Showing posts with label mobile digital recorder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mobile digital recorder. Show all posts

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Trio 3010 4 GB 3-Inches Touchscreen MP4 Player

Trio 3010 4 GB 3-Inches Touchscreen MP4 Player
  • 4GB
  • 3" touchscreen
  • Camera/camcorder
  • Voice recorder
  • MicroSD Card slot

I think that this Trio MP4 is pretty good for the money. The touch screen doesn't work too well without a stylus and the video recorder doesn't record the audio very well, but other than those things, it's a good starter for anyone who can't really afford an Apple iPod Touch just yet. After a few years, I can upgrade to a better one, like one with internet and more applications. At least it helps you get used to a touch screen and teaches you how to navigate around the different applications on it. Once again, it's good for starters.

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I bought this because it was on sale for $40. I figured if they normally sell it for $60 it wouldn't be all that bad. Well the pros are that it does play music. The cons: the touchscreen is horrible, you have to push really hard to get it to do anything. The menus are also pretty hard to navigate. I'm keeping it because I just needed something that plays music. Luckily for me, this is all the player does. I really don't like it but bottom line it plays music so I'm keeping it.

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Great quality and usefulness. I have read that these are fragile but mine has been just fine I am careful with it. Would like to see skins cases covers for sale somewhere for it. Excellent value Does everything I need it to at the minimum within reason.

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A good MP3 player for the price. As an engineer, spending a large amount for a portable player does not make sense. This player plays well. The menu system is a little funky but easy to learn. Comes with good software for video conversion

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this item did perform correctly from the start, touch screen is none responsive. I got this item as a upgrade from previous trio MP3 player. This item is not worth the money spent. will be returning ASAP...

Friday, October 3, 2014

Hauppauge Colossus PCI Express Internal HD-PVR

Hauppauge Colossus PCI Express Internal HD-PVRHi Folks!

As a long-time Media Center user I bought this card after changing over my cablevision to HD. My provider is Shaw and I'm using the Motorola DCX3400 (a DVR in it's own right albeit a 'stripped down' DVR compared to Media Center).

So the goal was to get HD into Media Center and continue using Media Center as my DVR. This card does that and more. Many of the reviews on this site about Media Center support being difficult or buggy are not correct. The install routine is also very easy.

If you're aiming for Media Center integration, don't install anything from the disk. Download the latest Media Center package from their site as well as the latest driver for the card. Blackmagic Design Intensity Pro HDMI Editing Card with PCI Express Also why is this thing so HUGE?? It's double the size of Blackmagic Intensity Pro! I am so glad to have made the switch to Blackmagic, everything including quality have improved greatly. Sorry Hauppauge, I really wanted to like your product but you just couldn't deliver. I give you 2 stars because your tech support was friendly and the card does function, just poorly designed hardware and software.

After reading the review and instructions by Mr. Miller I decided to upgrade my Windows Media Center PC since I certainly wasn't getting the quality he was describing. Followed his instructions and worked just as he said. The capture quality of this card is the best of any video capture card I have used since my Media Center XP machine -4 cards and 6 years ago.

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Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Philips PD703/37 7-Inch LCD Portable DVD Player with Wireless Game Controller, Black

Philips PD703/37 7-Inch LCD Portable DVD Player with Wireless Game Controller, Black
  • Enjoy the gaming feature with the portable PD703 DVD player. Let your kids have fun with wireless game controller.
  • Comes with wireless game pad and 10 pre-loaded games. Movies and games travel with you
  • Play your movies, music and photos on the go
  • Game-ready for extra fun with 7" TFT color LCD display for high quality viewing.
  • Extra touches for your convenience upto 2.5 hours of playback with a rechargeable battery.
  • Wireless game pad for hassle-free fun. Games CD provided for instant fun

I have a Memorex 10" portable DVD player (Memorex 10.2-Inch Portable DVD Player), so I thought it would be interesting to compare the two in some aspects of this review.

The first test run for this unit was a 2-hour car trip, and I thought it would be a good way to check out the portability (size and weight), as well as battery length and the car power cord. On a full charge, I would say that the battery lasted about the stated 2-hour duration. My kids watched The Polar Express, which is approximately 100 minutes long, and we did not have to plug it in during the movie.

When it came time to plug the player in, a message on-screen informed us that the battery will not charge while the player is on, which is unfortunate. It would be nice for the battery to be charged, even if it is a little, while the player is being used, but at least the notification was there to let us know what was happening.

From a portability standpoint, this 7" player is more portable than our 10" unit. Its smaller dimensions made it easier to take a long, and its lighter weight made it less cumbersome to carry, but I had issues with the quality of the screen (which I'll elaborate on shortly).

With any portable device, durability is a factor. No matter how gently you treat your devices, gravity happens and they end up falling to the floor or ground once in a while. This happened while it was on a table and plugged in. Someone walked into the power cord and the player went flying while it was playing a disc, falling onto a wood floor. Fortunately, the player was not damaged in any visible way, and it still plays discs just fine.

Audio quality is fine on this unit. There are stereo speakers, but they are so close together, that little separation is going to be evident during playback. A simple dial volume control provides plenty of volume range to overcome room noise and road noise, without being tinny or distorted.

The aspect of this player that I was most disappointed in was the quality of the screen. As soon as you power it up, you get an indication of the low quality of the screen from the first message that appears. The menu text is pixelated, which left me hoping that it was just because of the text used for the menus.

Unfortunately, I noticed the low quality of the screen while playing back DVD's as well. DVD menu text is fuzzy and poorly defined. I've uploaded photos of the DVD menu for The Polar Express to demonstrate what I'm referring to. Those photos are unresized, unretouched photographs taken with a Canon SX110IS 9MP camera at a distance of approximately 9" from the screen with no zoom applied. There is a distinct lack of detail in the displayed image that is noticeable when compared with the 10" Memorex unit. There is also more overscan on the Philips display than on the Memorex. If I had to estimate, I would say perhaps about 10 pixels.

Comparing this player's 7" screen to a player with a 10" screen may seem unfair at first glance, but given that the resolution of the source is the same, a 7" screen should look better than a 10" screen with the same resolution. The pixels on the smaller screen should be closer together, making the pixels per inch value greater. In contrast, the pixels on the Philips display are very distinct, giving the image the effect of looking through a screen door. You can see this in the sample photos as well.

Given the large quality difference, I would assume that the Philips model does not have a screen capable of the full 720x480 pixel resolution of the DVD format. If I had to guess, I would say that half that resolution might be about right.

Does the screen quality matter during actual viewing? After all, it's one thing to see it during a brief visit to the DVD's menu system, but the issue is only significant if it's noticeable during movie playback. Fortunately, it's not all that noticeable for casual viewing, especially if you are doing so while it is on your lap or strapped to the back of the seat in front of you.

I asked my kids to try out the games disc and the battery-operated controller, and they played with it for a little while, but the games are quite basic, and I don't think they would hold their interest very long compared to those available on an iPod Touch.

On a packaging note, I echo the comments of other reviewers about the sticky adhesive used on the disc lid. It's nearly impossible to remove, and causes the clamshell lid of the display to stick to the lid of the drive bay. That should be an easy fix, but it's surprising that no one at Philips noticed this before the product hit full-scale manufacturing.

Overall, how does this player stack up? Against, the 10" Memorex, not very well in the picture quality department, but it is lighter and smaller. For casual portable use, it's decent enough. The kids preferred the 10" screen over the 7" because it was bigger, and therefore easier to see. This player would be a slam dunk if it were $50, but at $100, I suggest evaluating other alternatives before making a purchase.

Buy Philips PD703/37 7-Inch LCD Portable DVD Player with Wireless Game Controller, Black Now

I must admit that acquiring a portable DVD had never crossed my mind but I was offered the Philips PD703 for review and decided it was worth a shot. Impressions follow.

The Philips PD703 has a 7" LCD screen and comes with a wireless game controller that assumes the end user is familiar with its operation (i.e., it has no instructions), a DVD containing a number of games (the instructions for which, unlike the excellent instruction booklet for the unit itself, are provided both in hard copy and on disk in a truly execrable attempt at English), and--I was truly appalled to discover--the means of attaching the unit proper to the back seat of an automobile--what on earth happened to kids looking out the window, listening to the radio, and/or talking to each other and their parents?! ("I see something...green," anyone?) It's no wonder we're in trouble if a ride in the car without some sort of video pacification is impossible, But I digress.

DVD playback, with regard to both video and audio, is surprisingly good. I played both an "Academy standard" and an anamorphic widescreen disk to test the setup: if left on the standard setting, the widescreen disk's image plays in the correct format but doesn't fill the screen and is somewhat vertically compressed as well, hence manual setup is necessary for each title unless your disks are all of similar AR. Setting up and operating the Philips PD703 is very easy.

The games are cute but ultimately dumb. The stickers on the unit REALLY stick; I still haven't decided how to go about trying to remove the residue mine left (some of it on the border near the screen). The battery is rated to last 2.5 hours which I feel is rather short--perhaps they based it on the perceived attention spans of the backseat passengers who comprise part of the target customer base.

