I purchased the squaretrade 2 year warranty for my camera purchased on E bay. The camera mal functioned after one year and square trade fixed the camera with out a problem. Afer many, many and I mean many photos taken the camera it mal functioned again, I called squaretrade to have it repaired again under the warranty, but they refused stating the cost of the repair exceeded the cost of the camera, 1st repair was $ 135.00 cost to square trade, and they would not repair or replace it again. They only thing they could do is send me a check for the difference of the original cost of the camera less the 1 st repair cost which was about $ 22.00. So read the fine print, this is not an unlimited warranty! I was a little disappointed. The rep on the phone stated that the comera should have not been repaired the 1st time because of the high cost of repair compared to the cost of the camera.
Showing posts with label best and cheap digital camera. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best and cheap digital camera. Show all posts
Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital
This lens is THE lens to own if you want to shoot indoor sports. The newspaper I work for has me out on a lot of volleyball, hockey and basketball beats, and this lens does not come off my camera. I have taken this lens out to soccer games and baseball games but use it mainly as back up. If you want to shoot these sports you'll want something up in the 300-400 range. Soccer especially.
The 2.8 aperture is a must for these low (and orange/brown) light situations. I was using a 200mm f4 but fell just short of being able to freeze the action perfectly without any blur. The little bit of extra light makes a world of difference.
I shoot with a D80 and find that I can keep my ISO down around 400 and be very comfortable with the results. In my situation (newsprint) I could go as high as 800 and be alright with it, but the glass in this lens lets me keep it low.
If you are in the fence, pick this lens up. For under 1000 bucks you can't beat it. It's ultra wide, and doesn't lose any sharpness at 2.8.
The only situation where you should not buy this lens is if you own a D40 or D40x. These bodies will not support the AF function of this lens, and seeing as how this is a great medium tele sports lens, not having AF would make this lens a bust.
They make a version with a built in motor that will communicate the D40 and D40x but it'll cost you close to 800 more.
As a side note this lens is heavy (as are most 2.8 tele lenses) There is a lot of big glass in this lens and after an hour or so of shooting hand held you will really want a mono pod. This lens has a great tripod shoe, so don't be afraid to throw it up on mono and go to town, your arms will appreciate the help
One final note. If you are undecided about this lens because it does not have any sort of optical stabilization or vibration reduction consider what you will be using this for. If you are shooting sports or action you wont need and it wont use it. If you are shooting from a tripod or good mono pod, you wont need and wont use it. The VR is only good in handheld situations when the object you are photographing is stationary.
This lens is a 5 star lens
The 2.8 aperture is a must for these low (and orange/brown) light situations. I was using a 200mm f4 but fell just short of being able to freeze the action perfectly without any blur. The little bit of extra light makes a world of difference.
I shoot with a D80 and find that I can keep my ISO down around 400 and be very comfortable with the results. In my situation (newsprint) I could go as high as 800 and be alright with it, but the glass in this lens lets me keep it low.
If you are in the fence, pick this lens up. For under 1000 bucks you can't beat it. It's ultra wide, and doesn't lose any sharpness at 2.8.
The only situation where you should not buy this lens is if you own a D40 or D40x. These bodies will not support the AF function of this lens, and seeing as how this is a great medium tele sports lens, not having AF would make this lens a bust.
They make a version with a built in motor that will communicate the D40 and D40x but it'll cost you close to 800 more.
As a side note this lens is heavy (as are most 2.8 tele lenses) There is a lot of big glass in this lens and after an hour or so of shooting hand held you will really want a mono pod. This lens has a great tripod shoe, so don't be afraid to throw it up on mono and go to town, your arms will appreciate the help
One final note. If you are undecided about this lens because it does not have any sort of optical stabilization or vibration reduction consider what you will be using this for. If you are shooting sports or action you wont need and it wont use it. If you are shooting from a tripod or good mono pod, you wont need and wont use it. The VR is only good in handheld situations when the object you are photographing is stationary.
This lens is a 5 star lens
DirecTV Plus HR24 HD DVR
List Price: $304.99
Sale Price: $229.95
Today's Bonus: 25% Off
We installed a DirecTivo in 2001. When in 2008 Tivo announced they would produce a new, HD DirecTivo we were delighted, and opted to hold our HD upgrade until it came out. Time passed, and passed and passed and the new Tivo went off to live with Duke Nukem in vaporware land. Finally pulled the string on the purchase of a new AV receiver, a new 46in LED TV, and this DVR. Now it is installed and working, how does it compare to our old Tivo?
First, a warning: the HR24 DVR is designed to work with a SWM dish. That's single-wire multiswitch, a single black coax cable from the dish. If you have what our installer called "a legacy installation," aka Multiswitch, characterized by TWO cables from the dish, then in addition to the DVR you need a pair of "B-Band converters." These are small boxes that go inline with the coax cables to convert something to some other thing. There are no B-Band converters in this box. They are available from Amazon, just search on "DirecTV B Band Converter" and you'll find them. If you have two cables to your old DVR, order a pair of them at the same time as the HR24. I was lucky, my installer had a spare pair in his truck.
I got no kickback from DirecTV when I said I had ordered my own HR24; except that they refused to schedule the installer until I had the box in hand and could read them the device serial number. They admitted that the Amazon price ($199) was the same they would have charged. The installer said that customers who order the MRV (multi-room viewing) option will get an HR24, but those who don't (I hadn't) would get "whatever we have." Which might well be the slower HR23. So I was right to get the HR24 from Amazon, but if you are going for MRV, you may as well get DirecTV to send it with the installer.
OK, now we've used it a few days, how does it compare to Tivo? Well, darn it, it's just fine! The only Tivo feature it lacks is that it doesn't record "suggestions" of shows it thinks we might like. I kind of miss being able to go through the Suggestions folder every few days to see what Tivo found for me.
The user interface is not as polished to look at; the menus and dialogs are square-edged and rather crude looking. The button layout on the remote is kind of bizarre and arbitrary compared to Tivo's "peanut" -but the response time to button-presses is fine. There are four levels of fast-forward instead of three, and #3 is too slow and #4 is too fast. There is a 30-second forward skip that Tivo had as an easter-egg feature. The "skip backward" function goes back 6 seconds instead of 8. There's a Back button that takes you back through successive levels of menu, and that's very convenient (Note: the Harmony One universal, if you opt for that, does NOT have this Back button; you have to program a soft-button for it.)
Although the search function is designed differently from Tivo's, it has pretty much the same abilities to find programs. There is a nice feature TIvo lacked: when viewing the detailed info on a recorded program, you can select "cast and crew" to get a quick search on the names of cast members, to find other programs they are listed in. There's also a "you might like" search that is sort of a replacement for Tivo suggestions.
All in all, DirecTivo die-hards do not need to fear the HR24. If you are tired of waiting for a new DirecTivo to emerge from the vapor, go ahead and make the jump. It's fine.
Everio Flash Memory Camera Sil
This is a good camcorder for the price, I'm happy with it. If I have to describe its features :
Positive :
1) the price,
2) the zoom,
3) the resolution,
4) light, and very convenient.
Negative:
1) the battery, doesn't hold the charge for a long time,
2) doesn't have the pause, so every time you have to stop the record and start a new one,
3) you need the software to download from the camcorder,
Positive :
1) the price,
2) the zoom,
3) the resolution,
4) light, and very convenient.
Negative:
1) the battery, doesn't hold the charge for a long time,
2) doesn't have the pause, so every time you have to stop the record and start a new one,
3) you need the software to download from the camcorder,
Think Tank Glass Limo, Long Lens & Camera Backpack, Black Nylon
Canon should sell their large zoom lenses with this backpack instead of their (suitcase) case. Works perfectly when I have to hike. I love the Think Tank systems and this is a no brainer. Worth every penny!
Canon PowerShot SX280 HS Digital Camera (Red) with 32GB Card
I ordered this because we have the canon rebelX and it is to big and bulky but we had purchased a great zoom lens. We were headed to Alaska on an 8 day cruise and I dreaded the thought of carrying that camera everywhere. I ordered this and it showed up one day before we left!!
This little baby got me close for some great pictures. In fact the zoom was the same as the one for the canon we had purchased. It was small enough I could carry it everywhere. The color and resolution is amazing. These pictures are better then the big canon.
