Canon ZR50MC MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, Digital Still Mode & MMC Card Slot

I work with camcorders since 1988 S-VHSC, Hi8, etc. No question, no matter what kind of digital camcorder you compare with an analog one, it is superior. However, I found this camcorder particularly interesting and bought it since I left the `semi-professional' field (and being now an electrical engineer in software development). Here are my findings:

Pro:

1) Awesome workmanship: The high-grade plastic case pieces precisely fit and give the camcorder a valuable finish, the buttons have a well defined 'ignition' point and the connectors for FireWire, USB, Analog Video etc. are 'cemented' into the case.

2) Excellent cost / feature ratio: Although following the hype of marrying video with stills, this camcorder emphasizes on video (please, do buy a digital camera if you need digital stills). The outstanding optical unit with a real 22x zoom and one of the most effective image stabilizer in the market, combined with a friendly user-interface including illuminated buttons and a clean menu, this camcorder is a bargain.

The picture quality is excellent. One note here: please remember that the miniDV standard builds on 5.7 Mhz video bandwidth. In other words, no matter what the (multi) colored CCD ship is capable of a resolution, it comes down to a maximum of 370,000 effective pixels needed for NTSC video. The 460,000 pixels of this camcorder seem more than enough.

3) Accessories: Just in case you really care about the somewhat whining recorder server motors, please do buy the optional microphone it's an awesome addition if you do semi-professional sound-recordings. Also, Canon offers wide and tele-converters specialized for the ZR series. Not a novelty in camcording in general, but a serious affordable consumer expansion if needed.

4) Internationality: Yes, there are other electrical power systems out there: the Canon switching power supply is not only very light, it also connects to almost every wall-outlet in the world with the right (optional) plug-adapter.

5) Ergonomics: Oh yes, I thought about a palm-ready camcorder, too. But think about it: the optical unit including the lenses and the CCD has to fit into half the length of a regular camcorder like the ZR 50 (Palm recorders do not have more than 10x zoom, the ZR 50 has 22x). The camcorder fits right into my hand, the zoom button can be accessed naturally without shifting the camcorder in your hand (try Sony!) and the zoom button is depth sensitive the deeper you zoom, the less sensitive is the camcorder zoom-button. Additionally, beside so many other brands out there, the digital zoom is even useable to a certain degree. It becomes affective once the optical zoom is exhausted to a 22x. However, if you want quality video, turn it off.

6) Video Modes: Select one of the predefined video modes. One of the most impressive mode is the night-mode if the moon strikes you, your ZR 50 will catch it. However, don't expect wonders, every serious video-grapher recommends at least 100 lux (a unit of measuring light-intensity).

Con:

I couldn't find a con so far maybe the sound-quality the integrated microphone produces? Hm, given the size of the case, it seems reasonable...

Yeah, I am enjoying this camcorder. Canon showed once again that a camcorder design can meet almost all of a consumer-customer's needs:

Rich functionality, lightweight design, extensible through optional accessories including lenses, robust workmanship.

Recommended!

I purchased the ZR50 6 weeks ago. The ZR50 is my fourth Canon Camcorder (the most recent one a Hi8 with optical image stabilization). My goal with the ZR50 was to be able to get into digital editing, especially since I recently upgraded computers to a 1.8GHz P4 with 512M RAM and firewire ports. Here are the results so far-

1) Motor noise pickup Yes, it is there. It is a somewhat higher-pitched whine that you can hear if your ear is close to the camera while recording. I bought the DM-50 mike and have now used the mike extensively, including taping my daughter's cello recital as well as a MS&HS spring concert which included vocals and a full Vivaldi concerto by a 15 member string ensemble. The DM-50 mike completely takes care of the motor whine. In addition, with the camera set at 16-bit recording, the recorded sound is CD quality. The DM-50 has three settings: boom, 1, and 2 (latter 2 are stereo). The best setting is the "1" setting.

2) General Impression The video is great. It is the sharpest of all the cameras I've owned so far. The camera is surprisingly small (half the size of the Hi8mm), but fits well in the hand. The outside buttons are very handy. The LCD viewer is easy to read and has true colors. The manual is comprehensive. The remote is multifunctional. The digital image stabilization works very well (as well as the optical stabilization of my older camcorder). The 22x optical zoom is excellent (I turned off the digital zoom). I was able to take good close-ups of the students at the spring concert (using a tripod). The auto focus is very fast and stable, better than previous camcorders. The camera is clearly not perfect, but for the price, it has a lot of highly desirable features.

3) Low Light PerformanceThis is not a strong point. The shutter speed for both low light and nightlight causes the images to be jerky when panning. I purchased the VL-3 light since it is powered by the camera battery. At 3 watts, it is not so obtrusive/intense as to be a huge problem for people looking at it. The light is very small, so it is easy to carry. The light is most effective within 6 feet or so. Outdoor video of spring flowers taken at night was fine.

4) Batteries I purchased the BP-535 battery which is quite large (in a relative scale sense). I used it to power the ZR50 during the 1 hr taping of the spring concert (and it powered the mike as well). When I was done, the indicator was showing 2/3 battery power still left.

5) BonusesA) The ZR50 uses the same power adapter/charger (CA-560) as the G2 digital cameraless to carry. B) The remote will also work on my other Canon camcorders which can be a problem if you're using both together. However, you can program the ZR50 remote to setting "2" to avoid this issue. Very thoughtful.

6) Still Images Have not triedhave excellent digital camera for that.

Finally, due to the small size, I can fit both the ZR50 camcorder and G2 digital camera with mike, light, flash unit, extra batteries, cables, etc. in a fairly small case. This is good.

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I read about the motor hum being recorded on Amazon and other review sites. I didn't want that... so I could afford one of the Sony camera like the new Micro-MV.

Thing is, try as I might, I couldn't make myself like the Sony cameras. I study usability and some industrial design and I still wonder what the Sony engineers were thinking when they designed their digital camcorder line. They're hard to hold, the buttons are in unnatural places, and the camera doesn't mold into your hand. The salesperson actually told me to hold it "with two hands" and it'd be fine. Have you ever tried to push a stroller around Disney World and keep track of a running four year old while filming him with a video camera? Two hands for the camera?!? Give me a break!

I tested every single Sony digital camcorder, and I still kept coming back to this Canon. Yes, it has the motor hum but the controls are within reach and I'm not being forced to try and focus with my pinky using a button that's smaller than a pea (like the Sony Micro-MV). The picture is great.

I took my new camera to Disney for a week....it fit in my small fanny pack, and with the digital photo options, I didn't need to take a regular camera. So much easier and made the trip much more enjoyable. It's not as great with still photos as a dedicated digital camera, but it's been great for sending photos directly to relatives via the Internet and making photo CDs.

I love this camera!!!!! I'd give it five stars, but I'm taking one off for the motor hum. They should fix that. I still recommend everyone go to a local store and actually hold the Sony cameras and try to focus and fit them comfortably in their hand, and then try the same thing with the Canon. That experience will speak for itself.

Read Best Reviews of Canon ZR50MC MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, Digital Still Mode & MMC Card Slot Here

Most of the video cameras I have used in the past several years have been Sony's. However, I have had very good experiences with both Canon digital cameras (G2, Powershot s300 and Powershot s230) and Canon 35mm cameras. Considering the excellent return policies that are out there, I thought that Canon was worth a risk. Note that I was in the market for a Mini DV camera and wanted to keep my budget under $1,000. The other camera I was considering was the Sony DCR TRV27.

The packaging of the camera was very nice (especially when compared to the TRV27), with 4 color printing on the outside, and a little molded plastic tray inside to hold all the wires, battery, remote, and other accessories. Although I wouldn't ever make an electronics purchasing decision based on packaging, this was a nice touch that is getting lost by other brands. When you consider that many camcorders are given as gifts, presentation does count for something.

Inserting the battery and plugging in the power supply is quick and intuitive...no surprises here. Inserting a Mini-DV cassette is also fairly simple and loads from the bottom. Compared to the Sony, the loading mechanism is almost the same. Both have the counterintuitive feature of half-closing the tape compartment to trigger the mechanical tape insertion. Although this seems to be the "standard" tape insertion protocol for Mini-DV cameras, it might be easy for an untrained friend or family member to injure your camera if they change the tape.

The Canon ZR50 body feels great in your hands. It is very balanced, appropriately light, and the on/off and record toggle buttons fall naturally under your thumb. The on/off/record buttons are big enough to easily manipulate which is a BIG advantage over the tiny, cramped Sony buttons. If you want very simple controls, or are giving this to a novice camcorder operator, the Canon ZR50 might be a great choice. The play/rewind/forward/stop buttons that you can see in all the photos of the camera are also very big and intuitive. You can even change the backlight colors of the p/r/f/s buttons for an extra cool factor. There is also added perk that the p/r/f/s buttons can glow different colors when the camera is in Player mode vs. Camera mode; when my friend couldn't get the camera to record, I could tell from across the room by the colors of the buttons that he was in the wrong mode.

