Tag: Display

by David Burgess on May 9, 2023 0

The Most Affordable Way To Display Your Photos With Nixplay Digital Photo Frames

If you’re a photographer and you love spending time in your studio, then you’ll love the idea of using digital photo frames to store your photos. Not only are they affordable, but they offer a great way to showcase your photos in a way that’s both stylish and affordable.

There are a few different types of digital photo frames that you can choose from, and the ones that are the most affordable are those that are designed to be used with Nixplay Digital Photo Frames. This is a great platform that allows you to easily store and display your photos, and it’s one of the most popular platforms for digital photo frames.

The next best option for a digital photo frame is one that is designed to be used with a Nixplay Camera. This is a great platform that allows you to easily store and display your photos, and it’s one of the most popular platforms for digital photo frames.

Finally, if you’re looking for a more custom-made digital photo frame, then you should consider looking into those that are designed to be used with Apple’s iOS. This is a great platform that allows you to easily store and display your photos, and it’s one of the most popular platforms for digital photo frames.

So, if you’re a photographer and you’re looking for a great way to showcase your photos, then you should consider using digital photo frames. They are affordable, stylish, and offer a great way to store and display your photos.

Nixplay Digital Photo Frames is the best way to display your photos! With this app, you can create digital photo frames that are easy to assemble and display. You can choose to have your photos framed in a variety of styles and colors, and you can also add your own text or graphics.

If you want to show off your photos in a way that is both affordable and stylish, then you should consider using digital photo frames. A digital photo frame is a great way to show off your photos and make them look more beautiful. There a number of different types of digital photo frames available, and you can find the best one for your needs by using a search engine.

One of the best ways to find a digital photo frame that is both affordable and stylish is to look for ones that come in a variety of colors. You can also find ones that are made to look like different pieces of art. There are a number of different types of digital photo frames available, and you can find the best one for your needs by using a search engine.

If you are looking for a digital photo frame that is both affordable and stylish, then you should consider using ones that come in a variety of colors. You can also find ones that are made to look like different pieces of art. There are a number of different types of digital photo frames available, and you can find the best one for your needs by using a search engine.

Nixplay Digital Photo Frames are a great way to display your photos! With these frames, you can easily and cheaply add copies of your photos to your home or office. Plus, they’re a great way to show off your photos to others. Here’s a detailed explanation of how they work:

To set up a Nixplay Digital Photo Frame, first you need to find a physical photo frame. Once you have found one, you will need to determine how large the frame should be. You can find these frames at most stores, or you can order them online. Once you have chosen the size, you will also need to find the type of frame. There are many different types of frames, but the most common type is the photo frame. You can find these frames at most stores, or you can order them online.

Once you have chosen the type of frame, you will need to find the photo that you want to display. Once you have found the photo, you will need to select the size of the photo. You can find the photo by looking at the size of the frame. You can also find the photo by looking at the type of frame. Once you have selected the size, you will need to select the type of photo that you want to display. You can find the type of photo by looking at the photo size. You can also find the type of photo by looking at the type of frame.

Once you have selected the type of photo, you will need to find the location of the photo. You can find the location of the photo by looking at the photo. You can also find the location of the photo by looking at the type of frame. Once you have found the location of the photo, you will need to find the location of the frame. You can find the location of the frame by looking at the type of frame.

Once you have found the location of the photo and the location of the frame, you will need to put the photo in the frame. You can put the photo in the frame by looking at the location of the photo and the location of the frame. You can also put the photo in the frame by looking at the type of frame.

Once you have put the photo in the frame, you will need to put the frame in the room. You can put the frame in the room by looking at the location of the frame and the location of the room. You can also put the frame in the room by looking at the type of frame.

Once you have put the frame in the room, you will need to put the photo in the frame. You can put the photo in the frame by looking at the location of the photo and the location of the frame. You can also put the photo in the frame by looking at the type of frame.

Once you have put the photo in the frame, you will need to put the frame in the wall. You can put the frame in the wall by looking at the location of the frame and the location of the wall. You can also put the frame in the wall by looking at the type of frame.

Once you have put the frame in the wall, you will need to put the photo in the frame. You can put the photo in the frame by looking at the location of the photo and the location of the frame. You can also put the photo in the frame by looking at the type of frame.

Once you have put the photo in the frame, you will need to put the frame in the photo album. You can put the frame in the photo album by looking at the location of the frame and the location of the photo. You can also put the frame in the photo album by looking at the type of frame.

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by David Burgess on November 15, 2022 0

The Top 10 Infinite Art Sand Painting Artists

Today we’ll be discussing the top 10 infinite art sand painting artists. These are artists who create beautiful, intricate sand paintings that are meant to be viewed from all sides. These paintings are often large and detailed, and can take weeks or even months to complete.

