Panasonic Pro AG-HMC150 3CCD AVCHD 24fps Camcorder

Customer Ratings:

I received my 150 a little over a week ago. Bought it because I wanted to move up to HD and get out of the tape business. It did not come with an SDHC card. Bought an 8 GB to carry me over until my 16 GB cards arrive via Amazon. I am still on the learning curve on it. Especially liked the large comfortable color view eye piece. I was also amazed by the clarity of the video play back on my 48" LCD screen. Used the three cable output first, that came with the camera( Video, Lt. Rt. Audio )

Very clear video, much clearer than my trusty old Canon GL-2 It does not come with an HDMI cable. Bought one locally and tried it. Plugged one end into the HDMI out port on the camera and the other end into the HDMI port of my TV. I was blown away by how clear it was !! The video was clearer than some of the stations I view in HD.

On playback, you are given a thumbnail of the first frame of each scene you shot when you turned the camera on. On playback, you can skip around the scenes you want to view , or delete if needed. The focus assist is another nice feature. When you use it, it momentarily zooms in on the middle of your next shot so that you can fine focus if needed.

It has many other features that I have not tried yet. On editing, bought the Pinnacle 12 Ultimate because it is set up to handle the AVHCD format and a PC with the AMD quad Phenom processor with 3 GB of RAM. Waiting for a more powerful graphics card to arrive before trying to edit in this new format. The battery that came with it is small. Would recommend buying the larger battery as soon as you can to balance it out. Right now, it feels a little out of balance because of the smaller battery. Also liked the solid magnesium body. No plastic anywhere ! Overall, I am impressed with this camera.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Zoom H1 Handy Portable Digital Recorder

Customer Ratings:

***UPDATED, IMPORTANT EDIT*** September 2013: Zoom has released a new firmware (v. 2.10) at their Japanese website (which acts as a download center for their US consumers). The update adds USB 3.0 support.

Go to zoom.co.jp and click the "downloads" link at the top. Find the link for the H1 under "Recorders." There's an updated manual for version 2.0 as well in Acrobat format. Enjoy! On to the (updated) review...

Straight to the point: If you're considering getting a digital recorder and your needs are simple, seriously consider this one.

The sound is quite phenomenal for a recorder this size and asking price. (Zoom claims the H1 has the same frequency and SPL handing as their popular H2.)

Button/switch placement is intuitive and couldn't be simpler. Need the lo-cut filter? Slide the switch in the back (and the LCD will tell you it's on). When you're ready to record, simply press the big red button on the front. When done recording, press it again. If you want to hear what you've just recorded (via the built-in speaker or the line out jack), simply push the play button on the side of the unit.

There are several functions that will prove useful including adjusting the input level manually (from 1 to 100; *really* useful for loud situations like a rock concert) and being able to actually monitor audio during recording via the line out jack.

The unit records in MP3 and Broadcast WAV formats, in many bit-depths and sample rates. (Max for WAV is 24-bit/96 kHz and 320 kbps for MP3.) Broadcast WAV functions just like any other WAV with the addition of having metadata (like time and date) stamped into the file, which is great for identifying WAVs in audio editors that support the format. The H1 allows you to place markers into WAVs during recording for easy transport/identification during playback in audio editors as well. (The H1 will also jump to these markers while in playback mode should you push the "" buttons during playback.)

I have not tried the newly-added function of being able to use the H1 as a USB audio interface, mostly because I did not get the H1 for that purpose, though it's very nice to know that such a feature is available to me should I need it. ASIO drivers are available at Zoom's website.

File transfer to your computer is quite fast. (For comparison's sake, the H1 uses Hi-speed USB 2.0 versus the H2's Full-speed USB 2.0. In layman's terms, the H1 is quicker than the H2 file-transfer wise.) The unit is firmware-upgradable and version 2.00 is available at Zoom's website. (Mine came with version 1.02 initially and now runs 2.00.) When you connect to the computer using a (Mini-B to Standard-A) USB cable using version 2.00 of the firmware, the H1 will ask if you want to use the H1 as a card reader or an audio interface. It will eventually default as a card reader if you do not do anything. Otherwise, you simply choose what you want the H1 to do with the record button.

I knew that the H1 was small but I wasn't exactly prepared for how small. If you were to lay your hand flat, the H1 would fit inside it with room to spare. (I have average-sized hands.)

