Tagged Products - blue

Sanyo Xacti 8MP Digital Camcorder with 2.5" LCD Monitor - Blue

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shots, too? Pretty good ones, at that. This is the camcorder/camera that I have dreamed about.

I found this device incredibly easy to use, but it will take me a while to become accustomed to all of the features. My teenagers are dying to use it in the pool next summer. I will update this review as I use the camcorder more. I plan on purchasing some accessories (extra battery, new camcorder case) for it and I'll update with what I got and how it worked out.

Sandisk Sansa View SDMX10R8192 2.4-Inch Color Video and MP3 Player

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player is easy to clean with a soft cloth (like those glasses ones). When it comes to the design, I like the View over the iPod because the back of the View is a very comfortable soft rubber grip that doesn't attract ugly fingerprints and isn't cold to the touch, and the menu wheel actually turns, which just feels good when you use it (you'll understand...)

When it comes to their interface, I'd say they're very much alike. The menus are self explanatory, and both have their pros and cons about their menus. One notable thing about the View is that you can choose your background color on the View's menu screen, which to me isn't very important, but when I'm bored it's one more thing for me to play with.

Now, the controls. After using the iPod for so long, it took a bit of time to adjust to the View. For example, when using the iPod, you simply press the up key to go back one step in the menu no matter what you are doing, but whenever I press the up key while something is playing on the View, it will play/pause it. If you press left or right on either players, it will go backward or forward in the track list. So then that leaves the down button, which on the iPod pauses or plays what you are playing, and on the View gives you the song/video/photo menu (it adjusts to whatever you're doing) and from there you are able to get back to the music list. What will really spin your head about the View though is that when you're not on the "now playing" screen, you use the left/right buttons to navigate the menus...so it keeps your mind sharp. So sometimes, it's one more click than necessary to navigate the View, but once you're used to it, there really is no difference. Plus, whenever I'm lost in the controls, I simply hit the handy home button and start over again.

One cool feature from the View which doesn't exist on the iPod is its voice recording. I am in college and I use this feature to record lectures, or simply to punk friends. The sound quality from the recording is amazing, and unlike other recorders, it doesn't alter the voice being recorded. Also, if you are listening to the radio on the View (yes, it has an FM receiver), you can record what you are listening to, which is pretty cool also. For me, voice recording and radio are the most used applications on my View, and maybe that's because I've never had an mp3 player with those options. Whenever I'm like "darn, why do I love all the songs on my View? I want something to compare it to so I don't get used to all this good music", I simply switch to the radio.

When it comes to battery life, I would hands down give the award to the Sansa View. I've never had an iPod whose battery lasted over four hours on one charge. The View can last me a whole week without recharging, as long as if I control its volume, backlight, and be sure to turn it off when I'm not using it. I use my View for at least 2 hours everyday. But one thing about these players' battery is that it all depends on your luck or willingness to ask. Lithium Ion Batteries will die when its time comes, so when you purchase one, you can rely on luck to get a fresh battery, or you can ask them how long this player has been sitting on the shelf. Of course, if you're buying from Amazon, you won't have that option. Therefore, I bought my player from Best Buy.

Now, to the most important part of this player: actually getting music/photos/videos on there. Let me tell you, there is nothing simpler for the View. Plug your View into the computer (be sure you switch its USB mode to MSC, or it won't let you do anything but charge), and drag and drop your files into the correct folder. If you know how to use an USB, you'll have no problem with putting music on your View. Also, the SUPER BEST part is that you don't need another program like iTunes on your computer to do it. I almost cried (in joy) at its simplicity and how much time this feature has saved me. Also, one very good feature in the View is its ability to delete songs from the player itself. So if you decide that you've outgrown one of your songs and you never want to hear it on your View again, you don't have to go to the computer to delete it, you can do it right then and there wherever you are.

Other stuff:
The View will bookmark your podcasts and audiobooks as long as if you don't switch to another podcast or audiobook in between pausing it and going back to it. There is also video bookmarking.
For the best sound quality, I strongly recommend you adjust the EQ settings and get new earbuds.
There is a hold button, power button (which I find more convenient than iPod's "push and hold the play button for 3 seconds" way of turning off the player), memory expansion slot, and allows you to reset your player in times of freezing
There is a power saver option that will turn off your player automatically if it's not doing anything for a set amount of time that you choose - however I found out that turning off your player is still the smarter option if you are not going to be using it for a while.
You can adjust how long the backlight stays on, and of course, the shorter you set it, the longer your battery will last on that charge
You can find the shuffle/repeat options on the music menu or the settings menu
There is a slideshow option for photos, and you can even tag a song on it
There is a quick list option called "music go" and "photo go"
Charging takes about 3 hours if your battery is low
There is a "refresh" screen after you disconnect your View from the computer, but it only last for a couple seconds - it's updating your music, and it will still do it even if you don't change anything
You won't be able to listen to music, or do anything on your View while it is charging
When you're viewing photos and videos, you will have to turn your view horizontally, but Sandisk had you in mind when creating this player, so the button functions will automatically shift places so that up is still up, down is still down, left and right are still left and right when it's being used sideways...i really like this feature, lessens the confusion

Tips for optimizing your View's potential:
1. Before you even attempt to use your View, download the free firmware from the sansa website. This will solve the freezing and charging problems.