Bottom line: for what this is, it seems okay. I used to be a huge fan of Philips--a Dutch company who have never been properly credited for their innovations over the years--I only wish their manufacturing base was still in the Netherlands. I'm not really sure, in these days of inexpensive laptops, why someone would really need this but for those who do, this one seems just fine.

Read Best Reviews of Philips PD703/37 7-Inch LCD Portable DVD Player with Wireless Game Controller, Black Here

As a relatively new parent with family in some far-flung destinations, it was nice to acquire a portable DVD player for those upcoming car trips. The Philips PD703/37 7 inch LCD portable player is extremely lightweight and travels well. I thought the sound and picture quality were very good, considering that it is not a large screen. I had no problem playing a variety of DVDs or navigating through the menus and buttons no the unit itself. The instructions for the device are very well-written.

However, the "extras" the video games are a bit ludicrous, and so is the set of game descriptions for each of the ten games included which read as if they were translated from a foreign language into English by someone who doesn't speak English. While they somewhat defined the intent of each game, the player must figure out how to play it and the battery life for the controller was next to nil. The battery life for the DVD player averaged between 2 to 2 1/2 hours perfect for shorter jaunts, but maybe not so for the longer hauls since the battery won't charge while the unit is playing. All in all, the Philips PD703/37 is a great compact portable DVD player for those "just in case" or "last resort" moments.

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Very good quality playback and the added versatility of being able to strap it to the back of a car seat makes this device a very good buy. If all you need (or want) is a small DVD player this is highly recommended.

The games that are loaded on it are pretty lame and you have to figure out how to use the game controller, so don't buy it for that part.

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Over all I love this item. I bought it to replace an old portable dvd player we had for our car. I had to rush to purchase it when taking a 12 hour road trip to Disney World. But I had already did extensive research on a new dvd just in case our old one died. The battery lasts around 2 and half hours. The games are simple and took my daughter (3 1/2 years old) a few weeks to learn the games and use the control (you only use half the buttons on the controler when playing the games) with me coaching her.

Only two draw backs:

1. The thin vehicle power adapter cable. (may break after a while) but that is common for portable dvd players to have thin cables.

2. Which is a big draw back for me is the fact you can't charge up the battery unless you turn off the dvd player. Would be better if its just charges the battery like a laptop computer so when you do turn off the power the player continues to run. (like when you are pumping gas, etc) This would also help for those vehicles with only 1 power outlet which they can switch electronic items out without fear of losing a movie or a game if not fully charged.

Sunday, August 31, 2014

3ft Coaxial Audio/Video RCA Cable M/M RG59U 75ohm (for S/PDIF, Digital Coax

3ft Coaxial Audio/Video RCA Cable M/M RG59U 75ohm (for S/PDIF, Digital CoaxI purchased this cable to improve the sound of my sound bar. The richness of the music is AMAZING. It's like having.

home theater in my bedroom.

Such improvement for so little $$$.

To say that this cable is of low quality is an understatement. I know that with digital connections, cable quality doesn't really matter, it is either perfect signal, or none, but this cable is a waste of money. It is so thin, that it broke while I was connecting it.

Buy 3ft Coaxial Audio/Video RCA Cable M/M RG59U 75ohm (for S/PDIF, Digital Coax Now

Overall, this cable is of relatively good quality for the price paid. Works perfectly for digital coax SPDIF connections. Cable is indeed 75 ohm RG-59U. Thickness is 20AWG and is flexible. Keep in mind that this cable is coaxial, so it cannot be (or should not be) bent in tight loops or folds. That being said, cable is good but the connectors could use some improvement, hence four stars. The collar is quite thin and fits somewhat loosely on my device's RCA jacks. Squeezing/deforming the collar helps a little, but being as thin as it is, one shouldn't overdo it. This may be a problem for some higher-end analog connections, but for digital it will probably be fine. I also bought the 12-foot version of this cable, so you'll find the same review for that product from the same seller.

Read Best Reviews of 3ft Coaxial Audio/Video RCA Cable M/M RG59U 75ohm (for S/PDIF, Digital Coax Here

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Motion Sensor Nanny Spy Hidden Covert Camera Video & Audio Recorder DVR with Built-in Color Pinhole

Motion Sensor Nanny Spy Hidden Covert Camera Video & Audio Recorder DVR with Built-in Color Pinhole Surveillance Spy Camera motion detection, Wi-fi n, Recording & Remote Internet AccessI looked at hundreds of hidden cameras, eventually I decided to go with this one.

I needed support connecting the camera wirelessly, I called support and the helped set it up.

The camera is doing all I needed, its adjustable, the video is very sharp, and the audio quality is very clear.

Shipping was fast, well packed, included manual with pictures and CD with programs.

First I had to use the cable for initial configuration (my router doesn't have WPS for fast wireless configuration).

WIFI is fast and I can see 30 frames per second.

Definitely going to purchase additional unit for the basement.

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I now have 3 of them installed around the house.

I am able to view all 3 cameras simultaneously in real time.

The box arrived with simple step by step instructions with pictures.

The motion detection device looks like a regular one I have for the alarm system.

What I liked in the first place is that its Wi-Fi wireless, I didn't want to worry about installing cables all over the house.

This model has night vision, I can watch the kids room from my iPhone without leaving bed at night.

Over all exactly what I needed.

Read Best Reviews of Motion Sensor Nanny Spy Hidden Covert Camera Video & Audio Recorder DVR with Built-in Color Pinhole Here

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Ativa Mini HD Digital Video Camera

Ativa Mini HD Digital Video CameraI have had the unit for about 6 months. Uses SD cards and Internal (70MB).

It does a great job. I use it to shoot soccer games. I do find that in-doors can get grainy unless you set it for in-door use (They call it Digital Light), but then it works great. The built in light is kind of cool, but it only works out to about 6 ft. but what do you expect for an LED light.

It has many movie resolution settings (5) VGA, WVGA, QVGA(60fps, all other 30) 720P and can you believe 1080P!!). The steady shot is must for shooting action because the unit is so small you just can't hold it still enough. The movies look great, but you can't zoom in 1080P HD. It also has a motion triggered setting so you can use it to monitor for activity.

It downloads directly via USB or you can watch via TV, (composite and HDMI) movies are AVI, pics. are JPEG. And... by the way to does PAL and NTSC. The still camera function works well and the images and movies a piece of cake to transfer via USB since it treats the camera as a USB drive.

The camera and video allow for white balance and ISO 800,1600) changes, 3 still resolutions (high-12MPixel, med-5MPixel, low-3MPixel) and does MACRO and has a timer. The microphone pretty much only picks up close subjects (20Ft).also has a slideshow function for showing pictures. It also loads directly to YouTube.

The camera has special effects..

You can select the mode according to the scene condition.

* Auto: Shoot without any special effect on the image.

* Skin: Shoot with an effect that makea skin tones more natural

* Night: Use Night mode for night scenes or low light conditions.

* Backlight: You can take shots when bright light is behind the subject.

* B/W: The image is converted to black-and-white.

* Classic: The image is converted to sepia look is applied to the image.

* Negative: The image is converted as the negative of the normal

Haven't used these......

COMPLETE SPECS.......

Image Sensor 5 Mega Pixel CMOS Sensor

Operation Modes Movie Record, Picture Record

Lens F3.2 (f = 7.2mm)

Focus Range 200cm~infinite (Normal Mode)

Center: 20 cm (Macro Mode)

Digital Zoom 1080p:1X

Other video resolution:4X

Shutter Electronic

LCD monitor 2.5"LCD

Storage Media 128MB Nand Flash Memory (Usable storage : around 70 MB);

SD/SDHC Card Slot support

Image Resolution High 4000x3000 (12M Pixels)

Std 2592x1944 (5M Pixels)

Low 2048x1536 (3M Pixels)

Movie Resolution HD(1080p) 1920X1080(30fps)

HD(720p) 1280X720(30fps)

WVGA 848X480(60fps)

VGA 640X480(30fps)

QVGA 320X240(30fps)

Light Digital light On/Light On/Off

White Balance Auto/Manual (Daylight, Fluorescent, Tungsten)

ISO Auto/800/1600

Self timer 10 second delay

File Format Picture: JPG

Movie: AVI

Image play Single Image/Slideshow

PC Interface Mini USB 2.0 Port

TV out NTSC/PAL Selectable, HDMI

Battery Lithium-ion Rechargeable Battery

Dimension 100(H) * 57(W) * 17.9(T) mm

Weight 87g (without battery)

The battery lasts for just short of 2 hours on 1080P HD. One of the best features is it tells you how much recording time is left as you change resolutions. It also comes with movie making software (decent). I really couldn't be much happier for the money! What do you expect for this kind of change...

I bought this to use with my students but after trying it out for a few days, I knew it would not be good enough for what I planned using it for.

The camera shoots horrible pictures! Unless the people or scene is absolutely still, you will get a blurry image. The HD recording is good but nothing to rave about. The light does help out a bit in low light situations, but if there is not enough light in general the video looks very grainy.