The H1 is so light even with one AA battery that it feels delicate. I wouldn't suggest banging it around. There's a connector for a wrist strap at the bottom of the unit (near the speaker) so if you're concerned about dropping the H1, it might be worth your while to connect a strap.

The cover to the microSD card slot can come open with just a nudge which might annoy you while handing the H1. (I should also note the cover is made of a hard plastic but looks like it might come off and break with enough force; just be careful as you open it.) The tripod mounting joint is also made of plastic so you might not want to overtighten when mounting the H1. Like most recorders, the H1's sensitive mics are prone to handling noise.

There doesn't seem to be any way of recording in mono; it would have to be done post-production.

Get the H1 Accessory Pack as well but also get a RedHead windscreen (or similar) to boot; the included windscreen in the Accessory Pack is great for voice/plosives and all but horrible for wind noise (which is not surprising since it's a foam windscreen). One needs more to baffle the wind only a "dead cat" type windscreen can provide.

I know I forgot things but I wanted to make this as concise as possible, pros and cons. It's simply a great recorder and I was not disappointed.

UPDATED EDIT 2010: Since my initial review, two months have passed by, so I thought I'd give my updated thoughts. There are some reports that the H1 is draining batteries faster than normal even while the H1 is off. This is obviously not in every unit as I do not have this issue. (I had mine since official release, which was August 20, 2010.) A quick way to find if you have a defective H1 is to simply check the battery within a day. If it's quite low or no battery power, contact Samson (in the U.S.) and let them know.

There are users who claim that the H1 is shoddily built. My challenge to that is, What were you expecting for $99 USD? Gold? As I said in my review, the H1 is so darned light with a battery in it it's hard to not think of it as delicate. Is it so shoddy that users who are careful with their electronics shouldn't pick it up? Oh, heck no. It's not like the H1's casing is made of plastic that's so pliable it's pathetic. It feels solid enough at least in my hand.

Obviously, if your needs put you in a situation where durability is a concern, the H1 might not be for you. I would think this was common sense all things considered.

Of course, a note on the sound: It is quite superb. I've done (far) more than a bunch of recordings already and there are times where I have to check to see if what I'm hearing is coming from my monitors or in the real world. (I thought someone was presently mowing their lawn off in the distance when, in fact, they were not.) It's that good.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Samsung UN60D8000 60-Inch 1080p 240 Hz 3D LED HDTV (Silver)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $4,299.99
Sale Price: $2,197.00
Today's Bonus: 49% Off

This review is a little long winded. Skip to the bottom for just the pros and cons. Or, keep reading to waste 10 minutes of your life.

Over the last 5 years, I have been using a 58" Panasonic Plasma TV. Not a bad TV, but not the greatest either. It was only 1080i, it got hot pretty fast (which made the room hot and the air condition kick on too often), and the dimensions were weird (I looked at entertainment centers that should fit a 60" TV, but the TV still wouldn't fit.). I felt an upgrade was in order.

I'll have to admit, shopping for a TV was pretty fun. A lot of work though. The research was overwhelming at times. Websites upon websites, magazines, books, different people's inputs, salesmen trying to sell you different things depending on which store you went to, etc. I narrowed it down to one of many Sony HDTVs or a Samsung C or D series. After narrowing it down to those 2 brands, it was a little easier. I went to about 4 different Fry's Electronics and 7 different Best Buys to check it out in different situations. After that, it came down to the UN55D8000 (boy, did I memorize those numbers). To make the decision easier, I was looking on Amazon, and to my amazement, they had it for $500 less that everyone else, plus free shipping. Score!

With the free shipping, it usually takes a little longer. I would say, from the time the order was placed, until it got to my front door, it took about 1.5 weeks. It came delivered from Home Direct, USA and had no issues with delivery. They were going to set up the TV, but I told them not to, since my entertainment center hadn't come in yet. I opened up the box, put the TV on a soft cloth (our bed's comforter) and installed the stand. Eight screws, piece of cake. I connected the Directv receiver and a PS3. There are a few settings you will set in the beginning when the TV turns on. Takes about 2 minutes, literally. After that, the fun begins! Going from 1080i to 1080p is a huge difference! I had a recording of Chuck on the DVR and it almost looked live. I also watched some regular satellite programming and even the non-HD channels looked amazing.