This package wow! The Tripod I figured it would be a small tripod you know like the little rubber ones, oh no it was a very nice tall one. I used it on our balcony for pictures when we went thru the Fjord. Everything was better then I had hoped.
The one drawback is when you use the video recorder it will drain your battery very fast. This package has an extra which was a big help and the charger was very fast at recharging. I did not do any video after the I saw how fast it drained it, I had so many more pictures to take to be without.
This little baby got me close for some great pictures. In fact the zoom was the same as the one for the canon we had purchased. It was small enough I could carry it everywhere. The color and resolution is amazing. These pictures are better then the big canon.
This package wow! The Tripod I figured it would be a small tripod you know like the little rubber ones, oh no it was a very nice tall one. I used it on our balcony for pictures when we went thru the Fjord. Everything was better then I had hoped.
The one drawback is when you use the video recorder it will drain your battery very fast. This package has an extra which was a big help and the charger was very fast at recharging. I did not do any video after the I saw how fast it drained it, I had so many more pictures to take to be without.
Nikon COOLPIX S3100 14 MP Digital Camera with 5x NIKKOR
this camera is for you. This camera does have some great features, some of which I have not even had time to use yet. The main draw, however, (other than the size) is that it is simple and easy to use. There are tons of point and shoot cameras out there, and there is no use being snobby over which one you buy, because they all do pretty much the same thing. This one is great for the price. You could get a nicer camera, but for 90% of the people in the market for a digital camera, this will do what you need and want it to, and more.
I use mine mainly for snapshots and spontaneous pictures with friends and the like. However, I do enjoy photography, and I have experience with SLR cameras as well (and I own one). Therefore, I also sometimes take artistic shots. This camera does it all unless you are a professional photographer, in which case, you already know you need a different camera.
The size is perfect. This will even fit in small pockets on skinny jeans or whatever. The case I bought with the camera adds some bulk, but the camera is so slim, even the case fits in my pockets comfortably.
I use Amazon Student Prime, so shipping is never a hassle. I can't really comment on other shipping speeds. The package was simple, but the camera box protects the camera with styrofoam and cardboard, and the shipping box used inflated plastic bags to keep the camera box safe. Someone would really have to try to damage the camera to manage it.
Amazon lists plenty of features of this camera, but here is my list:
RECHARGEABLE!
Records HD movies with one button
Big LCD screen on back to help compose pictures in a size you can actually see
19 scenes to choose from to assist in getting a better picture
Pet Focus will find your pet's face and once focused, will shoot the picture
There are several cool filters like selective coloring, a miniature effect and a fisheye effect
Is tiny and lightweight
Comes in cool colors
This camera will even warn you if it thinks someone blinked.
Bottom line: This camera is what you want. I search for weeks or longer before deciding to buy something, and I chose this camera. For a point and shoot, it has everything you need, and so many things you didn't even know you wanted. Unless you don't actually know what you're looking for, you won't regret buying this camera.
I use mine mainly for snapshots and spontaneous pictures with friends and the like. However, I do enjoy photography, and I have experience with SLR cameras as well (and I own one). Therefore, I also sometimes take artistic shots. This camera does it all unless you are a professional photographer, in which case, you already know you need a different camera.
The size is perfect. This will even fit in small pockets on skinny jeans or whatever. The case I bought with the camera adds some bulk, but the camera is so slim, even the case fits in my pockets comfortably.
I use Amazon Student Prime, so shipping is never a hassle. I can't really comment on other shipping speeds. The package was simple, but the camera box protects the camera with styrofoam and cardboard, and the shipping box used inflated plastic bags to keep the camera box safe. Someone would really have to try to damage the camera to manage it.
Amazon lists plenty of features of this camera, but here is my list:
RECHARGEABLE!
Records HD movies with one button
Big LCD screen on back to help compose pictures in a size you can actually see
19 scenes to choose from to assist in getting a better picture
Pet Focus will find your pet's face and once focused, will shoot the picture
There are several cool filters like selective coloring, a miniature effect and a fisheye effect
Is tiny and lightweight
Comes in cool colors
This camera will even warn you if it thinks someone blinked.
Bottom line: This camera is what you want. I search for weeks or longer before deciding to buy something, and I chose this camera. For a point and shoot, it has everything you need, and so many things you didn't even know you wanted. Unless you don't actually know what you're looking for, you won't regret buying this camera.
Sony A65 24.3 MP Translucent Mirror Digital SLR With 18-55mm Lens
List Price: $999.99
Sale Price: $598.00
Today's Bonus: 40% Off
This is a serially (and extensively) revised review, as I have had a chance to spend over a year with this camera. It has stood the test of time. With only very few limitations (outlined below), it takes superb stills and very good video. JPEGs print out sharply at 30 by 20 print sizes (as long as I stay under ISO 800). RAW images at low ISO will print tack sharp to 36x24. When paired with the new Sony 16-50mm 2.8 lens (see separate review for this terrific lens), takes some of the best pictures this side of a FF pro camera if you stay to ISO 800 and under. The one Achilles heel of this camera is low light noise, but I mostly avoid shooting at anything over ISO 1600, so this weakness is mostly rendered a moot point, and is also mitigated by the excellent sensor-based image stabilization (which gives a 2 stop advantage and works with ANY lens). This means that the A65 has low light capability of a camera that can shoot at ISO 6400 but has no IS. For those shooting in the virtual dark, see body text for comments (and confessions).
And for those curious about the cryptic header (that this isn't a DSLR), it is a DSLT meaning that a fixed translucent mirror that doesn't move replaces the standard SLR mirror that has to flop in and out of position in front of the sensor. That design difference is the key to the camera's unique strengths (and its weaknesses in the minds of many purists). However, that single design difference allows the much faster and more accurate phase detection autofocus system to be working all the time, including while shooting movies (something no other DSLR can do), and thus gives you full time live view, much faster hi-speed shooting, and a lighter body, but also requires an electronic (non-optical) viewfinder, and with a modest (~30%) loss of light to the sensor (with some attendant noise penalty of roughly ½ F stop). The key issue is whether that balance of pluses and minuses works for you . . . . but for most people looking for the best possible still photography and video, this is, at least in IMHO, a truly brilliant stroke that in one fell swoop removes some of the chronic limitations of the classic DSLR environs. There are a few downsides, but with HUGE upsides. Whether its mix of features works for you might depend on what and where you shoot . . . .
Pros:
1) Best viewfinder in the sub-frame world (2.4 million dot OLED), as bright as any full frame viewfinder, and with far more useful information. Once you've used it, you may not be able to go back, and optical viewfinders seem frankly primitive and confining.
2) Class leading 24 megapixel resolution (at low to medium ISO, yields remarkably detailed images, esp in RAW). Good dynamic range and color from this sensor (but see last update).
3) Many useful shooting modes including panorama and high dynamic range modes (but see cons on panorama mode). Intuitive and yet deep & customizable operating system. But can be put in simple AUTO and AUTO+ modes for the less technical.
4) Full-time live view system and full time phase detection AF for both stills and movies FAR better than the clunky live view systems `tacked on' in traditional DSLRs, and the contrast detection DLSRs have to use with mirror-lockup during movie shooting.
5) Class-leading video resolution (1080 at 60p) with as good video capabilities as most camcorders. Typically excellent video if shooting in 60p, and with option to use either viewfinder or LCD for framing video something no other DSLR can do.
6) Intuitive and well thought-out ergonomics.
7) Fast and responsive operation. Fastest continuous shooting in class (10 frames per second). Fast focusing, decent menu speed (improved w/new firmware)
8) Excellent image stabilization system in both stills and video (and no more rapid sensor overheating from the IS being engaged during video shooting that plagued the Sony A55).
9) In-camera GPS (can be defeated).
10) Decent battery life (significant battery upgrade from the Alpha 55) given that EVF sucks down a lot of battery.
11) Perhaps as good features/price ratio in the middle to high-end consumer/prosumer group as any model.
12) Easy access to any Minolta lens and a decent selection of Sony lenses for reasonable money, particularly a superb new 16-50 mm 2.8 lens (see separate review).
13) Ability to remove virtually all CA, distortion, and vignetting in increasing number of Sony lens (firmware-based). When used with new 16-50mm 2.8 lens, produces very sharp images, w/out any visible classic optical distortions (CA, vignetting, barrel distortion, etc).
