Cablesson 3 Feet Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Cable for Apple iMac

The cables, and have had no issue. I found this on another review so i think its important for Mac Dummys

For those of you who are having a hard time getting the audio to work:

* Your computer must support audio over the Mini DisplayPort. To find out if it does, go to System Profiler (option-click the Apple menu, System Profiler...), click the audio tab, and under the outputs should be listed: "HDMI / DisplayPort Output." If it is not listed, chances are your computer does not support it.

* You must select your TV as the output device. To do this, either option-click the audio menu icon and select it under "Audio Device:," or go to System Preferences (Apple menu -> System Preferences) -> Sound -> Output and select it. Hope this helps.

Just but the latest Mac 2012 version and bought this adapter as i have read extensively on these adapters.

Basically the confusion is that the new mac use thunderbolt and i can confirm i am running the video and the audio using this adapter.

I did have to enable the audio from the mac to the TV by going into system > audio.

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This product worked perfect to hook up a Mini Mac computer to a Gateway monitor. Great color and no adjustments were needed.

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Worked perfect for me i had to see on the internet now to enable the audio, i have pasted over here so others can follow too

List of Apple computer models (must be made after mid 2010) with audio pass through :

* MacBook 13-inch (MC516LL/A)

* MacBook Pro (MC374LL/A, MC375LL/A, MC371LL/A, MC372LL/A, MC373LL/A, MC024LL/A, MC700LL/A, MC700LL/A, MC721LL/A, MC723LL/A, MC724LL/A, MC725LL/A)

* MacBook Air (MC505LL/A, MC503LL/A)

* iMac 21.5-inch (MB950LL, MC508LL/A, MC509LL/A)

* iMac 27-inch (MB952LL/A, MB953LL/A, MC510LL/A, MC511LL/A)

* Mac Mini (Server) (MC270LL/A, MC438LL/A)

* Mac Pro(Server) (MC915LL/A, MC561LL/A, MC250LL/A)

* All thunderbolt models

After connecting this cable from your Mac computer to HDTV, please follow the below steps to send sound to HDTV:

1. Open Apple > System Preferences

2. Select 'Sound' with a speaker icon

3. Go under 'Select a device for sound output' section to find your HDTV is listed as an output device

4. Choose HDTV instead of built-in speaker as your audio outlet

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Arrived yesterday. Works as advertised with my 2011 MacBook Air and OS X 10.7.4. Also sent video/sound through HDMI switch to my Denon AV receiver (has only 2 HDMI inputs) and then on to Samsung TV. Again, works properly. Would be helpful if instructions came for configuring Mac's Display and Sound settings through System Preferences had been included. Fortunately, info in other Amazon reviews and on web allowed me to properly set up the system. Key point for purchasers to know is that the cable must be connected to the TV (or AV receiver) BEFORE trying to change the Display and Sound settings. Your Mac will not give you the choices you need until the cable is connected. Hopefully, the cable will have a long lifespan...

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ePhoto 11" Articulating Magic Friction Arm and Small Super Clamp For Dslr rig LCD Monitor LED panel

It is a decent design but it was shipped to me with some serious flaws. There could be the possibility that the one I received was subjected to moisture and ended up with some corroded parts. Let me explain. When I received it I noticed that, after tightening the knob, the joints would not lock so I decided to pop the C clips out and disassemble the locking mechanism to find two 2" pins that were corroded and binding within the channel in the arms. I took some emery cloth and sanded the pins down made the smooth again and lubricated the pins. Now the pins move freely and the locking system works properly. There is also the possibility that the corrosion might be from the fact that the pin is steel and the arm is aluminum and the channel in the arm had too tight a fit so liberally sanding the pin made it correct diameter. If you get one that doesn't lock then try the repair (it only took 10 minutes or so)and you will have a good clamp at a reasonable price.

This thing is super strong. It's easy to unlock and move each of the articulating joints, yet when you tighten it up, everything is rock solid, with no slippage anywhere.

The clamp itself is strong and opens quite wide, yet it doesn't take many turns to open or close it.

One great thing is the flexible mounting options on both sides. You can mount the camera or the clamp on either side and you can easily swap genders with the included adapters so it can mount on top of or instead of your tripod or other gear.

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Why spend money on name branded items when you can purchase non-branded items for less than 70%???

If you want to pay for the 'Name Brand' go ahead, but you're just throwing money away!

This item works as well if not better than the name branded ones.

Times are rough, save money while you can!!!

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I have a few 7" LCD screens and these little clamps are perfect! The articulating arm along with the clamp allow me to use this on a tripod at different heights and they work great. Sometimes with cheaper equipment the arms will tend to sag under the weight of certain accessories, but these are holding up quite well with a 7" LCD on each one. These are great to have available! Definitely a must have!

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This device is not precisely made, but it works great once you apply a bit of mojo. It will hold, say, a flash in place at an otherwise hard to achieve orientation for a full shoot, which makes it an essential tool for my macro work. However, upon arrival the ball joints would not go through full rotation because the metal retaining clips were misaligned, that is, not completely seated in their grooves in the sockets. I used a small screwdriver to move the retaining clips back into their grooves. Also the device was cranky and creaky, but a few squirts of WD40 and about five minutes of workout got things going. The secret to using it is to apply a LOT of torque when you're tightening it up. But be careful about where and how you clamp it -for example, I'm leery of clamping it onto the legs of carbon fiber gear, and even on aluminum I apply the least force needed to keep it in place. If you use flash for macro, you will treasure the utility of this device.

