Showing posts with label lorex baby monitor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lorex baby monitor. Show all posts

Monday, October 20, 2014

ePhoto Premium DSLR Rig Movie Kit Shoulder Rig Mount, Shoulder Support Pad for Video Camcorder Came

ePhoto Premium DSLR Rig Movie Kit Shoulder Rig Mount, Shoulder Support Pad for Video Camcorder Camera DV DSLR Cameras, Canon 5D MK II , 7D , 60D ,600D, Nikon D90 D7000 D5100 D3100 D300s, Sony A65 A55, A33, A580, A560, DSR-PD198p, GH1, Gh2, GH3 by ePhotoInc RL01I shoot with a 60d. mostly weddings but have been doing more music videos and short films. for weddings this would work but most of the stuff i do i use monopods and tripods for a stable platform. this is great for everything else when you need to look around and get shots you cant get with stable pods.

its sturdy (metal) and easy to use. compact also.

it has 4 main configurations but with an slr i only see 3 as practical. (shoulder mount close to eye,two handed (2 variations)

its also super cheap now. 60$ rather than 200$

you can add tons of extras to it if you want. they have 1/4 threads everywhere for lights, mics, and monitors.

I was very suprised with the rig. I have to say that is alot more than I expected. I used the rig 2 days after recieving it with my Canon T2i to film a wedding. Did the job extremely well. I used it as a shoulder mount with an eye cup attached to the lcd screen. Everything lined up well and was a comfortable fit for over 8 hours of shooting time.

One big thing that has the be done to this rig is weight addition to the rear. There is a pre tapped hole on the lower section of the shoulder support grips and all you need to do is go down to the hardware store and get a decently long bolt and a bunch of large washers and add as many as you need until you find a well balanced point. The setup looks professional and does its job well. Highly recommend this item if you are looking for a rig that will not break the bank.

Buy ePhoto Premium DSLR Rig Movie Kit Shoulder Rig Mount, Shoulder Support Pad for Video Camcorder Came Now

For anyone wanting a cost effective, or cheap, way to rig your video cameras or DSLR camera to a hand held or shoulder mounted rig this item could be useful. I found the rig certainly worth the cost but it's much more flimsy than I had hoped. There are a number of points on the rig where you can screw in an adapter (cold shoe) in order to connect lights, monitor, microphones, etc. But, even my 7" monitor just seems to heavy for this rig. Also, they arms don't always hold in place as it appears in the advertisment. So, in closing, good rig if you want to keep it simple and do some hand held or shoulder mounted shots but don't connect to much to the rig. FYI...I added some small washers attached to a bolt and that screwed right into one of the extension arms to give me a perfect "counter balance" while using the shoulder mount. Overall, good item for short shoots going hand held.

Read Best Reviews of ePhoto Premium DSLR Rig Movie Kit Shoulder Rig Mount, Shoulder Support Pad for Video Camcorder Came Here

this mount is awesome as so versatile way better than the cowboy studio one i just wish i had bought this one first also if anyone is debating on getting this or the cowboy studio one let me help you by saying get this one!!!! its so awesome! love it i wish i could give it 10 stars ha oh and its made out of metal not plastic another positive! and theres places everywhere to attach stuff to

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For the price I am pleased. I have seen this item "On Sale" for $120 $160 and I would have to say it is not worth that price. However any price under $100 is a great deal for this bad boy. It is very versatile and can feel solid and professional, on the other hand it has a cheapness to it. There are parts that I have come across that just become loose and that could be dangerous if you didn't notice they were. I see that there are plastic pieces that feel easily breakable. It is also bigger than I had expected but this can be a great thing. Anyways overall I really like it and especially under a $100 it is a great deal!

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Sunday, October 19, 2014

Astak Pan/Tilt Night Vision IP Network Camera (Black)

Astak Pan/Tilt Night Vision IP Network CameraI've always been curious about what goes on at home when I'm not there. What do my dogs do all day? Can I watch my new little baby play and maybe take its first steps while I'm at work? This product is one of the simplest electronic products I've ever set-up. All I had to do was plug-in the camera, attach it to my home router and log in to the Astak site. My cameras were up and running.

This product can be used for so many different purposes: to be a video security/surveillance system, check on things at a business or home, or whatever else you can think of doing. Check out the stuff posted on You Tube. People actually caught people robbing their business.

This is what I like about this product:

1. Setup was a breeze

2. Only one wire to plug it into an outlet for power.

3. I can move the cameras around as needed. For example, some days I put it in my garage to watch the dogs while I'm gone. On other days, I have the camera sitting on the dresser in the babies room.

4. They are linked to your internet wirelessly

5. The website and camera functions are very easy to use

6. The image quality is great and the night vision works awesome.

7. I can share my camera with my family anywhere so that they can see whats going on. (Even my Brother-In-Law in the Army)

8. The range of my camera seemed just as good or better than my wireless home phone.

9. Works great with my iPhone to check in via the web.

10. The Yoics software program is very easy to use and easy to see other family members camera on a secure network. ( Many additional features also for remote desktop applications)

11. Directly posts videos to You Tube

12. Email alerts, motion detection, scheduled recording times, etc.

13. 270 degree turning radius with full tilt

14. Audioso you can remotely hear what's going on

15. Remote viewing,sharing, and controlling

This is what I wish the product would do better:

1. Provide me with an iPhone app soon so that I can quickly check-in with one push of a button

2. Have a way for me to zoom into an area to get more clarity.

3. Have a battery back-up

Overall, I think the product is excellent for people that want to see what's going on in places when they are not there and they are not tech savy enough to hook up more difficult systems. I would recommend this for anyone and plan on buying more cameras in the future.

Pros:

Initial setup very easy.

Able to view easily from the web on computer or iPhone.

Email alerts for motion detection works great.

Video capture works well and will automatically upload to You Tube.

Works well on wireless.

Came with a 2GB SD Card (maybe only for Costco purchases).

Night time pictures are decent, better than expected.

Cons:

Initialy could not view from the Mac or PC. See FAQ:

Software on the CD is worthless. Mac version did not work, didn't bother with the PC version. Recommend ignoring the CD.

Software downloaded from for the Mac worked once, then after would never load. Ended up removing it. Recommend ignoring this software as well.

No ability to delete images or videos stored on the SD Card from the camera. You need to remove the SD Card and delete the files from a computer.

When trying to watch a video stored on the SD card, it may crash the browser. You need to save it to your computer first then play the file.

==============================================================

For those interested here's my setup guide:

Mole Camera Setup:

Get started:

-Plug in LAN cable.

-Plug in power.

Register Your Camera:

-Go to:

-Create a new account, it will detect your camera and bring up your camera's home page.

-Note: If Yoics' site is down (unlikely), you can go directy to your camera's home page by typing in the IP address, e.g. 192.168.0.111

Update browser:

-At this point your camera is running, but you may not see a picture.

-Reason is that you need to install an ActiveX Plug-in and/or QuickTime.

-Instructions:

Setup Wireless:

-Attach WiFi antenna.

-From your camera's web site, click the [Advanced] --> [Network] tabs.

-Click the [Search] button and select your router.

-Enter in the security settings for your router.

-Unplug the power to your camera, unplug your LAN cable, plug the power back in. This will reset the camera so that it will now start using WiFi.

Setup Alerts and Remote Storage:

Setup email notification:

-From your camera's web site, click the [Advanced] --> [e-mail] tabs.

-For this you need to have an email account with SMTP. This is so that the camera can send the alert using this email account.

-Enter the your email account settings.

-Typical email settings:

Setup Alarm:

-From your camera's web site, click the [Advanced] --> [Alarm] tabs.

-Check "E-mail Alarm".

-Check "Send with Picture".

-Check "Save Picture on the SD card".

-Check `Save Video on the SD card". Must have this checked to upload to a remote storage.

Setup Remote Storage for Video (optional):

-Create a YouTube or Twitter account. This is if you want to upload your videos on the web so you can view them easier.

-You can make these uploads private so that no one else can view them.

-From your camera's web site, click the [Advanced] --> [Remote Storage] tabs.

-Enter your YouTube and/or Twitter account settings. Select "Private Youtube Upload" if you want to.

-Note: You need to have selected "Save Video on the SD card".

Setup Motion Detection and Schedule:

Setup Motion Detection:

-From your camera's web site, click the [Advanced] --> [Motion detection] tabs.

-Select the areas where you want the camera to detect motion. I just used one window and expanded it to the full screen.

-Select the sensitivity for each window. I set mine to 26. At 45 I was getting too many alerts.

Setup Schedule:

-This is when you want the camera's motion detection to be running. Generally you want to schedule it when you're not home.

-From your camera's web site, click the [Advanced] --> [Schedule] tabs.

-Set the days and times.

Setup Auto Capture (optional):

-This is if you want to pictures to be taken at regular intervals.

-I didn't bother with this.

-From your camera's web site, click the [Advanced] --> [Remote Storage] tabs.

Setup Camera as Virtual Web Server (Optional):

Normally you should be able to access the camera from

However, if you want to remove any dependency on Yoics' server, then you can setup your router to operate the camera as a virtual web server. I did it mainly for fun.

Setup User Access:

-Out of the box, camera authentication is not active, which is ok if you're going to access via Yoics' site. But if you want to access your camera directly then you'll want to enable authentication.

