PTC 35 ft Premium GOLD Series HDMI FLAT Cable - 24AWG and CL2 rated for inside wall applications

This HDMI cable is great for the price! I bought it to connect my laptop to my TV. I fished it under the carpet in my old apartment. It can be a little difficult to work with because it is quite stiff (TWSS).

This product is great, has an excellent price, and it was delivered in no time. I am using it for my projector so I needed a lot of cord to go from my receiver to the top of my ceiling where my projector is mounted. This was the first time I have seen a flat HDMI cord and it is very cool. I love the flat HDMI cord because it easiy blends in with the ceiling and going down the wall into my reciever with no problems. The picture quality is nothing but superb as you would expect from a 1080P HDMI cord.

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Motorola MFV700 7-inch Digital Frame with Video-In-Picture and Wireless DECT 6.0 Camera (Black)

I purchased two of these for gifts, both to be used as baby monitors. You have two components the frame and the camera, each with it's own power adapter. The frame also has a mini remote control.

The camera: Plays the typical MIDI sounding nursery rhymes and lullabies. Very narrow field of view. We had to mount it 6 feet above the crib to see the entire thing (just your typical crib.) To mount it, there are two screw mounting slots in the base. You can mount it on a wall or put it on a shelf. Low light quality is also decent.

Frame: Accepts USB key and SD card. Plays slide shows and lets you do a screen grab from the monitor. The left side shows a calendar or a slide show. The right side shows a clock in the lower 1/3rd and the video feed in the other 2/3rds. Unlike the video and photos show, this can NOT be changed. The video feed can't be moved or resized and the clock can't be moved or the style changed. Four different people tried we went through all the options. It's just not done.

Because of this there's a lot of wasted screen space on the right. The quality of the feed is decent, not great. The audio is fantastic.

Controls: There are controls on the frame back and on the included remote. The controls on the frame allow you to control many of the features, turn down the volume (but not up!) and display the video camera feed. The remote has more options and lets you turn the volume up as well.

Other observations: If you look at the sample photo with the baby closeup, the camera would have to be about 1 foot away. Not practical or safe. The Motorola website has no information on this product no manuals, no help nothing. The photo with the clock on top and the video on the bottom? No way. Outright deceitful by Motorola. Even the video feed dimensions are wrong it's obviously a fake image. It's also SLOW. The demo video shows modes changing instantly. It takes at least three seconds. It's so slow you'll be pressing the buttons again and a gain thinking you pressed wrong. Also the sample photos of the frame the video quality is not even close to those images.

The menu system is not intuitive and even hair-brained in places. What buttons do is not consistent. See the video.

For simplicity and ease of use, it's 5 stars. For not giving you what's advertised, obvious design flaws, and releasing a product that does not match the marketing, photos or promo video 1 star. Even the manual has strips of paper glued over some lines obvious last minute editing/removal of features from the manual. It's just obvious that the design specs and final product did not even come close to each other. Video quality, features, options all are sub-par.

My guess and it's obvious from the promo the video feed portion was supposed to be positionable and able to display full screen, there were supposed to be multiple clock and calendar types, and a much better video feed/quality. Then the budget was cut, the options removed, and a very basic unit produced. Again, that's my best guess but watch their promo video that's not what you get!

I bought this when it was a lightning deal--$99!--and was really excited when it arrived. We've been looking for a monitor, so that we can keep an eye on our toddler when we (eventually) get her going to bed on her own. Having the monitor included in a digital picture frame (along with a calendar, clock with alarm, temperature monitor, etc.) was a huge bonus. But there are some caveats, which might not be right for everyone.

So far, very few problems linking the camera and frame--once or twice the camera feed wouldn't display, and I had to restart the frame, which isn't a big deal. The space occupied by the camera feed is pretty small, which might not be great for everyone, and the night vision, while adequate, isn't very clear--but hey, it's vision ... at night. We can see enough to know whether the kid has fallen off the bed or is sitting up. We also haven't tested the distance yet to see whether we could use it in a bigger house someday. The sound sensitivity so far is spot on: after one cough or fuss, the speaker turns on every time, alerting us to any potential problem.

Note that there is no internal memory, so you'll need a USB drive or a memory card handy. And there is also no internal battery in the frame, so a loss of power means resetting the date and time.

For me, the only other misgiving is the lack of more detailed instructions on how to properly crop and resize pictures so they display correctly. You see, the frame seems to resize pics that were taken on your camera, so that they display properly, but if you pull them from your computer, they appear distorted, mostly stretched horizontally. As someone who prefers not to look fun-house-mirror fat in all my pictures, I spent hours attempting to get the sizing right, so that the pictures from my computer filled the entire frame, just like a real picture would. I won't get into all the details, the thousands of times I cropped, resized, deleted, groaned. But I've detailed below EXACTLY how I finally got it right, and the settings I like now that the pictures are properly sized.

The specs for this frame say that the dimensions are 480 (horizontal) x 234 (vertical), but the aspect ratio is 16:9. Now, this is confusing because according to most of the tutorials I read, dividing the vertical by the horizontal should give you the aspect ratio. Well, 234/480 is .4875 and 9/16 is .5625. I may be doing it wrong, but these two numbers should match. I finally discovered that dividing 234 into 416 is the only way to get .5625, so I set all my picture dimensions to 416x234 and, by golly, the pictures finally look true to life. It would be nice to see this in the documentation somewhere, and I wish I were smarter and understood why the 480 seems like a useless dimension when resizing pics.

I found a great program () that allowed me to resize all my pics to exactly 416x234 and batch-resize by selecting "Open Sequentially" from the "File" menu. Be sure to display the pics in full screen, and you should have beautiful pictures that fill the whole frame. It's a preference on my end, too, but I think they look great with a brightness of 9, a contrast of 8, and saturation of 6.

