GoPro HERO3+: Silver Edition

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $299.99
Sale Price: $299.00
Today's Bonus: $0.99 Off

Be aware when purchasing that there are some aspects to the new "improved" lens that may not be for everyone. This week it has been fairly well documented (and confirmed by GoPro) that while the new lens produces much sharper images under 4', they are blurrier at distances greater than 4'. It does NOT focus at infinity. For reasons not fully explained, they moved the focal point of the lens in close and sacrificed distance clarity.

Update at bottom.

You will get great shots under 4' and soft focus beyond that. Depending on what you want it for, this camera may not be for you and the regular H3 might be a better bet. Since this is an effect of the lens it applies to both stills and video. On the other hand, it's still a decent small action camera, and if you take a lot of video in motion you may not notice this at all. For YouTube uploads and streaming it may not matter, I haven't tested this myself. If you want better clarity in your images the 3B is a good choice. I personally will play with it this week before deciding if I should return it. (Update: it's going back.)

It boggles the mind that they have produced a camera that claims to have a better lens and ignored the fact that it is in fact worse for 90% of what you'll be filming. Great clarity on your handlebars but not so good on the scenery.

Edit: other plusesthe color is much better with the 3+ than the 3. Low light shooting is also better, although sometimes lens flare from lights is a little worse, sometimes better. No more chromatic aberration (yellow/purple fringing). Just do some reading before buying this, they made some trade-offs in the new lens.

Updated 10/17:

Well after comparing the two (3+B and 3B) this week, there are some more problems that have had me downgrade this to a 3 star. For one, the right and left sides of the images on the 3+ are smeared. I mean really distorted, and I'm not using SuperView. Additionally the contrast seems to be set too high, causing some loss of detail in the shadows and blowing out whites a bit. This at least is changeable with a firmware update if they choose to do so. The blurry edges put me over the edge and I'm returning it. It's too bad, it's almost a great camera, with some nice improvements, but the lens is a definite problem, and not necessarily an improvement... certainly not 33% sharper.

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Philips Keychain Digital Camera

Customer Ratings:

I wish I had read the reviews before I bought this camera. My 6YO wanted it and it was only fifteen bucks and looked good in the box. However, the cons outweigh the pros:

Cons:

Only hold 20 pics

Pictures are about 2" x 2"

picture quality is not good

impossible to see thru the view finder so hard to get pictures of what you want

If you drop camera, battery falls out and pictures are lost

I get higher quality pics from my cell phone.

There is no flash

Pros:

Camera is small

6 YO thinks it's cool

I did not have any issues installing the software or downloading the pictures, the instructions are clear, I just wish the pictures were. But my 6YO is happy with it so we'll keep it.

There are better deals for the same money.

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Sony DCRPC350 3MP MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/10x

Customer Ratings:

The main reasons I purchased this camera were its size and its resolution. The camera is small enough to fit in my coat pocket, which means that I have it with me when I need it, and its 3MP resolution means that I can leave my digital camera at home. In fact, this camera has an F1.8 lens, which is as fast as you'll find on most full-size cameras, so it takes decent pictures indoors even without using the flash.

While I've been delighted with the size and still camera capabilities, there are a few other features that I think are great as well. The first is the option to use 16:9 video format if you want. I have a HDTV, and video shot in normal 4:3 format doesn't fill the screen unless it's stretched sideways, making everyone look fat. The 16:9 option of the DCR-PC350 allows you to shoot video that fills the screen like a real movie. You'll probably appreciate this even more in a few years when most TVs are widescreen.

A second useful, though not well documented, feature is the "seek to end" feature. If you've been reviewing what you've recorded and want to start recording again without overwriting something, you can use the "seek to end" to move quickly to the end of the recorded section.

Another reviewer complained about the inability to monitor sound levels during recording. This hasn't been a problem for me as I found I could just plug a set of headphones into the AV jack and hear what was being recorded. In fact, both the AV port and the s-video port are active when the camera's on, so you can watch and hear what you're recording using an external monitor and headphones (or speaker) if you want.

The camera has tons of other fancy features, all of which are accessible through the handy touch-screen display, but those above are my favorites.

The main complaints I have about this camera are:

1) The memory stick. The camera ships with a memory stick that's got a measly 16MB capacity, so plan on replacing it with a 256MB or 512MB stick straight away. In addition, the memory stick is this odd "memory stick duo" format that you have to insert into a larger adapter (supplied) to make it readable by a computer. Using a standard SD card, which is the same size as the duo anyway, would have been a better idea.

2) The software. The bundled video editing software is terrible. Plan on buying Adobe Premiere, or using Windows Movie Maker.

3) The cabling. You definitely want to use firewire rather than USB 2.0 for doing your video transfers if for no other reason than it provides almost 2x the transfer speed. In addition, some video editing software looks for cameras only on a firewire port. So plan on buying a firewire cable as well.

The need to immediately drop another hundred or two on accessories is the main reason I gave this camera 4 stars instead of 5.

Lastly, I'd also recommend getting the "BCTRF Compact Battery Charger for F Series Batteries" and the "Sony HVLS3D 3 Watt Video Light" The charger is only slightly bigger than the battery and saves you lugging the AC adapter around on vacation. The light is tiny and despite being only 3 watts can make a significant difference indoors if you're close to your subject.

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Nikon 4809 SB-910 Speedlight Supplied with; AS-21 Speedlight

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $549.95
Sale Price: $499.95
Today's Bonus: 9% Off

I was a bit surprised when I saw Nikon had introduced the SB-910 relatively quickly given the old SB-800 was around for longer when the SB-900 introduced so my suspicion is they got very tired of dealing with the overheating issues that the SB-900 had. Granted for many people those issues were not THAT big of a deal since believe me, having to wait 10 minutes for a flash to cool down during an automatic "time out" is far better than frying your flash; however, for pros who are about to take that picture of a ring being put on a finger, or the first kiss, etc. this is a very big deal and the SB-910 addresses that.

