5 comments about Kodak EasyShare Z885 8.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom.

1. I love this camera. The picture quality is great, the video is amazing, I attempted to make a video of this review but after reviewing it, I decided that typing is what I am better at.
   
   I went to Sea World San Diego this past Saturday and tokk 97 pictures and even some video. I am still finding out the amazing things this camera can do.
   
   BEST INVESTMENT I HAVE EVER MADE!!!!!!!



2. I gave this as a birthday gift to my husband and he really liked it a lot. It wqorks the way he wants to and is small and portable.



3. Camera takes a GREAT picture, but it broke the first time it was used! I have sent it back to Kodak for repair, but that adds delay and additional cost! Hope the next one is repaired instead of just repackaged!!!!



4. 
   I bought this Camera a few days ago and I have taken excellent photos with it. It is compact and has several interesting functions. It is cheaper than others but it is a Kodak. I like this one.



5. When I bought this camera, I was very Excited. It captures with a professional style any photo, but it has serious problems with Motion Performances and specially with ISO-taken pictures. It looks a lot grainy and with extremely high noise. I tried everything to fix this, but is not possible. The video capturing is very good, and also the Smart Scene and Scenes Options are amazing. The Manual option is also great. The problem is Motion and ISO pictures.
   
   The Zoom its outstanding...
   
   For Semi-Prefessionals, I give it 3.8/5

1 comments about Battery + Charger for Kodak Easyshare V610 M853 M753+CAR.

1. This was a great value! I got a plug in charger, car adaptor and a battery for a great price. Everything works very well!

1 comments about DXG DXG-595V 5.0 Megapixel High-Definition Ultra Digital Video Camera.

1. COMPANY: Some reviews of DXGUSA products mention that DXG is a United States company. In some of the advertisements for DXG you might even notice a California location. DXG does maintain an office in "City of Industry" California, however, according to the DXGUSA web site their products are manufactured in Taiwan, ROC (Republic of China). It is a common practice for overseas companies to have a local US office and ad the suffix "USA" to its name, however, the consumer should understand that buying DXG is not supporting the red, white and blue.
   
   Contributing to any country of origin confusion is DXG's executive board. Most people who would communicate with DXGUSA would do so through the sales, marketing or customer service departments. There you will find persons of responsibility with the names of Goldberg, delRosario and Castillo, respectively, which lends to an American image. Digging slightly deeper you'll find that those company executives with positions of major authority have Asian names. Some Japanese and Chinese companies have been known to send their own executives to the U.S. in order to run the company as if it were in their home country. Others may use U.S. addresses while company executives remain overseas. It's unknown if DXG is participating in either of these practices.
   
   PRODUCT:
   
   THE GOOD - [Price] The DXG 595V is the cheapest flash memory camcorder in the High Definition market. Wal-Mart offers this camera at a price of $180.00 with free shipping if ship-to-store is selected. Unfortunately, however, a Wal-Mart order for this camera took several weeks to leave the warehouse and was eventually lost in shipment. Amazon with its price tag for the camera of $202.00 delivered to your door is the next lowest on the net. Delivery via free Super-Saver shipping with UPS arrived two days ahead of schedule to the East coast.
   
   [Size] The DXG 595V is just about palm-sized and is very light weight thanks to its all plastic construction and few moving parts. The style of the camera is also more conventional than most of the low-cost camcorders available today.
   
   [Recording] If your desire is to capture some family moments and events in a digital format that looks almost as good as those large VHS tapes you used to use then the DXG in a standard definition mode is the right camera. Video and sound was very fluid while recording stationary objects as well as moving in a vehicle. The camera handled low light conditions well, though the image did become somewhat grainy, and the LED light is some help at close distance.
   
   [Simplicity] The 595V sports few features and, therefore, is ideal for those who are not interested in a learning curve prior to using it. The integrated manual lens cover is a nice idea and circumvents the old problem of a lens cap dangling during the action. All controls are easily accessible.
   
