Panasonic SDR-S150 3.1MP 3CCD MPEG2 Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom (2GB Card Included)

I have been using this camera for several weeks in lots of different conditions: indoors, outdoors, action, stills, etc. Overall, it is a great camera if you are looking for good video performance, acceptable still performance for a video camera, no tapes, and an incredibly small size which truly does fit in your pocket.

I have not had any of the dark video issues mentioned above.

I have owned many previous miniDV cameras including a JVC, Canon Elura, Panasonic 3CCD, and Sony DCR-PC1000. To my eye, the video this camera produces video as good as the others in terms of sharpness and color accuracy. I tested it side-by-side with the Sony (the most recent model of those shown), and it performed about the same to my eye as the Sony with video, although color was a little more accurate on the Panasonic, and the still images were noticeably better. I was concerned about getting an MPEG2 camera thinking the compression would cause artifacts and have trouble with action video. I have had no problems with either.

The real reason I tried this camera is that all of the above cameras have broken after a couple years of use due to a broken tape handling mechanism, and I was thrilled about the idea of a tapeless camera! The battery lasts much longer due to not having to drive a tape, and the startup time is great since it doesn't have to get the tape across the recording heads after you switch it on. I also prefer no hard drive for durability and battery life issues, and none of the hard drive cameras are even close to this in size.

Now the trade-offs you make with this camera. At first I thought it didn't go very wide-angle which was disapponting (44mm 35mm equivalent, I think?), but I tested it side-by-side with the Sony and it was nearly identical, and I never noticed lack of wide angle on the Sony. Also, the MPEG2 format is a bit of a pain. I use Final Cut Express and iMovie on a Mac, and neither reads MPEG2 directly. That said, there is a free utility which seems to be very good called Streamclip, or you can buy a $20 add-on for your QT player to play and convert MPEG2, but it's still an extra step in the process. I believe that Premiere does not support it either. Just be aware that it's not as compatible with as many editing apps as ubiquitous miniDV and a conversion step is required.

The only other camera I seriously considered (after ruling out tapes and hard drives) was the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1A, which is also an SD-based camera. Despite having a 5MP still image resolution, most video reviews for it were extremely negative. Some surmised that this is really a still camera at the core, marketed as a video camera. Furthermore it does not have optical image stabilization, which I consider a near-must for such small cameras if you want smooth video. It does indeed record in HD, but at least one review said the video quality was poor enough that it didn't really matter. It does indeed record in MPEG4, though, which is natively read by iMovie.

So if you don't mind a significantly larger camera and tapes, there may be more compelling options like the Sony HDR-HC3 which records in HD, or perhaps one the hard-drive models. But if you're looking for a tapeless video camera, and especially an SD-based one which takes truly high quality video, this appears to be the only real choice out there at the moment (Nov 2006).

After reading the reviews here and at on this baby, I was a little cocerned about its low-light and indoor performance. Let me be the first to say that my fears were largely unfounded.

Yes, if you film in very low light, it will darken many colors. But we're talking 60 lux, which is the roughly equivalent to the light put off from the candles of a birthday cake. Just keep the lights on when your kid blows out the candles, and viola! Seriously, I have had absolutely no problems with it filming too dark indoors, outdoors, or even when I film local bands playing in dark bars.

The reason I wanted to try this camera was because it is the only flash-based camera that is receiving even mildly positive reviews. I do not want a tape mechanism that will break, nor a fragile hard drive that cannot be used in many film-worthy conditions (think snow skiing, as the drive mechanism will freeze up on you in very cold weather).

As I said, I was skeptical when I purchased it, but no more. The videos are far better than any other camcorder I've owned. My last was a Canon ZR 50 mini DV, and this camera takes VASTLY superior videos than that one.

The four stars is only because of the mpeg2 format this records to. I have a mac, so editting requires that I convert to DV with streamclip so that imovie can import the movies. Mainly, I just don't edit my home videos so that hasn't been a problem. But if would have been nice for it to be an easier option, and it could have been if they encoded to mpeg4 with h264 and mp3/aac, which appears to be the next standard.

If that concerns you, or if you want HD, you might wait until the Panasonic SD1 is available because it records in AVHDC which is a form of mpeg4. Of course, imovie doesn't yet support that either, so you may have to wait until iLife 07 to really use it.

In parting, I will also mention that the size of this unit is absolutely fabulous. I no longer dread lugging around even my smallish mini DV camera. This thing literally fits in my jacket pocket, so I end up filming a lot more than I did with previous cameras. If you're looking for small, flash-based, and good quality video, get this camera, you'll love it.

Buy Panasonic SDR-S150 3.1MP 3CCD MPEG2 Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom (2GB Card Included) Now

Panasonic SDR-S150 is a wonderful camera.

I am extremely happy with it and recommend it to everyone.

Popular Mechanics magazine has named it the best in its class and I completely agree.

I bought mine in the end of September of 2006 and was using it every day for the last 10 months.

The sales person at J&R store has recommended it to me, based on customers feedback and I am grateful to him for good advice.

The camera makes very decent videos.

Excellent optics, 3-CCD, and true image stabilization do their job.

The videos are bright, sound is excellent.

But most important for me is how easy it is to work with the camera and with the video clips once you made them.

One can use the cable and software provided with the camera, but I like things simple. I take the SD card out, insert it into a $10 USB card reader and copy the files onto my computer with the mouse. Then I rename the clips I change extension MOD into MPG.

These clips are in true mpeg-2 format, which is the same format as

in regular DVDs. So many DVD players will natively play those clips without any editing or converting. Also on most computers you can simply double-click on the clip to make it play. If not you can dowload one of the many free or low-cost software players. I like the VLC player (just google for vlc player) it is available for both Window and Mac and it is free.

I made our grandmothers very happy. I burn a collection of video clips of our baby on a regular CD (yes, CD, not a DVD) and mail to them. They can play those video clips on a computer or on a DVD player (portable Phillips is a good choice).

The camera is very easy to operate.

The built-in battery lasts for ~ 70 min (use a spare one or use an included power supply if you need more).

Camera also makes decent still photos.

I have many more expensive cameras at home (photo and video), but I found that once I bought this camera I use it almost exclusively. Partly becase of ease and convenience.

With this camera I don't need huge disks, powefull CPUs, lots of RAM, or hours of video editing. It makes your video production very easy and fun.

Camera comes with its own editing software. But I prefer to use Adobe Premier Elements ($99). There is also some good software for Macs. So I can easily make videos with titles and menus, or make mp4 or flash videos for iPod or web.

Cons:

1. No input for external microphone. But the built-in stereo microphone is very good I tested it by making a recording of a concert violin and then extracting the audio and analyzing it using Adobe Audition software. The recording is very clean, because there are no motors in the camera.

2. The compression artefacts can be visible when you making fast movements with the camera. This is rare, though.

Camera can be mounted on a standard tripod.

It is very light and small.

Overall I really enjoy it.

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After opening the box and charging the battery, I had it shooting without cracking the user manual. Easy to use and confidence-inspiring. The menu system is mostly self explanatory, the only changes I made were to put it in XP (highest) quality mode, 4:3 instead of widescreen aspect ratio, disable digital zoom. Most of the options you'd want are there.

This is a tiny device, about the size of my 4-yr old 3x zoom digital still point and shoot. As such, the screen size is a little small, particularly if you are shooting 4x3 instead of widescreen. The case is mostly plastic but feels solid nonetheless. Be sure to attach the included grip extender to the tripod socket. This is crucial for one-handed operation of the zoom.

I like the use of thumbnails to identify each clip. So you can delete unwanted clips in the same way you would delete photos from a still camera.

I was pleased with the image quality. I tested it indoors in daylight and with bulbs and fluorescent lights. I didn't see the low-light problems some people have mentioned, but I wasn't shooting in candlelight... I've heard good things about the still image shooting so having a still camera with 10x optical zoom is a nice bonus.

I had no problem with the Mac connection, just download Mpeg Streamclip and Apple's $20 mpeg2 plugin, and you can convert to DV format for iMovie. Though some users may find this difficult or annoying.

UPDATE May 2007. Just a quick update on my earlier review, I wrote up instructions for transferring video from this camera to iMovie on a Mac. Once I'd written them out I realized it's more involved than I had thought, but hopefully these step by step instructions will help someone. Also hopefully Apple will make this easier in the future...

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**UPDATE MAY 2007************

I just got back from Turkey, and really put this camera through its paces. All I can say is WOW. The convenience is absolutely an overriding factor to any flaws. Flipping back-and-forth between video and still photos is a snap. I can't prove it but there were many still photos taken while in a moving car that should not of come out...I wonder if the "stabilizing" video feature works during still shots as well. The instance (2 second) "on" feature meant I also got shots I would have missed with any other camera. The absolute best travel camera I've ever owned. If I could, I'd change my ratings to five (5) stars.

************************

I was looking specifically for the magic combination of an all-around video and still camera that was compact and built very solid that I can travel with easily. I have had this camera since Dec 19th, 2006.

I had very bad luck with my previous camera, a Canon Elura that used MiniDVs. When it worked, the videos were great, but the cassette mechanism kept falling out of adjustment and failing on trips or gatherings, and I lost many unrecoverable moments! I had an extended warranty and sent it back 3 times, but they were never able to fix it properly. Perhaps this was an unusual lemon, but I did not want to take the chance again! Of the many media types, I've been told the SD cards are the most durable and almost indestructable. I liked the idea of no moving parts for recording videos.

In addition, I was tired of having a separate digital and video camera, and the technology has finally arrived to combine the two.

For the non-professional camera person looking to catch candid home and travel shots and videos, I've found this is to be a great little camera. It is amazingly small, and really will fit in a coat pocket. Extremely solid, it is also a snap to use, yet still provides powerful manual override abilities. The camera turns on within a few seconds. The video colors are extremely natural and not oversaturated in any way, and the resolution very fine. The microphone works well, and of course there is no "tape hiss" since there is no tape. The still photos are of fair quality. I printed some at 8 x 10 and they looked decent: However, if very-high quality photos are what you are after this is NOT the camera for you. Again, this is definitely for the snap-and-shoot-for-memories crowd, not for people who want to win photography awards. The miniscule pop-up flash is amazingly powerful.

