Showing posts with label wireless surveillance system. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wireless surveillance system. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Pentax Optio S50 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

Pentax Optio S50 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical ZoomBought this camera about 6mo ago. After ~2GB of pictures:

1. Decent quality you gotta understand that it is not SLR so for a compact it is OK. Viewing 100% size shows no visible defects.

2. Really small important since what good is your camera if it stays at home most of the time. That one fits in the pocket, but you'll feel it there.

3. Takes AA batteries good thing just in case

4. Has multiple modes and settings not too useful, but it doesn't hurt either.

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Now for what could be better:

1. Slow as you would not believe shooting @5MP and best resolution. When this red light is blinking (writing to card) you can't do anything and it lasts forever.

2. Slow in general takes too long between you push the button and the picture being actually taken. Pple turn around, move out of frame and so on.

3. Buttons are tiny well, the camera is tiny too, but still...

If you plan to use gloves or just have large hands forget about it.

4. Battery usage I use rechargable 2400mAh ones and they don't last too long. Indoor shots almost always use a flash so battery indicator goes yellow after about 20-30 shots no matter how you recharge your batteries (there are different ways to do it)

Conclusion: It is worth the price if you need really small camera to take anywhere and want to stick with the combination of SD storage and regular AA batteries

I bought this camera after looking at several other cameras. I liked the size of the camera, Pentax name and claimed battery life. I think the color reproduction is ok, but not great, and the picture clarity is ok, but not great. Using 2400 mAh recharageble batteries made this camera almost useless. Since almost every shot requires a flash, I only would get 30 or so pictures before needing to switch batteries. And since NiMH batteries loose charge when not in use, I would find the batteried dead if I left the camera a few day. I have since purchased some 1400 mAh, Li-ion CRV3 rechargeble batteries. These are a must for anyone with this camera. I can't tell you how many pictures it gets per charge, because after 2 weeks it is still on the first charge, and has not even dropped from the full charge indicator! This is several hundred pictures, viewing and deleting pictures on the camera and transfering the picutes to a computer. As a bonus, since the CRV3 battery supplies a full 3V, the flash charges about twice as fast. (NiNM AA batteries are only 1.3 V each)

The main problem with the camera is how incredibly slow it is. This camera is mostly used to take pictures of our kids, and kids do not sit still enough for this camera. Every aspect of shooting a picture is very slow. The other draw back is that this camera needs a lot of light, and the flash doesn't help for anything more than a few feet (about 10 or so) away. Outside shots are usually fine if the sun is at least partially out.

I am currenly looking for a faster digital camera, with a bigger lens to help in low light situations.

Buy Pentax Optio S50 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Now

I bought this camera as my first digital camera. its simplistic design and 5mp are what turned me on to this product. when i got it home and started to play with is i realized it had an abundance of features that i didn't notice at the store. it can take point and shoot pictures easily, it has a manual focus override, and you are able to take black and white or my personal favorite black, white and red! these are just a few of the features on this relatively inexpensive camera. to top it all off it takes really really good high resolution pictures that you'll think were taken by a professional.

Read Best Reviews of Pentax Optio S50 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Here

I bought the Pentax S50 last December. I already own a Nikon 5700 but I was looking for a camera that I could:

a) take anywhere, and

b) take scuba diving

With its compact size and available underwater housing (and even supported "marine" modes) the Pentax seemed to fit the bill. I was actually undecided between the S50 and the Casio Exilim, so I actually ran a side-by-side comparison of the two. The S50 lost out in almost every discipline, the most important being picture quality (even though I was comparing to a 3MP Z30!), which I actually found to be quite poor on the S50. Apart from this, I was disappointed by the LCD screen, which was smaller and far less sharp than the Casio's, the larger size (although not by much) and the general build quality the buttons, flaps and doors just felt cheap compared to other cameras.

On the positive side, I did like the idea of being able to use standard AA's, but when you consider the amazing battery life of today's ultracompacts, it's really not an advantage. I was also impressed by the incredible array of features and options that the S50 packs in unfortunately, these don't make up for the poor picture quality. My advice would be to choose a Casio Exilim. If price is an issue, get the Z30 or Z40 you will still get better pictures.

Want Pentax Optio S50 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Discount?

this is a great little camera. i bought it because of its size. it has some great features like being able to reduce the file size photos stored on it. panoramic assist is good and its very easy to use. it has some drawbacks too. red eye reduction always has to be used. the pictures are quite dark in low light settings and my biggest problem, low battery life. it uses 2 AA batteries. the rechargable batteries that came with it were charged for 12 hrs as recommended. i only got about 90 pictures out of them (16 were with

flash). it also takes a while to write the images to the disk( even with the enhanced SD II card)

but i still think its a great camera.

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Monday, September 8, 2014

StarTech.com HDMIACMM6 6-Feet High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet- HDMI to HDMI Mini- M/M

StarTech.com HDMIACMM6 6-Feet High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet- HDMI to HDMI Mini- M/MBought this to use for my gaming computer's graphic card. There is no better cable then this HDMI for the sound and graphics that it sends to my monitor. My card has a mini HDMI conector port and I was glad I found this cable to replace the regular VGA cable I was using. With this HDMI I don't need RCA cables for my sound either, this cable carries both video and sound making less wires from the back of my computer. Performance is really great plus a great price also.

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Saturday, September 6, 2014

Dynex Silver 1080p HDMI Video Cable - 6 feet (1.8 meters) (Bulk Pack U3)

Dynex Silver 1080p HDMI Video Cable - 6 feetIt's a good product with the same specifications in the provided description but the problem is there's nothing says that it's Dynex brand, it's just the cable in a plastic bag without even any packaging.

The description is misleading. "Dynex Silver 1080p HDMI Video Cable 6 feet (1.8 meters) (Bulk Pack U3)" I had assumed "bulk pack U3" meant it was a bulk pack with 3 units. It was a single cable. I think the bulk pack U3 part of the description could be omitted for a more accurate description. $7 for an HDMI cable is still a good deal but I would have went with a 2pack I saw for the same price.

Buy Dynex Silver 1080p HDMI Video Cable - 6 feet (1.8 meters) (Bulk Pack U3) Now

Ive ordered these hdmis before..just so the pins aren't bent you're ok.....quit whining they're super cheap .just go into best buy

And price em. The party will start!

Read Best Reviews of Dynex Silver 1080p HDMI Video Cable - 6 feet (1.8 meters) (Bulk Pack U3) Here

I ordered two of these cables and both were defective. Also, the seller Ultra Spec Cables did not send the product that was advertised, I did not receive Dynex cables, and was also not able to leave a negative feedback on their profile. Watch out, these cables are cheap for a reason.

