Canon Powershot SD400 5MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

Let me begin by saying that Canon makes exceptional digital cameras; the best in the market right now. This is because they have always used high quality components since they began manufacturing digital cameras. This one is no exception.

Now that I've sold you on a Canon, which one should you choose?

First off, let's see if you really need an SDxxx camera, or would be better suited with a cheaper non ultraportable camera.

The SDxxx Series offers several key advantages over less portable models:

-Beautiful, sleek design and metallic body will wow anyone who sees it.

-Gorgeous 2 inch LCD screens

-The excellent Dig!c 2 processor (other Canons only have dig!c 1)

-Much better movie mode than previous Canons

-Small light, easy pocketability

On the other hand, there are some significant drawbacks due to the components Canon had to use to get the camera so small:

-Few manual controls.

-Pictures are not as sharp as those of similar non ultraportable cameras.

-The flash is very close to the lens (lots of redeye problems)

-More purple fringing issues than other Canons

-Proprietary batteries that are expensive to replace

-The LCD is very fragile. Read the SD200 and SD300 reviews to see lots of unhappy people whose LCDs broke. Canon's warranty does NOT cover this either. My suggestion? Buy using a credit card that offers a warranty in addition to the manufacturer's. If your lcd breaks, many CC companies will replace the camera no questions asked!

If you don't need the ultra portability and flashy looks of the SD cameras, a slightly larger camera with more features might be right for you. I would highly suggest Canon's A510 or A520 if you don't need an SD model.

If you still want an SD model, which one should you choose? The SD200 with 3.2mp, the SD300 with 4mp, the SD400 with 5mp, or the SD500 at a whopping 7.1mp?

Your first instinct may be that more megapixels is better. Today, however megapixel ratings are similar to Ghz ratings in the computer world: They used to mean a lot, but they don't mean as much anymore. More megapixels do NOT mean a better image. They mean a larger printable image. Unless you have to have huge prints, you simply do not more megapixels. In fact, the 3.2mp of the SD200 is enough for anyone who doesn't plan on printing pictures larger than a standard 8.5x11 sheet of paper.

That having been said, there are some differences between each SDxxx model. In order to get the larger 7.1mp sensor in the SD500, Canon had to make the camera larger. Thus, it is around a quarter inch thicker and 30% heavier than the other 3 models. The larger size did enable Canon to pack more features into it, however:

Features unique to the SD500:

-1/4 inch thicker

-30% heavier

-50% longer flash range

-14% more battery life

The SD400 and SD500 also share these benefits over the SD200/SD300:

-New "Night Display" feature which brightens the LCD in low light

-My Colors feature lets you highlight or swap colors right on the camera

-USB 2.0 High Speed support

The following are shared by all the SDxxx Cameras:

Pros:

-Beautiful, eye catching design

-Great image quality, though not as good as non ultraportable models

-New Dig!c 2 image processor

-Excellent Movie Mode

-3x optical zoom is adequate for most people

-Excellent, intuitive manual controls

-Huge 2.0 inch lcd that looks great under various lighting conditions

-Uses widely available and cheap SD cards

Cons (most of these are minor quirks):

-Some purple fringing problems

-Proprietary batteries are expensive to replace and inconvenient at times

-Lots of issues with fragile LCDs

-No RAW support

-Few manual controls

If you do choose this product, the first thing you should buy is a larger SD memory card. The camera comes with a 16mb card (32 in the SD500), which is pretty much useless.

You should also immediately purchase a case and some screen protectors to protect the LCD.

first! :)

anyways, this is a great camera. ive had an olympus c-3040 zoom for a long time, and while it takes great (outdoor) pics, ive been waiting for a good small camera to carry around all the time. what i wanted was: 3x optical zoom +, 5MP +, CCD, something tiny, a decent LCD screen, something by canon/olympus/nikon, something not too outrageously priced, AF and MF, decent video, etc.

the sd400 has it all! very easy to use i try and not use the user manual until i have to. i did have to use it to find out how to switch the resolution of the pics im taking though. other than that its really intuitive. i also didnt install the software that came with it, and was still able to get the pics onto my desktop (running win xp pro) easily. indoor pic quality is so-so, outdoors is very nice. lots of cool options. the autofocus area indicator is sweet. very small and compact. like i said, everything i wanted and at a good price. bought a 512MB card and im waiting for my leather case to be shipped and im golden.

cons the 3 things i dont like about it. 1) you have to press pretty firmly on the button to take a picture. too much so. 2) the cover to access the USB port is connected using a plastic/rubber thing instead of a hinge. i never trust those things to last. 3) the LCD screen rendering is a bit laggy, if you swivel around quickly its somewhat blurry.

the best case i have found for the sd400 is the IXY Digital 40/50 Custom Leather Case from Japan.

thats it, good buy and a good deal.

Buy Canon Powershot SD400 5MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Now

This is an awesome camera. Good quality pictures, fast shutter speed, neat features, compact design. I loved it while it lasted. Too bad I can't comment about the battery life, because it stopped working on its first recharge cycle.

The problem is that it is fragile. LCD screen stopped working, even though I bought a hard leather case and kept it in there while not in use. I never dropped it, I never did anything rough to it, but it still stopped working after little over a month of use.

THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. Do some research and read review pages, there's overwhelming amount of complaint about LCD screen breaking. Oh, and warrenty clearly states it doesn't cover something going wrong with LCD screen or lenses or battery leakage (come to think of it, it probably only covers the strap). Customer services will only accuse you of dropping it, and refuse to do anything about it.

The only thing I can do now is to warn others. If you're thinking about buying this model, please reconsider. There are other digital cameras out there that are similar with competitive prices.

Read Best Reviews of Canon Powershot SD400 5MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Here

Whenever a new version of a favorite product is released, I always worry that it won't be as good as the last, that I'll be disappointed in some way. The SD400 is the third Canon ELPH I've owned, and it does not disappoint.

As a long time user, I was extremely pleased that not only did the SD400 improve upon my last Canon (S400), it also didn't change or remove any of the functionality that I had grown accustomed to using.

Plenty of reviews here praise this camera in general terms, so I will instead compare major changes compared with the Canon S400/410. Some are subtle, others more obvious.

* Smaller and lighter than the S400

* A larger LCD than the S400.

* USB 2.0 (notably faster) instead of the USB 1.1 in the S400.

* 5MP instead of 4MP.

* Digic2 instead of Digic (only the SD cameras and SLRs have it at this time).

* Shoots video at double the resolution (640x480) steadily until memory card is full.

* The default version of ZoomBrowser software (5.x) is much improved from the older versions -faster and smoother to use, with better features to control the camera. The new version can be downloaded for older cameras.

