Great color. Easy to use. Manual is online. Takes crisp photos and the zoom works well. Be sure to buy Lithium Batteries and a larger SD card. You will want to keep these pictures!
Showing posts with label digital camera shop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label digital camera shop. Show all posts
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 Digital Camera (Black) with 32GB Card
At a price only slightly higher than just the camera, Cameta Camera adds some useful items. Let me briefly comment on each:
Kit includes:
♦ 1) Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 Digital Camera (Black) -Reviewed in depth by others. It's a good 60x superzoom camera if you don't expect more than its tiny 1/2.3" sensor can deliver. A few similar cameras may produce slightly clearer pictures, but the FZ70 offers wider wide angle. That's unique.
♦ 2) Transcend 32GB SecureDigital (SDHC) 300x UHS-1 Class 10 Memory Card -Not the fastest card but fast enough for this purpose.
♦ 3) Spare DMW-BMB9 Battery for Panasonic -Charged spares are always nice to have in reserve.
♦ 4) Zeikos 50" ZE-TR26A Compact Travel Tripod -The equivalent version I got was Vivitar, a very lightweight tripod that would be challenged by a breeze. It can support the camera for group photos indoors, but don't expect a stable platform for 1200mm telephoto shots outdoors.
♦ 5) Zeikos 3-Piece Multi-Coated Glass Filter Kit (55mm UV/FLD/CPL) -Yes, it's glass, but the CPL filter shows no evidence whatsoever of polarizing light. It's more like a weak neutral density filter. Disappointing: CPL was the only filter I wanted, and it doesn't work. The box says that filters are multi-coated but I doubt it, since they show strong surface reflections. This is a dud.
♦ 6) Precision Design PD-C10 Camera/Camcorder Case -Simple but fully functional. It fits the camera and a couple of small accessories, such as the charger and the spare battery.
♦ 7) Precision Design USB 2.0 SecureDigital (SDHC) High-Speed Memory Card Reader -The version I got was made by Xit Photo. It measures only 1.5" and works well.
♦ 8) Precision Design 5-Piece Camera & Lens Cleaning Kit -Should be useful.
♦ 9) Precision Design Universal LCD Screen Protectors -You have to cut those to size, but they work well to protect the LCD screen from scratches.
♦ 10) Precision Design Memory Card Storage Wallet -Makes it slightly harder to lose memory cards.
♦ 11) ImageRecall Digital Image Recovery Software -Not useful to me, but one can download this software if needed. The Transcend memory card included a link to something similar.
My conclusion? The rating is mostly based on camera performance, which is very good, but can't compete with larger sensor cameras. What makes this camera special is the zoom: it delivers tremendous versatility in a relatively small package (size comparison to DSLR cameras with similar focal length lenses are downright funny). Ergonomics, camera settings & operation work for me. Image quality is adequate for this type of camera.
The rest of the kit is a mixed bag, but justifies a slightly higher price. Overall, I'm happy with the camera case, extra battery, memory card & card reader, screen protectors, and even the cleaning kit. These items justify the $25 premium (including shipping) over the camera alone. However, the filters and the tripod are simply inadequate.
Kit includes:
♦ 1) Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 Digital Camera (Black) -Reviewed in depth by others. It's a good 60x superzoom camera if you don't expect more than its tiny 1/2.3" sensor can deliver. A few similar cameras may produce slightly clearer pictures, but the FZ70 offers wider wide angle. That's unique.
♦ 2) Transcend 32GB SecureDigital (SDHC) 300x UHS-1 Class 10 Memory Card -Not the fastest card but fast enough for this purpose.
♦ 3) Spare DMW-BMB9 Battery for Panasonic -Charged spares are always nice to have in reserve.
♦ 4) Zeikos 50" ZE-TR26A Compact Travel Tripod -The equivalent version I got was Vivitar, a very lightweight tripod that would be challenged by a breeze. It can support the camera for group photos indoors, but don't expect a stable platform for 1200mm telephoto shots outdoors.
♦ 5) Zeikos 3-Piece Multi-Coated Glass Filter Kit (55mm UV/FLD/CPL) -Yes, it's glass, but the CPL filter shows no evidence whatsoever of polarizing light. It's more like a weak neutral density filter. Disappointing: CPL was the only filter I wanted, and it doesn't work. The box says that filters are multi-coated but I doubt it, since they show strong surface reflections. This is a dud.
♦ 6) Precision Design PD-C10 Camera/Camcorder Case -Simple but fully functional. It fits the camera and a couple of small accessories, such as the charger and the spare battery.
♦ 7) Precision Design USB 2.0 SecureDigital (SDHC) High-Speed Memory Card Reader -The version I got was made by Xit Photo. It measures only 1.5" and works well.
♦ 8) Precision Design 5-Piece Camera & Lens Cleaning Kit -Should be useful.
♦ 9) Precision Design Universal LCD Screen Protectors -You have to cut those to size, but they work well to protect the LCD screen from scratches.
♦ 10) Precision Design Memory Card Storage Wallet -Makes it slightly harder to lose memory cards.
♦ 11) ImageRecall Digital Image Recovery Software -Not useful to me, but one can download this software if needed. The Transcend memory card included a link to something similar.
My conclusion? The rating is mostly based on camera performance, which is very good, but can't compete with larger sensor cameras. What makes this camera special is the zoom: it delivers tremendous versatility in a relatively small package (size comparison to DSLR cameras with similar focal length lenses are downright funny). Ergonomics, camera settings & operation work for me. Image quality is adequate for this type of camera.
The rest of the kit is a mixed bag, but justifies a slightly higher price. Overall, I'm happy with the camera case, extra battery, memory card & card reader, screen protectors, and even the cleaning kit. These items justify the $25 premium (including shipping) over the camera alone. However, the filters and the tripod are simply inadequate.
HP 2711x 27-Inch LED Monitor - Black
List Price: $399.99
Sale Price: $269.99
Today's Bonus: 33% Off
The HP 2711x has exceeded my highest expectations. I upgraded from an HP w2207h which I'd had for a few years and was also very happy with it as well. It's still working fine on another computer now. My primary use is for the 2711x is the post processing of photos with Adobe PhotoShop CS5. The monitor is very bright and can be set between 50 to 60 % brightness and 60 and 70 % contrast without any problem and I find the color reproduction to be the best I've seen in this price range. I've found most monitor on display in local retailer set to there highest brightness settings just to achieve the same color impact I'm getting from the 2711x in the mentioned ranges on this monitor. In terms of sharpness it's fantastic the gloss type Bright View screen makes all the difference for me as most other monitors on the market are semi-gloss which I have found detracts from a good image quality when dealing with photos. I use the monitor in a private office environment which allows me control over the ambient lighting in the room so glare is not at all a problem with the bright view screen. The quality of the construction is fine and again is as good as any monitor in this price range. It's LED, it's light weight it has all the connectivity you could really need and its 27 inches. No dead pixels, No stuck pixels, It's worked just fine from the moment I took it out of the box. I'm glad I pick it up and I would recommend it to friends. Blu-Ray play back at 1080P looks great on it as well. I can't imagine anyone being unhappy with the purchase.
