Product Description

JVC GR-D270US, MINI DV CAMCORDER WITH 2.5 LCD & SOFTWARE ... Read more

Features

• Captures 1,024 x 768 digital stills to Secure Digital memory card (not included)
• Real-time slow motion recording; NightAlive function for shooting in low-light conditions
• Data Battery function that displays battery power and calculates remaining recording time
• Compact MiniDV digital camcorder with 25x optical zoom/800x digital zoom
• 680K pixel CCD with 340K effective pixels for video

Reviews (1)

Works well, price is right
I spent hours on-line trying to select a camcorder from an overwhelming multitude. The important considerations for me were:

- PC connectivity
- Price
- At least decent video and audio quality
- Battery life, size and everything else

This JVC is a success in all these parameters.

- I had no trouble at all connecting to a wintel PC. I have a cheap no-name lash-up desktop box, a $15 firewire card, a generic $5 firewire cable, and XP. I am relieved to report it all worked first time, because connectivity problems are apparently common with all camera brands (including JVC).

- This is one of the cheaper miniDV machines, so the price was right.

- Video quality, for an uncritical amateur like me, is plenty good enough. And there is apparently wide-spread opinion that JVCs are better than average in low-light conditions.

- Audio quality, again good enough. There is definitely some motor noise breakthrough with the built-in mike that interferes with quiet pastoral scenes.

- Battery life with the supplied battery is approx 1 hour. Since JVC batteries are upwards of $80, I will be buying cheap generic knock-offs in the $30 range.

- The supplied USB cable is for downloading pictures from the snapshot and webcam mode. It is worthless for transferring video. Snapshots are inferior to my aged Canon Elph.

If a buddy could have told me here was a camera that worked OK with my computer, and was otherwise decent and affordable, I could have saved hours of research.

EDIT 1: Still 4 stars, but I would have exchanged some of that 25x tele for some more wide-angle. Also, the zoom mechanism is a bit abrupt, it is difficult to get a smooth zooming action. ... Read more

Product Description

records high-quality DVD-Video * records to mini DVD-Rs, DVD-RWs, and DVD+RWs * recording capacity of one disc: 20 minutes at HQ setting; 30 minutes at SP setting; 60 minutes at LP setting * digital photo mode * 2-1/2" color touchpanel LCD * variable-speed 10X Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 120X) * ... Read more

Features

• records high-quality DVD-Video
• records to mini DVD-Rs, DVD-RWs, and DVD+RWs
• recording capacity of one disc: 20 minutes at HQ setting; 30 minutes at SP setting; 60 minutes at LP setting
• digital photo mode
• 2-1/2" color touchpanel LCD

Reviews (1)

Sony DCR-DVD7 - Nice size but missing a few features
Review for the Sony DCR-DVD7.

Last week I found myself about 2000 miles from home and needed an easy to use, lightweight, and small camcorder. I found the DCR-DVD7 and decided to try it. It worked well for my needs except in the area of digital stills.

I noticed this camera at first because of its shape. It looks like a digital camera - not a camcorder. It is small enough (if you have big pockets) to fit into your pocket.

The camera is very easy to use and even has an Easy button to make taking video a snap.

Pros

The pluses of this camera are that it is small and takes acceptable video. Has a good feel and form factor. The camera has quick and smooth focus. It turns on and is ready to shoot in a very short time even for a DVD based camcorder. All the I/O ports work good (USB and Video-out). It has a nice bright LCD display. It can take literally thousands of digital images. When you finish shooting video, you have a ready-made DVD to show friends and family. You also have a long lasting archive of your images that you can edit later.

Cons

For me the biggest downside of this camera is that it takes terrible digital still images. The pictures have visible pixels and the color is not as rich as with Sony still cameras. A unit of this price should take at least acceptable still images. Some of the pictures I took with the camera look worse than the old Apple Quick-take cameras of 10 years ago could produce. The camera has no Firewire port. As an Apple computer user, this camera is unfriendly when it comes to editing-no Apple supported software and it is a difficult task to put your video into iMovie for editing. For all these lacking areas it is a bit pricey.


(Comments: - JUST IN CASE SOMEBODY FROM SONY READS THIS STUFF - This camera has a great form factor and has huge potential. IF it had a headphone out-jack, you could have a portable DVD player and MP3 Player that could be watched/listened to on a plane or any other type of trip. IF it took better digital, stills it would be good buy because it could replace a digital camera and camcorder. Some other reviews I have read criticize this unit because of the video quality of this unit but I found it to be acceptable for home use. Great concept I wish that Sony would make some small improvements and this unit could be a fantastic product. )


Conclusion

Overall, if you need an easy to use camcorder that is small this camera would be a good choice. (DVD archiving is also a big plus for those who shoot video but do not always edit it right away.) If you are looking for great quality images and size does not matter look elsewhere. ... Read more

Product Description

ReplaceYour Inkjet With Speedy Laser The magicolor 2400W from KONICA MINOLTA is the color laser alternative to ink jet printers. It's small, quick, and ready for any print job—from letters and reports to family photos and fun flyers. There's no special paper required and it's got long-lasting supplies so you can print page after page of durable, high-impact color. Don't try this with a bargain-bin ink jet! ... Read more

Features

• USB 2.0 interface, optional Ethernet; PC compatible
• 2,400 x 600 dpi resolution in black and color
• Up to 5 ppm color, 20 ppm black print speed
• 35,000-page maximum monthly duty cycle
• 32 MB standard memory

Reviews (5)

Not for the Typical Home User
I owned this printer less than a month and sent it back.

For: 1. Great price for a color laser printer.

2. Nice looking copies, especially photos.

3. Fast color photo printing.

Against: 1. Power consumption. It uses 11 amps of my 15 amp circuit when on. (Spec found on pg 87 of the PDF manual) It is like having a small space heater on all the time.

The lights flicker while the element stays hot. So I let it go into standby, which solved the flickering. When coming out of standby the power surge killed my ups (on the same circuit, but not powering the printer). Unless you have two circuits in your home office, beware.

2. No Surge Protection. The printer should not be plugged into a surge protector or ups. This is not stated in the manual, but you are told this by tech support when you call to complain about the flickering lights.

3. The time from warmup to print is 45 seconds. If you are only printing a couple of pages in black an inkjet is just as fast or faster. And the print quality isn't enough difference to be noticable for text.

4. Envelope printing. Typically home users print one or two envelopes at a time. To print an envelope, you have to take out all the paper, put in your envelope, move the slide, open the top, move two levers, close the top, and print. When you are done, reverse the process. In my HP inkjet, you put the envelope in the slot in the output tray and print.

According to the manual (pg. 23), "laser" envelopes only, lest they seal shut during printing. Staples has no such thing.

5. Lables. Precut or perforated lables need not apply. Whole uncut sheets only. (Pg 24)

6. Printable area. Normal margins = .157" all around...except for legal paper in color mode, when the bottom margin = .409". Since the printer is normally in color mode, it is one more thing to change when printing on legal and you need all the print area you can get or need an even print area.

7. Noise. It is extremely noisy when starting up or coming out of standby with a lot of loud clunking.

8. Tech Support. When I called about the power surge when coming out of standby (that caused the computer to reboot) I was told, "Don't put in standby."

On the second call to tech support for this problem I was told "Plug it directly into the wall socket, not a surge protector or ups."

When leaving it on caused the lights to flicker (Call 3), Tech Support Level 1 kept putting me on hold and relaying my questions to a Level 3 tech and relaying the answers back to me. The solution to the flickering lights...plug it into a different circuit. (Not an option in my home.)

Conclusion: For the average home office user that doesn't print a lot of color photos, get a good color inkjet. (I am partial to HP). For most printing needs it is just too much hassle.

If you do print color photos, just make sure you have a seperate circuit to plug it into.

This is being returned
I did my homework and read many reviews. Not one mentioned that you can not share this printer. I didn't need network ready, but I do need to share with my home network. This is an important consideration and should be noted in the specifications.

Also, no one mentioned that to print an envelope I would have to remove all the paper, open the cover, adjust 2 levers, close the cover, load the envelope, print and do it all again to replace the paper. What a hassle!

One last complaint, and I read about that one. This is one very noisy printer. Don't expect to print while you are on the phone. Neither of you will be able to hear.

On the plus side, the print quality was good.

Overall, the negatives are not worth the cheap price!

A COLOR LASER PRINTER THAT WON'T BREAK YOUR BUDGET
I recently purchased the Konica Minolta Magicolor 2430DL Color Laser Printer and I LOVE IT!I run a small desktop publishing business from home and needed a reasonably priced color laser printer that would produce good quality products in a short period of time and this printer fits the bill.The text is awesome and graphics are awesome and the speed is just what the doctor ordered.The only problem I have with this printer is that the documentation that comes with it is awful.It's in at least 5 different languages and pretty much, all you can decipher from it once you find the English version is how to set it up.I still don't know how to change out the toner cartridges or even how to troubleshoot if I was to run into a problem.So for the job that it does, I give it 5 stars.It serves its purpose, it's compact and it's reasonably priced.As for instructions and/or tech support, I give it 2 stars.(Lets hope I never run into any problems with it.)

