5 comments about Canon PowerShot A570IS 7.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom.

1. This camera has the most important thing I've been looking for in a digital camera -- Good Indoor Shots -- . Other digital cameras that I've had did not provide good indoor shots but with an ISO 1600, this camera took great indoor shots. I also liked the image stabilization capability of the Canon 570.



2. This camera takes fantastic pictures!! the zoom woks great at 4x and image stabilization is such a great feature, no blurry pics!!! the screen is also very crisp and large. an all around camera that works great! not compact but packed with features.



3. I got this camera for the situations when I don't want to bring my DSLR/lenses with me.
   There are a few reasons I decided to get this particular camera over other P&S cameras.
   1. Relatively inexpensive (I got it for 140 bucks, shipped).
   2. Full manual control and manual focus.
   3. Pretty small.
   4. Not too many mega pixels. I don't want a camera with 10MP on a 1 cm sensor (the actual usable sensor size is much smaller than that anyway).
   5. It works with CHDK, a 'hacked firmware' developed by the community, which allows all kind of neat stuff, such as motion detection, live histogram, RAW, and so on.
   
   The quality of the image is pretty good for such a cheap and small camera. There is noise even at ISO 80 in full light. However, the camera will apply some noise reduction which takes care of the noise but removes some detail. By default, the camera will also sharpen the noise (well, actually the whole image), which looks bad. However, you can use the above mentioned CHDK firmware, and save the images as raw. Personally, I wouldn't go over ISO 80 with this camera, but I guess ISO 200 is OK too, to some extent.
   
   The battery life is great, you can take 200+ pictures with a set of NiMh batteries, so long as you do not use the flash.
   
   One thing I am not very happy about is the macro mode. If you take a picture of a normal size fly, the fly will be ~600 pixels long.
   The zoom range (35-140mm) is also not ideal, but it's a compact camera, so some compromises have to be made.
   
   Overall, I highly recommend it, it's probably the cheapest camera on the market that takes good quality pictures and has full manual controls.



4. I desperately needed an updated digital camera but with four kids didn't have a lot of time to read thru a thick manual. This camera is perfect for us. It takes great pictures, you can use it right out of the box and is compact enough to go in a purse or in our case a diaper bag. Well worth the money.



5. Lens won't retract and the error message "Lens error, restart camera" displays on the rear screen every time I power on/off the camera. After doing a web search, turns out many other Canon point/shoot digital camera owners have been experiencing the same "lens error" issue. I will take my camera to the repair shop since it is still under warranty. But I won't be buying a Canon again.

5 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 with 2 Nikon School DVDs.

1. After researching many camera's I went the the Nikon D60 because it was a great camera for the money. I really love the pictures it takes and it is very easy to use.



2. The Nikon D60 is a great camera. I was a SLR newbie when I first got this camera. I am still learning all the great features this camera has to offer. It has so many different settings and options that it could take ages to master them all. I thoroughly enjoy this product.



3. I should preface this with a little history, this is my third digital camera but my first digital SLR. I have and still own several quality 35mm SLR but fell for the instant gratification and cost of digital several years ago. I was almost to the point of going back to film due to the drawbacks (slow shutter, quality of enlargements, limited versatility etc.) of my past digital cameras. I then read a review of the new Nikon D60 and for just a little more than I paid for my last 35mm SLR (inflation adjusted) thought I would give it a try.
   I have finally gotten thru the manual of my new Nikon D60 camera, it really has more in common with a 35mm SLR than any digital camera I have ever used. Except for the fact that that I can take 2K pictures at max resolution on the 8 gig SD card I bought. It also has more options than any single person can ever use, I assume this is to appeal to varied users who have different priorities. I have decided to use it much like my old auto 35mm SLRs in Shutter Priority mode most of the time. I now should know enough to take some decent pics if something important comes up, say a wedding or something. It will be some time before I feel I am using all this camera has to offer. The shutter is super quick, again just like a 35mm film camera, no delay. I need to try some action shots now to verify this but at 3 frames a second it should be great.
   As much as I like it this camera is not for everybody, sure you can put it in auto and use it like a point and shoot but if that is all you want save a few hundred and buy a point and shoot. It is also missing two features that some people would like. The 2.5" screen shows you the picture after you take it but can not be used to take pictures, you have to use the viewfinder. I assume this is to save battery power, or maybe they figure real photographers would use the viewfinder anyway. With an SLR you do get exactly what you see in the viewfinder on the picture, plus there is all the other info you would need there, shutter speed, aperture, focus point etc etc. The other feature casual picture takers would miss is the capability to take movies. You can use the continuous mode at 3 frames per second and then you can stitch them together into a MPEG right on the camera. But again this camera is aimed at the serious photographer and if you are serious about movies you would use a video camera anyway.
   Bottom line for me anyway, this camera has everything I loved about my 35mm SLRs, without any of the drawbacks, it is way lighter, cheap to use, (no film), fully adjustable for every exposure criteria, (f-stop, shutter speed, lighting color, white balance, etc. etc), plus I get the instant gratification of digital photography. I can't wait to take some great photos and blow them up as I used to with film. I highly recommend to anyone who wants a good quality, reasonably priced camera. Now I need to pick-up the 70 to 200 zoom lens and remote control, there's this humming bird on the feeder that I would love to capture of "film".



