Sony Alpha NEX NEX3A/B Digital Camera with Interchangeable Lens (Black)

So I've been waiting for a compact camera with either 4/3rds sensor size or larger and priced around $600. There are only a few on the market:

Sigma DP1, DP2 (Sensor size 20.7mm x 13.8mm)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 (Sensor size 4/3rds : 17.3mm x 13.0mm)

Olympus PEN E-PL1, E-P1, E-P2 (Sensor size 4/3rds : 17.3mm x 13.0mm)

Sony NEX3, NEX5 (Sensor size APS-C 22.2mm x 14.8mm)

I was leaning towards the Olympus but read that Sony was going to make a APS-C size sensor compact camera so I waited and finally got it.

I own lots of cameras, Nikon D700, Nikon D300, Nikon D50, Panasonic LX3, Canon S90, Canon SD960, and a bunch of others.

Pros about NEX3:

This thing shoots fantastic photos.

The 16mm : 24mm equiv lens is awesome.

HD video is pretty cool.

Innovative controls need to get use to.

Panaramic shooting mode.

Photos are very sharp.

Cool screen flexibilities.

Cons:

Only got the pancake 16mm for compactness, 18-55mm is too big and defeats the whole purpose.

It's possible to shoot manual but ISO is hidden under two menus to adjust, apperture & shutter is easy to adjust.

Battery does go fast even when turned off, the firmware update did help.

Weird flash attachment, wish it could bend upwards for ceiling bounce flash.

Wish they sold a snug fit leather case like shown on website.Other than that, it's a pretty sweet camera. I heard Nikon is developing their own so that they can keep up with the compact large size sensor market. I hope it's a DX format sensor so almost equivalent to APS-C sensor.

This could have been a very positive review, except for one very significant issue. I bought the NEX-3 after months of reading and researching. I chose it over Panasonic based on its sensor size, unique features, form factor, weight and several very favorable reviews in professional newsletters. I think the firmware upgrade in the Fall made the user interface and navigation much better and easier, and I have not experienced the battery issues that some have reported. Overall, I like this camera and I want to like it more and use it more, but Sony's lack of lens support for the platform thus far should be a red flag to anyone considering the NEX series. There were reports of a Sony NEX 5 telephoto lens SEL 18200 earlier this year. One report even said it was shipping. But no retailers have the lens and I could not find it mentioned in the lens section on Sony's NEX website. That leaves just two lenses in the entire NEX series -a 16mm wide angle lens and a less than satisfying 18-55 zoom lens. Instead, there appears to be a strategy to push NEX users toward the existing Sony Alpha lens series, which requires purchasing an adapter plus using lenses that are reported to be ridiculously slow in the NEX autofocus mode. That is NOT why I bought this camera and would have stayed with my trusty Panasonic LUMIX point-and-shoot and Canon digital SLR if I knew that Sony was going to offer so few NEX lenses. Meantime, I am beginning to regret buying a promising platform that once seemed like the ideal solution for me. I am watching enviously as competitors I had compared to Sony expand their offerings while Sony seems to be standing still or falling backwards.

Buy Sony Alpha NEX NEX3A/B Digital Camera with Interchangeable Lens (Black) Now

I took the Nex-3 to Vegas for a 4-day trip. Took quite a few pictures and was quite impressed with it, but I will return it afterward due to the following short-comings:

. Failed to power on at times: this problem happened intermittently (twice during 4 days of use) and was annoying. The firmware version was 1.0

. Unpredictable images: at times, a picture taken would have the object (my girlfriend) too dark. When I retook the picture, it would be brighter the 2nd time, but it's just unpredictable. I use Intelligent Auto mode all the time.

. Severely distorted images on the sides: people on the left or right side look fatter. This must be caused by the 16mm lens, and I wish I had the 18-55mm lens instead.

. Confusing User Interface & operations: beside the cumbersome UI menu, I one time ran into situation when the camera refused to take picture (I believe after a self-timed picture). I tried switching modes, powering off, as well as other things, but ended up taking out the battery to clear it. Whatever that was, I wouldn't want having to do it again.

. One instance when night-time recording of fireworks couldn't focus: as I was recording fireworks and paused in-between scenes, the camera was completely out of focus and I was powerless to do anything beside turning it off and on.

Other than those, I really like the look and feel of the Nex-3 (it fits my small hand better than the Nex-5). Non-flash pictures taking in minimum lighting turned out great (the most important feature for me). The screen is gorgeous. And the camera feels quite compact with the 16mm lens.

Other side notes: a mini-HDMI cable/adapter is not included, so you'll need to buy one in order to hook the camera to an HDMI monitor. The strap included with the camera has a super-cheap feel, so you'll probably want to buy one as a favor for your neck. And while you're at it, buy a capkeeper cuz the lens cap is much smaller then the barrel and is real hard to put on and can drop easily if you didn't put it on right. There's no printed manual, so you'll have to look it up in the included CD instead.

I wanted a Point-and-shoot camera that can give me good pictures in low-light conditions (at parties, clubs, or under street lights) and decent auto-focused videos, while being easy to use. The Nex-3 is almost there but is not there yet.

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I bought this camera with both lenses, this review emphasizes the performance of the 16mm kit lens. (See the other kit for the opposite emphasis.) I had no preconceptions and bought it on a whim, amazed by its size. It's easy to hold, but also easy to cover the AF lamp. With the 16mm lens is actually fits in a large pocket.

The 16mm lens is simply not acceptable for point-and-shooters, unless you enjoy performing manual correction on every image afterward. The primary use will be in portraits, which end up with distorted body parts at any reasonable distance, though the resolution is certainly high enough that you can step back and still get good shots. Be ready to undistort in PS, because there's no compensation in the camera. Because it lacks IS, it will seem like a major step backward to anyone used to getting sharp pictures with a handheld digicam. Only the zoom lenses have IS, and it definitely shows up between 16m and 18mm shots. The downer to the other lens is that it's VERY large, so the camera instantly goes from handheld to SLR size. Badly needs an in-between lens.

Easily the best feature of the camera is the merge mode that's appeared across most of the Sony line: 5 shots without flash at default shutter merged into one, compensating for any movement, makes for some awesome pics at any light level. However, my HX5 compact has the same feature and looks nearly as good (just takes longer), plus you still have auto mode problems.

