Sony HVR-HD1000U MiniDV 1080i High Definition Camcorder with 10x

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $1,850.00
Sale Price: $1,349.00
Today's Bonus: 27% Off

Look, this thing feels cheap. It's lightweight and plasticky feeling. It looks a lot like a really old VHS tape camcorder. It feels like a toy.

BUT... I'll be dipped if this thing doesn't shoot some fine video! It's really crisp and vibrant stuff! I shoot professional MMA cage matches. I use multiple cameras. The light weight of this thing turned out to be a blessing as I sometimes need to hold this camera way out, with fully extended arms to be able to capture some of my over-the-top-of-the-cage shots. I still get a full-body workout, but thank god it's not as heavy as a more expensive camera of the same size.

It's not the greatest in low light situations, but really, what digital video camera is that doesn't cost half an arm? I've never seen one with stellar low-light performance.

Also, it tends to go slightly out of focus when using the maximum zoom speed. I mean, if you were zoomed way in and wanted to zoom out as fast as possible, you will notice a little bit of a focus issue DURING the zoom process. You don't see it if you zoom more slowly.

The sound this camera captures is also quite surprising. I expected the mic that came with it to need replacing, but I haven't yet because it actually sounds pretty darn good.

All in all, it's my favorite camera for its results. I think I want to go get another one, or maybe two of these. They are great beaters to use on extreme sport gigs like this.

Don't expect to use any high-end wireless units on this camera. It's not set up with the standard stuff that the high-end cameras have to adapt wireless video.

Really though, if you're shooting weddings, or sporting events, or other gigs like this, this is a decent cam for a decent price. You won't kick yourself.

Note: You'll want a case for this thing and they are VERY hard to find in the size you will need (over 19 inches). You can find them out there, but you'll pay about helf the price of the camera just for the bag. I went to Home Depot and bought the FAT MAX roll-around tool case. I made some padding for the lower drawer of the tool case and this camera fit inside perfectly. Then the other two drawers hold the accessories, tapes, etc. It fits perfectly and only costs about 60 some-odd bucks. I like it because it rolls around and takes a beating. Just a tip. Hope it helps.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Olympus Evolt E520 10MP Digital SLR Camera with Image

Customer Ratings:

I am coming from an Olympus C-8080 and a Panasonic DMC-FZ18. Both of these are decent cameras, but not quite SLR quality. Also, the Panasonic is the worst macro camera I have owned. Since I was looking for more options with macro/closeup photography, I wanted a DSLR. My old SLR was an OM2n (back in the prehistoric camera days). I considered getting the E-510 or Nikon D60. Both are decent cameras, but after seeing pictures, decided to stick with Olympus and wait for the 520. I am glad I did!

I normally have a problem with a bit of camera shake and don't use a tripod. I just shot 400 pics and not one bit of camera shake! I was surprised to find out that I didn't even have Image stablization enabled. It is very easy to hold this camera steady. The lens and the viewfinder are crystal clear. I stongly suggest that you get the fastest CF card you can to record your pictures, and at least 4GB. I should tell you though, that I am shooting in both raw and fine jpeg format. This typically takes longer to write. The xd cards are too slow when shooting raw and fine jpeg. Another thing to make yourself aware of: Liveview does not seem perfected in any camera yet. It may take some time, but it is a bit bothersome, because there is a wait between recording photos when using Liveview. If you don't mind using the viewfinder,or waiting about 2 seconds between pictures, it's not a problem. Also, my battery compartment door seems to stick a bit. May need broken in, or it's just tight.

On the plus side: I have only had this camera 36 hours and already feel totally comfortable with it. I have heard people say that it's not user-friendly. I disagree with that statement IF: you have previously owned and used Olympus cameras. This camera isn't that foreign when coming from Olympus. Yes, it takes getting used to the buttons a bit, and my thumb does accidentally hit a button, but heck, I haven't even had the camera a couple of days. I also suggest that you buy the telephoto lens. Unless you shoot all wide-angle pictures, you will not be satisfied with this lens package. Regarding the Olympus lenses ... Primo, very good quality for a zoom/package deal. Much better quality than I expected. I like my pictures to be as crisp as possible, with the lowest noise (who doesn't?), so I have experimented with shutting noise reduction off and using software to reduce noise. The results were good in my test results. The scene modes of the camera are good. I haven't used them all yet (I had to put the camera down and get some sleep sometime in the past 36 hours), but am impressed with face detection on, macro, night modes. The flash is fairly strong. I have never had a built in flash, which doesn't give some type of red eye or blue eyes in dogs, this has not happened yet with the 520. Impressive, but I would suggest if doing closeup, that you diffuse the flash, or stand back a bit and zoom on the subject. REVISION: If you use the Macro nature mode, it seems to adjust the flash a bit. Also, if you like to experiment, play withe the "Vivid mode" a bit. I'm usually not a fan of modes, but in bright sunlight, my colors came out exactly as they should be.

