Gear Diary » Digital Cameras and Video Recorders

Checking Out Windows Phone Speed, Apps, Camera, Music Player and Games

Judie Stanford — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:00:51 +0000

Judie: Our saga began when Dan and I received HTC Titans at a Microsoft sponsored dinner while attending CES; it's hard to believe that on the 11th it will have been one month ago. You can catch up on our previous posts before starting with this one by clicking the following links: Considering the Move from an iPhone 4S to Windows Phone Titan Comparing the iPhone 4s Hardware to the HTC Titan and Dipping into the Windows Phone User Interface In that month, my iPhone has never left my gadget drawer. Although I can think of a few times I wished I had it -- mainly when writing up a cool accessory I had just discovered that was 'iPhone only' or when feeling the absence of a favorite app -- not once have I missed it enough to retrieve it from the drawer. That's better than I can say for any other phone running any other operating system that I have tried in the past ... but I'm not sure if I'm ready to list the 4S on eBay just yet! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Sony Bloggie Live at Hoover Dam, a Video Demo

Dan Cohen — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:00:29 +0000

Image taken with the Bloggie Live

Judie received a Bloggie Live video recorder last week at CES and we brought it along with us to take some images and video while at Hoover Dam. As the video demonstrates, this diminutive Bloggie Live takes some amazing video and is incredibly easy to use. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

CES: Liquid Image Announces HD Video Snow Goggles And Mountable Sports Cameras

Travis Ehrlich — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:00:17 +0000

The only thing bigger today than extreme sports, is extreme sports videos. The internet is full of amazing video footage of talented and sometimes crazy people hitting the big trick or conquering a huge slope. We seem to have begun to video everything we do and it often produces some pretty entertaining footage. Myself and several buddies have begun filming our deer and turkey hunts, editing them into full episode, high definition presentations of our adventures. In fact, the ability to film my own hunts is something I have struggled with using my current set up. Dragging a tripod by myself out to a tree stand or ground blind is not always possible while

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Samsung CES 2012 Press Conference: Pushing Boundaries

Dan Cohen — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:17:51 +0000

Samsung's Press Conference brought news of some great evolutionary products. We waited in line for hours just to hear what Samsung had to share. It was worth the wait. Here's a look...

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Gear Deal: Dell XPS 15 Intel 2nd Gen Core i5 2.4GHz Laptop w/6GB RAM, 750GB HDD + Canon ELPH 100 HS Digital Camera + Adobe Elements 9 Bundle

Dan Cohen — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:25:09 +0000

We start the week with a Gear Deal on a 15.6" Dell XPS 15 Core i5-2430M 2.4GHz laptop. This deal has the laptop come bundled with a Canon ELPH 100 HS Digital Camera, Adobe Photoshop Elements 10 and Premiere Elements 10. The base configuration of this XPS 15 laptop includes 6GB RAM, a 750GB 7200RPM Hard Drive, 1GB GeForce GT 525M graphics, a DVD burner, Wireless-N connectivity, JBL 2.1 Speakers with Waves Maxx Audio 3, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OS and more. The bundle would normally sell for $1,157.99 but after all the savings our Gear Sponsor found are applied the final price is just $799.99. Details and ordering information can be found here. Gear Deal Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Abe’s of Maine + New Gear Daily + Cyber Monday = Big Savings

Dan Cohen — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:45:08 +0000

What's better than getting great Cyber Monday Deals? We've for some awesome deals from Abe's of Maine that you can take advantage of without having to leave your house. Take a look... Get this $29.95 tripod for just $9.95. Buy it here. Save 36% on the Canon EOS Rebel T2i Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm IS Lens. Buy it now. Save 53% on the Lumix DMC-FH25K 16.1MP Digital Camera, Wide Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

GoPro Is the HERO of Awesome Action Video

David Goodspeed — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:00:37 +0000

Images: GoPro

Ever wonder how producers are able to capture those awesome video shots that seem to put you right in the action? Simple, they have the right equipment (and, of course they eye and technical skill.) One such tool, the HD HERO, is a cool little camera that came on the market a few years ago and it has really taken the action and adventure world by storm. Developed by GoPro, this very compact unit is capable of recording video and still shots in high-definition and, while not the only sports camera on the market, it is the king when it comes to capturing all the best action. The HD HERO line of cameras are offered in packages tailored for the activity they will be used for such as Motorsports, Surf and Helmet, and the quality from this little camera is simply amazing. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Gear Deal: Dell Inspiron 15r 15.6″ with Canon ELPH Camera and Adobe Elements 9 Bundle

