This camera is so easy to use and takes awesome pictures. The kit came with lots of extras that would cost quite a bit if bought separately. I keep the camera in my car so I can always be able to record events. I looked at lots of rugged cameras before deciding on the Pentax. I've had great success with Pentax for years. And this one is just as great.Whether inside or outside this camera produces great videos and pictures.
Showing posts with label digital camera memory card. Show all posts
Showing posts with label digital camera memory card. Show all posts
Olympus Evolt E330 7.5MP Digital SLR Camera with 14-45mm
I have had the E330 for about 1 month now and couldn't be happier. I looked very closely at the Canon 30D, the Nikon D50 and the Olympus E500. I am really happy I went with the E330. While there is no such thing as a perfect camera, I have found that this one in particular fits my needs and caters to my more creative side with the live view articulated view finder. The Live A and B modes really open a lot of doors that other cameras in its class do not allow. Although it does't look as traditional as the others, the style had grown on me. I opted to get the body only so that I could upgrade the lens to a 14-54mm Zukio which is a wonderful all around lens. I find that the camera feels very good in my hands, although the D50 also had a great feel to it. It is very responsive and handles most situations well. I like to do street photography and the live view articulating lens allows for the taking of pictures without being too obvious. The low light performance is pretty good compared to the other olympus digital SLR with its new sensor, but is still not as good as either the 30D or the D50. This may change however when Lecia releases its 4/3rds mount image stabilized lens which is supposed to be compatible with the Olympus lineup. While I am new to digital SLRs, I consider myself to be a photography enthusiast. I started out with a Sony S85 which was a wonderful camera in many ways, but I have to say I am having a wonderful time learning about a whole new realm of photography with the E330. I highly recommend a good look at this camera if you are looking to get into digital SLRs as it serves not only as a nice crossover camera, but as a midline intermediate SLR that will keep you wanting to get even more creative with your photographic hobby.
Acer Aspire S5-391-6419 13.3-Inch Ultrabook (Black)
List Price: $1,049.99
Sale Price: $659.99
Today's Bonus: 37% Off
After a Month with the laptop I have to say, it impress me the way it boots, from turned off to ready to work it only takes 10 seconds, the SSD shines for this. This is a great laptop if you need a fast portable machine, the battery life is about 2 hours on a normal workload (Browser, Music, video and a Text editor). Just remember this laptop does not have a DVD/CD drive.
The only bad thing i could say about it, is windows 8, some of my work software (Music production/edition) and its interfaces were not windows 8 compatible, but the good thing is that this computer can be downgraded to windows 7, the drivers are available in Acer's site. I did the downgrade and it keeps the same performance as in windows 8.
Vtech 6.0 2-Line Expandable Cordless Phone with Digital
List Price: $79.95
Sale Price: $54.95
Today's Bonus: 31% Off
I am running a business with 2 phone lines for many years now and phones have always been a problem for me. I found that all cordless phones degrade or stop working after a couple of years, so I went through several different brands and models which I can repport here for you. My comment on the VTech is the last paragraph.
Starting 1999 I had a 2.4 GHz Siemes Gigaset and that was the best phone I had, it was stylish, very well organized and functioning. Unfortunately, wireless computer networking exploded shortly after and swamped this frequency band that no cordless phone at 2.4 GHz worked well any longer. Features included phone book copy amongst the different hand sets.
I had two sets of different Panasonic 5.8 GHz phones, and all were really bad. Voice quality was horrible and something stopped working in a short time. One is tempted to buy Panasonic because they have the largest selection of models. But don't be fooled by that! I could not buy Siemens because they retracted from the 2-line analog phone market, they only offer VoIP stuff, but I am not ready for that yet.
I had a Motorola 5.8 GHz for a couple of days and let me tell you, this was the worst phone I ever had, it was even much worse than all Panasonics. There would be not enough space on the Amazon server to write down all the details :-)
Then I had a 5.8 GHz AT&T phone and I really liked voice quality and workmanship. But all hand sets had different numbers in their phone book because you cannot transfer the phone book between them; I just could not keep up with this. Also, the functionality was not very intuitive.
Finally I got his VTech phone, and I must say that I am impressed. I wanted to have a DECT 6.0 phone because I believe this is the best frequency band for cordless phones. This phone looks great, has excellent voice quality, has an intuitive menu setup, and it has a very competative price. And what I like most which no other phone ever had: You program a number into your phone book and it is available instantaneouly in all hand sets. Only thing, they should have memory for more than 50 numbers. I have this phone and 4 hand sets since Dec 2009, and the only thing I hope is that it will be reliable. As soon as I have an issue I will update this review, so if you don't see an update, that is more points for this phone.
Sony DSC-HX300 20.4MP Digital Camera with 50x Optical Zoom
List Price: $559.99
Sale Price: Price Unavailable
Today's Bonus: 16% Off
I am a compulsive photographer, and started shooting people and objects when I was 15. A friend presented me with my first digital camera when I was 45, and life has never been the same again. That was Sony Mavica, and it used 3.5 inch floppy disks to store pictures. The highest resolution was only 1.2 mega pixels, but with its 16x optical magnification it did wonders for me.
This is my fourth digital Camera in 15 years. In fact the moment I read the specification and the Sony name, I sold my non Sonly Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera, removable lens, and telephoto lens (puchased for a futune) at a loss and bought this model. Once again, life has never been the same again after I bought it.
Here are some of the features
*** It offer 20+ Mega-pixel resolution, something that can do wonders
*** It offer and unbelievable 50x OPTICAL magnification, again something that can do wonders
Care to Take:
*** The camera offers so much in terms of resolution and optical magnification that most users need to learn afresh that a powerful tool can be used in unbelievable way. Do explore all the possibilities
*** Do use a monopod or a tripod for shooting at magnifications greater than 20x
Uniqueness:
*** High resolution
*** Super-high magnification
*** Ability to keep the flash off in any and every situation (a manual switch is provided)
*** All other standard software features are available
*** Very light and ergonomic design
Recommendation:
*** If ease of use, high resolution, and high optical magnification is your need, then this is THE camera for you
*** It is very economically priced
I have been using this Camera now for 3 months and for me it is dream come true.