Firmware correction of classic lens optical aberrations has to be one of most under-appreciated but valuable features of this new camera's operating system. These corrections work with many popular Sony lenses (now available for virtually all the Sony kit and telephoto zooms and most Sony primes), w/ more included in future firmware. Software correction makes a VERY discernible difference in large prints, and means that these classic distortions are basically a non-issue for corrected lenses (see DP Reviews treatment of this).
Cons:
1) Some increase in noise at higher ISO, particularly in RAW images without NR (noise reduction). Not surprising in view of increased pixel density (see #9 below). But this is clearly the camera's one major weakness, and no sense in glossing over it.
2) Despite six firmware updates, several which were supposed to address this, both built-in flash and external flash (Sony's HVL-F42) still yield consistently overexposed pictures. Can be easily fixed with exposure control but this shouldn't be happening.
3) As great as the EVF is, sometimes the view is too contrasty, yielding either blown highlights or `blackout' regions needs contrast adjustment function.
4) Not as svelte as the Alpha 55 (but for those with big hands, the extra heft and size work). Quite hefty with the 16-50 2.8.
5) Limited control options in high-speed shooting modes and in movie modes.
6) Screen blacks out once you fill up the buffer in high-speed shooting and you have to wait until all the images are dumped onto your card with poor buffer depth (common problem across Sonys even the new A99). Why can't Sony get this fixed????
7) Resulting loss of live view in high-speed shooting modes can make aiming the camera a bit tricky.
8) Switching between viewing photos vs. videos is still a bit cumbersome and awkward.
9) Default JPEG settings are both too smooth (need sharpening), and at the same time rather noisy at higher ISO requires users understand menu options and make adjustments to get best possible JPEGs (set NR to high on high ISO, and sharpening to 3+ gives you the best JPEGs without discernible artifacts in JPEGs).
10) Sweep panorama modes often poor in resolution (because of having to remove panning effects and image smear with very high shutter speeds and high ISO?) compared to stitching together your own panorama images from discrete images (i.e. using Microsoft ICE). Sony should fix this as it limits a very useful mode should be an option to use lower ISO and hold the camera still and move through field of view instead of rapid panning.
11) Although the EVF is generally excellent, view becomes noisy in low light.
12) Video in low light can be under-exposed, and camera will not go above ISO 1600 for video shooting.
BEST IN CLASS SPECIFICATIONS?
Although the Sony Alpha 65 might have flown under the radar in the context of the simultaneous release of Sony's flagship Alpha 77, I believe it's actually the better deal for everyone who's not interested in a pro-style body. It contains most of the high technology of the flagship model Alpha 77, minus the top LCD panel and the 12 frame per second shooting rate (you'll have to suffer along with a measly 10 frames per second), a less complex AF system, and a few other minor `downgrades'. But the sensor and the EVF (in my judgment, the most important innovations of the A77) are intact. All this for a significant reduction in Price ($949 for body only versus $1449 for the Alpha 77). (NOTE: both prices have come down).
If you're interested in video, there are few cameras that equal the video specification of this camera, as most DSLRs will only shoot in 60i (often times interpolated from 30p), whereas this camera will shoot a true 60 frames a second in progressive scan. Still pictures are spectacular, with more resolution than virtually anything outside of the full frame 24 megapixel Nikon D3X. A large 19x13 printout of a standard test image from DP Reviews studio scene shows the A65 very, very close in resolving fine detail to the Nikon D3x (the previous resolution king in 35mm photography prior to the Nikon D800 and able to resolve detail comparable to 35mm Kodachrome 64).
LOW LIGHT PROBLEMS?
Although the recent Digital Photography Review (the closest thing to a definitive reference source on digital cameras on the web) slammed the Alpha 77 (same sensor and basic image engine as the A65) for its high noise particularly in RAW, and its somewhat `mushy' JPEG rendering, while I generally agree, some clarifications are called for. First of all, the default JPEGs can be significantly sharpened. I run the camera in the `standard mode' (one of several `creative modes') but with sharpening at 2+-3+. You wouldn't want to do this with a Canon (they are already a bit `crunchy' in terms of their default JPEG settings), but there is no artifact effect that I have been able to find (due to excessive smoothing in the default JPEG definitions?) and this adjustment gets much closer to the maximum detail out of the 24MP sensor. Also, one can also set the HIGH ISO NR (noise reduction) to high, instead of its default. This combination gets much more out of the sensor than its default settings without extra noise above ISO 800. Someone at Sony seems just a bit too enamored of the `smooth' look almost all of their cameras are set up with default JPEG definitions that could benefit from modest sharpening. Again Canon goes the other way.
Furthermore, DP Review's own images show that even at those soft and somewhat noisy default settings, the camera does pretty well compared to the competition and really quite well indeed given the high pixel count/small pixel size. If you look on the DP reviews website, and use their revealing and useful studio scene comparator tool, and pull up images from several full frame cameras such as the Sony 900, the Nikon D3X, and even the pro-Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, the Sony A65 holds its own at low ISO, with frankly more detail than any 2011 35mm camera (outside of the Nikon D3x and the NEX 7), only giving ground a bit as ISO gets above 1600 (with its much higher pixel density as a major disadvantage). Even there, in low light, I believe that the camera does a credible job, and begins trading off some of its resolution advantage for more noise reduction. Even in head-to-head comparisons with the A900 (FF 24MP sensor), the A65 does a very credible job as ISO rises and with the disadvantage of a smaller APS-C sensor. Admittedly, any FF model (and esp. the newer FF models like Canon EOS 1Dx and Nikon D4 both low-light phenoms) are going to trounce it at 3200 and 6400 in terms of noise, but realistically, this is not a camera for low light, and if you shoot mostly in the virtual dark I would not recommend it. On the other hand, I certainly don't shoot at light levels where I need ISO 3200 and up, and I am not adverse to using a flash. Full frame cameras are going to be significantly better in low light but they cost anywhere from three times to 10 times as much, are much bigger and heavier, and have bigger, heavier and much more costly lens systems.
More telling are the comparisons on a level playing field. A recent comparison of this camera with the Canon EOS 7D and its cheaper cousin, the Canon Rebel T3i/T4i (at the same price point as the A65 and also w/an APS-C sensor) showed that the although the Canon 7D kept a somewhat higher percentage of its ISO 100 resolution at 1600, the Sony was still handily out-resolving it at ISO 1600. So do take the "low-light noise" knock on this camera with a grain of salt. If you need convincing, check out DP Reviews JPEG image comparator for yourself. Pixel peepers only.
BOTTOM LINE SONY AND THE BIG TWO?
It's all about which tradeoffs you want to make. Sony made a clear decision to trade low light ability for speed, resolution and detail in better light. For me, that's a good-to-great tradeoff, but for some others, perhaps not so much. Obviously, it's just a matter of priorities and personal preferences. You really can't have everything. In bright light, the A65 is going to slightly out-resolve both the new Canon EOS 1Dx and the Nikon D4 for lots less money, and some Canon devotees are upset about potentially spending seven grand or so when this new pro camera comes out, and getting only 18 MP worth of detail. On the other hand, that camera (and the new Nikon D4) will take good to great pictures in the virtual dark. If you love to shoot in very low light, get one of the new Nikon or Canon full frame cameras (Update or the new Sony Alpha 99). Just remember bring a truckload of money for the camera and lens systems! If you are willing to trade some of the low light ability for: 1) a more compact lenses/body; 2) much less money than a full frame system; 3) some of the better video one can get from a DSLR camera, then this system is for you . . . and is a very good deal. If you believe (like some purists) that HD video is a modern corruption of the original function of SLRs, you probably aren't someone who is going to like Sony's somewhat iconoclastic approach anyway.
Bottom line there isn't another camera for $800 (body only) that comes close to this feature set, and with impressive speed of operation and ergonomics. This is a shot across the bow that both Nikon and Canon are very concerned about. Anyone who compares this to the Nikon 7000 or the Canon EOS 60D (two other prosumer models with the A65 slightly cheaper than either) has to walk away thinking that the Sony is the better deal and simply a more capable camera again except in very low light. If you're interested in live view, the live view on this is so much better than the clunky live view on both the Canon and Nikon it's not even funny. It's far more responsive and much faster. And one look through their dim optical subframe viewfinders, after you've used the amazing EVF on the Sony Alpha 65, and you won't be able to go back to Canikon. The EVF alone is a paradigm-shifting experience once you've used it, optical viewfinders in traditional sub-frame DSLRs seem primitive and confining.
