Sony DSR-PDX10 Professional 1/4.7" 16:9 3CCD DVCAM Compact Camcorder with 3.5 inch LCD Monitor

Quite often I notice many reviewers associate the word "professional" with this camcorder, which is frustrating since this camcorder is not "professional"; it is a professional consumer (prosumer) camcorder. I own this camera by the way, but I am neither a consumer (respectively) nor am I a professional; I have been to Radio-Television-Film school, which has allowed me to become a photojournalist, but I would never consider myself a professional I have chosen to be this way because becoming a truly professional videographer slash cinematographer requires some extensive knowledge and experience two things which I don't have, and two things which you probably don't have either since your on Amazon's website looking at the Sony DSR-PDX10, and reading a review on the camera from someone who is on the job, but obviously has nothing better to do at the moment.

Nonetheless, I will attempt to divulge your wonders about this camcorder. As of the current, I have owned a PDX10 since the spring of 2004 which I suppose is something like a year and-a-half to be not exact. And since I am much better at noticing negative things, I will start with those bad things about Sony's little three-chip camcorder, the biggest problem being the chips themselves. The three charged coupling devices in this camera are all 1/ 4.7 inches in diameter (almost 1/5 inches in diameter) making these chips the smallest ones in the prosumer market. What does this mean exactly? Well it means that the camera is absolutely terrible in low light shooting conditions. It also means that the image is highly susceptible to noise a thing which wouldn't seem so bad if it were as aesthetic as film grain, but alas, this is interlaced digital video the farthest thing from celluloid. Small CCD's also mean that the range of optimal exposure levels for this camera is about as narrow as the mind of a narrow-minded person; thus, the image will yield the best quality when the lighting is bright and even. Because of this, the PDX10's image will look its best when the camcorder used for outdoor shooting situations (except at night).

This seems like a terrible camera now doesn't it? Not very professional at all, you say. Well, before you write this camera off, I must mention that the PDX10's image at its best is quite incredible for this amount of money. And to mention the unmentioned, this is the only camera in its class that will record in true widescreen (16:9) ratio the PD170 (Sony's next-best prosumer DV camcorder [$3,500]) can't even do this. Most cameras which claim to record in 16:9 either crop the top and bottom of the 4:3 image, or they squeeze the initial recorded image by electronically changing the aspect ratio (but not the physical aspect ratio) of the pixels, which will later be "stretched" out when viewed on a 16:9 television this process is physically degrading to the recorded image. Personally, I always record in 16:9 because when viewed on a 4:3 ("full screen") TV via DVD, the over-sampled image looks great, and is also future proof for viewing on 16:9 televisions in "full screen". In fact, the PDX10 has been a choice camera for underwater photographers who want to have the ability to shoot in 16:9 while keeping a small form factor; because of the ambient lighting found underwater, this camera will yield an exceptional image in such conditions (during the day, of course).

When I purchased the camera, I also purchased both wide angle and telephoto lens adapters that thread on to the front of the camera's fixed lens quite annoyingly. With the 2x telephoto lens, there is serious chromatic aberration (a condition which is best described in words as blue-ish slash purple-ish hazes of light around subjects displaced in the depth of the image) that worsens the further you "zoom" in. This condition is not so apparent, if at all, wile just using the fixed lens, but then you will be limited to a 12x optical telephoto range. Digital zoom is available, and is broken up into two areas of intensity; the first level is 24x, which isn't so terribly bad as other digital zooms, mostly because the CCD's have roughly one million pixels scattered about each of their tiny 1/ 4.7 inch surfaces, and the resolution of NTSC DV only asks for about half of those pixels to show a proper image. The second level of digital zoom is available also, but I wouldn't advise using it unless you're spying on somebody whose one eighth of a mile away from you.

A wide angle adapter is nice to have, but I wouldn't suggest using it if you are planning on zooming in a lot, otherwise you will have to be constantly adjusting your focus. Particularly helpful when using these fixed-lens cameras is an auto focus feature, or more importantly, a push-auto focus feature. For example, you may set the camera to manual focus, and if you don't feel like messing with the focus ring on the front of the camera, you may push a button on the side of the camera that will automatically adjust the focus without having to switch into auto focus mode. There is even a third way to focus, and that is via the LCD flip-out screen, which happens to be touch-sensitive. Just hit tap the screen in the area you want the camera to focus and it will do so makes rack focuses easy as h-e and two hockey sticks. All three modes of auto focus are very fast; Sony is known for having the best auto focus for video cameras, and this camera is no exception as it was originally designed to be Sony's flagship consumer model. Probably my second overall disappointment with the camera is the manual focus ring that has a naturally sluggish feel to it; I much prefer the precise auto controls found on Panasonic's fixed-lens cameras, which closely mimic the feel of a mounted lens. The PDX10's focus ring gets even more sluggish in cold weather, as the back side of the metal ring is coated with an anti-abrasive lubricant whose viscosity decreases congruently with the clime's temperature.

Since I'm on the subject of temperature and climate affecting the performance of the camera, I'll have you know that even the most extreme conditions for humans will not affect the performance of the PDX10. It is known that both altitude and temperature affect electronics in general, and when exposed to the most extreme conditions, they might cease to even operate. Such was not the case when I went skiing in Colorado during late December of last year. I decided to take the PDX10 on the slopes one day, and mindful of the temperatures, loaded the camera with a DVCAM cassette just to test what the medium was all hyped up to be. Somewhere between 12,000 and 13,000 feet at single digits Fahrenheit, I blasted down the slopes holding the small camera close to the ground with idle-as-possible hands; it was fun. Sometimes when you're skiing, within all of those layers of clothing, you kind of loose perspective on how cold it really is outside. Well, looking down at the PDX10's flip-out LCD, I noticed that something was wrong it looked like the shutter speed was low. But after skiing a little bit more, it finally hit my mind it was so cold that the pixel refresh rate had increased, or the liquid in the crystal display was getting too cold. That's cold. One of my friend's digital cameras wouldn't power up that's cold. I began to wonder whether or not my footage would come out ok, but when we all got back to the lodge and played the tape, it was just perfect. Maybe DVCAM does have some redeeming properties whenever you're 12,000 feet above sea level, freezing your rear end off, and happen to be taping something.

