3 In 1 Out HDMI to HDMI Switch Hub Switcher Adapter Box Selector HDTV 1080p

Some months ago I purchased an "HDMI 3 to 1 Switch" from Amazon that has an all but identical design to this one. That one has worked wonderfully, and my attempt to buy a second one led directly to this one. However, the two are not the same. This one, with the red HDMI lettering is slightly bigger than the other and, more importantly, didn't work.

I tried this on two different HD television / DVD systems. On the first, I got nothing at all -no signals. On the second (using the same HDMI cables, by the way), the signal from the HDD / DVD recorder came through, but with the error message "check connection" on the screen, and the signal from the standalone DVD recorder came through in black and white, with the same error message. I understand that HDMI is finicky, but this was disappointing. I wish I'd purchased two of that original HDMI 3 to 1 switch....

I have an older lcd. There is only one hdmi. This solved my problem. I connected my Xbox, Blu-Ray player and DirecTV. It automatically changes to whichever one I am using. Plus, you don't need an electrical outlet, it is just an adapter. Plug and play. Great price. Could not be happier.

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I got this HDMI 3 in 1 out switch a few days a go to help me in hooking up the XBox 360, FIOS TV and the Apple TV to my TV, didn't know if it could manage the quality I wanted or not, or if I had to manually switch between the devices. But, interestingly enough, even when the FIOS is on and we turn on the XBox, it automatically switches to the XBox and when the box is turned off moves back to the FIOS. I believe it deserves the 5 stars as its doing exactly what I needed it for with no loss in quality, not to mention that requires no external power and is small enough to fit anywhere in my entertainment center without being noticeable.

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I'll keep it short and sweet:

I have my Ps3 and Xbox 360 hooked up and it Auto switches between the 2. Its very small maybe 2x2 inches and has a red indicator that lets you know which peripherals video is being sent to the tv. It won't auto switch with my Fios Hd box, but it's not a fault of the product, my Fios box won't automatically turn on the t.v. like my Xbox and Ps3 does.

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Finally I got switch that really working. I bought Ultra High Performance HDMI Switcher, 3to1 Switch before this one. It overheats from the beginning and stop working on the second day. But this Product exactly as described and works perfectly, delivery takes longer then from others similar sellers, but it compensates by getting really working product.

Canon Powershot SD400 5MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

Let me begin by saying that Canon makes exceptional digital cameras; the best in the market right now. This is because they have always used high quality components since they began manufacturing digital cameras. This one is no exception.

Now that I've sold you on a Canon, which one should you choose?

First off, let's see if you really need an SDxxx camera, or would be better suited with a cheaper non ultraportable camera.

The SDxxx Series offers several key advantages over less portable models:

-Beautiful, sleek design and metallic body will wow anyone who sees it.

-Gorgeous 2 inch LCD screens

-The excellent Dig!c 2 processor (other Canons only have dig!c 1)

-Much better movie mode than previous Canons

-Small light, easy pocketability

On the other hand, there are some significant drawbacks due to the components Canon had to use to get the camera so small:

-Few manual controls.

-Pictures are not as sharp as those of similar non ultraportable cameras.

-The flash is very close to the lens (lots of redeye problems)

-More purple fringing issues than other Canons

-Proprietary batteries that are expensive to replace

-The LCD is very fragile. Read the SD200 and SD300 reviews to see lots of unhappy people whose LCDs broke. Canon's warranty does NOT cover this either. My suggestion? Buy using a credit card that offers a warranty in addition to the manufacturer's. If your lcd breaks, many CC companies will replace the camera no questions asked!

If you don't need the ultra portability and flashy looks of the SD cameras, a slightly larger camera with more features might be right for you. I would highly suggest Canon's A510 or A520 if you don't need an SD model.

If you still want an SD model, which one should you choose? The SD200 with 3.2mp, the SD300 with 4mp, the SD400 with 5mp, or the SD500 at a whopping 7.1mp?

Your first instinct may be that more megapixels is better. Today, however megapixel ratings are similar to Ghz ratings in the computer world: They used to mean a lot, but they don't mean as much anymore. More megapixels do NOT mean a better image. They mean a larger printable image. Unless you have to have huge prints, you simply do not more megapixels. In fact, the 3.2mp of the SD200 is enough for anyone who doesn't plan on printing pictures larger than a standard 8.5x11 sheet of paper.

That having been said, there are some differences between each SDxxx model. In order to get the larger 7.1mp sensor in the SD500, Canon had to make the camera larger. Thus, it is around a quarter inch thicker and 30% heavier than the other 3 models. The larger size did enable Canon to pack more features into it, however:

Features unique to the SD500:

-1/4 inch thicker

-30% heavier

-50% longer flash range

-14% more battery life

The SD400 and SD500 also share these benefits over the SD200/SD300:

-New "Night Display" feature which brightens the LCD in low light

-My Colors feature lets you highlight or swap colors right on the camera

-USB 2.0 High Speed support

The following are shared by all the SDxxx Cameras:

Pros:

-Beautiful, eye catching design

-Great image quality, though not as good as non ultraportable models

-New Dig!c 2 image processor

-Excellent Movie Mode

-3x optical zoom is adequate for most people

-Excellent, intuitive manual controls

-Huge 2.0 inch lcd that looks great under various lighting conditions

-Uses widely available and cheap SD cards

Cons (most of these are minor quirks):

-Some purple fringing problems

-Proprietary batteries are expensive to replace and inconvenient at times

-Lots of issues with fragile LCDs

-No RAW support

-Few manual controls

If you do choose this product, the first thing you should buy is a larger SD memory card. The camera comes with a 16mb card (32 in the SD500), which is pretty much useless.

