JVC GRDVL805U MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode

I first bought the JVC 805U because I was enticed by the cheaper price tag, which I convinced myself was the only difference. It isn't. Don't be fooled by price -pay the extra money and get what you pay for.

I returned this model and bought the Sony TRV11. The video quality on the JVC is noticeably worse. This could be because of the lack of the Carl Zeiss lens or the lack of low lux recording (both found on the Sony).

The battery that came with the JVC only lasted about 30 minutes (compared to about 1 hour with Sony) and the image stabilization was shoddy at best. Also, the LCD screen quality on the JVC is just so-so.

While the JVC does have a built in light, it is really useless for night shooting.

Overall, the JVC has average quality and features. If you are willing to settle for average and want to buy a camera in the "average" price range, consider this one or close competitor Panasonic. If you want a much better camera for a few hundred bucks more, buy the Sony TRV11.

Wy wife and I had been considering a Hi8 replacement since our daughter was born. Several factors guided our decision: digital format, ease of use, portability, and ease of image capture. I wanted to comment on some of the stronger features of this model.

First of all, the video works pretty well. I'm not super-impressed with the image stabilization, but the auto focus and lighting are pretty "smart". The color LCD is good inside, but I enjoyed the color viewfinder when filming outside.

The unit also serves as a digital still camera. The built-in 2MB memory allows for ~30 images to be stored at a time. I'm not sure how to capture at a size other than 320x240 just yet, but they look sharp at that resolution.

Unlike other models, the JVC also includes video capture software straight out of the box. I was discouraged, however, that the capture process relied on composite video and not IEEE 1394. Why offer the port & software if you can't use them together? I ended up purchasing MGI VideoWave to use IEEE 1394.

I'm somewhat of a Sony devotee, but I didn't find many models that had Memory Stick storage AND MiniDV format. If you're looking for a good alternative to that brand, consider this JVC.

Buy JVC GRDVL805U MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode Now

Preface: I am a quality engineer in a printing company

I own a JVC GR-DVL805u. I think it is a very nice digital video camera.

I like the built in 640x480 digital still camera. You can save and load the stills off of your miniDV tape so you don't need a memory stick. The advanced features on the camera are very nice. Combined with the highest density CCD in the price range you can expect to get some nice results.

Out of the box, I was not completely thrilled with the default white balace of the camera. The image was a little too red. You can re-calibrate the white balance in a few simple steps detailed in the manual. Perhaps the auto light mode doesn't work well under mixed lighting conditions (halogen & sun.)

The camera does not support Hi8. It is a miniDV format. The camera resolution is 640x480 for still photos (in the fine mode.)

I'm kind of glad JVC didn't include a package for firewire [aka i.Link or IEEE 1394]. The camera would cost at least $100 more and I'm not sure I would want the interface board they would give me. I'm not if the software with the system support Macintosh.

The interface that you get with the camera is just what you need if you have a vcr and you want to edit your tape into a movie. Or if you don't have a bleeding edge computer with firewire. Firewire is next on my list, with that I can make movies of the baby to mail to my family.

Nit-picky points: The logo plates pick up finger prints, and look hard to clean. The glowing logo on the side of my 805u doesn't read the same as the demo units I've looked at. The unit is packaged with the lense cap hidden deep in the box--not on the lense. (The lense was clean -but it took a while to find the cap.) The ac power cable goes into the same area as the battery & the cable does not have an ideal fit. That is, JVC documents to have the coiled end of the cable near the camera, and the only direction the power cord fits without kinking is up so over the long term the wire is more likely to break. ... please remember I'm a quality engineer.

I think this camera is an excellent buy. If the price is a bit high look at the 505u, which as far as I can tell differs only by .5" on the LCD and has a b&w viewfinder.

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very good miniDv Digital Video Camcorder in that price range (...). The unit is very light 1.3lb. Outdoor video is pretty good, but indoor isn't. Included battery is only for 30 minutes recoeding with LCD on. Remote control in very ugly, AC adaptor/charger and other accessaries are very rough, not Japan-made, the unit is just fine. Not 0 Lux, so video is terrible in weak light, the build-in light is useless at all in this case. I did not try still image mode, 640x480 VGA is not good enough for printing. Include software is for Win95/98 only, not for NT/2000. The indoor recording video is "red", you need to calabriate to write-balance to reduce this ugly effect. Summary: it is good enough for home use, but video and audio quality is just fair.

