Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM AF Lens + Canon 2400 Case + Tripod + Accessory Kit for EOS 60D, 7D

Great lens that came with a great deal. Able to get right in on the action when my son is playing different sports. Image stabilizer makes even me look like a photography genius...it was worth the price.

Azden WLX-PRO Lavaliere System

• LEDs on transmitter and receiver to confirm system status. Earphone included to monitor sound that is being recorded. Receiver plugs into camera's external microphone jack. Both units use one 9V battery each. Includes WR-PRO receiver, WM-PRO belt-pack transmitter, and lavaliere electret condenser microphone.

The Azden transmitter-receiver system has operated marvelously well for me over scores of interviews. As an aspiring video maker it was a product I should have bought a long time ago.

Mine is the 9v-powered model, not the AA. But it has proven well-made, light and easy to use.

There's something neat about micing people with a lavaliere unit. I find that they enjoy the attention of attaching the mic and the professional touch that it brings to the taping.

Being able to range abut the room while taping and simultaneously retaining good audio is a remarkable experience. Another benefit of micing someone is that cuts way back on ambient noise. The din of voices surrounding your interview is a typical intrusion; using the lavaliere cuts out a great deal of the unwanted sonic information.

Buy Azden WLX-PRO Lavaliere System Now

Overall, this is a good investment for beginning videographer. It works as described, yet I found that it's sound needed post work if it was going to be presaentable. My standards are not unrealistic, yet I was disappointed when I first worked with this mic. It comes with a lavalier mic, and a handheld. Of the two, the handheld pickup better, and is more manageable. Both only record in mono, so you have to set your camera to place the signal on the two channels, or do so in postproduction.

Still, if you wish to use a mic that is dependable, is inconspicuous, and has a small learning curve, this mic could serve your purposes.

Read Best Reviews of Azden WLX-PRO Lavaliere System Here

Affordable and effective. Didn't pick up a lot of background music or talking, and got a good deep sound from the person wearing it. Used it for a wedding and the other wireless systems used didn't interfear with it's opperation nor did the background clog up the mic.

Want Azden WLX-PRO Lavaliere System Discount?

The Azden is a reasonable, reliable, and low cost way of stepping up your audio abilities to the wireless level. I've used it professionally in many occasions, and have mixed opinions. I just have the lavaliere (not the handheld).

1. Don't expect superb sound quality. Mine, at least is blaring when it comes to audio levels... it will max out your camera's audio input unless you can turn down the mic input. It provides rich lows, but is very weak on the highs. You can't boost the highs too much in post, because then it highlights all of the audio "fuzz."

2. It's best for convenience, not distance. Use it as a convenience to avoid wires, but don't expect it to work solidly from 100 feet away. As you move farther away from the receiver (more than 25 feet), you'll start to run into dead spots and random static.

3. CELL PHONES WILL MAKE THIS THING GO CRAZY. The transmitter and receiver are highly sensitive to cell phone interference. Everybody within 25 feet of you will need to turn off the cell phones completely, or you'll get that annoying cell phone buzz.

4. Battery life is pretty darn good. I've used the same batteries for hours beyond what they suggest that you do.

Overall, it's a good place to start if you're doing amateur or small scale productions. But if you're client is paying $1,500 for a TV commercial, you'd better have a good Sennheiser or Audio Technica to meet production standards.

Save 40% Off

I was nervous at first recording because the audio volume was too low, and I lost quality by boosting with software. I'm sure I voided my warrenty, but I opened both the receiver and tranmitter to see if I could make adjustments... there is a tiny screw labeled VR101 (trans) and VR2 (rec) that adjust pick up. I basically maxed both of them out because I'm soft spoken, but it works like a charm now. Works to reduce pickup as well, if needed. Just be careful of cheap plastic housing when opening.

X-Rite i1Display 2 Color Calibrator for LCD, CRT, and Laptop Displays

I have been increasingly more interested in my photography hobby and came to the eventual realization that monitor color and luminance calibration was necessary. It just did not make sense, spending sometimes hours post processing a photo on my computer, only to have it show up with different colors on somebody else's screen or printer.

