Digital-Camera Reviews

I love this case.

I own three Lowepro cases; a "Topload Zoom 2" (which I use whenever I take any of my SLR cameras in the field), a "D-Res 8" for my Canon S400, and and a "D-Res 10 AW", which I use with my Fuji MX-1700 digital camera. I think that all of them are exceptionally good. They are well-made, durable, good looking and functional. Before settling on Lowepro a couple of years ago, I went through dozens of bags, and was never really happy with any of them.

The D-Res 10 AW is the perfect size for my Fuji MX-1700. It is over two years old now, and looks as good as the day that it arrived at my door via UPS - despite the fact that it has seen LOTS of abuse over the last few years.

I just recently got a Powershot A80, which I love. I got the Canon PSC-60 soft case sight unseen since it seemed like a nice complement for the camera. The quality of materials is good, but the design seems simplistic and minimalist to the extreme and leaves a lot to be desired in terms of functionality.

I moved on to the Lowepro MX10 (which is now called the Lowepro D-Res 10 AW, only the colors have changed a bit). For about the same money as the Canon case, I get:
-a reclosable belt loop (with strong velco attachment)
-removable neck strap
-soft tricot lining (no scratched LCDs with this case)
-room for an extra compact flash card (a bit tight with a CF plastic cover, perfect fit with just the card)
-room for 4 extra AA batteries, even with the extra compact flash card in the case as well
-a weatherproof and durable fabric
-wide top-opening full zipper top
-reasonably thick padding
Overall, the Lowepro bag looks like it was made for the Powershot A80 (and presumably the A70 and A60 as well), the camera fits just a little loosely by itself, but perfectly with 4 extra AA batteries and a spare compact flash card.

I can't say anything negative about my Canon camera, I love it. The PSC-60 case, however, leaves a lot to be desired, and much better options exist out there. I highly recommend the Lowepro case.

One final note: Lowepro has a "matrix" on their website to match many different camera models with the appropriate bag. For the Canon Powershot A60/A70 (similar size as the A80), the matrix recommends another bag (the D-Res 8S), but I tried both in a store and the MX 10/D-Res 10 seemed a better fit, with more room for extras (CF card and batteries).

As I ordered the camera on line, I wanted a case to fit snugly, but couldn't try them on for fit. The choice of camera was directly related to the size, so I didn't want a big bulky case. The Lowe website tells you exactly which bag to buy for a particular model of camera, which is great, otherwise I probably would have ordered the wrong one. But just like they said, the camera fits snugly inside, there is a bit of room for a couple extras. For traveling, hiking, cycling, and whatever else I can get myself into, this is a great little case that protects well.

Viking makes a good reliable product, at the lower (value) end of the price scale, making it a good purchase value. I use it on a digital camera, and transport it to a laptop. Also makes a good replacement high-capacity floppy disk between laptops. Why should I pay 2x as much for more well-known CF memory when Viking probably manufacturers it? Highly recommended.

I use CompactFlash for most of my digital cameras, and I've become a fan of the Viking brand. However, I still buy by the dollar-per-meg calculation. Currently, this number should always be less than 1. It is curious that the prices on these cards may fluctuate by as much as 20% in one day! I suggest you find the card you want and track it a while. This particular card comes with a great extra at no extra charge: it includes an adapter for your laptop's type II/III slot, a nice touch. [BTW, 'lagniappe' is N'awlins for 'a little extra')

This 64 MByte CF card is a great value since it includes the CF to PCMCIA card adaptor. Many other CF manufacturers want this much for the CF card alone! I bought this CF card for use with a new Canon S-110 for storage of high-res photos. But I also use it for storing MP3 files in my Casio Pocket PC, and now with the PCMCIA adaptor I can use it in my laptop too!

Get 2 of these bad boys (or the 420EX) plus the ST-E2 Transmitter and you rule wireless multiple flash photography! That's right: 2-head flash set-ups JUST like the pros do it.

Nothing better than Canon's SUPERB "E-TTL" flash sensing ... and the 550EX is a high-powered workhorse you can rely on. Expensive but worth the bucks.

Excellent flash for my canon 10d. Adorama saved me about $140.00 dollars. Service was great.

This is one fantastic flash. I had it on my Canon A2e for four years, and was ambivilent, but if you match this lens with one of Canon's newer bodies that has the funcionality to access all of the 550EX's features, you have an awesome, powerful, flexable flash that can change the way you shoot.

