Slik Pro 400DX Tripod Legs - Black - with 3-Way Pan/Tilt Quick Release Head (Height 18.5 - 61", Maximum Load 9.9 lbs) Review

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(More customer reviews)After purchasing this tripod, I had a bit of buyer's remorse. This was because I started looking at the 700DX and thought that might be a better option. BUT...after receiving this tripod, all my doubts vanished.
The tripod felt very solid when I picked it up. The construction is strong yet very manageable in terms of weight. I wanted a good stable tripod for my Nikon D80, zoom lens and flash - mounted. This is the one!
All the adjustment levers and nobs are very well constructed, feels solid and works as it should. The panning head with the dual handles are positioned to make fine controlled adjustments with the camera mounted. The foam on the 3 legs are nice for handling. The clips to unlock the legs to bring the tripod down to the lowest level for low-to-the-ground shot are an ingenius, yet simple design.
Overall, I can't seem to find a fault with this tripod. For the price and quality...it's a no-brainer. If it came with a carrying bag...that would make it a complete success.

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The PRO 400 DX has many of the same professional features of the PRO 700 DX and even adds a few more of it's own.The PRO 400 DX is an all-metal tripod, which is more than suitable for digital or 35 mm SLR cameras and medium format cameras. Speed release leg locks make the PRO 400 DX a breeze to set up and take down. The soft grip padded legs, and a folded length of just 25 inches make this lightweight tripod even more of a breeze to carry.But this is no flimsy camera support, despite its lightweight and ease of use it can hold nearly 10 ponds of camera and lens. Plus the head is removable, so that a variety of other heads, like one of the SLIK ball heads or the Master Classic head for heavy telephoto lenses, can be used in place of the included 3-way pan head with quick release plate.3 position leg angle locks allow lowering the tripod to for very low angle or macro photography work. It has a short center column built in, just unscrew the column into two pieces and it becomes 6.5 inches shorter. That allows the camera to be only 14 inches off the ground with the legs at their lowest position.

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Fujifilm Finepix A220 12MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this camera about a momth ago on newegg for under $80, and for the price it's not bad. It's small, stylish, has a large lcd and in general takes good photos. It uses AA batteries which in general I dislike because they tend to have a worse lifespan compared to proprietary camera batteries but I was impressed with the lifespan of two cheap NIMH rechargeables. I could easily take 150 photos with flash before thinking about recharging. The biggest problem I had with the camera was picture quality. Outdoors in sunlight it takes ok photos but in low lights pictures can turn out blurry even with the flash turned on. In addition there really isn't a macro mode. I tried to use it to take photos of food dishes during a recent trip to a restaurant but the photos didn't turn out well. I think that if you're not willing to spring the extra $20-$40 for a Canon (which I've had excellent success with) then this is a decent alternative.

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12.0MegaPixel 3.0x Zoom/2.7" LCD SR Auto Face Detection Picture Stabilization ISO 1600 AA Battery

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Tamron A19-100 Adaptall SP 70-210mm F/3.5 Manual Focus Lens with Hood and Case Review

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(More customer reviews)In my opinion, and for several reasons, this is the best 70-210 zoom lens ever designed and manufactured. Overall somewhat above average performance within its class, plus several notable design features. This later one-touch constant F3.5 aperture zoom features a unique "reverse" zooming cam in which the zoom collar moves forward to become a lens shade when zooming to the longer focal lengths. This, in conjunction with the bayonet lens hood, assures that the optics are always optimally shaded against stray light. The model 19AH has approximately 50% better overall resolution and contrast compared to the earlier two-touch model 52A. Macro optical performance is exceptional (for a zoom), reaching 1:2.66 life size at the 210mm position. Macro performance towards the corners of the field is superior to the earlier model. Achieving this high level of optical performance throughout the entire zooming and focusing ranges was no easy task.
Compare the optical design of this lens with the optical design for the earlier 70-210 model 52A. You will note that Tamron still uses a four element focus group to greatly control aberrations and to provide extremely good macro performance. The primary aberration which needs to be controlled within any continuous focusing telephoto macro zoom lens is spherical aberration. Several of Tamron's SP telephoto prime lenses use a special spherical aberration compensator group to virtually eliminate focus induced spherical aberration. Unfortunately, a spherical aberration compensator group is impossible to incorporate within a telephoto zoom lens since the zoom's variator and compensator groups occupy the space within the optical design where the spherical aberration compensator group would be placed. Tamron's optical engineers had to seek out other solutions. The only practical solution was to further refine the design of the four element focus group to not merely minimize focus induced spherical aberration, but to actually compensate for it to a fair degree. This is the purpose of the focus group's cemented doublet which looks like a meniscus lens. It allowed Tamron to optimize this lens for focus distances which are much closer to infinity rather than macro, yet also allows focus induced spherical aberration to be compensated for fairly well when close focusing. But there is a limit to this design approach, and this is why this lens is limited to a 1:2.66 macro magnification ratio compared to the earlier model's 1:2 macro magnification ratio. The result, however, is a 3:1 zoom lens which not only is sharp when photographing distant subjects but also is fairly sharp when used for macro photography.
In terms of overall optical performance, solid construction, ease of handling, zero zoom creep, and optimized variable shading when the lens is used with its lens hood, you can see why I think that this is the best 70-210 zoom lens ever produced by any manufacturer. In short, Tamron achieved the optimal balance of the overall optical and mechanical design features which Tamron wished to incorporate into this lens.

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Another in highest quality SP series, This 70-210mm lens with the constant F/3.5 maximum aperture and a 3x zooming ratio. Tele-macro is also available with a maximum magnification ratio of 1:2.6. The true color reproduction quality combined with the macro feature make this lens an excellent choice for flower photography or any detailed nature study. Utilizing Tamron's Adaptall system, this lens will fit most manual focus cameras with the proper adapter (purchased separately).

