Sony DCRTRV11 Digital Camcorder with Builtin Digital Still Mode Review

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(More customer reviews)I have never had my own camcorder before, so I spent days looking at all makes and models trying to learn as much as I could. I even read several reviews here and after having held each one, trying out the features and driving salesmen crazy I finally got the Sony DCR-TRV11.
First, the display screen seems better. I looked at JVC and Panasonic and the Sony screen just looked better defined. Also, when panning, the autofocus reacted faster to my movements. My wife has small hands and this was one of the smallest ones out there so remember to consider size and weight. The resolution is very clean and the controls are all well placed. I didn't use the software that came with it, opting for Pinnacle's StudioDV. It comes with the Firewire card, software and cables. It's works great and is easy.
The Sony has a few key features like a mic input, which is important. If you are getting better picture your going to want better sound. The built in mic works good, but if you zoom on something distant, you're going to want an external mic. The hotshoe takes intelligent accesories, like a zoom mic or a flash that syncs with the still pics. It takes both DV tapes with and without chips in them. Be sure to get the tapes with the chip in them. You need the chip to index your pictures. This is important when connecting to your PC. The included 4MB memory stick holds about 30 pics at 640x480 (60 at lower resolution) and allows you to mix stills with your video for some nice effects. In addition to the night shot feature, the stabilization is far superior than any others I tried. Some only worked until you zoomed, others said they had it, but I couldn't tell. All the Sony's seemed best here. The battery life was about 50 min using zoom and the flip out display. The display tells you how much time in minutes you have left to record. Much longer lasting batteries are available, but there is no memory effect so you can charge at any time.
The camera is great for quality, feel and ease of use. I did have to download a driver to use the camera as a netcam and it would have been nice if it came with the Firewire cable in addition to the serial cable. We restled over the price and, while you can get a very good camcorder for less, we just couldn't pass up the Sony after holding it and comparing the features and quality. My wife and I are very happy with it and, if you can afford it, this ones the one to get.

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The Sony DCR-TRV11 is a quality consumer-grade compact Mini DV digital camcorder. A 10x optical zoom and 12x digital zoom combine to provide a total zoom of 120x, bringing even distant objects into clear view. The lens uses a special coating that reduces glare and flare while improving detail and contrast.
Like most digital camcorders, the TRV11 is equipped with an IEEE 1394 connection (also known as i.Link and Fire Wire) for digital image transfer, allowing video editing on a properly equipped home computer.In addition, all analog ports on the DCR-TRV11 have analog to digital converters built-in. With this feature, anyone upgrading from older analog equipment can transfer their old memory to new digital tapes.
If you own a TV equipped with Sony's Super LaserLink feature (or purchase an optional Super LaserLink attachment for your TV), playback is especially easy. You can just aim the DCR-TRV120 at the TV from up to 26 feet away, press Play, and enjoy your videos without having to connect any wires.
The DCR-TRV11 also doubles as a digital still camera, recording photos onto an included Memory Stick at a resolution of 640 x 480. This resolution is fine for images you're e-mailing or viewing on a monitor, but most dedicated digital cameras today offer far more detail. The package includes PictureGear Lite 4.1 software for Windows, which lets you transfer stills to your computer and manipulate and catalog them once they're there.
Digital program editing allows for easy dubbing of 20 selected scenes from one digital camcorder to another, or to an analog VCR. Three different white-balance settings help optimize color. The DCR-TRV11 includes a microphone input, as well as an intelligent shoe for select Sony accessories. Also included are a 4 MB Memory Stick, serial cable for still image transfers, power supply, lithium ion battery, remote, stereo AV cable, lens cap, and shoulder strap.

