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Comment on Intel Core i5-2500K Processor by L2MICRO

L2MICRO — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:33:00 +0000

52 of 56 people found the following review helpful

You're going to love this!!!!, September 11, 2011

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Intel Core i5-2500K Processor (Personal Computers)

Greetings and welcome to the ultimate review; written by: L2MICRO! (CPU Code name: Sandy Bridge)
This chip handles everything! It is great for gaming, photo editing, video streaming, etc.

First Things First
(IMPORTANT!!!) This chip does not go into an H55 motherboard. I can't stress this enough! The 1156 sockets are not compatible with this chip. If you want to get this chip, you need to either upgrade to a P67/H67 or Z68 motherboard first. The socket you need is a LGA 1155. This is you're only major requirement.

This chip is EXTREMELY similar to the i7 2600k, but at 100 dollars cheaper, the single most major difference between an i5 2500k and an i7 2600k, is the Hyper Threading feature that the i7 2600k has. The i5 2500k does not have it. If you're in the market for an Intel processor and all you do is game, some photo editing with Photoshop, or stream, than get your hands on an i5 2500k (The k means overclock-able. no K means the core speed is locked and won't overclock). Gaming, in general, does not support and may even decrease your gaming performances with a hyper threaded enabled Intel core processor, which means, you can compromise with confidence. Most (if not all) games only use about 1 to 2 cores on your processor anyway. For $100 cheaper, Hyper Threading does not make a difference in gaming performance, but if you do many different things and run many different programs at once, Hyper Threading might just be what you are looking.

The stocked clock speeds for the i5 2500k is 3.3ghz. The i7 2600k has 3.4ghz speed. Not a huge difference, right? Especially when you can overclock your i5 2500k a little to reach the 3.4ghz speed, easily. The i5 2500k processor has slightly upgraded Intel HD graphics (3000 engine) VS the i7 2600k (2000 engine). This feature only applies to Z68 motherboards users, as these users have integrated vedio on the motherboard or "on board graphics". All this means is if you don't have a Z68 motherboard, you won't be able to overclock this processor and use the HD Graphics 3000 engine at the same time. Add a graphics card to you system and you don't need to worry about this factor. This core processor works just as good with H67 or P67 motherboards perfectly. That is pretty much it. Perfect for gamers.

Differences in a nut shell!

- i7 2600k 8mb cache (very little performance increase for the price)
-> i5 2500k 6mb cache

- i7 2600k Hyper Threading feature
-> i5 2500k None

- i7 2600k 3.40ghz speed
-> i5 2500k 3.30ghz speed (Easily overclocked to 3.40ghz or higher)

Things you should know!

- These chips work best with ram at 8gb or 12gb on a x64 bit systems. This CPU loves RAM modules STOCKED/CLOCKED to 1.5 volts and no less than 1333mhz of speed. These chips also prefer timings of 9-9-9-24 timings. However, 8-8-8-24 timings are viable.

- i5 2500k is easily overclocked to 4.1ghz with BIOS tweaks or third party software. Anything higher than than a core speed of 4.1ghz, will cause a hotter CPU. I would suggest switching to a water cooled system setup, because you may run into a 60 degrees Celsius increase without water heat removal. Stock or fan operated heat-sinks are only good to a certain point.

- When you buy an Intel processor, it will come with a case badge to place on your PC case to show your friends. It'll be on the back of your Intel manual booklet.

- The i5 Intel processor also comes with stock heat-sink that you may or may not use. I prefer after market heat-sinks, because the stock heat-sinks don't cool all that well and, from my experience, after market heat-sinks perform better and last longer; Especially, if you're going to overclock your CPU. I would also suggest picking up an after market cooler if you are planning to overclock this CPU.

Thermal Paste & You

- There is an applied application of thermal paste compound on your Intel i5 2500K stock heat-sink already. I would suggest removing and applying a new application from paste you purchased. If you have or bought an after market heat-sink, that I explained above, please use only a PEA SIZED amount of thermal compound for best, even spread, as well as, better heat transference. Remember, Less is more! Keep in mind when purchasing and allying thermal paste to your CPU that lower viscosity thermal compounds require more than a pea sized amount, because they don't spread as easily compared to higher viscosity pastes. Arctic Silver 5, MX-4, and OCZ freeze are better brands to consider for a best application.