An unfortunate downside to the camera is the lack of mode dial. Switching between Auto, 5-shot, and shutter was agonizing when I needed that quick shot, and blinding in the dark, plus is some modes the quick mode change button becomes something else, so that you have to go into the full menu. I despised that delay. I loved that flash could be turned on or off instantly by raising or lowering the physical flash module. It was high enough that there were zero red-eye problems. Sadly, using the flash means no other accessories. The inner lens ring also doesn't control anything that I could tell; I never got it to change aperture, focus, speed, etc. The screen tilt was useless to me without side-tilt.

Very problematic is that while Sony designed this camera around Auto mode, it just plain isn't fast or sensitive. In shutter mode, you can ramp down the timing and force it to use much higher ISOs, which still manage to look breathtakingly clear with the large sensor, but Auto mode just plain refuses to use them. If you try to use Auto in dark settings, it will bump the shutter up past 1 second, even with flash. (I got very pissy at the camera at a club when it kept using 3.4s with flash off and 1.8s with flash on, in Auto. ??? Everything was blurry in Auto, of course. It's the only camera I've ever owned to do this.) Due to this, the sensor is crippled, IMHO. If you are willing to use it in shutter mode at night, quality is fantastic. In daylight, Auto will blow you away just fine. Manual mode is such a pain that I skipped it completely; there's no way to adjust ISO quickly.

Video looks pretty good. I didn't use it much but it's definitely on par or better than any video camera I've used. Panorama stitch also looks great. Sport mode does not.

The battery is surprisingly small, only 1080mAh, when each of my AA are triple that. The camera will last a few hours, but my old Canon S2 can do 2-3 times as many pictures easily. I nearly ran out of juice one night. Invest in a spare.

My final verdict: A study in compromises that turn a fantastic sensor into a mediocre product. If you want it, get the 18-55 zoom lens kit. I took it back; the search for the perfect SLR continues.

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I bought this about 4 months ago and have shot about 2800 pictures using mostly the 18-55mm lens but also some old Canon manual focus prime lenses for which I bought a $20 adapter on ebay. In this review I'll confine my remarks to the experience with the 18-55mm lens.

My reason for buying this camera was that I wanted to take high quality indoor pictures without flash of my grandchildren, who won't sit still. Flash, in my opinion, ruins pictures. I didn't want the bulk of a dslr, and felt that the mirrorless large sensor cameras such as the Nex, Panasonic G, and Olympus PEN are technologically the future and appealingly small. Of those, I chose the Nex because it has the best low light sensitivity of the mirrorless system cameras, which was my main reason for buying a new camera.

The results greatly exceed my original hopes. I have gotten great people/children shots, indoors, in beautiful natural low light, with never any motion blur, and never any bothersome noise/grain, using the 18-55mm lens. It is a pleasure to use and the results are spectacular. I'm sure that this low light quality is also achievable with a dslr, but unlike a dslr this camera fits in my jacket pocket, dangles comfortably on a wrist strap, and is not intimidatingly large object pointed at children and people. If you have struggled with using a small camera getting glary flash pictures with red eye or, alternatively, blurred, noisy, low light pictures of moving people, (which is what I was tired of) this camera is great solution. The results are beautiful. For me that makes it worthwhile and I am thrilled with this purchase.

A few other notes that may be of interest. I carefully compared graininess/noise between my old canon point and shoot (a fine camera) and the Nex. Grain/noise at ISO 800 on the point and shoot is about the same as ISO 12600 on the Nex, IS0 400 is similar to ISO 6400. With the NEX you can comfortably shoot at ISO 3200 and not worry about noise. That is huge for low light. I find the focus speed with the Nex to be very good, very fast and very accurate. Also unlike my point and shoot the focus motor is silent so no focus noise gets into your movies.

Frankly however if you shoot travel photos outdoors in sunlight, you would need to be a very fussy person to care about the improvement in picture quality between this sensor and a decent point and shoot camera. Yes it is sharper even outdoors in bright light, but frankly not enough to make the upgrade worthwhile for me, but that is a personal choice. If you would only shoot travel pictures with a dslr, then you will like this because the sensor is the same as the those sensors. If you are happy with your point and shoot for those pictures, I'm not sure you will see the improvement unless you put pictures side by side.

Lorex LNC104 LIVE Ping Wireless Network Camera

This good basic network camera. It is compact and has good daytime and night vision picture quality. It has a microphone and a speaker can be attached for two-way communication. It has a Micro SD-Card slot that allows it to record on its own; you can also record to your hard disk or a Network Attached Storage device. It can connect to your network by ethernet and Wifi. Apple routers do not support WPS (WiFi Protected Setup), so you need to use the manual setup instructions if you use an Airport or Time Capsule. I found it no more difficult to set up on my Apple Airport-based network than any other network camera. Once you have the camera installed, a QR Code on the back of the camera an be used to to configure the client software on your iPhone or iPad.

A detailed user manual, Mac-specific instructions, and Mac client software are all available on the Lorex support site.

Where the LNC 104 fails to measure up is in software:

Mac OSX. The L-View Mac client software, which is in beta and must be downloaded from Lorex is bare-bones and obviously a work in progress. An update came out recently which at least gives it basic functionality. You can now record to your hard drive, but if your want to play back your clips, you need VLC Player, a free open-source media layer. Ironically, VLC Player includes a feature not found and any version of the Lorex software: the ability to copy and convert clips to more useful formats.

-iOS iPad. The basic functionality of the iPad version is OK. There are a couple or problems areas for me, however. The Lorex iPad software only works in landscape mode. This is a pet peeve of mine; the only time I ever voluntarily use my iPad in landscape mode is when I'm watching a long-form video like a movie or TV show. The Lorex software prevents your iPad from going to sleep; if you walk away from it while it is running (it does not even need to be connected to a camera), it will drain your battery. There are rudimentary playback controls for clips recorded on your iPad, but none for clips played from the camera's SD card. There is no way to export clips into a more useful format.

While I was writing this review, both my iPhone 4S and iPad 3 lost the ability to connect to the cam (at the same time). The desktop client, the web, and my iPad 1 all continued to work. The iPad 3 and iPhone 4S had to be re-started to regain the ability to connect to the cam.

-iOS iPhone. The iPhone app has the same functionality and issues as the iPad version except that it works in landscape or portrait mode and it needs to be connected to the cam before it overrides the system's effort to go into sleep mode and drains your battery. The iPhone version does have the ability to convert recordings made on the phone to .avi format files, but how this is done and how the resulting files can be accessed by other apps is not apparent. The user manual says only: "...you can...also convert the video files to .avi files for sharing."

