Yongnuo Speedlite YN560 Flash for Canon, Nikon Cameras

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $99.99
Sale Price: $59.99
Today's Bonus: 40% Off

I haven't shot enough with it to determine consistency, but I'm pleased so far. Flash is a bit large for the output, but it is still decent. I did some test shots and was getting f8 at 18 ft. This tells me that the GN is just about 144. The specs put it at just 58. (Maybe that was supposed to be meters and not feet). This is almost as good as I got from the Sunpak PZ42XC at full on manual.

Build is similar to the Sunpak flashes. Swivel and bounce feel no less solid and click into place just fine without shifting. The built in diffuser AND mini bounce card are nice although small. My sunpak PZ42XC doesn't have that. There is a PC sync and a power supply connection on the side which my sunpak doesn't have either. Then there is the optical slave which works well with two levels of sensitivity and of course my sunpak lacks that as well.

With all of that said, this flash isn't for just anybody. This is just a plain dumb manual flash without TTL or even a thyristor. THERE IS NO AUTO FUNCTION. If your intent is to use this as a camera mounted flash for candids, forget it unless you know how to manually setup for every shot by adjusting your aperture as needed. It is not intended for that purpose.

The flash came with a base that has a threaded hole in the bottom so it can be mounted to a stand. It would do a terrific job providing fill or backlight capability. It swivels 180 degrees and straight up so bouncing into an umbrella or through a diffuser while the slave sensor faces forward for a stationary photo shoot are ideal uses of this flash. So is placing it behind a subject for a backlight. My Lumiquest gel holder fits very tight due to the large flash head, but it fits.

The controls and lights on the back seem a bit confusing and the manual isn't a lot of help since the translation from Chinese to English is about the same quality as you get from Google translate..... I was able to figure it out but it took some time experimenting with the unit.

Recharge is quick even at full power. I was very impressed. Of course it has less output than the Sunpak and uses the same number of batteries but still, I was pleased.

One other note. When i first tried to turn it on it wouldn't do anything and I was immediately afraid it was DOA. I found that to turn it on, you must hold the on-off button for a couple seconds. When you press it down, the lights on the bar progress from left to right and if you don't hold it down till the lights get to the far right, it just shuts off. Awkward, but easy to deal with if you are aware of it.

Altogether, I'm quite pleased with what I have assuming it lasts a a while. The build seems solid so I'll just have to wait and see. I'm confident enough in the product that I'm going to buy a second one so I can have one for fill and the other for a backlight for impromptu studio shots.

If you need a slave flash with some power and manual controls I really think this is the best thing out there. Almost everything else in this price range is a single power or auto-flash without the ability to make manual output adjustments. You can get this output with no slave, the slave with no manual,or you can spend twice as much. But if you need a speedlight with auto functions for camera mounted shots, get something with auto functions.

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Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

Customer Ratings:

I bought the Samsung LN37A550 from Amazon in mid-May. I comparison shopped for several months, and found that the Samsung is on equal footing as the Sony Bravia XBR-Series KDL-37XBR6 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV and Sharp Aquos LC37D64U 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV models in performance, but (at the time) was more affordable than either. Here's an in-depth run-down of the top-of-the line models from each of those three brands using MY comparison criteria. Hopefully it helps you.

Price

These are prices from Amazon.com (not their "marketplace partners" or whatever they're called). I'd recommend purchasing from Amazon itself, as they offer the free "white-glove" delivery, which means that the delivery company will bring the TV into your house, unpack it, and haul away the packing materials. My TV was delivered 3 days after I ordered it, and many others who reviewed on this site have had the same experience.

Also, keep in mind Amazon's financing offers if you open an Amazon.com credit account see below for more details.

Samsung LN37A550: Retail is $1200. I've watched Amazon's price fluctuate between $1040 and $1200. Today the price is $1064, which is as good as I've seen. In addition, Samsung TVs often have financing deals mine was 1-year, no payments and no-interest financing, and I've also seen 18-month specials.

Sharp LC37D64U: Retail is $1400, and the fact that it was selling for about $1350 a month ago strongly influenced my decision. Today the price is $1016, which may have changed my purchase based solely on the size (Sharp is slightly narrower see below and the Samsung is a REALLY tight squeeze in my space). I have not seen ANY financing deals on Sharp TVs through Amazon pay it all up front.

Sony KDL-37XBR6: Retail is $1500. Today's price on Amazon is $1400 a major consideration (about $350 price difference), but there's also a 36 (read it again, 36) month no interest offer on this TV right now. Minimum monthly payments are required.

Contrast Ratio, Response Time, and Frame Refresh Rate

Keep in mind that different manufacturers use different methods to measure these specifications, so they can not be simply compared using numbers. All I can say is that I viewed them in a couple of different retail locations, and there is little difference in picture brightness / blurring between these models. All are capable of 1080p picture.

Samsung: 15,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and 5 ms response time. 60 hZ refresh rate.

Sharp: 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and 6 ms response time. 60 hZ refresh rate.

Sony: 25,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and unpublished response time. 120 hZ refresh rate. The refresh rate is where the Sony has an advantage over the others. I'm not going to get into it here, but here's a great article from CircuitCity.com explaining refresh rate in clear, simple terms ( All I'll say is that, in-store with a BluRay disc, the 120 hZ setting on a 46" screen looked AWESOME. Some have complained that it produces a "soap-opera" effect. Not being a big fan of soap-operas, I have no idea what they are referring to. Personally, I don't think it's enough of a reason to spend the extra $300+, because of screen size. With a bigger 50"+ screen, your eye will catch blurring across the screen, but on a screen of this size I have never noticed any blurring with my 60 hZ model.

High-Def Inputs

These all have the HD connections below, along with Digital Audio outputs, and other (S-video and composite video, and stereo audio) inputs.

Samsung: 3 version 1.3 (latest) HDMI Inputs (2 in rear, 1 on side), 1 USB input (for viewing JPGs and listening to MP3s), 1 PC input, and 2 component video inputs.

