Fits nice in pocket. Takes great pictures. Small controls but easy to get used to. Lots of easy to understand icons for setting up shots for those les techy types. Good battery life.
Showing posts with label cheap digital camera accessories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cheap digital camera accessories. Show all posts
Canon Pixma MP830 Office All-In-One Inkjet Printer (0583B002)
I've been waiting for this printer to come out for quite some time. I previously used Canon's MP730 and completely loved it. This new version adds several great features, and after a few days of playing around with it, it has lived up to my high expectations.
The MP830 is a bit shorter and wider than Canon's previous all-in-ones, and it looks a bit more "classy" with a black-on-black keypad and a color LCD screen. There are two paper trays: the main tray is an upright tray in the rear, and a pull-out tray is located on the bottom of the machine. My old 730 had a plastic cover that protected the paper in the vertical tray from dust, and that cover is no longer included. I live is a dusty area, and if the paper gets a layer of dust on it, that dust can collect on and clog the print head. To remedy this, I've decided to use the smaller pull out tray as my primary paper tray (you can select the primary paper tray with a button on the keypad).
This printer uses Canon's new "8" series inks. While these are top-of-the-line inks (UV resistant, pigment/dye system), they are considerably more expensive than the 3 or 6 series inks used my many of Canons previous printers. Also, each ink cartridge has a small computer chip attached to it which makes obtaining remanufactured or generic cartridges difficult. At the moment you cannot find generic ink for this printer, and various websites advise against refilling these cartridges as they ink density is different from the previous inks, and doing so might wreck your printhead. So if you were used to paying $3/cartridge for generic canon cartridges, you might have to raise your ink budget for a while (currently, cartridges are about $14 each, and there are five of them in this printer).
This printer has duplex printing and scanning, meaning that it can scan/print both sides of a sheet. At some point, I was led to believe that the scanner was able to scan both sides *at the same time*, but that is actually not the case. After a piece of paper is scanned through the auto document feeder, it is sucked back in, flipped around and re-scanned. This adds considerable time to your scanning tasks. If you are pressed for time, it is actually faster to scan in "manual duplex" where you scan the front sides of pages, then manually the pages over and re-scan the back sides. However, if you want to hit the scan button and walk away, the auto-duplex does its job well. The same issue exists for duplex printing--it works, but it takes more time than if you had manually duplexed the pages.
The fax is a fax. It works fine, and some test color-faxes I sent came out well.
The copier also works well, and the duplexers allow you to make two-sided to two-sided copies, but as I said before, this takes some time.
The scanner does a great job with photos and documents. It is considerably faster than earlier models, thanks in part to the USB 2.0 interface and new scan sensor. Also, the updated scanning software is a significant improvment over previous versions.
I've printed out some photos and they are of amazing quality, which is what I expect from Canon printers. However, because of the cost of the inks, I will not be printing photos very often. The text is a bit light for my taste (the black is more like a very dark grey).
All in all, this is a great printer/scanner/fax/copier and I am very happy with it.
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Note: Unfortunately, the memory card slots on the printer do not allow for USB2.0 transfer to the comptuer. If you need to move lots of data from a memory card to your desktop, use a dedicated card-reader; using the slots on this printer takes way too long.
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ADDED 5/9/06: After having this machine for just over a month, I have to say it runs through ink way too fast. My ink status lists several cartridges as only 25% full, and is warning me that two of my colors are "almost empty." I print 90% black text, 9% color documents (web pages, rebate forms, etc), and only about 1% photos (I have only printed 2 4x6 photos since I purchased the printer). My previous Canon printers sipped ink, this machine chugs it, and at $14/cartridge, that is unacceptable. (Especially becuase the print quality isn't much better than previous printers.)
The MP830 is a bit shorter and wider than Canon's previous all-in-ones, and it looks a bit more "classy" with a black-on-black keypad and a color LCD screen. There are two paper trays: the main tray is an upright tray in the rear, and a pull-out tray is located on the bottom of the machine. My old 730 had a plastic cover that protected the paper in the vertical tray from dust, and that cover is no longer included. I live is a dusty area, and if the paper gets a layer of dust on it, that dust can collect on and clog the print head. To remedy this, I've decided to use the smaller pull out tray as my primary paper tray (you can select the primary paper tray with a button on the keypad).
This printer uses Canon's new "8" series inks. While these are top-of-the-line inks (UV resistant, pigment/dye system), they are considerably more expensive than the 3 or 6 series inks used my many of Canons previous printers. Also, each ink cartridge has a small computer chip attached to it which makes obtaining remanufactured or generic cartridges difficult. At the moment you cannot find generic ink for this printer, and various websites advise against refilling these cartridges as they ink density is different from the previous inks, and doing so might wreck your printhead. So if you were used to paying $3/cartridge for generic canon cartridges, you might have to raise your ink budget for a while (currently, cartridges are about $14 each, and there are five of them in this printer).
This printer has duplex printing and scanning, meaning that it can scan/print both sides of a sheet. At some point, I was led to believe that the scanner was able to scan both sides *at the same time*, but that is actually not the case. After a piece of paper is scanned through the auto document feeder, it is sucked back in, flipped around and re-scanned. This adds considerable time to your scanning tasks. If you are pressed for time, it is actually faster to scan in "manual duplex" where you scan the front sides of pages, then manually the pages over and re-scan the back sides. However, if you want to hit the scan button and walk away, the auto-duplex does its job well. The same issue exists for duplex printing--it works, but it takes more time than if you had manually duplexed the pages.
The fax is a fax. It works fine, and some test color-faxes I sent came out well.
The copier also works well, and the duplexers allow you to make two-sided to two-sided copies, but as I said before, this takes some time.
The scanner does a great job with photos and documents. It is considerably faster than earlier models, thanks in part to the USB 2.0 interface and new scan sensor. Also, the updated scanning software is a significant improvment over previous versions.
I've printed out some photos and they are of amazing quality, which is what I expect from Canon printers. However, because of the cost of the inks, I will not be printing photos very often. The text is a bit light for my taste (the black is more like a very dark grey).
