Letus Hawk DSLR Viewfinder Review

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(More customer reviews)I direct documentaries. I normally shoot with the hvx200 or the ex1. I thought I would test the waters in the dslr market for a recording trip to Europe. I got this a few days before the trip. I thought I would start off with the Canon T2I. It works great with the Letus Hawk, I love it. The quality seems great. It said on the Letus site that it did not work with the t2i yet, but i just flipped one of the connector pieces opposite to how it came and it works perfectly. It doesn't feel jimmy rigged at all. It looks great as Letus claims. They say they have found the sweat spot of something like 2.7 or 2.75x magnification. It is perfect so you can see the whole screen. It makes focusing very easy, and especially is optimal when outside or in bright situations. To me it is a 5 star product. I would like to see some kind of quick release, but I imagine that will come out at some point. As for Letus's first attempt at an eyepiece they have hit the nail on the head.

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The Letus Hawk viewfinder is 100% custom designed from the ground up. We were not satisfied with viewfinders on the market so using our knowledge of optics, we decided to build our own. Unlike others on the market, our viewfinder uses totally custom optics designed and manufactured by Letus. We use a 3 lenses in 2 groups rather than a single, off-the-shelf diopter. Diopters are inexpensive but they tend to "pin cushion" the image. Our lens groups produces a totally flat image with no warping or sharpness loss on the edges of the image frame.The Letus Hawk attaches to your DSLR without any modifications to the camera. The Hawk includes a camera plate as a standard feature. The plate threads into the tripod mounting hole on the bottom of your camera and is adjustable in X,Y, and Z directions for compatibility with a full range of current and future DSLR cameras. The plate is threaded on the bottom so you can attach your existing quick release tripod plates, base plates, etc. We also added an additional option so you can mount the Hawk using any articulating arm. This allows you to have a virtually limitless mounting options for special situations where standard mounting is difficult or impossible. We offer a micro articulating arm custom milled from stainless steel.

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LensCoat Neoprene Body Bag with Lens Cover, Designed for a Camera Body With Lens up to 4.5" - Black Review

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(More customer reviews)I wondered if this camera bag would fit the Canon 7D with the 15-85mm lens together with the reversed lens hood attached - it does! It is a very close fit with some bulges and I do not know yet how durable the material will be in the long run, but for now it does the job perfectly.
(The 15-85mm lens is well under 4 inches long, but a very wide lens and there is no indication of the maximum lens width in the product description. The 15-85mm lens with lens hood attached has a 12.2 inches(31 cm) perimeter and 3.9 inches (10 cm) diameter.)
I would like to note though that it will definitely take more than just a second to get the camera out of the case or back in for storage, it is NOT a fast "walkaround" storage. It does however provide some protection to scratches or bumps and it is so light and the material is so flexible that the camera bag will not take up much space in a pocket or camera backpack. For me the latter was an important plus, so I am very happy with my purchase. Also the feel of the material is very nice and you can carry the camera on its neckstrap while it is in the neoprene bag.
All in all exactly what I was looking for with the only exception that it takes some time to get the camera in and out of the case.

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The LensCoat BodyBag w/lens is a camera body and lens cover made from soft shock-absorbing neoprene, protecting your camera from the nicks, dings and scratches of accidental impact. It also keeps the camera body and lens free from dust and dirt as well as protects it from the elements.The BodyBag also features a removable front element protection disc made from rigid plastic and firm foam to further protect your glass from damage. The BodyBag's Velcro closure makes storage and access quick and easy and the retaining strap attaches the case easily around the camera strap.The BodyBag is great for storage, travel and everyday use. Designed to fit consumer/prosumer camera bodies with lenses attached up to 4.5" long without the optional body grip installed such as:Canon 10D 20D 20Da 30D, 40D Digital Rebel/XT/XTi (300D/350D/400D/450D), 5D, 5D Mark IINikon D40 D40x D50 D70 D70s D80 D90 D100 D200 D300 D700Also fits SLR bodies approximately 6"w x 4.5"h x 6"dThe BodyBag is available in Black, Forest Green, Realtree Max4 HD, Realtree Hardwoods Snow, and Digital Camo.

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Vivitar 19-35mm Series One Zoom Lens For Minolta SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I wanted a wide-angle lens for some while, but they were just too expensive. Plus, I had never tried a 3rd party lens with my Minolta, and was not sure what to expect. This lens produced results that I found quite acceptable. Like any cheapie wide angle lens, it is prone to flare. Oh, well. The edges do not appear soft to me, as I believe someone claimed, but I have not made any really large prints. One major downer is the very dull unimpressive looking plastic case. The picture at least looks like aluminum. The real thing does not. Also, I have not taken any pictures in the 30-35mm range (I have an expensive lens for that). If your Maxxum is one with a panoramic mode the pictures you take at 19mm will look pretty cool.