4. Okay, it's 10.2 megapixel, it gives you great pictures, and has plenty of options.
   And it's one of the cheapest D-SLRs on the market right now,
   There are downsides. The flash does not have a commander mode for using wireless flashes, there are only 3 autofocus zones, Nikon does not make an extended battery grip for this model, and the camera will only autofocus with the AF-S and I believe AF-I lenses. Older lenses are still usable, but only with manual focus.
   Ok, all of the bad stuff is now out of the way. Everything is pretty straight forward to set up to take good pictures. I have personally seen point and shoots that have less intuitive controls without having all of the versatility that this camera provides.
   The included lenses are very good considering that they come in a package that costs less than $1000 with the body. The Image Stabilization is very good, and optical quality is high for the price range.
   Personally, I see very little reason to get an advanced point and shoot over the D60.
   In my humble opinion, I think that the Canon XSi/450D is a superior camera; however, I personally could not justify the added expense. The other option from Nikon is the D80, which answers all of my criticisms; however, many first time SLR owners will probably like the added feeling of comfort from the D60's self-cleaning image sensor which is one feature that the D80 lacks. Either way, Canon or Nikon you can't really go wrong in the long run.



5. I recently replaced my old Olympus film SLR with the D60. I have liked my digital Nikon pocket cameras because they are small and easy to use, and my pictures always had better quality than those taken with other similarly-priced brands. However, the pocket cameras' shutter lags really annoyed me and I really missed the quality that glass optics give to landscapes.
   
   So far, I am delighted with the D60. I have taken several short photo classes and experimented with the camera's settings. I am really impressed with the photo quality and ease of use. The D60 is easier to use than my film SLR because the screen reminds me of my settings and offers help. I can see what options I chose for each picture on-screen. The camera lures me into trying manual settings. I am very happy with the quality of the photos I have printed.

5 comments about Nikon Coolpix S210 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Plum).

1. What a great little camera for the price! I am so happy with my purchase. The camera is so easy to use (I can't stand cameras that make you go through 5 menus just to delete a picture) and user friendly. The quality of pictures is impressive for a camera this size and price. I would tell anyone who bought this camera, to read through the manual at what settings to turn on for different types of pictures. It tells you exactly how to take a picture of all sorts of views, like fireworks, people standing indoors in front of bright windows, etc. It helps a lot to know what to turn on/off for such scenes. Some of the complaints I've read in other reviews make me think that people aren't learning how to use settings properly.
   The color of the camera is nice, already gotten compliments on it. The view screen is a very good quality. One of the most important features to me is how fast it takes pictures. I also needed a camera that would take good up-close shots of the jewelry I make. The macro setting is perfect and the pictures turn out great. I'm very pleased. I would recommend this camera to anyone who wants great candids at family events/outings or a compact but well made camera for taking casual portrait-style pictures.



2. I was going on a cross-country trip and was looking for a digital camera to bring with me when my mom recommended this one. I'd never owned a digital camera before, so I was looking for one with a reasonable price and not too many complicated features. This camera fits all my needs and more. Physically, it's a cute color (plum) and small enough to slip into your pocket if you're in a rush (as I was when I took it to the Celtics parade). The interface is pretty intuitive, and I personally prefer using a menu to switch modes over the standard wheel as I'm often worried about bumping said wheel by accident!
   
   As for the pictures it takes? They're not perfect, but they suit my purpose. Some people may want something with more megapixels, but 8 is enough for me. It sometimes has trouble focusing on the correct subject. It doesn't seem to have much of a problem with pet eye, though! Also, the video feature is a wonderful bonus, it picks up audio surprisingly well. Make sure to buy an SD card, though!
   
   A small worry I have is that the battery compartment door seems a little.. "loose." It's not going to pop open on its own, but it does wiggle a little bit and sand could probably get in if you took it to the beach. Buying a case for it would probably decrease that risk significantly, though.
   
   Overall, I feel this is a great digital camera for the price and makes a good starter digital camera for someone like me who isn't usually very good with them.



3. This camera not only looks cool, it's also cool to use.
   
   All the icons help me to get what I want and where I need to be to get my perfect shots.
   
