Which is better Sigma 18-200 os hsm or Nikon 18-200 VR ii?? ?

I have read many reviews that are no help to me at all, people who say Nikon is better are usually brand specific and wont even consider anything else. Someone with an unbiassed opinion please share your thoughts on which lens is better, every thing considered even the price. (is nikon really worth the extra $450?)

Nikon 18-200mm VR – $669.00
Sigma 18-200mm OS – $369.00
Tamron 18-270mm VC – $479.00 (after $70.00 mail in rebate)
All prices from camerakings.com with free shipping.

Take a look at the links below for a great review of the above lenses. I do not think the Nikon is worth the $300.00 extra premium. The best deal out of the bunch is the Tamron.

Quick recap:

Nikon
Conclusion – Pros

* Huge 11.1x focal length range, ideal travel lens
* Decent build quality – much better than Nikon’s 18-55mm kit lens
* Very effective vibration reduction system, at least 3 stops benefit
* Excellent fast, silent autofocus with manual override
* High image quality in the normal to short telephoto range, and
good at 200mm

Conclusion – Cons

* Pronounced distortion across much of the range
* Extremely soft at 135mm
* Rather average close-up performance
* Zoom creep

Sigma
Conclusion – Pros

* Huge 11x focal length range, ideal general purpose and travel lens
* Relatively low chromatic aberration
* Low distortion (for a superzoom)
* Reasonably effective optical stabilization system, 2.5 – 3 stops benefit

Conclusion – Cons

* Very inconsistent sharpness through the zoom range – extremely
soft at 80mm
* Soft corners at all focal lengths
* Occasionally indecisive autofocus
* Slightly less resistant to flare than its more recent competitors

Tamron
Conclusion – Pros

* Remarkable 15x focal length range
* Impressive image quality in the normal to short telephoto range
* Excellent resistance to flare
* Effective vibration correction system, at least 3 stops benefit
* Reasonably compact despite the long telephoto range

Conclusion – Cons

* Slow and occasionally indecisive autofocus
* Geometric distortion across much of the zoom range
* Significant chromatic aberration at wideangle and telephoto
(especially 270mm)
* Macro performance rather compromised (very soft at F6.3, focus
shifts on stopping down)
* Uneven zoom action, zoom creep when not locked
* Slightly sub-par build quality

Canon 40d And sigma 18-200 OS

camera kings review

Nokia N95 – Long Live the King?

The 8GB update to Nokia’s immensely popular & powerful N95 mobile phone has taken some of the spotlight off of its predecessor. Perhaps it’s now time for a re-evaluation and compare the original N95 to the current crop and see if it still has what it takes to maintain its position at the top of the tree.

First thing to start off with is the still-unique dual-sliding action of the Nokia N95 which serves 2-purposes. An upwards-push reveals the usual alphanumeric keypad which if I’m being honest isn’t a particular favourite of mine. Though it isn’t uncomfortable, the sheer width of the phone means that if you have small hands or short fingers, you’ll struggle to reach them all without having to readjust your handling position.

On a more positive note the keys themselves on both the main pad and under the display are of a high-quality and are very responsive without any issues to cause discomfort aside from the size as mentioned above, but even this isn’t a major problem.

When slid in the other direction, the N95 reveals a second smaller keypad designed for use in conjunction with the music player. You get the usual play, stop and skip track keys which considering the size of this phone, was a very shrewd move on Nokia’s part as it does make a major difference if you’re going to use this for the music player on a regular basis.

In terms of the overall design & construction, the N95 is by no means a small phone, but it isn’t as hefty as it appears in the publicity shots. When you consider the amount of features that are packed into this phone it isn’t a surprise that it’s the wrong side of compact. The only design issue I had with this phone was with the sliding mechanism, which for me wasn’t particularly pleasing. The problem was that when the phone was in a stationary position, it felt like it needed only the slightest movement to open up either way, meaning that it wasn’t anywhere near solid enough in the terms of the mechanism.

Aside from that, the materials used and the way they were implemented was relatively pleasing and didn’t pose any further issues. Marks out of 10 – 7: good but room for improvement.

Thankfully, the capabilities of the N95 do move it up quite a few notches in such a way that only dedicated smartphones are capable of outdoing it, even over 10 months after release.