2. Charge your battery to full before using it for the first time, and NEVER let it completely run out from that point on- that is the quickest way to kill your Lithium Ion Battery

3. If you watch videos, download their free photo/video media converter. It's not as much of a pain as everyone makes it out to be. Just be patient, you don't have to stare at it while it's working =), go eat or something

4. Get an AC adapter, it will speed up your charge and provide a more complete charge. When I use USB charging, the battery hops around after a couple hours, which kinda drove me crazy, because then I didn't know when I actually needed to charge the thing.

5. If at first you can't view your photos, go to more>settings/options>system settings>display>TV out>off, if you still can't see them, try using the media converter

6. LOVE IT!

I hope this review helped. I'm still learning about my View, but I pretty much got all the features I frequently use down, and I hope it will be the same for you!

Panasonic Lumix 9.0-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

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accessible - white balance, exposure compensation, picture modes - and the menus and default settings are easy to work with to get the camera configured just the way you want. The ability to select different color profiles is especially nice. The grip and general configuration work well - I have fairly large hands and have no problem with this relatively small camera. The lens does take a moment to crank out or in when you turn the camera on or off but that's to be expected with a 10X zoom.

Flash photos worked fine, although like any small camera the flash reach is limited, but where it really blew me away was in taking image-stabilized low-light photos. I shot nighttime street scenes, lit by store signs and street lights only, and the images are sharp and crisp at ISO 800. No, I haven't printed them, but looking onscreen at full resolution they're better than any others I've seen. I'm sure one can get better from a D-SLR but I'm not willing to carry around that much camera equipment anymore - I want a camera that will always be with me and can still take excellent photos, and this fits the bill better than I had imagined.

I haven't used the video function so can't speak to that. Image uploading isn't exactly fast but I think that's a function of the high resolution and corresponding large files rather than some kind of electronic limitation. I like the blue color finish on the body even.

I see surprisingly little barrel distortion at the wide end of the zoom, and being able to go from 28-280mm equivalent is wonderful. And at the long end the image stabilization really does work. Well. Even in low light.

In sum, I love this camera!

PC Clean Machine Personal PC Concierge Service

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of simple to use
Software comes on a small THUMB DRIVE, better than a CD!

Cons:
You have someone you have never met messing with your computer (you don't know if this person is going to take your work and sell it as theirs, or take some files and plaster them all over the internet)

Now yes this is a company that is licensed and insured and all that great stuff like that but I just haven't heard enough about them to put my trust in them with my personal files on my home PC. IE Family photos, work documents, My designs that haven't been patented yet and so much more. Call me a little paranoid but I need to know a lot more about this company than just a little video and a few good reviews before I go diving and using this product.

To me at this point I just don't trust it/them enough to take these risks!

Argus Bean 5 Megapixel Carabiner Clip-On Digital Camera - Blue

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of simple to use

Software comes on a small THUMB DRIVE, better than a CD!



Cons:

You have someone you have never met messing with your computer (you don't know if this person is going to take your work and sell it as theirs, or take some files and plaster them all over the internet)



Now yes this is a company that is licensed and insured and all that great stuff like that but I just haven't heard enough about them to put my trust in them with my personal files on my home PC. IE Family photos, work documents, My designs that haven't been patented yet and so much more. Call me a little paranoid but I need to know a lot more about this company than just a little video and a few good reviews before I go diving and using this product.



To me at this point I just don't trust it/them enough to take these risks!

Sanyo Xacti 8MP Digital Camcorder with 2.5" LCD Monitor - Blue

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and 1600 came out. They were perfectly usable despite the noise level. While it's not ideal shooting at those levels, the results were better than expected. The results under normal lighting conditions were good too, for a hybrid camera. While the results weren't quite up to what a top stand alone digital point and shoot might take, the pictures were perfectly fine for viewing on a screen or printing at 4x6 or 8x10. I shot the test videos at 640x480, 30fps, high bit rate, using all "Auto" settings. Again the results were very good. The videos were clear. The sound was good. The camera focused well under all conditions. All in all, Sanyo has a winner here. You could call the VPC-E2 a "jack of all trades, master of none", but that would be a little harsh. What it does, it does well. It's not really great at anything, but it's very good at most. I look forward to my next vacation when I test it underwater on a snorkling trip. First thing I will do is order an extra battery, and buy a real case for it. The included wrap around velcro case is a joke. Here is a brief list of the pro's and con's.