-From your camera's web site, click the [Advanced] --> [User] tabs.

-Check "Enable".

-Enter passwords for Admin, User and Guest.

Find out your camera's IP Address:

-From your camera's web site, click the [System] --> [Device Information] tabs.

-Note the IP Address.

-The default port is 80. Unless you changed it at [Advanced] --> [Network].

Log in to your router's home page:

-Typically:

-Find out what your router's public WAN IP Address is. Finding this information depends on the router, e.g. 111.222.333.444

-Go to the virtual server settings.

-Select the public port you want to use. e.g. 6000.

-Enter the camera's IP Address and port. e.g. 192.168.0.111 port: 80

-Save the settings and you can now access your camera using your IP Address and port. In this example it would be:

Buy Astak Pan/Tilt Night Vision IP Network Camera (Black) Now

I recently purchased this from Costco. I was looking for a wireless IP Camera to use as a baby monitor that could pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) and that I could view it from my computer or Android phone . This camera seemed to fit the bill. Setup was pretty easy and I can barely use Excel; I was able to connect it to my router via wifi fairly easily and could view it on my computer and my phone over the network by typing in the camera's assigned router IP address. While it says it supports all browsers, it works best with Internet Explorer. Unless I'm missing something, I could only get sound when using H.264 streaming using Chrome and Firefox. JPEG streaming would only produce a picture and no sound. I prefer using IE anyway, so it's no biggie to me, but might be to others. Also, there is virtually no delay with PTZ when using IE, but a slight delay with other browsers. PTZ was more delayed and the video choppy when using my Android phone. And since Android does not have a Quicktime plugin for their browser, I didn't have sound. They also have instructions on how to view the camera through dyndns.org if you were away from home without going through their Yoics website. This was the hardest part for me because I didn't know how to open a port on my router. Once I figured that out, it was easy. They say it's less safe, but someone would have to know your IP address and know which one of the 65,000 ports the camera was on. If you are paranoid about someone accessing your camera, you can always set up a security password in order to view the camera. I actually prefer going through dyndns as it's less choppy and it's free. I would recommend not going through their Yoics setup as it's not necessary and is only there so they can get you to sign up for their premium service. The night vision is good, although the edges of the video are a little dark. Motion detection is great; you can set up 4 zones and choose how big each zone is and how sensitive the detection is. Email notification setup was easy and pictures were sent quickly and came in pretty clear. I haven't tried the built-in DVR yet.

Now for the things I don't like about this camera. As I mentioned earlier, I can't get sound when I use my phone's browser, but that's not a big deal. What I really wish you could do with this camera is turn off all the LEDs. Unless you cover up the LEDs, the camera isn't incognito at night. Sometimes our baby wakes up in the middle of the night and stares directly at the camera. Also, the IR lights around the camera used for night vision have a red glow and click when turning on and off; it would have been nice if they did not light up like our Summer Infant baby monitor camera and was quiet. It also gets a little warm to the touch. I would give this camera a 3.5 star if I could, but since I can't, I rounded up. I'm on the fence about returning this camera, but I have not found another one that is wireless and has all these features for about the same price. Turning off the LED lights and having a no-glow infrared would make this 5 stars.

Read Best Reviews of Astak Pan/Tilt Night Vision IP Network Camera (Black) Here

I just read a news about a guy called police after he got the self phone email alarm from his camera. I think this is exactly what I need for my second house. I started to search on the web for suitable products and the astak camera came out. I bought it, spent about 15 minutes to setup and now it is working like a charm. I got a whole bunch of emails in the first day because I set the sensitivity too high. Now it is working perfectly along with the youtube upload. Great product!"

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This camera delivered as promised with sheer ease of setup. There are cheaper wireless IP cameras out there but guaranteed they can be very frustrating in the setup process. I tried couple of other brands but they all require that you have technical knowledge about network protocol, port forwarding, dynamic DNS, etc. By comparison, the Mole's instruction was easy, non-technical and I was viewing the camera within a few minutes. Works well with the iPhone so that I can view the camera from anywhere.

Prompt tech suport is another plus. Many reviews of products neglect to examine and report on a company's tech support. What takes companies like Apple from good to great is their outstanding tech support.

There are a lot of extra bells and whistles with this camera (video recording, motion activated capture, email alerts when motion is detected, etc.). Since I use this camera as a "granny cam" I haven't had the need for the extras but it's good to know they're there should I need it in the future.

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Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Kata KT VA-801-13 CRC-13 DV/HDV Rain Cover

Kata KT VA-801-13 CRC-13 DV/HDV Rain CoverThis cover is a bit of a tight fit over the camera compared to the last one. It does not open with a velcro closure at the top as well as the bottom like my last one, which makes installing the mini dvs a bit more difficult, but do-able. There are advantages to not having it open at the top, too--less of what you're trying to keep out of there gets in.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Sony DCR-PC55 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom (White)

Sony DCR-PC55 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical ZoomIf you're looking for a camcorder that can produce vivid colors and crystal clear picture, stop reading this review now. This camcorder is not for you.

If you can live with a medicore picture quality, but have the ability to virtually pocket a camcorder anywhere you go, read on.

The Styling:

No doubt, this camcorder exudes sex. Glossy finish with chrome accents. Bling! The styling is very appealing and will demand attention. The physical size is so small, it can be pocketed in a pair of jeans. However, the dimunitive size is also its disadvantage. Stabilizing the camcorder with one hand was a challenge due to it being so light and small. The physcial shape of the camcorder was very awkward to hold. Many times, the index finger would partially cover the lens during taping. It was just natural for the index finger to overlay on top of the lens. The zoom button is positioned for a thumb activation. However, when the thumb is re-positioned to employ the zoom button, the grip on the camcorder is compromised. The user will feel like the camera will drop from their hands when using the zoom button.

The Picture:

Outside daylight recording is acceptable. Color re-production is decent. There were still some slight noise in the image. However, there was an un-acceptable amount of purple fringing. This can be seen when recording a dark subject against a bright background. For example, point up at tree branches against a cloudy grey sky. The edges of the branch glows purple.

Indoor recording with common household lamps was littered with noise and poor contrast. The overall picture was very grainy. There were no details in black objects. For example, a black leather chair just shows up as a black object with no other details such as wrinkles or texture.

The Audio:

Audio recorded in 16 bit sounded very good. Voices were clear and with faithful reproduction. However, at times, the microphone was able to pick up the actual tape winding mechanism of the camcorder. It was a constant high pitch whine that can be heard during playback. This is most likely due to the fact that the camcorder is so small that the distance between the microphone and the tape motors are minimized. The same condition was exhibited during the usage of the zoom button. Loud clicks can be heard during playback as the zoom button snaps back.

Conclusion:

This is definitley a case study of Quantity vs. Quality. There is a price to pay for ultra portability. In my opinion, the size of this camcorder has reached the point of diminishing returns. In other words, the camera is too small to be ergonimically correct. The size also compromised the audio and video performance. Buy it to impress your friends......just don't let them watch the final result.

The Sony DCR-PC55 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom is aboslute one of the best MiniDV Camcorders on the market. Even at its original retail price, Sony has packed so much technology into that sleek design that it's truly an amazing gadget. Another feature that I totally loved about this Handycam was that the instructions for use were made clear and operating the camcorder is almost as simple as taking photographs. And you don't at all have to worry about being a professional-the Sony DCR-PC55 MiniDV Camcorders computer will help you out. I tend to have a small shake in my hand when I am holding an object for an extended period of time. After I took my first videos, I assumed that when I played it back I would notice the small movment. To my total surprise, this amazing Handycam with 10x Optical Zoom knew that my hand was shaking and immediately compensated for it. To me, that was a feature that was worth a great deal of money in itself.

There are plenty of great features, more than you'll ever need-but everything you need just in case you want it. My neigbor borrowed it on a trip to Hawaii and apologized over and over as they had left it on a patio and it was exposed to about 30 minutes of light rain. They were ready to buy me a new one and I told them the only change in the camera was that it looked at little cleaner! It's not intended to be placed in water, however I discovered (after researching it on the Sony website) that the body of this small but mighty camcorder is sealed in a manner that keeps it somewhat resistant to the elements.

I did a great deal of research and many comparisons. I spent time online and then went to 2 different electronics stores where I could hold and visualize the camera. I fell in love with the compact design and how comfortable it felt in my hand. Since I did plenty of research, all I had to do was wait for a sale and immediately I made the purchase. When I opened the box I had everything I needed to start shooting photograhs, just after I ready the easy instructions for use. They even provide additional support online that answers questions that might not be addressed in the booklet that is included. Sony stands behind this product and has a toll free customer service number if you have any questions or need support that you couldn't find online. They offer a great warranty and my research on returns is basically that there are not that many.

I hope that this review was somewhat helpful. As I mentioned, there is a ton of great information that you can review. When I'm buying something I always appreciate the opinions of others who have actually purchased the products. Typically, I do my own research and THEN I like to read a review that reminds me that I am making a great purchased. Again, I hope this was helpful at least in part!

Peter Cannice

Scottsdale, Arizona

Buy Sony DCR-PC55 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom (White) Now

Pros: Compact, lightweight, portability, easy to use, big screen, good reproduction

Cons: Microphone sensitive to wind, getting used to not having a viewfinder, bad low light performance.

