Sony HDR-PJ10 High Definition Handycam Camcorder with Built-in Projector (Black)

SUMMARY

Delivers the quality and all the features you'd expect from Sony PLUS this has a built in projector for serious "Gee-Whiz" factor. Projector delivers decent functionality but comes at a significant size, weight, and cost.

There's all sorts of things I can talk about on this camcorder we've had 6 video recorders including 2 Sony mini DV, one Flip, and one Sony Bloggie HD. I've also shot video on my phone and our various still cameras. I've been researching camcorders in the past few months to get up to HD and transition away from Mini DV, so the opportunity to review this camcorder came at an excellent time.

BUT... Before I get into any more detail, I'll get to the most important question you probably have if you are reading this review. HOW IS THE PROJECTOR AND IS IT WORTH IT?

The projector is a lot of fun to play with. If you like having envious friends drooling over your latest gadget, this is for you. Although it only puts out 10 ANSI lumens, it's reasonable for sharing videos. The overall experience reminds me of looking at vacation slides when I was young.

Sony claims that you can get up to a 60" (diagonal) image and you can actually get more, but the display gets to be very, very dim. I would say that in a lighted room, a 20-24" projected image is acceptable. Since brightness falls off as the square of the distance, it gets dim pretty fast and by the time you have a 30-40" display size you need to be in a very dark room for it to be viewable.

The focal length for the projector is fairly long that 20" display requires 3 feet between projector and wall. At 5 feet you get a 33" diagonal display, and at 8 feet you get 53" diagonal. There's a focus slider on the top and the volume on the built in stereo speakers is surprisingly good, but you still will need people to keep quiet if you want to hear.

Is it worth it? The best estimate on cost of this feature is to compare it with the Sony HDRCX160 which is the closest Sony camcorder without a projector. It costs about five bills while the PJ10 is 7, so it's about two Benjamins or 40% more for this feature. (Our gracious hosts here dislike us discussing price but I think it's a very valid point) If you look at the 3M Pocket Projector MPRO120--.33LBS, which costs around this much, it has 12 lumens and a resolution of 1280x800. I'm having a hard time confirming the resolution on the Sony projector but it is surprisingly sharp. There's something to be said for having the projector cleanly integrated into the camcorder.

In comparing the PJ10 to it's two bigger brothers and it's projectorless cousin, I'd note that they all appear to have the same sensor and image processor so image quality should be the same. Similarly they all carry the same 3" touch screen. The main difference is with the bells and whistles (and of course, the price). Interestingly enough, the two "lower" models have (IMO) the better optics (30x zoom)

Model.........Internal....Optical..Digital...35mm Lens Eq.

.................Memory......Zoom...Zoom....(16x9 Movie)

---------....----------..-----....-----....------------

HDR-PJ50V...220Gb HDD....12x...160x.....29.8mm 357.6mm

HDR-PJ30V...32Gb Flash....12x...160x.....29.8mm 357.6mm

HDR-PJ10.....16Gb Flash....30x....350x.....29.8mm 894mm

HDR-CX160...16Gb Flash...30x...350x.....29.8mm 894mm

A couple of key items the PJ10 is missing It doesn't have a GPS Tag, built in video light ando it only shoots at 60i and 60p where the PJ30 and 50 can also do 24p. Should you care? The LED light would be nice as far as 24p, if you don't know what a video pulldown ratio is, then trust me, you won't care. GPS well, I'm not into Geotagging so I'd say no.

The 30V and 50V are actually about the same price both a pretty big jump over the PJ10. My opinion is to stick with the PJ10, or if you don't need a projector, go with the CX160

Do note that the PJ30 takes still images at 7 MP instead of 3 MP. This makes the PJ30 a somewhat reasonable replacement for a P&S still camera, but we have a DSLR so we certainly won't be replacing that.

Likes: Projector super, super neat and convenient for sharing videos. "Highlight reel" feature makes it even more fun, though the music not my taste. "Golf Shot" works well for soccer and other action shots. WIDE angle lens from the get go makes shooting birthday gatherings, etc much more practical. STEREO speakers on playback give some serious volume

Annoyances: What's with the CR2025 in the remote? I always cram a CD2032 in these remotes they actually fit, are easier to find, and have a lot more capacity. I wish I didn't need the remote to scroll through menus while in the projector mode.(where the touch screen is disabled)

CONCLUSION:

Wow your friends and family! The Sony HDR-PJ10 offers something I've never seen before the ability to project movies built right in. The camcorder portion is comparable to the CX160 a very capable, high quality HD Digital video camera. Shoot a video and share it the same day without having to worry about bringing extra cables or even a display! Execution of this concept is very competent. The cost size and weigh penalty is significant (24% more weight (2.1 oz) and 34% more volume (113 cc) than the CX160) but still delivered in a very reasonable package (See pictures)

If you have any comments, questions, or found this review helpful, please let me know!

I put the Sony HDR-PJ10 through its paces to create this video review. See my ill-timed pimple in high definition! The buzz you hear in the audio is actually cicadas, not a problem with the camera. It's hard to find a quiet place to film at my house during the day. In fact, the wind noise reduction feature cut down the cicada buzz by an impressive amount. Just keep in mind that the picture quality had to be reduced significantly in order to fit within Amazon's file size guidelines.

Bottom line, it's a great camera.

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Cool camera, solid hardware. Nice quality output. Easy to use.

Some amazing options.

Wish capture was not so hard on my wrist. But, this is a common issue.

Looking forward to hours/years of usage and Sony makes a great product so this is easy to imagine.

OUT OF THE BOX:

First of all unlike other electronics that I have purchased, this camera did not have a "Get Started" that jumped out at me. I had to find it on page 14 of the manual. That's okay, kinda.

I found it funny that their first step, was Turn off the camera by closing the LCD. Either they intuitively know people are just going to dive in, or they wrote the instructions for later usage.

Out of the box, the battery had enough charge to use, but predictably their first step was to install the battery and charge it by installing it in the camera. Took me a minute to figure out how to put the battery in, as it had a slider, so I tried to slide it. Apparently you drop in and then slide. But other than that, this step went seamless. You get a USB cable that can go into your computer, or the transformer that goes into the wall. One comment on the charging method: If you had a second battery, you would have to charge it right in the camera which means you have to plan ahead to have two batteries to use.

You also get component connectors to hook into your TV, so you have this ability right away. But you also have a mini HDMI connection in the camera(no cables) so this can be an option,if you can use it . You need an adapter to use the HDMI connection with a standard size HDMI cable, so we have not tried the HDMI hook up yet.

HARDWARE:

A solid well made camera. Hey it's a Sony, would you expect anything less? Yeah I have a bias, but I have had good luck with Sony.

Capture controls are a separate button for video and still capture and a zoom button. That's all you really need.

All other settings are in the menu.

Inside the LCD area, there is a separate Power button, Review button and Projector button. So once you open the LCD to turn it on you can see Live view (if you do nothing), look at Menus (control on the LCD), look at your pictures/videos (control on the camera or on the LCD) or Project (button on the camera). Under a flap inside the LCD there is the input and output stuff (head phones, microphones, HDMI and USB hook ups). On the opposite side you have your DC-in and your component hook ups inside a cute little door. Yeah, I know the guys are groaning, but this was well done. Seems weird that HDMI and component video connections are on opposite sides. Must be space related. The projector has a focus control on the top of the LCD. This works great.

On your handle you have a USB cable that is nested in that. That was really neat. Nice you don't have to haul out a cable to use to do this.

The one physical complaint I have on this camera, was that the handle and shape of the camera forces you to hold your hand straight up and down to capture. This is fatiguing. Since the barrel of the camera has to be held perpendicular to what you are capturing, not much you can do. But, it is uncomfortable. As this is my first video camera, this is the first time, I have noted this. Might be a common issue.

TAKING VIDEOS:

One thing I have always noticed is that video cameras seem to need less light than regular cameras. I have been in sporting events where I could not get a shot with a regular camera and next to me people were taking videos with no issue. Sony apparently is also known for this. I walked around my house in dusk deliberately seeing how this camera would perform and it was great. It had only a few issues with focusing on scene changing (very minor) and the picture quality was decent. If you can see it, apparently so can the camera. This camera has several modes. Besides the standard video you have golf shot mode, which can take a series of shots to evaluate a golf swing or any other fast moving action. When you figure the camera can take about 60 frames in one second you get action easily in 1/60 of a second intervals. We can't see that fast but this camera can. I've only dabbled with that, as I don't golf or something that would be a natural for that.

