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

1. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1AEEPYVR3DL9J Love the Olympus 1030SW - it matches my lifestyle... rough, tough & ready for anything, especially water. Shot a short video of me jumping in a lake, which obviously doesnt phase the camera whatsoever.



2. very good camera! rivals my nikon d80 shots! great for beach pictures and when raining/drizzling outside!
   This was a great buy!



3. I researched this camera heavily before purchasing it. I was even a bit skeptical with its claims of being waterproof, shockproof, etc. But in the end, I decided to give it a shot and I have not been disappointed.
   
   This camera lives up to its promise. I tested it underwater and it took very nice pictures! Although, one thing you do need to keep in mind is that for the camera to stay functional, you need to follow the very simple upkeep instructions.
   
   Image quality: Absolutely amazing. I bought a 2gb xd for the camera and on 10mp normal resolution you can take about 400 photos. I set my photos at 10mp fine resolution. I really like this feature because on my older camera, I had to convert the image to high-res after it was on the computer.
   
   One thing with the image quality that you might need to watch out for: if you are shooting macro or super-macro, you'll probably want to use a tripod. You can get a decent shot without one, but a tripod makes it soo much easier.
   
   Another great thing about this camera is the battery. I wasn't sure I was going to like having a battery you had to plug into the wall to charge but its great to not have to keep buying AAs all the time. The battery keeps a charge quite a few hours of fairly heavy use (constant zooming, turning off/on, viewing images, etc.) You can find replacement batteries for fairly cheap too. I found an offbrand battery for $[...] and free shipping on [...].
   
   Also, in researching this camera, I found some links to the possibilities of photography with this camera.
   
   Photos taken with Olympus 1030sw: [...]
   
   Videos taken with Olympus 1030sw:[...]



4. This camera is amazing. You can do so much with it. Drop it in water, throw it who cares. Awesome. However the first one I bought stopped working. I returned it and they quickly sent me a new one that works great.



5. I bought the camera for my sister, as she travels all of the world doing mission and relief work in central and south America, and this camera is perfect for her. IT is durable, shock resistant and waterproof.

5 comments about Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only).

1. Everyone else has already covered the details, so I'll just add my voice to the chorus. Particularly, I am amazed at the photos shot at ISO3200 and the fact that you can get something truly usable at ISO6400.
   
   Also, the feel of it in your hands is terrific.



2. Nikon D300 is very good camera, but it took 3 weeks to ship the item to my place, poor package.



3. Instant on, immediate take when you push the shutter button, focuses instantly on what you want depending on how you set the focus area, and takes better pictures than my Maxxum 7 did. I currently use only one lens, the 18 - 200; but plan on getting another soon with faster aperture for fine work. I currently use mine for travel when backpacking; but also for pictures in the ER where I work. These I use for teaching purposes for the medical students who rotate with us. A very fine piece of hardware that works as advertised.



4. This is a fantastic camera. I upgraded from D200 and happy that Nikon made the D300. They have changed around many of the menu items I was use to from my D200, but that is worth the better quality when I shoot at higher ISO's. I higly recommend for any serious photographer.



5. Wading through instructions is tedious, but love the camera. I upgraded from a D-200, which I liked very much. Most detailed photos I've ever had. We'll know more after more trial photos.

5 comments about Canon EOS 5D 12.8 MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only).

1. I just purchased the Canon 5D, the price finally came down to the point that I could afford, I have been waiting years for this camera, read every review on the Web, I really wanted that full frame sensor.
   I also own the Canon 40D which is also an excellent camera as far as frames per second, but has some issues that really bothered me, the biggest was that it did not focus well indoors unless there was plenty of light,considering the cost I expected more.The 40D has many bells and whistles such as live view which I never really used and a solid body that feels and look good.
   
   The first thing I tested with the 5D was its focusing ability in low light, it does a great job focusing fast every time, as a matter of fact I couldn't get it not to focus even in the darkest room, this was very important to me.
   