Excelent for home use
I bought that printer because I was sick and tired of ink jets:
* There would always be clogged heads and print output with horizontal bands
* You would use most of the expensive ink cleaning the heads
* The ink would run out in middle phrase without any prior warning, as opposed to the progressive fading of a laser
* You had to wait for the paint to dry
* The result was not waterproof
* Photo quality requires expensive paper

I was almost buying the Oki 5050. The Oki is fast even in color mode and has relatively inexpensive toner. But the 2400W was positioned as a photo printer and was just US$300! I ended up with the 2400W.

This is a great printer for home/home office use. It does print very decent photos even in plain paper. The results are even better with a light (90 g/m2) or matte (167 g/m2) photo paper. My mother stopped complaining that I don't give her enough pictures of the kids.

I have only a few complains:
* The toner is expensive. You can buy a 1500-page "standard" cartridge for US$70 each or a 4500-page "high capacity" cartridge for US$120 each. Since I don't print a lot of stuff, this is ok with me. Interestingly, the set of 4 "standard" cartridges might cost more than a brand new printer - that comes with the same cartridges!
* It cannot print a photo at full page size (Letter, A4) at maximum resolution (2400 X 600) because of lack of memory (it's not expandable); I have to settle with the still decent 1200 X 600 resolution. The most you can get at full resolution is 1/3 of a page.
* It does not come with an Ethernet print server and is incompatible with the Linksys PSUS4 print server that I bought.

Both of the last issues above are addressed at the 2430DL that costs about US$100 more, so I think you should consider that model instead.

Excellent printer - worthless documentation
This is the second Konica-Minolta Magicolor color laser I have purchased. The first was a 2430DL which I purchased for my office. Basically the printers are the same except that the 2400W does not have ethernet connectivity, or an LED read-out (the printer messages from the 2400W pop up in a window on your computer screen), and the 2400W costs about $100 less.

Printing quality is the same on both units. Warm up time is quick, pages come out fast, and quality is good. Text quality is excellent. We also have a $10,000 color laser at work and the Konica units print text just as well and graphics almost as well.

Obviously I liked these printers enough to buy a second one, however I only give the product 4 stars because neither my 2430DL or the 2400W worked right out of the box and the accompanying "documentation" (if you can call it that) is a total joke.

Installation of my 2400W conked out with a message saying, and I quote: "Put Cyan toner". Huh? I opened up the unit and the magenta toner was on top. The rotate toner cartridge button refused to work and, as I said before, the manual is useless. I had to call tech support. Eventually we discovered that the magenta and cyan toner cartridges were switched. When switched back the unit performed perfectly.

Installation of my 2430DL appeared to work but the prints initially were faded and the toner rubbed off. Another call to tech support revealed that two clips that are supposed to hold the paper tightly against the fuser were not down all the way. When these were seated properly the unit functioned perfectly.

The installation instructions contain one page of sketches that look like they were made by a grade-schooler. Worthless. The thick "manual" consists of only one-quarter of one page of generic information which is repeated a bazillion times in a bazillion different languages, 4 per page. Curious, but utterly worthless.

On the plus side, Konica's tech support is excellent. The calls are toll-free, I only had to wait on hold a few minutes each time, and I got to speak to native English speakers who were very knowledgeable, polite, and helpful.

Here are a couple of other tidbits which may be of interest. The 2400W only connects via a USB cable, which is NOT included. Also, the printer uses 4 toner cartridges: black, cyan, magenta, and blue. The combined cost of theses cartridges is almost as much as the printer sells for at discount office stores. And... the toner cartridges which come with the printer are "starter" cartridges which are only one-third full, so get ready to spend some $$$ on replacement cartridges.

Power consumption on this unit is high compared to my previous home laser (an HP Laserjet 6L). When the Konica unit is switched on my room lights flicker constantly, even when not printing. So I turn the thing off after every use. Normally you can leave it on all the time and it will go into power saver mode by itself after about 20-30 minutes (by the way, you will have to get used to the loud clunk it makes when going to sleep - initially it will scare you because 20 minutes after making a print you have forgotten all about the printer, and, as I say it is a LOUD clunk!)

Both the 2430DL and the 2400W have a paper tray with a complete enclosure, which is very nice for keeping the paper clean and out of the way.

Duplexing is manual. You have to print one side then put the sheet(s) back into the printer upside down for the second side.

So, in summary: some installation headaches, great tech support, worthless documentation, but very nice printing, especially for the money. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Designed with the serious graphics user in mind, Epson's Stylus Photo 2200 is stylish and fast and comes packed with user-friendly features. With Epson's new seven-color UltraChrome inks and three times as many nozzles as the popular Stylus 2000P, the 2200 is able to print 8-by-10-inch color photos in under two minutes (in fine mode). The UltraChrome inks are formulated to resist water and light damage and to ensure longevity, all while providing more colors than any other pigment ink on the market.

The versatile 2200 makes it easy to print on envelopes, roll paper, and many types and sizes of single-sheet paper.

A maximum resolution of 2,880 x 1,440 dpi (both color and black and white) results in amazingly accurate prints. The 4-picoliter droplets are the equivalent of 2-picoliter droplets in ordinary dye-base systems, resulting in ultrafine detail and clarity. Interchangeable standard and matte black ink cartridges help you get the best quality from black-and-white prints, while the included Film Factory(TM) with PRINT Image Matching Support software ensures that prints from compatible digital cameras are true to the original image.

The 2200 supports a wide variety of paper types, including glossy, semi-glossy, luster, matte, and Epson's velvet fine art paper, as well as large-format sizes up to 13 by 44 inches. With the included roll paper holder and built-in automatic cutter, you can print borderless images easily, while a photo catcher neatly stacks multiple prints as they are cut.

Compatible with both Mac and PC systems, the 2200 comes backed with a one-year Epson exchange warranty.

What's in the Box
Printer, AC power supply and cord, seven ink cartridges (cyan, light cyan, magenta, light magenta, yellow, light black, photo black), roll paper holder accessory, roll paper cutter and catcher; printer cable not included

... Read more

Reviews (59)

Do you need a semi pro photo printer?
I've had my Epson 2200 for about six weeks. With free shipping Amazon's price was best on the net. Looked at Canon's and Epson's lower end models. I thought the Epson outperformed the Canon tonally. Have done about 45 8x10 glossies with medium grade Epson paper. Not disappointed in the output. Two pics were banded and short colored. Did a basic head cleaning and that corrected the problem. The light toned inks are used at slightly more than twice the rate of the dark tones. Am just now looking for a replacement for light magenta cartridge. I figure amortized cost per pic is about 1.25 per print with ink paper and printer costs combined. If you demand quality output for your pics with a fairly low volumne output, this is a hard printer to beat right now. If you're not too concerned about darker toning and flatter colors you can probably get by with something half as pricey. I'm delighted with mine.

epson stylus 2200
received this printer only to have two faulty ink cartilages (still being cleared by epson). bought a pair and started printing sample papers from all over (red river polar gloss has equal output quality verus epson's premium luster paper).
At around 1200 dpi the test images are excellent with great satutation and contrast (at default settings) baby skin came out near perfect to the monitor. metalics are not grainy and the the multi color thread spool are rich and detailed. gradients dare i say are comparable to traditional photo-prints.
Printing is on the slow side when compared to other ink-jet printers. other then the oddly relaxing whishing sound its makes very little noise. heavy foot print on the desk. heavy with nice rugged construction (metal bracings).
was reviewed by lou (industrial designer) and joy (photograper)

Prints as good as Ofoto
I researched photo printers for weeks and read all the reviews. I wanted a dedicated photo printer for the best prints so I did not care about text or speed. I had decided on the Epson 960 based on the PC World review that rated it just below the 2200 and above the Canons. I went to Compusa and they did not have a 960 and were sold out of the 2200 for weeks. While I was looking at the other printers a shipment of 2200's rolled in, so I bought one. I compared identical prints from the 2200 to an Ofoto print on photographic based paper and I can say they are equivalent. The 2200 had a little less contrast but better shadow detail. With magnification the the grain was about the same on both prints. I used Premium Glossy paper. You do get some obscuring sheen when you look at the 2200 prints at an angle due the pigment based ink, but it is not a problem in my opinion. I then compared these to prints from my Epson Photo 780. With the naked eye there is not much detectable difference, but with magnification you can see the ink pattern on the 780 prints. The skin tones were not as realistic. I expect with various photos the differences would become more readily apparent. I think the 2200 is a great printer but a bit expensive. The 960 may be a good choice for less $$. I wish I could have compared them side by side.
Addendum: Upon more research I've learned a big advantage of this printer over the 960 is the Ultrachrome pigment ink, which is water resistant and good for 80 years. All of the dye based inks apparently will start to fade in just a few years (or some in just a few months). There are also compatible generic papers (try Redriverpaper.com). This printer uses the same inks and has similar quality to Epson professional printers ... Getting the best prints with the 2200 may require a little tweaking of the settings and adjustments in Photoshop or the like, where you can set the contrast and color saturation to suit your eye. Plan to use some paper and ink experimenting. Professional photographers and artists like this printer a lot. It is outstanding for black and white and for artistic papers such as matte and card stock, and of course it prints pics up to 13 inches wide and 40+ long. If you want the best and have the know-how (or want to learn), this is the printer to get.

