ALZO Ball Mount - accessory for the ALZO Transformer DSLR Rig

I liked this item but eventually had to purchase it because the ALZO Transformer wasn't the best rig for my needs. Overall, I would recommend several of the products that ALZO makes.

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Nikon Coolpix S9500 Wi-Fi GPS Digital Camera (Red) with 32GB Card + Battery & Charger + Case +

I love the camera, however, the flash pops up on the left side and people are constantly holding the camera with their finger on the flash, so it won't pop up. BAD design. Otherwise, I really like the camera zoom is amazing....just that one huge problem with the design that wasn't indicated before I purchased it.

Optoma TX612, High Brightness 3500 lumen, XGA, DLP, Multimedia Projector

This is a nice, bright sharp display. Unfortunately, you need to back it away from your projection surface quite a distance to get the picture to be large enough. We installed it in a kindergarten classroom with good results. Good keystone correction ability.

3500 lumens gives it a very bright and rich color. Great in any lighting. And at its price nothing else is comparable. No regrets on the purchase!!

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This projector works stunningly well in any light situation. Whether it is in broad daylight or in a dark secluded room, you will get your image. The 3500 lumens makes it perfect for classroom settings where you would prefer to keep the class lights on to keep a good eye on your students but maintain a crisp clear imahe that everyone can see. I would recommend this projector highly! Not to mention, the resolution is gorgeous.

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This is a great projector that we bought for our church at a very reasonable price. I checked on bulb replacement prices before the purchase and they were reasonable. I believe this projector will serve us well for many many years go come. We are very satisfied.

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We have had this projector for about two years. The DLP reflector is going bad causing white dots all over the image. I am trying to contact Optoma for a replacement. I would not buy this projector again.

Nikon Coolpix S5 6MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (White)

Noise is not noticeable at Iso 50 and even at Iso 100.

Star-up is quite fast, the camera is ready to shoot at just 2 seconds.

The lag between shot and shot is slow, u have to wait no less than 3.5 seconds before taking the next shot.

The Nikon S5 is made of metal, the look is really good very stilish and pocketable (super slim).

IMHO a huge limitation on the S5 is the lack of manual controls to set the aperture and the shutter speed. Also the built-in flash is quite weak

Id buy again this item

This was a nice camera until it broke after 2 good years of service.

PROS:

1) lightweight, small, simple, fast, a good all-time companion

2) beautifully looking

3) excelent color accuracy

4) sharp, low-noised images

5) low price

CONS:

1) no image stabilizer makes taking night pictures a really pain

2) slightly dark pictures

The lack of an image stabilizer is a serious problem in my opiniion, as people buy these cameras for personal, indoor, use. If you can't take pictures in dim light (a fancy restaurant or a party), half the fun is cut off...

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The S5 provides a simple point-and-shoot digital platform for amateurs and novice photographers. It allows you a decent amount of control over your settings while still providing good auto settings.

Incredibly fast to power on and pocket-sized, this camera is ideal for point-and-shoot digital photography.

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Logitech WiLife Digital Video Security--Indoor Master System Camera

I've had the Wilife camera system for two months, and I've found it meets my needs to provide a view of what's happening at certain places around the house (inside or out). I found the system delivers the goods by providing the homeowner a fairly clear image, stores the image in an easily managed retrieval program, and you can view "what is happening" when you are away from home over the Internet via your laptop or a smart phone. Also, you can individually set the cameras up to have the system E-mail or text you if there is motion detected or the system goes "off-line."

The skinny review:

Pluses: for the most part easy set-up, trouble shooting is extensively detailed (Logitech obviously wants you to be able to solve connection problems), Internet accessibility actions are recorded (and easily accessed), adaptability, the quality of the images can be varied, images can be saved, and movies can be saved of what is picked-up by the camera(s) in a WMA file.

Negatives: starts to get pricey by the time you get your 4th camera, some places in the house not easily receptive to signals and not all cameras are suited to all areas (I write about this below).

Full Review:

This "Starter" system with the indoor camera is a great way to see what the system can do for you. I say this because, for me, the indoor camera was a little harder to set-up, but it also was flexible enough that I was able to easily change its location and could tell where I wanted to place my other cameras before purchasing them. In setting these locations, I sometimes used a laptop connected to the Internet to give me instant feedback on my placement of cameras and what the image would look like.

Regarding problems, most had to do with receiving the signal from various points in my house, and my house, approaching 40 years old, has its share of additions that I am thinking a newer home with continuous wiring won't have this problem. But, I am getting ahead of myself.

I do not know why a "surveillance" system has always intrigued me, but over the years I have tried several different wireless products (X-10's system, another wireless system with the cameras used with USB 2.0 water-proof Wireless Web Ready DVR Security System w/ 4 Pack Highigh Resolution Indoor/Outdoor Night Vision Surveillance Cameras with only "poor" to "fair" results. WiLife's system provided me with an affordable "starter" system, a good image, and it kept track of the activity that the cameras recorded.

Here are my observations regarding the system with all of the various components and their installation:

First of all, it is easy to hook-up. With the starter kit for the inside, I installed the software on a media computer I had integrated into my audio/visual system, plugged-in the receiver to an outlet that wasn't "protected" by a surge protector and placed the camera in another part of the house, plugging that camera's LAN-like connector into another outlet. The first time I hooked it up, it searched for the camera(s) after I told it I had "one." As I added cameras, I merely clicked on the "add additional cameras" button, changed the number of cameras, and it found them. With regards to firewall issues, I use OneCare Windows Live OneCare 2.0 (Up to 3 Users) for my computer's security, and it handled this for me by asking if I wanted to allow WiLife. I did and that issue was solved.

With regards to set-up issues and the inside camera, I live in a rather sprawling house that has multiple floors and an addition (which is why my "radio signal" X-10 and other cameras had problems). I took the camera and placed it in different areas to see how it worked. In all but two places, it worked well and was easily picked-up by the WiLife program. With the camera at one location, after several times of not being able to discover it, the program actually had me assign an address, like an IP address, for the camera. After doing that, it worked fine, but I ended-up using an outside camera at that location, which picked-up the signal right away. NOTE: while I did not use the manual to work-out my problems, the manual is very detailed and a very good manual, especially in working through connection and firewall problems (if you have them). The manual is available on the CD and from their websight , and if you have any doubts about whether to get the system, you should download the manual and glance through it. In hindsight, I should have consulted it in addition to the instructions given by the program's help section in dealing with my minor problems.

As for the various set-ups, on one camera I use the infrared light, and it is very inobtrusive. On the other cameras, I have an inside camera that is affixed to a window by the suction cup with the wide angle lens and another inside camera that is just in a room. This inside camera with the suction cup has stayed attached since I attached it six-weeks ago. One note about the infrared camera, it should not be used around a pool or spa for it sometimes "shows," depending on the color of the swimsuit, the swimmer's figure under the swimsuit.

Which camera work best? The outdoor camera works best. I have a good picture from dawn to dusk (and even in twilight), and I have not had any problems with them sending the picture to the WiLife Computer Center. I have one of them pointed at my front door and one in the backyard that can view my hot tub or the backyard (more on that in a minute). I wish there was a way I could post a video, but if you look-up my name on youtube, I have posted one that shows the neighborhood children coming to the front door and getting candy from my wife. In that video, you'd see the picture of the entrance with just the light coming through the fixed-lights in the door, then, the fluorescent floodlights come-on (those usually take a few seconds to "warm" up), and finally the lights on the side of the doors come on. During the day, the picture is very good (I have posted a picture of the front door during the day).