   The camera body also has a a nice feel in the sense that it will probably be the first DSLR that I will not have to buy the battery grip for, it just feels comfortable in your hands.
   
   It is great to have my lenses actually reflect the focal lenghts as listed in the lens.
   
   The 5D produces noticeablly sharper pictures then any DSLR I have ever owned.
   
   I know that there will probably be a replacement before the end of the year for the 5D but it will probably be too expensive, so anyone wanting a full frame camera should probably buy the 5D now, you won't regret it.



2. I really like this camera. Its easy to use and for those who want to just point and shot you can, Its pretty smart that way but I prefer to set my own white balance. I love this camera! I cant say enough good things about it. The 2 draw backs I have found are the sensor I would like a self cleaning sensor, and the weather proofing could be just a tad better. I am new to the world of big cameras. So maybe I'm being picky, and so far the 2 drops of water I have gotten on the camera haven't hurt it. But it did scare me to death. The EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens I got with the camera is a fantastic lens. I call it my walk around lens It does people, scenery, pets, all of it. I like it, its on the camera 99% of the time.



3. I am a pro photographer that has been using the 20 and 40d. The full frame sensor opened up a new world for my photography and lenses. I am especially impressed with the detail I'm getting out of the shadows in my images.



4. Probably like most people that are waiting for that "phantom" 5d MKII, I couldn't wait no more. The rebate pushed me over the edge. I'm glad I took the plunge. This camera rocks! I'm so glad I upgraded. I'm sure the next version is gonna have all the bells and whistles, but this has become a legendary camera. Everyone has already gone over the specs and likes and dislikes. I just want to say anyone waiting for the new version and wondering if they got this, would they be happy......be assured you will be VERY happy.



5. What can you say? World class camera, phenomenal lens? Best of the Canon series ever? Everything and more?
   Only question is obvious, workhorse camera that has been issued for several years now. What will be it's replacement? Hard to believe there will be a better performing camera for the dollar value. As to the lens: it far exceeds many other in the EF line and is well worth the investment.

5 comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver).

1. I took this camera on a five-country European trip in July and took about 1,000 photos with it. The photos come out just great in IA mode. Press down and the camera makes its first assumption on what it is you're focusing, if that's not correct, release and try again. Face recognition works great, too. And most important to me was that it takes great photos in low light without a flash. I had the flash off for all my shots. I got the camera in blue which is done in a powder-type of coating. I didn't care for that at first, but now I like it because it makes the camera a little grippier and it looks great.
   
   Two things that could need fixing:
   
   1. When taking a movie, the zoom makes a noice when zooming in and out.
   2. When reviewing your photos, holding down the advance button should fast-forward you through the photos. It only does one at a time. When you have 4 or 8 gig cards, that can be a lot of clicking through.
   
   Overall though, I love this camera and would buy it again.



2. I have had this camera for two days now and will update with my more formal review once I've had more time to absorb it all. I will make a few comments right away though because I have discovered a few things about it that I didn't see mentioned in other reviews and might be helpful to those making a decision.
   
   Just the significant details for now:
   
   1. Since image quality drops off quickly at ISO settings over 200 I was glad to find that it had a way to specify a max ISO in the auto ISO mode, but unfortunately the lowest option is 400, which it chooses for nearly all indoor shots. Also, some modes ignore this setting so even though you may think you'll always be under 400, you won't in certain scene modes.
   