I also looked at the Sanyo which has a competing SD model with a higher still photo resolution ability, but it does not have any motion compensation ability. Given how small these cameras are, it is not possible to hand-hold without jiggling it a lot, so I ruled the Sanyo out.

Okay, now the negatives. There are quite a few, but for what it does I still found this to be the best camera for my purposes:

(1) The camera does not record well in low-light conditions, I'm sure due to the light required for 3CCD color processing and the small size of the lens (cost of being compact!). Filming indoors requires pretty good light to ensure decent videos. My christmas tree light pictures were disappointing, and my backlit scenes came out looking like shadow-puppet plays.

(2) The cost of buying additional 4GB cards is high, and I am worried about misplacing them because they are so small.

(3) I experienced wide swings in overand under-exposed still photos using the flash, although I was (usually) able to balance the brightness and contrast with my photo editor. I'm sure this is partly due to not being used to the camera yet, but the whole idea is not to have to worry about such things. Flash fill-in on backlit subjects works amazingly well.

(4) The LCD display on the camera is not synchronized to the same level of brightness and contrast as your TV set or your PC, which you will have to adjust upwards during playback. Thankfully, my Sony TV allows custom adjustments for each input source. Ditto when you are creating DVD's...you will need to increase the brightness and contrast to match what you see when playing back a scene through the camera's own LCD viewer.

(5) There is no still photo zoom playback on the camera (at least I have not found it yet). Frequently, I think a snapped photo comes out okay, only to realize when "zooming" the image on the pc to review the details that it is slightly blurry and I need to retake it.

(6) You will need to use the included software to view the MPEG2 videos, as MPEG2 is not an included driver in the editing tools I've reviewed.

(7) There was no still photo editing software included, only video software. I supposed Panasonic assumes everyone has their own photo editing software already, but I didn't. My Canon photo editing software works for these photos, so I am using that.

(8) Finally, the battery fits inside an enclosed compartment, so you are not able to buy an extended battery pack. Since there is no energy required for running a hard drive, DVD burner or tape, admittedly the batteries seem to last longer before recharging, but I still can't see taking a trip with less than 2-3 packs. I guess I will be spending extra on more batteries!

Even with these drawbacks, there is no doubt that this is an amazing sleek winner with really no competitor in its class that I intend to use heavily at home and on my travels!

Teddycam Teddy Bear Wireless Baby Watch and Listen System

I purchased this for a friend who wanted to capture video of someone stealing from her home. This bear is good quality, and setting it up was fairly easy and quick. (Esp. for a woman, who does not set up electronic devices often.) Directions are crummy, but you can def. figure it out. The video output on the TV exceeded my expectations, and I thought the imaging was very clear. I can't tell you about audio, because I was in the same room as the bear. The bear's nose could be less conspicuous (maybe a better shape since the camera lens is there), but if he is grouped with other stuffed animals, there should be no problem. This bear does not record video, so if you need this feature, look elsewhere. However, I can see how this would be useful if you want to take surveillance while in another location of your home. For the cost (approx. $45), I would give this product a shot. Hope this review helps.

This thing will not work for me an the camera on its nose is so obvious Its not a nanny cam any1will notice this

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Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18.0 MP Digital SLR Camera Body & EF-S 18-55mm IS II Lens with 75-300mm III

I love the camera and it shipped really fast the lenses are fantastic and it smells nice. The tripod is pretty flimsy but that's no huge deal

I am no professional photographer, but talking to one, he suggested this camera; At first I was a bit scared, far too many resources, but when you lay your hands on that beauty, it's love at first touch. I am still learning but I garanty it's not that hard.

Great package deal, with high quality products.

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This is more than I expected, somehow I thought the bag and tripod where going to be too small for the camera, but everything is perfect and the camera is what I had dreamed a camera should be.

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Sony Professional HVR-Z1U 3CCD High Definition Camcorder with 12x Optical Zoom

The HVR-Z1U seems too good to be true. And it is.

It promises a camera with full HD resolution and outstanding features for a reasonable price. In many ways, it delivers. The video quality is superior to the JVC HDV camera. Unlike the JVC, the camera offers full manual control and is a pleasure to shoot with professionally.

Alas for someone who expects and needs full HD resolution, the Sony is a disappointment. Pointing the camera at a resolution chart while viewing the output on a high resolution monitor (or on a computer after rendering to 1080i or 1080p) quickly reveals that the horizontal resolution is about 1200 lines, and vertical resolution is a little over 500.

The pixel count is thus about twice that of standard video, not four times, as we perhaps hoped. The 1200 lines of horizontal resolution is pretty good just about the same as 720p. But the vertical resolution is not very good at all.

A little math tells the story. Sony advertizes 1.1M pixels for each sensor, and 1440 lines horizontal. 1.1M/1440 gives a maximum of 770 lines vertical, not 1080 as promised. The measured vertical and horizontal resolution is distinctly lower.

An extensive web search revealed that the sensor has 1080 vertical lines, but only about 990 lines horizontal. To achive something closer to 1440 lines horizontal the green sensor is offset by half a pixel, and image processing is used to give a possible maximum resolution of 1440 on a black and white image. The problem is that the edge contrast beyond 900 lines horizontal becomes quite poor.

To make matters worse, (or to degrade the vertical resolution to match the horizontal) the vertical lines are read out of the sensor in pairs, so that each field is a mixture of two adjacent lines. This gives the vertical the same poor edge contrast as the horizontal.

It is possible by using the unsharp mask tool in Sony Vegas (or other editors) to improve the edge contrast. I use the maximum effect with the minimum radius in the Sony tool setting the radius slider to .001 pixels. You must do the sharpening operation using a properties setting of 1440x1080. Slightly better results can be obtained by putting an additional unsharp mask in series with the first, set to half-effect.

A major problem is deinterlace. Most editors (and most display devices) deinterlace by averaging fields, which reduces the maximum vertical resolution to 540 lines. You can add Mike Crash's excellent deinterlacer to the sharpening masks, and remove this limitation. Crash's smart deinterlace for Vegas can be downloaded for free with patience and persistence.

Sharpening and deinterlacing the image is very compute intensive. It takes me a good fraction of a week to do a two hour movie on a 3GHz pentium 4. But the result can be stunning. With the sharpening the Sony camera can give you a result that is close to a professional HD camera. I render to WMV9 rather than to MPEG2 remember to keep the properties at 1440x1080. After the render is complete, you can re-render to 720p, adding an additional bit of sharpening to compensate for the re-interpolation.

For best results always use a shutter speed of 60 frames/sec or higher. I have had mixed results with the steady shot option. Keep the camera as steady as possible, and try not to use more video gain than absolutely necessary.

Bottom line this camera produces video that is MUCH better than standard video, and significantly better than DV. But it would be awfully nice to have a camera that delivered the advertized resolution, and did it with a flat video frequency response.

I've used my Sony HVR-Z1U HDV camcorder in some very extreme conditions, and it it comes through on a regular basis. I shot Hurricane Katrina video footage during the storm (for StormStock) in driving 100 mph rain. At that time, I had purchased and was using a rain coat for the camera. It never failed. Previously, in Hurricane Dennis, the unit failed in the rain, without the coat. The screen went black. I dried it off with a hand dryer and it came back to life to be called back into action with Katrina.

My HVR-Z1U has shot hurricane video, tornadoes, lightning, and other storm footage, often in the rain and dust. And, it keeps on going.

The unit prefers mid-range lighting. It can shoot good footage if you give it that.

Sony can improve this unit by adding SDI to output to HDCAM. I'd also like to see true 24P added and maybe variable frame rates.

This camera is just a couple options away from being a professional system.

Martin Lisius

Prairie Pictures, Inc.

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I've chosen this camera for my short film after viewing some rough footage at a local studio. The colors that this camera can capture in DV mode are jaw-dropping! It comes with all of the manual controls you could hope for and they're very intuitive. I highly recommend this to independent filmmakers if you're able to rent them in your area. It does not offer the 'truest' cinematic feel but if you do some research on the web you'll find resources for things you can do in pre & post production to get the feel you're looking for regardless of the camera you use.

For more filmmaking resources & sample footage of the z1, visit my website and click 'resources'.

And for more updates on using this camera for my short film, visit my website and click 'films'.

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Indie Filmmaker here, always looking out for a better camera!

The Sony HDV series is an astonishing technology

Don't let people tell you that the footage is "too compressed" ---technically, it is, but once it gets on screen, it looks stunning!

I haven't done much filming with this camera ---but I have seen its footage and edited its footage

Both on television and the computer monitor, I was impressed with its 'look' ---very detailed and extremely clear

Editing was a BREEEEEZE with this footage! I edited on Final Cut Pro and could composite 5 layers all above each other, each with a different opacity, and FCP's real time engine kept up without having to render! Thus, the compressed footage makes editing EASY but Sony has managed to make a beautiful picture out of this stuff too

For the Indie Filmmakers out there ---test one out before purchasing..... I find the Sony HDV to be the most clear look out there --emulating a beautifully shot NFL game on HD..... but for cinematic looks, I still may stick with the Panasonic DVX100, as there is a more cinema feel to that one

hope that helps

HAPPY BUYING!!!!

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I have filmed and edited with this camera for 3 years and it is still the top of the line and current professional standard for HDV cameras. Its professional XLR sound capabilities set it apart from all the other camera in its price range.

The versatile aspect ratios and shooting abilities in any condition make this camera a must have for any professional and amateur indie filmmaker.

Very durable and strong construction with lots of manual control buttons quickly accessible to the cameraman. The menu is easy and intuitive.

Great for weddings and events of any kind! I cant tell you how many times over this camera has paid for itself and given me the competitive edge in a highly technical and fast paced job.

Canon EOS Rebel T3 12.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Zoom Lens + 16

This is my first SLR camera and I love it. I did extensive research before purchasing the T3 and could not be more pleased. This kit is the best price on the market and it shipped very fast. The camera took amazing pictures right out of the box. I have two kids and the quick shutter speed is perfect when they can't/won't sit still. The action shots are crisp and high quality as well. I rarely use the flash even for indoor shots. The auto mode increases the ISO level and makes the pictures look soft and beautiful.

