Nikon D70S Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-70mm and 55-200mm Nikkor Lenses

The other reviews and the description seem to properly describe this camera. I am writing this review to give you the perspective of someone who started out with film SLR cameras in school, then got a digital 5MP camera and have used that for years and am now finally getting into Digital SLR photography. This is a big step back into the professional circle for me, and I'm anxious to get out to the zoo or to some vacation spot in the mountains to do my professional photography once again. I purchased this camera almost a month ago and my opinion is that it is the best camera ever made under $2,000. This camera has everything you can need.

I want to warn you, get the full set with the lense. This lense sells for almost $400 and is about the best all around lense you can find. Don't go for the cheap models. I wrote a list about this camera that may appear on this page for you to look at, but be sure that you get the ML-L3 wireless remote (for $20, how can you go wrong) and a spare battery (2,000 pictures sounds like a lot, and I haven't needed to recharge in this month that I've had the camera, but remember that when you go on a trip you may forget to recharge and you don't want to get stuck). Also, get a tripod (try the Slik Tripods U9000, I wrote a review of it and I find it to be the best buy around for a light-weight tripod that acts like a much heavier one) and get a carrying case (the jury is still out, I haven't found one that I like, I want one that will hold two cameras, 4 lenses, a large flash and a bunch of accessories).

If you aren't sure if the D70s is worth the money over the D50 or the D70, it is. The improved autofocusing system is much better than the others and the larger LCD is worth all the tea in China! I leave the LCD protector that came with it on and have no problem seeing my pictures, even outside. Although this is a larger camera than the D50, it isn't much of a difference and you will regret going with the cheaper camera.

If your budget was lower, save up and buy this camera. I bought a CoolPix 5000 a few years back and always kicked myself for not going with the D100. Now I've gone with the best camera on the market and I'm perfectly happy. Plus, I have the satisfaction of knowing that none of my friends can show me a better camera (unless they spent $4,000 or more on a D2X or D2H, and none of my friends can afford to do that)!!!

When Nikon has brought out an `s' camera, it is virtually a sure thing that this is a camera you want to get your hands on. The D70s is not an exception. With essentially instant-on (.2 seconds), improved built in flash, a larger and brighter lcd screen, and especially the abilitry to take up to 144 exposures at 3 frames per second make this an incredible improvement to the existing D70. Imagine the sports or wildlife exposures you have the chance to get with this capability!

The D70s is the digital SLR to record daily life and life events. With a 6.1 megapixel resolution limits the size of prints you can make with it to about 11" by 17". If this is not a problem for you then this is your digital camera. It has wonderful color resolution and great auto-focus capabilities. When you are ready, it is a fully capable manual camera.

The D70s comes bundled with the excellent and compact 18-70 Nikkor Lens and one EN-EL3a battery. To get started with the camera I suggest the following in addition:

* One extra EN-EL3a Lithium-Ion Battery.

* Two 2GB 80X CompactFlash cards with write acceleration (WA) technology.

Note: Nikon recommends either the SanDisk SDCFH (Ultra II), SDCFX (Extreme/Extreme III) or Lexar Media 80X WA CompactFlash™ card for best performance.

* One CF card reader for your computer. Firewire or USB connection depending upon your needs.

As time and money permit you may want to add the following:

* A telephoto lens for wildlife and sporting events. The 70-300mm F4-5.6G AF Nikkor is a great value and complements the bundled lens nicely. If money is not an object step up to the 70-300ED or the 70-200 F2.8 with vibration reduction.

* A good macro lens such as the AF Micro Nikkor 105mm f2.8.

* Polarizing filters for both the kit lens and the telephoto. Get Nikon filters there is no sense in spending money for Nikkor lenses and then putting junk filters on them.

* A bag to carry all this stuff.

This will get you nicely started. Further down the line you may wish to get the following:

* A speedlight. Either the SB 600 or 800.

* A tripod and ballhead.

Be sure to check prices at B&H Photo as well as those shown here. They have a tremendous selection and have long been known and trusted by serious photographers. In addition I would suggest that anyone who buys a D70 join Nikonians. There or literally tens of thousands of people who are more than happy to help you with any question you may have about Nikon Cameras, lenses and other equipment as well as help you with your photography skills. And, bet of all, it's free! Go to nikonians.org.

Buy Nikon D70S Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-70mm and 55-200mm Nikkor Lenses Now

After spending hours reading many reviews, switching back & forth to Canon then Nikon, I finally decided to buy the Nikon D70s.

Very happy I did.

What strikes me on this camera is the controls & settings are extremely intuitive. I'm the typical male with big hands, and every button seems to be placed right where I expect them to be. I had the opportunity to play around with a Rebel XT afterwards, and not only did the camera feel very awkward (too small), the quick settings buttons & knob did not feel as "natural" as they do on the D70s ...far from it. I would be extremely disappointed today to be an owner of a Rebel XT , and see what a D70 feels like post-purchase.

Many people are picking a D50 over the D70s to save some money, and truthfully I think people should think twice about it.