I have never before calibrated any monitors or TVs and considered, in addition to this product, the Spyder 3 Pro and LaCie Blue Eye. I finally decided on the Eye-One Display 2.

I have now calibrated my dual LCD monitor setup (Dell 2405WFP and 2408WFP) and Dell XPS 17" laptop with complete ease and great, consistent results. Because I actually have 2 separate PCIe video cards, calibrating dual LCD is as easy as calibrating one with Windows Vista 32 bit.

PROS:

1. Cheaper than LaCie Blue Eye, which is highly regarded by certain website reviewers (although more expensive than Spyder 3 Pro)

2. Same hardware to the well regarded LaCie Blue Eye

3. Better ability to reproduce black on LCD as per a website review than Spyder 3 Pro

4. Ability to measure and calibrate luminance

5. Very simple easy mode for those who want speed and to not have to understand the complexities of color calibration

6. An advanced mode, which was actually fairly easy for even me to use (and I have no prior detailed knowledge of color technologies)

7. Software allows you to see the before and after effects of your calibration effort by showing a color chart and a small portrait of a woman.

8. Install CD contains very easy to use complete video tutorials on how to calibrate.

CONS:

1. On Apple Macs, dual monitor calibration is supposedly easy. But with Windows XP/Vista, it is not a straightforward task. Because I actually have TWO separate PCIe video cards, calibrating dual LCD was as easy as calibrating one under Windows Vista 32 bit.

A dual monitor setup with a SINGLE video card can be calibrated individually under Windows XP with a workaround solution, as per suggestions I've found from a Google search. I am not sure if the workaround works under Vista, but it seems plausible.

2. More expensive than Spyder 3 Pro (although cheaper than LaCie Blue Eye)

TIPS:

1. On the Dell 2405WFP 24" LCD panel, the monitor will not allow user customizable contrast control if you choose a DVI input for that monitor. I am not certain why this is since my 2408WFP allows this. The only downside of this, is that you cannot use the advanced mode for the Dell 2405WFP, since that mode requires the user to manually change some monitor settings, which include contrast.

2. Consider whether or not you need the more expensive Eye-One Display 2 version vs. the cheaper "LT" version. If you do not need a customized white balance or different gamut or even know what I'm writing about, then you might be completely fine with the "LT" version. I am not 100% certain if the "LT" version will measure and calibrate luminance, however. This could be an important difference.

3. If cost is an issue, I would also research the Spyder 3 Pro system. Although I chose the Eye-One Display 2, I realize now since seeing the vast differences from my pre-calibrated images to my post-calibrated images, that color calibration is essential. It is probably better to calibrate with almost anything vs not calibrating at all.

4. Also realize that the Eye-One Display 2, Spyder 3 Pro, and LaCie Blue eye hardware can be utilized with 3rd PARTY SOFTWARE! A Google search will show that there are indeed even FREE 3rd party software that you can use to drive the hardware. Some forum members seem to write positive results with some of this software.

5. If cost is no object, serious consideration should be given to the more expensive LaCie Blue Eye. A Google search shows that this is a very well regarded system. (The Eye-One uses the same hardware as this Blue Eye.)

6. Go the X-rite website and look at the current version numbers of the software and compare it to what your installer disk has. Instead of using the install CD, I downloaded the newest versions from the website. I believe only 1 or 2 out of approximately 5 files I downloaded were newer from the website, but this is always a good idea. Some of the files are very large and you will definitely need a broadband connection. Burn these files to your own DVD, so that you can then install the software on each of your computers or laptops to use the calibrating hardware. The install CD is still very useful as it has the really useful tutorials.

I hope this review was helpful as it is certainly confusing as a novice to determine which calibrator to use!