I also read Digital SLR for dummies and picked up some great tips on how to make my amateur pictures look professional. I would highly recommend the T3 and the value kit.

Buyer beware! The camera bag in the picture is not the camera bag that you receive with this product. The bag that you receive is much smaller and can barely fit the camera with just the one lens.

That being said... this is a great package. It's worth it just for the camera, the tripod (which is nice), the memory card, and the extra battery. I paid the extra 10 bucks for shipping and it arrived the next day so that was awesome.

Bottom line: great package, but the bag sucks. Be prepared to buy a different bag and factor that price into your decision.

JB

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This purchase is perfect for a beginning or amateur photographer and includes everything who is ready to start the digital world of photography. I'm a college student who is just starting a major in photography and this is going to be perfect for a starter camera. The Canon T3 camera is very light weight and perfect for on the go life styles. One of my favorite things in the deluxe accessory kit is the camera bag because it fits everything that you get in the kit (except for the tripod, but that has its own case with a handle) and much more!

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First and foremost I ordered this item on a Friday and It came the following Monday, so shipping was excellent!

The camera in itself, the Canon EOS Rebel T3(1100D) is an exceptional camera for everyday and professional use. It has the capabilities of shooting with an Iso from 100 to 6400, it is comfortable to hold, very lightweight due to the hard plastic design, and the user interface is very easy to navigate.

The accessories, some good some bad. The SD Card is a 16 GB SDHC class 10, which is a very nice card, plenty of space when shooting just in Jpeg 12 Mp, it gives you well over 2000 pictures to take. The memory card reader is nice if you don't have an SD card slot on your PC. The Hdmi cord is a nice accessory but when I used it, it seemed to cause static noise on the picture on my hd tv. The tripod is an ok built tripod, when fully extended the lower legs are very thin and feel flimsy so take precaution when using this outdoors or near children. The bag definitely seems small, but It manages to fit the camera, an 18-55 MM lens that comes with it, and a 50 MM lens. I do recommend any user to purchase the Canon 50 MM F/1.8 lens. It is definitely a lens to have handy and its only around 100 dollars. As far as the lcd screen protectors, you have to cut it yourself to fit to the screen and they were really blotchy and bad when put on, so definitely pick up different ones or none at all if you take care of your equipment. Comes with an extra battery which is definitely handy when out and about. The table top tripod is actually really cool! Its so compact and structurally very well built. The memory card wallet is a nice addition too, not the best, a little tight, but definitely also comes in handy.

OverallFor the price that you get the Canon T3 with 18-55 MM lens, this is definitely a great pick up for anyone who is interested in getting a D-SLR and starting something new. This was hands down one of the better kits that the site has to offer for its price. But like I mentioned, picking up the Canon 50 MM f/1.8 along with this kit will make it worth your while!

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We purchased this camera and Deluxe Accessory Kit for our honeymoon. The camera works well, just as you would expect a Canon product. However, the Accessory kit is a completely different matter. The Camera bag sholder strap broke within 1 week of use. This was due to the cheap plastic that attached the strap to the bag. After "fixing" the attachment with a metal link, the latch that holds the bag then broke. At this point I'm wondering what is so "DELUXE" about this accessory kit. I would not recommend the accessory kit, you would be much better purchasing a quality bag separately. We were very disappointed in the quality.

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Olympus Evolt E620 12.3MP Live MOS Digital SLR Camera with Image Stabilization and 2.7 inch Swivel

I've had the E-620 for a few weeks now and am quite pleased. Other options I considered were the Nikon D5000, Canon T1i & XSi, Panasonic G1, Sony A300 & A350, and Pentax K200D & K20D. Some comments with comparison notes:

1) SIZE & WEIGHT -There's no point in having a camera that is so bulky that it doesn't get much use. Only the Panasonic G1 is smaller than the E-620 but not by much. There is a more dramatic difference in the size of the lenses, with Olympus being much smaller than all but Panasonic. Makes for a very compact outfit. For anyone used to the size of film SLRs, the E-620 is very similar. My wife also found it the most comfortable for her to hold.

2) BUILD QUALITY & HANDLING -Very impressed with Olympus here. Solid, dense and with lots of sensibly placed buttons for direct access to settings. The other cameras had a less solid, plasticy feel, and their larger grips still weren't large enough for a comfortable pistol grip with my average size hands. The Sonys, in particular, had awkward button placement. The E-620 has a different style of grip where you hold the camera in the same way as old film SLRs, and is more appropriate to such a small camera. I carry the camera comfortably in my *left* hand, grasping the body and lens barrel with my fingers on the zoom ring; this frees my right hand from having to support the camera while working controls, and leaves my good hand open (I'm a righty).

3) LENSES -The kit zooms from Olympus are reputed to be of higher quality than the others, as well as being more compact. So far I have been very impressed. I didn't want to buy a camera only to feel the kit lenses needed replacing; I'd rather spend on lenses that offer new capabilities, like fast primes or dedicated macro lenses. For anyone interesting in using legacy manual focus lenses, inexpensive adapters are available to attach virtually any MF SLR lens to Olympus bodies; used lenses can be quite inexpensive on eBay. Panasonic is limited by a very small range of lenses. For a two lens kit, the E-620 was the cheapest option.

4) IMAGE QUALITY -I wanted to spend my time taking pictures, not fiddling with them in post-processing; Olympus has the best out-of-camera JPGs of the bunch (Canon and Pentax, in particular, fall short here). Although the smaller Olympus sensors are reputed to be a bit noisier, what noise there is is primarily luminance noise, giving images a film-like grain, rather than the colored blotches of chroma noise. I've found noise very well controlled through ISO1000, even with noise reduction set to LOW. For printing up through 8x10 and monitor display, I don't think noise is a concern up through ISO1600 (certainly with noise reduction set to standard). One caveat: be sure to keep gradation set at NORMAL (the default), not AUTO, unless you really need it; using AUTO gradation will noticeably increase noise.

5) IN BODY STABILIZATION -I prefer in body stabilization to lens-based stabilization for two reasons: in body works with all lenses, and lenses can be more compact. You only carry one body but you are likely to carry multiple lenses, so it pays to keep them small.

6) LIVE VIEW & LCD -Olympus has the best live view implementation (maybe tied with Sony) with quite quick autofocus. This is very important if you want anyone, e.g. my wife or random bystanders, who's used to compact cameras to use your SLR for snapshots or the like. The tilt & swivel LCD is very handy and seemed more natural than Nikon or Sony's implementations.

Overall, I found the E-620 to be the best value for a two lens kit.

Here are a few notes on the other cameras I considered:

Nikon D5000 -Good build & handling, but a bit bulky. Live view isn't great. Much more expensive for a two lens kit than the Olympus.

Canon T1i -Not impressed by the build quality, felt plasticy. Not comfortable for me to hold. Out of camera JPGs not so good. Inferior kit lenses. Much more expensive for a two lens kit than the Olympus.

Canon XSi -Not impressed by the build quality, felt plasticy. Not comfortable for me to hold. Out of camera JPGs not so good. Bulkier than the Olympus. Inferior kit lenses.

Panasonic G1 -Limited lens selection; will take legacy MF lenses but doesn't offer image stabilization with them since it isn't in the body. Plasticy. Not much smaller than the Olympus. More expensive than Olympus for a two lens kit.

Sony A300 & A350 -Hated the button placement--ruled them out on that alone. Live view is very good though.

Pentax K200D & K20D -Poor out of camera JPGs. Great handling and build quality. Short on features. Kit lenses aren't great. No live view / live view useless.

I've had an E-620 for about a month, and with each photo I'm finding more to like about it.

Any camera represents a series of compromises as the manufacturer trades weight vs. features vs. cost vs. ergonomics vs. image quality. Any purchase decision should be based on how those particular trade-offs jibe with the intended use. None of the name-brand cameras in this price range that I've looked at are bad. But, for me and for the type of photography I do now, the E-620 is the closest fit.

Number one is the available lenses. Read the reviews of the kit zooms such as the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS with its chromatic aberration and the Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR DX with its barrel distortion. Unlike the Olympus Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 ED, both have front elements that rotate when you focus, making the use of a polarizer or a petal-type hood difficult. Unlike the Olympus, both have manual focus rings that can't be used without shifting the lens out of autofocus. Yes, Canon and Nikon make other lenses that are sharper, faster, heavier and more expensive -so does Olympus. But if you want to use the kit lens, the Olympus one gets better reviews.

Olympus also makes a sharp and handy Zuiko Digital 35mm f/3.5 Macro, which has been spending more time on my E-620 than either of the kit lenses. For me, it's a great walking-around lens, good for both environmental portraits and product shots. On the other hand, if I needed a 600mm f/4 or a 14mm f/2.8, I'd have gotten a Canon or a Nikon.

The E-620 has in-body image stabilization, which means you buy it once and haul it around once, instead of adding weight and cost to every lens. Again, one could argue that at the extreme high end in-lens image stabilization is better, but I don't live at the extreme high end.

I had thought that the E-620's live view would be a gimmick, but it's quite useful zoomed in 10 times for manual focus on a copy standor tripod-mounted camera for macro work. You can easily assign the E-620's Fn button to auto white balance when you need it, and just as easily re-assign it to toggle face detect or autofocus on and off when that's what you prefer.

In the kit with the 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 and the 40-150mm f/4-5.6, the E-620 is currently priced comparably to the Nikon D60 and its kit 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens plus a Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6 VR lens and to the Canon Rebel XS and its kit 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens plus a Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS lens.

The E-620 lacks the D60's manual focus indicator and separate autofocus assist light, while the Nikon lacks the Olympus' dedicated ISO and white balance select buttons and has only three autofocus points. Like the Olympus, the Canon has seven autofocus points, but it has a very awkwardly placed exposure compensation button. All three cameras have a viewfinder with 95 percent frame coverage, but the E-620 has a magnification of 0.96x, compared to 0.8x for the D60 and 0.81x for the Rebel XS.

The E-620; the 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6, the 40-150mm f/4-5.6, the 35mm f/3.5 Macro; and an FL-36R flash in a Domke F-3X bag weigh 6 pounds, less than the equivalent Nikon and Canon kits and far less than what I schlepped around when I was shooting film. The best camera is the one you have with you.

