Thursday, November 12, 2009

Canon 2591B002 DM-100 Directional Stereo Microphone for HF/HG Series Camcorders

Buy Cheap Canon 2591B002 DM-100 Directional Stereo Microphone for HF/HG Series Camcorders


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DM-100 Directional Stereo Microphone for the VIXIA HF10 and VIXIA HF100 Camcorders. Compatible with the: VIXIA HF S10 Dual Flash Memory, VIXIA HF20 Dual Flash Memory, VIXIA HF100 Flash Memory, VIXIA HG20 Hard Disk Drive
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Technical Details

- Stereo hi-fi Audio
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Customer Buzz
 "AWESOME MIC!" 2009-11-11
By K. Alexander
I love this mic! I definitely needed it for a long time since I use it to film my favorite band Avelynn. I had to play around with it and I have to say that it's WAY BETTER than the built-in microphone. I can hear everything from my feet walking on the leaves to my CD boom box really clear even when it's windy. I definitely recommend having this mic especially if want your sound matching the picture more perfectly!

Customer Buzz
 "Good Product" 2009-11-08
By Carl Jarrett
Works good. Improves sound quality of recordings. It has a switch on it that gives you a choice of three settings and with almost no instructions you have to experiment with it a little to find the best one for various situations, but you would probably need to do this anyway. It is a good quality product and works good - a little pricey - thin on instructions - but still I highly recommend it.

Customer Buzz
 "Canon directional microhone" 2009-11-02
By Gene R. Beley (Stockton, CA)
I'm filming a lot from boats. This DM-100 mike accomplished my mission to cut down or eliminate wind sounds using the wind sock over the mike. It also works well for indoor and outdoor interviews with my tapeless Canon HF10 camcorder.

Customer Buzz
 "Get the Rode mic instead." 2009-09-11
By ChrisInCali (Westlake, CA USA)
This mic is okay, and unfortunately that's about it. It looks ridiculous, it feels incredibly cheap and flimsy, and it records semi-decent sound. The biggest problem I personally have with this mic is that it's essentially crippled by begin limited to the "mini hotshoe." What's the point? Why didn't Canon include the option to have an external jack so you could use it as a boom/over-head/portable off cam mic? Why does it have to be permanently restricted to the hotshoe of a super select few Canon video cameras? It doesn't even work with the hotshoe of the Canon DSLRs capable of HD video like the 5D mark II and 7D.



Also, the mic just looks so cheap. Really, I wouldn't care about this so much if it wasn't for the fact that it looks cheap because it is cheap. It feels like if the wind blew hard enough that the thing could snap right off of my HF100's hotshoe. Ultimately this mic does what you'd would expect... record higher quality audio than the on-board mic, but that's it. The Rode mic will do that, and has better build quality, more versatility, and looks so much nicer.

Customer Buzz
 "It's a great addition to my Canon Vixia" 2009-09-11
By Edgar Gonzalez (San Diego, CA)
My wife and I were looking for a good digital camera to document our kids' performances in school choir and band. I initially bought and used an HDD (hard disk drive) JVC Everio digital camera for a while. It was good but then I decided to go High Definition and chose the AVCHD Canon Vixia HF100 (SD memory card). There is no way you can compare the quality of video and sound between the JVC Everio and the Canon Vixia. They are on two different levels. I was very impressed with the Vixia's high definition quality and stereo sound. Canon had just come out with the DM-100 telescopic microphone with the "fuzzy" cover since the Vixia's hot shoe was specific to the Vixia. My wife and I noticed a huge difference when using the DM-100 telescopic microphone. We usually video from a long distance and there are instances when we video the marching band during parades or during band performances at school games. We have noticed the digital camera's built-in microphone does well but picks up whatever people say or yell when they are right next to you. The telescopic microphone does not pick up these nearby sounds. We've had people yell and scream while the band plays and these sounds were not picked up. The band's performance was recorded flawlessly. I'm so happy with the Vixia HF100 (SD memory card slot) that I decided to buy a Canon Vixia HF10 (built-in 16gb memory and sports an additional SD memory expansion card slot). I just found out Amazon was selling the DM-100 microphone at this great price and bought it. I've been so happy with the first DM-100 telescopic microphone that I know I would have regretted not buying this second one for my new Vixia HF10. This DM-100 microphone's ability to change from shotgun, 90 or 180 degree coverage is very handy. I only wish I had run across this price when I bought the first microphone :-(


