The Sony Alpha NEX 5 is an amazing HD Digital Camera. Even if you keep the setting on "Auto" it knows the correct settings. I use the wide angle lens for picture of homes and rooms for my real estate business and it takes great pictures of the whole room, with no wierd warped looks to picture. The panoramic setting is also amazing. I would suggest this camera for all of your digital needs...small but powerful!
Showing posts with label canon digital camera models and prices. Show all posts
Showing posts with label canon digital camera models and prices. Show all posts
Olympus EC14 1.4x Teleconverter Lens (for at f/2.8 on E-System
I guess you sum up teleconverters as a way to get a little more out of your lens(es), but at a price. Olympus has not kept up on their "compatibility list" for this it turns out it works on alot of lenses that are not on the "compatibility list" even other (sigma) brands. So the five stars are for its compatibility in the system.
Before you buy it look at all your options. I did finally buy it but first I looked at a "better" lens. They were all slower than my existing 50-200mm + 1 stop. It ends up being a 283 mm lens with the OLY teleconverter, so it was the best solution overall. It's not exactly 1.4 but pretty close
I did not like loosing the 1 stop, and I did notice the darker image in the viewfinder as the 1 stop loss is not removed while focusing like any dialed in stops are, but that's the real price you pay you are just more aware of it. I use the converter on about 10% of my shooting with the 50-200 lens when I am outside and have a tripod or inside with a GN 50 flash. Remember it magnifies your movement too so a good tripod helps with the extra weight.
A last couple of notes keep in mind your photo size is 4 x 5.33" and not 4x6 so be sure to zoom out just a bit and leave a boarder for post processing into 4x6 standard prints. Having the extra zoom tends to make you want to fill the frame but then you must cut something later. Your camera's weight and balance will change too. Pick a decent tripod that can handle the combined weight of your lens, body, teleconverter, along with flash and extra power systems. A flimsy tripod will show in your 1:1 pixel reviews of your shots. Finally, the 1.2 x magnifier for the eyepiece seems to work really well with this in your optics line to aid in focusing with the extra 1 stop you can not take out of your lens.
This is a quality product from Olympus and extends your flexibility on many lenses, but at a price. If you own a "favorite" lens, this is probably a great add-on but ask around about compatibility first as new lenses are showing up all the time.
Before you buy it look at all your options. I did finally buy it but first I looked at a "better" lens. They were all slower than my existing 50-200mm + 1 stop. It ends up being a 283 mm lens with the OLY teleconverter, so it was the best solution overall. It's not exactly 1.4 but pretty close
I did not like loosing the 1 stop, and I did notice the darker image in the viewfinder as the 1 stop loss is not removed while focusing like any dialed in stops are, but that's the real price you pay you are just more aware of it. I use the converter on about 10% of my shooting with the 50-200 lens when I am outside and have a tripod or inside with a GN 50 flash. Remember it magnifies your movement too so a good tripod helps with the extra weight.
A last couple of notes keep in mind your photo size is 4 x 5.33" and not 4x6 so be sure to zoom out just a bit and leave a boarder for post processing into 4x6 standard prints. Having the extra zoom tends to make you want to fill the frame but then you must cut something later. Your camera's weight and balance will change too. Pick a decent tripod that can handle the combined weight of your lens, body, teleconverter, along with flash and extra power systems. A flimsy tripod will show in your 1:1 pixel reviews of your shots. Finally, the 1.2 x magnifier for the eyepiece seems to work really well with this in your optics line to aid in focusing with the extra 1 stop you can not take out of your lens.
This is a quality product from Olympus and extends your flexibility on many lenses, but at a price. If you own a "favorite" lens, this is probably a great add-on but ask around about compatibility first as new lenses are showing up all the time.
Fujifilm XF 14mm F2.8 Lens Wide Angle Lens
List Price: $899.95
Sale Price: $899.00
Today's Bonus: $0.95 Off
Fujifilm has been on a roll lately and if you're looking for proof, look no further than this lens. I own this lens and the 35mm f/1.4 for my Fujifilm X-Pro1. Everything from the all-metal build to the precise feel of the focus and aperture rings helps justify the $899 price tag. I find it to be very sharp at f/2.8 and extremely sharp at f/5.6. Even the corners at f/2.8 are impressive for a wide angle lens. Focus speed is quick and unlike the 35mm lens, the 14mm focuses internally, so the front element doesn't move in and out. It seems a bit quieter than the 35mm as well.
I previously used Canon equipment, but last year when it came time to upgrade, I noticed some alarming trends in Canon's business model... New lens designs were very expensive for their specifications and bodies had sensors that underperformed relative to the competition. The Fujifilm X system is still relatively new, but if this lens is any indication, it will be a winner.
Highly recommended!
Samsung BD-E5900 3D WiFi Blu-ray Disc Player (Black)
List Price: $149.99
Sale Price: $109.99
Today's Bonus: 27% Off
I just bought the Samsung E5900 Blu ray player yesterday despite not finding a single review of this player online. I bought this mostly for the smart, streaming and integration features and have not had a chance to actually play a movie yet.
Setup
The initial wizard was easy to follow and connect to my Wi-Fi network. Despite this being a fairly new device, it took about 20 minutes to install numerous updates.
