[ Revised July 14th. I would now rate this camera at 2 stars given other cameras have had price drops, making them relatively much better. ]

This is the 5th digital camera I've owned and the one I've found to be the most "lacking." If you are simply looking for a point/shoot with no additional features and okay pictures (why a 7 MP then?), this will work. However, I was looking for something that was a little more than point/shoot (ie, some basic control features which seem to be the baseline of Canon cameras). I would rather take pictures with my previous Canon A85 (4 MP but better quality images).

Pros:
- 7.2 MP (although I think this is kind of silly... the number of pixels may be high but a 4 MP camera with higher quality would produce better pictures/prints)
- mostly easy to navigate around the menus (just not much to navigate)
- small/compact
- cheap (price), although now the same price as cameras with significantly more features

Cons:
- no viewfinder, which is a pain when it is sunny
- pictures are mediocre
- colors aren't as vibrant as I hoped they'd be
- many of the pictures are grainy, even in full sunlight
- battery/memory card door opens very easily (too easily... opens up accidentally a lot)
- lens distortion is pretty bad and makes panoramas a bust
- only advantage over other introductory digital cameras is the size

I hesitate to recommend this camera to anyone, however, if you are simply looking for a digital camera with ONLY point and shoot options AND that is compact, this will probably work out. Sony is looking for that niche with this camera. If you want a few more options besides point/shoot, look elsewhere.

The quality isn't that of Canon -- the only advantage of this camera over a Canon A550 is that it is smaller. This camera and the Canon are, as of the review revision, the same price plus/minus a couple bucks. Advantages of the Canon include
-creative flexibility (ie, opportunities to become a better photographer and take better pictures via mild manipulation of camera settings)
- 4x optical zoom relative to the 3x of the Sony
- includes a view finder (no longer standard on point and shoot cameras)
- superior software, including "Photostitch" (phenomenal for making panoramas)
- allows for easy point/shoot on top of the features listed above (ie, ease of use for a point/shoot is comparable with the Sony)

Having owned 3 Canon A-series cameras, I would not hesitate to recommend them. They range from the price of this camera up to a few hundred for additional features/resolution... if I was buying one now I would probably just go with the A550 since 7MP and 4x optical zoom is more than enough for a point/shoot. If you have money to blow on additional features beyond what the A550 offers than I don't know why you are even considering this camera :) Other camera brands may also be good, although I am not very familiar with their offerings... I looked around briefly for some comparable cameras and I only found one non-Canon that I would consider if I was again in the market for a point/shoot: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70S.



See more reviews about: Sony Cybershot S650 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

Digital Camera Labels: Sony Cybershot S650 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom,Sony,DSCS650

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I have used various kinds of camcorders over the years, VHS, mini-dv, dv, never flash.

The major reason I wanted this camera was because of the amazing ability to record video, and take it off your camera, being able to use it, right then, no editing, no having to capture the video using premiere or final cut, just boom, plug in camera, instantly watchable video.

If your an amateur filmmaker (or aspiring) this is HUGE.You do not need to worry about tape.The flash card will NOT get damaged and eventually need to be replace.Film is now "free" meaning you can shoot what you want, whenever, all day, and not have to worry about the "cost".This alone makes this camera very valuable.The fact that it uses open formats such as h.264 and mp4, ensures 20 years from now, you will have no problem opening and playing the videos this camera produces (unlike other cameras which capture in formats other than open formats).

This camera does do that.You shoot your video (which is so very easy) and it saves each file as a h.264 compressed mp4.This file will play on many different devices, and you can take that mp4 and put it on dvd, post it on the web, whatever, the possibilities are endless.The audio mic does a great job, it has a wind mic feature which solves some of the problems from using the camera outside in the wind.

It has an anti shake feature (image stabilization) so the video appears more steady.Overall this is a very good camera, and I'm happy with it.There is however, a few flaws, one of them (for me) is very major.I got this camera so I could do some fun things with it, without having to spend countless hours editing the footage, making it better.

I do some 3d animation, occasional acting, and give lectures.One thing I was looking forward to was setting up the camcorder, and reading lines, and or acting.Hooking up the camera, and seeing the video, taking notes on what I need to improve on, to become better.You can do this (maybe I'm just vain) but to do this, you need to shoot in 4:3 mode, or the new YouTube mode.If your a singer and you want to capture your performance, it could not be easier than with this camera.Everything is perfect, pre-formatted, and ready for the web.The "problem" is you cannot do ANY of this in widescreen.The camera forgets to set the 16x9 flag, and as such your video comes out squished. (when shooting in "non 16x9 mode" everything works as it should, the video is fantastic, and works out of the box the way it should, simple solution, use 4:3, or import your footage in another program and export it back out corrected (which you will likely do anyway for anything important, such as color correction, adding titles, creating fun transitions, etc))

I have a mac, and as such, this cameras software is not compatible with it (says so on the box, I'm not complaining).When I import the video footage into iMovie, it recognizes the video should be widescreen and fixes it.This is still quicker than shooting on mini-dv, but it is an additional step.Maybe the software included will do that on windows, but I cannot say for certain (I also had problems importing the video into Adobe Premiere CS3)

Lets go over what I call, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Good:

-This camera looks like a camera.

-It is very stylish, and looks stunning in real life.

-It is very small, you can keep it in your pocket, carry it in your car, throw it in a bag, the possibilities are endless (it is very discreet)

-3 hour long battery life, wow, just wow.

-Shoots to SD card opposed to mini-dv (you do not loose much if any real quality, and you gain so much more as discussed above)

-Manual ability to close the lens cover (some people are complaining about it, but since I had a camera that automatically did it which had a malfunction and no longer works, I highly enjoy doing it manually)

-Quality (as with everything on this camera) is very high.

