5 comments about Canon PowerShot Pro Series S5 IS 8.0MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom.

1. I bought this camera to replace my expensive ($[...] new) but out-of-date Olympus Camedia C-5050. The "typical" current price of the S5 IS camera is $[...] but many places are now selling it for $[...]. I got mine at Circuit City (local) for that price.
   
   This camera does extremely well right out of the box, but with just a little tweaking (as in, "read the manual" or purchase a digital photography book) it produces outstanding photographs! I bought this book Canon PowerShot Digital Field Guide, which is a good general reference with specific information about this camera as well.
   
   I also purchased the lens adapter set, which amazon has for a great price Canon LAH-DC20 Conversion Lens Adapter (LA-DC58E) and Hood (LH-DC40) Set for the S5 IS, S3 IS & S2 IS Digital Camera and Hoya HMC UV and circular polarizer filters Hoya HMC - Filter - circular polarizer - 58 mm. These work great and do not add much bulk to the camera. Your zoom mechanism is well-protected as is your lens if you add the lens adapter and a filter and keep it on at all times (I keep the UV filter on at all times).
   
   Furthermore, you can get additional "converter lenses" that attach to the adapter (personally I do not think you need them, but they are available for this camera)--these include the telephoto converter (as if 12x optical were not enough!), the wide-angle converter, and the macro lenses (again, as if the camera's macro and super macro weren't enough!). Amazon just happens to have very good prices on these accessories Canon TC-DC58B Tele Converter Lens for S5 IS, S3 IS & S2 IS Digital Camera. Canon Powershots have, as a rule, won many awards for image quality and the Canon brand typically comes out on top when this is the major criterion. As far as I am concerned, these additional lenses are just icing on the cake.
   
   Additional considerations:
   (1) Being a Canon, it connects directly to my Canon PIXMA printer for incredible prints.
   (2) Some reviewers' star ratings are lowered because the "lens cap comes off easily." I do not think this is a major flaw--I think this is to protect the camera's automatic lens extension mechanism when you turn on the camera. If you turn on the camera and the lens cap is still on, it will pop off when the lens extends. This is a safety feature. If you really can't stand it, just get the adapter and UV filter and put a new 58mm lens cap on the filter (it will not pop off nor does it need to, because the lens extends within the adapter tube) and you are all set. Alternatively, just get a new lens cap if you will never forget to take it off prior to turning on the camera.
   (3) This camera is out of stock from many vendors. I think the S6 is going to come out soon. However, it will probably be several hundred dollars more. I would get the S5 while it is still available, especially at this price (price has dropped about $150-$170 dollars since it came out in 2007).
   
   What about the G9? Well, I chose this over the G9 because I prefer the 12x zoom and 8 megapixel combination for my personal picture-taking needs. 8 megapixels is plenty for me and in my opinion additional megapixels add more time for saving the picture and also add a bit of noise on the point-and-shoots. The G9 shoots in RAW but I don't need that when the images I get are so uniformly excellent (they do not need a lot of editing). The G9 does have an optical viewfinder (the S5 has a digital viewfinder that is 100% accurate, unlike some cameras, but it low resolution, which is annoying at first but does not affect the quality of the pictures). The G9 does not have the swing-out LCD screen. This feature is very useful as it can be turned/rotated toward the camera and the screen is protected when not in use, and the screen can also can be turned a tilted for hard-to-get shots at graduations, with pets, etc. where you can't aim the camera directly.
   
   I think the best way to decide about this camera is to go to the flickr users' group (one of them, there are several) and look at the pictures that people have taken with this camera. The url is http://www.flickr.com/groups/canonpowershots5is/ and you can see not only photos people (even newbies) have uploaded, but also read discussions about this camera. You might find this thread of particular interest: http://www.flickr.com/groups/canonpowershots5is/discuss/72157606698907976/.
   
   I am a person who usually experiences "post-decision regret" ("shoulda, coulda, woulda. . .") but I am completely satisfied with this camera. I originally wanted the Canon EOS 40D (DSLR) but got this one due to price (and they actually share much of the same technology). Now I even think this was the better choice for me overall (regardless of price) due to its compact size and the fact that I can take it everywhere with me. Even when I am driving I can just hold up this camera and snap it and get terrific pictures of scenery that catches my fancy (optical stabilization is fabulous).
   