After wiping the drool off the floor, I wanted to check out the 3D part of the TV. I popped in the free copy of Shrek the 3rd in the PS3, put on the glasses and waited to be amazed. Aside from the amazing colors, it looked exactly like 2D! WTH?! Then, I remember reading somewhere that the PS3 does indeed play 3D movies, BUT with an upgrade. I waited about 30 minutes for the upgrade to finish. After that, loaded up the dvd again, and there was the movie with that funky 3D image. Hey wait, I have 3D glasses on, how come I see that. Oh, oops. Batteries need to be installed in the glasses. Finally! The 3D image was awesome! Seriously, watching TV in 3D is amazing. I can't wait `til there's more media in 3D. As it stands right now, the only real movies in 3D are either documentaries or cartoons, with the exception of a few regular movies (i.e. Resident Evil, Step Up 3, etc.)

I just set it up last night, so I can't give you a whole lot more information. But, even if I did have more time, I don't think I can give you the detailed specs that you might be looking for. I'm not an expert on home theater. Here's an overview of pros and cons:

PROS:

* The lack of a bigger bezel really does make a difference. Not only aesthetically, but in terms of functionality, too (better 3D viewing. It looks like you're looking thru a window.).

* Images are spectacular. Whether it be regular programming, HDTV programming, or Blu-Ray.

* Price on Amazon was very good!

* Delivery was pain-free.

* A lot of settings options, so you can set up the TV to your preference and the viewing scenario (i.e. movie, standard, etc.)

* 3D movie watching is stunning! I just wish Panasonic didn't have exclusive rights on Avatar.

CONS:

* SmartTV is a cool feature. But, not a necessity. I really doubt that I'll Facebook or Tweet from the TV.

* Audio isn't great, but it's adequate. I wasn't really expecting much from a flat screen TV.

* Did not come with the touch-screen remote as was supposed to be the case in the beginning of the year.

* Have to mail in the vouchers (or register online) in order to get the 3D glasses. True, you do get a 3D starter kit with this TV, which has the glasses, but those glasses are a little different and use batteries. Also, you have to send out to get the free copy of Shrek Forever and Megamind. I really shouldn't complain, though, since these are free.

* Needs a more detailed manual on how to use most of the features. The manual it comes with is thick, but it's just because it's the same thing in different languages.

Sorry for the long review. Us Yelpers write a lot of gibberish, don't we?

UPDATE: After playing around with the TV a little more this weekend, I noticed that the top of the screen had some light flickering (around where the bezel meets the screen and it was about 1/16" tall and went almost across the whole TV. I'm hoping it's not the "edge lighting.") It only did this on some channels on Directv. Most channels were fine and Blu-Ray was fine. I'm thinking it's either the receiver or possibly the cheap HDMI cable. I have a Monster M1000 series cable coming in later this week, so I'll switch it out and update.

Also, there has been talk all over online about people having problems pairing the remote. I had zero problem and did it about 5 feet away from the TV.

One last thing, one of the glasses in the free 3D kit didn't seem to work. I changed out batteries and nothing. Then, the next morning, I tried it again, but this time turning off the bluetooth in my phone, and it worked. Whether this had an effect on it, I don't know. But, just thought I'd throw that out there.

BTW, this weekend, I watched Tangled in 3D and played MLB2K11 on the PS3...... WOW! I'll have to admit, I liked 3D, but I thought it was just a novelty. No way. 3D is much different now than when we had those blue and red glasses. It changes the whole experience.

UPDATE #2: Didn't have to do anything to get the line gone. It just went away one day.

Also, I finally got the 3D glasses from the voucher that's in the TV. Unfortunately, they are the 3300s and not the 3700s that I kept seeing from people at CES. I won't knock the rating down, but I am a little disappointed that the glasses and the remote that were advertised earlier in the year didn't come with the unit, nor even thru mail. Also, the charger for the glasses is $199! No, thanks. I'll just charge it using the USB cable.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Apple iPod touch 16GB Black (4th Generation) (Discontinued

Customer Ratings:

I got this just for me and I love it. All of the functions works properly and it is easy to use. I love the fact that I can download apps as much as I want plus listen to music. I wish I could use the Internet anywhere without wifi but its a great item to have. I got my money worth and recommend to this to anyone.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Nikon 24mm f/3.5D ED PC-E Nikkor Ultra-Wide Angle Lens for Nikon

Customer Ratings:

I previously reviewed this lens. I now have second one and it appears the first was either defective or they vary wildly. Lens #1 came from eBay, due to Nikon's "we're backordered, but don't buy gray" policy. Naturally I wanted a lens with US warranty but Nikon US had none. As usual, they were all over Hong Kong but not one in the USA. So I bought a USA one used/mint condition to get a lens that Nikon would service if necessary. Cosmetically, the lens was flawless but something was amiss so please disregard my previous review.

