Features

• 2-inch LCD for previewing your photos
• Built-in flash, microphone and speaker
• Lithium battery included
• Cyber-shot digital camera with 2.6-megapixel maximum resolution
• 5x optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 10x) with auto and manual focus

Reviews (30)

Nice camera, a few limitations
I bought this camera a little over a year ago, when I was doing a summer internship in the Albany area.I had been going out on nature outings with the other interns, and wanted a way to share my experiences with the folks back home.Over the last year I've taken my 505V on hiking trips, trips into caves and even on a diving trip, where I took some pics before getting in the water.Here are my observations from my experiences.

First of all.NEAT camera!It looks like something Captain Kirk would use to snap pictures of the orange-skied planets he used to visit!The controls are laid out well, so that buttons and things are under one's fingers when he holds the camera, and the menu system is simple enough to use.I did not notice any loss of sharpness around the edges of the frame; the Zeiss-designed lens, mounted well away from the heat-producing CCD, probably has something to do with this.The controls permit some simple Real Camera-type manipulations: several shutter speeds, several exposure times, that sort of thing, but there aren't nearly as many tweakable settings, or as much range, as there would be ina film camera.The 505V is designed to be used as a waist-level camera, and shots taken this way should be composed with this in mind.The front of the lens is threaded for standard filters (don't recall the size offhand), obtainable at a photo store.A UV filter to protect the lens and a polarizing filter for outdoor shots of sky and clouds might be a couple of good things to consider.

As did several of the other reviewers, I have had problems getting good pictures in low-light conditions.Perhaps the CCD is not sensitive enough, or the shutter is held open too long for hand-holding, but low-light pics tend to come out blurry.The built-in flash is, of course, too close to the lens, though that's a problem with any camera whose flash is mounted right on the body.Last, the 505V is big.I've had it in some rather surprising places, but it was an effort to take it out of its case and put it back for every picture.I am considering getting a simple, compact digicam as an auxilliary adventure camera for spontaneous shots or narrow cave passages, though I do not anticipate the new camera replacing my 505.

I have bought a PCMCIA card for plugging the Memory Stick into my laptop (heh! I can mount it as a Linux filesystem and not have to touch any Windows software at all!), an extra battery, and of course, a bigger Memory Stick than the 8M one that came with the camera.I have also purchased a small Pelican case from the dive shop, so that I can get my pack wet or drop it onto hard places (or fall and land on it, as has also happened a few times), and not worry about damaging my camera.The Pelican case also fits an extra battery and as many Memory Sticks as I care to take along, and is thus a Good Thing.

Great curves and handling
I like the camera very much.What is especially nice about it is the size.Yes it is rather large, but that is a plus when you are a large handed person and this is one of the most comfortable cameras that I have tried out to handle.The buttons aren't microscopic and the lens makes a pleasant handhold also.Smaller is not always better.
The one thing I do not care for is the response time when taking a picture and also when viewing pictures that have been taken.The camera also tends to get a little testy when you try to do close ups.
Otherwise, lovely.

Pros and Cons of the DSC-F505V
This is a really good camera, but there are some drawbacks.

The large lens and overall design fits well in you hands, if you have small hands.The 505's image quality is very good and often opt for the lower resolution images (1856x1392).The low light capabilities are quite good, but you end up having to take one or two shots before finding the best as there is no enhancement of the LCD image prior to a shot.It is sometimes difficult to target with the camera unless you are used to the LCD screen.The menu system is very easy to navigate and allows you to do almost everything you need w/o the use of the computer.Despite the limited (~65min) battery, it is adequate to fill a 64 or 128Mb Memory Stick through normal use.A second battery along with the charger can keep you shooting all day long or as long as your memory holds out.As with any Sony product, the memory will cost you more but go to Synchrotech.com and they have good prices.The flash on the 505 is excellent.At its highest setting, it can easily penetrate 16-20ft.

Because of the 505's odd shape, it can be a challenge finding a good case for it other than the custom Sony case.I ended up with a Cascade Pack (#66009) a part of the MULTI pack series by MRock.Everything I need (camera, extra memory, extra battery, A/C battery charger and cables) will fit into this case and the overall size isn't much more than the camera itself.

Features

• Limited lifetime warranty
• High intensity adjustable light beam
• Sealed O-rings for water and shock resistance
• Candle mode feature for hands free light
• Spare lamp in the tail cap

Reviews (30)

Indispensible for light work
Okay, so an AA powered torch is not going to illuminate a room, but these mini Mag List torches are incredibly handy to have around all the same. I have a black version for my office and a silver version in my car. What makes them so useful is that they're very reliable and very simple to use. My black torch gets a frequent workout when I'm hunting around under the desk unplugging wires, or when I've opened a computer case and need to see inside it. I've only used the silver one a few times, but it's reassuring to keep in the glove box of the car in case I get a flat tyre.