-You get a nice bag to put the camera in (it is more a pouch, which protects it from dust, and lets you carry it by the handles)

-The grip swivels so you can hold the camera in different ways.

-The LCD swivels, you can view yourself on camera while capturing video, and you can flip it and reverse it to see the video on the camera (opposed to leaving it open)
The Bad.

-The Manual comes on PDF (this is not bad for me, as it is environmentally friendly, but for people who like to read the book before messing with the camera, will need to print it out)

-Does not include software for the mac (though this could be considered a pro (one less thing to install and learn), as we have imovie, and it is more than capable of working with this camera, that makes this a non issue, just listing it)

The Ugly

Widescreen mode does not work the way it should.And this is HUGE.

Unfortunately for this camera, today, youtube now runs in widescreen.This camera is set to do everything in full screen (for youtube), and the widescreen flag is never set when your shooting in widescreen mode.As I mentioned above, you can fix this, but it does not work out of the box.

I'm hoping this gets fixed with a firmware upgrade (none has been made yet) if enough people complain about it, I'm sure they will fix it.

Another great feature is one I saved for last. This goes back to those who would like to be filmmakers, and for those who would love to make professional quality videos.

I'm a photographer, and one of the most important things you learn in photography, is how to composite your images in interesting ways.One of the most important and powerful ways is the rule of thirds.This is the one key, the one element, that can change your images (or video) from rank amateur, to high end amateur or pro.

With this camcorder, samsung (much to everyone's surprise) includes this amazing feature I see no-one here talking about, called grid mode.In it it sets up the lcd and shows a visual diagram in the form of a grid (think horizontal tic tac toe board).you can position your subject into those grids using the rule of thirds (upper right grid, lower left, upper left, lower right, just not in the middle).This makes everything you shoot, look professional and high end, without even thinking about it.

This is huge.My mom can use this camera due to its simplicity, and after I explained to her the rule of thirds, even she can make fantastic amazing looking video.I already bought one of these for her, and my grandparents.This is a truly amazing camera.

The only reason it does not get 5 stars from me, is the widescreen issue.If this gets fixed during a firmware upgrade, they get a 5.

Out of all the cameras in this price range, this should be a no-brainer, don't even think about checking the others out.



See more reviews about: Samsung SC-MX20 Flash Memory Camcorder w/34x Optical Zoom (Black)

Digital Camera Labels: Samsung SC-MX20 Flash Memory Camcorder w/34x Optical Zoom (Black),Samsung,SC-MX20

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This camera arrived just a few days before a trip to Taiwan / Macau and I took the instruction book to read on the plane.I'd damaged my previous camera (also a Kodak EasyShare) and although it had resumed working, I took this one as a backup.It was great!It held up through all sorts of weather and packing, took short videos when wanted, even had a "museum" feature that allowed me to take great photos in the Maritime Museum in Macau. It runs on AA batteries and lasts plenty long--all in all, I was very happy with it and with the quality of photos it produced.Remember to use the ISO feature in the evening, get up close whenever possible for the sharpest photos, and unless you are shooting for a magazine, you'll probably be happy with it.I am still using both cameras, have tons of good photos and video--



See more reviews about: Kodak EasyShare C913 9.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Pink)

Digital Camera Labels: Kodak EasyShare C913 9.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Pink),Kodak,C913 Pink

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I have a large amount of my dad's 35mm slides, mainly from the 50's and 60's. I wanted to digitize them for him for a Christmas gift. I checked into services that do this professionally and found them to be out of my price range as I literally have around 700-900 that I want digitized. Next step was to look for a scanner to do it myself.
The best (Nikon w/Digital ICE) also out of my price range. So I landed on the Ion Slide2PC. I figured, this would at least get them into 'viewing' quality. At 5megapixels in a decently high res right?
I also got a rocket blaster and a static master to clean the slides before hand and cleaned each before starting with a puff of air and a brush of the static master.
I put the slide2pc the on it's highest setting and went to work. While they aren't Nikon quality, I must say that I'm impressed with the output. I wish that I could tweak the lighting a little so the under and over exposed would come out a little better but with a little photo shop magic, I'm even able to fix those up.
Most are print quality - not perfection as the lines aren't as sharp as perhaps they would be with a more expensive scanner, but many look excellent.
Really I was patient. I gave it the requisite 5 seconds for the white balance between snapshot and transfer. and I did all in .tiff so I could edit each if necessary.
I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to save money as it's quick and effective at digitizing your slides. I have not tested it on film negatives.



See more reviews about: Ion 35mm Photo Negative and Slide Converter to PC (SLIDES2PC)

Digital Camera Labels: Ion 35mm Photo Negative and Slide Converter to PC (SLIDES2PC),Ion Electronics Inc,SLIDES2PC

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There is a lot to love about the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS.Being able to take photographs or shoot 1080p video (get a big memory card for video!) is the main attraction for this camera, and this camera delivers.The 20x zoom lens is FANTASTIC.Zooming in and out is painless, quick, and silent.You'll love the freedom this gives you.I love that this camera takes 4 AA batteries.These kind of batteries are available everywhere so you don't have to worry about running out of power like you do in cameras with a proprietary battery pack.The video screen on this camera is relatively big, bright, and clear.