If you look at Digital Photography Reviews over the last 18 months (the closest thing to a definitive reference on the Internet about digital photography), they have given four APS-C Sony cameras highly coveted Gold Awards in the last year and a half (the Alpha 65, Alpha 55 (its predecessor which also won Camera of the Year from Popular Photography in 2010), the NEX 5N, and just recently, the NEX 7. They have also given four Silver Awards to Sony (the NEX 3C, the Alpha 77 and Alpha 35, another silver to the more traditional DSLR Alpha A580). Four Silver and four Gold Awards in 18 months. NO OTHER CAMERA MANUFACTURER HAS EVEN BEEN WITHIN SPITTING DISTANCE OF THIS PERFORMANCE ON THE PODIUM IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO. If you put all of Nikon's and Canon's awards in the FF DSLR and APS-C classes together during the same period, they aren't even close to this medal haul. (UPDATE the new Sony A57, the Sony A99, and the RX-1 all secured Gold Awards from DP Reviews meaning that since August 2010 Sony has received 7 Gold Awards from the best reviewers in the business. In that interval, Nikon, Olympus and Canon TOGETHER have secured FIVE Gold Awards in the combined FF and APS-C camera groups (not counting the D800/D800E as two models).
This suggests that a subtle but real shift of power is taking place in digital photography. Although professionals still clearly gravitate toward the Big Two (where Sony has been seen as an interesting distraction and lightweight), there is increasing reason now to seriously consider Sony, and not just in the APS-C segment. Most believe that Sony is now making some of the best compact ILC cameras (the NEX series), and starting to challenge Canon and Nikon in areas of their traditional dominance. In the space of just over two years, Sony has made traditional DSLRs look clunky, limiting and . . . . well, dated. Unless you are ideologically married to an optical viewfinder or shoot in the virtual dark you'll love the A65 and its big brother the A77. There is nothing better in the APS-C segment right now. As far as the high-end full frame pro market is concerned, let's see how the upcoming full frame Sony A99 stacks up against the full frame Canon 5D Mark III and cheaper Canon 6D and the new Nikon D800 and cheaper Nikon D 600 (all in the pricy 2-grand-and-up range with several of these over $3000 just for the body). Although Canikon have completely dominated that market, they may finally have some serious competition, even in the pricey pro camera territory.
April 2012 UPDATE
Several interesting new developments. First of all, the new Nikon D800/800E has blown away the competition in terms of resolution, and with surprisingly good low light abilities too might be the best sensor residing in any camera including medium format (and it's clearly a Sony sensor). Then again, it's 3 grand to get the Nikon D800 body (and $3400 for the Canon 5D Mark III), making the A65 still a great deal for almost the same level of detail as the D800. These two new cameras are about 1.5 (Nikon) to 2 stops (Canon) better in terms of low light noise than the A65/77, but it will be really interesting to see what the new full frame Sony A99 brings to this heated up pro camera territory sometime this summer or fall. You will see a full review of both the Canon 5D MkIII and Nikon D800 on Digital Photography Reviews website soon. I expect them both to easily secure Gold Awards. Pressure will be on Sony to hold serve. The problem is, historically, Sony is not into competing in the high-end pro FF arena two cameras there over the last 5-6 years compared to 10-12 FF Canikons? Sony has its work cut out given the excellent performance of these two new FF models from Canikon.
On the home front, the new Sony firmware 1.05 (for both the A65/77) is a big improvement in several areas it (sometimes) resolves the overexposure problem in ADI flash mode (still not quite right however), speeds up picture preview (it's now virtually instantaneous), provides correction profiles for some additional Sony lenses (distortion, chromatic aberration, and vignetting corrections) including the 70-300 mm G (pro) telephoto (good news for me simply because I own that lens), and fixes a few other items. The speed of preview is really impressive. As soon as you finish the shot, it is available for review on the LCD. Shutdown is MUCH quicker. Nice job Sony. Now if you could just get the flash exposure spot on all the time.
June 2012 UPDATE
Not surprisingly, both the new Canon 5D Mark III and the Nikon D800 easily secured Gold awards on DP Reviews. I think just to avoid controversy and bickering between the two camps, they gave them both the identical score (82). Sony's full frame A99 however appears delayed and probably is not going to be out this summer. I continue to be impressed overall with the A65 and have now taken at least 6000 pictures. Clearly the one Achilles' heel of the Sony A65/77 is low light noise, particularly above ISO 1600. However, with the current 16-50 2.8 lens (with F4/5.6 being sharpest edge to edge), I get a full two stop advantage, relative to a typical kit lens which has to be stopped down to f8 get really sharp, which pretty much balances out the two stop noise disadvantage that this camera has relative to a full frame camera like the Nikon D800 or Canon 5D Mark III (shooting at F8). There are times when I wish the camera had somewhat better performance at ISO 3200, and certainly the RAW files have significant noise at that setting, but Sony's RAW editing software can potentially do a pretty good job with even those somewhat noisy files in terms of cleaning up the noise without losing all the fine detail. I think if you want to put the extra time into shoot RAW, and use IS, you can mitigate the low light disadvantage of this sensor, although still this is its one weakness. Again if you are shooting in bright conditions, or using flash, this really never is an issue.
September 2012 Update:
So where do things stand now that several new competing cameras have been released including the new Nikon 3200, and the Olympus OMD5? The Nikon 3200 at $699 looks like a very good deal and is slightly better at high ISO (about a half f-stop) in terms of noise than the Sony A 65/77, with the same 24 megapixel resolution (and basic sensor) as the Sony. The Olympus OMD 5 has fantastic high ISO performance for a micro 4/3 sensor (better than either the Nikon 3200 or the Sony A65 frankly) and also offers better JPEG definition than either Sony or Nikon (to the point where RAW post processing typically yields little). The much improved high ISO performance of the OMD 5 also underscores how sensor manufacturers are continually moving the goalposts in terms of improving both high ISO performance and resolution at the same time. The Sony A65 still looks like a great deal as it undercuts the Olympus in price, and although it's somewhat more expensive than the Nikon 3200, it has a significantly better viewfinder, much better high-speed shooting, and better movie modes. So . . . the short form of the story is while the competition is getting better, the Sony is still a very solid choice in the mid-range DSLR segment.
October 2012 Update:
Sony just released its new firmware version 1.06. It does a number of things, including most significantly improving ADI and TTL flash over-exposure. Flash exposure is still not perfect, but it's better than earlier versions of the firmware and less variable. I'm using one of Sony's dedicated flash units (the now discontinued HVL 42 flashgun) and was troubled when bounce flash consistently overexposed. It's now better but I still have an occasional over-exposure (on both flash direct illumination and on bounce flash), and baseline exposure appears about a 1/2 EV overexposed, suggesting that there is still something modestly amiss from time to time with flash computation. This was never an issue on the A55 so there is something about this camera's firmware or control system that is still not quite optimized on this point. In any case, it's good that Sony has acknowledged the problem because initially it looked like they were refusing to admit it. In addition, 1.06 increases the number of Sony lenses that have built-in firmware correction profiles (correcting the three primary optical distortions of chromatic aberration, vignetting, and pin/barrel distortion issues). Virtually any lens that you can buy on the Sony website with this camera now has software correction for these classic optical distortions. Advantage Sony.
Some interesting new options in the mid-range DSLR segment. Pentax just released the K-30 at roughly the same price point as the A65. Best high ISO performance outside of a FF sensor (and full weather sealing unheard of at this price point), but limited movie mode support (no options for external mic, no dedicated movie button, no still shooting during movies) Pentax was really thinking about stills when they made this camera, and although its low light abilities are clearly better than the A65's and anything else in the sub-frame world if you are not shooting in low light much of the time, the Sony is the more `balanced' choice. Pentax uses the 16 MP sensor that Sony supplies to Nikon and also uses in their own A33/35/55/57 APS-C product lines, which is the best current 16 MP subframe sensor in my opinion. Nice job overall by Pentax, so if you find the A65's Achilles heel of low light noise a real hindrance, you will likely love the Pentax K-30, unless you are a serious videographer. Casual video on the other hand will be fine on the K-30. So there are many attractive options in the subframe semi-pro or `prosumer' segment. Still think that for most people the EVF, great movie ability and support, superb 16-50 2.8 lens option (really a Gor Zeiss quality lens for just over kit lens money), great resolution, etc. of the Sony A65 outweighs its one big deficit of high ISO noise, but if you disagree with that, by all means, get a K-30. Very close to FF noise performance with fully usable ISO 3200/6400. Credit to Pentax (and to Sony's great mid-res APS-C sensor).