-Windows. The Windows version is not without its share of irritants. If you want to play back a recording on the SD card, you click a button in the viewing window which opens a dialog box with a list of the daily folders. You open the folder for the appropriate day, scroll to the clip you want to view, then click Playback or double-click on the clip name. The dialog box closes and the clip plays. If you want to see the previous or next clip, you have to repeat the entire process. Depending on the the capacity of your SD-Card, you can have dozens or even hundreds of clips on the card. The Windows version now has the ability to record clips to your hard disk. Like the Mac version, you must download and install VLC Player in order to view any you have recorded.

-Web Interface. As you might expect, the web interface gives you the most information about the cam settings. To display video in the web interface, Internet Explorer is required because an Active-X control is used. This means you cannot view the cam image via the web page at all on a Mac or if you use Firefox or another non-MSIE browser in Windows. However, even with Internet Explorer and the Lorex Active-X control installed and enabled, all I ever got was a black frame with "Locating..." in the middle of it.

I found part of the web interface to be unnecessarily confusing and perhaps a little flaky. To me scheduling basically means creating a list of things to be done at a specific day and time. This task is available under Scheduling, but they have also lumped a bunch of behavior controls under the same heading. To me, it makes more sense to have the set-ups for alarms, notifications, and recording criteria under one heading and setting the days and times to do those things under a separate header. I understand the need for complex scheduling in security cams and I've done it on other systems, but there should also be a "Use the settings I've specified 24 hours a day, 7 days a week" check box to simplify the process when appropriate.

I was able to set up email notification and motion activation. The email notifications include a still frame as a jpeg file. However, it seems like anytime I made a change in the settings, I ended up starting from scratch. Accessing the web interface from Safari on a Mac, I was able to delete but not download clips from the SD card. Firefox on the Mac could see the clips folders, but none of their contents. Using MSIE in Windows, I was able to delete and download the files and view the downloaded files using VLC Player.

I think this is a great network cam if all you need to do is set up a camera and monitor the situation in real time. You can accomplish that in iOS, Windows, and even the Mac beta version. However, I find the process for creating, viewing, organizing, editing, and exporting clips to be cumbersome at best. If you do not know the exact date and time a clip may have been recorded, finding the pertinent clip could be very time-consuming. I also think the process for setting camera features and scheduling could be more intuitive.

I was able to get this camera working with no trouble at all. I installed the PC based software and that worked great. To get at all the detailed settings, you need to go to the web interface for the camera. The camera supports two way audio, so you can talk to anyone who is at the camera location. I have my camera set up at my cabin in Wisconsin through WiFi and I can monitor the weather and the neighborhood dogs! Quality is great. I am really impressed with this camera and recommend it.

Notes:

To get the software from the Lorex website, you must first go to this products web page, then you will find a tab on the bottom for downloads.

WPS setup was fast and easy. Just hit the button on your router and then on the camera.

Quality of the picture is really good. I can monitor the camera from my Android phone, Kindle Fire, and PC.

Customer service was great and replied fast to my question. I wanted to know how to record only when the motion sensor when off, not all the time. Here are the details:

*******************

For motion setup, In the manual under SD card recording/Schedule. The general steps are:

1. Enable SD card recording in Schedule mode.

2. In the Schedule menu, set the SD recording for PIR, Motion or

PIR+Motion.

3. Create an everyday schedule that covers the entire day.

*******************

Buy Lorex LNC104 LIVE Ping Wireless Network Camera Now

This camera is functional, and I eventually got it to do maybe 60% of what I bought it for. But overall the software for all the systems I tried is pretty crappy and buggy; and the features I bought it for are nonexistent and/or very well hidden.

I bought this camera for monitoring my pets, who apparently bark a lot when I'm not home. So naturally, I wanted a web camera that could record when triggered by sound, and preferably alert me remotely. In fact, I found this particular model by searching for something like "pet monitoring audio trigger", which led me to the "Pet Monitoring Solutions" page on Lorex's website. Although that page doesn't list the model number, the page behind the "view details" link on the bottom clearly lists the camera as LNC104.

The "Pet Monitoring" page makes lots of appealing claims, including:

"you can set the system to record automatically whenever your pet makes a sound with the audio trigger function"

and

"The SD compatible IP camera can store up to 16GB worth of footage" (and also mentions uploading said footage to social media sites)

After fiddling with the camera and puzzling out the instructions for a few hours, I finally found an audio trigger function. However, bizarrely, it is only available on mobile devices, and only for triggering push notifications, not to start recording or send email alerts or any of the other kinds of alerts that are available for motion detection. Luckily for me, I was going to use it on my Android tablet, anyway. After another hour or so of deleting and re-adding the camera to the list (and watching it spontaneously change its own settings), I actually got the push notifications to work! on a local network. sometimes. with a delay of a few seconds. So if the dogs only bark once or twice, by the time I see the notification and "tune in", it'll be all over and I will get no information.

OK, fine so maybe I can just use the sound notification to alert me to events, and record using movement triggers, ont the 16GB of space the camera is supposed to have? Not so fast. This camera does not, in fact, have any built-in space. It does have a micro SD slot that can take up to a 32G card. So I guess now I have to find or by a microSD card. and then manually compare my sound-triggered observations with the timestamps on the motion-triggered recording. Yay.

Other annoyances:

-extremely unintuitive menu design; setting up recording schedules involves going to at least two separate menu "families", one to schedule the times in question and a separate one to say what you want to do during these times. The various trigger options are spread out in different, inconsistent menus, also depending on what it is you want to use the trigger for. "alarm" can either mean push notification or making the speakers("sold separately") attached to the camera itself make noise.

-proprietary video format (?) the software for running the cameras comes with a separate player that you need to play the videos. the format is .sdb, and a quick googling does not show it as a widely used video format. I haven't looked into it too much though. This seems to preclude the advertised "uploading to social media"

-inconsistencies between manual and software, for example: manual says that 1 is lowest and 10 is highest sensitivity; android software says the opposite. Still not sure which one is right I ended up just setting it to 5.

Conclusion:

should have just downloaded the open-source iSpy softaware and used it with my webcam.

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got on special price because it has two way voice. was rather easy to setup on wired. Took a little more effort on wireless because the MAC address on the card does not match the MAC address needed for my router where I want MAC filtering.

