Sony NEX-5TL Compact Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 16-50mm Power Zoom Lens

CUSTOMER REVIEW



I have been shooting with the NEX system for a couple years now, starting with a NEX 5n. I am thankful I found this system because NEX is the reason I am so into photography today. Since the release of the original NEX 3 and NEX 5, Sony has done an excellent job at building a strong ecosystem with high and low end models for every type of shooter and every budget. The NEX 5 series is famous for being the best compromise in price and performance of all the other NEX cameras.



Standard for the NEX 5 series the 5t has the following advantages vs. other cameras in its class:

-Small size, yet powerful "big camera" performance.

-Some of the best low light capabilities thanks to the Exmor sensor and 16 megapixels

-High speed 10 FPS shooting for action/kids

-Wifi and apps

-Very fast auto-focus

-Excellent video performance

-A great lens lineup that keeps getting better each year



This model, the NEX 5t, is another incremental upgrade for the NEX 5 series. It brings some cool and innovative features to the table. This year's model take all the great features from last year's 5r and adds NFC and changes the kit lens to the 16-50 power zoom, making this system even more compact. The NFC is really cool because for those with android phones equipped with NFC, it means quicker pairing between the two devices. The only real drawback is for those NFC equipped laptops, windows doesn't support large file transfer. The new kit lens is a welcome edition.

Now the NEX isn't a perfect system, but Sony has worked hard to introduce new features with every new release. The only problem with this is Sony decided it would be a good idea to release these features in incremental upgrades every year, rather than release big upgrades over a longer period of time. Those looking to upgrade from a NEX 5r will find themselves with mostly the same camera. Going from a NEX 5n, this may be a worth upgrade however. I really think the 5r and the 5t could have been the same camera.



Sony's aggressive release cycles don't affect the performance of this camera, which is nothing short of amazing. Sony put a DSLR sized sensor in this tiny body, making for a potent but tiny camera. It has 10 FPS, faster than most canons/Nikons. It has quick autofocus. It has extremely good dynamic range (most people call this better picture quality). Sony's sensor has some of the best low light noise performance of any camera in its class, largely due to its 16 mega pixel count. One mostly unknown fact is that lower megapixels tend to have better low light performance, and high 24+ mega pixel sensors are historically nosier due to pixel density. I applaud Sony for keeping it at 16, and do not wish for the NEX line to move to 24 any time soon (excluding NEX 7).

The NEX also has a very small distance between the lens mount and the sensor. This is a huge advantage because it allows for a wide range of adaptors to be made for the system. The Sony A mount adaptor offers all functionality of the alpha lenses on the small NEX. After market dealers have even created canon/Nikon mounts for the NEX, allowing the use of those lenses, minus the electronic functions (like autofocus). This is important because older lenses can be found for cheap on the used market, and gives the NEX one of the largest list of lenses to date.



But no, even the NEX 5t isn't perfect. There are some small, but noticeable flaws with this system.



-Small buffer, it can take 10 photos each second, but it can only do this for about 2 seconds before it slows down to fill the memory card. This is historically a problem with all Sony cameras, or any camera of this class.

-Occasionally inaccurate auto focus. The AF system isn't quite up there with DSLR's, but its getting closer and closer each year.

-Average battery life. I recommend a spare battery for long days.



These shortcomings are all pretty minor and expected in a camera of this class, so I do not hold them against it. All 3 of these problems are due to its small size, which alone makes up for it.

If you're coming from a smart phone, or a standard point and shoot, this camera will be a HUGE upgrade. Size alone makes this a worthy choice over larger DSLR's. The 5 in particular is the best price/performance compromise in the NEX line. For those a little strapped for cash, but still want similar performance look at the NEX 3n, mostly the same camera just much slow, plastic build, and weaker video performance compared to the 5t. If you want a little bit of an upgrade, look at the NEX 6, offering a viewfinder and a hot shoe.



Feel free to ask me anything regarding this camera or any other NEX camera in the comment section, and I will try to respond quickly. I hope my review helped with your buying decision.



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GoPro HERO4 BLACK

CUSTOMER REVIEW



I'm a working professional videographer, but no i don't put the same expectations on a camera like the hero4 that i do on my other bigger cameras. Up until now I've been using a hero 3 black for both professional and personal uses. Considering my satisfaction with the hero3, picking up a hero4 was inevitable



**UPDATE: Took off a star for questionable issue: While i haven't come across any major glitches, it does seem to hiccup here and there (my hero3 did the same), the heat that comes off it can be more than warm, but it seems others are experiencing rather hot temperatures. While not entirely reassuring, i've heard some folks have positive experiences dealing with gopro on their overheating matters. We'll have to wait and see, so be sure to buy from a reputable dealer!



What i like about the hero 4 black:



-4K at usable framerates (hero3 could only do 15fps)

-Sweet 120fps slow motion at 1080

-More wireless connectivity(some hiccups, but can work)

-More slowmotion

-Sharpness is satisfactory

-Lowlight is decent enough

-More manual control



What's not to like?