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Olympus Evolt E410 10MP Digital SLR Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 and 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 Zuiko Lenses Review

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(More customer reviews)If you're top priority is a small, interchangeable lens digital SLR, then the E-410 should be the place to start. There are none smaller, and the telephoto 40-150 is exceptionally short. It's light weight, and has all the basic features most people want or need in a SLR. It's basic enough for beginners, and featured enough (and good enough image quality) to satisy most advanced amatuers.
However, before you buy, you must understand two things: smaller SLRs and the 4/3rd system.
The smaller SLRs from all brands (Canon XTi, Nikon D40/D40x) have trade-offs. They all use the rear LCD for everything. Combined with the smaller battery for the smaller body, battery performance is not as good as the next size up (E-510, D80, etc.). Additionally, the magnification inside the viewfinder is less, making manual focusing (or seeing fine detail) a bit more difficult.
The 4/3rd system is also new to most people. In an attempt to compete with the well established Big Boys, Olympus, Panasonic & Leica now offer a new lens mount, where lenses can be interchanged among brands. The only problem is that Olympus is the only real line from these three, while Leica is now offering two lenses total, and Panasonic...none. The only major independent manufacturer currently making 4/3rd lenses is Sigma, and they do not offer most of their line in this mount. However, for most beginners, the two lense offered in this kit will be all they need.
The other major difference with this system is that it is a different "format". Traditional 35mm cameras produced a 3:2 format (which we typically call 4x6 because most labs produce that size of prints). The typical print from a 4/3rd camera would be 4x5, a more typical size from the older studio medium format film cameras. Now this has it's trade-off. Since most people will go ahead and make smaller prints in 4x6 size, they'll have to cut off a bit of the bottom and/or top of the photo. On the other side, they'll cut off less on the typical enlargement sizes, such as 8x10. I would say usually, it's a good trade-off. On most horizontal shots, we usually leave plenty of room at the top or bottom, whereas people tend not to leave enough room on group shots to allow cropping from 4x6 to 8x10, OUCH! This also means that on identical megapixel cameras, the 3:2 will loose more megapixels when cropped to standard enlargement sizes than 4/3rd cameras. But you can make 16x24s instead of 16x20s, etc.
One thing that is more difficult for me is that because the image is a bit more square on 4/3rd cameras, they tend to put the information inside the viewfinder on the side versus underneath the image. Looking down, reading left to right is more natural for me.
Anyway, the product description by Amazon is very detailed, but let me add that the "Live View" feature isn't as handy as it seems. First and foremost, you loose autofocusing (because the autofocusing's mirror system must be moved out of the way). Can you have it in Live View and still AF right before the shot? Yes, but it will cause a lag time that will be unacceptable for action or quick candids. However, it could be a welcomed feature used properly. You could pre-focus on a bird's nest (that ain't going no where), and use the Live View while waiting for the best time to shoot.
Overall, I give this camera very good marks. If you like the idea of 4/3rd, but don't need a small camera, you might wait for the soon to be released E-510 that has a larger battery and an Anti-Shake feature. As far as the competition goes, you might look at the Nikon D40x, or Canon Rebel XTi.
Nikon D40x 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens
Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens (Black)

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CL) AA) OLYMPUS E-410 2-ZOOM outfit

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Lexar Media 256 MB USB 12X High-Speed CompactFlash Card (CF256-12-251) Review

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(More customer reviews)Wow! This puppy is FAST! I've used it in two cameras with great results. It's hard to believe what a difference the 12x speed makes. I'm an old 35mm photographer so I get very frustrated with the 'digital delay' - this card has really helped. I also love all the storage space. Now I don't have to feel like I'm sacrificing speed for space. Lexar has built a great reputation for quality and speed, and they've come through once again!

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Lexar Media's high-speed digital film helps your camera capture images faster, so you spend more time taking pictures and less time waiting on your camera. Lexar's CompactFlash cards are individually speed rated so you know the minimum capability of the card. Lexar uses the same rating system used by the CD-ROM industry, where a data transfer rate of 1x equals 150 kilobytes per second (KBps). The higher the speed rating, the faster your camera will be able to write images to the memory card.
For professional shooters who need immediate confirmation they've captured the shot or who want to identify accurate exposure levels or bracketing range, Lexar's patented 12X speed (1.8 MBps) transfer rate makes the card ideal for fast-paced applications such as photojournalism, sports, and fashion. And Lexar's solid-state design provides reliability in harsh shooting environments, mandated by professionals throughout the world.
The Digital Film Compliance seal assures you that your Lexar Media digital film is 100 percent compatible with your CompactFlash digital camera. It can also be used in all other digital devices that support the CompactFlash format, such as PDAs, video recorders, and MP3 players. All Lexar Media CompactFlash cards meet the CompactFlash Association's specifications and are marked with the CF+ symbol.

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Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC Lens for Minolta and Sony Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a sweet little lens that really has no middle ground. You either love it or hate it. Most of the haters really either expect too much from this lens such as focusing in no light or on objects with no contrast and marginal light. The other reason there are detractors come from focus issues.
This seems to be a user problem in my opinion. When you shoot at f 1.4, the area in focus can be pretty shallow. An example is at f1.4 and at a distance of 5 feet, the areas in focus is just .45 feet. If you have a DSLR with multiple focus points, you might find what you want in focus is not selected by the camera. This gives the impression of a focus issue with the lens which it is not.
If you move into close focusing such as 2 feet using f1.4, the focus area becomes less than ¾ of an inch. Even the slightest movement by you or the subject can blow the focus. Again, this is not a lens problem but a user issue.
However, don't be discouraged by the above comments. This lens has so many possibilities from creative images to group portraits to low light photography. You just need to put in a little effort to learn the lens (and your DSLR). Also remember that stopped down to f4 at 10' gives you 5.45 feet in focus.
The 30mm lens also is about as close to a 50mm lens on a 35mm film SLR as there is. A 50mm lens was considered the de facto standard for an SLR in the old days and many people never had anything else. This is a very versatile lens.
The lens itself has an excellent build quality and includes extras such as a lens hood and case. It is sharp and offers great contrast and compares well against such a well regarded lens as the Canon 35mm f1.4L which is about 3 times the price.
You will not be disappointed in this lens at all and I highly recommend it. It is one of my favorite everyday lenses for my Canon 20D. (My everyday kit includs the Canon 17-40mm f4L, 70-200mm f4L, and a Canon 580ex flash.)