Sharp: 2 HDMI Inputs (Amazon and Sharp's website don't say they are version 1.3, which is supposedly faster and therefore better quality), 1 PC input, and 2 component video inputs. Also has side inputs.

Sony: 4 HDMI Inputs (3 in rear, 1 on side; again, Amazon and Sony don't say version 1.3, but I would think it's GOT to be..... don't know why they wouldn't publish this, though), 1 PC input, and 2 component video inputs.

Sound

Most reviews I have read complain about the Samsung's sound quality (most common in complaint is that the speakers sound "tinny"). I turned off the speakers before I ever hooked the TV up to an input (I've got a surround sound system), so I can't speak to this. I bought the TV for the picture, not the sound, but if that's important to you, read other reviews. I've read a couple of complaints about the Sharp model, but they didn't seem quite so angry as the complaints regarding Samsung, so I'm guessing it's acceptable sound.

Size

Size can be a consideration for many in purchasing a TV of this size. I was space constrained only in width. If you've got space constraints and 37" in width, you might also consider the Toshiba REGZA 40RF350U Super Narrow 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV Super Narrow Bezel, which measures just 36.77" wide. I have not seen it in action, so I can't speak to it's performance, but other Toshiba LCDs that I HAVE seen did not compare to these 3 TVs in picture quality.

Samsung: 36.1 inches wide and 40 pounds with stand (32 pounds without)

Sharp: 35 and 23/64" wide (yes, some people really squeeze that tight) and 45 pounds with stand (39 without)

Sony: 36.3 inches wide and 47 pounds with stand (40 without)

Warranty

All of these TVs have 1 year parts / 1 year labor manufacturer warranties.

Additional features:

Each brand offers their own graphics processing engine that claims to be the greatest thing ever, as well as other features. One interesting feature which is really more of a marketing ploy is connecting other devices made by the same brand to this TV and just being able to use the TV's remote to control that device. For example, buy a Sony TV and a Sony Blu-Ray player, and you can control the Blu-Ray player without reprogramming your remote. Good if you don't want to buy a Universal Remote, but I see it more as a way to get you to buy more components from that brand. Your choice!

So there you have it. I can say with a lot of certainty that you will be pleased with any of these three models, and it's more a matter of preference for a certain brand, pricing sensitivity, and the sound issue that you have to make up your mind. As for me, I couldn't be happier with my Samsung purchase.

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Q-See QC804-1 Digital 4-Channel Network Video Recorder with POE

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $599.99
Sale Price: $533.97
Today's Bonus: 11% Off

I have purchased tons of stuff from amazon over the years, and this is the first time I have felt inclined to write a review, so bear with me. So, right up front, I tried hard to really like this thing. I have been wanting to get it for some time now, as I have two 1080 HD Dahua security cameras (for those that don't know, Q-See cameras and NVRs are just re-branded Dahua), which are great cameras for the most part, but that's a review for another product.

Let me first explain where I was before I got this NVR:

I have been using the FTP functionality on the cameras for about a year now, saving off the video footage to my PC. The problem was that it was REALLY bogging down my system with the constant writing to the secondary hard drive in my machine (the cameras don't have the best motion-sensing capabilities, so I had motion detection set so high that it was almost full-time record) at about 6000Kbps constant bit rate.

This is when I decided to save up for this thing and I was really excited when I got it. My friend (we are both engineers, by the way) had just ordered the 16-channel NVR and seemed to have mixed emotions after about a week's worth of using it. He has 5 Dahua cameras and we both did the FTP thing for the last year or so. I got the 8-channel, because I didn't think I would ever have more than 6 cameras or so.

Now that you know where I am coming from, let me summarize a few points on this thing:

The good:

1. Like any NVR, this thing is completely stand-alone and does a great job recording the video to the disk. It has TONS of options and you can tweak you camera settings from the NVR itself. As far as the recording goes, I couldn't be happier.

2. You can use the "Q-See QC View" iPhone and iPad apps to view the cameras, playback recorded video from the NVR, etc. (more on this later).

3. The model I purchased comes with a built-in 4-port PoE (Power over ethernet) switch, which is VERY handy if you don't already have a PoE switch for your cameras. This necessitates two power supplies (12V for the NVR itself, and 48V for the built-in PoE switch), which are both included, of course.

4. HDMI and RGB output. I have it hooked up to both my TV through HDMI (I am actually using a BriteView wireless HDMI transmitter in there, too and it still works great) and to a secondary computer monitor next to the NVR at the same time and that seems to work great as well, though I have not tried having them both on at the same time, but I don't think that it would make much of a difference.

5. The NVR finds the cameras really easily. If you have the cameras plugged directly into the NVR (using one of the four the PoE ports), it only takes as much time to find them as it takes the camera to boot up. Really easy.

The neutral:

1. A little fan noise. Not something to be TOO concerned with, but the NVR does have a built-in fan that can be a little annoying if you are sitting in the same room as the thing. It's not really loud, but just a little annoying unless you have the NVR tucked away in a server room of sorts, which is what I did.

2. The user interface was obviously designed by engineers (and, like I said, I AM one). It's not SUPER ugly (though they probably could have prettied it up some), it's just hard to navigate through. Like I mentioned above, there are TONS of options for this thing, and they decided to make all of these options available to you, which is good, but can be a little overwhelming.

3. This NVR may change settings on your cameras without warning you. Make sure you have your network settings set up EXACTLY how you want it before you plug your cameras into the PoE switch on the back of the NVR. I was using an external PoE switch at first and found the cameras easily with the NVR on the network. I had them configured with static IPs (192.168.x.x) for easy access. All of that changed when I moved them from my external PoE switch to the built-in switch on the NVR (which has a default gateway of 10.1.1.1). The switch on the NVR is completely separate from the rest of your network. In other words, I had my NVR's IP set to 192.168.0.200, for example. The switch is still in the 10.1.x.x space. So, when I moved my cameras, they were re-assigned a 10.1.x.x IP....and it was static. I couldn't access the cameras directly from my network anymore because they were now on a different network. Sure, I could probably change my subnet masks to be able to access them again, but it was just really annoying. Even after moving them back to my external PoE switch, they were still inaccessible. Just be aware of this.