But the camera is not without a few problems.Coming from a Canon D-SLR, the image quality leaves a little to be desired.At 100% magnification, the images are a little noisy.However, most people don't look at pictures at this zoom-level, and at normal print sizes, the images are sharp and noise is not really noticeable in real-world shooting.I personally don't like the neck strap.Maybe I just need to wear it in, but at its current stiffness, it sometimes gets in the way of the camera controls.The video looks a little wobbly sometimes due to the design of CMOS sensors (Google "rolling shutter effect").However, I only notice it when moving the camera quickly (such as panning).The battery compartment doesn't open the way you might expect (look in the manual before attempting it).The on-screen menu is a pretty good but could be better.The viewfinder is electronic and the colors on it appear washed out, but it gets the job done.Finally, there are no threads on the front of the lens to mount filters on, but there are third-party adapters that will let you do this (Lensmate makes one).

However, I'm still very satisfied with my purchase and would not hesitate to recommend the camera to others looking for this kind of hybrid camera.I'm going on a trip in June and it'll be the only camera I take.



See more reviews about: Canon PowerShot SX1IS 10 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.8-inch LCD

Digital Camera Labels: Canon PowerShot SX1IS 10 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.8-inch LCD,Canon,SX1IS

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I was looking for a compact digital camera that took standard AA-batteries (so that I could carry extras and/or buy new ones if my batteries went dead on me while I was out somewhere), and the e40 was literally the smallest one that I could find. It takes fine pictures, and has just about all the features I was wanting (stitch assist, shake reduction, video with audio). Plus, it wasn't terribly expensive.

On the other hand, the Shake Reduction feature is a bit questionable. As its own setting, it mostly results in very grainy pictures. But in "Green Mode" (as in, you are "green," and the camera is going to do everything for you), it seems to do pretty well (assuming that it's actually being used--it's hard to tell), with clear pictures even when the camera is moving.

The only true negative is that little specks of linty fluff managed to wedge themselves behind the LCD screen pretty much the first time I put it in my pocket. It doesn't affect the photos, but it is distractingly visible when the LCD is framing dark areas. Of course, that could just be a problem with my particular unit, and it wasn't a big enough deal for me to try to get it fixed or replaced, but it was still a bit of a downer.

The camera comes with two batteries to get you started (you'll want to replace those with rechargeables), and an entirely too-bulky USB cable that plugs into the camera on one end, and splits on the other end into USB and A/V, all on one cable. I threw the cable away and bought a cheap 2GB SD-card with SD-card reader included, so that I can just take the SD-card out of the camera and plug it into my laptop to download pictures. The camera also came with the single most pointless accessory I can imagine: a cheap plastic "docking port" that allows you to stand the camera up on its base--an act that the camera is perfectly capable of doing, quite stably, without assistance. :P

Bottom line, though: If I had it to do over again, I would still buy this camera--because it's relatively small, reasonably priced, uses regular batteries, and takes great pictures. So I can live with a little lint.




See more reviews about: Pentax Optio E40 8.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

Digital Camera Labels: Pentax Optio E40 8.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom,Pentax

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The lens has female 55mm threads and so does the camera. I found an adapter ring at thecamerahunter.com. Once installed on the camera it provided a clear image at approx 4".



See more reviews about: Opteka 10x HD Professional Macro Lens for 55mm Digital Camera Lenses -

Digital Camera Labels: Opteka 10x HD&sup2,Professional Macro Lens for 55mm Digital Camera Lenses -,Opteka,OPT-10X-FI-8

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Just ordered one and the video on VholdR.com looks great.Everyone should go check it out.It should be coming to me soon.



See more reviews about: VholdR ContourHD Camera

Digital Camera Labels: VholdR ContourHD Camera,VHoldR

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The previous reviews don't seem hands-on, but just a review of the published features.I bought one from Sony immediately, got it and used it for a couple of hours.Here are my experiences:

Removed from box, looks good!Silver is a nice color.

Unwrapped charger and plugged it in.Charge light comes on, great!Charge light goes off.Uh-oh!There was either something wrong with the jack in the camera, or the charging plug.I had to hold it in a certain position to keep it charging.Well, don't condemn it yet, see how it works.I put the camera down, and laid the charge cable just so and it maintained contact and continued to charge for about 10 minutes, then it stopped again.I moved the cable around some more until the charge light came back on and carefully did not move it again.I came back an hour later and the light was off again, but hopefully I got a decent charge.

Now time to check it out.
I put in the Memory Stick Duo Mark 2, flip open the LCD screen, which is actually quite nice.Hit power button and the camera boots up quickly, now we are getting somewhere!

The date/time menu comes up.I fumble for a couple of seconds trying to figure out how to set it.Thats done, now lets take some video.I am inside, it is night time, in my fairly well lit kitchen.I took some sample vids on each of the shooting modes, and close up with the LED video light on.Then I plugged the component cables into my 42" HDTV and play back the samples.It was extremely disappointing, with grainy blocky pixels on the screen.Even when standing far back from the screen.I know this was never meant to be a camcorder replacement, but still, it was that bad (video from a fairly well lit indoor scene).

The next day, I went outside to test out the camera in a bright outside setting.Picture quality significantly better all around.This camera does not perform well indoors with normal lighting.Outside in bright lighting it is a champ.

Write speed to the Mark 2 memory stick was very fast, no issues here.

Zoom and Focusing:The camera zoom and focusing is very fast and the zoom is pretty spectacular for such a small and inexpensive camera.

Playback:The footage from outside was very clear and looked great.Unfortunately, you hear the focusing mechanism and zoom mechanism throughout the video playback.A constant tick tick tick noise was picked up via the mic for the entire time I was panning the camera and/or zooming.