Overall, a great buy. It fills many needs around here, most specifically the fact that we are terrible about putting new pictures in frames, or printing pictures in general. Now we have many pictures on display, in full-frame glory, along with other great features this frame/camera offers.

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My Husband and I have been looking for a video baby monitor for our two babies. We saw this item and fell in love with the item description. We purchased two, but after setting the first one up in our youngest babys room we didnt even bother to unpack the 2nd camera. The visual quality was awful. The night vision even worse! We had to put 3 nightlights in his room to be able to barely see him. The screen is delayed and sometimes shows colored lines. We were under the impression that the whole frame could be used to look at baby sleeping, instead its a tiny picture in picture. This item was not made for everyday use. At night you have to prop it up at the right angle so you even see the live feed of your baby in their crib. Even with only the video feed and no pictures scrolling accross the screen its bright enough to light our entire bedroom. The last straw was the camera not picking up sound on occasion. I woke up yesterday in the early morning, when I looked over at the monitor he was crying in his room and I never heard a noise. We packed up the camera and are sending it back to Amazon.

I hope nobody else waists their time and money with this product.

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Motorola how could you put your name on this junk worst video quality I've ever seen . I used to think Motorola made a quality product . So disappointed

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very use fool product ,nice picture tremendous amount can be have on a card, camera works well night time is ok

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Opteka X-GRIP Professional Camera / Camcorder Action Stabilizing Handle- Black

I bought this based on reviews and I must say I was horrified when mine was delivered. I would not trust my video camera to this flimsy piece of plastic. I cannot say anything good about this product I guess you get what you pay for.

I have added a video to demonstrate some of its shortcomings.

I bought the X-Grip for camcorder use. It was shipped fast and arrived in perfect condition. I appreciate the simple, uncluttered, straightforward design which was executed with quality materials. Attaching it to the camcorder is swift and easy, and the X-Grip can even be attached to a tripod or other mount when operating the camcorder. The heavy-duty accessory shoe can be detached. The grip of the unit is heavily padded and comfortable to use. Small built-in 'loops' at the top and bottom of the mount can be used to attach additional accessories via zip-ties or other field expedients. The X-Grip is constructed from very heavy duty plastic and is robust enough to withstand many years of service. I heartily recommend this unit to all active videographers who want bang for their bucks.

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I love this thing. It's much more than just a handle for low-angle skater shots. I use mine with a Canon Vixia HF-10, and I like that I can mount the camera forward, as you see in most of the product shots, or 90 degrees left so that the curved handle serves as more of a left-hand support for regular shooting... like a flash bracket that still photographers use. That's going to be my default setup. Since the camera mounting screw is in a little track that extends the length of the flat rubber area, the camera can be slid forward or backwards within the X-Grip before tightening. In my case, I slide it all the way forward, rotate it 90 degrees counter-clockwise, and the camera's video monitor has plenty of room to swing all the way out to the left without hitting the handle curve. The accessory bracket on top also rotates 360 degrees so the light/microphone can match the camera direction.

My only complaint is related to the mounting knob below. I'm thrilled that it also has a female thread for mounting to a tripod or other standard-thread item. But the X-Grip's feet, the little skid things that it sits on, get in the way of my tripod head a little. I use a Manfrotto 501 pro tripod head with the large quick-release plate. If that plate is mounted directly underneath the X-Grip, then I can't slide the plate/X-Grip combo onto the tripod head without some serious force too much to be practical. Fortunately, the solution was to disassemble the whole thing and add a single metal washer between the camera mount knob and the underside of the X-Grip, which caused the knob to hang just a fraction of an inch lower when the camera was fully tightened in place. This lowered the female tripod threads in relation to the skids just a bit, so that the "skids" were raised off of my tripod head just enough to be able to slide the release plate in place without much effort. Your mileage may vary with other tripods. If you try this, be careful not to use too thick a washer, since you're sacrificing the amount of threads that actually screw into your camera. This rig does not have the "two knob" type of camera mounting screw where you can set the screw depth with one knob and then tighten down with the other. On this, the depth you see is all you get. It's just right for my camera, but if your camera has an exceptionally shallow tripod-mounting hole, you may need to do the washer trick. Or if your rig is so heavy that you need more than 3/16"-1/4" or so of mounting thread to feel safe and secure, then the X-Grip may not be for you.

The rubber platform that the camera sits on is great. It's actually about 1/4" thick, and good rubber not just the cheesy little thin layer of neoprene left over from the mousepad factory. So if you need to crank down on the camera mounting knob, the camera settles into the rubber pretty securely.

About the strength of the handle: more than enough. It's not totally rigid plastic. It's got a slight flex, so a heavy accessory on top might bounce up and down ever so slightly. I have a Rode NTG-2 mic up there on a shock mount, and I have no concerns about the flex. In fact, I prefer it. The plastic seems strong enough to support a pretty hefty camera rig, and I'll gladly take the "flexy" plastic over the harder, more brittle plastic that is more likely to shatter if dropped.

That's it so far!

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Wow, after reading some of the negative reviews on here I was hesitant to order this for my new Vixia camera. I especially liked the video review from someone who obviously has no idea what to do with this item (or had some serious camera issues) Bottom line first I am extremely satisfied with my purchase and love the X-Grip!

First off, after unboxing my new camera and all of the gear that came with it, I just had to see if my camera would swivel loosely around on the X-Grip like the guy in the video review. Guess what? An eighth of a turn past snug on the mounting bolt and nothing short of a forceful twist of the camera would shake this thing loose. I flipped it,shook it, twisted it, and swung it around like a madman and my camera remained precisely where I had positioned it.

