Everything you could ask for in a super zoom kit. I captured a great pic of the full moon shortly after purchase(just before Easter 2010). The lens is a bit heavy, but for the price it is worth it. Get a great tripod to take the weight and keep it steady for great pictures. This is not a lens you would use for "quick" photos. It does take a little time to adjust focus on a motionless object. I am an amature photographer and I've figured it out pretty quick, so I imagine just about anyone can get a quick understanding of this lens. Go out and have fun taking picures. You might be suprised like I was when I could see the craters on the moon so clearly in the pic I took. Enjoy!
Showing posts with label canon slr camera best price. Show all posts
Showing posts with label canon slr camera best price. Show all posts
Canon XL-H1A 3CCD HDV High Definition Professional Camcorder
The XL H1 is a great camera, used with outstanding results by videographers around the world. If you have the budget and need the professional features not found on the XH A1, this camera is a great choice.
Just in response to the review below, this camcorder records conventional HDV 60i, the identical format to that found on any Sony, JVC, or Panasonic camcorder. This footage can be played on any camera or deck supporting HDV.
The reviewer refers to 24F and 30F, which are ADDITIONAL formats Canon has developed for their XL and XH series camcorders. 24F in particular is an amazing format, allowing Canon to provide a true 24p framerate at a fraction of the cost of other codecs.
If you wanted to use the 24F or 30F formats, and needed to shoot on more than one camera, the other camera could shoot on conventional 24p and be edited in the same timeline within Final Cut. But you may as well stick with Canon, as I do and as does Patrick Moreau of Still Motion. Highly recommended.
Just in response to the review below, this camcorder records conventional HDV 60i, the identical format to that found on any Sony, JVC, or Panasonic camcorder. This footage can be played on any camera or deck supporting HDV.
The reviewer refers to 24F and 30F, which are ADDITIONAL formats Canon has developed for their XL and XH series camcorders. 24F in particular is an amazing format, allowing Canon to provide a true 24p framerate at a fraction of the cost of other codecs.
If you wanted to use the 24F or 30F formats, and needed to shoot on more than one camera, the other camera could shoot on conventional 24p and be edited in the same timeline within Final Cut. But you may as well stick with Canon, as I do and as does Patrick Moreau of Still Motion. Highly recommended.
Nikon Coolpix L110 12.1MP Digital Camera with 15x Optical
(#1 REVIEWER)UPDATE: 1/11/2011 Because there are so many comments asking the same question I decided I should add this to the beginning to save you agony. This camera is poor in low-light and not the greatest for taking shots of kids running around or in situations where you need to quickly take multiple shots. Having said that, this camera has an absolutely amazing zoom, optics are top notch, macro mode is incredible and great video recording is possible as well. I've taken thousands of beautiful photos with this camera. You need to work with this camera and it will reward you handsomely. But read through as many comments as you can because there is a lot of discussion that may interest you. And now on to my original review...
I have two types of cameras that I generally use, small point & shoots, like the Canon Canon PowerShot SD600 6MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom for "take anywhere" convenience and DSLR's which for me currently is the Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
If you have any questions about the camera, leave a comment and I'll do my best to answer you. Please note that I have updated my review with some additional observations on 3/29/2010 based on my continued experiences with the camera.
I wanted to get a camera that was SDHC compatible (the SD600 is not SDHC compatible, while the D300 uses CF cards) so that I could use the Eye-Fi wireless card Eye-Fi 4GB Share Video SDHC Wireless Flash Memory Card EYE-FI-4SV with it. I've had excellent results with small Canon point & shoot cameras over the years but the Nikon L110 caught my eye and I decided to buy it. It is substantially larger than the svelte Canon SD600, yet much smaller and lighter than my D300. It's called a "bridge" camera by some people since it has some qualities reminiscent of a DSLR at the expense of being as small and pocketable as a typical "point & shoot" camera. Consequently, depending on where you are on the scale of novice to professional photographer and how pocketable you need your camera to be, this camera may either thrill you or leave you wanting something else. I'm somewhere in the middle.
There is a lot to like about this camera. It has a very nice feel in the hand and the rubberized grip makes you feel secure holding the camera. The large 3" LCD display is gorgeous... it is bright, sharp and has excellent dpi not normally found in a camera of this price range. It also works quite well outdoors due to the fact that it has an anti-reflective coating on it. However the camera lacks an optical viewfinder which I do miss as I am more accustomed to using a viewfinder than not. The lack of a viewfinder is not a deal-breaker for me though. 12.1 megapixels gives you ample file size to make huge enlargements or lots of room for cropping. And the awesome zoom, from the 35mm equivalent of 28mm-420mm gives you an amazing range. It's not normally even possible to hand-hold a camera and expect a very sharp image if you are zoomed to 420mm, or even 300mm, but with the great VR and Motion Detection incorporated into the camera, you can actually hand-hold at that extreme and get usable images. I was impressed with that. If you use a tripod at those extremes, then be sure to turn off the VR or you will get poor pictures. This is always the case with electronic VR... you never want to use it when also using a tripod since it is intended to compensate for your hand shake and when you're on a tripod, there is no hand shake to correct so it is not necessary or desirable to have VR on.
The L110 has a minimal number of buttons and control pads which makes it a very approachable camera to use. Of course, the downside to that is you need to delve into the menu to get to some other features or controls that you may want to fiddle with. Again, coming from the D300, I found this a bit frustrating but someone more used to a point & shoot might not mind or even think about that as much.
What I like specifically about the camera is that I can take stunning photographs with little thought. Using the default "easy auto mode" lets you get started taking photos with little to worry about. Just frame your subject and press the shutter button. But you may not want to keep the camera in that mode all the time because it does come with some limitations that you need to be aware of. Easy Auto Mode automatically determines what you are trying to accomplish then sets the "scene" to what the camera thinks is the appropriate setting... it may not always be correct. And I noticed that auto-focus may not always work correctly especially when trying to shoot closeup images in easy auto mode. So in those cases you can switch to "auto mode" or manually select the "scene" to the mode you specifically want, such as "close-up, portrait, landscape, backlight, etc"
The macro mode on this camera is excellent. You can get as close as .4 inches from your subject and this is fantastic if you are into macro photography. I will post some sample photos in the customers images area for you to see.
I like that the camera can be turned on directly in playback mode simply by pressing the playback button instead of the on/off button. The advantage to doing this is that if you just want to view photos/videos on the camera, the lens remains retracted. Otherwise if you turn the camera on using the on/off button, then press the playback button, the lens first extends then goes into playback mode.
The flash does not automatically flip up when needed like some cameras of this style. That's not a bad thing, just something you need to know. If the camera determines that flash is necessary, it does display a message on the LCD screen informing you to "Raise The Flash."
The buttons on the back of the camera only require a very light touch. At first this annoyed me a little bit as they felt overly "touchy". But I quickly grew accustomed to the lighter touch and now must say I like it.
Video quality is very very good, especially in outdoors and well-lit situations. Low light results in more grain than I would like to see, but since this is not a dedicated video camera, nor expensive, it is acceptable. The audio recorded in video mode (stereo by the way) is very good too.
UPDATE: I've been using the movie mode more extensively since my original review and have changed my opinion of the audio and video quality. The low light performance of video recording is not very good at all and results in -verynoisy (grainy) video. I've also noticed a significant muffled quality to the sound that is especially noticeable when just a persons voice is recorded. Recording where the ambient noise levels are high, such as when outside, masks this somewhat. But when recording video in more quiet surroundings, a single sound source such as voice will present the distortion, hiss or whatever you want to call it, at much more noticeable levels and is not what I would call good quality at all. On a scale of 1-10 I'd have to rate the audio quality about a 4. There is no capability to attach an external mic, nor would I expect that for a camera in this price range. The audio quality is quite disappointing to me now though, especially when compared to my Canon SD600 that has extremely clear, distortion free (mono) audio. Finally, I also heard some zoom induced mechanism noise while zooming and recording video.
