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.

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

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.

Mitsuba MIT305 12MP 4x Digital Zoom Camera/Camcorder (Silver)

When I first inspected my Mitsuba DV305, I was surprised by the external quality and how complete the camera package was: owners manual, CD, battery charger, cables, camera bag and something called a "Power Box". The Power Box is a temporary battery, it holds two AA batteries, this is to be used when you recharge the battery. The engineering and design are remarkable, that includes many "Bells & Whistles" that are included in much higher priced cameras. I found that the camera was user friendly, easy to use, despite the lack of information in the owners manual, 14 eighth of a page is insufficient for any manual for any electronic device.

Now the down side. The camera has two lenses, one on top and one just below. The top lens is not a lens, just a view finder. It is the second lens, half the size of the view finder that is actually the camera lens, yet there is a lens cap for the view finder. 12 Mega Pixels, it is a given that the more Mega Pixels the sharper the picture will be. The 12 Mega Pixels are Resolution Interpolated, do the research, sensor Mega Pixels are 3.2MP. The lens is F2.8/f8.5mm with a 4X zoom, this is adequate for taking picture on a sunny day as long as your subject is facing the sun and not more than 3 feet away. 12 Mega Pixels ?, I have 1.5 Mega Pixel cameras that take better quality pictures. Built in memory is 32MB with additional memory to be provided by a SD Card. 32MB memory would be sufficient for 10 picture and 15 second of video. SD Card? , nothing in the manual tells you the maximum size for a SD card. Here is a clue, when the monitor screen is opened, you will find a Memory diagram, the maximum is 2GB. Do Not try to use a SDHC card, as the engineering has not been incorporated for this type of SD card. I installed a 2GB SD card and it gives me 100's of pictures and 2 hours of video. The digital zoom I found stiff and hard to use, especially with a very light weight camera without any built in stabilizer. Mitsuba does not support their product very well, it is difficult to find a replacement battery, CD, owner manual or general information about their products, such as the maximum size for a SD card. When I received my camera the CD was damaged and I still have not received any information for a replacement. I have searched the Internet for information, as well contacted Mitsuba, concerning the maximum memory for the SD card without an results.

I am "Old School" as I still have my 35mm camera and my Hi8 camcorder, but I am moving into the digital world. The Mitsuba DV305 is an excellent introduction for the new digital cameras, as it is inexpensive way for anyone to start collecting their priceless moments, with an easy learning curve. I would recommend the Mitsuba DV305, as entry level digital, still camera, movie camera and voice recording device, all in one. I continue to use my Mitsuba DV305, for many of my requirements. We are planning a trip and the camera will be the only camera that I will use. JW

wouldnt reccommend this to my enemy waste of my money now y I see the saying says nothing cheap most time dont have any use used it once still in the box

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NX488 - GE Wireless ShatterPro Glassbreak Sensor

I added 2 of these to my garage. Each one is covering 3 Windows on each side. 20 foot range so be sure were there going before you order. 360 coverage is cool too can put overhead in center if you want. Cover all windows in room. I moved a motion detector and put these up. Keep a cat inside. Instructions are good. Thay came with mine. Just have a installer or dealer code. Can not get into system program without. Thats were the main learns the sincor.

I was skeptical about this unit, but it was included in the security package I purchased so I tried it out. I'm glad I did. This unit works as advertised. Recommended.

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Defender STEALTH1 Covert MPEG4 DVR Recording System with Built-in Color Pinhole Surveillance Camera

This spy cam is so simple to use and it takes great videos on an SD memory card. You can put the camera anywhere or mount it on the wall and it will record video for over a month. The videos are in 30 second segments by date and time on the SD card. It connects to the TV with one simple cable (supplied) for viewing and you can fast forward and rewind like a VCR with buttons on the back. It can be used plugged in or can run on batteries. This would be a good nanny cam or in an area you need to monitor for security purposes. The only bad part is that it doesn't record video well in low light. So, this is a day time cam.

Pros: Discreet, Sensitive, Easy To Set Up, Accurate

Cons: Adapter Wire not white, Adapter Wire too short

Best Uses: Spying, Use your imagination

Describe Yourself:Do-It-Yourself

Overall... it's a great Device for Discreet spying and monitoring where you like. You can just pop in the SD card in to your card reader and the footages taken starts playing with Windows Media Player. I just wish it had sound as well, But I guess it would use double the memory, so I can see why they did not incorporate sound into it. The video Quality is Great. And for $250 it's a no brainier. If you are into gadgets and detective work This is definitely a must have. As I mentioned before the adapter wire is too short, though you can just cut the wire and extend it with another wire and use Electric tape to seal it.

