Motorola DROID MINI (Verizon Wireless)

Customer Ratings:

I upgraded from a Droid RAZR that I owned for 2 years and I have no regrets. In fact, I am blown away by how smooth and responsive is the new Droid Mini, in addition to the display quality. Even though it is not a 1080 display, at 4.3 inches, the 720 resolution of the TFT LCD display on the Droid Mini gives it 342 pixels per inch (ppi). It has more ppi than its bigger brothers (the MAXX and Ultra) and even the iPhone 5! What this mean is that the display is very detailed and sharp. Even though the contrast may not be as good as an OLED or IPS display, the white balance is more accurate (instead of the yellowish tint typical of Pentile OLED)

Compared to the other "mini" phones on the market (i.e. HTC One Mini), this has the best overall processing capability and the largest RAM. The 2 GB RAM keeps the device snappy even when there are multiple apps running in the background. Even though it only has a 1.7 GHz dual-core processor, it's the fastest one out there (for now). In addition, the quad-core graphics processor allows it to keep up with higher-end flagship phones when running cutting edge games.

There are some cool features that are unique to the new Droids and Moto X: Active Notifications, Touchless Controls, and Quick Capture. Amazon has since included information about these features in the product description, so I'll provide supplemental details:

-Active Notifications: it works with any app that has push-notifications such as Facebook Messenger.

-Touchless Controls: If the phone is secured with face unlock, pattern unlock, PIN, or password, you will need to provide the necessary validation in order for Google Now to respond to you. So to keep it "Touchless," the screen lock setting needs to be set to "None" or "Slide". Supposedly the phone will only respond to my voice, but my co-worker was able to activate Touchless Controls after the third attempt.

-Quick Capture: I recommend the following camera settings to be "On", Quick Capture, HDR, and Tap to Focus.

All the above features are always on, which could significantly drain the battery if handled by the dual-core processor. To address this problem, Motorola designed two low-powered chips to process these new features. As a result, this phone can last a day under normal use. For me, the Droid Mini lasts about 16 hours under moderate use.

Since the phone is provided through Verizon and not directly from Google like the Moto X, there will be bloatware. Thankfully, you can disable the bloatware through the app settings menu, something I couldn't do on the Droid RAZR. There is one app that I actually find to be interesting and useful is Droid Zap. This app allows you to share pictures and videos with people around you (within 1,000 feet) by swiping up on a picture with two fingers. The recipients then open the Droid Zap app (free and only for Android devices) on their phones and two finger swipe down to download the shared picture (or video).

There are a couple things I don't like about my new Droid Mini, but they can be easily addressed. My first complaint is the construction. The Droid RAZR has an aluminum frame that gave it a solid feel, the Droid Mini does not. Also, the Kevlar back is now coated with a clear shiny resin. This causes the back of the phone to be covered in finger grease, to a point where I can't even see the Kevlar pattern! So I promptly got a case to cover up that ugliness and to give it better drop protection. Here is the link to the particular case I bought: Incipio MT-269 DualPro Dual Case for Motorola Droid Mini XT1030 White/Grey Retail Packing

My second complaint is that it does not have a micro SD slot. For some people, this would be a deal breaker. But thankfully, SanDisk has a wireless USB thumb drive that stores its content on micro SD cards. This is something I'll be getting to expand my Droid Mini's storage capability. Here is the link for those who are interested: SanDisk Connect 16GB Wireless Flash Drive (SDWS2-016G-E57)

Oh, and another thing I'll be getting is a Qi wireless charger, since this phone has a built-in wireless charger receiver. I'll update my review to let you know how well that works.

**UPDATE: 9/10/13**

The Qi Wireless Charger came in and it worked like a charm. It even charged my phone through its protective case. The Droid Mini had a neat on-screen prompt that helped me place the phone properly on the charger. However, it makes an loud notification sound (which I can't control) upon successful connection. This sound will definitely startle your significant other if the phone is placed on the charger in the middle of the night, so I'll be using this charger at work and not at home. Here is the link to the particular charger I bought: GMYLE (TM) Black White Wireless Mini Charging Pad Mat Qi-enabled Standard Charger (1000mA) for Nokia Lumia 920/920T/925/928/1020, LG Google Nexus 4/5/7 HD, Samsung Galaxy S4, iPhone 5 (US Plug)

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Panasonic DMC-LC1 5.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

Customer Ratings:

So here's the scenario that led me to purchase this camera. After years of photography with a Contax RTS II system, I dropped photography almost completely for 10+ years. The problem? Enjoying the medium without the expense, overly complex process and lugging around 18 lbs of equipment. So I recently started to look at digital photography to completely replace my film equipment. I didn't want an SLR because a)while $1200 buy's a 20oz. technological marvel, it's still made like a disposable $100 EOS Rebel and b)I would be back in the trap of buying lenses and overcomplicating the process. I wanted to get back to simple pure photography withough relying on fancy equipment.

