Review by James A. Nichols:

Bought this for the Flip Ultra HD as a backup in case I was out and needed extra power. The battery lasts for a little over a hour of recording. Since the Ultra HD has 2 hrs worth of memory its a good idea to have a backup battery pack. Great to get that extra recording out of the way in case you dont have axcess to a computer. Battery only charges while inside the camera and has to be hooked to the computer(unless you have a Flip AC adapter. Overall a good extra accesory to have around.

Review by Eileen Kraemer:

I recently bought a Flip Ultra HD, 2nd generation and find that the charged-up battery pack

lasts for just over an hour of recording time, which is about the same amount of time that 2 AA batteries will last.

Review by M. Mortel:

If you have a Sony Cybershot digital camera, you should get this case to protect it. I bought 3 different cases for my new WSC-290 because I could’t find the right one, and then I came across this. It is better than the LCS-CST soft carrying case because it has a zipper that encloses your camera all the way. If you drop it accidentally in water, there’s a good chance you can prevent water from getting inside the case compared to the Velcro lock of the LCS-CST soft carrying case. I also bought the Sony LCS-TWE soft carrying case with carabineer (available in different colors) but it only looks cute, not sturdy.

This also has a front pocket and a strap in the back that can be attached to your belt or bag if you get tired of holding it.

Review by bio_hazard391:

I purchased this case to protect my new Sony Cybershot W150. It’s a compact designed case and the camera fits nicely inside. However, the smaller compartment does not comfortably hold accessories, namely the battery case for the camera (it fits in the compartment but appears to stretch the case slightly). On top of that, this camera case does not come with a shoulder strap or clips to attach a shoulder strap; it’s meant to be placed on your belt. It’s good for protecting a compact cybershot camera, but if you prefer a case with a shoulder strap you’d be better off looking at a different case.

Review by StudioVoxPop:

It’s no surprise that when you stand in front of the camera and push the

button, the remote triggers the shutter. There does seem to be some

confusion in reviews, both here and elsewhere, as to the remote’s ability

to focus the lens before triggering the shutter.

This remote is capable of focusing the lens before triggering the shutter.

However, it will not focus the lens if the photographer has already

pushed the shutter release button on the camera half way down to focus

the image or if you are shooting in Manual mode and have AF-C set as

the Autofocus mode.

This means that if you are composing a photograph and push the shutter

button half way down to focus the image and you then stand in front of

the camera and push the remote button, the image will not focus

because you’ve already pushed the camera shutter release button half

way down to focus. To get the image to focus while you are standing in

front of the camera, compose the shot but do not push the camera’s

shutter release button half way down, get in front of the camera and

then push the button.

Review by J. Lewis:

If you own a D70 you simply can’t be without this item. Because Nikon chose not to include a mechanical cable release option (or an electronic one either), it is difficult to shoot at slow shutter speeds, even on a tripod, without getting camera shake affecting your images. You can use the timer, but that doesn’t always work for your shooting situation. With this remote, you get the same basic operation as a cable release as well as a bonus that you can put yourself in front of the lens and use the remote to trip the shutter release. It also works in combination with the self timer. One small concern is that because it’s an IR remote, you must point it at the sensor, which is on the front of the camera. This can be awkward standing behind a tripod, but not seriously. I really enjoy using this product.

Review by Sports Fan:

I don’t write many reviews, but feel compelled to do so in this case because I found a number of the other reviews either ambiguous or contradictory. I just couldn’t find a clear and simple description of EXACTLY what this case can comfortably hold, and ended up waiting far longer than I needed to before I felt comfortable enough to order this case. I really wish that I hadn’t waited, because it turns out that this is a nice case that holds a great deal. Hopefully this review will help others who want a clear understanding of the capacity of the case.

In simple terms, the main compartment of this case easily and comfortably holds: A Nikon D3000 or D5000 with the 18-55mm lens attached, a 55-200mm lens, and the battery charger and AC cord. All you need to do is remove and reconfigure the partitions so that you use two of the partitions to create three sections within the main compartment. Simple as that. If you don’t want to store your camera with the lens attached, no problem, that works as well, and will even create a touch more free space within the main compartment.

The front zippered pocket can store the camera’s shoulder strap, the video cable, the USB cable, and several SD cards. It might hold a little more, but that’s all that I have in there. There are also two small side pockets that can hold extra SD cards or other small, fairly flat items of your choosing. For those that really want to carry the manual around, there is room for it to rest on top of the main compartment. The top of the case will easily fold over it and buckle closed with no problem.

Hopefully that helps. No guesswork, no speculation. Just a factual report of what this case comfortably holds. In short, I think that this is a great case for the Nikon D3000 or D5000. It’s well constructed and comfortable to carry, and although I haven’t viewed it yet, the DVD seems to be a valuable bonus.

Review by David Williams:

The instructional video is excellent it is the best way to get started if you have never used this camera, even if you are an experienced photographer.

The camera case is nicely designed with a lot of extra Velcro partitions and specialty compartments and pockets for accessories. And if you remove unused partitions you may have room for one additional (e.g. 55-200 VR)lens. However, the owners manual will not fit in the case or a side pocket. This would be a perfect case if it were made slightly larger. If you will likely add an additional lens to your arsenal you might seriously evaluate other storage options that are more roomy, especially if you would like to keep the manual for a such a sophisticated camera close at hand when you travel.

