn't need any of the extender frames and things just popped into focus bright crisp and clear.

I took 1 point off because for this price you'd think they'd include a bag to store it in and protect it from camera bag dust as even the less expensive ones do...

I justify the price paid by thinking about it like I do my lenses...Always buy the best optics you can...the glass you use will be around through many camera bodies...

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Purchased the 3x version over the 2.5x version based on a gut feeling, thinking more would be better... Well, upon first use I thought I may have made the wrong choice. The view is so much bigger that initially I wasn't comfortable with it. But after a few weeks of use I really appreciate having it. (If you are lucky enough to compare the 2 versions, I recommend you do before you buy)

My Nikon D7000 has the battery attachment. So, I also order the Zacuto extended mounting plate for cameras with battery grips. It all fits around the LCD perfectly. However, it does make it a little harder to use the selection pad around the OK button since the frame is robust and cramps the space normally between the LCD and the selection pad.

Some minor issues after a few weeks of usage:

* Try not to get the anti-fog shield dirty it's sticky. They do warn you in the instructions. But, if you're like me and don't read them, then you'll find out the hard way the first time you try to clean it. READ THE INSTRUCTION on how to clean it properly.

* The lanyard is oversized in every way a giant billboard that is unnecessary. I would've preferred a simple tether to keep the loupe secured when not attached. There's been a few times that it has actually gotten in the way and caused me to yank the view off the camera... I've since replace it with a much shorter and detachable strap/tether.

* The plastic eye cover is attached with a simple cord, however the cord was cut and melted as a way to keep the cover attached. Unfortunately, this made a little ball of plastic at the end of the string on the inside of the cap which gets in the way of letting the cap sit flush within the eye piece. So the cap keeps coming off and won't stay on while I'm handling the camera.

* I have a sinking feeling that with a lot of usage, taking the loupe off and on the bracket a lot... I think after a lifetime of use, either the frame attachment point(s) or the inside attachment point(s) of the finder may wear down and not bind strong enough to keep the finder attached. Right now it's solid...

* The spacers are tough to separate! Make sure you actually need them before snapping them together and trying them out. I had a tough time separating the 3 provided I didn't want to use any tools that might have damaged them. So I had to work them apart by hand...

* As attached to a Nikon D7000 with a battery grip, the extended frame does fit, but it is not flush at the bottom of the Gorilla plate. There's about 2mm of the frame left at the bottom stick out past the plate. You'll have to consider this if you then plan on attaching a tripod head plate you'll need to position it to accommodate the extended mounting frame. (Maybe if you file it down to be flush with the bottom of the plate, then it won't be a concern...)

* No carrying case or pouch although it may not get used as much it would've been nice to have one included.

Conclusion:

So far this is a worthwhile purchase. When filming in bright daylight this is a must have for the LCD. The build quality is excellent. The 3x version does take some getting used to and does show a little pixilation with that level of magnification, but on the Nikon D7000 it is working great! With the magnification you'll also see just how bad your handheld technique is!

I only give it 4-stars because of its price and the number issue I described... for the money I guess I expected a more flawless experience.

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Clover CW5700 2.4 GHz Wireless Video Monitoring Systems with 4-Channel Switcher

I bought 3 of these units, new in box, from Walmart.

There are 4 channels, so you can have 4 cameras with one base unit.

These were on clearance for $40 (regular $127)

I wanted one for the front door, one for the back door, one for inside monitoring.

The camera looked to be very solidly built. It looked like it WOULD hold up to outdoor use.

But things went downhill fast.

The software simply would NOT work.

I have 3 different computers, running 3 different versions of windows, and I could NOT get the DVR to work on any pc. (windows XP home, XP media center 2005, Vista Ultimate)

The little tiny instruction sheets (about the size of 5 index cards, folded in half, to make a booklet) did NOT give insight into what windows systems were or were not compatible. I could not find any minimum PC requirements anywhere.

(I planned to use this as a DVR, to record video events on my PC)

On my Vista pc, the software WOULD NOT even load. The install would crash and abort.

On XP home, the software installed BUT.... when you launched it, you would often get an exception error.

I visted the WISECOMM website, but could not get any drivers nor downloads that might help me.

I was never even able to get a picture to come up on my pc (from the camera to the base unit DVR).

After spending a couple hours with it, I packed them up and took them back to walmart for a refund.

I really had high hopes for this unit, but if it won't work, then why bother with it.

It's a cheap camera, that's what you pay for and that's what you'll get. The static interference is atrocious at 15ft away I can't imagine 400. It boasts about on board mics but I cant find them, there are zero audio settings in the software or users manual. The camera itself has a pretty decent image though it's never stable. The night vision's impressive but again this means nothing with out a good connection. Forget about customer service they have yet to finish that portion of their website. So buyer beware. Your experience could be different but yo will be gambling your money.

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Many people don't have the drivers for this unit. I was given this link and downloaded the DVR drivers

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/8561352/CW5700.zip

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I bought this unit to install in my carport about three weeks ago. So far it works better than I expected for the money I paid. The software installed without a hitch, the camera and the receiver does exactly what I had expected. The software includes unexpected bennies like camera and motion detection settings plus a recording scheduler, and frame selector for the PC. The camera construction is heavy duty too, made of metal not plastic. Next I buy another wireless camera, since the DVR is set up for four cameras.

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Couldn't install DVR software on mini disc because my antivirus program detected a trojan,IFinst27.exe. Visited Wisecomm website and sent emails to sales and tech addresses provdided. Both emails were rejected.

Cable Matters 35 Feet Gold Plated DisplayPort to HDMI Cable

I had been looking for something to hook my Lenovo ThinkPad T420 up to an HDMI based display (both a projector and a 40" TV). I almost ordered one of the cheap adapters I found on Amazon until I read the reviews that they got stuck in the Display Port on the computer and would not come out. I then opted to go for a cable with the Display Port on one end and the HDMI on the other end. This cable is great. Does exactly what I needed it to. I get full 1920 x 1080 on both the projector and TV which is the resolution they support, and the sound goes through as well. Couldn't be happier.

My HP EliteBook 8560p has a DisplayPort video output on it instead of the older HDMI type of port. There are a pretty good number of "adapters" on the market, and also short cables, but I wanted a durable end-to-end solution with none of the opportunities for issues that an adapter introduces. I wanted to get this cable from AmazonBasics or from Cables-to-Go, because I've have very good luck with both of them. As it turned out, when I was shopping, this one from "Cable Matters" was the only option that met my needs. I am happy to say, that I am not disappointed at all. The cable does great at sending high definition 1080P 120hz video and high definition audio from my laptop's DisplayPort to my TV's HDMI input. It works wonderfully, and I'm very happy.

The cable is well made and has good, solid, connectors on both ends. It is the correct length and was packaged properly. It is malleable, yet solid.

I have no complaints at all about this cable. The price was a little steep at $25, when I bought it, but considering there is no competition yet for this length cable, I'm not too surprised or upset. I can remember paying two or three times that amount for a similar cable at brick and mortar stores, back before there were alternatives.