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Buy Canon 2591B002 DM-100 Directional Stereo Microphone for HF/HG Series Camcorders Now

Canon Powershot SD890 IS 10MP Digital ELPH Camera - Best Selling Super-Savings Bundle

Buy Cheap Canon Powershot SD890 IS 10MP Digital ELPH Camera - Best Selling Super-Savings Bundle


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Canon's new PowerShot SD890 IS Digital ELPH puts more room in your zoom. Although it's as sleek and compact as you expect a Canon Digital ELPH to be, the PowerShot SD890 IS Digital ELPH is equipped with a full 5x optical zoom, complete with an Optical Image Stabilizer to keep long-zoom shots rock steady. The slimly elegant matte silver face plays up the iconic ELPH style, while 10-megapixels create incredibly detailed images. Canon's PowerShot SD890 IS Digital ELPH features improved Face Detection Technology, which automatically sets optimalfocus, exposure, flash and white balance to deliver the best-ever images of the faces you love. Canon's Motion Detection Technology senses when your subjects move, then adjusts exposure and ISO settings to reduce blur and noise. The big2.5-inch PureColor LCD II gives you a clear picture of what you're shooting, with bright, accurate color plus better viewing from wide angles so you can show off your images easily. Canon's exclusive DIGIC III Image Processor delivers impressiveimage quality and advanced functions. Canon USA 1-year limited warranty included. Features Advanced 10.0 Megapixel Digital ELPH with curved silhouette design. Packed with a powerful 5x Optical Zoom Lens and Optical Image Stabilizer to reduce blurry images. Improved Face Detection Technology sets the focus, exposure, flash and white balance automatically, allowing greater freedom of shooting before, during and after taking the image. Motion Detection Technology automatically detects subject movement and optimizes exposure control and ISO settings to reduce image blur. 2.5-inch PureColor LCD II screen for bright, accurate color with greater viewing from wide range of angles. DIGIC III Image Processor for superior image quality and improved functionality. Includes Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-year Limited Warranty/Registration Card.
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Technical Details

- Puts more room in your zoom
- Sleek and compact as you expect a Canon Digital ELPH to be
- Canons Motion Detection Technology senses when your subjects move
- Adjusts exposure and ISO settings to reduce blur and noise
- Canons exclusive DIGIC III Image Processor for quality images
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Customer Buzz
 "Survivor!" 2009-09-15
By Deborah Blank (Bethesda, MD)
On a recent river rafting trip I managed to drop my camera first in the sand, and then a few minutes later, in the river. Although it needed to dry out (took out the battery and SD card), when dry, it worked!!!!!!!! Takes excellent pics and videos. Super little camera in every way.

Customer Buzz
 "Canon camera" 2009-07-18
By C. PHAM (Los Angeles, CA)
No complaint about this camera at all and it came with alot of extra stuff. Great buy in my opion.

Customer Buzz
 "great camera for this price!" 2009-06-07
By Nevena Vajdic
Great camera, very light and compact, but still with all futures one needs for great pics. Colors are bright, as always with Canon cameras, pics are clear and even videos are, for what you can expect from digital camera, great. Power button is little bit tricky at the beginning, but once when you get use to it, it's not a problem at all. Accessories are just what you need to be fully equipped for camera handling and copying to computer. Definitely, I will recommend to everybody who wishes an easy handling camera for every day use. Probably even more than every day use for someone who is more technically experienced with cameras.

Customer Buzz
 "Don't leave home without it." 2009-06-07
By Pat (Naperville, IL)
My first digital camera - what a joy! Just point and shoot. Took ~400 pictures of the UK from trains, buses, cars (and even standing still :)). It corrected any shaking and knew to flash when it needed more light. I could zoom in for close-ups of carvings on statues and out for landscapes. And it fit flat in my jeans pocket so that I didn't look like a tourist in areas that didn't look safe.