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Sony DSC-W670/B 16.1MP Cybershot Digital Camera with 2.7-Inch LCD Screen (Black)

SHORT VERSION:

Working Pocket Camera for a low price, I would recommend this camera (especially if you are looking for a cheap digital camera). I would not purchase this camera to take on your honeymoon or a spring break adventure. It is not waterproof and doesn't seem very durable compared to other pocket cameras.

Still the camera works great.

LONG VERSION:

I've owned around 30 digital cameras from all different brands including: Nikon, Canon, Sony , Panasonic, Konica-Minolta. I use the Canon rebel series cameras the most, but like to have a pocket camera from time to time. I have stuck with mostly Canon cameras over the last 7 years. Nothing against any other company, I just have liked using Cannon. I take daily photographs for a children's summer camp for 11 weeks out of the year. I'm rough on cameras and usually get around 3 years or less out of most of my Canon Rebel Series cameras... but that is not what I am reviewing today....

I haven't bought a Sony camera in about 7 years or so the last one was a Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-H5, which is 7.2 Mega pixel camera and not really a true pocket camera due to it's size....

Sony Cybershot DSC-H5 7.2MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilization Zoom

Anyway, I wasn't expecting much from this lightning deal camera, but for the price I decided to give it a try. I've only played around with this for a day, so I may update this review later on. (If I don't, assume I'm still pleased with this camera)

FIRST IMPRESSION:

When I first held the DSC-W670 I thought I had gotten what I paid for in a cheap camera. The plastic seems a little thinner than most cameras and it didn't feel very solid. When you press on the case you can hear the plastic "creak" as it bends and flexes. (Not saying this is flimsy just slightly less solid than most) So I don't know how well this will hold up, given my track record of being rough on cameras.

WHAT IS SO GREAT ABOUT POCKET CAMERAS?

The one thing that can make or break a pocket camera is all the "bells & whistles" Some of these cameras have come up with cool gimmicks and even some useful tools so that any "idiot" can get some great shots.

I played around with a few of the features of the DSC-W670 I haven't really used much before on a pocket camera. The 1st was the panorama picture setting this feature has been out for a while on a lot of the pocket cams and is a cool gimmick. I guess I won't have to use the auto-stitch feature in Photoshop as much now.... The panorama setting works well on the DSC-W670. There are 3 settings: 360 degree photo, wide (which seems to be a little over 180 degrees) and standard panorama (which seems to be a little greater than 90 to 100 degrees).

To take a panoramic photo, just toggle the camera to that setting using a 3 position switch on the side use the menu button to select the size and then follow the on screen instructions to show you how to sweep your camera to the right. It tells you when to stop...

The other feature that I thought was cool, that I had not used before, was the `Smile Shutter" option. To activate this setting while in normal photo mode, press the button with the smiley face. The camera places a box around any detected faces. When the subject smiles, you will see a meter bar fill up on the left side of the LCD screen, and when the bar reaches the set level the camera automatically takes a photo for you (You never have to press any buttons). The default level is mid range and the subject needs to show some teeth in the smile to activate the camera to take the picture. So if you are trying to use this on someone who gives you a half smile, you will need to adjust the settings or be good at telling jokes....

This feature is a true gimmick feature I don't know that I would actually use this feature a lot myself. We did test it as an alternative to using a timer for group shots. It took a few tries to get it to go off, but it did work.

Everyone was laughing at me as we tested this. I said, "Ok everyone, come over here and don't smile at the camera, I want to get a group shot." Once everyone was set finally I said, "One, two, three ... SMILE" and we waited and nothing happened... "Ok try again, normal faces everyone... ok now 1,2,3 Smile!" The camera snapped a photo on that attempt.

I remember every Christmas growing up, we got a great shot of my uncle walking to get in the picture and was caught by the timer going off before he was set in place.... Might give this a try this year. I have a large family and this feature seems to work better when a little closer to the subject and when fewer people are in the frame... So I'm not going to expect too much, but if it works I'll come back and let you know.

ONE PROBLEM:

The only problem I have had with this camera is in the door to the battery and memory card compartment. It is spring-loaded like most of these cameras and has a lock that you slide to allow the door to open. In order to open my camera's battery compartment, I have to move the switch to the open position and then tap the camera in my palm to get the door to swing open. I think it is designed to open automatically, yet mine gets hung up almost every time. I've only had it pop open (like it should) a handful of times while testing it. There is nothing to grip to pull the door open, you just have to tap and shake it until it opens. I might just have a defective door. It was a cheap camera and I can live with this, so I'm not going to waste any time calling customer service or returning the camera. Although, this leads me to believe that the door may be the first thing to break on this camera. (remember, I said I'm rough on cameras...)

The battery has it's own lock inside the compartment, so it isn't pushing against the door like some of the other pocket cameras I've had. (Which I think is a good thing!) If you've bought and used several pocket cameras over the last few years, I'm sure you've had at least one with a battery door issue. I've got another camera that has the battery compartment held closed with a piece of duct tape.

FINAL THOUGHT:

A good pocket camera for the price. I wasn't expecting much and was pleasantly surprised at how well this camera works. Sometimes when a deal is too good to be true, there is a reason. I think this camera is truly a good deal. It is not as good as any of the $200+ pocket cameras, but I would have still been satisfied with this camera if I had paid as much as $140 for it.

If you are thinking about buying one of these cameras and you have any question or things you want me to test out first just let me know and I'll try to help.

