multip wrote:Who exactly is this "al the action" you captured?

http://www.wisconsinfishingclub.com/events/kidsclinic/08Spring/Action%20Al%20with%20a%20Perch%20no%20kids%20to%20pull%20this%20one%20in.JPG

I found Action Al!

MichaelSF wrote:Pardon this long post guys, but to me buying digital cameras is an important decision, so the more information the better to assure you won't be disappointed with your camera shots.

While I have used digital cameras since their debut back in 1998 for consumers, and I have a lot of them, I am a lousy photographer. I have had three beginner DSLR cameras too, but am simply too inept to take good pics.

So point & shoots are my preference and when I shop I heavily rely on other's opinions and reviews.

IMHO the best point & shoots are Canon's Powershot series. Feature for feature, durability and end product (pics), the Canon has always pleased me (starting with a Powershot S10 2.1MP I took to Europe in 1999).

When I saw this Woot I said "why not" since a man can't ever have enough digital cameras (added to my aesenal I would then have about 30 cameras. LOL).

This price point is great, especially for a Samsung (I have always liked Samsung products and am currently loving my T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S cell phone, the Vibrant).

Alas, this review by a self-declared serious amateur convinced me to pass on it.

Just sayin. Your experience may differ.

I'll edit his review down to his main points.

Hope this helps in your buying decision.

Sidenote: Don't ever buy a camera based on megapixel rating alone.
____________________

After hours of research, I decided that this Samsung HZ30W was the camera to buy after directly comparing specifications between this, the Canon SX210 and the Panasonic ZS5.

I consider myself a serious amateur. I've owned 4 Canons from their SD line and a Canon DSLR.

I decided on the Samsung over Canon and Panasonic, that all have very similar specifications (for the things most important to me.) The Samsung is the smallest of the three and had a better flash reach and macro than the Canon and a better zoom than the Panasonic.

It ultimately came down to the fact that the Samsung was cheaper and smaller. I really like the lens on this camera. The wide angle is amazing; I can get so much more into my pictures.

The screen is large and very clear, and the buttons have a good lay out. I like the way it feels in my hands; it has an intuitive fit.

I like that the final image shows up on the LCD screen- with settings and all. (over/underexposure is immediately evident, can look at the picture in black and white...ect)

All of these features make it easy for a novice but still interesting for more advanced users.

There is only one problem. The picture quality is dismal. After being disappointed I decided to compare side-by-side the Samsung and my Canon SD850 (released in 2007).

I set both cameras up and started test shooting and 2GB [in photos]later there is no comparison.

In every single shot, the Samsung is grainy, definite lines bleed, and there is too much noise.

Sunlight, low light, flash, zoomed and unzoomed- the picture quality is terrible.

As soon as you start to zoom in on the photo these problems are evident.

I would not print anything this camera produces larger than a 4x6 format.

I really like this camera, but it ultimately comes down to image quality. This Samsung was put to shame by technology three years old [my old cameras].

If it were not for the noise, I would suspect the poor image quality is due to a bad JPEG compressor, because quality this poor should not have made it to market.

It's possible that's why so many were returned, and if so, they were probably refurbished with a better JPEG compressor. Too bad Samsung isn't saying why they have so many refurbs of this model...

Alear wrote:Thanks for the TAXSUCKS hint, that saved me a fin. Would anyone know if that always works?

Only if you're in a state where you must pay sales tax, and only if the cost of the product is above some amount, which I believe is $45 (in TX). The amount is probably the amount that would be necessary to incur $5 in sales tax.

jimmyk393 wrote:This deal was tempting but the problem for me (and possibly other users) is that the battery is proprietary. I switch between regular shots and video and that usually sucks the battery life quickly.
If this camera allowed conventional AA batteries, I'd pull the trigger on it.

If it really takes standard AA batteries, you can always buy lithium rechargables. And, don't they sometimes show up on WOOT?

boogety wrote:Ughhhh.... refurb'ed... no thanks

Please explain your concern? Just vomiting on the keyboard isn't much help.

zgillit wrote:Not to burst your bubble, but the longer the focal length, the harder it is to get a clear shot. This is due to the fact that any incremental movement in the camera causes a greater movement in a tele-shot as opposed to a wide shot. You can hand-hold wide shots up to 1/10s, but anything around or over 200mm will need 1/60 or higher, which is difficult to achieve with a "slow" zoom (which I'm assuming this is)

The old film rule was the shutter speed should be at least the same as the focal length. So at least 1/200 for a 200mm lens, not 1/60th. IMHO.