All in all, this is a great printer/scanner/fax/copier and I am very happy with it.
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Note: Unfortunately, the memory card slots on the printer do not allow for USB2.0 transfer to the comptuer. If you need to move lots of data from a memory card to your desktop, use a dedicated card-reader; using the slots on this printer takes way too long.
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ADDED 5/9/06: After having this machine for just over a month, I have to say it runs through ink way too fast. My ink status lists several cartridges as only 25% full, and is warning me that two of my colors are "almost empty." I print 90% black text, 9% color documents (web pages, rebate forms, etc), and only about 1% photos (I have only printed 2 4x6 photos since I purchased the printer). My previous Canon printers sipped ink, this machine chugs it, and at $14/cartridge, that is unacceptable. (Especially becuase the print quality isn't much better than previous printers.)
Pulsar N750 Digisight Riflescope
List Price: $2,399.99
Sale Price: $1,599.97
Today's Bonus: 33% Off
OK, The unit is well constructed and light compared to some of the units I used in the Military. I bought the "Doubler adapter on ebay from "colmarlowe" Which works on the principal of the "Cantilever" is anchored at the top. The beam carries the load to the support where it fits nicely into he scope 's recessed housing in the front and is forced against it by cantilever force. Cantilever construction allows for structures without external bracing. (Think of the Golden Gate bridge) Then I added the Yukon doubler night vision scope lens. (Nothing made for a camera) to colmarlowes "doubler adapter" and SHAZAM! I also added a TNVC torch pro IR Illuminator on top of the unit (The doubler lens adapter from colmarlowe has a rail accessory on top of the cantilever) and I am looking at insects on big white flowers at 100 yards! (You have to adjust the focus knob on the scope, and the diopter on the eye piece and it is very very good. But here is the kicker. With the yukon doubler lens on "colmarlowe's doubler adapter I can screw the Yukon lens in or out to fine tune the focal length (And lock it with the locking ring) and I can now see insects on white magnolia flowers at night at 100 yards!!! (Colmarlowe is an engineering genius)He takes a good scope and makes it phenominal!!! I am watching deer out at around 300 yards and I clearly saw a does urine stream with amazing clarity!!! (With the TNVC Torch pro IR illuminator) If you are only going to use the onboard IR then unscrew the cap and remove the black honeycomb light diffusor from the onboard IR illuminator and that works "Good" on its own (If you are using colmarlowe's doubler adapter with the Yukon doubler lens)
Samsung BD-E5900 3D WiFi Blu-ray Disc Player (Black)
List Price: $149.99
Sale Price: $109.99
Today's Bonus: 27% Off
I just bought the Samsung E5900 Blu ray player yesterday despite not finding a single review of this player online. I bought this mostly for the smart, streaming and integration features and have not had a chance to actually play a movie yet.
Setup
The initial wizard was easy to follow and connect to my Wi-Fi network. Despite this being a fairly new device, it took about 20 minutes to install numerous updates.
Video streaming services
It supports numerous services, but not Amazon Video on-demand. There are apps that you can download to watch MLB.TV and other services. Youtube and Pandora are great.
App store
It has a pretty full app store with a lot of apps. I've only tried Pandora and Facebook and they both work. They have some neat features to link to your accounts through activation codes so you don't have to type in your username and password on a remote.
Allshare
It found my western digital NAS drive and connected no problem.. It played music from the drive and loaded photos with no problem. It plays videos from my Flip Video no problem. Some formats, maybe from an Iphone, were not supported. Samsung found my iPad and PC but I was unable to play from my PC due to no permission and unable to play from my iPad due to no buttons or instructions.
Smartphone / Tablet remote control apps
Very disappointing they just emulate the remote that comes with it with not a single added benefit. You don't get a keyboard on any (iPad, iPhone, Android) to help with app searches or youtube. I would really like it to even give feedback right on your device so that you don't have to always look at the screen while using the remote app. Time warner has apps like this to program your DVR. I also often got an error that the remote app couldn't connect. If it does connect, you do need to use the regular remote to approve using the app remote.
Samsung SwipeIt (their version of airplay)
I was extremely disappointed to find out that this doesn't support SwipeIt despite being a new model. Apparently it's only for Samsung TVs?
Disc to Digital Streaming Service
It comes with the device, but is not yet supported. Samsung provides no timeline or info other than coming in 2012.
Ultraviolet Streaming
Also coming soon...
2D to 3D upconversion
Not included.
Full web browser
Works surprisingly well. It's very cumbersome to type in web address, searches or navigate (all would be nice with a smartphone app that worked better). It can display every webpage I tried well and could be great for showing a website to a crowd.
Smartphone integration
The Apple TV for $99 lets you show your iPad screen on your TV so I don't understand why Samsung can't do the same for their Galaxy line and their "Smart" devices. I didn't find a single advantage to owning a Samsung Galaxy and Samsung Smart Blu Ray.
Speed
The device was painfully slow especially when you are used to modern smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc. Most commands take a few seconds to process.
Size and Weight
It is very compact and light which is great.
Overall
I have a hard time recommending the device given the lack of integration. The whole point of a smart device is integration. For now you'd be better of getting the cheapest 3D blu-ray player you can find (probably around $70) and then spending $49 on a Roku or $99 on an Apple TV.
PylePro PPHP157AI 15-Inch 1400 Watt Portable Powered 2 Way Full
List Price: $379.99
Sale Price: $266.95
Today's Bonus: 30% Off
There are times when you need to play your music loud. That isn't a big deal if you need to boom your music/movies in media room, but if you need to take that type of performance on the road you options are more limited. There are a variety of bluetooth speaker and ipod docks and while many of them are easy to use and highly portable they are rarely loud. In fact, the Pyle Pro 15" Powered Speaker passes the loudest bluetooth speaker that I have used (The Supertooth Disco Twin) at less than 30% of its total volume.