Key missing features on the D50:

Grid Lines in the viewfinder.

Shortcut button for metering. I change my metering mode alot, would be annoying to do it thru the menu each time.

Front dial knob. Might sound insignificant, but after a while you do get used to controlling Aperture & Shutter speed on their respective front or back knob, especially in manual mode.

Illuminated top LCD. If you take alot of night photos, you will miss that feature alot. You could use a mini-flashlight held in your mouth, but personally I'd grow tired of relying that each time I have to go out at night.

Wireless flash. Probably a gimmick for most, but usefull once you know how to exploit it.

Shortcut button for bracketing. Not that usefull if you shoot in Raw, but can be great for JPEG landscape photos that have alot of hightlights and shadows.

Compactflash memory card. SD cards on the D50? ouch. Compactflash is the most common media type, and the more affordable when it comes to price/storage. The odds are about 10:1 that in 2-3 years, if you upgrade to a better model than the D50, your new SLR would need Compactflash media. That's easily a 150-200$ waste right there, if you own something like 2-3 x 2GB memory cards (you will get to a point where you'll want more than one card).

All-in-all, I love this camera and I doubt many will be disappointed with theirs. I would suggest you buy a flash unit like the SB-600 as well. It opens up a whole new world of indoors photography , both in terms of photo quality, and shooting speed (with the onboard flash you cannot shoot in bursts).

P.S. After you've purchased a flash unit, start saving money for a zoom lens. The 18-70mm kit lens is nice, but the zoom limit of 70mm will be become very apparent not long after you've purchased your camera. Take a loot at the new 18-200 VR ;)

P.S.2. There is something I dislike alot on the camera , and it's the fact it doesn't support high-speed USB 2.0. Yuck, I lost patience with the slow speed after a day only (transferring 2 gigs worth of photos does take quite a while), so I bought a compaqflash reader. Only 20$, but the camera should have been up to that standard, considering it's a recent model.

Enjoy

Read Best Reviews of Nikon D70S Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-70mm and 55-200mm Nikkor Lenses Here

When Nikon brings out an `s' camera, it is virtually a sure thing that this is a camera you want to get your hands on. The D70s is not an exception. With essentially instant-on (.2 seconds), improved built in flash, a larger and brighter lcd screen, and especially the ability to take up to 144 exposures at 3 frames per second make this an incredible improvement to the existing D70. Imagine the sports or wildlife exposures you have the chance to get with this capability!

The D70s is the digital SLR to record daily life and life events. With a 6.1 mega pixel resolution limits the size of prints you can make with it to about 11" by 17". If this is not a problem for you then this is your digital camera. If you want to be able to make larger prints with good resolution, then you need to spend a great deal more money for a higher resolution digital camera (about $5,000) or stick with film. I keep my old N90 for these purposes.

Buy the D70s without the bundled 18-70 Nikon lens if (1) you already have a bundle of Nikon lenses; or (2) if you want a more capable first lens for your camera. If you want a more capable lens I strongly recommend the Nikon 24-120 lens. It cost $500 from B&H photo and will wind up being the lens you always keep on your camera. Its equivalent range in film cameras is 36-180 in other words slight wide angle to more than satisfactory telephoto. This is the fourth generation of this lens by Nikon and it now has all the bells and whistles: Nikons best ed glass for super sharp and clear pictures, silent wave motor for extremely fast focusing, and vibration reduction to eliminate the shakes in low light. Nikon has other excellent zooms and you may want to look at them but I can highly recommend this lens as one to have if you never want to miss a shot of the kids or what is happening at the instant.

* One extra EN-EL3a Lithium-Ion Battery.

* Two 2GB 80X CompactFlash cards with write acceleration (WA) technology.

Note: Nikon recommends the SanDisk SDCFH (Ultra II), SDCFX (Extreme/Extreme III) or Lexar Media 80X WA CompactFlash™ card for best performance.

* One CF card reader for your computer. Firewire or USB connection depending upon your needs.

As time and money permit you may want to add the following:

* A telephoto lens for wildlife and sporting events. The 70-300mm F4-5.6G AF Nikon is a great value and complements the bundled lens nicely. If money is not an object step up to the 70-300ED or the 70-200 F2.8 with vibration reduction.

* A good macro lens such as the AF Micro Nikon 105mm f2.8.

* Polarizing filters for both the kit lens and the telephoto. Get Nikon filters there is no sense in spending money for Nikon lenses and then putting junk filters on them.

* A bag to carry all this stuff.

This will get you nicely started. Further down the line you may wish to get the following:

* A speedlight. Either the SB 600 or 800.

* A tripod and ballhead.

Be sure to check prices at B&H Photo as well as those shown here. They have a tremendous selection and have long been known and trusted by serious photographers. In addition I would suggest that anyone who buys a D70 join Nikonians. There or literally tens of thousands of people who are more than happy to help you with any question you may have about Nikon Cameras, lenses and other equipment as well as help you with your photography skills. And, bet of all, it's free! Go to nikonians.org.

