Nikon D3200 24.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $969.99
Sale Price: $639.00
Today's Bonus: 34% Off

I did hours of research before purchasing the Nikon D3200 with the 18-55mm standard lens along with the additional 55-200mm lens. I am far from an expert with any kind of SLR camera, having only experience with the normal point and shoot variety. I didn't want to shell out excessive amounts of money for a camera that would overwhelm me.

I was interested in being able to continue taking the quick snapshots that I usually do with my point and shoot, but also extend my ability to control more aspects of my pictures outside of just pressing the shutter button. I really wanted to have the ability to dictate exactly what would go into a photo that I take, what parts of it would be in focus or out of focus, and also be able to really extend the zoom range for distances I could never get with a basic camera.

I was impressed with how easy this camera was to use. Directly out of the box, without reading any instructions the familiar picture format settings made this camera an easy transition for a rookie like me. The main dial on the top of the camera has the icons that are recognized easily as the same picture formats that are found on the basic camera so I could just turn the dial and fly between Automatic, Portrait, Action, Landscape, and even a new "Child" setting just for chasing around my three year old!

The lens was easy to manipulate, and with Nikon's "VR" or vibration reduction capability built into each lens, the process of bringing a distant shot in close was a snap. Changing out a lens is a breeze as well.

This camera is perfect for anyone like me looking to step up their own photography skills. I am very happy that I chose this camera for my new adventures.

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Yamaha R-S300BL Stereo Receiver (Black)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $329.95
Sale Price: $279.95
Today's Bonus: 15% Off

If you love classical music CD's this is for you. Power, clarity, timbre and atmosphere; puts my old Marantz to shame. Makes my 30 year old Technics speakers sound like a state of the art system. There's also receptacles for a second set of speakers in another room. Unless you have a really huge house I don't see why you'd need an s-r700.

W/respect to FM reception; if the signal is a bit weak, it'll go on mute rather than play static interference. I may have to hook up an outdoor FM antenna.

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Sony Alpha NEX-6 Digital Camera Body & 16-50mm Lens (Black)

Customer Ratings:

I just got this on Monday and was soo excited to try it out! I tried it right away and it was awsome! Can;t wait to take more pictures with it! The seller responded to all my emails and i will absolutely buy from this seller again!

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MobiCam Audio Video Baby Monitoring System

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $149.95
Sale Price: $89.99
Today's Bonus: 40% Off

11/27/09 Update: I have posted my original monitor review below. Before, my only complaint was that it was "staticky" and I had to move the receiver around to positions where it wouldn't interfere with other devices. After about six months of use however, it made a loud permanent buzzing sound whenever I turned the volume on regardless of where it was placed. It was so annoying it was unusable. The only way it was tolerable if I turned on the video portion only but kept the sound off which didn't work for me since I'm not always looking at the monitor, especially at night when I'm sleeping!

I called Mobicam to see if I could get a replacement but the length of their policy is something pathetic like a month.

I ended up buying Summer Infant Deluxe Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor with 2.5" Screen Blue (Infant Deluxe Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor with 2.5" Screen) as a replacement which I'm MUCH happier with even though it as it's own drawbacks. I will also write a review for that.

5/9/09: Love/hate relationship with this monitor (Original Review)

We had our heart set on a video monitor (not just an audio one) and it was between this and Summer. We decided on this one because of the Internet option so we could see our little guy from work.

When the monitor works, it works FANTASTICALLY. We can see our baby both during the day and at night due to the infrared. I like being able to see his eyes -if they are closed, I leave him be even if he's whimpering/crying because it means he'll be able to go back to sleep on his own. If they are open, I go to to see what's bothering him.

That was the love part. The hate part is that there is static galore. The monitor flickers and buzzes even if you place anything near it -it doesn't even have to be anything electrical in nature, the screen fizzes out even if you put your hand by the monitor. If you have a wireless phone, it will crackle louder than the TV in Poltergeist. It is super annoying and I spent a lot of time finding the perfect spot to place the monitor where it wouldn't be affected by anything and where I could still see it.

We have our unit on continuous video monitoring so we always plug it into an A/C outlet, otherwise, we would go through way too many batteries.

I wish we could purchase another video monitor so we can leave one in our room and put one downstairs.

As of now, we haven't really used the Internet option. If that feature isn't important to you, I would try the Summer unit instead since that's the one our friends recommend and it seems to have pretty good reviews on Amazon.