Color fidelity is off in the green direction for whites. But with the Lorex App, you can view your home and talk to your dog from anywhere in the world.....I happen to be in China this moment and can talk to me wife and dog with no problem. the sofware works well. Better than the FOSCAM I also have.

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Summary: Small device that came with few instructions and no Mac software in the box, but in the end it works well and does what it says with some minor effort.

What's in the box:

The Lorex LNC104 comes with a folded, color instruction sheet that is written for PCs, a CD that has the PC software and a URL for the Mac software, ethernet cable, USB cable and a power supply brick (white w/white cable to match the device). I was not initially impressed with the PC instruction booklet, but I did find that combining it with the online instructions for the Mac at the Lorex website was sufficient for me to sort things out.

Installation:

The software is pretty crude by today's standards. You have to know to "right-click" on certain portions of the display to make settings, connect to the camera for setup, etc. Also, the look is "industrial" at best. No eye candy here it looks like it came from the Windows 2000 era at best. I mention this, because you MUST have the instructions handy or you will be very, very unlikely to figure the installation or use out yourself in any reasonable amount of time. It is strange that the interface would not include more obvious buttons, tabs or menu items to set up and operate the cameras, but it doesn't. That said, the software does work, it only crashed on me once.

You MUST have an ethernet connection initially or it is unlikely that you will be able to connect to the camera. It is apparently possible to connect wirelessly if you have a router that has a WPS broadcast button, which allows wireless password sync with the camera, but I've not seen very many of those. In fact, the only one I ever had was a proprietary T-Mobile / D-link router for the old T-Mobile "hotspot at home" feature on the their older wifi phones. Perhaps there are more, but my Apple AEB's don't have the button, so I had to wire in the camera to start with and then, using one of those "right-click" instructions mentioned before, configure the device using the Lorex web configure tool. Now, interestingly, this web configure tool seems a lot nicer than the downloaded software. Almost as if a different team wrote it one from this decade. Hate to sound so snide, but I'm just not used to having to stay slaved to printed instructions. There are no setup "wizards" here. It's all about "simon says" and if you get one wrong, it doesn't work. For instance, when I attempted to set up wireless operation, I used the printed instructions and got to the point that the web based setup tool said to pull the ethernet connection to enable wireless operation. The printed instruction didn't say to do this until I ran one test with the wired AND wireless connection in place. Turns out the hardcopy was right.

After going through all the wired, then wireless setup, I decided to download the Ping application for my iPhone 4S. It is, as to be expected by this time, not very slick looking, but it works. Setup was a lot easier than the initial setup.

Use:

Once the setup is done, the use is pretty simple. The camera is a VGA resolution device, so the pictures are far from HD. That said, daylight pics are decent. The featured low light images are pretty gunky looking, but usable so far. I did not carry out extensive testing on that part it's supposed to have an IR illuminator as well as a sensitive camera,

One issue is that although the box claims you can have conversations with another person using this device as it has a small mic and a speaker, this feature is not too useful iMHO. I have pretty great internet service and have no issue using VOIP from Skype, Ooma, GoToMeeting, etc. With the Lorex, the time lag for sound is about 2-3 seconds. This makes communication really tough. I think the best use for the sound capability is Mic only to listen for issues around the camera.

Why I removed one star:

1. No Mac instructions in the box. Although the PC instructions were helpful when used with the online Mac info, this is not a huge deal and they should have taken care of it. These are small files and small apps. It is almost as if they had a shipment deadline and were catching up on the Mac portion while the PC stuff was being manufactured and shipped. This puts the burden of consolidating documentation and software on me, the customer.

2. Time lag. A couple seconds is a long time for a potentially real-time device. This is 1.5 seconds longer than I would have thought.

3. The awkward back and forth setup between wired and wireless communication. I have to believe this could have been made easier. You usually don't have to do this with other wireless wifi devices.

4. Crude software. Like I said, it works, but it looks like a home hobby project and you must read the instructions to use it. This is below par for both Mac and PC nowadays. But, to repeat, it does work, which is why I don't mark it down more.

Trick features:

Being able to access the video stream from Mac, PC, Android and iPhone is great. Being able to do this with up to 20 (I only tested 2) devices at once is cool.

During handheld setup, you can input the device info to your phone via a QR code on the back of the camera. The implementation was rough (no surprise) but worked well enough.

Trick feature I didn't yet test:

Remote access via wif at Starbucks. If I get to this, I will update the review. Since I have cable, with DHCP addressing and a NAT in the path, I don't see how I will be able to access the device out of the home as is promised on the box, but we'll see. I suspect this can only be accomplished if i get a static address for my home (not going to happen $$$).

Conclusion:

I guess I would recommend this to a friend if they found it at the right price. IMHO, this would be under a hundred. No great shopping experience here, it just feels like it should be in that price range to represent good value. The best way I can describe this device is, it's a Bexperience. That is, it could have been an A grade play, but the software is just good enough to work, but not good enough to be happy about not by some margin. All the tested features worked and the device appears to be well made for indoor use. This includes a nice metal pivot arm instead of the expected cheap plastic hardware. If you have the patience and aptitude for a no-wizard setup experience, and the price is right, go for it.

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Campro Adjustable Swivel Shoe Mount, Accessory Shoe To 1/4x20 Thread for Mounting Video Monitors

useable, but the rubber on top of the screw didn't last more than one use. I had to replace it after the first use with a random part I had left over. Plus shipping on this small piece was almost half the price, doesn't add up for me. Great customer service but not the best quality of product.

JVC GR-D370 MiniDV Camcorder w/32x Optical Zoom

This is the first camcorder I've ever owned. I saw it demonstrated on the shopping channel, and eventually went shopping myself for an equal good price. It's a 2006 model, and has only been around for a few months. After having it just a few days so far...I'd say so far so good! I'd have to say it's fairly simple to operate, and offers a great many bells & whistles for the price. The 32x optical zoom is what sold me, and it works like a charm. The digital zoom extends that to 64x and 800x. I have yet to try out the "super-zoom". The camera features stabilization control, but I'll admit its still tough to keep it steady even at 32x! The other features include night vision, live slow, an automatic focusing control, with auto white balance etc... and can operate as a digital (still) camera as well. If I was to make design changes, it would be to have some of the operating controls, FF STOP etc, on the outside of the unit, instead of having to open the LCD viewfinder to operate many of the basics. The only operational button within easy reach, is to release the pause mode & record from standby. Actually, the button to take "a picture" is right there too.