As for those who are complaining that the X-Grip cannot be attached to a tripod double check the backside of the camera mounting thumbscrew. If yours is like mine, it took a few minutes to notice but it is double threaded, meaning that your tripod shoe will attach here easily.

With a little ingenuity I set my X-Grip up to carry not only the camera, but 3-4 other accessories that have shoe mounts as well. Cameras are easy, everything is standard 1/4X20 thread! Most of my accessories (lights, microphone, etc) came with mounting bars and thumbscrews designed to attach to the camera's single, threaded hole in the bottom. Well, since this hole was occupied by the X-Grip, I simply mounted one of the bars to the top portion of the X-Grip with a 1/4X20 bolt and added 3 of the thumbscrew/shoe mounts to that plus the one included on the X-Grip. Now my X-Grip, if needed, can be a handheld or tripod mounted "all in one" studio.

The uses of the X-Grip are limited only by your imagination and ability to think outside of the box. This thing is crazy versatile and, despite being made of that evil "plastic" stuff, seems remarkably durable. Of course you could just mount your camera on it and use it like it was intended, but where's the fun in that? If you are a little more adventurous with your video camera than just holding it up by your face and shooting from one angle than get this thing you'll be glad you did. I sure was!

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I think this item is a cool little film making tool. I am an independent film maker and I am sure I will make good use of it at certain times. It is easy enough to mount the camera and remove it again quickly. The only thing I dislike is the fact that the microphone that fits into my hotshoe does not fit on the camera while mounted on the rig. Also, the build feels a little cheap. Other than that this is a great tool for the money.

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Nikon COOLPIX P510 16.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 42x Zoom NIKKOR ED Glass Lens and GPS Record Lo

Let me start by saying I have been waiting for this camera since early February. And waiting and waiting long after it was supposed to be released February 15th. Today I finally got mine! (obviously only having it for a few hours won't allow me to give the best review but I would like to point out some of the things I have noticed)

I am an avid camera collector and Nikon fan, taking classes in high school and college (and the last thing I needed was yet another camera) but I was unhappy with my options. My DSLR took fantastic pictures but was too heavy to carry around for everyday use and my basic point and shoot was the perfect pocket size, but took less than decent pictures. I was hoping a bridge camera would solve all of my problems.

Pros so far:

Camera powers on very quickly.

Its surprisingly light and compact without sacrificing amazing picture quality.

The camera body has a nice grip on it so it's easy to hold on to and stays in your hand.

The pop out screen makes it oh so easy to see pictures you're taking at weird angles.

Easy to use (especially for those people who aren't comfortable with adjusting ISO and shutter speed manually but can be adjusted for those who are)

Has tons of settings (hard to say forsure but seems like it performs well in low light situations)

The zoom is INCREDIBLE (I can take a picture of a lego mini figure from 20 feet away with better clarity and image quality than I could right in front of the object with my point and shoot)

The downsides I have noticed so far:

-Video is alright, when I blow it up on my computer it doesn't look to be true HD quality but it's good. Also the zoom on the video can be heard no matter what which is a little annoying.

-The zoom on the actual camera is very slow if you're extending it the full range and it takes a few seconds to focus.

Battery life is not that good would definitely recommend getting a back up!

Overall I LOVE this camera. Sure you may find a Canon or Olympus that has slightly better reviews in one feature or another, but let's be real, no camera has it all. However, in my opinion so far this comes pretty close!

I have put together a slide show on the capabilities of the P510. It can be a telescope, as well as a macro camera as you can see in the video. By far the most versatile camera I have ever owned. It is an upgrade to my Nikon P90, and it is amazing.

The pictures of the moon and Venus were done on a tripod, but can you think of another point and shoot camera that can see Venus in its crescent phase? Incredible. And no sacrifice in macro mode as well. I have taken action shots in soccer from across the field with no vibration issues. I can't say enough about this camera! You can use it in action situations, for wildlife at a distance as well as amateur astronomy.

Please note that windows moviemaker reduced resolution to 640x480 on the video use it to gauge its versatility, not its resolution. The pictures are very sharp!

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This is the perfect compromise camera for me. I gave up my DSLR to my daughter who is a serious photographer. It was a great camera but more than I needed. This is light, full of features and takes great pictures.

I've heard concerns about Nikon's battery life, but so far I've had tons of pictures and video off a single charge.

The picture quality looks terrific.

The zoom is amazing.

I usually don't care as much about these things, but the red color is great.

I doubt I'll ever use the GPS feature. It is usually pretty obvious where I am when taking pictures.

I highly recommend these extras. For $500 total you get an nice bundle.

1. The 2 extra batteries plus the wall charger will be very handy -2 Pack Battery And Charger Kit For Nikon P100 P500 P510 Digital Camera Includes 2 Extended (1100 Mah) Replacement Nikon EN-EL5 Batteries + AC/DC Rapid Charger + LCD Screen Protectors + ButterflyPhoto MicroFiber Cleaning Cloth $19.95

2. This bag is the perfect size for the camera, extra batteries and charger -Case Logic DCB-304 High/Fixed Zoom Camera Case (Black) $15.28

3. I'd get two memory cards. They have more space than you'll probably ever use. Each holds over 3,400 pictures, but if you take videos you'll have plenty of room and of course you want a backup. -Transcend 16 GB SDHC Class 10 Flash Memory Card TS16GSDHC10E $14.98

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I have had the Nikon P510 for a week now and have been comparing it to a Panasonic FZ150 that I am also testing.

The P510 is a very nice looking camera that has a quality look and feel. It has a nice textured rubberized material on the hand grip and it has a solid feel.

The camera powers on quickly. I took both indoor and outdoor pictures and I was happy with the results. The shot to shot speed is slower than the FZ150 and overall it does not feel as fast or snappy as the FZ150 in everyday use.