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Sony HDR-CX100 AVCHD HD Camcorder with Smile Shutter & 10x

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $599.99
Sale Price: $349.99
Today's Bonus: 42% Off

This camera is amazing. Once I charged up this puppy and fired it up it looked awesome. I filmed my dog and you could see every strand of hair on his body and the texture of the hair. It also has the smiling sensor technology that is really neat. Put it in video mode and when someone smiles SNAP!....a photo is automatically taken (you can set it on or off). I like that its flash memory as well (hard drives dont survive drops so well). I gotta say Sony put out one sexy stylish camcorder. It looks great in the hand and it definitely got some peoples attention. Once you get this camcorder you'll never want to go back to SD recording. Here are my PROs and CONs:

PROS:

+ Amazing quality video

+ Lets you take a photo while filming

+ Smile detection

+ Ready to film once screen is open

+ Small and compact

+ Very good looking camera comes in three colors

+ Flash memory (bad/good you decide)

+ HDMI support

CONS:

Not just any HDMI cable will work

Proprietary memory stick format (memory sticks are expensive)

Low 10x optical zoom

3 hours recording time

Love this camera and highly recommend it.

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Fujifilm XF 14mm F2.8 Lens Wide Angle Lens

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $899.95
Sale Price: $899.00
Today's Bonus: $0.95 Off

Fujifilm has been on a roll lately and if you're looking for proof, look no further than this lens. I own this lens and the 35mm f/1.4 for my Fujifilm X-Pro1. Everything from the all-metal build to the precise feel of the focus and aperture rings helps justify the $899 price tag. I find it to be very sharp at f/2.8 and extremely sharp at f/5.6. Even the corners at f/2.8 are impressive for a wide angle lens. Focus speed is quick and unlike the 35mm lens, the 14mm focuses internally, so the front element doesn't move in and out. It seems a bit quieter than the 35mm as well.

I previously used Canon equipment, but last year when it came time to upgrade, I noticed some alarming trends in Canon's business model... New lens designs were very expensive for their specifications and bodies had sensors that underperformed relative to the competition. The Fujifilm X system is still relatively new, but if this lens is any indication, it will be a winner.

Highly recommended!

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Nikon MB-D12 Multi Battery Power Pack

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $616.00
Sale Price: $349.99
Today's Bonus: 43% Off

Nikon deserves to sell very few of these and indeed a lot of us will skip it or wait for aftermarket. This is a fine grip, just like previous models. It offers absolutely nothing new yet costs FAR more (twice the price!) of the D700 grip. 3rd party companies will have a BIG business building a better grip for less money. This accessory is a real shame in light of the very fairly price D800.

Like the MB10 the grip feels sturdy and all controls work well. The battery compartment comes with a tray for AA batteries and another for Nikon's battery. This will also get you the 6 FPS in DX mode. But the price is insulting. There's just no other way to look at it.

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Canon EOS Rebel XS Digital Camera

Customer Ratings:

This was for my daughter, who wants to go to college to be a photographer. Excellent camera for the starting photographer. The quality is great and it has many features that help enhance the pictures!

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX10P 6.0MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical

Customer Ratings:

I bought this camera on a whim and don't regret it. The price was great, the camera is light and easy to travel with, battery life impressive, cameras functions are easy to use and picture couldn't be better. I love the size of the screen shot and the many options this camera offers. I'd buy it again.

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Acer Aspire S5-391-6419 13.3-Inch Ultrabook (Black)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $1,049.99
Sale Price: $659.99
Today's Bonus: 37% Off

After a Month with the laptop I have to say, it impress me the way it boots, from turned off to ready to work it only takes 10 seconds, the SSD shines for this. This is a great laptop if you need a fast portable machine, the battery life is about 2 hours on a normal workload (Browser, Music, video and a Text editor). Just remember this laptop does not have a DVD/CD drive.

The only bad thing i could say about it, is windows 8, some of my work software (Music production/edition) and its interfaces were not windows 8 compatible, but the good thing is that this computer can be downgraded to windows 7, the drivers are available in Acer's site. I did the downgrade and it keeps the same performance as in windows 8.

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Samsung Galaxy Camera EK-GC100 8GB Black, Android OS, v4.1

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $999.00
Sale Price: $352.61
Today's Bonus: 65% Off

I bought this piece for my wife and took it to Italy together with my 5D3. It is the first time I put this camera in a real trip, so I do feel a lot difference and record them here when the memory is still fresh. Sorry I am not English native.

.With mobile phone, you can take picture anywhere and edit and share instantly. However, there is one thing the smartphone can not and will never do, ZOOM. This piece is a smartphone with superzoom lens, 21X zoom, which is nearly a telescope when you wanna record sth far. This feature is very useful when you get chance to try it. This is the first reason that I think the camera is worth to buy. The tele-zoom lens is the only value for small digital cameras, or, you can use your mobile instead.