Battery power is ok I guess. The rechargeable pack (included) allows up to 90 min on average. To upgrade to a 3 hr or 7 hr battery will cost you!! No SD memory card included either.

So in the end, if you compare the features and prices of JVC's competitors, I'd say they did pretty well with this one.

This camera was great at first and very easy to use, however, the condensation error many others seem to have came true for us as well. When we first got the error it had not been anywhere near any water or moisture, so we put it in our cedar chest (we keep our house very dry and don't live in a humid area Nebraska). This worked for a few months, but the error is now on permanently and the camera is useless. I wish it was different, but bottom line, this is a disposable video camera a nice one, but still disposable!

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First one I bought was defective upon purchase. Returned for new one at JVC advise. Second one broke after 5 uses and 6 months. Was told by JVC it would cost me $145.00 to repair. Total piece of junk and JVC will not stand behind their own product. Bought a Sony for about the same price and it is working just fine.

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I agree with the many other users who have experienced the "Condensation, Operation Paused" defect on their JVC GR-xxxx. Despite numerous others reporting this problem, JVC says its not a recognized problem. I would disagree it is a recognized problem, but its your problem, not theirs.

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Everything positive written about this camera is true while the camera is working. Specifically impressive is the image quality (I shop for cameras like I shop for TVs...what's the picture I want to see? This looked sharper and more film-like than others in the store at the time).

If you're curious, we only had the 90 day warrantee and after two years it quit in storage. The hardware evaluation to fix it is around $50 last I checked, and ordering the suspected damaged bit (the CCD) cost more than I bought the original camera for. Haven't yet found a place that'll recycle it since it's slightly older, and I feel bad paying too much for replacement parts and worse for buying the exact same thing over again.

I think I just joined that club of "Charge me more and build a durable working product rather than making it cheaper and having it promised not to die within a certain timespan."

Fujifilm FinePix F750EXR Digital Camera (Red)

4-stars for camera design and still image quality, 1 star for video.

I have tested and compared images, video, features, and usability for all the top ultra-zoom compacts including Fuji F770EXR/F750EXR, Canon SX260HS, Sony HX9V, Panasonic ZS-15 and ZS-19/20. This was the last camera I compared and I was expecting to really like it as Image Quality is my first priority criteria, followed by video, then features/usability. Here's my main takeaways:

Well lit, ISO 100-200 shots: Fuji gets 3rd place. Canon SX260HS has best detail with least noise. Panasonic ZS-15/19/20 are next best with slightly better detail than Fuji with a tiny more noise. Sony ties for 3rd with Fuji with slightly less detail and noise (Sony has the most agressive noise reduction of the 4 so there is a little bit more detail smearing.)

Fuji is almost unusable for video. When you pan the camera the video stutters. Even worse, when you zoom, camera has MAJOR problems focusing to the point the camera will not focus properly at all most of the time beyond 7X zoom. The lens motor is also the most audible out of all the 4 cameras. Panasonics you can barely hear the lens. Sony wins with Panasonics coming in a close second.

Low-light / High ISO: Fuji comes in second. Sony wins. Panasonics come in third images are unusable beyond ISO 800, too much yellow color splotching all over. At ISO 400, it is practically a tie between Panasonic, Fuji, and Sony. At crazy ISO 1600 and up, Fuji wins with usable images (barely) followed by Sony but you really can't expect much from these small cameras with small sensors at those kind of ISOs.

Flash: Fuji comes in third. Very strange flash that only pops up manually (which has its benefits). You must press tiny button on side of camera really hard. Flash is not motorized and it looks like a part of the camera that could easily break in the future. Flash is underpowered compared to the other cameras.

Design/Usability/Software Fuji is heaviest of the 4 cameras but has a nice rubberized feeling body finish. Panasonic is amazingly small. Sony in-between. All of them have different styles of software. Panasonic has best set of software features. Sony very limited in scene modes. Fuji has nice software but many of the options are locked out when in any mode other than manual. Panasonic's wins as far as the Intelligent Auto function. Very reliable. Canon had troubles focusing sometimes.

Overall, Panasonic wins. Fuji would be a close second, tied with Sony if the video wasn't so terrible. Search YouTube for videos including this example:

I'm surprised by some of the negative reviews on this product, and wondering if the folks who had problems somehow landed with defective models. My experience has been pretty flawless from day one. I bought this camera as an add-on to my usual DSLR; I was looking for a pocket-sized camera with a great zoom (this one had markedly better range than other pocket cameras I tested) and a nice variety of auto, semi-auto, and manual features to play with.

One of the features some of the reviews took exception to was the push-button flash. I can understand the concern about breakage, but I've used this little guy for over 5 months now in less-than-delicate conditions and haven't had an issue. I actually like the manual nature of the flash, as it's an easy way to get a "flash" photo -or turn off the flash -without fiddling with the settings menu.

It's been very good with rapid response in turning on/off, the menus are relatively intuitive, and some of the menu options -such as the panorama setting -are outstanding. I've taken some of the most beautiful landscape shots with this tiny camera, many of which rival even those taken with my Canon.

Is there some noise? Yes. I also have noticed that in automatic settings, outdoor pictures tend to be a bit blown out and overexposed. I deal with that either in Photoshop/Lightroom, or by switching to a manual setting and adjusting ISO from there.

The other little quibble I have it that when the zoom is maxed out, autofocus doesn't work. You have to pull back slightly on the zoom to activate the autofocus. Other than that, I haven't experienced the loss of focus or the problem with tracking focus that another reviewer mentioned.

Is it perfect? No. But for the price, it's a great little camera for travel or for everyday shutterbug adventures when a big DSLR is too much to pack along. I'd definitely recommend this purchase.

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I've taken a zillion exposure-bracketed pictures (for subsequent HDR merging) and videos with this little guy and it's been great. It's certainly not perfect, but given the price, I have no regrets. The zoom is outrageously noisy when recording video and the autofocus during zooming is terrible, but I still consider this a great deal and keep it with me at all times. It's my first Fuji product and I've gained enough trust in their technology to start investigating their higher-end cameras.

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Hi users and reviewers of this camera:

The blurb above says, "High Speed Continuous Shooting Capture action at almost 8 fps at full 16-megapixel resolution or shoot at 11 fps at 8-megapixel resolution" and the manual on page 47 describes how to do this ... but I only ever got three pics. That's hardly continuous.

So I called customer support and they confirmed that it does not shoot true continuous, just three separate pics with one shutter press.