With the backyard outdoor camera, I attached-it to something my X-10 camera used that could rotate the camera to fixed points that one established. It was called a "ninja" unit, and I have found it to be helpful in allowing my backyard camera to view several spots in rotation, or however I want to do it.

The clock, or "spy," camera is another camera that is easy to use. I hooked it up, and it was worked fine from the get-go. It picks-up an image in slightly lower light better than the inside camera. If there is one thing I wish the system had, it's that the clock camera had a battery back-up. While the electricity doesn't go off but once or twice a year where I live, it is still something I wish it had. On the plus side, the clock is one of the easiest I have found to reset.

The system has done what I wanted it to do: I had some concerns that some of the neighbor children were trying to get into the spa, and the cameras showed me this wasn't true (my small dog was actually slipping-in through a 4-in opening); It shows me who is at, and who has come to, the front and other doors; and it has shown me what, if anything, my daughter does in my audio/visual room when I am not at home.

If I had young children, I would probably have one of the cameras in their room and in their playroom, and pointed outside to the yards where they play. With my dog, I have been able to find-out if he is damaging anything while being left alone (sometimes he is guilty). Because the cameras turn-on and record activity, and show the recording on a time-line, one can easily go back and view what has happen during those recordings.

This is not a security system, but I have found it supplements the centralized alarm system on my house quite well. Which brings-up an instance, and a feature I have not mentioned, the ability to view what is happening over your computer or your smart phone. We were out of town for the day, and I received a call about the alarm going off. The police were on their way to the house and the alarm dispatcher was checking to see if we had done anything to trigger the alarm. I told them no, and to let me know if they found anything. I immediately logged-in on the WiLife web site with my smart phone and clicked on the outside cameras. Because this was at night, I first saw the policeperson's flashlight at one of the entrances to the backyard (the alarm came from the back door being opened). Then, the outside security lights came on, and finally the police checking the doors. With the WiLife system, you can actually have notices sent to you if there is activity from any of the cameras by text and even an image of what triggered the camera if you want that information. Some of these features require a subscription fee, and this might be something you would want to consider. I have the subscription and like it. Regarding this instance, it turned-out that I forgot to close one door all the way and dog pushed it open.

Overall, I have found the WiLife System has met my needs. I did get the extended warranties on equipment through NEW as offered on Amazon, and have been pleased with their service. The two times I have had a warranty issue with other equipment (a computer and a printer), NEW has taken care of the matter quickly or has had very good technical support to help me resolve the problem Even though I am not anticipating any problems with the WiLife System, sometimes it doesn't hurt to have the extra protection. I especially thought an extended warranty would be good since one cannot hook-it-up through an UPS or surge protector. I have uploaded several pictures to give you an idea of how the images sent by the cameras look.

(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)The Logitech WiLife Digital Video Security Indoor Master System is my second set in this group of security products. I've added on a few components and learned how to deal with more of the system's features and quirks. As far as home security camera systems go, this is a very nice value. While I haven't had any issues with the components I have purchased, the previous incarnation did have some warts that have hopefully been addressed with this update.

This unit includes the Wilife management software, one indoor camera, suction cup mount, bar mount, table stand and power and USB connectors. I like the product, although there are some reservations. You have to know your needs very well in order to know if this is right for you.

The design of the indoor cameras is very unique though somewhat blocky. The outdoor cameras are more traditionally shaped. In any event, they all seem to work well once set up.

PROS:

+ Updated hardware and software should improve reliability and ease of use

+ Nice power over Ethernet design means no batteries needed

+ Nice price for a fully functioning starter system

+ Improved cell phone and email alert features

+ Very easy to add cameras to the system

+ Nice available accessories to add on to your installation

+ Nice interface for management software with many customizable settings

+ Default settings will meet the needs of novice users without adjustments

+ System is motion activated, saving storage space

+ Video recordings are easily backed, copied, or erased

+ Video can be accessed via live feed over the internet

+ Firmware updates are readily available, with caveats

CONS:

Installation can be somewhat time-consuming

Despite what they tell you, DO NOT ENABLE AUTOMATIC FIRMWARE UPDATES!!! Do them manually

Some features require a premium subscription at an additional cost

The starter set should have included at least one more camera

Lack of audio will disappoint more demanding users

Latency on website video access

Software interface requires some getting used to

CONSIDERATIONS

1. Your camera must be close to an outlet to connect it via the included 10 foot cable.

2. You have to manually adjust the camera focus, so adjust it before mounting.

3. Your computer must meet the hardware and software requirements.

4. Your computer must be on all the time for video recording.

5. You will need a broadband connection to access this video remotely.

6. This power-line connection will work better with newer wiring.

7. It's best to set up extra hard drive space for at least 10 GB of videos.

8. The computer recording video needs to be a PC. A Mac running Windows in a virtual machine software might work.

INSTALLATION

Physically installing the cameras is straightforward. The receiver and the camera must be attached through power outlet via receiver plugs. The system connects to your computer over the power interface via the USB port.

The software installation still requires some patience and hardware knowledge. Computers running Windows Vista, Antivirus software and software firewalls will need those security settings disabled to get the Wilife software to install. Still, it's well worth it to have this system installed on a secure computer. You can re-enable all that stuff when you are done, making sure to allow for your firewall to permit the Wilife software to access the internet.

Installing on XP may be slightly easier, but you will still have to deal with disabling your Antivirus or desktop firewall if you are running those. You should want the computer that's storing your home security video files to be secure. Taking the extra time to have AV and a firewall working is worth the effort.

Windows Vista requires a few reboots before the software installs and sees the cameras. On my first installation of the product I experienced some initial hanging, but I had better luck the second time I set up the starter kit in a different location. So the software has been improved, but it is still beneficial to be comfortable with computers.

Setup can take about an hour or two depending on how you place your cameras and the speed of your computer. If you have issues, contacting support should be relatively painless, though I have not had to call them with the two systems I have set up.

SETTINGS AND EXPANSION

The system has options for adding on hardware in terms of more cameras and software in terms of premium features. If you want multiple cameras, you will have to buy those additional units as add-ons. It would have been nice if they would have simply produced a starter set with one of each or some other configurations. Still, most users will be happy with the starter sets.

The Wilife Homeplug Bridge can integrate this with the pro set. Those that want to avoid using power-line communications may prefer to step up to the Wilife Pro Set or a different system all together.

The management options for this unit are nice. You can adjust the setting for motion sensitivity to your liking after you are familiar and have been running this for a while. Phone or email notifications are easily set for motion activated recordings. The software lets you define the limits that must be exceeded to trigger an alert.

The Wilife wasn't my first security system, and I've been happy with both the original and the update. Experienced users will love the features, except for a few functions which require you to upgrade to the premium package. Given the cost it's hard to argue with the features.

CONCLUSION

This is a nice set that has continued to improve. It's worth looking into depending on your needs and budget.

Enjoy!

Buy Logitech WiLife Digital Video Security--Indoor Master System Camera Now

Wilife Digital Security System is the first video security system I've had that really works . . . at least part of the time. But it's a far cry from foolproof. And I'll admit to being something of a fool when it comes to electronics.

I wanted this system to be able to look in on my sleeping mother (she has Alzheimer's disease) without waking her. And it turns out that the system is pretty good for that purpose, sometimes. Here's what I experienced:

The Good

Having this system in a bedroom where you want to look in on a baby or elder sometimes requires seeing in the dark. This camera is surprisingly good at producing an image in light where your eye fails to register an image. Lighten up your screen, if necessary, but you won't have to turn on a light to disturb your sleeper.

The images produced are at or above the level of security cameras I've seen. Good, but not great. And good is enough to accomplish my purpose.

So far, so good, but wait! There's more.