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Panasonic HDC-HS250-K Hard Drive High Definition Camcorder (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I got this camcorder for about two weeks already. It's very easy to start operating it even without reading the manual. The touch screen feature is great! You can basically play on the touch screen and see the difference of the picture quality right on the screen. Here's some of the Pro & Con that I think after playing with this camcorder.
Pro:
-Easy to use
-Great video quality (I hook on my Sony 48 inches 1080p LCD screen, the picture looks great!)
-Picture quality is great too if you got enough light when using indoor (outdoor, no problem)
-Indoor video recording is pretty good using backlight function if indoor light is not enough.
-Outdoor video quality is excellent
-Digital zooming is great (I can basically zoom in and get so detail that I can see the pore of the person's face right across of the street with 3 traffic lane in between it.)
-LCD touch screen is great (you can flip the screen too! You can also use fingernail to touch the screen if your fingertip is too big, the screen don't have any problem recognizing your command.)
Con:
-Not enough battery life (got around 90minutes of recording, good thing is that you can see how much time you got left on the LCD screen for recording so you'll know when you need to charge the battery or switch to power cord or new battery.)
-You cannot charge the battery while using power cord!
-The power cord plug on the camcorder is hidden underneath where you put the battery at, so you cannot use both battery and power cord at the same time (very bad when you try to record using power cord, once you accidentally pull the power cord plug, all of the recording stops, and it takes long time for camcorder to get back to recording and it also causes temporary hard drive malfunction while the camcorder trying to recover what you just record.)
-You cannot turn on the light that came with the camcorder to do the recording (it's use mostly as flash function when taking picture)
So far that's what I thought playing for two weeks (without reading the manual.)


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12x optical zoom 30x-700x digital zoom3MOS produces extremely accurate images with superb rendition of light and rich color expressionsiA (Intelligent Auto) for smart control automatically chooses the optimal camera settings and activates correct functionsAdvanced O.I.S. suppresses hand-shake by adjusting the optical axis at 4000k per second2.7" wide LCD monitor1920 x 1080 full HD recording resolution5.1-channel DolbyDigital audio recording with zoom and focus microphoneStill image resolution up to 3984 x 2656 (10.6MP)Mini HDMI video component and 2.0 hi-speed USB outputs2 3/4'' W x 2 7/8'' H x 5 1/16'' DIncludes Li-Ion rechargeable battery AC adapter video component/AV/USB cables IR remote control and software

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JVC GZ-HM1 High Definition Camcorder Review

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(More customer reviews)After very careful study and consideration over the last several months, I decided to go ahead and go with this JVC GZ-HM1 rather than the Canon HF S21 or Sony HDR-CX550V.
One of my main concerns was low light shooting. Although I believe that both the Canon and JVC to be similar in their great quality picture during normal lighting conditions, unfortunately, the Canon does not have a backlit CMOS sensor introduced this year by JVC, and last year by Sony.
In the end, I was left debating between this JVC and the Sony. The Sony has a larger and much more beautiful 3.5" touch display, opposed to the 2.8" display on the JVC (the JVC uses nice touch sensitive buttons, which keep the screen clean and smudge free, which is also a good feature). Also, the Sony offers more automated features for novice users.
I went to a local camera store, and tested both units using a very high quality HD display and connected both camcorders via HDMI. The quality and clarity of the image on the JVC unit was far, far, superior, and text/minute details at a far distance that weren't legible on the Sony, were clearly legible on the JVC. The manual controls, and physical button layout, as well as the awesome zoom rocker, really set the JVC apart from the Sony. The general sensation is that the Sony model was packed with gimmicks, and designed to be "idiot proof", while the JVC was designed to be controlled by the user, and is fantastic for someone who isn't scared of manual controls (not to say that the automatic mode isn't good).
The more I use it, the more I love it...

