Olympus Stylus Tough-8000 12 MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Wide

Customer Ratings:

Let's be honest I bought this camera specifically for the waterproof/dustproof/crushproof/freezeproof features. I anticipated that image quality and ease of operation might be sacrificed and this is exactly what Olympus delivered. Additional questionable bonus is the "tap" feature, which allows to activate some of the functions by tapping the camera from the sides. This is a nice concept, but would be much more useful if it was reconfigurable and allowed the user to assign which functions are activated by tapping. The most important (at least for me) feature of this camera is that it's waterproof, and I can honestly admit that it works. I used this camera for a couple of hours while playing around in the swimming pool, and it worked beautifully. No leaks, no bubbles, and color correction for underwater photography is quite decent. The crushproof feature was also tested, since I dropped the camera couple of times, and it kept working. This camera is tough :) Unfortunately the image quality is far from perfect, in fact is merely average for a point-and-shooter.

The good:

waterproof and crushproof (tested!)

good color representation

good automatic white balance (AWB)

built-in panorama mode (only 3 frames)

The bad:

images lack sharpness, appear very "soft"

poor low light operation (focusing)

occasional focusing issues (focuses in center even in "face detect" mode)

some operation modes ("scenes") are inconsistent, e.g. "portrait" mode switches focusing to "point" instead of "face detect"

flash is too strong and there doesn't seem to be a way to adjust it

the image stabilization doesn't seem to help consider it non-existent

heavy (but this is kind of expected)

tap control not reconfigurable

The ugly:

weird "ghosting" and flaring effects appearing in photos on some occasions when the flash was used (poor or no antireflective coatings on lenses)

very poor sound quality in movies

Bottom line if not for the "tough" part, this would have been a pretty average, all-around, point-and-shooter. If you need a true waterproof (not just "splash proof") camera or something that you can carry in your pocket or a backpack in all weather conditions or any situation that could otherwise damage your camera this is the one to get. If you don't need the "tough" part get another camera with better image quality.

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Opteka 650-1300mm High Definition Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $399.95
Sale Price: $234.95
Today's Bonus: 41% Off

I used this lens quite a lot before I purchased a Canon 400mm prime lens. Although the Opteka lens is somewhat soft and has some chromatic abberation, the images are quite good if the subject has good contrast. I've used this lens with a 1.4X tele extender as well. The resolving power at 1200mm is about 85-90% that of the Canon 400mm used with a 3X tele extender(giving the same 1200mm). I used a test chart similar to the ISO12233 chart to check the resolving power. Where the Canon shines is that it has next to no color shifts in the shadows or on the edges of images. Small black areas will go deep blue and small bright areas (like an egret against a dark background) will have a litttle blue edge on one side and orange edge on the other with the Opteka, but this not normally noticeable unless the image is blown up. Normal subjects will not usually show the chromatic abberation, except on the edges of an image WHEN BLOWN UP.

The focusing on the Opteka is CRITICAL and gets difficult past 900mm, since the light gets prettty low. I made and put a Vernier scale on my lens and got pretty good focus by splitting the slightly out of focus near and far focus distances. I have some excellent hawk and egret images taken with the Opteka 650-1300 mm lens (email me at

harold-moore@sbcglobal.net for some images if you like). I also made some cardboard STOPS for this lens which work well. It is not practical to go much beyond F22 because of diffraction. A 2X tele is NOT recommended--F32 at max focal length--because diffraction is becoming significant and will blur the image AND, of course, the focus is very difficult. A high quality 1.4X teleconverter will give you 1800mm at f22 with fair images--but the focus is critical and DIFFICULT. If you learn to focus this lens--gets much more difficult past 650mm--then you can get some

pretty good images.

