Panasonic Lumix G1 Digital System Camera Kit - Red (12.1MP)

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 "Panasonic Lumix G1 Digital System Camera Kit - Red (12.1MP)" 2010-04-19
By Carol J. Cook (Germany)
Love this camera, but it was a bit scary. For me it was to much to remember to take a good photo. This would be great for some one who would like take professional photos and make a profession. I returned it and got a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38EB. Which I love.

 "The best camera four us a good price." 2010-03-29
By Alejandro Arla Peris (Spain)
This camera is fantastical.

We are form out of UK and We can get the Amazon-Panasonic money return.

 "panasonic lumix G1" 2010-03-12
By Victoria M. Mcguire
Great camera, I am new to this kind of camera having only had little digital ones, everything seems to work great, and the best part about it , there is a book with it !! thankyou panasonic for that it means if i'm stuck i can just look in the booklet and not wait until I am at my computer to load a disc, find what it is i need to find etc etc. I love the feel of it , it fits into my hands perfectly. oh yea and the pictures look great too. No one can possibly be disappointed with this camera. I love it so much I will invest in another lens so my pics will be even better.

 "My Lumix G1 Camera" 2010-01-31
By Mr. D. Parkinson (England)
I am delighted with this Camera it seems to do what I want it's just taking the time to use it properly but up to now it's ideal. I actually bought it for when we go back to kenya in two year time but bought it now then i have time to get to know how to use it Panasonic Lumix G1 Digital System Camera Kit - Red (12.1MP)

 "A Panasonic in "Putin's Red"!!" 2009-07-31
By Sam-Theo (Leicester.UK)
Well not quite - as this is a very sedate and attractive red. It could almost be a conversation piece during a portrait session. Only time will tell.

Few surprises: Watching this 'product-in-action' on Amazon site, towards the end of the clip it announces "Made in Japan" - however the body and the battery definitely have "Made in China" inscribed (?Trades Description!!)

A very pleasant surprise (not mentioned in the 'box contents')is a comprehensive manual in a BOOK form, THANK YOU PANASONICS. (A matter over which I fell out with Canon sometime back).

The box also contains a soft case and a lens hood/shade for the supplied lens which reverses for storage.

The Lens (Made in Japan): Most interesting feature of this lens is that unlike all Panasonic cameras in upper price bracket, the name LEICA is missing and replaced by LUMIX, though ASPH is still there - mind boggles. In my limited experience with this lens, it totally lacks the 'bite' Panasonic LX3 lens (with almost identical zoom range) is capable of.

The manual zoom-ring takes some getting used to, but its advantages soon become apparent, especially on battery drainage.

Camera+Lens: Has very solid as well as a heavy (considering size) feel to it. For a SLR it is small, for a compact it is too big to be a pocket/handbag camera. Positive aspect of this is that the controls are very easy to find and operate.

The 'optical' view finder, which I used almost all the time,is adequate but nowhere as good as true pentaprism viewfinder.

SO WHAT IS IT: It is not a true SLR, it is not a compact, it is not a bridge-camera. I can only call it " an oversize compact snap -shooting camera with interchangeable lens".

Do I regret buying it? - NO

Will I rush out and buy its compatible long lens? NO WAY. My TZs give me all the long focal lengths (plus more) I need with comparable quality.

Do I get a lot of pleasure out of using it? - A DEFINITE YES.


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Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR Camera (incl. EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens Kit)

Buy Cheap Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR Camera (incl. EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens Kit)

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An outstanding 15.1 Megapixel resolution allows giant prints and cropping without compromise. This is matched by shooting at 6.3 frames per second in bursts of up to 90 shots[1]. See every wing beat of a bird in flight. Freeze a mid-air leap, or a split-second facial expression. With the EOS 50D, its possible to capture those instants that slower cameras can miss. A new high resolution 3.0 Clear View LCD screen provides ultra-detailed image review, as well as accurate focusing when using the Live View mode. Canons 9-point AF system tracks moving subjects and locks onto stationary objects with equal ease. As night falls, base ISO levels can be pushed up to 3200 or expanded to 12800 for situations where flash is best avoided.
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- EOS 50D + EF-S 17-85mm
- EOS 50D + EF-S 17-85mm
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 "Superb Camera! Excellent Pictures!" 2009-07-21
By S. D. Pearce (UK)
The Canon Eos 50D is a superb camera. I use the camera for taking pictures for marketing purposes for my company. The quality of pictures is clear, high quality and the different modes allow for different types of shot. The camera has a lot of automatic functions, but also can be used with manual settings. I have found the camera extremely easy to use and the photographs outstanding. The 17-85 lens is very good and I have also purchased a 250mm zoom lens from Amazon. Amazon was very prompt with their delivery, next day! If you want professional photos from an excellent camera, but cannot afford the mark5 Cannon, then you will be very pleased with this camera. I prefer it to Nikon and the range of lenses from Canon are excellent.