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The Defender recorder does a decent job as long as you plan to plug it in for power. Just don't plan on using battery power, or you will be changing them every two days. The only real functional quirk I've run into is that to check the video, I need to unplug it from the power (obvious) to take it over to the TV. But if it is turned off (or unplugged) while recording, the manual says some video can be corrupted. Yet as you approach it, it will turn on from motion detection (sort of an awkward catch 22). Anyway, I can live with that I think, just something to be aware of. What really sucked is that I paid for upgraded premium shipping, but the vendor (JUSTBUYITHERE) took two weeks to ship. I selected the vendor, because they were near by my Southern California location. I thought paying extra for priority shipping meant I would have it in two or three days, but I didn't receive the item for over two weeks. They did ship priority mail, just not for over a week! Some vendors get it and some just don't. All I can say is "JUSTBUYITHERE" just BLOWS! I won't be doing any further business with them, and I recommend you don't.

Read Best Reviews of Defender STEALTH1 Covert MPEG4 DVR Recording System with Built-in Color Pinhole Surveillance Camera Here

There is a lot to like about the Stealth DVR by Defender. It offers an affordable way to covertly capture and record the events of an area. While such a device may not discourage criminals it certainly may make it easier for them to get apprehended. The Stealth DVR looks like any other motion detector, except for the small pinhole camera located at the bottom. Once activated the camera will record (with pretty good image quality) for a set amount of time. This ideal for use in a nursery (nanny cam), an office building (are the cleaning people stealing the change out of your desk) or other areas where you have lingering suspicions.

Pros

Good video quality (see the video portion of the review)

Multi-position mounting bracket

Lots of control on how and when you want the camera to record

The main power source will likely be the AC adapter, but the camera can take 4 AA batteries as a back-up.

Comes with a 2G memory card

Areas for improvement

The reason for a 1/2 star reduction t is that it does take some time and patience to get the camera set-up correctly. The manual is helpful, but you may need to read through it a couple of times.

As other mentioned this is a camera for a well lit area once you have a significant reduction in light you start to have issues.

A few others have mentioned that they are disappointed in the lack of sound. For me it is not that big of a deal. If you are going to use this camera the video capture is going to be far more useful than the sound emitted.

The video format is not Mac compatible I used the Elgato 10020840 Video Capture Device (White) to capture and transfer the video to my Mac.

Final Verdict While the set-up can be a bit tricky the Stealth DVR provides impressive video quality. The Stealth DVR is a effective motion activated security camera.

4 1/2 stars

---Please note that the manufacturer sent me one unit for reviewing purposes---------

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I have been playing with this video camera for two weeks and I have some thoughts:

PROSGood look from the front as far as being covert. Looks like a traditional motion detector to most people. Really good picture from about 3 feet away to 6 feet, then gets a little blury but still okay, not bad, still on the pro side of this story. Removeable card is handy if you do a permanent install. Has a mount on the back that I want to try soon.

CONS Battery drain is quick! You will need to use the AC for recording. Batteries are just for when you are moving it around. Lights on the back cannont be disabled, I put white electrical tape over them. Need a large data card to get decent video storage, I guess this really depends on your application but the included card was too small for me.

Overall, I was satisfied for the $200 price.

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VideoSecu High Sensitive Pre-amp Audio Pickup Device Tiny Spy Microphone for CCTV Security Camera S

We purchased this microphone with my CCTV surveillance. We are very pleased with the surprisingly quality and durability, especially for the price! If you are looking for a microphone that is durable and has great quality for your security camera, this is the one to buy!

was expecting a smaller case , it was about 2" in diameter. I don't think these units really lend themselves to being concealed. did work ok and had good sensetivity

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7" Articulated Magic Arm with Single Rod Clamp - 15mm (4 1/4"thread) for Dslr Rig Support System

Just received this arm and tried to use it on a shoot today with the Lilliput 7" 5D field video monitor. The swivel joints all lock tight with the knob. However. the threaded post into the 15mm rod clamp, is impossible to get tight enough. The weight of the monitor keeps causing it to loosen, allowing the monitor to swing like a barn door. I'm going to try some Loctite on the threads, but if that doesn't work, I'll probably have to get a stronger arm. If I had something lighter to mount, I'd probably give it four or five stars, but with the 7" monitor it just doesn't quite do the job.