You should also immediately purchase a case and some screen protectors to protect the LCD.

first! :)

anyways, this is a great camera. ive had an olympus c-3040 zoom for a long time, and while it takes great (outdoor) pics, ive been waiting for a good small camera to carry around all the time. what i wanted was: 3x optical zoom +, 5MP +, CCD, something tiny, a decent LCD screen, something by canon/olympus/nikon, something not too outrageously priced, AF and MF, decent video, etc.

the sd400 has it all! very easy to use i try and not use the user manual until i have to. i did have to use it to find out how to switch the resolution of the pics im taking though. other than that its really intuitive. i also didnt install the software that came with it, and was still able to get the pics onto my desktop (running win xp pro) easily. indoor pic quality is so-so, outdoors is very nice. lots of cool options. the autofocus area indicator is sweet. very small and compact. like i said, everything i wanted and at a good price. bought a 512MB card and im waiting for my leather case to be shipped and im golden.

cons the 3 things i dont like about it. 1) you have to press pretty firmly on the button to take a picture. too much so. 2) the cover to access the USB port is connected using a plastic/rubber thing instead of a hinge. i never trust those things to last. 3) the LCD screen rendering is a bit laggy, if you swivel around quickly its somewhat blurry.

the best case i have found for the sd400 is the IXY Digital 40/50 Custom Leather Case from Japan.

thats it, good buy and a good deal.

Buy Canon Powershot SD400 5MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Now

This is an awesome camera. Good quality pictures, fast shutter speed, neat features, compact design. I loved it while it lasted. Too bad I can't comment about the battery life, because it stopped working on its first recharge cycle.

The problem is that it is fragile. LCD screen stopped working, even though I bought a hard leather case and kept it in there while not in use. I never dropped it, I never did anything rough to it, but it still stopped working after little over a month of use.

THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. Do some research and read review pages, there's overwhelming amount of complaint about LCD screen breaking. Oh, and warrenty clearly states it doesn't cover something going wrong with LCD screen or lenses or battery leakage (come to think of it, it probably only covers the strap). Customer services will only accuse you of dropping it, and refuse to do anything about it.

The only thing I can do now is to warn others. If you're thinking about buying this model, please reconsider. There are other digital cameras out there that are similar with competitive prices.

Read Best Reviews of Canon Powershot SD400 5MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Here

Whenever a new version of a favorite product is released, I always worry that it won't be as good as the last, that I'll be disappointed in some way. The SD400 is the third Canon ELPH I've owned, and it does not disappoint.

As a long time user, I was extremely pleased that not only did the SD400 improve upon my last Canon (S400), it also didn't change or remove any of the functionality that I had grown accustomed to using.

Plenty of reviews here praise this camera in general terms, so I will instead compare major changes compared with the Canon S400/410. Some are subtle, others more obvious.

* Smaller and lighter than the S400

* A larger LCD than the S400.

* USB 2.0 (notably faster) instead of the USB 1.1 in the S400.

* 5MP instead of 4MP.

* Digic2 instead of Digic (only the SD cameras and SLRs have it at this time).

* Shoots video at double the resolution (640x480) steadily until memory card is full.

* The default version of ZoomBrowser software (5.x) is much improved from the older versions -faster and smoother to use, with better features to control the camera. The new version can be downloaded for older cameras.

* Same metal casing, but a small plastic hinge flap covers the output ports now, instead of a rubber one.

* Uses SD memory cards instead of CF1. These can be notably faster than CF1.

* The physical controls are slightly more closely packed together, but I had no trouble with pressing the wrong ones by accident or anything like that. If anything, the small controls are better organized than previously. I always used to rotate the S400's dial into the wrong mode, which has not been a problem with the new layout which uses a slider switch and software menus.

* Far more shooting modes (such as portrait, pets&children, night snapshot, etc), and better control over focus method, flash metering, exposure metering, etc. It's not a manual SLR, but it gets as close as pocket digital camera can.

* Much faster feeling. Shooting a photo and having it stored to my "ultra" (high speed) SD memory card seems to take less than half the time it used to with the S400.

Highly recommended, no complaints at all.

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Let me begin by saying that Canon makes exceptional digital cameras; the best in the market right now. This is because they have always used high quality components since they began manufacturing digital cameras. This one is no exception.

Now that I've sold you on a Canon, which one should you choose?

First off, let's see if you really need an SDxxx camera, or would be better suited with a cheaper non ultraportable camera.

The SDxxx Series offers several key advantages over less portable models:

-Beautiful, sleek design and metallic body will wow anyone who sees it.