Lens #2 is quite good or great, depending on what you want it for. The photo I see most often is a field of flowers with the lens tilted. I don't have much interest in tilting a 24mm lens but from what I see, its great for this and image quality should be super.

For architecture, the shifting is a bit of a different story. In theory, its possible to shift this lens 11.5 mm when the camera is oriented vertically. In practice, you can do this if the top of your subject occupies only the top center of the frame. If you are a critical user and your subject fills the entire top of the frame you'll probably find the top corners disappointing. (As with the previous lens, f/13 seemed to be best when shifted although f/11 was very close).

The good news is that if you restrict your shift to about 8-8.5mm the corners clean up, the illumination falloff disappears and things are sharp everywhere. If this sounds bad, it really isn't because previous Nikon PC lenses have a similar limitation where you can physically shift them further than advisable. (When the camera is horizontal you can shift as much as you want).

Mechanically, the lens is sound. Its a little front heavy and movements have to be locked which irks me because this is all due to the tilting business which adds size, weight, cost and complexity. But Canon started this and its tit for tat.

If you have a use for one of these and take the time to test it out I think you'll be pleased. Its hands down better than the Canon 24 TS (version 1) and ridiculously better than the Nikon 28PC. I still have to see if it can beat the Olympus 24 shift but haven't gotten around to it yet.

By the way, with regard to the comments that this is a "very technical" lens that takes practice or tutorials to master, nothing could be further from the truth. You point it at the subject, tilt or shift as neeed, focus, lock the movements down, lock the mirror up and trip the shutter. If you want to make things complicated you can read about Scheimpflug but since you get both visual confirmation and auto exposure, its hard to see how you could make a mistake.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

XIOS DS Streaming Media Player for TVs (with XBMC capability)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $114.99
Sale Price: $94.90
Today's Bonus: 17% Off

This unit CANNOT run Android and stream xbmc video content over the web.

It CAN play movies if you have them on a local hard drive.

The way it ships, it has Android running. But if you run XBMC server on top of Android... the processor goes to 100% max and the Frames Per Second goes from 29 fps down to 10 fps.

The video sort of moves at 1/10th the speed it should.

I contacted tech support, and they had me delete Android, and run a pure XBMC over system ... no android.

It still didnt work... because it wouldn't recognize my wireless Ethernet.

Also, the XBMC isnt even loaded when you get it. You have to load all that stuff yourself. I am a geek, so I managed.... but non-techy people would NEVER succeed.

I returned it, and got a GBox Midnight MX2 . It is strong enough to run Android AND xbmc...

XBMC was loaded out of the box (unlike the Xios).

Plus the Gbox controller is far better.

Very frustrating to take all this time and effort on an underpowered box.

Give it a pass.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Olympus PEN E-PL2 Black with 14-42 II Black and ED 40-150mm

Customer Ratings:

I am an amateur photographer (a member of my local camera club) and an avid camper/hiker/canoer/outdoorsy type. My primary interests in photography are wildlife and landscapes, although I will occasionally do architecture (esp. ruins) and every day people shots. I bought this camera + two-lens kit directly from Olympus during their 2011 summer sale, and I have to say I am extremely happy I decided on this purchase (I was considering a Nikon D7000 and others at that point). It was $900 when I bought it (taxes/shipping incl.), so this is a great price considering what you get.

The image quality (IQ) is incredible and has astounded my professional photographer friends time and time again. My mom and sister both own a photography business, and both shoot with expensive, high-end, much larger Nikon DSLRs. Two other friends, who are top-notch (international award-winning) photographers who shoot with various DSLR cameras from Cannon and Nikon are also in the same 'boat', but one of them had bought the EPL-2 just two months before I did (and he only buys the best photography equipment with the highest IQ). He claims he will never take his larger DSLRs with him on a trip again, and the other friend has finally been converted to the MFT (micro four-thirds) as well (he is now on the market for the EPL-2 or -3). My mom keeps trying to steal it from me and I'm going to have to buy her one too.

