Nikon D5200 Digital SLR Camera Body (Black) with 18-200mm VR II Zoom Lens + 32GB Card + Case + Batt

This was an upgrade from my seven year old, still alive and kicking and taking great pictures, Sony A-100 with an 18-200 lens.

Pros:

great image and color accuracy

fast zoom

many "effects" that can make picture taking more interesting

a great all purpose 18-200 F3.5 lens with this kit

high quality videos

Cons:

Dust gets in the camera somehow. I have requested a return. After three days, I had dust visible and not cleanable, in the viewfinder

Menues and UI are very complicated relative to Canon and Sony DSLRs

AE lock not always successful

Some effects take forever to set up, such as B&W with some colors excluded, will take 1-3 minutes to set up.

Location of the video record button is close to the shutter button, except you cannot use the viewfinder to video, only the LCD screen, for video. Therefore, all you videos are bump as you search for the button which is located somewhere totally useless and difficult to feel/find.

not able to record videos in 16:9 aspect ratio when every TV made in the last five years is 16:9

poor battery life (I got less than a 100 clicks and 3 minutes of video after a 24 hour charge)

cheap plastic build, including flimsy battery door

Price -given this is a glorified point and shoot

too many pixels -just a data hognot enough camera.

I wish my old Sony A-100 would take videos, and that it had better pixel count and better color accuracy. It is a lot easier to use, easier to hold, has longer batter life and better built -this camera is entirely plastic. I have dropped the Sony on solid rock several times but it has not affected it in anyway. With the D5200 you just have sense that it has to be held and placed on a table like you handle a 2 week old baby.

I decided after the first day that given the high picture quality, I would live and master the poor UI and awkward button location for the video, and treat it like a precious child. It would be a price for high quality photography. However, when dust penetrated the camera after three days, I could not accept such a quality issue.

I fell for Nikon as several of my photographer friends swore by the brand. In all fairness, they are all full size DSLR users. A journalist working for a local paper however told me that he switched to Canon 5 years ago, after 30+ years of being a Nikon fan, and has never looked back.

If Amazon accept my return, I think I will go back to Sony, this time to A77. If they don't, a vendor complaint will follow this review.

Leica D-Lux 4 Digital Camera (Black)

I have been a pro shooter for 15 years now, and have always used Canon gear. Today, my kit includes the 1Ds Mark III and over a dozen L-series, or special purpose lenses. I can honestly say that this little Leica gives my pro system a run for its money, at a fraction of the cost, and weight. It also allows me to keep a very low profile if needed, even though this camera is gorgeous.

The lens produces astounding sharpness, the color and contrast of the JPEGs are amazing right out of the camera, and yes, the dynamic black and white mode does produce that magical "Leica feel" right out of the camera. I was skeptical at first, however, even after one sunset test shoot, I would also agree with other users on this point. At 460k, the LCD screen has ultra high resolution, while all camera operations are quite fast. It's simply an incredible camera.

As for the cons that other users mention...in my opinion, no, the mode dial is NOT that easy to accidentally turn. Once you pick up the camera you'll see that your index finger, once poised over the shutter button, simply won't be close enough to the mode dial for an accidental spin. Also, the autofocus for spontaneous shooting, even in low-light is also plenty fast enough, and does not unnecessarily go hunting for subjects, in my opinion.

CONS: (1) Do not waste your money on the optional 24mm viewfinder. The optics, even at $350, do not zoom to match whatever focal length the lens happens to be at, which forces you to shoot at 24mm each and every time, which sort of defeats the purpose of having a zoom lens capability. Additionally, it does not even offer shoot information in the display, unlike a DSLR which does this and makes traditional viewfinder shooting possible.

(2) Don't waste your money on the Leica battery. Instead, buy the one for the Panasonic LX3, which is identical, only it doesn't say Leica and costs about half as much. The principle of Leica charging more without giving you any additional battery capacity simply irritates me.

OPTIONAL: I did splurge for the brown leather Leica case. It's a little overpriced to be sure, but if you've read this far, then you're someone willing to pay $700 for a point and shoot anyway, so you might as well just complete the package. It's pure class all the way around. If your goal was also to bask in Leica social cachet, then this case completes the package. If you're a pro shooter, then it also provides instant reassurance to your clients that yes, "this guy is actually pulling out a point and shoot camera on this shoot, but oh wait, it looks like a serious machine. It's all good."

In the end, I promise you will NOT be disappointed. This little gem is worth the money, and has definitely earned the following it has already attained.

Happy shooting...

~WC

Even with the $150 rebate (until end of 2008) I paid $200 for the red dot. Mind you, I'm not complaining. It is an estimable camera at the top of the heap in its class. I bought it for the f2.0 fast lens, the wide angle, the build quality, the Leica processing software in the camera itself (it is better than my Panasonic DMC-LZ50 less chunky and exagerated color at extreme magnification), the accessories like even more wide angle with an accessory lens or the 24mm optical finder. I have done some photojournalism in my life and this is what I wish I had back then.

I have gone through at least four digital cameras since I decided to leave my Nikon film SLR on the shelf a few years ago. I have never looked back. But this beauty allows me to do the photography I like best, to be inconspicuous, to be quick, to feel like taking it along because of its relatively light weight and size, to not spook people who are shy when an SLR is around. It looks (other than that wonderful red dot) like any P&S, but I'm thankful it isn't.

I've seen minimal barrel distortion, maximum sharpness and contrast, easy menus, abundant automatic as well as full manual features.

Unless you have a fetish about Leica, go with the much less costly extra batteries (under $15.00) and other items. A tip about non-Leica brand batteries: remove the stick-on label because it is just thick enough to make it difficult to remove these after market batteries. When I did this, they fit just as well as the Leica ($75.00) batteries. Get the S005 battery that the Panasonic twin uses. These aftermarket are just as good as maker branded batteries. Get a few of them. They charge up in just 45 minutes or so.

I have used the 720P HD video (use the wide 16:9 format at the right side of the lens barrel selector switch) and am impressed at the quality. Certainly a dedicated 1080P HD videocam would do better, but being able to use a 24mm wide angle lens is a real plus. On my digital TV and on my computer monitor the results were satisfying. My computer played it with a little stutter the first time but playing it again it was smooth on succeeding times. Go figure. I have a low end graphics card so that may be the cause. My HD videos have been less than one minute so far I understand there may be a limit of five minutes or so (per file). Don't buy another still camera without HD video!

