Amazon.com Product Description

With the Canon PowerShot S230, you've got the best of both worlds--the compact size and high style of the digital Elph series plus the higher resolution of a 3-megapixel camera. Updating the popular 2-megapixel PowerShot S200, the PowerShot S230 also features a 2x optical zoom, an improved 3.2x digital zoom, movie mode for videos up to 3 minutes, and more--all in a stylish, compact package.

Optics and Resolution

S230's nine-point autofocus lets you sharpen the image on your subject, no matter where it is in the frame.

Featuring a 3.2-megapixel CCD sensor, the PowerShot S230 delivers a wide range of detail and color (with images up to 2048 x 1536 pixels) and prints up to 11 by 14 inches. Canon's high-quality 2x optical zoom lens allows you to close in on the action, while the 3.2x digital zoom allows for a combined 6.4x zoom, letting you capture intimate details that might have been missed with another camera. The PowerShot S230 is also one of the few digital cameras to feature wide-area nine-point autofocus for taking crisp, sharp images no matter where the subject appears in the image frame.

Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on CompactFlash memory cards, and a 16 MB card is included. When shooting images at the medium or fine setting, the 16 MB card will store approximately 26 images. Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB storage-class connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.

Movie Mode
In addition to taking still photos, the S230 can also record movie clips of up to 3 minutes. You can choose from three different video formats: 160 x 120, 320 x 240, or 640 x 480 pixels. Both picture and sound quality have been improved, and an editing feature allows you to delete unwanted scenes during playback. The S230's photo-effect mode lets you do more with your still images. Choose from low sharpening, vivid color, sepia, neutral, and black and white.

More Features
Though it's primarily designed as a point-and-shoot, the S230 includes several advanced features for photographers who want more creative control, including exposure compensation, low-light manual shutter speeds, manual ISO and white balance, and stitch assist, plus black-and-white, sepia, vivid, and neutral modes.

The PowerShot S230 uses highly advanced technology to make your digital photography experience simple. DIGIC enhances image definition and processing speed, while the sophisticated iSAPS (Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) technology assures faster and more accurate autofocus, autoexposure, and automatic white balance. The intelligent-orientation sensor ensures your pictures are always right side up, on the LCD or even while downloading.

Horizontal	Vertical
S230's Intelligent Orientation Sensor knows which of your images were shot horizontally and which were shot vertically.

Power, Size, and Contents
The camera is powered by a proprietary Canon rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included). It measures 3.4 by 2.2 by 1.1 inches and weighs 6.4 ounces. This package includes the PowerShot S230 digital camera, 16 MB CompactFlash card, lithium-ion battery (model NB-1LH) and battery charger (model CB-2LS), USB and A/V cables, wrist strap, and CD-ROM with imaging software and USB drivers for Windows and Mac. ... Read more

Features

• 3.2 megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 8 x 10 prints and medium-quality prints up to 11 x 14
• Autofocus lens with 2x optical/3.2x digital (6.4x total) zoom
• Included 16 MB CompactFlash card holds 26 images at default settings
• Connects with PCs and Macs via USB port
• Uses proprietary lithium-ion rechargeable battery (included)

Reviews (139)

Canon PowerShot S230: Pocket Hercules
WHY I PURCHASED THE POWERSHOT 230:
I was never really a fan of Canon cameras, especially Canon digital cameras. It wasn't until recently that a few of my friends were sending me pictures via email that were taken with a Canon Powershot camera. I was pretty impressed with the results and decided to check out the newest Powershot; the S230. This camera packed a lot of features, but kept the bulk to a minimum. Producing images at 3.2 megapixels, the S230 was definitely appealing.

WHAT IT COMES WITH:
- Canon PowerShot S230 Digital ELPH camera
- NB-1LH Lithium-ion battery
- 16 MB CompactFlash (CF) Card
- USB cable
- A/V cable
- Wrist Strap
- CD with Canon software suite
- Users Manual

POCKETABILITY:
The first thing you notice about this camera is that it's small. Probably the smallest digital camera I've seen in the 3 megapixel category. You can truly put this in your pocket and not have everyone stare at the bulge...

DURABILITY:
I've already dropped this camera once on my hardwood floor. Amazingly, it still works like a charm. The S230 is encased in stainless steel with a few chrome accents and a couple of plastic parts (mainly the switches & dials). I expect this camera to last several years without any problems, if not longer. A buddy of mine has owned his Powershot S100 for over two years and he still loves his to death.

EASE OF USE:
The S230 was as easy to use (if not easier) as my previous Sony digital cameras. Before selling my Sony DSC-S75, I had the chance to compare the two, side-by-side. The size alone, gave the S230 an overwhelming advantage. The picture quality is very impressive with the S230. The indoor photos that I took without the flash turned out great. The auto-exposure, as well as the auto-ISO settings works fine, but if you want to manually set those on your own, it's easy to do. There are other cool features on the S230 such as picture effects (black and white, sepia, soft, sharp, etc.). The 1.5" LCD is very useful and is very clear, even in bright sunlight.

ADVANCED FOCUSING:
AiAF (Artificial Intelligence Auto-Focus) is a new feature found on the S230 that was not present in the earlier models of the Powershots. This function allows the S230 to select from one of the nine focus areas within the frame to capture the sharpest shot. It's pretty amazing how this works. This feature can also easily be turned off in the settings. This feature is found on the new Canon G3, as well, and is the flagship of the point-and-shoot digital camera line for Canon.

PICTURE QUALITY:
As I mentioned, I was quite impressed with the photo quality. I managed to print some of them on photo paper using my HP 960c deskjet printer. Printing them in 5X7 produced brilliant, almost photolab quality pictures. I might add that my Sony DSC-S75 also produces some of the best photos, as well, but I expect that from a camera that boasts a Carl Zeiss Sonar lens, 3.3 megapixel resolution quality.... If you own a Canon printer, you should be able to directly print off of your S230 using the supplied cable. I just ordered the Canon i850 printer, so I'm anxiously waiting to try it out.

VIDEO MODE:
The ability to capture 30 seconds of 640X480 AVI video (20 frames per second) with sound is awesome! My father was surprised at how clearly it captures motion video. Although you're able to capture the video with sound, you won't be able to play it back with sound on the camera itself, as it is not equipped with a speaker. The S230 is capable of capturing more than 30 seconds if you use smaller resolution. After visiting the Canon Powershot website, I learned that if you use a high-speed CompactFlash (CF) card, you should be able to capture more than 30 seconds of 640X480 video. Canon expects to market the high speed CF card soon.

BATTERY STRENGTH:
This is where I'd say that my Sony DSC-S75 shines. All of Sony's digital cameras display the remaining life of the battery in minutes. The S230 goes strong until there's about 5% or less power left. I've read a few articles and reviews stating that the battery life is the weakness of this camera, but it's not all that bad. It all depends on how much you use the LCD display, the flash, and how often you turn on/off the device. I quickly ordered an extra battery from buy.com and I'm perfectly happy now.

The S230 comes with a separate battery charger. This is very convenient, as you don't have to charge the battery using the camera, like most of the Sony cameras do (Sony sells the battery charger as a separate accessory). From a fully discharged battery, the charger is able to completely charge it in about two hours. There is an LED which displays in 'red' when it's charging and 'green' when it's complete.

OVERALL WEAKNESSES:
Some people will say that the small size can be a weakness, but I'd say that the size is definitely its strength. The optical zoom capability is only 2X, so you won't be able to zoom up very closely from afar. It does offer a digital zoom, but this may result in grainy photos. The macro mode of the S230 isn't as crisp as my Sony DSC-S75, but I can live with it. Also, the flash on the S230 isn't as effective as it should be. The flash tends to white out (too bright) close-range subjects, but is very weak for any subjects more than 6 feet away. I'll have to play around some more with the settings, I guess. Finally, the tripod mount is not positioned in the center of the camera. It's actually placed on the side, causing it to be off-center and hard to balance.

SUMMARY:
I mainly purchased this camera for its size, but it's turned out to be a much better camera than I anticipated. In terms of photo quality, it may not beat the higher-end digital cameras, but it will sure give them a run for the money. We have to hand it Canon for developing a truly pocket-sized 3.2 megapixel digital camera.

Excellent buy
I started out with a s200 6 months back, only after doing extensive research on available small digital cameras. Small size was most important to me as I had been using a SLR full size before this, and found that for the money i had spent on that camera, it was not being used to its fullest potential- simply because it is not the type of camera for the amateur photographer- too large and not practical.

The elph range seemed the most appealing, especially when considering the features. My only gripe at the time was that it was without a higher MP range.
As soon as i found out the s230 had come out, it was certain that this was the upgrade i wanted. The Elph is a fantastic package, with its small size and solid build being its greatest advantages (among so many others). As most other reviewers have stated, it has a rather weak flash, and its low-light pictures aren't as good (as with the s200)- but its when those quick "point-and-shoot" moments come along that this camera shines its brightest. There's no fidgeting, and no long start up. Just turn it on and take the picture.
Now, if only Canon can squeeze a higher optical zoom into this little wizard.....!

Strongly recommend this camera for the amateur/start up digital photographer. Many moments of photographic fun guaranteed!

Greatest little camera!!!
What a work horse, plus the great size, just fits in my shirt pocket. Battery life is outstanding, but get a backup, plus this one uses compact flash so I was able to get the Sandisk II 512meg CF card also at Amazon for about $100. It's so good I bought a camera for everyone in my family.

Great Camera
I got this camera after looking around and comparing it with others. I'm glad I decided to go with the S230 for many reasons.