Get one.

Customer Buzz
 "SD890 Super Savings Bundle - good value" 2009-04-16
By Tech Dummy (new york)
I'm very pleased with this purchase. The item was sent to me the next day without additional charges. The camera works well and the total price I paid is lower than what's offered by Costco or other retailers. The only setback is the memory card reader included in the kit, which was not working but the seller offered to replace it for me. Overall, this was a good experience.


Images Product

Buy Canon Powershot SD890 IS 10MP Digital ELPH Camera - Best Selling Super-Savings Bundle Now

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Canon PG-30 & Canon CL-31 Compatible Combo Pack - 1 Black & 1 Color Ink Cartridges

Buy Cheap Canon PG-30 & Canon CL-31 Compatible Combo Pack - 1 Black & 1 Color Ink Cartridges


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Save even more money and time with our combo pack deals. This combo pack comes with one compatible recycled Canon PG-30 and one compatible recycled Canon CL-31. As with our individual products our combo packs come with our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
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Technical Details

- Supported printers: Canon PIXMA iP1800, Canon PIXMA MP140, Canon PIXMA MX310, Canon PIXMA MP470, Canon PIXMA MP210, Canon PIXMA MX300, Canon PIXMA iP2600, Canon PIXMA MP190
- Individually factory sealed
- Sold exclusively by OCinkjet
- Remanufactured under strict standards
- One year factory warranty against product defect
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Buy Canon PG-30 & Canon CL-31 Compatible Combo Pack - 1 Black & 1 Color Ink Cartridges Now

Lenmar DLC5L Lithium-ion Digital Camera/Camcorder Battery Equivalent to the Canon NB-5L Battery

Buy Cheap Lenmar DLC5L Lithium-ion Digital Camera/Camcorder Battery Equivalent to the Canon NB-5L Battery


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for use with Canon PowerShot SD700 IS and SD800 IS * rated capacity: 3.7 volts, 1120mAh *
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Technical Details

- Fits Canon PowerShot SD700 IS, Digital IXUS 800 IS
- Replaces NB-5L
- 3.7V 1120mAh
- Lithium-Ion
- 3 Year Warranty
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Customer Buzz
 "Use as equivalent to Canon NB-5L" 2009-11-07
By K. Moe
This battery looks and works just like the Canon battery that came with my new Canon PowerShot SX200IS. Highly recommend the battery back up for use on vacations.

Customer Buzz
 "Works the same as the Canon battery." 2009-11-05
By Outpost05 (UTAH)
Seems to hold a charge as well as the Canon battery.

Will have to wait and see if it lasts as long.

You could buy several of these for the price of the Canon.

Customer Buzz
 "Buy at your own risk!" 2009-10-20
By Joyce H (LA, CA)
Bought as a back up battery for my Canon SD 890IS in May 2009. I hadn't needed to use it until last weekend when I went on a 4-day trip. I charged it to full but the camera would say "change the battery pack". Then i recharged the original Canon battery, and it worked fine, which means that it's not the camera or charger's problem, but the Lenmar battery's. I kept it with my camera and the original Canon battery together in a cool and dry corner of my home. So i thought the battery is a defect and contacted the warranty department of Lenmar. I was told i need to pay for both the returning battery and the shipping of the new replacement since it's more than 90 days of purchase, which would cost more than i have paid on Amazon, regardless it's my first time using the battery after the purchase. It completely makes no sense to return this junk. But lessons learned, I will NEVER buy this brand again. After reading other reviews, seems i am not the only one who had this issue. So buy at your own risk as you may get one of the useless piece of junk.

Customer Buzz
 "Canon alternative" 2009-08-20
By K. Gilbert
Good alternative to the Canon brand. The battery life has been adequate, so far; it worked for several days of on and off shooting. It may have a slightly shorter life than the Canon brand, but for the price it is a much better value and works great for me.