The bad:

1. Try accessing this NVR from anything but IE and you're out of luck. IE? Really? C'mon, guys! I am even able to access most of the functionality on my Dahua cameras directly with the iPad, but not the NVR? C'mon. Also, you have to have the RIGHT VERSION of IE to be able to have it work smoothly, according to the different forums my buddy read. I am still running IE9, and am worried that if I upgrade to 10 that I might lose all functionality, just like with other browsers.

2. Invisible files? What the...? So, when I was saving off my video to my PC directly via FTP, it saves off the data into files that you can play back with some Dahua software, which was really nice, but has it's own drawbacks, of course. Anyway, Q-See claims that the NVR can save off these data files to your computer, and, when looking through the user interface (with IE, of course), sure enough, you can.....sort of. I, apparently, was not using the correct VERSION of IE to download these files from the NVR to my computer, because as soon as they were downloaded, for the life of me, I could not find them with Windows Explorer. I went back and tried to download the file again, but the Save As dialog showed that it was already there!! What the...? Back to Windows Explorer. Nothing. Do a windows search for the file. Nothing. Back to the Save As dialog? Still there?! That makes no sense! Hidden files? Nope. Permission issues? Nope. I could ONLY access the files locally by right-clicking on them in the stupid Save-As dialog. Perhaps someone can shed some light on this one?

3. Ok, at least I am able to watch the playback from my bed on the iPad....wait, did the app just freeze? Huh. Must have been a glitch. Close the playback window, open it again. Looks like it's playing fine aga---what?! Again?! Over and over and over again, the iPad app freezes during playback (this is not even mentioning the frequent 'out of memory' messages you get from the app on a regular basis, but that also happens in Dahua's IDMSS iPad app -which makes sense -they are essentially the same). And I am not saying it freezes after 5 minutes -try every 10 seconds of playback. Extremely frustrating if you are trying to look for footage from earlier.

The wrap-up:

Overall, this NVR is just not quite ready for prime time. It shows a LOT of potential, and I love that it will record 1080 video from multiple cameras, but accessing the video after it is recorded is just too much. I had hoped there would be firmware updates or something to address these issues, but I am seeing these issues mentioned in posts from a year ago and I still see no new firmware to fix it -after nearly a year of them knowing about the bugs. I am regretfully returning mine to Amazon due to these major flaws. I may just end up buying a NAS and enabling an FTP server on it to store my data. Sad day, indeed. I really wanted to like this NVR.

Oh, and in case you think it might be just my NVR? My friend had the exact same issues with his. It's just not quite ready for prime time. If you have solutions for any of these above issues (and please don't tell me to format the hard drive in the NVR -I've already read about all of that), I would love to hear them! Perhaps I would then keep it after all.

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Samsung SDS-P3040N 4 Channel DVR Security System 500 GB HDD 4

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $699.00
Sale Price: $449.00
Today's Bonus: 36% Off

I selected this camera setup after looking around and learning a little bit. I need 4 cameras so this fit the bill. It is easy to install as long as you don't have any complex wiring runs. I didn't use the included 60ft wires as most of my runs were longer than that so I used bulk siamese RG-59(18-2) and terminated it myself.

The cameras look nice installed and provide decent image quality. The daytime color images and IR night images serve my purpose of just wanting/needing to see what's going on while I'm away. The image clarity meets my needs.

Play back is simple although I have yet to explore most of the setup options or connect to the DVR via the internet.

The DVR runs a little warm, but has worked well so far. (1 month)

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3K 16.05 MP Digital Single Lens Mirrorless

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $1,299.99
Sale Price: $898.00
Today's Bonus: 31% Off

Professional image quality testing has been done, and the verdict is in. This camera beats the Olympus OM-D EM-5... just barely. Image quality off both camera sensors is fantastic and nearly identical, but the GH3 edges out the EM-5 by just a little bit of dynamic range. The EM-5 is a little cheaper, though. Right now, the GH3 is fairly expensive, but what you pay for is the best camera in this format money can buy, and I'm not just talking about image quality.

Other reviews cover a lot of things about image quality and technical specifications, far more in depth than I'll go here. What I want to talk about is handling, video, and the general advantages of the Micro Four Thirds format.

Chances are, if you are considering the GH3 at all, you fall under one of three categories. You are either a serious enthusiast, a professional photographer, or you want to make movies. This is probably not going to be your very first system camera, and it's definitely not a point-and-shoot camera for amateurs. That's not to say the GH3 is overly complicated or unapproachable if you're new to photography, but I should think a cheaper camera would fit your needs fine.

The GH3 is a very special camera, with lots to love for those who love cameras. If you're a serious enthusiast, you should consider the EM-5 as well as the GH3. There are pros and cons for both cameras. I'll let you go read up on the EM-5 on your own, but for the GH3, it has a lot in its favor. Top of the list is handling. The GH3 is the largest camera in the format, this is true, but what you gain in bulk and weight, you also gain in ergonomics. There are lots and lots of physical buttons, five of them customizable, and nearly all of them usable one-handed without any awkwardness. The software is fantastic, too, giving you additional programable buttons on the touch screen, as well as Panasonic's fully configurable Quick Menu. There are tons and tons of options to set to get your camera working just the way you want it to. Everything is very well laid out and fairly intuitive. The dials and control wheels feel solid and work great. Even the largest of lenses balance very well on the GH3, thanks to its weight and best-in-format grip. Don't let its size fool you though, it's only a little heavier than the EM-5. Along with that size comes a very large battery. Technical specs I think are conservative on the lifespan of a charge, too. This is the best camera battery I've ever encountered, letting me shoot far longer than I am used to. All-in-all, the GH3 fits wonderfully in the hand, is very easy to shoot with, and gives you a huge amount of control. If you're an enthusiast photographer or serious prosumer, the GH3 will not disappoint. As an enthusiast, though, you've got plenty of options in the format and you should look carefully at many other models that may be cheaper but still quite satisfying.

