This phone is amazing. Far better than any iPhone. Amazing display, fast responses, and cool gesture movements and voice commands. Would recommend this phone to anyone.
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro DX Zoom Digital Lens + UV Filter
I am a remodeling contractor. I bought this lens because I wanted to be able to take pictures of my kitchen & especially bath remodels. They can often be tight spaces that require a wide angle to capture the entire effect. It's done all of that and more.
PowerShot G12 by Canon 10 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical
Why is the G12 more expensive than the G15which is a better and far more versatile camera. I own the 12 and it's very good, but the 2.8 lens is limiting. I also own the G1X which
is in a different classbut the price difference between the 12 and 15 makes no sense.
is in a different classbut the price difference between the 12 and 15 makes no sense.
Fujifilm FinePix HS50EXR 16MP Digital Camera with 3-Inch LCD
List Price: $499.95
Sale Price: $378.70
Today's Bonus: 24% Off
Fujifilm FinePix HS50EXR 16 MP Digital Camera with 3-Inch LCD (Black) I just received my Fujifilm HS-50. I had ordered a new charger and some spare batteries that arrived sooner today, so I had a chance to charge up before the delivery of the HS-50 and was ready to go on a few tests the minute I took it out of the box. THIS IS A GOOD CAMERA! I am more than pleased with the test shots: clear, well focused, the zoom is great. This should be a great camera for anyone wanting to not have to change lenses with changing requirements. Having had all the HS series cameras prior to this one, I can say this is a worthy update (zoom). I have always had great success with shots pleasing to me, particularly with the HS-30, and have no doubts whatsoever that the HS-50 will be perfect for MY needs/desires. NOW: I might have stated this with my review of the HS-30 previously, BUT: this is a camera with a 1/2 inch sensor. The pros out there might want more (I just sold off a DSLR with an APS-C sensor, 24mp, and all sorts of lenses due to NOT wanting to change lenses every time a great photo op came into being ... photo ops don't want to wait for lens changes ... and, let's face it, changing lenses (and risking getting dust on the sensor every time one lens is changed for another ... been there) is an absolute pain in the posterior!). The HS-50, right out of the box, has a great solid feeling to it, a camera of substance. Compared to DSLRs I have owned, the weight of this thing is an absolute non-issue. I bought a CASE LOGIC SLR HOLSTER case (same kind I carried the HS-30 in, which was totally perfect) along with the HS-50. I also bought a B&W Clear Haze Filter. A previous excellent review mentioned the clumsiness of the CHARGER that comes with the HS-50, I totally agree. It has a wire that has to be plugged into the charger, a non-starter for travel. I bought the WASABI 2 battery set with a charger that plugs directly into the wall. The FUJI charger will be relegated to a box somewhere. The one test I haven't done ... yet ... is to try to track a flock of geese in flight to test the write speed of this HS-50 vs the previous HS-30. I do want to say that I LOVE THE MANUAL ZOOM LENS!
Few observations: If you want great shots that should be pleasing to you, this could very well be the camera you're looking for. If you belong to a photo club where one's status is often determined by the size/price of your lenses or how many megapixels are in your camera, then this will not put you at the head of the class, if that's important to you. :-)
Post processing: This means using software to "tweak" your pics (I routinely do this to all my pictures ... whether from a DSLR or the FUJI). I find this adds that "finishing touch" that I personally love ... everyone has different tastes. Just thought this might be worthy of mention.
Lastly: Considering the price of the HS-50 vs. a DSLR and lenses, preferably quality lenses and the fact this does not weigh anywhere near what a DSLR assemblage in a large case does ... AND the fact one does not have to change lenses all the time ... then I ... personally ... think this HS-50 is a steal.
UPDATE: 3-21-13: No camera is ever fully adopted by me unless I take it out to my favorite park and give it the FULL WORKOUT, which I just did this morning. I believe I said this in my review of the HS-30 a year or so ago: buying a camera ... any camera ... is a subjective thing. No camera is satisfactory to everyone. The camera that IS satisfactory to YOU, the reader, is the one that does what YOU want it to, based upon your interests/desires/budget. After my gaggle of MANY DSLRs in the past, I always find myself returning to the HS series cameras. Why? "Bangs for the bucks!" The things do just about EVERYTHING in one easily transportable package that doesn't break your neck/shoulders when "out there" taking pics. The HS50 performed, FOR ME, marvelously today ... and I never had any doubts, based upon my prior experiences with the HS series in the past. There is one thing I feel like alerting buyers/would be buyers: be a bit careful of the ON/OFF switch. It appears a bit sensitive if you accidentally brush against it when moving the camera about. Everything worked fine today, and the ZOOM ... that wonderful zoom ... worked superbly. I got shots today that I NEVER would have gotten with the VERY expensive DSLRs I disposed of (without buying even more/increasingly highly expensive zoom lenses).
Before buying ANY camera, ask yourself what you want to do with that camera, what are your realistic expectations ... how much do you want to spend, when all is said and done ... then you'll make the right choice. AND: Whatever camera you do end up with, remember to CONSULT THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL when you have questions. The manuals give many insights into what your camera will/won't do. :-)
Leaving you with a thought: "It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera... they are made with the eye, heart and head." Henri Cartier-Bresson.