The construction of the camera is really solid, and feels much tighter than the Sony. The swing out LCD screen and the viewfinder are adequate. Some people who held it made a comment that it had an overall "PlaySkool" quality to it, as if the camera was a rugged little toy. For some reason, this comparison does seem somewhat appropriate.

Recording quality is where the camera falls short. I lined up the Canon next to an older Sony DCR-PC10 (since I didn't have the TRV27 yet, this was the closest test I could do). Holding the cameras side by side, my friend and I shot indoors images, outdoors images, and zoomed in/out with the optical zooms. Comparisons were made based on video quality, color accuracy, brightness and sharpness.

The Canon was consistently off in terms of color accuracy: whites tended to have a red cast and purples were blue. The Sony was very accurate and even its LCD was close to what our eyes saw. Light/bright colors were blown out when outdoors on the Canon, but the Sony captured more color detail in these situations.

The Canon was roughly 20% darker than the Sony in low light. Using the Canon's Low Light and Night modes did not sufficiently compensate for brightness. Image was very grainy and dark in situations such as normal office lighting. Grain became excessive on the Canon at moderate to high zoom levels, but was always present nonetheless. Sony was superior to the Canon in all these situations. Furthermore, the Sony image was approximately 50% sharper and retained better detail on subjects like the folds of a shirt or leaves on a tree. Manipulating the manual settings such as shutter speed, or the various AE modes did not significantly improve quality on the Canon.

Quality comparisons between cameras held true when viewing on LCD screen, NTSC monitor direct from camera, or NTSC monitor after transferring DV files to Final Cut Pro.

Finally, there is the issue of the tape whine that is commonly reported. The wine was clearly present. Since the human ear can hear any DV camera's motor whine, I can't completely fault Canon for recording ambient room noise including its own motor! However, it is more aesthetically pleasing to have a camera that doesn't pick up its own hum. Again, the Sony Mini DV did not pick up its motor noise.

In summary, this camera would be a great pick if Canon could improve the quality of the picture with a special emphasis on indoor lighting conditions. Unless you are not concerned with getting the best video quality you can for a similar price, I would not purchase this camera. The Sony DCR TRV18, 25, 27 and 50 all have the same Mini DV mechanism (i.e. Mini DV quality), so you should be able to find a price point to fit your budget.

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I just got this camera YESTERDAY, so obviuosly there's a lot I cannot attest to, but I'm writing this primarily because my experience is so different from the review posted above. I spent about 4 hours working with the camera, its programming, its settings, and hooking it up to the TV. I also read part of the manual and utilized its suggestions for optimum performance.

The features are outstanding, and it is small, sturdy, and versatile. The 22X optical zoom is TREMENDOUS; much better than the 10X cameras that are out there. As for low light and night taping, the camera is also exceptional, but it takes a little work to figure out how to shoot in these environments (which is what the other reviewer clearly neglected to do).

You cannot shoot at night or in low light using the "auto" setting. It doesn't work well in low light, at night, or in cars. Instead, you must manually adjust the shutter speed or switch to situational modes like "night mode" or "driving mode" (while in a car) or "sports mode"), etc. This is VERY easy to do once you read the instructions. With a little bit of experimenting with these settings, you will find that the camera takes great pictures in low light, at night, while moving, etc. As for the "buzz" the reviewer above describes, mine doesn't have that. Sometimes the zoom "clicks" when you release it quickly, but some practice should do away with that.

In all, EXCELLENT picture in a variety of lighting, environments or situations, as well as easy connection to TV's and VCR's. The remote is awesome too. I have yet to connect it to my computer.

I think, for the money, this is an A+ camera; better than the others that I looked at in the same price range.

Logitech USB Desktop Microphone (Black/Silver)

Hey guys,

I figured this would help you to see the difference in audio quality between the USB Microphone, a Logitech C910 Webcam Microphone, and a built in laptop microphone.

The USB microphone is far superior. Be sure to watch the video below, and if this review was helpful, THUMBS it up so other people can see it.

Thanks to the reviews posted here, I bought this microphone. It's awesome and I highly recommend it to other Amazon electronics consumers especially at this price.

In addition to the sleek look-and-feel, feather-light design, on-off illuminated button (so you can keep it plugged in but not active or use as mute button while recording see Customer Images), its best feature is the 8-foot long cord which allows amazing flexibility and range despite being anchored via the USB port to your computer. For me, that one simple design component speaks "volumes" about the overall design quality of this product.

This microphone is recommended for voice not music recording. But I found the music playback perfectly acceptable, especially as a background track.

The installation is as easy as plugging it into your USB port. Software is freely available via download.com and then by searching for EXPStudio Audio Editor Free 3.93, which features multiple track capabilities (background music with voice-over). Using your computer, the software and this microphone, you definitely can create your own in-house recording studio.

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Before purchasing a product, especially electronics, I read Amazon and technical reviews, review the manufacturer's documentation, and determine if the product will satisfy my needs.

A cursory glance at Amazon reviews of the Logitech USB microphone immediately discloses that 21% are less than favorable (1-3 star rating) a significant number which, prudence dictates, should be considered. The following accomplishes that end and is presented in no particular order and assumes a properly functioning microphone, i.e., it is not defective. I run Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 in a custom machine.

1. Driver conflicts or faulty drivers. The Logitech USB microphone DOES NOT install any drivers, i.e., it relies on existing, native OS USB drivers. As a consequence, any lack of functionality, related to drivers, issues from one's configuration, which includes installed software.

2. Does not work with one's OS. As in number 1, above, this is always an issue which has its source within one's configuration, installed software, or conflicts therewith. By design, the Logitech USB microphone is simply a USB PNP device that handshakes with and operates via one's OS. On its site, Logitech lists the OSs and versions with which the microphone is compatible.

3. Have to have the microphone very close to one's mouth. This is always a function of one's sound configuration, either that found within Windows and integrated audio or related to one's sound card. This is especially true with Windows 7 whose default sound setup does not produce the best results with the USB microphone. There are ample discussions and suggested configurations of USB/sound setup on the Net related to various Windows and Linux versions pertaining to noise cancelling USB microphones.

4. Insufficient or no noise cancelling. This could be related to any number of configuration settings. In my system, if I record while music is playing through my speakers, the music is barely audible while my voice is loud and clear. Such being the case, one can imagine that I do not pick up case-fan noise or nearby TV, radio, or voice conversations.

5. Poor sound quality; not good for lectures, singing, music, or game playing. I, again, have to suggest that this is a function of one's sound configuration. I had to make numerous changes in my default sound setup to achieve what I consider excellent results. To satisfy my curiosity, I conducted a "lecture," in a normal tone of voice, at 20, 15, 10, and 5 feet and, in each case, my lecture was loud and clear. Similarly, I sang a few bars of my favorite tune and I must report that the microphone recorded my dreadful voice faithfully. When playing games, when I am silent, the game sounds/music are loud and clear; when I speak the game sounds are muted (cancelled) and my voice is loud and clear.

6. Poor construction; breaks. My microphone sits on my desk in back of my keyboard. I imagine that, unless I abuse it, it cannot break. Therefore, I guess the question is how much abuse can this microphone take? Since I have no plans to abuse it, I cannot answer the question.

7. Has to be close to the mouth to record. As noted in number 5, above, I am able to record at a distance of 20 feet (presumably greater if I spoke more loudly). As it normally sits on my desk, it is approximately 18 inches from my face and my voice recordings come across 5-by-5.

The following is a summation of other reported negatives.

Records only in 60 second snippets (not microphone related); records when off (impossible it's off); does not compare with professional microphone (really!); does not work with ABC software (software issue); too much of a pain to set up in Windows (OMG!!); no installation instructions (plug it in USB slot then configure sound setup according to OS/audio card); Windows and this microphone, like MS Word insisting on caps for the first word in a line are an annoyance (choose one: laugh or cry); while on, if one fiddles with the mute button or otherwise uses the microphone as a drum set, it records the sounds produced there from a design defect (do I really want to comment . . . naw).

I believe that I have shown that the overwhelming majority of the negatives have nothing to do with the Logitech USB microphone under consideration; a scant few might be related to a defective product out of the box. Therefore, even though they constitute 21% of the reviews, worthy of consideration because of their number, I suggest they need not be considered further. I find that the Logitech USB microphone is well made, will survive any non-abusive handling and, when used in a properly configured system, will more than adequately serve all but the most demanding "professional" needs.

