Olympus SP-720UZ 14MP 26x Opt Zoom 3-Inch LCD Digital Camera - Black

I purchased this camera from a source other than Amazon. The purchase was made because my wife and I were going on a vacation, and our older Canon is no longer working. Overall, we are very pleased with the features and picture quality of this camera. Our trip was to Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Park. We took several hundred pictures and found the pictures had wonderful color and clarity whether shooting the red and white "hoodoos" and cliffs of Bryce Canyon or a closeup of cactus in bloom. A few pictures had less than perfect focus, but at least in some cases, that probably had more to do with the photographer than the camera. We have also used it with good results at an indoor family event, where we got some nice pictures with or without flash.

The only negatives I experienced are relatively minor. At the longest zoom length the camera will struggle to focus on a moving object. No surprise there, I think that's probably one of the toughest things to ask a camera to do. I was also a little disappointed at the shutter lag considering it has a CMOS image sensor which is supposedly quicker than a CCD sensor. You may miss the best pictures of your young grandkids when they aren't able to sit still and hold a pose.

Takes great detailed shots. That's exactly why this item was purchased. Great response in delivery as well! Nice packaging. Would like to know what camera case would be good for this. Would like to have an option to include additional memory as well.

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I purchased this camera for $179 from QVC, wanting a little more zoom than a standard point and shoot. Took camera to Mexico on vacation and used for Xmas also. Any photo taken with the flash appears washed and has white spots that look like overexposure no matter how far or close I stood from the subject. Also flash would not fire in Auto mode ??? Had to set it to other modes to get it to work.

I contacted Olympus since the manual was no help. I sent over 20 emails back and forth to Olympus trying to attach sample photos to show them. Their email server continually rejected all the emails with photos attached even within the file size range they suggested. I finally gave up. I spent $40 at Best Buy for an extra battery also.

I had to send the camera back after making every effort on my end to correct issues. What a disappointment!

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Nikon D5200 Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens (Black) with 55-300mm VR Lens +

This bundle is amazing. Its a great beginner set-up and easy to use i havent gotten into all the features yet but its still a great bundle

I have been using digital cameras for a long time but recently switched over to DSLRs. And Nikon obviously was my first choice. I Chose Nikon D5200 from D3200. And I had searched thoroughly over the internet and dealers but couldn't get a better deal than this one. 15 items in the kit for about 1k, this was a great deal for me since i would have wasted a lot of money buying the items included in this package separately.

I'd say go along and get it from here :) Thank you for your service. Looking forward for more.

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The camera arrived a few days before expected delivery! This was awesome, bc I got it in time to take pictures of my sisters bridal shower. Wonderful camera and very happy with all the accessories that came with it. This is the best deal by far if you are a new photographer, it comes with all the essentials.

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This camera has more than met my expectations! Not that they were extremely high because I am a noobie when it comes dslr, but it captures extremely life like photos of everything and best of all I can finally get a clear image of my daughter who doesn't stop long enough for a photo anymore! Shipping was fast and item was exactly a described, I would definitely purchase from cameta camera again!

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This item came very quickly and was well packaged. I actually first purchased it at Costco but returned it when I saw how many additional items came with this package and for a lower price. I'm still learning how to use all the features (and there are many) but I love this camera!

Nikon D5100 Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens with 55-300mm VR Lens + 16GB Ca

Was looking at this unit and the newer D5200. After reading other reviews and awaiting the US release of the D5200 I ended up going with the D5100. Part was the higher cost of the D5200 (just could not justify the 24MP for the money based on some reviews of the D5100 vs D5200. This bundle was a better value for the dollar vs a D5200 and one lens.)

The bundle has everyting you need to get out and start taking photos.

The D5100 takes a great photo and I'm still exploring all the different settings. I think the next step is to enroll in a class at one of my local camera stores that teaches the use of a full DSLR.

Very happy with the product to date.

This is fantastic camera I've ever had, with all necessary equipment: flesh card (with card holder), camera bag (not small), two lenses (with small individual bags), cleaning belongings, tripod and others... A camera bag is bigger than I thought, I can put there everything with one lens. The image is amazing, looks very clear with full of naturale colors. The product is valuable in this price, because offers two leses, that are quite costly. This camera totally met my expectations.

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This camera is way smarter than we are!

When we ran into a problem operating one of the accessory pieces, Cameta's technician Rich patiently walked us through it. Wish they were right down the street, but the next best thing is phone or email....

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This is a wonderful camera and I cant believe all the items included in the bundle for this price! Best deal around and the camera takes beautiful pictures and is very easy to use!

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I love this camera! Amazing pictures and video, just can't ask for more. This kit is great! So many little bonuses. Will def. order from this seller again!

Sony Cybershot DSCP200/R 7.2MP Digital Camera 3x Optical Zoom (Red)

I just purchased this as a replacement from my Sony P-100 5 mega pixel camera. WOW! This camera is definitely a sleek improvement from past models. Aside from the 7.2 megapixel count, this camera excels in almost every conceivable area relevant to compacts.

First off, this camera starts up in less than a second or so--truly fast compared to other similarly priced cameras. This feature is essential when attempting to capture that oh so special kodak...er...sony moment in a blink.

Secondly, the camera is beautiful. Sony got it right this time when designing a sturdy, compact and lightweight technological masterpiece. True, it's not as small as its even lighter cousin--the T-33, or the Pentax Optio S5n and Casio Exlim models, but it passes the pants pocket test with flying colors. Additionally, when compared to the T-33, this camera uses the regular memory stick size and not the smaller duo like the T-33. Sooooo, if you already own a sony, this is a natural upgrade.