The Bad

Installing this system was anything but the 15-minute breeze promised by the Logitech blurb. I ended up calling their support number (the rep was helpful and pleasant) and finally resolved the problem with new software. (six hours)

I wasn't done yet. The software needed to recognize the camera and that took several trips to the Knowledge base to resolve. Turns out this system does not work or play well with my firewall (or my virus protection), so all those programs had to be turned off in order for camera recognition to occur (another four hours).

Then my sleeper complained about the brightness of the light on the spy clock. I toned it down with a sheet of paper cut to fit the display, and she was pacified (another hour). Had I not taken this step, she would have removed the camera from her room, and the whole exercise would have been for naught.

The Ugly

The system refused to work at all this morning. Apparently, another program was interfering with recognition of the USB device, so I had to go through the entire install procedure again (another hour and 1/2). By this time, my temper is becoming frayed at the edges, and I'm wondering if it's really worth the effort I'm putting in to it.

Conclusion

Image quality is good enough for my purposes, and leaving my dedicated computer on all the time, I believe I can maintain contact with the camera. So, for me it's worth it.

However, you shouldn't have to be a computer wizard to set this system up and get it working. Installation should be the breeze promised but for me it was not!

Three stars!

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I purchased the system just over the one year warranty. Total investment with this system 1,500.00 approx. (not including hiring an electrician to put outside outlets on my home to house the outside cameras). When the system works it is wonderful, very impressed with the system. The problem was that for that one year of service, the system decided it was not going to work properly.

First one camera could not be read. Then the next day, four cameras could not be read. After trouble shooting for three days, I discovered it was not the cameras, but possibly the CRM-100.

Having to deal with the WILIFE SUPPORT was frustrating. The techs were pleasant enough, but getting the problem resolved seems to be an impossible task.

My third call to Wilife, I spoke to the first tech I had on my first call and after telling him everything that I had done with trouble shooting, he concurred it had to be the CRM-100 (The part that plugs into the wall, and then into the USB on the computer). The tech set up a RMA number to get a replacement part at no charge. He told me that that part there were some problems with them.

I got off the phone,happy that the three-day problem was resolved, went to fill out the info to send to the company to get the replacement part, and the online form wouldn't work.

So, I called Wilife Support AGAIN to have them help me get the form sent in so I could get the replacement part.

This last call to WILIFE SUPPORT was one of the biggest nightmare phone calls I have ever had with any support call I have done with any kind of electronic gear. Turns out I was not getting any replacement part that the tech told me before on the previous phone call. I would have to pay $160 for a CRM-100 because my CRM-100 was a later model ---and that was probably why the online form did not work to get my replacement part.

I would have to write a short book on this last phone call and will spare you with what had happened.

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Setup was easy. From that point on, forget the rest. The software reports that the camera reception is poor. NEWSFLASH To WiLIFE: Both the camera and reciever were plugged into wall sockets less than 4 feet apart and they're on the same circuit!?! I get a better connection using my Wireless-G Webcam. And talk about picture quality?!? The webcam (MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE) also provides 2-3x better pic quality! And then there's the $80.00 PER-YEAR charge just to get the BUILT-IN PTZ functions to work!!! I won't be buying any further add-ons to this system, and you should learn from my experience.

Pentax K100D Super 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Shake Reduction (Body Only)

First off I'm an amateur photographer and just started getting back into photography. I started with a digital camera with manual controls, other lenes, etc... and then moved off to a simple point and shoot camera. This is the first SLR type camera that I have owned and the difference is huge between quality of photos and being able to take certain shots ( Arguable, but manual controls and different lenses on SLR do help )

Physical:

The body feels very solid and has a good weight. It doesn't feel like a plastic toy and feels like a very sold build quality. Even the flaps for batteries and SD Memory Card are very well made.

Button placement at first feels odd but once you've learned the menu system and how to use them it works well.

The kit lenses works very well in most situations. The only time you may want to use a different lens is in indoors with poor/dim lighting. It also feels as solid as the camera body and the manual focus/zoom wheels all turn smoothly and stay put when set.

Using the Camera:

At first like most things there is a learning curve but you can be up and taking photos as soon as the batteries are in and putting it on AUTO PICT mode. Before I purchased the camera I had read complaints on how the menu's wording of items was a bit strange, but honestly they are not hard to figure out and it is spelled out in the manual as to what they are. In fact it's easer just to go ahead and click it and see what it does. There are few of these in the menu but everything else is very clear.

Taking photos is easy and similar to any other digital camera. Depending on the mode you are in you can adjust Exposure/Shutter Speed/Aper/ISO/etc...

Another large complaint against the camera is the burst mode only allows you to take no more than 5 JPEGS ( Highest Quality ) or 3 RAW images before slowing down significantly. This is true, however, depending on your needs this may not matter. If you need to be able to take more than 5 shots at a time then you may want to look at another camera. I took a risk and found that it more than meets my needs.l I was able to take multiple shots of pets/bees/etc just fine with 5 high quality photos or 3 RAW images without any problems.

The viewfinder contains information that is listed on the top LCD and can also be viewed on the LCD on the back of the camera. All very easy to read and see once you understand where each item is placed.

Quality of Photos

Excellent. That's it. One exception though is in the AUTO PICT mode. It works well but I found that you get better photos in either the P ( Program Mode ) or by going to SCENE mode and picking out a scene type like pets, sunset, etc...

Other issues

Everything about the camera has far exceeded my expectations and all my photos have very crisp, sharp detail and color. To help shoot indoors I purchased the Pentax 50mm f1.4 lenses which is around $200 at the time of this writing. Excellent lens which makes indoor/low light photography/fast action shots a breeze. It will allow you to take more light in which will allow you to shoot at a faster shutter speed ( The faster the shutter speed -> less light into camera -> darker photo ). I highly recommend purchasing this lens if you plan on doing portraits or indoor photos with low lighting.

Summary:

Pros:

Excellent photos, build quality, easy to use controls, can be used by beginner to advanced. Remember, no matter how great the camera, the person still should know some photography basics like how to set exposure, this will help anyone get great shots from any camera.

Cons:

Burst mode only allows 5 Jpegs or 3 RAW, but may depend on person if this matters.

I grew up using the Pentax K1000 film cameras, so it was natural for me to move up to the Pentax K100D SLR Digital cameras. I bought the K100D Super, and it is truly .... "Super"!!!

Not only does it accept all my old K series lenses from my old film camera (saving me thousands of dollars), but it's easy to use. No sooner do you pull this out of the box do you immediately begin to realize how it works. The settings are intutitive, and photos are professional-grade.

I was considering it's older brother, the K10, but I feel I've made the right choice. The learning curve on the K10 would have been too steep for me. I am halfway between a pro and an amatuer, and this camera suits my skill level perfectly.

This camera makes photography fun again!

Buy Pentax K100D Super 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Shake Reduction (Body Only) Now

If you're an avid photographer (which means you love to take photos) or you're new to digital SLRs and you're ready to make the move to a digital SLR, then the Pentax K100D Super is a top choice.

For those use to operating a typical 35mm film SLR, the switch to digital is fairly easy. I've been a Pentax guy for over 20 years: the old K1000 being one of my favorite standard SLRs, along with the newer ZX50. If you're not use to using a typical SLR and have been using any of the simple point-and-shoot digital cameras out there, don't worry, trust yourself, you can adapt and it can be really exhilarating. Using an SLR, whether 35mm or digital, offers so much more when taking pictures.

You may be one of those who are debating with yourself: Pentax, Canon or Nikon? Then you find yourself reading too many publication reviews (and more, like posts here on Amazon) and you lean one way, then the next, and finally start getting crazy. Pure & simple, all three manufacturers make excellent cameras: including digital SLRs! I think anyone who is involved with photography will agree. However, I've used Canon's & Nikons, and Pentax has always ended up being my #1 choice.