The 42X zoom is incredible but it was slow to focus, or would not focus at all sometimes with the zoom at it's outer reaches.

Overall I slightly preferred the picture quality on the FZ150 and had more keepers with the FZ150 due to its faster and more accurate auto focus. But if I wasn't doing a side by side comparison I would be happy with the picture quality on the Nikon.

The biggest problem I have with the P510 is it's video performance. The actual video image quality is excellent. In fact the low light video quality is impressive and considerably better than the FZ150. There are, however, three big problems.

1)Inability to focus at extended zoom range. After you zoom about two thirds of the range it is unable to auto focus. So while it has an incredible 42X zoom, it is not usable with video. And it's not like you know when it will loose focus so you just end up with a video scene that suddenly turns blurry as you zoom.

2)It refocuses every time you touch the zoom control. Even if you just slightly zoom, the camera looses focus for about one second before locking in again. You end up with a video clip that has multiple one second blurry segments intermixed within an otherwise clear video.

3)The sound of the lens zooming is picked up while recording. This is not just heard during very quiet scenes, it is heard all the time. I was surprised how loud it was when playing back a video.

If video performance is not important to you, the Nikon is a really nice camera. I am looking for a camera does well at both photos and video and therefore will be returning this camera.

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I bought both the Nikon p510 camera and the Sony hx200v camera to see which I prefer. I took numerous pictures with both, but decided to keep the Nikon p510. Although both cameras took very nice pictures, I liked the way that people shots came out with the Nikon p510, especially indoors. The Nikon p510 seems to give a nice "matte" finish to skin shots and with a bit more color, whereas the Sony hx200v showed/emphasized more skin flaws. Also, indoor pics with the Sony were inconsistent sometimes too yellow, and other times too white (overexposed). Although the Sony hx200v does have a "soft skin" setting, I felt it looked too unnatural (gave the skin too much of a porcelain doll finish). Also, the Nikon p510 seems to handle indoor pics better where there is a lot of backlight. Outdoor pics are nice with both cameras, but again I preferred the people pics with the Nikon p510 (the outdoor people pics taken with the Sony were more neutral toned). The only reason I give this review 4 stars is because the zoom can be a bit flaky when trying to focus with maximum zoom, in particular on small objects such as birds; sometimes it would focus right away, but a lot of times I had to keep adjusting the zoom before it decided to focus. Yet, I haven't had this problem with other types of pictures.

4/22/12 update: I think I found the solution to the problem I had with zooming on small objects. Pg 72 of the disc manual ("Using Focus Modes") talks about how to change focus modes. It seems that when I change the focus to "infinity", it focuses on the subject a lot quicker. I'm still going to play with this setting a bit more, but so far it seems to have helped. Also, after reading page 73 ("Available Focus Modes"), it looks like "manual focus" may also be helpful on zooming in on small objects. I will play with these settings for a while. If I find these settings consistently work, I will change my rating to 5 stars.

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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.

Canon ZR830 MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom

This camera is a wonderful choice for those looking to make professional movies, or tape family gatherings, or whatever. You can either record onto a mini dv tape, or a memory card. The camera is fairly easy to navigate (although not quite as easy as previous models of this series that I have used.) It can record in widescreen or fullscreen, has an excellent zoom lens, and a handy picture stablizer that will compensate for shakiness on hand-held shots. The transfer quality is very good, which is useful for editing purposes and/or burning DVDs of your projects. The camera comes with all required accessories including a battery, AC adapter, A/V cords, etc. It does not come with a firewire cable so you will need to buy that seperately, if you plan to edit your movies. I have greatly enjoyed using this camera. I also love using iMovie to edit my completed tapes. For anyone wanting to have fun filming home movies or something a bit more professional, this camera would be great on both levels.

I like this Camcorder. I am the first time Camcorder buyer. I tried all the features of it and it really works fine. I used JVC MiniDV tape and it gives excellent result with it. But it did not give me the same kind of quality with Sandisk SD card. One draw back is battery discharged very fast. If you are going for a tour, it's better to keep extra battery.

But overall this is a good buy at given price.

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To begin, this is the first camcorder I've owned. It's possible I was expecting more...I own a Nikon CoolPix 8mp digicam that takes movies, but obviously not with any great quality.

I was kind of expecting a little better quality (higher resolution) from the camera. From that point of view I was a little let down...it's sufficient, dont get me wrong, but it's only a step up from my digicam.

The device takes memory card and tape...It wont store video on the card however, unless a tape is in the device...didn't really say that in the manual and confused me (I had a mem card when device arrived, but no tapes).

I got a little annoyed too trying to figure out how to copy from tape to PC...there's SQUAT about this in the manual, and this is tough to find even on 'net searches.

WHAT YOU NEED TO COPY VID TO PC:

FIREWIRE CABLE --> You MUST have this cable to copy to PC...$35+ part...BE AWARE

The software that came with the device kinda blows...I don't know why, but software that's bundled with digicams and now i see this camcorder, is always chintzy...Use Microsoft Movie Maker instead...WITH FIREWIRE CABLE AND MS MOVIE MAKER, YOU CAN EASILY PULL VIDEO OFF THE TAPE, and you dont have to be a rocket scientist...hopefully I can save someone the headache I went through trying to figure this out...easy enough once you know...

So, summary is, for the money, decent, not great...will suffice since I'm a cheapO.

:)

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I seemed to have done a lot of research on camcorders prior to purchase but in the end paid the price on inferior products. I purchased a Flip and sent it back because I couldn't get the data off the device. I purchased an Aptic and sent it back because of some clicking sound being recorded while recording. The Flip was a nice little device; I liked it but couldn't get the data off, which discovered many others seem to be having the same issue with it. The Aptic was just a bad one altogether and couldn't even hold a candle to the Flip picture, which was good but produced this HUGE avi file.

