SlashScope

Bo Lowrey posts a review of his "second hand" Orion XT12 Dobsonian telescope over at Astromart. 'I recently acquired an Orion XT12 Dobsonian telescope from a friend. He had recently purchased a Meade 16in and wanted to get rid of his 12. He had already put the milk jug washers on the base and made modifications described by others to improve the movement of the scope. I already owned an Orion XT6 and wanted to expand my collection. The difference in performance between the two was pretty significant. Objects that were hard to see with my 6in now looked brighter than ever through the 12. The view through the scope is crystal clear on nights when it is clear and cool. It is a great telescope for looking at star clusters, galaxies, planets, and nebulae. The rack on the side of the base has often come in handy with spaces for three 1.25in eyepieces and a single 2in. eyepiece holder. The focuser for the XT12 can accommodate both two and 1.25in eyepieces.'

Read: Orion SkyQuest XT12 Intelliscope - Astromart

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Cliff Smith has reviewed the "easy to Use" Sanyo Xacti VPC-C6 "hybrid still/HD video camera" over at Trusted Reviews. 'Sanyo hi-fi systems, perhaps unfairly, have a reputation for being a bit cheap and nasty, so it’s surprising to see the same brand name on this beautifully designed and well engineered product. The C6 looks like it’s been stolen from the set of a particularly stylish high-budget sci-fi movie. The temptation to flip the screen open, tap a few buttons and say “beam me up, Scotty”, or wave it over someone while making Tricorder noises, is almost irresistible. Or maybe that’s just me… [nope... I’d do that too.. ed.] Geeky fantasies aside, the C6 is certainly an impressive little gadget. The body is made of aluminium alloy and finished in an attractive champagne-gold colour with gunmetal and chrome details, although a black version is also available. The f3.5-4.7 6x optical zoom lens is quite a lot larger than on most comparable compacts, and the 2in flip-out LCD monitor has 210k pixels for above average sharpness and a good anti-reflective coating for use in bright sunlight. Build and finish is excellent and the whole thing looks and feels like a real quality product. The overall design has that finished look of a third-generation product, which in fact it is.

Read: Sanyo Xacti VPC-C6 - Trusted Reviews

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The Canon Powershot A700 digital camera has been reviewed over at Digital Camera Review.com. 'The A700 has the typical look of the rest of Canon's A series of digital cameras. The camera is pretty much rectangular, with a larger hand grip that allows space for the 2 AA batteries that power it. The lens, when retracted, is bumped out a bit, about even with the hand grip. Since the A700 will accept some optional lens add-ons, the ring around the lens is removable. The camera is very well built, despite being mostly plastic. It feels solid and nothing rattles. The buttons and dials are positioned well and easy to operate. Buttons stick up far enough out of the body that people with larger hands will have no problem.'

Read: Canon Powershot A700 Digital Camera Review - Digital Camera Review

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Camera labs has reviewed the 10 megapixel Canon EOS 400D digital camera. 'The Canon EOS 400D / Rebel XTi digital SLR is the successor to the best-selling EOS 350D / Rebel XT. Announced in August 2006, it combines a number of anticipated improvements along with a few genuine surprises. Most people won’t be surprised to learn the 400D / XTi now features a larger 2.5in screen and Canon’s Picture Styles, but following the earlier EOS 30D, many equally expected the new entry-level body to employ the same sensor as its predecessor. But instead of re-using the 350D / XT’s 8 Megapixel sensor, Canon’s developed a brand new 10.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor for the 400D / XTi. This makes it Canon’s highest resolution digital SLR with an EF-S lens mount to date.'

Read: Canon EOS 400D / Digital Rebel XTi review - Camera Labs

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Jef Spalding, writing over at Astromart, concludes in his review of the Pentax Papilio that the scope is the "best mini binocular out there today!'. 'I discovered quite by accident the 6.5X21Pentax Papilo binocular on the internet while looking for a binocular with a very close focus. Being a biologist by degree, I've always loved the micro world that is was only avaliable with a dissecting stereoscope or a tiny fold out magnifer called a loupe. I couldn't understand why someone hadn't come up with the idea. Nearly all binoculars have a close focus with a minimum of usually 8 ft. or more; missing out on the dynamic near microscopic world of insects and plants.'

