Carson Zorb USB Digital Microscope with 35X Optical Zoom, Lava Orange

I apologize the video jumps around a bit. The Carson Zorb was able to refocus relatively quickly in spite of all of the movement. The first image is hair, the second is the fibers of a hat, and the third is the pad of a finger (note the sweat glands are visible). Better images are possible if one takes the time to manually focus the microscope's camera (I did not), but the short video gives a general idea of its magnification capabilities. For $38.80, this digital microscope does an impressive job.

As a side note, I had been worried about installing the Carson Zorb Digital Microscope on my iMAC due to a few of the other reviews, but installation was simple and all I had to do after installation was click on the Digital Viewer icon and then click on the words "Digital Viewer" within the "Webcam List" box. After that, I was able to take multiple pictures and was impressed with the quality of the images and how easy it is to focus the camera. Still have to see how this little device holds up over time, but for now I am very happy with the product's quality and user-friendliness.

Carson Optical does not support Mac computers in any realistic way. They claim to support the Mac OS but that simply isn't true. Their products can be made to run in a more or less lame way on Macs but it isn't pretty. Their models MM-480 and MM-640 use a Sonix Quicktime component (SN9C201) which has long been known to crash iTunes 10 Google something like "iTunes 10" and "Sonix" for numerous posts and an Apple technical bulletin on the subject. And though iTunes 10 has been out for almost a year as of this writing Sonix hasn't addressed the problem. Despite this Carson continues to claim that these products are suitable for Macs. They even offer a Snow Leopard driver which is how I decided that their stuff must be okay to run on my Macbook Pro. What a surprise to find that their Snow Leopard driver installs a component that's toxic to iTunes 10 and known to be so. How many Snow Leopard systems can there be out there that aren't running iTunes 10?

Furthermore, their latest model, MM-740, which is 'plug and play' and so doesn't need the Sonix QT component is still not a proper Mac device. While they supply a decent imaging app for Windows machines they supply none at all for your Mac. Instead they expect Mac users to run the microscope in the Mac app Photo Booth which is a kind of toy application for taking quick snaps and has no image adjustments whatsoever unless you count the goofy false color and funhouse mirror distortions it offers which are of course of no use in microscopy at all. It may be that there are other Mac image programs that would work better but Carson isn't suggesting any and they'd have to be found, tested and purchased separately.

After I bought an MM-480 I got in touch with Carson about the Sonix problem. Their technical representative said he'd never heard of it and that he'd research the problem. He got back to me a couple of hours later after consulting their "software guy" and the only advice he could offer was to revert to an older version of iTunes. Let's see...toy microscope or iTunes 10? Which would you choose?

All that said the hardware is decent and I have worked out an acceptable (to me) workaround. This won't be something the most casual Mac user will want to do but others might. Basically the problem with the Sonix QT component is that Carson's installer puts it in the root library so it's always loaded and ready to crash iTunes. The fix is to put it where it's only running when you're using your microscope but not at any other time. Here's how that's done.

1.Make a new user. I named mine Zorb.

2.Make a new folder in the new user library called "QuickTime"

3.Run the Carson installer

4.Move the Sonix component from the root "QuickTime" folder where the installer will put it to the new user "QuickTime" folder you just made.

5.Now when you switch to the new user the Sonix component will be active and you can use your microscope. When you're done using it put any pictures or movies you've made in the 'Public" folder and switch back to your usual user. The Sonix component doesn't exist in that user so it won't bother iTunes and your snaps and movies are there in the new user's public folder and available to be used within your normal user any way you want.

So, that's it. Carson makes decent hardware but if they're not willing to go to the trouble of making their stuff work on Macs in a way that's comparable in terms of performance and features to the way they work on Windows computers they need to stop implying that they do and clearly warn their Mac customers that they'll be getting an inferior product. I've gone to the trouble of writing this up in hopes that I can warn off unsuspecting Mac users and because I'm tired of companies that claim to support my computer in order to get my dollars but that are unwilling to either do what it takes to make that true or to be upfront about the problems.

Buy Carson Zorb USB Digital Microscope with 35X Optical Zoom, Lava Orange Now

Small enough for our children to manage, fun for spontaneous moments when your child just wants to look at things really close up. I wouldn't say this is a microscope for a serious scientist but it is certainly fun for curious children to explore their world. Great price and quite a durable product which has so far withstood almost a year of use and abuse by two children under 10 and two adults over 40.

The lights are too hot to use for snowflake pictures but it has been fun viewing for insects, rocks, postage stamps, fingerprints, leaves and flowers.

Read Best Reviews of Carson Zorb USB Digital Microscope with 35X Optical Zoom, Lava Orange Here

I would use a video review simply using the CarsonZorb software as I can choose my device, either the Carson Zorb or my computer camera. In fact when I first installed the software, up cam my ugly 80 year old face which is why I'm writing this review.

The supplier (Amazon) had the microscope to me in a few days. It was well packed. All I had to do was slip the disk into my laptop and install the software. Actually it did that all by itself.

Two little adapters, plastic cones, were supplied and I was told to select one of them according to the size of the image. I chose the smaller and it will probably be the one I'll be using as this old man could snap it into the microscope but could not unsnap it back out. Anyway, the small one is probably the only one I'll want to use anyway. If I need to get the other out, I'll have my son come over.

I liked the 35X magnification. It is just right for looking at moles, nose hairs and fingernails. I can read small print with the thing like you get on a sales slip when you buy something or try to read the dosage on a bottle of pills. And you can look at the details on coins and bills.

Now, I'm going to get some bugs and other interesting things and play with that. The magnification on my computer screen is amplified and if I need to I'll go to my other computer with its big monitor. I can hardly wait to catch an ant.

Well, better still, one of those Idaho Black Widow spiders.

I captured still images in two ways. I read that someone said they had movement when they clicked the camera button. I had no such problem but I also captured using the MS Snippet Tool. I brought them up into a graphic program and re-sized them with no problem. I could add captions if I wanted to.

Now I'm a retired R & D engineer and I've operated hundreds of microscopes over the years including an SEM. I would not compare them with this little device but I would say you can have a lot of fun with any good microscope no matter how much it costs.

I didn't take any video but all you need to do is click. You can control the length of your video and other parameters. When I get that bug, I'll take a video.

I found the image quality to be about like the hand lens I've carried around for years. However, at my age, I much prefer this small device to my hand lens. It is so much easier to view the image on the computer. That is the main reason I bought the device.

I think this would be a great gift for a child, one who likes bugs. I also think it would also be a nice gift for grandpa who can't read the dosage on a bottle of pain pills.

Did I say its a cute little bugger?

I can hardly wait to show it to my 34 grandchildren and my older great grandchildren. They will be so excited!

WOW! UPDATE

I tried to use the supplied software (free on the Internet) to record a video. I had no trouble recording a still shot but I'm too old and too dumb to figure out how to find a video recording after I save it. When I do, I get an icon instead of a video. I'm sure there is a way to do this but I'm 80-years-old and don't have time for such nonsense.

The software did say there were restrictions.