   THE BAD: - [Battery Life] The DXG battery, (NP-120), is said to provide 1.5 hours of recording time. This will vary dramatically based on how the camera is used. There appears to be an automatic focus function in the camera that cannot be deactivated. This auto focus constantly attempts to physically move the lens in order to maintain proper picture focus. Though slightly slow, it does a good job. If you're filming a nearly stationary object it is possible to get over two hours of recording time in the WVGA standard definition mode. If, however, you're filming a constantly moving object, such as a car trip along a scenic highway, you would be fortunate to get thirty minutes of power from the battery. This may be caused by the constant auto focus on all the moving objects in the frame. Batteries are important because it is not possible to use an AC wall adapter to supply power to this camera. So you may want to purchase extra batteries because a full charge could take up to three hours.
   
   [Surface] Some online reviews of this camera have complained about the smooth surface displaying finger smudges. You should keep a soft towel with you if this is an OCB for you but it shouldn't be a deciding factor in your purchase.
   
   [High Def Recording] Once you set the recording mode above the WVGA standard definition format you're recording video that is reminiscent of an old silent movie. Subject movements are very choppy and sudden camera movements will split the image. This camera may proclaim its HD quality but it's really only a good SD camera.
   
   [Memory] Although the DXG 595V has internal memory it is not user available. The internal memory is reserved for settings so you must purchase an SD style flash card prior to use.
   
   [Documentation] Poor. That's about as detailed as DXGUSA gets in their own description of the 595V's features. Some of the documentation is also misleading such as references to the camera's microphone which are listed in two different places on the camera in two different guides or the wrong item circled in an illustration. Directions for updating the camera's firmware are no different. The instruction, "press the negative of enter button," is practically cryptic.
   
   THE UGLY: [Warranty] DXG's written warranty that comes with the camera states that, "This warranty covers all parts and labor for one (1) year from the date of purchase." However, it later states, "Not covered: flashes, cords and cables, batteries, power adapter, digital media, software, LCD, lens and additional accessories, other expenses or consequential damages." So, the camera is covered under the warranty but the camera parts are not.
   
   [Customer Service] The DXGUSA customer service web site is less than helpful. Some self-help pages lead to blank pages while others have only three suggestions - none of which even pertained to the 595V. An email to DXG customer service complaining of a battery problem resulted in the following response:
   
   "We apologize for the set back. Unfortunately, our warranty does not cover accessories."
   
   DXG considers the included battery to be an accessory along with the camera's lens and LCD screen.
   
   Although this response was sent from the email address of Carlos Castillo, Director of Customer Relations for DXG, the sender's name was posted as Chad Meza. The message was also stamped at five hours time difference from US Eastern Time. A trace of the IP address the message was sent from, (207.210.80.162), reveals that the server being used was located in Atlanta, Georgia, but the DXGUSA message appears to have originated from Jalandhar, PU India.
   
   After responding to DXG's first reply Chad Meza sent another response, this time addressed from himself rather than Mr. Castillo, which stated:
   
   "I apologize for any inconvenience, however, an accessory is anything that is not physically attached to the camera."
   
   This response was particularly puzzling since the LCD and lens which were specifically not warranted by DXG are "attached to the camera."
   
   RECOMMENDATION: Do not purchase this product.

5 comments about Lowepro Lens Case 1S (Black).

1. Purchased this to hold our alternate lens for our Cannon XTi. This size (1S) case holds the stock lens (EF-S 18-55mm/3.6-5.5) and our favorite other (portfolio) lens (EF 85mm/1.8 - reportedly 2.8 inches long), securely. Fits well without extra room. The case has a belt loop with which we attach it to our other case. All in all, very pleased with the purchase.



2. The guys at Lowepro really know what they're doing. They've put a lot of thought into a simple little case like the 1S. For sure, it's not your average lens case. Here's some of the highlights listed with my comments:
   
   1) OverLap zipper guards - When you unzip the case to open the case, you'll see a large overlapping foam flap next to the zipper. The designer's idea was to keep the line of the zipper away from the interior of the bag, and instead next to this overlap, thereby further protecting the lens inside from dusts, dirt, etc.
   
   2) Reinforced SlipLock - One of the most thoughtful features of LowePro cases, designed for any other LowePro bags with SlipLock ability. This is a wide, reinforced flap with double sided velcro locks, making the attachment to another bag /belt very, very secure. Yet it's very easy to remove when needed. This works well with the LowePro Street and Field belt.
   