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I bought this camera in December '01. Took a lot of time to research digital camcorders and this was the best deal going ...Camera is easy to operate and has many great features.

Video is excellent. Even in low light the video is good and there is an integrated light for darker shots.

I agonized over whether to purchase this camera with 2MB of integrated memory or one with an 8MB memory stick. The 2 MB memory holds 30+ stills which is more than I'll ever take at one time, the extra MB would have been unnecessary.

Included battery lasts about an hour, less if you use the light or the LCD monitor...but the battery charges relatively quickly.

Camera came with everything you'd need except a camera case and digital video cassette.

The only drawback is that the digital still photos are not great. However, they are sufficient for e-mail or web site posting instead of printing. Transfer of photos from camera to computer is simple. Included editing software was easy to install and use.

I think this is a great camera for family videos and digital photo emails to friends and family.

JVC PICSIO GC-FM1A HD Camcorder (Sparkling Purple)

After reading the specs I had high hopes for this camera. Unfortunately, it failed to perform in every way. The build quality was cheap and flimsy, the controls were awkward and counterintuitive, the video was unwatchable, and the stills weren't sharp. Thankfully, Amazon accepted my return.

First, the PROS:

--It is small.

Then, the CONS:

--The control buttons are recessed and difficult to press. Usually I would have to press a button several times before it actually worked. When in still camera mode there is no audio or visual confirmation that you have actually taken a photo so you never know for sure until you scan through the images and video saved.

--The video is violently shakey and not as sharp as 1080p should be. Even on a tripod the video shook and wobbled. Basically the video is unwatchable. Everything looks like "Blair Witch Project" outtakes.

--Video and stills are grainy in any light, indoors or out. Don't bother trying to use it in low light.

--The audio is average.

In short, a very disappointing product that has turned me off to the compact video camera segment.

I tried several similar gadgets and JVC PICSIO is one of them. Despite good overall design, there several problems that turned me off.

CONS:

good overall designe

low cost

CONS:

poor of image stabilization: practically absent

poor HD quality: image "wobbling"

not posible to use indoors: grainy picture; inaccurate colors; etc.

I returned my JVC PICSIO back to the store. Do not recommend anyone to buy this model.

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First: I really didn't expect the device to perform miracles and my expectations were set low given the price. It does what it's supposed to do. It does shoot higher quality video in better lighting. I was able to upload the videos easily and the still shots were decent. It is however better quality than a smart phone such as my blackberry storm. I wanted a dedicated device that would capture better than the blackberry and it did just that.

Second: I noticed very very poor quality on my laptop running vista which would only play through quicktime. The videos looked like crap. I connected the device to my desktop computer running windows 7 which is setup to display on my 42 inch 1080p TV and was very impressed with the video running through Window Media Manager/player. I also uploaded a my own video to Youtube and was again impressed with the quality. I firmly believe that the output quality has everything to do with the how your receiving device handles the videos.

PS3 does not support the device's captured format. Therefore you will need to convert the videos using a free converter downloaded from CNET.com

Conclusion Good affordable functional video camera that is highly portable and low maintenance.

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It only records for 29 minutes at a time. This makes no sense. What a waste of money.

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The User Guide's states:

"When the battery life is too low even if it is in full charge, the battery comes to the end of its life"

This statement should be rewritten:

"When the battery life is too low even if it is in full charge, the CAMCORDER comes to the end of its life"

The battery is internal meaning that you can't replace it when it begins to have trouble holding a charge (as they all eventually do).

So the question is: What is the life expectancy of the battery?

I have posted this question on the JVC site forum but, of course, never got published. They also removed another post somebody made to this forum in this regard.

Stay away from it..

Who wants to buy a camera with a 1-2 years (maybe less) lifespan?