The Opteka is a good starter lens IF you cannot afford the Canon or long focal length Tamrons etc. The main advantage of this lens is its very low cost. The Tamron 200-500mm is close to $1000 and the resolving power is similar. I had fun with Opteka lens and now I don't need it since I have

purchased the Canon 400mm (I can stack 3X and 1.4X teles on the canon to get around 1700mm--again the focus is MANUAL and very difficult past 1000mm since the light levels are so very low (on both lenses). I have also put a Vernier scale on my canon, and it is handy for distant birds that are very far away and must be, therefore, shot at 1700mm. This works well IF THEY WILL JUST STAY STILL.

The Opteka is about 4 1/2 pounds and takes a litle time setting up on a medium sized tripod--this sized tripod will work satisfactory--although I like my heavier duty tripod with Cullmann ball head. Again the

lens is not as sharp as a canon, but similar to that of the Tamron. I compared test chart images of the Opteka at 650mm and my Tamron 70-300mm zoom with a 2X Tamron teleconverter at distances where

the image was the same size. The Opteka resolved as well as the Tamron, but I had to really get it in focus, which I did with the Vernier scale.

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Panasonic HC-V520 HD Digital Camcorder with 80x Zoom and Wi-fi

Customer Ratings:

I work with baseball players and bought this unit for its 60P capability and long zoom. The zoom is more like 58X or 62X, but that's still VERY powerful. The image quality is good, even at max zoom and the image stabilizer seems to work well. This video-camera also seems to work very well in lower light conditions (it's at least one stop better than my other cameras, I assume due to a bigger sensor). It has a full range of manual controls that seem to be available in all modes. It's also VERY small and light. Battery life on the included battery seems better than average (compared to my Canon HV-30).

The only downsides -and the reason why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 -are that I literally can't buy another (or really two or three) battery for it, which is an issue for me because I am a semi-professional photographer and film entire baseball games and like to have 2 or 3 batteries in my bag just in case. Panasonic also charges a ridiculous amount for accessories like batteries and an external battery charger. They are pricing the camera low and then getting you with the accessories, so understand that the effective price of this camera is more like $500 or $600 if you need more than just what comes in the box.

P.S. The BIOS is buggy. I am getting increasing numbers of card write/read errors, despite using premium, high bit rate Sandisk cards.

P.P.S. The size of the sensor is quite small, due to the small size of the camera, so beware that the image won't scale well. That won't be an issue for most consumer users, but power users might notice some image quality problems if they try to blow up the image.

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Logitech WiLife Video Security Indoor and Outdoor Master System

Customer Ratings:

This is a very nice and easy to install system. The cameras take beautiful, clear images, and the system is easy to monitor.

It took longer than the 15 minutes I heard on some video reviews, but beats the stuffing out of having to hard wire everything. One hint is that if you are having a problem syncing to a camera it may be because of what the walls are made of in your home. Older buildings may have heavier materials that the signal may have difficulty transmitting through. Never fear, try moving the computer to a different room or a different floor.

Also, if you can manage it, just get a little laptop with good storage space that can be a dedicated security component. Remember to set it to never sleep and never have the screen saver pop up; just close the lid.

In short, I'm very pleased with this system. Logitech did a great job with this.

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Pentax Optio WG-3 White 16 MP Digital Camera (White) Premiere

Customer Ratings:

Bought this just prior to a cruise. Pentax has been a favorite of my for years. I wanted something that could take a few bumps and use snorkeliing. Didn't get a chance to do a lot of underwater photos, but the camera does a great job. A pro on the cruise said he has been as deep as 40ft. with no problem. I wouldn't push it that far, but there was no problem at 10ft. for sure. Some great shots on the trip. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a rugged, waterproof camera at a reasonable price.

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Canon EOS Rebel SL1 18.0 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm EF-S

Customer Ratings:

I bought this for $925.12. After 8 days I noticed that price dropped nearly a $100. I went to my orders and clicked "return item" and mentioned the reason. I immediately got an email saying Return request closed and the reason being "Refund without return". Next day I got Refund on order for $120. I had researched DavisMAX before buying and based on the reviews, I purchased this because of positive reviews and also it was the best deal i could find. Completely satisfied with the professional handling of the customer query.