Make no mistake, the Pyle Pro 15" Powered Speaker is not intended to compete against small bluetooth speakers. Not even close. This speaker is designed to fill large spaces with with sound. It can fill anything from backyards, dance halls, to church auditoriums with total sound. In the video portion of the review you can see how loud it is at only 40% of its total volume (I was afraid to turn it up much louder for fear of upsetting my neighbors!).
The best part of the speaker is the cost the Pyle Pro 15" costs less (significantly less) than most 15" subwoofers that are the market. The Pyle Pro offers 1400 watts of power, a 1.75" titanium horn tweeter, multiple types of inputs, a hard plastic shell at a very reasonable price.
Notes-
In terms of sound performance as mentioned it is very loud.... in all settings. This speaker is loud enough to be used for DJ'ing weddings at dance hall (or a fraternity party).
I like it for use as the primary speaker for outdoor movies. I combine this speaker with a projector to show backyard movies with the right set-up this can make for an awesome neighborhood movie night.
The sound quality is more than acceptable, but it is hardly subtle. An audiophile may complain that the bass is a bit punchy and that the horn tweeter can come across as bright... and the combination means that the midrange is a bit undervalued.... but who really cares? A Two-way, 1400 watt speaker that features a 15" woofer is not designed to have the cleanest most subtle soundstage.
Frequency response of 40Hz to 22kHz although I would not be surprised if the frequency response was a little lower than the 40Hz.
Has a microphone input which allows it to be used as a public address speaker or for Karaoke.
The built in iPod/iPhone dock is a nice feature, but it is a bit awkward to use. I greatly prefer to use (although it is not included) the Aux-to-RCA splitter and directly plug the speaker into the headphone jack of my iPad.
Allows you to insert a SD memory card to play music directly from a memory card
Features a small remote control that is mainly used for use with the SD memory card.
Has a USB input so you can play music from any source that has an USB output.
Has gain controls for both bass and treble
Using an auxiliary output-to-RCA splitter and a small bluetooth device (like the Jabra Clipper) you can turn the Pyle Pro Powered Speaker into a HUGH and LOUD bluetooth speaker.
Has a hard plastic shell which has been pre-tapped so that it can be bolted (both vertically and horizontally) to a soundstage/mounting bracket.
Has a switch that allows the speaker to accept either a 110V or 220V source.
Has built in handles to help carry the speaker, but they don't help with the weight (weighs about 50lbs)
The manual is not exactly helpful it is about 4 pages and really doesn't offer much information on how to use the speaker.
Final verdict There is nothing subtle Pyle Pro 15 inch it is both large and loud but the great thing is that it provides a high level of functionality (as a backyard speaker, studio monitor, and sound stage speaker) at a very reasonable price. For me, it makes nearly the perfect speaker for backyard movie night so if you are in market for an inexpensive all-in-one speaker I would highly recommend that you investigate the Pyle Pro 1400 Watt 15 inch Powered Speaker.
5 Stars
Please Note I received this product for reviewing purposes.
Zmodo DVR-DK1690-1TB 16-Channel annel H.264 Surveillance CCTV
List Price: $643.36
Sale Price: $614.33
Today's Bonus: 5% Off
I have to say that I am very pleased with this system. I bought it to protect my small business and it does just that! I would honestly say that the quality of these cameras is comparable (if not better) to the $1000+ system I purchased from an installer prior to this one. The night vision works great and the weatherproof cameras just feel like they are built to last. Its a good investment and I LOVE that I can use the remote viewing feature from my iPhone as this allows me to keep tabs on my building regardless of where I am at. The setup of this system is very simple (I did it by myself and am not a professional). Only thing I couldn't do myself is set up the remote viewing. I had to call tech support to have them help me out but they had this up and running within 20 minutes or so. They were very nice and very knowledgeable. They even gave me tips on how to use the pan/tilt/zoom functions of the cameras after describing to them my building and what areas I was trying to get a good view on. Thanks Zmodo for offering a quality product at a good price while still treating your customers with dignity and respect. I will most definitely keep you in mind for future security purchases!!!
ASUS Google Nexus 7 Android Tablet
List Price: $299.00
Sale Price: $190.48
Today's Bonus: 36% Off
Words fail me on how much I love this tablet. I will say I'm slightly Google-biased, as I've owned Android phones before they were cool (and since), I use all their services (including Google+. Yes, there are people on there), and Google sent me a FREE Chromebook to beta-test it a year or two ago. So, yeah, I'm a little biased... =)
BUT, I've waited to buy a tablet. There's 2 iPads (both 3rd gen) in our house, and I do like them, they're worth the $500. However, it's not fun to just play with it. You need apps. Then, apps aren't really fun unless you get the paid version. Then, a $500 tablet becomes $50 dollars more, just to get some basic apps and games! Plus, it's cumbersome and weighty, so if you're playing a game, you'll be sitting it in your lap within 5 minutes.
The Nexus 7 has NONE of those problems.
1. It's $250. (Yes, I paid $275 for the one here, but I'm a Prime member and I have a store card here, so it made sense to buy from Amazon). It is NOT worth that price. It's worth $400 easy, in quality, look, feel, and performance.
2. The wallpapers, widgets, etc. alone can entertain you when you first get it! I customize my screens and change them every week to keep me from getting bored of it, so I gladly welcome how amazing it looks! Jelly Bean is silky smooth and the UI just makes sense, especially compared to Gingerbread, which my phone is stuck with... =(
3. Apps. There is enough on the device to get you started (including a copy of Transformers 3. Not that I'd pay for that *particular* title...), and the Play Store has so many naturally free apps that can do almost ANYTHING! Yes, if you get free apps, there will be some with ads, like with iOS devices, but at least you have a choice with almost every app, the prices for paid apps seem MUCH more reasonable, and Google gives you $25 credit just for buying a Nexus 7! $25!