When looking for a camera, I feel your #1 consideration should be: how much photography do you do? If you're like me; a traveler, a hobbyist, and find yourself shooting a lot of photos then you're more apt to invest in a good camera. The #2 consideration is cost. Without a doubt, the Pentax K100D Super results in one of the best Digital SLRs out there for the money; a fact all publication reviews, that I respect, agree on.

Many publication reviews often compare the K100D Super to the Nikon & Cannon, and one of the most consistent factors noted is while Canon & Nikon digitals are sporting 10 megapixels, the K100D Super only has 6.5 megapixel. I say, what ever. The reality is, that 10 megapixels can be a concern if you're trying to print pictures the size of posters, and quite simply most people aren't. The reality is most folks will print normal size photos, and even up to 8.5x11 or slightly larger. The Pentax shoots in RAW & JPEG, the RAW features allows for manipulation, using any descent photo software, to larger sizes photos including 15x17.5

I've used my K100D Super on a recent trip to Point Reyes State Park, here in the Bay Area. I was sure to shoot photos of sand on the beach: personal and really up close to see individual grains of sand. I took photos of the oysters we had, reflections of drift wood on still salt water ponds, a jelly fish (some 30 feet away), the crashing waves, any possible deviation of shots I could think of, and I was purely amazed at the K100D Super's performance & quality! I used both the Auto setting and then played with the other settings.

While there are many great features on the Pentax, and easy read up is available on-line, let me highlight those I would note to support my recommendation:

Cost: This camera is the best value & cost for a camera of this quality. Again, this is stated time and time again in publication & on-line reviews.

Body: The body of the K100D Super is solid! It's a great combination of polycarbonate & stainless steel housing. It's not the cheapo plastic like other cameras.

Anti-shake: This alone, is one serious note to consider. Pentax puts their anti-shake in the camera body, unlike Nikon & Canon who put it in their lenses, thus one reason why Canon & Nikon lens cost more in the long run. Now, seeing the error in their ways, I've read Nikon & Canon are racing like mad dogs to fall in line with Pentax's lead.

Pentax Lenses: Any Pentax lens ever made will work on the K100D Super. This is where Pentax has shined for years. Those of us with older lenses can just pop them right onto the K100D Super's body (in fact, most Pentax SLR cameras allow for this). If you go to a garage sale or flea market and find a great old Pentax lens, it's will fit the K100D Super. And since this is the case, all Pentax lenses benefit from the anti-shake in the camera. Better yet, digital lenses are different than film lenses. Film lenses are superior in many ways to digital lenses. Using an older Pentax film lens on the digital body enhances the quality of the photo, an added benefit to the Pentax crowd.

And, the K100D Super is already set to accept the newest generation of Pentax lenses (SDM lenses) coming out this year.

Dust Removal System: The Pentax has an internal anti-dust shake device that removes any dust that may be present.

Auto/Manual: Auto Picture Mode, Scene Modes & Manual. You can easily go between using the Auto mode of the camera or fall back on your own experience of doing things manually using the AV, TV, Manual and so on.

Memory Card: the K100D Super uses SD Cards, but typical Pentax (thinking ahead), the camera will also accept the newer SDHC cards.

Batteries: There are several batteries the camera can utilize: rechargeable, Lithium & standard AA+. This is a benefit as you're not limited to one manufacturer's battery.

I took this camera out of the box, DID NOT READ ANYTHING LITERALLY, put in the batteries, put in an SD Card, turned it on, set the date, turned it off and walked out the door to Point Reyes. Then, I turned it on and starting shooting pictures. It was that easy (and yes, I plan to read the manual). I wish Amazon let you post photos on a review.

This is a solid pick for me and others. Hope this helps.

Read Best Reviews of Pentax K100D Super 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Shake Reduction (Body Only) Here

This is my first foray into the digital SLR world. I have always had Pentax film cameras (K1000, and ME Super) and have loved their quality. I've read that the new DSLR's use the same lens mount as the 35mm camera body so it made the most sense to stick with Pentax. In retrospect, old lenses don't play well with the new auto settings of the digital camera, and new lenses are designed to work specifically with your digital camera body. If you have an assortment of Pentax compatible lenses it may still make sense to stick with the same brand in the digital world. However, in retrospect I wouldn't have given this single factor so much weight in my decision, since I won't likely use any of them unless I intend to do a lot of the manual camera work in my head. I should say that the Anti-shake feature is "in" the camera body for Pentax, as opposed to the lens for Nikon. I really like this feature and has proven to help take sharp photos in low light lighting and is a plus if you do intend to use your old lenses. Overall I am very happy with this camera, I am a casual photographer and the 6MP is more than I need for the type of shooting I like to do.

Want Pentax K100D Super 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Shake Reduction (Body Only) Discount?

I searched for 3 months reading review after review, I found myself up too late in the evenings scouring the web looking for the perfect combination of features and cost (overall value). I have owned point and shoot digicams for years, in fact own a nice Canon SD800 now and am thrilled with it the last SLR I owned was a fully manual Minolta 35mm made in 1962!

For me it came down first deciding upon one of the new SuperZoom (15x or higher) digicams (Panasonic FZ18, or Canon S5 IS), or going for a full DSLR (Nikon D40 or Pentax K100D Super). I eliminated the SuperZooms eventually because I didn't feel they were different enough from my Canon P&S to justify the purchase. This was a tough call because the SuperZooms were at least $200 less than the cheapest SLR. My gripes with the SuperZoom's I played with were that they felt like toys, very lightweight, and were small in my hands to hold. The other concern I had with the SuperZooms was that at their maximum zoom they weren't very 'fast' meaning that unless you were taking pictures outdoors with a lot of light the pictures would come out dark or not at all. I needed a camera that had a great zoom but could be used indoors during sporting events. The Panasonic FZ18 does seem to be the king of the hill in the SuperZoom segment, but I decided to just bite the bullet spend the extra dough and go for a DSLR.

I played with both the Nikon D40 and the Pentax K100D in a local mall Photo Store (big chain), and they were both nice to use. The Nikon had an edge over the Pentax in terms of focusing time (just barely), and it could fire off continuous shots better than the Pentax. But everywhere else I thought the Pentax was better. What clinched the deal was the rebate offered through Pentax which will save me hundreds over the Nikon. I ended up ordering the Pentax online because the Mall Photo store wouldn't price match. Oh well, their loss I would have bought it from them if they just would have matched.

Right out of the box I started taking pictures, I glanced at the instructions but mostly I just started taking photos. I popped in the 4 AA's that came with it, a recently purchased class 6 4gb SDHC flash card and away I went taking great pictures. I've since poured through the manual and absorbed much of it (but it'll need several more reviews for it all to sink in). I also purchased a 70-300mm Sigma Zoom lens which matched to it nicely.

I put the package to the test this weekend at a swim meet (indoors), previously with my P&S I could never zoom in close enough and it was always too dark to get a picture that wasn't blurry. Well with the Pentax I was able to boost the ISO all the way up to 3200 which resulted in a fast shutter speed and even at this high of an ISO the pictures didn't look grainy at all. In fact they looked fantastic! I was shocked at how well the camera performed, I had a blast taking picture after picture without any shutter lag and with each picture looking great! My only disappointment is that I didn't buy this camera sooner.

If you are on the fence like I was, take my advice and just buy this camera. If you have kids like I do the pictures you'll take will be priceless and will far outweigh the investment you'll make in this camera.

Congratulations to Pentax for building such an amazing camera, one that is solidly constructed and enables amateur photographers like me to produce pictures that look great!