Buy Olympus Evolt E620 12.3MP Live MOS Digital SLR Camera with Image Stabilization and 2.7 inch Swivel Now

I have had the E-620 for about a week and i moved from a E-510. E-510 was my first DSLR and using that over the years i have been very satisfied and happy with the 510 especially due to the in body image stabilization and lens line-up. Liveview was also a plus over competitors but i never really used it unless it was really dark or i needed to manual focus.

Some things on the E-510 that were aging and were kind of the few weak points of the entry level E series was the 3 point autofocus system, small viewfinder and low light focusing. The lcd was so so too but for an SLR i don't see why a high pixel LCD should be important.. sure its good to have one but its not important.

Anyhow the E-620 really improves all these problems and really becomes a strong no compromise camera; worthy of buying just because its excellent.. not because its great value as was the case for me for the E-510.

1) The viewfinder is much larger; suitable for manual focusing.

2) now has 7 points 5 cross (which is better then any entry slr .. d5000, t1i etc included). -now that Ive had sometime to try out the imager AF; ill say that although its not the fastest AF system (talking about the hybrid mode as i don't have compatible lenses for standalone imager mode) -it works very reliably in low light conditions; better then the phase detect sensor on its own. Using liveview to compose night shots many times i found my e510 hunting and eventually taking out of focus shots forcing complete manual focus-hybrid mode definitely lets you use AF in seriously dark conditions.

3) nice flipping LCD which again trumps the other 2 boys in the group in terms of utility.

4) Much better tone curves/gradation/dynamic range.. people argue .. i don't know.. i just know that highlight and shadow information is retained very well. Of course jpgs turn out nice due to the gradation but there is dynamic range improvement visible in raw too.

Some things that have continued to be Olympus selling points

5) in body image stabilization

6) Excellent body quality... compare it to canon entry levels and see what i mean

7) Very strong, potentially the best lens line-up out there. kit lenses being outstanding value for money -you can start taking good photographs right away.. unlike kit lenses from others.

Some other feature like the Art filters and multiple exposure (over laying multiple photos) are just a side for most people. Id say all of them are aesthetically pleasing filters and fun to try-if you use them, you still have your raw file to do off camera processing. But id say that these features to me are like the video recording by canon and nikon -just a pleasant aside but not really what dslr photography has been about (at least in the past).

The issue of high ISO with oly has always been there, some thoughts:

I like the extra ISO steps and use the ISO 160 as standard ( people say 200 gives best DR in comparison to 100 -but i think 160 is slightly better then 200)

In contrast to canons move up to 15MP for the 50D and t1i-Olys move from 10 to 12.3MP you will find actually better high iso performance then the E-510 and 520. ISO 1250 is about comparable to 1600 of others. id say upto ~ 1250 is useable. Notice that 15MP and over the APS-C pixel density actually goes above the 10MP 4/3rd sensor. Essentially low light performance in APS-C cameras has been going down (or staying stable at best) across the board. So if you want to take pictures of football games in pitch dark at 6400 ISO 4/3rds or APS-C is not what you are looking for. Generally the solution to low light is not pumping up the ISO the first course of action is of course flashwith regards to that E-620 allows a lot of functionality with the Fl-36R/50R units including built in wireless flash support (no need for carrying a transmitter)

Over all for an mid entry SLR you will be very happy with the E-620. Another factor is ergonomics and i like holding an Olympus but that you will have to try and compare yourself-happy shooting!

-updated to include thoughts on Imager AF and wireless flash support

Read Best Reviews of Olympus Evolt E620 12.3MP Live MOS Digital SLR Camera with Image Stabilization and 2.7 inch Swivel Here

Hello, I am a seasoned fine art photographer. Outdoors, I photograph landscapes and classic architecture, mostly European. In my studio, I do my own flower studies and reproduce original artwork for artists and crafters. My main system is a Pentax K20D with DA* and DA lenses. I use an Olympus E series as a backup system or when I want to travel light.

I have recently replaced my E-510, that had served me well for one year, with an E-620 two-lens kit. As soon as I got it, I put the camera through a set of field tests consistent with my kind of photography. My conclusion is that with the E-620, Olympus have fully met their 1999 promise to use the 4/3" format to develop small and light cameras and lenses without compromises of quality and price. I was concerned about the diminutive size of the body but I found it to fit my average-sized male hands remarkably well. The feeling is comfortingly solid and the commands are logically placed. I never had a problem with the Olympus control system and this camera is no exception.

The new 12.3Mp sensor is quite good. Depending on light conditions, noise is very low up to ISO800-1600. Dynamic range is definitively improved. Pictures taken in early July of my house and garden at noon in full sun recorded the entire tonal range with no shadow/highlights clipping. Minuscule detail is also captured remarkably well. Co-responsible for this are the two kit lenses, rightly famous for their high quality/price ratio with good corner-to-corner sharpness and low optical distortion and chromatic aberration. Very important to me, the viewfinder is larger with coverage of 95% and magnification of 96%, and allows me to focus manually.

This is my first (transmissive) LCD monitor truly usable in full sun. It is completely articulated, hinged on the side of the camera so that it does not interfere with the head of the tripod (like the Nikon 5000). Even with "only" 230,000 pixels, I still find it to be remarkably bright and sharp. It helps a lot with copy stand work and macro in the field. This is enhanced by the quality of the camera's Live View. The E-620 can use contrast-based autofocus eliminating the need for the sequence mirror down/focus/mirror up. Live View shows a lot of information, live histogram included, and allows for many key regulations. You can choose any area of the picture and enlarge it x5, x7 or x10 for fine focusing. The enlarged view is quite clear and sharp. The new 7-point phase detection autofocus has evolved and feels faster (I use spot autofocus anyway to ensure that I always know where the camera is focusing). Image stabilization on the sensor allows for smaller, less delicate and less expensive lenses. Lab tests indicate that it provides a 2 to 2.5 f/stops gain. The dust suppression system is still the best (some experts say the only one truly effective on the market). The camera offers an unparalleled wealth of manual and automatic regulations through its dedicated buttons and the LCD monitor.

Outside, I use the camera on aperture priority at f/8-11 (to minimize lens diffraction) at a setting as close to ISO200 as possible (the camera's sweet spot for noise and dynamic range). No matter how good the exposure meter is, most of my pictures have always needed compensation. I take as many test pictures as necessary (with the Fn button set to "test picture") to get the proper exposure. The half-pressed shutter button is set to lock focus only. I focus where I want (mostly with an eye on hyperfocus), recompose and take the picture. In studio, I use the Fn button to get a custom white balance and set the camera to Live View and manual focus. I enlarge the subject for fine focusing, take some test pictures to perfect the exposure, and shoot with an extension cable and the "anti-shock" function set to 3 seconds (with anti-shock on, when you press the shutter button the camera lifts the mirror and waits the number of seconds set by you up to 30 before shooting, letting the mirror vibrations subside). Since the camera is on a tripod, I do turn image stabilization off. I shoot Raw+jpeg, use jpeg for family emails and reserve Raw for all my professional work. Developing in Camera Raw 5.4 at 16bit/channel in the ProPhoto color space, processing in Photoshop CS4, upsizing in Genuine Fractals 5, and printing with Epson UltraChrome inks and fine art papers and canvas, I obtain impeccable prints up to at least 24x30".

I believe that the best camera is the one that gets you to carry it around and have fun photographing. Today, it is the Olympus E-620 that does it for me. If Olympus is listening, I would respectfully wish for an AC adapter.

Want Olympus Evolt E620 12.3MP Live MOS Digital SLR Camera with Image Stabilization and 2.7 inch Swivel Discount?

Olympus E-620 is positioned between Olympus beginner and advanced DSLR camera. Currently, Olympus has E-420/450 and E-520 in the lower level class, and E-30 and E-3 in the higher end class. Compared to other popular DSLR cameras, Olympus employs smaller image sensor called 4/3 live MOS sensor. 4/3 means that the native image has 4 : 3 ratio instead of 3 : 2 ratio. This could be plus and minus. The plus is 4 : 3 ratio is widely used in TV screen size and monitors. It is also squarer. In my opinion, it is better for portrait. However, you can adjust the ratio to 3:2, 16:9 or other as you like at the expense of maximum image resolution.

The negative side of this type of sensor is the noise in high ISO. There is appearance of noise in lower ISO level such as ISO 640 or 400 as well. Fortunately, I found the noise is rendered very fine and more pleasing to look at than noise generated from other DSLR or compact cameras. It has the film like feel to it.

WHAT IS NEW COMPARED TO E-420 and E-520?

Compared to Olympus E-420, the E620 is just a tad bigger, but it is now has Image Stabilization that works with Olympus or third party lenses. Compared to both cameras, E-620 has 7 AF points instead of 3. A slightly bigger viewfinder, improved 2.7 swivel LCD screen, wireless flash commander and six art scenes mode.

BODY & HANDLING

Olympus is not the lightest camera around. It weights 521g, which is almost the same as best seller Canon XSi / 450D, but measured 130 x 94 x 60 mm, 2mm shorter and thinner than Canon XSi. The E-620 noticeably smaller than Olympus E-520.

Despite the size, Olympus E-620 is very solid to hold. Thanks to the weight and ergonomic design. The built quality is also a step up from entry level DSLR cameras. It has a nice rubberized texture in the hand and thumb rest on the back.

It has one thumb dial and four-way buttons which you will use to change various settings and navigate the menu. Each of the four-way buttons for navigation and also for access popular settings such as ISO, WB, metering, and AF mode. This is buttons are similar buttons that you often find in compact camera layout.

In addition, there is Super Control Panel. By the touch of INFO button, it will let you navigate and change various important settings in one screen. This is very smart design. Canon and Nikon interface does not come close.

Buttons are considered small compare to other DSLRs, so if you have a big fingers, you might find a bit uncomfortable to find or access the button. Unique to Olympus E-620, it has backlit buttons, which is automatically light on when you are in dark condition. This small feature is significant if you often shoot in low light condition indoor or outdoor. There is also a dedicated live view button, which will activate live view mode instaneously.