   The quality of my photos were fantastic!
   
   Thank you Coolpix!



4. I bought this camera for an upcoming vacation. Its so small (almost the same size as my cell phone) and fits great in my pocket. My old camera was bulky and not pocket-friendly. It starts super fast too, so you won't miss any "kodak moments." Picture quality seems up to par although I haven't used it that much yet. Fairly simple to use; I spent an hour or so going over the manual. Altogether a pretty good buy!



5. Takes great pictures and is simple to use. Small enough to fit in a purse or pocket easily but big enough to see whats in the view finder without glasses.

5 comments about Nikon Coolpix S210 8.0MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Graphite Black).

1. What a great little camera for the price! I am so happy with my purchase. The camera is so easy to use (I can't stand cameras that make you go through 5 menus just to delete a picture) and user friendly. The quality of pictures is impressive for a camera this size and price. I would tell anyone who bought this camera, to read through the manual at what settings to turn on for different types of pictures. It tells you exactly how to take a picture of all sorts of views, like fireworks, people standing indoors in front of bright windows, etc. It helps a lot to know what to turn on/off for such scenes. Some of the complaints I've read in other reviews make me think that people aren't learning how to use settings properly.
   The color of the camera is nice, already gotten compliments on it. The view screen is a very good quality. One of the most important features to me is how fast it takes pictures. I also needed a camera that would take good up-close shots of the jewelry I make. The macro setting is perfect and the pictures turn out great. I'm very pleased. I would recommend this camera to anyone who wants great candids at family events/outings or a compact but well made camera for taking casual portrait-style pictures.



2. I was going on a cross-country trip and was looking for a digital camera to bring with me when my mom recommended this one. I'd never owned a digital camera before, so I was looking for one with a reasonable price and not too many complicated features. This camera fits all my needs and more. Physically, it's a cute color (plum) and small enough to slip into your pocket if you're in a rush (as I was when I took it to the Celtics parade). The interface is pretty intuitive, and I personally prefer using a menu to switch modes over the standard wheel as I'm often worried about bumping said wheel by accident!
   
   As for the pictures it takes? They're not perfect, but they suit my purpose. Some people may want something with more megapixels, but 8 is enough for me. It sometimes has trouble focusing on the correct subject. It doesn't seem to have much of a problem with pet eye, though! Also, the video feature is a wonderful bonus, it picks up audio surprisingly well. Make sure to buy an SD card, though!
   
   A small worry I have is that the battery compartment door seems a little.. "loose." It's not going to pop open on its own, but it does wiggle a little bit and sand could probably get in if you took it to the beach. Buying a case for it would probably decrease that risk significantly, though.
   
   Overall, I feel this is a great digital camera for the price and makes a good starter digital camera for someone like me who isn't usually very good with them.



3. This camera not only looks cool, it's also cool to use.
   
   All the icons help me to get what I want and where I need to be to get my perfect shots.
   
   The quality of my photos were fantastic!
   
   Thank you Coolpix!



4. I bought this camera for an upcoming vacation. Its so small (almost the same size as my cell phone) and fits great in my pocket. My old camera was bulky and not pocket-friendly. It starts super fast too, so you won't miss any "kodak moments." Picture quality seems up to par although I haven't used it that much yet. Fairly simple to use; I spent an hour or so going over the manual. Altogether a pretty good buy!



5. Takes great pictures and is simple to use. Small enough to fit in a purse or pocket easily but big enough to see whats in the view finder without glasses.

5 comments about Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body only).

1. This camera is packed with options that will never even be used, but they're nice to have just in case. Jus tneed to spend time and learn how to use them. Would reccomend this camera to everyone.



2. An avid photographer, I was upgrading from a Sony Cybershot that I had had for 5 years and that had essentially been another appendage. So I read review after review... knowing simply that I wanted my next camera to be user friendly, have more pixels/take clearer photos than my previous, have greater zoom, a larger LCD screen and give me editing options for photos taken. Well, my Nikon D80 delivers all of this and more. I've had it for 1 month today and I've taken over 200 photos... and to give you another's perspective, friends have commented on the clarity of all the photos that I have shared with them. I'm a thrilled with it. It was worth EVERY PENNY!



3. I won't go into the individual specs because every other review does that. Ever wonder why it is compared to the professional Nikon D200? Most people don't know this but the D80 and D200 are brothers! The little brother, D80, has most of the same functions, CPU programs and CCD image sensor (10.2 mega-pixel) but the D80 must be preprogrammed to set up your shot (unless using AUTO), a time consuming process, and the main frame is made of plastic.
   