Physically, you can't tell the two apart unless you look closely. The color correction gels on the 910 are also hard and better built. Internally, the 910 takes much longer to overheat and when it does, it slows down the flash rate (not sure about power) instead of just shutting down. I had fun playing with this flash (I don't own it yet since my current SB-800 is more than good enough) but if I were to buy one today, this would be it.

Who should get this?

If you do many events where power is important (bouncing lights off ceiling), rapid recycles, etc. get this.

If you do a lot of off camera CLS work, get this.

If you have an SB-900, I'd probably hold off.

If you have an SB-800 and don't need the easier controls, hold off.

If you have an SB-600 and need more power or a flash commander, get this.

If you have an SB-700 and need more power get this.

If you're just an average shooter who uses flash now and then at the kids' party or as fill flash here or there or just want an commander, the SB-700 is good enough.

If you're strapped for cash and don't need a commander, find a nice used SB-600...possibly used SB-800 if you can find it at $300ish, get that.

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Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 Wide Angle Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Customer Ratings:

This is a cheap lens old design, very plastic that can prove terribly useful for those on a budget who want a wider perspective, especially on 1.6x crop factor dSLRs.

I learned about "cheap" with this lens broke the focus ring the day after delivery. But I blame myself too, and the replacement's given me no trouble, though I think my first one was a bit sharper than the second. (Update: calibration of the replacement optimized my performance to match or exceed that first one that I broke. It now performs *very well* wide-open at f/2.8, and beyond belief at f/5.6.)

By many standards, this lens will match or exceed zoom lens of comparable price (as a prime lens should). Autofocus is a little buzzy, but the main time you'll notice is when it loses its bearing and suddenly lurches way off target. Mostly, focuses quickly enough and well. Some chromatic aberration in worst-case scenarios, but nothing awful or unexpected. Vignetting, even on a 1.6x crop, can be noticeable, mainly in sky shots, but gradual rather than sudden. (Might be unacceptably worse on a full-frame camera.) Undue distortion seems minimal haven't really checked but also haven't really noticed, if you see what I mean. Flare seems average, perhaps better than one would expect from such wide glass. (I've never had a shot blown out, even with the sun in the shot.) Bokeh is nonchalant, not dreamy but never intrusive.

But at the price, the positives make up for the negative and "average" tendencies. It's vibrantly colorful and contrasty almost to a fault. Hard light is a little more challenging with this lens, a little more tricky to balance exposure between highlights and shadows. It can be softish wide-open, but very unobjectionably have rarely regretted shooting at f/2.8. My main lens is a 50mm f/1.4, and switching back and forth on the same aperture setting is perfectly functional in practice. Lose a little crisp for taking in four times as much space, and that's a trade-off I can run with. (Their filter threads match too.)

Before calibration, my second sample got "plenty sharp" by f/4, and "stunning sharp" at f/5.6 or beyond. Now, I never find any complaint at f/2.8, and frequently get my breath taken away at f/5.6. However, other reviewers around the web have verified something I've noticed the focus is more consistently crisp when focused out to infinity (which isn't far) than when aimed at nearer subjects. For any kind of scenic photography, I recommend setting the focus to infinity and then flipping to manual focus to lock it out there, for easiest and most reliable results.

"Crop factor" over-simplifies the effect of mounting a wide-angle lens on a 1.6x camera. Yes, the field of view will match 40mm on a full-frame, but the perspective will not, because you'll be closer to your subjects. Shooting live subjects (like bands, models, or street life) will require a learning curve, so beware mission critical work before you've broken yourself in so you can anticipate its exagerations.

That said, I bought this lens primarily for "head-to-toe" model shooting in my modest studio, and it's been a real asset. Interestingly, it tends toward a very useful "slimming effect" that makes hippy girls look more slender and shorter girls more ambiguous in height. This happens if you're filling the frame with them and standing with your lens at about their head level relatively speaking, their hips are much further away so they narrow. Disconcerting at first but terribly useful once you've gotten the hang of it. (Beware chicken legs or the reverse from dramatic perspectives.)

I read every review I could find before purchase, and this lens seemed to be a magic middle between the higher cost clarity of the 20mm and the cheaper lesser sharpness of the 28mm. Near as I can tell, I nailed it. The build and buzz create an ongoing sense of cheapness, but the performance really pays off if you need an affordable wider angle that generally won't let you down.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (8-Inch, Gold-Brown)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $299.99
Sale Price: $249.00
Today's Bonus: 17% Off

Updated Review October 31, 2013 (after 3 ½ Months of ownership): Since I have been using this tablet for over three and a half months, I have found that this tablet CONTINUES to exceed all of my expectations and more! If you are looking a high quality eight inch tablet, this may very well be the once for you as the superb improvements in this Tab 3 8.0 over the older Tab 2 7.0 are just fantastic with more internal RAM Memory and more internal storage (double) and this is just a couple of improvements as there are MANY improvements in the Tab 3 8.0 that has truly has given this tablet that WOW Factor. So below, I am listing the many Pros I personally have found while using this tablet:

PROS:

+ Overall Speed And Performance and Android OS:

With the fast 1.5 GHz processor, I have found this to be a very fast tablet and for me, all has been running so smoothly on this tablet. Love that this tablet has 16GB Internal memory.

The Android OS is 4.2 and inside it has Samsung TouchWiz overlay which is beautiful and user friendly. In fact, if you have used a Samsung Galaxy device as S2, S3, S4 or other Galaxy type, you will love the OS and the Samsung TouchWiz interface on this. Perhaps you have never used Android OS or even a Samsung device? No worries, as this tablet is easy to learn in my opinion.

+ SCREEN SIZE IS JUST RIGHT SIZE VERY CLEAR/SHARP SCREEN FOR READING eBooks or VIEWING WEBPAGES. (Screen in my opinion is large and has superb clarity/clearness for reading eBooks and webpages as the print is so readable as I find it VERY CLEAR/VIVID. This is a great in-between size tablet to use. And I found that the screen was large enough to read webpages easily or watch videos. The screen has a PPI (pixels per inch) of 189, which renders a crisp and clear screen. **There is a new selection under Settings and Display, under Font, an option to Increase legibility of fonts. I check marked this and noticed that the fonts/letters on the screen, internet and more are very crystal clear. Also, there is in Settings/Display Screen Mode, with choices of Dynamic, Standard and Movie. And I selected Dynamic and found that the colors are super vivid and very colorful.