Testing results!

I tested this CPU with Prime95 for 20 hours without any errors. Buying the right memory also factors into these tests and errors. When you do test, using Prime95 or a different program, RAM does contribute to errors/blue screens and can easily be mistaken for a CPU issue. My solution to this... Read more

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Comment on Intel Core i5-2500K Processor by corry

corry — Tue, 15 May 2012 02:58:47 +0000

87 of 89 people found the following review helpful

Very easy to overclock, July 2, 2011

corry -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Intel Core i5-2500K Processor (Personal Computers)

I have it running at 4.9 GHz with liquid cooling, and no stability issues. It was able to be overclocked up to 4.0 GHz with stock cooling.

If you're building a computer with this CPU, make sure that your motherboard is compatible. Only a motherboard with LGA 1155 will work with 2nd-generation Intel processors (e.g. this one). There are three types of motherboards with LGA 1155: H67, P67, and Z68. Motherboards with H67 don't allow you to overclock. P67 motherboards allow you to overclock, but don't allow you to use the CPU's built-in graphics card (so you will have to buy a separate graphics card). Z68 motherboards don't have any restrictions. Personally, I chose to buy a P67 motherboard because it was slightly cheaper than Z68, and I didn't need the built-in graphics. But it's really up to you.

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Comment on Intel Core i5-2500K Processor by T. R. Kanavy "The Friendly Cyborg"

T. R. Kanavy "The Friendly Cyborg" — Tue, 15 May 2012 02:09:12 +0000

121 of 126 people found the following review helpful

Boom for your Buck, February 1, 2011

T. R. Kanavy "The Friendly Cyborg" -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Intel Core i5-2500K Processor (Personal Computers)

I bought this as an upgrade for a stalwart Intel q6600 Core 2 Quad system I have been using for the past two years. My previous q6600 system was over-clocked (3.0ghz) and coupled with high performance parts to maximize efficacy. I figured this chip would be a MILD improvement over my aforementioned unit. Delightfully, I was WRONG.

The 2500k:

Saying this chip is a good "bang for the buck" is somewhat inaccurate. It's a sonic boom for the buck. It over-clocks to 4.5Ghz on air with moderate temperatures with a basic ($30) after-market air cooler and runs completly stable. I decided to run this chip on a daily basis at 4.0Ghz to preserve the longevity of its operation. This chip is excellent for use in programs like Photoshop, Adobe Creative Suite, and of course gaming. Providing you have an adequate video card this CPU simply WILL NOT let you down in intense graphic CPU-based games (Star Craft 2) or taxing programs (CS4+).

CONCLUSION:

This is an excellent chip with stellar price to performance ratio.

PRO's:

-Fantastic Value
-Runs Cool
-"K" edition is unlocked and easily overclocked
-Amazon's current pricing is in-line with the web's best.
-Loves to be overclocked with relatively low voltage.

CON's:

-No hyper threading (have to go to the i7 sandy bridge for HT)
-Does not make chocolate chip cookies or sing "Soft Kitty" to cheer you up when you are sick.

Bottom line:

Click the order button and make this baby yours. Unless you want the i7 for the hyper-threading capability (recommended for intense video editing, taxing multi-tasking and encoding). Kudos to Intel- this is a great architecture and worthy successor to their previous lines.
-----------------------

A Note About the Meaning of the Intel i5 Core 2500K Model Number:

Intel: The Brand
i5: The Modifier
500: The Chip Series SKU
k: Unlocked Cores (for overclocking)
-----------------------

My Sandy Bridge System Specs:

CPU: Sandy Bridge Core i5 2500k, Overclocked to 4.4ghz, Antec Kuhler 620 H2O CPU cooler.