Nikon D40x 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens

The 10 Megapixel Nikon D40x is targeted for those who want a relatively compact and light camera yet having most of the important SLR features. The D40 is priced reasonably. In my opinion, if you are still considering whether to get a point and shoot camera or a DSLR, the D40x will be a better choice than any point and shoot camera. But if you are already deciding to get a DSLR or you want more control of the picture taking experience, then I would recommend you to also test the D50, D70s and/or D80 first before deciding to buy the D40x (or the D40). I want you to make sure that you know what you will get (and not get) with the D40x. Don't get me wrong though, the D40x is an awesome camera, and I don't think you will regret buying one. There are some limitation with the D40x which shouldn't bother most people, for example, the D40x doesn't have dedicated button to change picture quality, white balance or ISO settings (which generally only professional/enthusiast will care). Once you understand (and accept) its limitation, the D40x is a potent and exciting photography machine.

Just like all its (DSLR) siblings, the D40x powers on instantly and take pictures with almost no shutter lag which are the major advantages of a DSLR over a point and shoot camera. In addition to the P,S,A,M mode, the picture quality of the auto settings (auto, child mode, landscape etc) are also very good. With 3 frames per second you can capture movement progress in sports like football, basketball, baseball etc. Also great to photograph your family or child (child mode). The D40x is a great all around camera.

Some notable new features:

1. Auto (no flash) mode. Without this mode the flash will pop-up (on all other pre-programmed mode) even when you don't want to use flash (which can be annoying). The internal flash will not pop up automatically with the P,S,A,M settings.

2. In camera editing capability such as black and white, sepia and some filter effects etc. While sounds gimmicky, these features are useful especially for those who doesn't have Adobe Photoshop (or other image editing software).

3. 10.2 Megapixel sensor for 3782 X 2592 on large image size settings. This is enough to print larger than 13 X 19 Inch.

4. 3 frames per second (vs 2.5 for D40)

To date, D40 and D40x are the smallest and lightest among all the Nikon DSLR (even smaller than the Canon Rebel XT/XTi, however the D40 and D40x is more ergonomics). I believe that choosing a camera that fits comfortably with your hands is important. Therefore, I recommend people to test the camera before buying (even if you want to buy online, please do go to a physical store and test the camera first whenever possible).

The D40/D40x has only 3 (horizontal) autofocus point (5 for D50 and 11 for D80). If you know "The Rule of Thirds", the additional AF points above and below the center focus point (available in D50 and D80) are handy to help create the horizontal third line. However, the 3 horizontal AF point in D40/D40x is still helpful to create the vertical third line. Also one can focus with the middle AF point and after the focus is lock then move the frame upwards/downwards to create the horizontal third line. Just make sure the exposure level is still accurate when you move the frame after you lock the focus.

About the 18-55mm II AF-S kit lens: A good lens producing sharp photos (though not a very fast lens). Also decent for close-up/macro photography. Lens uses internal focus technology and focusing operation is silent. A very decent kit lens.

Lens compatibility: Notice that with D40/D40x, autofocus function will not work for non AF-S/AF-I lens. If you already have non AF-S/AF-I Nikon lenses and want a backup or replacement camera, you will be better off buying D50, D70s or D80. If you buy the D40, it will be convenient to stick with AF-S and AF-I type lenses. I'm not sure why Nikon choose this route for the D40/D40x (whether to enable smaller size camera or from now on Nikon will only make AF-S lens compatible camera). There are a lot of good Nikon AF-S lenses (price range added: low, medium, high) that are fully compatible with the D40/D40x such as:

Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX (L)

Nikon 50mm f/1.4G AF-S (M)

Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX (L)

Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX (L)

Nikon 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED IF AF-S DX (L)

Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX (L)

Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S DX VR (M)

Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED AF-S DX (L)

Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED AF-S DX VR (L)

Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR (M)

Nikon 12-24mm f/4G ED IF AF-S DX (M)

Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S (H)

Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX (H)

Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S (H)

Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR (H)

Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro (M)

And several other expensive prime tele/zoom lens like 200-400mm, 300m, 400mm, 500mm, 600mm.

High priced lens ($1000+) are usually pro level lens which usually have better construction, faster (f-stop), and produce better quality picture. However, often times, lower price lens will serve your needs just fine. I think it is important to know what you want to use the camera for before deciding which camera and lens to buy.

Image quality of the D40x is very good which is #1 factor that I look for in a digital camera.

Here are the pros and cons of the D40x in my opinion:

Pros:

1. Nice out of the camera result picture quality

2. 10.2 Megapixel sensor

3. Compact size and light weight

4. Large and bright 2.5 inch LCD

5. 3 frames per second

6. B/W, Sepia, several more in-camera editing features.

7. Instant power on, fast autofocus and no shutter lag

8. Noise is acceptable at high ISO settings. Auto ISO settings available.

9. Great battery life (500+ on a single charge. 1000+ if flash is not used).

10. Auto (flash off) mode available

Cons:

1. No direct button to change QUAL, WB and ISO settings

2. Grip comfortably but might be a bit too small for some people

3. No top LCD and no front command dial

4. Autofocus will not work with non AF-S or non AF-I lenses (such as the 70-300m G and 50mm f/1.8D lens)

5. No AF/MF switch (have to use the switch on the lens)

6. Only 3 autofocus point

7.

8. No night landscape mode in pre-programmed settings

9. 1/200 flash sync (which is slower than D40's 1/500)

10. No depth-of-field preview button

Comparing D40x with the D40. I personally prefer the D40 over the D40x due to only minor improvement on the D40x. If you will do a lot of cropping and print larger than 13 X 19 Inch then it might make sense to get the D40x, otherwise use that $200 (price difference) to invest in SB-400 flash or better/more versatile lens (such as upgrading the kit lens to 18-70mm AF-S or 18-200mm AF-S VR or add the 55-200mm AF-S VR zoom lens). If you shoot sports or fast action (in continuous/burst mode) and need more than 3 frames per second then get the D200 with 5 FPS. For enthusiast, 2.5 FPS (D40) or 3 FPS (D40x) is good enough in my opinion.

In conclusion, the D40x is perfect for those who want high quality pictures, more control (than a point and shoot camera), and have a DSLR experience (instant power on and no shutter lag), without having to carry a bulky camera. And unless you are shooting sports/actions professionaly (which faster focusing processor, faster frames per second and larger memory buffer might be needed), the D40x is pretty much all you will need.

Happy Photographing!

Sidarta Tanu

The D40x is a hard camera to rate because for some, it will be a 5 star camera, but others will regret their decision to buy this camera. If you are in the 5 star group, you will LOVE the D40x. But . . . because of a decision Nikon made to save $$$ by leaving out an autofocus driver out of the camera body, if you want to add a lens to shoot your kid playing soccer, the D40x is a potentially bad choice, and you may be a dead man walking. Let me explain:

The 5 Star buyer:

If you are moving up to a digital SLR, and want nothing more than to use the kit lens (which is very good), then you will LOVE this camera: it is light, feels good in the hand, and puts out better looking JPEG files than the more expensive D70 and D50 cameras, and rivals the D80 at half the cost. At 10.2 megapixels, there is plenty of resolution to crop and still have a great image to print.

Also, this is a very light weight camera which feels great in the hand, and is extremely easy to set up and use.

Digicam upgraders will love the ability to shoot at 3 frames per second, meaning you can set up the camera to take multiple exposures if you hold down the trigger. Digital exposures are free, so shooting in this manner gives you a better chance of hitting the perfect shot when photographing the kids.

If you intend to use this camera for general travel and around-the-house kid pictures, the D40x is a GREAT choice, and I think you will be a very, very happy camper.

