Pricey but necessary for burst, some handhelds, and new video
592265
The new HG version of the Memory Stick Duo Pros has a faster read and write time and it shows on things like Burst mode for photos on some of the newer Sony cameras, in gaming with the handhelds, and in the newer video format for the cameras.  Yes, it is pricey.  However, when you need the higher read and write speed this card does the trick where no other will.
1721706
My family lives in another country, so I wanted a camcorder to take family videos that I could burn to DVDs and mail to them. I picked the FS100 because of the price, SDHC support, and because it uses MPEG2 and stereo AC3 to encode the video files--meaning you can put them on a video DVD without having to re-encode anything.

I don't use the included ImageMixer 3 SE software (preferring to use the open source Avidemux and DVDStyler applications instead), so I can't comment on that.

If you plug the camera into your computer using the included USB cable, it shows up as a removable drive, which is nice. However, it won't do that unless you plug in the camera's power adapter at the same time--this means if you want to copy files to a laptop while on the move, and you don't have access to a power outlet, you'll need to read the data off the SD/SDHC card directly instead. This isn't a big deal for me since I find that using an SDHC card reader is a much easier solution that plugging the camera in every time anyway. You can get USB SDHC readers for around $7 on Amazon.

I've never owned a camcorder before (digital or otherwise), so I don't have anything to compare it to, but I can say I am very happy with this one. It's small, light, easy to use, and produces quite acceptable video quality, even at the medium 6mbps setting.

It is useless, however, as a digital still-photo camera. It doesn't have enough megapixels for any kind of serious work, doesn't have a flash, and photos will usually end up blurry if you don't use a tripod to stabilize it.

If you're looking for an affordable, decent widescreen standard def camera with direct-to-dvd burning in mind, this is fantastic.
2408366
The built-in flash on digital cameras leaves a lot to be desired. Mostly it is skimpy and limited in use. By adding the Vivitar DF200 digital flash, your camera takes on added capabilities. The flash is surprisingly powerful and thus gives the camera a greater range. Red-eye is greatly reduced or eliminated and the ability use bounce-flash can enhance many photographs. The flash syncronizes with several digital cameras that I have tried and should syncronize with yours as well. The flash unit is not built like a tank and thus should be handled carefully. All in all, considering its low price, it is a useful and well thought out and executed item.
409722
This is a well build unit. The finish and features have the potential to make it very useful. As a beginner in videography, I was expecting some kind of "miracle" device that would make perfectly stable video. The reality is you probably have to spend several thousand dollars more to get to that level of perfection. My video results are certainly better than without using it. And, I suspect that by spending more time balancing and practicing with the unit the results will improve even more, certainly to the limits of the device. Fore-and-aft and lateral movements are smoothed out but vertical smoothing seems like it's still up the the operators skill (or lack of coffee!). I'm considering adding some device that will dampen the vertical movement.
4834080
This is a great device to aggregate media - it currently holds the market for cable cutters (no one else combines every media source (sans YouTube) like the Roku does); but the apps (specifically Netflix) are out of date.  Spring for the 3.  The 3 is just an all around better device.
2712125
Wy wife and I had been considering a Hi8 replacement since our daughter was born. Several factors guided our decision: digital format, ease of use, portability, and ease of image capture. I wanted to comment on some of the  stronger features of this model.
First of all, the video works pretty  well. I'm not super-impressed with the image stabilization, but the auto  focus and lighting are pretty "smart". The color LCD is good  inside, but I enjoyed the color viewfinder when filming outside.
The unit  also serves as a digital still camera. The built-in 2MB memory allows for  ~30 images to be stored at a time. I'm not sure how to capture at a size  other than 320x240 just yet, but they look sharp at that  resolution.
Unlike other models, the JVC also includes video capture  software straight out of the box. I was discouraged, however, that the  capture process relied on composite video and not IEEE 1394. Why offer the  port & software if you can't use them together?  I ended up purchasing  MGI VideoWave to use IEEE 1394.
I'm somewhat of a Sony devotee, but I  didn't find many models that had Memory Stick storage AND MiniDV format. If  you're looking for a good alternative to that brand, consider this JVC.
3241570
PROS
- built like a tank
- 3 shoe mounts
- comes with jumper cord to camera
- incremental pots

CONS
- does not pass thru shotgun mics that require 2.5V camera plug-in power

NEVER neglect your audio! A crucial element thatll separate your most amateur of video work from everyday smartphone footage. I'm a budgeteer and have to make wise decisions on my new equipment purchases. If you've got $50 to spend, don't hold off for a one-trick pony piece of equipment. Get something that you'll use. I've been putting off this purchase too long and been using an old bulky Tascam AC/DC powered mixer to feed two wireless lapels into my 80D.