Review by Terry Holmes:

A sturdy compact close fitting case that will protect our Nikon S510 camera in case of a fall. It has a loop to carry it on your belt and uses magnets to keep the flap closed (they seem to work pretty good.) Unfortunately it does not have slots for a spare chip and battery. However, we use the belt loop to hold the spare battery.

Review by C. Ehmke:

I bought the S60 CoolPix and this case was offered in a combined offer. The case is alright but it is too tight for the S60. Bad Amazon!

Review by Alan G.:

Several months before the D90 came out, I bought a D60 to hold me over until the D90 was released. Well, I’ve enjoyed using both cameras, but this one is a huge step up and more suited to an advanced enthusiast, like me. It’s a real pleasure to use.

ERGONOMICS – The D90 is solid, tight, and well-balanced with the 18-105 VR lens. It’s always ready and it shoots very fast. I love all the direct access buttons; they’re easy to press, with good tactile feedback. And since you’re not going into the menus as much, you can work faster. It’s heavier than the D60, but that’s OK. It’s still very manageable to carry around and it fits my average-sized hand better too. The shutter sounds different than the D60 (if that matters to you). It sounds more like a professional camera; more like a fast “whoosh” than a “click-click”. And there are so many internal customizations that you can set it up exactly as you want.

LENS – Biggest surprise was the 18-105 VR lens which I expected would be ho-hum, but turned out to be pretty sharp and clear. Better results than the 18-55 VR. We’ve really come a long way from the days (30 years ago) when you were cautioned to ALWAYS to buy a prime lens, NEVER the kit lens because of it’s poor image quality. With computer-aided design and new technology, that’s not true anymore.

IMAGE QUALITY – I shoot RAW for maximum detail and the ability to adjust settings afterward if necessary – like exposure or white balance. Image quality is very good to excellent depending on your RAW converter. To my eye, best results are obtained with View NX/Capture NX, but Adobe ACR/Lightroom still do a very good job (2010 UPDATE; After using Lightroom the past year, raw conversions are beautiful and far quicker to achieve than Capture NX). When shooting JPGs using the Standard Picture Mode, images are sharp and colors are true, without over-saturation. You can always use different Picture Modes and customize any of them to get closer to the in-camera results you want. For example, you can boost saturation and contrast and save the setting as your default if that’s what you like.

LIGHT METER – Metering is fine and seems to be quite accurate in most cases. I use matrix metering mostly. As with any camera, you have to get to know the meter. If I had to be VERY critical, I’d say when it’s pushed, it’s more likely to preserve shadows than highlights, usually when Active DLighting is on. To me that’s a good thing. Another website mentioned a slightly “over-enthusiatic” meter in its review. The good news is: if you really feel exposure results are not to your liking (whether over or under exposed), the meter is fine-tuneable, so go ahead and customize it as you see fit. I would just work with the meter first -get to know the camera and adapt yourself to it before you start making any adjustments. That said, I’ve used the D90 in a very wide range of lighting conditions and I can truly say that while exposures may vary occasionally, they’ve always made perfect sense for the situation. I’ve never been shocked or puzzled by the output.

LIVE VIEW – is great for the occasional high or low shot. I didn’t think would need it, but when I had the D60, I found myself in many situations where I really could have used it. Unlike a point-and-shoot, focus is slower in this mode and shooting seems somewhat clunky. I wouldn’t use Live View if I were in a rush or trying to get an important shot. It’s just a nice little extra.

MOVIE MODE – this is a nice novelty and may be handy in a rare moment, but I’m generally not a video camera person. I’m surprised to read that some people have made movies and commercials with the D90. I keep promising myself to use this feature more, but I don’t have a tripod and I’m just too jittery and uncreative to get good cinema-like results. Moreover, from the little I’ve tried it, I’m not impressed – there’s no autofocus during filming and the movie comes out over exposed and far from HD quality. The user manual is not very helpful either. But I didn’t purchase the camera for this feature, so I’m not disappointed.

ISO – I really like the new wide range of ISO settings, especially when coupled with the Auto-ISO setting. Mine is customized to keep the camera at ISO 200, but kick in at 1/30. In this example, anytime lighting decreases enough for the shutter speed to drop below 1/30, the D90 will automatically compensate by raising the ISO high enough (up to an ISO limit you set) to help keep your shutter speed at 1/30. Once the ISO maxes-out at your limit, the camera has no choice but to start bringing down the shutter speed. Noise at high ISOs isn’t an issue. In fact, you have to zoom in pretty close for it to be even slightly noticeable. I use Auto-ISO mostly all the time. Its an amazing feature! I only turn this feature off when I want to stick to a particular ISO at all times (if its on a monopod or I’ve stabilized the camera in some way).

ACTIVE D-LIGHTING – helps camera to preserve shadow and highlight detail. More important to use when shooting JPG because the exposure has to be right at the time of shooting, when the camera creates the JPG. RAW shooters can always adjust exposure in post processing. Even though I shoot RAW, I usually leave it on Auto so I can double check the exposure details on the LCD screen. It’s available in various strengths from Low to Extra High. Again, another great customization.

CONS

-At this price, Nikon should include a robust image editing software, or at least a decent discount on Capture NX2, which works great, but costs extra.