Now, as far as the product is concerned, The instant i opened the box, i found all the canon products in their original packing. Unboxed them and immediately registered the product on canon website with the serial numbers (body and both the lens). Overall satisfied with the cannon stuff I got. As far as the other bundled items go, the bag is of a good quality, I liked the compactness of the big tripod, i never had a chance to test out the effectiveness of the 3 filters or the 2 extra lens attachments(wide angle and 2x). The additional battery with car charger was a plus.

Regarding the cons, I would have preferred an USM lens for the 75-300mm. It is hardly $40 more and i would have definitely paid that extra $$$. The bundled 75-300mm is not USM but i bought it anyway because if i buy them separately the cost was going to be around $1000.

Another thing this bundle is missing is the 40mm pancake lens, it about $135 but worth the price addition because it would really compliment the worlds smallest SLR body with the smallest lens and u would literally have point and shoot camera size which gives an amazing quality. I am buying the "Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Lens", will check if DavisMAX has it or else will order from some other vendor or amazon.

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Sony Xperia Z C6603 Black Factory Unlocked LTE BANDS

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $711.00
Sale Price: $448.11
Today's Bonus: 37% Off

I finally switched from IOS to Android and I have no regrets at all.

For two an half years I was very pleased with my iphone 4 but I got tired of the UI and the small screen.

What attracted me with the Xperia Z was the Build quality, far much better than those cheap plastic Samsung build, but still not as good as an iphone. The waterproof feature was also one of the thing that made me make the move. This phone is just beautiful...

The phone is very very fast and responsive, I was impressed. I really like the widget that allow you to access to different phone configuration very quickly. Turning wifi, bluetooth and GPS OFF in just 4 clics. Every thing is faster with Android, access to configuration, killing running application, switching application ... Apple should learn something here.

The 5 inch display is just gorgeous, every things look great... photos, videos, web browsing ...

Regarding the camera, I was a little disappointed with the Sony Camera App, it has a lot of feature but the final image was not that punchy so I purchased an app called "HDR camera+" and waooo... this app literally changed every thing with the camera and get the best out of this 13 megapixel sensor. Exposure, color tone, color temperature, color saturation, sharpness... everything is so much better ...

What I miss from IOS is the Airplay feature build into the system. Android has some third party application available to stream music and video but it does not work as well as IOS.

For example It recognize my Yamaha RX-V773 as an Airplay receiver but I was not able to stream any music, the Android music player just got stuck.

But I can stream music and video to my Philips 46 inch TV ... I don't get it....

Now about battery life, it's not that great ... This 5 inch full HD display suck a lot of juice and don't expect more than 5 or 6 hours oh intensive use. I mean by intensive use, 3G connected and display on all the time ...

The problem with that phone is that you can't stop using it all the time ... So get prepared to get some extra juice somewhere ... for example an external battery pack ....

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SanDisk Extreme Pro 32 GB SDHC - UHS Class 1 Flash Memory Card

Customer Ratings:

The SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC UHS-1 is the fastest SDHC currently on the market. That being said, I must point out that this card uses the UHS-1 standard which most cameras in existence currently do not support. I have the Nikon D7000 and as far as I can tell, it is the only camera that supports this card. Currently you can pick these cards up for about 75 dollars for the 16gb and 150-170 for the 32 gb. However, I suspect that as more cameras are released that support this card, you will see the price go up.

This card writes and reads at a minimum of 45 mb/second. This is 15 mb/s than the former fastest SDHC card on the market, the SanDisk Extreme Class 10.

Even if you do not currently have a camera that supports UHS-1 this card will still work and is backwards compatible with SDHC and SHXC devices. However, the card will revert back to standard Class 10 speeds approximately.

I could go on and on about the quality of SanDisk but I won't. Simply put, they make some of the best memory for cameras out there.

