Canon PowerShot SD870IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)

Average customer rating:

Nice camera!

What could be better?

Great camera

Great Camera!

Canon SD870IS

Canon PowerShot SD870IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)

Manufacturer: Canon
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

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Canon PSC-55 Deluxe Leather Compact Case for SD430, SD500, SD550, SD600, SD630, SD700IS, SD800IS, SD850 IS, SD900,SD950IS & SD870IS Digital Cameras

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MADE Always On AO-1119-LIM Wrap-Up Compact Camera Wrap (Lime Green)

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Product Features:

8-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 16 x 22-inch prints

3.8x wide-angle image-stabilized optical zoom; 3.0-inch wide-viewing-angle LCD display

Face Detection technology and in-camera red-eye fix

17 shooting modes, including 10 special scene modes; Print/Share button

Powered by NB-5L lithium-ion battery (battery and charger included); stores images on SD memory cards (32MB memory card included)

ASIN: B000V1XICU
Release Date: 2007-09-10

Product Description

8.0-megapixel effective recording * 3" LCD screen * 3.8X optical zoom (4X digital/15X total zoom) * optical image stabilizer * top JPEG resolution: 3264 X 2448 *

Customer Reviews:

Nice camera!.......2007-12-28

Love this camera, it replaced a Sony Cybershot and it's completely lived up to my expectations. I'm certainly nothing more than a casual user, typically I use it for real estate photos so the wide-angle and image stabilization have been handy. I imagine they'd be helpful to just about anyone who's the same as I am ... someone who doesn't need lots of bells and whistles. I've been very happy with it.

What could be better?.......2007-12-28

First, my apologies to the extreme photo enthusiasts out there who typically write these reviews. They speak of chromatic aberration, barrel distortion, noise at high ISO settings, the need for a view finder, and the like. I am not one of you. You are great and I love to read that stuff, but I needed a camera that had a big, clear display, was simple to operate, and takes great snapshots at family gatherings and on vacations.

If you are like me, then get this camera. It has a big, clear display, it is simple to operate, and it takes great snapshots at family gatherings and on vacations.

My wife and I were dazzled by the display. It is beautiful, even in bright sunshine. That is probably my biggest complaint with the reviews I read on this camera, that the LCD is not good in bright sunshine. Those reviewers are wrong. Even with my poor eyesight I have no trouble framing my shot and then viewing the resulting photo in any lighting conditions except the darkest of rooms, where even a view finder would have problems.

This camera has a LOT of options, but the options that I use the most are right there and as simple to find as any digital camera I looked at, and I looked at a lot of cameras. The options I need the most are:

1. On-Off. Sounds stupid, but on some cameras, this is not that easy.
2. Shutter button. Big and easy to find by touch.
3. Zoom. The toggle for this is small, but it is a small camera. On all small cameras the zoom buttons are small. I like the toggle right up there by the shutter button. You can easily move your finger from the shutter button to the zoom and back without looking.
4. Flash on-off. Done with the little round rocker on the back. The little round rocker on the back is small and the icons on it are hard to see for older people, like myself. However, this is a problem for all small cameras. It's just a tradeoff you make when you get a small camera. It has to be small to fit on the small camera. Once you find it though, it is easy to remember, plus when you touch this rocker, a larger representation of it appears on the screen. This will help you find the flash on-off function.
5. Timer. It is on the little round rocker also.
6. Reviewing the photos that you already took. This function is a little bit complicated on every digital camera I have ever seen. On the SD870IS, it is about as simple as any I have seen. It is something you have to practice if you want to be able to do it quickly and seamlessly.
7. Getting the photos off the camera. I have played with the software that comes with the camera and it is OK. No better and no worse than other software I have seen and tried to use. Rather than mess with it and also train my wife on how to use it, we just prefer to do it the way we did it with our old camera. Not real simple (certainly no more difficult than the Canon software), but we have a routine that works for us.

The picture quality is great. Some flash shots are a little over-exposed, but we adjust that with Picasa. Easy to do. Over all, the quality of pictures we get is better than we got with our old digital camera, a Panasonic. It would take some great pictures but it was inexplicably inconsistent. Still, it was a fine camera that took a lot of abuse. Still works but it has a too-small display and we were ready to change after 5 years with it.

One other little bonus...the camera is ready to go within a second or two of turning it on. That is a very nice feature. Some cameras take quite a bit longer. This is not a big deal for patient people, but it is nice.