ADDED Feb 8, 2013:

I ordered a Cowboy Studio super clamp and have attached the monitor to the tripod on several days of shooting. This works great. It is pretty east to position the arm so the weight is pushing down against the 1/4" threads to keep it from loosening. Also the whole setup is much more sturdy on the tripod. For moving around I adjust the monitor arm & monitor to hang straight down with the monitor facing toward the folded legs. This works pretty well for re-positioning the camera without removing everything. Since mounting the arm to the tripod, I could bump it to four stars.

ADDED Feb 11, 2013:

I just received a double 15mm adapter-it goes onto both rails and has the 1/4" threads for mounting the magic arm. This is much more stable that the original single 15mm clamp. I still haven't had to do any actual hand-held production, but with the Loc-Tite on the threads, this seems a lot more stable in just testing it out in the office. I'm not sure why this part is currently not available-hopefully they will get more in stock, as it is really useful. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007GWFN8E/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00

Professional Rain Cover for CANON EOS Digital SLR & NIKON D Series Camera Medium

I found this product pretty useless. I am a sports shooter and was looking for something to cover my second body. I carry my camera on a strap at my side so this really won't work. If you were a landscape photog and only needed access to the shutter button occasionally...maybe this would suffice. It is quite cheaply made but the price is cheap too.If you are only looking for something a bit better than a garbage bag and tape, then this is the one for you. If you want the best, get a ThinkTank Hydrophobia (I use it on my 1D IV and it is fantastic.

What I ended up using for my 5D III the lenscoat raincoat...a nice compromise. The Thinktank will set you back $150 or so and the lenscoat about $75

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

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

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

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

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

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

But things went downhill fast.

The software simply would NOT work.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read Best Reviews of Clover CW5700 2.4 GHz Wireless Video Monitoring Systems with 4-Channel Switcher Here

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

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

JVC Everio GZHD7 3CCD 60GB Hard Disk Drive High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabili

If you are more than a casual video user or if you have bought a video camera more than twice in the last 10 years I would say that you probably need a high end HD camera to satisfy you. For me, someone who has only owned 1 other video camera in the last 10 years I find this camera to be amazing. I do not shoot professionally and if i did there are many great HD solutions in the 3-6 grand range. Since this is not my business and I do not have money to burn this was the camera that satisfied all my needs. Those needs were: no tapes, large hard drive, HD quality or something far, far better than my old mini DV camera. I also needed to be able to archive the files on my mac which is a dual 800mhz G4 and possibly edit on the mac in imovie. This camera does all of that, and quite easily I might add.

I had no problems installing the codec that came with the camera for quicktime. Once I opened a clip in quicktime it did not play properly, however once I imported it into imovie it worked fine. I edited simple edits, added new audio and was satisfied for what I need. After all, all I will be doing with this is shooting the wife and kids.

JVC recommends A 1.25 Gigahertz G4 or higher, so do not complain about the camera not working smoothly on your mac unless you meet those requirements. They are stated on the GZHD7 box. I suggest the newest mac with 2 gigs of ram at least. In my experience, more RAM makes all the difference in the world. Eventually I plan to get a new mac to be able to handle the footage.

I have a 1080i sony plasma TV. The picture looked great. There was some banding of subtle gradients I shot. It was acceptable to me. Also the banding was not apparent on my mac in imovie. I think because my TV is already 2 years old it is not up to the same standards as the GZHD7 camera and my mac. Bottom line is the camera was producing better images on my mac than on my TV. Now all this is nonsense because I will be using this to mostly shoot video of my family and friends for recreational use. Compared to what my dad shot of us when we were kids and then the sandy grainy video we used in the 90s this camera is AMAZING. The quality is good enough for me and I would also add that any film student on a zero budget could easily get by with this. Like I said earlier, if you have the means and require perfect HD video, spend the few extra grand and go for the gold.