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Vivitar's Series1 19-35mm AF zoom lens is designed to work with Minoltaautofocus single-lens reflex cameras. This lens is compact and lightweight, withan aperture range of f/3.5 to f/4.5 and a minimum focusing distance of 1.6 feet. Its macro ratio is 1:12x at 35mm and it takes 77mm accessories.

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Sigma SD14 14MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) Review

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(More customer reviews)The SD10 had problems. The battery charge system was just weird. The camera was not up to the hype when light was poor. But the images with good light were stunning. So it was with some angst, sustained by a delayed product release, that I opened my camera SD14. Very early on I knew I had a problem in that the camera hung... motion? But I got off some really spectacular images before sending it to NY repairs. They got it back quickly. I suspect something loose.
Well the images are simply wonderful. Just so you know, I have cameras at 5 & 6 times the price considered high end professional. I can get lots more pixels, but the color quality is not better.
The real test was low light. All the digital cameras fail in low light. So just a matter of how bad. OK, something is new here. This camera is far better in dim light than the SD10. When it starts to fail to low light the images become blotchy - like camoflage - rather than sandy as the GRGB cameras tend.
The SD14 X3F RAW images do well in Adobe's new Lightroom, and interestingly with the many controls for image modification in that program, there are none that set this camera aside (for punishment for being different).
The SD10 used a 1 GByte card but did not take larger. I tested the SD14 on 1 Gig (mechanical IBM type) and on 2 Gig, and 4 Gig, and 8 Gig CFII cards. Though, beware, some cards do badly with certain cameras across the board. So, I cannot say that ALL CFII's are OK. But I was able to find cards that worked a large range of memory capacity.
The camera saves images as RAW or JPEG. You can select two "color spaces", sRGB or AdobeRGB. I found that odd. Why not a 16 bit option? I suspect that is simply understood for RAW.
The booklet that comes with the camera may be the clearest such booklet of any camera. There were a few minor areas where referring the user to other sources seemed lazy(C1----v C2----v C3----v for camera strobes might be obvious to those who have these but ought to be explained to those who don't and maybe might want to).
Also the SD14 can shoot "tethered" - a huge fact that gets barely any mention other than an arrow pointing at the port. Those who do that, know, but maybe some need to learn how?
The camera body is nicely shaped, the controls are very logical, and shooting is easy.
There is something about the color. The SD10 drove me nuts because I had to charge batteries in shifts (they didn't all fit in the charger at once... grrrr). I almost dismissed this camera from that experience alone. The low light limits of the SD10 were also hard to take. But, that color. Seems even better in the SD14. It is not like other cameras. Just isn't. Very pleasing rich deep textural color.
So, down side? Well Sigma is not a magnet for lenses made by other manufacturers. So you will probably be a Sigma all the way person. But the Sigma lenses I used were quite good and cost way way less than other brands. There is a specific flash kind for the flash shoe. So, maybe your current flash might not work? The built-in flash, does what built in flashes do.
The SD14 battery system is quite nice. There is a built-in dust protector to assist lens swaps - very nice.
Want to do very high end photography with a wide array of lenses without going broke? Look at this model.

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Capture the beauty of the world around you with the Sigma SD14 14 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera. The image sensor captures pure, rich light efficiently and gives the SD14 its high resolution and richly graduated tones. The mirror lock-up mechanism raises the mirror thus preventing vibration when the shutter is released. This prevents camera shake, and is especially effective for macro photography. FOVEON X3 Direct Image Sensor (CMOS) - 20.7mm x 13.8mm - approx. 7-12x larger than the image sensors used in ordinary compact digital cameras Lens Mount - SIGMA SA bayonet mount Compatible Lenses - SIGMA SA mount interchangeable lenses Angle of View - Equivalent to approx 1.7x the focal length of the lens for 35mm cameras Manual & Auto Focus Fast & precise focusing with 5-point AF Shutter Speed - 1/4000 - 30 sec. + bulb (up to 30 sec.) Image Sensor Dust Protector High speed continuous shooting at 3 frames per second 3 metering modes - 8-segment Evaluative Metering, Center Area Metering, Center Weighted Average Metering Built-in Flash Hot shoe (contact X synchronization at 1/180 sec. or less, with dedicated flash linking contact) Storage (Not included) - CompactFlash (Type I/II), Microdrive (FAT32 compatible) Recording Mode - Lossless compression RAW data (12-bit), JPEG ISO Sensitivity - Equivalent to ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 USB 2.0, Video Out (NTSC/PAL) Li-ion Battery BP-21, Battery Charger BC-21, Optional AC Adapter White Balance - Auto, Sunlight, Shade, Overcast, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash, Custom Exposure - Program AE (Program Shift is possible), Shutter Priority AE, Aperture Priority AE, Manual 144mm/5.7 W 107.3mm/4.2 H 80.5mm/2 D & 700g/24.7 oz (without batteries)