.The Android system. When we all enjoy the instant photo taking and sharing, and keep online with friends, why we still stay with a classic camera, a smartphone, and a computer to connect the camera and phone? They are all in one this time, and compact. All setups are as simple as your mobile. Here are what I do with the system: added art effects in real time when taking pictures; record a nice restaurant by taking a picture with GPS tag, and later load this position from the photo into Google map so we can follow the map and go back, all happened by just touching the screen few times; add effects and share photo with friends through IMs and instagram; playing games; using GPS; browsing web; my kid compose the photos and videos into a video stream with music, just on the camera, a lot fun.

. The high end hardware. It is true that Nikon do have a android model of digital camera. However, it is small screen, weak CPU, which means data-intense processing such as photo and video editing may be not so fluent. To me, it is more like altering an interface instead of changing an operating system. The advanced hardware is definitely a must, if you want an android camera.

. The power charging micro-usb connector. It is true that is micro-usb connector is an important thing to me. This means when you have a lot to shot during the day, including long videos, you will not worry about the power supply any more. This is because you can carry a portable power supply (a large battery, such as my 6000mah Philips) to charge the camera at any time, with a standard usb cable. This external battery will also benefit all your android and apple devices. So for the days in Italy, I never worry about power of this camera. However, I am not saying the battery of this camera is weak, it is enough. For the whole week, there is only one day I definitely I have to charge the camera on our way. When we went back to our hotel that day, the power become 100%, fully charged! I believe you have never had this experience with other cameras.

.Huge screen with sharp image and instant touching response. very good experience ever to a camera.

.3G network is a good design, which makes you connected all the time. I mean, in my country, not Italy.

.Voice phone is not designed and not necessary for this camera, since this Galaxy Camera will shut down after 2hrs standby to save energy as a normal camera. So it will not work as a real phone. Use software to call your friends, such as skype.

The improvements needed:

1. the lens quality. Actually, it is a good lens for recording and sharing. I am just expecting the lens could be better when comparing to Nikon, canon, Sony(Zeiss) and Panasonic(Leica)

2. The ccd is still too small, the size of this Galaxy should have enough room for larger sensor.

I am not sure whether I am too strict to this camera since I also have a 5D3. :-)

My recommendation is that this camera is worth to buy if your lifestyle is shoot & share, and enjoy the smart system. If you can live with the image quality of you mobile phone, then this camera is much better than that.

A final story, I also took a Sony TX-9 camera for my wife, since she never believe Samsung could build decent cameras! But finally, she never touched the Sony during the whole trip.

Thanks for your time.

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Sony HDR-AX2000 Handycam HDV Camcorder + Sony 32GB Class 10

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $3,600.99
Sale Price: $3,498.00
Today's Bonus: 3% Off

Shortly after I bought this camera, (Sony AX-2000) I bagan to have trouble with it. As I was recording, it would just suddenly stop, and go dead. I would have to turn the camera off, turn it back on, and then go through a recovery routine to recover what I had recorded...... what a HUGE pain!

This problem got progressively worse, doing it more and more often, until I finally decided I couldn't stand it any more. I called Sony (getting to a human being was VERY difficult), and the lady gave me instructions to send the camera to Precision Camera in Connecticut, as they handle Sony's warranty issues. She told me they would either repair the camera, or send me a new one.

I paid $63 to ship the camera to their warranty center, and they finally checked it into their system 6 days after it arrived there. Precision Camera has a web page where you can monitor the progress of your camera, and after about 5 more days, there was a message there that said "Waiting on Entitlement". I called to check on it, and discovered that I had to pay the labor charge for them to check the camera out. I then discovered that Sony's warranty on labor was only 90 days, and I had sent the camera at about 100 days after I bought it. (Only 90 days!!!! Shame on me for not reading Sony's warranty policy more closely). I gave them my credit card for $150 labor.

About a week later, the Precision Camera web site message changed over to "Ordered Parts". I called to learn that they had to order the replacement parts from Sony, and Sony had backordered them.

At this point, I was fed up with the entire process, so I called Sony back and requested that they send me a new camera. Over several days of trying to talk with someone at Sony that would help me, I got bounced around to people in the Dominican Republic, and the Phillipines. I could never connect with anyone in the U.S. The last person I talked to (located in the Phillipines) instructed me to contact Precision Camera, have them send the camera back to me, and then resend the camera to the Sony repair center in Laredo, Texas so they can check the camera out (and of course I get to pay the shipping on all this). At this point I just gave up. Precision Camera still has my camera, I paid $63 to get it to them and $150 to authorize their labor charge, and I have no idea when I will get it back. I have had to just forget my plans for videoing our Christmas celebration this year.

I will NEVER buy another Sony product as long as I live!!

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Dell Inspiron 660s i660s-3848BK Desktop

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $400.00
Sale Price: $383.98
Today's Bonus: 4% Off

It's a Dell and I have always found them to be reliable.