I highly recommend this cable. If there is anything else that you'd like to know about it, that I forgot to put in this review, please let me know in the comments section, and I'll address it.

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I purchased this cable in order to watch content from my Lenovo T410 laptop on a HD TV. The laptop has a DisplayPort (DP++) output and the TV has HDMI input.

Simply by connecting the ends of this cable to my laptop and TV, I had an 720p HD image of my laptop screen almost instantly. However, there was no audio.

The lack of audio was *not* due to any flaw in the cable. In the process of troubleshooting, I saw several websites which simply blamed this sort of no-audio problem on a "cheap cable" -but, while this cable is certainly inexpensive (which is one of the reasons I got it!), it has no trouble carrying audio (and very clear audio, at that).

I eventually found a Lenovo forum which held the answer: "First go to your audio settings by going FN + F6, choose 'Audio Defaults + Settings'. Then choose your TV as the default audio."

This did the trick for me -I instantly had audio (both through the laptop speakers and the HD TV).

The poster on the Lenovo forum also had this piece of advice (which I never followed, since the first step solved the problem for me): "Now the sneaky part. Push FN + F7 and choose 'Projector Only', then sound will come out of the TV. Took me forever to figure out." Again, I had no need to do this, but I'm re-posting it in case someone else does.

In summary, after some fiddling with my cpu's settings, this cable delivered all that was promised: crystal clear audio and visual from my laptop to my HD TV. Note: I have only used the cable on a handful of occasions during the past few weeks, so I'm not in a good position to evaluate its durability. As a previous reviewer has mentioned, when the DisplayPort end connects to the computer, it "latches" into place, and a small panel must be pressed in order to release it -this "release latch" doesn't feel like the most sturdy thing in the world, but it hasn't given my any problems so far, and handled gently, I would imagine that it will continue to function just fine.

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(I own the 15' version of this cable)

I bought this cable to connect my Dell Precision M6400 to a TV.

I knew that DisplayPort (and obviously HDMI) is capable of carrying an audio signal, but I didn't know my Dell was wired to have the audio go through the DisplayPort ... port. It is, and this cable is a credit to the DisplayPort spec. I can't vouch for every implementation of DisplayPort working as well as mine, but here's how it works for me with this cable:

(Windows 7 x64, btw)

a) plug HDMI cable into 1080p TV

b) plug DisplayPort into laptop

computer auto-senses that the TV wants 1080p (or it is guessing, not sure which)

computer changes my desktop resolution from 1920x1200 (16x10) to 1920x1080 (16x9 1080p standard res)

desktop is now mirrored on the TV screen and audio is coming through the home audio system

I could change settings so that the TV is a 2nd monitor that extends my desktop or whatever I want, but in my case, the default behavior is perfect.

Great quality cable, excellent connectors that feel sturdy and like they won't fall apart with use.

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My Dell Precision M4400 has a DisplayPort rather than a HDMI port. I wasted a lot of time looking in local stores for a DisplayPort to HDMI cable. Don't waste your time, order online. The cable arrived in about a week with regular shipping. Cable is thick giving the impression that it will last awhile and connectors seem sturdy.

When I plug in the cable, Windows 7 adjusts the computer screen resolution and immediately displays the image on the TV in addition to the computer. Initially, a small sliver is clipped on all 4 sides of the image due to TV "overscanning". This is not a cable issue, rather a TV issue. TVs should have a setting to correct or turn off overscanning.

Some online comments mention having trouble removing a DisplayPort adapter from their computer because it clips into place. With my particular computer and this specific adapter, I have not had any problems. The 15' length was perfect for my situation. This cable was exactly what I needed.

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Kodak DC280 2MP Digital Camera w/ 2x Optical Zoom

I am a photographic and computer enthusiast and having these two elements come together is a delight for me. So, I have all the very expensive stuff, including KODAK's $20m commercial digital cameras. So, I know what quality is and how much it costs. Bottom-Line as starters, the DC280 makes great color shots with very suprising Hi-detail. The Advertisments say "good" for 8x10 photos, however, as a very picky guy, when you get past 5x7 print sizes, the pictures start to turn fuzzy. But the 5x7 prints are shockingly clear with brilliant colors. But, so what, how many prints does one make larger than 5x7 anyway. This camera is easy to use & small, and I carry it on vacation locations, when I don't want to carry my larger and heavier commercial camera. I was truly shocked at the excellent picture quality of the 280. ALSO, KODAK includes great software, so after a picture taking day/nite, one can easily connect to the yellow video plug on your TV (or Hotel TV) for a slide show of the days activities. I would recommend purchasing a 64MB memory card with the camera purchase, so you'll get plenty of picture opportunities (75+ shots) without having to worry about using up memory. In other words, since you can erase shots you don't like, take MANY, MANY shots and pick the best ones you like for printing or e-mailing. I bring my laptop with me on trips, so in the evening, I can copy the photo-files to the hard disk, and erase the camera memory card, in preparation for the next days photo activities. KODAK provides serial, USB cables, and software to accomplish this simply. Definitely do NOT buy a digital camera with less than 2,000,000 pixels. (The older models, presently having good sale prices, are technology of 2/3 years ago, and you'll wish you spent the extra money for this camera). Since KODAK has been the color business for 100 years, (well...50+years) its no surprise that they have created an electronic imager (the CCD Chip) with the BEST Color quality and detail. This is a must have, you'll not be dissappointed. If you have another few hundred dollars, check out the SONY or OLYMPUS dye-sublimation printers, which produce actual photo quality continuous tone prints up to 4x5 sizes; These printers are not dot-matrix's with all the little dots. The camera and the printer makes for a great combo family gift for under $2m, that anyone in the family can use without having to even turn on a computer, as the printer prints directly off the camera memory card. SO that you don't make yourself craze, and since its slightly different than a typical film point and shoot camera, be sure to read the instruciton booklet, before pushing all the buttons. The documentation KODAK gives you is very easy to understand, so take it slow when you open the Box for the first time. It's so intuitive to use, after the first 2 outings, you NOT need to keep going back to the booklets. JLW/991203.

For the money you just simply will not beat the performance of the Kodak DC280. I have had mine for a couple of months now, and it has literaly replaced my regular 35 mm camera. I love the convience of taking pictures then making any edits i need from my computer. The software is easy to install, and only has about a one hour learning curve to master. Very good and fast usb connection. With a fully charged set of NI-MH, AA batteries it gets fantastic long life. And the 2.0 Megapixel image is nothing less than photo film perfect, must be seen to belive. I also like the smart card memory media included, I have upgraded the 8 mb, to a 24 mb card, and on the 24 mb, I can snap over 100 photos in the best quality mode on the lower size setting, and 34 of the highest quality photos in the huge mega resolution setting. Another great feature is that this camera is very easy to use compared to the other brands I have tried. I did not even have to read the instructions, (though I would read them if I were a beginer). Try the Kodak DC280 out if your in the market for a fantastic digital camera!

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Although it sometimes feels like we're all still beta testing various digital imaging technologies, including digital cameras, products like the Kodak DC280 make me believe the "dark ages" might be coming to an end.