   2. I can not understand why they do this in the first place, and it's even more frustrating to not be able to turn it off or choose some options in this 'feature': This camera subdivides your photos into separate folders of pictures and as far as I can tell there's no way around it. After shooting about 300 pics, the memory card has several separate folders of pictures: 100_PANA (containing pics 1-100 which are titled 100001 through 100100), 101_PANA (containing pics 101-200, but now they're renamed with 101000 through 101100, etc so that you don't even end up with sequential picture numbers. Even worse, after the first 100 pics these numbers do not correspond to the numbers used to identify them on the camera screen in play mode. Therefore, if you are keeping notes on your photographs as you take them, the numbering that the files have on the SD card will be difficult to match up to the numbers you've been tracking off the camera screen. I can not imagine why they think everyone would want this (or anyone for that matter). I could almost understand if they separated them by date or some other criterion, but by arbitrary lots of 100 pics? And changing the numbering sequence? That's just dumb. With other cameras I have always just had them all in the same folder, that way I don't have to go switching around looking for the photos, they're all in the same place ready to go, and sequentially numbered withoput gaps. I really hate having them all split up in different places.
   
   3. Battery life seems to be quite good on my initial encounter. I have shot over 300 pics and the battery indicator still reads full. Perhaps that means that it will suddenly decline leaving me with little warning, but 300 pics is pretty good anyway. One note, the battery does not come charged, so be prepared to spend two hours reading the manual while your battery charges before you can use the camera. Sorry folks, you can't bring it home from the store and start using it right away. The best thing about the battery though is the tiny little travel charger that comes with it, no clumsy cords just a very compact block with flip-out prongs that plugs into the wall with the battery snapped in.
   
   4. Amazon's price on this camera fluctuates on a daily basis, both up and down. Since I started looking last week the price started at $270, went up to $296, and is now back to $284. I have no idea why, but if today's price is closer to $300 you might consider waiting a day or two to see if it gets better.
   
   That's the four main points I wanted to share at the moment. I will be back with a more comprehensive review after a few thousand shots.
   
   A brief background on my purchase... I initially started this quest to find the most compact camera with the most SLR-style features I could get. The natural choice for that pursuit is the Canon G9 which was the front runner until I played with this TZ5. It handled simple point & shoot operations so much better than the canon while inside the store that I was swayed to consider this Panasonic more seriously. The downside is that it offers virtually no SLR-like features. My first constraint was a portable, pocketable camera which both of these models fit, but the panasonic moreso. I wanted point and shoot performance with the option to get more creative when I want. Since embracing the digital revolutoin eight years ago I haven't even touched my film SLR again, not once. But I miss the manual control so much. In the end the point and shoot won me over, I think the Canon is not quite there yet to be what I want for manual control. It's a little clumsier in terms of user interface, and it's gone after way too many megapixels at the cost of low light capability.
   
   As I mentioned earlier, more to come after more experience with this camera.



3. Compact camera with a good sized LED viewer. Lots of bells & whistles but I haven't had it long enough to learn to use all of them. For the simple task of taking a quick photo, it's a breeze to use. We have also used it to take short video clips and are highly impressed with the quality. I think I'm going to love this thing.



4. You really need to know the settings and use them for different shots, or else the pictures tend to really wash out in certain areas. Also, I'm having a hard time with not having the pictures look grainy. I had a Canon before this, and I wish I stuck with that brand. What's great about the Lumix though is that it has burst mode and a great zoom. It responds very fast as well. I just wish that I could get a little bit more of a crisp look to my pictures.



5. Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5A 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)
   
   This camera is everything I expected and hoped it would be. I'm very satisfied with this product.

5 comments about Nikon Coolpix S550 10MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom (Graphite Black).

1. Great Pictures!. I highly recommend buying from a local dealer. My camera stop working within 30 days and I had to ship it to Nikon for repair. Saved a little money on the purchase but just spent $13.00 packaging and shipping for the repair.