 "Exellent camera and brilliant picture quality, at a price" 2009-02-19
By markh5682 (Lancashire)
I bought this camera almost as soon as it was released, at a very competitive price from amazon itself (not a third party seller), so I have had plenty of time to get used to it, and test it fully before writing this review.



The first thing you notice is that this is not a small lightweight camera, but is a solid well built camera designed for serious use, yet despite it's size and weight it is still easy to hold and is comfortable to use, for those of you that have used the EOS 40D it has the same body shell as that, and has the advantage of using the same accessories as the EOS 40D as well.



The menu's are well laid out and easy to use making this camera easy to set up and use, the large LCD screen is bright and clear, and much higher resolution than previous EOS cameras, excellent for manual focusing in live view and checking the focus of pictures already taken.



Auto focus is lightning quick and accurate under normal conditions, and even in low light conditions it is still quick.



Cramming 15 megapixels resolution onto a small sensor causes problems with digital noise on many cameras, but not here, digital noise (graininess) is not apparent at all until you get into the highest ISO settings (ISO-100 to 3200 is available) and even then it is well controlled, there is also the option of setting a very high ISO-6400 or ISO-12800 setting but noise is apparent at such high settings and is best used in emergency only, and with it's 15mp resolution, even severely cropped or greatly enlarged pictures are crystal clear, colours are rendered accurately, even in difficult lighting conditions, when set to auto white balance, snow comes out as white snow, not bluish as on some other cameras that I have used, picture quality really is excellent, and has to be seen to be believed.



The built in flash is adequate for most situations but if you take a lot of flash photos and need a higher output flash, then one of canon's speedlight flashes can be used instead.



It is compatible with all canon EF and EFS lenses, and with canon's image stabilised lenses you get pin sharp pictures even in low light or with longer telephoto lenses.



PRO's



Good all round performance.

Excellent picture quality.

High resolution with low noise.

Good low light performance.

Quick and accurate focusing and a very effective image stabilisation (with Canon's IS lenses)

Live view function.

Well built and strong with its metal body shell.

Takes the same accessories as the EOS 40D

Compatible with the latest high capacity CF cards.

Raw or Jpeg files are recorded, Raw+Jpeg simultaneous recording is also possible.



CON's



large and heavy.

Expensive.

No movie function.

No CF card supplied, so if you don't already have one, you will need to buy one before you can use it (with 15mp resolution the higher the capacity of the card the better).



In conclusion....



This is an excellent camera for the serious photographer and is a worthwhile upgrade from an older camera.

If you already own an EOS 40D then the difference in performance would not warrant the expense of an upgrade, but if you want a second body with higher resolution then this would be an ideal companion to your existing EOS 40D, as most of the functions are the same and you can use all your current accessories with it.

It would also be a good back up camera for a professional photographer, who does not want to go to the expense of a second full frame pro camera.



It is more expensive than some other "prosumer" cameras, but with the features and performance that you get, it is worth every penny.



Highly recommended.





This review (updated) can also be seen on Ciao! under the name of Markh5682

 "Canon 50D" 2009-01-27
By M. Haley (UK)
I upgraded from the Canon 40D in December.........not exactly by choice but because some low life liberated the 40D from a hotel room in Barcelona!



The camera is fantastic and produces pin sharp results and the noise performance is much better than the 40D. Part of the reason things look so good though is partly down to the screen which is stunning. The extra megapixels helps the image size when printing (pixel count is 4752x3168 as opposed to 3888x2592 on the 40D). I am lucky to have a plotter at work which can print to A0 on canvas and even prints of A1 and above look great.

If you are used to the 40D, the layout and buttons are exactly the same bar the remote print button which now doubles as a live view switch.

Although the lens is not that fast, for the money the quality is spot on, especially compared to the cheaper kit lens like the 18-55.