Fujifilm X-E1 16.3 MP Compact System Digital Camera
List Price: $799.95
Sale Price: $599.00
Today's Bonus: 25% Off
I have been a fan of Leica M7 with 50 mm Summilux for a decade. I have used a few digital cameras but nothing could replace my M7. My biggest discontent with digital cameras have been white balance and contrast -no matter which camera I tried, I could never quite get the same perfect white balance and the natural and yet strong and beautiful contrast of film camera photography, especially those of M7 with Summilux. Digital photos almost always had the washed-out colors and weired color bias. I hesitated to invest in M9 because I did not believe, for right or wrong, it could quite deliver what M7 had delivered. Leica had never been known to be a pioneer in digital photography. I also tried the first digital Leica called Digilux some 9 years ago, which was a joke. Convenience means little if the quality is lacking; I would rather have 10 photos that I like than 100 photos that I do not like. So despite the efforts and costs of processing needed for a film camera, I kept on using my Leica M7.
Enter Fuji X-e1. After taking some photos, I blew them on my 60-inch PDP. Perfect. Perfect at ISO 4000. And what a contrast. Wow. As far as I know, this is as close to a film photo feel as a digital photo could get: white balance is impeccable, skin tones perfect, strong contrast, colors that sing, and no grains at ISO 4000! Hallelujah.
Another thing about this camera: JPG files are excellent. I hate keeping RAW files. They are big files taking up so much space and post processing is such a pain to me. With this camera, you can simply forget about shooting in RAW. JPGs are just as nice. Even after reducing the file size to a mere 40 KB for emailing purposes, your photo retains the color and beauty.
The EVF is awesome. OLED screen is so bright and beautiful that you may never want to go back to the LCD on the back to focus, although there is some lag in dark because of low refresh rate. The lag would matter more in manual focus but also in auto focus, because you cannot capture the moment properly. Auto sensor option will turn off the LCD if the EVF senses your eye is nearby, and vice versa saving the battery. This camera is also packed with nice features that you actually use such as horizontal line indicator on the EVF -it tells you whether your composition is perfectly horizontal. Another useful feature is something called "color-mode bracketing" along with the usual other bracketing options. First, you can use a few very nice color modes with this camera, and, second, with a single click, you can produce multiple photos captured in different color modes. My favorite is the Velvia mode -for those who remember the ISO 50 film with thick colors to be used with a projector, yes, this resembles its colors quite a bit. Mind you, they are not for some special effects -they are still passable as "regular" photos because the difference is well within the boundaries of mainstream photos and the skin tones do not appear weird even in this mode; they are just a bit more vibrant and strong, that's all.
There is much to like about digital photography in general but also much to dislike. I like its compact size, convenience, ability to transfer files and view across different media, immediacy in viewing the result and ease of use. But I dislike the lens barrel that comes out with noise each time you turn it on. I dislike the menu buttons with labyrinthine structures. I dislike the touch buttons. Most of all, I don't like the color renditions and tricky white balance. This Fuji X-e1 has cured all or at least most such woes, while retaining the traditional forte of digital cameras and keeping its size well below that of a DSLR. Bravo. Now I am afraid my M7 may end up being a thing of the past, finally, although I will never part with it. A Leica is a Leica after all, but perhaps I will never buy a M9 as I feel I have found a worthy substitute at a fraction of the price.
As for me, I considered this one among the following contenders: Sony RX1 and RX100. I crossed out Lumix lines because somehow I could never be satisfied with its white balance. RX100 is very nice for its price and I consider it an ultimate P&S, but I do not like the lens barrel that comes out each time I turn it on. Also its sensor size is a bit too small for my liking. However, it is a great little camera to get and I may well get it someday for its extreme portability and HD video capability alone. As for RX1, although I love its full-frame sensor, having a fixed, not-that-fast (2.0), non-changeable 35 mm lens is the deal killer for me, along with having no internal EVF or OVF. For that kind of price, Sony should really have done better. If you are considering RX100, RX1 or even NEX 7, do yourself a favor and make sure you test X-e1 before making up your mind. Just demoing it through the LCD at the back of the camera is not enough. If your dealer allows it, bring your own SD card, take shots on it with all the aforementioned cameras, blow the pictures on your own computer at home while paying particular attention to the color qualities.
[UPDATE] As for the lens, so far I have only used the kit lens (18-55mm). I have not used manual focusing yet, so I cannot comment on it. This lens is quite light-weight and simply superb. Auto-focus is not the fastest but fast enough and accurate. You can make a shallow depth of field at 2.8 and the resulting bokeh is quite nice. This may not be the fastest lens (ie lowest F stop is 2.8) but certainly fast enough and since you can make perfect photos at ISO 4000, I think this lens is a lot more useful than the well-rated 35 mm 1.4, which I have never used but may buy some day.
[UPDATE 2] The flash did not work. Since it was the first time I tried, I guess it did not work from the beginning. I was thinking of returning the unit, but when I called Fuji service center, the person suggested me to "RESET" the unit from the menu button. I did, and it worked. I asked him if this was a well-known issue, and the person told that it was and Fuji was working on it. I asked again if this was something I have to do from time to time (ie resetting), and the person told me that so far it seemed to work fine with the first reset but they were not sure. So if you buy a unit, make sure you test the flash. If it does not work, reset the unit. Fuji is working on the fix. I was thinking of reducing a star from my rating, but since it is working fine for now after reset, I am leaving as is. But if Fuji does not come with a permanent fix or if this happens again, I will reduce a star.
[UPDATE 3] I found out why the flash did not work. It had nothing to do with bugs or defects. Manner mode was on and that was why. When the manner mode is on, not only all sounds are muted but also flash and focus light are all disabled. Perfect for taking photos at classical concerts. (If you just want the sound off without disabling the flash or light, there is a sound option menu as well including complete off.) That explains why it worked when I reset the camera -the manner mode is turned off at reset. Funny, even the experienced Fuji service man did not know this -he told me they were "working on it." It shows this is such a new model -so new that even the front field folks have not figured out all about it, I guess.
[UPDATE 4] Manual focusing a moving object through EVF in low light even when magnified is tricky. It does not give you a focus confirmation. I comparison-tested manual and auto, and there was always a discrepancy which makes me not to trust my eyes. Also the kit-lens' manual focusing feel is not superb, although certainly much better than that of X100. So I think this should be mostly used as an auto-focus camera when you use the kit lens. Make sure you push the "enlarge" button to help focus manually -a big difference. By the way, you can always push AE-L/AF-L button to bring the object into immediate auto focus even when the camera is in manual focus mode, which I find very useful. You can also set this button's function AE fix only or AF fix only or both AE fix and AF fix in the menu settings.