This camera is excellent because it is light-weight, compact, *relatively* affordable (when you consider the cost of many mid-high end DSLRs), and competes VERY well with the more expensive cameras' IQ, colour rendering, white balance, ISO (you hardly get any noise even at the higher ISOs!!!), and even their numerous functions/shooting options. Although new and unable to do everything everyone could ever want (which no camera can do), the MFT technology is definitely the way to go for any amateur photographer or professionals looking for a smaller package with the same quality as their primary or secondary camera. Also, the kit lenses are surprisingly good, and you don't need a macro lens (good thing, because there isn't one only a converter) because the 14-42mm lens offers just the right depth of field for either every day shooting or close up shots.

I only gave this camera a 4 and not a 5 for two reasons: first, as I am coming from a DSLR (primarily Nikon) circle, I find the organization of the menus and manual sometimes confusing, although as I continue practicing with the camera it's finally becoming second nature; also, the price of such small items can sometimes feel like I could be purchasing many other items for the price of one lens, and there are not many options out there just yet (but this is changing rapidly). That being said, I am not a professional and so I'm pleased with the options for me I have the two kit lenses and the Panasonic 100-300mm, I purchased the Olympus 9mm-18mm wide angle M.Zuiko today (after testing it in-store), and I will soon be adding the Oly 25mm pancake lens.

I have just finished packing for my first safari and I must say, I am amazed that I can pack the all my lenses (equivalent to the range of 18mm-600mm of a full-frame camera), my camera body, charger/batteries, cards, a small Sony video camera with all its items, my filters, two notepads+writing utensils, the VF-2 viewfinder, a tripod (which is the heaviest item) and a few other things (i.e. cleaning products, wires) all in a small camera backpack that combined weighs less than 12 lbs!!! My mom's Nikon D2X and her 80-400mm lens ONLY are just over 6lbs, and my one friend who is now on the market for and EPL has asked me to carry his 600mm lens through the airport because I have an extra item I can carry in-hand and he's already overstuffed. Of the 24 photographers who are coming on safari, I will be the envy as far as packing is concerned.

Overall, I have what I need and I am consistently amazed by the quality and overall value of these products. I HIGHLY recommend this kit to those who can afford it!!!

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Canon EOS Rebel T3 Digital Camera and 18-55mm IS II Lens Package

Customer Ratings:

I didn't think this deal was legit, but it is. This whole package is cheaper than I cold find the T3 anywhere else. It is a new camera too. I was afraid it was refurbished or something, but it isn't.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Logitech S150 USB Speakers with Digital Sound

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $14.99
Sale Price: $14.40
Today's Bonus: 4% Off

I generally place a lot of stock in the customer reviews, as for the most part I have found the majority of the ratings to be accurate indicators of product quality. Accordingly, I purchased the Logitech S150 USB powered speakers based on relatively strong reviews. The first pair that I received rattled terribly and I thought that I just got a bad pair and ordered a second set. The second set is slightly better than the first, but the right control speaker to both sets rattle, sometimes excessively. The speakers will play adequately at low volumes, but if turned up to even a moderate level to overcome normal background noise, the right speaker will rattle, at least two for two for me. My recommendation is to purchase a different speaker. However there are some positive aspects to these speakers they are attractive, small and the sound quality is not too bad, if the right speakers did not rattle, the S150 USB speakers would certainly rate at least a 4 based on the price.

Update, Fix: The source of the rattle is the three control buttons at the base of the speaker, to eliminate the rattle, place a piece of 3M magic tape over the buttons,cut slightly larger than the width and length of the buttons, just make sure there is enough tape to keep the buttons from vibrating in the speaker housing. The tape is elastic and permits the buttons to function, and if done carefully, doesn't detract from the speaker's appearance. The sound is now quite good,even at loud volumes.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Sony MSXM8GS 8 GB Memory Stick PRO Duo (Retail Package)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $99.99
Sale Price: $29.53
Today's Bonus: 70% Off

So I ordered the 8GB memory card from a retailer on Amazon. It came in, and everything looked as it should. Then as I started to use it in my Video camera, I was getting error messages and data corruption issues. I did some searching around on the internet and I found that the error is usually do to counterfeit memory cards. So I looked on the page and they gave a great list of things to look for. Biggest giveaway that mine was not really from Sony:

* There was no product information paper on the inside in several languages

* The UPC had MSX-M8GST/X, the valid UPC does not have the "T/X" at the end, and the actual number under the UPC was for a 1GB memory card.