This is a good mid-range digital camera, perfect for those who want to capture images that will look very good on the Web. The biggest plus of the camera is image quality; this is the best camera in this price range that I tested, with two-megapixel resolution. Having quite a bit of hands-on experience with various Sony cameras, I and my partner were actually stunned by how clear the DC280's images were in a variety of lighting conditions.

There is very little to complain about in terms of interface and usability. I scanned the manual, and then just started using the DC280. The menu system and buttons are quite intuitive. One minor quibble is that one is pretty much forced to use the DC280's viewfinder left-eyed; otherwise the LCD screen smudge factor so common to digital camera will rear its ugly head. However, I use the LCD for the majority of my shooting, so this isn't a huge factor.

The DC280 uses a USB connection to transfer images to your computer. The camera mounts as if it were a hard drive, and one can preview large thumbnails of images before copying them over to your hard drive. While I was able to open the images directly into Photoshop, Fireworks couldn't get into the camera; this may have been a problem with how I have my file associations set up, however.

The camera comes with a number of features and extras. The bundled software, Adobe's PhotoDeluxe and Pagemill, are more than adequate for editing images and creating Web pages. Various simple visual effects and borders can be applied in-camera, and you can run a slide-show right out of the camera using the supplied video cable.

The DC280 includes four rechargeable AA batteries, a recharger, and four AA alkaline batteries. You can get started right out of the box. My camera sucked the alkalines dry after about 50 photos and a couple of downloads; I would suggest buying an extra set of rechargeables to carry around with you, and an AC adaptor.

This is not the perfect camera for all applications. For one thing, there are few manual controls on the camera for focus, aperture or shutter priority, and the optical zoom limited to 2X. This will mean that photo enthusiasts might want to look at something the next step up, such as the wacky-looking Nikon Coolpix 950. As others have reported, low-light shooting is not at the quality that one would hope for from a camera at this level.

All-in-all, the DC280 is an excellent camera for the price, perfect for Web photos.

Read Best Reviews of Kodak DC280 2MP Digital Camera w/ 2x Optical Zoom Here

With this camera, you will get great colors on your screen. I tryed the same picture with the three different qualities and with all I got excellent pictures. It has all the basic features you might need in any camera. It has a good zoom, the 'physical zoom' is not that good, then I discovered the digital zoom which is great.

It consumes a lot of batteries, but you have more than enough with the rechargable batteries and of course, the battery charger included in the camera. I bought an additional charger because I never found that the camera came with its own, so don't buy another charger.

I'm more than satisfied with the 8MB flash card. It is true that you can only take 12 pictures with the highest resolution (1800x1600) and higest quality, but with standard resolution(800x600) and the medium quality you still have very good pictures and can get about 52 pictures, which is good for a weekend. If you have a long trip and don't have a pc to download the pictures, then you might consider another flash card.

BAD THINGS: It weights a little bit more than a traditional camera of the same size, but still, it's much better that other big cameras. It doesn't come with a camera bag. You have to buy it appart.

In summary, a great camera.

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I finally upgraded from my original 2 year old Digital Camera a Casio 5000SX that was great except for a poorly designed battery door. The Kodak DC280 Zoom is better in every category clarity, features, memory capability, analog zoom, except for one the delay in the time from pressing the shutter until it snaps the picture. Keep in mind, that the processing time is quite fast the Kodak is ready to take your next picture quite quickly, thanks to some in-memory processing, but the delay from when you click the button until the action is captured is quite lengthy. I find it nearly impossible to get good action shots with this camera. For example, I take quite a few pictures of sand volleyball on my weekends. Only the highest flyers the guys that can jump out of the sand and hang like Vince Carter were captured in the air, and only with me clicking the shutter button at least 2-3 seconds *before* they jumped. However, if you don't have to take a lot of action shots, well this this is an excellent camera for the money for both amateur and professional alike.

Defender ST101 Covert Pinhole Color Security Camera Pen with 4 GB USB Memory

Is a camera pen cool? Definitely. Can you have fun with *this* camera pen? Possibly.

As advertised, the Defender ST101 Covert Pinhole Color Security Camera Pen (with 4 GB USB Memory) takes still pictures and video. Provided your lighting is adequate, your pictures will be adequate, too. Nothing glorious, but they'll do the job. The video is choppy, but being able to clip the pen to your pocket and stroll around with the camera running is easier than holding your cell phone and walking around (or maybe it's just me that has that problem). Sound, of course, would have to be added in post-production.

You can surreptitiously photograph people/things, though concealing the amber/blue light may be an issue. I've taken random candid shots and pictures of notes on a whiteboard and they came out "good enough." Nothing I couldn't have done (better) with a cell phone, but the USB was a handier option than Bluetooth or cable syncing with my computer. That said, I suspect most potential purchasers will be plenty happy with the technology they already own rather than add this pen/camera/USB drive to their kit.

If you're not prone to buyer's remorse and/or your therapist doesn't have your secret agent obsession handled with medication or hypnosis, give the camera pen a go. Otherwise content yourself with the more-powerful options you likely already own. (Likewise, although the pen works just fine, any halfway-decent clicky pen is just as good at a small small fraction of the price.)

The only reason you are going to want to buy this pen/camera is to record things you shouldn't, whether it be spying on your kids or other unsuspecting people, or using it for your own private use. The picture is surprisingly clear, and the date and time stamp are easy to set (open the files on your computer and click "WriteTime.")

Their are few problems with the pen however. One, there is no sound. And two, there will always be a blue light on when the camera is filming. So, your pen will be discovered if you aren't careful where you put it.

This is a nifty camera you can put to good use or just have a lot of fun with. Oh, you can also write with it.

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I don't own a cell phone, so this pen has been a fun way for me to always have a camera on hand. It's very easy to use, requiring only the information in the little booklet that comes with it. I would have given it three stars except that it doesn't work very well as a pen. The ink flow is too unreliable to be worth the trouble of trying to use it.

I've found the quality of the photos and video to be pretty decent if the lighting is good and the pen is held level while photographing. Any angling of the pen, close-ups, or low light results in blurry and/or useless photos, which means it wouldn't be too helpful for a real spy. Also, you have to hold the pen vertically at eye level to be sure that what you're seeing is roughly what you're photographing. This would make you look mighty suspicious if you were trying to be secretive.

One thing I've found inconvenient is that you have to unscrew the two halves of the pen to switch back and forth between video and still shots. Also, that switch is tiny and hard to operate, and might be prone to breakage with frequent use.

If you want a fun toy that's easy to operate and handy to carry, this might suit your needs. Even if you decide against it, the company might be worth looking into for other products because they have 24/7 live support.

Read Best Reviews of Defender ST101 Covert Pinhole Color Security Camera Pen with 4 GB USB Memory Here

I got this because it seemed so James Bondesque. Just a cool little clandestine piece of technology to play around with....so for me it was fine. There is a light that indicates when you're recording, so one would have to be careful with that, if the goal is to be sneaky. The memory is serviceable; it IS a small device, after all. I love the way the top half is a USB. It's a fun little device, but certainly won't set the world on fire.