If you are considering buying a more expensive camera and are NOT doing professional studio work, I would say; don't waste your money. Get this camera, because you will be impressed. If you are doing studio work, I would still tell you to get this camera, but get a better lens. After all, it's not always about the camera, but it is always about the lens. Anyone who has ever bought a no-name, camera-store "pushed on you" lens, knows what I am talking about.

When my next lens arrives, I will post more information under the "40-150mm Olympus zoom lens". Highly recommend this camera!

REVISION: Today, I received the adapter to let me use my old OM-2N lenses. I bought a generic one through ebay and it works just fine. I attached my old Tamron 90mm SP macro lens and began shooting. First, be aware that everything has to be done manually. This may not be practical if you need speed when focusing, unless you have mastered, manual focusing. I find that I shake the camera more with the heavier, manual lens, but with practice, I think that can be overcome. In other words, if you own the old OM lenses and don't have the money to get a new lens, buy the adapter and be prepared to make some adjustments.

If you have a flash/lighting system and a tripod, those adjustments will be lessened. I don't think I would do this for the life of the camera, but I would use the old OM lens (especially if you have a high quality one), until I could afford a new digital lens. I also have the 40-150mm digital lens (the one they give in the package deals), and am very impressed with the quality. I have posted some pictures, so you can get an idea of what this camera can do. If you scroll over the pictures, you will see the pictures I shot with the old OM-2N lens. I didn't make any revisions, so that you can get an idea of how the pictures come out of the camera (no photoshop).

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Medium Telephoto Macro Lens for Nikon

Customer Ratings:

Originally I didn't want to stray from Nikon products, but Sigma definitely has my attention. This is an excellent lens in both build quality and function. It works flawlessly on my Nikon D40, metering perfectly and in addition, even though it's manual focus on my camera, it is spot on with the auto-focus indicator light (lower left corner of view finder). I highly recommend this lens to anyone who is looking to get into macro! Don't be scared if you're a Nikon D40 user, I was at first, and now I'm hooked on this lens! Do yourself a favor and buy one!

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Audio-Technica AT2020 USB Condenser USB Microphone

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $149.00
Sale Price: $102.00
Today's Bonus: 32% Off

This is my video review of the AT2020 USB microphone from Audio-Technica. USB Microphones are made to be plugged in directly to a laptop or desktop. I connected this to a Vista 64 laptop during filming and did the voice over on a Macbook Pro.

Text review:

I give this product a 5 star rating. It is easy to use, high quality and very competitively priced. This is a great desktop mic to use for making podcasts or recording music.

I am not a musician so I am not able to speak to that aspect of the microphones ability. I did use it to make several voice over videos and it performed perfectly. Never a hick-up or any spurious noises heard at all.

I did not include specs into my video review because it would add to the file size and be too small to read here on Amazon's video player.

Regular readers of my reviews know I try to supply specs when necessary.

Here are the specs:

Element: Fixed-charge back plate permanently polarized condenser

Polar pattern: Cardioid

Frequency Response: 20Hz-16,000Hz

Power Requirements: USB power (+5VDC)

Bit depth: 16

Sample Rate: 44,000 kHz

Weight: 374g (13.2 oz)

Dimensions: 162.0 mm (6.38") long

52.0mm max body diameter (2.05")

Output connector: USB type

Accessories: Pivoting stand for 5/8"-27 threaded stands, 5/8"-27 to 3/8"-16 threaded adapter, soft protective pouch, tripod desk stand; 3.1m 10' USB cable

System Reqs: Mac OSX, USB 1.0 or 2.0 64MB RAM minimum. Windows XP Home or professional USB 1.0 or 2.0 64MB RAM minimum.

So for a great USB microphone I recommend this highly!

About the video: After uploading I noticed that Amazon's codec (video compressor) has made the video quality sub-par. I will try to reupload it again with a different codec.

Thank you for watching!