This is a great card, but it is not for everyone. I prefer it because I only shoot RAW (NEF for Nikon) and the files are typically between 25mb 30mb. The Nikon D7000 16.2MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR with 3.0-Inch LCD (Body Only) has a buffer of 10 RAW photos. When I get to the end of the buffer, this card starts with the magic. Where my Transcend Class 10 card would only allow me to shoot 2 shots per three seconds once I reached the buffer, the Extreme Pro allows me to shoot 2 shots per second when I run over the buffer. It also replenishes the buffer in about 4 seconds versus the 15-20 seconds the standard Class 10 cards would take.

So, this card may or may not be for you. If you shoot event photography, sports photography, or weddings, then I would suggest you buy a couple or more of these. If you are a casual shooter who never fires off a large burst of photos, I would save your money and buy a less expensive card like the Transcend 16 GB Class 10 SDHC Flash Memory Card TS16GSDHC10E that is one third the cost.

In the video I compare three cards, the Dane-Elec 8 GB Class 4 SDHC Flash Memory Card DA-SD-8192-R, the Transcend 16 GB Class 10 SDHC Flash Memory Card TS16GSDHC10E, and the SanDisk Flash 16 GB SDHC Flash Memory Card SDSDXP1-016G (Black). I start by shooting straight RAW photos until the camera's buffer is exhausted and then see how quickly the card can write to clear the buffer. I then shoot the cards again in Fine JPG mode. I do this to show that the three cards will all suffice if you are just shooting JPGs. I wanted to show this so that it would help others in deciding if this was worth spending three times as much as other Class 10 cards. Since the 8gb and 32 gb Extreme Pro are built to the same standard and architecture, the write/read performance should be the same and the capacity should be the only difference. As this is a SanDisk branded SDHC card, this is a rather safe assumption.

Overall, I would buy this card again.

-Cheers!

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Kodak Easyshare P712 7.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Image

Customer Ratings:

I have owned 4 Kodak digital cameras, the last 3 being the DX7590, the P850 and now the P712, which I have owned for a month. The camera has a long zoom (12x), which is the same as the P850, so my filters, adapter, external flash and lenses fit both cameras. The P850 and the P712 both have a hot shoe and I had the Kodak P20 flash, which works seamlessly with both cameras. The only quibble I had with the P850 was that it took a couple of seconds between shots and was a little slow from the time you push the shutter to when the picture is taken. I have found the times for both on the P712 to be improved. The resolution of the P712 also is 7 megapixels, versus the 5 megapixels for the P850. The higher resolution helps if you want to enlarge pictures such as 8x10 or larger.

Kodak cameras are know to be easy to use and the P712 lives up to this, just run it on Auto. The camera also has several scene modes, which preset the camera for special situations such as sunset, snow, beach, sports, portraits, candlelight, fireworks, etc. The P712 also has a panorama mode, which enables you to stitch 2 or 3 pictures taken into one wide picture. I have used several of the scene modes and they work well. the panorama mode works well also, after taking one picture, the camera will show part of the previous picture so that you can line up the 2nd or 3rd pictures.

Although the camera works as a point and shoot, it's also a camera with room to grow. It includes Program, shutter priority, aperture priority and full manual modes, as well as 3 modes that you can customize for unique situations. Flash and exposure compensation, flash settings, white balance and other settings are easily accessed and used.

The hot shoe is great to use with an external flash. I have used the P20 flash for weddings and large group events and the flash has worked well at lengths up to 30', such as my daughter's concert. Most digital cameras don't have a hot shoe unless they're more expensive than the $398 I paid. The camera also has image stabilization, which helps when you're using the zoom extended out. Without image stabilization, cameras pick up the small shaking of your hands and pictures come out blurred unless you use a tripod. You do need to use a tripod if you're taking a picture in a low light situation without flash; this is normal even in film photography due to the lens having to stay open longer.