DYB

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I got this pen camera more for the fun factor than trying to spy on someone and that's a good thing as it's definitely not suited to legitimate discreet needs. The pen writes well and has a functional USB, though my computer detected spyware embedded in the USB so be careful when loading. Unfortunately the camera is very poor quality for pictures. I found the pictures were blurry unless you were very close to the subject. However unless you're holding the pen camera up (like you would a regular camera) aimed at the subject, the pictures are low quality and not useful. But that does take away some of the "cool" factor since you can't really discretely take pictures and video. Additionally the videos have no sound though the quality of the video is slightly better than still pictures.

The pen is fun to play around with if you're a gadget fan but it's not really something useful even if it's just used for messing around with family or friends. I enjoyed messing around with it but it soon lost its luster due to the poor quality of the pictures, the questionable USB software (after the first warning I didn't want to plug it in again), and no sound on the videos. $50 is a bit much for such a gadget that doesn't function as well as described.. though in fairness it does do everything that it says it does, just not well.

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JPQuality® 6ft Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable for Motorola Droid RAZR & Droid 3

We hook up our Razr to the TV and watch YouTube and get on Facebook, design photos, this cord is fantastic because sometime when your viewing things on your phone you just want them to be bigger, this gives you that.

Tiffen Steadicam Pilot-AA Camera Stabilization System (Sled, Vest, Arm, Back Pack Transport, 5.8" L

I received everything in a big shipment box with everything in perfect condition.

Been using the Steadicam pilot, arm and vest for about 6 months shooting convention videos and so far it's been perfect. The hardest part about using the pilot is to have it properly balanced, whether top or bottom heavy. Since every user will use it for different purposes it will take some time to practice and figure out how you want to use it.

Have been using it for a few months already, its been with me to over 60 shoots. big and small and works flawlessly. Easy to balance. Easy to operate. Steadicam itself, not one of those cheap-o indian or chinese rigs.

If your looking to invest into one of these, I do reccomend you go with the Flyer. 20lb capacity is MUCH better, its biting me in the ass right now, but its still good if your into simplicity. Considering my dslr rig consists of a huge matte box, lots of rails, big follow focus, big lens, etc

Note you WILL need a c-stand with this, no grip arm required. Just to balance it.

Pros:

Easy to balance

Easy to use

Very portable

Light-weight

Chicks dig it

Cons:

10lb Capacity

AA battery isn't that great, you'll have to use Lithium or use another battery supply (12v)

Out of 10 stars? 10!!!

To sum it all up. Who needs a dolly? When you have this guy?

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Metz MZ 52822D 28 CS-2 Digital Flash

I have a Canon EOS 1DMarkII with a 580EX flash that only comes out with me for serious shooting trips and assignments. Most of the time I just carry around my Canon SD 800IS camera. What limits most point and shoots is the lack of a proper flash. Forgot that crap in the manual about built-in flash good for 12ft, yeah right, who measured that?

The Metz flash is about the same size as my SD800 or slightly thicker than a pack of playing cards (easy to carry around). It's a lot of plastic, but then again my 1DMarkII and 580EX is a back breaker to carry around. The Metz flash is probably no more susceptible to damage from drops as any digital camera. It works beautifully on auto mode, most point and shoot digital cameras can be trained to work with it, on my Canon SD800 this means firing off a test shot with the Metz in learning mode. There are numerous advanced functions that the Canon external flash for point and shoots don't have, this is why I chose Metz. To be quite honest, when I'm using a point and shoot, I want everything to just work on auto and this is where the Metz excels. If you've never heard of Metz, just speak to pro wedding photographers, this company knows how to make flashes and has been doing it for years.

If the photo is too dark or bright after the flash fired, just press the + or key to immediately adjust and reshoot. It's that simple! The flash head is probably at least 5x larger than the flash on my SD800IS so it does reach beyond 12ft. It comes with wide-angle and telephoto reflectors that are compact and easy to clip on. Flash is rated to 100 shots on 2 fresh batteries; so far I've taken 50 shots and no problems. Easy enough to carry around extra batteries if required.

So you're asking yourself why you don't just dial the ISO to 400 or 800? Almost all point and shoots have crappy grainy images at high ISO and my Canon SD800 is no exception. With the Metz flash I can leave my camera set to ISO 100 all the time and get the sharpest highest resolution photos that my camera can output! Worried about whether you'll actually carry it around? I use 2 $10 neoprene fitted cases I found on eBay to store both my camera and flash and it's hardly noticeable in my jacket pocket. This is a great product that every point and shoot camera owner should have!

****** Jan 2008 Update ******

After 1yr of use I still love this little flash. I see that Canon has made their own small point and shoot flash. The advantage of this Metz flash is that it is not limited to use with any one brand. It syncs with Canon, Nikon, Olympus etc so if you ever change brands you don't have to buy another small flash again.

This little flash is a great slave flash it uses your camera's flash as a trigger (I set my camera's flash to 1/128th power, so its doesn't light the subject, but still triggers the Metz flash). I like that you can set this little flash to the side of a subject for nice modeling light and you can place your camera way away (I've tried 60feet or so), use a long lens and still get great exposures. I bought a second one the two Metz C28's work together beautifully and there is nothing to set up they just work : ).

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This flash was purchased for my Canon Powershot A590 IS. After considering the Canon equivalent of this flash, I purchased the Metz and am very happy with it. The fold-up camera stand stays with the flash, so there is no fear of losing it. The stand length and screw location are adjustable for just about any type of compact camera.

What really sold me on this model was the ability to adapt this flash to a variety of cameras. Although it cost a little more, I like that flexibility.

After a few test shots I was very impressed with the output. I turned off the lights in a small room and used only the camera and Metz flash, with the Metz off to the side and bounced off the ceiling. The room was completely filled with light but there were no harsh shadows. For this flash newbie that is a huge improvement!

The "Easy" mode really is easy. Hit "plus" for more light or "minus" for less, and adjust after reviewing the picture on your camera. One thing that is a little confusing at first: the camera will remember your last setting and make it the new "0." If your last setting was at the highest output, it will appear that only "minus" settings are available for the next picture.

At first the "manual" and "auto" modes did not seem to work. I re-read the manual and finally adjusted the time that the flash measures between pre-flash and flash. This worked, although I am not sure why, since these modes still worked after adjusting back to the original setting.

"Manual" mode allows for adjustments based on desired power output (full power down to 1/16th power); "auto" mode allows for exposure compensation to be set in 1/3 stops, to plus or minus three stops. Camera settings are input in these modes also. (A fourth mode only works with a special master flash.)

One final note: the manual states that the flash must be turned on for 10 minutes once every three months.

Although it took a few tries to get everything working correctly, I am very happy with this flash. A lot of control will be there when I need it. Am looking forward to being able to use flash rather than avoid it.

Read Best Reviews of Metz MZ 52822D 28 CS-2 Digital Flash Here

I highly recommend the Metz 28CS-2 flash. I now have two of them in addition to my Canon 580 EX Speedlite.