It's a samsung and they make toasters and washers for chrissakes no matter what some techno nerd says over at DP review or whatever.
It doesn't have a real viewfinder and it's just another POS....not shoot, but it.
Photoslop doesn't make you a photographer, and the lens rating stuff is nonsense.
Give it to granma for Xmas.

zgillit wrote:Not to burst your bubble, but the longer the focal length, the harder it is to get a clear shot. This is due to the fact that any incremental movement in the camera causes a greater movement in a tele-shot as opposed to a wide shot. You can hand-hold wide shots up to 1/10s, but anything around or over 200mm will need 1/60 or higher, which is difficult to achieve with a "slow" zoom (which I'm assuming this is)

Both comments are bull....including the "lux" above

wootleey wrote:How well could a camera like this take Macro shots? I use(d) my point-and-shoot a lot, and want something newer, better, and less broken, but I take Macro shots like 80% of the time. Its so frustrating to have to fight the camera's autofocus for 5 minutes just to get a single decent picture.

Pretty good, actually. Here's 1280x1024 crop of a macro shot I took of a flower:

radi0j0hn wrote:The old film rule was the shutter speed should be at least the same as the focal length. So at least 1/200 for a 200mm lens, not 1/60th. IMHO.

1/60th at 200mm is quite reasonable, as it assumes 2 stops of stabilization. This lens goes further than 200mm eq, though. It would be hard to hand-hold the tele end at anything slower than say 1/125.

sparkyboy58 wrote:Both comments are bull....including the "lux" above

No, he's actually quite right, I'm just going to assume you don't understand exposure.

sparkyboy58 wrote:It's a samsung and they make toasters and washers for chrissakes no matter what some techno nerd says over at DP review or whatever.
It doesn't have a real viewfinder and it's just another POS....not shoot, but it.
Photoslop doesn't make you a photographer, and the lens rating stuff is nonsense.
Give it to granma for Xmas.

You are clearly biased and your opinon seems to have has no basis in fact. Samsung is the largest conglomerate in the world, and has been making stuff for 70 years. I'm guessing you have an unfortunate anecdote to relay. Samsung definitely was a bargain basement brand, but unless you've been living under a rock, their brand recognition (and quality) in the areas of LCD/LEDs and mobile phones has skyrocketed, and the cameras have been progressing rapidly. More important than appearances, their high end compact cameras have gone from very average to near the top of the heap in less than two years. If you buy a compact camera, the sensor was probably either produced Sony or Samsung (Kodak's mediocre consumer-level offers notwithstanding).

How is objective review nonsense? This is only a POS in the sense that every point-and-shoot is crap in comparison to something with a 4/3 or larger. An OVF useless with this sort of camera unless you have a pentaprism, and I'd really like to see a compact with these specs that actually includes a large, lear OVF with decent coverage. I'm not counting hotshoe ones. It doesn't happen anymore.

Your suggestion that Photoshop does not make someone a photographer seems to come out of nowhere, although it's quite right. A camera makes one a photographer.

Things may be rather smarmy around here, but they are mature for the most part. Take your trolling elsewhere.

anyone know whats up with woot tv?

The ONE day I DON'T check Woot and I miss a GREAT deal !!! A WOOT Deal !

Anyone wanna sell me the one they bought? LOL !!

Would anyone believe that I have a Minolta DiMageZ1 that is 7 years old? ;) It's been dropped many times, but still works great. It's a whopping 3.2 mp ! Camera phones have more MP's !

I've had my eye on the Fuji S1800, but I would have bought this one.

Oh well, maybe like the iTouch, they'll have another good camera deal soon.

xupthree60 wrote:anyone know whats up with woot tv?

Woot TV? Is there another Woot page that I don't know about?

Why am I always the last to know these things?!?

LOL !

FallenAnjel wrote:Woot TV? Is there another Woot page that I don't know about?

Why am I always the last to know these things?!?

LOL !

no aparently im the last to know... woot tv was a site on justin tv that counted down the woots and woot offs but i went out of town for a few months and then i get back and theres a woot off, i check woot tv and nothing all woot off. was busy last night but i check woot tv again and still no woot tv. what gives!

I don't buy Mitsubishi TV's because they also make tuna fish (3 diamond) NOT!

FallenAnjel wrote:The ONE day I DON'T check Woot and I miss a GREAT deal !!! A WOOT Deal !

Anyone wanna sell me the one they bought? LOL !!

Would anyone believe that I have a Minolta DiMageZ1 that is 7 years old? ;) It's been dropped many times, but still works great. It's a whopping 3.2 mp ! Camera phones have more MP's !

I've had my eye on the Fuji S1800, but I would have bought this one.

Oh well, maybe like the iTouch, they'll have another good camera deal soon.

I would believe you! I'm still using my Z2, it's a wonderful camera (ignoring that it has no image stabilization). I'm getting this woot to fill that gap where I want an easy to carry camera rather than the fairly larger one... I think I'm finally ready to replace the Z2 though, I've been looking at the Panasonic DMC-FZ35, FZ40, or FZ100. The current superzoom offering from Canon is great too, but the feature set on the Panasonics juuust edges out Canon. For my use anyways.

still not shipped?

maeng9981 wrote:still not shipped?

I haven't received a shipping notice here in Ohio as of this reply. Woot has always been slow on the shipping, don't sweat it too much. Although, I could have used it today, as I was out checking out houses.

