Ultra Cool Gadgets

ecome an instant celebrity or paparazzo! This sleek pocketable design is built for easy video - there is no lens cap, no dials to turn, or settings to set. Just turn it on and hit record to capture the action, adventure, and all the juicy details in stunning HD! Make your cinematic debut on any HDTV. Or just pop the USB in the nearest PC and you’re ready to share the fun on YouTube. Edit, add music, and personalize your flick and easily share with your adoring fans. There’s no such thing as ”you should’ve been there” with the Zi6.

Technical Details
Kodak Zi6 HD Pocket Video Camera
4 Gigabyte SD Secure Digital Memory Card
4 High Capacity AA Nimh 2700 Mah Rechargeable Batteries - Compact AA Nimh Rapid Battery Charger
Carrying Case - Package of LCD Screen Protectors
Mini Tripod w/ Extendable Legs

The Canon EF 24-70mm standard zoom lens does what many pros thought couldn’t be done–it replaces the L-series 28-70mm f/2.8 lens with something even better. The lens offers extended coverage to an ultra-wide-angle 24mm, making it ideal for digital as well as film shooters. The new processing unit, meanwhile, makes the autofocus (AF) faster than ever. And thanks to the two aspherical elements and a totally new UD glass element, the optics are far superior to the earlier lens. Sealed and gasketed against dust and moisture, the EF 24-70mm lens carries a one-year warranty.
Focal length: 24-70mm
Maximum aperture: 1:2.8
Lens construction: 16 elements in 13 groups
Diagonal angle of view: 74 to 29 degrees
Focus adjustment: Front-focusing method
Closest focusing distance: 1.25 feet
Zoom system: Rotating type
Filter size: 77mm
Dimensions: 3.3 inches in diameter, 4.9 inches long
Weight: 2.1 pounds

Customer feedback:

1. Simply put, this is the best all-around lens that Canon manufactures. It produces razor-sharp images with startling color and saturation, and at f/2.8 across the zoom range is capable of shooting in all but the dimmest of lighting conditions. The “L” glass (Canon’s professional line of lenses) is simply the best out there, bar none, from any manufacturer. It’s pricey, but well worth it.
I use this lens for portrait and wedding photography, landscapes, sports, and anything else that doesn’t require extreme telephoto. In concert with my EF 70-200mm f/4 L USM lens, I find that these two lenses cover just about everything I ever want to shoot. Of the two lenses, if I could pick only one, it would be the 24-70mm, because it’s so versatile and can shoot so many situations (the 70-200mm is also a marvelous, invaluable lens, but at 70mm is limited in wide-angle situations).
I can’t recommend this lens highly enough. If you can afford the entry fee, you’ll have no hint of buyer’s remorse once you see the spectacular images this lens produces.

2. ‘ve owned the 24-70mm for almost a year now. This lens has been a favorite of many since it replaced its well-regarded predecessor, the 28-70mm. It shoots images that are very sharp and have excellent contrast and saturation. It’s sharp wide open and only gets better when stopping down. The USM (Ultrasonic Motor) focuses very fast, and full-time manual focusing is allowed. I’ve thought about buying a 50mm f/1.4, but the results from this lens are so good, I’m having a hard time justifying the purchase. I’ve been nothing but pleased with the pictures I get from the 24-70mm. The constant f/2.8 aperture is great for shooting indoors and produces a very nice bokeh (background blur) when shooting portraits. This lens is much heavier than comparable consumer-grade zooms, but I don’t object to the weight. I actually like the heft and feel of this lens on my 20D. The only feature I wish it had is IS (image stabilization).
The 24-70mm bests the 24-105mm in one way: It’s a faster lens. That translates into the following advantages: At f/4.0, the 24-105mm cannot stop subject motion blur as well in low-light situations where the 24-70mm’s f/2.8 can give you a shutter speed that is twice as fast. Note that IS does not have any impact at all on subject motion blur, only on camera shake on your end. If bokeh (background blur) is important to you, the 24-70mm will have a slight advantage over the 24-105mm given its wider aperture. A wider aperture also helps a camera focus a little better in low light.

