Digital-Camera Reviews

i got this camera for my birthday with the printer dock and i absolutely love them both. they were so easy to use and the pictures come out great. i looove it soooooo much!

This camera is awesome. Pictures are crisp. The camera is very easy to use, I didn't even have to read the manual on it, I just played with it and have mastered it. Even my 4 year old son, can take pictures with this camera. I highly recommend getting the print dock with it, that seems to make this camera the perfect set.

This was my first digital camera and I could not be any happier! It is so easy to use and the software is great. I would not change one thing about it. Be sure to get a memory card and extra batteries though. The pictures turn out perfect. I would recommend this camera to anyone!

A truly fun piece of glass and I use it as both a toy and a tool. I love to shoot people and objects with it and see what the distortion does to the image, but it's also incredibly useful when you have no room to work or back up. I found it especially useful in the confined spaces of aircraft cockpits. But that fine thread to mount it on the camera drives me nuts! Especially when I'm in the confined space of something like an aircraft cockpit. But I always put it in my kit when on the road.

* Best, Simple, High Quality Lens
* Not expensive
* Don't set F1/F2 lens, and you can get more effects, and more funny pictures
* Requires more light -> use bracketing, manual exposure or exposure correction

Slipped right on the CoolPix 995. Almost slipped onto the floor as well - the lens cover is nice, but held on by friction between a felt strip inside the cover and the side of the lens. It's second nature to pick it up by the lens cover. And the lens falls right out. Be warned! I caught mine just in time and spend 5 minutes cleaning off finger prints. This is a common complaint from people I know who own this lens. The rear lens cover is a pain - not fully threaded and a pain to get on. Enough of the 'bitchin.

The lens itself is great. I had a Tiffen wide angle on my old Kodak DC290 - this Nikon is far superior. The camera has two Fisheye lens presets that adjusts and locks the camera's settings for optimum results. The resulting photo can be dark if taken indoors (the flash is automatically disabled) - but a few seconds in PhotoShop increasing the contrast and brightness fixed it right up (try that with a film camera!)

For [this price] you can't beat this lens. If you plan on doing panoramic or full room shots, get it. Example: I stood my tripod in a corner facing the center of a room. It captured EVERYTHING, floor to ceiling, wall to wall, except what was directly behind the camera. I then import the resulting image into a panoramic editor, output a Quicktime VR file (takes under 20 minutes total), and have a virtual view of the room. Cool. Plus everyone who sees it asks "is that a lens?!?!"

I've used my case for a few weeks to haul the camera, battery charger and cords to jobsites and have been very happy with being able to get the Kodak charger, a Photosmart 735 and my cords in the case. I also like the way the top flips back to hold its possiton. It would have been nice to have 4 to 8 slots to put the charged or used batteries in, but with the pocket in the lid this works fine.

When I first saw this bag I was worried that it was going to be too small, but upon arrival I was pleasantly surprised to say the least. I bought it to hold my Kodak CX6330, and it fits perfectly inside the bag with room to spare. All in all I was able to put both my camera and the manual inside the bag's main compartment, and the outer pocket was big enough to hold my memory card and 4 AA batteries. There's also a small zippered pocket in the lid, but I ran out of things I needed to carry! Also, I must say, the best feature of this bag is the lid, and it is what sold me on it right away. I get so frustrated with constantly having to fumble around to open a bag every time I need to get something out of it. With this bag you will never have that problem! The lid folds back, and stays back! It's wonderful! I was also quite impressed with the craftsmanship. The leather was flawless, it has a sewn in hand strap and a removable adjustable shoulder strap. I highly suggest this camera bag for anyone who is on the go and needs to carry multiple things with them. It's a great purchase and the price can't be beat!