Some other excellent features on the P-200 are the manual overides. You can adjust the shutter speed and aperature which, for a camera in this class, is a true rarity.

I also am enjoying the extremely high quality video mode; although not the most important selling point, having the ability to take camcorder like videos with sound for unlimited amounts of time (unlike 30 second segments from many other cams) is handy.

Another amazing feature is the battery life. I remember my first sony digital camera--the DSC-P50 2.1 mega pixel. It's battery life was dismal. My P-72 was slightly improved, but still suffered from chronic battery munchies. The P-200 fully charged can take pictures for over 200 minutes! If you're on the display modes, it can last almost double that--another breathtaking accomplishment. The info lithium works well in calculating the remaining battery life--a major complaint from owners of other cameras like Canon that lack this feature. Lastly, it is a proprietary battery, so purchasing an additional one is recommended.

Needless to say, the 2" lcd is gorgeous, just like the past sony cameras I've had. It's extremely hi-res and I have no difficulty seeing it in sunlight. The lcd's navigation is similar to earlier sony cams with a few new additions. Sony finally placed a protective screen over the actual lcd to prevent damage...took them long enough, but it's much appreciated.

Overall, I'm tremendously pleased with the picture quality from this puppy. I envision this camera lasting well into early-mid 2006 when Sony will release yet another improvement. Until then, I highly recommend this for most anybody who appreciates quality and functionality incorporated into a lightweight package.

I thought my old Olympus C50 was going to be my last digital camera for a while, but then the P200 was released as an update to the already-excellent P150 and I convinced myself to buy it.

I think Sony did a great job on this camera. It is perfect for those who are tech savvy but really appreciates technology when it is used to make something better without making it cumbersome to use.

The Sony DSC-P200 is first and foremost a point and shoot camera designed to capture every-day life images and the occasional video. To best serve that purpose, it is compact, easy to use, and have an exceptionally quick turn-on time. It's not the smallest camera, but it is compact enough to fit inside small pockets, and substantial enough to be easy to hold. Sony cameras, like most Sony brand products, have excellent user interfaces that are logically laid out and easy to comprehend. I figured out out to use my P200 without reading the manual. I will probably refer to it to see exactly what the scene modes are but that's about it. The large 2 inch LCD on the P200 also makes it much more user friendly than smaller 1.5 or 1.8 inch displays. The turn on time for this camera is one of the best, probably somewhere around a second between pressing the power button to being able to snap a picture. My old Olympus C50 took 3-4 seconds and it was a real bother.

Ease-of-use points aside, this is a 7.2 Megapixel camera and it packs a picture-quality punch that is surpassed only by high end cameras such as the SLR variety. Untill full reviews come out on one of the well known digital camera review sites, I think it is adequate to use reviews for the P150 as a guage. Those reviews have all been very positive on the P150 and the P200 is at least as good as the P150 in terms of picture quality.

Some words about blurrness...

I've heard/read about Sony digital cameras taking blurry pictures and all expert opinion attribute the blurrness to two things: image processor, shaky hand/mount.

There are only a few Sony digital cameras that suffer from blurry pictures caused by an image processor that is too agressive in performing noise reduction. The DSC-W1 is probably the best and most recent example. However, the DSC-P150 does not have this problem, and neither does the P200 according to what I've seen and the pictures I've taken. I tried a DSC-W1 for 2 weeks before returning it so I know first hand what the image processor induced blurryness looks like.

The second cause of blurryness is a classic case of shaky hands. The newer generation of Sony Cameras seem to be programed to prefer a longer shutter open time rather than increase ISO or turn on the flash. It tries to make the most out of available ambient light before making use of adjustments that compromise picture quality. What this results in are shutter speeds as slow as 1/30th of a second before the camera will start using the flash in full auto mode. This combined with 7.2MP of resolution will result in blurry pictures if the hand holding the camera isn't absolutely still. In trying to maximize the picture quality of the camera, Sony has traded off some real-world usability. Whenever I use my P200 to take a picture and see that the shutter speed is 1/40 or slower, I will make a mental note to brace myself when taking the picture, or at least use both hands.

All things considered, it's hard to imagine a more perfect combination of everyday usability and performance. The P200 is perfectly at home snapping birth-day party pictures for 4x6 prints, or mounted on a tripod to get that perfect shot for a 8x10 blow-up.

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The DSC-P200 is an amazing piece of technology that demonstrates how far digital photography has come. With a 7.2 MP resolution, 3X zoom, lithium ion battery and a 2" LCD screen squeezed into a tiny package, this camera is truly amazing. The output is no less impressive with quality superior to that of any other camera I have seen.

One of the advantages of a camera this small is its ability to be carried in your clothing without relying on an external carrying case. While this is a great attribute that allows you to bring it to parties for impromptu photos, its apparent fragility is a cause for concern. It would be nice if Sony provided a glove-like camera case or entirely different, ruggedized housing. Of course, many third-party camera cases are available along with what Sony offers, but even the smallest of these will be too large to fit in a shirt or inside sport coat pocket.

In addition to its diminutive size, the camera's portability is also fostered by the lithium ion battery which lasts for nearly two hours. Moreover, with a larger memory chip, you will have everything necessary for a day or more worth of shooting. At the full seven megapixel resolution, photos average about three (3) megabytes each. This means you can store only about ten photos on the included 32 MB Memory Stick, making memory a necessary upgrade. By comparison, my 512 MB Memory Stick allows me to take over 150 maximum resolution 7.2 MP photos. Fortunately, it can be purchased for approximately $55 at Amazon.