-Gorgeous 2 inch LCD screens

-The excellent Dig!c 2 processor (other Canons only have dig!c 1)

-Much better movie mode than previous Canons

-Small light, easy pocketability

On the other hand, there are some significant drawbacks due to the components Canon had to use to get the camera so small:

-Few manual controls.

-Pictures are not as sharp as those of similar non ultraportable cameras.

-The flash is very close to the lens (lots of redeye problems)

-More purple fringing issues than other Canons

-Proprietary batteries that are expensive to replace

-The LCD is very fragile. Read the SD200 and SD300 reviews to see lots of unhappy people whose LCDs broke. Canon's warranty does NOT cover this either. My suggestion? Buy using a credit card that offers a warranty in addition to the manufacturer's. If your lcd breaks, many CC companies will replace the camera no questions asked!

If you don't need the ultra portability and flashy looks of the SD cameras, a slightly larger camera with more features might be right for you. I would highly suggest Canon's A510 or A520 if you don't need an SD model.

If you still want an SD model, which one should you choose? The SD200 with 3.2mp, the SD300 with 4mp, the SD400 with 5mp, or the SD500 at a whopping 7.1mp?

Your first instinct may be that more megapixels is better. Today, however megapixel ratings are similar to Ghz ratings in the computer world: They used to mean a lot, but they don't mean as much anymore. More megapixels do NOT mean a better image. They mean a larger printable image. Unless you have to have huge prints, you simply do not more megapixels. In fact, the 3.2mp of the SD200 is enough for anyone who doesn't plan on printing pictures larger than a standard 8.5x11 sheet of paper.

That having been said, there are some differences between each SDxxx model. In order to get the larger 7.1mp sensor in the SD500, Canon had to make the camera larger. Thus, it is around a quarter inch thicker and 30% heavier than the other 3 models. The larger size did enable Canon to pack more features into it, however:

Features unique to the SD500:

-1/4 inch thicker

-30% heavier

-50% longer flash range

-14% more battery life

The SD400 and SD500 also share these benefits over the SD200/SD300:

-New "Night Display" feature which brightens the LCD in low light

-My Colors feature lets you highlight or swap colors right on the camera

-USB 2.0 High Speed support

The following are shared by all the SDxxx Cameras:

Pros:

-Beautiful, eye catching design

-Great image quality, though not as good as non ultraportable models

-New Dig!c 2 image processor

-Excellent Movie Mode

-3x optical zoom is adequate for most people

-Excellent, intuitive manual controls

-Huge 2.0 inch lcd that looks great under various lighting conditions

-Uses widely available and cheap SD cards

Cons (most of these are minor quirks):

-Some purple fringing problems

-Proprietary batteries are expensive to replace and inconvenient at times

-Lots of issues with fragile LCDs

-No RAW support

-Few manual controls

If you do choose this product, the first thing you should buy is a larger SD memory card. The camera comes with a 16mb card (32 in the SD500), which is pretty much useless.

You should also immediately purchase a case and some screen protectors to protect the LCD.

Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Standard Zoom Len

Awesome cam! dope lense with great zoom

Cheap little tripod and small bag but everything else was well worth the purchase.

Fast and responsible shipping

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Fujifilm FinePix F750EXR Digital Camera (Red)

4-stars for camera design and still image quality, 1 star for video.

I have tested and compared images, video, features, and usability for all the top ultra-zoom compacts including Fuji F770EXR/F750EXR, Canon SX260HS, Sony HX9V, Panasonic ZS-15 and ZS-19/20. This was the last camera I compared and I was expecting to really like it as Image Quality is my first priority criteria, followed by video, then features/usability. Here's my main takeaways:

Well lit, ISO 100-200 shots: Fuji gets 3rd place. Canon SX260HS has best detail with least noise. Panasonic ZS-15/19/20 are next best with slightly better detail than Fuji with a tiny more noise. Sony ties for 3rd with Fuji with slightly less detail and noise (Sony has the most agressive noise reduction of the 4 so there is a little bit more detail smearing.)

Fuji is almost unusable for video. When you pan the camera the video stutters. Even worse, when you zoom, camera has MAJOR problems focusing to the point the camera will not focus properly at all most of the time beyond 7X zoom. The lens motor is also the most audible out of all the 4 cameras. Panasonics you can barely hear the lens. Sony wins with Panasonics coming in a close second.

Low-light / High ISO: Fuji comes in second. Sony wins. Panasonics come in third images are unusable beyond ISO 800, too much yellow color splotching all over. At ISO 400, it is practically a tie between Panasonic, Fuji, and Sony. At crazy ISO 1600 and up, Fuji wins with usable images (barely) followed by Sony but you really can't expect much from these small cameras with small sensors at those kind of ISOs.

Flash: Fuji comes in third. Very strange flash that only pops up manually (which has its benefits). You must press tiny button on side of camera really hard. Flash is not motorized and it looks like a part of the camera that could easily break in the future. Flash is underpowered compared to the other cameras.