But now here came the ZR830...

Let me just briefly say when I purchased the ZR830 from Cannon that I wasn't immediately overly happy because I really needed to get the recordings on to my PC. I just didn't know anything about Firewire or IEEE-1394 Cards. I almost sent this back but decided because of the *really* nice picture to go-ahead and take it to the next step and get a Firewire Card by StarTech, which included the cable for a desktop for about $25. Problem solved, they even give you a copy of ulead editing software, which is amazing. Laptops use a 4pin Firewire connect, Desktops use a 6pin Connect. I can now get my recordings on to my PC.

I learned that quality pictures from DVD disk on some of the new camcorders, and saving recordings to hard disk such as SD cards are hard to acquire unless you are spending hundreds of dollars more on real expensive cams. The DVD's and hard disk on some of the new cams can't hardly touch the picture quality produced by this small little guy called the ZR830. Also, I don't have any problems with noise recordings like some professed from the ZR800's. This is a great cam with a noble optical zoom. I made the right choice by keeping this product that I got for a reasonable price from Amazon seller.

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After buying my 8 year old cheap plastic toy video cameras, and his constant asking to use my video camera, I decided to get him his own. This unit has the highest rating by Consumer Reports for the price. My son records and erases his videos over and over. Its no light weight and it takes nice still shots too. I'd trade him my 8 year old video camera in a heartbeat. The price here is the same other stores charge for the ZR 800,which can't take stills.

Nikon D2Xs Digital SLR Camera

An amazing construction the D2Xs is a paradox in itself. Strong as an ox and yet as delicate as a butterfly this camera is control and power in one rock hard package. Simply the finest Pro camera you can buy without needing a 2nd mortgage. In the words of a Mr F. Bueller "It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up."

Every feature you can think of in a camera is present and many you can't think of. Many a night I'd reading the manual commenting to myself 'I wonder....oh they already did'

I would write a longer review but the beast is calling me again...quietly ...from its bag... I must obey! I must heed that slumbering monster's will. I must go out and capture the world in digital form.

I'll finish off with another Ferris quote. "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it".

Well he obviously DIDN'T know about the D2Xs speed-framing mode...

Nikon D2Xs 12.4 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera

The Nikon D2Xs is truly the professional (or very serious amateur) photographer's dream machine. My previous and current equipment includes Mamiya 645 Pro TL, Zenza Bonica ETRSII, Canon EOS 850 film (retired), Konica film (retired), Olympus C3030 (point and shoot donated) and various other equipment over the years. I still own and use my Nikon D70s and find it to be a wonderful tool, but the D2Xs is the ulitmate machine at this time, in my opinion.

I read many articles and reviews about professional level digital SLR cameras, and I was a little aprehensive about the D2Xs because I wasn't sure I could justify it. I find this camera is actually easier to use than other equipment I've owned. If you're an amateur stepping up to a pro body, remember there are no pre-programmed (i.e., landscape, portrait, night landscape, etc.) settings like on the D70s or the Canon. That forces you to use the M, P (most automatic settings) or aperture/shutter preferred options. I find it pretty straight forward, since the pre-programmed settings can be a little confusing in their own right.

This camera is big but feels very steady to use. Ergonomics are supreme, and the menus (not used that often since every key setting is selectable with a button) are easy to read in bright sunlight.

This is a very well done product that takes pictures capable of being blown up to poster size without a problem or loss of quality. This is a beautiful piece of gear if you can afford it. I chose it between the Canon Mark's and other options in the 12+MP range because I liked it best of all.

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As an enthusiast, i was really impressed with the image & build quality of the D7000. I still own this camera & still love to use it for indoor work, low light performance is still impressive.

The D2XS was a choice for it's speed of handling, although the megapixel count is now ancient, the image quality is truly a beautiful thing & only shooting with it can relay it's images on a personal choice level.

The build quality, function structure, performance, focus speed, battery life, viewfinder are all reason enough to pick up this machine & enjoy photography.

For the used price of around $1000 (with 5K shutter count) i feel lucky to have encountered such a deal.

Between the D2XS & D7000, my investment was minimal to continue taking pictures with some decent gear.

Read Best Reviews of Nikon D2Xs Digital SLR Camera Here

I replaced a Fuji S2 Pro with a Nikon D2Xs in 2006. The D2Xs is in an entirely different league. Mostly, one has a lot of superlatives and a few quibbles to say about the D2Xs. The one drawback to the D2Xs is that as a Nikon professional product, pretty much everything that is an accessory specific to the D2** line is priced professionally, too.

The Nikon D2Xs uses a 12MP Sony imager. The color performance of the imager is neutral and has good color accuracy. If you like eye-popping color, be prepared to do a fair amount of post-processing. The dynamic range is good, being slightly wider than one may be used to from shooting slide film. Even Fine JPEG output results in files that withstand fair amounts of digital editing without horrid artifacts. The custom color balance facility is excellent, and should be used for any situation that does not fit one of the preset color balance options. The automatic white balance works for some mixed lighting conditions, but not others. Checking a test shot is prudent for any critical work.

The D2Xs has reasonable noise characteristics, though outdone by the D3 line. I commonly use up to ISO 800 for shooting action without qualms. If shooting for enlargements over 8x10", though, you will likely want to use lower ISO settings. The ISO range above 800 produces prominent noise, requires careful attention to exposure, and noticeably reduces resolution of images.