I have had this camcorder for about three weeks and have some useful information for the user and prospective buyer. I would also like to offer my opinions. Firstly, I bought this camera because I often need manual controls for focus etc. This camcorder fits the bill. I also didn't want a touch screen. I don't know why users want to plan on having to scratch and grunge up their display by having to touch it. I hate a screen that has been damaged and/or is dirty. This is what you ask for when you have a touch screen. This model uses, instead, a small joy stick which will help keep your screen nice and clear.

I was puzzled by the placement of the mounting hole on the bottom which is not centered as it should be. The professional lens is very nice and yields a quality picture. I have ordered two additional lenses to expand the 10X zoom range which is not enough for wildlife photography, my main use for this camcorder. The optional GL-V1846U Tele Conversion Lens is heavy. Perhaps it weighs as much as the camcorder. This makes the whole assembly front-heavy but not excessive. Using this lens, you will get a tunnel effect at 1X on the zoom. This will disappear at 2X and beyond. I have not yet received the GL-V0746U Wide Conversion Lens but expect that it will also be heavy. Together, these lenses will expand the total potential range from 0.7X to 18X (a span of over 25X).

A number of users on forums have had questions about how to use the TOD files that this camcorder produces. My platform is Windows XP. The camcorder comes with a Cyberlink software package that includes three programs: PowerCinema, PowerDirector and PowerProducer. PowerCinema allows you to browse and save video clips to your PC using a USB interface. You can play these TOD files from your PC's hard disk or directly from the camcorder. Few software packages know what to do with TOD files (even Cyberlink's). PowerDirector is an NLE video editor and when you go to import the TOD files, it converts them to MPG files in the process. What I do is to import them just for the side effect of getting the MPG files. PowerProducer seems to be a DVD authoring package. Now for the bad part. Many people have complained about the OIS not working very well. I can live with that because, with the higher resolution, you need to get used to using a tripod (or some other mechanical stablizer) anyway.

Users have reported that Pinnacle can use TODs directly but I have stopped using that package because it has some really bad behavior (including corrupting your project file when it crashes often). As it stands the MPG files are unusable for anything but static or nearly static scenes.

The pixel-shifting technique used in this camcorder allows its half-resolution triplet of CCD's (960 X 540) to stretch the images to full 1920 X 1080i so the image quality is probably below theoretical 1080i (but still better than 540i). Imagine what JVC could do with true 1920 X 1080 CCD's. This technique could produce a camcorder that rivals the Big Red One professional cinematic camcorder at a small fraction of the cost. At 3840 X 2160, its images could approach the 4K resolution of some very expensive equipment. My hat goes off to JVC.

Buy JVC Everio GZHD7 3CCD 60GB Hard Disk Drive High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabili Now

First of all let me deny all the idiotic reviews that keep copying one another that this camera produces inferior video. This is 3ccd baby produces unmatched quality footage with perfect color separation, great sharpness and smooth operations. Technically speaking this camcorder is way over the category it was placed in. HD7 has a Fujinon PRO lens with 3(!!!) AS EL elements and it has consistent 1,8-1.9 aperture all across the range while Canon and Sony are 3 on the tele end.

I also deny any credibility to "reports" that claim its weak low light performance. I own vx2100 that is THE BEST low light camera for any price below $5000 and this hd7 is very near.

The optical image stabilization works very well, it is not supposed to suppress all shaking but for what it is billed it produces! I have absolutely no problems with it. In fact the image stabilization in this JVC keeps up MUCH BETTER than Sony VX2100! I linked two cams and shot the same footage with both. JVC wins easily and unequivocally.

I edit with FinalCut and using the free utility I downloaded from Internet all the footage is ready for edit in two minutes. The 60Gb of the drive makes a superb storage. To mention this camera has all the belts and whistles of full scale pro or near pro camcorder and if you know what you are looking for it is a steal for the money. Not to mention that it is pleasure to hold camera, quality made and convenient to operate.

Well, this camera awarded "Best expert camcorder of the year 2007" by META(!!!), so if you you are looking for a camcorder under $2000 it is a best you can get. You can get slightly better one for $3000 but it will not be so nicely compact and ready for the action.

I was stunned to see how competition tries to discredit superior product by pouring fake review supported by morons.

Do not use software included with the camcorder. Download free MPEG StreamClip that is SUPERB program!

For a full Professional review and complete instruction how to use it with Final Cut go to digitalcontentproducer.com and look for first and second parts of the review on this camcorder, it includes complete illustrated instructions! I use in Final Cut and I do not use FireWire with this camcorder at all!