Gold Plated micro HDMI / HDMI Cable (Type D to Type A) (3.5 feet)

Excellent. TO OT OT OT OT OTO TO TO TO TO TO TO TO TO TO TO TO TOE why OK

...didn't want to spend too much money on a basic cable. Needed something not too long and was glad to find this works great and now can watch or play music off my ASUS TF700 tablet onto friends TVs or sound system when visiting.

Highly recommended to add connectivity for your portable gadgets.

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Came just when I needed it .

Finally I can use my table, I just love it is just what I'd expected.

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Use it for tablet to monitor connection. No problem. I like it. Recommend anyone use for the same purpose. Good length.

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for the price I could not be happier. It's a cable that I use to run Netflix through my phone to a large TV. Shipping was fast.

Swann Night Hawk 2.4 GHz Wireless Outdoor Security System

My neighborhood has had some nighttime vandalism, so I wanted to install a security camera. However, the neighborhood association forbids "architectural modifications", and you can't just slap a camera on the front of your home. This camera, with its compact size, seemed like the solution. I removed its base, leaving just a two-inch-long cylinder, and set it on a ledge outside a window with a putty cradle to hold it in place. I taped (should caulk) shut the little screw holes left by removal of the base. The cord from the power adapter is narrow and flexible, and the window shut over it easily. The camera is inconspicuous and has made it through many rains with no problem. See the customer image captioned, "Windowsill installation".

The camera's daylight picture is acceptable. You even have the option of running it off a 9V battery. I have detected no interference from my wireless router or cordless phones.

Now for the bad news. The camera's maximum infrared range is nine feet, so it is not designed for watching your yard at night. You can compensate for this with some strong lighting attached to a motion detector. However, at night the camera's infrared LEDs reflect off the camera's front window as a white, fuzzy halo that blurs the top of the picture. (Poor design, IMO.) Swann should have included a switch to optionally turn the LEDs off.

All in all, considering it as a learning experience, it was not a bad starter camera. However, I think that my next camera will simply be a long-range indoor camera looking through a window, aided by a motion-activated floodlight.

2/19/07 update: After a year of operation night vision remains poor, although it is somewhat improved by a motion-activated floodlight that I installed. I also attached a motion-sensing DVR, and it operates normally with this camera because I have put the receiver right up against the window next to the camera, so the picture is stable. (Again, see the customer image captioned, "Windowsill installation".)

12/30/10 update: The transmission from the camera to the receiver is the weak link, as pointed out by the first comment on this review. It gradually deteriorated over the years; it became sensitive to the position of the receiver, then even the window blind, and now it no longer records reliably. I wonder if the camera itself, or its antenna, deterioriated because of sitting in the weather. I liked this setup while it lasted because it gave better pictures than my WiLife setup.

Pro's:

+Easy to setup, only took 2 minutes.

+Compact size

Con's:

-Poor picture quality.

-Very poor sound.

-Interference from everything even after diabling the wireless network, unplugging the cordless phones, and shutting off the baby monitor, we still had a jumping lines and static.

If you live in a remote area without neighbors, have no microwave, cordless phone, or wireless network, then this is the camera for you; otherwise, search elsewhere.