One feature that really appeals to me is the "small picture" option. If you take a lot of photos that eventually end up on the web, you can have the camera make a smaller sized copy of any photo that you have taken... either 640x480, 320x240 or 160x120. I find this really helpful because if you take your original photo at a lower resolution, then that's what you're stuck with forever. But with this feature you can take your photos at the highest resolution then have the camera make a re-sized copy of the photo at the resolution you specify. I build websites so this is very helpful for me as I don't have to spend as much time in Photoshop resizing photos destined for the web.
There are a slew of other features, such as "blink warning", automatic red-eye fixing, smart-portrait mode, sport continuous mode (pretty cool feature that will take up to 20 continuous photos at 11.1 fps) and even more. Regarding the Sports Continuous Mode; this mode reduces the image quality/size to a maximum of 3Megapixels and is not going to give you razor sharp images that you would get in other modes. But consider it's purpose... to get a shot that would otherwise be nearly impossible using this level of camera. It takes a burst of photos to enable you to hopefully get a decent action shot out of a series of shots taken at a moment in time. The ISO is also increased to 640 in this mode which does inject more noise into the final image. This is common to small sensor cameras such as this. You really want to keep the ISO at as low a value as possible to reduce "noise" in the photo. Increasing the ISO increases the sensitivity of the sensor and this is what causes the increased noise... think of it as distortion when you turn the volume up to high.
I'd have to write a book to cover all the features in detail. But one more feature that I'll mention is Panorama Assist which is handy when composing a series of shots intended to be a panorama. It provides a ghost image of the previous shot to help you align the next shot you want to take in your series of photos destined to be a panorama.
Nikon includes several software titles including Panorama Maker Pro by ArcSoft. I was happy with the results that Panorama Maker Pro produced; it was easy to use and flexible in what you can do with it.
Battery life is quite good. The camera uses 4-AA batteries, either alkaline, Ni-MH, or lithium. That makes it convenient if you have dead batteries since AA batteries can be purchased anywhere. Proprietary batteries often provide longer life, but once they're dead, so are you if you don't have a charger or second charged battery with you.
A few issues for me with the camera is that I am frequently wanting to manually focus the camera and that is not possible. Another issue is that other than setting ISO and exposure compensation, there is little else you can manually do to control the camera. You cannot manually set the shutter speed or aperture. Concerning ISO, when it is set to 3200 or 6400 the image mode settings are limited to 3 megapixels 2048x1536, PC 1024,768 or VGA 640x480.
Overall I like the Nikon L110 quite a bit. The photos are excellent and HD video is a nice extra although you won't be too happy with lower light video quality and the audio capabilities are not the best. It strikes a nice balance between a simple point & shoot camera and a larger and substantially more expensive DSLR. It's a product that because of it's price point, will not meet everyone's expectations. If you desire excellent video from this camera, you'd be better off spending more and getting something that is video-centric. If you view this as predominantly a camera that also has the ability to take video, then you'll probably be OK with this. If you are expecting this under $300 camera to also excel at taking movies with awesome audio, you will not be happy. Concessions will have to made at this price point.
UPDATE: 4/4/2010Just a brief update regarding battery life using plain old Alkaline batteries. I took over 300 photos plus 20-30 movies of varying length and did quite a bit of viewing before the batteries died. That's not bad for regular Alkaline batteries. Consider also that I am also using the Eye-Fi wireless SDHC card in the camera that automatically uploads any photos or movies through my wireless network so that is also putting a drain on the batteries. Without the card, I would expect even better battery life than what I've reported. You'd get much longer life with Lithium and of course rechargeable NiMH batteries would probably be the best long-term bang for the buck.
UPDATE: 4/22/2010I've uploaded a few video snippets from the L110 on YouTube. Just search for "Nikon L110 Video Sample". They will not win any Academy Awards for cinematography but just a really quick indication of video quality. Sorry for the wind noise, but it was quite breezy outside.
I have two types of cameras that I generally use, small point & shoots, like the Canon Canon PowerShot SD600 6MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom for "take anywhere" convenience and DSLR's which for me currently is the Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
If you have any questions about the camera, leave a comment and I'll do my best to answer you. Please note that I have updated my review with some additional observations on 3/29/2010 based on my continued experiences with the camera.
I wanted to get a camera that was SDHC compatible (the SD600 is not SDHC compatible, while the D300 uses CF cards) so that I could use the Eye-Fi wireless card Eye-Fi 4GB Share Video SDHC Wireless Flash Memory Card EYE-FI-4SV with it. I've had excellent results with small Canon point & shoot cameras over the years but the Nikon L110 caught my eye and I decided to buy it. It is substantially larger than the svelte Canon SD600, yet much smaller and lighter than my D300. It's called a "bridge" camera by some people since it has some qualities reminiscent of a DSLR at the expense of being as small and pocketable as a typical "point & shoot" camera. Consequently, depending on where you are on the scale of novice to professional photographer and how pocketable you need your camera to be, this camera may either thrill you or leave you wanting something else. I'm somewhere in the middle.
There is a lot to like about this camera. It has a very nice feel in the hand and the rubberized grip makes you feel secure holding the camera. The large 3" LCD display is gorgeous... it is bright, sharp and has excellent dpi not normally found in a camera of this price range. It also works quite well outdoors due to the fact that it has an anti-reflective coating on it. However the camera lacks an optical viewfinder which I do miss as I am more accustomed to using a viewfinder than not. The lack of a viewfinder is not a deal-breaker for me though. 12.1 megapixels gives you ample file size to make huge enlargements or lots of room for cropping. And the awesome zoom, from the 35mm equivalent of 28mm-420mm gives you an amazing range. It's not normally even possible to hand-hold a camera and expect a very sharp image if you are zoomed to 420mm, or even 300mm, but with the great VR and Motion Detection incorporated into the camera, you can actually hand-hold at that extreme and get usable images. I was impressed with that. If you use a tripod at those extremes, then be sure to turn off the VR or you will get poor pictures. This is always the case with electronic VR... you never want to use it when also using a tripod since it is intended to compensate for your hand shake and when you're on a tripod, there is no hand shake to correct so it is not necessary or desirable to have VR on.
The L110 has a minimal number of buttons and control pads which makes it a very approachable camera to use. Of course, the downside to that is you need to delve into the menu to get to some other features or controls that you may want to fiddle with. Again, coming from the D300, I found this a bit frustrating but someone more used to a point & shoot might not mind or even think about that as much.
What I like specifically about the camera is that I can take stunning photographs with little thought. Using the default "easy auto mode" lets you get started taking photos with little to worry about. Just frame your subject and press the shutter button. But you may not want to keep the camera in that mode all the time because it does come with some limitations that you need to be aware of. Easy Auto Mode automatically determines what you are trying to accomplish then sets the "scene" to what the camera thinks is the appropriate setting... it may not always be correct. And I noticed that auto-focus may not always work correctly especially when trying to shoot closeup images in easy auto mode. So in those cases you can switch to "auto mode" or manually select the "scene" to the mode you specifically want, such as "close-up, portrait, landscape, backlight, etc"
The macro mode on this camera is excellent. You can get as close as .4 inches from your subject and this is fantastic if you are into macro photography. I will post some sample photos in the customers images area for you to see.
I like that the camera can be turned on directly in playback mode simply by pressing the playback button instead of the on/off button. The advantage to doing this is that if you just want to view photos/videos on the camera, the lens remains retracted. Otherwise if you turn the camera on using the on/off button, then press the playback button, the lens first extends then goes into playback mode.