The camera and lens combination is fairly heavy but i like this and having large hands i find this very comfortable.



I would certainly recommend this kit and it is a definate improvement over the 40D. If mine hadnt been stolen though i would not have upgraded at this point as the difference is good but not enough to warrant the change unless you can get decent money selling your 40D.



The f1.8 50mm Canon lens works a treat with this camera and for less than £70 is a great option for low light scenarios and for portraits.

 "EOS 50d" 2009-01-05
By Rich (UK)
I purchased this camera in Dec 2008. It was my first DSLR. I could have purchased the 40d, but did lots of research and figured that it was better to pay the additional premium, for a more up to date camera. The camera was supplied with the 17-85mm lens. I have used this camera on a daily basis. The instructions supplied are superb, but the only way to really get to know the camera is to use it. To say that I am impressed would be a complete understatement! It is lovely to use. This a heavy, large camera, so if you plan to use it for world travels, it might not suit. Personally, I like the weight as it just feels right and the quality is just the best. this is based on looking at the Sony alpha and Nikon range! I would highly rate the Eos 50d. The pictures are brilliant, it is easy to use and completely ticks every one of my boxes! Richard

 "Absolutely amazing" 2008-10-22
By chuckles (Netherlands)
Decided to upgrade my wonderful eod400d and lenses. After reading quite a lot about it, I had decided against the 450d and would go for the 40d instead. However, after reading about this camera, I could not resist..... it was quite a lot more, but decided that I could buy this one and not need another camera for many years. This lens is about the best affordable standard lens for the canon eos range, and is a lovely bit of kit. Only disadvantages compared to a lesser lens and the 400d is the size and weight, however feels much more stable and well built. Now down the the picture quality...... all I can say is AMAZING! Even in low light (a common eos flaw) this camera took great shots without the flash, crystal clear..... only had it a day or so, but convinced this was well worth every penny


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Canon Digital SLR Camera EOS 5D Mark II

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 "5D Mark 2000" 2010-01-23
By Justin Charles (Ireland)
In the past I have owned the Canon 20D, and then more recently the 5D.



I've read reviews and craved this camera for a long time, and it is now finally in my grubby hands. Here's what I can say after only using it for a week:



Noticeable changes from the 5D:



- physical changes



1. It feels more sturdy and slightly bigger.

2. The screen is superb, automatically adjusts for ambient light conditions, and very clear. Zooming into photos is a real treat (if you managed to get it pin sharp, like from a tripod, it's especially stunning). I'd read about a new special coating on the screen (the same coating they now put on the front of the first sensor filter) to repel smudges etc, but it doesn't seem to do much. It does have a nice purple-blue sheen, but my nose still makes it messy after a while shooting. Note to self: shower more. Only kidding.

3. The sensor is full frame, 21MP and 14 bits per channel. This allows for smooth tones and lovely switches from light to shadow. Simply light years ahead of the 5D or any other camera (better in some comparisons I've read than even the 1Ds Mk III).

4. They moved the light button to the outside of the top lcd. Minor, but takes a second to remind myself about it.

5. The flash hotshoe is now bare metal instead of black (which ended up half metal anyway - lots of scratches from the 580 being put on and off.

6. The plastic flaps on the side that contain the ports are now way less awkward to use.

7. The main dial now has three custom fucntion sets there, which I have not used yet.

8. It's subtle, but the viewfinder is somehow more crisp - and slightly bigger. Just that bit more comfortable. And the autofocus points are that bit more easy to see without fiddling with the diopter.



- software changes

1. There is a handy feature called "highlight tone priority" in the custom functions that shifts the dynamic range to hold the highlights. It also makes the minimum ISO only 200, but I've tried it and it seems to work very well. Possibly a little more noise in the shadows, but nothing noticeable.

2. Speaking of dynamic range, I do a fair bit of HDR photography and the AEB functions are now nicely linked to the Exposure Compensation function. On one screen you can shift the exposure up or down a stop, as well as expand to bracket three exposures of +/- 2 stops. Lovely addition. As in the 5D you can shoot all three exposures automatically by using the timer.

