1 comments about Vivitar DVR560G 5.2MP CMOS 2" LCD Digital Camera.

1. As a Digital Video Camera, this item is okay for the price, and out-performs many much more expensive models.
   
   The still camera feature is about what you would expect from a cell phone, though the videocamera camera capability is a bit better, and certainly out-performs any cell-phone, which is a surprise for the price.
   
   I bought it specifically as a video PLAYER, however, and it kicks butt and takes names as a player.
   
   I have a two and a half hour commute on the train daily, and this thing has saved my sanity. I download John Stewart, Stephen Colbert and the like to the player every night, for viewing the next morning.
   
   The only problem I have with the unit is that the software that converts the internet video files to Vivitar compatible files isn't fast; it takes about an hour to convert two and a half hours of video. However, just about any other player needs you to convert for their proprietary format, too.

5 comments about Casio Exilim EX-Z77 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Anti-Shake Optical Zoom (Pink).

1. i just bought this camera for a gift and now i want to have one. I really recommend this article it works perfectly if you are not professional (like me) you will not have any complaints.



2. I just bought this camera and I absolutely love it!! It is easy to use and takes incredible pictures. I own a Macbook Pro, and downloading pictures to IPhoto and videos to IMovie could not be any easier. Video quality is good for short videos, but can be grainy when you zoom in. There is also some background noise when using the zoom feature in videos. Since I bought the camera for still pictures and not video, though, I am extremely pleased with this camera and the quality of the pictures that it produces.



3. Bought this for my 16 year-old daughter. She's a Myspace and Youtube junkie. The camera is an excellent value, very easy to shoot for Internet sites with a simple setting. No more resizing pictures before uploading. With face detection that works and image stabilization, a real nice camera at a very resonable price. Also allows for rapid-fire shots!!



4. I bought this camera for my daughter who is 9. I got a great deal on it due to someone returning it. At first I was weary of the fact that someone retured it. But I have fallen in love with this camera. Its extremely easy to navigate very light and takes great pictures. I have pretty much claimed the camera for my own now.. I have choosen it over my way more expensive camera. Now planning on buying another one for my mom for mothers day. I highly recomment it.



5. I bought this camera a few months ago, and I love it! I was looking for something that was simple to use, but still great quality, and this was perfect. The camera is lightweight and doesn't take up much space. The pictures come out clear, even zoomed in. Video quality is great as well. Overall, this is just my favorite camera.

5 comments about Olympus Stylus 710 7.1MP Ultra Slim Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver).

1. BEING SOMEWHAT TECHNOLOGICALLY ILLITERATE, THIS CAMERA IS EASY ENOUGH FOR ME TO USE AND FEEL COMFORTABLE USING IT. DIRECTIONS ARE CLEAR AND EASY TO FOLLOW,FOR WHICH I WAS THANKFUL. THE PICTURES THEMSELVES ARE VERY CLEAR AND NICE AND I LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU CAN SEE YOUR SUBJECT CLEARLY IN THE WINDOW, BEFORE SNAPPING THE PHOTO. MY LAST CAMERA DID NOT HAVE THAT CAPABILITY AND CONSEQUENTLY, IS SITTING IN A DRAWER. THIS IS A VERY NICE CAMERA AND THE SALE PRICE WAS AN ADDED INCENTIVE. MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW ORDERED ONE PRIOR AND SHE RECOMMENDED THIS CAMERA TO ME....SO GLAD SHE DID!



2. I owned an older Olympus digital camera and the thing I hated the most about it was that it took forever to snap the photo. My subjects would often not be in my picture, would complain about posing or I'd just miss the shot. I loved it otherwise and bought this one. I couldn't believe that it had the same problem! It took forever to snap! I returned it and bought a Canon ELPH and am much happier. The Olympus did take wonderful picutes once you finally got them!



3. This a very good weather resistant digital. It works very well for outdoor activities like hiking and biking. I bought one and used it on my five month thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail last year. I used it through snowstorms, rain, high heat and other hazards on the trail and took hundreds of pictures. That one finally expired this year due to due to all of the abuse I gave it. I recently bought another one and just used it on the famous bicycle trip across Iowa, RAGBRAI.



4. I absolutely love this camera. I would recommend buying the case as well. My friend lost my camera and I am buying the same exact one twice.