2. La calidad de las fotos es muy pero muy buena. Esperaba que el sistema antivibracion (VR) fuera un poco mas efectivo pero funciona bien, quizás lo único que no me convence es que es un poco lenta para procesar la fotografía tomada y eso que uso una tarjeta SD-HC



3. I have to agree with other reviewers who said there were too many blurry pictures. I took over 70 pictures on the day I received this camera. Only five or six turned out good. My last digital camera was a Canon PowerShot A510 with 3.2 mp. I have many hundreds (maybe thousands) of excellent pictures from that camera. The Coolpix was very disappointing. What good is 10 mp when the pictures are blurred? Right away I boxed up the Coolpix and returned it to Amazon. I ordered the Canon PowerShot SX100 IS and received it today. Took about 30 pictures and only had a couple of blurry ones. OPTICAL IMAGE STABILIZER IS VERY IMPORTANT! This camera is not small and sleek but the weight and contour make picture taking very much more stable and comfortable. This 8 mp is the camera I'm going to keep and enjoy. And the 10x optical zoom is fantastic.



4. Pros: Besides the color is very beautiful is a camera that meets all the requirements for a good photo.
   Cons: Penalty that the loading of the battery is not the USB.



5. I bought this for my husband but he does not like it because of the time it takes for the lens to come out and take a picture.

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. This camera has a lot of great features. I bought this for my husband for Christmas and he takes it everywhere. It's a great SLR camera. Nikon has a great product here..the quality of the pictures are phenomenal. It's very easy to use and we're so glad we have it to take on our adventures.



2. I will begin by saying that I was very interested in learning more about photography so I bought the Nikon D40 to photograph the family and take occassional scenic photos. I received the camera, charged the battery for about an hour and then began taking the BEST pictures I had ever taken. (200 the first day) I did not change any settings...."auto" all the way. Right out of the box the camera is amazing.
   
   My wife wondered why I wanted a $500 camera and why I just HAD to have the 55-200 VR Lens for $240 more but now I think she would have paid double. With just under two days under our belts there are over 300 pictures on my SDHC card and we are hooked. I cannot say enough great things about this camera and I'm sure as I learn more about photography with a DSLR my opinion will only get better. This is a great investment for the beginning photographer or soccer mom!
   Would give 10 stars if I could!!!!!



3. I love my new camera! I am a beginner at taking pictures with an SLR camera. I upgraded from my digicam because the flash broke and I wanted a better quality picture of my two young children. The Nikon D40 is very easy to use...in fact, I haven't even opened the manual. I typically leave the setting on Automatic and my pictures have turned out great. I'm already interested in getting a different lense - one that has a greater ability to zoom, but I am definitely happy with this purchase.



4. Excellent photos, easy to use, comfortable to hold, and FAST! This is one great camera, especially for the price. For a little more than many mid to high-end point and shoots, this camera packs a lot of technology into it's small price tag. But for the beginning DSLR user, that technology works in the background so just set it to AUTO and fire away, and you've got the best pictures you have ever taken. You will wish you made the move from point and shoot to DSLR sooner! I did a lot of research before choosing the D40, and all the reviews seemed to point to this one as the best entry-level DSLR, and in the 7 months I have had this camera, I have not been disappointed. Thousands of pictures later, I echo many other positive reviews here - this is one of THE best electronics purchases I have ever made. So many people have asked about my camera after seeing my photos (quite a few have even asked if I am a professional photographer). Several have since bought their own D40s :)
   
   For me, one of the huge annoyances with a point and shoot is the time between shots - waiting and waiting for your camera to recharge the flash or write the data to the memory card. Not a problem with a DSLR. The D40 starts up quickly, is fast between shots, and allows you to take more photos without flash.
   
   In the beginning I used the "scene modes" and Auto, and Auto no Flash, but my interest in photography has grown since using this camera and I use the manal and semi-automatic modes now. This camera is great for BOTH casual and enthusiast users. Stick to AUTO and get great shots OR learn about photography techniques and delve into all of the camera's different settings for more difficult lighting situations, etc.
   
   Once you have your D40, if you find yourself getting interested in photography, you may want to collect some additional gear over time. Here is a list of some accesories I have acquired to use with my D40:
   
   LowePro Rezo 170 Camera Bag (Not ugly. Works great. Holds D40 plus camcorder or D40 plus flash, 2 lenses and room to spare.)
   