There isn't much to really say about this product other than it does exactly what it say it will, does it relatively quickly, and potentially has nothing for you to learn before initial use. I had five monitors to calibrate; all LCDs except for one laptop display, four of them associated with dual monitored systems, mixed on both Windows XP and Windows Vista. I had all five calibrated within 20 minutes of opening the package, and reading nothing more than the quick start flyer; the software wizard in Easy Mode literally did everything in 4 steps without much input from me. On the monitor I perform a lot of graphic work on, I switched to the advanced mode and found the software to be just as intuitive and complete as it was in easy mode. Great product.

Buy X-Rite i1Display 2 Color Calibrator for LCD, CRT, and Laptop Displays Now

I bought the Eye-One recently since I was having trouble seeing shadow details on both my monitors.

I am not sure if they changed packaging since the last reviewer, but mine was simple. Open the flap, fold the front down and everthing is right there for your use. It folds back up nice and easy to store everything until later use.

As soon as I got the package, I brought it to my work computer and plugged it in. I used the "easy" method for this computer. It walked me thru each step (not many in the "easy" method). I was done in a few minutes. One great part is it shows you a comparison of before and after. It is amazing how bad the monitor was calibrated before.

I also brought it home for my laptop. I used the "advanced" setting for this computer. It was just as easy. There is an explaination on each step of what you need to do. The process only took a few minutes and I was done.

It feels good to have a nice and consistant view between both computers.

I have never used calibration equipment before, so I do not have a basis to compare this system against. But I am happy with what I got and its ease of use.

Read Best Reviews of X-Rite i1Display 2 Color Calibrator for LCD, CRT, and Laptop Displays Here

Most of the other reviews here are accurate. This is a solidly-built piece that ultimately gets the job done, but the instructions are non-existent until you finally figure out which of the 4 programs they give you is the "main" program (you have to sift through a messy install CD with way too many folders and icons... it's not evident what's what)... and even then, the instructions and information are weirdly stilted. And the software itself (for Mac) is severely antiquated. It definitely looks like it was in it's prime around OS 8.6, and then (barely) updated for the first round of OS X. And, more importantly, it hung up a few times during the process. And one of the programs, that's supposed to "check" your monitor's health didn't work at all.

Does it get the job done? I think so. The easy mode is darn easy, and the advanced mode, while more time consuming, is definitely better. My monitor is definitely looking a lot sexier, and I'm pretty much glad I got this device over the competition. However, the manufacturer is definitely resting on their laurels, coping a "ain't broke, won't fix it" attitude w/ the software and documentation. When a bit of a spitshine would garner a 5-star review from everyone.

Want X-Rite i1Display 2 Color Calibrator for LCD, CRT, and Laptop Displays Discount?

I used this to calibrate a three year old 19" Viewsonic LCD with a TN panel, a Hanns-G HX-191DPB 19" LCD, a Dell D400 and a Dell D410 laptop. Each one took about a half hour to set up the software and calibrate. All screens look amazing. I did, however, find the need to employ a 3-foot USB extension cable for my desktop, being that the box is rather far from the monitor. Most people will not need the extension.

I chose to do the "easy" method and the "advanced" method to see the difference. After viewing both, I have to say that I find no need to do the "advanced" method again. In the future, I will use the "easy" calibration choice.

NOTE: At the end of the process, be sure to un-check the box that states it will remind you daily or weekly to recalibrate your monitor. That sure is annoying.

The colors on my monitor are now warmer and more true. Being that I have TN panel on all screens, I am very happy that I have the colors I do, for I am only seeing about 72% gamut.

Before the calibration I used the Color Index 2: Over 1500 New Color Combinations: For Print and Web Media: Cmyk and Rgb Formulas to see how far out my colors were. I chose a brown-blue-orange-red mix and typed in the numbers from the page. I wasn't even close! After calibration I typed in the same numbers and held the book up to the screen: now I was very close on all but the brown, which was only slightly out. Not bad for a 30-minutes process that required little to no input from me.