I simply went to the the Internet and downloaded the FREE Debut Video Capture software. I had no reason to buy the pay version. It works perfectly with my computer camera and the microscope camera. It is very easy to use and that is exactly what I needed.

I now use Windows Movie maker to edit the videos. Then I can save them and stick them into the free Ezvid software and uploaded them to YouTube. If I don't want to send the video to YouTube, I just create the whole video and save it from Windows Movie Maker. I know I could upload a video to YouTube after I save it but with Ezvid I don't have to think.

I think that the supplier should supply Debut or some other easy to use software.

I still love this camera and I'm having a ball. I caught a spider and filmed hims attacking a Potato Bug. Quite a fight. It is great for looking into your nose and ears too.

Wait! My wife's caregiver just caught a jumping or wolf Spider in the sink. Now, if I can just get him to behave while I get the microscope over him.

Have some fun.

John

John T. Jones, Ph.D.

InternetBusinessToolCenter.com

Buhl, Idaho

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As far as the microscope itself goes, it's not bad. I can get better macro quality from my dSLR with a bit of effort, but it certainly can't reach into tight spaces like this thing. The image quality isn't great, at 640x480, and seemed prone to excess blurring even with sufficient light. Focussing was somewhat of a pain; it ends up being easier just to focus approximately, then move the microscope by hand to focus it. For the price, though, not bad; I bought this as a fun gadget for imaging everyday things, not as a professional instrument.

If not for the software, I'd give this 3 or 4 stars. Installed the driver fine, then I launched the clunky viewer. It saved my first test set on the desktop, but then my second set vanished. It has a live view mode, but the interface is just...bad. I designed more usable applications when I was 15.

However, the real problem came when I launched iTunes, which proceeded to immediately crash, reporting that the Zorb driver was causing it. (I'm on OS X 10.6.7 with all updates.) Launched it again, crashed again. I don't have any iTunes plugins or other things that seem likely to interact. (Note: If you're wondering why the Zorb driver would make iTunes crash, it's because the driver is supplied as a QuickTime component. So this causes various applications that use QuickTime, such as iTunes, to try to load it.)

I uninstalled the Zorb software, and everything went back to normal. I then uninstalled the Zorb from my house, since Amazon does have a good return policy.

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Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras

I received my Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens today (12/28/06). It feels heavier by far than the 18-55mm kit lens, but lighter than I expected. Feels good (well-balanced) cradling the lens in the left hand near the base of the lens when mounted to my Canon Digital Rebel XT. I put the lens on the camera right away in a manner that would limit the opportunity for dust to intrude on the back of the lens or into the camera, since I've read about this lens not being sealed as well as "L" series Canon lenses. I may never take it off. 8-)

This lens focuses fast and sure--even in low light, no hunting around to lock onto a subject. Pictures taken with the camera hand-held at 1/10 to 1/15 sec shutter speeds inside with no flash were tack-sharp (Thanks to the IS). With F2.8 and IS, this lens opens up a whole new world of natural low-light photography. Not only are more inside shots possible, you also have the versatility to create gorgeous bokeh. You create these bokeh effects generally zoomed to 55mm (where the kit lens' max aperture is F5.6). Since the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 has a constant F2.8 max aperature, you don't have to worry about the depth of field increasing as you zoom. It is so confidence-inspiring to walk around and set your aperture where you want it to give you the depth of field you want, and not really worry about the shutter speed being too slow. Some of my outside dusk (low-light) shots at 1/6 sec shutter and F22 came out sharp (Thanks again to IS). I almost got vertigo when I first looked at my pics uploaded to my PC--they were so realistic. Images really pop!

The decision to go with this lens instead of some of the "L" grade lenses involved the following criteria:

1. Focal Length Range. I wanted at least the range of the 18-55mm kit lens.

2. Max Aperture. I wanted f/2.8, since f/4 is too confining for low-light situations. Also, f/4 doesn't give you the depth of field limiting ability of f/2.8. Trade-off is size and weight (and price).

3. Constant Max Aperture. I wanted a constant max aperture throughout the zoom range. I don't want to set the aperture and have the camera stop it down due to the max aperture decreasing as you zoom in (as is the case with the kit lens).

4. USM. I wanted the Ultrasonic Motor (USM) feature, since this is known to be the fastest and quietest autofocus technology.

5. IS. I wanted Image Stabilization (IS), since this effectively makes your lens faster, because you can shoot in lower light at lower shutter speeds without fear of blur (provided the subject is still). Also, zoomed-into 55mm, camera shake can be more of a problem than at shorter focal lengths. IS has got you covered there as well. This lens only has one IS mode (no mode for panning).

6. Full Format or Crop-optimized. It is true that going with a full format lens would mean that you could use it on any DSLR (35mm film, APS-C DSLR, and Full Format DSLRs such as the 5D and 1Ds Mark II). However, full format lenses are not optimized for the 1.6x crop of the Canon DSLRs Rebel through 30D. The crop-optimized lenses (designated by the "EF-S" in the model name) are tailored to the smaller image sensors of the APS-C camera bodies. The lens elements and coatings are designed to minimize the ghosting and flare that can come from reflections off of the image sensors in digital cameras. Also, the crop-optimized lenses tend to be smaller, lighter and less expensive than otherwise identical full format lenses. I considered the EF 17-40mm f/4L, the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L and the EF 24-105mm f/4L. But, none of these had the focal length range I wanted, and two of them weren't fast enough (f/4), and the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L was very heavy (2.1 lbs). I determined there was no need to sacrifice performance now for some possible benefit later on if I purchase a full format camera. If I ever do, I would hope there would be full format lenses that have been designed to limit chromatic aberrations and introduce other digital optimizations currently provided by the crop-optimized APS-C format-only lenses. Besides, you can always continue to use your old camera and lens as a back-up, or you can sell them to help purchase the new ones.

7. Grade ("L" series or Advanced Amature). Of course, if all else is equal, take the "L" lens with the red stripe. But, all else is not equal. I'd rather have an optically superior lens that is well-built (although not as well as an "L" series) that meets all my other criteria, and just be careful to keep the dust out. The EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 is expensive (I paid $ on ). But, I'm sure if there were an "L" series version of this lens, it would be even more expensive.

Conclusion: This is one great lens! There's nothing else out there for 1.6x crop digital cameras that gives you the sweet spot of zoom range, low light capability, depth of field control, image stabilization, fast and quiet auto-focus, and superior image quality rivaling prime lenses. And to put the considerable weight (22.8 oz.) into perspective, it is still 3.8 oz. lighter than the very good digital-only Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8, and the Nikon does not even have image stabilization (and costs more to boot). Game, set and match!

UPDATE 2/3/07: I've taken 1000+ pictures. I'm impressed with battery life given that I thought IS would use a lot of power. But, since flash is nearly never needed (due to f/2.8 and IS), battery life has seemingly been extended. I didn't realize how much I would grow to expect a stable image through the viewfinder until I looked through a viewfinder with a lens without IS and saw the image shaking. Note that cameras with built-in image sensors (such as Sony Alpha) don't stabilize the viewfinder. The EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM autofocus locks-on amazingly fast even in low light. No apparent optical weak spots at any focal length or aperture. Lens hood (optional) eliminated most, but not all, flares from bright sun. I think this is the best, most versatile walk-around lens you can get. I wish Canon would make an EF-S 55-200mm f/2.8 IS USM lens to pair it with so I could zoom in closer on distant wildlife, etc.