Customer Buzz
 "Works, well-built" 2009-07-19
By Samat Jain (New York, NY USA)
I've not done much comparisons with the OEM Canon battery to really say this battery is as good (i.e., does it let you take the same number of pictures?).



But, it does work, it recharges quickly, and the battery is a solid piece of plastic (unlike most third-party batteries, which tend to be cheaply built). It's a great battery to keep as a spare.


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Buy Lenmar DLC5L Lithium-ion Digital Camera/Camcorder Battery Equivalent to the Canon NB-5L Battery Now

Canon BG-E6 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark II Digital SLR

Buy Cheap Canon BG-E6 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark II Digital SLR


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Marketing description is not available.
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Technical Details

- compatible with Canon EOS 5D Mark II
- camera grip with storage for up to two LP-E6, or 6 "AA" batteries (not included)
- use of 2 LP-E6 batteries doubles shooting time
- built-in camera control buttons for easier vertical shooting, including shutter release, AE/FE lock, AF on, and Main Dial control wheel
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Customer Buzz
 "Expensive but necessary..." 2009-09-28
By Adam W. Medders
i bought this when there weren't any knockoff battery grips. if i buy another 5d II in the future, i'm probably getting a plastic knockoff grip for my 2nd camera.



the way i shoot, i HAVE to have a battery grip. i don't mind turning my wrist, but the time it saves me later straightening out all of my pictures makes it well worth it. plus, who can't use the extra battery life?



other than that, everything works exactly how it's supposed to. the grip matches up perfectly with the 5d mk II's body and stays tight/looks great. every once in a while i'll set it on my lap and accidentally take a few pictures or accidentally hit the shutter button while reviewing pictures...but all user error.



i rated this a 4 because it's a little expensive. granted, i paid $300 for mine and now you can get them almost 20% cheaper than that. if you can't afford it or don't want to...read reviews, you'll see there are some very good 3rd party plastic grips for the 5d II and decide for yourself if it's worth the extra $160 or not.



-Adam

Customer Buzz
 "Grip o rama" 2009-09-22
By Shawn Zanganehpour (Los Angeles, CA USA)
it is effective, right size and full of features for when you hold the camera in 90 degree angle. you almost don't lose any immediate functionality. i love it

Customer Buzz
 "The Canon BG-EG Battery Grip" 2009-09-15
By Anderberg Michael (Stockholm, Sweden)
I'm primarily a wedding shooter and as such I lug around usually at least two camera bodies and various lenses on top of that; so one would think that adding extra weight wouldn't be the first thing that I'd prioritize? Yet, that is one of the primary reasons that I add the battery grip to at least one of my bodies. Why? The extra weight actually balances the camera better in your hands when you have one of the heavier lenses on, like the 70-200/2.8 IS wedding workhorse telephoto lens. Thus it's easier to take a photo that is crisp and sharp, even thought the net weight is actually more than without.



Of course the battery grip also adds the an extra set of the most essential buttons, conveniently located when you shoot vertical. And shooting vertically I do in probably easily 75% or more of all the shots in a day's work. But what about the extra battery and the added battery life? Yes, of course there is that, but for me personally that isn't one of the top two for getting this particular accessory. Having said that, of course it's convenient not to have to worry about swapping batteries as often as with out or having to shut down the camera to preserve power and risk missing an awesome shot.



The only drawback for me, is that although I've never had it come loose or anything like that, the actual mounting feels a bit flimsy for an accessory of this magnitude. Maybe I am biased as I'm used to shooting the 1D series and thus of course used to the battery grip being part of the camera body. Still I feel that it should feel more solid than it does now. One thing worth pointing out is that as you take off the original battery compartment door, it fits into a slot on the actual grip before the whole thing inserts into the camera, thus if you're in the field and for some reason decide that you want to take off the grip, the original door is right there ready to be re-fastened in its place.



All in all I'd easily recommend this accessory to anyone serious about their shooting, especially with telephoto lenses on.