On other issues of durability, I would like to in fact mention more issues of durability. It just so happened that this camera, in an unfortunate series of events, was catapulted to the ground in such intensity that the lens hood became permanently distorted, the corner of the LCD flip-out panel gouged a scar into the side of the camera body, the original shotgun microphone was rendered snapped-in-half, the high capacity battery was dislocated from the camera body, and the optical sensor for the focus ring was knocked out of place from the impact. Fortunately, I was able to re-attach the battery and continue filming. I was able to fix the focus ring problem myself by taking apart the camera and doing some rudimentary drilling. I don't have any problems with the camera to this day (this happened a year ago). I have worked with other cameras of the like, and can say in confidence that the PDX10, and all Sony prosumer video cameras, feel more durable than the Canon GL series cameras, as well as the Panasonic prosumer cameras not to say that it is more durable, it just feels durable and has proven to be so. So if you have any doubts of durability, I can tell you in all honesty to not have any doubts of durability when considering the PDX10 and its durability.

What you are buying when you in fact buy a PDX10 is a very high-end consumer camcorder that has the ability, in some applications, to be a quasi-professional video camera. If you are interested in filming extreme slash outdoor sports, I would highly recommend this camera for its durability, portability, great auto features, great image stabilization, and better-than-consumer results which will impress the people who see your footage, and might even trick them into thinking that it was a professional camera. If you're in the market for a camera to use for event videography, I would suggest investing in a camcorder that is shoulder-mounted (Canon XL series are a bit front-heavy by the way) and looks good in various lighting conditions (look for a rating of 1 lux or lower), and has readily accessible manual controls. If you're just a very wealthy or eccentric person who would like a video camera to document their own realities, you'd probably be attracted to the new HDV camcorders. If you are buying this camera to make a bloody film or documentary, find out how much it will cost to rent a professional camera and hire a professional to operate it that will give you the best results. Final word: the Sony DSR-PDX10 could be akin to a very large sink with a disproportionately small drain, if that makes any sense.

I teach videography and have tried many different camcorders before deciding on the PDX10 as the best compromise between price, easy of use, and professional quality.

The best feature of the PDX10 is the dual-XLR audio inputs and good quality microphone normally included with the camera. Cheaper consumer cameras often don't even let you adjust audio levels, even if you did add an third-party XLR input.

Video quality is both great and poor--that is, great when there's plenty of light and poor when you're in low light or even not-so-well-lit ordinary indoor situations. I shot a well-lit scene with the PDX10 and, right next to it, a $20,000 Sony camera with a $5,000 lens, and nobody yet has been able to tell which is which when I show them the footage. (Interestingly, the more expensive professional camera also did poorly in low light conditions.)

I've heard some people say they preferred the old Sony PD-100A, which was the PDX10's predecessor. However, I have both and appreciate the many improvements to the interface and slightly better color quality of the PDX10.

The closest competitor to this is the Panasonic AG-DVC30, which has better low light performance but doesn't have as good 16:9 support. More importantly to me, the PDX-10 records in DVCAM format (on regular mini-DV tapes) which puts more data on the tape for each minute of recording. I have found to my great dismay that the regular DV format is VERY prone to errors, dropouts, and rapid tape degradation. I can't tell you how many of my projects have been ruined or nearly ruined by problems with DV! Since I switched to DVCAM-only hardware in my studio, I have NEVER had a visible dropout or data error, even when re-using previously recorded tapes (which saves money, and which only a suicidal videographer would try with regular DV).

Bottom line: Buy the PDX10 unless you need to shoot in low light, in which case you should get a Panasonic AG-DVC30 (and splurg on best-quality tape) or save up the extra money for a Sony PD170, which also has good low-light performance. The PD170 also has more bells and whistles (such as selectable frame rate and more switches so you don't need to use menus as often), but for my money I'd much rather have two PDX10's (or a PDX10 and a thick stack of hundred-dollar bills) than one PD170.

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This camera is great if you are on a low budget. In fact, as of this date, it doesn't get better. Everyone has mentioned the greats... tons of digital controls over your image, a touch screen, and xlr ins. That's great. If it makes a huge difference to you, the CCD chips are small, and thus a low lux camera. So if you are planning lots of low light, it may be worth it to spend more on more. The digital controls are great, but they are nothing like manual shutter speed and fstop. This is a great camera for the price. It has captured beautiful images for me.

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The Panasonic performs much better in low light and has more accessible manual features, and it's cheaper. I'm not saying that the Sony is a bad camcorder, though.

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ESTA CAMARA DE VIDEO SONY PDX 10 ES MUY BUENA, PARA FILMAR EN CONDICIONES DE POCA LUZ, SUS MICROFONOS SON DE BUY BUENA RECEPCION, SU PANTALLA GRANDE PERMITE VER SON MEJORES DETALLES LAS IMAGENES, LOS COLORES DE LAS IMAGENES PERFECTAS. NO LE PIDE FAVOR A LA PD150-PD170.

MUY BUENA VIDEOCAMARA.

Marcelo Mullo Torres.

Ecuador

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Revo RE16BNDL21-4000 Elite Bundle 16-Channel Security System with 4TB DVR

I was pumped that when I received delivery, mine had an upgraded DVR to 4TB! Night vision is incredible and is among the highest quality pictures I've seen. The only thing I didn't realize when I purchased (although it's mentioned in the description) is that the 2 big cameras don't have cables to hook to the DVR. Had to purchase online separately which cost me an additional $120.

It works very well. What I don't like is every time power off. I have to call REVO for reset otherwise you can not see remotely.

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Review of Revo R4D1FB3DCMB-5G 4-Channel Combo Security System with DVR and 10.5-Inch Monitor.

CAMERAS. Love the cameras, they are small designed and look very well made, single corded not double corded like many other security cameras. They have a wide angle covering very large areas, the image is clear and much better than wireless cameras, the colors are true and bright and also ajustable for each camera. All cameras powered by single monitor/DVR adapter. Cameras have audio recording option which I used once, it was fine but normally I don't use it to save space on hard drive. The video quality can be ajustable for each camera. Each camera can be scheduled for recording as continuous recording or motion detection and also for different time of day. Each camera has motion sensor sensitivity adjustment, also areas with constant movement, like tree branches can be blocked. Cameras also have night vision which turns on automatically when it gets dark. The night vision image is good enough, can recognize person from 20 feet away in total darkness. Cannot judge how weatherproof they are, cameras were not exposed to extreme weather conditions yet.

MONITOR/DVR. Small design, monitor has build in 500GB hard drive, it has video output which I use to watch video on TV, you'll need to buy cable for that, it has LAN output and cable, it has 2 USB ports, one for mouse, second for flash drive (back up system). Flash drive should be FAT16 or FAT32 formatted, I bought one on Amason "Kingston Digital DataTraveler 101 Generation 2 32 GB Flash Drive DT101G2/32GBZET" which is already FAT formatted and another one in store (NTFS) and formatted to FAT, both work fine but it takes hours to copy 32 GB video file from DVR to flash drive. During copying, video is separated in 2GB files. You can also copy a short part of video to flash drive. This DVR records while play back or copying video to flash drive, it has multiple search engines like date/time, event, record table. DVR has recycle mode, when the hard drive if full the old recordings will be deleted. It also says the system has two way audio communication. DVR has build in speakers.