Read: Pentax Papilio - Astromart

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DC Views reports on the launch of the Creative DiVi CAM 516 which is a sleek mini digital camcorder priced at $249.00. ‘Creative launches the DiVi CAM 516, the ideal entry level digital camera for anyone looking for fun home videos and still images. Featuring a 5-megapixel sensor, you can take high quality pictures at up to 12-megapixel resolution. Use it as a Digital Video Camera, Digital Camera, MP3 Player, Voice Recorder, WebCam and Mass Storage Device all packed into a compact and handy device. The DiVi CAM 516 only requires 4 AAA batteries and has 32 MB memory and an option for expansion through the SD (Secure Digital) card slot.’

Read: Creative introduces small and trendy DiVi CAM 516 Mini Digital Camcorder – DC Views

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CNET has previewed the Canon EOS Rebel XTi digital camera which is expected to be available to the buying public sometime next month. 'Three things differentiate the Canon EOS Rebel XTi from the EOS Rebel XT, and two of them are the sensor. Though the CMOS chip used by the XTi is the same size as the 8-megapixel version in the XT, Canon crams more pixels into the space to bump the resolution up to 10 megapixels--and claims the XTi will have an equal dynamic range and noise performance. In theory, it's possible. The company says it's improved the design of the microlenses that sit atop each photosite--the microlenses gather indirect light and focus it back on the sensor--as well as increased the size of the photosites. The CMOS chip in the XTi will also be self-cleaning. Similarly to many other dSLRs, the low-pass filter layer vibrates when the camera powers off or on in order to shake dust away from the sensor; plus, there's an antistatic coating on the filter to repel the dust. Furthermore, a bit of adhesive surrounding the sensor is designed to grab the dust, keeping it from flying around the camera chassis. In addition to dust control, Canon has split the low-pass filter into two parts, effectively placing whatever dust does settle beyond the range of focus.'

Read: Canon EOS Rebel XTi (body only, silver) - CNET

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Pocket-Lint previews the feature-rich Hercules webcam which is due for launch in October. 'With a new clamping system for screens, the webcam is designed to be sturdily attached, and unlike many other models, looks more like an elegant tool than a childish toy.Webcam Station Evolution software makes operating the camera easy and intuitive, and helps users understand functions like Burst Mode, Infinite Images, Emotion Delayer, and Travelling-Zoom.'

Read: Hercules webcam combines great features with a small price - Pocket Lint

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David Kender writing over at Camcorder Info posts an informative review of the the "entry-level" Samsung SC-DC164 camcorder. 'The Samsung SC-DC164 features a 1/4.5” CCD with 680K gross pixels. This is larger than the average chip size, but the same pixel count. Resolution is largely dependent on the number of pixels, and low light performance is largely dependent on chip size. Why the discrepancy with this particular chip? It could be for a number of reasons, probably related to lower manufacturing costs. What we can tell you is that this is not a very good chip. At 3000 lux, the DC164’s most noticeable feature is its lack of apparent sharpness. The picture looks fuzzy and just makes a mess of the fine detail that most camcorders are able to obtain. Color performance is surprisingly decent, which is likely a combination of the larger imager and some in-camera saturation. The grey scale, however, has a slightly reddish tone in patches. And despite all the decent colors, the noise is terrible.'

Read: Samsung SC-DC164 Camcorder Review - Camcorder Info.

Posted by Slash Scope Admin at 9:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lets Go Digital has reviewed the "the advanced Megazoom" Olympus SP 500 UZ digital camera. 'The Olympus SP-500 UZ digital camera is an advanced digital camera that straddles the border between compact digital cameras and digital reflex cameras. The Olympus SP500 US was officially introduced in the second half of last year providing a compact version of a Megazoom digital camera. The Olympus SP500 UZ is equipped with a six Megapixel image sensor and an optical range of 10x. In addition to its Megazoom capacities, the Olympus 500-UZ camera has many versatile setting options.'