Pro's:
Well designed, versatile, and easy to use.
Waterproof.
Good pictures and video for a hybrid.
Usable pictures at high ISO.

Con's:
Battery life is disappointing.
No 16:9 video options.
Price isn't cheap.
Cheesy velcro "case" that is included is terrible.
Non-standard USB cable.

Sanyo Xacti 8MP Digital Camcorder with 2.5" LCD Monitor - Blue

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The controls, located on the top rear of the camera, are designed to be thumb operated.

The two buttons at the very top take still photos and movies, respectively. They are easy to operate, and the still photo button does the usual "press halfway to lock everything in" function. Below these is the usual four way rocker with the button in the middle. When you are making pictures, this area is used mainly to zoom.

There is also a menu button on the back, and many functions, like turning the flash on and off, can only be accessed through the menus. If you have used digital camera menus before, these will be easy to follow.

So, how well does it work? Pretty well, actually. The macro ability of the lens is outstanding in a camera of this type. It focuses at 1 cm. That's less than a half inch, if you are metric challenged. In addition, it has a full range focus mode that will go from 1 cm to infinity without putting it into a special macro mode. I like to get in close, so that's important to me.

The camera has all the usual settings for ISO, light balance, etc., and will go as high as 3200 ISO. If you get higher than 400, buy a good noise filter plug-in for Photoshop. Once I apply that, even photos shot at 1600 look pretty good. The 8 megapixel stills are 3264 by 2448, and print nice 8x10s. You can grab stills while shooting a movie. If you do that, the stills will be 1600x1200. With 2 megapixels, you could still print an 8x10, but a 5x7 will be better. The 5X zoom works fine. There is also a 12 megapixel setting, but the sensor is 8 MP, so I assume it is simulated. I didn't use it.

Videos are either 640x480, which is plenty for display on a TV, or 320x240, which is perfect for UTube or similar services. You can record at either 30 or 60 frames a second, and I didn't see much difference. At the lower resolution, you can also record at 15 FPS, which makes a small file that's easy to email or upload.

The waterproof feature is interesting. It is supposed to be safe to 5 feet, and it seems to be. I tried it by holding it under water in my backyard pond and bothering my goldfish. Water's a little chilly this time of year!!! Anyway, it worked fine. For many people, the main advantage of this would be that you don't have to worry if you are getting rained on, and you can use it by the pool with no issues.
This camera won't replace your DSLR, but it might replace both your point and shoot still camera and your camcorder.

Pros: Size, easy to use, great macro ability, and very acceptable photo and video quality, with the waterproof feature a plus.

Cons: Not many - Uses a non standard USB cable (included) and battery life is around 100 or so stills if you are using the flash - more if the flash is off. Figure an hour of video.

Ellipse ll 2 GB MP3 Music/ Video/ Photo Player-2GB Green MP3 Music, Video, and Photo Player

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The controls, located on the top rear of the camera, are designed to be thumb operated.



The two buttons at the very top take still photos and movies, respectively. They are easy to operate, and the still photo button does the usual "press halfway to lock everything in" function. Below these is the usual four way rocker with the button in the middle. When you are making pictures, this area is used mainly to zoom.



There is also a menu button on the back, and many functions, like turning the flash on and off, can only be accessed through the menus. If you have used digital camera menus before, these will be easy to follow.



So, how well does it work? Pretty well, actually. The macro ability of the lens is outstanding in a camera of this type. It focuses at 1 cm. That's less than a half inch, if you are metric challenged. In addition, it has a full range focus mode that will go from 1 cm to infinity without putting it into a special macro mode. I like to get in close, so that's important to me.



The camera has all the usual settings for ISO, light balance, etc., and will go as high as 3200 ISO. If you get higher than 400, buy a good noise filter plug-in for Photoshop. Once I apply that, even photos shot at 1600 look pretty good. The 8 megapixel stills are 3264 by 2448, and print nice 8x10s. You can grab stills while shooting a movie. If you do that, the stills will be 1600x1200. With 2 megapixels, you could still print an 8x10, but a 5x7 will be better. The 5X zoom works fine. There is also a 12 megapixel setting, but the sensor is 8 MP, so I assume it is simulated. I didn't use it.



Videos are either 640x480, which is plenty for display on a TV, or 320x240, which is perfect for UTube or similar services. You can record at either 30 or 60 frames a second, and I didn't see much difference. At the lower resolution, you can also record at 15 FPS, which makes a small file that's easy to email or upload.



The waterproof feature is interesting. It is supposed to be safe to 5 feet, and it seems to be. I tried it by holding it under water in my backyard pond and bothering my goldfish. Water's a little chilly this time of year!!! Anyway, it worked fine. For many people, the main advantage of this would be that you don't have to worry if you are getting rained on, and you can use it by the pool with no issues.