Summary: I picked this camera as an upgrade for my old Canon ZR10. The first reason I chose it was the small size and portability. With a good light conditions, this little beast do its best shots, but in low light conditions this camera disapointed me (specially compared with mi old ZR10). Please don't buy it if you have plans to use it for stills shots because it has a low resolution.

The included handycam station have all the ports (Firewire, USB, power, video) you need to conect it.

The big touch screen is a must, because the screen is the only way to access the camera controls (besides some of them in the edge of the screen).

You can have a camera with more characteristics and better image quality for the same price, but if your concern is the size and portability this will be your best choice in the world of the mini DV format.

Read Best Reviews of Sony DCR-PC55 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom (White) Here

When you buy a product that is designed and meant to fulfill certain needs, just expect the best performance out of those features.

The PC55 is a camera for the everyday home shooter, easy to use and made with the best SONY quality for one of the smallest MINI DV camera ever created.

If you are thinking about buying this camera don't hesitate one minute, this camcorder is one of the kind, it gives you pretty much the flexibility and video quality of a regular camcorder but with the amazing bring-it-in-the-pocket size and all the coolness and attention that it brings along (let it be your best Ice breaker, believe me it works like heaven!). I work for a camera store and let me tell you: we haven't received one return of this model during the time I've worked there (8 months), which proves the high quality SONY has built into this model. I have been using mine for a few months now and all I can say is that "the product is great... period!".

Let's get real, the 500 bucks you are paying for it is not for the film quality kind of movie you get in the picture (for that you need to spend at least a couple of thousand dollars) but the portability and worriless of no need of the big luggage a camcorder used to be in the past" (some times people don't realize a motorcycle couldn't be compared with a truck or vise versa).

About the picture shooting option, well let's see! A camcorder is for videos and a digital camera is for photos, if you want to have them both in one package, that brings excellent quality, you'd have to spend a lot of more money than if you bought them separately, let me explain you in a few words, the average photo quality for a MINI DV camcorder is 1.3mp or lower (the same quality you get out of your cell phone camera) to be honest with you, the manufacturers add this option just to give it an extra feature and at the same time take more money out of your pocket, with tape less digital cameras it happens the same way, the video and sound quality are very poor; so why bother paying more for a camera with both functions being excellent (there are quite a few out in the market now, starting around $1200 for models of similar size) instead buy two little cameras, one for each use, for half of the price.

If you are looking for a cool, high quality & durability MINI DV camcorder with the smallest size available in its kind, The SONY DCR-PC55 is your BEST option.

To finish, I just want to wish you all enjoy, more than the product, the unmemorable moments you will live with your loved ones because of this little fellow.

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I've had this camcorder for a week now and I think it works great .. except for the touch screen feature. That takes a little getting used to .. especially when accessing the special features (such as fader effects) while filming.

The digital still quality is poor when recording directly to the memory stick .. but the same images taken as a still from prerecorded tape is much clearer.

All in all it is a good product .. just takes some getting used to.

Monday, March 24, 2014

TRENDnet TV-IP110WN SecurView Wireless Internet Surveillance Camera

TRENDnet TV-IP110WN SecurView Wireless Internet Surveillance CameraI bought this as an intro to cameras. The device was on special and I figured it would help get my feet wet. I have been a geek for over 30 years and I met my match with this one. One needs to be a geeks geek to follow the set up instructions especially the ones to provide remote access and setting up the motion detection fields. As a camera it works just fine but I would never ever recommend this to anyone I know as I do not know anyone who could actually get it set up. This device will not even store the date settings when unplugged for a few minutes. Sorry Trend Net but get your instructions written MUCH more clearly and and I think you would have a decent product.

--October 2011 update- OK to be fair to this product now that I have the hang of it I have to say it is working as advertized and I can view the image from anywhere in the world with a click of the button. Yes it took a while but with a little research on the internet the pieces kind of came together. Don't give up. Would I buy another one. Yes but I would opt for the night vision option as well. Night vision is kind of important in a surveillance cam. Good luck

I had hell to try to work this using my Mac. i even used an XP netbook to config with failure..

Then, 6 months after i purchased it, I got it working using Mac..

Here is how..

1. I connected it to Airport Extreme route via Ethernet cable (alternatively, you can connect it to your provider router)

2. Since the reserved IP was no longer valid, I logged into my Action tech router given to me by Verizon FIOS service

3. I identified the device from Actiontech network menu based on the MAC address (the device MAC address is printed at the back of the camera). based on the MAC address, i identified the new IP address

4. Once identified the IP address, copied it into browser (Firefox in my case)

5. Voila...user name and password..admin..admin..in both cases..make sure you change the password later

6. now I am in camera configuration, i was asked to use the user name and password by Java again for some reason, no problem, retyped it both

7. now it is time to config your camera, change camera name etc...most importantly, see if it is working..it should give you a nice live image now..

8. then ensure that from network-->wireless, you configure it for your WiFi network, you should let it scan for the network from the menu and see your wireless network

9. click on the WiFi network find

10. select security setting now.. make sure select the right wireless security your WiFi router uses, and correct password

11. now, we know that t=camera works while connected to router via Ethernet cable.. but you want to use it wireless right?..

12. to do that, first unplug the Ethernet cable, then unplug the power for the camera

13. no need to hurry and move the camera away, test it in the same place just in case you need to plug back if wireless connection fails

14. now, connect the camera to power, after few minutes it should connect to your WiFi and green light needs to start blinking, if not, Houston, we have a problem...

15. lets hope that green light started blinking, now log back into camera with the IP and see if you see video

16. if everything is done right, you were able to configure WiFi connection from camera setting earlier, you should be bake to see something if so, skip the next bullet

If wireless connectivity fails I suggest you reset camera settings and start over..I tried to restart without resetting, but failed, reset deletes all previous configurations and takes you to back to a clean start..i know hassle but better to start from scratch.. the way to reset is to push a pin into a small hole on the rear of the camera for 6 seconds and let is go while camera is powered.

17. Hoping that now your WiFi connection is working.. means you are good to go.. just unplug the camera and install it anywhere..

18. But here is the issue, your camera is configured to be access within your WiFi network. Don't you want to use it on 3G network or away from home?

19. If so, you need to get another IP address.

20. Verizon Actiontech router handles it for me. It has a setup remote access function listed next to the camera in network lists of all connected devices.it will give you an external IP address. This number contains the following:a. b. your FiOS gateway's Internet IP Address, c. :, d. port number(s) of your web camera

21. -read the IP address to use it from outside..write it down..you will need it..I will tell you when below..

22. Accessing via iPhone and iPad over WiFi or 3G:

23. Now all is good to go, if you have iPad and iPhone, download LiveCamsPro app

24. Select security camera option

25. go to add camera

26. Select the camera model from the initial list, make sure you select the right one for this camera

27. In setting menu enter IP address, give a name to your camera (e.g. Home camera 1), username, password from original camera setting (I hope you changed default password), I chose refresh rate as 1..

28. Now, you should be bale to access your camera on 3G network while away from home.

REMEMBER: Due to lack of ActiveX, certain camera functions from IP access via browser will not be available when using Mac and non IE browser..

Anyhow, I know this is a way too long review, but the goal is to help Mac users out there..

If you have issues and cannot resolve after few resets, just add comment to this review, I will try my best to help.

Good luck !

Buy TRENDnet TV-IP110WN SecurView Wireless Internet Surveillance Camera Now

I got this one for 59.99 20 rebate. took about 20 to 30 minutes to set up.

it does what if says.

The reason for 4 star is after I did a port forwarding, when I try to access it from internet, somehow the active x gives me a blank view. but when I access it within home network, it does work fine.

The motion detector does send a bunch of emails with attached picture to me when a motion is detected. so this part is working fine.

overall, for 40 bucks, this is pretty much the best you can get.

Update: the internet access works fine, turns out my company blocked the active x.

for 40 bucks, I am willing to give a 5 star to this product.

Read Best Reviews of TRENDnet TV-IP110WN SecurView Wireless Internet Surveillance Camera Here

We've tried various different cameras and have found the Trendnet products to have a consistent quality level and user-experience. Although not perfect in terms of setup, they are pretty good and the feature set does everything we need.

Our main usage is to set each camera to upload an image every minute with an overlay of location and time. This is a great way to monitor activity over extended periods of time. The secondary usage is for live viewing to check on things when needed.

I would say that the additional provided software for viewing the cameras is of limited value but these cameras are flexible enough to do most of the things you need if you are okay writing a bit of HTML and JavaScript. And they work great with iPhone/iPad apps like LiveCams.

Overall I've been very impressed with reliability, having 5 of these (the earlier model) running for 18 months pretty much untouched uploading millions of images to my external website.

Not for everyone probably, but if you want a solid dependable camera, with a good feature set, then this is worth buying.

Want TRENDnet TV-IP110WN SecurView Wireless Internet Surveillance Camera Discount?

