Fuji Fujifilm Finepix S2940 14MP HD Digital Camera

This camera was a common model at Wal-Mart until recently. I picked mine up for $99 on a Valentine's special. I read the walmart.com reviews and felt I should add some points to the other points made by owners.

1. This camera is not bad like some people will say in the reviews. Some people gripe the picture quality is like a cell phone camera. I would say if this camera is taking pictures that bad, then it is a case of USER failure, not CAMERA failure. If you can't be bothered to read the instructions, you really shouldn't review it. Most of my pictures have turned out great with just a few easy adjustments that were covered in the manual.

2. Sample pictures. Walmart.com has some really crappy sample pictures that are either non-corrected night shots that a person failed to adjust in the camera settings, or shots that the person CLEARLY did not use the focus feature by pressing the shutter button halfway. If you just go click click click, this is not a camera for you.

3. Zoom complaints. The zoom on this camera is really powerful and clear. I have had no issues with it, but I will say that you do have to hold STEADY. If you cannot hold yourself still and just slam your finger down on the shutter button (jarring the camera) your pictures will turn out like crap. Use a tripod. Unless you are shaking the camera violently, normal pictures all turn out fine. Zoomed pictures take a little more practice, but I was able to take a clear shot riding as a passenger in a car of a billboard 75 feet away at least. Again, most complaints are just USER failure, not CAMERA failure.

4. Color reproduction. When properly adjusted so that the light levels are even, I would say the color reproduction is approximately as good as a similarly priced Canon and better than the entry level Nikon cameras.

5. Video leaves a bit to be desired, but is still good quality. Zoom is limited in video mode, so have it prepared beforehand. Motor noise can be heard in the videos, but it is vastly quieter than the last generation of Fuji cameras.

Overall I'd rate the camera great at moderate ISO levels, excellent at outdoors shots, above average at indoors shots, and above average at video. Battery life is quite nice, and with four rechargeable AA batteries it lasts a long time. Make sure to use a high speed memory card or HD video will be a miserable experience for you with constant buffering. All and all a good buy.

Before buying this camera I read all the reviews carefully. Overall the reviews were positive so for $129 which included an eight gigabite, high speed memory card, I thought it a good deal. I was rewarded with more than I ever expected. The camera is fantastic and performs better than some of thethe more expensive cameras I've owned in the past. You have to be a real dunce to take bad pictures with this camera, and now I know the negative reviews I read were because the users simply did not take the time to read the instructions. For the money, you will not find the features nor the quality photos this camera is capable of. And, the video is not bad, either. Buy it!

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I'm really happy with this camera. The quality is pretty good and for my needs it exceeds expectations. i have used more expensive cameras with a lot of features but like the price says you are not getting a lot of features but overall it's a great product.

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I love the 30x zoom. I take a lot pictures that have a lot of detail and this camera is very good for that because of the zoom.

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I like it great product. No problem what so ever. Samsung galaxy s III cell phone memory card is great.

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10 Feet High-Speed HDMI Cable for Marantz Home Theater A/V Receiver - Supports Ethernet, 3D, and Au

• A certified HDMI V1.4 cable for 3D LED HDTV, LCD, LED Monitor and Home Theater
• 24K 50 micron gold plated HDMI connector - 19 pin male
• Supported Resolution: 4K x 2K( 4096P) and 1080p FullHD Resolution
• HDMI (V.1.4) with HDMI Ethernet and audio return channel
• Pure copper wires-No CCA(Copper Clad Aluminum), It directly affects data speed
• High-Speed 10.2 gbps / 340 MHz (Supports Increased Refresh Rates and 48-Bit Deep Color)
• Triple metal Shielded Heavy Duty Professional grade cable for your Safety and Quality
• UL CL3 rating for in-wall installation and Built-in strain-relief, Superior Shielding from EMI / RF
• Limited Lifetime Warranty

decided to give it a try an like the quality.out performs many other cables that i use costing 10 x more the price it true works very well with MARANTZ SR7005 i personaly own love it.

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HDmi Extender Over 2 CAT5E

First of all, this product does work overall, BUT setting it up was rather complicated.

Okay the first issue is the instructions are thin and not very clear. I first set this thing up using cat 5e cables. The video had lots of distortion and after reading further, it said cat 6 cables would have better performance. Well after installing 2 cat 6 cables, it wouldn't work at all. It took me an hour to figure out that it only worked for with a single cat6 cable in the AV Signal port, and a cat5e cable in the Control port. This seemed awfully strange to me but that's the only way I can get this thing to work. I don't know if my device is defective, but this was my experience.

The second issue is that the power supply for this device is on the display end and not the source end, which I think is backwards. I set this up using a projector and I had to run the power supply through my ceiling to an outlet in the attic. I think it would have made more sense to put the power port on the source end because that's where the dvd players and other devices are where this power supply can be better hidden. This made setting it up more difficult for me as I got dirty and dusty crawling through my ceiling twice. The first time is when I ran the power for the projector, then after I bought this, had to do it AGAIN!

In addition to having trouble setting it up, I still haven't been able to get the IR blaster part to work. I followed the instructions to the letter and the IR through function still doesn't work. I will be calling tech support to investigate the issue further. For the time being, I have ran my own IR emitter to my device for remote control.

My overall judgment since I don't need the IR blaster function and since I finally did get it set up and have a crystal clear picture, is favorable. I like it, although I may try to find a more reliable and easier product to set up for my other rooms. My opinion is its a good value if you can get what you need out of it, which I most certainly have. I'm happy with it.

I bought this back in May, hooked it up and, no problem. It worked like a charm. I then decided I would try a couple other single cable models. I wanted to see if I could get by without pulling two cables. I bought two different brands. One just refuses to work, giving me a DVI/HDMI single is blocked message. The other one works but continuously drops the signal. So I've decided to go back to this model. Just bought my second. I'll take reliability over saving a cable pull any day.

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I have used this HDMI Extender at least 5 times and my longest one was 175ft. They are easy to install. Made my install very easy. great product.