It has tons of memory, some added software for a trial basis such as Office 2010, Skype and Media software I never heard of, Cyberlink they call it. Since it's Win 8, which is the hardest part. The cons are that to open or close the DVD drive, you have to get to control panel. NO button, only power button exists. But for the most part, I only need this machine for email and some creative writing. It was less than $500, so it is worth the price. It has 6 USB 2.0 ports and 4 USB 3.0 ports.

It has everything as described.

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Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 G DX AF-S ED Zoom-Nikkor Lens

Customer Ratings:

The title says it all. The wide shots allow more of the storm into the shot. This increases your chances of capturing a lightning shot or the structure of the entire storm, which I had to do in sections with my 18-55mm lens or my phone camera. It is also great for photographing city skylines, landscapes, and even things that are very close to you. In Memphis, for example, I came across a neat statue, but it was located feet away from a busy street. I could not capture it any other way because of the position of the sun, and I wanted the Memphis skyline behind it. I set the lens to its widest setting and captured the whole thing! It was also great to bring to southern France and Monaco. I could photograph the entire city of Nice from one vantage point, with the Alps in the background.

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Sony Alpha SLT-a35 16 MP Digital SLR with Translucent Mirror

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $598.00
Sale Price: $479.54
Today's Bonus: 20% Off

Sony Alpha SLT-A35 16 MP Digital SLR Kit with Translucent Mirror Technology and 18-55mm Lens

I've had the Sony SLT-A35 for a couple of weeks now and after some testing and two in the field photo shoots, I think I'm ready to review it. I'll outline Pros, Cons and Matters of Preference.

Pros:

The photo quality is very good, what you would expect from a 16MP camera.

The colors seem accurate and true to me.

While the menu system is fairly deep, it seems well organized. Key features (Shutter Speed, F-Stop, WB, ISO, Bracketing/Self Timer, Screen Display Toggle, Focus Zoom) all have buttons within easy reach. A programable button can be set for easy access to one of many additional feature sets like HDR, Filter Effects, etc.

If you use Auto Focus, it is extremely fast. Manual focusing is a snap and the 7.5X and 15X focusing zoom helps a great deal for distance details.

While the battery life isn't great, compared to reviews of the A33 and A55, it is improved. I was able to shoot for about 4 hours and still had about 30% of the battery charge remaining. Still, a second battery just in case seems like a must.

The 18-55mm kit lens (SAL1855) seems solid as an all purpose lens.

Cons:

Biggest flaw so far is lack of Camera RAW support from Adobe/Lightroom. The Image Data Converter SR software that comes with the camera is lacking at best. I'm shooting everything in RAW + JPG so that I have something to play with until the RAW files are useable.

There is a strange chromatic effect through the EVF when the camera moves or even when you blink. It's somewhat mild and I've gotten used to seeing it pretty quickly, but it was startling at first.

I haven't captured a quality image with the Panoramic sweep after about 20 attempts. The file size is around 3MB, so it's capturing significantly less data than even a fine JPG at full resolution.

Matters of Preference:

The camera body is very light. People taking the camera on long treks will probably find this to be beneficial as every ounce of weight you can shed matters. Those who like a more substancial feeling in their hands as they shoot may see that differently.

So far this camera is near useless for Infrared Photography. It lets through very little IR light. With a 720nm filter on a bright sunny day, a 4-5 second exposure shows almost no IR light. Adding a ND 8 filter allowed for longer exposure time but very little additional IR light. What you get is a very orange cast image with proper IR sky but foliage retains it's greens. With a 950nm filter, finally IR light came through but on the same bright, sunny day, an exposure of 1 minute or more was necessary. It's very difficult to get quality IR shots over that long a shutter. If you don't shoot in IR, this is a non issue, obviously.

Conclusion:

I'm very satisified with the camera. Although it's IR capabilities are non existent so I have to carry my old setup out on shoots I may want to do IR work on, the image quality and basic functionality of this camera are spot on. The annoyances will either be sorted out soon (Adobe RAW support) or are in the extra features that are non-essential.

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Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Pancake Lens with Canon 2400 Case + 3

Customer Ratings:

I bought this "bundle" for my Canon EOS 6D. All the products came brand new as stated in their website. After 3 months of use one of the tripod parts broke down after regular use. I contacted the seller (Cameta Camera) and sent pictures of the damage. Their customer support contacted me in less than 24 hours and replaced FREE OF CHARGE the tripod.

This is for sure great customer service. Would buy again without hesitation! Thanks for making a customer happy!

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Zoom R8 R 8 Track Multi-Channel Digital Studio Recorder

Customer Ratings:

It had a very nice condenser mic and I don't feel I need an external one.

Also drum machine has a lot of patterns which I liked a lot.

In addition, it has a tuner and it can be used as an audio interface between your laptop and your instrument and voice.

This is all-in-one machine.

If you don't need 8 channels of simultaneous recording this is a perfect machine!! (this can do 2 channels of simultaneous recording)

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