Want Dynex Silver 1080p HDMI Video Cable - 6 feet (1.8 meters) (Bulk Pack U3) Discount?

It was cheap, came on time and does what it is supposed to do. So far I have had no problems with it

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Friday, August 22, 2014

Bell & Howell Splash WP7 Waterproof 12.0 MP Digital Camera (Black) with 8GB Card/Reader + Batte

Bell & Howell Splash WP7 Waterproof 12.0 MP Digital Camera with 8GB Card/Reader + Batteries/Charger + Float Strap + Cleaning & Accessory Kitgood price for this item it works ok for the price... it worked for what i needed it for but the item does max out at 10 feet deep anything beyond that the buttons will stick..

I made the mistake of buying this waterproof camera based upon one favorable review the only review available. Although this product takes good photos it is bascially useless as an underwater (or above water in broad daylight) camera as it is impossible to see what you are looking at from the available view screen. In many instances I took underwater pictures thinking the camera was turned on when in fact it wasn't it's impossible to tell in the daylight. Once turned on it only stays active for 60 seconds before shutting off and it eats batteries. Because of the glare on the view screen it's almost impossible to see your target let alone get it properly framed. It's too bad really becuase the camera package comes with many extras. Skip this product.

Buy Bell & Howell Splash WP7 Waterproof 12.0 MP Digital Camera (Black) with 8GB Card/Reader + Batte Now

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

JVC Everio GZ-MG50 1.33 MP 30 GB Hard Disk Drive Camcorder w/15x Optical Zoom

JVC Everio GZ-MG50 1.33 MP 30 GB Hard Disk Drive Camcorder w/15x Optical ZoomPlease note that since there have already been many user reviews written, this may not seem like much of a "review", but I thought I would touch on a few things I was wondering about myself before buying the camera in case it might help someone else.

This hard drive-based camcorder is wonderful. Well done JVC! I was going to buy the next model up, the MG70, but since I don't use it for photos, I don't believe I would benefit from the increased megapixel CCD. Besides, the MG70 only had 10x optical zoom, and was missing the video light and F1.2 bright lens. I'm happy with the MG50.

In case you haven't noticed, this camcorder has no viewfinder so you must use the flip-out LCD screen.

Video quality: The hard drive feature is brilliant! The only quality level you should avoid is Econo (37 hr mode), since it reduces the resolution by half and also records only about 15 frames per second. Ultra-fine (7.25 hrs) is the best, but I couldn't notice much of a difference when I lowered the quality level to Fine (10 hrs) or Normal (14 hrs). On the highest 3 modes (ultra fine, fine, and normal), the camera records full 720x480 resolution. As far as I can tell, it really is sampling that many lines of resolution. Other digital camcorders I've used (mini-DV) have had very noticable "stair-step jaggies" in parts of the picture, especially along the borders between high-contrast elements of the picture. On this hard drive camera, however, the resolution is significantly higher and these jagged lines (aliasing) are rarely noticeable at all, if ever.

As for how the camera records files onto the hard drive: It creates a new .MOD file (it's an MPEG-2 video file with Dolby Digital audio) every time you start/stop the recording. So, all your clips are conveniently seperated, but of course you can combine them with your video editing software later if you prefer. The camera will record for 12 hrs continuously if needed, but will create a new .MOD file for every 4GB of footage.

You may have read in other reviews about the following trick: rename the .MOD files that the camera records to .MPG for increased compatibility. Well, I tried it and it works like a charm, regardless of whether your video footage is in 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio. This makes it easy to use your favorite DVD-burning or video editing software with this camera, as well as ensuring future compatibility. I haven't found even one program that couldn't play the files perfectly after I renamed them. Even Windows Media Player 9 had no problem. If you leave them as .MOD, then you won't find many programs that support it (at least not yet). The only ones I found that did were the one that came with the camera (Cyberlink), and Adobe Premiere Elements 2.

One thing I should mention about the files that the camera saves. It numbers them in hexadecimal (1-9 then A-F (eg. MOV009, then MOV00A...)), so some people may find this a bit annoying. Also, my Windows XP computer alphabetizes the files A-Z, then 0-9, so they end up being displayed in the wrong order. I'm not sure why my computer is doing this and don't know if all windows XP computers will do it (it worked fine on my Windows 2000 computer), but you can always list them in chronological order if you need to correct this. I believe most video editing software will, however, list the files in the correct alphanumeric order (1-9 then A-Z). Mine all do.

The camera has a handy feature called "File# Reset". Every time you activate this, it creates a new folder on the hard drive and begins saving all future clips into it. This is a handy way to seperate your recorded "events", in case you tend to fill up the hard drive before copying it to your computer, and you may have months worth of footage on the camera. So you can have your daughter's birthday party in one folder, your trip to the zoo in another, etc...

Playback: Playback of sequential clips on the camera (either on the LCD or onto a TV) is seamless. There is no pause between scenes it plays back just like a tape would with clean cuts between recordings. Also, you can locate specific clips by viewing thumbnail images (9 per screen) or by listing by recording date. Then, of course, after playing back clips, there is no need to fast forward the tape back the next available blank part for recording. When you go to record again, the camera will not overwrite previous material.

The camera allows for limited editing (deleting or rearranging of clips). Also, in case you delete a lot of clips and then continue recording, the hard drive may eventually become fragmented. The camera has a handy utility built in that will defragment the hard drive. I haven't used it myself because I haven't needed it, but it's nice to know it's there.

Low light performance on this camera isn't the best I've seen, but it is still pretty good for such a small camera. My previous camera was a JVC as well (mini DV only about 3 years old). It was slightly brighter in low light, however, I find that this hard drive JVC camera has much better autofocus performance for low light or fast movements. All recent JVC cameras (including this MG50) have "Night Alive" mode which reduces the shutter speed to about 1/2 second. This is useless unless your camera is on a tripod and your subject is not moving at all. You might as well take a picture then... However, the MG50 has adjustable shutter speeds in between as well. I find it useful in low light situations to change the shutter speed to 1/15 sec. This brightens the image considerably. It does reduce the motion a blur if things are moving too fast, but I still consider it a reasonable trade-off for the amount of extra brightness in the scene.

The built-in light is useful under some situations. Be aware the effective range of the light is only about 3-5 feet, so unless your subject is within that range, the light won't make any difference. It does have it's useful moments though (like filming a pet on the floor in a dimly lit room) Also, using the light consumes less than 10% more power because it's an LED, but of course that's also the reason why it's not very bright.