I got this camera specifically to replace an old one and in anticipation of an international trip that would take us out of the country for three weeks ..... thru Greece, Turkey and Cyprus. Yes, very historical and photo worthy places! This was the ONLY camera we used and we shot over 800 photos. All but two were perfect and the two that weren't were not the fault of the camera but of the operators......The battery held up well we charged it only once a day and only with heavy use. The videos also came out well better if you have a tripod but there is decent stabilization built in. Get extra memory cards if you want to take a lot of photos (over 1000) and can't download and reformat between shootings.

Buy Sony DSC-W670/B 16.1MP Cybershot Digital Camera with 2.7-Inch LCD Screen (Black) Now

I'm not a camera geek & prefer to use point & shoot cameras. I've been using my daughter's Cybershot DSC-W50, but she'll be moving out soon so I decided to purchase this Cybershot for myself. It was a $79 lightning deal. So for the price point this is a good camera.

I haven't printed any photos yet, but have added them to my laptop & the web. The LCD screen is grainy & bothers me, but the photos have been okay. The flash seems to be overly bright, but does a great job of taking pics in a low light area. Most of my early pics were taken at night with low lighting. (update-I just discovered that the LCD screen is grainy because it's the default setting which saves battery life. To change Disp. Resolution, choose MENU, scroll to the Toolbox icon)

A few settings are easy to access, many more are accessed by using the menu button & scrolling through the various options.

Several memory cards can be used. Here's a list of the ones that will take still images, as well as, video:

Memory Stick PRO Duo Mark2

Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo

Memory Stick Micro (M2) Mark2

each of these need to be Class 4 or faster: SD memory card, SDHC memory card, microSD memory card, & microSDHC memory card

There is approx. 56MB on internal memory

There is an on-screen help manual.

This camera does not have the Carl Zeiss lens.

I uploaded a few photos that were taken in low light situations using the automatic setting.

I purchased the Case Logic DCB-302 Compact Case for Camera Black which has room for the camera, USB cord, battery & extra memory card. One thing I've noticed is that my camera has turned on a couple times while in this case. I searched for a hard case, but wanted more room so I decided on this one.

Battery life doesn't seem to be as good as my daughter's Cybershot. I haven't used my camera much and fully charged it after I took the first few pics the battery appears to be down by 1/2 already.

I will update my review when I try the Panorama feature & as I continue to use the camera.

UPDATE:

Macro seems to be part of the auto setting. From what I can tell, it can't be set manually. I did a little research on macro and learned that the minimum distance macro kicks in will vary by camera. The auto macro setting for this camera is designated by a flower icon & doesn't appear when I think it should & it blinks off easily. I have to experiment with minimum distance until the flower icon shows up. This frustrates me. Remember I'm not a camera geek so maybe it's user error on my part.

I also want to mention that this camera seems to take longer to focus than I'm used to.

And, finally, I suggest that you purchase at least one spare battery because the battery doesn't hold its charge very long.

Read Best Reviews of Sony DSC-W670/B 16.1MP Cybershot Digital Camera with 2.7-Inch LCD Screen (Black) Here

This camera was purchased to be carried in a small purse. It serves that purpose well but like so many of it's kind could use a view finder. Looking at the screen in the sun can cancel out the viewing area and you have no idea where you are aiming. The button to take the picture isn't the easiest that I have used. I do like the zoom and the picture quality is fine. It is small enough that I can carry it in a small purse but for my more serious photography I prefer my mid-size camera.

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Sent it back it wouldn't communicate with my laptop. Sony told me this camera is sold only in Latin America and Canada.

Why did they send it to Amazon ??

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Olympus PEN E-PL5 16.1 MP Digital Camera Body & 14-42mm II R Lens (Black) with 32GB Card + Batt

The camera itself is great, as are most of the items in the package (the backpack is pretty neat you can wear it as a backpack or as a sling, and it's roomy enough to fit almost all the supplies included).

That said, the 45x Wide and 2.5x Tele Lenses that are included are kind of junky the telephoto lens didn't fit onto the camera properly, and had to be forced off, which led to the lens getting broken (thank goodness the camera and the real lens were unharmed!).

Overall, though, the package is probably worth it, just for the inclusion of the SD card, extra battery, and bag!

Love it. Wonderful image quality. Point and shoot ease of use in auto mode with kit lens or any Oly/Pan M4/3 lens. Having tons of fun trying out older lenses in AP or manual mode (with proper adapters)

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VPL-CX76 Projector

We purchased this projector to aid us in training employees on the use of a new computer softerware package. The screen image is sharp and clear and large enough to be seen from any where in in medimum size conference room. The machine is quiet so you don't to talk over it when speaking.

Q-See QM6008B-2 High-Resolution 600TVL Cameras Black

You can't beat the Q-see quality/value ratio. I paid 80 dollars for a two pack and ended up ordering two to replace some k-guard 420 TVL cameras. There is a 4 pack available but at the time of writing this, the 4 pack was 299! You can really tell the difference between 420 and 600 tvl. I would say about the difference between VHS and DVD quality; not HD but decent enough to make out faces much more so then the 420.

I have mine mounted underneath the eaves of my roof above some motion security lights; I cannot tell the difference between when the motion lights are off vs on, the night vision is that good. (There is a little clicking noise when the camera activates the physical B&W filter, I'm not sure how reliable that will be over the life of the product, but it sounds well made if that makes sense) However, my roof line is pretty short so the eaves are only 10 maybe 12 feet above the ground and during the night the IR blasters are so powerful they really blow out white areas and the camera has to self adjust which it does, but probably not fast enough to catch the face of an intruder. I would say it took .5 maybe 1 second to adjust to the blow out. That being said, this only occurs when someone is really close to the lens, so if your camera is mounted up high I don't see this being a problem. The quality is very good and will help in identifying faces.

