Sony DCR-SR32 Hard Disc Drive Camcorder With 2.5” LCD Screen
HDD HANDYCAM 30GB H/DR 1/6 800K PXL 40X OPT/ZM 2000DZ NS

Customer Review: A good little performer but Amazon disappointing
My overall impression of the DCR-SR32 is that it’s a great little device for the cost…plus it’s a Sony of course. For general everyday use it’s perfect and the small size makes it easy to carry around…unlike earlier camcorders I owned where a needed several bags to transport them!

The disappointing part about Amazon is they reduced the price by roughly ?5 the day after it was delivered to me. It would have been good customer service to have passed on this saving given how quickly the price came down after my order was submitted.

Customer Review: First impressions
Having used a DVD Camcorder previously, I find that this is a big improvement in many ways. Number one is that it is more compact (because of the hard drive) than the DVD version. It also reads and writes much faster than the DVD version and without the nuisance of loading and unloading DVD disks.

One of the reasons for changing to the hard drive was reliability. I bought Panasonic DVD disks for my previous camcorder and took a lot of holiday movies. Unfortunately when trying to view and copy them to my PC, I discovered the batch I had bought were faulty and I had received no indication from the camera when I was recording. Although Panasonic replaced them, it still meant I had lost a lot of holiday memories.

To sum up, I recommend the DCR-SR32 for the small compact size, reliabilty and design.

Bill Gordon

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List Price: ?14.42
Amazon Price: ?14.42
Used Price: ?4.51
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Amazon Price: ?134.99
Customer Review: Panasonic NV-GS60EB Great budget camcorder
When buying this Camcorder I looked at the JVC GR-D728EK and the Sony DCR-HC27E. I discarded the JVC as it had very poor white balance, meaning the colures it produced were not faithful to the image being shot, the tape noise was picked up by the microphone in such a way that it was very distracting when watching the recorded video, and in-doors/low light the images lost their colure definition and became very grainy with the auto focus not working particularly effectively. When I handled the Sony and the Panasonic in store they both appeared NOT to suffer from the above foibles of the JVC. I purchased the Panasonic so I cannot comment further than on the Sony but can comment as follows on the Panasonic. The lens on the Panasonic is a 30 X Optical zoom (which is very good for camcorder standards) with an electronic image stabilising function which does contribute to reducing camera shake but will not, understandably, eradicate it. There is a however a fitting on the base of the camera to allow you to mount it on a tripod should you wish to. The main differentiator with the focal length on this camera in relation to the JVC & Sony above is that it has a very wide angle lens meaning that more will fit in to the shot, ideal for filming indoors where it may be hard to move far enough away from the subject matter to fit it all in or when filming scenery where you want to fit in a wider vista. In low light the images are still very good, the auto focus is still effective and the white balance is faithful. The camera comes equipped with a low light function (activated manually) to take filming down to 2 LUX (as much light generated by 2 candles at 1 meter) giving the ability to film in near darkness. Whilst there is a photo feature for taking stills, this simply records seven seconds of still footage on to the tape as opposed recording to a jpeg image on to a SD card, or such like, as would be done on a stills camera. The camera has a full auto setting and also manual over rides to cover focus, exposure compensation, and pre-programmed scene (sport, snow, beach, portrait etc), white balance, backlight compensation, plus others. I found the camera a little larger than the Sony & JVC (still very small), which for me made it more comfortable to handle, with not too many buttons and all in the right place. The Panasonic felt well made with a colour viewfinder (with dioptre) and a 2.5-inch LCD flip out screen (will swivel through 180 degrees for filming yourself etc) both are of perfectly good quality and deliver clear images. A sturdy/stubby joystick on the rear of the camera handles navigation for the menu & play functions. I actually found this very effective in use. You can out put the audiovisual signal by way of a DV Out (No In), Mini USB and composite jack plug (Video, Audio left & right) but there is no S-Video. There are also no DV or USB leads supplied with the camera only Jack Plug. There is also no editing software supplied for your PC. To see a thorough over view of the product you van down load the user manual from the Panasonic web site, www.panasonic.co.uk. I have thoroughly enjoyed using this camera. It has excellent image quality and low light handling for a budget camcorder. It starts up quickly and is simple to operate as well as reproducing images faithfully. For the money I would be happy to give this product 5 stars.
Customer Review: Panasonic NV-GS60EB
Excellent little camcorder. Picture quality is superb directly to the television via the AV cable, it is easy to use and is small and light. Great value for money. Just a shame it doesn’t come with any editing software or cable to connect to the computer.
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Amazon Price: ?75.06
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Sony LSC-VAC Compact Camcorder Soft Carrying Case
SMALL SIZED SOFT CARRY CASE F/MINI DV AND DVD HANDYCAMS NS