My Epson Experience
My Epson Experience

Let me begin by saying that I have over ten years of experience with all things computer related. During that period I have worked in almost every aspect of computer support. I have personally cleaned out countless numbers of inkjet printers with q-tips distilled water and alcohol. I kept my own Epson 740 going for 5 years without too much difficulty. I only got rid of it because I had a client that was desperate for a printer that would accept a Mac serial port. Boy due I miss that Epson 740.

I bought a C82 a little less than a year ago, after reading good reviews. I assumed it would be built at least as well as the Epson 740 I was using before.

Even after ten months my C82 still appears in almost brand new shape inside and out. Heck, I've only used it about thirty times or so. I keep it inside of cabinet shielded from dust. Plus as a matter of standard practice, I turn off all inkjet printers as soon as I finish using them, and I always change ink cartridges as quickly as possible to prevent ink from drying out inside printers.

So was I ever surprised when my printer stopped working. It had worked fine with the first set of cartridges I had installed. However, as soon as I changed cartridges the printer stopped working. I tried cleaning it at least fifty times, but it did nothing to improve the situation. So I did the natural thing and googled my problem. I was shocked by the sheer number of search results.

After reading through the reviews at Amazon and the hundreds of messages at fixyourownprinter.com I've come to realize that Epson has built and continue to build a printer that is so poorly designed one must question their integrity as a company. To think that so many people would experience the same problem and that their only solution is to continue to send people refurbished printers until their warranty expires.

Oh, and the part that will really get you, is that they require you to purchase and install a new set of four Epson branded ink cartridges to insure that your currently installed cartridges are not what is defective. So before you can even have your printer replaced you must invest at least sixty dollars on ink. Of course they offer to send you new ink with the replacement printer. Still to ask me to sink my time, energy, and sixty dollars into having my printer replaced with another one, which will simply get me right back to where I began. I mean really, the nerve. Is this what our present day world has come to? Have we set ourselves up so that these large corporations can totally take advantage of us in this way? Is there no recourse? Are there no standards of business ethics that they can be held accountable for?

The experience has left me feeling unusually sad. Epson has made me realize just how much I am at the mercy of these large corporations. I mean, if you want to print, who else can you buy a printer from?
I know that even if Epson would own up to this, they would argue that they had to make the printers so cheaply to remain competitive. Without doing so they would go out of business tomorrow. We've heard all that before. Haven't we?

Still though, this printer is made by someone in a Chinese factory. I know I'm going out on a limb here, but I would guess that that person is not well paid. Perhaps they are even exploited to some extent or at the very least we could guess that they are taken advantage of to some extent. Then as they role off the Chinese production line, Epson sends these defective printers all over the globe, wrapped up in fancy magazine advertisements. People like me buy the printer, use the ink, put in new ink, discover it no longer works, call Epson, ship the printer back to Epson, get the refurbished printer in the mail, and . Once the warranty is up we move our broken printer into the garage for a year or so, and then throw it away. It all seems so pointless.

Don't think me a luddite either. I love computers, printers, and gadgets as much as the next person. It's just that it disgusts me that I am forced to deal with a corporation that is not held to any kind of moral or ethical principles. As long as they are making money and growing we think of them as a good thing, without worrying about who they are taking advantage of. What are we doing here? How can we let Epson get away with this? Really!

Well it's not difficult for me to say I will be boycotting all Epson products in the future. I mean I'm sort of doubtful of their quality anyways. Oh and I haven't even mentioned the very unhelpful tech support and customer service representatives that I called long distance at my own expense. What a waste! Really what a waste!

Sincerely,

- Mark Whitney -
Hollywood, CA

P.S. I know the solution is to buy myself a do-it-yourself printer cleaning kit. If you google it you'll see that many companies sell them specifically for the Epson C80/C82. However, if you try to buy one you'll soon discover that they are all sold out, as I mentioned before I'm not the only one with this problem.

WOW!!!! THIS THING IS AWESOME!!
I just bought this thing from Amazon and all I can say

is WOW!!!!

This is probably the best purchase I have ever made.

This thing is everything I ever expected and more!! It's

very easy to use as well!

I have bought other brands before, and this one just

blows everything else out of the water! I have to say,

everyone out there who is thinking of buying this, stop

thinking. I bought it and I am extremely happy with it

the moment I powered this thing on. YOU ABSOLUTELY

POSITIVELY CANNOT GO WRONG WITH THIS PURCHASE! I

GUARANTEE IT!!! ... Read more

Features

• 5.1-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 13-by-17-inch enlargements
• Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 3x optical zoom lens combines with a 2x digital zoom for 6x total zoom
• 300-degree rotating lens design; 1.8-inch LCD monitor; 1.6 frame-per-second Shot Burst mode
• Store images on Memory Stick (32 MB Memory Stick included) or Memory Stick Pro media
• Powered by rechargeable InfoLithium battery (included with charger); connects to computers via USB 2.0

Amazon.com Product Description

With 48-bit color and an amazing 3,200 x 1,600 dpi optical resolution, the tabloid-size ScanMaker 9800XL brings high-performance scanning to the corporate user, graphic designer, or medical professional. The large 12-by-17-inch reflective scan bed easily accommodates A3 scans, and adding the optional transparent media adapter (TMA 1600) lets you scan transparencies up to 12 by 16 inches--including X-rays. Other great features include 3.7 maximum optical density with multiple sampling to reduce random image noise, a triple interface with FireWire, USB, and SCSI-2 for maximum versatility, and newly designed templates to accommodate a wide variety of film. Microtek includes a one-year warranty that covers parts and service. ... Read more

Features

• 3,200 x 1,600 optical dpi
• True 48-bit color
• 3.7 maximum optical density
• 12-by-17-inch tabloid size bed
• Firewire, USB, and SCSI-2 interfaces

Reviews (4)

When a Large Bed is Necessary There is No Alternative
Microtek makes one of the only large format scanners on the market today, which concerned me as I don't like to see a monopoly as then product quality won't be job #1. I was surpised, albit pleasantly when I was received the scanner from CDW and how easy it was to use. It has SCSI, Firewire and USB connections on the back which make it easy to setup and install. Scanner quality is excellent as we scan dental xrays and then send them to insurance companies, who are always complaining about fuzziness of the scans. Needless to say we have had no difficulties with this Microtek and would probably buy another one in the future!

Scanning lamp went out
I thought the scanner was great, but the lamp went out just after 1 year after I bought it. So now all my scans have a rainbow line from top to bottom. Microtek's extent of technical support is reinstall the drivers, if that doesn't work you have to return it so we can repair it, because there are no authorized repair people out there, but us. They will not sell me the lamp, because they need to repair it themselves (they want the labor dollars). So, after I paid $1,400 for this thing a year ago I am going to have to pay another $200-300 for repair and shipping both ways.

4 stars for the scanner and an extra star for Amazon.com!
I have waited four years to buy a large bed scanner. I will never understand why the slight difference in scanner bed size increases the cost so greatly, (an 11 X 14 scanner is as little as $...) but that's the market as it stands. As an artist, I needed a scanner that would capture my work in one scan.

The Microtek scanner came practially ready to go right out of the box and installed into Windows XP effortlessly. It even came with a firewire card to install into the computer in the event the buyer didn't already have one. Very considerate! All necessary cables, both a Firewire OR a USB will operate it, and all the software was there and ready to go. Plugged in, it woke right up and scanned perfectly on it's first time out, as easy as downloading pics from my digital camera. No problems!

Amazon.com not only had the best price after a year of looking around, but offered free shipping and still got it to me the next day. If I had to spend this much on the scanner I at least got great service and treated well by the seller, as well as a quality product. OUTSTANDING!

It's a very good scanner
We are a small publisher who scans large print publications for professional use. We ordered the Microtek ScanMaker 9800XL without the optional slide-scanning attachment, since we never scan slides. (The Amazon listings are not very clear on this point, but the more expensive version of this scanner has the slide attachment.) We ordered the scanner on a Saturday and it arrived on Tuesday. It was probably drop shipped from the manufacturer, who is in the same state as us, but that's still pretty efficient. The scanner is faster than our large-format Agfa Duoscan (which we bought for $5,000 six years ago and which is now broken). The Microtek bed is several inches larger than the Agfa's.

The only think I don't like about the Microtek is, the lid will fold up on a hinge but only at right angles. This bunches up really large publications that need to slop over the edge of the scanner bed at that end. The lid of the old Agfa lifted off completely, and I liked that significantly more.