Dan Cohen — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:50:19 +0000

Here's a great Gear Deal on a 15.6" Dell Inspiron 15R Core i5-2330M that includes two awesome bonuses. The Inspiron 15r has a 2.2GHz Dual-core processor and includes 6GB RAM, a 500GB Hard Drive, Wireless-N, a DVD burner, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OS and more. To sweeten this deal you'll also get a Canon ELPH 100 HS Camera (Grey), 36-months McAfee SecurityCenter and Adobe Elements 9.0 Photoshop and Premiere. Normally this bundle would be $777.99 but after all the savings our Gear Sponsor has found you can get it all for just $599.99 and it will even ship for free. Gear Deal: Dell Inspiron 15r 15.6" with Canon ELPH 100 HS Camera and Adobe Elements Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Holiday Gift Guide: Luxurious Items for Leather-Loving Gadget Hounds

Dan Cohen — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:00:31 +0000

From the Editorial Staff of Gear Diary: Is there a lover of leather in your life? If so, here are five gifts with which you can't go wrong. The Orbino Padova 2 Crocodile iPad 2 Case: Yeah, at $689.00 this iPad 2 case is a splurge but it is handcrafted from Crocodile and is a stunner. Judie has one and loves it. Here's a video of the case. Gorgeous isn't it? If that is too rich for you, then you can go with a Padova for iPad 2 made from standard leather. It costs $209.00 and is also a gorgeous case you or a loved one will use proudly Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

HSN Scores the Two Newest Vivitar Models

Judie Stanford — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:15:05 +0000

Have you ever watched the show Hoarders? I can't really say that it is a guilty pleasure, because I usually watch it with a mixture of horror and fascination. Some of the houses aren't really that bad when compared to the others (e.g. - no dead animals or animal waste inside the home, house isn't rotting and about to be condemned, adult health services aren't about to be called, etc.), but some of them ... oh my. We do DVR all the new episodes and when we have time to watch, I'm not ashamed to say that it is with much mental check-listing, "Does our shed look like that?" "No." "Good!" If anything, the show is a great motivator; we watch an episode, and I start thinking about my review shelf and gadget closet ... and then we start having more give-aways on Gear Diary. See? You all should be glad that I watch it! :lol: But as usual, I digress. It never fails that when we are watching an episode, one of the two "hoarders" featured will have either HSN (Home Shopping Network) or QVC (Quality, Value, Convenience) boxes piled up in one of their stacks of "stuff". I've made the comment to Kev more than once that both shopping networks must hate that show, since those boxes are definitely not a good product placement. It's easy to forget that before the internet became something "everyone" used to price match and shop in real time without leaving home, HSN and QVC were the insomniac shopper's drug of choice. I suspect that for many, they still are. Negative images aside, shopping from home is big business. People tune in and watch the hosts or hostesses on the shopping channels talk about (and prompt sales for) everything from makeup to clothing, to furniture, to patio accessories, to electronics ... and more! If you are a secret home shopping junkie, then you'll likely notice a couple of new cameras from a familiar brand making an appearance; Vivitar has just launched the XVN-5 ultra compact high-definition camcorder with 5x optical zoom and the VS529 camera with 16-megapixels and 5x optical zoom, and they are exclusively available on HSN. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Gear Deal: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V/B 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Camera

Dan Cohen — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:59:55 +0000

I'm a big fan of Sony's Cyber-shot cameras. I'm also a fan of saving money. Today's Gear Deal brings us both. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V/B features a 16.2 Megapixel resolution, a 16x Optical Zoom and accepts SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/PRO HG-Duo Card Slot. Normally $399.99 with this deal you can get $120.99 in instant savings. That brings the price down to $279. It will ship for free and there is no sales tax in most states. Note: May need to register for Free in order to see this deal on BuyDig. Details and ordering can be found here. Gear Deal: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V/B 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Camera via LogicBUY. &nbsp Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Gear Deal: Panasonic: Get up to 50% off select Panasonic HD 1080p Digital Camcorders