Even though I am not a professional photographer or artist, I can definitely appreciate the picture quality. I had the opportunity to directly compare the Sony DSC-P200's quality to that of a Minolta 5 MP camera taking the exact same photo at the same distance. The pictures of a friend and me were taken by a waiter in an upscale restaurant with relatively low lighting. At first glance, they appeared to be of comparable quality. After closer inspection, however, it was clear that the Sony image was superior. In one striking example, the shades of my burgundy shirt were more accurate with less pixilation.

For the amateur photographer, be aware there are many features to be deciphered. As a former engineer and gadget enthusiast, I consider myself a quick study. Yet, I had to spend a couple of hours reading the manual and still have some learning to do. So, don't buy this camera on the way to your daughter's wedding and expect to use it (besides, the battery will be dead anyway).

Many casual photographers may question the need for seven megapixels as this exceeds the resolution of even the largest monitors. For example, a high-end WUXGA (1900 x 1200) wide format monitor only has 2.3 megapixels. However, the camera's superior resolution provides a hidden benefit. Even if you don't want to create large format photos or posters, it does allow for a convenient "off-line" zooming. So if you are at sporting event or show, you can take photos of scenes even too far with 3X magnification. When editing the images on your computer, you can crop the part of the photo desired to effectively zoom into the image you wish to save or share with you friends.

As a Sony Vaio owner, I have the added benefit of being able to slip the Memory Stick directly into my laptop without having to worry about cables or additional drivers. It would be even nicer, though, if Sony provided some sort of wireless connectivity, such as Bluetooth or WiFi. I can see why Sony would skip this feature as current wireless technology would not be sufficient for transfer of several high-resolution photos.

The video capability is a nice frill even though it would not be a key reason for purchasing this camera. I was quite surprised that it produced quality video AND sound recordings. The latter was far crisper than I ever expected. With two gigabyte chips available in 2005, you could record full motion video for nearly 80 minutes. This sounds great, but the camera doesn't record moving scenes very well. Presumably, this is due to internal bandwidth limitations. On this note, it would be nice to provide HDTV video recording, even at a lower frame rate. This would be quite a stretch due to bandwidth limitations/data write speed as HDTV cameras, geared for the professional market, are very expensive.

In summary, the Sony DSC-P200 is an incredible piece of technology that provides tremendous picture quality in a small package. I can't imagine wanting more out of a camera other than a ruggedized housing or high resolution HDTV video, which is quite unrealistic given its size and cost. Given the camera's intended purpose, Sony has done an amazing job. For still photos, the DSC-P200 should be good for a decade or so.

Pros

7.2 MP

Incredible picture quality

Lithium Ion battery

Compact

Cons

No glove-like case

A bit complicated for recreational photographers

Delicate (potentially)

32 MB of standard memory

No Bluetooth

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I resisted "going digital" for a long time. When I finally took the plunge and compared cameras, the Sony DSC-P200 was the standout. Consider this:

The P200 has a metal case -not plastic.

The lens is a Carl Zeiss -the same German optical firm that makes lenses for Hasselblad and Leica.

The P200 is made in Japan by the same Sony subsidiary that makes the professional digital Betacams used in Hollywood.

The design of this camera deserves an award the placement of the buttons, shifting of the lens to the extreme left side the result is a camera that "feels right" -never do I touch the wrong button, or have to search around for the right function.

The photos? I shot Macro, fluorescent, incandescent, cloudy, and bright sunshine -exposures were excellent and the 7.2 Megapixel Super HAD sensor produced images that did not pixelate until I had enlarged them to 200X!

I bought the Sony DSC-P200 (and I recommend getting a 512MB memory stick -you can get 130 images at the highest quality setting) and the two of us have been inseparable.

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We spent a long time researching the purchase of a new digital camera. My Nikon Coolpix 880 was great when I bought it in 2000, but it's been dropped a few times, and it was a bit heavy/big. I wanted a camera that took great pictures, was light weight and small enough that I could comfortably carry it in my pants pocket.

The Sony Cybershot 7.2 has everything I wanted. It's small, easy to carry in a small purse or pocket, and it takes amazing photographs. The image quality is excellent. I do a lot of scrapbooking and crop a lot of pictures before I print them, so it was important to me to have 7.2 megapixels for enlargement.

The camera is easy to hold I have fairly small hands, and it doesn't feel awkward or big.

As far as construction goes, the Sony Cybershot 7.2 is user friendly. The battery, memory card and charging outlet are behind the same "door". The buttons are aligned so that, for a right-handed person, it's possible to hold the camera and manipulate the image (ie. zoom, change menu options, etc.) with one hand but do use the wrist strap! The LCD resolution is very good, definitely better than my old Nikon, and I was thrilled to find that the pictures look even sharper on the computer! One major problem with my Nikon was that the on/off button could easily be triggered by putting it in the case, so the camera would stay on and eat the battery up. On my new camera, the on/off button is slightly recessed, so it won't turn on accidentally, and the battery life is exceptional 300+ minutes. The turn on speed and the time between shots is very quick about a second. The zoom is excellent as well and gives me a lot of detail.

I didn't buy this camera for the video, but I played around with it to see what it was like, and would seriously consider leaving my other video camera at home now! The microphone is located where you would put your thumb if you held the camera with two hands (unless you were paying attention) and sound quality isn't exceptional, but it definitely works well. If you wanted to narrate, I'd suggest speaking close to the camera.

Drawbacks: Personally, I need to hold the camera with two hands to keep it steady. This is not a big problem at all, but I thought I'd mention it unless I'm trying to catch something on the fly, I don't have a problem keeping the camera steady.

In scene mode, when you bring up the menu, your setting choices (snow, candlelight, portrait, etc.) are represented only by icons, and I find it difficult to remember what each is.