Video streaming services
It supports numerous services, but not Amazon Video on-demand. There are apps that you can download to watch MLB.TV and other services. Youtube and Pandora are great.
App store
It has a pretty full app store with a lot of apps. I've only tried Pandora and Facebook and they both work. They have some neat features to link to your accounts through activation codes so you don't have to type in your username and password on a remote.
Allshare
It found my western digital NAS drive and connected no problem.. It played music from the drive and loaded photos with no problem. It plays videos from my Flip Video no problem. Some formats, maybe from an Iphone, were not supported. Samsung found my iPad and PC but I was unable to play from my PC due to no permission and unable to play from my iPad due to no buttons or instructions.
Smartphone / Tablet remote control apps
Very disappointing they just emulate the remote that comes with it with not a single added benefit. You don't get a keyboard on any (iPad, iPhone, Android) to help with app searches or youtube. I would really like it to even give feedback right on your device so that you don't have to always look at the screen while using the remote app. Time warner has apps like this to program your DVR. I also often got an error that the remote app couldn't connect. If it does connect, you do need to use the regular remote to approve using the app remote.
Samsung SwipeIt (their version of airplay)
I was extremely disappointed to find out that this doesn't support SwipeIt despite being a new model. Apparently it's only for Samsung TVs?
Disc to Digital Streaming Service
It comes with the device, but is not yet supported. Samsung provides no timeline or info other than coming in 2012.
Ultraviolet Streaming
Also coming soon...
2D to 3D upconversion
Not included.
Full web browser
Works surprisingly well. It's very cumbersome to type in web address, searches or navigate (all would be nice with a smartphone app that worked better). It can display every webpage I tried well and could be great for showing a website to a crowd.
Smartphone integration
The Apple TV for $99 lets you show your iPad screen on your TV so I don't understand why Samsung can't do the same for their Galaxy line and their "Smart" devices. I didn't find a single advantage to owning a Samsung Galaxy and Samsung Smart Blu Ray.
Speed
The device was painfully slow especially when you are used to modern smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc. Most commands take a few seconds to process.
Size and Weight
It is very compact and light which is great.
Overall
I have a hard time recommending the device given the lack of integration. The whole point of a smart device is integration. For now you'd be better of getting the cheapest 3D blu-ray player you can find (probably around $70) and then spending $49 on a Roku or $99 on an Apple TV.
Apple MacBook Pro MD318LL/A 15.4-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)
Let me start with the good:
So awesome. Great OS, fabulous improvements to the existing line bumping up the processor speed and adding the thunderbolt port. This is my second MacBook. The first one I had was a 2006 model, not the Pro. I fell in love with it. This one has had the same effect. I had upgraded my old MacBook to Lion, so I kind of knew what I was getting, but hadn't been able to enjoy some of the awesome new multi-touch features. The improvements to the OS have been relatively gradual, but substantive. The feel of this machine compared to the old MacBook is far superior. The Unibody construction is solid, sleek and beautiful. It is everything I'd hoped it would be from a look and feel standpoint, but somehow a bit more sturdy.
For the not so good, I got the stock screen which is VERY glossy. I mean ... REALLY glossy. It's still beautiful and has better color reproduction than I could ever expect from a notebook. The reflectiveness of the display is only a minor inconvenience if you work in a controlled-lighting environment like me (I prefer it dark) or if you can crank up the brightness.
My real problem with it? The statement of 7 hour battery life is not just mere exaggeration -it's a lie. I challenge anyone to show proof that through anywhere near normal use can get more than 2.5 hrs out of it. I've got the brightness all the way down to just one notch above 'off' and the keyboard backlight off. The first full charge of this battery got me only about 2 full hours. Enabling the battery timer is useless. The "Time remaining" goes from 4 hours plus to less than 2 hours over the span of about 10 minutes. It's a joke. It's so bad that I'm thinking I only got half a battery or something.
I have an extended battery on a Dell notebook that gives me 7.5 hrs of regular use, and had an extra "slice" battery that attached to a Compaq elitebook that gave me 7-8 hrs. I know what 7 hrs of battery looks like. This ain't it.
My only other complaint is that it gets really hot. There's a reason they aren't called laptops. :-)
If you buy this don't go into it expecting 7 hrs of battery life, and you'll be perfectly satisfied.
All that being said, I think I'm done buying Windows PCs.
UPDATE:
With the help of some responders to my original review, I am seeing much better results from the battery close to 5 hrs + of normal use. Leaving the original text of the review intact, but updating the rating to the 5 stars the product deserves. I'm extremely satisfied. Very happy Mac owner. :-D
So awesome. Great OS, fabulous improvements to the existing line bumping up the processor speed and adding the thunderbolt port. This is my second MacBook. The first one I had was a 2006 model, not the Pro. I fell in love with it. This one has had the same effect. I had upgraded my old MacBook to Lion, so I kind of knew what I was getting, but hadn't been able to enjoy some of the awesome new multi-touch features. The improvements to the OS have been relatively gradual, but substantive. The feel of this machine compared to the old MacBook is far superior. The Unibody construction is solid, sleek and beautiful. It is everything I'd hoped it would be from a look and feel standpoint, but somehow a bit more sturdy.