My typical audio setup rotates a combination of Sennheiser wireless packs and a shotgun mic. The 3 shoe mounts are the perfect combination to hold all these elements as I shuffle them around. To note a few of the PROS & CONS. The seller which mine was purchased from didn't specify that the jumper 3.5mm cord comes with mixer I had purchased an additional one. The CON of does not pass thru shotgun mics that require 2.5V camera plug-in power is to be understood. This is not specified either, but having a background in electronic repair I didn't figure that my Rhode VideoMic Go would pass thru the mixer. Just forced me to finally purchase a trusty $25 Takstar(another one I've been putting off too long.)

NOTE: My posted pictures have the Rhode VideoMic Go, but it will not pass-thru the mixer. Only sources with pre-amps like wireless lapels, pre-amp Shotgun mics, media players and so on. Thes picture were simply to showcase how much can be stacked on the shoe mounts.

The incremental pots are nice and smooth. Plus if one really wants to get picky, they can count the ticks from the left to match the levels on each channel.

I just returned from Central America on a documentary trip and the SR-AX100 was a big help. Gave me added mounts and 2 premixed channels directly into the captured video files. Not that I ever plan on using it, but you can even get 3 possible inputs. Not ideal, but a wireless into left & right and pre-amped shotgun into the stereo input scenario is possible. Some may question the bulk on top of the camera, but it doesn't even begin to match weight of my primary 24-70 Canon lens. Just a default that comes with my choice of equipment.

I've seen some negative ratings about how the SR-AX100 does not amplify the audio. Well of course it won't, the product is listed as a mixer. Not a mixer with any amplification. The levels you get will only be as great as what you send through or what you final source(camera) can pull out. In my case my Sennhieser output is fa greater in mono than in stereo going stright into the camera. Therefore I've been able to back down on the input volume to my camera and result of that has given me a cleaner signal with much less noise.

Overall a solid piece of equipment. Strong lightweight metal construction. Even the hot shoe male adapter on the bottom! 3.5mm inputs are plastic and metal, but seem to be as vulnerable to harm as anything you'd be pluging into them. A little common sense there and they'll last. Along with the mixer as a whole.
971858
Decent for the price! Good for streaming videos and play emulator games
4509508
I bought this for my wife, as she is always wanting to do corny videos or pictures for her FB page, or family, etc.  I figured, hey, for $25, how can you lose, right? Her cell phone was older and didn't have a video camera on it, at the time; only still photos (now, she has a Samsung cell phone, but she still likes this little camera).

It runs on 3-AAA batteries, and is pretty battery hungry if you use it a lot. The videos in the highest HD setting are decent, with fair audio. I mean, it's not a $700 EOS camera, or anything, but I've had cell phones with far worse video capture quality.  It is decent in low-light, and the audio isn't bad. Again, if you want a camera to throw in the car with you just in case, or to take with you on an average camping trip, this one will definitely work. If you are taking a world tour or that super-hiking-trip to the Himilayas, then you will most-likely want a better camera to have high quality images.

Great camera for web posting, doodling, kids to take out while on their bikes, etc.  Not a 'professional quality image' camera for pros (or wanna-be pros). It is built well, though (as good as any polaroid camera I've owned in the past), the glass and case are good quality overall, and again, for $25 you DO have to keep your expectations in line with the old adage, 'you get what you pay for'.  This is not a Canon SLR or DSLR camera, this is a $25 on-the-go camera, consider this starting out.

For what you get, it is worth the money, but don't expect $700 in a $25 price tag.
3218866
It's an excellent card, with fast download speed resulting in longer delay of buffer while shooting RAW pictures.  However it's very large size is generally unnecessary for causal users, and is more in line for pro-sumer individuals and up with serious photography requirements.  I'm using this for the Canon 70D, which fills up quickly when shooting video, and therefore I use it for when I'm shooting more video than photos on long events.  Even for me the card is a bit overkill for photos, but it's the card I turn to when anything might happen on the trip.
2661272
expensive for something that should be included but easier than downloading ,etc.
696510
I bought this device to hold me over until DivX Connected comes to the U.S.  (I was a beta tester for the DSM-330, and it's definitely something you'll want to check out:&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/D-Link-DSM-330-DivX-Connected-HD-Media-Player/dp/B000X4F7RO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">D-Link DSM-330 DivX Connected HD Media Player</a>&nbsp;I'm planning on getting one for every TV in my house...)