My other big con against this camcorder is that the video it shoots in HD is a file that unless you install the codec on the cd-rom disc, you will be unable to view the video and/or hear the audio...stupid proprietary file format or something. I lost my disc and now I am having to try to find the codec online. WMP, VLC, Nero and PowerDVD cannot play the audio on the HD videos I have shot with this camcorder now that I need to reinstall the codec. :(

If you don't expect much from this camcorder you wont be disappointed but I was so I wish I had saved more money for a better camcorder/camera.

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The sale from office depot was $99 for camera $20 service plan $20 16GB card. Awesome deal.

Big 3" inch screen, 4hr video, flip view so you can take "myspace pose" pic of yourself or a serious movie.

Audio for the video is loud and picture is so clear. 16x zoom is handy and actually true to its promise just depends on the scape. Touch screen should come with a stylus though. I love this camera. Such a good purchase.

I do not regret buying this at all.

Read Best Reviews of Ativa Mini HD Digital Video Camera Here

This a a great little camcorder! It has many of the features of the more expensive camcorders. Color and sound I thought was very good! I carry this little camcorder on a strap around my neck. It's so light you forget it's there after a while. Just remember, this is a small hand held camera and takes a little time to master it's use. A couple of days practice and you will be fine! I have other camcorders,but this is the one I use most. I think the 1080p color was great! When you order this Ativa, you might notice a simularity to the Toshiba Camelio.

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Sunday, July 27, 2014

Sony CD/MP3/USB Multimedia Radio

Sony CD/MP3/USB Multimedia Radio
  • Remote control not included with this particular model

The only reason I gave this radio 3 stars is because of the sound. The "mega bass" button is a bit of a joke, as there is none. But the sound is clean at practically all volume levels, and this unit plays just about any kind of media, which I love.

Haven't put batteries in it yet, so I can't comment on battery life or the extra weight. But without batteries it's lightweight and totally portable.

What I like the best about this model is the fact that it has an audio out (headphone) jack. I can plug it into a larger stereo for better sound and use memory cards or a jump drive for an entire day's worth of music. No more burning wasteful cd's!

Radio reception seems ok. I only listen to a couple stations, and since I live near a major city, my personal reception is good. The only thing I would add is a backlit display. Impossible to read in low light.

I primarily use this hooked into a larger system when I'm working in the studio, and I use it when I'm working outside. If this was my only stereo I would be highly disappointed with the sound and complete lack of bass. But for what I do use it for, it works well and seems built to last a while.

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This radio is beyond what I was hoping for at this late date when boom boxes--both big and small--are basically dinosaurs. Although this radio has the capacity to play digital music, it has everything that I NEED for an extensive CD collection. This radio is GREAT for some one (like me) who isn't looking for the lastest and greatest--but somthing small, simple and capable. Its size, although little, is very convenient considering all its features which work beautifully at making this a smart, easily portable, handsom little machine. The sound quality, on its own, is pretty decent. BUT!it has a HEADPHONE JACK (VERY IMPORTANT TO ME!) and sounds--surprisingly--wonderful with a great pair of AUDIO-TECHNICA M50 Head Phones. This small radio is well made, sharp and worth its price. Finally, it makes a great gift for anyone whose not all that concerned about being on top of the latest and greatest technology for playing music.

Read Best Reviews of Sony CD/MP3/USB Multimedia Radio Here

We bought this unit because of the built-in usb port to be able to play audio at low volume for 24 hour a day. For this, the unit works great by playing the MP3 folder in a loop. The CD player works fine and you can actually record onto the usb flash drive directly from the built-in CD player. You can also feed other audio sources into the unit. There is a headphone jack in the back of the unit that can be used for audio-out. The unit can run on batteries, but we did not try that. The sound quality of this unit is in line with units of this nature--it's not fantastic, and it's not horrible. No remote came with this unit. The LCD display is not back-lit, so it is not possible to see the display without available ambient light. The unit is not heavy, but the built-in handle that rotates upwards makes it even more convenient to move the unit from one spot to another. All in all, this unit has a lot of desirable and integrated features that were difficult to find in other units on the market in this category. By the way, we picked up this low-profile Kingston 8GB DataTraveler Micro USB 2.0 flash drive, dropped an MP3 folder with five audio files in it (with a computer) and the unit immediately recognized the data and started playing it. We used the repeat mode and the audio continues to play over and over 24 hours a day--just as we had hoped to do before we bought this unit.

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I love this player. It does exactly what you'd expect it to do and is very easy to use. I have all my music on the USB and this is very convienient. Although others have had poor comments about the sound quality, I think it's fine for for what it is. I'm very happy with the unit.

My only complaint:

I bought this from "Plasma Buddy" processed through Amazon, and ALL OF THE INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDING THE WRITING ON THE BOX WAS IN SPANISH!! I DON'T UNDERSTAND SPANISH AND WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS. This was an export model destined for South America. I called Sony customer service and they emailed me a soft copy of the instructions in english, but the copy was formatted on one huge page with very small print, so I spent hours reformatting the instructions on my computer so I could print them on many 8-1/2 X 11 sheets. I won't buy from "Plasma Buddy" again...

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I bought this unit after several weeks of research (including reading the other reviews and forums). The biggest positive is the USB input. You can play mp3s up to 320 kps from a flash drive (tried up to an 8GB) or SD card (with USB SD card reader). You can rip CDs to the USB drive also. The negatives are that you cannot play WAV files from the flash drive, and the rip resolution to the flash drive is only at 128 kps. Other positives are a nice radio, the unit is compact, and the sound is clear. Other negatives are that you cannot record to the flash drive from the radio, and the ownwers manual and warranty card are in Spanish. Although the unit was advertised without a remote, the owners manual says it has one. This is odd but since I didn't expect a remote, this did not bother me. All in all, the unit is very nice and does what I expected it to do for the price. An improved model should play WAV files from the USB port, rip CDs to at least 320 kps, have record capabilities from the radio and and from an internal microphone to the USB device, and have the owners manual and warranty card printed in English. Even with the negatives, this unit is so cool, I gave it a 5.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Esky® New 4gb Mini PEN Recorder DVR Video Camera Pencam

Esky® New 4gb Mini PEN Recorder DVR Video Camera PencamBetter than expected it is a bit bulky but all the same it appears as an "Expensive Pen" works great

Item lasted 3 days and the camera turned inside so it can not look out the hole. Got camera turned back around and then stopped working completely, no lights or anything. But it writes amazingly well.

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Bought one of these someplace else promising .jpg photos. IT WOULD NOT TAKE .JPG PHOTOS. So, I bought this one because it promised to take .jpg photos

I FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO TAKE .JPG PHOTOS. It has a little slide switch to move from photo to movie (.avi)

You have to press just once when the light is blue. It then flashes yellow just for an instant then turns back to blue. You have just taken a .jpg photo.

Also, the instruction to change the date/time does not work. It has nearly driven me nuts. I wish there was someone I could talk to on the phone to help. I am going to try www.hisgadget.com for some help. The video quality is pretty good.

I have been burned twice on these spy cameras. I guess the axiom "you get what you pay for" is true because there are units just like this one that sell for over $100.00.

Read Best Reviews of Esky® New 4gb Mini PEN Recorder DVR Video Camera Pencam Here

DO NOT BUY THIS. Get a more expensive one of higher quality and more consistency. I was having troubles with mine not saving the video recordings, and a little later it started to malfunction. I would turn it on and it would go from standby to recording on its own without me pressing a button, and would not go back to standby. I tried resetting it, this did not help. It was taking pictures before, but no longer, it's stuck on recording video which it doesn't save anyway so it is completely useless now. I just spent over $30 on a hollow pen, do not make the same mistake as me. 90% of these you see are not going to work properly, don't waste your money.

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Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Sony BDP-S5000ES Blu-ray Disc Player

Sony BDP-S5000ES Blu-ray Disc Player
  • High-end Blu-ray Disc player with Sony's 14-bit HD video processor plus HD Reality Enhancer and Super Bit Mapping technologies
  • Full HD 1080p output for Blu-ray Discs and upconversion of standard DVD video to 1080p
  • BD Live capable for accessing bonus content from BD-Live Blu-ray Discs; Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD; 1 GB built-in memory
  • Outputs: 1 HDMI,1component,1 S-Video,1 composite,1analog audio 2-channel, 7.1-channel),1digital optical audio,1 digital coaxial audio,1Ethernet,1RS232
  • Includes remote control and composite AV cable; measures 17 x 14.37 x 4.92 inches (WxDxH)

This player is the promise of Bluray fully delivered. As before, video is spectacular. Audio is spectacular in every codec as well. DTS master audio (not included in previous sony products except PS3)and Dolby HD are fantastic. The internal decoding and full bandwith 7.1 PCM output is a great plus for all of us that have audiophile equipment that does not include internal decoders for the new formats. This also ensures that users of HDMI version 1.1 equipment don't have to fret about having 1.3 compliant equipment to enjoy the rewards of completely uncompressed 7.1 surround. Works beautifully with my Rotel 1069 preamp through HDMI. However, best of all, the player is finally fast. For those that have owned previous generation bluray players the most annoying thing about the technology was the patience testing load times. That was the bad old days, welcome to the good days, plop in the disc and go. In my expirience, even with the fast load feature set to off it is at least twice as fast (if not faster) as my departed BDPS2000ES. The menus and additional features work seamlessly and instantly, no more "processing time" hastle. I'm using it with an Elite pro110 plasma and can attest that its video fidelity is reference quality, it simply doesn't get better than this, for any price. Build quality is impressive, the player feels like its built from a ton of bricks and its completely silent in operation, the fan is inaudible (at least I have never heard it). The internet connection is excellent, just plug and go. In fact, this player has essentially zero negatives from any performance standpoint, NONE. Its not a particularly attractive piece of gear, simply a box with a tray in the front, but that is fine. Which, of course, leads to the only negative, its price. For those that want the very best in videophile equipment, the price is justified simply because its performance is, for the time being, second to none in all parameters, better yet, it demonstrates that the technology has finally reached fruition. This player is the first evidence that bluray is now a mature technology with no performance or functional compromises. Hopefully all its funtional advantages will trickle down to more affordable players soon. BTW, anyone that dismisses this player as an expensive alternative to a PS3, has not used it, or at least has not used with gear that will plainly show the significant differences in audio and video performance. Very highly recommended.