* Same metal casing, but a small plastic hinge flap covers the output ports now, instead of a rubber one.

* Uses SD memory cards instead of CF1. These can be notably faster than CF1.

* The physical controls are slightly more closely packed together, but I had no trouble with pressing the wrong ones by accident or anything like that. If anything, the small controls are better organized than previously. I always used to rotate the S400's dial into the wrong mode, which has not been a problem with the new layout which uses a slider switch and software menus.

* Far more shooting modes (such as portrait, pets&children, night snapshot, etc), and better control over focus method, flash metering, exposure metering, etc. It's not a manual SLR, but it gets as close as pocket digital camera can.

* Much faster feeling. Shooting a photo and having it stored to my "ultra" (high speed) SD memory card seems to take less than half the time it used to with the S400.

Highly recommended, no complaints at all.

Want Canon Powershot SD400 5MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Discount?

Let me begin by saying that Canon makes exceptional digital cameras; the best in the market right now. This is because they have always used high quality components since they began manufacturing digital cameras. This one is no exception.

Now that I've sold you on a Canon, which one should you choose?

First off, let's see if you really need an SDxxx camera, or would be better suited with a cheaper non ultraportable camera.

The SDxxx Series offers several key advantages over less portable models:

-Beautiful, sleek design and metallic body will wow anyone who sees it.

-Gorgeous 2 inch LCD screens

-The excellent Dig!c 2 processor (other Canons only have dig!c 1)

-Much better movie mode than previous Canons

-Small light, easy pocketability

On the other hand, there are some significant drawbacks due to the components Canon had to use to get the camera so small:

-Few manual controls.

-Pictures are not as sharp as those of similar non ultraportable cameras.

-The flash is very close to the lens (lots of redeye problems)

-More purple fringing issues than other Canons

-Proprietary batteries that are expensive to replace

-The LCD is very fragile. Read the SD200 and SD300 reviews to see lots of unhappy people whose LCDs broke. Canon's warranty does NOT cover this either. My suggestion? Buy using a credit card that offers a warranty in addition to the manufacturer's. If your lcd breaks, many CC companies will replace the camera no questions asked!

If you don't need the ultra portability and flashy looks of the SD cameras, a slightly larger camera with more features might be right for you. I would highly suggest Canon's A510 or A520 if you don't need an SD model.

If you still want an SD model, which one should you choose? The SD200 with 3.2mp, the SD300 with 4mp, the SD400 with 5mp, or the SD500 at a whopping 7.1mp?

Your first instinct may be that more megapixels is better. Today, however megapixel ratings are similar to Ghz ratings in the computer world: They used to mean a lot, but they don't mean as much anymore. More megapixels do NOT mean a better image. They mean a larger printable image. Unless you have to have huge prints, you simply do not more megapixels. In fact, the 3.2mp of the SD200 is enough for anyone who doesn't plan on printing pictures larger than a standard 8.5x11 sheet of paper.

That having been said, there are some differences between each SDxxx model. In order to get the larger 7.1mp sensor in the SD500, Canon had to make the camera larger. Thus, it is around a quarter inch thicker and 30% heavier than the other 3 models. The larger size did enable Canon to pack more features into it, however:

Features unique to the SD500:

-1/4 inch thicker

-30% heavier

-50% longer flash range

-14% more battery life

The SD400 and SD500 also share these benefits over the SD200/SD300:

-New "Night Display" feature which brightens the LCD in low light

-My Colors feature lets you highlight or swap colors right on the camera

-USB 2.0 High Speed support

The following are shared by all the SDxxx Cameras:

Pros:

-Beautiful, eye catching design

-Great image quality, though not as good as non ultraportable models

-New Dig!c 2 image processor

-Excellent Movie Mode

-3x optical zoom is adequate for most people

-Excellent, intuitive manual controls

-Huge 2.0 inch lcd that looks great under various lighting conditions

-Uses widely available and cheap SD cards

Cons (most of these are minor quirks):

-Some purple fringing problems

-Proprietary batteries are expensive to replace and inconvenient at times

-Lots of issues with fragile LCDs

-No RAW support

-Few manual controls

If you do choose this product, the first thing you should buy is a larger SD memory card. The camera comes with a 16mb card (32 in the SD500), which is pretty much useless.

You should also immediately purchase a case and some screen protectors to protect the LCD.

Nikon D5100 16.2 MP Digital SLR Camera Body with 55-200mm VR Lens + 16GB Card + Case + Filter + Rem

I love this camera! It takes wonderful pictures, lots of editing choices, and it's easy to use. I would recommend this camera for sure.

I didn't have much time to play with it when I first bought it, but the last few days I have. Trying out different settings it's almost as much fun as taking pictures. Would buy it again in a heartbeat.

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I love this kit. The only downside is that the tripod is horrible! It will not hold the camera. If I let go of the camera it would pop out of the tripod. Other than that, the kit is perfect.

Read Best Reviews of Nikon D5100 16.2 MP Digital SLR Camera Body with 55-200mm VR Lens + 16GB Card + Case + Filter + Rem Here

excelente cámara, muy buena capacidad, muy buena calidad de fotografías, muy ergonómica y fácil de usar. .... .. . ..

Want Nikon D5100 16.2 MP Digital SLR Camera Body with 55-200mm VR Lens + 16GB Card + Case + Filter + Rem Discount?

Sony Alpha ECM-SST1 Stereo Microphone with NP-FW50 Battery + Tripod + Case + 3 Filter Set + Accesso

Great product, beyond my expectations. Have filters, the tripod, every think is fully funtional , its great, I love it and I will buy something else from the seller in the future...

Prolite 2.8X DSLR LCD Screen Viewfinder for Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, 5D Mark II, 7D & T1i, Nikon D90,

I bought this LCD Viewfinder for making videos on my Caon 7D and Panasonic GF1. It works very well for what it was intended: an LCD sun shade.

You can find other LCD viewfinders that look very simialr to this but priced between $100 and $180. There are a few reviews on different websites that claim that cheaper LCD viewfinders are exactly the same as the more expensive ones, I cant say for sure if they are, but this one is very well constructed and works perfectly.

This LCD viewfinder comes with and adhesive backed thin metal mount that attaches to your camera. The viewfinder has magnets that securely connect to the thin metal mount. The only problem with the metal mount is that it isn't exactly the same size as the LCD on my GF1 so you have to be careful when sticking it on. It does not block any information on the display if you position it properly.

The inside of the LCD viewfinder is lined with felt to minimize reflections.

I was worried that this did not have an adjustable diopter. I think I read somewhere where the diopter was a -1 to +4 fixed diopter. I'm not sure what that means, but I normally wear +1.25 reading glasses but I do not need them with this LCD viewfinder. I also read that you can pop out the diopter and replace it with a lens from some inexpensive reading glasses with a little work.