A tip about what some pros and advanced amateurs do with a quality new camera to preserve its resale value is to cover as much surface on the camera as possible with adhesive plastic (such as the PDA screen protector materiel) to minimise wear (and actually, it gives you a better grip than the stock exterior). This is for a user camera. If, like some Leica owners, you just want to show it off rarely for the feeling that you know enough about cameras to choose a Leica you can skip this tip.

Oh, one thing. Do not trust the Leica neck strap. It almost came loose at the camera end while on its first use. Use a sailor's knot there don't trust the tiny plastic sleive to hold. We don't need any Leicas hitting the concrete.

UPDATE for August 2011

Just downloaded the ROM 2.2 D-Lux 4 upgrade to its operating system. Go to the Leica Germany website to download it, unzip, move the file to an empty SD card recently formatted on the camera. install the card, turn on camera and follow directions given. Hardly takes a minute. Numerous upgrades to features including square format. E-mail Leica USA service department if you have any questions. No need to get a D-Lux 5 for many of the new features except 90mm which this upgrade does not, and cannot, address. Just crop by a third or so to get 90mm equivalent.

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Fantastic and superbly versatile compact digital camera. The lens is really great (although it has easily noticeable barrel distortion at the wide end, hence four stars and not five) and the sensor too. Great in low light. User interface is easy to learn and pleasant to use; I'm used to Canon digitals since the EOS D30 in 2001 but quickly became Leica-acclimated with this camera.

As of November 12, 2008, neither Aperture nor Lightroom support the RAW format used by this camera. Surely in time they will, but if this matters to you then look into it.

Read Best Reviews of Leica D-Lux 4 Digital Camera (Black) Here

Most cameras are usually something I tire of after a few days of use. They are usually to complicated to use. If you want to get creative then you have to sort through cumbersome layers of menus in order to make creative changes. Not so here. After an hour of reading the manual I could photograph nearly anything with incredible results. The controls are intuitive and in just a few hours I was taking breathtaking creative photo's like I would see in photo journals. Even my wife was amazed at the clarity and color of the pictures I took in the French Quarter today. B&W photo's in the dynamic mode are amazing. I photographed (dynamic B&W) a heavily chromed Harley today parked on Saint Peter St and I'm going to have to frame this picture as it's just stunning. This is the camera for the rest of us who want to take great photo's and gave up because of complicated cameras. The LCD screen also has a higher resolution than the point and shoot cameras I've used (many). The flash will also handle most lighting conditions with ease although the lens is fast enough that rarely have I used the flash. Last night I photographed 5 intoxicated Santa's dancing together in the French Quarter with just the available light from two headlights heading their way (yes..naturally they were in the street). Funny and great photo stuff. Isn't this what a good camera should do..capture a moment with great results and add to your life without stress! Finally one that does just that.

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My quest for the best P&S is finally over..

Am I paying too much for the red dot? Probably so. But do I have any regret? None what so ever. I started my search for a perfect (to me) P&S about a couple of months ago and have gone through most of the top of the line Canons. In my opinion, Canon makes the best cameras in the market. However, none of the compacts has come even close to my expectations. Then I decided to take the plunge, went to the dark side and ordered the D-Lux 4. Before this, I considered the Panasonic DMC-LX3. May be the LX3 does the same thing, but I am tired to being disappointed and shipping cost to return items. Just a note, I also own a Canon 5D Mkii, Canon A620 and Panasonic LX-2, these are excellent cameras and produce amazing images.

I only shot the D-Lux 4 for only about a week, but I already know that I will keep this camera. I love it so much, the 60mm maximum focal length and plastic battery door are non-issues for me. BTW, those were the only complaints I heard for other owners. The colors in Vibrant mode are gorgeous; Dynamic B&W produces images that are rival to those shot in B&W with a filmed Leica. Very acceptable lag time too. 24mm minimum focal lenght and f2.0 make tremendous differences. Not as fast as an DSLR, but I believe it is as good as you can get with a P&S. The large image sensor (largest in P&S, except Sigma DP1) produces images that have virtually no noise. I shot mine at ISO 80.

Someone said these Leica cameras have better resale values. I am not so sure. But if it is, I can certainly see why. Right now, I have no intetion of parting with it. This camera also comes with 2-year warrantee and that makes the price a little bit more bearable. I was willing to pay almost $500 for the Canon G10. This camera leaves the G10 in the dust. I am paying a premium price for a compact P&S, but have no regrets.

4/24/09 update: HD video is great, except for the following:

1. Only 10m30s each, even there is still plenty of space on the SD card.

2. Can not refocus or zoom, if you move closer you have to stop and restart.

I shot a wedding with over 300 frames, some with flashes and 5 videos that averages 5 minutes each and only used up half of the battery juice!

Still love it!!

Panasonic SDR-S7 Flash Memory Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom (Black)

We're days away from the birth of our first child, and we wanted something to be able to capture some quick video... it's (of course) not an HD camera, but the quality is fine for viewing on the computer screen or a standard def TV. The size is great, the price is right.

As has been said, the battery life is listed at 40 minutes, though I haven't tested that, that's real world use (through starting and stopping, etc.), it should last longer than an hour of continuous shooting. I also bought an off brand replacement battery along with it for $12.

The 3 main requirements I had were small size, low price, and records to flash (Because I knew I'd never use the camera if I had to keep up with tapes, and I didn't trust the performance of DVDs or the longevity of hard drive). If you're willing to accept a slightly lower quality for those things, then this should fit the bill perfectly.

I bought this camera as an impulse buy at Best Buy, and I really like it. There are some pros and cons just like anything but so fat the experience is good, and the price was right.

Lets go over the cons first, as for some people the cons will break this camera. First the video quality, no way around it this camera is made for YouTube. You are not going to get great video quality out of this camera, very bad in low light but ok in sunlight. Second the battery life. To be honest it kinda sucks, 40 mins on a charge is a little lower than I wanted considering the size. I want to take this every where and use this all day, but that is not going to happen. The buttons on the camera are also a point of contention, as they have almost no tactile feedback. I would like it if they clicked a little or something, but that is a very small problem.

Now the Pros. The selling point of this camera was the size. It is really small! It fits in my pocket no problem, and I literally take it everywhere. I have even tied it to a kite , and the top of my car just to see if I could, and it was great. Then comes the price, for $299 you can barley beat it, There are some cameras like the Flip but they do not have the flip out LCD (very handy) or replaceable batteries and memory.

