Danby DAR017A2BDD Compact All Refrigerator, 1.7 Cubic Feet, Black

CUSTOMER REVIEW



I was reluctant to order this at first due to a lot of comments around the packaging of the unit and them showing up with dents and scratches. When the unit arrived the outside parcel was a bit torn. However the seller must have taken the feedback that was given and made some changes as my unit was in perfect condition without a single scratch or dent. It was double boxed. The OEM box has the unit inside with a Styrofoam shell. Then the EOM box was lined with stiff cardboard corners and wrapped in Styrofoam around that and then placed in an additional box. Only the otter box had a slight tear. Given the weight of the unit it was expected. Don't hesitate to order this unit as I'm certain it will show up in perfect condition if we were to order an additional one.



The unit itself is made of quality materials. I placed a digital thermometer inside the unit and it holds a sold 37 degrees inside. Keep in mind this is a minifridge and not a cooler. A major difference. The only complaint I have about the unit is that we have it downstairs behind our bar. Not in the bar but behind it sitting on the carpet. When placed on the carpet the door would drag the carpet and after our first basement break in party the door was left slightly open a few times because the door was difficult to shut. I tried to adjust the feet to raise the unit up but was unable to do so because the legs are not adjustable. I happen to have an extra 18X18 tile from the bathroom. I sat the unit on top of the tile and it solved the problem. The door open and shuts perfectly. Keep in mind we do not have shag carpet either. It is a medium density stainmaster carpet with standard stainmaster padding. If you plan to place this in a carpeted area do yourself a favor and go purchase an 18X18 tile.



As others have mentioned the shelves don't hold cans the best when you go to fill it as some tip from side to side when placed vertical. I removed the second from the bottom shelf to hold 4-5Liter kegs. I can hold exactly a case of beer in the bottom section which is not as deep as the others since the compressor housing is in the way. Which leaves me with the top full shelf and the very top shelf that holds them in a horizontal fashion. The horizontal shelf holds a 12 pack 6 on each side. Without the removal of a shelf this unit will not accommodate 16oz water bottles or beer bottles placed vertically. These will need to be placed on their sides unless you remove a shelf.



Overall I would give this fridge a 5 out of 5 or 10 out of 10. It servers our purposes perfectly and it looks great, and it was at a great price point. If I had to make a couple of changes or a wish list. I wish it used an LED bulb for that newer look. Additionally, I wish the light could be turned on when the door was shut since it is a glass face to showcase the drinks inside. UPDATE: Finds out there is a switch inside on the side of the light to turn it on. Check that off the lsit! Other than that it's the perfect height and the top is being used to hold our EdgeStar 5Liter Kegerator. Which places the tap at the perfect height and I am 5'10".



All in all don't hesitate to purchase this unit as I searched for several weeks and really did my homework before ordering a mini fridge for our bar when we finished the basement. I assure you that you will not find a better product at this price point.



UPDATE: Over a year later this thing is still ice cold and no issues. Look no furhter, the perfect minifridge holds true!!!



via Amazon Best Seller V2 copy copy http://ift.tt/1wphXYI

Danby 0.7 cu.ft. Countertop Microwave, White

CUSTOMER REVIEW



I have a small kitchen and my old microwave was a full sized microwave that took up a large amount of cabinet space and seemed out of place because of its size. Shopped around and found this smaller sized unit but was hesitant because it is 700 watts while my old unit was 1000 watts. However, I have found that cooking time in this unit is insignificantly longer than the old microwave. A few second for most things. I don't actually cook in it but use it for warming left overs or frozen snacks, etc. For my use it is perfect and it is an attractive addition to my kitchen rather than a huge distraction. If you need a smaller sized microwave, I highly recommend this one.



via Amazon Best Seller V2 copy copy http://ift.tt/1BsheY8

GoPro HERO3+: Silver Edition

CUSTOMER REVIEW



GPH3+ Silver Edition (1.09 firmware):



I'm writing this review in a rather disappointed mood. I bought this camera for both action shoots and time-lapse no-scope astro-photography.



Some Observations:

* The camera is tiny: much smaller and lighter than the pictures would let you believe. It comfortably sits on the palm of your hand.

* Wi-Fi is a battery vampire. In my tests, it will cut published battery life in about half. And unless you have the live view BackPack, you are going to need it together with the GoPro app.

* Without a heavy investment on accessories/harnesses/handles/leashes, you will find yourself with a $300 paperweight, for all action videography intents and purposes.

* The ultra-wide has quite a bit of barrel distortion at the edges, but this is normal for this type of lens.