Regards, Mike
Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch
I've had the T1i for about almost week now and after some extensive use, here are my thoughts:
1. 15.1 megapixel sensor. Yes, the high megapixel count is impressive, but keep in mind that, as you approach higher resolutions, you need to ensure the lens on the SLR can resolve that much detail. Sadly, the included 18-55mm IS lens is functional, but the high resolution really shows the so-so quality of the lens. Even if taken at the proper focus, pictures can appear soft with this kit lens. Shots I have taken with Canon EF-S 17-85mm and EF 70-200mm L lenses are crisp. I don't have any gripes on image quality. There are some issues with noise on the higher ISOs that don't seem to show up on the Nikon digitals, but overall, the quality is amazing for the price. Skin tones, textures, colors are reproduced very accurately.
2. Digic 4. The Digic 4 processor appears to process/save the 15 megapixel images in the same time (if not faster) than the Digic III processor on the XSi (even in RAW+Jpg mode). I have also noticed that at higher ISOs, the sensor and the Digic 4 produce images with less overall noise compared with its predecessors.
3. LCD. The 920,000 pixel LCD screen is large (3"), crisp, vibrant and fully visible even in bright sunlight. In comparison, the Canon XSi SLR (which the T1i replaces), also has a 3" LCD, but with 230,000 pixels. The viewing angle is great as well and the LCD can easily be seen nearly 180 degrees around.
4. ISO 12800. Canon and Amazon are correctly identifying that the T1i maxes out at ISO 3200. Some less reputable dealers are listing an ISO 12800, which you should disregard. The ISO 6400 and 12800 settings are expanded ISO settings. The pictures taken on these two settings are ISO 3200 images pushed to ISO 6400 or 12800 by the Digic 4 chip before saving to the memory card. These pictures are extremely grainy and contain a lot of noise to the point of only being usable as for snapshots or adding an artistic effect to certain compositions.
5. Penta-mirror. That Canon is still using one in the T1i is disappointing. The penta-mirror viewfinder image is functional, but still noticeably darker than that of the penta-prism viewfinder in the Nikon D90 (which is the T1i's main competitor). I really would have preferred if Canon had kept the XSi's 12.2 megapixel sensor, forgone 1080p video altogether, and maybe upped the cost of the camera slightly to cover the production cost of using a penta-prism in the T1i. Honestly, unless you are massively cropping your images, or creating large photos, the difference between 12.2 and 15.1 megapixels really is negligible.
6. Size. This is the same body as the XSi, and therefore a bit on the smaller side compared to other digital SLRs. I have small hands, so the T1i is comfortable for me. If you have big hands, I can see this being a very difficult camera to use over an extended period of time. If you haven't handled a Canon XT, XTi or XSi, I would suggest you go to a store and hold the T1i yourself before purchasing it online. (I will upload a picture of the T1i in my hands to the user gallery for a size reference.)
7. HD Video. Yes, the Canon marketing department made a horrible marketing decision and pushed the T1i onto shelves limiting the 1080p recording to 20fps (frames per second). Recognize this as a marketing gimmick that allows them put a 1080p sticker on the camera box. The 1080p @ 20fps is fine most times, but seems a choppy if you have a lot of action in the frame or are panning quickly. The T1i's 720p video is recorded at 30fps and is clean, smooth, and sufficient for all but the most discerning consumers. One major criticism though is that the sound is recorded in mono, AND there is NO input for an external microphone.
A lot of pre-production reviews of the T1i criticize its inability to automatically autofocus while recording. I wouldn't put much weight in this criticism, mostly because neither of the other two SLR cameras with HD recording capabilities (Canon 5D Mark II and Nikon D90) can automatically autofocus while recording either. What you can do with the T1i is pan/zoom the lens and then press the AE lock (*) button to make the camera autofocus on the new subject (all while recording). A problem with using the AE lock button to have the camera autofocus is that the microphone for the camera is on the front upper left of the body near the lens mount. Therefore, the lens motor noise is picked up just as much as ambient sounds. Even with my quietest Canon USM (ultasonic motor) lenses, this lens motor sound is pretty loud in video playback. Although, remember, you can always manually turn the focusing ring on the lens to get your subject back into focus. It's not easy, but after a little practice, it's not all too hard, either.
Ultimately, you shouldn't let the HD recording limitations sway you one way or the other. This is an SLR camera -not a video camera. The HD video is a great feature, but if you're looking for something primarily to take video, look elsewhere. There are much better, cheaper VIDEO cameras out there which can record true 1080p.
8. Record button. For some reason, the record video button is next to the LCD screen (the same button used for direct printing). The first few times you take video, you'll intuitively find yourself using the shutter release button used to take pictures. The reason for this switch is that you can take a still picture while recording video, although, doing so will interrupt the recording.
9. Battery life. My first fully charged battery only lasted about 250 shots (no flash), but all charges since have given me in the range of 500-700 shots per charge. I'm guessing the first charge had such a short life because I spent quite a bit of time learning the camera, its menus, and settings.
10. Live View. I honestly can't review this as I haven't used it too much yet -I prefer using the viewfinder. One feature I can say is nice is that, on the LCD, you can digitally zoom in (up to 10x) on a section of your shot to ensure it is properly focused. This, and the fine focusing, can really help if you're into macro-photography.
11. HDMI cable. The T1i has an HDMI Type C output on the body to allow you to directly display pictures and video on an HDTV. A minor criticism is that the HDMI Type C cable is not included in the box. You have to buy it separately. It would have been nice if it were included, as it's not an expensive cable.