Are there negatives? So far I have found one little quibble. I agree with other reviews that finding a way to hold this camera is not intuitively obvious. You have to work with it to find a way to hold it without getting a finger in front of the flash, or to hold it with one hand. I think that is the price you pay when you buy a small camera that has almost the whole back taken up by an LCD display. But for me, the huge LCD display was one of the big selling points. And I must say that I was not ready for how beautifully this display works.

I did not review the hundreds of other options with this camera because I probably won't use them much. But the Canon SD870IS fits my requirements very well. If your requirements are like mine, I encourage you to take a good look at it.

Great camera.......2007-12-26

Just wanted to say that this camera has it all. It works out in any situation. If you are looking into purchasing this camera, well worth the money.

Great Camera!.......2007-12-26

This camera was the talk of our Christmas parties this year, as it is just so easy to use. The large display allowed even our old eyes to see if we needed to retake those important shots. This is a must-have camera for point & shoot folks like us!

Canon SD870IS.......2007-12-26

Crisp clear pictures, faithful colors. A big improvement over my old Canon S110. I miss the optical viewfinder.

Canon 5D and 30D Cameras, Lenses and Accessories

Average customer rating:

Canon 5D and 30D Cameras, Lenses and Accessories

Manufacturer: Canon
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

Olympus Evolt E510 10MP Digital SLR Camera with CCD Shift Image Stabilization and 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 and 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 Zuiko Lenses

Average customer rating:

E-510
Excellent camera meets professional needs.
Excellent machine!
Good camera - value for money
evolt 510

Olympus Evolt E510 10MP Digital SLR Camera with CCD Shift Image Stabilization and 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 and 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 Zuiko Lenses

Manufacturer: Olympus
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

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Product Features:

10-megapixel CMOS sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality 18 x 24-inch prints
2.5-inch Live View HyperCrystal LCD display
Mechanical Image Stabilization with Supersonic Wave Drive technology
Lightweight ergonomic design; kit includes 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 and 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 Zuiko lenses
Powered by one lithium-ion battery; stores images on CF, Micro Drive, or xD Picture Cards

ASIN: B000NVXF30

Product Description

Olympus EVOLT E-510 digital SLR is a great camera to help you evolve as a photographer. Olympus digital SLRs are engineered to be 100-percent digital. Simply put, this means your pictures will have stunning edge-to-edge sharpness that can't be beat. Olympus' Live View LCD technology is a unique feature that enhances your picture-taking experience. Whatever life brings, whatever you're photographing, you'll capture colorful memories with the E-510's proven Dust Reduction System and powerful, 10 megapixel imager. Creative photography shouldn't necessarily be complicated. Using Zuiko digital lens technology, choose among auto and manual focus modes. You can select exposures manually but there's a wide scope of automatic modes to choose from. 29 exposure modes including 10 advanced modes and 19 Easy to Use Scene Select Modes. Simply select the right mode for your shot. The easy to use Scene Select Modes make you an instant expert, even with the most demanding shots. Choose from any of the 19 selections like Fireworks, Beach or Snow. The E-510 takes care of the rest. It's the digital SLR you've been waiting for. Adjust ISO 100 to 1600 Built-in multimode electronic-flash (external available. Inactivation is available to set) Shutter - Auto mode - 2 - 1/4000 sec. (depends on settings) 2 Mode self-timer Multifunction display menu Up to 650 pictures recordable using optical viewfinder per fully charged battery (with 50% flash light) (with BLM-1 under CIPA testing standard) Unit (body) Dimensions 5.35 in.(W) x 3.6 in. (W) x 2.67in. (D) / 136 mm (W) x 91.5 mm (H) x 68 mm (D) (excluding protrusions); Weight 16.2 oz. / 460 g (body only)

Customer Reviews:

E-510.......2007-12-26

Before I bought this camera, I searched the web for equivalent products. I was slightly biased in that I already owned a Olympus camera (E-300). However, what I was looking for was a camera that had 10 or more mega pixels, and had image stabilization as I planned to use it for nature photography; animals don't stand still. Light weight was not a as important but nice to have.
This camera met all of my expectations. The image stabilization works quite well. I had one surprise; the lenses were also lighter than their predecessors. I highly recommend this camera.

Excellent camera meets professional needs........2007-12-24

I waited a long time before switching from a 35mm film SLR Canon camera to a digital. I asked many photographers, read online reviews, and browsed through many magazine articles. Then I spoke with Keith Lazelle, a superb nature photographer from Washington State, and he told me he switched from film to digital with an Olympus Evolt 500, because he was then able to use his other Olympus lenses with an adapter. I figured if it was good enough for such an excellent photographer, it would be good enough for me! I have not been disappointed.