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Sony HDR-PJ790V High Definition Handycam Camcorder with 3.0-Inch

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $1,599.99
Sale Price: $1,598.00
Today's Bonus: $1.99 Off

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I am a long term Canon user and my current stable of camcorders includes a HV20 and HV40 both of which I prize for their extensive manual controls, their HDV recording, and the use of tape which acts as an natural archival mechanism.

The PJ790V was an exciting departure from my normal routine, and I used it exclusively on a recent trip to St Louis, MO to watch my son's high school robotics team compete at the Robotics World Championships. Over 3 exciting and exhausting days, I put this camcorder through its paces.

Here are my thoughts.

###############

This is easily one of the most comprehensive camcorders I have ever come across in over 25 years of videography.

In an embarrassing abundance of riches it combines:

1] an astounding amount of internal memory (96 GB. Really.)

While the jaw-dropping 36 hours recording time is only achievable on the lowest quality setting; even at full 60p HD you get a still-awesome 7 hours. See below for notes on Recording Modes.

2] a wide and fast Zeiss 10x zoom lens (26-260 mm/F1.8-3.4)

3] mind blowing optical image stabilization technology. At the Robotics World Championships, I shot hand-held, indoors, at full zoom from the nosebleed section of the Edward Jones dome and the images were still spectacular, with hardly any camera shake (except for wild pans in my excitement.) Check out footage in the first comment below this review. This is unbelievable OIS quality.

4] built in 100" projector(imagine that!) with a 1.6' throw distance and WVGA resolution (854x480)

5] a microphone separated from its body to avoid the camera noise that plagued my HV20

6] Navteq-supplied GPS for most places you are likely to visit including North America, Europe, Japan, and Oceania. Unfortunately, it does not do navigation, traffic, or weather :)

7] PlayMemories Home software lets you trim, split, and combine videos; grab frames for stills; and to share your creation. I found it to be a very intuitive video organizer/editor and great for when you can't be bothered to load up a full editor.

Some minor quibbles:

##############

1] The touch screen takes some pressure to register. I initially thought I had a bad touch screen!

2] The zoom rocker has a perceptible delay when the camera is first turned on, which is distracting when you need to get going quickly at a sporting event.

Conclusion:

########

This is one of those cameras that you can simply start using, right out of the box. It is that intuitive. I was blown away by its SteadyShot system the image stabilization is truly best in class. When you view the clip in the comment below, remember that this was shot by a tired and excited parent, whooping like a kid, in indoor stadium lighting, often at full zoom. The focus is sharp, the images are clean, and the microphone clearly captures the videographer's very vocal enthusiasm. At its highest PS video quality (see Recording Modes section below), you get stunning video that needs to be seen to be believed.

Add in its clear and bright LCD that I could easily use even in bright daylight; elegant design touches such as the USB cable integrated into its hand grip; the attention getting lens hood; and reasonable power consumption (even the tiny NP-FV50 lasted me an entire day), and you have a winning performer.

I'm more conflicted by the presence of the GPS and projector features that are great attention grabbers, but ones that I'll probably never ever use.

Happy Memories!

Must have accessories:

###############

1] The NP-FV50 needs help especially if you are on vacation. Check out the NP-FV70 or NP-FV100 instead.

2] BC-TRV charger I hate to leave camcorder charging overnight so this travel charger is very handy.

3] VMCUAM2 USB adapter cable lets you back up your videos to an external hard drive without needing a computer

Recording modes:

############

Sony uses video quality abbreviations PS, FX, FH, HQ, and LP that I'm clarifying for others who may be as confused as I was:

There are 4 aspects to recording video bit rate (the number of bits captured per second, in Mbps), the number of pixels in each video frame (full HD 1920x1080, or 1440x1080), frame rate (the number of frames recorded per second), and whether these frames are interlaced or progressive (whether each frame is captured in full, or whether the odd rows and even rows are captured separately.)

For highest quality capture: pick the highest bit rate, the highest number of pixels in each frame, the highest frame rate, and use progressive mode.

For the HDR-PJ790V this is [PS] quality up to 28 Mbps, 1920x1080 resolution, 60 frames per second, progressive.

The downside? All those bits take up a lot of disk space, reducing available recording time. Switching to FX or below, causes more aggressive compression that can cause compression artifacts in fast moving scenes.

My advice: stay at PS. Why compromise on quality? Just pack a external drive, and clean up space as you go.