What's included: the camera, lens cap, neck strap, EasyShare Software, a rechargeable battery and charger, a USB cord, a cord to connect the camera to a TV or computer (I've used this to view pictures over friends' TV) owner's manual and the insert to use with Kodak docks and printers.

Transferring pictures to your computer is easy: you can connect the camera with the included USB cord, use a secure digital card and remove the card and use a card reader, or purchase one of Kodak's printer or camera docks. I have the Kodak Easy Share printer dock plus and have found it easy to print 4x6" prints, transfer pictures and charge the camera's battery simply by placing the camera on the dock and pushing a button.

The bottom line: The camera is easy to use, takes great pictures, allows for creativity and has room to grow. If you're looking for more than just a simple point and shoot, or are looking to make the switch from film photography and enjoy photography, try the P712.

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Apple iPad with Retina Display ME400LL/A (128GB, Wi-Fi + AT&T

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $929.00
Sale Price: $849.99
Today's Bonus: 9% Off

This product is amazing. It's not perfect, but considering that I'll have it for at least 2 years and I've used it every day so far, I certainly get my $.40 worth each day! It's very sturdy and I know it will hold up well, as my other Apple products have. I have friends who still use their original iPads (they work just fine, but many applications don't run on the operating system). I have a Kindle (an old version), and still love my Kindle as a reader. It's the only way I can read in the sunlight and it's SO lightweight. Eventually, I'll upgrade to a new Kindle reader, but I see them as having different purposes. The iPad is a mini computer, and the non-Fire Kindle is the equivalent of carrying around a book (or a thousand).

iPad 3 vs. iPad 4:

I purchased the version right before this one--the iPad 3--several weeks before the announcement of this version. I called Apple a few days after the announcement, and they immediately set me up with a way to return the iPad 3 to repurchase the newest version. I realize that some people were angry about the announcement, but there has to be a cut off date for new technology at some point, and I thought that Apple treated me as well or better than I've seen from any other technology company.

Yes, both the iPad 3 and 4 have very crisp, clear screens (which are stunning for video quality compared to my Macbook from 2010). However, the increased speed of the iPad 4 makes the video quality seem clearer. It's difficult to explain, but movies definitely got a bit crisper. Also, the increased speed really is incredible when opening apps and running a lot at once. I'd say the time it takes to open large applications is cut in half. But, I was so impressed with the iPad 3 when it came, and if I hadn't been able to exchange it, I would still give it a 5-star review--it's definitely not "obsolete."

Finally, what makes the iPad special? First, no one *needs* one. But now that I have one, it's sure useful and I wouldn't want to go back to life before I got one. Here's why:

* I sit at school or at work in front of a computer all day. I am always typing or reading on the screen. Coming come to something different is nice--it's refreshing. I'd rather watch a tv show on a 10" iPad than any other non-TV device (laptop, tablet, phone, etc.). The picture quality is great for movies and browsing, and the 10" screen is big enough to share if a friend and I want to watch something together. A 7" isn't enough for that or big enough to basically serve as a TV replacement.

* It is functional enough to REPLACE a computer. Don't get me wrong, I still need my computer for editing files, serious typing, spreadsheets, etc. But right after I got the ipad, I went on a 10-day trip. No computer, no problem. I could take care of all of my emails from work and school, keep in touch, keep up with my finances, etc. It was anything I'd need for a non-work trip. Web browsing works just as well as a laptop for 95% of sites, and there's an app for many that even improves the browsing experience.

* Given the first two points, I think owning an iPad will greatly extend the life of my laptop. I probably use my laptop 50% less now that I have an iPad, so I'll probably get an extra year of life out of my laptop as a result. That, in itself, makes the purchase of an iPad worth it in my eyes.

* Integration with other Mac devices. This doesn't apply to everyone, but if you're a Mac user for a laptop or an iPhone, I'd highly recommend the iPad over alternatives, even if it's more expensive. If you're hooked on Windows products or Google products, I'd consider those devices.