If you purchase a 10D, I consider this as a "must have" accessory. The portait position auxillary button and data wheel are lifesavers when you're popping out a lot of shots. The dual battery slots make for what seems like an unending amount of battery life. I can honestly say that I've never run out of battery life on an assignment when starting with a full charge. In between assignments I can go a couple of weeks of occasional use before I need to charge up even if I use the LCD a lot. It does add a bit of weight to the camera and may be considered bulky to some but having used motor drives on my SLR film cameras for years, the feel is completely natural to me and I wouldn't leave home without it.

The Canon BG-ED3 battery grip is an accessory which depending on your shooting preferences, may provide features that are extremely useful. The device is compatible with Canon's D30, D60 and 10D model digital SLR cameras, and accommodates two BP-511 type batteries, providing power capacity for an extended period of time. BP-511 batteries are generally very long lasting, and having available the power of two batteries provides peace of mind for those who shoot for long hours, or frequently use the LCD display.

Very handy for some shooters is an auxiliary shutter button, located on the grip, and positioned to be used when the camera is held in the conventional vertical shooting position. The shutter button is activated by a recessed switch on the grip, and operates in a manner identical to the camera's shutter button.

Though it is relatively light, some may find the grip's additional weight objectionable. Others find the camera to be more balanced and easier to hold and handle, with the grip attached. Especially when a long or heavy lens is attached. Be advised that with the grip attached the space requirement in your camera bag or other carrying gear, will need to be increased a bit. Another "benefit" is purely esthetic, as some users feel the camera simply looks "better" with the grip attached. Secured primarily by a screw that threads into the tripod socket, the grip does have a tendency to loosen up with continued use, and just needs to be tightened occasionally.

With some other Canon camera systems, buying a battery pack grip could be justified for cost saving reasons. Using rechargeable batteries in the grip, eliminates the need to purchase non-rechargeable lithium batteries. Over time, one could save enough to pay for the cost of the grip. In this case, there is no such benefit, as these cameras only use rechargeable BP-511 type batteries. So unless the other features are useful to you, the BG-ED3 may not be a recommended purchase. It mainly depends on the kind of shooting you do, and perhaps the type of lenses you have.

I have extremely large hands and simply cannot hand-hold a standard EOS 10D without the BG-ED3 battery grip. Without it, I cannot grip the camera with the little finger on my right hand, making the camera feel unbalanced. The front of the BG-ED3 grip rests neatly and comfortably in the heel of my left hand and provides support for the lower half of my right hand, making for very stable shooting in horizontal format. For vertical format shooting, Canon have neatly arranged the controls so that there is minimal difference in feel when shooting this way, again making steady shots much easier. It's ergonomically brilliant. The extra power provided by the second battery is really appreciated when you are shooting with flash. My battery grip lives on the camera and I will, like as not, never take it off. It's an essential piece of kit and I would not use an EOS 10D without it.

I think this should be one of the best buy 3 MP camera. I have another digital camera with 5 MP (Kyocera S5R) but I like this one much more. The most striking thing about this camera (33L) is the beautiful color high resolution swivelling LCD monitor. The swivel monitor is very useful. The images taken by this camera are also real good. The balance of flash is extremely good eventhough it seems to be a bit of reddish saturation. 3D , filters , and panorama are fun to use. I used the rechargeable NIMH (AA , 2000 mAh) with no problem.
All in all , I love this one and carry it with me whenever possible. The only complaint I may have is that it lacks of date imprint mode. ( I use camera to record my work so date imprint is important for me.)

Once I got this camera, I was in love. I love how the LCD swivels. I takes picture-taking to a whole other level. If your just going to use this camera for everyday use, you can stop right here. This is the camera to buy. The software for editing that comes with it is GREAT too. It's a whole lotta fun.

This camera is great. Lots of features, super-cool LCD monitor...and a GREAT price.

However, beware of one thing. Do not try to power the camera with the "Power 2000" brand rechargeable AA batteries. I bought these batteries along with the charger from a website that suggested these batteries as an accessory for this camera. When I tried to use 2 fully charged Power 2000s, the camera would make 4 quick beep sounds and wouldn't turn on. After calling Pentax and telling them about my problem, they said I had to send it in for repair, and that it could take over a month. When I got the camera back I found out there was no problem with the camera. I was just using an "off brand" of AA battery that is not intended to power this specific camera.

I was angry at the retailer for suggesting a brand of battery that isn't even capable of powering this camera, but I was even more upset that the Pentax service rep didn't ask me over the phone which type of battery I was using. That whole problem and time spent without my camera could've been avoided if he had asked me that one simple question.