-Kit lens is thick in diameter (67mm). Also, the front glass of the lens seems somewhat exposed, as if it’s not recessed that much (it’s just enough for a lens cap). I worry that it’ll get scratched easily. Good thing Nikon included the lens hood.

AUTOFOCUS TIP – I customized the D90 to autofocus using the AF-L button instead of the shutter release. Now I can focus with one press of my thumb on the AF-L button and shoot with my index finger on the shutter release. This allows me to focus first, let go, then take the shot. Since the subject is already in focus, I can take multiple shots, recompose or go vertical. I’m not forced to continually re-focus for every shot or move the AF point around in the viewfinder. This minimizes AF mishaps on unintentional subjects. And since the VR system remains off until you half-press the shutter (it activates only when you’re ready to take the shot, not while you’re focusing) you save on battery life as well.

Also, with the D90 set to AF-C mode (continuous autofocus) you can keep a moving subject in focus by holding down the AF-L with your thumb and shooting with your index finger. If the subject becomes still, simply let go of the AF-L button; focusing stops and is locked where you left it. Then shoot when ready. Now your D90 can act as if it’s in Single or Continuous AF mode without you having to change settings all the time. This gives you more immediate control over the behavior of the AF system Try it and you won’t go back!

SUMMARY – Overall I’m extremely happy with the D90! It’s designed for serious shooting, but it’s still fun to use; noticeably heavier than the D60, but still not a burden. You do need to be committed to carrying around a solid DSLR in the first place. Once you get used to that, you’ll come to appreciate that it’s more substantial because it’ll be less shaky during shots. Nikon really packed it with a ton of features and customizations. Now I finally have everything I want in a DSLR, without it being overblown and overpriced. I’m actually surprising myself with some really spectacular shots.

If you have your basic photography skills down, you can make any DSLR sing, however, I believe THIS camera, because of its superb sensor and spot-on feature set, can actually help you improve your technique and get better results. You’ll take more chances and push yourself farther because now you have the tools (ie. features) to help capture more difficult, more creative shots. And you didn’t have to spend ,000 to get there!

8-MONTH UPDATE: Still love this camera which hasn’t lost any of its original excitement. Very reliable – never frustrating. I’m not craving an upgrade – not contemplating a switch to Canon either – I’m perfectly content. Haven’t discovered any hidden quirks. In fact, the longer I use it, the more I realize how well engineered it is. The only extras I bought so far were a light monopod and a 50mm 1.8 lens.

Review by Traveler:

Pros

The same ISO capability of the D300.

Intuitive layout that Nikon is famous for

Fast – focus, frames per second, and card access

First DSLR to have video, but . . .

Cons

Video has poor audio quality and no AF

Kit lens is not worth what Nikon says it’s worth

Recommendation: Casual users who aren’t concerned about how tough the kit lens is should buy now. Semi-pros who want a good lens might want to wait and just get the body (available about a month after the kit release)

Before making the leap to the D90 I researched this and other cameras for several weeks. I actually wanted the more expensive D300 because of the magnesium body and weatherproofing, but ultimately decided that the 0 difference was too big for just that one issue.

The D90 has the same sensor (or greatly similar depending on the source) as the D300 which means it shares the same great ISO capabilities. 1600 looks fine and you can definitely get usable small prints from even 3200. There are some reviewers on other sites claiming that the D90 has better noise reduction than the D300. Combine that with the the new Nikon VR lenses and you can shoot in low light at ridiculously slow shutter speeds. I’ve always hated using a flash and this camera is going to allow me to avoid using it in situations I never dreamed were possible. I took a shot in a dimly lit room at night and this camera picked up details I couldn’t see with my own eyes!

The control layout is superb. The single button choices make complete sense – ISO, image quality, white balance and previous shot are right there on the left side of the LCD.

I did not buy this camera for its video function. However, Nikon did not deliver the goods here. You can buy a several year old Canon P&S S2 or S3 that shoots video (VHS/regular quality, not HD) at 30fps with stereo sound AND autofocus. If they could put that kind of functionality on a 0 camera it should be possible on a 00 one as well. It just seems that if you’re going to add a function like this it should have been done well or not done at all. If you’re buying this camera because of its video capability then I would urge you to wait until Nikon or another DSLR maker does it right. Or just buy a separate HD video camera at a fraction of the cost of the D90.

I realize a lot of folks like the kit lens, but it is not the same quality as Nikon’s other zooms in this price range. I read that Nikon says this kit lens, the 18-105mm VR, would sell for 0. Thus the “0 savings by buying the kit.” I bought the Nikon 70-300mm VR at the same time for about 5 and the build quality is far better with a metal mount and rubber gasket to keep out the elements. The kit lens has a plastic mount with no rubber gasket and it just feels cheap in comparison. If you’re just looking for a basic everyday lens as an average user this might not matter, but if you’re an aspiring amateur/semi-pro this is really not acceptable.

Overall this is a great camera and it is, minus the lack of weather proofing (which I can’t expect at this price range anyway), exactly what I was looking for. It does have its flaws, however. Thus the 4 star rating instead of 5.