+ EXTERNAL SLOT FOR MICRO SD CARD You can add a 64gb SD card for personal files. However, keep in mind where External SD cards are concerned: They are JUST for your personal files: music, videos, photos, and other files. When you install apps from the Playstore or other sources, they store either in INTERNAL SD Card area or the main internal area. This is the law of the land where Android is concerned and ALL newer Android devices (including Samsung) work this way where storing your downloaded apps are concerned.

+ WiFi Connecting/Speed of WiFi Setting up WiFi and keeping a great signal and long distance WiFi strong signal is one superb feature on this tablet. So I compared the signal strength with the Tab 3 vs my regular Android phone. The Tab 3 had about 35% stronger signal then the phone. I believe it is because there is a very strong WiFi receiver in this tablet. At home or on the road, I am able to connect to many free WiFi hotspots very easily with great signal strength.

+ Internet/Watching Online Flash Videos: After I installed Adobe Archived Flash I can watch internet (flash) videos directly (including Amazon videos) directly from STOCK BROWSER. Because this is archived flash it does take a little longer to load flash videos. If you need instructions on how to do this, please ask in the comments and I will answer this or any questions.

*Viewing of webpages in browsers on this tablet: Reading/viewing a webpage is OUTSTANDING using this tablet as the fonts, pictures and videos are very crisp and clear as well as the colors are very vivid.

+ Reading/Creating/Editing Word, Excel, Text Files and much more on this tablet: This comes with a OK app for reading Office documents, however, I prefer Kingsoft Office which is a free app from Playstore. It is the best I have ever tried and I am very picky about so called Office programs. It is very compatible with MS Office as it reads, edits and creates Office files and reads PDF files, and it has more features of any other Android Office program that I tried. This app is a MUST have for tablet owners in my opinion.

+ Home Videos The stock video player is OK and plays MOST home videos, however, may I suggest QQ Player, this is a free App from Playstore and it plays every home video I tried). Also MX Video Player is very good, however, I prefer QQ Player.

+ Music Player/Sound Quality Stock player has clear sound through the outside "speakers" are really OK. Better with good quality headphones or a BlueTooth Speaker. To sync easily with Windows Media Player may I suggest the Playstore app free called WinAmp for the tablet as it is very highly rated and the sound is SUPERB!

+ Battery LifeExcellent, so far, however, this is what I have found: When I am on WiFi, I go to the websites I need and then as soon as I am done (reasonable time), I exit the browser (or YouTube, etc) and TURN OFF WiFi. However, I run my brightness at 100%. So this seems to keep the battery going longer. *In addition, I have found that my battery life is improved over the Tab 2 7.0 and the Tab 2 10.1.

+ Kindle App I installed the Kindle App and synced my Kindle books. Began to read a new book and was very impressed with how exceptional the book rendered using this Tab 3 8.0. Very impressed as the text was very crisp and clear.

+ Camera The 5MP rear camera has improved over the Tab 2 line. There is no flash on the camera, yet there are several helpful modes to enhance your shots. For me, I use Auto mode. And I tried the camera and video and was happily surprised in the quality it is pretty good. However, I will continue to use my regular camera for serious picture taking and videos.

+ OTG USB Compatible You can add an optional OTG (On the Go Micro USB adapter cable to the Micro port for copying files to your flash drive and from your flash drive to the Tab 3). I already had one from my Note I and it works great on the Tab. You can also plug in a mouse, I tried it and it worked. *Note that portable external hard drives and portable DVD/CD drives will not work using OTG in the Tab 3 as I discovered when I tried to read my hard disks via OTG in the Tab 3. However, it is still good to know that you can easily plug in your flash drive and copy files to the Tab 3 and from Tab 3 to PC--what a time-saver.

+ Bluetooth Speed and Performance The Bluetooth paired quickly with several devices and copied files at a great rate of speed.

+ Screenshots: There is no ICON for screenshots, however, to take a quick screenshot, hold down home button and power button (at the same time), and then it will take a beautiful screenshot. You can find your screenshot in MyFiles, Internal Storage, Pictures, and Screenshots. I use this sometimes for a map on the internet it saves time and this way it is SAVED for later viewing when I am offline.

+ MICRO USB PORT No more having to use the old type of (non standard) USB charger/cable that the Tab 2 line had. However, this tablet requires a 2 AMP USB Charger to charge the tablet so it will not charge on a standard 1 AMP (phone charger) as I tried and only the 2 AMP one will work. This tablet uses the same Micro 2 AMP type of chargers that the Galaxy Note 8 uses.

CONS: (There are TWO, but the first con is NOT the fault of Samsung):

Just one con/concern: New Adobe Flash is not supported, however, I found that archived flash gets the online videos to play and they even play in the stock browser. So I downloaded the older archived flash which gives me the ability to view many internet videos. If you need instructions, just ask me in the comments and I will answer.

* Bottom line: Would I buy this WiFi only model over again? Yes I certainly would. So if you are looking for a superb Samsung Tab 3 8.0 tablet and you have great access to WiFi, this is the one I will suggest to you.

Also, since I am somewhat of a techie person, I will be glad to answer any questions that you may have. Just ask in the comment section and I will answer promptly.

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Panasonic TC-P60S60 60-Inch 1080p 600Hz Plasma HDTV

Customer Ratings:

Panasonic as far as I am concerned is the best producer of television sets in the world right now. Nothing compares to the picture clarity and quality of a Panasonic Plasma TV and this model is no different. I replaced a 42" Plasma from 5 or 6 years ago with this model and a week later I'm not even slightly regretting the choice.

Plasma technology has come a long way, you'll find that not only do you get the high refresh rate, deep blacks and crisp picture but you also get a longer lifetime now (~30 years of 8 hours a day viewing before the TV will begin to fade), much lower power consumption (CNET rates this model around $44 a year, Panasonic states $28, so figure it somewhere between $35-40 without using Eco-mode settings) and better picture control than in the past (multiple ratios, you can choose to cool/warm the picture in minute quantities and set different profiles for each input).