Folks, I know you want it short. But I am covering quite a bit of information and condensed it so that you can get good information and are able to digest it in less than 5 min.

It is quite surprising how many people are being "tortured" with the question on which lens is the right lens when it comes to finding the perfect lens to upgrade the Canon XTi Rebel kit lens (18-55) or even for the Canon 40D (which is often sold with the 28-135 USM IS lens).

I read about 500+ reviews and many of them I found very interesting but really did not answer my question on what a good lens is for the Rebel XTi... and with good reasons because YOU have to know what you want or need and then make a call. Here were the criteria I used and I hope you can leverage from these:

1. I wanted a lens which has a great picture quality to have a true upgrade feeling from the Canon 18-55 kit lens (during day light that lens is actually very good and with its light weight is a great carry around lens however in low light or for really nice portrait shots this lens has limitations not to mention its built quality)

2. I wanted a versatile "Walk Around" lens with good zoom range to cover most of the picture I take (landscape and portraits) in addition to my telephoto lens (70-300mm)

3. If possible a low weight lens however image quality was a higher priority for me

4. I wanted a Canon lens (though there are very good alternatives from Tamron and Sigma however they have some disadvantages but given the lower price worth considering)

5. I wanted an Image Stabilizer (IS) and a low noise focus motor, i.e. Canon's USM

Many people are looking for a great "Walk Around" lens to avoid changing lenses all the time yet at the same time want great picture qualities. So, your criteria may be different and therefore your choice certainly a good one may differ from mine.

As one disclaimer upfront I am not going into the professional details, i.e. vignetting differeneces at different aperture values or zoom ranges to make it simple for many readers in this field who just want to make a good decision to buy a great lens without going through the trouble of returning lenses.

You will find many reviews on the cropped camera lenses (EF-S) and still people often don't get it right. So, if you have a cropped camera like the Canon Rebel XTi or Canon 40D then the cropped factor is 1.6. In other words no matter what lens you put on these cameras you will get the following zoom ranges which are different from the product names for the lenses:

Canon Lens Min Zoom Max Zoom

17-85: 27.2 136

28-135: 44.8 216

17-55 f2.8: 27.2 88

24-105 f4.0 L: 38.4 168

Source: Canon's website

I went through the extra burden of testing all the lenses myself and not just rely on reviews. So, I went ahead and rented them for 1-2 days and then made up my own verdict so to speak. I also took pictures in similar conditions, looked at them on the computer and printed them out to compare the lenses:

1) The first upgrade lens from Canon which comes to mind is the EF-S 17-85 USM IS f3.5-5.6 lens. This lens would have been a great kit lens but did not meet my requirements for an upgrade lens. It has a very good zoom range and it is still light weight. But the image quality is not as sharp as I would like it to be. And if you commit to spend more money (like $500 for this lens) then you don't want to waste it by just getting a bit more zoom range and an Image Stabilizer.

2) The first lens I actually tried was the EF 24-105 f4.0 USM IS L (luxurious) lens from Canon and I was really happy about the image quality. I was very close to buy this lens but wanted to check out other lenses first. Following drawbacks for me: it is not a wide-angle lens which is useful for landscape shots or even travels shots when you can't afford walking back 5-10 feet. Plus a wide angel lens can give you a nice effect on the picture itself. Another drawback is the aperture value of f4.0 in low light. An aperture factor of f2.8 is faster in low light (the lower the value the larger the aperture think the Iris of your eye is getting larger and therefore you can see better in low light) and with a running kid or pet at home that is a true advantage. However, with the Image Stabilizer this would not be a big issue. (For more advanced people you can stop down one step to get enough light into the lens in low light conditions but if the object is in motion that may be tricky.)

A big plus however is the option to use this lens for any non-cropped canon camera. However, I am ok with using the Rebel XTi and if I want to upgrade to another body later then the 40D would be a great way to go. So, I don't mind to buy EF-S lenses. The EF-S lenses have the advantage that they are generally lighter weight than the full frame lenses.

3) The EF 28-135 USM IS f3.5-5.6 lens has a great zoom range (44-216) but does not have a wide angle (basically anything less than 35mm). However, if zoom range is your top criteria then I'd get the 24-105 L lens without a doubt over this 28-135 lens. For example when you are in full zoom and you are not in bright daylight your pictures will not be as sharp. I tried this lens and the image quality is simply not as good as the 24-105 L lens or the 17-55 f2.8 lens. The 24-105 is also more solidly built. It is a lot of metal built with this lens and it is sealed against dust and water. However, if budget is a constrain to you then the Canon 28-135 lens is a better option for you and according to many folks out there considered to be a better choice than even the EF-S 17-85 USM IS lens.

4) The EF-S 17-55 f2.8 USM IS lens was the last lens I tested and chose over the other three lenses. First, my expectations toward a great image quality (like the 24-105 L lens) were fully met. This lens is using similar components like the L lenses (but it is not fully sealed like the 24-105 L lens is) and shoots extremely well in low light conditions. Plus for a f2.8 (main advantage is large aperture which is very useful for taking great shots in dim lights and faster than f4.0 lenses). Also this lens has less weight (640g) in comparison to the Canon 24-70 EF L f2.8 lens (950g). So, you get a great lens with an acceptable weight. Even the zoom range is fully acceptable to me on my Rebel XTi which comes to 27-88mm. I can take very good portraits shots (without hitting someone's nose with the lens if you will) and it has very nice blur as well (meaning a sharp face in the front and with a blurry background). The only drawback is a flare on some pictures at the bottom of the image when you take pictures using its built-in flash due to the larger lens diameter. However you can either put a better (external) flash light or use Photoshop to correct this issue. I am not a professional photographer and for me this is ok. If you are a professional photographer then you are most likely not as interested in this article anyways.

+++Summary+++

The bottom line is that for a true upgrade lens to your kit lens for the Rebel XTi I would recommend the EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS USM lens. It is worth the investment. This type of lens along with any other L lenses from Canon will always keep its value and you can certainly sell this lens a lot easier if that is the final information you were looking for... ;)

I hope this article helps you in directing your decision on which lens to buy. If you are still not sure about what to do then I can only recommend testing the lenses of your choice in a store or ideally rent them or ask your buddies to lend you a lens for a few days.

Good luck and enjoy taking great pictures to treasure your memories!

Uwe

Buy Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras Now

11-3-2008 Update:

I now have a single spec of dust inside the corner of this lens under the front element. Hope this is not a trend. I am now using this lens mainly in dust free in-door environments and my Canon 24-70 F/2.8 which is sealed for outdoor dusty areas.

I just got this fantastic low light lens last week. Will be adding more comments as time permits.