Review by E. Sumner:

Great Camera. If you are new to the DSLR game (like myself) or you are upgrading and you can fork up the cash, it is definitely worth it. It has a very concise, simple, and easy to use interface, the buttons are very well placed, and the swivel LCD is very nice and useful in certain situations (I really like how it folds inwards to protect the screen). My main purpose for this camera is still photos so the video is a cool bonus and is surprisingly better than I thought (though if you are looking to do serious HD video, I’d go for an HD camcorder or something else instead).

The D5000 is essentially a D90 squeezed into a smaller lighter body (of course it lacks the internal AF motor, doesn’t have as good a grip, and has a slightly smaller pentamirror viewfinder instead of the pentaprism in the D90 – all of this amongst a few other things, but hey it’s cheaper for a reason – also it is mentionable that the D5000 has an additional live view mode, a few more in camera editing tools, and more scene modes compared to the D90 – all useful for someone new to the DSLR in the sense that you can learn from them or just use them to make your life easier and your photos look great).

So far I love it. It is simple to use and great for those new to the DSLR realm, but it also packs enough punch for those looking to upgrade and will give newcomers much room to learn and grow with it.

Review by Dave H:

Out of the box, my first impression wasn’t the best, as camera size and feel are more like my entry level D40 than I expected. Of course there’s the movable LCD (which is more useful than I thought) and Live View button, but not too much more to separate the outer look and feel from D40 mode.

Then I spent some time setting things up and shooting – and all of a sudden I’m loving this thing.

- The menus, IMHO, are waaaay better than anything I seen on other Nikons (mostly D40 and D200 experience) ISO adjustments and AUTO decisions all in one place, the access to the Info parameters on screen is really clean, and the LCD clarity is great.

- The high ISO performance for low light is quite good for my purposes. Sure you get some noise, but you get the shot – and if you are getting material for web and simple uses – it’s perfect.

- The wiggly LCD screen is helpful for reading the menus and changing settings with the camera, say, in your lap. Also helpful at odd angles to review what you just shot. I use it more for those purposes than the live view.

So what don’t I like? The video isn’t real useful. Zooming without autofocus isn’t much fun. Moving, even a little, creates odd artifacts in the 24p video -so don’t think of any zoomed hand-held shots. Tripod, basic static focal length maybe. I don’t know whether video editing sw like Final Cut Pro is ready to ingest these video files.

Overall – I really enjoy shooting this camera – and the images are excellent.

I’ll try to post a few.

Review by Mortal Kombat:

I am a Canon diehard fan. But Canon does not have anything that compares to Kodak Playsport HD waterproof pocket video camera. At 1080P the video recording is acceptable. But, at 720p and 60 frames per second this camera rocks, the results are great. I have used it around and in water, the blue filter helps under water. I am planning to use this for our Disney World vacation this year in the Water Parks.

This camera takes 5MP HD Stills, so now I have a camera that can take video and stills on demand wet or dry. I have other camera’s in the same category like Flip and Samsung both do not compare, even at 720p 60 frames per second. 0.00 pricetag is also very affordable.

Easy to carry, very user friendly to move files from the camera to the computer or directly to Youtube. Nightvision would be nice but most of my recordings will be in Daylight. Bottom line great camera and I have no cons to talk about.

Review by C.R.:

I don’t understand how people can review components and features of a product that’s not even part of the product to begin with and rate the product low. I also don’t understand when a review uses another product for comparison; compare apples to apples, not grapes to watermelons. If you read the specs before buying you would know that the Playsport does not come with a built in flash, external charger, macro, optical zoom, etc. Although they would be nice to have, it’s just not relevant to this recorder, and would change the pricing for this product. For 0, the Playsport has its spot.

I felt it was necessary to review the Playsport based solely on its included components and features. With that said I purchased the Playsport because its pocket sized, lightweight, and portable to catch those once-in-a-lifetime moments I would have otherwise missed with my old camcorder, since I don’t like carrying a brick around with me everywhere I go.

Review based on 720p/60fps…

Great video quality. However loses some of that quality in low light situation. Turning on any light source(s) would definitley help.

Audio is clear and does pick up distant noises, but best up closer.

The digital zoom operates smoothly, with little to no jumpiness when zooming in or out.

LCD glare filter changes the contrast settings of the screen to help with sun glare.

EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) helps but I imagine would not take much to go past the design limits. I think the Playsports design actually helps contribute to EIS because how nice a fit it is in your hand which helps keep the recorder steady.

Size and durability. Feels very sturdy. The rubberized coating should make it easier to grip when it gets wet. Plus no annoying finger marks.

Plug and play. Easily connects to a TV using the supplied HDMI or component cables.

Battery charges via USB or 120V adaptor.

Have not tried the underwater feature or any still shots yet, but am excited to try it out at the pool come summer. Hopefully it doesn’t disapoint.

The Playsport read/writes at 9mb/s. Kodak recommends using a Class 4 SDHC card up to 32gb. I bought a Lexar Platinum II SDHC Card, Class 4, 16gb, 60x 9mb/s, works like a charm. At 1080p or 720p/60fps records about 3 hours, and at 720p/30fps records over 4 hours. Using more than a Class 4 card would be a waste of money since the Playsport can only perform up to 9mb/s, not to mention the problems I read about people using higher class cards (Kodak ZI8 model) and the device shutting off or freezing. May not affect the Playsport but it is the guts from the ZI8.

Hope this helps.