Motherboard: Asus Sabertooth P67

GPU: (2x SLI) MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

MEMORY: G-Skillz 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory (overclocked)

PSU: Antec Truepower 23754 TP-750 BLUE LED 750-Watt PSU NVIDIA SLI Certified 80 Plus Bronze Advanced Hybrid Cable Management Power Supply

CASE: Silverstone Raven-02EW
--------------------

If you have any questions feel free to ask I will try to respond ASAP.

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Comment on Hoover Commercial Shoulder Backpack Vacuum Cleaner by Robert McCullough

Robert McCullough — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:03:23 +0000

73 of 77 people found the following review helpful

Not as nice as I hoped, February 12, 2011

Robert McCullough -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Hoover Commercial Shoulder Backpack Vacuum Cleaner (Kitchen)

I've been wanting to buy a backpack vacuum for a few years now. So this year, I decided to give it a try. Our house it 90% hardwood so a backpack vacuum makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately, in actual use, it wasn't as nice as I had hoped.

PROS
- not having to drag anything around on the floor is VERY nice.
- the hose hangs down from your back so when you let go of the wand (e.g. while moving furniture), it's easy to pick the wand back up.
- the curved plastic piece at the end of the hose is handy (e.g. for cleaning the tops of baseboards).
- long extension cord.

CONS
- awkward to put on & wear. Of course, putting it on only takes a few seconds, but you still have to deal with backpack straps and a tight waist band while you're moving around.
- weight: 10 lbs doesn't seem like a lot, but it was too unwieldy for my wife and kids to use for more than a few minutes.
- heat: I tried it out in the winter and it got fairly hot. I think it would be pretty uncomfortable during hot summers.
- emptying: this model can be used with a reusable bag for bag-less operation. However, emptying the bag is a fairly unpleasant experience. I'm a long time user of Dyson vacuums and find them very easy to empty because there's no filter/bag involved. With the Hoover, dust & dirt inevitably builds up in the reusable back so to really empty it (to maintain optimum suction), you have to really shake the cloth bag and dust flies EVERYWHERE (and you end up breathing a lot). You CAN use it with disposable bags, but I decided years ago that I didn't want to pay for disposable bags (which, for this model, run about $1 per bag).

So in the end, I decided that a backpack vacuum was not for me. Perhaps if I were cleaning an office building, I would feel differently. But for a residential house -- no.

Note: there are actually two Hoover backpack models:
- C2401-010 (this model) is designed more for residential use. It includes a 1.25" hose and straight wand that fits "regular" vacuum attachments (I was able to use my Dyson attachments).
- C2401 (also available on Amazon) is designed more for commercial use. It includes a larger 1.5" hose and curved wand that doesn't work with other residential vacuum attachments. The wand & attachments are more suitable for a commercial environment.

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Comment on Hoover Commercial Shoulder Backpack Vacuum Cleaner by GCQ

GCQ — Mon, 14 May 2012 03:25:21 +0000

60 of 62 people found the following review helpful

Best Ever. C2401-010 (the 010 is VERY important!), April 21, 2011

GCQ -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Hoover Commercial Shoulder Backpack Vacuum Cleaner (Kitchen)

If you have largely hard wood floors with the occasional area rug, just buy it. Don't think about it. Just buy it.
I run a cleaning business in Oregon where absolutely everyone has hardwood floors and area rugs. This thing is a breeze and makes short work of large areas. I use to have some complaints about it, but have gotten over them by making a few changes in the way I use it. Once you are nice to your vacuum, it will be nice to you.

Here is a list of why this is the greatest vacuum you will ever own and why you will want to buy it for all your friends and family:

1) small and light weight. At Green Clean Queen (my cleaning business) we are all pretty petite women. As long as you aren't stupid, wear at least the waist strap (those with large busts find the chest strap just makes things uncomfortable, but it's not that necessary anyway), and stand up straight, it will not hurt your back. Really. "W.O.W." It's on the side of the vacuum 'Wear right. Operate right. Work right."
It does have a tendency to undress you. So watch out for that. The waist strap likes to pull your shirt up and the back of the vacuum likes to push your pants down. Either deal with your crack showing a bit or wear a longer shirt and a belt, or vacuum when no one is there to watch you. Problem solved.