Read: Olympus SP 500 UZ Digital Camera Review - Lets Go Digital

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A review of the "orange, weatherproof" Olympus mju 700 digital camera has been posted at Lets Go Digital. 'The Olympus Mju 700 (known as the Stylus 700 Digital in the USA) was officially launched at the beginning of this year and is a member of the internationally renowned Mju family. The analogue version of the Mju was a world wide success and this fact alone was reason enough for Olympus to embrace the digital version. The Olympus Mju 700 is currently one of the top models in the Mju series and with 7.1 Megapixels is in the top league of digital compact cameras. The Olympus 700's compact format and metal, weather proof body look very stylish indeed.'

Read: Olympus mju 700 Digital Camera Review - Lets Go Digital

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Lee Spain writing over at Astromart shares his not-too-impressive comments about the relatively inexpensive Quantaray QT-80700 Table Top Telescope. 'This telescope is a small tabletop reflector similar in design to the Celestron Tabletop-76. It has an 80mm objective and a 700mm focal length. It came with Huygens-design 20mm and 6mm eyepieces and a long 18mm erecting eyepiece. It also came with the infamous and almost useless .965-inch 2x barlow. The scope attaches to a small tabletop tripod via a single camera tripod mounting screw. Two knobs on the tripod allow the user to make fine aiming adjustments and a 5x24 right-angle finder is standard equipment. The entire kit fits in a small black zippered bag that is just a little larger than a large shoe-box. The tripod comes with its own small bag that should fit into a zippered compartment on the side of the telescope bag. Since we live in a relatively small apartment, I was pleased by the compact size of the telescope.'

Read: Quantaray QT-80700 Table Top Telescope - Astromart

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CNET has reviewed the pocket sized Sony's Cyber Shot DSC-T10 digital camera. 'Except for its 7.2-megapixel CCD sensor, the Sony Cyber Shot DSC-T10 is extremely similar to the DSC-T9. A full-body-width sliding lens cover turns the camera on and off, and the back panel layout is essentially identical, with most of the control buttons gathered to the right of the 2.5-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD. One nice touch is that, when the lens cover is in the down position, a small vertical ridge provides a perfect grip for your middle finger. A tiny button to the right of the shutter controls the camera's optical image stabilization, which Sony refers to as Super Steady Shot. We found that it'll get you between one and two stops of leeway when shooting at slower shutter speeds. For example, we were able to shoot steady, crisp images at 1/20 second with stabilization on, in situations that would normally require a shutter speed of 1/60 second to prevent blur.'

Read: Sony Cyber Shot DSC-T10 (Pink) Review - CNET

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Digital Photography Review has reviewed the compact Ricoh GR-Digital Camera. 'Announced almost a year ago - and rumored for a long time before - the GR Digital was always going to be something of a niche product. Described as a 'professional grade high resolution compact' the GR Digital echoes the design and ethos of the popular and very highly regarded GR series of film compacts and is unusual in having a fixed 28mm equivalent F2.4 lens and full photographic control. The 8MP GR-D (as we'll call it from now on) is also fairly expandable; with an optional optical viewfinder, 21mm equivalent ultra wide converter and dedicated flash available (though by then you've spend well over $1000). Originally released only in Europe and Asia, the GR-D has recently made its way to North America, though you're still unlikely to find it on the shelves of your local camera store.'

Read: Ricoh GR-Digital Review - dpreview

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The QX5 Microscope (Digital Blue QX5 Computer Microscope) is not your conventional looking microscope but it nevertheless appears capable of some serious magnification. The QX5 USB microscope has proven to be very popular with buyers so if you wish to make a purchase at CompuVisor.com you may have to wait a while before it is delivered. ‘The QX5 is the ultimate microscope for the casual scientist and is guaranteed to provide even the mildest-mannered geek with countless hours of fun. In addition to viewing, saving, and exporting magnified images, you can also take the microscope out of its cradle and use it as a handheld camera — extreme close-up style. Yes, that's right, ladies and gentlemen. You, too, can now create documentaries of your ant farm, get an up close and personal look at that nasty paper cut, or just muse to your brown-eyed girl about how pretty her irises appear when magnified 200 times.’