* The number of apps. I know that apps are everywhere these days, but, it seems at least, that there are still the most applications for Apple devices. The difference is especially noticeable in non-retail applications. For example, I've tried dozens of "to do" and organizer apps, and my favorite, Errands, is only available on iOS. Another of my favorites, Fotopedia Heritage (a gorgeous display of UNESCO World Heritage photography), is only on iPad. So far (and this may change), a lot of companies also choose to release new iOS versions of applications first. This edge will decrease with time, but for now it is still a significant "plus" for an iPad over other tablets for those who are into applications. Also, I can run most iPhone apps on the iPad, and there's an easy way to tell the difference (e.g. you can search just for iPad apps or for iPhone/iPad/iPod apps). Not sure if you can do this on other tablets, but I've found it useful (e.g. my bank only has an iphone app, but I can still run it on my iPad). Finally, though, just to be clear, this is NOT just a device for running applications. I could do almost everything I choose to do through applications just by using a web browser.

* The number of accessories. Many won't care about this, but some will. If you like to have cases to protect your electronics, the sheer number for iPad is a draw (not a huge one, but the sprinkles on the cake). Everything's out there, from cheap plastic covers to the smart cover (the one that folds as a stand) to professional-looking leather folios to designer soft zip cases. It can be a fashion statement, but it's more likely just a way to make sure to keep your device safe.

* Finally, and this may be petty, but it's the most professional device. In the field I know (law), partners at law firms and federal judges use iPads, not other devices to read briefs, send emails, etc. I've never seen anyone doing work on a Kindle device and I've never even seen another tablet in a professional setting. Part of this may be that it's a well-established product, and part may be that the 10-inch screen is nice for reading, even if it's bulkier. Being able to feel comfortable that you can carry your device in a professional environment may matter for some, and the iPad definitely delivers above other devices there.

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Sony FDA-EV1S Electronic Viewfinder for NEX-5N Digital Camera

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $349.99
Sale Price: $225.54
Today's Bonus: 36% Off

This OLED viewfinder is a great addition to my NEX-5N. I was pleasantly surprised because a few days after I placed the order I received the shipping notification from Amazon although it is always out of stock.

I have no experience with other electronic viewfinders but I can tell you this one is amazing. Very high resolution, sharp and all the necessary info shown in the viewfinder even the live histogram. (One weird thing though when adjusting exposure compensation you wont see the histogram. It behaves the same way on the LCD I don't know what Sony was thinking... hopefully they will change this in a firmware update)

You can go through on the camera's menu in the VF which works great (you can't utilize the LCD's touch feature which I think wouldn't be possible anyway). I have the soft buttons customized and I found it easy to change the settings through the viewfinder. If you have the focus set to "Flexible Spot" you can move around the spot by pressing the scroll wheel and don't have to take your eyes off the finder. Pretty neat... But the other two soft buttons are not VF friendly. They are flat and don't stick out from the body so it's hard to find them a firmware upgrade won't help on this but you can put some small rubber bumper pads on them.

You can also review the pictures in the viewfinder which is also great, the brightness and the colors are the same that you will see on the computer screen.

There are also a few negatives to consider when using the viewfinder. The first and biggest is the price it will be prohibitive for many. It cost 50% of the 5N body which is a joke... $250 would be still much but more realistic. With it the NEX-5N cost almost as much as the NEX-7 which has the same VF built-in although you can't tilt that one.

If you attach the VF to the body it sticks out and might not fit in a slim bag or in your jacket pocket. If it does be careful when you pull it out remember it is $350.

You can't use the flash while the VF occupies the accessory port and sometimes this can be troubling. Take the VF off put the flash on take the flash off put the VF back on... I don't know when will I experience contact problems. I guess after the warranty expires.

One more thing I don't like too many bits and pieces because I have more chance to lose them but at least the VF comes with a little pouch so I can keep the flash in it while the VF is on the camera.

