Digital-Camera Reviews

I purchased this underwater case for my A70 and followed the directions exactly, oiling the gasket and cleaning it after each use. It leaked and ruined my month old camera. Customer service was rude, blamed me and then tried to bargain with me to fix it for $190 instead of the $280 that they initially requested. The underwater case has a 7 DAY WARANTY and the camera is not covered for water damage. My father had a similar problem with his $1000 Nikon digital which just stopped working for no aparent reason, they claimed it was water damage and tried to bargain with him to buy a rebuilt one for $500. So beware of bad customer service. Canon's customer service has all bad unreasolved reviews at the Better business Bureau

My max depth so far has been 110'. The underwater shots are awesome. The only recommendation would be to get an external strobe. The built-in flash tends to light up any particulate matter in the water. Otherwise, this case with the A60 is "the cat's meow". I have a charter operation and this camera goes to the bottom everytime I do. I've been posting pics up on my website (http://www.scuba-charters.com/captainslog.html) and this is the perfect combo. The only drawback is that you'll want more. I'm already looking at the new Canon S1 IS. Caution: This is very addictive...

I just returned from using my underwater housing for the first time. Max depth for me was 100 ft. Housing worked GREAT! Easy to use.....

Photos up to 40 ft. were perfectly clear. I did not have an external strobe, so the deeper I took it the darker the photos got. But the deeper photos cleaned up beautifully with Dell's Image Expert. Will try the external strobe on my next trip!

Where is the USB compatibility that all the other cards have?

This is a great card adapter. The user who thought it would convert an xD card to a Compact Flash was misinformed and their rating should be held against this product. This card allows you to put your xD or SmartMedia memory card into your PCMCIA-equipped laptop to transfer pictures, etc. It works great and is highly recommended for the price. A rock-solid product in my opinion.

I purchased the Fujifilm XD Picture Card PC Adapter (DPC-AD) and use it with both my laptop and dvd player.

This usb compact flash adapter only works with Type I compact flash cards - something that is sort of strange, considering the enormous slot into which you are expected to insert your compact flash Type I cards.

In fact, the slot is so large that it is difficult to insert cards accurately. Rather, you find yourself jiggling it around while trying to insert it, hoping you don't damage the card or the usb adapter.

Do yourself a favor and buy a higher quality product.

I carry it every where I go especially when I have my camera and I am on a photo shoot, I use it instead of hooking my camera up to my laptop.

I purchased this item to work with my Canon Powershot A70 camera. It works great. I plug it into my Mac, WinXP, or WinME machine, and it works perfectly. I use it with a 512 meg card, and have no problems. Love it!

...I have yet to take a non-blurry closeup with these lenses. My closeups were better without this lens. Now, I do have an "older" digital camera - a Kodak DC210, but the Kodak web site says these lenses will work with this camera. I'm thinking maybe I'm just too much of a novice, and I'm obviously doing something wrong, but the instruction booklet certainly isn't any help. It's one of those "general" instruction booklets that cover multiple products. So, I would say that unless you're really up on use of lenses on digital cameras, pass these up.

I'm sorry someone had trouble with the lenses. Close-up lenses serve a VERY SPECIFIC use that most picture takers neither need nor know how to use. For more information, Kodak puts out publications that can show how to use them. For a photographer who wants to do special work they can do wonders (although more choices of powers would have been nice). However, if you want photos--not pictures, a tripod or other fixed hold, together with EXTREMELY careful focus is necessary for good results. I have been a photographer for 40+ yrs. and glory in the result the 4800 can give me with close-ups and a TOP graphics program. I was in the West for 5 weeks this fall and took over 800 shots on Indian reservations and national parks. I expect 100+ including close-ups to be good, and will be busy until summer working on them (With my Nikon and lab 20 yrs ago I'd be lucky to finish 20). This is when close-up lenses are ESSENTIAL for individual or combination work. If you want quick easy pictures than DON'T BUY THEM. Study first and then decide.