This lens has quickly become one of my most used lens. It's the lens I would choose if I could just choose one to shoot a wedding with and I'm free to approach the bride and groom during any part of the ceremony. It's also THE one lens I would choose to take on a vacation, it's that versatile. I love the part where I can walk into a dark cathedral and hand hold a shot at 1 second and it's razor sharp. What a lens!!!

Pros:

Sharp even at F/2.8

No internal dust so far

Great zoom ring location and size

Very pleasing shots with nice Bokah

Auto focus perfect! Silent quick lock even in dim conditions

Image Stabilization let's you get those shots you couldn't get otherwise.

Auto Lens Vignetting correction using peripheral Illumination control see Auto Vignetting comments below:

Cons:

Cheap plastic construction

No dust yet but I am concerned

Some Chromatic Aberration (CA) at 17mm

No included lens hood? Give me a break Canon!

Really poor zoom feel grabs between 23 and 35mm

Front of lens extends inward and outward when zooming in and out

I bought this lens to take low light portraits during weddings. My initial impression is that this lens will be perfect. I even managed to pull off a 2 second exposure that was pretty sharp hand held which I would never be able to do otherwise. I will use it at the extreme in 55mm for nice bokah and a softer shot then keep it between 20mm to 48mm for the sharper shots.

What a disappointment to pay over $1,000 for a lens and have such a poor feeling zoom. It grabs at each end and just plain feels cheap. Makes my Canon 17-40 F4 L lens zoom feel like it's perfect as it is silky smooth. But, the 17-55 F/2.8 IS does something I could not do with the 17-40. I was at a bar the other night shooting a benefit auction using just available bar light and already at 1600 ISO and the Canon 17-40 wide open just could not get the shot. With the 17-55 F/2.8 IS not only do you have the faster aperture F/2.8 but I can get shot after hand held shot at a half a second something I could not come close to with the 17-40.

All in all though except for the zoom and construction this lens really does rock when you look at the photos. Between 20mm and 40mm it is sharper then the 17-40 at any comparable F stop. So don't let my cons keep you from getting this lens. If you need low light shots in the 17-55 range this is your only option in a zoom. It's a shame that Canon does not offer an L lens that's 17-55 F/2.8 with IS. I would have gladly paid $1500 for an L lens. In the long lens range there are tons of choices from Canon that are L lens. It's true what they say Canon owns the long lens but come up a little short with the wide angles

I do my first wedding next Saturday with this lens, time will tell if it's a keeper. Will post updates in the coming weeks.

3-25-2008 Update

What a great lens, after reviewing wedding photos yesterday with my clients I have to agree the photos just pop in color and the sharpness is crazy with this lens between 20 and 50mm even wide open which is what I shot most of the time. The bokeh though not as good as my Canon 85mm F/1.2 and Canon 135mm F2 is still pleasing and unlike the two primes I can stand in one place during the wedding and zoom in and out for different points of view.

What ever you do don't even confuse this F/2.8 IS lens with the basic kit lens. It is truly except for the lack of weather sealing and poor zoom feel an L lens in photo quality!

4-8-2008 Update

Still no dust thank God! I am taking it to a local park to photograph our company party this weekend and it's very dusty there. Should be a good chance to see if the lens is going to be a dust hog or not. The zoom even seems to breaking in a little and is now just a little smoother, nothing like my L lens zooms but better then when new. Still loving this lens and in fact if I had to choose just one lens to do a wedding this would of course be it, it's the most versatile and easiest to use by far!

5-21-2008 Update

Still NOT one single spec of dust in this lens. I have been using outdoor at the park and on outdoor weddings the last 5 weekends in a row and not a single spec of dust despite being in extremely dusty Mesa Arizona. I am constantly amazed at what this lens can get away with in low light. We were shooting the reception to an outdoor wedding well after sundown and I was hanging in there with my Canon 40D and a 85mm F/1.2 L II at 3200 ISO shooting close ups. My daughter was shooting at the same time covering the wide angle photo ops with this Canon 17-55 F/2.8 IS and was getting shots here and there at 1600 ISO with her Rebel of the crowd as long as people were still even up to the point of a full second exposure. This was well after it was too dark to be taking photos without flash but we were still getting photos (we hate flash too unflattering and flat) Simply AMAZING!

6-30-2008 Update

This lens still has not a spec of dust! And it has become one of my most used lens. It's the lens I would choose if I could just choose one to shoot a wedding with and I'm free to approach the bride and groom during any part of the ceremony. It's also THE one lens I would choose to take on a vacation, it's that versatile. I love the part where I can walk into a dark cathedral and hand hold a shot at 1 second and it's razor sharp. What a lens!!!

9-5-2008 Update

This is by far and away my most used lens now. It's the lens that stays on my Canon 40D 90% of the time. I just went with my wife to the Arizona Museum of Natural History and wanted to take photos inside without using flash. I love that natural look and hate the flatness of flash. I shot almost the entire museum at F/2.8 and ISO 800 sometimes ISO 400 without a monopod or tripod. That's something I could not have done with my Canon 24-70 F/2.8. As a plus the 17-55 EF-S IS F/2.8 lens is much lighter then my 24-70. If it feels like I am gushing over this lens it's because I am. And it's a dead spot in Canon's lineup. As of this writing they don't have a single wide angle L lens with Image Stabilization and that's a crying shame. Also I tried shooting some fireworks this weekend WITHOUT a tripod!! I managed up to 3 seconds exposure by leaning against a light pole and got some decent shots. Again without the IS there is no way you could get such shots. My only regret is that I didn't get this lens earlier Oh and it would be nice if it was sealed, but I still have not a single spec of dust on the inside!!

9-12-2008 Update Canon EF-S 17-55 F/2.8 IS vs Canon 24-70 F/2.8 L:

I am taking photos tonight of a stage special and again will need to use both my Canon 17-55 F/2.8 IS lens and my Canon 24-70 F/2.8 L lens since my daughter and I will be shooting at the same time. I can't help comparing the two again. The 17-55 feels much lighter but at the same time feels so much cheaper in the hand between the cheap plastic feel the grabbing in the center of the zoom and the plastic build. The 24-70 feels like a heavy quality jewel that will last two life times or more and it's weather sealed. Still if you have to carry the 24-70 around for a few hours you wish for the lighter weight of the 17-55. The 17-55 has a wider view but the 24-70 has more reach. The 17-55 seems sharper throughout the range but seems to have just a little less contrast and slightly cooler colors then the 24-70. The zoom on my 24-70 is now almost broken in and feels smooth as silk and totally professional the 17-55 zoom feels like a cheap plastic toy. The 17-55 has image stabilization and the 24-70 does not so I end up using a monopod for most dark shots with the 24-70. The 17-55 is an EF-S and will not fit a full frame camera, the 24-70 will. I'm thinking forward to the future when I will be adding a full frame Canon camera body to my collection and I think the 24-70 will be perfect on that camera.