An added benefit of using a viewfinder like this is that it stabilizes the camera a lot when you are shooting video.

I'm very happy with this purchase!

I bought this for my T2i thinking that there was no reason to pay upwards of $375 for a "modified loupe" but maybe I was wrong. My only expectation was that the viewfinder would focus on the LCD screen (and stay attached to the camera) but for whatever reason, the focus is off. I do not wear glasses (though occasionally I do wear 1.25 reading glasses for small print books). It is as if the length of the loupe is about a quarter inch too short. I can overcome the problem by wearing a pair of 1.25 reading glasses but that becomes cumbersome. Just for the heck of it, I held a photo loupe on the LCD and it was sharp. Well, maybe it is me old age setting in poor eyesight encroaching but I really don't think so. An adjustable diopter might have resolved the problem but a quarter inch is a lot to make up!

The magnetic frame system works well enough and holds the viewfinder okay.

The eyepiece has some trouble staying on you will probably need to secure it with some rubber cement or something as it will occasionally fall off.

Unfortunately, there are not many solutions for the LCD viewfinder at a reasonable price. Unless Prolite comes out with something that can focus on the screen I would stay away from this one.

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I have a Canon T2i, and a Canon 7D. The frame that sticks to the DSLR's it's the reason why I gave this viewfinder only 3 stars. the frame sticks well with the Canon 7D but it's a different story for Canon T2i, because LCD screen for that DSLR is smaller and has a small sensor right on top of the screen and when I stick the frame on the T2i, it covers the sensor.

But other than that, it works great on my Canon 7D and protects the screen out in the sun from direct sun light.

Read Best Reviews of Prolite 2.8X DSLR LCD Screen Viewfinder for Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, 5D Mark II, 7D & T1i, Nikon D90, Here

Same experience as James Cooper this is out of focus (by a wide margin) when mounted on the viewfinder. It would need to be about 1/2" taller to be able to focus properly. And since the lens is not adjustable, it's useless. I returned it.

Note if you look at the photo you might think it is adjustable, because of the way it appears to have a knurled focusing area below the eye-cup. But that is merely decorative; it doesn't focus.

Want Prolite 2.8X DSLR LCD Screen Viewfinder for Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, 5D Mark II, 7D & T1i, Nikon D90, Discount?

It works and for the price, its OK. I bought it to see how a viewfinder works attached to the back of a DSLR, before I invested much money in a higher quality one. Now I know what I want. What I have learned is that its a deal because its not made to pro standards. There isn't any diopter adjustment OK I expected that for the price, but one of the little magnets on the back (there are 6 of them) kept pulling off of the viewfinder and sticking to the metal plate that you attach to the camera. Finally it disappeared and now I'll have to either do without, or contact the company for a replacement. Then I'll have to figure out how to glue it back in.

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Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Sensor DIGIC 4 Image Processor Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18

Coming from an ameture's POV rather than an expert, I really LOVE this camera. I had previously done a lot of research because I was looking for something a little better than the point-and-shoot digital camera's. Here are some things I noted:

Being a DSLR, this camera is a bit heavy, especially if you're using a telephoto lens. This doesn't terribly bother me because it does not feel "cheap" in any way. To note, the T3 actually feels lighter than the T3i.

-I am REALLY a fan of the swivel screen which is newly introduced in this model. As others have said, I do fear accidentally bumping it and snapping it off but I really do like it. Plus, you can rotate it around so the screen is against the camera to protect it from scratches when not in use.

-Picture quality blew me away. Even before I knew the right settings, just using the auto, this camera handles color really wonderfully. I have taken several outdoor photos with my dogs in the grassy backyard and the grass is a beautiful bright and vibrant hue. No photoshop edits necessary! :)

-The camera itself actually has a few image filters you can apply to your photos after you take them. They're fairly simplistic but a neat addition.

-The battery life when taking photos (and not using live view) is really fantastic compared to typical point and shoot digital cameras. Since the camera does not take photos with live view (unless you turn on the setting) I've gotten many photos before having to recharge.

-The exception to the above: If recording video, especially in HD, that REALLY eats the battery life up. I probably only get a few hours out of the battery if recording straight video.

-I found that it was really easy to learn the functions of this camera, and although I don't know them all, it has great functions and modes both for professionals and beginners. Even just using the auto modes and letting the camera decide the settings, it works fantastic.

-I am not a huge fan of the built in flash. Though I've read that most built in flashes on cameras aren't great, I usually do not use it unless it's really needed. In good light, the camera really performs great without it. Images with the flash tend to be blown out or too dim (if you adjust the brightness)

-The display screen is really gorgeous (and large). Really the best way I can put that. It's a lot more crisp and clear than my other point and shoot digital cameras.

-This model, as opposed to the T3 which does not, has a built in sensor to use wireless remotes (which I also purchased) Just wanted to point that out.

-One thing I can't seem to figure out (and I'm not sure if it's a computer issue or not), when uploading pictures (by plugging in the camera into the computer with the cord provided), it takes FOREVER for my computer to recognize the camera. At first I thought it was because I hadn't installed the software that came with it, so I did that. It still takes at least a minute or two before the software will open up and allow me to download the images. That's truly my only beef which may NOT have anything to do with the camera itself.

Overall I would definitely recommend this to any beginners looking to get their first DSLR. It's a higher end beginners DSLR for a fairly affordable price and if you keep an eye out for those Amazon deals, you can snag a nice bundle. I've had mine for about 5 months now and I absolutely love it!

Received this as a gift (it was bought @best buy but it's cheaper here!) and felt compelled to share my initial reaction to the T3i. I've been wanting an SLR camera for a while but could never decide on one. Well when I received this as an anniversary gift, the decision had been made for me. I was considering a Nikon so I was a little worried at first but I immediately took it out of the box and started messing around with it. First thing I noticed was that the controls were easy to navigate for someone like myself who never used an SLR and the pictures taken just fooling around looked really nice. I read parts of the little booklet to see how to get the image screen to come on as I was not used to taking photos through just a viewfinder. After a while though, I actually had fun using the viewfinder, it has 9 points of focus. However I would probably turn on the view screen if I were to ask someone to take a photo for me, because it's more like a point and shoot and easier for most folks. I did this at a family gathering and the in-laws appreciated using the view screen. Either way the photos come out extremely well. My husband usually takes terrible pics no matter what, on all of our cameras, which he readily admits. They're usually out of focus, dark or just bad, we don't know how they turn out that bad but they do. But he's been able to take plenty of good ones with this, which in my book is pretty amazing! Switching between MF and AF is very easy as well, there is a switch on the side of the lens near the button that disengages the lens. Using this camera is much easier than I imagined. It came with the EF-S 18-55 and my hubby got the EFS 55-250 for me as well. So far I have been using the 18-55 but the 55-250 worked well for some photos I took in the expansive lobby at the Grand Calfornian. I'm still learning about the camera and plan on buying the guide for this specific camera that is sold here on amazon. I will try to update my review after I get a macro lens and have it for a little while longer. I added some photos of a mother hummingbird and her 2 babies that I have shot for the past week in my yard using the 18-55. I know this review might not be helpful for the experienced but for the amateur I hope it helps. I don't think anyone would be disappointed with this camera especially if you are new to SLR photography.