I download full resolution footage via usb2 just like described in aforementioned review and footage is very quickly and without conversion in full quality is available is for editing (it can simply unwrap it in the same format as it is on the hard drive of gz-hd7).

I can't comment on iMovie as I do not use one. But for Final Cut it is a snap. BTW, also allows shooting events (like plays for example) that last longer that cassette allowed).

If you buy a camcorder to enjoy convenience, great image quality and boundless creativity it is the best thing you can buy.

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I bought this camera and the JVC CU-VD40 Share Station DVD Burner for HD Everio Camcorders. Our goal was to get an HD camera that was the best, and tape our kids, etc in HD. When we wanted to send a copy of the big game off to Grandma's house so she could pop it into her DVD (in SD) we could just push a button and make it so. If you look at the JVC website this combo should fit the bill! So, $2000 later... The camera is really nice, easy to use, full of useful features, and is well built. My wife and I both sat down, read the manual and figured it out in very little time. We videotaped the dog doing a trick and went and played it on our plasma. Nice picture! Shot a few more dog tricks and kids and then we decided to open the CU-VD40 "Share Station" and hook it up. Piece of cake, very intuitive in fact I'll bet my 8 year old could burn a DVD off this thing. It's literally as easy as plug it in-click-click-click-burn. Here's the rub: the "DVD Burner" spits out a DVD of your selected recordings that CAN ONLY BE PLAYED BACK ON THE CU-VD40. I asked JVC why they call it a share station... Exactly who am I able "share" this with? This unit spits out a DVD "that cannot be played on normal DVD players" (manual, page 47 small print). So I called JVC who denied it but when I pointed it out, they confirmed it. The CU-VD40 is essentially an "archiving" burner. At $400, I'd say its the most expensive DVD archiving method known to man. The manual also said the DVD could be played back on a PC... Not the 3 PC's in my house. So, if you're an HD movie maker and love to burn things to your PC and edit them YOU CANNOT BEAT THIS CAMERA. If you don't like having to go through a PC, but would rather just burn a DVD on the fly not gonna happen. JVC's Tech Support solution: Shoot your video in SD and it will work like a charm.... Ummmm why did I just buy a $1600 HD camera if I'm going to wind up shooting in SD. Anyway, after more research, I found nobody has a solution that will do this (shoot in HD and burn in SD). So I kept the camera and returned the CU-VD40. The camera is just too good to return.

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I bought this camera as an upgrade from my trusty Canon GL1. The light weight, compact size, high def, three CCDs, and hard drive recording are real pluses. I was considering the Sony HDR-SR1 AVC HD 30GB but was concerned about the inability to edit their new format. I edit my video in Adobe Premiere Pro and burn DVDs. Video is stored on the hard drive in *.TOD format, which is uneditable. However, included software converts it to MPEG-2 for editing. I assume the *.TOD format will allow the video to be converted to future video formats. Each video sequence is recorded as a separate file with ascending numbers (001 999)._

The picture quality is superb, the camera fits one's hand well and the controls are well placed. To avoid shaky video, I would recommend using the viewfinder rather than the LCD screen. Holding the camera in outstretched arms drastically decreases stability. In addition, LCD screens are hard to visualize in outdoor light. The only missing feature is 5.1 Dolby surround sound (available only on the Sony unit (one CCD)); however, I wonder how practical that feature is on a compact camera with small mics. I often remove sound tracks from my videos and add appropriate background music during editing.

I am looking forward to an upcoming European trip, after which I will edit and prepare a DVD. Apparently, HD can be burned to single or dual-density discs (I believe 20 to 40 minutes per disc). My next purchase will be a Blu-Ray burner.