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Fotodiox Pro Adapter, Leica Visoflex M Lens to Canon EOS Camera Mount Adapter -- for Canon EOS 1d,1ds,Mark II, III, IV, 5D, MarK II, 7D, 10D, 20D, 30D, 40D, 50D, 60D, Digital Rebel xt, xti, xs, xsi, t1i, t2i, 300D, 350D, 400D, 450D, 500D, 550D, 1000D Review

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(More customer reviews)After reading reviews of the Leica M to Micro 4/3 adapter, I was concerned about this item BUT in the end, it worked without any problems. I used it to mount my Nokton 50mm F1.1 to my Canon T2i.

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This is one of the Pro-series lens mount adapter made with precision and pristine award standard. As all Pro-series adapters, these adapters have been specially crafted to endure professional lenses.No "play" between lens and Camera. With unique styling, the lens mount adapter maintains/enhances professional appearance. This lens mount adapter allows Visoflex M (Leica) lenses to fit on Canon EOS camera body.35mm Leica M mount lens can use this adapter as Macro Extension Tube.

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Digi-Slave L-Ring 3200, Powerful, Versatile LED Ring Light with Focusing Light, Removable Diffuser, Continuous or Flash for Digital Macro Photography Review

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(More customer reviews)I wish I had actually held this in my hands before I bought it. Although it does its job, it's just not that well built. I don't think the plastic housing could have possibly been any cheesier. The switches are flimsy and they feel cheap and fragile when you use them. The removable diffuser relies on friction to hold it in place, so bring some gaffer tape along because it won't stay in place otherwise. Be very careful when threading this onto your lens as the soft plastic threads have the potential to be permanently destroyed. I've managed to avoid this so far, but I cringe inwardly whenever I attach this unit. At least $100 overpriced, in my opinion.

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The Digi-Slave L-Ring 3200 is a powerful, versatile LED ring light that has beenspecially designed for macro photography and is compatible with any digital camera. It includes a Focusing Light with 16 white focusing lightsA larger inner diameter (with 72mm filter thread) makes the L-Ring 3200 perfect no matter the lens size of your digital camera, up to 77mm (sizes other than 72mm require a stepping ring.)Equipped with 32 oversized, super-bright white LEDs, it features a variable power dial and half light settings to quickly and easily optimize the light output. It can be used as a continuous light source, and can also be triggered from a standard PC or hot-shoe sync. A function switch allows half of the LEDs to be switched off to aid in resolvingsurface details. This compact, lightweight ring light is perfect for any kind ofclose-up photography dental, catalog, jewelry, etc. Takes 4AA batteries or optional power adapter. A removable diffuser is included in this version

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Naneu Pro UrbanGear U120 - Backpack for camera and notebook - 1680D ballistic nylon - black Review

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(More customer reviews)Love this bag. Bought it right before a 5-day tour of the Pacific Rim. Carried a D80 with grip and three zooms, along with a flash and accessories bag. Fully loaded it is heavy, but that is a function of what you put in it. Also has great outer pockets and tons of padding. I did not like the lack of a chest strap, though it comes with removable waist strap. Also the laptop sleeve is huge and easily swallowed my iPad, cleaning cloths, and a few magazines. It stands up on its own, and the bottom has rubber feet to prevent scuffing. The inner camera bag is removable, in case you want to use it as a day pack or for a non-photography purpose.
PROS:
* Lots of room
* Versatile divider system
* Outer pocket has many slots for accessories and travel related gear.
CONS:
* Will not fit under an airline seat when loaded. I had to turn it sideways and push very hard. Once under there, almost impossible to get anything out of the bag.
* Can be bulky, but if you need a bag of this size it comes with the territory.
* Outside side mesh pocket is not useful. It's V-shaped so anything that is put in there will slide out easily. Also the drawstring will not keep heavier items in. I never used it except for very light and non-critical things like food and receipts.
I'd buy it again and it's really a sleek bag when all buttoned up. Biggest plus: It doesn't LOOK like a camera bag.

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UrbanGear U120 Multi Purpose Case features specially designed spaces for all your equipment and even offers a dedicated compartment to protect your notebook computer. UrbanGear U120 Multi Purpose Case is designed to double as both a notebook backpack and a multi-functional camera bag. It features a padded rear compartment that accommodates most 15" notebook computers.