There is also a Smooth Slow record mode and this is a means of taking a shot of an event like making a goal, or something that can be anticipated. My son used it to take a shot of our cat jumping up on the bed and we captured her motion. It plays back in slo-mo, so that was cool. For us this is a novelty. But, it is one we plan to play with. I could have used it when my kids were younger and in sports. Now I get to use it on my grandkids.

TAKING STILL SHOTS:

This camera only has a 3.3 MP still camera capability. Comparing this to my cell phone which has an 8 MP sensor, this comes off as disappointing numbers wise. But, that is not what this camera's purpose is, now is it. At least you can capture stills if you need to. However, I don't know why you would ever put it in Still mode for this camera, since you have an external still button. Seems like you could add another fun video one. You need to also remember you can pull stills from your videos. Years ago, this was a waste of time, but that is no longer the case. Mind you, you might not be able to make poster size prints of them, but you could still print them smaller if you wanted to or use them in a photo book.

PROJECTOR

Except for really dark videos, this does a great job. I have used the projector on some white walls. It was cool. I have displayed as little as 1-2 feet diagonally to 6 feet diagonally and it impressed everyone that saw it. Really cool for sharing. The adjustment to the focus on the top of the LCD makes this easily possible.

VIEWING

You can look at your pictures on the LCD, a TV, or in Projector mode. The LCD touch screen allows navigation in the menu as well as the zoom button and still button. Zoom hops between controls, the still button allows selection. The ability to share makes viewing nearly seamless. The only complaint noted earlier, was the lack of mini to regular HDMI adapter connector in the box.

You can also automatically create a highlight version of all your videos/stills and display this in a playback sort of mode. This can be saved too as a scenario, so you don't have to recreate it. Music is selectable and apparently you can add your own music. If you are really into this, I'm sure you can go wild.

BUNDLED SOFTWARE:

Picture Motion Browser (PMB) is the provided software. This installed seamlessly. It also added a Sony commercial to my laptop. I thought it was suspicious when I had elephants show up in my home videos.

The Software allows you to capture stills from video and trim videos. There are also some still editing capabilities. You can share quite a few ways: DVD, online, email. But, overall it is pretty limited. If you wanted to create multiple clips from a single video, you would have to start from an original each time and save a new one. Pretty cumbersome, but at least possible.

Apparently the files can also be used by other Video software. My boyfriend altered some with Nero 9. That's a good thing because sometimes videos can be proprietary disallowing use with other manufacturers software. Not sure, why. Like I said I'm new at this.

I will update this review over time with more usage.

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This is a video of the Sony HDR-PJ10 HD Handycam Camcorder in action.

** NOTE: This video is choppy, particularly during zooming or panning, because it has been downsampled from the original HD video (I had to shrink the video down to size because Amazon limits the size of uploaded videos to 100 MB). The original high resolution video is of extremely high quality -the picture is sharp and the playback is smooth. **

The video does exhibit a problem that is present in the original video -chromatic aberration (colored fringes around images). The chromatic aberration can be quite pronounced under bright lights (the problem is most apparent in the snow-crested mountains in the video). Apart from this shortcoming, the quality of the HD video is really quite good.

Moving on... there are a few features I love about this camcorder:

42x Zoom

The zoom capability is impressive. The 42x extended zoom allows you to take incredibly close-up shots. The electronically controlled zoom function allows for very fluid zoom movement.

Projector

The light output of the projector is a dismal 10 lumens (dedicated projectors have brightness ratings upwards of 2000 lumens). The largest projected image (measured diagonally) that the projector can produce that's reasonably bright/viewable is about 50". Still, despite this limitation, the projector is a very practical and useful feature -it allows friends and family to gather round and comfortably preview the videos you've shot.

Long Battery Life

The battery has enough power for about 2 hours of recording or 30 minutes of projection.

---

I'm really pleased with the Sony HDR-PJ10 High Definition Handycam Camcorder. If you're looking for a camcorder, this one is definitely worth consideration.

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This little Sony Handycam is the bomb! It does exactly what it says it will do. It's compact enough to fit in the palm of my smallish hand, the settings and operation are both intuitive and idiot-proof and the projector built into the side of the body is fabulous.

The zoom takes a little time and trial and error to figure out, but once you get the hang of it, it pans out and in with grace.

My only complaint is that the software that comes with the camera is pretty useless, and it's necessary to spend around a hundred bucks on the Sony software that will allow true editing, captions and music.

The picture is just as crisp as you'd want, and I can heartily recommend this camera. Just be prepared to buy some software.

Videosecu 16 Channel Surveillance Video Audio DVR PC PCI Capture Card 1B4

The Mini DVR is a very safisticated system and I am very pleased with the four purchased for my home security system. Features that make it very desirable include: Small and easy to hide, low power, runs cool, no mechanical disc drive to fail, does not loose it's memory when the power is disconnected, records on motion detection, takes up to a 16 GB SD card, does not need a PC to function, overwrite feature, and can run on battery power. This DVR has a neat pre record feature that when engaged starts recording the video signal 5 seconds before the motion activation is detected. This way it catches everything from the start. Sound feature not used. Came with a slick little device that will hold the SD memory card and plugs into a USB2 port allowing files to be viewed on a PC.

One minor issue not covered in the instructions is when the unit is powered up for the first time and the video output is plugged into a NTSC compatible monitor the picture has a rapid vertical roll to it. When the unit was tested it was set for PAL compatibility and must be reset for NTSC which can be tricky since the screen is rolling making it hard to read. Going through the following sequence by pressing the keys indicated when you first turn it on it will set it to NTSC. 1. Menu 2. OK 3. Right Arrow 4. Right Arrow 5. OK 6. Right Arrow 7. OK. When the DVR set to PAL is plugged into the color quad processor Real Time Color Digital Quad Processor Security-surveillance or area-monitoring systems with Remote controler DIY QD435 1EYthe picture does not roll but is very low quality until the DVR is changed to NTSC.

The settings that work best for me are to record at 5 FPS and not 30 FPS. Set the motion sensitivity to 7 and the record time to 30 seconds. Used this way a 16GB card will record about 8 to 10 days worth of movement of street traffic in our neighborhood.

4) COBRA CXR-925 2 Two Way Radio Walkie Talkies 35 Mile

I have had these for a few weeks and use them daily. They work as advertised although, as has been widely reported, the range is no where near what is advertised. They do reach across our small town and I have taken them with me to the store and been able to chat with home base. That is maybe a mile with houses and hills in between. Have not had them in the woods yet. They are light weight, small and easy to carry and use. We have put them throughout the house so we can conveniently contact one another in and around the home. (With five kids and a large house, it saves on the lungs or feet.) The "play back" feature is especially nice because my hearing is not great which also brings up my chief complaint (besides the range issue) which is the volume. They are not easy to hear (hence four rather than five stars) and my hearing is bad anyway so the playback feature is very nice. Given the good price on these, I think they are a very good value and recommend.

This turned out to be a decent bundle for family excursions. Purchased for a cruise and found reception to be okay. Reasonably compact compared to other popular radios. The replay feature is what pushes this review from 3 to 4 stars.

Buy 4) COBRA CXR-925 2 Two Way Radio Walkie Talkies 35 Mile Now

I bought over a dozen of these for the staff at our school because the price was low and I'll admit: I don't know a whole lot about two-way radio. Well, most of them stop working almost immediately. Some began to transmit even when the person did not intend to transmit anything. I had the pleasure of listening to one teacher teach his class for 15 minutes before we finally found out whose radio it was. This is a joke! Avoid these at all cost! I gave two stars because the seller did ship them to me pretty quickly.

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If you want a two way radio that reaches further than motorola's two way radios, this is it. I'm not saying you can go across town with it, but I've been trying to get connected within a 10 block distance, downtown, lota of building, and all the radios I've bought simply didn't work. This is the only one untill now, that delivered what I wanted. That's why I'll buy other 8 pairs of it.

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The features are great but not worth much if you can only use them in your own house! Very disappointed!

Sangean DAR-101 Desk Top MP3 Recorder (Black)

A fabulous and VERY versatile machine. The perfect replacement for a portable stereo cassette recorder. It's just what I've been looking for since the demise of cassettes.

It is so good, I bought two!