These lenses do what similiar ones do for any camera. Kodak has books out that explain fully how and why to use them. With them you have a chance to do truly beautifully artistic work. However, very close and accurate focusing is VITAL to a clear picture, which require a tripod or other device to steady the camera. If you want to take only "distant" pictures (scenery and people) you probably have no need for them. BUT, remember the computer programs for editing allows your imagination full reign to use or combine pictures as I know from 40 years of slow, painful darkroom work. For more information see my note at the LITHIUM BATTERY SCREEN.

on paper, the IP220 looks like a winner. but after a close look and i'm not as sold...

pros:
- delivers vibrant colors when shooting in daylight.
- 10x carl zeiss vario-sonnar T* lens.
- 2MP still capability.
- great connectivity options: firewire, USB, S-video, headphone, bluetooth, mic input, etc.
- has a built in pop-up flash for taking stills.
- steady shot and night shot.
- ability to record mpeg videos directly to memory stick.
- top-loading cassette.
- boatloads of optional accessories.
- manual focus/zoom ring on lens.
- has NightFraming which allows you to focus and compose your scene in total darkness with the aid of the infrared emitter, then shoot a full-color still with the pop-up flash. very cool.

cons:
- microMV format is proprietary and may go the way of betamax.
- microMV video quality is noticeably worse than MiniDV.
- images emerge washed-out when shooting indoors.
- uses an mpeg version that may not be compatible with your current video editor.
- Super Night Shot, Color Night Shot very choppy in low/no light.
- not Mac compatible.
- very bad ergonomics - zoom and photo shutter controls are poorly positioned.
- LCD can't tilt backwards - if you've had it before, you'll miss the ability to show kids themselves as you videotape them.
- the advantage of microMV is size but that's not reflected in this camcorder. this is the biggest microMV camcorder out there: 3.9"W x 3.0"H x 5.3"D, weighing 1.5 lbs. you can get smaller camcorders like the panasonic's gs70 or sony's trv33 or the pc105. granted, those have less features, mainly still camera capability (2.0 megapixel vs 1.0 megapixel).
- as with most sony products, you pay a premium, pushing up the price.
- the included 8MB memory stick (for a 2 megapixel still camera!) is unacceptable. you'll need at least a 64MB memory stick with if you want to take full advantage of the higher resolution pics you'll be taking.
- although bundling the camcorder and still camera together means you only have to carry one piece of equipment, it also means that if one breaks, you have to replace both.
- as an alternate to this bundling strategy, you can get a gs70 or trv33 or pc105 and get a 3 megapixel still camera and still save money in the process!
- battery life could be better.
- only 2.5" LCD and it's not as crisp as others in the sony line-up.
- non-intuitive menu system.
- bottom loading battery so you can't replace this while mounted on a tripod.
- the accessory shoe is not a hot shoe.
- no built in video light but you can get one less than a hundred bucks.

in the end, the microMV format is a deal breaker for me. it is sony proprietary and not widely supported. and the main reason for even using microMV (size) is not really reflected in this camcorder. if you're looking for a camcorder/camera hybrid, i'd say wait a couple more years (hopefully). the still quality is just not there yet. your best bet is to get a decent camcorder and complement it with a stand-alone digital camera.

i hope this helps your buying decision. peace.

I bought the Sony DCR IP220 because of its 2.0 Megapixel capabilities and while I love the resolution that it displays on the TV, I am not impressed with the quality of footage after capturing to computer. Here are the pros and cons that I have found:

PROS:
1.Great resolution and great quality video produced (530 lines and 2.2 megapixels). (5 star quality)
2. Digital zoom (X700) works fine using a tripod and produces somewhat clear images. Any zoom magnification up to X120, produces very clear moving images.
3. The still pictures are compatible with any 2.0 megapixel camera.
4. Low light video never appeared grainy.
5. Touch screen menu-Many options are available & can be reached quickly. It has a similar feeling to a PDA Palm pilot.

CONS:
1.Video Editing or video email is only possible if your computer system is Windows ME, XP, 2000, and above. If you have Windows 98/98SE and below, then you need to upgrade.
2.If you are into serious computer editing, then this is not the camera for you. The Micromv format is supported only by Sony's Movie Shaker (included), Ulead's MediaStudio Pro 7, and Pinnacle's Studio Deluxe 8.1 . MovieShaker captures with the best quality, but it produces pixellated moving images and stores the files as .mmv. After capturing, the file must be exported to mpeg/avi/etc format. To render 1min 46secs of mmv footage, it took me about 30 mins for mpeg 2 and 8 mins for mpeg 1. MediaStudio 7 captures micromv footage very easily (after downloading the patch) and offers the quickest,most compatable options (direct output to avi/mpeg). Capture is instantaneous (as is cpaturing from most DV camcorders). However, the quality is also somewhat pixellated and the playback is jerky in moving areas. I have not tried Pinnacle.
2. No microphone input jack! It is hard to record a speaker's message if you are in crowds of people. If you have large hands, you may end up covering the bulit in mic and receive no sound at all.
3. Tiny Buttons!It is very difficult to zoom using the very tiny zoom button. Also,the record button is sticking out and you can accidently knock it.
4. Touch screen menu. If for any reason the touch screen is damaged, then it is dificult to command function of the camcorder.