9-16-2008 Update:

I've noticed this lens has some Chromatic Aberration (CA) at 17mm. When in a clean room taking photos of semi-conductor manufacturing equipment you have to zoom wide to get everything in the photo and that's when I noticed this lens especially under fluorescent lighting taking photos of highly reflect surfaces has a problem. So much so that I retook the photos with my Canon 17-40 F/4 L lens and was astounded at how much better the photos looked. Normally my 17-55 F/2.8 IS looks better then the 17-40 but in this case with macro and up close mechanical photos zoomed out to 17 the 17-40 really looked much better. When out shooting landscapes in daylight this has never been a problem with the 17-55 IS F/2.8. So take note if you take macro shots at 17mm under fluorescent lights you may want a different lens. Otherwise the 17-55 F/2.8 IS is an absolute stunner!!!

11-3-2008 Update:

I now have a single spec of dust inside the corner of this lens under the front element.

Auto Vignetting peripheral illumination control:

Canon has this super sweet Auto Lens Vignetting correction that works with this lens both in camera with JPEG's and in RAW using peripheral Illumination control in Canon Digital Photo Professional (DPP) when using newer Canon digital EOS cameras (Canon Rebel XSi, 40D, 5D Mark II etc.) . No more vignetting when shooting wide open!!! When shooting Raw open the file(s) in DPP and click on NR/Lens Lens Aberration Correction / Tune and click on Peripheral illumination. The cameras listed above have already picked up the amount of vignetting based on focusing distance, zoom setting and F stop from the lens and the camera has saved the information with the Raw file. You can then adjust the amount under Peripheral Illumination if you don't like the amount automatically suggested. If you shot JPEG then you get the auto amount. SWEET!!!

Conclusion: In the end I will just have to keep both of them.

Canon EF-S 17-55 F/2.8 IS Ultra sharp, great colors, great low light, poor zoom action

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Rebel XTi Kit lens Muddy, slow, pile of junk

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L Fantastic colors, sharp zoomed 17 to 24mm, ultra smooth zoom action, light weight

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L Fantastic colors and contrast, sharp zoomed 40 to 70mm, zoom a little stiff at first, heavy, repair prone!

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Good budget portrait lens, light weight, disposable, sharp from F/2.5

Canon EF 85mm F/1.2 L II The best portrait lens for female and children clients, buttery smooth Bokeh, heavy and expensive it shares sharpness with 135mm

Canon EF 135mm F/2.0 L The best portrait lens for males and tied with Canon 85mm F 1/.2 for sharpest lens I own, buttery smooth Bokeh

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L fantastic colors, sharp for a zoom, very versatile ego boosting and attention getting and heavy! My favorite zoom lens!!!

Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L great IS, super colors, sharp for a zoom, extremely versatile, variable Bokeh, even more ego boosting and attention getting when extended and 400mm reach!!

My next lens purchase I'm saving for right now: _Canon EF 300mm F/2.8 IS L the finest lens ever

Read Best Reviews of Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras Here

This is a tough review. Many of the other reviews have touched on issues that may, or may not apply, and pretty much follow the lead of the internet photo pundits in content. They are legit issues, but not that important from my current perspective.

OK, here it is... First, I'll answer the concerns about the halflife of the crop sensor camera in general. It's a non issue, as I see it. Nikon is committed to crop sensor cameras for at least a generation. Canon is in the same boat with their crop sensor cameras. Witness the latest Rebel XTi. It boosts Canon APS sensors to over 10 MP, includes new chip set, and makes the thought of a continued series of APS sensor cameras with new tech features a no brainer. Sure, Canon will be marketing full frame sensor bodies. Sure, I will buy at least one in time. Then again, my APS sized crop sensor cameras will always be the choice for certain jobs, and will keep all of my current and future "S" lenses employed for decades.

I own some L lenses, and some full frame non L lenses, but my S lenses are the key to making APS sensor bodies excell. I already own two APS bodies, and if the new Rebel XTi is an indicator, I will own more in the future. Buying S lenses is not a sideshow, nor a dead end. It is just different.

If you desire a full frame camera in your future, choose lenses wisely. Buy what you need for the APS sensor bodies, and buy the rest to suit both bodies. If you never buy a full frame sensor body, no big deal, as the APS cameras will keep you very happy for years to come.

Meanwhile, I'll buy the next gen full frame Canon DSLR because I'm addicted to camera tech, but in the meantime, I won't starve my desire to fill out my APS body lens choices, as I know they will be around for many years to come.

OK, back to the lens at hand. It's a fine lens by any standard. People who bashed it's build quality might have been led astray by internet influence, but I can't imagine any complaints coming from people who used the lens over time. It is a very well built lens, with very smooth control surfaces. It's not made of metal (the lens mount is), but it is a supurb quality lens. It is light. It is solid in construction. It is smooth. It's optical quality is nothing less than outstanding, and it is a pleasure to operate.

Did I mention that it has IS? That is what places it above anything else on the market today. The 17-55 S IS is finely tuned glass. It is built well, and competition simply doesn't exist at this point in time. Sorry, but it's true. Where is the Sigma, Tamron or Tokina lens that can best the optics, focus speed, smooth controls, and IS of this lens? Hmmm... They don't exist.

This lens isn't cheap, but it is the perfect addition to an APS sensor body as a standard zoom. Did I mention that it is f/2.8 from one end to the other? You can't beat this lens with a stick. Buy it.

This lens, along with the 10-22 S USM make a powerful package for a Rebel owner, or a 10,20,30D owner. I added a 50 f/1.4 USM, a 100 f/2.8 macro lens, and the 70-200 mm IS L f/2.8 zoom to round out the package. Notice that only two lenses are "S" lenses, and the rest can be used on any Canon body. The S lenses were key though, as they let my 30D take awesome ultra wide angle shots to mild telephoto, while the full frame lenses allow it to get extreme on the far end with high quality results.

Full frame might be in your Canon future, but APS is here now, and here to stay. You can buy a few S lenses today, use them for years to come, and buy more L lenses as they are retooled to include the IS feature. Other than the S 10-22 USM, I wouldn't buy a non IS L (or near L) lens at this point in time. I suspect that they will all be gone within a few years, and replaced by a better, all IS lineup.

One last thing.. Several people have complained about dust problems with this lens. So far, I have not had any dust problems, and even though dust on the elements will not likely degrade the image, it is irritating to see. If my lens develops dust issues, I will post an update right away.

Want Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras Discount?

Let me start out by saying that I am NOT a professional photographer by any means. I am a guy who is into photography, who has a penchant for gadgetry and who appreciates quality. This lens fulfills my desires on all three of those levels. You won't hear me talking about "creamy bokeh" or any of the other esoteric stuff that some reviewers rely on for filler material. This is a regular guy's review for other people in my same boat.

OK first of all, this thing is expensive. I paid $980 from Amazon and kicked and screamed the whole way. I had agonized over literally 1000 reviews (most of which were very favorable) before making the final decision. I had pros and semi-pros advising me, and in some cases insisting that I buy this thing. I don't know though---a thousand bucks? For a hunk of glass? I felt my gag reflex kicking in a little as I broke out into a cold sweat. Oh sure I wanted it, but did I need it? As most of you know, need is a relative thing, and I can usually rationalize myself into "needing" something with fairly little effort. Usually. A thousand bucks though? The one thing that finally pushed me over the edge was that I joined a couple photography forums and noticed that these lenses were selling on the used market for around $900--and not only that, but when one did pop up for sale, it usually only lasted about a day before it was SOLD! So, I guess I didn't really have that much to lose.