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Great buy. Easy to set up and install. Can't get it wrong as the lights do not light if you switched the cables..

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Usually when I buy off-brand electronics to fill an obscure or unusual requirement I end up with junk that finds its way in to my used electronics bin in the garage. So it's pretty nice when I run across something that does exactly what I needed it to do, and well, like this device. With stuff like this, sometimes simply working is enough for high praise :)

I've had mine for 6 months now, connected via two 110 foot/36m cable runs from my upstairs media room to my downstairs bedroom TV. Naturally, the hardest part is running the cables and for many people that will be the showstopper detail (in my case I already had them for an older component video based extender). You really do need two cables to take advantage of the device although I was able to get it to work with one at 720p with 2 channel audio and no IR for a test. The device is HDMI 1.3a compliant (full 10.2gb bandwidth, very important!), and at 110' feet near the max run listed it outputs perfect 1080p video and audio to my downstairs display. It might as well be hooked directly to my HTPC upstairs.

And best of all it's one of the only units I've seen that supports IR extension as well. A lot of people overlook this little detail, forgetting that if the unit they are extending *from* isn't in line of site they have no way to control it, or use RF extenders (which are inferior to the over the wire system used here) but this is a major feature of this device. Even better, the unit itself powers the IR repeater no need to buy an external IR power supply (as is the case with a Cat5e Component extender I replaced with this unit) and comes with both the transmitter "bug" and the receiver "bug". You hook the receiver in one end at the display you are extending to, the transmitter at the other pointed at the device you are extending from, and walla it's just like your remote is in front of it. That's literally how well it works like you were upstairs pointing the remote directly at the device. There's no lag whatsoever.

It may seem a little pricey, but it's quality, and compared to the component video extender I replaced it with it's cheap :). Don't make the mistake of buying a cheaper unit here because you think it will be "good enough"! I first bought a pair of HDMI wallplates (thinking I would use RF for the remote dumb) and they ended up in the useless electronics bin. This unit does exactly what you need and is worth $200. There may be other ways to extend a full HDMI 1.3a cable 110 feet to a display on the other side of your house while allowing you to control the source with your normal IR remote, and do so reliably, but not this cheap.

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VariZoom VZ-TFT7 7-Inch 16:9 TFT NTSC/PAL Monitor

Have been using an earlier Varizoom 5.2" 4:3 tft monitor. Just upgraded to this monitor (bought slightly used here on amazon) (already had the kit / batteries). Wow on the screen area (real estate). Just had my first Dance performance shoot with this mounted on my Canon XHA1s HDV camera. The client was next to me following the program with a flashlight and watching the large screen framing and pointing out people to do closeups on. Very nice viewing area for framing shots. Was able to match closely the color and luminescent on the camera monitor (and did my focusing). I also have a Varizoom lens controller. I have called Varizoom and can always reach a knowledgeable person who is more than willing to help trouble shoot or offer support for their products. Another great Varizoom product.

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Optoma TX542, XGA, 2800 lumen, networkable, DLP Multimedia Projector

I got this projector over a year ago. I have been very impressed with it overall. The picture quality is very nice and the lamp plenty bright. I use it as as a replacement for a television for TV and gaming and really enjoy it. The build in speakers are fairly good for being build into the unit. Naturally, for a permanent setup you would want to have external speakers but if using it for mobile presentations these speakers should be more than adequate. The number of inputs makes it a very good unit for a variety of uses.

There was a problem about a year in. The unit started showing some dead pixels. (A common problem, I read.) I immediately contacted Optoma and they were very helpful. I sent it in and they sent me back a refurbished unit in under a week. Very impressed with Optoma's service! :)

I use projectors instead of tvs because you can get a bigger screen for less money. This one put my last one to shame. The picture is very clear and really bright. I had a lamp on right next to where it was projecting and it was still really bright. Also I am currently projecting on a gray wall. I am very happy with this projector. The HDMI hook up is great for using my xbox 360. This is the best projector I have owned so far. I would recommend it to any of my friends that wanted a good projector.

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This thing is as powerful as the sun. We have 4 other projectors, but we no longer use them. This one is amazing. It's also super easy to connect with other projectors (via VGA). You should totally get this!

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JVC GR-D250 MiniDV Camcorder w/25x Optical Zoom

Of course like any person who spends 300 bucks on something you expect it to perform admirably, while knowing full well that there are more expensive models out there. This little DV camera does quite the job. Starting from the packing all the way down to the technical features. In a world were you get less and less JVC seems to have done pretty well. Instructions for the camera come in 3 languages, all of the peripherals; lens cap, multi-voltage power plug, RCA cables, and straps are actually well designed and usable. The camera itself is quite user friendly, and intuitive. After opening and sorting the contents I had the camera up and recording in less than 5 minutes.

Pros:

1. Very fast rewind and fast forward.

2. Light weight, and compact.

3. Clear display that you can turn and flip in almost every direction

4. Great zoom features and very good recording quality.

Cons:

1. No DV tape included. I was smart enough to pick up a two pack at the same time.

2. If you have big hands it may be a little hard to manipulate.

3. Although I didn't buy a tripod, it looks as if you can't eject the tape while the camera is attached.

Would I buy it again? Absolutely.

I bought this camcorder for $300 which is a good price because this camera gave me tons of features and a clear picture. Great for shooting family videos or amature movies like I make myself. It's very small too. Over all im very happy with this camcorder. Yes I edited my review earlier there was a humming noise, but it turned out to be my fan. I love this camcorder!

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This camcorder is a great little camera that is easy to operate. The LCD is clear and the colors are crisp. The needed buttons are easy access. It is lightweight and fits nicely in the palm of your hand.

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I received this camera as a gift and after 15 magical minutes recording with it, I ran into an error message: "Unit in safeguard mode remove & reattach battery." I did what I was told. Several times. Same message. Argh! (to my husband's chagrin, I read the user's manual completely before using it to avoid such a problem...why is this happening to me?!) I searched the web looking for a solution, but all I found were perhaps hundreds of people with the SAME message on similar JVC model camcorders, rendering their cameras unuseable with little help from JVC once their warranty ran out. Luckily I ran into the problem soon enough that we were able to return the product.