   This is just about the most perfect combination of features and image quality I can imagine. You do not need more megapixels. You do not need more zoom. You do not need RAW. You do not need a DSLR (if you did you would not be reading this). You need to get this camera for yourself before it is out of stock everywhere. Buy it. You will NOT be sorry!
   
   [I do NOT work for Canon nor does anyone in my family! I usually do not write reviews. However, there are so many choices out there and so many bells and whistles that it is hard to figure out what camera to buy. I thought I would post my comments because it might help someone else.]



2. All cameras are loaded with compromises, however the S5's impressive features outshine the drawbacks.
   
   The S5 picture quality is very impressive. Shots tend to be well exposed. Image stabilization keeps blurred images to a minimum. A complete novice could use this camera "out of the box" and product a high percentage of "keeper" photos.
   
   Lens quality is impressive. The S5 has a looong zoom range from 36 to 422mm - which should suffice for most situations. Too bad the lens isn't 28mm at the most wide angle, and then it would be truly a versatile tool. Sometimes you will have to stand back a bit to get the whole scene in without the 28mm wide angle capability.
   
   The long end of this lens is 432mm which is extreme telephoto. To be honest, the long end of this lens results in very dark photos - to the point it's of limited use. However it never hurts to have a long zoom so that you can grab some kind of shot of a long distance object, even though the photo quality won't be great.
   
   The zoom is a little "touchy" however it can be gotten used to.
   
   Another amazing feature of this camera is the movie mode. This camera can take better movies than most movie cameras below $1,000 US dollars. The camera could be justified in it's own right as an inexpensive but high quality movie camera.
   
   The S5 is also quite small and light, so it won't be a problem around your neck during vacation.
   
   All in all, this is a very impressive camera at a really nice price. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is the lack of 28mm at the wide angle, and the slightly touch zoom control.
   
   All cameras are compromises, but the image quality, lens and superb video quality - and consider the low price - the S5 has to be highly recommended.



3. I bought this camera to replace my S3, which I gave to my daughter. I love it. Excellent zoom and image stabillization is a great feature. The only negative thing I can say about it is that it is large. It is difinitely not a pocket-sized camera. Overall another great camera from Canon.
   KarenP



4. I love my camera. The pictures are sharp and vivid. There are a lot of features to use. I am still learning them of course, but I will have plenty of opportunities to utilize them. I can zoom in on an object and see it with such clarity. The only draw back is the lens cover. It continuously falls off , but compared to the picture quality and the relatively easiness of using this camera it's a minor issue.



5. I was debating between the Olympus SP570 UZ and the Canon but after comparing them I chose the Canon primarily because it was quicker focusing,less expensive, and the picture quality was as good or better. The extra zoom was enticing but did not make up for the slower response. Have had the camera for a month and extremely pleased.

5 comments about Canon PowerShot A470 7MP Digital Camera with 3.4x Optical Zoom (Gray).

1. This is my first digital camera and my friend who is a professional photographer recommemded this one and I love it. Not simple to me but I am learning and it gets easier to operate.
   
   E. Baker



2. operates as expected. small and point and shoot, reasonable flash recharge, and repeat action is accepatble.



3. The picture quality is good but the lag time between pushing the button especially with the flash making a bright light while it gets ready for the shot destroys any spontaneous shots especially of my animals or child. It is easy to use and I did not have to do a lot of reading to get it working for me. My disappointment lies only in the inability to take spontaneous photos and maybe that is just the quality of a digital camera. Shop around if taking a surprise photo is of importance.



4. I bought this for my mom as a birthday gift and she loves it. Good quality pictures and easy to use



5. I would highly recommend this camera. I have always had Canon camera's and they have made a simple to use digital that I am now enjoying. It takes great indoor and outdoor photos and the process is made easy.

No comments about Panasonic DMW-TZ1 and Accessories Bundle Collection.

5 comments about Canon PowerShot SD770IS 10MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black).

1. This review is a combination of three:
   
   Canon PowerShot SD950IS 12.1MP (Titanium)
   Canon PowerShot SD770IS 10MP
   Canon PowerShot SD790IS 10MP
   
   I first purchased the Canon SD950, and after loonnnggg shipping from Jr.com, I received it and tried it out. The camera is much bigger than the SD500 that I upgraded from--even though it's got so many bells and whistles. One thing about Canon that's got my eyebrow raised: Why the big font as if we can't read?
   
