Gizmodo Gifts: Digital Cameras

DSLR Gift Pick: Nikon D80

Travis Hudson — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 11:48:18 EST

Uno mas day left. Most of the big name stores are running low on the point-and-shoot inventory, but there is a good chance the DSLRs are still available, if you want to shell out the cash. If you are going to pick any DSLR, the Nikon D80 is a must.

This 10.2 megapixel camera can do it all and is surprisingly good for being a sub-$1k DSLR. It has a 2.5-inch LCD. The ISO range is from 100 to 1600 and the shutter speed range is from 1/4000 second to 30 seconds. Expect to pay $800 to $900 depending on the store, but it is a top notch gift on this Xmas eve. [Nikon]

Gifts for the Intermediate Photographer: Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Travis Hudson — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 17:04:09 EST

Point and shoots too bland, but not ready to tackle a DSLR yet? Don't fret, there is a happy medium out there with these "super zoom" cameras. The Canon PowerShot S3 IS is one of the top contenders for the heart of the intermediate photographer.

This is a 6.0-megapixel camera with a 12x zoom. It includes a 2-inch LCD screen and image stabilization (hence the IS in the name). It's available for $300. [Dell]

Flip Video Ultra is a Camcorder for the Simple-Minded

Travis Hudson — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:44:03 EST

Camcorders are gadgets that seem simple on the outside, but can get complicated quickly. DV tapes, inputs, outputs, video editing software and the like can confuse and frustrate most. The Flip Video Ultra is a simple solution to complicated camcorders.

The Flip Video Ultra is a lightweight camcorder that can record up to 60 minutes of VGA-quality footage on the integrated 2 GB of memory. The most convenient feature has to be the USB adapter. Plug it into a computer and dump the video files onto your machine quickly and easily. It can also do TV-out for showing off movies directly from the cam. It is available for $150 in black or white. [Amazon]

Canon PowerShot SD850 IS is the Point and Shoot Dreams are Made Of

Travis Hudson — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:41:38 EST

In most cases people won't be giving and receiving DSLRs around the holidays. The most common type of camera gift is the point and shoot digital camera and one of the tops dogs is the Canon PowerShot SD850 IS.

This camera includes an 8.0-megapixel sensor, 4x optical zoom, optical viewfinder, 2.5-inch LCD screen and a compact design that would fit in any pocket or bag. The IS in the name is for the image stabilizer to prevent any blurry photos. It also includes face recognition for the perfect focus every time. It is available for $260 at most outlets. [Circuit City]

The Lowdown on HD Camcorders

Travis Hudson — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:52:12 EST

It's probably time to retire that old shoulder-mounted VHS camcorder for something a little less 1995 for a small and fancy HD camcorder. I would go and put together a nice 10 point guide on everything you would ever need to know about buying an HD camcorder, but you know what, Charlie White has already done it. He took a look at seven of the top HD camcorders out there and also pieced together a handy guide at what to look for and to know when shopping for that HD camcorder. So click along and see it for yourself.

Joby Gorillapod is a Digital Camera's New Compadre

Travis Hudson — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:40:22 EST

I hate to declare my fanhood for anything, but I am a full-blown supporter of the Joby Gorillapod. The Gorillapod is a flexible and versatile "tripod" for all types of digital cameras. I use the word tripod loosely because it has the same functionality of a tripod by holding a camera upright for steady or timed pictures, but with the flexible and gripping legs it can attach to a wide variety of objects. There are a few different version including the original, SLR variant, SLR zoom-lens variant and the Solo. Prices start at $25. [Product page]

Gifts for the Wire-Freak: Nikon Coolpix S51c

Travis Hudson — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 12:25:19 EST

The greatest thing about the digital camera revolution is the ability to take an endless amount of pictures. The downside is having to off-load those pictures onto a computer, which can be more than a hassle at times. Nikon's Coolpix S51c tries to ease that burden by including a wireless transfer option. Other nice features include the 3-inch LCD, 8.1-megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom and face tracking ability. It is available for $260. [Circuit City]

Gifts for the Myspace-Obsessed: Quikpod Monopod

Travis Hudson — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 08:38:26 EST

Have that niece, nephew or other youngster obsessed with Myspace? Give him or her a Quikpod so those stereotypical Myspace self portraits and look a little better. Nobody likes to see sidearm in a downward facing Myspace shot, and the Quikpod can fix that. It it essentially just an extendable and hand-held monopod. Attach your camera to the end, set the camera's timer and hold the Quikpod for the desired angle. This simple device is available for $25, and an industrial size model for DSLRs is also available for $50. [Product Page]

Eye-Fi Wireless SD Card Makes the Lazy Lazier

Travis Hudson — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 09:45:17 EST

The Eye-Fi is the latest and greatest technology that will probably be used by every digital camera user within a year or two. It essentially turns any camera into a Wi-Fi device capable of uploading pictures to photo sharing website as well as your home network, minus all of the messy cables. The 2GB variant of this card if available for $100. Check out our hands-on review here. [Eye-Fi]

Sanyo Xacti DMX-HD700 is a Tiny, Effective HD Camcorder

Travis Hudson — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 13:46:53 EST

Now that you have received your fabulous HDTV, it's time to high-def another gadget in your household — the camcorder. Sanyo's Xacti series is one of the better HD camcorders because of the size, price and quality. These camcorder weigh less than a pound. The 720p camcorder captures HD video in AVC/H.264 and can also take 7.1-megapixel still images. $600. [Product Page]

Sony T100 Compact Digital Camera is Cute, Compact, Quality

Travis Hudson — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST

For the compact point-and-shoot enthusiasts not much gets better all around than the Sony T100. Here's the lowdown: it's a a super small 3-inch by 2-inch camera with an LCD display that covers almost the entire backside. It takes 8.1 megapixel pictures of goodness with the assistance of the 5x optical zoom Carl Zeiss lens. It is also available in red, black and silver. The $400 price tag may seem a bit steep, but this is one few digital cameras that earns my frugal stamp of approval. It does lack an optical viewfinder, but those are so 1995.

Sony Cybershot DSC-T100 [Amazon]