In summary, I would only use the Lithium Ion CR-V3 type battery with this camera. It lasts the longest, and now that Pentax themselves told me that it's the type of battery that is intended for use with this model, I won't try any other. It's too bad because I find it very wasteful and expensive to constantly purchase and throw away non-rechargeable batteries.

And one other thing - the reviewer that said he's had his camera "for 2 years" is either lying or accidentally reviewed the wrong camera. The Pentax Optio 33L was introduced in March 2003. It's less than a year old.

Don't let the negativity of my review deter you, though, because I love the camera. I'm just bothered by the service I got.

I have bought several other "quality" matte photo papers that are nothing more but a sheeny paper, stopping short of glossy. Or else just a heavier paper, but not photo like at all. This HP premium PLUS photo paper provides QUALITY matte photos. Like the real thing, only immediate at your own home rather than the store. I used the HP 7550 photo printer and print pictures that are top of the line photo quality. I will never use another paper again for photos. It's definitely worth the extra cost.

I got this paper with my hp psc 2210 all in one printer fax scanner and copier and it worked great. Nice thick paper and i printed a photo on it and turned out excellent - looked as good as the original picture or better. Very clear and nice. Highly Recomended.

HP Premium Plus Matte Photo Paper is the best photo paper I've used so far. It's thick, durable and professional looking.

A lot of reviewers have already mentioned this camera's good points. Although I generally agree that this is a well-built camera, with tons of nice features, I was also bothered by the following:

1. The much-vaunted anti-shake feature is weak. Other cameras implement this feature much better than the DiMage A1. For example, the Canon PowerShot S1 IS and the Panasonic DMC-FZ10 both have very steady stabilization, whereas the DiMage stabilizer is only marginal. I thought this might be a defect in my unit, but when I went back to the store, other units had the same problem. This was really disappointing because the camera has good zoom capability, and takes fairly good low-light pictures. These are both cases when the anti-shake feature is most needed.

2. The low-battery warning comes on about 10 seconds before the entire camera shuts down. This is simply not enough warning.

3. The colors in bright sunlight are inaccurate. Outdoor shots are weirdly green when using the automatic white balance. I could fix this with the custom white balance options, but it was annoying to have to do this.

4. Pictures are somewhat grainier and noisier than average, even though detail is very good.

5. Overall, this camera is unusually complex. There are 5 dials, many of which do different things at different times. While this is often handy, it seems like things could have been streamlined a bit.

The Dimage A1 is capable of very good pictures because of its superb lens and high resolution CCD. However, in practice, I've gotten a high percentage of shots that were slightly out of focus, or that needed color adjustments to look right. The image stabilizer is only slightly better than nothing at all, and, and the relatively high noise in the photos offsets the benefits of having 5 megapixels.

The camera also has an additional odd quirk. If you select "auto" mode on the dial, the camera not only reverts to automatic settings for aperture, shutter, and ISO, it also causes photo numbering to restart at 1 if the memory card is cleared while in this mode. This doesn't make any sense to me.

Overall, this camera has a very good lens and CCD, with disappointing image stabilization relative to other cameras in its class, and some annoying quirks in the camera software and image processing. A skilled and patient photographer can compensate for this with all the manual controls. However, given its relatively high price (I paid $500 for the A1, and the very similar 8MP Dimage A2 goes for $999) I am annoyed the many shortcomings.

- Tom

Got this camera a month ago. Beats my friend's two-year-old Nikon 5700. Most impressive is the manual control. Very easy to use despite the number of knobs. I was able to get 80% of the functions without reading the manual (no experience with Minolta digicams before). Satisfied with the quality though people have been complaining about the noise in Minolta cams for a long time. Would definitely recommend to anybody who wants a decent camera but doesn't want to spend big $ on a DSLR.