   The Image Stabilization is a wonderful thing, right along with the face detection. It even focused on an enlarged print of a little girl! The 3.7 zoom is nothing to frown at either. ISO is easier to set now so one can play around with the settings...
   
   The camera is made for "big hands" and it took me about two weeks of off and on shooting to get used to it. The 12MP quality is okay, and I didn't have to get used to too much new button placement. One thing I didn't like is the play button. I felt I had to really push my finger on the play button in order to view my photos. It annoyed me enough to see what else was out there.
   
   The Canons SD770 and SD790 were next on my list. Even though they were "only" 10MP, they had newer technology from Canon: Motion Detection and Infinity and cute buttons in all new small packages.
   
   SD770IS(Silver)
   First the SD770. This was a nice small camera! Not cheap feeling at all, Canon packed everything but the kitchen sink in there. I like the "Infinity" setting that the SD950 didn't have. Also, I have the silver version and it's nice, small, sleek, and takes great pictures. I didn't like the way the battery cover was not spring loaded. Also, either it was this particular camera or the 770 in general, but it seemed like I had to "dig" for the battery and SDHC card once put in. Yes, it's compact, hefty, and full of bells and whistles, but it was...kinda boring. Maybe because the silver color didn't have the pizazz of the black version that I'd read reviews on. Moving on to the SD790...
   
   SD790IS
   Bigger camera! Compared to the 770, it's a giant! The same size as the 950 except in a square/cube like form. The 950 is curvy, while the 790 is sleek and boxy (not sure if that's an oxymoron or not!). The 790 also has a new button format that I'm not sure if I like or not. I really enjoyed the SD500's button placement and while I can appreciate a "play" button...why not make it easy access instead of having to constantly press the button down? I'm thinking that the play buttons will eventually wear out. The big screen is nice, and even though I haven't used a viewfinder since...ever, it would be nice to "just have". So the lack of a viewfinder is a potential bummer. You never know when you gotta smear your nose on the photo screen to take pic! lol Also, the 790 is a fingerprint magnet.
   
   I tried to take the same pictures with all the cameras, but couldn't always (morning/evening, different zoom, etc.). Both the 770 and 790 have high ISO settings (as did the 950), but I didn't even use anything that high previously! All the pictures came out great. Even my crappy pictures of my messy coffee table were clear and colorful! One issue I had with all three cameras was the color accent setting. It seemed as if I got better black and white/one color photos from my SD500 than either of these cameras. I have to do a lot more tweaking. However, it could be just because of the balances of the colors and the lighting effects in my environment.
   
   If I just had to choose based on portability, photos, looks, bells/whistles, ease of use, I would go crazy trying to decide, but finally take the Canon SD770 because it's smaller. The thing that keeps me wondering about the 770 is, "how can they fit all these specs in this TINY camera!?? But, I'm a sucker for good looks, so the scale points back to the 790! True it's bigger, but it's still small considering the screen. I always take great care of my electronics, so I'm not so worried about fingerprints. If the button issue upsets me extremely, then I'll just upgrade to Canon's latest and greatest in 6-8 months.
   
   Either way, can't wait to take pics on the new SD790. Get out, purchase any of these cams and you'd be satisfied.



2. I had a Nikon Coolpix and what a step up this is. I have not been disappointed and especially impressed with the battery life which for the Nikon was non-existent.



3. I love this camera. It takes great photos and with 10 mega pixels, you can enlarge & frame your favorite family photos. The small size travels anywhere. Technically challenged individuals will find it easy to use and those who can navigate special features will enjoy the features included. Amazon has a great price on this camera when compared to local electronics stores. I needed a new camera fast so I bought it from the store, but I would have saved $50 if I had time to wait for the shipping.



4. Like most people, I did lot of research (online and visits to retailers) before deciding on the Canon SD770is. If you're considering a quality, compact digital camera, there simply is no better choice than the Canon SD770is - and go with the black color which features a black circle in front, a slightly darker body color, and a black wrist strap instead of the silver strap that comes with the silver version. I considered the SD790is with the 3" screen, but it's slightly bigger and heavier and only came in silver. The 770 is the successor to the 750 (one of Canon's best digital cameras), and adds image stabilization, a better LCD screen, 10 megapixels, and better battery pack. I won't go into all the specs, because you can read that anywhere online, but the diminutive size makes the 770 very convenient to carry everywhere and the pictures are absolutely great. What more could you ask for? I admit I am biased towards Canon as every year or two I upgrade to another Canon, but they simply make the best digital cameras on the market. Save some time, take advantage of my extensive research, and get yourself the Canon SD770is...and click away.