One more thing...... The picture of the player is inaccurate that is the BDPS2000ES, Cheers!

Buy Sony BDP-S5000ES Blu-ray Disc Player Now

I just got my BDP-S5000es yesterday. I had been using Sony's original BDP-S1 in our home theater and have enjoyed its picture and audio quality for the past 2 years. I have auditioned other Blu-ray players including the Pioneer Elite series, but never really saw or heard any clear cut reason to spend $$$$ to upgrade until now.

The BDP-s5000es is an enormous improvement in both video and audio quality of any of the units that I have tried.

First, the picture. Stunning is the only way I can describe it. I am veiwing Blu ray movies through a 1080p projector on a 120" screen. If there are any problems with the image in terms of color, saturation or clarity, you'll see it with the picture that large. It is flawless. The few scenes I have been able to play so far all have better contrast, greater depth and more intensity than my previous player. In short, it looks as good as film to my eyes.

The sound is equally as impressive. Up until now, I have been using the audio processor in my Krell preamp to decode the 5.1 and 7.1 soundtracks with results that were far superior to the analog output of my older player. The downside was that I couldn't decode the Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD signals that many of the discs now have. The BDP-s5000es has and outstanding built in decoder for these HD formats and an equally impressive analog output stage that allows for the most realistic recorded audio presentation I have ever heard. The difference isn't subtle, but it is difficult to describe. An example of what I am talking about is in the the James Bond movie "Casino Royale". In one scene, James and Vesper walk out onto a terrace after losing a poker game to his rival. In the Dolby Digital soundtrack, the sounds of the city are all there in the background clear, clean and pristine a well recorded sountrack. However, when I played same scene using the Dolby TrueHD soundtrack through the analog outputs of the 5000es, it sounded like correction it felt like the walls of my room disappeared and I was outdoors. It was startling. It didn't sound like a great recording, it made me feel like I was there. The subtle spatial and sensory information that is lacking from many recordings was all there to be heard and felt.

As for the setup, it was very quick and easy. There was one small quirk that I noticed. Because I am using the players decoder and analog outputs, I needed to go into the audio setup of the Sony to adjust speaker levels and positions. The setup process went quickly enough as I was able to match all of the speaker levels up or down in 1/2dB increments except for the subwoofer. I needed to boost the output to the sub by 1.5dB but the Sony would only allow me to turn it down, not increase the level. I had to start over using the sub's output as the reference level and match the other speakers to it. Not a big problem, but a bit strange.

The network connection went without a hitch. I plugged in the cable and it immediately checked to see if there was an update for the firmware. This is an important reason to consider Sony when making a purchase. As I mentioned, I have the original Sony Blu Ray player and after 2 1/2 years, they are still offering software improvements which allow it to work flawlessly with the latest BD titles. I have updated that machine at least 7 times (from v1.1 to v4.2), all for free, and each time the machine works faster and better. There are not many companies out there that continue to support their products with free upgrades and for such a long period of time. Most just want you to buy the newest model rather than improve your current one.

Also, I saw a previous review about the loading time and thought I'd respond. There is a setting in the setup menu that decreases the time to boot up and load a disc dramatically by leaving the machine in kind of a standby mode. I didn't time it, but I'd say the few discs I've tried to play so far loaded in under 10 seconds with this mode turned on. The downside is that the unit uses more power to do this because it keeps the fan and processor running even when the power switch is off. My guess is that the previous reviewer has not turned that feature on (the default setting for this feature is "off").

Read Best Reviews of Sony BDP-S5000ES Blu-ray Disc Player Here

I can share that for my situation the video enhancement of the BDP-S5000s was very real. My raw video material was from a Canon XH-A1s used to shoot an orchestral performance. Adobe Premiere, Adobe Encore, Verbatum blank DVD discs, and a new LG burner were used to make a 1080p/24 Blu-Ray DVD. When my resulting DVD wouldn't play on my Sony BDP-S300 player, I went to a Sony Store to compare new players.

What I cared about foremost was image quality. The short answer is that players absolutely are not the same. However before I get specific I hope you will please indulge me in a little background theory. Blu-ray encoders compresses video by approximately 50x, which the players then need to uncompress (decode). Encoding at a studio can be slow and methodic, however decoding in a DVD player needs to happen in real time, which invites compromises. If the player has a powerful processor as does the 5000s, a beautiful video stream more free of artifacts will result when you play a DVD.

Compared to the 5000s, the lesser DVD players I tried at the store sacrificed some image quality when the picture moved; i.e., they would pixelate to various degrees. For example a person's face would become slightly blotchy for a fraction of a second and then resolve itself. With the lesser players this would happen even on slowly moving images, and I would expect the problem to be more pronounced with fast moving scenes such as with sports. A related shortcoming is that the lesser players had some noise in their images. For example a dark suit that appeared smooth when the person sat still would become grainy when the person moved slowly. Neither of these defects were apparent on the 5000s.

These shortcomings of the lesser players would probably never be noticed by a casual viewer who rightly thinks that any Blu-ray just looks pretty fabulous no matter what. Nonetheless, there is a curse in knowing what to look for, because it is easy to see, and certainly doesn't require a "golden eye". Whether or not they are objectionable is up to the individual. I'll remark that I have no reason to suspect the other video (and audio) claims to not be accurate. In summary, the 5000s player employs a very powerful image decoder, and it buys you playbacks that are seemingly free of artifacts.

Want Sony BDP-S5000ES Blu-ray Disc Player Discount?

I have owned several high end blu ray players from the likes of Denon, Marantz and Pioneer. I thought they we all solid performers until I bought the 5000ES. This Blu ray player is by far the most solid built and best performer I have ever owned. Video is crisp, great color with lots of tweeks and adjustments at your disposal, with audio via HDMI or Analog the best I have encountered. If you can find one of these beasts still around, I would not hesitate.

I'm a huge analog guy always have been. I never bought into the HD craze until one fateful trip to the Sony store. I saw a big beast sitting sadly in a clearance bin it was marked down to $50; the heft and many connectors on the back quickly caught my eye and held my interest. I felt sorry for it and thought it would be an upgrade to my PS2 which I had up till then been using to play DVDS. Something told me to GET IT, GET IT NOW... so I bought it and took it home. I had a smallish Trinitron and had been using it for awhile when I was bitten by the HD CRT bug using this player on my Trinitron almost felt like using a Ferrari to go to the corner store and back, almost like the player deserved better.

So, a $35 Goodwill acquisiton for a 34" Panasonic CRT HDTV, and an HDMI cable later it was like a window to the world. I just wanted to keep watching things over and over because the video quality is second to none. I've seen cheaper bluray players at friends and family's homes and I really do feel sorry for them. If you have a big set, you need THIS player to do it justice. Even SD content on regular DVDs, the player has an odd way of cleaning up and making look spectacular.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

HP Pavilion G6-2235us 15.6" Laptop (2.7 GHz AMD A6-4400M Accelerated Processor, 4GB RAM, 750GB Hard

HP Pavilion G6-2235us 15.6' LaptopI would highly recommend this product. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much with the amount of money I spent on it,and boy, was I surprised. It's nicely built and runs fast. Well done, HP!This is my first Windows 8 PC, it took some time getting used to, but I'm digging the OS so far. Also, I just wanna mention what a bargain it was, it was a whole 30 bucks cheaper than the similar 2210us model which has lower specs. I'm extremely happy with this purchase, worth every penny!

Just ordered, and received this laptop from Amazon. Ordered it on a Sunday morning, and it was sitting at my front door on Tuesday by 11:00 a,m,. Really enjoy my Prime membership. Great job Amazon.