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Fully compatible with all Maxxum & Sony alpha mount digital SLR cameras, this large aperture 30mm F1.4 EX DC lens is designed to match the APS-C size image sensors of digital SLR cameras. Two SLD glass elements are especially effective in the compensation of magnification chromatic aberration.Glass mold aspherical lens at rear group of lens reduces color aberration and provides high-quality image results.From 40cm (15.7") minimum focusing distance to infinity, this lens creates very sharp images with high contrast.The models provide quiet high-speed auto-focus shooting, as well as full-time manual focus. Large Maximum Aperture of F1.4 can perform superbly in a great range of applications, including snapshots, portraiture, indoor shooting and landscape photography. Please Note:Vignetting will occur if the lens is used with digital cameras with image sensors larger than APS-C size or 35mm SLR cameras.

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Olympus Evolt E620 12.3MP Live MOS Digital SLR Camera with Image Stabilization and 2.7 inch Swivel LCD (Body Only) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had the E-620 for a few weeks now and am quite pleased. Other options I considered were the Nikon D5000, Canon T1i & XSi, Panasonic G1, Sony A300 & A350, and Pentax K200D & K20D. Some comments with comparison notes:
1) SIZE & WEIGHT -- There's no point in having a camera that is so bulky that it doesn't get much use. Only the Panasonic G1 is smaller than the E-620 but not by much. There is a more dramatic difference in the size of the lenses, with Olympus being much smaller than all but Panasonic. Makes for a very compact outfit. For anyone used to the size of film SLRs, the E-620 is very similar. My wife also found it the most comfortable for her to hold.
2) BUILD QUALITY & HANDLING -- Very impressed with Olympus here. Solid, dense and with lots of sensibly placed buttons for direct access to settings. The other cameras had a less solid, plasticy feel, and their larger grips still weren't large enough for a comfortable pistol grip with my average size hands. The Sonys, in particular, had awkward button placement. The E-620 has a different style of grip where you hold the camera in the same way as old film SLRs, and is more appropriate to such a small camera. I carry the camera comfortably in my *left* hand, grasping the body and lens barrel with my fingers on the zoom ring; this frees my right hand from having to support the camera while working controls, and leaves my good hand open (I'm a righty).
3) LENSES -- The kit zooms from Olympus are reputed to be of higher quality than the others, as well as being more compact. So far I have been very impressed. I didn't want to buy a camera only to feel the kit lenses needed replacing; I'd rather spend on lenses that offer new capabilities, like fast primes or dedicated macro lenses. For anyone interesting in using legacy manual focus lenses, inexpensive adapters are available to attach virtually any MF SLR lens to Olympus bodies; used lenses can be quite inexpensive on eBay. Panasonic is limited by a very small range of lenses. For a two lens kit, the E-620 was the cheapest option.
4) IMAGE QUALITY -- I wanted to spend my time taking pictures, not fiddling with them in post-processing; Olympus has the best out-of-camera JPGs of the bunch (Canon and Pentax, in particular, fall short here). Although the smaller Olympus sensors are reputed to be a bit noisier, what noise there is is primarily luminance noise, giving images a film-like grain, rather than the colored blotches of chroma noise. I've found noise very well controlled through ISO1000, even with noise reduction set to LOW. For printing up through 8x10 and monitor display, I don't think noise is a concern up through ISO1600 (certainly with noise reduction set to standard). One caveat: be sure to keep gradation set at NORMAL (the default), not AUTO, unless you really need it; using AUTO gradation will noticeably increase noise.
5) IN BODY STABILIZATION -- I prefer in body stabilization to lens-based stabilization for two reasons: in body works with all lenses, and lenses can be more compact. You only carry one body but you are likely to carry multiple lenses, so it pays to keep them small.
6) LIVE VIEW & LCD -- Olympus has the best live view implementation (maybe tied with Sony) with quite quick autofocus. This is very important if you want anyone, e.g. my wife or random bystanders, who's used to compact cameras to use your SLR for snapshots or the like. The tilt & swivel LCD is very handy and seemed more natural than Nikon or Sony's implementations.Overall, I found the E-620 to be the best value for a two lens kit.Here are a few notes on the other cameras I considered:
Nikon D5000 -- Good build & handling, but a bit bulky. Live view isn't great. Much more expensive for a two lens kit than the Olympus.
Canon T1i -- Not impressed by the build quality, felt plasticy. Not comfortable for me to hold. Out of camera JPGs not so good. Inferior kit lenses. Much more expensive for a two lens kit than the Olympus.
Canon XSi -- Not impressed by the build quality, felt plasticy. Not comfortable for me to hold. Out of camera JPGs not so good. Bulkier than the Olympus. Inferior kit lenses.
Panasonic G1 -- Limited lens selection; will take legacy MF lenses but doesn't offer image stabilization with them since it isn't in the body. Plasticy. Not much smaller than the Olympus. More expensive than Olympus for a two lens kit.
Sony A300 & A350 -- Hated the button placement--ruled them out on that alone. Live view is very good though.
Pentax K200D & K20D -- Poor out of camera JPGs. Great handling and build quality. Short on features. Kit lenses aren't great. No live view / live view useless.

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Olympus E-620 Digital SLR Camera 262160 Digital SLR Cameras

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Fujifilm Finepix E900 9MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)For really serious photography, I use a Nikon D200 with the SB800 flash. But there are some times when I just want a small, lightweight camera in my pocket, and the Fuji E900 is perfect for that. Unlike most point and shoots, the camera comes on almost instantly, and the shutter lag is close to (but not quite equal) an SLR. My biggest complaint is the lack of a hotshoe for a hardwired external flash, so I wouldn't use the E900 indoors where a heavy flash is needed. I actually would only rate the E900 at a 4.5 because of this.
The optics are as crisp as any point and shoot that I've seen. There is a bit of chromatic abberation, particularly at wide angle, but it's not too noticeable in most situations.
A huge plus is that you have full manual control of your exposures if you want to or need to do that. In my opinion, a camera has to have that feature if it's to be used for serious photography. But if you just want to point and shoot and have the camera do everything, you can do that too.
Another minor objection is that the camera uses an xD card, so I could use any of the CF or SD cards that I already have. When you buy an xD card, be sure to get an Olympus Type H card, not the slower Type M.
Overall, a really nice little camera, especially for a little over $300.