But other than that, the Microtek is a great scanner at a reasonable price. ... Read more

Product Description

TransFlash Memory ModuleThe TransFlash product is an ultra small, semi-removable flash memory module based on the miniSD card and TriFlash designs for future mobile phone products, especially the transfer of personal content between TransFlash-enabled phones. Due to the ultra small size of the product, it is not intended to be handled or removed on a frequent basis. The TransFlash form factor will be promoted globally to other mobile phone manufacturers. ... Read more

Features

• The TransFlash memory module can be inserted into an adapter and used in other SD-enabled devices
• Semi-removable Memory Module
• Expands memory capacity for mobile phones
• The world's smallest removable storage module
• Compatible with all TransFlash mobile devices

Reviews (1)

TransFlash to Secure Digital Adapter INCLUDED!
After emailing Amazon to enquire if this particular model came with the TransFlash to SD card adapter and receiving a response that they didn't know, I contacted SanDisk with the model number to find out on my own. Their response was much more helpful, SanDisk said that all their TransFlash cards come with the SD card adapter (Secure Digital). I have a Motorolla V710, all I had to do to put MP3's (which can be used for ringers) onto this card is format it in my phone and then use a memory card reader to add MP3's to the card. Easy, Quick and Effective. This is a great product for the price, buy it and enjoy! ... Read more

Features

• High-performance 4.0-megapixel digital camera with 3x optical/3.6x digital/11x combined zoom
• 1.8-inch LCD monitor for easier image previews and reviews
• Exclusive Canon XImage Processor and iSAPS technology for faster processing and excellent image quality
• New Print/Share button for easy direct printing and downloads
• 9-point AiAF with special scene modes for spectacular shots in special situations

Amazon.com Product Description

With its small size and quick reaction time, the Sony DSCP73 digital camera will be your constant photographic companion. The affordable DSCP73 offers point-and-shoot simplicity with a variety of features normally found in higher-end models. This 4-megapixel camera features a 3x optical zoom, 4-shot burst mode, conversion lens compatibility, A/V connection to view images on your TV, and a high-resolution movie mode that's limited only by your Memory Stick's capacity. For a step up in price, the Sony DSCP93 adds a 5-megapixel CCD, higher resolution LCD screen, and 9-shot burst mode.

Optics and Resolution
The 1/2.7-inch Super HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD allows more light to pass to each pixel, increasing sensitivity and reducing noise, and provides a 4.1-megapixel effective resolution (2304 x 1728).The Real Imaging Processor offers greater clarity and picture quality as well as improved response time and battery life and decreased shutter lag. The DSCP73 has a 3x optical zoom lens that's combined with a smooth 2x digital zoom for a 6x total.

Movie Mode
Capture video with audio at 30 frames per second (fps) at VGA size 640 x 480;the included 16 MB memory card will store 42 seconds of vide at this setting. Movie length is only limited by the amount of storage you have on hand. The Video Mail mode captures a smaller movie (160 x 112 pixels) that's more suitable to sending to friends and family via e-mail.

More Features
The DSCP73 offers the following additional features to the DSCP41:

• Live Histogram Display: Available in capture and playback, the Live Histogram displays the concentration of pixels at each luminosity value making it easy to evaluate the correct exposure.
• Manual Exposure Mode: Manual Exposure Mode provides extended control with 46-step adjustable Shutter speed (30 Ð 1/1000 sec.), and 2-step Aperture control.
• Conversion Lens Compatibility: Increase your shooting options by adding either telephoto lenses to increase your optical zoom or wide-angle lenses to increase the width of your field of view. You can even add filters for special effects.
• Audio/Video Output: For reviewing images and MPEG movies, the DSCP73 offers an A/V output for convenient connection to a TV or VCR, this makes sharing images with family and friends easy.

Other features include:

• Resolution modes: 2304 x 1728 (4.1MP), 2048 x 1536 (3MP), 1280 x 960 (1MP), 640 x 480 (VGA)
• 1.5-inch, 64K LCD monitor makes framing shots and reviewing pictures easy.
• Selectable Focus Mode: Monitoring AF (Auto Focus) helps you anticipate the action by focusing even before you press the shutter release.
• 5 Area Multi-Point Auto Focus: By evaluating 5 separate focus areas of the frame, SonyÕs Multi-Point AF system can intelligently focus on the subject and avoid mistakenly focusing on the background.
• AF (Auto Focus) Illuminator: Briefly illuminating the subject, in low--or no--light conditions, the AF Illuminator helps establish a positive focus lock.
• Multi-Pattern Measuring: Independently light-metering 49 points of the frame, Multi-Pattern Measuring establishes the optimum exposure, even when highlight and shadow isnÕt centered in the frame.
• Multi-Burst Mode: Captures 16 320 x 240 frames as part of a single 1280 x 960 image which plays back sequentially in the camera (selectable 1/7.5, 1/15, 1/30 second).
• Scene Selection Mode: With 6 Scene Modes, parameters can be matched to the shooting conditions. Choose from one of the following: Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape, Soft Snap, Candle, or Beach.
• Slow Shutter Noise Reduction: During long exposures, Slow Shutter NR captures the scene, and then the CCD noise pattern with a dark frame exposure. By subtracting the two, even long exposures can be clear.
• Pre-Flash Metering: With a momentary pre-flash, the camera illuminates the subject and sets exposure through the lens for accurate flash metering. Adjustable flash level and red-eye reduction ensure great flash shots.
• 4 Shot Burst Mode: Capture up to 4 shots (fine) or 6 shots (standard) at 1.3 frames/sec. even at 4 MP resolution. Perfect for high speed subjects or fast moving action such as sports.

Direct Printing
The Cybershot DSCP73 offers PictBridge functionality, which enables you to transfer pictures from your digital camera to a compatible printer--such as the Sony PictureStation DPP-EX50--without a PC or image-editing software. Images can be viewed and selected for printing right on the camera's LCD, with menus for print quantity, date, and index print.

Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on Memory Sticks, and the Cybershot DSCP73 is compatible with Memory Stick Pro media--for storage up to 1 gigabyte. The included 16 MB Memory Stick will store 8 Fine and 14 Standard 4.1-megapixel images. The DSCP73 transfers images to PCs and Macs via a speedy USB 2.0 connection (which is backward compatible with USB 1.1 ports).

Power and Size
The camera is powered by two rechargeable NiMH AA-sized batteries (2100 mAh). The included adapter/charger provides power while you transfer images from the camera to your PC. It measures 4.63 x 2.13 x 1.38 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 7 ounces without Memory Stick or batteries.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony DSCP73 digital camera, 16 MB Memory Stick, two AA-size NiMH rechargeable batteries (NH-AA-DA), battery charger (BC-CS2), A/V and USB cables, wrist strap, and CD-ROM with photo editing software.

Sony Photo Vault
The optional Sony Photo Vault mini CD burner eliminates worry about running out of space on your Memory Stick when travelling. It burns images to mini CD-R's without a PC interface--just connect your camera using a USB cable. The Photo Vault also has a Memory Stick slot (compatible with Memory Stick Pro and Duo) and features a built-in photo album capability to display photos on a television screen using a television's standard AV input. ... Read more

Features

• 4-megapixel sensor (2304 x 1728) captures enough detail to create photo-quality prints up to 11 x 14
• 3x optical zoom plus 2x digital zoom for 6x total
• High-resolution movie mode with sound; A/V output to TV; 4-shot burst; histogram display
• Compatible with Memory Stick and Memory Stick Pro media; includes 16 MB card
• Powered by 2 AA batteries (NiMH rechargeables included); connects to PCs and Macs via USB 2.0

Reviews (4)

Great for pictures -- not great for videos
We bought this camera as an upgrade from our Canon A40. The big feature for us (after the fabulously quick shutter speed) was the ability to take unlimited videos. (Most other cameras limit the video length because they must buffer the image, whereas Sony cameras can write directly to their memory cards.)

However, we've decided to return the camera. There are 3 movie modes. With a 256 MB memory stick (about $100), you get about 3 minutes of video on the best setting. On the medium setting, you get 10 minutes of video. The third setting does give you 2 hours of video, but is completely unusable. The audio is very poor and the image is blurry and pixelated.

We're disappointed that Sony didn't offer a movie mode in between the terrible 160 mode and the Standard 640 mode. A friend's Sony, now over 4 years old, has such an inbetween setting, and we figured this would be an example of the quality of this Cybershot's lowest setting. Not so!

Great camera
This is our first digital camera and so far we love it. It feels very solid and the pictures are really great. The camera is very easy to use for pictures and for video. I have not used any of the different picture settings but I did read the manual and they seem easy to use.
The camera comes with batteries and a charger but no AC adapter. This is the only reason (no AC adapter) I gave the camera 4 stars instead of 5. I would recommend buying the AC adapter so you don't use the batteries too fast or an extra set of batteries so you always have a charged pair of batteries.

Sony Cybershot DSCP73
My husband & I wanted a good digital camera but did not want to spend a bundle. We own other Sony products and know the products are usually high end. We are pleased again with another Sony product. The camera is a little bulky, but the pictures look wonderful and the capability is amazing. More than enough to keep us non-techies amazed!

pretty cool for what you pay
I just bought the p73 and I am pretty content with it. altough bulkier than the exilims of casio, I like the fast cycle times between shots, which often caused me to loose nice pictures before with my old digital camera. The video is quite good considering it's just mpeg, and good for those moments when you wished you had brought your camcorder. I am using the mem stick pro 256 meg so there is alot of room for short videos as well as pictures. The preflash works pretty well in low light, an added benefit is that it catches the attention of my baby so all our shots have her looking straight at the camera. I havent tried the more advanced features yet, altough I am saving up for a wide angle lens to attach onto this toy. It is a bit heavy for a small cam, but then I realized that it was the battery which was accounting for much of the weight. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Still images or video--capture either 60 minutes of DVD-quality MPEG-2 movies or thousands of super-high resolution UXGA-size JPEG pictures with the Everio--the first camera to use Microdrive technology. The included 4GB Microdrive card, though it is the same size as Compact Flash card, has such unprecedented capacity because it is has its own built-in HDD (hard disk drive).