Now, I'm done :)

Postscript: And, the East Ridge Robotics Ominous RaptorS? They ranked 20 out of 100 teams in their division (Newton). The kids had a great learning experience and the parents cheered themselves hoarse. What could be more fun! Next stop for the team the MN state championships in May!

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Sandisk MicroSD & MicroSDHC to SD Adapter (Static Pack)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $12.99
Sale Price: $1.40
Today's Bonus: 89% Off

I admit, I was thrown by the suspisciously low price, but I felt a little more reassured by looking at the reviews. And for that reason, I'm writing this one to add to the credibility of this item for others considering it. It's real, and it works. I use it to connect the microSD card in my phone to my computer. Works exactly as I want it to. Perfect. And oh so cheap. Not to mention the free and FAST (about 2-days) shipping.

If you need one of these adapters, buy it. :D

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Interfit INT119 EXD 200Watt/second 2 Head Digital Umbrella

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $514.99
Sale Price: $320.36
Today's Bonus: 38% Off

Excellent home starter set for me. Mainly I use these for product shoots for eBay. Quick re-cycle and adjustable output. The build quality seems good and should last a long time. I am happy with this set.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Sony DSC-W710 16 MP Digital Camera with 2.7-Inch LCD (Silver)

Customer Ratings:

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This little Sony camera is very compact and light, and is a good starter point and shoot at this price. I take lots of pictures, so I was able to put this camera through its paces over about a three-week period. Here is a run-down:

The Good

Very light and fits in any pocket

Relatively low cost and does not "feel expensive", so I do not hesitate to just toss it in my pocket or bag

Has proven to be rugged. Has survived abuse (per the above bullet) very well

Love the "Easy" feature. It detects background light, fast action, faces, and other photo situations automatically. You can override this feature in the menus option.

Has plenty of photo-taking options such as landscapes, beach, toy, b&w. As mentioned below in not-so-good, these features are pretty cumbersome to get to.

Picture quality is very good for this price range. There is no RAW file option, so you are totally dependent on the camera's JPEG processor, which is okay but has a lot of interpolation. It is a little slow to process, but definitely adequate below $100.

Uses SD cards, not the proprietary memory stick that Sony had used in the past.

The Not So Good

Very menu-driven, so it takes time to find a photo feature (such as toy, b&w, beach, landscape, etc.) and you could miss your shot. Best to stay in Auto/Easy mode since it does a decent job of choosing for you.

You have to navigate the menu to deactivate Easy mode before other options become available to you. This will slow you down a lot and may cause you to miss some shots. Ideally they would have any Easy mode on/off button on the camera itself.

The processor is slow, so there is a noticeable pause between shots. The continuous shooting mode labors through about one shot per second.

The post-processing and photo enhancing features on the camera are of limited usefulness. For example, it has a face enhancement feature that I found was only slightly effective. You will do MUCH better using your inexpensive desktop photo software to add enhancements. IMHO, this feature on the camera is more of a gimmick with primitive algorithms.

Sony has opted to use a non-standard USB connector. I like standard connectors that can be shared between devices. For this one, you will need to carry around the cord if you want to charge the camera's battery or transfer photos using USB.

To charge, you plug in the camera. The battery is removable, but the camera does not come with a separate battery charger, so you have to use the camera as the charger. In other words, you cannot charge a spare while you are using the camera. There may be an accessory for this, but then you are spending extra $$ on a low cost camera.

Recommendation

If you want a low-cost, decent point and shoot, this is a good choice, particularly if you want to stay in easy mode most of the time. If you end up loving photography, or if you are already an experienced photographer, this camera will feel light on features and customization options pretty quickly.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

JVC GZ-E300 Full HD Everio Camcorder, 40x Optical Zoom, 200x

Customer Ratings:

It is the best camcorder we have ever used for being so compact. We used it at our son's wedding. All modes: still shots and video and couldn't have been more pleased with the quality. It deserves more than five stars.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Zeiss Normal 50mm f/1.5 C Sonnar T* ZM Manual Focus Lens

Customer Ratings:

This Zeiss Sonnar is a sharp, fast lens, and a good choice for an M8 or M9 at a price point between the Cosina Voightlander line and Leica's own glass.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

ATCK Waterproof Action Camera

Customer Ratings:

I am a police officer and I use this camera when interviewing people. I was initially disappointed with the sound quality, but found the video and capacity with the 2gig card excellent. The problem with the sound is the waterproofing. If you are not going to be using it in water or wet environments all you have to do is remove the mic cover and there is a black square rubber cover over the mic. It is 1mm or thicker and causes the sound distortion and lack of range. Remove it an re-install the cover and you get as good a sound as any other video camera. This camera is well made and a good value at the price. If it had an external mic jack it would rate five stars.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Flip UltraHD Video Camera - Black, 8 GB, 2 Hours (2nd Generation)

Customer Ratings:

If I'm going to spend more than a hundred bucks on an item or somewhere around there, I do extensive research first to know I got the best bang-for-the-buck and, consequently, dodge any potential future buyer's remorse.