I didn't use network monitoring or recording option yet so cannot say anything about it.

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I was happy to see the quality of the pieces until I inspected the central program/recording box. It did not have an off/on switch. I have to pull the plug to turn it off. then I inspected the USER'S MANUEL. on the back of it was a statement of "LIFETIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT", and CUSTOMER SUPPORT, AND a phone number (that did not work),and a web site address giving the URL for the website. I promptly went to the web site and found it to be a shell. None of the buttons on the web's tabs (dashboard) worked. I tried to use the email function and it too was inoperative. Still the manual seemed easy enough to comprehend so I proceeded to have it installed. Only after I had it all installed and started the Basic Program did I discover that like the dashboard at their website many of the drop down menu items did not function at all. So I have an installed Revo system without any support and really must make the best of it. Here is the good news, the cameras did function and the basic program can get me some security. If you purchase anything made by Revo expect no help nor are you guaranteed to have the program menus work as you expect them to. you will be on your own. Do not believe their statement about LIFETIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT.

RICHARD VERVILLE

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Yes it is hardwired but it provides power to the camera as well as digital info. I've mounted a camera over 160' away from the DVR and works great.

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Cablesson 3 Feet Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Cable for Apple iMac

The cables, and have had no issue. I found this on another review so i think its important for Mac Dummys

For those of you who are having a hard time getting the audio to work:

* Your computer must support audio over the Mini DisplayPort. To find out if it does, go to System Profiler (option-click the Apple menu, System Profiler...), click the audio tab, and under the outputs should be listed: "HDMI / DisplayPort Output." If it is not listed, chances are your computer does not support it.

* You must select your TV as the output device. To do this, either option-click the audio menu icon and select it under "Audio Device:," or go to System Preferences (Apple menu -> System Preferences) -> Sound -> Output and select it. Hope this helps.

Just but the latest Mac 2012 version and bought this adapter as i have read extensively on these adapters.

Basically the confusion is that the new mac use thunderbolt and i can confirm i am running the video and the audio using this adapter.

I did have to enable the audio from the mac to the TV by going into system > audio.

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This product worked perfect to hook up a Mini Mac computer to a Gateway monitor. Great color and no adjustments were needed.

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Worked perfect for me i had to see on the internet now to enable the audio, i have pasted over here so others can follow too

List of Apple computer models (must be made after mid 2010) with audio pass through :

* MacBook 13-inch (MC516LL/A)

* MacBook Pro (MC374LL/A, MC375LL/A, MC371LL/A, MC372LL/A, MC373LL/A, MC024LL/A, MC700LL/A, MC700LL/A, MC721LL/A, MC723LL/A, MC724LL/A, MC725LL/A)

* MacBook Air (MC505LL/A, MC503LL/A)

* iMac 21.5-inch (MB950LL, MC508LL/A, MC509LL/A)

* iMac 27-inch (MB952LL/A, MB953LL/A, MC510LL/A, MC511LL/A)

* Mac Mini (Server) (MC270LL/A, MC438LL/A)

* Mac Pro(Server) (MC915LL/A, MC561LL/A, MC250LL/A)

* All thunderbolt models

After connecting this cable from your Mac computer to HDTV, please follow the below steps to send sound to HDTV:

1. Open Apple > System Preferences

2. Select 'Sound' with a speaker icon

3. Go under 'Select a device for sound output' section to find your HDTV is listed as an output device

4. Choose HDTV instead of built-in speaker as your audio outlet

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Arrived yesterday. Works as advertised with my 2011 MacBook Air and OS X 10.7.4. Also sent video/sound through HDMI switch to my Denon AV receiver (has only 2 HDMI inputs) and then on to Samsung TV. Again, works properly. Would be helpful if instructions came for configuring Mac's Display and Sound settings through System Preferences had been included. Fortunately, info in other Amazon reviews and on web allowed me to properly set up the system. Key point for purchasers to know is that the cable must be connected to the TV (or AV receiver) BEFORE trying to change the Display and Sound settings. Your Mac will not give you the choices you need until the cable is connected. Hopefully, the cable will have a long lifespan...

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Sony DSCS75 Cyber-shot 3MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

What can I say? I really like this camera! I'm a 35mm photo-hobbiest that previously owned/used a Mavica FD-81, and was looking for something that was smaller, faster, and took cleaner pictures. I originally was looking at the S50, but with that model on it's way out (being replaced by the S55 possibly, depending on sales of the P50...I'm told), I looked into (and bought) this model.

This camera may actually begin to replace my 35mm. First off, the camera's lens takes some excellent pictures: clarity, color, etc. Combined with the tons of manual override features, it gives me the visual control I found lacking in other models (you can even disable the digital zoom altogether, a big feature for me). And the LCD capabilities also stand out against the competitors: (1) you don't have to use it (a view window is provided, which is centered to the lens...so you really get what you see) and this almost triples your battery life, and (2) LCD image review allows you to zoom in/out of pictures to verify that you got the details you were looking for. Expansion speaking, Sony uses the memory stick technology in their cameras (I can share my 64 MB sticks between my mp3 player and this), it has a slot to attach a more professional model flash, and the camera lens supports add-ons. As well, the speed is phenominal it takes the pictures quick...and you don't have to half-press the button to focus before you take the pic...just press once and it'll auto-focus and take the picture on it's own.

There are only two real downsides of note to the S75: (1) size and (2) ease of image distribution. There are a lot of cameras out there that are both smaller and lighter; however, I found this model to have the same size and feel as my Nikon 35mm, so that didn't bother me. As well, I miss being able to use the straight-to-disk feature of the Mavica. Also, beware out of the box it's set to 2048x1536 fine (which will blow up to poster-size without pixilating, BTW) which will eat up the 8MB stick in about 5 pics...reducing it down to 1280x960 let me fit a lot more before I upgraded my memory stick.

If size and weight is your ultimate selling point, take a look at the P1 or the P50; but if you want the pictures and the control of a real 35mm, this is definitely the camera for you.

This camara is NOT for somebody that want to just take a few snapshots every once and a while to stick on a web page, and maybe make a print once in a blue moon for a really good shot. If you want something like that, there are camaras that are smaller, lighter, cheaper, and easier to use.