Pro I was looking for something that would do more than just record audio through internal mic's. I need to input external mic's and to have an Aux-in to record from other sources. This model fit the bill perfectly. It even has a record timer and play timer, which I use to record a radio program in the middle of the night so I can listen to it during the day. It takes SD memory on which it can record and from which it can play. It has a USB port from which it can play, but doesn't seem to be able to record to it (see Cons below). For inputs it has two mic jacks (left and right) and a stereo aux jack.

Con The only complaint that I have is that I can't record onto a jump drive through the USB port. It only plays to it, as far as I have been able to tell. However, recording to the SD card works just fine for me.

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The product does exactly what is says it does. It's clear in sound and has no extra noise that one would get from using a analog tape. The files are numbered by date, so you know which day it is. I do recommend after a couple days to drag all the files to a computer and start over with the memory card, so it doesn't run out of room. However a very large or lengthy recording still doesn't seem to take up too much room.

I recommend this product, especially for business purposes.

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The good:

1. Workmanship and "feel" is good. No misalignments, rough edges, etc.

2. Selection of inputs (line in, microphone internal or ext, phone) and outputs (line, digital) makes it versatile--it's not a toy.

3. User interface is good (not great). Separate file folders for different operating modes.

4. You can monitor your recording source (or playback) with the built in speaker.

5. Recording balance and volume are adjustable.

6. Recording quality (mp3) is selectable.

7. Phone attachment cable is included (to modular jack), and it starts recording automatically when you pick up the phone.

8. Recharges NiMH batteries.

Not so good:

1. REASON IT ONLY GOT 4 STARS: User manual is very sketchy.

Example: Memo button is shown, but the manual has nothing about how to use this feature. There are good tips on Amazon reviews, but don't expect anything from the Sangean website. Play with it and you'll figure it out!

2. Memory card is not included--get one!!

3. USB port appears to be playback only (couldn't find any references to connection to a PC).

4. To transfer the recordings, you need to pop out the memory card.

5. When checking properties of some mp3 files, information didn't seem right (playing time, etc.).

Tips:

1. It has a nifty timer recording feature. Find it in the menu, and disable as you learn to operate this unit.

The default was "on", and the first night it starting recording at midnight and was recording the following morning!

2. Get rechargeable (NiMh) batteries, then you won't have to worry about the switch setting inside the battery compartment.

If the charge light goes on, you've got it right.

3. If you have a USB flash drive with audio files plugged in, you may have to press the INPUT button to get the unit to "see" the USB device.

4. Keep the audio level below maximum (red LED on knob will flash if peaked).

5. Step through the menus, etc. a couple of times and you will see how flexible this unit is. Minor issue: you have to select files one at a time if you want to delete them. If you want to delete many files, pop the mem card and do it on your PC.

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This is a good unit and looks like it will last, although there is a few thing that could be improved on. first of all it does not come with a data storage chip and without it you can't even use it. second although you can hear the other party when recording a phone call the sound is a little muffled (not to bad but noticeable). Also there is no caller id build into the unit so you don't have a number assonated with the recording. Lastly it would be nice if there was some sort of built in filling system that would store recordings assonated with their phone number.

Having said that it is a great unit and after looking around i don't think you will find something like this at a better price. I'm glad i bought it and would recommend it.

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Ematic EM638VIDGR Touch Screen MP3 Video Player with 5MP Camera with LED Flash and Video Recording

• 8GB Flash Memory
• 3 inches Touch Screen Display
• 5MP Camera with LED Flash and Video Recorder
• FM Radio and Recorder
• Durable Aluminum Body

We bought these for our daughters. Great product! The touchscreen is a little touchy and would work better with a plastic stylus, but other than that they are great! Big enough for them to use and not hit the wrong button!

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Frozen solid. Stuck during the embedded video on how to use and enjoy this MP3 player.

Did get to briefly listen to the FM radio prior to freeze up and sound was actually pretty good. Never got to load songs into it as it froze and there was no way to shut it down or reboot it.

Can not confidently recommend this item.

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this is a GREAT mp3 player it is not cheap it is good for children 2!! BUY THIS ITEAM it is worth EVER DIME!!!! [[ASIN:B0076E2DHQ Ematic EM638VIDGR Touch Screen MP3 Video Player with 5MP Camera with LED Flash and Video Recording]

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Em uma semana já estava com o produto. Produto bom. Pena que não lê pdf. Conversão de arquivos é rápida.

Pros Looks and sounds good on paper // realatively inexpensive

Consset up is lousy/ on screen buttons too small for how no accurate the touch scrren is // reaction time is slow

I bought 3 ematic products for christmas gifts after receiving them and opening them returned them all. They simply were note worth the trouble, eventhough they were not that expensive. Mysuggestion look up Ipod on craigslist

Philips LFH048800B - Pocket Memo 488 Slide Switch Mini Cassette Dictation Recorder

• Activation/Review Functions - Cue & Review, Quick Review, Slide Switch, Voice Activation
• Audible Scan - Yes
• Batteries Required - 2 AA (included)
• Cassette Size - Mini Cassette
• Catalog Publishing Type - Transcriber/Dictation Machines-Cassette

We needed one these in our office. We already had a number of digital units but one partner still prefers the tape style. The recorder came with decent faux leather case, a wired microphone and wrist strap. Sometimes old technology is still better.

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Spy Mp3 Video Camera Inside a Music Player Mini Camcorder Connect to Tv or Computer Hidden Digital

Pros: Good Video, Good Sound, Easy To Use (Once you read the iunstructions several Times)

Cons: Information too Poor to set the Actual Date on the Camera. I Had to google a little and finally found a good video on You Tube that explain Everithing you can see it here,

I was very excited about this product. Unfortunately once I received it didn't work. I had all ready read bad reviews on this product but I thought I wouldn't happen to me but it did. Customer service was great I got my money back without any hassles!

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Directions are not the best but regardless I found some on the internet and I still could never get it to work. I have sent it back for a refund.

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Coby MP-C855 MP3 Player with 512 MB flash Memory, FM Radio & USB Drive

• Compact digital MP3 player with 512 MB of integrated flash memory
• Stores up to 8 hours of MP3 and 16 hours of WMA music; direct USB plug
• Built-in FM tuner; digital voice recorder with integrated microphone
• High-contrast LCD display; supports DRM-10 online subscription services
• Measures 3.58 x 1.1 x 0.75 inches (W x H x D); 90-day warranty

I didn't have very high expectations since this MP3 player was under $30, however it has been very reliable and easy to use. A great starter MP3 player for a teenager or someone nearly 40 like me who is finally buying one.

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As the mother of two teenage daughters I have been on the purchasing end of MP3 players. After observing their enjoyment I decided that I too needed one. The price is great and this player is really easy to operate (even for a forty-something year old mom!).

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I Brought this for my nephew, and i'm glad to report there are no problems with this player. When i first got it i was testing it out at work, where i'm located in the basement of the building, i don't even get cell phone reception down here, but i was able to pick up radio stations with little static. I also love the lcd diplay, this was i good buy.

The only thing is that it's sort of difficult to get back to the main menu when you are in fm mode.

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This is my first MP3 player, and I've had my COBY MPC855 for about 2 yrs.

The first thing I was surprised was that the sound quality was so good.

Amazing for a small device.

And the supplied earbuds are not only comfortable, they provide impressively good fidelity.

So good for music and digital FM is handy, too, works fine as do the presets and equalizer functions.

I'm a reporter, and was surprised to find that the voice recorder's quality was not only good enough to record an interview simply by placing it on the table in front of the interviewees, it was also good enough to use for a Podcast. Impressive!

Takes a little getting used to moving through the files, but after a little practice, becomes second nature.

PROS:

Nice sound, with several equalizer settings.

Great voice recording!

Does well with AAA battery.

Direct USB is very handy versus using a cable, and option to use as "jump drive" is neat.

CONS:

I've had trouble with downloaded purchased protected Windows Media tracks, can't get them to play. Otherwise I'd give this 5 stars.

Ripped tracks drag-and-drop seamlessly using Sync in Windows Media Player, couldn't be easier.

Flimsy buttons?

The back button on mine has become stuck, maybe it was my fault when I used it in rapid succession and held it down too hard.

My buttons are white and stick up from the top, doesn't look like the image on this page,so maybe it's a previous gen model?

And maybe the sound level doesn't go high enough? But plenty for my 50-yr old ears.

Other than that, no complaints, and has provided 2 yrs of great performance. For around $25, a solid starter, gift, or second MP3.