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Silver) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have owned two prior digital cameras- the first was a Canon that took good pictures, but was too bulky to pocket around and required AA batteries to power it. The second was a Sony CyberShot DSC-W150 that took crappy, blurry pictures in low light. Needless to say, I felt an upgrade was in order.
So I'm going on an east coast trip next month. My buddy and I are avid baseball fans. One problem: as we do not always have great seats, taking close-up pictures of ballplayers is a real pain with 99% of the compact point and shoots out there. This is because the camera's size will only allow it 5X optical zoom. You can combine this with digital zooming, but I don't need to tell you how terrible and pixilated this looks. Thus my conundrum. So I really wanted a compact, pocketable camera with a long range optical lens, without having to lug around an expensive digital SLR.
Enter the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3. When I read the specs on it, I was in awe. 10 megapixel, 12X OPTICAL zoom. Here's the sweetest part about the zoom- if you planning to use smaller prints (i.e. 4X6), you can quickly adjust the camera's Megapixel (MP) count from 10 to 7, 5, and 3 to yield maximum OPTICAL zooms of 14.3, 17.1, and 21.4 respectably, without much loss of detail on such prints. I wish Panasonic would have allowed the camera to adjust the MP count automatically as you zoom, but it's not too much trouble to change the MP settings manually from the quick menu.
Another great feature: the camera's screen is beautiful at 460,000 pixels, twice the count as the rival Canon Powershot SX200 IS (more on that camera later). From the moment you view your first picture, you'll quickly notice how much sharper photos look on this camera. It's a nice convenience to view photos on the camera in a manner closer to the quality that will actually be seen when you're viewing them on the computer (and ultimately printing them).
I also want to give Panasonic kudos for the build quality and compactness of this camera. The ZS3 is a replacement for the popular TZ5 model, which was 9MP and 10X Optical Zoom. So they increased the resolution, and added a wider range lens, and REDUCED the size by .4 cubic inches. Specifications aside, I was more than pleased that this camera will comfortably fit inside my jeans pocket. It's a bit bulkier than an ultracompact for sure, but not objectionably so. Note that the SX200 is a full 2.0 cubic inches thicker, another reason I passed on the Canon. Here's a few more reasons the Canon falls short: the Canon has a cheesy looking popup flash that sticks out at the top of the camera, whether you're using flash or not (bad design decision). It has less rated battery life than the Lumix. Also, when shooting video, the Canon does NOT allow you to use optical zooming.
Photo quality on the Lumix is excellent, although I've only snapped samples around my place so far. However, I've taken quite a few pictures at low light, and at maximum zoom levels to try to get a bad shot. So far, there's none to be found. I'll put this through its paces more when I travel next month, but I'm extremely pleased so far. As for video shooting, I've sampled it a bit, and it seems pretty solid. The camera gives you the choice of shooting video in its touted AVCHD Lite format (ideal for watching it on your TV in HD with an optional mini to standard HDMI cable), or JPEG if you prefer to email video clips to friends. This year's model also added stereo sound on video playback versus last year's monaural effort. One thing I found a bit strange, was the incredibly slow zooming when shooting video. I guess Panasonic was trying to give the user a more controlled, deliberate zoom, but unlike the snappy photo zooming, it's a bit slow for my liking.
Some other minor quibbles: The dial that controls the shooting mode is extremely loose. If you lightly rub it against anything (a camera bag, your pocket), there's a good chance it will shift. When you turn the camera on, it will digitally tell you what mode you're in, but it's still annoying when it happens by accident. Second, when making a quick zoom on an object, it will appear blurry on the camera's screen until the shutter button is pressed. There are modes to continually focus the object when zooming, but this drains the camera's battery life more rapidly. It would be nice if this feature was incorporated automatically without any such sacrifice.
Also, I'm not a huge fan of the included PhotofunStudio software bundled with this camera, as there are other, more compelling programs to view, edit, and print photos (I like Canon's Zoombrowser program better). Finally, this is not the camera to buy if you're into manual controls. There's a ton of preset scenes that can be used (nighttime, portrait, baby, sunset, food, etc.), and you can adjust items like flash, white balance, and max ISO level, but this is meant to be a simple point and shoot for casual photographers. Note that the Lumix has an intelligent auto mode (IA) that will analyze the shooting conditions and pick the right scene, flash, and exposure without any adjustments by the user. This camera screams simplicity, but there's enough tweaking on the Normal and Scene modes to keep the vast majority of amateur photographers happy.
Regardless of these nitpicks, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 is an awesome camera, unbeatable for those that want the best of both worlds- a great zoom lens and compact body. It's a bit pricey at $399, but you're getting quite a lot of camera for your hard earned dollars. I have no doubt that my third digital camera is a terrific buy and a long-term staple for my travels.