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I have 4 cameras and the receiver set to loop. The receiver cycles each camera in a loop for ~5 seconds, or you can manually select a single camera. Each camera has a 60 degree viewing angle. I put 3 of the cameras in a cluster with one pointing left, one center and one pointing right so I have a 180 degree view (The 4th to a different location). Otherwise, the 60 degree view is not very wide and a lot will be missed. The video is so-so. The audio is, well, worthless. But, for the cost vs a commercial high end camera system, it's about a 4th of the cost. The video is not really too bad in a well lighted area without interference and close to the receiver. The interference from a PC router (2.4GHz), a microwave (completely messes it up), a cordless phone running 2.4GHz or anything else seems to interfear with these cameras quite easily. Still again, for a budget security solution, it's not too bad. The warranty is only for 1 year. The camera features say it is for outdoor use. Hmmm,,, Well the cameras are not for direct sunlight (no hood), direct rain or snow (maybe ok for a drop or two). It needs to be under a cover. Oh, and the cameras will run on a provided 9 volt battery. Why did the manufacture waste the time? Sure it will run on the battery for 30 minutes. Com'on. The cameras come each with an AC adapter to provide power. The AC adapter has a line about 6 feet long. So think about how you will get power to the AC adpaters and then about 6 feet to reach the camera. The receiver is capable of seeing 4 cameras one-at-a-time. It is selectable for one-at-a-time (1,2,3 or 4) or it will loop through all four (all four whether there are one or four). The 5 second cycle seems like a long time from camera 1 to camera 4. That's a 15 second blackout. I went outside, walked to the truck and back in and the cameras never saw me because it musta been in the 15 second blackout period. The nighttime feature using the infrared is ok for a closeup. Sony makes an infrared day/night camera with 48 LEDs. It can see 100 feet in total darkness. But.... it cost 4-6 times as much. So, if you need something for security and something on a budget, these are not bad. I think they would make good indoor nanny cams (local viewing, no IP from the cams themselves). The indoor picture was not bad at all. Also, I am recording everyhing to a PC via a video PCI card. I have a WD external 320GB hard drive running through high speed USB for storage. The hard drive comes with a FAT32 filesystem. You'll need to reformat the hard drive to NTFS which takes about 5 hours depending upon your PC, the disk and the I/O. The recording video file (MPEG) is set to (Hmmm,, was it either standard play or long play? I don't rember.) eats up about 1.5 Giga Bytes per hour of disk space. So a 320GB hard drive will last about 9 days acording to the software b4 cycling. Also, I noticed many heavy duty intensive software programs like games, will cause the recording to stop. Probably due to the PC's inability to receive and process video, record the video and run the intensive app all at the same time (Pentium IV 2.8). One more note. If you plan on using the video for security and plan on using captured video for court, the cops say there are certain minimum video qualities you must meet.

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I recently purchased this camera from a local Radio Shack and paid considerably more than Amazon has it listed for. I needed something fast as my Christmas lights had been vandalized twice that week. I got this camera because it had night vision and was small enough to be undetected. I hooked the camera up and ran it that night. Well needless to say they got me again and the camera missed the whole thing. There was so much interference you couldn't even see the picture through the lines. I called the company TWICE and got the same interference story. I even moved the receiver to several different rooms with different televisions and vcr's, changed the frequency and unplugged everything wireless in the house and still the same picture. Beware don't waste your money on this product. This one is going back to the store today. I would have given it less than one star, but one was the least you could give.

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This product has no range and everything interfereres with the signal. Overall,

a worthless product.

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Konica Minolta Dimage A2 8MP Digital Camera with 7x Anti Shake Optical Zoom

I should preface this review by saying that I am not an expert, rather a moderately experienced digital camera user who wants to learn more.

This camera has it all (read the stats), but some of the unique features include the viewfinder (best on the market almost like looking through the lens on an SLR), manual zoom, and "anti-shake" which gives some protection against shaky hands. I have only had the camera for a few days. I find it to be rather easy to use, even though it is a different brand from my prior digicam (the Canon PowerShot S30). Got outside today and the results were stunning fast focus, great zoom, impeccable detail, true color (not the "bling bling" color some cameras produce that just aren't real). The prints (from the Canon 860) are gorgeous. Indoor shots were typical digicam shots, difficult to take good ones, though we have had terrible light in the house the past few days.

It is heavy, for a digicam, but fits my hands well. There are lots of buttons and dials but they feel intuitive to me, again, even though I used to a different brand of camera. I think it would be a hard camera for someone who has never used digital or done much photography, but for moderately experienced digital or film user, it will be a dream. It uses compact flash (none included, I would get a 512 at least) and a proprietary battery (which seems to last very well, much better than my Canon did).

I give it five stars after two days. I might revise my review as I continue to use it, and uncover weaknesses. This camera has an infinite array of features I know, not literally true -and can do most anything you might ever want to do.

Highly Recommend Enjoy!

I HAVE PARKINSON'S DESEASE, THIS CAMERA GETS THE SHAKE OUT, AND THE QUAILITY IS GREAT. THE PHOTOS ARE CRISP AND CLEAR. OPERATION IS SIMPLE. WAIT TIL YOU TRY THE VIDEO, THE SOUND AND FILMING IS SIMPLE. LOVE THIS CAMERA!.