I bought this camera and read the manual and loved all the feathers It was awesome.I spent two days going over the book and taking shots and I remember when it first came on a warning came on and after that I would take pictures of the DVD player Two Towers movie and they were awesome and all the pictures I took were awesome but then it started rolling when I pointed it at my tv screen and the LED got bright and dim and for no reason and there was nothing about this in troubleshooting in the users manual and then the battery went dead and so I recharged it and went to bed and in the morning after only a few pictures taken the battery went very low again and only after 4 or 5 pictures and I was so sad because I am not a pro by any means but I own a 3.2 nikon and it did not do any weird stuff and I have had it for almost 2 years and I loved that camera upgrade and I could have bought the nikonD100 or the top of the line cannon SLR and have all the lenses it would ever need/flashes too. But I loved this camera and all the features making it my perfect upgrade.
I am not a pro by no means but I felt it must be defective when I charged it and went to bed and got up and took some more yet,only 4 or 5 and the battery was shot again????!! I would buy that camera again because I loved it so much and I never owned a minolta but I loved everything about it . I took pictures only inside and at night and in the day and they were fantastic. But the rolling on the tv shots and the light and dimming on the LCD and then last but not least a battery going dead after charging it only after 4 or5 shots made me conclude it was defective. This was also in auto mode and I checked my other digital nikon and it did not do any of these things and as sad as I was to return it,There was no answers in the manual for these problems. If anyone reads this and has some kind of answer please speak out to me because I loved that camera and have missed it ever since the return also I if it was defective and does not eat batteries I would most definatly purchase it again. I do not no the difference between camera shake and built in stabilation but I would take the chance on re-ordering that camera again Since the problems I listed were nowhere in the manual whih I spent two full days on what else could I do but I still love it and would love to have one without the problems I have stated above. Lastly, Does this camera eat battery power that fast?? I love that camera and I have read them all so please let me know if that is a real problem. AS for the rolling pictures of the Two TOwers DVD it only happened on the minolta and my nikon was fine. If there is any help out there I want to buy this one again. GREAT CAMERA. Last what are the silver metal things on the front side of this camera for> I forgot I hope some one reads tis because I am with the possitive reviews I think this camera and all features ROCK! I loved it and I as I said looked at all the camera's on site and this is the one. JosieRyder@aol.com

I bought this for a Canon A70, and thought that it fit very nicely. The snap fitting for the belt loop is clever, so you don't have to remove your belt to attach it. The front compartment that holds batteries and a spare CF card is a little snug when full - I made sure my CF case was strong. I decided that it was too bulky and that I really didn't need to carry all of those spares all the time, and that a sleeker case without the extra compartment and associated extra padding was more what I needed. All in all, it is well designed for what it is.

This is a nice bag, but it is too small for Canon's A70/A60 cameras.

I was looking for a case that would fit my Fujifilm FinePix 6800Zoom camera. This compact Cordura nylon case holds it perfectly. The small, zippered outer pocket holds four AA-sized batteries, an extra Smart Media™ card or two, but also holds a Quantary QT-10 Pocket Tripod (for use on tabletops) if you slightly bend the legs a little (the legs are bendable). This case is well padded, can fit securely on your belt with the Velcro/button flap and can be slung over your shoulder with the removable shoulder strap.

Overall, I'm extremely pleased with the Tamrac case and would recommend it for Fuji FinePix 6800Zoom owners as well as owners of other digital cameras.

I received this product a day ago and am happy with it. It's simple and reliably does what it's supposed to do. I bought it primarily for 'bulb' exposures [with my D-Rebel], but, of course, it is also useful when you want to avoid camera shake or to get yourself into the shot.

As others have noted, it is extremely light (15g) and tiny. Those reasons are why I picked this remote over the RC-5 and RS-60E3. Also, there is a camera strap clip included, so it will be quickly available. Canon is even kind enough to include batteries. This is definitely the one to buy.

Easy quick way to remotely operate the shutter for my Digital Rebel. Works either as an instant release or allows for a slight time delay after pressing the button. Much easier than running back to the camera for taking family photos..!

I concur with the other reviewers. The RC1 is a simple little remote that easily lets you get in the picture without having to rush. I have it attached to my camera strap so it is always available. It is very easy to use. I was conducting some training and wanted pictures of the students and me together. I set up the tripod and camera, framed the shot, and took pictures at will without getting up.

I just opened the camera package last night, and within acouple of hours I was experimenting with most of the features of thecamera. When people talk of digital cameras they love to talk numbers, but who cares? It's what you can do with it that matters. I took a picture of a dark hallway with the flourecent bathroom lights on, and it looked like something out of The Shining. It was dark and foggy outside, but with the aperture full open, ISO 400, and the shutter open for 8 seconds I was able to take pictures of the buildings and night lights. The camera is so light I didn't have to use a stand (at 8 seconds you have to be as steady as a sharpshooter, though... be sure to hold our breath). Using the flash, with the spot metering and the aperture closed I was able to take a crisp, detailed picture of our dog in the midst of the night, doing dog things. With the multiple picture thing I took 5 pictures of my friend in a row waving his arms, and the sequence of where his arm is going is clear when viewing the 9 pictures at one time from the LCD. I'm also going to throw out my slow ... scanner, which I was using for sending faxes. I took a picture of a page from Webster's collegiate dictionary, and it was readable from the LCD!