Photos: Image quality for still photos, in my opinion, is terrible. Not only is the resolution inadequate for most uses, it's extremely difficult to depress the shutter button without shaking the camera and blurring the image. The start/stop button (doubles as a shutter release button in photo mode) is quite stiff.

Startup time: This camera has poor startup time, but I guess that's to be expected being that it's a hard drive camera. From the completely off position, it takes 10 full seconds (based on my own tests) before you can actually begin recording. Even this is only about double the typical startup time for a mini-DV camera, it might mean you'll miss that special moment you're trying to record. Even if the camera is in record-standby mode, it still takes 3 seconds from the time you press the start/stop button until the camera is actually recording.

Camera noise: The camera does produce a faint hum while the hard drive is spinning, but I found that this is less noticeable on the recording than the sound of the tape machanism on the 3 mini-DV camcorders I've used. Of course, some mechanical noise is expected on compact cameras like this one. Without an external mic, it is unavoidable. Unfortunately on this camera, you cannot connect an external mic. The zooming motor is also slightly noticeable, but no more than other similar-sized camcorders. Besides, unkless you're in a completely quiet situation these sounds won't even be an issue at all for you.

Lens cap: The lens cap stays in place nicely. Since it only covers the lens itself and doesn't extend any further than it needs to, it tends to stay in place (unlike other cameras I've had where the lens cap pops off while inserting/removing it from a bag or pocket).

Drop detection: you may have read that this camera has a feature that senses a freefall or other motion that could potentially damage the hard drive, and automatically shuts the camera off. Well, just so you know, there is an option on the camera to turn this feature off, in case you want to make a video on your favorite rollercoaster. I'm not saying I recommend this, but I just thought I'd mention it. I myself have not personally witnessed this feature work yet, but then again I haven't tried dropping it!

Overall, I highly recommend this camcorder to the casual videographer (great for vacations!). It seems to really stand up to competing cameras in it's class on most points. However, if you're a more serious videographer you might want to consider a larger, 3-CCD camera with a bright light and external mic. Otherwise, have fun!

I gave this review only 4 stars because of these few issues: lack of viewfinder, slow startup time, and poor image quality for still photos.

I've been waiting for this technology for years. So when I found out JVC was planning on coming out with their 4 GB microdrive version, I had to have one. The $1500 price tag was too much though. Then I found out the GZ-MG50 was coming out, and would be about a $1000. I thought it was still a little pricey, but I couldn't wait any longer.

So far, the camera has performed great. It's been easy to use and easy to transfer the files to my computer then to DVD. However, the video editing software that came with it seems a bit cheap, but it gets the job done. Maybe the next gen version will be an improvement.

The movie quality is very good. I won't give it a "Great" because I occasionally see pixel blurring when watching my burned DVDs.

Don't bother taking pictures with this, unless you only plan on emailing them. The quality is far too low to use to capture those precious moments.

I recommend getting an additional battery (the three hour model). The one hour battery just doesn't cut it, especially if you want to review your scenes while you're out shooting.

If JVC gave the camcorder a larger CCD and included better software, I would have given this a 5 star rating, otherwise I think they are on the right track, and in a few years, the MiniDV may be as forgotten as the eight-track.

Buy JVC Everio GZ-MG50 1.33 MP 30 GB Hard Disk Drive Camcorder w/15x Optical Zoom Now

Finally! I have been waiting for a video camera that takes good quality video (not mpeg4) and does not use tapes. Everyone that I know has a minidv/digital8 camera, and when they shoot something, the last we all ever see of it is when they hook up the camera to the tv at the end of the day. After that, no copies, no sharing, most of the time no one ever sees the video again. The whole point of recording memories is that you can watch them easily whenever you want and be able to share them with friends and family whenever you want.

First I have to say this is my first camcorder ever (yes, I have been waiting 30 years for this camera). I have used plenty of other camcorders that people have let me borrow, but this is the first camcorder I ever buy for myself.

I went to Cancun two weeks ago and I made the decision that I had to buy a camera for the trip. This camera was a great choice and I love it! I didn't have to lug along my digital still camera, because the everio takes 1152x864 pictures as well which is more than enough for me (for those out there that think they need 6 megapixel pictures, wake up and smell the marketing).

When I got back from my trip, I decided to sit down and get everyone a copy of the video. I was a little apprehensive because I work in advertising and I know how cumbersome and slow it can be to work with large video files if you don't have a computer specifically made for that task...I decided to use my home computer because I didn't want to wait (2.6ghz celeron with 512mb of ram). I didn't really like the DVD authoring software that came with it (seemed to complicated and unintuitive), so I used the Nero VisionExpress that came with my Nero Ultimate Edition software. It was soooo easy to get this done. Within one hour I had already completed a dvd with all the footage from trip, with thumbnail menus, and chapters automatically set for each time the camera stopped. I shot some footage of tropical fish in the water at Cozumel and I used that as the video background underneathe all of the menus. On a separate DVD I also created a compilation of photo slideshows (with music) from all the photo cameras everyone took (including pictures taken with my Everio).

I had the software "burn to hard disk" so I could make as many copies as I wanted of both dvds. I made 5 copies and was totally done with the project in 2 hours. This would not have been possible without this camera, capturing from any other minidv camera or other video source would require hours upon hours of video conversion to dvd compliant mpeg2. But since this camera shoots in mpeg2, that is not a factor.

I love this camera and highly recommend it for most people. If you are one of those videophiles that worries about the number of lines of resolution of your video, or how many ccd chips your camera has, then this camera is probably not for you. If you want great looking video and the convenience of being able to share it EASILY, CHEAPLY AND QUICKLY then definitely check out this camera.

On another note, I have used the software that came with the camera to convert video clips to quicktime, windows media video and realvideo. This is very useful for emailing clips, posting them on websites, or putting them inside your windows media center (or other home theater pc) for easy access.

Also, when getting this camera, be aware that there are two models/versions out there that only do 640x480 pictures...I almost made that mistake.

Read Best Reviews of JVC Everio GZ-MG50 1.33 MP 30 GB Hard Disk Drive Camcorder w/15x Optical Zoom Here

Love my new JVC Everio. The original model just used compact flash cards, but the new Everio GZ uses an ipod like hard drive that lets you store a year's worth of video on it! Tape is definitely dead, and DVD camcorder's 30 mintues a disc doesn't hold a candle to the Everio.

The only issue I had was that the software that come with it was pretty basic, but all the other video editing software programs didn't recognize the Everio video files (.mod files which contain MPEG2 Video and Dolby Stereo Audio).

I did finally find Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0 which supports this new file type natively. It has made editing a breeze.

Want JVC Everio GZ-MG50 1.33 MP 30 GB Hard Disk Drive Camcorder w/15x Optical Zoom Discount?