Here was the problem though. There are virtually no non-slr digicams that offer full manual controls in a user friendly, old style manor. Even the SLR's all rely on LCD displays, cheesey dials and buttons.

There was only one (two including the Leica branded version) camera made that offers a rugged classic rangefinder design, an APERATURE RING!, a SHUTTER DIAL!, and manual FOCUS! and ZOOM! rings. While some of these are only emulate mechanical linkages, the end result is a camera that feels exactly like a Leica "m" or other traditional camera would. Oh and by the way did I mention it comes with a fantastic bright Leica f 2.0 lens?

In all honesty, I am not embarrassed to say that it boiled down to style and build quality. Sure there are histograms, program shifts, multiple spot and zone metering/focusing options, a bounce flash (neat feature), 30fps video mode, RAW image format, etc. etc. etc. blah blah blah. All $1000+ digicams have lot's of features, and franklly they are all capable of fantastic images. In the end if you want a camera that is SIMPLY designed the way cameras were made 20-50 years ago with all the bells and whistles if you want them, this is the ONLY choice.

Are there problems? Sure... The low light focusing capabilities leave something to be desired as with most EVF cameras. There is no RAW buffer so RAW images take a few seconds to store. But my initial feeling for this camera is that it is a joy to use.

This is not a cheap camera! With a list of $1599 and a street of $1099-$1399, it will be hard for some to justify not getting a Nikon D70 and 2 lenses in order to get this instead. It will be a certain type of buyer (you know who you are) that will buy this camera regardless of what I write. If you are a poser, buy the Leica Digilux 2 for $1850 street price and throw away $750. It is identical but the body on the Panasonic has a beautiful rubberized surface with just enough of a grip at the right to be effective. The black finish is very nice as well. It does however come with a few extras that would easily add $100+ to most DSLR's like an electronic cable release, a lense shade and filter.

So in the end I got exactly what I wanted and if you are like me, you will not be dissapointed.

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Zeiss 50mm f/2.0 Makro Planar ZE Manual Focus Macro Lens

Customer Ratings:

This is one of the best lenses available for Canon SLR cameras.

I demand a high quality 50mm "normal" lens. Normal lenses spend the most time on my camera, and are useful in practically any situation. I used and ultimately sold several other 50mm lenses before arriving at this Makro-Planar option. Now I have finally found the keeper. Let me explain why:

* Excellent contrast and color reproduction

* Ability to focus from 10" to infinity means I'm Never bumping up against minimum focal distances

* Shooting wider than f/2 isn't, in my opinion, very useful

* Focusing manually is very smooth, helped immensely by the focus confirmation, and more appropriate than auto-focus for most situations

* 270 degrees of rotation on the focus ring allow very precise, minor adjustments to focus

* Results from this lens are repeatedly stunning

* The lens is physically small enough that it causes no portability issues. It feels very comfortable carrying around for extended periods of time.

* This lens, plain and simple, does not distort or have chromatic aberrations.

I cannot speak highly enough of this lens. It has become my workhorse lens, and rarely leaves my camera, and rarely my camera bag. If you are scared by lack of auto-focus, let me reassure that focusing manually, especially on a lens designed to only focus manually, is much easier than you may think. Overall, I give this lens 5 very well earned stars.

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Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Medium Telephoto Macro Lens for Nikon

Customer Ratings:

Originally I didn't want to stray from Nikon products, but Sigma definitely has my attention. This is an excellent lens in both build quality and function. It works flawlessly on my Nikon D40, metering perfectly and in addition, even though it's manual focus on my camera, it is spot on with the auto-focus indicator light (lower left corner of view finder). I highly recommend this lens to anyone who is looking to get into macro! Don't be scared if you're a Nikon D40 user, I was at first, and now I'm hooked on this lens! Do yourself a favor and buy one!

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SanDisk® microSDHCTM 8GB Memory Card

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $99.99
Sale Price: $7.59
Today's Bonus: 92% Off

I tested the possibility of using my BlackBerry 8310 Curve as my primary mp3 player with an inexpensive Kingston 2GB microSD card. I ran into several issues in the process, but learned how to overcome them.