This camara is NOT for somebody who is a photo fanatic. If you want razor-sharp prints the size of posters, or if you want to take pictures of hummingbirds in flight, there are camaras that have interchangeable lenses, higher resolution and better image controls.

If you are semi-serious about your photography, require a good lens, decent control over the photos, and spectacular batter life, this camara is an excellent value.

Equipped with an excellent (if bulky) Zeiss lens, this camara can produce much better pictures than other three (and even four) mega-pixel camaras that only have tiny, small things. One thing you must remember is that mega-pixels are useless if the lens cannot deliver detail that fine to the camara. This lens can. The 3MP it has will do just fine for any size print up to and including 8x10's.

The user interface for the camara is simple enough, which makes up for the somewhat lousy manual. My only complaint about the controls is that the cursor movement button is hard to center correctly. This is a minor point, as I have never had it cause a problem other than me having to hit the button twice.

The pictures are razor sharp and the camara is capable of perfect white balance. (For those that don't know, bad white balance is what causes some pictures under flourescent light to look green, and incadescents look yellow.) All you have to do to adjust it to perfect every time is to keep a white index card in your camara case and then use the "one touch" balance control to re-calibrate it in a couple of seconds.

You can make small movies with this unit, but they aren't suitable for anything but posting to the web. Let's face it, this isn't a camcorder.

The included rechargable lithium battery is more than enough for a full day or two of shooting, but if you won't have access to a car or electrical outlet, it could be a problem, since it isn't a AA you can pick up at any corner store. (That means that you can't use this camara for your 10-week trek through the wilderness.)

This camara includes only an insultingly small 8 MB memory stick. However, I believe that everyone with a 3MP camara should own a 128MB chip, and NO camara maker includes one that big. Buy one when you buy the camara. Since other manufacturers besides Sony now make them, they are very reasonably priced.

You can buy accessories like a flash, an adapter for 52mm filters, additional lenses, etc., but the cheaper non-sony brands are tough (but not impossible) to find.

The included software (MGI Photosuite) is not really that good, but not bad for a bundled package. I reccommend, and use, Microsoft Picture It! Digital Image Pro.

All in all, for the price this camara costs, it is the best available and has no competition.

P.S. If you have windows XP, you MUST change the USB Transfer mode from the default. If you don't, it won't work. See the manual and the sony website for details.

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The image quality of the Sony has lived up to my high expectations; it is incredible. As a long-time amateur 35mm photographer and professional graphic artist, I really wanted a true digital SLR digital (couldn't afford $3k with lenses), but as a digital rangefinder, I am giving away very little with the DSC-S75. The manual mode combined with available spot metering gives me the control I need, and the controls are very easy to set much easier than on most film SLR's. The overall size is small, but the rubber grip gives me a good place to hold it steady. Compared to the Nikon 995, the build quality is obviously superior. The heft of the controls is superb, and the materials are first-rate. The Nikon feels like it is made by Fisher Price. The image quality of the Sony is crisper and the colors truer, to boot. Tell me again why the Nikon is more expensive. The battery lasts a LONG time. It lasted more than 2 hours with the LCD on the whole time and with a lot of flash use. I had presupposed that I'd need a second battery, but I am sure I will get tired of shooting before this camera does on any given shoot.

I will list my quibbles here in hopes that Sony might see them and rectify them, but they by no means outweigh my extreme satisfaction with this camera.

Quibbles:

*Needs more white balance presets For now I use the one-push calibration, but if you don't have a gray card or a sheet of paper handy, more than 2 measly presets would be nice.

*AF lock is awkward to use It works, but not well at all. You have to push a button to lock focus AFTER releasing the shutter button from its halfway down position, and you risk the focus going blurry again (catching it in the middle of its trying to refocus) before you engage the lock button.

*Manual is lacking in detail There is no guide relating recommended apertures to distances for the different settings of the flash. You either use auto mode or you take guesses at the correct f stop. It also doesn't explain what the camera does with the flash in auto mode. I am sure I'll figure all this out with some experimentation, but as a techie I like to know EXACTLY what is going on.

*Metering only shows +-2 stops, and doesn't work at all when in aperture or shutter priority mode and the camera deigns that there isn't enough light to get to the desired exposure. It just blinks a light at you.

*The 8mb memory stick is a joke. 128mb sticks are now available for [$$$], but this must be factored into the price.

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I was dead set on getting on of the Sony P1s it was small and took high quality pictures. Sadly, the store had run out, but an enterprising showroom assistant suggested checking out the DCS-75 instead. I'm so glad I did! This camera is amazing. I've never owned a digital camera before and wonder why I waited so long now. 3.3 Megapixels is probably more than enough for most people for snapshots I have the setting down to 640 x 480 and don't go much above 1280 x 960 for anything. However, should you want to, the camera can take 2048 x 1536 and can save in a variety of formats, including .TIFF. It will even take movies of up to about 1 minute, although the quality of the movies is not fabulous. There are some standard special effects settings too (if you don't trust youself with Photoshop or the like)such as black & white and negative. The menu system is easy to understand although I'd recommend having a quick look through the instruction booklet to find out about all the extras. I found it easy to find my way round the camera after only one reading. The camera has a nice chunky feel like and old school 35mm and the handgrip feels good and secure. The LCD is a sensible size at about 1.5 inches (although like all LCDs is hard to see in very bright light)and combined with the viewfinder makes it very easy to focus and frame in just about any light. An adjustable LCD would have been even better, but there you are. The only thing that I found wrong with this camera was the piddly little 8mb Memory Stick. I would strongly reccomend getting a 32 or 64 Mb, as the 8 meg will fill up in about 10 shots if you go for size and quality. Also some sort of protective covering offered with the camera would be nice: I bought the semi-hard carrying case for it after dropping on a corner and denting the aluminium casing... What more can I say a fabulous camera.

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I probably spent 2to 3 hours researching my anticipated purchase of a digital camera. I told myself that I would spend no more than a couple of hundred dollars but the more I looked into it, the more I realized that a decent camera could not be bought for that price. So I changed my goal to find a camera that had all the features I would need for the least amount of money. I must have read everything on the net about digital camera's that ever was and I started narrowing down the list to a few names, then finally all roads kept pointing at the DSC S75. So I found a deal and made the leap, fully expecting to be a little disappointed when the camera finally arrived. The camera arrived and I began shooting the same day. Yeah, there was a bit to learn, but the more I learned, the more impressed I got. The quality of the pics are quite amazing. Oh, I also bought the Lexar 128mb stick so I would not have to keep deleting the pics cause I had no more room. I got a fantastic deal here on Amazon on that, even better than you can get on Ebay. I also bought the HP photosmart 1115 printer and it arrived about 3 days after the camera did. Anyway, back to the pics. They came out super good. Now I am hooked, I just ordered the flash, and now I am checking out the telephoto lense options. Photography many years ago was a big hobby of mine, and I do believe this camera has brought that interest back to life. This camera has auto settings, aperture priority options as well as shutter priority. This camera has so many cool things to take advantage of that I guess it will be a while till I get proficient with all the possibilities. I wanted to be brief with this review, but with this camera that is difficult. I can just say that I am glad I did my homework, I feel like I got an "A" on the exam. Oh, just thought I pass this one on to you, I read a professional reviewers article on this camera, he that said this camera was probably the best digital camera under the $5000 professional range. I thought he might be biased, but now I am not so sure.