Design/Usability/Software Fuji is heaviest of the 4 cameras but has a nice rubberized feeling body finish. Panasonic is amazingly small. Sony in-between. All of them have different styles of software. Panasonic has best set of software features. Sony very limited in scene modes. Fuji has nice software but many of the options are locked out when in any mode other than manual. Panasonic's wins as far as the Intelligent Auto function. Very reliable. Canon had troubles focusing sometimes.

Overall, Panasonic wins. Fuji would be a close second, tied with Sony if the video wasn't so terrible. Search YouTube for videos including this example:

I'm surprised by some of the negative reviews on this product, and wondering if the folks who had problems somehow landed with defective models. My experience has been pretty flawless from day one. I bought this camera as an add-on to my usual DSLR; I was looking for a pocket-sized camera with a great zoom (this one had markedly better range than other pocket cameras I tested) and a nice variety of auto, semi-auto, and manual features to play with.

One of the features some of the reviews took exception to was the push-button flash. I can understand the concern about breakage, but I've used this little guy for over 5 months now in less-than-delicate conditions and haven't had an issue. I actually like the manual nature of the flash, as it's an easy way to get a "flash" photo -or turn off the flash -without fiddling with the settings menu.

It's been very good with rapid response in turning on/off, the menus are relatively intuitive, and some of the menu options -such as the panorama setting -are outstanding. I've taken some of the most beautiful landscape shots with this tiny camera, many of which rival even those taken with my Canon.

Is there some noise? Yes. I also have noticed that in automatic settings, outdoor pictures tend to be a bit blown out and overexposed. I deal with that either in Photoshop/Lightroom, or by switching to a manual setting and adjusting ISO from there.

The other little quibble I have it that when the zoom is maxed out, autofocus doesn't work. You have to pull back slightly on the zoom to activate the autofocus. Other than that, I haven't experienced the loss of focus or the problem with tracking focus that another reviewer mentioned.

Is it perfect? No. But for the price, it's a great little camera for travel or for everyday shutterbug adventures when a big DSLR is too much to pack along. I'd definitely recommend this purchase.

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I've taken a zillion exposure-bracketed pictures (for subsequent HDR merging) and videos with this little guy and it's been great. It's certainly not perfect, but given the price, I have no regrets. The zoom is outrageously noisy when recording video and the autofocus during zooming is terrible, but I still consider this a great deal and keep it with me at all times. It's my first Fuji product and I've gained enough trust in their technology to start investigating their higher-end cameras.

Read Best Reviews of Fujifilm FinePix F750EXR Digital Camera (Red) Here

Hi users and reviewers of this camera:

The blurb above says, "High Speed Continuous Shooting Capture action at almost 8 fps at full 16-megapixel resolution or shoot at 11 fps at 8-megapixel resolution" and the manual on page 47 describes how to do this ... but I only ever got three pics. That's hardly continuous.

So I called customer support and they confirmed that it does not shoot true continuous, just three separate pics with one shutter press.

Can't be true, so I just hit "redial" on the 800 number and this time got somebody who at least cared, and was even knowledgeable.

Continuous does work (albeit with limitations,) but nothing like in the manual ... and really klunky and non-intuitive.

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I must admit, I purchased the camera because it was pretty. That being said, I needed a camera with a good zoom and date stamp.

Within a few weeks the lens cover started to stick and my photos had a black spot on the lower right corner. That self corrected after a few days. After 3 months of use the lens went bad-couldn't take any photos at all. I contacted Fuji and since the camera was under warranty they gave me directions to send it in for repair.

After they had the camera for a week, they sent me a bill for $200 to replace the lens. After a lengthy phone conversation with Fuji they fixed the camera under the warranty which we should not have to beg them to do what they promise to do when we purchase these items to begin with. I got the unit back 5 days ago with a different lens on it.

Drove 112 miles to get my photos for work yesterday and guess what?, yes my lens is malfunctioning again. Cost me time and money. I would send it in for repair, but I need to cut my loses now. They can have it back, but I won't spend the $10.00 to ship it back. It's too bad, it sure is pretty.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Additional comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nikon Coolpix S5 6MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

I recently purchased the Nikon Coolpix S5 to replace my ailing Sony Cybershot P-8. The P-8 was my 3rd Cybershot and I'd never had a Nikon before.

While browsing for new cameras, I'd settled on the Canon IXY 700 as a replacement. However, my friend motioned me over to look at the S5. I'd looked at some of the other Coolpix models and didn't like the menu setup. I figure the menu is something that is going to be used a lot, so I wasn't going to consider any cameras with hard-to-use menus. I'd disqualified a Kodak EasyShare model earlier for that very reason; wanted to buy American, but alas, the menu was horrible. First impressions make or break a sale. And my first impression upon seeing the S5's menu was that it was very easy to use. And it has been.

The camera takes fairly decent pictures. However, not much of a difference vs. my previous Sony P-8 (3.2mp). I was hoping for a bit of an improvement, but didn't really see anything that impressed me overall that was "different."

The root of my review, though, is the design flaw that I believe this camera has. I'd taken several pictures at a going-away party recently and noticed that it looked like there were water splotches on the lens as there were white stars in the pictures. I took the camera to a photo lab and they blew the lens off in the case of any dust being on it. No water marks were visible on the lens (and the white splotches/stars in the pictures were never in the same place twice). When that didn't fix the problem, a photographer friend suggested that there might be dust on the sensor; although that doesn't explain the spots being in different places in each picture. I should note that not every picture has these spots. The common element seems to be that they are all evening, low-light situations using the red-eye flash function.

