Sony DCR-DVD650 DVD Camcorder

Purchased this camera for my wife last month, and have since taken a vacation, and recorded several family gatherings. The video quality this camera gives is wonderful, and creates a steady image, even with my shaky hands. The zoom range is impressive as well. Still images were great during the day, and the camera is FAST. It captures the image almost immediately, better than our stand alone digital camera. The focus isn't always dead on when you move the camera around quickly, but it recovers well enough. The reason for the 4-star rating is that this camera didn't offer a lot in the area of night time picture taking and video capture. The video leaves less to be desired, as the lenses capture enough light to make sense of what is going on, but the camera is not usable at night. Now that may have more to do with the fact that I haven't figured out better settings, or am just completely missing a flash feature I haven't seen, but in either case, I still need to carry around my digital camera for night shots. As a video camera, this product blows everything out of the water that I have ever used in the video quality department. All in all, I am happy with my purchase, and will maybe find that the one shortfall with the product is in fact a problem with the user (me) and not the product.

I've had this item for approximately 6 months and am just now getting into doing reviews. Below are my thoughts on the Sony DCR-DVD650 Handycam Camcorder:

Pros:

Nice design

easy to use

great viewfinder

able to take still pictures in addition to the video

option to use DVD or Memory Stick for recording/photos

Cons:

DVD's on standard quality will only record for 30 minutes-this is not ideal for those wanting to record their childs play, or a graduation or anything that may last longer than 30 minutes. For this you would need a large memory stick to accomodate then you can use your home PC to put the recording from the memory stick to a standard sized DVD.

As expected the digital zoom gets "grainy" in appearance when you zoom in close to the maximum allowed. This is tolerable, but just realize you aren't going to get as good a picture of something you are zooming in on as you would get if the image was actually closer.

All-in-all I am extremely happy with the purchase and think that it is possibly the best buy in its price range. I would purchase it again in a heartbeat. With that said, the day I win the lottery or have a lot of money to spend I'm sure I'd purchase a more expensive model with slightly better zoom and built in memory in addition to the DVD recording capabilities.

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I just bought this camera to replace my old Hitachi camcorder and this camera is awesome. The video quality is great the sound is excellent and it is Mac compatible for those who may be wondering it will work on imovie. But this camera is lightweight and the discs do not need to be finalized before you put them in a dvd player or import them to a computer, you just hook up the usb cord and import the video quick and easy. It does come with it's own software that is only compatible with windows which I dont have so I dont know if its any good.

But so far I am very pleased with this camera perfect for anyone who loves to film themselves and edit the footage. Really good buy for a great price.

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If you have been confused by conflicting claims about whether or not Sony camcorders are compatible with the Mac OS, this is what our experience shows. We are MAC users and bought this, in part, based on reviews that while the included software by SONY does not support the MAC OS (nor does SONY claim that it does), that I-movie would recognize the camcorder and file format used by this recording device. Alas, when we first connected the camcorder to our MAC, it did recognize the camcorder but did not recognize the file format (MPG) as a movie format, hence we could not open our recordings and edit them. After some further research, we discovered that Leopard software works with this format while Tiger cannot. Moreover, freeware video conversion programs like Handbrake, are no longer being supported for Tiger OS.

I did not try, but suspect, that upgrading to Quicktime Pro or its MPEG add on may resolve the issue.

As for the camera, it is compact, the touchscreen is convenient and relatively user friendly but the menus are not completely intuitive. As I received the camera shortly before having to use it, I ran it on the easy mode automatic settings. Standard Play (SP) seemed to produce better quality than High Quality (HQ) settings, oddly enough, but that may have had to do with ambient lighting. The battery lasted a good two hours with the LCD screen active. A 4 GB memory stick holds a little over an hour of recording, as advertised. The quality of the image and sound seems very good for this price point.

Our first camcorder, also a Sony, did very well for us and still works, but it is over ten years old and we wanted something that would allow easy conversion to digital format for sharing on line or on DVD. I look forward to learning more about this camcorder.

That said, I now find myself being forced to upgrade to Leopard OS if I want to use this camcorder as I intended. This essentially adds . to the cost.

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This camcorder was a present for my husband. It was a second try--I had ordered another make camcorder for him previously. He is not the most technologically-savvy guy--and it was not the product for him. The Sony Handycam was a lifesaver! It's easy to understand and easy to use. He loves it and that's the most important thing to me.

Pelican 1495 Black Computer Case with Foam (Black)

Great product. I took my 17in Alienware to Afghanistan in it and didn't have a problem with it. The case was in my Stryker when we had a roll over and my laptop was fine. With stood a year of dust, dirt, and high temps without issue. I used it as a stool at times and never scratched my laptop. There ARE issues though on the civilian side. The case weighs 11 lbs or so, then you have to add the weight of whatever you put in it, my laptop weighs 13 lbs, so you can see it's heavy. Next, it's pretty much too big to carry on a plane, it doesn't fit in most over head bins and it does not fit well under the seats in front on you. I ended up putting mine on the floor and then resting my feet ontop of it. Realise the deminsions and the weight. Short of that mine survived an IED blast so I think you'll be safe.

This case Fits a 17" monitor. Since I have a 15inch I have room for a spare battery, travel mouse and small periferals. Secure and crushproof. I can stand my 200lb self on the lid and it only bows 1/4 of an inch. Haven't had the guts to try it with a two tonne truck......

My ONLY gripe, and the reason I bought a slightly less pretty case {from the same company} is that in one dimension it won't make all airline travel space restrictions.

Accept no substitutes. Or "How much is YOUR data worth?"

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Although it was a little bigger than I realized, it worked out perfect for me as I could also place other accessaries such as a camera and charger in the case. I'm in the military and when I go on a deployment I need a case that can be packed and tossed at a moments notice. The Pelican laptop case is nothing but proven durability.

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I use this case to store my collection of handguns. It is solid and protects them well. The lock is of good quality. The foam inside works well to keep my guns in place. The military uses Pelican cases for everything in some very harsh environments so obviously they can withstand the abuses encountered here in the States. I recommend to purchase.

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As a US Marine who goes out in the field, this case protected my Toshiba Qosmio laptop from the harsh elements of the mojave desert. I was running power from my light armored vehicle's power inverted and storing my laptop in this case. We did a ton of bumpy off road driving that would've destroyed my laptop if it had been in perhaps a backpack.

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Nikon COOLPIX S6100 16 MP Digital Camera with 7x NIKKOR Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and 3-Inch Tou

This is a great little camera with alot of fun features. I had a hard time deciding between the s8100 and the s6100 because the s8100 takes faster pictures, 1080 video, a better sensor, and bigger zoom.The features listed below are the reasons I chose the s6100.