If you are not into Computer editing or emailing video, then this camera deserves a "5 Star Rating". However, considering that I bought the camera with the intentions of editing, I have to say that I am a little upset with the finished quality.

Pros: Small size. Good ergonomics. Screen on back. Still photos. Compact tapes & batteries.

Cons: Expensive. MicroMV format may or may not equal MiniDV. Lens could be more wide-angle.

I found the camera easy to carry, though I kind of wish it had a neck strap. I think the size is about right - not too small to handle, but still very easy to carry. One complaint/frustration was that its lense doesn't seem to be as wide-angle as I'm used to - trying to tape inside buildings, etc. I found myself constantly backing into corners and still cutting people off at the waist, etc. - I may have to look into getting a wide-angle lense for this. Of course, I was trying to tape inside 150 year old houses with small rooms, so that didn't help. As for video and still quality, all I can say is that they look fine to me - I watched for pixelization or other artifacts reported as being problems with MicroMV, but haven't noticed any even in dark areas. I will say that experimenting with the night shot and super night shot, I don't see much use for them - I could hardly distinguish what I recorded in these modes. I was impressed by the ability of the still camera and flash to take decent photos of buildings from around 50 feet away in near total darkness. I didn't expect the flash to work at such a distance, but the photos came out quite well. One reason I selected this camera was that I thought it was better designend for use in underwater housings than the PC120BT I was also considering - primarily because the screen is on the back rather than flipping out to the side (which requires a much larger housing, or not using the screen). I didn't get a chance to try the camera in an underwater housing on this trip, but I still think the design will lend itself to this application. Ergonomically I prefer the IP220, but I have lingering questions about whether I sacrificed video quality by going with this model. But that's based on others's comments on previous MicroMV camcorders - not on any problems I've seen with my own camera or video. I haven't yet loaded video or stills onto my PC for editing, so I can't comment on that.

Bought this for my son. Most common functions were intuitive but we still needed to read the manual a lot. However, the pics were very grainy. My old 2MP Fuji Finepix had better resolution. We returned the Vivitar for a Samsung Digimax 360 (3.2 MP) which we like much better.

I have just bought this camera for my daughter at a Super Walmart on sale for $160.00. Brand new & still wrapped in box.
Have yet to try it but it makes me feel better that I saved almost $90.00. Will let you know how it works.
Alicia

I looked around a bit before I made my choice with the 3825. One of the places I looked was vivitar.com where I inspected the sample pictures taken with this camera. I was impressed with their results and a little confused with the one review that complained about "grainy" pictures.
There's a bit of a learning curve involved with this unit regarding making changes for indoor shooting and also being able to view the LCD when outdoors, but both can be accomplished with mastery of the manual.
I guess what hooked me on the 3825 was the discounted price of $198.00. The camera originally listed for $367.00.
The specs on this page are (or were) incorrect about the power requirements. It takes 2 AA cells.

I did encounter grainy output when using the digital zoom outdoors, although the output through the optical zoom is excellent.
I didn't realise that the pictures in digital cameras default to JPEG files. This results in colors derived from a somewhat limited spectrum. Not that this will make a difference for the average "point and shoot" enthuasist. But for closeup work where one requires an _exact_ match (like a glass lampshade) one will experience a subtle difference. I supppose all cameras in this price range save their output in this format and if one needs _exact_ color replication one must either use film or a higher end digital camera.
Notwithstanding my last comment I enjoy using the 3825 and look forward to many years of faithful service from it.

Very blurry picture, am going to return camera(x-mas) gift and try another brand.

Intel Easy PC Camera - Purchased at Circuit City. Good Camera for the money. Easy set-up under XP, just plugged it in. Nice.

hey , adjust the focus by revolving the mirror on the front side, it gets sharp then, its not blurry at all !!

I STILL can't find the fine print that says "Base Station Not Included!" This just went from a good deal to not-worth-the-money. I hope it works like magic....

Actually, this is a good thing (atleast for people like me). I already have an Intel wireless base station and mouse. This seprate keyboard gives me the flex to add a keyboard to it.