Kseniya Simonova is a Ukrainian sand artist who rose to fame after winning the television show Ukraine’s Got Talent in 2009. Her sand paintings tell stories, and she often uses music to help set the mood.

Chris Sainte-Claire is a French-Canadian sand artist who has been creating sand paintings for over 20 years. He often uses bright colors and geometric shapes in his work.

Dmitry Grinev is a Russian sand artist who specializes in creating 3D sand paintings. He has won numerous awards for his work, and has even been featured in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Karen Bonaker is an American sand artist who is known for her large, detailed sand paintings. She has been painting for over 30 years, and has exhibited her work all over the world.

Mario Mariotti is an Italian sand artist who is known for his realistic sand paintings. He often paints scenes from nature, and his work has been featured in many magazines and newspapers.

Gaudi is a Spanish sand artist who is known for his unique, abstract style. He often uses bright colors and organic shapes in his work.

Simon Hennessey is a British sand artist who is known for his detailed and realistic sand paintings. He has been featured in many magazines and newspapers, and has even been commissioned to create a sand painting for the Queen of England.

Michaelangelo was a famous Italian artist who is best known for his paintings and sculptures. He also created a few sand paintings, which are now on display in the Vatican Museum.

Picasso was a famous Spanish artist who is best known for his paintings and sculptures. He also created a few sand paintings, which are now on display in the Picasso Museum in Paris.

Dali was a famous Spanish artist who is best known for his paintings and sculptures. He also created a few sand paintings, which are now on display in the Dali Museum in Spain.

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by Leland Richardson on November 20, 2021 0

JVC Everio GZ-HM1S Overview

The JVC Everio GZ-HM1S is a high definition camcorder that records 1920 x 1080 video in the AVCHD format. It is one of the most expensive models in JVC’s lineup, even though it was introduced in 2010.

The GZ-HM1S carries a suggested retail price of $1199. Full technical specifications for the GZ-HM1S can be found here.

JVC Everio GZ-HM1S Video Features

The Everio GZ-HM1S uses the full AVCHD format for 1920 x 1080 high definition recording. It supports 24Mbps recording, the highest bit-rate available in the AVCHD video format. The HM1S features the same 10.6-megapixel 1/2.3-inch back-illuminatedCMOS image sensor found on most of the top-of-the-line 2011 Everios. Unlike JVC’s mid-range models, the HM1S cannot record in standard definition (not that you’d really miss it).

The camcorder uses JVC’s “Intelligent Auto” mode for automatically matching scene modes such as portrait, sunset, scenery, forest and macro mode, to shooting environments.

You can snap 9-megapixel still photos with the HM1S, and it has a built-in flash to aid in low light photography.

While it’s not quite a replacement for a standalone digital camera, it will deliver sharper pictures than camcorders without a built-in flash.

Optical Features

You’ll find a 10x optical zoom Konica Minolta HD lens on the Everio GZ-HM1S. This optical zoom is joined by two digital zoom technologies: a dynamic zoom can boost magnification to 16x without sacrificing video quality. There’s also a standard digital zoom, which increases magnification to 200x. The lens uses JVC’s “Enhanced Advanced Image Stabilizer” for keeping your footage relatively shake-free. According to the company, the image stabilization technology can compensate for camera shake at wide-angles and is four times as effective in combating shake than the Advanced Stabilization found on less expensive models in the Everio line. In our experience, JVC has some of the best image stabilization technology in the camcorder market.

The HM1S’s lens is conveniently protected by an automatic lens cap.

Memory and Display

The GZ-HM1S offers 64GB of internal flash memory in addition to a single SDHC memory card slot.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t accept higher-capacity SDXC cards for additional storage capacity, although with 32GB on board, you probably will not find yourself running out of memory. The HM 550 uses JVC’s “seamless recording” system, which automatically switches memory formats when one is full. The camcorder is Eye-Fi ready, so it will automatically recognize when a wireless Eye-Fi memory card is in use.

You’ll frame your recordings on a large 3.5-inch Laser Touch LCD display. The Laser Touch display is something of hybrid – it’s not a touch screen but there are no tactile buttons either. Instead, you’ll find a serious of touch-sensitive controls on the edge of the display, including a swipe bar, for navigating around the HM1S’s menu items. In our experience, this Laser Touch display can be more responsive than small touch screens although it takes some getting used to.

Design

Design-wise, the HM1S cuts an angular (in our view attractive) appearance with nice ergonomics. Thanks to the use of flash memory you’ll still enjoy a light weight body though not as light as JVC’s less expensive HD models (.67 pounds with battery inside). The HM1S measures in at 2.1 x 2.4 x 4.8 inches, roughly the same form factor as the entry-level series of Everios, and features a zoom lever on the top of the camcorder and a record shutter located on the side, next to the camcorder’s battery. Open the display and you’ll find buttons video playback, scrolling and info, plus the camcorder’s ports: component, HDMI, USB and AV. There is a manual focus wheel adjacent to the lens.