Review by U. Wilkins:

I just purchased this Canon on a whim, earlier today at Best Buy. I have been tinkering with it for the majority of the evening. My previous SD300 is still working like a champ, however I have been considering a video camera for some time…after some peering at the video camera counter I wandered over to the point and shoot table… what initially drew me in to the SD780IS was its appearance on the display stand. The sleek matte-black body is very eye-pleasing…then I looked at the specs. and realized that it shoots video in HD! (1280×720) Then all the other attributes made me realize that it was time to update my “everywhere, anytime” camera.

I proceeded to check out some of the other Canon SD cameras. The SD960 became the other candidate…it has a little more glass(4x)zoom, over the SD780’s (3x)zoom. The SD960 has an appealing f2.8 apeture over the SD780’s f3.2. The SD960’s screen is more tailored for the HD video capture as it has a 16:9 ratio LCD panel. (Kinda nice for instant viewing ON THE CAMERA)

After some thought I went with the SD780 for these reasons:

1. The HD video capability is awesome and comparible with the SD960. It has a HDMI jack. The traditional 4:3 screen does not bother me, because the video is ultimately going to be viewed on a HD TV.(There will be an upper and lower bar on 16:9 playback through the SD780’s LCD).

2.The weaker 3x zoom is not a big deal as this camera is for general shooting(out w/ freinds, bars, random afternoon at the beach, mountain biking, etc.)and with this camera EASLIY fitting in my jeans pocket or camelbak, the portability is what gives me the opportunity to document those moments, that would otherwise be missed. The SD960 is a little bulkier(but still small). I do also shoot with a Canon 40D, accompanied with L optics, but the weight and bulkiness do not lend to certain shooting circumstances. (as mentined above)

3. The user interface on the SD780IS is like most (if not all?) preceeding SD cameras. While there is not much control in the way of shooting settings, feature buttons like flash override, AE lock, AF lock, and exposure compensation are present on the camera body. The SD960IS has two buttons and a jog wheel, which lend to swims in the menu. I’m sure the new interface on the 960 is intuitive, but I liked the 780 due to its similarity to my old SD300.

I am very happy with the results produced thus far with the SD780IS. The HD video is excellant, however it should be known that once recording you can only zoom digitally. Low light cabilities and sound in video mode are excellent. The stills I have taken look great. Also, to the budget-minded who are upgrading from older digital point-and-shoots, a class 4 minimum 4GB or 8GB SDHC card would be well suited due to the demanding memory of the 12.1 million pixels, and HD video. Also, most old card readers will not process the the SDHC cards so you may have to purchase a new card reader as well.

I have to mention it again…the small size of the Canon SD780IS is mind-blowing…and the functionality actually mirrors its beauty.

Review by W. Chan:

OVERVIEW

Canon SD780IS is the perfect travel/everyday camera. It weighs a little over 4 ounces. The size of the camera is astonishing. It is smaller than my iPhone 3G and my wallet. I love the new 720p video recording HD feature on the 2009 Canon P+S line. The image stabilization for video/image stills is a winner. The clips are sharper and clearer than the clips from the Creative Vado HD and the Flip Video MinoHD.

PLAYBACK ON COMPUTERS

For video playback without choppiness on the computer, you need to have at least a Core 2 Duo 1.66 GHz or higher processor on Windows (Vista/XP SP2/XP SP 3) or Core Duo 1.66 GHz or higher processor on Mac OS X (v10.4-v10.5)

MEMORY CARD

You should get at least 8GB Sandisk Extreme III SDHC (Class 6 or higher) memory card for the camera. 4000×3000 resolution images can quickly fill up your 2/4GB SD memory card.

CONCLUSION

+ Quick Continuous Snapshots

+ 720p HD Video Recording with Image Stabilization

+ Lightning Quick Startup

+ Ultra-Compact Point & Shoot Camera (Thin + Light Combo)

+ Beautiful Design

+ Great for Beginners (Very Easy To Use)

+ Bright LCD Screen

+ DIGIC IV Technology

+ Blink Detection

+ Can Edit Video Clips on the go

+ Scene Detection Mode works Flawlessly

- No Optical Zoom in Video Mode while Recording (You can Digitally Zoom)

- Monotone Sound in Video Mode

- Only 3x Optical Zoom for image stills

- View Finder is Useless

- Little Noisy/Grainy when Using Higher Than ISO400 but Acceptable

SCORE/VERDICT

09/10: Recommended

Review by B. Elias:

I just ordered this camera and got it today. I was a little nervous ordering a camera that was just released and had no reviews, but the fujifilm finepix z20 had such good reviews, that I decided to take a chance on the newer model.

So far everything is perfect. The battery charged quickly and setup was very simple. This camera is so easy to use, which is important to me, since I’m kind of technology-challenged. With most cameras, I have trouble navigating the menu, but this camera is very simple to work. Also, the screen on the back is very large, to make viewing the pictures easy. There is one great feature on the camera that I really like. There is a setting that when activated, will always take two pictures every time you snap a picture. One with a flash and one without, and store both for you to view. This way you never have to worry about your pictures being too dark or too bright. The pictures are crystal clear, and I’m very glad I’ve purchased this camera.

I can’t comment on the software, as I haven’t used it yet, but everything else has been great.