If you are a professional, I think you'll appreciate much of the same things enthusiasts do, like what I mentioned above. But there's more in this camera that seems intended just for you. The Wi-Fi "Lumix Link" will let you upload images directly from the camera as you shoot, letting your customers see immediately what you're doing. You can also use it to trigger the shutter remotely or change settings. If wireless isn't your thing, there's an HDMI port and AV port. I have to believe the fully articulated touch screen will let you make difficult shots easy, such as doing macro on a product at a weird angle. The DSLR-type body will be very familiar to you, as well, though this is a mirrorless camera which means it's a much lighter camera than you're probably used to (more on this later). If you work with video at all for hybrid products, the live electronic viewfinder during movie recording will be a welcome change from optical viewfinders. As I mentioned before, the battery is quite large, but if you need more juice and don't want to switch batteries, there's a (sold-seperately) battery grip that will improve handling with portrait shots and give you even more endurance on a shoot. You will probably get some use out of the flash synchro socket and/or hot shoe. The buffer seems to be quite huge, and with a fast card shooting RAW in burst mode, it's very difficult to slow the camera down. There aren't more than a handful of weatherproof lenses for Micro Four Thirds so far, but if you have any the GH3 is weatherproof and will give you a seal to protect your system while you're shooting in wet environments. The camera is built with high quality, solid materials. All-in-all, the GH3 is perhaps the first Micro Four Thirds camera aimed squarely at the professional market, whether or not you've been tempted by the format before. It gives you enormous control, but gets out of your way when you're working. If you are a professional photographer, you are sure to appreciate the design considerations Panasonic made to make this a camera you can get serious work done with.

If you are a videographer, why are you even reading this review? There is simply no better camera for the movie-maker in this price range, and the video quality you'll get off of this camera will surpass hybrid or video-only cameras that cost considerably more. That said, video was one of my primary reasons for getting this camera, so I'll give you the most important details. Of all the codecs you're most likely to use, the six big ones are 1080p 24fps 50Mbps, 1080p 30fps 50Mbps, 1080p 60fps 50Mbps, 1080p 24fps 72Mbps (ALL-INTRA), 1080p 30fps 72Mbps (ALL-INTRA), or 720p 60fps 72Mbps (ALL-INTRA). You have a full-sized 3.5mm (1/8") microphone port, no need for an adapter like with the GH2, and a 3.5mm (1/8") headphone port for sound out while shooting. Of course, the GH3 has a stereo mic build-in. You can set mic levels right on the camera. There's all kinds of options for time code. As a videographer, you may still want to consider the GH2. Video quality is better on the GH3 in testing, even compared to the hacked GH2, but the GH2 is considerably cheaper and the difference in quality may not be enough. If you're a small budget indie filmmaker, choose carefully. All-in-all, if you can afford one, the GH3 out of the box is truly a fantastic video camera and competes at a much higher level for the price. It really puts other cameras to shame, even dedicated video cameras. If you are a videographer, or even a professional filmmaker, this camera has pretty much everything you want.

Which brings me to an important point. This is a hybrid camera, not merely an excellent still camera. For the price of one professional-quality camera, you're really getting two. If you happen to like taking still pictures AND video, the GH3 offers tremendous value. If you're creating hybrid products as a professional, there's really no other single camera that can do as well as this. If you're a hobbyist with interest in both pictures and video, this can save you a lot of money. The GH2 was good, this is better. Micro Four Thirds has finally arrived at the next level, not for stills-only, but for stills and video. If the EM-5 made Micro Four Thirds a serious format for still photography, the GH3 ups the ante and makes the format a viable platform for a whole new market.

Micro Four Thirds is the only truly mature mirrorless camera system. There are other mirrorless systems, to be sure, but Micro Four Thirds has a huge selection of first-party and third-party lenses, low end and high end, covering a huge range of focal lengths and apertures. The diversity of bodies from Panasonic and Olympus means there's probably a good camera for you no matter who you are. When you buy a system camera, it's reassuring to know that you're making a good investment. Micro Four Thirds is not going away any time soon. There's lots of great lenses available, and many more coming out. There's also adapters for many other lens formats, so there is almost limitless legacy glass available for any need, provided you don't mind manual focus. Mirrorless means thinner and lighter camera bodies, and Micro Four Thirds lenses need only half the focal length to achieve the same field of view as full frame cameras which means smaller and cheaper lenses for the same zoom factor. With two companies competing in the same format, there is a lot of innovation and a lot of options for users.

We'll see what happens over the next year from Panasonic and Olympus. New models are due out from both companies, as is the endless march of progress. For the time being, at least, the GH3 is a fantastic camera, and depending on your needs, it may be the best camera in this format for you until the GH4 comes out. Certainly for the moment, it has the best image quality available, and is a great camera to actually use. If you don't need the best that Micro Four Thirds has to offer, there are a lot of other great cameras to choose from in the format.

Happy shooting!

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Samsung LN32B550 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color

Customer Ratings:

I have traditionally been a fan of the Sharp, or Sony TV's, however, I was looking for a TV to fit in a cabinet in my bedroom. I wanted to get the largest one that would fit my space restrictions. The Samsungs, in general, seem to sit lower on their stands than most other brands and really provided the only 32 inch option that would fit my height restrictions. I sure am glad this was the case.

This TV is wonderful. The best part is the picture. It just looks great. The swivel stand is a very nice touch too. I hadn't been looking for it, but it is quite useful as the TV is not directly in front of the bed. The settings and adjustments available are plentiful and adequate. The menus to access them are clean and intuitive.