Minox DTC 600 Trail Surveillance Digital Camera with Black IR-Filter Flash with Memory Card and Mou

Good product to some , certainly not for me. Was expecting a flawless operation, and with every possible setting by the manual, I wasn't able to record any human activity. Had it set up on tree facing my house front door as a survelliance camera, but no matter how many times I or someone else would appear in front of it, the camera just wouldn't record it. However it did record many other activities, like motion light going on and off, leaves and branches movement on my neighbor tree's and etc.

Just my experience.

VideoSecu Mini CCTV Hidden Security Camera Pinhole Lens Covert Color CCD Wide Angle Home Outdoor Su

For the price, these little cameras are very good. They are all metal, have a pre-attached nice metal bracket and stay pretty cool compared to other hot running cameras I have owned.

For a tiny pinhole lens camera, the video quality is pretty good. They are certainly not high def cameras, but they do good for what they are. They even work pretty well in semi-low light (but since they are not night vision cameras, there HAS to be some ambient light to see an image. In very low light or no light conditions you will see nothing).

The housing is very small, and the camera PCB can be removed from the housing and rotated 90 degrees either way if needed (I had to do this with one of them, to mount it on the side of a window frame). I also spray painted a couple of them white to blend in with the window frames they were mounted to (just make sure you cover the pinhole lens before spraying. I cut a toothpick in half and stuck the thick end into the hole to protect it from overspray, worked like a charm).

Overall I'm very hapy with the little cameras. 5-stars

For the price you can't get a better Pin Hole camera. If you want better resolution you would probably pay more than double the price. Also, though I had problems with the cable that came with the camera. I called the shipper and they send me a replacement cable without any problems. Great service.

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disappointed.....nothing in the box besides camera and casine..i dont understand why it cost as much as it did.The LYD CM203CA is under half as much money yet comes with instructions power supply and a wireless 9V battery adapter..would NOT recommend

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Small size, so so quality image, Very easy to install. Insulation where it meets the case was pulled away a half inch, but it works and wont be moved. Might be issue on a robot.

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I purchased this camera and was impressed(impressed)with the good quality. Camera is small and discrete, and you can place it anywhere you want. Not many of mini cameras works so great in low or bright light environments. Great deal for the price. For the overall performance that is ok with me. Good purchase!

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Moultrie I35 Game Spy 4 Megapixel Digital Infrared Game Camera (Camo)

I had this camera for about 13 months and thousands of pictures. Sadly, some low-life stole it. The only drawbacks that I have found are that the night pics tend to be a little blurry and the trigger time is a little slow. I have several pictures of the back end of a deer walking by.

This guy who rates this camera one star has pasted his same review onto 12 different cameras so it is totally bogus.

Buy Moultrie I35 Game Spy 4 Megapixel Digital Infrared Game Camera (Camo) Now

This takes good photos and video. It is not as easy to set up as I had hoped. The camera settings are accessed in the date set up field.

The area of capture and turn on are poor. all they have is a LED that you see get brighter as you walk across, this is static with no internal feed back! You really have no idea what the active field range is to turn the camera ON.

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My husband ordered this to use in our business, and it gives great clear pictures that come in really handy in our business.

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In theory this works as follows: i) you buy this camera or another camera compatible with their "game management system" ($150-450), ii) you buy a separate cellular module ($180-200), iii) you buy a subscription to their on line service ($360-$1200/year), iv) you buy an activation (an additional $29 fee mentioned only in some very small print in a very obscure place on their web site), v) you set it up so that you get an email when the camera triggers and then you can see your photos on-line almost in real-time. In theory, you also have the option between a pay-as-you go plan (min $40/month) and an annual plan (min $360/year).

In practice, you buy all of the above (bare minimum about $400), then the activation fails. None of the usual excuses hold: the batteries are new and fully charged for both camera and cellular modem, the signal at location is great (I was checking their web site on my iPhone on 3G at maximum signal strength), the camera is on, the wire is plugged in, etc. Unfortunately, Moultrie has no customer support worth mentioning for this system. For the game management, there is separate line which is not toll-free. First I had to wait about 30 minutes on their regular customer support line, then I had to give the person all my details for another 15 minutes and then and only then, he told me that I have to call another line, dedicated to the Game Management System. On that line, you have the privilege to leave a message but you are warned by the "welcome" message not to dare leave more than a single message. Then you wait and nothing happens. Nobody calls you back. Nobody follows up. You go on "your account" from time to time just to see that the camera is "being activated". You call over and over the game management system line but you never find any human being on.

Imagine buying a new cell phone, activation, contract and all and then having the phone not working for days and no customer support help.

In practice, the choice between the pay-as-you go and the annual subscription also does not seem to exist. The type of plan appears to be determined by the cellular modem you buy. If you the device has a P at the end in the model number, you are locked into the pay-as-you go (which is about 33% more expensive per month). If your device does not have the P, you are destined to have an annual plan. If you don't know this and you buy the wrong device, too bad Mr. Customer.

The camera itself is much lower resolution than a comparably priced Stealth Cam for instance (currently about 8Mega pixels for $120 for Stealth Cam Unit vs. 4 Mega pixels for $150 for the Moultrie I 35). On the Moultrie I35, the weatherproof case is made of plastic, the locks are also plastic and may not last long. There is a rubber seal around the perimeter of the box but that appears to be very flimsy and will also probably not last very long. The Stealth Cam Unit case appears to be much more durable, the locks are metal, the rubber seal is much thicker and mounted in a recessed groove, and overall has a more durable appearance. The quality of the pictures and video on the Stealth Unit is very good. It also appears to trigger well for now but I only had the camera for 3 weeks so it's early to draw conclusions. The Moultrie is yet to take a photo and upload it. The flexibility of the Stealth Camera is also much higher. More choices for video, resolutions, trigger intervals, number of pictures taken, duration of video, etc. If it were not for the remote access capability the Stealth Cam would be the hands down winner. Unfortunately, this capability is yet to be experienced on the Moultrie I 35.