The disappointment:



As mentioned above, I had two purposes in mind for this camera: 1) I wanted a good under-water and action/rugged video and still camera to tote along when we go on family trips. 2) I like doing no-scope, time-lapse astrophotography and this is where this camera falls flat on its face. I ran several tests with good light and "night" light. time-lapses of clouds and of stars. And anything out in infinity came very soft, even at the center of the frame. This was a disappointment because my bud's GP2 takes much, much, much better pictures and time lapses than this much newer model. Then as some suggested, I took still pictures of myself and people standing within 10-15 feet were also soft-focused and not in a good way. Another disappointment that I mentioned above is that Wi-Fi will suck the life out of the battery really, really fast. On a full charge, I took about 32 minutes of video and about 17 still pictures before GP3+ battery dies on me.



All in all, these issues are simply too important for me and am returning the camera as we speak.



via Amazon Best Seller V2 copy copy http://ift.tt/1iHhw8O

Fujifilm INSTAX Mini film Twin Pack (White)

FUJIFILM INSTANT COLOR FILM is an ISO 800 wide picture format integral daylight color film designed for use with Fujifilm instax mini series cameras. This glossy film yields superb results under both daylight and electronic flash conditions. Its improved picture quality and greater ease of use make it ideal for snapshots and portraits. Furthermore, its easy-to-file size makes it an excellent choice for documentary or archival purposes, as well as a wide variety of other applications.

• Designed for use with Instax Mini line of cameras


• Develops Instantly - Press the shutter, capture the moment, and watch the photo slide out and the image develop in front of your eyes!


• Hi-Speed ISO 800 - With superb grain quality, Instax Mini Film ensure vibrant color and natural skin tones.


• Credit-Card Size - 5.4 x 8.6 cm (film size) - The unique credit-card sized film is easy to carry in your purse or wallet and has that classic white frame that you can leave blank or personalize with fun messages.


• Easy-to-Load Cartridge - Film cartridge is designed and labeled for easy loading and filled with film for 10 credit-card sized instant prints.

via Amazon Best Seller V2 copy copy http://ift.tt/1ICuqid

Olympus XZ-2 Digital Camera (Black)

CUSTOMER REVIEW



Hello everyone, I was on a trip in Kobe, Japan recently when I saw this Olympus XZ-2 in one of the stores. Being a long-time Nikon/Canon person and looking for a pocketable camera, I decided to give Olympus a try and bought the XZ-2 with the optional automatic lens cap. I used this camera extensively during my trip and I wanted to share my experiences.



I'm no pro photographer - I just love taking pictures. Some of the gear I had in the past are Canon XSI with the kit lens, Canon 50D, and several Canon point-and-shoots including Canon S95. Some lenses I had were Canon 50mm f/1.8, Canon 50mm f/1.4, Canon 24-70mm, Canon 24-105mm, Canon 70-300mm, and Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8. I recently switched to Nikon - currently I have a Nikon D7000, a Nikon 35mm f/1.8 lens, and a Nikon 16-85mm lens. As the usual story goes, I also wanted something small and light where I could take with me instead of my D7000, so I purchased a Canon G1X as well - hoping that it would destroy my S95 in the IQ department. The G1X turned out to be a bad experience for me. First, it's not really pocketable - it's apparently smaller than the D7000, but you cannot carry it inside a belt bag. Second, it does not have the usual Canon colors - there is something wrong with the G1X colors, it's just not pleasant. Third, the camera is slow, I mean really slow as an 80-year old grandma. Fourth, forget about macro - it's just not a G1X thing. And fifth, it has a slow zoom; f/5.8 exactly on the tele end. The only thing G1X does really well is noise at high ISO - ISO 1600 pictures are virtually noise-free.



Comparing the XZ-2 to G1X, XZ-2 is considerably smaller (though it has great ergonomics). In fact, XZ-2 is even smaller (apparently, not thinner) than a Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone (I posted a picture of them next to each other). With an after-market hand-strap, I can easily carry the XZ-2 in a belt bag. The camera is fast and responsive, unlike the G1X. It has a super fast f/1.8-2.5 lens so it rarely needs to go up to high ISO's. Note that G1X and XZ-2 have the exact same zoom range: 28-112 equivalent. But G1X is f/5.8 on the tele end whereas XZ-2 is f/2.5. This means that, on the tele end, in a situation where XZ-2 needs ISO 400, G1X would need ISO 2000. Thus, even though XZ-2's high ISO capabilities are not as good as G1X, it does not really need that kind of capability thanks to its fast lens. Regarding macro, XZ-2 can focus as close as 1cm, which is worlds better than the G1X.