Buy Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Sensor DIGIC 4 Image Processor Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 Now

I initially bought a Nikon D5100 with these TWO "kit" lenses: 18-55 and 55-200mm. As background, I have 45 years "serious amateur" experience in photography, but little in digital photography. My first "serious" digital SLR was a SONY A100 that I bought so I could use my Minolta AF lenses. At this time, I wanted to update my camera because technology had advanced so much! It was a major decision to change camera brands because of my investment over the years in Minolta AF mount lenses. BUT, I wanted something lighter than the SONY "professional" cameras, and something with a better imaging reputation.

I shot approximately 90 test images with each of the Nikkor lenses. After carefully reviewing them at 100% magnification in Photoshop, I can honestly say that only 1 of the 180 photos was genuinely sharp.

The 55-200 had trouble focusing under certain circumstances even in mid-day on a mostly cloudy but well lighted day. In addition to the lack of sharpness either the lenses, the sensor or the in camera software did a poor job with contrast and color rendition. Neither zoom ring moved "smoothly." Both felt "rough." I understand that they are relatively cheap "kit" lenses, but I expect much better from a lens with the Nikkor name!

The mirror in the Nikon DSLR body did something indicative of poor design, poor quality and/or poor manufacturing. It shifted at the last moment as it seated itself. It was not aligned properly for its travel and seating.

There is something about the design of the D5100 body front where it is supposed to fit your right hand that was VERY uncomfortable for me. This could be a personal issue since hand sizes vary.

Fortunately, I was able to return the camera for a full refund! Overall, I was EXTREMELY disappointed! I expected MUCH better from Nikon.

I then bought a Canon T3i with 18-55 and 55-250mm "kit" lenses, which is roughly equivalent to the Nikon D5100 package but $100 more. I had read MANY reviews, both professional and user. They almost unanimously favored the Nikon which is why I first tried the Nikon. I have now had the Canon for about two weeks and shot perhaps 200 "test" images. Out of these, most are extremely sharp even magnified to 200% in Photoshop. While both lenses appear to focus quickly and properly in all lighting conditions, I had trouble at the 250mm end. In defense of the lens, I do NOT yet know how to change the focusing parameters (spot versus wide area)and I was trying to capture either a distant deer or bird both partly hidden in a mess of branches or trees. The camera did not know what I wanted to focus on. Exposure, color and contrast rendition are excellent!

Oddly, in the full automatic setting, the camera wants to use the flash in situations that I do NOT believe call for flash. Interestingly, and useful for idiot-proof photography, in full automatic the camera's brain alters the ISO setting to afford "optimum" settings for a decent photo. They may not be the settings a knowledgeable photographer would choose, but they work!

The camera body appears to be solid, properly designed, engineered and manufactured. Unfortunately, it is slightly heavier than the Nikon, which is a major factor for me. However, it fits my right hand very comfortably. To help with the weight, I bought an Op/Tech USA Bino/Cam webbing harness (I did NOT buy the "elastic" version because these things tend to stretch out of shape after not too long). It is available through Amazon with the ASIN #B000GTRBQQ.

If you are looking for a DSLR in this price range, I highly recommend the Canon T3i (aka EOS 600D ).

Read Best Reviews of Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Sensor DIGIC 4 Image Processor Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 Here

I purchased this camera with both the kit lens (18-55mm) and 55-250mm lens from Canon. I am very pleased with the picture quality. Mostly, I have used this camera for taking pictures at youth soccer games. Using the 55-250mm lens, I was impressed by how close I could get to the action and have gotten many amazing action photos. The cameras abilities were good enough to freeze the action for nice crisp pictures. The 3.7fps speed is very helpful for making sure I don't miss an important moment. I know it does not take sports photos as well as professional cameras, but I feel it certainly does a great job for the money! I have not yet tried it in indoor lighting. I also took some pictures of a social event I attended (using the 18-55mm lens)and the 18 megapixels really helps the people in the photos to stand out and look sharp. The camera was also quite easy to figure out how to use. I spent maybe 30 minutes browsing through the manual and another 30 minutes or so watching some tutorials and I felt comfortable with pretty much every setting on the camera. An excellent purchase!

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Years ago, I had a Canon AE-1 35mm. I've been using my wife's Sure-Shot for years but decided to buy a digital. After shooting 1360 pictures at Disney World last week, I am thrilled with this purchase! I got some great pictures with the standard 55mm lens and the 55-250 zoom, especially in low light. Amazon did a great job of shipping also, I couldn't be happier!

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Sony MVCFD100 FD Mavica 1.2MP Digital Still Camera w/ 3x OPtical Zoom

This is a great camera, I give it 4 starts only beacuse [does not] include a diskette or a memory stick..

Overall the camera is very nice, the superfine resolution is great. But it eats floppys so get a 64 or 128 mb memory stick.

Also be sure to get another battery pack... No sound on the movies, but its not ment to be a camcorder. Included are lens cover, shoulder strap, video out cable, a/c adapter & charger & USB cable....

Well, thought it was time for me to get with the times so I finally got myself a digital camera. I've always wanted one, but just really never had the money for one. I was able to get my hands on the Sony MVC-FD100 Digital Camera a couple of weeks ago, and I can say that I am very pleased with it.

You don't have to be a computer wiz to know how to operate it, which is one of the best qualities. It is VERY easy to use and I seriously think that anyone can learn to use it in a matter of minutes. It's a little bigger than most cameras, but this is because it allows you to save pictures to a floppy disk (which means that you really never have to hook up the camera to your PC to view or share your pictures). You can also use memory sticks as well (they're expensive, but can hold lots of memory and is more convenient than switching floppies non-stop).

There's a lot of neat things you can do with the camera. You can zoom in and out with ease, change the effects to make your pictures look different, and you can make short MPEG videos (with no audio). All of these features are very easy to use and are easy to learn.

A main drawback to this digital camera is the price. It is rather costly, but I think it's worth it. If this seems to be out of your price range then you should look at some others. There are plenty of others that are less expensive.