Bottom line is this camera is pushed to the YouTube crowd, short videos that you make at parties and stuff like that. Perfect for a Teen with limited cash to spend on their first camera, but wants a little more versatility than the Flip. Or the person like me who has a better camera, but needs something to take everywhere. The sound and video quality are just right for compressing way down and converting to flash, and to be honest if you want to get great video quality spend more money, nothing in this price range is going to be good enough for an HDTV or even many SDTVs.

The battery life issue can also be solved for around 25 bucks by searching the model number(vw-vbj10) of the battery on Google. I have two 3rd party batteries and they work great.

I am happy with my purchase and would recommend it to someone looking for something small and versatile to have fun with.

Buy Panasonic SDR-S7 Flash Memory Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom (Black) Now

I only feel obliged to write this because I have owned both camcorders. I bought the Panasonic at Wal-Mart the 1st of August. I wanted to tape my sons football games with it. The first couple of weeks I tried it ou and it seemed to do OK. Even though the MOD files could not be recognized by my computer the supplied software, while basic, did transfer them from the camera into the computer as mpg files that it would recognize. I successfully created a DVD using Roxio 10. As I used it more I noticed how bad the video was (I guess the newness wore off). The background in shots looked extremely soft and fuzzy. Anything that was close (10 to 15 feet) or if you zoomed way in was OK. When I was really disappointed was when I tried taping my sons first football game. I used it in conjunction with the video mode on my Fuji camera. I just put the panasonic on a tripod and did not zoom in far so I could capture the whole play with out moving the camera. I was not expecting to see good detail doing this but what I got turned my stomach. It was so fuzzy and the color was so bad that I could not tell one team from the other. there was no way I could have ever read a jersey number. Even being able to sort the players by teams would have helped but the video was useless. Luckily I had a few days to still take it back. I paid $299 for it at Wal-Mart. I decided to go with the Canon FS100 ($399 at Wal-Mart but I got mine through amazon for $315). It is a SD Card based camera just like the Panasonic. The Panasonic is the smallest camcorder I have ever seen, so it is handy to have if the video quality is not an issue. The FS100 is about twice the size but fits more comfortably in larger hands (still smaller than a pop can). It feels more solid. When I saw the video I knew I had made the right choice. it records in MOD format also. Unfortunately the software that came with it would not load on my computer. I have heard that the software is not worth much any way. I had WINAMP on my computer which converted them. I have read that you can just change the file name from *.MOD to *.MPG but I have not tried that yet. I had video from the Panasonic on my computer still so i duplicated those shots using the CANON and made another DVD alternating Panasonic,Canon,Panasonic,etc. The difference was unbelievable. If you want a small camcorder for goofing off with friends the Panasonic might fit the bill. If you would actually like to be able to go back and enjoy the videos, produce good DVDs and use the videos as a learning tool, choose the CANON FS100. By the way I just started buying stuff from Amazon and they are wonderful. I ordered the camcorder on Monday about midnight and I was playing with it by noon on wednesday.

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I received this unit yesterday afternoon, and started playing with it immediately. Here are my first impressions of the camera.

Overall Impressions:

If you have a tight budget, and are looking for a unit that uses standard memory cards for recording (as opposed to a hard drive), produces REASONABLE quality digital video and audio, and has the standard set of features, you'll like this camera. It is compact (which some might think is not good), light-weight and easy to use.

The biggest drawback is not so much with the camera, but with the marketing. It is sold as having "DVD Quality Recording" capability (there is even a label on mine on the side of the camera as a testament to this), which is not the case once you view your first video. If you are okay with a 640x480 resolution image, then you'll be okay with this camera; otherwise, save yourself the trouble if you want REAL DVD quality!

Now, here are some specific pros and cons I have noted so far about the camera. I have included my own personal rating (impact) for each one. Remember, these are MY ratings based on my need.

Pros

1. (Impact: High) The features provided are surprisingly numerous for the price.

2. (Impact: High) Sound quality is better than my previous unit, and seems quite sensitive to sound. The unit records at 48K Hz in 256Kbps AC-3 stereo format (through a single opening on the front of the unit), and offers several selectable special audio recording features (wind reduction and a zoom feature which increases or decreases sounds/noise not directly in front of the camera while zooming).

3. (Impact: High) A 4GB SD memory card can record 50 minutes of XP video and audio (the highest quality available on the camera). With current prices of 4GB SD cards, this is not bad. Note that with 40-70 minutes of battery life, it doesn't make much sense going to a larger memory card unless you have multiple batteries!

4. (Impact: High) The USB connection provides easy transfer of files to a PC or Mac. I had no problems getting my Windows XP Dell computer to recognize the unit, which added the camera as a removable disk. Interestingly, the unit organizes the video files into separate folders (one for each day), although I saw nothing on the unit menu playback that showed the unit uses this information.

5. (Impact: Medium) Price (why I bought the camera). I picked up the camera on sell for $140. I should mention that I would NOT purchase this camera (for its quality and features) for more than this amount!

6. (Impact: Medium) The unit is made in Japan. This might seem an odd "pro" to some but I have exceptional bad experience with electronics made in China, and personally steer clear of such items now. It is possible some parts are Chinese, but I like knowing that the unit comes from somewhere with more experience producing quality electronics.

7. Videos can be created in either letterbox (4:3) or widescreen (16:9) format.

8. The camera has a built-in cover to protect the lens and easy to use.

9. The screen/viewer (monitor) is surprising good (brightness, clarity, clear of defect spots) for the price. We'll see if it stays that way....

Cons:

1. (Impact: High) The battery is a clear con. According to the manual, it takes 2 hr 15 min to fully charge the battery, which lasts from 40-70 minutes. This means it takes at least twice as long to charge as it takes to discharge. I have already resolved to ensuring I keep the camera plugged between even intermittent uses. Besides the long time to charge the battery, you should be aware that the battery will not charge while the unit is turned on. You MUST turn it off to charge the battery.

2. (Impact: High) Be aware that while Panasonic states that the camera will record in 16:9 and 4:3 formats, it is more accurate to state that the camera alters or manipulates the lens to produce the videos. This requires a technical explanation. I examined the file information for a video that I produced in 16:9 (widescreen) mode, and was surprised at a few things. If you record a video in 16:9 format and run the raw .MOD video file directly in a program like MS Media Player, you will note that your videos are compressed (in width) to fit the 704x480 resolution (faces look narrow, circles look oval, etc). Also, the actual video resolution was 704x480 (330K), though the specs in the manual state the effective pixels are 300K in this format. If you do the math, you will see 704x480 is NOT a 16:9 ratio (it is 22:15). This means the videos must be "stretched" horizontally to approximately 853 pixels wide to fit the 16:9 format (or crushed vertically to about 396 pixels, meaning loss of data). With a 21% stretching or crushing, this ultimately affects either video quality or size (which I noted when I played the video back in true 16:9 format). I also examined files in 4:3 video resolution mode and found they ALSO are in 704x480 resolution (though the specs state the effective pixels is 340K.) The stretching/crushing for the 4:3 format is not as severe, so recordings in this format will produce a video that is of slightly better quality than that of the widescreen format (just not in wide-screen). Transforming the raw 704x480 into either 16:9 or 4:3 formats means you will have to do some video editing. If you know how and don't mind the hassle, then you're okay. You will need to use a video editing program like the MotionSD STUDIO software (provided with the camera) to get it into the proper format.