I've realized that the time I spend doing my product comparisons is often time that others don't have so I may as well share what I can.

I'll start by saying that you'll see my "Verified Amazon Purchase" on the Flip HD Ultra Camcorder review because, obviously, that's the one I wound up buying and I'll share with you why. But what I like in a camcorder may not suit your own needs so I'll break it down and let you decide what's best for you via what I found out:

Here are the pocket camcorders I compared:

Flip UltraHD (will be referred to as "F")

Flip Mino HD 2nd generation (Will be referred to as "M")

Creative Labs Vado HD 8 GB 2nd generation (Will be referred to as "CL")

Kodak Zi6 Pocket HD (Will be referred to as "K")

Why HD cameras only? Brighter colors and better images, wider images

HD SHOOTING TIME:

F: 120 minutes.

M: 120 minutes

CL:120 minutes

K: 25 minutes with batteries they included, 120 minutes if you buy an SD card

MEMORY:

F: 8 GB

M:8 GB

CL: 8 GB

K: internally only 30 MB recording space but it has 32 GB expandable SD/SDHC card slot. Because it comes with such small recording space you really need to buy an SD or SDHC card to maximize its potential, but the potential is really good and this will increase your ability to shoot longer.

RESOLUTION:

All 720p which is excellent, just one step below the top 1080p format.

MICROPHONE:

F: Stereo

M: Mono **Update** They are now putting Stereo Mics in the Minos as of 2010.

CL: Mono

K: Mono

SOUND:

F:Premier AAC audio. Best stereo sound quality but still not great in winds

M:Good sound quality. Still not good in winds.

CL:Poor sound quality; had issues with sound and picture not being in sync.

K:Poor sound quality

ZOOM:

F: 2x

M:2x

CL:2x

K: poor quality zoom on the one I tried but I still think it's 2x. It has a great macro focus for very close-up objects if, for example, you see a bumble bee and want to shoot it on a leaf a few inches away! Kinda cool.

CAMERA SIZE AND WEIGHT:

F: 4.3x2.2x1.2 4 oz

M: 3.9x2x0.6 3. 3 oz

CL: 3.9x3x0.6 3.5 oz

K: 5.5x2.5.0.9 5.6 oz

SHIPPING SIZE AND WEIGHT:

F: 6.2 x 3.1 x 3.1 inches ; 11.2 ounces

M: 2 x 0.7 x 3.9 inches ; 1 pound

CL: 3.3 x 7.9 x 6.3 inches ; 11.2 ounces

K: 4x 5x 2.5" 2.4 lbs

TECHNICAL DETAILS:

F: USB cable pops out of the back so you don't need to keep up with a separate cable. Comes with Flip Video rechargeable AA battery pack (recharges when connected to USB); also supported by standard AA batteries. Note: Some sets come with the HDMi mini included and others come with the rechargeable battery pack on Amazon. Looks like one or the other but of course if you need both you can buy the other.

M: USB cable pops out of the back on this one as well. Has child safe button to prevent accidental deletion of videos. Internal lithium ion battery recharges through built-in USB arm

CL: USB in camcorder. Included in box are HDMI cable (nice), USB extension cable,(nice)silicon skin (cool) & rechargeable battery.

K: Included in box are HD and AV cables and wrist strap and rechargeable batteries and battery charger. Has built in USB arm.

SPEED:

F: 30 frames per second.

M: 30 frames per second

CL: 30 frames per second

K: choice of 30 frames per second or 60 frames per second.

VIEWING SCREEN: All 2" except the Kodak was the largest at 2.4"

IMPORTANT NOTES:

F: Best low-light performance for the mini cameras (though not perfect at all) and least amount of blurring and dropped frames in my opinion. Best color. Only one with stereo sound. You can get an underwater case for this one! Though that may sound crazy for a Texan, we use the camera non-stop on vacations and even when we aren't IN the water, we are around the water...on boats, in the sand with sea mist, etc. Then we can dive in and record the fish. Comes preloaded with flipshare software...just plug in to computer and it pops up. Only one with stereo sound.