Now, the most critical difference: XZ-2 colors and auto white balance just blow those of G1X out of the water - as simple as that. XZ-2 has the same imaging processor as in the crazy-popular Olympus OM-D, so now I understand. With both my Canons and Nikons, I have to use the standard picture style for people pictures and the vivid picture style for travel and scenery; both with some amber shift, to get the colors I like. In XZ-2, I almost always get beautiful, jaw-dropping, splendid, fantastic, great, awesome colors with just the neutral picture style with no tweaking what-so-ever.



Can XZ-2 beat Nikon D7000? Of course not. Even at ISO 100, D7000 pictures are sharper and cleaner with much better dynamic range than XZ-2. But that is not the point. You would take XZ-2 to places only where you can't bring along your DSLR gear. And as far as that purpose is concerned, XZ-2 gets the job done nicely.



Some other fun things I like about XZ-2: It has a dual-mode ring around the lens. Just grap it for a program shift - it's that easy. In addition, it's got a beautiful high-res tilting screen with excellent color tonality. And the best part is, it is touchscreen! Yes! That's what I'm talking about. I can scroll through images with the swipe of a finger, I can zoom in and out, and I can set the focus point by touching on the screen. If I want, I can set the camera to focus first and then immediately take the picture. Brilliant. Thank you Olympus. Once you start using a touchscreen camera, you will never want to go back (just imagine the last non-touchscreen mobile phone you had).



To wrap things up, Olympus XZ-2 is a great little fun camera that I can whole-heartedly recommend to fellow enthusiasts. It's not the cheapest point-and-shoot around, but I believe it is worth it. I suspect that XZ-2 will be a popular carry-everywhere camera once it is released in the U.S.



via Amazon Best Seller V2 copy copy http://ift.tt/1Gfq2l1

HOMEIMAGE 8 Bottle Thermal Electric Wine Cooler - HI-8C

CUSTOMER REVIEW



Could be a 5 star rating! Have used it for about 6 weeks and so far everything is fine. It has one of the lowest temperature settings of all the units I looked at and this was the primary reason I purchased this unit. It was also the perfect size for the space I needed to put it in. The unit is not totally quiet when operating but definitely not annoying. The price for this unit was outstanding when compared to other units with same bottle storage capacity.



via Amazon Best Seller V2 copy copy http://ift.tt/1qniT02

Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Film Camera (Pink)

CUSTOMER REVIEW



I looked for a reliable, classy-looking Polaroid camera as a wedding reception guest book. After thorough research, I determined Instax was cheaper and just as reliable, if not more, than the new Polaroid instant cameras. Both cameras function similarly and use the same film; yet Instax has better reviews and is cheaper. The 8S has a few extra bells and whistles: a clip-on lens for close-up pictures, light/dark and indoor/outdoor settings, the mirror on the front of the camera, and two shutter buttons for either landscape or portrait photographs. Also, the lithium batteries are not hard to find for sale online; I haven't had to replace ours yet, but we know that availability and price would afford on inconvenience.

I have loved it; it was perfect for the party and I still use it frequently. The film is fairly inexpensive, so we continue to use it. The pictures are the size of a credit card with white borders, and the camera comfortably fits in a small purse. On our honeymoon, the good quality allowed us to take pictures of us in front of landmarks and beautiful areas. Also, a little mirror resides on the front of the camera to facilitate quick self-portraits, which can be taped later into journals as keepsakes. Learning which lighting settings work best in certain conditions took some trial and error, but every picture turned out vintage-y and fun, so no film was wasted.

One last word on durability: I didn't have the wrist strap around my arm and accidentally dropped the camera on a ceramic-tiled floor. The film flew out of the back of the camera, but nothing broke off or dented. The camera still looks great and functions optimally, and I only lost the top film, the rest of the cartridge still printed great pictures. That was a while ago, and I haven't had any problems at all!



via Amazon Best Seller V2 copy copy http://ift.tt/12V9aDX

GoPro HERO3: White Edition

CUSTOMER REVIEW



I have seen these cameras for a long time, but not purchased one. However, after seeing some of the videos possible with this camera I purchased the Hero 3: White edition with the new housing.



After using this for some weeks, I can say I love this camera and the possibilities.



1.: What's in the box?: You receive the camera with the waterproof housing, plus an instruction booklet and a quick start guide. In addition, you receive a micro-USB cable, plus some mounts and assorted 'thingies.'



2. Aesthetic?: Well, who really cares how this looks since the point is to capture your desired personal aesthetics! But, compared to some of the other cameras I have seen, this is a small package, and is cleverly designed.