I will update this. I am very curious how many days of my subscription are going to be wasted before I can get the I 35 camera to work.

First update (deployment date + 2 days): cellular link still dead and no sound in video.

The cellular link still does not work, the same "camera is being activated" message on their web site. Checked in the field, the batteries on the cellular modem are completely dead in less than 48 h after deployment (the batteries were new and fully charged, 2000mAh capacity). The quality of the pictures taken is very good. However, the video does not have sound. I'm not sure this is a defect or by design. If it's by design, it's a very serious limitation. On the StealthCam I got 60 seconds of dialogue between two poachers who were smart enough to try stay outside the angle of view but triggered it anyway.

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VariZoom VZ-TFT7 7-Inch 16:9 TFT NTSC/PAL Monitor

Have been using an earlier Varizoom 5.2" 4:3 tft monitor. Just upgraded to this monitor (bought slightly used here on amazon) (already had the kit / batteries). Wow on the screen area (real estate). Just had my first Dance performance shoot with this mounted on my Canon XHA1s HDV camera. The client was next to me following the program with a flashlight and watching the large screen framing and pointing out people to do closeups on. Very nice viewing area for framing shots. Was able to match closely the color and luminescent on the camera monitor (and did my focusing). I also have a Varizoom lens controller. I have called Varizoom and can always reach a knowledgeable person who is more than willing to help trouble shoot or offer support for their products. Another great Varizoom product.

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Pentax Optio E90 10 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Wine Red)

I got this for my daughters graduation gift. She wanted a $300 touch screen camera but it wasn't in the budget. She loves this one. The low light performance is good and it is great for the "extended arm self portrait." She took it on her senior trip (yes, I gave it to her early) and she took over 1000 photo's with it with better than average results. She also really likes the panoramic mode. Overall it's a good choice for a casual camera.

I bought this camera because it was inexpensive but still had most of the features I was looking for in a camera. It uses 2 AA batteries, but they do last quite a while. Overall, the camera is great. It takes great pictures and has a lot of options for settings. My favorite is a panoramic feature which I have had a little difficulty with but haven't read about it. It also comes with a CD which has great photoshopping features. The only problem I have noticed so far is the video capture. It does not take a good video by any means, the voice is okay but when playing videos back, it's extremely delayed and broken. So if you are looking for a camera for mostly video purposes, this camera isn't for you! Other than that, it's totally worth the price!

Buy Pentax Optio E90 10 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Wine Red) Now

Really great camera in this price range. I've been using it for over a year and I am completely satisfied. Changable batteries never worry about charging. Great features. So easy to use. Panoramic photos so much more. Love it.

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Aven 26700-300 ZipScope USB Digital Microscope with 2 Mega-Pixel 10x-50x Optical, 200x Digital Magn

• 2.0 megapixel digital tabletop microscope with 1/2" color complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor and USB 2.0 computer output to display images or video, commonly used for quality control (QC) inspection, medical and scientific research, geology, mineralogy, chemistry, and for printing and textile inspection.
• Optical magnification of 10X to 50X, and digital magnification of 200X
• 8 built-in, white LED lights with two-step intensity control for illumination, automatic white balance, and the ability to be turned on and off
• Included software produces images (JPEG or BMP formats) or video (AVI format)
• One year warranty

The video might be enough to convince you. But please read this extended review for all the details. Every one of the images in the video was captured with THIS microscope camera.

EDIT: Please see W. Nicholls review for more current information on software and a solution for the weak stand! We've both found that the stand is okay for very basic use, but leaves a lot to be desired. The software is the same way, but there are several excellent freeware alternatives available.

I am an IT professional for a major police department. I specialize in video enhancement and conversion. I ordered this for my Mom, who collects and sells antique buttons. Because of my Prime Membership, and because I would be the one installing this for my parents (naturally), I had it shipped to my place. When the package came in, I couldn't resist opening it and trying it out on my system. There are a few things that I didn't like, but more that I did like. First, the stand is stable enough, but not rock-solid steady like a tripod. Specifically, the stand itself appears to be very sturdy stainless steel, although the arms holding the camera are plastic. The software included (for my Win7x64 system) is actually a very basic Microsoft program, so don't expect a custom application. That's okay, though. It gets the job done, and I had no problems with program or driver installation. The magic is in the scope itself.

The grippy rubber surrounding the unit helps with positioning, especially when you are using it in a hand-held photo/video shoot. The focus ring might be a little tough at each of the extreme ends, but is otherwise very smooth and easy to adjust.

I was able to grab several very high quality images right off the bat. I used a twenty dollar bill as a test subject. I was able to zoom in so much that the ultra-tiny "USA 20" shadows under the right-side text were clearly visible, yet I was also able to zoom out enough to capture almost the entire bill. Going further, I captured an entire US Quarter at about a half-screen size, and was able to zoom in so close that I the screen was filled with only 3 grooves of the 119 grooves around the edge of the quarter. That's pretty impressive. In fact, that is a HUGE range of magnification. Ask your photographer friends. They will confirm this.

The software was a piece of cake to install (Win 7 x64), although I had to use my other computer to copy the mini-CD to a regular CD. My second computer has a tray-load CD drive, while the system I wanted to use it on has a "suck-load" (ie slot-load) CD drive. This program/driver package is NOT available on the manufacturer's website, and the mini-CD is not labeled, but it's really a minor problem. If you use any other webcam or video capture program, this camera will work with them as well. Also, any other webcams you have will work with this software for effortless still and video capture.

Overall, the stand is nice and stable, provided you really crank down the screw (which still allows for some forceful movement but still keeps the camera in place), but the arms that hold the camera are a little weak. This is a tiny weakness that can be easily overcome by adjusting from the bracket instead of grabbing the camera itself. If you won't be using the very wide range of zoom/focus levels, this will NOT be a problem for you. The best way to operate this camera is by moving the object instead of the camera. My mother just wants a little visual aid in identifying manufacturing marks on antique clothing buttons. For her, I set up the focus and camera angle, and she hasn't touched it in several weeks of examining antique buttons. She just moves the buttons around beneath the lens.

The LED lights are very good. Even with the rest of my household lights turned off, the built-in LEDs had enough power to provide plenty of bright light for proper exposure. At some zoom/focus levels, I even had to move the switch to the "half-led" position to prevent washout.