For the not so good, I got the stock screen which is VERY glossy. I mean ... REALLY glossy. It's still beautiful and has better color reproduction than I could ever expect from a notebook. The reflectiveness of the display is only a minor inconvenience if you work in a controlled-lighting environment like me (I prefer it dark) or if you can crank up the brightness.
My real problem with it? The statement of 7 hour battery life is not just mere exaggeration -it's a lie. I challenge anyone to show proof that through anywhere near normal use can get more than 2.5 hrs out of it. I've got the brightness all the way down to just one notch above 'off' and the keyboard backlight off. The first full charge of this battery got me only about 2 full hours. Enabling the battery timer is useless. The "Time remaining" goes from 4 hours plus to less than 2 hours over the span of about 10 minutes. It's a joke. It's so bad that I'm thinking I only got half a battery or something.
I have an extended battery on a Dell notebook that gives me 7.5 hrs of regular use, and had an extra "slice" battery that attached to a Compaq elitebook that gave me 7-8 hrs. I know what 7 hrs of battery looks like. This ain't it.
My only other complaint is that it gets really hot. There's a reason they aren't called laptops. :-)
If you buy this don't go into it expecting 7 hrs of battery life, and you'll be perfectly satisfied.
All that being said, I think I'm done buying Windows PCs.
UPDATE:
With the help of some responders to my original review, I am seeing much better results from the battery close to 5 hrs + of normal use. Leaving the original text of the review intact, but updating the rating to the 5 stars the product deserves. I'm extremely satisfied. Very happy Mac owner. :-D
AmScope 40X-2000X Full-Size Professional Research Grade
List Price: $3,050.00
Sale Price: $552.98
Today's Bonus: 82% Off
This microscope is a very excellent piece of equipment all the controls are professional and very accurate. The magnification varies between 40 power 2000 power it depends on the lenses. I bought this for a hobby and I couldn't be more thrilled it is very clear and I don't believe I could buy a better microscope for the price anywhere amscope is an excellent company and they build very good equipment.
Sony VAIO Tap All-in-One Touchscreen SVJ20215CXB 20-Inch Desktop
List Price: $999.99
Sale Price: $819.99
Today's Bonus: 18% Off
First: The hardware
I have been in computing for my entire career (35+ years) outside a stint in the military. I have watched as computers continually shrunk while their power has continually increased. I still clung to the notion of a minitower as the basic unit of computing until this arrived i was able to clear a mid size tower out of my bedroom and take up less space with this unit than my previous monitor.
It is every bit as functional indeed it is speedier than the older tower was. Very solid build not something you would normally disconnect and trek with you through your house but with a built in battery (that supposedly lasts 2-3 hours) this unit can be picked up and transported to show visitors or other people things you want them to see without their need to trek into my bedroom. Very solid build, and very snappy performance although serious gamers might not be satisfied needing that millisecond advantage on their opponents.
Sony provided usb ports, etc. that are eminently useable and this unit can be expanded with peripherals (not quite to the extent of a minitower with expansion slots) but certainly more expandable than most people would want or need. Five stars for build quality and performance. Five stars to amazon fast delivery and decent price.
2. Windows 8
Regarding Windows 8, I honestly didn't think I'd like it much but I really, really like the new interface it's so easy to jump from desktop to metro to desktop app to metro app i am going to sell my ipad2 it really is a clunker compared to Windows 8 of course one has to have a basic windows experience behind them to appreciate the integration of metro/ipad style apps with a windows desktop but I guess I qualify there. Corner hovers with mouse or side/top swipes allow the easiest navigation that I could imagine. For experienced windows users there are a few irritating moments when you know exactly what you want to do but haven't a clue how to do it usually corner hovers with a mouse or taps bring up menus that contain the items you're searching for such as task manager. Use google liberally at first to find how to do what you want within 30 60 minutes you will have mastered the vast majority of those things you tended to do on windows in the past and the metro apps are such a bonus, cheap ( I haven't spent a cent yet ) and in the case of the included mail app so much nicer than a traditional windows experience. well done Microsoft!
3. Response to Other reviews:
Regarding slow response (unit vs Windows 8) in prior review I have not experienced this myself the unit is crisp and responds quickly to swipes or mouse clicks and app processing is normal one possibility might be using wireless in a weak spot but I quit using wireless after configuring my machine and moving it to the bedroom where it has a gigabit wired connection.
Regarding hang-ups losing apps / data as stated by another reviewer. I have not experienced this at all it is solid and runs perfectly haven't needed to reboot since I finished configuration about two weeks ago. Perhaps a defective unit that needs replacement? Amazon will accomodate this quickly also if done right after a purchase (I think within 30 days).
Olympus Tough TG-830 iHS (Red) + Floating Strap + Battery + 16GB
The camera takes great pictures. It let's you take photos while your video taping an event.
When you do this, it does use up a lot of battery power, so always have a backup battery power up.
This is not the regular AA or AAA battery that it uses. Its a square battery. When you turn off the camera, the GPS is still tracking its location, it is an option can be turned off. Not exactly sure where the GPS tracking is attached in the photo.
There are lot of stuffs that came in the bundle.
When you do this, it does use up a lot of battery power, so always have a backup battery power up.
This is not the regular AA or AAA battery that it uses. Its a square battery. When you turn off the camera, the GPS is still tracking its location, it is an option can be turned off. Not exactly sure where the GPS tracking is attached in the photo.