When it came (3 short days later), I could swear I heard a Heavenly choir singing and saw a little divine glow eminating as I unboxed that ravishing beauty. And there she was, the culmination of about 60 hours of research, 30 emails, 8 phone calls and me parting with almost 1000 of my very favorite hard-earned dollars. Would she be worth it? Only time would tell.

For a few minutes, all I could do was stare. It is a good looking piece of equipment and I'll tell you this too, it's pretty big. Like a soup can. And not one of those condensed soup cans either--more like a "Chunky" can. I'm talkin' BIG. Despite its size and what feels like a much more substantial build quality than most Canon L-lens disciples would have you believe, it is not unweildy or particularly problematic in the weight department. I have it slapped on the front of a Canon 50d and could easily carry it around all day long if need dictated.

Back when I was agonizing over this decision and balking about the price, I was trying to rationalize my way into another (less expensive) lens. I looked at the Canon 15-85mm, but it was MUCH slower than this one, didn't have any reviews to speak of and still cost somewhere in the $8-hundo neighborhood. I also thought I could just go with the 17-55mm kit lens and really save myself a whole bunch of money in the process. I mean afterall it's the same focal range, right? Right...sort of. I'm here to tell you right now in as plain a language as I can muster, those two lenses do not even reside on the same planet as one another! It's about like substituting a Honda Civic for a Ferrari---sure they both get you from A to B, but that's where it ends. A Ferrari does things that a Civic can only dream about and a Ferrari instills a certain pride of ownership--particularly in someone who appreciates the fine quality of the marque. A Ferrari can go 200mph, and while that is not always necessary, or even desired, it is still an option. This lens is a Ferrari.

The proof is in the pudding (or is it putting? I can never remember) and this baby delivers. On my first day of shooting I was just walking around taking pictures of anything and everything that was in front of me at the time. I wanted to see if f2.8 is really worth all the hubbub and drool from the Photophiles. Trust me, it is. I captured a shot of my dining room in almost total darkness with only the light from an outside street lamp shining through the window--and the pic turned out GREAT! I later got a picture of my kids outside at night with NO FLASH that I would have never been able to capture with one of those other lenses. I've had this lens for about a week now and in that time have shot almost 600 pictures. Exactly ONE of those pictures incorporated the flash--the rest were shot in natural light. The shot with the flash was just an experiment and probably would have looked better without it anyway. I even shot about 150 of those pictures at my children's Christmas program--again--no flash and every picture turned out perfect. Awesome!

When I saw the quality of the images I was getting with this thing set at a WIDE OPEN aperture (traditionally yielding softer images) I almost cried. I mean I've had good gear in the past, but this lens takes the cake. Speaking as a person who is not affiliated with Canon in any way , shape or form AND has absolutely nothing to gain by giving a review, I can tell you without reservation that this lens gives me joy. Joy! I paid $980 for about $100,000 worth of joy and in turn have captured memories that are priceless to me. I'd say all in all, that's a pretty good deal.

If you are reading this review, you may be in the same position I was in about 2 weeks ago. You like the lens, but aren't quite convinced yet. Do I spend? Do I wait? Do I settle? Believe me, I know a grand isn't easy to come by these days and I also know you are being more careful how you spend, but I have had very few occasions in my life in which an "investment" like this has paid me back so much in so short a time. This lens will bring you joy too, and in this day and age that is even harder to come by than mere money. Buy this lens--you can thank me later.

Canon VIXIA HF G20 HD Camcorder with HD CMOS Pro and 32GB Internal Flash Memory

Right out of the box, it seemed very solid and high quality which one should expect for the price. The new lens hood not only works better, but also looks a lot cooler. The touch tracking focus works great and is extremely useful. In low light this camera really is just amazing. It's much better for that than any dslr I've used. The image stabilizer is very helpful. I have compared it to my dslr footage and it is MUCH more stable meaning you probably don't need a shoulder rig. I just wish that the focus ring was not so hard to turn because some times i mess up the video when trying to turn it really far. The only advantage for me when shooting with a dslr is that you get manual zoom. But it's still fine with this camera. Also, the battery that it comes with is very small, so I would recommend buying some extras. The off brand batteries will work great and it's super cheap. But other than those two things, this camera is just perfect. If you aren't super picky about audio than this is fine. But if your in a production business and need really good sound quality, you should look at the xa10.

I was a little hesitant to buy this because I thought it was going to have a deeper depth of field according to what I have read about camcorders in general. Someone also told me that camcorders don't have a shallow depth of field. When I first took it for the test, i was quite surprised. The performance was really pretty good, so don't be too worried about that if you like a shallow depth of field. Using manual focus is great and I can get a lot out of focus.

I don't think that it's weather proofed, but i have never had a problem and am never afraid to take it out in some snow which I do quite often. Like I said at the top, it is quite solid meaning it's pretty heavy compared to the other camcorders i was looking at below $1500. So if you want to go skiing with it and put it in your pocket, it will weigh down your jacket. So bringing a backpack if your going skiing or for a hike is a good idea.

I love using dslr's and were used to them. But now I can never come back to dslr's. Using this camera is just so easy and simple. You can start shooting so quick. The start up time is pretty good, especially compared to dslr's I've used. I know that some nikon's have auto focus for video, but there is no comparison. The auto focus on this camcorder is lightning, and i never worry about it in low light. Also, most dslr's that do auto focus during video is loud enough to ruin audio. And obviously, This is completely silent. And this makes the camera just that more simple and easy.

I am very happy with the camera so far. I have tried to upload some test video but it said that it wouldn't except the format. So if you already have a g10, than it probably isn't worth upgrading. But highly recommended and you will most likely be satisfied.

I thought I would never get a camcorder with all the high tech HD video modes of capture out there these days. I found using video on my Canon 5d mark II superb in quality but lacked real layman control. I missed being able to focus instantaneous in a shot and the form factor of a DSLR as a video camera definitely is not there for run and gun situations I am finding my self into chasing a 2 year old around. Sure you can spend money on an elaborate setup that can turn the DSLR into something like a camcorder but I like the compactness the likes of the G20 offered.

So enter the Canon Vixia HF G20. I was interested in a sub $1200 HD camcorder and I am always a first to want a new thing so in return, and you, get an early review having 2 weeks with it so far. From what I know the camcorder is exactly the same as the G10 predecessor except for the new HD Pro sensor that allows more light capture. So I preordered and at the same time ordered this great book (I know its for the G10 and XA10, but all the G20 has is the better sensor) Professional Results with Canon Vixia Camcorders: A Field Guide to Canon G10 and XA10 Now with the camcorder, I am happy I have read the book and use little of the huge manual that came with the G20.

So far it has shocked me how well the camcorder takes video and although the controls do take a little time to master, the touch screen works well. Maybe they did improve on it from the complaints I read on the G10.