5. I purchased the Olympus Stylus 710 brand new in 2006. During the 2 years that I have owned it, it has proven to be a fairly dependable camera. General performance was good although the indoor shots (with flash) and outdoor action shots (i.e. kids playing soccer) could have been better. For some reason, any indoor shot with flash that involves the zoom always ends up dark and blurry, so it's pretty much a given that if I use my zoom and my flash indoors, I will get blurry pictures. Macro shots with a flash aren't that great either. Nevertheless, I've been fairly happy with it.....
   
   ...until a couple of weeks ago. While taking pictures during our beach vacation, I was appalled when my camera stopped working. In the midst of taking shots, I got this odd whirring sound, the lens popped in and out, then the LCD screen turned blue. An error message: "D : 5f 08 5e 02" appeared on the screen and my camera stopped working. I was able to view the pictures I had taken, but the same whirring/lens popping/blue screen thing happened each time I tried to take a picture.
   
   All this within 2 1/2 years of purchase!! So this camera is dead and it would cost me almost as much as a new camera to have the problem fixed. I find it completely unacceptable for a camera to stop working this quickly (I had a manual point-and-shoot Canon Sureshot back in the day which lasted 10 years and counting!). Needless to say, this has completely turned me off from Olympus and I'm never buying an Olympus camera again!! Buyer beware - check the net for '5f08' or '5e02' problems and you will find lots of them. I wish I had known this before purchasing it. I would have looked elsewhere!

5 comments about Olympus Stylus 830 8MP Digital Camera with Dual Image Stabilized 5x Optical Zoom (Silver).

1. I bought this camera after doing plenty of research and previously owning an Olympus camera. Well, it seems the 5 year old Olympus worked better than this one.
   
   I hate this camera! If you are shooting outdoors with plenty of light or macro pictures, your shots will probably come out alright.
   
   Any pictures I have taken indoors, in low light with a flash come out looking grainy, and several look blurry, even though I have image stabilizer turned on. The image stabilizer doesn't appear to do anything.
   
   The zoom is also horrible, and all the picture I have used zoom on have turned out grainy.
   
   I'm very disappointed, especially considering I paid [...] for this camera. I think I'm going to buy a Canon to replace it.



2. An excellent choice for very good price. Very simple to manage it almost able without reading manual. Worldwide warranty included. Pictures are very good. Not sturdy. I like it.



3. The Olympus Stylus 830 is the best camera I have ever used. It even shoots under water. Amazing. I shoot in all types of weather without a problem.



4. Ok i read reviews about this product and the nikon cool pix. I own a large SLR Nikon D80. I ave shot with a small canon powershot for years. I started in manual 35 mm. This camera is great. I was happy for years with the photo quality of my Canon , as well with their software and support. It was an early model and slow. I am learning my big Nikon D80 and for its money i am sure it can do loads of brilliant things, still not terribly active with it and disappointed in Nikons Web support and image quality sometimes. As i said it may be i haven't unlocked its potential but small reservations along with reviews led me to be suspect of going with Nikon on my new compact digital. A friend suggested olympus, i saw some of her photos from a very basic and older model and the color was amazing...stil hesitant to go with a manufacture i never handled, the reviews seemed positive and the photos i had seen were proof. I bought this model and almost everything is perfect. -
   It SHoots very large format photos for later processing.
   -Adjusts quickly,
   -the flash photograpy retains the color you were looking for in the first place
   - preset modes, menus and choices are fully functional and usable as tools.
   -enough manual adjustment and preview mode to real have some flexibility in creating the right look in the photo.
   -menu was easy to learn
   -though i have photoshop, its own software program seems very straight forward and functional.
   -movie mode
   -panorama
   -they don't really explain enough about it various features and settings in the product description.
   Cons are:
   it only has the digital viewer, no physical view finder. ie you find yourself shading it in bright light to see what you are trying to photo. not a problem for me though, everything else is too nice
   -as well they use the their own media type exclusive to Olympus. I got over that too!
   Great buy you won't be disappointed



5. This camera is a great balance of high quality pictures, zoom, price, size, and durability. As seen in the pics at Disneyland and California Adventures, it takes excellent pictures that capture sharp details. The camera also suffered a drop during this trip, and the fall didn't phase it at all. Another selling point for me was that it's weather-proof and that a rechargeable battery is included. You don't have to worry about precipitation spoiling the camera or buying batteries/rechargeable battery kit. The only downside to this camera was that I had to buy the memory card separately (but that would have had to happen with any other camera, as I found in my research - I recommend the 2GB...nearly 500 pics on super high quality!). This camera is the total package and I highly recommend it!