Conclusion. The T1i is a bit on the light end, yet the construction still feels solid. For the camera's price point, you'd be hard pressed to find any digital SLR out there which gives you all the capabilities and growth range of the Canon T1i. The camera is intuitive enough for those new to photography to pick and learn easily, yet configurable enough for advanced amateurs. If video is not a big deal for you, then get the Canon XSi. There is very little the T1i has (other than ISO 3200 and a sharper screen) that the XSi doesn't. Plus, with the release of the T1i, you can probably pick up a used XSi for a great price on eBay. My wife recently gave birth, and I'm not looking to record endless (never to be watched) tapes of video footage of our son, but I do want several minute clips of him as he grows through the years. I've always been more inclined towards photography, so this camera gives me a very versatile digital SLR that I need with the wonderful capability of recording HD video that I want.
1. 15.1 megapixel sensor. Yes, the high megapixel count is impressive, but keep in mind that, as you approach higher resolutions, you need to ensure the lens on the SLR can resolve that much detail. Sadly, the included 18-55mm IS lens is functional, but the high resolution really shows the so-so quality of the lens. Even if taken at the proper focus, pictures can appear soft with this kit lens. Shots I have taken with Canon EF-S 17-85mm and EF 70-200mm L lenses are crisp. I don't have any gripes on image quality. There are some issues with noise on the higher ISOs that don't seem to show up on the Nikon digitals, but overall, the quality is amazing for the price. Skin tones, textures, colors are reproduced very accurately.
2. Digic 4. The Digic 4 processor appears to process/save the 15 megapixel images in the same time (if not faster) than the Digic III processor on the XSi (even in RAW+Jpg mode). I have also noticed that at higher ISOs, the sensor and the Digic 4 produce images with less overall noise compared with its predecessors.
3. LCD. The 920,000 pixel LCD screen is large (3"), crisp, vibrant and fully visible even in bright sunlight. In comparison, the Canon XSi SLR (which the T1i replaces), also has a 3" LCD, but with 230,000 pixels. The viewing angle is great as well and the LCD can easily be seen nearly 180 degrees around.
4. ISO 12800. Canon and Amazon are correctly identifying that the T1i maxes out at ISO 3200. Some less reputable dealers are listing an ISO 12800, which you should disregard. The ISO 6400 and 12800 settings are expanded ISO settings. The pictures taken on these two settings are ISO 3200 images pushed to ISO 6400 or 12800 by the Digic 4 chip before saving to the memory card. These pictures are extremely grainy and contain a lot of noise to the point of only being usable as for snapshots or adding an artistic effect to certain compositions.
5. Penta-mirror. That Canon is still using one in the T1i is disappointing. The penta-mirror viewfinder image is functional, but still noticeably darker than that of the penta-prism viewfinder in the Nikon D90 (which is the T1i's main competitor). I really would have preferred if Canon had kept the XSi's 12.2 megapixel sensor, forgone 1080p video altogether, and maybe upped the cost of the camera slightly to cover the production cost of using a penta-prism in the T1i. Honestly, unless you are massively cropping your images, or creating large photos, the difference between 12.2 and 15.1 megapixels really is negligible.
6. Size. This is the same body as the XSi, and therefore a bit on the smaller side compared to other digital SLRs. I have small hands, so the T1i is comfortable for me. If you have big hands, I can see this being a very difficult camera to use over an extended period of time. If you haven't handled a Canon XT, XTi or XSi, I would suggest you go to a store and hold the T1i yourself before purchasing it online. (I will upload a picture of the T1i in my hands to the user gallery for a size reference.)
7. HD Video. Yes, the Canon marketing department made a horrible marketing decision and pushed the T1i onto shelves limiting the 1080p recording to 20fps (frames per second). Recognize this as a marketing gimmick that allows them put a 1080p sticker on the camera box. The 1080p @ 20fps is fine most times, but seems a choppy if you have a lot of action in the frame or are panning quickly. The T1i's 720p video is recorded at 30fps and is clean, smooth, and sufficient for all but the most discerning consumers. One major criticism though is that the sound is recorded in mono, AND there is NO input for an external microphone.
A lot of pre-production reviews of the T1i criticize its inability to automatically autofocus while recording. I wouldn't put much weight in this criticism, mostly because neither of the other two SLR cameras with HD recording capabilities (Canon 5D Mark II and Nikon D90) can automatically autofocus while recording either. What you can do with the T1i is pan/zoom the lens and then press the AE lock (*) button to make the camera autofocus on the new subject (all while recording). A problem with using the AE lock button to have the camera autofocus is that the microphone for the camera is on the front upper left of the body near the lens mount. Therefore, the lens motor noise is picked up just as much as ambient sounds. Even with my quietest Canon USM (ultasonic motor) lenses, this lens motor sound is pretty loud in video playback. Although, remember, you can always manually turn the focusing ring on the lens to get your subject back into focus. It's not easy, but after a little practice, it's not all too hard, either.
Ultimately, you shouldn't let the HD recording limitations sway you one way or the other. This is an SLR camera -not a video camera. The HD video is a great feature, but if you're looking for something primarily to take video, look elsewhere. There are much better, cheaper VIDEO cameras out there which can record true 1080p.
8. Record button. For some reason, the record video button is next to the LCD screen (the same button used for direct printing). The first few times you take video, you'll intuitively find yourself using the shutter release button used to take pictures. The reason for this switch is that you can take a still picture while recording video, although, doing so will interrupt the recording.
9. Battery life. My first fully charged battery only lasted about 250 shots (no flash), but all charges since have given me in the range of 500-700 shots per charge. I'm guessing the first charge had such a short life because I spent quite a bit of time learning the camera, its menus, and settings.