The Lightsphere Universal flash diffuser from Gary Fong delivers amazing light from your on-camera flash. You no longer need bulky flash brackets or umbrellas to enjoy incredibly soft, studio-quality lighting! If you’ve used the original Lightsphere or Lightsphere-II, you’ll find the Lightsphere Universal creates the same great soft portrait light that you love NOW with the addition of an innovative, patent-pending mount that is GUARANTEED to stay on! Simple and compact, yet incredibly effective, the Lightsphere Universal is sureto be one of the “must have” accessories in your gear bag. It will transform theway you use your on-camera flash. The Lightsphere Universal accepts existing Lightsphere accessory domes the AmberDome and the ChromeDome - for even greater functionality. The Lightsphere Universal is available in two models - CLOUD and CLEAR. Both deliver incredibly flattering light. The CLOUD model is slightly softer and warmer perfect for close-up portraits. The CLEAR model gives you flattering light at a greater working distance

Customer feedback:

1. The Gary Fong Lightsphere Cloud Universal System is great. You are able to use it on any flash. With several different cameras, I do not have to mess around with a light diffuser for each camera. I love this product. It really takes the “blunt” light away and illuminates wonderfully.
If you are looking for something that can be packed away in a tight space, this is not the product. It is hard plastic. I run the strap of my camera bag though it and store the dome in the bag. Easy to get to and you will always know you have it with your camera. I love this and would recommend it to anyone looking for a superior diffuser.

2. First the “bad” news. The price seems a bit high considering it is basically a piece of plastic. That is the only reason I’ve given it four stars rather than five. Now the good news; it does exactly what Gary Fong says it will do. The DVD that comes with it, while being a commercial for other Gary Fong products also does an excellent job of explaining how to use it. The quality of light is excellent. The removable top cap allows bouncing off ceilings as well.
I’ve used it for both portraits and macro photography and the results are superb. For portrait work exclusively I would recommend the clear Lightsphere. Highly recommended.

The Two-Way Bounce is a pocket size Bounce Card that gives you the advantage of bouncing without the need of a ceiling. The unit is small enough to fit into a shirt pocket and yet delivers a big punch of light. The package also includes a mini Panel that provides a kicker light for fill lighting use. All units, except UNI, are custom mounted with adapter provided and require No Velcro. Adapters can be reversed for shoot thru panel lighting as well.

Customer feedback:

Beware the one you’ll receive is not the one in the picture. That aside it does attach with heavy duty tape not Velcro. Some may come with tape some with Velcro I don’t know, mine came with tape. I have taken practice shots with it in the house and the shots look great. As for the quality its not the strongest thing in the world but for 20 (13.95 + shipping) bucks can you complain for a two in one that comes with two different bounces, one large one small. The bounce is so lite weight that I doubt it will ever break off and if the attachment does fall off just super glue it back on.

State-of-the-art, the 48 AF-1 allows photographers to stay current and effortlessly make firmware updates via the internet and the flash s unique USB connection. The flash features a powerful guide number of 158 and for added versatility, is powered by four, readily available AA batteries. The 48 AF-1 C is designed to support Canons E-TTL and E-TTL II technology. The 48 AF-1 is fully compatible with TTL digital remote systems and can also be operated as a TTL slave unit that can be controlled by the camera s built-in commander mode, a manufacturers flash with master capabilities, or from a Metz 58 AF-1. The 48 AF-1 also features an auto zoom head from 24-105mm that can be set to match the cameras sensor, a full bounce and swivel reflector head, a built-in wide angle diffuser for 18mm coverage, and of course, full manual control with 12 partial light output level.

Technical Details:
GN 118F (48m) at ISO 100 and 50mm, GN 158F at 105MM
Upgradeable via USB
Tilt & Swivel Head
Auto zoom head and wide angle reflector from 18mm to 105mm (35mm format)
Manual flash mode with output from 1/128 to 1/1 power

Customer feedback:

1. Now this is a flash! I tried to go cheap with a Bower but wasted my money. This Metz flash does everything. The manual is easy to understand and apply. The flash is well made. Is very stable on the Hot Shoe attachment. I’m really pleased.