Ed

Read Best Reviews of Logitech USB Desktop Microphone (Black/Silver) Here

First, I had some doubts about reviews below for the performance of this mic.

I got this thing today, and my... let me apologize to reviewers below. This thing works beautifully!

I put this mic about a feet away from my mouth(bit more than a feet... right next to where I use mouse with my right hand), and spoked a few words in normal voice level(maybe a bit lower) while my air conditioner was making some noise. When I played the recording back, the voice was captured loud and clean. This mic is outstanding with reasonable price tag!

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I'm a bit perplexed at another review that stated the microphone does not work with Windows XP (Service Pack 2); in fact, it almost prevented me from purchasing. Nevertheless, I took a chance, and I'm glad I did. All I had to do was plug the jack in, and I was off and running.

Sound quality is best at about 6 inches away, although tone is muted a bit. I was very impressed, however, at the complete absence of background noise despite the fact that my washer and dryer were both running, and my wife and kids were talking and watching television only a few feet away. For my weekly podcast, this is the perfect choice.

Interweb research shows the next best microphone to be in the $60-$80 price range so the $20 price makes the Logitech USB Desktop Microphone a no-brainer.

As for that Service Pack 2 issue, it's possible that the difficulty was the result of another problem (such as a conflict), or it's possible an update has rendered the problem obsolete. In any case, mine worked right out of the box. Highly recommended.

Panasonic PV-GS500 4MP 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

I don't normally write online reviews, but when I saw the 2.5 average rating for the GS500, I felt compelled. First, let me qualify myself. I am a techno geek. I love electronics, and whenever I'm about to spend more than a couple hundred dollars for something, I THOROUGHLY research it. I have been doing video editing for several years, and I have produced several wedding videos. I'm not an expert, but I do know quite a bit about the topic of video cameras. Oh, and by the way, I can also very critical of products.

Secondly, let me state that, aside from the Panasonic GS400, the GS500 is by far the best camcorder you can purchase unless you plan to spend over two grand. It has great color reproduction and AMAZING low light performance. Sure, compared to the GS400, it has less functionality, but I don't think the average user is going to miss it. And, given its price is several hundred dollars cheaper than the GS400, I can almost assure you the average user will bid good riddance to the missing functionality.

So, why so many negative reviews on this camcorder? Usually, when a product that is head-and-shoulders above the competition gets negative reviews, it is because the reviewer either works for the competition or they are ignorant of the facts.

Reading the reviews on the gs500, it is my belief that ignorance was the culprit in these cases. First, to the "kid" that had a problem with his four year old video camera -we don't care. This board isn't for questions, it is for getting opinions and ratings on products of interest. And regarding products of interest, people on this particular board are interested in the gs500, not the nv gs5. Additionally, I have not had a single problem with the blue screen you describe, nor have I read about anyone else having this problem on either the gs500 or the well-established gs400. So, I'll chalk this up to an isolated issue.

To the fellow who thinks the gs500 is too heavy, it is 3 pounds. Your gs200 was only 1 pound. So, yes, the gs500 is substantially heavier than your previous camcorder. However, it wouldn't have taken much research to realize this.

Folks, the gs500 is not a crappy, little, fit in the palm of your hand, spy camcorder. It is a high quality camcorder with 3 large CCDs offering exceptional video reproduction. If quality video is what you're looking for, then you've found your camcorder. If you want something you can carry around in your shirt pocket -keep looking.

And, by the way, I have no affiliation with Panasonic.

I wanted a 3 CCD camera that was small enough to haul around without any issues, with auto features and yet with manual features that allowed me my own personal adjustments for specific scenarios or customized shots. I also wanted firewire connectivity. The GS500 seemed to fit the bill. While there are lots of comparisons to the GS400 as the superior camcorder, for a lot less money you still get the heart and soul of the camera which is:

its 3 1/4.7 inch CCDs, Leica Dicomar lens and real widescreen format which produces shockingly professional video (and very decent stills) that approaches the low end of real professional camcorders (that is in video quality, not features) costing around $500 to $800 more. My hat is off to Panasonic for its entire family of very affordable 3 CCD camcorders.

There are a couple of things I don't like. #1: It doesn't have a headphone jack. It has audio options that approach way more expensive camcorders so the lack of a headphone jack is a puzzle. However, it is PROBABLY possible to juryrig your own headphones (I've yet to cut and splice stuff to try this) or if Panasonic is smart, they'll come out with some related headphone peripheral. It is sorely needed.

#2: A lot of the things (manual features) the GS400 did in hardware the GS500 has in software through its menus. While these features retain their quality, surfing through menus is sort of a pain and takes away from the spontaneity of having some of those features at your fingertips.

Those are my only two complaints about what is a top notch camcorder that approaches professional quality. It also comes with a remote control (about 16 feet and 15 degrees on your vertical and horizontal planes) that allow you remote access to practically all of the camcorder features, and again the advanced audio features making the lack of a headphone jack puzzling.

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One of my greatest pet peeves about system compatibility claims don't list what the cameras DO work with. This camcorder works great with iChat on Mac OS Tiger using the DV link. USB connection links directly to iPhoto. DV link also goes directly to iMovie's Firewire import, where you control the camera through iMovie.

I am loving this camera. The quality is excellent. The color shifts? Yes if you have it on auto temperature adjust, if you have multiple light sources, pick your temperature manually. I keep on having comments on how professional the quality looks, this is starting to tick me off as I want them to be telling me how cute my 3 week old son is... but with that aside, I admit the quality is nothing less than spectacular.

Big & Heavy? Yes, it is bigger and heavier than some I have tried, but I really prefer to have a little weight. The balance this one has seems great, very comfortable to shoot with. Besides, I just haven't seen anything smaller with anything near the quality.

Side note: I almost purchased the Sony HD video camera. Yes my 800 mhz Mac laptop would edit the HD video via the specifications, but when you dig deep you will find that the import is at half of live speed, the disk space requirement is enormous and processing effects and final video would be absolutely painful. GIve it a few years and the blueray DVD drives will be common, the processors and drives will be large enough to handle the load. Right now, I believe I made the best choice for the price range.

Read Best Reviews of Panasonic PV-GS500 4MP 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Here

I have owned the PV-GS500 for 2 weeks now and I shoot some footage, e.g. my daughter's school concert in the evening. You can imagin that the light is by no means bright at all. The camera worked perfect. The picture quality is superbly crisp and the color is really real, vivid.

Last Dec. I bought a PV-GS300 (3.1MP) from Bestbuy and I shoot about 30 min footage with it under much brighter light than the concert I mentioned above and I got chance to compare it to GS500 since I am using the same tape left over from last shooting with GS300. I am happy I returned the GS300 one since the picture quality from that camera is not in the same level as GS500. Bestbuy charged me around $150 for repackaging when I made the return, in retrospect, still I am sure I have made the right decision. GS300 is always adjusting its focus, out of and in focus, on and off kind, especially when zooming and you are shooting under indoor condition, not necessarily in dim light (outdoor shooting has no problem on this focusing issue, I must say. But the picture quality is inferior in terms of sharpness, i.e. resolution). GS500 is much more sensitive to dim light and the image is stable, no focuing problem at all even in dim light condition and much sharper although the GS300 is also claiming the same image resolution. The zoom in GS500 is smoother too and it seems to me that the digital stablizer is really working in this new version. Besides, the magicCable thing is really neat, making you zoom smoothly like pros.

I am very happy with this camera and I am ready to gear it up with other accessories.

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This is a great camcorder for the price. If you are looking at the Panasonic PV-GS line of camcorders?

This is how they should be Rated:

1. PV-GS400 BUY THE: Sony Handycam® HDR-HC3 HDV Digital Camcorder, its a better choice, for the money. Fantastic video quility! Downside: Less Manual Controls. Sony requires you to buy, only their Accessories.

2. PV-GS500 BUY IT!!!

3. PV-GS250

4. PV-GS300 If money is a problem: Buy this one!

5. PV-GS150

I dont care what the reviews say ! The 500 should not be compared to the 400! Becuase the 400 is way out of the 500's price range.The 400 is to hard to find , and at the 400's price, you might as well go High-Definition !

If you read the Pro reveiws for the 250 , it got exellent reviews. the 500 , just gets average reviews. This makes no since to me!! If you do a comparison of the two camcorders side by side, The 500 is clearly a better camcorder! But these are the two camcorders that should be compared to each other. I dont care if the 500 is replacing the 400.