Now, the other reviewers that complained about the instructions are right: it expects a lot from you as a user. You must have a general understanding of what you are doing in order to make it happen. That's not to say it is completely lacking or impossible to figure out, but I could see where some people may have a problem or two. The manual is very basic. VERY basic. Ultra-minimalistic is a better way of putting it.

I highly recommend this product to everyone that has a monitor and USB port.

Konica Minolta Dimage Z6 6MP Digital Camera with 12x Anti-Shake Zoom

This camera literally blew me away when I started using its zoom feature. First of all let me start by saying I am a practicing amatuer astromoner, and quite familiar with quality..This camera posesses an APO lens..Apro chromatic for those who care. I took a picture of a distant mtn in NM, of a feature called "turtle back".

I was zoomed 12X and after examining the photo on my laptop, I discovered I had captured a pair of hawks in flight against the mountain. In the second photo, one of the hawks was framed perfectly aginst the turtle's front foot, and I was able to blow it up on my laptop further where I could actually see feathers on the wingline, and the hawk's beak with little or no pixel distortion..The 6MP really works. I would recommend this camera to any amatuer photographer

Well, I searched and searched and read every review possible--so I thought--during the summer once I decided to put down my Kodak dx4530 and graduate to something with a little more "umph". I made a decision on the Canon S2. Due to some confusion my order was cancelled and I had to pick something else quickly. I did--the Dimage Z6. This camera does everything imaginable! I am not going to rehash in detail the previous reviews. If you have the money and want fantastic pictures--this is a GREAT investment! The instruction manual is a little jumpy but with patience you will get it. The features on the Z6 are never-ending. Buy & Have fun!

Buy Konica Minolta Dimage Z6 6MP Digital Camera with 12x Anti-Shake Zoom Now

I have a digital SLR camera in a different and higher class than this camera. We bought the Z5 for my son and I found myself drooling over some of the functions in his camera. Don't let the term son fool you. Although 10, I was brought up by a photographer who never cut the corners on photo for him nor the family despite not being well off. My son has taken fabulous pictures on the Z% and the new six has very few if any changes. It did not need them.

The new Z6, is an absoloutely incredible machine with for me, only one major drawback, which is the manual need to lift your flash. As a semi or part time pro I have my flash attachment on all the time and even though this camera can change, by a convenient push of a button, thru several flash modes, the manual pulling up of the flash would be hard for me but may be due to habit. You would just have to always have it up and rember to turn off your flash if you ever want to. Fill flash is measured with the ambient light in the Z^ so the heavy shawdows are removed or the shade of darkness of he face by the brim of a baseball cap or the shade of tree branches in some of a person's face is gone. Right there your picur will be much more pro looking. There is a hot shoe for a flash attachment if desired. The perfect next step up from the pocket cameras and even if boasting 7 or 8 megapixels the optical zoom of this camera and the speed of the compressor chip are far more important.

The zoom is to 420 (yes I said 420 and in old film talk) and an automatic feedback as to whether you just took a picture within the correct ecposure. Also a little camera icon shows when you are zoomed to far out on your subject or to little light, showing you you need a tripod or do not take. The macro and fine macro modes are fabulous allowing you to take that flower or anything from your puppies face close up. No lens filters make it so your lens is suseptible to scratching but is well incased in the lens covering. The features of this camera including the use of the histogram, the editing features within the camera will probably never be used by some but who cares at this price.

Smaller cameras will never match this in terms of optical zoom and also the portrait, landscape, and sports functions all work while still in automatic focus. This means you can hold your finger on the button and take one shot after another of your kids stealing first base and be in focus. I took my daughter jumping from a high dive on rapid spots fire and the water splashing back up is just gorgeous and in perfect focus as is she and her varring expressions as when climbing the ladder and coming down. The camera will stop if it does not detect enough motion and will chage back to a more normal state of autofocus which in most cases means you have to keep hitting the button versus holding your finger down on it.. Perfect for the multi use camera shooter. Can zoom in from a distance and can take moving so perfect for sports filming, portrait filming and landscape as well. Only those of very high calibder photography experience or ones activley photographing architecture or landscape may feel they need a wider angle lens and yet if this is a move up for you, this is not and will not be a problem. Most people feel a 28 lens to be wide angle to begin with and it may start at 17 I am not sure. I just dont shoot wide angle. Don't let Dimage fool you, even I a Cannon loyalist would never buy the Cannon in this league over this camera.