This camera won't replace your DSLR, but it might replace both your point and shoot still camera and your camcorder.



Pros: Size, easy to use, great macro ability, and very acceptable photo and video quality, with the waterproof feature a plus.



Cons: Not many - Uses a non standard USB cable (included) and battery life is around 100 or so stills if you are using the flash - more if the flash is off. Figure an hour of video.

Pioneer BonusView Blu-ray Disc Player with 1080p Output

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The controls, located on the top rear of the camera, are designed to be thumb operated.





The two buttons at the very top take still photos and movies, respectively. They are easy to operate, and the still photo button does the usual "press halfway to lock everything in" function. Below these is the usual four way rocker with the button in the middle. When you are making pictures, this area is used mainly to zoom.





There is also a menu button on the back, and many functions, like turning the flash on and off, can only be accessed through the menus. If you have used digital camera menus before, these will be easy to follow.





So, how well does it work? Pretty well, actually. The macro ability of the lens is outstanding in a camera of this type. It focuses at 1 cm. That's less than a half inch, if you are metric challenged. In addition, it has a full range focus mode that will go from 1 cm to infinity without putting it into a special macro mode. I like to get in close, so that's important to me.





The camera has all the usual settings for ISO, light balance, etc., and will go as high as 3200 ISO. If you get higher than 400, buy a good noise filter plug-in for Photoshop. Once I apply that, even photos shot at 1600 look pretty good. The 8 megapixel stills are 3264 by 2448, and print nice 8x10s. You can grab stills while shooting a movie. If you do that, the stills will be 1600x1200. With 2 megapixels, you could still print an 8x10, but a 5x7 will be better. The 5X zoom works fine. There is also a 12 megapixel setting, but the sensor is 8 MP, so I assume it is simulated. I didn't use it.





Videos are either 640x480, which is plenty for display on a TV, or 320x240, which is perfect for UTube or similar services. You can record at either 30 or 60 frames a second, and I didn't see much difference. At the lower resolution, you can also record at 15 FPS, which makes a small file that's easy to email or upload.





The waterproof feature is interesting. It is supposed to be safe to 5 feet, and it seems to be. I tried it by holding it under water in my backyard pond and bothering my goldfish. Water's a little chilly this time of year!!! Anyway, it worked fine. For many people, the main advantage of this would be that you don't have to worry if you are getting rained on, and you can use it by the pool with no issues.


This camera won't replace your DSLR, but it might replace both your point and shoot still camera and your camcorder.





Pros: Size, easy to use, great macro ability, and very acceptable photo and video quality, with the waterproof feature a plus.





Cons: Not many - Uses a non standard USB cable (included) and battery life is around 100 or so stills if you are using the flash - more if the flash is off. Figure an hour of video.

Sony Blu-ray Disc Player with 1080p Output

...

The controls, located on the top rear of the camera, are designed to be thumb operated.







The two buttons at the very top take still photos and movies, respectively. They are easy to operate, and the still photo button does the usual "press halfway to lock everything in" function. Below these is the usual four way rocker with the button in the middle. When you are making pictures, this area is used mainly to zoom.







There is also a menu button on the back, and many functions, like turning the flash on and off, can only be accessed through the menus. If you have used digital camera menus before, these will be easy to follow.







So, how well does it work? Pretty well, actually. The macro ability of the lens is outstanding in a camera of this type. It focuses at 1 cm. That's less than a half inch, if you are metric challenged. In addition, it has a full range focus mode that will go from 1 cm to infinity without putting it into a special macro mode. I like to get in close, so that's important to me.







The camera has all the usual settings for ISO, light balance, etc., and will go as high as 3200 ISO. If you get higher than 400, buy a good noise filter plug-in for Photoshop. Once I apply that, even photos shot at 1600 look pretty good. The 8 megapixel stills are 3264 by 2448, and print nice 8x10s. You can grab stills while shooting a movie. If you do that, the stills will be 1600x1200. With 2 megapixels, you could still print an 8x10, but a 5x7 will be better. The 5X zoom works fine. There is also a 12 megapixel setting, but the sensor is 8 MP, so I assume it is simulated. I didn't use it.







Videos are either 640x480, which is plenty for display on a TV, or 320x240, which is perfect for UTube or similar services. You can record at either 30 or 60 frames a second, and I didn't see much difference. At the lower resolution, you can also record at 15 FPS, which makes a small file that's easy to email or upload.







The waterproof feature is interesting. It is supposed to be safe to 5 feet, and it seems to be. I tried it by holding it under water in my backyard pond and bothering my goldfish. Water's a little chilly this time of year!!! Anyway, it worked fine. For many people, the main advantage of this would be that you don't have to worry if you are getting rained on, and you can use it by the pool with no issues.



This camera won't replace your DSLR, but it might replace both your point and shoot still camera and your camcorder.