5. I needed a simple point and shoot besides my SLR camera so this was perfect for me. I love the face recognition feature. It's also smaller than a deck of cards so it was easy for me to just carry around, sometimes in my pocket (although I have a little pouch for it).

5 comments about Sony Cybershot DSCS730 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom.

1. If you are looking for a good, basic digital camera, this one is great. It's got enough features to do everything you want from a personal use camera (not professional level).
   
   I bought this camera for my mother. I bought myself the Cannon SureShot, because I got lured in by the extra features. After they both came in and I used my mom's camera, I wished I had bought the Sony instead of the Cannon.
   
   This camera is easy to use. The dials/menus are easy to use. Just a few minutes of "playing around with it" is enough to figure out the basic functions. A good solid camera. Nice pictures.



2. The problem with Sony cameras, both photo and video, is that Sony uses a variety of Sony memory sticks. My Sony video camera memory stick does not fit in my Sony Vaio. Incompatibility is a big problem generally within the Sony family. My girlfriend's Vaio's charger does not work on my Vaio. I have made a commitment to myself to not buy anything anymore from Sony because I'm tired of having to carry an adapter for SD cards and having a memory stick gate which doesn't accept my video camera, and remembering to not pack my girlfriends charger when I go traveling, and so on.



3. Immediately had flash problems. Had to send it back to get it fixed when the flashed wouldn't work. It took a few weeks to fix, and I had to pay for shipping it there even though it was a problem covered by the warranty. Slow to take pictures at times. You can push the button and it won't take the picture. You may have to push the button up to 3 times to get the pic if the lighting (I guess) for the auto setting isn't perfect. Look around. This is the second Sony I've gotten that has had issues with. I will not be purchasing another Sony in the future. This camera is adequate for now. Turns out the memory cards I have (3 different ones) are not suited for this camera either. This takes a very small Memory Stick PRO duo. No bigger than a stamp. If you do get this memory stick, make sure it comes with an adapter. Then you can use it in other cameras that use a full-sized memory stick in the future. Also rechargeable batteries aren't strong enough. Uses lots of AAs.



4. The camera is good but it operates on pencil batteries. It would had been a great option if it had a chargeable battery.



5. I got this camera a few months ago, and I really like it. It is my first(and only) camera and I am happy with it!!!!! It is a good camera for a beginner. But, not bad for an expert,ether.
   Thanks.

5 comments about Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom.

1. I think that Canon may have created its own monster with the G series cameras. Far too many people think that they are going to get DSLR performance from what is essentially a point and shoot camera.
   
   Sorry, but there is no free lunch. You can build a camera to high standards. You can have it save in RAW. You can do all sorts of things to improve it. The bottom line is that the G9 is a small-sensor camera and suffers the same fate as every other camera with a small sensor.
   
   Given current technology, nobody can make a small sensor perform like a larger one. Going much beyond native ISO is going to substantially lower image quality by introducing digital "noise". That's just the way that it is and neither Canon nor anyone else has solved the problem. In fact, it may not even have a solution.
   
   That said, the G9 may just be the best small-sensor, high-end p&s on the market. Granted, it doesn't have much competition, but Canon has itself a winner. You'll hear gripes from older G series owners about the G9 having a slower lens and a non-articulated LCD. I'd prefer a faster lens too, but it is what it is so make the best of it.
   
   Image quality, within its limits, is excellent. At 12.1mp, the resolution of this sensor can allow for prints larger than many of us will ever make on a regular basis. The catch is to not shoot at an ISO over 100 and ISO 80 would be even better.
   
   That's the price that we must pay for having 12.1mp on a small sensor. Small price, as far as I'm concerned. The G9 is not meant to replace your DSLR. If that's what you think this camera will do you are wrong. What it will do is allow you to capture high quality images, in good light, with a camera that will fit into a large pocket.
   
   Having shot with numerous cameras over the past 40 years, I'd like to see Canon make a few improvements. For one thing, the "grip" (or what there is of it) stinks. Sorry, I don't know of any other word that accurately describes it. Having to pay $25 for a third-party grip annoys me since the much less expensive A series cameras feel much more secure in my hands.
   