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The ZS3 packs a LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens with 12x optical zoom into a compact body. This versatile photographic tool lets you shoot everything from sweeping vistas at the 25mm wide-angle setting to dynamic 300mm telephoto shots. And the lens system's exquisite rendering ability lets you capture even the subtle nuances of the sights and scenes in your travels. Just set the camera to iA mode, aim and shoot. The camera does all the rest. It automatically determines the most suitable Scene mode and helps correct blurring, focus, and brightness problems. The ZS3 records HD motion images at a smooth 60 frames per second with 1280 x 720-pixel resolution. Stereo Mic: The world's first compact camera to feature Dolby(R) sound, the ZS3 records dynamic, true-to-life audio that brings out the power of the HD images. File Format -JPEG (Exif 2.21), Quicktime Motion JPEG, AVCHD Lite 25mm Ultra Wide-angle 12x Optical Zoom LEICA DC (25-300mm in 35mm equiv.) Large 3.0 High-resolution Intelligent LCD with Wide-viewing AngleISO Sensitivity -Auto / 80 / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600Shooting Mode -Intelligent AUTO, Normal Picture, My Scene Mode 1, My Scene Mode 2, Scene Mode, Clipboard Advanced iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode with Face Recognition -Face detection, Subject detection, Shake detection (MEGA O.I.S), Motion detection, Scene detection HD Movie Recording in AVCHD Lite with Dolby Stereo Digital Creator HDMI output and VIERA Link -The ZS3 is equipped with an HDMI output terminal for direct transmission of digital picture and sound signals YouTubeUploader Power -Rechargeable Battery Dimensions (H x W x D) -2.35'' x 4.07'' x 1.29'' Weight -Approx. 7.2 oz

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Photo Basics 402 uLite Video Lighting Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)You want to add interesting backgrounds to video interviews and photo portraits? Green screen allows you to do it without the expense of going to exotic locations.
Photo Basics has created an easy, well-designed kit that has just about everything you need to do green screen right.
Green screen basically takes advantage of the fact that several video and photo editing programs can cut out a specified range of color from a video clip or photo. Bright green works nicely, since it stands out and most people don't wear it (and you have to make sure they don't if you want it to work!). The key to doing it right is that the screen has to be uniformly lit, so that your photo or video editing software can cut it all out.
This kit comes with two lights on stands, a 9'x 10' green flannel screen, a simple instruction video, a CD with a few funky backgrounds (some you can see in my video) and a one-month trial of Adobe Premiere Elements (so you can try out the effect if you don't have anything else that will do Chroma Key). What you need, in addition, is a more permanent video editing solution, a video or still camera, and some way to mount the screen on a flat wall.
The screen is made of very nice quality fabric. It's a durable, wrinkle-resistant, felt type material with a reflective surface on one side and a fluffy surface on the other. There is a slot on one end of the screen that you can run a tube through if you have a frame, but there are also 3 brass eyelit rings on each side of the screen that you can use to hook your screen onto the wall, either with adhesive backed hooks or screw in hooks. I suppose you could also use tape.
The light stands are solid, and elevate to about 7 feet - they may not be professional strength but they seem durable and don't wobble, even at maximum height. The collapsible softboxes are also nicely built. You open them up like an umbrella and put in the included 500 watt bulbs, then put on the white diffusing cover to spread the light and eliminate glare.
This is a very nice kit, and you could do a lot with it. I shot this video quickly with my Canon VIXIA HF10, setting up the screen in my office where I didn't have a lot of room to back up and get a wider shot. I used Final Cut Express 4 to edit and eliminate the green. I used a few of the backgrounds that are included with the kit, and some other random footage I had on my camcorder from a local park. (I apologize for the foreground: I guess I could probably use a haircut).

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