There are lot of stuffs that came in the bundle.
Fujifilm XF1 12 MP Digital Camera with 3-Inch LCD (Brown)
List Price: $449.95
Sale Price: $449.00
Today's Bonus: $0.95 Off
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I'm a camera nut. I use my 5D MKIII and 7D to make a living. I've also gone through a variety of compact cameras. I always carry a camera, and unless I'm specifically out on a shoot, I don't want to lug abound my big camera and lens. My camera of choice has been the Panasonic Lumix ZS20 14.1 MP High Sensitivity MOS Digital Camera with 20x Optical Zoom (Black), and for the price it's still a great camera. The Fujifilm XF1, although it has lower resolution, has now replaced it. Two words: Sensor size.
This uses a much larger sensor than your standard point and shoot 2/3 of an inch. For a point and shoot/compact/pocket camera, it's unusual. True, more and more manufacturers are producing cameras with larger sensors, and eventually DSLR's (large cameras with mirrors) will be replaced by mirrorless models. For now, I love my DSLR and really, really like the XF1. There are a lot of things to like. The larger sensor means that more light is captured and the pixel quality is superior. Result better low light photos and crisper, better quality photos. A 12mp camera with this large sensor will produce images with better quality than even an 18mp camera with one of those teeny sensors.
Example sensor sizes:
Standard compact camera: 3.2 x 2.4 mm (7.68 mm surface area) and 4.8 x 3.6 mm (17.28 mm surface area)
Panasonic Lumix ZS20 6.08 x 4.56 mm (27.724 mm surface area)
Fujifilm XF1/: 8.8 x 6.6 mm (58.08 mm surface area)
Canon 7D: 22.3 x 14.9 mm (332.27 mm surface area)
OK, so I take this thing out of the box. It is very retro. My GF's comment "It looks so old that nobody will bother stealing it..." The controls seem minimal, but there are more than you first realize. This is the first camera I have found that is impossible to turn on without step by step instructions. There's a decal on the camera explaining it (poorly.) There's a mini guide to turning it on. There are several pages in the manual. It's clever, but it's something Rube Goldberg could have dreamed up. Twist the lens. Pull the lens out. Twist it again. We have power! Since the lens has a manual zoom (yes, a manual zoom), when you zoom out (go wider) you can accidentally turn the camera off. Bizarre. It's like the Nostromo self destruct mechanism on the original Alien movie.
The external controls are varied on top we have the popup flash (feels cheap), a function button (Fn so small it's easy to miss), the shutter release and the selector dial. On the back are two dials, a rocker and four buttons. This camera has so many features that several levels of menus are needed. This makes if difficult to find features. But and this is rare on this type of camera you have three custom function buttons. You can set the camera up the way you want, then save this configuration to a custom setting. Three different configurations. That's something some DSLR's don't even have.
When it comes to my DSLR, I shoot manual. I'm happy to see that the camera has a full manual mode, in addition to the many other modes. The auto-focus is near instant, the image quality amazing. Granted I've only used it for a day (shot around 200 photos and did not kill the battery.) I'll have it in my pocked for a while and will use it almost every day I'll update as I gain more experience with it. Features? Exposure bracketing. Flash bracketing. Panorama stitching and even more.
After a day of using this camera I am impressed. I did add a screen protector (I have a bunch on hand that can be cut to size) as the screen is plastic and I hate scratched screens. I also have a bunch of small camera bags on hand. Tried a few of them, finding that the Case Logic TBC-312 Pocket Video Camcorder Case with Storage (Black) fit perfectly.
The camera stores photos in two formats: RAW and jpg. RAW is also called a "digital negative" RAW format is RAF. Photoshop and Lightroom support it. Jpg file, Fine: 1.3 to 2.2 meg each image. RAW format 19 to 21 meg (numbers vary depending on colors and detail.)
RAW and JPG has an image resolution of 4000x3000 pixels. If you use some of the special "pro" effects (pin focus, etc.) the image size drops to 2816x1221 pixels. Panorama size is 11520x1080.
Apart from the case you'll also need an SD card. A proprietary battery is included, as well as a charger, USB cable and wrist strap.
OK, so who (whom?) is this camera for? The serious amateur would be happy. The pro looking for a more portable pocket camera would like it (but no interchangeable lenses). A beginner may be overwhelmed at first, but just use full auto and you're all set. It a camera that someone with limited (or no!) camera experience can use, then grow into as skills improve. It has all the features you'd ever want. A pro or serious amateur will be surprised at the feature set. You'll have several "oh it does that?!?" moments.
11-26-2012: Been toying with the video. I love high speed video. The XF1 shoots 70fps at 640x480, 120fps at 320x240 and 200fps at 320x112.
Effects can be "stacked" (my term). For example, if you set the film type to B&W, turn on bracketing and shoot you'll get three B&W shots.
Battery the battery drains when in the camera, even if the camera is off. The battery died in-camera. Put it away with 1/2 power. Two days later it was dead. So check and charge the battery before using! Have also been noticing more of the attention to quality for example, the SD card slot. It's metal lined, not plastic. Plus even if you try you can't slide the SD card lock switch up. That's a GOOD thing. I have four other compact cameras. Another Fuji, a Panasonic, a Kodak and a Sony. You have to be cautious with all of them slightly angled and the lock switch slides up, and your photos can't be saved. You need to remove the card, unlock, and replace. There is also SOME internal memory. You can capture a few images, but not enough to replace even the smallest memory card. But it's better than nothing if you forget to put in the memory card and discover this once you're away from home.