[Below is my recent review of the JVC Everio GZ-MG40, which has a 20GB hard drive rather than 30GB. Becase GZ-MG50 seems to be identical to GZ-MG40 save the hard drive capacity, I thought this review would be useful to those considering to buy GZ-MG50.]

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I have been using this camcorder for almost two weeks now. And here are my impressions:

PROS:

A) This is a tiny camcorder and I can easily carry it in my pocket everyday.

B) It records directly on a [30GB] harddrive. This is probably the most amazing feature of this camera. It has the following amazing benefits:

(1) A huge recording space

(2) Random access to recorded videos when browsing

(through a thumblist of videos)

(3) Super fast transfer onto your computer through USB 2.0.

(4) No tapes, no CDs, no DVDs to worry about while recording video.

(5) Facilitates easy archiving/organizing . For example, all the recorded files on the camera's harddrive have "creation date"s as a part of their file information. When the camera is connected to your computer, you can sort all files by date and easily separate all recordings by date to different folders by simply selecting and dragging. (This is extra, but if you want to index and be able to search your video files, say with google desktop, simply enter a list of keywords in the file name about the contents of the file.)

(6) The harddrive on your camera can double as additional portable storage mediathis is unlikely but If you wanted you could even install linux on it and carry with you an operating system on your camera.

C) Video quality is good for a consumer level video camera. The sound quality recorded through the internal microphone is good: i can hear the lectures I record very clearly and there is no annoying noise generated by the camera.

D) The charger that comes with this camera is very small. So you can carry that around as well and worry less about running out of battery.

CONS:

A) No mic jacks.

B) manual focus and light adjustments are done through menus.

C) The editing software that comes with it is limited.

D) The battery life is a mere hour(but you can buy a 3 hour battery for 70-80 dollars).

As with all camcorders, the still images shot with this camera are not at the level of quality you can get from a good still camera. It produces reasonable snapshots in well lit situations.

The video files recorded by this camera have a ".MOD" extension in their name. I replace ".MOD" with ".MPG" and most of my standard video viewing software automatically recognize the files.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

3M MP225a Mobile Projector

3M MP225a Mobile ProjectorMobile projectors are still what I would consider bleeding edge, both in the sense that they are relatively new and in the sense that they are still not quite ready for a mainstream audience. However, the MP225 is a substantial step in the right direction.

SETUP

There are few instructions with this unit, because there are almost no options. Plug the device into either an i-device or a computer via the overpriced VGA cable, which I purchased for this review, and you are ready to go. Component cables are also available for purchase separately. The MP225 was detected flawlessly when I plugged it in and I was ready to go. The only buttons are for volume, power, and battery, the latter of which displays remaining battery life on the screen.

PICTURE

Before speaking about picture quality, I would like to clarify that the way we perceive lumens is not linear. You may look at the 32 lumen rating vs. a similarly priced normal sized projector with lumens in the thousands and think it will be impossible to see. This is not the case, because as you increase lumens, you need a greater and greater lumen increase to be able to detect an increase in brightness. This relates to how our eyes work. For a mobile projector, 32 lumens is very impressive by current standards, and a substantial step forward for the technology.

So, what does that increase do? If you spend an equivalent sum of money on a standard projector, you will have an image bright enough to use with the room lights on and the windows open, which is ideal for both work and home use (unless you are a vampire). Unfortunately, the MP225 is only visible in a well-lit room when projecting a very small size image. If you have a laptop, for example, using the laptop screen would be much better. However, turn the lights off and this projector works shockingly well. The specs say that the projected image can be a maximum of 80" diagonal. Taking into account the 800x600 resolution, that means around a 64" (5.3') horizontal size.

As a side note here, this aspect ratio is 4:3, emphasizing the intent of this for business presentations over entertainment, though it can certainly do both well and handles motion nicely.

I used a tape measure to project an 80" diagonal image. In order to get this size, the projector sat around 8' from the wall. With the lights on, the image was almost impossible to even detect. However, with the lights off, the image was just a little washed out, which is very impressive for a mobile projector! At this size, the text is fuzzy even at the best focus level, and it gets terrible at any larger size. Perhaps acceptable for watching a movie, but not for Powerpoint. The colors are good overall, but lean a bit brown. This is particularly evident with skin tones. It's likely that this could be corrected if there were calibration options, but I could find none.

As a final note on the picture, there is an important issue which has yet to be addressed in mobile projectors in my experience. For using them in random places like the oft mentioned hotel room for presentations, it is important to have versatility in where the projector is placed. For standard projectors, there is keystoning (manual and/or digital) to correct for the distortion of placing the projector at a vertical or horizontal angle to the wall. Some even have lens shift features. With the MP225, these features are completely absent, so for a given size image, the projector needs to be in a very exact place and angle. The little kickstand is nearly worthless for this, so I recommend buying a tripod. Any standard camera tripod will work. This required accessory substantially hurts the portable nature of the product.

BATTERY

The battery is awesome. It makes up a large portion of the projector's size and weight, but it is worth it. The 2-hour spec was almost exactly true in my test. This means that you aren't tethered to a wall socket.

BUILD

The projector is all plastic, but does not feel cheap. 3M sells a carrying case, which may be a good idea if you plan to travel with it a lot, but it should stand up to normal handling.

CONCLUSIONS

The MP225 is bright enough to project a high quality image that will work well for both presentations and entertainment in a dark room. We are still far from the point of convergence, where all projectors shrink to a mobile size, but the long battery life and simple setup of this 3M unit show that they are still the company to beat. Unlike some previous products in this category, the niche audience this is aimed for will find this projector a valuable tool rather than solely a fun gadget. Just make sure that this product is what you are looking for before you buy it. It will not replace a normal projector. Then again, neither will a normal projector replace this.



What a blast!

This projector is a lot of fun.

There are a few things to take note of, but overall, it's got some great pro's going for it:

+ Small (fits well in your hand)

+ Light (It's easy to hold and project anywhere)

+ Impressive (Family we showed it to loved it and wanted one too)

+ Projects movies just fine as well as some apps

+ Projects even bigger than advertised (6 to 8 feet wide and still looks pretty good)

+ Onboard speakers are pretty good

+ You can project YouTube videos from the YouTube app

There are a few negatives:

Could the 3M logo on the conector be any larger? Come on, 3M, your name is already on the projector.

Doesn't mirror (the included cable doesn't offer mirroring of all screens on the iPad, just the video and some apps.

There is a small fan inside that makes some noise

Battery is okay. Wish it could go longer than 2 hours.