Aesthetically, the HM1S is available in one color – silver, with black accents.

Shooting Features

The Everio GZ-HM1S is outfitted with face detection and a a face flow playback, which highlights faces in a frame in the playback menu so you can search your footage by the people you’ve recorded..

Among the other features you’ll find on the GZ-HM1S is a time-lapse recording function that lets you record one frame at a time for a selectable time interval (between one and 80 seconds). There are several fast frame rate options for recording in slow motion. The effect is very cool but the video files are lower quality, so they won’t look as good on the big screen as they will on your computer.

Finally, you can add basic animated effects to video in the camcorder as well as to still images. JVC’s Everio Media Browser software is built-in the camcorder as well for disc-free loading when you attach the camcorder to a computer via USB. The software supports basic video editing (color changing, clipping, etc.) as well as sharing via YouTube and Facebook.

Connectivity

The Everio GZ-HM1S offers a built-in HDMI output for connecting the camera although the cable is not included. You can also connect to a PC via USB cable, which is included.

Impression

At $1,100, the HM1S is geared for video enthusiasts who want to exercise a high level of control over the look of their video. The HM1S has an attractive design and a solid feature set for the price but is getting old, in camcorder years, so you may want to wait to see what JVC replaces it with before purchasing (or wait until its replacement is named and the HM1S gets discounted further).

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by Leland Richardson on November 20, 2021 0

JVC Everio GZ-HD500 Overview

The JVC Everio GZ-HD500 is a high definition camcorder that records 1920 x 1080 video in the AVCHD format with a built-in hard disc drive.

The GZ-HD500 carries a suggested retail price of $549. Full technical specifications for the GZ-HD500 can be found here.

JVC Everio GZ-HD500 Video Features

The Everio GZ-HD500 uses the full AVCHD format for 1920 x 1080 high definition recording. It supports 24Mbps recording, the highest bit-rate available in the AVCHD video format. The HD500 features a 1/5.8-inch, 1.3-megapixel CMOS image sensor. Unlike JVC’s mid-range models, the HD500 cannot record in standard definition (not that you’d really miss it, would you?).

You can snap still photos with the HD500, however there’s no built-in flash so unless you’re operating in plenty of sunlight and keep steady, you’re likely to get blurry pics from it.

Optical Features

You’ll find a 20x optical zoom lens on the Everio GZ-HD500. This optical zoom is joined by a digital zoom which increases magnification to 200x. The lens uses JVC’s “Enhanced Advanced Image Stabilizer” for keeping your footage relatively shake-free. According to the company, the image stabilization technology can compensate for camera shake at wide-angles and is four times as effective in combating shake than the Advanced Stabilization found on less expensive models in the Everio line. In our experience, JVC has some of the best image stabilization technology in the camcorder market.

The HD500’s lens is conveniently protected by an automatic lens cap.

Memory and Display

The GZ-HD500 offers an 80GB built-in hard drive plus a single microSD/SDHC memory card slot. Unfortunately, it doesn’t accept higher-capacity SDXC cards for additional storage capacity, although with 80GB on board, you probably will not find yourself running out of memory. There is no seamless recording on the HD500, so you will need to manually switch between hard drive and memory card recording.

You’ll frame your recordings on a large 2.7-inch Laser Touch LCD display. The Laser Touch display is something of hybrid – it’s not a touch screen but there are no tactile buttons either. Instead, you’ll find a serious of touch-sensitive controls on the edge of the display, including a swipe bar, for navigating around the HD500’s menu items. In our experience, this Laser Touch display can be more responsive than small touch screens although it takes some getting used to.

Design

Design-wise, the HD500 is bulkier than JVC’s flash memory camcorders and much heavier at 1.82lbs (by contrast, JVC’s flash camcorders usually weigh about half as much). The HD500 measures in at 2.1 x 2.4 x 4.8 inches, roughly the same form factor as the entry-level series of Everios, and features a zoom lever on the top of the camcorder and a record shutter located on the side, next to the camcorder’s battery. Open the display and you’ll find buttons video playback, scrolling and info, plus the camcorder’s ports: component, HDMI, USB and AV.

The camcorder uses JVC’s two-way grip, which is a dual-purpose strap lets you hold it aloft or dangle the camcorder securely from your wrist.

Aesthetically, the HD500 is available in black.

Shooting Features

The Everio GZ-HD500 is outfitted with face detection and a face flow playback, which highlights faces in a frame in the playback menu so you can search your footage by the people you’ve recorded. There’s also an Auto Record function which starts recording automatically whenever an object moves into the frame. The camcorder will automatically end recording if motion stops after five seconds, so the camcorder can double as a motion-activated video camera (the battery won’t last long enough for it to truly replace a security camera though).