2. This one is well built and performs well. There are two things not quite up to par.
- Like others has posted, the tilt is very weak.
- The menu selection you have to push two buttons at the same time to tuggle is a little bit inconvenient. I would prefer a one hand operation with joy stick. All it needs is a lock function to prevent mistakes.

Advanced amateur photographers are a discerning group, and they’ve flocked to Canon’s G-Series for its ability to meet and exceed their demands. The third-generation PowerShot G10 is a stunning successor, loaded with uncompromising specs like 14.7 megapixels, a 28mm wide-angle lens, and Canon’s new DIGIC 4 Image Processor for notably improved face and motion detection. This is a camera that supports and nurtures creativity, with a full range of shooting and recording modes and compatibility with exciting accessories including Speedlite flashes.
The PowerShot G10 is equipped with a 14.7-megapixel CCD. Combined with unsurpassed DIGIC 4 image processing, this impressive pixel count delivers richly detailed photos that resonate with lifelike depth from shadows to highlights. An important benefit to the G10’s lofty pixel count is the flexibility it lends to the editing process. With 14.7 megapixels of resolution, any portion of any shot is a great candidate for enlargement. Enlarge and crop as your creative vision demands, confident that the detail you need is there for you.

Technical Details:
14.7-megapixel resolution for the highest image quality and editing flexibility
5x optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer; 28mm wide-angle lens
DIGIC 4 Image Processor improves Face Detection; full range of shooting and recording modes, including RAW
3.0-inch PureColor LCD II with even greater true-to-life color reproduction
Capture images to SD/SDHC memory card

The C902 Cyber-shot phone is made for great pictures. The slide-out lens cover activates the 5-megapixel camera. Adjust settings via onscreen touch keys. If you have people in your photo, activate Face detection. Your C902 will automatically find and focus on a face. Don’t let poor lighting stop you. For still pictures, the photoflash automatically fires when needed. The flash can be used in BestPic mode and for videos too. Share your life. With your C902 you get your own personal blog. Post your pictures or videos in seconds, for all to see.
Connectivity - Bluetooth technology, Modem, Synchronization, USB support, and USB mass storage
Design - Auto rotate, Navigation key, and Picture wallpaper
Internet - Web browser, RSS feeds, and Access NetFront Web Browser
Messaging - Email, Instant and Picture messaging (MMS), Predictive text input, Sound recorder, and Text messaging (SMS)
Organizer - Contacts, Alarm clock, Calendar, Calculator, Flight mode, Notes, Phone book, Stopwatch, Tasks, and Timer
Networks - EDGE, GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900, UMTS 2100, and HSDPA Dimensions - 4.3 x 1.9 x 0.4 (108×49x10.5mm)
Weight - 107.0 grams, 3.8 ounces

Product Features
- 240×320 and 262,144 color TFT QVGA
- Camera - Picture blogging, Photo flash, Auto focus, BestPic, 5-Megapixel, up 16x Digital Zoom, Image and Video stabilizer, Video recording and Video light
- Entertainment - FM Radio RDS, 3D games, Java, Media, Video viewing, and Video streaming
- Communication - Polyphonic ringtones, Speakerphone, and Vibrating Alert
- Music - Album art, Bluetooth stereo (A2DP), Media Player, MegaBass, Music tones - MP3, AAC, PlayNow, and TrackID

Meaning “everything” in Latin and “wish” in Arabic, the Omnia from Samsung is designed to provide business users with stylish multimedia capabilities and personal mobile users with simple access to business based functions. This touchscreen-enabled phone has a large, brightly colorful 3.2 inch screen, and it includes Samsung’s intuitive and easily customizable TouchWiz user interface. Other features include 8 GB of internal memory, a built-in GPS receiver, 5-megapixel camera, multi-format digital audio player, Bluetooth for handsfree communication and stereo music streaming, MicroSD memory expansion, video output to your TV, and up to 5.8 hours of talk time.
With the Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system, the Q Global supports Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager, which provides single-point access to line of business and corporate data such as applications, files and other information located on the corporate network. It also provides push email for immediate send and receive on Corporate Microsoft Exchange servers as well as editing of Microsoft Office documents.