Customer Review: A Lightweight Compact Solution
I was looking for a case that did NOT turn a lightweight & compact camcorder (Sony DCR-HC35) into a heavy large item to carry around whilst out & about, the LCS-VAC lived up to my expectations, it can hold (in addition to the camcorder)1-2 spare tapes, the remote control & a spare battery OR additional small still camera. If you do not take the mains charger with you everywhere you walk to, then this is the case for you. I Paid ?[...] including postage which is much cheaper then anywhere else I have seen since.

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Customer Review: Excellent!!
After looking at various models of DV camcorders I came accross this one by accident, I had played with a more expensive Panasonic model but it did not have DV in. The features this model has for the money is in my mind second to none, Stills camera, web-cam etc, etc. The only slight let down with it is the battery. The standard one only gives about 40 minutes of playtime, other then that it is excellent.
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Take Control of Sound and Vision with the DCR-VX2100 series, offering the brightest video results of all Sony MiniDV models. With its Advanced HAD progressive scan CCD technology, illumination is improved dramatically, delivering superior low-light perfor
Amazon Price: ?1,439.97
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List Price: ?79.99
Amazon Price: ?62.98
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Travel and Scenic Photography 101

When you’re driving through the mountains somewhere, and you notice a car parked half off the road and some guy leaning to the left to avoid a branch with his Rebel 2000 camera in the act of focusing, you’ve met me. I do this because, to me, a trip isn’t fulfilling unless I’ve preserved that beauty for posterity. I’d like to share some of the techniques that make scenic photography such a wonderful artform - simple, yet elegant.

First off, equipment. As much as the cheapo disposable camera beckons, get real. These cameras have fisheye lenses which I call “spam” lenses. They cram everything in, with equal blurriness and boringness. Good photos are sharp, unless you use blur for artistic effect. Sharp comes from an adjustable lens. It can be a fixed lens or a zoom, but it must focus specially for each picture. Fixed lenses are limiting for scenic pictures, where to frame the shot you may need to move long distances. Imagine using a fixed lens on the Washington Monument, when you’re half a block away! Zooms get my vote, even though they often don’t have as wide an aperture, which limits their capabilities in low light situations.

Practically speaking, an SLR is the absolute best. They are lightweight, and can be used with top quality lenses. Film SLRs tend to be less expensive, but have the limitations of film, meaning you have to get it developed and so forth. Digital SLRs are VERY expensive, so for the budget conscious either go with a film SLR or a high quality basic digital camera. With digital, resolution is also a critical factor, so look at the specs before you buy.

OK, we’ve got the camera, emotions are running high, and that’s great, but not too great! Sometimes I find a spot that is so wonderful, I start shooting like a madman, only to be disappointed by the pictures. What happened? Emotions. When you experience a place, there are sounds, aromas and breezes as well as the visuals of the spot. Needless to say, you can’t photograph all of these elements, only the visual. When overwhelmed by the spectacle of a scenic hotspot, we are often overwhelmed by all of these elements.

So what to do? Look through your camera. The viewfinder does not lie (usually). Try to see what you are looking at as the finished picture. Most people perfunctorily take pictures, hoping that somehow the shot will come out great. If you wonder how the pictures came out when you are on the way to the drug store to get them, you’re doing something wrong. At the moment you click the pic, you should know exactly what you will get. (Of course with digital, that’s not a trick!).

Now, I was a tad dishonest in saying that you can’t capture all of the elements of a scene. You can hint at them. For starters, motion. Yes, even in a still picture, there is motion. Something happened before, during and after your picture. In a mountain vista scene, you may find something that hints at motion, whether it be a branch of a tree that has been swaying in the breeze, or a river flowing through the valley below. These add a sense of motion.