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CL) FUJI FINEPIX E900 DIGITAL CAMERA

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SanDisk 1 GB Extreme III SD Card ( SDSDX3-1024-901, Retail Package) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have heard that 32x SD memory performs pretty much as well as the the SanDisk Extreme III cards do.That being the case, you can save about $10-$15 per gigabyte card by purchasing the cheaper 32x offerings.
Then again, SD memory is just becoming the top choice among manufacturers, and even though CF cards are cheap, fast, and durable, they are losing ground to the SD format at a rapid rate. If you have a camera that requires an SD card, get this one. SD will be around for a long time to come, and this card is a generation ahead of all others in terms of speed, and is built to near bullet proof standards. Even if your current camera seems happy with a 32x card, the Extreme III card is four times as fast for just a few more Dollars, and will still be ready to serve when you buy your next generation of digicam. I have two one gig Extreme III cards for my Canon S2 IS digicam, and they have been flawless to date. It is a real treat to know that my digital media can read and write at twice the speed of my current camera, as the SanDisk cards will still be leading edge when I replace the the Canon S2 sometime in the future.
I intend to buy more Extreme III 1 gig cards as time goes by. One gig in still mode is plenty for a two week vacation worth of still shots, but the awesome movie mode on the S2 calls for more memory, and the SanDisk Extreme III delivers the goods in a big way.
One last note. The CF card is the most mature of the lot, even though it is being abandoned by the industry due to it's larger size. Still, it is pretty small overall, and several will fit in your wallet. You can buy an ultra high speed CF card of one to four gig capacity for a song lately. As they get cheaper, buy them. Any cheap $14 card reader will let you use them as storage on your PC or Mac, and they offer great bang for the buck.
If you have a device that requires an SD card though, buy the best on the market. The SanDisk Extreme III is the best you can buy today. Nothing else even comes close.


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If your digital photography demands blazing speed and durability from your memory media, SanDisk has the memory cards for you. SanDisk Extreme III Secure Digital (SD) media are designed for serious professional photographers who demand one of the fastest and most rugged memory cards on the market.
Many professionals work in less than ideal conditions, and that's why SanDisk Extreme III Secure Digital cards are built to perform in the most extreme environments and temperatures, from -13 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit. Extreme III media are rigorously temperature, shock, and vibration tested, something you'll definitely appreciate whenever you find yourself shooting and storing pictures in harsh environments, extreme temperatures or at high altitudes.
Extreme III memory cards also feature SanDisk's exclusive and innovative Enhanced Super-Parallel Processing (ESP) Technology for the fastest speeds and highest performance. It means that you are getting the fastest read/write speeds available -- an amazing minimum 20MB per second sequential read and write speed.
Every SanDisk Extreme III Secure Digital card comes with RescuePRO so you can recover images, documents, mail, video, music -- just about any digital file, with ease. Built with leading-edge media recovery algorithms, RescuePro lets you preview recoverable data before you try to retrieve it. With RescuePRO's unique recovery algorithm for MPEG audio and MPEG video recovery (MPEG-1/2/3) what you see, and what you hear, is what you can recover.
For owners of SanDisk Extreme products, SanDisk maintains a dedicated, priority technical support hotline, and you get a lifetime limited warranty. Extreme III media also ships with a travel case that keeps your memory cards organized.
What's in the Box 1 GB Secure Digital (SD) card, travel case, and RescuePro data recovery software mini-CD.

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Pentax K100D Super 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Shake Reduction and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens Review

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(More customer reviews)First off I'm an amateur photographer and just started getting back into photography. I started with a digital camera with manual controls, other lenes, etc... and then moved off to a simple point and shoot camera. This is the first SLR type camera that I have owned and the difference is huge between quality of photos and being able to take certain shots ( Arguable, but manual controls and different lenses on SLR do help )
Physical:
The body feels very solid and has a good weight. It doesn't feel like a plastic toy and feels like a very sold build quality. Even the flaps for batteries and SD Memory Card are very well made.
Button placement at first feels odd but once you've learned the menu system and how to use them it works well.
The kit lenses works very well in most situations. The only time you may want to use a different lens is in indoors with poor/dim lighting. It also feels as solid as the camera body and the manual focus/zoom wheels all turn smoothly and stay put when set.
Using the Camera:
At first like most things there is a learning curve but you can be up and taking photos as soon as the batteries are in and putting it on AUTO PICT mode. Before I purchased the camera I had read complaints on how the menu's wording of items was a bit strange, but honestly they are not hard to figure out and it is spelled out in the manual as to what they are. In fact it's easer just to go ahead and click it and see what it does. There are few of these in the menu but everything else is very clear.
Taking photos is easy and similar to any other digital camera. Depending on the mode you are in you can adjust Exposure/Shutter Speed/Aper/ISO/etc...
Another large complaint against the camera is the burst mode only allows you to take no more than 5 JPEGS ( Highest Quality ) or 3 RAW images before slowing down significantly. This is true, however, depending on your needs this may not matter. If you need to be able to take more than 5 shots at a time then you may want to look at another camera. I took a risk and found that it more than meets my needs.l I was able to take multiple shots of pets/bees/etc just fine with 5 high quality photos or 3 RAW images without any problems.
The viewfinder contains information that is listed on the top LCD and can also be viewed on the LCD on the back of the camera. All very easy to read and see once you understand where each item is placed.