With the given cable, it doesn't let you project photos from the native photo app

Wish it came with a little pouch or case for the projector

It displays videos and the screens of some apps (like StarWalk that I show in the video).

I tested this with the iPad 2, and aside from the minuses mentioned works great. We've enjoyed it

Buy 3M MP225a Mobile Projector Now

You do not need additional cables to mirror Ipad,ipad2,iphone3gs,iphone4,iphone4s!!!!

When I first got it I ran some test, was initially disappointed it could not mirror my iphone4.

Then I found out I have to buy additional cables ( what the hell?!) and was not happy about that!

So I started researching.......after 2hours BINGO !! found a free solution !

if you have a jailbroken Ipad1/ipad2 or iphone ( any version!)

goto cydia and search for tvout2

once u install tvout2(it is free), you will NOT need additional cables to MIRROR your Ipad/iphone screen !! just the included 3m cable is enough!!!

It will mirror exactly what is on your idevice screen WITH the sound coming out from projector !

can play angry birds or browse the net with projector !

that little application make this projector AMAZING!

without this amazing tvout2 app, the projector is 3 stars due to additional cables requirement.

with this amazing little app, projector is 100 stars :D

Have fun you all

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One year Update : This device been amazing for entire year I have own it! Played many movies off it and enjoyed the large screen it projects upon my wall. I have extra speakers hooked up to the projector to creat a movie theater experience as well. This device really shines when you play blueray contents off your iDevices. The higher the quality of your mp4, the sharper it is at large projections. Very satisfy with it so far.

Read Best Reviews of 3M MP225a Mobile Projector Here

I purchased this just over a year ago. It was nice while it lasted. A year later (when the warranty ran out) it stopped working properly. I tried charging it, and even tried using it while plugged in, and it will work for 5 minutes and then quit. I tried to return it, but it would be at my expense since it is no longer covered by a warranty. $200 is a lot to spend on something that I only used about 6 times.

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This projector actually works very well, the only draw back is that it won't work with anything but video or Power point presentations. It won't display document files like Excel, Word, Access. I was really hoping to use this as a presentation tool for many different document types. I wish I had known about these limitations before my purchase.

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Sunday, May 11, 2014

Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX "VR" and 55-200mm f/4-5.

Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX 'VR' and 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX 'VR' Zoom-Nikkor Lenses + EN-EL14 Battery + 16GB Deluxe Accessory KitThis package is worth every penny. I shopped around and if all the components were purchased separately by any of the major retailers it would have cost hundreds more.

Camera is good one. I liked the functionality. But other accessories are not as per par.

I hate Stand. It felt so rough and not of any quality.

Buy Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX "VR" and 55-200mm f/4-5. Now

This is an excellent camera for starters. Picture quality is great. Have to still explore video and graphic modes, but so far very satisfied with product.

Read Best Reviews of Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX "VR" and 55-200mm f/4-5. Here

Excellent product made a great gift and produces a great picture of professional quality We are thoroughly enjoying this camera

Want Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX "VR" and 55-200mm f/4-5. Discount?

i love my Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX "VR" and 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX "VR" Zoom-Nikkor Lenses + EN-EL14 Battery + 16GB Deluxe Accessory Kit

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Friday, November 22, 2013

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens for Canon SLR CamerasProspective buyers of a macro lens for a Canon EOS system have a great first choice in this 100mm Macro. The extra length over a 50mm macro gives much better working distance (space between lens and subject) in the field, and EOS-compatible lenses by other manufacturers match poorly with accessories and are nowhere near as sharp.

Compared with the earlier Micro Motor 100mm Macro that Canon made (which I also own), the USM lens focuses *very* fast. The USM lens also can accept Tripod Collar B (by use of a small plastic adapter)--I recommend you buy the collar with the lens, as adjusting to a vertical composition with a tripod means repositioning everything. The front element is not recessed in the USM model, which makes lens cleaning easier than with its predecessor. And build quality is improved--the earlier model was prone to its switches breaking (could fix it yourself with the ordered part, but really annoying) and eventually the Micro Motor gearing gave out (no trouble so far with the USM ring motor). The USM model will work with Canon's 2x teleconverter by interposing a 12mm extension tube, allowing 2x magnification with lots of working distance, though this is not nearly as nice a solution as the 180mm lens referenced below.

I will quibble with another reviewer--Canon does make sharper lenses, and sharpness compared with the earlier model is virtually the same. But this is still one of the sharpest lenses you can buy, and ergonomically a huge improvement over its predecessor.

Having said that, Canon now has an L-series 100mm macro that is a bit sharper and has better bokeh (out-of-focus highlights). A serious hobbyist might consider that lens, though it costs about 40% more on the street. I purchased the Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro Lens less than a year ago, and am very impressed with its greater sharpness and working distance relative to this lens. If you work much with small critters, take a look at that lens before making a purchase.

If you are building up a set of lenses for outdoor/nature photography and you do occasional macrophotography, this might be the first or second lens to buy. If you work significantly at magnifications greater than 1:1, consider the Canon 65mm 1x-5x Macro zoom.

This is the lens I leave on my camera for general purpose use. At non-macro focus distances, it is a very fast lens in a convenient short-telephoto length. The images are sharp out to the corners. This is one of those great Canon lenses that probably deserves an L-series rating but is available without the red stripe and exorbitant cost.

Tested in an astrophotography context (point sources on black backgrounds excellent for revealing aberration and coma), I have found that this lens is reasonably sharp at f/4 and completely sharp by f/5.6. For daylight terrestrial photography, the tiny aberrations caused by the wide-open f/2.8 aperture are hardy noticeable and by f/4 the images are exquisitely sharp.

There is a lot of glass in this lens it is heavy. I highly recommend buying the tripod collar as it allows you to attach the camera and lens to a tripod or ballhead with much better balance.

Also, if you plan on using the macro functionality, keep in mind that the effective f-stop of the lens goes way up when you're focusing at very close range. At 15cm from the front surface, it performs as though it were an f/9. You'll either want a lot of light or a very steady subject and a good tripod (another reason to buy the hideously overpriced tripod collar).

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The 100 f/2.8 macro is very sharp, even for general shooting, so it works great for portraits, too. When I'm not using a zoom, this is my walkaround lens for people, relatively tight scenes and even indoor sports. Think of it as a great lens that also shoots macro than the other way around. Hard to beat that versatility at the price.

But it comes into its own at close distances. If you've never had a macro lens, you'll run around shooting everything in sight because everything looks new from a macro perspective.

Canon has several macro lenses. I prefer the 100 mm over shorter lenses because I don't have to get quite as close to that bee or wasp. The 180 mm gives you even more distance from your subject, more background blur and amazing sharpness. But it's much more expensive and in most cases you'll need a tripod, and I shoot a lot of improptu macros as I'm hiking.