Then there’s the “rule of thirds.” When you place the main object of the picture smack-dab in the middle, it is static and boring. Place it one third of the way from either side, and you IMPLY motion. Put the horizon in a landscape photo a third of the way up or down, not across the middle.

Remember, when a person looks at a picture, their eyes move. You want to frame your photo to help that movement. If you can find some lines in the scene, such as a skyline, cloud formation, path through the forest, etcetera, use it interestingly, and with the rule of thirds to draw your viewer’s eyes into the picture.

Avoid “summit syndrome.” You get to the top of Mount Washington and shoot the majestic vista. Great. The pictures come out … boring! How? No PERSPECTIVE. Big vistas will be flat unless you have an object in the foreground, such as a rock or a tree, to give them perspective. Then the eye really grasps how big this scene is. People enjoying the view is a real winner, because the viewer may identify with their emotions, giving the image real impact.

Cheese! Yes, you do have to take the family photos. It’s obligatory. But when you do, make sure that they show the LOCATION of the photo. Otherwise, you might as well do it on your driveway. Frame the scene in context, with landmarks as part of the picture. Find a way to tell as story in the picture, such as little Sara climbing up the rocks by the waterfall.

Finally, any element in the picture that hints at more senses than just the visual will make it remarkable. Actor headshots for example, tell a story about the subject. You can almost hear them saying their next lines. If you photograph a garden, the viewer may experience the aroma of the flowers. A tourist street with an accordion player on the corner may have your amazed friends whistling “Dixie.”

In summation, picture taking on travel is recording the experience in a satisfying way. Use motion, perspective, sensory, storytelling and so forth, to bring your photos to life. Oh, and needless to say, make your job easy and go to great places! See you at the overlook!

Seth Lutnick is a photographer, composer, and performer. He has taken thousands of scenic photos, recorded two albums of original music, and appeared on stage, TV and film. Visit his website - www.getitdone.biz - for more detailed plans on photography, music, health and education, and extensive product links for the resources to fulfill your goals.

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Tough and easy for pre-schooler use, the Kid-Tough Digital Camera is available in blue and pink versions. Features dual handle grips and dual eye viewing. There’s an improved 1.3MP Imager and larger 1.5 ins colour LCD screen, which allows kids to instantly see the photos they have taken and view or delete previous shots. Includes USB cable and software to edit on the PC & email their pictures to Granny! Requires 4 x AA type batteries (not included). Suitable for ages 3 years +.
Customer Review: Dissatisfied Customer
This product is incorrectly marketed. It is the Fisher Price Digital camera. Fisher Price is a subsidiary company of Mattel. The cost of the camera in the Early Learning Centre is ?59.99 also Argos sells the item for the same price. Popcorn is charging over ?83 for this item a total of ?86.55 including postage and package. I am disappointed with the service from Popcorn and definitely would not recommend it.
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POWERSHOT A460 BLUE 5 MP 4X ZOOM DIGIC II UK
Amazon Price: ?68.40
Customer Review: love it so much
this camera is fantastic, its gorgeous(blue) and great quality and it takes brilliant pictures. lovely and easy to use. but one bad point in my opinion is that it doesnt come with a case ???? i was astonished, but there is one on here to buy for about ?12, so you can get one, but shouldnt it come with ? . i cant recommend this camera highly enough, just remember to buy the case at the same time.
Customer Review: Good camera, but where’s the manual?
This is a decent camera for the price. Unfortunately, the full 112-page user guide is only available as PDF file which is extremely inconvenient because you need a computer every time you want to look at the guide, or it implies additional money to print it out and bind it.
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List Price: ?9.99
Amazon Price: ?6.99
Used Price: ?3.67
Customer Review: A Must have for digital beginners
i am an absolute beginner and just purchased my new camera with loads of new features. i looked at other books but they seems to have a large section on choosing my camera, which is useless to me at this stage. when this book arrived i opened it to just flick through, but soon found myself taking the camera out, looking at it from all angles and doing the exercises with focus and light! very easy instructions on how to take pictures using different techniques to achieve certain shot style and all supported by pictures. there are pictures of what a good shot is and what a bad shot is, for each feature - which i found helpful because i could really see the difference and was aware of how much i could achieve with a little practice. the book covers all the features i wanted to know and more, so i can confidently say it saved me money on joining a digital photography class! get it!
Customer Review: A great book for beginners…
The books starts with a couple of pages explaining the difference between film and digital and also considers the pros and cons of each - a bit late if you have already bought your digicam! A little of this book does concern what camera to buy and which accessories you might need, also it devotes a few pages to what to do with your digital images after you have shot them. I would suggest that if your digicam is a simple point and shoot which offers little or no control over settings such as shutter speed, aperture, white balance, etc. then much of the book will be wasted. Most digicams do offer a lot of creative control these days and if you are new to photography then you will find this book invaluable as a great starting place. Also consider “40 Digital Photo Retouching Techniques” which I also bought and was equally pleased with.
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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55 Digital Camera - Silver (7.2MP, 3x Optical Zoom) 2.5” LCD
by Sony
Technical Details
Product Description: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55 - digital camera
Product Type: Digital camera - point and shoot
Dimensions (WxDxH): 8.9 cm x 2.3 cm x 5.7 cm
Weight: 116 g
Colour: Sleek silver
Supported Flash Memory: Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo
Integrated Memory: 56 MB
Sensor Resolution: 7.2 Megapixel
Shooting Modes: Frame movie mode
Lens Aperture: F/2.8-5.2
Focus Adjustment: Automatic
Min Focus Range: 50 cm
Focal Length: 6.3 mm - 18.9 mm
Optical Zoom: 3 x
Digital Zoom: 6 x
Camera Flash: Built-in flash
Red Eye Reduction: Built-in
Viewfinder: Optical - real-image zoom
Display: LCD display - TFT active matrix - 2.5″ - colour
Supported Battery: 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery ( included )