As for the computer itself, I've only had it a few days but it is exactly what I wanted. Not a high performance machine by any stretch but it's no slouch either, A lot of computer for the money. It came with 4GB of RAM and I ordered an additional 4GB memory card which should be in soon and then this machine will be maxed out. Screen view is excellent. Start up is quick after removing some of the crap ware that came with it. After reading all the hate reviews on Windows 8 I was a little leery. Although it is different, I'm beginning to like it. Windows 7 desktop can be brought up easily if desired. Not a gamer or laptop movie viewer so I can't really comment on these aspects. I haven't even tried the optical drive yet; not sure I'll really ever need it. Went 3 1/2 years with the laptop this one replaced and never needed one. I like the looks of it in sparkling black (finger prints will be an issue but easily wiped away). Having the side numeric touch pad is a definite plus on a laptop at this price. This is my sixth HP computer and I 've never had a single issue with the first five which is why I stayed with HP. The only concern I have with this machine, and I might be picky, is that the scrollable mouse pad is very sensitive and can cause you to move you cursor very easily and unexpectedly if touched by accident. I added a wireless mouse to remedy this. For the money I paid I'm a happy camper and see no reason why I can't get many years of enjoyment from the machine

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When my laptop bit the dust, I scoured the internet for a replacement looking for the best value. I'm retired, and am very frugal with my money. I read reviews, compared specifications, and came down to about 4 laptops. When I realized one of them was the same brand and model that my daughter was using, that made my decision. My daughter's HP Pavilion is several years old, but working great and she shares hers with her 3 children. It's taken a beating, and still performs. My only worry was the new Windows 8 operating system. Other reviews indicated the operating system was difficult to learn and hard to understand. It looked to me like I had no choice. All new laptops were Windows 8.

The laptop was delivered exactly when Amazon said it would be (they are VERY dependable about delivery!). I opened the box, hooked up the laptop and began copying the data from my old computer. I've had the new laptop for only 4 days now, but so far have not found anything to complain about. I love the touch of the keyboard, and really like the numeric keypad. I'm not a fan of the keyboard mouse, preferring to use the traditional mouse instead, but I've been using the keyboard mouse pad occasionally, and find it less sensitive than others I've used. (My main complaint previously was that even when I didn't want the mouse to move, it would move because my sleeve touched it or something else random brushed against it.) This mouse pad is not smooth, it is a little bumpy, which I think makes it easier to use.

And Windows 8? Yes, it's new, a little confusing but even at my old age, I've managed to adapt to it. I know it hasn't even been a week yet, but I am completely satisfied with this purchase, and pleased with the value for my money.

Read Best Reviews of HP Pavilion G6-2235us 15.6" Laptop (2.7 GHz AMD A6-4400M Accelerated Processor, 4GB RAM, 750GB Hard Here

After 3 solid months of trying to find a computer that was compatible with me, I went back to a brand I have had before, HP. This computer has everything I want and is perfect for me! I know some people have issues with windows 8, but I took a class on it when I bought a doomed Toshiba in December. (Plasma screen cracked in 3 weeks, and no, I didn't drop it, it just happened!) Toshiba refused to refund my money. From the time I plugged this computer in it has worked perfectly. I would recommend this HP to everyone who wants a good, reliable computer!

Want HP Pavilion G6-2235us 15.6" Laptop (2.7 GHz AMD A6-4400M Accelerated Processor, 4GB RAM, 750GB Hard Discount?

The laptop all around is pretty awesome and you can't beat the price for it. I would recommend to buying this computer. Its fast has windows8. It is confusing at first but once you learn how to use it it's great.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Sony DCRTRV310 Handycam Digital Camcorder

Sony DCRTRV310 Handycam Digital CamcorderI've played with this digital camcorder for about 5 days now and I am delighted with it's quality and features. If anyone's disappointed with the quality of the video (see reviews below), they are probably being unrealistic in their expectations. To get better video, you'd have to go up to a 3CCD camera (at about 3times the cost!). As for those who say that the camera is too big and heavy, I say just TRY shooting a still video without a tripod with a camera as small as a paperback book! You NEED something larger to get a good steady picture (even with "steadyshot"). I appreciate Sony's innovative digital 8 because the tapes are less expensive, but you still have the quality of digital recording (the Pauses are terrific!). I'm not worried that these tapes are not interchangeable with the mini-DV format. I mean, how often would I want to trade digital tapes with someone? I also have the option of playing back any old 8 or hi-8 videotapes that were previously recorded, and converting them to digital (try THAT with a mini-DV camcorder)! I like having A/V outputs AND inputs so that I can digitally record from a source other than the camera lens. The Sony infrared "nightshot" is astounding. It's like have nightvision goggles for your camcorder! The LCD screen on the TRV310 is WONDERFUL... 3.5 inches! The 20X optical zoom is sufficient, and going partway into the digital zoom ain't too bad either (as long as you don't try to actually use the full 360X!) I cannot say enough good things at this point. If I have to find something negative to say, I wish some of the controls were in easier locations to get to while I'm still filming. All in All, a nifty camcorder that I HIGHLY recommend!

I bought SONY's similar top of the line model TRV 510 shortly after becoming a new dad, this after much debate between the 310 and 510. I decided that the 510's features and extras were worth the added expense. Overall this camcorder does a very decent job of making digital home videos and digital stills, but make sure you have plenty of light, otherwise the results will be slightly grainy. Didn't notice the difference between the regular video and S Video hookups to my TV, SONY should have also included a titling function, the included battery is not sufficient for heavy taping and use, need to get the optional battery, at least 4 hrs, use the original for back-up. Still satisfed with my decision to get the TRV 510, but the TRV 310 would probably be a good choice too and also at less cost.

Buy Sony DCRTRV310 Handycam Digital Camcorder Now

Forget the other cameras. TRV-310 and the TRV-510 are the best ones for today... by far. Don't loose your time looking for other options because no other portable camcorder (in this category) can provide the features and the quality of these cameras. I've played with my TRV-310 for about 10 days and I am really impressive with this camera. This is my fifth camcorder (all 8MM and HI-8) that I have used and this the best camera that I have seen.

Some comments...

The LCD screen on the 310 is amazing. Certainly the best LCD that I have seen in my life. It is clear, bright, sharp and big... 3.5 inches. The color is truer. It is a real pleasure to play my videotapes in any place with no connection with TVs. This is one of the most important features of this camera and you have to consider that in your analysis. You will use it a lot.

The 20X optical zoom is enough and works fine (much better than my old hi-8 camera).

The PAUSEs are terrific. It is impossible to avoid the PAUSE key. Try to press the SLOW key and you will get a limpid and crystalline image.

I have lots of videos recorded on 8 and hi-8 format. The 310 is capable to play black perfectly any videotape on these formats. This camera is the right choice for everyone that have 8 and hi-8 tapes. Don't loose your time thinking to buy a mini-DV camcorder, you will have much more flexibility using the digital camera that supports your old tapes, with the same quality and flexibility. By the way, the hi-8 tapes are cheaper than the mini-DV tapes.

I didn't see notable difference between the regular video and S video hookups to my TV.

The included battery in not sufficient and an additional battery is very important.

The infrared nightshot works very fine (do you think that is it really important ? ).

The 16:9 aspect ratio feature is wonderful At the beginning you don't give so much attention on that, but when you start to use you will love this alternative. If you have a 16:9 aspect ratio television this feature will be fantastic for you. If you are considering to buy this kind of TV (to see your DVDs) this can be a considerable feature to consider.

One of the big things and rarely I see comments is the SOUND. The PCM System is fantastic. I connect the camcorder to my receiver system and I was surprised with the quality, clear and powerful sound. There is a huge difference between this PCM AUDIO SYSTEM and the audio system in my old hi-8 camera. Normally, when we study to buy a camcorder we don't invest so much time analyzing the audio, we keep focus on the video system and don't give importance to the audio. I am sure that the AUDIO SYSTEM of this digital camera will surprise you positively. You will feel the big difference if you connect the camera to a pro-logic Dolby surround sound receiver or a digital receiver. If you have a home theater system with Adobe Digital 5:1...

THE BAD THING: The missing feature on the 310 is audio dubbing. For this kind of camera this feature will be important and convenient. I would like to record narration or add a sound track on the camera after I've recorded the video. Based on the manual I can do this editing the video on my PC, but until now I didn't try it. So, I really don't know if it will work well...

GRAINY VIDEO: I read some comments about to make sure you have plenty of light to avoid a slightly grainy on the video. This is true but not at all. The illumination is not a bid deal... Don't make your decision using this comment as important ! In most of the 95% of the time you will be recording with enough light to make a brilliant and wonderful video.... So, the other 5% of the time you can face poor light and you will have a little bit grainy in your video... And so what ? The important here is that other cameras have the same problem, so it is not a decisive factor for buyers... Don't waste time with these comments...

Finally... I made a very deep analysis comparing the TRV-510 and TRV-310, the 310 is probably the good choice because it has the most advanced features with less cost.Repeating a comment that I saw below... The 310 is LIGHT YEARS beyond the other ones...

Read Best Reviews of Sony DCRTRV310 Handycam Digital Camcorder Here

Well, I had read all the reviews of this model on Amazon and based my purchasing decision partly on this information. I expected picture quality from the 310 to be at least as good as my old PAL Sony 8mm. However, after 2 weeks of using the 310 we had to conclude that it simply provides inferior picture quality in most lighting situations. Inferior in both colour reproduction and in clarity, whatever the technical specs. say. For example, I have a coat with a maroon sleeve but this appeared bright red whatever exposure or program setting I used; same with the shop model we checked with when returning the purchased unit to the store it didn't appear to be just a snafu with the particular unit we had purchased. We also compared the 310 picture with the supposedly inferior Panasonic 910 and both colour and clarity were actually better on the latter. Why? What is Sony playing at? We were expecting twice the clarity ("resolution") and 3 times the colour depth from this Digital 8 camera, as widely advertised. What are they talking about? When it comes down to it, its about picture quality, no matter what bells and whistles the machine has.