   The metal D200, however is for the pro who has the camera to their eye everyday and knows the settings like the back of their hand, thus it can be programmed on the fly by rubber finger knobs and settings can be read in the viewfinder so they don't have to take the camera from their face. That's a lot of itty-bitty info for an amateur and although it can be used in AUTO, what self-righteous photographer wants that?
   
   In short, the D80 is meant for the semi-pro while its big brother, D200, is the D80 on steroids!



4. Nikon D80 is my first Digital SLR(In fact, first serious camera I bought), my previous camera was canon SD1000 point and shoot. Overall I am pleased with the picture quality. But I don't like the fact that Nikon D80 overexposes photos a lot in automatic mode. Many of the photos I took in bright sunlight is washed out. After reading and experimenting a lot, I learned to take pictures in manual model, with different metering(SPOT and CENTER WEIGHTED) to avoid this issue. But after spending about 1299 $, I don't like the performance of the camera in automatic mode at all. I hope Nikon will release a firmware update to fix the metering. If you are a novice DSLR person like me, and is considering buying a system, I suggest you go with Canon EOS 40D, I haven't used it, but after researching a lot online, I haven't come across major issues with EOS 40D. Experts can correct me if I am wrong.



5. The D80 is my first digital SLR, and my fourth Nikon camera. I've owned 35mm SLR cameras since 1975 or so. The D80 is already my favorite of them all. It packs a lot of features, Nikon reliability, and a good form factor into one well-priced package.
   
   I had first intended to purchase the D60, but after doing a side-by-side feature comparison, I decided that the D80 provided more bang for the buck. One feature the D80 has that was critical to me is a depth of field preview -- an important feature for macro photography, and not one you will find on the D40 or D60 cameras.
   
   People with small hands may find the D40/D60 easier to handle, but the D80 feels great in my average sized hands.
   
   I purchased the 16-85mm and 70-300mm VR lenses at the same time and I am very happy with my choices.

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

1. As a fairly cheap point-and-shoot camera, the Nikon Coolpix S550 is a pretty neat piece of hardware. It's certainly not a high-end DSLR, but it's good at what it does, and it offers some nice pluses over other cameras in its price range.
   
   The good:
   -5x optical zoom is very good for a little camera like this, and is tops in this camera's class. I would like to remind readers that "digital zoom" really just crops out part of a picture to make it look bigger in the viewfinder while destroying actual shot quality, so please disregard the "digital zoom" on this or any camera.
   -10megapixel resolution is pretty phenominal, especially in this camera's price range, especially coupled with the 5x zoom. Dollar-for-dollar, you're getting a lot.
   -Shutter and record speeds seem great. Note that with megapixels this high, you're going to need a high-speed SDHC memory card if you don't want to see too much of the hourglass.
   -The high resolution and zoom really combine for wow power when you take movies with the camera. Although the mic is terrible and you'll probably just want to mute it, you can take movies of a pet where you can see every individual hair from a respectable distance if you so choose. On a one-gig card, I can shoot a half-hour of movies at this quality.
   -The camera's overall size is very comfortable. Not much taller and wider than a credit card, not much thicker than a thin paperback, and compeletely flat when it's powered down. Yet it's still roomy- I'm a 6'+ guy with stubby fingers, and I've never fumbled a button yet.
   -Tons of modes. The camera can take widescreen pictures or regular format, PAL or NTSC, and resolutions from standard tv (640x480) through the roof (over 3,000 vertical pixels). It has smile recognition, stabilization, various compensation filters including red-eye. It has Portrait, Outdoor, Indoor, and even Copy for taking pictures of documents just in case you're a secret agent on a budget. The basic Shoot and Smile modes seem wholly satisfactory, but this camera offers plenty of room to grow. Yesterday I took some very clear photos of moths in flight, with no adjustments other than setting the camera to high ISO.
   
   The not-so-good:
   -No optical viewfinder, only the digital screen. It's a very good and very big screen though, so this is mostly just for nostalgia's sake.
   -The camera doesn't have a dial for the various settings. Instead of just clicking over to Portrait or Outdoor, you have to hit a menu button and look around. This is a pretty small complaint overall, but I would have still preferred a wheel.
   -I've noticed that with a lot of low-end digital cameras like this, you can see that as the camera auto-adjusts it will show a perfectly sharp picture in the viewfinder, but keep adjusting until the picture becomes a bit blurry. Maybe this is just something about the way I take pictures, but I know this camera is capable of clearer shots. This is especially evident in extreme close-ups, such as under a foot away. The camera will adjust right up to a perfectly crisp photo for a moment, then keep going to a blurry mess before it snaps the shot. If I could just cut out the last few moments of zooming, I'd have gotten a perfect photo. I saw this same thing with a number of comparable cameras while doing in-store tests, and I'm puzzled as to what causes it (maybe I need to turn off the assist beam sometimes, I don't know). I'll have to check the camera's official site and such to see if I can find tips.
   -5x zoom, while really wonderful for the price range, still seems a bit stifling. Maybe I'm just at the point in my life where I need to own up to the truth and save up for a high-end SLR. 5x optical is certainly much better than the 3x zoom that comes with most comparable cameras.
   