Build Quality:The camera is what it is, an inexpensive web video camera.Don't expect anything near to typical Sony build quality.It is cheap and it shows.Plus I had the issue with the power jack, and another issue with the charging cord I saw when I was packing it up to return it.The overmolded wire on the charger was split right at the stress relief, exposing copper wires to the world.This was due to the fact that the plastic was so thin, it just split open.This is how it was received.The buttons are also very cheap feeling.

Button Layout:The buttons are not laid out well, and are difficult to operate - you really need two hands to do it.

Software:The included software is fine for the intended users, quick, easy to figure out, and is right in the camera's on-board memory to install on any PC you connect it to.It isn't a feature rich video editing application.It is there to download, do minor edits and post to the web, which it seems to do just fine.

File Format:Sony specific wrapper on an MP4 video format.

LCD Screen:Very nice for the size and cost of the camera.It turns around so you can film yourself.

Sound:The mic is excellent, clear and picks up stereo sound.Unfortunately it also picks up all the sounds of the focusing and zoom mechanisms.

If you are looking for a cheap alternative for an HD video camera to capture those precious moments, this isn't it, and to be fair, Sony never claimed that it was - they don't even refer to it as a camcorder.If you need a camera to take random vids, and post them to the web, this is an excellent choice.I got unlucky with the power/charging issue.It may not even matter if you use the USB charging capabilities anyway, but it was still pretty disappointing for a Sony product.

It comes with composite out cables to connect it to your HD tv, a very nice feature!

Conclusion:This is a great alternative to the Creative vado and flip MinoHD, IF you want the zoom capability.It is much larger than those cameras though, not a pocket cam.I also have a Flip MinoHD, which has significantly better low light performance, but falls short against the very nice zoom capabilities of the Sony CM1 Webbie.In bright, well lit scenes, the video is quite amazing if you can live with the clicking noise on the playback.Since one of the uses of the camera would be for video blogging, it seems that the low light performance should be a lot better, but it was horrible, at least on the camera I received.Hopefully, Sony will work out these issues and the camera will do well.However, it seems to me that you can get a really nice flash SD camcorder for $50 more, and if you don't really need HD video, they would be a better choice.In fact, there are a couple of SD Flash camcorders that are the same size or smaller than the Webbie!

I tried taking stills, but could not find them quickly in the camera memory or the memory stick and I wasn't keeping it so I didn't try to figure it out.

In the end, I returned the camera due to the defect in the charger, the horrible low light performance, and the awkward button layout.






See more reviews about: Sony Webbie MHS-CM1 HD Camcorder (Purple)

Digital Camera Labels: Sony Webbie MHS-CM1 HD Camcorder (Purple),Sony,MHSCM1/V

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I have had my hands on a Canon EOS and a Nikon D100 and by far the D100 was more intuitive.The D60 is there...just reasonable on price too.The D60, D40 and, I think, the D80 have all had the AutoFocus motor removed from the body, so lenses are a little more expensive because motor was placed in them.NOT ALL AUTOFOCUS LENSES ARE COMPATIBLE.It must be made specifically for the D60 (buyer beware), but if you get this kit, who needs additional lenses?
The extra battery that comes with the kit will void the warranty (if you read the fine print).
great pictures...incredible resolution...perfect if you want to do a little bit more than point and shoot...but capable of that just the same.



See more reviews about: Nikon D60 Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm AF-S VR Zoom Lens + Nikon 55-200mm AF-S VR Zoom Lens + 16GB SD Card + EN-EL9 Battery + Case + Cameta Bonus Accessory Kit

Digital Camera Labels: Nikon D60 Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm AF-S VR Zoom Lens + Nikon 55-200mm AF-S VR Zoom Lens + 16GB SD Card + EN-EL9 Battery + Case + Cameta Bonus Accessory Kit,Nikon

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For $50 bucks, you get what you paid for.
The batteries tend to die very quickly, so always keep a few AAA batteries with you, and when the batteries start to go low, it starts altering the images you take, skewing them slightly.
You can only zoom AFTER the picture is taken, not before, so make sure you stand exactly where you need to.

I like the fact that it also works as a webcam, I haven't used that feature yet. Also I like the SD card reader, you can always empty out all the pictures almost immediately, either by connecting the camera to your PC, or taking out the SD card and dumping it into your machine.

all an all its pretty good for $50, but only expect to do the very basic with it, if your looking for something that will allow you to take AMAZING pictures, then this is not for you. This is good as a "practice" camera, its simply, easy to work, and fun to have when your out with a bunch of friends just goofing of.
So if you just need something to take quick pictures of your friends during a day at the zoo, this would be good for you, just keep those extra batteries handy, especially if your going to use the flash.



See more reviews about: VistaQuest VQ5115B 5 Megapixel Digital Camera (Blue)

Digital Camera Labels: VistaQuest VQ5115B 5 Megapixel Digital Camera (Blue),VistaQuest,VQ-5115BLUE

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I am making this review of the Nikon D700 from the perspective of someone who also owns a Nikon D300. To view the reviews on the D300, click here. Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Without qualification, the Nikon D300 is a superb camera.So many superlatives have been used with the D300 that I will not repeat them here.All the superlatives used with the D300 applies equally well to the D700.I will add however that as good as the superlatives may have been with the D300, the D700 deserves a bit more.

Let me explain.

The Nikon D700 is equipped with a full frame FX sensor (36.0 x 23.9).This is the same sensor used by the Nikon D3. Nikon D3 12.1MP FX Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) The D300 on the other hand uses the APS-C sensor (23.6 x 15.8).Both the D700 and the D300 have about the same 12 megapixel rating (with the D300 actually slightly higher).