Among the other features you’ll find on the GZ-HD500 is a time-lapse recording function that lets you record one frame at a time for a selectable time interval (between one and 80 seconds).

Connectivity

The Everio GZ-HD500 offers a built-in HDMI output for connecting the camera although the cable is not included. You can also connect to a PC via USB cable. There is a built-in button for YouTube uploading as well so you can send videos to the online sharing service when you camcorder is connected to your PC.

Impression

Hard disc camcorders are not nearly as popular as they used to be but still serve a niche for those who value large amounts of on-board camcorder storage. In our view, flash camcorders are more attractive options because they’re lighter, more energy efficient and tend to be more responsive. Still, if you want hours upon hours of recording capacity without breaking the bank, a hard drive camcorder is the way to go.

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by Leland Richardson on November 20, 2021 0

Guide to 3D Camcorders

Camcorders and TVs have a symbiotic relationship (like those birds that pick food off of a rhino’s back). When TVs converted to high definition, it wasn’t long before high definition camcorders appeared. So it’s no surprise that with a new generation of 3D HDTVs hitting the market, 3D camcorders have trotted along behind. Here’s what you need to know about them.

How 3D Camcorders Work

To get a true 3D image or video, you need a camcorder that uses two lenses and two image sensors to capture two sets of images.

This creates the “stereoscopic” effect that fools our brain into thinking we’re seeing depth on the screen. In some cases, these two lenses are built into the camcorder itself. In others, a double-lens kit is sold as an accessory: it can be attached to the camcorder when you want to film in 3D and removed when you want to film in 2D.

Since two lenses and two image sensors can add cost and bulk to a camcorder, some manufacturers have opted to do 2D-to-3D conversions using software inside the camcorder. Many purists would object to the use of software since it’s not creating a full-resolution 3D image, but if you only want to dabble with 3D on occasion, the software conversion minimizes your costs.

Will You Pay More for 3D?

The short answer is basically yes, for now. There aren’t many 3D camcorders on the market as this is written, but based on the selection currently available, you’ll definitely pay more for a camcorder that offers 3D functionality than one without (there are exceptions: see this roundup of 3D camcorders for the latest prices and models).

Do You Need Glasses to View Your 3D Videos?

That depends. Some camcorders offer special LCD screens that can display 3D footage without the use of glasses. The technology is called a Parallax Barrier: it basically embeds the polarized glasses that you’d typically wear on your face, on the display itself.

If the camcorder does not require glasses to view your videos in 3D it will typically work with a dedicated media viewer – basically a small digital frame – that uses the same parallax barrier technology found in the camcorder’s display.

Other camcorders require you to output your video onto a 3D capable TV via an HDMI cable, where you will indeed need glasses to view your videos in 3D.

Can You Edit 3D Video Files?

Yes. Some of the major video editing programs such as Adobe Premiere Pro and Sony Vegas Pro have added 3D video editing options already. Software included with Panasonic’s first 3D camcorder also allows you to edit the 3D video file as you would a 2D file.

3D Doesn’t Mean HD

It may seem a bit obvious, but don’t assume that a 3D camcorder is recording in high definition. Some 3D camcorder models currently on the market record in standard definition.

Do You Need a 3D Camcorder?

You should definitely not consider buying a 3D camcorder unless you already own a 3D HDTV. Otherwise, you’re only other choice to view 3D movies will be on a small 8-inch media viewer – and that’s not the ideal viewing experience for your home movies. You should also steer clear of 3D camcorders if 3D footage makes you ill. For now at least, most consumers would be better off taking a wait-and-see approach with 3D.

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by Leland Richardson on November 16, 2021 0

Nikon Coolpix P900 Review

The Bottom Line

There’s no hiding the key feature that we’ll showcase in this Nikon Coolpix P900 review — an almost unbelievable 83X optical zoom lens. At the time of this writing, the 83X zoom lens is the largest one available in the fixed lens camera market, making the P900 a candidate for one of the best ultra zoom cameras.

And there’s no hiding this feature because it makes the Coolpix P900 a camera that’s larger than even some of the best DSLR cameras on the market. This model weighs almost 2 pounds and measures about 5x5x5 inches with the zoom lens retracted. When the optical zoom is fully extended, the camera measures about 8.5 inches in depth.

So if you need a huge zoom lens, Nikon definitely delivers with the P900. But as with many ultra zoom cameras, sometimes that huge zoom lens can be a detriment. You may have a tough time holding the Coolpix P900 steady when the zoom lens is extended, just because the camera is so heavy and awkward to hand hold with the large zoom lens.

And Nikon only gave this model a 1/2.3-inch image sensor and 16 megapixels of resolution, which will limit your ability to create photos that will result in large and sharp prints. Still, versus other large zoom cameras, the Nikon P900 is a decent performer.