Leica D-LUX 6 Digital Camera Black
This was a nice camera, but I don't think it was worth the price tag. I felt any ISO above 1600 was extremely grainy. I'm not really sure why the ISO goes above 6400 because the quality is pretty bad at 3200.
Motorola XT-910 DROID RAZR Unlocked GSM Smartphone with 8 MP
List Price: $799.99
Sale Price: $262.99
Today's Bonus: 67% Off
I don't understand why Amazon is selling this phone as UNLOCKED when is NOT UNLOCKED, this phone is locked to Yoigo Spain, and unlock codes doesn't work because of some Yoigo problem.
If you live in South America this phone will not work, yo have been warned, and the worst thing is that Amazon won't help you in any way, I wrote them about the problem and they told me to comunicate to Motorola, I did that via Mail and Motorola never responded me, then I told Amazon that Motorola didn't respond me and they also didn't respond, so I was left alone to solve this problem any way I can when it should be Amazon's obligaton to give me a solution. I have been a very good Amazon customer and I am really disapointed that after buying so many things from them, I didn't get any help, a very good customer as I, should't be treated that way!
At first when I inserted my Sim card I got a message asking for a network code, but after trying many codes the message was gone and now I only get an Invalid Sim message, so now my only choice is to unlock it via software, so I have to pay an extra $35 to a store so my phone can be unlock via software, I just hope it works, otherwise I will have a very nice $500 mp3 player.
So to resume don't buy this phone because it is NOT UNLOCKED and Amazon won't give you any help!
At the end , there was no way to unlcok this phone, I tried everything and it wasn't posible!
Also the phone was bought directly from Amazon.com LLC, not from a reseller.
Nikon COOLPIX L120 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 21x NIKKOR
List Price: $279.00
Sale Price: $264.00
Today's Bonus: 5% Off
For anyone looking at getting a decent, mid-level point-and-shoot with the look and feel of an SLR, the Nikon Coolpix L120 is by far the best choice, even with its few shortcomings!
As a semi-professional photographer who primarily shoots film (but is slowly converting to digital) I always have kept at least a digital P&S camera with me to get those "quick" shots that I can't get because of the time involved in setting up the shot in an SLR. My previous camera, the Minolta DiMAGE S414 had been getting long in the tooth and was starting to glitch. A friend gave me his Nikon Coolpix E5200 and I was immediately hooked on Nikon's legendary imaging quality. However, the 5-megapixel sensor in the Coolpix E5200 was short of what I truly needed, so the same friend who gave me the E5200 also let me try out his Coolpix L110. I was blown away with how well the photos turned out! In my quest to buy my own Coolpix L110, I had heard back in February that Nikon was releasing the Coolpix L120, with a 2-megapixel increase over the L110 and several new features. Having read the first reviews of the camera, it seemed like a sure winner, so I took the plunge on March 14th of this year and secured one for myself.
Instantly, I was hooked on it. Right out of the box, this camera is a winner! The settings, user-interface, the sleek design and the nifty zoom selector on the lens barrel makes this camera worth every penny. In the short time I have owned it, I have already taken approximately 1,200 photos with it; everything from nature, bridges, even the sun! (with a solar filter, of course). And with its fantastic 21x optical zoom, I can photograph a car at more than a quarter-mile away and be able to clearly read its license plate!
The only drawback I can see is that Nikon has left out the ability to manually control your aperture and shutter speed settings (instead, leaving that for the Nikon Coolpix P500 which I was unimpressed with). However, those small shortcomings are overwhelmed by the simplicity this camera offers. Itching to get into Panorama photography, without the need for an expensive SLR with built-in panorama stitching? Consider it done! With this camera's Panorama-Assist feature (which overlays a small portion of the image onto the screen for the next shot to be composed), and the supplied Arcsoft Panorama Maker Pro 5 software, Panorama-style photography has never been more affordable. Looking to enhance photos with HDR-like color clarity? Consider that done, also! This camera supplies with it built-in D-Lighting that preserves the color intensity of an image yet bringing out the details otherwise hidden within dark shadows. Also supplied, incase you don't want to edit your images in-camera, is Nikon's own View NX-2, which not only includes D-lighting enhancement filters, it also offers a host of other image-editing capabilities!
In short, this camera has the competition beat! I would recommend it (I have the black version) over anything else.
Nikon D5200 Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens
I absolutely love this bundle. It is an amazing camera and accessories. Only downfall was I had to wait for an additional shipment to receive some on the accessories. But once I received them all was fine. I was frustrated that the nikon remote shutter didn't come with instructions. I had to go online to a completely separate site to fine out from another manufacturer how to work it. Overall I am pleased with my purchase.
Canon Ef-s 18-200mm 18200mm F/3.5-5.6 Is Lens + 16gb Supreme
This is the lens I use 90% of the time. After a trip to Ireland and constantly changing lens, I decided there had to be something easier. I am new to photography so the research started and I ran across this lens. The reviews were good so I decided to try and have not regretted it. I use it on a Canon T3i. The cost of lens fit my budget better than many others enabling me to have the 200mm. Do note that with that the 5.6 isn't great in low light situations. At the time I ordered it I didn't understand what that meant. It has been a great growing lens for me and I would recommend for anyone who can't buy the $1000+ lens. Having the Canon product quality is great too.
Sony HVL-F43AM Sony Alpha System HVL-F43AM Flash Unit for Alpha
First of all, this is my first external flash purchase, though I had been looking at the previous generation F42 flash and the flagship F58 for my Sony A55. I was holding out for this unit's release before I got a flash. The F58 is highly-regarded, though it is a chunky and heavy unitsomething I wasn't looking forward to for my relatively small camera. The F42 seemed like the right size, though it was missing the "Quick Shift Bounce" system that the F58, and now this new F43 flash has. That basically allows you to operate the camera in vertical mode while still having the flash bounce off the ceiling. I thought it was just a Sony gimmick, but it's something that really works well. From what I've read, Canon and Nikon have no similar flash feature. For as much as Sony cameras get wrongly bashed by fans of the other brands, the same people will envy this flash.
It also comes with a built-in wide angle screen (sort of diffuser), apparently for super wide lenses, and a bounce sheet. I have not had the chance to use a 3rd-party diffuser on this flash yet since I can't be sure what product works with it right now. For wireless shooting, it comes with a foldable mini-stand, which also serves as the tripod mount. It also came with a good quality protective case for the flash unit with the alpha logo (though I don't use it because I stow the flash in a Crumpler bag).
Because of all the new tech that the A55 camera has, I was expecting this flash to be some clunky and dated photography tool by comparison. Instead I'm amazed at how this flash operates and how it integrates with the camera. It manages to take crisp and properly-exposed photos at the right white balance with minimal tweaking.