Customer Buzz
 "Great Unit" 2009-09-03
By R. Sutton (Rio Vista, CA USA)
The unit is top quality. It's sturdy and well made. On the 5D it also really helps me handle the 28-300mm L series lens. Of course having 2 batteries also extents the time between recharging batteries.

Customer Buzz
 "Great Item but pricey and not compatible to other models" 2009-08-24
By Ricardo Miller (Jamaica)
This is not necessarily a must have but if you are going to be doing alot of shooting and don't want to replace batteries too often then it is best to get this expansion slot. I own the original Canon EOS 5D and was disappointed that those batteries nor the grip would work on the new 5D Mark II. It is ideal for holding the camera in portrait (sideways) as it provides an extra shutter release and rotating wheel. This is a good buy if you think you need it. I removed 1 star because it is a little pricey and you will also need to buy an extra battery which is also pricey since Canon doesn't like to keep compatibility with older models.


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Buy Canon BG-E6 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark II Digital SLR Now

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Canon VIXIA HV40 HD HDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom

Buy Cheap Canon VIXIA HV40 HD HDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom


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When you take what you shoot seriously, you need a
serious camcorder that lives up to your demands. The
Canon VIXIA HV40 HD camcorder does the job with
astonishing high definition detail and color reproduction.
The VIXIA HV40 delivers the unparalleled combination of a
Genuine Canon 10x HD Video Lens, a Canon Full HD CMOS
Image Sensor and DIGIC DV II Image Processor for stunning
image quality. Once you experience and see the images you
capture, you wont trust your shots to any other camcorder.
Add to that the SuperRange Optical Image Stabilizer that
keeps your video and photos steady and Instant AF, giving
you fast, accurate focus so you dont miss that important
moment, and youve got a camcorder thats hard to match.
The Canon VIXIA HV40 also offers a 2.7-inch multi-angle
vivid widescreen LCD with true color, and the ability to shoot
in Native 24p Mode. The Canon VIXIA HV40 HD camcorder
opens up a world of shooting possibilities, so check it out,
youll love what you see. Canon USA 1-year limited warranty
included.
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Technical Details

- HDV format delivers high-definition video to miniDV tape
- Genuine Canon 10x HD video lens; SuperRange Optical Image Stabilizer
- DIGIC DV II image processor; 24p Cinema Mode, 30p Progressive Mode
- 2.7-inch Multi-Angle Vivid Widescreen LCD
- HDMI terminal for easy, one-cable connectivity to your HDTV
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Customer Buzz
 "Motor noise is flaw" 2009-11-03
By JDB (SCOTTSDALE, AZ United States)
I ordered this camera to replace an aging Sony SD Mini DV unit. I returned it because the motor produces a distinct, pulsating whine that is clearly audible on the recorded audio. I have run into this issue before with cheaper Mini DV camcorders but believed an expensive and highly-rated unit like the HV40 should be better. The issue is important to me because I find the whining sound distracting as a backdrop to my family memories. Maybe it doesn't bother others so mach, which is why manufacturers can get away with it.



I replaced the HV40 with the Sony HDR-HC9 and I'm very happy with the Sony. The Sony's motor is audible during recording but is almost completely silent on the tape. I also like the handling of the Sony much better and the construction feels more solid in the hand. The touch-screen menu is fine with me. Although some rave about the HV40's low light performace, I prefer the image quality of the Sony. The HV40 appears to produce a more contrasty image in low light, which some may prefer, but I think it comes at the expense of more visual "noise" in the image. The Sony's images are smoother, more balanced, and cleaner, though less vivid. Finally, I like the Sony's image stabilization better -- I believe it smoothes out small vibrations better. Others may differ, but the choice was clear to me.