5 comments about Aiptek PCM13 PenCam 1.3MP Digital Camera.

1. Although this camera is cheap, it should be. Pictures require a great deal of light and then tend to be very contrasty... too bright in sun areas and too dark in shade. Movies are better than still pictures. It is easy to carry, but eats up batteries very fast. I use rechargeables but after 15 pictures and two 10 sec. movies, on a fresh set, I got a low battery warning. I have owned about 15 digital cameras over the past 15 years, and this is the worst by far. It is about the quality of most camera phones... if that good. The Oregon Scientific and the Logitech took much better pictures and took them in much lower light conditions. I bought the refub model for less than the price here and it came with all the extras.
   
   UPDATE: I have taken another two dozen pictures in good light and the pictures are better than the first batch. In fact, I compared them to those of my Kodak from 1999 with the same resolution but $200, and they are nearly identical, so I must conclude that cameras with this resolution take the same quality pictures, or nearly so, so it is really a four star for the price. Converting the pictures to black and white in Picassa 2 or other software produces very good b&w pictures... surprisingly good.



2. 1 star only because you can't opt to choose no stars.
   I bought this thing about a year ago. I wanted a small camera to keep in my every day carry bag and figured this would be cool since it was small and cheap.
   I got it, loaded the crummy software, took ssome sample pictures, hooked it up to the computer and nothing. I have yet to be able to get the picture of this thing. I don't know if it's a problem with the software or the camera itself but after several attempts I just put it in the closet and forgot about it.



3. THIS CAMERA IS SMALL AND KINDA NEAT,BUT IT DIDNT WORK VERY LONG.AIPTEK MAKES SOME REALLY COOL CAMERAS BUT THIS IS NOT A GOOD ONE!!



4. For the price I expected poor quality photos, but that isn't what bothered me about the camera. What bothered me is that I couldn't just connect the camera up to my USB port and download photos. Worse, yet, I was required to install Windows XP drivers that are not certified - clicking "yes" through a series of prompts warning me that my computer could be damaged.
   
   To top it off, the camera is larger than I expected. From the photo I thought it was thin - but in reality it is as deep as it is wide.
   
   I bought two - one to keep and one to give away for Christmas. But I'd be embarrassed to give this to anyone.



5. I bought their VGA model several years ago it takes OK pictures INDOORS but not outdoors, unfortunately editing software does not improve the quality.
   
   This camera takes GOOD pictures OUTDOORS but not indoors HOWEVER editing software will lighten it up to EXECELENT QUALITY. I have taken a picture that appeared to be totally black (ie no pic) and made it fantastic.
   
   The best thing (other than the price)is the camera is QUICK to start AND will take pictures as fast as you can push the button.
   
   This makes it execellant for capturing those unexpected moments you would miss with a high end camera which takes so long to "think" about what it is going to do that the moment is lost before the camera is ready to shoot.
   
   I keep one in each vehicle ready to shoot. I have the camera open with alkaline batteries out of the camera so they don't drain down.
   
   When I go skiing with the kids I can get the action shots when the moment is RIGHT.
   
   Downside- The shutter button gave out on one after two years - I now use it for video chats. The camera shuts down TOO quickly between shots.

No comments about AverMedia NVD4VIEXT 4-Channel Video Extension Card.

No comments about Olympus SP-565UZ 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Optical Dual Image Stabilized Zoom.

5 comments about HP R742 Photosmart Digital Camera (Dark Blue).

1. I purchased the R742 about two months ago, the red version. The color is very nice (it's not a magenta red like the pictures may show). The camera color doesn't matter that much though, so let's get to the real issues. Photo quality is quite good, I have no problems with graininess, lines, color issues, etc. As far as this is concerned, it is exactly what I would expect from a camera in this price bracket ($0-$250). Sure, you can't do as much with it as you could with a higher end camera or a SLR, but then again, look at the price you're paying.
   
   Pros:
   1) It is nice and small, very easy to slide into a pocket or purse to have on hand.
   
   2) While 3x zoom (the other 7x is digital and not worth anything) is not much, it works for being a small camera and seems pretty standard.
   