   3) Built-in lens cap pocket - Right under the top flap is a mesh to hold your lens cap. With the OverLap zipper, it makes it a tight squeeze to get your lens cap into there, but still it's nice to have this feature.
   
   4) Shock-absorbing open and closed cell foam and padded base
   
   5) Tough, water-resistant outer fabric
   
   Fits: Short, wide lenses including 28-90mm f/4 zoom, 60mm f/2.8 micro and 28.mm f/2.8 (all without hoods).
   
   Inner dimensions: 3D x 3.5H in.
   
   Overall, this is a very a well designed bag. You'll get your money's worth.



3. Fits the bill, well made, no fight to get my 60 macro lens into it.



4. Lowepro lens cases are great qualty and very functional, especially if you have Lowepro belts or bags that these can clip on to. The 1S is a small case that will fit a small lens without a hood. If your lenses are bigger or you like carrying your hood with your lens, then look at Lowepro's bigger lens cases like the size 1 or 1W or the much bigger size 2 cases.



5. Want one? Then buy one. If you don't like it, don't blame me. I like mine.

5 comments about Domke F-2 Original Bag (Sand).

1. I was looking for a bag that would allow me to take my camera everywhere and still let me carry what I need for work - this is it. Great quality, looks good, comfortable to carry. The velcro closure on the main compartment is good enough that I rarely use the metal clasps (which is good, because they can be fiddly.)
   I carry: Camera (D70 + 18-70); 70-210 lens; Flash; batteries; filters; Loreo 3D lens; multi tool (leatherman-type thing); notepad & pens, and still have the end compartments empty.
   
   I wish it didn't advertise the brand so prominently on each end - I may have to remove those.



2. This bag has plenty of room for 2 bodies and four lenses. Canvas construction helps repel water. The only problem for me is the two front pockets, fairly narrow, hard to get my big hands into. Overall, a great bag!



3. I've got this bag 2 months back. It currently fits a Nikon d300, 17-55, 70-200, Sigma 10-20, Nikon 50mm f1.8, sb400, extra battery, couple lens filters.
   
   Pros:
   -construction. This bag is built very well. Material used seems of high quality, and the stitching is excellent. I really like the straps mechanism, as they feel very secure. The main strap also has some kind of rubbery strips on them, which helps keep the strap from sliding off your shoulder (and have your thousands of dollars come crashing on the ground)
   There is also a smaller hand strap, as opposed to the main sling strap, which is very convenient for helping you precisely lift the bag and place it, which I really like)
   -discreetness. This bag doesn't look like a typical photography bag, but rather just a standard sling bag. Makes me more comfortable when carrying it though airports, or places that I am not familiar with.
   -comfort. This bag is very comfortable to carry, even fully loaded, for hours. Because of the canvas nature of the bag, it molds to your body (assuming you pick it right), which makes it feel more secure at your side.
   
   Cons.
   -padding. This bag does not have too much padding, (it comes with a 4 compartment padding sleeve, which i have converted to a 2+1+1 padding sleeve, to fit my 70-200 lying at an angle), and no padding at all on the top. I think the padding is adequate, but probably could be improved.
   -price. Compared to other equivalent photo bags, this bag seems a little pricey.
   -weather proofing. This bag does not come with a waterproof cover, though, from what I read from other review, it is pretty waterproof, however, in pouring rain, I'm pretty sure that it will drench through. (not quire sure what you would be doing in pouring rain with your equipment). This can be fixed by packing a large garbage bag with you all the time, tacky but works.
   
   All in all, this is a very nice photographer's bag. Highly recommended.



4. This is my second F2 bag; I had the previous one (and still do) for around 20 years. The older one is now used for in-home photo accessory storage, due to wear from abuse - being dragged over boulders, through forests and the desert. I use the F2 to carry my DSLR camera, two lenses, charger, extra flash and miscellaneous filters, batteries and cords. I also carry my video camera and its accessories and everything is easily accessible. This is a great all-purpose, mid-sized bag for a small to medium sized photo outfit and there is plenty of room and pockets for everything. Great product for my needs.



5. 3 Stars for a beautiful bag. It is exactly what I wanted. However, I thought the partitians would be fully adjustable...they are not. The only interior layout this bag has is a four-part partition quadrant held in place by velcro. If you remove the partition, it's just an empty space with no partitians.
   