The D2Xs has a "crop mode" that yields about half the currently-set megapixels per image. I have found this useful for dog sport action photography, as the maximum frame rate increases from 5 fps to 8 fps when in crop mode. When one does not intend maximum-size enlargements, crop mode becomes a handy tool. The reduced taking area is masked in the viewfinder with selection of crop mode. Essentially, Nikon obviated most needs for the D2Hs camera by providing crop mode on the D2Xs. It provides a frame rate on a par with the D2Hs in this mode, though it reduces the view angle of whatever lens is attached. The D2Xs can thus perform almost all the functions of the D2Hs as well as its own.

The D2Xs has typical Nikon pro build quality. This means environmental seals to help deal with inclement weather and bad locations, a strong metal frame, and heavy-duty user control interfaces. It also means it is a heavy camera. I'm 6'3" and about 200#, and this camera is a bit taxing to carry around for me. Especially when paired with a killer lens like the Nikkor 70-200mm VR, one is talking about serious weight. I commonly use at least a monopod if I will be taking photos for any extended length of time.

What Nikon has provided over the years are ergonomics suited to the professional photographer. Most of the things that are needed for shot-to-shot adjustment on the D2Xs have operable controls or at least dedicated menus, as in the ISO, quality, and color balance controls on the rear of the camera. The menu system allows a plethora of tuning adjustments to the behavior of the camera and how the images are produced and processed. Despite the ultimate complexity, I was able to get acquainted with my D2Xs within a couple of days and successfully shot a day-long event with it. Thus the four stars on "ease of use" reflects the steep initial learning curve and the ready-to-hand character of daily operation.

One of the deciding factors for me on going to the D2Xs back in 2006 was the presence of a voice memo function. There is a dedicated button on the rear of the camera and a microphone there as well. One can choose whether the camera automatically starts a voice memo with every picture or whether a memo will be taken only when manually requested. The recording shares the name of the image it is associated with and the "WAV" extension. For anyone who is taking a day's worth of event photos, this is a godsend, and was only available at the time on the Nikon pro "Dn" line, not any of their pro-sumer and consumer DSLRs. Nor had Fuji carried over voice memo from the S2 to the S3 or S5. If I take photos at, say, a Vizsla dog show, where every dog looks more or less like every other dog there, the voice memo can let me say the name of the current dog or capture an announcer doing that. The audio quality of the monoaural recordings made by the voice memo function is surprisingly good, and the microphone is pretty sensitive, allowing one to capture background sound easily.

While an inspired photographer can make art with a Holga point-and-shoot, the inspired photographer will find in the Nikon D2Xs a complement to achieve images with the highest technical perfection as well. What it takes away are excuses for sub-par performance.

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I know how to get good deals on the D2x and D2xs. I will not sell it. This will soon be my back up camera when I get a D3 or D3x.

I had a D60 then D80 and then D2x and now for a year now, the D2xs. D2x and D2xs are about 90% the same. It is a top of the line camera and also the last of the professional DX cameras (maybe for now).

You can not go wrong with this investment. You can get a D3 for 4 or 5k so if you are buy a D2x or D2xs above 3k, you are crazy.

Panasonic HC-V520 HD Digital Camcorder with 80x Zoom and Wi-fi (Black)

I work with baseball players and bought this unit for its 60P capability and long zoom. The zoom is more like 58X or 62X, but that's still VERY powerful. The image quality is good, even at max zoom and the image stabilizer seems to work well. This video-camera also seems to work very well in lower light conditions (it's at least one stop better than my other cameras, I assume due to a bigger sensor). It has a full range of manual controls that seem to be available in all modes. It's also VERY small and light. Battery life on the included battery seems better than average (compared to my Canon HV-30).

The only downsides -and the reason why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 -are that I literally can't buy another (or really two or three) battery for it, which is an issue for me because I am a semi-professional photographer and film entire baseball games and like to have 2 or 3 batteries in my bag just in case. Panasonic also charges a ridiculous amount for accessories like batteries and an external battery charger. They are pricing the camera low and then getting you with the accessories, so understand that the effective price of this camera is more like $500 or $600 if you need more than just what comes in the box.

P.S. The BIOS is buggy. I am getting increasing numbers of card write/read errors, despite using premium, high bit rate Sandisk cards.

I like it very much. very simple to use. good quality video & pictures.the zoom is very good. The main reason I bought it is for live streaming. I like the shape and features. Battery life is only one hour when using HD.

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Magnific Zoom, great queality.

I like this product. It is very good and small, but excelent quality. Buy it now

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Sekonic Corporation 401-478CCPP LITEMASTER PRO L-478D with X-Rite ColorChecker Passport and Gray Ba

The software that comes with the light meter blows. Setting up a profile without using Lightroom was a pain. I am an avid Photoshop fan and feel like I cheated myself with setting it up by the directions. I am still not sure I have it setup correctly either as I feel the in camera metering is doing a better job. The passport does work awesome with the Lightroom profile thought. I am sure once I get the hang of setting up the profiles i will like it more, but this is a much different meter than any other I have had.

I just started using this light meter and I found it easy to use. I was able to produce some very nice shots using its metering.

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I was a little skeptical about the all LCD display, but it is really nice. There's something to be said for the touch screen. It let's you have a large display and all the control you need. You don't have to share the face of the device with a display and a bunch of buttons.

I have yet to calibrate it to my camera...perhaps a project for the weekend...

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Meter: It seems to work fine, I'll give it that much but if has a very very cheap feel to it! maybe it'll last maybe it won't but it sure feels cheap! If it weren't for the easy to read and work display (it is very simple to use and easy to read. All the information is there on the screen at one time), I would consider the non-touch screen models as they seem to be built more ruggedly.

Color checker: The amount they charge for this little color grid thing is crazy. It does not come with the CD. You can download it but it is almost a 200MB file! With my internet that would take days. The description is misleading as it clearly states "Internet connection required for software update". No mention of you needing to download the software. I've contacted the seller to confirm but have not yet received a response.