Quality of Photos
Excellent. That's it. One exception though is in the AUTO PICT mode. It works well but I found that you get better photos in either the P ( Program Mode ) or by going to SCENE mode and picking out a scene type like pets, sunset, etc...
Other issues
Everything about the camera has far exceeded my expectations and all my photos have very crisp, sharp detail and color. To help shoot indoors I purchased the Pentax 50mm f1.4 lenses which is around $200 at the time of this writing. Excellent lens which makes indoor/low light photography/fast action shots a breeze. It will allow you to take more light in which will allow you to shoot at a faster shutter speed ( The faster the shutter speed -> less light into camera -> darker photo ). I highly recommend purchasing this lens if you plan on doing portraits or indoor photos with low lighting. Summary:
Pros:
Excellent photos, build quality, easy to use controls, can be used by beginner to advanced. Remember, no matter how great the camera, the person still should know some photography basics like how to set exposure, this will help anyone get great shots from any camera.
Cons:
Burst mode only allows 5 Jpegs or 3 RAW, but may depend on person if this matters.

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User-friendly DSLR - full-featured, yet affordable! Now PENTAX brings the advanced innovation of higher-end digital SLRs to the affordable K100D Super. Building on PENTAX developed Shake Reduction, PENTAX adds an original Dust Removal system to help keep the CCD surface dust-free and full compatibility with SDM lenses. With the arrival of the K100D Super, PENTAX raises the bar and delivers a full-featured and technologically advanced SLR at a very reasonable price.Auto Sensitivity equivalent to ISO 200 to 3200Auto Picture Mode and Scene Modes 2.5 inch LCD monitor viewable from a wide angle16-segment multi-pattern meteringUltra-compact stainless-steel chassis and fiber reinforced polycarbonate housing Penta-mirror viewfinder with 0.85X magnification and 96 percent field of viewTop shutter speed of 1/4000, 1/180 second flash sync. and bulb setting 2.8 frames/sec capture rate Built-in Flash - Type - Retractable P-TTL auto-popup flash; Guide number - 15.6 (200/m); Coverage - 28mm (35mm equiv); Flash modes - Auto, Manual, Auto w/ Redeye, Manual w/ Redeye; Flash exposure compensation - +/- 2 EV (in 1/2 steps) / External Flash - Type - P-TTL (high speed sync, wireless P-TTL available w/ Pentax dedicated flash units); Synchronization speed - 1/180sStorage Media - Internal memory - n/a; Removable memory - SD or SDHCCapture Modes - Mode selection - Auto Picture Mode, Picture Mode (Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action, Night Scene Portrait, Flash Off), Scene Mode (Night Scene, Surf & Snow, Text, Sunset, Kids, Pet, Candlelight, Museum), Program AEInterfaces - Ports - USB 2.0 hi-speed, video out, DC input, cable switch; Video out - NTSC, PAL; Printer interfaces - PictBridgePower Supply - Power source - CR-V3 (2x), AA (4x lithium, alkaline, NiMH rechargeable); Recordable images - Approx 730 (630 with 50% flash use); Playback time - Approx 700 minutes; AC adapter available - YES,

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Canon Powershot SD550 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Beige) Review

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(More customer reviews)I like this little digital camera. It does everything a point and shoot digital camera should do and more. For me, a point and shoot camera should be small and light so that it can conveniently go with me everywhere. That's the power of any point and shoot camera actually. It goes with you in your daily life and subsequently you get shots that you could not get with other larger cameras either because it would be too conspicous, or too inconvenient to carry with you. This is the snapshot ethic. I'm a professional photographer and I carry this little pocket camera with me everywhere because I can't carry my pro SLR with me all the time and not have it feel like a burden on my shoulder.
You might be tempted to instead buy the cheaper and slightly older Canon SD500 since it has the same megapixel rating and looks very similar. There are however some pretty good improvements in the SD550:
-a larger LCD screen (very nice)
-better movie mode (SD500 put an annoying hissing/whining sound into the movie)
-better battery lid latch design
-better internal software (the display actually displays words and symbols such as "continuous mode" "single shot" "Macro" and not just the symbols alone.
A NOTE ABOUT CASE COLOR:
The SD550 comes in both Silver (called Grey on the box) or Champagne Gold. You will need to inquire with the vendor what color they stock or if you have a choice. Some of the vendors may be a bit useless in this respect so watch out-you may end up receiving a case color that you did not want. In my opinion, the Champagne Gold color is very ugly. Silver is much more attractive, even if you have to go to a local store to buy it.
This camera is easy and fun to use and I can even shoot a long movie (up to 20 something minutes at the lower resolution with a 1GB card). Some cameras (Casio) only let you shoot a short 8 second movie. The movie mode is quite usable with quality video and audio.
Another cool feature is that the automatic orientation sensor works when you are reviewing images. Try reviewing images and rotating the camera around-the image will always stay right side up on the LCD screen!
To conclude, I am happy with this camera because it does everything a small point and shoot digital camera should do, yet it is quite small, light, feels sturdy (metal case) and has very pleasant ergonomics both with regard to the layout of the controls as well as to the on screen menu functions. Color, sharpness and resolution are all impressive for a camera this size.

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Canon Sd550 Digital Elph Camera

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ExpoDisc EXPOD67 67mm ExpoDisc Neutral White Balance Filter Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased ExpoDisc 72mm. Here is test result, using Photoshop:
SETUP: Took a gray frame under incident light source per ExpoDisc instruction, using camera Canon EOS 40D, 28-135mm lens.
IMPORT to Canon software "Digital Photo Professional" FOR WHITE BALANCE: Use this gray frame to do white balance itself. A result of a final Gray Frame.
IMPORT this final gray frame to Photoshop FOR MEASUREMENT: Using Photoshop Color Sampler Tool.
Result finding in 256 color scale (0 - 255):
Green & Blue = Mostly about equal.
Red = Always about 10 (in 256) value higher than the other two.
Example:
Green = 112
Blue = 114
Red = 124
I repeated this type of test several more times, result are still much off from scientific theory or way out of range (10 in a range of 256 or 4% error from neutral).
Supposely: Red = Green = Blue to call Neutral.
So this ExpoDisc is for convienent only. OK for none important picture. Way too high price for a non-precision piece.