The camera uses print image matching so works great with almost every photo printer which for those newer to digital means the information on the s-disk talks to the printer when you are printing so your shots are clearer, moe detailed and the colors more accurate to what was taken or seen on the screen. Don't let the featrues scare you. They are there but a very great point and shoot camera as to the quality and the abilty for the camera and a photo printer to do it for you.

If buying the camera consider the best charger and best recharageable batteries as more expensive but better on batterey life and yet if you aare one to swear away anything but lithiom batteries this camera does extremely well when my husband's dimage of 3 years ago is an energy hog. If picking up in a store, remember you can take pictures through the large two inch LCD screen or the veiv finder. The veiw finder has vision adjustment so if it does not look good at first please adjust this. The Z6 gives one more megapixel than the z5, basically incresing you cropping ability as you probably wont be printing 24 by 24 posters. The processor somewhat faster then the z5 as well making what you snap your finger at what you take as no delay of notice. The z6 is about 1/5 more efficient battery wise which in some cases can save you. Not much better than the z5 as the z5 was and is a wonderful camera and was acually $100 more. It did not need changing.

The z6 has a Sleek new disign with the same size but looks gorgeous. Try not to use as a garbage can as it will use more energy and yes, there is a reson that some disks are cheaper than others. Do not go cheap on you disks. Nice battery feature in which the camera shows no batterey when plenty of juice, then a battery when about at the half way mark and one more with a little juice left. Draws your attention to it as it appears vs. changes. Stop at the last symbol of closly after that. A digital will never work it's best when low on power nor getting completley full on a card. At the highest shooting level at which all people should be on or buy a two megapixel to begin with a 516 chip has room for around 320 pictures. No case is made specifically for the camera and yet we found a great promaster for $35 that is cushioned and can be worn as a fanny pack or over the shoulder. MY moms smaller credit card canon fits in the front part of the case as altough this a "small camera to me" she feels otherwise and wants to take both on her upcoming cruise so she can slip the other in her evening bag. I myself would love this camera for a second one of lighter weight and yet under many situations could get the same as my SLR of much higher price,features and therefore quality. Although it hurts me to say it, computer leary people could add to this with the epson picture mate 4 x 6 printer with the lCD could never use a computer and still get bettter than costco processed disks. The HP and ohers would also work and yet he new epson at $250 but $200 onlin with a rebate has many more ediining functions. IF a previous camera uses a compact flash and you have to change over adding to the expense so be it. They are better, the way of the future and will last mush longer.

I can not say enough about this camera and I would never thought I would be suggesting anythig over a canon. Anoher nice feature which sounds like a gimic but is not is the anti-shake mechanism. It actually does help to lower the effects of a less than steady hand and so your pictues wiil be more likely to have the just right focus. If planning for an event please buy early and practice however whether you have experience or not. Due to the incredible zoom power you do need to have practice keeping your eye on things as the camera will not beep if a not a good shot and yet this camera wll tell you why so easy corrections can be made. The beep the camera makes when the camera locks into focus when pressing half way down is quiet and a good guide. It can easlily be shut off say at weedings, plays etc. Beep, solid white circle, press down, look at LCD for proper exposue OK and a glance at the picture and within a couple of seconds on to the next.