The zoom/focus range is incredible. To make it clear, please understand that "zooming" means moving the camera away from the object and adjusting the focus, but I was really impressed with the incredibly wide range of zoom/focus on this system. I got great pictures in the range from less than 1/10 of an inch all the way to 6 inches+ away from the subject. To give this some context, I should remind you that I got a picture of a US Quarter that took up 1/2 the frame, then "zoomed in" (aka moved closer and adjusted focus) so that I had a shot of only 3 of the 119 ridges on the edge of the coin. Both shots provided great detail, and the 2 MP resolution was a pleasant surprise. At 1280x1024, it isn't quite true HD, but provides a very good image.

Because the cradle that holds the camera is a little weak, you might need to push the "shutter" button a few times to get a clear shot, but this is a very minor inconvenience, and doesn't cause any software or storage problems, since you only save the image when you're happy with the result. A typical shot was just under 1 MB in size, and only took two to three attempts to get one without blur. That probably sounds terrible in a review, but I want to emphasize that it is really easy to get a nice clear shot. Just press the camera-mounted shutter button a couple of times until your image is nice and crisp. This works reliably even when holding the object and camera in each hand.

Overall, I can say this. I would love to have one of the four hundred dollar super precise professional forensics lab-type USB microscopes, but for anything less than a couple hundred bucks, this is the best of the bunch. I loved it so much that I ordered one for myself. I am not a professional, but I am a very good amateur. You can see some of my close-up my videos by looking for "SloMoHolic" on a very popular video sharing website that starts with "You" and ends with "Tube", taken with non-microscope professional equipment :-). Hopefully you will see actual ZipScope footage very soon!

Have fun and explore things you've never seen before. There are a lot of options out there, and I have researched them all (although I have not tried them all). This particular model seems to be the best option for anyone who is not in a forensics lab, that wants to have high-quality still and video imagery, with a very wide range of focus/zoom. I hope my review helps you make your decision.

Buy Aven 26700-300 ZipScope USB Digital Microscope with 2 Mega-Pixel 10x-50x Optical, 200x Digital Magn Now

Right off the top, the Amazon listing for the Aven 26700-300 claims 2MP resolution. I was only getting .3MP (640x480) via the primitive software pressing the shutter button. The instructions don't tell you how to get full resolution captures and I stumbled upon how it's done. Here's the arcane procedure:

Open the AMCAP application window so you can frame your image. This application only has controls for capturing video. If you press the shutter button you'll get a snapshot that pops up in a new window. However, this image will only be 640x480. To snapshot at higher resolution, you must use the tray application/control panel. This gives you access to Properties controls if you select the Properties Page, but that won't give you control over photo resolution. You must right-click or click and hold on the tray application, click on the snapshot menu item, then select a resolution from the fly out list. 1600x1200 is the sensor resolution if it's 2MP, but the Chinese manufacturer's specs (Oriental Inspiration, Ltd.) say 1280x1024 (1.3MP). When you pick the resolution, a snapshot is taken and it pops up in the snapshot viewer window. You'll only see a portion of the full res image since the viewer window can't be resized and there is no zoom. If you then press the shutter button on the microscope, new images will be captured at the resolution you set via the tray application. Be sure to save the image from the viewer window since the image will be lost if you don't. Beware -when you quit the software the snapshot resolution will set back to 640x480. There's no way to make the full resolution be the default. This software isn't just primitive, it's stone age.

I appreciate Blake Ormand's extensive review, and I don't have experience with other USB microscopes to compare, but I find the software and the stand to be significant limitations on an otherwise good device. Pushing the image capture button on the side of the microscope causes it to move and blur images that would be simple to get sharp with a software shutter control. There is the snapshot control I outlined above and I recommend you use that instead of the hardware button.

The live view via the software is a small, low resolution window. If you maximize the software window, it expands to fill the display and thus distorts the image (at least with most current display aspect ratios). You can resize the window, but this distorts the image since the view will fit any shape window you create. The digital zoom function isn't particularly useful. The image quality is low and you don't see any additional detail. Plan on a real zoom utility of 50x. And you'll only get 50x with the microscope as close to the subject as the clear front ring allows.

Also, there's no white balance control (there's a hue control in the generic control panel, but that's not a substitute). Under normal ambient light, the image has a pink cast. The color is reasonably neutral when the LEDs are turned on via the oval slide switch on the microscope. Actually, the unit is now showing pink even with the LEDs and I suspect a problem with an RGB channel.

The microscope has a poor orientation for right side up. If the shutter button was on top, you'd get a bit more stability pushing toward the base. You can rotate and mirror the image via the generic software and I haven't seen if that's a viable workaround so I can work the unit with the shutter button on top. The stand has a really weak and narrow clip that isn't in the least bit secure or stable. The base and articulating arm are nicely finished, but the clamp barely holds the microscope at all. Unfortunately, the only optional base available from Aven is designed for backlit slide use akin to conventional optical microscopes. I'd like to find a boom-type stand with a clamp that could securely hold the Aven ZipScope's body.

The Dino-Lite model I was considering before buying the Aven is over $400. There are more and better stand options for Dino-Lites, and the software appears to be better (the high end software provides measurement capability). I have no professional use for a USB microscope,so the Aven's pricepoint is more rational for me to play with. I do volunteer fossil preparation and I'd like to use the USB microscope for demonstration and documentation purposes. It would be cool if I could use the computer display to do fine detail work instead of looking through a conventional low power stereo microscope, but I'm not sure that I could set the USB microscope up without having too much parallax error to work with.

Update 01/19/2012: I've found better software that works with this microscope. I did a trial evaluation of NCH's Debut Video Capture Pro Software. You can capture from the microscope at full 1600x1200 resolution and there's a still capture button. The preview scales proportionally, and there's a control that lets you view at actual pixel resolution. There's a 14-day trial, but when the license price is $40. There are other webcam video capture utilities for Windows, Mac, and Linux that you could try. Look up AMCap at the alternativeto.net website.

I bumped up my rating to four stars because good free alternative software is available. Thanks again to Blake, for recommending ProScope HR software which is available free online for personal use. There are also Mac OS and Linux versions of this software. I've installed it but haven't tried the software yet, so I can't compare to the relatively expensive NCH utility.

I'm using a Manfrotto Nano Clamp to mount the microscope to various photographic supports like an articulating arm or flex arm and have uploaded a few to show this. The Nano Clamp does partially obscure the capture button, but using software to trigger captures is far better for vibration.

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AVEN zipScope with measurement software.

The microscope: It does exactly as advertised and with amazing clarity.

The stand: It is as valuable as a milk bucket under a bull. It will not support the microscope at a 90 degree angle which is necessary for accurate measurements and a lack of subject distortion.

The programming: ... Horrible! The written dropdown boxes that are critical for measurement and marking the pictures were in the programmer's font (little square boxes).