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The ExpoDisc white balance filter allows digital photographers to quickly and easily set an accurate custom white balance. Each ExpoDisc is individually assembled, calibrated and certified for neutrality in the visible spectrum, and for 18% light transmission. The ExpoDisc can be used on-the-fly to set a white balance in-camera when shooting JPEG, or later in post production when shooting RAW. Using an ExpoDisc to set a custom white balance results in consistently balanced color and eliminates many of the yellow, red and blue color casts commonly seen in digital photography. The ExpoDisc is easy to use. Setting a white balance with the ExpoDisc eliminates many of the inconsistencies and inconveniences associated with using white balance cards and targets, including unwieldy size, unwanted reflectivity, improper angling, and shadows. To set a white balance with an ExpoDisc, simply take a photograph of the light source (incident light) through the ExpoDisc, then follow your camera's instructions to set the camera's custom white balance.Because the ExpoDisc is calibrated for an 18% light transmission, you can also use it as a reference tool for manually determining proper exposure.The ExpoDisc is available in a variety of sizes to fit most popular lenses. The ExpoDisc does not thread into the lens; instead, its quick mount design can be pushed-on and popped-off to facilitate a quick white balance.

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Sony Alpha A100K 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-70mm f3.5-5.6 Lens Review

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(More customer reviews)Sony has finally come a full circle, by starting the digital camera, withdrawing from the initial SLR plans and now firmly back. Their first SLR is from the bones of a 20 year MAXXUM/DYNAX line from Konica Minolta. This is the initial camera in the Alpha line called the DSLR-A100, a 10.2 megapixel, three frame per second SLR mostly based on the Konica Minolta MAXXUM 5D. This Sony is between the Canon Rebel 400xti and the Nikon D200 and it compares very favorably to the Nikon D80 although the D80 takes better photos but has no built-in anti-Shake.
Overall I think the Sony is better than the new Canon EOS 400D Digital Rebel XTi. It is an amazingingly good value for your money and might suit your needs perfectly. BUT NONE HAVE BUILT IN ANTI-SHAKE. Only Pentax has the new K100D (which has anti-shake but lower 6MP resolution). All in all the Sony A100 is a winner and would get 5 stars if they fixed the noise issues.
First of all the PROS (Good Things)
1) Sony has used the best aspects of the KM technology including the built-in Anti-Shake mechanism, lens mount, exposure system, and menus, and improved them by its own new CCD sensor, image processing and LCD screens. Out of these, the Anti-Shake is the best feature. Allowing you to get Anti-Shake for every lens. This is one of the only cameras right now in the market after the KM5D and KM7D were taken out. Canon and Nikon have this feature not in the body like the Sony, but in some of the very expensive lenses. Of course this is a cash machine for Canon and Nikon and they charge a premium of between $300-500 to the cost of each lens... nice work if you get it !!! In my view, I think this feature is the best selling point of the camera and if you buy at least 2 or 3 lenses from Sony, you would recover the cost of the camera just like that.
2) The A100's 'Alpha' lens mount is the same as the older Minolta A-type mount, allowing it to work with all of the old Minolta A-Type lenses. Minolta has made some superb lenses over the last 20 years equalling or better than the Nikon or the Canon L series. Some of these you will find used for cheap.3) Although the viewfinder uses a cheaper pentamirror than the ore expensive pentaprism used in the Nikon D80, the A100 viewfinder is still big and bright and looks a lot better. Likewise the 2.5-inch LCD screen (which on SLRs cannot be used for a live preview) is gorgeous with high resolution.
4) The A100 looks and feels excellent and looks vaguely like the Konica Minolta 5D, but the A100 is smoothly contoured. Overall the body has a black finish, except the front grip area which has a durable rubbery grip like the KM, and has a ridge to separate the middle finger from the ring finger for perfect alignment every time.
5) Flash. I have not tried the external flashes. I have heard good things that it appears to be wirelessly and remotely controlled by the A100. I am used to a Canon SLR system, and have always been envious of the free built-in wireless capabilities of the Nikon D200 & D70 control of the Nikon SB800 flash. Hopefully this works similar. I cant wait to test it.Here are the CONS (BAD Things). Take this with a grain of salt. As you can tell by my 4 stars, the positives far outweigh the negatives:
1) Although build quality for the A100 is good, it is somewhat more plasticy that the Canon EOS 30D or Nikon D200. but this is not a big deal.
2) Does not have a small status LCD. The use of the main 2.5inch LCD for all functions as well as current status (rather than the small LCD screen in other models) might impact battery life.
3) The battery despite being an InfoLithium design, does not display the remaining time like all the other Sony cameras
4) Weak external controls. The older Konica Minolta 7D completely blows the A100 in ergonomics. Even the entry Canon rebel 350 and the Nikon D50 are a pleasure to use. I love it when any camera has direct dedicated input buttons for White Balance, ISO or Quality. Although arguably the Sony does have some direct buttons, it is made harder by some on the top dial, some on the back and using the LCD for everything.
Now for the more controversial items
5) NOISE: the A100 is noisier than any of it main cheaper rivals Canon 400xti. Even dirt cheap SLRs like the Canon 350 rebel, Nikon D50, and Pentax DL have exponentially lower noise. Noise on the A100 starts out at a low ISO400 and then goes up from there. Now I expected this.. with higher resolutions, when there is an increased pixel count without increasing the size of the sensor -less surface area for each photosite hence the signal to noise level is worse. However, some have compared the A100 to the Nikon D200 and D80 that uses the same Sony sensor and the noise is much more on the A100. A lot of folks seem to be confused by noise and the Anti-Shake. Anti-shake does not make high ISO redundant. For example, at a party or family gathering. It is important because to prevent motion blur in the normal actions of people, you need a min shutter speed of at least 1/60s. In a room lighted with bulbs or any interior during daytime, the light levels are such that you must push up the sensitivity to 800iso or 1600 (even with a fast lens, and more so with zooms). Thus, if you want good indoors pics without flash for family gatherings, kids. You have to use ISO 800 or even ISO 1600.
6) Dynamic Range Optimizer: I could not see the difference. This maybe more marketing hype. I took dozens of test pictures.
7) Anti dust system: Appears to be more marketing hype. I did not test this extensively.
8) Menus: recycled from the old KM menu system. Hard to use .. not as intutive as the Canon, Nikon or even the other Sonys.
9) Carl Zeiss: I have noticed that so-called prosumers are rabid about this (one more hyped up label to show off to their suburban neighbors). I have heard that the Carl Zeiss lens are only licensed coatings from CZ. Lens are supposedly made in the old KM factories or at Tamron.. I dont know.. these are the rumors circulating over the internet.
Bottom line. If you take most of your pictures outdoors-whats not to like. IT IS A GREAT CAMERA for the price-10.2 MP resolution, built-in anti-shake which works with all attached lenses, 2.5-inch high res LCD screen. No current production camera from Canon or Nikon even comes close. The final result is 10.2 MP digital SLR with built-in anti shake capabilities which work with every lens, an anti-dust system, long life battery, advanced image processing and a nice large LCD monitor. The price and specs are a great deal for about $900, you get a kit with 18-70mm lens. Again, this camera is in a class all to its own. Nothing really compares. COMPARING THE A100 WITH THE 10 MP Canon Rebel 400 Xti. The A100 is shipping now. The A100 is around the same price currently but with a much better 18-70 mm lens, Anti-Shake, and better viewfinder. The A100 is also supposed to have better battery life.
COMPARING THE A100 WITH THE 10 MP Nikon D80. This competition appears to be stiffer: 1) The A100 is available NOW. The D80 will probably be shipping towards the end of the year. 2) The A100 is much cheaper but with Anti-Shake. 3) The Nikon D80 does NOT have built-in shake reduction and anti-dust. (However, I am in favor of the Nikon D80 kit with the new 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S IF-ED DX Nikkor Lens. However, I have heard that it is hard to find this combination. Plus the price is way too expensive. I would wait for this combo price to drop.) Sony has brought some serious competition which is good for all us consumers. However the Nikon D80 with 18-200 lens compared to the A100 with a similar lens will be about $500 or so More..
However if most of your pictures are indoors, at night clubs etc.. consider the new Pentax K100D which also has in-body Anti-Shake, sells for about $650 with 18-55 lens, but has an better ISO performance, but lower resolution at 6 MP.
PLEASE VOTE AND LET ME KNOW IF THIS REVIEW HELPED YOUR PURCHASING DECISION.