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I've had this a week and love it. It was a little hard to copy songs to it at first but once I figured it out it was very simple. I have used it for 16 hours on one battery without any problems.

Samsung DC164 DVD Camcorder with 33x Optical Zoom

I bought this a week ago. A few things to mention...the indoor recording with low lighting is horrible. DVD's actually look like a movie recorded from the 80's. I opened my blinds and turned all the lights on and it's perfect but that was the middle of the day when the sun was out. There is no night time recording on this. Everything looks dark. I used the DVD -R's. These work fine...you don't have to format it. You do have to finalize the disc...takes about 2 seconds and you are done. I had the Samsung MiniDV camcorder..quality is about the same...zoom is much better on this one. I like the idea of having my disc's ready to watch. I haven't had a problem with the battery but am still disappointed after spending nearly $400 for a camcorder and cannot record indoors if it's dark outside.

UPDATE 02/06/07 I returned this for the SONY DVD108. Main reason was because for $20 more this camcorder comes with a great niteshot light. The Samsung did not record well indoors with low lighting. Majority of my home videos are of Christmas morning (when it's dark outside) and my kids playing in the living room. Unless it was the middle of the day and I could open the curtains and blinds it wouldn't record well. The Sony DVD108 is much better for the same price. Also the SONY DVD108 has a 40X optical zoom. The man at Best Buy said that optical zoom is almost unheard of. He also said Samsung uses plastic for their lens...Sony uses glass which makes the picture clearer. The zoom on the SONY is fantastic. If you are looking for a camcorder within the $400 price range look at the SONY DVD108 you'll be glad you did. Also I was able to use the DVD -R's on the SONY DVD108 as well and they work fine. The SONY also has a touch screen menu unlike the Samsung.

Although some of the reviews are positive, please do not take a chance with this model. I purchased it in April, and have had only one disc (the first one) be able to finalize. After a few calls to tech support, I have been given no explanation,but was told the following each timeI called when it would not finalize a disc: 1) "I am not sure why, but maybe you had a bad disc " (I agreed, there was a possibility since it was the first time) 2)"I don't know, but at least you can still recover the information to your disc-burner on your PC (I agree, but why the heck would I want to continue to do this, I could do this with my old 8mm camcorder, but at least I did not loose the video) 3)AND I QUOTE " Oh, Rdon't need to be finalized, you can just drop it in a DVD player, and if it doesn't work, try another dvd player." (Anyone with any sense knows this is totally wrong, and this woman had no ability to be giving out technical advice.) (I simply said okay, but let her know that the main reason I was calling was to document the failure of this device.

I attempted to try a different brand of Rdisc, (originally used FUJI, now MAXELL)and after recording almost a full disc, it now reads a "NO DISC" error, and fails to even recognize it. SO LONG MEMORIES !!! There is no way to recover this, since it doesn't even read the disc to transfer to my PC. I am now in the process of gathering up all of the parts and documentation of all of my trouble, plus all of the bad reviews, and head to battle Circuit City for a refund (Somehow, I think I will be out $400 !!!)

As for the earlier review: WHERE DO YOU READ THAT RIS NOT COMPATABLE ?(IT IS LISTED ON PAGE 10 !!!) WHERE DID YOU READ TO NOT OPEN THE DOOR ? I SURE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.....

Buy Samsung DC164 DVD Camcorder with 33x Optical Zoom Now

I read these reviews after i had purchased this camera. I was very afraid of the results. After a weekend of use i could not find a reason to hate the camera. I was able to finalize and unfinalize my dvd-rw many times during testing without any issues. I will say in low light it does not record as well, you can play with the settings and find what works best, this is a issue with all or most cameras. Anyone with issues can also try the firmware upgrade with fixes compatibly issues with DVD types (perhaps the reason the 1st 2 reviews were not +)

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This is the first product I have ever purchased from Samsung and have been dissatisfied with. It is a very expensive piece of The videos are fuzzy at best, there is absolutely no taking videos in dimly lit areas and the digital camera photos come out looking like black and white photos.

You must change the settings from inside and outside constantly and the color is mediocre at best.

I also had disc errors. Anything recorded prior to the disc error you lose. Can be quite frustrating especially if your recording a special event.

I would actually give this product ZERO stars but that isn't an option.

It is worth returning to best buy and losing the 15% restocking fee. Spend an extra $200 and buy something a little more than the low end DVD camcorder.

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1 disk recorded fine, second disk could not finalize, and recorder would freeze up. Had to remove battery to restore. Third recording attempt (3rd disk) I continued to get disk errors, and had to wait minutes for recovery. No I wasn't jumping up and down, I was highly stationary.

Software/Hardware doesn't allow for easy recorded data transfer to hard drive (USB). Data capture of recorded data crashed about 70% through every attempt (USB). Gave up an copied from mini DV through DVD burner.

Tried to return for exchange or money back, but Best Buy would not accommodate the request 3 days after the return policy. I feel like I have a expensive peice of junk Samsung will only service it. I really don't want this product, and wouldn't recommed it obviously based on experience.

Gino 4 Channels Video Audio Synchronization Recording DVR Card

need to build out of kernel module tw68.

has 2 chips with different IRQs.

Using zoneminder i am getting 4fps with 4 channels, 640x480 NTSC, YUYV, mdetect.

Need to skip 1 frame or I get lines in video.

No audio support. Video seems normal.

Dell poweredge PE2650 Dual 2.4, 3GB. debian, 2.4.32 , Load 17%.

Classic DVR1000 DVD Recorder/Player , Silver

• DVD player/recorder with DVD+R/+RW recording (1 to 4 hours on single-sided 4.7 GHz media); playback of DVD-R/-RW, MP3 CD, and Kodak Picture CD
• Progressive-scan playback renders seamless, flicker-free images on high-definition and HD-ready TVs
• Audio/video inputs accommodate VCRs, camcorders, cable boxes, antennas, and other AV components; offers 8-event advance programming
• Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround-sound passthrough for use with compatible AV receiver and speaker system
• Measures 17 x 2.7 x 11.4 inches (W x H x D)

I would've given the Classic DVR1000 3 stars but, after reading product reviews on even the most popular brand (and much more expensive) dvd recorders I am very grateful that I purchased this system at this time. For the moment, it seems to be up to snuff with any brand out there. Take it or leave it. It has it's pros and cons but, apparently they all do. So, until the day that one of these manufacturers REALLY, REALLY painstakingly troubleshoots all of the existing pangs out of present day recorders this CLASSIC DVR1000 will suffice for anyone interested to purchase an inexpensive and fully functional DVD Recorder. I have had limited bad experiences so far. I've had to throw away a disk or three but, from what I understand so does everyone else! What gives??? I don't know. I do know that the DVD's I have created with this recorder were crisp even utilizing the 3 hour recording mode. Imagine! 4 Disney movies on 1 DVD! I did it from my VHS tapes. Can't tell the difference. If you want to spend more to get the same results go right ahead. I wouldn't waste my money until they perfect the whole world of DVD recorders.

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I bought this dvd recorder around a year-and-a-half ago. 8 months ago the device began to malfunction and so i sent it in to classic for a warranty repair. as it turns out the device is on back-order and they will no longer be making repairs or replacements. therefore i have been in lidigation with classic for the past 8 months and they have been less than helpfull. i citanly donot recomend buying this, or any other classic product.

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This is the biggest piece of crap...period! After about two months had no sound from coaxial connection, had to use s-video and rca. Sound was still bad, but could hear it at high volumes. Soon after would no longer record from a timer program. Now I can't even get the f@#king disc out. Company is of no help and will not repair. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY on this garbage!!!

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I purchased this unit almost two years ago and have yet to make it work. My brother, who is very tech savvy, helped me set up the unit. I had very little success working with tech support. My first call was answered and I was provided some assistance Since that call, I have been unsuccessful talking to anyone. They have an answering machine, but they don't return calls. I would stronly urge anyone considering the purchase of this product to reconsider. It was an expensive and frustrating mistake.

I am a little disappointed in this dvd recorder. If you buy this product solely for recording tv shows, from camcorder, etc.., then you'll have no problems. This device is excellent for that. The remote control and menu screens are very easy, and it records in great quality.

However, I have had this particular recorder for over a year and a half. It has already stopped playing my store-bought dvds. It'll play my recorded dvds alright. Also, it's picky about the speed of your disc. So, watch out for that. I think it'll only play/record up to a 4x.