For extreme closeups with larger-than-life images, there's the MP-E 65. It goes up to 5X, compared to the 100mm's 1X, but you lose autofocus with this lens. In fact, you set your magnification and then move the camera until the object is in focus! As you get beyond about 2X, the viewfinder gets fairly dark. If you're doing still life macro work, it's amazing. I'll probably get one someday for shooting my mineral colletion.

One thing to keep in mind with any macro is that because of the close distances, you're often in lower light conditions. Althought it's fairly pricey, I'm using the MT-24 EX, which lets you adjust the direction of the twin flashes. The MR-14EX ring light is a couple hundred dollars cheaper but will produce a slightly flatter image. And you can always use one of the standard flashes, though the closeness of your subject may cause some odd shadows.

Read Best Reviews of Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens for Canon SLR Cameras Here

This is hands down the sharpest and most used lens that I own. The combination of macro capability, relatively fast 2.8 aperature, and prime sharpness keeps it on my camera more than anything else. I shoot a variety of subjects from macro nature work to indoor sports, and this lens never lets me down.

One of the major compliments I have for this lens is its versatility (I disagree with many of the reviews here.) I continually find 100mm to be an ideal focal length with my 1.6 APS-c sensor XT for shooting indoor swimming and diving competitions. This length allows for beautifully tight framing, slightly compressed depth of field, and shallow focus to get amazing portrait shots while eliminating distracting background. The speed of the lens allows me to catch swimmers in the air without using a disturbing flash. This is imperative because flash photography is prohibited at the start of a race. Apart from sports events, the lens allows for very intimate portraits without having to be in the subjects face. This performance along with macro capability truly make this a multi-purpose lens.

I usually hand hold for sports photography with good results (the accessory battery grip on my XT is invaluable for this), and usually use a tripod for nature and still-life situations. If I've had one too many cups of coffee I'll use a monopod during sports events. I do wish the lens came with the accessory tripod collar, because it is undeniably a fairly heavy piece of glass, but it is not so important that I have shelled out for one yet. I have no complaints with the AF, and I find that the switch to limit the AF range away from the extreme macro is very helpful. Once you use Canon's USM lenses, you will never buy anything else. The large and easy to use manual focus ring is a luxury. It allows for quick manual override and great control when switching to manual focus. In many situations that I don't want to carry my large bag with me, the 100mm and my 17-40mm L usually cover just about everything I need. (I know that my idea if traveling light is not taking the kitchen sink however.)

This is not an L lens for reasons of the lack of some weather resistance and L level coatings, but don't let that dissuade you. It easily outperforms both my L zooms in sharpness and I find it to be comparable in contrast and color. The level of performance and a price that is a fraction of many L lenses makes this an unbeatable value.

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I bought this lens a little over a year ago for macro shooting. I quickly found out, however, that to shoot Macro-only with this lens is a crime. It is a very versitile lens. Its fast f/2.8 aperture makes for good shooting in low light. I pretty much use this outdoors as the 100mm with the 1.6x crop factor of my Rebel XT eliminates most indoor oppurtunities.

I frequently use this lens for family portraits, the resultant photo is so crisp and clear and the bokeh really helps add snap to the primary subject.

As others have stated, this is a heavy lens. It doesn't have Image Stabilization (IS) so a tripod or monopod is a great accessory to get the best images. I use a beefy monopod for my best shots, although I have a lot of handheld gems...

If you are tight for cash, this isn't the "one lens" that does it all. If you are looking for a versitile lens that can do outstanding macros and portraits, THIS is that lens.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Intova Sport Pro HD Video Camera (Clear/Red)

Intova Sport Pro HD Video CameraI was looking for a camera to use on a recent SCUBA trip to the Caribbean and it came down to a debate between the Intova Sport Pro HD and Go Pro HD Hero2. I took a chance with the Intova Sport Pro HD because it had the following nice advantages over the Go Pro:

1. Flat casing around the lens means that it won't have problems focusing underwater like the stock case of the Go Pro HD Hero 2 (fwiw, Go Pro sells a dive housing for an extra $50).

2. Standard tripod mount makes it fairly versatile and means I don't need additional strange mounts.

3. Manual white balance

4. Available red filter for when I'm too lazy to white balance underwater

5. Integrated LCD screen

6. Cheaper

Initial tests were optimistic with the Intova Sport Pro HD. Video quality was good, but not spectacular. The red filter added in nice colors underwater. Audio was okay, but had the presence of a distinct whine in the background. Still pictures were rather mediocre as it needs to be very still underwater and I have not yet fully mastered the fine art of buoyancy control. In any case, it was inexpensive and took decent video to document interesting stuff underwater. The buttons were firm but I could still navigate the menus underwater with no difficulty. It was good but not great device.

Well, that is until the second day of the trip. Sometime during my fourth dive of the trip the battery got low and it powered off. This was understandable as it had been running for about three hours at that point. I charged the device and the next morning it wouldn't power on even when outside of water (I tried turning the camera on before jumping off the boat and it didn't work). Further attempts to charge it were fruitless. The design of the device makes it impossible to take the camera out of the casing and examine the battery. So, I was left without a camera for the last fifteen dives of my vacation.

I've sent two emails to Intova, tweeted to them, and called their customer service line over the past eight days and I have yet to receive any response or acknowledgement from Intova. At this point I'm writing the device off and have concluded I would've been better off spending the extra money to get the Go Pro HD Hero2.

I purchased the Invota Sport Pro HD video camera despite several very critical reviews. Enticed by the pricepoint, I was hoping I would have better luck . However, it failed within a few hours of use right and after the second battery charge. This product has many flaws and is not ready for market in my opinion.

1) The housing was extremely difficult to open for the first time. Almost as though there was a partial vacuum inside. With great care, I had to use a jeweler's screwdriver to pry open the door and even then it was resistant to opening. After the first opening the door operated normally which leads me to think it may have been manufactured at altitude. I am at 550'.

2) I didn't mind the buttons being hard to press as other reviewers commented but I found that the controls were often not activated by a press of the buttons, quite frustrating. Felt as though the inside surface of the housing buttons is just a little too short to make good contact the the camera's buttons.

3) The wrist strap broke immediately upon use as another reviewer commented.

4) The image quality was about what I expected at the price point.

5) The camera went completely dead after the first battery charge in the field. It was charged from an automotive USB cable. I returned the unit to Amazon for a full refund.