Make no mistake, this is not a replacement for an analog camera. The casing and the interface feel like a cheap digital camera. I think, however, that in many ways this is better than an analog camera. You can do the things that are possible with an analog camera (except maybe for star trails), but with greater simplicity. And you get instant feedback.

If you are a journalist, claims investigator, or web publisher, and you have some basic knowledge of analog photography (...), this is definitely the camera for you. I recommend you get the ATA adapter so you won't have to mess with stupid cables or limited software.

Gotta go take some more pictures....

I love this this camera. The pictures quality is excellent. The ease of use is 5 star. It comes with 32Meg flash, it's good for 50 pictures. Has easy dial for auto, semi-auto and manual modes. I took 50 pictures first day I got it. All 50 were excellent quality, compare to my "old" sony PC1 digital video recorder. Down load to my portable is easy with compact flash, if you don't forget to put 2 batteries included with compact flash. Camera also comes with batteries, and recharger.

Overall excellent, 5Star I am very happy with it.

If your into computers and you'd like to integrate your photography into your computer world this is definitely the camera for you. If you already know how to use a 35mm SLR you'll find learning how to use most of this camera fairly easy. It has an auto mode that makes it possible for anybody to use and it has some manual modes that I've not yet totally conquered. It has enough pixels to blow your mind most of the time. You can't buy a monitor big enough to view the shots in SHQ mode all at one time with your browser.

You can change pixel density on the fly. You change the effective film speed in steps of 100, 200 and 400 ASA. You can vary your exposure plus or minus 2 fstops in 1/3 fstop increments. You can focus down to 0.8 inches and set it at infinity. You can get 150 or 200 shots out of a set of batteries. You can put on a slide show into a standard TV set right from your camera. You can take great remote control shots without even touching the camera or a cable. You can view your pictures on sight and zoom in to see quite good detail right on the camera. The controls are easy to use and and very ergonomically designed. You can delete pictures. You can transfer pictures from a smart media card to a compact flash card for extra storage. You can run off of AC power (I never do). The built flash works okay but the red eye feature sucks. You can use averaging or spot meter mode for exposure calculation.

It's really nice to have a laptop computer with a PCMCIA card in it. When you fill up a smart media card you can stick it into the PCMCIA card and the computer see's it as an extra drive on your machine with all of your JPEG files readily accessible. I normally put my laptop on my network and drag and drop all of the files on to a CD Burner in Adaptec mode. I've used the serial port adaptor but it's very slow and anybody who spent this much money for the camera probably wont tolerate such bad performance for long.

Don't spend all of your money buying this camera. Buy 3 sets of batteries. (3 hour charge time) and the PCMCIA card adapter (much faster and hot plugable). Get a CD Burner for your computer. I have a friend that has an HP for his laptop...He doesn't like. I have an HP and a Sony for two of my desktops and I like them both. I've had the camera for about 3 months now and I've taken about 2000 shots with it. I'm on my second CD. One day at work I spent the whole day taking pictures of old photographs on the wall to send to a guy at a trade show.

The CAMEDIA software is simple but very useful. It's good at renaming your shots in batch mode and it has a good browser mode for previewing new shots. The Adobe Photo deluxe is tolerable but slow. I've purchased Print Shot Pro and I like it a lot more. It's also good to have Image Robot and Smart Media Center as well (all from Jasc software). Smart Media Center has a feature that creates a HTML environment that allows you to create photo albums viewable totally by your browser. It's great for sending photo CD's to your friends and family. If you want to see some photos I've made go to http://www.studioavenue.com and search on for the album named "Singing Youth of Denver at Dahlia Street".

A lot of people have asked me the price of the camera and I've told them. However, the real price involves a lot more. You need to have some computer power available to you. You need to not be afraid of the technology. Installing a PCMCIA card is easy for me but my father would not have done it. This camera will force most people who purchase it to learn some new things and if they do so willingly then they will enjoy the experience. If you must see your pictures on paper (I don't) then be prepared for some additional cost. Your average printer will not do that great of a job.

I've been waiting for a digital camera of this performance for a couple of years and it's been worth the wait. I suspect that in five years everyone will have a camera like this. This is the perfect camera for a CEO. You can take useable pictures of anything and view them anyware with your laptop.