So, I give it 5 stars if you purely want to record. I give it 1 star if you want to watch your dvds (for the exception of recorded dvds). It just gives a blank picture, and the dvd player starts making a grinding noise. I have not bothered contacting Classic for any help. I think the warranty is expired, and I heard rumors that they give the ol' 'runaround' about replacing or repairing this particular player.

JVC XV-511BK DVD Player

• Dolby Digital and DTS compatible
• Component video outputs
• Optical digital-audio output
• 24-bit audio D/A converter
• Special effects include digest, strobe, zoom

I have had this player for a year and a half now and must say that i have been very pleased with the basic performance of the unit. The picture is more than acceptable, and the sound is above average for an entry-level unit. The problem with the unit is that it has a real problem with layer switching. Patton, Matrix, and Nightmare on elm street are three movies that have all given me problems. The service from JVC is also poor, and many of the problems that i have had do not exist according to them. The only other problem i had is the remote, which has a joystick the the enter key incorporated.. so pushing enter can be difficult and annoying. All in all.. it's a good entry unit. But if you want a more consistant player with better support, you can do better.

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I've owned a JVC XV-511BK DVD player for five months and we've watched numerous movie rentals without one single glitch. The picture quality is excellent connected to a Sony 32-inch TV with an S-video cable. The sound is also excellent using a ProLogic system with Infinity Studio Monitors.

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I recently purchased this DVD player through an online auction and was naturally somewhat skeptical. However I discovered that this is a great buy. The picture quality is very sharp. It does a great job with audio CDs too. The best feature of this DVD player is definitely its connectivity. It has both analog stereo and digital(optical) outputs as well as an S-Video output. It was trivial to hook this up to my existing equipment. However if you have an older model TV you may need to purchase a modulator to convert the DVD signal. A common complaint is that this is only a single disc player but that hardly matters given the features and overall usefulness of this unit.

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This was my first DVD player and in many ways the begining of a new video era for me. At the time I had a 32" Sony analog set with no digital inputs and not a clue about most of the DVD terminology, progressive scan, interlaced, it all sounded like the adults from the Peanuts cartoons to me.

It was by luck that I chose this particular player which is still working perfectly after more than 2 years of regular use. In fact, it's the only component in my video system which I haven't upgraded. My 32" Sony was less than a year old when I replaced it with a 34" Sampo HDTV monitor which now serves as the centerpiece of my system which also includes an HD cable box, a DV VCR, a ReplayTV unit, an external line doubler and digital surround receiver.

I've spent more hours researching current and future video technology than I could possibly count and while I'm not an expert I know a lot about all things video. I know enough that people pay me to help them set up their systems or sometimes just for my advice. I'm not saying this to be arrogant since I'm the first to admit that there's a lot I don't know.

I'm saying this to show that anyone who is willing to take the time can learn about the equiptment they own which often leads to solving problems quickly and easily without even a call to customer service. I've read several posts and reviews from people who have encountered problems with newer discs on this player and therefore gave it terrible reviews. I too encountered the same problem but solved it in under 15 minutes using instructions provided by JVC on their website.

This is a top notch player for anyone looking for a non Progressive sacan player. It's easy to use and offers digital audio output, interlaced comonent video output as well as DTS and many other features not found on lower-end players. There is even a very simple way to convert this player to region-free or to any region if you need to do so and there is no limit to the number of times this change can be made.

I would recommend this player without hesitation. I've never once regretted my decision to purchase this unit and that's after wathing hundreds of movies over several years.

User reviews are extremely valuable but it's important to remember that they are only as good as the user who writes them.

After I got out of college, I had most of the basic electronic leisure appliances; TV, Stereo, Radio, others. Then I remembered DVDs. I had to get one of those, I thought. After looking around on the internet and in stores, I found that this would be the best buy. Boy was I right. I now have a growing DVD collection, and I watch them all on this amazing JVC single-disc player maybe three to four times a week. The only two other DVD players I've ever watched movies on were my uncle's and my friend's, and I'd say this one far surpasses those two. The sound is great and the picture seems much better than either of those. I am able to pause and play the movie well, and I have no complaints. Like I said, this is my first DVD player, but I think it's one of the best I've seen. And what a price! Under $300.00 for this masterpiece of a home entertainer. It's a great buy.

Sony AC-L200 AC Adapter for A, P & F Series Info Lithium Batteries

The adapter is smaller in size than the original and fits better in our camera case, but works just as well. I had been hesitant to order it, since the price was quite a bit lower than purchasing it directly from Sony, but there appears no difference in the product. It works great!

Performs exactly as advertised, allowing you to charge the battery without removing it, and run the camera without draining the battery.

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I ordered the Sony AC-L200 AC Adapter to replace one I had lost. The adapter worked perfectly with my digital recorder. I highly recommend this product.

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I purchased this adapter as a replacement for the original. The first one lasted less than a year and the second one less than six months. Each time the plastic connector on the end that plugs into the camera fell apart. I do plug the camera in about once a week, but this seems to be shoddy workmanship. The only reason I didn't give it one star is because it seemed to work fine before the connectors fell apart.

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This Sony AC adapter has two parts: one part has the powerpack (the blackbox), the other part is a wire that plugs into the powerpack. The powerpack is by Sony, as advertised. However the wire is NOT the wire that Sony provides. The Sony wire has one squared prong, which fits into the squared hole on the powerpack. This wire does has two round prongs, not a squared prong. Probably still works, but NOT AS ADVERTISED. When I order a Sony product, I expect the Sony product!

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Handspring Visor Neo (Smoke)

The Visor NEO is practically identical to the Visor Deluxe, except it comes with a processor that is twice as fast. Because the Palm software is so efficient, that speed is rarely an issue, and you can save a bit by getting the cheaper Deluxe.

All Handspring models run variations of the Palm operating system, and have all of the PALM functions people have come to know and love -addresses, to-do lists, and access to downloadable features like Avantgo (a free service that allows you to download publications like the New York Times, CNN, Sports Illustrated onto your Palm).

I've even put a free map of my county on my PDA from Mapopolis.com (a must if you haven't tried it! Streets are searchable). Also, make sure you add Vindigo, a city guide that gives restaurant and movie reviews and showtimes.

The Handspring models have the best features for the money. They have a noticeably larger screen than the m105 (which I returned after a week), expandability (which I have yet to use, although I long for the GPS attachment from Magellan -maybe when it goes on clearance?)

These models only get four stars, however, because they do have two significant shortcomings.

One is bulk. The low-end Deluxe and Neo are significantly larger than the Palm V, which is significantly more expensive.

The PDA still fits in my chest pocket, though.

Also, unlike the Palm V, 500 and 505, the Deluxe and Neo require new batteries after about two weeks of relatively heavy usage. That can amount to $20 a year or so on batteries alone. The Palm V has a lithium rechargeable, and the new Palm 500 has an even better battery, but I can't justify paying that kind of money for what is still basically, at heart, an appointment calendar.

BTW, I am a newspaper reporter who previously had four Rolodexes on my desk. No longer. No longer do I misplace names, numbers, or dates. This thing has changed and organized my life in ways I didn't expect -just ask my wife.

It's basically an extension of your brain -now isn't that worth a couple hundred smackers?

The Visor NEO is practically identical to the Visor Deluxe, except it comes with a processor that is twice as fast. Because the Palm software is so efficient, that speed is rarely an issue, and you can save a bit by getting the cheaper Deluxe.

All Handspring models run variations of the Palm operating system, and have all of the PALM functions people have come to know and love -addresses, to-do lists, and access to downloadable features like Avantgo (a free service that allows you to download publications like the New York Times, CNN, Sports Illustrated onto your Palm).

I've even put a free map of my county on my PDA from Mapopolis.com (a must if you haven't tried it! Streets are searchable). Also, make sure you add Vindigo, a city guide that gives restaurant and movie reviews and showtimes.

The Handspring models have the best features for the money. They have a noticeably larger screen than the m105 (which I returned after a week), expandability (which I have yet to use, although I long for the GPS attachment from Magellan -maybe when it goes on clearance?)

These models only get four stars, however, because they do have two significant shortcomings.

One is bulk. The low-end Deluxe and Neo are significantly larger than the Palm V, which is significantly more expensive.

The PDA still fits in my chest pocket, though.