Still, if you're sitting here trying to decide between a Plasma and an LED, you need to really only consider a few scenarios.

If it is going to be in a family room that has bright lighting and won't be used for a lot of high action (sports) programming, you're probably better off going with a newer LED model for the screen reflectivity and to avoid the color saturation you get on Plasmas. If you want a Plasma and to avoid any serious glare problems, try stepping up a model to the ST60 or the VT60, each step up will dramatically improve screen glare (and add a crisper picture, which isn't terribly noticeable unless a side by side comparison is performed when in a scarcely lit room). Otherwise in a bedroom or somewhere you don't mind closing the blinds, this is a great buy. Update: Recently read about the P50S64 which has the anti-reflection coating on the S60 model here, try looking online to find your nearest dealer if this interests you.

Trying to decide between the ST60 and the S60? Even I had a difficult time with that. The final decision really only came down to the fact that there isn't a noticeable difference in picture quality in the setting I have my TV and I don't need the Smart TV/3D ability.

This model has Netflix, Amazon, Youtube, Hulu and a few other Apps. All of which are updated applications so the interfaces are more modern, which is nice. The Wi-Fi set up was very easy, so despite not being Wifi certified I wouldn't be concerned, it comes built-in and ready to go.

Another great feature some Techies might find useful is full DLNA support with no complications. All I had to do was connect the network, pull up my DLNA apps on my Surface or Lumia 920 and boom, streaming right to the TV in all of its glory.

Don't be fooled for other knockoff brands like Samsungs which just copy market innovators or LG/Sharp whom don't have the same technology built into their TVs like Panasonic does. The S60 is a great deal for the consumer, bringing affordable HD sets to the masses and backed by a brand that lasts, my TV still works from 6 years ago without ever needing a repair and I know of other people with Panasonics from 10+ years ago that never had problems.

Update: I've seen a lot of people trying to find a magic configuration for their picture quality, but it's unlikely one settings configurations will match someone else's. Your best bet is to setup the TV and begin tweaking the main settings for your common programming. For instance, I watch a ton of hockey and like for the ice to be vivid and cool, I leave on CATS to dynamically adjust brightness from day to night, the human eye is only so precise so I wouldn't recommend obsessing over tweaks you can't actually recognize. Some people claim to see enhanced reds, pro settings can drop that level when you're in Cinema or Custom.

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ASUS Eee PC 1000HA 10-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel ATOM N270

Customer Ratings:

I've been using my Asus 1000HA extensively for a few days now, and thought I'd post a few comments.

First, let me address the two most common "complaints" -the stiff touchpad keys and the placement of the right shift.

TOUCHPAD KEYS: I also thought the touchpad keys were far too stiff until I realized I was using them wrong. The touchpad keys wrap around the front, and are designed to be "thumbed" at the front, not pushed down from the top. Once I figured out how to use them I found they are not the least bit stiff. It is actually a far better configuration than any other laptop I've used, because when you move your hand down to use the touchpad, your thumb is naturally placed in front of the laptop, and you can flick the touchpad keys from the front instead of trying to crowd all your fingers over the touchpad. With this design, I can now easily cut and paste with one hand, where as with other notebooks I typically have to work the keys with one hand while I use the touchpad with the other. Truly brilliant.

RIGHT SHIFT KEY: As to the shift key, it is technically right where it is supposed to be -at the far right side of the keyboard. Look down at whatever keyboard you are using and you'll see the right shift key at the far right of the other primary keys (not including the number keys). But to accomodate the up arrow, Asus made the shift key half-sized. So you will find yourself occasionally hitting the up arrow when you meant to shift. I've already programed my brain to reach a little farther when I use the right shift key, so it isn't a problem. Someone else mentioned that she used a program to switch the shift and arrow keys, so that is an option if it turns out to be a problem for you.

MEMORY: I ordered the 2GB memory card along with the notebook, and installed it before I ever turned it on. It was a one minute upgrade. Thank you to all that mentioned going to the bios so that the memory would be recognized. Note that you don't do anything in the bios, just go to there and then save and exit. RAM is the most important component relating to system speed, and the memory was about $30, so I can't imagine that anyone would not want to make that upgrade.

BATTERY LIFE: Battery life was one of the main reasons I bought this notebook, because the two hours I was getting on my other small notebook just wasn't cutting it. After fully charging the battery, I turned on the computer and checked the battery life, which was reported at just three hours! But as Windows got a feel for the battery, that number kept going up until it reached more than five hours. I haven't put a stopwatch to it, but I've actually been doing a little better than that with my daily use thus far. Nice to just sit down and get to work while everyone else is fighting over the electrical outlets at the local Barnes & Noble. UPDATE: I found an aftermarket 12,000 mHa battery on ebay for the 1000HA. With this battery I can go well over eight hours on a single charge! It's quite a bit bigger, so some portability is lost, but between the two batteries I can leave the power brick at home.

USB PORTS: There are two on the right and one on the left. With my other laptop, having all three side by side was a problem because sometimes the item you plug in extends over another port. I had to use a multi-tap just to plug in all my stuff. The one on the left is toward the back, which is cool because I can plug in my Sprint wireless and it is out of the way.

FUNCTION KEYS: I like that there are no separate buttons for mute, wireless, etc. Everything is controlled with the function keys.

SPEAKERS AND TYPING ANGLE: Another brilliant design point. With my other laptop, the speakers are where you wrest your palms while typing, which means I am covering the speakers any time I am typing. The Asus puts them underneath, and the laptop is slightly raised on feet at the back to both give clearance to the speakers and create a better typing angle. The sound is very impressive for such a small notebook, and the volume is very good.

SCREEN: I have no problem reading the screen, even with my tired old eyes. The native resolution of the screen in 1024 x 600. That second number means you'll be doing more vertical scrolling. Set the taskbar to auto hide and use full screen mode with your browser. I am really glad I went with this computer as opposed to the Acer One, which has a 8.9" screen. I wouldn't want to go any smaller than the ten inch screen on the Asus.