[UPDATE 5] I think one firmware upgrade feature this camera desperately needs is Minimum Shutter Speed setting. Without this, Auto ISO is only half effective, along with aperture priority mode. Currently when set at auto-ISO and in the aperture priority mode, this camera is giving me a shutter speed close to the focal length, which, in the case of the kit lens, is 30 mm and hence 1/30th. This is obviously no good when shooting a moving object, which makes me adjust the ISO value up manually, rendering the auto-ISO not that useful. Fuji, please update and implement this firmware feature in a near future. Otherwise, people would simply have to shoot in speed priority mode mostly.
[UPDATE 6] I ordered Fuji M-mount adapter to use the body with my 50 mm Summilux. Now there are a few cheaper choices you have such as Kipon but the reason I ordered an official Fuji was because I read that it is the only one that shows all the information as Fuji lenses do. There are three things you need to be aware of. First, certain Leica lenses do not work with this adapter so you need to read about which ones work and which ones do not. Second, it does not show the F-stop information anywhere on the viewfinder (even though it takes photos with the F-stop you set on the lens) -it shows "F0 (zero)" all the time. Less of a problem in the aperture priority mode since you know it anyway (since you are setting the aperture), but in the speed priority mode, there is no way of knowing the aperture. Third, the results are OK but certainly not any better than the kit lens. There is no Leica magic -well-focused pictures look almost identical to those produced by the kit lens. So two conclusions: (i) I am not so sure about the advantage of buying a much more expensive official Fuji adapter; and (ii) your chief reason for buying the adapter must be to expand your photographic options and not to improve IQ. IQ will be largely the same even with the supposedly superior and certainly more expensive Leica glass.
[Update 7] I ordered Kipon adapter for Contax G2 lenses. For those who are not familiar, Contax long ago sold a film rangefinder called G2 with three Carl Zeiss lenses in the bundle: Biogon 2.8/28mm, Planar 2/45mm, Sonnar 2.8/90mm. Those lenses were beautifully crafted, sharp as a tack, and represented supreme value then (you may still find them at eBay). I once used and loved this Contax G2 extensively along with my Leica M7, but it has been sleeping in my closet in recent years. To get to the point, those Carl Zeiss lenses worked like charm on the X-e1 body. Sharp, sharp all they way. Particularly amazing was 90mm Sonnar's portrait performance under low light (with the crop factor of this body, it becomes a 135mm mild zoom). Wow! I could see my son's peach fuzz on face in a shot taken from quite some distance. On the X-e1 body (I cannot stress this qualification enough), I actually prefer Carl Zeiss glasses to the Leica glass. It is a match made in heaven, and you owe it to yourself to get an adapter to try those lenses if you happen to have them like me. I never thought I would be resurrecting those almost antique lenses from the film era in this digital age, not out of curiosity but for real field usage! One caveat: the Biogon 2.8/28mm could not be attached to this camera with the Kipon adapter -it could not be locked and would not focus. I am not sure if there is any adapter you could use for Biogon 2.8/28mm available in the market.
[Update 8] I tried a "duel" among the three lenses again: Summilux 50/1.4, Sonnar 90/2.8, and the Fujinon Kit. I shot my bookshelf full of books on a tripod position (around 50 shots each) and tried to see differences. Because of the differences in magnification, Sonnar actually shot from a further distance. Again, the differences were minor but there was a clear winner to my eyes: Sonnar. Color renditions were very similar. But the Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, although sharp in the center at every aperture, was softer and blurrier on the sides at the same F stop with Sonnar. Sonnar was tack sharp around all edges. I did not notice this when I mounted Summilux on my M7 body. That is why I said I do not particularly prefer Summilux at least on X-e1 body. Fujinon was not as sharp as Sonnar, but entirely acceptable and consistently good.
But since the results were so similar, I urge people to buy different lenses only to obtain different F stops or angles and not to obtain better IQ. I see it this way: if you already have a Summilux, you may want to buy a cheap adapter ring, but if you do not have one, forget it. At over $4,000, it is not worth the price at least on this body.
It is great to hear Zeiss is coming out with auto-focus for X-mount (see the comment by Midnight Coyote below), but I fear the price! Manual focusing with Sonnar is actually quite fun, and there is one great advantage with manual focusing: once focused, you can shoot subsequent shots actually faster than an auto-focus and this is a great advantage in extreme low-light conditions in which the auto-focus hesitates and struggles for each shot.
SanDisk Micro Secure Digital 2 GB Memory Card (SDSDQ-2048-A10M)
Dropped it into my Garmin 60CSX GPS unit and it worked without a hitch. If you've got one of these GPS units, buy it and you will find it should be compatible.
VideoSecu 16 Day Night Vision Outdoor Audio Bullet CCTV Security
List Price: $1,999.99
Sale Price: $749.99
Today's Bonus: 63% Off
I have three CCTV day/night cameras all hooked up to my DVR. This unit plugged in and worked immediately. I set it side by side with one of my other cameras so they were shooting the exact same thing and this one is at least 2x closer maybe even more. I had them pointed towards the side of the TV in my room about 8 feet away from the cameras. The first camera had a wide field of view and showed a good portion of the room. This camera showed mostly just the TV. It filled almost the entire screen up. It has a very narrow field of view and the video looks very zoomed in.
This camera may work better shooting objects at a distance. It does not have anything even close to a 1:1 ratio as far as perspective. It looks more like if you were using a camcorder and zoomed in on the subject.
Depending on what you plan on taping this may or may not be the camera for you. I plan on using it for paranormal investigations and this camera will have to be used to film areas quite some distance from the camera (like a long hallway) or it will look like the camera was right on top of the area you are trying to record.
Also of note, of the 3 of these I have this is the only one that is plastic. It looks metallic until you touch it but it's plastic. Base does not lock very tight and it feels like if you force it you're going to regret it.
Giving it 3 stars for the extreme zoom issue and the fact that it's made of plastic. Haven't tested the audio aspect of the camera and don't really need it.
Samsung UN55C7000 55-Inch 1080p 240 Hz 3D LED HDTV (Black)
I am simple. Simple tastes. Simple pleasures. Simple needs. I will research a major purchase enough to know what will stick around for 5 to 10 years depending on how much technology changes, look at my budget, and fire away with the best purchase I can make.
That being said, my requirement was 1080p, 240Hz, 55" with a Blue Ray player. 3D didn't matter to me at the time, but when I saw the deal for this TV, which included 3D, the Blue Ray (with 3D) and the glasses and the (How to Train Your Dragon) movie for a cheaper price than what I was pricing just the TVs for in previous weeks, I snapped it up.