Neither of these problems are (in my opinion) significant, but I thought I'd bring them up in case they are for you. Overall, I couldn't be happier with my purchase.

Wisecomm OC950 Mini Indoor Night Vision Color Security Camera with Audio and Adjustable Lens - Mini

Works as advertised and easy to hook up. Good value; small sized camera not intrusive. Liked the ability to use my own monitor; bought a TV from thrift store for ten bucks (NOTE: if you use a tv as monitor, make sure it has the the white/yellow video cable input otherwise will not work). Had the unit up and working within 5 minutes--hardest thing was opening the box. Camera clear, sound good (sound so good--can hear bed bound, frail sleeping mother's breathing) works well at night with infrared camera. Running 24/7. Bought a well-known brand of digital baby-monitor with its own monitor, infrared camera and sound but returned it after it quit working within 7 days. Only reason I gave this product 4 stars versus 5 stars was the camera warms up; I find this unusual. Wonder how it would work if the camera were installed in a heat sensitive area other than my mother's bedside table. As a result, I turn the system off when mom and I are away from home. Wish I had gotten 100 feet of cable over the 60 feet of cable that came with the unit; some sellers were selling 100 feet with the camera. As such, I have enough cable to run the cable from a distant bedroom to the living room but not enough to run it though the ceiling. Have the cable running around baseboard and along hallway; works for now but in long term will get longer cable. Chose the hardwired camera/sound system up over digital and non-hardwired setup because I wanted privacy for my mother; did not want neighbors seeing the feed. Otherwise, we recommend the camera and its cable. Especially good for new parents. When comparing the cost of the video system with a regular voice only monitor, this system is light years better (cost, video and sound wise).

JRFOTO DSLR RIG With Follow Focus Matte Box And Counterweight By New Model JRFOTO FL02M

I am using this rig with my Canon 7d. FancierStudio products are not commonly reviewed by many DSLR enthusiast sites, so i had to base my purchase decision on the two reviews thats here on amazon. I did not receive any product documentation and the website has very little information and a "chat with us" feature that doesnt seem to work. I couldnt find a phone number either. The link to its facebook site required me to login (I have stopped using facebook since I dont trust their privacy policy). Everything works as described, basically. I couldnt vouch very much for the rig itself because i have not used it in this capacity yet. The mattebox is on the cheapy side (plastic) and the blue handles are a kind of sticky silicone rubber that i dont know if i quite like. My biggest criticism is that the follow focus mechanism doesnt seem to have an adjustment for taller cameras like the 1d or if you use a battery grip. It appears that it would have been a simple adjustment to raise the bracket for this adjustment, but i cant see a simple way do this, so i have to remove the battery grip. The new 5D appears to be coming with a battery grip so i dont know if this would work with that camera. The other thing is that the rails (rods are on the short side. I can barely fit the mattebox and with the Canon 70-200 2.8L II lens. And this is another thing, they have made an adjustment so that i can use the mattebox with the battery grip but not with the followfocus.

UPDATE: APRIL 10, 2012 DONT BUY

After using this item for a few weeks i now have a reduced opinion of the unit and i think its overpriced. There are quite a few similar units on the market and many are cheaper and allow you just to buy the part that you want. The only part of it that is worthwhile really is the follow focus. And 300+$ is too much to pay for a cheap follow focus and a simple rig. The mattebox part is completely worthless i agree with cheesycam () about this mattebox. It cannot accommodate my 70-200 and there are other issues. The Rig is average for a cheap rig. I dont use rigs that much but i would have preferred something that would allow me to put other items on the rig (mic, monitor etc). As of today i regret buying this unit, and will probably junk it and buy something better, maybe use it for parts. The other thing is that this company spends no effort on customer service.

I am using this rig for my Sony NEX-3 camera and Sony Z1U camcorder! The build quality is great with the matte box being all plastic and the frame being metal. Managed to mount it on a tripod and the shoulder mount works well. Does require a lot of tightening and set up time would be around 25min max. I've provided pictures above of my set up for reference. The follow focus has a long enough cord to fit pretty much all lens sizes. The white ring around the follow focus allows me to make measurement markings on it using a sharpe marker and cleans off nicely. Over all nice set for the pro and beginner.

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The pictures are very accurate to what this thing looks and feels like. I was originally worried it would be light, or that the rails would be some sort of plastic, but its not. This rig has a nice quality feel to it. rails are aluminum I believe, very solid. The follow focus is very solid. I am very happy with this rig. I am 6'1 200lbs and this thing feels great in my hands.

A couple things to note. The barn doors are plastic, as well as the hinges for it, its fine for now, but I could imagine them drooping over time, or losing their grip. Metal would be better. Make sure you add weights to the back to balance out the rig otherwise it will be very front heavy.

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This product is interestingly useful. I find many things already mentioned by others to be the case, however, with some simple adjustments, I was able to make it work better for me than standard configuration. The device is designed for you to hold the handles a bit away from the shoulder so you view the LCD of your camera. With no counter balance weight (behind you) for the shoulder pad, it's really not too steady, and when you take one hand off e.g for focus adjustments on your camera, you balance is tilted. So, my solution was to rearrange things.

1. I put a viewfinder on my Canon Mk III DSLR

2. Shortened the Rod distance between the shoulder pad and the handles so me eye can reach the viewfinder.

3. Tilted the rod connecting the rig to the shoulder pad,,45 degree downward versus straight horizontal.

4. Removed the right hand handle and placed in front of the rig (on the left rail inverted, So the handle is centered just below the Matte/front end of the Camera lens)

This now means I have three major points of contacts for stability...the front handle, the viewfinder and then the shoulder mount. The left handle is not needed for this setup. You hold the front handle with your right hand which is now centered relative to the body of the camera, the shoulder pad is on the right shoulder as well. You pull back tight on the handle while shooting so your forehead on the viewfinder and shoulder against the shoulder pad affords more stability. Your left hand is free to be used for focusing and available as a 4th point of contact.