Pro's
Small and can fit in your pocket, great quality pictures, excellent movie mode with sound, comes with battery and charger, not complicated to use, all around excellent camera, and again the 3.2MP makes the pictures very pleasing to the eye.

Con's
Zoom isnt the best buts its alright, it takes good pictures when its dark out but you have to edit with a program such as photoshop to make it brighter. These cons should no way bother you much and should not deter you to buy this camera.

I suggest you buy a viking 256MB memory chip because the one that comes with it will leave you able to only take a few pics. With the 256MB chip you take long videos and take well over 1200 pictures. All in all excellent camera and as usual amazons shipped it fast and got the camera in a few days after making the order. I look forward to buy from amazon and cannon again.

compact, strong, and powerful all in one
I purchased this powershot s230 from Amazon in Dec 03. Before the ordering I did certain amount of research and had experience with a powershot s200. After 2 months of using, I feel that my decision was definitely right. Because:
1. The 3.2 MP is sufficient for most of daily photo need, either regular 4 by 6 in, or enlargment to 8 by 11 in. I persoanly don't see any necessaty of having a too high MP camera.
2. Extremely compact and strong. This camera has a size smaller than a cigarette pack; and realy stainless steel case. It can be easily put in your pocket and bring anythere, and don't worry about the possible scratches and pressure.
3. Long standing rechargable battery which can at least take 100 flash shots. this is a great advantage over those using AA batteries.
4. Movie with sound, resolution up to 640X480! you check this, Even the s400, s40, s50 don't have such a high movie quality. Plus instant play back on TV, compete with a camcorder.
5. It is peace in mind shopping at Amazon. I enjoyed timely, free shipping, confirmations of every step from order to shipping.
6. the only short coming of the s230 is the software.It seems too complicated. ... Read more

Features

• 5.3 megapixel sensor creates high-resolution images for prints up to poster size
• 3x optical plus 4x digital (12x total) zoom autofocus lens
• Complete controls over exposure, color, contrast, saturation, and white balance
• Includes 32 MB Secure Digital card; connects with Macs and PCs via USB port
• Package includes four rechargeable NiMH batteries, charger, and case

Reviews (17)

solid feature set, 5MP, 3x optical, nice pics.
the minolta dimage f300 is a solid camera but there are a few complaints that lead to this 4 star rating: no AF assist light, noisier images than competition, a slow moving lens, and all but useless TIFF mode (takes too long to save).

pros:
- 5MP resolution and 3X optical zoom.
- good photo quality, very sharp images.
- LCD on top of camera displays essential info (very rare in this camera class) - to be truly useful though, this should have included shutter speed and aperture.
- subject tracking autofocus performs well.
- good color balance.
- full set of manual controls - aperture/shutter priority, manual exposure, manual focus.
- intuitive user interface plus simple menu system.
- wide ISO sensitivity range for a compact (ISO 100 - 800).
- good macro performance.
- solid build quality, aluminium body.
- good shot to shot times.
- selectable AF points, reasonable AF speed.
- tracking AF workings for slow moving high contrast subjects.
- USB connectivity.
- non-proprietary AA batteries used.
- automatic lens cover.
- small and light: 4.4"W x 2.1"H x 1.3"D, weighing 7.8oz.

cons:
- more noise in images than competition.
- no auto focus assist light - makes focusing in low light difficult, if not impossible.
- slow moving lens - over 3 seconds to go from wide to telephoto!
- slow moving lens leads to slow startup time.
- shutter lag is noticeably worse than competition.
- noticeable barrel distortion from lens at wide angle.
- default tonal balance leads to lost shadow detail, clipped highlights.
- no flash power control.
- only TIFF format is supported, if you prefer RAW format, look elsewhere.
- saving a TIFF file means a virtual camera shutdown for about 30 seconds! this is a deal breaker for me.
- metal case scratches easily.
- doors for memory and battery feel flimsy.
- the included 32MB memory card is inadequate; be ready to shell out additional $$ for more memory.

as already mentioned, the f300 is a competent camera that is compact and quite stylish. if you don't plan to use the TIFF mode, the long save time is a non-issue. the shutter lag is troublesome though and the lack of an AF assist light is annoying. nevertheless, this camera has a lot going for it and is worthy of consideration. in the end, i would recommend the canon s50 over this.

i hope this helps your purchasing decision. peace.

Solid performance, but sluggishness is frustrating
This is my first digital camera after years of using old school film cameras. I purchased it when it first came out, having ready solid review of the F100 which was its predecessor. The F300 is stylish reasonably compact, and it can take regular AA batteries which is very convenient (though I recommend purchasing Powerex rechargeable 2200mAH AA batteries; this camera will drain regular AA batteries with alarming speed). Its feature set is solid--5MP, 3X optical zoom, solid macro performance--and my photos have turned out fairly neutral in color balance.

However, the one thing which frustrates me to no end is how sluggish the camera can feel. Turning the camera on and off leads to a several second wait for the lens to emerge or retract. The lag time when trying to get the lens to go wide or to zoom causes me to overshoot, so framing the subject properly can be an ordeal. The time to get an autofocus lock renders this camera unusable for all but stationery or very slow-moving subjects. And shooting at the highest resolution leads to long waits while the image is written to the memory card. I'm not expecting Nikon or Canon 35mm camera body responsiveness, but the F300's sluggishness removes some of photography's capture-the-moment joy.

I have become addicted to the convenience of previewing and sharing photos with a digital camera, but if I had to do it all over again I'd buy a nimbler 5 megapixel digital camera.

Amazing outdoor pictures
After doing a ton of research, I found this camera for $300. At the time of purchase, this was a steal. I took the camera to Israel with me and took some unbelievable outdoor pictures.

The manual settings are plentiful (if a bit cumbersome at times), although I find that the automatic setting is still better at figuring out lighting than I am.

The only complaint is for low-light pictures, which have yet to come out too great. However, I think this is a problem in the user and not the camera. Time will tell.

Excellent camera for the price. Very satisfied

batteries get sucked up quick
this is a a good camera for the price and takes great pictures, however it will drain batteries super fast. I can only get about 5 pictures out before the batteries are drained. I would suggest buying a different camera. I have spent over $100.00 in just batteries and I have used the camera less than 5 hours. I have owned it for about 7 months but I can not depend on it.

Simply the best for the money
I looked and used a lot of cameras and liked the features of the f300. One main feature is the lcd screen on the top and AA batteries and a sd card all common items. Most of the ones that are supposed to be better don't have this it is all proprietery. Anyway most reviewers are working or being taken care of $$$ by the manufacturer. I would check this one out. I have one and so does my wife. I used 3 of the top rated ones and they just don't touch this one. ... Read more

Features

• 35mm SLR camera with EF lens mount
• 7-point wide-area focusing system
• Advanced multi-mode exposure metering
• New distance-based E-TTL II flash metering
• Includes 28-105mm lens

Reviews (1)

Canon Triumphs Again!
This is the successor to the EOS Elan 7. It is what the Elan 7 could have been, should have been, and, finally, is. Though the Elan 7 didn't leave much to be desired, there were a couple of modifications that would have made it the perfect camera for intermediate to advanced photographers. These improvements are an illuminated external LCD, better light metering, and faster AF.

The new finish and emblems are gorgeous. The finish is extremely matte, so it's very dark and handsome, and the Elan 7n logo is now a relief on a plaque attached to the body that's also holographic, instead of the painted on white and red logo of the old Elan 7. Though this has nothing to do with its ability to produce amazingly focused and metered images, it sure makes it one heck of an attractive body.

It is arguably one of the quietest 35mm SLR cameras ever made, and I agree. Its whisper drive film transport produces noise so quiet you can only hear it if your ear is pressed right to the body. The mirror and shutter action, though audible, are also well below the sound levels heard in most other cameras. It makes the higher-end Canons, and just about all 35mm Nikons, Minoltas, and Pentaxes sound like gun shots by comparison. Also, when the silent film rewind option is set in the camera's custom functions, this, too, cannot be heard without pressing one's ear to the body. But, even its high-speed film rewind is quiet, if you ask me, and it takes only 5 seconds to rewind a 24-exposure roll of film!

Its auto-focus system is the fastest any Elan has ever seen. It can track things moving at a whopping 31 miles per hour at close distances! Trust me, this is fast! Only the rarest of sporting events would pose a challenge to this camera's AF system.

Its light metering, especially its new E-TTL II flash metering, is almost frighteningly intelligent and accurate. When used with an EX series Speedlite, the camera uses distance information from the lens plus its readings from the 35-zone light meter (both from an ambient light reading and a pre-flash reading) to calculate an appropriate flash exposure. This works in much the same way Nikon's 3D-matrix metering does, so, now, Nikon has some good competition in this category. I find that my Canon Elan 7n with the 420EX Speedlite produces exposures that are just as beautiful as those produced by Nikon systems. And, the high-speed flash sync is wonderful, because I can shoot with wide-open apertures and not worry about not being able to use the flash with the higher shutter speeds that result.

Its shooting speed is a grin-inducing 4 frames per second. Even the EOS 3 only does 3.5 fps without the incredibly expensive power booster with the Ni-MH battery pack, and the Nikon N80 only does about 2.5 frames per second. Oh, and you can get a battery pack for the Elan 7n (the BP-300) that will let you use AA batteries while providing you with an extended horizontal grip for better stability, a vertical grip for more comfortable work in the vertical orientation, and vertical shutter release and exposure lock buttons. Even the Nikon N-80 doesn't offer a vertical grip or shutter release with its battery pack.

This camera features mirror lockup, with the ability to use the RC-1 or RC-5 infrared wireless shutter remote. So, now, not only do you not get camera shake from the mirror going up during macro photography, but you also don't have to touch anything attached to the camera such as a shutter release cable, which could also cause camera shake. That's awesome.