Viewfinder (96% coverage, .95 magnification) is slightly bigger than E-520 but still smaller and narrower than other entry level camera. Looking at the viewfinder is like looking at the tunnel, which is uncomfortable. You will notice significant different if you regularly shoot with higher end cameras such as Olympus E-30 or Nikon D90.

Overall, the body design and ergonomic is very good, better than some beginner DSLR cameras on the market. Despite that, you might have balance issue when you mount Olympus pro grade lenses which is heavier than regular kit lens. Olympus has thought about it and provide battery/vertical grip to counter this problem. The only significant downside is the small viewfinder.

LCD SCREEN & AF PERFORMANCE

Olympus E-620 has swivel LCD screen which is helpful for composition and also for people who are used to compose photos using back LCD screen (compact camera users). The resolution of the screen is standard (230k) but it is clearer and more detailed than other DSLR with 230k resolution.

Auto focus in live mode is slower than most compact camera, but works very well in bright or low light condition. Depending on the light condition, it takes a round one to two seconds for the camera to focus.

Aufo focus performance in viewfinder are much faster. Now it has 7 AF points, 5 of them are cross type sensor. AF continuous works very well, it is very quiet and fast. There is nothing to worry about.

To change AF points, there is dedicated button in the top left of the camera, and then you change it using thumb dial. This approach is similar to Canon DSLR cameras, but different from Nikon approach. Nikon uses four way buttons which I prefer more because it is faster and spot on.

IMAGE QUALITY

Image rendered by this camera is generally very good dan very detailed. Thanks to the above Olympus Zuiko lenses. ISO. Unfortunately, noise in in issue. There is noticeable noise especially in shadow area across ISO (low of high). Of course in high ISO, the noise are more prominent. ISO 800 is the limit between acceptable and unacceptable image.

However, to be fair, the noise generated by this camera is not annoying like many other DSLR. It is more film like than electronic noise which is usually generated by camera with CMOS sensor. It is also worth to mention that Olympus prefers to keep details rather than losing it by smearing the noise, which could be good or bad depending on your taste.

ART SCENE MODE

Art scene mode is fairly new in Olympus DSLR cameras. Basically, the camera will process the image directly after you take the picture. The process is very fast and negligible. If you use live view mode, you can see the effect on the screen. This might be fun for people who has no editing or photoshop skills but for advanced / photo enthusiasts, they might want to take original image instead and edit the photo later. In the other words, donft based your decision on buying this camera because of this feature.

OTHER

1. The shutter noise gka-chingh is not very appealing. It is quite loud and sounds cheap.

2. The size of the camera and kit lenses are equally small. It is half the volume of pro grade system, and much more enjoyable to carry on traveling or walking.

3. Evaluative metering is slightly underexposure to protect highlight, but there is also exposure compensation button that you can use to adjust it. I usually set it at +0.7 in various lighting condition.

COMPETITORS

Olympus E520

Olympus E-520 is an older DSLR cameras which is a bit bigger in body size, but have fewer and less sophisticated features. Like E-620, it has built-in image-stabilization, but thatfs about it. E-520 has a smaller viewfinder, non-swivel LCD screen, no backlit buttons, no art scene mode, and only has 3 AF points and 10 megapixel image resolution. But E-520 wins in price. It is approx. $250 cheaper than E-620.

Canon T1i

Canon T1i is $100 more expensive than E-620 but it has movie mode, bigger and hi-res (910k) LCD screen, 11 AF points and compatible with EOS lenses collection.

Pentax k-x

Newcomer Pentax k-x has better image quality in high ISO, very compact size, has a live view mode but in a cheaper package. Pentax kx might be the toughest competitor Olympus must face beside Canon and Nikon cameras.

Nikon D5000

D5000 also has swivel LCD screen, but lack of AF motor that prevent this camera to use older Nikon lenses. Image quality is superb in low or high ISO setting.

CONCLUSION

Olympus E-620 is an interesting camera, it focuses on compact size which is the right thing to do to get advantage of four third sensor. Built quality is better than most beginner DSLRs. There are many dedicated buttons and very friendly menu / control panel so you can find and change setting you want very fast. The ergonomic is also very good especially for average hand man/woman. Featurewise, this camera is very up to date although it lacks movie mode. In addition, it has backlit buttons which is non-existence even in my Nikon D700, a $2500 camera. It also has crystal clear swivel LCD screen. I find myself using it for many occasions. There two weaknesses of this camera, small viewfinder and noticeable noise in ISO 1600 or higher. If Olympus fix this problem in upcoming dSLR while retaining the compact size, this camera will make a great travel or street companion.

Subjective rating relative to beginner DSLR cameras in 2009

Image Quality : 4/5

Features : 5/5

Performance : 5/5

Body and Handling : 4/5

Value for Money : 3/5

Please visit my website for sample images, high iso comparison and size comparison.

Cmple - 6FT Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable 1080p HDTV LCD Pink

I bought this cable to hook up my pink HD LCD TV to the rest of my equipment and it did a great job, besides also looking good due to it's color.

Exactly what a college student to connect TV to their laptop. Just a heads up, if you have a mac you'll probably want to buy an adapter as well

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Acer Value DLP Projector

I've had this projector for over 4 months now and it has worked beautifully so far. I did a lot of research before buying a projector, I wanted something less than $500 or at least very near to that price point, something that would project a screen size 90 inches or bigger from about about 10ft or so since that's the distance in my set-up (rest assure that I checked out the distance calculators for other projectors that were about the same price or cheaper and the maximum size from about 10ft was around 70 inches according their respective websites).

When I bought this, there wasn't really any reviews or anything since this is a pretty recent model so this made the decision even harder, but I decided to go for it still.

Now to talk about the projector:

It has very nice native resolution of WXGA 1280 x 800 which makes it great for movies, the resolution does go up higher to 1080p if you connect the appropriate input device such as a Blu-Ray player, gaming console.

Set up was easy to understand and do

Turns on relatively fast

Image is really bright and clear even in Eco-Mode(which is how I have it right now so the lamp bulb last longer), no huge difference between regular mode and Eco-Mode. But don't worry, if the screen seems to bright for some reason, you can always decrease the brightness level as you please. I recommend Eco-Mode, it's better for any projector really

It has vertical keystone correction but no horizontal keystone correction. I knew it wouldn't have horizontal keystone correction when I bought it, and other projectors I looked at around this category or less didn't have it either. However I must say that when you're setting up the projector, make sure you get it at the right horizontal angle so the image comes up even, don't worry too much about the vertical angle since it can get fixed with the vertical keystone correction.

The on-screen menu is easy to understand and navigate through

No physical manual, it does come in the CD that it's included with the projector, comes with a quick start up guide and an VGA cable

The speakers on the projector are weak, then again most of the projectors out there have weak speakers, I'm just glad I have a home theater set-up so I don't need the ones in the projector, no big deal for me here

Pretty much has all the inputs you need: HDMI, VGA, Component, Composite, , RS232 mini, S-Video mini, USB mini-B, 2x stereo mini-Jack. I currently just use the HDMI input for it since that's all I need, makes this much easier and much much better since everything looks better in HD

It has manual focus, which makes it much easier for me to get the clearest image from distances, you also increase/decrease the screen's size manually

Still looks good enough even when the lights are turned on

Expected lamp life is great: Normal Mode 5000 hours; Economy Mode 6000 hours (which was a huge driving point in my decision to buy this projector), many projectors out there get less lamp life expectancy than this one, even some of the expensive high end projectors

Blu-ray movies just look wonderful, you get a vivid image, beautiful colors. Playing video games look wonderful as well, it makes gaming much more intense and a better overall experience.

I wouldn't say the projector is super loud but you can definitely hear it as you would for other projectors, if anything I've heard louder projectors before, you get used to it though so it becomes less of a problem down the line

It is recommended that this projector is used no longer than 3 hours per day, there have been several times where I've used it much longer than that in a day and it didn't give me any problems, the projector will even warn you you if it's overheating

Expect projectors to get hot when in use, this is normal for a lot of projectors, just know that projectors are designed for this case, but also know how to take care of your projector

As for the 3D part of this projector, you should all be aware that you won't likely find a projector around this category and price range that does 3D for all your devices straight out of the box especially for 1080p 3D, I sure didn't find one. You'll need a 3D converter box such as the Optoma 3D-XL Converter Box for 3D Video and Gaming or the View Sonic 3D HD Video Processor (VP3D1) to watch 3D devices and content without any problems and limitations. However, this projector can do 3D out the box but only in 720p, you'll notice that you won't be able to switch the 3D signal in the projector between ON/OFF if you're watching in any resolution that is not 720p. To be able to turn on the projector's 3D signal on make sure you go to your device's settings and switch the resolution to 720p. Also make sure you have the right HDMI cable (HDMI 1.4, those are the only HDMI cables I have, which are the one's you;'ll need for 3D support in high-end devices that support 3D such as 3D Blu-Ray players) and DLP Link 3D glasses. It is PC-3D Ready, so if you have the right PC setup, you can get a 3D signal to the projector without any problems and without the need of any converter box.

Pros:

-Clear and bright image

-Great interface

-Manual focus

-Great inputs

-Great screen size from distances

-Still looks good when lights are on

-Have used for longer than 3 hours in a day many times without having problems

Cons:

-Limited 3D functionality out of the box (expected)

-No Horizontal Keystone correction (expected)

In case if you're wondering how my setup is, I'm using this projector mountVideoSecu PJ2B 1C9 Universal LCD/DLP Projector Vaulted Ceiling Mount Bracket with 25.6-Inch Extension Pole Black. I have this Panasonic DMP-BDT210 Integrated-Wi-Fi 3D Blu-ray DVD Player, an XBOX 360 and Nintendo Wii and of course my laptop which I connect all through HDMI to my home theater's Onkyo HT-S5400 7.1-Channel Home Theater System AV Receiver which I then run an HDMI cable from the AV receiver to the projector. "But wait, how do you connect your Nintendo Wii through an HDMI?" you might be wondering, well I use thisWii to HDMI 720P / 1080P HD Output Upscaling Converter Supports All Wii Display Modes, HDMI Upscale to 720p or 1080p Output for that.

After narrowing it down to a few projectors, this was the better one in terms of specifications and price of course. this projector has met all my expectations and in many ways exceeded them, I'm surprised this projector isn't very popular, it definitely deserves its recognition. So if you're looking for a projector at this particular level, look no further and buy this one.