* Obviously the bad performance of the card.

I talked with Amazon, and got the seller to refund my money and I ordered it directly from Amazon. When I looked at the two packages side by side, there was an obvious difference. On the card, the print was very faded (and incorrect) versus the legit card.

So the card itself is great, but buyer beware of the fakes. Here is a good article that talks about spotting fakes:

-Matt

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Samsung UN46EH5300 46-Inch 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV (Black)

Customer Ratings:

Ultimate Samsung TV Model Number Guide

This "review" is less of a review and more of a guide you can use to decipher what the model numbers mean. It took me a while to do this research so I hope it helps others on their quest for a new TV.

I'm going to use one of the currently best selling ones on amazon as an example see link below.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0074FGNJ6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0074FGNJ6&linkCode=as2&tag=stupisms-20

U refers to the technology (U: LED LCD, L: CCFL LCD, P: Plasma) generally everything in 2013 and newer will be U because it's more power efficient.

N refers to North America

46 refers to the size. Size options vary by series and include 19,22,29,32,40,46,50,55,60,65,70,75,85. Yes that's an 85 at the end. If you buy one of these please invite me to your house for the Superbowl, I'll bring beer. Check it out below.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CMEN95U/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00CMEN95U&linkCode=as2&tag=stupisms-20

E refers to the year of manufacture (F:2013, E:2012, D:2011, C:2010, etc)

H or S (if present) refers to the type of backlighting (S: Sidelit, H: Backlit)

5300 refers to the series. A 2013 Samsung guide for features of all series is found here http://www.samsung.com/us/download/2013_LED_Comparison_Grid_v7.pdf

My example model didn't have any model suffix but if you see an FXZA it refers to the place it was sold. For US model TV's you will see this sometimes.

If it helped please pay it forward and vote helpful below so others can benefit too. Thanks!

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Yamaha A-S500BL Integrated Stereo Amplifier (Black)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $449.95
Sale Price: $399.95
Today's Bonus: 11% Off

In my opinion, good quality 2-channel sound is the best option if you enjoy music. I sought to put together an entry-level "audiophile" 2.1 system. My source is an iMac running lossless files through a NuForce uDAC2. I've owned and enjoyed the sound of a variety of UK manufactured/designed speakers in the past. The Brits are still fond of 2-channel... they've been smart enough not to bite on the hype and expense of surround. Because of this, I used a number of UK audio review sites to wade through the available 2-channel integrated amps and bookshelf-sized speakers. I took my chances and, based on WhatHiFi's calling it the best amp under $800, I purchased the Yamaha A-S500 to pair with my Monitor Audio BR2 speakers and Jamo sub. I was impressed the first time I listened three weeks ago and am still impressed every evening when I sit down to listen. I listen to jazz and wide range of artists from Union Station to Wilco to Radiohead. The sound exceeds any I've dreamed of. It is strikingly clear and natural. I've never touched the bass/treble controls; no need to; flat sounds spectacular. Bass is natural. When listening to the Keith Jarrett Trio, Jack DeJohnette's cymbals are replicated to perfection. I don't agree with some other reviews that are concerned about the A-S500 build quality. I think the build quality is very good with the slight exception of the "plasticy" control knobs. I can live with the knobs, they aren't a deal breaker. I can't recommend the Yamaha A-S500 enough. It has changed how I listen to my music collection.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Arsat 80mm f/2.8 Tilt Shift Lens for Canon EOS SLR DSLR Camera

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $899.95
Sale Price: $409.95
Today's Bonus: 54% Off

A tilt-shift lens works much like the bellows of a large-format view camera to obtain correction of perspective distortion (shift) and alignment of the focal plane (tilt) to enable creative effects in architectural photography, product photography, and other effects such as miniature look and selective soft focus.