Setting up wireless flash was surprisingly easy. After it's set up, the camera knows when the flash is mounted and when detached, it's automatically set to wireless mode. It will operate the external flash when the built-in pop-up flash is used (which serves as the wireless trigger through infrared signals)in a few conditions, there can be some pre-flash artifact from the camera's pop-up flash that shows in the final image, but a certain Gary Friedman says you can use an exposed film strip to block the visible light. Wireless flash use is lots of fun.
It supports high-speed sync (HSS) flash, which from what I've read allows you to use very wide apertures and fast shutter speeds to get a nice depth-of-field effect with flash! When shot this way and when bounced, it doesn't look like harsh flash lighting was used at all. The flash also has many more advanced features (ex. wireless ratio control, manual mode), but I'm not familiar enough with using them.
When it's on the hotshoe of the camera, it's very capable of firing fastmy A55 is usually set to continuous shooting at 6fps, and the flash doesn't seem to slow down the camera at all! I didn't even know it was capable of this even after playing with the unit for some time until a friend took pictures of me in burst mode and I saw the flash going off very fast like it had an electrical problem! I reviewed all the pictures taken and all of them were also properly exposed and sharp. From what I've experienced, it's not capable of this rapid shooting in wireless mode, probably because of the slower flash rate of the built-in camera flash. For those not familiar with external flashes, this one also has an infrared illuminator that allows fast autofocusing in pitch black when the flash is mounted. I even tried this with the not-for-low-light Sony 18-250mm zoom lens and got very good focus and a very good picture with the flash.
My only complaint really is that it still uses AA batteries. OK, this is completely my opinion as I'm sure professionals may want the option to get replacement batteries in the field, but Sony being the proprietary company that they are, they should have seized the chance for the good of humanity to use their InfoLithium battery packs in this thing (the F43 seemed to be made for their compact SLT line anyway!) to get it even smaller and lighter. I would have gladly bought more of those and be able to put it into my camera or the flash when they ran low. That would make for a very compact set-up! Alright I'm just being silly. I bought rechargeable NIMH AA's (Sony Cycle Energy) for these and like it very much (great, fast charger). I'm sure Eneloop batteries would work great too.
In short, if you have a Sony camera and don't need the extra flash output of the F58, and are looking for a flash, definitely get this.
It also comes with a built-in wide angle screen (sort of diffuser), apparently for super wide lenses, and a bounce sheet. I have not had the chance to use a 3rd-party diffuser on this flash yet since I can't be sure what product works with it right now. For wireless shooting, it comes with a foldable mini-stand, which also serves as the tripod mount. It also came with a good quality protective case for the flash unit with the alpha logo (though I don't use it because I stow the flash in a Crumpler bag).
Because of all the new tech that the A55 camera has, I was expecting this flash to be some clunky and dated photography tool by comparison. Instead I'm amazed at how this flash operates and how it integrates with the camera. It manages to take crisp and properly-exposed photos at the right white balance with minimal tweaking.
Setting up wireless flash was surprisingly easy. After it's set up, the camera knows when the flash is mounted and when detached, it's automatically set to wireless mode. It will operate the external flash when the built-in pop-up flash is used (which serves as the wireless trigger through infrared signals)in a few conditions, there can be some pre-flash artifact from the camera's pop-up flash that shows in the final image, but a certain Gary Friedman says you can use an exposed film strip to block the visible light. Wireless flash use is lots of fun.
It supports high-speed sync (HSS) flash, which from what I've read allows you to use very wide apertures and fast shutter speeds to get a nice depth-of-field effect with flash! When shot this way and when bounced, it doesn't look like harsh flash lighting was used at all. The flash also has many more advanced features (ex. wireless ratio control, manual mode), but I'm not familiar enough with using them.
When it's on the hotshoe of the camera, it's very capable of firing fastmy A55 is usually set to continuous shooting at 6fps, and the flash doesn't seem to slow down the camera at all! I didn't even know it was capable of this even after playing with the unit for some time until a friend took pictures of me in burst mode and I saw the flash going off very fast like it had an electrical problem! I reviewed all the pictures taken and all of them were also properly exposed and sharp. From what I've experienced, it's not capable of this rapid shooting in wireless mode, probably because of the slower flash rate of the built-in camera flash. For those not familiar with external flashes, this one also has an infrared illuminator that allows fast autofocusing in pitch black when the flash is mounted. I even tried this with the not-for-low-light Sony 18-250mm zoom lens and got very good focus and a very good picture with the flash.
My only complaint really is that it still uses AA batteries. OK, this is completely my opinion as I'm sure professionals may want the option to get replacement batteries in the field, but Sony being the proprietary company that they are, they should have seized the chance for the good of humanity to use their InfoLithium battery packs in this thing (the F43 seemed to be made for their compact SLT line anyway!) to get it even smaller and lighter. I would have gladly bought more of those and be able to put it into my camera or the flash when they ran low. That would make for a very compact set-up! Alright I'm just being silly. I bought rechargeable NIMH AA's (Sony Cycle Energy) for these and like it very much (great, fast charger). I'm sure Eneloop batteries would work great too.
In short, if you have a Sony camera and don't need the extra flash output of the F58, and are looking for a flash, definitely get this.
Blue Microphones Yeti USB Microphone - Silver Edition
List Price: $149.00
Sale Price: $95.89
Today's Bonus: 36% Off
NOTE: I used the Blue Yeti Microphone to record this Video Review
Blue Yeti Review Summary
The Blue Yeti is an excellent plug and record USB microphone that has dramatically increased the quality of my voice recordings. It has a solid & sleek build, is easy to use, and most importantly clearly records my voice.
Introduction Who I am and how do I use this product
My name is Antonio and I own and operate ATailoredSuit.com; I have been using the Blue Yeti since February to speak with clients on Skype and to record podcasts and videos about men's style and custom clothing. Prior to owning the Blue Yeti I used the Blue Snowflake for one year; before that I used the built in microphone on my computer and headsets. For the last 6 months I have been looking at purchasing the Blue Snowball; when this microphone came out I decided to make this purchase instead.
Pros Things I Love
1. Sound Recording Quality The most important quality in a microphone; from my limited 30 day use and when compared to the past types of microphones I am used to (Blue Snowflake, Logitech Webcam 9000 Microphone, Various Headset microphones, Built in Computer Microphones) this Microphone beat them all.
2. Plug and Play I have seamlessly used this microphone on 3 separate computers, one running XP, the other Vista, and on a Windows 7 machine. In each case it was immediately recognized and clearly marked as the Blue Yeti
3. Simple Knobs and Design Mute, Mode, Headphone Volume and MIC Gain Control. Stand can be tightened and microphone removed.
4. Solid Build Overall, Solid (One small complaint below). The 10 foot USB cord was a nice touch.
5. Playful Approach Blue has decided to present the Yeti in a playful manner. They appeal to the creative and make the manual much more approachable for those of us not technically inclined.
Cons Things I am not happy with
1. Size It weight 3.5 pounds and stands 1 foot high I am used to this now, but be prepared for a big footprint!
2. Looseness of Volume & Gain Controls A small complaint, but for an overall solid device these feel like they will be the first things to break.