Sure, you might not believe me when I suggest to stay clear of this model. I'm constantly disregarding Amazon reviews that preach "do not buy this product!", etc. That's why I'm suggesting that you please take a minute to search the web for this error message before you buy this product and see if you're still convinced you want it. Suggested search on Google: "jvc camcorder safeguard mode error".

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Great single sensor Mini DV camcorder. Has the same sensor and image quality as more expensive models. Easy to use. Great first buy for families who are starting in video. Doesn't have LEDs for night shots, although in most case it isn't a major inconvenience. Sound is good.

Pros:

1. LOW PRICE!

2. Intuitive enough for beginners.

3. Large LCD.

4. Good picture quality.

Cons:

1. No digitizer. Meaning no video in. The model up has it, although it costs a little extra. That's the major draw back form me. (Thus the 4 stars)

2. Cannot confirm it'll be reliable over time. Bought it too recently.

Canon PowerShot SX1IS 10 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom a

Quick summary:

1. I really like this camera, especially being able to take HD video and optically zoom while recording. I also really like taking 4 fps of continuous shooting.

2. You really need to read (at least skim) through the instructions. Some of the ease of use benefits of a point-and-shoot were compromised to give you some of the versatility of a digital SLR. I'm not too crazy about the "Control Dial" to select menu options. Over all, the software seems a bit less intuitive than other Powershots I've used in the past.

3. Using Quicktime on Windows to view the HD video might result in jerky motion. HD video is smooth in Quicktime on a Mac. This is a Quicktime/Windows issue, not a camera problem.

4. The camera is solidly built, but it's a bit heavy. It's not ergonomically designed for extended video recording.

5. Consider reading and viewing a video demo by a professional at

Long version:

I was very eagerly anticipating this camera. The key feature in the Canon SX1IS is the CMOS sensor used in the SLR product lines. I got really excited about a single camera with HD video, 20x optical zoom, 4 frames per second of continuous shooting, articulated screen, and standard AA batteries. I've owned several Canon Powershot models, and I've been very satisfied with them. I'm also an experienced 35mm SLR person. I thought that the SX1IS was going to be my perfect camera... or actually the perfect gift for my wife.

I am an amateur photographer whose primary subjects are my children playing sports. Since I work a lot, my wife actually ends up taking a majority of the photos. I was planning to get a digital SLR for her when I came upon the specs for the SX1IS. It seems as if Canon product managers have listened to everything I wanted in a digital camera. The biggest deals for me were

1. HD video with optical zoom enabled while you're filming

2. 4 frames per second of continuous shooting

3. 20x optical zoom

4. Ease of use of a point-and-shoot

Here are my series of reactions:

1. After the first set of photos and videos, I couldn't help but feel as if Canon has under-delivered on the promise of a nearly perfect camera for amateurs or perhaps my camera was defective. This was my review of the first batch of photos and videos: (please read on to the next section since my initial disappointment resulted more from ignorance and unfair expectations)

a. I wasn't getting anywhere near 4 frames per second.

b. In the AUTO mode, the photos seem to come out at a lower quality than my much cheaper Powershot A710 in AUTO mode. By lower quality, I mean that the color, contrast, and details appear not as good.

c. It is very cool to be able to zoom in and out while you are taking video, but the HD video footages came out jerky enough to be really annoying.

2. This didn't seem right, so I actually read the instructions and spent a few minutes googling for info. It quickly became clear that you really have to read the manual to use this camera effectively. The manual is not written especially well, but it contains the info you need. (FYI, I've NEVER read instructions on any of my other digital point-and-shoot cameras before, and I have been very happy with the thousands of photos I've taken.)

a. Getting 4 frames per second: I learned that you cannot shoot 4 frames per second in AUTO mode or SPORTS mode. SPORTS mode can only take continuous AutoFocus photos which is about 1 frame per second. Most of the other modes support fast 4 frames per second continuous shooting. In the 4 fps continuous shooting, only the first shoot will be in focus, the others will be out of focus if the subject moves towards or away from your camera.

b. Comparing photos from SX1IS with A710: I realized that I was taking photos at high zoom that the Powershot A710 was not even able to get, so this was not a fair comparison. For apples-to-apples outdoor photos, SX1IS does take superior photos, but indoor photos does seem grainier at similar zoom levels. However, the difference is really minor, and there are many many adjustments on the SX1IS that can more than compensate.

c. Jerky HD video playback: This is a really a problem with Quicktime on my Windows Vista (on 2.5GHz Quadcore CPU with 4GB of RAM & ATI Radeon 512MB graphics card, so not a hardware issue). I saw similar jerky playback with Quicktime on Windows XP. However, the videos play smooth and perfectly in Quicktime on a Mac OS X. By reading this review, I hope you don't get upset when your first HD video looks really bad because of the jerky motion. I'm sure that this is a temporary problem: either Apple will improve Quicktime playback on Windows, a better MOV player will be available, or software will be available to convert the MOV to another format that works better on Windows.

d. Further note: To make changes to a bunch of settings via the menu options, you have to use this ring on the function button (called the "Control Dial"). It's the knurled outermost concentric ring surrounding the FUNC. SET button. You rotate this to select the menu options you want. Well, maybe I'll get used to it, but right now, this ring sucks. It's easy to miss the your menu item because you rotate this ring with just enough force, but if you press a bit too much, you end up with different options. This will probably suck to another plateau when I'm in bright sunlight looking through the viewfinder.

Here are 3 other things you might want to consider before purchasing this camera:

1. The camera feels very solid, but this also means that it is a bit heavy.

2. The form factor is for taking photographs, so if you plan to use this primarily for the HD video, your hands/arms will tire out. It is a bit awkward to keep the camera steady for extended video. HD camcorder will probably be better for you if your primary motivation is to take HD videos.