If possible, I'll be updating my review further down the line, maybe I'll even make a video for it one of these days.

Pros:

In 2D mode, it's bright.

Cons:

1280x720 is too low to run Almost every apps in windows 8 -and 3D mode only works in 720p.

It's remote needs to be pointed exactly at the IR receiver and the buttons must be pushed very hard

It has many light leaks some even very close to your screen, and many out the base of the projector.

It's obtrusively loud, and has a high pitched whine that can be very distracting (my 1000W 7.1 system does overpower it for most action scenes, but it's terrible in dramatic movies)

In 2D using an HDMI cable, the tearing artifacts are terrible (top half of your screen is one frame, bottom half is the next)

You cannot use NVidia 3D for gaming. It will NOT work with this projector.

You cannot watch 3D blurays.

You're told that you can if you buy a separate computer player ($50+) and a program that circumvents DRM (which is borderline illegal)

You could also buy a converter box to watch 3D, but those are very expensive.

I have semi usable 3D gaming setup working. It took forever to hack, including putting windows into test mode and various other hacks. But unfortunately, the projector won't enable DLP link, so I'm stuck with a bad 3D image with nVidia glasses.

Don't bother with this projector.

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I replaced a six year old projector in my basement.

I am so impressed with the brightness and clarity of the picture HD movies and TV look outstanding.

I love my new projector.

Read Best Reviews of Acer Value DLP Projector Here

This Projector does not support 3d As advertised in it doc's. They say on PAGE 37 you can plug in a 3D DVD player and watch 3D Movies with the DLP-Link Glasses. This is not correct. You have to buy a converter box to convert the signal to on the Projector will except. The projector will only allow a 720p 120Hz signal to to 3D and there Is Not one 3D DVD player out there that will do the Signal it needs. So to Use 3D you have to spend more money on a converter out use a 3D card on a computer to View it. The Doc's say different There on techs don't know anything. I have called them all the want me to do is send My unit to them at my cost and have them look at it and tell me what I already know that it does not work as advertised in its DOC'S so be worn. The Projector is a good Item for the price if you do not want to do 3D. I have desided to keep the item as I like the way it works for everything else BUT no 3D. I will have to buy a converter to it This is just a warning if you want 3D this one is the same as most the others and will only do 3d through a computer. Do Not buy a projector from this seller. They sell all Projectors AS IS. There is no returning them. So if it does not work as they advertise YOU ARE SCREWED. DO NOT BUY ANY PROJECTORS FROM THIS SELLER.

Want Acer Value DLP Projector Discount?

i searched a lot before buying this product .Excellent product!this projector produce perfect crystal clear image. HDMI is built in so you can connect whatever device. I used DVD's, computers, blue ray player, etc. Everything looks perfect includinf with light in the room thanks to the 2700 lumenes. Remote control is incredible and allow pretty much all the functions available. A+.Started with AVTAR and so on....................

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Mace CAM50MH Mini Color Dome Camera

The camera works very well, the image is a little further back then I had wanted, but maybe I can adjust it. Nice camera!

I have been buying security cameras for our businesses for 12 years. This is the first time the cameras did not come with cable and power supply. An e-mail to ANTonline returned an auto-reply that implied that they didn't know anything about what they sell. It's easy to be cheap when you only ship half a product.

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The only fault I had was it did not come with all the necessary cables for an easy hook up.

Read Best Reviews of Mace CAM50MH Mini Color Dome Camera Here

Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Zoom Lens + 10p

BEFORE YOU START READING: This is a pretty comprehensive review of the T3i and some lenses at the end of the review. Be prepared to read a lot, or just skip to the other reviews that say things like "Great camera, takes pretty pictures of babies!" if that is more your style. I have tried to offer an unbiased and comprehensive review of the T3i.

The T3i / 600D is such an excellent buy. Let me get this out of the way first though, it only has a few small advantages over the T2i, so if you don't need the things I'm about to list, then save some money and buy the T2i. For me though, I absolutely needed the following:

T3i advantages over the T2i

*Flip out LCD screen

*Digital zoom in video mode

*Adjustable Audio levels in video mode

*Built in flash control

*In camera guide (Ok, I didn't need this feature but it is great for beginning DSLR users)

The T2i will still offer the exact same image quality and processing. The only main difference is that the T3i is much better for video as a result of the things listed above. My review will be on the T3i, but if you are only plan on using your Camera for still images, you can save $100 or so with a T2i. I use my camera a lot for video so the T3i was an essential upgrade for me.

Ok, now on to the T3i full review! Excellent image quality and potential movie quality HD video (it's all about the lenses). The camera shoots pretty sharp images with the 18-55mm kit lens. It has amazing sharpness and contrast with the 50mm f/1.8 lens that I bought additionally for $107. (Prime lenses, i.e. non zoom lenses will always offer sharper images and perform better in lower light settings due to a wider aperature.) If you are dissatisfied with pictures from this camera, then get a better lens or learn how to use it better. It is definitely NOT the camera itself. The T3i is capable of world class quality images/video if fitted with the proper lens and in the hands of a good photographer.

The botton layout and overall camera functionality is a 10/10. I have no complaints at all and everything just makes sense with the location and useability. It has dedicated buttons for almost every fruntion and the menues are quick to access and it is very easy to adjust settings. It has good locations for all of the ports and the battery/memory card slots.

The LCD is super bright, detailed and the best in the Canon line at this time. The flip out feature is amazing if you are shooting overhead or have your camera low to the ground. It may help you avoid crawling in the mud for that great shot. It is also nice for self portaits and any other time you won't be directly behind the viewfinder/LCD screen.

The quick burst mode allows me to take 8-9 photos in rapid succession, so it is great for action / sports photography. The 18-55mm kit lens that it comes with is great for non professional photographers and offers amazing image quality compared to my old Canon Powershot S5. Eventually if you want to get into more serious photography, you will want to upgrade the kit lens to something better with a lower aperature rating. (aperature essentially means how much light your lens takes in. This has two benefits, it allows you to shoot in darker settings, and allows you to have a faster shutter speed set.)

The 1080p HD video can be shot at 24fps or 30fps. It also has standard video recording options as well. The camera has a dedicated video mode selection and can be set to manual mode in the menu for a full customization of settings including shutter speed, aperature, ISO, ect. The video this thing shoots is just stunning. A small note though about the T3i and all other DSLRs on shooting video. When using them for video, there is a max video size that SD memory cards will allow you to use. When shooting in 1080p HD video a typical limit to videos are either around 12 minutes or 4GB, whichever comes first. These are the stats for this camera, but all DSLRs have similar numbers. You can extend the time by shooting in standard definition, but it still has a cap. Most videographers shoot in shorter sequences anyways, so this isn't really an issue. It is just something to take into consideration if you want to do interviews or other long scenes. Again, this goes for all DSLR videography though, and not just the T3i.

The build quality is good for what it is; a pro-sumer camera. It doesn't feel cheap by any means. It is a lighterweight DLSR and does not feel as solid as the pro level DSLRs but it costs MUCH less. The T3i still has a solid construction. Though, I would not want to drop it or leave it out in bad weather. I got a Delkin Pro Skin for the T3i, and a battery grip and it feels much more like a pro level camera now and feels better balanced with larger lenses. It is not sealed, dustproof and waterproof like the 7D or the 5D. The 60D has a better build quality and not much more expensive. It is also worth checking out. The 60D is slightly better for stills photography while the T3i is slightly better for shooting videos. You can see a number of reviews and comparisons on youtube.

It has great auto settings, though I CERTAINLY recommend learning how to really use your camera and you can take your photography to a whole new level. Having said that, IF you choose to only use the full auto / creative auto settings, you'll have a jaw dropping quality point and shoot camera. Again, I would recommend learning the settings, but for those of you who want great quality photos for birthdays and family get togethers, the T3i will exceed your expectations and is still very easy to use, thanks to the "In Camera Guide." If you really want to use your camera to the best of it's abilities, spend some time reading through the manual, watching how to videos on youtube and read online articles on improving your photography. There are an incredible amount of resources available online for free. spend some time, do the work and it will definitely pay off in the long term.

The accessories that come with this package are great for beginners too. I'll eventually be upgrading the tri-pod and the camera bag, but they will certainly be in use for a while until I decide to spend the big bucks on nicer gear. The 16gb card is great, the gear bag is decent quality, the screen protectors were a nice touch and the extra battery is an essential item for any photographer.

Overall, the T3i was the perfect camera for my needs. Of course I would love to have a 7D or a 5D, but it is much smarter to spend money on better lenses than to get too hung up on the camera body. Overall, I would recommend the T3i 100%. I am completely satisfied with my purchase, how much I spent, and the value I really recieved from such a great quality camera.

Here is an bonus list of lenses worth buying to build your collection. I will provide a list of lenses that are great for the value, and a list of my want but will probably never be able to afford lenses.

Great lenses for the value (notice I didn't say cheap, but excellent for the value):

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II SLR Zoom The kit lens that comes with this package. (The only reason not to buy this lens if if you are upgrading to a more expensive lens pretty quickly. This is probably THE BEST value lens around, Period. It has good contrast, sharpness, and overall image quality. There is definitely room for improvement, but at the price, this thing is a steal. This lens will suit many peoples needs for a long, long time. For photographers on a budget, this lens is a must have.)

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II $110(BEST lens for the value aside from the 18-55mm kit lens)

Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto $390 (A super great lens for indoor and darker settings. More expensive the than 50mm f/1.8 but if you have the money, this lens is worth the upgrade).

Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD Large Aperture Standard Zoom $670 (MUCH better than the Canon 18-55mm kit lens. Not cheap, but an excellent substitute for the Canon 17-55 f/2.8 and about $440 cheaper than the canon with only slight differences in image / video quality. Some people even prefer the Sigma. This is a great lens with excellent walk around ranges. This will be my always on lens for probably 90% of the time. This or the Canon 17-55 are a must have for video users).

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM $400 (Great 30mm prime lens at a decent cost.)

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Medium Telephoto $400 (Great for macro photography and a decent telephoto distance.)