Glidetrack Shooter HD 21inch (0.5m) Heavy Duty Slider/Mini Dolly for DSLR Video, Anodized Aluminum

The Glidetrack Shooter HD is a great multifunctional slider that acts equally well as a shoulder stabilizer rig. I was very surprised how the shoulder stabilization was comfortable and adequate for stable results! Yes, it doesn't look as cool as a real shoulder rig by some other brands 3 times the price; but you're getting a pretty good shoulder stabilizer and a slider for the price of one! The slider is not ball bearings and so it's not quite as smooth as some of the other products out there... but for the price, this is completely acceptable and I managed to get very smooth shots when trying it with my 7D, 5Dmk ii, and AX-10. Yes, it's slightly more resistant (more friction) during a slide than my other Kanova Slider (1.2meter)... but again, this is a .5 meter model, which means that it's perfect for travel... and it doubles as a shoulder rig! So, I'm happy with it. There's also a handle grip in the middle that allows you to stabilize the shoulder rig with one hand, which frees the other to pull focus. It's aluminum railings and not ball bearings but is smooth enough for good results. If you use your DSLR's internal microphone you will likely hear a hissing sound due to the friction between the carriage and the railings; but if you're using a slider it generally means you know what you'e doing enough not to use your DSLR's internal mic! I do wish this unit had a nice carrying case, like the one Kanova has. Hopefully the manufacturers think of something since it's great for travel but you don't want to keep the loose items in your luggage. So far, I think the size and price makes this a winner for the range of functionality it offers.

VideoSecu WDR Weatherproof Outdoor CCTV Home Surveillance Security Camera Infrared Day Night Vision

The camera has a great picture both in day and night. The quality of the image is acceptable, clear enough. The night vision is better than I thought. I can see any movement that happens in my carport throughout the night. They shipped quickly too! I am so satisfied with my purchase. I recommend this product.

Perhaps my expectations were too high. Daylight use is OK, not as sharp as I was hoping but probably normal for a video camera. The night functioning is useless. The images are just ghostly outlines. I have the system set for motion detection and there is so much image noise at night it seems to trigger the motion detector and it records all night long, even though there is nothing actually going on. Trespassers at night need have no fear of this camera. All it would really show me is the time of the intrusion.

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DEFENDER 21002 Hi-Resolution Outdoor Security Cameras - 4 Pack

Purchased these to expand my existing Defender System to 8 cameras and after installing and testing all four, took them back down and sent them back. The color output does not even come close to an acceptable output no matter how much adjustment was done to the picture. Also at night the camera output flickers and is fuzzy compared to my existing Defender Cameras. Aside from the color output being wrong the daytime picture was clear as far as making out details.

I do have a system with the 21006 cameras. The 21002 are a major step down.

I ordered these defender security cameras to replace 2 samsung cameras that died after 2 years. The quality of these cameras is terrible. Colors are wrong, video is soft and blurry. The mounting brackets are very difficult to adjust. The grass in my back yard viewed with the samsung camers is dark green. When I plug in the defender cameras the grass appears red.

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Defender's next generation cameras are an upgrade from their now-discontinued Spartan line. Be advised, if you are upgrading Spartan cameras to these new 21002 models, you will have to re-cable from the old 4-pin DIN cables to the new tandem RCA and 12v DC cable standard (a pain if you've already strung the 4-pin DIN cables through inaccessible routes).

The new 21002 line cameras have increased numbers of IR LED illuminators, and offer improved spot viewing after dark. Unfortunately, like their Spartan predecessors, they still have reduced color differentiation. Green objects in daylight illumination look red, and black objects in sunlight look purple. This is not a huge drawback in building a scene...purple trees just look odd. For the price these are a good upgrade/replacement item, compatible with earlier Defender display and recording units. At 420 lines, I'm not sure how they claim "Hi-Resolution". Face recognition at more than 5 meters is sketchy. But the cameras are physically pretty rugged, easy to install, and have withstood (so far) some pretty extreme temperatures.

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the picture looks fine at night just the night vision dont come on all the time so it looks dark in our door way for a few HRs a day, the base is non detachable so its hard to put in the screws but its tough built, but my biggest dissapointment was that the 60ft security camera extension wire modle# DF10W that we bought dont work with the cameras and we had bought 4 for $19.00 each so now they are useless but it dose its job, O and we did not get the 4 decals.

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I used these on an older defender DVR system and they exceed the recording capability of that DVR. In fact they exceed the recording capability of most new DVRs too! But the image records clearly and with pretty good fidelity.