   The quadrant partitian is moveable left and right from extreme side to side. However, the partitians inside the quadrant itself are not adjustable. You cannot adjust the sizes of the four partitians inside this moveable quadrant which is the only partitian system in this bag.
   
   I could not fit my Canon EF 100-400 L IS into any of the equally sized partitians inside the quadrant. I could have moved the quadrant all the way to one side, but then the slot would have been too large for the lens and would have left no place for my Canon 30D. The fixed partitian quadrant takes up over 2/3rds of the interior of the bag.
   
   Taking the quadrant partitian out, leaves you an empty cavity necessitating using the cases your lens came in....unless you're ok with them just rattling around in there.
   
   If you have small, thin lenses...this might work.....but there is no customizing of the interior partitian arrangement.
   
   If this bag had moveable, individually adjustable partitian panels, it would be wonderful. With only one non-adjusting quadrant....it was not acceptable.
   
   A very minor point: I didn't like the clips on the front holding the top flap down, two of them, are very small. The clips need to be updated with either larger ones or the plastic type used by many bag manufacturers.....retro is nice, but a little updating is also good.
   
   Thank you Amazon for standing behind your sales; I returned the bag.

3 comments about Canon EOS 40D DSLR with 17-85mm lens.

1. I have had this camera and lens for 9 months. Beautiful photos. Love the "live view" for setting up to take photos with a tripod. Large sensor means excellent low-light capability. Fast start-up time. Extremely fast focusing. Love the ability to take 6 photos per second! Manual controls are wonderful and easy to use. Beautiful display. The EFS 17-85 lens is great (remember to multiply by 1.6 for comparable 35mm focal lengths). Am also using a SanDisk Extreme III CF card. This is a fast card.



2. I love this camera. I've been dedicated to Canon and they've never let me down. This is no exception. I do with that it had better low-light functionality and maybe even went to 6400 (3200 is alright though) but for the price point you can't go wrong. My biggest critique - the 50D came out a week after I purchased this camera.



3. I have had this camera for about 2 months now. I bought it to be able to take lower light level shots with less graininess than my previous Canon G3. I also wanted better optics and resolution. I was a bit disappointed with the low level light performance. It is certainly less grainy but the shutter speed is to slow for most of my purposes. However, I may have been expecting too much. The larger sensor certainly gives better overall noise performance.
   The optics gives me better depth of field which is one of the things I was after. The zoom give me enough close up for most of my shots but sometimes I use a 75-300mm telephoto that I bought separately when I run out of gas. For wide angle shots the 17-85mm is handy although it distorts a bit at the low end. I think (and I'm no expert) this is a function of the physics involved with such a wide angle (fish eye effect).
   The flash is a big step up from the G3. This camera doesn't "wash out" the color by over exposing. Almost none of my shots suffer from this which was a problem with the old G3.
   I use the high compression and have typical file sizes of 1.5 to 2 meg. When blowing up you really don't notice the difference between the less compressed higher quality images. I only use the higher quality mode for shots I know I want the most out of.
   Bottom line I really like this camera and would highly recommend it. I use a 4 gig sandisk extreme III memory card.
   I would like to say I wish the DSLR community would stop being snobby and push a video mode. There is no excuse now that they have the live view feature. I can't tell you how many times I was shooting stills and my kids did something that needed to be videoed then and there because running to grab the real video would mean loosing the moment altogether. So hopefully there will eventually be that feature. It is the only thing really missing from this camera that would prompt me to buy another. Well that and unbelievable low light level performance.

5 comments about Sony Alpha DSLRA350K 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens.

1. I enjoyed A350 a lot. The image quality is very high. I shot some awesome family pictures, portraits, our vacation photos: everything came out superb. For an amateur as I am it is dream camera! I user DSC-R1 from Sony before and it also was terrific camera. If you aren't satisfied with the pics from this cam you need some real expensive lens and pro level equipment.
   I'm very happy with this DSLR!