Pro's like to compare the 300 to the 250! But it should be compared to the 150. I dont care if the 300 is replacing the 250.These camcorders should be graded on their merits, not by what they are replacing! And thats how I graded them, ON THEIR MARITS!! If you want a great camcorder, at a great price, then buy the 500. I did!! I recieved mine on Oct 13, 2006 . Its a fantastic camcorder!! If you do side by side comparisons of all these camcorders , and forget what the pro reviewers say, and just judge them on the facts. Then I think, you will come up with the same rating, as I did!! I did not give you, great detail, in this reveiw. I will leave that, to the pro reveiwers. But forget the Pro reveiwers opinions, and stick to the facts! And you will find that the 500 wins!! Hands down!! GO BUY THE PV-GS500 NOW!!!

NOKIA 6215i 6215 VERIZON CDMA CAMERA CELL PHONE

If your main reason for using a cell phone is to make phone calls and crystal clear reception is a priority for you, then this is definitely the right phone for you. My wife and I both made separate trips to the local Verizon store, and we tested this phone against the LG VX8300 and the 8600 and the Motorola RAZRs and KRZRs. Yes, the other phones all look cooler and have better cameras and more features in general; however, the Nokia 6215i phone was much, much clearer and had less static than any of the other phones. The calls sounded better on both ends: for the Nokia cell phone caller and for the person who received the call. We called both landline numbers and other cell phones, and tested each phone one after the other and multiple times during our visits to the Verizon store.

We spent an inordinate amount of time on this process because we did not want to get stuck with bad service and phones ever again. We have been miserable customers of Cingular for 3+ years now, and we are in fact expending $600 to break our family plan contract with them 6 months early. It is completely pointless to have a cell phone if the reception for your calls is so poor most of the time that you can't even carry on a conversation. I could not make calls from my Cingular phone from my office in downtown Arlington, VA despite the fact that everyone in the offices around me had no problems making calls with other carriers. I could not make phone calls from the Convention Center in Boston despite the fact that everyone around me was merrily chatting on their cell phones, etc., etc., etc.

I am sharing this experience in hopes of saving others a lot of time, aggravation and expense. If we had ordered our Nokias one day earlier from Verizon, we would have gotten the phones for free and paid no activation fee. Unfortunately, they changed their online offers overnight and we were out an additional $220 as a result.

I've had this phone for about 3 days now. I got it to replace my old Samsung A530. Here are my thoughts:

PROS:

-very light, compact, and small

-black glossy exterior looks professional and classy. yes, it does show fingerprints and scratches, but it's not that bad

-dual OLED screens are vibrant and sharp. the inner screen is smaller than most other phones, but i haven't found this to be much of a problem

-reception is great. haven't had a dropped call yet. for some reason i rarely get more than 2 bars of reception while indoors, but this doesn't seem to affect call quality

-ringer is loud with a nice selection of built-in ringtones

-earpiece and speakerphone is clear with adequate volume

-battery life is amazing. i've had light-moderate use for the past 3 days and the battery indicator is still full!!!

CONS:

-both screens are very hard to see in bright sunlight, even on highest brightness setting

-no bluetooth, SD memory, MP3 player, etc. but these aren't important to me. i just need a slim phone that doesn't have a lot of extra bulk.

-camera could be better, but it's a phone people, not a canon powershot!

Overall, I'm very happy with this phone and I'll be glad to own it for 2 years. If you need a nice compact phone that performs well, this is for you. I haven't had any problem transferring the phone book. You just have to take it to a "flagship" store where they have the right computer to do it. I took it to a Verizon branch first, and they had a different machine that transferred only the numbers and not the names.

Give this phone a try. It's no Motorola KRZR, but it's much cheaper. You'll be happy with it!

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I upgraded to this phone primarily on the opinion of a the c-net review which said this phone had such good voice quality that it was indistinguishable from a land-line (San Francisco), and reviewer (VA) who said this phone had the "best voice quality" -since i was having trouble hearing on my previous phone, especially in mobile-to-mobile calls. Perhaps it is the area I am in (north Jersey), but I sure can tell I'm on a cell phone! While better than my previous model, I'm still saying "what? could you repeat that?" In calling Verizon Wireless to ask another question, the technical supervisor just told me "the voice quality and even reception ability varies a lot from individual phone to phone within every model: we can get 5 phones of the same model and line them up and each one sounds different and right next to each other they'll display different signal strengths..." Wish I'd known THAT before I bought!

I like this phone's features, and since Verizon has it on promotion, it's a great deal right now. It has more "conveniences" than I'll really use. It doesn't have bluetooth for hands-free, but that's OK with me.

My biggest complaint is that the LED display (it's not an LCD but new LED display) is completely unreadable in daylight. Also you must use some kind of cover: the battery comes unclipped with the slightest of touches on the clasp such as pulling the phone out of a pocket or purse. I find the more "rounded" shape phones a little easier to hold than this "squared" shape, and it's easy to press on the exterior screen or the buttons on the side when holding the phone closer to the ear when trying to hear better in a noisy or outdoor environment.

Read Best Reviews of NOKIA 6215i 6215 VERIZON CDMA CAMERA CELL PHONE Here

Have had this phone for 36 hours (9/25/06)and am being told by Verizon I have to delete all 150+ of my stored numbers and start from scratch (I had an LG 7000 series which I never liked). Seems there is a software issue and there is no data on when it will be resolved. Phone makes a call from phone book but does not complete the call when your intended answers the phone. Speakerphone calling seems to negate this defect and if you press the speaker button when the person answers, it seems to work. Pressing it twice did get the phone to work but not the headset. Blue tooth headset (Moto H500)paired easily only it did'nt work through the speaker option I may have discovered. Looks like a nice phone, light, easy to use but decision is, is this worth the extra steps, reliable enough to function normally and then left to guess when the software fix is available and just "stop-in to Verizon"? Surely they aren't going to tell me when it's ready. Probably worth it to wait to buy this phone or choose another if you have tons of numbers to enter. Verizon should have known this, but I'm sure it's a great first time phone or if you don't have lots of numbers to transfer over.

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This is my first cell phone that I got with the Verizon Wireless plan and I am quite impressed. I really like the sleek glossy look that goes around the phone. Suprisingly enough after 7 months of use it doesn't have any major scratches on its surface.

I have NEVER lost a call or had no service wherever I have gone while using this phone. It is amazing since I always used to have a terrible time trying to find a spot where my older phones would get one bar of service.

I do have a complaint though, the screen on the inside of the phone is tiny. If your eyes are bad then I would recommend a phone with a larger screen. Other than that I praise this phone, especially since I didn't have to pay anything for it with my plan.

Sony HDR-CX220/B High Definition Handycam Camcorder with 2.7-Inch LCD (Black)

This camcorder is an excellent camcorder for someone who is looking for a cheap option for HD recording and HD playback. It is light-weight, compact, sturdy, and very user-friendly. I will go through different portions of this camcorder in my review. If I miss something, please feel free to ask me in comments, and I will add it to my review.

NAVIGATION

The menu and options on this camcorder is a breeze to use. Next to the 2.7" display are two buttonsa play button and a cursor/select button. The play button is only used to select between recording and play-back. The cursor/select button is used for 99% of the navigating on this camcorder. The positive side of this is that it is easy to use and feels natural. It acts as a joystick for scrolling but also pushes inward for selecting options. This makes navigation very easy for a beginner, since your finger never has to leave the same button, while operating the menu on this camcorder.

MENU

Sony has done well by making this camera easy to use and operate. The menu is separated into six different categories: Shooting Mode, Camera/Mic, Image Quality/Size, Playback Function, Edit/Copy, and Setup. It is simple to change quality of recording, switch between recording and playback, change time and settings, check battery status, and switch between still shots and HD recording.

HD RECORDING

First, let my start by saying, this is an entry-level camcorder with a price-tag of $200-$250. That being said, the HDR-CX220 shoots excellent quality movies and clips. Under the Image Quality/Size category, there is several options that can be used to change the quality of recording to what the user preference is.

There are two different frame rates that can be selected from: 60i and 60p. Without getting technical and taking up a lot of time describing the difference between the two, I'll simply state that the i stands for interlaced and the p stands for progressive. With 60i, the frames basically overlap, which equals only 30 frames per second. With 60p, this is the higher resolution, which equals a true 60 frames per second. The 60p setting creates beautiful recording, but also consumes more baterry life and uses more memory storage. I'd suggest using the 60p setting while making home videos and storing on your personal computer. But if you plan to post online, I'd suggest using the 60i setting. This will allow for faster and more hassle-free uploads. I generally use the 60i setting, because it allows me to shoot more videos on my 32GB SDHC card.

You can choose between HD recording, SD recording, and MP4 recording. This will also shorten or lengthen your record time.MP4 quality being the lowest quality. When recording in HD, there is four sub-categories that can be chosen from: Highest Quality, High Quality, Standard, and Long Time. Any user can fine-tune exactly what quality they want to record at.