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I was shooting pictures of a BMW X3 for a magazine test-drive article. My San Francisco-based editor was along for the ride. When I pulled out my Canon EOS 1V, she exclaimed, "You still shooting film?" Yes, I am. Or more accurately, was. For even a slow-moving guy like me, when fate steps in to help me make the decision, I get it.

Here's the deal: My favorite film Fuji Velvia 50 was discontinued. My E-6 film processor went out of business. A friend a Nikon Tech Rep spent an hour convincing me that digital was the best way to go for my magazine work. Finally, he said that the Nikon D70s was the sweet spot when you consider price, quality and performance. Bottom line, this is the camera to have if I was going to dip my toe in the digital water. When I expressed a concern about the number of megapixels, he made a point that 6 megapixels was all I needed. I was still worried but he showed me sample prints and I was convinced. Oh yeah, my editor has the old Nikon D70 and she has shot several covers with it and lots of full page shots. They too looked good so I placed my order for a D70s.

I have just received it so I don't have a lot to say about the camera except that it feels great in my hand. The manual is very well written. The controls are just where they need to be experienced Nikon users will feel at home immediately.

Another selling point It uses compact flash cards so I can share them with my Canon point-and-shoots. In fact, I almost bought the D50 a good camera that's a lot cheaper but it uses the SD format cards. An expense that would blow the savings away as soon as I bought a couple of 1 gig cards.

The built-in flash is a bit weak for pro use but since it's there, I don't have to buy a new flash just yet.

I plan to use the D70s in 2006 for all my magazine work and thereby save its cost in film and procesing. If it all works out as planned, I'll upgrade to the D200 when the price drops a bit on that camera and then use this one as my backup.

Five stars for now we'll see later.

Update I shot at the Cloisters in NYC on Christmas Eve. The camera was easy to handle. The pictures had good color. Afterward, I made a large blow up (8X12) from a JPEG (Fine, Large) and the picture was quite sharp and had good tonal range.

Still looking good.

Second Update A shot I took with the D70s with a Nikon 80-200 f:2.8 just was published as the cover picture and it's amazing. Seriously sharp, good color and (dare I say) better than film. And that's with just 6 megapixels. I believe that most readers (meaning all non-pros AND many profesionals) would find this camera all you need and more.

One or two minor gripes after 6 months of hard use and a few raves. The motor drive is too slow for motorsports 3 fps is not enough. The build-in flash is convenient but with my 20-35 F:2.8 on the camera, anything shot close-up gets a nasty shadow.

The battery still rocks hundreds of shots and no charge needed.

As for storage with a 2 Gig card, it's like 10 rolls of film in the camera. Two 2 Gig cards and you could do a week's vacation without recharging and downloading.

I have 3 articles I wrote and illustrated with this camera coming out in a couple of weeks. More on the camera then.

PS The new Nikon N80 is a 10MP camera (like the D200) that tells me that the D70s is not long for this world. Discount / closeout / good used camera buys are sure to follow.

Varizoom VZ-FPC FlowPod Kit with Case (Black)

it may take a little work to get this balanced. it will take some practice to avoid pendulum effects, but, this doesnt have counter weights sticking out to the sides making it look like a Klingon Bird of Prey ship, like the other styles. so this fits well in tight places like stairwells and narrow hallways. you just have to remember not to get it too low to the floor or youll bump the pole and ruin your shot.

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Foscam FI8918W Wireless/Wired Pan & Tilt IP/Network Camera with 8 Meter Night Vision and 3.6mm Lens

• Great for security purposes, as a nanny cam or even a baby monitor that hooks up to your smartphone!
• Features: Wirelss, High quality video and audio, pan/tilt, remote internet viewing, motion detection, night-vision as well as a built in network video recording system.

This is a budget camera so the picture quality isn't HD or anything but works just fine. The set up was pretty straight forward and in no time I had port forwarding set up on my router and I was able to view the video feed on my phone from a free ip camera app. Hopefully, it will last and I think it will.

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Swann SW-P-BCC High Resolution BulletCam Compact Color Weather Resistant Security Camera

I have two now and another on order. These are great little cameras for indoors, and out. They do say water resistant, but I am going to fabricate an enclosure to keep the sprinklers off. They can be hidden from view. I put one in a window looking out. Another is outside looking down the driveway. Mounting tip: use the screws provided and a 4-12" piece of 2x4. Very portableand concealable! Good color picture. NOT day or night, no infrared LEDs. But overall picture, in daylight color runs circles around Swann Bulldog (and cost 50% less). I am going to use with street lamps & security type lights. Does have audio, but I have not used that. For what it is, it is very cost effective. Good color picture, and clarity upclose (my license plate) and accross the street (can identify neighbors at 50 feet). I can see leaves move in the wind, and adjusted the motion detection sensitivtiy for these cameras in the Swann DVR down.

Swann customer service did have a phone system problem when my camera failed after three months of use. After digging for the phone number of a real person, I called and Swann in Santa Fe Springs made it right, talking the retailer into swapping my inop with a new one. I am happy with Swann.