Also, unlike the Palm V, 500 and 505, the Deluxe and Neo require new batteries after about two weeks of relatively heavy usage. That can amount to $20 a year or so on batteries alone. The Palm V has a lithium rechargeable, and the new Palm 500 has an even better battery, but I can't justify paying that kind of money for what is still basically, at heart, an appointment calendar.

BTW, I am a newspaper reporter who previously had four Rolodexes on my desk. No longer. No longer do I misplace names, numbers, or dates. This thing has changed and organized my life in ways I didn't expect -just ask my wife.

It's basically an extension of your brain -now isn't that worth a couple hundred smackers?

Buy Handspring Visor Neo (Smoke) Now

Returned a visor deluxe within 30 days for the neo and paid a bit more but glad that i did. On some applications it's faster, the graphics look a little "crisper" and easier to read and new o/s has some small improvements. Downside is that the case is a "slicker" plastic that feels more slippery so i put dots of rubbery glue (goop or silicon sealant) on the back and sides and now prefer the way it feels and it's less likely to slide or fall from a smooth surface. Overall i like the visor, believe that it's a better value than the palm pilot and find the palm o/s and all available freeware and shareware very useful, full of excellent reference information, and very user friendly. i use mine a lot and understand why it's so popular. The neo has enough small improvements over the visor deluxe for about $30 more that i believe it would be worth it for the semi-power user, someone who will be loading many applications or someone to whom the slightly better screen resolution matters.

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I bought this PDA after researching similar models, namely the Palm m105 and the Sony CLIE. The display on the Visor Neo is bigger and sharper than the Palm's and it takes little effort to push the buttons. As far as expandibity goes, no handheld comes close to matching the myriad of different expansion modules available for the Visor. In addition to being hipper looking than other PDAs, it's very lightweight and fits easily in my jeans pocket.

The other factor affecting my decision to purchase the Visor Neo model was that it runs on AAA batteries. They don't tell you this when you buy your handheld, but most handhelds that use rechargable lithium ion batteries need to sent back to the manufacturer after about 2 years to have the battery replaced. This little service can cost $$$, almost what you'd paid for the PDA itself! I use Rayovac rechargable alkalines in my Visor Neo which I can reuse up to 50 times. It can easily go over a month without needing to replace the batteries. Even if you use regular disposable batteries, it's still cheaper in the long run.

Only downside I can think of is that the backlight isn't very useful unless you're working in total darkness and the OS isn't upgradable. Also, the screen can scratch easily so make sure you cover it with a thin piece of clear vinyl (available at fabric stores). Overall, this is a fabulous unit for the price and I'd recommend it anyone looking for a reasonably priced PDA.

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I've had the original Visor for about 1.65 years (nice, black plastic that feels like that of a TV remote, 2MB of RAM, Palm OS 3.1, 4 shades of grayscale, 50% slower processor than the Neo) and the Visor Neo purple (I don't care if it says blue on the box, everytime I look at it, I see purple/indigo) for about 5 months now. I primarily made the upgrade to a Neo over the original mostly due to the extra RAM and faster processor. The new version of the OS and continuing Springboard compatibility were additional plusses. Finally, It was priced cheaper than what my Visor had cost, had free shipping, and came with a free promotional nylon carry-case (the one with the big zipper, 1 big pocket for your handheld, 2 mini-pockets for any Springboard modules, and a little room left over to squeeze something else, like a set of headphones).

Here's my detailed breakdown of the Neo:

Palm OS: If you've ever played around with a Palm OS before, then you gotta admire its simplicity. There's Very little micro managing, relatively low problems, and has thousands of applications available. This platform is also used by 75% 90% of the handheld community, so unless they're sticking with their cell phones, you'll be able to freely-exchange software, contact info, and variety of other things. Unless you're hardcore on viewing video, listening to mp3s, or other heavy multi-media tasks, PalmOS should suit you fine.

Exterior: has that "cheap, greasy plastic" feel in where fingerprints and body oils smudge very easily on it. Would-have been nice if there was an alternative to this, but I've gotten used to this. Having a snap cover as opposed to a flip cover means that you'll need 2 hands to open/close it, but I've gotten used to this too. They're 3 different colors, mine being opaque/translucent, lighter-colored ones being more transparent/translucent. If your cover is also clean, you'll be able to see your screen without removing the cover, which can be convenient due to what I've mentioned previously.

HotSync/Palm Desktop: Easy setup, easy to use. Backs up your handheld, lets you enter data onto PC and sync it over to your handheld, as well as new software. It'd be nice if it displayed important notices more clearly, such as same files being duplicated because of different information from HotSyncing. Currently, you need to go through the logs to pinpoint this. All in all very well done (with a backup module to provide fail-safe if something should go wrong)

Screen: Grayscale does look ugly next to a color screen and/or higher resolution screen, but you do get your "returns" with a less expensive and less power draining PDA. For me, it would've been nice to view pictures, maps, and games in color, but the grayscale gets the job done quite adequately. Pressure detection on the screen produced minimal concerns, as several times I would miss when I try to click on very small targets, although it may have been like that because I miscallibrated the detection accuracy.

Battery life: the 2 AAA alkalines last me about 2 weeks when I do an hour of gaming or other heavy use a day, while over 3.5 weeks with more mild usage of daily lookups and small notetaking. If this is a concern for you, nickel cadium batteries should save you money. Even though Handspring doesn't recommend this, it's moreso a battery guage monitoring issue than performance/damage-wise.

Reliability: As of with my Neo, I never had any fatal problems. Certain times I had to soft reset because of missing files for some applications caused errors that prompted me to do so, but I never had any information losses, freezes, or crashes. With my original Visor however, loading tons of games or something caused it to "downward spiral". This is where day-by-day, the performance and operation gets noticeably worse (like Win 98 from when you first use it fresh from a reformatted hard drive to4 years later when you need to reboot the damn thing 2-12x a day). Soft-resetting my old Visor temporarily solved this problem for a few days at a time, but ultimately a hard reset (purging all of your data) was required to, yet again, Temporarily remedy this problem. Tech support (NOT a toll-free number BTW) was kind enough to promptly send me a replacement (but first sending me an actual return box to put the defective handheld in. Procedures.... humph).

Springboard: Of the 2 Handspring handhelds I own, both aren't tremendously innovative compared to what the competition has to offer, but are nice values, so I'd generally recommend them to anybody. However, if you aren't going to bother dealing with them modules, I'd recommend you consider the Palm series or even a PocketPC, just to keep your options open. If you Are primarily interested in Visors for their Springboard modules, then poke around online and other places to find out more information, specifically, what modules you would use, availability, and prices. Thankfully, modules no longer cost "an arm and a leg" like they did years ago, but certain combinations of purchases can still deplete your wallet quickly. Many models of the latter 2 also have some sort of expandable data storage/backup and can even mimic the functionality that Springboard technology offers for Visors (e.g. certain Palms have wireless email/web capabilities and PocketPCs have a built in mp3 player). As for myself, I currently own 4 different kinds of modules: 8MB backup module (peace of mind for in case my PC AND my Visor BOTH fail), 16MB Hagiwara flash memory (expandable storage for databases, Ebooks, and games), a 2MB flash memory + "silent" vibrating alarm (for the limited amount of memory and also being cheap), and the SoundsGood mp3 player I managed to find on Amazon Marketplace (I plan on getting a REAL mp3 player soon, but this novelty item does come in handy for when I don't lug the player around).

Pyle Home PDH14 14-Inch Portable TFT/LCD Monitor with Built-In DVD Player MP3/MP4/USB SD Card Slot

• 14'' High Resolution TFT LCD Screen with adjustable viewing angles; screen rotation - Wireless Full Function remote Control
• Compatible with DVD/DVD-R/DVD-RW/VCD/MP3/MP4/CD-R/CD-RW/JPEG/DIVX/AVI/MPG/VOB Formats - ID3 Tag Compatible
• High Resolution: 1366 x 768 - Support USB Key/SD/MMC MS Card
• RCA Audio/Video Line Inputs; Output - Supports Multi Regional PAL/NTSC
• Built-In Rechargeable Battery Power Source for Portable on the Go Enjoyment of Music; Video Average Battery Life 2 hours - Dimensions: 14.56" x 10.23" x 1.96"

The Pyle Home PDH14 plays DVDs nicely, with great clarity and the size is large enough that several people can watch together without being huddled around it in a tight semicircle. For those exclusive characteristics, I would give 5 stars.