How did this camera record for me?Splendidly! I have used this camera in several different situations to put it to the test. I live in a very snowy area, which basically means, a lot of light. I have recorded my kids sledding and it looks beautiful. The still shots in a well-lit area also look very good. The user has the option to take still shots while recording video or to use the camcorder as a camera only. But the real question was, how did this camcorder work in low light?The answer is: Much better than I thought. I went down into my basement and recorded my kids playing with only a lamp on. The Exmor R CMOS Sensor in the CX220 works very well. This camcorder detects low light and gives the best HD recording possible. The one main Con that I found with this camcorder is the still shots in low-lit areas look grainy, but are still acceptable.

The 32X zoom also works vey well on this camcorder. I was suprised just how well it worked. While standing across my half acre yard, I zoomed in on my dog, and it looked as though I was standing right on top of him. This, in combination with the Steady Shot feature, makes a very nice steady HD recording. (Even with a beginner camera man)

The Zoom Mic feature also works quite well. While recording with the Zoom Mic on, the subject being recorded is very audible and the background noise is muffled away. It doesn't amplify the sound of the object being recorded, but it more or less mutes the unnecessary, needless side noise. This is a very nice feature and Sony has done a good job with it.

PLAYBACK

The playback feature is incredibly easy to use and operate. It is as simple as this: plug your mini HDMI cable (which is provided by Sony, with the purchase of the CX220) into the camcorder and then into your TV. Everything that you view on the 2.7" LCD screen, is also mirrored on your HDTV. You can then either scroll through your menu, or push the play button. Then select the video clip you wish to view, and wada-bing, your watching beautiful HD homemade movies in 1080p. It looks great on my Sony 60EX645 LED 1080p TV.

COMPATIBILITY

I have decided to add an addition to my review, because it is a fairly common question. Is the CX220 compatible with PAL video format? The answer is no. The HDR-CX220 is designed to work with NTSC video format and HD. There is a process and select programs that can convert NTSC to PAL, but it is fairly complicated. My suggestion is thisthere is an alternate version of this camcorder. The model number is HDR-CX220E. It is the exact same camcorder, but it is specifically designed for PAL video format. It can be found on Amazon(UK) or directly from Sony. If you are interested in recording in PAL video format, this would be a great option.

DIRECT COPY TO HDD

Copying to an external hard-drive is as easy as it sounds. Plug your camcorder to your hard drive using a Sony VMC-UAM2 cable (not provided). Your CX220 will recognize the HDD and give you step-by-step instructions to copy to your HDD. I have a Toshiba 320GB hard drive and it worked perfectly for me. Toshiba 320GB Toshiba Canvio Basics 3.0 Portable Hard Drive in Black (HDTB103XK3AA) One thing to note is this: a VMC-UAM1 cable will NOT work with the CX220. It MUST be a VMC-UAM2 cable. This cable is not sold on Amazon, but is sold at B&H Photo or Sony.

PC USERS

The CX220 is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. I am currently running Windows 7 (64bit) on my HP Pavilion. Using this camcorder with my PC was as easy as plugging my CX220 into a USB port, Windows automatically recognizing it as a Sony HDR-CX220, and then installing the proper drivers. But if you want a great software program, install Play Memories from Sony. This program is fantastic. It allows the user to combine video clips, downgrade quality (if needed), make DVDs from even HD recordings, and much more. I highly recommend this program.

MAC USERS

The CX220 claims that it does not work with MAC OS, but it does work with iMovie. What this basically means is that you cannot simply plug the CX220 into your MAC and copy files.You must first download iMovie, and then all recordings can be stored to your MAC very easily. iMovie is a great program and very easy to use. There is a great post on YouTube that is titled: HDR-CX160 directly to iMovie. This is the same method for storing videos from your HDR-CX220 to your MAC. It works very well.

MEMORY

The CX220 does not have any built-in memory. This camcorder is compatible with SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards. I purchased two Transcend Class 10 32GB SDHC cards with my CX220. They both work very well. When recording in 1080/60p, a 32GB SD card will hold approximately 2 1/2 hours of content. When recording in 1080/60i High Quality (which is what I usually use), a 32GB SD card will hold approximately 4 1/2 hours of content. This, in combination with Direct Copy, should allow for recording large events or vacations. (Transcend 32 GB Class 10 SDHC Flash Memory Card (TS32GSDHC10))

BATTERY LIFE AND CHARGING

The NP-FV30 battery that comes with the CX220 is lacking, in my opinion. While recording in HD, the battery lasts for less then two hours. I would suggest buying supplemental battery packs. I found a great combo pack from the seller Big Mike's, here on Amazon. It is a third-party 2 pack NP-FV70 batteries and charger and is every bit as good as the OEM batteries. Each NP-FV70 battery lasts for over four hours, while recording in HD. Here is the product link for the battery/charger comboSony Handycam Camcorder Battery and Battery Charger Kit Includes Qty 2 NP-FV70 Batteries , AC/DC Battery Charger , LCD Screen Protectors , Micro Fiber Cleaning Cloth

One thing to note, the CX220 does NOT come with a wall charger. It does however, charge very well from the built-in USB cable. It also comes with a USB extension cable, for more convenience. The majority of people already have some sort of USB wall charger from an iPad, iPhone, iPod, tablet, android phone, Kindle, or various other devices. These will work with the CX220. If you do not have a USB wall charger and do not wish to purchase a battery pack/ wall charger combo, Power Gen sells a very good USB wall charger for $10 here an Amazon. Here is the product linkPowerGen Dual Port USB 2.1A 10W AC Travel Wall Charger White

The CX220 also has a DC port under a tab on the right side of this camcorder. The camcorder can be ran solely from an AC power adapter, but this will involve an additional purchase. The AC adapter needed is the AC L200. There is an official Sony adapter and some third party AC L200 adapters sold on Amazon. If a person wanted to operate the camcorder using an AC wall outlet, this could be a solution. Sony Customer Support also claims that this will charge the battery, but I have not tried this myself. I do not own an AC L200 adapter. If you are interested, here is another product linkSony AC L200 Power adapter

CONCLUSION

All in all, I would definitely recommend the purchase of the HDR-CX220. It is a lightweight, compact, well-built camcorder with excellent features. It shoots beautiful recordings and has a price tag of less than $250. If anyone has questions, feel free to ask me, and I will try my hardest to find the answer and incorporate it into my review.

Been using this camera for the last few days and have been very happy with the Video quality and the sound of the CX220.

Looks great on my HDTV ( My TV is a 720P ) Wish I could test it on a Full 1080P TV.

Inside video is decent. Better then most camera's I have used. But not the same as outdoor sunny day..which is to be expected.

Menu is easy to set up and navigate.

Camera is small and light. I can fit it in my large coat pocket.

Comes with a built in USB cable for charging and transfer ( which was nice!) , as well as a USB extension cable and a HDMI cable for your Tv

No built in memory, you will need a SD card. But they are cheap.

I use by phone wall USB adapter to charge.

Battery life is about 1 1/2 hours.. Not bad, but wish it was longer.. I will be ordering a second battery at some point.

Files worked just fine with my Corel Video Studio X5 for editing and movie making.

Will be taking some skiing video on a cloudy day today. Will try to update review with the white snow and less light then normal.

Happy with this Camera so far.

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I don't want to be a videographer. So I went kicking and screaming into the reality that I would have to create a 5 min soccer highlight video of my son to send to college coaches. To that end, I've returned two hd video cameras so far. One was a Toshiba, terrible. The other was a sony extreme sports camera, too extreme for me. But this one is perfect. High quality video, easy to use with logical menus, comes with an actual menu rather than a mere pdf, records in mp4, can add just about as much memory as you want with a memory card (I added 32 gb), playmemories software makes it easy to upload to computer and edit into highlight clips, re-charges using usb cable (but I also purchased an ac adapter so I can plug it in), batter life is fair but I purchased another to be safe, and I also purchased S-video cable to transfer video to my home dvd recorder/player. Very happy that I can purchase everything I need from after market here on amazon. It all cost me around $350 with tax. What a relief to finally solve this headache.

Read Best Reviews of Sony HDR-CX220/B High Definition Handycam Camcorder with 2.7-Inch LCD (Black) Here

This model (CX220) is capable of true HD at 60p. The camcorder is surprisingly light weight and compact.It is both fun and easy to use. It has no internal memory but takes an SD card. I chose not to have internal memory to avoid possible complications while adding really nothing. Start up is very rapid and focus response is fast and accurate. I love the feature of still shots automatically taken when ever a smile is recognized. The result is some very pleasing photos of people. Now, why did I not give a 5 star rating? ...

1) It does not come with a power charger, just USB charging from your laptop. I bought an available wall charger at extra expense.