2) the metal wand. I accidentally bought the C2401 (NOT C2401-010) and was DEVASTATED that they were not the same thing. The metal wand on this version (C2401-010) is straight. We use this to our advantage in my company by sticking the mop in the vacuum wand so we only have to carry one thing instead of awkwardly carrying two.
Over time the friction fit has let me down, but I have learned to deal with it. The floor attachment is permanently stuck to the metal wand. That's fine by me because then it never falls off. The connection point between the two sections of the wand has become super weak and doesn't like to stay together. Not to worry, a bit of velcro and some zip ties has created a quick release strap to hold the two pieces together. Now they stay together when you want them to (vacuuming and carrying it around with a mop inside) and they easily come apart when you want to use one of the smaller attachments for upholstery, blinds, anything that is just out of your reach. It's alright on cobwebs, but if you have even a moderate cobweb problem, vacuuming them will just kill your neck, back, and hand (it's not the right angle for comfortably reaching up... perfect for down though).
I find it annoying that the attachments don't easily stick to the vacuum in anyway. Easily remedied with a plastic baggie and a binder clip... Put the attachments in the baggie and clip the bugger to the belt. Problem solved.

3) the floor attachment. I hate, hate, hate brush floor attachments. To me they are useless. They gather dust bunnies and move them around your house and they make it difficult to suck up larger things like marbles, spare change, legos, crayons, etc... The floor attachment on the C2401-010 is seriously the best option for about 75% of possible floor types. It makes a horrible irritating noise across slate and tile, but it really sucks (in the best way). It is fantastic for wood floors and laminate and maneuvers easily to get around under things without having to move heavy furniture. The trick is to get closer to the ground (so squat, but keep your back straight), twist the handle and wand so it is parallel to the floor. If you don't do this, the back wheels will be like a lever and pull the business end off the floor so it doesn't get it all. And because it doesn't have brushes on it, but instead parallel, collapsible squeegee-like stuff you can easily move from hardwoods, to under the edges of rugs, to the tops of area rugs. It does not have a beater bar so if there is a lot of weird stuff in the carpet you have to be the beater bar and quickly run it back and forth bringing the stuff to the top to be sucked up easily. It does get tiring after a while and does require both hands, but it is infinitely easier than hauling out the upright to do an 8x10 ft area.
I also love the floor attachment because it actually picks stuff up. Not just dirt and dust bunnies, but quarters and crayons and kitty litter. It only pushes around large stuff that is just a little bit too tall for it. BUT! Those are also the things on the floor that are easy to see so you just have to lift and place the vacuum to suck it up. The only thing that is has a problem with are garment tags. They seem to be everywhere and I always hope that the vacuum will get it because I don't want to bend down to pick it up. They will ALWAYS get stuck until you can suck up something big enough to dislodge it or shove your finger up there to try to fish it out because the high pitched squeal is starting to annoy you. The wand occasionally clogs if you suck up enough long rigid things like toothpicks and qtips,... Read more

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Comment on Hoover Commercial Shoulder Backpack Vacuum Cleaner by Circles08

Circles08 — Mon, 14 May 2012 02:34:15 +0000

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful

Best vacuum we've ever owned, May 1, 2009

Circles08 (Omak, WA) -

This review is from: Hoover Commercial Shoulder Backpack Vacuum Cleaner (Kitchen)

We have been using the vacuum for 3-4 months now, and we love it! Our home is 90% hardwood floors and this vacuum is perfect. It is great on stairs, has excellent suction power, and was worth ever penny. No more tugging around our little tank vac or trying to clean the wood floors with our upright. The bag is very easy to clean and the filter seems to trap every last spec of dust. I'm not sure how well this would perform on deep carpet, but we use it on some low pile floor mats and it does great. The bottom line is after owning this we don't want any other vacuum.