Touch screen--can use your finger but it can be a little tricky to move it just right. It does come with a stylus that allows you to move through the screens quickly. Makes it very easy to get through the menus. The menu on the left has the options for flash, self-timer, macro, and exposure compensation. The menu on the bottom has the options for touch shutter, image mode, movie options, and settings. The battery levels are always displayed in the left hand corner so there is no guessing how much battery is left. Above that the scene mode is displayed.

Scene selection--There are 19 scenes to choose from plus the scene auto selector. When you push the scene button and all 20 options are listed there is a question mark box in the upper right hand corner that will explain the different modes to help you choose the right one.

Filter Effects--It has the ability to draw or write on photos, add decorations, cross screen, fish eye, selective color, black and white, sepia. I have messed around with a few of these features, I will try to upload a few pictures. It also has glamour retouch and skin softening.

Playback button--Has options to star a photo as favorite, delete, slide show, protect, print, draw, retouch, voice record, and settings.

Charger--This camera can charge through your computer or it also has an adapter much like most cell phones now do so you can use the USB cord to charge using an outlet. There is a light on the back that flashes to let you know it is charging.

The dedicated movie button makes it very simple to record videos. Unlike the 8100, you cannot take a photo while you are recording with the 6100.

From the opinion of a hobby photographer, I think there are alot of features nicely packaged into this pocket-sized camera.

Purchased this camera while looking for a small yet high quality point and shoot style camera. This camera has great features in a small enough package to bring on the go. The optical zoom works wonderfully. Touch-Panel LCD is a nice feature.

Only complaint I have with the camera is the image review after taking a picture lasts a seemingly long time. If you are trying to take multiple pictures quickly it can be annoying as the previous image takes up the screen so you can't preview your next picture. Also, the touch-panel LCD isn't as responsive as you'd like it to be, but if you use the included stylus on the wrist strap it works just fine. Just don't expect iPod Touch-quality responsiveness.

Bottom line:

Purchase this camera if you are looking for a point and shoot camera with good features, optical zoom, and a decent MegaPixel rating that come in a small package.

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I've owned this camera for 3-months and waited until now to write a review because it was a gift and I really wanted to like this camera. But the more I've used it the less I like it. To be fair, it can take a descent picture under optimal conditions if you are careful, but so can a 1968 Kodak Brownie in the right hands. I really expected more from Nikon and modern electronic technology.

Let me give you a little more background... I'm 63 years old and I've been taking pictures since I was 8 years old. Last winter I suffered a stroke which affected the coordination in my left hand and I found it difficuly to operate my Nikon D50 SLR. My wife, trying to be nice to me bought an S6100 for my birthday because she assumed that a point-and-shoot would be easier and less frustrating for me to use than my D50 SLR. I was excited to get it and try it out. The Nikon S6100 was smaller, lighter and easier to carry. As far as being easier to use,

it is NOT! A person would expect an automatic point-and-shoot camera to be just that, point it, press the shutter release and get a fair picture most of the time. That's something this camera can't do with any regularity. A pox on Nikons house for the damn touch screen controls! Why have a touch screen shutter release function that duplicates the function of the shutter release button? While you try to hold the camera with your right hand you are almost forced to touch the screen while trying to frame the image and push the "real button". This more often than not activates the shutter resulting in a picture of the ground, your pant leg, or shoe. Then while you wait for the exceedingly slow electronics to store that image on the memory card, you miss several oportunities to try for a good shot. Would that this was the only problem with the touch screen. Nikon designed this cameras controls so the ONLY way to control various camera functions is through a menu system controlled using the touch screen. If that were not bad enough the screen itself is not sensitive enough to respond well to a finger touch unless you use a long finger nail or the little stylus hung on the wrist strap. This almost insures that you can't make any sort of quick option changes while you try to shoot. You may wonder if that screen does anything else. Yes, it shows a fairly bright image to use as a viewfinder or to review pictures of your shoes taken by mistake. Of course it is constantly smugged and dirty because you have to be touching it all the time.

How about the overall function? The S6100 is as functional as most of it's competitors in the crowded point-and-shoot field. It's a snapshot camera at best loaded with difficult to control features and totally unecessary post shooting editing functions that are much better done on your computer after you download the pictures. I expected better from Nikon and I certainly thought that a 16 megapixel sensor would capture better quality shots. Again I was disappointed. My 6 megapixel D50 captures better images and it's over 5-years old. In anything other than optimal light, the automatic functions of the S6100 bump up the ISO a few clicks and once that's happened the image quickly gets grainy without gaining good exposure. Again I sure expected better from the newer class of sensors and software. The S6100 can also take Quicktime movies with a single press of the movie button on the back. This would be a nice function if the movie button were not small placed directly below the right side thumb grip, almost ensuring that you will take some short movies you didn't want, again usually of the ground, your shoe, or the sky.

Oh, and then there is battery life. Not too good. I can get maybe 200 shots and a short movie before the "battery exhausted" message pops up on the screen, and then you are done since the only way to recharge it is to plug the whole camera into the charger or a computer USB port, you will be out of luck in the field unless you invest in a second battery, keep it charged and in your pocket while you'r out shooting.

Do you think I've been be too negative about the S6100?

Here are the good things about it:

1. It's small, light, and fits easily in a shirt pocket or purse

2. The zoom lens is Nikon, and they do make the best optics and the wide to full zoom is all you will probably ever need.

3. When you manage to get a snap shot it's usually of adequate quality, at least for your family album.

MY RECOMMEDATIONS:

If you want a point-and shoot Nikon, check out the S8100 or S9100, both much better cameras at only a slightly higher price.

If you want great pictures and care about control of your camera functions get a Digital SLR and learn how to use it.

If you want a touch screen get a smart phone. Most of those will take pictures and movies too, and might be easier to use than this camera, plus when you get frustrated with the smugged up touch screen, at least you can use it to call someone who cares.

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I have had this camera for about 4 hours now, so I am obviously a professional here. But I am amazed at this camera. I'll try and keep it short. The camera pictures are great indoors, great outdoors, great macro, good 7x opti zoom, Good white balance, great low light. Functionally, it is a simple interface, fast start to shoot time about 2-3 seconds, no noticeable shutter lag, flash is good for very short range, poor after about 7-10 feet and tends to not illuminate the entire photo, unless subject is very close.

Unless you are well schooled in SLR cameras, this will take as close to a perfect photo within a near range of subjects. If you want to zoom in on a players nose hairs from the balcony of the stadium, this camera will not do it. If you want to photograph your kids in normal light to dusk at 1-60 feet away. I don't believe you could improve upon this camera. I have not used it in bright outdoor light yet, so no opinion there. Unless you need a stronger zoom or flash, you cannot go wrong with this camera. It is simple fast and takes near magazine quality photos.

