Canon PowerShot SX150 IS 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $249.00
Sale Price: $119.99
Today's Bonus: 52% Off

First, let me say that while I am not a professinal photographer, I do earn some money from photographing weddings and other events for friends and acquaintences, and consider myself to be an advanced user and photography enthusiast. I shoot primarily with Canon DSLRs and was looking for a compact camera to supplement my current photography equipment. The Canon PowerShot XS150 IS is a very nice compliment to my gear and overall, I am pleased with it.

Canon has produced a very good alternative for the compact camera market in its PowerShot XS150 IS platform. The camera boasts a 14MP picture size with 12x optical zoom capability and the camera delivers. The XS150 IS is a little larger and heavier than most compact cameras but is of quality construction and durable. The case is molded plastic and has a very ergonomic design with specific places to rest your fingers and thumb for one-hand operation. All the controls can be operated with the right hand while holding the camera.

The picture quality is very good. Canon's processor provides vivid colors and impressive clarity for a compact design. The large viewing screen is impressive and easy to see, even in bright sunlight. The controls are easy to use and placed such that they won't be accidentally changed. The controls in the on-screen menu are easy to use and, if you're familiar with Canon's menu system, you'll be able to start shooting right away. Those that aren't familiar with Canon should read the manual, but even then, the menu selections and control layout are very intuitive and easy to use.

The camera provides a lot of special shooting features that can be used not only for still photography, but also for the video recording. There's an "easy shooting" mode for those that want to pick up the camera and start shooting right away, allowing the camera to make all the decisions about ISO, white balance, focus, etc. There are scene and filter shooting modes that allow the photographer to select a style for their photos (monochrome, color accent, color replacement, miniature mode, macro, smile and face detection, beach and snow scenes, fireworks, etc.). For those that want more control over their photography, the camera does offer shooting modes in Manual, Program, Aperture and Shutter Priority.

The movie feature works well and provides decent HD video that can be copied directly from the SD card to your computer. The movie feature is a nice function, but keep in mind that this camera is not a movie camera, so don't expect Hollywood quality from it, but it's nice enough to document short events for display on HD TVs and the web. The stereo sound for the movie function is quite good as well, but the microphones will pick up the sound of the zoom lens motor whirring if you use the zoom feature while shooting video. The lens motor sound can probably be minimized or eliminated in some video or sound editing programs such as Adobe Premier, DVD Studio Pro, or Soundbooth, etc.

The flash is a little different for this camera. It's centered over the telescoping lens but is manually activated (you have to lift the flash open with your finger) to turn on the auto-flash feature. While this may seem like an annoyance at first, it's actually not a bad feature, just different; and it prevents that annoying "pop-up" of the flash when you really don't want flash but the camera's sensors require it.

The XS150 IS is a little larger and heavier than most other compact cameras but is still very portable. The weight and size are detemined mostly by the fact that the camera uses two AA batteries, and the size of the lens for this camera. Still it's a small camera for what it can do and will easily fit into a cargo pocket or purse, or in a case that can be worn on a belt or attached to a backpack.

The only real complaint I have about the camera is the battery life with alkaline AA batteries (this is why I rated it 4 stars instead of 5). While it's nice to have a camera that accepts a common battery type (AA) that can be purchased almost anywhere in the world, I would recommend getting the rechargeable NiMH AA batteries because the battery life for alkiline AA batteries seems to be a little short, especially if you're going to shoot video.

Overall, this is a great compact camera and it will meet most user's needs especially if they are looking for a camera that provides a lot of shooting features in a small package with HD video and is easy to learn to use. I highly recommend it.

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Bower SLY85N High-Speed Mid-Range 85mm f/1.4 Telephoto Lens

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $399.99
Sale Price: $268.98
Today's Bonus: 33% Off

This is a very nice lens. I bought it for use on my Panasonic AF-100 with a Nikon adapter.

The lens is great for low light work as it steps down to f1.4 and focusing is accurate and

has a nice throw to it, so you can more accurately focus. The lens has a manual aperature

ring which has very good tactile stops to it and is very smooth. Overall this is a quality lens

that is well worth the price.

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Sony NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $199.00
Sale Price: $136.80
Today's Bonus: 31% Off

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I am very pleased with this Sony NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV which I received two days ago, August 21, 2012, from Amazon Vine.