I took the S5 back to the place of purchase and exchanged for an identical unit. However, the problem has not gone away. A fellow from work noticed that the majority of the spots appear on the right side of the photos. Rarely are any (or any significant number) on the left side. Also, we were speaking of distance to object regarding the different photos, but near (~3 ft.) and far (~15-20 ft.) both resulted in similar splotchy problems. At this point, I suggested that perhaps the flash was too close to the lens and the rapid multiple flashing of the red-eye flashes was causing the bursts/splotches. My co-worker also suggested the lens being small may have played a factor in that, too.

That's where I'm at now. I believe my theory about the flash being too close to the lens is pretty close to the mark. I've never had this problem with any of my previous Sony Cybershots (and their lens to flash proximity was greater than the Nikon S5's).

As a result, I believe I'm going to request a refund and go with my original choicethe Canon IXY 700.

I did have one more nitpick regarding the menuit takes a little menu jogging to turn off the photo info details on the viewer (something that was a one-button deal on the P-8). But other than that, the S5 has been very pleasant to use. I'm disappointed to have found this flaw as the Canon's a little heaver and little thicker than the S5.

So overall, it's a very nice camera. If the red-eye flash + low-light problem was fixed, I'd have no problems recommending this to anyone. As it is, I'd suggest finding a different model in the meantime as this is definitely a deal-breaker to have splotches/bursts/spots in one's photos. Simply not enough time in the day to digitally airbrush every single picture with these problems.

I've had the Nikon S5 for about three months now. I bought it because I'd been looking for a slim digital camera that had a decent resolution, good battery life and was easy to use and carry around. I also thought Nikon, being a camera and optics company would offer me a product superior to the many other digital cameras offered elsewhere. I'd be the first to admit that I'm not super-savvy when it comes to photography but I've had my fair share of cameras, both digital and film.

I would NOT recommend this camera.

1. The picture quality is substandard to say the least. My Sony DSC-P10 from 4 years ago with a 2.1 mega-pixel resolution takes better pictures. Pictures are very grainy.

2. This camera is loaded with features. However it's extremely difficult to coerce the camera to capture a decent picture. I took it on a ski trip, set the camera to the "Snow" mode and resulted in a bunch of underexposed pictures (at different times of day, with varying levels of sunlight)

3. The camera takes an excessively long time to auto-focus resulting in one missing even the simplest of opportunities.

4. CUSTOMER SERVICE IS LESS THAN ADEQUATE

My camera hung at some point during the second month. By hung I mean it wouldn't move beyond an error screen (in Nikon Customer Service rep's words... something he had never seen before). I had to mail it in to get it fixed. Nikon Service refused to pay shipping because that's their policy (even for a two month old camera that suddenly refuses to work). It took numerous phone calls to locate my camera and the status of service. They mail (snail-mail) you your service order number that is used to locate the status of your service request.

I received the camera back two weeks after I had sent it in to their NY facility. The error was gone but now each time the lens moves back and forth to focus (either auto or manual) there's a loud ticking sound. One that can be heard at an arm's length away, one that would put a grandfather clock to shame. Another call to Nikon Digital Tech Support center resulted in me being informed that since there were moving parts in the camera, noise is to be expected (even though the noise did not exist prior to sending it in for service). The clicking noise is so loud that the Nikon rep could hear it through the phone. He insisted that since he had the same camera with him and it too made the clicking sound that this was normal for a digital camera. I pointed out that this might be a design problem or a flaw with the camera which was something the rep was not willing to entertain. An argument and call transfer to a supervisor later, I was told that I would have to call Nikon Service directly and arrange for the camera to be shipped back to them (presumably, again at my cost).

Also, the many times I've tried to contact Nikon Service, their phone lines are incessantly busy. I was advised by Nikon Digital Technical Support that I could either keep trying for 20 to 30 minutes or if I could wait I could try back in a couple of hours.

Bad camera, EXTREMELY BAD customer service. I WOULD NOT recommend this camera.

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I've had the S5 about two weeks now and payed about $150 less than the S1 I bought a year and a half ago...that one went swimming with me by accident. So far, I've notice a few substantial improvemements. 1) faster time from button pushing to picture. So much so that I've been waiting for it to take the picture long after it already has and I'd missed it. 2) Considerable improvement in the movie mode (15fps before to 30fps now) and the playback no longer requires a microscope. 3) the definition has improved even more so than the 5.1mp to 6.0 megapixel bump would suggest. Lastly, the controls are far better positioned and thought out for ease of use.