3. Oh my god I love this feature: lens micro focus adjustment. Previously only available to lucky owners of the 1D series, this allows you to check the autofocus feature of any lens, and adjust the focus if you find it to be slightly soft (e.g. the focus is slightly behind or in front of the target). I spent 3 hours last night in full-on nerd mode, and finally figured out a way to do it simply. Skip the next bit if you're not a total optic nerd. The more in-focus an image is, the larger the file size. By varying the micro-adjustment from -20 to +20 in stages, you can later review the file sizes of the images and the one with the largest file size (if you keep all parameters the same) will be the setting with the most accurate focus. To do this, set up the camera and lens on a tripod and get it exactly perpendicular to a target. The target should fill the frame. I taped an old "start here" poster from a printer to the wall, and used a level to level the tripod. Tether the camera to a laptop and use live view shooting. Defocus the lens manually. Go into the custom functions and select the adjust by lens, and set it to -20. Then click the autofocus on the laptop to focus it. I repeat this focus click 3 times to make sure it is perfect. Then shoot 4 shots (to get an average reading). Move the micro-adjustment to -10 and repeat at intervals of 10 until you reach +20. Make sure to defocus the lens manually each time to make sure you force the autofocus to work through the problem again each time. Lets say +10 gave the largest average file size. Then go back and shoot at +5, +10, and +15. Lets say you decide +10 is still best, then go for +7, +8, +9, +10, +11 until you find the perfect focus. Nerds rejoice!! Actually it's not just nerdyness for the sake of being nerdy - I spent 3 hours on my 85mm f/1.2 last night and it is now WAY better than it was previously. It's razor thin depth of field at f/1.2 is now slightly behind where it was at it'd default (0) setting. So instead of a lovely in-focus image of an eyebrow and the tips of eyelashes, I now get the eyeball itself in clear focus. This is obviously a lens issue, but the fact that I can fix it in-camera without sending my lens off for re-calibration is a joy!!

4. In general the digic 4 system is vastly better than the digic 2 I was used to on the 5D. Menu surfing is fast and intuitive, and in no time I was used to it.

5. The main screen is now used a lot more than I realized - there is a whole lot of information that pops up between shots - and you can now navigate using the small adjustment knob, and change your ISO or metering mode that way (as well as the old way of looking through the viewfinder, or using the top lcd).

6. As much touted, you can now also shoot full HD video. This is a bit fiddly, and it's hard to get used to how to change aperture etc. Also because it's not raw (a format I use all the time) I now also have to learn about the picture style settings. Using zoom or changing focus while shooting is not advisable, because the noise of the lens (even the relatively quiet USM lenses) is simply deafening on playback. A mic can be added, which I think I would do if I got seriously into making movies on the 5D. Movie buffs are drooling over the chance to use wide aperture lenses that don't cost a trillion dollars, but for me the HD function is more of a gimmick for now. Although if I have some time on my hands, maybe I'll get into it some day. You can shoot still frames while recording, and on playback there is just a tiny glitchy moment when the camera returns momentarily to being a still frame device.



Overall this is a superb upgrade to the 5D. Aside from the size and name on the side, it's hardly the same camera at all.



Yes it's expensive, and yes the 7D seems to have similar quality photos in terms of bit depth and image size, but for me full frame functionality of this camera is the main thing. L lenses (especially the wide angle ones) only really make sense on a full frame camera. Although wildlife shooters might argue against me there.



The 5D was an amazing camera and I had years of joy with it. I look forward to years more with this one - and wonder what Canon will have to do in order to convince me to ever upgrade again.



Beg, borrow, steal. Get one!!

 "Great camera but expensive" 2010-01-22
By Fritz Zsombor
Pros: HI ISO, big viewfinder, fast, weather protected, FULL FRAME, reilable, build quality, picture quality

Cons: there's no infra flash transmitter integrated, too expensive, old interface (contra much cheaper 7D), few focus points, limited video functionality

 "AWESOME" 2010-01-20
By Jeff Smith (England)
Not much to say really... awesome camera, buy one. Highly useable for point and shoot or the most advanced user, great metering; make sure you use L series lenses though, pointless otherwise.

 "Excellent but flawed" 2009-12-31
By Kieran Madden
There are a lot of mis-informed reviews here on both sides of the argument in my opinion. So I'll try to clear things up as I see them.



I've had this camera for about 10 months now and am both pleased with it and mildly disappointed.



I'm pleased with it because it takes amazing pictures and deals with noise at low resolutions brilliantly - I have no personal experience of the competition but from what I've read, when everything comes together and the camera isn't held back by its flaws, no other dSLR on the market delivers the same level of image quality.