Other features include:

- GPS receiver, including navigation and geo-tagging capabilities
- USB 2.0 wired connectivity to your PC
- Messaging: SMS, EMS, MMS, personal and corporate, instant messaging
- Polyphonic and MP3 ringtones
- Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g)
- Organizer tools: World time, currency converter, calculator, stopwatch

Vital Statistics
The Samsung i900 Omnia weighs 4.3 ounces and measures 4.4 x 2.2 x 0.5 inches. Its 1440 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5.8 hours of talk time, and up to 500 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as 2100 MHz 3G frequencies.

This high-quality, 3-section tripod, suitable for both cameras and camcorders, features a channel lock and a two-way pan and and tilt head. It extends to a maximum and height of 65 inches and can fold up as small as 25 inches. A free case is included with the tripod. Comes with a one year warranty.

Technical Details

* Model # TR-64N
* Features a 3 section channel lock
* 2 way fluid pan & tilt head
* Max height: 65 inches
* Folds to 25 inches

Customer feedback:

1. This is a great tripod for the money. It holds a small camcorder and also has several bells and whistles for the price: built in carry handle, comes with a carry bag, has a hook so you can hang weights to also keep the tripod steady, pretty solid on adjusting legs and also panning and tilting.

2. I received this item quickly, which always puts me in a good mood. The tripod is perfect for what I do with my camera and camcorder- but I am no means a professional. Either way, for $25 this thing does it’s job and I’m very pleased with my purchase. It has all kinds of handy little additions that I didn’t expect (it’s my first tripod)- like the level, different adjustments and a quick-release for the camera. Very cool.

Shoot in rain or shine, at the beach or on the slopes. Sealed and coated in all the right places, the Stylus 1200 resists water, snow and dust. The 12-megapixel CCD allows you to print dramatic large images, or crop your images to compose them perfectly. Previewing, composing, shooting and sharing are so much easier and more enjoyable with this bright, premium-sized 2.7-inch Hypercrystal LCD. Digital Image Stabilization Mode freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and faster shutter speed to capture sharp images even if you or your subject is moving. Digital Image Stabilization Edit uses built-in gyro sensors to track camera movement so you can fix blurry images right in the camera.
The Stylus 1200 features a light-weight, metal body with rubber gaskets throughout the interior to ensure that rain, sleet and snow will not get in the way of great photos. The Stylus 1200 features a 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD. Images are viewable on the LCD screen from 176-degrees, so photos can be composed from a range of angles and viewed by several people at once. The Stylus 1200 features a bright, 3x optical zoom lens (35mm — 105mm, F2.8 equivalent in 35mm photography).

Technical Details

* 12-megapixel CCD image sensor, perfect for poster-size enlargements
* 3x optical zoom; Face Detection technology
* 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD; Bright Capture technology for low-light photos
* All-weather body with seals and gaskets to protect from rain, snow, or sand
* Captures images to xD memory card

Customer feedback:

1. I purchased the Olympus Stylus 1200 after playing with it side by side with the Canon SD870IS, and some Casio model. The Casio didn’t quite seem up to snuff, so it came down to the Canon or the Olympus. In the interest of full disclosure, I have had two prior digital cameras, the Canon s100 and s500. I loved the s100 and hated the s500. The s500 was incredibly slow to prepare to take shots and the only easy shooting options were flash on (which meant overexposure in almost any indoor setting) or flash off (which led to underexposure). That said, I did take note of all the positive Canon reviews when making my decision. What tipped the scales for me was the user interface. With the Olympus, I was able to figure out how to switch to various shooting modes (portrait, indoors, ambient low light, etc — there are a ton of them) without glancing at a manual or asking the sales assistant for help. With the Canon, I literally couldn’t figure out how to get to the shooting modes so I gave the camera to the salesman and it took him a good 5 minutes of fiddling around to find them.

2. I got my Olympus Stylus 1200 yesterday and so far it is amazing! It has a bunch of features and settings with in camera guide that helps you to decide what setting to use in each situation. The pictures have excellent resolution. I’m looking forward to use it on the holidays.