I love this camera bag! I got it to house my new Olympus C-4000 digital camera (which is fantastic) and it's just what I wanted. It's smaller than I expected, but I can comfortably carry the camera in the bigger side of the inner compartment, all the cords and extra batteries in the other side of the inner compartment, the spare cards in the little pocket in the lid and the battery charger (the Monster Cable MB 4-DCRC Ultra-High Capacity Digital Camera Power Pack) in the outside pocket. The outside pocket has several little zippered pockets in it, too. The inside is well padded and the fabric is very soft, almost like flannel. The camera fits in easily, but it's snug enough that it doesn't rattle around. I also like that the bag doesn't tip over, the lid flips back and STAYS flipped back as does the little flap with the velcro on it (makes it a lot easier to access the zippered pocket in the lid). I also like that the sides of the lid come down far enough that it won't let rain in. Great little bag and definitely the one to get if you have an Olympus C-4000!

This is a timed charger, but well matched to the supplied 2100mAh NiMH batteries. The manual recommends charging after a full discharge, so it may overcharge your partially depleted cell or an older cell with lower capacity. As long as you recharge a fully empty, ~2100mAh cell, it shall be fine.

The included cells, actually made by Sanyo-GE, are premium cells, and only surpassed by Sanyo's latest 2300mAh cells.

I ordered this product a week ago and it's still not have been shipped; despite the "ships in 24 hours" expression.

The other items in the same order were delivered days ago, but Sony Power Charger is still waiting for shipment...

This set includes 4 AA cells Made in Japan for Sony by Sanyo, as well as a timed charger, NOT a smart charger as its similar looking Sony variants.

The Sony Power Charger can recharge 4 AAA or AA cells at a time. Unlike the Panasonic BQ-390 which I also used and reviewed, this Sony uses a timer to stop charging. The Panasonic BQ-390 has advanced circuitry inside to monitor charging through temperature, voltage drop, and the cell's internal resistance, so that you'll get more precise charging and less damage from overcharging of simpler chargers. Sony also offers a similarly advanced product, but this model is a cheaper timed model. It charges the 2100mAH cells for 8 hours straight, or 800 mAh AAA cells for 7 hours straight. If you charge a partially used cell, it will not detect when the cell reaches full charge, and might overcharge. It's best to charge a fully depleted cell with timed chargers.

I replaced a 7 year old Canon HI8 camcorder with this one. I've had the 109 for a couple of months now and here are my comments.

GOOD:
Size: It is really small and compact. Well built and solid.
Motor noise: My camera has no motor noise. Absolutely none. I have seen some reviews that say their camera has motor noise. My suggestion is, if you get one that does, replace it. Perhaps you got an early one or a gray market?
Battery life: I get about 2 hours with the standard, tiny battery. Interestingly, the same reviewer that said he had motor noise claimed to get less than an hour with his battery. There must be something wrong with his camera.
Low light: Seems to be pretty good and better than competition.
Simplicity: It is very easy to use as a point and shoot. There are only a few buttons. The LCD screen doubles as a touch screen for the menu.
Docking station: Makes it convenient to plug-in to the computer because the docking station is always connected to the computer, and to a wall outlet for charging.

BAD:
Small LCD screen: I guess this is a tradeoff with the small camera size (but if you have seen Sony's new T1 still camera, they know how to put a large LCD on a small camera). Also, the LCD can wash-out in sunlight, like most other cameras.
Docking station: Although convenient, the only way to recharge the battery is to plug the camera into the docking station. This means, for trips, you have to take the camera, the cord, and the docking station with you. This is inconvenient and bulky. Sony could have easily made the cord plug into both the camera and the docking station for recharge, but Sony instead has elected to release an optional "compact" battery charger for around $70. Typical Sony. Similarly, the camera itself has analog video outputs. To get digital outputs, you have to go through the docking station.
Microphone: It is placed on top of the camera, so it does pick up some non-directional noise (from places other than directly in front of the camera). It seems to be somewhat directional though because it doesn't really pick up noise from the shooter.

I just got this camcorder, and played with it about an hour, so it might be a bit premature for a detailed review. Yet, my first impression was "wow". It is slick, compact and good-looking.