I have no regrets buying it and it will stay on my NEX-5N 95% of the time. If you buy it you will love it but if you think it doesn't worth $350 for you that is understandable because it is really overpriced.

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Nikon Coolpix P510 (Black) Package

Customer Ratings:

I ordered this through The Shutterbug. First off it arrived very quickly and all items were included. No issues! I have waited a long time to purchase a new camera and I finally settled on this one after loads of research. It was a great deal getting all the extras included for the same price as the camera alone. This camera is the best. It is so simple to use it has more effects and scene settings than I have seen on a camera. There is no way to screw up a pic w/ this one. I love how quickly it snaps a picture, seems to be no delay. Which is great when you have a toddler running around. The manual is short and sweet, easy to remember. I have a friend who bought a more expensive SLR camera, who after using mine feels she over purchased. This camera does everything the more expensive cameras do, and it offers so many different settings. Her's does not offer any of those things. The quality of the photos in any light are excellent. The zoom is amazing. I can't believe what a great buy this wonderful camera is. It is well worth the money and then some. I have never considered myself to have an eye for photos. With this camera, I can take professional quality photos. I may have a new found passion for photography thanks to this camera!!!!

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BeachTek DXA-HDV High-Performance Camcorder Adapter, 20 Hz - 20

Customer Ratings:

Worked perfectly for allowing me to connect standard microphones to my Sony HD video camera. The ability to attach to the camera with the tripod screw, and still be mountable to a tripod, is genius. This unit offers the user a ton of control over the audio signal. Highly-recommended for any amateur videographer wanting to use high-quality microphones.

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Polaroid Z2300 10MP Digital Instant Print Camera (White)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $299.99
Sale Price: $179.99
Today's Bonus: 40% Off

If you like using your phone to take instagrams your going love this camera! Insert sd card and choose the prints you want to print. Sticky backed photos perfect for scrapping. You can also upload to Mac or windows and print off larger images. Best of all, the instant camera prints are only 50 cents a piece. Not bad for instant crafting.

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Sony HDR-PJ30V High Definition Handycam Camcorder with Built-in

Customer Ratings:

Disclaimer I have the HDR-PJ10, not the 50V, but as far as I can tell the projector is the same between the two models.

the most important question you probably have if you are reading this review. HOW IS THE PROJECTOR AND IS IT WORTH IT?

The projector is a lot of fun to play with. If you like having envious friends drooling over your latest gadget, this is for you. Although it only puts out 10 ANSI lumens, it's reasonable for sharing videos. The overall experience reminds me of looking at vacation slides when I was young.

Sony claims that you can get up to a 60" (diagonal) image and you can actually get more, but the display gets to be very, very dim. I would say that in a lighted room, a 20-24" projected image is acceptable. Since brightness falls off as the square of the distance, it gets dim pretty fast and by the time you have a 30-40" display size you need to be in a very dark room for it to be viewable.

The focal length for the projector is fairly long that 20" display requires 3 feet between projector and wall. At 5 feet you get a 33" diagonal display, and at 8 feet you get 53" diagonal. There's a focus slider on the top and the volume on the built in stereo speakers is surprisingly good, but you still will need people to keep quiet if you want to hear.

Is it worth it? The best estimate on cost of this feature is to compare the PJ10 with the Sony HDRCX160 which is the closest Sony camcorder without a projector. It costs about five bills while the PJ10 is 7, so it's about two Benjamins or 40% more for this feature. (Our gracious hosts here dislike us discussing price but I think it's a very valid point) If you look at the 3M Pocket Projector MPRO120--.33LBS, which costs around this much, it has 12 lumens and a resolution of 1280x800. I'm having a hard time confirming the resolution on the Sony projector but it is surprisingly sharp. There's something to be said for having the projector cleanly integrated into the camcorder.