Can't be true, so I just hit "redial" on the 800 number and this time got somebody who at least cared, and was even knowledgeable.

Continuous does work (albeit with limitations,) but nothing like in the manual ... and really klunky and non-intuitive.

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I must admit, I purchased the camera because it was pretty. That being said, I needed a camera with a good zoom and date stamp.

Within a few weeks the lens cover started to stick and my photos had a black spot on the lower right corner. That self corrected after a few days. After 3 months of use the lens went bad-couldn't take any photos at all. I contacted Fuji and since the camera was under warranty they gave me directions to send it in for repair.

After they had the camera for a week, they sent me a bill for $200 to replace the lens. After a lengthy phone conversation with Fuji they fixed the camera under the warranty which we should not have to beg them to do what they promise to do when we purchase these items to begin with. I got the unit back 5 days ago with a different lens on it.

Drove 112 miles to get my photos for work yesterday and guess what?, yes my lens is malfunctioning again. Cost me time and money. I would send it in for repair, but I need to cut my loses now. They can have it back, but I won't spend the $10.00 to ship it back. It's too bad, it sure is pretty.

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Optex iVision Wireless 2-Way Video Door Intercom System

A previous reviewer stated, inaccurately, that the product descriptions for this unit are misleading. This is not the case. I am submitting this review to (hopefully) correct the misperceptions created by that review. (If said reviewer happens to see this, check the last part of my review to see how to correctly use your unit. I think you will be pleasantly surprised to see it will, in fact, very easily do exactly what you purchased it for, based on your stated needs.)

Here is the Amazon.com product description (my comments added):

"The new iVision achieves both by giving you the ability to not only know when somebody is outside your home, but to view and talk to them from the safety and comfort of any location in the house. The iVision package includes a convenient hand-held wireless receiver with 2.25" LCD monitor and battery operated doorbell/camera unit with over 300ft. transmission range. (Specifies that the door unit can be battery operated, which is accurate.) In addition, the doorbell/camera unit can be hardwired into existing doorbell power supply to allow the user to utilize a "browse" feature on the handheld unit. (Very clearly specifies that ***IF*** you wire the door unit to the existing doorbell power supply, ***THEN*** you can do more things with it. Note that this says nothing about wiring it directly to AC power this unit operates on low voltage only.) This feature allows the user to monitor the view from the doorbell/camera unit on the LCD display. (States what the addition capability is. Monitor simply means to be able to view the camera at will, versus interacting only as a two-way video intercom when the doorbell button on the door unit is pressed. It should be noted that this product is called a VIDEO INTERCOM, not a full-time surveillance camera. And it really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that the ability to sit around viewing the camera whenever you want, for as long as you want, would require some additional power source at the camera besides the small batteries it uses. The manufacturer locked that function out when on battery only mode so people wouldn't sit around constantly running down the batteries in the camera unit.)

One can certainly understand if, upon receipt of the product, the purchaser realizes he/she did not fully understand the product description and decides to return it. (My sympathies to the reviewer who apparently went through product return hell.) But to give the product a one star review because you didn't fully digest the words you read is unnecessary. I have used many Optex products over the past 15 years, and I say with complete confidence that they make uncommonly solid, reliable products.

HERE'S HOW TO WIRE THE DOORBELL/CAMERA UNIT, QUICKLY AND EASILY:

Note: This assumes the existing doorbell a) Exists, b) is functional and c) is a hardwired doorbell. The overwhelming majority of homes in the US have hardwired doorbells. Whether they are functional is obviously a matter of whether they have been maintained in working condition. If your existing doorbell system uses a wireless doorbell button (usually done as a quick, inexpensive fix when the hardwired unit malfunctions, rather than having it repaired), you will not be able to use the browse mode on the camera without wiring low voltage power to the doorbell/camera unit. If you don't know what that entails, find or hire someone who does.

Installation: Hardwired doorbells use a transformer inside the house to convert AC power to a low voltage power source that operates the doorbell system. Basically the same as all the bazillion transformers we all have plugged into our outlets to power various things, except this one is hardwired directly to your AC wiring instead of plugged into an outlet. That low voltage output powers two things the doorbell itself (the actual ding-donger), and the button by the door. ALL THAT IS NEEDED TO HARDWIRE EXISTING DOORBELL POWER TO YOUR NEW DOORBELL/CAMERA UNIT IS TO TAKE THE EXISTING DOORBELL BUTTON OFF THE WALL AND ADD A FEW INCHES OF TWO-CONDUCTOR WIRE, GOING FROM THE TERMINALS ON THE BACK OF THE BUTTON TO THE POWER INPUTS ON THE DOORBELL/CAMERA UNIT. REATTACH THE OLD BUTTON, SCREW THE NEW UNIT TO THE WALL, AND YOU ARE DONE.

If your original doorbell was working, then the new one should now be ready to go. Note that this means the unit is intended to be mounted next to the door (just like your existing doorbell button), not on the door directly. If you don't care about the extra capability gained when hardwiring, and just want to stick with battery operation, slap it right on the door if you want to. Keep in mind that if you choose not to wire it to the existing doorbell, the existing doorbell cannot activate the video intercom, as a previous reviewer noted. But that really shouldn't seem like rocket science to anyone smart enough to get online and order products. :-)

I am not affiliated with Optex in any way. I am self-employed in a service industry. I just ordered one of these units for my mother, who is about to have hip-replacement surgery. It's a brilliant design, easily installed and operated, and from a good, reputable manufacturer.

We purchased a device advertised as a two-way intercom security system. However, it only works if communication is issued from one-end thus not fully making it two ways. This did not suit our needs and we contacted Surveillent via phone four times over a period of three weeks to initiate a return authorization prior to the 30 day return window and received no response whatsoever. We then contacted the company via email through Amazon.com and finally received a response. They made no apology for lack of customer service in returning our initial phone calls and proceeded to tell us that it was our fault we purchased the wrong product even though the product description is very limited and reads as follows:

Technical Details

* 300ft transmission range, line of sight

* Two way Intercom 2.25" LCD Color Monitor

* Live browsing feature when door / camera unit is hardwired

* System can store up to 163 images

* Day/Night Operation

I explained that there was no way we could know how this works without seeing the product. What then ensued was the single worst online shopping experience I have ever had. Surveillent told us that we had abused them by "trying to using their products as our own research facility," mocked our "inability" to do proper research and subsequently harassed us through seven different emails. They threatened us with a "dream team of lawyers" that they had $30 million in sales and they were going to "teach us a legal lesson." Clearly at Surveillant not only is the customer not always right they are to be abused while shopping. If you want to by this product do so through a different Amazon seller in case it doesn't suit your needs.