Pros: Size, easy to use, great macro ability, and very acceptable photo and video quality, with the waterproof feature a plus.







Cons: Not many - Uses a non standard USB cable (included) and battery life is around 100 or so stills if you are using the flash - more if the flash is off. Figure an hour of video.

Sony Blu-ray Disc Player with 1080p Output

...

The controls, located on the top rear of the camera, are designed to be thumb operated.









The two buttons at the very top take still photos and movies, respectively. They are easy to operate, and the still photo button does the usual "press halfway to lock everything in" function. Below these is the usual four way rocker with the button in the middle. When you are making pictures, this area is used mainly to zoom.









There is also a menu button on the back, and many functions, like turning the flash on and off, can only be accessed through the menus. If you have used digital camera menus before, these will be easy to follow.









So, how well does it work? Pretty well, actually. The macro ability of the lens is outstanding in a camera of this type. It focuses at 1 cm. That's less than a half inch, if you are metric challenged. In addition, it has a full range focus mode that will go from 1 cm to infinity without putting it into a special macro mode. I like to get in close, so that's important to me.









The camera has all the usual settings for ISO, light balance, etc., and will go as high as 3200 ISO. If you get higher than 400, buy a good noise filter plug-in for Photoshop. Once I apply that, even photos shot at 1600 look pretty good. The 8 megapixel stills are 3264 by 2448, and print nice 8x10s. You can grab stills while shooting a movie. If you do that, the stills will be 1600x1200. With 2 megapixels, you could still print an 8x10, but a 5x7 will be better. The 5X zoom works fine. There is also a 12 megapixel setting, but the sensor is 8 MP, so I assume it is simulated. I didn't use it.









Videos are either 640x480, which is plenty for display on a TV, or 320x240, which is perfect for UTube or similar services. You can record at either 30 or 60 frames a second, and I didn't see much difference. At the lower resolution, you can also record at 15 FPS, which makes a small file that's easy to email or upload.









The waterproof feature is interesting. It is supposed to be safe to 5 feet, and it seems to be. I tried it by holding it under water in my backyard pond and bothering my goldfish. Water's a little chilly this time of year!!! Anyway, it worked fine. For many people, the main advantage of this would be that you don't have to worry if you are getting rained on, and you can use it by the pool with no issues.




This camera won't replace your DSLR, but it might replace both your point and shoot still camera and your camcorder.









Pros: Size, easy to use, great macro ability, and very acceptable photo and video quality, with the waterproof feature a plus.









Cons: Not many - Uses a non standard USB cable (included) and battery life is around 100 or so stills if you are using the flash - more if the flash is off. Figure an hour of video.

Ellipse ll 2 GB MP3 Music/ Video/ Photo Player-2GB Green MP3 Music, Video, and Photo Player

...

The controls, located on the top rear of the camera, are designed to be thumb operated.











The two buttons at the very top take still photos and movies, respectively. They are easy to operate, and the still photo button does the usual "press halfway to lock everything in" function. Below these is the usual four way rocker with the button in the middle. When you are making pictures, this area is used mainly to zoom.











There is also a menu button on the back, and many functions, like turning the flash on and off, can only be accessed through the menus. If you have used digital camera menus before, these will be easy to follow.











So, how well does it work? Pretty well, actually. The macro ability of the lens is outstanding in a camera of this type. It focuses at 1 cm. That's less than a half inch, if you are metric challenged. In addition, it has a full range focus mode that will go from 1 cm to infinity without putting it into a special macro mode. I like to get in close, so that's important to me.











The camera has all the usual settings for ISO, light balance, etc., and will go as high as 3200 ISO. If you get higher than 400, buy a good noise filter plug-in for Photoshop. Once I apply that, even photos shot at 1600 look pretty good. The 8 megapixel stills are 3264 by 2448, and print nice 8x10s. You can grab stills while shooting a movie. If you do that, the stills will be 1600x1200. With 2 megapixels, you could still print an 8x10, but a 5x7 will be better. The 5X zoom works fine. There is also a 12 megapixel setting, but the sensor is 8 MP, so I assume it is simulated. I didn't use it.











Videos are either 640x480, which is plenty for display on a TV, or 320x240, which is perfect for UTube or similar services. You can record at either 30 or 60 frames a second, and I didn't see much difference. At the lower resolution, you can also record at 15 FPS, which makes a small file that's easy to email or upload.











The waterproof feature is interesting. It is supposed to be safe to 5 feet, and it seems to be. I tried it by holding it under water in my backyard pond and bothering my goldfish. Water's a little chilly this time of year!!! Anyway, it worked fine. For many people, the main advantage of this would be that you don't have to worry if you are getting rained on, and you can use it by the pool with no issues.





This camera won't replace your DSLR, but it might replace both your point and shoot still camera and your camcorder.