The camera has a playback mode to check pictures with magnigication to check for focus at the molecular level practically but a waste of time as you may be missing the next shot. Rapid fire is available and 3 consecutive quick shots so getting 3 but each slightly different. As with all cameras and with all kids, dont use the red eye reduction. This means the flash puts out usually 3 small flashes and then takes the pictue wih a bigger flash. You wiil have the kids in the next room and far to long for candid and making people look at you insread of getting that perfect side portrait veiw. Although a fine camera and a tendency of many of us to tend towards protection plans due to chips and complexity keep in mind the cost. The best of warranty plans and some worse than this do not cover theft and althogh they will tell you for even dropping the camera you must have a significant part of the broken up camera and must have the serial number intact. If you drop over the edge of the ocean, off the side of a cruise ship or inside indiana jones at disneyland are you actually going to go back and get the camera or jump off the cruise ship?

Using the stap is a much better insurance policy! You will be more upset about the pices than the camera so consider that when puchasing your s-disks. Better to have all shots on one card in the camera but if you lose the camera all gone or better for a few smaller so that all is not hopefully lost.? Depends on the person. JUST GET GOOD ONES. Also take a ton of pictures. This is what digital is about and at the hightest setting. Do not try to get more pictures by setting the camera at a lower resoluton. If you feel conscious of not having enough memory consider buying some thing like an IPOD with the capability of carrying pictures for you whille on a trip. This way you just have a great time with your camera and then can clean out on computer as should be when you get home. If intimidated get a hired person for $89,00 an hour in California to come, set up your system between your camera or card reader, your computer then to your photo printer. IF you use a printer for regular documents then this is your normal printing and can easily tell the printer to gear up the color and ink for a photo. Writ it down and do it.

Phot editing Programs can be hard but those in the high hundreds to the 2000 dollar range. For fifty dollars you can be storing, cropping, edtiting and burning to disk fun slide shows and burn them to dvd to watch and store forever. Remember the kid running bases, set the digitlal photos to a one second show and it will look almost like a movie in your slide show.

Playback on the camera is also in the version of slide show if you wish, so if traveling with friends or at grandmas house and the disk has been cleaned up they can see the ones you took that morning and haven't had the time to even go home and download to computer. Buy a good high speed charger, THE BEST BATTERIEs AND TWO SETS and good memory cards, a cushioned case and go for it. IF not there, the ability and faith of digital will grow. Then the passion comes and you would never dream of having anyone but you print your pictures. Much more fun to have a file and slide show of each Chistmas for a few years, a little of each, with music and typed christmas lists and now if you want can record the annual reading of twas the night before Christmas and have that play on DVD while your pictures show. Hard. NO. Need to learn. YES. For those hesitating come on over to the other side and join the speed and abitlity of the reality and reason for digital, Never again will you pick up the doubles you ordered with only one good shot for $25.00 and for the others with a slower processor, less meagapixel or less optical zoom digital camera you will always be frustrated with the quality of your pictures as your dont have the resolution to crop and get rid of uncle Harry and his eyes shut. This is truly the best camera in it;s class on the market and I have tried the Canon. I have reserched this to the extreme, macworld agrees with me as does several of the digital photo mags that rate cameras. Buy and enjoy. Use it as a point and shoot if you want and learn a new feature one at a time. Also , forgot a wondrful feature increasing where you can take pictures. It has the ability to change the exposure of light while still remaining in autofocus so can get great shots in say museums, the monterey aqauriam and other places not allowing or appropriate for flash, IF you are debating this camera over a $300 one becasue of size or money you don't know digital cameras!!!! Sorrry for any poor spelling. Ill and numb hands makes tuping hard. IF you are questioning the 400 camera, the 35 dollar case, the 100 on two good 256 s-disks and the 50 for the battery charger nd the 15 for the extra batteries you are fogetting all the pictures you have in envelopes blurred and no good as you did not throw our or go look at them. IF you ex whatever wasnt in the picture because you could now crop them out would you like it better? Do you have fair haired kids with bright red dots staring back at you looking like aliens. Do you have a garbage can on the side of perfect shot of the family all together for once and dressed up. Is it slightly out of focus. All of those would be good if digital and all that money spent for all those prints that need thrwoing away would be gone and would you enjoy some occasionally if you had a slide show of that child now older and driving you crazy, would you like to havw on the tv via DVD pictures showing for a while you can walk by and remember whar once was also deinving you crazy and thru time brings out you oooh and ahhhs while they play to your or their favorie child hood memories. Or how about the trip to Hawaii you are still doing laundry from and yet seems so far away flash by you on your computer at work. Within minutes you can have 50 pictues with the same or different titles or comments on the web with notices to all the family that the baby is here. Young or old, digital is so enjoyable and you can even buy programs to make your bes freinds faces all distorted to play at a party or at a 3oth the person growing up and the growing old to 80, This camera will get you to what ever you want as so easy and so good. You will want to show off your pictures. Have fun. Start saving money and get those pictures out and going.