The Elan 7n also lets you customize its settings and performance with 13 custom functions. This includes mirror lockup (another feature missing from the Nikon N80 or lower-end Canons), leaving the film leader out after rewinding it, controlling what the various buttons on the body do, as well as how the camera controls auto-focus assist lights, the flash, etc.

And, let's not forget its 7-point wide-area auto-focus, with selectable points and light metering being linked to the selected focus point.

All of these features, plus several I didn't even mention, make for extremely reliable point-and-shoot simplicity for the casual or inexperienced photographer who wants to get great shots without the hassle of learning all the stuff that's involved in true hands-on photography, yet the camera provides more features than even the pros can shake a stick at. And, it does it for around $300.00, which is 1/3 to 1/4 of the cost of comparable bodies.

Canon has triumphed once again!

PRO's:

-Durable
-Reliable
-Affordable
-Fast
-Quiet
-Exceptionally accurate (both in focusing and metering)
-Packed with features
-Stylish
-Compatible with a very nice line of accessories

CON's:

-My only complaint about this camera is its lack of a real focus assist beam. Most of the EOS bodies have built-in near-infrared focus assist lights that project patterns of vertical, horizontal, or combinations of both lines onto the subject for low-light and low-contrast AF operation. Why on Earth Canon decided to make the Elan 7/7n's built-in flash the AF assist light seems to defy all conventional logic and wisdom. First, it fires a short but rapid burst of flashes that are not only annoying to the user, but generally frightening to living subjects (I used it in a restaurant once with my Elan 7, and people actually screamed in terror...I've since learned to disable this in the custom functions...in fact, it was the first CF I set when I got the Elan 7n). Second, if it's being used for low-contrast subjects, well, it just doesn't help there at all, because it doesn't add any contrasting patterns for the AF system to focus on. However, when you attach an external flash, this problem is usually solved, because most dedicated flash units have focus assist beams. ... Read more

Features

• Affordable telescope for beginning astronomer; portable yet powerful
• All-glass optical components with high transmission coatings for enhanced image brighness and clarity
• Refractor optical design with a 60mm aperture and 900mm focal length
• Equatorial mount for tracking the sky
• Includes 3x Barlow Lens (1.25"), 20mm eyepiece, 4mm eyepiece, aluminum tripod with accessory tray

Features

• Multi-CAM 900 Sensor ? 5 focus detection areas offer broad horizontal and vertical coverage
• 3 AF Area Modes -Dynamic AF - Center Subject Priority Dynamic AF - and Closest Subject Priority Dynamic AF
• Auto Servo AF locks on the subject, whether stationary or in motion, with unique overlap servo method and NIKON Lock-On technology
• AF sensors work with every AF Nikkor lens, regardless of maximum aperture
• 25-segment 3D Matrix Matering employs sophisticated algorithms and a database of more than 30K scenes of actual shooting data

Reviews (12)

Very good - but make sure you're comfortable with size
It is essentially a facelift job on Nikon N65 (marketed outside US as F65), and all the good things that can be said about N65 apply to this product, too: it's reliable, it's capable of fully-manual operation (although this can be a little fiddly and N75 will feel more natural in automatic or semi-automatic mode).

Quality of pictures, for the price, is stunning, and in the line-up of entry-to-medium level SLRs this is definitely the one to choose (for example, auto-focus speed beats Canon equivalent hands down; Canon Rebel 300 - marketed outside US as Canon EOS 300 - also looks decidedly like a cheap compact camera with a big lens on top).

For many, many users (including myself) it will provide all the advanced functions that they will ever want. Pricier "professional" cameras like N80 are of course more robust and may have a few extra features or even faster AF, but the difference in price will be so significant that you will have to be a heavy user to make a more expensive camera pay for itself.

The only reservation about N75 is the size: Nikon tried to make this camera as small as possible, which makes it more agreeable for delicate hands (or so they think). For someone like me, a person with bigger paws, it does not feel right - it is just not chunky enough to provide a good grip: a lightweight camera it might be, but still it is no compact thing which you could put in your shirt pocket. This is an important consideration: all the good features will bring you no joy if you feel awkward holding the camera in your hands.

One great camera
This camera is amazing. I've been using one for about 5 months and I'm amazed at the high quality pictures I've gotten. The camera has a lot of advanced features that allow even someone new to SLR photography to take excellent pictures. The camera also includes 4 priority modes which allow you to develope even more as a better photographer.

The lens that comes with the camera is a 28-80mm f3.3-5.6 Nikkor. This is a good all around lens. I used it for the first three months solo before getting a 70-300mm lens. I still use the 28-80 a lot, but if you plan on continuing taking pictures, then you should get a bigger telephoto lens.

The camera is very easy to use and if you get one, experiment with all the functions on the camera. You will most likely be very happy with the results.

Great Camera f
This is a great camera for amateurs because it has Nikon quality at a great price. Please don't think cheap piece of crap, though. Its zoom isn't great but thats why it's for amateurs. Note: NOT FOR BEGINNERS FOR THAT A SIMPLE POINT AND SHOOT WILL DO. It's easy to load and to use. And has a dicent flash syncro of 1/90. I also reccomend a Quantaray Filter to replace the lense cap becuse after a while the lense cap get extremely annoying.

Need to know something about the N75
I now own a N60 which does not work with an external flash, I would like to know before purchasing this one if the external flash would work with it.

Excellent, economical SLR
I love my Nikon N75 - it's by far the best camera I've ever owned. I've had it for several months now, and have taken the best pictures of my life with it. A great first SLR, due to the ability to leave it in fully automatic mode at first, and then start using the expanded features as you learn.

I mainly wanted to write this review to debunk the 'error' a previous reviewer was complaining about. They really should read the owner's manual... The 'film not loaded error icon' that they are talking about is used in two ways on this camera. If when you first load the film, something goes wrong, this will blink to indicate the film was not loaded correctly. The second use is as a 'low-film' indicator. When you're looking through the viewfinder, this light will blink when you hit 5 exposures left. It's obviously meant to let you know you're getting close to the end of your film, so you don't miss that 'perfect shot' due to running our of film. The fact that the reviewer went through several of these cameras, and never figured this out astounds me. I've never had to contact Nikon support, but I would hope that the support person I got would be a little more knowledgeable than the people she talked too...

Overall, if you're looking to get started with an SLR, you can't go wrong with this camera. I would, however, suggest that you visit your local Ritz (or equivilent camera shop) to hold onto the camera, and compare it to a few others. I was all set to buy a Canon Rebel Ti, based soley on reviews - until I went to the shop. It just felt wrong in my hands, where the Nikon felt perfect. It's all a matter of personal preferrence, so you'll want to make sure you're getting the right one.

I've also been pretty hard on this camera since I got it (Ritz has an optional replacement warranty, so I've not been too worried) - including getting it soaked on a boat trip. It's kept on going through everything I've thrown at it - very durable.

Pros:

-Can be used as a point-and-shoot when needed (or while learning)
-Has the ability to control every aspect of the picture taking process.
-Great built in flash
-Amazing 25 point 3D metering system
-Controls are all easily accesible while holding the camera
-In my opinion, it just feels sturdier and more comfortable in your hand than the Canon Rebel Ti - Canon's equivilant camera

Cons:
-Being an SLR, it's a little on the big side. It is, however, lighter than you might expect. Basically, you have to be making the commitment to carrying it around with you. For this, I'd highly recommend one of the lowepro bags - they're about the smallest you can get for this type of camera. ... Read more

Features

• Specifically designed for Astronomy
• Fully -multicoated high resolution optics with BaK-4 prisms
• Tripod mount mount
• 80mm objective lenses
• Wrap-around style eye cups

Amazon.com Review

Canon's PowerShot range of cameras has always been strong, and the PowerShot 400 continues that tradition. The 4 Megapixel Canon PowerShot S400 digital camera is capable of taking still images at 2,272 x 1,704 pixels--enough for a good quality A4 print. Resolutions go down to 640 x 480 for images you might only want to look at digitally. You can also capture video at 320 x 240 and 160 x 120 pixels.

The camera is very small indeed--smaller than earlier PowerShot models, and is easily pocket sized. There is what at first might seem a bewildering array of buttons around the casing, but in fact these provide excellent one-button-press access to most of the most used features, such as the 3x optical zoom which goes up to 11x when combined with digital zoom features, the macro mode, settings for the flash and self timer. For more advanced features like changing the shutter speed, which it is great to be able to do on a digital camera; you do need to delve into the LED a little further, though.

Images are stored on CompactFlash card--the largest image can be a couple of MB in size so you'll need to think big when it comes to CF card size with this camera. The battery is removable, and a spare to carry in the pocket might be a good idea.

Canon supplies a range of desktop software for viewing, editing and making use of your digital images. As with previous PowerShot cameras, one of the tools works with the Stitch Assist mode on the camera itself in the production of panorama shots. Digital cameras get more advanced all the time, but we dare to say that the PowerShot S400 is probably the best pocket sized digital camera we've seen. --Sandra Vogel, Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Features

• 4.0 megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality prints up to 11 x 14
• 3x optical zoom and 3.6x digital zoom (10.8x total)
• Stainless steel shell; up to 3 minutes of video with sound
• Compatible with CompactFlash Type I cards; 32 MB card included
• Powered by rechargeable lithium-ion battery (NB-1LH ); connects to PCs and Macs via USB 1.1

Reviews (190)

Best Velue Period - Ultra compact digital camera
... this camera is the best compact digital on the market.