10. Live View. I honestly can't review this as I haven't used it too much yet -I prefer using the viewfinder. One feature I can say is nice is that, on the LCD, you can digitally zoom in (up to 10x) on a section of your shot to ensure it is properly focused. This, and the fine focusing, can really help if you're into macro-photography.
11. HDMI cable. The T1i has an HDMI Type C output on the body to allow you to directly display pictures and video on an HDTV. A minor criticism is that the HDMI Type C cable is not included in the box. You have to buy it separately. It would have been nice if it were included, as it's not an expensive cable.
Conclusion. The T1i is a bit on the light end, yet the construction still feels solid. For the camera's price point, you'd be hard pressed to find any digital SLR out there which gives you all the capabilities and growth range of the Canon T1i. The camera is intuitive enough for those new to photography to pick and learn easily, yet configurable enough for advanced amateurs. If video is not a big deal for you, then get the Canon XSi. There is very little the T1i has (other than ISO 3200 and a sharper screen) that the XSi doesn't. Plus, with the release of the T1i, you can probably pick up a used XSi for a great price on eBay. My wife recently gave birth, and I'm not looking to record endless (never to be watched) tapes of video footage of our son, but I do want several minute clips of him as he grows through the years. I've always been more inclined towards photography, so this camera gives me a very versatile digital SLR that I need with the wonderful capability of recording HD video that I want.
Lenovo Yoga 10-Inch 16 GB Tablet
List Price: $299.99
Sale Price: $259.99
Today's Bonus: 13% Off
I got my lenovo yoga 10 a few days ago, and I must say so far it has been excellent. Before buying this tablet I had significant concerns about the screen, as it got blasted in several reviews for having a horrible quality screen that isn't even suitable for watching standard definition shows on, has horrible colors that are washed out and text that is barely readable. The reality is none of this is the case. There are obviously better displays on the market that look incredible, but that is to take nothing away from the Yoga 10. I have found the screen to be crisp and clear with good color reproduction. Furthermore, the resolution of the screen is better than that of an iPad 2, which continues to be on sale by Apple. I have never seen one comment complaining about how poor and unwatchable that screen is. Another major complaint was gaming and how the Yoga is underpowered to the point where it can't handle games. Shadowgun,both dead triggers, spiderman, minecraft, iron man, and gta3 are the games I've played on it so far. None have had a problem with dropped frames and are completely fine. The load times might be 10 seconds longer than on my droid DNA, but also my phone drops frames on nearly all these games when this thing runs them all fine. My only complaint so far is the overlay on Android Lenovo decided to go with. Its awful. Not slow, but just ugly. I replaced it with Nova launcher and now we are good to go. Battery is incredible, construction is great, and I have zero regrets on this purchase. Dont listen to the reviews and I promise you won't be disappointed. Most reviewers only like the best spec thing out at the moment and don't take into consideration price or what the average user might want in a tablet. This tablet does everything I could possibly ask of it with no issues. This review was written on my Yoga tablet with the onscreen keyboard. I ordered the matching keyboard from lenovo but it didn't come in yet. Thanks for reading and I hope this review helps.
Nikon D3200 24.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera (Red) with 18-55mm
List Price: $1,099.99
Sale Price: Price Unavailable
Today's Bonus: 41% Off
I have been using Canon's for years, my latest being the Rebel T3, and decided to take this step because of the price. I am so glad that i did. I have never had a camera with such clarity and speed at the same time. I take a lot of pictures of sunsets and i was blown away when the Jet trails in the sky showed up so clearly. There is a lot of flexibility with this camera for professionals and for those who are just learning. This kit came with everything i need to get quality pictures. I would recommend this camera to anyone that is ready to take the next step in their photography!
Ikelite Underwater Camera Housing for the Sony DSC-W5 and DSC-W7
I had a sony DSC-w7 camera already. This housing is pricey at $270, but the cost of buying a new camera with housing was just as much or more.
The housing allows full control of all camera features and buttons and is expandable with Ikelite strobes and lenses (filters, macro, and wide angle), so it leaves plenty of room for expansion. The housing is big, compared to some of the housings that you buy with specific cameras, but the bulk is nice for getting a good grip (especially with 5 mm gloves, necessary for Northern California diving).
All in all, it's a great housing if you already own the camera!
The housing allows full control of all camera features and buttons and is expandable with Ikelite strobes and lenses (filters, macro, and wide angle), so it leaves plenty of room for expansion. The housing is big, compared to some of the housings that you buy with specific cameras, but the bulk is nice for getting a good grip (especially with 5 mm gloves, necessary for Northern California diving).
All in all, it's a great housing if you already own the camera!
Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 Prime Fixed Lens + 16GB Class 10 Memory
List Price: $473.00
Sale Price: Price Unavailable
Today's Bonus: 16% Off
This is the second prime lens I bought from Focus Camera. The pictures quality of prime lens is so good that I sold my kit lens and only prime. Since the price for Sony lens is the same in all stores, I selected Focus Camera to get the extras (16GB memory, UV protector, etc.) that I would have to buy anyway.
Nikon COOLPIX S6100 16 MP Digital Camera with 7x NIKKOR
This is a great little camera with alot of fun features. I had a hard time deciding between the s8100 and the s6100 because the s8100 takes faster pictures, 1080 video, a better sensor, and bigger zoom.The features listed below are the reasons I chose the s6100.