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Comment on Sony Cybershot DSC-HX1 9.1MP 20x Optical Zoom Digital Camera with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization and 3.0 Inch LCD by vlim

vlim — Sun, 13 May 2012 03:04:28 +0000

115 of 120 people found the following review helpful

Great camera but no DSLR, May 7, 2009

vlim (USA) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Sony Cybershot DSC-HX1 9.1MP 20x Optical Zoom Digital Camera with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization and 3.0 Inch LCD (Camera)

** Modified 05-08-09 by adding nitpick #5 :) ***

I had been a digital point-and-shoot camera person for about 12 years, since the Canon Powershot 100. Over that time, I've upgraded to various Powershot models until 2 years ago, got a Sony A100 DSLR. I love that camera and have lots of fun taking pictures with it.

For work, we had been using my A100 to take product photos. It was nice having a remote, and all of the great DSLR features that come along with that camera. But, I have been without my A100 for a while, and was missing it dearly, so I decided to get another camera for work, and was having trouble deciding between the DSC-HX1 and the A200 DSLR.

I've been playing with both, and have decided to return the A200 and keep the DSC-HX1. Here's why:

1. The other people helping me take these product photos don't have any DSLR experience, and don't share my enthusiasm for photography. They prefer point-and-shoot. So from an ease of use standpoint, the DSC-HX1 is a better choice, especially with the live view. The A200 doesn't have that, and although the A350 does, it does cost $100 more.

2. The HX1 has enough features on it to allow us to play with settings to get a great shot. You can control aperture, shutter speed, etc, just like on a DSLR. Manual focusing is available, but using the selective focusing is much more accurate for our non-moving subject. We just move the cursor to highlight the area that should be in focus, and the camera does the rest. Otherwise, there are lots of DSLR-like features.

3. The picture quality is pretty good. The JPG only shooting mode may put off more serious photographers who want RAW, but is fine for those moving up from lesser cameras. The large lens and CMOS

4. Live histogram view is nice to make sure you get a good exposure.

5. The optical zoom is great. I turn off digital zoom, since I don't really like it.

6. It's very light, much lighter than the A200 and even more so than my A100 setup.

7. The panorama feature is nice, but we won't be using it at the office.

8. The noise reduction modes are nice, but we won't be using it, since we have a lightbox and tripod setup for our needs. However, at a birthday party, I could see how this would be a nice feature.

There are some drawbacks that I would like to see addressed in future models:

1. I wish I could manually focus with a dial. The manual and semi-manual focusing on this thing has you move a scroll wheel to select a distance, and doesn't give the fine focusing of an actual lense dial on a DSLR. The selective focus is a nice feature that allows us to compensate for it, but this won't work well with moving subjects, but the semi-manual mode is a decent compromise.

2. There is a slight lag with the live view that I'm not used to coming from a DSLR. However, the tilting ability of the screen helps is nice, and makes up for this minor drawback.

3. With a tripod mount fitted, it's impossible to access the memory card slot. The DSLRs had this on the side of the camera.

4. Even with a tripod, it's possible to get blurry pictures when you press the shutter button. I thought that I read a review of the camera somewhere that said it had a remote. I didn't see mention of one in the manual, and of course there wasn't one in the box. However, it would be a great feature. The 2 second timer is ok, but not as convenient.

*** ADDED 05-08-09 ***
5. Although this camera has a great zoom lens for a non-DSLR, I found that it had difficulty focusing on close objects with a high zoom. Taking close-ups from about 2.5 feet away, I found it difficult to go beyond 3x zoom. Just another difference between this and a DSLR with a huge telephoto lens. Of course, moving the product closer, and reducing the zoom did the trick. Most people probably wouldn't be using the zoom lens this way, and probably won't have an issue with this limitation.
***

Overall, I would choose this camera over the A200 for many applications, but mainly for ease of use. The quality is great, and it has lots of features. Unless you need to change lenses or need precise manual focusing, it's hard to go wrong with this camera. It's for someone who likes to take pictures, wants good quality photos, but doesn't want the heft nor the bulk of a DSLR.

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Comment on Sony Cybershot DSC-HX1 9.1MP 20x Optical Zoom Digital Camera with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization and 3.0 Inch LCD by Joseph C.