3. See a professional review with a video demo at

I'm now having a great time taking lots of photos and videos with this camera. The 20x zoom, HD video, and 4 fps is worth the cost premium.

There is a lot to love about the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS. Being able to take photographs or shoot 1080p video (get a big memory card for video!) is the main attraction for this camera, and this camera delivers. The 20x zoom lens is FANTASTIC. Zooming in and out is painless, quick, and silent. You'll love the freedom this gives you. I love that this camera takes 4 AA batteries. These kind of batteries are available everywhere so you don't have to worry about running out of power like you do in cameras with a proprietary battery pack. The video screen on this camera is relatively big, bright, and clear.

But the camera is not without a few problems. Coming from a Canon D-SLR, the image quality leaves a little to be desired. At 100% magnification, the images are a little noisy. However, most people don't look at pictures at this zoom-level, and at normal print sizes, the images are sharp and noise is not really noticeable in real-world shooting. I personally don't like the neck strap. Maybe I just need to wear it in, but at its current stiffness, it sometimes gets in the way of the camera controls. The video looks a little wobbly sometimes due to the design of CMOS sensors (Google "rolling shutter effect"). However, I only notice it when moving the camera quickly (such as panning). The battery compartment doesn't open the way you might expect (look in the manual before attempting it). The on-screen menu is a pretty good but could be better. The viewfinder is electronic and the colors on it appear washed out, but it gets the job done. Finally, there are no threads on the front of the lens to mount filters on, but there are third-party adapters that will let you do this (Lensmate makes one).

However, I'm still very satisfied with my purchase and would not hesitate to recommend the camera to others looking for this kind of hybrid camera. I'm going on a trip in June and it'll be the only camera I take.

Buy Canon PowerShot SX1IS 10 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom a Now

I've been waiting for the HD-video-capable replacement for the SX10IS for awhile, and I'm glad I waited. There is a lot of legitimate discussion whether this, the successor to the SX10IS, is a worthwhile replacement, and the answer is contingent on what you want to do with a camera and how experienced you are with photography.

First, this camera has an incredible zoom range. I stood from several blocks away and photographed an entire seven-story building in NYC using the SX1IS's widest zoom setting. From the distance I stood I could barely see that the top three floors featured terraces. I took another photo at maximum zoom and could not only see the terraces but see with reasonable detail that someone with a yellow short-sleeve shirt was having breakfast on their terrace. Needless to say, if you have a need for a fast, high-zoom-capable lens, the SX1IS has it.

In terms of speed, the camera feels very responsive. The lens itself zooms and retracts quickly with little noise (even while shooting video) and I was pleased with the overall responsiveness. The focus settings need to be played with somewhat, but overall the camera feels quick as opposed to sluggish or slow. Also, this (over the SX10IS) is rated at 4fps, which is mighty quick.

Picture quality, overall, is very good. There is definitely fringing on the edges of a shot where the barrel effect of a big, zoomed-out lens appears, but overall I'm happy with the results. There are some issues if you are taking a shot that will wind up on the side of a bus in an ad, but even 8x10 shots will come out wonderfully.

The camera is a bit heavy, but given the lens and the technology stuffed into this thing, I didn't feel like I needed a massage after working with it for a few hours. It's lots heavier than my snapshot go-to camera, the Canon 880IS, but that's like suggesting a Maybach is a lot heavier than a Kawasaki Ninja. Apples and oranges.

Overall, I think this is a good camera. It is a great tool for people who really know what they're doing -which frankly isn't me. However, I have a general idea of what I want to accomplish and I'm willing -and going to -take the time to learn how to get more out of this camera. It's fine as an automatic point and shoot -a bit complicated, perhaps -but it will definitely save me the trouble and bother of going the dSLR route. Unless the lens on this camera is damaged, there should be no need to upgrade because the wide angle is great and the zoom is incredible. The lens could be a bit better at high zoom, but I'm satisfied with the results.

The main thing that this camera offers over the SX10IS is the capability to do RAW images and HD Video. The former is for serious users -I haven't installed my packaged Canon software yet and haven't even explored taking RAW images or how to edit them with Photoshop on the PC -but the HD video results are pretty amazing. I'm not sure how often I'll use this to do HD video but I can say without a doubt that I'd kick myself in six months' time if I wanted to use it to take some video and had to rely on 480p or 720p instead of full HD video. The quality is stunning and accurate, and with stereo mics the SX10IS does better at video than some fully-dedicated video cameras from several years ago.

A word to the wise: if you are willing to take the time to learn how to use this camera or are very experienced, you will enjoy using this camera. It's a bit pricey but I think it's a great piece of equipment. If however you are looking at this as an improvement on a little snapshot camera like the aforementioned 880IS and all you want to do is take portraits and the like, don't spend the extra money, get a snapshot digicam.

I'd recommend this to people who are either experienced or have a decent knowledge and understanding of photography, and also for people who would like to explore the mechanics of taking a photo beyond just hitting a button. It does produce some great photos, but it can really be frustrating. Bottom line: between the expense, the size of the cam itself and the tweaking necessary, if convenience is first and quality is second on your wishlist, this is not the right camera for you. You should go check out the Canon G10. If quality and the art of photography are the two highest items on your digicam wishlist, buy it and happy shooting.

Four stars and not five because of the lens fringe, the manual pop-up flash and the focus issues I originally experienced before I read through the manual. I'd have given this bad boy an extra star for RAW recording but I also deducted a star because you need to install proprietary Canon 'ware (both an app and a codec) before you can manipulate RAW images in Photoshop or elsewhere.

Overall, one hell of a camera.

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Let me preface my review by saying this is the perfect super zoom compact for me (on paper). I love everything about this camera but its reliability.

I've been really pleased with the HD video performance; sharp videos with good out of the camera color rendition, with some CMOS "wobble" on fast pans (more a function of bad videography technique however). Was pleasantly surprised with how still images capture in such an extreme 20x zoom lens. Is it a little soft at extreme aperatures? yeah. Is there chromatic aberation in the corners? sure. But this is a compact camera we're talking about here. ISO 400 is about the limit for me in regards to noise, but this is about par for the course as I've never been happy above 200 in all other compacts i've owned. The articulating screen is awesome and battery life has not been an issue due to rechargeable AA accesibility. For a traveller, this is a huge plus. Those who don't travel may not understand or appreciate this feature.