If I have the time, will post a picture for this configuration but it's probably the most brilliant way to use this rig. It makes it more versatile and actually functional more so than it's original/intended design. Don't expect to walk and shoot with this rig. A lens with an image stabilizer will still be your best bet.

Overall, for me, with this new configuration and the nice follow focus which appears to work well with my Zeiss 50mm Makro lens , and the relatively low cost ...this is a 4 Star. I would give it a 5 if they had included an attachable counter weight for the shoulder pad. Again, don't expect smooth shot if you going to be walking with this unit...I would suggest a Glidecam or something like that to walk/move and shoot versus a rig like this....

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I needed a rig for my new Canon 7D for film production, and was shocked at the price when I came across this. This is no Redrock, but for a rig like this for around $300, I'm pretty impressed.

The follow focus is probably the best thing in the set. The handles and base plate are not bad at all; I hate the shoulder pad on the other hand. It works if you absolutely have to use it. I'm going to most likely modify the one I have or purchase a separate one.

The great thing is it's a 15mm rails setup. Reading in a previous review that the rails were a little short I pulled some 12" 15mm rails from an old rig I had. It's much better, and I ordered some additional rails for about $29 on ebay. You can customize these rigs in just about anyway you see fit. If there is something you don't like about it, you can always get a few clamps, arms, and rails to change it. I would encourage anyone that purchases this rig to look into customizing it; it's cheap, fun, and you can really build something nice.

*No instructions in any of the boxes* Also I attached a Canon 50mm 1.8 which doesn't get right up to the mattebox, but it's just fine, no problem with the image. The mattebox is very cheap though, clearly the cheapest thing out of the set.

Sony DCR-SR40 30GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam with 20x Optical Zoom

This camcorder does capture good video. But the main drawback is that it records in MPEG2 format (DVD quality). Initially its nice and easy to capture video and watch it on your computer by downloading the files using the USB 2.0 connection. It gives you instant gratification. But after capturing 4 or 5 hours of video, you will notice that your videos aren't so great as you expect it to be. Its not the fault with your camcorder. Its because all of us shoot extra footage, unwanted scenes, shakes, etc which we want to edit. You may want to add a title or two, add transitions, add backgroud music, combine your photos with the video, etc. Basically you may want to edit your footage. Its here when you find the major drawback of this camcorder. The MPEG2 quality video is not good for editing. The video quality is so compressed that you won't have sufficient bandwidth to edit the video.

MPEG2 is a LOSSY compression technique used to compress large video files into smaller files that can be fit into a 4 GB or 8 GB DVD. Since the camcorder compresses the video and then writes to the hard disk, the source file that you download to your computer is already compressed and has lost much of its data during the compression. If you edit this already compressed file, you lose more data during the process thus resulting in poorer video quality.

When you edit these videos, add some transitions or special effects, increase/decrease brigthness or noise, etc, the newly edited video loses further clarity and thus makes your video look ugly and pixelated.

In summary please don't buy this camcorder if you are serious about your videos and would like to edit them. But if you are not bothered about editing and want to watch your unedited footage forever, then go for it.

That said, if you still think you want to go for this camcorder, please read the review on its other features:

1. Super NightShot Infrared System: Not a useful feature. Its amazining to initially see how this camcorder is able to "see" using infrared light. But the moment you shoot your subject using infrared light, you never want to shoot again as they will appear like devils when shot using this infrared light. Remember infrared footage appears almost black-and-white and not color. And the subject's eyes really look like devil.

2. 2.5-inch wide SwivelScreen LCD display with touch panel capabilities: Sony convenietly "forgot" to mention that this screen is NOT widescreen. Most of the camcorders now-a-days come with widescreen LCD. Its a good feature if you always want to shoot in widescreen. In fact I would suggest you to shoot in widescreen only as all future TVs and current LCD/Plasma TVs are widescreen. You can future proof your video by shooting widescreen. This camcorder DOES support widescreen video but the LCD is NOT widescreen. So when you shoot widescreen, you see black bands on the top and bottom.

3. Digital still photos: Please don't rely on this feature. The best photos from this camcorder as as good as the worst photos from any popular digital camera. Technology has still not matured to the point where a camcorder can shoot as good as a digital camera and vice versa.

4. 20x optical/120x digital zoom: Optical zoom is very good. You can handle upto 10X optical zoom without a tripod. Any more zoom requires the use of a tripod. I was able to zoom in and read a car tag from the top of Sears tower, Chicago. I love the zoom feature in this camcorder. Don't use the digital zoom feature. Turn it off. As mentioned above, MPEG2 compression already makes the video bad in quality. The digital zoom further makes it worst.

5. Professional-quality Carl Zeiss lens: Yes its good. The image quality is truly great. No doubt about it.

6. Super SteadyShot picture stabilization system: Good enough to avoid small vibrations caused when going on a ship for example. But not good enough for the shakes encountered when walking with the camcorder. Don't expect to get great footage in such conditions. For great footage, you must still rely on a steady hand or a tripod.

7. On-screen zoom and record buttons: Not an useful feature. The camcorder tends to shake more when you use these zoom buttons on the LCD because the LCD is always projecting outside when shooting video. Hence you shake the camcorder more when you touch the LCD than when you touch the camcorder's body.