Joseph C. — Sun, 13 May 2012 02:48:39 +0000

103 of 106 people found the following review helpful

BEST COMBINATION OF POSSIBILITIES, May 16, 2009

Joseph C. (San Francisco, CA USA) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Sony Cybershot DSC-HX1 9.1MP 20x Optical Zoom Digital Camera with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization and 3.0 Inch LCD (Camera)

Before to order Sony HX1 through Amazon, I did a lot of reserch works with all possible information online, my considerations were among Canon SX1,Canon T1i, Nikon P90 and Sony HX1.Now after almost two weeks of practice with Sony HX1,I can surely to say it's really the best combination of all cool possibilities you can find on current market:

Possibility 1: Super optical Zoom up to 34X( equv. to 952mm)if you use 1.7x tele-conversion lens which is not offered by Canon SX1. DSLRs cannot easily reach this zoom range unless you are rich enough and strong enough to bring those lenses in your backpack.
Possibility 2: Great picture quality with the sharpness comparable to most low-end DSLRs if you have enough kownledge and technics of photograghy, for example by adjusting ISO, aperture or speed etc. HX1 offers almost all features you can find in DSLRs when you turn the mode dial to M,A,S,P. The best picture is not made by the camera, it's by your brain. Sony HX1's professional G lens made the good quality possible.
Possibility 3: Great sharp HD Video with stereo sound,you can record video as long as your memory card can hold, with a 16GB card you can easily take hours of HD video. The resolution of 1440x1080p is already sharp and smooth enough and when you watch your video with TV or computer, what you see is the same video quality as full HD at 1980x1080. Yes, Canon SX1 has the REAL 1980x1080, but it has a limitation of 4GB or 30 min, while its' video file MOV is much larger which can quickly occupy all your memory card. Canon T1i has HD video too, but it's with mono sound and same limitation.
Possibility 4: Graet performance with low light conditions.HX1's unique Hand-held Twilight and Anti-Motion Blur modes are so cool that you don't need a tripod to shoot good pictures at night, in church or any indoor occasion. They are both based on Sony's technology of combining 6 speedy shot pictures into one final photo.Besides,you have the option to change ISO up to 3200.
Possibility 5: HX1's Panorama (both horizontal or vertical)is the only fantastic feature you can find now in the whole world.
Possibility 6: Very friendly nevigation Menu lets your job simple,easy and convenient.
Possibility 7: Camera body is very solid but light weight with Sony's stylish design.
Possibility 8: High-speed shoot at 10frames/s with full resolution,so you never miss the important moments when your kids play sports. It's the highest speed which even surpasses the high-end DSLRs. Though it has a limit of 10 pics per shoot and a 17-second waiting time to saves these pics, as an ordinary amateur I'm satisfying with this feature.
Possibility 9: You can add many cool digital color filters through the built-in menu to gain the same resault of the real filters.

However, the only cons I noticed right now are the limit of 10 continuous shoots and the design of the tilt LCD.It's better to let LCD reversible(like Canon SX-1)so I can protect the screen easily. I highly recommand to apply a protective film with your LCD.

I'd like to rank SONY HX-1 with 6 or 5+ stars if it's possible. You'll not regret to own such a great combination of all possibilities at a right price range for our amateurs. The bottom line is, if you are not in the industry of publishing,advertising or media, you probably need only this camera along with your journey around the world, no matter you need high-quality,high-zoom,high-speed,HD Video,high-ISO,panorama,low-light shoot,low-light weight, HX-1 offers you all. Good luck!

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Comment on Sony Cybershot DSC-HX1 9.1MP 20x Optical Zoom Digital Camera with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization and 3.0 Inch LCD by Andrew J. Marton

Andrew J. Marton — Sun, 13 May 2012 02:02:40 +0000

287 of 296 people found the following review helpful

Much better than anticipated. Pre-sale reviews are overly critical, May 5, 2009

Andrew J. Marton (Los Angeles, CA USA) -

This review is from: Sony Cybershot DSC-HX1 9.1MP 20x Optical Zoom Digital Camera with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization and 3.0 Inch LCD (Camera)