Dan Cohen — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:45:22 +0000

If you have been thinking about getting an HD camcorder this Gear Deal is for you. Our Gear Sponsor gave us the headsup that you can save up to 50% on a number of different Panasonic Digital Camcorders. Panasonic HDC-TM40K Camcorder: Was $399.99 but is now $189.99 Panasonic HDC-TM41H Camcorder: Was $379.99 but is now $189.99 Panasonic HCD-SD80K Camcorder: Was $449.99 but is now $289.99 Panasonic HCD-TM80K Camcorder: Was $499.99 but is now $289.99 Check out all the deals and get the coupon codes over on our Gear Sponsor's Deal Page. Gear Deal: Panasonic: Get up to 50% off select Panasonic HD 1080p Digital Camcorders via Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Gear Deal: Nikon Coolpix P300 12.2MP Digital Camera w/4.2x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom

Dan Cohen — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:30:28 +0000

Today's Gear Deal brings us the Nikon COOLPIX P300 12.2 CMOS Digital Camera. The COOLPIX P300 has a 4.2x f/1.8 NIKKOR Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and Shoots full HD 1080p Video. In addition, it features 4-way VR Image Stabilization System, has a 3" Color Display and much more. Normally selling for $329.95, our Gear Sponsor gave us the heads up on a deal that will knock $100 off the price. That brings the final price down to just $229.95 and it will ship for free. Details and ordering can be done here. Gear Deal: Nikon Coolpix P300 12.2MP Digital Camera w/4.2x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom-NIKKOR Glass Lens via LogicBUY Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Seeing Greater Things for New FishEyes Smarter Rod and Reel with Underwater Video Camera

David Goodspeed — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:00:35 +0000

I have to admit that many items I review do not receive much thought after I post their story, but after spending a short time with this new FishEyes Rod and Reel With Underwater Video Camera I realized here was an item with much broader usage. Sure, this is a unique product that every father needs to bring along on a fishing trip with the kids to enhance their experience while you do your best Bill Dance or Jimmy Houston impression, but I began seeing other opportunities for FishEyes. While it really only looks in one direction (down) as I lowered the camera into the water I thought to myself this would be a great device Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Shoot HD Video Underwater with Vivitar’s 690 HD Pocket CamCorder

Dan Cohen — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:00:50 +0000

Vivitar has announced a new digital HD pocket video camera with a neat trick up its sleeve. The 690 HD digital pocket video camera is designed to shoot video underwater. The Vivitar 690 HD offers "waterproof features with a built-in microphone and speaker for your underwater adventures". It also has an SD memory card slot which makes it super easy to share the videos once taken. The camera includes software so you can easily uploaded to Facebook, Myspace, Flickr, Picasa Albums, Photobucket, Youtube etc. It even has a 4x zoom. The Vivitar 690 has a $59.99 MSRP and you Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Gear Deal: Sony Alpha NEX5K/B Interchangeable Lens 14MP Digital Camera with 2 Lens

Dan Cohen — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 12:35:21 +0000

I saw the Sony Alpha NEX5 up close for the first time a few weeks ago and boy is it a nice little camera. It is small, it is light, it takes great pictures and HD movies and, thanks to our Gear Sponsor, it is today's Gear Deal! The Sony Alpha NEX5 offers interchangeable lens, 14.2MP, a 3" LCD display, full HD movies, up to 7 fps shooting, a 10 x Zoom, a built-in speaker, face detection, HDMI output, an SD Memory Card slot, and more. With this deal the Sony Alpha NEX5 comes with an 18-55mm lens and 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Lens. Usually this Sony Alpha NEX5 bundle would cost $954.99 but with this deal Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The Next Innovation in Photography Could be Just Around the Corner Thanks to Lytro.

Joel McLaughlin — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 02:30:31 +0000

Image from Lytro

Digital photography seems to be stagnating a little. Yeah there is High Dynamic Range photography, but that requires either an iPhone or some photo editing skills that are above the skills of most people. Other than that, little has changed other than megapixel ratings. Lytro aims to change that soon with their new light field camera.