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We have a Sony DSC-W100 and after vacationing with some friends decided we need a new camera. The Sony had some REALLY bad shutter lag, therefore causing us to miss shots. After using a friends Kodak, i realized that my 7 year old camera was not cutting it. I spent weeks deciding what P&S camera to buy. The catch is I didn't want to spend over $200. I have a Nikon DSLR so naturally i looked at Nikons first. I did look at Fuji, Sony, cannon (i know i know) Kodak and Olympus. Not being in the camera market for years, i was amazed at how things have changed so much. I'm accustomed to my SLR and was not willing to give up much. My old Sony has quasi-manual settings, and great control over the camera for a P&S. After looking at the s4100, i noticed that there was too much shutter lag. I then looked at a cannon, and thought this is the one. For some reason I kept gravitation towards Nikon. Then, I found an absolute steal on the s6100 so decided to go for it. Right out of the box, the Nikon was ready to go (after a full charge of the battery). Downside is there is no physical manual. What am I supposed to read in the bathroom?? This is a very common occurrence with almost all electronics nowadays. Besides, it's good for the environment. Being a "tech geek" who needs a manual anyways, isn't that was playing around is for?? My first impression of the camera was very positive. Lightweight, very fast start up time, and ready to go (in daylight). The touchscreen is very easy to use overall use is very intuitive, however might be too much for a first time digital camera user. Picture quality is amazing. DPI at full resolution (why would you do anything else?)is at 200. Compare that to my old sony which was 72 dpi. Higher quality and resolution. There are 3 shooting modes. One is automatic. This mode is pretty self explanatory. Now move to the scene mode shooting. Here's where this camera really shines for me. I took a low light picture in auto mode, then switched to scene mode and selected " scene auto selector" The second picture in auto scene selector was MUCH better. I'm not sure which scene it chose but the background as well as foreground were lit properly. Something not achievable on my Sony... EVER. I'm used to being able to light a scene properly with my SLR and external strobe, so I was impressed. Something else that turned me on to the s6100 instead of the s8100 was the static flash. I know it's a minor complaint, but it's less moving pieces for me to worry about. Then theres' the tracking mode. Touch something on the screen (providing it stays still long enough for the camera to lock in) and it tracks the subject. Great for kids moving around! IT has many more features such as blink detect, face recognition and even a touch of the screen shutter mode. Movie mode has a continual focus mode and the ability to zoom in and out, all while recording in 720p HI DEF!! Granted the s8100 does record in full 1080P. I don't use the video mode enough to care to be honest. An to top it all off, it includes a full version of Nikon View NX2 which is a great importing and light editing program. It also includes a file transfer program as well. Absolute seamless integration with windows 7! The size is perfect. Small enough for a pocket, and to be taken anywhere and not be a burden. While still feeling substantial in your hand. 3 weeks later and I still love this camera and it's ability to take great pictures. The only thing i really gave up with the s8100 is 3x more zoom, and full 1080p recording. For the money I paid for the camera I couldn't be happier.

Pros: Picture Quality. Ability to take great pictures on low light. 16mp at 200dpi at full resolution. Size. Fast start up. Very little shutter lag if any. Nikon view NX2. Seamless integration with windows 7. Ease of use.

Cons. 7x zoom instead of 10x. only 720p in video mode. No flash compensation for low light situations or zoom.

Update: I'm not sure exactly what I was thinking when I wrote this review but after using this camera for a while, this camera ended up being a huge waste of money. This camera took great pictures in daylight, but in low light situations this camera failed miserably. The final draw was a missed picture of my son and his cousins on the back of a fire truck and could not take a picture no matter what I did. Granted it did take some good pictures at times, but after upgrading to a new sony, I really got an idea on how bad this camera really is. so bad in fact that after reading reviews on newer nikon cameras, I will probably never buy another Nikon P&S. (this is coming from a die hard nikon SLR user for the past 8 years)

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

The walkaround lens. This very topic leads to a heated discussion among DSLR photographers.

First, determine your budget, focal length, and aperture needs.

If you frequently find yourself zooming out to get everything in a frame, you will want a wide angle lens such as this. If you frequently find yourself zooming in, this is not the lens for you. On a full frame body such as Canon EOS 5D, this lens becomes ULTRA wide angle. On an APS-C crop body such as Digital Rebel XTi (which I used for this review), it becomes MEDIUM wide angle. But thanks to 1.6x crop factor, this lens expands to more usable 35mm equivalent focal length of 27 to 64mm.

Second, audition the lens if you can.

By definition, a walkaround lens should be relatively portable. At 1.1 lbs., Canon's EF 17-40mm f/4L USM is neither super light nor neck breakingly heavy. In fact, it weighs almost the same as Digital Rebel XTi -really nice balance. The lens feels very solid with supreme build quality that only L-series lenses offer. Although this lens is weather proof and therefore sealed against liquid and dust, I strongly recommend getting a 77mm filter to protect the front lens element. With it, this lens is made to last.

In terms of looks and feel, it doesn't get much better. Its rubberized full-time inner focus manual ring USM focuses smoothly, quietly, and quickly. Since it's inner focus, the lens will not extend beyond its metal casing whether you zoom in or out. The focus window shows focusing distance from 0.28 meter (0.92 feet) to infinity. The focal length marker indicates 17, 20, 24, 28, 35, and 40mm. The lens exudes quality from tip to tip.

You may tolerate heavier lens or may not mind lesser build quality of cheaper lenses. A walkaround lens will be used very often, so make sure you will be comfortable with it.

This lens is famous for saturated color and deep contrast. Its images are simply stunning. At 17mm wide angle, barrel distortion is noticeable but relatively mild. From 24mm to 40mm, its images are distortion free and perfectly suited at capturing people.

Vignetting (corner darkness) is minimal with mild chroma abberrations (color shadows). At f/4 aperture, details become noticeably softer toward the edges. The center region is very sharp and at f/5.6, edges remain fairy sharp. Thanks to 7 diaphragm blades, this lens can produce very nice bokeh at 40mm (blur effects).

One of the most cited weaknesses is the f/4 aperture. In my experience, a bump in the ISO speed and steady hands are all you need to take well focused images indoor. On the other hand, if you are shooting with very little amount of light, you might wish for f/2.8 or image stabilizer. Although the difference between f/4 and f/2.8 is just 1 stop, my other lens, Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM (too heavy to be my walkaround lens) easily outperforms in such challenging situations. But by and large, I was not handicapped by the f/4 aperture.

Some of the main competitions (sorted by price):

Sigma AF 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC macro: Good zoom range with macro, and generally solid performance if you can get a good sample. It does suffer from a bit slow focus mechanism, soft corner, and chroma aberrations. Works only with EF-S mount.

Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC: Very good value for f/2.8 aperture, but Tamron's 17-50mm is a bit better lens overall. Works only with EF-S mount.

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM: This "traveler's lens" has a wider focal range than most wide angle lenses (widest among Canon) and is equipped with an image stabilizer. While it is a Jack of many trades, it is the master of none. Every lenses on this list will perform better at particular focal length. Then again, none of the lenses on this list has as wide focal range. It is famous for extreme barrel distortion at 17mm and chroma aberrations. Works only with EF-S mount.

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF): This is the most direct competitor. It takes sharper images with faster aperture while costing less. Both the build and focus mechanism are significantly worse, but should be good enough for many. Works only with EF-S mount.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM: This is THE reference, if you can afford it. Its images have razor sharp details and great performance all around (minus vignetting, which is typical of EF-S lenses). The build quality is worse than L-series but still pretty good. Works only with EF-S mount. This is the best EF-S lens hands down.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM: One of the most expensive wide angle zoom lenses. It's larger and heavier, but has f/2.8 aperture.

This is how Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 USM stacks up.

Pros:

Among the very best build quality.

Excellent, buttery smooth, super fast front-focus system.

Top notch color and contrast. Very sharp center resolution.

Almost non-existent vignetting, generally low distortion, and well controlled chroma abberrations.

Ideal weight and size for walkaround purpose

Cons:

Edge softness at f/4 aperture.

Narrower focal length than most competing lenses.

Slower than some third party lenses.

All in all, this is an excellent wide angle walkaround lens. It may not offer the most bang for the buck, but if you value full frame compatibility (EF lens mount) and excellent build quality, this is the default choice. This lens comes with a nice pouch and a lens hood. I find the hood to be somewhat ridiculously shaped and because the lens is resistant to flare, I do not use it often when shooting outdoor.

No one lens accomplishes every photographic objective. Canon makes each lens at every price point well-suited to various tasks, but with limitations that can only be overcome by graduating to the next higher priced but similar item. A case in point: the wide-angle zooms.

The 17-40mm f/4 is one of Canon's best deals in L-series glass. You have to spend twice as much to get a lens of similar quality, but just one stop faster. Does this make the more-expensive EF 16-35 f/2.8L a ripoff? Not for its own specific use: the extra stop gives you the speed to shoot in more indoor situations. Not all photographers need this. When indoors, we're often taking pictures of people, which are better suited to lengths around 50-100mm. To capture sweeping panoramas of parlors for Architectural Digest (or Coldwell Banker) the f/2.8 is the better lens and worth the step up in price, though in many cases you could use the f/4 lens with a tripod. All this means is that the f/2.8 is priced for professional specialists whereas the f/4 is for more general use. My bigger point is that Canon has its whole lineup positioned: the differences across lenses are specific and appropriately priced, which is good news for the consumer. It's hard to make a mistake buying homegrown Canon lenses, especially L-series lenses. You just have to figure out which set of two or three suits your range of uses.

The 17-40mm is a steal for people who need a walkaround lens for travel and outdoor photography. The shorter focal lengths of the zoom are great on a digital body, with nice reach and minimal distortion; just an ability to grab up landscape and wide situations end-to-end, even when standing close. The focal lengths around 40mm are tight enough for portraits and other local detail. Colors are strong and convincing; contrast deep and impactful. The lens itself is small enough and light enough to grab-and-go, but nicely machined, with solid fit and finish. It has an instantly recognizable profile, with the added bonus of the red ring.

This lens, plus a 70-200mm f/2.8 telescope and a nice fast fixed lens in the range betwixt are all you need. On vacation, and in most outdoor situations, the 17-40mm alone suffices. It makes a good first L-lens, and a staple in the arsenal.

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(I really want to give this lens 3.5 stars)

This review is written from the viewpoint of someone whom has used many L-class lenses, and as such will be a little harder on this piece of glass. If you've never used a Canon L lens and you purchase this one, I guarantee you'll be quite pleased with your purchase. But this review is really meant for those who own other L glass pieces and are looking into adding this one to their collection.

The good:

L glass tends to mean some heavy-weight glass, however this lens is surprisingly light and small. In fact, it is the smallest/lightest L zoom Canon makes. You find yourself more likely to take it to places where there may not be much of a projected photo opportunity or where there is a higher risk in damaged gear due to its unobtrusive size. It really is one of those few L lenses that you can casually walk around with and not garner much for attention.

As with all L-glass, this ones very solidly constructed. It has a simplicity of design that minimizes risk to moving parts from shock. It is well-balanced and just feels like a tight glass package.

The lens performs very well in color and contrast. Natural saturation is excellent, easily on par with the L expectation. The color and saturation of this lens sits somewhere between the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS and the 24-70mm f/2.8.

I initially thought that the zoom range would be constraining (a mere 23mm of range?), but in reality the lens is fairly versatile. This especially true on a 1.6 FOVCF body (20D, 30D, 350D, 400D, etc), where the range is more like that of a normal zoom, at the cost of the super-wide advantage. The lens handles pretty much all composition tasks except those of a telephoto or 1.0x macro. You won't be disappointed in the zoom versatility.

Price. This like, what, the second cheapest L lens available. For those whom are very accustomed to purchasing/collecting L lenses, anything under a thousand dollars really is considered on the cheap side. If this is your first L purchase, this lens or the 70-200mm F/4L are your places to start.

Flare. There's practically none.

Cons: (there's only one, but its a biggie)

Sharpness. This is by far my biggest qualm, and what makes me frown a little at this lens for its L designation. It's nowhere near that of other lenses. One of the biggest uses for this lens is landscape photography, where objects appear very distant and sharpness becomes crucial. 24mm at f/4 on this lens is easily less sharp than 24mm at f/2.8 (!) on the 24-70 f/2.8L. And as a little investigation will reveal, this probelm is also somewhat appearant on the 16-35mm f/2.8L (although it seems less pronounced). 100% crop comparisons of this lens to other lenses such as the 180mm f/3.5L is simply a joke.

Other:

This lens utilizes slight movement of the front element, so it is advised by pretty much everyone that a UV filter be purchased (77mm filter size). I add to that by saying: buy only the Multi-coated from B+W or Hoya if you're shooting digital. Yes, they're usually somewhere around eighty bucks, but spending forty on something that will bring you ghosting/contrast woes is not worth it.

The hood of this lens is hilarious. It's almost five inches wide and maybe an inch and a half tall. I simply don't use it (I can't geometrically see how it helps. I think it may be something of a feel-good-hood if you're not consiencious about flare.) The lens is less conspicuous without it and I really don't have a flare problem.