Boy, was I glad to get my money back!

Want Sony DCRTRV310 Handycam Digital Camcorder Discount?

This camcorder is highly capable. The quality of the pictures/zoom and the features are outstanding. However, instead of buying this camcorder, I purchased the similar TRV-510. The TRV-510 has a color viewfinder rather than the B&W that comes with the TRV-310. Even better, the TRV-510 comes with the ability to take digital stills and save them onto a 2MB memory chip rather than onto tape, and then to download these stills directly into your PC WITHOUT any need to buy a video capture card. The TRV-510 is a great way of getting a 640x480 digital camera and a digital camcorder in one device!

The only problem, of course, is that Amazon doesn't (yet) sell the TRV-510...

Monday, June 16, 2014

CIB 460TVL Outdoor CCD Bullet Infrared Day Night Security Camera w/ Sony Supe...

CIB 460TVL Outdoor CCD Bullet Infrared Day Night Security Camera w/ Sony Supe...CIB 460 TVL w 24IRs is good for $29 stock by Amazon. On time (2 day UPS).

Even has power supply! Installed one today. I have 400 TVL Night Owl original CMOS cams, an Evertech 700 TVL (with Sony Super HadII ccd chip and 30 IRs), and I now bought these. I prefer a wider angle lens (3.6mm) unless it is a door cam where better detail is wanted, then 6mm is ok like the N-O originals. I fitted a 2.1mm lens into one N-O cam (had to lose the IR ring to fit they are so compact)and love it but I can't find them original on Amazon.

After head to head comparisons I find not near enough difference to justify more than the $29 CIBs here. Day or night. The vaunted Sony Super HAD chips are not with the cost, possibly the non Sony companies use such cheap other parts that the benefit is largely lost (maybe the lens' are cheaper also). I never even find a full Sony CCTV camera on Amazon.

Do not go crazy on too many IR LEDs either !!!!

Too many make a face shine so bad it is not recognizable at the close range where the camera can detail the face well enough to prosecute, etc.

More than 20 IRs is just overkill unless the camera is really only for more than 15 20 feet where detail starts to suffer with all the cameras. I use the (approximately) $10 (36 LEDs?) IR illuminators separate from the cameras to see further out.

If you expect anything like an ordinary modern camcorder image you need to bite the bullet and invest in all digital (NVR not DVR) and HD (at least 720P, but why not 1080P at those prices). Uses ethernet type cables, not CCTV. Upside is many of the cams have SD cards usable like gamecams without cables, and can stream to websites without a computer.

I bought this camera to replace a Zmodo camera on my front porch. I have 8 cameras but the colors are off and they are not very high def. Well this camera has much better colors but the definition is about the same. I bought it because it is a CCD and supposed to be a better picture but it is about the same as my other cameras except it is a wide view with pretty good colors, and the night vision is much better than my Zmodo, but in the day time the definition is about the same. The wide view makes things seem farther away but it does seem to have better definition up real close like under 5 feet. I'm glad I bought it because now I can see the entire side of my house but I think I'll just keep the rest of my cameras. It is really a lot like my Zmodo cameras, it is clear enough for a police video out to about ten feet but after that I don't know if it would hold up in court, although you can still easily identify people you know, you just don't get that clear facial definition. Here's what I don't understand, I bought a spy camera for 10 dollars that is a on a key chain, it holds a mini card, and it has much better definition and colors than these big security cameras. It has a tiny lens and it weighs like an ounce or two...what's up with that?

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I purchased two CIB 460TVL cameras as replacements, and they have much better day and nighttime performance. The camera is a bit larger than I expected, and appears to be well constructed. For my purposes, the IR illumination works fine, with little noise in the picture. Daytime color is also better, and the camera does a good job of handling areas that have both bright sun and shady sections. This camera also has a 3.6mm, wide-angle lens, which allows it to view more area. The mount is also well designed and easy to adjust.

Read Best Reviews of CIB 460TVL Outdoor CCD Bullet Infrared Day Night Security Camera w/ Sony Supe... Here

I have 6 of these cameras out side of my business some of them have been running 24\7 for over a year all are still working they have good color an reasonably good resolution. I plan to buy 4 or 5 more of them soon

Want CIB 460TVL Outdoor CCD Bullet Infrared Day Night Security Camera w/ Sony Supe... Discount?

See the CIB website for accurate description. Mine did not come with the vandal proof bracket. However, camera is of good quality and good price.

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Sunday, June 8, 2014

OPPO BDP-103 Universal 3D Blu-ray Player + Roku Streaming Stick (Bundle)

OPPO BDP-103 Universal 3D Blu-ray Player + Roku Streaming Stick
  • Roku Streaming Stick provides over 700 channels and hundreds of thousands of movies and shows. (MSRP $99.00; bundled with OPPO BDP-103 for $49.00)
  • Universal Blu-ray disc player with Blu-ray, DVD, SACD, DVD-Audio, CD, VCD, HDCD, AVCHD, MP4, AVI, and MKV support
  • Dual HDMI Inputs and Outputs, MHL-Compatibility, 3 USB Inputs, DLNA (DMP & DMR), SMB/CIFS, Wireless N, RS232 & IR, 7.1-Channel Analog, Coaxial/Optical
  • Dual-core processor provides quick startup and fast loading times; Updated Qdeo Video Processor; Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio
  • 4k Up-conversion, 2D-to-3D Conversion, True 24p Video, Vertical Stretch Mode, Advanced Picture Controls

I'd been looking to upgrade my BD Player and did a lot of web research. It seems the major manufacturers are not producing high end flagship models. I was willing to spend around $1,000 for a unit with forward-thinking features. I found it in the OPPO BDP-103. While it's not their most expensive model, I paid much less than anticipated and couldn't be happier. You will not believe the packaging this comes in: it makes Apple products & packaging seem cheap! Set-up was a breeze and the software controls are beautiful.

I immediately downloaded the OPPO Android App to my phone and tablet and began controlling the device from both. The YouTube pairing feature was very cool as was integration of the Roku streaming stick. I'm a 3D believer and know that 4K is around the corner. The BDP-103 supports 3D and 4K plus has discreet audio outputs! While I don't need them, it's clear they don't skimp on features or quality.

I know I'm glowing about this unit without having much negative to say. Sorry...it's just that good. Even the remote control is of higher quality than my new projector: feels great, and lights-up brighter than my Pioneer Elite remote for easy navigation in the dark. I can't say enough about this unit.

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First of all, I would like to start by saying that I bought this player not only for the reviews it was getting, but also because I am a sound fanatic. I would buy anything, within my budget, that makes my room and equipment sound better.

Oppo has really set the bar high with every product they put out on the market and the BDP-103 is no exception. Great picture and incredible sound from a player this price range. I was looking to trash my Pioneer Elite Blu-ray player because of the loading time. Don't get me wrong, I loved my Pioneer back when they first came out, but loading times have always been an issue. It would leave you hanging for at least 3-4 min. before you can even get anything going. Loading times on the Oppo are much better of course, as technology has improved.

I have not really pushed this player to its max, but I have downloaded flac files to an USB flash drive from HDTracks and run them through the player. The sound is out of this world!

As far as picture quality, I would say is about 20-30% better than my old Pioneer but I'm no expert by no means. Set up is easy and the Roku stick worked great from the first time I installed. Simple, one time set up.

Read Best Reviews of OPPO BDP-103 Universal 3D Blu-ray Player + Roku Streaming Stick (Bundle) Here

This is the finest Blu-Ray streaming player made on earth! The picture and sound quality that has gone into the production is remarkable. The service is great and it's made in America! I suggest you buy this over any other brand. It is that good!

Want OPPO BDP-103 Universal 3D Blu-ray Player + Roku Streaming Stick (Bundle) Discount?

Have a top of the line Maranz Universal player which is older and has no blu ray, so we decided to buy the Oppo.

The Oppo is fine for Blu ray, but the Maranz has it beat in upscaling regular DVD's by a mile.

A good Blu Ray Player would have been perfectly fine to compliment my Maranz.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Zmodo W-VP2040 AWG22 Video + Power CCTV Cable (40 Meters, 130 Feet)

Zmodo W-VP2040 AWG22 Video + Power CCTV CableWorks exactly as it should.

I have 2 of these and have been using both for about 3 months. I use both of them outside my house and they are not in conduit. Within that time temperature has gone from 70's to low teens and still have not had any problems. For the price I highly recommend this cable.

I have a Zmodo recording unit and the cheap cameras that came with it.

Worked just as it was needed to. Clear images. Very happy. Needed a few long runs and this did not let me down.

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click and play with the zmodo system and gets you the extra length needed for the last camera on the other-side

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this wire is better than the ones that come with the system. i would recommend the company put these in with the system box instead of the cheap thin wires that come from the factory.