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Q-SEE QD6004B-N 600TVL 1/3" 2.8-12mm Varifocal Sony Effio-E Super HAD CCD II Weatherproof Outdoor I

I have a QSee system installed at my house. One camera in the front over the driveway had a problem at night seeing in darkness. When our floodlights came on it would washout the image and either way (in darkness or with the floods on) the previous camera we had didn't work. So I checked Amazon and found this one. Great camera for the price. Plug and play installation bc I had already installed a camera in this location. Make sure you check which type of connectors you have. Installed the new camera in 20 mins. Has some cool features I didn't have before like zoom and focus which made it nice to customize for my driveway. Great night shots now in total darkness, iris works well when floods come on, and has enough detail to see who and what in dark situations. Only issue was the zoom and focus knob is located with the camera. My monitor is in a different room so it was tricky to zoom, focus, and position camera by running back and forth to monitor/outside, etc.

For $137 the quality of the picture is not what I was hoping for. Picture quality is about the same as that of less expensive units I have.

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Nikon COOLPIX L120 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 21x NIKKOR Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and 3-Inch L

For anyone looking at getting a decent, mid-level point-and-shoot with the look and feel of an SLR, the Nikon Coolpix L120 is by far the best choice, even with its few shortcomings!

As a semi-professional photographer who primarily shoots film (but is slowly converting to digital) I always have kept at least a digital P&S camera with me to get those "quick" shots that I can't get because of the time involved in setting up the shot in an SLR. My previous camera, the Minolta DiMAGE S414 had been getting long in the tooth and was starting to glitch. A friend gave me his Nikon Coolpix E5200 and I was immediately hooked on Nikon's legendary imaging quality. However, the 5-megapixel sensor in the Coolpix E5200 was short of what I truly needed, so the same friend who gave me the E5200 also let me try out his Coolpix L110. I was blown away with how well the photos turned out! In my quest to buy my own Coolpix L110, I had heard back in February that Nikon was releasing the Coolpix L120, with a 2-megapixel increase over the L110 and several new features. Having read the first reviews of the camera, it seemed like a sure winner, so I took the plunge on March 14th of this year and secured one for myself.

Instantly, I was hooked on it. Right out of the box, this camera is a winner! The settings, user-interface, the sleek design and the nifty zoom selector on the lens barrel makes this camera worth every penny. In the short time I have owned it, I have already taken approximately 1,200 photos with it; everything from nature, bridges, even the sun! (with a solar filter, of course). And with its fantastic 21x optical zoom, I can photograph a car at more than a quarter-mile away and be able to clearly read its license plate!

The only drawback I can see is that Nikon has left out the ability to manually control your aperture and shutter speed settings (instead, leaving that for the Nikon Coolpix P500 which I was unimpressed with). However, those small shortcomings are overwhelmed by the simplicity this camera offers. Itching to get into Panorama photography, without the need for an expensive SLR with built-in panorama stitching? Consider it done! With this camera's Panorama-Assist feature (which overlays a small portion of the image onto the screen for the next shot to be composed), and the supplied Arcsoft Panorama Maker Pro 5 software, Panorama-style photography has never been more affordable. Looking to enhance photos with HDR-like color clarity? Consider that done, also! This camera supplies with it built-in D-Lighting that preserves the color intensity of an image yet bringing out the details otherwise hidden within dark shadows. Also supplied, incase you don't want to edit your images in-camera, is Nikon's own View NX-2, which not only includes D-lighting enhancement filters, it also offers a host of other image-editing capabilities!

In short, this camera has the competition beat! I would recommend it (I have the black version) over anything else.

I purchased the Nikon L120 about a month ago in preparation for a trip we were taking to California. Although I was impressed by several of the features I read about, such as the extended zoom and pseudo-dslr design, I still had some concerns about a couple of features such as the complaints about focusing and lack of manual controls. After shooting about 200 pictures, I am happy to report that I will be keeping the camera.

I'll address my concerns about the reported concerns others expressed. First was the concern over focus. At one point, the camera was having trouble focusing on a shot of the sea and horizon. Everything was blurry and only items within 20-30 ft. would be in focus. I tried several different modes, including landscape and beach, but it did not cure the problem. At that point, I decided to just turn it off and turn it back on and that solved the problem. There must be some issue with the algorithms which pick certain items to focus, but the old "off and on" trick fixed it and I had no other problems, even under similar circumstances. The other issue was of the lack of manual modes. Except for the focus issue, I had no problems with exposure under any conditions, inside, outside, bright lights, dim, flash, portraits, etc.

Now onto the good things. Battery life is very good. I took over 200 pictures with regular alkaline batteries. Although I had lithium batteries ready to go, it has not been necessary to use them. With battery life that good and the fact that it uses 4 AA batteries, I don't think I"ll go to the expense of lithium batteries.