4. Size. This was the make-or-break for me. I'm an avid reader. On the iPad, I fell in deep, deep love with iBooks. It was the PERFECTION of e-reader apps. Still is, in my opinion. I can get all my college books online in PDF, and I also have ePubs that I read, mark, highlight in. Owning an Android phone, I've shopped the apps, but nothing came close to the reading experience of iBooks on the iPad's nice 10" screen, the 5+ highlighting colors, and the shelves to keep my books organized.
That being said, I had reservations in buying this, as I doubted it could compete.
Even w/o a good reader app, it won. A 7" screen for a guy like me, who's NEVER at home, was a much better match than I imagined! It LITERALLY fits in a jacket pocket. Now pants, it'll depend on what kind, but the thought is that I can, will, and have taken this with me everywhere! It fits in my glove compartment, messenger bag, suit coat, jacket, you name it. With that alone, it beat the huge iPad, because now I was reading everywhere, instead of just at home. To make things better, I found an e-reader that's a very close 2nd to iBooks, Mantano reader (GET IT NOW!!), so I don't miss the iPad at all!
Cons: Hmm. Well, ummmm.... there's, no.... I got nothing. =)
Actually, I have a couple.
1. No HDMI port. That is a bummer, especially since Google is pushing their movie and TV selections so much, you'd think they'd give you a way to watch it on more than a 7" screen...
2. No 3G model... yet. ;D
3. Google Now needs some more work and features if it's going to compete w/ Siri. Not that it's bad, just limited...
4. Not many accessories, but how many do you need for a tablet? Phones, sure. But who would honestly dock their cutting-board-sized tablet? More case choices would be nice, though...
Basically, I've waited years to buy a tablet, waiting for a decent, GOOD Android tablet. Here it is, finally. It's waay cheaper than iPad, but not in quality AT ALL. It's running pure Android OS, unlike the Kindle Fires. Combining a quad-core processor with Jelly Bean means it's a MUCH better experience than any other Android tablet (I'm looking at you, Xoom), even rivaling/beating(?) an iOS experience!
Buy a Nexus 7 if you want a 7", $400 tablet for only $200 from Google.
Buy an iPad if you want a 10", $500 tablet from Apple.
Other than that, there is no difference or advantage.
Rate this if this review helped you in the slightest! (or even if you read it all... =D)
Everfocus Ultra 720+ Surveillance/Network Camera EZ750
List Price: $458.00
Sale Price: $331.99
Today's Bonus: 28% Off
Excellent feature set for what this is.
I have no problem with the set up, nor using this indoors or out.
I can't complain about the features not the quality. Excellent.
CamRanger Remote Nikon & Canon DSLR Camera Controller, Wireless
What is it?
The CamRanger app and hardware enable wireless remote control of supported cameras over a private wi-fi network. It can be used simply as a remote shutter release. However, it is actually much more powerful than that because it can be used to remotely control a wide range of camera settings and shooting behaviors, as detailed below. Currently, a number of Nikon and Canon DSLRs are supported. I have tested CamRanger on an iPhone 4S with a Nikon D90. Most of my observations probably apply to other Nikon models. There are some differences between Nikon and Canon implementations, as described in the CamRanger user guide. I refer to the hardware component as the CamRanger "pod".
Addendum: after publishing the first version of this review, I discovered that focusing was not working properly with my D90. After a couple of e-mails with Dave at CamRanger, he agreed that things were not as they should be. He fixed this issue promptly in an updated version of the CamRanger app. Needless to say, I'm very happy with the customer support. Also, focusing now works properly with my D90.
A small bit of terminology
CamRanger can be used in Live View or non-Live View (Dead View?) modes. In Live View mode, the image being recorded by the camera sensor is streamed in real time (with a delay on the order of hundredths of a second) to your iDevice screen (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch). Touching the screen on your iDevice will cause the camera to focus on that part of the scene, provided of course that you are using an auto-focus lens and AF is enabled on the camera. With Nikon cameras (but apparently not Canon), you have a choice of two connection modes: PC or Camera. Camera mode means that you can interact directly with the camera controls, and can see all the usual information on the camera's top LCD (provided that Live View is NOT also enabled). In PC mode (and Live View mode), the camera is unresponsive to direct manipulation of camera controls, and the top LCD simply displays "PC". PC mode enables remote control of the camera shooting mode (P,S,A,M). In Camera mode, you must rotate the dial on the top of the camera to change shooting mode. (It should be noted that turning on Live View while in Camera connection mode effectively changes the connection mode to PC.) If you want to use touch focusing with a Nikon, you will probably need to be in PC mode (see discussion below).
Basic Camera Settings
Unless otherwise noted, the following applies to both PC and Camera connection modes.
Shooting mode (P,S,A,M,Scene): as noted above, this can be controlled remotely only in PC connection mode (on Nikon cameras). A tiny glitch is that in Program (P) mode it is not possible to remotely alter the shutter speed/aperture combination selected by the program. That is, one cannot remotely engage what Nikon calls Flexible Program. This seems a minor point: people who use CamRanger are unlikely to use Program mode in the first place.
Aperture: full remote control
Shutter speed: full remote control
Image format: remote selection of RAW, JPG, RAW+JPG, and JPG quality -but NOT JPG size. JPG size will be as last set on the camera.
Metering mode: full remote control in non-Live View mode
Drive mode (single-frame, continuous low speed, etc.): full remote control -plus the ability to set the number of frames in continuous shooting mode
White balance: full remote control
Auto-focus mode (AF-S, AF-C, etc.): full remote control
Exposure compensation: full remote control in 1/3 EV increments (up to ± 5 EV on a D90)
Exposure bracketing: full remote control three exposures (± 2 EV in 1/3 increments on a D90). Note: the exposure compensation and bracketing options available in the CamRanger app are the same as if the D90 were being operated manually. This suggests that the available CamRanger settings will depend on the camera being used.