The results, pure and simple, are stunning. We watched Train Your Dragon with the 3D glasses and were quite frankly blown away.
Yes, in this day and age, everyone wants to be the expert of what they know and poo-poo anything that is not professional quality, not top-of-the-line whatever and will write extensively about it...and this is actually a good thing for sure. But to me, does the technology deliver? Absolutely! Was I blown to the back of my seat. Absolutely. Was the quality of the picture great? Absolutely. Will 99.98% of purchasers like this product? No. They will LOVE it. The rest can write 10,000 words about how and why spending the extra money will prove to be the better choice for exactly 6 weeks until the next more-awesome thing comes along to trump today's tech.
Simply stated...you want something that is great and will last for years? Come get it. It's here, it's cheap enough to say yes, and you will not regret the purchase if your life has more to do with just being entertained with what you have instead of always pondering what you could have.
There will always be Ferrari (and the like), but somehow I think the rest of us simply enjoy a really well built, reliable, affordable car with a good sound system that will last.
This is that purchase. Let the Porsche and Ferrari owners duke it out over track times and performance that most likely they will never experience from day-to-day anyway. And if you do like performance above all else...be prepared to pay for the experience that comes with it. This works plenty for my 1 to 2 hours viewing experience per day.
That being said, my requirement was 1080p, 240Hz, 55" with a Blue Ray player. 3D didn't matter to me at the time, but when I saw the deal for this TV, which included 3D, the Blue Ray (with 3D) and the glasses and the (How to Train Your Dragon) movie for a cheaper price than what I was pricing just the TVs for in previous weeks, I snapped it up.
The results, pure and simple, are stunning. We watched Train Your Dragon with the 3D glasses and were quite frankly blown away.
Yes, in this day and age, everyone wants to be the expert of what they know and poo-poo anything that is not professional quality, not top-of-the-line whatever and will write extensively about it...and this is actually a good thing for sure. But to me, does the technology deliver? Absolutely! Was I blown to the back of my seat. Absolutely. Was the quality of the picture great? Absolutely. Will 99.98% of purchasers like this product? No. They will LOVE it. The rest can write 10,000 words about how and why spending the extra money will prove to be the better choice for exactly 6 weeks until the next more-awesome thing comes along to trump today's tech.
Simply stated...you want something that is great and will last for years? Come get it. It's here, it's cheap enough to say yes, and you will not regret the purchase if your life has more to do with just being entertained with what you have instead of always pondering what you could have.
There will always be Ferrari (and the like), but somehow I think the rest of us simply enjoy a really well built, reliable, affordable car with a good sound system that will last.
This is that purchase. Let the Porsche and Ferrari owners duke it out over track times and performance that most likely they will never experience from day-to-day anyway. And if you do like performance above all else...be prepared to pay for the experience that comes with it. This works plenty for my 1 to 2 hours viewing experience per day.
Quantum Q Flash X5DR Digital
List Price: $878.00
Sale Price: $844.75
Today's Bonus: 4% Off
I'm a believer in Nikon's "Creative Lighting System" (CLS) because it makes it so simple to use multiple portable flashes off-camera to get serious looking professional lighting effects without cumbersome studio flashes. Only problem is that as much as I love my SB-900s (and no, I never had the overheating problem everyone complains about), it's just not nearly as powerful and flexible as the Quantum units. With Quantum's addition of the (separately sold) QNexus unit, however, I can have the best of both worlds: a mix of Quantum and Nikon flash units, all operated under control of the Nikon CLS system.
The QNexus unit is the "glue" here, translating Nikon's CLS infrared signals to a form the Quantum flashes can understand. You get virtually all the same features except for (high-speed flash), but with a mix of Nikon and Quantum units acting together in unison. Plus, when I need a super-powerful flash with a heavy duty external battery pack, I can use the Quantum solo. Given the flexible Quantum system interchangeable reflectors, diffusers and bulbs I feel like I finally have the best of both worlds. Quantum also has their own radio control system, similar to Pocket Wizard...500 foot range that doesn't require line-of-sight placement although of course, this wouldn't work with the Nikon lights.
Of course, the Quantum isn't perfect...it tends to be really heavy (especially with the battery, which can be attached under your camera or worn at your side). Plus, with a Quantum, you'll probably be using some type of heavy-duty bracket, adding even more to the weight. Still, the light quality is pretty amazing...somehow softer and more diffused than the SB-900, while also being more powerful. Still, I also like that the SB-900s can be powered with off-the-shelf AA batteries if necessary, versus the Quantum's custom external power pack. The Quantum is also rather expensive...last time I looked, I could have bought three SB-900s and an SB-600 for the price of the X5, its battery and the QNexus unit.
Some will tell you that the Nikon and Quantum units don't work well together because the color temperature of the lights differ slightly. This is indeed true, but the effect is very, very small. I have a color temperature meter, and I find the two are within about 100-200 degrees of one another, with the Quantum being consistently warmer. If I want a precise mix, I simply put a CC05 yellow filter on the SB900, and I find the colors are dead on.
Otherwise, the Quantum seems like it's built like a tank and will stand up to even the most demanding day-to-day use. No regrets whatsoever about this purchase.
Highly recommended.
Canon Rebel XS 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm
List Price: $649.99
Sale Price: $499.99
Today's Bonus: 23% Off
I spent several weeks reviewing the REBEL XS vs it's many 10 MP adversaries, I even checked it against the ultra zooms as I wanted the convenience of video as well, but too many good things stood out with this camera and so I decided upon it. I bought the rebel XS and after days of dirt testing this camera I've found it a beautiful experience.
Now I'm a professional videographer attached to a tv station in Trinidad & Tobago, my purpose for this camera was the need for a quick sharp still shot camera that would be impressive under low light and still capture impressive portrait shots to be used for my website and for large prints. I didn't want to shell out over a $1000. US for a camera body.
What is tagged by Canon is true: The full auto mode is truly accurate and gives excellent shots always, it makes photography so easy for a beginner or intermediate. The portrait mode isn't blurry, images are clean, nicely toned, excellent in quality for large size prints. The P ( program mode) I like alot at first because this mode sets exposure so nicely I found it addictive. I shot alot of night pics of cars on a freeway, with bright, sharp, lively colours emerging. Night pics at 800 iso had very very very little noise, and I mean I was searching the pics on 15" monitors for reason to complain, but was really impressed.
The auto focus is really quick. Th XS comes with "only" a 7 point auto focus system compared to the XSi 9 point, forgive me when I say there may be no need for another 2 points when the camera focusses so quick and so accurately. I have not gotten a soft image when shot with the auto focus operating.