Review by E. J Tastad:

Pros:

Compact Size

Quality Feel

Sliding lens cover doubles as power switch

Fast LCD refresh (must be 60 hz, but only in high performance mode)

Weather Sealed buttons

Cons:

Battery Life

No full manual mode

Only 3x optical zoom

No optical shake reduction

Bottom Line: Great value for a quality feeling budget compact camera. Image quality is fine, I see no problems with smaller prints up to ISO 800, this is far better than my previous point and shoot that was half the resolution. My favorite features are the weather sealed buttons (the camera isn’t weather sealed, get the Z33wp for that), but the buttons are rubber covered and liquid can’t get in around them, and my other favorite feature is the high frame update on the LCD. As long as you set the menu option for high performance, the rear LCD updates very rapidly, any motion is updated instantly. This is much improved over most of the competition, but no reviews I see mention this.

Some people are complaining about the quality of the images, but either they have a bad sample or are just viewing the images at 100% on a computer monitor. Prints are fine. I will comment that the rear LCD is sometimes grainy appearing, but the final images are great. This is because the rear LCD has a high frame update, about 60 hz, and it needs to set the sensitivity very high in low light in order to show you an image at that rate, so the display comes grainy. When you take the picture it is fine.

Overall this is a pretty average performing camera that is inexpensive. It has a semi manual mode for setting your own ISO, EV compensation, but it lacks a few other options. The aperture just uses a couple values, and can’t be selected manually. If you can pick this up for about a hundred bucks it is a bargain. If you get up near one hundred fifty there are probably better options available.

Update: I found the condition people must be getting grainy pictures. This camera doesn’t have a powerful flash, and in a large room trying to take a picture of a subject maybe 15 or 20 ft away the flash doesn’t have the power to illuminate them adequately. If you use this indoors in a dim room, it is fine at close range, but not great for a Christmas program or a picture of a presenter across the room. In these situations you might try disabling the flash.

Review by M. Mortel:

If you have a Sony Cybershot digital camera, you should get this case to protect it. I bought 3 different cases for my new WSC-290 because I could’t find the right one, and then I came across this. It is better than the LCS-CST soft carrying case because it has a zipper that encloses your camera all the way. If you drop it accidentally in water, there’s a good chance you can prevent water from getting inside the case compared to the Velcro lock of the LCS-CST soft carrying case. I also bought the Sony LCS-TWE soft carrying case with carabineer (available in different colors) but it only looks cute, not sturdy.

This also has a front pocket and a strap in the back that can be attached to your belt or bag if you get tired of holding it.

Review by bio_hazard391:

I purchased this case to protect my new Sony Cybershot W150. It’s a compact designed case and the camera fits nicely inside. However, the smaller compartment does not comfortably hold accessories, namely the battery case for the camera (it fits in the compartment but appears to stretch the case slightly). On top of that, this camera case does not come with a shoulder strap or clips to attach a shoulder strap; it’s meant to be placed on your belt. It’s good for protecting a compact cybershot camera, but if you prefer a case with a shoulder strap you’d be better off looking at a different case.

Review by Omar Siddique:

The SD1200 has some big changes over its predecessor SD1100, and is the smallest, best designed Elph I’ve used thus far.

I’ve owned many models of Elph, this is my 6th or 7th, so my review is aimed especially at other serial Canon owners. I mostly compare the SD1200 to the SD1100.

* The big changes: Digic4 and a larger CCD sensor. The slight increase in CCD size (1/2.3″ vs 1/2.5″) should make for “cleaner” photos. And Digic4 promises faster/cleaner shots also.

* You get 10MP vs 8MP on the SD1100, and “medium” (M1) size is now 6MP. JPG quality is down to 2 setting: Fine or Normal.

* SD1200 is only slightly smaller than the SD1100, but feels notably smaller by virtue of curved edges and the LCD being flush with the body (no bump-out).

* The 1200 now feels as small as this design can shrink. Good news: my average-sized male hands can still comfortably hold it, barely not covering lens, flash, or resting on the LCD. But the round power-button is now almost too small to press if you had big fingers and no fingernails.

* 1200’s new battery is a higher capacity 1000mAh (vs ~760mAh for SD1100). There’s also a new charger (not compatible with the old batteries), a glossy white-colored model to blend into your wall.

* The buttons and menus are streamlined. There’s now a button for review mode, pressing it a 2nd time takes you back to the previous state. Handy. The slider has dedicated AUTO and Manual settings, no longer need to use menus for that switch.

* Continuous mode and ISO now are in the Function Menu (on the SD1100, they had dedicated buttons).

* A SD card is no longer included. This makes sense to me, a 32MB card is barely useful, and with the downward pressure on electronics prices, I can’t imagine Canon wanting to bundle a more expensive/bigger card. Some people will find this lack annoying.

* The A/V output is gone, and the USB connector now serves both purposes (both kinds of included cables now have a USB-end)

* A new version of Canon software is required for this model, Zoombrowser 6.3. Canon typically requires a new release for each new family/season of cameras. Unfortunately, the CameraWindow software has been intentionally dumbed-down in the 6.x software and no longer offers the options to delete your photos (have to go through the OS), nor to chose custom naming for the downloads. I say intentionally, since I asked Canon customer-support about it and they stated the changes were not bugs. The last Canon software to still have that functionality was 5.x, corresponding to the SD1000 and other cameras released that season.