I would give the meter a 4 because it is very simple to use and easy to read just happens to feel very very cheap and since I can't confirm just yet that it will break easily, I can't give it a low rating at this time.

As for the Xrite color checker. Without even including a CD (like a dollar for them to do so?), I think its just crazy how much they charge for it. I will update later on how well it works, but for now I would give it 2 stars...

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Gold Plated 3.5 FT 1M Micro HDMI Type D High Speed Male Cable to HDMI Male Cable for HTC EVO 4G

Worked just fine with HTC Evo 4G. Hard to beat the price I made ($6)The EVO is the only thing that limits the use of this hdmi. Pretty much all you can do is view photos from gallery :(

I have the HTC evo, an I purchased the mini hdmi cable, an I'm only getting audio, no vid. When plugged in to hdmi tv

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TRENDnet ProView Wireless Advanced Pan/Tilt/Zoom Internet Surveillance Camera TV-IP400W

A decent remote ip camera for home applications. Setup was easy, although I have set up similar products before. Shipped camera did not work properly in Firefox, although after I downloaded the upgraded firmware the issue was addressed. Focus is not great in low-light situations, but acceptable. I would recommend for the casual home user, but would suggest a more expensive version for business applications.

I bought this camera for the pan/tilt feature, but I found out that it does not work with well with Vista. I also thought the video would be as good as the TV-IP110W fixed wireless camera, but it is not. I am an IT guy and I have used several cameras and this is one of the worst I have ever used. I do wish Trendnet would get their act together and make a pan/tilt wireless with a high quality video sensor. Their other products are much better than this one. Buyer BEWARE....

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I bought one for my house 1 1/2 years ago so I could see my cat when I was out on business, then I bought another one 4 months ago to monitor the back entry and traffic area. I haven't had problems with them and setup was relatively simple, after following the instructions.

I am a very detailed person and compared feature to feature, this product to similar D-Link and Linksys models. TRENDnet beats them on features and the price is 1/2 of that of D-Link.

You can pan and tilt the camera when you are out on business and it sends me email alerts when motion dection is triggered.

I wish they had this deal 4 month's ago!!!!!!

This is an amazing price...

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I purchased this camera to use at my cabin. I have trouble keeping a computer with a conventional webcam alive when I'm not there, so this was a great solution since it plugs straight into the router and functions without a computer. I find the picture quality to be good as long as there is adequate lighting. Actually, you can see quite a bit even in low light. I haven't been able to figure out how to put the video feed onto a separate web page, otherwise I would give the camera five stars. Programming the router for remote access via your ISP is not all that easy, but it can be done with a little understanding of IP addressing and networks. The camera has an amazing pan and tilt range!

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Works as advertised, but the Java plugin is mysterious. I can't get it to work in Java mode on my Vista based PC, but it does on XP. None of my Macs can do it over the web. Active X in Explorer works fine. A bit pickier than the stationary trendnets.

Camera works great, easy setup, worth the price. Just be aware you're not going to view live motion with anything by Windows Explorer and Active X.

Nikon D3100 Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens (Red)

I have Been a hobby photographer for the last 25 years and a professional for the last 3 years, and the D3100 has a great array of all of the professional (options) to fine tune the perfect shot with Active D-Lighting (d=dynamic) it literally shoots with active d lighting or can be edited with D-Lighting in the camera pre transfer. Also this camera has an auto, and auto guide mode for beginners to help an amatuer work their way to learning how to use all of those fancy ( P, S, A, M ) modes and how to use them Highly reccomended for the beginer that wants to get more than just a point and shoot, with the ability to be also just a point and shoot and MUCH MUCH more, as a avid NIKON shooter I have more experience with Nikons than most I also carry a coolpix s6000 around to light test. My only Must have with a D3100 is a SDHC memory card with a rating of 8-10 for the 1080 HD video and a tripod. and when using the camera for video leave it on the tripod !! if in video mode it can have a wabbly look if it is panned to fast or moved a bit too quickly !! a tripod is the 1 of 2 must haves #2 again a SDHC memory card with a 8-10 rating (the rating on a memory card is a small # in a circle) it has nothing to do with size. It affects how quickly information can be written on the card !!

This is the finest digital camera I have every owned. It provides many excellent features, and options. It is very easy to operate, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great digital SLR.

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The camera was perfect and looked just like new. The red color is gorgeous and the picture quality is amazing. Great for those who want to get a start using DSLR's. a great buy in my opinion.

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VueZone System with 1 Indoor Camera and 1 Indoor Motion Detection Camera (SX2500)

The good:

-Extremely easy to setup, was up and running in well under 15 minutes including unboxing time.

-Gateway grabs a DHCP address from your broadband router and connects to the my.vuezone site.

-Smartphone clients for Android, iPhone and Blackberry devices. (Update: Blackberry is no longer supported)

-Cameras are completely wireless, allowing for extremely easy installation

-Cameras seem to have a very decent range from the gateway.

-No line of sight needed for the cameras, no problems for me going through walls and floors of brick, wood and drywall. Metal building supplies may pose issues though, but this will be the case with any wireless camera.

-1 year of Premium service comes with the system, currently only $49.95 per year after that.

-Snapshots/videos are recorded out to the website immediately, and can be played back from almost any internet connected computer.

The bad:

-Motion sensing does not work through glass.

-Cannot set ignore times for motion sensing/alerting, it is either on or off for each camera.

-Low-light performance leaves much to be desired. Despite several streetlights, no picture was visible in an area easily visible to the human eye.

-Operating temperatures limited to 32º to 122º F, so mounting options will be limited to temperature controlled locations for most locations. (Update: per Avaak Tech Support, this is a limitation of the batteries, not the camera.)