Final Recommendation
The Blue Yeti is an amazing microphone that was well worth the investment. It has already dramatically increased the quality of my voice recordings and I recommend it to any podcaster. I give this product 9 out of 10 stars (5 out of 5 for Amazon!), my only knock that the price maybe too high for some.
Olympus VF-2 Electronic ViewFinder (Black)
List Price: $279.99
Sale Price: $249.00
Today's Bonus: 11% Off
I use this viewfinder on my Olympus E-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1 12.3MP Live MOS Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens (Black) mostly when in bright sunlight situations. It can be used in low light also, but the rear LCD usually suffices then. If there were a method of permanently attaching the VF-2 to the camera, I would have to give that serious consideration.
It attaches firmly in the camera's hot shoe, but there's nothing besides friction holding it on. I keep close watch on it so I don't lose it, but I've had no problems.
The VF-2 is simply excellent, with great color and very high resolution.
VideoSecu Outdoor Day Night IR Bullet Security Camera Infrared
List Price: $274.95
Sale Price: $37.89
Today's Bonus: 86% Off
This little camera is very well built with an alumimum body and sliding sun shield. Please note that the camera bracket that I received is not the one pictured on Amazon. The good news is that it is smaller, the same color as the camera and may be metal, just not sure. I really think they have upgraded this part of the camera. Nice! This camera is about half the length of two other cameras that I just recently purchased. SVAT CV31 Hi-Res Outdoor CCD Security Camera w/Long Range Night Vision Please read my Amazon review on this camera! Both of these cameras are about the same in picture and construction quality. The Svat camera comes with 60' of power/video cable with RCA connectons only. Your may need these 20 Pcs of BNC Male Connectors Adapters for RG59 Coaxial Cable 1FV to complete hookup to your DVR card in your computer. If plugging into a TV you will not need these connectors. The VideoSecur camera has the BNC connector so just order your video/power cable with BNC connectors VideoSecu 3 X 50 Feet Power Video Cable with BNC RCA Connector for CCTV Security Cameras 1QA The VideoSecur camera does come with the power adaptor, you just will need the power/video cable. The BNC connectors twist lock at the connection, RCA cables do not. I like the BNC connectors better as they will not come apart. The day time picture is great. The night vision is about the same on both cameras up to 45 feet or so with no additional lighting. I just installed 2 motion detection floodlights which are also a great 5 star product from Amazon (Heath Zenith SL-5525-WH 250-Watt Quartz Motion-Sensing Light) and these make the night picture almost a good as daytime. The Svat and the VideoSecur camera will both do motion recording when hooked up to a DVR card that supports this feature. Since I have motion detection on my cameras and floodlights I can clearly indentify which one of my neighbors cats is digging in my flower bed and leaving paw prints on the roof of my car at 3 AM in the morning. How about that! I put some signs up that I purchased in the windows warning folks that they are on camera and being recorded. I do feel much safer in my home and I think that a potential unwanted guest will probably move to another home to commit a crime. (Sorry about that neighbors). I certainly would not hesitate to recommend this 5 star camera. The only thing I can't say is how long they will last, only time will tell. I can say that all 4 cameras I have ordered where packaged well for shipping and all worked right out of the box.
CIB K808AV500G8753-4 8CH Network Security Surveillance KIT w
This company is eager to please. Questions I had and sent via e-mail were answered same day. A few days later I received a phone call to make sure that my questions were answered to my satisfaction. Over all I'm pleased with this unit. Set up was very easy. Networking with my home network was simple. Their client software for the computer works great although it doesn't do everything that can be done from the unit itself, it does enough. I didn't setup the internet access because I figured that I didn't need hackers trying to access my system. I did set up the e-mail function but I turned it off. The system sends out an e-mail every time motion is detected even when the systems schedule is set to "NOT RECORD". The same goes for the buzzer alarm -it goes off every time the system detects motion even when the systems schedule is set to "NO RECORD". The cameras detect motion , not a heat signature so if you have a weed blowing in the wind or a shadow of a tree blowing in the wind the system will detect it and start the recording. The CIB web site is sparse. There is no way to get software updates or copies of manuals as some of the competitors web sites have. The system does handle D1 resolution but can't handle it on all cameras at 30 FPS. With four cameras set up the highest I can set the D1 resolution is 18 FPS. As cameras are added that 18 FPS will drop down even more. The biggest aggravation about this system is the camera sensitivity. There are four levels of sensitivity 1-4. At level 3 during the day time it will pick up motion out 60+ feet. At night time that distance turns into about 30+ feet. On level 4 it will pick up motion out to 60+ feet at night. The trouble with the level 4 setting is that it picks up every bug flying around at night. On a typical night on level 4 sensitivity the unit will record approximately . 200+15 minute files because of bugs flying around during the 8 hours I have the system schedule set to record motion. On level 3 it only picks up 11 files for the 8 hour period. The next camera I buy I'll try a higher resolution camera and see how that works as far as the sensitivity level goes.
Samsung LN32D550 32-Inch 1080p 60Hz LCD HDTV (Black) (2011 Model)
I chose this model over other 32-inch LCDs because I'm a sucker for things like network streaming, a 5-band equalizer, picture-in-picture, and firmware updating. It also has a semi-documented headphone jack in the rear -just turn off the speakers for it to work. Also, the power cable detaches, so you can replace that yourself.
One might dismiss this TV altogether since it doesn't have LED edge lighting, but that tech does not appear to be earning its price premium so far, considering a higher percentage of panel defects, and a black level so intense that detail often gets lost. 60Hz is also not a deal-breaker, since 120Hz tends to only show its strength with sports programming.
The picture quality is ultimately subjective, of course. But I found it well above average. Unfortunately, you can't completely disable Dynamic Contrast. The TV will tell you that it's off, but some enterprising Internet detectives at televisioninfo.com have determined that this is a ruse, which leads to some unavoidable light trailing and somewhat crushed blacks. DVDs look surprisingly good, and standard-definition signals look very solid but not outstanding.
Dynamic Contrast, Black Tone, Shadow Detail, Edge Enhancement and the noise filters should probably be turned off. Unfortunately, these features can create more problems than they solve; use them sparingly. Like Spider-Man once said, "With power comes responsibility."
I have a Roku box connected through HDMI, an Xbox 360 via component, and clear QAM cable TV through the RF antenna jack in the rear. These hookups are going straight into the TV inputs -no receiver. I figure that this eliminates a testing variable or two. Picture quality and sound was great from all three sources. When I streamed Netflix over Xbox Live, the Xbox appeared to upscale to 1080i. I could not get my 720p Roku box to do this over HDMI.
(Edit: I have also now tried a third-party VGA adapter for the Xbox 360. It looks quite good using the console's "Expanded" reference level; at least on par with component, and upscaled DVDs look quite good, but not as good as Blu-ray.)