Now for those point and shoot cams that boast about "face detection"....5 faces...6,7, some even 15. I also have a 10 mp ultra zoom, this simply matters little if not at all, if the focussing ability of the camera is poor or average, and given the "average lens" quality they're made of.
I have learnt clearly that a 10 MP ultra zoom simply cannot compare to a 10 MP D SLR...chalk and cheese.
I also bought the Tamron 70mm 300mm, F4-5.6 telephoto/ macro lens. No vignetting at either end of the lens.
Auto iso is simply magnificent, have not taken a shot where the camera over estimated or underestimated the iso levels.
The Manual mode of this camera is the most impressive for me. The rebel XS via various magazine testing has come up faster than it's other 10 MP rivals when it comes to fps shooting, and burst images. It really does shoot 3 fps consistently, it shoots 2.3 fps in low light, worst case is over 1 fps all at 10 MP quality.
I haven't used a lower quality since, given I bought a Transcend 8GB SDHC card storage is not an issue.
Most of my shooting has been at night, for the little done in daylight, it has been amazing. Colours are very bright, depth of field very very nice. Macros works well. Image optimizer simply shocked life out of me. I was in a shaded area and without flash it really improves the subject without over blowing the background, stuff that is almost impossible on point and shoot cams.
Stuff I disagree with from the "reviews" : 1"The camera feels cheaply built"....simply wrong, nothing is shabby, buttons are actually easy to press, doesn't have cheap clicks to them, the lens mount has a secure feel to it, and a proper snap when it is set. Battery compartment is certainly secure. Your finger must intricately open the door for entry, won't be an accident issue. Rubber door at a.v. ports snap in well. Rubber grip is firm enough, smooth enough to not irritate your hands.
2" XS is "overpriced" compared to the XSi.....Xsi shoots slower than the XS, XSi picture quality is equal to the XS even though the XSi is 12 MP. The XSi may be the 3" LCD and a few other upgrades, but these upgrades don't add up when the picture is taken and the quality of both cameras match alike. I may have chosen the XSI if I wanted to spend the extra $150. u.s but for the lesser price, I'm yet to regret.
3"The XS "only has a 2.5" LCD compared to a couple of it's rivals having 3" LCD's". I can see every thing clearly with this screen, even with Histograms, and grids onscreen. If LCD's get much bigger then canon may need to install a tv tuner as well....the 2.5" is more than sufficient.
4"The XS doesn't have SPOT METERING compared to the XSi, so this is a big issue"haven't encountered a reason to complain yet, after 500 night shots and 200 day shots.
THE DOWN SIDE: the EOS software for uploading the photos to computer, and remote controlling the cam via computer is AWFUL. It's a task to upload, as it is beach balling when you hit "upload". Digital professional software is non responsive. I have not been able to use the software past the install point. Mac version here.
Better use i-photo and photoshop.
I highly rate this camera, and as a videographer who's accustomed to t.v. broadcast quality the REBEL XS is worth it, and since canon is so intent on pushing the rebel XSi they have significantly lowered the price on the XS.....I recommend people buy the XS and get a good lens with the discount earned. The trick is in the lens and the user, and lesser the camera.
Pentax K-r 12.4 MP Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD
I have been using the KR now for almost a week so these are my initial impressions. The best way to describe this camera is a KR with several new improvements, though more evolutionary than revolutionary.
My favorite new features are the improved LCD (higher resolution), visible AF point, faster live view focusing, faster shooting at 6 FPS and faster focusing in all environments, especially in low light though with the new AF assist lamp. I cannot emphasize the AF capability in low light. The KR focuses fast, even in almost total darkness.
Another new feature is the capability to use AA batteries as well as Lithium ion. It comes with a Lithium ion battery and charger to start.
The image stabilization is still in body as Pentax has been doing for years. This allows the use of many Pentax lens and still have stabilization.
The high ISO capability with the KR is great as it is with the KX. I had a T2i and find the high ISO capability better with the KR. Plus the white balance requires less adjustment with the Pentax. It seems like I was always modifying the white balance settings with the T2i. This came as a shock to me knowing some of the white balance issues I have seen with Pentax cameras in the past.
One of the coolest new features that I really like is the capability to convert the last JPG picture taken to RAW. So let's say you take a picture and you cannot take it again (one time opportunity!) and the JPG was not up to par...You can save it as RAW and then convert in camera or in software later. This is only possible for the last JPG taken however.
The video will work in a pinch but is not the strength of this camera. It is 720P and 25 FPS with no auto focus. The T2i is better in this arena but I honestly never used it much. Despite DSLR improvements in this area (especially with the T2i), I still prefer using a camcorder.
However, the KR is a photographic tool and has lots of options once you start wanting to experiment a little more. Get it with the 55-300 lens (great lens!) if you can swing it. It is a great deal with the 2 lens kit and truly a savings versus buying it later.
Pentax is often overlooked in the DSLR arena. The KX has been a great seller for Pentax. If you have one, I would not necessarily upgrade to the KR, though some of the new features are nice. If you are looking for your first DSLR or possibly switching from another brand, I highly recommend the KR.
My favorite new features are the improved LCD (higher resolution), visible AF point, faster live view focusing, faster shooting at 6 FPS and faster focusing in all environments, especially in low light though with the new AF assist lamp. I cannot emphasize the AF capability in low light. The KR focuses fast, even in almost total darkness.
Another new feature is the capability to use AA batteries as well as Lithium ion. It comes with a Lithium ion battery and charger to start.
The image stabilization is still in body as Pentax has been doing for years. This allows the use of many Pentax lens and still have stabilization.
The high ISO capability with the KR is great as it is with the KX. I had a T2i and find the high ISO capability better with the KR. Plus the white balance requires less adjustment with the Pentax. It seems like I was always modifying the white balance settings with the T2i. This came as a shock to me knowing some of the white balance issues I have seen with Pentax cameras in the past.
One of the coolest new features that I really like is the capability to convert the last JPG picture taken to RAW. So let's say you take a picture and you cannot take it again (one time opportunity!) and the JPG was not up to par...You can save it as RAW and then convert in camera or in software later. This is only possible for the last JPG taken however.
The video will work in a pinch but is not the strength of this camera. It is 720P and 25 FPS with no auto focus. The T2i is better in this arena but I honestly never used it much. Despite DSLR improvements in this area (especially with the T2i), I still prefer using a camcorder.