   3) The price is inexpensive, yet is a nice low-end camera.
   
   4) The click-to-snap time is less than a second I find (i.e. the time between when I press the button, it figures out the exact focus, sets off flash, and "snaps" the shot) which is better than my prior camera which seemed to delay things longer.
   
   5) The 7 MP is plenty for nice shots even if I want to enlarge to greater than 8 x 10.
   
   
   Things I don't like, but you may, and things I find different between the R742 and my older R727:
   1) The R742 power button is a bit hard to press the way it is buried. I have a medium hand size with dexterous fingers, but even I have to press it twice sometimes. The good thing about this though is you don't accidentally turn it on when it's in your pocket! However, my old R727 I sometimes turn on by accident.
   
   2) The R742 button to switch between taking and viewing photos is a "slide" button. It seems a bit flimsy, and although I have not had a problem with it I much prefer my older HP727 that had the buttons for this on the top that you press as it is easier to toggle between the two while taking photos.
   
   3) The lens moves out when turned on - now this is normal for a lot of cameras, but coming off of my HP727 that did not have an external lens (yet still had 3x optical, 7x digital zoom!), this has taken getting used too.
   
   4) On my old HP727, the buttons for setting focus and flash are right on the camera, but now I have to scroll through two menus to get to this; which is annoying when I want to pull this new HP742 out for a quick shot. Now, instead of less than 2 seconds to select focus range and flash setting, it takes about 10. This is a huge difference, for example, if I see some birds, or deer, etc that I want a picture of before they fly/run off.
   
   Summary:
   Over the course of more than two years, I would think that there should be improvements on the R742 from the older versions of pretty much the same model (i.e. my old R727). In reality, the easy usability backslid in those 2+ years, and features (The 1 MP better and faster click-to-snap time) made only tiny strides. If my menu/"ok" button on the R727 constantly worked I would have returned this R742 immediately, as the above two mentioned strides do not make up for the usability issues I have with it.
   
   I just went on HP's site, and did not find this camera nor very many others listed. I wonder if they are not going to make cameras any longer. I really like HP products; my desktop (HP D4100E from 2005 and still going strong, no problems at all), laptop (newly purchased TX2000z), printer/scanner/fax (C7280), and camera are all HP. However, this most recent purchase has me wishing I went with a Cannon, or had just waited until I have enough money for a Nikon SLR. I think HP has lost the market on their cameras, and based on their website, they know it.



2. This is an excellent camera and I've been delighted, but guess what? It's now no longer available and neither is a replacement charger for the battery. My charger got misplaced when we moved, and I thought, no problem I'll just go to the HP site and reorder. The charger is not available; no picture of it anywhere, no suggestion of an alternate item to buy. The online help referred me to the HP Parts store page, no mention of it there either. My opinion of HP has changed...they do not stand by their products.



3. This is my families third HP R742 digital camera. It is very easy to use. It has a rechargeable battery with charger. This 7 mega-pixel camera takes excellent pictures. It comes in different colors witch is great because everyone in my family had a different color camera.



4. I have always wanted a digital camera, and after much research found the HP R742 Photosmart to be the best deal for the money and product. I originally wanted the Ruby Red, but I had Amazon bucks, and it wasn't available on Amazon yet. Turns out, color was not such a big deal, and the black one was a great choice. It is easy to use, and will not take the pic if you are out of focus or moving too much. The ease of downloading the images to my laptop is great and all of the camera functions are easy to use. I'm not a pro photographer, but I just can't take a bad picture thanks to HP R742.



5. My daughter has had two of these cameras. Both broke within two months. HP replaced both but since camera is now discontinued, I am not surprised it has been phased out. Go elsewhere for a point and shoot.

5 comments about Sony Cybershot DSCW80 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot (White).