2) It uses electronic stabilization, and that is good,but better,optical stabilization, is available on more expensive versions.

3) color is generally good, but filming in close up mode, in the LCD it shows pink as blue. (an isolated but repeatable experience.)

4) no external microphone jack.

Generally I am very satisfied with the camcorder and would recommend it to a friend. I would rate it at 4.8 out of 5.

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It didn't come with a transfer cord, and it took me awhile to find the charger (It's in the handle, a usb built-in cord), but all in all it's a very nice camera for the money. The high definition files take up a LOT of space, but on Mac, Quicktime converts them to manageable formats in just a couple minutes. No more long rendering times. In fact, when I Export the file in Quicktime, it takes a four minute video about 3 minutes to render for Wi-Fi, and it goes from nearly a gig to 11 Mb. There are choices above and below in quality as well. Good zoom, great mic, not the best at dark settings, but OK. The still picture function is pretty good, too. 8Mb pics, my facebook border looks good taken from this still camera. Lots of extra functions. I like this little camera, I hope it lasts a long time.

Vivitar DVR508 High Definition Digital Video Camcorder in Black + 4GB Accessory Kit

This camera is low on options and features. It seems to work ok but feels like a toy. I guess it is worth the $60 I paid for it. My expectations were low and were fulfilled.

VideoSecu Mini DVR Motion Detector Digital Video Recorder Audio Video CCTV Security Camera Home Sur

I needed a small surveillance system at home and after a few hours research sellected this setup.

The CCD camera is a plus and has a very nice picture in daylight. Night time views are OK if the subject is within fifteen to twenty feet to be picked up by the infrared lighting. Farther away subjects can be seen but with less detail. Note that the camera does switch to black and white mode at night, doesn't seem to be a problem though.

The mini DVR is easy to setup and use. The manual is a little difficult to understand at points, but I was able to get enough out of it to finish the install.

The camera and DVR both come with BNC to RCA connector adapters, I was very relieved to find them in the box.

A small TV can be used with this setup to complete the system.

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Toshiba DVR660 1080p Upconverting VHS DVD Recorder with Built-in Tuner

• DVD Recorder/VCR Combo
• Progressive Scan
• 1080p Upconversion
• With Built-in Digital Tuner
• JPEG Photo Viewer

I have a Samsung digital TV (1080p), and with my new Toshiba DVR660 and an HDMI cable, I can turn HD programming into sharp DVD's that appear to match my 1080p picture pixel for pixel. (In actuality, the DVR660 records it to 480p and then upconverts it back to 1080p.) By the way, I get all my programming from a portable antenna, and the DVD recorder has an excellent HD tuner.

The VCR is adequate, giving me the same picture quality as the SONY which preceeded it. After seeing how easy it was to make a DVD recording, and how fabulous the results, I realized that I would never make a VCR recording again. It did an excellent job dubbing a VCR tape to a DVD.

Although I am not a computer programmer like the "Man from Happy Rock", who found it so difficult to use, I found that the machine was not so difficult to use at all, as long as you followed the instructions. One of the major complaints from Mr. Happy Rock was that the machine turns itself off after you use the "set timer" button. My brother, who IS a computer programmer, said that his Magnavox also turns itself off when you use the "set timer" function and that they all do this. He also said it took him 2 years to master his Magnavox!

I did have a couple questions the first day, and I called the Toshiba telephone number given for DVD recorders. My call was answered by a real person with an American accent within 30 seconds. She answered all my questions easily.

Before I purchased this recorder, I spent hours reading and re-reading the reviews for like products made by Sony, Samsung, Panisonic, JVC, Philips, etc. All the other products seemed to have fatal flaws, so I made the decision for Toshiba. I'm glad I did.

Buy Toshiba DVR660 1080p Upconverting VHS DVD Recorder with Built-in Tuner Now

I couldn't be happier with this combo vhs/dvd recorder in regards to performance, features, and ease of use. I likewise read the reviews here and for other liketype products; this one seemed to have the least amount of "issues". Here's what I found: flawlessly and easily installs out of the box, and the digital tuner works great. While this product sure has lots of features, it's really a snap to set and record to your heart's content. I've barely touched the surface, but it's great to finally (and easily) be able to record off of tv, dub older vhs tapes, and copy just about anything to dvd via the L2 inputs on the front of the unit (ie plugging in a camcorder, etc.). Priced right, easy to install, easy to use, a quality product with all of the features and more-don't hesitate on this one.

Read Best Reviews of Toshiba DVR660 1080p Upconverting VHS DVD Recorder with Built-in Tuner Here

If you read the specifications for this machine it appears to be a dream and it does appear to have all the features specified and some very cool features not well documented. One would expect the latest and greatest to be the most forward looking, with this expectation I was surprised at what I have come to expect as standard features to be missing or retro.

* Even though DVD+RW is the superior technology, all the "better" recording features are only supported by DVD-RW! For example, 16:9 aspect ratios, scene delete, combine titles, etc. To me this alone warrants the loss of a rating star.

* The recording of HDTV programs will become a mandatory ability in February of 2009. I recorded several HD programs on DVD+RW media and played them back, at the six hour speed, they were so badly pixilated as to be nearly unwatchable (probably too much up and down converting). When I recorded NTSC (normal until 2/2009) TV the recording were no better nor worse than on machines without ATSC/QAM receivers. This needed to be much better than it is.

* My last three recorders have all been Panasonic's not by conscious choice or loyalty, but rather more as coincidence and superior ratings, at the time. I expect that when I define a program to record I can name the recording (on the DVD side) so that I know what is on the disk. This is not available on this machine. After you record you can label what you have recorded, this is exactly backwards from my expectations.

* VCR output is analog ONLY on RCA pin-outs not even via s-video, let alone HDMI! The TV signal continues to play out of the HDMI while the video plays. This has additional ramifications for dubbing or cross-recording below.

Perhaps the single most confusing and frustrating thing about this machine is setting the timer (programmed recording). I have been programming VCRs/DVD recorders for 30+ years and I have been a computer programmer for the bulk of this time too, so I am not easily confused by setting up a recorder and scheduling a program for recording. Besides the retro programming features above you will very likely lose or fail in your initial scheduled recording efforts. You will see an E40 error reported for the failure, unhelpfully meaning overlapping recording or recording did not start on time. What has happened is you did not press the "timer set" button, unobviously located in the middle of the last row of the remote! If you press the "red on/off button", on the remote, no recordings will be made (thus making it nearly impossible to use a universal remote on this machine as the "timer set" will probably not be defined). The unit MUST be TURNED OFF using the "timer set" button or NOTHING will be RECORDED!!! This has been so confusing I redundantly record on another device to insure I get the program. This warrants at minimum the loss of at least one rating star perhaps two. A recorder should never let you miss a recording (when properly programmed) except for a very good reason, e.g. disk full or overlapping programs. This one lets you miss all of them for silly illogical reasons.

Suppose you record "The Soup" every Friday on E!, but in between you wish to watch an episode of HBO's Rome on a DVD. Well if you press the power button (red on/off button) you will not be able to access the DVD player. It is locked for recording on Friday. The only way to access it is to press the ... you guessed it, the "timer set" button. Of course doing that kills all the programmed recordings, so you better remember to press it again or you will lose the ability to record all future programmed recordings (i.e. miss The Soup until you press the "timer set" button)! Pressing the more obvious red on/off button is not going to fix it, but only yield an e40 error.

I expect that the latest machines would have superior image processing. Sadly it is no better than a $50 Sam's Club special, when I visually compare the two on the same "passage" of a program. Obviously without an S-video out for any video tapes, a player with S-video will look better.

My primary purpose in purchasing this machine was to cross copy/dub family videos. Recording at various speeds does seem to be clean and as good as can be expected. I was very concerned that there is no way adjust the tracking on video tapes however this seems to be pretty smart and appears to be constantly adjusting for the best setting. It has worked on all the videos I have tested so far. However if you have the DVD on an HDMI or S-video connection you will need to switch back and forth between two outputs on your TV to see and cue your video then switch to the other side to set up and start the dubbing process! There is, of course, the usual problem of playing DVD+/-RW on a PC the only reliable player I have found for this problem is VLC media player portable, a freeware player.

A cool feature is the ability to watch what you are recording with DVD-RW, and have it keep track of where you are.

In short this looks like it might be a pretty good dubbing/cross recording video machine but as a general purpose family room player I think there are cheaper and better choices on the market today.

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I bought a flat screen (720p) because my old TV finally shut down. I still use an antenna and I'm extremely happy with an antenna input to the HDTV! Lots of channels for free and the picture is vastly superior to cable!!