I was looking for a new digital camera to replace my Leica V-Lux 1 which a bought a couple of years ago. I sold the Leica and was planning to use the money to buy a current camera. My dilemma was whether to stay with a super zoom camera (flaws and all) or take a step toward an entry model DSLR. I also wanted a 2009 model as I wanted the most current technology available so I would be less inclined to feel the need to buy an "upgrade" in another year or so. Ultimately, I narrowed my search down to the Sony HX1, Canon SX1, Panasonic G1 and Sony a300. For me, build quality and feel, size (travel convenience) and lens versatility were my main priorities (not necessarily in that order). I think it is very important to figure out exactly what you really want out of your camera so you get a good fit that matches your expectations. So for me, low light picture quality was not a major concern as I expected to use the camera mostly outdoors or in good lighting situations. And in-door shots were probably going to be portraits or museum shots so again it was not a big concern for me.

Initially, I really liked the form factor of the SX10 (SX1 was not out yet) and its feel in my hands and layout. But I did want a reusable intelligent battery vs. AAs and I was not that impressed with the screen resolution and EVF. Reviews of the SX1 were also a little disappointing so I decided to pass on the Canon. I next explored the DSLRs. I really liked the Sony a300 but in the end couldn't justify the cost (this is a minor hobby for me and kids are teenagers so there are a lot less Kodak moments for m) and I didn't want to lug lenses around as I did that most of my life when I had old fashioned film cameras like the Nikon FE2 / N6006. The G1 was very intriguing but I was leaving on a summer vacation in early June and did not want to wait too long as I wanted to be completely familiar with the camera before the trip and know how to "work" the camera so I got good results (experience has taught me that there is a learning curve on getting descent pictures from a particular model) so I passed on the G1 as its release date was in June. In the end, I "talked" myself out of buying a DSLR system for one main reason - I simply was not ready or committed to traveling around with all the lenses I would want - wide angle and zoom. Basically I went with convenience / ease of use over picture perfection. For ME the step up in picture quality was not worth the trouble of walking around with all that gear. I do a fair amount of camping and scenic trips so I like to keep my load light. HD video was not an issue at all as I have the Canon HV30 which is simply an amazing camcorder. It also takes incredible video in low light situations. I highly recommend it.

In the end, I decided on the HX1 because of the features that I thought were cool and would inspire creativity on my part. For me, convenience is a big factor. At some point, my enthusiasm drops off in direct relationship to whether or not it is a PIA to do something. This is a character flaw for me but worth considering if you have similar tendencies over time. Interestingly, this also happens to be my first Sony camera although I have had several Sony camcorders in the past - so I don't believe that brand loyalty or familiarity with Sony played a part in my decision (aside from my confidence that Sony products made in Japan are exceptionally well made). The panoramic picture, twilight and anti-blur features and burst picture mode (10 frames) ultimately swayed. I thought that all of these features, despite some valid weaknesses added value to the camera and would enhance my digital camera experience. I also really liked the build quality, menu structure and ergonomics. As for the features, the panoramic picture feature works well once you understand how to use it and recognize its limitations. So far I have been very happy with the results. I am working on sharpening the picture as I think it is a little soft for my tastes. But it is so easy to use and I use it often just for fun! I find myself exploring options - something I would not do before and certainly not during post production when I am trying to tweak the 100s of pictures that I have taken during some adventure. Same for the twilight and anti-blur features. I find myself trying out each feature and comparing the results. Again, I am very happy with the results. Is it exceptional - no, but pictures turn out better than if you did not have the option and I am not overly critical as it looks great on the screen or 4x6 print out. Even 8x10 is respectable. Quite frankly, it's really nice not to have to do all that editing in "post production". (I use Adobe CS.) I think the lens quality is exceptional and like the way the camera lens extends out when you power up the camera - as it pushes off the lens cap. A small cute feature that everyone seems to have overlooked in their... Read more

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Comment on Professional Mini Ball Head Camera Mount by Bookloving Grandma "Tex"

Bookloving Grandma "Tex" — Sat, 12 May 2012 04:01:08 +0000

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful

Lightweight but good, September 6, 2007

Bookloving Grandma "Tex" (Dallas, TX USA) -

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Watch how many pounds a ball head holds before you order any of them. This one is small and would hold maybe 2-3 pounds.

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