1. This is a great little camera with lots of options. Great price and terrific customer service!



2. I used to have an Olympus Stylus Zoom 80 digital cam and my finace bought me the Sony Cybershot DSC-W80I last year. I liked the Olympus, but it was an old model and I wanted more functionality in a camera. However, I am disappointed in the Sony Cybershot. It is great for taking outdoor pictures, but don't even think of getting a good picture indoors, of motion or anything that's not stationary. It boasts the Double Anti-Blur Technology with Super Steady Shot, but this is a joke. A lot of the pictures come out blurry and you have to spend a lot of time adjusting the settings to figure out how to get a good picture. It does not take very good low light images even though it has adjustable sensitivity, twilight, and ISO settings. I tried to take pictures at a party where there was average lighting and colored lights, and they ALL came out blurry unless I used the flash, which still didn't look great b/c everything was too bright for the actual setting. Without the flash, the people in the pictures were literally transparent; They looked like ghosts and there were streaks of light across the images. Horrible.
   It does have great red eye reduction and fast shutter speeds for taking multiple pictures (again, these will come out blurry if there is ANY movement). I've had the Sony Cybershot for 7 months, but I am going to go back to Olympus.



3. I am very happy with this camera! Great picture quality, self explanatory functions, and great size for taking with you every where! I do not need a hundred different settings, or the latest super savvy technology- I was just looking for a camera that makes it easy to take good pictures- whether it's a special occasion, or just a fun everyday moment, and this camera is great for that. The battery life is good, too! Another big plus is the great flash; out of all cameras I have had, it has the most flattering, soft-but-still-illuminating flash; people look great, not like deer caught in headlights. I took me some time to find a camera case for it, since I didn't want to spend almost $40 on the Cybershot ones; if anyone else feels the same way I can recommend Swiss Army's "the sherpa" I believe the style is called- fits perfectly, and costs less than $15!



4. I am not sure about all the "positive" reviews on this camera. Maybe it is the particular one I have got, but I do see some very negative reviews. I grew up in a photo studio and know enough about cameras. Only ~1 out of 3 pictures I took with this camera turned out reasonably good. Majority of the pictures were blurry and grainy, sometimes even in well-lighted settings. Overall quality of the pictures are not nearly as good as my ancient Canon G2 (3 or 4 MP? I bought it 8 years ago, unfortunately battery died 2 years ago). What a waste of many cozy moments! I have decided to trash this piece of junk and get a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5, which I hope will work better. Don't think I can return my Sony to Office Depot since I bought it 9 months ago.



5. If you plan on taking pictures of small children or baby, THIS IS NOT THE CAMERA! As some of the other posting mentioned. Motion produces Fuzzy or Ghost-like image. Low light produce grainy pictures. I know some would say that the way it works but I don't recall my old 2.0MP sony camera was this bad. The only optimal setting I find is a very bright sunny day inside or outside and your subject is not moving around then you have great pictures. I also find that sometimes you think you took a great picture as seen in the LCD but when you actually see it on your computer, its a total different story.

5 comments about Nikon Coolpix 5400 5.1 MP Digital Camera w/ 4x Optical Zoom.

1. You do not want to get any Nikon cameras from the last 4~5 years. Most of them use the SONY CCD sensor, which has been failing like crazy as of late. Of course, for the 5400, Nikon finally fessed up and decided to issue a service advisory. But the company's repair record is so spotty that I've decided never to buy a Nikon again. They tried to "fix" my sensor the 1st, and ended up breaking the control system. My camera is now in for its 3rd "redo."
   
   Don't buy this camera unless you like non-functioning cameras and nonexistent service.



2. To the chase,
   
   Good camera and I thought all was lost when ...
   
   The camera sensor went out after 4 years or so. Nikon has a recall and will fix it if yours should go out. Screen black or as mine pink and smeary looking. Sent to Nikon fixed for free in about 3 weeks.
   
   But anyway. just passing this on.
   
   Search coolpix recall for more information. It was hard to find at Nikon web sight.



3. I love this camera. It had a small defect with an electronic part, but is promptly fixed by Nikon service. The only downside is the size, which I thought I wouldn't mind, but recently has become more and more cumbersome for me. I think I might sell it and by a smaller Nikon that's more pocket-sized...



4. I've heard many negative reports about the 5400 but I am well pleased with mine mostly because of it's many modes and especially manual mode.
   It's easy to operate and intuitive.



5. Check nikonusa web for coolpix service advisory. Some of the 5400 and others have
   possible component failures, as many reviewers described before. My 5400 had CCD
   issue (I use it very lightly) and Nikon USA repair it for free (Thank God!) But
   that will make me think twice about the quality of the Nikon camera when I plan to
   purchase another. In fact, I am looking for a P&S camera and for sure I won't put
   Nikon's on the top of my list. Nikon 5400 will be my first and last Nikon product.