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Sony Alpha A100K 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-70mm f3.5-5.6 Lens

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PhotoVision 14" Pocket One-Shot Digital Calibration Target with DVD, Collapsible Disc Exposure Aid for Digital Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)This "target" comes with an instructional DVD containing good material to learn how to use it both indoors and outdoors. The target can be used to both set a correct white balance as well as to set your exposure correctly (in particular, manually).
Once you take your shots and you download them to your computer you can further adjust the white balance with tools like Photoshop by "eye dropping" the three colors (white, gray, black). This is especially true when shooting RAW. With other tools, you can "eye drop" the gray bar to get similar results.
This target is very useful when you shoot indoors, where you have more control over the lighting. However, you can end up having to use the target many times when you use it outdoors.

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Loss of Highlight or Shadow detail is reduced or eliminated by the use of this 14" Digital Target which has black, white & 18 % gray panels that feedback through the camera's histogram providing correct exposure with predictable results.Still large enough to fill the frame in most situations but folds to just 6 inches to allow carrying in your pocket or instant access when using with the included belt pouch slip case. Soft silver fabric on the backside creates an efficient reflective surface to open up the shadows.Created by photographer Ed Pierce, perfect for the Digital Image Maker both in the studio or on the go. The Panel feeds back through the camera's Histogram. Rather than using a single middle tonal value, you can customize your exposure based on the histogram spikes that record the highlight & shadows. The Neutral 3-Tone Panels allow for custom white balancing, accurate metering and exposure monitoring through the camera's histogram function all with a single shot. Vastly improves setup time over the original target, minimizing the need for post correction to your image files.Drastically reduce your workflow on the back-end by getting it right on the front-end. By using the Digital Calibration Target, you can achieve perfect exposures and white balance every time.Included is a One Hour Instructional DVD featuring Ed Pierce, the Target's inventor. The DVD provides an in-depth understanding of di

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Olympus Camedia C-4000 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)Four primary factors pushed me to buy the Olympus C-4000.
1. I already own an Olympus D460 Zoom and have been very happy with it. The Camedia software is the best I have found for fixing pictures that are under-exposed or off color, and that is saying a lot. I have used many of the main image software including Microsoft and Adobe and the Camedia is still the best in my opinion.
2. Cost - when compared to the Canon G2, which in my opinion is the only other camera close in the 4.0 MP league, there was a $200 to $250 price difference. The on-camera ease-of-use features are slightly less on the Olympus C-4000, meaning you need to go into more menus and adjust things manually instead of turning a dial or pushing a button, but overall the camera will do all the same things that the G2 can.
3. Batteries - The largest cost savings advantage is the savings you get in batteries. The G2, and many other cameras like it, require special batteries. The C-4000 will run on 4-AA batteries. Of course standard alkaline will run out quickly, but using NiMH rechargable batteries works EXCELLENT. They last a very long time and you can use them over and over again. The camera comes with 2-CVR3 batteries, but don't let that scare you, the literature clearly states you can use standard AA batteries.
4. Maximum PC Magazine put the Olympus C-4000 head-to-head with the Canon G2 and several others and the C-4000 came out on top. Their review is worth reading. Their motto is (and it is on the cover of each magazine) "Maximum PC, Minimum BS" and they certainly live up to that claim in my experience so far.