3. (Impact: Medium) While every feature setting can be viewed in the LCD monitor, it took me some time to realize that these features (or ANY menu displays) will NOT appear if the monitor is in "self-portrait" mode (where the screen is flipped out and turned 180 degrees). Also, in this mode, everything you see is a mirror of the image being recorded. This could take some time getting used to if you are moving the camera while having it trained on you as well as images in the background. You can get the features to return (and the image to NOT be in the awkward mirrored mode) by pushing the monitor back against the camera with the monitor screen facing out. I found no explanation for why it was designed this way, but I personally find this odd.

4. (Impact: Medium) You have to plug the AC adaptor into the unit before you can connect the camera to a PC or to your TV for transferring or watching videos. I find this excessively restrictive.

5. (Impact: Medium) The battery/SD card slots are accessed through a door on the bottom of the camera. Unfortunately, I am using the unit on a tripod, which means the tripod connection adaptor, screwed on to the bottom of the unit as well, prevents easy access to the SD card (meaning I can't easily swap out memory cards while recording).

6. (Impact: Medium) Feature settings on the camera are split into "Basic" and "Advanced" but as yet, I cannot discern the logic in how features were assigned. Some I would think are Basic are under Advanced and vice-versa.

7. (Impact: Medium) I have not looked for another battery that would provide a longer life for recording (40 minutes is really not much), but my assumption is that since the battery fits into a slot on the bottom of the unit, it might be hard for Panasonic to produce a more powerful battery that fits here. This means you may need multiple batteries if you're planning an all-day trip or event.

8. (Impact: Medium) Video files are saved as ".MOD" file extensions, although the file seems to comply with the MPEG-2 format. I had no problems getting my computer to recognize this format. However, you should verify you can work with this file type, or be aware that you will need the included software to successfully transfer the files into a .MPG (mpeg) file format.

9. (Impact: Low) The layout of the manual does not make it easy to find specific features.

10. (Impact: Low) The buttons on the side of the camera are relatively small. If you have big hands or fingers, you might find it difficult to work your way through the menus. The good thing is that you are not likely to do this very often.

11. (Impact: Low) No SD memory card comes with the unit (so be sure to purchase your own!)

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I was looking for a camcorder to capture memories of our kids. I'm pretty cheap and not a video snob. That being said, I wanted a camcorder that wouldn't break the bank and one that I wouldn't be afraid to take out of the house. I purchased it from Best Buy only because I needed it right away, it was on sale for the same price as here. I brought the camcorder home and charged the battery and started shooting. Played it back on 42' DLP HD TV and the picture quality, while certainly not HD, was just a good if not slightly better than our old Sony HI8 camcorder, and this was SP video setting (medium). I tried some recording using XP setting (highest quality) and didn't notice enough of a difference to sacrifice half of the recording time. Dark settings do not record well, I think there is a night setting but haven't explored that yet. The 40 minute life of the battery isn't anything for Panosonic to brag about but for my needs, multiple 1 to 2 minute clips and occasional longer ones, its longer than you think. I found many websites that sell the battery for as little as $11.00 and ac/dc chargers for $20.00, a very affordable solution in my opinion. Now the ultimate test, will it work with my macbook? Yes. Sold. I just pluged it in and iphoto grabbed the still pics and imovie grabbed the vids. I have a new macbook w/ intel processor and iMovie '08, I understand older versions will not work. To sum it up, Affordable price, good video quality, compact and lightweight, and not afraid to take it anywhere. It is just what I was looking for.

Nikon Coolpix L12 7MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Vibration Reduction Zoom

I bought this camera to replace my Olympus c720 Ultra Zoom (very disappointed with its performance, only 3 yrs old). I wanted a small camera that could take great pictures of children who DO NOT stop for the camera. This camera handles those situations perfectly and the size you cannot beat. I love the long movie time it gives you and the large viewing screen. The modes are easy and the menu is a breeze to navigate with just enough to add features and simple enough to change on the fly without losing precious moments.

The vibration reduction I have used only a couple times, not the best pictures-they come out VERY GRAINY!! I thought I would need it more to take pictures of the kids, I have better luck on the Auto mode or Indoor mode. The delay between pictures is slower than others, but the picture quality is great.

Overall, very happy. Would give it 5 stars but the delay between pictures and the hype of the vibration reduction mode disappoints me. I would buy another again despite these facts and am actually waiting to get some more in the slush fund to buy my husband one so we each have one!!

Very easy, light and user friendly for the beginner to slight advanced photographer!!

I purchased the L12 to replace my Coolpix 4600 so I could get sound in the movie mode. This works very well, and I'm more than satisfied with picture quality and battery life, and ease of use. The big problem is no viewfinder. I purchased this camera knowing that there was no viewfinder, but I thought I could get used to composing my pictures on the LCD screen. Unfortunately, the LCD screen is virtually useless outdoors on sunny days. You are reduced to pointing the camera and crossing your fingers. Forget about composition. It seems that most camera makers are eleminating the viewfinders in this catagory. I think that is a mistake. The old Coolpix 4600 zoom viewfinder is excellent.

Buy Nikon Coolpix L12 7MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Vibration Reduction Zoom Now

I bought this camera and returned it the same day. The reason: when you take a photo, there is a really long waiting period before you can take another photo. If you're not using the flash, it's about 3 seconds, which is manageable, but still slow compared to other cameras. If you are using flash, be prepared to wait. You take a photo, then the LCD screen goes blank and the flash resets itself. You can do nothing during this time you can't take another photo, you can't turn off the flash, nothing. And this goes on for 9 seconds (I timed it). This nearly 10-second delay between flash photos makes this camera basically useless when using the flash.

The camera otherwise seemed fine, but nothing spectacular. The VR wasn't that awe-inspiring and you can get more by buying a Sony Cybershot (which I did and am very happy with). The Sony, which costs about $20 more, takes less than 3 seconds between flash photos. It's the difference between capturing a good shot and missing it completely.