The Metz is a slave flash with no master required. This is not really an oxymoron but This flash is triggered by any on-camera flash, even a flash on a point-and-shoot camera. I use this flash off-camera with both my Canon S90 and my Canon 550D.

Having a slave flash that can be triggered by any on-camera flash is a rare luxury as you usually have to purchase a master flash to trigger an off-camera slave flash and may also have to plug a slave mechanism into a slave flash to use it off-camera.

One caveat is that the accompanying user manual for this flash is nearly impossible to comprehend and may have been written by someone from another planet. Just joking. But do not fear. I try to keep it simple. Here are two ways I have discovered to use this flash.

1. I would suggest using this flash in Manual mode combined with "Preflash suppression" mode with am on-camera flash triggering it. If you do this, be sure to first disable the AF Assist Beam on your DSLR or your point-and-shoot camera.

2. Since I cannot disble the AF Assist Beam on my S90, I use a different mode for this camera. If you cannot disable the AF Assist Beam, you can use it in Manual mode combined with "No preflash suppression" mode with a point-and shoot camera or a DSLR Mounted speedlite. It triggers prematurely with the on-camera flash on my DSLR in this mode when the AF Assist Beam is enabled.

I think one of the two above combinations will work for most cameras.

For either of the methods I just described, I set the exposure manually using the "P1" function. It has an exposure range from 1/1 to 1/16.

This flash is so simple to use and does not require buying into any complicated/expensive flash system to use. I hope Metz does not discontinue this flash although I do see dwindling supplies and think it may be on its way out.

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I received the shipment of the flash unit in short order. I have used the 28 CS-2 about four times. It really makes a difference in my photos. I use it with a small point and shoot Fuji F20 camera which takes real good pictures in low light. The CS-2 flash makes all the difference though as fill flash or as a flash from a different angle it removes alot of shaddow. It also throws light far beyond the limits of the built in flash, of the F20, which is by comparison quite weak. I was in the habit of just turning off the built in flash and forcing the camera to select a slow shutter speed and lower f-stop. It is easy to set up and the learning function is super. The unit is great because it gives you alot of control over the flash. There is a function to control the level of light output and manual settings are provided. It is compact and the bracket, which is collapsable, screws into the tripod mount and is adjustable for length.

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UM07 2.0MP Handheld USB Digital Borescope Endoscope Microscope with 8.2mm Tube Diameter

• Lens & CMOS Sensor: 2.0M pixels. Still Image Resolution: 1600X1200 pixels (Format: JPG, BMP). Video Resolution: 1600x1200 pixels (Format: AVI, Frame Rate: 30FPS).
• Focal Distance: 5mm - infinity (when Focal distance is infinity, the microscope cannot magnify, but can be used as a webcam). Magnification: 5X - 270X (adjustable) on 22" monitor.
• Illumination: 6 white LEDs with adjustable brightness. PC Interface: USB 2.0. USB Cable Length: 200cm. Endoscope Tube Diameter: 8.2mm. Endoscope Tube Length: 165mm. Reflector Tube Diameter: 9.7mm.
• Include Advanced Application Software: Multi functions (Image comparison mode, Video control mode (left-right, up-down), Aiming aid), Measurement Tools (Measure line, circle, ellipse, square, rectangle, area, angle, etc.), Time lapse photography including image converting into video, video converting into image.
• Set of Accessories (Reflector Tube, Rubber Sleeve, and Plastic Sleeves): can be attached to the endoscope for different inspection purposes.

I received the endoscope/microscope yesterday. Below is my review after one day of use.

Shipping:

Let me start with the shipping. Perfect. They used a box with packing material around the product box itself.

When you open the product box it is like opening a piece of fine jewelery. The scope is seated in a velvet like cutout and presented as if it were an expensive watch or diamond ring. The other components are individually sealed and located in the compartment below the scope. I only mention the shipping and packaging because it was just so impressive as to be noteworthy. You will not throw out the box for this scope. It is that nice.

The scope:

Exactly what I needed to examine and take pictures of coins. I metal detect and it is sometimes very hard to see the dates of very old coins. No problem now. This thing can zoom in so far I can make the date alone as big as my laptop screen. It can also zoom out so that I can see the entire coin when needed too. I've read other product reviews that state that their microscope can only zoom at 20x or 200x for example but nothing in between. I don't know if that is true because I don't have another scope, but I can say without a doubt that this one will zoom in to the max advertised magnification and can zoom out to infinity if you want to use it like a web cam or video camera. At the opposite end of the scope is a fine tuning barrel screw. It is serrated for easy gripping and allows you to fine focus on your object once you have moved the scope as close as you want. The USB cable has an inline adjustment knob for the 6 tiny LEDs in the end of the scope. It is very nice to be able to light up your target. Included in the kit are several inspection attachments that can be put on the end of the scope. One of them allows you to look sideways. This is good for inspecting the inside of pipes or other small enclosures. The USB cable is heavy duty and is about 6 feet long for working further away from the computer when needed. I use mine right next to my laptop. I can manipulate the scope controls with my left hand and snap pictures with my right. Very easy.

The stand:

Excellent design. All metal like a surgical instrument. It can be adjusted in all directions. The scope can be moved up or down within the arm and is held in place with a set screw at the end. Once the scope is attached to the arm, you can move then entire arm up or down with the big barrel screw at the back of the platform. Very easy and smooth movement. The entire arm swivels left and right if needed but I just leave it centered over the platform. The end of the arm with the scope can also rotate if you need to point the scope up like a web cam. The bottom of the platform has 4 rubber feet and sets level on any smooth surface.

The software:

I use a laptop with Windows 7. The software works great. It's just one executable file you can copy to your desktop. It allows to you view whatever is under the scope. You can snap pictures or take videos via the software too. Once you have zoomed in on your object just click the mouse on the "snap" menu option or just hit your "enter" key. Either way takes a picture and puts the file on your desktop. You can also set a default location for the software if you want the pictures or videos to be saved to an alternate location. The CD also has a user manual in PDF format and a link to the Microsoft site if you need to upgrade the drivers for your computer.

Conclusion:

For me this was the perfect solution to my problem. I wanted something that was easy to use, allowed me to magnify my coins and other finds, and allowed me to take micro pictures. High quality was also important as I did not want to have to buy something twice. I am very pleased with this purchase from every aspect. If you're going to drop 100 bucks on a tool then you want to get something that looks, feels, and works like a 100 dollar tool. I can't review the longevity of the product but it looks like money well spent so far.

Buy UM07 2.0MP Handheld USB Digital Borescope Endoscope Microscope with 8.2mm Tube Diameter Now

UPDATE 2:

Someone from Oasis Scientific contacted me based on my review update and offered to replace the broken endoscope or exchange for a model with a flexible arm more appropriate for inspection work. I've changed my review to 3 stars for now and will update with results based on what I decide to do. It is nice to see a company willing to honor their 1-year warranty instead of claiming everything is not covered by the warranty due to whatever excuse they care to make.