Audio is in a better boat, since the SRS functions can actually be turned off (as far as we know). There's also that 5-band equalizer. I thought the TV did surprisingly well for two downward-facing 10-watt speakers, but they won't quite replace dedicated external audio.
The D550 doesn't do Internet apps, but this feature is becoming increasingly redundant. As for network sharing, you are not limited to Samsung's proprietary, Windows-only "PC Share Manager" software, either. There's a variety of free, multi-platform software that handle networked media libraries. Unfortunately, Samsung appears to have not implemented DLNA according to spec, so you may have trouble getting third-party software to work properly. I had the best experience with TVMobili, which is thankfully free and compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux. Serviio is also good.
In its promotional material, Samsung swears that its Wi-Fi "LinkStick" dongle is *required* for wireless networking (and it is not bundled with this TV). This is simply not the case. You can just use a wireless-N Ethernet "game adapter," which can be had for as little as $30 if you shop around. Dongles are also only compatible with a few devices from one manufacturer.
(Edit: It's come to my attention that an Intellinet 523974 *might* also work in place of Samsung's official dongle. I cannot directly confirm it, though. It is also reportedly 2.4Ghz, while the dual-band Samsung model adds a 5Ghz option.)
The "E-manual" built into the TV's menu system isn't very good and is difficult to navigate. The PDF version on their website is... a PDF version of the e-manual. Which is white text on a black background. So much for printing it out...
Also, the two-piece pedestal requires a Phillips screwdriver. That's not bad, but the screws required quite a lot of torque to get them all the way in. Also, you need to attach the top part at a certain angle, or else it won't be flush with the base.
A note about shipping: Amazon Prime does not currently provide 2-day or next-day shipping for this unit; "3-5 business days" is the official line. This is not unusual for products of this size and weight. However, the unit arrived at my door less than 48 hours after I ordered it. So I appreciate Amazon's and UPS's fast service! But your own experience will vary according to your distance from the warehouse and other factors.
(Update 4/25: This item is not currently shipped from and sold by Amazon, nor eligible for Amazon Prime. "Video & Audio Center" is handling the item instead. I am not familiar with their service, so the previous paragraph does not apply to the current purchase experience. "3-5 business days" is still the official shipping time, but I don't know how long it may take this third party to process the order before shipping. It may take a few hours, or a few days. Just a friendly heads-up.)
Despite this TV's quirks and poor documentation, I think it gets 5 stars for a really good picture and above-average sound (as long as you tweak that equalizer for some bass). I guess that's what matters most in the end, right?
Please leave a comment if I've left you with questions, and I'll answer to the best of my knowledge.
--Edit Jan 13 2012--
Just reporting in to say that the unit is still performing just fine. It's performed quite well as an interim computer monitor -just make sure to label the input as "PC." I don't recommend using it as a permanent computer display, because pixel density at this screen size is sub-optimal. (At desktop distance, you don't want larger than 24 inches, assuming a maximum resolution of 1920x1080.) But with some cool-looking wallpaper, its presence is not unwelcome :)
However, LG has been pricing their LCDs very aggressively lately, so I recommend researching those units as well.
One might dismiss this TV altogether since it doesn't have LED edge lighting, but that tech does not appear to be earning its price premium so far, considering a higher percentage of panel defects, and a black level so intense that detail often gets lost. 60Hz is also not a deal-breaker, since 120Hz tends to only show its strength with sports programming.
The picture quality is ultimately subjective, of course. But I found it well above average. Unfortunately, you can't completely disable Dynamic Contrast. The TV will tell you that it's off, but some enterprising Internet detectives at televisioninfo.com have determined that this is a ruse, which leads to some unavoidable light trailing and somewhat crushed blacks. DVDs look surprisingly good, and standard-definition signals look very solid but not outstanding.
Dynamic Contrast, Black Tone, Shadow Detail, Edge Enhancement and the noise filters should probably be turned off. Unfortunately, these features can create more problems than they solve; use them sparingly. Like Spider-Man once said, "With power comes responsibility."
I have a Roku box connected through HDMI, an Xbox 360 via component, and clear QAM cable TV through the RF antenna jack in the rear. These hookups are going straight into the TV inputs -no receiver. I figure that this eliminates a testing variable or two. Picture quality and sound was great from all three sources. When I streamed Netflix over Xbox Live, the Xbox appeared to upscale to 1080i. I could not get my 720p Roku box to do this over HDMI.
(Edit: I have also now tried a third-party VGA adapter for the Xbox 360. It looks quite good using the console's "Expanded" reference level; at least on par with component, and upscaled DVDs look quite good, but not as good as Blu-ray.)
Audio is in a better boat, since the SRS functions can actually be turned off (as far as we know). There's also that 5-band equalizer. I thought the TV did surprisingly well for two downward-facing 10-watt speakers, but they won't quite replace dedicated external audio.
The D550 doesn't do Internet apps, but this feature is becoming increasingly redundant. As for network sharing, you are not limited to Samsung's proprietary, Windows-only "PC Share Manager" software, either. There's a variety of free, multi-platform software that handle networked media libraries. Unfortunately, Samsung appears to have not implemented DLNA according to spec, so you may have trouble getting third-party software to work properly. I had the best experience with TVMobili, which is thankfully free and compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux. Serviio is also good.
In its promotional material, Samsung swears that its Wi-Fi "LinkStick" dongle is *required* for wireless networking (and it is not bundled with this TV). This is simply not the case. You can just use a wireless-N Ethernet "game adapter," which can be had for as little as $30 if you shop around. Dongles are also only compatible with a few devices from one manufacturer.
(Edit: It's come to my attention that an Intellinet 523974 *might* also work in place of Samsung's official dongle. I cannot directly confirm it, though. It is also reportedly 2.4Ghz, while the dual-band Samsung model adds a 5Ghz option.)
The "E-manual" built into the TV's menu system isn't very good and is difficult to navigate. The PDF version on their website is... a PDF version of the e-manual. Which is white text on a black background. So much for printing it out...
Also, the two-piece pedestal requires a Phillips screwdriver. That's not bad, but the screws required quite a lot of torque to get them all the way in. Also, you need to attach the top part at a certain angle, or else it won't be flush with the base.
A note about shipping: Amazon Prime does not currently provide 2-day or next-day shipping for this unit; "3-5 business days" is the official line. This is not unusual for products of this size and weight. However, the unit arrived at my door less than 48 hours after I ordered it. So I appreciate Amazon's and UPS's fast service! But your own experience will vary according to your distance from the warehouse and other factors.
(Update 4/25: This item is not currently shipped from and sold by Amazon, nor eligible for Amazon Prime. "Video & Audio Center" is handling the item instead. I am not familiar with their service, so the previous paragraph does not apply to the current purchase experience. "3-5 business days" is still the official shipping time, but I don't know how long it may take this third party to process the order before shipping. It may take a few hours, or a few days. Just a friendly heads-up.)
Despite this TV's quirks and poor documentation, I think it gets 5 stars for a really good picture and above-average sound (as long as you tweak that equalizer for some bass). I guess that's what matters most in the end, right?