   My pet peeve, and it's not only with Canon, is small sensors with too many pixels. Up to a point, I have to agree that more pixels are better than less pixels. That point is reached when a manufacturer (and they all do it) crams so many pixels on the sensor that image quality is compromised by the time you reach ISO 200. I think that most people who want a camera like the G9 would be happier with 1/3 fewer pixels and improved medium ISO performance.
   
   Well, nothing is perfect but the G9 is pretty darned good. If you can work within the limits imposed by cameras of this type, the G9 is the class of the field.



2. Could anybody help me how to fix this?
   I got this G9 from Canon as refurbished after paying for $250 upgrade (from S50) in the loyalty program. I was very excited and tested it right away
   
   However, the photos I got are terrible. It's darker/warmer/red/greener no matter if I use auto (and auto ISO) or whatever scenes or manual settings. It's so noticeable. Then I borrowed a PnS Canon SD790 from neibour to compare (again, using auto and try other settings). The images there are so real in color - bright and accurate.
   
   I thought maybe it's not the sensor/lense problems, but the LCD. SO I swap the memory card to show the images from one camera to the other. Here it is - the bad looking images on G9 looks normal in the SD790.
   
   I google and found one article say that the images on G9 LCD look actually much warmer than on the other PnS camera, and than on computer screen after downloading. However, I can not imagine that it can look so bad.
   
   I also tried many settings/adjustment for colors and brightness as the manual wrote, but none can make the LCD shows correctly. WHy do we need big LCD for digital camera?
   
   What should I do?
   
   Thank you in advance



3. The sensor in this camera is unreal. The depth of detail and color makes the images pop out like a film camera with Fuji film.
   
   I expected a great camera but am blown away by the images this little workhorse produces.
   
   Easily the best digital camera I've ever owned.
   
   Perfect 10/10.



4. The perfect camera for anyone. It has so many features I haven't even attempted most of them. But, for the ease of use it can't be beat!



5. I just lost my Canon Power Shot S45 camera on a trip to Europe, so I wanted to replace it with an upgraded model of Canon. My Power Shot was fabulous and the G9 promises to be an even greater camera with so much more control over the image! It is a very exciting, semi-professional camera to own without the expense of the digital SLR. I also bought the "Canon PowerShot G9 Photography" short course book and it is more helpful than the manual that came with the camera.

5 comments about Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens.

1. Got this for my wife as a Christmas gift. We have used it mostly for shots of our daughter and other "candids". This has everything we need. As we progress more into learning about our camera, we will use the manual selections, but the auto stops are GREAT on this camera. We mostly use the sports or kids functions and it has created great photos. We are still working on framing, etc. but good equipment helps take good pictures.
   
   If you have kids, this camera is great because (as opposed to other digital cameras we've had) this has variable shutter speeds so you can actually take the picture you see instead of waiting 1+ seconds for the camera to actually take the picture! There's nothing we hated more than seeing a shot we wanted, only for our daughter to have looked away in that split second while the camera we had was "taking" the picture...



2. I bought the D40 and kit 18-55 lens a few months ago here on Amazon. I have had only film cameras until now, except for a cheap Fuji p/s digital.
   Not being familiar with digital cameras, for me it was kind of like trying to run the space shuttle. I, like some others here, looked at Ken Rockwell's pages for help and got some basic settings going that work all right.
   
   After getting familiar with it, I decided that the kit lens sucks for a lot of what I like to shoot, which requires a wider aperture than the kit lens has. Not to mention that it sticks out of the camera quite a ways and I also like to be as invisible as possible. The honking big lenses just shout to everyone in sight that a photo is being taken (but I guess that doesn't bother all the shooters with the 18" long super zoom lens always attached). I am also not impressed with the autofocus, which sometimes won't lock on anything, dithering around back and forth until the subject isn't there any longer. And the camera won't fire if it isn't locked on something. So forget about photos of those flying birds.
   
   After looking at the prices of the faster single focal length dedicated digital lens prices (and after recovering from cardiac arrest) I went totally in the other direction and bought two Nikon Series E 35mm film camera lenses from the 1980s, a 28mm f/2.8 and a 50mm f/1.8 for basic lenses. These are roughly 40mm and 85mm on the D40. These lenses don't couple with any electronic components in the camera except the aperture lever, and will only function in manual mode, happily neutering most of the camera's unneeded, sometimes silly, and sometimes difficult to use functions.
   