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM $570 (One of the best lenses for micro/macro photography)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM Telephoto Zoom $675 (One of the top rated telephoto lenses around and a must for sports photographers.)

A lens that isn't quite as good but definitely deserves some attention:

Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP Aspherical (IF) Zoom $460 (A cheaper alternative to the Canon 17-55 and the Sigma 17-50mm. It is still better than the Canon 18-55mm kit lens. It has great image quality but lacks the Image stabilization that the other two offer (which is essential if you want to use your camera as a handheld often). Tamron offers an IS version of this lens, but tests have shown that it isn't quite as sharp and it is slower than the Sigma and Canon and the autofocus isn't as good. Based on the research I've done online, I'd prefer to buy the Sigma for $50 more than the IS (well Tamron calls it VC) version of this lens.) All that said, this is an excellent lens at a good price if you plan on using a tripod most of the time.

Amazing lenses that are expensive list:

Tokina 11-16/2.8 AT-X 116 PRO DX $720 (Best wide angle lens around, in many people's eyes.)

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens $1600 (One of the best lenses on the market if not THE best. Great image quality, excellent contrast. The only thing this baby is missing is Image Stabilization.)

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM $1075 (Excellent range, Image stabilization, contrast and picture quality. One of the best lenses after the Canon 24-70mm. For some it may be the best, if they need the IS.)

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM $1100 (Not to be confused with the 18-55mm Canon kit lens. Many people consider this to be THE best lens available for APS-C body cameras, i.e. T2i, T3i, 60D ect. The only downside is that this lens CANNONT be used on full frame cameras. i.e. 5D, 1D.) It is essentially an L quality lens as far as image quality goes. Amazing quality sharpness, contrast, minimal fringing and flaring, and just a fantastic lens. It does lack the L lens quality build though.

Final Note: This is not a comprehensive list, nor am I a professional photographer. I am simply a guy who did a ton of research and wanted to contribute and give people a decent place to get started with camera and lens selection. I certainly encourage each of you to do you own research and find out what suits your needs best. You can certainly find cheaper cameras and lenses out there. I take photography pretty serious and want the best quality images/videos possible for a reasonable price. In most cases, you really do get what you pay for. Thanks for reading.

I received the shipment promptly. The camera is terrific and I'm enjoying it. However, the "Accessory Kit" was seriously lacking the bag was not the one pictured and was no more than a simple foam rubber bag in which you might store a six pack, there was no memory card or "Jumpstart" DVD, and the other items were cheap (among others, a wipe, some Q-tips and tiny unmarked bottle of what I assume is "cleaning solution").

When I wrote to complain about the bag, I received a reply a number of days later that they would send the pictured bag as a "one-time courtesy." A COURTESY? For delivering the item that was advertised? I NEVER received a reply about the two missing items. That was a week ago ... and TODAY I received an e-mail asking for a contact number so that a customer service representative could speak with me. I replied that I would not give them my contact number, I would not be speaking to a representative, and I expected the three items (the replacement bag, missing memory card, and missing DVD) sent immediately. I'm not holding my breath.

My advice ... SKIP this third-party seller and the completely unnecessary "accessory kit" order just the camera from AMAZON.

Buy Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Zoom Lens + 10p Now

I would be a fool to say I don't love this camera. However, do yourself a favor and shop around and make sure you know what you are paying for before you click the "buy" button. STAY AWAY FROM ZEEMO DIGITAL:

1. They advertise a NEW CAMERA..... I received a loosely packaged camera and accessories in a brown general box. NOT EVEN A CANON BOX.....

2. The Accessories are great if you are using a small point and shoot camera. for a DSlR... FORGET IT! you will never be able to get the quality shot you want with the tripod they deliver. and you will NEVER be able to carry all your goods with the bag they offer.

3. The Batteries are NOT (at least in my order) CANON batteries. and drain so fast you will barely get 100 pics per charge.

4. The other smaller accessories are not needed for anyone living in the 21st Century. TRUST ME

5. ZeeMo attempted to persuade me from waiving my Freedom of Speech rights by telling me they would send me a better bag and tripod if I deleted my negative add off of AMAZON. Because "a negative ad hurts sales so much". I originally did this then, after the difficulty I was having with the battery I decided, TOUGH! The internet needs to be warned.

I will say that ZeeMo did send me a Tripod and a Camera bag that they thought was better than the first ones they sent. NOT really. neither tripod stands to wind very well and the bags barely have room for the camera and two lenses.

And, they did send me a Canon Battery they say is new. but it wasn't in original packaging (I received it in a small plastic baggie with no packaging at all, for all I know it came from a floor model.

So, shop around and trust me stay away from ZeeMo. (oh, ZeeMo DO NOT CONTACT ME WE. OUR BUSINESS IS COMPLETE!)

Read Best Reviews of Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Zoom Lens + 10p Here

Using the camera is fun. I would recommend this camera because it is an excellent camera. I take it most places I go. Pictures are excellent! It is very user friendly and the camera kit pieces are very helpful.

Want Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Zoom Lens + 10p Discount?

I probably spent a good 6 months researching DSLR cameras before committing to the Canon Rebel T3i. First, I was debating between a Nikon or Canon. After borrowing my friend's Nikon and another friend's Canon and playing around with both for a few months, I decided on getting a Canon and after looking through all my Canon options and price points, I felt like the Rebel T3i was the perfect match for me.

The Canon's lighter than Nikon, which I prefer. I like how the keys/buttons are situated and it feels comfortable on my hands. I also love how the LCD display screen can be moved around. Not only does that make it easier to shoot some difficult shots, I also like to swivel the screen around to face the inside of the camera to protect the screen while I'm not using the camera.

This kit is also great! I've used everything in the kit and it's great that I didn't need to go out and buy things separately.

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Nikon D800E 36.3 MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Like others, I debated on whether or not to choose the D800E or the D800. I'm primarily a nature photographer, so my inclination was to get the D800E. The one potential problem situation was with moire on bird feathers. I ultimately chose the D800E based on the logic that birds have so many feathers at different angles and proportions that significant moire would be very unlikely.

Well I received my D800E two days before a planned trip to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. After more than 2500 images under all conditions, I have to rate the camera as spectacular a step beyond excellent. Image quality and detail are stunning. I was using a Nikon 200-400 f/4 VR and a Nikon 600 f/4 VR for most of my images. The level of detail is simply stunning. There is detail that I have never before seen from any camera. I'm seeing resolution at 100% (1/7th the image) that is suitable for a web post or small print. And noise is completely absent at lower ISO levels and minimal even at ISO 6400.

You know going in that the D800E only has a frame rate of 4 fps. That's enough for a quick burst at critical action. With birds I'm shooting at 1/1000 second or faster so I am already trying to capture critical action and a catchlight in just a few frames. At burst rates it does take a little time to write to the card, but I never came close to filling the buffer.

One of the things that has been underappreciated is the new AF system. The new AF system of the D800 is excellent very quick and accurate. There have been some reports of AF errors with the D800 especially using the widest sensor and a wide angle lens. I have not seen that issue on my copy of the D800E.

The ergonomics and controls are very intuitive. This is a camera you can immediately pick up and use just like other Nikons. The one adjustment I had to make was with exposure compensation. The direction of the exposure comp has been reversed, but can be customized in the camera menu settings.

While there have been reports of the need for a tripod or special technique, I shot the D800E just as I would have used earlier cameras. If you miss focus the image is still soft, but there is no problem using the camera handheld or on a gimbal head.

File sizes are large and as expected the large files put greater demand on your computer. Large files understandably take longer to open and to save. But this is to be expected.

Colors and dynamic range at ISO 200 are spectacular. Even at high ISO levels, colors are very acceptable.

Overall, I am very pleased with the D800E and highly recommend it for advanced amateur and pro nature photographers. This is not a camera for a beginner or someone who is not skilled. This is a camera for someone who is skilled, understands the tradeoffs involved, and wants the best image quality possible in a DSLR.

EDIT June 16, 2012

I've continued to use the D800E and my opinion has not changed. It's a great camera. One thing to be aware of is the depth of field. Because the in focus area is so extremely sharp, your specific focus point and depth of field require a little more thought. Your choice of what parts of the image should be in sharpest focus will be rewarded, but if you make the wrong choice you can really tell the difference.

I bought one of the first D800 bodies Nikon sold. And, yes, I had the left-side AF issues that other folks describe in these reviews. I had been using the camera for a couple of months, and was very pleased with the quality of images I was getting. However, I decided to have the left side focus points fixed in case I ever needed to move my focus point over to the left side. I sent my D800 in to Nikon USA Repair in Melville, NY. It came back fixed and worked great.

In the meantime, a D800E arrived that had been on order since February 7th. After a week of shooting both the D800 and D800E, I decided to sell the D800 and buy another D800E. I like to have two identical bodies so I always have a backup camera on treks, and one that has the same controls as my other body. I was planning to keep the D800 as my backup until I saw the images coming out of the D800E and after I did extensive testing with the FoCal software from Reikan Technology.

I only shoot RAW (Nikon NEF format). While I could post process the images from the D800 and D800E using Adobe Creative Suite CS6, and make them look almost identical...they were in fact not identical. As long as I was shooting landscapes, the images from the two cameras would appear to have the same level of details in my first prints. However, when I started to do prints larger than 16 in x 24, I was convinced the D800E was the winner. You could clearly see the finer details.

After I started using the FoCal software to do my AF Fine Tuning, I also found major differences in the sharpness the D800E could produce. While FoCal is not currently designed for use in comparing camera bodies, it does provide that capability if you carefully control the lighting on your target, the distance to target and the camera/lens settings. When I did this apples-to-apples comparison between the D800 and the D800E on all of my Nikon lens (14-24mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm, 200-400mm), I found the aperture sharpness results for the D800E were substantially higher than the results from the D800 for every lens...and consistently so. When I zoomed in on the shots of the target for a visual comparison, I could also see a difference, especially in the fine details in the target.

I don't yet know how much more details I will get for all types of shots, but I do know I can crop the D800E images significantly more than I can crop D800 images and end up with better details. For any kind of animal or bird shot, where I do not have the luxury of setting up for perfect composure, having more details means I can worry about composition later because I know I can crop more. I have cropped down to 10% of some D800E images, and still had enough details to make a nice 8x10 print without using special fractal software. Now that is detail I can live with!