Then there’s the $500-plus price point for the P900. You might be able to find an entry-level DSLR or mirrorless ILC at that price, which will result in far greater image quality. So only those who are sure they need the 83X optical zoom lens will be able to justify the high price tag for this model.

Specifications

Resolution: 16.0 megapixels
Optical zoom: 83X (24-2000mm equivalent)
LCD: 3.0-inch, 921,000 pixels (tiltable)
Maximum image size: 4608 x 3456 pixels
Battery: Rechargeable Li-Ion
Dimensions: 5.5 x 4.1 x 5.5 inches
Weight: 1 pound, 15.8 ounces (with battery and memory card)
Image sensor: 1/2.3-inch
Movie mode: HD 1080p

Pros

Huge optical zoom lens at 83X
Reasonably good performance speeds even when optical zoom lens is fully extended
Offers electronic viewfinder
Articulated LCD screen
Numerous manual control features

Cons

Small image sensor limits image quality results
Images aren’t quite as sharp as they should be
Maximum ISO is limited to 6400
Extremely heavy and large camera
Price point is high, approaching that of entry-level mirrorless ILCs

Image Quality

When you think about spending more than $500 for a digital camera, you expect to receive very good image quality. Unfortunately, this is one area where the Nikon P900 lags behind its price point peers, which can include low-end DSLRs.

The 1/2.3-inch image sensor in the Coolpix P900 is as small in physical size as what you’ll find in a digital camera. Models that cost less than $200 or $150 often have 1/2.3-inch image sensors. Because the physical size of image sensors plays such a key role in determining image quality, having such a small sensor in the P900 makes it tough to justify its high price tag.

The image quality for the Coolpix P900 might be even worse, other than the fact Nikon gave the camera a very strong optical image stabilization system, which is an extremely important feature to find in an ultra zoom camera. It’s difficult to hand hold a heavy camera steady without a good image stabilization system. Even with such a good IS system, you’ll want to purchase a tripod with this model for best image quality.

Performance

Most ultra zoom cameras operate slower than other types of cameras, especially when the zoom lens is fully extended. You can expect to have problems with shutter lag and shot to shot delays, meaning such cameras don’t have great response times.

The Nikon Coolpix P900 isn’t a fast performer either, but it does offer faster response times that what you’ll find with most ultra zoom cameras. In fact, the P900 has very little shutter lag when the zoom lens is not extended, which is impressive for this type of fixed lens camera.

Start-up is very fast with this model too, as you should be able to record your first photo a little more than 1 second after pressing the power button. And you can move through the entire 83X zoom range of this camera in about 3.5 seconds, which is an impressive level of speed for the zoom motor.

Battery performance is good with the P900, offering 300 to 400 shots per charge. However, if you choose to use the camera’s built-in GPS or Wi-Fi connectivity, you will receive less battery life.

Design

Nikon gave the P900 quite a few desirable design elements. The inclusion of an electronic viewfinder is great to find in an ultra zoom camera, as it can be easier to hand hold the camera steady when it’s pressed against your face, versus trying to hold it and look at the LCD screen.

If you choose to frame photos using the LCD screen instead of the handy viewfinder, Nikon gave the Coolpix P900 a sharp and bright display screen. And the LCD is articulated, meaning it’s easy to use this model when attached to a tripod by tilting the LCD to match the angle you need. You can even swivel the display screen 180 degrees to allow for selfies.

A mode dial on the top of the camera allows you to work quickly to pick the shooting mode you want. The P900 offers a range of shooting modes, including full manual control, fully automatic, and everything in between.

There’s a popup flash unit, which is a key design feature for an ultra zoom camera, as it allows the flash unit to gain a good angle to the scene, even when the zoom lens is fully extended. However, Nikon didn’t give the Coolpix P900 a hot shoe to allow for adding an external flash unit.

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by Leland Richardson on November 15, 2021 0

DXG A80V Camcorder Review

DXG’s A80V is a low cost high definition camcorder capable of recording 1920 x 1080p video to SDHC memory cards. The $299 model features: a 10-megapixel, 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, 5x optical zoom lens, and a 3-inch touch-screen LCD.

DXG A80V at a Glance:

The Good: Inexpensive, decent HD video quality, lightweight, touch-screen.

The Bad: Bulkly, limited optics

1080P Video Recording on a Budget

The DXG A80V is one of the least expensive traditionally-styled camcorders to offer 1920 x 1080p HD video resolution. And unlike the even cheaper pocket camcorders that boast 1080p recording, the A80V has more features (although far less than comparably priced standard definition camcorders – more on that later).