The D700 having a bigger sensor than the D300 but with about the same megapixel rating means that the size/pixel density of the D700 is much lower than the D300.The ratio is 1.4MP/cm2 vs 3.3MP/cm2 for the D700 and the D300 respectively.A lower ratio means lower noise and this ratio favors the D700.For the D700, this translates to lower noise in capturing the same image than when using using the D300.

The D700 lower noise level in turn translates to the D700 being able to operate at a higher ISO level than the D300.The D700 can operate as high as ISO 25,600 while the D300 can go up to ISO 6,400.It is of course quite rare to shoot at such high ISO as it will always be better to shot at a lower ISO rating.But if both the D700 and D300 were shooting at the same ISO, the D700 will have lower noise levels.Simply put, the higher ISO capability of the D700 versus the D300 indicates the higher level of performance of the D700's sensor vs the D300.

My actual use validates this theoretical advantage.I noticed that while the noise level of the D300 is very good at ISO 1600 and even 3200, the D700 consistently showed lower noise level than the D300 shooting at the same ISO setting and light condition.This is most noticeable when shooting at night with many bright lights in the periphery of the main subject.

In terms of color rendition, I have not noticed any significant differences between the D300 and the D700 in the limited time that I have been using the D700.It may be due to the fact that I have conducted my test at dusk and at night.

When using the D700, the full frame sensor means that one will not need to convert the focal length of the lens by a factor of 1.5x.So a 50mm lens will be a 50mm lens for the D700 rather than its 75mm equivalent when used with the D300.

While this may appear to be a disadvantage on the telephoto side, its gain on the wide angle side is considerable and can only be described as an eye opener.The D700 advantage in wide angle application does not just come from its wider perspective.Rather, it is how the D700 maximizes and makes full use of such excellent lens as the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 that makes buying the D700 such an eye opener.

The resulting images taken with the Nikon D700 and the Nikon 14-24mm are clearer, sharper and crisper compared to the D300 even when the focal length in the D700 is zoomed out to its equivalent in the the D300 (21mm in D700 and 14mm in D300).

Vignetting is practically undetectable even when the D700 is used with the 14-24mm glass fully open at its widest focal length (14mm, f/2.8).This is surprising considering that the D700 is now using the full lens instead of just its sweet spot in the center (which would have been to the advantage of the D300 due to its APS-C sensor).

It is not just the wide angle lens that benefited from the D700.Even the slight vignetting I noticed with my 85mm f/1.4 and the 50mm f/1.4 shot wide with the D300 at f/1.4 is no worse in the D700.I am very surprised at this rather unexpected results as I had expected the opposite.

As to the physical differences between the D700 and the D300, while these two models are roughly equal in size, the D700 is slightly heavier than the D300.This is not an issue for me at all.

What tilts the balance in favor of the D700 is its view finder which is significantly brighter and better than the D300.This difference is very noticeable when switching from the D700 to the D300 and vice versa.

This much improved viewfinder however is a mixed blessing.One disadvantage that the D700 has over the D300 is that the D700 viewfinder captures only 95% of the image while the D300 viewfinder captures 100% of the image shot.So the actual image captured is slightly bigger than what appears in the D700 viewfinder.I understand that this resulted from fitting the bigger sensor from the D3 into the body size of a D300.Given the better image quality of the D700 viewfinder and the better quality of its pictures, I am willing to work with this disadvantage and simply compensate for it during actual use.But I hope that Nikon corrects this though in its next iteration of the D700.

The Nikon MB-D10 Battery Pack Nikon MB-D10 Multi Power Battery Pack for Nikon D300 & D700 Digital SLR Cameras from the D300 fits the D700 perfectly well.This is very convenient as I can opt for a lighter package when I do not need to shot at high speed.This is one advantage that the D700 has over the D3 where the battery pack is integrated with the camera.The other advantage the D700 has over the D3 is its integrated flash which is extremely useful when used with the other components of Nikon's Creative Lightning System.The D3 however is still faster than a D700 equipped with the MB-D10 which makes it a better unit for sports.Since I shoot mostly portrait, special events and landscape and seldom shoot sports, the D700 is perfect for my needs.The D700 lower price tag means that I can get the D700 with at least one of Nikon's professional lens.

Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens
Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Nikon 85mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Ideally, the D700 should not be used with the DX lenses.This said, it is possible to use the DX lenses with the D700.The D700 makes the switch to DX lens automatically without need to fiddle with any control.Because the DX lens covers only a section of the D700 sensor, the maximum resolution of using a DX lens on the D700 is only 5.1 megapixel.This smaller coverage is automatically delineated by a box in the D700 viewfinder.In addition to the lower resolution, the extreme two ends of a zoom lens is not usable.Within these limitations, the D700 can use DX lens and produces very good pictures albeit on a smaller resolution / file size.

The D700/FX (1.0x factor) and the D300/DX (1.5x factor) effectively doubles my lens option.For those planning to own both the D300 and the D700, it would be wise to choose a glass that would be usable with both bodies.

In closing, I consider the D700 a good complement to my D300.Except for my Nikon 18-200mm DX lens (which I bought for my Nikon D200) Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens, all my glasses and accessories for the D300 can be used with the D700 at its full resolution.I will use the D700 in those times when I need the best results shooting wide angle and/or at high ISO speed.In those times when I need the extra reach, the D300's 1.5x crop factor makes the best use of my telephoto lenses.

Edit: November 22, 2008

I continue to use both the Nikon D300 and the Nikon D700 and often bring both together whenever I go out to shoot.In those times when I just bring one camera body, I choose the D300 whenever range is a major concern. The D300 is an excellent camera and its 1.5x factor is very handy when I need to reach out with a 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom or with my 180mm f/2.8 prime without need of using a teleconverter.For portrait, landscape and low light photography however, I find myself reaching out for the D700.