Anyway, I like the TakeTV too because it's simple and it works just like you want it to... namely, it plays all your DivX and XviD files.  It also gives you access to some premium content on FanFare, but I have to admit that I was a little disappointed with the size/quality of the ".smbv" format used on that site compared to my regular DivX encodings.  I also like the ease with which the TakeTV can be moved from TV to TV and have you scrolling through a 15+ hour collection of videos faster than it takes to get to the title screen of a typical DVD.

...As a matter of fact, if you haven't caught on, DVDs (and in my opinion, all disc media including Blu-Ray) are essentially made obsolete by products like this and DivX Connected.  My young kids have an easier time starting what they want to watch on the TakeTV than they do fumbling with DVDs, and I like being able to take all of our latest home videos over to mom's without wasting valuable time burning discs.

All in all, I give the TakeTV five stars because, like I said, it does everything you want it to and does it remarkably well considering the size and ease of use.  The only feature I feel is lacking is an on-screen visual display of where you are at in the length of a video when speeding forward and backward and the ability to pick up at the same point where you left off in a video after shutting down (both of which are features of Connected that I've been spoiled with!)
4807282
This camera came with the latest firmware, which is nice, because you can't upgrade it. It's not made for the USA market. As long as you know that you can't upgrade it or get local USA support, and you know how to install IP cameras, then I recommend it. If you're looking for something easy and you have no idea how to installing a camera system, I recommend you go with a different brand made for the USA market. All that said, I plugged this into a Hikvision 8-channel PoE NVR, and it was up and running in minutes. I setup motion detection recording, and it works great. The tablet software takes a little practice to figure out (hint: drag and drop them camera from the list of cameras to live view or play back recordings).  Also I was looking for a 6mm focal length. I recommend you know the distance if the recording you want before ordering a camera. Good luck!
1359531
With the SD card and mobile app control, these network cameras can put up a lot of content. The video quality is high enough to the point where I can do some filming out of these perspectives, although the movie wouldn't be very eye-catching since I have it looking across an office desk.
4911285
I bought this one for my dad as a Christmas gift for $99. He wanted something that will fit in his shirt pocket. Sony Bloggie Touch and Flip UltraHD were very alluring choices, but my dad does not like fixed internal memory. Kodak Zi8 looked a very good alternative since it uses micro SD/SDHC.

Just received it a few hours ago. Video quality looks good (viewed 1080p recorded video on Sony 1080p HDTV). (FYI: It takes about 124MB per minute in 1080p and about 73MB per minute in 720p mode.) Took a few camera shots. Don't look so very good. May be because just 5MP camera or low light condition (inside home in fluroscent lights at night time) in which I took shots?

Camcorder build is good and is light weight. Buttons are somewhat inconvenient/small for my dad's thick fingers! Not an issue, just needs a little practice to get used to.

Quicktime .MOV files generated of recorded videos. You need a free software like Any Video Converter to convert them to DVD-NTSC/PAL or mp4/avi so that you can burn to a DVD or transfer to mobile devices.

Seems like my dad (me too) will be happy with the choice I made.

Will update the review if I have any more information.
1254784
I love having so much storage capacity. Through PSN sales I've collected about a dozen games since buying my Playstation TV a couple months ago. This card would be getting 5 stars if the price wasn't so outrageous. I understand Sony's decision to go with proprietary memory cards to cut down on pirating, but they really screwed up with the price tag. Knowing I would need a large memory card because I vastly prefer digital downloads to physical media, I hesitated for years to get a Vita because the additional cost of the memory card made the price of the console unbearable. The only reason I finally got this memory card was because the Playstation TV at $50 was an easier buy-in. But even then it made me somewhat sick to be paying almost double for the memory card that I did for the console that came bundled with a controller, game, and smaller memory card. It's truly a ludicrous price, especially when you consider that the one comparable type of storage storage device, micro SD cards, are 4x cheaper. The real shame though is that I'm enjoying my PS TV, and I'd probably have enjoyed owning a Vita, but Sony screwed both themselves and their customers with their pricing of what I consider an essential accessory for their console.
4054126
This is particularly useful for devices, like Android tablets which have limited memory.... it's like having a small external hard drive. I store movies onto an SD card... then play them on my Android Tablet and Smartphone. And for the price, you HAVE to get it. The ONLY thing I wish it had was the means to charge the device while the card reader is connected. I'm sure there's some cord for that... just haven't figured out which one yet. I'll add to this review if I find it.