Sources: Make : CompuVisor

Posted by Slash Scope Admin at 9:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you have ever operated a night vision monocular, binoculars or goggles you would be aware of the capability to see objects and activities in total darkness. However, there are two minor drawbacks when operating consumer night vision devices. Firstly, the infrared illuminator which provides the “invisible” beam to illuminate complete darkness can be seen (albeit with some effort) as a red dot when the device is turned on. Secondly, you have to place yourself in a position where you can see the subject of observation and by extension risk exposure should the area become lit. The Spy Video Car from Think Geek addresses both these concerns allowing the user to monitor suspicious activity from a secure environment. ‘Just turn on your Spy Video Car, adjust the camera angle, turn on the night vision, put on the Heads Up Display (HUD) visor, and drive your way to the suspicious noise. That's right - this quiet R/C car has a video camera mounted on the front. It broadcasts to the black and white LCD HUD which plugs into the remote. You'll see everything your Spy Car sees (in bright light or in total darkness). And since it rides really low to the ground, you'll be able to go under tables, chair, pets, and anything else that gets in your way. And don't worry, it wasn't your ninja senses tingling this time; you really have had too much caffeine.’

Source: Think Geek

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You may well be hard pressed to locate a pair of binoculars with this "magnification" at such an affordable price. 'One of the world's highest-magnification binocular zooms from 20X to an amazing 140X magnification — with 70mm objective lenses that gather plenty of light for bright, clear images. Everyday binoculars typically are 7X; amateur telescopes are often a "mere" 85X — so at 140X, you are getting unbelievably close to objects that are very far away.'

Features:
• One of the World's highest-magnification binocular zooms from 20X to an amazing 140X magnification.
• 70mm objective lenses gather plenty of light for bright, clear images.
• Powerful binocular is rugged and durable yet surprisingly lightweight and compact — measuring 13" x 10" x 5" and weighing just 2 lbs.
• Features center-wheel focus with diopter adjustment.
• Includes case with adjustable strap.

Sources: Sharper Image Via; 14U News

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Imaging Resource has reviewed the 5 megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ3 digital camera. 'The Panasonic LZ3 is in most ways a typical compact snapshot camera, providing a good selection of automatic features and not much in the way of manual control. But it stands out from the crowd by providing a 6x optical zoom range of 6.1-36.6mm (equivalent to a 37-222mm range on a 35mm camera), and by implementing the optical image stabilization that has become standard in newer Lumix cameras. There are two stabilization modes, and while the first produces only a minor difference while stabilizing the LCD preview somewhat, the second mode captures a much more noticeably sharp image than what you'll get without the OIS at slower shutter speeds. Image stabilization is really a very worthwhile feature on a camera, it makes it a lot easier to get sharp photos when shooting under limited lighting. The Panasonic LZ3 rejoins the compact-camera herd by forgoing an optical viewfinder in favor of making room for a large LCD, a choice that has mixed results.'

Read: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ3 - Imaging Resource

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Hardware Zone has reviewed the Nikon D80 Digital SLR camera. 'Sporting a new and improved 10.2-megapixel image sensor, the Nikon D80 immediately poses a concern and a challenge for Sony's infant A100 DSLR. The competition from Nikon's latest DSLR is all the more urgent considering some of its specifications such as the image processing engine, AF system, ISO sensitivity, noise reduction levels, metering system, viewfinder, and LCD monitor are all plucked from the company's higher-tiered professional models. However, with barely a year gone since the D50 and D70s were unveiled, the arrival of the D80 seems to have come a little earlier than expected. Nevertheless, new is always a good thing, especially for budding photographers contemplating in taking their passion to a more serious level. On paper, the D80 is quite frankly as good as it gets for a mainstream DSLR, but will it be the ultimate camera for beginners and amateurs? Read on as we find out the camera's capabilities and tackle this interesting question.'

Read: World Exclusive Review: Nikon D80 Digital SLR - Hardware Zone

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David Pogue writing over at The Ney York Times compares the features of the soon-to-be launched Canon's HV10 with those of the Sony's HC3 camcorder. 'Next month, Canon will release the world’s smallest and least expensive high-definition tape camcorder, a one-handable beauty called the HV10. Its list price is $1,300. As any gadget freak can tell you, however, that’s an inflated, fanciful figure provided for — well, for no good reason. The online price, once the camcorder is on store shelves, will be lower. The HV10 is not the first high-def consumer camcorder by any means; Sony began blazing this path at the beginning of 2005. In fact, Sony’s third HD camcorder, not counting pro models, has been available for months: the HC3 ($1,500 list price; under $1,200 online), the previous price and size champ.'