Included in the box are two 60ft cables, decent quality, and a BNC to RCA adapter so you could plug the cameras straight into a monitor with RCA in for testing.

There is also a little tip sheet indicating first use may show a really dark picture. To resolve that you have to put your hand over the lens for 10 seconds to "calibrate" the camera... I did not have to do this and they worked right out of the box.

The main reason I bought these was to upgrade from 420 tvl to 600 tvl but I was very impressed the build quality of the cameras over my previous k-guard ones. The cables are routed through the mount so its impossible that they can get cut. However there is a routed slot in the base to route the cable out the bottom if your installation doesn't permit the other option. The glare shade is removable and adjustable but there are no slots that it slides into or locks into place in any way. It just kind of "hugs" the contours of the camera body, but it is very snug and I don't see it coming off accidentally.

What you see in the amazon picture is what you get, a very nice darker shade of silver (anodized?), very bright IR blaster, good quality auto-focus 600 tvl sensor (if a little slow to adjust) and excellent build quality at this price point. I highly recommend them!

These are absolutely great cameras for the price. Quality is much better than 400 line cameras. Video is sharp both at night and during the day.

But, if it were possible to give a 4.5 instead I would have dinged them half a point for the mounts. Getting correct aim is more of a challenge with the supplied brackets then a ball-type joint would have been. There are three different joints you have to play with. If you're at the top of a 24' ladder trying to get the aim correct, it's a little challenging. But the video quality is worth it (since I didn't fall and kill myself in the aiming process :).

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UPDATE: 12.18.12, My review was written when these cameras were purchased at seventy-nine dollars for the 2-pack. At that price I would still consider them a five star camera. However, the price has jumped to one-hundred-forty-nine dollars for the pair. The previous price did count for at least one star. Luckily I bought another pair before the price increase.

The cameras are well made and appear vandal proof. All metal construction with removable shield that I painted white to make them a bit more stealthy (see pic).

60' cables and power adapter are included making these cameras truly plug and play. 600 TVL provides a decent image but don't expect crystal clear images at distances over 50 feet. The IR works but is somewhat grainy at 60+ feet.

I use these with a Q-See QS458 8 Channel DVR. They are too sensitive at level 1 so I backed them down to Level 2 sensitivity. No more false recordings from the palm tree in the front yard.

Installation is moderately easy for a DIY'er. To make them truly vandal proof you need to pass the cables through the middle of the mount that way they cannot be cut. Or mount them high enough to prevent cutting (see pic).

By piecing your surveillance system together, instead of buying a kit, you can save money and get better cameras. These 2 600 TVL cameras, plus a QS458 DVR w/ 1tb HDD Video Rated was only $321. I bought the DVR w/o a HDD so I could add a better HDD than what is normally included on the kit deals.

While I was up in the attic running camera cables I also ran an extra CAT5 cable from the router to the DVR. This puts the surveillance system on the network allowing us to view the cameras from anywhere, even our Android phones.

Read Best Reviews of Q-See QM6008B-2 High-Resolution 600TVL Cameras Black Here

This Q-See bundle is a fantastic value because you get 2 cameras, not just one. For non-professional-grade monitoring at a low cost, I would definitely recommend this product. The cameras are constructed of metal and are quite sturdy. The cables are Y shaped on both ends, and color-coded and labeled as to which end connects to the DVR and which end connects to the camera. One small AC adapter powers both cameras. I used a BNC to RCA adapter to connect the cameras to my TV. The cable routes through the base and then through your wall, so it can't be cut from the outside by vandals or intruders. Setup was quite easy and I was ready to test out my cameras within 10 minutes of unboxing. I didn't have to calibrate the sensors.

I tested the camera in normal household lighting, dim indoor and outdoor lighting, and total darkness. Under normal lighting, faces were easy to recognize. Under low lighting or darkness, the camera switches to infrared mode (color drops off) and faces become a bit harder to distinguish, but not by much. This isn't a problem unless you are trying to identify the faces of total strangers from more than 20 ft away. Clothes and other features are still clearly visible and sharp. There's no lag or interference, and what surprised me was the camera being able to catch specs of dust floating around in front of the lens! (My basement is dusty).

I put one of the camera in a room of total darkness and panned it around. The infrared sensors worked impressively. I saw all my furniture and clutter in bright grey scale, with no loss of clarity. Aiming it down an unlit corridor, I got about 30 ft of clear visibility towards the back of the house. For outdoor monitoring, effective range varies a lot with lighting conditions and obstructions. You'll have to play around with placement to get the best angles and performance from the infrared LEDs. For best results, you shouldn't have any objects in your line of sight close to the camera, as the infrared will bounce off these surfaces and blow out the image to white. I had some rose bush branches near my lens, for example, which limited the range of the camera. After repositioning to a clear line of sight, I got a good view of my neighbor's porch about 30-35 ft away. I think this is the ideal radius for outdoor night-time monitoring with the Q-See. But again, your mileage may vary.

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had a haze and circle at night-had to return cameras-not clear -very disappointed-have to shop around again-will try to increase TVL ,this one was 600 TVL.see if that makes a different

Nikon BM-11 Monitor Cover for Nikon D7000 Digital SLR Camera

This cover does what it's supposed to do: protect the LCD screen while the camera is in storage. It is NOT meant to be used as a protector in the field, i.e., while using the LCD screen on the camera when taking or reviewing pictures. Check page 17 of the D7000 manual. The plastic degrades the image quality too much to be of any real use other than the intended one.

Happy shooting!