I did drop one star for two reasons. The battery that comes with it is terrible so you best splurge on the max capacity one Canon BP-827 Lithium Ion Battery Pack for Vixia HG, HF S & HF M Camcorders (Retail Packaging). Also I wish they included a shoulder strap to carry the camcorder around easily.

So I will promise to update in 6 months, but so far so good!

Buy Canon VIXIA HF G20 HD Camcorder with HD CMOS Pro and 32GB Internal Flash Memory Now

I recently bought the Canon VIXIA HF G20.

I am a musician and I needed a camera that could record in excellent HD quality and also allow me to record for a long period of time.

Everyone was telling me to go with a DSLR camera,yea they are awesome but they still are primarily for taking pictures and for my long hours of

High definition recording purposes in the video format those cameras would be a waste of money and not a smart move. So I was looking for a solution,

A camera that could give me extremely great results like a DSLR and record for hours. In short this camera certainly does that,I have only scratched the surface with the camera

but it has given some excellent results. Once I make some new videos I'll certainly be posting them. The first day I got the camera I recorded my brother covering a Johnny Cash track

and I used the 70's film effect to give the video an old school feel. I sent the video in to my final cut and my old settings were that the video should give me an output of 720 P,anyhow

for my new videos I'll change the out put to 1080P on my final cut to deliver the full quality. So I uploaded that video and the results were excellent,the built in camera even caught the sounds

extremely well.

The build quality is excellent,and its very comfortable on the hands while it is being held. The touch screen has a great response,although at times your fingers can have a hard time in clicking on something you

specifically want but that's a very minor thing and it rarely happens. I would highly recommend that you get extra batteries for this camera,personally I bought the Wasabi Power Kit. This Wasabi Power kit includes 2 batteries and 1 charger for the Canon BP-827,

the batteries are excellent and the charger is excellent too. These batteries are built well,they work properly and each battery gives you about 4-5 hours or more recording time in the highest video quality on the camera. The Wasabi power kit is also very easy on your pockets,my suggestion is do not waste cash on those Cannon Batteries,you'll thank me later for recommending these to you. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0049VMMZ2/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i02?ie=UTF8&psc=1 this is the link for the Wasabi power pack.

The built in memory is excellent and you get two extra slots to place in your desired SD cards in each slot for more memory if required. The camera is also very user friendly the manual is presented and explained properly. You even have an option to connect an external mic in to the camera,Canon has some of its own mics that you can buy separately but you can also connect your own desired mics in to the camera. There is even a mini advanced shoe for the placement of the mic on top of the camera. In conclusion I highly recommend this video camera,this is a consumer based product that gives out an extremely professional video output. Canon have done an amazing job on this camera and I absolutely love it.

Read Best Reviews of Canon VIXIA HF G20 HD Camcorder with HD CMOS Pro and 32GB Internal Flash Memory Here

This is a great home video camera for family recordings. The image stabilization is the most amazing feature on this camera, but the facial tracking focus is really cool too and our second favorite thing. You can touch the screen and the focus will track whatever the object was, very nice for crowds or varying object distances.

The color is great as is the low light performance, this camera really is fantastic for those that just want excellent quality home videos in an easy to use package. It doesn't have the 60p recording and a couple other pro-level features, but it does home videos very, very well. I would highly recommend this, just keep in mind, you'll need to accommodate for a good amount of data if you record often at high resolutions.

Want Canon VIXIA HF G20 HD Camcorder with HD CMOS Pro and 32GB Internal Flash Memory Discount?

I record a LOT of live performances, where its typically very dark, with fog and flashing lights/lasers. I think this is the most extreme that anyone could ever hope to record on a budget of under 20k. The G10/G20 are the ONLY non-pro camcorders that are usable for this. I have 4 camcorders total, so I will compare/contrast them in the context of how I use them.

1) Canon g20. G20 is essentially a g10 that has been fixed. Audio is MUCH better, Digital zoom has been removed (it was useless on the g10), Telemacro has been added. Powered IS has been moved to the touch screen and replaced with a 'Pre-Record' button (but this is changeable in manual mode), the low light seems a tiny bit better, side by side the g20 looks a tiny bit brighter than the g10, but where it REALLY makes a difference is the noise in the video. Shadows are cleaner/crisper.

2) Canon G10. This was the prime camcorder before I got the G20, I would try to hand record the entire concert on just this. With the other 2 camcorders as 'emergency backups' to clip to if I absolutely could not save a section of video (like someone walking in front of me, or a band member jumping off stage without me catching it). The Audio was beyond piss poor though, despite my best efforts it would always sound tinney, and lack on vocals.

3) Canon M30. I used this as the backup, Usually very dark and nearly unwatchable. Colors usually off. However, prior to the g20, this was the best source for audio, when connected to a shotgun mic. Audio is FAR better than the G10, but close to the G20.

4) JVC Everio 440US. Not even sure why I would bring this or set it up. Unless the lights were very bright, it just picked up noisy black, and the audio was tolerable, but far from good. It really was useless unless it was less than 2' from a person. During daylight its actually a GREAT camcorder, but has basically no low light ability.

I LOVE the new hood design, its nice having a cap built into the hood. Eye piece looks nicer.

Overall the g20 truly is a g10, specs are identical. I suspect there was a firmware update and very minor hardware changes to make the new model. I was actually trying to buy a second G10 when this hit the market. I was pleasantly surprised at the minor changes, but if you are buying this as an upgrade from a G10.... Maybe hold off till you can grab the g25 (pro model) or g30 (which supports 60p), otherwise you will likely be disappointed. It IS better than the g10, but not by enough to justify spending a grand to upgrade.

Some Misc info for people to consider buying with this:

58 mm uv filter (evena cheapo will be fine... just protects your lens from scratches/dirt/etc)

3000 mah wasabi extended battery pack, (works perfectly in this, shows time remaining, etc)

2x32 gig SDHC cards. Comes with 32gig built in, but its nice to know you have 3 separate places to record to. Plus the usb interface is slow for dumping video to a computer.

Olympus Tough TG-830 iHS Shock & Waterproof Digital Camera (Red) with 16GB Card + Case + Batter

I wasn't sure about this package since it was so cheap so I figured the quality was just as cheap but I was willing to risk the extra $20 for all this neat stuff. But to my surprise, everything was in great condition and I couldn't be happier with this purchase. The camera takes great pictures and everything else just makes me feel spoiled~!

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.

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

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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Swann SWDVK-830004-US TruBlue D1 3000 8-Channel DVR with 4 x 600TVL Cameras and 1 TB Hard Disk Driv

For those of you interested in mainly watching the cameras from your smartphone or computer, this is the product and brand to go with.  I have been installing security systems for several years now and Swann continues to impress me.  I use other brands because clients sometimes buy their own, but none have an easy setup and support like this brand.  I read the review about the DDNS server being out and the reason from the tech representative explaining why and I like Swann even more for that.  What many non-techs don't understand is that a DDNS server is something you have to pay for, but Swann provides this for FREE.  Not only that it seems like they are beefing it up so that it doesn't fail in the future.  With other brand DVRs I used other DDNS services I had to pay for and those would fail more times than i could think of.  I had clients call me every time it went out, all except customers who owned a Swann DVR.  The setup is very easy for the DVRs and with this new D1 and 30 frames per second on every channel it's amazing that it's available for this price from the top brand.  In my reviews I like to also provide hints on how to make setup easier for those future owners. See below.