I'm disappointed with it because of what the D700 has that it doesn't.



Many have complained about the dated autofocus technology it uses. A few have complained that the AF just doesn't work properly; this isn't my experience at all, and those people must have defective cameras (although I've read of Canon claiming there was nothing wrong, I have read of some having had their cameras changed by their retailer and had no problems with their replacement).

But the AF is definitely not up to scratch. I often find myself framing my shots according to where the AF points are, rather than according to what would look good; focus recompose is a nice idea but doesn't work if you're shooting at f/2.8.

And, for a camera designed for use in low light, the inferior outer focus points are often a struggle to use. Placing them on a line of contrast, such as the edge of a shadow, often helps the system achieve focus lock but my f/2.8 L lenses still often hunt for focus in this situation. While the center AF point works perfectly it's not much use for reasons of composition.



Some people have said that people managed OK in the old days without AF, etc. These people are being facetious and miss the point. You don't spend £2k on a camera expect a dated AF system. But at the same time it's not useless. It's just irritating - and a good photographer can work around that.



When AF does work - which, to be honest, is most of the time even in difficult conditions - the low light abilities of this camera is incredible. ISO 6400 is quite useable for low-res web use. If there's enough light for you to make out colours, with fast glass then you'll be able to take good shots handheld. Even if stopping motion at f/2.8 might be hard, this is incredible progress in camera technology.



The framerate isn't up to scratch. But to speed up the framerate would have required an improved shutter mechanism - moving a full-frame mirror twice as fast is a lot harder than moving a 1.3x (on the 1D-series) or a much smaller 1.6x mirror twice as fast (xxxD,xxD and 7D). Moreover, processing eight or so 25 Mb images per second would have required a far better processor - as it stands with just 4fps the buffer on the 5DII fills up extremely quickly.



So basically, the 5DII's emphasis is on resolution, while the D700's is on speed.



To a degree, many of these issues have been solved by the release of the 7D. While a part of me resents having to buy a second, £1300, body - which also delivers (apparently slightly) inferior image quality - to be able to photograph birds in flight etc well, a part of me is attracted by the extra reach of a 1.6x body with far higher pixel density. My 400 f/5.6L prime doesn't get me all that close on this full-frame body.

(And, with a good L prime, you will get extra reach when comparing the 7D to 5DII due to the afforementioned pixel density - I can't afford a 500 f/4L, so an effective 640mm is an attractive thought, even if the image quality wouldn't be as amazing as the extremely heavy & expensive 500 fitted to my 5DII).



Those who moan about file sizes are being silly. As others have said, what else do you expect when shooting RAW on a 21MP camera? If you don't like it, reduce the resolution. Solved - and you get longer continuous shooting bursts before the buffer fills.



Some people have switched to Nikon due to the 5DII, while I've read of Nikonians who've switched to Canon for this camera and have been happy. I've looked into the idea of going to Nikon but I don't like Nikon's lenses, which are also MUCH more expensive - so much more so that I reckon the cost of switching to the Nikon equivalents of my Canon lenses would be less than selling my 5DII and getting a 1DsIII or IDIV.



Finally, video is a great addition to this camera - even if you think you don't need it, it's good to have. I often find myself wondering if I should shoot video or stills. While videoing well on this camera is a whole different skill, if you get it right the results are amazing - even if just for home videos. The in-built microphone isn't too bad either - not professional, but quite useable.



Is it a camera to suit all your needs? No. But it is a damn good camera, and below the 1D series cameras everything is a compromise (Canon of course want you to buy their most expensive bodies). If landscapes and the best image quality aren't important to you, though, consider getting the 7D instead of the 5DII - I wish I'd known the 7D was round the corner when I bought this because I may have made a different choice. But if I were to change now, I fear that I may miss the stunning quality of the 5DII's shots.