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There is not too much to say that isn't already mentioned by Andrew. I took off 1 star because this is a half duplex system. Meaning that if the person outside is talking and you start talking from inside then you can not hear the person outside while your voice is transmitting to them. For 200+ bucks full duplex it should have been full duplex. Conversations are limited to 60 seconds. The device does store snapshots of the individuals that ring your doorbell so that you can see who may have stopped by while you were out. The camera works great in darkness but not very good when the suns brightness is reaching the camera.

I think some way of communicating with the person at your door without opening it is important to have. Being able to see them and automatically snapping a picture is a huge plus.

Heres how we installed the device on my house that has Vinyl siding. We removed the doorbell then removed the 2 wires that was hooked up to the doorbell. we then drilled a hold from the right of the doorbell (where the vinyl meets the lip thats next to the door frame) hole into the doorbell hole then attached those 2 wires to some wires in a flat telephone line. We then hid the flat phone line in the lip next to the door frame (where the vinyl meet the lip) and we mounted the intercom right next to the lip. Looks great but right now my intercom is only being held by the vinyl so its not as secure as I would like it to be. Perhaps I need longer screws or maybe needed to find a "stud" first. We are newbies at this kind of stuff.

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Product does as it represented. Communicates around 100 feet through an exterior wall, three interior walls and up to a second story in the house.

The only real draw back is if you mount the exterior unit to utilize an existing door bell connection the camera has no upward adjustment. At that mounting height you get a picture of a waist.

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This thing is great! After getting quotes from local alarm dealers I decided to look in to this because it was hundreds of dollars cheaper than what I was quoted for wired systems. I was a little unsure if this would work since I live in a 4 story row home but after getting it setup it works just fine. My only complaint is that when people press the button it only rings on the unit itself. It would be nice if it would also send a signal to the rest of the doorbells in my house as well.

What I did then is put my original doorbell button right below this unit, spliced in to the same doorbell wire. When people see this unit, most of the time they press the regular doorbell since it's not immediately noticeable on the unit where the button is. Using this setup all of my doorbells ring which alerts me to somebody outside. Then I just go to the remote viewer and press the answer button to activate the camera. The security this provides me and my wife is excellent because my front door does not have a viewing hole to see who's outside.

Setup was a cinch too! All you have to do is remove your old door bell, mount the bracket, and attach the wires to this unit. Then put the unit in to the bracket and lock it in via a screw on the bottom and you're set! If you want to plug in your original door bell like I did, just get any thin wire and attach the additional wire to the back of this unit and run the wire to your old door bell. Should work just fine. Since this works off of low voltage wiring, it's also nice that you don't have to mess around with fuses and such at your fuse box during installation.

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LTS LTD431LCDH6KIT 4-Camera H.264 Digital Video Recorder Security System with Built-In 7-Inch LCD

After 2nd day one camera went off th air,no information provided in the manual to contact customer service for troubleshooting,still unable to setup remote monitoring,the registry web site provided in the manual was flagged by norton antivirus to be unsafe.I called amazon and they provided me with company contact information,turns out the LTS that amazon provided is not the right company to contact.Going back in time I would buy a product with better costumer service.

New Dynex 1080p v1.3 HDMI Video Cable - 6ft (2M)!

i bought this item a long while ago, and it still works great! i use it with my desktop computer

I bought a few of these HDMI cables for connecting together my home theater. I've got one between my PS3 and surround sound receiver, another from the receiver to the television, and one from the receiver to a computer which I only connect and use occasionally. The cable was easy to put in place, plugs in without a problem, and operates as expected, even with repeated disconnecting/reconnecting.

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Purchased 5 cables. The cables came promptly but were only 6.33 feet long (aka 6'4"). They were not 6.6 feet. Besides being too short, everything else about them are perfect. If you don't need the couple extra inches like I did then these are for you.

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Canon Optura 600 4.3MP MiniDV Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom

In wanting to replace my old (JVC GRDVM90U) camera/camcorder combo, I looked at the Canon Optura 600 and the Sony DCR-PC1000. Consumer Reports claimed high return/defect rates for JVC models, so I steered clear away from purchasing another JVC -especially since my old camcorder exhibited many of the same issues multiple people have documented in the GRDVM90U's reviews. Besides wanting to stick with MiniDV (for my old tapes' sake), what was most important to me in a replacement camcorder was 1) size, 2) still picture quality, 3) low-light ability, and 4) overall versatility. The Optura 600 delivered impeccably on all fronts. Size-wise, it is the smallest MiniDV camcorder I've seen on the market yet, although the Sony DCR-PC1000 appears to be a close second. What I liked about the Optura more than the Sony, however, was the overall design -it felt more solid and compact as opposed to small, but long and narrow. I wanted to be able to tote something around fairly easily and unnoticably, and the Optura delivered. It was so small it fit easily in a small purse (along with other small gadgets, ie. phone and Ipod), and large pockets also made for a comfortable home for it. The still picture quality was probably the clincher in my final decision to go with the Optura over the Sony. One thing to note, however, is that the Optura 600 is 4.0MP, *not* 4.3MP. Regardless, its 4.0MP beats Sony's 2.7MP hands-down. Because it was important for me to purchase a camcorder that would also serve the purpose of a digital camera (why have one of each when you can have something that can do both well?), I went for the higher-end Optura. Also, Canon's Elph Series digital cameras have always appeared to deliver consistent, great-quality digital images (practically everyone I know owns some version of the Elph), and I felt more comfortable knowing that Canon's still-camera expertise would translate better to a camcorder combo than Sony's (last I heard Canon didn't manufacture TVs, amplifiers, and PCs, as well). In addition to having a more than adequate low-light function (sometimes, surprisingly, it makes dark shots brighter than desired), it has all the basic functions and features one would expect from a camera of this caliber (ie. special effects, video/picture transfer software, numerous manual and automatic settings, widescreen functionality, all the cables and connectors needed to hook up to your TV and PC, 10x optical zoom, etc.). The one and only thing that I did like better in the Sony was its built-in, retractable lens cover -I found myself constantly fiddling with the plastic lens cover of the Optura whenever I unexpectedly came across a shot I just *had* to have. Other than that, I'm quite thrilled with my purchase and have not been disappointed yet. Design-wise, yes, it is a bit awkward (depends on the size of your hand and the dexterity of your fingers, really) -but this thing is tiny, so there has to be some compromise in ergonomics. I've found this to be a minor point, as the Optura's style, design, and overall look more than compromise for the slight awkwardness that really only takes a little getting used to. I often get many comments from strangers in awe of it whenever I take it out to capture a moment, and that alone is almost enough to overlook its minor faults.