3. Use?: The point of the camera is to get it working. The waterproof casing has been redesigned from the previous model. It does seem very well-done and is supposedly able to survive to 130 feet. I have not tested it to any depth with the camera inside. However, I have taken the housing and placed it under water without a problem. (I will update this when I get the chance for some waterproof filming).



The camera itself has basically three buttons. One for the power/mode, one for the camera to start taking video or pictures (at the top) and a side button which powers wireless. The wireless function works in conjunction with the App, which I used with an Iphone. The app is fantastic! You can control the camera remotely and change the desired function (video, burst, lapse and single pictures, plus whatever function suite the users purposes). The best thing is the ability to see a preview (except in certain modes like a time-lapse) and the ability to see the pictures and video on the app. Fantastic.



The pictures with the edition I purchased are good, not great, given the 5 MP capability and the close-in build for pictures (I didn't but this to take long-range pictures). However, the video in HD (and this should be changes to 1080 as the default is a bit less) is absolutely gorgeous. Stunning is the word. The sound is also great, even with the waterproof housing on. I could still hear myself, others and the sounds of the activity clearly.



The wireless function relies on setting up an internal network between your mobile device and the camera, though I did not find this difficult at all. The only time I had difficulty getting the camera connection was during some very cold weather, and once the camera was warm this went away. The battery lasts about 2 hours with consistent use, which is pretty good, although I could nurse the camera by turning things on and off when the opportunity present itself.



At first, I did not like having to use a micro-SD card, but this is actually okay with an adapter for actual use and allows makes the camera smaller than the previous model.



Overall, so far, I am very pleased with the camera and what it allows me to accomplish without too much difficulty. I suggest that a buyer purchase the grabbag of extra mounts and the lens caps as well. Great item. Hopefully I do not encounter some of the difficulty that others have had with the camera. Except for the above, this has not happened!



1. GoPro Grab Bag of Mounts



2. GoPro Protective Lens



3. GoPro Headstrap Mount + Quick Clip



via Amazon Best Seller V2 copy copy http://ift.tt/1G5x1wV

Polaroid PIC-300P Instant Film Analog Camera (Purple)

CUSTOMER REVIEW



amznJQ.onReady('Airy', function() { Airy.embed({"installFlashButtonText":"Install Flash Player","contentTitle":null,"autoplayCutOffTimeSeconds":null,"ageGate":{"monthNames":["January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"],"deniedPrompt":"We're sorry. You are not old enough to watch this video.","submitText":"Submit","prompt":"This video is not intended for all audiences. What date were you born?"},"videoAds":null,"videoUnsupportedPrompt":"Sorry, this video is unsupported on this browser.","desiredMode":"hybrid","swfUrl":"http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/vap/video/airy2/prod/2.0.902.0/flash/AiryBasicRenderer._V320612526_.swf","isAutoplayEnabled":null,"installFlashPrompt":"Adobe Flash Player is required to watch this video.","isLiveStream":null,"regionCode":"NA","contentId":null,"playbackErrorPrompt":"Sorry, an error has occurred while attempting video playback. Please try again later.","contentMinAge":null,"isForesterTrackingDisabled":null,"streamingUrls":["http://ift.tt/1G2xDU8"],"parentId":"airy-player-container-moLZ5G2XKHDUQW","slateImages":{"http://ift.tt/1wg01CW":null},"foresterMetadataParams":{"client":"CustomerReviews","requestId":"02DQ56GG7TA675FA04MP","marketplaceId":"ATVPDKIKX0DER","session":"000-0000000-0000000"}}); }); Length:: 2:30 Mins



I have to admit, electronics and hardware don't excite me but I'd be lying if I told you that I wasn't just a little giddy when United Parcel delivered a package containing the new Polaroid 300 camera.



Earlier this month Polaroid Corporation, with the approval of their spokesperson Lady Ga-Ga, released the pic-300 camera. It takes 10 pictures per roll on business card-sized paper (the film is similar to the old 600 and SX-70 type film.)



Speaking of old-style Polaroid film, in January of this year, Polaroid announced that they will be updating their old-fashioned Polaroid One Step camera (The pic-1000 to be released later this year). The Impossible Project also announced the introduction of a new color film that will fit all Polaroid 600 cameras. No word yet if Polaroid film partner Fuji Film will also release 600 type film.



With limited features and a fixed focus, the Polaroid 300 may not be for everyone but I can tell you that it adds lots of FUN to any party where people can walk away with a smile and a color print in their hand.



All-in-all it is quite a year for instant film photography. Just think...this would be possible without YOU! So, pick up some film and start shooting!



via Amazon Best Seller V2 copy copy http://ift.tt/1wg01CY