After over 3 and a half months of use, I can safely say that the color depth of the D700 is significantly much better than the D300. The range of colors, the color details, and the varying shade of colors that the D700 is capable of capturing is considerably better and richer than what the D300 is capable of.This advantage is best appreciated when taking portrait and landscape photos.

One other difference I should mention between the D300 and the D700 is the difference that the sensor size has on effective depth of field.Having a smaller sensor, I can confirm that the D300 has a "deeper" depth of field on the same setting than a D700 given the same equivalent lens focal length.I use the D300 for action shoots where there is good lighting and where I need greater depth of field to keep several subjects in focus.On the other hand, I use the D700 where I need to isolate one subject and blur the background.This effect is most noticeable when shooting at wide open apertures from f/1.4 to f/2.8.This, plus the color advantage of the D700, makes the D700 my preferred body for shooting portraits.



See more reviews about: Nikon D700 12.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Digital Camera Labels: Nikon D700 12.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only),Nikon,D700 Body

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I have had a sony Hi-8 Camcorder for ten years now, and was genereally pleased with it. However, I wanted to go digital. I didn't want to spend too much money, certainly not on my first digital venture. I did a lot of online reading, and got the impression that HDD cameras didn't perform too well, and mini DVD limits your time, so went for miniDV.

I have had the camera just over a week at the time of writing.

Pros: Good clear image. Audio Quality. Nightshot Plus. Ilink. Small size. Ease of Use. 40x Optical zoom.

Cons: Sony Accessories, particularly batteries are far too expensive. I shall be looking for 3rd party sources. No headphone jack. No accessory shoe. Cannot control playback except via touch screen LCD. No firewire cable supplied. Cannot charge batteries off camera without purchasing a seperate charger.

Comments.

It comes with some basic editing software on CD, but I cannot comment on this, as I have Adobe Premiere 1.5, and I am using this with no problem at all. If you want to transfer your video into your computer, you need a firewire cable. Usually for a PC you need a 4 pin to 6 pin one. You can buy them on Amazon MUCH cheaper than the local stores, so I recommend ordering one if you decide to buy the camcorder.

All in all, I am pleased with it so far in terms of video and audio quality. One annoyance. If you buy another battery, you also need to buy a charger, as the power supply you get with the camera will only charge the batteries whilst they are in the camera. This isn't much use if, for example, you want to charge a battery at home, while you use a fresh one outdoors. The extra chargers are around $40, as well as the cost of another battery of course. By the time you buy an extra battery, that off-cam charger, a case, a couple of filters, and a firewire cable, you can almost double the cost of the cam itself!






See more reviews about: Sony DCR-HC38 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 40x Optical Zoom

Digital Camera Labels: Sony DCR-HC38 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 40x Optical Zoom,Sony,DCRHC38

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Digital Camera Labels: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS5S 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver),Panasonic,DMC-FS5S

In the past, I've owned or used several Panasonic Lumix models. All were good digital cameras. The FZ-50, however, is something very special.

The Leica approved lens design is, as always, superbly sharp. From a butte with a 50+ mile view, landscapes of wheat fields were crisp and highly detailed and the 10 megapixel images withstood enlargement well. Color fidelity is also excellent though a bit on the muted side: easy enough to quickly correct in any image editing program.

The new optical image stabilization (OIS) algorithm which compensates for both hand shaking and subject movement is absolutely brilliant and works incredibly well.

The ability to shoot at ISO values up to 1,600 goes hand in hand with the new OIS abilities. No one could resist testing a handheld digital camera in a dim environment at ISO 1600. Needless to say, the images are noisy. But at ISO 1600, what would you expect? Handheld photos shot at 1/20th of a second at ISO 1600 in a dim restaurant were filled with both detail and noise. Remarkably the color balance was very well-handled: the incadescent restaurant lights were recorded faithfully along with the neon and halogen lamplight streaming in through the blinds from outside. Very, very impressive.

Much of the noise could be ameliorated in Photoshop or similar programs with appropriate plug-ins. The high-speed capability is well worth the trade for noisy images. Purists may want noiseless images at ISO 1600, but it's unlikely they will ever get it. Practical photographers, on the other hand, will definitely appreciate the capability and undoubtedly will exploit it.

Ergonomically, the FZ-50 is practically a work of art. All of the frequently used controls are accessible with the right hand. The enlarged hand grip is just perfect for my large hands and the shutter release is perfectly positioned, something I am not able to say about most of the digital cameras I've used. The electronic viewfinder is sharp and is boosted for low-light focusing. (There is also an AF-assist lamp.) The flip-out LCD may be positioned for high and low angle shooting or reversed for self-portraits.

At about 1-1/2 pounds, the FZ-50 is a joy to carry for long periods.

The menu system is very accessible and quick and easy to adjust.

The few scene modes I tried worked well. Shooting pictures from a car moving at 60 miles per hour worked surprisingly well in the sports action mode.

Shutter lag is remarkably slight: the Panasonic Venus III engine lives up to its billing. Response is not up to the level of a Nikon or Canon DSLR, but it is certainly faster than any other midlevel digital camera I've used. Burst rate of about one frame per second are routinely attainable.

The FZ-50 will do RAW, but it is on the slow side. Either use an extremely fast SD card or avoid RAW where you need to be prepared for one exposure after another. JPEG files at full resolution (3,648 x 2,736 pixels) are quite good and will withstand, in my opinion, enlargement of about 4 - 5x.

I think SD card compatibility may be an issue with 4GB cards. I tried one and the camera refused to boot. A variety of 2GB cards worked without a problem.