Buy Swann SW-P-BCC High Resolution BulletCam Compact Color Weather Resistant Security Camera Now

I PURCHASED THIS CAMERA I THINK A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND MOUNTED IT IN THE OPENING IN FRONT OF MY TRAILER HITCH USING A PIECE OF STYRAFOAM THAT I CUT AND BORED A 3/4 INCH HOLE FOR THE CAMERA AND HOOKED IT TO A MONITOR IN THE CAB. I RUN IT THROUGH THE CAR WASH AND ALL KINDA OF WEATHER AND NEVER A PROBLEM. I CAN USE THE MONITOR TO LINE UP MY TRAILER WHEN IM HOOKING IT UP AND WHEN I REMOVE THE TRAILER HITCH I CAN WATCH FOR OBJECTS BEHIND ME WHEN I BACK UP. A GREAT PRODUCT. I HAVE A 2010 GMC NOW SINCE THE OTHER TRUCK WAS TRAIDED

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Sony HXR-NX3D1 NXCAM 3D Compact Camcorder, Dual CMOS Sensor, 10x 3D Optical Zoom, 3.5 inch LCD, 96G

I've do a bit of aerial photography, and recently I decided to take the plunge and try it in 3D. Although I tend to use Canon video gear, it looks like Sony has made a significant investment in 3D. Sony seems to have the greatest range of products on the market so far, and the NX3D1 seemed like the right product for my needs.

There's a lot to like about this camera, from the overall construction and "feel" to the quality of the videos you can produce. Although I haven't used Sony camcorders in a long time, everything felt comfortable to me, from the placement of the controls to the overall balance. In my aerial photography ventures, the camera rides attached to a small radio-controlled helicopter in a custom housing that gives me remote monitoring, as well as pan, tilt and zoom capabilities. Adapting the camera and remote to my (admittedly unusual) needs has been pretty simple, so I give Sony high marks in this regard. Sony customer service went above and beyond to get me wiring diagrams and information about the remote control protocol so that I could adapt the NX3D1 to my needs very impressed with their service.

Originally, I was somewhat torn between this unit and its big brother, the PMW-TD300. While much more expensive, the TD300 gives you up to 35Mb/s bitrates substantially more than the 28 Mb/s on the NX3D1. My Canon 2D video equipment produces 50Mb/s, and I was worried that the NX3D1 would reveal compression artifacts or have other quality issues related to the lower bitrate. Unfortunately, the TD300 is heavier than my equipment can lift, so in the end, the NX3D1 was my only choice. In the end, I suppose for 2D video, I'll keep using my Canon but the stunning 3D videos you get from the NX3D1 make it easy to overlook issues like bitrates.

When used in still image or 2D mode, image quality is good, but not terrific. Exposure is spot-on, the lenses are sharp and contrasty, and the autofocus system keeps up with whatever you point the camera at. Still, the relatively small sensors used in camcorders don't have the dynamic range, low-light performance or noise qualities of larger cameras (say, your DSLR in movie capture mode). Of course, you probably buy this sort of camera for 3D, and so 2D or still picture performance is no doubt of secondary importance.

Sony does an excellent job with image stabilization on the NX3D1. Even in my aerial photography setup (which tortures most image stabilization solutions!), videos are generally smooth and fluid probably the best I've seen on any brand of camcorder. Sound quality is likewise quite good, whether you use the built-in microphone or the XLR inputs. The 96GB storage capacity is plenty for me, and Sony makes it fairly painless to offload to an external drive or simply carry lots of SD memory cards. Battery life is reasonable I get about 2-3 hours depending on whether I have the microphone attached or not, and there's a larger capacity battery if run-time is important to you.

While I'm new to 3D, I didn't find it especially difficult to adjust and configure the 3D settings to get topnotch video. The 3.5" LCD is clear and bright, even in daylight, and the "no-glasses" 3D mode gives you a good idea of what the final product will look like. The one challenge I had with 3D was in editing and post processing. My 2D equipment and Adobe-based software just doesn't cut it for 3D, and to be honest, I still don't feel as though I have a great solution here. Of course, this isn't Sony's fault I need to upgrade to 3D capable monitors, software, etc.

Overall, I like the Sony NX3D1 a lot and I'm glad I gave it a try. Although I feel like 3D is a big step and there are still some missing pieces, the Sony NX3D1 is a big part of the equation, and I don't think you'd regret going with one.

I've been shooting with the Sony 3D NX Cam since 8-2011. I took 2 of them to Africa to film a safari. The camera is lightweight with great image quality. The touch screen view finder allows the user to control all aspects of the image settings. You can switch from 2D to 3D shooting modes with the flick of a switch and it has great low light capabilities. So far I've shot stunning footage of Nature, wildlife, people, buildings etc: I promise you will fall in love with this camera too. Welcome to the new age of 3D cinematography.

Buck McNeely

Outdoorsman International

Buy Sony HXR-NX3D1 NXCAM 3D Compact Camcorder, Dual CMOS Sensor, 10x 3D Optical Zoom, 3.5 inch LCD, 96G Now

Try and Search for " HXR-NX3D1U " online.