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Sumnique Battery Charger Kit For Canon NB1L, NP100,JVC V101
This Digital Battery Charger is a high quality unit that features in-built short circuit protection. It is supplied with a UK standard 3 pin moulded plug to charge from your mains along with a connector for your car cigarette lighter, enabling you to charge on the move. The charger has a LED to indicate charging in process and changes colour to show a fully charged battery. This charger will charge Canon NP-1L, NP-100 branded batteries as well as equivalent non-branded batteries.

Nikon Coolpix L3 5.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (White)
Performance and value come together to form the Coolpix L3 digital camera. 5.1 Megapixels, and a 3x optical zoom provide the crisp images that anyone can appreciate while the large bright 2″ LCD screen allows you to fix Red-Eye or Crop right in the camera. Don’t forget the included 32MB of internal memory, so you can get going right out of the box, with room to expand with the SD card memory slot, you’ll never run out of room! The flexibility to use AA-alkaline or NiMH means you’ll always be able to pick up more batteries out on the road. These features and more are sure to satisfy your day-to-day digital photography needs at a price that won’t hurt your wallet! Built-in Auto-flash with Red-Eye reduction and in-camera Red-Eye fix Face Priority AF In-Camera Cropping D-Lighting compensates for underexposed or flash deprived areas of an image by adding light and detail In-Camera Help Best Shot Selector Voice Memos 16 programmed scene modes PictBridge for direct printing to your PC without a computer Long battery life (Up to 200 shots on 2 AA-type alkaline batteries) 32MB internal memory; SD memory card slot An SD Card is NOT included, therefore we suggest purchasing an optional 512MB memory card. It will allow you to store a lot more video and images, as well as take advantage of the camera’s high resolution abilities. Interfaces - Audio/Video (output), USB Approximate Unit Dimensions (WxHxD) - 3.6 x 2.4 x 1.0; Unit Weight - 4.2 ounces (without battery and SD card) WHITE
Used Price: $95.00
Customer Review: Great simple to use camera!
I really like this camera. I had taken my friend’s to Europe and took over 300 pics with it and everyone was amazing. So I decided to buy it myself in the white color and love it!!
Customer Review: I’m Sort of Satisfied.
The camera is ok, I guess. I got it for Christmas 06′. It doesnt come with a charger, or a memory chip, or a charger. So you have to but all that stuff unless you want to keep on buying batteries. But other than that the camera is great. And if you ask Amazon to wrap it(the present),they will and it is soooo nice, I loved it.