Another wonderful feature is the energy saving modes. One can set varying levels of energy saving which controls the intensity / brightness of the light for lower power consumption. There is even an auto mode that will adjust the intensity based on what is currently on the screen. This is perfect for the bedroom. When it is late and I am starting to fall asleep I don't like the TV as bright. Energy saving mode is perfect for this and it saves power.

Another feature that I have been wanting in a TV and didn't have until now is a volume moderator. The TV will increase or lower volume automatically to make up for varying source volumes.

The TV seems performant. I haven't had a chance to plug my gaming laptop into one of the 4 HDMI inputs, but with heavy action scenes on TV I haven't seen any ghosting of images. Blacks look black and colors are sharp. No noticable artifacts of any kind.

All in all I am very happy with the purchase.

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Pentax K-5 16.3 MP Digital SLR with 3-Inch LCD (Black Body Only)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $1,099.00
Sale Price: $660.00
Today's Bonus: 40% Off

When the Kx arrived, K7 owners who were more than content with their current bodies coveted the superior high-ISO (low light performance) capability of the Kx. At least I did. And while the K7 was a capable tool, I often found myself compensating for its weaknesses (which were limited to high ISO and autofocus continuous (AF.C) performance). Not so with the K5.

I won't go into the specifications since those can be found elsewhere but I'll give my overall impression what I like and what could be better:

+ Great ergonomics. Love the compact, solid body which is identical to the K7 save for a heightened knob and elongated AF lever. I was even able to use the same split prism focus screen I had purchased for the K7.

+ Fantastic high-ISO performance clean and offering far more flexibility than the K7. I'd try never to breach ISO 800 on the K7 whereas the K5 is routinely pushed past ISO 3200. While I wouldn't give it equal footing to a full frame camera, it's arguably the best APS-C out there in this application.

+ Outstanding dynamic range -shoot in RAW and leave your graduated ND filters at home.

-+ Improved auto-focus, especially AF-C compared to the K7, but not quite on par with either the D300s or 7D in AF-C.

+ User-friendly, easy to navigate menu system white balance adjustments are a breeze.

+ Good WB and JPEGs "out of the box"

-+ Yes, 1080p video but at 25FPS vs. 24 -surely a firmware update in the future

Audio records at 32KHz sample rate

Only has a single SD/SDHC slot would prefer dual with Compact Flash

Limited to 1/180 X-Sync speed but this is ample in most scenarios

Images shot in portrait don't autorotate on playback but did on the K7(?) again, a likely firmware update

+ Blissful near-silent shutter

+ Compatibility with all those great manual K-mount lenses of yore.

Although I'm a long time Pentax user, I considered and evaluated both the Canon 7D and Nikon D300s without bias. While both are outstanding DSLRs, I preferred the Pentax K5.

An all-around excellent camera and a joy to use. A noteworthy upgrade.

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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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Panasonic LUMIX G 20mm f/1.7 Aspherical Pancake Lens for Micro

Customer Ratings:

I recently purchased an E-P2 as a portable option to complement my DSLR setup. I've been very happy with its performance in most respects, however it has no flash and the kit lens is slow; this means that indoor usage results in painfully high ISO and noise that is impossible to clean. That lead me to purchase this lens, which is the fastest thing going for M4/3 currently.

First off, this thing is wonderfully compact. Much thinner than the M.Zuiko 14-42mm kit lens, although a bit bigger in diameter, and it makes the E-P2 even more low profile when it's mounted. It balances well on the E-P2 and it looks right at home to me, even though it lacks the signature PEN silver accents. It has a massive manual focus ring which is a pleasure to use (once you get the hang of the micromotor manual focus mechanism, which it shares with the 14-42).

Unlike the newer, smaller Panasonic Lumix 14mm f/2.5 pancake, this guy has some very large lens caps that make it more bulky than it should be. A lens this size begs to be slipped into a pocket, but the huge caps just get in the way; you might want to look for aftermarket replacements.

As for IQ... well, you can read the charts, but suffice it to say that this is a very good performer. Unlike the M.Zuiko kit lens, this guy is sharp wide open, with perhaps only minor improvements by stopping down. This lens can really show what M4/3 is capable of from an IQ perspective in a way that the kit zooms just can't.

Autofocus is at least as accurate as any other lens I've tried on this body, and low light AF accuracy especially is quite good (thanks, no doubt, to the large aperture). AF speed though is mediocre at best, and it's also a good bit louder than would be ideal. The aperture also makes a very noticeable clicking sound, which is a little obnoxious with the E-P2 (which constantly fiddles with the aperture when you're using live view). Neither focus noise nor aperture noise is a real issue for stills, but they might cause some problems if shooting video with the internal mic.

There is one issue with using this lens specific to Olympus bodies: they don't do the software distortion compensation that Panasonic bodies do with Panasonic lenses. This means that, on Olympus bodies only, light falloff is visible towards the corners when shooting wide open (it goes away by around f/4). In practice it's not much of a problem, and the corners aren't that big a deal in most shots anyway, but if you're a PEN shooter you should be aware of it and stop down accordingly if/when the corners do matter.

I should mention that I also own the Olympus 17mm f/2.8, which many would consider an alternative to this lens. If you're new to photography and you're considering owning only one, I highly recommend the Panasonic, whose aperture advantage and longer focal length combine to give you much better options for DOF control. I still enjoy the Olympus (and indeed, it's even *smaller* than this lens), but I think for most people in most situations this is a better choice.

Bottom line: if you own a m4/3 body without a flash and care at all about low light shooting, stop reading and buy this lens right now. For everybody else, you're presumably here for IQ, f/1.7's narrower DOF, and portability, and on all counts this lens delivers. It's a great all around performer and the cost, although high, is not totally unreasonable for something of this quality.

As a side note, if you're used to 50mm as "normal" from the film era, I think you'll find 20mm quite pleasant; I've shot a lot with my 28mm prime on APS-C, and the Panny 20mm here provides a similar FOV to that.