Conclusion

I'm really not satisfied with the sharpness issue. It seems at least somewhat appearant on almost all Canon's lenses below 35mm. (Except for the 24-70 and 24-105, which is odd). I think they're still working out their wide-angle formula. Appearantly, the new 17-55mm f/2.8 is supposed to be sharper than both the 17-40 and 16-35, so they are probably on the right track of improving the issue.

In the end, if you've never used L glass and are considering this one, buy it. You will be very pleased, I assure you. But if you own a good deal of L glass, you may want to hold off from this one and wait for Canon to improve their optics. You may find yourself like me, using other L pieces and only using this one when I absolutely have to.

Read Best Reviews of Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras Here

Figuring out which lens to buy turned out to be more difficult than which camera to purchase! At least for me. I want my lenses to be a reasonable size (rules out the superb 70-200 f2.8 IS L), acceptably fast (at least f 4.0), preferably black (so that they are inconspicuous), not outrageously priced (admittedly this last factor being entirely subjective), and preferably a zoom for the additional flexibility.

Primes are absolutely fantastic values, reasonably priced, fast, and inconspicuous, BUT offer limited flexibility which, in my mind overrides the other factors.

I purchased this lens for the wider end of my shooting needs and I couldn't be more pleased. It takes beautiful pictures, sharp, beautifully saturated, with no discernable vignetting and little flare under normal circumstances.

This lens has beautiful bokeh IMO and is every bit the equal, again IMO, of the 16-35 f2.8 L in every respect other than speed (f 2.8 vs f 4.0). With the new digital SLR cameras you can easily make up for the loss of speed by cranking up the ISO.

The construction quality is fantastic and it is a lens that you will be able to use forever. It is an ideal lens for the current crop of 1.6 size sensors, but will also serve you well into the future whether you stick with the current size sensor or move up to larger sensors as they become more afordable.

I heartily recommend this lens.

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For years, I have been using my 28-70 f:2.8 Canon zoom as my "normal" lens. It is sharp (Oh baby is it!) and at 2.8,fast enough for just about any pro or serious amateur. But there were plenty of times I needed a little more coverage than the 28MM focal length provided. Since most of my work is with long-lens and fast (and expensive) zooms, I couldn't pony up the bucks for Canon's superwide f2.8 zoom. When I saw the price on the 17-40MM lens and the fact that it was the "L" flavor with pro glass, I bought it immediately. I've had it for about a year and I have already sold several pictures published in glossy magazines with picky photo editors. And I trust it to give me sharp pictures, even at the extreme settings wide open and at the 17MM end. You have to remember to always use the weird looking but effective lens hood to control flare and as with any very wide lens, look at the edges of the frame (your feet could be in every picture!) It's light, good enough to use as your normal lens and with their new 70-300 IS DO lens could make for an amazing and compact travel kit. So while Canon's lens experts probably built this one for the growing digital crowd, as a film user I think it's the bargain of the year and is in my camera bag every time I go on assignment. I suggest that you get a good quality "thin" UV filter and polarizer and you will be set to explore the exciting world of ultra-wide photography.

Important update: I recently returned from an assignment to Monte Carlo to test drive sports cars. Part of the deal was to get thrill rides from a pro driver up and down the French mountains above Monaco. Armed with my 17-40MM an EOS 1V, 540 flash, and Velvia 50, I clicked off a whole roll of film during my turn in the passenger's seat. The magazine editor called me when he saw the slides and said that the shots in the car were the "strongest images" in the shoot. Yup, the lens is that good.

JVC Everio G series Camcorder 30GB HDD with 32x Optical/800x Digital Zoom (Includes Everio Dock)

I bought this camcorder JVC GZ-MG435 from Anisha International and they gave very good support. Camcorder is value for money. If you are looking for still images and optical zoom, this can satisfy a bit. 1 megapixel still images are okay at good sunlight conditions. video quality is good. Battery that comes along with camcorder does not last long. Only 1 hour for 1 recharge. Recommend buying another battery. Initially I was not satisfied with still image quality and i wanted to give this product back and Anisha Intnl gave support for that. But finally i decided to keep this. This is not so great camcorder but definitely worth for the money.

CowboyStudio Triple Mount Hot Shoe V Mount Bracket for Video Lights, Microphones or Monitors, Vbrac

This I like because it works great and also there is place on the metal sides to attach things (I have my Microphone mixer there)

It's been a long time since I ordered trash but as soon as I tried to tighten this crap on my camera the screw stripped without hesitation, so on that note I put this device straight where it belongs ..... the garbage I didn't even want an exchange or my money back I just wanted to be done with it, sorry guys PLEASE TAKE THIS CRAP OFF THE MARKET!!!

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Tricod 5.6-Inch Digital Photo Frame (DPF-LCD56J)

Nice frame, decent price, good screen.

However beware the following, confirmed by Tricod's tech support:

There is a 142 picture limit in the file system. That is to say the file system can only "see" 142 pictures at a time. The workaround for this is to divide the pictures up into folders of less that 142 on the memory card. However, you will still only be able to do a slide show of each folder, as the frame no matter what will not see more than 142 pictures at one time. If you can live with this limitation, go for it.

UPDATE: Tricod's tech support has been amazing and says that the new versions of the picture frame now support over 1000 pictures in a folder. They had me send my frames back and are sending me new frames. Kudos to a great support team for seeing a flaw and making it right for a customer!

Samsung Digimax L73 7MP Digital Camera with 3x Advance Shake Reduction Optical Zoom (Black)

I have had this camera for about two weeks and I must say I'm very impressed. After three plus years of owning my bulky, chunky Panasonic Lumix 3megapixel Camera I decided to try the Samsung Sleek and Sexy Lifestyle (L-series) Digital Camera. Correct me if I'm wrong but for you cost conscious consumers out there, this camera is almost identical to the NV11, the differences are: 10megapixel instead of 7 (only important if you are planning on printing Poster Size pictures), the Schneider Lens in the NV is "world renowned" but my L73 takes breath taking pictures as well, and finally the NV11 has a flip up Flash instead of a front built-in flash like the L73 and I like the flash being built in instead of flip open because having to manually flip open the flash seems like a bad design choice. The MAJOR difference between the NV11 and the L73 is the price the NV11 costs $250 and the L73 is $150

Picture Quality/Features: As stated above, I've gotten nothing but fantastic pictures out of this camera. The Auto feature does give average picture quality indoors, and outdoors you will want to play with features, but that's the beauty of this camera, adjusting a setting and taking a test shot is as easy as sliding your finger over a touch sensitive button and changing lighting settings, exposure, scene variables like motion shots, dark shots, super close-up macro shots, there's tons of easy features. The best is when you're first getting used to the camera and the features, it's defaulted to telling you what each little picture means, so you don't have to guess what a stick figure stands for in the options. Night shots are great I just bought a 53" tripod on Amazon and gone around the lakes to take amazing shots, it reminds me of my old SLR back in high school and that amazed me. So taking great pictures is easy to do right out of the box, but you'll fall in love with the features and tweaking them so you get the absolute best result you wanted.