Touch screen--can use your finger but it can be a little tricky to move it just right. It does come with a stylus that allows you to move through the screens quickly. Makes it very easy to get through the menus. The menu on the left has the options for flash, self-timer, macro, and exposure compensation. The menu on the bottom has the options for touch shutter, image mode, movie options, and settings. The battery levels are always displayed in the left hand corner so there is no guessing how much battery is left. Above that the scene mode is displayed.
Scene selection--There are 19 scenes to choose from plus the scene auto selector. When you push the scene button and all 20 options are listed there is a question mark box in the upper right hand corner that will explain the different modes to help you choose the right one.
Filter Effects--It has the ability to draw or write on photos, add decorations, cross screen, fish eye, selective color, black and white, sepia. I have messed around with a few of these features, I will try to upload a few pictures. It also has glamour retouch and skin softening.
Playback button--Has options to star a photo as favorite, delete, slide show, protect, print, draw, retouch, voice record, and settings.
Charger--This camera can charge through your computer or it also has an adapter much like most cell phones now do so you can use the USB cord to charge using an outlet. There is a light on the back that flashes to let you know it is charging.
The dedicated movie button makes it very simple to record videos. Unlike the 8100, you cannot take a photo while you are recording with the 6100.
From the opinion of a hobby photographer, I think there are alot of features nicely packaged into this pocket-sized camera.
Touch screen--can use your finger but it can be a little tricky to move it just right. It does come with a stylus that allows you to move through the screens quickly. Makes it very easy to get through the menus. The menu on the left has the options for flash, self-timer, macro, and exposure compensation. The menu on the bottom has the options for touch shutter, image mode, movie options, and settings. The battery levels are always displayed in the left hand corner so there is no guessing how much battery is left. Above that the scene mode is displayed.
Scene selection--There are 19 scenes to choose from plus the scene auto selector. When you push the scene button and all 20 options are listed there is a question mark box in the upper right hand corner that will explain the different modes to help you choose the right one.
Filter Effects--It has the ability to draw or write on photos, add decorations, cross screen, fish eye, selective color, black and white, sepia. I have messed around with a few of these features, I will try to upload a few pictures. It also has glamour retouch and skin softening.
Playback button--Has options to star a photo as favorite, delete, slide show, protect, print, draw, retouch, voice record, and settings.
Charger--This camera can charge through your computer or it also has an adapter much like most cell phones now do so you can use the USB cord to charge using an outlet. There is a light on the back that flashes to let you know it is charging.
The dedicated movie button makes it very simple to record videos. Unlike the 8100, you cannot take a photo while you are recording with the 6100.
From the opinion of a hobby photographer, I think there are alot of features nicely packaged into this pocket-sized camera.
Sony BDVN790W Blu-ray Home Theater System (2012 Model)
List Price: $499.99
Sale Price: $348.00
Today's Bonus: 30% Off
Speaker Connections: This unit uses propitiatory plug-ins to the head unit, how ever the speakers them selves use the normal push-tab-insert-wire connection. While I understand why they uses funny custom connections, I suppose you could cut the cord and save the custom plug. I would not consider this a deal breaker.
DLNA: Works as it should, but I really wish it would simply support a network shared folder. But you have to have a DLNA server on your home computer (or compliant device), what a bummer, that just one extra process I need to have running on my server. I have had some audio codec issues Dolby DTS is sometimes trans-coded to base stereo (2.0) or just regular Dolby Surround 5.1. It plays .MKVs good at 1080 and file sizes > 9GB. (I use serviio as my DNLA server on my PC's)
Apps: There are a load of useless apps, and only have a handful of useful apps. Pandora oddly does not have a thumbs up or thumbs down option. I do wish it had Revision 3, but sadly it doesn't.
Remote: The included remote is slow, but the Android app is pretty good, however the qwerty seems flaky and does not work with Netflix, so searching Netflix is a pain!
Sound: Is robust for these little speakers and appears clean at full volume. However given that this is a 1000w system it is not that loud at full volume, and the sub-woofer is not 'heart thumping' I would say the sub-woofer is mostly there to make up for the lack of bass the left and right channels can't produce, and doesn't add too much 'rumble'. Despite the manual saying that it delivers 250w is VERY questionable. I have owned lesser woofers (100w) that delivered much better performance.
Setup: Easy because of the custom connectors.
Wireless Rear channels: Work as intended, only gripe is; I wished Sony would have put a 'flat plug-in' so the plug doesn't 'poke' my couch as it sits against the wall I will need to buy an extension that has a flat plug-in or I fear that in the long term one of two thing will happen, I will damage my couch, or the cord will fray and short out.
Speakers: Are small enough and will look okay in any set up. They are wall mountable, simply by removing a screw and re-positioning the speaker base.
Head unit: Are touch sensitive controls, and the display is lack luster, it sits at the rear of the unit so if you rely on reading the display do not tuck the head unit into a shelf put it on top and fully exposed. The head unit does not get hot when music is played a full volume for an extended period. The fan noise is audible, but not too bad.
Blu-Ray: Not tested (.MKVs)
WiFi: Not Tested (Ethernet)
These are my initial impressions after one week of owning the system. I may revise this review later with final impressions.
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ACQUIRING INTERNET CONTENT: Using some of the apps the unit will display on the TV 'Acquiring internet information' or something similar too often, this is a hassle and an extra step Sony should just automatically complete the acquiring process but, it will just sit there until you press 'continue' LAME!
NETFLIX CRASHES: Netflix will often crash and will result in you needing to restart the app, or sometimes it will require a power cycle (unit off then on).