The 2 Star buyer:

You want a camera for sports or telephoto shots of nature/birding. This is not the camera for you, and here is why: the D40x has a DIFFERENT lens mount than every other Nikon DSLR which came before it. To save costs, Nikon left an autofocus driver out of the camera body, which means you must buy special/more expensive add-on lenses with the autofocus driver built into the lens itself.

Why is this significant? Because of the 200 lenses made for Nikon DSLRs by Nikon, Sigma, Tokina, and others, only 20 or so work with the D40x with autofocus something most amateurs will need to shoot sports and day to day photos. Many of Nikon's own consumer grade lenses, such as the 70-300mm G Zoom (Street price $150), will not autofocus with the D40x. As a practical matter, this means that if you want an autofocus lens to shoot junior playing soccer, you must spend $515 for a zoom lens, the fantastic, yet pricey Nikon 70-300mm VR Zoom. That is almost as much as what you paid for the camera itself.

Now, to be fair, Nikon has also introduced the $250 (street) Nikon AF-S DX VR 55-200 mm lens, but that lens (1) will not give you the reach you will want to shoot sports, (2) is a tad slow autofocusing for sports, and (3) the lens speed will limit you to shooting on fairly bright days.

The D40x is significantly limited in the number of lenses it will accept, and you really need to think about these limitations before purchasing. Moreover, what if your intentions change and want to pick up a cheap zoom for occasional use? With the D40x, you can't (cheapest compatible lens is $250), and I really think this is a significant limitation on this camera. That said, if Nikon sticks to this mount, the lens manufacturers will (over time) follow, so 2 years from now, there may be a wealth of new lenses for this mount.

But hey, if you are in group 1, this is a 5 star purchase, and you will be a very happy camper. Good luck!

Buy Nikon D40x 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens Now

As I am writing this, there are 43 reviews of the D40x that cover just about every feature of this camera (and one very important non-feature: lens compatibility). I agree with most positive reviews: this is a very fast, light, easy to use DSLR with a great battery life.

The D40x is a very good camera, and a good choice as long as you do not have a large collection of old Nikon lenses. As many other reviewers have noted, this camera only autofocuses with Nikon AF-S or Sigma HSM lenses. (In Nikon-ese, "AF-S" means "has a built in motor to focus." "HSM" means the same thing in Sigma-speak.) Unless you take lots of shots of inanimate objects, you'll probably find manual focus a huge inconvenience. Luckily, there are a good selection of AF-S lenses. Sigma makes a fixed-focus 30mm f1.4 lens if you need to take indoor pictures without a flash; Nikon makes a fantastic selection of other lenses. Don't worry about this limitation unless you already have a lot of Nikon lenses.

However, when I bought this camera a few months ago, I was faced with an important question: which lens should I buy with this camera? Amazon offers at least four different options: (a) body only, (b) body plus Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens, (c) body plus Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens and 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens, and (d) body plus Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras. What is a buyer to do?

I went with option (b), and later bought the extraordinary Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens. Today, I might buy the body alone. Let me explain why:

When I bought the camera, the difference in price between options (a) and (b) was about thirty dollars. I felt that it was certainly worth that amount of money to get a small, light general purpose lens. This way I could buy the camera, figure out how I wanted to use it, and upgrade lenses later. You can certainly take some very good pictures with the cheap kit lens, and you may like having a fast-focusing, lightweight zoom lens anyway.

I considered option (c), the two lens package, but decided against it for two reasons. First, Nikon makes two 55-200mm zoom telephoto lenses: the one included in this kit, and a second version with vibration reduction. The VR version is only slightly more expensive. I find that VR is an essential feature in a long zoom lens; it helps a lot in taking long distance shots that stay in focus. Furthermore, because of the way this kit is priced, you may find that it is actually cheaper to buy the body and lenses separately!

I also considered option (d), but decided against this after reading reviews of the Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens. Reviewers were often disappointed with this lens.

So, in a nutshell, here is my advice to prospective buyers:

(a) Check prices, carefully. Sometimes, the kits are great deals. Sometimes they are not.

(b) The cheapest kit lens is a great lens for the price, but not a great lens. It focuses quickly, and it's very light, but the zoom range is a little short and it has some significant optical flaws.

(c) If you can afford it, get the Nikon 18-200mm lens. It's better than any of the lenses that are included in the kits.

(d) Consider a cheap lens kit and a flash like the Nikon SB-400 AF Speedlight for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras. If you take lots of indoor pictures, a bounce flash will do more for your pictures than a pricier lens. (Incidentally, I love this flash: it's small and light, and the battery life is terrific.)

(e) I decided to buy the cheapest body available and more expensive lenses. Cameras, unfortunately, have turned into computers: they are replaced by new models that are twice as good every 18 months. Lenses, on the other hand, have not. Spend your money on lenses, not cameras.

(f) There are good reviews of lens options on different web sites. In particular, check out who did a review comparing all the Nikon kit lenses. You can also try typing "nikon lens review" into a search engine.

I hope that helps. Happy shooting!

Read Best Reviews of Nikon D40x 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens Here

The D40x is a 10 megapixel upgrade to their popular D40 camera (6mp), and this package features the same 18-55 zoom.

As with it's 6mp twin, the D40x is one of the smallest DSLRs on the market, but is shaped as well for the hands as any of the smaller series (such as the Canon XTi). Trade-offs for the smaller size are a less powerful battery and a smaller viewfinder.

Another strong feature is the editing you can do in the camera itself after you've taken the picture. This is truly handy if you're on the road but need to make some prints for clients or family.

Compared to the slightly more expensive Canon XTi, the D40x's AF system is a very simple 3-point system vs. 9-point for the Canon. Since focusing a metering are also tied together, this might give the Canon an edge in more difficult lighting situations. Additionally, the Canon offers a sensor cleaning feature lacking on all Nikons. The Canon, however, does not have the editing featues of the D40x. These two will be joined at 10mp, very small DSLR, by the Olympus Evolt E-410.

The only catch for the D40x is that it does not feature a focusing motor inside the body. That pretty much limits your selection of autofocusing lenses to some Nikon and a few Sigma lenses today. Nikon's own 55-200 VR is a terrific value, if it's enough range, but there are no $200 AF 75-300 zooms that will work in autofocus today. If you have older Nikon AF lenses, you might look at the larger but superior D80, which still features the motor in the body.

A very nice, small DSLR, at a very reasonable price. And the pictures are pretty darn good, too!

Want Nikon D40x 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens Discount?

I have been into photography about forty years. I decided to move up to a digital SLR. Checked all the data I could find on the Canon xti and the Nikon D40x.It seemed to me the cameras were about the same, with the Nikon having the edge on lens quality and the spot meter which I have always liked. My next step was to try them on for size, so I went to my local Sam's Club. To me, the Nikon felt much better in my hands. You should try the same test, after all you are spending a fair amount of money and probably intending to keep the camera for awhile. In the past, I have owned both Nikon and Canon cameras, and usually judge them about the same. I would strongly suggest that you purchase the 55mm-200 lens for this camera. After owning this camera for about two months I would tell you I am very satisfied with it in every way, picture quality, weight, feel, and performance. The only way I would recommend the Canon xti is if you already have Canon lenses that are compatible with it. The older Nikon lenses are not compatible on the d40x. Hope this review helps your decision.