 "Simply Superb" 2009-12-22
By Gryphon (Bedford, England)
I have now been using this product for almost 9 months and it is a fantastic camera for this price. This camera is aimed squarely at the keen amateur or semi-professional and in the right hands I can see no need to upgrade to the considerably more expensive EOS 1DS MkIII - which uses the same sensor. Users upgrading from any of the APS 'C' sensor cameras such as the 20D, 40D or 50D and own Canon EF-S lenses, these must not be used with the 5D MkII as the short focus back on the EF-S lenses will result in a catastophic mirror strike. Your lens budget may go out of the window as you really do need the 'L' series for the wider angle lenses to take full advantage of the sensor. The image quality is superb. Functions and settings available to users are full and customisable. HD Video is a bit of an art form and there are issues in that the 30fps standard is in use - Canon are investigating a 24fps update in 2010 - so this may impact PAL users as we use 25fps. You will need to get an external mic though as the one fitted to the camera is mono and poor (it does not claim to be anything but). I use mine for shooting lightning and the quality is near slide film standard and has no 'halo' caused by the brightness of lightnin strikes which are visible on my 40D when enlarged. Canon's DPP software continues to be a bit flaky but does an adequate job, although I expect most users will want to be using either Photoshop or similar professional image editing software.



If you are serious about photography but wanted to stay with film because digital cameras had not caught up, then think again - this camera does deliver.


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Canon Digital SLR Camera EOS 5D Mark II + EF24-105 Kit

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The full frame EOS 5D Mark II combines outstanding resolution with 3.9 fps shooting and superlative high ISO performance. The addition of Full HD movie recording expands the boundaries of photography. For the ultimate in creative shooting, the EOS 5D Mark II features a full frame CMOS sensor (36mm x 24mm). With no cropping or magnification effects, enjoy a true wide angle experience through the large, bright viewfinder. Redesigned pixels minimise noise, while a 21.1 Megapixel resolution surpasses the standa...
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Technical Details

- 21.1 Megapixel full frame CMOS sensor
- DIGIC 4 processor for fine gradation and natural colour reproduction
- Full HD 1080 movie recording including HDMI output
- High-resolution 3.0 VGA Clear View LCD effective even in bright sunlight
- Live View mode with Face Detection Live AF
- Continuous shooting at 3.9fps up to card capacity, shooting JPEG images to UDMA card
- 9 AF points with 6 Assist AF points
- Magnesium alloy body with durable shutter and environmental protection
- Optional Wireless File Transmitter with External HDD and GPS compatibility
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 "Beware of sensor issues!" 2010-04-20
By marcus s
I bought the Canon EOS 5D mark II as a kit in February 2010, from a retailer in Manchester. After a few days I noticed several small grey spots in the top left corner of the sensor, which the anti-dust mechanism wouldn't shift. Having assumed it was simply a little dust, and having taken the camera in to be cleaned for free, I was told by the authorised repair centre that the sensor was actually scratched!! This was clearly a flaw from manufacturing as the lens had never been removed from the camera since purchase. I took this back and was provided with a brand new replacement kit. First day out with it, I took several images of blue sky at F22, and to my horror, saw bits of black debris of various shapes and sizes all over the RAW images..one shot I counted 9 or 10 small specs of dirt. Back went the camera again, at no small cost to myself in rail fares and petrol. I was assured that the camera was brand new from the factory, not a returned or refurbished item, and I was extremely careful to attach the lens in a dust-free environment..so it's a mystery to me why the sensor should have been dirty from day one.



I am dreadfully disappointed as this was really the camera I had set my heart on, not least for it's video function..needless to say it's now been returned for a full refund and I've invested in a different make of DSLR.



Oh, and one more thing which niggled me..the 24-105mm lens supplied with the camera has built-in image stabilisation. On the first camera, the mechanism was completely silent, impossible to tell it was even working. On the second lens it was noticeably noisy, with a distinct clunking, whirring and grinding noise in operation. Although the noise wasn't particularly loud, it was audible on sound recorded by the internal mic (when using video mode), and such a variance between two versions of an expensive L Series lens I find surprising and quite disturbing.

 "Get this and don't update till Mrk4..." 2010-04-01
By Justin P (London)
This is the best camera available for full frame and price. It's still a hefty sum to pay, but considering the next step up, the 1ds Mrk4, full frame is now relatively feasable for amateurs. You also get HD video recording, but only for 29mins or something like 4gbs whichever comes first. Even though this isn't a sports camera, it's only 3.9fps, you should still consider getting a fast CF card. Sandisk Extreme IIIs are the best, and get 16gb minimum. The HD recording won't work properly if you get a card that writes information too slow i.e 8mb/sec min, and on 16gb CF you get 49min max @1080p, 12min on a 4gb CF according to my manual, so don't get smaller cards...



Also, the best Lens for this is actually the 24-70mm, but it's an extra few hundred and there's a mark2 with IS being released imminently (sept 2010 @photokina).