** Update, 5/21/2010 **

My initial thoughts on this lens have proven to be spot on. This little guy spends much, much more time on my camera than the kit lens; the faster aperture is a godsend, and the smaller size is wonderful for portability. Image quality is impeccable and the light falloff is almost never a problem in real world scenarios. If you only buy one lens for your M4/3 body, make it this one.

** Update, 8/7/2011 **

Panasonic has announced a µ4/3 native version of the Leica-branded Panasonic 25mm f/1.4, which should clock in at about twice the price of this lens. I own (and reviewed) the regular Four Thirds version of that lens, and early accounts imply that the µ4/3 version should be nearly the same optically as its full sized cousin.

The 25mm f/1.4 is certainly better, but not by much; only half a stop faster, barely any sharper, and still suffering from corner softness and vignetting wide open. The focal length is a more traditional normal, which (combined with the aperture advantage) makes it more suitable for isolating your subject, but... at twice the cost and twice the size? Those advantages seem difficult to justify.

As far as I'm concerned, the 20mm f/1.7 here remains the first lens you should buy for a µ4/3 body. It plays to the strengths of the system without breaking the bank.

** Update, 1/23/2013 **

I've finally taken the plunge and purchased both the Olympus OM-D E-M5 and the Panasonic Micro 4/3 25mm f/1.4 to go with it. I can now directly compare this lens to the native 25mm f/1.4.

I can honestly say the 20mm f/1.7 holds up incredibly well. The biggest advantage of the 25mm is probably its autofocus performance, which is both much quieter and somewhat faster than the 20mm (primarily when "hunting," which is when the 20mm slows down). The minor aperture advantage of the 25mm is really not very significant (especially with the E-M5, which has impressive high ISO performance).

Oddly, perhaps, I still end up preferring the 20mm simply due to how much smaller it is. The 25mm is superior, but it's relatively large, which means I'm just less inclined to carry it with me. So if you're considering these two lenses for yourself, you really must decide how much you value portability. The 25mm f/1.4 is "better," but the size difference is real.

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Sony 16 GB Memory Stick PRO Duo Flash Memory Card MSMT16G - Bulk

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $78.99
Sale Price: $46.99
Today's Bonus: 41% Off

At Least two of the Sony Packaged Memory's Pictured here on Amazon are FAKES or COUNTERFITS.

UNUSABLE MEMORY.

The people that make these are taking non-sony generic crap 512's, 1,2,or4 G size chips

and creating very elaborate nearly perfect (looking) FAKES! Zoom in and look very closely

at the model numbers for the 8 and the 16 Gig. In the third and forth images you can plainly see

the fake model numbers I have shown below.

Their numbers do not exist in the True Sony lineup.

for example: MSX-M8GST/X & MSX-M16GST/X do not exist

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Nero 12 Platinum

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $129.99
Sale Price: $53.99
Today's Bonus: 58% Off

Do NOT purchase this product. I purchased it from Nero's web site, as a download. I tried repeated (unsuccessful) installation attempts. Each displayed the number "1158" and no other error text. I then contacted Nero.

I responded immediately, and thoroughly, to their requests for information. Finally, after more than a week without resolution, I reluctantly requested instructions for obtaining a refund.

Nero's exact response was as follows: "Thank you for your e-mail. Please be advised that we are unable to offer a refund, as defined by our terms of trade. These terms were accepted with the purchase of Nero from our website ."

If you have doubts about this review, try searching "Nero error 1158" for countless similar complaints.

I previously owned Nero 7 Ultimate. It was a great product. However, the company has now slid so far downhill that they will not even provide a refund for a product that fails to install.

Following Nero's final response, I immediately contacted my credit card company. They (American Express) were wonderfully helpful. If you purchase the product anyhow, and encounter similar issues, I suggest you also contact your credit card company.

This is the first time I've seen a product that fails to install. Further, the one or two complaints I've had, in the past 25 years, have been dealt with professionally. Even companies consisting entirely of a single developer have responded more appropriately. To see a company, like Nero, behave so unprofessionally is truly disappointing...and unexpected.

I truly hope they revise their approach towards customer service and return to their previous excellence.

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Canon PIXMA MX512 Wireless Color Photo Printer with Scanner

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $149.99
Sale Price: $70.99
Today's Bonus: 53% Off

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Nine month update:

After nine months of use, this printer has not stood up well to the test of even light household printing tasks. It is chronically afflicted with difficult-to-clear paper jams and print cartridges require regular alignment/nozzle cleaning. Consider other options for your all-in-one printing needs.

Original review follows below:

-----

Overall --and especially at the nicely discounted price as I write this review-this is a decently performing all-in-one. No major issues noted with any of the print, fax or copy functions. However, I was not able to use the scan functions using either WiFi or ethernet connections. Attempts at both yielded error messages from the scanner software that simply provided a laundry list of all possible problems ("the printer is not connected to the network...") while doing nothing to diagnose the actual problem. These disappeared and scanning was successful when I used a USB cable instead of either wireless or ethernet connectivity for scanning. Go figure.

PROS:

-Relatively easy set-up. Although documentation is limited to a quick start guide for printer unpacking and set-up, the printer offers sufficient additional detail both from its own LCD menu display and from the included utility software.

-Copy and fax functions are simple and intuitive.

-Double sided printing is possible without having to manually turn the paper over...yes!

-Easily adjustable paper guides.

-Relatively quiet operation free of harsh printer head movements.

-Satisfactory text and photo hardcopy quality.

CONS:

-Unable to scan via ethernet or Wifi; had to use a USB cable to complete scan jobs.

-Limited scanner output options (.jpg or .pdf).

-Scan to email option supports creating attachments direct to Outlook only.

-Complicated menu options for switching between wired and wireless network options.

-Glossy black surface is dust and fingerprint magnet.