The flash does not automatically flip up when needed like some cameras of this style. That's not a bad thing, just something you need to know. If the camera determines that flash is necessary, it does display a message on the LCD screen informing you to "Raise The Flash."
The buttons on the back of the camera only require a very light touch. At first this annoyed me a little bit as they felt overly "touchy". But I quickly grew accustomed to the lighter touch and now must say I like it.
Video quality is very very good, especially in outdoors and well-lit situations. Low light results in more grain than I would like to see, but since this is not a dedicated video camera, nor expensive, it is acceptable. The audio recorded in video mode (stereo by the way) is very good too.
UPDATE: I've been using the movie mode more extensively since my original review and have changed my opinion of the audio and video quality. The low light performance of video recording is not very good at all and results in -verynoisy (grainy) video. I've also noticed a significant muffled quality to the sound that is especially noticeable when just a persons voice is recorded. Recording where the ambient noise levels are high, such as when outside, masks this somewhat. But when recording video in more quiet surroundings, a single sound source such as voice will present the distortion, hiss or whatever you want to call it, at much more noticeable levels and is not what I would call good quality at all. On a scale of 1-10 I'd have to rate the audio quality about a 4. There is no capability to attach an external mic, nor would I expect that for a camera in this price range. The audio quality is quite disappointing to me now though, especially when compared to my Canon SD600 that has extremely clear, distortion free (mono) audio. Finally, I also heard some zoom induced mechanism noise while zooming and recording video.
One feature that really appeals to me is the "small picture" option. If you take a lot of photos that eventually end up on the web, you can have the camera make a smaller sized copy of any photo that you have taken... either 640x480, 320x240 or 160x120. I find this really helpful because if you take your original photo at a lower resolution, then that's what you're stuck with forever. But with this feature you can take your photos at the highest resolution then have the camera make a re-sized copy of the photo at the resolution you specify. I build websites so this is very helpful for me as I don't have to spend as much time in Photoshop resizing photos destined for the web.
There are a slew of other features, such as "blink warning", automatic red-eye fixing, smart-portrait mode, sport continuous mode (pretty cool feature that will take up to 20 continuous photos at 11.1 fps) and even more. Regarding the Sports Continuous Mode; this mode reduces the image quality/size to a maximum of 3Megapixels and is not going to give you razor sharp images that you would get in other modes. But consider it's purpose... to get a shot that would otherwise be nearly impossible using this level of camera. It takes a burst of photos to enable you to hopefully get a decent action shot out of a series of shots taken at a moment in time. The ISO is also increased to 640 in this mode which does inject more noise into the final image. This is common to small sensor cameras such as this. You really want to keep the ISO at as low a value as possible to reduce "noise" in the photo. Increasing the ISO increases the sensitivity of the sensor and this is what causes the increased noise... think of it as distortion when you turn the volume up to high.
I'd have to write a book to cover all the features in detail. But one more feature that I'll mention is Panorama Assist which is handy when composing a series of shots intended to be a panorama. It provides a ghost image of the previous shot to help you align the next shot you want to take in your series of photos destined to be a panorama.
Nikon includes several software titles including Panorama Maker Pro by ArcSoft. I was happy with the results that Panorama Maker Pro produced; it was easy to use and flexible in what you can do with it.
Battery life is quite good. The camera uses 4-AA batteries, either alkaline, Ni-MH, or lithium. That makes it convenient if you have dead batteries since AA batteries can be purchased anywhere. Proprietary batteries often provide longer life, but once they're dead, so are you if you don't have a charger or second charged battery with you.
A few issues for me with the camera is that I am frequently wanting to manually focus the camera and that is not possible. Another issue is that other than setting ISO and exposure compensation, there is little else you can manually do to control the camera. You cannot manually set the shutter speed or aperture. Concerning ISO, when it is set to 3200 or 6400 the image mode settings are limited to 3 megapixels 2048x1536, PC 1024,768 or VGA 640x480.
Overall I like the Nikon L110 quite a bit. The photos are excellent and HD video is a nice extra although you won't be too happy with lower light video quality and the audio capabilities are not the best. It strikes a nice balance between a simple point & shoot camera and a larger and substantially more expensive DSLR. It's a product that because of it's price point, will not meet everyone's expectations. If you desire excellent video from this camera, you'd be better off spending more and getting something that is video-centric. If you view this as predominantly a camera that also has the ability to take video, then you'll probably be OK with this. If you are expecting this under $300 camera to also excel at taking movies with awesome audio, you will not be happy. Concessions will have to made at this price point.
UPDATE: 4/4/2010Just a brief update regarding battery life using plain old Alkaline batteries. I took over 300 photos plus 20-30 movies of varying length and did quite a bit of viewing before the batteries died. That's not bad for regular Alkaline batteries. Consider also that I am also using the Eye-Fi wireless SDHC card in the camera that automatically uploads any photos or movies through my wireless network so that is also putting a drain on the batteries. Without the card, I would expect even better battery life than what I've reported. You'd get much longer life with Lithium and of course rechargeable NiMH batteries would probably be the best long-term bang for the buck.
UPDATE: 4/22/2010I've uploaded a few video snippets from the L110 on YouTube. Just search for "Nikon L110 Video Sample". They will not win any Academy Awards for cinematography but just a really quick indication of video quality. Sorry for the wind noise, but it was quite breezy outside.
Canon EOS 60D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD
Update: With the release of the T4i, this review needs a short addendum, which I will add to the end.
The newest addition to Canon's XXD line might initially seem like a minor downgrade to the previous XXD cameras, but several new capabilities actually help make this a nice, well-featured camera that will appeal to many people who don't get caught up in whether or not this is a better camera than it's predecessor. Canon certainly made this camera for the price point and was careful to add just enough features to make it desirable over the T2i, but not desirable enough to compete with the 7D. In some respects though, it seems like a beefed-up version of the Rebel line (a "Super-Rebel") instead of a new addition to the XXD line.
As someone who has now had the opportunity to use all three of Canon's mid-range lineup (the T2i, 60D, and 7D), I have to say that I really like the feel of the 60D. Even though it no longer has the magnesium alloy body, it feels solid. In no way does it feel cheap. I have fairly small hands and the 60D feels like it was made for me. It's significantly lighter than the 7D and feels like it would be much more friendly on long hikes. The 7D feels much more robust; however, the 60D feels much more "comfy". It is definitely bigger in size than the T2i, but the angles and design of the camera have a nicely updated feel to them that makes it seem like you are getting a much more substantial camera. The articulating screen was also done very well. My initial worries that the screen would feel cheap and break easily were immediately relieved after using it. The hinges are very solid and feel almost stiff to the point where you are comfortable with it staying right where you want it. It also is very flush with the rest of the body and offers little space in between.