Read Best Reviews of Nikon Coolpix L12 7MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Vibration Reduction Zoom Here

I just got the camera and first thing I tested was VR.

First I thought it was bad as the pictures were dark and grainy only to realize that this camera has another feature Anti-Shake Don't use it for low light pictures. VR and Anti-shake are two different options that come with camera.

VR is great. I took picture of wires in a dark nook of my office cube at 2X zoom and without flash and VR, the wires looked blurred. Now I turned on VR, no flash, 2x zoom and the blur on the wires were gone, though pictures were not crisp it was bright and looked good to me. VR-wise this camera is as good as $300 ones, I tested couple of those in shops.

Other than VR, it's an usual Nikon, you can find plenty of professional reviews on Nikon L series cameras.

I felt this camera is faster than L3 that I owned before.

For $178, I give it 5 stars for value.

But 4 stars for performance, as the $300 ones will do better than this in terms of speed and options for exposure control.

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My wife is the camera aficionado in the family. I've bought her good cameras, film and digital, and for birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmas.

Of course, sometimes I get to borrow those. I love her Canon digital SLR, and I can borrow it whenever I need to.

She's a schoolteacher and likes to take pictures on the fly. That's the reason I bought her a Nikon CoolPix pocket camera a couple years ago. At the time, the camera was fairly expensive. I like the idea of having one in the car, but I wasn't going to pay for one for myself.

Lately, with camera prices getting more purchaser-friendly, I decided to buy one for myself. I write a blogspot and occasionally go to conventions and other events where I've wanted to have a camera with me but forgot it.

One of the best things I love about my new camera is that I can shove it into a pocket easily. It travels well in the protective case and it's always immediately to hand when I want to take a picture.

Since it uses SDRAM memory cards to store the images, I can take quite a lot of pictures without having to change film, or carry film, or even worry about an extra memory card to carry along. I can also take a lot of images of one thing without worrying about running out of film or exhausting memory space.

The camera is simple point and shoot operation. What you see in the viewscreen is what you get. Even I can do it. The 2.5in. viewscreen is a dream to work with. I know immediately what's going to be in my shot when I take the picture. And reviewing the pictures I've taken is relatively simple. They show up in good detail on the viewscreen and even better on a PC.

Downloading to your desktop computer or to a notebook PC is simple. Just plug in the cord that comes with the camera and you're all set. All you have to do is name the file you're going to be saving your pictures to.

The camera takes really good pictures inside. It comes with a flash, but often doesn't need the flash because there's generally enough light inside the buildings I've shot pictures in. One drawback, though, is the long time it takes for a flash to process. That has been a little disconcerting, but I don't generally take action pictures so it doesn't matter in what I'm using it for.

The 4x digital zoom optical lens works great. When you switch the camera on, the lens spins out automatically. The auto-focus feature is simple to operate as well. I also like the fact that this camera runs on AA batteries that I can pick up anywhere instead of some special hybrid batteries that I have to find a photography or specialty store.

It has fifteen scene modes, a Best Shot Selector that automatically picks the best shot of a series of ten that you're taking, voice recording capability, video recording capability, macro shooting from as close as six inches, and image stabilization.

A professional photographer might want more out of a camera than this one provides, but the Nikon CoolPix L12 really fits the bill for someone who's on the go and wants to just take occasional shots to remember an event or post on blogspots.

EasyN FS-613A-M136 Wireless WiFi Pan/Tilt IP Camera Two-Way Audio, Email FTP Motion Alert, Remote M

The instructions for setting up the camera weren't the clearest. But once when I got the camera up and running 100% it is AMAZING, especially how it can email pics after the camera senses motion.

1. I would recommend using the install instructions from FOSCAM.. found here: It just seems to be more clear.

2. Set your bookmarks (favorites) on your browser to the external ip after setting up port forwarding and figuring your non-local IP address (not the one that starts with 192..). Thus you can use your laptop/tablet/phone to access the cam outside of your local network.

I bought two of these cameras to monitor my isolated rural home and immediate area. first of all, I've been installing CCTV cameras and security systems for 30 years, I'm a retired Army colonel. Yes, the instructions were skimpy, but real men don't need no steenkin' directions! I had both cameras setup and viewable from anywhere in the world--in just 12 minutes! Total cost for both cameras was just under $100! I hardwired them both into my ethernet network, set them for fixed IP address assignments. I then set the router to port forward their addresses, and presto! Instant password protected viewing from my smart phone or any web browser anywhere in the world. Night time IR viewing is terrific out to about 30 feet, B&W in IR mode of course, excellent color in daylight.

Plus, its motion detection automatically sends about five photos, upon the setable alarm, to my gmail account! Should someone break into my home and steal my computers, the photos of the idiots are safe up on my gmail email account! I do have one local PC set to accept and store alarm videos (10 second clips in AVI format with sound!).

Yes, I have already recommended these cameras to my friends and business associates--and they've bought a half dozen so far!

Buy EasyN FS-613A-M136 Wireless WiFi Pan/Tilt IP Camera Two-Way Audio, Email FTP Motion Alert, Remote M Now

I had been searching for a long time for better options to put in my baby's room to use as a baby monitor besides the audio only gadgets and the highly expensive video monitors which break down after only a few months use. I could've done what my ex SIL did by spending a fortune to have a security system installed in their home with a camera in the baby's room. But who wants to spent that kind of money?

I came across the idea of using an IP camera specifically for this purpose. After looking to see what was cheap and available, I settled on the EasyN brand of cameras. I am not a computer novice by any means but neither am I a networking guru. I bought this brand because it was inexpensive, there was a ton of support available on their website and, if I failed at networking the camera myself, I had the option of paying an extra $29.00 for a networking pro to help me.

I got the package, opened the box, started hooking up cable and gritted my teeth for what I thought was going to be at least a half day struggle because of all the reviews I had read about this camera. I was very pleasantly surprised. I had it done within the hour. And the only reason it took so long was because I read through all the tutorials on the EasyN website just to make sure I was getting it right the first time.

The camera works perfectly! It pans and tilts and there is audio. But what's not so great is the interference on the audio from my wireless network. I read that can be fixed by using a wired connection. But that wasn't an option for me as my baby's room is way down the hall from mine. The reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5 is because of the GUI. My opinion is it's just ok. I've had it for a few weeks and still have not been able to figure out what some of the controls do nor is there documentation anywhere with instructions in english. Because of that I only use it for administrative purposes now. Instead, I use the camera wih Baby Monitor Foscam on all my I-devices.

