http://reviews.washingtonpost.comReviews, Articles, Ratings and Comparisonsen-us3014020http://reviews.washingtonpost.comhttp://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/hp/image/wp_web.gifhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Panasonic/HDC-TM300.htmhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Panasonic/HDC-TM300.htmFri, 13 Nov 2009 11:22:00 ESTinfo@reviewed.com (Jeremy Stamas)The Panasonic HDC-TM300 is the flash memory sister-model to the equally impressive HDC-HS300 (which records to an internal hard drive). These two top-of-the-line models from Panasonic are stellar camcorders, and the HDC-TM300, which includes 32GB of internal memory, was recently awarded CamcorderInfo.com\'s 2009 Camcorder of the Year award. The TM300 combines a strong video performance with a comfortable body design and a load of manual controls to create one of the best all-around consumer camcorders we\'ve seen. With a $1299 price tag the HDC-TM300 may be hard on the wallet, but if you\'re in the market for a top-notch camcorder, it is the best of the bunch.http://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Panasonic/DMC-ZS3.htmhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Panasonic/DMC-ZS3.htmThu, 29 Oct 2009 13:43:00 ESTinfo@reviewed.com (Richard Baguley)The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 packs a lot of features into its small case: 10-megapixel resolution, a 12x zoom and high definition video capture. And we found that it has the performance to match this feature set, with sharp images and accurate color.http://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Nikon/D3000.htmhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Nikon/D3000.htmThu, 01 Oct 2009 15:42:00 ESTinfo@reviewed.com (Steve Morgenstern)Nikon is replacing the D40 as its least expensive digital SLR in favor of the Nikon D3000, a $600 camera that raises resolution to a more respectable 10 megapixels, the burst rate from 2.5 to 3 shots per second, modernizes the autofocus system, offers a sensor-shaking dust reduction system and comes with an image-stabilized lens. The question, though, is whether even with all these improvements, the D3000 competes effectively in what's now a highly competitive entry-level SLR market.http://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Sony/Cyber-shot-DSC-HX1.htmhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Sony/Cyber-shot-DSC-HX1.htmWed, 30 Sep 2009 08:04:00 ESTinfo@reviewed.com (Richard Baguley)The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 is a point and shoot camera with a trick or two up its sleeve: it can take panoramas in one pass, shoots good looking low light images and also captures high definition video. It also does a good job of capturing images and has a very long 20x zoom lens. But at $499, it\'s not cheap.http://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/JVC/Everio-GZ-X900.htmhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/JVC/Everio-GZ-X900.htmThu, 10 Sep 2009 09:18:00 ESTinfo@reviewed.com (Jeremy Stamas)The JVC GZ-X900 came to us with an exciting premise--a uniquely designed, Full HD camcorder that can double as a 9-megapixel still camera. While most camcorders are capable of taking still photos, few boast the massive amount of still features and 9-megapixel resolution offered on the GZ-X900. The camcorder titillated us with a strong bright light performance, but in the end we were left unimpressed by its vastly inferior low light capabilities. The GZ-X900 records HD video and photos to SD/SDHC memory cards and currently retails for around $1000.http://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Panasonic/DMC-GH1.htmhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Panasonic/DMC-GH1.htmThu, 30 Jul 2009 13:38:00 ESTinfo@reviewed.com (Steve Morgenstern)When the first Micro Four Thirds camera, Panasonic\'s Lumix G1, was released last year, it wasn\'t all that "micro" andndash; just a hair smaller than many traditional SLRs. It had one breakthrough feature though: you can focus on fast-moving subjects while shooting with the LCD screen, a feat no Live View SLR has accomplished. Something was missing from the G1, though; it couldn\'t shoot video at all. With the Lumix GH1 introduction Panasonic delivers the goods on that front, with the best video recording we\'ve seen on any interchangeable lens camera to date.http://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Sony/MHS-PM1.htmhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Sony/MHS-PM1.htmTue, 30 Jun 2009 16:10:00 ESTinfo@reviewed.com (Jeremy Stamas)This year, Sony entered andndash; or re-entered, some might say andndash; into the ultra-compact budget camcorder market with the release of its Webbie HD camcorders--the MHS-CM1 and MHS-PM1 ($169 MSRP). This is the relatively new product category dominated by a single brand, the Pure Digital Flip. Sony attempted an earlier foray in 2007 with the NSC-GC1 Net-Sharing Camera, which met with little critical success. But Sony is back, and the electronics juggernaut decided on a two-pronged attack this time. Two completely different body designs separate the CM1 and PM1. While both offer HD video in a compact body, the MHS-PM1 is the truly pocket-portable version. The camcorder has an upright design that emulates the Flip and its imitators. The PM1, however, includes a unique swiveling lens feature that sets it apart from the pack. The lens can rotate up to 270-degrees on a vertical axis, helpful if you want to do some self-shooting, capture footage at high angles, or use the camcorder as a