The completely tapeless Microdrive format lets you choose higher video quality or longer shooting times.

Store more photos than you ever thought possible on the included 4GB Microdrive card.

Until now, tapeless formats have been severely limited in the length and quality of video capacity, but the Everio's Microdrive lets you shoot up to 60 minutes of high quality MPEG-2 video--and even more in lower resolution modes.A selection of recording modes lets you choose more quality or more shooting time. The highest quality ULTRA mode records at a constant bit rate of 8.88 Mbps with AC 3 audio -- comparable to the DVD data rate (average 4 Mbps video/9.8 Mbps maximum). Essentially what you get is DVD quality, with the same video and audio format as a movie DVD. And the number of still photos that will fit on the Microdrive card is nothing less than awe-inspiring: More than 5000 of the highest resolution images (1600x1200 fine).

2.12 Megapixel CCD
This 1/3.6" CCD with a total of 2.12 million pixels (effective: 1.23 million for moving pictures, 2 million for still pictures) offers the high resolution capabilities needed for high quality digital videography and photography. And the Megabrid Engine applies separate, optimized processing to moving and still images, for videos with a high signal-to-noise ratio, and high-resolution still pictures.

Versatile, Lossless Data
Store what you've shot on the provided Microdrive card, optional CompactFlash or SD Memory Cards. size as a CompactFlash card, but with many Gigabytes of capacity. You can eject the Microdrive card, just as you would a CompactFlash or SD Memory Card, and load data into your PC via optional card adapter. Or simply connect the camera via its USB2.0 interface for quick downloading to a PC. All transfer is digital-to-digital, so you won't lose any quality in the process.

DVD Creation & Sharing

Three advanced applications are provided: Power Producer offers easy saving (authoring) of your video clips in any order to DVD, even right from a USB-connected camera, so you can share your original DVDs with anybody who owns a DVD player. Power Director offers feature-rich non-linear editing so you can flex your creative muscle with titles, effects, and even mix still with videos. Power DVD for easy video clip and DVD playback with AC 3 audio.

Multi-Format Support
In addition to making it easy to create DVDs, the supplied software converts to a variety of file formats for distribution via the Web or by e-mail. Supported formats include DV-AVI, Windows-AVI, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2, as well as Windows Media Video and RealVideo that can be streamed over the Internet. ... Read more

Features

• The first camera to use Microdrive technology
• Includes a 4GB Microdrive card that can hold 60 minutes of DVD-quality video or more than 5000 high resolution still images
• Completely tapeless format for a ultra-compact, lightweight body
• Includes software for easy video editing and DVD creation
• Also supports CompactFlash and SD Memory Cards, USB2.0, DV-AVI,Windows-AVI, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2, Windows Media Video, and RealVideo

Product Description

Samsung's MPEG4 Sports Camcorder offers the ability to capture those thrlling moments. Whether you're snow boarding or skiing or just having fun with the family you can capture the moment with the remote lens. ... Read more

Features

• 2 inch LCD
• Instant "power on"
• MPEG4 video recording
• Super lightweight
• Waterproof

Reviews (5)

Great camera- need extra storage and battery
This thing is awesome. It's smaller and lighter than my RIM Phone! Easy to throw on the charging station, grab and go. Something that never happend w/my old Video Camera. Had to grab the whole bag, overnight charge of the battery, etc... This thing charges in an hour or two.Quality of the LCD is excellent, even on the soccerfield under direct sunlight.Quality of the video, even on normal (has 2 higher settings) is good.

Downsides: only 2 I can come up with. Definitely need to buy extra memory cards.If you are going to take on vacation w/out your laptop to download the video to, then you'll probably want to buy another 2GB's.That would give you 2-3 hours of video over a week trip.Also, you'll need an extra battery. It's only good for about an hour (I run through it in a single 8yr old soccer game).Problem right now is that I can't find an extra battery to order anywhere.Accessories aren't really out yet (as of end of May).So, plan on another $300 to make it really livable.That all said, it's the coolest gadget I own. Haven't tried the helmet cam yet, but am already planning it.

Very Cool
I got this to record ATV riding adventures. It was this or the new super small Sony mini dv cam. I went with this because I think the mini dv cam would not hold on the trail with all the dust.
I have had this for a few days to play with so far. I bought a 1gig scan disk card with it. It will record 63 minutes on the lowest 620x480 setting with the 1 gig card. The video quility is good on the lowest setting. I edited it with I-movie on my Mac and burnd a dvd and it looks great on the normal tv.
I could not get it to work with my windows vedio editing softwere ( Pinnacle and Screenblaster) but It does work with windows movie maker.
You may want to bump up to the super fine setting if you want HD quality. I only get 22 minutes with the 1gig card on the higest settings.
The external lens is cool. It come with a head and arm band. The extrem sports guys will love this for recording thier crazy stuff.
Overall I'm happy with it.

Good for its intented purpose
I plan to use the Samsung sc-x105l for cycling (MTB, Road and Motorcycle) trips.I've had the unit a few days and familiarized myself with the controls.Fumbling for setup and features is always a battery burner so I try to be proficient before giving a real-life judgement on battery life.

I did a road bicycle test yesterday in 56 degree weather, starting with a full charge (I had cycled the battery once prior to this), the image quality was set for 352 dpi at "normal".Two higher quality settings are available this is the lowest and most battery efficient.Electronic Image Stabilization was turned on which also uses more power.The LCD display door was closed and I used the external remote camera.

According to the manual, I should have gotten ~80 .minutes, the varible was the EIS, there is no mention of how much that lowers battery life.My actual battery life was 48 minutes.About half of what the manual stated.

Image quality at 352/normal was fair.When a car zipped past me, the image was not clear enough to read a license plate from 30 ft away during playback, even going frame by frame.Recording at higher resolution should help this but more testing required.

The good news was how much of the 512mb internal memory I had used in 48 minutes, which was only 95mb.I feel by increasing the resoltuion (which uses way more memory and some battery) an equal amount of memory and battery can be consumed yielding about 30 minutes of quality video.

30 minutes may not sound like much but frankly, 30 minutes of home moives is usually more than most people can take.I'll carry a spare battery and 1G memory stick top tranfer during longer trips.

BTW, the unit is amazingly small and light, build quality is sturdy.That is a big plus for the intended audience of this unit.

Wait for Improvements
I was very excited to receive this camera. My intent was to use it for skydiving video, after all I first saw the advert for it in Parachutist magazine. Anyway, I had it for about 1 week before I sent it back. It went through batteries very quickly and captured relatively grainy and dark video and stills. It takes several seconds to ready for video or stills and if I kept it in the ready mode for too long (20 min) the battery was about gone! The lense provided a pretty narrow field of view. It is good for standard back yard applications but as an "extreme sports cam" it is not ready for the quick and constant action of up close "extreme sports". Only the external optical cam eye is water resisitant. The rest of the cam will break if exposed to heavy moisture/rain/water. Another point of contention, I early purchased this unit from Amazon for $699. By the time it was delivered the price was already down to $569.00 from Amazon! Bottom line.....Wait till it is improved and the price settles down.

Slightly Disappointed
I wanted to use this product to document sports and other activities and expected that the video could show the times and dates when these activities were observed.However, although the camera has a time and date function, these items cannot be made to appear on the video.

The camcorder has a separate camera module for mounting on a helmet, etc., but the picture quality does not match that of the main camera, which makes use of the separate module inadequate for the purposes I had in mind when ordering this particular unit. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Canon's EOS-1D Mark II (successor to the original EOS-1D) is the ultimate professional digital SLR. Nearly doubling its predecessor's resolution to 8.2 megapixels, it also offers an improved shooting buffer for continuous shooting 8.5 frames per second at full resolution--making it the world's fastest digital SLR (as of January, 2004). It also features a faster DIGIC II imaging engine, a rugged yet lightweight weather-resistant magnesium alloy construction, capability for custom and personal presets, and dual storage slots for CompactFlash and Secure Digital cards.

Optics and Resolution
Canon's newly developed single-plate CMOS sensor with 8-channel reading technology delivers exceptional image quality, with approximately 8.2 million effective pixels (8.5 million total pixels) and a generous 28.7 x 19.1mm image size. The sensor's 3:2 aspect ratio is the same as in 35mm cameras, and the sensor's large size realizes an effective angle of view that's just 1.3 times the focal length indicated on Canon EF lenses. It features 3504 x 2336, 3104 x 2072, 2544 x 1696, and 1728 x 1152 pixel resolution settings.

A new on-chip noise elimination circuit eradicates fixed pattern and random noise. A low-pass filter placed in front of the sensor reduces false color and moire effects, while the infrared filter suppresses red fringing caused by sensor reflections and fog.