The Evolt 500 with its 2 lenses are more than enough for my needs. I love to take spontaneous shots of wildlife and waterways, and this camera has been an absolute delight. It took me a while on the learning curve for all the digital stuff (and I'm still learning), but overall it is very easy to use, and images turn out very sharp.

I live in the Pacific Northwest and have been in the field photographing under plenty of rain and cold weather - and while I always have an extended hood on the lens to protect it from rain drops, I am not always successful in protecting the entire camera. I have never had any moisture/condensation problems.

I highly recommend this camera to anyone either beginning to use a digital SLR or to a professional.

Excellent machine!.......2007-12-24

I've had this camera for just over a month and have just started to scratch the surface of learning what this baby can do! I am very impressed with the quality of the body and the kit lenses that came with it are awesome, giving me everything from an 28mm wide angle to 300mm long lens, with incredible macro capability from each. I had been using 35mm for many years up until I went digital 7 years ago, and this camera by far is the best I've ever owned. I agree with other reviews I have read, the camera has difficulty in low light with the auto focus function, but this is easily fixed by using the manual focus function, easily accessable through the display on the back. I did extensive research on DSLR's before purchasing, the Olympus had the best features, especially being able to use the rear display for live framing, which no other DSLR offers. I have been an amateur photographer for 40+ years and highly recommend this camera!

Good camera - value for money.......2007-12-24

The live-view and image stabilization features are really helpful. For the price, it is a value for money deal.
Always buy a 2GB card along with the camera.

evolt 510.......2007-12-23

it does everything i want it to do . very please also very please with amazon

Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV 3.3MP Digital Handycam Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom (Includes Handycam Station)

Average customer rating:

good family camera
An almost perfect choice
The Best 3-Star Camcorder You'll Ever Own
Could have been a contender, but quality and support woes hold it back
Sony DCR-HC96

Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV 3.3MP Digital Handycam Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom (Includes Handycam Station)

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

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Product Features:

1/3-inch CCD imager with with 3.3-megapixel resolution
MiniDV recording format offers up to 530 lines of horizontal resolution
10x optical zoom with Super SteadyShot picture-stabilization system
2.7-inch high-resolution touch-panel SwivelScreen LCD display rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles
Super NightShot Plus Infrared System captures natural-looking video in low light

ASIN: B000E0I5AI

Product Description

Box Contents:DCR-HC96, AC-L25 Power Adapter/In-Camera Charger, NP-FP50 InfoLithium(R) Rechargeable Battery, DCRA-C152 Handycam(R) Station, RMT-831 Remote Commander(R) remote control, Stereo A/V Cable, USB Cable, CD-ROM with USB Driver
The Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV HandyCam Camcorder combines brilliant stills with spectacular video. Enjoy sharper photos and exceptional video, thanks to the 3.3 MegaPixel CCD imager. The wide-screen (16:9) 2.7" Touch Panel LCD lets you see more in greater detail, while teh 10x optical and 120x digital zoom gives you clear, up-close shots from far away. One Touch wide angle shooting lets you switch easily between 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios, and Super SteadyShot(R) keeps your photos shake-free. Progressive Shutter Mode Focal Distance - 5.1 - 51mm; 370mm Telemacro Aperture - f1.8 - 2.9 Shutter Speeds - Auto, 1/2-1/4000 sec. (AE Mode) Filter Diameter - 30mm Full Range Auto and Manual Focus Progressive Shutter Mode Analog/Digital conversion with pass-through USB and i.LINK(R) ports S-Video output (optional) Accepts Memory Stick(R) PRO up to 2GB; does not support high-speed transfer Recording Media - MiniDV Operating Systems - Windows Me, 2000 Pro, XP Home and Pro Battery - InfoLithium(R) with AccuPower(TM) Meter System Dimensions - 2-7/8 x 3-5/8 x 4-3/4 (72 x 91 x 120 mm) Weight - 1 lb, 2 oz. (525 g) with tape&battery