Sure, there are 5 megapixel compact cameras out now, but the cost is still too high. 4mp resolution makes great 8x10 prints, and lab-quality at 4x6 and 5x7.

The combination if its tiny size, beautiful results, and stylish design is unbeatable at the current prices. I take it everywhere and hardly notice it. It's like carrying a deck of cards in my pocket. Most good hi-res digital cameras are much bulkier.

Compact Flash memory is really, really cheap now. Buy a 512mb card and never worry about storage.

3X optical zoom is wonderful.

If you don't have a digital camera, or want a top-quality unit, you really owe it to yourself to check out the S400.

Auto white balance, auto exposure, and auto focus help the least savvy technophobes take outstanding photos.

Flash is surprisingly effective in dark rooms.

Lithium-ion battery lasts a long time and charges quickly. Who needs rechargable AA batteries when this battery is so good? Prices on Canon batteries are also down, so buy a spare.

The video out cable is nice for previewing pictures on a TV, but I usually use the computer for viewing photos.

Bundled software does the basic image editing. You'll want to go with Photoshop Elements 2 or Paint Shop Pro ... for serious editing and enhanced capabilities.

Fast 4 megapixel wonder!
After extensive research on the web ...I chose to upgrade my Canon S20 to a Canon S400. In someways, this was a step down. Unfortunately, the S400 does not support verticle alignment of it's panoramic "stitch assist" mode as they do on the S40, S45, S50 and other higher priced models. I found this feature on the S20 to be very useful in capturing more image (greater resolution and consistant panning) when stitching photos together to make a panoramic photo. Also, the S400 does not support the higher resolution movie mode of 640 x 320, as some digital cameras support. Hopefully, Canon will address these feature shortfalls with a firmware upgrade in the near future. As mentioned in a number of reviews, the S400's flash is miniscule and thus is somewhat inadequate to light wide distant shots.

Canon has improved the intelligence of the powershot digital line. Specifically in the S400 the Digic processing makes for fast picture taking and viewing. The size of the S400 is grand. It does fit in a pocket and powers up so quickly, you may never miss another shot with this camera (keeping in mind to charge your battery and have enough flash memory for the moment!!!).

The bottom line... the Canon S400 is compact, sturdy, and fast. If you are looking for a very small 4 megapixel camera with nice even colors, low levels of distortion, a basic movie capture mode, fast memory writing and reading, the S400 is a current top pick. However, if you are looking for lots of manual control, vertical "photo stitching," and more pixels try the S50.

One note if considering the S45 or S50 cameras, play with the navigation buttons before purchasing the unit; I have found the navigation to be somewhat clumsy in-which it is easy to hit "enter" when trying to navigate "up" or "down," or hit "up" when trying to "enter."

It might be your memory cards
Not all memory cards work well with all cameras. I tried to use a Viking card with my Canon s230, and got the E18 error mentioned here. As soon as I swapped my SanDisk back in, the problem was gone forever. I think sending the memory card back was a much better and cheaper solution than ditching an excellent camera.

Ideal size and function
I bought this a few months ago and wanted to wait until I had used it sufficiently. It's great. Whether alone in your pocket or inside the thin leather case (the Canon velcro one is nice), it takes up as much space as a pack of cigarettes or a thick wallet. Super easy to take out, turn on, point, shoot, turn off, and put back in your pocket, all in under 30 seconds. I've taken it on several trips including London where it was great to not look like a tourist, lugging a neckstrapped telephoto around town. And it couldn't be easier to get them onto your PC. I love it and wish I'd bought it sooner.

Great camera
This is a beautiful small camera that takes great pictures and has all the feautures most of us photo snappers need. The dials are fairly intuitive to use and the 3X zoom comes in handy. The negative is that battery life is relatively short. I would recommend a spare battery to be able to keep shooting if the battery runs out. Also, now that the price of the CF memory chip has decreased a great deal, I would recommend at least a 256 mB memory card. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Bushnell 8x21 PowerView FRP compact binoculars combine contemporary styling and design with traditional Bushnell quality and durability. They are easy to use and economical and feature general-purpose roof prisms. They offer 8x magnification and a field of view of 378 feet at 1,000 yards in a compact 7-ounce body. Their black rubber armoring ensures they can sustain active use. Bushnell's 8x21 PowerView FRP compact binoculars include a carrying case and a neck strap for convenience and comfort on the go. ... Read more

Features

• Compact and lightweight folding-roof prism design for sturdy portability
• 8x magnification
• Field of view of 378 feet at 1,000 yards
• Center-focus system
• Includes carrying case and neck strap

Reviews (5)

Great tiny binoculars
I was really impressed with these tiny little binoculars. They don't look like much but they worked well for me. They are a good value for the money.

Order this one!
This is a solid piece of optical quality. I ordered it for my Dad for a gift and have thought about keeping it (kidding dad).

Best Little Binocs By Far!
After using standard size binoculars for years, I was pleasantly surprised by the ease of use of these compact binoculars. I plan to take them on my next birdwatching outing and I'm sure the minimal weight will be appreciated.

great little binoculars !
I got one of these binoculars for Christmas and these are more powerful than another pair i had from a diffrent company. Bushnell is a trusted and powerful name in the binocular business and this model is small compact and very powerful for its size and price. The only gripe i have about it is that it there are two things you half to use to adjust the focus, so in other words one could be fuzzy when the other is clear, making the view a little distorted, but overall this is a great pair of binoculars by a trusted name, Bushnell.

Excellent Value and Quality
I recently purchased these binoculars and I also own another pair that I bought at a much higher price. I have to say, these are better than my $50 binocs! Great stability combines with wide viewing area and easy focus to create the best binoculars I've ever used! This is an easy purchase, a must buy! ... Read more

Features

• More Portable - This Nikon SLR is compact and light enough for anyone to handle.
• Enhanced Versatility - With fully automatic mode and five Vari-Program modes.
• Sharper Pictures -Five-Area Dynamic Autofocus.
• Nikkor Lens - 28-80mm f3.5-3.6
• Superior Exposure - 25-Segment 3D Matrix Metering to capture scene in detail

Reviews (12)

Very good - but make sure you're comfortable with size
It is essentially a facelift job on Nikon N65 (marketed outside US as F65), and all the good things that can be said about N65 apply to this product, too: it's reliable, it's capable of fully-manual operation (although this can be a little fiddly and N75 will feel more natural in automatic or semi-automatic mode).

Quality of pictures, for the price, is stunning, and in the line-up of entry-to-medium level SLRs this is definitely the one to choose (for example, auto-focus speed beats Canon equivalent hands down; Canon Rebel 300 - marketed outside US as Canon EOS 300 - also looks decidedly like a cheap compact camera with a big lens on top).

For many, many users (including myself) it will provide all the advanced functions that they will ever want. Pricier "professional" cameras like N80 are of course more robust and may have a few extra features or even faster AF, but the difference in price will be so significant that you will have to be a heavy user to make a more expensive camera pay for itself.

The only reservation about N75 is the size: Nikon tried to make this camera as small as possible, which makes it more agreeable for delicate hands (or so they think). For someone like me, a person with bigger paws, it does not feel right - it is just not chunky enough to provide a good grip: a lightweight camera it might be, but still it is no compact thing which you could put in your shirt pocket. This is an important consideration: all the good features will bring you no joy if you feel awkward holding the camera in your hands.

One great camera
This camera is amazing. I've been using one for about 5 months and I'm amazed at the high quality pictures I've gotten. The camera has a lot of advanced features that allow even someone new to SLR photography to take excellent pictures. The camera also includes 4 priority modes which allow you to develope even more as a better photographer.

The lens that comes with the camera is a 28-80mm f3.3-5.6 Nikkor. This is a good all around lens. I used it for the first three months solo before getting a 70-300mm lens. I still use the 28-80 a lot, but if you plan on continuing taking pictures, then you should get a bigger telephoto lens.

The camera is very easy to use and if you get one, experiment with all the functions on the camera. You will most likely be very happy with the results.

Great Camera f
This is a great camera for amateurs because it has Nikon quality at a great price. Please don't think cheap piece of crap, though. Its zoom isn't great but thats why it's for amateurs. Note: NOT FOR BEGINNERS FOR THAT A SIMPLE POINT AND SHOOT WILL DO. It's easy to load and to use. And has a dicent flash syncro of 1/90. I also reccomend a Quantaray Filter to replace the lense cap becuse after a while the lense cap get extremely annoying.

Need to know something about the N75
I now own a N60 which does not work with an external flash, I would like to know before purchasing this one if the external flash would work with it.

Excellent, economical SLR
I love my Nikon N75 - it's by far the best camera I've ever owned. I've had it for several months now, and have taken the best pictures of my life with it. A great first SLR, due to the ability to leave it in fully automatic mode at first, and then start using the expanded features as you learn.

I mainly wanted to write this review to debunk the 'error' a previous reviewer was complaining about. They really should read the owner's manual... The 'film not loaded error icon' that they are talking about is used in two ways on this camera. If when you first load the film, something goes wrong, this will blink to indicate the film was not loaded correctly. The second use is as a 'low-film' indicator. When you're looking through the viewfinder, this light will blink when you hit 5 exposures left. It's obviously meant to let you know you're getting close to the end of your film, so you don't miss that 'perfect shot' due to running our of film. The fact that the reviewer went through several of these cameras, and never figured this out astounds me. I've never had to contact Nikon support, but I would hope that the support person I got would be a little more knowledgeable than the people she talked too...

Overall, if you're looking to get started with an SLR, you can't go wrong with this camera. I would, however, suggest that you visit your local Ritz (or equivilent camera shop) to hold onto the camera, and compare it to a few others. I was all set to buy a Canon Rebel Ti, based soley on reviews - until I went to the shop. It just felt wrong in my hands, where the Nikon felt perfect. It's all a matter of personal preferrence, so you'll want to make sure you're getting the right one.