Okay, so I don't necessarily like purchasing backup accessories, but I felt the need to purchase this monitor cover. Mostly, to have "just in case". I own a Nikon D40 (and used to own the D5000) and find I am constantly cleaning my LCD monitors to get rid of fingerprints and smudges. Now that I own the D7000 that comes with the monitor cover, I really like having the cover to protect the screen.

I keep the monitor cover on my camera 100% of the time. I have no problems playing back and seeing my photos clearly. The cover does get typical smudges, but I can easily remove them with my fingers. There's no streaking and no issues with using the cover.

I've had my camera for a few weeks now and have taken over 1000 pictures. There are no scratches on the monitor cover. I think this is a durable cover and most importantly protects the LCD monitor.

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I purchased a Nikon BM-11 Monitor Cover for my D7K when I bought it, though I didn't realize one was included. It's a good thing too, as I broke the original one, trying to take it off the camera on my first real shoot. Worked the day without it, being careful not to scratch the monitor while doing so. I'm ordering two more today, to have backups, for when I break the one I'm currently using. I don't have a problem seeing my pictures through it, though I know this isn't how it was designed to work. I find that I'm always pressing my sweaty face up against the monitor when taking pictures, and I like knowing that I'm not messing up the monitor. I upgraded to the D7K from the Nikon D-40, and I didn't have a monitor cover on that camera, and you can sure tell it by looking at it.

I rarely use a camera bag, so when I'm storing the camera for transport, it's tucked into the tour pack on my Harley, or laying on the seat of my truck. I'm going to try to conscientiously use the BM-11 on this camera, to keep it looking new longer. I just wish they were easier to take off, so I didn't break the damn things.

Read Best Reviews of Nikon BM-11 Monitor Cover for Nikon D7000 Digital SLR Camera Here

For this much money they could have given us a scratch proof Gorilla Glass!! This one gets scratches even if I rub a soft toothbrush on it!! Does the job of protecting my screen but does not make any sense for me to keep this on and do photography... Just does not give me a good review of my pictures. Too costly. Better get a adhesive screen guard!

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The Nikon BM-11 Monitor Cover is a must have. I would not shoot without it on my Camera. I just wish Nikon offered an upgraded cover that would not scratch so easily. I am not hard on my equipment, but this cover scratches very easily.

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Sony Alpha DSLRA300K 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization with DT 18

Having previously reviewed the Alpha 200 and 350, it seems a bit silly to review the Alpha 300. After all, the Alpha 300 is a 200 with Live View, or a 350 with 10 megapixels instead of 14mp. Right?

Well, pretty much that's the case. But there is also a corresponding price difference. Is Live View worth an extra $100? Is 14mp worth an extra $200?

For my money, yes, Live View is worth the $100 because of the way Sony has implemented this feature. Unlike most systems, you won't see a loss in autofocusing performance (or a loss of autofocus completely), nor will you alter the way the exposure and white balance are determined. Add to this the articulated screen that makes extremely low or high angle shots easier, and I say "YES"! Any drawbacks? Yes, this screen is a bit thicker, and pushes you back a bit when looking through the camera. Also, the way Sony implements Live View does mean you only see 90 percent of what you'll get on the image.

OK, is 14mp worth the extra $200? I don't know, but I don't think so. We really need more critical comparisons from people with true scientific methods of measuring the difference in image quality, but there are a few assumptions that will probably hold true, based on previous cameras. The 14mp will give a superior image in good lighting, when ISO values (the fake "film" speeds) can be set to higher quality settings. You won't see this difference on an 8x10 standard photo, but probably could in very big enlargements or severe cropping of photos. Keep in mind that the "1.4x and 2x teleconverter" option you have with Live View is nothing more than cropping, with 2x dropping your effective megapixels in half.

Past cameras would suggest, however, that the higher pixel density of the 14mp camera would be a drawback in low light conditions, in particular when we have to raise the ISO settings. Thus, they may not even be as good as the 10mp sensor for these applications (but we still need critical testing to confirm this assumption).

So, for my money, I'd say the 14mp is probably not worth the money for someone shooting an even variety of shoots, but might be for a landscape/wildlife photographer.

Compared to other brands, I think the Alpha 300 wins on features compared to the Canon Digital Rebel XTi or Nikon D60 (Live View, stabalization in body). The new 12mp Canon XSi is more in the price range of the 14mp Alpha 350. In any case, with 3 new Alphas, and the new D60 and XSi, there's no more excuses! Get a camera and start taking great photos!

Sony Alpha A200K 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization with 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens

Sony Alpha DSLRA350K 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens

Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens

Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)

I had to choose between the a200, a300 and a350. Like another reviewer said, I think the a300 hits the sweetspot. The Live view is a feature that I might have to add to my list of requirements for future upgrades.

One of the things that annoyed me about shooting with a dslr were my glasses. To prevent them from being smudged, I'd flip them up when pressing my face against the eyepiece. Spend an entire day doing this and it becomes a royal PITA. I've only used the camera for about a week so far and I can already see that I'll be relying on Live view a lot.

The other major benefits of Live view are: 1) being able to shoot pics from the ground level perspective (great for kids and dogs) without multiple trial and errors or crouching/laying on the ground (my back thanks me), and 2) shooting over a crowd of heads, fence, glass partition, etc.

The image doesn't track as smooth as I'd hoped, but it's good enough for framing the shot. It shows you the autofocus points as well as providing a live histogram (i love it!).

I upgraded from a Minolta 5D and I think I'll miss the depth of field preview as well. Small price to pay for all the other great features.