Customer Reviews:

good family camera.......2007-12-23

This is the first digital camcorder I've owned. It replaced our old analog Canon. I researched cameras for months before I decided on the Canon Elura, which very shortly after became very hard to find. We are on a budget, and I wanted the most bang for my buck. So I researched for several more weeks and decided on the Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV. I wanted to stick with the MiniDV format based on the reported superior video quality (of which I have not been disappointed...much better than our analog), and also because I have many analog cassettes I wanted to transfer to digital. This was one of my main purchasing requirements and this particular camera advertises the analog-to-digital passthrough. However, I have not been able to do the transfers because I would have to still be able to play the analog tapes on the old camera while the transfer is taking place, and our old camera doesn't work anymore which is why we were in the market in the first place. So I'm disappointed about that and will have to figure out another way to play the tapes while they are connected to the new technology.
Other than that, I have been pleased with the camera. The only other things I can think of after using it for a few months are: it needs a light!!! Still photo quality is okay, not great; would be better with a light. I will have to (eventually) purchase one for the shoe. Zoom under the right hand placement is a little too sensitive (my Canon had the same kind of toggle switch, but much better sensitivity). A lot of reviews I read stated more than a lack of enthusiasm for the LCD panel. I don't mind it at all and didn't think it was that bad. Of course, I read the instruction manual from cover to cover and played with the functions a while to get used to everything before I did any serious recording. The only disadvantage I have found with it is when I am trying to edit the bank of still shots (I only recently purchased my video card) the LCD buttons cover up the bottom of the photo and I can't tell sometimes if it's a keeper or not, especially if it's a closeup. Too much of the face is covered up by the buttons.
I am a mother of three young children and overall this camera serves my needs. I would purchase this camera again. Hopefully, though, in the future Sony will make a few improvements to make an even better camera in this price range.

An almost perfect choice.......2007-12-05

Spent weeks researching which camcorder to get and decided on this one. Why? The large sensor (1/3"), the MiniDV tape format, the hot shoe for either external mic or video light...and the almost universal positive reviews. Do not regret getting it at all, but here are the things that I found lacking...most solved by some ingenuity and throwing more money at Project Camcorder.

After I got it, read reviews for the few Sony mics that would work with the hot shoe, and nobody seemed impressed. Oops. However, I bought a mic jack adaptor that fits onto the hot shoe, so I can connect an external mic of my choice. So got a used shotgun and found cabled workaround to use my Olympus stereo digital voice recorder as an external mic. Realized with iMovie that I could even record the audio track separately on the voice recorder (say for a seminar speaker) and replace the soundtrack in iMovie. That would free the hot shoe for a video lamp. Anyway, so far I've worked around all shortcomings, even to using a portable dvd player as a large video monitor.

I hope to keep working with the camera, but so far am so satisfied with the picture quality under all circumstances that I have not gone beyond the Easy Mode. I do not do large long programs, but short YouTube programs, and mostly shoot short video segments that are edited together. The still feature is nice also, to get sharper still images to work into the program. Would buy the camcorder again, and might buy another one day to for "two-camera" work.

The Best 3-Star Camcorder You'll Ever Own.......2007-11-28

The DCR-HC96 is a really good camcorder. I debated and debated whether or not to rate it 3 or 4 stars. Perhaps it lies somewhere in between. But in the end, though its grievances were minor, there were just too many to justify a 4-star rating.

But let's start with the biggest positives:
* Excellent video quality and color, even in dim light - perfect for me, and was the most important factor in purchasing this camcorder, since most of my footage involves recording my toddler stumbling around our house.
* Very lightweight and super small.
* Tons of features for the advanced user, and a great "easy" mode for novices.

Now, the cons:
* A soft motor noise is audible on playback, especially if the recording is done inside - this was the real kicker for me. The whole reason I purchased this camcorder was because of its excellent video quality inside, so I'm basically doomed to hearing the motor on most of my footage. It's not horrible, but it's definitely there.
* There's no light on the camera. And Night Shot isn't what it used to be. Not impressed with night-time recordings.
* The Handycam Station is cumbersome.
* Photo stills are good quality, but the color is really washed out.

Also, I was really wanting more than a 10x optical zoom. And I'm really not crazy about having purchased a digital-8 tape camcorder in the year 2007. I feel like this thing will be obsolete in 5 years. But, I can't technically hold these complaints against the DCR-HC96 since I knew that going in. But it's worth noting, as these were additional concessions I had to make to get the excellent low-light quality at my $500 price point. The touchscreen seems to be one of the big topics of discussion for this camcorder, many users citing they either love it or hate it. I'm sort of neutral on the whole thing. I don't love having to press on my LCD screen for easy controls, but it works well enough as long as you don't have big hands.