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I've owned my A2 for roughly 1.5 months. This camera performs like a champ and am glad that I ended up buying it. I originally had my eye on the A1, but as soon as I found out about the A2, I wasn't going back.

Due to that fact alone, I've been reviewing cameras for the last 7-8 months. I've looked extensively at the 8 megapixel camera arena. It really came down between the Sony F828 and the Minolta A2. In the end I picked the A2. The raw format is actually usable on this camera as well as the UHS drive mode (allows you to take up to 8 shots/sec). Another feature thats great on this camera is the anti shake. Allows you to save up to 2 FStops alone.

If you need further proof of this cameras superiority, just check out the reviews online (luminous-landscape, digital outback photo).

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I have read others in forums talking about problem A2's and having to return several to get a good one. Perhaps I was lucky but mine has been perfect right out of the box. Even my wife who thinks I am crazy to buy so many digital cameras agrees that the photos from this one are fantastic. As I am getting older the anti-shake feature is a real bonus. I traded in a Sony 828 on the A2. The Sony was a good camera, nothing really wrong except a little purple fringe under certain circumstances. None of that on my A2. I couldn't be more satisfied.

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Choose this camera if you have ever had problems with camera shake.

This is my first ever "pro-sumer" camera. I upgraded from a point-and-shoot 3.2 mega pixel Sony model because I enjoy being able be creative. If you're like me, someone who is ready for more than just point-and-shoot photography, the Dimage A2 is a good match for you.

There is undoubtedly a learning curve associated with the Dimage A2. Since it has 8.0 mega pixels under the hood, making some final touches in post-processing can dramatically improve the final image.

One of the Dimage's most beneficial features of this camera is the real-time histogram. I'm also impressed with the quality of the electronic view finder (EVF). Overall, my wife and I are very satisfied with our investment into the Dimage A2.

Monoprice 15ft 32AWG Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Cable - White

I almost didn't purchase this cable because there were no clear reviews stating that it worked. This is the only cable that I've located which is mini DisplayPort to HDMI and is 15', at least in this ridiculously low price range. I need to supply these to engineers who travel with MacBook Pros. So I went ahead and ordered one to test it out to see... I wasn't expecting the audio to be transmitted over the cable, but to my surprise, it worked without any problems what so ever. I had the 2010 13" MacBook Pro hooked up via a 50' HDMI extension cable to our 65" 3D Vizio HDTV and everything worked perfectly. You do have to go into your sound settings and change the sound output to the TV device that it will have in the list of devices. The sound will normally be directed out your laptop speakers. All you have to do is go into the sound settings, click on output, and change to the TV your connected to and voila, your sound will come out your TV speakers.

So to recap... this cable works for both video and sound. At least on the 2010 and later MacBook Pros that send sound out the mini DisplayPort. For those of you who may not be aware, the 2009 and earlier I guess, MacBooks are not able to send sound out the Mini DisplayPort. I have one of these laptops as well and you have to either run a separate cable from the laptop headphone out jack or use a special adapter that will accomplish this for you. Here's a link to one of these Mini DisplayPort + Stereo (or USB) sound to HDMI devices:

So if you were worried about buying this cable and wasting your money, don't sweat it. It seems to be one of the "real" ones that works as it's supposed to with both audio and sound. I don't know why it wouldn't work for everyone. I guess the TV involved and the HDMI cables could play a part...

Hope it works for you and hope you found this review helpful.

Cheers.

Because the HDMI panel has recently ruled that this specific type of cable will soon be recalled, I felt the need to purchase one quickly (and you should too!)

I needed one that was LONG, was very CHEAP, and would work with certainty. The third element is the largest problem reading through the reviews on amazon: many reviews, for this cable and others, are luke-warm or give, frankly, not helpful information about the utility of the cable.