However, this is a PORTABLE DVD PLAYER, and must be evaluated as such. After the initial charge (took several hours), the player was shut down and detached from the charger. The next day, 7 hours later, I tried to use the player, but it would only turn on momentarily, then shut immediately off. After several attempts, I realized the battery was nearly dead. It would play unremarkably while connected to the AC adapter, except the remote wouldn't work (more on that later). So, I referred to the owner's manual again, and discovered that there is a switch on the right side of the player that must be in the off position in addition to shutting it off with the standard power button (momentary switch, circle with line through it icon). So I reconnected the charger, waited until it indicated it was again fully charged, and powered the player down ensuring the side switch was also off. Three hours later, I powered the player up only to discover the battery was nearly dead again!? After repeating this cycle two more times, it became apparent that the battery was not going to hold a charge, or there was a parasitic drain on the system that would not allow it to be unplugged for more than a short while without discharging. Bottom line: when immediately played after disconnecting adapter, the player could be watched untethered to a wall outlet for 57 minutes--SCRATCH PORTABLE FROM THIS PLAYER.

Second problem with the player I received was the remote was inoperable. Albeit, a minor problem with this player since no control features were exclusive to the remote, and all could be accesses through the player's MENU interface. It should be noted the player did not come with batteries; so, I installed new batteries, ensured correct polarity, and... nothing. With batteries in remote, I tested voltage into the remote and it was 3.31 volts. I then viewed the remote's LED while operating with my IR camera that visually reveals function of remotes--also nothing. At that point, I didn't bother attempting to further disassemble the remote (split the case) as the major problem with the player's ability to be portable had already been discovered.

In all honesty, had the player worked as stated regarding portability (been able to watch a full movie while not connected to a wall receptacle), I would have overlooked the bad remote. I contacted the selelr (Quality Car Audio), repackaged, and return-shipped at my expense, and was refunded the price of the player. I've since read more than a handful of reviews stating remotes weren't working. I'm always looking for a good deal and I'm very pragmatic/frugal--but this Pyle Home PDH14 DVD Player wasn't it. I cannot recommend the PDH14 based on my experience with it.

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HUGE CRISP SCREEN!!! ***The BEST portable DVD player out there ! LOVE all the functionscomes with everything!... Nice & solid ,swivels to any angle-SUPERIOR qualitycan't believe I never heard of PYLE b4 ! WoW !!! U will certainly be impressed !!!:)

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Fun little DVD player! It hooks my train ride up with action, comedy and basically helps me time-travel through my commute. You can use a DVD with it, or a USB thumb drive if you so choose, it does both. Has great battery life, often lasting for two days before I give it a recharge. Charges fully in about an hour. Great for the hour commute each day. The remote control is a fully functional one, meaning you can select any menu feature with it that you can directly on the unit.

The compact size is perfect. Very lightweight, and folds flat around the size of a laptop. Very dependable.

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I thought it was pretty light but works great. don't know how long the battery will last. I do wish there was more volume out.

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I just traveled from NY to Brazil with 4 kids and AA airlines do not offer any videos for kids. This was the smartest idea to take with this DVD player. The battery like is like all DVD players about 3 hours. I also bought an external battery for extra life. The unit is very clear and good quality. The good thing about this is that I put on some family videos on a USB drive and they watched those videos as well. Overall I think this is a great product especially for the price. I like the idea you can tilt the unit monitor. The unit also comes with a strap to add to a car headrest but I did not try it yet.I also bought a external battery pack that works great with this product Lenmar DVDU923 Universal Li-Ion Battery for Select Portable DVD Players (Electronics).For long flights this is a great help

Canon XL2 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom, Standard definition

O.K. I have been taking a beating from camera rental houses this past year, so when I needed to finish a project that was dragging on and forcing me too shoot on many different days, I said "what the heck", and put down the money for the XL2. I was a reluctant buyer not excited at all about buying a DV camera. I was ready to be disappointed by another crappy and expensive DV camera.

Two months later, I'm glad I bought it, and I'd say that it is the best prosumer DV camera out there, period.

Here are some of the positives and negatives about the camera based on experience.

Positives:

1) Clean signal: While not as good as something like the Sony DSR 500 its a cleaner signal than the VX2000, PD150, and the Panasonic DVX100a. Of all the DV cameras I've shot on I like the XL2's signal the best.

2) Interlacing: I've shot a great deal on Sony cameras. Especially the DSR 500, and The Sony image is always funky, the interlacing is always visible specifically in details like hair and what not. Even with all the menus set properly by a great DP the Sony cameras always have a very hard and interlaced look. Even When shooting in 60i mode The XL2 does not have this and it handles fine details better than the Sony cameras I am used to.

3) Buttons and menus: The design of the button lay out and menus is very good. If you have shot on the Panasonic DVX100a you will really enjoy how the canon is laid out, you don't have to go deep into the menus for every shot on the XL2. The one really bad decision was putting the film grain and color bars on the same button. THAT was a mistake. Why they hell does this camera have a film grain button anyway?

4) BNC output: A small but really helpful addition to the XL2 is that it has a BNC out. For anyone who knows how those BNC to RCA adopters tend to fall off or get lost its about time that a pro-sumer camera included this simple thing for people who use an external monitor.

5) The custom menus:

For professionals: If you have shot on pro cameras you will naturally look at the custom menus as a joke, a pro-sumer "toy". I won't try to tell you that they aren't a "toy" But they do actually work! Which is a great surprise. I have used the camera on sets and on outdoor documentary sports shoots. I find than things like the black stretch and the knee work and are helpful, they are not like what you find on a Beta camera for example but they are a lot better than what else you can find for the money.

For Consumers: This camera comes with a lot of features that you won't use if you are a point and shoot, "Let the camera do it for me" kind of person. However, if you are willing to learn or interested in videography, you will find these features interesting and with a little practice down right useful.

6) Color features:

To the professionals: These work too, you don't get very deep control of the color gain and the RGB settings but you get some and they work pretty well, which is saying a lot for a camera under $5,000! I am developing a preference for shooting with the color gain and RGB settings set pretty high and then pulling them down in color correction, if necessary. Desaturating in post using after effects gives great results, but it has not been necessary all that often, and I'd rather take the color out rather than trying to put it back in.

For the consumers: The color controls are better than on any other camera you are thinking about, most of which will have none. The XL2 gives you noticable control over the saturation of the colors as well as how much red, green and blue you see in the image.

7) Sound: I don't know what it is, if its the mic or the signal processing but the XL2 has better quality sound than you would expect from a DV camera out of the box. Use a real mic and the results are great.

Negatives:

too many rip off artists trying to sell this camera. Purchase the camera only from a trusted and well known retailer, no exceptions, you will get ripped off.

1) The lens:

For Pros: You don't want this lens since it has no witness marks etc. Buy the body without the lens and put on the 16X manual servo zoom. It will cost a bit more but it will be worth it if you need any percision in your shooting.

For consumers: The standard lens is better than any other lens out there, I think you'll find shooting with it a good experience .

2) The eyepiece:

For consumers: If you are a consumer don't worry about it, its fine. Its only an issue in specific cases that pros encounter because of they way they shoot.

For pros: Its REALLY hard to make focusing decisions with the eyepiece that comes in the box. Its not so bad for run and gun doc work but if you are doing dramatic work or pulling focus you'll want to Upgrade or always use a monitor.

3) Its still DV: This is a really great camera for what it is, but you are still shooting DV, and you can run but you can't hide from all the inherent problems of the format.

4) Using the FIRE WIRE: WARNING!!!!! if you use Lacie external firewire drives, among others, the XL2 does not place nice with other devices in the fire wire chain. To log footage from the camera onto your computer you may have to turn off your external drives to do it. This is a for sure with Lacie drives. For many users this will mean either buying larger internal drives or capturing footage to an internal drive with the externals turned off and then transferring the footage later.

The professional should keep in mind:

1) The 24 and 30p frame rates: Naturally the XL2 does not output a true 24 or 30 frame rate. The camera gives you the choice of pull-down you want and then you can remove it in post. If you are going to true 24p output you have the option of 2:3:3:2 pull down, which seems to work without problems with Cinema Tools.

2) All the weight of the camera is at the front so its having a shoulder pad is not that helpful, since most of the weight is on your hand anyway.

3) It may be user error but on the last shoot I directed that used the XL2 there were some strange time code things happening. The DP (who I trust completely) was pre-setting the TC as is usually done but on some tapes the TC changed from the pre-set hour back to hour 0 at some point in the tape. Was this due to battery changes or something else? Who knows? The TC should never do this so I have no Idea why it happened but it obviously effects postproduction and makes generating an EDL impossible.