In summary, get this camera if you're not heavily invested in other lens systems. I haven't checked out the competition since I'm one of the surviving members of the Minolta clan, but I'm sure others have competent implementations as well.

Buy Sony Alpha DSLRA300K 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization with DT 18 Now

My first DSLR, and I am very satisfied.

Why I bought it:

Live View excellent implementation. This was my number one purchase point for this camera. Fast switching to and from the Optical Viewfinder. You can use Live View outside of the studio and it acts just like a standard consumer digital camera screen. Screen tilts, which is handy.

10MP this is the sweet spot for price and capability. The Alpha 350 has 14MP, but I decided to save the money and buy a few accessories right away.

RAW+JPEG I wanted a camera that shot RAW+JPEG and didn't skimp on the JPEG. You can shoot high-quality JPEG and RAW at the same time.

Great photos has to do that.

Good surprises after I got the camera and started using it:

Ease of Use very easy to start using right out of the box (recharge the battery first).

Steady Shot gives me the confidence to shoot without a tripod and it has a nice readout on the LCD that tells you when you're shaking.

Battery life I've been taking quite a few photos the last week and have yet to recharge the internal battery.

Display Button easy to press and review your photos. Very easy to get back to shooting.

Minor Bad Point in-camera flash is very low and kit lens casts a shadow if you are too close to your subject. I got an HVL-F36AM external flash with the camera so I don't have to worry about this too much.

Some mention that the viewfinder is small, but I used it all day today because of the bright sunlight and was happy with it. I was sitting in our vehicle and noticed a tank in my side mirror. I decided to take the photo using auto focus but that didn't work, so I focused manually on the tank about 30 yards behind me through the driver's side window in the left side mirror and got a perfectly sharp picture using the Optical Viewfinder.

Great camera!!

Read Best Reviews of Sony Alpha DSLRA300K 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization with DT 18 Here

I purchased the Sony A300 5 months ago through J&R Music World. The camera came to me quickly and with no apparent problems. Since then I have used the camera several times to take photos of my grandchildren and also some landscapes. I always mount the camera on a sturdy tripod. When it is not being used, it is stored in a padded camera case. The last time I turned on my camera the LCD showed a white screen with just a couple of lines running through it. I did not bang it, drop it or otherwise abuse it. The camera comes with a 1 year warranty. Since I purchased a Sony product I did not expect to have a problem with them honoring my warranty. They gave me instructions to send it to Precision Camera Repair. After about a week I checked Precision's online repair status and I had a message saying that repairs were delayed because they were waiting for payment. When I called they told me that the camera showed some small scratches on it's base so the camera was obviously abused and therefore they would have to charge me $254 to repair it! I went ballistic. Precision's customer service person told me that maybe they could reduce the repair cost and immediately reduced the charge to $175. Now you may say that my argument should not be with Sony. It should be with Precision Camera. However when I called Sony Customer Relations they refused to intercede and told me I was out of luck. My argument is with Sony because they are using an obviously unscrupulous repair service. How do I know they are unscrupulous? Because I have since found out that what they did to me, they have also done to other people. There are many complaints about them at these websites:

Sony's Customer Relations Department turned a deaf ear to my complaint. I had no choice but to pay for a repair that should have been covered by the warranty.

I am very disappointed with the durability of this camera and the way Sony handled my problem.

Want Sony Alpha DSLRA300K 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization with DT 18 Discount?

I've had the A300 for about a month now I've been using it regularly and am very pleased. I did a lot of research before choosing this D-SLR and IMHO the A300 offers the best bang for the buck in its class. My decision was based on the image quality, Sony's innovative LiveView functionality, in-body stabilization, lens availability (without any confusion as to what lens is compatible, what lens is stabilized or has a focus motor...) and price.

I use the LiveView and OVF interchangeably and both work very well for me (and I wear glasses). I find LV and the tiltling LCD particularly useful when using a tripod as it's no longer necessary to contort my body to the OVF to see what the camera sees; it's also very useful for candid shots and to get over peoples' heads (or fences at zoos for example). I've found the LV/tilt-LCD incredibly useful to be able to place the camera on a wall or post or less convenient spots when there's no tripod, and be able to compose and shoot a great night shot.

I find the camera responsive no complaints there AF is fast and accurate. Metering is flexible, accurate and consistent. Battery is great lasts a long time and with the % display, I know when I'm running low.

The built-in image stabilization has saved many a shot for me where lighting was marginal I would not want to have to do without this feature.

I'm pleased with the image quality (even when I forgot to reset the ISO from 800 after some indoor/no-flash wedding shots). The camera has lots of buttons so I don't have to go searching through menus and if I do need to do something that doesn't have its own button, the Fn button generally gets me there quickly a well thought out interface that works for me.

I have the Sony 18-70 and 75-300 kit lenses and I'm happy with both as they provide great flexibility in range, and they're sharp enough for me. All in all I'm very happy with this tool and if my shots don't come out the way I expect them to, it's more likely my problem than any lens or camera limitation.

Knowing what I know now about this setup, I'd definitely make the same decision to buy it.

Canon VIXIA HG20 AVCHD 60 GB HDD Camcorder with 12x Optical Zoom

I got this camera today, I wanted to get HG10 as it is cheaper, but I went with this one as it has higher Hard Disk capacity with small price difference.

The first test video taken was indoors and with low light, I noticed lot of dots in the frame, however, after setting the AWB to indoor and exposure to low light, the video looked much better, then I tried the sport setting with 24p and the video was impressive!! I hooked the camera to my 40" HD LCD TV, and the colors and sharpness are breathtaking!!