The A80V’s video quality at 1080p is definitely on par with some more expensive HD camcorders (like the $499 Sanyo FH1) but you shouldn’t expect it to perform as well as the higher bit-rate AVCHD models from Sony, Panasonic and others. That said, colors reproduced accurately and crisply. The camera was a solid performer indoors as well, with less digital noise marring the video in lower light than you’d find in either FH1 and lower-cost pocket models like Pure Digital’s Flip UltraHD. Another nice bonus: it offers a built-in video light.

The A80V has several other recording modes beyond 1080p/30 frames per second (fps). You’ll also find a 1080i/60fps for shooting fast-moving subjects. (See a comparison between 1080p/30fps and 1080i/60fps – it’s modest, but nonetheless the motion is crisper at the faster frame rate). You can also bump the resolution down to 720p at either 30fps or 60fps.

There’s also a dual-record option, which records two versions of the same video: one in high definition (1080P) and the other in WVGA.

The thinking here, I guess, is that you can create a lower-resolution video file for easier uploading to the Web. Personally I found it extraneous – why clog up your memory card with an extra file when YouTube and other sites support HD uploads?

High Resolution Stills

The A80V can snap 10-megapixel still photos with a flash to aid in low-light photography. The camera itself isn’t super-responsive. You’ll have to wait a second or often two from when you press the shutter, but the photos it produced were serviceable.

Limited Zoom

The A80V offers a 5x optical zoom lens. That’s not a lot of optical punch in a $300 camcorder and a far cry from the 70x lens you can find on, say, a standard definition Panasonic. On top of that, it uses electronic image stabilization, which isn’t as effective as optical stabilization in curbing camera shake.

The camcorder does offer a manual focusing option (which you operate using the zoom lever). Another useful feature is the ability to set a focus point using the touch-screen LCD. While the overall performance of the touch-screen display was good (see below) I found it somewhat sluggish when it came to this touch-focus feature. It would take the camcorder a few seconds to relocate the focus box and lock-on to its target.

Modest Feature Set

To pack a 1080p camcorder into a $299 price you have to expect some trade-offs. Other than the lens, the other trade off you’ll make is with the feature-set. You’ll get more options than you would with a pocket camcorder, but you won’t enjoy the same breadth of features on similarly priced standard definition camcorders (for instance, no scene modes or shutter and aperture controls).

That said, it’s not totally bare-bones: you can adjust white balance and exposure, as well as choose to film in sepia or black and white.

Responsive Touch Screen

DXG packed the A80V with a 3-inch touch-screen LCD. That’s a larger screen than you’ll find on more expensive models (with or without touch-screen operation) and aside from the sluggish spot focusing, the overall touch-screen performance is very responsive. All the features you’ll need to access are represented as nice large icons on the screen.

When it comes to external, physical controls, you’ll find a small mode dial at the back of the camcorder for switching between video and photo mode. There’s also a small toggle joystick at the back for adjusting white balance and exposure. A small shutter button and zoom lever sit atop the camcorder while behind the LCD screen sit nicely-sized controls for the flash, video light, power and display buttons. All in all, the controls are well positioned, making the A80V quite easy to operate.

Since it’s a flash camcorder, the A80V is light weight at 10 ounces (without battery). It springs to life fairly quickly and can be powered up and down by opening the LCD or via a button behind the display. It is a tad bulkier than other flash camcorder at a little over 5-inches long, but it’s not very obtrusive.

The Bottom Line: The DXG A80V is a Good Budget Buy

At $299, the DXG A80V has very few competitors that can offer the same video resolution of 1920 x 1080p. You can spend about $70 less for a 1080p pocket camcorder, but you’ll lose out on a lot of the features the A80V has to offer. You could spend the same amount for a fuller-featured camcorder with a better zoom, but it would only offer standard definition resolution. So there’s your trade-off.

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by Leland Richardson on November 15, 2021 0

GE DV1 Camcorder Review

GE DV1 at a Glance

The Good: Low cost, durable, easy to use.

The Bad: So-so video quality.

Video Quality

The GE DV1 records 1080p HD video in the H.264 format via a 5-megapixel CMOS image sensor. Indoors, footage off the DV1 can get noisy but nothing out of the ordinary for a low cost pocket camcorder. There is some noticeable over-exposure, particularly in sunlight, but the colors reproduced crisply. All in all, the video is serviceable, but you shouldn’t expect it to compare with the more expensive Full HD camcorders on the market.

The DV1 offers several quality settings, from 1080p/30 frames per second (fps) to a useful 720p option at 60fps for filming faster action. You can also drop recording quality to 1440 x 1080 and 640 x 480, but there’s no practical reason to do so.

The DV1 also snaps 5-megapixel still photos. If you’re dealing with plenty of ambient light and a still subject, the photos are decent. Otherwise, it’s best to stick to video, as the images will blur. Fairly uniquely among pocket camcorders, the DV1 can also snap 2-megapixel photos while recording. These images are hit-and-miss and you can only take up to six, but the feature itself is nice to have.