November 24th Update
I have had a chance to spend almost two weeks shooting with the Sony A99. Very fine camera, wanted to keep it but after much vacillation, decided against that and just returned it. Here's why it's just not $2000 better than the A65 for my purposes, although if I was a pro shooter, or shooting mostly in low light, I would have kept it. Here is how I think it stacked up against the A65 and Sony is competing not just with Canikon, but with themselves now too the clearest indication that Sony's SLT environs has really altered the mid to high end DSLR scene.
Pros of the A99 vs the A65:
1) Superb low light performance, almost as good or as good as the new Nikon D600 and competitive with any FF camera. Credit Sony's fine development work on the FF sensor for this. Two full F stops better in terms of noise than the A77/65.
2) Somewhat better autofocus performance than even the A77, but only if using AF-D lenses and not many of them.
3) Weather sealed (advantage vis a vis A65 but toss up with A77).
4) Better video support and better low light video with much less noise (but see cons).
5) Amazing front control dial that really aids on the fly adjustments.
Cons of the A99 vs the A65:
1) $2000 more pretty big ticket item that requires you love at least something in the PRO: column a LOT!!
2) Weight with comparable lenses, (15-50 vs 24-70) the A65 is almost a full pound lighter (1200 grams for the A65w/lens vs. 1720 for A99w/CZ lens). That extra pound really makes a difference. It's frankly tough just toting around the Sony A 65 with the 16-50 2.8 lens, but the Sony A 99 with the Zeiss 24-70 2.8 is really a monster.
3) Lens (and other ecosystem) costs the 16-50 2.8 (see my Amazon review of this amazing lens) is every bit the equal of the CZ 24-70 for $1000 less one of the great values in walk around lenses anywhere.
4) Speed high speed shooting on the A65 is up to 10FPS while the A99 can only do 6FPS both are stuck with seriously undersized buffers a really stupid mistake that was repeated on the A99 for unfathomable reasons.
5) No built in flash on the A99.
6) No substantive differences that I can see, even at 100% view in RAW if ISO is 100-200. Barely (and I do mean barely) noticeable by ISO 400 in terms of noise, but cameras really start to separate only at 1600 and up.
7) In view of recent reviews, overall, poorer video of A99 vs. A65 (see Tim Naff's superb review of the A99 on Amazon, and discussion of the video issues facing the A99 something of a shock given Sony's hype about pro videography support for the A99).
Most of this looks like a predictable summary of tradeoffs of full frame cameras (weight and cost vs. better high ISO) compared to their subframe cousins. It is a real testimony to the A65 that most of the time I couldn't take a better picture with the A99, except when it got dark. So if you shoot a lot in low light, and have the funds, the A99 looks pretty attractive. If funds are more limited, the A65 is still a real deal and offers a lot for the money. The clincher is that the A65 takes good to great video and the A99 pretty average (at best) video.
Update February 12th, 2013
Some stunning developments that could rock the APS-C world and that have sailed mostly under everyone's radar. Nikon released the 5200 an upgrade over the 3200 which used basically the same Sony sensor as the A77/65. But this new camera has a Toshiba sensor, and one that comfortably outperforms the competing Sony chip. It shows more dynamic range (one full EV), an extra full bit of color depth, and not surprisingly, about a 500 ISO advantage in low light in DXO testing (some of that emerging from the loss of light to the translucent mirror). However, even without the mirror, testing this against the sensor of the NEX-7, this new Toshiba sensor is better (minimally in relationship to ISO, but with still 1/2 EV advantage in dynamic range). Technical details aside, it's simply a better sensor, and the first time that someone has made a sensor for APS-C that outperformed the Sony equivalent in years. But does this mean that the Nikon 5200 is a better camera? Well if you are shooting in low light, yes, it probably is, although I still prefer the great Sony EVF over the dark `tunnel' viewfinder experience on subframe DSLRs like all the Nikon DX cameras. But still, this sensor and its low light performance is a major shot over the bow for Sony, the first time in a long time that someone has produced a better APS-C sensor than Sony. Will this translate into erosion of their market dominance in sensor technology? It's really kind of a shock given the Toshiba is not known for their sensor technology prowess but it raises some intriguing questions. Will Toshiba be able to produce a FF sensor that also outperforms Sony's amazing 24 MP FF chip? (powering the Nikon D600, Sony A99 and the amazing Sony RX-1) (see my Amazon review of this quite pocketable wonder camera).
In any case, the release of the Nikon 5200 and the pending release of the D7100 (same impressive Toshiba sensor and a pro-grade autofocus system and without an optical low pass filter) suggest clearly that Nikon is doing a `full court press' on the high-end sub-frame market. The lack of a low pass filter on the D7100 means that it will probably out-resolve virtually any other 24MP sensor, perhaps with the downside of more vulnerability to moiré. This Toshiba sensor is a full f stop better than the Sony chip on noise (meaning that is only one f-stop poorer in terms of noise than a bunch of full frame models, seriously closing the gap with pro FF equipment), and has somewhat better dynamic range than Sony's chip also. This suggests that the Nikon D5200/D7100 will offer a very serious challenge to the A65/77, esp. with the great Nikon ecosystem support.
SYNC by 50 Cent Wireless Over-Ear Headphones - White by SMS Audio
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program
There is a lot to love about the SMS Audio SMS SYNC by 50 Wireless Headphones. You can see a few of the features in the video portion of the review, but here is the executive summary to the review. Please note that I tried and owned dozens of headphones and earbuds including the Beats Studio by Dr. Dre (which I returned). So hopefully I can bring some perspective to the comparison.
Sound Quality Very impressive sound certainly comparable to the Beats Studio by Dr. Dre. They may not have quite the booming bass as the Beats Studio, but they have smoother response across the entire audible range. I noticed a difference classical music they had a very nice response and were not overly bright. I am not disappointed.
Noise Isolation These headphones do not offer noise canceling technology, but they do offer very effective noise isolation. Even when the music is comfortable levels you will struggle to hear the people around talking. I was very impressed by the amount of ambient sound that I couldn't hear.
Comfort Easily the most comfortable headphone or earbuds that I have ever used. The cuffs fit the ears snuggly but feel like giant puffs of cotton strapped to your ears. The band does not pinch your head no points to poke your head or hard plastic to rub against your head. In terms of comfort these are the top-of-the-line.
Durability and FitVery solid construction no sign of flimsiness (If that is a word). In my opinion the feel much more solid that the Beats Studio I am very impressed.
Wireless Functionality Probably the main reason why you will spend the extra case to buy the SMS Sync by 50. The wireless functionality works well, but I was not able to get 50 feet probably closer to 30 feet before I started getting some drops in the music. At first I thought it had something to do with my house, but then I went outside and found similar results. While 30 feet will work great on an airplane or in an office it may limit you if you are working outside or wandering between rooms.
My main beef with the wireless functionality is that the tack forward and reverse does not work wirelessly. I understand why, since the wireless dongle plugs into the headphone jack so it can not control the ipod/ipad/iphone/device that it is connected to. This is a clear difference between using the Kleer technology and Bluetooth.
Other Points of Interest -
One thing to recognize is that these headphones are enormous they do not fold (which probably adds to their comfort)
There is a blue light on the sides that blink. While it is kinda cool your fellow passengers on an airplane may become annoyed. Fortunately, you can disable the blue light.
Up to 4 headphones can be connected to a single Dongle. This is a bit cooler than it sounds. This is great for gaming, movies, or other group listening activities.
Comes with a headphone wire that allows you to run them without the need of a charge on the battery. The headphone jack also has an integrated microphone and volume control.
Battery life is 17 hours which is crazy long.... this means that your battery life will last long enough for both ends of a trans-Atlantic flight.
Final verdict If the price was 50 percent less these would be an easy 5 star recommendation, but at the current price point it is hard to look past the flaws with the wireless connection.
4 Stars
There is a lot to love about the SMS Audio SMS SYNC by 50 Wireless Headphones. You can see a few of the features in the video portion of the review, but here is the executive summary to the review. Please note that I tried and owned dozens of headphones and earbuds including the Beats Studio by Dr. Dre (which I returned). So hopefully I can bring some perspective to the comparison.