The seller vendor is always changing, be careful who you order from. My seller's choice of courier, CityLink, delievered my 5D to my neighbour who kept it for 5days!



With the 5D mrk3 release date possibly being brought forward because of Nikon's D700 replacement, this is the ideal time to get this camera at a low(ish) price, the only thing you'll see better in an update is the AF, but I don't shoot sports/action and if you know your camera skills you can focus in low light too, so this does everything I need.

 "Excellence" 2010-03-17
By Roger Cheshire (UK)
This is one seriously good piece of kit. With its full frame 21mp sensor the quality of the image is sensational and because of its characteristics noise is well controlled if the iso settings are ramped up to compensate for low light. The features that it possesses are all that the serious amateur or professional requires and for them this is the one to have at this level. Agreed, it does lack some of the features of the recently released and slightly cheaper 7D - less AF points and slightly slower too, lower speed burst mode and the more versatile video options found on the newer model. However, the 7D sensor is the smaller APS size and as such does not compete with the full frame item on the 5D II. Thats not to say that the 7D is a poor camera, it certainly isn't, it's very good but for me the 5D II goes the extra mile in the quality stakes. Sports photographers might disagree as it is undeniable that the 7D's autofocus and burst shooting modes are quicker but for all round quality, both in build and results, I'll stick with the 5D ii thanks!

In a word - fabbydoozie!

 "A huge step up" 2009-11-13
By K. Williamson (Spain)
My first foray into the world of DSLRs was an EOS 350D - which I thought was a fantastic camera at the time. I bought a 55-200 zoom lens for it and a flashgun to pop on top. Then I moved up to the 450D to take advantage of the extra facilities of a newer model and the IS kit lens which I'd read was a great improvement on the older version. That camera has and still does serve me well.



With a little money in hand, I decided to go pro and buy a full frame camera, it was the next logical step in the development of my photography. After extensive research I decided on the 5D MkII with the 24-105 kit lens.



The first impression when I got the camera was wow that is big and heavy in comparison with my 450D. It does fit into my hands better though and I quickly got used to the weight.



In use the camera feels familiar even though there are some differences in the menu system to my previous cameras. The wheel that you use to make selections is a lot slicker to use than up, down, left and right arrows. Within a short space of time, I was well enough acquainted with the camera for it to become second nature which is of course what you want.



Having owned my new camera for a couple of months now, I can tell you that the 5D MkII just oozes quality. The image quality from it is mind blowing, distinctly better than that from my APS-C cameras. I can't say whether this step up in IQ is due to the full frame format or the L quality lens - I suspect both.



I'd read about the poor AF on the Canon which is attributed to the old system that they stuck with. Since I habitually use the centre point and don't rely upon the outer points this is not a problem for me. USM on the lens makes focussing fast and quiet.



I'd also read about the sluggishness of the camera in comparison with others. That was not an issue for me either since I don't take a lot of action shots and therefore don't need a camera that can take 8 shots per second- 3.9 shots per second is more than adequate for my needs.



The Canon 5D MKII is not the perfect camera but it is as near perfection as I am going to be able to afford. For others, the newer 7D might be a better choice and for those with deep pockets the ID MKIII(S) or IV would be good. For me the 5D MkII will do nicely thank you.






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Sony Alpha A380L Digital SLR Camera With 18-55 mm Lens

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 "My first SLR, excellent camera" 2010-04-17
By N. Hunt (sheffield, UK)
This is my first DSLR camera and I looked into lots of options before buying at a very good price (approx £410).



So far I love it - picture quality is excellent and it's extremely easy to use, including the software provided. Although I've a basic understanding of all the functions this is still the first SLR I've owned and the display makes things so clear and simple I'm confident taking good pics in any situation. e.g. when changing aperture/shutter speed you've got a picture guide to show which setting is right for the scenario and it couldn't be clearer.



There are a lot of good independent reviews on youtube for most good cameras including this one. I'd originally been slightly sceptical about a sony lens as they've arguably not got the pedigree as some other brands, but these concerns were appeased by what the reviewers and "experts" were saying.



The pop-out display was what made me buy this one in the end and it is quite useful - more so than expected. If they could create one that can move left and right as well as up and down then it would be even better!



In short it's a top camera in my opinion. As a beginner it caters for all my needs and I couldn't be happier!