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Pentax K10D 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens Review

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(More customer reviews)It's a great time to be buying a 10 megapixel SLR, as all the top manufacturer's have new, 5-star models. So let's examine: What do we want most? Great photos, a well made camera, and features that will let us achieve our photographic goals. The K10D delivers.
All the top contenders will deliver excellent results that can be made into poster size prints with great color and detail. Although we can point so some shortcomings (like the poor performance of the Sony Alpha 100 at ISO 1600), image quality is something that is still in the eye of the beholder.
However, features are features, and the K10D has loads. The first thing you'll notice is the solid feel in your hands. It feels robust, and the shutter has been tested to 100,000 shots (same as Canon's bigger brother 30D). But to this, we add something else not found in any other camera in the class: weather-proofing. The body contains 72 seals to help keep dust, dirt and moisture on the outside (the optional grip has 38 seals).
When you put on the optional grip, it really does feel like a part of the camera, not a wiggly thing that might come off.
To get those great photos, the K10D has all the standard feature set, plus a few new ones (like "sensitivity" mode), which will come in hand for some people, but of more partical use to many will be the ability to define what "Auto ISO" range the camera can use. Want the camera to be able to use 1600? Done. Pentax's metering systems have always been well thought of, but you'll get center-weighted and spot metering as options, too. Their "digital preview" can be very handy in setting up the proper white balance.
The viewfinder is the largest in it's class (although the D80 is the smallest fraction behind). When viewing through it, you'll see the 11-point autofocus. What you don't see is that the nine central segments are "cross basis" points, meaning they focus on both vertical and horizontal lines. The other competitors simply have one, the center segment, that is cross-basis. This may not help it focus faster, but it should improve accuracy. Additionally, the focusing mode is easy to change. A switch up front allows you to select manual, single or continuous autofocusing, while a dial on back allows you to change from spot focus (only the center zone), wide (allows the camera to select) or free-floating (you select any of the eleven zones, and can change it quickly with the key-pad on the back of the camera).
The choice of the SD/SDHC cards is great. This small cards avoid the dreaded "bent pin" issue of the compact flash cards, and the SD are compatible with a hugh number of compact cameras as well. Another nice touch is the optional remote control. It can trigger the camera from the front AND from BEHIND the camera, and can store inside the optional grip. I also love the fact they included the .dng standard for RAW images, as this is an open standard developed by Adobe.
And there is one feature that Pentax now leads: Shake Reduction (or VR, or IS, or SteadyShot). First, like the Sony, the SR is built into the camera. So for a modest cost up front, ALL your lenses get some stabalization...even older manual focus lenses! And as a side benefit, you get a slight benefit in keeping the sensor clean. But what most people don't understand about Pentax SR system is that it is a THREE AXIS anti-shake system, something that no other maker offers. In-lens, or the Sony rail system, compensate for you shaking left/right & up/done. By combine these two, it compensates for diagonally, too. What they do not compentate is for "rotational" shake. Imagine a line running through the camera lens to the subject, rotating the camera around this axis. The Pentax SR system uses magnets and bearings to allow the sensor to free float compared to the body. Tremendous technology.
Pentax has been a bit light on their lens selection, but keep in mind that this uses every Pentax 35mm lens ever made, and 3 exciting new lenses that they recently announced (16-50 f2.8; 50-135 f2.8; and 60-250 f4.0, all weather sealed with ultrasonic motors) make them very competitive. For a first lens, the 18-55 is hard to beat. It's well made, featuring a metal lens mount, and the internal focusing allows for easier use of filters and a more efficient, included, lens hood.
Buy the Canon XTi, Nikon D80 or Sony Alpha 100, and you'll get a terrific camera. But for my money (yes, I did buy one), the Pentax K10D is the best.

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Pentax K10D 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens

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Kodak F600 Advantix Zoom APS Camera Review

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(More customer reviews)I was shopping for several weeks to find a camera that was in my price range, and had all the features I needed. The Kodak Advantix F600 is the one! This handsome camera takes beautiful classic, horizontal, and panoramic shots. If your looking for an excellent camera at a reasonable price, order your Kodak Advantix F600 right now!

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The F600 Advantix camera from Kodak features a 2x zoom lens that captures portraits and group shots. Point-and-shoot simplicity and autofocusing let you take photos from 2 feet and beyond, and the flash fires automatically in low-light situations.
The Kodak F600 records lighting and color data on the film's magnetic strip for the photo lab to use when developing, and it imprints each shot with time and date information. The viewfinder displays the selected picture size for simplified camera operation. The self-timer allows you to take self-portraits or to be included in group photos. The Kodak F600 automatically advances and rewinds film, and the safety interlock prevents the film door from opening until the roll is completely rewound. A roll of Kodak Advantix color film, battery, coupon book, instructional manual, and detachable camera strap are included.
Kodak offers a one-year warranty on parts and labor.