Search for a PDF Manual and let me know if you can find one good luck.

I own one of this and I have searched everywhere, by the way Sony's online support is terrible.

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HooToo® HT-IP006 Outdoor Wired / Wireless Network IP Camera, Fixed Dome Camera with Waterproof Des

Well, the camera arrived on time, and I installed it. This is my fourth HooToo ptz camera, but the first one of this style with the enclosure, that I've purchased. It configured easily. Took about an hour to get it set up and tested for the features I use, and about 30 minutes to mount.

There was a quality control problem, which was somewhat easily solved. Although, it's a "gotcha" and would most likely drive a less experienced person crazy (I'll go over that further down in this review). The physical installation went well, but again, there is one small design flaw that was annoying, and which added maybe ten minutes to the process. However, over all, it was pretty easy and painless.

The camera was shipped and delivered on time. Out of the box, it was in good shape, and all components were there. I was pleased to see a 6dbi antenna, instead of the usual 3dbi that come with these low-end cameras. I did not have to do any readjustments or tweaks to the optics. Picture is Chrystal clear, and the 4x mechanical zoom is sweet. The ptz movement is nice and smooth, too.

Initial configuration of the camera is exactly like all the other cameras in this class (Hootoo, and other brands). Connect it directly to the router, via ethernet, find it's ip, connect and play with it to make sure everything works, and then set the admin password, ssid, wireless security configuration, etc. Then, disconnect the ethernet and test for wireless connectivity. This all went fast and easy.

I then took it out to the location and mounted it. It is a nice compact unit, but it is difficult to get a screwdriver to the screws. I had to remove the camera and housing from the base so that I could get a screwdriver to the mounting screws. Then, once the base is screwed down, remount the camera. Not real difficult, but I managed to lose two of the teeny tiny screws that hold the camera to the base. and now have to find a couple more that fit. Not a huge problem, but annoying!

The primary "gotcha" was the fact that the MAC address listed on the camera housing was not the actual MAC address of the camera! I found that out when I was trying to reserve an ip address , and set port forwarding for the camera (to view remotely, via DDNS). I had copied the MAC down from the one listed on the camera housing, but that was not the same address that the camera reported to the router. The MAC that the router sees is the "real" MAC address. The one listed as "Device ID" in the "Device Status" window (in the on-board management software) is also correct. The one on the case was 100% different (i.e. not a typo, or incremented by one, etc). This is sloppy quality control on the part of HooToo, and will probably prevent many people who buy their product from being able to set up DDNS!

The software cd that came with this camera is not too good either. I installed it just to see what it was, but intend to uninstall it. I don't think it would be real helpful in setting up the camera, and probably will add some confusion for the novice, or someone who has not dealt with these cameras before. Also, the little manual that comes with it is good for comedy relief, but not much else.

And finally, the camera does not see infrared. At night it will only see areas lit with normal light ... So, if you have a well lit area, then go for it.

This camera will work well for anybody that does not have a need for night vision. The 4x mechanical zoom is awesome. For those installing it, remember to verify the MAC via the router and/or with the management software in the camera. Also, the CD and manual that comes with it are pretty much useless, but this is no different than any other security camera in this class (including the more expansive Foscam). I did give 4 stars due to the lack of IR, but all other features of the camera are very good.

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NOTE: My original review of this camera was pretty harsh, because of the lack of night vision. I have changed my review, due to the extremely good customer service of Sunvalleytek. It has been amazing! They immediately went to work setting things right. Paid for the return of this camera, and sent me a replacement camera, which does have night vision.

Sunvalleytek provides good quality products, and superb customer service. I am now very satisfied with this Amazon purchase from Sunvalleytek.

The video quality is grainy. I wish some other people would post a video or snapshots of their camera so I could have compared it against others. I am not sure if my camera is defective or if all of them are like this.

Unboxing was easy. You must unscrew the dome, counter-clockwise, to get the foam out of the dome. It was EXTREMELY difficult to unscrew the dome. I wish I would have read that on here. Putting it back on was easier as I took a dot of dish soap and put it on my finger and went around the threads on the dome and was careful not to cross thread it when I put it back on. Just be aware that the dome may be VERY difficult to get off.

The software that came on the CD was not useful to me. I used the Ethernet cable and plugged it into my router so it would get an IP address. I went into the router and determined what the IP address was under DHCP client list. It was easy to identify as the hostname appeared as ipcam or something like that. I then hit the IP address with my browser (Chrome), logged in as admin and a blank password, and set the network settings. I set my camera to have a static IP, otherwise I'd be playing guess the IP every time my router reboots. Then I went into the wireless settings, clicked scan, clicked scan again, selected my wireless network, set the security settings (look on your wireless router security settings for the correct encryption settings), put in the wireless password (I really hope you have one), saved the settings, put some user accounts on it, and unplugged the Ethernet cable. I then tested it to make sure it worked on the wireless. I then mounted it to a wall, outside.