The Curve limits the file size transfers when they are sent to the phone's storage. This protects the phone from running out of memory. The trick is ensuring you are transferring files to the card instead. If you map drives on your computer, the first available drive is automatically used for the Curve's memory card. At home this is my F drive while at work it is K. If any other device is mapped to that drive, the Curve's memory card will not be recognized.

Additionally, there are settings that may need to be changed to allow music file transfers. Go to "Settings", then "Options" to click on "Media Card." Set "Mass Storage Mode Support" to ON. Also set the "Auto Enable Mass Storage Mode When Connected" to YES or PROMPT.

Initially to save music, I needed to remove the card from my Curve and transfer files directly from my computer. This is where the adapter, which converts the microSD card to full-sized SD card, comes in handy. After removing the Curve's battery, I simply popped the microSD card into the adapter and used my computer's SD drive. Do not format the card in the Curve, as it will only recognize half the storage space. If you must format, do so on your computer instead. Now that I have everything set up properly, this card does the job without worries.

PROS:

Good price

Reliable card

CONS:

None

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Dell XPS 27 20XPSo27T-2143BLK 27-Inch All-in-One Touchscreen

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $1,799.99
Sale Price: $1,699.99
Today's Bonus: 6% Off

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program NOTE!! Amazon Vine sent me model XPSo27T-714BLK and NOT the one this review is attached to! Unfortunately, I cannot return it or review under the one they sent me, but they require this review to be written anyway. This -2143BLK model comes with a faster processor, a 'Thunderbolt' port, and double the memory of the one they sent. The -714BLK model I review below is otherwise identical. If you want to see the specs of the one I am reviewing, look here: http://www.amazon.com/Dell-XPSo27T-714BLK-27-Inch-Touchscreen-Desktop/dp/B00F4MEAYG, or this one is the same but with the added Thunderbolt port: Dell XPS XPSo27-715BLK 27-Inch All-in-One Touchscreen Desktop (Piano Black)

-------------

Just a little of my background so you know where I'm coming from: I am a professional computer programmer and technician. I usually research on forums and computer 'geek' sites and then build my own PCs from parts I buy online. I feel like I know PC hardware and software pretty well.

With the evolution of the Desktops, Laptops, Smartphones and Tablets, we have come full circle back to the desktop computer with the "All-in-One". This computer is the combination of a very large (TV-size) tablet with a touchscreen and apps, and an immobile desktop computer for gaming, browsing and home/office computing. Can it do the job of both and do it well? Is it practical as both? Let's see...

Setup was quite simple and it was quickly usable. I plugged in the A/C power cord (the standard IEC plug no wall wart or inline brick transformer) and connected an Ethernet cable to my network. The wireless keyboard and mouse come with (Duracell!) batteries. The power button brings up a setup screen to help configure Windows 8 that comes with it. (Remember to update to v8.1 later when you are online!) It attempts to connect to wireless networks at this point, if you want to set that up as well. Beyond that, there is not much else to do. You can sign in with your Windows Live ID/password and it will link to your online account right away. Once Windows starts up, you are left at the typical "app" screen on a tablet or smartphone this is the new Windows 8 "Start Menu". The computer then functions like a tablet or smartphone from here -you touch, click or swipe the screen to scroll through your apps and touch/click the one you want to run. It will run multiple apps at once.

For the purist or typical desktop user, you must start the "Desktop" app and then your screen will look like a typical Windows desktop with the wallpaper, Recycle Bin, taskbar, etc. I prefer this app only because I am used to it. You can use the mouse to click/drag on apps or the desktop as normal, although some activities are easier by touching or swiping the screen directly. There is even an on-screen keyboard if you want. This can become tiring on a 27" screen at arm's length, though. OK, enough about Windows 8. How about this particular incarnation of the Dell desktop computer?

Overview: As a desktop computing center, it seems a bit unnecessary to have a touchscreen, but maybe it will come in handy as I 'convert' from the typical desktop. I can see the use for maybe 'signing' your name or other handwriting, occasional 'swiping' type activities, for creative uses like drawing/painting, or for enlarging or thumbing through photos. The only drawback with such a large screen as far as touching is that it must be within comfortable reach, but it's large enough that you need it a comfortable distance away to see everything.