One tip is to use the P (Programmed AE) setting with different selections of White Balance, the LCD screen is clear enough to make a quick decision on the fly to pick the best selection, I used 3 different settings walking in day light, then on a shady area, then inside a shop.

One thing to note that the battery works only 2 hours, Canon offers better battery with 4 hours duration priced around $100.

You also need to read the pros and cons of the video codec, there are lot of information on the Canon HG10 reviews, and very useful. In general the higher the frame bit rate and resolution, the longer it will take to process and edit the video and much longer to burn it on DVD or BluRay.

I actually found out that Google's Picasa 3 application (free download) can open the videos recorded by the camera, this tool can export any clip (or portion of it) to wmv format, once the file is exported, you can use any video editor like Microsoft Movie Maker to compress the file or change it to DivX format, etc.

Great camera. The biggest flaw is not the 60 gb drive which is bigger than you will ever need, or the menu interface which is easy, intuitive and user friendly, the biggest flaw is the lack of the view finder on this camera. Big deal you say, its got a modern screen instead of a view finder, but that modern screen in really bright sunlight kinda washes out (like all those screens do) and might lead you to adjust the settings or force you to trust your autoexposure when you are taking those priceless outdoor shots. The hg 21 has the eye piece viewfinder which is a reliable indicator of what you are shooting in those conditions, but for the extra 300 USDs it's hard to justify. The AF is super in this camera, no distiguishable periods "out of focus" as you rapidly zoom in and out. Also the head set or yellow AV jack, is a must have. Ever record tons of footage and find out the only thing you can hear is the wind buffetting your microphone? Record wearing regular ipod type headphones and you don't have to review the footage to find out if you have the shot. Don't get a camcorder without that or the mic input which this camera has. Terrific simultaneous video record and still photo to the regular full size SD card, cool, works great. Requires class 4 SD card, the speedy type. I think the HG21 with the 120 gb has tons of storage, but it's overkill and takes longer to do a full hard drive clean than the 60gb hg20, but both have a quick clean function for the hard drive. Finally don't expect much from the packaged software if you really want to edit. Corel has pro x2 which works great for avchd. Last thing is the battery. It charges when the camera is pugged in and it works great. I was made to believe that this camera is useless without an external charger and tons of extra batteries, which is not true, 95 min is good. Or just stay plugged to the wall. As a guy who typically struggles with technology, I hope all my "research" helps some one else and as the owner of the hg20 this camera delivers and is simple for anyone to use.

Buy Canon VIXIA HG20 AVCHD 60 GB HDD Camcorder with 12x Optical Zoom Now

The HG20 is great. Super Picture. Sound is ok. The HDD makes some noise. SW runs on older PC with 1 GIG Ram and 2.5 GIG Pent. But its right at the edge. Could use a Video Light. Cost goes up and down on this model a good bit. Computer HDD space to edit and store will need to be high. Mini HDMI cable is a must for HD sets. Did a test with A HD tv, by recording the TV. Its interesting. Have not tired yet with a IR light source. When the Cam is off, the Lense protector shakes a little. Battery is min. Will get High cap battery for trips. Lots of Warnings on Care for this unit. But at a good price, this unit have a lot of value. The HF10 and HF100 are good buys also. the HF11 is much more. The HG21 is much more, but has some added features of a view finder. Camrea Mode take Point and Shoot Pictures will. But you have to be still. Lots of manual controls. The Menu system takes a little getting used if you are use to the old canon MiniDV. Wanted to wait a little more, but the old canon ZR45MC is past 6 years. But it analog pass thru. I may use that or a Dazzle unit to put video for family and the web instead of trying to convert the MT2S files. With the video files as big as they are, having a Laptop will not be good with the unit or any HD machine.

Again wanted to wait, but old camera was looking pale on HD TV.

Good Things:

60BG harddrive, LP and SP still good for video.

Optics are great. 12X. Attachments.

Easy Button

Connections (HDMI, USB, Analog outputs), Mic in, Head Phones,

Lots of things to add on with Canon (battery, Optics)

Card Slot option

Auto Lense Cap.

Bad things,

Joy Stick control on view finder.

Heavier than Full Flash based unit.

Some Rattles (Not in function mode, just in off mode with Lenses Protector.)

Not much Software or Hardware to edit with. (Vista Requirements seem twice that of XP).

Things to consider:

Add Battery Pack (One big one, or 2 small ones).

Tripod

Optics (Filters, Wide Angle, Telephoto)

Video Light for low light.

Quad Core, 6 MB Ram, 1 TB HDD computer for editing video.

Read Best Reviews of Canon VIXIA HG20 AVCHD 60 GB HDD Camcorder with 12x Optical Zoom Here

My wife and I were looking for something to replace our aging DV camcorder, and decided to step up to HD.

Since we've been happy with our Canon Digital Rebel XSi SLR, and the XTi before it, Canon seemed the logical choice.

The biggest obstacle in choosing a new camera was deciding between the HG20 and the Canon VIXIA HF10. After a ton of research, we found that the HG20 and HG10 are basically the same camera. The HG20 has a 60GB hard drive, the HG10 has 16MB flash. Beyond that, the optics and Digic processors are the same (though the HG20 is capable of recording at a higher bitrate, due to the hard drive).

Since the HG20 gives you the option of writing to SDHC cards, it seemed a better value.

We've had the camera for just over a week now, and the image quality is generally outstanding. In low light, the HG20 produces an acceptable picture, though it is a bit grainy and "digital" looking. With adequate light though, the picture is outstanding.