Aside from the feel, the camera takes beautiful pictures. Quality-wise, there is very little difference between the pictures that come out of the T2i, 60D, and 7D. ISO performance is very similar and therefore can not be much of a deciding factor between the models. Most of the decision factors really will focus on which user interface and camera system best appeals to your type and level of photography. Each of Canon's mid-range models has it's own pros and cons, and while there are MANY differences between each camera, these are the main points I considered when deciding between cameras to purchase (hopefully it helps those going through the same decision I did):
60D vs. 50D:
(+) New Sensor the same 18MP sensor that the 7D and T2i have, better ISO coverage/performance
(+) 63 zone dual-layer metering
(+) Better viewfinder 96% coverage vs 95% coverage
(+) Video
(+) Articulating screen
(+) Wireless flash control
(+) Horizontal electronic level
(+) In camera processing (new RAW processing feature and in camera filter effects)
(+) Control over max auto-ISO
(+) Eye-Fi wifi file transfer functions
(-) The magnesium alloy body of the 50D has been replaced with a polycarbonate body
(-) 6.3 fps shooting is down to 5.3 fps
(-) No lens microadjustment in 60D
(+/-) Compact flash card slot has been changed to a SD card slot
(+/-) Joystick replaced by directional pad
60D vs. T2i
(+) 9 all cross-type AF points vs T2i's 9 points w/ 1 center cross-type
(+) 96%, .95 magnification pentaprism viewfinder vs T2i's 95%, .87 magnification pentamirror viewfinder
(+) Articulating screen
(+) Wireless flash control
(+) Horizontal electronic level
(+) In camera processing (new RAW processing feature and in camera filter effects)
(+) Top LCD screen
(+) 5.3 fps vs 3.7 fps
(+) Built in adjustable audio level capability in video
60D vs. 7D
(+) Articulating screen
(+) In camera processing (new RAW processing feature and in camera filter effects)
(+) Control over max auto-ISO
(+) Eye-Fi wifi file transfer functions
(+) Built in adjustable audio level capability in video
(-) 9 all cross-type AF points vs 7D's 19 all cross-type points
(-) Less AF features (such as Zone AF and Point Expansion)
(-) Polycarbonate body vs 7D's magnesium alloy
(-) 96%, .95 magnification pentaprism viewfinder vs 7D's 100%, 1.0x magnification pentaprism viewfinder
(-) Transmissive LCD screen on focus screen on 7D
(-) Only horizontal electronic level vs both horizontal and vertical level on 7D
(-) 5.3 fps vs 7D's 8 fps
(-) No lens microadjustment in 60D
(-) Shutter life of 100,000 vs 7D's 150,000
(-) Dual DIGIC 4 processors in 7D
(-) 3 custom settings in 7D; 1 custom settings in 60D
(-) No PC Sync in 60D
By comparing these features, it's easy to see that the 60D fits well in the price point directly between the T2i and 7D, but of course, a large segment of previous 40D and 50D owners hoping for a true successor that isn't watered down to a certain price point will still undoubtedly be disappointed. It's easy to see in comparing the 60D to the 7D and also to Nikon's newest offerings that Canon chose to limit functionality merely so that 60D sales didn't interfere with the 7D. In fact, if you are not completely entrenched in the Canon camp, I would also suggest looking at the new Nikon D7000. It looks like a spectacular camera for not much more than the 60D. I have not used it nor will I, so I can't comment on whether it's a better choice or not.
Even so, the quality of the 60D and new functionality offer enough new aspects that many customers will surely be happy with it. The articulating screen offers a way to attain tough shots that would have previously demanded extra equipment or odd contortions to reach. It also gives a great new avenue for video capture. Eye-fi wireless transfers work well and help out on those lazy days where you just want to set your camera down and have the work of transferring photos be done for you. Much of the in camera post-production comes off as being a little "gimmicky" to me, but having the option to add effects and process photos definitely doesn't detract from the camera. And many people who don't do much of their own post-processing after transfer to a computer will probably find the in camera RAW conversion and creative effects to be a nice addition.
To me, it really came down to one major factor though: autofocus. I tend to do a lot of shooting involving fast moving subjects, so autofocus for my photography is key. The T1i and T2i were disappointing in this respect. 9 points with one cross-type in the T1i/T2i is respectable, but I found that I really could only rely on using the center point in AI servo mode to get many speedy subjects in focus. I purchased a 7D later, and was blown away by the accuracy. The options of using extra points for expansion, using autofocus zones, having 19 full cross-type points, superior subject tracking, and even the option for narrowing the points in spot autofocus really opened up new areas of photography for me. I get about 10x the amount of usable shots than I would with the T1i and T2i. The 60D isn't THAT good, but it is still much better than the T1i/T2i. In fact, just like with almost everything else about the camera, it's just about right in between the T2i and 7D. Autofocus is fast and accurate, but there are still moments where subjects just move too fast and unfortunately, the 60D doesn't have the capabilities of the 7D. If you are deciding between the 7D and 60D, this is the area you should really look at, because this is the real difference between the 2 cameras. I chose the 7D, and then decided to give the 60D a try just to see if I made the right decision. I am happy with my 7D, but the 60D was no slouch.
In my honest opinion, I think this is a huge sticking point for 40D and 50D owners though. The autofocus system needed to be updated from the previous 2 XXD editions. It has the same 9 cross-type points as the 40D and 50D did before it, and same functionality. To be a good upgrade for previous XXD users, it didn't have to be as good or better than the 7D, but it would have been nice for it to be better than the previous 2 models. Removing the magnesium alloy body and lens microadjustment really comes across as a slap in the face to some users who valued those aspects. I have to say that the body is much lighter, doesn't feel significantly less sturdy (even though it probably is less sturdy), and I've never needed to use lens microadjustment though, so I'm not overly upset about those aspects. I am not thrilled about the "non-update" of the autofocus system though.
Now that I have handled and used all 3 cameras currently in Canon's mid-range lineup, I can definitively say that they are all stellar cameras, but just made for different segments of the market. The T2i is an amazing starter camera and takes great photos for those who want to save a little extra money by going without some of the features they might not use. It might be the best budget option for those who don't take many action shots. For an extra few hundred dollars, the 60D adds some intriguing new features and seems to be aimed at the people who want a slightly higher-end camera than the T2i, but aren't ready to shell out the money for the 7D. It's a great compromise, and to me, the main thing you are missing out on is superior autofocus capabilities. The 7D is more aimed towards the pro-sumer market who want/need a faster autofocus and overall faster, more rugged camera. It's hard to go wrong with any of them, but the 60D offers a great blend of features from both the T2i and 7D along with new features of it's own for a price that won't completely break the bank. It seems to have accomplished everything it needed to do, except for one: giving the 40D and 50D owners an option for upgrade aside from the expensive 7D. If the 60D had kept the magnesium alloy body, lens microadjustment, or even just had a slightly better AF system compared to the 50D, I could easily give this camera 5 stars. As it is, I can only give it 4 stars because it's a wonderful camera for a certain segment of customers looking for a new camera, but completely isolates another loyal customer base looking for their beloved XXD line to continue.
Update: With the release of the T4i, Canon's camera playing field has certainly changed. The minor changes to the T3i didn't warrant much more discussion on the 60D vs Rebel DSLR's than was already posted with the T2i, but the T4i brings some new interesting features to the table, puts picture quality and capture characteristics on par with the 60D, and in some respects ends up being a more appealing camera.
Perhaps the most interesting new features on the T4i are that it now has autofocus during video while using Canon's new STM lenses and has a touchscreen display. For those who want or need autofocus while shooting video, this is a big selling point for the new Rebel instead of the 60D. Granted, it's not going to live up to the snappy autofocus you get when not using live-view mode or that when using specialized video camera's, but Canon did a great job with it over all. In my mind, it is a desirable feature to have access to even if you prefer to manual focus video most of the time.
The T4i also upped the Rebel line's bar to include the 5 fps and 9 cross type autofocus points already found on the 60D.
So back to the question at hand though: If you are choosing between the 60D and the T4i, which one do you go for? The 60D still has some major advantages in my opinion, and it really comes down to the better camera body of the 60D vs. the new video features of the T4i. With the 60D, you get the large dial on the back of the camera for rotating through images and selections and you also get the top LCD. The 60D still has a better, brighter viewfinder and can shoot at 1/8000 of a second opposed to the max 1/4000 of a second that the T4i can do. If those aspects don't concern you and you desperately want video autofocus, go for the T4i instead. It's a great camera. If, on the other hand, you would like a slightly more professional body and can live without video autofocus, the 60D is a great choice too. My personal choice still goes to the 7D if you can afford the upgrade though the autofocus and 8 fps on it really put it in another level.