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I would highly recommend this product to anyone else looking for replacement/additional cables. Our company ordered a few of these for our in-house security system. We have a few devices that are just out of reach with the cables that were originally available from the product itself. These cables provided the extra distance and durability that we required for the devices. No negative feedback to provide here!

Thursday, April 24, 2014

HP DVD Movie Writer dc3000

HP DVD Movie Writer dc3000I purchased this product with the idea of converting my old camcorder tapes to DVD. This product was promoted as being "the next best thing to sliced bread" and so easy to use. Well I am here to tell you, it was a long and painful process to finally get the project completed and here is why:

The Showbiz software (used for the video editing) is mediocre at best and definitely has room for improvement. There is no instruction manual or resource available to guide you through editing for the first time. You are left to try and figure it out for yourself.

HP support was another huge frustration. In my first attempts to deal with HP support I called and try to trouble shoot the errors by phone. After being redirected to wrong departments (even different countries!) and being on hold for more than 2 hours at a time I decided to try the email method. I had better luck with that and also a way to document my correspondence. After they determined that it was something one of their Quality Customer Care reps would need to handle, I was assured that someone would call me. 3 weeks later and my multiple email reminder messages from me, still no phone call from HP. I was also getting no help (or even a single return phone call) from CompUSA where I originally purchased the product. Talk about feeling frustrated!

In the meantime, I upgraded my PC to USB2.0 and upgraded to 512MB RAM. I wanted to be sure my system wasn't causing the program (Showbiz) to fail. This didn't change anything...program still failed.

After 7 weeks and hours and hours of time spent trying to get this product to work, the problem was resolved by simply unchecking a box within the ShowBiz software. This setting is under Options / DVD Quality uncheck the box that says ShowBiz Smart Rendering. Unfortunately, this box came checked by default (go figure!) when loading the software.

If this information can help anyone having the same headaches and frustrations I had in getting this product to work, I will be happy. This is really my goal in publishing my review of the Movie Writer. Once you get the DVD Movie Writer and software all figured out, it does work and accomplish what it set out to do. Since I am not a beginner with computers I was not expecting to endure the pain and suffering I experienced. However, I did learn that I will think twice before buying another HP product as well as buying anything from CompUSA (products are great, service stinks) in the future.

One more bit of info I wanted to pass along...HP has an updated driver available from their FTP site. I believe it is dated 10/31/03. This could help if you are using the prepackaged version and having trouble.

Good luck!!

I am a very satisfied customer of HP's. And this is a pretty good product; but not a great one.

Why is it good?

---------------

Well, obviously, it can be used to record, transfer and burn movies into DVDs. It substitutes for the costly DVD Recorders from Philips; but ofcourse, you need a PC with lots of HardDisk space and RAM to do the same job. Please note that in dc3000 the burning of the DVD and the capture are two separate process in time. This is not a real-time or a standalone recorder and always needs a PC. I guess that it is still value for the money.

Ofcourse, you would also be able to convert your VHS tapes into the DVDs. You might have to play a few tricks on some VHS tapes (read movies) to get them burnt into the DVD. Remember that it does not have many ways finding that a material is copyrighted. I don't want to dwell deep into this.

The ShowBiz2 software packaged is pretty powerful; but is also resource hungry. Remember we are dealing with files of Gigabytes in size. So, if you want to edit the movie into a DVD using the software, pump in more memory > 512MB (may be 1GB). The 384MB in my machine was definitely insufficient. To create a DVD, it would need 13-14GB of free hard-disk space just like any other DVD authoring software.

The QuickDVD option is pretty neat with just the minimum steps to create a DVD.

Why is it incomplete?

---------------------

1. Lack of firewire/i.Link/1394 port.

2. Support for an external USB storage device like a "portable USB hard-disk" which can be used to store the MPEG2 file instead of the need for the PC. This would make the system pretty much a standalone recorder. The R&D and manufacturing cost should not increase beyond a few dollars for this I guess; but I bet any company would charge $50-$100 more for this feature.

3. Though not designed for this purpose, it would have been nicer if HP also included a timed DVD recording software or a feature in their software package.

Value for money? : I would think so.

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I bought myself a DC3000 as a birthday present and instead got hours of frustration from a product that does not work. The drive is simply "not recognized" by my brand new Dell with USB 2.0 and oceans of RAM memory and disk space. Having read other reviews before purchasing, I was ready to accept that not all the high-tech editing functions worked smoothly, but at least (I thought) I will be able to copy home videos to DVD. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

I am persistent and reasonably knowledgable about installation and debugging. I followed every piece of advice, restarted my machine "clean" with no background softwate to interfere, tried and re-tried the HP-recommended steps with the help of a tech. I can only conclude that that there is a bug in the installation software. After several tedious debugging routines, the HP tech finally conceded that there was a defect, but he couldn't solve the problem. This is not yet consumer-ready -if you want something that works out of the box, look elsewhere.

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I had hoped to use the dc3000 to finally transfer my aging VHS collection onto more stable and long-lasting media. Simply, I wanted to keep on watching my old movies (which in some cases, are not even available on DVD) without having to worry that I was degrading the quality of the video.

Well, I must have been day-dreaming when I bought this product, or maybe I'm just niave since I have no intention of starting my own pirate DVD production shop, using just this one DVD-writing product, to cheat Hollywood out of billions of their just-deserved royalties. I really only wanted to put my VHS tapes (including movies I have already paid for) onto the DVD format...

The set-up and configuration of this product was a breeze, the software suite installed without any issues, and the hardware literally just plugs in (just make sure you have a USB2.0 input though). Unfortunately, when I actually tried to backup one of my VHS movies, the HP Video Transfer Wizard told me "The source video is copyright protected; video capture will not resume."

Well, even though the U.S. courts say I can make backups of movies I already own, HP apparently doesn't agree. So, if updating your aging VHS movie collection is one of your primary reasons for buying a product like this, you should just take the dc3000 out of your basket and move on (if you can find something else without this draconian copy-prevention).

Aside from HP, I'd also like to thank George Lucas for this disappointing experience. Being the geek that I am, one of the main reasons I purchased this the dc3000 was to finally have a copy of the Star Wars Trilogy on DVD, since my friend George has yet to do so himself. And here I just wanted to keep from having to buy a new set of videos every 6 months, as that's about how long it takes for VHS tape to begin degrading, and I'm that big of a fan.

Lastly, I'd like to give special thanks to the RIAA. Even though 99.9% of us just want to make our own copies of our own media for our own internal use, the RIAA would rather do everything possible to prevent us from doing so, treating ALL of us like criminals. Sorry RIAA, but that's only going to hurt your business even more in the long run than any piracy possibly could.

So... back to the HP dc3000. Yes, if you want to copy your own home movies and non-copyrighted materials... I'd give it a thumbs-up (4 stars, only because the software is a resource-hog). But if you thought you might be able to make legal copies of copyrighted materials you have already purchased, think again. The dc3000 won't let you do it, even though the law still says that you can.

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I purchased the HP DVD Movie Writer with every intention of retiring my VHS collection once and for all. Boy was I in for a surprise.

I'll agree that the HP DVD Movie Writer was easy to setup and use. HP has made that part of the experience quite painless. The capture process is fantastic and seems to work just perfectly. The problem, however, lies in the consistency of the burn process.

So far I have successfully burned about 8 VHS tapes to DVD and I have had to use up about 24 DVD's to get there. When I first begain having issues with burning DVD's I thought the problem was media related, so I set aside the 25-pack spindle of Fuji DVD+R's and got a 10-pack of HP DVD+R's. Well, I went through all 10 HP DVD+R's and I have 3 successful burns to show for it. So much for media being the problem. Next I thought it was a speed problem, so I ran out and purchased the only USB 2.0 PCI adapter card I could find, a D-Link DFB-A5. Well, needless to say, that didn't work either. Although the USB 2.0 card seems to recognize the DVD Movie Writer, it refuses to burn the captured video to a DVD. So, I am back to using USB 1.1. Oh the shame.

I have ran into the frustration of not being able to burn copies of my copyrighted VHS tapes, and although I am a bit peeved about that, I have found that many of my VHS tapes are not copyrighted and, theoretically at least, should be able to be captured then burned to DVD. I have a handful of .mpg files sitting around that didn't get the honor of being burned to DVD as the burn process, I am sad to say, hung. And forget about pulling those mpg files in through ArcSoft Showbiz 2.0 and burning them to DVD as is, that won't work either.

I gave the product 3 stars because I have seen the results of what it can do when it works, the problem lies in its consistency. If you meet the minimum requirements laid down in the documentation, you should expect reliability regardless of how slow the process might be.

I suppose I will simply have to suffer along with USB 1.1 and a 33% chance for a successful burn. I am on that 3rd try right now, so someone wish me luck.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

4GB 3in1 Pen Drive (Flash Memory) USB 2.0 with Laser and Ballpoint pen built in (BTQ)

4GB 3in1 Pen Drive USB 2.0 with Laser and Ballpoint pen built inIts not what I expected. First and foremost, the writing part of this pen is inconsistent and frustrating. How can they not get that right? In addition, it is much wider than it appears in the picture. If your USB port is very shallow on your laptop this product will not fit. Its only redeeming factor is the laser pointer works. Big deal.