I tried to set up this camera following the directions precisely. However, the actual setup doesn't proceed the way the documentation says it does. Then I clicked the button to set up the wireless network and the screen disappeared, and from that point the button disappeared and there was no way to get back to the wireless setup. Even resetting the camera and the laptop didn't change that. The instructions claim the camera is pre-set to DHCP, when in fact the opposite is true it is preset to a static IP address, and you have to make some setting changes just to get it to where the instructions claim should be the factory pre-sets. I am a pretty technical person, but this thing seems almost impossible to set up and I'm now at an impass the setup process doesn't even offer me the ability to re-try setting up wireless and apparently there is no way to get back to that screen. As far as I'm concerned, this is a poorly-designed, horribly documented and unpredictable piece of junk.

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Sunday, February 16, 2014

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V 18.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Camera with 20x Optical Zoom and 3.0-inch LC

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V 18.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Camera with 20x Optical Zoom and 3.0-inch LCDI have had many digital cameras over the years both point and shoot and DSLR. Mostly from the names you would expect: Nikon, Canon, Pentax, and Olympus. I hadn't frankly ever thought of Sony for a camera although I have had Sony camcorders that were very good. I have quite enjoyed using the DSC-HX30V as it has provided vibrant photos in a variety of settings. The 30V really shines in the automatic settings. Although you can set shutter speed and aperture, the 30V was intended to be a high-quality point and shoot that uses the built in powerful software to produce good, well-balanced and saturated shots both indoors and out.

There are two automated modes: superior auto and intelligent auto. Superior auto gives you the fewest options. There was a learning curve to what is available with each type of shooting. The best thing to do is press the menu button. Depending upon the shooting mode more or fewer options show up both in the menu and for options chosen by the 4 way wheel button. For instance I was interested in trying out the burst continuous photo option. That is not available in the superior auto. But it is available under intelligent auto. The smile detect which does actually work (pretty cool you can focus on a subject and the camera will just wait till it detects a smile then fire a shot) was available in intelligent auto not superior auto. Another example: you can't select an ISO until you are either in program auto or manual exposure shooting modes.There is a built in product manual where you can search by keywords and subjects. This is handy but it was only by trial and error that I found what features were available in which modes. The written manual (fairly sparse overall) and the on-camera version don't list which modes which features work in.

Wifi: Obviously Wifi use with this camera is going to be something many people are interested in. I know I was. So far it has been a mixed bag. Wifi to the computer has worked very well. It located my computer and then I had to one time connect to the access point (my Wifi router) and put in the network password. Decent speed in downloads and it will download pictures and video. Downloading to a smartphone. I was very interested to use this feature as you could be out and about say at a child's ballgame and take a great action photo zoomed in way more than a smartphone could and want to share it. I have an iPhone. You need to download the app Playmemories mobile. There is another app Playmemories online but you want the mobile one for sharing with your smartphone. The camera sets up its own network with password. Connect to that network in settings (with an iPhone) and then fairly quickly start the app. Although I get an error message every time that says cannot connect to device it has reliably been connecting and then allowing me to copy photos to my iPhone photo folder. What I have not got to work is video. There are 4 video resolutions and I tried them all. On both the iPhone and iPad. It simply will not download video onto the phone. I am sure Sony is working on this and I expect it to get fixed. It is a nice feature to get to download the photos at least onto a smartphone when out and about.

There is so much else going on with the 30V I am going to summarize the pros and cons below.

Pros:

Extremely fast shooting. I have the Nikon P7000 which I really like but the 30V rivals a DSLR with how fast it shoots when you press the shutter button, especially in Superior auto. You are much less likely to miss a shot.

Very nice, well balanced and nicely color saturated shots in the auto modes. I like my DSLR but with a soon to be 2 year old I have daddy duty when out and about. It is often just too much work to be part of the families day AND have a DSLR and have to change lenses.

Zoom. I love having a 20X optical zoom. It also has a very good digital zoom. I went all the way to 4OX and shot a small wren or warbler across our backyard. There was still a good amount of light in the photo and you could pick out the individual feathers and veins in the leaves. So I would say yes Sony did make a very good digital zoom once you go past 20X.

Size. I held it against an iPhone 4. It is about a quarter of an inch less in length and around the same in width. Much thicker though. Still very impressive.

Video. The great thing about digital cameras nowadays is their ability to act as video cameras as well. I have gotten good video indoor and out with extremely smooth zooming (very impressed with zooming while shooting video) and good audio. Just be aware AVCHD is not the best format for social media sharing or even burning onto DVDs. The two 1080p modes warn you that you need a Blu-ray burner to create a disc. So I have been shooting in 1080i mode. It is still very good. I also have software that allows me to change the AVCHD to a variety of other media formats.

Good interface. A lot of information is presented to you and changing settings is very simple once you play around with the camera for a bit. You get a variety of options for deleting photos for instance. Delete one, delete a range, delete by day. The interface was well thought out and the playback and screen quality is very good and I haven't even used the highest screen resolution.

Decent software. Not the most powerful software but I LOVE that playmemories home allows you to view all of your photos in a calendar format. It is fantastic to be able to go by year or month and see the photos displayed on the day they were taken. And the software quickly found all my photos going back years and added them to the calendar listing. Small amount of editing features but all the basics are included.

Cons:

Battery is so-so. Just a decent battery. You might want to invest in a spare.

Video: Overall this is a pro but right now at least for me I can't get video to share to a smartphone or tablet with playmemories mobile. Also I am not a huge fan of AVCHD for sharing or burning discs. But there are work arounds for this.

No shoulder strap option. For cameras that are also going to be used for video, there should be a shoulder strap option. There is just a wrist option.

The 30V does not shoot in RAW but there are an impressive variety of options for DSLR enthusiasts and people who like to expriment with their photography. The 30v is intended to be an advanced point and shoot not DSLR like. That being said it shoots fast which is the one best DSLR feature (aside from a big sensor) I would want in a point and shoot. And the sensor is pretty impressive. I have not noticed a lot of noise indoors and I get around 7.5 MEG photos in the highest quality setting. One thing to note is that you change EV setting easily in ALL modes including Superior auto. And for the DSLR users thinking of a point and shoot Program auto mode gives you a lot to play with including changing metering, changing focus points, changing white balance, ISO control, color saturation level, and contrast control.

Overall the 30V is an impressive technological package. It continues to surprise me. For instance I was shooting video and focusing on my daughter and up on the screen it started flashing infant. It knew I was shooting an infant. In the auto modes it identifies the best scene very well. I have taken many great shots in the auto modes and I suspect most people will use these modes the most: the 30V does not disappoint here. I love my DSLR but I frankly use point and shoots more. I know many people don't but I like having a 500mm lens in my pocket and a good video camera to boot. What has really impressed me is how fast you get a shot. This was the missing link for me to really enjoy a point and shoot. Sony did a great job here and I am not missing shots anymore. Even though this is a long review there are many features I left out. Sony/Amazon did a good job though explaining them. From a user perspective this is an enjoyable camera producing well-balanced, well-lit, crisp photos and good video. Add the speed of shooting and I highly recommend the 30V.

Update August 23, 2012. The camera continues to operate great. But I wanted to update that I have taken video in many more lighting situations than before. The video is VERY impressive. Crystal clear and fantastic colors outdoors and also very well balanced colors and impressive quality indoors. In fact it is better than any stand alone video camera I have used previously. I shoot video in what Sony calls FH mode. It is 1920 by 1080 at 60i. It is the 3rd out of 4 video quality options and still quite good. Outdoor video played on my TV looks like an HD TV broadcast. And, the HX30V produces the best indoor video quality of any video camera I have used.

I received the new Sony DSC-HX30V/B yesterday from Amazon. Like the Wifi module built into the camera. Tested sending pictures to my Galaxy Nexus and it worked great! I had the HX9V. The HX30V/B is faster and more responsive. New picture effects are ok, not great. Video looks amazing; better than the HX9V. Very disappointed that it did not include the wireless battery charger. As I write this post, it is still listed in the specs on Amazon's website. Deal breaker? no. But do not like being mislead either. Is it worth the extra $20 (compared to HX20V) for the Wifi? Yes.

Likes:

Movie button is easier to start (compared to HX9V) and not lag

When reviewing pictures, very responsive and populates the pictures quickly

Wifi built in with WiFi sharing (camera to phone, camera to tv, camera to computer)

Tog wheel is easier to turn (compared to HX9V)

Display screen is beautiful and crisp.

Improved focus speed and 20x optical magnification

GPS (works great with Google Earth/maps)

Video, for a point and shoot camera, is awesome! Looks great on HDTV.

Stereo microphones seem improved over HX9V

Not a fan of:

misleading advertising concerning "Wireless battery charging is available with the included multi-station dock"

added picture effects could be better. You can alter them on the computer for the same effect. Would like to see miniature mode for making movies.

Great camera! Lots of features! Amazing picture quality in image and movie mode. If you need a new camera, buy this camera. If you want to save a few bucks, get the Sony HX20V. Same camera without the Wifi.

Peace and much love,

Rob Blackthorn

Buy Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V 18.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Camera with 20x Optical Zoom and 3.0-inch LC Now

I loved my DSC-HX9v so much that its still in the family, just couldn't bring it to my heart to sell such a great camera; and believe it or not the DSC-HX30v is better!

First thing I liked about the 30v vs the 9v is the buttons on the 30v are bigger and easier to use (dummy proofing of the camera).