Read Best Reviews of Konica Minolta Dimage Z6 6MP Digital Camera with 12x Anti-Shake Zoom Here

12x Optical Zoom, 6MP, Movie mode, Auto Focus, Rapid Fire Shooting..................what more could you want for this price. I was looking to replace my 2.1 feature loaded digital with more megapixels and more optical zoom capacity for less than $250. Wasn't going to happen unless I settled for 4, maybe 5X optical zoom. I quickly figured out that for another $100 I could have much, much more than what I wanted and would not be looking to replace the Z6 in less than 2 1/2 years as is the case with the 2.1 mp I was using. No brainer in my book.

My soon to be 13 year old son has taken to it like a duck to water and has figured out nearly all of the main features. He delights in making movies which usually have to deleted the next day but this camera will teach him the craft and serve my purposes very well. Love the slightly larger size of this unit versus the rectangular box digitals that are myriad. It allows me to wrap my hands around it oh so securely and easily with the rubberized protrusion on the right side and I do not have to check every 3 seconds to make sure I am not obstructing lenses or pushing buttons that I ought not to be pushing.

Oh yes, the picture quality is tremendous and there is not a conceivable lighting situation that this camera can not handle.

If you learn the features this camera offers you will use it happily for a long time.

I upgraded to the 512mb Sandisk Ultra II flash card and it is very fast. Another reviewer on another site said that it increased processing speeds noticeably. Rebates are available until mid-November '05

Want Konica Minolta Dimage Z6 6MP Digital Camera with 12x Anti-Shake Zoom Discount?

I had shopped and researched for several months before buying this digital camera. Part of what played in my decision was the fact that I owned a Konica SLR for many years until it was stolen and was so happy with it. I also owned a Minolta with the same experience minus the theft. I compared this camera with some of what Nikon had to offer and felt that I made a good decision based on quality and price. I was so excited when my camera arrived and I pulled it out of the box. It is such a nice looking camera and I love the fact that it is more substantial with the bigger display operating more like a slr I am used to than a tiny little digital that you have to watch your fingers to keep them out of the shots. I have taken quite a few pictures in the last week since receiving this camera. Still shots and close ups of my adorable grandson are awesome right down to the dried milk on his chin. I am still working on the action shots but those seem to be my lack of skill and not the camera. I did take a short movie clip of my sons basketball game that came out really well. All in all I am very pleased with this purchase and now that I have bought a bigger sd card, come on guys a card that will only hold 4 pictures taken on a fine setting or 16 at standard lets get a little cheap here though I did appreciate the included batteries. That aside now that I am set with a reachargable set of batteries and the bigger card 512 mb takes 300 or so pictures on the fine setting. I am ready to go and having a great time taking pictures. I had one interesting thing happen which I don't think is the camera as the picture shows perfectly on the lcd screen but when I uploaded it to my computer and I click on the picture it is fragmented this has happened on 2 pictures and I am not sure if that is a memory card malfunction, the software that came with the camera, or my computer? Once I track that down I will feel better. Anyway I look forward to some long and happy fun taking pictures with this camera and also have already enjoyed the editing software and printing my own pictures. I intend on spending some time also learning the more advanced aspects of this camera and will come back and rewrite my review after I get a little more digital savvy.