Where this camera fails in epic proportion is durabilty. My first SX1 lasted 3 weeks before it gave me the following error: "lens error, restart camera". This was after 30 or so pictures, and 4 movies; we're talking about 1 hour of total use, tops. Camera was never dropped or mishandled. Upon investigating online and forums, this seems to be an issue with both Japanese and US versions of this camera.

Perhaps I am just very, very unfortunate to get this twice. Getting burned twice makes me shy about trying it one more time and I hope you have better luck than I did.

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I just returned (last night) from a 12 day MIT alumni safari trip in Tanzania. I've been a serious amateur photographer for 50+ years, and had planned to take my Rebel xsi and two zoom lenses. I bought the sx1 3 months ago to evaluate it, and after many hours of using it, shooting test shots vs. the xsi, and traveling with it, I decided to take only the sx1 to Tanzania. Four people in our group had quality DSLRs and big lenses; one had an HD DVR. I am VERY happy that I chose to take the sx1. I got many more very good stills and HD videos than any one else. The DSLR people did get some exceptional stills that are better than anything the sx1 could do, but I knew that would be the case. My sx1 was always with me, always a second or two away from taking a quick shot, and even mixing stills and HD video simultaneously. I love that you can zoom while shooting video. I used Energizer "ultimate lithium" non-rechargeable AA batteries. I got 800 stills and 45 minutes of video on the first set before the "low battery" warning.

For me, reviews that point out that the sx1 image quality is not quite as good as a DSLR+lens that are 4x bigger and heavier are not helpful. It is true, and should be obvious. The big lenses are also better in dim light. In good light and mid-distance scenes, I can't tell the difference in 8x10 images from my best DSLR and my pocket Canon SD970.

I had a choice of taking the sx1 on safari, with a total weight of 1.47 pounds including batteries, or the xsi plus a canon 17-85 and a sigma 50-500 zoom, total weight 7.05 pounds without cases and charger. The sx1 was more than worth the image quality tradeoff, and the ability to shoot HD video was a real bonus. I'm fairly new to video, but using PowerDirector I'm integrating stills and video, all 1080 HD quality, into a really attractive presentation.

I found that the Tamrac 5230 case was best for the sx1 on safari. I wore it on my belt, with the top unzipped (it has velcro and snap closures as well as the zipper). I put the spare batteries, lens cleaner, etc. in a big zip-lock bag and folded that in the bottom of the Tamrac, under the camera. The Tamrac would fit into the zip-lock bag in a downpour. I got an adapter (LensMate, I think), and kept a 58mm skylight filter on the lens, with no lens cap. I could wipe the filter clean quickly without worrying about scratching the lens. I kept a tiny tripod in the outer pouch of the Tamrac, and I was ready for anything.

If you are considering a camera in this size and price range, and you want the 20x zoom and HD video, you will love the sx1.

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Pentax K-30 Weather-Sealed 16 MP CMOS Digital SLR (White, Body Only)

DISCLAIMER: This review is from a still-shooter's perspective. I don't use video that often so look elsewhere if you want an in-depth review of the video functions on this camera.

The K-30 is a really great photographic tool like most of its predecessors were. Despite Pentax trying to distinguish it from its previous offerings...it performs pretty much the same as the K-5 in almost all areas.

Image quality from this camera is excellent. It has the same look as files from the K-5 (except for slightly inferior dynamic range)..bright, punchy, and sharp. The camera produces exceptionally clean files right through ISO1600 and even through ISO6400 it does a good job balancing noise, noise reduction, and detail capture. The 18-135 WR is a good starter lens due to its focal length. It's sharp at the wide angle but gets very soft at the telephoto end (not an uncommon problem with zoom lenses). If you're looking for a good sharp zoom lens to go with the camera...the older Pentax 18-250 is a great choice. But it is discontinued and very hard to find these days, and also not weather-sealed like the 18-135 WR. The Sigma 18-250 is also a great choice.

Speaking of RAW files... Pentax saves RAW files in the Adobe dng file format exclusively with this camera and does away with the .PEF format on their older cameras. This is a wonderful feature because this universal file format will open in most photo editing software (I use Apple's Aperture and I had no problem opening the files).

The only real downsides to this camera image quality-wise that I can think of is that the camera has a tendency to underexpose a little and the colors are somewhat inaccurate (and a tad oversaturated) in its default setting. However, these are only minor demerits and are easily adjustable in the camera settings. And on the exposure issue, I would rather the camera underexpose and retain detail than overexpose which makes it harder to recover lost detail in some instances.

In other areas of performance... the AF performance is a distinct improvement over the K-x and K-r and is about on par with the K-5. In most shooting situations, it performs quite well, but it can struggle in low-light situations sometimes. One good thing about the 18-135 WR lens is that it has a built-in focusing motor so that helps AF performance overall. Shot-to-shot times are good, and the camera's burst speed performs as advertised with a decent buffer.

The K-30, like its predecessors, offers a pretty good set of still shooting features for the enthusiast crowd. Things like Chromatic Aberration adjust as well as the highlight correction option which helps preserve detail. You can also convert JPEGS back to RAW in this camera which is something very unique. It also has a RAW button on the front of the camera like the K-5 did. The viewfinder is great, 100% coverage with a high degree of magnification.

The camera is comfortable hold and shoot with. It is not a light camera overall, but it feels very solid and well-made and of course its weather-sealed. I have yet to test its weather-sealing so I can't vouch for how good it is, but from the reviews I've seen, it works as advertised (just don't completely submerge it in water though). I especially like having dual dials which is something that isn't terribly common on a sub-$1,000 DSLR. Overall the menu system is similar to its predecessors although the main interface has been redesigned a little to make it look more modern. The LCD on back is generally nice but has issues in direct sunlight like a lot of them do. One thing the camera does have is pretty snappy AF performance in live-view, which sets it apart from most other DSLRs. It's not lightning-fast, but it is faster than any other DSLRs I have seen, and is only bested by Sony's DSLT models and most Micro 4/3rds cameras as well.