OVERALL: When the D200 is too big, this S5 is pretty durn close to perfect

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Yes, I was seduced by the "Nikon" moniker. A very nice little camera with a fatal flaw. In flash mode (which it uses a lot, given the slow lens and slow ISO ratings), approximately 1/4 of all images are ruined by white blobs, white halos, white circles, white comets, or other white artifacts that cover portions of the image. They show up randomly, with little rhyme or reason. Appears to be some sort of camera design flaw that allows flash light to bounce around inside the lens system. The artifacts move around in location from photo to photo, and are not the sort of thing you can fix easily in a photo editing program, so it's a deadly flaw, particularly when they pock-mark your subject's face. I received mine new from Cameta via Amazon, and the problem was visible within the first few photos. A test of the camera over a few hours' shooting had me tossing out dozens of photos. I'm kicking myself that I believed the "professional reviewers" of the camera, who seem to have remained blissfully unaware of this basic and glaring flaw. I noticed, but wishfully ignored, other users posting to Amazon who warned of this problem--what a sap! Next time I'll put more weight on the Amazon reviewers' opinions. PS: Since writing this review, I've had a reader contact me to tell me, in all seriousness, that what are appearing in my photos are likely the souls of dead people and ghosts, who show up as white orbs, splotches, and artifacts! (Who ya gonna call? GHOST-BUS-TERS!) This has left me puzzling over why dead people only show up when the flash is turned on? And why can't my Canon Digital Rebel SLR see souls of the departed--do only Nikons have the ability to photograph ghosts? Well, who am I to say, I don't know much about the hereafter or the ultramundane--but if you want a camera for ghost hunting, the S5 is your huckleberry. You'll have more "ghosts" than you'll know what to do with!

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I just bought a Nikon S5 and it hasn't been out of my pocket since it arrived in the mail. This is my 3rd Nikon but first digital camera. I am struggling with the limitations of digital over film but I think this camera is great. It produces beautiful images and I find it easy to manipulate. The camera is small and the photographer has to be careful not to get fingers in the photo as it has limited space to keep hold of it while taking the picture. A person with big hands might not be comfortable with this camera. The LCD is huge which is fantastic, but the biggest drawback is that the LCD is difficult to see in bright sunlight. All of the features are easily accessible, and the menu is reasonably intuitive. Like most digital cameras there is a maddening delay between pressing the button to take the picture and the camera actually capturing the subject. After the 2-3 flashes for red eye reduction, many of the people in my photos have moved onto a different expression or react to the intensity of the flash. The body design and the metal case make it tough, I have smacked it around kayaking and rock climbing and it is holding up under the abuse. I gave it 4 stars because it's not perfect but it's a nice little camera.

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Logitech WiLife Digital Video Security Indoor Add On Camera

I currently ordered this indoor camera from Directdeals and when I first got it it worked fine for the first 5 hours.Then for some reason it died and I had to return it.I talked to the guy from Directdeals and they where nice.So they sent me another one for exchange.I was happy to hear I was getting my camera replaced.When I got my replacement it didnt work so I called wilife and we trouble shooted everything turns out the camera is bad.So that made me think why is the second camera bad too?So I dont think I will get my money back and im going to have to waste my time and call them again and ask for another exchange.In my opinion when you buy something online as a customer you expect to have everything there and working.So im giving this a thumb down.

We have used this product and 4 camera's for over a year and only one camera has burned out. We have 3 of the indoor basic cameras and one nanny cam. I get snapshots of alerts on my blackberry via gmail. I use windows 7 home, and have a poor internet connection, yet i can see my cameras in real time via an ipad, an ipod touch or any computer. This system is easy to use and set up, even without the platinum subscription it fits our needs perfectly. I bought cameras from Sams, Amazon, and Wilife, and never had to return one. We have many thunderstorms and power surges here and so far I dont think these electrical issues have caused a problem.

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good quality and easy to install. you can view it through internet so it works fine in order to check your house or office

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I purchased 2 of these. The products sent were the commercial version and didn't come with the power supplies and suction cups. Seller promptly replaced the missing parts. Buy with confidence, the seller is very trustworthy. Sebastian, you were great. I was very pleased with my purchase. Best deal on the internet. Thanks

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Great device. recommend it. clear, crisp video presentation. easy to set up. just plug in and adjust on computer program.

Sony SNC-M1 Fixed IP Network Camera w/Audio

I've recently upgrade my usb webcam to a Sony M1 because of the features and performance I've read on a few websites. I've learned that the technology Sony put into this camera comes from their professional line of camera products. So, I decided to purchase one to test out. The picture quality is far more superior than a $99 webcam I used to have. I love that it has a recording software w/ audio. I purchased the M1 model, but they also have a wireless version M1W and a pan and tilt model M3 and M3W. I'm currently looking into purchasing 3 more cameras to complete my system. I give this camera a 5 star for it performance.

This is a very easy to install network camera. It was up and running in 20 minutes in my small home office.

I am using the camera in a 300 sqf room. The picture will be overexposed when the camera is facing to a window which is a common problem with most of cameras. It has some nice features like the motion detection and alert by email. Be aware of the fact that you need to run the cat5 and the power cable to the camera. Definitely recommended.

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The highlights are it has good quality, good capture and all of that. The problem is getting the video+audio on another media, ie, DVD or whatever. They have one export feature and that is to AVI, and all it does is export the video. Why have a microphone to record sound and no method to export the audio+video. Anyways, called Sony, and they told me that this camera was not designed to do that. Quote, "it was designed to playback on the computer only." What kind of junk is that? 1 star!