Customer Buzz
 "1440 x 1080 NOT 1920 x 1080" 2009-11-02
By P. Dankers (Aspen, CO)
I purchased this camera for HD semi pro video. Considering that it received the highest score from Consumer Reports among the HD camcorders, I was astonished to discover that it does NOT record 1920x1080. Its highest mode is 1440x1080 and the image quality is pretty average at that. The documentation that I found was misleading, because I saw numerous references to a 1920 x 1080 resolution and I never saw any warnings that would have led me to believe that the only thing on this camera that gets 1920 x 1080 resolution are still photos. I used it with a high quality Sony stereo microphone and the sound quality was atrocious. It's a good microphone that I use a lot with other recorders. There are several recording modes, but they are not well explained in the manual, so good luck figuring out which recording mode you will want to use. There are quite a number of menu items that are cryptic at best. The straw that broke the camel's back was when I discovered that it is not compatible with Adobe Premiere for live capture. Seriously, Consumer Reports? This camera gets your highest score? I wouldn't recommend this camera to my worst enemy.

Customer Buzz
 "Overall a great camera but buy a better battery" 2009-10-05
By Thomas A. Strock III (Charleston, SC)
The image quality is outstanding for a novice style camera and user. The features are easy to use and intuitive. The battery that comes with the camera is pretty much a joke as far a recording time. Buy yourself the best battery you can afford.

Customer Buzz
 "Previous HV20 user. HV40 is a good upgrade." 2009-09-24
By Sprout (Port Townsend, WA)
I purchased the HV20 a few years back when it first came out, and it was a fantastic camera, with a few small shortcomings mostly to do with the HDV format falling behind technological advancements, i.e. 24p buried in a 60i wrapper (which made the 24p a pain to retrieve) was the biggest gripe, as well as having to take the time to transfer video from the camera to my computer. Wasn't a big fan of the silver color, either, but that's minor at best. The hotshoe cover was removable and not captive and was easy to lose (by the time I sold the HV20 I had to dig through my house to find that cover).



Thankfully, the HV40 has fixed the issue with 24p. Now you can capture at 24p without any real issues (works perfectly with Sony Vegas on PC, haven't tried it with any mac software yet). Nice black camera looks a little more professional, and even the hotshoe cover is permanently attached to the camera... However, it's painfully annoying because it just gets in the way when mounting a shotgun microphone! Yes, I broke it off and it's now sitting in a drawer again. A sliding cover like on the HFS10 would be a better solution overall. Obviously, you're still looking at transferring the video in real time via firewire. If there's a faster way to do this, I haven't found it yet.



The things that stand out most to me:

- Picture quality is, as expected, excellent.

- Menu system has never been great on the HV series but it's usable once you get used to it.

- Location of the Instant AF sensor --or whatever it is-- to the side of the lens, outside of the filter rings means it's easy to block with many lens accessories, which makes IAF work poorly at times.

- HDV Tape vs. Flash... Flash based camcorders are easier to deal with in post, but DV tapes can be bought just about anywhere, making tape-based cameras great for vacations or long shooting sessions.

- Battery life is sufficient, you can fill an entire hour tape on a single charge, plus some extra. Aftermarket batteries are easy to find and CHEAP, and don't nag like HFS10 batteries.

- VIEWFINDER! An actual, honest-to-goodness LCD viewfinder, which is often easier to shoot through than the flip-out LCD.



Overall, a solid update to the HV line, at a decent price. You can't go wrong with this camera, though depending on your needs, there might be something better for you out there, like the HFS10/100. 4/5

Customer Buzz
 "Fantastic. Best Consumer HDV I've Ever Used." 2009-08-27
By Bradford Schmidt (Bone In The Fan dot com)
Camcorders are tough to review. The wide skill sets of consumers who purchase them as well as their diverse needs make for a ton of different approaches, though none that are necessarily one-size-fits-all.



So, as in my review of the PS3, I'm going to concentrate on those things that I think are important to the majority of people looking at camcorders on amazon.com. If you are a highly experienced shooter and need technical specs and measured results, I'd suggest a quick look at some of the dedicated digital video review sites, of which there are plenty. As for me, the following are the issues that mattered. My video background: I worked for a few years at a television studio, shooting and directing, and have been shooting home video since the 80's, progressing from cameras attached to VCR's through VHS cams, 8MM, Digital8, and HDV, so I've played with a bunch of goodies.