Hardware: The included chiclet keyboard is just OK -about the size of a typical laptop keyboard with a number pad. It's useable, but as a programmer who types about 8-10 hours per day, it would get uncomfortable fast. I was able to plug in my Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 and the drivers installed automatically. The mouse is OK as well, although I use a trackball mouse to minimize carpal tunnel issues...and it installed fine too. There are 4 USB 3.0 ports on the back, an HDMI out and HDMI in port, and the Ethernet cable port. On the left side are 2 more USB ports, a mic and headphone jack, and a memory card reader. On the right is a DVD/CD drive and the power button. It has typical laptop type stereo speakers, which are adequate for Windows sounds, voice chat, casual music listening. If you want good sound for music or movies, you will need to use an external sound system to plug into the USB or headphone port. The screen's touch sensitivity is very good without any skips or mis-touches. Fingerprints do not seem to smudge the screen. The surface of the screen is glass-like, making it quite reflective, so you will need a dark background behind you. Mine came with the Intel quad-core i5-440S @ 2.80GHz, 8GM RAM, 1TB 7200RPM hard drive, and built in HD webcam and microphone. This ad specifies an Intel i7 processor and 16GB RAM, so please contact Amazon to make sure you are getting what you expect!!

Software: The computer comes with Windows 8, Cyberlink Media Suite Essentials, all of the usual plethora of Dell update, backup, recovery, utility software, the usual Windows software, and a trial version of Microsoft Office.

How does this compare with other Windows 8 tablet/desktops available? If portability is an issue (which this 27" all-in-one is NOT), then you might opt for the Acer Iconia W700-6499 11.6-Inch 128 GB Tablet (Silver), with its docking system, although you sacrifice computing power and ports. The Microsoft Surface Pro 2 with 128GB Dark Titanium is also an option for the 10" size. If you are looking for a laptop with tablet features, you might also consider the ASUS Taichi 21-DH71 11.6-Inch Convertible Touch Ultrabook, which comes with a better keyboard and bridges the gap a little better between a laptop and tablet, as well as the Dell XPS 12 12.5-Inch Convertible 2-in-1 Touchscreen Ultrabook.

If you are really sold on an All in One desktop computer that will not move from your desk, then this XPS 27 is a fine performer if you can adapt to its chiclet keyboard and/or prefer to mostly use the touchscreen. You should also consider the VIZIO CA27T-B1 27-Inch All-in-One Touchscreen Desktop with a slightly slower processor but a smaller price. Finally, even cheaper is the Acer Aspire AZ3-605-UR23 23-Inch All-in-One Touchscreen Desktop (Black), slightly smaller at 23" and a slightly slower processor, but plenty of power to run your apps and entertainment media.

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Logitech X-140 2.0 Speakers

Customer Ratings:

I can not really add much to my review which has not already been said. These are great sounding speakers for the price.

If you want speakers with accurate music reproduction, thumping bass and higher volumes, best to spend more money and upgrade to Logitech's Z-4 model. But for casual listening and computer gaming, the X-140 speakers are more than adequate.

My biggest positive is the durability & construction; very hard plastic backs with heavy duty metal front grills (which are virtually impenetrable to pencils, pens, and other kid wielded objects). So far, after 4 months of use, I have deemed them "kid proof". Those of you who have small children know what I mean. I highly recommend the X-140's for those on a budget or those who just can't see the logic in dropping big dollars when kids are around. ****March 2013 update. Still in great condition and rockin' strong!****

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Slik Pro 780DX Tripod With 3-way Pan/Tilt Head

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $359.90
Sale Price: $229.95
Today's Bonus: 36% Off

1st of all there are lots of tripods on the market. I shoot with a Nikon D90 w/ 28-105mm, 28-300mm and my standard lens for now is the 24-85mm. This tripod works well in all of my shooting applications I intended on using it for. The low profile works well for Macro,low profile shooting and carries the weight of the D90 body with no slips or drifts. Do your homework when buying any product, read.... go to a local store and test it out...ask the supplier all the question you plan to encounter with the product... and finally it'll be a matter of choice and taste for the cash you put out. I'm very pleased with is tripod in all aspects.

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Nikon D5200 Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens

Customer Ratings:

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.

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Pentax K-r 12.4 MP Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD (White

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $699.95
Sale Price: $549.00
Today's Bonus: 22% Off

Hi all.

I just bought my first Pentax DSLR K-R model in White body only on late Oct 2010, and received it on Nov8 2010, after reading a lot of reviews on the Pentax KX model,

i was impressed and waited for 4 weeks before i got it in my hands. I even called Pentax here in Golden Colorado. USA and asked them when is the KR coming out?, Yeah, i sold my Sony 700 DSLR gear and replaced with KR. I bought a Tamron 70-200mm F2.8 for it, as expected KR is a small and compact body which i like, simple design, easy to use, tons of features, nice neck strap, i wish they make a battery grip for it, but not...

Ok, so i tested it out with about 400 shots in all settings, especially on high Iso and watch for noise, here are the samples, the shots w/o flash was shot at 12,800 ISO

And here with 800 Iso

Pictures speak for itself, i really like the IQ, high iso with low noise and it is well control, not as nasty noise as some other cameras brand( no name), i like the DNR and smooth details low noise, true colors, sharpness and easy to use, fast shooting 7fps..