I can't stand having spent $500 on a Handycam (after months of research) that I don't adore. And I debated returning it for something else. But in the end, I guess I'm willing to live with all of my complaints to achieve the great "inside-recording" quality... but just barely.

Could have been a contender, but quality and support woes hold it back.......2007-11-22

If you get a working one, this is a really nice camcorder. it is remarkably small, quiet, good ergonomics and is loaded with features. A relatively large 1/3" image sensor promises solid low-light performance, and this is one of the rare models that accepts analog input. It also comes with a hot shoe for a variety of accessories. If you read the reviews and other customer comments, it is clear that a lot of people are very happy with their DCR-HC96. So, why the one star review? Simply put, this is a risky purchase.

I was never able to get the Firewire/i.LINK connectivity to work with this camcorder. I tried different firewire cards, different cables, and tried it on an older Windows XP system, a new Vista system, and two different Mac OSX systems. I could connect via USB, but never through firewire, which is the only way to transfer DV files to a computer. From reading on the camcorder info website's forums, there's a number of other people who have had the same problem. Again, we're a minority, but to date, I've seen no sign that there's a fix to this problem. To make matters worse, the Sony support proved to be of little value, offering only simplistic troubleshooting advice (try a different port, turn off the PC, restart the camera). And, they only offer repair service, not replacement service, even though this product is only a few days old. Sony's solution was to have me send it in for repair and do without my new purchase for however long it takes them to fix it. For me, it just wasn't worth the effort, especially during the holidays. They had their chance to keep a customer, but decided not to. And, Sony is very invasive about gathering personal information. Before I could talk to someone or email someone, I had to provide my mailing address, email address and phone number. That is a lot of my personal data sitting in some Sony CRM database somewhere, and I'm not even a customer any more.

So, weigh these risks when deciding on Sony. While they can make some nice hardware, their support policies and reliability issues could leave you out in the cold.

That is why I'm returning mine for a different manufacturer, probably the Panasonic.

I thought I'd post an update, just in case it helps. First, I purchased a Panasonic camcorder, and it connected to my PC with no problems.
Also, I should point out that Amazon was great to deal with on this order. Not only did they ship the product quickly, but Amazon also did a great job handling the return. No one likes to get a defective product, but at least one company (Amazon) knows how to stand behind what they sell. If only Sony supported their customers to the same degree Amazon does.

Sony DCR-HC96.......2007-11-15

Is more than perfect for all the family, easy to use and great image. The still pics are really bad but the rest is great.

Panasonic PV-GS320 3.1MP 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Average customer rating:

Worst piece of hardware i ever got
My first 3CCD...
Camera is Ok.
NOTE: Not an upgrade over the GS300!
Overall good, image stabilization could have been better

Panasonic PV-GS320 3.1MP 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Manufacturer: Panasonic
ProductGroup: Photography
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Product Features:

3CCD imager for vivid color, fine detail, and rich gradation
Leica Dicomar lens; Advanced Pure Color Engine
3.1-megapixel still-picture recording
One-Touch Navigation for easy, intuitive setting and shooting
Tele-Macro for sharp focusing, from a short distance

ASIN: B000M4LXIW

Product Description

For impressive video and still images, Panasonic PV-GS320 is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but is not short on innovative features. This camcorder incorporates the same type of 3CCD imaging system used in Panasonic's celebrated professional camcorders. Individual CCDs are used to reproduce the red, green and blue colors that compose an image for vivid, true-to-life pictures with remarkable depth and presence. The PV-GS320 also features the sophisticated Leica Dicomar lens, which has become known for its ability to capture and finely render the most delicate nuances of light and shade. The PV-GS320 also offers 16:9 widescreen format recording (to fill the screens of new widescreen TV models) as well as standard 4:3. It has a 2.7" widescreen LCD on camera for easy viewing. It uses Optical Image Stabilization, that compensates for normal hand movement, to reduce blur and assure that still and video images are beautifully crisp and clear. High-resolution digital still images can be captured via the GS320's built-in digital still camera feature, which records to a stamp-sized SD or SDHC Memory Card. The PV-GS320 features high-speed USB 2.0 for high quality full-motion video transfer, in addition to standard audio and video connecting ports. High-Picture-Quality 16 - 9 Wide as well as standard 4 - 3 visual screen record and play modes 2.7 Diagonal Widescreen Power LCD Monitor and Color Viewfinder Built-in SD / SDHC Memory Card Slot for inserting optional SD cards USB 2.0 High-Speed for image data transfer to a PC or Macintosh computer / May also be used as a Webcam Audio Dubbing (SP Mode Only) High Speed Shutter 5-Mode Program Auto-Exposure Manual Focus Ring Allows PictBridge Direct Print Compatibility Video is recorded on MiniDV tapes Record sound as a 12-Bit or 16-Bit digital soundtrack in stereo or mono Still picture resolutions up to 2048 x 1512 [4 - 3] and 2048 x 1152 [16