DSLR Rig Shoulder Mount Movie Kit for DV Cameras & For Nikon D3/D3S/D3X/D40/D50/D60/D70S/D80/D90/D7

• Make you shoot or video production steady, precise and smooth
• Long time shoot or record comfortable, won't feel tired
• All hand grips and joint of the shoulder mount are rotatable and adjustable
• Make commercial and professional movies at a very lower cost
• Precision-machined Follow Focus system provides repeatable, accurate focusing

value. at first it's awkward then you'll manipulate it to a personal sweet spot. it's pretty solid, it doesn't feel cheap, it's far more steadier than handheld plus this shoulder rig that cost less than a los angeles parking ticket.

used with a T3i for videography

Buy DSLR Rig Shoulder Mount Movie Kit for DV Cameras & For Nikon D3/D3S/D3X/D40/D50/D60/D70S/D80/D90/D7 Now

Good for what it is and the price is quite low, so can't complain. It has many configurations and if you don't like the ones they reccomend, you can even unscrew the "bars" and attach them to your liking, for example, I wanted a camera cage/fig rig type setup with a 7" monitor on back, I tried the reccomended setup from the picture, but it was not balancing correctly and while it looked good from the side, viewing it from the front made it looked quite odd, so I removed the long pivoting handle from the back and switched it with one of the short handles to the sides of the rig(depending on if you are right handed or left handed), and looked nice and balanced very well. The only bad thing is that you have to tighten it all quite a bit which raises the fears of breakage as there is quite a bit of plastic in these areas, but then again at this price point you cant expect too much!

Read Best Reviews of DSLR Rig Shoulder Mount Movie Kit for DV Cameras & For Nikon D3/D3S/D3X/D40/D50/D60/D70S/D80/D90/D7 Here

Really loving this unit. Postponed getting either a monopod or a nice tripod for video because this seems to take care of most jobs right now... Also putting off sliders and dollies.

First project shot with it (a music event) got lots of good feedback, and the steady itself got people talking so they were less self conscious and interactive.

Planning to shoot more scripted work after getting used to this. Added a rail system and follow focus. Will have viewfinder to attach to swivel screen on my D5100 by the end of the week.

There are two main ways I have found to use on shoulder. They don't use extra weight and it doesn't rest on your shoulder.

The longer way, extend middle to full length and grip the right angle in your back (shoulder blade), pushing away from your body with your [right] hand on the handle and focussing with your [left] hand braced by the palm on the other handle. This works because the two segment stretch can only be tightened at 90° or 180° and doesn't come loose from the pressure. All the joints have a little give except that one. This position puts the viewfinder many inches beyond your face.

The other shoulder mount folds the two segment together (0°) and tightens it down about 90° into your shoulder blade, so your face can press against the viewfinder for a 4th point of contact. There is a long channel to tighten the camera/rails down to get it comfy.

Haven't needed to use After Effects warp stabilization with any of the shots from this yet, which is great.

Very happy with the purchase. Recommended. Also, get some short thumb screws right away so you can mount other gear on the various points available (recorders, etc,).

Want DSLR Rig Shoulder Mount Movie Kit for DV Cameras & For Nikon D3/D3S/D3X/D40/D50/D60/D70S/D80/D90/D7 Discount?

I would definitely suggest this to anyone who has a small budget but needs a rig. Great for filming. I wish it had a quick plate for easier camera removal and that I would have been informed ahead of time that you are using an Allan Wrench for the important adjustments. Don't force the arms as they will move under enough pressure and cause strip things sooner. Most of the bolts are replaceable if they get stripped. The instructions are a little fun to read at times as they are mainly pictures with lots of Engrish. If you know this stuff ahead of time you won't sweat these little cons and be happy with the pros as it gives you so many different position options for a steadier shot.

Wheni bought this rig for my Nikon D7000 it came extremely quickly but it wasnt that steady. i added different weights to the back of it and now its my main source of video steadyness

Brite-View BVC-500C Plugcam 500MB/s Powerline Home Network Camera Starter Kits (White)

The plugCAM is using HomePlug AV-compliant powerline communications technology to connect to your network. You view the video with a free iPhone app or Android app on your smartphone.

The Starter Kit comes with everything you need: Camera, PLC adapter, cables and mounting screws.

I already have a powerline setup in my house. I did not have to plug in the PLC adapter that needs to be connected via an ethernet cable to your router. I just plugged the camrea in a wall socket. Then I downloaded the iPhone app and scanned the QR code on the bottom of the camera done. The video appeared bright and clear on my iPhone. Again. There is nothing to configure. It just works literally plug and play. You can if you want name your camera and change settings later on.

The access to the plugCAM works also when your are away from home.

The LEDs on the camera make it possible to also see video footage from dark rooms or during the night.

The resolution of the plugCAM is not high to keep the bandwidth usage manageable. You get at the highest setting VGA at 7fps. Rather use a lower resolution at higher fps. After all you want to see what is going on and not make a home movie. The plugCAM iPhone app can take stills from the video footage, but does not record video segments.

Pros

Very Easy To Use

Uses PLC not Wi-Fi for hassle-free networking

Smartphone apps to view footage

Cons

Camera unit could be smaller

Not waterproof for outdoor use

If you want to keep an eye on your pets, kids, a machine or anything quickly and affordably from remote than the plugCAM is for you.

Brite-view plugCAM Powerline-Networking Plug & Play Camera Kit can quickly and very easily let you monitor things while you're away right on your Android or iOS device. The plugCAM works over your existing electrical wires so there's no wires to run, if you have an outlet you can set up the camera for monitoring.

Inside the box I found the camera, user manual, mounting screws, power cable, powerline adapter and an Ethernet cable.

The plugCAM is basically two parts, the wall adapter and the actual camera. The wall adapter is the part you plugin near your router or switch and attach the Ethernet cable to it.You don't need another powerline adapter for the camera as the camera has it built right into the base.The camera can be positioned many different ways, it moves right and left and can be titled up and down.The camera features a ring of infrared LEDs around the lens and at the very top is a light sensor to let the camera know when to use the LEDs. The lens can also be turned to focus the picture.Both parts are made of plastic but that's no surprise as pretty much everything is, but both the adapter and the camera seem sturdy and well made.

To use the plugCAM you just need to plug it into your network via the powerline adapter and Ethernet cable. Once done the LEDs will light up and in a few seconds it will be ready to go.To connect the camera to your network you just plug it into a standard wall outlet. Overall I found the setup to be extremely simple, it couldn't be easier really just plug and play and that's it.

To monitor the camera you need to use an Android or iOS device and download the appropriate free app (I'm using Android).There are three ways to add a camera, scan the QR code on the side of the camera, search on your local network or add it manually using the ID and password on the camera. I did the local search and in a few seconds it found the camera.

Pros:

Very simple setup

IR LEDs very bright

Easy to use app for mobile devices

Works over existing power lines so no additional cables to run

Monitor via phone or tablet while away

Cons:

Ethernet cord rather short

Pictures are a bit grainy

No video recording

Conclusion:

If you're looking for a way to monitor your home while you're away I don't think you'll find anything easier to setup than the Brite-view plugCAM. The plugCAM package is just as simple as plug and play truly, if you've got electric then you can stream video. The plugCAM has many more uses than just home surveillance like keeping an eye on your baby or even your pet while you're not home. Since it uses the power lines as your network you don't need to run any cables and anywhere you have an electrical outlet you can setup the camera. The system allows you to add several additional cameras as well so you can monitor pretty much everything you want.

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I would just echo what has already been said in other review. The plugCAM starter kit does the job as advertised. It's really easy to use and setup.

Simply connect plugCAM adapter to router with ethernet cable and plug camera to any wall socket in my house. then it's done.

No WiFi setting or PC software installation required.

Scan QR code to add camera onto iPhone is plus. My wife loves this feature and plans to get another starter kit for her parents who live in Japan now.

It really gives a lot of peace in mind when we are in US and know we can access the camera that deploy in Japan anytime.

Since it's so easy to setup, we have no worries that her parents don't know how to set it up.