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Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC ELD OS HSM Macro Lens for Sigma Mount Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I received the Sigma 17-70 2.8-4 OS HSM from Amazon five days ago. I have taken about 400 shots with this lens, including landscapes, indoor family gatherings with flash, and a sporting event in a large, well-lit indoor arena. It seems to me that this lens works as advertised. I don't see focus problems with this lens in either the AI Servo to AI Focus modes on my Canon XSi. The XSi exposure metering seems to work fine with the Sigma 17-70, and I cannot see anything wrong with color accuracy. The finish, appearance, and feel of the lens are pleasing. I like it, and it certainly seems to be a good value given its relatively low cost vs. function. I have awarded four stars in my rating only because of my limited experience with this lens. If this lens continues to work as it has so far, I would award a fifth star.
Photography is my hobby, not my profession, but I carry my camera to work and shoot nearly every day. I cannot afford high-end camera equipment, so I make do with what I can afford. Even so, I have had rewarding successes and lots of fun with my hobby. My photos have been published in magazines, textbooks, brochures, large-format calendars, and web sites. They have been framed and hung on walls in office suites, sports arenas, and homes.
I have used Sigma lens for the past ten years, and currently own four Sigma lens for my Canon XSi. Sigma lens are cheap, they are most often lightweight as compared to Canon lens, and they work acceptably well. I am familiar with the "you get what you pay for" concept, and I understand that sometimes there are issues with Sigma lens. I can see why professionals need sturdy equipment, but overall Sigma has provided me with a successful and cost-effective way to observe, record, and enjoy my surroundings.


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Sigma Corporation adds unique, anti-shake technology to award-winning 17-70mm lens Sigma announced the new Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM. This large aperture standard zoom lens offers an aperture of F2.8 at the 17mm focal length and is ideal for many situations such as portraits, sports, macro and general photographyThe OS (Optical Stabilizer) function offers the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower than would otherwise be possible.The maximum aperture of F2.8 makes this lens ideal for hand held photography as well as producing an attractive background blur and high speed auto focus.This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 22cm (8.7..) throughout the entire zoom range and maximum magnification ratio of 1:2.7, making it ideal for close-up photography. It is possible to focus as close as approximately 4.7cm from the tip of the lens to the subject making this lens particularly useful for close-up photography.Three aspherical lenses and one ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion) glass element provide excellent correction for all types of aberrations. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range. The Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting and provides high contrast images.The incorporation of HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) ensures a quiet and high speed AF. This lens has a rounded 7 blade diaphragm which creates an attractive blur to the out of focus areas of the image

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Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC SLD ELD Aspherical Macro Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I own the best Canon 17-55 F/2.8, but it is also heavy and expensive for risky environments like windy beaches to packed clubhouses. I need an affordable F/2.8 backup, so I bought this Sigma 18-50mm F/2.8 Macro. Having read many account of sigma lens front/back focusing, I have a very low expectation for my lens. Luckily, my fear proves to be unfounded, as my 18-50mm f/2.8 macro is free from rear/front focusing.
[ Biggest Surprise ] = Fast + Silent + Reliable focusing. Even without HSM/USM motor, the AF speed is fast & comparable to my canon 17-55 f/2.8 usm in dim light. Under the same setting, my tamron 17-50 f/2.8's banshee-like micro-motor scream loudly yet failed to find focus after 1 minutes.
+ The build quality is near "L", better than my expensive Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS
+ Size is very small compare to my gigantic canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS
+ Fantastic MACRO lens on the run
[Disappointment] 18mm F/2.8 "wide open" is softer than Tamron 17-50mm.
- Canon 17-55 f/2.8 @f/2.8 is sharper than sigma 18mm @f/5.6 (no joke!)
- Field of view is closer to 18.5mm or 19mm.
Since I had previously own the tamron 17-50 f/2.8, a canon 17-85is, and a canon 18-55is, here how they compare against one another:
...................................................[ Landscape Sharpness ]
[1] Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS__amazing sharpess even @f/2.8 wide open
[2] Canon 18-55 IS ______ sharp corners, mild barrel distortion + ca
[3] Tamron 17-50 f/2.8____sharp "when focused", problematic AF, field curvature
[4] Sigma 18-50 f/2.8_____softer wide open than tamron, 18mm behave like 19mm
[5] Canon 17-85 IS_______strong C_A + barrel distortion, soft corners
...................................................[ Bokeh / Out of Focused Highlight ]
[1] Sigma 18-50 f/2.8____ big round circular highlight, no cat's eyed footballs
[2] Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS__ some cat's eyed football highlight on the edge
[3] Tamron 17-50 f/2.8___ some visible double contours highlight
[4] Canon 17-85 IS______ small f/5.6, 85 has an edge over 55mm in highlight size
[5] Canon 18-55 IS ______ small f/5.6 = smallest highlight, boring photos
...................................................[ Construction Quality ]
[1] Sigma 18-50 f/2.8____ impressive build even at such a low price
[2] Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS__ [tied] build should have been better for a $1000 lens
[2] Canon 17-85 IS_______[tied] exactly the same build as 17-55 f/2.8 IS
[3] Tamron 17-50 f/2.8___ decent, plasticky, not as good as others above
[4] Canon 18-55 IS ______ plastic mount, front barrel rotate makes cpl difficult
...................................................[ AF Speed in Low Light + Reliability ]
[1] Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS__ USM + IS + F/2.8 = ultimate
[2] Canon 17-85 IS_______USM + IS, F/5.6 seem to focus just as fast as F/2.8
[3] Sigma 18-50 f/2.8____ Silent, Fast, and Decisive AF even in low light
[4] Canon 18-55 IS ______ silent image stabilization, but louder AF
[5] Tamron 17-50 f/2.8___ loudest motor, indecisive AF in low light
-------------------------------------[ in conclusion ]-------------------------
Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 Macro is jack-of-all-trade, master of none. While tamron is sharper @17mm f/2.8 than sigma is @18mm f/2.8 "when in focused", sigma has superior AF motor that is far more reliable under any circumstance. Sigma is a pleasure to use in real life ownership, free from fousing-worrying that plagued my tamron. Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 is a combination between the reliable yet so-so IQ of canon 17-85is + tamron 17-50's superior IQ, but poor autofocusing mechanics. Highly Recommended!
$429.95 [Canon 17-85IS] poor 17mm IQ, but fantastic AF mechanic + IS
$443.41 [Tamron 17-50] great 17mm IQ, but poor AF mechanic
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$375.00 [Sigma 18-50mc] decent 18mm IQ + fantastic AF mechanic (no BUT)
Sigma did their homework. Sig18-50 retained good quality from its competitors while shredding the bad, yet it is offer at the lowest price. Competition is wonderful, I'm very happy with my purchased