That said, on with my review:



FORMAT: The first thing anyone purchasing a camcorder needs to decide on is recording format. Do you want to record to local memory (flash or hard drive) or removable media. For me, it's a no-brainer. I wanted removable media so that a) I'd be able to keep archives and b) there was no chance that I'd fill up the camera with no way to offload the footage in the field. Those two issues eliminated built-in memory right off the bat. Also, digital tape is well supported and easily streams video via firewire to my computer for editing - the downside? It's done in real time. That's not a horrific issue for me though, and certainly not enough for me to trade to a hard drive system.



FEATURES: The HV40 is packed with features. It's an upgrade from the HV30, which was a minor upgrade from the HV20, both of which received rave reviews from press and consumers for quality and ease of use. I own an HV20, so I was ready to go with the HV40.



The lens on the HV40 is a Canon 10x optical zoom with optical image stabilization (as opposed to digital stabilization, which is not nearly as good) and has fantastic optics. The zoom switch is a HUGE upgrade over the one on the HV20, allowing for incredible control (the old one was a barrel, this is an actual raised switch - all the difference in the world!). Auto focus is fast and accurate, and it never had a problem finding focus. Above the lens is a video light, which is ok in a pinch, but not fantastic.



Shooting modes include 60i (60 frames-per-second, interlaced) 30p (30 frames-per-second, progressive), and, new to this model, true 24p (24 frames-per-second, progressive) that gives a very film-like quality. Note that your editing software must support it, but if it does, it's fabulous looking.



The HV40 also shoots still photos (as many camcorders do) though it uses the Canon Digic image processor, which gives great quality and continuous shooting. Two pretty neat features: you can capture still photos to a memory card as you're shooting video, and you can capture still photos to a memory card FROM video you've already shot, and it's all transferable via the USB port. Very neat.



The LCD screen is a healthy 2.7 inch widescreen unit and looks great. There's also a hot shoe on top of the camera (with a removable cap that stays attached to the camera, unlike on the HV20), an HDMI terminal for connecting directly to a display, and a wireless remote control. There are, of course, many additional features that are too plentiful to list here. I've included the big highlights, but you might want to take a look at the manufacturer's description for more.



QUALITY/USABILITY: In a word: fantastic. The quality of the video is stunning. I've loved my HV20 since I bought it, but the HV40 looks even better, at least to my eyes. Plus, as I mentioned, you've got the new 24P mode which adds new creative options.



There are plenty of shooting modes: you can select the frame rate and choose from a number of program scenes if you wish, or simply leave it on auto. You can select preset white balance settings or do a manual white balance, and of course control manual focus and other settings if you wish. All in all a great variety of shooting modes that should fulfill pretty much anyone.



The camera is light and easy to hold for long periods of time, the focus is fast and accurate as I said, and tape noise handling is great.



I found low light performance to be excellent. On a recent trip to the Luray Caverns, I was able to capture everything I wanted to get, and the focus, color registration and clarity were phenomenal.



Battery life is also very good - I didn't have any issues during a recent road trip, shooting a lot during the day and charging overnight.



I had absolutely no problems transferring my finished footage to my computer via firewire. I tested importing to my Mac as well as my PC, and neither posed the slightest problem. Two issues I'd like to point out here for Mac owners: iMovie and Final Cut Express do not support native 24p editing, and both import HDV using Apple's Intermediate Codec, which is a lossy compression that is not compatible with Windows, and is not true native HDV. I'm not making qualitative statements here - I just wanted to give folks a heads up to do the research if these might be issues for you. As an aside, I edit using Sony Vegas Platinum which has no such issues and is a fantastic, reasonably priced product that supports 24p footage (though it's PC-only).



INCLUDED SOFTWARE: Forget it. Use a third party solution. As I said, I've been very impressed with Sony Vegas, though you have to get at least the Platinum edition to support HDV editing (I bought the Platinum Pro edition that included Sound Forge - a great value).



CONCLUSIONS: Fantastic. I have no complaints whatsoever. The HV40 is simple enough in auto mode for my 9-year-old son to use, but has the features that I find necessary to shoot what and when I want.



Best in class, hands down.