I have two of the Roku XDS Streaming Player 1080ps, purchased a year or so ago and which I use frequently; they are quite good (the newer, replacement, model is the Roku 2 XS 1080p Streaming Player which, I understand, is quite similar).

But this new Sony model is much more capable than the Roku because it has a built-in web browser. The browser is Google Chrome, normally a full-featured browser along the lines of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Safari, etc. Unfortunately here it appears to be somewhat restricted as, so far, I have found no way to add extensions, such as AdBlock. Nonetheless, the presence of this browser adds a great deal of value to this media player.

For example, one of my favorite web sites is the Internet Archive [archiveorg] which has thousands upon thousands of free public-domain movies, music, books, and so forth. (You could spend DAYS on this site and not see it all!)

Not only was it easy to "bookmark" this site, I also created an application ("app") from it so that it appears in my "All Apps" folder. (Please read further for instructions as to how to create a bookmark and/or an app.)

Netflix is built-in, common on these devices, as is Amazon Instant Video. There is no native TuneIn Radio app (my favorite Internet Radio portal), but it does have Slacker Radio as well as Pandora. However I went to the TuneIn Radio site via the browser, logged in to my account, and created a bookmark as well as an app from it, as I did for the Internet Archive.

I also created a bookmark and an app from my Watch List on the Amazon Prime Instant Video selection, so I have this in addition to the built-in Amazon Instant Video app. Creating these apps is simple once you know how to use the device. Please note that I am almost 70 years old and have had NO computer or computer-device training whatsoever; I am completely self-taught. I have had my Sony media player just two days. If, in that small amount of time, I can learn to use and manipulate (customize) it, so can you, no matter how "technologically-challenged" you may think you are.

There are many, many native apps offered on this player (too many to mention here) and there are lots more offered in the Google Play Store. Take it from me as far as media goes, there is something for everyone, whether it be music, movies, or television.

If a particular app you want is not present, or even offered in the Google Play Store, it is very easy to create your own app, as I did. In other words, you can customize this player any way you like. How do you create an app? Easy! When you're using the browser and you're on a web site you wish to save, merely click the bookmarks button on the front of the remote and you will be offered choices, one of which is to bookmark the page, and another is to place the page on your My Apps page (essentially creating an app). In my case, I have done both for the pages I wish to save (such as the Amazon Prime Video Watchlist page and the TuneIn My Favorites page). This capability is very, very welcome.

Now I have to tell you that initially the Google Chrome browser gave me no end of frustration. That is because, out of the box by default (WHY Sony?), the cursor click arrow (shaped like a fist and which appears when placed over a link on the screen) did not work (at least on my player)! Neither did the Enter key (on the back of the remote control) nor the center Okay (or Enter or Select it doesn't seem to have an official name) button on the front operate when clicked on a link. I clicked and clicked and nothing happened.

So I could go to a site by entering its URL but couldn't go any further! Clicking the links just did not work. (I do not know if this is the default setting for all samples but it was on mine.)

I went online to see if others were having the same problem (they were) and if there were a solution (as of yesterday, August 22, 2012, there was none).

So I went into the Settings and investigated EACH and EVERY option until I found the solution.

To make it easy for anyone concerned, the steps are these:

Go into Settings

Scroll down and go into Language & Input Devices

Within that, scroll down and go into Remote Settings; within that dialog box are three options: Tap to Select (turn it ON), Backtouch (turn it ON), and Backlight (it's your choice if you wish it to be on or off; I chose OFF as I found the backlight is of little use to me and it does drain the batteries).

At that point, you'll be able to click on any link you like.

I hope that helps some people.

I STRONGLY recommend that any purchaser do what I did: go into the settings and at least LOOK at every single option even if you have no intention of changing any of them. This is how you will learn your system. (You do not have to do it all in one day if you don't want to.) If you do change any of the options, it is very easy to change them back if you find the changes to be unsatisfactory. You will not "break" your system.

The initial setup, which does take a fair amount of time, is, however, very easy and straightforward and is done only once, the first time you turn on the unit. The choices, which apply to your particular situation, can be changed at any time if you find that you would wish to do so. Wi-fi connection was very easy; a wired connection would be even easier. Found on the back of the unit are two USB ports, an optical audio output (if needed), and an HDMI input and an HDMI output connection, as well as the LAN (wired Ethernet) port. These ports are all self-explanatory.