   The image quality is pretty good overall, definitely better than the kit lens and these lenses cost me $30 each.
   There are many other lengths of Series E lenses available at reasonable prices so I'll probably add to the collection at some point.
   The lenses are really small and the camera is super easy to handle with them, just like an old 35mm.
   
   I always leave the viewing screen in histogram mode, set the shutter/aperture where I think it should be for the light available, fire a test shot and quickly check the histogram. It's very easy to tell if the exposure is off, and equally easy to change the shutter speed if needed. It's as fast as adjusting manual film cameras I'm familiar with.
   
   The only downside to this so far is that they are a bit hard to focus as the viewfinder screen is not fresnel, but the 28 stopped down at all has huge DoF so it's mostly an issue for the 50 when shooting wide open. I'm willing to put up with it because this is a better set up for me, more like a mechanical film slr, but with a 4gb card it will shoot almost forever. I leave the 28 on it most of the time for street shooting and the 50 is a fantastic portrait lens.
   
   So, I give it a 3. It's easy to use and being digital it's easier to get the images in the computer than from film. The battery goes an incredible amount of time before needing a charge. Build quality seems adequate for people that aren't prone to dropping their cameras.
   
   Image-wise, I don't think it's as good as a 35mm film camera loaded with slide film, definitely not as good as professional print film in some high contrast conditions, given the ccd's tendency to blow out highlights any time there is the slightest bit of high contrast lighting. Underexposure is often necessary and then hopefully retrieve the low values in Photoshop.
   Still, it's a fun camera to use for snapshots and gives decent results, and I would recommend it in it's price range. I'm definitely not chucking my film camera for this one though.



3. I bought this camera because I wanted to have a better digital camera than a regular point and shoot one and wanted to advance from 35mm SLR (Nikon FM10 and N80). After waiting for 1 year (I was thinking to buy Nikon D50 at first) I'm glad to have bought this one because it fits my budget. I've owned this camera since 2007 and have taken a lot of great pictures with it, and I'm using the lens that came with it. I don't consider myself a professional photographer so I have not used a lot of its features.
   
   For those who never use an SLR / DSLR camera before and would like to buy one, I fully recommend this camera. I think for most people they could get by with just using the "AUTO" shooting mode, just make sure you focus on the subject. It also helps a lot if you have a basic knowledge of photography.



4. I am generally satisfied with the D40. I'm an old school photographer who had been out of it since digital took over (except for using it occasionally in my job as a detective). My experience has been that most digital cameras are excessively complicated and do everything except allow you to have control over your photographs. I'm working on a project that requires extensive photo-documentation. When I found that it would be next to impossible to accomplish it with slide film, I bought this camera. So far it's doing the job and the software was easy enough to install (unlike most software that I have tried to install). I haven't had time to experiment with the manual feature yet, but I plan to before long. My biggest complaint so far is that it has no cable release feature. Much of my work involves low light shooting and maximum depth of field. It's not always possible to have a rock solid tripod. To me, it makes no sense to make an SLR without a cable release.



5. It arrived on time & in perfect condition. It is definitively a great camera for beginners.

5 comments about Sony Cybershot DSCW120/B 7.2MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot (Black).

1. Sony stuff is great, I like that I can use my memory stick duo in my camera then in my psp and so on, This camera is high end and sleek, all of my friends want one now. I buy alot from Sony, i'm very pleased with all my purchases, a bravia xbr is next(I hope).



2. I am completely pleased and excited to have purchased this camera, the Sonyt Cybershot 120. The transaction was great. It arrived right on schedule in excellent condition, as promised. I am really enjoying it and feel that I made a good choice, after a lot of research.



3. Great camera in small package. I am not a prfessional so simple operation is a big plus. Compared to old Nikon Coolpix, a breeze to operate and navigate.



4. This is a great looking camera and a nice size. I was replacing my aging panasonic camera and hoping that the pictures would be noticeably better, especially with double the mega pixels and dual antishake. But the pictures were very similar to my older camera and the antishake didn't seem to work at all. It may be that I didn't keep the camera long enough to figure out the best settings or that I got a defective one but I did return it and bought a Canon Elph instead. It's a SD850is and takes great pictures and was about the same price as the Sony. The canon has a flimsy plastic cover over the usb port that keeps popping open so I guess there is no perfect point and shoot but the pictures are very good and the digital macro lets you get as close as you possibly can.