Optics

The DV1 packs a 4x digital zoom lens with digital image stabilization. As with all digital zooms on pocket models, this one just ramps up the digital noise so it doesn’t add much.

Design

The big selling point with the DV1 is obviously the rugged and waterproof body design. As mentioned above, the DV1 can be submerged in up to 15 feet of water (that’s deeper than Kodak’s Playsport Zx3) but more than that, it can be dropped from a height of 5 feet and it’s sealed against dust.

This makes it one of the more rugged camcorders on the market. If you’re big into outdoor activities, it’s a good choice.

Obviously, a rugged camcorder will impose some trade-offs on the design. To wit: the DV1 is a bit bulkier and heavier than other pocket cams on the market – but not obtrusively so. It can still be slipped into a pocket or purse quite easily. The memory card port, flip-out USB plug and other connectors are housed securely behind latched doors to keep the elements out. But they open easily. While many pocket camcorders have jumped on the touch-screen bandwagon, the DV1 has nice, large tactile buttons for recording, playback, snapping stills, entering the menu and deleting photos. They can all be pressed easily while wearing gloves. The only exception is the power button, which sits rather flush with the side of the camcorder and might present a problem for a gloved hand.

Feature Set

The GE DV1 offers a pretty bare bones feature set, which isn’t surprising given its low cost. You’ll find settings for adjusting white balance (including an underwater mode), a high dynamic range mode for stills and video recording, exposure metering (stills and video), and a continuous shooting mode for photographs at 7fps.

Menu & Display

You’ll access what features the DV1 has through a bright 2-inch display (you can also adjust the brightness manually in the settings). The menu layout is straightforward and easy to navigate, though when you enter it, you’ll start with the still photo features, not the video, which is a bit odd.

While filming, the DV1 uses just the top portion of the display. The bottom is filled with a menu displaying your current settings – such as whether you’re in HDR mode and your resolution. It can also display a histogram while recording, which is pretty rare to see at this price.

Memory

The DV1 records to SDHC cards and comes with no built-in memory. So you’ll need to factor in the cost of a card to the DV1’s bottom line (unless you already have one).

Bottom Line

When it comes to camcorders that can be tossed into the water or survive a fall onto the concrete without shattering, your choices are pretty limited so the DV1 doesn’t have many direct competitors to compare it to. That said, it’s more rugged and can be dunked deeper than Kodak’s PlaySport Zx3 (cheaper too), but doesn’t offer Kodak’s video quality or feature set. So if you need a bare-bones camcorder for a trip to the beach or an outdoor adventure, the DV1 is a good option. At $129, it’s attractively priced to be a good companion video camera to those who don’t want to risk a higher-end model during their death-defying white water rafting trips.

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by Leland Richardson on November 15, 2021 0

Panasonic HDC-TM90 Camcorder Review

The Panasonic HDC-TM90 is a high definition camcorder that records 1920 x 1080 video in the AVCHD format. It offers 16GB of built-in flash memory, a 3-inch touch-screen display and a 26x zoom lens. It is also capable of 3D video recording with an optional 3D converter lens.

Panasonic HDC-TM90 at a Glance

The Good: Excellent video quality, solid feature set, light and compact design.

The Bad: Small external controls, clumsy menu interface.

Panasonic HDC-TM90 Video Quality

The Panasonic TM90 records video at 1920 x 1080 at 60 progressive frames per second via a 3-megapixel CMOS sensor at a maximum bit rate of 28Mbps.

This high bit-rate setting is not actually supported by the AVCHD format that the TM90 records in, so your video editing options are fewer (at least for now) than they would be if you dialed back to the AVCHD-supported 24Mbps.

Nevertheless, the video quality on the Panasonic TM90 is very impressive. We’re talking about extremely crisp motion, well-saturated colors and nice even exposure. In low light, the results were equally impressive, with very little visible noise, especially vs. other camcorders in its price range. Panasonic said they revamped their noise reduction system for a number of 2011 camcorders and it definitely shows.

In addition to the high-quality 28Mbps mode, you can dial back to 17Mbps, 13Mbps, 9Mbps and 5Mbps. On the still photography side, you can snap 5-megapixel still photos. While it’s no replacement for a still camera, it has a flash and a dedicated photo shutter, so it delivers enough functionality to fill in on the fly.

Panasonic TM90 Optics

The TM90 packs a 26x optical zoom lens.

Your magnification can be boosted to 40x with Panasonic’s “Intelligent Zoom” which basically crops your video to produce a “zoom” look. The TM90 offers both optical and digital image stabilization to reduce jitters as you move about or use the zoom. I found it quite effective, particularly as you zoom out.

Another nice optical feature: the TM90 offers a 28mm wide angle lens for getting more of your scene in the frame.