M: Colors don't appear as good on the Mino as the other cameras. Thinnest camera. Make sure you get the one that only comes in the color aluminum or brushed metal. If it comes in any other colors it is the 1st generation MinoHD and they improved upon that one in the newer models. Great audio. Better shooting in low light than most mini cameras. Camera comes preloaded with FlipShare software. Can get still images through flipshare software.

CL: Decent filming in low light but not nearly as good as the Ultra or Mino; Software is preloaded in camcorder.

K: This is the only camera that I compared without the built in image stabilizatin which corrects for shaky images. What appears to be metal in picture is actually a chrome colored plastic. That said, this had the largest viewing screen of all of them. 2.4" Very poor in low light and seemed to have far more shaking and blurring. It also takes still pictures but they are really really poor quality...same as a lesser-quality cell phone pictures but good in a pinch if you want a still shot and have no cell or camera I s'pose. Heaviest for a pocket camera. Software is not preloaded in camcorder but a cd comes with it.

HOW CNET'S EDITORS RATED THE CAMERAS:

F Excellent

M Excellent

CL Very Good

K Very Good

And, finally, the reviews of the Flip from experts swayed me quite a bit:

Fast Company: "Flip Ultra HD is Pure Digital's "Best Pocket Camcorder Yet." 6-09

USA Today: "New Flip Ultra Video Cameras Might Flip Your Switch" 4-09

Business Week: How do you Invigorate a Recession? Look to i-phone, Flip, Kindle, and Zip Car For Answers

There were lootttts more I came across when researching the Flip Ultra HD but those are some of my favorites.

CONCLUSION: Clearest picture and sound was important to me, expert reviews that pointed to the Flip UltraHD as well and I liked the built in software and the case I can get to shoot underwater. It is the number one selling camcorder as well. So that was my personal decision-making process. However, keep in mind that if you need reading glasses none of that will matter if the 2" screen is too small for your viewing the shots easily for playback in which case you may wish to get the Kodak if that's important to you..

Also: No matter which one you get, you will probably want a mini tripod if you ever want to be in the shot yourself do don't forget those.

Also note: It's confusing because when these manufacturers make changes in the camcorders, they do not change the names on the new versions, nor do they change the names if it's an HD version or a non-HD version so be sure you look for the "HD" after the brand name and look for "2nd generation" or "newer version" on the Mino and Vado if you like one of those better so you don't get the older models.

Hope my obsessive comparing and contrasting for my own purchasing assistance helped you as well even if what you wanted in a camera was different from me. :-)

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Apple Mac Mini MD389LL/A with Lion Server (NEWEST VERSION)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $999.00
Sale Price: $956.92
Today's Bonus: 4% Off

I just want to point out the pricing of this product. For an additional $240 over the MD366LL/A model here at Amazon you get an extra 1TB drive and the $20 Server application. Assuming you are buying this for server use, thats $220 for a 1TB drive. You will undoubtedly need external drives for more capacity anyway, so ask yourself is $220/1TB worth it?

I don't have this model, but bought and continue to use the original Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server. Back then the $1000 price got you the second hard drive instead of a DVD drive over the mid-price model, but Snow Leopard Server OS cost $500, so you were only paying $500 for the hardware! Apple reduced the price of the server $480 but didn't lower the cost of the system at all.

These minis work well as server computers, but I'd recommend buying the "regular" Mac mini and Server app separately to save money.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM Super Telephoto Lens for Canon

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $22,200.00
Sale Price: $13,233.89
Today's Bonus: 40% Off

I picked this up to mainly shoot Bald Eagles. I have used this lense less than I thought I would, as it is very heavy and takes up a LOT of room on road trips. I have shot pictures of the moon using a 2x Canon extension and a Canon 7d which brings up the total mm to 2560. I can barely fit the moon in the frame of the picture. Who needs a telescope. Using this set up however raises the f stop to f11 which is fine with a full moon, or even half moon, but on regular subjects it does offer problems at 100 to 200 iso unless you have a lot of light. The focus is extremely fast and quiet. This lens is built like a tank, and the image stabilization is unreal. Not everyone can afford to have this lens in thier arsenal, but if you can.....buy one. I do recomend a different lens cap for this unit, as the boot really sucks. They are available and run around 60-70 dollars, but are well worth the investment for this lens. It is a bit spendy, but I don't think you will lose money down the road as with many other lenses.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Denon AVR-X1000 5.1-Channel Networking Home Theater AV Receiver