RAW processing
New Digital Photo Professional image processing software is provided for high-speed processing of lossless RAW files. It enables real-time display and immediate application of adjustments to images and includes a wide array of RAW, TIFF, or JPEG image editing functions, which give control over variables such as white balance, dynamic range, exposure compensation and color tone. It supports sRGB, Adobe RGB, and Wide Gamut RGB color spaces.

Digic II Imaging Processor
Canon's newly developed, state-of-the-art DIGIC II imaging engine achieves super high speed processing that results in continuous shooting of 8.2-megapixel images at 8.5 fps in maximum bursts of 40 (JPEG format) or 20 (RAW format) shots. By handling larger volumes of image data, DIGIC II also contributes to lower power consumption: up to about 1,200 shots can be taken on a full battery at 20 degrees C, or around 800 shots at 0 degrees C.

More Features
The new 230,000-pixel, 2.0-inch color TFT LCD offers nearly twice the resolution of monitors on other EOS digital models, nearly 100% coverage of JPEG images, and a new bolder typeface that simplifies reading of text menus. Photos displayed on the LCD monitor can be magnified from 1.5X to 10X in 15 increments, allowing you to check the focus and exposure of images with high precision.

You can easily tailor the EOS-1D MARK II to meet your own specialized needs:

• 21 Custom Functions with 67 settings include the removal of the ISO speed extension setting to the ISO speed extension menu, the addition of new E-TTL averaged autoflash metering, and the inclusion of AI Servo continuous shooting, which was previously a Personal Function.
• 25 Personal Functions can be installed in the camera at any time, via driver software, to meet high-level customization needs. New features include the ability to append data for data verification and the ability to apply the Quick Control Dial's ON/OFF switch to the Main Dial to prevent accidental changes to settings when shooting remotely with EOS Capture.

• Images can be recorded in the JPEG image format, the RAW image format, or both formats simultaneously.
• Seven Color Matrix settings are provided for JPEG and RAW images, including five factory presets that were previously available and two new settings that allow independent user adjustment of color space, color saturation, and color tone within a prescribed range.
• ISO speeds are selectable in 1/3 increments (100-1600) and may be set as low as 50 or as high as 3200 through the ISO extension menu.
• It offers 10 selectable white balance modes and a new WB Compensation function, which allows adjustment of blue/amber and magenta/green biases in +/-9 steps, as well as combined use of light-balancing (LB) and color-correction (CC) equivalent digital color filters.
• Canon's improved Evaluative Through-The-Lens (E-TTL) Autoflash system offers new averaged metering in addition to the evaluative metering available on other EOS models.
• Designed as a serious tool for professionals, the EOS-1D MARK II offers rigid magnesium alloy in the chassis and external covers (top, front, rear and memory card slot cover).

Lens Compatibility
Canon's lineup of professional EF lenses--including over 50 models ranging from 14mm ultra-wide-angle to 1,200mm super-telephoto--are compatible with the new EOS-1D Mark II (except the EF-S line). Canon's sophisticated electronic lens mount technology communicates with the camera as soon as the lens is mounted to transfer information about the lens, such as its type, f-number and focal length, thus enabling faster, more precise control from the camera.

EF lenses offer professional capabilities that meet wide-ranging needs, including such features as an Ultrasonic Motor that silently drives the autofocus mechanism with very high precision, an Image Stabilizer that automatically compensates for camera shake via microcomputer, advanced aspherical optics, fluorite lenses, Ultra Low Dispersion (UD) lenses, and Super UD lenses.

Storage and Transfer
The EOS-1D Mark II offers support for both CompactFlash Type I and II (making it MicroDrive compatible) and Secure Digital (SD) memory cards. Images can be recorded on a CompactFlash card or SD memory card alone; on both cards at the same time as a safeguard against losing important data; or on both cards, one at a time, to maximize storage capacity. It connects to PCs and Macs via FireWire (also referred to as IEEE1394, or i.Link) and USB 1.1 (which activates PictBridge printing capabilities).

Power and Size
The camera is powered by a rechargeable NiMH (nickel metal hydride) battery pack (NP-E3, included); it also requires one CR2025 for date and time settings. It measures 6.1 x 6.2 x 3.1 inches and weighs 43 ounces (camera body only without batteries; battery adds 11.8 ounces).

What's in the Box
This package includes the EOS-1D Mark II digital SLR camera body, rechargeable NiMH battery (NP-E3), AC adapter (DCK-E1), CR2025 battery, and USB and FireWire (IEEE1394) cables. The CD-ROM includes EOS Viewer Utility software for faster image preview, and Digital Photo Professional software for high-speed processing and handling of RAW images. It is compatible with over 60 Canon EF lenses (excluding EF-S lens) and the entire Canon EX series Speedlite flash range. ... Read more

Features

• 8.2-megapixel CMOS sensor--3:2 aspect ratio the same as in 35mm cameras
• Compatible with Canon professional EF lenses (except the EF-S line)
• Continuous shooting 8.5 frames per second at full resolution; rugged, weather-resistant magnesium alloy
• Supports both CompactFlash Type I and II and Secure Digital (SD) memory cards
• Powered by rechargeable NiMH battery pack; connects to PCs and Macs via FireWire and USB 1.1

Reviews (1)

Canon's EOS-1D-Mark-II - Best Performer of the Decade...
Canon's EOS-1D-Mark-II -Best Performer of the Decade..
Reviewer: Jim Wilson (fau@bellsouth.net) Boca Raton, Florida, USA, June 3rd, 2004/9pm

Canon's EOS-1D-Mark-II -Best Performer of the Decade.....

This mini-review will give some initial impressions with the first week of use and testing. I was one of the early users of the DCS-560 Canon/Kodak cameras, which was great camera for its time however at $25m a copy. Looking at this new Mark-II with its feature set, pixel count, image quality, speed, in camera processing parameters, 8+ fps.... the list goes on and on... what a performer. This digital camera has almost everything for a broad range of uses. With 8.2MP sensor and using LizardTech's PrintPro to up-size the image 250% produces huge images which would challenge the best medium format digital backs. The images are pure, clean, crisp, and accurate. If you're a RAW shooter the included software will give all the post imaging adjusting one can imagine. Many of my assignments have good or controlled lighting therefore I'm quite happy with in-camera processing. I go with +1 or +2 ticks on the sharpening, and +1 on the color so the skin tones are more towards tan. This heavy duty camera, literally heavy, is such a wonderful piece to work with, its worth the extra size and weight. When one combines this camera with Canon's line of "L" series lenses, this gives the user an incredible feeling of confidence when on assignment, whether taking pictures of products, food, science, fashion, engineering, construction, or action sports for NCAA events. This camera also re-defines quality low-light imaging. An ISO of 1600 produces images with very good results, and images at 3200 are surprisingly sharp, which until today was unheard of. ISOs of 50 through 1250 produce clean noise-free, or near-noise-free beautiful images.

As to image sizes, when shooting in JPEG mode, the user may change the JPEG compression settings from numeric values from 1-10, as with Photoshop when saving images. I set the JPEG value to 10 which produces file size of about 6 million bytes +/- 1 million bytes, depending on image detail and light level; low light, high ISO will result in higher image sizes. Therefor with a 2GB data card expect 330 image capacity. Using the FireWire interface, downloads average 5.5MB images at the rate of about 10 per minute.

As an opinion, in the future several items Canon could work on to improve this already beautiful masterpiece:

1. Use a full 24mmx36mm imager
2. Increase pixel dimensions to 3600x5400 pixels
3. Increase near-noiseless ISO's to 6400
4. Decrease camera weight and size
5. Change battery system to Lithium-Ion.
6. Provide an extra-bright 3" diagonal LDC display.
7. Oh why not, ...lets ask for 12 fps.

James L Wilson, Prof., Principles.of.Digital.Photography and.Post.Image.Processing Florida.Atlantic.University Boca.Raton.Campus Operating.Entity.BocaDigital.LLC. Quality.Digital.Imaging Post.Office.Box.520 Boca.Raton.Florida.USA.33429 Internet.E.Mail.Address For.Faculty.and.Students.mail.use: FAU@bellsouth.net For.Other.Business.mail.please.use: BocaDigital@bellsouth.net Desk.561.416.1110 SecureFax.561.892.2681

Comments: It is important to read the included documentation so that one can utilize (some of) the large feature-set. Its worth the effort since the features provided solve most of the photographer's needs.

Professor Jim Wilson, "Principles of Digital Photography" ... Read more

Product Description

680,000-pixel CCD * digital photo mode * photo resolution options: 1024 x 768 (interpolated); 640 x 480 * Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) movie mode * slot for use with separate MultiMediaCard® or SD memory cards * 2-3/8" color viewscreen * color viewfinder * PCM stereo digital audio (12-bit or 16-bit) * variable-speed 22X optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 440X) * ... Read more

Features

• 680,000-pixel CCD
• digital photo mode
• photo resolution options: 1024 x 768 (interpolated); 640 x 480
• Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) movie mode
• slot for use with separate MultiMediaCard® or SD memory cards

Amazon.com Review

With the C-8080, Olympus enters the 8-megapixel arena with a splash. It's well suited both to amateur photo enthusiasts who want to ramp up their power and to professional photographers who need a smaller camera that's still loaded with a high-quality lens and expected high-end features. To that end, the C-8080 has a hot shoe for an external flash and the ability to add lenses (in conjunction with Olympus's bayonet-connected lens adapter tube).