   Overall, I really got this camera because it was time to upgrade from my old Canon A60. The A60 took really great photos in the right conditions, but it couldn't adapt to conditions well, and it had a very big delay between pressing the button and getting a shot. The Coolpix has already paid for itself with smile recognition- I'm a "psychic blinker" who manages to always shut his eyes the moment a photo is taken, and I haven't gotten a single photo of myself with my eyes closed, even doing close-ups with flash.
   
   If you're just starting out in the digital world, this camera has all the best features with a clear interface and instant point-and-shoot modes that require no calibration. If you're like me and you just need to find a smarter digital camera, you could do a lot worse than this one for the same money. If this camera suits your price range, you simply must put it at the top of your list. The only reason I'd suggest passing on this camera is if you've got significantly more money to spend on a higher class of camera.



2. Great product. Small size, Easy buttons, quality pictures. Make sure you get a charger that can run on 120-240 V anywhere in the world, since the product only comes with one that runs in the US (120V).



3. I am so glad I got this camera before my vacation to Maine. This camera far exceeds my expectations. I bought a memory card that holds over 500 pictures. Great quality. All the pictures turned out terrific. No red eye, no bad flash, no problems at all!!! My old kodak had worn out and I was amazed at how great these pictures turned out. Great value for the price. I highly recommend.



4. I have been looking for a small, light, GOOD camera to take on an extensive backpacking trip. This camera fits that criteria well. The 5X zoom lets you reach out and get pictures that a 3X zoom just doesn't do well.
   
   The only negative I have found is that it uses a proprietary battery instead of something readily available (like AAs).



5. My new Coolpix S550 does everything I expect it to do. Foremost, it is very compact and fits into my pants or coat pocket so I can get shots when opportunities come up without the bother of lugging a bigger camera and also people are not put off by my looking like a dogged camera man. It takes great pictures. I still do not really like the new approach to photography using the little screen on the back of the camera instead of a traditional viewer. However, I have two other digital cameras that fulfill the rest of my needs. Nothing beats a nice Nikon or Cannon SLR. But, they do not fit in my pocket and will do me no good if they are at home and I am out somewhere wishing I had my camera for that great unexpected opportunity shot.

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

1. As a fairly cheap point-and-shoot camera, the Nikon Coolpix S550 is a pretty neat piece of hardware. It's certainly not a high-end DSLR, but it's good at what it does, and it offers some nice pluses over other cameras in its price range.
   
   The good:
   -5x optical zoom is very good for a little camera like this, and is tops in this camera's class. I would like to remind readers that "digital zoom" really just crops out part of a picture to make it look bigger in the viewfinder while destroying actual shot quality, so please disregard the "digital zoom" on this or any camera.
   -10megapixel resolution is pretty phenominal, especially in this camera's price range, especially coupled with the 5x zoom. Dollar-for-dollar, you're getting a lot.
   -Shutter and record speeds seem great. Note that with megapixels this high, you're going to need a high-speed SDHC memory card if you don't want to see too much of the hourglass.
   -The high resolution and zoom really combine for wow power when you take movies with the camera. Although the mic is terrible and you'll probably just want to mute it, you can take movies of a pet where you can see every individual hair from a respectable distance if you so choose. On a one-gig card, I can shoot a half-hour of movies at this quality.
   -The camera's overall size is very comfortable. Not much taller and wider than a credit card, not much thicker than a thin paperback, and compeletely flat when it's powered down. Yet it's still roomy- I'm a 6'+ guy with stubby fingers, and I've never fumbled a button yet.
   -Tons of modes. The camera can take widescreen pictures or regular format, PAL or NTSC, and resolutions from standard tv (640x480) through the roof (over 3,000 vertical pixels). It has smile recognition, stabilization, various compensation filters including red-eye. It has Portrait, Outdoor, Indoor, and even Copy for taking pictures of documents just in case you're a secret agent on a budget. The basic Shoot and Smile modes seem wholly satisfactory, but this camera offers plenty of room to grow. Yesterday I took some very clear photos of moths in flight, with no adjustments other than setting the camera to high ISO.
   