The newest addition to Canon's XXD line might initially seem like a minor downgrade to the previous XXD cameras, but several new capabilities actually help make this a nice, well-featured camera that will appeal to many people who don't get caught up in whether or not this is a better camera than it's predecessor. Canon certainly made this camera for the price point and was careful to add just enough features to make it desirable over the T2i, but not desirable enough to compete with the 7D. In some respects though, it seems like a beefed-up version of the Rebel line (a "Super-Rebel") instead of a new addition to the XXD line.
As someone who has now had the opportunity to use all three of Canon's mid-range lineup (the T2i, 60D, and 7D), I have to say that I really like the feel of the 60D. Even though it no longer has the magnesium alloy body, it feels solid. In no way does it feel cheap. I have fairly small hands and the 60D feels like it was made for me. It's significantly lighter than the 7D and feels like it would be much more friendly on long hikes. The 7D feels much more robust; however, the 60D feels much more "comfy". It is definitely bigger in size than the T2i, but the angles and design of the camera have a nicely updated feel to them that makes it seem like you are getting a much more substantial camera. The articulating screen was also done very well. My initial worries that the screen would feel cheap and break easily were immediately relieved after using it. The hinges are very solid and feel almost stiff to the point where you are comfortable with it staying right where you want it. It also is very flush with the rest of the body and offers little space in between.
Aside from the feel, the camera takes beautiful pictures. Quality-wise, there is very little difference between the pictures that come out of the T2i, 60D, and 7D. ISO performance is very similar and therefore can not be much of a deciding factor between the models. Most of the decision factors really will focus on which user interface and camera system best appeals to your type and level of photography. Each of Canon's mid-range models has it's own pros and cons, and while there are MANY differences between each camera, these are the main points I considered when deciding between cameras to purchase (hopefully it helps those going through the same decision I did):
60D vs. 50D:
(+) New Sensor the same 18MP sensor that the 7D and T2i have, better ISO coverage/performance
(+) 63 zone dual-layer metering
(+) Better viewfinder 96% coverage vs 95% coverage
(+) Video
(+) Articulating screen
(+) Wireless flash control
(+) Horizontal electronic level
(+) In camera processing (new RAW processing feature and in camera filter effects)
(+) Control over max auto-ISO
(+) Eye-Fi wifi file transfer functions
(-) The magnesium alloy body of the 50D has been replaced with a polycarbonate body
(-) 6.3 fps shooting is down to 5.3 fps
(-) No lens microadjustment in 60D
(+/-) Compact flash card slot has been changed to a SD card slot
(+/-) Joystick replaced by directional pad
60D vs. T2i
(+) 9 all cross-type AF points vs T2i's 9 points w/ 1 center cross-type
(+) 96%, .95 magnification pentaprism viewfinder vs T2i's 95%, .87 magnification pentamirror viewfinder
(+) Articulating screen
(+) Wireless flash control
(+) Horizontal electronic level
(+) In camera processing (new RAW processing feature and in camera filter effects)
(+) Top LCD screen
(+) 5.3 fps vs 3.7 fps
(+) Built in adjustable audio level capability in video
60D vs. 7D
(+) Articulating screen
(+) In camera processing (new RAW processing feature and in camera filter effects)
(+) Control over max auto-ISO
(+) Eye-Fi wifi file transfer functions
(+) Built in adjustable audio level capability in video
(-) 9 all cross-type AF points vs 7D's 19 all cross-type points
(-) Less AF features (such as Zone AF and Point Expansion)
(-) Polycarbonate body vs 7D's magnesium alloy
(-) 96%, .95 magnification pentaprism viewfinder vs 7D's 100%, 1.0x magnification pentaprism viewfinder
(-) Transmissive LCD screen on focus screen on 7D
(-) Only horizontal electronic level vs both horizontal and vertical level on 7D
(-) 5.3 fps vs 7D's 8 fps
(-) No lens microadjustment in 60D
(-) Shutter life of 100,000 vs 7D's 150,000
(-) Dual DIGIC 4 processors in 7D
(-) 3 custom settings in 7D; 1 custom settings in 60D
(-) No PC Sync in 60D
By comparing these features, it's easy to see that the 60D fits well in the price point directly between the T2i and 7D, but of course, a large segment of previous 40D and 50D owners hoping for a true successor that isn't watered down to a certain price point will still undoubtedly be disappointed. It's easy to see in comparing the 60D to the 7D and also to Nikon's newest offerings that Canon chose to limit functionality merely so that 60D sales didn't interfere with the 7D. In fact, if you are not completely entrenched in the Canon camp, I would also suggest looking at the new Nikon D7000. It looks like a spectacular camera for not much more than the 60D. I have not used it nor will I, so I can't comment on whether it's a better choice or not.
Even so, the quality of the 60D and new functionality offer enough new aspects that many customers will surely be happy with it. The articulating screen offers a way to attain tough shots that would have previously demanded extra equipment or odd contortions to reach. It also gives a great new avenue for video capture. Eye-fi wireless transfers work well and help out on those lazy days where you just want to set your camera down and have the work of transferring photos be done for you. Much of the in camera post-production comes off as being a little "gimmicky" to me, but having the option to add effects and process photos definitely doesn't detract from the camera. And many people who don't do much of their own post-processing after transfer to a computer will probably find the in camera RAW conversion and creative effects to be a nice addition.
To me, it really came down to one major factor though: autofocus. I tend to do a lot of shooting involving fast moving subjects, so autofocus for my photography is key. The T1i and T2i were disappointing in this respect. 9 points with one cross-type in the T1i/T2i is respectable, but I found that I really could only rely on using the center point in AI servo mode to get many speedy subjects in focus. I purchased a 7D later, and was blown away by the accuracy. The options of using extra points for expansion, using autofocus zones, having 19 full cross-type points, superior subject tracking, and even the option for narrowing the points in spot autofocus really opened up new areas of photography for me. I get about 10x the amount of usable shots than I would with the T1i and T2i. The 60D isn't THAT good, but it is still much better than the T1i/T2i. In fact, just like with almost everything else about the camera, it's just about right in between the T2i and 7D. Autofocus is fast and accurate, but there are still moments where subjects just move too fast and unfortunately, the 60D doesn't have the capabilities of the 7D. If you are deciding between the 7D and 60D, this is the area you should really look at, because this is the real difference between the 2 cameras. I chose the 7D, and then decided to give the 60D a try just to see if I made the right decision. I am happy with my 7D, but the 60D was no slouch.
In my honest opinion, I think this is a huge sticking point for 40D and 50D owners though. The autofocus system needed to be updated from the previous 2 XXD editions. It has the same 9 cross-type points as the 40D and 50D did before it, and same functionality. To be a good upgrade for previous XXD users, it didn't have to be as good or better than the 7D, but it would have been nice for it to be better than the previous 2 models. Removing the magnesium alloy body and lens microadjustment really comes across as a slap in the face to some users who valued those aspects. I have to say that the body is much lighter, doesn't feel significantly less sturdy (even though it probably is less sturdy), and I've never needed to use lens microadjustment though, so I'm not overly upset about those aspects. I am not thrilled about the "non-update" of the autofocus system though.