You will need to drill a 7/8" hole, possibly 1", to stick the cables through. I was a bit disappointed there wasn't a harness you could disconnect so you could drill a smaller hole. I didn't end up drilling a hole and ran the cable up under my eve since I mounted it on a shed building. The camera pans all the way around no problem. You can adjust the left and right endpoints of the horizontal pan by using the two small screws at the top where the top of the dome connects to the mount. I mounted mine to the corner of my shed to get even a better viewing angle. I did this by bending the mounting bracket ears to about 45 degrees instead of the 90 degrees they were originally at. I did that using a vice, vice grips, and then finally mounted one ear of the bracket and then held the camera securely with one hand while tapping the other ear with a hammer to get it flat against the wall. Holding the camera made sure it didn't get the vibration from tapping on the mount with the hammer. Mounting was quick, it only took me less than half an hour. Once it is mounted, get power to it and you're good to go.

One thing I am disappointed in is the vertical pan. It can't pan up past the dome. So essentially I can't get a picture up hill. That is aggravating for me since my camera is mounted at the bottom of a hill where my horses are. It would have been great at the top of the hill! I figure most of them have this limitation, but I thought I would point it out. Technically if the camera were lower in the dome and then allowed to pan upwards more, it would be possible to make a PTZ that could pan up higher, so maybe the expensive ones do. Horizontally you couldn't ask for more. Unless you mounted it to slim pole or hung it by a string, the camera's blindspot is simply your wall, which you don't need to see. The zoom is ok, the optical 3x is better than nothing.

The web interface is easy to use. If you want to use IE to use the ActiveX component, which allows you to record video (that is what I used for the video), then you'll need to go into IE, add it to your local intranet zone or trusted sites zone, and configure the local intranet zone (or trusted sites zone) to prompt for installing and running activex by untrusted publishers. For goodness sake don't do this for your Internet zone for security reasons. Personally I use Chrome or Firefox most of the day so I don't care for the ActiveX component.

I was able to easily poke a hole through my router. The camera only works on port 80 so it is disappointing that your credentials are being transmitted over the net in plain text. Hence, use a password you don't care to lose. I used my router settings to put it on a different port on the outside of my router since I don't like running things on port 80.

Personally I use IP Cam Viewer (by Robert Chou) for Android to view it remotely. All the PTZ functions work with it. I found an article on the Zoneminder forums about getting the HooToo cams to work with Zoneminder, although I couldn't get it to work in 90 seconds so I gave up for the moment.

I will be curious how well the mount and dome stand up over a couple years outside. They seem painted good so let's hope for the best. The dome has a rubber seal so I don't expect it to get condensation in it.

My primary purpose was to add to several other bullet cameras I currently use on two other systems. I wanted to be able to pan around and watch my horses in the pasture while being able to track anything else I wanted. I should also mention I am on satellite Internet since we can't get DSL or cable in the boonies. It seems to work fine, although because of the satellite latency the PTZ is not as quick as if you are sitting at your computer at home. However, it's good enough for me. I'll use the bullets to identify someone if God forbid I had to, and this HooToo to be able to give me peace of mind watching my horses in the pasture.

UPDATE: I did contact HooToo support who offered to refund my money for the camera. I am in the process of obtaining a new CMOS sensor board (the part that captures the image) to see if I can get a better picture from the camera. If so, I will post an updated video and would definitely give the product a higher rating.

Buy HooToo® HT-IP006 Outdoor Wired / Wireless Network IP Camera, Fixed Dome Camera with Waterproof Des Now

I bought this camera to use as a barn cam to view my cattle while they are calving. It arrived in good condition and installation was tricky but acceptable for someone with computer/network experience. The IP Camera Tool software that comes with the camera is useful for obtaining the IP address. It is necessary to have DHCP enabled on your router for the tool to locate the ip address. The IPCamClient software that came with the camera is good and allows up to 64 cameras to be attached, and port forwarding to view the camera remotely. There are only 9 preset positions, but otherwise it works well. I found an updated software version on the web that worked better than the version on the disk, which seemed to have some glitches. The picture quality is quite good when there is adequate lighting. Daytime viewing is in color which is accurate, but night time switches to b/w. The IR led lights around the housing cast a limited amount of light in total darkness, but seem to help when there are some lights on. The zoom is a useful feature but could be higher power. Auto focus, white balance, and iris function are good. PTZ control is good wired but a little jumpy when used wireless. Once you have your presets set it works well. I have tried this camera in two locations. The first was outside mounted on a yard light pole. Daytime viewing was good, but nighttime was not bright enough. The second location is in a 40X80 calving barn. With several lights left on this camera is working well, but in total darkness you will only see shadows up to about 20 ft. I purchased a Loftek camera after this one because it looked identical and was cheaper, but the picture quality has not been as good. Overall, this is a good camera for daytime use and with supplemental lighting. The lens is good quality and the camera seems to be well made. It has been operating for about a week. I will update after I have used it for a longer time.