Please leave a comment if I've left you with questions, and I'll answer to the best of my knowledge.
--Edit Jan 13 2012--
Just reporting in to say that the unit is still performing just fine. It's performed quite well as an interim computer monitor -just make sure to label the input as "PC." I don't recommend using it as a permanent computer display, because pixel density at this screen size is sub-optimal. (At desktop distance, you don't want larger than 24 inches, assuming a maximum resolution of 1920x1080.) But with some cool-looking wallpaper, its presence is not unwelcome :)
However, LG has been pricing their LCDs very aggressively lately, so I recommend researching those units as well.
Lowepro Vertex 300 AW Backpack
List Price: $399.99
Sale Price: $224.32
Today's Bonus: 44% Off
I just returned form two weeks in Alaska and found the Lowepro Vertex 300 was what I expected from Lowepro. I found that it easily stored in the overhead bin and was easy to carry in the field. I carried a Nikon D100 and F100 both with the extended battery packs, a 170-500mm Sigma Telephoto, two additional lenses, an Epson P-3000, DX-80 Flash, various Cokin filters, extra batteries, chargers, flashlight, 20 rolls of film, manuals, tools, canned air and a Gitzo 2530 with no problem. So, as you can see I had just about everything but the kitchen sink! The ability to carry this by it's top strap made it easy to get around. The build quality is very good also. I will purchase Lowepro again!
Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch
I've had the T1i for about almost week now and after some extensive use, here are my thoughts:
1. 15.1 megapixel sensor. Yes, the high megapixel count is impressive, but keep in mind that, as you approach higher resolutions, you need to ensure the lens on the SLR can resolve that much detail. Sadly, the included 18-55mm IS lens is functional, but the high resolution really shows the so-so quality of the lens. Even if taken at the proper focus, pictures can appear soft with this kit lens. Shots I have taken with Canon EF-S 17-85mm and EF 70-200mm L lenses are crisp. I don't have any gripes on image quality. There are some issues with noise on the higher ISOs that don't seem to show up on the Nikon digitals, but overall, the quality is amazing for the price. Skin tones, textures, colors are reproduced very accurately.
2. Digic 4. The Digic 4 processor appears to process/save the 15 megapixel images in the same time (if not faster) than the Digic III processor on the XSi (even in RAW+Jpg mode). I have also noticed that at higher ISOs, the sensor and the Digic 4 produce images with less overall noise compared with its predecessors.
3. LCD. The 920,000 pixel LCD screen is large (3"), crisp, vibrant and fully visible even in bright sunlight. In comparison, the Canon XSi SLR (which the T1i replaces), also has a 3" LCD, but with 230,000 pixels. The viewing angle is great as well and the LCD can easily be seen nearly 180 degrees around.
4. ISO 12800. Canon and Amazon are correctly identifying that the T1i maxes out at ISO 3200. Some less reputable dealers are listing an ISO 12800, which you should disregard. The ISO 6400 and 12800 settings are expanded ISO settings. The pictures taken on these two settings are ISO 3200 images pushed to ISO 6400 or 12800 by the Digic 4 chip before saving to the memory card. These pictures are extremely grainy and contain a lot of noise to the point of only being usable as for snapshots or adding an artistic effect to certain compositions.
5. Penta-mirror. That Canon is still using one in the T1i is disappointing. The penta-mirror viewfinder image is functional, but still noticeably darker than that of the penta-prism viewfinder in the Nikon D90 (which is the T1i's main competitor). I really would have preferred if Canon had kept the XSi's 12.2 megapixel sensor, forgone 1080p video altogether, and maybe upped the cost of the camera slightly to cover the production cost of using a penta-prism in the T1i. Honestly, unless you are massively cropping your images, or creating large photos, the difference between 12.2 and 15.1 megapixels really is negligible.
6. Size. This is the same body as the XSi, and therefore a bit on the smaller side compared to other digital SLRs. I have small hands, so the T1i is comfortable for me. If you have big hands, I can see this being a very difficult camera to use over an extended period of time. If you haven't handled a Canon XT, XTi or XSi, I would suggest you go to a store and hold the T1i yourself before purchasing it online. (I will upload a picture of the T1i in my hands to the user gallery for a size reference.)
7. HD Video. Yes, the Canon marketing department made a horrible marketing decision and pushed the T1i onto shelves limiting the 1080p recording to 20fps (frames per second). Recognize this as a marketing gimmick that allows them put a 1080p sticker on the camera box. The 1080p @ 20fps is fine most times, but seems a choppy if you have a lot of action in the frame or are panning quickly. The T1i's 720p video is recorded at 30fps and is clean, smooth, and sufficient for all but the most discerning consumers. One major criticism though is that the sound is recorded in mono, AND there is NO input for an external microphone.
A lot of pre-production reviews of the T1i criticize its inability to automatically autofocus while recording. I wouldn't put much weight in this criticism, mostly because neither of the other two SLR cameras with HD recording capabilities (Canon 5D Mark II and Nikon D90) can automatically autofocus while recording either. What you can do with the T1i is pan/zoom the lens and then press the AE lock (*) button to make the camera autofocus on the new subject (all while recording). A problem with using the AE lock button to have the camera autofocus is that the microphone for the camera is on the front upper left of the body near the lens mount. Therefore, the lens motor noise is picked up just as much as ambient sounds. Even with my quietest Canon USM (ultasonic motor) lenses, this lens motor sound is pretty loud in video playback. Although, remember, you can always manually turn the focusing ring on the lens to get your subject back into focus. It's not easy, but after a little practice, it's not all too hard, either.
Ultimately, you shouldn't let the HD recording limitations sway you one way or the other. This is an SLR camera -not a video camera. The HD video is a great feature, but if you're looking for something primarily to take video, look elsewhere. There are much better, cheaper VIDEO cameras out there which can record true 1080p.
8. Record button. For some reason, the record video button is next to the LCD screen (the same button used for direct printing). The first few times you take video, you'll intuitively find yourself using the shutter release button used to take pictures. The reason for this switch is that you can take a still picture while recording video, although, doing so will interrupt the recording.
9. Battery life. My first fully charged battery only lasted about 250 shots (no flash), but all charges since have given me in the range of 500-700 shots per charge. I'm guessing the first charge had such a short life because I spent quite a bit of time learning the camera, its menus, and settings.
10. Live View. I honestly can't review this as I haven't used it too much yet -I prefer using the viewfinder. One feature I can say is nice is that, on the LCD, you can digitally zoom in (up to 10x) on a section of your shot to ensure it is properly focused. This, and the fine focusing, can really help if you're into macro-photography.
11. HDMI cable. The T1i has an HDMI Type C output on the body to allow you to directly display pictures and video on an HDTV. A minor criticism is that the HDMI Type C cable is not included in the box. You have to buy it separately. It would have been nice if it were included, as it's not an expensive cable.