4) Assuming that you don't have the cash for an Anton Bauer upgrade, The BP-945 batteries are good, they last a long time. So with two of them, the battery that comes with the camera, and the 910 charge you are in great shape and will be able to shoot continuously no problem. If you are shooting in the field you will get 10+ hours of camera time out of these three batteries before you need to recharge.

5) The Pelican 1600 case is a little small if you want to break the camera down all the way. A bigger case is not a bad idea.

Let me just say straight up that this would be a five star camera if the price was $1,000 less.

I do not claim to be an expert on high quality digital camcorders. I've just dome some reasearch and thought some whould be interested in my opinion.

This is the best picture quality semi-pro (between $6000 and $1500) camcorder availiable. Many think that this also will be the last of the semi-pro cameras to come out before the whole format switches to High Definition. The reason why the XL2 has been getting bad reviews on some websites is not because of the camera's quality but because just about all of the press and many professional videographers were expecting the XL2 to have high definition instead of progressive scan.

The progressive scan quality of the XL22 is more than many will ever need, including myself. Unless one can afford a top quality TV that plays high definition you'll never see the difference between XL2's picture and a HD picture. Not to mention that all of the a computer editing programs whith a reasonable price do not support high definition yet.

Currently the only camera that can compete with the XL2 is the PanasonicDVX100A it has slightly poorer picture quality (almost unnoticable) and it shares the nearly magical 24f and 30f progressive scan modes. It make what you shoot look like a movie. When you watch these modes for the firt time you won't be able to decribe the difference it makes but you will see it and fall in love.

The reason why I chose the CanonXL2 over the DVX100a is because no camera currently on the market comes close to having the XL2's number of manual features and selection of lenses. This camera is for people wanting to experiment with the visual style of filmmaking, trying to acheive art on the screen.

For those who are looking for a high quality camera that is less hands on and more automatic (something you can pull out and instantly get great picture) and are not intrested in digital film as an artform but one of those who just wants to get the best picture for family events and weddings the PanasonicDVX100A would be a better choice as it is an easier camcorder to learn and has picture quality that nearly matches the XL2, not to mention it is $1500 cheaper depending on where you look.

I'll stick with my CanonXL2, though, as I hope to join the film buisness one day and I need the freedom of manual features this camera offers.

I welcome an oposing opinion.

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This is an excellent camera definately worth the $5000. However, if you see a seller selling it brand new for less than $3000 beware. Watch out for anyone asking to be emailed before hand or anyone wanting western union or any kind of Escrow service. Be absoultely positive before sending any payment.

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Now, some individuals will try to convince you the XL2 is a poor Prosumer camcorder and will give seemingly good arguments. Don't buy into it.

For instance, a reviewer lower down this page complains the camera arrived broken and thus reviews it as a horrible machine. Unfortunately, this said reviewer doesn't talk about the actual functionality of an actual undamaged product, rather his own broken camera. Needless to say, his opinion is vastly slanted.

Another compares the XL2 to the DVX100 series from Panasonic and prefers the latter. He states the XL2 is too heavy and doesn't achieve the same calibre results as the cheaper Panasonic camcorder.

First of all, Canon has continued to revolutionize the photography industry for decades. They have proven themselves in both film and digital formats, for both still camera and camcorder. True, the XL2 lacks some features other more expensive cameras have (compare the JVC GU1000) but that's okay. And, yes, the camera has a very large body and is definately heavier than the Panasonic DVX100, but this is for specific reasons.

You have to first consider why you want a prosumer camcorder. If you just want to shoot hobby short films and want a professional look, I suggest you stick with either the higher-end Canon or JVC or Panasonic or even Sony (god forbid) consumer camcorders which run around $900. On the other hand, if you're considering becoming a serious hobbyist and don't intend to turn it into some sort of profession then Panasonic's DVX series is a good buy. The DVX 100's are cheaper, smaller, and somewhat easier to use. They are far more "point-and-shoot" than the other prosumer camcorders on the market. And they do a fairly good job.

Yet, the XL2 manages to not only hold its own, but also triumph over all other camcorders in the industry. First and foremost, the XL2 has the option to change lenses. This is a great boon for any serious shooter because attaching an actual lens to a camera gives far better results than slapping on some sort of adapter, which distort the image. Canon offers two lens types for the XL2: the included 20X zoom lens and a 3X wide angle lens; both are very expensive by themselves. But, with an optional Canon ring adapter running for $300, you could take your normal Canon SLR still camera lenses and attach them to the body and have them function perfectly. This allows the user a plethora of imaging options when shooting. Now, the normal user won't ever use anything other than the 20X zoom lens (a remarkable piece of machinery in itself), but that's just fine. You're buying the camera for its options and potentials as well as the physical benefits. Think of it like buying a BMW: you buy the car for its physical features you're likely to use (the radio, heated seats, leather, sunroof, etc.) but you also buy it for its safety and cumstomer service, things you'll hardly ever need. It just makes you feel good you have those options available.

Furthermore, the XL2 is a wonderful camera. It shoots beautifully without problems of any sort. Yes, it takes some getting used to, but that's because it has a lot of fuctions and options. The physical body design is simple enough that all the necessary shooting options (i.e., 24P, 30i, 60i, mic adjustments, white balance controls, presents, etc.) are easily accessible. The end product of a regular shoot is stunning. The Canon lens captures colors almost perfectly and the image stabilization built into the camera is a great help. The large body design (though awkward for some) is actually a benefit. The camera can be placed on the shoulder, giving greater stability to the shoot. You can't do that with a Panasonic or Sony.

No, the camera doesn't have a LCD screen on the side, but do you really need one? An LCD screen is not only distracting but also a battery hog, and takes precious room for control options or accessories that could other wise be placed where the LCD is built in. An LCD is great for consumer cameras because they're small and nobody wants to look through those one-inch viewfinders. But the XL2 has a very nice, large color viewfinder, and can be comfortably used with the camera on your shoulder. For those running hand-held shots you can flip part of the viewfinder open and can see a 1.5" LCD display. It's not dazzling or great, but it gets the job done. You're out in the field to get footage, not admire the LCD screen.

Finally, the XL2 offers XLR microphone inputs, a big bonus for people who want good sound in their video. You won't find this feature in either Panasonic or Sony prosumer camcorders.

In the end, Canon's XL2 is a beautiful camcorder. It offers you a lot more than you know at first glance, and delivers near-perfect results. The closest competitor would be the far more expensive (by at least $1000) Panasonic GU1000, which is very similar to the XL2. If you're still not sure about the camera, I suggest you take a ride down over to your nearest Fry's to experiment. Or, you can visit the local TV station and ask them to tell you a little bit about why they're all using XL2's over the other camcorders on the market. No...seriously...they are.

Go figure.

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The XL2 is truly a beautiful and desirable piece of machinery. It won't turn any aspiring filmmaker into a new Scorsese, and some of its onboard editing features seem superfluous in the age of advanced desktop editing, but for any filmmaker with a fair budget this should be a target.

Unfortunately, as many other reviewers have pointed out, there are many scam artists and scoundrels populating the Marketplace section of Amazon.com. Some match the exact profile mentioned by honest reviewers here on Amazon.com, like cumatru_urs (props to past reviewers for the heads-up). Most deals truly are too good to be true, especially the ridiculous ones, like those priced under $400. Some sellers use Amazon.com Marketplace to lure buyers, then hitting them with an email later saying they will have to pay a much higher sum and outside of the Amazon guidelines if they want to get their product.

Mbjstucki is one seller who uses this practice, and extremely rudely.

Basicallly, buying these cheap items is just an expression of interest to these sellers, not a real purchase as intended on Amazon.

BUYER BEWARE! Amazon will cover a substantial amount of your purchase, more than you'd ever buy, if you go through the official channels of Amazon. But if you conclude your purchase anywhere else, Amazon will only cover $250 of your purchase, which is understandable.

Don't be fooled by some sellers who have high feedback ratings. They can just as easily be fraudulent. Since you can only leave feedback to sellers once they've shipped your item, you have no recourse against these frauds except this review service. Your purchase will remain in limbo and these sellers will not receive negative feedback, an unfortunate flaw in the Amazon system. So ask a lot of questions, and don't allow a hint of doubt into your final purchase, as your own gut is the best radar for detecting frauds. BE AWARE