Battery Life: The lithium Ion battery was new to me, I'm used to using two AA batteries about every time I go out (talk about wasting money) but the this little battery has kept a full charge after one week of light use. Since initially messing with features and waiting for my tri-pod to arrive in the mail I've used the camera about 6 or 7 times and the battery is still at it's full three bars. **make sure with any lithium ion battery operated device, that you drain the battery completely when you first get it and then charge it the maximum number of hours it states in the manual. To avoid over charging, don't charge it again until that full charge is once again depleted. This will give you maximum battery power from then on** I considered getting a backup battery but I think I'll wait because this battery lasts long enough for my needs. If you are planning on taking lots of pictures or going on vacation where you can't access a Powered USB connection or AC connection I'd recommend an extra battery. It's a SLB-0837 3.7v lithium Ion battery you can buy them online for about $10-$15.

Cost-Benefit: This camera was a great purchase, Circuit City doesn't carry them in their store (most likely because it's so similar to the NV10 and NV11 that it'd hurt the sale on the more expensive models) but you can buy it on their website and shipping is fast. All together I bought the camera($153+$4 shipping), slim carrying case($10), 2 Year Protection Plus Plan Damage Protection ($48), Laminate Screen Protector ($5) and 53" aluminum tri-pod($15+$3 shipping) so all together I spent about $238 for a camera that's protected for years to come and I couldn't be happier, it's slim enough to fit in my backpack and durable enough to withstand a day in the life of a college student, and then it also takes great pictures and with a little messing around you can get any situation shot perfectly.

The DEAL BREAKER for me was the Video Capturing Abilities! Normal Digital Cameras take low resolution video, but this Camera takes near DVD quality Video. The resolution is actually higher than a regular DVD. It's 800x592 and it's captured in AVI format. ALSO, you can pause the recording instead of starting a new video it resumes recording from where you paused! I plugged it into my 40" LCD and of course it was nothing High Def but it sure wasn't bad coming from a little Slim Camera.

High On Features, Low On Cost. Go check it out for yourself! Also check out YouTube and search for the Samsung L73 and you'll see the TigerDirectBlog video review of the camera.

I sort of fell into this camera, by accident. I was looking at the 7.2 MP Digicams in Walmart, and wrote down what I thought was the correct model number. Looking them up on Amazon, I found them for a slightly higher price, but with the addition of a free 2 gig card. I ordered one that night.

What I really found was the better L73, and not your standard Digicam. My only experience with digital cameras was a crappy DXG camera, and a four year old Kodak.

From going from a dated Kodak, to a state of the art Samsung wasn't really all that big of a stretch. I read the book, and spent a couple hours playing with it, and was taking quality pictures with it right away.

If I could have given the l73 camera six stars, I would have. It takes great pictures and good video also. It has everything a novice could want in a camera, and much more.

There were a few things the book didn't cover very well, but were easily looked up on the internet.

To the guy who said he didn't get his memory card. You did know, you were supposed to add it to your shopping cart, right?

Buy Samsung Digimax L73 7MP Digital Camera with 3x Advance Shake Reduction Optical Zoom (Black) Now

I just bought this camera today, July 5 2007, from a local Superwalmart. I'm fourteen and my birthday was just a few weeks ago, so i'm not really a big shopper. This is my second Samsung camera in just over a year. Last year, I got the Samsung Digimax S500 for my birthday, and I absolutley loved it. After about 9 months, the design got kind of old, and it had been through some bad times. I currently own the new Samsung L73, and I love it. Of course, the 2.5" LCD screen is large, but now pretty basic for camera's. But i'm not complaining. However, because of the large picture size, and a smaller screen, the pictures look some-what low quality. HOWEVER! The pictures on the computer are amazing! It's love. The shutter delay on Auto mode is pretty slow, because it is trying to focus it so you can have the best quality pictures. However, the ASR mode, (Anti Shake Reduction) takes crisp, clean pictures. I was literally shaking the camera half to death, and when i looked at the picture, you wouldn't have known if i was holding it still or not. I love this camera. Also, the rechargeable batery compared to the older models of Samsung camera's is a pig plus! Thank you samsung for a well built camera!

Read Best Reviews of Samsung Digimax L73 7MP Digital Camera with 3x Advance Shake Reduction Optical Zoom (Black) Here

I bought this camera to replace my bulky old 3.2 mp fuji camera. The pros are small compact size, fits in my pocket without being uncomfortable,large display screen,great battery that lasts a long time and quickly recharges,I love the touch pads that allow you to quickly navigate through most functions.The cons are low quality video,but at this price you can't expect HD Quality.All in all this is a great point and shoot if you don't want to spend $200 plus for the sony.

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My only point of comparison are Canon cameras just so you know where I am coming from. I was trying to decide between this or the Canon SD1000. Finally, I decided on this because of cost. After using this camera for about 2 weeks, I should have bought the Canon. The handling of the camera is decent but there are just too many buttons and cheap, unnecessary features. The smart touch works well but I prefer the old wheel found on most cameras.

Overall:

Pros:

-many features for the price. 7MP

-looks great and well built

-awesome high resolution video mode

-the viewing screen is bright and high res

CONS:

-the shutter lag is just horrible

-larger than the canon.

-too many buttons. interface is not simple.

Olympus Tough TG-830 iHS Shock & Waterproof Digital Camera (Silver) with 8GB Card + Case + Flex

Just used this camera on my vacation. Very pleased with the pictures. The clarity is great and this camera is easy to use. A great camera for the price. Recording feature was also easy to use. I would recommend this camera.

Nikon 1 Series Deluxe Digital Camera Case (Red) with 32GB Card + EN-EL21 Battery + Tele/Wide Lenses

This is a great value for these items. The nikon case is really nice and fits the Nikon1 J1 that I purchased well. And the battery charger and extra lens and cards. It seems well made too. Note! The battery this package comes with is for the Nikon1 V1, NOT the J1. There is a different package from same seller that contains the battery for the J1. I made that mistake, but the seller took care of that for me. Would highly recommend this package.

Toshiba Camileo S30 Full HD Camcorder (Silver/Black)

I was looking for a low cost video camera mostly for YouTube videos and this is one of the few with a touch screen than can be rotated to face you while you make your videos. You can see what is in the video and not have to guess if your shot is covered..

This does have a HD option and so far has produced great videos.

Some of the touch screen options seem a little cheap on appearance and the sound that plays is not the best. However, the recording sound is great.