All in all, I am very pleased with the Sony MVC-FD100 Digital Camera. It's easy to use and is very convenient. If you're looking for a high quality digital camera that can be operated by just about anyone, then I highly recommend that you check this one out.

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There was a little piece of advice I always gave people upon choosing their first digital camera, that being: 1)Take the megapixel count you are interested in, and 2)Multiply it by 100 3)If you spend within 50 dollars of that, you have basically gotten a good deal. If you pay less, you are probably missing some fundamental feature (a zoom is often the first thing to go) and if you pay more, you are getting more than you probably wanted (some special lens made from a glass that NASA uses to make the microwaves on the shuttle or something like that). With the Mavica FD series, the extra 100 or 200 dollars is going to its method of storing pictures, on simple, inexpensive floppy disks.

If that still does not seem to justify the price, consider this: a floppy disk drive runs anywhere from 40 to 60 dollars, now take that drive and stick it on the back of a digital camera (thus making it self-powered).

And then there is the media itself: Smartmedia and CompactFlash cards are down in price (averaging less than a dollar per megabyte) and are available in sizes in the giga-range. That all seems fine and dandy, until you consider the phrase "don't put all your eggs in one basket." The cards are like any other data storage media, and thus prone to corruption and electromagnetic interference. So, because of a simple error in the camera (it is a computer like any other, and thus prone to all the same weaknesses), a whole 64+ megabytes of memories can be lost forever. And, to add insult to injury, that card was really expensive! Meanwhile, a box of 40+ floppy disks (at about 1.44MB per disc) costs a little less than 10 dollars. Now get out your calculators....Okay....PENCILS DOW--I MEAN, CALCULATORS DOWN!

Of course, the problem with floppy disks is that there are so many of them that lugging them around your vacation spot can be a complete pain. Fortunately, unlike the FD-75, you have the option of using Memory Sticks. In fact, if you take someone's picture on the MemStick, but want to give them one of the photos, simply insert a floppy disk and copy (just like in a computer) the picture to the floppy and give them that disk. Beats making them wait for a print.

Also, Sony's sensibility guided them toward making the FD Mavicas out of HandyCam parts, meaning that some of the accessories you got for/with your Handycam (if you have one)can be used with the mavica, namely the battery (that little crummy one that came with it that you have probably not used since you got that even better 8-hour one!) which is exactly the same as the battery that comes with the FD! So, out of the box, you have doubled the battery life of the camera. Also, the camera has a 37mm filter thread, which allows you to attach neat accessories like color filters and fisheye lenses.

Final word: a little pricey and not much for resolution, but for Handycam owners, it is a new lease on life for those old batteries!

Read Best Reviews of Sony MVCFD100 FD Mavica 1.2MP Digital Still Camera w/ 3x OPtical Zoom Here

I have purchased this particular camera due to its ability to record images to the floppy disk. I traveled across the country by bicycle and uploaded pictures from public libraries along the way, where computers would not allow to install software and have USB port, but always had available floppy drives. This worked very well!

The camera showed amazing performance in representing the colors in its pictures. Focus was always good, images were clear and beautiful. Macro mode worked extremely well. Camera is reliable and battery life is superb.

With 1.3 Mega Pixels, images are perfect for computer use or make print outs of standard size.

Shutter delay makes it difficult to shot moving objects unless you are used to guessing the right moment. Sensitivity in dark conditions was very low, on automatic mode at least. I don't know if adjusting white balance or exposure compensation would improve the sensitivity. I always found automatically taken pictures to be of best quality.

If there is a need to use the MAJOR feature of the Sony MVC FD 100 function floppy drive, then this is the excellent choice.

FD 200 that replaced 100 in 2003 offers 2.0 Mega Pixels Matrix with identical features.

Here are few sample pictures taken with this camera:









All in all, this camera provided exceptional service and I recommend it to anyone that needs to use its ability to save images on floppy disks.

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I bought my Mavica as my first digital camera and have never been disappointed with it. It has travelled everywhere with me and has taken many awesome pictures. It was very easy to learn to use and the manual for it is well written and understandable.

I'm just now getting around to getting a memory stick for it so that I can record my photos as TIFFs. I suspect that after I use that, I will love it even more.

I have learned everything that I know about digital photography with my Mavica by my side. I learned how to set white balance, ISO speed, and spot metering easily and quickly. I would love to have a camera with a bigger resolution and a smaller size, but my Mavica takes such beautiful pictures that I'm not going to replace it.

I use it mostly to take pictures of my daughter and her classmates. The individual pictures taken indoors in UV light with a flash are amazing. In fact, after her class Christmas party (2003) they were so good that I printed them onto photo fabric and made the teacher a scarf with pictures of the children.

I love this camera and have been VERY happy with it. I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone.

Esky C5900 White H.264 Wireless DDNS WiFI IR-cut IP Camera Pan/Tilt 2-ways Audio LED night vision C

I am a novice to security cameras but decided to give this a try because it had all the features I wanted. The directions for wired setup were good and the camera gives a very clear picture, decent audio and the panning/tilt works good. However, I need to be able to view this remotely and wirelessly. The ability is there,but it has taken me several tries to almost have it working. I have some networking experience but this is a little above me. The net book I wanted to receive the signal does not have a powerful enough adapter to pick up the signal from the router so I had to use a notebook I wasn't planning on tying up. Possibly my lask of experience is the problem, but I would recommend having someone set this up that knew what they were doing.

Update: as of 6/20 I still have not been able to remotely access this camera. It does take very nice snapshots of what you can see wired.

The Esky C5900 camera has a lot of potential.

Pro: You can remotely view the camera with your smart phone (I am using a Samsung Galaxy S2) and you can rotate the camera with your phone. It will also send you emails when motion is detected. I also put in t 32G sd card and that works well. I have set the camera up in different locations (using wifi) and it works.

Con: I emailed into Esky for assistance and have never received a reply. One big problem is about once a day the camera needs to be rebooted i.e. un-plugged and plugged back in, and you can not do this remotely.

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Update: Well it looks like despite, my 5 star review, they didn't send out whichever free gift they were promising. So I won't be able to share what exactly they were bribing reviews with. Do yourself a favor and stay away from these H.264 pieces of junk. Your maximum character limit for a password on one of these devices is 7 characters. If you enter more than that, you'll have to reset your camera to be able to access it again.

>Warning, I'd really rate this cam a 2 star but read comments below to find out why I put 5 stars.

Let's see... I guess it depends on how you want to use this. It works fine in IE and with it's included software. If you intend to view this on an Android phone, think again. Ipcam viewer Lite/Pro can't use the send audio feature on this cam, and receiving audio is only in the Pro(paid) version. Worse, if your app can't use the rtsp stream (H.264) than you will be using the HTTP stream which seems to get less that 1/fps. Google it, many people are having this problem (it doesn't matter if it's connected wireless or wired, on the local lan or over the web). TinyCam Monitor Pro can't receive audio or send audio and you will have to find a camera profile that uses a similar HTTP feed. Again, you will get less than 1/fps since these programs cannot access the rtsp stream.