5. I ORDERED THIS AND IT SAID IT WOULD ARRIVE ON A MONDAY AND IT WAS A GIFT AND IT DID NOT GET HERE TILL WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

5 comments about Olympus Stylus 1030SW 10.1MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Optical Wide Angle Zoom (Silver).

1. I've had this camera for a little over two weeks. Bought it so that i can take underwater images when in Hawaii. Haven't tried out the waterproof aspect yet, but can go ahead and give some insight into the quality of its normal pics.
   
   10 mp camera, but is limited to 3 mp images when shooting on some of the preset modes (scenes) - specifically candlelight images and other night-time image settings. If you don't use the scene options, your images can be maxed at the 10 mp setting. Night images using scene (candlelight) were pretty grainy, so i'd avoid using that setting.
   
   Normal daytime images were good. Crisp and clear. From power to first image - is really quick. However, taking one image at 10 mp causes a delay before you can take the next image of ~2 seconds. Unless you use the burst mode. 3-shot burst allows for 10 mp images, whereas the super 12 shot mode caps it again at 3 mp images.
   
   People have written that the lcd screen is easy to see in any light from any angle. I discovered that this is not true. Taking an image into the sun (i know this isn't recommended) while holding the camera up high (which people will use when at weddings to shoot over people's heads) leads to glare. I had to guess what i was shooting at. I'd say image visibility on the lcd was ~50% when doing this.
   
   Even given the above, i still like the camera a lot. Looks nice. Takes panoramic photos, battery lasts forever. Used it on and off for 4 days before it finally warned me of being low. Be careful b/c the battery indicator is deceiving. It said full for most of the time and then jumped to warning quick on me. Didn't even notice any intermediate indication position.
   
   I give it a 3 for now until i go and try out the underwater capability.
   
   Edit #1: Forgot to mention that the menus are pretty easy to use. Scrolling wheel menu cycles between the different options. One touch photo preview. Icons are easy to understand.
   
   I've tried using the macro and super macro - works really well. Good detail on the close images.
   
   One other con though - could not for the life of me figure out how to get the face detection to work. I swear that it'll sometimes follow a face and sometimes it'll target a random cup. I don't yet see an option in any of the menus that allows me to force it to do face rec every shot. Not a huge issue - but it's a spec that is being advertised, therefore i expect it to work.



2. I really wanted to love this camera. It has everything I wanted: rugged, compact, waterproof, and takes great pictures. I currently have a Panasonic Lumix TZ-5, and a the Panasonic waterproof casing for it, and never used this combo with the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW around!
   
   It was so easy to carry the Stylus 1030 SW around on the pool/beach and into the water. It starts up almost immediately upon pressing the power button so I never missed a shot. I loved that it was shock-proof so I didn't have to mentally treat it with kid gloves, and there are no protrusions on the camera to worry about breaking.
   
   Now the bad news. After the first time going into the pool for about 3 feet underwater, the camera seems to be adversely affected. I was extra careful and followed the directions regarding checking the seals for foreign objects that may cause leaks, and they were properly closed.
   
   I noticed that the videos taken (maybe from this point on, maybe always had this problem) had a smudge about the middle of the screen. This was not dirt on the outside of the lens where I can get at and clean. It would disappear under certain lighting conditions, but most underwater shots had it. My guess is that it's an internal reflective defect or dirt on the optics. Curiously, I don't notice it in my photos, just videos.
   
   In addition to this, the lens would fog up during the night after some underwater excursions. The fog would cloud up the lens internally, so all photos and videos were foggy. Holding the camera in my hands would warm it up, causing the fog to get cloudier. As a work-around, I would air dry the camera each night with all its ports open, but this doesn't always work.
   
   Another major drawback of this camera that was not publicized very well is that you MUST use the type M+ XD memory card to record VGA in 30 frames/sec. Using the included adapter my 4GB MicroSDHC card, you are limited to 10 seconds VGA 30 frames/sec videos. You can record lower resolution or VGA with 15 frames/sec videos without the M+ XD memory card, though.
   
   Additionally, my videos would sometimes have strange regular very loud clicking sounds, about once click per second for certain stretches. This was very disconcerting.
   
   I also noticed that the videos of bright lights indoors would sometimes have vertical glares above and below the light sources. I never noticed this phenomenon on my TZ-5 videos.
   
   The final weird restriction that I found out only after using this camera was that it had two video modes: Underwater, and Non-underwater. In Underwater mode, you have no audio, but can use zoom. In Non-underwater mode, you can record audio, but cannot zoom. Perhaps the zooming caused horrible audio noises to be recorded so the engineers decided to never record audio while allowing zooming?
   