However, the KR is a photographic tool and has lots of options once you start wanting to experiment a little more. Get it with the 55-300 lens (great lens!) if you can swing it. It is a great deal with the 2 lens kit and truly a savings versus buying it later.
Pentax is often overlooked in the DSLR arena. The KX has been a great seller for Pentax. If you have one, I would not necessarily upgrade to the KR, though some of the new features are nice. If you are looking for your first DSLR or possibly switching from another brand, I highly recommend the KR.
PTC 25ft Premium Gold Series HDMI Cable (HH-26-25E)
This is a great cable at a great price.
There is one problem that may potentially affect you though. The height of the HDMI connector is quite high (ie it is thick). Whereas many of these connectors are around 1/4 inch tall, this one is 7/8 inch. There is some a/v equipment out there that doesn't have enough room for this connector. My SONY LCD projector falls into this category.
What I ended up doing was to get a small (1 foot) m-f HDMI cable extender, and this ended up with a male plug small enough to fit into the projector connector.
This probably won't affect you, but measure your input connector area just in case.
There is one problem that may potentially affect you though. The height of the HDMI connector is quite high (ie it is thick). Whereas many of these connectors are around 1/4 inch tall, this one is 7/8 inch. There is some a/v equipment out there that doesn't have enough room for this connector. My SONY LCD projector falls into this category.
What I ended up doing was to get a small (1 foot) m-f HDMI cable extender, and this ended up with a male plug small enough to fit into the projector connector.
This probably won't affect you, but measure your input connector area just in case.
Sony SAL-85F14Z 85mm f1.4 Carl Zeiss Planar T Coated Telephoto
The sharpness creamy bokeh are unmatched by any other alpha mount lens. The auto clutch is a fine addition, since this lens has some heft to it, so you'll find yourself balancing the camera by the lens with your left hand. When it is in AF, the focusing ring doesnt turn. Nice. The colors are reproduced as true as any glass on the market. My only issue is minor, I wish the lens hood had a filter window, similar to the 70200SSM.
Very fast focusing even in low light, but to really get the most out of it, mount it on the A700. It does tend to lag a tad in low light when mounted on the KM 7D.
You'll forget the hit to your pocketbook as soon as you print your first shot!
Very fast focusing even in low light, but to really get the most out of it, mount it on the A700. It does tend to lag a tad in low light when mounted on the KM 7D.
You'll forget the hit to your pocketbook as soon as you print your first shot!
Astell&Kern AK120 Mastering Quality Sound Portable Dual DAC
[UPDATE 7/18/2013] Firmware update version 1.32 is now available to download; its main feature is DSD playback. I was a bit skeptical about this feature since WM8740 chips were not meant for DSD playback by hardware design. I was also afraid that this update would change the sound signature of AK120 which I love (see below). But I read many positive reviews from headfi and other sites for this firmware update and since I have a big collection of SACD (from which you can rip DSD files), I jumped in. I was so glad I did! The DSD playback is phenomenally good -even greater sound stage, dynamics, incredible treble and airy, musical feel. So I recommend version 1.32 update to all those who purchase AK120, especially if you own SACD discs.
When launching AK120, this company promised USB DAC and DSD playback would be available soon through firmware updates and it did keep its promises. I like companies that keep their promises; it says a lot about how they treat their customers. I hope they will keep improving the firmware.
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I currently own or used to own the following: AK100, AK120, Colorfly C4, Hifiman HM901, and iBasso DX100. That makes me in a good position to compare this one against the rest. (For my extensive review of AK100, see Astell&Kern AK100 Mastering Quality Sound (MQS) Portable System.)
I first had a chance to listen to AK120 in the 2013 Munich High End Show. I brought my AK100 to the Show to compare it with AK120 that was being showcased. I used my own FitEar ToGo 334 gear and initially no external amp. I was instantly hooked. The main differences between this one and AK100 were twofold: ease of sound (ie non-fatiguing, effortless, unforced) and three-dimensionality of sound. I brought my own MicroSD full of music at various compression levels, and in all of them the differences between AK100 and AK120 were clear, albeit some more than others. I found live recordings to have more pronounced differences, meaning you could almost "picture" the live sound in your head and separate the audience's coughs and noises from the artist's instrumental sound. For all its superb tonality, AK100 sounded rather flat and uni-dimensional compared to AK120. I tested Horowitz in Moscow (1986) WAV files (16/44), and the master's playing of Mozart Sonata in C major (K330) flowed with exceptional charm, ease and clarity despite less than perfect recording quality; the concert hall was full of noises made by the audience but the playing shone out loud and clear, exquisite and almost palpable the sort of qualities that put smiles on the listener. You would feel as if you were right in the middle of the historic event. When I tested Elly Ameling's Schubert vocal ALAC (Apple Lossless) files, I felt as if she was singing right next to me. When I switched to AK100 with exactly same IEM and same MicroSD for comparison, the magic was half gone. These things are so hard to describe in words, but the back-and-forth comparison listening assured me of the clear differences between the two models. I instantly decided to purchase AK120 after the experience.
Notice that the above-mentioned Horowitz and Ameling were not "Mastering Quality Sound" or "MQS" (ie 24 bit) files. Any CD quality files (ie WAV or AIFF) or ALAC files revealed the superiority of AK120 quite clearly, and even MP3 or AAC files with various compression levels (eg 320 kbps, 192 kbps, 128 kbps) were absolutely enjoyable same transparency and musicality albeit less "information." When I listened to severely compressed files (ie 128 kbps and 192 kbps) through AK120, I felt as if I was listening to the core bulk of the music, with the outer embellishments taken out. ALAC and beyond, I started noticing the "voluptuous body" of the music, especially for large-scale symphonies, concertos and operas. 24/96 and 24/192 files were not distinguishable even with my very sensitive ears and pro-caliber IEMs; I would think 24/192 may be overkills for me. So AK120 was not really only for MQS as its namesake; it was enjoyable with all types of files with all degrees of compression.
Impressions aside, technically speaking, AK120 has output impedance of 3 ohm in comparison to AK100's 22 ohm, which makes it easier to drive wider variety of headphones. I found it could drive FitEar 334, Shure SE535, Westone 4R, Senn IE800, Triple.Fi 10, Beyerdynamic T5p and AKG K3003 beautifully; it could even drive HD800 somewhat satisfactorily without an external amp. However, as for Beyerdynamic T1, Audeze LCD-3 and Hifiman HE-6, you would need an external amp to obtain the volume level you want.