* In casual indoor tests, the 1200 seemed more ready to go to ISO400 (often too “noisy” to be useful) when the SD1100 would have chosen ISO200.

* The SD1200 and SD1100 have identical specs on their optics. However, I noticed a more pronounced barrel-distortion on the 1200 at extreme wide-angle. (still only noticable in close-up shots of straight-edged items at wide-angle)

* In a casual speed test, the SD1200 took/stored photos notably faster the SD1100 (same scene, continuous-mode, same brand SD card), despite the 1200’s image size being larger.

* Canon’s paper manuals have been shrinking steadily. With this model, the only manual included is a quick-start guide, the rest is on CD-ROM.

* The packaging is even more efficient than before, about half the size of the SD1100’s box.

* Sadly, there is no HD video mode, although all of the other Elphs released this spring had HD. SD1200 owners are stuck with 640×480 video.

Canon has several sub-series within the compact Elph line, varying mostly by asthetics and optics. The SD1200 is successor to the series that included the SD1100, SD1000, and SD600. These all favor a classic, slim design. If you’re unfamiliar with Canon’s Powershot cameras, there’s lots of good material out there on camera sites such as dpreview.

In general, the small sensors and optics in all ultra-compact digital cameras lead to some optical quirks (such as barrelling), chromatic aberrations, over/under-exposure in bright sunlight/shade, and underpowered flashes. That’s intrinsic to the size of camera, and vendors try to correct these effects in their on-board processing. My opinion is that Canon does a good job of correcting for these issues and the Elphs including the SD1200 take very good photos for their size.

It’s questionable that a SD1100 owner would specifically find this a compelling upgrade other than the Digic4, but this is an excellent compact camera in all ways. Apart from the noteworthy quirks: the lack of HD and the limited features in the download software, this camera is Highly Recommended.

Review by S. Craig:

I’m a professional photographer. I got tired of dragging my D3,D200 or other large cameras around, and worrying about it getting damaged. I decided to buy a camera just for fun that could fit in my purse and I wouldn’t have a heart attack if it broke. Well I didn’t hold that high of expectations of the camera, but after getting it, I’ve had a lot of fun with it. Not the most amazing pictures come from it (I am used to very high quality pictures), but they are good enough shots of my family. It’s easy to use, really easy to set, FAST, and good low light. You don’t always need the flash. It’s very small, and can fit easily in my purse (that are all quiet small purses actually). This is a perfect camera if you just want some fun shots that are clear, and you want an easy to use fast camera. This is NOT good for “professional” type shots (why do people write reviews of these cameras and get all down on them for not being professional grade cameras? They never claim to be!).

Review by David L. Ludwig:

I’ve owned 2 previous SLR’s, an Olympus and a Canon Rebel. Both of these cameras produced great photos. The Nikon N55 has surpassed every expectation. An instruction book is finally written in plain english. I did a lot of research and believe me the N55 is worth more than its retail price. The photos produced in the auto modes are exceptional. I was willing to invest as much as 0 in an SLR, but after researching I found that no camera was worth the additional money. The cost-benefit of the N55 is tremendous. I can’t express how happy I am with this camera.

Review by NHgboy:

I have owned two other 35mm SLR cameras. The first was a Nikon FM (fully manual camera) and the second was a Cannon Rebel E (similar to the Nikon N55, in terms of features). I loved the Nikon FM camera and have always wanted to return to a Nikon product. After I lost my Canon, I switched to Nikon again.This is a great camera. It’s light and the most compact 35mm SLR camera I have seen. One can choose between fully manual mode (great for complete creative control) or fully automated mode (for the point and shoot crowd). The N55 also has shutter-priority and aperature priority modes as well as special settings for close-up shots, landscape shots, and sports shots–to name a few.It is a very versatile camera, focuses sharply and quickly, and is a great-looking SLR. I get compliments on the pictures I take with it, but would recommend Kodak film only!

Review by Andrius Uzkalnis:

It is essentially a facelift job on Nikon N65 (marketed outside US as F65), and all the good things that can be said about N65 apply to this product, too: it’s reliable, it’s capable of fully-manual operation (although this can be a little fiddly and N75 will feel more natural in automatic or semi-automatic mode). Quality of pictures, for the price, is stunning, and in the line-up of entry-to-medium level SLRs this is definitely the one to choose (for example, auto-focus speed beats Canon equivalent hands down; Canon Rebel 300 – marketed outside US as Canon EOS 300 – also looks decidedly like a cheap compact camera with a big lens on top). For many, many users (including myself) it will provide all the advanced functions that they will ever want. Pricier “professional” cameras like N80 are of course more robust and may have a few extra features or even faster AF, but the difference in price will be so significant that you will have to be a heavy user to make a more expensive camera pay for itself. The only reservation about N75 is the size: Nikon tried to make this camera as small as possible, which makes it more agreeable for delicate hands (or so they think). For someone like me, a person with bigger paws, it does not feel right – it is just not chunky enough to provide a good grip: a lightweight camera it might be, but still it is no compact thing which you could put in your shirt pocket. This is an important consideration: all the good features will bring you no joy if you feel awkward holding the camera in your hands.