What makes Lytro's camera so special? Well imaging taking a picture and not being concerned about having to actually focus? That sounds like it may make for a bad picture. So when do you focus? You focus after. That's right I said after. This is possible thanks to the software Lytro Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Olympus’ New LS-20M Linear PCM Recorder Aims to Unite High-Definition Video and PCM Audio

Judie Stanford — Wed, 04 May 2011 03:30:14 +0000

Don't be intimidated if you don't know what PCM Audio means, because I wasn't sure either (and I had to look it up). PCM stands for Pulse Code Modulation, and it is a "means by which standard audio signals (which are represented by waveforms) are converted to digital audio signals (which are represented by 1's and 0's - much like computer data) with little, or no, compression. The method of audio conversion is used on most digital audio formats, including CDs and DVD-Audio, and is also used to some extent in Blu-ray and HD-DVD applications. The PCM signal is converted back to analog form for distribution to Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Review: Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera

Joel McLaughlin — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 21:00:13 +0000

Cisco may have shuttered the doors on the Flip camera, but there are many other cameras out there that are still available that are as good or better than the venerable Flip. Today I am going to take a look at the Kodak Zi8, which I recently purchased with a gift card I received from Judie for my birthday [Aww, that's awesome! ~ Judie]. I've always wanted a dedicated video camera, and my old Aiptek died long ago. The Zi8 was high on my list for many reasons, and even though it's not the latest and greatest, I thought I would go for it as I wanted a way to capture video for the site and of my Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Review: Lowepro Compuday Photo 250 Backpack

Travis Ehrlich — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 20:00:29 +0000

I love gear bags, especially backpacks. The great thing about a gear bag is that I can carry more of my stuff. I have a backpack for my DSLR as well as a backpack for my MacBook and all of the items that go with it. Just the other day we took a short family trip and my wife was amused that I had to carry two backpacks with me. She asked why I did not just find one that could fit all of my stuff I was taking. Well, lucky for me, I was able to review the Compuday 250 from Lowepro which does exactly that. Let's take a look.

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HDSLR, Part 3: Enter the new Nikon D5100

David Goodspeed — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 20:00:10 +0000

In part two of this series on using DSLR cameras for capturing high-definition video I teased to the new D5100 camera coming from Nikon. It’s here … and my favorite little camera store here in Dallas had one. Now it’s mine. What drew me to the new unit is the variable-angle LCD monitor which will make shooting my own stand-ups a snap. And the introduction of full-time-servo autofocus (AF-F) to the HDSLR line when capturing video. The D5100 loses the additional memory card slot that the D7000 has and overall it is a smaller and lighter camera than the D7000. What kind Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

HDSLR, Part Two: Getting It In Gear

David Goodspeed — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 23:00:31 +0000

I did not choose the Nikon D7000 for its digital still photography features, no, I solely based my purchase on its HD video capabilities. This morning I ran out to shoot a few shots of a couple of vehicles I am reviewing this week and the D7000 had the lens on it that is my new workhorse, the 16-85 VRII. Wow, what a nice still camera. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Cisco Says Bye-Bye to Flip Video, Lays Off 550 Employees

Michael Anderson — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:30:55 +0000

Way back in 2009 Dan posted 'Flipping for Flip Video', in which he talked about taking his first iPhone 3GS video and speculated that "Flip better move quickly to add features because this thing is going to be huge." I had my own lament after recently being unable to capture even 51 minutes of video on a 60 minute Flip Mino HD. More recently he noted the updates to the Flip product line, saying "When the iPhone first gained the ability to shoot video I thought it was all over for the Flip camcorder. When the iPhone began shooting HD video I knew it was all over. I was wrong on Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

New Gear Daily: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H70 Digital Camera

Dan Cohen — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 10:59:45 +0000

Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-H70

Our smartphones come with better and better cameras but let's face it, there is still a place for a small, high-quality dedicated camera. After all, there are times when you don't want to use up your battery, you want the BEST shot possible or perhaps you want to be able to use your phone as... as phone. That's where Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-H70 comes in. With a 10X optical zoom, a 16MP resolution and the ability to shoot 720p MP4 video at 30fps this diminutive camera has everything you need.