   Nikon SB-400 flash (Yes, you eventually want this. Small, lightweight and cheap. Saves your camera's battery power and recharges more quickly. Use it to bounce light off the ceiling for indoor photos. It looks so much better you will never use regular non-diffused front-on flash again. Get rechargeable AA batteries, I love the Sanyo Eneloops and I am slowly replacing all my AAA and AA batteries in the house with these).
   
   Nikkor 55-200mm VR zoom lens (Cheap, works great. Get the VR version, not non-VR version. Nikon sometimes does a $100 rebate with this lens when you buy the camera and lens at the same time. That makes it super cheap).
   
   Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 lens (This is getting repetive, but this lens is cheap. Great value. Amazing low light, no flash pictures. I love natural light and this lens is my favorite for those situations where you don't have that much light available to you. One big drawback is that it is Manual focus on a D40, but over time you learn. Get the Nikon HR2 lens hood to go with it).
   
   Nikon ML-L3 wireless remote (Cheap, works well. Easy way to take family group shots for your Christmas cards).
   
   Sandisk Ultra II Sd Card (Cheap, never had any problems with lost data. Transfer your images frequently to your computer and use your camera to reformat the card each time to minimize your chances of corrupt data or data errors).
   
   Sigma EX DG 52mm Multi-Coated UV Filter (No problems with this filter).
   
   One last thing, during my research I considered getting the Canon Rebel counterpart. To me the Nikon has several advantages - better menus (Canon's menu looks archaic and cheap in comparison), better selection of cheap lenses, flash and other accesories, better ergonomics, better color rendition, auto ISO. Both camera companies are great and both cameras are capable of nice photos, but the D40 is much easier to use, and at the time I bought it, cheaper. I am completely happy I went with Nikon over Canon, and now that I have more experience in the DSLR world I look forward to upgrading to a bigger, more complex D300/700 eventually. But I know will still use my little D40 as well!
   
   One more last thing, if you are still unsure and want to know how to use this camera before buying, you can check the Nikon Digitutor online videos:
   http://www.nikonusa.com/Assets/Digital-SLR/25420-Nikon-D40/Video/Digitutor/25420_d40_digitutor/eng/D40/index.html



5. I bought this because I wanted to capture my youngest boys' in action as they play football. I've been shooting their practices (using the Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor Lens that I also purchased), and am thrilled!! Out of 200 shots, MAYBE one is blurred...I've got kids in full stride racing down the field and the quality is amazing. This isn't a $2000 camera, but for what I paid for it I am extremely pleased.

5 comments about Nikon Coolpix P80 10.1MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle Optical Vibration Reduction Zoom (Black).

1. I was impressed when I found out that Nikon was coming out with an ultra zoom point and shoot but from the time it arrived, I couldn't get good pictures with it. I don't claim to be a professional, but I tried using it in the full automatic mode and manually and pictures were always poor. It's possible that the camera was just defective but after using it for a week and getting very poor results, I am thankful to Amazon for taking it back.



2. Fabulous camera... even for the shaky beginner, it takes flawless pictures.
   
   The best feature is the 1-finger zoom that lets me "stage" the picture very quickly, together with the easy to use special settings and menus to ensure that my picture doesn't suffer from the dreaded 3B's: blurry, boring or bleached out, even from a moving tour bus on a European highway!
   
   Our best picture was taken from a boat in an underground cave, in almost total darkness, with just a bit of light reflecting off the underground lake.
   
   We paired our camera with a small bag and an 8GB SD chip, plus an extra battery which we carried with us fully charged. Thus we could change the battery on the fly and never ran out of power.
   
   Amazon's order came quickly and securely, thanks!!!!