Now that I have handled and used all 3 cameras currently in Canon's mid-range lineup, I can definitively say that they are all stellar cameras, but just made for different segments of the market. The T2i is an amazing starter camera and takes great photos for those who want to save a little extra money by going without some of the features they might not use. It might be the best budget option for those who don't take many action shots. For an extra few hundred dollars, the 60D adds some intriguing new features and seems to be aimed at the people who want a slightly higher-end camera than the T2i, but aren't ready to shell out the money for the 7D. It's a great compromise, and to me, the main thing you are missing out on is superior autofocus capabilities. The 7D is more aimed towards the pro-sumer market who want/need a faster autofocus and overall faster, more rugged camera. It's hard to go wrong with any of them, but the 60D offers a great blend of features from both the T2i and 7D along with new features of it's own for a price that won't completely break the bank. It seems to have accomplished everything it needed to do, except for one: giving the 40D and 50D owners an option for upgrade aside from the expensive 7D. If the 60D had kept the magnesium alloy body, lens microadjustment, or even just had a slightly better AF system compared to the 50D, I could easily give this camera 5 stars. As it is, I can only give it 4 stars because it's a wonderful camera for a certain segment of customers looking for a new camera, but completely isolates another loyal customer base looking for their beloved XXD line to continue.
Update: With the release of the T4i, Canon's camera playing field has certainly changed. The minor changes to the T3i didn't warrant much more discussion on the 60D vs Rebel DSLR's than was already posted with the T2i, but the T4i brings some new interesting features to the table, puts picture quality and capture characteristics on par with the 60D, and in some respects ends up being a more appealing camera.
Perhaps the most interesting new features on the T4i are that it now has autofocus during video while using Canon's new STM lenses and has a touchscreen display. For those who want or need autofocus while shooting video, this is a big selling point for the new Rebel instead of the 60D. Granted, it's not going to live up to the snappy autofocus you get when not using live-view mode or that when using specialized video camera's, but Canon did a great job with it over all. In my mind, it is a desirable feature to have access to even if you prefer to manual focus video most of the time.
The T4i also upped the Rebel line's bar to include the 5 fps and 9 cross type autofocus points already found on the 60D.
So back to the question at hand though: If you are choosing between the 60D and the T4i, which one do you go for? The 60D still has some major advantages in my opinion, and it really comes down to the better camera body of the 60D vs. the new video features of the T4i. With the 60D, you get the large dial on the back of the camera for rotating through images and selections and you also get the top LCD. The 60D still has a better, brighter viewfinder and can shoot at 1/8000 of a second opposed to the max 1/4000 of a second that the T4i can do. If those aspects don't concern you and you desperately want video autofocus, go for the T4i instead. It's a great camera. If, on the other hand, you would like a slightly more professional body and can live without video autofocus, the 60D is a great choice too. My personal choice still goes to the 7D if you can afford the upgrade though the autofocus and 8 fps on it really put it in another level.
Acer Aspire V5-531P-4129 15.6-inch LED Touchscreen Ultrabook
List Price: $629.99
Sale Price: $509.00
Today's Bonus: 19% Off
you won't find a better 15.6" touchscreen for ~$500. Three usb ports, HDMI port, internal DVD, 500+ GB HDD, backlit keyboard there's a long list of great stuff. it's fast, quiet, and doesn't put out much heat (no Dell thigh-burn here). i bought this for work and liked it so much after a few weeks that i bought another one for my family. expect maybe 3hrs on the battery. meh but that's the market reality.
only real peeve is the physical spacebar response on the keyboard can be erratic when typing fast it cangetannoying. also the trackpad is very sensitive. it can pick up a contact from your hands/thumbs pretty easily while typing and unintentionally move your cursor downscreen mid-sentence super annoying. basically, be mindful of your hand position while you type and be extra assertive with the spacebar.
overall though this is a great buy for work, school & general family use.
Samsung UN60D6400 60-Inch 1080p 120 Hz 3D LED HDTV (Black)
List Price: $3,099.99
Sale Price: $1,599.00
Today's Bonus: 48% Off
After several months of using this TV, here are my impressions. Note that I'm using Antenna HD, PS3 Bluray, and DVD.
Design:
The thin bezel design and glass(stem) stand is gorgeous, it feels like the picture is floating on the stand. The thin bezel really enhances the picture by minimizing reflections. It's really refreshing to not have a thick glossy bezel shining at you when watching TV; although the bezel itself seems to get mighty hot after several hours of use. The screen is glass and it does have reflections in daylight. It will probably annoy those of you that have a lot of glare coming from windows.
Picture Quality:
HD picture quality is outstanding while SD ranges from good to OK. The SD quality really depends on your broadcasting source; higher quality SD means good SD picture. Blacks are good, but I believe the processing engine goes a bit overboard and saturates the blacks to a point where details are lost. I haven't found out how to tone down the blacks, even after shutting off all the processing. Colors seem to really pop out, if it's too much one can adjust RGB in the menus. Initially, this TV did not exhibit any noticeable clouding for several months but now I can clearly see clouding on a completely dark transition screen. I'm a bit disappointed it has developed clouding over time, but it's not bad enough that you'll notice it during tv viewing. This is an edge-lit LCD and there are inherit weaknesses. Motion picture quality is very smooth and artifacts are kept to a minimum; in fact, this is the smoothest picture I've ever seen on any HDTV.
Adjustment Controls:
This TV has quite a few options for tuning the picture. There's standard, dynamic, natural, and movie modes. Each mode has it's own saved settings. For my normal viewing, I started with the movie settings while in Standard mode and made a few adjustments to brighten up the screen. Movie mode has a "warm2" color tone that I changed to "standard" since I don't like warm colors for normal viewing. For movies, I use the movie mode where the colors and brightness are toned down, with relatively few adjustments made. The natural and dynamic modes are horrendous, don't even go there. There's some fine adjustments in each mode with backlight, contrast, sharpness, hue, brightness, color, etc.
Connections:
Has HDMI 1.4 connections, which allow 1 Audio Return and single Ethernet connections (with specific high speed compatible HDMI cables and other HDMI 1.4 devices). Has 1 composite connection and 1 component (both use supplied extension plugs). Switching between sources is a tad slow to me, wish it was bit faster. Note that the optical out connection will transfer Dolby Digital sound from the antenna input, but it will only transfer stereo sound if you are connecting a device from HDMI and outputting the sound using optical out.
Sound:
Sound comes from the back panel and these kinds of tvs always sound odd. It's definitely loud enough, but not as good as a tv with good front speakers. You can use simulated surround sound and it's not bad at all. The one annoying thing is your sound settings are kept the same as you change your input sources; even after you've configured one input source as having movie sound settings. You can use the equalizer to adjust the sound to your liking. I might buy a sound bar to accompany this tv.
Internet apps:
I took a little while to play around with the apps, they're ok but respond pretty slow. Just your standard apps, nothing impressive. It does have an app store where you can purchase more apps but I didn't try that. I found youtube to be a bit odd. I started up youtube and it showed me the annoying orange video on startup; really strange it just loaded up with that video.
Other apps:
The photo viewer is pretty decent, seems a bit slow in rendering the pictures from a USB stick. I've also played some AVI and MKV files on the TV and it looks good to me. MKV files do not seem to have subtitle options.
3D:
I bought the Samsung SSG-3100GB bluetooth glasses for 2011 3D TVs. The glasses are great and much better than the old versions I tried out on a 2010 TV. It syncs up really well and I don't notice ghosting. There is a 3D button on the remote where you can convert 2D programming to 3D; this is done on the fly using the TV's processor. The 2D-3D is applied minimally so it isn't great; you will barely notice the 3D effects on the conversion. However, watching true 3D movies is great but 46" is really small for 3D. What others say about having a 50" plus TV is true if you want to experience the depth of 3D. What truly blows me away is playing 3D games through the Playstation 3. I started Wipeout HD up and I was giggling like a silly schoolgirl for a while. It really blew my mind how the 3D enhances the fun of games.