Here's what you get: The cable works exactly as it should and exactly as you would expect a plug-and-play external monitor cable to work. You plug it into your system and a monitor (TV, etc). Then your system, assuming you're on a mac, will blink blue, and you'll see the second monitor's desktop appear, exactly as intended and exactly as expected for those of us who have multiple monitors. It can be calibrated and set up in System Settings -> Displays, and defaults to an "HDMI 1080p" setting, again, exactly as expected.

Audio can then be sent through the "Sounds" panel in System Settings. It works exactly as expected.

The cable is industrialmeaning a somewhat harder white plastic with DisplayPort information printed on it. It looks like any good, cheap audio or video cable that is generic and not brandedwhich is why it is so cheap. If you have ever bought a replacement or cheap cable that is NOT a branded or radioshack cable, this will look and feel exactly as you expect it to.

It has nice stiff broad male heads on both ends, suggesting to me that it will be durable on connections well into the future, and that the connections themselves are not likely to inadvertently slip out. My cable measured at almost 16', rather than the 15', so I'll just enjoy my extra length.

It came in a plain static-guarded ziplock bag, with two nice rubberized covers for the connectors. Againexactly as it should.

There are users who rate the cable (here and on similar products) as not delivering AUDIO. This is, simply, not true with this cable. This cable delivers audio perfectly well and perfectly as advertised (unless the cable itself is faulty). Those users simply have older Macs (or other DisplayPort systems) that do not, themselves SEND audio out through the Mini DisplayPort connection at all, OR they have not set up their systems to send audio through the cable. This cable won't solve a problem that their computer has. So, again, the cable works fine as it is intendedeven on those systems. To SET UP your computer (on Macs: System Prefs > Sound) to actually output the sound through the cable look for "HDMI." If it is there, it will send audio. If not, your system doesn't recognize the option. If your system was built in 2009 or earlier, it won't be able to send audio at all.

Some users, one in particular, has said that the cable does not work at all because it only shows an image of their desktop, and they rated it as a one-star. This person is absurdly wrong. That cable works perfectlyit IS SHOWING THE DESKTOP. The cable connects via HDMI but is essentially a second monitor for your computer at HDMI (HD 1080p) resolution. That user didn't even attempt to send sound through the cable, so those results are unknown. But that review should be ignored.

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I bought this cable for my sister's 13.3" MacBook Air. I knew that the new generation of MacBook Pro's had the capability to output video + audio using a mini display-port to HDMI cable, but I was unsure if it could transfer audio on the MacBook Air. Upon receiving it, I can confirm that it does do video + audio on the new MacBook Air. When first connecting the cable to the mac and to the TV, I immediately get video but it is stretched. I had to change the settings to clone the display on the MacBook Air and on the TV. The audio was not selected to output to the TV by default. I had to go to System preferences, then to sound, then select audio output to TV/HDMI. The cable is just generic and there are probably better prices for the cable elsewhere but I was in a hurry and was able to take advantage of Amazon Prime to get the free 2-day shipping so it evens out in the end. 15ft is a perfect length and when rolled up is unobtrusive and packs easily if you travel. The Video and Audio is crystal clear and I had no problems with the connection being unreliable. Overall, it was a good purchase and I am pleased with the product.

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I bought a separate mini display port adapter and hdmi cable from the apple store, for about $70. This cable is much cheaper and works Plug n Play just the same as the apple store. You don't need to install any driver in a MBP.

The old 2009 MBP can only send video out, so you will need a separate cable or speaker for audio out. I was warned in advance at the store since they tried to sell me another audio out cable. For now, I am happy with watching my shows on my 32 inch vizio. I can live without surround sound.

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I bought this to use with my laptop, connected to my TV screen, so I could control the screen from the couch in my screening room. It was well priced and Mini DisplayPort Male to HDMI Male 32AWG Cable 15ft arrived when promised. However, when I connected it from my laptop mini display port to the HDMI on the TV, I got a brief connection that then fluttered back and forth (on/off) and settled on no connection. I tried it on another TV set up and got the same results. IT DID NOT WORK.

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Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera (Body) + 16GB Deluxe Accessory Kit

There is no need for me to review the t3i (because its amazing) so, I'll review the deluxe kit.