Customer Reviews:

Worst piece of hardware i ever got.......2007-12-12

software provided in CD doesnt work with vista, not sure why its being sold when it is not supported on new version of windows. i can't download gb's of s/w from internet...i hate to return an item, feel like throwing it but will return as my hard earned money is spent on this..

My first 3CCD..........2007-11-20

I purchased this nifty little camcorder primarily for making
low-budget movies. I read the reviews and compared prices on
numerous models and decided the GS320 was the most affordable
and suitable model (GS500 was unavailable at the time). The
box arrived in the mail and I began some film testing and was
quickly impressed with the video quality, especially outdoors,
creating some clear, vivid images. It's true, the low lighting
isn't the greatest and the colors typically fade with the lack of
proper lighting. If you plan on filming a lot at night or
creating some dark creepy scenarios then this model probably
isn't what you want (The GS250 however has some great low
lighting capabilities, although, it too was unavailable at the
time).

The GS320 is very lightweight taking much stress off of the
arm and wrist, and the handstrap is also adjustable to fit practically
any size hand. You can purchase high-quality mini-tapes which
bring about an even more impressive looking picture (I've found
these to cost about $10-$12 per tape).The zoom is nice, although
you do lose some picture quality as already mentioned in several
reviews. This camcorder also has some neat special features, one
of which cuts down on that typically uncontrollable background noise
by concentrating its built-in mic on the speaker. The built-in OIS
works well in keeping the image steady for those distant, closely
zoomed in shots. Since I use Adobe Premeire Elements 3.0 for movie
editing, I only dabbled briefly with the 320's effects, most of which aren't very useful to my purpose. APE 3.0 is a great editing tool to
use with the 320; it's fast and simple and allows for much creative
freedom. I bought the APE 3.0/Photoshop Elements 4.0 bundle which
ran about $100 and is indispensable to a striving movie-maker.

For the price and quality, the GS320 seems to be unparalleled.
An unregrettable choice so far.

Camera is Ok........2007-10-10

- Initially I ordered SDR-H200 (which is also 3CCD), but it was getting heated up so I returned it and ordered GS320..
- GS320 was no match for SDR-H200 in terms of quality of picture.
- Other drawback was to transfer the recorded media onto Laptop. No faster way other than playing it back again.
- So I returned GS320 and ordered Panasonic SDR-H200 again. I took my chance but luckly the heating problem is not there. Probably it was with the previous piece.

NOTE: Not an upgrade over the GS300!.......2007-10-06

Correcting another review:

This is NOT an upgrade over the PV-GS300!
The two camcorders are exactly the same except that the 320 has NO microphone input. That is the ONLY difference.

Also, a CCD is the digital equivalent of film. It is a computer chip that changes light into digital information. It has NOTHING at all to do with the zoom. If you are zooming to 25-30x, the lens has reached its zoom limit. What is happening is the camera's computer is cropping and enlarging the picture to LOOK like it is zooming in. This dramatically decreases the quality of the picture. The PV-GS300 can zoom in 10x its widest setting without resorting to this "Digital Zoom".

Now, I'm not completely sure of the technical stuff in this paragraph, but here's what I think it is: A CCD can only use one color. So, an 1 CCD camcorder actually shoots in black and white. This image is then converted into color, hence the poor color quality on these camcorders. On 3CCD camcorders, each CCD deals in either red, green, or blue. This way the color quality is FAR higher than with only 1 CCD. All professional camcorders have 3 CCD's.

Now, about this camcorder. I have owned the PV-GS300 for around 6-8 months. I can't really remember which. The color is the best you can get with a sub-$1500 camcorder. The quality and detail is also superb. I don't know why you would choose a Sony HC96 (with ONE CCD!) over this baby. The menus are easy to navigate, the screen is bright and clear, the camcorder is easy to hold and operate... I could go on and on and on. My only two gripes are: the hand strap is fairly narrow, so it begins to hurt a little after a long time wearing it tight, and the editing software that come with it is pitifully useless. I use Adobe Premiere and Avid Liquid when I want to make things look good.