I really like the form factor of the camera. The bulge on the right side is very handy and you can hold it securely with only a couple of fingers. Taking the lense cap on and off is annoying, especially when you forget to take it off after you power it up. However, it's no more annoying than it was in the old days of analog cameras. Also with the plain old lense cap, there are no concerns with sand jamming up exterior shutters. The camera is too large to fit in your shirt pocket but not too big to fit in a coat pocket or purse/backpack. I think it's an acceptable compromise on size. Zoom is excellent. Seals which were several hundred yards away looked like we were right on top of them. I did not experience any shutter lag, although I have not used the camera in burst or sports mode yet. Video mode is about what you would expect for a hand held camera. OK, not great, but works well enough for that quick video when you need more than a still camera.

To sum it up, I like the battery life, picture quality, good assortment of modes, adequate flash range and fantastic zoom. The camera definitely has a few quirks but ones I decided I can live with. I give it a solid 9 out of 10.

Buy Nikon COOLPIX L120 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 21x NIKKOR Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and 3-Inch L Now

Bought this camera and loved the ease of operation and picture quality. I also have the Panasonic DMC-FZ35, which is VERY complicated. I needed something simpler. I learned to use this Nikon after only 1 hour of reading the manual (compared to months still trying to figure out the Panasonic). Was easy getting great pictures. Smile detection and Pet mode worked terrific. Unfortunately, my primary reason for this type of hybrid camera, is for the convenience of camera and HD video in one unit. Video quality on this unit is well below average. I compared it to my Panasonic no comparison. The Panasonic's video was smooth and clear, the Nikon grainy and jerky. I really wanted to keep this camera for it's ease of use and picture quality, but the poor video quality ultimately caused me to return it. Until I find an easy to use camera with good picture and video, I'll continue with the months of trying to figure out the Panasonic.

PROS: Ease of use, great pictures, smile detection, pet mode, easy to understand manual, price.

CONS: Poor video quality

Read Best Reviews of Nikon COOLPIX L120 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 21x NIKKOR Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and 3-Inch L Here

I recieved this camera just a couple of days ago. Wow what a fantastic surprise! My two previous digital cameras were a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ10 which I purchased in 2009 for a bicycle tour. While the camera had a lot of good things going for it a couple of problems stuck out which I could not tolerate. 1st and foremost it was very poor in bad lighting and the flash did not compinsate. 2nd..it really needed to be held steady any movement created a blurry picture. Declining light only made the issue worse. My other digital is a Nikon Coolpix 4300 which I bought 6 or 7 years ago to handle an online website. I love that camera, great pictures. good in bad light, not much zoom capability but could deal with that. The big problem...It was designed with an odd memory card which is hard to get and did not hold as much as comparable cameras today. I still use this camera for my website.

Good luck with Nikon and poor luck with Lumix I decided to chance another Nikon. Wow again..quick focus, Holds a common SD card, great zoom capabilities, and best of all it opperates very well in poor light conditions, in fact I forced a poor light condition under my desk with no flash and worked beyond belief! Add to those good reviews the fact they have redesigned the zoom key and placed it on the left side on the lens (can you say 35mm like)long, long, long over due.

If your thinking about one...make the plunge. A+A+A+

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I couldn't wait until this camera was released and it was worth the wait! I love how it looks, the bronze is beautiful, and it sits well in my hand. It felt comfortable from the very first holding. I like how the lens cap attaches--can never get lost, but not in my way either. Easy to use right out of the box. After reading the comments on it's predecessor the Nikon L100 and L110, I did two things immediately. I used fresh lithium batteries instead of the ones it came with, and I, after a few too many blurry photos, upped the ISO. The photos are fabulous so far! I am enjoyed playing around with the black and white setting and got some stunning results, just from sitting in my chair indoors, focising on ordinary items and my dog in my living room! I'm having fun experimenting with the different settings in the menu and recently took some very interesting night shots on my street. Macro is stunning. I found some great cases at Target and Walmart, but the one I bought fits so nicely is a small Lowenpro, it was under $20 with room enough for the camera with strap, and a little pouch for an extra set of batteries. I cannot comment on the video, as I have not used this feature yet. I've only had this bronze beauty for two weeks but so far I am very impressed!