-Cameras have no wired power option, so you'll be using up batteries even in areas where you could easily connect wired power.

-Fixed 60 degree field of view on the cameras is a bit limiting.

Overall, the system is good with a few caveats. With more camera options, it would be great. Unfortunately, it appears Avaak has gone the other way, as the Outdoor rated camera has disappeared from their site.

I would love to see cameras with an AC power option, an outdoor rated dome camera (Pan/tilt/zoom would be outstanding) and perhaps others integrated into the great gateway and website that Avaak has going for them.

Update:

Outdoor (waterproof) camera mounts are now available! This doesn't address the temperature restrictions of the batteries, but gives you a lot more flexibility in the mounting location. Avaak has changed their service plans several times from when this review was written, so check the latest account details on their site. They also run sales on the service renewal from time to time, so renew when the sales are going to save yourself a few bucks.

My concerns with eating through the batteries seems to have been unfounded, as I'm still on the original batteries in all the cameras. Also, the sticky-back on the mounts should be looked at as a BACKUP to the screw slot on all but perfectly smooth surfaces. I had a camera take a nasty 8 foot fall onto concrete which left a crack in the housing, but it still works perfectly.

I have had my VUE SM2700 motion detection camera system up and running for about a week now, and so far so good! Installation really is a breeze, and the wireless cameras (and their mounts) are so convenient to use. I have the receiver upstairs along with one of the cameras, and the other camera is downstairs. Both cameras have perfect reception and the viewing resolution is better than I expected. Also, there are three adjustable settings for the available lighting the room provides, which is accessed through the software so you can easily change the settings even when you are away.

I tested the motion detection once, and it worked fine. An email was immediately sent showing a video clip of the movement. This can be adjusted from a 10 second or 40 second clip. I will do more extensive testing at a later date, but so far it seems to work well. The 2x zoom function also works well. You get to decide what to zoom in on, and the resolution is excellent. The movements on screen are a little laggy, but that is to be expected and really its not that bad at all. If someone was removing something from your home, I think you would be able to get a clear shot at the persons face along some point of a 40 second motion video. A lot also depends on how far you setup your cameras from the objects they may be viewing. The brighter the available lighting and the closer the better.

I have had zero issues using the software on a PC, IPAD, and on my Android phone. They all three work perfect so far. This is great news, something that actually works!

So far I am very happy with this setup. I will say that this is NOT a high end surveillance system so dont buy it with unrealistic expectations. However, for basic home use I think you will be hard pressed to find anything better anywhere near this price range. I only wish a future firmware upgrade will add a schedule setting that allows the motion detection to turn off/on at a certain time. That way when you come home at 5pm everyday, you dont have to disable it manually.

Otherwise, no real complaints! Two thumbs up!

Buy VueZone System with 1 Indoor Camera and 1 Indoor Motion Detection Camera (SX2500) Now

It is very easy to set up the cameras and "gateway". No technical knowledge is necessary. The gateway has one USB port but the manual and web site do not mention any use of it. I wish the recorded video could be stored in a USB flash attached to the gateway. Lens are not wide-angle. To capture a view of entire room, the camera has to be placed high on the ceiling.

I am not happy with the frame rate. Eight frame per second at 320 x 160? Come on, this is not in the 80s.

A nice feature will be providing advanced functions by connecting to the gateway directly, just like you connect to the web site inside a Linksys router and change the settings. This feature may be present but hidden.

Don't bother to view the camera at night. The FAQ web site says at least 40-watts light bulb is required. I tried it. The image was very grainy and painful to see.

Overall, the product offers basic functions of live video camera. Make sure you have adequate lighting, or preferably in bright daylight. Online registration is quick and easy. I can view the camera immediately after registration. However, if your network is down such as no Internet due to ISP (Internet Service Provider) issue, you're doomed. You can't view the camera.

Read Best Reviews of VueZone System with 1 Indoor Camera and 1 Indoor Motion Detection Camera (SX2500) Here

I have been using these cameras for several years and generally been pleased... until recently. This company is trying to now get me to pay for a yearly subscription to view my cameras on-line. I think this is a serious problem and it was not disclosed that I would need to purchase an additional service when I made my original camera purchase. I have three cameras in one location and to be frank, am not sure why I need to pay an additional $20 a year for something that was originally free and has minimal benefits. I have written to this company questioning this policy twice so far and have received unapologetic generic responses. I am very angry and am looking for another product to replace my VueZone.

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Hidden fee warning: to use any mobile phone requires $5 / month fee. To share viewing with more than 1 person requires fees as well. Many negative reviews seem to have been updated because the company threw a bone at these customers and extended free service by 1 year, and raised fees for all others who are buying now.

If you read company rep's response to those negative reviews, it's a lie saying premium fee is required for maintaining quality of service. This camera should not be using any of the company's resources once installed at home, the fee is only good for keeping their profit and bonuses growing. I am a software engineer myself and I appreciate the need to make money, but requiring users to pay additional fee for some basic function that's highly touted in their product description is highly deceptive.

I almost bought this camera since the design looks very nice and the gold box offer is tempting.

Thanks to those who wrote 1 or 2 star reviews, I was able to see the proper warning. Since company now is engaging in trying to change those negative reviews to better by selectively offering additional benefits, I feel compelled to warn everyone else.

Hope this will save some people's trouble having to pay the return shipping when realized that it does not work with phones out of box.

Canon Powershot A2500 Silver Digital Camera 16GB Bundle - Includes camera, 16GB SD Memory Card, Ult

This camera is easy to use and has great features for a low end point and shoot. The accessory package is nice and a bargain. I need to print the camera manual to figure out why some pictures are fuzzy.