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This lens has a large aperture of f/2.8 throughout the entire zoom range, a minimum focusing distance of 20cm (7.9 ) and a maximum magnification of 1:3, making it ideal for close-up photography. Specially designed to suit the characteristics of digital SLR cameras, this lens provides a high level of optical performance.It incorporates both glass-mold and hybrid aspherical lens technology - offering superior peripheral brightness, extremely high image quality as well as a compact and lightweight construction. Special Low Dispersion (SLD) and Extraordinary Low Dispersion (ELD) glass elements provide excellent correction of color aberrations. The super multi-layer lens coating reduces flare and ghosting, a common problem with digital cameras. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range. An inner focusing system eliminates front lens rotation, making the lens particularly suitable for using the petal-type lens hood (supplied) plus circular polarizing filters.

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Lexar Professional Series 8 GB 233x CompactFlash Memory Card LCF8GBDRBNA233 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Whether you're recording images of family vacations or making professional photographs for publication, those images are precious and should be stored on media that is both dependable and affordable.
As an "enthusiastic amateur" with an eye toward entering photo contests I shoot hundreds of images at each photo outing. I lose enough pictures due to inexperience with exposure and composition, I don't want to risk losing the whole batch of them because of a faulty compactflash card.
After doing a lot of research on the cost and reliability of flash cards, I've settled on Lexar and have never been disappointed in six years of shooting digital. I now use a Nikon D300 and find this Lexar Professional CompactFlash card at 233x speed does a superb job of maximizing the speed of this remarkable camera.

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The Lexar LCF8GBDRBNA233 Professional Compact Flash Card, trusted by professional photographers, guarantees reliable high-speed performance so you can capture high-quality images and get the most out of your DSLR equipment.

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Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Standard Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had this lens for a few years now, and I absolutely love it. It is compact, sharp, and dependable. I'm a wide-angle shooter, so this one is just about perfect. Canon's USM is beautiful. Unlike Nikon, Canon seeks and achieves quiet, fast, and accurate auto focusing. Coupled with a light and quiet EOS camera body, and you've got an excellent documentary kit, great for shooting people in close and personal. At 24 mm, this lens gives excellent range for close work, with lots of depth and sharpness, making focusing and composing a cinch in evolving situations. My only gripe with this lens is its manual focus ring. I grew up with manual focus, and I love excercising that skill, but this lens has nothing more than an obligatory, plastic, and poorly placed focusing ring that discourages manual work. Fortunately, Canon's autofocusing system is phenomenal. Round-out your EOS kit with a Canon SpeedLite (compatible all the way down to 24 mm).

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The Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens has multiple moving lens groups that enhance image quality and make the whole system more compact and lightweight. This lens uses an ultrasonic focusing motor (USM) that gives you silent, high-speed autofocusing. Canon eliminated all the mechanical couplings in this lens and added a custom-designed autofocus motor as well as a microprocessor.
Built into the system is a replica aspherical lens element that minimizes optical distortions to give you sharp images. The flare-cutting diaphragm helps the lens produce a high-contrast image, even in tough lighting. Its high zoom ratio of 3.5x allows you to take tighter shots of your subjects. It's fully compatible with all EOS cameras.