Pros: Size, easy to use, great macro ability, and very acceptable photo and video quality, with the waterproof feature a plus.











Cons: Not many - Uses a non standard USB cable (included) and battery life is around 100 or so stills if you are using the flash - more if the flash is off. Figure an hour of video.

6FT CBL VIDEO HDMI-M/M VELOCITY RTL

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The controls, located on the top rear of the camera, are designed to be thumb operated.













The two buttons at the very top take still photos and movies, respectively. They are easy to operate, and the still photo button does the usual "press halfway to lock everything in" function. Below these is the usual four way rocker with the button in the middle. When you are making pictures, this area is used mainly to zoom.













There is also a menu button on the back, and many functions, like turning the flash on and off, can only be accessed through the menus. If you have used digital camera menus before, these will be easy to follow.













So, how well does it work? Pretty well, actually. The macro ability of the lens is outstanding in a camera of this type. It focuses at 1 cm. That's less than a half inch, if you are metric challenged. In addition, it has a full range focus mode that will go from 1 cm to infinity without putting it into a special macro mode. I like to get in close, so that's important to me.













The camera has all the usual settings for ISO, light balance, etc., and will go as high as 3200 ISO. If you get higher than 400, buy a good noise filter plug-in for Photoshop. Once I apply that, even photos shot at 1600 look pretty good. The 8 megapixel stills are 3264 by 2448, and print nice 8x10s. You can grab stills while shooting a movie. If you do that, the stills will be 1600x1200. With 2 megapixels, you could still print an 8x10, but a 5x7 will be better. The 5X zoom works fine. There is also a 12 megapixel setting, but the sensor is 8 MP, so I assume it is simulated. I didn't use it.













Videos are either 640x480, which is plenty for display on a TV, or 320x240, which is perfect for UTube or similar services. You can record at either 30 or 60 frames a second, and I didn't see much difference. At the lower resolution, you can also record at 15 FPS, which makes a small file that's easy to email or upload.













The waterproof feature is interesting. It is supposed to be safe to 5 feet, and it seems to be. I tried it by holding it under water in my backyard pond and bothering my goldfish. Water's a little chilly this time of year!!! Anyway, it worked fine. For many people, the main advantage of this would be that you don't have to worry if you are getting rained on, and you can use it by the pool with no issues.






This camera won't replace your DSLR, but it might replace both your point and shoot still camera and your camcorder.













Pros: Size, easy to use, great macro ability, and very acceptable photo and video quality, with the waterproof feature a plus.













Cons: Not many - Uses a non standard USB cable (included) and battery life is around 100 or so stills if you are using the flash - more if the flash is off. Figure an hour of video.

Sony Blu-ray Disc Player with 1080p Output

...

The controls, located on the top rear of the camera, are designed to be thumb operated.















The two buttons at the very top take still photos and movies, respectively. They are easy to operate, and the still photo button does the usual "press halfway to lock everything in" function. Below these is the usual four way rocker with the button in the middle. When you are making pictures, this area is used mainly to zoom.















There is also a menu button on the back, and many functions, like turning the flash on and off, can only be accessed through the menus. If you have used digital camera menus before, these will be easy to follow.















So, how well does it work? Pretty well, actually. The macro ability of the lens is outstanding in a camera of this type. It focuses at 1 cm. That's less than a half inch, if you are metric challenged. In addition, it has a full range focus mode that will go from 1 cm to infinity without putting it into a special macro mode. I like to get in close, so that's important to me.















The camera has all the usual settings for ISO, light balance, etc., and will go as high as 3200 ISO. If you get higher than 400, buy a good noise filter plug-in for Photoshop. Once I apply that, even photos shot at 1600 look pretty good. The 8 megapixel stills are 3264 by 2448, and print nice 8x10s. You can grab stills while shooting a movie. If you do that, the stills will be 1600x1200. With 2 megapixels, you could still print an 8x10, but a 5x7 will be better. The 5X zoom works fine. There is also a 12 megapixel setting, but the sensor is 8 MP, so I assume it is simulated. I didn't use it.















Videos are either 640x480, which is plenty for display on a TV, or 320x240, which is perfect for UTube or similar services. You can record at either 30 or 60 frames a second, and I didn't see much difference. At the lower resolution, you can also record at 15 FPS, which makes a small file that's easy to email or upload.















The waterproof feature is interesting. It is supposed to be safe to 5 feet, and it seems to be. I tried it by holding it under water in my backyard pond and bothering my goldfish. Water's a little chilly this time of year!!! Anyway, it worked fine. For many people, the main advantage of this would be that you don't have to worry if you are getting rained on, and you can use it by the pool with no issues.







This camera won't replace your DSLR, but it might replace both your point and shoot still camera and your camcorder.















Pros: Size, easy to use, great macro ability, and very acceptable photo and video quality, with the waterproof feature a plus.