For the price you just can not beat it...Sorry Sony but i have found a new buddy.

Cheers.

JV

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Sony DCR-SR88 120GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam Camcorder

Customer Ratings:

So I was hoping for just a few things...good video quality, easy to use, lots of storage, and easy to burn onto DVD (I'm an older guy, so I didn't want to spend hours sorting out how to do all of this). This camera delivers! I just recently spent a week in Rome, and I shot video everywhere I went. I filled up 5 DVDs when I came back, and yet still had lots of available storage. The video quality is just fantastic for me...lots of great detail. I zoomed in from a distance to film the Pope in St. Peter's, and I could see him fairly clearly, considering I was quite a distance when I filmed. This camera worked like a champ! I also bought the 5-hour battery, and I never ran out of battery life. This camera is perfect for me!

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Voigtlander Bessa-R3A Rangefinder Black Camera Body

Customer Ratings:

Well very excited to buy this camera , read lots of reviews and went for it.

MMMM Yes I love this camera its perfect for the discrete shooter and makes a great change from the auto digis.

Bad oints.

Glassers wearers you get a lot of cut off in the viewfinder, i use the 40 mm 1.4 Nokton a great lens and as the camera has 40 mm guide lines in viewfinder should be perfect. sorry but very anoying.

I find the shutter very noisey and asi bought the camera for street photography well again dissapointing.

Shutter button hard feel so i bought soft release button and much much better, a great feel now.

Rewind feels a little flimsy

Love a thick leather half case to muffle noisy shutter sound and a wider eye piece and you have a Leica threat.

Good Points.

Price point its a bargain.

Metering is very acurate and foolproof.

Control layout simple and easy.

Reliable so far 100 rolls in three weeks.

Inspires me to take it everywhere as not heavy or too big.

Perhaps a M3 leica would be good as so quiet however has it got the reliability? No meter either on M3

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Fisheye Lens Kit For Nikon D5200 D5300 D3200 D3100 D5100 D800

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $109.95
Sale Price: $79.95
Today's Bonus: 27% Off

I purchased this package to take on a trip with my new Nikon 5100D. The lenses are Tamron which I have used in the past and they are quality lenses. They are light and compact, perfect for squeezing into a small camera bag when you want to minimize bulk and weight, but want flexibility for shooting a variety of scenes.

The package includes a variety of adapters rings so the lenses will easily screw on top of your digital lens; and there are extra adapters included to make sure you get a fit with any lens you may be using.

Shipping was fast, and it was nice to get the UV, Circular Polorizer and FLD filters.

I thought the price was a bargain.

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Samsung NX1100 Smart Wi-Fi Digital Camera Body (Black) + Samsung

Customer Ratings:

This bundle features the excellent Samsung NX1100/1000 with the also excellent 85mm f1.4 and 18-55mm OIS zoom lens. All in all, this is a good bundle, the APS-C sensor used is quite good. Excellent in fact. You should shop around on price, but all the components here are good quality gear.

This is from my review elsewhere on Amazon of the NX1000/1100 with the 20-50mm kit lens:

This is a superb camera and an outstanding value at the current low prices! It is listed multiple times on Amazon, so be sure to search for the model, color, and price you want.

The main things that drew my interest with this camera were the Wifi features, I have a Samsung WB150F and the Wifi features have worked well. I find them useful and convenient, especially the PC-Autobackup which transfers movies and images to your PC. The large APS-C sensor (more image detail), the compact, mirror-less design, and the recent price drops.

So...how does the pudding taste? Well, I will admit my overwhelming first impression was "plastic!" though the build quality seems very good, there is an overall "plasticky" feel. (Thankfully, the tripod thread is metal!) The shutter and other bits are metal as well, including the lens mounts.

I use Panasonic and Olympus cameras, mostly, and even those in this price range have a bit nicer "feel" in that sense But, it's a very high quality plastic and I soon got over it except for the fact that I find the grip a bit slick and could see myself dropping this camera, so I immediately attached the strap. Not a big fan of the strap. It's OK, but I do not like the ring attachments used versus the more usual cloth through metal guides on my other cameras. I find the strap interfering with my grip due to where the attachment rings are located and this is quite annoying. I will probably remove this strap for that reason once I find a case I like. You can work around it, but I just don't like it. (Update: I'm adjusting to this and not as irritating as before.)