BLANK SCREEN: When you are on a different 'function' (input) and you have turned off the unit and then later turn it back on to only see a black screen is a little confusing if the input device is also off. I have powered the Sony on and off a few times before I remembered that it was on HDMI 1 and the Xbox 360 was off so all I was getting was a black screen and thought the system had crashed or had become unresponsive although it hadn't. A simple solution press the HOME or NETFLX button on the remote.
SLOW SOFTWARE: Sometimes the system will hang or become confused/slow if too many buttons on the remote have been pressed sometimes it will need to be power cycled to get the unit responsive again. pressing too many buttons on the remote too quickly stems from the slow performance of the unit. You press a button and nothing happens, only to think 'oh it must not have 'seen' the remote, and you try again, and then one mote time to find that the unit has either froze or has become really slow. A power cycle will fix this (wait until the pulsing light turns all of the way off if you don't you will still have a slow or a frozen unit). Just be patient and wait about 5 seconds between button pushes and look for the pulse of light on the head unit to confirm that the unit did 'see' the remote and if it did see it and still did not do anything it's time for a power cycle.
SOFTWARE UPDATES: Are just like the PS3 they take FOREVER! And seem to fix or add nothing. It seems to happen about once every month. So I suppose (for now anyway) Sony seems proactive at updating the unit but as for what it does or fixes, who knows (probably add to the problems or extra stupid DRMs)
CONCLUSION: I'm tempted to revise my star rating to a 3/5, because once the 'new' wears off it really is only average. Should Sony fix the software/speed/responsiveness then it would be worthy of keeping 4 stars. But for now I will leave it at 4 stars. (3.5 would be a better estimate)
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I upgraded some components in my home theatre PC system that required Dolby Digital Plus (Netflix via Roko 3) and hooked the HDMI into the receiver and no sound, until I switched it back to stereo. After a little reading and despite the sony receiver being able to decode the sound sony does not decode many sounds formats from the HDMI inputs. There are many audio streams that can not be decoded from external sources so basically, in short, if you want surround sound the audio stream has to originate inside the receiver (on board app, blu-ray or DVD). So with this development it has eliminated a primary surround sound source via external equipment. What a bummer! I have downgraded my star rating to two stars. It should be able to decode any stream it supports regardless of the origin whether it be from internal sources or from external devices. I am considering replacing it, and sadly it isn't all that old.
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM 1-to-1 Macro Lens for Canon Digital
I only really needed the UV filter and the Tripod as one of my backups has a broken clip. The Lens itself is now my most used Prime I have.
Lenses:
new Canon 100mm f/2.8L IS USM
Canon 50mm f1.8
new Sigma 50mm f1.4 (Lens is over rated IMHO) Loud lens and focus is spotty
4 other zoom lenses (3 are L glass)
The IQ is the best it can get and I have been looking at photos try to decide if it is just because I want it to be better (no it is just better)
I have less out of focus images and I have the best dynamic range it seems also. (yes it is situational but it really looks good)
I have not had the lens long and I was debating on the 135mm f2L for many months before I decide I wanted to do some Macro work so this became the easy choice. I don't think I went wrong with that choice as the extra stop does not bother me too much.
My thoughts on IS are for hand holding quick photos which seems to be what I have been doing lately. The IS does seem to help with lower Shutter speeds as advertised for me. Like I said before I have very very few throwaways with this lens.
Matched with the 5D mark III it seems to perfect. My 7D also has no issues but the ISO noise seems to be much greater on the 7D at even ISO 400-800. I don't know if it is the lens on the crop frame or something with the 7D and this lens. Other lenses EF-S 17-55mm is perfect on the 7D without the same noise issue. (strange) Don't be discouraged by this if you have a 7D as I have not tested it much (one shoot) and it could have just been something with the 7D settings.
For what I need it for it won't be going on the crop frame much anyway.
Long story short this is my sharpest lens and I have some lenses that I love. When wide open or stopped down this thing just performs. I can't see softness even at f2.8 anywhere with many different shutter speeds. I will be doing some macro work soon and will update the review as I'm just learning Macro which seems to be much different then my normal event and portrait photography.
Lenses:
new Canon 100mm f/2.8L IS USM
Canon 50mm f1.8
new Sigma 50mm f1.4 (Lens is over rated IMHO) Loud lens and focus is spotty
4 other zoom lenses (3 are L glass)
The IQ is the best it can get and I have been looking at photos try to decide if it is just because I want it to be better (no it is just better)
I have less out of focus images and I have the best dynamic range it seems also. (yes it is situational but it really looks good)
I have not had the lens long and I was debating on the 135mm f2L for many months before I decide I wanted to do some Macro work so this became the easy choice. I don't think I went wrong with that choice as the extra stop does not bother me too much.
My thoughts on IS are for hand holding quick photos which seems to be what I have been doing lately. The IS does seem to help with lower Shutter speeds as advertised for me. Like I said before I have very very few throwaways with this lens.
Matched with the 5D mark III it seems to perfect. My 7D also has no issues but the ISO noise seems to be much greater on the 7D at even ISO 400-800. I don't know if it is the lens on the crop frame or something with the 7D and this lens. Other lenses EF-S 17-55mm is perfect on the 7D without the same noise issue. (strange) Don't be discouraged by this if you have a 7D as I have not tested it much (one shoot) and it could have just been something with the 7D settings.
For what I need it for it won't be going on the crop frame much anyway.