So if you only want to see the audio and video together on the computer, then this is for you. If you ever want to export your video recording to DVD or anything else, forget about it.

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Maybe it's a great camera, but unable to get it working at all. Installation software is really horrible, manual is even worse. Can't Sony hire someone who speaks/writes English? Install software is very strange, they don't understand the conventions/basics of writing a Windows application...really disappointed and frustrated.

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Pico Flex Dolly ONLY Digital Dslr Skater Camera Dolly Slider Table Top Dolly Kit By Photography and

This is an absolutely brilliant little kit for taking stable moving video. Think of a 360 product shot or maybe following a kitten across the floor. There are plenty of videos out there demonstrating how it works and how to use it. I thought I'd add my own observations.

This 'kit' comes with the dolly, a friction arm, a clip, and a nifty carrying case.

All of the components seem to be pretty high quality and the dolly itself is relatively heavy (for such a small device) and solid.

The front and rear axles can be rotated to make it easy to setup circular shots for a wide range of circumferences. There is a 1/4"-20 mounting screw in the center and two threaded near each axle.

The short friction arm comes with a hot shoe adapter and 1/4-20" screws on each end. One of the features that I found to be remarkable is the single knob that is use to loosen and and tighten all three joints together

The Shark Clip is a small clip that screws onto one of the ends of the friction arm and can easily hold a small camera or iPhone without having to bother with screwing/unscrewing the device from the tripod mount

Highly recommended. It might seem expensive but the alternatives are even more expensive. You can always go the DIY route but for those of who'd rather spend the time shooting video this is a great option.

Rock solid little dolly, smooth in-line skate wheels, perfect little case. It works great with a pocket camera shooting video, as long as you only truck (move left and right, perpendicular to the subject) with it, so that the subject remains at a (nearly) constant distance from the camera (or if you go around a subject, again, where it remains at the same distance from the camera). If you actually try to dolly with it (move towards or away from the subject) then you will lose focus. For real SLRs that have some sort of focus tracking, this is not a problem, but it is something you should be aware of, especially since the camera will not always focus on what you expect it to. This is not a shortcoming of the Pico Flex, it's physics getting in the way.

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I bought the Pico Flex dolly specifically for a job that could make use of low angle dolly shots. Once I pulled this guy out for the shots I had in mind both my client and her clients were impressed with the "toys" I had at my disposal. Ultimately, the resulting shots were made possible using the Pico Flex. I utilized a tilting head attached to the Pico, there are three threaded ports on top that allow you to add other attachments for a microphone, light, additional camera, etc. Good for table tops and small product close ups, low angle shots, etc. I have an old DVX100 and cannot imagine mounting a large camera to the Pico, I used a DSLR and this worked perfectly.

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I am sure a lot of people have have gotten really great units but I got a dud. The frame wasn't square so 2 wheels didn't touch the ground so the wheels could just spin without moving the cart (yes the surface was level), naturally this became an issues for making smooth shots as wheels would role then skip then role. Also the rubber that the wheels are made out of must be 2 pieces smelted into one because my wheels had some rubber remains down the center which acted as little rubber tags that caused the wheels to have a little Bump in em. So for me I returned it and will try a different brand.

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Nikon Coolpix AW110 Shock & Waterproof GPS Wi-Fi Digital Camera (Blue) with 32GB Card + Battery

This small camera is unbelievable!!! Numerous features not expected in such a small format. All of the pictures are high quality and crystal clear. The movie feature was such a big surprise. As a bundle kit, just can't beat the price.

I bought this camera for snorkeling for a vacation in Hawaii. On the second snorkeling spot off the boat, the lens fogged up and the back screen went blank. The fogging went away but the back screen is gone. It will still take pictures but you can't tell what your pointing at. I sent an email to Nikon to see if there is a quick fix and they told me I need to ship it to them at my expense for evaluation. The email says if the camera malfunctioned because of water or sand getting in, it voids the warranty. WTF.....

When i get back to the mainland, ship it, and get a response I'll update the post. This is my first underwater camera so I can't compare it to anything. Probably should have gone with a "go hero". They were really popular within the snorkeling group.

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Avoid this camera if you are going to use it underwater. It leaks water! I bought it for a travel to Seychelles, after a few days of use, the screen switched off for ever! I had to ship to NY from Spain, and after 3 months, my brother will come with it back for test again... I haver read a lot of reviews after my purchase, and a lot, a lot!, have registered the same failure!

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I needed a point and shoot that can be used under water for a summer trip something to take with me without lugging my DSL around. Looked on various websites and review boards then decided on the Coolpix AW110. Figured it would suit my needs based on what I'm looking for in a. I've tried it out indoors with dim lighting and was taken by surprise by the brightness of the photos without loss of sharpness. Also took pictures outdoor in the sun and it still had great results. I have not tried underwater yet but will do at an upcoming pool party. I'm looking forward to the GPS and WiFi option on my upcoming summer trip to the caribbean.

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All of the components arrived perfectly wrapped, and exactly as described. My niece will thoroughly enjoy this gift with all of its accessories.