3. I have owned 4 Canons in the last 10 years and cannot complain for the quality in materials and performance. I was hesitant to change to Nikon since I'm somehow acquainted with Canon's "point n'shoot" strenghts and weaknesses. I don't regret having changed. The camera is very good and the menu is really easy to navigate.
   Nikon's P80 is great; but you need to read the manual and take a trip out for a weekend to try different combinatioins in different lighting conditions. I have tried it at the beach with the kids running around; birds walking at the beach; lizards at tree branches; and fireworks at night. Nothing but great results.
   The various shooting options that you get with this camera and the many many perks are the perfect step-up from straight forward point n' shoot to more flexible shooting. I'm more than satisfied with my purchase.
   The only two cons so far are; (i) horrible lens cap (I would pay 10% more to get a self-retractible lens cap) and (ii) plastic of camera body feels a bit cheap (I guess I'm just used to Canon's metal body).



4. The vr on the camera takes clear pics when zoomed all the way out even when your not holding it completely still.It can be sluggish to start up when I try to take a pic in a hurry. I love the camera and would recommend it



5. This camera is everything I had hoped for and more! I was trying to replace a 35mm Minolta with several lenses, flash equip. etc. I think this will do it.

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

5 comments about Canon PowerShot A720IS 8MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom.

1. $345 for this camera from Toyzz when the MSRP is $199?!? I just bought this from Dell Home for $170 with free shipping. I wouldn't be telling you all this if it actually came from Amazon, because Amazon wouldn't mark it up like this.
   
   I needed a small, pocketable camera to keep in my car when I don't feel like lugging around lenses and my DSLR. It's terrific.



2. This is my fourth Canon camera and it is a good camera. However, the software that they provide to download the pictures is terrible. It is much worse than the software that came with every other Canon camera that I have purchased. I recommend buying a different Canon camera just for this reason.



3. Great camera, good buy. Takes nice crisp pics and has no noticeable lag time. Easy tool for removing red eye. I agonized over which camera to get and am extremely happy with this one.



4. Picked this as it was a Consumer Reports "Best Buy". I am super pleased with it. Easy to use, light and with a good grip. Especially like that I can zoom in on a picture already taken to make sure everyone looks good on a "people picture". Buy a larger memory straight away. Amazon did not offer it at the same time as I purchased the camera. Pity! Sale missed!



5. This is a great camera. I have a Canon PowerShot A520 which I was very pleased with, but wanted more zoom and image stabilization for a forthcoming trip out west. This camera sure gives it to you. This is a great camera with many wonderful features. I took a lot of photos with it recently and they are outstanding. Highly recommended.

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

1. I bought this camera after having an older Kodak 4 mega pixel. I was happy with my Kodak other than it being dropped too many times. This little camera is well worth the $130! It takes awesome photos and has video as well! We didnt realize this when we bought it, so it was a nice bonus for us! It seems easy to understand and view photos. I would get this one again! I used it to take my daughter's 5 yr. photo and am happier with them than when I took her to a prof. photographer!



2. Love this camera!! I had a Polaroid before and could not get near the quality of picture that this PowerShot takes!!!
   Also great valve with being just over $100!!!



3. Purchased this camera for my 7-yr-old granddaughter and she was up and shooting with minimal instruction. Wonderful screen, easy to use, small enough to carry just about anywhere, but very good quality photos despite its conservative price.



4. I love this camera. It's smaller. It's basic settings are very easy to use. As you become more familiar, the advanced settings are really fun to play with. I love all the settings: aquarium, snow, portrait, sunset, etc. I am very happy with this purchase.
   
   We did a lot of comparison shopping, and just couldn't get over how perfect this camera was to our needs. I highly recommend this over any other.



5. The Canon A470 has a great price and great features. I like it better than the older model I had, an A85. The older had only 4mp, and appeared to have many more controls. The A470 takes only 2 AA batts, vs the 4 batts for the A85. I need a SIMPLE camera. The features for the price are tops.