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Good camera with a decent picture. I mounted this in an upstairs window to keep an eye on my courtyard. The PTZ function works flawlessly. The set-up was very simple. Overall, amazing camera for the price. This is a perfect solution to log into your camera system software online from anywhere in the world and see what's going on at your house/business/etc. Additionally, Sunvalleytech's customer service was AMAZING a lost art in today's world. Overall, pleasantly pleased with the product and the experience. Keep in mind, this camera is not onvif compatible. So if you have a NVR that requires onvif compatibility, this camera will not function through your NVR. Again, this is a perfect online solution camera.

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The setup for this camera is nearly identical to the other brands on here, and if you run into any problems there's a wealth of info on the forums. It always helps to do some research first, and it can save you a lot of headaches especially if you are not the tech saavy type.

Overall, I was surprised how easy this was to setup. I basically just plugged it into my router via a cat5 to access the web interface, setup the wifi, then moved it to my place of choice. I was happy with the quality of the video and smoothness of the pan & tilt, and the zoom in/out function is a plus. The infrared night vision works great, and for android phones, I recommend the TinyCam monitor pro app for $3.99 which works with the Kindle Fire as well.

Unfortunately, this doesn't have a mic/speaker so look elsewhere if you need one with that feature. However for an outdoors camera, I would say it isn't really needed.

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Canon EOS Rebel T3 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera Body & EF-S 18-55mm IS II Lens with 55-250mm IS L

Hi!! The product was what I expected overall . But the main complain is with the external flash that is not compatible with the camera so it is totally useless.

Thank you.

The camera and all accessories were received on time. The accessories included in the package were not of great quality and the lens cleaning kit was so badly smashed that the contents soaked all the tissues and lens cleaning brush to make that portion useless. The flash that was included was of foreign make and the instructions were so bad that I cannot figure out how to use it with the camera so it is effectively useless as well.

But, I bought this for the camera and lens, and that was of perfect condition and the quality I expected so all in all, I'm satisfied.

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JVC GR-DVM70U Digital Cybercam Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode

After the birth of my son, I wanted a camcorder to shoot video of him and family events.

I tried the Canon ZR, Canon Vistura, and JVC DVM-70 The main reason I liked the JVC DVM-70 is the small size and relative low cost.

This camcorder is so small it fits in a pants pocket or even a shirt pocket! Size is very important for me because of my experience with 35 millimeter cameras. I have 2 cameras: one full size Canon SRL camera that cost about $1000.00, and one small Yashika T4 Super pocket size camera that cost $150.00. Guess where most of my good family photos come from the $150.00 pocket size camera! That's because this is the camera I carry most of the time. I just don't like to be "Joe Photographer Guy" or "Joe Camcorder Guy" lugging around a big piece of equipment. I can carry the DVM-70 in my pocket and quickly pull it out and start shooting when something interesting happens just the way I use my Yashika T4.

The DVM-70 is also very quick and easy to use. Once you turn a switch to the "Camera" position, the camcorder automatically turns itself on and off when you open or close the LCD panel, or eye piece. This is important because often the action you want to record happens quickly; you'll miss shots if you have to fumble with controls.

One problem with this camera is that the microphone is on the top. It picks up some motor noise from the camera, and you have to be careful not to let it pick up the sound of your own breathing. However, this is a problem with most of these very small camcorders, and I don't find it to be too big of a problem. I have also had problems with lots of wind noise when shooting outside in the wind.

I've had the DVM-70 for about a year now and I still don't see another camcorder I'd rather have for recording family events.

Overall, I've been very happy with this cam, but only after having spent quite a bit of additional money to add features that negate its flaws. It's solid & small enough to fit in a back pocket, but also very comfortable to use. I get comments and the cam gets admiring glances wherever I go. My problems with it are few, but important if you don't know how to get around them. The features & praise you can read elsewhere, and I'd echo most of that praise. But here are the flaws:

-The included apparati for transferring data to your computer are slow (serial cables) & lame (software). For transferring & editing video, Pinnacle Studios' Studio DV and its included FireWire cable is a must buy (...). Also, if you're serious about editing video on your computer, make sure you've got a great machine (fast processor, beefy video card, huge & fast hard drive, lots of RAM). Likewise, the included still camera software is a waste of bytes. Transferring still shots is much easier with the MultiMedia Card Reader from Sandisk ... . Just plug in the card like a floppy and there are your JPGs. It wouldn't hurt to invest in a bigger (16MB ...) MultiMedia Card, while you're at it.

-The on-board software is buggy. I suppose I need to take my cam in for servicing to see if it can be fixed, but trying to use the slideshow feature for the stills turns my entire screen green & I have no choice but to power off. You might expect JVC to have updated BIOS downloads on their web site so you could update it yourself, but one look at the JVC homepage and your expectations will be lowered.

END

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I tried two units before giving up on the JVC. The video was OK (not great color) but the audio was fatally flawed. The camera itself generates a 'whine' which is then picked up by the microphone and recorded. Any quiet recordings, when played back, have this buzzing whining sound added; I found it completely unsatifactory. No provision for an external microphone (which would have been a satisfactory solution) is made! Were it not for this flaw I would have been happy with the camera.