Conclusion. The T1i is a bit on the light end, yet the construction still feels solid. For the camera's price point, you'd be hard pressed to find any digital SLR out there which gives you all the capabilities and growth range of the Canon T1i. The camera is intuitive enough for those new to photography to pick and learn easily, yet configurable enough for advanced amateurs. If video is not a big deal for you, then get the Canon XSi. There is very little the T1i has (other than ISO 3200 and a sharper screen) that the XSi doesn't. Plus, with the release of the T1i, you can probably pick up a used XSi for a great price on eBay. My wife recently gave birth, and I'm not looking to record endless (never to be watched) tapes of video footage of our son, but I do want several minute clips of him as he grows through the years. I've always been more inclined towards photography, so this camera gives me a very versatile digital SLR that I need with the wonderful capability of recording HD video that I want.
1. 15.1 megapixel sensor. Yes, the high megapixel count is impressive, but keep in mind that, as you approach higher resolutions, you need to ensure the lens on the SLR can resolve that much detail. Sadly, the included 18-55mm IS lens is functional, but the high resolution really shows the so-so quality of the lens. Even if taken at the proper focus, pictures can appear soft with this kit lens. Shots I have taken with Canon EF-S 17-85mm and EF 70-200mm L lenses are crisp. I don't have any gripes on image quality. There are some issues with noise on the higher ISOs that don't seem to show up on the Nikon digitals, but overall, the quality is amazing for the price. Skin tones, textures, colors are reproduced very accurately.
2. Digic 4. The Digic 4 processor appears to process/save the 15 megapixel images in the same time (if not faster) than the Digic III processor on the XSi (even in RAW+Jpg mode). I have also noticed that at higher ISOs, the sensor and the Digic 4 produce images with less overall noise compared with its predecessors.
3. LCD. The 920,000 pixel LCD screen is large (3"), crisp, vibrant and fully visible even in bright sunlight. In comparison, the Canon XSi SLR (which the T1i replaces), also has a 3" LCD, but with 230,000 pixels. The viewing angle is great as well and the LCD can easily be seen nearly 180 degrees around.
4. ISO 12800. Canon and Amazon are correctly identifying that the T1i maxes out at ISO 3200. Some less reputable dealers are listing an ISO 12800, which you should disregard. The ISO 6400 and 12800 settings are expanded ISO settings. The pictures taken on these two settings are ISO 3200 images pushed to ISO 6400 or 12800 by the Digic 4 chip before saving to the memory card. These pictures are extremely grainy and contain a lot of noise to the point of only being usable as for snapshots or adding an artistic effect to certain compositions.
5. Penta-mirror. That Canon is still using one in the T1i is disappointing. The penta-mirror viewfinder image is functional, but still noticeably darker than that of the penta-prism viewfinder in the Nikon D90 (which is the T1i's main competitor). I really would have preferred if Canon had kept the XSi's 12.2 megapixel sensor, forgone 1080p video altogether, and maybe upped the cost of the camera slightly to cover the production cost of using a penta-prism in the T1i. Honestly, unless you are massively cropping your images, or creating large photos, the difference between 12.2 and 15.1 megapixels really is negligible.
6. Size. This is the same body as the XSi, and therefore a bit on the smaller side compared to other digital SLRs. I have small hands, so the T1i is comfortable for me. If you have big hands, I can see this being a very difficult camera to use over an extended period of time. If you haven't handled a Canon XT, XTi or XSi, I would suggest you go to a store and hold the T1i yourself before purchasing it online. (I will upload a picture of the T1i in my hands to the user gallery for a size reference.)
7. HD Video. Yes, the Canon marketing department made a horrible marketing decision and pushed the T1i onto shelves limiting the 1080p recording to 20fps (frames per second). Recognize this as a marketing gimmick that allows them put a 1080p sticker on the camera box. The 1080p @ 20fps is fine most times, but seems a choppy if you have a lot of action in the frame or are panning quickly. The T1i's 720p video is recorded at 30fps and is clean, smooth, and sufficient for all but the most discerning consumers. One major criticism though is that the sound is recorded in mono, AND there is NO input for an external microphone.
A lot of pre-production reviews of the T1i criticize its inability to automatically autofocus while recording. I wouldn't put much weight in this criticism, mostly because neither of the other two SLR cameras with HD recording capabilities (Canon 5D Mark II and Nikon D90) can automatically autofocus while recording either. What you can do with the T1i is pan/zoom the lens and then press the AE lock (*) button to make the camera autofocus on the new subject (all while recording). A problem with using the AE lock button to have the camera autofocus is that the microphone for the camera is on the front upper left of the body near the lens mount. Therefore, the lens motor noise is picked up just as much as ambient sounds. Even with my quietest Canon USM (ultasonic motor) lenses, this lens motor sound is pretty loud in video playback. Although, remember, you can always manually turn the focusing ring on the lens to get your subject back into focus. It's not easy, but after a little practice, it's not all too hard, either.
Ultimately, you shouldn't let the HD recording limitations sway you one way or the other. This is an SLR camera -not a video camera. The HD video is a great feature, but if you're looking for something primarily to take video, look elsewhere. There are much better, cheaper VIDEO cameras out there which can record true 1080p.
8. Record button. For some reason, the record video button is next to the LCD screen (the same button used for direct printing). The first few times you take video, you'll intuitively find yourself using the shutter release button used to take pictures. The reason for this switch is that you can take a still picture while recording video, although, doing so will interrupt the recording.
9. Battery life. My first fully charged battery only lasted about 250 shots (no flash), but all charges since have given me in the range of 500-700 shots per charge. I'm guessing the first charge had such a short life because I spent quite a bit of time learning the camera, its menus, and settings.
10. Live View. I honestly can't review this as I haven't used it too much yet -I prefer using the viewfinder. One feature I can say is nice is that, on the LCD, you can digitally zoom in (up to 10x) on a section of your shot to ensure it is properly focused. This, and the fine focusing, can really help if you're into macro-photography.
11. HDMI cable. The T1i has an HDMI Type C output on the body to allow you to directly display pictures and video on an HDTV. A minor criticism is that the HDMI Type C cable is not included in the box. You have to buy it separately. It would have been nice if it were included, as it's not an expensive cable.
Conclusion. The T1i is a bit on the light end, yet the construction still feels solid. For the camera's price point, you'd be hard pressed to find any digital SLR out there which gives you all the capabilities and growth range of the Canon T1i. The camera is intuitive enough for those new to photography to pick and learn easily, yet configurable enough for advanced amateurs. If video is not a big deal for you, then get the Canon XSi. There is very little the T1i has (other than ISO 3200 and a sharper screen) that the XSi doesn't. Plus, with the release of the T1i, you can probably pick up a used XSi for a great price on eBay. My wife recently gave birth, and I'm not looking to record endless (never to be watched) tapes of video footage of our son, but I do want several minute clips of him as he grows through the years. I've always been more inclined towards photography, so this camera gives me a very versatile digital SLR that I need with the wonderful capability of recording HD video that I want.