On occasion I've had woot's appear at my door before the notice and tracking number appear on the site. It's only been 4 days but seems longer this time.

Alear wrote:I haven't received a shipping notice here in Ohio as of this reply. Woot has always been slow on the shipping, don't sweat it too much. Although, I could have used it today, as I was out checking out houses.

I live in Dallas, TX and the one thing I always think of is that it would be otterific to have some sort of local picking-up system haha

Shinespark wrote:You are clearly biased and your opinon seems to have has no basis in fact. Samsung is the largest conglomerate in the world, and has been making stuff for 70 years. I'm guessing you have an unfortunate anecdote to relay. Samsung definitely was a bargain basement brand, but unless you've been living under a rock, their brand recognition (and quality) in the areas of LCD/LEDs and mobile phones has skyrocketed, and the cameras have been progressing rapidly. More important than appearances, their high end compact cameras have gone from very average to near the top of the heap in less than two years. If you buy a compact camera, the sensor was probably either produced Sony or Samsung (Kodak's mediocre consumer-level offers notwithstanding).

How is objective review nonsense? This is only a POS in the sense that every point-and-shoot is crap in comparison to something with a 4/3 or larger. An OVF useless with this sort of camera unless you have a pentaprism, and I'd really like to see a compact with these specs that actually includes a large, lear OVF with decent coverage. I'm not counting hotshoe ones. It doesn't happen anymore.

Your suggestion that Photoshop does not make someone a photographer seems to come out of nowhere, although it's quite right. A camera makes one a photographer.

Things may be rather smarmy around here, but they are mature for the most part. Take your trolling elsewhere.

I agree with you entire statement except for the comment on a camera making a photographer. Its not even the camera that makes a photographer but their skill in understanding what makes a good picture. Some of the best photos have been taken with bad cameras but the skill of the photographer made the shot. Not that a good camera doesn't help though.

alienski wrote:I agree with you entire statement except for the comment on a camera making a photographer. Its not even the camera that makes a photographer but their skill in understanding what makes a good picture. Some of the best photos have been taken with bad cameras but the skill of the photographer made the shot. Not that a good camera doesn't help though.

I would just like to point out that he didn't say "THE" camera he said "A" camera. Now he may not have meant it that way, but I would agree anyone with "A" camera is a photographer. If you take a picture and you like it, then you are a photographer. If somebody else doesn't like it, who cares. Art is different things to different people.

hakobo87 wrote:I would just like to point out that he didn't say "THE" camera he said "A" camera. Now he may not have meant it that way, but I would agree anyone with "A" camera is a photographer. If you take a picture and you like it, then you are a photographer. If somebody else doesn't like it, who cares. Art is different things to different people.

For me, being a good photographer means finding angles and balancing photos in colors and textures etc. so that you get something one could paint. Really can't describe it beyond instinct for finding good shots.

Really anxious for this one! I've talked so much about it people are expecting me to already have it
:X

It seems im going to get my Epic 4g before I get this camera :-(

Anyone had a shipping notice yet?

not shipped yet.

Still not shipped! It must be in hiding with all those bags o' carp I never catch...

Got this from service@woot.com in response to my query:

"We apologize for this dreadful delay. Orders are taking a little longer than usual to ship. We are working very hard to get everything out. Please bear with us and thank you for your continued patience.
~~Evan"

Leaving for Florida Wed. night looks like I'm taking the old camera oh well it was one good woot seen my buddy's and this is one nice camera and one heck of a price!

Can we get some idea of when the orders will be shipped?

muddleaged wrote:Got this from service@woot.com in response to my query:

"We apologize for this dreadful delay. Orders are taking a little longer than usual to ship. We are working very hard to get everything out. Please bear with us and thank you for your continued patience.
~~Evan"

Has anybody who order one o' these cameras had their order ship yet? It's 6 days in a no "shipped" announcement for me.

Whoops, just read other comments. My bad.

coachje wrote:Has anybody who order one o' these cameras had their order ship yet? It's 6 days in a no "shipped" announcement for me.

Apparently somebody's got the delay notification email. I got none.

maeng9981 wrote:Apparently somebody's got the delay notification email. I got none.

The person who got that apology specifically asked woot, "what's up"

omnibus wrote:The person who got that apology specifically asked woot, "what's up"

I was here thinking maybe mine got stolen off the porch or something ...now I am glad to hear there is a delay in shipping. Me no likey delays but oh well. That's life.

omnibus wrote:The person who got that apology specifically asked woot, "what's up"

Oh yea I missed that part. Thank you for clearing it up

Has anyone received their camera yet?
It has been 7 days since I ordered it and it is not shipped yet.

gbrown5882 wrote:Has anyone received their camera yet?
It has been 7 days since I ordered it and it is not shipped yet.

Yeah. Oddly enough, I ordered one, but seven of them showed up. Go figure.

Anyone gotten notice of a shipment yet?

patricktormey wrote:Anyone gotten notice of a shipment yet?

Nope, we should get a discount or a partial refund or something for them not telling all of us anything.