Remote:
Remote is pretty decent. It has a your standard TV buttons as well as a way to control playback on other sources with fast forward, rewind, stop, play. Remote has a backlight you can activate.
Settings:
Here are some basic calibration settings I used.
0) Standard Mode
1) Backlight: 13
2) Contrast: 93
3) Brightness: 45
4) Sharpening: 10 (keep this low!)
5) Color: 45
6) Tint R/G: 50, 50
7) Color Tone: Auto
8) Dynamic Contrast: Low
Additionally, I nearly turned off all the processing (including motion plus)
Verdict:
Very good TV with an inherit weakness in edge-lit LED technology in that you will find some uneven lighting and clouding. This might be as good as edge-lit LED is going to get. I gave it a 4 star here but it's really more 4.5 out of 5. I won't give it a 5 because true local-dimmed LED TVs have better contrast and color consistency, but you'll be paying a lot more (unless you buy the ugly Vizio LED TVs).
Update 1/13/2012:
I upgraded to the newest firmware and noticed after rebooting it reset all my settings. I don't see anything different except I noticed how crappy the picture was. It's important you do not leave the it on the default settings as the picture quality is pretty horrendous. Use my settings as a baseline, especially keep sharpening low, turn off motion plus, and you will see the potential of this tv.
More notes:
I recently noticed that my tv was tilted down to the left a little as it sits on the supplied stand. I took out a tape measure and noticed the left end was nearly 1/4" lower than the right side. This really bugged me so i took apart the stand and slipped a piece of paper folded several times in the gap where you screw in the stand. This helped balance it perfectly.
SanDisk 64GB Extreme Pro CompactFlash Card - UDMA 90MB/s 600x
List Price: $599.99
Sale Price: $349.95
Today's Bonus: 42% Off
OK. I know I don't need this much storage. I'm not a professional so this isn't an in-depth review. I just wanted to break the ice by saying it works great with my Canon 5D Mk2. I've had no problems with it. The camera functions exactly as it should. I'll probably never see my camera indicating anything less than 999 pictures remaining. This card gives me that warm fuzzy feeling.
Nikon D3200 24.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm
List Price: $1,099.99
Sale Price: Price Unavailable
Today's Bonus: 37% Off
This is my first DSLR camera. I am so happy with my new toy. I have a lot to learn but I'm willing and able :).
Everything that was advertise was in that package. It was a great investment. I am very happy.
I POSTED SOME PICTURES, TAKE A LOOK. HAPPY SHOOTINGS!
Sony MDR-NC7/BLK Noise Canceling On-Ear Headphones
List Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $31.58
Today's Bonus: 37% Off
Based on the price, I took the plunge. The construction is pretty solid and look good on the head. The pads are very comfortable with a soft "vinyl" type material. The "arms" of the headphones wrap around the head really well because of the hinge at the top of the headphones.
But to the most important feature: the noise cancelling function was not dramatic during flights it worked well for a semi-quiet office environment, but my primary need for this is flying. And during flying I noticed only a slight change. Good for the price, but not if you are looking to use this while flying or similar environments investigate other options.
ASUS Vivotab Smart ME400C-C2-BK 10.1-Inch 64GB Tablet (Black)
List Price: $499.00
Sale Price: $399.00
Today's Bonus: 20% Off
Okay.. I own a galaxy tab two kindles and an iPad so I have had plenty of experience in the tablet field. That I think was my first problem ... you don't treat this as a tablet where you just download apps from the app store. If u do you will be disappointed. Think PC when ur using this. I gave it a four stars and not five mainly because the amount of time it took to update all the apps and the windows updates and while these are updating this tablet acts very odd ... such as things not working like apps or mail or downloading new apps. I was ready to return it... but after the installs were complete everything was great. The best thing about this tab is that you use a full browser and can install real pc programs. The smart cover is decent and worth the money I paid for it. The best part is using my apple magic mouse and keyboard on the tab.. it works flawlessly. Windows 8 takes some getting used to and don't think that this tab is junk bc u don't like change because windows 8 is very intuitive and can make multitasking much easier than any other ios or android device. If u want to do real work instead of just playing angry birds this tab is a god choice for the price.
Swarovski Spotting Scope HD-ATS 80 High Definition Glass
List Price: $2,543.33
Sale Price: $2,299.00
Today's Bonus: 10% Off
For nearly 30 years, I used a Swift 15-60x scope (my first scope), primarily, but not solely, for birding. There was a even some astronomy thrown in for good measure. It was a good scope at the time, and more than adequate but, in the past few years and particularly when I had a chance to use it side-by-side with the 'top end' scopes, it paled in comparison. Therefore, I have some experience with Swarovski, Nikon, and other excellent spotting scopes, having had the chance to use them at the same time.
My Swift scope dropped off of what I found out to be a faulty tripod bracket last February, and broke, so it made it easier to justify looking for a new scope.
I researched scopes for many weeks prior to purchasing this one and had a chance to try out several. In the end, it was obvious (at least to me) that the scope that so many top birders used was the best choice for me, and for good reason. This is not a small amount of money to part with on a whim so the research was fully warranted.
This is a beautifully made instrument. It's tight and well finished with excellent attention to detail. The optics are just about as good as they come and it's ergonomics are excellent...that is, it's very easy to use. Everything is in what feels to be the right place to make use in the field a pleasure. The image is bright and crisp, and the field is wide, even when zoomed in at 60x. And using it with glasses is absolutely fine. There is really no loss of field due to excellent eye relief with the 20-60x zoom lens. This spotting scope is top-of-the-line in all ways. An excellent instrument to make an enjoyable pastime even better.
I was able to find the discontinued case for it at an excellent price. I feel this is a very needed item when you're out on a beach, or in damp or unsteady conditions. It will protect the scope well but, at the same time, allow for full operation.
Was it worth the money? In my opinion the answer is 'absolutely'! This scope has a great warranty and should last for decades. I am very happy with this decision.
ATCK Waterproof Action Camera
I am a police officer and I use this camera when interviewing people. I was initially disappointed with the sound quality, but found the video and capacity with the 2gig card excellent. The problem with the sound is the waterproofing. If you are not going to be using it in water or wet environments all you have to do is remove the mic cover and there is a black square rubber cover over the mic. It is 1mm or thicker and causes the sound distortion and lack of range. Remove it an re-install the cover and you get as good a sound as any other video camera. This camera is well made and a good value at the price. If it had an external mic jack it would rate five stars.
Energizer Watch/Electronic Batteries, 3 Volts, 2032, 2 batteries
List Price: $5.99
Sale Price: $1.79
Today's Bonus: 70% Off
I ordered directly from Amazon and not a third party because I didn't want to risk receiving a counterfeit battery.
I ended up receiving a counterfeit battery that provides zero power. My uploaded customer image shows how I could tell it was counterfeit.
I'm buying my batteries directly from brick and mortar stores from now on.
SVAT 8CH Smart Security DVR with 8 Ultra Hi-Res Outdoor 100ft
List Price: $1,149.99
Sale Price: $649.99
Today's Bonus: 43% Off
I cannot fully review the cameras as I am waiting for the weather to break to install them. I have opened the package and tried one of the cameras and they operate very easily and are very clear even in the dark.