I haven't tested the video out enough (review shall be updated accordingly) but it does look nice! and I believe the steady shot is a bit smoother. There is no lag when pressing the record button like the 9v. You can now also take 13 megapixel pictures while recording video without interrupting the recording (This doesn't seem to work with 60P but only 60i).

Macro (Haven't played with enough, but this camera has better macro specs then the 9v).

Pictures are great (I'm no pro) but I have always loved how these cameras have the ability to take quick smooth shots (especially in superior+ mode).

20x optical is amazing, there is also the "clear image zoom" feature which provides further zoom as well as a digital zoom (I Personally have both non-optical zooms turned off).

Panoramas: everyone loves my panorama shots, they are further amazed when they realize its my little point and shoot that made it all happen.

Wifi: I have used the Wifi feature to share photos on my Android Photon 4g as well as my PC (Keep in mind you have to install the Sony Play Memory software on the device you are connecting to).

I was disappointed that there was no charging dock like advertised (I saw a review here that mentioned that but received a bunch of negative comments, I think its a legit gripe because I was disappointed when I opened my brand new camera box and found no dock).

Micro USB connection!!!! This camera was switched to a micro-usb wire for charging and sharing pictures which means I can now use the same micro-usb wire to charge my phone, mouse, headset and camera.

I also like the look of the 30v, it does not have that metal ring around the lens portion like the 9v so it looks much stealthier.

Battery feels like it lasts just about the same as my 9v.

GPS actually functions, my 9v's GPS just couldn't get it going on my trip to Hawaii. This GPS connects quicker.

Flash: what I like about the flash with the 30v is that it comes up flashes and goes back down instantly unlike the 9v which had the flash pop up and stay lingering for a while. (Low light performance is so good that using the flash usually makes the pics worse I noticed)

The Camera itself just feels like its more responsive and quicker to the punch then the the 9v.

Read Best Reviews of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V 18.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Camera with 20x Optical Zoom and 3.0-inch LC Here

I wanted to write this review for all those angst ridden camera buyers out there. I was one of you until very recently when I finally pulled the trigger on this camera. This is more about the use of the camera than the camera itself.

Here's my situation which from what I've read, many are in similar circumstances so I hope this helps you.

1. I normally shoot a Nikon DSLR, carry a dedicated sling style bag loaded with a flash unit and a second zoom. This backpack would also include a few accessories such as cleaning supplies, chargers, wires, a point and shoot camera, a camcorder plus extra disks, plus other "stuff". This bag weighs in at a good 15-20 lbs. I got the sling style back so i can access and shoot faster than a normal backpack.

2. Enter 2 little kids a 6 year daughter and a 2 year old son. My daughter was very good at sitting still or waiting around while I messed with the camera, the bag, and the gear. My son is a completely different story, he needs constant management and supervision to keep him safe.

3. Managing the camera, bag my kids and a now mad wife at the same time became almost impossible. I simply could not be fiddling with the bag and watch my son who would tear off in any direction without either waling away from the bag, running after him with the bag open, or leaving it to my wife all the time. The situation got to be unworkable. The bag was also too heavy and cumbersome when I had to pick up my son which I often do since he's 2.

So I needed something small but good enough to give decent results.

1. I looked at Nikon, Canons G series, Panasonic Lumix, Fuji (which I loved).

2. I was looking for the following, lens quality, fast lens for Bokeh, largish zoom, image quality, portability, ease of use, wifi, and HD movies.

3. You guessed it folks no one camera does all of the above, so I narrowed the field to what I truly needed.

a. Minimal size but not so small I can't grip the thing. This ruled out the interchangeable lens micro 4/3 cameras. Really if I want to carry little lenses and have a protruding lens I'd just suck it up and carry the DSLR the difference to me was not great enough, if I was going small I wanted to go built in lens.

b. Very good picture quality but also HD video so I would not have to carry a separate camcorder.

c. A big enough zoom so I am not missing a ton of shots, especially since I am with kids and can't run over to everything to get my perfect shot.

d. Last, I wanted wifi so I can upload the photos on the run to a phone or laptop and not have to deal with wires and connections.

So I looked at quite a few very good cameras from the listed manufacturers above. I was really tempted by the Fuji X10. The controls, size, form factor was fantastic. Also most of the cameras had better sensors than the Sony. But the problem was they all had subpar video, non HD, and smallish zooms of 3-4ish times. Plus no wifi.

So the angst began, it came down to this one decision, do I want the better sensor and controls or do I want the better video, zoom, and wifi. Oh how I agonized!! I almost went for the FUJI X10, it is an AMAZING camera. But I had to think about how I will really use this camera. Am I making larger prints than 8x10? Do I have time to use all the manual controls with the kids near by? Am I happy with a small zoom? Do I have to wait until I get home to connect and upload the computer?

Well, I decided what I really wanted is a all in one camera that is easy to carry, has a big zoom, easy to use, has great video, and can upload to my phone. I sacrificed higher quality sensor, better controls, and a faster lens in order to get "everything" I wanted.

So here's the scoop on the Sony, I have had it for 3 weeks and went on one vacation with it.

1. You can not beat the portability. I bought the retro case that cradles the camera and the top half snaps off to shoot, so the camera is always somewhat protected even when shooting. This is great as it allows me to wear the camera and shoot with the case on. If I need to do something such as grab my son from the edge of a boat, I can do it and let the camera drop to my waist. I have no bag, no lens cap, no heavy SLR that becomes a flying weapon if i have to run.

2. This Sony has a few tricks up its sleeve. I don't have to sacrifice the nice Bokeh effect with a slower lens, it will take 2 pics and merge them into one, this allows a soft focus background.

3. This puppy has a 20x zoom and 40x digital. It's is simply amazing how far you can reach and it really does cover beyond what my multiple lens do for my DSLR. The lens is decent with little distortion for casual nor architectural shooting.

4. The video is fantastic, full HD with sterio sound. Camcorder eliminated. It does zoom and refocus while recording. Since i am not a heavy camcorder user this is enough to let me leave the camcorder at home.

5. Wifi, this version has wifi. It took a little fiddling to make it work with my Droid phone and I am still learning about how it works. But on my second day of using it on vacation i figured out how to quickly upload all the pics I want to the phone and then on the phone I can Facebook, Instagram, etc. There is some learning curve but the wait to connect at home issue is now eliminated. I don't need to carry a laptop with me and there's not even a wire needed to connect to the phone. The uploads however do not look as great as the originals on the camera, I'll have to play around a bit more with that.

6. Another trick is low light capture, the camera will fire a bunch of shots in succession in low light and merge it into a reasonable shot with out a tripod. Is it super sharp, no, it is it good enough for a 4x6 or even 8x10, probably. Best of all you eliminate the tripod and the flash for nice natural low light scenes.

7. Drawbacks? Still learning the camera, it has a lot to offer and no paper manual included. The quality is ok for the web and up to 8x10 but if you blow it up on the monitor it simply is not anywhere close to DSLR quality, but I knew that going in. Looks somewhat like water color effect when blown up. It might be the auto ISO kicking when, I have to figure out how to control that.

Conclusion, this IS the Swiss Army knife of cameras. High quality, has many many functions, great video, great little specialty settings. It is not a full size comparable, it does not have as many manual controls as the X10 or G12, however for my situation, purpose, and use it is nearly a perfect solution.

Have fun deciding!

Want Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V 18.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Camera with 20x Optical Zoom and 3.0-inch LC Discount?

Here's a short version of my review:

What I love most about this camera: the zoom, stabilizer, WIFI, grip, panorama, fast shutter

What I wasn't so excited about: The 18MP quality has a lot of detail loss.

Sony HX30v vs Canon S100

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Picture quality: S100 Winner (also shoots RAW)

Video: HX30v (Before, I wrote the S100 had a slight edge in detail, but HX30v is clearly the winner in video. Canon has this clicking focusing noise issue and exposure flicking problem when it's confused between adjusting to bright or dark scenes. Sony knows video. Most people will find it hard to believe a video shot with this camera came from a digital camera and not an actual video camera. HX30v wins in smoother frame rate as well: 60 vs 24 FPS)

Lens: S100 (Max F2.0 vs 3.2 Focal Length is roughly the same: S100 is 24mm / HX30V is 25mm)

Zoom: HX30v (20x vs 5x)

Macro: HX30v (1 cm vs 3 cm)

Body: S100 is slimmer and more compact; HX30v is better for bigger hands/better grip

HX30v motor mechanics are more silent than S100

If you want a serious compact camera, go with the Canon S100 (if you also don't mind 5x zoom, 24FPS video, and no WIFI)

If you want an all-around versatile packed camera, go with this HX30V, especially if you don't need to shoot in RAW or extremely picky about pixels, don't mind being a little bulky (S100 is slimmer), need lots of zoom, easy automatic modes it makes it an handy camera to carry.

Sony will be releasing a new camera called the DSC-RX100 (although pricey!), which will have a much bigger sensor for compact cameras, to compete against the S100 and micro-third cameras.

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I used to work in camera sales and have played with all the latest compact cameras from Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, Fuji, Olympus, and Pentax. The Sony HX series cameras (HX7V, HX9V, HX10V were the old models and now comes the HX20V and 30V) were one of the easiest cameras to sell because of the many features it includes that stand out compared to others. I've been a Canon guy, but Sony has really impressed me (especially with their NEX/Alpha series) and they definitely rank near the top.