KEYBOARD: I'm a big guy with big hands, and I have no problem touch typing on this keyboard. I'd say my typos have probably increased 2% as a result of the smaller size.

BOTTOM LINE: I wanted a notebook I could throw in my briefcase and keep with me at all times, and would also allow me to get real work done when I used it, without major compromises. This small notebook completely fills the bill.

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Fujifilm FinePix XP200 Blue 16MP Waterproof Digital Camera

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $249.95
Sale Price: $222.99
Today's Bonus: 11% Off

This camera is brand-spankin'-new. I bought mine at Wal-Mart for $270, $30 cheaper than most retailers. Many stores are selling out...the price is actually going up.

Let's begin:

This camera is COMPLETELY waterproof and fairly shockproof as well. Great for travel and vacations! Mine is bright yellow and comes with a nifty wrist strap, so it's hard to lose.

The resolution is great for the price, the lens glass is sharp and the sensor works well indoors (but not at night, for the most part).

My favorite feature is the HDR setting. For the uninitiated, HDR (High Dynamic Range) photographs are typically merged together from a sequence of light-medium-dark photos of the same subject. HDR allows for a very even exposure of highlights and shadows, when a normal photo would leave the sky bleached or the trees blackened. Some HDR photos look a bit surreal, but this is not a "professional" camera. The word which best describes this camera is "fun". It's just plain fun and easy to use.

Some other nice features are:

**The automatic wifi transfer to your PC (OR to your smartphone/tablet, just download the APP and hold the camera *ON* your device to ensure a connection)

**The panoramic mode (works well with a steady hand and a well-lit area)

Overall, a great little travel camera. I highly recommend this to families, since it's practically unbreakable and simply enough that a child can use it.

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Polycom SoundStation 2W (Non-Expandable)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $739.00
Sale Price: $485.00
Today's Bonus: 34% Off

The product does what it says, and I am pleased. The base station sits about 8 feet from the phone on my desk and the conference call clarity is excellent.

Two heads up:

1. If you want to plug an iPhone into the speaker, the included connection cords (2.5mm to 2.5mm) will not work; you will need to buy a 2.5 to 3.5. I have wasted an hour trying to find one, so that kind of reduces the value proposition here.

2. My SoundStation arrived with power plugs for Europe only. Since I live in California, they are of no use. I called Polycom customer service, who began to pass the buck around. The fourth guy finally referred me to a reseller, who sold them to me and quickly delivered them. The reseller was on the ball, but the Polycom folks were dismal. I ended up having to pay $26 more for their screw up, and again a waste of a good 45 minutes of my time.

Net, good hardware, lousy customer service from Polycom, good service from their reseller GBH Communications. I am keeping my fingers crossed I do not have to deal with Polycom Customer Service in the future: a daunting thought.

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Nokia Lumia 928, White (Verizon Wireless)

Customer Ratings:

I had been waiting for this phone for 6 months, as ATT had an exclusivity contract with Nokia for the 920, and I must say that it was well worth the wait. This phone is fantastic all around. I can't tell you how many android and apple users have stopped me to comment on my phone, picked it up to play with, and sighed with regrets that they just renewed their contracts picking up a new Galaxy or iPhone.

A brief breakdown by area:

Hardware: Nice size and weight, not bulky or heavy despite some biased reviews out there, and is certainly lighter than the iPhone once its been "Otterboxed." Smooth and curved on the back for ease of holding, squared off on front. Easy to reach the whole screen with my thumb despite having small hands for a man. Wireless charging with the basic charging pad is quick and simple. Very satisfied to not have to struggle with micro-usbs anymore. Can't comment on durability because I haven't dropped it yet.

Interace: Sleek, smooth, feels very high end and hi-tech, making the iPhone and Galaxy feel dated.

Screen quality: Beautiful. Slightly dimmer than the iPhone at top brightness. Good visibility outside in sun.

Battery Life: Pretty good, with heavy use you will likely need to recharge at least once daily.

Apps: This is the big gripe point with WindowsPhones in general. There are fewer of thost "must-have" Apps, most notably instagram, dropbox, and personally for me HBOGO, however, these are the only Apps I find myself missing. There are decent 3rd party apps that can do the same. Lomogram for instagram, SkyDrive for dropbox. No 3rd party HBOGO app, but Netflix and Hulu are available. Pandora and Nokia music should keep you happy on the music end. Built in email interface is far more robust and streamlined than the android version...as a Gmail user I was very surprised by how much better Microsoft was able to manage Gmail than google based android. Facebook App is more than adequate. The App situation should improve substantially, particularly in light of the 928 now available on Verizon, and T-mobile getting their own flagship 925.

Camera: Best available in the market. I have not picked up my Nikon DSLR because the shots I get off my 928 are comparable if not superior, particularly in low light. I took a photo this AM with family in pitch-black closet, and the quality is phenomenal with the xenon flash. Low light shots without flash are quite good as well. Very cool photo apps like SmartShot(takes rapid burst of pics and you pick the best one), panorama, and an animated-GIF app.

Video: 1080P, better than real life quality. Can't do much better than this.

Sound: On full volume(30/30), the sound can fill the room, although can be tinny at highest volumes).

I can confidently say that if you take a chance and pick up this phone you will not regret it.

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Nikon COOLPIX L820 16 MP Digital Camera with 30x Zoom (Red) + 4

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $339.95
Sale Price: $289.95
Today's Bonus: 15% Off

The camera bundle came with everything in the picture. It took the maximum to arrive. The auto focus works pretty good and the zoom is amazing. I love the color because most cameras are a boring black. All in all I think this is a great product and if you are willing to wait for a great camera, I would recommend the Coolpix L820 bundle.

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RICOH THETA

Customer Ratings:

Unless you are crazy about immersive panoramas and willing to grant the Theta the kind of unconditional love normally reserved for puppies, spend your money on something more reliable. I'm thinking pork belly futures.

Everything negative that you have read about this camera is probably true. Please understand that I love this camera to pieces. But I'm not a complete idiot. Here is my take on the worst problems.