I was amazed by the "candle mode" that someone mentioned. I was playing around with my torch while writing this review and I'd never seen that feature before! It's extremely handy to know and just reinforces my good impressions of this device.

Inexpensive light, inexpensive batteries, good light... but
there are better lights out there.Of course they cost more money.I have 5 or 6 of these floating around between cars, night stand, wifes night stand etc.They work great, last a long time, and if something happens to them (battery leaks, run over with tank etc) you just chuck it and buy a new one.

That said, when you are looking for a flashlight that you have to rely on and you don't want to carry 3 or 4 with you, I'd look to an LED flashlight.LEDs don't burn out very fast, runtime on batteries is WAY longer.My personal favorite is the Inova x5.5 LEDs, 20 hour runtime on one set of batteries, waterproof, and brighter than a mini mag by far.It just costs 3-4 times as much, which is why I have one of them instead of 4.

"Mini Mag a power 'shack', not a powerhouse"
In the last decade, people have been rooting for this small flashlight that was always considered to be cool, with it's aircraft aluminum 'armour', and bright beam. This thing was once considered to be more popular than a lightsaber.

These qualities stand to this day and should be considered should you buy this as a gift or lighting tool for someone. It's strong reaching beam fires a fair distance in spot mode, and a moderately effective flood mode lights up a room quite nicely.

Now, with these kudos, there are some things to keep in mind when buying this light:

Unless you get silver/puter or light blue, this black knight can be easily lost in the dark if you don't have it on. Also, the fact that it's a heavy duty metal doesn't help it's chances from a fairly tall fall. This thing is not shock absorbent. Maybe it's casing is, but it's innards aren't. And to top it all off, this flashlight is more thirsty for batteries than a 5 litre gas guzzling Mustang. After a good half hour, it dims a litte, but a little too soon.

So, what do I recommend above the Mini Mag? Two great recommendations: the Energizer Double Barrel 'xenon' flashlight, with it's great looks, and better battery life. The xenon bulb is also brighter than the Mag's 'T-Bulb'. Another great light is the Rayovac AA Industrial flashlight. Now, this flashlight does not have the same distance reach as the Mini Mag (in spot mode) since this light is built with a 'wide spot', that acts like a super (and I mean super for an AA light) mini spot light, and maybe not at long distances, but at least for lighting up.....the WOODS! I find this to be the best light for when you're lost in the woods. If you are one of those people who walk a lot at night, especially near any forests and wooded areas, then the Rayovac AA Industrial light is the one-if you aren't interested in an L.E.D lights, which should be your first choice. You'd probably think that a Rayovac AA flashlight wouldn't be powerful enough for to light up the thick of the woods in the night and twenty feet in front of you...well, guess again!! You'd better get one and try it out. It's output is nearly as bright as a 2D Maglite in flood mode. Really! I carry it everywhere with me (knapsack). And mega shock resistant!!

Editorial Review

The Cassiopeia EM-500, Casio's follow-up to its E-100 series of personaldigital assistants, closely mirrors the E-115 but offers a few changes. Thebiggest change is the move to using MultiMediaCard (MMC) memory over the morestandard CompactFlash memory slot. The postage stamp-size MMC cards offer neededmemory expandability (as the EM-500 comes with only 16 MB of internal memory,compared to the 32 MB of the E-115), especially if you plan to use the EM-500 asa portable MP3 player--one of its many multimedia capabilities.

While MMC over CompactFlash limits the ability of the EM-500 to use many PocketPC peripherals, we were willing to overlook that once we got a peek at the EM-500'sgorgeous TFT screen. This very bright, very colorful (65,536 colors, to beexact) display shines beautifully when you're playing games or watching mobilevideo player clips, which run along at a respectable 15 to 20 frames per secondwith the EM-500's 150 MHz MIPS processor.

The thick EM-500 (about twice the thickness of the Palm Vx) offers standardCasio programmable buttons to bring up the menu, calendar, and contacts, as wellas a navigational D-pad, which is great for gaming. In addition to functioningas a stereo MP3 player (when using the included headphones), the EM-500 alsoworks as a voice recorder, allowing you to dictate reminders for yourself orvoice messages to send with e-mail. Casio promises six hours of battery life,but we often were able to get seven or more as long as we left the backlight onmedium brightness.

With its IrDA port, the EM-500 can communicate with wireless devices, and itsUSB connection provides speedy data transfer--even installing programs largerthan a megabyte took only a few seconds.