Design

The design of the Panasonic HDC-TM90 is something of a mixed bag. On the plus side, it’s very light and compact at 1.99 x 2.48 x 4.67 inches and .54lbs without battery and memory card. It has a plastic exterior, which contributes to its light weight but also makes it feel a bit cheap. The overall design is sleek – with the battery lodged nearly flush with the back of the camcorder, so it’s quite easy to drop in purse or pocket.

The design negatives come when you flip open the camcorder’s LCD display to reveal a set of small buttons (Intelligent Auto/Manual, image stabilization, and 1080/60p mode) that are flush with the camcorder body and are difficult to engage.

Feature Set

The TM90 offers an “Intelligent Auto” mode for automatically setting exposure settings to maximize video quality based on your shooting environment. Advanced users will like the automatic control over iris, focus and shutter speed. There’s also a pre-record function which will record up to three seconds of video before you actually press “record.”

The TM90 is also able to record 3D video with the use of an optional 3D converter lens ($350). After you attach the converter, the camcorder will automatically detect it and set you into 3D mode, along with instructions for properly adjusting the lens for the most accurate recording. The resulting 3D video won’t be high definition and can’t be viewed in 3D on the camcorder’s LCD display. If you own a 3D TV and glasses, however, you can enjoy the full 3D experience when connecting the camcorder via HDMI cable.

Menu & Display

With a 3-inch touch screen display, the Panasonic TM90 has a bit more room to navigate around on-screen menu items. Unfortunately, a lot of the on-screen menu icons are a bit vague. You can use an info button (marked as an ‘i’ on the bottom of the menu) to get a brief written description, but the info mode shuts off after one use – you’ll have to constantly hit it to learn about a particular function, which can be frustrating.

The touch screen itself is quite responsive and the display rotates around so you can alternate your viewing angles.

Memory

The Panasonic TM90 packs 16GB worth of internal flash memory alongside a slot for an optional SDXC card. It offers relay recording – a useful feature which automatically switches recording from internal memory to a card (if one’s inserted) when internal memory fills up.

You can store roughly two hours and 20 minutes worth of the highest quality HD footage on the TM90’s built-in memory and much more than that (up to six hours) if you dial back the quality.

Panasonic HDC-TM90 Bottom Line

Some design quibbles aside, the TM90 is a terrific camcorder for the mid-range of the HD/AVCHD market. It delivers fantastic video quality with a well-rounded feature set and a terrific zoom lens. If you get the hankering to shoot 3D video, the TM90 can accommodate you, although we wouldn’t recommend it for its 3D features alone (better to buy a dedicated 3D camcorder with a pair of image sensors and lenses).

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by Leland Richardson on November 12, 2021 0

Garmin RV 760LMT Review

If you are interested in the Garmin RV 760LMT Portable GPS Navigator, then you have definitely come to the right place. Read the rest of this article for an in-depth review. The Garmin RV 760LMT Portable GPS Navigator is a GPS Navigator that has a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels as well as a display that is touchscreen. The display itself is large at 7 inches and the display is WVGA TFT color with a white backlight. Also included in this GPS model from Garmin are “map3” as well as “traffic4” updates which are not only free but for life also. These “map3” and “traffic4” features are things that provide information about services which are specific to RVs, such as normal hours as well as after hours tow services. Examples of other services covered by these “map3” and “traffic4” features are RV specific repair shops.

Key Features:
7 inch display size, 4 hour average battery life, first RV specific Garmin navigator, voice activated navigation, custom routed based on size and weight of your RV1, “Active Lane Guidance”, 800 x 480 pixels; WVGA TFT color display.

Another great feature of this Garmin RV 760LMT is the ability to get customized guidance based on the dimensions as well as weight of the RV that you are driving. There is definitely no ‘one size fits all’ approach to things with this Garmin and it could definitely help to make your journey go more smoothly. If you enjoy talking to your electronic devices then you are in luck, because the Garmin RV 760LMT is voice activated. To be more specific, it actually responds in an intelligent way to the voice commands that you give it. I think you will agree when we say this is much more convenient and it will help you to keep your mind on the road if you are not having to look at something else.

The Garmin RV 760LMT has a weight of 12.5 ounces as well as dimensions of 4.5 x 0.9 x 7.4 inches. The item model number is 010-01168-00 and it comes with 1 Lithium Ion Battery. At the time of writing, the Garmin RV 760LMT is rated 3.7 out of 5 stars over 6 reviews and it can currently only be shipped within the US.

Since this GPS Navigator was designed specifically with RVs in mind it is a ‘niche’ product, but the features that it has such as customized guidance based on the dimensions as well as weight of the RV that you drive help it to fit this niche very well. If you are a RV driver and you are in the market for such a GPS Navigation device then look no further, the Garmin RV 760LMT is definitely the one you want to go for.

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