In addition, the plugCAM transmits video through home powerline so I can place camera in my basement that even wi-fi signal can't reach.

It's one of the reason that I bought the plugCAM and sending back another brand product that doesn't meet our needs.

Video quality is ok to watch from my iPhone 4s. Since I am having limited data plan, I always set video resolution to 320x240 in case

not to get data overage charge while accessing the camera under 3G network.

It's a good product and really fits our expectation. If you want to place a camera in the house that wifi signal can't reach, then you should get plugCAM.

Read Best Reviews of Brite-View BVC-500C Plugcam 500MB/s Powerline Home Network Camera Starter Kits (White) Here

Needed something to monitor our dogs when we are not in the house. Turns out the camera worked so well we are now using them as security. Will add more in the future.

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The other reviews seem like they were written word for word from a sale pitch. Anyway here's a real honest review from an actual user.

Set up is a no brainer. It really is plug and play simple. Plug in the receive into an electrical outlet and the ethernet cable into a jack or into the back of your router. Plug in the camera to an electrical outlet and scan the QR code with the iPhone App and it finds the camera. You can edit it then if you want and put in a name and new password.

The video quality is 640x480 on High, 320x240 Medium and 160x120 Low. The picture is just okay. You can definitely tell whats going on in the image but don't expect Retina Display quality. Colors are weird one some things. My black tank top looked purple but my black cat looks black even when I'm holding him in my black tank top. Not sure what causes that but it's not a problem really.

It works. You won't spend more than 5 minutes setting it up and image quality is more than adequate for most people. Great little system if you want to watch a remote location. I'm using it for my wife's store.

A higher resolution version would be nice to have. Oh the night vision mode really does enhance the picture in poorly lit rooms.

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Aqua - Vu AV740 7 inch LCD Underwater Camera System

What a awesome camera. I saw so much on it the first time i took it out. Not to mention how much i learned about the lake. Loving everything about it. Amazon is the best.

One day, I dropped down the fishy looking camera down the edge of a dropoff, and BAM! a musky took it. I should have installed a hook on it and maybe some fireline.

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I'm definitely happy with my new camera. Upgraded from the Aqua Vu scout 2. The picture is clear, function keys are in a good spot. Allows you to adjust the picture with easy visibility of the terrain below. The plug in's are in an area that causes concern due to the distance they stick out. I will be very careful with them. Top notch quality!

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Toshiba Camileo Z100 3D Digital Camcorder Camileo Z100

I've used a Toshiba Camileo Z100 3D camcorder for several months, and am highly impressed with it. While it won't do quite everything that the thousand dollar plus 3D cameras will do, at a quarter of the price or less it can still do plenty, and it can shoot genuinely beautiful 3D (and 2D) video and still photos. My favorite 3D video modes are 1080p30 (you can watch on the built-in 3D display, or looks fantastic plugged into a 3D TV with an HDMI cable) and 720p60 (great for fast action scenes, and the only camcorder I know of for less than several thousand dollars that can shoot 3D at 60 frames per second). It has a considerable number of manual settings available, many of which work in 3D mode, including several exposure (auto, center, spot, backlight, night), ISO, and white balance settings. The filter effects are fun to play with shoot 3D or 2D in black and white, sepia tone, or color negative (3D black flames and waterfalls). The still photos are great for viewing on a 3D TV or the web, or for printing in 2D at moderate enlargement (I wouldn't try a poster-size enlargement). To see what it's capable of, search for "Camileo Z100" on video or photo sharing sites there are many spectacular videos and photos out there, either straight from the camera or edited using 3D editors.

The Z100 also has some nifty 2D-only modes, including slow motion and time lapse video.

The Z100 can do a fantastic job if you use it for the things it does best. A few tips:

(1) Focus is sharp from about 1 meter to infinity. Closer than 1 meter and your images may be out of focus.

(2) The stereo base (distance between the left and right lenses) appears to be about 28mm, pretty close to many other modern 3D cameras. That means the best 3D will be at close to medium range, maybe about 1 meter to 5 or 6 meters, though it still shows some depth at greater distances. I shot some nice 3D video of carnival rides with clouds in the background, and an object at 30 meters is visibly closer than an object at infinity. But fairly close up will show the best depth.

(3) The camera is digital zoom only, no optical zoom (well you can't get everything at this price). This means that the more you zoom the more the image quality is reduced. Some people use the digital zoom, but I prefer to shoot full wide angle to get the very best image quality.

(4) There's no optical image stabilization. If you shoot video full wide angle and have a steady hand it can do a good job handheld, but if you want really rock-solid steady video (maybe for a professional production), it's best to use a tripod or camera stabilizer (actually that's good advice for any camcorder).

(5) The best lighting appears to be in sunlight with the sun at your back, though the camera does surprisingly well indoors with the lights on, or outdoors after sunset or at night with streetlights.

(6) While the basic modes are pretty simple to use, it's best to read the manual to learn about the optional settings and how to use them.

There are more capable 3D camcorders available, but at several times the price. At the price the Z100 is good for someone who's starting in 3D or for teaching a kid how to shoot 3D, but it's also a great second 3D camera for someone who has higher end equipment small, portable, and as I mentioned before it can shoot 720p60 in 3D (which no other consumer camera I know of can do) as well as 1080p30. I rate the Z100 five stars for the beautiful 3D imagery it's capable of producing, and the many features it provides for the price.

For $150 this camera takes 3D HD videos that look pretty good. It's a great start on low end 3D video.

It has a small screen that you can view in 3D with out glasses. Has a time lapse, slow motion, motion sensing settings.

In 3D you have to pan very slow or shot makes you dizzy. Need a lot of light to get good 3D. The zoom is very jerky. But all in all it cost me $200 for camera and 64 gig mem card/

If you want to try 3D this is the camera to get.

I'm starting to look for a high camera now.

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Easy to use. Clear picture and 3D! I have used it a few time so far and for what it cost you can't beat it. I can copy the output files to a usb drive and play them right on my LG 3D TV. For the money and 3D you won't get optical zoom or steady shot but what you do get for a quarter of the price is great. The camera does need good light and outdoor filming is great. Indoor a little washed out but still ok.

Read Best Reviews of Toshiba Camileo Z100 3D Digital Camcorder Camileo Z100 Here

Bought this and a Fuji still 3D Camera. The Fuji has the same lousy battery life, but has amazing 3d. This only has 3d if you are 5 to 10 feet from the subject. really not useful.

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The camcorder is intuitive to use, with very few buttons to press, and a touch screen for more settings. The 3D created by the camera is saved as a Side by Side L image first MP4 in 1920x1080. With this camera and a copy of CyberLink's PowerDirector 11, I find it extremely simple to shoot video and then add 3D effects and titles afterwords. That's a fully realized 3D movie creation package for well under $500! (Given that you have a 3D monitor for video editing)

The video looks great, and as many other reviewers note, the best range is at least 2 feet away from your subject. It's a blast to set up a tripod for super stable video, and then have your subject wave swords or other long objects at the camera. It looks very convincing in review, and appears a bit closer than was shot. My daughter noticeably jumped when she was reviewing video of herself waving a stick with some embers on the end of it about 18-24 inches from the camera. She said it looked very much like it was coming right at her face.

Shoot in well lit areas. The sensors are not great in low or back-lit scenarios. The footage will look a bit grainy. Not surprising for an economy class device, just something to be wary of.

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Samsung WB2100 35X Zoom Bridge Red Dig

I have been shopping around for a camera in this price range for a while. This appeared to be a great deal on a feature packed camera by a trusted manufacturer so I purchased it. It has not disappointed. This thing takes great quality pics. I am very pleased with this purchase.

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