Read: A Head Start on the Future of High-Def - Ney York Times

Source: HD Beat

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Jonathan Ryan writing over at Think Camera has reviewed the compact Casio Exilim EX-Z600 digital camera. 'Cameras are changing very very fast. Features that were just dreams a while ago are now showing up on most cameras we test. For example. a year ago, a camera with anti shake technology was big news. Now it seems that all compact cameras have it. It's the new must have for the season and of course the Exilim has “Anti Shake DSP”. This is software based anti shake - essentially the camera applies some very clever software to make the picture look less blurred. This is way ahead of normal sharpening but still falls a little short of hardware optical image stabilisation such as you find in some of the Panasonic cameras and many DSLR bodies and lenses.'

Read: Review: Casio Exilim EX-Z600 - Think Camera

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David Elosser writing over at Astromart.com posted a review of the Stellarvue Nighthawk II where he concluded the telescope "delivers excellent performance". 'The Nighthawk II is an 80mm f/6 doublet achromat. It arrived in excellent condition. The base package includes a red dot finder and vinyl padded carrying case. It may have a similar appearance to many brands of imported mass-produced telescopes, but this bird is truly different. Other than a few parts that Stellarvue does not make, like the focuser or the red dot finder, the telescope is a genuine American product manufactured in California, including the Stellarvue proprietary lens. The optical tube is very well baffled and the telescope operates at full 80mm aperture, that is, neither the baffles nor the focuser tube intrudes into the light cone reducing the image brightness which has been a problem not uncommon with some imported telescopes. There are no mounting rings, but the Nighthawk II has a 6 inch dovetail bar installed that accommodates a number of mounting options.'

Read: The Volkswagen Beetle of Telescopes - Astromart

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CNET has reviewed the Sony Handycam DCR-DVD205 and opined the device was one of the better DVD camcorders in its price range. 'One step above Sony's bottom-of-the-line DVD105, the Handycam DCR-DVD205 is essentially the Handycam DCR-DVD305 without the impractical extras: standard stereo recording rather than Dolby 5.1, no media slot for still photos--they're saved to the DVD instead--no accessory shoe, and no analog input for copying your old tapes to DVD. The one dubious omission in the DVD205 is a USB connector, but that's mostly a problem if, like me, you work on a laptop with no DVD drive. The DVD205 is a little more compact, a little more cheaply constructed, with a slightly smaller 2.5-inch LCD. Since the 2.7-inch LCD on several of the higher-end models is small enough to aggravate the pain of the touch-screen interface, 2.5 inches doesn't seem significantly worse.'

Read: Sony Handycam DCR-DVD205 Review - CNET

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Megapixel.net has reviewed the Pentax Optio A10 which is "destined to be the flagship of the Optio digital camera line". 'Attention has been lavished on the aluminium alloy exterior of the Optio A10, with various parts of the camera finished at varying levels of polish and in different metallic shades. When the A10 is turned off, the lens retracts entirely into the body, which is then 23 mm (0.9 inch) in depth. The top of the camera supports three controls. On the right is the elongated chrome button of the 2-stage Shutter Release, which when pressed to the halfway point meters the exposure and sets the focus. '

Read: Pentax Optio A10 Digital Camera Review - Megapixel

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Steves Digicams has reviewed Samsung's GX-1L digital SLR. 'The GX-1L was designed with entry-level DSLR users in mind with its easy-to-use features and aggressive price point. The GX-1L features a host of automatic functions including Auto Sensitivity, Auto Picture Mode and a newly designed operation system. This, combined with its full range of advanced manual functions, make the 6-megapixel GX-1L perfect for the beginning through advanced DSLR user. For exceptional image quality and control, the GX-1L has a five-point, wide-area Auto Focus system, with a choice of AF-single or AF-continuous, providing accurate auto focusing in a variety of shooting conditions. The GX-1L also incorporates a high- precision, three-mode metering system including, 16-segment multi-pattern metering, center-weighted metering and spot metering. For additional control and creativity, users can choose from eight scene modes including Kids, Pets, Candlelight, Museum, Night Scene, Surf & Snow, Text and Sunset and several White Balance settings. '

Read: Samsung GX-1L Digital SLR Camera Review - Steves Digicams

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