First things first, A LOT of customers who aren't too familiar with cameras assume more mega pixels means better image quality. This is NOT true. Do not purchase a camera going by that rule. It's a great marketing tool, but get that out of your head! The mega pixels are simply the resolution, which can be good for printing large photos or cropping -HOWEVER, if the sensor isn't capable of even handling that large amount of pixels then it actually goes against you; it gets to the point where there is no detail and it just looks more like a smudged out mosaic painting. It's similar to a quality difference of an actual optical zoom to a digital zoom; digital zoom is worthless and you want the actual optics to be moving, to zoom, rather than the sensor digitally blowing up the picture. The sensor on the HX30's true EFFECTIVE resolution is more around 9MP and increased to 18MP, so the quality is lost. Cropping at 18MP will pretty much be useless in this case because you will see that the detail isn't there at all and it will look like a washed out painting.

The Canon's S100 has an effective 12MP sensor. If you are VERY picky about quality then you'll be happier going with the Canon S100 in terms of overall image quality (in terms of compact cameras, of course if you want the best quality image you'll have to get a DSLR, or an "EVIL" camera such as the Sony NEX 5N with APS-C sensor). The Canon S100 also has a wider aperture at F2.0 (the lower the number generally means it can take in more light) and the Sony HX30V's widest aperture is F3.2. At it's widest angle 25mm, you can only switch between 3.2 and jump to F8.0

The image quality comes down to the actual sensor and lens. With that in mind, a DSLR, which has a bigger sensor, that is a lower mega pixel will still have a much better image quality than a small compact point-and-shoot camera with a really high mega pixel.

Generally, Canon and Nikon are mainly known for cameras, but Sony has shown that they can compete with them as well, having years of experience in technology. (Sony actually supplies the sensor for Nikon for their DSLR!)

This camera is also very user-friendly with its built-in manual guide, the display showing what each mode does, as well as having two auto-modes; the intelligent auto mode is standard, but in Superior Auto mode, it will take several shots and combine them to create the best picture possible.

Pros:

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Fast shutter (if you've ever experienced slow shutter delay on lower-end cameras, well, you'll be happy how quickly this thing takes pictures and in continuous shooting mode, it can capture 10 pictures in one second -at full resolution) Sony has the fastest automatic-focusing as well.

20x optical zoom (it's more silent and faster than Canon S100's 5x zoom)

Excellent Stabilizer (zoomed in at 20x and it creates a nice gliding steadiness)

Full 1080p at 60FPS (Canon S100 only has 24FPS). However, you need a modern computer or PS3 to play this back. You can shoot in MP4 (youtube format) at 1080/30 frames and 720/VGA too. 1080p60 frames will be in AVCHD .MTS format. However, see Cons)

Panorama Again, Sony has the best built-in panorama feature where you easily sweep it across the direction that you want and it stitches it together for you to create a wide picture. Canon still doesn't have this feature and other brands like Fuji and Nikon's panorama assist is no comparison.

Very nice grip feels great in the hands (not like the puny "grip" on the Canon S100)

Dual recording (you can take still pictures while shooting video; however, not in the 1080-60p mode) But they will be in 2MP you actually don't need to take a picture while recording; you can always take a snapshot at any frame during playback of the video.

Manual focus area without having to re-compose the shot (however, the Canon S100 has much nicer manual options with its custom ring)

Wifi! you have to download Sony's PlayMemories app, but once that's done, it makes transferring photos to your phone easy! I thought the WIFI would be a gimmick but if you have a smartphone, it's really nice to be able to send it right away. With the 20x zoom, I can take far away pictures or nice panoramas and immediately send the picture to friends and they'll think it was all done with my camera phone!) However, the WIFI upload will compress the pictures to 2MP resolution!

Face Detect works really well and there is a also a self-timer to shoot 2 seconds after a one/two faces are detected; it can detect up to 8 faces to correctly focus/set correct exposure on them.

Digital leveler (so that you know your composition is perfectly horizontal and not tilted)

Good Macro

In playback video mode, I do like that you can use the wheel dial to fast forward/rewind frame by frame and fast forward up to 4x

With the Sony HX30V, in playback mode, you can zoom out 3 times; if you zoom out once, it'll display 4x4 rows of thumbnail pictures (16 pictures); zooming out again will display 5x5 (25 thumbnails); zooming out a third time will show a nice calendar display where you can easily select the date/album of the pictures.

With the Canon S100, playback will display 2x2 (4 thumbnails), 3x3 (9 thumbnails), 6x6 (36 thumbnails), 10x10 (100 thumbnails) and using the custom front ring allows one to jump between dates(but no calendar display like on the Sony)

The Canon is able to display the thumbnails much faster than the Sony.

Cons:

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18MP hurts the quality (the S100 has better detail)

Although 1080 resolution and smoother frame rates, the colors and detail seem rather faded compared to S100

Does not seem to have a trim/combine video editing feature in playback mode (you can with the S100)

No manual whatsoever for video recording (S100, you can lock the focus before recording)

No aperture/shutter priority manual control

No custom self-timer setting; max is 10 seconds or 2 seconds. it can take 1 picture after 10 or 2 seconds; or takes 10 continuous shots after 10 seconds (not for 2 seconds) and shoots 2 seconds after one or two faces are detected. (With the Canon S100, you can customize up to 30 seconds and up to 10 shots; so you can set it to, let's say, take 6 shots and set the timer to 5 seconds)

the "Custom Button" next to the dials can only be set for Exposure Value, ISO, White Balance, Metering Mode, Smile Shutter -but I would like to assign it for other options too like quickly changing the Focus Mode without going into the Menu.

105MB internal memory, but you cannot record video with it

You must remove the memory card to view what's on the internal memory.

the body and buttons feels a bit more plasticky and a bit cheaper than the previous model HX10/9V; this is also the similar with Canon's S100/S95. I guess they are trying to save costs/weigh less? The dial does feel cheaper than Canon S100's dial.

It comes with a USB-charger, so you still need to charge it through the camera as opposed to removing the battery it's a separate accessory you have to buy.

Some may find it to be a bit bulkier than most compact-cameras

the WIFI feature does not work for uploading videos

In burst shot mode, you're restricted to a maximum ISO800

When viewing photos, it does NOT allow to zoom in WHILE MAINTAINING PORTRAIT ORIENTATION! It ends up going back to landscape mode even if you're still holding the camera vertically (with the Canon, it will still be locked to the orientation you're viewing it as when you zoom)

Pressing the play button just to view photos will turn on the screen, but if you press the play button again hoping to turn off the screen, it would actually end up retracting the lens instead to start shooting; with the Canon, I can press the play button to view photos and then press the play button again to turn off the screen without the lens retracting out -minor annoyance. (you can also press the on/off button to turn off the

screen without the lens retracting in playback mode)

The side menu system could be designed/organized better for quicker navigation

Some might not be willing to spend this much money for a digital camera, but you really get what you pay for. If you need to shoot in RAW, then this camera might be deal breaker for you. If you don't need the high-zoom/panorama/1080 at 60frames and something a bit more compact, then I would definitely consider the Canon S100.

If you don't mind the size, I would also consider the Sony NEX-5N 16.1 MP Compact Interchangeable Lens Touchscreen Camera with 18-55mm Lens (Black).

The difference between the HX20V is simply the WIFI, so if you don't have a smartphone or don't need it then you can just get the HX20V.

Overall, the Sony HX30V is packed with many features: WIFI, high zoom, fast shutter/focusing, good grip, panorama, dual recording picture it makes it an all-around solid camera; however, it will not replace my Canon S100. Mainly the minus one-star for me is the image quality and manual controls compared to the S100. The Canon S100 and the Sony HX30V are both fantastic cameras in their own way. In the end, what is best will depend on YOUR needs.

I'll try to use this camera more and see if I would love it more than my Canon S100. I will be sure to update my review.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Canon EOS Rebel T4i 18.0 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 18-135mm EF-S IS STM Lens

Canon EOS Rebel T4i 18.0 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 18-135mm EF-S IS STM LensI had this long awesome review and Amazon lost it of course. So here goes a second try.

This is my second Canon camera. Previously I have owned Olympus and Minolta cameras. I owned a t2i before this and used a t3i for weeks for testing purposes. I will try to cover most aspects of the new features and image quality. For testing purposes I used a Canon 17-40L lens.

Look and Feel:

Not much to say here for the look of the camera. Looks almost the exact same as the t2i, t3i. The battery grip and accessories all fit the same. One thing that is different from the t2i is the proximity sensor. On the t2i it was below the optical viewfinder and above the screen. On the t4i it is above the optical viewfinder. I use an eyecup(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003Y06336)and it used to make the screen shut off on its own regularly on the t2i. This is a non issue for the t4i. There is also an added dedicated movie button in the power switch now.

Feel is a little different. The t4i feels more sturdy than the previous two rebels. The buttons are more solid and the selector wheels are improved. The adjustment wheel has better clicks and don't feel like you could easily flick it and change a setting by accident. The mode selector wheel is sturdier as well. I notice this because my t2i used to regularly switch to A-DEP mode when I would pull the camera out of my bag and I would get upset if I missed a quick shot because of it. I feel this will be a non issue with the new model. One issue I have is using my eyecup mentioned previously. The flippy screen catches on this and is just a slight annoyance but not a huge deal in the grand scheme. The rebel series always felt a bit small in the hand for me so I now use a battery grip which adds weight and substance to the camera.