Buy Intova Sport Pro HD Video Camera (Clear/Red) Now

I have taken this camera on about 7 dive trips and also borrowed my brother's Go Pro Hero2 camera as well; so here's the differences:

PROS:

this camera is almost as small as the Hero2 but it has a built in screen which the Hero2 does not. So if you added the screen accessory to the Hero2, then this camera would be smaller.

the picture quality is great with less fish-eye distortion than the Hero2 camera

this camera floats, unlike the Hero2, which is good if it falls off somehow

the head-mount does have a quick release and the Hero2 does not

this camera costs hundreds less the the Hero2!

this camera has more buttons and is easier to navigate the menus than the Hero2

the owner's manual is on a mini CD and has about 15 pages and is easy to understand

the case is made of high quality material which resists scratches (I know because I bumped it twice against rocks)

the lens does not fog up in cold spring water (72 degrees)

NEUTRAL:

this takes a micro SD card unlike the Hero2 which takes a regular SD card

CONS:

the back opens up to access the mini USB port and SD card, but you will need a butter knife to gently pry it open because a vacuum seal forms when closed

this camera does not have an audible beep when it starts or stops recording, unlike the Hero2

the head mount sticks out far from your head, which makes it easy to wobble; the Hero2 headmount is very compact and doesn't have this problem

the buttons are stiff and hard to press, after some time the buttons might even stick down

the audio has a high pitch tone or ringing sound in the background! it also doesn't pick up sound very good above water; so the audio track in your videos is almost worthless

I frequently had memory card errors when recording 1080p video! I bought a new memory card and still had the same problems. Basically, I had to erase all data on the card and record 1 long video, because I would get an error trying to record any more videos.

the camera will turn itself off in 5 min if you're not recording video or taking pictures.

this camera slowly leaks water! I greased the O-ring but it still happened in less than 60ft.

**Overall, it would have been better if I spent more money to get the Go Pro Hero2. The Sport HD camera records better video, but it doesn't work like its supposed to.

UPDATE: I called Intova customer service at 877-837-0074 and found out that their 2nd batch of cameras were defective, so they will happily replace your camera if you send them the old one. Their new batch of cameras are supposed to work correctly.

Read Best Reviews of Intova Sport Pro HD Video Camera (Clear/Red) Here

Purchased this unit a couple of months ago as soon as I became a certified OW Diver. Got also the red slip-on filter and cleaning kit at the same time.

First time I laid my hands on the unit I felt that it has a decent build, albeit with buttons that are very hard to press (I assume that they will become soft in time). The lock seems to be sturdy and reliable in sealing the inside of the camera from water.

I was a bit surprised at the audio quality of the item as well. Even as it captures excellent video at HD resolution I found that it has a consistent high-frequency ringing and a low mechanical whirring noise (not sure where it comes from). Audio recording was pathetic at best. I guess the best way to explain it is that the sound is similar to what a person hears after a bomb explodes nearby. Distant voices and lots of high-freq noise. Not really good.

What Intova is good at, however, is recording nice underwater videos. Video captured is crisp, clear and absolutely a visual delight. Photos taken are the same as well -when you are talking about wide-angle shots. Once you decide to come a bit near to your subject, the images begin to distort similar to the effect you see on a fisheye lens.

Despite all the negatives, though, I thought it was a nifty piece of equipment that is value for money and designed specifically with divers in mind.

That is, until I actually brought it to a dive.

The unit is highly unreliable. First, the buttons are very hard to press, so your thumbs and fingers become callous in a very short period of time. You will look like an idiot trying to press what looks like a button but does nothing to the unit itself.

Second, the unit dies in unexpected moments. I brought it with me for a 40minute dive while recording a total of ten minutes of footage when the unit suddenly died without any warning. No battery low message is being prompted on the screen (in fact, the battery indicator showed that it still had a full charge right before it died). Pressing the power button also proved to be futile. It only turned on when I got home and plugged the unit to my computer.

Imagine your dissapointment when the only camera you have brought for a dive trip dies on you, making you lose out on opportunities to preserve memories which is why you have purchased the camera on the first place.

Third, after just having been with me for a total of barely 2 months, 2 pool dives and 4 water dives, my camera is now dead. The unit turns on when you plug it to a power source but dies after removing the plug and refuses to turn on. I suspect that it has a problem with the power button as it is not responding to varying levels of presses being applied on it. It dissapointed me again and therefore I find it hard to trust it again.

I have written a letter to intova about this and I hope they will respond to it asap. But I've decided that since it is highly unreliable I would just get a go pro regardless whether they will replace my unit or not. Its unreliable build makes me not trust it on dive trips, making me feel that the Go Pro, while a bit pricey, might have been the better choice all along.

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So far, so good. This camera is a lot of fun. I like the super wide angle, the ease of operation, the durability, and the features.

This is a portable, rugged sports video camera. It is not very suitable for home movies or vlogging, nor is it a great still camera though it can perform those functions in a pinch.

I'm using a Class 4 32GB card which looks to hold about 8 hours of 720p video. I'm settling on this resolution for most of my work. The 1080 looks quite good too, though some of my PCs don't play it back well. This is a consumer camera, not a pro, so the optical quality is not like my Nikon. For what it is, it's quite good though. The wide angle hides a lot of sins. (And at 140 degrees coverage, expect a lot of distortion of nearby objects at the edges not fisheye, but getting there.) I saw some digital artifacts akin to posterization in dim areas of a scene with a wide range of lighting par for low light situations I think. Auto exposure seems to work well and adjust well I'm playing mostly with the Center mode (there is also Average and Spot, or something like that.)

The viewscreen is small but crisp. Audio playback is muffled by casing. Moreover, audio reception is muffled, and my audio contains a faint pulsing sound that almost sounds mechanical not something I can remove adequately with software (and I'm very good at audio restoration.) Will play with other resolutions and see if this persists. You should not expect to get hi-fi audio from a consumer U/W camera, and for my purposes, the audio is adequate. When people are talking, it picks it up okay, but drops off quickly with distance. You won't get much if people are across a room, say. So this isn't for home movies it's for outdoor dynamic shots and underwater videography. UW audio is good, since sound conducts better there you can hear the bubbles, for example.

I like a couple of the extra features such as burst mode photography, and time lapse. I like the TV out port. Cable included is flimsy but works 3 connections, 2 for audio, 1 for video. The charge port is a standard, and cable provided has USB at the other end. I would have liked a wall charger too, but have some of those around anyway.

The electronic manual is adequate, perhaps better than average for this type of thing. It would be better if it included explanations of the various modes however. It only tells how to set them, but little or nothing about why you might choose them. Menu navigation is easy; I grew accustomed to the buttons quickly.