I am able to see my baby now from anywhere in the world that has an Internet connection. Not that I would ever use it in Timbuktu, but it's nice to be able to have that option. I am happy, my family is happy, and I even managed to impress the ex in-laws because now they can also see their grandchild from cross country anytime they want to.

Read Best Reviews of EasyN FS-613A-M136 Wireless WiFi Pan/Tilt IP Camera Two-Way Audio, Email FTP Motion Alert, Remote M Here

What the other reviewer missed in his review is that the camera has never been on your network and it needs to be to talk on it. Since you setup the camera through the network it has to have a mechanism to attach. That mechanism is dhcp and a hardwire connection. Once its setup for wifi and knows about your network and any passphrase or key it no longer needs the hardwire. These are easy to setup. Once setup the alarm features can notify you immediately of issues. Mine takes about 60 to 90 secs to email photos to my phone. Very cool. The software is a less than stellar but it works well. I'll take function over beauty on these cameras any day. Bottom line these are inexpensive for what you get and if you take the time they work effectively. Easy n has apps available on the web and they supply a disk.

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The directions were in Chinese or Japanese and the website addresses and phone numbers for support were not available, non existant. I tried to install as instructed but the software disc was sent to me BLANK and the website to enable camera did not even exist. Dont buy this from this seller.

Samsung CL80 14.2 Megapixel Wi-Fi Digital Camera

Really love this camera. I bought if for my wife so she could email and send pictures to Facebook without having to transfer pics to our computer first. Easy to set up and use. Just got back from two weeks of vacation and we didn't use our digital SLR at all because this camera takes such great pictures. Also, the video in HD quality is outstanding.

Some of the "smart" modes had problems, but I've found this true with all digital cameras. The regular point and shoot mode works best. The options for scenes are very good. I took some of the best sunsets shots I've ever taken with this camera.

Here's a good video review of the camera:

I was a bit concerned when I first saw this camera reviewed. I love the idea of a network connected camera if for no reason that being able to delete shots and clips off the memory card directly to places like flicker and youtube. Once they are in the cloud, they are reasonably secure until I can download them later and burn to my NAS drive. But if the quality of the photos suck, what's the point?

What was really cool, was that I was able to transfer pictures to my Android phone via Blue Tooth too. I have uploaded files many times without any issues.

Up until this camera I have been a die hard Olympus fan going all the way back to the UZ-2100. Even though it suffers from good pixel saturation, that camera had EXCELLENT optics for it's time. With almost 7 times more resolution and a much faster processor... this camera rocks! Last year I put down my SLR because it was too cumbersome to drag along with me on a daily basis and on vacation. I picked up this camera JAN2011 and I have been using nothing else since. I even use it for some HDR bracketing processed photography. It's kicks ass over my 12 mp SLR and it's just as fast. The image file size is of no concern to me. I can still get plenty of HQ photos and videos on a single 8GB Micro SD chip.

I did notice that the street price (not on Amazon) has dropped since I bough this camera. I think the new version will be out soon.

My only complaint is that it doesn't shoot in RAW format. But, with 14+ MP, who cares?

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Very happy with our Samsung CL80. The pictures are everything Samsung says and the ability to close-ups is amazing. I have shot snow crystals on leaves and many other things, pushing the camera and it comes through. I am using it to capture the items my wife and I cut in glass prior to putting them into the kiln and the CL80 does a great job. We are very happy with the camera, with Samsung and with Amazon.

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I bought open box item from best buy payed $150.00.

Dame the picture is great, touch screen respond great. HD video recording great.

But wifi seems not working well. Anyway, I don't use wifi stuff anyway. for the price I payed and quality of pictures... I think this camera is last one for me, no more another digital camera!!!

Although, I need to learn more about this camera. It seems like have more powerful functions, if you don't want to use auto mode....

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I am very pleased with this camera. I must admit it has more bells and whistles than I can use but for a back-up camera on hikes and bike rides it's perfect. The pictures are very resolute; the ease of loading onto my computer was a whiz; the auto settings are perfect for quick shots of wildlife; the battery seems to last forever. I would totally recommend this camera to anyone. However, the technical aspects of this camera are a little daunting to me because I am not much of a "techie" but for others it may be a snap. The auto settings are every thing I need.

Defender ST101 Covert Pinhole Color Security Camera Pen with 4 GB USB Memory

Is a camera pen cool? Definitely. Can you have fun with *this* camera pen? Possibly.

As advertised, the Defender ST101 Covert Pinhole Color Security Camera Pen (with 4 GB USB Memory) takes still pictures and video. Provided your lighting is adequate, your pictures will be adequate, too. Nothing glorious, but they'll do the job. The video is choppy, but being able to clip the pen to your pocket and stroll around with the camera running is easier than holding your cell phone and walking around (or maybe it's just me that has that problem). Sound, of course, would have to be added in post-production.

You can surreptitiously photograph people/things, though concealing the amber/blue light may be an issue. I've taken random candid shots and pictures of notes on a whiteboard and they came out "good enough." Nothing I couldn't have done (better) with a cell phone, but the USB was a handier option than Bluetooth or cable syncing with my computer. That said, I suspect most potential purchasers will be plenty happy with the technology they already own rather than add this pen/camera/USB drive to their kit.

If you're not prone to buyer's remorse and/or your therapist doesn't have your secret agent obsession handled with medication or hypnosis, give the camera pen a go. Otherwise content yourself with the more-powerful options you likely already own. (Likewise, although the pen works just fine, any halfway-decent clicky pen is just as good at a small small fraction of the price.)

The only reason you are going to want to buy this pen/camera is to record things you shouldn't, whether it be spying on your kids or other unsuspecting people, or using it for your own private use. The picture is surprisingly clear, and the date and time stamp are easy to set (open the files on your computer and click "WriteTime.")

Their are few problems with the pen however. One, there is no sound. And two, there will always be a blue light on when the camera is filming. So, your pen will be discovered if you aren't careful where you put it.

This is a nifty camera you can put to good use or just have a lot of fun with. Oh, you can also write with it.

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I don't own a cell phone, so this pen has been a fun way for me to always have a camera on hand. It's very easy to use, requiring only the information in the little booklet that comes with it. I would have given it three stars except that it doesn't work very well as a pen. The ink flow is too unreliable to be worth the trouble of trying to use it.