Touchscreen:

When I saw rumors that the t4i would have a touchscreen I first said I wouldn't buy it. I figured this would be a gimmick and offer limited functionality. Then when i saw the press release and videos from Canon I changed my mind. I was sceptic of a couple things I will address here. I will start with the touch to adjust. Right now I feel kind of wonky using the touchscreen to make most adjustments to shooting in manual mode which is all i shoot in. But I consider this like moving from a blackberry to an iPhone. You are used to using buttons and the keyboard for so long you are lost on the touchscreen at first, but with time it ends up faster and easier. So in time it will end up faster for me to adjust by touch I am sure. It is in two spots already. ISO adjusting always seemed kind of odd to me on the rebel. The ISO button was placed so you had to kind of search for it and then do a three button combo to set it. On the touchscreen I find this easier. A couple taps and its done. The other major place it's easier for me is AEB. Bracketing on Canon is typically a pain. Hit menu, find the exposure selector, hit OK. Slide the wheel, hit OK again then press menu. On touchscreen you just press the exposure and tap a couple times to set the bracket.

Touch to focus was something that I didn't see coming from Canon. When they announced it my thought was it would be OK but nothing great. I figured it would be where you would touch on one of the 9 AF points you would like the camera to use. But thanks to the hybrid CMOS on the camera, it is truly a touch to focus. No matter where in the frame you press the camera will seek out and quickly focus on that area. This function works much better than I anticipated and I may use it in the future. At first I figured this would be a selling point for soccer moms but I was incorrect. I have not used the face detection follow focus to comment on it yet.

Image Quality:

This is the most important thing in the end when you buy any camera. How will my images look? The t4i does not disappoint. Thanks to improvements in the processor, focus, sensor and noise reduction software the t4i simply crushes the previous rebel cameras. We can start with the White balance. On the previous rebels and even the 60d, white balance was not so great. A yellow or tan-ish hue was almost always present and reds were soft. Canon has addressed this issue and images are clear and cary a nice contrast throughout the image. Auto focus I have touched on. Moving from 1 to 9 cross type AF points and a new added contrast detection sensor for AF makes a world of difference. Focus is fast and true and doesn't waste time seeking as much as before. In live view mode in low light, the digic4 and old sensors were pretty bad. A lot of seeking and misplaced focal areas. This is greatly improved with this model. Because of these reasons if you shoot in auto focus or any auto mode on the camera your images will turn out better.

Low Light/High ISO:

When the digic 5 was announced Canon touted this as being able to provide up to 75% better image quality over the digic 4. Of course I didn't buy into this because it's Canon and they were there to sell you. With the t4i Canon added the digic 5 as well as some new noise reduction software to boot. How did it make out? I tested these things against a Canon 60D. Same lens, same settings. In RAW at ISO 6400 the image quality looked at least twice as good over the 60D in terms of noise. At 12800 its laughable. That being said, on my t2i I would not use an image over ISO 1600 to print or display or sell. On the t4i I would gladly use ISO 3200 and at times 6400. Auto focus is so much improved at high ISO and low light that it's one of the first things you notice when comparing the camera to the 60D.

Battery life: Have not used it a full day to test yet. I imagine if you use full time AF it will go down slightly from the previous models.

Other Additions:

Scene Intelligent Auto....Used for one shot. Seemed to be OK but I am a manual shooter. I am sure this would work well for most beginners.

Handheld Night Scene....This takes 4 quick shots in a row and then in the camera combines them to reduce shake and noise. At 6400 ISO the image did result in less noise over standard shooting in RAW. This mode can only be done in JPG. I can see it being very good indoors at functions or for quick night shots outside.

HDR Backlight Control....This will do in camera HDR. It takes three shots of various exposure and combines them to improve highlight and shadow detail.This worked well and didn't produce too much noise in low light. It does not produce an image that people now days think of in HDR with blown out tones and surreal feeling to it. It is more traditional in where it just makes shadows appear less and corrects some blowing out by brighter lights in a frame. Works well for what its supposed to be. Also only available in JPG

Autofocus during video...Worked well and somewhat fast with my 17-40. Still allowed some noise from the lens searching for focus, but I wasn't using one of the STM lenses designed for this function.

EDIT: Since my initial review I have had a chance to test video with an STM lens and try out the face follow focus. The STM lens does improve focus speed quite a bit in video and is much quieter. There is still a little noise but may be something you don't notice depending on the scene you are shooting. Face follow focus works better than I thought it would. It can actually focus on an object as well as just faces. It follows through the frame very well and precise even in low light. It's nto super fast to focus but still works well.

PROS:

Outstanding Image Quality. Even at higher ISO

Touchscreen

Ease Of Use

5 Frames Per Second Shooting

Auto Focus

CONS:

Built in stereo mic is kind of pointless unless you use an STM lens. Maybe even then.

The bezel around the touchscreen is uneven, but that has nothing to do with function. It's just poor design.

Learning curve on the touchscreen

Feature guide...It makes touchscreen control unbearable. Just disable it as soon as you turn the camera on and save yourself the frustration of being told why you need to change ISO every time you touch the button for it.

FINAL WORD:

If you were holding back or looking for a reason to upgrade your digic 4 based camera this is the one you are looking for. Compared to the t2i/t3i/60D this camera will offer you better image quality, focus, low light performance and ease of use. Yes the 60D is an "upgrade" over the rebel line but as of now, you'd only gain size, weight and one stop of shutter speed over the t4i with the 60D. With the t4i you'd gain better images, video, high ISO performance, touchscreen, shutter lag and a few other things. This camera offers many new technologies and additions from Canon that aren't seen on any other camera in their line up. If you are a beginner or someone with a previous rebel looking for a nice camera you will find this camera to offer many things that you will enjoy in a first camera or an upgrade. This camera can make your photos better by taking the same photos as you would have with the previous models just with the improvements and that is what you should look for. The t3i was a small upgrade form the t2i and Canon has made up for it with this rebel.

If you do own or buy this camera join the flickr group we have made. It can be found at Flickr /groups/canont4i/

I've only had my T3i for about 8 months when this came out but I read the details and decided to pre-order. The new T4i just arrived today (body only) and I've been playing around with it all afternoon using my 50mm 1.4 lens.

All I can say so far is WOW I'm very impressed with the upgraded autofocus, the touchscreen, as well as the new focus selection methods. There is a LOT less delay when you move the camera and what you see on the screen in Live Mode. Live Mode is MUCH "snappier" feeling. When you turned on the T3i in Live Mode, it would have a little rectangle you could move around the screen to make sure the camera was focusing on what you wanted. But with the T4i, this system is much more versatile. You can tap the screen to instantly set a focus point, or you can move the little box around (which is much smaller and more precise now and it will also FOLLOW your focus point when you move the camera around!), or you can allow for a more "general focus" by getting rid of the little box and letting the camera choose how it wants to focus, similar to how it works when using only the viewfinder to take photos. When you do the "general focus", a bunch of little boxes appear on the screen letting you know exactly which parts of the photo are in sharp focus the T3i did not do this and only relied on the positioning of the focus box.

The continuous autofocus during video worked very well on my 50mm 1.4 lens sure, the focus motor was a little noisy, but if you're taking scenic shots or something where you'll be replacing the audio with music anyway, motor noise is a non-issue. If you're doing interviews where the person is talking into a lav mic, it still won't be an issue because the lav mic will be too far away to pick up the motor noise. Motor noise is only an issue if you're using the built in mic, which I would regard as an "emergency only" mic anyway.

So all this means that you do NOT need an STM lens to use continuous autofocus the main purpose of the STM technology as I understand it is to make autofocus FASTER and QUIET. Video autofocus with my 50mm 1.4 is what I would call "fast enough" meaning, it is a bit slow compared to a camcorder (and noticeable on-screen), but not so slow that it should distract my viewers from the content too much. The only time continuous autofocus won't serve you very well is in dark rooms where it can't lock on to anything very quickly. My 50mm 1.4 lens hunted for focus in very dark areas so in situations like that I would manual focus.

Video is excellent quality as always. If you're used to the T3i video, this is just as stellar and tends to make people and scenes look better than they do in real life (when using the 50mm 1.4 at least) They've moved the video mode to be part of the on/off switch instead of on the mode dial which is where it was on the T3i. This allows you to pick a mode on the dial and then turn on video straight from there and make use of those settings. So you can do full auto exposure video, full manual exposure video, or Program Mode video very easily.

I also love the increased ISO to 12800 and the ability for the camera to take multiple exposures and combine them to help eliminate noise and camera shake. This works very well for my purposes. It's a small thing but something I've not noticed anyone else talking about is how much BETTER the shutter sounds. Somehow it's more satisfying and reminds me of the more expensive cameras.