Sony Handycam DCR-SX44 AV Cable - TV Video Cord for Sony Handycam DCR-SX44

Somehow I lost the original cable that came with the Handycam. I tried to find a replacement at the retail outlet where I purchased the camcorder with no success. I believe one of the connectors for this cable type is proprietary or it is certainly not common, so being able to find this here at a great price was a life saver.

The wires work just fine and are compatible with the Sony digital handcams they are supposed to be compatible with. However, the wires are NOT 6 feet in length. These cables are the standard 5 feet. Should have known something was up, when every other seller of the same cables stated 5 feet. Other than false advertising on the length, they worked fine.

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Ugh, my brand new cam has been sitting on the shelf and collecting dust for awhile. Thank goodness I found a replacement cord so I can finally utilize it again. :)

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We lost the cord to our video camera and found it on Amazon. Great price and just what we needed. Very quick turn around on receiving item.

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Pentax Optio WS80 10MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 5x Internal Optical Zoom and 2.7-inch LCD (Wh

I ordered this camera to use during water activties on a caribbean cruise. I used it the weekend before on dry land and thought it did a great job especially shooting "Wide screen" video.

We left for our cruise and took the Pentax on our first beach day. Used it snorkeling (note I stay on the surface and never dive down so the camera would never be more than 3 feet submerged) and took fabulous underwater photos and video. I was very pleased.

When we returned to our cabin, some hours after leaving the water, I took out the battery and put it in the charger and also downloaded the photos & video into my computer. Next morning, however, I took the battery out of the charger and noticed the contacts were all corroded. Looked inside the camera and the same thing.

I managed to get it working and it took photos one more day. Drained the battery during another water-filled day. I could never get the battery to charge again. Sadly, I had no waterproof camera to use during the two remaining water fun days.

Returned the camera to Amazon and will be shopping for something similar but more "Waterproof!"

Just got it today and here's my 2 cents' worth. It's cheap, , a cheaper version of Pentax W80. So please have realistic expectations. Yes, I've read the reviews before I bought it(see ). Other sites haven't bothered to review it. The noise and image quality issue is well known, as panned by the reviewers herein. The picture is too soft, too dull. But it fits my strategy. I need an inexpensive splash-proof camera for use while sailing. Getting any picture is better than getting no picture. For better quality shots, I can use a Panasonic TZ5 in a Dicapac waterproof pouch and look real dorky. Near future replacement for the TZ5 for me could be the Sony HX5 or the Panasonic ZS5. For dry conditions, I have a Sony A200 and A300 DSLR at my disposal.

I also have a Pentax Optio W10, bought in 2006. After taking a few comparison shots with these two Pentax cameras, I can confirm that the WS80 is noisier than the W10 at the same ISO 400, but the WS80 still has more resolution, less pixelated than the W10. The extra 4 MP help. The WS80 is also better in some other ways 5x zoom, cost, 720 movie, and kinda IS? One ergonomic problem I have with the WS80 is that I find it hard to fully depress the shutter button without causing some camera movement. My tweaks on the camera setting: set ISO at 200; crank up the sharpness and contrast in the P mode and do more post editing and add still more contrast. There's a little too much yellow, esp on grass.

If you want something more rugged with better image quality, then spend more money, ~$200+ more for a Panasonic TX1, TX2, Sony TX5 or Pentax W90. (Sorry, Canon looks too toyish and bulky.) For me this is cheap insurance against water damage to the DSLRs. Sailing pictures taken in brighter lights this summer may turn out OK then. Happy shooting!

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Easy to use water proof camera you'll want to take to any water activity. All functions are simple and user friendly. The large picture viewing screen is extra good for older eyes with no glasses. You will not find better for the money. Old NC surfer.

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I've had this camera a couple weeks and I finally got outside to take some pictures. Overall, for the price of the camera it takes OK pictures. If I wanted great quality pictures I would have bought a more expensive waterproof camera. I did however, buy this camera because it is waterproof. I did not buy it for the intent of snorkling but it will be exposed at some point to rapids, snow, and rain. After these entounters and no problems I will gladly raise this review to a five.

Camera is very easy to use. Takes nice pictures although on some pictures it looks a little blury in the background. When the shutter is pressed I experienced no delay even indoors. It was very easy to download pics to computer.

Overall, I would recommend this camera to anyone that wants a nice easy to use waterproof camera and is not to fussy about perfect pictures everytime. Camera is a good value at $169 w/free shipping. I'll update as I use this under different conditions.

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Since I just started using the camera, I have not yet utilized it to its fullest capacity, but so far I am very pleased. I like the fact that the camera is water proof so I do not have to worry about using it around water. Also, I like the feature that the zoom lens is encased so the lens does not constantly extend then compact every time you turn it on/off. The 5X optical lens is very sharp and even the digital zoom is quite sharp. Although the manual is thicker than the camera, it comes with a quick guide to let you start taking pictures quickly. I can always read the manual on an as-need basis if necessary.

I have owned a Pentax camera before (Optio S sub-compact)and really liked it also. However, this camera is much easier to use and produces very sharp photos. For a little over $200, very well worth the price!

JC