Sound Quality Very impressive sound certainly comparable to the Beats Studio by Dr. Dre. They may not have quite the booming bass as the Beats Studio, but they have smoother response across the entire audible range. I noticed a difference classical music they had a very nice response and were not overly bright. I am not disappointed.
Noise Isolation These headphones do not offer noise canceling technology, but they do offer very effective noise isolation. Even when the music is comfortable levels you will struggle to hear the people around talking. I was very impressed by the amount of ambient sound that I couldn't hear.
Comfort Easily the most comfortable headphone or earbuds that I have ever used. The cuffs fit the ears snuggly but feel like giant puffs of cotton strapped to your ears. The band does not pinch your head no points to poke your head or hard plastic to rub against your head. In terms of comfort these are the top-of-the-line.
Durability and FitVery solid construction no sign of flimsiness (If that is a word). In my opinion the feel much more solid that the Beats Studio I am very impressed.
Wireless Functionality Probably the main reason why you will spend the extra case to buy the SMS Sync by 50. The wireless functionality works well, but I was not able to get 50 feet probably closer to 30 feet before I started getting some drops in the music. At first I thought it had something to do with my house, but then I went outside and found similar results. While 30 feet will work great on an airplane or in an office it may limit you if you are working outside or wandering between rooms.
My main beef with the wireless functionality is that the tack forward and reverse does not work wirelessly. I understand why, since the wireless dongle plugs into the headphone jack so it can not control the ipod/ipad/iphone/device that it is connected to. This is a clear difference between using the Kleer technology and Bluetooth.
Other Points of Interest -
One thing to recognize is that these headphones are enormous they do not fold (which probably adds to their comfort)
There is a blue light on the sides that blink. While it is kinda cool your fellow passengers on an airplane may become annoyed. Fortunately, you can disable the blue light.
Up to 4 headphones can be connected to a single Dongle. This is a bit cooler than it sounds. This is great for gaming, movies, or other group listening activities.
Comes with a headphone wire that allows you to run them without the need of a charge on the battery. The headphone jack also has an integrated microphone and volume control.
Battery life is 17 hours which is crazy long.... this means that your battery life will last long enough for both ends of a trans-Atlantic flight.
Final verdict If the price was 50 percent less these would be an easy 5 star recommendation, but at the current price point it is hard to look past the flaws with the wireless connection.
4 Stars
Sandisk 4GB MicroSDHC Memory Card with SD Adapter (BULK
I got this card for my LG EnV2 so that I could put music on it as well as have more storage space for pictures, along with the option of printing pictures I take on my phone at a kiosk that accepts SanDisc cards (adapter needed), and it works perfectly! Don't be alarmed if the product comes to your home in nothing but a bubble wrap envelope. Bulk packaging simply means that it doesn't have plastic casing on it. In other words, it doesn't have the retail packaging that you would see hanging on a store shelf at Wal-Mart.
If your device doesn't read microSDHC cards, but you're looking for a microSD card (non-SDHC) that holds more storage capacity than 2 gigs, then you won't find it because such a card doesn't exist. Any microSD card with storage capacity higher than 2 gigs is automatically going to be an SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) card. If you're looking at any product detail of, say a phone, and in the details it mentions that it can have an external storage capacity of 8 gigs with a "microSD" card, then that device can certainly read SDHC, though product details don't always mention that.
If your device doesn't read microSDHC cards, but you're looking for a microSD card (non-SDHC) that holds more storage capacity than 2 gigs, then you won't find it because such a card doesn't exist. Any microSD card with storage capacity higher than 2 gigs is automatically going to be an SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) card. If you're looking at any product detail of, say a phone, and in the details it mentions that it can have an external storage capacity of 8 gigs with a "microSD" card, then that device can certainly read SDHC, though product details don't always mention that.
Panasonic DMC-FZ200 Camera + 0.45X Wide Angle Lens + 2x
This bundle could be an awesome deal, but it comes up short.
First the positives; The camera is awesome. I've had a Lumix FZ30 for years and my photo's have always been so beautiful, but I wanted a faster higher rez camera and the FZ200 fit the bill. The only thing I've seen that I don't like, compared with my FZ30, is the manual mode. The FZ200 adjusts the zoom and focus all from a series of buttons and switches while in manual, I'd rather it was more like the FZ30 where the lens could be twisted to zoom and focus, more like a DSLR.
Also a positive is the seller, Willoughby's. The spare battery that was a part of the bundle arrived dead and unable to be charged. I called Willoughby's and without hesitation they they replaced it. For me, that says a lot about them as a company...
Now for the negatives, in my opinion the bundle is just barely worth the extra cost. The Battery, SD, SD reader, and camera case were all fine and worth the price barely. The lenses however are disappointing. The 2.5x telephoto for example, fits well and looks high quality and does provide some magnification, but it renders the autofocus useless and causes a cloudy image. So yes it does what it says but i'll never use it because the resultant image is so poor. The aftermarket lenses are made by Zeikos.
SO if you're buying the bundle for the lenses, I'd say don't, the camera has beautiful optics.
First the positives; The camera is awesome. I've had a Lumix FZ30 for years and my photo's have always been so beautiful, but I wanted a faster higher rez camera and the FZ200 fit the bill. The only thing I've seen that I don't like, compared with my FZ30, is the manual mode. The FZ200 adjusts the zoom and focus all from a series of buttons and switches while in manual, I'd rather it was more like the FZ30 where the lens could be twisted to zoom and focus, more like a DSLR.
Also a positive is the seller, Willoughby's. The spare battery that was a part of the bundle arrived dead and unable to be charged. I called Willoughby's and without hesitation they they replaced it. For me, that says a lot about them as a company...
Now for the negatives, in my opinion the bundle is just barely worth the extra cost. The Battery, SD, SD reader, and camera case were all fine and worth the price barely. The lenses however are disappointing. The 2.5x telephoto for example, fits well and looks high quality and does provide some magnification, but it renders the autofocus useless and causes a cloudy image. So yes it does what it says but i'll never use it because the resultant image is so poor. The aftermarket lenses are made by Zeikos.
SO if you're buying the bundle for the lenses, I'd say don't, the camera has beautiful optics.
Sony DCR-HC1000 3-CCD MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/12x
I bought this camcorder last December (2004) and it is absolutely the best picture I have seen out of a Mini DV camcorder. I originally bought the Panasonic 3CCD and returned it due to no ability to adjust shutter speed below 60 for low light conditions. This goes down to 4 fps which you better have it on a tripod or serious ghosting will appear. The perfect setting I have found for low light, for instance inside your home is 30 frames per second. This camera will also take MPEG4 movies to the memory stick for emailing. Overall, I must say this is the best camera on the market currently for the price. Buy one and you will not be sorry!!! Have fun shooting!
Casio Exilim EX-ZR10 Digital Camera with 12 MP CMOS Image
I bought this Casio camera because of its built in High Dynamic Range (HDR) capability. I wasn't disappointed. The HDR art feature was of less interest and once I tired it soon discounted it altogether.
Using simple auto mode the camera is quick and responsive. Using any other mode slows things up considerably while you wait for the camera to 'do' its thing for that particular mode. The results were ususlly worth the wait but waiting often meant you missed the next shot.
I returned the camera to Amazon, not because I was disappointed with it but because of its fiddly controls. At age 67 my fingers, already large, are less mobile and I found some of the buttons less than friendly. The on/off button is small and sometimes hard to find quickly. The mode buttons are larger but all buttons are flush mounted with the top of the case so less obvious where to put ones fingers especially in low lit places or at night.
Overall a fine camera with many desirable features. The pictures I did take were mostly very good it was just the controls that let you down. Also the zoom is too fast and often difficult to find the degree of zoom you want. Sometimes that meant I shot with a wider lens than needed simply because I couldn't stop it at the disired focal length.
Using simple auto mode the camera is quick and responsive. Using any other mode slows things up considerably while you wait for the camera to 'do' its thing for that particular mode. The results were ususlly worth the wait but waiting often meant you missed the next shot.
I returned the camera to Amazon, not because I was disappointed with it but because of its fiddly controls. At age 67 my fingers, already large, are less mobile and I found some of the buttons less than friendly. The on/off button is small and sometimes hard to find quickly. The mode buttons are larger but all buttons are flush mounted with the top of the case so less obvious where to put ones fingers especially in low lit places or at night.