Internet Connectivity and Image Accessibility

What I consider to be its worst problem is correctable in software: Ricoh Pentax have not released code in any form (source, binary, app, servlet, library) that allows for the independent display of the .jpg images produced by the Theta. Currently, the only way to get an image on the internet is to use either Ricoh's free iOS app or Microsoft's Photosynth app to push the image to Ricoh's servers at theta360.com. Having done that, one can link to the page on which the image resides (not the image itself). Let's say that you have a blog and want to show someone a 360 degree view that you've taken. In your blog text, you'd insert a link to image page on theta360.com. Having clicked that link, your reader is then directed to the Ricoh server and can readily navigate via touch or mouse around your image. Unfortunately, the reader is also subjected to any decorations or ads that Ricoh chooses to weigh down the image with. For some people, this will be a dealbreaker. You are completely at Ricoh's mercy. What happens if -perish the thought -this $400 misunderstanding isn't the huge hit that Ricoh hopes it will be? How about they shut down the server and you're toast? Won't happen? Right.

Let's take the case that you're trying to write a review of the Theta and have uploaded a conventional .jpg that is a highly cropped extract of a 360 image that shows how unobtrusive the camera mount is. Amazon encourages the reviewer to add notes to the image. Suppose in your note you want to add a link to the whole glorious picture to show how tiny and unobtrusive the camera stand is. Well, you cannot, because Amazon don't allow links to images in this context. Nor should they. They don't want to depend on a third party (in this case theta360) who could offer unreliable service, or change the content of the link to an ad or pornography or whatever. The obvious solution is to upload the whole image to Amazon. Oops, you can't do that because Ricoh only supports links to the page on which the image resides. And Amazon only allows images.

One solution is for a Ricoh to register a specific extension for the Theta's images, say .sir which would stand for spherical image Ricoh. Then they could offer operating system level drivers or browser extensions or server side support for that extension which would handle the image rendering. This must sound very tedious. I wouldn't be talking about it if a Ricoh had properly dealt with it.

Image Quality

I got hooked on digital panoramas in the late 1990s. I think that the camera I was using then produced two meg images. The stitching software I could find allowed for stitching together an arbitrary number of images to create a long strip of up to 360 degrees. There was no concept of stitching together two bands along their long axes. So the product of a fair amount of effort was a skinny vertical or horizontal photo. Even skinnier if you cropped the scalloped edges. In contrast, the theta quickly delivers a complete 360 degree image. Whatever stitching that is done is hidden from the user. In my experience, banding that occurs where the two hemispheres is subtly or non-existent. Finger scrolling through the image on my iPod is exciting. Maybe I'm easily amused, but I just love it.

What isn't exciting is the image quality, which is terrible, probably worse than I was getting with the cameras available to me in the nineties. Particularly in the interior shots, the digital grain is like marbles. I'm pretty sure that the software that makes the exposure decides to boost the ISO film speed equivalent rather than extending the exposure. This is crazy. There out to be a setting that asks if the camera is on some sort of support. If it is, i can see no reason why the software that drives the camera cannot increase the exposure time. If the sensor is like that on any other digital camera I've seen, keeping the ISO low should yield profound improvement in resolution.

Another IQ issue that is a little trickier is exposure latitude. Almost be definition, any 360 image is going to have a wide range of illumination, often beyond the capability of any sensor to capture in a single exposure. If the software was told the camera was on a support, it could make several bracketed exposures and not have to clip highlight and shadows.

Usability

Few experiences in life are more pleasant than running crisp software that is smarter than you are. Conversely, hardly anything is more galling than what I will call arrogant but ignorant software. Theta app, how do I hate thee? Let me count the ways.

Running the camera remotely from an iOS (and on 29 November, Android, if Ricoh's announcement holds true) app is brilliant if you happen to have an iPod or iPhone. What isn't great is communicating across a public wifi network hosted by the Theta. Initially, this makes sense. Achieving a connection to a known SSID is something that we all know how to do. The password is engraved on the bottom of the camera, invisible to all snoopers except those with a tripod socket fetish. what is inconvenient is what happens when you start using it. For me, the normal workflow is to take a shot or two and then upload them to the internet. This means that you are constantly toggling back and forth between your normal WiFi connection and the Theta connection. The acronym for this condition is PITA. Far better for them to have used an ad hoc connection which can coexist with a standard connection and avoid swapping altogether. I'm not sure, but I think miracast is an example of what I'm talking about. Also, AppleTV and ChromeCast.

Every time you want to upload an image, you have to log onto FaceBook. This is automated, but what if you don't want to be a member? Tough.

Prominence of Hands, Tripods, and Other Camera Supports

For me, this is a non-issue. Basically every frame the Theta exposes is its own selfie. Otherwise, they'd call it something like Theta 359. If you're holding the camera, at least one hand, foot, mouth, or other body part is going to show up in the image. I prefer to use an unobtrusive support. Along with the camera, I ordered two small tripods, a mini CCTV stand, and a D-ring which screws into the tripod socket and can be used with monofilament. So far, my big favorite is the CCTV stand ( Panavise 845-246W Deluxe Micro Mount (Cream) ). In my opinion, its color and shape blend in nicely with the stub of the camera that inevitably shows up in the image. While it comes with a nice ball head, most tables and suchlike are level enough that I don't need it. There should be a shot of the setup in the product images.

Case

The Theta's body otherwise sleek body is of necessity dominated by two exophtalmic half orbs -the lenses that together give it the capability to make panoramas. Ricoh provides a cute but insubstantial case which probably keeps the dust off but offers virtually no drop or shock protection. I think that Ricoh should spring for the couple of bucks a custom Pelican case would cost them. In the meantime, don't be stuffing your Theta in no overhead bins.

Conclusion

Ricoh Pentax joins two companies with a long history of innovation. I am desperately hoping that the shortcomings I've discussed are mostly 1.0 software problems that can be addressed in upcoming releases. The pressures to bring out a product in time for the holidays must be enormous.

In the meantime, this pioneering nanoniche camera is a source of endless fascination for me and others afflicted with immersive panorama syndrome. People who are just looking for the occasional panorama would be better and less expensively served by virtually any smartphone.