With a body modeled after Olympus's professional E-20N, it has a classic SLR-style look but with a smaller profile (it's less bulky than Sony's DSC-F828). The rubber hand grip feels quite comfortable, making it easy for our fingers to access all the operation buttons on the right side. That said, we had to train ourselves to press the shutter-release button instead of the power button, since it is placed a bit lower from the top than where our fingers wanted to go. We also occasionally turned off the camera when making adjustments to the mode dial.

The left side also collects several buttons that are used in combination with the jog dial on the back (enabling quick access without having to go through all the menus). These buttons include flash pop-up and mode selection, resolution and image quality, and exposure compensation buttons. The LCD can be pulled away from the camera body and tilted up and down, which is especially handy for capturing ground-level photos.

Ergonomics aside, the C-8080 offers a powerful array of photographic features that make it easy to snap pics automatically or with your own manual settings. Here are some highlights:

• The C-8080 has four continuous shooting modes, with the fastest being five shots at 1.5 frames-per-second (which was helpful in capturing the tip-off at an NCAA basketball game). It also has an AF burst mode where the focus is adjusted frame by frame, but this slows down the capture speed.
• The manual focus mode allows you to get in as close as 7.9 inches (20 cm). A zoomed portion of your subject appears at the center of the LCD enabling you to get the right adjustment.
• The movie mode allows you to record up to 640 x 480 resolution (VGA) with sound, and it's only limited by the amount of free space on your memory card--the LCD shows how much more video you can fit there. You'll also be able to hear audio during in-camera playback thanks to a small, built-in speaker at the bottom.

Although the 5x optical zoom is smaller than other current 8 MP models, we found it to be quite adequate. It's also a bit on the wide side--28-140mm with maximum aperture settings of f2.4 at wide and f3.5 at telephoto. The aspherical glass lens is built to the same quality level as the Zuiko lenses used with Olympus's E-1 digital SLR. We were quite happy with its clarity and ability to pick up fine details--even in a romantically lit restaurant.

The included 32 MB xD memory card is nice start, but you'll definitely need the space for storing 8 MP photos; we were able to fit 20 HQ 3264 x 2448 images onto the card. It's also compatible with Type I and II CompactFlash cards, and we recommend purchasing either a large-capacity CF card or a MicroDrive to ensure you've got enough capacity. One bonus of using xD is its faster write speed (images save about one second faster than a MicroDrive). The downside to using the two card formats at once is you have to choose a destination card each time you start the camera (it defaults to the xD card, even if it's maxed out).

We found the battery life to be quite long-lasting--we only used about half of its capacity during five days of moderate use. The C-8080 is powered by the rechargeable lithium-ion BLM-1 battery. The camera conserves battery power by going to sleep within three minutes of not being used; press any button to immediately bring it back to life.

Overall, Olympus delivers a worthy, professional, SLR-style camera with a good range of high-end controls, handy features, expandability, and great image detail. The only factor that tempers our enthusiasm is its somewhat awkward button layout. --Agen G.N. Schmitz

Pros:

• Sharp 8-megapixel details and bright lens
• Good variety of professional-quality photographic features, including hot shoe and add-on lenses
• Articulated LCD and electronic viewfinder for saving battery drain
• Dual xD and CompactFlash/MicroDrive compatibility
• Long-lasting lithium-ion rechargeable battery

• Poor layout of control buttons--a slip of the finger easily turns off the camera
• Need to choose CF card every time camera is turned on if xD card also present

Features

• 8-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 16-by-22-inch enlargements
• 5x optical zoom combines with 3x digital zoom for 15x total zoom
• Movie mode with audio; PictBridge enabled; 1.8-inch articulated LCD display
• Store images on xD or Compact Flash memory cards
• Powered by lithium ion battery (included with charger)

Reviews (16)

Outstanding 8-Megapixel Camera with top quality lens.
After some extensive research on 8-megapixel digital cameras, I decided on the Olympus C-8080 for several reasons. I'll highlight a few of them below.

* The magnesium cased Olympus C-8080 has a quality feel to it in my hands. It feels solid. This camera won't creak or flex when handled like some of the others I tried.

* The Olympus C-8080 power up time is extremely fast which is important for catching those special moments. It has one of the fastest power up times of any 8-megapixel camera.

* The C-8080 has one of the best lenses available in its class with just the right balance of range and speed... The lens is rather large for good light gathering ability. It's also very sharp. At 5x and 28mm - 140mm (35mm equivalent) range, some might lean more toward a camera with a broader optical range sacrificing speed and quality. For me, it's about quality not quantity! I find that I often use 28mm indoors where space is limited or for those wide outdoor scenic shots. And 140mm is usually sufficient for most of my 'telephoto' needs. You can also purchase optional adapters for wider angle or more zoom if you find it necessary.

* Battery life on this camera is top notch... it's one of the longest lasting and far superior to most other 8-megapixel cameras. Although I own 2 batteries for my Olympus C-8080, I have yet to need more than one for an entire day of shooting. My findings pretty much mirror what the professional reviewers have tested with regard to long battery life on the Olympus C-8080. I have yet to see my 'low battery' indicator come on!

I should also mention that I wear eye glasses which is a problem for me with some viewfinders. Not so with the Olympus C-8080. The ring surrounding the viewfinder is rubberized and when I place the lens from my eye glasses up against the view finder, I can see the entire frame clearly and comfortably. The viewfinder also has a diopter adjustment to compensate for less than perfect vision.

Some people have commented that the controls on the Olympus are a bit confusing. The camera is very versatile with many features and I've gotten used to the controls. Also, the power on/off button is located fairly close to the shutter release button but I got used to this within just a few minutes. It really isn't a problem. Unless you're seriously lacking in manual dexterity, you'll get used to it very quickly.

Also, don't skimp on the memory card. I have a 512MB xD card in the camera and keep a blank 256MB card in my pocket in case I fill up the first card before getting a chance to download all the images to my PC. I might just get a 512MB CompactFlash card as well since the camera has a slot for both xD and CF style memory cards.

To quote another reviewer, the Olympus C-8080 is the one to get!

A Miriade of features at a reasonable price
If your like me and dont have a bunch of lenses already there that could be added to the camera as in the Canon Rebel then the next best choice is to try to get a camera that has all you need in one camera. This camera also feels better than any other camera I tried. And I tried them all, HP, Canon, Minolta, Fuji, Sony, and Olympus less expensive older models.

That is what I see is one of the main advantages of the Olympus C-8080. It is a very flexible highly featured camera. The lenses on it feature both wide and telephoto capabilities and Olympus has taken the time to make sure that the lense does well in these areas. They were special produced for this camera.
I have been able to get some excellent image quality out of my Olympus C-8080 so far. By excellent I mean that there is alot of detail in mid tones. Some of the noise artifacts in high contrast areas in other cameras such as purple hazing seem to either not be there or greatly reduced. In other words I have not seen that as an issue. This is attributable to a new CCD for the camera that impliments cyan dots into the color capture system. I love the extra colors I am getting from the CCD on board that has increased my color ranges in blues and greens as well as neutral shadow areas.

Olympus also implimented an anti noise feature in this camera that is said to help with those issues.

This camera is complex. It will take alot of time to be able to use all its featured capabilities. The menu system is intuitive and very customizable.

Am I glad I bought it? Yes definitely.

Also look at the built in historgram. Better than any of the competion. That is because it has a historgram in a historgram. You can learn on line how to use historgrams and then that feature will mean more.

Negatives:
Red laser focus system can be blinding for shooting portraits
lack of stablization system like Minolta uses
Lack of illuminated controls for night shooting

Reaching out to touch the world
Today's bright and sunny, but you have major photos in which you have to take for that over due book or portfilo. The olpmpus C-8080 wide zoom digital camera catches the closest snap shots when you need to get that 200-400 speed shot of a moving animal or that clear visible close-up shot of the models on runway.. Although, it may seem like a timeless task, but with this camera , the photos are taken like a breeze. Also, it is very easy to use ,so no need for that refresher course for visual commications for that new heads up on speed photograpy...<br /><br />So here's to the high life of the world of photography<br /><br />Thank You<br />Shara L. Bouie<br />Atlanta,Ga

A review for the ambitious amature
This is my third digital camera. My first was a canon powershot g3-- A camera I would still be using if it hadn't developed a problem with storing images to CF cards and downloading them to the computer. My 2nd camera is a Canon s100 point and shoot. Just so that you can understand the view point of this review, I will let you know that I consider myself an amature with intentions of improvement. If you are a pro photographer or even an advance amature, this review won't offer you much.

That being said, if your aspirations are like mine, this camera is an excellent choice. I explored most of the major online sites prior to making my choice: Steve's Digicams, DPR, etc. All those sites gave the camera high marks.

What I liked most about this camera was the image quality. It had the least noise, and least chromatic abberation and distortion of any of the 8 megapixel cameras in nearly all the reviews. Since what I wanted most at the end of it all were excellent photos, this was enough for me to make my choice. And if you aren't happy with the shots straight from the camera, you can tweak every thing from sharpness to saturation to achieve the results you want.