Canon PIXMA MG8120 Wireless Inkjet Photo All-in-One Printer
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I waited to try all four features of this printer before reviewing it document printing, scanning, photo printing, and photocopying. Generally, this printer is a beauty, both looks-wise and operationally. There is a pop up screen with a very bright menu that also displays photos. You are supposed to be able to edit them right there, but I didn't actually try that feature of this printer. The sleek, shiny, black rounded body has very cool back-lit buttons for all the functions right on the top. You can also control them from the computer. I found myself going back and forth between both, for both everyday functionality and the set up.
I have to say a REALLY great feature about this printer, which I didn't expect to love as much as I do, is the wireless printing capability. You don't have to keep this printer anywhere near your computer, just an outlet. If you have a laptop and like to use it in front of the TV, you will absolutely love the freedom it provides.
I would rate all of the individual features rate highly except the document printing. Here's my review of the features from best to relatively worst:
1. Photo printing prints either directly from your card (no computer needed technically). You can print up to 600 dpi with this. The photos are crisp and clear, and color is accurate. The only thing I didn't like was the extremely rudimentary photo editing software. It is easy to use, yes, but it doesn't do much. If you want to retouch your photos, use either Photoshop or one of the free pieces of software. I like Picasa even. That may be simple, but it's better than this. Smaller printer paper loads from the back of the machine. Regular paper goes in a drawer in the front, which I really liked.
2. Photocopying I find it's a relief to have a photocopier for the occasional document that needs photocopying. Here you'll have a color copier too. The colors also rendered accurately here.
3. Scanning I tried a document and photos (you can scan your signature and then cut and paste it into letters, btw, which is a nice touch if you're sending out cover letters online). It did a great job on all kinds of documents, as well as my signature. Remember though that you can only print at 600 dpi with this machine, which may be a deal killer for a handful of people. The photo scanning wasn't quite up to the quality of the photo printing however. I scanned in a photo of my mom, and boosted the contrast slightly. The picture came out warmer and less detailed than the original photo. You can correct this on Photoshop, but in my opinion you shouldn't have to. Again, I was a little stymied by the fact that the photo editing software was so rudimentary but if you have different software you should be able to work this out.
4. Document printing this printer comes with two black cartridges one is much larger than the other one and is just for printing. I have a small laser printer and am spoiled by it, so that is the caveat. First, the documents print out very slowly. It takes a while to prepare itself to print, and then when it does start to print, it's pretty slow. That was actually the only thing that disappointed me about this printer. The document quality is very good, but in my opinion doesn't reach the near-laser quality that some of the HP printers do. Considering this is an all-in-one, you can't kill it for that issue. However, because of that and the slowness I wouldn't recommend this printer to anyone who regularly does things like college term papers, or other things where you print out large documents on a regular basis -the lack of speed would drive you crazy. I also liked my resume better on the laser printer, naturally. But the slowness and lack of laser-like crispness are what killed one of the stars on this rating. There was a cool thing about printing though the front door automatically pops open when the printer starts. I liked that.
I would say that this is an excellent printer for people who want really good photo printing, need scanning and photocopying capability, which are also good, but don't have large print jobs on a regular basis. The user interface and the beauty of the thing itself make it a complete pleasure to operate. Never thought I'd be saying that about a piece of electronic equipment. The ink cartridges are kind of small, so that's another consideration unless you can find a good, cheap dealer on E-bay.
Installation this is one where you have to be ready. Plug and play this is not. You have to load the printer head, the printer cartridges, and keep going back and forth between the computer and printer screen (which gives you directions) to set it up, no matter what the directions say. Give yourself an hour, because it may not go that smoothly. I actually had no problems already had a wireless router and didn't have to go through what some others have, but it was tedious and I did notice that you have to pay as much attention to what the computer is saying as what the printer is telling you to do, and found installing the printer head less straight forward that it should have been.
I have to say a REALLY great feature about this printer, which I didn't expect to love as much as I do, is the wireless printing capability. You don't have to keep this printer anywhere near your computer, just an outlet. If you have a laptop and like to use it in front of the TV, you will absolutely love the freedom it provides.
I would rate all of the individual features rate highly except the document printing. Here's my review of the features from best to relatively worst:
1. Photo printing prints either directly from your card (no computer needed technically). You can print up to 600 dpi with this. The photos are crisp and clear, and color is accurate. The only thing I didn't like was the extremely rudimentary photo editing software. It is easy to use, yes, but it doesn't do much. If you want to retouch your photos, use either Photoshop or one of the free pieces of software. I like Picasa even. That may be simple, but it's better than this. Smaller printer paper loads from the back of the machine. Regular paper goes in a drawer in the front, which I really liked.
2. Photocopying I find it's a relief to have a photocopier for the occasional document that needs photocopying. Here you'll have a color copier too. The colors also rendered accurately here.
3. Scanning I tried a document and photos (you can scan your signature and then cut and paste it into letters, btw, which is a nice touch if you're sending out cover letters online). It did a great job on all kinds of documents, as well as my signature. Remember though that you can only print at 600 dpi with this machine, which may be a deal killer for a handful of people. The photo scanning wasn't quite up to the quality of the photo printing however. I scanned in a photo of my mom, and boosted the contrast slightly. The picture came out warmer and less detailed than the original photo. You can correct this on Photoshop, but in my opinion you shouldn't have to. Again, I was a little stymied by the fact that the photo editing software was so rudimentary but if you have different software you should be able to work this out.
4. Document printing this printer comes with two black cartridges one is much larger than the other one and is just for printing. I have a small laser printer and am spoiled by it, so that is the caveat. First, the documents print out very slowly. It takes a while to prepare itself to print, and then when it does start to print, it's pretty slow. That was actually the only thing that disappointed me about this printer. The document quality is very good, but in my opinion doesn't reach the near-laser quality that some of the HP printers do. Considering this is an all-in-one, you can't kill it for that issue. However, because of that and the slowness I wouldn't recommend this printer to anyone who regularly does things like college term papers, or other things where you print out large documents on a regular basis -the lack of speed would drive you crazy. I also liked my resume better on the laser printer, naturally. But the slowness and lack of laser-like crispness are what killed one of the stars on this rating. There was a cool thing about printing though the front door automatically pops open when the printer starts. I liked that.
I would say that this is an excellent printer for people who want really good photo printing, need scanning and photocopying capability, which are also good, but don't have large print jobs on a regular basis. The user interface and the beauty of the thing itself make it a complete pleasure to operate. Never thought I'd be saying that about a piece of electronic equipment. The ink cartridges are kind of small, so that's another consideration unless you can find a good, cheap dealer on E-bay.
Installation this is one where you have to be ready. Plug and play this is not. You have to load the printer head, the printer cartridges, and keep going back and forth between the computer and printer screen (which gives you directions) to set it up, no matter what the directions say. Give yourself an hour, because it may not go that smoothly. I actually had no problems already had a wireless router and didn't have to go through what some others have, but it was tedious and I did notice that you have to pay as much attention to what the computer is saying as what the printer is telling you to do, and found installing the printer head less straight forward that it should have been.