Without wishing to sound tiresome, let’s list what the N95 is capable of to put everything in perspective; 5 Megapixel camera with autofocus & Carl Zeiss Optics; Wi-Fi; GPS navigation; Bluetooth; microSDHC compatibility with 160MB internal memory; Symbian 9.2 OS; 3.5mm audio jack; FM radio; infrared; 30fps video-recording; 3G with HSDPA and mini USB port with data cable supplied.

On the 26th of November 2007 Nokia released a software update for the N95 and while this kind of thing isn’t necessarily relevant to reviews of this nature, the reputed fixes due to this update do deserve a mention. As the battery life on the N95 upon release was a major Achilles heel, barely lasting 1 ½ days of moderate usage, the updated software version 20.0.015 is meant to add up to 30% extra music performance. Figures regarding improved battery life for other functions are currently not available.

One small problem present in the N95 is with the screen. Whilst the display quality is of the sort of the class we all expect from Nokia these days (ie; excellent) it seems to attract fingerprints like a moth to a flame, making a screen protector or a carry case an almost essential purchase if you want to keep the screen in decent long-term condition.

The unquestionable main feature of the N95 has to be the 5MP camera which even in the substantial amount of time since its release is still good-enough to be ranked amongst the best in its class. In my opinion the only current device with higher overall camera performance than the N95 is the N82, due to its Xenon flash, but aside from that it’s a very close call.

Overall, the Nokia N95 is an extremely high-spec device with capabilities only matched (or bettered) by dedicated smartphones with the bonus of a top-quality camera that still matches up to the competition after all this time.

The only real issue worth bearing in mind upon purchase is the battery life, which as mentioned earlier is very disappointing and frankly not good enough when compared to the rest of the N95’s capabilities. If this doesn’t bother you too much then there isn’t much it can’t do making it ideal for the majority of tasks.

Although it has been eclipsed a little by its 8GB update as well as the newer N82, the Nokia N95 does remain a great option for many thanks to its still unsurpassed range of features. Although the issue with the battery life seems to have been resolved with the advent of a software update, this shouldn’t have really been a problem in the first place.

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camera pen review

Mini Wireless Spy Cameras: Trimming Down Your List

Because most mini wireless spy cameras are so expensive, it is really important to buy the right camera that would answer to your needs so that you will get your money’s worth. Here are a few tips on how to pick the best mini spy camera for you.

Use and Function

How are you going to use your mini wireless spy cameras? This is the first question that you need to answer before going online to buy one. For some people, mini spy cameras are used covertly. In other words, these devices are used by people like private investigators and undercover police officers to secretly monitor their targets. In most cases, these cameras are concealed in small objects like pens and buttons, while others are attached to sunglasses and hats. Others use mini spy cameras to watch over their property and households. In this set-up, cameras are hidden in objects like coffee cans and picture frames. Some spy cameras are even concealed behind pinholes to make them undetectable.

Price Tags

Mini wireless spy cameras that are used to observe people tend to be more expensive than cameras that are used to observe locations and venues. Suffice to say, the technology that is involved in body worn spy cameras tend to be more advanced and complicated. Indeed, one can only marvel at the ingenuity of these devices, especially in the way certain design issues such as power distribution and signal transmission are addressed. That is why the smaller these spy cameras are, the pricier they get. However, high-priced spy cameras come with better features. For one thing, the more expensive spy cams can carry up to 2GB of storage, letting you record hours and hours of surveillance video! Affordable spy cameras have less features, and their recording times are somewhat limited and below-standard.

When In Doubt, Seek Help

If you want to get the complete lowdown on mini wireless spy cameras, you may have to go to the store and ask the opinions of an expert. It would be a great idea to confer your budget to the expert, so that he or she can recommend the best device that your money can buy. Educate yourself on the ins and outs of spy cameras by reading product reviews and related articles. This way, you will know how a specific spy camera was rated by critics and enthusiasts. Heed the expert’s advice on how to install these spy cameras properly. If you are confident of your skills, you can set the things up yourself. But if you are not sure, you can ask the expert to do the installation for you. You will have to pay a fee for his services, of course, but at least, you are assured that everything is configured correctly.

Do not be too concerned with the technical aspects of mini wireless spy cameras. Leave that to the experts! All that you should think about is to get a spy camera that provides the results that you want.

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