Despite the limited memory and the lack of CompactFlash support, the powerfulprocessor, excellent display, and long battery life make the EM-500 acompetitive entry into the Pocket PC market. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• TFT color screen
• USB connection
• Good battery life
• Expandable using MultiMediaCard memory

• Only 16 MB of internal memory
• No CompactFlash support

Editorial Review

Psion's 56k travel modem connects your Psion Revo or Series 5 to the Internet and is a must-have for sending and receiving e-mail and Web browsing. Its compact, lightweight design and AA battery power make it an ideal traveling companion.

Before using your travel modem, you need to check your Psion PDA to ensure that you've installed all of the software that came it. We tested the travel modem with the Psion Revo; to operate the modem, we needed to have Email Synchronization 1.0 and Web Browser 2.01 loaded onto the Revo from its accompanying PsiWin 2.3 CD-ROM. If you plan to use your travel modem internationally, you need to install the modem's included EasySwitch software onto your PDA.

To set up the Psion travel modem, we started the Modem application and entered the settings specified in the travel-modem user's manual. We then ran the eSetup wizard to enter our ISP account information. We turned on the modem, started the Web application, and connected to our ISP.

Surfing the Web on any handheld PC, such as the Psion Revo, can be tedious--the small screen makes it difficult to see Web pages in their entirety, and the tiny keyboard makes navigation challenging. However, it does help to visit Web sites designed for PDA visitors (such as Amazon.com Anywhere at www.amazon.com/anywhere). It's more practical to use the travel modem for sending and receiving e-mail, which is an intuitive process using the Revo's e-mail application.

The travel modem requires an unobstructed line of sight with your Psion PDA and works well within its rated distance of 2 to 12 inches. One green LED indicates the modem is on, and another flashes as data is transmitting. During our tests, the travel modem (or the Revo) disconnected unexpectedly a few times. We saw no pattern to the disconnections, but it occurred less often when the Revo was in its docking cradle. In general, the travel modem works best for specific Internet tasks, such as getting e-mail or news that you can read offline.

This modem lacks its own power supply but can use the one that comes with your Psion PDA. The travel modem lasts about four hours on two AA batteries.

Overall, we found the travel modem to be very compact and convenient--a helpful, handy companion for your Psion Revo or Series 5 organizer.

Pros:

• Compact and convenient design
• Self-contained battery operation
• Works with popular cellular phones

Cons:

• AC adapter not included
• Occasionally disconnects during long online sessions

Editorial Review

Garmin's eTrex Venture GPS receiver offers a host of track- and path-related programs and is surprisingly easy to use. Its size and design make it comfortable to use one-handed, and its automatic tracking feature and ability to download maps from optional CD-ROMs make it an excellent navigation tool.

Roughly the size and shape of a cell phone, the Venture has six buttons that are easily accessible by thumb and forefinger. The Power, Page, Zoom In, Zoom Out, and Find buttons are along the side, with the big-daddy navigation button (a directional click-button akin to a thumb-operated joystick) on the front above the screen. The side buttons are stiff enough that it's nearly impossible to accidentally push one. However, we found the navigation button to be a bit too stiff, which caused us several errors in entering waypoints.

Text was very easy to read--highlights are discernible and menu bars and clickable objects are well-defined. The unit also has an excellent backlight, which illuminates the whole screen with a white light, giving excellent contrast and viewing capability at night.

The Venture's interface is split into five different pages, each providing different functions. The main menu page gives you access to your saved routes and tracks, as well as setup for using WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation Service) reception, unit measurement, time, and display. These are all quickly rotated through with the click of the Page button on the right-hand side of the unit.

The map page displays the basemap included with the Venture, and for outdoor excursions it provides all the basics you'll need. It automatically tracks your movements and you can save individual tracks for later viewing. The map is zoomable from 500 miles to 20 feet depending on your preferences. You can place waypoints and places of interest on the map and name and change the icons of each to create your own personalized maps. If you decide you want to go somewhere, press the Find button and you'll get quick access to waypoints, your favorites list, and nearby cities.

The Venture features 1 MB of memory for downloading points-of-interest data--including lodging, business services, banks, and more--from optional CD-ROMs via the included PC cable. Unfortunately, for more detailed mapping you'll need to look to the Garmin eTrex Legend or Vista, both of which have larger memory capacities and the ability to download detailed maps.

Reception was, of course, best outside on a clear day, but the Venture retained most of its functionality under limited cover like small buildings or thick trees.