The battery is rated for 360 shots between images. The test used by manufacturers uses one shot every 30 seconds, I believe. My experience with the battery didn't allow for more than 300 shots before the warning indicator started flashing. I don't know how many more shots I could have gotten, but I would definitely advise having a second battery for this camera.

I did not try the movie mode, so I can't comment on that.

Overall, the FZ-50 is more than satisfactory in every way. It is not a replacement for a Canon or Nikon DSLR, but is in many ways more satisfying to use. It is lighter than either a Canon or a Nikon; its 12x Leica approved designed lens covers 35 - to 425mm. Image quality is superb and the OIS is fantastic. I would highly recommend the FZ-50 as a travel camera or just for everyday use.

Jerry





See more reviews about: Panasonic DMC-FZ50 10.1MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)

Digital Camera Labels: Panasonic DMC-FZ50 10.1MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black),Panasonic,DMC-FZ50K

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I wanted a digital camera easy to learn and use since this is my first digital.Followed Consumer Reports recommedations and am very pleased with quality and ease of picture taking.Easy on the pocketbook, too.



See more reviews about: Kodak EasyShare M763 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Black)

Digital Camera Labels: Kodak EasyShare M763 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Black),Kodak

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Good construction.Good price.Better than buying them locally. They do the job.



See more reviews about: Q-See QSRCBN6 6 Pack RCA-BNC Connectors

Digital Camera Labels: Q-See QSRCBN6 6 Pack RCA-BNC Connectors,Digital Peripheral Solutions,QSRCBN6

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I got this camera on sale so especially for the price I paid I feel like it's a great little camera. The picture quality is generally good, and it has quite a few features and it's user-friendly in every way. The only thing that it has done to bother me is get a little fuzzy on long-distance shots when you're using the zoom (w/o the zoom they're clear and close up zoom shots are very clear). But a higher speed film (at least 400) seems to minimize that problem. I am looking for a new camera b/c I want a more powerful zoom, but I will continue using this one as well, especially outdoors, for the panoramic mode.



See more reviews about: Kodak F620 Advantix APS Camera w/ Zoom

Digital Camera Labels: Kodak F620 Advantix APS Camera w/ Zoom,Kodak,F620

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My kids are always stealing my expensive Canon digital camera, so I bought 2 of these Disney cameras for them. They like to photograph silly things like their feet, their toys, and their lunch. This Disney camera is not even applicable to such silly-fun photography. I was fair warned that the pictures would be grainy when downloaded (only 1 megapixel), but I hoped that the act of photographing stuff would be a fun activity for the kids. No so. The LCD screen on the back of the camera is completely useless, as you can barely even make out objects within 1-2 feet away. When preparing to take a picture, you must hold the camera very still and about 12 inches from the subject. When using such a technique, you will be able to make out the outline of the object, at best. After the kids gave the cameras a try and discovered that the LCD images were impossible to decipher, the cameras were left in the bottom of the toy box. Do not waste money on this camera.




See more reviews about: Digital Blue 732 Disney Pix Micro Pirates III Digital Camera

Digital Camera Labels: Digital Blue 732 Disney Pix Micro Pirates III Digital Camera,Prime Entertainment

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I just got this camera yesterday, so beware that I haven't explored all the options yet, but so far I LOVE it.My old Powershot A75 quit at the beginning of February, after which I spent two weeks worth of research and bought the Powershot A2000.I was immediately disappointed with it; athough I wasn't expecting the smallest camera on the market because it takes AA batteries, it was actually bigger than my old A75, which took four batteries instead of two.It also seemed really slow and sluggish, so I sent it back and decided to rethink my camera-buying strategy.Ultimately I decided I wanted to go with a lithium-ion battery instead, because though it may not be as convenient, it makes the camera much smaller and faster.Plus, the batteries are cheap enough to have an extra on hand, and unlike previous cameras I've owned that used AAs, the camera tells you how much battery power you have left so that you can plan ahead.

I decided to go with Panasonic because of its good ratings, especially on the Leica lens, but mostly because of the wide angle lens and its capacity for extra optical zoom, which I haven't seen available on any other brand.At first I wasn't sure how important the wide angle lens really was to me, but now that I have it I already can't imagine going back.With the option of 16:9 ratio as well as 4:3 (or 3:2) it's basically the difference between wide screen formatting on a TV and full screen, except that you have the option to switch back and forth when you want to.

For someone like me who likes to take pictures but doesn't always want to have to mess with settings, it seems like this camera actually has too many settings, BUT so far it seems to take very good pictures on the normal picture setting, and it's nice to have the extra settings when I need them.That is to say, they're there if you want them and for unusual shooting conditions, but they aren't necessary for most normal pictures.The self-portrait option does come in handy, though, because it waits for you to get in view to focus and then snaps the shot.

One thing that I've noticed that could either be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you look at it: the camera saves your most recent settings even after you've turned the camera off or put it into a different mode.This can be useful, because you can easily go back to the previous setting without redoing everything, but it can also be easy to forget what all changes you made to the standard format.I haven't encountered any way to set everything back to default all at once, so sometimes I forget that I have a particular setting selected (e.g. alterations to white balance, flash, picture size, etc.).Also, some features are unavailable in some settings, which can be a bit frustrating.For example, you can't take a picture in self-portrait mode in sepia coloring.

So there are a few quirks in the settings and it takes some getting used to in order to really learn all the different features and how to use them, but as I said before, the normal picture setting and iAuto seem to work quite nicely for basic pictures.

Another great feature on this model is the AF tracking, which allows the camera to focus on a moving object.Haven't tested this feature out much yet to see how it works, but I have a feeling it will come in handy.