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Kenko 1.4X PRO 300 TeleconverterDG-Canon EOS Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an exceptional tele-converter for Canon EOS lenses. There are a number of tele-converters out there for current Canon SLR's and lenses (Sigma, Tamron and of-course Canon just to name a few). The Canon converters are only compatible with Çanon L series lenses and will only auto focus with apertures of F4 and larger (for 1.4X) and F2.8 and larger (for 2x). The Kenko PRO 300 has the same aperture limitations (unless some of the pins are taped) however it will work with most Canon lenses. This is definitely a quality PRO product. When used with a high quality lens (I use it pretty much exclusively with my EF70-200f4L) the IQ (image quality) is almost indistinguishable from the lens. In addition focus speed seems just as fast as the lens with out the tele-converter (assuming your lens has an F4 aperture or larger). The general consensus seems to be that the Canon converter is slightly sharper on the edges with the Kenko being equal at the center. For those shooting with a 1.6 crop camera the Kenko should be indistinguishable from the Canon for about a $100.00 less. On the plus side (other then price) the Kenko is more compact and can easily fit in you pocket and can be used with far more lenses (again, the Canon converts can only be used with L series lenses). On the down side, if your using L series lenses, is the color. The Kenko is black while most L series lenses are white (as are the Canon tele-converters). What you get with the Kenko PRO 300 is an excellent tele-converter designed for digital cameras. The elements are special coated to reduce reflections from the image sensor back into the lens. I've yet to notice any chromatic aberration or vignetting. The color and sharpness are as good as the lens you're using.
In summery, this an excellent product. Image quality (especially on a 1.6 crop camera) is about as good as it gets. It's electronic circuitry accurately passes all exif data to the camera. The only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is because the mount between the lens and converter seems to be a little stiff though it has yet to give me problems. On the other hand the mount from the converter to the camera seems to be quite smooth.

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Kenko AF 1.5x Super High Quality Teleplus converter also has genuine Gated Array IC and is compact for light weight and easy handling. Full AF is capable with lenses having a maximum aperture of F/4.5 or brighter. (Manual focusing will be required with lenses of smaller aperture.)Placed between the camera body and lens, a teleconverter contains a set of optics that will effectively increase the focal length of a lens by a specific amount. Common magnifications are 1.4 times and 2 times, but the Kenko teleplus PRO 300 AF converter has a 3x magnification. For example, using a 2 times (2x) teleconverter will increase the focal of 300mm lens to 600mm. The Teleplus PRO 300 converters are made with high quality multi-coated optical glass supplied by Hoya Corporation, the worlds largest manufacturer of optical glass. These glass elements are designed to match the optical quality of the prime lens (even at the edges) and telephoto zoom lenses. The optical design of the elements and light path is wide enough not to cause vignetting. The PRO 300 family is designed specifically to be used with prime telephoto lenses of 100mm or above, such as, a 300 mm f/2.8 lens, and work best with telephoto lenses of 200mm to 500mm. The PRO 300 can be used with telephoto zoom lenses as well as prime lenses. However, Kenko does not recommend them for zoom lenses that have a range starting under 50 mm.

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Lowepro Toploader 65 AW SLR Holster Case Review

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(More customer reviews)Bought this bag after reading the good reviews. This bag provides excellent protection for your gear. EVERYTHING is overengineered for its purpose; so you really get your money's worth. Plenty of cushioning. This bag works great for my beloved Nikon D50 with the standard kit lens. I'd give it 5 stars if I had just a little bit more room for all the wires, connectors and rechargeable batteries/dock that come with a digital set-up. Its a little bit of a tight squeeze with what I've got right now. Overall worth it!!!

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This compact Toploader has closed-cell foam protection, plus an All Weather Cover. A generous front pocket organizes the small stuff and simplifies film and filter changes. A belt slot lets you slide the bag onto your belt.