2. I waited a long time for the Nikon D80 to come down in price. While I was at the store ready to purchase the D80 the guy behind the counter introduced me to this A350. I have a few Minolta Lenses so it seemed like a great fit. I was a little skeptical at first but let me tell you, this is a great camera. I have taken more than 700 photos including my kids playing, storms, Lightning, and even long exposure night photos of the sky. I have had some KILLER photos come out of this camera. I am highly impressed and I have no regrets in choosing this camera over the D80. The only downside that I saw in the beginning was the 2.5 photos per second vs the d80's 3.? per second. I can handle that. I would highly recommend at least a 4 gig card but get the 8gig.I have the 8 gig and I currently have about 720 photos stored at highest res. about 14mb per photo on the card with plenty of room left.



3. I purchased the Sony A350 primarily to have an up-to-date, medium-high end DSLR that would accept my Minolta lenses: I have seven. Professional photography was my first career, and had other opportunities not presented, I likely would have remained a photographer. I remained an avid amateur photographer throughout two subsequent careers, and now in retirement. I've found the the A350 a competitive DSLR, with most or all of the functions and modes of similar price-range cameras. Couple that with allowing me to use my collection of Minolta lenses, I've made a good choice. One feature I particularly like since I print large format copies of many of my photos is the menu selection "Creative Style" allowing shooting in Adobe Photoshop color space.
   
   Two downers:
   1. The LCD screen is particulary vulnerable protruding rearward to accommodate the LCD tilt function. Moreover, when using the viewfinder, skin oils and sweat--I shoot a lot of equine sports action--soils the LCD continuously. This vulnerability is why I rated the camera 4 stars rather than 5.
   
   2. I find the Camera Shake warning indicator distracting, and essentially useless. Even when I use a tripod the indicator indicates maximum at the slightest touch. I'll rely on controlling shutter speed.
   
   Nonetheless, I am satisfied with the camera, and would recommend it to others.



4. I used 35 mm years ago and then stopped taking pics. Started up because of some of the digital point and shoot cameras. When I decided to get back into SLRs, I did a lot of research. I have never been into snob appeal so I looked into features, picture quality and value as significant factors. Sony, who took over the older Minolta line, certainly had the right idea when they put together the 350. It is pretty easy to use right out of the box. I would consider a field guide if you are not camera savy, so you know how to get the most out of it. I recently used it on a trip to England and took about 800 pictures in 10 days. It worked great. I do not use the kit lens, but found some others that make this camera pretty flexible (but that's another review.) So far, there is nothing that I have wanted to do that this camera can't.
   
   The majority of great pictures come from the photographer's eye, scene and light. IMHO, this camera will not hold you back if you have those.



5. great camera. The one thing I wasn't expecting was that it takes so great pictures that it will make an inexpensive lens look cheap. These Kit lenses were fine for my smaller processor cameras and gave some very good pictures but this one simply shows any and all imperfections in my older, inexpensive lenses........tried one of the newer, more expensive lens, made for this model, and took great pictures.... guess I learned my lesson that if I'm going to use a great camera, don't try to shoot cheap... the pictures will tell the story... new lenses coming to my collection, soon.

5 comments about Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera for Boys.

1. Our 5 year old son absolutely loves this camera! I really like that it is very simple to use without a lot of unnecessary features. This keeps the frustration level to a minimum and is very empowering for my son. Specifically, I like that it automatically turns off after a few minutes, that it is easy (but not too easy) to delete pictures and that there aren't the usual and annoying loud noises or "music" that seem to be part of every child's toy these days. I also would have never purchased this if I thought it couldn't stand up to some tough treatment. That was definitely the selling point for me. Considering all this, I don't mind that the picture quality isn't that of a really expensive adult camera. We keep the camera at the higher resolution setting and find it to be just fine. We were initially hesitant to purchase this camera after reading that the picture quality isn't good, but I find it to be perfectly appropriate for a child's camera. Overall, I would highly recommend this as a first camera for any child.



2. The point about the Kid-Tough digital camera is that it is kid-tough. And it really is. If this core feature is not required I recommend rather buying an older version of a traditional digital camera for about the same price.
   