Long story short this is my sharpest lens and I have some lenses that I love. When wide open or stopped down this thing just performs. I can't see softness even at f2.8 anywhere with many different shutter speeds. I will be doing some macro work soon and will update the review as I'm just learning Macro which seems to be much different then my normal event and portrait photography.
Sony DPF-V900 9-Inch Digital Photo Frame
I looked at several brands of digital photo frames. Every time I came back to the Sony because it stands out for picture quality, sharpness, features (lots of features), ease of operation. Even if immediately you don't think you would use all of the features, pay the money and get it anyway. You'll be surprised how all of a sudden one or more of those features is a neat thing to have. The internal memory is large, slideshow, individual view, and picture selection from any source is so simple you can start using most of the features right out of the box. Even the owners manual is extremely user friendly. Yes the price was a bit much but put the Sony next to the others on the market and there is no comparison for picture quality. One downside: you have to use a power cord. I found a couple of portable power sources but power plug on the Sony is not the typical power recepticle found on most products. Thanks Sony....how about making a portable source available? I would love to place the frame on a table for display without having to find a place to plug it in. I found only one brand of frame with a built in battery but the picture quality was no where near the Sony so I opted for the Sony hoping that I could find a portable power pack or hope I will always have a place to plug it in. Price is starting to come down so be patient if price is your obstacle. It is well worth the wait.
TCL LE46FHDE5300 46-Inch 1080p Slim LED HDTV with 2-Year Limited
List Price: $649.00
Sale Price: $486.99
Today's Bonus: 25% Off
My 6 1/2-year old Toshiba 63" HD DLP which had been sick on and off for the better part of a year and finally "gave up the ghost" this past Tuesday evening so Wednesday morning I began searching for the best value for a new TV.
Since I knew the Toshiba, which was a great TV for the better part of 5 ½ years, was going South, I had been looking for the best value in a new TV for the better part of 7 or 8 months. I was willing to scale down the size of the new TV to as small as a 46" if the price was right and finally make a decision to buy an LCD TV no smaller than 50" and at least 46" LED if the price was right.
About 2 months ago I found the TCL LE46FHDE5300 listed at Best Buy for $549.00 which I thought was a great buy for a 46" LED TV however, there were no customer reviews and, at the time, they showed a six week delivery time. I had never heard of TCL so, after a quick search, I found that Amazon also carried the brand with the same price as Best Buy but Amazon showed that they would ship it in 1 business day. I then did a search on the company and learned TCL was a muli-billion dollar firm that had a large presence in Europe and Asia and made private label TVs for several brand names in the U.S. so I felt comfortable with the company and the product.
I kept track on the 46" TCL product on both Amazon and Best Buy for the last two months as well as several other 50" and 55" LCD TVs on several other sites hoping that my old TV would hold out crashing until Black Friday. About a month ago I noticed that both Best Buy and Amazon had reduced the price of the 46" TCL LED to $499...an even better buy than earlier. Additionally, while the Best Buy site still had no customer reviews for the product, customer reviews on the Amazon website had increased from 4 or 5 to over 20 with an average rating of over 4 out of 5, including 14 five star ratings.
Well my Black Wednesday came 4 days ago so I was forced to make an immediate decision. Best Buy showed a delivery window of 2 to 7 days while Amazon showed same day shipping and 2-day delivery at no charge. The cost for the TV was exactly the same at both locations but I would not have to pay the $35 sales tax if I bought it from Amazon and I would receive it quicker...it did not take a rocket scientist to make the decision to buy it from Amazon.
I ordered the TV at 3:30 on Thursday afternoon and Amazon stated that I would receive it on Saturday however, I was more than surprised and pleased when it showed up Friday afternoon at 1:30pm...fantastic 23hr service for no additional charge!
I did not set the TCL unit up until Saturday morning since I needed a friend to help me move the old 63" (heavy) TV out of the living room. The only problem I encountered during the setup process was a little different cabling between the new TCL TV and my AV receiver but after 45 minutes we were able to figure it out. Lastly, the setup for my Harmony 650 universal remote which I thought may end up being a problem took less than 5 minutes.
When we finally got everything set up correctly I was more than pleased with the picture and must say it is as good a picture as I have seen on other LED TVs at twice the price. The TV is very light and extremely thin and, being an LED TV, it will use at least 75% less power over the annual cost of my old DLP TV. So, so far so good, and, if all goes well the next couple of months, I may even buy another 46" TCL TV to replace my 1-year old 42" Sharp LCD I bought on Black Friday last year.
Update 10/11/12
I have now had this TV for just over a month and now can say it's the best TV I have ever purchased which have been more than just a few including 6 HD TVs. I have now decided to go ahead and buy another TCL within the next couple of months but this time I will spring for the 55" model. The only complaint I have is I wish it had more than 2 HDMI inputs. I needed a 3rd HDMI for my Roku device for streaming Netflix but I just switched the DVD player over to the composite video input and then plugged the Roku device into the 2nd HDMI. The TV's sound is a little weak but I use an AV receiver so that does not affect the my audio quality. Any person looking to purchase or upgrade to a LED TV would be nuts not to seriously consider buying this TV!
In closing I would like to relate another story related to my 46" TCL HD LED TV. As I stated previously, I have decided to buy another 55" TCL TV in the next couple of months and replace a year old 42" Sharp LCD TV in the bedroom with this TV and put the planned 55" TCL in the living room. That will leave me with a spare 42" Sharp LCD TV which I plan to sell at the local flea market. At the time I bought the 42" Sharp I did purchase a 4-year warranty from Best Buy and called their customer service department to see if I could transfer the warranty to the new owner (fyi, the answer was yes). During the conversation she asked me why I was planning to sell the Sharp and if anything was wrong. I told her no and then told her about the 46" TCL TV I had purchased and how happy I was with it. The bottom line is she needed a new TV and actually ended up buying a 46" TCL for herself and called me back yesterday to thank me and let me know how much she is enjoying her new TV.