Esky does have an android app that is not on the market, you have to download it from their link. I haven't tried it because they force you to register for an account with them and I don't believe there app will work with my other 3 cameras (non-Esky) that I have in the house. I do not want to use 2 different apps on my phone to access all of my cameras.

Blue Iris can access the rtsp stream and gets up to 30fps. I was able to use the PTZ functionality of the cam but the commands seemed to lag. The audio functions would not work.

Now here is the best part. In my box, there was a card for a "rewards" program. If I put up a five star review on Amazon or Ebay, they will send me a free gift "I'm sure to like". Bribes? I googled and could not find out what the "reward" is.

Also, I have updated the firmware to the latest one available. The cam seems to reset itself alot and when I have it hooked up wirelessly, the framerates from the the other cams on my network (both wireless and wired) seem to drop very low whenever I access this cam's http stream. My network is a 1000mbps network with 1 router, 1 x 1 gigabit switch.

Bottom line, most apps are not compatible with the new H.264 cams. If you want to be a beta tester and wait for this functionality to be implemented in other applications then get this cam. If you only need one cam in your home and you don't mind using IE to access your cams features, this cam will work for your needs as well.

Read Best Reviews of Esky C5900 White H.264 Wireless DDNS WiFI IR-cut IP Camera Pan/Tilt 2-ways Audio LED night vision C Here

Fujifilm Finepix Z1 5.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver)

Ok, I guess I have to start by confessing to being a Fujifilm fan. This is my fifth digicam, the previous four being a Fujifilm FinePix 1300, a Fujifilm FinePix 2800, a Fujifilm F410, and a Fujifilm F420.

What a tiny gadget this is, and it still manages to fit in 5 megapixels, and 3x optical zoom. Very fast start up time too. As an architect, I love to be able to whip out and shoot any scenery, sunset or building that catches my fancy at anytime and this serves just fine. This leads me to mention the one gripe some people might have with it, people with large hands/fingers might have problems accessing the tiny buttons, but not me.

And what a stunning looking gadget it is! It comes in 2 colors; silver (the one I went for) and black. Very slim, slimmer than Kate moss, LOL! Never fails to grab attention when I whip it out. Excellent design! To switch on, you slide back the front panel.

It is very simple to use (you literally snap away once you have set up, which is very easy to do) and shortcut buttons eliminate the need to twiddle in the menu section in search of most options such as different flash settings, different resolution settings, Macro mode (amazing close ups), and many others. There are also some pop ups to guide you, reducing your dependence on the manual (which, like all Fujifilm manuals I have seen, is very detailed and easy to use) except for really major issues.

Like I mentioned, the camera has 3x optical zoom. The zoom lens does not project out of the camera. It instead uses a system where it zooms vertically inside the camera and images are reflected to it. Image quality is not compromised at all.

Images viewed in the large 2.5" LCD display are really clear and bright when it is used as a viewfinder, especially for indoor shots. Depending on the light condition of the environment, the LCD automatically adjusts to compensate, enabling you to view in almost any condition, a very good feature, especially as there is no optical viewfinder. This can also be adjusted manually. Oh, and the LCD is extra toughened to resist scratches/breakage. I unwittingly tested this when I accidentally dropped mine LCD face down on some cobbled street. I picked it up with my heart in my mouth and besides a few scratches on the case, no scratch on the LCD. There is also a new feature that enables you to view past photos taken while taking a new one. Cool!

The AF/AE lock is a breeze to use and takes exceptional shots every time. Photo quality is really amazing. You can pick out fine details in the background of the subject. Colours and contrasts are good and sharp. Flash modes are easy to access and dark indoor shots taken using suppressed flash yielded amazing results. Pictures taken without the flash come out amazingly natural looking, thanks to some new low light feature. Outdoor shots on a bright day are unbelievable in their clarity.

A very useful addition is the introduction of a short cut button to get to the timer; previously, one had to go through the menu which involved quite a number of steps.

The Movie clips with audio are very simple to make, and it is very easy to switch between resolutions (320x240 or 160x120). Results are very good as the movies are shot at 30 frames per second which gives TV quality movies. Best results are obtained where there is a lot of light, e.g. outdoors on a sunny day. However, it is amazing to see how the camera adapts rapidly to changes in light conditions while shooting. Length of clips is restricted only by size of memory card.

The video out function enables you to connect the camera to a TV to view images/movie clips. Very good.

Battery life is very good but it's always best to have a spare. The battery charges rather quickly.

The cradle is stylish looking too. I have mine permanently hooked to my PC and just place the camera on it, switch it on, and the software launches and downloads everything quite fast. The cradle also doubles as a tripod stand receiver.

The FinePixViewer software is very good. It is very easy to view folder contents at a glance, set up a slide show, etc. You get lots of print options from full photo, Index 1x2 (2 photos on a sheet), 2x2, through to 7x5.

Print results are simply breathtaking, whatever the size of paper, up to A3. Colours are rich and images very realistic looking.

This is a camera I would recommend without hesitation. It blows away any other camera in its class or price range. If you are looking for a relatively inexpensive, compact, high resolution camera, look no further. The perfect camera for people like me who don't want to do too much adjusting/setting etc. I hope this review helps you.

I am not new to digital cameras. This camera, overall, is more usable than any digital camera I have or have had. I've owned and used the camera for 7 months as of May 06.

I have owned Olympus, Sony and Fuji Digital cameras. This camera by far, as the easiest menus to navigate and are easy to navigate quickly without reading the instructions. The back display is huge and bright, glass reinforced, which a lot of competitors do not have. This keeps away scratches and smashes. The casing is real metal, so you do not have to baby it, and finally, the size and shape of this camera make it very convenient to carry in the front pocket of jeans with no problems. This is the RAZR of digital cameras, in my opinion. It is ready to take pictures very quickly from when you open the lens cover.

The rechargable battery has never died on me before I ran out a 1 GB memory card.

The flash is adequate but a bit slow to recharge. This is not a problem for me however, because I chose this camera for two unique features, First-"Natural Light Mode"-a "flash off" mode that enhances pictures with natural light. I take most of my pictures, even indoors, with no flash, because I like the look of natural light. This camera is great at capturing under those conditions.

The second feature I like about the camera is called "PhotoChrome" mode-it richens colors and makes pictures sort of a "technicolor" look. Print worthy in many cases. I use this in conjunction with the Natural Light Mode.