UPDATE:

I've owned this for about nine months and used it for about 60 minutes total and it's now broken. I was using it for maybe the forth time and had duct taped it to a straight coat hanger wire and was finding it useful to push into walls while I was running new wire in the walls, but every time I did it kept slowly losing focus. Whenever I pulled the camera out I would twist on the focus ring at the end and found it harder and harder to get it to focus on "infinity" so I could see things in the distance. By twisting the focus all the way in and then all the way out, I got it to almost focus, but that stopped working after awhile and things were hopelessly out of focus. I realized if I pushed the USB cable into the body of the camera the focus changed! Something was apparently loose inside.

Since I could not get distant objects in focus so I thought maybe it was worth taking apart to try to fix it. I had noticed the end of the focus ring was loose so I pulled that and the whole focus ring slipped out of the camera body easily. I kept pulling and tiny brown wires appeared, eventually followed by a tiny circuit board. At that point I realized the wires must be leading to the LED lights and they were so tiny I figured they would surely break if I kept pulling, so I pushed it all back in again. I hoped I could somehow push it in far enough to repair the focus but the focus ring is securely attached to the usb cable so I can't push it in any farther than pushing the focus ring fully back into the camera body. Doing so leaves the camera far enough back that all I see is blur, even on close items when the focus ring is turned, so the camera is now useless. Maybe if I spend some time I can figure out how to shift or remove the focus ring from the USB cable so I can get the camera in further but I'm dubious.

I always kept the endoscope in its original box which has padding so I can't imagine the focus problem was due to it getting knocked around. As far as I can tell, the focus in the camera is actually achieved by the focus ring literally pushing the USB cable in and out of the camera body which pushes the circuit board with the camera closer or farther from the lens which is permanently glued in the front of the camera. The focus ring has stops at both ends so it probably contains a little cylinder inside that clamps on the USB cable and the focus ring fits screw threads on the outside of the cylinder so it moves the cylinder back and forth as you screw the focus ring. But if the flexible USB cable bends a bit or the clamps shift on the USB cable, then your focus changes and you can't reach infinite focus anymore (which I assume is the camera pushed as close as possible to the lens). Obviously the USB cable is not stiff enough to reliably push the camera close to the lens or pushing the whole thing back together would have gotten me at least close to infinite focus again, but it's obvious the camera is now sitting too far back from the lens to focus on anything. They should have placed a stiff metal cylinder between the circuit board and the focus ring and used the cylinder to push the camera in and out instead of using the weak USB cable to do so. The current design is very imprecise and fragile and I wouldn't trust it to last in any camera. If you only use the camera for close-up work, you might not notice or care if infinite focus fails, but if you need infinite focus, do not buy this camera.

ORIGINAL REVIEW:

This endoscope looks very cool and takes very nice pictures. Mine seems slightly defective in that one of the six LEDs does not light up until you turn them all to full brightness, and then it stays on until you dim it too far. Its main faults are the accessories and lack of USB 1.0 support.

The product description says "PC Interface: USB 2.0" which did not imply to me that it is usable with USB 2.0 ONLY. I've never used any other USB 2.0 peripheral that wasn't backwards compatible with a USB 1.x port, but I could not get the included software to show me a picture on a WinXP laptop that had only a USB 1.x port. I also tried YawCam and could not get a picture. Its error was along the lines of "Failed to connect to camera". However, WinXP's device manager did list the camera as a "USB 2.0 Camera", so it was being recognized on some level. I also tried MS Video and Movie Maker and it claimed the camera was busy and in use by another application. I couldn't find any other application that could have been using the camera.

I plugged it in to a much newer Win7 desktop machine and it worked with YawCam with no issue. When set to 1600x1200 resolution, the screen update was REALLY slow. The video on my screen lagged like 10 seconds behind how I moved the camera and I think it was getting farther and farther behind. However, when I tried the software included with the camera, the video didn't slow down at high resolution. Yet when I unchecked the "high resolution" checkbox, video slowed down again. I checked it and unchecked it a few times and video did NOT slow down again on either setting. Having "high resolution" checked doesn't seem to change the resolution at all. My monitor is set to 1600x1200 and at full screen, I could not see any difference. I tried taking a snapshot by using the menu and by pressing Enter, but nothing happened. Then I tried the white button on the camera, and that took a picture (but in a huge uncompressed bmp format, and it took at least 10 seconds before it let me take another picture). The video capture option worked fine.

Reading the manual on the CD, I got the impression that "High Resolution" actually has nothing to do with setting the resolution, but it actually controls whether you can take a picture with the keyboard vs the button on the camera. I experimented, and indeed that seems to be the case. With Options > "High Resolution" unchecked, I can take snapshots with keyboard enter or with the Snap > Capture menu, but not with the button on the camera. It's pretty weird they took the time to document this bizarre behavior instead of just changing the checkbox from "High Resolution" to "Snap with Camera Button" or something. I wonder if they don't have anyone who knows how to modify their software on staff anymore...

Returning to yawcam, I didn't get the slow video problem there, either, so it seems to be a random thing. However, I did notice that with yawcam the "scan rate" seemed to be slower so I would see the top and bottom of the screen moving at different rates, which looks very strange on video.

The instruction manual is pretty simplistic and filled with poorly translated English. Here's my favorite line: "Rap the F5 key to arouse a timing snap." I don't think I WANT an aroused timing snap...

Although another reviewer said this camera doesn't work on OSX, I tried it anyway with the included "Photo Booth" app and it came up with video immediately. Unfortunately the image is flipped left to right, like looking in a mirror, which makes the camera hard to use. Also, I couldn't find any option to increase the resolution above what it defaulted to (I think 640x480). I later found a hack to make Photo Booth 2.0 from Leopard mirror the video and another hack to blow up the image so it almost fills the screen, though it's still stuck at 640x480 resolution so it looks pixelated. You can also just zoom the screen in by holding cmd and moving two fingers upward on the trackpad (or right click). If you use Photo Boot 2.0 hacked you need to start it, then plug in the endoscope so it uses the scope instead of the internal camera. OSX "Image Capture" does not work. I later found it also works with iChat without an actual chat going on. Just select Video > Video Preview and you can drag the preview window to almost as large as the screen and take snapshots. The preview seems to use the camera's full 1600x1200 resolution. Unfortunately it has the same mirrored image problem as Photo Booth and the "Record Chat" option is greyed out so I don't know how you can record video.

My main motivation in buying this camera was to look in cracks and under our deck to try to figure out where mice are getting into our walls. I figured the 90-degree mirror attachment would actually be better for this kind of thing than the traditional bendable scope camera since those cameras don't bend at very sharp angles. The problem is that with the LEDs turned up past a third, the glare on the mirror makes the image hazy and hard to see. In fact, 3-4 inches seems to be the maximum distance the amount of light lets you make anything out. I think the problem is that when the camera is zoomed all the way out to see things at a distance, you see a lot of the edge of the hole and the LEDs reflect off that edge, creating a very bright spot that forces the camera to compensate and make the whole image too light/washed out. If I could cut the hole larger or change the mirror angle a bit so I could push the camera in deeper, I think you might not see the edge of the hole and have that problem.