The only better standard definition camcorders are (for some reason, they're all Panasonics...):

PV-GS400 (discontinued, but in its time was sweet)

DVX-100b (~$3,000)

I don't have the words to describe the amazingness of the DVX-100b.

Overall good, image stabilization could have been better.......2007-09-19

This is my first Panasonic Camcorder. I had a sony trv 27 for the last 5 years and I broke it by mistake, otherwise its a great solid camcorder. First I bought a Sony HC48, it was good in every aspect except it died the first week. I'm satisfied with this panasonic gs320. The video quality is good and rich on outdoors, indoors are not that great but okay, can't complain. Its easy to hold, shoot and control the zoom. It took me a while to get used to the joystick. The still images are not just bad but its awful. The image stabilization is worse compared to the sony camcorders that I had before. With sony I didn't have to hold it steady but this panasonic sucks, I have to remember to hold it perfectly steady. Another issue, the battery has to be removed to access the ilink and the usb ports. So, to download the video and images it has to be connected to the power adapter

pros:
good video quality
comfortable shape and size

cons:
bad image stabilization
bad still images
no neck-strap
can't use battery power to access the data ports

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

Average customer rating:

Olympus Evolt E-410: A Great Compact DSLR Camera
A great lightweight SLR
Olympus E-410: An Excellent Entry Level DSLR
really a great mini slr
Thrilled with my e-410

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

Manufacturer: Olympus
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

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Product Features:

10-megapixel CMOS sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality 18 x 24-inch prints
2.5-inch Live View HyperCrystal LCD display
TruePic III for superior image quality in all lighting situations; exclusive dust-free technology for spot-free photos
Lightweight ergonomic design; kit includes 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 and 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 Zuiko lenses
Powered by one lithium-ion battery; stores images on CF, Micro Drive, or xD Picture Cards

ASIN: B000NVTZXY
Release Date: 2007-04-30

Product Description

Life is in the details, and the EVOLT E-410 was built to let you capture all of them. The Live View LCD is an uncommonly cool feature for a digital SLR. And when you experience the ergonomic feel and lightweight portability of this camera, you'll want to take it everywhere. Whether the important details of your life are smiling faces or far-away places, you'll capture pristine, detailed memories, thanks to a proven Dust Reduction System and powerful 10-megapixel imager. 20 easy to use Scene Select Modes - Simply select the right mode for your shot including Portrait, Fireworks, Sports, Landscape, Sunset, Underwater Memory Card Storage slot - Choose from Dual Slot CompactFlash Type I and Type II, Microdrive and xD-PictureCard Built-in, auto pop-up electronic-flash with six modes / Compatible external model options FL-50, FL-36, FL-20, SRF-11, STF-22 / Hot Shoe mount Still image capture up to RAW - 3648 x 2736 compressed Approx. 11MB; SHQ - 3648 x 2736 Approx. 1/2.7 compressed Approx. 6.8MB ISO 100 - 1600 Super Control Panel / Informative Viewfinder Up to 500 shots (optical viewfinder with 50% flash light) (with BLS-1 under CIPA testing standard) per battery charge Comes with E-410 body, 14 to 42mm zoom lens, 40 to 150mm zoom lens, Li-ion battery BLS-1, Li-ion battery charger BCS-1, USB cable, Video cable, Shoulder strap, OLYMPUS Master CD-ROM, Instruction manual, Warranty card Unit Dimensions - 5.1 in. (W) x 3.6 in.(H) x 2.1 in. D / 129.5 mm (W) x 91 mm (H) x 53 mm (D) (excluding protrusions); Weight 13.2 oz. / 375 g (body only)

Customer Reviews:

Olympus Evolt E-410: A Great Compact DSLR Camera .......2007-12-26

I received this camera as a combination Birthday and Christmas Gift, and have been amazed at the quality of images that this compact, easy to use Digital SLR is capable of producing. I have attached some sample photos to this product page to show some examples of the clarity and resolution the E-410 is capable of achieving using the two lenses which are provided in this kit. In addition to being very user friendly, this model boasts 20 different scene modes which quickly allow the first time user to achieve excellent results under a variety of shooting situations.

Highly recommended to anyone looking for a lightweight, compact DSLR with a Live View LCD and all the features needed by both novice and experienced photographers.