   The not-so-good:
   -No optical viewfinder, only the digital screen. It's a very good and very big screen though, so this is mostly just for nostalgia's sake.
   -The camera doesn't have a dial for the various settings. Instead of just clicking over to Portrait or Outdoor, you have to hit a menu button and look around. This is a pretty small complaint overall, but I would have still preferred a wheel.
   -I've noticed that with a lot of low-end digital cameras like this, you can see that as the camera auto-adjusts it will show a perfectly sharp picture in the viewfinder, but keep adjusting until the picture becomes a bit blurry. Maybe this is just something about the way I take pictures, but I know this camera is capable of clearer shots. This is especially evident in extreme close-ups, such as under a foot away. The camera will adjust right up to a perfectly crisp photo for a moment, then keep going to a blurry mess before it snaps the shot. If I could just cut out the last few moments of zooming, I'd have gotten a perfect photo. I saw this same thing with a number of comparable cameras while doing in-store tests, and I'm puzzled as to what causes it (maybe I need to turn off the assist beam sometimes, I don't know). I'll have to check the camera's official site and such to see if I can find tips.
   -5x zoom, while really wonderful for the price range, still seems a bit stifling. Maybe I'm just at the point in my life where I need to own up to the truth and save up for a high-end SLR. 5x optical is certainly much better than the 3x zoom that comes with most comparable cameras.
   
   Overall, I really got this camera because it was time to upgrade from my old Canon A60. The A60 took really great photos in the right conditions, but it couldn't adapt to conditions well, and it had a very big delay between pressing the button and getting a shot. The Coolpix has already paid for itself with smile recognition- I'm a "psychic blinker" who manages to always shut his eyes the moment a photo is taken, and I haven't gotten a single photo of myself with my eyes closed, even doing close-ups with flash.
   
   If you're just starting out in the digital world, this camera has all the best features with a clear interface and instant point-and-shoot modes that require no calibration. If you're like me and you just need to find a smarter digital camera, you could do a lot worse than this one for the same money. If this camera suits your price range, you simply must put it at the top of your list. The only reason I'd suggest passing on this camera is if you've got significantly more money to spend on a higher class of camera.



2. Great product. Small size, Easy buttons, quality pictures. Make sure you get a charger that can run on 120-240 V anywhere in the world, since the product only comes with one that runs in the US (120V).



3. I am so glad I got this camera before my vacation to Maine. This camera far exceeds my expectations. I bought a memory card that holds over 500 pictures. Great quality. All the pictures turned out terrific. No red eye, no bad flash, no problems at all!!! My old kodak had worn out and I was amazed at how great these pictures turned out. Great value for the price. I highly recommend.



4. I have been looking for a small, light, GOOD camera to take on an extensive backpacking trip. This camera fits that criteria well. The 5X zoom lets you reach out and get pictures that a 3X zoom just doesn't do well.
   
   The only negative I have found is that it uses a proprietary battery instead of something readily available (like AAs).



5. My new Coolpix S550 does everything I expect it to do. Foremost, it is very compact and fits into my pants or coat pocket so I can get shots when opportunities come up without the bother of lugging a bigger camera and also people are not put off by my looking like a dogged camera man. It takes great pictures. I still do not really like the new approach to photography using the little screen on the back of the camera instead of a traditional viewer. However, I have two other digital cameras that fulfill the rest of my needs. Nothing beats a nice Nikon or Cannon SLR. But, they do not fit in my pocket and will do me no good if they are at home and I am out somewhere wishing I had my camera for that great unexpected opportunity shot.

5 comments about Pentax K200D 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens.

1. Good product; dad likes it; dunno much about cameras but he can re-use all the old pentax lenses that he had with his 'film' camera.
   Easy to start using ....we'll know more later as the usage ramps up.
   Kinda cheap that they dont sell the memory card and camera bag all in one package....and you have to separately buy and pay for each shipping.



2. I tried quite a few cameras to upgrade from my 2003 Fuji, and in fact bought -and returned!- a new Fuji, before this. This Pentax K200D camera does an amazing number of things well. Settings are easy to use, and it does very, very well just as a point-and-shoot on "automatic" setting. The pictures are extremely nice in colors and detail.
   I am by no means a professional - I am still re-learning what a lot of those settings mean. The camera does not overwhelm you with a zillion things, but does give you choices. OR there are a lot of basic Scene modes, that do seem to work decently well, if you don't want to try to do the white balance, etc, on your own. For an amateur like myself, who has to bend my brain to try to remember what those things are at all, it is a great way to pick it up without being overwhelmed with a professional camera. And there have been times when I don't have time to try out these things, so I just put it on automatic and let it figure it out as I switch from bright sunshine, inside a darker space, etc.
   The megabytes mean there is a lot of info in each picture - using Photoshop to crop or play with the picture results in some spectacular shots when I need it. Recently, I had to take pictures under a large picnic pavilion, without using a flash but with all the bright sunshine outside. The camera did well, and Photoshop was easily able to get me the detail I needed on the inside shots, balancing out the very bright background. Not every camera has pictures that have enough detail to pull a good shot out of those details. The same thing happened at a school assemble - good shots under difficult conditions.
   The only problem pictures I have had are NOT the camera's fault - people moving when I do not have it in sports mode. Putting it in sports mode does indeed help if things are going to move around on you.
   I am satisfied with the shutter lag - it's pretty fast - and the quality of the camera.
   I am particularly happy that my 20 year old Pentax lense works with this. It was the reason I bought the camera, in the end - the ability to use the old lenses from my old Pentax film camera, and even the additional flash (also ancient). Pentax has made it so you can use them, and even makes an adapter for the really old lenses. This makes upgrading to other lenses so much easier, as there are a lot of older lenses around. And I feel better about not just throwing out perfectly good stuff.