The only drawbacks I could think of with this camera is that because of the screen size/vs megapixel, sometimes you think a photo has come out clearly by looking at the screen, but if you didn't use flash and moved (which obviously makes pictures blurry) it will show up blurry at full size when you download it to the PC.

The only reason I rated 4 stars instead of 5 is because in super low light situations the fact that a picture is 5 megapixels but you view it on the LCD tricks you to thinking the picture was captured clearly when you might have a slight blur at full size. This may be true of all cameras, I don't know.

This is an auto focus camera. You will get incredibly clear pictures of close ups and regular photos, but you have to let it focus. This is not a "wail your arms around while on a dance floor and snap pictures" camera. Many people detract from the camera because they want it to be a fixed focus camera for situations like described above. Tempting because it is so portable and stylish, but this camera fills the needs of much more than a fixed focus.

I have a 4 megapixel Fuji S3100 for situations where I need mega zoom, but, who wants to lug around a camera bag on the trip to the mall or walmart or work? I also own a Sony DSC-P72 which is not bad at anything, but isn't great at anything either, and is too big and hogs batteries. Previously I owned Olympus digital cameras. I've found the 5 megapixels of the Z1 more than adequate, and I often shoot in 2 or 3. I have the black edition. It does show finger prints. If I had it to do again I'd choose the silver only for that reason.

I carry this camera often because its so convenient, and often those pictures I'd have missed by only owning a larger camera and not lugging it along are captured because of how convenient it is to carry this camera along. Its no burden at all to travel with, produces great results, battery lasts long, and is durable.

Buy Fujifilm Finepix Z1 5.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver) Now

Positives:

I just bought the Fujifilm FinePix Z1. Took it on a weekend at a beachfront spa on Tampa Bay. Took great pics. Very good lowlight shots. It was a cloudy and rainy day but the color was great. Zoom is 3x and you can digitally zoom in on the pic on screen. BTW, the screen display in back is larger and sharper than I've seen on other cameras. Video and stills are sharp and bright in the display. You can zoom the stills while viewing them.

Easily fits in a pocket. Lens is protected and automatically powers down when you close the sliding cover.

Directions were simple. Transferring pics and movies is easy via USB cable or removing the card and plugging it into my pc card reader.

Negatives:

The supplied card is only 16 megs. Not enough to store one video but good enough to store stills. I recommend buying a larger card. I purchased a 256 meg card and found it easy to store movies.

Speaker is tiny but then, this camera is so small it is understandable.

No case. You'll have to find one that fits. (I'd have rated it 5 stars if the case was included.)

Read Best Reviews of Fujifilm Finepix Z1 5.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver) Here

I bought this camera after being tired of my current Fuji Finepix A340. The A340 is a great camera, but the time btw pix was painfully slow for me. Plus, I needed an excuse to buy a new camera!

The Z1 actually was bought by mistake. I was after a different camera, and hastily bought this one and I am extremely glad I did. At first I was wary of a rechargeable battery and was going to take it back, but I opted to toy with it for a few days first.

The rechargeable battery really is no issue. You get about 200px per charge and there's always the option of buying a backup off ebay for about $40. (Don't fall for the extended warranty crap at some appliance stores. They told me it was $60 and if the battery goes I can get a new one, well since I can get 1.5 batteries for that warranty cost, I opted to take my chances and save my money)

I love the metal case and the practically instant on when sliding the cover. The size is smaller than a deck of cards but it doesn't feel fragile. There is no view finder, which is fine by me, I never use it since I went digital anyway. There a lot of settings and I found that for dark environments, this camera is slick!!! Easily the best dark environment camera I've ever owned.

I'm not a photo expert, I take a lot of pictures, and as long as they are clear, crisp enough to print if I choose, I'm happy. I am sure there are other cameras that others will say are better for this or that but for a casual photo taking endeavor, this Fuji is perfect.

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I bought Z1 about a month ago and gave it to a good friend as a great present a few weeks ago.

.

I just bought another one for me, again.

Before that I had a Fuji F10. I loved it too and gave it to my father in the summer.

I love digital cameras and have tried so many in the last two years, including the Canon Rebel XT which I bought, used, and gave it as a present for a wedding in the family.

I tried many other digital cameras, but the new compact Fuji's beat them all in quality of result. The Z1 also beats most others in compactness, style and feel.

Both Z1 and F10 have automatic sensitivity (ASA) mechanism which is under rated. It is a huge advantage, in my mind.

Don't know why Fuji stopped selling through Ritz Camera. Perhaps because their prices are too low for Ritz to make a nice profit.

Anyway, their prices is low enough to allow you not to think too much and just by it.

There's not much different in quality between Z1 and F10, so I'd recommend the Z1 over the F10. The F10 has a strong green light that helps in focusing in the dark, but the Z1 is doing a good job even without any light.

Gadi

Panasonic Pro AG-DVC7 MiniDV Proline Camcorder w/15x Optical Zoom

I'll be diplomatic and say this isn't a bad camera. But I used to shoot a lot of live events and concerts, and with a DVX100 and a DVC80 to choose from, this camera would always get stuck on the lowest priority shot. It's big, but mostly hollow, so it's almost as light as a Canon ZR series. In sunlight or other bright light, you're fine, but in low light you really know it's a 1-CCD camera. The colors wash out and the picture gets noisy. For a third of the price you could get a consumer level camera (Canon ZR) that'll shoot nearly as well (if not looking as imposing) while you save your pennies for a 3-CCD model.

Like the other review said, this is a good starter camera. After being out of the video business for about 5 years I decided to by this camera for a wedding I was shooting. I got it at a great price. There are a few problems though. It's a little hard to deal with in low light. I have a mounted 150-watt light and it still hard to deal with. If you gain up one it's kind of grainy. But if you are not doing anything that is broadcast quality then this is a good camera. Since I'm doing low budget wedding this is perfect for me.

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This is a great starter camera if you are thinking about getting into videograghy. This camera will give you the pro look, but it seems to be just a consumer level camera in a pro package. quality seems to be very good however, I have only shot a few hrs of tape so far. if you can come up with an extra $1000 seriously consider a different camera that really is on the pro level.

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Have used the camcorder for over 3 years, our retired community video club owns two of them. Has great picture quality in good lighting, rivals my 3CCD Cannon GL-2. The Panasonic does a decent job on lower lighting situations. I frequently use it to partner up with my Cannon GL-2 for the second camera shots. Only had one of the 2 Pansonics needed repairs to the tape motor mechanism, the other same model Panasonic in our inventory, has not needed repairs, in those same three years of very frequent club use. Our clients are impressed when we show up with the large Panasonic. It is easy to operate. I would buy another one. It seems to take small abuses well, it is used by serveral different club members, so you know that it has had bumps and small drops. The handle is very handy to carry the camcorder around and to take low shots as we walk around, you could not do that with non-handle type camcorders. On the bad side of this review, I noticed that in lower light situations with long shots, if the subject walked to the edge of your shooting view screen, the camcorder would go out of focus, then to compensate I would have to move the subject back into the center of the shot. So, in the low light situations, the camera is fooled and goes out of focus on the subject and focuses on the background.