I've also been pretty hard on this camera since I got it (Ritz has an optional replacement warranty, so I've not been too worried) - including getting it soaked on a boat trip. It's kept on going through everything I've thrown at it - very durable.

Pros:

-Can be used as a point-and-shoot when needed (or while learning)
-Has the ability to control every aspect of the picture taking process.
-Great built in flash
-Amazing 25 point 3D metering system
-Controls are all easily accesible while holding the camera
-In my opinion, it just feels sturdier and more comfortable in your hand than the Canon Rebel Ti - Canon's equivilant camera

Cons:
-Being an SLR, it's a little on the big side. It is, however, lighter than you might expect. Basically, you have to be making the commitment to carrying it around with you. For this, I'd highly recommend one of the lowepro bags - they're about the smallest you can get for this type of camera. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Bushnell 12 x 50 Wide Angle Powerview binoculars are covered in aprotective rubber coating, making them easy to grip. They have a 12xmagnification level and a 50mm objective lens. These binoculars come with acarrying case and a neck strap. ... Read more

Features

• Easy to hold
• 12x magnification
• 50mm objective lens
• Protective rubber coating
• Comes with neck strap and carrying case

Reviews (48)

Hope this sheds a little light on the product
I bought this item to go nature viewing and must say that it really is a great binocular for the price. The items viewed have a really nice 3-dimensional look to them and the diopter comes in handy even for someone with very bad vision like myself. The focus for this model (16 x 50 Wide Angle) is a flat tab between the barrels that makes it VERY convenient to use without having to look or stretch your fingers. It gives a very nice field of vision and has roll down eye cups, which is good just in case you want to wear your glasses or shades. The binoculars do shake a little b/c of the power of the magnification. And it can be a chore to hold for long periods of time b/c of its weight. It weighs about as much as one of Michener's hardback novels.

Here is where it can get interesting. The binoculars come with a pleather carrying case, a really cheap neck strap that looks like a plastic shoelace, and a cheap cleaning cloth that is way too abrasive to be used everyday. I suggest replacing both the neck strap and cleaning cloth as soon as you can. The soft, microfiber cloths they sell in eyeglass stores works great. Plus, pick up some of the eyeglass cleaner (spray directly onto cloth, not lens) as it really gets the lens clean and protects any coating on the glass.

Tripod use: highly recommended to get a steady picture. You can get a regular camera tripod for around 18 dollars. Yes, this binocular comes with a tripod adapter. No, it's not very easy to find. The instruction booklet is virtually useless, but I found out through the website that the adaptor is located behind the front cap between the barrels. Just screw the cap off and viola, there is your threaded coupler. You will still need to get a binocular adaptor to connect the binoculars to the tripod, but I've found that they aren't too expensive: around 7-16 dollars for the generic models. I gave this item 4 stars b/c of the poorly written instruction manual and cheap accessories. Hope some of this info helps. Can't wait to see the stars tonight!

Helpful info to get you started
I bought this item to go nature viewing and must say that it really is a great binocular for the price. The items viewed have a really nice 3-dimensional look to them and the diopter comes in handy even for someone with very bad vision like myself. The focus for this model (16 x 50 Wide Angle) is a flat tab between the barrels that makes it VERY convenient to use without having to look or stretch your fingers. It gives a very nice field of vision and has roll down eye cups, which is good just in case you want to wear your glasses or shades. The binoculars do shake a little b/c of the power of the magnification. And it can be a chore to hold for long periods of time b/c of its weight. It weighs about as much as one of Michener's hardback novels.

Here is where it can get interesting. The binoculars come with a pleather carrying case, a really cheap neck strap that looks like a plastic shoelace, and a cheap cleaning cloth that is way too abrasive to be used everyday. I suggest replacing both the neck strap and cleaning cloth as soon as you can. The soft, microfiber cloths they sell in eyeglass stores works great. Plus, pick up some of the eyeglass cleaner (spray directly onto cloth, not lens) as it really gets the lens clean and protects any coating on the glass.

Tripod use: highly recommended to get a steady picture. You can get a regular camera tripod for around 18 dollars. Yes, this binocular comes with a tripod adapter. No, it's not very easy to find. The instruction booklet is virtually useless, but I found out through the website that the adaptor is located behind the front cap between the barrels. Just screw the cap off and viola, there is your threaded coupler. You will still need to get a binocular adaptor to connect the binoculars to the tripod, but I've found that they aren't too expensive: around 7-16 dollars for the generic models. I gave this item 4 stars b/c of the poorly written instruction manual and cheap accessories. Hope some of this info helps. Can't wait to see the stars tonight!

Great Buy On Excellent Binoculars!
I believe this to be one of the best buys in binos. The optics are great:
1) Porro prisms provide for a more realistic viewing depth of field.
2) 50mm objective lens (superb light gathering capability).
3) Good focus adjustment.
4) Great 16x magnification (product of the light gathering ability)

The unit is very well constructed and has a rubber outer skin. It also comes with a decent carry case and accessories. Make sure you want 16x magnification, as it will require steady hands.

Lower magnification (10x, 12x) with a 50mm objective lens will provide a wider field of view. You may wish to take this into consideration depending on your type (preference) of viewing.

BTW- I also own a $2000.00 pair of 18 x 50 binos.

Great binoculars for observation
This binoculars are good. They give a great clarity. I first tried the Bushnell binoculars from one of my friends. It was 8x21, small Bushell binoculars. I was astonished by the good quality of the binoculars especially the optics. After this I decided to buy binoculars for my self to use them for terrestrial and night sky observation. During the terrestrial watching they do a great job, but in my opinion the more power is better. It's still cold outside to tell how they do at night. But once or twice I have tried watching at the stars, good clarity but the binoculars are kind of heavy to hold on to. The case for Bushell is great but the strap for the binoculars is garbage. Nonetheless I recommend buying this binoculars but I think the more power is better. Bushell is doing a great job in optics. By just looking at the binoculars one would think that they should be more powerfull because of their size. I should have bought myself a 12x50 or even 16x50 Bushell.

Incredible value
I researched binoculars on the Web after my grandaughter lost my previous Bushnells (7x35). I was prepared to spend several hundred dollars after a cheap pair of Tasco's failed to illuminate at a Simon & Garfunkel concert.

My research led me to believe a Pentax 8x50 waterproof model would be the best choice ($265). I stopped at a local sporting goods store and tried various models of Pentax, Minolta and Nikon binocs, and they were ok. They had a pair of these Bushnells and I was amazed at the quality. They were the brightest, had the best field of view, were easy to adjust, and I was able to easily use them with my eyeglasses.

I bought a pair. Why spend $100s when these do the job even better at $45? ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Sony Cybershot DSC-U30 digital camera is small and light enough to slip in your pocket for snapping photos wherever you roam. It features a 2-megapixel resolution, fast start-up to capture shots almost instantaneously, and a movie mode. It comes in two other colors: blue and dark gray.

Optics and Resolution
The Cybershot U30 features a 2-megapixel Super HAD (hole accumulation diod) CCD that captures excellent image quality by allowing more light to pass through to each pixel, increasing sensitivity and reducing image noise. It has two resolution modes: high (1632 x 1224) for prints up to 8 x 10 inches, and low (640 x 480) for e-mailing to friends and family. A fixed-focus camera, the Cybershot U30 has no optical or digital zoom.

Movie Mode
In addition to taking still photos, the Cybershot U30 can also record up to 15 seconds of 160 x 112 MPEG video (without audio). The QuickTime Motion JPEG format offers a limited resolution, which is great for capturing a short movie that can be e-mailed to friends and family, but is no replacement for a true camcorder.

More Features
The Cybershot U30 has a fast start-up time of 0.9 seconds, enabling you to capture those important shots that other cameras might miss. The camera includes 5 scene modes (soft snap, illumination snap, twilight, active outdoor, and vivid nature) and pre-flash metering, which illuminates the subject and calculates exposure through the lens directly from the CCD for accurate calculation for a flash-lit shot.

Other features include:

• 1.0-inch LCD for reviewing shots
• VGA burst mode captures five 640 x 480 frames
• Built-in flash with auto, forced on, forced off, and red-eye reduction modes
• Shutter speed: 1/8 - 1/2000 seconds
• Picture effects: solarize, black and white, sepia, and negative art
• Automatic ISO and white balance settings

Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via ultrafast USB 2.0, which means it can be connected to any USB-compatible Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software. When used with USB 1.1 connection, transfer will slow to USB 1.1 rate.

Power and Size
The camera is powered by 2 AAA batteries (rechargeable NiMH batteries included). It measures 3.3 by 1.6 by 1.1 inches and weighs 4.3 ounces (including batteries).

What's In The Box
This package includes the Cybershot DSC-U30 digital camera, 8 MB Memory Stick, neck strap, 2 AAA rechargeable NiMH batteries, battery charger (BC-CS2), and USB cable. The included CD-ROM features Pixela Image Mixer for Sony v1.5 and USB drivers for Windows and Mac. ... Read more

Features

• 2 megapixel sensor captures 1,600 x 1,200 images for prints at sizes up to 8 x 10 inches
• Small enough to go anywhere; fast start up (0.9 seconds)
• Built-in flash with red-eye reduction; 1-inch LCD monitor
• Includes 8 MB Memory Stick; compatible with Memory Stick Pro media
• Includes rechargeable NiMH AAA batteries and charger; connects to PCs and Macs via USB 1.1

Reviews (12)

Neat camera
As you know this camera is tiny, with well-thought-out ergonomics, and just enough features to ensure decent picture quality. I bought it so my parents can have a simple digital camera to use that wouldn't require them to fiddle with the pictures on a computer afterwards. With resulting picture sizes ranging from 200K to 500K, they can just attach pictures on a e-mail and send them to me without resizing them. I bought a 128MB memory stick along with the camera so they can shoot over 250 pictures without ever having to change memory cards. Simple, easy to use, decent picture quality, it was a perfect choice.