Light weight and fits the bill to a tee so far....if problems surface, I'll update

I personally think that this is a very good camera. It is small, can fit in pockets. Also, it is a lot less than regular camcorders. Additionally, unlike most cameras of its price, this camera can go up to 64Gb. People have said that they feel that the material is cheap, but I am happy about it because we are cheap, that's why we bought it. (For example, I wouldn't expect to be paying $100 for a camera made out of solid platinum or something, you know?). For the quality of the videos and pictures, well, it LOOKS very bad on the screen, but when you put it on a computer or a TV, it is actually VERY good. (meaning, the definition of the data is good, but the screen isn't HD). I absolutely love this camera and would recommand anyone who wants to get the best out of the least.

Buy Toshiba Camileo S30 Full HD Camcorder (Silver/Black) Now

I bought this to use but ended giving it to my son. I really loved the price. Cannot find anything even close in this price range.

I found that the picture quality is as good as my Cannon Elf and Video is just as good and the file size is much smaller than the Cannon.

I love the portability due to its size. The screen size is just right. Sound is great too. Battery life is great last all day for me no problem.

I liked that it comes with a case for your belt.

I do have some things about that I do not like.

I do not like the button controls as they are abit unuser friendly and are too many. Could have just used a 4 way rocker like most do.

I have a very hard time trying to use it and make any adjustments while just using one hand.

I cannot use it with my Mac and there is no support for Macs that is why I gave it to my son.

So to sum it up if you have a pc then it is great for the money!!

Read Best Reviews of Toshiba Camileo S30 Full HD Camcorder (Silver/Black) Here

This is a good little camcorder!

It is the only one, at this price point, where you can flip the viewscreen around and actually see yourself while video blogging!

(The current FLIP, Sony Bloggie, and Kodak, equivalents, do not let you see the viewscreen while recording yourself.)

It doesn't deserve 1 star... I doubt that review was about the S30... it probably was about the S20.

Anyways, for the price, especially on sale for $99; you can't go wrong.

Want Toshiba Camileo S30 Full HD Camcorder (Silver/Black) Discount?

I just purchased the Toshiba Camilei S30 camera and love the features but there are reasons why I might return it.

No.1 When watching the video played with the HDMI connector or Video connector the annoying time and battery indicator are on the tv screen and cannot be removed.

Can you believe this?

I talked to Toshiba support twice and they confirmed that there's no way to remove it.

Why in the world would I want to see the batterry life indicator constantly on the screen even when I'm using the A.C/ adapter?

Sorry Toshiba, but you need to get advice from Sony & Panasonic on how to eliminate this problem.

If I didn't get a deal on this at Amazon for $99.99 it would had already been sent back but when you download the video from the camera to a computer with MP4 files the problem is eliminated. However, I cannot copy the video direct to my DVD recorder without seeing the time lapse and battery indicator at the top of the screen.

Also, it's very difficult for the touch screen to work.

Most of the time I have to press the desired function 3 or 4 times.

Otherwise, a pretty nice camera.

UPDATE:

I have decided to keep the Toshiba even with the above mentioned problem.

However, I almost returned it for another reason:

When I'm in the menu and I touch the screen for "Video Settings" there are additonal settings available which requires scrolling down on the touch screen.

There's an arrow pointing down but nothing happens when I touch the arrow or place my finger at the top of the screen and scroll down to the bottom.

Toshiba customer service could not figure out the problem but I accidentally did.

Although the owners manual says to Scroll down in the direction of the arrow, you actually scroll up in order to scroll down. When the arrow points up you scroll down with your finger to go up.

Why Toshiba does not explain this in the owners manual or to their customer service representatives is beyond me.

Now, if only they could do a firmware update to remove the battery indicator and time of clip of the video while watching it with the HDMI or Video out connected to a TV.

Additional update:

I recently bought a battery and charger from 3 different sellers on ebay and all 3 sent a NP 60 battery for my S30 camera which is too big and too thick.

One of the sellers was here in the U.S. while the other 2 were in China.

The funny thing is the actual battery that comes with the S30 is made in China but these sellers insisted that they sent the right battery/charger and so far I'm not receiving a refund.

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Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

No it's not especially if you take into account its intended users. If you use a Canon digital SLR and are satisfied with the kit lens (18-55) then buying this lens can be the perfect next step for you. Practically speaking, you will be able to increase your zoom reach to the point where you can A) photograph birds in moderately distant trees, B) be able to zoom in on the other side of a valley and frame something of your interest. Those are just two examples. One thing you will NOT be able to do effectively with this lens, however, is to take sport shots with it. How so? Consider some of the following weakness:

*At 300mm zoom range the highest aperture is limited to 5.6 (You will have to use very slow shutter speed to snap fast action shots; remember the inverse relation between aperture and shutter speed.)

*The lens size/weight combination makes it hard to hold steady when attached to a camera like the Rebel XT

*Slow and often inaccurate auto focus (I just don't understand why Canon makes a USM version of this lens for $20 more, but never includes it in the triple rebate program)

*Chromatic aberration is significant in high contrast lighting like in full sun (if you do not know what Chromatic aberration means search the term online or check out my review of the Canon 28mm 2.8 on Amazon, but to summarize, it would be a discoloration at the fringes of objects in your picture)

Those kinds of weakness will limit your ability to use this lens in all sorts of other situations/circumstances. As a practical rule to follow, if the lighting is less than ideal this lens will give you a hard time. Meaning, it will be possible to use it, but you may get too many blurry images because of shake from slow shutter speeds. As for what are ideal lighting conditions? That would be full sun with few or no clouds and with the light bathing your subject/object from the front or the side.

So is this lens that bad? Not really, as with many other lenses, when the lens is coupled with a good camera it still out performs most Point and Shoot cameras. Plus it provides results at par or slightly below the kit lens (18-55). So if you are satisfied with your kit lens, which provides you with a zoom range comparable to 3X zoom (55/18= 3), why not add another lens that will expand your zoom range by another 4X (300/75=4)? Nothing wrong with expanding your horizon!

PS. TWO MORE POINTS ABOUT USING THIS LENS: First, if you're confident you can handhold this lens at slow shutter speeds (I know I can't) then the low maximum aperture shouldn't be a major problem. Second, if you're fine shooting at high ISO (more like 400 or 800) then again the low maximum aperture shouldn't be a problem. The nice thing about photography is that you can do one thing in so many ways, so don't be afraid to explore with this lens!

After reading several online reviews of the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM lens, I had nearly talked myself out of even looking at one. However, thanks to a local Canon demonstration, I was able to play with several lenses, the 75-300mm f/4-5.6 among them. I got to try it out alongside the IS version (which costs just under 3x as much), the non-USM version, and some of their L-series professional lenses.