Hints 1: test all equipment before running cables and doing any drilling, you never know if the shipping man handled package badly.  Good thing about Swann is also their 1 year warranty and great customer service so no problem is something arrives damaged.

Hint 2: Install DVR near router and monitor/TV you plan to watch it on. Swann is great in that it doesn't force you to buy their monitor, you can use your HDMI compatible TV or a regular computer monitor.  To use the internet features, such as watching cameras on your phone,  you will need a hard wired connection to your modem, you can buy a long Ethernet cable if the DVR will be further than 4 ft from your router.   

Hint 3:  port forward ports 85 and 9000 to the DVRs IP address then reboot the DVR.  Go to Swanns website and under the support tab go to DDNS support to create your free DDNS account.  After creating your account you create a domain, this is your easy to remember online address for accessing your DVR on your phone or computer.  Input your account and domain information on the DVR and you are setup for Internet access.  See hint 4 for input on your phone.

Hint 4: on Swannview Pro app for name you put whatever name you want to give your DVR and for for "server" or "address" you put your Swann domain name plus the swanndvr.net that goes after it.  Put 9000 for port and user I'd and password are the user I'd and password for your DVR.  If you don't put password just leave it blank and the default user I'd is "admin".  Then you are done and you can see your cameras.  

Hope this review is helpful and hints help make it easier.  Great thing about this brand is also their technical support is awesome.  FYI They have support in French and spanish. Tienen apoyo tecnico en Español tambien.

We purchased this system for our small business about a month ago and have been very pleased with it. It allowed us to catch one shop lifter, one person breaking an item, and determine who was at our registers when various errors occurred in the first two weeks alone. The quality is pretty solid for the price, especially the picture quality which easily allows you to see faces, even in the dark. Colors are correct, unlike other systems, the menu is a very easy to use graphic interface that is incredibly self explanatory. The kit comes with everything (hardware wise) you'll need to set up your system, besides a monitor. To see what all the system has, I recommend checking out Swann's website for exact specs.

The set up was very simple for anyone who is 5+ on a tech experience scale of 1-10. If you the kind of person who can get your VCR to stop blinking 12:00 (if you have one) and are able to hang drapes with a drill and screw driver, you should have the ability to set this system up.

The tools I used:

-Phillips Head Screwdriver to screw cameras to wall or ceiling and adjust camera angle

-Power drill to drill to drill pilot holes for camera mounts and holes for wires

assorted drill bits

Electrical tape to secure connections

a straightened clothes hanger to help pull wires

The system is a snap to set up and took me only 10 hours or so to finish, from planning to programming. It took me so long mainly due to the fact that I was installing these cameras in a 150 year old building with countless renovations and alterations to work around. In new (post 1950) construction it should be a breeze. All the BNC cables twist and snap together. Plan where you'll put your cameras for best coverage, where you'll run your wires, run your wires, install your cameras, plug it all in, turn it on and SHAZAM, you are in business. You will need to buy a monitor for it, but that is pretty normal for these type of systems.

When in doubt, see the manual. It is easy to read, and was apparently written by someone sarcastic like myself. Hope this helps.

Buy Swann SWDVK-830004-US TruBlue D1 3000 8-Channel DVR with 4 x 600TVL Cameras and 1 TB Hard Disk Driv Now

I ordered this DVR/Camera Security Monitoring Kit for our small business. Setup was generally by the book and simple to do. So far I have been impressed with the clarity and definition of the recorded video. With the 8 cameras in the package our company is able to effectively cover all entry/exit points of the building as well as monitor the premises during the night as we do unfortunately have some vagrants that loiter around the industrial park we are in during the night.

I love the fact that it includes the LiveView App that allows me to see the premises while away when needed and sends me email notifications if motion is detected.

It is also great that the product is upgradeable, so I feel the investment made is well worth it as it will not be outdated anytime soon.

Read Best Reviews of Swann SWDVK-830004-US TruBlue D1 3000 8-Channel DVR with 4 x 600TVL Cameras and 1 TB Hard Disk Driv Here

This system comes complete with all needed to install and view. The tech support is excellent and have been able to contact them every time needed. I have had to contact support 7 times in 4 weeks. The system has locked up in the dvr hardrive 4 times now and my ability to revieve email alerts when cameras triggered has not been able to be set up by swann even when taking over my computer remotely and doing all teh stuff a senior level tech knows to do. the pictures are clear but when in low light even adjusting all adjustments has a lot of video noise and does not make out a clear enough image to identify unless within just 10 feet or so.Overall not bad price, not bad tech support my system has been problamatic and am waiting to see if the last firmware update fixes the hardrive problems if not swann says they will replace the dvr after I contact them for a return approval number and it is recieved at there facility and it has been checked out and found faulty I will get a new one. If it comes to that after all my calls to them and having to be guided over the phone 3 times to take apart my dvr while powered up removing the cover unplugging all the cameras first and then hardsetting the dvr reassembling everything and it locking up a day later in most cases I will have to rate the product lower.... Stay tuned.

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I was impressed with the DVR functionality and video quality. I didn't have to read the manual etc the interface was pretty intuitive and easy to configure for motion recording. Overall it has a quality feel to it and the layout of the connections on the back \ front are easy to deal with. Some may find the spacing on the BNC connections a tad close but this is with all DVRs I've encountered.

I could hear the hard drive click on occasion and this was a little disconcerting but I would have swapped the HD for a SSD HD if I had kept it anyway.

I used the 4 supplied Swann cameras in conjunction with 4 "AVTECH AVC462B 6MM 1/3" H.R. Sony Effio 35 IR 6MM lens Outdoor Weatherproof IR Cameras" I bought last year from US Security Solution. The difference was dramatic. The Swann cameras performed so poorly that I returned the whole package to Amazon. I put the camera quality and LOUD $#@! CLICKING NOISE on the same caliber as the Night Owl cameras I bought from Frys.

The tests were conducted by swapping out the Swann cameras in place with the AVTECH and also the cables and the problem was definitely the Swann cameras only.

What I really liked about this DVR besides the true full D1 @ 30fps PER channel, is that you can export \ save the video directly to .avi format as individual channels one 1 step. So if you want ONLY the videos for channel 1, you can get that! The files will be listed as time stamped names on the thumb drive and easily browsable and playable in Windows.

You can not do this with the US411ZS DVR from US Security Solutions at all, ever. Bummer :(

(US Security Solutions has great customer and tech support and can be reached by phone in the USA and they have been very good to me as a customer)

1) I prefer this Swann SWDVK-830004-US DVR over the US Security Solutions US411ZS DVR.

2) I prefer the "AVTECH AVC462B Cameras" over the Swann supplied "high resolution" cameras.

So 4 stars for the DVR and minus one star for the poor camera quality. I would def buy the DVR again.

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