Focus mode (AF, MF): remote switching between auto focus and manual focus available in PC connection mode only. This is perhaps the least intuitive control. If you are in Live View, touching the screen will make the camera focus on the part of the scene that you touch, regardless of the AF/MF CamRanger setting (provided the switches on the camera and lens are set for AF). However, if CamRanger is set to AF, the camera will re-focus before making an exposure, using the focusing area last selected on the camera. In other words, CamRanger must be set to MF in order for remote touch focusing to work properly. In effect, this is remote manual focusing (MF) by using a touch screen, and it overrides the AF camera/lens settings. You need to be in PC connection mode in order for the switches on the camera and lens to be set to AF while at the same time being able to be set CamRanger to MF. At least that is how it works on the D90. I don't know how this works on Canon bodies, and even other Nikon bodies may work a bit differently.
Live histogram: in Live View mode only
ISO: Full remote control, with the caveat that Auto ISO must not be enabled in the camera menus. Unfortunately ISO selection is NOT disabled on the CamRanger when the camera is in Auto ISO mode. This gives one the false impression that ISO is being controlled remotely. Auto ISO cannot be turned on and off remotely.
Focus Control
See the discussion above about MF/AF focus mode. Remote autofocusing is accomplished in Live View mode by touching the image on the iDevice screen to place a focus point. Furthermore, remote focus can be fine-tuned by pressing six upor down-pointing triangular touch-screen "buttons" in the CamRanger UI (rather than by touching the image). In non-Live View mode, the camera will focus automatically according to the settings made on the camera (single-point AF, etc.), with the obvious caveat that AF must be enabled on the camera/lens. It is not possible to remotely select the focus point in non-Live View mode.
An automated focus stacking feature is also included. It is possible to set the number of shots in a sequence. One is also given the option of small, medium or large focus increments between captures. But there is no indication of what small, medium and large actually mean. A sequence is started from the the closest focus point, which is chosen in Live View mode. However, there is no way of knowing, except by reviewing images, how far the focus stacking sequence progresses. In other words, getting reliable results will involve some trial-and-error tinkering. An alternative is to do focus stacking manually by touching successive focus points on the iDevice screen. Hopefully, this feature can be be improved in subsequent software versions.
Time-lapse Photography (Timer and Intervalometer)
CamRanger can be used to control a time-lapse sequence of exposures, or to make a single exposure at some point in the future. The user sets the number of exposures, the time interval ("shot delay") between exposures, and the delay before the first exposure. The number of exposures can be set between 1 and 10,000, and the interval between shots can range from 1 sec to 59 min 59 sec. Once a sequence is initiated, the communicating iDevice can be turned off and/or disconnected from the CamRanger wi-fi network. The CamRanger user guide states that the interval between exposures is not precisely controlled, particularly when it "is only a few seconds or less." It's not clear how long (in time) that a sequence can be, given that the limiting factor will be battery life of the CamRanger "pod".
HDR Sequences
CamRanger can control automated HDR exposure sequences. Steps between successive exposures can range from 1/3 to 3 EV (in 1/3 EV increments). The attribute being varied can be aperture, shutter speed, or ISO. The number of exposures in the sequence can also be set, within a range that is determined by available camera settings (e.g., maximum shutter speed), the step size between exposures, and the settings for the initial exposure. The initial exposure is the "darkest", as set within the CamRanger app. In my tests, the time between exposures was about 2 sec, which is rather long given that subject movement is generally undesirable in HDR images.
In some ways the CamRanger implementation of HDR is an improvement over the native implementation on the D90. In particular, a native "automated" HDR sequence on the D90 is limited to no more than three exposures with a maximum range of 4 EV between the lightest and darkest images. However, if the drive mode on the D90 is set to continuous (high), those three exposures will take less than 1 second.
I tried to see if I could work around CamRanger's slow HDR shooting. Using CamRanger, I remotely set the camera drive mode to continuous (high) for seven exposures. Then I used CamRanger to set up a 7-exposure HDR sequence. I ended up with 49 exposures, seven taken at each step in the HDR sequence! Hopefully HDR sequences can be sped up in the future.
Image Review
With Nikon cameras, you must shoot JPG or RAW+JPG in order to review images (other than thumbnails) on your iDevice screen. (With Canon, you can just shoot RAW). You cannot review images on the LCD of your camera as long as the USB connection is maintained between the camera and the CamRanger "pod". This is true even if the connection mode is set to Camera. Image review on your iDevice can include a three-color histogram as well as blinking highlight and shadow clipping warnings.
Small Irritations
1. Almost every time I want to establish a wi-fi connection between my iPhone and the CamRanger, I am prompted for the network password. The "fix" is to simply try again. It always seems to work on the second try -no password needed. (This is a known "bug".)
2. On an iPhone, the CamRanger app does not switch to landscape view when the phone is rotated. (I believe this is NOT the case on iPads.)
Conclusion
Overall, CamRanger is truly impressive from both software and hardware standpoints. The variety of camera settings and shooting behaviors that can be controlled remotely (wirelessly) is astounding, especially for a third-party implementation. Certainly, nothing made by Nikon comes even close. All features seem to work quite well, although focus stacking is a bit crude, and execution of HDR sequences is slow (as detailed above). So far, I have only used the CamRanger "pod" within a few feet of my iPhone, so I cannot speak to the communication range. Nor have I made explicit tests of battery life, or tied to shoot video sequences. I have not tried using the CamRanger app in bright sunlight, where visibility of the the iDevice screen might be an issue. Finally, I'm guessing that the Live View capability with touch focusing will be very impressive on an iPad, with its much larger screen (compared to the iPhone). Finally, I've had excellent customer support from CamRanger.
The CamRanger app and hardware enable wireless remote control of supported cameras over a private wi-fi network. It can be used simply as a remote shutter release. However, it is actually much more powerful than that because it can be used to remotely control a wide range of camera settings and shooting behaviors, as detailed below. Currently, a number of Nikon and Canon DSLRs are supported. I have tested CamRanger on an iPhone 4S with a Nikon D90. Most of my observations probably apply to other Nikon models. There are some differences between Nikon and Canon implementations, as described in the CamRanger user guide. I refer to the hardware component as the CamRanger "pod".