HDR Mode: I've uploaded some of this camera's HDR photos to the image section on this page so you can see how well it did combining 3 photos at 3 different exposures the T4i can do this in camera with no software needed. It takes 3 quick photos and processes them for a few seconds and then the result is the image you see. The 3 originals do not get saved. To save them, you would have to use manual exposure bracketing which this camera does quite well. When using HDR mode, you only have to worry about getting proper focus and then everything else is taken care of for you. Some of the images can come out looking a little weird, but if you take 2 or 3 different versions at different focal points, you should get at least one that looks very nice and detailed with lighting that doesn't look too cartoony. One thing that surprised me was how, in one of my photos, a car unexpectedly entered the scene while it was taking the 3 shots. The resulting image had NO car at all. Pretty cool.

CONS: So far, the only thing I DON'T like about the cam are the buttons somehow they feel cheaper and more fragile than on the T3i. I'll update this if I discover anything else not up to par.

Overall, I love the camera and am very happy with my upgrade over the T3i. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the new STM lenses can do.

Buy Canon EOS Rebel T4i 18.0 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 18-135mm EF-S IS STM Lens Now

You're thinking of getting the t4i, reading the reviews, comparing it to the t3i and countless others and pulling your hair out at all the pros and cons? Am I close? I'm a photographer and have used this, the t3i and its sony equivalent. I might be able to help. Here's hoping :) Let me start with an anecdote, (you've read enough technical jargon for now so consider this a breather)

I film eagles on the isle of Mull in the Scottish hebrides and the landlady I stay with was telling me about this other photographer who visits her little cottage (it's beautiful by the way, you should visit if you get the chance). So anyway, she is cooking tea , as she does if you ask her nicely. While it's cooking he shows her one of his photos, probably of a sea eagle catching a fish. Everyone wants to photograph one of those even though its on every other postcard in Scotland. Next to a highland cow looking over a gate its the top photo/cliche to get.. Anyhoo, she looks at the photo and says "wow that's great...you must have a brilliant camera" .

So they sit down for supper a bit later and its delicious, she is a great cook. He says "This is lovely...you must have some great saucepans!" boom boom.

But herein lies the real point of this camera. You know its the person behind the camera that takes the pictures but do you really know it? This and the t3i take pictures so good (if you have the skill) you could blow it up the size of front door but are you going to want to. The thing no sellers want to tell you is that for years, maybe 5 , all of the big names have been making great dslr. Since the nikon d40 perhaps. But you really want to know, if you bought this, would you be happy or buying a pup. Be reassured that neither canon, nikon or sony make chocolate teapots. They know how to make a great camera and this is one. It's biggest difference as you will have read ad nauseum , is the touch screen. is it worth it. It is if you like touch screens (I do). That's not flippant, it's how it is.

So the photos will be great and its a great camera, you've read other reviews so I won't duplicate what you have already read but one thing you may not have read is about the video. All the makers have got dslr right. No pups in sight, but video is a relatively new feature and Sony have tbh been leading the way. This camera sets to rectify that by having autofocus. A lot of places on the net, say it's not needed, you should be using manual focus. Nonsense. Manual focus is ok at times but can be a pain. Filming your dog on the beach for example..The autofocus on the t4i is actually pretty good. Not as good as a camcorder but pretty good. The slowest part is for it to get going. But when it's locked on its sound. Well worth having. So thats sorted right..err no, not really. This is the 650d 's killer feature. Trouble is, they left out the killer feature on the 600d. The 3x zoom with "no loss in quality". So here is the choice if you are buying this for video.

if you want you're 300mm zoom to be able to zoom to 900mm for filming sport or wildlife. It's the t3i for you.

If you love the idea of autofocus (or hate the idea of doing it the old fashioned way) its the t4i for you.

In my opinion if you're considering the other makes like Sony, it comes down to who makes the the lens you are likely to want. I know I have focused (blabbed on) about video but hey, there has been thousands of photo reviews already about iso , shutter speed etc etc. Nothing for me to add there!

So if you are considering using it for video here are a few "must have" things you will need to go with it.

Velbon DV7000 3-Section Ultra Heavy Duty Tripod with Geared Center Column, 2-Way Fluid Head and QB-6RL Quick Shoe, Max Height 64-inch, Supports 9.9 lbs

58mm HMC Ultraviolet UV(C) Haze Multicoated Filter Doesn't have to be this particular one but hey..

Oh and the one that should have gone top of my list

Make better videos with your dslr or camcorder (gives details of the counter intuitive settings that actually work best :) )

So now I have spent ten minutes typing away, telling you how I like the t4i for video (I do) do me a little favour and click that you find this helpful. Unless you don't. Either way you will enjoy this camera but do consider the little brother the t3i also. We live in good times to take photos as there are so many great cameras and this is definitely one of them. One more thing I forgot to mention (and yes it is regarding the video) is that to get great video you need to use the right settings in the menu. Unfortunately these are counter intuitive and if you don't use them you may be under whelmed. If anyone wants them, comment and I will try to post a link

Read Best Reviews of Canon EOS Rebel T4i 18.0 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 18-135mm EF-S IS STM Lens Here

I have the T3i and absolutely love the camera. Its feature packed and has incredible image quality. I recently purchased the T4i (body only) and was thoroughly impressed with the first press of the shutter!

Cross Type Focal Points:

Not only is the shutter quieter and faster than the T3i's, the enhanced cross type focusing on all points combined with the new image sensor is WAY FASTER and MORE ACCURATE than the already good but not great T3i. I rarely use the outer focal points on the T3i because the focusing is slow and unreliable, its always been center point or manual focus for me. Not so on the T4i! Super fast focusing on all points and great image quality!

Touch Screen:

Excellent addition to any DSLR and it works wonderfully! Everything you can do from the Main Menu button on the T3i and the Quick Menu button can be done through the Touchscreen's interface on the T4i. EVERYTHING!

Constant Auto Focus:

I tested this feature with my existing lenses and yes, you do notice the hunting and hear the autofocus motor (which will vary from lens to lens) but I have not tested it with the new 4omm or the new 18-135 STM lenses, yet.

Custom White Balance:

I believe this is new or I just never used it on my T3i. A very nice grid displays from the Quick Menu that allows you to set a custom white balance. No, this is not just selecting AWB from the white balance options, thats still available but the custom piece appears to be a new feature. (I could very well be wrong about that one)

The ADEP option has been removed from the dial. I rarely used it but it was nice having the foreground and background in focus option available in the 'manual' region of the dial.

UPDATED/CORRECTED INFO:

Earlier I made a correction regarding the lack of digital zoom. Well, the final correction to my previous correction is this, there is in fact no digital zoom. At least none I can find that is recordable while in video mode. You are still able to zoom in and essentially magnify a selected area but when you begin your recording the cropped or zoomed area goes away and your standard focal length will be recorded.

The viewfinder has a slight amber color as opposed to the bluish hue on the T3i. I can't say I see if this is a benefit or not but its worthy of mentioning for those doing research.

A friend asked me how much I think the T4i is better than the T3i. The only answer I had was this, "I was considering getting a 60D to take advantage of the faster shutter and better focusing (9 point cross type). Seeing how well those improvements on the T4i work, I forgot all about the 60D!" I know the 60D is better built and has a better/larger viewfinder but for my money, the T4i fit the bill!

These are things I've found to be improvements and overall nice features about the T4i but you should do as much research as possible. DPreview . com is an excellent site for camera gear information but the last time I checked they did not have a hands on review, only some canned information from Canon. Another great, I MEAN GREAT site is The-Digital-Picture . com. Again, too new for a review to be there but I encourage you to go there, absorb and be a well informed consumer and a better photographer!

Now I wonder if that 70D rumor is true.....

Want Canon EOS Rebel T4i 18.0 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 18-135mm EF-S IS STM Lens Discount?

I upgraded from Canon T1i to Canon T4i. Having this T4i camera for 3 days and taking more than 1,000 pictures in different modes and environments, I want to write a few words for other fellows.

The main reasons for my upgrade are: 1) 9 cross-type focusing points; 2) Faster shooting burst rate; 3) Continuous video focusing; 4) Touch screen (very useful features). The picture quality is from very good to excellent. Color tone is realistic. Pictures from T4i camera look better than pictures from T1i camera in term of white balance and sharpness (probably from the benefits of 9 cross-type focus points). It is definitely more snappy in sport mode, focusing is fast and burst rate is good. I do like the continuous focusing feature in the video mode because of the convenience. It takes between 1 2 second to focus to new scene and you can hear the focusing noise from the lense. Definitely, there are rooms for improvement (faster focusing and reduce the motor noise during focusing) in video feature. I don't have the new Canon STM lense, so I don't know if it is quite or not.

This camera is good enough as an entry level and for people who to upgrade from their point-and-shoot cameras.

Link to some sample pictures that I took with my Canon T4i camera (go to flickr.com and search under tags only for henrynnguyen). I uploaded the orginal picture size (3456x5184 pixels), but the flickr.com reduced the picture size to 1365x2048 pixels. Hopefully that you still have a sense of how the picture quality look. Most of my pictures were taken in raw format, then converted to jpeg format using Canon provided software. The lenses that I used were Canon 50mm F1.4 USM and Canon 28-70mm F2.8 L series. The memory card is ScanDisk 32GB, UHS-1 rated. The Canon T4i camera performs as advertised by Canon. My main interests are accurate and fast focusing with high burst rate (who is not???). Overall, this is a very good entry dSLR camera. So, I am happy with the product and intend to keep it.