Panasonic BL-C140A Outdoor MPEG-4 Network Camera (Silver)
This review is going to be somewhat technical and I'll mention some other choices. I've installed more than 10 Panasonic network cameras across the product line; so how does this one compare? The whole series is rock solid reliable. As far as the practical use as an outdoor cam, the BL-C140A is a middle of the road compromise. As other reviewers have discovered, the night time image quality is not very good. The BL-C140A has a 1/4" CMOS sensor which produces a little bit better daytime image than the 1/6" CMOS on the popular BL-C111A and BL-C131A models. If you're looking for a cam to mount in an outdoor location that is protected from direct moisture (like hanging under a sheltered roof eave) then I'd recommend the Panasonic BB-HCM511A instead. The BB-HCM511A uses a CCD sensor (vs. CMOS) that produces a richer dynamic range of colors during the day, and has much better low light sensitivity. It can still show the scene under moonlight, whereas the BL-C140A would show a pitch black view. If you truly need an "outdoor" camera because it's going to be exposed to the rain, then the BB-HCM531A is an excellent outdoor model. The only difference between the BB-HCM511A and BB-HCM531A is that the BB-HCM531A comes with an extra plastic cover for the connectors in the back. Panasonic charges more than $200 for this piece of plastic, so it you're crafty you can make your own weatherproof cover for the BB-HCM511A cable connectors and save some money (hint: silicone sealant works). Note that if you don't already have a POE enabled switch, the BB-HCM series doesn't come with a POE injector so you need to order that separately. Coming back to this BL-C140A model, the other thing I didn't like is that the POE (Power Over Ethernet) is proprietary instead of using the industry 802.3af standard. So if you have a POE switch then it won't be able to use all the neat power management features. The BB-HCM series however does support the 802.3af POE standard. If your budget is just enough for this cam, the BL-C140A still a wonderful unit. If you can afford to pay just a little bit more then check out the other models I mentioned and you'll get a superior night time view. Here's another tip, if you want to have the camera view on your desktop all the time in Vista or Windows 7, go to the Microsoft Windows Live Gallery and search for Panasonic to download the CoconutView Sidebar Gadget. Then you won't even need to open the browser windows to get a peek at what the camera is seeing.
ASUS G75VW-DS73-3D 17.3-Inch Laptop (Black)
Pro: A cheaper high end gaming laptop that's comparable to Alienware. It has 3d function making your gaming experience much more in depth. Screen is sharp and will not glare. Keyboard is crisp with a metallic gun finish. Blue-ray player is always a nice addition along with the back lit key for working in the dark. Internal memory and hard drive is easy accessible for upgrade. 1.5 Tb harddrive is massive.
Con: Some bugs with the sound system where the subwoofer doesn't turn off until the lowest decibel. The resting pad is changed into a foamy texture instead of the soft rubber texture from G74x. This version comes with only 12 Gb instead of 16 Gb, but you have an easy access slot for expand. There are 2 hard drives but they are both partitioned giving you 4 smaller hard drives, not sure why they did that. 3D function is great but it turns down the screen resolution when in use and makes your backlit keyboard into a strobe light. Kinda wish they had one of the hard drive for loading OS as SSD.
Conclusion: This is a great machine, you will like it if you can afford it. The 3D function is the key here, so if you don't really care for that, go with the G75vw-DS72. It is a faster computer for $100 less.
Con: Some bugs with the sound system where the subwoofer doesn't turn off until the lowest decibel. The resting pad is changed into a foamy texture instead of the soft rubber texture from G74x. This version comes with only 12 Gb instead of 16 Gb, but you have an easy access slot for expand. There are 2 hard drives but they are both partitioned giving you 4 smaller hard drives, not sure why they did that. 3D function is great but it turns down the screen resolution when in use and makes your backlit keyboard into a strobe light. Kinda wish they had one of the hard drive for loading OS as SSD.
Conclusion: This is a great machine, you will like it if you can afford it. The 3D function is the key here, so if you don't really care for that, go with the G75vw-DS72. It is a faster computer for $100 less.
Nikon 35mm f/1.4G AF-S FX SWM Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR
List Price: $1,799.00
Sale Price: $1,619.00
Today's Bonus: 10% Off
I've had this lens now for a couple of months, and have had ample time to get used to its characteristics, its strengths, and (unfortunately) its weaknesses. Here are some main points from my ownership experience, which has been largely positive:
-Chromatic aberrations are very pronounced with this lens (purple and green fringing along high-contrast edges). Nikon has for one reason or another decided not to put ED (extra-low dispersion) glass in the 35/1.4G to correct for CAs, though they saw fit to put this exotic glass in the comparably-priced and superiorly-performing 24/1.4G. The View NX2 software that Nikon provides with its camera bodies is rather good at removing this kind of CA, but two things spring to mind regarding this issue:
a) If i spend $1800USD on a lens of new design, I shouldn't have to correct for CAs this extreme. My Canon 35/1.4L, introduced in 1998 and costing some $600USD less than the Nikon 35/1.4G, did not exhibit such extreme CAs (though in fairness it did exhibit some CAs, as all wide fast primes will).
b) I (and a great many others) don't normally use Nikon proprietary software for our RAW conversions (e.g., Lightroom, Photoshop, etc.), and these programs (especially LR3) have proven themselves to be less than effective at removing much of the purple/green fringing that this lens (and others) produce. Thus, to remove it, we have to introduce an extra, and potentially time consuming, step to our processing methods.
-Focusing with this lens can be a noisy and erratic process. ((UPDATE 6/18/11: A few months into using this lens, I have found that keeping my D700 in AI servo AF mode has dramatically increased my keeper rate. I must admit that a significant amount of user error contributed to the lens' focusing initially seeming 'erratic'. The AF is still noisy, but it's much more accurate now that I have it in servo mode.)) Before I shot with Nikon, I owned Canon full-frame DSLRs, and used (as mentioned) the Canon 35/1.4L primarily (the lens that most likely forced Nikon's hand in releasing its own autofocusing 35/1.4). That lens was nearly silent in operation, very quick to focus, and dead-on accurate. The 35/1.4G, in comparison, makes this 'zoink-sshhhhhh' sound when focusing (which is apparently normal for this lens), and often does not lock exactly onto the plane of focus that I thought I had chosen. (To be fair, the expensive Canon 50/1.2L also has focusing issues inherent to its design, and nonetheless enjoys a loyal following.) Trials using a tripod have even yielded shots where the plane of focus was significantly in front of or behind the intended one. Focusing is also rather slow with this lens, so please take that into account if your intended use is close-range toddler chasing. (The 35L was much faster to acquire focus.) After talking with other owners, I am of the opinion that my 35/1.4G is indeed functioning as designed it's just not the most pro-feeling lens in execution. A reminder that this lens is $1800USD at the time of this writing.
-The optics are superb when the lens acquires proper focus (and the photographer does his/her job correctly). Focusing aside, optically, this lens does not disappoint. Distortion is mild and easily correctable with software. The lens is contrasty and records vivid colors.
-The weather sealing that this lens has mates well with a weather sealed body, and the combo is quite reassuring in inclement weather.
-Due to nano-coatings on some elements, lens flare is kept to a minimum.
-Finally, a 35mm 1.4 Nikkor that can autofocus! Yay!
In concluding this mini-review, I would add that I don't see the price-performance ratio of this lens to be very good... poor for the great majority of Nikon shooters, actually. What to me artificially tweaks this lens' value is the fact that there is no other alternative whatsoever if you want a 35mm f1.4 autofocusing lens in Nikon mount. (DX shooters can skip this lens altogether and get the excellent 35/1.8G for one-sixth the price.) Until the rumors of a Sigma 35/1.4 come true (and they very well might within the next 18 months or so), if you want all of these characteristics in one lens (35mm, f1.4, F mount, full-frame compatible, autofocus, great optics), you're going to be shelling out nearly $2000USD for this and a B+W filter to protect the front element. That aside, photography is very much a matter of the heart, and not the head, so for those of us who love the look of files from a sharp (and this lens is most decidedly sharp) 35/1.4 on a full frame sensor, the 35/1.4G was a welcome addition to the lineup at (nearly) any price.
Despite its shortcomings, I will certainly be keeping mine.