You can (and I did) password-protect the Google Chrome Browser as well as the Google Play Store. While you can password-protect these (good), the password can only be a 4-digit number (not so good). And, once the password has been entered (it must be entered separately for each of the items if you use both during one session), it stays active for your entire session (definitely not so good); so far I have been unable to find a way to log out. To "clear" those passwords, you must turn off the unit and then restart it.

You also have the ability to "hide" (not remove) some (but not all) of the pre-installed apps if you have no interest in them.

We do not have cable or satellite TV so I cannot comment on the unit's performance with them.

The excellent remote control included is unusual; I have never seen any like it. It has a "hidden" battery compartment (though it's easy to discover and access: a very clever design) and the remote has TWO functional sides, unlike any other. The first side, used the most, has many control buttons and the tap-sensitive touchpad. The reverse side has a complete QWERTY keypad, with numbers, letters, and symbols.

I do have some minor criticisms of the remote control: the front of the remote is in, for want of a better term, "portrait" orientation while the rear is in "landscape" orientation. Going from front to back (and the reverse) is, at least for me, somewhat awkward. I wish that Sony had chosen ONE orientation for the remote control. Now the following is perhaps unique to me: I like to use Symbols in my passwords (for extra protection). The symbols on a computer keypad are standardized. Not so on this Sony keypad. Symbols appear in different places than they do on a standard keyboard. I had to call to my wife, who was in another room, to tell me the symbols which appeared above certain numbers (I could not remember them) so I could enter the password from the Sony keypad.

We do not watch television shows. Thus, frankly, I have zero interest in Google TV. We watch watch streaming movies and listen to music. This is our reason for using these media devices. The actual performance of this entire Sony unit (the device itself and the remote control) is exemplary, the best I have experienced thus far. HD videos from Netflix and/or Amazon Prime look spectacular; ditto for the sound quality. And the reception of commands from the remote is amazing, the best I have ever experienced. (Another plus: in my opinion, the Netflix browser on this unit is slightly better than the one on the Roku.)

Would I recommend this one over the newer Roku to you? That depends. The Roku has, among other attributes and in addition to digital outputs, ANALOG AV outputs (which the government, in its wisdom, has banned from newly designed items) so it will work with older TV sets which have no HDMI inputs. Plus, the Roku, is much simpler in its operation (because it has fewer capabilities, though the ones included will be satisfactory for most purchasers; they are for me). This newly-designed Sony has ONLY HDMI and digital audio outputs, though, of course, all modern televisions and audio amplifiers have them too. Plus, using the HDMI cable in conjunction with a modern TV/audio system, the ONE HDMI cable carries both video and audio information. What a convenience!

By the way, it would have been nice had Sony included even a short HDMI cable. They do not so you MUST buy one. Fortunately one of the very best places to buy such cables is right here on Amazon (and make sure you consider their AmazonBasics cables; in my experience, they are very good in construction and performance and they are priced "right").

This Sony in much more of a media center in concept then is the Roku due, of course, to the presence of that genuine browser. You can watch any media from any site you wish, something not possible with a Roku. Activating Netflix and some other apps is much easier on this Sony than it is on the Roku. Plus the Sony boots up much faster than does our Roku.

But the Roku is half the price or less than the Sony. And, as I stated, its apps may be all you need. Finances, of course, play a very important part in deciding which, if any, media player you want to buy. I myself now much prefer the Sony over the Roku because of the Sony's greatly enhanced operating features. I feel that, even at its higher price, it offers much more value than does the Roku (but that's not to say that I do not like the Roku I do, very much). The above is my opinion. But your opinion, of course, may be different and yours is the only one that counts for you.

This Sony uses Android, a GNU/Linux operating system created by Google, in its version 3.2. Whether Sony will ever upgrade the Android version on this player is something I do not know (but I hope they will). Now I have been a "Linux" man (and my wife has been a "Linux" woman!) for quite some time (we have six currently-in-use computers, four using Xubuntu, one using Ubuntu, and the last being used for experimentation with GNU/Linux distributions: I have recently tried Fedora, Linux Mint, and am currently trying PCLinuxOS). but I have to say that, owning two Android devices (this one and the Dell Streak 7 Wi-Fi Tablet), I do not like Android. It is the weakest and "clunkiest" Linux distribution I have ever seen. (If I owned only Android devices, that would be enough to "turn me off" to Linux! Fortunately, that is not the case). Part of the reason for the "clunkiness" is that manufacturers can "customize" (i.e. hamstring!) their installations (a truly "open" Android might be all right) and Sony has attempted to do this here.