I initially thought the biggest weakness for AK120 was lack of true line-out. However, after extensive comparison listening with other devices with line-outs, I reached the conclusion that the headphone out was sufficiently good to the degree of rendering line-out almost unnecessary. When AK120 was connected to ALO Rx Mk2 through headphone jack, it had dead-silent background and dynamics to die for -the best sound from ALO Rx Mk2 I had ever heard. With most IEMs and headphones, AK120 sounds already great by itself, but when paired with the right amp, you will feel as if you are playing with sufficient residual power. Forget the line-out.
AK120's newer firmware version has USB DAC capability, which is convenient for PC-fi users. I have not upgraded to this firmware, as I was too fond of the current firmware 1.0 sound and was afraid it would change the sound characteristic. When you know you own the sweet spot, you are afraid to do anything that could possibly alter it. Since I have an Apple Macbook Pro, I do not need USB DAC; Macbook Pro's headphone jack also works as an optical out, which digital signal my AK100 and AK120 can take. Needless to say, when used as a DAC, AK120 produces magnificent sounds and I would think I am benefiting from its monoaural design with dual wm8740 chips.
In comparison to other "usual suspects", I would think the four are in the same league in sound quality and the choice boils down to your preference of sound signature. HM901 comes closest to AK120 in sound characteristic, but I find the AK120's separation of instruments and rendition of vocals more convincing. Colorfly C4 has always been one of my favorites as it is extremely musical but I must admit it falls behind AK120 in HD clarity. DX100 is perhaps the real contender for AK120 with perceptibly different characteristic; it is more "cold", slightly dry and analytical, the hallmark of reference device. AK120 has more tube-type sound and musical presentation, although it could be relentlessly revealing. If you listen to a badly recorded track, it will reveal how truly bad the recording is. It is to the credit of this company that they could condense such quality into such tiny size.
[Conclusion] For many people, AK100 should be sufficient, especially with its new Russian firmware (ie Listrid 2.0). There is always the law of diminishing marginal utility in the working and I can say with confidence that this one does not sound twice as good as AK100. But in the crazy world of high-end audio, there are people who dole out twice to gain 5% better sound, which sometimes amounts to tens of thousands of dollars. Choosing AK120 instead of AK100 will set you back by $600, but people like me consider it totally worth the extra $600 (I even bought this without selling my AK100) because it increases the total enjoyment by about 30%. Perhaps this explains why the expensive AK120 is currently selling like hot cakes in places such as Japan that has large segment of world's high-end audio fans. Perhaps I could have been totally happy with my AK100 had I not listened to AK120. But having listened to it, there is no going back for me.
When launching AK120, this company promised USB DAC and DSD playback would be available soon through firmware updates and it did keep its promises. I like companies that keep their promises; it says a lot about how they treat their customers. I hope they will keep improving the firmware.
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I currently own or used to own the following: AK100, AK120, Colorfly C4, Hifiman HM901, and iBasso DX100. That makes me in a good position to compare this one against the rest. (For my extensive review of AK100, see Astell&Kern AK100 Mastering Quality Sound (MQS) Portable System.)
I first had a chance to listen to AK120 in the 2013 Munich High End Show. I brought my AK100 to the Show to compare it with AK120 that was being showcased. I used my own FitEar ToGo 334 gear and initially no external amp. I was instantly hooked. The main differences between this one and AK100 were twofold: ease of sound (ie non-fatiguing, effortless, unforced) and three-dimensionality of sound. I brought my own MicroSD full of music at various compression levels, and in all of them the differences between AK100 and AK120 were clear, albeit some more than others. I found live recordings to have more pronounced differences, meaning you could almost "picture" the live sound in your head and separate the audience's coughs and noises from the artist's instrumental sound. For all its superb tonality, AK100 sounded rather flat and uni-dimensional compared to AK120. I tested Horowitz in Moscow (1986) WAV files (16/44), and the master's playing of Mozart Sonata in C major (K330) flowed with exceptional charm, ease and clarity despite less than perfect recording quality; the concert hall was full of noises made by the audience but the playing shone out loud and clear, exquisite and almost palpable the sort of qualities that put smiles on the listener. You would feel as if you were right in the middle of the historic event. When I tested Elly Ameling's Schubert vocal ALAC (Apple Lossless) files, I felt as if she was singing right next to me. When I switched to AK100 with exactly same IEM and same MicroSD for comparison, the magic was half gone. These things are so hard to describe in words, but the back-and-forth comparison listening assured me of the clear differences between the two models. I instantly decided to purchase AK120 after the experience.
Notice that the above-mentioned Horowitz and Ameling were not "Mastering Quality Sound" or "MQS" (ie 24 bit) files. Any CD quality files (ie WAV or AIFF) or ALAC files revealed the superiority of AK120 quite clearly, and even MP3 or AAC files with various compression levels (eg 320 kbps, 192 kbps, 128 kbps) were absolutely enjoyable same transparency and musicality albeit less "information." When I listened to severely compressed files (ie 128 kbps and 192 kbps) through AK120, I felt as if I was listening to the core bulk of the music, with the outer embellishments taken out. ALAC and beyond, I started noticing the "voluptuous body" of the music, especially for large-scale symphonies, concertos and operas. 24/96 and 24/192 files were not distinguishable even with my very sensitive ears and pro-caliber IEMs; I would think 24/192 may be overkills for me. So AK120 was not really only for MQS as its namesake; it was enjoyable with all types of files with all degrees of compression.
Impressions aside, technically speaking, AK120 has output impedance of 3 ohm in comparison to AK100's 22 ohm, which makes it easier to drive wider variety of headphones. I found it could drive FitEar 334, Shure SE535, Westone 4R, Senn IE800, Triple.Fi 10, Beyerdynamic T5p and AKG K3003 beautifully; it could even drive HD800 somewhat satisfactorily without an external amp. However, as for Beyerdynamic T1, Audeze LCD-3 and Hifiman HE-6, you would need an external amp to obtain the volume level you want.
I initially thought the biggest weakness for AK120 was lack of true line-out. However, after extensive comparison listening with other devices with line-outs, I reached the conclusion that the headphone out was sufficiently good to the degree of rendering line-out almost unnecessary. When AK120 was connected to ALO Rx Mk2 through headphone jack, it had dead-silent background and dynamics to die for -the best sound from ALO Rx Mk2 I had ever heard. With most IEMs and headphones, AK120 sounds already great by itself, but when paired with the right amp, you will feel as if you are playing with sufficient residual power. Forget the line-out.