The battery port is the same as the K-r. It comes with the same Lithium Ion battery pack which delivers okay battery life. However, like the K-r, AA batteries can be used with the same adaptor that was used with the K-r. So that's one bonus if you're thinking about upgrading from the K-r.

As for the video... it's good from what I have seen and an improvement over its predecessors. But Pentax does not offer an external microphone jack... which is a puzzling omission at this price point. If you are equal parts stills and video enthusiast.... the Canon Rebel T4i/650D is a better choice in this class of camera.

So, overall, a great camera for still shooters who only occaisionally dabble into video. It is an excellent choice for travelers on a budget who want excellent still-shooting performance in a rugged body with a flexible powersource. From a still-shooting perspective, it's photo quality is some of the best you are going to find from an APS-C camera. However, it's very clear that Pentax still views video shooting as a secondary feature on the camera and if that is just as important to you as stills are, you might look elsewhere first.

...GONE!!! Pentax, in my opinion, has smashed a home run with this camera. I am a current K-x owner and that camera has served me very well for the past couple years. I wanted to upgrade to a newer/better version of a Pentax. This camera offers everything that the K-x had going for it, and expands what made that camera great into what I consider is an awesome camera.

It's high ISO pictures are extremely good. I've cranked it up to ISO 6400 and notice no noise in my Christmas light photos. I'm sure that when you approach 12800, or expand up to 25600, you will notice significant noise. But I would have no lack of confidence in shooting 6400 and below.

The viewfinder is a pentaprism. Which in it's price range is a rarity. Most similar cameras offer pentamirrors. What's the difference? With the pentaprism you get 100% view coverage, what you see in the viewfinder is what will be taken.

I have not found fault with the 18-135mm lens I bought with the kit. I haven't and normally do not pixel peep. It seems like a very solid lens. I like that it covers a very nice range from wide angle to moderate telephoto.

Weather resistance is AWESOME for this price range. I've already taken it out in the rain, and have had my 3 year old son splash it while I was photographing him in his bubble bath. I can't wait for some snow storms (as long as it doesn't drop below 14 degrees F) or next spring/summers thunderstorms when I try to get a perfect lightning shot. You honestly don't understand the piece of mind this weather resistance offers until you have had it. I used to scurry indoors with the K-x.

I mainly, almost exclusively use the camera for photos, not video. The K-30 shoots video in 1080p/30fps, so that is a selling point for some of you. Although is doesn't have stereo mics. Again, no biggie to me, I photograph things, not video record them. I could purchase a $250 video camera that would blow almost all cameras out of the water if I wanted to take videos.

The display is worlds better than the K-x, I can't do justice to the upgrade it is versus the K-x. 3" and 921K. A very solid display, sure no flipping and moving, but the camera is water resistant after all. Doesn't bother me that it's fixed. I do 99% of my photography through the viewfinder anyway.

I can't really give a fair review of the live view composing, I have tried it, and with the new bigger, crisper display it seems to make it easier. Focusing is much faster than the K-x, and it does have focus peaking when composing your shot/vid. Again, I can not fairly review this feature.

I bought this camera instead of the K-5, K-5II, and K-5IIs mainly because it's cheaper, but in all honesty I like that fact that if I am pressed for time I can choose a scene and let the camera do the computing, and if I want to set into full manual I can do that as well. Pentax also offers Av, TAv, Tv, User modes, etc; in which the camera selects one (or more) of Exposure, Aperture, ISO, and you choose the rest. Very nice feature.

Honestly I can't think of anything to bash this camera on. For the price, compared to similarly priced DSLR's; in true Pentax tradition, you get A LOT of bang for the buck. Class leading APS-C images, weather resistant body, fantastic ISO images, etc. I only wish that Pentax spent more money on marketing, and re-introducing themselves to the USA market/stores. These cameras are extremely good, and I love the fact that nobody seems to know this.

Please ask me questions and I will try to respond...if you've read this, and were hesitating on purchasing, DON'T...this camera ROCKS

Buy Pentax K-30 Weather-Sealed 16 MP CMOS Digital SLR (White, Body Only) Now

FIRST OFF I am not a PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER there are plenty of reviewers who can tell you the facts of this camera from a true photographers perspective. I am just an average consumer guy who likes to take QUALITY STILL PICTURES of whatever strikes my odd AUTISTIC WEREWOLF fancy's! My problem, I've found the standard point and shoot camera's lack the enhanced image quality I demand. Point and shoot cameras are designed with built in compromises to compensate for its single lens. Most point and shoot camera's are horrible in low light conditions. Most point and shoot cameras create images with too much image noise in them for my liking.

I think the Pentax K30 is the best Digital SLR Camera you can buy. Right out of the box on automatic mode you will take pictures that will likely astonish you and make friends drool. The standard low end kit lens does a perfectly acceptable job photographing most subjects. The built in flash does a great job illuminating most close range subjects. If you just used this camera on fully automatic mode you would have at your command a photographic instrument capable of producing picture quality far superior to any mere point and shoot mongrel out there. If ever you decide to be adventurous the Pentax K30 Camera has ample button's knobs and other controls needed to manage iso, aperture and other vital photographic settings. The full color display is large and clear. There is a rare and great optical view finder, I think goes the distance in making this a truly awesome camera. For those who love using video only to frame their shot that mode is made easily available with the change of a few settings. This camera is killer awesome in most low light situations which is much better than most other camera's I have used. The pictures have VERY LITTLE NOISE in the final images. This camera takes pictures in RAW formats that are compatible with Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements 10 and Adobe Lightroom 4. The advantage of capturing images in RAW format is that you do not lose any video information. You see exactly what the video sensor saw without loss caused by processing images into JPEG \ JPG format images. More video image information contained in the RAW image format gives you greater freedom to manipulate your raw images during post production.