Overall a fine camera with many desirable features. The pictures I did take were mostly very good it was just the controls that let you down. Also the zoom is too fast and often difficult to find the degree of zoom you want. Sometimes that meant I shot with a wider lens than needed simply because I couldn't stop it at the disired focal length.
Nikon D5200 Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens
Bought this bundle with the black camera body 2 week ago from Cameta. I am satisfied, everything as pictured arrived on time (which is note worthy as my shipping address is in California and Cameta is based in NY) and are brand new. I saved as buying the individual items clearly costs alot more.
Apple iPod nano 16GB Slate (7th Generation) NEWEST MODEL
The latest iPod Nano is an update to the current state of the art in ultra-compact music players and it represents incremental but important improvements over its predecessors with only a few minor trade-offs. I'm convinced it represents a substantial functional upgrade for most users.
Its major advantage, in my opinion, is actually its slightly-larger size in comparison to the 5th generation. Although the smaller form factor of the previous Nano was remarkable for its extreme compactness, it actually made the device somewhat cumbersome to use. Its touch-screen was too susceptible to unintended inputs and it couldn't be easily held in one hand while manipulating its controls. Attempts to control it via screen-input while clipped onto one's clothing tended to be futile: you'd need to un-clip the device, then hold it in one hand and manipulate its touch-screen with the other. While the tiny size and convenient clip made it practically disappear while in use, it could be an ergonomic nightmare to actually interact with.
The new Nano is still tiny but much better for one-handed use. My index finger comfortably sits on the three-way volume/play/pause button (itself a major improvement) while my thumb has easy access to the sleep/wake button, the home button and the improved, larger, multi-touch-enabled screen. This easy one-handed control has the significant practical advantage of not requiring the interruption of my activities to switch, for example, between podcasts, music playlists and FM radio.
Other improvements follow logically from the Nano's new shape. The screen's larger proportions allow all the main "apps" to show up on a single home screen, so less fiddling is typically required for switching. Videos and photos become practical on a screen of these proportions, so it's perfectly reasonable to load some viewable content in addition to the audio content that will no doubt remain the Nano's main reason for existence. With few pixels, photos take up very little memory. The screen has neither the stunning colors nor the retina resolution of the premium iDevices, but photos still show up crisply and become the modern equivalent of the now-obsolete "wallet"-sized photos people used to carry. Video content is surprisingly usable as long as you can set the Nano in a viewable position for example, on a cardio machine at the gym. The Nano supports rotation, so displaying the beautiful panos you've made with your new iPhone is simply a matter of rotating the device to the horizontal and then looking very, very closely. Maybe bring a magnifying glass.
More important for most people, the new Nano is an improved device for playing music. The "Home" button is a good antidote to the common experience of getting lost in the old Nano's sometimes-inscrutable layers of touch screens, bringing you immediately back to the home screen without interfering with playback. An even bigger practical improvement is the addition of the play/pause button on the volume control, a feature lifted from the (now unfortunately absent) remote-equipped earphones of many previous iPods. It's worth a few minutes' time to familiarize yourself with this button's very clever functions: click to play or to pause, double-click for next track, triple-click for previous track (even when in shuffle mode), double-click-and-hold for cueing (great for skipping forward in podcasts), and so on. Most routine playback functions are accessible through this simple and very welcome interface and can be accomplished while diverting little attention from whatever you're otherwise engaged in.
The list of major upgrades doesn't end there. The inclusion of Bluetooth will make the Nano usable, for the first time, with many car audio systems and also with wireless Bluetooth headsets and remote Bluetooth speaker systems. The FM radio is much better than I would have imagined if I hadn't used the previous Nano, with legitimately excellent reception and a very nice interface that lets you select unlimited numbers of "presets." I've used small portable radios in the past, and maybe there are some other good ones out there, but the ones I've experienced have been terrible. I'm personally still attached to FM, and this level of FM quality would make the Nano a terrific device even if it did nothing else.
In general I find the new Nano to be a beautiful, nearly-flawless little piece of practical technology that can do things which, not that long ago, I would not have expected to be possible within my lifetime. While it's not inexpensive, it has real life-improving potential for people who love music or who want to remain portably connected to a world of podcasted information. Being smaller than a credit card in two of three dimensions, it fits easily into the smallest pocket. While jaded consumers of technology can claim it's a mere incremental improvement over its predecessors, I prefer to see it as an instance of exceptional, practical, functional design in a world full of cheap junk that too often disappoints or fails to function altogether. While I have a few nitpicks (below), none of them significantly diminish its overall excellence. It earns every star.
Notes:
There are a few disappointments and drawbacks:
--The Ear Pods that come with the device sound good overall but don't have the remote function included with many iDevice earphones in recent years. While the new Nano has a hardware button that mimics that function, the corded remote is often more accessible, making pause/play and track-change functions instantly available even if the device is buried in a pocket. A decent set of Apple-compatible remote-equipped earphones would be a nice addition.
--This latest Nano eliminates the useful integrated clip featured by the last (6th generation) Nano, making it more a pocket device. Its thin-ness and Bluetooth support compensates for this: the old Nano's clip made it slightly cumbersome in a pocket, as it could catch on things and added significantly to the device's thickness. Nevertheless the previous generation remains the ultimate for portability and, while thicker and slightly wider, weighs around 1/3 less than the latest model.
--The white screen-surround on the colored Nanos doesn't look all that great in my opinion. It does give the Nanos a clean, friendly look, but to my eyes black would be a better choice and would contrast sharply with the bright colors and icons. I chose the boring but still attractive "slate" (black) model, which does have a black screen-surround.
--I would like more flexibility in some of the settings: for example, the ability to keep the screen "on" longer, even indefinitely, before it sleeps. As it is, the screen goes dark so quickly I'm often still in the middle of fiddling with whatever I'm working on and have to re-wake the screen to continue. The previous-generation Nano was similar.
--The previous 6th-gen Nano enjoyed an unintended popularity as a watch, mainly with kids, who seemed to love using it for this purpose. It had lots of clock faces to choose from and could be set to default to the clock when waked from sleep (as can the current model). The new Nano gives up the prospect of practical wrist-wearability. It also features fewer clock faces and only a few background options, all color-matched to the device, none of which is customizable. Perhaps this helps contribute to a lean OS and optimize the device's storage space. Whatever the case, the new Nano is not a watch, nor a clock, although it will accurately show you the time and it still has a useful stopwatch and countdown-timer.
The Lightning connector is functionally far better than competing connector types such as Micro-USB and a clear improvement over the old style. The previous-generation Nano was nearly dwarfed by its connector, and it's easy to see that retaining that oversized monstrosity (as it will seem to have been, within a year or two) would have precluded the current positioning of the Home button on the new device, among other drawbacks.
The Nano is still not an iOS device: internet connectivity and wirelessor Cloud-syncing remain in the future. This makes sense: a Nano is likely to be away from a wifi signal much of the time it's used, and cellular capability hardly seems reasonable. If you're looking for a do-it-all device, a smart phone remains a much more versatile (but cumbersome) alternative. The Nano is fundamentally optimized to function as a stand-alone audio player. Pandora will have to wait.
Why not simply use a smart phone for music playback and podcasts? Well, you could but the Nano has some significant advantages. Its size makes it much easier to carry while active, or while working around the house or in the garage. Its dedicated intelligent play/pause button makes interfacing with audio playback much simpler. And at least among Apple devices it is the only one to offer FM radio, which it does very well. These tend to be very important differences in day-to-day use and can easily justify its purchase price as a separate device.
Its major advantage, in my opinion, is actually its slightly-larger size in comparison to the 5th generation. Although the smaller form factor of the previous Nano was remarkable for its extreme compactness, it actually made the device somewhat cumbersome to use. Its touch-screen was too susceptible to unintended inputs and it couldn't be easily held in one hand while manipulating its controls. Attempts to control it via screen-input while clipped onto one's clothing tended to be futile: you'd need to un-clip the device, then hold it in one hand and manipulate its touch-screen with the other. While the tiny size and convenient clip made it practically disappear while in use, it could be an ergonomic nightmare to actually interact with.