   In conclusion, the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW was everything I was looking for on paper and would have been a wonderful all purpose point-and-shoot photo and video camera for all occasions. Unfortunately, my particular unit seemed not be quite waterproof as advertised, and the model had some major design drawbacks in the areas of video recording.
   
   I really cannot recommend this camera based on the unit I had.



3. The Olympus Stylus 1030SW is the coolest camera I've ever seen!!! I just got back from the beach with my family and it worked great. We had a ball with it in the ocean and now have some great memories to boot!!! The picture quality couldn't be better (as long as you use good photography techniques, you cant fight physics). I took video of myself and family riding waves in the ocean and it looks amazing. This camera is a great product that I am recommending to all my friends and family. Also, as a creative arts director for a non-profit I will be recommending its purchase by all of our new recruits.
   
   -Make sure you buy a huge memory card though...I have the 2gig and it allows almost 2 hrs of video.
   
   -The floating wrist strap is a must if you intend to use the camera anywhere near moving water.
   
   
   Great Job Olympus!!!!



4. The Olympus Stylus 1030SW has been shipping with a known defect by Olympus. In the video recording mode the sound track contains a popping sound. It is generated by any touching of the camera. Olympus is supposedly coming out with a firmware fix in September. The buyer should beware of this problem and perhaps wait to purchase until a fix is incorporated in the cameras.



5. Appears to be a nice product, but if the LCD goes black then you have no view finder and no access to the functions. The camera only worked for a few days so I would not recommend it.

5 comments about Samsung S860 8.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Black).

1. My son bought this camera for himself along with the accessory kit from Amazon for under $100.
   
   I have been messing around with it to compare it to my Fujifilm F50fd, these are the features that I noticed that mine does not have...
   
   1. There's an in camera help option, so you don't need to refer to the manual.
   2. While filming in movie mode, you are able to zoom, though while zooming you loose all volume (my camera can't zoom when filming).
   3. One of the playback modes in the camera allows you to have special effects, complete with music while in playback mode.
   
   
   I have to say, I was so pleasantly suprised by both the quality of the photos as well as the video quality. I think that this is a fantastic little camera at a very affordable price, that's great for budding photo enthusiasts!
   
   The accessory kit that it came with, was also just perfect, it came with the case, 2 rechargeable batteries and the charger - saving mad money on disposable batteries. An excellent buy!



2. I love this camera.. it is really great. The pictures are very clear and the quality is good. It is also easy to use and the functions are easy to understand for the average individual.. I would recommend this camera to anyone who was thinking of buying one.



3. I wanted an inexpensive camera that I could throw in my bag when I travel. My last camera, a Canon A70, was ruined by the constant banging around, even in its case. This Samsung is by no means as good as the Canon, but it's a very good little camera for the price. The resolution is excellent when in bright light. Beach photos were beautiful when the subjects were in the sun. When in the shade of an umbrella, they were a little too dark, even when the focus boxes on the viewfinder showed it should have been metering for the shade. But I was able to lighten them with Corel Photo Pro. Photos of water splashes were caught in mid air and in focus, not blurred.
   
   There is a lag time between when you press the button and when the photo is taken, even after you've pressed halfway to focus. Much slower than my Canon. That lag time is my main complaint with this camera. Outdoor, it's not too much of a problem. But I had a heck of a time photographing my granddaughter on an indoor carousel. I had to take the photo about 2 seconds before she would be in front of me. It was a real guessing game.
   
   But this camera is so inexpensive, I can't fault it too much. I will buy something better when I'm not going to be subjecting it to rough handling.



4. I hate this camera. Wish I could return it . I did just get i back from " repair" under warranty and it still isn't right.
   It will not power on.. Sometimes if I jiggle the batteries it will come on, sometimes not. Sometimes taking the batteries out and putting them back in works, sometimes not. Real fun when you are trying to take a picture!
   The last thing that happened before I returned it was the shutter stuck open.
   I got it back today, put in two brand new AA batteries ( the recommended ones) and it still doesn't come on.
   So......I learned that my next camera will not have AA batteries!
   I am envious of you that have no problems with it.



5. I keep discovering many wonderful features for this product everyday..it's just terriffic!...even came with a free case and battery charger...what a thotful combination from Amazon...thanks!