Shoot life at its fullest with the compact Sony® Cyber-shot®

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High Def With D-SLR: Adding the Nikon D7000 to My Gear Bag

David Goodspeed — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:00:08 +0000

Offering to help out landed me some new work. Paying work. Sweet. It starts, as most things do, innocently enough. “Hey, can you take some pictures for us for the annual company banquet?” “Hey, can you get with supervisor so-and-so and see if they need any help with getting the highlight slideshow/video ready for the banquet?” “Hey, how is that video coming, and hey, how about an extra slideshow to run in the background while guests arrive and mingle?” And then, “Hey, awesome job. I haven’t met you but I am one of your really big bosses and I want to meet with you to talk about your work,” and (wait for it) “Hey, we Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

New Gear Daily Deal- Nikon D3100 Digital SLR Camera and More

Dan Cohen — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:15:40 +0000

Nikon D3100 Digital SLR

It is Monday and time to start the week with a New Gear Daily Deal. Today's deal... The Nikon D3100 Digital SLR Camera at some nice savings! The Nikon D3100 Digital SLR is a great camera and this deal comes with a case and a 2-DVD set to get you using the camera to its potential. Here's a bit more information-

Nikon D3100 Digital SLR- Enjoy capturing stunning images with D3100™ Digital SLR Camera from Nikon®. This camera features the 14.2 MP DX-format CMOS Image Sensor along with intuitive controls and on-board assistance helping you take better pictures every step of the way. Additionally, Full 1080p HD Cinematic Video

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Gear Deal- Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18MP Digital SLR Camera w/18-55mm IS Lens

Dan Cohen — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:59:20 +0000

We end the week with a Gear Deal on a Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18MP Digital SLR Camera combined with an 18-55mm IS Lens. The camera features a 3-inch vari-angle LCD, 1080p video recording mode, 3.7 fps continuous shooting, 18.0 MP CMOS sensor and DIGIC 4 Image Processor, mini HDMI output, SD/SDHC card slot, USB connectivity, and more. This combination is normally $899 but our Gear Sponsor found a $30 coupon code that brings the final price to $869. And it will even free shipping. (Oh, and if you want the body only you can use the same code and get it for $769.99.) $30 Coupon Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18MP Digital SLR Camera w/18-55mm Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

New Gear Daily Deal- Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX5V 10.2 MP Camera with 10X Zoom

Dan Cohen — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 02:32:44 +0000

New Gear Daily- Sony DSC-HX5V Cyber-Shot Camera

I'm rather partial to Sony's Cyber-Shot series of pocket cameras. They are small, easy to use and take great pictures. And ever since Sony wised-up and stopped forcing customers to use their proprietary flash cards these cameras have been a top choice for many of use who want/need a simple but powerful point and shoot. Well, today's New Gear Daily Deal brings us the DSC-HX4V at some impressive savings. Sony describes the camera in this way-

Capture stunning low-light images and sweeping panoramic views with the DSC-HX5V featuring an "Exmor R" CMOS Sensor. Plus, catch fast action shots with up to 10 frames per

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Random Cool Video: Hotel Room Boredom at 2,564 Frames Per Second

Michael Anderson — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:34:14 +0000

Last week many sites posted images shot at 2,564 frames per second. Now we have full video, and more details about the monster camera that can shoot that fast at full 1080p resolution! The cameraman was Tom Guilmette, and here is what he had to say:

Violating the laws of nature. Playing God. Capturing stuff we are not supposed to see. Potentially opening up a wormhole in the fabric of time. These are a few of the things I think about while shooting with a Phantom High Speed Digital Cinema camera. The above video is a bunch of test footage I shot to get familiar with the new “Flex” version. I shot inside

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New Gear Daily Deal: Save on the Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Dan Cohen — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:15:54 +0000

They say a picture is worth a thousand words: the Canon EOS Rebel T1i

We had dinner with our cousins last night and one of them was more than happy to show off his new Canon EOS camera. It was impressive! I took a number of pictures,and they all looked great. Well, with this New Gear Daily deal, you can save nicely on the Canon EOS Rebel T1i and have it on the way to you by tomorrow. Details and ordering can be found here on the product page. And don't forget these deals on the Vostro 230 Mini Tower and the Vostro 1015 laptop Continue reading on Gear Diary ...