Cons: Not many - Uses a non standard USB cable (included) and battery life is around 100 or so stills if you are using the flash - more if the flash is off. Figure an hour of video.

Panasonic DMC-G1 Lumix DSLR 12 Megapixel Digital Camera - Red

...

the lack of a video mode is quite disappointing, but it is an excellent still camera.

Panasonic Lumix 9.0-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

...

the lack of a video mode is quite disappointing, but it is an excellent still camera.

Panasonic Lumix 9.0-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

...

a very important factor so that you don't miss shots. I bought 2 spare batteries with my camera.

The 27 megabytes of internal memory is inadequate for any practical purpose allowing for only about 8-10 photos at high resolution or a few seconds of video.

This camera has a user friendly menu system that is easy to navigate given the 4 directional buttons and central menu/enter button. There are two scene modes, Intelligent automatic mode, movie mode, clipboard mode and custom mode. A quick menu button is great for on-the-fly adjustments.

The intelligent auto-mode is where I keep the camera, for a majority of photographs keeping the operation simple - this is the point and shoot mode for a majority of casual users, like myself. On this mode, picture size (9 MP, 5MP, 3MP and 0.3 MP), aspect ratio (4:3, 3:2, and 16:9), burst mode, and color mode (standard, natural, vivid, black/white and sepia), can be toggled in the menu.

The custom mode allows me to change other factors such as ISO, continuous auto focus, metering mode, white balance, audio recording, and intelligent exposure, to name a few.

The glass LCD has various modes to allow you to see the settings, a 9 segmented partition and no data. I like seeing a histogram in real time to determine the color range of the photograph.

The auto-focus mode has face detection, 3 area high speed, 1 area high speed, spot, 1 area, and 9 area. I personally keep it in face detection unless I am taking a photo of a landmark or other outdoor subject.

Movie mode is versatile and I use this as a back up camcorder for times when I want to take a quick video. However, due to the small microphone, the sound quality is not optimal for say, a piano recital or speech where sound is essential. The picture quality is excellent. The aspect ratio (4:3, 16:9), picture mode (30 fps/16:9 high or low quality 15 fps/16:9 high or low quality), white balance, metering mode and auto-focus mode can be adjusted.

QUALITY

Picture quality is excellent for the purposes of casual use (i.e. parties, performances, events, stills, pets, children, outdoors. Zoom photographs is limited by low light given the built in flash.

Movie mode is a versatile feature since it records in high definition 720p. The video format is in Quicktime mode. Image quality is limited by low light.

CONSTRUCTION:

The body is made of metal and has a nice heavier weight that allows me to hold it steady. The textured grip in the front allows me to operate the camera one handed.

A toggle switch allows the user to take photos or view the photos. This is a convenient and well thought out feature since cumbersome menus (or even multifunctioned buttons) on other cameras make this reviewer/user confused. This camera, once you understand what button to use doesn't require the user/operator to have to look at all of the buttons to operate it.

There are 3 output ports, including AV out/digital, component out and DC in. The battery cover is easy to open and close. The small Lithium battery and SD card fit in the same compartment. In the past 6 months of heavy use, I have not had problems with getting the battery or card out.

There is an eccentrically placed port to allow mounting on a tripod. The location is not useful for handheld tripods but works for conventional full featured tripods.

PROS

Image quality
10X zoom for a compact camera
720p HD quality movies
Solid construction
Vivid glass LCD screen
Menu system and 5 button navigation
Excellent battery life
Battery life indicator

CONS
Poor sound quality with video
Low light limitations with zoom and video
Wheel selection feature turns 360 degrees (needs to be 'locked' to operate)
Slightly heavier than its compact counterparts

RECOMMENDATIONS:

If you want to use this camera for HD video, I highly recommend SDHC memory cards. I purchased 2 Transcend SDHC cards with this camera:

Transcend 8 GB SDHC SD Class 6 Flash Memory Card TS8GSDHC6E [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]

The biggest pitfall I found (since I do not use the USB connection to upload to my computer) is transferring my photos using a USB card reader. The high capacity SD cards, SDHC, are recognized by the card reader. I bought the following reader since it can read my SDHC card and my old memory cards:

15-1 USB 2 (XD CAPABLE)

Instead of the Panasonic battery, the follow battery, I purchased, is a more economical alternative for a mere fraction of the cost of the original OEM:

Li-Ion Battery for Panasonic CGA-S007 / CGR-S007

If you want to use this camera for HD video, I highly recommend SDHC memory cards. I purchased 2 Transcend SDHC cards with this camera:

Transcend 8 GB SDHC SD Class 6 Flash Memory Card TS8GSDHC6E [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]

Instead of the Panasonic battery, the follow battery, I purchased, is a more economical alternative for a mere fraction of the cost of the original OEM:

Li-Ion Battery for Panasonic CGA-S007 / CGR-S007

VERDICT

For the low price, versatility for a compact point and shoot, this camera goes above and beyond for its price point and is an excellent value.