Addendum: after publishing the first version of this review, I discovered that focusing was not working properly with my D90. After a couple of e-mails with Dave at CamRanger, he agreed that things were not as they should be. He fixed this issue promptly in an updated version of the CamRanger app. Needless to say, I'm very happy with the customer support. Also, focusing now works properly with my D90.
A small bit of terminology
CamRanger can be used in Live View or non-Live View (Dead View?) modes. In Live View mode, the image being recorded by the camera sensor is streamed in real time (with a delay on the order of hundredths of a second) to your iDevice screen (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch). Touching the screen on your iDevice will cause the camera to focus on that part of the scene, provided of course that you are using an auto-focus lens and AF is enabled on the camera. With Nikon cameras (but apparently not Canon), you have a choice of two connection modes: PC or Camera. Camera mode means that you can interact directly with the camera controls, and can see all the usual information on the camera's top LCD (provided that Live View is NOT also enabled). In PC mode (and Live View mode), the camera is unresponsive to direct manipulation of camera controls, and the top LCD simply displays "PC". PC mode enables remote control of the camera shooting mode (P,S,A,M). In Camera mode, you must rotate the dial on the top of the camera to change shooting mode. (It should be noted that turning on Live View while in Camera connection mode effectively changes the connection mode to PC.) If you want to use touch focusing with a Nikon, you will probably need to be in PC mode (see discussion below).
Basic Camera Settings
Unless otherwise noted, the following applies to both PC and Camera connection modes.
Shooting mode (P,S,A,M,Scene): as noted above, this can be controlled remotely only in PC connection mode (on Nikon cameras). A tiny glitch is that in Program (P) mode it is not possible to remotely alter the shutter speed/aperture combination selected by the program. That is, one cannot remotely engage what Nikon calls Flexible Program. This seems a minor point: people who use CamRanger are unlikely to use Program mode in the first place.
Aperture: full remote control
Shutter speed: full remote control
Image format: remote selection of RAW, JPG, RAW+JPG, and JPG quality -but NOT JPG size. JPG size will be as last set on the camera.
Metering mode: full remote control in non-Live View mode
Drive mode (single-frame, continuous low speed, etc.): full remote control -plus the ability to set the number of frames in continuous shooting mode
White balance: full remote control
Auto-focus mode (AF-S, AF-C, etc.): full remote control
Exposure compensation: full remote control in 1/3 EV increments (up to ± 5 EV on a D90)
Exposure bracketing: full remote control three exposures (± 2 EV in 1/3 increments on a D90). Note: the exposure compensation and bracketing options available in the CamRanger app are the same as if the D90 were being operated manually. This suggests that the available CamRanger settings will depend on the camera being used.
Focus mode (AF, MF): remote switching between auto focus and manual focus available in PC connection mode only. This is perhaps the least intuitive control. If you are in Live View, touching the screen will make the camera focus on the part of the scene that you touch, regardless of the AF/MF CamRanger setting (provided the switches on the camera and lens are set for AF). However, if CamRanger is set to AF, the camera will re-focus before making an exposure, using the focusing area last selected on the camera. In other words, CamRanger must be set to MF in order for remote touch focusing to work properly. In effect, this is remote manual focusing (MF) by using a touch screen, and it overrides the AF camera/lens settings. You need to be in PC connection mode in order for the switches on the camera and lens to be set to AF while at the same time being able to be set CamRanger to MF. At least that is how it works on the D90. I don't know how this works on Canon bodies, and even other Nikon bodies may work a bit differently.
Live histogram: in Live View mode only
ISO: Full remote control, with the caveat that Auto ISO must not be enabled in the camera menus. Unfortunately ISO selection is NOT disabled on the CamRanger when the camera is in Auto ISO mode. This gives one the false impression that ISO is being controlled remotely. Auto ISO cannot be turned on and off remotely.
Focus Control
See the discussion above about MF/AF focus mode. Remote autofocusing is accomplished in Live View mode by touching the image on the iDevice screen to place a focus point. Furthermore, remote focus can be fine-tuned by pressing six upor down-pointing triangular touch-screen "buttons" in the CamRanger UI (rather than by touching the image). In non-Live View mode, the camera will focus automatically according to the settings made on the camera (single-point AF, etc.), with the obvious caveat that AF must be enabled on the camera/lens. It is not possible to remotely select the focus point in non-Live View mode.
An automated focus stacking feature is also included. It is possible to set the number of shots in a sequence. One is also given the option of small, medium or large focus increments between captures. But there is no indication of what small, medium and large actually mean. A sequence is started from the the closest focus point, which is chosen in Live View mode. However, there is no way of knowing, except by reviewing images, how far the focus stacking sequence progresses. In other words, getting reliable results will involve some trial-and-error tinkering. An alternative is to do focus stacking manually by touching successive focus points on the iDevice screen. Hopefully, this feature can be be improved in subsequent software versions.
Time-lapse Photography (Timer and Intervalometer)
CamRanger can be used to control a time-lapse sequence of exposures, or to make a single exposure at some point in the future. The user sets the number of exposures, the time interval ("shot delay") between exposures, and the delay before the first exposure. The number of exposures can be set between 1 and 10,000, and the interval between shots can range from 1 sec to 59 min 59 sec. Once a sequence is initiated, the communicating iDevice can be turned off and/or disconnected from the CamRanger wi-fi network. The CamRanger user guide states that the interval between exposures is not precisely controlled, particularly when it "is only a few seconds or less." It's not clear how long (in time) that a sequence can be, given that the limiting factor will be battery life of the CamRanger "pod".
HDR Sequences
CamRanger can control automated HDR exposure sequences. Steps between successive exposures can range from 1/3 to 3 EV (in 1/3 EV increments). The attribute being varied can be aperture, shutter speed, or ISO. The number of exposures in the sequence can also be set, within a range that is determined by available camera settings (e.g., maximum shutter speed), the step size between exposures, and the settings for the initial exposure. The initial exposure is the "darkest", as set within the CamRanger app. In my tests, the time between exposures was about 2 sec, which is rather long given that subject movement is generally undesirable in HDR images.