3. After my old Canon AE1, I choose the Pentax K200D for the security : Wherever you are, you can find AA batteries and SD card and against humidity, the K200D is tropicalised and build with a iron structure.
   I rediscover the pleasure to take photo.



4. I absolutely love this camera!
   
   In December of '07 I decided to purchase a K10D but then I heard a rumor that Pentax was coming out with a new line of cameras at PMA. After tons of research I realized that the K200D has the same sensor as the K10D but in a smaller package and redesigned software for beginning photographers.
   
   I purchased this camera the second it became available on amazon and I have never regretted it. It's hard to believe that a camera in this price range is this well built, has in body shake reduction, depth of field preview (screen by default, viewfinder via setting change), 11-point AF, advanced metering, and the list goes on.
   
   The kit lens is great but I soon purchased an after market Tamron 70-300 also from amazon.
   
   Nothing on the market comes close to the value of this camera.
   
   Tip: This camera really benefits from a fast SD card. I use the SanDisk Extreme III 4GB.
   
   -David



5. I'm new to dSLR photography, moving up from a terrific point & shoot (Canon A620). I've only shot around 500 images so far--still have a lot to learn about how to get the best results--but already I've gotten some great pics from it. A few pros and cons of the camera from what I've seen so far:
   
   Pro:
   -Good kit lens, sharp.
   
   -Good in body image stabilization (I've taken some wide angle shots hand held at 1/10th second with no trouble!)
   
   -Built like a tank! This thing feels like a very solid piece of equipment.
   
   -Runs on AA batteries. Huge plus in my opinion. A good set of rechargeables like the Sanyo Eneloops will probably be my next purchase. AA batteries are great because you can find them at virtually any store if you get caught with no juice.
   
   -Logical control layout; easy to quickly change settings.
   
   -Great image quality overall, even at high ISO! It does take some learning to produce the best results, especially if you are not familiar with things like aperture, shutter speeds, exposure compensation, etc. Of course you always have the auto mode to fall back on, but I try to avoid this as much as I can - trial and error with the other settings seems to be teaching me a lot more about the camera and photography in general.
   
   Con:
   -Automatic white balance is rather poor when shooting indoors. This seems to be true of other SLRs that I have used too. The different settings (fluorescent, tungsten, etc.) can help here, but indoor lighting can still be tricky, especially when light is coming from two different types of bulb at the same time. My advice is to take a few shot at different white balance settings and see what looks the best to you. Also, a gray card is very useful for setting manual white balance, which in my experience has been the most accurate and pleasing to look at.
   
   -No backlight for the top LCD screen. A minor annoyance.
   But at least this camera has a top LCD, as the entry level Canons and Nikons and others do not.
   
   -No live view. Not really an issue for me at all, though I could see why others would not like this especially if they are used to point and shoots.
   
   
   I know there are many more things that can be said about the camera but these are just a few which I have noticed so far. All in all I think I made a great choice buying this Pentax. It takes wonderful pictures and is really a joy to use.

5 comments about Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens (Black).

1. I've had this camera about 6 mos and have NO complaints. It takes much better pictures than my current abilities. Coupling this camera with Photoshop Elements helps me produce some much "better that average" pictures for printing!



2. I've had this camera for almost two years now, and I've taken well over 10,000 pictures with it. I've never been happier with this digiecam than with any camera I used before. I went from a 35mm SLR to a hi-grade P&S digital, and then to the XTi; and haven't looked back since.
   
   I'll be upgrading to the XSi in the near future, basically the same camera with a little bit higher resolution sensor, live view and a few other bells and whistles.