The Pentax K30 is a camera the average customer can grow into at their own pace. The Pentax K30 camera makes it easy for a DSLR newbie like me to experiment with light, shutter and focus settings without fear of breaking something. The Pentax K30 Camera has an optional adapter that allows it to take conventional AA Batteries which means fresh batteries are always close as the next market, pharmacy, mini mart or other full service store. You will never lose the opportunity to take that terrific shot because your special camera specific batteries lack sufficient charge. The Pentax K30 Camera uses any of the K TYPE LENSES which are numerous and made adequate for most any situation.

The Pentax K30 Camera is on a whole well made. I find the battery closure mechanism to be the cheapest most ill engineered part of The Pentax K30 Camera and its not bad just it should have been more strongly engineered. I have a Pentax K5 Camera and the Battery closure mechanism is far more secure. The Pentax K30 Camera is made out of plastic and while I like the feel and weight of a metal Pentax K5 camera more, The Qaulity Thick Plastic Pentax K30 Camera does not feel at all cheap. One of the finer things about the Pentax K30 Camera is its size and how it feels in my hands. I have small hands with unusually long fingers and the Pentax K30 Camera feels as if it was made exactly for my hands to hold. The Pentax K30 Camera is so perfectly sized for me; it is almost as if the Pentax K30 Camera is part of or an extension of my body. The camera is not heavy at all. My brother is a really BIG DUDE, 6 feet 8 inches tall and about 320 pounds, he has HUGE hands about the size of baseball mitts, with huge fingers. While my big brother can use the Pentax K30 Camera it is less comfortable for him. My MUCH larger \ younger brother favors my Pentax K5 which by it self is still on the small side for his BIG HANDS but becomes better suited for his HUGE GRIP with addition of its optional extra AA battery compartment. Despite its plastic \ Polycarbonate body the Pentax K30 Camera feels surprisingly solid in build quality. The Tripod Mounting Point is metal not cheap plastic. The Pentax K30 Camera hot shoe is covered but easily accessible. The Pentax K30 Camera has various doors and flaps that are on a whole easily accessible. The rubberized flaps used to access the USB and hot shoe take time to access until you get the "Hang of It!"

The Pentax K30 Camera's digital view screen color is rich and true. The lettering on the menu screens can be sized to normal or LARGE for those like me with older eyes. The Pentax K30 Camera has many do-dads and special features that let you do lots of in camera processing too many for the likes of me to list. Another cool thing about the Pentax K30 Camera is the radical luminescent cobalt blue color that literally jumps out at you. The blue color dances in your eyes and is so different from the standard plain jane black cameras. The blue camera makes a bold statement even when it is sitting still not being used. For those artists who demand their equipment stand out from the photographic equipment pack this camera is sooooo YOU! I am not prone to writing great reviews for any product at a drop of the hat BUT this Pentax K30 Camera is no ordinary photographers best friend. Some time effort and thought went into designing this Pentax K30 Camera and in almost every aspect of its execution the lavish attention to detail certainly shows. This Pentax K30 Camera is the perfect crossover camera for those tired of the point and shoot dull-drums that are not ready for the high-tech buttons of a full out professional grade DSLR. The Pentax K30 Camera puts and keeps the fun in entry level DSLR photography. The Pentax K30 Camera is the perfect storm of near perfect out of the box ease of use and mind blowing options for the experienced photographer. Finally this Pentax K30 Camera is a workhorse camera that is sealed against weather if used sensibly. This Pentax K30 Camera is not so delicate it will break at the slightest environmental challenge. Yes there are better cameras in the world but, the Pentax K30 Camera is a near perfect fusion of form and function that is solidly built. The K30 lacks some of the versatility of the K5 but the K5 lacks many of the consumer driven ease of use and image manipulation features of the K30. The Pentax K30 Camera appears to be aimed squarely at consumers looking to trade up to entry level DSLR's from Point and Shoot Camera's and if I am right the Pentax K30 Camera hit almost center of its intended audience bullseye!

Read Best Reviews of Pentax K-30 Weather-Sealed 16 MP CMOS Digital SLR (White, Body Only) Here

I have 40 years worth of Pentax SLR and DSLR cameras. The K-5 and the K-30 can stand right along with their 35mm equivalent cameras. They are great cameras. I bought the K-30 a few months ago, and have used it for portraits. It has far more features then I need, since I really only need a camera with a manual setting.

It is an advanced camera for advanced users. It can use any Pentax lens made for any previous Pentax SLR or DSLR model, including the older 35mm film cameras. All Pentax digital models have been water resistant. They simply tightened the seals for this camera.

Many people here will list all of the benefits of this camera, and it has many really nice features.

But it also has two down sides.

1. Unlike the K-5, this camera does not have a PC plug for external flash units. I use a wireless transmitter which sits in the hotshoe. You can also use an adapter with a PC Plug. (The camera has a wireless system for using a wireless flash, but I have yet to get the camera's wireless system to operate correctly with studio flash units.)

2. Like all auto-focus cameras, it does not always auto-focus correctly on very black skin.

In the end, all that matters are the photographs. This camera makes great photographs. If you don't want to spend enormous sums of money on Nikon or Canon DSLR cameras and lenses, but you want the same great photographs, then this is the camera for you. Plus it will go where Canon or Nikon wishes they could go.

(I like Nikon and Canon cameras. Mainly, I like Nikon. But I don't like the amount of money that you wrap up in them. That is why I have always ended up with Pentax. Same quality. Nearly the same features. Less price.)

OK, I read a review here where a person purchased this camera, but didn't like it because they couldn't figure it out. I understood the feeling. I am now 62, but when I was 14, my Aunt, who had been a magazine photographer, gave me a Leica 35mm camera. I took it home and tried to figure it out, but couldn't. I had been used to using drop-in cartridges in cameras with simple lenses. No one at home knew how to operate it either. I gave it back to her a couple of months later. In later years, I wished that I still had it.