8. USB 2.0 interface: Good interface. Fast enough to download 30 GB in 1.5 hours. Firewire interface would have been great. But USB 2.0 is also good enough

9. Image Mixer Software: Very useless software. The free Picasa software from Google is far better in organizning your videos and pictures than the software that comes with this camera. Forget about this software.

10. InfoLithium battery with AccuPower meter system: Great battery life. I could shoot for upto 1 hour 20 minutes with one battery. Remember we always don't shoot continously in everyday life. We turn the camcorder on and off repeatedly when shooting. This battery last for 1 hour 20 minutes during normal shooting as explained above. If you shoot continously you may get longer battery life.

11. NOTE: This camcorder does NOT have an Active Interface shoe. Other Sony camcorders do have this feature. This allows you to add other Sony accessories, for example, extra flood light. If you are not planning to add any accessory, then don't worry about the absence of this feature.

12. DVDDirect compatibility: This feature allows you to directly burn your video and photos to DVD. I don't think this is a very useful feature. Its always better to download to computer, and burn only the good files and photos to DVD instead of burning all of them.

Overall summary. Buy this camcorder only if you are not serious about editing the videos. Its a good buy for point-and-shoot-and-view pleasure only. In my opinion, a mini-DV camcorder (DCRHC42 for example) is still a better bet than a DVD or hard drive based model. The only inconvenience in a mini-DV model is that you have to be a bit techy to download video to computer. If you are ok with that, the mini-DV still provides good value for money as its far cheaper than DVD or hard-drive models.

It's interesting how people will give this a really crappy review based upon one feature, or upon the fact that they didn't RTFM before making a purchase (or at least make an educated purchase).

This is a very easy camera to use. Start up time is very quick, and how can you beat the silent operation of a hard drive based camcorder? The touch screen is also very easy to use, but I can easily see how it can annoy some people, especially those who don't like fingerprints on screens.

Nightshot mode, as always, is an added bonus, but this camcorder could have better benefited by an accessory shoe though nightshot is fun in low light situations, you suffer from a lack of full color range. An accessory shoe could allow the use of a light, which would add more useability to this unit.

Connectivity is also good. I was able to mount the drive in both Windows and Linux with ease. Videos are stored as MPEG-2, which is pretty universal, just drop them into your video editor of choice. The included software is little more than basic, allowing you to backup your movies, or quickly create simple DVDs. Those with a desire to make quality DVDs will find other software packages better suited to their needs, such as Cyberlink's PowerProducer.

Focus is very good in normal situations, but suffers noticeably in lower light, as does auto exposure settings. Though the camcorder does have manual settings, forget about setting it up for lower-light (higher aperatures). The settings just don't go in that direction.

Video, in all three record modes, is saved in 720x480 resolution, and there's a handy button right on the main menu that allows you to switch between 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios. However, image quality isn't as sharp as that in most high-end MiniDV camcorders. Much detail is resolved, but it lacks the sharpness required to make very sharp movies. There's also very little noticeable degradation in image quality switching between HQ and SP modes, though LP mode has a very noticeable change in detail and color noise in lower light.

Overall, this is a very good and very useable camcorder. However, like all HDD camcorders, a certain level of organization is required, or you might find yourself looking to record some good memories, only to find the hard drive is full and you're nowhere near your computer to free up some space.

In all, though, it's a great entry-level hard disk drive camcorder for people who want to make videos to upload to the net, or the casual camcorder user. This is also very well suited for vacationing, where baggage space is critical!

Buy Sony DCR-SR40 30GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam with 20x Optical Zoom Now

I bought this for my wife who teaches music and occasionally needs a camcorder to record the musical events. I filmed in low light from the back of the room with only spotlights on the cast of the musical and both my wife and I were pleasantly surprised with the quality of the output. However; several things I did not notice prior to purchase which are not show stoppers but would have influenced my decision about this camera: No USB connection on the camera. You have to put it into the docking station for the USB transfer of files to your computer. And the only other thing is that if you are running the camera off the power cord plugged into the wall it will not charge the battery. You can switch the camera off and the battery will start charging this again is not a show stopper but somewhat of a hassle for me.

I really like the camera but these two small things distract me from an excellent rating.

Read Best Reviews of Sony DCR-SR40 30GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam with 20x Optical Zoom Here

The reason I pick this camcorder is because it is hard disk drive and it is way cheaper than its upper level product DCR-SR60. The camcorder is small, cool looking, easy to use but poor image qualiy. Before I bought it, I did some research. Lots of online reviews for this camcorder mentioned the image quality is poor, I just didn't think it would be that poor. I can tell this, my Canon digital camera takes better videos than this camcorder. I also found out this camcorder does take still picture, but in a very poor quality. My Logitach Quickcam takes better still picture than it. I was actually disappointed of Sony, I cannot believe they can even produce poor video quality camcorder like this and sell for $500+.

For me to choose a camcorder, video quality matter the most. Others may not. Hence, If you can accept poor quality video but pay more attentions to other features, this camcorder maybe your choice. However for me, I returned the next day. I may buy DCR-SR100 which sells $300 more, I think there is a reason.

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most ppl buy too much camcorder and pay for capabilities they will never use. I am using the camcorder for home movies, and frankly dont have the time to do any major editing to make productions out of them. This is perfect for me. Movie quality is good ..more than enough for my purposes.

Had I needed to do massive editing, I would have gont a step or 2 above, but they key for me was quality of product, easy of use, quality of film.

I have a sony digicam for stills and do not intend to take stills with this. even the best camcorder stills are not at par with avg digicam stills so why pay extra to get marginally better still shot capability.

Olympus Evolt E500 8MP Digital SLR (Body Only)

PP= Post Processing (Photoshop and other image apps)

PQ= Picture Quality

My older brother, who by no means is a professional but has been an enthusiast since my father gave him his old Canon F series 35mm SLR in the 80s, has been my mentor.