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With exposure options ranging from automatic to manual control, as well as six innovative scene program modes, it's easy to customize the Olympus C-4000 digital camera for any shot you line up. The C-4000 features a 4-megapixel CCD sensor, a 3x optical zoom lens, and expandability via SmartMedia cards.
Optics and Resolution Featuring a CCD sensor with 4 million effective pixels, the C-4000 can capture digital images up to 2,288 x 1,712 pixels for 11-by-14-inch prints and beyond. The C-4000 features an Olympus aspherical glass lens (6.5-19.5mm, or 32-96mm equivalent in 35mm photography) that's designed exclusively for digital photography and provides vibrant color and sharp detail. It features an aperture range of f2.8 to f11.
Shoot both wide-angle and close-up shots easily with the 10x total zoom lens (3x optical and 3.3x digital). Use the macro mode to shoot a flower from a distance of 8 inches, or use supermacro mode to shoot a dewdrop on a petal from just 1 inch away.
Storage and Transfer The 16 MB SmartMedia memory card supplied with the C-4000 can store 16 images at the default high-quality setting (2,288 x 1,712 pixels). You can save images as either a TIFF or a JPEG. We recommend purchasing an additional high-capacity memory card.
Movie Mode In movie mode, the C-4000 produces digital videos in two formats--320 x 240 and 160 x 120 pixels--for QuickTime movies at 15 frames per second. You can shoot movies up to 2 minutes in length.
The limited resolution of your movies guarantees that this feature won't replace your camcorder, but it's perfect for when you just want to capture a quick movie and e-mail it to a friend or relative.
More Features The advanced manual controls let you take the picture you envision. Or choose full-auto mode for point-and-shoot simplicity. The C-4000 also includes six scene modes, including portrait, self-portrait, sport, landscape, landscape-portrait, and night scene. There are even four customizable "my modes" for instant access to your favorite combinations of camera settings. The new virtual-dial interface provides quick, easy, and intuitive access to all shooting modes, including the six scene modes.
For extra-large prints, choose the optimum image enlargement mode to increase image size to the equivalent of 7.6 million pixels (3,200 x 2,400). And with 3:2 aspect modes, you can print photos in traditional 35mm format. Olympus's noise-reduction technology helps prevent the image noise that could otherwise appear in longer exposures taken in low light. The C-4000's USB autoconnect enables you to connect to your PC automatically--no driver software is required to transfer photos to most computers
Power The camera is powered by two CR-V3 lithium-ion battery packs (included). We recommend getting a set or two of rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries (you'll need a total of four AA NiMH batteries to power the camera) and a charger. A digital camera will kill a set of alkaline batteries extremely quickly, especially if you're using the camera's LCD display, so they aren't recommended except in a pinch.
Size The C-4000 measures 4.3 by 3.0 by 2.8 inches and 10.5 ounces (without battery).
Contents This package includes the Olympus C-4000 digital camera, a 16 MB SmartMedia card, AV and USB cables, two CR-V3 lithium-ion battery packs (model LB-01), carrying strap, lens cap and retainer cord, Camedia Master software CD-ROM, drivers for Mac and Windows, and a printed instruction manual.

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Canon Deluxe 200 Tripod Review

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(More customer reviews)After reading some of the negative reviews on this tripod I had to point out the obvious. It is a $40.00 Canon Deluxe not a $600.00 Gitzo Mountaineer. For $40.00 this tripod actually exceeded my expectations in terms of quality, build, and performance. Remember now...I'm speaking as a consumer that spent $40.00.
Another issue that seems to have other reviewers troubled is the amount of plastic that is on this unit. This is because Canon has designed it to be light-weight (2.65 lbs). Again, for $40.00 what can you expect...perfectly balanced feather-weight alloy? Of course a tripod in this class is going to wear some plastic.
The tripod itself can extend up to 59 1/3 inches (1,507mm), has a water level, quick shoe release, and elevator type extension. Mine also came with a Canon carrying case.
I have owned and used this tripod for over a year and am completely satisfied with it. I've had no problems with the tripod head tilting (shooting primarily with a Rebel XTi and the EF 28-135mm lens) or plastic breaking. Fine tripod for $40.00.

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MODEL- 6195A003 VENDOR- CANONFEATURES- Deluxe Tripod 200 For use with Rebel XT

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Fujifilm Finepix S100fs 11.1MP Digital Camera with 14.3x Wide Angle Dual Image Stabilized Optical Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)Yes I sold all my DSLR equipment after I bought this camera. It's that good for what I needed. The only negative worth talking about is some minimal purple fringe at extra high contrast type scenes.
I was concerned about focusing accuracy and in low light. The camera excels at both. It has dedicated ISO and EV buttons which are a must. The fast lens is sharp even wide open but sharpens up even more at around f/4-4.5. The new 2/3" sensor handles the 11 megapixels with the associated noise just great. The manual zooming lens is so quick. Just like a DSLR. With all the bells and whistles, extra external buttons and dials it's truly designed like a much more expensive DSLR. The continuous focus and optical stabilazation are simply amazing. Of course with a EV you don't get the speed of a DSLR tracking but I don't need that particular feature.
The highly taughted dynamic range increase is good for a least one additonal stop and possibly two in jpg. Of course in RAW one can process however many they need through HDR.
Frankly I've been waiting for any manufacturer to come up with a not too big of a camera with a true optical stabilized 28-350/400 lens with a 2/3" sensor to keep the lens small enough to keep the weight down but large enough to let in enough light to keep it fast. Also needed a manual zoom and not those slower electronic zoom models that are too slow for me. I think Fuji has delivered the camera of my dreams and I imagine those of others as well.
I've also owned the Panasonic FZ-30/50 which are very special cameras but the Fuji S100fs simply has so many more features the Panny's just can't truly compare. The Fuji clearly has more resolution and FAR LESS noise. At least two stops less.
This Fuji camera is definitely a highly recommend from me. As I use more of the features I'll report back my findings. Anyone who downgrades this camera is only looking for ANY reason not to buy/keep it. Because the bottom line is, it delivers the goods.

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Fujifilm Finepix S100fs 11.1MP Digital Camera with 14.3x Wide Angle Dual Image Stabilized Optical Zoom

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