That being said, this Sony is essentially a budget-priced full-fledged media center and, as such, functions easily and well. And you can bypass Sony's restrictions by creating your own apps. Note that no matter how "clunky" I regard Android, at least it is VERY stable and does not crash (at least not very often)! Though this player is twice the price of the top Roku, I feel that it represents very good value for money.

A small, but very welcome, bonus is the fact that this player has no "wall-wart" plug or even a "brick" between two halves of a power cable. It has its power supply built-in, just like in the "old days" so there is only one (detachable) cable and it has a small two-prong "regular" plug on its end. (When I first opened the box and saw just this one power cable, I thought I was missing something!) This is superb engineering.

One of these days (when finances permit!) I am going to buy a full-fledged media center computer (the ZaReason MediaBox 5330 is the one I would like) for our home theater. Until that day arrives, however, the Roku units and, most especially, this Sony unit will suffice. (In addition, on trips, I plan to take this Sony box with us for use in hotel rooms.)

Needless to say, the construction quality, as is usual with Sony products, at least in my experience, is first-rate. A one-year warranty protects your purchase. Frankly, except possibly for connecting the unit, it is not necessary to read the instruction manuals (they're useless anyway; that's my impression after reading them). Going through the Setup options (ALL of them), as I suggested above, is the only way (in my opinion) to learn this device and the user will find the time spent to be quite rewarding.

I like this Sony NSZ-GS7. And I recommend it to anyone interested in such a device. I think that any purchaser will be pleased IF he or she takes the time to learn how to use it to maximum advantage. (Regarding the so-called "freezing" problem mentioned by some reviewers, please see Comment #6 which I wrote concerning this anomaly and the workaround I employ.)

Thank you for reading this. I hope that it has been informative to you.

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H1 Camera Kit

Customer Ratings:

The innovative H1 lets you switch from manual or autofocus, and accepts digital backs, like the Leaf Valeo 22, letting you switch between digital and analog shooting. In the past, many professional photographers have shied away from auto-focus cameras, complaining that the slow speed of the auto-focus let valuable shots slip away. Quite often it was simply quicker, not to mention more reliable, to focus manually. The H1, however, offers lightning fast, super-accurate focusing under almost any conditions, guaranteeing that even the most fleeting of instants can be frozen accurately and clearly. And the auto-focus features an instant override function, enabling easy access to manual focusing without leaving the auto-focus mode. And under the sleek outer casing of the H1 lies a lightweight, high-strength aluminum core surrounded by a solid stainless steel housing ensuring reliable and durable performance under even the toughest of conditions and for many years to come. In addition, the H1 s central lens shutter design enables virtually vibration-free exposures at even the longest shutter speeds and makes the H1 capable of flash-synchronization at all shutter speeds, up to 1/800 of a second. Specifications: Type: Auto-focus, auto-exposure SLR camera Image Format: 6 x 4.5cm Focus Type: Automatic or manual with instant manual focus override Film Back System: Digital or film back for both 120 and 220 film types Light Metering System: Built-in, multi-mode system Drive Modes: Single and continuous Shutter Speed: Electronically controlled lens shutter with speeds ranging from 18 hours to 1/800 s including Band T-mode. Flash control: TTL center-weighted system, can be used with the built-in flash or a wide variety of flashes compatible with the SCA3002 (Metz) system using adapter SCA3902 Exposure Metering: Multi-mode exposure metering using 90deg. reflex viewfinder

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Canon EOS Rebel T3 Digital Camera and 18-55mm IS II & Canon EF

Customer Ratings:

I bought this for my son for his birthday. This starter kit comes with absolutely everything anyone could need to get started taking incredible pictures and HD videos. The car charger is a great thing to have!

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Motorola Triumph Prepaid Android Phone (Virgin Mobile)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $299.99
Sale Price: $185.00
Today's Bonus: 38% Off

If this phone came out a year ago, it would be among the top performing phones from any carrier on the market. Its very fast Snapdragon processor, vivid 4.1" touch screen, and rock-solid Android 2.2 performance were cutting edge 12 months ago. I don't say that in a disparaging way, but rather want to show where this phone fits into the spectrum of available devices. If you want the newest, best, phone, you'll still have to go to the contract carriers.