Fellowes 3229901 PowerShred 99Ci 17 Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder
List Price: $588.48
Sale Price: $219.99
Today's Bonus: 63% Off
We have owned two previous small business class shredders. This is our third. Without any doubt, it is the best shredder I have ever used/owned.
I bought this to replace our reliable Fellowes DM15C Shredder. That unit still works great, but my toddler son now has the dexterity and strength that would theoretically allow him to open up the sliding plastic CD/Credit Card sheild that served as the main barrier between his little hands and the powerful shredding mechanism. Also, after watching one of our cats activate the shredder twice in the past week while using it as an intermediate step to the office window, it seemed like a problem waiting to happen.
SAFE-SENSE (Every Shredder Should Have This)
The main thing I liked about the SB-99Ci is the Safe-Sense technology that shuts off the shredding blades when a hand (or any other body part) gets too close to the blades. In addtion to the no-brainer step of powering the thing off when I am not around, this technology looked like a very good backup protection to ensure that my young son retains all of his fingers until adulthood.
The Safe-Sense technology is extremely effective. I did not realize that it works by detecting fingers etc. when they come into contact with the metal trim that surrounds the shredder mouth (I thought the trim was just decorative...but it is functional). This is an extremely reliable detection method (i.e. vs/ tryng to detect motion or heat) and IMMEDIATELY shuts down the shredder if it is operating, or prevents it from operating at all if it has not started up yet. There is even a nice little LED indicator that lights up when the Safe-Sense shutoff is triggered, so it is very easy to test it out from time to time. Of course, there is a well hidden switch (that requires positive effort to adjust) that allows you to disable Safe-Sense if you don;t want/need it, but I can't think of any good reason that anyone would want to do that.
OTHER NICE STUFF
While Safe-Sense was the primary motiviation for this purchase, I also really liked the clean and simple styling of the unit, and was very pleased to see that it has a good build-quality when I received it in-person.
Another pleasant surprise is how QUIET this thing is when it is operating. The motor is so quiet that the main thing you hear while it is doing its job, is the actual sound of the blades pulverizing whatever you are feeding into it. The motor is a low-level (and low frequency) drone in the background. I thought our previous Fellowes shredder was quiet, but the SB-99Ci puts it to shame.
The designers of this unit also added some enhancements that, although not totally neccessary, are very nice to have. For example, the strip of unique LED indicators on top of the shredder is great to have. Our previous unit had a single indicator for "bin-open" and "bin-full" which forced you to do limited investigation to figure out why it was lighting up. The SB-99Ci lets you know EXACTLY what is going on with an intuitive sybmol that lights up. Finally, the little progressive "efficiency graph" is neat to watch, although I doubt I would ever use it to optimize my shredding throughput, which is purportedly what it is designed for.
If you are looking for an attractively designed, well built, easy-to-use, and most importanly SAFE shredder for your home or small business, the Fellowes SB-99Ci is an excellent choice.
Sony HDR-PJ760VE HD 96GB Flash Memory - PAL - Camcorder
Bought for my brother in law, camera is light has tons of options to modify and full auto if you want.Great image stabilization.Great low light performance and great sound that suprised me most.Fits in his hand well.Camcorder powers up when you open up LCD or pull out viewfinder, nice feature.He is very happy with it and so am I.Projector was a WOW factor.
Adorama was great to ship it well packed in 2 days as promised.
Adorama was great to ship it well packed in 2 days as promised.
Nokia C6-01 Unlocked GSM Phone with 8 MP Camera, 720p Video
List Price: $379.00
Sale Price: $159.93
Today's Bonus: 58% Off
Surely you have read all reviews about this phone (GsmArena, PhoneArena, etc).
I want to emphatize just a few aspects that could help you decide:
1I was looking for a state-of-the-art cell (touch), but size is very important to me: I don't like iPhone or Galaxy-S size. I need to put my cell in my pocket, and operate it with just one hand; that's the first reason to buy Nokia C6-01;
2Quality: there is no people that could give you an opinion against the very good quality of this phone;
3Symbian is TOTALLY customizable: I understand Android could give you a very "update able" impression, but Symbian is too.
4I am a middle-age professional (44). Big hands, lot of work, very internet-dependent (for work), and travelling a lot by airplane. I need a cell phone to get email mainly through wifi networks, but I really do not have too much social-related activity (Tweeter, Facebook, and so), so I doubted when reading a lot of reviews referring to this aspects. I can tell you that customization is total: you can decide to put every icon related to screens as you want. I've cleaned my screens and setup the icons I needed.
5Connectivity in this cell is absolutly easy and user-controlable.
6Installing Ovi Apps is an easy and error-free process. I've installed Opera Mobile (it works like a rock!), Skype, a better calculator, QR barcode reader, etc.
7I've setting up my Hotmail account and a Gmail-corporate account without any problem: they are living in my cell exactly in the way they should be: each inbox separated from the other, and syncronizing just when I want (over wify or data operator link).