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $499.99
Sale Price: $449.00
Today's Bonus: 10% Off

The Denon AVR-X1000 is the successor to last year's 4-1/2 star rated Denon AVR-1713. Most features are the same as the AVR-1713. Like the AVR-1713, the AVR-X1000 is a 5.1-channel surround sound receiver that accepts a total of six input sources, plus TV audio as a seventh input source.

Over the past few years Denon has been gradually improving the look of their receivers. The AVR-X1000 has the look of a very high-end receiver, comparable to Marantz and Pioneer Elite receivers, yet it sells at a mid-range price. The photos above don't quite do it justice.

What's new?

* The AVR-X1000 has a longer warranty (3 years) than the AVR-1713 (2 years).

* The speaker connections on the back of the AVR-X1000 are color coded for easier setup. Last year's model did not have color-coded speaker connections.

* The AVR-X1000 supports both AM and FM radio. Last year's AVR-1713 only supported FM radio.

* Both models support Apple Airplay, Internet radio, Sirius XM, and Pandora, but the AVR-X1000 adds support for Spotify, too.

* Both models support MP3, WMA, AAC, and FLAC audio formats. The AVR-X1000 adds support for the Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC) as well.

* The AVR-1713 used up and down buttons to select the input source. The AVR-X1000 uses a more attractive dial on the left-hand side.

* The AVR-X1000 has updated setup software.

* Denon's list price for the AVR-X1000 ($499) is $50 higher than last year's AVR-1713 ($449).

Comparison with the step-up Denon AVR-X2000:

* The AVR-X1000 supports 5.1 audio, while the step-up AVR-X2000 supports 7.1 audio.

* The AVR-X1000 has 80 watts per channel, while the AVR-X2000 has 95 watts per channel.

* The AVR-X1000 does not support Ultra HD (4K) upscaling, but the AVR-X2000 does.

* The AVR-X2000 has more HDMI and analog audio input jacks than the AVR-X1000. They have the same number of digital audio input jacks.

* The AVR-X2000 supports one component video input, while the AVR-X1000 does not.

Comparison with the step-down Denon AVR-E300:

* Both models support 5.1 audio.

* The AVR-X1000 has 80 watts per channel, while the AVR-E300 has 75 watts per channel.

* The AVR-X1000 has a 3-year warranty, while the AVR-E300 has a 2-year warranty.

* The AVR-X1000 supports a zone 2 line out, while the AVR-E300 does not.

* The AVR-X1000 supports the high-resolution Audyssey MultEQ XT room correction software with 6-8 measurement positions, while AVR-E300 only supports the medium-resolution Audyssey MultEQ. Both models support Audyssey Dynamic Volume and Audyssey Dynamic EQ.

* The AVR-X1000 has better-quality speaker connections. The AVR-E300 has new "Easy Connect Speaker Terminals" which work best with bare speaker wire and seem aimed at novices.

I have two complaints about the AVR-X1000. First, it doesn't support Wi-Fi. The network connection requires Ethernet. For Wi-Fi, CNET likes the Onkyo TX-NR626. Second, it is stingy with its digital audio inputs. The AVR-X1000 has only one coaxial and one optical digital audio input. By comparison, the competing Yamaha RX-V475 and Yamaha RX-V575 each have two coaxial and two optical digital audio input jacks (but fewer total device inputs). Aesthetically, however, Onkyo and Yamaha receivers have a utilitarian look that can't compete with this year's Denon line.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

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.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Leica V-LUX 3 CMOS Camera with 12.1MP and 24x Super Telephoto

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $949.00
Sale Price: $649.99
Today's Bonus: 32% Off

Picked up a Leica V-Lux 30 for my wife who wanted to get back into photography. She is doing close up / macro nature pics and this camera WILL focus down to 1cm away from the subject. Incredible. 12.1mb is adequate for our needs and the Leica lens is OUTSTANDING. We have had super-zoom single lens SLR's in the past and then got rid of them because they did everything mediocre, not this camera, it does everything well. The next step up would be a professional multi-thousand dollar camera and for under $1000 this Leica performs right up to the top of the line cameras.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>