The Bag: is decent, it has (bright orange) padding inside. The seams/thread on the inside is a mess. The bag holds my t3i, 18-55mm, canon 50mm, 2 filter kits, extra batteries. This bag will be limited to carrying about 2 lenses max. Outer appearance is good. It has many outside pockets.

Tripod: Somewhat flimsy but I mainly use the tripod for inside use so it worked out for me. The top portion of the pod comes off with a lever, you can screw it onto your camera body and lever it back into the tripod. Comes with a carrying case which is a plus.

Extra Battery: is NOT a Canon battery but it does what it supposed to do.

All in all I'm glad I got this package.

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JVC GR-D850 MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom

The sound and video quality is amazing! I am very impressed by the quality of the image and sound even at night. There is no blurring when panning around either, but at night its performance slightly suffers. Sometimes it takes a few seconds to focus correctly at night from switching from close to distant objects, but it is crystal clear. The sound is GREAT. Its easy to use, easy to hold.

In order to place taped videos to the PC, you need a Fire Wire port on your computer, a 6pin to 4pin fire wire cable, and a lot of hard drive space. One hour is about 14 gigs when transfered 100% uncompressed. After editing and compression though the file size is very manageable.

**For every minute you record it takes one minute to transfer to the PC**

If I had payed 350 dollars for this, I would still be amazed. Its the steal of the year, so cheap yet so good...! I bought the camera, firewire cable, three Fuji Film MiniDV's with tax didnt break 300 dollars!

This is the first camera I've ever owned.

I bought this one for my mom and dad. It seems just as easy to use as the one I purchased a few years back. It's lightweight and mom seems to understand how to use it after about ten minutes of showing her how to do things.

The only thing I would not like is that it lacks a viewfinder (like on a film camera) -all it has is the large LCD display. If you prefer a viewfinder, you may want to look at other camcorders.

Buy JVC GR-D850 MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom Now

The JVC GR-D850 MiniDV Camcorder is our 3rd JVC camcorder. It was purchased primarily for quick capture of family events and we didn't expect the final video to be as high a quality as our previous JVC GR-DV800U which cost almost 3 times as much. So, when we powered up the camcorder and took our first video we weren't too disappointed. That being said, this camcorder is small enough to tote around just about anywhere and comes in handy when hiking in the woods or around family gatherings. The final video produced isn't too bad although the color balance is just OK.

For the price this is a good buy.

Read Best Reviews of JVC GR-D850 MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom Here

I recently had a bad experience purchasing another (quality name brand, begins with p) Mini-DV camcorder. It was around the same price as this one. I was really disappointed at the extremely poor quality, and distorted image. I didn't expect a lot, but having owned other camcorders, I expected something a little better.

This one caught my eye for several reasons: Konica lens, no viewfinder, firewire link, extended battery time (1.5 hours versus most at 1 hour) and the price was right. At this price range, I didn't expect much, but what I got was AMAZING, and exceeded my expectations. I record in mostly low light, and some times those video can come out very grainy, or the lighting is green or yellow and goes in and out of focus. The picture from this camcorder in low light was very clear, not grainy at all that I could tell on a 32" Vizio, after using the auto light feature to record. Colors were very nice, no yellow or greenish tint at all, could see details very well. The zoom was very smooth and it kept in focus very well zooming. The sound is very nice as well.

Another amazing feature was the image stabilization. I had the camcorder on a tripod, on a table. People kept bumping the table, at times for an extended time. It's virtually undetectable in the video. At the very worst bumps, you may see a very slight jump, but only if you are really looking for it.

The camcorder is very easy to use. Menu is easy to navigate, and understand. Some nice features like black and white and sepia. My only complaint is turning the camcorder on and off is a little difficult, the button seems stiff. My video uploaded seamlessly into my 06 iMac, using iMovie HD, ideal for Mac users.

I truly love this camcorder! This is the third MiniDV camcorder I've owned in the past 3 years, the most affordable, and by far the best. I highly recommend this product.

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Well I haven't had lot of camcorders per say but I'm in to movie making and the fire wire part of it is a little a annoying but man It's not even an hd camera and it has amazing quality. I would definitely recommend this camera to anybody.