8Camera is VERY good. Of course it is not a full Nikon with a telex, but the photos are great for such a device;
9-Windows application to manage the phone is great. It works like a charm, easy installation, and very high quality presentation. I can control every aspect of the cellphone (You can even type and read sms in real-time using this app, provided your C6-01 is connected through usb cable !), do backups of your data, contacts, messages, and so.
10It is beautiful and very stylish. I've bought the silver one (it's very metallic: not "plastic-metallic"). Screen is REAL black, and touch operation is perfect.
So, I'm very happy with this purchase.
I hope this help you.
Samsung UN46C8000 46-Inch 1080p 3D 240 Hz LED HDTV
This TV is absolutely stunning. I was actually waiting for the C9000 to come out, but that TV's price is way over the limit. I found out that this TV which is the next step down and actually has the exact same technology as the C9000 minus the touchscreen remote (which can be bought seperately) and the slim profile, not a big deal considering the TV already looks beautiful and is half the price or less then a C9000!
In all honesty, I think this TV has one of the nicest pictures I've ever seen. One example is the pin-point dimming, which has garnered a lot of criticsm and skeptisism. I have seen the production TV model live and I must tell you, I think it's better then local-dimming and I'll tell you why... Unless there is a new panel that is made to fix the local-dimming "halo affect", this is currently the only way to get outradgeous contrast levels without that problem. The pin-point dimming on this TV dramatically lowers the dark spots on the screen in certain area's without a halo affect and actually goes completely pitch black when watching movies with dark screens just like a local-dimming TV. I think this TV actually excels at the dimming part over a local-dimming TV because it creates supurb black levels without any halo affects. That's a huge deal for me. Next is the color accuracy of this panel, I think the whites and colors on this TV are probably better then I've ever seen. Sure Plasma's can sometimes have better color temperatures, but they will not pop out of the screen with ambience like this TV shows. This TV is sharp looking and beautiful and it displays wonderful 3D and High-definition like never before.
Last, but not least... this tv is LOADED with features, easily making it one of the most feature rich TV's there is on the market. It's completely wireless, has 4-hdmi conenctions, has internet applications and streaming capabilities and best yet, it does it well! I have done a lot of research and have compared this TV with it's newest competitors and this one is it. Don't just take my word for it, go see it for yourselves and you'll just see what I am talking about.
In all honesty, I think this TV has one of the nicest pictures I've ever seen. One example is the pin-point dimming, which has garnered a lot of criticsm and skeptisism. I have seen the production TV model live and I must tell you, I think it's better then local-dimming and I'll tell you why... Unless there is a new panel that is made to fix the local-dimming "halo affect", this is currently the only way to get outradgeous contrast levels without that problem. The pin-point dimming on this TV dramatically lowers the dark spots on the screen in certain area's without a halo affect and actually goes completely pitch black when watching movies with dark screens just like a local-dimming TV. I think this TV actually excels at the dimming part over a local-dimming TV because it creates supurb black levels without any halo affects. That's a huge deal for me. Next is the color accuracy of this panel, I think the whites and colors on this TV are probably better then I've ever seen. Sure Plasma's can sometimes have better color temperatures, but they will not pop out of the screen with ambience like this TV shows. This TV is sharp looking and beautiful and it displays wonderful 3D and High-definition like never before.
Last, but not least... this tv is LOADED with features, easily making it one of the most feature rich TV's there is on the market. It's completely wireless, has 4-hdmi conenctions, has internet applications and streaming capabilities and best yet, it does it well! I have done a lot of research and have compared this TV with it's newest competitors and this one is it. Don't just take my word for it, go see it for yourselves and you'll just see what I am talking about.
StackShot Automated Macro Rail Package, US AC Adapter
This macro photography automated rail system adds a new dimension to those of us who do macro photography. The company that produces this product is very helpful and prompt when responding to user questions. I highly recommend this product and company to anyone who is eager to enhance their macro photography efforts and appreciates quick assistance from company technicians when questions arise. I can't speak highly enough about the support I've received from this company or the quality of pictures I've been able to take using their product.
Dell Inspiron 14" Laptop (2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 2450M Processor
I read 3 or 4 computer websites about the Dell Inspiron 14z before purchasing on Amazon, and my experience is in line with those reviews. (I ordered the model with i5 processor/6 GB of RAM). My family has several other Dell Inspiron 14-inch laptops; this is our first 14z. (And Dell, if you're reading this, I really wanted to buy another 14R, but the switchable lids make it feel cheap. It's a computer, not a toy). Anyway, back my review:
Good:
Lightweight and thin, yet sturdy
Very good processor speed (probably worth getting the i5)
Accessible keyboard
Three USB ports
Bright, clear screen
1 year of McAfee
Windows 7
Could be better:
Port covers are not necessary and get in the way
The mouse buttons take a lot of effort to "click" (and as such, I would not recommend this computer for a small child)
Does not have the Power DVD software common to previous Dell laptops I've purchased
And, unfortunately, includes a lot of software you probably won't want. The first 30 minutes of using this computer was a struggle among all the various "helpful" programs all simultaneously expecting to be registered, activated and/or updated. A "Nero" program was particularly annoying and could not be turned off, only minimized; I wound up uninstalling it altogether.