In comparing the PJ10 to it's two bigger brothers and it's projectorless cousin, I'd note that they all appear to have the same sensor and image processor so image quality should be the same. Similarly they all carry the same 3" touch screen. The main difference is with the bells and whistles (and of course, the price). Interestingly enough, the two "lower" models have (IMO) the better optics (30x zoom)

Model.........Internal....Optical..Digital...35mm Lens Eq.

.................Memory......Zoom...Zoom....(16x9 Movie)

---------....----------..-----....-----....------------

HDR-PJ50V...220Gb HDD....12x...160x.....29.8mm 357.6mm

HDR-PJ30V...32Gb Flash....12x...160x.....29.8mm 357.6mm

HDR-PJ10.....16Gb Flash....30x....350x.....29.8mm 894mm

HDR-CX160...16Gb Flash...30x...350x.....29.8mm 894mm

A couple of key items the PJ10 is missing It doesn't have a GPS Tag, built in video light and it only shoots at 60i and 60p where the PJ30 and 50 can also do 24p. Should you care? The LED light would be nice as far as 24p, if you don't know what a video pulldown ratio is, then trust me, you won't care. GPS well, I'm not into Geotagging so I'd say no.

The 30V and 50V are actually about the same price both a pretty big jump over the PJ10. My opinion is to stick with the PJ10, or if you don't need a projector, go with the CX160

Do note that the PJ30 takes still images at 7 MP instead of 3 MP. This makes the PJ30 a somewhat reasonable replacement for a P&S still camera, but we have a DSLR so we certainly won't be replacing that.

Likes: Projector super, super neat and convenient for sharing videos. "Highlight reel" feature makes it even more fun, though the music not my taste. "Golf Shot" works well for soccer and other action shots. WIDE angle lens from the get go makes shooting birthday gatherings, etc much more practical. STEREO speakers on playback give some serious volume

Annoyances: What's with the CR2025 in the remote? I always cram a CD2032 in these remotes they actually fit, are easier to find, and have a lot more capacity. I wish I didn't need the remote to scroll through menus while in the projector mode.(where the touch screen is disabled)

CONCLUSION:

Wow your friends and family! The Sony HDR-PJ10/30V/50V offer something I've never seen before the ability to project movies built right in. The camcorder portion is comparable to the CX160 a very capable, high quality HD Digital video camera. Shoot a video and share it the same day without having to worry about bringing extra cables or even a display! Execution of this concept is very competent. The cost size and weigh penalty is significant (24% more weight (2.1 oz) and 34% more volume (113 cc) than the CX160) but still delivered in a very reasonable package (See pictures)

If you have any comments, questions, or found this review helpful, please let me know!

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Bushnell Velocity Speed Gun (Colors may vary)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $151.95
Sale Price: $91.92
Today's Bonus: 40% Off

Recently i purchased a Bushnell Velocity Speed Gun to test out it's accuracy. I have been in law enforcement since 1985 & i am certified in the use of radar.I read several reviews from customers on how they were dissatisfied beacause their radar gun did not work properly for one reason or another. My partners patrol car has a MPH radar & i decided to see just how accurate a Bushnell hand radar compared with it.I have 2 different speed tuning forks to test my MPH with & tested both of them on the Bushnell as well.The Bushnell tested accurate & gave the correct reading on both tuning forks i tested with.i then took it on the road & compared it against my partners MPH radar system against oncoming traffic & it worked as well matching vehicle speed with my MPH as well.

Although i used it on traffic,it should work on any moving object such as baseball,softball,tennis balls etc.Just remember that these objects are of course much smaller than a vehicle & you must be in direct line of sight to the object to get a true & accurate reading of speed.I would reccomend this particular unit to anyone interested in purchasing one.

Michael DeLano.CPSO,Auxilliary Deputy Sheriff

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Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G

Customer Ratings:

I would call myself better then a novice but not a professional. This camera has all of the capabilities I need and it works very well in low light events like shcool plays and concerts that do not allow flash. Easy to use and program.

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