The lens and back window came with a clear protector sheet on them which I removed. Later put a better one on the back since it was starting to get scratched. I recommend this I can only imagine how scuffed it will get when used in the surf and such, which would eventually make it hard to see the image on the viewscreen. In bright sun the screen can be hard to see, especially due to the reflectivity of the casing. And don't forget to lubricate the seal mine came prelubricated, but it doesn't come with silicon. Buy some at a dive store and keep it with the camera!

I boosted the saturation by using the Vivid mode. It's a bit oversaturated, but I will play with that during editing. I found that without it, the saturation felt a little soft. Most sample videos you see for sports cameras are oversaturated that seems to be the style of extreme excitement!

In the pool the camera performed flawlessly. No leakage, no fogging in 70 degree water. Buttons work fine. Most water streams off when emerging, so video looks good bobbing up and down. Exposure compensation is reasonably quick in this application. I haven't tried an extreme close up yet, but will do that the camera focuses very close but does not do macro.

So far, battery life looks good. I haven't actually drained it yet. My guess is that the advertised life is about right under average conditions.

Adressing a couple comments from others. Someone complained that opening the casing will take off your fingernails. No, if you look carefully at the manual and packaging insert, there is a little curved lever to the latch that pops the back open no problem. It's quite clever actually. About the buttons being very stiff. Mine seem to have loosened a bit, and I don't generally have a problem. Sometimes I use both thumbs with nails together, which makes it easier. The button sleeve has a groove from top to bottom so that your nails will easily depress the buttons. (Long nails would be a problem here.)

PROS

Overall use meets my needs

Value

Portability

Underwater capability far preferable to the "deeply" flawed GoPro Hero2

Features

Usability

Standard 1/4" tripod mount easy to use with your own contraptions

CONS

Audio quality

Lack of optical zoom everything is W I D E. (Haven't tried digital zoom much yet)

Apparent inability to mute the digital "click" sound when snapping a photo

Apparent inability to douse the internal red "camera on" light

No macro mode

Lanyard durability; mine came apart when I tried to slide it up onto my bicep. Replace with better one.

Bottom line: Very good at what it's designed for.

Watch my WyrdNet channel on YouTube some sample videos there.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Canon EOS Rebel T3i 36 Piece Pro Kit

Canon EOS Rebel T3i 36 Piece Pro KitFirst of all this is my first SLR camera and i didnt know what i was missing! it is an amazing camera! just got it today and im in love! also this bundle is perfect, comes with everything you could possibly need! im very happy with it!

I purchased Canon EOS rebel T3i with Kit from A&R PHOTO VIDEO INC on Amazon. Excellent camera with all accessaries required to get start photograhy. Overall kit is very useful as it includes all items rather searching them individually.Gerat value for money surprisingly item reached in two business days from day ordered. Really worth buying this kit.

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Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Sony Handycam DCR-SX45 AV Cable - TV Video Cord for Sony Handycam DCR-SX45

Sony Handycam DCR-SX45 AV Cable - TV Video Cord for Sony Handycam DCR-SX45I lost the original cord that came with the camera. Went to four different stores, they not have it in stock and could not order for me. I was very happy to find this one online. Works just like the original.

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Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Panasonic PVDV51 MiniDV Digital Camcorder

Panasonic PVDV51 MiniDV Digital CamcorderThis camera stands out because the video quality is great, while unneeded features are left off. I don't need a color viewfinder--or a color LCD for that matter, even though this camera comes with one. I want to be able to aim it, that's all. I have a nice Olympus digital camera I bought on Amazon last year that takes PERFECT pictures and I don't need an inferior "still mode" which is commonly included with lots of these digital VIDEO cameras. Mercifully, Panasonic made the effort to make a camera for the real, practical world which does not force me to pay for a high-end digital camera and media capability that I do not need at all. The 2.5 inch color LCD is even too much in my opinion! I LOVE that this camera takes such good video and has an excellent zoom capability the most. That's all I really need!

I purchased eight of these cameras last July 02 and they have been a huge disappointment. I have many of the precursors to this model, the pvdv-101. There are two issues with the Pvdv-51. Out of eight cameras, three of them had case breaks in the exact same spot, just where the hand strap connects to the rear section of the camera. I am a teacher and use these in a high school setting. With the first camera break, I blamed student negligence. However with the third that happened (in my hand!) it's clear to me that there is an engineering fault. I suspect the grade of plastic used isn't strong enough but that's only speculation.

The second major problem has to do with the video heads. From the first week of use, these cameras have been plagued with head clogs. I use only Sony Premium tapes (do not mix brands). Again, I have other Panasonic cameras that I use and they do not have these problems. The dry erase tapes will work for most clogs though sometimes the tape has to be run through many many times to clear the problem. Some clogs have not been fixable and are waiting to go out to have their heads "professionally" cleaned.



...

Finally, Panasonic's customer relations has been poor with this issue. I have had no success on the phone or in print resolving my problem and will be switching to another similarly priced camera when replacing these models. I've been testing a Canon ZR-60 and am pleased with it's performance. This camera also has an external mic input which the Pan does not.

Over the years, I've invested more than 100 grand in equipment in Panasonic and this is my first major disappointment.

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The PV-DV51 has pretty good picture quality, but the built in mic is pretty (bad), no mic jack either. Menu button is almost impossible to access during use if you have normal-sized fingers. Good cheap digital cam but I'm returning mine to get a Canon

Read Best Reviews of Panasonic PVDV51 MiniDV Digital Camcorder Here

As a beginner of camcording, I reviewed all the many cameras on the market and decided to purchase this one for its ease of use, size for traveling, and clarity of recording. I have never owned a camcorder and after one day of testing, I feel very comfortable at recording and playback. Actually, I take it everywhere and having a wonderful time using it. The only drawback is you cannot download to a PC. However, I have ordered a cable and software from Pinnacle to solve this problem. I highly recommend this product, if you are a first time user and you want great pictures with minimal experience.

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I just got my PV-51 out of storage to shot some video off the end of a runway while I was landing and taking off. I had forgotten what nice video it takes, even when

compared to a non-tape HD cam. The only issues I have with this camera are the forementioned weak strap attachment. I had to send mine back to the factory within a year when the front tab snapped off.

The second issue is that the jog switch, probably the most important part of the camera control, isn't working. You can get the menus, but the push the wheel to set them function is gone. What you see is what you get now. There is just too much function to put in one little switch, so I'm not surprised that the jog button failed.

Other than that, it takes easy to find batteries and with 3600 mah or higher batteries you will run out of tape before the battery. I took mine to Oshkosh

a few times and two batteries and three tapes got me through the event at EAA. It's a little out of date now, but if you find one that works, it's a good

second cam for set and forget sort of filming.