A great lightweight SLR.......2007-12-21

The E410 is my first digital SLR, and in the 6 months I've had it, I've been tremendously happy with it. Olympus has crammed a good deal of power into a compact body. The kit lenses are a bit slow but turn out outstanding images given enough light. The body fits in the hand very well, the controls are well-placed, and the onscreen controls and menus are well organized, so you never get bogged down hunting for what you want.

So why only three stars? One, because of the limited (but improving) selection of fourthirds lenses, but mostly because new buyers, unless they need to shave every ounce, would do well to look at the E510. The "big brother" of the E410 is only a little larger, takes Olympus's standard, higher-capacity BLM-1 battery, and features in-body image stabilization that works with any fourthirds lens, greatly reducing blur in handheld shooting. For those who understand the 410's limits and want the world's lightest DSLR, I'd recommend it wholeheartedly.

Olympus E-410: An Excellent Entry Level DSLR.......2007-12-02

As a person who was a serious SLR film enthusiast about 27yrs. ago with a Cannon A1, I decided, after purchasing a good quality digital point and shoot camera a couple of years ago, to get back into photography, but this time digital photography. So, after reading about several new DSLR cameras this past summer, I decided to buy the Olympus E-410 a couple of months ago. The important factors were its compact size, cost, self-cleaning sensor, live view LCD, and ease of use. After two months and about 700+ pictures, I can happily say that this camera is serving its purpose in introducing me to the wonderful world of DSLR photography. In my opinion, one of its strengths is its solid build despite its light weight. The buttons and dials feel good and you're unlikely to accidently change a setting. There is one weakness in the E-410 which deals with backlighting without the use of flash. The only way of correcting it is by going to the EV compensation with a +2/3 or +3/3(this equals 1 f stop), or the manual mode with a +1 f stop exposure. With most cameras, you can simply point and focus on the darker area and press the shutter halfway and you'll see the camera making the appropriate adjustments.

In regards to the two lenses that come with the E-410, I really appreciate the performance of the 14-42mm lense. I've taken many excellent close up pictures of flowers with it. Sigma, however, does have a better and faster, but more expensive, f:2.8 18-50mm lense. The 40-150mm lense is nice to have due to its light weight and compact size, but you may want to get the Zuiko(Olympus) f:2.8-3.5 50-200mm lense later on when you can afford it because it's also somewhat more expensive. Overall, the lense kit is good. Right now, I'm now starting to work with RAW format pictures using this excellent camera. Of course, there are other good entry level DSLR cameras such as the Nikon D80, Sony A100, and the Cannon Rebel, but the E-410 had the package that suited me. I highly recommend it! Which ever camera you decide is right for you, make sure you read up on it, ask questions, and enjoy the beautiful world of digital photography.

really a great mini slr.......2007-09-18

I've had this unit a few weeks...and it seems to preform fine...good quality images....I did turn exposure comp to + 1/3 and noise filter to LOW and
Noise Reduct to off....and as far as the 4/3 system...I go to Wolf/Ritz Camera and get their 4 1/2 x 6 in print...it's full frame for 4/3 system..I also have 2 canon 20D's so this is not my 1st slr...I would say this is a great value...and the telephoto lens is very compact

Thrilled with my e-410.......2007-09-17

I am appreciating this camera more every day. Last weekend I took it to a wedding, and in fact I had the smallest SLR at the entire party. It made it easy for me to carry it and take shots the entire day. Also the battery performance was very good (I took more than 150 pictures and the battery was still far from empty).

I bought this camera for traveling, size and weight was an important consideration and I really like the camera for this. I take it everywhere.

It has all the advantages of an SLR (manual controls, seeing through the lens, interchangeable lenses), with the portability of a compact camera. Your hands should not be too big, if they are you would probably be better off with the e-510.

The 40-150 lens included in the kit is very light and portable and produces some excellent quality shots.
I like the performance of the camera, it has fast startup and excellent shutter performance.

The live view mode as advertised is not that useful, mainly because of the latency when pressing the shutter button. I hardly use the feature.

My previous camera was a compact camera (Canon Powershot S50). It took me some time to get used to the e-410 (being a SLR camera) and to learn how to use all its features.

Lomography OKTOMAT Compact 35mm Camera with 8 Serial Lenses

Average customer rating:

love it
junk junk junk
If you use it well...
I love my LOMO!
piece of junk- no stars

Lomography OKTOMAT Compact 35mm Camera with 8 Serial Lenses

Manufacturer: Lomography
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

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