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Canon PowerShot S40 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)(...) After looking at the Digital Elphs and the A-series cameras, I stumbled upon the S40. This camera has it all. Four mega-pixels, a sturdy metal body, complete control over almost every aspect of your shot, and all in a compact size to boot. The feature-set is based on the popular Canon G2, which is a professional grade digital camera, so you know it uses a fully field-tested, high-quality internal design.
I mostly use this camera in auto mode, in which it takes absolutely beautiful pictures. They are clear, beautifully saturated, and capture motion extremely well. Indoor and outdoor pictures are equally impressive, and I found the metering to be very intelligent. That is, highlights, shadows, and exposure levels are all handled very well.
The camera offers an amazing amount of control with 12 user-selectable modes in addition to the auto mode. (...) But, suffice it to say that anyone seeking a high-level of control over their settings will not be dissapointed by the S40.
A Little Advice:
1. If you are looking to spend a little less money and do not need a 4 mega-pixel camera, a 3 mega-pixel version is available in the S30.
2. If you are looking for a point-and-shoot camera only, you do not need to spend this kind of money. Look toward the Canon A-Series cameras instead. These are plastic and lack the high-level of user control, but they are also much easier on the wallet.
3. Although this is a very compact camera, it is not the smallest that Canon makes. If you want the ultimate in portability, look at their Digital Elph line.
4. The proprietary battery that comes with the S40 is extremely powerful and has an impressive life. The charger is also very compact and very fast. However, I highly recommend buying a spare battery from Canon's website (for about $70).
5. Do not waste your money on the leather case for the S40 that Canon sells on their website. It is far too small for the camera and the lens cover slides open whenever you try to put the camera in it. I am not a big fan of sliding lens covers in the first place, and the leather case does nothing to win me over. Go buy yourself a generic camera case that fits the camera properly.
6. The included 16 MB CompactFlash card is embarrassing. Go buy a 128 MB card (at minimum). And while you're at it, pick up a USB card reader. They are under $(...) and are far more convenient than using the direct camera hook-up (although the S40 software and connection is quite convenient compared to many other digital cameras).
7. Be careful when removing the label from the lens cover. You can actually pull the cover right off if you're not careful. PEEL SLOWLY!
Conclusion:
Overall, this is a beautifully designed, well-built camera from an excellent company. As you can see by my review, Canon has won me over. In summary, the S40 matches the excellent picture quality of the finest Nikon and Kodak cameras available. The difference is, Canon does not skimp on the build of the camera by using cheap plastic parts. This, in my opinion, puts the S40 above the rest in this category.
Well Done Canon!

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Canon's S30 and S40 cameras fill a gap in the company's digital lineup. Nestled between the ultra-tiny Elph models and the feature-packed PowerShot G and Pro models, the S30 and S40 combine most of the portability of the former with nearly every advanced feature of the latter.
With the exception of their CCD sensors (the S30 is a 3-megapixel model, while the S40 is 4-megapixel), the cameras are essentially identical. Each features a brushed aluminum body with a sliding clamshell lens cover, a 3x optical zoom Canon lens, and a 1.8-inch LCD on the back of the camera for previewing and reviewing shots.
For beginners, the cameras are point-and-shoot simple. Just twist the dial to Auto and start snapping pictures. For more experienced photographers, both models include aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual modes, plus manual focus, exposure compensation, slow-sync flash, spot metering, and adjustable ISO (from 50 to 400 on the S40, and 50 to 800 on the S30).
Movie mode lets you capture video clips with sound. At 320 x 240 or 160 x 120 pixels, the movies aren't camcorder quality, but they're fun and convenient, and they're perfect as e-mail attachments. The cameras also include an unusual voice-memo feature, which lets you record up to 60 seconds of audio with each image.
To provide maximum battery life in the smallest possible space, the cameras use a proprietary lithium-ion battery (both the battery and a charger are included). The battery charges quickly and holds a reasonably long charge, but if you're planning to use the camera for extended outings, a spare battery is a good idea. A larger-capacity memory card is also advisable if you want to shoot more than a dozen photos at a time or really take advantage of the movie mode. The cameras use Type I or Type II CompactFlash cards, including the Microdrive. To print your photos at home, the S30 and S40 connect directly to Canon's CP-10 and S820D printers for easy printing--you don't even need a computer.
If you're looking for a camera with the sleek, compact style of a point-and-shoot with the extensive manual controls of an advanced amateur camera, the S30 and S40 are both great choices.

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Quantaray - Zoom lens - 28 mm - 200 mm - f/3.8-5.6 - Canon EF Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an awesome lens. I bought it to replace the crappy lens that came with the digital rebel xt. It really is great. Sharp autofocus and great aperture range. This is perfect for what I do(astrophotography). The only reason i gave it four staars was that the autofocus can be a little sluggish but you can hardly notice it. Great value for a great lens.

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Imagine a single lens that ranges from wide angle to long telephoto. Now imagine it right at your fingertips! Quantaray's 28-200mm F3.8-5.6 Aspherical IF-Premier is one of several new Quantaray lenses. It incorporates one Aspherical Lens in the rear lens group and the one Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass element in the front lens group. This high magnification zoom lens covers focal lengths from 28mm wide angle to 200mm telephoto, with close-up capability. It incorporates special internal focusing to enable it to focus as close as 19.7 inches (50cm) from film plane to subject, at all focal lengths, and to the use of polarizing filters. The optical materials used in this new lens are lead and arsenic free ecological glass. If you want to carry only one lens - carry this amazingly compact Super-zoom!PRODUCT FEATURES:Aperture type: Automatic/Variable.

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