The mirror also seems to attract dust particles like crazy and I kept wiping it, but it didn't help the haze much. I eventually found I could see a lot farther with a lot more clarity by shining a standard LED light in from behind the camera and turning off the camera's LEDs, but it can be quite hard to get an external light to penetrate to the right areas.

When I got it back inside I realized I'd somehow scratched the mirror by wiping it with my clothing. I tried to clean the scratches away with a kleenex and ended up leaving more scratches. So the mirror gets dirty way too easily and is way too easy to scratch which makes it rather useless for inspection work in the long term. The scratches aren't really visible as scratches through the camera, but they add to the haze effect that makes things hard to see.

I eventually tried to remove the mirror and change its angle but whatever solvent I used to unstick it (acetone, I think) destroyed the mirror. It's just poor-quality plastic with a thin, reflective backing and my solvent made the whole thing cloudy. I wanted to replace it with something higher quality but I haven't been able to find any glass mirrors of the correct shape and size. I also don't have the tools/skills to break a glass mirror to that shape. I tried using reflective mylar plastic but it makes the camera image blurry, I guess because it isn't reflective enough.

The LEDs seem blindingly bright when looked at directly, but even without the 90 degree mirror they don't cast enough light to see more than 1-3 feet. You can see farther (about 3 feet) in narrow areas like inside a wall where the light bounces around the small space, but in more open spaces, don't expect to see more than a foot. This, again, makes the scope less useful for inspection work, especially since you can't push the scope in too deeply.

As a magnifying scope this is a very nice solution. I also figured we'd use this camera to take closeup images of bugs or plants or whatever, and I think it will work quite well for that. The ability to focus works well and the magnification is quite high.

Read Best Reviews of UM07 2.0MP Handheld USB Digital Borescope Endoscope Microscope with 8.2mm Tube Diameter Here

Like the scope but the stand is wobbly, so i substituted a "Machinists-dial-indicator-magnetic-stand" which you

can Google for a picture.

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I bought one of these little devices using Amazon.com Gift Certificates. It arrived the exact day it was supposed to.

The device was packed correctly. It arrived complete with all of the accessories as stated in the included manual, on Mini CD.

The stand included is a little wobbly but with judicious use of shims it turns out to be very steady. I found the focus and height adjustment to be fairly easy to figure out.

The software is completely useless and buggy. Not quite ready for prime time. In fact it is horrible. But You can use MS Lifecam software, which works.

One of the viewers mentions YawCam, () works quite nicely for this device.

All in all I give it a 4 star review.

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The images from the camera look great. The build quality of the camera & stand looks quite solid.

Having said that, the software (on CD) that came with it leaves much to be desired. The initial installation generated a couple of dialog boxes in (what I assume to be) Chinese language (I am, in fact, in the USA). No clue what they referred to, but still asking (I assume) for a YES/NO response. Fortunately, a link in one of the included .pdf help files connected me to a microsoft site, to download a correct(?) driver file, which seemed to eliminate that issue upon re-install. The main application (ehe.exe), upon loading, generated a couple of error dialogs with very cryptic error descriptions, as follows:

"! 312Couldn't render the video capture stream. hr=0x80070057

The capture device may already be in use by another application.

The sample will now close."

and...

"! 17 Couldn't run the graph!"

Even so, the program loads, but for some reason, defaults to the webcam on my laptop instead of the microscope. Menu options in the program allow me to 'select' which camera to use, so I selected the correct 'usb 2.0 camera' instead. The only way I found, to keep the program from defaulting to my webcam, was to DISABLE the webcam through the Control Panel. Another issue, a menu option called 'High Resolution' is checked by default. In order to enable the software to snap a picture (via the program itself), the 'High Resolution' must be un-checked, which then sets the resolution at 640 x 480 pixels (not the 1600 x 1200 as advertised). You can leave the 'High Resolution' option checked (which does resolve at 1600 x 1200), but then you MUST use the mechanical switch on the USB cable to 'snap' the picture.

I visited the Oasis Scientific website, to see if an updated version of the software was available. There is a link to download an un-named usb camera application. Turns out, it's exactly the same program, exactly as buggy. They also offer a link to another application (called yawcam), which is advertised as 'having more features' than their standard program.

Edit on 14-JUL-2011:

I previously stated the yawcam application wouldn't resolve anything beyond 640 x 480 pixels. That was stated in error. I've since found an option to change that in the program. It will resolve up to 1600 x 1200 (which is curiously labelled as 'default', but the app itself defaults to 640 x 480, when first loaded). The 'Output Size' can be changed through the 'Settings/Device (USB2.0 Camera)/Format control' menu tree in the program. Varying the Output size will also vary the 'Frame Rate', which affects how slow/fast the displayed image will change, when lighting/focus/zoom adjustments are made at the camera. Higher output resolution will slow it down considerably. I've found it simpler to make all positioning/lighting/focus/zoom adjustments at lower resolution, and then change the output to higher resolution when you're ready to snap a pic. The output file format is selectable in yawcam as JPG, GIF or PNG format.

In a nutshell, it IS possible to take & save some impressive images with this camera. But doing so is a frustrating and awkward experience, thanks entirely to the included standard 'EHE.EXE' application. By the way, in Googling for some info on the 'EHE.EXE' application, I'm seeing many references to a same-named virus/malware program out there. That doesn't inspire confidence either, in searching for an update to this program.

I'm beginning to think the optional 'Yawcam' application is the better option for this scope. There may still be other options available, but at least I think I can live with this one for now. (Edit on 15-JUL-2011: I'm also finding that the HP MediaSmart webcam application on my notebook is working with this scope. That's two alternate apps I've found that work with it, and the one app that is shipped with the product hasn't worked as well. Seems a bit odd. )

By the way, I'm running Windows 7 (64-bit), on a brand new HP DV7 notebook.

Olympus VR-320 14 MP Digital Camera with 12.5x Optical Zoom and 3" LCD (Silver)

I currently own an Olympus DSLR (E-410), along with a Olympus SP-550UZ super-zoom camera. I decided to buy this camera because I wanted a pocket camera with a nice zoom lens that can take decent quality photos and I received an email from Olympus saying I could get $50 off at select retailers. Disclaimer: I have only had this camera for a couple days thus this review is only based off of a small amount of time of hands on time with this camera.

First -Image quality. If I compare this to my DSLR; the DSLR will beat this camera and my SP-550UZ hands down. There really is no comparison. But if I compare the image quality to other camera within the VR-320's class my opinion would be that this camera easily succeeds the other cameras in terms of image quality. The color is outstanding; oranges are ORANGE, blacks are BLACK, blues are BLUE, reds are RED, etc... Detail in the photos is also great. I don't really know how to describe detail but I will try. Ex) Took a photo of a person holding a Cheeto. The person's face, clothes, Cheeto bag, and Cheeto were all extremely crisp and well defined. The photos I took that achieved this image quality was on a moderately cloudy day with plenty of light. ISO was set at 80 and white balance was on Auto resulting in the camera using an exposure time of 1/1600th of a second and an F-stop of f/3. Jacked the ISO up and took some pictures at ISO of 400, 800. Well, I'll just say that you should never use an ISO of 800 or more on this camera unless you have a program to remove all of the noise. Even at an ISO of 400 there will be plenty of noise to be concerned about. Also, even if you have a program to remove the noise you will lose most if not all of the sharpness/crispness of the photo. (Neat Image works pretty well to remove the noise)

Second -Ease of use. Well, this is purely opinion so I won't elaborate. Since I own two other Olympus cameras I found the menus to be well thought out and easy to navigate. Much better than my 4 year old SP-550UZ and my 4 year old E-410. I really like how when given the option to change the Exposure Compensation and the White Balance it has a real time view of the current setting along with a real time view of the other settings right next to the current setting. That's just pretty sweet! Body is very nice and small. Great pocket camera.