That said, this phone does everything I need very well, and at $300 upfront and $25 a month for service, can't be beat. It works even better than the Samsung Intercept that I replaced with it, and is reasonably priced. $25 a month, compared to what plans cost on the contract carriers, and you'll make up the $300 upfront cost in about 6 months. Brand new customers, may have to pay the $35 a month that they are changing their bottom plan to, but that is still a great deal ($35 a month for 300 minutes, unlimited web/text; $45 a month for 1200 minutes unlimited web/text; or $55 a month for unlimited everything).

This is my second phone on Virgin Mobile, and it made me realize that a lot of the problems that I was attributing to the network were actually the fault of my Samsung Intercept. This phone is more stable in every way. Wifi, GPS, 3G, Voice, the touch screen, applications, everything about this phone works better and is more stable than they did on the Samsung.

Beyond this comparison to my previous Virgin Mobile phone, here are a few comments about the phone:

+ very thin and lightweight. I miss the physical keyboard of my Intercept, but only slightly. The thinness makes up for it.

+ durable design. There aren't many cases available yet for this phone, but even without a case it seems durable. I already dropped it once, on concrete, and other than having to replace the back cover, there were no issues. The battery didn't even come out.

+ vibrant screen. The screen looks great on this phone. I almost say that it looks as good as the display on my wife's iPod Touch. The only concern with the screen is that it is 4.1 inches instead of 4.3, which has kind of become the new standard for Android phones, but I don't really think that .2 of an inch makes much difference.

+ very good touch screen. The touch screen on the Intercept had issues, compared to this phone. We are finally able to play games on it, and type quickly on the touch screen. Again, I think it is safe to compare it to the iPod Touch's performance. Very good.

+ fast processor. Cutting edge Android phones are now starting to have dual-core chips. The Snapdragon chip in this phone is single core, but that hasn't stopped it from doing everything that I've asked it to instantaneously. Very snappy.

+ Cameras. The main camera on this phone is awesome. Probably not as good as in an iPhone 4 or a real camera, but every bit as good as the stellar one in the iPod Touch. The pictures and video it takes are amazing. I don't think I'll ever be taking my real camera or my video recorder with me again. Even the flash works well and doubles nicely as a flashlight.

+ battery life. The battery life on this phone is very good. With any Android phone you can expect to have to recharge it daily, but this one at least uses its battery consistently and gradually. That might not seem like a lot to ask for, but even with Android 2.2 many phones have battery management issues. This one does not.

+ GPS. The GPS gets its signal pretty quickly and does a good job. Not perfect in that sometimes you have a wait a few seconds, but none of them are.

+ Vanilla Android. I really like the fact that Virgin Mobile doesn't "Skin" their phones or put a bunch of bloatware on them. This phone is pretty much stock Android 2.2 with a couple extra applications pre-installed. Much better than the experience with other carriers that fill the phone up with their own software and interface.

A few comments on Virgin Mobile:

+ Network. Network performance always depends on your location. In some cities Verizon is great and AT&T is terrible. In others they both work great. Virgin Mobile's phones operate on their parent company, Sprint's network. Sprint and T-Mobile's networks as a whole, are not as good as Verizon's, but that does not mean they are terrible. In my experience, this phone works very well in metropolitan areas, and pretty well in rural areas. If your cell phone is your life-line and you spend time in rural areas, you may want to check the coverage for your area on Sprint's website. Otherwise, I really having had any problems with the network.

+ International. Sprint and therefore Virgin Mobile only have network coverage in the US. That means you can't roam internationally, which is both good and bad. International roaming on any phone is very expensive. When I travel outside the US with this phone, and want to make calls, I connect to Wifi in my hotel or at a shop, and use Skype. It works perfectly and is much cheaper than international roaming, and is often free.

I very strongly recommend that you ditch your contract phone and consider this phone or other Contract Free carriers. AT&T especially, and Verizon to some extent, are trampling all over their customers, and people are letting them. The way to fix this situation is not archaic government regulation or laws, but rather consumers showing that they won't stand for it. Get a contract free phone because it is the best thing for your wallet and works very well, but also know that if enough people do it the big carriers will have to improve the way they do business.