However, the ease of recording a program if I wasn't going to be home seemed to be gone. The guys at Best Buy and other people who were very technical told me it couldn't be done anymore without getting cable, or TiVO or other fancy gizmo that required a subscription to something or was hugely expensive, or both. They said it was impossible to record DTV to a tape. I didn't see why it couldn't be downconverted, taped, and upconverted again.

They were wrong (and I was right). This is just like my old trusty DVD/VCR combo with more capabilities and I can use it with HDTV! I can record to either VCR or DVD because it has a tuner. Plus I can still play my old tapes, or convert them.

The only trouble was that the setup was confusing (you have to set the input on the TV first) and I had to go out and buy the cables for DVD recording. Once you get the hang of it though, you're back to the days of easy recording of your favorite shows without a lot of fuss or expense.

JULY 17 IMPORTANT UPDATE THE THING DIED OVERNIGHT! I still stand by it being able to record and I appreciate the nice comment. However this morning the clock wasn't on and the thing had simply died overnight for no apparent reason. It is plugged into a surge protector. I have noticed that more machines like this are on the market now and as long as it has a tuner, you can still record digital TV directly to a VCR or DVD. Just make sure it has a built-in tuner.

Be aware (for the uninitiated like me) HDMI cable provides for only DVD signal. Standard VHS or S-video cable required to operate the VHS.

Hauppauge 1178 WinTV-HVR-1600 Internal Hybrid TV Tuner/Video Recorder

I don't write many reviews, but I thought I'd put in a good word for this product. This is an excellent tuner, especially for the price. I doubt you'll find a better tuner capable of HD at this price range. It handled a SD signal very well. While watching SD television, I could have several other programs running at the same time without a problem. The card handled a SD well enough that the CPU was free to do other things. At one point, just to put it to a test, I had a DVD playing on my television, a youtube video playing in my internet browser, and the tv playing. They all ran fine.

HD was a slightly different story, but that's to be expected. As long as I was only watching the television, everything was fine, but I could forget doing a lot of multitasking. I could run other programs at the same time, but only if they weren't too demanding. My computer's over a year old though, and was hardly a high end supercomputer when I bought it (AMD 3400+ processor). I haven't tested it out myself, but if you've got a newer PC with a dual core, you should see much better performance.

A couple of warnings though. I would NOT get this as a substitute for a true HD television. Even on a very good monitor, the picture just isn't quite up to par with a decent HDTV. The same is true when it comes to recording. It does the job, but its a little crude compared to a DVR like, say, TiVo. There are other little shortcomings too, like a half second delay between the signal and the picture showing up on your screen. Not a problem for television, but it makes playing games nearly impossible. Don't plan on hooking up your console to this thing.

Also, plan on doing a little tweaking when you install it. This is not a plug and play device. I'm not an A/V expert, but I do have some experience installing PC hardware, and it took me a couple of hours to get the drivers and the settings straight. Plan on going to the company's website for drivers and troubleshooting guides. It got me through the install without too much aggravation.

These shortcomings are things you'll experience with nearly any TV tuner, unless you plan on spending a small fortune. They aren't due to flaws in the product. The technology just has some limitations at this point.

Overall, an excellent PC TV tuner. Even on a computer that was far from high end, it ran very well.

Strengths: FAST channel switching, Vista compatible, Remote works with Media Center, Dual tuners for analog and ATSC content

Cons: No HDMI input, Card is pretty wide may not fit in some narrower cases

After upgrading my PC to Vista Home Premium, I discovered that the tuner on my All-in-Wonder wasn't working in Media Center. With a bit of research, I quickly learned that ATI/AMD has no intention of providing Vista driver support for AIW's. Splendid.

After further research, I decided to give this card a try, and was not disappointed.

Based on my previous experience with the AIW, I was anticipating having to jump through hoops to get it working in Media Center. I was pleasantly surprised.

I popped the card in, booted up, downloaded the drivers from Hauppauge's website, and loaded Media Center. It immediately picked up both the analog and ATSC HD tuners.

The picture quality from my analog cable feed is highly satisfactory equal to if not better than my AIW's performance in XP MCE.

This card also features an independent tuner for over-the-air ATSC HD content up to 1080i. This is strictly for over-the-air digital HD content for which you will generally require an amplified antenna. It is not QAM enabled, so you cannot plug in a digital feed from your cable/satellite provider. There is, however, an S-Video port which you can connect to your set top box. This is useless though for HD content above 480p, which leads me to wonder why there is no HDMI port.

I was also very pleased to discover the included remote works flawlessly with Media Center.

Recommended? Absolutely.

Buy Hauppauge 1178 WinTV-HVR-1600 Internal Hybrid TV Tuner/Video Recorder Now

I build Media Center PCs as a hobby for the past 2 years and I've played with a fair share of tuners from Avermedia, Divico, Hauppauge, EMuzed, ATI, nVidia, etc. As I rebuilt my Sony XL-1 CE-EPC, I wanted to swap our the OEM card and an old ATI HDTV Wonder card I put in with something more stable than the OEM analog + HDTV wonder that also fit the XL1 chassis. After using the HVR-1600 for the past 6 months, I'm pleased to report that ATSC tuning/channel change is quite fast, it has good ATSC signal sensitivity and most importantly, stable while running Windows Vista Ultimate Media Center app. I do get a glitch on occasion switching between analog and digital channels with a MCE 'video error' message. I can't target the problem but I will say the OEM analog card + the HDTV Wonder card also exhibited similar issues when switching between A & D channels.

Last but not least, image quality, I find the analog channel has good brightness and decent color saturation (most analog tuner cards have problems with color balance anyways). The digital tuner as expected didn't degrade the ATSC signal and does a great job with brightness, contrast and color saturation as well.

In short, a good balance of price, quality and stability. I even bought it for a friend and he notices improvments over his previous solution.

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The included IR Blaster does not work with the Motorola QIP-2500 STB.You can only record from the channel you are watching.This seems to be just fine and dandy with Hauppauge.Apparantly Hauppauge does not consider FIOS customers worthy of support and don't really want to hear from them.

Haupauge support states that there is no working code.They also state that any resulting inconvenience is the fault of the customer for failing to verify that this" state of the art" device works with current technology.How foolish of me to assume it worked with a small,rinky dink, bit player like Verizon.

Hauppauge does not have any support at all on their USA webpage.There is a UK page that has a good forum, but nobody over their has FIOS so there is really no support.

Hauppage phone support consists of them arguing with you.Email support is nonexistant.They just deny any problems or blame the customer.You cannot get past the stonewalling.Even leaving messages for the USA distribution companies owner doesn't workthey just don't call back.

This is definitely a company you want to avoid.

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Using this in a dedicated DVR computer in my living room. The quality of the encoding is great at standard DVD spec. Installation was a breeze, and the remote control is well configured.

The reason I'm giving this product 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the software. First, the box included an older version of the WinTV recording software that remained on the machine when I installed the already-available (and much improved) new version. So, I had multiple versions competing to record scheduled programs. Additionally, the WinTV software is hard (if not impossible) to read on a TV screen. Tried all available screen resolutions but no dice. Same goes for the very limited schedule recording application. Very small, very lacking in functionality.

It all ties in well enough to the TitanTV program guide, but that guide is also limited.

Browsing for recorded shows is difficult.

All tasks are impossible without the aid of a keyboard and/or mouse. In my scenario, that wasn't going to work well because I wasn't planning to use either. The remote control, however, cannot be programmed to navigate around the different buttons and icons on your screen.

Enter SageTV.

I downloaded a trial version of the SageTV application, and instantly my experience with this device went from "eh..." to "WHOA!!!!" The SageTV application is an all-in-one deal that works closely with this and other Hauppage cards for the recording, program guide and other functions of the PVR/DVR experience. All text and icons are clearly legible on the screen, and all functions can be accessed via the Hauppage remote.

Setup is easy, and if you set the SageTV app to launch upon Windows startup, you do not need a keyboard or mouse (sidebar I'm trying out a wireless keyboard with integrated trackball right now, and it is nice for things like searching for content, renaming or editing labels on your recordings and so forth, but it's nice that using the SageTV application has freed me from feeling like I MUST have a traditional input device).

With that said, I will say that this Hauppage device is one of the finest tuner cards available and has a very nice remote, but is lacking in terms of included software to the degree that I will be spending $60 for a better software package. I would have preferred no software at all! Some places will sell you a combo 1600 card with remote and SageTV software, but I would recommending getting this unit first, then trying out the SageTV software to see if it is useful for your purposes rather than throwing all that money down upfront.

Vivitar VT328P 12.1MP HD Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Black)

The touch screen is a tease. There are only four touch buttons on the side of the screen you can press. Along with two other hard buttons it makes for a cumbersome navigation of the settings and zoom. It's also hard to take self pics as a finger or part of your hand will enevitably hit one of the touch buttons.