My old Powershot is pretty limited compared to the capabilities to this little thing, but from what I saw of the Powershot A2000 for the week or so that I had it, the Lumix overshadows it as well.I've read that Canon picture quality is supposedly slightly better, with Panasonics producing a watercolor effect, but that difference seems minor to me compared to the wide angle lens combined with the zoom power and the other features available.(Wide angle is available on some Canons but mostly with no more than 4x optical zoom.)Once I read about this camera, I waited about three weeks until it was finally available, and it was worth the wait.Great little camera.



See more reviews about: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD (Black)

Digital Camera Labels: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD (Black),Panasonic,FS15 Black

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I just started using this camera and like its features.Lightweight, yet 12 MP, very easy setup and operation.the 7x zoom is excellent and the super-macro is amazing.You can take photos from less than an inch.The 3-in viewer is crisp and bright, the controls are well positioned and I was able to start using most features without reading the manual.The in-camera editing is nice and the quality of the images is excellent.The only thing necessary that is not in the box is a memory card.You will need a xD picture card (Olympus, Fuji, Sandisk) or a microSD card that fits into the adapter.Versatile camera, highly recommend it.



See more reviews about: Olympus Stylus 7000 12 MP Digital Camera with 7x Optical Dual Image Stabilized Zoom and 3-Inch LCD (Silver)

Digital Camera Labels: Olympus Stylus 7000 12 MP Digital Camera with 7x Optical Dual Image Stabilized Zoom and 3-Inch LCD (Silver),Olympus,Stylus 7000 Silver

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Well, I searched and searched and read every review possible--so I thought--during the summer once I decided to put down my Kodak dx4530 and graduate to something with a little more "umph".I made a decision on the Canon S2.Due to some confusion my order was cancelled and I had to pick something else quickly.I did--the Dimage Z6.This camera does everything imaginable!I am not going to rehash in detail the previous reviews.If you have the money and want fantastic pictures--this is a GREAT investment!The instruction manual is a little jumpy but with patience you will get it.The features on the Z6 are never-ending.Buy & Have fun!



See more reviews about: Konica Minolta Dimage Z6 6MP Digital Camera with 12x Anti-Shake Zoom

Digital Camera Labels: Konica Minolta Dimage Z6 6MP Digital Camera with 12x Anti-Shake Zoom,Konica Minolta

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This little camera would be a great gift for any kid. Despite the built-in clip, the unit is not as rugged as it seems, and it is NOT waterproof. Picture quality is surprisingly good, however the camera does not have any real metering system for the flash, so shots are typically over-exposed when the flash is used. Best photos are obtained outside with natural light. When I got it for $60, it was a bargain, but nowadays you can usually find a better camera for slightly more (less than $100) so the choice to get this one is tougher to make.



See more reviews about: Argus Bean 5MP 16MB 1.5IN LCD USB Li-on Battery Red

Digital Camera Labels: Argus Bean 5MP 16MB 1.5IN LCD USB Li-on Battery Red,VISIONTEK MASS STORAGE,BEAN 5 MP - RED

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I am about to travel around the world and want an alternative to my Pentax K10D, particularly when wishing to be unobtrusive in third-world countries.First, I spent some time with the Panasonic LX2 -- same camera as the Leica at less than half the price -- which has some unique features and seems to be a terrific camera.BUT it won't go into a shirt pocket because the marvelous Leica lens protrudes.At a hefty (!) 7.8 oz, it weighs 56% more than the Optio Z10's 5 oz.The Optio is so small that there is nothing to hold onto.The Panasonic is better in that respect, but significantly bulkier.

I had just about decided to send both cameras back when I realized that I hadn't even looked at the few pix I had taken with the Optio.So I duly transferred them to my Mac and was absolutely astonished by the results. For reasons I don't understand, the Optio seems to handle subtle shades in the sky and clouds better than the K10.

The bottom line: The Optio produces razor-sharp pictures, even when using the 7x zoom hand-held at a slow shutter speed.Given some of the negative comments in these pages, I really didn't expect that.The design of the camera is superb.I only wish there were some semblance of a grip to hold onto.



See more reviews about: Pentax Optio Z10 8MP Digital Camera with 7x Optical Zoom

Digital Camera Labels: Pentax Optio Z10 8MP Digital Camera with 7x Optical Zoom,Pentax

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It's hard to find fault with the TZ50 as a basic compact ultrazoom camera. The T50 offers all the performance and flexibility of the excellent TZ5, which is certainly why many consumers will find it so appealing. Sure, Panasonic could have made the TZ50 a much more useful photographic tool by including basic features like P/A/S/M modes, but the reality is that most point-and-shoot users won't miss these features. The new WiFi upload feature is sure to be attractive to many consumers looking to quickly share their vacation photos. Nevertheless, it's hard to overwhelmingly recommend the TZ50 over the TZ5.

When everything is said and done, although the TZ50 allows you to wirelessly upload your images to your Picasa web gallery the process isn't nearly as easy as it might sound. Since the TZ5 can be purchased for a full $100 less than the TZ50, I suspect most average consumers will be happier uploading images the "old fashioned way" directly from their desktop or laptop computers rather than stumbling through the clunky WiFi interface on the TZ50.

If the WiFi mode setup doesn't scare you, though, the TZ50 makes an excellent choice for anyone who wants an ultrazoom camera and wants to quickly share photos while traveling.



See more reviews about: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ50S 9.1MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with wi-fi (Silver)

Digital Camera Labels: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ50S 9.1MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with wi-fi (Silver),Panasonic,DMC-TZ50S

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