Of course I just couldn't resist playing with this camera before handing it over to my parents.

Ergonomics: A-
With such a small camera, the buttons are necessarily small. But they are well placed and intuitive to use. I was able to figure out about 90% of the camera's capabilities on my own, referring to the manual only for the shooting modes. The camera becomes ready for taking pictures quickly, and the lag between taking pictures is very short due to small file sizes. I've accidentally left the sliding lense cover not fully closed on a few occasions, but this is probably just me. About the only major wish I have is for a larger LCD.

Quality: B+
Lable on the bottom says this thing is made in Japan and it certainly looks and feels like it. Why the B+ rating? Well, the sliding lense cover on my camera feels a loose and floppy. I can rock it back and forth like a see-saw by about 1mm, which is quite a bit of play. I can't help but wonder if my camera is defective, but I can't confirm until I get my hands on another DSCU30. Other than that, everything else is A+ quality.

Picture Quality: C, B+ with consideration
My digital camera is an Olympus C-50Z, a 5.0 megapixle powerhouse packed into a compact body. I am obviously not expecting the DSCU30 to provide similar levels of detail, but I did expect it to provide a decent picture quality otherwise. With pictures taken by both cameras in full automatic mode and resized down to 800x600, the DSCU30's picture was noticeably more washed out with less vibrant colors. Also, strong light sources, such as flash glare on eye glasses, produced large X-star patterns. The pictures were also noticeably grainy in all situations. In all this is very average performance from a 2 megapixle camera. However, given the intended use for this camera, the picture quality is adequate. So for my parents, this camera would probably be more like a B+.

All in all not a bad camera. I would strongly recommend it for anyone who wants a camera that is easy to use at a moments notice. I am sure my parents will love it.

Fun stuff!!!
I bought this camera for several reasons...1) I am a gadget junkie, 2) I love digital format cameras, 3) I truly love the portability and compact size so I'll "never miss a shot". This camera rounds out an extensive collection ranging to the top of the line Sony MEGA-pix camera I use for serious shooting... Granted, this midget will do far less than the big guns, but I am very impressed with some of the shots, especially outdoor shots!!! It offers true Sony picture quality and color. I bought the camera especially for a multi-state bike ride where economy of equipment and supplies was a must and I was not disappointed. In fact, on a recent company outing where we had commissioned a professional photographer, we resorted to taking ALL company group shots with my camera when the "pro" didn't show up and noone else in the group had a larger camera. This little puppy did just fine and the result was several high quality outdoor group photos which everyone raved about from such a small camera. And the BEST part of this was, I found a NEW unit on one of the main online auction sites and got it out the cyber door for $125 including shipping (no tax). I equipped my camera with a 128 meg MS and carry a 64 meg as backup (both also purchased off online auction for a fraction of the best store prices!!!) Had I known how satisfied I would be with this camera, I would have gladly paid retail price...but do shop around, whether through Amazon or other online sources, or check out the Sony website for promos!!! THis is a fun camera to own and use!!

Perfect!1
This a nice digital camera, it's worth it. The only problem is as well with all the other electronics gadgets, battery life, this itsy bitsy camera eats a lot of them, you will need at least two other sets of rechargable ones. And the red eye option not working very well. I love it

Not quite what I wanted
I bought this camera because I just had a baby and I wanted to be able to just throw it in the diaper bag and not miss any cute little thing my new baby did. It's good for that. My two problems are why I only rated this 3 stars. One-it eats up batteries FAST! It's just not convienent to have more batters rolling around a diaper bag. And two-the red eye is horrible. I end up with demon baby every time her eyes are open. Even after I turn the red-eye reduction on. Maybe it's just my camera, I don't know. Most people seem to love this camera. I wish it didn't have that red eye problem. I'd be much happier with it.

Sony has poor customer service
I ordered the camera thru Amazon. I love Amazon, they shipped the order to me right away.

However, the camera sent to me was missing the battery charger. Until I can charge the batteries, the camera will not work. The battery charger is proprietary to this camera, I cannot buy another charger at the store.

Sony customer service is poor. I've called, and emailed to request a replacement immediately. The Sony customer service rep acted as through they were doing me a favor. 3 days later, I still have no replacement, and have a camera which will not work. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Steiner's 10x50 military/marine binoculars are designed to provide maximum brightness while supplying 10x magnification.Crafted with fully multicoated optics and rugged rubber, this pair of binoculars is ideal for high-country hunting and antelope, elk, and mule deer observation.The Steiner 10x50 military/marine binoculars offer a field of view of 327 feet at 1,000 yards and 17-millimeter eye relief.Soft rubber eyecups provide comfortable viewing for hours.These Steiner binoculars also feature a one-time focus system that, once set, ensures sharp viewing from 30 yards to infinity.These military-style binoculars are weatherproof and shock resistant. They come with a 10-year limited warranty. ... Read more

Features

• 10x magnification and maximum brightness for low-light situations
• Field of view of 327 feet at 1,000 yards
• Waterproof and shock resistant
• 17-millimeter eye relief and soft rubber eyecups for comfortable viewing
• 10-year limited warranty

Reviews (4)

A hunter's perspective
These are the finest field glasses I have ever looked through. The clarity and their ability to collect light in low light conditions are unbelievable. The only, and I do mean only, drawback is their size. Just too big to wear in the field or still hunting. Laid flat on the table they are nine inches across, three and a half inches thick and five and half inches long. While this may not sound so bad, the circumfernce on this set of glasses ranges eighteen and one quarter inches to twenty and one quarter inches, depending on your preferred setting at the hinge, which determines the distance between the oculars. I suppose they could be packed in on a stand hunt, but I won't be using them while still hunting. However, I think they are relatively light for how big they are.

Mislead by the 4 Star Rating
I have purchased several pairs of binoculars to use on our ranch where most of our "work" of bird watching and wild mammal viewing is done at 100 to 300 yards. [We own] the 7X42 Tasco and 10X50 Nikon binoculars ...and we wanted a great pair of binoculars with better quality than anything we had. I read the reviews of the Steiner 10X50 Military/Marine binoculars and believed that the Steiner binoculars would be exactly what we wanted. We were extremely disappointed to discover that the Steiner binoculars were hard to focus. Each eyepiece must be separately focused for each 50 yard distance change between 50 and 250 yards. Besides being a nuisance to one user, one pair of binoculars between 2 people is simply impractical especially if the object is moving and only visible for a minute or two. The Steiner Military/Marine 10X50 binoculars did not focus across the entire field of view (if focused in the center, the outside was blurred). Considering the price, we found this poor quality quite surprising. The Tasco and Nikon binoculars costing half as much perform much better and all our guests prefer them.

customer review - Real world use of this product.
I've owned this model of steiner binoculars for a little over 9yrs. During that time they have been from the tops of mountains to the bottom of death valley and most places in between, while being exposed to all the elements of nature during my adventures and have yet to let me down.I find them to be waterproof (or at least highly water resistant), rugged, convenient and always dependable. The only reason I don't give them a 5 star rating is that they tend to fog up (slightly) on the external eye piece lenses during cold weather, particularly if I'm overheated from my outdoor activities. Particulars of what I like about them are the rubber coated exterior for the sure grip it gives which doesn't transfer heat or cold to my hands and eyes during use plus it seems to protect them from the shock, drop, bang and bounce tests I've preform'd on them. They are fairly small and light weight (though thats a relative term). I do know they don't give me a pain in the neck from wearing them all day, and still afford me the range/field of view I desire without being cumbersome. I like the fact that once I've focused them for my use they stay that way, whether they've been around my neck while hiking/hunting/boating or I've just grabed them out of the glovebox for a look at something. They are quick on target while giving a wide field of view and perform excellently in low light conditions. Nuff said.

military1
This Product you are looking at is the military1.with this product you can see up to 150 yards. ... Read more

Features

• Ideal for boating, outdoor/nature, and general use/vacation
• Waterproof, fogproof, and fully multi-coated lens
• Illuminated internal compass
• Magnification: 7x
• Objective lens: 50mm

Features

• 6.3mm fixed focal length lens -- f/2.8 aperture
• Supports shutter speed between 1/6 and 1/1500 second
• Maximum sensor resolution -640 x 480 pixels
• Stores 152 still pictures at VGA resolution
• Powered by two AAA batteries (not included)

Reviews (1)

cyberPix digital camera
purchased because I wanted small digital camera to take pictures of things I take apart to fix. Never expected camera to take such clear pictures. I took a picture out of my truck window as i was driving and picture came out awesome. Color reproduction is extremely good and software that came with the camera is many times better than my more expensive larger digital camera. Highly recommended as a take everywhere pocket digital camera. especially like the auto-shut off to save battery life.Easiest download to computer I ever used. Way better than the price would suggest. ... Read more

Features

• Kit contains 4 single-use cameras with flash
• Each camera comes pre-loaded with 15 exposures of ISO 800 film for maximum versatility indoors or outdoors
• Fixed-focus lens, built-in flash
• 60 total exposures

Features

• MiniDV digital camcorder with progressive scan CCD
• 10x optical, 200x digital zoom with digital image stabilization
• 2.5-inch color LCD monitor and color EVF
• Digital still mode records 1024 x 768 stills onto included 8 MB MMC card
• Uses an included lithium-ion battery; includes dock for connecting camcorder to your television

Reviews (41)

Do not ever buy a JVC
For all of you who want to benifit from the people who have suffered buying JVC NEVER EVER BUY JVC. The company officials are not cooperative. Please dont wat your money

You will regret if you buy it
This product came as nicely packaged and had all the bells and whistles and was way ahead of time in terms of progressive scan, miniaturization, etc. The progressive scan feature certainly tempted me to buy this product.