All in all, the Garmin eTrex Venture is a nifty little GPS tool and is ready to roll for your outdoor adventure. However, if you're looking to use more detailed map data with your GPS, the Garmin eTrex Vista or Legend would be a better choice. --Matt Deffer

Pros:

• Intuitive interface
• Clear, easy-to-read display
• Create waypoints at key locations for easy navigation
• Included PC cable for downloading firmware upgrades and maps

• 1 MB memory only accepts points-of-interest data

Editorial Review

The Creative Labs Nomad II C is one of those gadgets that are so much fun to play with, you find yourself forgetting they're useful, too. When portable MP3 players first hit the market, they were relatively simple devices good for one thing: playing MP3 files. Now, as companies have learned customers want more than just that, today's devices can no longer be described as just MP3 players.

The Nomad II C's most overlooked feature is that of a digital voice recorder. Since voice recordings aren't the memory hogs that music files are, the Nomad II C can record up to four hours' worth. This feature is perfect for dictating messages to yourself or for the fledging journalist recording interviews, and you can even upload voice files from the Nomad II C to your PC.

From an audio perspective, the Nomad II C couldn't have performed any better. The equalizer had good settings, and the ability to program user-defined settings was awesome. Furthermore, a wired remote control and bass-enhanced, behind-the-head headphones completed the package.

MP3 players are great for music lovers on the go. Because they have no moving parts, they're well known for skip-free music. To test the Nomad II C, we loaded it up with some hip-hop and headed down to the local BMX spot in San Francisco. With the player clipped to a belt, we put it through its paces over a multitude of jumps and with more than enough crashes. We did our best to make it skip, but it performed perfectly (though beware--the Nomad II C isn't scratchproof). Only after the battery started to get low (the Nomad II C offers eight to 10 hours of playback) did performance degrade. But this was easily remedied by dropping in a new AA battery.

This version of the Nomad II C has 32 MB of onboard memory, but it does include a slot for SmartMedia memory cards. As additional memory is still relatively expensive, and most of us don't have extra cards lying around the house, there will come a time when you'll tire of the songs on the device. And without the presence of your PC--and no additional SmartMedia cards--you're at a loss.

MP3 music, like everything else technology related, is in constant flux. Recognizing that, the Nomad II C ships with reprogrammable firmware that should enable it to support digital-audio formats and software extensions as they emerge. So, you should be able to enjoy your Nomad II C for years to come.--William O'Neal

Pros:

• Awesome sound
• Lightweight
• USB interface makes connecting to your computer simple and downloading fast
• Intuitive software
• Supports numerous digital-audio formats

• Simple software could be more robust
• Navigating the LCD menu can be a pain

Features

• Five year replacement warranty and 30-day money-back guarantee
• Optimized for use in PDAs, MP3 players, or digital cameras
• Lightning fast read and write speeds allow you to get the best performance from your PDA, MP3 player, or digital camera
• High quality components guarantee steady performance, the utmost durability, and breadth of compatibility
• Individually tested to ensure each product works the first time, everytime

Reviews (28)

Excellent, high-quality memory card.
The Viking 32 MB SmartMedia memory card is an excellent quality card that works as promised. Its suppliers deliver my orders at the speed of lightening or e-mail. I've used the Viking SmartMedia cards exclusively for the last two years without a single problem. The photos are clear.I have no problem retrieving them off the card. My Olympus Digital 3.0 MP Camera D550 records about 350 photos at 640X480 resolution. The Viking price on Amazon.com is the best on the market.

Works great
I've ordered three of these things.They work great.Never had any problems.They come with a nice plastic case that is perfect for storing the cards in my camera bag.

Update:
I think I own about six of these by now (12/2003).Still, no problems.

Editorial Review

How to Wrestle Free from an Alligator: 4. If its jaws are closed on something you want to remove (for example, a limb), tap or punch it on the snout.

Though it's being marketed as a humorous title--after all, it's unlikely you'll be called upon to land a plane, jump from a motorcycle to a moving car, or win a swordfight--the information contained in The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook is all quite sound. Authors Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht consulted numerous experts in their fields (they're cited at the end of the book) to discover how to survive various and sundry awful events. Parachute doesn't open? Your best bet for survival is to hook your arms through the straps of a fellow jumper's chute--and even then you're likely to dislocate both shoulders and break both legs. Car sinking in water? Open the window immediately to equalize pressure, then open the car door and swim to the surface. Buried in an avalanche? Spit on the snow--it will tell you which direction is really up. Then dig as fast as you can.

Each survival skill is explained in simple steps with helpful illustrations. Most stress the need to be prepared--both mentally and physically. For example, to escape from quicksand, you will need to lay a pole on the surface of the quicksand, flop on your back atop the pole, and pull your legs out one by one. No pole? No luck. "When walking in quicksand country, carry a stout pole--it will help you get out should you need to."