IF you have a non-negotiable requirement to scan via an wireless or ethernet connection, then this all-in-one may not be for you. But if you're willing to default to a USB connection: at this price, it's hard to go wrong.

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Goal Zero 42005 Sherpa 50 Silver/Black Solar Recharging Kit

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $509.99
Sale Price: $319.95
Today's Bonus: 37% Off

I live in Florida, so there is plenty of sunshine. I bought this kit directly from Goal Zero when the new Sherpa 50 first became available (for more than $100 more might I add). I have absolutely no regrets about buying this kit. I use the Nomad 13 solar panels daily to recharge my cellphone. I have a Samsung Galaxy S3, and set my phone out in the morning around 8 AM with around a 65% charge on my phone. By 11:30 AM my phone is close to fully charged. The solar panel even charges on cloudy days, although I usually get only a 90-95% charge. On absolutely rainy days, I use the Sherpa battery to charge my phone. I use approximately 20% of the battery to charge it from 50 to 100%. I have used the battery to recharge a 2nd gen iPad as well as power tool batteries (using the included 12V adapter). I can charge the iPad directly from the solar panels, but it took about 3/4 of the day, rotating the panels periodically. Considering it took me only ~4 hours to fully charge the Sherpa battery, it makes more sense to recharge the iPad directly from the battery than from the solar panel. Even though the new Sherpa is about 1/2 the weight of the old one, I would not recommend using this on casual hiking trips, as it still weighs more than 1 lb. with the solar panel plus the battery plus the inverter. For me, the whole point of hiking is to get way from everything, so I only take my phone for emergencies. I leave the tablet and other electronics behind. I use it on car camping trips and around the house, and couldn't be happier.

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 12.1 MP Rugged/Waterproof Digital Camera

Customer Ratings:

I am a serious photographer and I usually shoot with a pro Nikon camera. I purchased this camera because I did not want to expose my pro Nikon to the elements, and this camera is wonderful for that purpose.

I have added some sample shots for you to judge the quality for yourself. I have to agree with other reviews that the GPS function is ok at best. I have found that I need to be in clear view of the sky for the GPS to find the current location. I have noticed that while the GPS is searching, it really uses lots of battery power. I now geotag a few photos and then turn off the GPS to save on battery power.

In strong light, the camera sensor washes out some images... I would like to see a feature to allow for strong backlight as well.

It is very easy to put your finger in front of the lens by mistake.

If you use a Mac, the AVCHD (30 min recording at a time) mode does not play, I have to A) convert the file or B) set the camera to HD (10 min recording at a time) mode.

I have dropped the camera from 5 feet or so into the sand where it was 75% buried, I found that I needed to rinse the camera off under running water to get all the sand out before I opened the door. No damage or issues with this.

I have operated the camera in 20 degree weather for hours with no issues.

I have operated the camera in 90 degree weather for hours with no issues.

I love that I can simply push a button to start and stop the recording process.

If you have some basic knowledge of photography, you will be able to use all of the different available settings to your benefit. If you simply want to point and shoot, keep the camera in the iA mode and this will work out fine for you.

I really like the night shot mode because it allows me to hand hold the camera.

Overall, I really think that this camera is a very good buy, given all that it can stand and the places I can take it without having to worry about it. No the photos quality is not A+, but I am also not exposing a camera that costs thousands of dollars to the elements. I have in fact recommended this camera to other friends. I am enjoying this camera and I think you may enjoy it as well...

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Plantronics Voyager Legend Bluetooth Headset - Frustration-Free

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $99.99
Sale Price: $70.23
Today's Bonus: 30% Off

UPDATE (Oct 2013)

Thought I'd add to my experience a year on from the last review.

It seems the headsets dont hold up like they used to. I had 3 of these all of them have died on me. Let me explain -

1. Each of them start with the same issue callers on the other end say I sound like Im really far away. The only option is to turn off the headset and use the phone instead.

2. Calls randomly drop off from the headset and transfer back onto the phone

3. Battery life has dropped over time.

I wish this experience was just me but its happened to my wife's headset as well. After replacing my own with a second unit I've come to the conclusion that these headsets dont hold up in the long run.

Hope this helps someone out there.

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

I've owned Plantronics headsets all the way from the glorious Discovery 640 days; moving on to the 975, Voyager PRO +, PRO UC+, UC V2 & M50.

I work as an IT consultant and attend many conference calls through the work day and sometimes require 2 headsets to keep going Not that I'd like to; but even the best battery life these headsets offer fall short sometimes.

For anyone coming from a Platronics Voyager Pro series line of headsets :

HARDWARE:

Feels much better this time around. Im sure there are a few out there who may have this problem the tip at the end of the boom mics of previous Voyager Pros use to shaped like a bulb (sort of...) and since the tips are made of metal its easy to dent them if you accidentally place a heavy object on it. I've managed to do this on two of my headsets cos I threw them in with my laptop charger while getting into flights. The headsets continue to work fine but the body is damaged. The Legend headset addresses this issue by giving the boom a smooth psuedo-cylindrical design

The call button has moved to the back of the boom mic as well takes some getting used to; but better cos I dont accidentally end calls when trying to adjust it on my elephant ears.

The Volume control has been changed to give a more 'toggle/rocker' like feel as compared to the old headsets where the volume buttons used to be flush with the piece that goes behind the ear. You can be rest assured that you'll be doing volume control a lot more efficiently with the Legend

I'm not sure if this applies for everyone; but the reduction in size and weight of the new headset is definitely a blessing for those (like me) who wear glasses.

Ear Gels Same as before; this is one aspect I dont really like about plantronics headsets cos they never seem to fit snug in your ear. While they more than make up for this flaw (in my opinion) with excellent volume levels and clarity; I wished they would come out with a design thats close to the in-ear buds you get on stereo headsets these days they could just copy the earbuds on their own new Backbeat Go models.