This 80mm f/2.8 tilt/shift lens is manufactured in Ukraine and sold under several names: Arsat, Arax, and Photex. It is available in an amazing choice of mounts: Nikon AI, Canon EOS, Canon FD, Minolta Dynax, Minolta MD, Pentax K, and M42 (Zenit, Practica, etc.). Mine came in a nylon padded zippered pouch with no retail packaging or instructions: the same pouch shown in the pictures. It is composed of 6 multicoated elements. It shifts 11mm in one direction only, however the entire lens rotates 360 degrees giving the ability to shift in any direction. It has lock stops at 12 angles. It tilts plus or minus 8 degrees. The tilt and shift axes intersect at a 90° angle and it doesn't appear that they can be modified from that. I would prefer on-axis because I think it's more useful. It focuses from 0.6m to infinity and the manual-only aperture goes from f2.8 to f22. There is a stop-down aperture ring which allows you to open fully for focusing and down for the exposure. There are no electronic connections, this is a fully manual lens only. You could glue a focus confirmation chip on the mount to allow focus beep and light confirmation; I haven't tried that (yet).

Image quality is surprisingly good for a lens made by a somewhat obscure Russian lens company. It's not tack sharp wide open but very acceptable, and holds its image quality into the corners pretty well. There is almost no vignetting even wide open, because being a tilt-shift lens, the image circle is quite a bit larger than the 35mm sensor. Stopping down, the image sharpens up nicely with a "sweet spot" around f/5.6. Shifting to the extreme doesn't degrade the image appreciably.

Compared to the Canon 90mm TS-E: Both are composed of 6 elements. The field of view is very similar (this lens seems to almost match the field of view of my 85mm lenses). Tilt and shift amounts are exactly the same. The Canon can focus slightly closer at 0.5m. The build of course is not as robust as the Canon TS-E lens, however for the price it's quite solid. All the Canon TS-E lenses are thought to be among the sharpest lenses in Canon's line up. I'm not going to claim that the image resolution is that good, but when viewed at typical sizes the image quality is surprisingly good. At only a third of the price of the Canon 90, this lens is going to allow first-timers to get their hands on a tilt-shift lens without breaking the bank.

When I read about tilt-shift lenses, writers invariably bemoan the learning curve, but I got the hang of it in just a few minutes, aligning the plane of focus with some product surfaces to give the illusion of extending the depth of field. If you know what you're trying to accomplish it's not that difficult. I have to add that one advantage of these lenses is the ability to stop down further than usual without suffering appreciable softening due to diffraction. It's nice to see a third-party lens manufacturer enter into the tilt-shift arena, and this lens is a good value. I recommend it if you want to try out a tilt-shift lens and expand your creative possibilities. It's also a good manual focus video lens, whether you use the T/S features or not, since you can use it on just about any format (like micro 4/3) with an adapter, and still have control over the aperture. I hope we see more direct Canon mount lenses from this company in the future.

Note: there are some versions of this lens that cost less but they only tilt. Be sure to get the kind you want.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

AmScope 3.5X-90X Trinocular LED Boom Stand Stereo Microscope

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $2,700.00
Sale Price: $659.98
Today's Bonus: 76% Off

I purchased around 5 different digital microscopes over the years for the company i work for. Finally i ran across this one. I did end up purchasing the cover and additional light source (both a must have for this unit. there are some minor issues i did not like on this unit but the things i liked out-way them.

PROS:

1: at 0.5x setting i can put a part about 4 inches from the lense and it will allow me to focus at different depths depending

what i need to shoot.

2: the focus on the eyepieces are nice and clear.

3: once i figured out the lever that you need to pull far out on the left side to close off the left eye piece i got

great shots from the digital camera. (pulling this lever part of the way out only gives you blurry images at best in the digital camera).

4: the head unit can be tilted for angle views. and the height can be adjusted for larger or smaller parts.

CONS:

1: the manual, well is horrible. i was able to setup the unit by going to the web site and review the multiple photos

then assembling them together.

2: the screw mount (plastic) that attaches to the lense and holds the circular led is not threaded correctly. it hangs

literally by a thread. and can strip very easy when switching the lenses.

3: after some use on tilting the microscope the clamps do not hold and will move the arm that holds the head unit.

4: i purchased the Nikon camera attachment because at first the digital camera was shooting horribly bury images. i discovered with no help from the manual that the lever on the left side of the unit has to be pulled a lot farther out. feels like your going to pull it off. when doing this the digital camera shoots excellent. i found that the lever needs to close off the left eye piece before the digital camera is clear.

5: at the default setting the camera comes out bury, the mount that the unit rests on needs to be unscrewed about 1/8 before the digital camera comes into focus with the eye piece. there about 3/4 to 1 inch travel before the mount is totally unscrewed.