Surface areas easily show fingerprints
I would have liked to add the optional backlit keyboard, but it is only available on the top-of-the-line 14z model for $200 more
All in all, a good value, and I estimate I saved $60 buying from Amazon rather than direct from Dell.
Good:
Lightweight and thin, yet sturdy
Very good processor speed (probably worth getting the i5)
Accessible keyboard
Three USB ports
Bright, clear screen
1 year of McAfee
Windows 7
Could be better:
Port covers are not necessary and get in the way
The mouse buttons take a lot of effort to "click" (and as such, I would not recommend this computer for a small child)
Does not have the Power DVD software common to previous Dell laptops I've purchased
And, unfortunately, includes a lot of software you probably won't want. The first 30 minutes of using this computer was a struggle among all the various "helpful" programs all simultaneously expecting to be registered, activated and/or updated. A "Nero" program was particularly annoying and could not be turned off, only minimized; I wound up uninstalling it altogether.
Surface areas easily show fingerprints
I would have liked to add the optional backlit keyboard, but it is only available on the top-of-the-line 14z model for $200 more
All in all, a good value, and I estimate I saved $60 buying from Amazon rather than direct from Dell.
Samsung SC-HMX10 8GB Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder
I reviewed this camcorder on another camcorde site, but not alot of people peruse that site, so I thougt I would post the review here as well.
I didn't purchase this camcorder from Amazon, (but only because someone got it for me as a gift from another store) but when I was looking for advice on this camcorder it was hard to find.
I'm putting my review here in hopes that it helps someone who wants to buy this camcorder but cannot find any helpful reviews on this camcorder, because it's so new.
Here it is....
Okay, since the place that the camera was bought from has a great return policy, I thought I would open it up to see just how good or bad it was.
Let me say that I am by no means qualified to compare pixels, low light, etc etc etc...my review is based on my being a father and amateur that just wanted a easy point and shoot camcorder that records pictures and movies in great quality.
Upon opening this camera, let me say that it's the smallest thing I've ever seen. It would fit into a fabric sunglass bag (oakleys), that's how small it is.
I shot movies outside in full sunlight and inside during the day and the movies came out great!
I also tried to shoot in low light situation and it worked pretty good as well. I have nothing to compare it to, but whatever I shot looked pretty good.
I also tried it at night time and this is where it was kinda weak. Alot of details couldn't be seen, but being that it was Christmas, I took it to our local city hall and shot the surrounding decorations and I could see everything on my t.v.
The night time shooting is decent if there is sufficient ambient light. I did notice that when I shot video in almost complete darkness (streetlights only) I couldn't make out any details. The zoom was plenty fast and most of all (to me anyway) the performance was great.
Overall, picture quality was AWESOME....I don't know where the other reviewers (especially on Amazon) are shooting their videos but I was very impressed with my video quality.
Now, this doesn't say that it's perfect.
There are some definite flaws to this camera.
The battery for one. The battery will (according to the manual) shoot for about 20-30 minutes with all the zooming and stuff. I shot for about 10 minutes and I had no problems, but if I had to shoot all day without a spare, I wouldn't be happy about it. I thought that this was way too short. I wouldn't have minded so much if they sold an extended life battery but they don't (heck you can't even find a spare battery for sale, anywhere!)
Also, to take a picture, you have to push a button and switch from Video mode to Picture mode, and this takes approximately 1-2 seconds to switch over. I really didn't like that feature.
Since I don't have a high Definition dvd player, I had to hook the camcorder to my t.v. to watch the movies in hi-def and to do this, you have to open the lcd screen and plug the cables into the side of the camera.
The unfortunate thing about this camera was the format in which it records to. I have to agree with a lot of people that this new hi def format is a killer for most computers. I have a PIV 3.2 with 2 gigs of ram and while trying to make a movie in hi def, my computer would lock up and take forever to process the movie. However, if you convert it back to SD using the cyberlink software that is provided, you will notice that it looks almost as good as the hi def with half the processing time.
Since this is the format that most hi def camcorders are using, I don't see how anyone can fault Samsung for it.
So here are my pros and cons for this camcorder;
Pros;
Size....fits in the palm of my hand and it's super light
Performance/video quality....awesome, great quality
Cost....about 300 dollars cheaper than the Canon I'm going to get in the future
Media...records to a 8 gb internal memory or you can use sd cards to record to
looks....looks cool
Ease of use...touch screen, easy menus, point and shoot, perfect for those that don't want to have to learn how to use a gazillion different functions just to take videos of their kids...
Cons;
Battery...small, does not last, and unable to find xtra batteries
Photos...unable to take snap shot during video recording..takes too long to switch over
Use..ridiculous that you have to open LCD just to hook up cables to t.v.
Requirements...not the cameras fault, but still, I'm unable to watch the videos I shot on my computer and you will need a newer computer just to process the data. This HI Def format is great, but I would wait a bit for more support for it.
Would I recommend it...heck yeah! BUT....only if your computer can handle the processing (unless you just want to convert it to SD, then it doesn't matter). For the money and for what it can do, it's a great little camera.
Did I keep it...No, but only because of the fact that my computer obviously couldn't handle the files and since I don't have a high def dvd player (yet) I didn't want to keep plugging the darn thing into my t.v. just to watch it in hi def. The battery life was a small factor as well. My friend has a Sony hdd camcorder and he has an extended battery on it that will last for almost 4 hours (he says so) and that makes me want one that will last that long as well.