/// Update after 3 months of use. ///

I don't have much new to report on this phone, but wanted to provide an update after 3 months of use. They are still working great. Both my wife and I have had one from the beginning. Neither of us have it in a case, and it is holding up very well both to purse life and hip life. No scratches or anything despite normal drops and use. A few points:

+ Service continues to be great on this phone. Virgin works much better on this than it did on the Intercept.

+ I have had about 5 unexpected restarts in the three months of having the phone. That isn't bad for an Android phone that gets a lot of use. I think that some of those might have been caused by putting the phone 'power button side down' in the case, and inadvertently keeping it pressed. Either way, I don't think that 5 is bad, especially if 3 of them were caused by the case. My wife has never had an unexpected restart on her Triumph, though she doesn't use hers as much as I do.

+ Screen. The screen on this phone is great. You do have to push a little harder on this phone than on some others, but you get used to it very quickly, and in the long-run, it is better.

+ The camera is great (for a phone).

I continue to be very happy with this phone, especially after its first three months of real life use.

//// Updates after well over a year. ////

I haven been using this phone since the day it came out, over a year ago. Although I'm disappointed that they haven't updated the OS to Gingerbread, I am overall still very happy with it. I am especially happy with Virgin Mobile who seems to be improving every day. They have always been acceptable, considering how cheap their plans are, but every aspect of their service just keeps getting better and better. The 3G network is definitely getting faster, although possibly because they implemented a 2.5GB per billing cycle 'soft cap'. Compared to what the contract carriers do when you use a lot of data, I think their soft cap approach is fair and benefits everyone on the network. Their voice quality, network coverage, and availability also have improved dramatically over the past few years. Also, their technical and customer service have gone from mediocre to excellent.

I recommend Virgin Mobile more then ever. I also recommend this phone, until they come out with better 'premium' phone offering to replace it with.

By the way, Amazon's current price of $209 for this phone is a steal.

//// Update as of summer 2012 ////

I still think this is a great phone, especially for those who are grandfathered in to the $25 a month plan, but I have now upgraded to the HTC EVO V 3D 4G. Anyone who is interested in 4G data speeds and carrier endorsed tethering capabilities might want to look into that phone.

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Studiohut KIT2CS Photography Studio Continuous Lighting Umbrella

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $38.00
Sale Price: $26.65
Today's Bonus: 30% Off

I was impressed with the quality of materials and construction of each component. However, it seems that the components were not originally designed specifically for one another. The light holder, for instance, is designed to mount on the top of a metal shaft by means of a screw clamp. But the top of the light stand has a screw that points upward, and the only way I could determine to mount the holder is by clamping it onto the threads of the stand's screw -it cannot be positioned lower, onto the shaft, where it would be more appropriate. It works, but not optimally. In another instance, the shaft of the umbrella is constructed of lightweight tubular steel. It is held in position by another screw clamp on the light holder. But when clamping it down, the screw will easily crush the tubular steel. I overcame this problem by temporarily removing the aluminum cap at the bottom of the umbrella's shaft and inserting a 15" long, 1/4" diameter wooden dowel into the tube. I can now apply adequate pressure to satisfactorily secure the umbrella.

You might gather from these problems that I don't recommend this purchase, but actually I'm quite happy with it. Compared to other sets, it's an amazing value. The use of color-balanced compact florescent bulbs makes a lot of sense (unless you require intense illumination). And the entire package is very compact.

If you're a professional photographer with an array of lighting options, this set probably isn't for you. But if, like me, you just need a simple, inexpensive way to light your subjects, this is probably as good a product as you'll find for the price!

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ATCK Waterproof Action Camera

Customer Ratings:

I am a police officer and I use this camera when interviewing people. I was initially disappointed with the sound quality, but found the video and capacity with the 2gig card excellent. The problem with the sound is the waterproofing. If you are not going to be using it in water or wet environments all you have to do is remove the mic cover and there is a black square rubber cover over the mic. It is 1mm or thicker and causes the sound distortion and lack of range. Remove it an re-install the cover and you get as good a sound as any other video camera. This camera is well made and a good value at the price. If it had an external mic jack it would rate five stars.

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Kodak EasyShare Z990 12 MP Digital Camera with 30x Optical Zoom

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $449.99
Sale Price: $328.99
Today's Bonus: 27% Off

As a mechanical engineer I particularly appreciate good design. This camera is loaded with it. It can be used easily as a "point and shoot" camera, or maually by a more experienced photographer.