I've found the quality of the photos and video to be pretty decent if the lighting is good and the pen is held level while photographing. Any angling of the pen, close-ups, or low light results in blurry and/or useless photos, which means it wouldn't be too helpful for a real spy. Also, you have to hold the pen vertically at eye level to be sure that what you're seeing is roughly what you're photographing. This would make you look mighty suspicious if you were trying to be secretive.

One thing I've found inconvenient is that you have to unscrew the two halves of the pen to switch back and forth between video and still shots. Also, that switch is tiny and hard to operate, and might be prone to breakage with frequent use.

If you want a fun toy that's easy to operate and handy to carry, this might suit your needs. Even if you decide against it, the company might be worth looking into for other products because they have 24/7 live support.

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I got this because it seemed so James Bondesque. Just a cool little clandestine piece of technology to play around with....so for me it was fine. There is a light that indicates when you're recording, so one would have to be careful with that, if the goal is to be sneaky. The memory is serviceable; it IS a small device, after all. I love the way the top half is a USB. It's a fun little device, but certainly won't set the world on fire.

DYB

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I got this pen camera more for the fun factor than trying to spy on someone and that's a good thing as it's definitely not suited to legitimate discreet needs. The pen writes well and has a functional USB, though my computer detected spyware embedded in the USB so be careful when loading. Unfortunately the camera is very poor quality for pictures. I found the pictures were blurry unless you were very close to the subject. However unless you're holding the pen camera up (like you would a regular camera) aimed at the subject, the pictures are low quality and not useful. But that does take away some of the "cool" factor since you can't really discretely take pictures and video. Additionally the videos have no sound though the quality of the video is slightly better than still pictures.

The pen is fun to play around with if you're a gadget fan but it's not really something useful even if it's just used for messing around with family or friends. I enjoyed messing around with it but it soon lost its luster due to the poor quality of the pictures, the questionable USB software (after the first warning I didn't want to plug it in again), and no sound on the videos. $50 is a bit much for such a gadget that doesn't function as well as described.. though in fairness it does do everything that it says it does, just not well.

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Savage 107" x 12yds Background Paper (#46 Tech Green)

First off, excellent product, great packaging, (I was skeptical about having a 9 foot roll shipped to me) and the quality is great.

I thought it would be a great addition to the Black and White rolls of this brand I got which were excellent, but for color keying this one just wasn't rich enough. The lights washed it out and it would become a lighter green instead of a richer green when you added more light....

In ideal settings it may be great and it is certainly cost effective, but I wasn't able to get it properly lit without reflection or loss of color. My settings involved vertical fluorescent tubes on either side and about a 6 foot distance from the subject (it is recommended to have it more like 10' away)

For what it is, it's great but if you're actually trying to pull the green out of video in post-production you might have to work harder than you want to in some situations.

Fujifilm FinePix JV200 14 MP Digital Camera with Fujinon 3x Optical Zoom Lens (Black)

I personally bought this camera because I am going to add some small films to my portfolio! This camera has some good points and bad points.

The defining feature of this camera for some is that it auto-focuses, has an auto iris, and auto white balances. For some people this is great and for others it is not. When going for wide shots it is great but as you get closer to something, in proximity, not with zooming, it becomes much more yellow and picks up the first light source it finds. You can try pointing at a white wall and then going for a close-up but it ends up becoming discolored none the less. I've noticed on previous versions of this camera people complain about half of the shots being out of focus. With this camera you just need to go slow and take your time when taking shots. I even bought a small bendable tripod for my camera to assist with it being steady.

For the price it is excellent! The pictures are beautifully clear (approx 14 megapixel) and outside shots look very nice. The camera has several different settings depending on the subject or the situation. I found the "baby mode" to be extremely humorous it is simply that, for when you are taking pictures of babies. The menu is extremely easy to navigate so the basic user shouldn't have a problem finding what they need. Also the video is beautiful, keep in mind though if you want audio you may need to record with something externally.

The software it comes with is good for first time users. There is an easy to import feature, just like most programs and devices, pops up as soon as you plug in the camera, and you can choose to import or not. You do not need this software necessarily to take pictures/videos from the device.

The thing I find the most accessible is the memory cards for this camera. I was personally looking into a Sony before this purchase but they have their own memory card you need to buy that is extremely pricey. I own two class 10, 16gb transcend SD cards and they work great in this camera. Each card costs less than $20.00 if you get a good deal! You definitely want a camera that requires memory that is used on multiple devices.

Overall I gave it four stars because personally I dislike auto-features but I knew this is what I was getting into when I bought the camera. This camera is mostly easy to use and is working great in the couple days I've had it! Definitely get this camera if you want something that's easy to work with and carry as it is small and light!

Got this camera as a replacement for my old Fuji Finepix F20 6.3 MP camera, which I have had for 5 yrs. & LOVE. I am very disappointed in this new Fuji JV200 model. I wanted something with a lot higher pixel rate, that had a nice zoom and was smaller and lighter than my old Fuji. I hate the double flash that you can't turn off. I also dislike how you can not always set/control the flash in many shooting modes. And there are too many shooting modes...some of which are useless, bordering on gimmicky. Though the pixel rate is higher and you can blow up pictures quite large without pixelation, overall the lens and focus are not as sharp as my old camera. It's macro ability is mediocre--my old camera is far superior. Because of the higher pixel rate, this Fuji does take nice landscape pics, which are good for enlarging. The pics I took at night of Christmas lights were all blurry--despite using the night time setting. The pics I took using macro were often blurry, depsite using the macro setting. That's my biggest complaint about this camera--the blur! Overall, the lens/focus ability of this camera is not as precise as my old Fuji. Indoor pictures look better using the landscape setting, rather than the indoor shooting mode. I was hoping that since this model is 5 yrs. newer than my last Fuji, it would pack more punch in a smaller package, with some better tech options. I expected the same or better quality, in a smaller package, with a smaller price. I have been let down on all accounts by this camera. I still prefer my old Fuji camera which is better in almost every way. I use this new one as a back-up, or for landscapes, when I need a lot of pixels. It would be an OK beginner camera for a kid, but it really doesn't meet my needs, or standards for good pictures. This Fuji is a disappointment and is frustrating & unpredictable in it's photo quality.

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This camera is a perfect gift for a child. It takes decent quality pictures and has held up to a lot of banging around for 2 years and still going strong. The screen is great for them to watch the many videos they take and it holds the charge for a long time even when they watch them a lot. It was a great buy.

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Great camera and very good price. Takes very good pictures. Has a lot of good features. Very light and easy to use.