ASUS Vivotab Smart ME400C-C2-BK 10.1-Inch 64GB Tablet (Black)
List Price: $499.00
Sale Price: $399.00
Today's Bonus: 20% Off
Okay.. I own a galaxy tab two kindles and an iPad so I have had plenty of experience in the tablet field. That I think was my first problem ... you don't treat this as a tablet where you just download apps from the app store. If u do you will be disappointed. Think PC when ur using this. I gave it a four stars and not five mainly because the amount of time it took to update all the apps and the windows updates and while these are updating this tablet acts very odd ... such as things not working like apps or mail or downloading new apps. I was ready to return it... but after the installs were complete everything was great. The best thing about this tab is that you use a full browser and can install real pc programs. The smart cover is decent and worth the money I paid for it. The best part is using my apple magic mouse and keyboard on the tab.. it works flawlessly. Windows 8 takes some getting used to and don't think that this tab is junk bc u don't like change because windows 8 is very intuitive and can make multitasking much easier than any other ios or android device. If u want to do real work instead of just playing angry birds this tab is a god choice for the price.
Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 SP Di VC USD XLD for Nikon Digital
I've been considering the Nikon 70-300mm VR Lens Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras for quite a while, but glad that Amazon had an issue recently and stopped selling it directly (not sure why).
I noticed that this Tamron lens goes to f4 instead of f4.5 and has an Ultrasonic Drive (USD) for autofocus (AF) which is on par with Nikon and Canon technologies. I've also been watching eBay to see what kind of price I could pickup the Nikon for used or refurbished and found I could buy the Tamron for about the same price new(after $50 rebate) with a 6 year warranty. I'm not sure why, but there are a ton of the Nikon lenses being sold refurbished, which only have a one year warranty. There are several comments here on Amazon about reviewers getting a bad copy of the lens. So I figured I would take a chance on the Tamron lens, glad I did!
I started taking sports pictures at my son's football games and have been blown away by the speed of the USD. My camera is a Nikon D90 and taking photos at 4.5fps was easy with continuous AF.
I took some shots all the way out at 300mm and this lens produced very sharp results with great depth-of-field and Bokeh. This lens works with full frame FX and cropped frame DX cameras, so the zoom on my D90 is fantastic. Rarely did I have any results that weren't excellent.
The Tamron lens also has their XLD (extra low dispersion glass) that seems pretty evident in the sharpness and lack of chromatic aberration. This is Tamron's first lens to incorporate all of these high end technologies and I think they got it right.
Several of the shots I took were of kids running at high speed and I purposely slowed the shutter down to capture some of the motion in the images. Tamron's VC (vibration correction) performed stellar with my erratic panning and hand holding. I did a test with it off and the difference is dramatic. My other Nikon lenses with VR perform well, but the Tamron VC has got them beat for sure.
I love competion, because it makes everyone better. I'd say in this case, Tamron has finally put out a product that beats Nikon.
I noticed that this Tamron lens goes to f4 instead of f4.5 and has an Ultrasonic Drive (USD) for autofocus (AF) which is on par with Nikon and Canon technologies. I've also been watching eBay to see what kind of price I could pickup the Nikon for used or refurbished and found I could buy the Tamron for about the same price new(after $50 rebate) with a 6 year warranty. I'm not sure why, but there are a ton of the Nikon lenses being sold refurbished, which only have a one year warranty. There are several comments here on Amazon about reviewers getting a bad copy of the lens. So I figured I would take a chance on the Tamron lens, glad I did!
I started taking sports pictures at my son's football games and have been blown away by the speed of the USD. My camera is a Nikon D90 and taking photos at 4.5fps was easy with continuous AF.
I took some shots all the way out at 300mm and this lens produced very sharp results with great depth-of-field and Bokeh. This lens works with full frame FX and cropped frame DX cameras, so the zoom on my D90 is fantastic. Rarely did I have any results that weren't excellent.
The Tamron lens also has their XLD (extra low dispersion glass) that seems pretty evident in the sharpness and lack of chromatic aberration. This is Tamron's first lens to incorporate all of these high end technologies and I think they got it right.
Several of the shots I took were of kids running at high speed and I purposely slowed the shutter down to capture some of the motion in the images. Tamron's VC (vibration correction) performed stellar with my erratic panning and hand holding. I did a test with it off and the difference is dramatic. My other Nikon lenses with VR perform well, but the Tamron VC has got them beat for sure.
I love competion, because it makes everyone better. I'd say in this case, Tamron has finally put out a product that beats Nikon.
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS 16.0 MP Digital Camera with 30x
I purchased this camera because I thought it would be perfect for my website and blog use. So far, it has lived up to its expectations. It is not a hefty camera, but do not ber deceived by a lack of weight. I do a lot of interior available light shooting so I use the low light feature in the SCN mode. It produces excellent photos at varying high ISO settings which it selects automatically. I have used the other modes and am equally pleased with them. The image stabilization is excellent but you must remember to turn it off if you are using a tripod or you may get some strange results. The video mode was more than satisfactory in 720 HD. Is it as good as a digital SLR? No. But for the size, cost, and what it is capable of, it will be a camera that will get many uses in the years to come