Other features that I liked included the wide array of image size, and shooting options available. I felt that this camera could certainly grow with my skill level for years to come.

Many have complained about the placement of the power button. I haven't had any probs with it. I have not accidentally turned it off or on even once.

Now what I would change if I could:
Oh I wish the LCD were a swivel display. I have grown accustom to this with my canon.

The flash does not automatically pop up when you need it.

The EVF is taking some getting used to. I am still wary of weather or not what I am seeing actually represents actually color, lighting etc...

The menu system could use some revision. I am sure it will take me a while to learn to use the camera to its best capacity simply because the menu system is not intuitive. You actually need to read the manual and the one on the CD to work out the ends and outs of the camera.

The camera defaults to the xD card if you have a both and xD and a CF card in place. This has caused me some problems. You will be less frustrated if you only have one or the other installed.

I like this camera more and more every time I use it. I researched my choice exaustively and none of the other 8 megapixels currently available even tempt me when I look at the whole picture. I don't think this camera will dissappoint you .

5X Zoom Question
Here's a little optic lesson.

The higher the zoom ratio i.e. 2x vs 7x, the more problems with the lens. This may show up as
distortion, out of focus corners, resolution, etc. Generally, the greater power, the more
apochromatic problems with the lens. Also the higher the zoom power, the lens gets larger or the
f/ get smaller as it's zoomed. Olympus did a very good job with this lens. The "cost" of a greater
power would be of not much value if they had to compromise the image quality. Just about, the
only one who cares about 5x vs 7x are idiots. Don't get a complex over it. You have the best lens (for 8MP camera's today) ... Read more

Features

• High transfer rate for fast copy/download
• Non-volatile solid-state; no moving parts maximizes battery power; Data is not lost when power is turned off
• Operating shock rating of 2,000Gs, equivalent to a 10-foot drop to the floor
• Compatible with all digital cameras, handheld PCs, digital audio players, and other devices that feature a CompactFlash slot
• High storage capacity

Features

• Sleek, compact MiniDV camcorder and digital still camera with 680,000 CCD
• 20x optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 900x) and image stabilizer
• 3.5-inch rotating LCD and color viewfinder
• Low-light recording settings, built-in video light, 4-in-1 memory card slot, and MPEG-4 recording
• Rechargeable Li-ion battery pack lasts for up to 2 hours

Reviews (5)

Returned it with reluctance...
I bought this camera to replace our 7 year old VHS-C camcorder. It had most of the features that I was looking for: MiniDV, Optical zoom greater than 10x, batterly life greater than 1 hour, LCD geater than 2.5", built-in light, and memory card for digital pictures.

I returned it for one main reason- video quality is equal to that of my current camcorder. It gets worse under certain circumstances. (Disabling DIS didn't improve the picture quality.)

Every feature that was attractive to me turned out to be inadequate. Large LCD screen, but the image is not pleasing. Built-in video light barely lights closeby objects. No facility (shoe) to place external light or flash.

Still images are another big disappointment. I realize that I shouldn't expect great still pictures from a camcorder, but I don't think they should come out this blurry, dull, and hazy.

Memory card slot can accept various different media (SD, memory stick, etc.) - I think this is a very neat feature.

I was amazed by Nite Pix feature. Yes, you can record video in absolute darkness, but the objects have to be within close proximity (6 feet or so).

Fading option (between footages) is extremely disappointing. You have to keep the fade button pushed until the image fades out, then push the standby button, and then release the fade button. You have to do the same when you start recording again. Completely manual operation.

We own many Samsung products and I am very satisfied with each one of them. This product is not going to change my opinion on Samsung.

Great Features, Great Price
I love this camcorder. First off, it's a great deal. I did a lot of research and found this to be the best deal out of the lower cost camcorders. The 107's brother (the 105) is also a good camcorder but the features of the 107 really puts it over the top. The large LCD is great. Playback is awesome on the huge screen. The photo feature is nice to have but I would still use a digital camera in most cases. It can also record MPEG4 with audio. The low-light feature works great. The audio is great and has an input for mics or music. The analog input is great and pretty easy to use. It's a good way to get old home videos on your computer without a capture card. Also, despite other reviews, I think the picture looks pretty good. One tip of advice is to only use the DIS when you have to. If you leave it on that's when it's starts to look grainy. I don't know what else to say. Too many features to mention. Great camera. Would suggest to anyone.

Pros:
Large 3.5" LCD for great playback
Analog Input to save all those old videos
Great Night Recording
Great Audio
Microphone/ Audio Input
Picture looks more than fine for most people
Photo and Video recording on memory card

Cons:
Light isn't that bright
Video can look a little grainy but mainly when DIS is on

Excellent Features and good price
After much research on the internet and in stores, I chose the Samsung SCD107....had it for a week and have been very pleased. All buttons and menus are easy to use. Picture and LCD view are average....very impressed with "nightpix" feature for shooting in the dark....you can shoot in total darkness, though it is a little grainy. Video looks very good hooked up to the TV whether it is in sunlight or indoors. Have also had no problem with tape insertion, read you manual and you will be fine. All in all I am very pleased with my selection.

Good entry-level cam
I found this DV camera to be an excellent product for the entry-level consumer. I wanted to try my hand at amateur moviemaking, amd picked this camera up cheap at Target, and so far, I've had no problems.
The picture quality is crisp and clear, although if you're looking for a particularly truer, more colorful picture, you would do best to upgrade to a 3 CCD camera.

Battery life is about the same as comparable models. The LCD viewscreen is big and bright, but the viewing angle could be a little wider- sometimes it can be tricky to tell how bright or dark your recorded video will be based on what angle you're looking at the screen with. Luckily, the little viewfinder does not share this problem, and you get londer battery life if you use it.

The package does not include a ieee firewire cable, so be sure to pick one up (a 4-pin-to-6-pin one) if you want to upload video to your computer for editing. When I got the cable, I had no problems importing video onto my Mac with iMovie.

As for the cassette-insertion problem outlined in one of the other reviews, yes, the way to insert a cassette could be a bit more self-explanatory, so I can see how some users might try to force the cassette tray back in and break this thing, but if you're patient and use your noggin, you'll realize it's not that complex. The camera opens, a tray come out, and a little caddy pops up. You put the cassette in the caddy, *then gently push the caddy back down into the tray*. The tray will then automatically retract back into the camera and you can close it up again. Pretty simple.

My first review!
The is my intial review of the product. After extensive search, I could find only one other review out there. I bought this camcorder today (5/15/04)and rushed home to try it out. I powered it up, opened the "funky" tape tray, located inconveniently at the bottom of the camcorder, and inserted a tape. Following the directions closely, I attempted to close the tray. I NEVER applied any undue force, just pushed the "push to close" button. Nothing happened! The camera continued to "whirrrr" around inside. I pulled the tape back out and tilted to camera to look inside. When I did a small pin and gear fell out onto my countertop. Disturbing to say the least. It is going back tomorrow to Target. I will probably drive over to Best Buy to re-purchase it, along with an extended warrantee! I'll keep you all posted! ... Read more

Product Description

Capture Brilliant Videos With DIGIC DVThe vibrant color of a summer sunset, the exhilarating action of a championship goal, and the tender moment of a newlywed kiss are all preserved in spectacular color, clarity and detail by the ZR100. Canon's most affordable, yet exceptionally powerful, digital camcorder brings together a variety of advanced features in one stylish package. Inside the streamlined body of the ZR100 is Canon's DIGIC DV system, which delivers outstanding image quality videos. With the 20x Optical Zoom/400x Digital Zoom lens, you'll also quickly appreciate why the name Canon is synonymous with professional image quality in photography and broadcast television. Another highlight of the ZR100 is its high-resolution 16:9 widescreen recording mode, which lets you capture true widescreen videos. With the ZR100 in hand, all of life's most precious moments are yours for the taking. ... Read more

Features

• Fast and easy printing
• From camera to computer with ease
• Brilliant digital video and photography
• Vivid Canon optical quality
• The brilliance and sharpness of megapixel performance

Features

• Up to 4,800 x 1,200 optimized dpi color, 1,200 x 1,200 black
• Color 4-by-6-inch photos in as fast as 60 seconds
• 2.5-inch flip-up color LCD to preview, select, and enhance photos
• Simple one-touch buttons; prints stills from video clips
• USB, memory card, and PictBridge interfaces; optional Bluetooth; PC/Mac

Features

• XGA 1,024 x 768 native resolution
• 1,700 ANSI lumens, 400:1 contrast ratio
• Zoom lens with flexible manual focus
• Full NTSC, PAL, SECAM, and HDTV signal compatibility
• Two 2-watt speakers; 2-year projector warranty

Features

• 5-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 13x17-inch prints
• Exclusive Canon DIGIC Image Processor and iSAPS technology allow faster processing speed, excellent image quality, and vibrant colors
• Includes five new Scene Modes and a Print/Share button for greater ease of use
• Intelligent orientation sensor automatically rotates images for playback
• Four novel colors with refined surface finish are the ultimate in camera couture