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I purchased this cam as my first and frontline camera for use in weddings, shows, and other events. To me, it is very lightweight. Picks up the slightest movement. The mic is very sensitive... picks up the noise from your tripod when moving seriously. As for picture quality, its great when shot outdoors or with strong indoor lighting. Otherwise, in darkened areas or low light venues good luck! Don't use the internal 'Gain Up' feature because it shuts your focus off automatic and you'll never know if your picture is in focus until you view the tape.

As far as using the camera.. it is very easy to work with. There aren't many complicated menu screens and limited external buttons. Beware of the 'photo shot' button which sometimes can be confused with the 'record' button. Why CCD cameras have a 'photo' option on a video camera is beyond me thats what DSLRs are for.

You may want to drill a hole and fill the camera with sand to weigh it down some more (wife's idea and I agree). It may produce stable pictures.

Aiptek Portable 3D Photo and Video Display (Black)

I recently purchase a Fujifilm W3 camera and wanted a large, portable viewing device for showing off my 3d photos. The display on the W3 is incredible, and I assumed this photo frame would be similar. Not so.

There are a few things that make the device unpleasant from the very start:

First of all, the resolution is pretty low. You will notice right away that the images are quite pixelated.

It only supports a specific format for 3d images. It is not difficult to use a freeware conversion tool to convert from the Fujifilm camera format to the side-by-side image format required, but it is inconvenient. This would not be a concern if you were moving images from another Aiptek device.

Neither of these issues were what turned me away from the device, however. For the relatively low cost I could have tolerated the low resolution, and although its a pain I could have gone through the process of converting all of my favorite images to work with this device. The real show stopper is that the 3d effect on this display is purely awful. This kind of display requires proper position to be effective, but on this particular device there is no so-called sweet spot. No matter how you position the display, you'll never get the entire image to look clear. The further away objects are in the picture, the blurrier they get. I'd be embarrassed to show anyone images off of this device, thus I returned it.

It may be that photos/videos taken with Aiptek devices look great, but those taken on the Fujifilm W3 certainly do not.

Hi,

I am in the 3D Autostereoscopic (3D without the glasses (3disnow.com)) business.

I have glasses free monitors from 7" to 42", and let me note, this is not new technology.

I have a Sharp RD3D that must be over 6 years old. Barrier technology goes back to Frederic Ives, (1902), "A novel stereogram". Journal of the Franklin Institute.

What makes this different is it's portability. I does not need a computer to run it.

Now here is my review;

The battery life could be better.

It runs well from the output brought over from the Aiptek Camera.

I have also generated output from the Fuji 3D W3 camera as well as computer generated side-by-side output.

The Fuji output needs to be converted to side by side using Stereo PhotoMaker or Stereo Movie Maker.

After conversion to avi or jpeg files, I also resize and rescale for use in the Aiptek frame.

There has been 1 glitch with the jpeg files as the Frame does not recognize all the files.

I have been in touch with Aiptek support on this issue and have sent them samples to review.

As far as the visual quality, it is not bad Depending on the shot.

The price and portability are what make this very interesting.

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2.5 Stars!

I purchased this to play videos recorded with my Fuji W3 camera. This display works but needs improvement. The screen on the W3 looks much better.

The Aiptek frame and camera use side by side 3D format which cuts the quality of the image in half. When displayed on this frame, Each eye gets 600x400? lines of resolution. That's low for a 8" screen. My HD video looks a bit blurry and dull but not horrible.

For best 3D effect the screen must be close to your face and centered. Looking from an off angle may produce a blurry or double image. Limited viewing distance and angles make this display a poor choice to use as a photo frame for public display. Placing the frame at eye level would be ideal.

I have my Fuji W3 Videos playing on the Frame, It seems to be prone to crashing and freezing while playing videos.

I converted the video with Fuji Software to Side by Side (for 3d TV) and Ran it through the mp4 encoder software (Media Converter 2.5) that came with the frame. High Quality 720P footage crashes the frame very frequenly. Low Quality 720P mp4 plays but randomly crashes. Longest I have had it running without crashing/freezing is about 12 hours. The Frame cant handle much 3D effect, too much effect and it shows double image.

I hope they can fix the crashing. I have not yet tried another SD card or called support.

AIPTEK, Please make it better!

1. Higher resolution Screen

2. Brighter/Clearer screen and barrier

3. Better Battery life.

4. MPO support

5. Fix the Crashing playing video.

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I've had my Aiptek frame for a couple of days now. This is one of those rare products that deserve both the 5 star and 1 star reviews it's getting.

I bought it because I have 25+ years of personal 3D photos (Realist, Nimslo and ViewMaster formats). I figured this might be a good way to get them out of the box and onto my mantle.

I initially tried to create the compatible stereo format from scans using Paint.Net. This proved to be too hard to align by eye. So I found Stereo Master and became a bit more successful. The biggest issue with older stereo formats is that they have portrait orientation the Aiptek wants landscape orientation. This means my successful photo attempts looked great in 3d but were stretched a lot. I need to sort this out before I consider the Aiptek acceptable for my intended use.

There are a lot of comments in other Amazon reviews about how viewable the photo frame is in 3d mode. Many reviewers comment on how there are limited viewing positions that work for the frame. This is absolutely true. It doesn't work well at a distance. You have to be right in front of it and at a specific distance (which is something like 2 to 3 feet away). This means it's not a replacement for a photo frame that sits on a mantle. It is probably meant to sit on a desk or be passed around.

The picture quality is iffy. I'll be happy if I can make it work for me as it is. But it really needs a bit more resolution.

The firmware is very minimalistic. It has just enough features to be barely functional.

It's a terrible product when you compare it to a traditional photo frame (I'd give it one star if this was the comparison). It's reasonable if you consider it a novelty 3D product (I'd say it's a 4 star product in this category). Since I had hoped to use it as a mantle 3D photo frame my rating is 2 stars. However, I'm very likely going to keep it.

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Yes, it does exist, and it works very well. I am very pleased with this; it is simple to use and the 3-D effect on both stills and video I've shot with the Aiptek camera is great. If this is a hint of what is coming in the autostereoscopic department, then maybe there really is hope for glasses free 3-D TVs someday. Sure, you have to be directly in front of the screen for it to work, but it's not a big deal really. It's far more impressive than the smaller screen on the camera.