While we're quibbling, I'm also not a big fan of the way the Zoom lens "locks" when not in use. It does give a lower profile, but it takes some getting used to, as I've never experienced this design before. Again, a minor thing. Overall appearance is good, it looks like a serious camera. Also the markings are easy to read, it's comfortable to hold (with the 20-50mm lens) and the recessed mode dial is a nice touch. (It's even better with the awesome 16mm wide angle pancake lens! Much slimmer profile and very easy to hold and shoot with.)

In general, as far as controls, the design is well thought out and Samsung offers some unique and original twists such as the "Fn" and "iFn" control buttons which allow easy access to the main things you'd want to "tweak" when shooting. The controls work well and the "ring/wheel" control works very well. I was a bit skeptical, but in use I really liked it. For example, when flipping through your shots in playback mode it works very well and you can scroll through the images very quickly.

Nice to have the hotshoe, though I have not tried the flash unit supplied yet will report back on that. Videographers might note that there is an external mike that works with the hotshoe and uses no cables at all, nice!

In general, I find the NX1000/1100 easy to use, the manual focus works well, the Smart mode seems to do fairly well, there are a great many scene modes and other (somewhat gimmicky) features (Magic filters/frames, etc.). I enjoyed playing with those on the WB150F, but they seem out of place here. There are a superb number of image adjustments, exposure tweaks, and controls of a more serious nature as well. When you want to get serious, this camera is ready. Also, some of the fun things, like the Panorama mode, do work well if you understand their limitations and keep your expectations reasonable.

As expected, the APS-C sensor renders a lot of good image detail. This is the big plus for this camera. I was very pleased with the results under good lighting conditions. I shoot a lot of landscape and street stuff, and this camera seems well suited for that. The noise reduction seems to work well up to about 1600 or so (maybe 800 for purists). Colors are accurate and not over-saturated like on many consumer cameras. If you like the "boost" many cameras give by default, there is a "Vivid" mode which will do this for you. Personally, I prefer the more realistic colors (one of the things I like about Olympus and (most) Panasonics as well). Sharpness is good in JPEGs (I have not shot RAW yet) and tones are nice and smooth (think large expanses of blue sky and clouds). I'm sure with experience my results will improve over these initial test shots, so that bodes well. If you like to print big, 16x20, even 20x30 possibly, you will be able to do so, which is very nice.

The 20-50mm kit lens is nice enough, but has a very limited range compared to what I am used to. (I am considering getting the 30mm lens which I think would make a nice compact package for everyday use.) However, the images look good, sharp, detailed, so I am happy with it. Video worked well and the zoom worked fine in video mode and was silent. In casual use, there is no need to switch the dial to video mode, you can just press the Video button on the back and after a slight pause you're in action. This is nice. Of course, dialing to full video mode gives you more options.

Wifi features worked fine, I was able to easily connect and save pics using the autobackup mode. Skydrive and others worked fine. Have not tried the mobile link and remote view finder apps yet. (Update: I tried these apps out and they worked OK for the most part. A bit flaky at times. There is a new "Smart Camera app" to replace these, but it only works with the new firmware. Since I have not yet upgraded the firmware, have not tried it.) The PC_Autobackup mode works very well for transferring pics and movies to your PC. It remembers what has been transferred and only transfers new items. Best to transfer frequently, since slower than reading from a card, but all automatic and very convenient. [You can also transfer photos to your mobile devices (phone/tablet) using the other apps (Mobile Link/Smart Camera).]

Example: You get back from shooting, you activate the PC-Autobackup on the camera (your laptop/PC and network must be on, of course), and the camera will connect and begin transferring your content. When done the camera will turn-off (unless you press a control button within 30 seconds) and you can set the PC to shutdown as well if you like. Or you can select the "open folder" choice on the PC/notenook popup dialog and view your pics and movies. All very easy and convenient.

There is a "Smart Range" feature to extend dynamic range and preserve highlights. It seems to work well, but you lose shadow detail. Might want to turn off by default, I think. (You can also shoot RAW and tweak things yourself, of course.)

JPEGS look very good to me with a lot of detail and sharpness. So good that I think shooting JEPG only is feasible with the NX1000. (You can always switch to RAW or RAW+Jpeg when needed, of course.) I think many will find the Jpegs entirely adequate for most purposes. (If you shoot a lot at high ISO's you would definitely want to shoot RAW.) You have a range of aspect ratios including 1:1, 3:2, and 16:9. This is nice and gives you flexibility in camera versus cropping later.