I bought this product 2 years ago and have probably used it about 10 total times when it really worked. Most of the time, the product just quits on you and the operative buttons are plain too too delicate. Here is the chronological list of events that I encountered and I certainly regret buying this camera. Worse, I don't think I'll have the heart to buy another JVC product again. Like they say, perception is reality. I learnt the hard way:

1. Bought the camera for ~$1400 2 years ago.
2. The camera failed to record in low light. I accepted it since it was digital and ahead of it's time.
3. The camera began a never ending sequence of attempting to FIND the focus. I have used this in wonderful full array of stage lighting but with highly pathetic results. The camcorder just would not stop finding the focus and you would see the entire recording blurred with the focus drifting in a never ending way from one section to another--very daunting when you cannot identify a leg from the hand and vice versa.
4. The camcorder's on/off/auto/manual switch became flaky to the point that I had to insert bits of paper to keep it on. The service people could not do anything about it.
5. The camera kept providing the cleaning message
6. The internal battery died and the camera would never respond to any button pushes.
7. The camera recorded beautifully (it appeared) but never wrote ANYTHING on the MiniDV tape--the tape was completely blank.
8. The camera is in such a pathetic state right now that I finally gave up.

Not to mention that the Snapshot mode is so granular and pixelated, I wondered who was in the picture a few times at least. If you are buying it for the snapshot mode, forget it. If you are relying on the software that comes with it, I have so much pity for you. The software is eions old (and a dinosaur) and seldom links with the camera or identifies it the first time through. With GRDVM90U, you have to TRY, TRY, and TRY again and then it does work (after so much agony).

I am buying Sony and staying away from JVC as far as I can be. As part of my new purchase, I reviewed the GRD-93US product of JVC. I hopped down to Circuit city to test drive it before venturing to buy it over the Internet. Guess what? I could not believe it that at 10x, the camera again went on the focus finding mission. I could easily decipher the camera limitation since I went through the ordeal with the GRDVM90U for so long. I tried the Sony DCR-HC65 and it worked just perfect. I was dumb-founded but I was able to make my decision of spending a few extra dollars now and buy a Sony than to buy the JVC and regret it for the rest of my life.

Hey, my life is simple...I just have to make sure that I don't buy any JVC products.

Agree- it has problems
And I thought all these problems were related to my mother dropping the camera down the stairs.

Those that have this camera- be patient with "cleaning tape" errors. Cycle the power a few times. Take the battery on and off. It will usually work eventually.

Having half the screen blue has only happened when I used the aftermarket Hi-output battery. It works fine for pictures, but will usually screw up video.

For indoor video, I usually use the SLOW 2 video speed. Brighter video, but slower fps.

Slow picture downloads are due to the Serial port, Video download with firewire is no problem.

This product should be RECALLED!!!
If you read through the prior reviews, there are common problems. The most deadly is - ERROR "E04". Also, a head cleaning message is common. I sent it to JVC for repair = $627. The main board went bad. When I asked if this is a common problem - the customer service rep was very angered.

I will try to find out how to request a product recall.

Always broken
I bougth this camera 2 years ago at Dumoulin and I took the full 5 years waranty ( luckly ). It is the 3 times the camera goes to repair. Two time they needed to change the main board. And both time the new board they got from JVC was defect and they needed to order a second board. My cam stayed in repair for 6 MONTHS the first time and now 2 MONTHS have past and the teck are still wating for second the board. IT IS ALWAYS BROKEN... buy SONY c'est ben mieux. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The FinePix 2650 proves that entry-level digital cameras don't necessarily have to take mediocre pictures or skimp on the features. Unlike many other cameras at this price, this model offers a limited amount of manual control, with six white balance modes and four different flash modes. Of course, everything can be set to automatic as well, and that's where this camera is in its element.

Offering only 2 megapixels, the FinePix 2650 isn't going to stun you with finely detailed images, but it is perfectly adequate for creating small prints or snapping photos you plan to e-mail or use on a Web site. Its color reproduction is impressive, as the camera doesn't suffer from the supersaturation problems that plague lesser products in this price range. Colors are bright but accurate, and don't "bleed" very much due to compression.

Unfortunately the viewfinder cuts off a surprisingly large part of the final image, making it difficult to frame shots. The excellent LCD on the back of the camera compensates, of course, and for the types of pictures most people will use this camera for it's a minor problem.

Of greater concern is the long interval of image processing after a shot is snapped. The camera churns away compressing and storing an image for up to 8 seconds after each picture, eliminating the possibility of taking shots in quick succession.

Otherwise, the included 16 MB xD-Picture Card is fast during transfers and when images are erased, although users may want to upgrade to a larger card if they plan to stick with high-quality images of 1,600 x 1,200. Despite its few problems, the FinePix 2650 remains an excellent light-duty snapshot camera. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Bright, fast LCD
• 3x optical zoom
• Easy to operate

Cons:

• Slow recovery time after each shot
• Needs a larger memory card

Features

• 2.0 megapixel sensor creates 1,600 x 1,200 images for prints at sizes up to 8 x 10 inches
• 3x optical plus 2.5x digital zoom lens (for 7.5x total) with autofocus
• Stores photos on 16 MB XD card--25 images at fine and 39 images at normal
• Movie mode captures up to 80 seconds of video with no audio
• Includes 2 AA alkaline batteries (rechargeables recommended); connects to PCs and Macs via USB port

Reviews (154)

Fuji FinePix 2650, the way to go
My wife and I decided to get a digital camera.

Because I'm a techno-head Art Director, not just any camera would do and the price had to be right. Plus, it had to be loaded with enough features to justify the purchase. I really wanted at least a 4.0 mega pixel but after discussing it over with my wife, we figured a 2.0 would do exactly what we wanted:

1. Instant digital gratification.
2. Excellent for e-mail shots and iPhoto.
3. The possibility of printing higher res shots.

It takes great color shots right out of the box. Extremely intuitive. The optical zoom eliminates bitmapping (jaggies) when close-up. And the auto-focus mode is idiot proof. It has 5 flash modes for lots of shooting customization. Macro (close-up 3.9" to 2.6') and self-timer photography add to the host of features. White Balance (for light sources), Exposure Compensation and Movie (no sound video) mode round off this great little camera.

Check out the fujifilm.com sight for a great interactive preview. It's what really sold me. The purchase is up to you from there. The only other option in the same category was an Olympus, but the memory card was only 8mb, as was the Sony which only had its body-style going for it.

Good luck!

Value priced with top of the line results
I bought my Finepix 2650 before Christmas 2002 so I could have a small camera instead of lugging around my SLR and bags of equipment. I didn't expect great shots from an inexpensive, pocket-sized camera, but WOW, I was truely amazed at the great results. The 2650 blows away my Canon Elan IIe for consistantly good color balance and overall image quality.

Is it the perfect digital camera? No, but it's about the best you'll find in this price range and even among those costing a couple of hundred more. It's packed with features and I've experienced zero problems in the 4 months I've owned it.

Pros:
*Great overall image quality
*Small but not too small
*Good selection of picture modes
*Accurate focus
*MP3 movies (no sound)
*XD picture card
*Good battery life

Cons:
*Menu (you have to surf to find what your looking for and memorize the symbols since it doesn't give text descriptions)
*Somewhat slow shutter speed (set to the equivalent of 100 asa 35mm film)
*Crummy, ad-filled software (if you have XP don't even bother installing it)

After experimenting with several of the modes available, I'm happy to leave it in full-auto which gives great reults for 98% of my shots, indoor and out. I haven't even used my SLR since buying the Fuji. The zoom lense is adequate except for extreme long range shots (but how many people own 500mm lenses for their SLRs anyway?) For anyone who complains about weak flash - the flash is as good as any in a small camera, it won't illuminate a stadium, but it's not meant to.

Last but not least, the XD picture card. Yes it's proprietary and currently only Fuji and Olympus use it. It's extremely fast, amazingly small, works well and is not over-priced compared to other media. I dare-say anyone who has a complaint about proprietary issues hasn't changed an ink cartidge in their printer and probably still uses floppy-discs for their primary data storage.

Great Job Fuji !!!

Very disappointing
As mentioned in other reviews, after about six months, the auto focus feature stopped working. At first, we thought the battery was low or we needed a new card. After purchasing a new battery & new card, still the auto focus will not work! Very frustrating! I feel like we've just thrown our money away & we're stuck with a useless camera.

Good Camera for the Money
Being someone who just takes pictures for fun, I wanted a digital camera that was little bit more than a point-and-click. This camera offered that. The menu is easy to use and for an amateur, it is very easy to get accustomed to. The pictures come out pretty well. The only thing I wish I had on it would be a stronger zoom but for what it does offer, it's not bad. Uploading the photos from the camera to the computer is very easy also. Again, this camera is great for someone who is looking for digital technology but is not exactly the most camera savvy person.