The new Nano is still tiny but much better for one-handed use. My index finger comfortably sits on the three-way volume/play/pause button (itself a major improvement) while my thumb has easy access to the sleep/wake button, the home button and the improved, larger, multi-touch-enabled screen. This easy one-handed control has the significant practical advantage of not requiring the interruption of my activities to switch, for example, between podcasts, music playlists and FM radio.
Other improvements follow logically from the Nano's new shape. The screen's larger proportions allow all the main "apps" to show up on a single home screen, so less fiddling is typically required for switching. Videos and photos become practical on a screen of these proportions, so it's perfectly reasonable to load some viewable content in addition to the audio content that will no doubt remain the Nano's main reason for existence. With few pixels, photos take up very little memory. The screen has neither the stunning colors nor the retina resolution of the premium iDevices, but photos still show up crisply and become the modern equivalent of the now-obsolete "wallet"-sized photos people used to carry. Video content is surprisingly usable as long as you can set the Nano in a viewable position for example, on a cardio machine at the gym. The Nano supports rotation, so displaying the beautiful panos you've made with your new iPhone is simply a matter of rotating the device to the horizontal and then looking very, very closely. Maybe bring a magnifying glass.
More important for most people, the new Nano is an improved device for playing music. The "Home" button is a good antidote to the common experience of getting lost in the old Nano's sometimes-inscrutable layers of touch screens, bringing you immediately back to the home screen without interfering with playback. An even bigger practical improvement is the addition of the play/pause button on the volume control, a feature lifted from the (now unfortunately absent) remote-equipped earphones of many previous iPods. It's worth a few minutes' time to familiarize yourself with this button's very clever functions: click to play or to pause, double-click for next track, triple-click for previous track (even when in shuffle mode), double-click-and-hold for cueing (great for skipping forward in podcasts), and so on. Most routine playback functions are accessible through this simple and very welcome interface and can be accomplished while diverting little attention from whatever you're otherwise engaged in.
The list of major upgrades doesn't end there. The inclusion of Bluetooth will make the Nano usable, for the first time, with many car audio systems and also with wireless Bluetooth headsets and remote Bluetooth speaker systems. The FM radio is much better than I would have imagined if I hadn't used the previous Nano, with legitimately excellent reception and a very nice interface that lets you select unlimited numbers of "presets." I've used small portable radios in the past, and maybe there are some other good ones out there, but the ones I've experienced have been terrible. I'm personally still attached to FM, and this level of FM quality would make the Nano a terrific device even if it did nothing else.
In general I find the new Nano to be a beautiful, nearly-flawless little piece of practical technology that can do things which, not that long ago, I would not have expected to be possible within my lifetime. While it's not inexpensive, it has real life-improving potential for people who love music or who want to remain portably connected to a world of podcasted information. Being smaller than a credit card in two of three dimensions, it fits easily into the smallest pocket. While jaded consumers of technology can claim it's a mere incremental improvement over its predecessors, I prefer to see it as an instance of exceptional, practical, functional design in a world full of cheap junk that too often disappoints or fails to function altogether. While I have a few nitpicks (below), none of them significantly diminish its overall excellence. It earns every star.
Notes:
There are a few disappointments and drawbacks:
--The Ear Pods that come with the device sound good overall but don't have the remote function included with many iDevice earphones in recent years. While the new Nano has a hardware button that mimics that function, the corded remote is often more accessible, making pause/play and track-change functions instantly available even if the device is buried in a pocket. A decent set of Apple-compatible remote-equipped earphones would be a nice addition.
--This latest Nano eliminates the useful integrated clip featured by the last (6th generation) Nano, making it more a pocket device. Its thin-ness and Bluetooth support compensates for this: the old Nano's clip made it slightly cumbersome in a pocket, as it could catch on things and added significantly to the device's thickness. Nevertheless the previous generation remains the ultimate for portability and, while thicker and slightly wider, weighs around 1/3 less than the latest model.
--The white screen-surround on the colored Nanos doesn't look all that great in my opinion. It does give the Nanos a clean, friendly look, but to my eyes black would be a better choice and would contrast sharply with the bright colors and icons. I chose the boring but still attractive "slate" (black) model, which does have a black screen-surround.
--I would like more flexibility in some of the settings: for example, the ability to keep the screen "on" longer, even indefinitely, before it sleeps. As it is, the screen goes dark so quickly I'm often still in the middle of fiddling with whatever I'm working on and have to re-wake the screen to continue. The previous-generation Nano was similar.
--The previous 6th-gen Nano enjoyed an unintended popularity as a watch, mainly with kids, who seemed to love using it for this purpose. It had lots of clock faces to choose from and could be set to default to the clock when waked from sleep (as can the current model). The new Nano gives up the prospect of practical wrist-wearability. It also features fewer clock faces and only a few background options, all color-matched to the device, none of which is customizable. Perhaps this helps contribute to a lean OS and optimize the device's storage space. Whatever the case, the new Nano is not a watch, nor a clock, although it will accurately show you the time and it still has a useful stopwatch and countdown-timer.
The Lightning connector is functionally far better than competing connector types such as Micro-USB and a clear improvement over the old style. The previous-generation Nano was nearly dwarfed by its connector, and it's easy to see that retaining that oversized monstrosity (as it will seem to have been, within a year or two) would have precluded the current positioning of the Home button on the new device, among other drawbacks.
The Nano is still not an iOS device: internet connectivity and wirelessor Cloud-syncing remain in the future. This makes sense: a Nano is likely to be away from a wifi signal much of the time it's used, and cellular capability hardly seems reasonable. If you're looking for a do-it-all device, a smart phone remains a much more versatile (but cumbersome) alternative. The Nano is fundamentally optimized to function as a stand-alone audio player. Pandora will have to wait.
Why not simply use a smart phone for music playback and podcasts? Well, you could but the Nano has some significant advantages. Its size makes it much easier to carry while active, or while working around the house or in the garage. Its dedicated intelligent play/pause button makes interfacing with audio playback much simpler. And at least among Apple devices it is the only one to offer FM radio, which it does very well. These tend to be very important differences in day-to-day use and can easily justify its purchase price as a separate device.
Nikon D5200 Bronze 32 GB SLR Camera with 18-55mm & 55-300mm VR
Good, D5200 DX-Format Bronze Digital SLR Kit with 18-55mm VR Lens 2197 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX NIKKOR Lens for Nikon Digital SLR 32GB Secure Digital SD Memory Card Compact Deluxe Gadget Bag DC74 ML-L3 Remote Control for D90, D5100, D3100, D3200 58mm UV, Polarizer & FLD Deluxe Filter kit (set of 3 + carrying case) 60 Full Size Photo / Video Tripod The New D5200Nikon is pleased to introduce the D5200 a 24.1MP DX-format HD-SLR camera designed to draw exciting new perspectives out of everyone who shoots it. In addition, Nikon is also pleased to announce the WR-T10 and WR-R10 wireless remote controllers. Optimized for creativity, streamlined for flexibilityThe D5200's 3.0-inch super sharp Vari-angle LCD screen will provide unique perspectives for anyone shooting stills and recording Full HD video. With its newly developed 24.1 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor and EXPEED 3 image processing, your customers will also capture images with superior image quality filled with incredible detail, dynamic range and color
Complete Professional 8 Channel Real Time H.264 (2TB HD) DVR
List Price: $2,350.00
Sale Price: $1,060.00
Today's Bonus: 55% Off
This system provides very good quality videos. It is not hi-definition but very good for standard definition. My only real complaint is that the seller does not send any instructions for installing the system and that it took a while to get in touch with their tech support people because they were so busy, but once I did talk to them, they were very helpful including setting me up with access to my system via the internet or smart phone. They did send me an onlink with some instructions I wish they would have provided instructions or a link when they shipped the system. However, their instructions are 12 links to 12 specific items and not a comprehensive instruction manual. That is the main thing GW Security needs to improve. I am very happy with the system. It was a bit of a pain to run all the wires from the DVR to the 8 separate cameras, but that's to be expected with a system like this. I like that this sytem comes with 500' of bulk siamese wire for two reasons: (1) this wire without end-connectors routes through mich smaller wall/ceiling holes than wires that comes pre-terminated, and (2) I can cut each wire to exactly the length I need and therefore there is no waste. I used 488' of the 500' wire so it worked out great. Lastly, I linke that the cameras I purchased are adjustable focal length (zoom) so I was able to set each one just like I wanted (most I left at full wide angle 2.8 mm which covers a lot of area more than a 90 degree view). Thanks!