The 30X OPTICAL zoom lens is spectacular. Sure, it might not be quite up to SLR standards, but the pictures I get while SLR owners are struggling changing lenses make a big difference. I have been taking photos for decades, and virtually any lens with the name Schneider has always been a good one.

Important to me, since I take lots of photos of kids and animals, is the short time between shutter push and the photo being taken. It adapts well to changing situations.

Many cameras have no eyepiece viewer, and in bright sunlight can hardly be used because the viewing screen appears so dim. Not so with this camera. Although the direct view could be of better quality and include a diopter admustment, it is so much better than trying to compose a photo in the bright sunlight using an almost invisible viewing screen.

I love to do available light photography. I have never seen a camera with such great low light ability. Sometimes it is almost as though it had "night vision." I normally set the camera to the "No flash" setting.

I think this camera might be a little too technical for first time users unless they are willing to get to know the camera and its capabilities as they go.

I read a review of a comparable Canon offering, and they criticized the lens for purple fringing -NOT a problem with my camera.

I still carry a small "point and shoot" camera, but when I get serious about taking photos, I lean on this camera.

This camera seems to have the ability to do just about anything I want it to, including making HD video.

If you take a photo at the wide angle setting (28mm equivalent) and then take one at the highest telephoto setting (840mm equivalent) you will likely be amazed.

I recommend this camera highly.

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Zmodo 8 Channel Security CCTV DVR System With 8 Outdoor Color IR

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $499.99
Sale Price: $242.50
Today's Bonus: 51% Off

I bought this unit almost 2 months ago after having someone take a lot of stuff from our small business. A few years ago I had bought one little wireless camera that took FOREVER to set up and it was very hard to use so I was nervous about trying to set this up. I finally pulled it all out of the box and started the process and I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to set up.

DVR: The DVR already has the hard drive installed in this unit. I really think I could have been able to do that myself but I'm glad I didn't have to. I pulled out my old 20" computer monitor from my desktop and started hooking it up. The DVR came with easy to read set-up guide and also a manual. I haven't tried to set it up wirelessly yet because I don't think that is something we will be using very often. There are no buttons on the front but that is probably better since we have a 4 year old around.

CAMERAS: My unit did not come with any instructions for setting up the cameras so I searched for Zmodo surveillance camera set up on youtube and got help with that. Real easy to set up. I set the system up in my living room to test everything out before trying to install the cameras. They appear to have a pretty good radius and take very good video in dark lighting. I have read other reviews and they talked about how you could not read a cars tag and that's probably true.. However, for us this is just perfect. It's a good picture at a great price. If I wanted Blue Ray quality I would have spent a LOT more on the system.

If you need a basic system with a lot of cameras at a low price this is a great system. If you are looking for lots of options, great camera detail and higher prices then get something else.

I hope this helps!

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Sony Xperia Z1 C6903 (Honami) 16GB Black (Factory Unlocked) 20mp

Customer Ratings:

Excellent phone. This phone works very well and smartly. In fact since I bought it I have loved using it to surf the web than using my ipad. The camera is very clear. Sound quality excellent. Processor speed is superb. I love Sony. Sony has finally given the winning blow to other phones. Again, this seller is the best I have encountered on Amazon. They shipped item on one day shipping and I received this phone in less than 20 hours after placing order. Best seller on Amazon.

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Celestron Ultima 100 22-66x100 Spotting Scope

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $570.95
Sale Price: $239.99
Today's Bonus: 58% Off

I use this as a spotting scope for target shooting. So far everything I've looked at and worked with gets dicey at about 500 yds. It just depends on the conditions. But a rule of thumb is if the sun is out and you aren't being barraged with thermals you should be able to see at minimal 500 yds. So far I have not been disappointed in what I got for the price. When there are no thermals and good light, I can see very well at 500yds.

I also like it's field of view. I was actually watching 4 targets the last time out without moving the scope. These are 12" x 12 " targets.

I have a Schmidt and Bender 56mm scope and it's brightness and optics are actually better, but we are comparing a $2000 + set of optics to a < $500 set of optics. I also have a NightForce 56mm scope and I would compare it's brightness as a little better.