I don't have it, so I cannot rate it. Its in my wish list, if anyone wants to donate ;->

Before the age of the internet and multimedia, the 101/102 key IBM-style keyboard was predominant. Only recently keyboard makers switched to something much, much more useful. Intel's new keyboard features a semi-connected wrist-pad, a few internet buttons, and a wireless connection to your PC. So far, so good. it does not feature the one-click sleep-mode button and because this is not a PC vendor-supplied keyboard, it does not have a button connecting you directly to the vendor's upgrade site. This in itself is not bad.

New keyboards have volume knobs, which is so useful nowadays, when so many people watch DVD movies on their PCs. Unfortunately, Intel's internet keyboard does not have a volume-knob. You will be satisfied with this keyboard, but I would suggest to look elsewhere. It's quite an expensive keyboard, but for the same price you will find the full-featured peripheral.

Even though this is a relatively cheap lens, I still think it could be a little bit better. There is quite a bit of distortion (barreling) which I guess is to be expected considering it is a cheap lens (nice wide angle lenses can cost [much, much more]). The barreling I can live with considering the price and what I use it for, but the chromatic aberrations are really really bad. If you want to see rainbows then this camera is great--taking a picture of the stars reveals them to be giant rainbows... Yeah, not nice. Under normal uses (i.e. non point light sources like the stars), this will usually manifest itself in blue and red outlines around objects. If I take off this lens and just use the camera's internal lens I don't have these problems, so it is definitly the wide angle lens causing the problems.

While this lens isnt bad, a nikon lens is much more functional.

...Without the lens I wouldn't have been able to get the tops in of buildings and clock towers in the photographs I've taken. I've used the lens in conjunction with 360 degree panoramic photography, whereby 18 or so individual photos are taken at twenty degree angles and then stitched together to make one wrap-around image.

In some shots a little distortion is present around the edges of the image, but this effect is common when using super wide angle lens.

In some shots I got no noticeable distortion at all - but they tended to be the lower res ones.

All in all I think this is a cool product and a must have for landscape and panoramic photography.

If you have a Kodak DC290 camera you will need a lens adapter as well...

This is a great camera but which battery will keep its charge to take 50 pictures? I have tried 1800 mah & 2000 mah and the battery gets very low when 10 pictures are taken.

Bought this little jem for it's 2 1/2" LCD screen and the 3.2 mp picture quality. The LCD is exceptional and makes it easy to review photos without glasses as well as to share instantly with friends. The size is right also. When riding my Harley Springer it's easy to keep this camera handy for those instant shots (after pulling to the side of the road).
1. The metal case seems bullet proof however when holding it your right thumb rests against a very slippery portion of the camera body. I can almost feel the camera slipping from my hands if not careful. To prevent this I glued a small piece of 400 grit emery cloth to this area and the problem was cured. (Kyrocera take note: place a few bumps in thumb area to enable a better grip!).
2. Outdoor photos are almost 100% overexposed but can be quickly corrected in your favorite photo editing software. This may also be corrected by using the manual white balance.
3. Take your time when making photos because every photo will be blurred if you don't prefocus first (press shutter button half-way down) before taking the actual photo. If you press the shutter button all the way down when taking a photo it will blur everytime!
4. Buy a soft case for the camera for protection. A bought a perfect one at Target for $3.99.
5. The camera and menu controls are extremely simple a straight forward.

Now that I've had this camera for a few months problems have developed. It seems that once installing freshly recharged 2100mAh batteries I get only 2 pictures before it goes dead. A new CRv5 battery($10 each) lasts for 5 pictures. I'm attempting to contact Kyocera today (5/9/2004) and will post results. I lower my rating to 3 stars but it may go much lower depending on Kyocera's response.

This is a great little camera, and the price is right. However, you'll need to buy 2 more things in order to be able to enjoy using the camera: a bigger memory card; and a recharagable CRV3 battery. Kyocera claims this camera can run on 2 AA batteries as well as the recommended CRV3 battery. NOT TRUE! I tried both Li AA batteries fresh out of the pack and rechargable NiMH batteries, and the camera could take at most 10 photos before showing "low battery". So I got a rechargable CRV3, and took about 100 photos and it still showed full battery. Now you know the worst about this camera.

Otherwise, the camera is great. The image quality is good. The LCD is great - excellent way to take snaps at parties and have the instant gratification of seeing the image right away at a decent size and resolution. The controls are straightforward and easy to use.

If you're looking for a compact camera with advanced point and shoot features, I highly recommend this one.