Product support: Great, the company responded to correct the problem after which the measurements work.

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Picture quality is great. We are using other software to view images from Windows and Linux laptops, never had to instal software that came with this. Feels solid, handles well, focuses well, built-in light at two settings is great too. Whether the magnification is good enough for you is for you to decide, but it is amazing for our kids and for me to see stuff up close, sharp, intense colors, on large screen. Resolution is 1600x1200, but then it does only 5fps or so, which makes it harder to work with if you move stuff a lot, so I'm actually running it at 800x600 where is does 20fps, and it could 30fps at something like 640x480, but I like an integer divisor and 20fps is OK to work with. I did take a couple pictures too at 1600x1200 after I focused at 800x600.

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I had ordered before a similar version, and ended up frustrating when realized that it had a fixed magnification. This one is much better. Small children have great fun.. In my case, putting the signal on the TV (using Wireless Display) made it even better. Tons of fun!

Sony DCR-TRV11 MiniDV Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode

I have never had my own camcorder before, so I spent days looking at all makes and models trying to learn as much as I could. I even read several reviews here and after having held each one, trying out the features and driving salesmen crazy I finally got the Sony DCR-TRV11.

First, the display screen seems better. I looked at JVC and Panasonic and the Sony screen just looked better defined. Also, when panning, the autofocus reacted faster to my movements. My wife has small hands and this was one of the smallest ones out there so remember to consider size and weight. The resolution is very clean and the controls are all well placed. I didn't use the software that came with it, opting for Pinnacle's StudioDV. It comes with the Firewire card, software and cables. It's works great and is easy.

The Sony has a few key features like a mic input, which is important. If you are getting better picture your going to want better sound. The built in mic works good, but if you zoom on something distant, you're going to want an external mic. The hotshoe takes intelligent accesories, like a zoom mic or a flash that syncs with the still pics. It takes both DV tapes with and without chips in them. Be sure to get the tapes with the chip in them. You need the chip to index your pictures. This is important when connecting to your PC. The included 4MB memory stick holds about 30 pics at 640x480 (60 at lower resolution) and allows you to mix stills with your video for some nice effects. In addition to the night shot feature, the stabilization is far superior than any others I tried. Some only worked until you zoomed, others said they had it, but I couldn't tell. All the Sony's seemed best here. The battery life was about 50 min using zoom and the flip out display. The display tells you how much time in minutes you have left to record. Much longer lasting batteries are available, but there is no memory effect so you can charge at any time.

The camera is great for quality, feel and ease of use. I did have to download a driver to use the camera as a netcam and it would have been nice if it came with the Firewire cable in addition to the serial cable. We restled over the price and, while you can get a very good camcorder for less, we just couldn't pass up the Sony after holding it and comparing the features and quality. My wife and I are very happy with it and, if you can afford it, this ones the one to get.

This is a very good mid-entry Camcorder with the more than the standard features. This extremely compact unit nails the basic necessities (LCD screen, LCD swivel, steady-shot, 2-nightshots, and excellent output options IEEE, S-video, RCA). You get all the Sony amenities of scroll-select dial and a slew of A/V rec/playback options. Sony pushes the value-added package with the tight Carl Zeiss lens; the true optical zoom capabilities has something to be desired with the 1.7-3.3-33 ratio. However, you can't complain too much with the 20x and 120x digital option that performs quite decently. The color view finder can extend and pivot quite a nice mechanical option while having the ability to save battery life or if you're doing fixed-position video taping.

The digital photo on Memory Stick is a thing of beauty (transfer to tape and vice versa also an option). The TRV11's size is comparable to a digital camera. This allows me to just carry the TRV11 around having the option of motion or still capture forget the digital camera (as long as you've got good lighting).

My only complaint is a Catch22 the MV tapes can only be inserted from the bottom of the unit. This creates a problem for tripod mounted shooting. Sony organizes all this technology into such a small package it's hard to complain. 4 stars for the standard Sony-pricing premium though.

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I was looking for a camcorder that would provide me with excellent video recordings and the ability to transfer the recordings to the PC for editing and then sharing them with my friends and relatives.

The Sony TRV11 has an excellent imager and the Carl Zeiss Lens is the best available. I am completely satisfied with video recordings. The color viewfinder and a 3.5" display that can be rotated to face the subject are really worthwhile. I have found that kids are better on camera when they can see themselves. The instant replay on the LCD is also a very good feature. As a novice getting used to STBY and REC, I have used this feature a lot to record over bad shoots. Also, if you plan on shooting still images on tape or memory stick, this feature allows you to instantly determine whether you need more shoots to get the best pose. I strongly recommend a color enhancement light if you are doing indoor recordings, which is available as an accessory. I didn't want to spend on that right now so I move my halogen torch lights into the rooms that I wish to record. It is inconvenient but works great. TRV11 offers a 3 way PC link by means of an adapter for the memory stick, a serial port or a firewire port. If you have an ancient computer like I do and do not want to spend on a new computer, you will appreciate this.

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This is a great camera and they've packed a lot into this tiny unit, but for Mac users, beware: the PictureLite software that comes with the camera is for Windows users only. Be prepared to plunk down another $60+ for an adaptor in order to access jpgs on the Sony memory stick in the camera. Don't bother looking on Sony's website for answers to why there is no Mac version existing or coming...the issue simply isn't addressed anywhere and related Belkin products that promise to transfer still images do not transfer jpgs; only still video frames.

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I bought the Sony DCR-TRV11 specifically for an African Safari, and am extremely pleased with the performance. I filmed through drenching rain, low-light conditions, over horribly bouncy roads, and the results are amazing. It is easy to learn to use the basic functions (I only had it for a week before departure, and didn't have much time to practice filming), and the quality makes even the most novice film-maker look good. Battery life is great (I took two with me and never ran out of power--even on days when the Safari Lodge generator failed and I couldn't recharge), and while the outside casing is a little worse for the wear, the camcorder performance is undiminished.

Q-SEE QD6502B-N 650TVL 1/3" 2.8-12mm Varifocal Sony EXview Super HAD CCD II Effio-E Weatherproof Ou

Another big disappointment from a Q-See camera product. Poor image quality, poor night vision. OSD functions are worth anything if they don't do anything. THe BLC & HLC functions and ATR functions don't work. I have better image quality from a lesser costing item.

Amazon.com did a great job of getting the camera to me quickly and in one piece. I had a few questions that needed to be addressed from Q-See but found that they only have one person to answer their phone. Wait time can be up to 1 hour. They keep referring you to a website that will answer your questions for a price. All and all this is the worst customer service I`v ever seen.

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