The image stabilization works better than expected, especially when you're zoomed in, but keep in mind that this is the primary reason it's there. If you have jittery hands and aren't giving some thought to what you're shooting, you're still going to produce movies that look like they came from any old camcorder.

Taking still pictures is reasonably easy, and the camera's ability to focus and take a decent photo at full zoom is incredible. However, if you have a digital camera that's less than three years old, it's probably going to take better pictures. This is definitely a "nice to have" feature, but you shouldn't go in to this expecting it to replace a point-and-shoot digital camera.

If you're familiar with Canon Digital Rebel, PowerShot, or Elph cameras, the menus on the HG20 will make perfect sense to you. All of the settings are where you'd expect them to be. And if you're not familiar with other Canon products, learning the menu system is quite easy.

Now, some caveats...

Right off the bat, editing AVCHD video is going to pound on your computer. If you're using a Mac, a current-generation MacBook Pro is probably the minimum you'd want to use for any sort of editing. On the bright side, iMovie 08 (and 09) will see this camera and do its thing without any hiccups. But actually getting a full-res movie from the camera to your computer is only marginally faster than DV (to those who may be confused: it takes about as long to import the video as it does to play it).

The next issue -which is true for so many Canon products -the Genuine Canon accessories are ridiculously expensive. Unlike their digital cameras to date, a third party battery isn't going to work 100% properly in the HG20. So if you're not prepared to deal with not knowing the "real" charge on your battery, plan on spending more for a battery. The included battery claims to get about 108 minutes on a full charge. Step up to the Canon BP-819 Lithium Ion Battery Pack, and you'll get in the high 200's without having a massive battery pack jutting out of the back of the camcorder.

On a similar tangent, a big irritation for me is that you have to connect the camera to wall power to import video to your computer. If you're planning on going on the road with your camera and laptop, you might want to look at a power inverter for your car. Otherwise, you're not dumping video until you get home (or somewhere with an outlet).

That said, there are some universal accessories you can pick up without breaking the bank. I own these all, and can confirm that they work just fine with the HG20:

Tripp Lite Mini-HDMI to HDMI Cable (6 feet)

Lowepro Edit 140 (Note: this bag is just about perfect for the HG20's size, and can hold all of the included accessories, as well as an HDMI cable and two filters)

Sunpak CF-7026 UV 37mm Ultra-Violet Filter

Sunpak CF-7051 CP Circular Polarized Filters 37mm

Now that the 2009 models are out, you can pick the HG20 up for an excellent price. Considering the features and picture quality, the camera is a great value. And as long as you go in to it knowing you're going to need to spend some more money for accessories (or computer upgrades, video editing software, etc.) you won't be disappointed.

Want Canon VIXIA HG20 AVCHD 60 GB HDD Camcorder with 12x Optical Zoom Discount?

This camera was on sale for $300.00 off MSRP at a local chain Amazon.com had it even cheaper, but I was in an unusual hurry to tape my son's event that evening. I wasn't looking for an HD quality recorder, but for the price, I couldn't really pass it up!

This thing has an "Easy" button, which meant I didn't need to read the manual before heading out. I packed up my tripod and set up my camera within a few hours I used the power cord.

The camera performed very nicely, auto adjusting for lighting condition and color, with the "Easy" button turned on. If you have ever video-taped in a gymnasium, you know how not-wonderful that light can be.

The next morning I installed the included software to convert the AVCHD format to AVI for editing in Pinnacle Studio 12, Ultimate. While I had a lot to learn about the editing software, the camera software transferred the file very simply [I had read terrible reviews of it, but seems to work well.]

My final movie was proof that the camera adjusted well for lighting conditions, and that the stabilization and auto focus worked nicely. I don't think one could go wrong with this camera it seems to be a lot of bang for the buck. I can't wait to get into the advanced, priority modes, and other features.

Caveats??? Of course you knew there'd be something I'd only given four stars!

1 Small battery, but detailed battery meter. You will need to get a back-up. A high-capacity battery is available;

2 Battery only charges on the camera no separate battery charger;

3 No on-camera view-finder. For that you need the HG21, and a few more $$$.

4 Only 12x optical zoom. BUT... I normally won't use digital zoom, but I needed it to get in close enough my son was across the gymnasium. The digital artifacts were not distracting it did a very nice job. ALSO, note that a telephoto extender, and a wide angle adapter, are both available if you need this capacity.

So far, that's all I've got. I thought I had some "buyer's remorse" at first, but when I saw the output, that went out the window. Thank for reading I hope this helps.

REVISITED 05/10/2009:

So... That was a very encouraging review, wasn't it? Well, sorry to disappoint... I took the Vixia HG20 back... it even cost me a restocking fee to return it. "But why?" you ask... Go ahead, ask...

Although this camera made phenomenal videos, and was lightweight and very easy to use, and had great features, the most important factor for me was edited output. I don't think it is this camera's fault. From my research I have discovered that this AVCHD video format is simply not yet supported efficiently by the major editing packages. I have tried several, including Ulead, Pinnacle, Microsoft, etc... This format is unusable. I've even downloaded conversion software to create MP4, AVI, MPG, and other file formats. The AVCHD file is way too compressed, and this causes problems.

Don't get me wrong. For straight-out-of-the-camera use, I don't think you can find a better deal. Personally, I'm going to find a good digital tape recording unit getting harder to find these days, and I'll just suffer through the download times prior to editing. This will give me an uncompressed file, and a cheap media for backing up the original recordings.

I hope this helps. Please don't take my word for it; research AVCHD and see what the rest of the world says.

Thanks.