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I was excited to get this camera and was very disappointed. The images are often blurry. I can take pictures in the same situation back to back and they will look completely different. I would definitely not recommend this camera to anyone. The battery life is okay. The video is also ok, the sound isn't great on the video though. I would say pay an extra few dollars and get a good camera I'm planning on buying a different camera since I hate this one so much.

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Olympus Evolt E330 7.5MP Digital SLR Camera with 14-45mm f3.5/5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens

I have had the E330 for about 1 month now and couldn't be happier. I looked very closely at the Canon 30D, the Nikon D50 and the Olympus E500. I am really happy I went with the E330. While there is no such thing as a perfect camera, I have found that this one in particular fits my needs and caters to my more creative side with the live view articulated view finder. The Live A and B modes really open a lot of doors that other cameras in its class do not allow. Although it does't look as traditional as the others, the style had grown on me. I opted to get the body only so that I could upgrade the lens to a 14-54mm Zukio which is a wonderful all around lens. I find that the camera feels very good in my hands, although the D50 also had a great feel to it. It is very responsive and handles most situations well. I like to do street photography and the live view articulating lens allows for the taking of pictures without being too obvious. The low light performance is pretty good compared to the other olympus digital SLR with its new sensor, but is still not as good as either the 30D or the D50. This may change however when Lecia releases its 4/3rds mount image stabilized lens which is supposed to be compatible with the Olympus lineup. While I am new to digital SLRs, I consider myself to be a photography enthusiast. I started out with a Sony S85 which was a wonderful camera in many ways, but I have to say I am having a wonderful time learning about a whole new realm of photography with the E330. I highly recommend a good look at this camera if you are looking to get into digital SLRs as it serves not only as a nice crossover camera, but as a midline intermediate SLR that will keep you wanting to get even more creative with your photographic hobby.

With about 30 years of picture taking experience and many pro shoots behind me I went shopping for a new DSLR. I wanted one to serve as an all-around pal and be loaded with pro features that I am accustomed to using. When this camera hit the market I knew I had to try one on for size...especially since no other DSLR has live LCD compositing of frames.

All I can say is this camera has put all of my other 6 cameras in the closet (three of them were film.) Sharp images, easy composition in a giant, bright 2 1/2 LCD screen and ease of use won me over. If you want a simple interface with outstanding pictures you can have it here. If you want the touch of manual adjustment and light handling, ditto.

It is the best camera, all around, that I have ever used or owned. And now the prices are coming down! So what's stopping you?

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This is my first digital reflex. I had also looked at the canon 350xt, nikon d50/70, sony R1, but made the choice based on the unique Live View feature and image quality. No other dslr lets you frame using the lcd screen, which I find really useful in lots of shooting situations. The image quality is superb, easily outresolving my previous sony 828, with much faster autofocus and low noise. The colors just pop out of the screen. I can send my pics directly to print without doing any post processing.

I had almost decided on the Sony R1, but it wasn?t as flexible (lacked an optical viewfinder and ability to change lenses)To me is the best of both worlds, digicams (rotating lcd, live framing) and dsrls (optical viewfinder, AF speed, low noise, lenses)

Highly recommended!

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This is my first Digital camera and I am really crazy about it's LIVE view feature plus the ability to use it also as a DSLR. I like the way it looks with it's flat top design. It feels solid in my hands and does not have that plastic feel to it at all. A steel body covered in a high-impact polycarbonate plastic. A really good looking camera that handles like a dream. With it's articulating LCD screen combined with Live View street photography is easy since you can use the screen as a waist level finder or at 45 degrees or at straight on viewing. It also takes interchangeable lenses . I bought the camera with the two lens kit comprised of the 14-45 and the 40-150 olympus lenses.So far, I love the 40-150 lens for its excellent sharpness and contrast at the apertures of f11,f16 and f22 when using a tripod with self timer and am still testing the 14-45 lens to find its optimum sharpness at a particular f stop. The self timer is easy to set.As a matter of fact all controls are within easy reach and not that difficult to understand with constant practice on how to move the items within the menu up and down and side to side with an o.k. button to lock in and set what function you want. Sharpness and Contrast levels can be set by the camera but for now I have'nt tried those settings yet. The camera can also be set for Vivid,Sepia, Black and white with different Black and White filter simulations. For now I am delighted with the performance of this camera system and the 40-150. Right now I'm still testing the camera, and the sharpness of it's lenses without filters but it looks like the 40-150 definitely is the real beauty of the two. I want to try it with a Polarizer and also try it out with an enhancing filter. So far I Love what it can do.But then again I've only made 6.5 x 9.5 prints and rarely make them above that size and am more than pleased with the performance of the 40-150 so far. Will update this review as I get to know the camera and the other 14-45 lens better. The camera is a real joy to use. Highly recommended and the more I use it, the more I realize I made the right choice.Just tested the 14-45 kit lens and found out it performs beautifully at f14 and f16. Did some Landscape photography with it using a tripod and using the self timer and am very pleased with its sharpness at the f14 and f16 apertures.I recently photographed Atlantic City Boardwalk scenes with the 14-45 lens and came home with some wonderful pictures shooting at f9 and f10 with my ISO set to 200 and a Polorizing filter. The camera just handles so beautifully. The controls are just where they belong and feels so very solid and comfortable in my hands. On numerous occasions I photographed using the Live View feature at the waist level position. The 7x9.5 inch prints I made were stunning without any sharpening at all.And I just used JPEG.

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I am extremely pleased with this camera. It is my third Olympus camera and I have not been dissapotnted yet. I carried a Nikon for years. The live dispyay is outstanting with its flip out screen to allow for belt level candid shooting or holding the camera above heads in crowds. The 4/3s intigrated system (lens, camera and an external dedicated flash) makes beautiful photographs easy. I also purchased a Zuiko 14-54 mm zoom for this camera in order to have a sharper and faster lens when needed, but I find myself more often than not, mounting the 18-180 super zoom. It produces a beautiful picture and I am spoiled by its versitile range.

I would certainly reccomend this camera to anyone who is serious about beautiful photographs. Olympus has been ahead of the pack in affordable digital cameras and the E-330 is no exception.

VG Red Laurel DSLR Camera Carrying Bag with Removable Shoulder Strap for Leica V-Lux 4 Digital SLR

The case is well made and appears to be durable. My Leica V-lux 4 fits snugly in the pouch provided for it. The pouch acts as a sling to nestle the camera. The rear section can accommodate the charger, cables, a spare battery and spare memory card but not much more. The turnbuckles that attach the shoulder strap are large and strong. This case easily fulfills my need for a light weight easy to access case.

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