Review by Matthew Hunter:

I love my Nikon N75 – it’s by far the best camera I’ve ever owned. I’ve had it for several months now, and have taken the best pictures of my life with it. A great first SLR, due to the ability to leave it in fully automatic mode at first, and then start using the expanded features as you learn. I mainly wanted to write this review to debunk the ‘error’ a previous reviewer was complaining about. They really should read the owner’s manual… The ‘film not loaded error icon’ that they are talking about is used in two ways on this camera. If when you first load the film, something goes wrong, this will blink to indicate the film was not loaded correctly. The second use is as a ‘low-film’ indicator. When you’re looking through the viewfinder, this light will blink when you hit 5 exposures left. It’s obviously meant to let you know you’re getting close to the end of your film, so you don’t miss that ‘perfect shot’ due to running our of film. The fact that the reviewer went through several of these cameras, and never figured this out astounds me. I’ve never had to contact Nikon support, but I would hope that the support person I got would be a little more knowledgeable than the people she talked too…Overall, if you’re looking to get started with an SLR, you can’t go wrong with this camera. I would, however, suggest that you visit your local Ritz (or equivilent camera shop) to hold onto the camera, and compare it to a few others. I was all set to buy a Canon Rebel Ti, based soley on reviews – until I went to the shop. It just felt wrong in my hands, where the Nikon felt perfect. It’s all a matter of personal preferrence, so you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the right one.I’ve also been pretty hard on this camera since I got it (Ritz has an optional replacement warranty, so I’ve not been too worried) – including getting it soaked on a boat trip. It’s kept on going through everything I’ve thrown at it – very durable.Pros:-Can be used as a point-and-shoot when needed (or while learning)
-Has the ability to control every aspect of the picture taking process.
-Great built in flash
-Amazing 25 point 3D metering system
-Controls are all easily accesible while holding the camera
-In my opinion, it just feels sturdier and more comfortable in your hand than the Canon Rebel Ti – Canon’s equivilant cameraCons:
-Being an SLR, it’s a little on the big side. It is, however, lighter than you might expect. Basically, you have to be making the commitment to carrying it around with you. For this, I’d highly recommend one of the lowepro bags – they’re about the smallest you can get for this type of camera.

Review by K. eiland:

I’ve had this lens for a month and have taken @ 1000 shots. This is my first macro so i can’t give any comparisons. All my shots are at the Honolulu Zoo. This is a great walk around lens for a zoo. The 85mm is right for the animals and the macro for bugs and flowers. Past 3 feet you don’t get any magnification other than the 85mm which is not insignificant.

Pros:

1. The minimum focus distance is 5 1/4 inches from the front of the lens. This is way better than my point and shoot. That’s 5 1/4 inches at 1:1 which i rarely use because of the thin dof and my shaky hands. At 1:2 it’s 9 inches and you can fill the frame with a bee.

2. The lens is plastic but feels solid in weight and construction. The mount is metal. It sticks out 4 1/2 inches from the front of my d40. Really a tidy package considering all it can do.

3. Very sharp images, sharper than my 18-55 and 55-200, which do not have vr so that contributes.

4. The focus switch. Two positions, M and M/A. The M is manual of course and mostly what i use. I have to use manual with the larger magnification ratios (1:2,1:1.6,1:1.4,1:1.2 and 1:1). On auto the lens freaks out due to slight changes i make in camera position. The M/A is auto focus with a manual override. The auto focus works great with anything over 3 feet and the override is useful for slight changes in subject position. If you are steady or an old hand at macro maybe the auto focus will work at closer magnifications.

5. The scale window. It is on top of the lens and easy to read. It shows magnification ratio and distance to subject in feet and meters. When i want a macro shot i choose 1:1.2, 1:1.4 or 1:1.6. On manual focus i focus by moving the camera and as long as i don’t touch the focus ring the ratio stays put. This is important to me because i’m not a big fan of bokeh and want as much dof as possible. Once my exposure is set i can concentrate on focus and composition.

Cons:

Like i said, this is my first macro lens so i don’t know if i’m missing a feature other lenses have. There is nothing about this lens i do not like.

I made this purchase because of the 85mm and the brand. I bought from amazon because i knew if there was a problem or if i didn’t like the lens returning would be easy and painless. I do reccomend this lens as a first time macro user.

Review by S. S. Malhotra:

I pre-ordered this lens as a present, but examined it before I gave it away.

I didn’t think I was going to want to keep it, but I’ll have to admit, the lens is VERY sharp. The MTF charts hold true.

PRO’s:

It’s a smidge sharper than my Nikon 60mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Micro-Nikkor Lens for Nikon DSLR Cameras.

What I really like the is the working distance on a DX body; it’s nothing you could get on an FX body as a macro lens (FX equivalent of 127.5mm; only macro’s for FX are 60 and 105 2.8). . .

The VR does work very well, but does not completely make up for fast aperture. Back to back testing in low light portrait shots, the VR gave me a about a 1-2 stop advantage (my 60mm 2.8 micro, thus, still better in that regard).

What this does offer to the DX community is one of the SHARPEST nikkor’s produced in a very unique working distance.

Confirms Nikon’s commitment to the DX line at affordable pricing with amazing optics.

CON’s:

Only micro/macro lens in the nikon line up that ISN’t compatible with FX lenses. . .would’ve increased the cost for sure, and weight, but would’ve have been nice.