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Nikon D7000 16.2MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR w/ 18-105mm

Customer Ratings:

I bought this package about a month and used it in various settings and environments. I do not need to leave feedback about the D7000. For that look up CNET or any other tech site. For the package and seller though here is the feedback

Package

The package contains all items as described in the description above. The items are of three manufacturers: nikon (d7000, + 2 nikkor lens), vivitar (bag, tripod and some accessories) and zeikos (wide angle lens, filters etc)

All the parts fit well into the bag. Except the big tripod. The tripod is a little disappointing since its about 4 feet. I'd like it to be at least 6 feet. ALso the small tripod cant bear the weight of the 200mm lens with the camera. But that's a small concern considering the rest of the package rocks.

2 SD cards of 16GB each. Both are high speed and I used them in overflow mode.

Really happy with the lens package. The filters fit well.

Got some real good pictures with closeup and landscapes.

Definitely the package is cheaper than the individual costs of the parts. Sum of the parts is definitely higher than the single items.

Seller Feedback

Package was sent via UPS ground. I got the package in a couple of days after shipping. Time was as estimated. UPS couldnt deliver it home for a few times since seller needed signature for dropoff. So I had to wait for a few days before I had freetime to pick it up at UPS office. Seller (Davis MAX) was very good at replying bacl to my queries.

I couldnt figure out if the wide angle lens needed a adapter ring. Some of my other cameras needed adapter rings and they responded within a business day with the answer. Here it is verbatim

The wide angle lens made by zeikos is made to be used with the Nikon 18-55 VR Lens that you received. It's a 52mm mount and does not need a step up ring adapter it goes directly on to the lens.

Please let us know if we can assist you with anything else We're here for you,

DavisMAX

Shop Smart, Shop DavisMAX!

Overall I am very happy with the camera and package. and I would recommend this package to buyers.

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VIZIO Thin and Light CT15-A1 15.6-Inch Laptop

Customer Ratings:

First off, let's just get this out there: paper spec-wise, few other laptops can compare to this laptop in my opinion. Laptops with 15" 1080p IPS screens are very few and far between, and then weighing just 4 pounds and being very thin is icing on the cake. The rest of the system is pretty average for this price range nowadays, but if you haven't experienced a screen like this you might just not realize how big of an asset it truly is.

Now, the caveats: the first sample I got had a rattly fan. It was very noticeable, and made me worry that it might break after a short amount of time. Wanting my laptop to last more than a few weeks, I returned it and got another which was quick and painless, but it definitely did not inspire confidence in Vizio's build quality. My second CT15-A1 is fine, but I'm strongly considering the 3 year aftermarket warranty that Amazon offers just in case it has problems down the line. Not only is this laptop priced very aggressively, but Vizio is brand new to the laptop space, so it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect some growing pains with early models. Subjectively, the laptop feels like it's actually built very well. The aluminum body is stiff, and there's very little screen flex. The screen hinge is stiff without being too stiff. There are no obvious build quality defects like bumps under the keyboard or that kind of thing (which I had with my previous Dell XPS M1330).

With that out of the way, I do have to say that I truly love this laptop. It's crazy lightweight for the specs. The matte 1080p IPS screen is beautiful, and when calibrated with my X-Rite i1 Display 2 (using the Lacie Blue Eye software), the average dE is less than 0.2. Read: this display is capable of near perfect reference color reproduction. I can do Adobe Lightroom work on this laptop without color reproduction concerns any more, in fact I moved away from a separate monitor to save space on my desk and for a little extra cash.

The keyboard is very nice tactile-wise. Before I got this laptop, I was using a mechanical keyboard with Cherry Blue switches. So I definitely appreciate the benefits of a nice keyboard. And while the keys aren't the same as a mechanical keyboards', they're still nice. The travel is pretty limited but there's good feedback. It's not too loud but also isn't silent. Everything's laid out pretty nice, although I'm not a fan of the arrow key setup and I hate the complete lack of home/end/pgup/pgdown navigation keys. I think the default option of the F1-12 keys acting as special function keys without needing to hold fn is an excellent decision. I only ever used F5 for refreshing a page, which can be accomplished by ctrl-r, but on the other hand I need volume, playback, and brightness control very often. One thing I have noticed that could be a problem: sometimes it seems like key presses aren't noticed, and other times it seems like I unintentionally double press a key. I'm a very fast typer (about 90 words per minute on a 1 minute test), so it could be that I'm just being really inaccurate with a new keyboard, but if you're concerned about this I would check for a trend in other reviews.

The touchpad is okay at best, and if it's having a bad day it's absolutely terrible. This is my first multi-touch touchpad, so my experience here should be noted as very limited overall. I like the gestures, and scrolling usually works pretty well. I really like that the entire touchpad clicks in for a left click no more need to keep my left hand on the click button. I dislike that the default option for touch to click is "on". This was an amazingly stupid decision that wreaks of limited to no end-user testing. It makes typing almost impossible because there's no palm detection and merely brushing the pad moves your cursor. But thankfully this can be turned off, and as I mentioned previously the push-in-entire-pad-to-click design makes it unnecessary anyway. As another reviewer mentioned, sometimes the touchpad decides to just take a break and turn off. Other times, it decides to get all coked out and just randomly go around the screen, in no clear relation to what I'm actually trying to do. I'm not exaggerating. It's just completely broken in that respect. I have the most recent drivers and occasionally this happens with just no warning at all. It's infrequent enough that it's not critical, but it's pretty pathetic. Finally, it should be noted that there's no off button for the pad. I feel this is OK with touch to click being set off, since then the pad shouldn't randomly click unless you have a habit of bending your wrist to go between your hands and pressing down pretty stiffly, but it's still something some users might be concerned about.

So, basically, plan on using a trackball or a mouse with this laptop.

The ports are a little limited. Just two USB ports and only HDMI kind of sucks. Lots of projectors are still behind the curve and only have VGA, but the D-Sub connector is huge so I can't blame VIZIO for leaving it out.