CONCLUSION:

it does what we need to use it in Engineering for and plan on purchasing another unit for the Quality Control Department.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Sony HVR-Z7E (HVRZ7E, HVRZ7, HVR-Z7) handheld HDV 1080i

Customer Ratings:

We order the HVR-z7E, since we wanted the Pal system, but instead recieved HVR-Z7U/Z7N. After 2 weeks of frustration and writing back and forth, we learned that the model, which was sent to us had both functions. It is working both Ntsc and Pal. The only problem it was not stated on their site and the passport, which accompanied the camera. It clearly stated that is only NTSC and we allmost sent it back. Luckily we managed to switch it to PAl. It is just not really right thing to publish one thing and send the other.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Canon EOS Rebel T4i Digital SLR Camera Body & EF-S 18-55mm IS II

Customer Ratings:

This bundle was the best value I found on the T4i -a very good price, and contained things I actually needed. Package arrived from Cameta camera quickly, complete and as promised. I had the older XSI previously (which I loved gave it to my daughter). The controls on the T4i are very similar -nice not to have to relearn buttons, menus etc. I have not shot videos yet but the new buttons for that appear very straightforward. The view screen folds outward or can be returned into place, facing outward or inward / closed -works great and great quality. I have also been very pleased with the quality of shooting in low light conditions. Even shooting kids basketball games (the gym lighting can be poor) even at 1800-3600 ISO the graininess is not bad at all.

Also the camera bag is much bigger and deeper than I realized. The inside main compartment can be completely custom organized for your stuff, and would probably hold two SLR's with multiple lenses and accessories. It is fairly heavy too because of its size. I'm sure I'll find a use for it, but I'll probably buy a smaller bag to cut down on the weight. I don't really mind because for the price you can consider the bag and probably most of the other items "free" compared with just buying the camera, the 18-55 mm lens, and the memory card by themselves.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

HP Envy 14-1260SE Beats Edition Notebook (Black)

Customer Ratings:

This is one sweet machine. So far not a single problem with the software or hardware. A couple of caveats to that: The battery lasts about one hour while working and about two hours sitting idle. I contacted HP about this and it is a known problem. HP assured me that when the problem is resolved they will let me (and all owners) know what the fix is and repair it at their cost if necessary. It may just be a BIOS update or a different battery; we'll see, and I'll update when I know more. You can (and should) order the "slice" (HP 6-cell Slim Fit Battery for Envy 14-1000 Series (RS06)) secondary battery. This will boost the working time to about four hours including the original battery. Once they resolve the battery issue, I hope to get about eight hours out of the two battery configuration. Second, the touchpad takes a little getting used to. The right and left click buttons are built into the touchpad and the pointer will move while trying to click, but I've pretty much gotten the hang of it now. Finally, back in November or December HP went to a two-year warranty for all ENVY computers, however, not all serial numbers were updated. When mine arrived the "HP Support Assistant" software said my warranty was up in one year. A short phone call to (an English speaking person in Canada) got my warranty changed to the stated two years. If you have this issue, just give them a call; my experience with customer service was better than any I've experienced in a long time (BTW they also gave me a $125 credit towards the "slice" battery bringing the cost of the second battery to less than $50.00).

So, that's all the issues I've had with this machine and all are easily fixed (or gotten used to). The machine itself is beautiful. The back-lit keyboard is awesome and easy to use, comfortable on the hands. The display is bright and crisp. The sound out of the built-in speakers is better than any other laptop I've owned, but they are still laptop speakers. To get the full benefit out of the Beats Audio setup you need to plug into headphones or an external amplified speaker system. The clock speed (CPU) is outstanding, programs open in the blink of an eye and I run a lot of "heavy" software like photoshop, cad programs, and accounting software. I can have multiple programs running at the same time and have never noticed a slowdown. I don't even know what the limit is before I'll notice any slowdown. One other benefit of this machine (and there are probably plenty of other manufacturers with the same benefit) is that you can plug in an external drive or flashdrive and tell the system to use it as system memory. So, if you have 6 GB of system memory and add a 10 GB flashdrive you'll have 16 GB of system memory. Pretty sweet!

Bottom line, I would recommend this machine to anyone (especially those with their heads stuck in an Apple)! I plan to buy a silver one for my wife. Outstanding laptop and outstanding customer support.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>