Value for money
pros
This camera produces excellent quality images.
light weight and sturdy

cons
Takes long time to get ready between shots
No video output to TV ... Read more

Features

• 4.2x zoom lens has an extended focal-length of 38mm to 130mm for wide-angle, normal, portrait and telephoto perspectives
• Passive 3-point Autofocus system
• Exclusive Best Shot Dial for simplified exposure settings including programmed autoexposure
• High-eyepoint viewfinder with dioptric adjustment for people with varying degrees of vision
• Built-in electronic flash with multiple modes, including Red-Eye reduction

Reviews (9)

Nice camera
Nice camera, Nice features. Rating this camera low because it didn't come with a battery is nonsense. Takes good pictures.

simple and easy
Great Camera for the price. It's simple and compact which makes it easy to point and shoot. I would have given it five stars but it came without battery. Overall very satisfied.

Why ship a new camera without a battery?
Why isn't the purchaser informed the camera comes without a battery? It's the first camera I have ever purchased which required a battery and wasn't delivered with one. Because of this I am not able to rate this camera.
I have tried to turn the camera on to no avail. My wife also was unable to turn the camera on. So, we have presumed the camera has no battery. Neither of us were able to open the battery compartment to verify the absence of a battery because evidently neither of us has the required strength to do this. I shall take this to a camera store sometime this week to check the camera out. I placed a roll of film in the camera but nothing happened when I closed the case. The film was not taken up. The number "1" did not appear on the screen indicating the camera was ready for action. What more can I say???

Almost everything we wanted.
When we went shopping for a camera to replace our current one, this is the one that we came across. My brother even has the same camera and he loves it. We did research and found that it had everything that we needed until upon receiving the camera, we found that it doesn't have the date caption that we thought that it did. There are two different models of this camera, one says caption and one doesn't. We had seen the one with caption at many other stores and didn't realize that there was a model without a caption.It is a great camera, unless the date caption is an important feature for your family.

Great camera!!!! If you have kids...this is for you!!!
Finally I have found the camera for me! I have shopped around quite a bit, and have done alot of research! I have tried "Nikon"..."Minolta" and they do not even compare to this camera!

I have kids and taking pictures fast is a must for me! I have yet to miss a moment! The flash is ready to go quickly after a picture is taken,(so you can take 2 pics of your baby doing something cute!!)You do not have to keep someone smiling while the red eye reducer light is working, it is that fast!! The view finder is large, so you can find something moving around in the view finder quite easily! It is small and compact to keep in my purse.
I also use the Canon Rebel SLR...another great find!! But when you need a small point and shoot...this is the way to go!

TWO THUMBS UP!!!! Worth every penny I paid for!! Canon is a name to depend on! ... Read more

Features

• Exclusivedual mode-ONBOARD/LAND
• Eliminates movement from waves and vibration from hand shake, ect.
• Exclusive Pan and Tilt Feature.
• Waterproff/Fogproof

Amazon.com Product Description

Carrying on the heritage of its film predecessor, the Olympus Stylus 400 is an ultracompact, all weather, and easy-to-use camera designed for the digital photography enthusiast looking for high performance in a stylish and portable body. It features a 4.0-megapixel resolution, 12x total zoom, and a movie mode for short video clips.

Optics and Resolution
Featuring a 4.0-megapixel CCD sensor, the Stylus 400 delivers images up to 2,272 x 1,704 pixels and prints up to 11 by 14 inches. A high-quality Olympus 3x optical zoom (and 4x digital zoom for a seamless 12x total) gives you the ability to fill your pictures with sharp detail and vibrant color. It features an Olympus aspherical glass lens with a focal range of 5.8-17.4mm (35-105mm equivalent in 35mm photography).

Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on xD Picture Card memory cards. The card's small size, about the same as a postage stamp, helps to keep the camera size down. The included 16 MB card will store approximately 16 images at 2,272 x 1,704 pixels (at HQ, JPEG setting). Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB storage-class connectivity, which means the camera can be connected to any USB-based Windows 98 Rev2Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.

Movie Mode
In addition to taking still photos, the Stylus 400 can also record movie clips of up to 40 seconds without audio. The QuickTime Motion JPEG format offers limited resolution, which is great for capturing a short movie that can be e-mailed to friends and family, but is no replacement for a true camcorder.

More Features
The Stylus 400 offers basic point-and-shoot simplicity for flawless picture taking. For photographers who want optimum results in a wide variety of settings, the easy-to-use scene modes provide fully automatic exposure adjustments for portrait, self-portrait, and landscape portrait.

Other controls include digital ESP multipattern and spot metering, auto white balance, multiple flash settings, and exposure compensation. The camera comes with a built-in flash that offers four settings to provide the widest range of options.

The lightweight and ergonomic metal body of the Stylus 400 provides all-weather protection from the elements and can even endure a downpour.

Power, Size, and Contents
The camera is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It measures 3.8 by 2.2 by 1.3 inches and weighs 5.8 ounces. This package includes the Stylus 400 digital camera, 16 MB xD Picture Card, rechargeable lithium-ion battery and charger (LI-10B), self-timer remote control (RM-2), USB and AV cables, wrist strap, and CD-ROM with Camedia Master software and USB drivers for Windows and Mac. ... Read more

Features

• 4.0 megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality prints up to 11 x 14 and medium-quality poster-size prints
• 3x optical plus 4x digital (12x total) zoom lens with autofocus
• All-metal body and all-weather reliability lets you shoot digital images under almost any weather condition
• Included 16 MB XD memory card holds 16 images at 2272 x 1704 HQ setting
• Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery included; connects with Macs and PCs via USB port

Reviews (28)

Awesome Camera!!!
This Camera is great!!! I bought this camera right before a trip to Las Vegas and have no regrets. In fact I can't imagine my trip without it. I took over 120 pictures on High Quality resolution and still had 140 shots left with my 256 card. The Camera is so small that I went clubbing with it in my pocket and was still able to bust moves on the dance floor. The display screen is a good size and the buttons are easy to access.The features are easy to access and take about 5 minutes to learn. The different shooting modes come in handy depending on your shooting conditions. Panaramic mode is awesome! I took a great shot of the Las Vegas Strip using the panoramic mode and stitched it using the software included. You have to have an OLYMPUS BRAND MEMORY CARD to use panorama mode. Some people complain about the new Xd card, but there are so many good things about it. It is so small; about the size of a stamp. The size helps consume less battery life. I never had a problem with my battery running low; I just charged it whenever I went to bed. Also, you can get an adapter for the card to make it compatable with compact flash or smart media formats. The quality of the pictures look incredible and you can notice the most minor details when zooming in. In movie mode the movies are crisp and smooth. Length of the movies depend on the picture quality that is set. Some people complain that there is no sound in movie mode. If you want a DV camcorder that can record audio and video, then buy a DV camcorder. Otherwise movie mode is great when you want to capture those little memorable moments. When you are ready to print the photos you can set options on your camera to decide the quantity of each photo you want printed. You can also decide whether or not you want the date or time printed on the pictures. The information is saved on your memory card. When you want your pictures printed out just take your card to the photo lab and the printer will automatically know how many pics you want and if you want the date printed. I just took my card to Costco and was set to go. This camera is a little costly but definitely worth the price. If you want a nice camera that will last for at least 5 years then get the stylus 400. If you want to save money then get a 2 megapixel camera that is bulky and will be obsolete in 2 months. Again awesome camera! Did I mention that it is all weather and can take water sprayed in any direction. You don't have to worry about taking this camera to the beach and getting messed up with sand and water. The Stylus 400 is Stylin'!

Decent camera; don't believe the 1-year warranty
This camera takes good pictues in well-lit, close-up situations--a good point & shoot camera.

I have a major complaint with Olympus' failure to honor the 1-year warranty on this product. A plastic component of the USB port broke, rendering the USB port useless. Olympus refused to honor the warranty for this repair, despite repeated requests from both me and the camera shop where I purchased the camera.

Also, the "metal body" description of this camera does not apply to the media door--it is plastic, and prone to breakage.

I own about 15 cameras. This was my first Olympus, and based on their failure to honor the warranty, it will be my last.

Lots to like - but weak/slow flash
I'll not repeat the praise most have for this camera except that I agree with most. It's really a nice camera.

The big problem this camera is the weakness of its flash. I find that fully 50% of my photographs are underexposed even when I set things on "P" program mode which should adjust for lighting (of course at the expense of video noise....

If you have kids and like to catch them in the act - you can do so in good lighting but NOT with the flash. It takes fully 7-8 seconds to recharge, even with a full battery.

Good but some design flaws and bad flash
I got this camera a couple of weeks ago and I have to say that it is a very good quality product. I had other digital cameras before and the main reasons I selected this one was to reuse my existing xD-Picture cards from my Fujifilm camera and the great form factor and overall style of this one.
One thing got in my way from the get-go: the battery compartment cover is positioned exactly where most people place their right thumbs when using the camera. This causes it to slide open way too frequently for my taste, sometimes causing the camera to shut down. Another problem I see is the tiny buttons that are intended to be pressed using your right thumb but prove to be too small for the thicker thumbs I have.
The flash also seems to be a little too weak for outdoor night shots and to focus on not-so-close objects indoors.

If you want convenience-
Look, I understand that the pictures won't bring you to tears of joy with their intense colors and riveting detail. If you want that, spend more on a camera that will be much larger and feature laden.

However, if you want to throw your camera in your pocket and run out to a bar, the beach, or wherever (knowing full well that you might not even use it on said trip) it doesn't get a lot better than this. It's stupid easy to use, it's light, to this point it's been indestructible, and about 95% of my pictures, even from dimly lit places have been high quality. For some reason the quality suffers when you DON'T use the flash, but it really doesn't make much difference.

So it's really all about what you're looking for. If you're in college or are a young person looking to document adventures, get this camera. If you're taking family vacations, probably you could do better. Either way, I love the thing. ... Read more