I'm going to wait until the support for hi def is more readily available and I also wanted the capabilities to record for longer than 1 hour without having to buy a bunch of SD cards...a hdd camcorder will not incur any additional costs to do so.
Eventually, I will buy a hi def camcoder, and who knows, in the future maybe I'll buy this one again if the price drops and more parts are available for it...i.e. batteries..
Hope this insight helps someone who is considering this camcorder, because it really is a cool little camcorder that records videos well.
Thanks for everyones advice on this matter...
I didn't purchase this camcorder from Amazon, (but only because someone got it for me as a gift from another store) but when I was looking for advice on this camcorder it was hard to find.
I'm putting my review here in hopes that it helps someone who wants to buy this camcorder but cannot find any helpful reviews on this camcorder, because it's so new.
Here it is....
Okay, since the place that the camera was bought from has a great return policy, I thought I would open it up to see just how good or bad it was.
Let me say that I am by no means qualified to compare pixels, low light, etc etc etc...my review is based on my being a father and amateur that just wanted a easy point and shoot camcorder that records pictures and movies in great quality.
Upon opening this camera, let me say that it's the smallest thing I've ever seen. It would fit into a fabric sunglass bag (oakleys), that's how small it is.
I shot movies outside in full sunlight and inside during the day and the movies came out great!
I also tried to shoot in low light situation and it worked pretty good as well. I have nothing to compare it to, but whatever I shot looked pretty good.
I also tried it at night time and this is where it was kinda weak. Alot of details couldn't be seen, but being that it was Christmas, I took it to our local city hall and shot the surrounding decorations and I could see everything on my t.v.
The night time shooting is decent if there is sufficient ambient light. I did notice that when I shot video in almost complete darkness (streetlights only) I couldn't make out any details. The zoom was plenty fast and most of all (to me anyway) the performance was great.
Overall, picture quality was AWESOME....I don't know where the other reviewers (especially on Amazon) are shooting their videos but I was very impressed with my video quality.
Now, this doesn't say that it's perfect.
There are some definite flaws to this camera.
The battery for one. The battery will (according to the manual) shoot for about 20-30 minutes with all the zooming and stuff. I shot for about 10 minutes and I had no problems, but if I had to shoot all day without a spare, I wouldn't be happy about it. I thought that this was way too short. I wouldn't have minded so much if they sold an extended life battery but they don't (heck you can't even find a spare battery for sale, anywhere!)
Also, to take a picture, you have to push a button and switch from Video mode to Picture mode, and this takes approximately 1-2 seconds to switch over. I really didn't like that feature.
Since I don't have a high Definition dvd player, I had to hook the camcorder to my t.v. to watch the movies in hi-def and to do this, you have to open the lcd screen and plug the cables into the side of the camera.
The unfortunate thing about this camera was the format in which it records to. I have to agree with a lot of people that this new hi def format is a killer for most computers. I have a PIV 3.2 with 2 gigs of ram and while trying to make a movie in hi def, my computer would lock up and take forever to process the movie. However, if you convert it back to SD using the cyberlink software that is provided, you will notice that it looks almost as good as the hi def with half the processing time.
Since this is the format that most hi def camcorders are using, I don't see how anyone can fault Samsung for it.
So here are my pros and cons for this camcorder;
Pros;
Size....fits in the palm of my hand and it's super light
Performance/video quality....awesome, great quality
Cost....about 300 dollars cheaper than the Canon I'm going to get in the future
Media...records to a 8 gb internal memory or you can use sd cards to record to
looks....looks cool
Ease of use...touch screen, easy menus, point and shoot, perfect for those that don't want to have to learn how to use a gazillion different functions just to take videos of their kids...
Cons;
Battery...small, does not last, and unable to find xtra batteries
Photos...unable to take snap shot during video recording..takes too long to switch over
Use..ridiculous that you have to open LCD just to hook up cables to t.v.
Requirements...not the cameras fault, but still, I'm unable to watch the videos I shot on my computer and you will need a newer computer just to process the data. This HI Def format is great, but I would wait a bit for more support for it.
Would I recommend it...heck yeah! BUT....only if your computer can handle the processing (unless you just want to convert it to SD, then it doesn't matter). For the money and for what it can do, it's a great little camera.
Did I keep it...No, but only because of the fact that my computer obviously couldn't handle the files and since I don't have a high def dvd player (yet) I didn't want to keep plugging the darn thing into my t.v. just to watch it in hi def. The battery life was a small factor as well. My friend has a Sony hdd camcorder and he has an extended battery on it that will last for almost 4 hours (he says so) and that makes me want one that will last that long as well.
I'm going to wait until the support for hi def is more readily available and I also wanted the capabilities to record for longer than 1 hour without having to buy a bunch of SD cards...a hdd camcorder will not incur any additional costs to do so.
Eventually, I will buy a hi def camcoder, and who knows, in the future maybe I'll buy this one again if the price drops and more parts are available for it...i.e. batteries..
Hope this insight helps someone who is considering this camcorder, because it really is a cool little camcorder that records videos well.
Thanks for everyones advice on this matter...
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!