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I got the JVC DVM-70 from a large dept store. If you are buying the camera for the small size, then this is the one you want. However, after owning for 1.5 years the camera has been in for service multiple times due to a problem of dropping audio & video. Luckily for me I purchased a 3 year warranty at Circuit City, and the camera will get replaced after the 3rd time in service for the same problem. My next camera model will probably be a Sony.

Some other drawbacks: -whine sound while recording from zoom motor (as mentioned above) -audio/video dropping problem -MultiMediaCard reading software that comes with the camera isn't very friendly. I recommend getting SanDisk's MultiMediaCard reader from Circuit City or other computer store -Might not work 100% perfect with IEEE 1394 Firewire capture software (such as Ulead/Adobe Premier) (I still have to experiment more with this). However, I have made a few computer videos with the camera while it wasn't in the service shop.

Hard to find underwater casings except for the bag from ewa-marine. Sony has much more support for underwater filming.

Like I said, this is the camera you want if the small size is important to you. It takes great pics both stills and video. But if you want a workhorse that is very versatile, then this model is not the one.

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Ok, probably like you I thought this was a very cool camcorder. It's a great design, small with lots of features. The problem is that it has one fatal flaw. The left and right mic are on top and pick-up a high pich whine of the camcorder motor when you are recording. I tried to get used to it but after a few days returned the product with much regret. As an Engineer I couldn't help but be amazed how could such a simple and fatal flaw could have made it to market on such a great product.

FM Photography McClamp, 26" Long Flexible Articulated Arm with Micro Clamp and 2" Clamp 3302

Need a helping hand when trying to prop a light or your photo subject, but no one's around? The McClamp's what your looking for. It's sturdy, attaches to almost anything and the micro clamp model doesn't tear into whatever you're trying to hold.

To give you an idea I built a macro "lamp" with several led lights on their own wired circuit around some cardboard, with three AA batteries; the whole thing goes around a dslr lens without touching it; no problem at all for the McClamp, and it leaves your hands free to work on your composition.

No 5 stars because it's a little pricey for what it does, even if it does it well.

I bought this with a bit of skepticism I had seen them in use before but the price seemed a bit steep for what I was getting and I had to wonder whether the clamp would be too much pressure on certain items (for instance, a flower's stem). Definitely not even remotely concerned this was built with everything in mind. There is a fabric ring that gently compresses around things like stems, soft padding on the clamp, and the ability to dial down the pressure. It is exceptionally well-designed and seems incredibly sturdy, too. Honestly, I think it was worth every penny. I am very happy with the purchase, far more so than I had anticipated!

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I really like this item to hold a variety of things! It is a little stiff initially but once you get use it for a bit it works nicely, great for flowers and small items that require more hands than you have..:)

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This thing is sort of cool, but it can't hold much weight. I'd hoped to use it with 22 inch 5-in-1 reflectors or scrims and they are too heavy.

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Nikon DK-21 Rubber Eyecup Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

This is a Nikon product D80 owners shouldn't need to replace but inevitably they will. After the first few times it fell off my camera and I put it back on I intentionally wiggled it around in order to get an idea of why it would fall off and what I could do to prevent this happening. I never did figure it out, and finally it fell off on a forest hike and that was that. Luckily these are unbelievably cheap (for Nikon), so buying 3 and keeping them in the camera bag is not that big a deal.

I still have the eyecup that came with my D300; it fits snugly and has never fallen off. I'm happy to know that a replacement is available for only five dollars. It does a good job of keeping my eyeglasses from getting scratched on the harder plastic of the camera body, and it does keep out some of the light that would otherwise creep in from the side and make framing photos less easy. This is a good, general-purpose rubber eyecup for keeping on the camera all the time.

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Lost Original Eyecup for D90, and this replacement the OEM replacement. Camera is complete again :)

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Little upset that I ordered this for my D40, and it doesn't fit my D40 as advertised. The bottom of my view finder is covered with the eyecup frame because it doesn't slide all of the way down.

If it fit, I think it would be great.

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While the description states this item will fit the Nikon D40, it does not. The eyecup slips over the viewer, and will not slide down completely. This is not made for the D40. Looking at other Camera sites, the proper eyecup for the D40 appears to be the DK-16. I will be returning this item.

Zacuto Z-Finder EVF Pro 3.2 inch High Resolution Monitor

After trying out various options including external monitors, I found this to be the all in one solution. Works great on my 5D mark ll as well as my XF100. Solid construction and an incredibly useful tool for all situations. Whether trying to achieve accurate focus, attain proper exposure, or ensure framing is spot on, the Zacuto EVF will exceed your expectations. The peaking and zebra functions are great and I am especially happy with the fact that Zacuto added a USB port for firmware updates which is something not regularly offered in products like this. Another bonus in using the Zacuto EVF is it can provide an extra point of contact when shooting with my DSLR. An all around great investment

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