Mute button finally. The bottom of the boom mic comes with a dedicated button you can use for voice commands. This button can also be used to control Mute On/Off while on a call. This is a HUGE improvement as compared to Plantronics old approach where you'd have to press both the volume control keys to mute on/off. I'd never get it right most of the time cos of the issue with the buttons that sit flush with the headset (refer comment on that above) and I'd have to control mute from my handset to achieve this.

SMART APPS -

The apps that come with the headset arent much to brag about. The battery meter for one; is now available on Android. This used to be an iPhone exclusive feature.

Voice based answer/rejection of calls This is 50/50. I found that I had to yell "ANSWERRRR!!!" at the headset for it to pick up my voice and answer a call for me. This is really strange cos this headset now comes with 3 microphones instead of two and still cant hear me??? To validate this further I tried speaking to the caller at the same raised pitch I used to "answer" the call and they said I was talking way too loud or seemed agitated. Makes me think this is a software issue then cos the phone can definitely hear me; it doesnt seem to process the actions well enough.

Smart sensor Works much better that the original Pro UC +. The original went bad so quickly that Plantronics pulled it off shelves before ppl knew it and replaced it with V2. I've had them replace my headset because of the sensor issues on the original. They launched the Voyager PRO HD next which was actually the stabilized version.

BATTERY LIFE Offers the best battery in the market in my opinion. I've tried to wander off to other brands to check if I were missing on something and I've tried headsets from Motorola and Jabra. My most recent test was the Motorola Elite Sliver cos I wanted a break from the boom mic and thought the simple behind ear-concealed design was an excellent idea. I returned it in a week cos I faced issues with dropped calls, callers asking me to "speak up", faster battery drain, etc.. Granted that it did come with a charging case, but the charging case didnt hold that much charge either and drained itself pretty quickly if not used. So I went back to my UC V2 and waited till this one came out. Ive been using it without re-charging for two days and I'm at 50% o I believe the 7 HR talktime claim.

Charging the proprietary new charging connector by Plantronics may send a lot of loyal customers in the opposite direction. But I genuinely believe they did this out of consumrs best interest cos of the really tiny usb ports. Like I said, I need upto 2 headsets on some day and plugging it in for charge is one of the many things I do while multitasking and I really do feel relieved when the headset latches itself to the magnetized charger. I do agree with other reviewers that it is a concern as well cos you're now stuck with a single cable and cannot charge as easily with just any micr0-usb cable as before. You can love it or hate it its purely a consumer thing.

Bluetooth 3.0 they've advanced on the tech here; so it should instantly improve on call quality and battery consumption. The call quality has always been solid for me on all previous Voyagers so I cant say its improved much but I wouldn't doubt it either. Most mew smartphones come with Bluetooth 4.0 nowadays that means lower energy consumption. If Plantronics were to integrate this and launch a flagship that looks like the Motorola Elite Sliver, sound like the Plantronics Legend, weigh as much as the Plantronics 975 I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

But like I said they prefer to get better; step by step.

Hope this helps someone out there.

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Epson VS220 SVGA 2700 lumens color brightness, 2700 lumens white

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $359.99
Sale Price: $329.99
Today's Bonus: 8% Off

(#1 REVIEWER) Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program

The Epson VS220 is a budget priced LCD projector that provides a very good level of performance for its price.

This is a 3-LCD projector. Just a few years ago you'd have paid at least two times as much money to get a projector with similar performance. So right off the bat, this is giving you a lot of bang for the buck.

It's compact, light in weight and has an ease of connectivity that makes it easy to use.

With Inputs galore, you're able to hook up 4 video sources at the same time and easily switch between them with the provided remote or directly from the projector using the control panel on the top of the projector.

Inputs:

HDMI

USB-type A

USB-type B

S-Video

VGA

During my review I had two laptops (one PC, one Mac) hooked up using the VGA and USB port and I also had a GoPro Hero3 Black connected and shooting live video. All three sources were easily projected by the Epson VS220.

Connecting both my PC and Mac were super easy. For the PC, running windows 8, it was a simple matter of connecting the VGA cable to the projector. That's all I had to do. The Projector instantly recognized the PC and connected to it.

Connecting to the Mac was only slightly more involved. As soon as I connected my Mac to the projector using a USB cable (not provided) the Epson projector installs a USB driver to the Mac to enable future plug and play capability. Once the instllation of the driver was completed in about 15 seconds, it was ready to go.

Connecting my GoPro Hero 3 was also ridiculously easy. I simply connected a HDMI cable from the GoPro to the projector, turned on the GoPro and video was sent to the Epson which I could then view on the projector screen.

The Espon VS220 performs pretty well even in fairly bright rooms. Being a SVGA resolution, it's going to have some pixelation which won't make it completely ideal for use as a home theater projector,.,. but it will work and satisfy many people for that use. As a business presentation projector I think it will shine. Although it does not come with a carry bag of any sort, that's easy enough to rectify. It's easy to setup, light to carry and will server that purpose well.

I really like that the projector does not need to cool down by running the fan when you're done. Simply turn it off, pack it up and be gone. The lamp life is rated to up to 5000 hours so it will work for a good long time before needing a replacement lamp.

The fan was noticeable but not what I would call loud by any stretch of the imagination. The internal speaker, as most are, was not very good. Especially in a large room, it will sound quite anemic. If sound is critical, you'd be much better off getting a portable wired or bluetooth speaker of some sort and using your PC to provide the sound to the portable speaker.

Another great feature that is not unique to this projector but appreciated nonetheless is the ability to run slideshows from simply hooking up a USB flash drive to the projector, no PC required.

I like this projector and think its a great buy.

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Panasonic AW-HE50HN - network camera

Customer Ratings:

does everything a pro camera should do with remote or computer computer control...it even pans diagonally!...there isnt much more needing added above the top specifications it comes with...60 frames per second is a must...no blurr here...and the zoom will capture the nose hairs on your neighbor from a house away...simply a well designed unit...yes a bit on the expensive side...but considering it has no competition...they got me

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