It's also not very click and shootable. You have to hold down the shutter at least until it's done focusing which can take from two to five seconds otherwise it will not take a picture. When it does take a picture there is no quick preview.

There is no way to turn off the "squeek" for each button press. There is no sound in movie mode. The flash setting ALWAYS resets back to no flash which isn't a bad thing as using the flash somehow makes everything either darker or extremely washed out.

I purchased this camera for my daughter for x-mas and she ended up hating this camera for the below average quality of the pictures and the main reason, there is NO SOUND when recording video! I thought there was something wrong with it until I called the manufacturer and they confirmed it has no mic. The description on amazon and on vivtars website does not state this.(very misleading) It confuses me why someone would make a camera with video but no sound..? Thankfully J&R Electronics let me exchange it for another camera since it was within 30 days of purchase. Very disappointed by Vivitar. Whos big idea was it to put this thing in stores without a sound feature... WOW

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I got this camera as a Christmas present as my Fujifilm digital camera was becoming outdated and wasn't functioning properly. The hubby thought he was doing well, getting a good deal on a nice camera. Well, I don't think it will be long before we upgrade. My first issue is that there is NO internal memory, you have to have a SD card before you can even start taking photos. The pictures I took on Christmas were in a home with basic incandescent lighting, and they turned out either incredibly dark or crazy neon bright when I changed the flash settings. There are a ton of settings, however, I have not used many of them with much success. I had several pictures turn out quite blurry, even though the camera boasts an anti-shake setting. It takes AAA batteries, and uses them up QUICKLY, no possibility of recharging. I did take a video that turned out OK. I do like that it has a multi-pic setting that allows you to take 7 photos in quick succession as the action is going on in front of you. I also like that it has the potential to link to your favorite social networking websites, Myspace, Facebook, photobucket etc. However, I have yet to see this work, the disc that came with the camera does not register my internet connection therefore I have not successful saved the software onto my computer (yep, you can't even set up the software without the internet connection, super). Hopefully as I experiment and learn more about the camera's settings and potential, it will work better for me. But, I will not be holding my breath....

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From the very beginning this camera was VERY disappointing-Don't waste your money..it may look like it has good features, but it's a very short lasting, cheap camera.

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The touch screen feature is very user friendly and sleek. The anti-shake feature does not always perform up to part and facial recognition doesn't seem to work very often. Overall it is a good value.

VideoSecu 300ft RG59/U Coaxial 18/2 Video Power Siamese Cable Wire Cord for CCTV Home DVR Security

I needed to extend an existing CCTV run an additional 50' and used this wire for the additional cable run. No problems with any connections and do not notice any difference in video quality.

I like because it's high quality cable. I don't like it because it's very bulky since I have lots of cameras to install.

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First this cable has a high quality outer coating that makes it ideal for out side and weathered conditions. Second the 18 gauge wire is a must for any application that exceeds 60ft.

Third if your going to go for the good cable don't go cheep with screw on BNC connectors. buy a good crimping tool and connectors. finely i won't do a security camera

project with anything else. it just helps eliminates potential problems. Hope this is helpful.

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LTS LTD04HTSK 4-Camera H.264 Realtime DVR Security System with 320GB, Mobile Phone Live View, VGA o

I purchases this for the sole purpose of residential security. Amazon did a great job at getting the product to me extremely quickly. The setup for this system is really simple based on the fact of siamese cable (BNC & power) being bundled with the package. In other words you have everything you need to get going. However after everything was setup was where I started to see issues. The main problems I experienced were:

1) Cam resolution is very low

2) DVR kept shutting down without warning or reason

3) DVR resolution is low (352x which is then interpolated to full screen)

4) 2 cameras died after a day or two

Needless to say you unfortunately seem to get what you pay for. To put it in perspective a full D1 (720x resolution) DVR would set you back at least $500 by itself with individual cameras (decent quality like CNB etc) being $200 each plus cables etc. So with that said as long as you don't expect high quality capture, great night vision then you may be okay with this. Similarly you can always by this as a starter set then switch out the cams however my major concerns were with the quality of the product after some of the issues seen which is what forced me to return this (bad DVR and 2 cams).

Would recommend looking elsewhere unless your needs are very basic.

Also of note finally is the Mobile Phone view and remote view. You can watch the cams remotely via iPhone as long as you use a 3rd party Apple Store App and have remote access to your DVR (use Dynamic DNS to set this up). For remote view (using an Internet browser) you must have one that supports ActiveX so anyone using a MAC you will either need you use Parallels or Fusion with Windows and IE or move to a PC to accomplish this.

I had the unit for 2 months now, At first just set the cameras out to test what views I would get, By the end of two weekends I had hide most of the wires and mounted the cameras in the best spots. The night mode do work up to about 30-40 feet, more if you have a street light to help out. The cameras are OK and work well. I hooked up a $300 camera from work and the DVR did show and record much better picture, but again for a price. Over the Internet work very well. All in all, I'm happy for the price/performance of the system! I now know that it's the skunks that are getting into the feeder at night. ;-)

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only had it 2 weeks.. hard drive died.. cameras are blurry.. system keeps shutting itself on/off would not recommend buying.

shipped back.

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No support.

No answer on phone...

Total frustration getting the internet view going.

I made the mistake of buying 5 of them at once.

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I got this system about 3 weeks ago and I love it.The system setup was easy.The picture quality is great.The dvr is easy to setup along with the network and internet connections.The night vision is the best to,40 feet easy!This is a great product.Anyway just thought I would give my two cents.

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Coby CXR190 Digital Voice Recorder with Integrated Speaker (sliver)

This device will work fine for someone who is accustomed to tagging and working with raw sound files. The windows software works, but it is very no-frills and you have to do your own tagging, downsampling, etc.

For those people who don't know what 'tags' are, and are not comfortable with doing file conversions and that sort of thing, this device may not be your best choice. For those people I would recommend a cheaper recorder to avoid the whole USB situation, and just listen to everything on the device with headphones... Or if you want to get the tracks on your computer, maybe find a recorder that comes with better software, if such a thing exists.

Here's my story:

I purchased this recorder from my college's bookstore, because out of the 2 models offered, this was the one with a USB connection so I can get the tracks onto my computer, where I can burn cd's for people or transfer them to my iPod or whatever I want to do.

Well, I *can* do those things but it's not easy. Here's my list of beefs with the device and its software:

-> The raw sound files are a proprietary format, so you must use the packaged software if you want to work with them on a PC.

-> The device does not name the files anything useful, such as the date on which they were recorded. The files are named things like "ICR027" which makes it difficult to figure out which file is which.

-> This naming system causes problems when the numbering starts over, and you already have a file by the name of the one that you are trying to send to your PC. You can't change the name of the file on the device, so you have to change the one on your hard disk, fix that in your mp3 library, and so on.

-> The software will transfer the raw file to your computer as a .WAV if you want it to. However you cannot choose a bitrate for this conversion, so you get a gigantic file that must be downsampled with a different program.

-> The firmware on the device itself is rather unfriendly. I still haven't figured out how to pause and resume a recording, even though the "pause" "play" and "record" buttons are clearly labeled. Changing settings in the thing is a headache, too. This is pretty standard for voice recorders, though.

So my main complaint here is that the process of transferring a file to my pc, getting it in my iTunes library, resampling it, and tagging it, takes too much time and effort for my liking. I can do this, but it would have been much nicer if they'd created software that would at least take care of some of these steps for me.

3 Stars because it works like it's supposed to, but they could have aimed much higher on convenience.

I returned this item because it is difficult to use. Fast forward and rewind during playback only work in 30 second increments. Presumably one could do more with the bundled software, but it did not install correctly on my Windows platform. I could not read the files over USB with my Macintosh. I managed to get the files off the device, but could not find software to convert the format (SP) to something more useful to me, such as AIFF or WAV. The Voice Activated recording feature does not have a sensitivity adjustment, so the device records constantly if ambient noises are present.

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I bought this recorder because it's the cheapest recorder listed on Amazon that allows for SD cards and has a USB port for downloading recordings from the device to my PC. That works fairly well for me, but I use the VLC Media Player as my go to media player, and it can play just about any file you throw at it.

My gripe is with the SD Card Slot. Maybe this is my own inexperience with using SD Cards, (I've only used them in my cell phones) but it seems as if I need to tape the card in place. In my cell phones that make use of SD cards, they click in to place and are ejected by pressing on the card. Putting a piece of tape over it seems to help, but really, who wants to do that?

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My husband needed the recorder for his voice over work and he really likes it. It is small and compact, but easy to use

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the product is ideal for people who need to record interviews, music or other activities of daily life. Can be easily carried anywhere by their size