Buy Nikon D800E 36.3 MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) Now

I originally ordered a Nikon D800E but after 4 months on a waiting list I settled for a Nikon D800. I shot it for a week or so, but when the Nikon D800E became available I jumped at the opportunity to own the camera I had originally pre-ordered. I shot both camera's with a Nikon 85mm 1.4G and they were both amazingly sharp with detail I've never seen from the format before. I started shooting the Nikon D800E today and it is plainly evident that their is a fidelity that is simply beyond what is available from the Nikon D800. The colors are also better, its hard to explain but they seem to be more true/accurate. Overall, I am highly impressed with both cameras but simply cannot believe the fidelity and quality that I am getting from the D800E. Well worth the wait & cost. I hope this helps a prospective buyer!

Read Best Reviews of Nikon D800E 36.3 MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) Here

I ordered the first D800E on 6/1/2012; after waiting for 2 and 1/2 months, I received the camera at mid of September. I was so excited, but, as soon as I opened the shipping package, I knew the camera was used/returned: the outer box was worn, the camera LCD protector has scratches, and there were several big pieces of dust on the mirror and in the camera. The serial number of the camera is 30049XX.

After returned the first one, I waited another month until Amazon out of stock of D800E and then in stock again. I thought OK now Amazon.com should have a brand new batch of D800E, so I ordered the second one at mid of October and received it a week later. To my surprise, the second one's serial number was even smaller than the first one -it is 30037XX. That made me very nervous and quickly ran some AF tests with my nikon lenses (60mm f2.8G, 24mm f1.4G, and 85mm f1.4G). As expected, the result was bad: very serious back-focus with all these lenses. That probably was the reason why it was returned by previous owners.

It is clear that two D800E I received are returned/restock, or even refurbished, items sold as brand new. The shutter number of both cameras were reset to zero either by Amazon.com or by Nikon, so they knew.

I write this review just want to warn other D800/E buyers: there are many defective D800/E from the earlier production are still in the market today, so carefully check and test what you have received.

The one star is to Nikon for producing so many defective D800/E without recalling them, and to Amazon.com for sending out returned/used/restock, even refurbished, items without inform its customer about the true condition of the items.

Update (November 10, 2012): ordered the third D800E from another online store this week. Called the store for the serial number of the camera before it was shipped to me. The number is 3009XXX, much bigger than those from Amazon.com -a good sign. After received it couple days ago, I have been doing some extensive tests on the camera with all of my FX lenses. The result: finally, I think I got a brand new, trouble-free D800E. The AF is good with all my lenses, even 14-24mm f2.8G and 24mm f1.4G. No dead or stuck pixels even at iso 1000 with no NR. Image sensor is clean, no dust or oil.

Based on my tests, I would say D800E is a fantastic camera -it is so sharp, the produced images has so much detail when used it with the best nikkor/zeiss lenses. It is a unique DSLR: one and only Nikon DSLR that doesn't have anti-aliasing filter, so its image quality could challenge those from $20,000 medium format. Nikon's engineer department has done a great job developed this wonder FX high-resolution imaging system, but its quality control, management, public relation and customer service have messed up a big time. That is why it was so painful to just purchase a good quality D800/E. The camera itself deserves 4-5 stars.

Good luck with your searching for a good D800E! You will like the camera. Enjoy shooting!

Want Nikon D800E 36.3 MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) Discount?

I've been a Nikon customer since my Dad gave me his old Nikon F in 1972 (and yes, I still have it). The D3/D300 generation finally convinced me to give up on film, and recently, with over 100,000 images on the D300 shot meter, I upgraded my older D3 and D300 to a D4 and D800E. Both the D3 and D300 were amazingly fine cameras, so my expectations have been high and I'm happy to say, the new Nikons have generally lived up to my expectations. In this review, I'll stay focused on the D800E.

In a nutshell, the D800E is an amazing camera that's a steal for the price. When I first bought a D300 several years ago, I was stricken by the ease I was able to get keepers having that certain "pop". The D800E continues in this trend. It feels like a well-tuned machine that disappears in your hands, and when you point it at something, it just gives and gives. You never feel like the camera is holding you back...the only limits are your own technique and artistic sense. To me, this is exactly what a fine camera should be.

As for the D800 vs. D800E decision, in the end I decided that the D800E is (marginally) better in ultimate image quality, with no obvious drawbacks other than the higher price. False color and moire? Yes, they're there...and when I first got my camera, I went out and took dozens of shots of subjects intentionally designed to bring out the worst. None took more than a minute to fix in Capture NX2 or Photoshop. Not an issue for me.

A few other reviewers knock the idea of going from DX to the D800E, but I suppose I disagree. My rationale in going with the D800E as a replacement for my DX camera was all about preserving my investment in lenses. Put a DX lens on the D800E, and you get a 16MP D300S. In any measure of image quality, it's better than my aging D300, and I don't need to scrap the 5-6 DX lenses I've collected over the years. The D4, by comparison, is somewhat different...with a DX lens on the D4, you don't get any more resolution than the D300 instead, you get an amazing low-light D300. I suppose each has a place, but I tend to want both options.

Prior generation accessories don't work on the D800E, no matter what you're upgrading from...forget about reusing the batteries, grips, etc about all I salvaged was my collection of CF memory cards, my Nikon speedlights, the GP-1 GPS unit and my camera strap. But if you're like me, the big investment is lenses, and I'm happy to say all of my lenses made the transition without issue, as you'd expect.

Keep in mind that 36MP raw images are huge, so any 4GB CF cards you might have are getting pretty wimpy: 50 full-resolution raw images fit on a 4GB card. 32GB cards are much more convenient, and the D800E supports dual CF and SD slots, so you can carry quite a bit of memory.

And to fill up all those memory cards, you're going to want the best lenses you can find. Although most any Nikon lens ever made will fit on the D800E, that pixel-packed sensor has an uncanny ability to reveal even the tiniest of lens flaws and to amplify the merits of a top-notch lens. My 85mm 1.4 is awesome, as are my 14-24, 24-70, 60 macro and 135 DC. You can even see optical differences f/stop by f/stop. The 24-120 you see on a lot of these cameras is an okay lens, but if you look closely, you'll see its flaws without too much effort. And the same goes for any of the kit-quality DX lenses...my advice would be to invest in at least one really good prime lens.

Just as all those pixels put stress on your lenses, you'll want to consider everything in your digital darkroom, from computer to printer to software. Editing large raw files (or uncompressed video) takes a lot of computer...what seemed snappy and fast with a 12MP camera might be notably sluggish with 36MP. The D800E can to 8x10 prints at over 600DPI...can your printer do anything with all that detail? If you haven't updated your imaging software in a long time, you'll probably notice most older programs can't even handle files as large as the D800E puts out.

Some reviewers take the stance that the D800E is somehow "too good" for the typical amateur. That unless you're willing to use exotic and expensive lenses, a tripod for every shot, etc etc etc that somehow you're just not going to be happy with this camera. I tend to look at this the other way around...if I take a shot with my D300 and my D800E, no matter what level of care I put into the picture, the D800E will always give me a better looking image. Yes, if I'm hand-holding at slow shutter speeds and using a lesser quality lens, I'm not going to get the maximum quality the D800E is capable of. But I *am* going to get as good or better images than most any lesser camera. Sometimes "good enough" is all I can do, and the D800E, in addition to having insanely high upper limits on performance, is also going to give me better "good enough" images. Just because I'm only driving to my local grocery store doesn't mean I don't enjoy driving a Porsche.

Construction quality is excellent, as you'd expect for a pro-grade camera at this price point. Although side-by-side next to a D300, the size difference is small, the D800E has more "heft" to it. The grip fits well in your hands, and most of the controls can be operated by feel, even with gloves. If you've used pretty much any Nikon DSLR, the layout and menu system will feel familiar to you, and I was able to dial in most of the settings I wanted without spending lots of time foraging through the instructions. Some folks have criticized the placement of the ISO adjustment button, since it pretty much takes two hands to operate. For myself, I tend to set the ISO where I want, then use the exposure compensation switch, as I can do this with one hand and without taking my eyes off the viewfinder.

I've read about various firmware problems (focus and video problems mainly) and I'm happy to say, mine has not shown even the slightest symptoms. If it helps anyone, mine was new in Dec. 2012 and has a serial number of 3010xxx.

As for individual features, yes, there's all in here...seriously, there's too much to write about in a short review, but here are a few highlights:

At ISO 100 and standard image settings, I get about 10 stops of dynamic range. This is about a stop better than the D300.

At ISO 100-800, noise and picture quality are superb. I'd rate ISO 1600-3200 as good, if you use a strong software noise reduction package. 6400 and up is hit or miss.

Video is amazing if you use the uncompressed HDMI output and record to an external device. This is about the best video you'll find short of studio-grade video cameras.

If you do a lot of video, you'll want to invest in outboard microphones, or Nikon's shoe-mount ME-1.

Autofocus is blindingly fast, except during video recording.

The CLS system works flawlessly with the built-in flash as a master.

Frame rates are somewhat slow in FX mode. The D4 is a clear winner here, and even the old D300 was notably faster.

The built-in flash seems a bit higher, meaning it's less prone to those annoying dark areas caused by large lenses obstructing the flash beam.

The GPS works well, but remains slow. I tend to leave it on whenever the camera's on (as opposed to the default which cycles it on/off with the meter).

The add-on battery pack (MD12) is outrageously expensive, but it makes the camera much easier to handle.

You get about 500 shots on the standard internal battery...the MD12 get you up to 2000 images on a set of batteries, and you can use standard AA's.

The in-camera HDR is cool, but I prefer doing HDR in software.

The eyepiece view is very bright and easy to see, even without glasses. I have a 1.2X DK-17M, and I find I don't need to use it.

Live View is much easier to use, and the artificial horizon is a blessing for architecture or landscape shots.

Yes, it is as loud as some reviews say, even in "quiet" mode.

The custom menus and shooting options are a terrific feature, if you learn to use them properly.

Overall, in the right hands, this camera is capable of producing some stunningly fine photographs. If you know what to do with it, or are willing to learn, then this is truly a five-star product.

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