Third -Video quality. Wow, just wow. In a bad way. 720p HD video at 30fps. Sounds pretty cool. But no, it really isn't on this camera. As a previous reviewer mentioned; yes, the colors were there. The quality was atrocious though. I'm on a college track and field team and we videotape each other usually using my SP-550UZ. Decided to try this camera due to the 'HD'. Just downloaded the videos, so much "noise" within the video itself. Not sound noise but just artifacts within the video. My blues are blue and so on but the quality of the "video picture" makes the video basically unusable. This was on a bright sunny day. Looks like it was a lower resolution video just unconverted by the camera itself to 720p. Not good. But, I bought this camera to take pictures, not video so I will only knock a single star off for this inconvenience.

Fourth -Performance. Right around 1 second from power button to ready to take a picture. Nice. Focus was much better than I expected; thus it was very fast for a point and shoot camera. Once you start zooming in focus will start to take a little longer but this is understandable. Zooming is pretty fast. Really like how you can change the Auto Focus Mode to AF Tracking. Position it on the subject, press OK, and the camera will do it's best to continually keep the object in focus. Pretty neat. Position of the flash = horrible. That is right where your finger goes so be careful. Outside in bright sunlight the screen works remarkably well. Still pretty crisp and vibrant and not too washed out. Very easy to use outside and achieve great photos, inside will be difficult due to keeping the ISO down. This is where you would use the flash, which seems to work pretty good resulting in decent pictures. Image stabilization works, not much to elaborate on here. Works pretty good taking action shots, wouldn't buy it just to take action shots but it works.

And lastly just my 2 cents. Even knowing these faults I believe that I would buy this camera again, there would be a slight hesitation but I would buy it. I was looking forward to the HD video but all's that I wanted was a point and shoot pocket camera with a nice zoom lens. Which the VR-320 fulfills very nicely. I am a very experienced photographer and always shoot in full manual. Going from being able to adjust everything to only being able to adjust the ISO, White Balance, and Exposure is not fun but this is a point and shoot camera period. Truthfully, it's kind of fun just taking this out and taking a picture that you know will be good! Hopefully this will help you make a decision as to whether or not you will purchase this camera. We all have different needs and wants and this camera fit what I needed and mostly of what I wanted.

If you have any questions just comment on this review and I will try my best to answer the question completely.

I currently have a 5 year old Canon Digital Elph and have been looking for a compact megazoom. My knowledge of camera features and operation is very basic. I don't know how to use manual controls and am not interested in learning. My needs are simple compact, easy to use, at least 12x optical zoom and no frills with decent picture quality that I can point and shoot. Set up was a breeze and I didn't need the manual. I've been playing around with it out in the yard and indoors. The pics look very good to my amateurish eyes. Price is also right. I wasn't able to find a comparable camera with similar features in this price range. All in all, I'm quite pleased.

I finally had a chance to use the video mode. Using 720P, the colors were very sharp and true in color. Using video is very simple. There is a red button on the back of the camera and just pressing it will activate video and pressing a second time will end the video. If you need to use zoom, it must be enabled prior to depressing the video button. Once video is activated, zoom is disabled. Although, not in stereo, sound is very good and not "tinny". It picked up the chirping birds, my footsteps in the grass, a neighbors dog barking, etc. I can't comment on action videos as I've not had a chance to use it for that purpose.

For the price, this camera is a real deal.

9 May edit/clarification: Optical zoom can be enabled during video recording without sound, i.e., microphone must be turned off.

Buy Olympus VR-320 14 MP Digital Camera with 12.5x Optical Zoom and 3" LCD (Silver) Now

I just bought one of the Olympus VR-320 silver cameras to try it out at my niece's Upward Football game today, and I am more than pleased with the results. It is very easy to use (which is great for a point and shoot camera I don't really want to have to take a lot of time fooling with one when I just want to take a quick shot) and the menu is laid out nicely. The time it takes to turn on and to be able to use is very fast, too, as well as when I want to take a shot of anybody in motion the camera is very responsive and takes shots quickly (another reason I wanted a camera to keep up with my niece running and moving!).

The pictures come out sharp and with great color, and the 720p video is a bonus with nice sound. I can highly recommend this camera, and I'm glad I bought it!

Read Best Reviews of Olympus VR-320 14 MP Digital Camera with 12.5x Optical Zoom and 3" LCD (Silver) Here

This camera is very basic, and does not cost a great deal. The selling point is the 24mm equivalent lens. For those of us that have been shooting pictures for 4 or 5 decades, the wide angle lens is one of the most forgotten items in new cameras, and maybe it is because, as one reviewer said, it is basic and I'm not interested in learning anything beyond that (I paraphrase). A 24mm equivalent which is about 86 degree angle of view will give the user one more option for creativity. At the price, I would buy this camera if it only had that lens and nothing else. As far as the review stating that the higher ISO rating (800, I think) is bad, it usually is for most digital cameras, and when that rating was applied to film, it didn't produce great results either. I'm rating this camera at 5 stars because I believe the rating should be tempered to the product. One cannot expect miracles at that price. When this camera is used as a camera, and used with a low ISO rating, which I do most all the time, it produces excellent results. Olympus does not put out, as one reviewer stated, pardon my language, CRAP. They also stand behind their products, and always have.

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I was drawn to this Camera initially by the File Size it was capable of. Also, the extreme zoom range....WOW! I am not a fan of video. I owned a Handycam once.Yawn. Too complicated. This Bad boy has HI DEF VIDEO in the camera. Push the red button to begin filming...push it again to stop. Creates awesome/tack sharp/true color .AVIs. I'm a convert! Did I mention the zoom range. I'm a retired Architectural Photographer from the 4X5-Medium Format-Generation. So, I'm WIDE ANGLE. This Bad Boy sports what feels like a 20 mm wide angle (on 35mm Camera). Then, reaches out to 400 35mm equivalent SHARP AS A TACK-NO BIFRINGING and this is HANDHELD-imagine if I had used a tripod. It's got whats called dual image stabilization I think . It works. The filters are pretty cool (I like the Fisheye at Car Shows) Like all Point and Shoots, there is no viewfinder so composing in bright light kinda sucks. I just might make myself a viewfinder shade for about One penny (a paper Coffee Cup with the bottom cut out) because this is one sweet/powerful/COMPACT super zoom with HD Video for basically Chump Change. Swoop on it!!!

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