3. I've had this camera for a little over a month, and I've only had time to take a hundred pictures or so, but I really love this camera. But buyers should be aware that this is an entry-level DSLR. There are only a few things nagging me, but I should share them with you. First, only in certain modes can the flash be forced "off" -- otherwise, it pops up if the object of focus is dark and the background is a bit brighter... Sometimes, it was just annoying, particularly on a bright sunny day when taking pictures in the shade when I think I would have preferred it to stay closed, and it kept popping up. Secondly, the kit lens. Well, it's a kit lens, and while it's okay for a beginning lens, it's not very good, especially if you want to take a wider variety of pictures (low-light, shallower depth of field), and its picture at lower f-stops is soft, to be kind (I found the pictures at higher F-stops to be decent, however, not great).
   
   Those are the main things I've noticed and been bothered by, but otherwise, the camera is fantastic, and an incredible jump up from most point-and-shoot cameras.



4. I've waited for years to buy something better than a PowerShot. I've never taken photography classes, always loved taking pictures, and have been told many times I have a good eye. This is the perfect camera to help me realize my full novice potential. I don't know how it rates with old school SLRs or even comparable products, but I do know that I love it and will keep it with me always. You never know when a perfect photo op will present itself.



5. I will come back to modify this review when I hear the result from either J&R or Canon.
   I was doing a ten day trip and shot a lot of pictures. So I bascially charged two batteries every other day alternatively. Unfortunately, the fourth or fifth time the charger just went bad. I had to shoot pictures very selectively.
   When I came back, I sent an email to J&R and they asked me to call Canon service since my charger is still under warranty. So I called canon, and was very disappointed to be told that the charger was not covered in warranty!
   The rep kept asking me whether the charger was damaged when I received it! I am trying to contact with both J&R and canon and see how this got resolved.

5 comments about Sony DCR-DVD610 DVD Handycam Camcorder with 40x Optical Zoom.

1. All sounds great, records to memory stick, I think I have finally found a camera that I can just plug in an upload video to my ibook- NO LUCK! It records video and still images to memory stick but only the still images are recognized. SHOULD BE PRINTED ON THE BOX THAT IT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH MAC.



2. This is a great camcorder. I use the highest quality and the videos have very good quality. Transfering the videos to the computer is very easy, just set the camera in USB mode, connect cables to camera and PC using the USB cable provided and copy the mpeg files to your computer. One file is created everytime you start and stop recording which makes it easy to create a DVD menu.
   
   Another feature that I like is the ability to record video either using the mini DVDs or memory stick. I bought a 4Gb memory stick and I am able to record 59 minutes of video in HQ mode. I went on a trip to London and carried mini 3 DVDs which I didn't have to use. Every night I would transfer videos to the laptop in the hotel and start with 59 minutes of video the next day.
   
   One thing I didn't like about the camera was the battery. It should last longer so I bought another with more capacity.



3. very dissapointed with the performance of this camcorder... my old sony tvr250 had much better picture and performance.. stay away
   it does not focus well... the video looks slightly pixelated
   
   I tried multiple recodings, media, and lighting situations without improved performance...



4. Have had this camera for two weeks now and it has surpassed my own expectations, which were fairly high. Picture quality and ease of use are superb, but I can't overestimate the hybrid feature. Being able to record to memory stick and then dub copies to mini-DVD all within the camera when you're on the road is fantastic. This allows you to make copies for people on the fly. The memory stick makes editing a cinch too. Just pop it in your memory card reader and load the converted mpg files into Vista Movie Maker, then have some fun!



5. When my oldest daughter had her first child (it was also my first grandchild) two years ago I bought her a digital camera and printer. I have been since rewarded by receiving many photos of my favorite (and only) grandchild.
   
   Now, for my granddaughter's second birthday, I bought her this video camera. After reading many of the reviews for this and other camcorders on Amazon I picked the Sony DCR-DVD610 because met all of the needs that I had for a camcorder that I would give as a gift:
   
   1. POPULAR. Almost everyone who purchased this item was very happy with it. This was not so with all of the best-selling camcorders, even those at twice the price.
   
   2. EASY. I wanted to get her one that was fairly easy to use. I read the instruction book on-line and felt that this fit the bill.
   
   3. DVDs. It was important to me that it used some sort of DVD as the primary recording media since I feel that it is more archival than tape and more secure than a hard drive only.
   
   4. PRICE. Even though would have been willing to spend more, I was hoping for something under $400.
   
   I also purchased an accessory kit (which included a bag, an extra battery and 2 DVDs) and then some extra Sony brand DVDs (after reading some of the reviews I decided to stick with the Sony brand in order to avoid the message that pops up when you use a different brand of DVDs).
   
   So far my daughter and her husband have been VERY happy with this gift and I am hoping see some great videos of my beautiful granddaughter who lives several states away.
   
   Sony ACC-DVDH2 Accessory Starter Kit for Handycam, DVD, Camcorders