I've been using a Canon Elura 2 for several years now, and have been amazed that it has taken so long to produce a better camcorder in the same small package. For a long time, the smallest camcorders have been bigger than the Elura 2. Finally, the Optura 600 is a worthwhile upgrade. Better video quality, better lens, better semi-pro features (exposure, etc.), full anamorphic 16:9, external mic input, and a great still camera mode.

I've always liked the smallest camcorder available on the theory that if you don't have it with you, you can't take the videos. The Optura 600 is small, and really packs in the features.

I did some extensive still photo comparisons with the Optura 600 still camera and my Canon Elph 500 (5 megapixels). Other than a slightly different color balance, it was nearly impossible to tell any significant difference. I also compared Super Fine vs. Fine mode, and actually thought the Fine mode had slightly better image quality. Just because the file size is bigger doesn't mean that the resultant photo is any better. I'd recommend you try the comparison yourself, but my choice is to keep it in Fine mode and not use the full SuperFine mode. This is a really great feature of the Optura 600 because you can really leave your digital still camera behind (which usually only have 3x or 4x optical zoom) and use the very nice 10x optical zoom.

For anyone who has any intent of editing, miniDV tape is much better than miniDVD. The quality (and bitrate) is far better, and most editing software works much better with this format. And shoot your videos in 16:9. Even if you don't have a widescreen TV now, you will before you know it, and you'll appreciate the fact your videos are in the modern format. The Optura 600 uses the whole image sensor for 16:9, so you aren't losing any image quality.

My main complaint is the lack of an external battery charger, but this seems to be the trend these days. It is amazing that they can fit the battery charging logic into the camcorder body, but I really like to have an external charger to charge one battery while I use a second. You can get one for under $30, but they really ought to give you one in the package.

(All the comments about it being uncomfortable to hold seem to fail to take into account that this is a small camera. The hand hold design is the same as the old Elura 2 you hold it at an angle with your thumb on the record button, and your index or middle finger on the zoom. Your ring and little finger wrap around the front. With the great new still camera mode, I find it better to use the middle finger for zoom and the index finger for the shutter release. But the design works as well as you could hope for in such a small camera. Left handed folks may have a bit more trouble, but that is true for most camcorders.)

If you've been waiting to upgrade your camcorder, this is a good choice. You'll get great MiniDV quality (suitable for editing to high quality DVD) and a really great still camera in one package. The video will look good on HD widescreen TVs. Maybe in a few years high def camcorders will be small, cheap, and easy to edit and produce to HD-DVD, but for now, this is much more practical, and will give you very good quality video. And it is so small, you might actually take it with you.

Update: I just took this camera on vacation, and I love it even more. I carried only this camera most of the time, and could take both video and photos as needed. While the still camera takes great pictures, it is a bit slow on startup and between picture cycle time. Also, there is a noticible lag between pushing the button and taking the photo, so it is critical to use the "push the button down half-way" feature to pre-focus. If you do this, then there is no delay. But it was just fantastic to have the 10x lens, and a great photo and video camera in one small unit.

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I have used this camera only for a day or two. Picture quality is really good. The photo quality is great, almost as good as a stand alone digital camera.

This camera is ideal for someone with small hand size. Otherwise please try it before you buy. The hand strap can be VERY uncomfortable. I have already felt it on the first day of use.

Not a great feel to hold it. Other than that no major complaints so far.

Please do not buy the SC 2000 case from Canon. That case is way too big for this tiny camera.

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This is a great versatile camera. It takes fantastic video and fantastic stills. It's features are easy to use and convenient. It's size is perfect and I do not have a problem accessing all of the buttons with my hand throught the strap. I purchased this camera the first day it was available not waiting for anyone else's opinions or reviews and I am glad I did. A camera this small is a pleasure to take with me wherever I go.

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I purchased this video camera after looking at my old Sony Handycam (video 8!)CCD-F501 that looks like a cannon compared to this lil' pistol (awkward pun intended.) I finally decided that enough time had elapsed and it was time to get a decent camcorder. Around mid-December 2005 I was salivating at the recently released hard drive cameras but after some search found out that that was just the only innovation, the other features were just standard or less than par for the course, and for the kind of money they were asking? I would be darned if I went to my Paris trip w/o a decent camera. What sold me on the Optura was the combo video/camera features and all the technical stuff you can read above. I won't repeat them here.

The Optura is surprisingly small and, as others have commented, if you have a hand shaped like a ham, this camera ain't for ya. I am 5'7", medium sized hand, the strap that wraps around the hand does not provide the best support when using the zoom. You can get used to it, but use both hands to steady the camera when zooming. Last week I went to J&R and bought a small tripod that when the legs are folded, it serves as a monopod, I intend to use it when I want to shoot without much camera shaking as I use the zoom.

I haven't had the camera for too long, there's lots of features in this camera for the video and photo functions, you gotta read them fully to truly appreciate this jewel. At night, while taping around Notre Dame, I noticed light streaks emananting from every lampost in the neighborhood, and I was using the automatic setting, I gotta try a couple of other settings to get that right. At the Louvre, the guards now won't let you take pictures or tape inside the museum. Well, as long as you don't use the flash option for pictures, you can snap away unless they catch you. But at the Mona Lisa's new abode, man, those hounds are circling around making darn sure you are not taking pics or filming. Ha! Enter I & my Optura. Them Clouseaus never seen an Optura, I turned it on, partially obscured by my hand, held it close to my chest, they did not have a clue! If you want hundreds of feet (exaggerating . . .a bit) of mini-DV tape of La Gioconda, talk to me. That, right there, made it worth the $850 plus I paid for it. great picture, small package. And, of course, with a flick of a switch, presto, now you can take pictures! and not grainy, melting pics, no sir, great resolution pics if you want 8x10's of every darn pigeon from every piazza from here to Ulan Bator.

I gave it a 4 outta 5 because of the awkward strap designed to steady one's hand. Must have been an afterthought.