The 8fps burst mode worked very well, though as has been noted everywhere, there is a lag as the camera processes the shots before you can shoot again. I am a fairly deliberate photographer and don't shoot much action/sports, so the NX1000/1100 is fine for me. The occasional lags when switching modes and after bursts or RAW shots are not an issue for me, but could be for some. It's all covered in many of the excellent online reviews, so I won't dwell on it here. Overall, I found the camera responsive and adequate for my needs.

The LCD screen is bright, colorful and has good resolution. I was pleased with it. I generally favor optical view finders (sorry, I admit to being old school here, you can't beat a good optical VF IMHO) and even EVF in a pinch, but I am getting used to the non-VF style of shooting and the NX1000/1100 LCD is very good in this respect.

In general, I am very pleased with the image quality and the feature set and think this camera is an excellent value at current prices. Many of the features are unique, the Wifi modes are the best I've seen to date, and the APS-C sensor seems to be a good one. It's fairly compact with the 20-50mm kit lens (and would be even more so with the 30mm pancake lens), easy to carry (not heavy), and has all the controls you could ever want. The images are very good and that's the main thing.

I think it's an easy 4 stars for overall quality and especially value for the price paid.

----------------

Update: I recently purchased the Samsung f2.4 16mm wide angle "pancake" lens (Samsung 16mm f/2.4 NX Ultra Wide Pancake Lens (Black)) and it's a great addition to this camera. Wonderful for landscapes and walk-about/street photography. It's the lens I keep on the camera by default now. Quicker auto-focus, faster optics(f2.4 vs f3.5), and a more compact profile. When I have the 16mm lens on the body, I feel this is a 5 star combo. (I am leaving the rating at 4 stars with the kit lens, which is an excellent lens. I just find the 16mm to be the "magic" lens with this body. Very subjective, of course.)

Update: I did not cover video very well above, suffice to say the quality of the video is excellent for a camera in this price range and superior to many, I would guess. It is full HD 30/60 fps. You can Zoom during video shooting and it supports external microphones and stereo sound. All the basics are here and a few pluses as well. You can even use many of the special effects in video mode should you wish to do so. There is a dedicated video button for instant access, and a dial selection for more options. Videos take longer to transfer over wifi due to their size, but do transfer fine. Sound quality id pretty good for a camera of this type, in my opinion. So, if you are traveling, you have both stills and video covered. (I still feel a dedicated video camera and full fledged DSLR are optimal. But I must say, the combo capabilities here are quite fine.)

Video Format: MP4 (H.264), Compression: Movie H.264, Sound AAC

Frame Rate: 60fps (1280 x 720 Only), 30fps (1920 x 1080), 24fps (1920 x 810)

Image Sizes: 1920 x 1080, 1920 x 810, 1280 x 720 , 640 x 480, 320x240 for Sharing (Default: 1920 x 1080)

Movie Editing: Still Image Capture, Time Trimming

Update: I did not mention that the kit lens (20-50mm) does not have image stabilization, nor does the body. Has not been a problem for me (I shoot old school, bracing, etc.), but it was a consideration in buying the low cost and excellent 16mm wide angle for this body (very compact and little worries about image stabilization, larger sensor works in favor here) and dedicating this to camera to the wide end, while using my Panasonic G1 for the mid/telephoto range (as I already have excellent lenses for my G1 in this range). I still have the 20-50mm (an excellent lens) in the bag and can switch when needed. The lenses I have already for my G1 are superb, so this works out well for me.

You can buy image stabilized Samsung lenses (like the 18-55mm) if that is a concern. Shooting with the 20-50mm kit lens, I never once had any issues. However, in low light situations, it might come into play. Again, in my case, my G1 and f1.7 20mm would be my preferred choice, but I could get by with the NX1000/1100. It has good image quality at high ISO and even ISO 3200 is usable many times. ISO 1600 is very good and ISO 800 is very clean.

For quick "grab and go" shooting, I continue to enjoy this camera very much.

2013 August 3rd update: I have had a chance to try the 18-55mm lens (good) on the Samsung 210 model and the 210 is very nice, it's the 200 + wifi features (like the Nx1000/1100). The 200/210 is heavier, all metal and has the AMOLED screen. The screen is better in bright subnlight than the LCD on the NX1000/1100. However, overall, the differences are not great, as mentioned above. The image quality is very close, no discernible quality difference that I can see in my quick tests. The NX1000/1100 then stands as an excellent low-price entry point to get this excellent APS-C sensor, with the bonus of the same excellent image quality as the more expensive models. The lighter weight is a plus, too. I have been shooting extensively with the 16mm on my NX1000 and continue to be very pleased with the results. Great image detail and color. This camera is an outstanding bargain at current prices and delivers image quality equal to models selling for 2-3 times as much. The market has not quite caught on to the value here, yet...initial prices for these cameras were double current prices. But that just means you can snag one of these at an incredible low price and be happy! Shush...don't tell anyone! ;)

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Lowepro Pro Trekker AW II Camera Bag (Black)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $476.99
Sale Price: $429.99
Today's Bonus: 10% Off

Well built, with plenty of extras. Backpack is rather bulky and heavy even when empty. Not recommended for anyone with a weak back. I mainly use it to pack my camera gear on driving trips. I use a smaller backpack when hiking and/or flying. This will NOT fit in an overhead compartment, even in a large plane.