That said, I found there to be less difference among the directly-comparable lenses (the non-USM, USM, and IS versions) than I'd have thought. On the test shots I took using a Canon Digital Rebel XT, I didn't find full-zoom telephoto shots to be appreciably softer in the non-IS version reviewed herein, nor were the images overly soft for my liking period.

The USM focusing didn't seem to make as much of a difference as I'd expected over the non-USM model, either. Focusing was still relatively slow (as other reviewers have pointed out), although once an initial focus has been made, adjustments aren't too slow unless changing to a subject substantially nearer or farther away. HOWEVER, the AF engine did make a number of "mistakes" when using this lens that it did not using the IS lens (or, of course, the L-series glass); more than once I had to either switch to manual focus or try multiple times to get the right focus "lock." Furthermore, the USM model doesn't get you internal focus, either, like with higher-end lenses, so the end still rotates during focusing, which can be problematic with a circular polarizer or other filters.

Overall, I'd say that you "get what you pay for"; this is a very inexpensive lens, and it shows in some areas. But it's not nearly as bad as some would make it out to be. I tried it out both on several indoors shots under less-than-ideal lighting conditions and was pleased in most respects, and outdoors, I got very good results on even moving subjects.

Pros:

-Cost; at under $200, you would be hard-pressed to find a lens with the same reach with even half-decent optics.

Cons:

-Slow focus

-Autofocus seems to confuse somewhat easily over the IS model

-The USM version is still not an internally-focusing model, and thus the end of the lens will still rotate (and can affect filters, etc.)

I'd recommend the IS version if you have the extra funds, but if you are on a budget and just can't wait, I saw less of a difference than others have between the two. Of course, the real step up would be to a comparable piece of glass in the L series, but with it comes a real step up in price, too.

Buy Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras Now

If you're looking at this lens, you're more demanding than the average Joe who takes photos and have high expectations. This lens is not blazingly fast (f/5.6 at 300mm), and to reliably freeze camera shake, you're going to need a 1/500 sec shutter speed, which means that with ISO 100 film, you only can lose one stop of illumination under "Sunny 16" conditions before you have to decide comprimise somewhere to get your shot.

Consequently, shots into the shade, or conducted under the warmer and softer lighting conditions of the morning/evening will inevitably drive you to the comprimise of a high ISO grainy film or the bulk of a tripod to make up for this lens's lack of optical speed. If you always shoot in full noon sunshine, you'll be okay.

Even though its a great tool, most people don't like to carry a tripod, so the solution is to either accept grain in enlargements, not take certain photos, spend more money to go to a faster lens, or some combination of the above. I'll say it again: the most cost-effective alternative is to use a tripod. The next cost-effective alternative is Canon's "IS" (Image Stabilization) lens technology. There are two contenders in this focal length, the 75-300mm IS and the 100-400mm IS. The former is nearly a duplicate of this lens.... The latter is a 3 lb pro lens.... Of these two, the 75-300mm IS is the bargain.

I started with this lens and after just a few test rolls, returned it and got the 75-300mm IS. The IS technology reliably affords an additional effective two stops of speed, although it cannot be used to freeze subject motion as the shutter will normally also do. But it makes the use of high quality films, such as Fuji Velvia (ISO 50), Kodachrome 64 and even Ekta (Kodak Royal Gold) ISO 25 feasible. -hh

Read Best Reviews of Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras Here

This lens has been a helpful addition to my camera setup. I purchased this lens and a tripod at the same time. I have found that using this lens at max zoom really does require the use of a tripod, or other stabilization method (such as resting it on a table or railing). There is no way to handhold this lens at 300 mm and still get razor sharp pics. I use this lens to attach to my Canon Rebel 2000. As a beginning photographer I use 400 speed film for nearly all my shots, and have been pleased with the results. I generally do not make enlargements from my prints -they just go in my photo album -so the relative graininess of 400 speed is not noticable in 4x6 prints. Coupling this lens with a polarizing filter dramtically improved the contrast and sharpness of distant objects in bright daylight -particularly distant mountains and scenery. As far as zoom goes, this lens picks up where the standard Rebel lens leaves off and really pulls in the distant objects well. I have not tried to use this lens to shoot fast moving objects at a great distance (such as sports) but for landscapes or distant objects -perched birds, mountains, bridges, sunsets, I have found this lens to be an absolutely indispensable part of my kit. It attaches and detaches from the camera with ease. The autofocus system focuses within a second -I've never needed to switch to manual. I knocked a star off because I wish it came with a carrying case. The lens has some heft to it -it weighs as much as the standard Rebel Body if not more. It definetly feels solid and well-made, but at the price (which is expensive for me) I feel like I have to treat it with kid gloves, and I can't find a carrying case for it. When I pack this lens in a carryon I stick it inside a few socks to make due.

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I have Canon's 75-300mm lens for almost a year and have examined it inside out. Unfortunately, I cannot admit that it's a good lens.

First of all, it doesn't have USM (Ultra Sonic Motor) and though having built-in AF motor, it is anyway VERY slow. And since telephoto lenses in general are for capturing high-speed events (like sport, running animals etc), its low-speed focusing makes it no good.

Secondly, its light-factor is quite low (4.0 for 75mm and only 5.6 for 300mm) what forces you to use either high-speed film (not lower than ISO400) or to shoot in the bright light (what's not possible everytime you shoot).

And the last, but not less important thing. I'm not good in mechanics, but what I know for sure is that Canon's 75-300mm lens produce unsharp pictures. No matter if you use a tripod or not, the pictures still are very unsharp which is very bad for images, being zoomed by 300mm.

Anyway, I'd recommend you to buy the lens of the same focal distance but in another configuration: Canon EF 75-300 F/4.5-5.6 IS USM. Although it's a bit expensive and as you see, the light factor is a bit lower, too, it has an USM and IS (Image Stabilizer) what makes focusing drastically super fast and the pictures become more sharper with the help of IS. This lens deserves a high attention. But not this one...

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Canon BG-E11 Battery Grip with (2) LP-E6 Batteries + Cleaning Kit for EOS 5D Mark III Digital SLR C

The two free batteries are Power2000 brand, which for all I know are made in the same factory as genuine Canon, and were freebies so how can I complain.

The grip is genuine Canon, and works well, though it's very thick compared to the 5D3's normal grip and better for large hands I'd think. The design could have been just as thin as the Camera's given the battery width...perhaps this oversized grip was judged better for large lenses.

The cleaning kit is cheapo but handy.

THE BATTERY GRIP PERFORMS GREAT! HOWEVER THE SUPPLIED POWER2000 BATTERIES ARE JUNK. ONE DOES NOT WORK AT ALL AFTER 2 TIMES OF CHARGING. THE OTHER LAST 50% THE LIFE OF CANONS LP-E6 BATTERIES.

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