That was until I inserted the tape. Someone said there is no motor noise. Not ture. This is really major drawback especially for me since one of the major reason I bought this was to replace my aged Samsung SD60, which had an excessive background noise. I compared these two side-by-side, and noise level is about the same to my surprise. I recorded video, and yes, there is white noise (from the motor) in the background when played back on my TV. This explains why the built-in microphone on Sony is located on top of the camcorder.

Still, this is an awesome camcorder. I do like the touch screen LCD, which will be taking some time to get used to, and mostly the compactness and slickness of it.

Things can add up to put this camcorder in good use. I already spent more than a few hundred bucks on accessaries; Polarized filter lense, portible tripod, extra battery (NP-FF71), matching carrying bag. And considering to buy the microphone to reduce the amount of the noise from the motor being recorded.

Lastly, the battery (NP-FF51) seems to drain quite fast. I would not last an hour in typical use. An extra battery seems to be a must.

I bought this in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during a camera fair. I guess the most important thing to me was size, as I wanted to make sure the camera was with me as often as possible. Having a small camcorder REALLY increases its utilisation, as it's not much of a bother to bring it with you to most places. I felt it would have been a pity to spend all that cash on something and yet not fully utilise it. I have had it for 2 months and have since used up 6 miniDV tapes. It helps also that it is simple to use. Good for the point-and-shoot users as well as the slightly more technically inclined.

I've only really used the video function as I have a Canon Ixus400 which takes care of my still-shot needs. But the still pictures taken with the PC109 are not bad for those rushed moments. You can even snap a still pic while recording video, but only to 640x480.

Outside and in bright conditions, the picture quality is excellent. In dark situations, of course the image quality suffers. This is the case with any camcorder, and I feel the PC109 does better than other compact camcorders. I have purchased a light (HVL S3D) which helps a little. Also has some features like "twilight mode" and "backlight" for subjects lit from behind which also help.

The mic is placed on top of the camera. Not the ideal place, as it picks up noise not from the front of the camera. It sounds okay when played back on TV, but could be better. I will probably purchase a mic for the hotshoe.

The LCD Screen is ok for a camera this size. Very clear in most situations. Direct sunlight makes it a little harder to see, though.

This camera handles Analog input AND output as well as Digital Input AND Output. I have hooked it up to an older camcorder to convert to miniDV. I have hooked it up to TVs (A/V) and computers(iLink and USB). I've made VCDs with the supplied cables and software. I've recorded video from computer to tape. No problems.

Extra:
1) Touch Screen - Very stylish. Also lessens the clutter of buttons found on most cammcorders. You can also customise the menu with features you use most often. Some labels on the menu are not self evident though.

2) Hot-shoe - definitely welcome. For using a light, mic etc. Canon Elura models are otherwise comparable but lack a hot-shoe. This is why i bought the PC109.

3) No discernable motor noise.

4) Placement of buttons is quite logical. I have had no trouble pushing the wrong buttons. After some practice, very easy to operate.

5) Cradle - quite useful as you dont have to keep plugging cables into the camcorder itself. Just drop it into the cradle.

6) Battery life of included battery is okay. enough for a 60 minute tape and a bit more.

7) Super Steady Shot seems to do the job.

Could improve:
1) Doesnt have a focus ring. You have to use the touch Screen.

2) No built in light. The PC105 at least had a built in flash for still shots.

3) Mic Placement on top. Not the ideal location but practically all the vertical cameras do this. Most of my shooting is done at close quarters so not a big deal. I will eventually get a zoom mic though.

4) Tape door is on the bottom. A minor issue for me as i rarely have time to set it up on a tripod.

5) The Software provided is quite basic. And its weird that when i convert to VCD, it handles the data in 10 minute pieces.

I hooked up this camera to my iMac DV, connected it to the Firewire conneciton, turned on the computer and everything worked great the first time out. I was able to create, edit, and produce a Web film in less than a day.