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Samsung NX2000 20.3MP CMOS Smart WiFi Compact Interchangeable

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $649.99
Sale Price: $499.00
Today's Bonus: 23% Off

I have tested my new Samsung NX2000 for 2 weeks and its overall performance and picture quality is not bad, actually very good. I was shopping a DSLR like mirrorless compact camera that provide light weight, changeable lens and good picture quality camera. I have two choices either Sony NEX5T (just released this month) or the Samsung NX2000. Believe me, you won't find too much reviews and details info on the website because both cameras are new. Some info and spec I found on line actually was incorrect and the reviewers did not really done a hand on review. Most of them were just review the camera spec sheet and criticize its good and bad. I concluded Sony NEX5T is a better mirror less camera than NX2000 but its price tag still consider steep when adding up the optional lens, accessory flashlight. It will cost more than a grand. If budget is also a factor of consideration, the NX2000 can fit in perfectly. The NX bundle lens kit cost less than $800.

So far the operation and picture quality of the NX2000 are pretty good. Its APS-C sensor definitely can react to more lights. The high ISO performance is very good below 6400 without noise. It is still tolerable if higher than 6400. The noise reduction from this camera is very good. The contrast AF is not bad, believe me it is not fast but really not bad. The 8fps continue shoot was surprising fast and perfect for motion sport. 20-50mm kit lens without image stabilization performs pretty well and the 50-200mm zoom lens with OIS is excellent.

Pro:

Price fits budget buyer who wants good quality picture and changeable lens compact camera.

Easy and clear in camera menu and touch screen with less button (I consider less button is a pro but some user don't)

Fast 8fps continue shooting with high accuracy to catch the perfect moment.

Big APS-C sensor gives better quality pictures. Combines with the high ISO low noise reduction, this camera can shoot without flash.

Many optional Samsung lens to choose ( I prefer buying the 16mm wide angle lens too)

Con:

Contrast AF not Phase detection (the speed is still acceptable to me)

No optional EVF, it is very difficult to see the screen under sun light. Samsung, how can we take a good photo under the sun light when the LCD screen is totally invisible by the reflection. I think Samsung needs to consider an option EVF that can be attached to the hot shoe like Sony did on the NEX.

Battery life is also unacceptable. I highly suggest purchase 2 or 4 for back up and you need a aftermarket wall charger.

Update Oct 1 2013: After continue usage of this camera, I found out the LCD screen under the bright sun light is really a problem. Although I can adjust the LCD brighter to make it easier to see, it will drain the battery faster. Samsung really needs to make an optional EVF to attach it on the hotshoe as soon as possible. I don't mind to spend couple hundreds to buy an optional EVF for this camera but seems Samsung is not listening to the feedback of the consumers. No tilting LCD panel + no optional EVF made the outdoor bright light shooting not too much fun.

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Canon Powershot A2200 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $139.00
Sale Price: $109.00
Today's Bonus: 22% Off

I have my Powershot A2200 for about two weeks now. I was a little concerned about the mixed reviews but I thought I would take a chance. I have and love my Canon G10 but did not want to carry it everywhere with me. I needed a little camera to carry with me and not worry about. I purchased my Powershot A2200 for 129. and could not complain about that. I liked how you can move through the different modes quickly and I especially liked the live mode. I am an artist and it is very important for me to control color and contrast and I can easily do that in the live mode. I understand the problems some of the other reviews complained about especially the blurriness. I too had blurry photos when I first started using it. This camera has a learning curve it is a very sensitive camera and you have to become familiar with it and choose the mode ( program, live , auto ) that is best for you. Also there are several options to control in the focus of the camera. I suggest you become familiar with it to improve your results. This is a good camera for someone like myself that is familiar with using cameras and want options for controlling images. If you just want to point and shoot and not think about it this may not be the best choice. I am really impressed with the photos I have taken. I mainly use the live mode it is a very flexible mode shooting well in low museum light and even out of a fast moving car. Given what I received for this cost I am very pleased. I love my little light canon camera.

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