He currently uses a 20D with a 420EX flash and some ungodly multi thousand dollar L series lenses. I recently purchased the E-500 dual lens kit for a fraction of the cost and must say that my brother and I both agree it is by FAR the best bang for the buck.

At the level 98% of us are at it is all user error and not camera error when our pictures don't come out as we would like (most professionals even say its mostly user error or lack of knowledge). I still have a friend who uses a small 2001-Canon S230 and takes pictures that are far better then most of mine.

In low light I have noticed that my E500 does not focus as fast as my brothers 20D (but it definitely still focuses) but from reading online with firmware upgrades they remedied this problem in the E300.

We both also agreed that it felt better in our hands (grip and general ergonomics) and was quite a bit lighter then the 20D as well.

He ,just as myself, LOVED the rear LCD controls for everything from ISO to flash speed and exposure, far more easier and quicker then the 20D for a newbie such as myself. But he commented saying it would have been nice if it had the small simple LCD up top that the canons do as a supplement to the detailed and informative one of the back.

PQ was amazing requiring very little PP, and with the vivid setting we both agreed that the colors did feel better and more vibrant (of course with a small PP Tweak the 20D was right there but for the casual photographer as myself I shy away from PP).

Bottom line we were both floored at what a phenomenal deal this kit is for the price.

---------UPDATED 3/29/2006 ------------

Everything said above still holds true, and I must say this is one of the few purchases that almost 6 months later Im still VERY happy with and use it frequently. Through no advertising or sales pitch I have created 3 new customers for Olympus's E500 kit up to date.

My brother has over $4000 now invested in his camera and he still finds it amusing that my little old $700 kit gets as much attention from all our friends as it does. He recently upgraded to the 580EX flash and a new Wide angel L series lens, and I must admit VERY VERY amazing hardware bursting 3 or 4 pictures WITH flash is very cool.

But we recently went to India to tour Agra, see the Taj Mahal, Sikhanders tomb, and other such sites on the way. At the end of the trip without PP during the day my pictures looked better (we both agreed) and thats all I cared about (mainly talking about color saturation and not detail, just over all presentation). I will admit though in a couple action shots from our speeding bus his camera did perform better, and in the evening some of mine didnt focus properly while his did on the same subject, but Im not a pro, I just enjoy the hobby.

One of my better purchases in recent years.

His camera IS better, mine is just a better deal, it's all about peace of mind..

There has already been a lot said on this camera so far so I'll only add a few things. I have never owned an SLR type camera so this was a new experience for me in fact, after owning the camera now for a month, I am finally just figuring out how to use it to its full potential and its potential is very high.

First, let me say that this camera is an excellent value 8 megapixels and packed with features, including the wonderful super sonic wave filter (which removes dust from the digital sensor). The Olympus line of Digital Zuiko lenses are fantastic, including one of the kit lenses (40-150).

A word to those folks like me (new to the SLR world) to clear up some confusion: a few of the reviewers have mentioned "bad low light performance." This is not a camera issue, it is more a function of the lens that is attached (or, the speed of the "film" (AKA sensor) that you have the camera set too). Without getting into too much detail, kit lenses included with all of these entry-level DSLR's are not exactly the best in low light situations they are referred to in the photographic world as "slow" lenses meaning that the aperture values they have at the low end are really only good in sunny conditions at least without setting the camera to a much faster ISO (or film speed setting). So, in other words, the guy that said he is returning his Olympus to go get the canon kit is going to be just as unhappy with the performance of that camera in these situations as he was with the Olympus (from what I've read on the professional reviews of the canon, the kit lens is possibly the worst of all the major manufacturers). Blurry pictures are NOT the camera's fault they are the user set the ISO higher to get a higher shutter speed or buy a lens with a "faster" aperture. This is the same with all cameras.

So where does this leave one who is interested in purchasing this camera, well there are two options (at least in my opinion):

1. Buy the 14-45 and 40-150 kit. This really is an excellent value, and while the 14-45 lens isn't bad (it's very good outdoors), the 40-150 lens is fantastic. Search any major review especially those folks that are enthusiasts about olympus and they'll tell you the same this lens is remarkable for the price. However, if you do buy this kit (like I did), and you're planning on taking a lot of pics indoors or in low light situations, do yourself a favor and upgrade to the 14-54 f/2.8-3.5 Digital zuiko lens. This is the kit lens for the professional Olympus DSLR the E-1. I purchased this recently and the difference is night and day compared to the kit 14-45 f3.5-5.6. The camera has no issues in low light situations, and the "speed" of the lens is fantastic. (BTW, I bought this off of ebay for $400 I think amazon has it for about $430 with free shipping so it's probably a toss up. (this price BTW is much cheaper than upgrading to comparable lenses of competitors like canon and Nikon remember, you're going to have to do it no matter which camera you buy if you want good indoor/low light performance).

2. If I had to do it over again, I may have just bought the body. Save yourself $200 and just buy the e-500 body. Then take that $200 and apply it to the price of the 14-54 f2.8-3.5 lens this would put the total purchase around $1000 and you'll have a fantastic lens to really learn how the camera works in all situations. So how do you get the great 40-150 lens? I noticed that there are probably 10 on sale on ebay at any given time (from people that are upgrading to the absolutely wonderful 50-200 digial zuiko zoom) for around $100-125.

Whichever option you choose, you really can't go wrong this is a wonderful camera for a beginner or serious amateur in SLR photography.

Good luck and welcome to the olympus family!