The headphone audio is really nice. I would consider myself a practical audiophile I don't believe in $500 power cable snake oil, but I appreciate a good DAC and good pair of cans. In that regard, the audio from this VIZIO is pretty respectable. There's none of the hissing that you get with truly awful DAC/amp combos, but it's also nothing to write home about and the gain is pretty low. Shouldn't be a problem unless you're planning on driving expensive high impedance cans, in which case you're probably the type of person to have an external DAC/amp combo anyway.

Also, cool feature sidenote: like smartphones, the laptop detects when headphones are plugged in, and it remembers the difference between last speaker volume and last headphone volume. So otherwise, you can have the speaker volume set to muted but the headphone volume set to average so you won't disturb anyone but still not have to mess with the volume constantly.

Finally, the OS experience is very nice. Turning on from standby is instantaneous. Turning on from hibernate isn't blazing fast but still only about 20 or 30 seconds. Turning on from being completely off or restarting takes about probably only 15 or 20 seconds. Not having bloatware is a godsend. This is the first prebuilt I've ever bought where I didn't do a Windows fresh install first thing. I just uninstalled the Bing and Zune crap and I was good to go 30 seconds later. Also, as a sidenote, there aren't ridiculous brand stickers plastered all over the place. The CT15 has a great design that's very nice to look at, and they obviously cared more about the user experience than absurd brand identity/advertising when they were designing it.

Final geek note: I haven't tried yet, but I see any kind of hardware changes being difficult or impossible. The entire underside of the laptop is a single piece, so there's no easy-to-access hard drive, RAM, etc. doors. This is frustrating, especially since I'd like to drop in a 512GB SSD in a few months since the prices keep dropping and 128GB is a little small, but I would research into this more if you're considering the laptop and need this capability.

Anyway, to summarize, this is an amazing laptop for the price. The screen is superb, and doesn't even require a "for the price" qualifier. Everything else is pretty average, with nothing being terrible except the touchpad depending on how much you plan on using it and if you're OK with messing with the settings (very easy to do). The internals are nice, but you might not be able to change them (research this if it matters to you). It's indeed very thin and light, and again at a great price. I recommend it, but consider the quality control risks before buying., and if you're willing to also carry around a mouse or a trackball.

Really I would have given this laptop a -1 star for the touchpad, and -0.5 stars for the one I had to replace. But since you can't do out of 10 ratings, I think a 4 is more appropriate because the rest of the laptop is good and the screen is greaet.

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Panasonic Lumix G H-H020AS 20mm F/1.7 II ASPH Lens

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $429.99
Sale Price: $418.00
Today's Bonus: 3% Off

Optically, this lens is considered identical to its predecessor, so read those reviews to learn about image quality. The only real difference is that this new version uses more metal and less plastic, which makes it a bit smaller but heavier (it's still very light). And it's available in silver.

The video review is shot through this lens. It doesn't have much except a demonstration of focus speed and noise, and a few sample photographs (Amazon never published the photo I uploaded, maybe because it wasn't a photo of the product).

There were basically only two complaints ever made about the previous model: (1) focusing was noisy and slow, and (2) noise banding in the shadows on Olympus bodies. I can't speak to the second because I only have a Panasonic body (G6). As for the first, I can only say that focusing is definitely louder and slower than my kit lens (the new version of the 14-42mm zoom), but I probably wouldn't have even noticed the noise if I wasn't specifically looking for it. It seems pretty quiet to me, a relative beginner. Recording video using the built-in microphones on the G6, there is a tiny bit of noise captured, but I barely notice it (I'll demonstrate in a video review). I would use a separate audio recorder if I was going for maximum quality anyway.

Panasonic's official but unstated position seems to be that this lens doesn't need a hood. Panasonic doesn't make one that fits on it, nor is there any way to attach one aside from the filter threads. I went ahead and got a cheap screw-in one, but so far I haven't been able to tell the difference.

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Panasonic Pro AG-DVC20 3CCD MiniDV Proline Camcorder w/10x

Customer Ratings:

Okay, first and foremost, this seems to be the camera everyone forgot, including Panasonic. Go to their website and venture to the comparison page, and it's like no one bothered to fill out the spec sheet. For weight, dimensions and pick-up device it has "N/A."

If you go online and search for reviews of this camera there is no shortage of criticism from the pro set, faulting it for not having this feature or that, but once you do the research the cameras that have those features cost about a grand to two grand more!

Ironically, this undeserved disdain and neglect seems to have resulted in a real deal, both affordable and versatile. It has less features than some professional cameras and more than most consumer cameras. It works great with iMovie on my MacBook Apple MacBook MA701LL/A 13.3" Notebook PC (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD SuperDrive) Black and has been a great way for me to familiarize myself with shooting in general. All you need is a firewire cord like this one and you're good to go.Belkin F3N401-06-ICE IEEE 1394 4-Pin/6-Pin 400 Mbps FireWire Cable (6 Feet)

It is not HD, but neither are 99.9% of the places it will be played.

Maybe as I learn more I'll become more aware of its limitations and my opinion will change and, yes, the lens is smaller than I'd like, but the 3CCD makes a huge difference in the colors and contrast.

One thing to bear in mind, this is a great piece of equipment for someone who works with professional directors and videographers, but in no way a replacement for such skilled and outstanding professionals. Basically, if you're a director or videographer you'll want a far more serious piece of equipment, but if you're a writer or art director who just wants a firmer grasp of the shooting process this is the camera for you!

All in all, it's a great to learn on and great for the price. Not a bad combination at all.

Here's the kit I've put together to go with it:

Case Panasonic Pro Soft Carrying Case for DV60 & DVC7 Camcorders

Wide Angle Lens Panasonic Pro AG-LW4307 Wide Angle Lens Adaptor 7x for AG-DVC7/30/60 Camcorders

Tripod Sunpak UltraPro 757 Full-Size Tripod with Extra Quick-Release Plate (Satin Silver)

Tripod Case Sunpak 620-770-AZ Unpadded Tripod Carrying Case

Microphone System Azden WMS-PRO Wireless Microphone System

Camcorder Light Sima SL-10LX Universal LED Camcorder Light

Studio Light -Photography Studio Continuous Umbrella Light Kit with Free 26w 5500k Fluorescent Photo Light Bulb

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