 "Sony Alpha A380L Digital SLR Camera with 18-55 mm Lens." 2010-04-09
By Alan Crosskill (North Yorkshire)



On retirement in 2000 I disposed of my Canon EOS and Bronica equipment and reverted to a Ricoh GR which in time was replaced by a number of small digital cameras, I had few regrets. Two months ago a friend showed me his newly purchased Sony Alpha A380L DSLR Camera, I was smitten and immediately purchased one. I had no experience of other makers products nor made any comparisons. The 380 felt absolutely `right' in my hands and I quickly mastered the controls, something I never achieved with smaller digi cameras. Whilst I am perfectly satisfied with this camera I fully appreciate this review may not be a lot of help to others. I would however, suggest that you should handle one prior to purchase.

 "The A330 is a better camera" 2009-09-11
By V. Brean
We tried this camera but decided on the cheaper 10MP version (the A330) and as far as we are concerned, the A330 has much better image quality



This should have come as no great surprise really because I also felt that this also applied to the A300 vs the A350 (the previous generation), if you were happy with the image quality of the A350 then fine, but the A330 in my opinion is cleaner, sharper and produces more consumer friendly punchy images from the camera.



I can see no reason to recommend this camera over the cheaper A330 as it has an identical featureset and offers nothing extra, other than on paper...more resolution, but I cant really say that I can see that either



I happen to really like the design, menus and operation of this camera, and the live view implementation from Sony is brilliant...the best of any of the DSLR manufacturers and if the A330 did not exist, then I might even say it was a decent camera, but whilst this camera is just reasonable, the A330 is great in my opinion



So bottom line is A330 is great, A380 is the same camera but with inferior image quality....so simple, save yourself some money and get the A330 instead, I have reviewed the A330 as well if you are interested



So I give this one an "average" rating

 "A more expensive A350?" 2009-08-05
By Louis Vallance (Sheffield, SY UK)
To all first time DSLR buyers and even the lower end enthusiasts, Sony was given the chance to answer your prayers. Building on the strengths of the a350, which I will be comparing this camera to, the a380 tries to make its mark as the new kid on the block. Other than the obvious physical changes, it seems that Sony have revamped many of the core features of the old series (dare I say it), with a complete overhaul of the user interface to boost its appeal to the photography novice, while attempting to keep the more advanced features up to scratch with its Nikon/Canon/Olympus competitors.



Out of the box the a380 is almost 100 grams lighter than the a350, resembling the light-weight build quality you would find on the Nikon D90 for example. However it is important to mention now that practically none of the selling points of the camera are a drastic shift from the a350. In the reviews I had read prior to pre-ordering, I saw the quick AF in live view mode, a tilting screen and the same 14.2MP CCD. In some ways it was like reading the same reviews again. What makes the a380 250 pounds more expensive then? As previously mentioned, the layout is much better on the outside; the function and trash buttons have been shifted inwards and the ISO and drive mode buttons have been condensed into the thumb pad. This touching up makes the camera a lot neater and definitely more stylish, but do photographers really spend their money on looks over functionality?



When inserting the memory card for the first time I immediately noticed a slight difference. Instead of having to use a CF/SD adapter as with the a350, the a380 features both slots with a handy toggle selector depending on which one you want to use. The menu is fantastic. New interactive graphics make changing settings much easier; even with DSLRs it's sometimes hard to tell whether you've got the right settings until you've taken the picture. However the new display helps you get it perfect first time.



Image wise, I am very concerned. An improvement to the ISO performance as well as image sharpness was expected however not delivered. I have only owned the camera for a day but I have taken a lot of pictures and fiddled with the settings extensively and I honestly feel that no improvement has been made whatsoever after uploading.



The 100 gram slim down does no favours for the new alpha. I enjoyed the bulky, albeit creaky build of the a350, and the shed in weight has resulted in a shed of build quality. On paper, it looks more stylish with its pillowed exterior, however in the flesh it feels tackier; I utterly dislike the lackluster top plate. Moreover, the new hand grip is inadequate and fiddly to use.



Overall I question the worth of buying this camera over the a350. For the price, I don't feel I have gained anything new. Trading in my a350 in the name of photography may have been a mistake and I regret not waiting for the price to drop as it is essentially the same camera with a bit of cheap makeup thrown all over it. I'm sure the price will drop significantly over time but if you are looking for a great DSLR now, save yourself the £250 and go for the a350 instead.


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