AK120's newer firmware version has USB DAC capability, which is convenient for PC-fi users. I have not upgraded to this firmware, as I was too fond of the current firmware 1.0 sound and was afraid it would change the sound characteristic. When you know you own the sweet spot, you are afraid to do anything that could possibly alter it. Since I have an Apple Macbook Pro, I do not need USB DAC; Macbook Pro's headphone jack also works as an optical out, which digital signal my AK100 and AK120 can take. Needless to say, when used as a DAC, AK120 produces magnificent sounds and I would think I am benefiting from its monoaural design with dual wm8740 chips.
In comparison to other "usual suspects", I would think the four are in the same league in sound quality and the choice boils down to your preference of sound signature. HM901 comes closest to AK120 in sound characteristic, but I find the AK120's separation of instruments and rendition of vocals more convincing. Colorfly C4 has always been one of my favorites as it is extremely musical but I must admit it falls behind AK120 in HD clarity. DX100 is perhaps the real contender for AK120 with perceptibly different characteristic; it is more "cold", slightly dry and analytical, the hallmark of reference device. AK120 has more tube-type sound and musical presentation, although it could be relentlessly revealing. If you listen to a badly recorded track, it will reveal how truly bad the recording is. It is to the credit of this company that they could condense such quality into such tiny size.
[Conclusion] For many people, AK100 should be sufficient, especially with its new Russian firmware (ie Listrid 2.0). There is always the law of diminishing marginal utility in the working and I can say with confidence that this one does not sound twice as good as AK100. But in the crazy world of high-end audio, there are people who dole out twice to gain 5% better sound, which sometimes amounts to tens of thousands of dollars. Choosing AK120 instead of AK100 will set you back by $600, but people like me consider it totally worth the extra $600 (I even bought this without selling my AK100) because it increases the total enjoyment by about 30%. Perhaps this explains why the expensive AK120 is currently selling like hot cakes in places such as Japan that has large segment of world's high-end audio fans. Perhaps I could have been totally happy with my AK100 had I not listened to AK120. But having listened to it, there is no going back for me.
Xbox 360 Elite Console 120GB with 2 Bonus Games
I've been waiting and waiting to buy a 360 until this holiday season in hopes that the package was good. Unfortunately I'm stuck with Kung Fu Panda, and Lego Indiana Jones. While they are fun, I much would have rather had Forza 2 and Marvell:UA. However, I did buy it on the Monday of Thanksgiving and got The Last Remnant and a 4000pt Xbox card with it from Amazon. Great Deal!!
If you are trying to decide which Xbox 360 system to buy, there are a couple things to consider: Hard Drive, connectivity, and network.
For me, new owner, the first thing was the large 120gb HDD. I'm a moderately hardcore gamer, and don't want to have to think twice about space left on my hard drive. However, now there is the 60gb version which should be great for most people. But if you look at the price of the 120gb HDD alone ($150), the Elite is a much better deal.
The HDMI output was the second major deciding factor for me as I wanted the best possible picture from my games and movies. Plus my TV has more HDMI ports than component cable connections.
Also, right now the Xbox Live network is by far the strongest online gaming network. The others might and probably will catch up in the future, but right now Xbox live is the top online gaming network. So being able to play online with family and friends right now was important. Not many people have a PS3, which means that A: play games offline, or online by yourself; or B: make new online friends in a small gaming network. I chose the Xbox.
As a side note: I assumed that since the new chips, Jasper, have been around for a month that the new holiday bundles would have had them, but they didn't. Mine was manufactured in April, which is the Falcon.
If you are unsure about the Elite compared to the 60gb Pro, compare your choices here:
Enjoy your new Xbox360!!
If you are trying to decide which Xbox 360 system to buy, there are a couple things to consider: Hard Drive, connectivity, and network.
For me, new owner, the first thing was the large 120gb HDD. I'm a moderately hardcore gamer, and don't want to have to think twice about space left on my hard drive. However, now there is the 60gb version which should be great for most people. But if you look at the price of the 120gb HDD alone ($150), the Elite is a much better deal.
The HDMI output was the second major deciding factor for me as I wanted the best possible picture from my games and movies. Plus my TV has more HDMI ports than component cable connections.
Also, right now the Xbox Live network is by far the strongest online gaming network. The others might and probably will catch up in the future, but right now Xbox live is the top online gaming network. So being able to play online with family and friends right now was important. Not many people have a PS3, which means that A: play games offline, or online by yourself; or B: make new online friends in a small gaming network. I chose the Xbox.
As a side note: I assumed that since the new chips, Jasper, have been around for a month that the new holiday bundles would have had them, but they didn't. Mine was manufactured in April, which is the Falcon.
If you are unsure about the Elite compared to the 60gb Pro, compare your choices here:
Enjoy your new Xbox360!!
Lenovo ThinkPad X201 Tablet 3093 Core i7 webcam bluetooth2.1 2GB
I got this over a year ago through a cyber-Monday deal and it has been great. My only complaint is really my own fault. I thought it would be incredibly fast given the fact that it's i7 but it now takes forever to boot up. I use it for everything under the sun and for what it's worth, if I knew WHAT to upgrade to speed it up, I'd invest in it before I would buy another computer. I'd also get a portable cd/dvd player. I use my smart phone for everything and this has totally replaced my desktop computer. Being a busy, working mom. I wanted something small that I could bring anywhere and this is perfect for what I needed. I purposely didn't want to "juice up" the specs so my kids wouldn't want to play games on it, which has worked for me. They get frustrated because it's not meant for that and their games run too slow so they stay off of it. I only wish there was a happy medium.
The updates are quick and convenient and the pen is a nice break from typing. The extra stylus tips that came with it have only needed to be replaced 2-3 times over the course of almost 2 years that I've had it, and again, they were free and really improve the pen accuracy when replaced.
I know they are pricey, but this was exactly what I was looking for when I bought it and I think it was worth it. People look at me funny because it's not like the newer tablets, but I have an ipad and Kindle and have used other tablets through work and I can do more with this than any of them for use at both work and home.
The updates are quick and convenient and the pen is a nice break from typing. The extra stylus tips that came with it have only needed to be replaced 2-3 times over the course of almost 2 years that I've had it, and again, they were free and really improve the pen accuracy when replaced.
I know they are pricey, but this was exactly what I was looking for when I bought it and I think it was worth it. People look at me funny because it's not like the newer tablets, but I have an ipad and Kindle and have used other tablets through work and I can do more with this than any of them for use at both work and home.