In some ways the CamRanger implementation of HDR is an improvement over the native implementation on the D90. In particular, a native "automated" HDR sequence on the D90 is limited to no more than three exposures with a maximum range of 4 EV between the lightest and darkest images. However, if the drive mode on the D90 is set to continuous (high), those three exposures will take less than 1 second.
I tried to see if I could work around CamRanger's slow HDR shooting. Using CamRanger, I remotely set the camera drive mode to continuous (high) for seven exposures. Then I used CamRanger to set up a 7-exposure HDR sequence. I ended up with 49 exposures, seven taken at each step in the HDR sequence! Hopefully HDR sequences can be sped up in the future.
Image Review
With Nikon cameras, you must shoot JPG or RAW+JPG in order to review images (other than thumbnails) on your iDevice screen. (With Canon, you can just shoot RAW). You cannot review images on the LCD of your camera as long as the USB connection is maintained between the camera and the CamRanger "pod". This is true even if the connection mode is set to Camera. Image review on your iDevice can include a three-color histogram as well as blinking highlight and shadow clipping warnings.
Small Irritations
1. Almost every time I want to establish a wi-fi connection between my iPhone and the CamRanger, I am prompted for the network password. The "fix" is to simply try again. It always seems to work on the second try -no password needed. (This is a known "bug".)
2. On an iPhone, the CamRanger app does not switch to landscape view when the phone is rotated. (I believe this is NOT the case on iPads.)
Conclusion
Overall, CamRanger is truly impressive from both software and hardware standpoints. The variety of camera settings and shooting behaviors that can be controlled remotely (wirelessly) is astounding, especially for a third-party implementation. Certainly, nothing made by Nikon comes even close. All features seem to work quite well, although focus stacking is a bit crude, and execution of HDR sequences is slow (as detailed above). So far, I have only used the CamRanger "pod" within a few feet of my iPhone, so I cannot speak to the communication range. Nor have I made explicit tests of battery life, or tied to shoot video sequences. I have not tried using the CamRanger app in bright sunlight, where visibility of the the iDevice screen might be an issue. Finally, I'm guessing that the Live View capability with touch focusing will be very impressive on an iPad, with its much larger screen (compared to the iPhone). Finally, I've had excellent customer support from CamRanger.
Sony DPF-D820 8-Inch SVGA LCD (4:3) Digital Photo Frame (Black)
I've had this frame for a week and it worked great out of the box. I was up and running within minutes with photos loaded easily, direct from my computer. The little remote is very handy and comes with a battery which I am very happy about because I'm not sure how to open it. I really like the slide show setting of "Time Machine" -at first I thought it showed the current date and time in the bottom right corner, but it actually shows the date and time the photo was taken, which is WAY cooler! The frame is programmable so you can make it turn on and off automatically any time you want. I love it!
Clarion CX501 Double-DIN CD/Bluetooth/USB Receiver
List Price: $299.99
Sale Price: $160.98
Today's Bonus: 46% Off
I bought this for a 2005 Chevy Colorado. I used a Metra 95-2009 Double DIN Installation Multi-Kit for Select 1995-2008 GM/Honda/Isuzu/Suzuki Vehicles installation kit and an Axxess GMRC-01 Class II GM Chime Retention Interface to keep my chimes my truck doesn't have On-Star or a separate factory amp. I also got the Scosche Mda-1B 1988 Up Gm Micro/Delco Antenna Adapter because GM uses a small antenna plug. All parts were exactly what I needed. The radio fit perfectly WITHOUT cutting the truck's metal rear support bracket inside the dash. The truck has Boston Acoustic speakers in the front doors and factory speakers in the rear. As a result I keep the fader set to the front speakers only. This truck has no dimmer wire or illumination wire so the dimming feature will not work. I did not need navigation because I use my Droid and I don't need DVD or movies in the truck. I had that feature in my last head unit for three years and never did watch a movie in the truck.
I like that it's compatible with my existing Sirius SCC1 receiver I didn't want to have to buy a proprietary Sirius receiver. That kind of thing just rankles me and it's a BIG reason I chose this unit. I just plugged it in and it simply worked. The unit will hold 18 Sirius presets and I can choose to display Artist and Track at the same time.
Also, the ability to read USB MP3 files is great I like to throw audio books on a USB stick for long drives. The Clarion will remember the track position even after the truck is turned off and the USB stick removed so when I put the USB stick in again the unit will shift to the USB source and start playing where it left off. This is a great feature for audio books. Fastforward/rewind is accomplished by holding the Next Track/Previous Track buttons.
Good bluetooth connection with my Droid X The unit connects automatically with both BT phone and BT audio at the same time. (My wife's much-more-expensive Pioneer AVIC will not connect both phone and audio to her Incredible at the same time; she has to choose one or the other and go through the cumbersome process to do it.) I can play music on my phone and sound comes out of the Clarion instead of the phone and I can pause, skip tracks, control volume, etc with the Clarion. The BT Telephone part also works great and the sound is fine. The microphone is built into the unit. The Clarion easily accepted my Droid X phone book although it wouldn't transfer the contacts in my favorites but I think that is a problem with the phone and not the Clarion I'm still working on it. It is not possible to add single numbers to the phone book. The Clarion phone book stores all the names in Last Name | First Name order which I don't like. Calls are not that easy to start from the Clarion unless it is redialing a recent call. Trying to direct dial from the radio while driving would be crazy because its way too complicated. However, incoming calls work perfectly (and mute the radio during the call) and I can make outgoing calls from the phone while it sits in the dock and then it's hands free speaker-phone over the Clarion. Overall I'm extremely happy with the bluetooth and this is another BIG reason I am happy with this unit.
Aux-In jack on the front haven't used this yet but its good to have.
Double Din Big two-line text thats easy to read while driving. The buttons are not all mashed together and the volume knob is big. It's easy to control the unit quickly and safely. I appreciate this after driving another vehicle with a single-din unit that had dozens of tiny buttons and practically unreadable text and button labels. However, I can't see the clock at the same time as anything else which is a negative in other words I can see Artist and Track, or Station or whatever but if I want to see the clock it will be all I see. They should have left a spot where the clock can always be visible.