Images Product

Buy Canon VIXIA HV40 HD HDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom Now

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS SLR Lens

Buy Cheap Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS SLR Lens


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Equipped with Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer (IS) technology, the Canon EF-S 18-55mm standard zoom lens is ideal for just about any application. IS technology compensates for camera shake by providing the equivalent effect of a shutter speed up to four stops faster. This allows you to take sharp handheld shots even in low-light conditions--a must for sports and nature photography. The lens also offers an aspherical lens element that corrects for aberration, thus producing a topnotch image throughout the zoom range, and a circular aperture that exquisitely renders out-of-focus backgrounds. Despite its minimal size, weight, and cost, the lens expands the picture-taking possibilities any time slow shutter speeds are needed.
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Technical Details

- Focal Length & Maximum Aperture - 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
- Lens Construction - 16 elements in 12 groups, including UD-glass and aspherical lenses
- Diagonal Angle of View - 74 20' - 7 50' (with APS-C image sensors)
- Focus Adjustment - Gear-driven
- Closest Focusing Distance - 1.48 ft./0.45m (maximum close-up magnification 0.24x)
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Customer Buzz
 "Great basic lens" 2009-11-09
By Barbara A. Carlson (Pittsburgh, PA, USA)
This is the lens that normally comes in the kit. If you need a new Rebel, get the kit! We ended up paying more for it separately. What happened was my old camera quit working. We thought it was the body, so we just purchased a new body. Nope. The lens was broken! So then we had to purchase a lens separately. This is a nice basic/starter lens and works great for general photos. I do a lot of animal photos, and it's worked fine. The next lens up cost more than the camera! So if you just need a basic lens, this does work, takes nice photos, and won't break the bank.

Customer Buzz
 "Great, yet cheap little zoom lens" 2009-11-08
By H. Hatje (UT, USA)
While Canon produces many fantastic lenses, they do offer a lower-quality line at a much cheaper price. Mind you, Canon does this to broaded their market-share and to potentially create loyal customers from this group.



I have been looking for a simple small lens to attach to my camera when I am not doing work for money. I read about the size and weight of this lens and was pleased by the many good ratings, so I decided to get it. I was not disappointed. After a month now, the lens performs as it was stated, smooth zooming, the USM is heard, but it's nothing bad, and the IS works flawlessly.



I have had no problems whatsoever mounting or dismounting the lens from my EOS 30D body, which stores beautifully amongst my other gear due to its small size. My professional lenses are twice the size and not having to carry the extra weight is a godsend.



I do wish the lens was made from more robust plastics, but if they did, the lens' price would be higher. I will merely try to baby the lens every step of the way so it will last the longest possible. All in all, this lens is worth the money you spend on it, which is why I rated 5 stars.

Customer Buzz
 "Nice Suprise" 2009-11-04
By Doug from S.C. (Columbia,S.C. USA)
I bought this lens just to have it as a back up to my trusty Sigma 17-70 lens. It has not left my 40D since.I picked up the 18-55 IS as a "USA White Box" lens(was removed from a kit by a retailer).It is light,easy to handle and very sharp.The auto focus is fast and accurate.My thinking was that this might be an temporary lens until the New Canon 15-85 came out. I don't know that the new lens would justify the extra $650.00. The 18-55 IS does have its short comings,but I feel the image quality and price outweigh them. I team this lens up with the 55-250 IS (another amazing value lens)and a fast prime like the 28 f/1.8 and I am covered for a day of walk around photography.

Customer Buzz
 "Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS SLR Lens" 2009-09-08
By Mel (Eastern Oregon USA)
It was everything that I thought a Canon camera lens would be! It was simple and quick; just really click and go. I don't think you need a stabilizer lens for something that is this focus size (18-55mm). It may help with some of the macro shots. So if there is a big price difference you may want to consider the lens without an automatic stabilizer because it can eat up some of your battery and it's not that helpful.





Customer Buzz
 "Great Product" 2009-08-20
By A. Liang (Davis, CA)
We enjoy this lens very much. It provides clear photos; maybe I should say sharp images. Recommend for purchase.


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