I have had quite a number of people use my scope for spotting and they are really amazed at it's performance vs cost. So I would say that if these guys would put in a MOA or mildot reticle, they could sell quite a few more to people who are in the sport of long distance shooting.

At 600 yds on a good day like the last, I think this would have been fine. But no matter what scope you get, there are going to be some days you just have to walk up.

The only reason I gave it 4 stars is that it doesn't have a hash reticle option, and the optics are really not the best. But I think price vs performance this is a keeper. So far I haven't run into anyone who could see something I couldn't.

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Fujifilm Instax MINI 7s White Instant Film Camera

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $115.99
Sale Price: $57.39
Today's Bonus: 51% Off

This is a great camera for on-the-go memory keeping and parties. In the video I go over the features and basic functionality. Full text review on CraftTestDummies.com.

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Canon EOS Rebel T3 12.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera and DIGIC 4

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $399.00
Sale Price: $282.69
Today's Bonus: 29% Off

The T3 is in the bottom of the entry level line up, but it performs very well. In terms of picture quality when compared with higher end models all the way to the 60D, it is difficult to determine any differences between them.

The biggest sacrifices are ergonomics and features like frames per second and flip screens, but I have to tell you that it is a great starting point for any enthusiast wanting to discover DSLR photography. ISO 6400 is really helpful when compared with models like the XS which Canon stop showing in their website; the XS was Canon's entry level before the T3 but it only had ISO 1600 (useless). ISO 6400 with Photoshop Lightroom 3 makes unwanted grain a thing of the past.

The camera is small and convenient; I recommend buying the body only and getting and upgraded lens instead of using the 18-55 kit les that comes with it. Good quality pictures come from high quality lenses, so save the money from the kit lens, and buy an upgraded lens like the Canon 24-70L for people with money or the Tamron 17-50 2.8 for people on a budget that want a good balance between price and quality.

The bottom line is the lens is more important than the camera if comparing all Canon models under $1000.00. Good luck with your choice.

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10 x Lot CR123A 123A Lithium Camera Battery - 3 Volt

Customer Ratings:

CR123A batteries are expensive, but these are very reasonable. I have not used one of these all the way through yet, but upon initial use, these batteries seem the same as the expensive ones. Only down side is that the shipping cost of one lot of 10 cost as much as the batteries themselves, but still they are cheaper than buying 10 at the neighborhood store.

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Nikon Coolpix P510 (Black) Package

Customer Ratings:

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

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Q-See QC818-1 8 Channel Digital POE Solution NVR

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $751.99
Sale Price: $740.18
Today's Bonus: 2% Off

This is my second Q-See NVR purchase. First I got the 4 channel NVR and now an 8 channel NVR. The POE cameras are great since you only have to run a single thin cat5e wire. It's cleaner if you have the tools / ability to cut the wire to length and put your own ends on. Also, it was cheaper to get the whole system with 4 cameras than the cameras separately. Also, S@ms club has it real cheap.

Here are some observations that may save you some time:

-Be prepared to spend some quality time getting to know the interface. This is the fun part right? Once it's setup you can mainly use your smartphone for monitoring.

-The setup interface on the NVR can not configure all the functions. The included PSS software also can not configure all the functions. You will need to use both the NVR itself and the PSS software to properly configure the NVR. I suggest setting it up with a monitor and mouse next to your PC and go through the configuration first on the NVR then install the PSS and go through all the options again until you have it working. Again, neither interface can completely configure it alone and this is why I knocked off a star. To top it off, its not like a whole function is done with a particular interface, its just certain check-boxes and fields that show up in one vs the other.

-The PSS software has its own user ID / password separate from the NVR. Don't get them confused.

-Use PSS to format the HDD. In PSS, add your device then under Device List right click your device and select Advanced --> Device Config. Under Advanced --> HDD Management you can format the drive and it will reboot. This was one of the steps I took on both NVRs before it was working properly. I'm not sure if this was necessary but it can't hurt when its new.

-If you are wondering why it is recording all the time it is because it defaults to "manual" for the extra stream. Go to the same place where you format the drive but choose Record then Extra Stream then set it to Schedule.

-The PSS software GUI was corrupted looking on Windows 8. I fixed this by right clicking the desktop and choosing screen resolution then "Make text and other items larger or smaller". I then set it to "Smaller 100% (default). Apparently it don't work properly with larger settings.

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