Two thumbs up.

Casio EX-Z1080BE 10.1 MP Blue Digital Camera-.

...

a very important factor so that you don't miss shots. I bought 2 spare batteries with my camera.



The 27 megabytes of internal memory is inadequate for any practical purpose allowing for only about 8-10 photos at high resolution or a few seconds of video.



This camera has a user friendly menu system that is easy to navigate given the 4 directional buttons and central menu/enter button. There are two scene modes, Intelligent automatic mode, movie mode, clipboard mode and custom mode. A quick menu button is great for on-the-fly adjustments.



The intelligent auto-mode is where I keep the camera, for a majority of photographs keeping the operation simple - this is the point and shoot mode for a majority of casual users, like myself. On this mode, picture size (9 MP, 5MP, 3MP and 0.3 MP), aspect ratio (4:3, 3:2, and 16:9), burst mode, and color mode (standard, natural, vivid, black/white and sepia), can be toggled in the menu.



The custom mode allows me to change other factors such as ISO, continuous auto focus, metering mode, white balance, audio recording, and intelligent exposure, to name a few.



The glass LCD has various modes to allow you to see the settings, a 9 segmented partition and no data. I like seeing a histogram in real time to determine the color range of the photograph.



The auto-focus mode has face detection, 3 area high speed, 1 area high speed, spot, 1 area, and 9 area. I personally keep it in face detection unless I am taking a photo of a landmark or other outdoor subject.



Movie mode is versatile and I use this as a back up camcorder for times when I want to take a quick video. However, due to the small microphone, the sound quality is not optimal for say, a piano recital or speech where sound is essential. The picture quality is excellent. The aspect ratio (4:3, 16:9), picture mode (30 fps/16:9 high or low quality 15 fps/16:9 high or low quality), white balance, metering mode and auto-focus mode can be adjusted.



QUALITY



Picture quality is excellent for the purposes of casual use (i.e. parties, performances, events, stills, pets, children, outdoors. Zoom photographs is limited by low light given the built in flash.



Movie mode is a versatile feature since it records in high definition 720p. The video format is in Quicktime mode. Image quality is limited by low light.



CONSTRUCTION:



The body is made of metal and has a nice heavier weight that allows me to hold it steady. The textured grip in the front allows me to operate the camera one handed.



A toggle switch allows the user to take photos or view the photos. This is a convenient and well thought out feature since cumbersome menus (or even multifunctioned buttons) on other cameras make this reviewer/user confused. This camera, once you understand what button to use doesn't require the user/operator to have to look at all of the buttons to operate it.



There are 3 output ports, including AV out/digital, component out and DC in. The battery cover is easy to open and close. The small Lithium battery and SD card fit in the same compartment. In the past 6 months of heavy use, I have not had problems with getting the battery or card out.



There is an eccentrically placed port to allow mounting on a tripod. The location is not useful for handheld tripods but works for conventional full featured tripods.



PROS



Image quality

10X zoom for a compact camera

720p HD quality movies

Solid construction

Vivid glass LCD screen

Menu system and 5 button navigation

Excellent battery life

Battery life indicator



CONS

Poor sound quality with video

Low light limitations with zoom and video

Wheel selection feature turns 360 degrees (needs to be 'locked' to operate)

Slightly heavier than its compact counterparts



RECOMMENDATIONS:



If you want to use this camera for HD video, I highly recommend SDHC memory cards. I purchased 2 Transcend SDHC cards with this camera:



Transcend 8 GB SDHC SD Class 6 Flash Memory Card TS8GSDHC6E [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]



The biggest pitfall I found (since I do not use the USB connection to upload to my computer) is transferring my photos using a USB card reader. The high capacity SD cards, SDHC, are recognized by the card reader. I bought the following reader since it can read my SDHC card and my old memory cards:



15-1 USB 2 (XD CAPABLE)



Instead of the Panasonic battery, the follow battery, I purchased, is a more economical alternative for a mere fraction of the cost of the original OEM:



Li-Ion Battery for Panasonic CGA-S007 / CGR-S007



If you want to use this camera for HD video, I highly recommend SDHC memory cards. I purchased 2 Transcend SDHC cards with this camera:



Transcend 8 GB SDHC SD Class 6 Flash Memory Card TS8GSDHC6E [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]



Instead of the Panasonic battery, the follow battery, I purchased, is a more economical alternative for a mere fraction of the cost of the original OEM:



Li-Ion Battery for Panasonic CGA-S007 / CGR-S007



VERDICT



For the low price, versatility for a compact point and shoot, this camera goes above and beyond for its price point and is an excellent value.



Two thumbs up.

Kodak M763 Red Easyshare Digital Camera (Refurbished)-Red