I've owned the ultura since late January and so far have been completely satisfied with it.. is has a great range of features and turns out incredible quality footage. I also bought a DV Capture card for my computer, and the ultura allows for easy editing of videos. The digital zoom works up to about 64x, and some of the "modes" are not very useful, but all around, it's great!

We went into the store prepared to buy the sony TR 103 and ended up with this canon. It is alot smaller than the sony and the lens is supposed to be better. One thing about these camcorders is to get the smallest one you can afford because it is so easy to take with you. As far as options, it has just about everything you need. We just turn it on and shoot.

I AM REALLY IMPRESSED WITH ALL THE FEATURES THIS CAMERA HAS & THE CLARITY OF THE PICTURES.. AFTER TRYING OUT MY NEW PHOTO PRINTER, I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER WITH THE QUALITY OF THE PICTURES. I REALLY THINK IT'S A GOOD BUY EVENTHOUGH IT'S NOT THE SMALLEST CAMERA.. I SINCERELY RECOMMEND IT.

I love this camera, I got it about 2 weeks ago and I have taken tons of pictures with it. It's so great because I can take a picture, put it on my computer and then zoom in and crop it and I have an even closer up picture. The video is also really fun. I took it to a concert and I could actually record the songs from the concert while taking video of the group singing. I love it.

I love this camera. I previously owned a Sony 3.1 MP, which broke after two years. We chose this camera to replace our Sony after reading many good reviews, and I have to say I agree--this is a wonderful camera for the average user.<br /> <br /> Takes great pictures, easy to use and understand--can't beat it for the price.<br /> <br />

I bought this camera over two years ago when it sold for over $450. At that time, it was a great deal of a camera. Now, for $450, you can get a camera that I would have paid $1500 at the time. This camera provides great pictures. It has some trouble with coloration during different light conditions, but can be easilly adjusted with graphics editing software (Paint Shop Pro has a function called Automatic Color Balance which performs wonders on photos from this camera). The built-in memory can hold 12 or so high quality pictures. I use this camera a lot and am very happy with it. The only thing I really wish it had was the ability to zoom in and out on objects. Other than that, I would recommend this camera to any new digital photographer.

I've owned this camera close to 8 months now and I absolutly love it. It was my first digital camera and I purchased it on eBay for $130 after shipping. I purchased a 16 mb compact flash card and I was set. It takes awesome pictures and can be used as a web cam too. Also feels sturdy in your hands. It doesn't eat batteries-actually they last forever. Also it is fast, you don't wait forever in between pictures(I would say 4 seconds on high quality is tops) Only problems I have noticed is that in certain lighting conditions(ie inside with artificial lights) you must change the lighting filter to indoor(even though it has a setting of "auto"), can be troublesome. All in all a great camera! perfect for beginners. This camera has inspired me to look into some more higher end cameras with all the bells and whistles. Digital is great!

Features and function highlite this great camera offered at a price that will only get you 640x480 and a serial download elswhere. Excellent picture quality, ease of use, and complete with the AC adapter, batteries, case, software, and ALL cables. You cannot go wrong. And Amazon.com got it to me in only 4 days with regular postage the week before Christmas. WHAT A DEAL!

I just brought a 2100DG and it doesn't come with the USB cable to hook up in the back of the computer. I can't download pictures until I find a USB cable compatible with this camera.

This camera is a nice high resolution camera but the focus leaves a lot to be desired compared to a Sony Mavica 83. I have had poor results so far with the macro feature as well. One other thing, is the lens cap does not show when youre using the optical viewfinder, allowing you to take shots of the "dark". With all those things considered, its still the best bang for the buck anywhere.

This camera may not be the best on the market, but it is the simplist to use without lacking features. It is easy to transfer files to and from your comptuer using the CompactFlash card reader for PC and the or the serial connection and the Kyocera drivers to directly read the card directly through the camera. I have had mine for a little over six months and have had no problems with it. This camera provides you with enough to have nice photos without the complexities of professional cameras.