I bought five of these to use for graduation presents. I was hoping for a little better quality but the price should have been a hint. The pens are really light weight. The only real negative I encountered was the batteries were weak or already dead, which affected the laser pointer.

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Admittedly:

The laser works. The pen works. The flash drive works.

However:

The pen is just very cheaply made. The housing is a thin aluminum, but the threaded parts are chromed plastic. I bought 2 of them and neither one will thread together smoothly or even correctly right out of the box. I actually tried to give one away to a friend who liked the look of the pen. After he had picked it up and examined it a bit closer, he set it back down and politely refused the gift.

Yes, it's that cheap.

I don't recommend this item.

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Although the pen is very handy but one out of the three is defective and does not close properly. In fact it is of no use and I dont know what to do with it

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This is a handy little product but not for the quality conscious. It has all the parts as described, viz. a pen, a USB drive and a laser pointer. Quite nice to have all of them on a single item.

The finish though, leaves much to be desired. One has to unscrew a section to reveal the USB connector. It is quite squeaky and the thread is very thin. One has to be very careful with the rotations otherwise the thread could easily wear.

The battery of the pointer exhausts pretty quickly too. I had used the pointer at most only twenty times when it ran out. The cells (two tiny ones) can be replaced easily though, which is good.

There was nothing wrong with the USB drive and was of the same capacity as mentioned.

Overall, this is an ingenious useful little product and I am quite satisfied with it.

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Monday, April 21, 2014

Sennheiser EW 112P G3-A omni-directional EW system

Sennheiser EW 112P G3-A omni-directional EW system
  • 42 MHz bandwidth: 1680 tunable UHF frequencies for interference-free reception
  • Enhanced frequency bank system with up to 12 compatible frequencies
  • Automatic frequency scan feature searches for available frequencies
  • User-friendly menu operation with more control options
  • Wide range of accessories adapts the system to any requirement

With the exodus from 700 mhz due to the FCC reallocation, Shure and Sennheiser are improving their next generation (this is a 3rd gen which arrived May-Jun 2010) systems to have more coverage and features. Here are the highlights:

0if you are looking for the cardioid pickup pattern version of this mic the wireless parts are the same you can read this review to get that info then click here to get the 172 microphone specifics (sennheiser just changes out the microphone) Sennheiser ew 112-p G3 Omni Lavalier Microphone Wireless System, CH B

1 Mic Attenuator programmable 0 to -60dB in 3db steps covers a 1 million:1 range of input signals. That's more than the range from a guitar to line level.

2 frequencies bands preprogrammed or user defined plug in your clear channels to 25 khz

3 output Attenunator programmable from +12 dBm line level to 36 dBm by 6db steps (mic level to line level out)

4 output for 3.5mm TRS or 3 pin XLR male both included

5 "hidden" diversity antenna is the shield in the receiver output cable (in case you wonder where the 2nd antenna is! graph shows which antenna is used.

6 cooperation with FCC in issuing new digital TV frequencies guarantees in 42 Mhz to find at least one 6 Mhz block of *FREE* space somewhere, and sennheiser supports this on their website to find your free space by zipcode.

7 mic and output cables both feature screwdown locks on the transmitter box to prevent tug-out

8 IR downlink sends receiver programming of clear channels to transmitter without user intervention.

9 professional designed audio compander ensures exceptional "wired" sound quality performance

10 compatible with rackmount versions of the receiver as well, and can co-exist with IEM wireless systems or 300 series ethernet connected to ensure zero interferance.

11 tx has 30 mW output over entire battery range thanks to internal dc/dc converter and was designed to run from 2.4VDC rather than 3.0VDC

I've used the G2 and G3 they are cross compatible with each other and the G1 (which lacked a pilot tone, so you must turn off pilot on the receiver to use with G1 transmitters thats the only reason you would ever disable the pilot tone) Note however that each series has had a wider range of frequencies, so compatibility is from a newer receiver to older transmitter over all old transmitter frequencies.

The receiver also includes a clip on hotshoe mount (with no contacts) to mount it to most cameras

Altogether this is a great mono system, use 2 for stereo. The azden cam-3 AZDEN CAM-3 On-Camcorder Mini Audio Mixer gives you a 3-in 1-out stereo mixer that fits on your recorder to handle 2 mono and 1 stereo source (I have a review there I never go recording without the cam3)

The Sennheiser has a nice advantage over the Shure UHF-R ($1999) system it operates off 2.4 V from nimh cells and using the sanyo 2700 mah sets you can get 16 hours of use Sanyo 2,700 mAh AA NiMH Rechargeable Batteries (4-Pack). Shure insists on alkaline 1.5 V cells for full runtime. Both the sennheiser receiver and transmitter use 2AAs each and even have a pc board trace so the batteries are put in the same way not one forward, one backward as you would think with most radios.

This is an exceptionally flexible wireless vocal / instrument system with wired quality sound. You won't regret the flexibility of pro quality equipment. By using standard 3.5 mm TRS jacks you can plug other audio sources into the transmitter for handheld mics or other devices. Sometimes it is the fastest way to get a 3.5 mm signal matched to an XLR input which is why I keep 2 sets of these in my camera bag.

If you have questions for someone who has logged hours of use on both the shure and sennheiser systems, my email is in my profile. I also use the senn EW300G3 systems which are one notch better than this last I checked they were not camera mountable for the receiver, but the 1/2 rack receiver did include the ability to do ALOT more, for example it has LAN connectivity to find a good channel, the lavalier or handheld mic sends digital data to the receiver subaudible to tell you the microphone pattern depending what head you have screwed onto the handheld mic and the battery level of the speaker's microphone so you are not caught offguard when they are running low (the backlit display turns from orange to red to alert you of any errors also on the 300 series, but its meant for installed applications rather than portable applications) that's where the letter P comes from in EW112PG3 the P in PG3 means the receiver is portable as is the transmitter and this is a lavalier version they make handheld microphones with portable receivers also in the 100 series. The 300 series is better if you have multiple microphones running at the same time since you can put 2 half rack receivers next to each other on a rackmount system and get a well organized wireless mic console. The lan connections duplicate all the functions on the front panel on your pc which can reconfigure the systems for different scenes in a play for example the 300 is one step up from the 100 which is a really good entry point. For permanent installs consider the EW300G3 series of computer (ethernet) controlled receivers from professional audio suppliers.

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I just received this set of wireless microphone and I'm testing it with my Marrantz PDM 661.

They seem great so far, but when you set the receiver's output to 12db, which is claimed it should work as a line-out (I've read is much better to connect anything as line-in intead of mic-in) I have to turn the gain all the way up in the Marrantz and the entry level is still very low, almost non usable. If I'm doing a bad set-up, please let me know...

Other than that this set seems great. When connected as mic-in the level is great and sound quality in general seems very good. I use it for recording audio separetly while recording HD video with my Canon 2Ti.

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I got the B Band based on Sennheiser's available channels in my local area. You need to go to the Sennheiser website and look at the little link on the page. Then enter your zip code and get the list of available frequencies in your area... then you can choose if the A, B, or G channel is best for your local area. When I got mine, I just put the batteries in (included!) and then turned on the unit. It was already linked and ready to go... no interference and absolutely no problems... I'm in a metropolitan downtown with lots of wireless transmission... I have not yet had any problems with this unit. It's easy to maintain and the build quality is obviously professional. Excellent lav. microphone. I'm very happy with. I wish it was a little cheaper so I could buy a few... but I guess it is what it is... I had a cheaper Sony before and I now know the difference!

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Works great, expensive but a good investment. A lot of folk I know use these for weddings. Quality is amazing and these are the best bands settings you'd want to get for the L.A. area. I just hope the FCC doesn't make these illegal soon...

I don't take time to review products unless they greatly exceed my hopes/expectations. The Sennheiser EW100 G3 is an outstanding, no-frills wireless mic set (transmitter and receiver). I already use a heavier Lectrosonics lav/clip-on transmitter and big receiver on my small Sony EX3 videocamera, but needed a smaller wireless set for use with my EX on my new Steadicam Pilot. I'm close to the payload limit of my Steadicam, so needed a lightweight receiver that would shoe mount on the top of the EX3. And as the Steadicam operator/cam operator on a low budget, I needed a simple, lightweight wireless receiver to get the on-camera talent's lavalier mic sound into the camera. The Sennheiser worked without any RF interference hiccups during a 9 hour shoot, and a 5 hour shoot the next day. Only had to change the 2 AA batteries on talent's waist-belt clip-on transmitter once. Excellent sound, frequency response and clean wireless transmission. I had my hands full worrying about operating and working with my gaffer on lighting requirements, and directing talent and each shot as well. Nice to have a wireless that just does exactly what it should when you don't have time to pay it any mind. I've had RF interference issues with more expensive wireless units, but the Sennheiser just excelled past all that. I popped a tiny earbud into my ear for monitoring from the camera's audio outputs and rested assured. At "only" half a grand, this mic set is very well priced. Highly recommended for lower budget productions ...and anyone who wants great wireless audio. Unit doesn't have XLR-out from the camera-top receiver unit, but that's really my only complaint. Saves weight, though, to use the provided 1/4" mini phono plug.