   The quality of the Kid-Tough camera is fair to say the best. It is comparable with a really cheap Web cam. Nothing even close to an old 2MP Canon camera from 2000. The flash is quiet useless because if the object is further away than 5 feet, the flash does not reach and the picture is black, and if it is too close then the whole picture is white. In addition, the flash only works with brand new batteries and switches off as the batteries become weaker. It also switches off when you use rechargeable batteries and those are drained to like 70% capacity, which happens with rechargeables by simple self-discharge after a few days. Usable pictures are only possible with good light conditions. The camera also has an issue with white balance. If there is a bright object in the picture such as a white sweater or a window, parts of the picture will become a big white spot. The camera has a normal and high resolution mode. You switch the camera permanently from one to the other. I recommend the high resolution mode when using extra flash memory.
   
   Fisherprice mentioned that you cannot use the camera with rechargeable batteries, but besides the flash issue, it appears to work fine with more modern NiMh or older NiCa batteries alike. I recommend NiMh with low self-discharge such as the Sanyo Eneloop batteries. The camera takes a SD card of up to 1MB space. When connected via a USB port, the camera makes the SD cards available to the computer like a memory stick. The built-in 8MB flash is then not available anymore. You need your own photo software or use the software, your OS ships with. A big plus is the very easy user interface. One button for on/off, one for delete, two buttons for forward and backward view of pictures on the card and one to take the picture. It takes two strokes to delete a picture, but very tempting for young kids.
   
   Summary: If you are looking for a digital camera for a very young child, this is the one for you. Kid-tough! If you have an older child, then better look into older versions of the big brands. But note, that standard digital cameras do not take much abuse, which is the reason why be bought this camera besides its shortcomings.



3. The camera is reported to be a great gift. However, I ordered it with expedited shipping and was promised it on December 24th and it came on December 26th instead of the 24th. I did select a vendor in the same state as the recipient to insure its arrival. I guess the vendor's agenda is not my agenda. Too bad.



4. I bought this for my grandson (age 4). He likes it, but he did have a hard time figuring out how to use it at first. Once he got the hang of it, though, he took lots and lots of pictures of the ground, our feet, the backs of seats in the car, etc. But he loved taking pictures because everyone else was taking pictures with their cameras! It has taken many falls and still keeps on going!
   
   Issues - 1) He loves the noise it makes when it deletes the pictures a little too much, though, because he then wants to continue deleting pictures just because of the noise. You should be able to turn this noise off. 2) It is bulky and heavy for a child to carry around. 3) The pictures it takes are horrible. You can barely tell what it is a picture of - there has got to be a way to improve the picture quality. 4) It uses a lot of batteries.
   
   Overall it doesn't matter about the little things, because my 4-year-old grandson is happy with the camera and the pictures!



5. This camera is very durable and seems to be easy to use for a 3 year old. My daughter has fun taking photos with it. However, do not plan on using this camera to print pictures. The image quality is absolutely terrible. The display on the camera is even worse. I was hoping to have my daughter take pictures with it and maybe get one or two pictures that we could print and show as her first attempts. However, we have made this just a simple toy instead of a usable camera for pictures. Expensive toy camera. I would have paid a little more for one that had any quality of picture that matches the technological age :)
   
   Bottom line - if you want a toy that acts like a camera and that is durable, then this should suit your needs, if you want a camera you can use to print photos, by a new state of the art camera for your family and give your older one to your 3 year old.

2 comments about Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX "VR" and 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX "VR" Zoom-Nikkor Lens + 4GB Deluxe Accessory Kit.

1. This product is a great deal. Other places sell this stuff for more. The service was fast and efficient.



2. Great package. Everything you need to start working at a very good price. Delivery in time and very good conditions

1 comments about Olympus FE370 8MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Dual Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue).

1. I just got this camera this week and I love it.
   
   Pros: The screen is quite viewable in bright sunlight. Dual memory support gives you a choice on which media to buy. (I'm using a Class 6 4GB micro SDHC card). 5x optical zoom (the largest I've seen in this size and price range.) The iAuto is pretty smart. The camera is easy to figure out and use.
   
   Cons: I'd like to turn off the image preview that comes up right after you take a picture. The "Smile shot" is cool, but I haven't been able to figure it out completely (I'm going to keep trying)
   
   Conclusion: I don't regret getting this camera. We're going camping in a couple of weeks and we'll see then how well this camera will work. For the most part, I'm very satisfied with this camera.