Buy Olympus Evolt E500 8MP Digital SLR (Body Only) Now

I should preface this review by saying I'm a bit of a Luddite: I hang on to the traditional tools in my primary fields of interest--music (both listening and performing) and photography. To me the Nikon F2 (well, OK, I'll stretch my endorsement to something as technically advanced as the aperture-priority F3) are the quintessential cameras: rugged, natural in the hand, and immune to the demons that possess electronic devices.

Then four years ago, my father gave me my first digital camera, a Minolta. I was initially skeptical, but I quickly came to enjoy the convenience of the camera. Then, when I paired with it the right printer (an Epson Photo R-800), I became a confirmed user, if not yet a fan. Based on that camera-printer combination (with the addition of a scanner for the conversion of my B&W negatives), I packed up my darkroom and offered it to the local public schools.

But even though I was happy with the print quality of the digital setup, I still missed the heft and the old SLRs, and I lamented the loss of control they offered me.

Then, based on fairly extensive reading of advance reviews, I decided to buy the Olympus E-500.

This camera is a revelation to me. I can't compare it to its competitors (none of which I've used extensively), but I can say that this camera fully reconciles me to digital photography. It gives me that reassuring "whump" when I press the shutter (rather than that puny "snick"), offers me total control in manual mode, allows the flexibilty of interchangable lenses, and--most importantly--seems to be to have as its paradigm (sorry for the word choice) the ways of a photographer trained on manual film cameras (rather than catering the "point and shoot" audience).

The menus are easily mastered, the features (including filters in B&W mode!) are remarkable, the battery lasts for hours of heavy shooting, and the images--even with the equivalent of a 300MM focal length--are stunning.

This is a remarkable camera at a very reasonable price.

Read Best Reviews of Olympus Evolt E500 8MP Digital SLR (Body Only) Here

I have previously owned several different long zoom compact consumer cameras. I wanted to upgrade to higher quality images though, and the E500 with the two lens kit came in at the perfect price and weight point for me. I don't want anything so heavy that it is a burden to haul around, and the two lens kit gives me 35mm equivalent range of 28mm to 300mm. I immediatly fell in love with this camera, and can hardly put it down. It is simple enought for a beginner, but has advanced features that will make a pro happy. (I used to be a pro)-

The most important thing when buying a camera is how it "fits you", but the E-500 has great ergonomics and speed, is easy to learn and provides outstanding quality. You can see some photos that I took on my very first day out with this camera, atIf there is any knock at all, it is that the kit zoom lenses perform better at least one F-stop down from wide open. But that isn't really a knock, as that is true of most lenses, especially the lower prices ones.

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First of all, let's get it clear, this camera is not perfect. But it IS very good, and at the prices Olympus has been selling it for. It is a downright remarkable value.

Size/Weight As I write this, it is the lightest DSLR on the market. A major selling point IMO, after a couple of hours 3 or 4 extra ounces can feel like a ton. Size is about average though.

Comfort/Ergonomics OUTSTANDING The best and most comfortable fit of any DSLR I tried. It FEELS like a quality camera (unlike the Canon DRebelXT/300D-outside North America), and my hand didn't feel cramped like with the Canon. While the Nikon D70 was almost as good in this category, I'd give the Oly E500 a slight edge. Menus and manual controls are well placed and made sense to me. Learning to use the camera was quick and easy.

Viewfinder A weak point for some, but not me. It is a smallish viewfinder compared to the Canon or Nikon. But as compensation, I felt it worked the best with my eyeglasses. The exposure and other info is not very bright in the viewfinder and difficult to see, especially in bright light.

Image quality with Kit lenses Very good with lenses stopped down to f/5.6 or f/8 or so. A little soft with the lenses wide open, but better than the Canon lenses. Olympus has always had a reputation as one of the best of the Japanese lensmakers and these kit lenses continue to promote that reputation, I think.

Image Noise definitely has noise issues starting at iso 800. However it is manageable with software like NoiseNinja and such. Also how many people shoot at iso higher than 400 anyway? but If you intend to do something where noise is an issue like concert photography or astronomical phototography, this is not the camera for you. for everyone else, 'fugedaboutit!'.

Autofocus about average IMO. There is no such thing as a GOOD autofocus IMO. Manual focus is pretty good, but the ground glass optical viewscreen really needs a split image for good focus.

Exposure seems dead on accurate no complaints whatsoever. I shoot raw mostly and the only exposure correction I've been doing is for effect only, not to correct any deficiency in exposure. All the detail is there.

Things I wish it had better remote control or a cable release socket. A bigger viewfinder, the one it has is perfectly acceptable, BUT. . . bigger IS better. Ability to use standard photoflash connectors without a hotshoe connector (for manual and studio flash). That's pretty much it. Nothing really major.

I'd buy it again. Especailly at these prices!

Update: 2/9/2008 A little guidance for those who wonder if they should still buy the E500 when the E510 is out and the competition has released cameras with 'better' specs. In my opinion, it is still a viable option for a beginner especially at the close-out prices we are starting to see.

The practical difference between 8 and 10 megapixels is pretty small. And while the E510 has addressed the image noise issue pretty well, many people feel that the E500 still has a slightly better Dynamic Range (the ability to differentiate various shades of gray without being too contrasty or too dull). This can be compensated for by manual adjustements in the E510, but for those who want full auto and are super picky about their photos, that may be more hassle than they want to deal with.

The E500 lacks the Image stabilization and live view capabilities of the E510, and while these are nice features to have, I would remind you that people have been taking great photos without them for 200 some odd years. This isn't nearly the handicap that a lack of talent would be!

It still takes great photos and it's cheaper than the rest. It may not be for everyone, but I think it's still worth considering.