The FM sounds pretty good better than the Sirius music stations I think. I can't compare the FM sensitivity to the factory radio because I took out the factory radio long ago...
Music sounds good enough with my BA speakers. Not outstanding, but good enough for me. In my younger days when I was more into music I would have demanded more and probably used an external amp and sub-woofer, etc (and also bought a more expensive brand just because of the name!) but nowadays I mostly listen to talk radio on Sirius. However, like I said, music sounds very acceptable if I don't crank it up way too loud. I actually removed my external Alpine amp at the same time I installed the Clarion. I don't feel like I need it.
The ability to change colors is very cool. Right now I have it on a custom yellow which looks real good.
The remote, which I don't use, has a mute button but the head unit does not. However it's easy to turn down quickly due to the huge volume knob.
I did test the CD part which was fine, but I probably won't be using that either.
There are three ipods in my house so I could test that feature but I just don't care enough to do it. I can use my Droid over bluetooth if I want to play portable music.
Bottom line is that I am very happy with the Clarion considering it's price and would certainly buy again if I needed another head unit.
AmScope 40X-2000X Full-Size 17 Lbs Professional Trinocular Lab
List Price: $1,700.00
Sale Price: $288.98
Today's Bonus: 83% Off
For a sub-$300 microscope, this is a very good value. But compared to Nikon or Olympus professional models that cost 10 times more, it would be an unfair comparison. Simply put, optical and mechanical quality and performance fall well short of professional models. For students and hobbyists, this is more than adequate.
I also bought the Phase Contrast Kit (Model PCT) directly from Amscope for $684. When I was purchasing it, I thought it was a bit strange that Amscope priced the contrast kit so high since the microscopes it was designed to be used with cost only a fraction. I thought maybe the quality of the contrast kit might be high. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. It was not really useable so I ended up returning it.
The reason why I mention the Phase Contrast kit is this. For anyone considering buying anything from Amscope, buy from Amazon if you can. Returning anything to Amazon is exceptionally easy. That's not the case if you buy directly from Amscope. I had to call 3 times to get an RMA number, then call 3 times to get a refund processed. They eventually refunded the full price less shipping cost but it took too much effort to make that happen. Their technical support is non-existent.
Canon GL2 MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom
List Price: $2,999.99
Sale Price: $2,199.99
Today's Bonus: 27% Off
I own this camera, and it's my best friend. Well not really, but it's the most amazing camera I've ever had. You get what you pay for, and you get a lot from this camera.
This is however, NOT a camera that the general public should buy. It's far to expensive, and really wouldn't be worth it to someone who will be using this for filming say a birthday party. There are many features on this camera, which make it as wonderful as it is, but these features would likely be unused by someone new to video cameras. So if you are in this boat, save your money and get a different camera.
What's great about it? The image quality is better than anything I've seen before. With 3CCD, it's good. Unlike the XL-1S, the GL2 has a 2.5 inch color LCD. However, I rarely use this. It takes up more battery power, and you can't see it when there's sunlight. I love the audio controls, and how it's not only stereo microphone, but you can control the levels of your left and right audio, right there, on the camera. I love to convert analogue video into digitial video, and it's almost too easy using the GL2. It's great for getting your older stuff into a digital format, and being able to easily get it onto your computer.
What's bad about it? Really not a whole lot. The 1.7-megapixel photo mode is really uneeded. 1.7-megapixels really isn't that good. The included 8MB card for these pictures isn't enough. If you're going to want to take digital pictures, then get a digital still camera, and don't use the GL2 as a still camera.
But I can't stress enough that if you aren't going to use this for more professional projects, then you really shouldn't get this camera.
Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Mulitpurpose Lens for Nikon
i use this lens for sport, n the result, AMAZING, PERFECT, 4 thumbs up for this lens...
if u looking lens for sport, go n get it.. its worth it...
if u looking lens for sport, go n get it.. its worth it...
JVC GCQX5HDU 3MP Digital Still Camera w/ 2x Optical Zoom
Fabulous camera, quite technical to use, but the automatic setting works flawlessly. One drawback is the short lifespan of the battery, but it does recharge quickly and you can use the ac cord. Another bonus is the attachment to take old negatives and scan them to digital images.
Sony Alpha SLT - A77 Digital Camera (Body Only)
I have bought this camera from sunset electronics and this was a Very Bad experience as this was not brand new but used before with missing stickers, tags and having some dust in hidden corners with a very tiny scratch on the LCD display.
Other than that the Camera itself is great and a nice upgrade from Sony loyal costumer.
However beware that this camera has some software issue in some shooting conditions such as auto white balance in some particular light conditions it will give you a black screen with a camera error and you will have to switch off and back on.
I have also noticed that in some cases you need to reset the lens to have to camera error off the way. This is not what I had expected from sony latest model I hope they will soon resolve this issue with a version update.
Other than that the Camera itself is great and a nice upgrade from Sony loyal costumer.
However beware that this camera has some software issue in some shooting conditions such as auto white balance in some particular light conditions it will give you a black screen with a camera error and you will have to switch off and back on.
I have also noticed that in some cases you need to reset the lens to have to camera error off the way. This is not what I had expected from sony latest model I hope they will soon resolve this issue with a version update.
Fujifilm FinePix S8500 Digital Camera 16MP, 46x Optical Zoom
List Price: $453.14
Sale Price: $289.95
Today's Bonus: 36% Off
This is my third Fuji camera, and I love the brand. This particular camera is loaded with lots of features, from special filters to a 40xzoom. And as always, Fuji cameras are user friendly. I especially love the double zoom switch, one on top of the camera and a rocker style switch on the lens barrel, so you can use it right or left handed. The picture quality is awesome, and the menu is easy to navigate. I'm an advanced amatuer photographer, having over 40 years of experience with film and digital, and I have to say this is one of my favorite cameras.