-Battery still not great

-No rear touchscreen

-Doesn't make bacon pancakes

-Doesn't banish ISIS members to the phantom zone(that place jor-el banished general zod to)



New manual controls:



Finally, you can make exposure adjustments! For instance: for night timelapses, you usually want longer exposure times/shutter speed, and you can now do it with this little cam. I need to play with this more to see how well it really performs



No screen:



Many people are very confused as to why the silver edition has it but the black does not. Yea, it's odd and i would have much preferred the flagship get the screen, that being said, i've gotten along very well with my screen-less hero 3, because i have a cautious understanding of the angles it can capture at narrow/medium/wide settings. I'll usually use it as a backup/bonus angle that i don't plan to rely on.That, and it has the phone app in case i need to verify i'm getting the angle i need. The new hero4 has even more connectivity and despite the lack of a screen, as long as you have some digital device with you, it can likely connect and give you a live view.



My bottom line about the screen? You can always add a screen to the black, you cannot add the black features to the silver. The wifi connectivity suits me fine for framing.



Size/weight:



Not much change! That's a good thing, still works with most of all the accessories/etc...



Battery life:



Seems nothing improved over the hero3, still under an hour per charge. Wasabi has a decent extended battery for the hero3, grab that up once they make it for the hero4.



Heat



Possible concern: Can get very warm depending on the settings, and i've seen some users experience very hot temperatures. we'll have to see if this becomes a widespread thing, considering the hero's size, you can't imagine much heat dissipation designed into there. My main concern is the longevity of the device given the heat. heat wears electronics down, reducing their life, if this thing's average temperature is 130degrees, how long will it live? Might be a valid concern, but can't tell without real long testing.



Resolution and Framerates:



Of course the big headline feature is 4k, and that's probably what you're going to buy this thing mainly for. 4k allows for lots of reframing in editing if you're still planning on outputting to 1080. The 4k from the hero4 looks pretty satisfying, maybe not as sharp as bigger/professional cameras, but this is a tiny actioncamera, and i don't see it reasonable to hold it to quite the same standards. for a $500 pocket camera, it's plenty good.



Slow motion keeps getting better on the gopros, there's not much else to say except that you're now getting 1080 at 120fps. Something rare in a camera in this price range, my rx10 which is around a grand can only do 120fps at 720.



Bitrate:



4k gives you up to 60mpbs, which may sound low, but other more expensive cameras use a similar setup and get nice results, and the gopro does pretty well here as well. THe main area where you can see breakup in the codec is fast motion throughout the entire frame, but since all the angles are wide, and many of the details small, the breakup is pretty well controlled. Not perfect, but IMO plenty acceptable for this tiny camera.



Summary, competitors:



If you want 4k in a tiny, rugged camera, the hero4 is on a list of its own. While there are other cameras out there, the overall package gopro has with the hero4 black is impressive, and whether you're a professional or just an enthusiast, it'll get you some nice shots.



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Avalon Bay AB-ICE26S Portable Ice Maker

CUSTOMER REVIEW



Just received my icemaker this afternoon. Ran the first batch of ice, after cleaning the inside per the instructions. Surprised at how fast the first cubes were released - 6-7 minutes. Finished that first batch of small cubes - threw them out to insure clean cubes - then started second batch of cubes, large ones this time. Very impressed so far.



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GoPro HERO

High Definition Camera, 1080-30 Video, 5MP Photo, Ultra Wide Angle Lens, Integrated Waterproof Housing, Mono Mic.

• Stunning Video Quality: Record gorgeous 1080p30 and 720p60 video., Diverse Photo Capture: Capture 5PM single, Time Lapse and Burst photos up to 5 fps. Built-in Microphone: Record audio with the built-in microphone


• Durable + Waterproof to 131-Feet (40m): Designed to withstand extreme environments and conditions


• Compatible with all GoPro Mounts: 60+ mounts and accessories. GoPro Software: View and share your content.


• External Memory: Supports microSD cards up to 32GB (class 10 or UHS-1 required) Sold Separately

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Maytag UKF-8001, UKF8001AXX, UKF8001AXXT, UKF8001AXX-750, UFK8001AXX-750, Water Filter Made by Swift Green

CUSTOMER REVIEW



While the filter seems to work just fine, I believe they intentionally left out the capacity in its description. If you were comparing this filter with the Maytag UKF8001 Pur Refrigerator Cyst Water Filter 1-Pack it should be noted that the UKF8001 has a capacity of 750 gallons and the Swift Green filter only has a capacity of 300 gallons, so you would go through 2.5 Swift Green filters to equal one PUR filter which makes it 1 2/3 times more expensive to use.



As for me I'm going back to the PUR filters, and if you use the "Subscribe and Save" option through Amazon it comes out to be 1/2 the true cost of the Swift Green filter.



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midea WHS-65LB1 Compact Single Reversible Door Refrigerator and Freezer, 1.6 Cubic Feet, Black

CUSTOMER REVIEW



Works great, fits a lot of stuff, and is silent. We don't hear it cutting on and off and it is currently being used in a small bedroom.



Great product.



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midea WHS-65LB1 Compact Single Reversible Door Refrigerator and Freezer, 1.6 Cubic Feet, Black

CUSTOMER REVIEW



Works great, fits a lot of stuff, and is silent. We don't hear it cutting on and off and it is currently being used in a small bedroom.



Great product.



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