DSLR cameras are great for advanced amateur photographers and professional photographers. People who get into doing things with cameras that automatic features and setting just won't handle. Or they need to sometimes use a +1,000 mm telephoto lens, or a 15mm wide field lens, or some other uncommon situation. Or these cameras are for people who want to learn to do these things.

If you are not in this group, and you don't wish to invest the time and effort necessary to learn the art of creating nice images, then a small point-n-shoot camera is probably a better choice for you.

I hope that this helps. I really like this camera.

Want Pentax K-30 Weather-Sealed 16 MP CMOS Digital SLR (White, Body Only) Discount?

Sold my Nikon D40 and had some decisions. Was looking at the Nikon D5100, D7000, and the Canon T4i. Considered waiting to decide until Nikon introduces the inevitable D5200, but after weighing all the options, and considering the phenomenal value that is the K30 I bought it. (white body w/standard 18-55 lens sexy) I'm new to Pentax and glad to have made the change. Nothing against Nikon or Canon, but on top of taking excellent pictures, there is something unique about having the Pentax. I prefer the menu system over both Nikon and Canon simpler for me to navigate. (Though deleting photos on Nikon remains simpler hitting the 'delete' button does it all.)

I'm waiting for Sigma to release their newish 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM in a Pentax mount then all will be perfect. They already have it for Nikon/Canon gets great reviews. Not water-resistant (the Sigma lens), but that was never a decision making factor in the K30. (Though nice to have.) I wanted a great camera to fit a good all-in-one lens onto and be done. It lets me take great photos (and it does even with the stock 18-55 lens) and ease into more complex picture taking as I feel fit.

People dog the video, on this and other DSLRs. My response is get a video camera. Video in the DSLRs has been something of a gimmick since introduced. DSLRs aren't great for video, camcorders aren't great for stills. I wanted great stills the K30 fits that bill.

Love the grip, ergonomics, the picture quality, build quality, and value compared to competition. Highly recommended if new to the DSLR world, or like me upgrading from D40 or the like.

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS25 16.1 MP Tough Digital Camera with 8x Intelligent Zoom (White)

I bought this camera to replace an older Panasonic that was lost. I bought the camera for its ruggedness and weather resistance. Too many times in the past I've had cameras that stopped working after one drop, or after getting a little wet. But the main thing I like about the Panasonics is their very fast shutter response. Like the film cameras, it takes a picture when you press the shutter button, not half a second later. That lag occures in too many newer digital cameras, making it difficult to take good pictures, especially of moving objects.

One thing I don't like about this camera, is that there's a message about waterproof use every time you turn it on. You must click past this message before using the camera. If anybody knows how to disable this message, please let me know. I docked one star because this slows things down too much.

Update: A commenter helpfully showed how to turn off the warning message. Now I can turn on the camera and take pictures pretty much immediately. This, along with the fast shutter response, makes it very to take shots quickly. I changed the rating to five stars. Note: I bought this camera for "all-weather" use. I don't take underwater pictures so cannot comment on how watertight it is.

UPDATE 2: Just noticed another issue. The flash sometimes causes a bit of reflection the color of my finger along the right side of the imate, evidently becuase my fingers are too close (to the flash). This isn't an issue, I just move my fingers a bit. Good thing I preview work-pictures, though. I can't tell you how much I am appreciating the water and dust-proofing in this SE Florida monsoon season! No change in the rating.

UPDATE 1: Since purchasing I've used this quite a bit for work and personal photos. I still love the camera I've been able to take pics in rain, around water and with a 4 year old hanging all over me without worrying about dust, water or dropping it. However, there are a couple of issues I haven't seen in other reviews: (1) the lens is easily "dirtied" by a finger print when you take this out of your pocket (no cover), and (2) I have to be more careful about taking photos in the direction of the sun or I sometimes get a big glare-streak... don't know why my other cameras didn't have this problem but it sometimes requires two hands (one to block the sun). These issues have not changed my rating.

ORIGINAL REVIEW: Lots of camera-geek analysis here, and from what I read Panasonic meets my criteria fast cycle after shooting, wide angle, durable and mainstream ("reliable") manufacturer. I mostly take photos for work, and any modern camera is satisfactory for family use.

This has a wider angle than my Canon PowerShot, which I am replacing, and no moving parts. I can shoot in the rain and carry it in my shirt pocket, neither of which are feasible with the Canon. The unit is "closed" so that I won't get construction dust or lint inside the lenses, which is why I need to replace my Canon.

Other than that, it's just a nice camera that I can get wet or drop, with all the usual bells and whistles (90% of which I'll never use). The price:value ratio is very good for my needs.

Buy Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS25 16.1 MP Tough Digital Camera with 8x Intelligent Zoom (White) Now

I bought this camera to take on my honeymoon to the caribbean. I love it. The instructions are clear, it is very easy to use and I am delighted with how my pictures turned outabove water and under water. Only con is that I wish it would zoom a little more. For the price, I'm super happy with this camera.

Read Best Reviews of Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS25 16.1 MP Tough Digital Camera with 8x Intelligent Zoom (White) Here

Im satisfied with the pictures it takes under water, as a point and shoot camera is ok as well, if used a lot of zoom since it's digital the pictures dont look so great, but that is expected. Overall the camera works for what is intended water activities pictures.

Want Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS25 16.1 MP Tough Digital Camera with 8x Intelligent Zoom (White) Discount?

I took this camera to Mexico with us on vacation. The camera worked well and took some good pictures in and out of the water, as long as you used the normal optical zoom. My only complaint would be that the Intelligent zoom does not work very well, it's a bit grainy, especially in low light and under water. Saying that it has an 8X zoom is a bit misleading, since it is not a true optical zoom. Had no problems with leakage and we snorkeled for a couple of hours. My husband has an older model that has manual modes and a lot more picture options. Next time I would go with a higher end model to have those options. This camera is very small which can make it a bit hard to hold on to and the movie mode button is so small it is hard to push, especially if you had larger fingers. All in all I like the camera, but some small changes could make it much better.