webcam.http://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/JVC/GZ-HD300.htmhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/JVC/GZ-HD300.htmFri, 05 Jun 2009 14:44:00 ESTinfo@reviewed.com (Jeremy Stamas)The GZ-HD300 is one of JVC\'s numerous mid-range HD camcorders that were released in 2009. Similar to other JVC camcorders in the same range, the HD300 is compact, relatively affordable ($700 MSRP), and well-suited for novice videographers. The camcorder records full 1920 x 1080 HD video to a 60GB hard drive, compressing the video using the popular AVCHD codec. Also packed into the small body is a 2.7-inch rotatable LCD screen, a MicroSD/SDHC card slot for expanding the camcorder\'s storage capacity, and a 20x optical zoom lens, which is a bigger zoom than you\'ll find on most compact HD camcorders.http://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Canon/PowerShot-SD970-IS.htmhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Canon/PowerShot-SD970-IS.htmTue, 30 Jun 2009 09:03:00 ESTinfo@reviewed.com (Steve Morgenstern)Canon continues its run of impressive compact cameras with the PowerShot SD970 IS, a 12.1-megapixel model with a solidly built metal body, high-resolution 3-inch LCD and 5x zoom lens. Both still image and video quality (at 720p high-def resolution) were very good in our lab testing, and learning to use the SD970 IS is a snap. It's strictly aimed at point-and-shooters, though, since it lacks any manual controls, and the $400 price is a bit steep.http://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Nikon/D5000.htmhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Nikon/D5000.htmMon, 29 Jun 2009 11:10:00 ESTinfo@reviewed.com (Steve Morgenstern)Nikon introduced the first SLR with video recording capability, the D90, in 2008, and has now followed up with a sub-$1000 sibling, the Nikon D5000. The two cameras share the ability to shoot movies at 1280 x 720 resolution (known in the high-def TV world as 720p format), and the same 12.3-megapixel resolution, but the D90 is priced at $999 for the camera body alone, while the D5000 sells for $850 including an 18-55mm lens. There are many differences beyond price to consider, though, as our lab testing and hands-on shooting revealed.http://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Canon/Pro-9500-Mark-II.htmhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Canon/Pro-9500-Mark-II.htmFri, 26 Jun 2009 10:16:00 ESTinfo@reviewed.com (Richard Baguley)The Canon Pro 9500 Mark II is a serious printer for serious photographers that produces seriously good quality prints. But it also costs a serious amount of money compared to other similar models.http://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/HP/B8850.htmhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/HP/B8850.htmFri, 26 Jun 2009 09:04:00 ESTinfo@reviewed.com (Richard Baguley)The Photosmart Pro B8550 printer from HP is a high-end photo printer that can produce big prints (up to 13 x 44 inches) that have accurate color, deep blacks and good overall quality. But it\'s also a rather slow printer that makes a lot of noise as it prints.http://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Apple/iPhone-3G-S.htmhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Apple/iPhone-3G-S.htmTue, 23 Jun 2009 13:35:00 ESTinfo@reviewed.com (Richard Baguley)The latest incarnation of Apple\'s iPhone is the iPhone 3G S (also known as the iPhone 3GS) which adds a number of new features to an already attractive phone. The big addition to this $299 phone is a faster processor and more memory, which makes the phone more responsive and increases the amount of music and video it can store to an impressive maximum of 32GB (a 16GB model is also available). The camera has also been upgraded to a 3-megapixel model, and the  3G S can now capture video and upload it straight to YouTube.http://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Kodak/Zx1.htmhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Kodak/Zx1.htmFri, 05 Jun 2009 12:54:00 ESTinfo@reviewed.com (Kaitlyn Chantry)The Kodak Zx1 ($149.95 MSRP) is another entry in the ultra-compact camcorder market. None of these tiny, affordable camcorders offer much in the way of high quality video, but they are easy to use, easy to carry, and easy on the wallet. With the incredible popularity of the Flip series from Pure Digital, Kodak is just one of several manufacturers trying to carve a slice out of Flip\'s corner on the market. Will the Zx1 steal some of Pure Digital\'s profits? Possibly. The Zx1 is simple, durable, and has a couple features that the Flip cams lack. All for $50 less than Pure Digital\'s cheapest high definition model.http://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Olympus/E-620.htmhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Olympus/E-620.htmTue, 26 May 2009 13:08:00 ESTinfo@reviewed.com (Steve Morgenstern)The Olympus E-620 delivers all the key features of the company's more upscale E-30, but in a more compact body and at nearly half the price ($699.99 for the body alone, $799.99 with a 14-42mm lens). The two cameras provide 12-megapixel resolution and a 2.7-inch LCD that pivots and swivels for shooting at unusual angles. Unfortunately, the two cameras also shared a few image-quality weaknesses in our lab testing,  most importantly an overabundance of image noise, the speckly visual static that's most noticeable in solid-color areas and in photos taken under less-than-ideal lighting conditions.http://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Nikon/Nikon-D3x.htmhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Nikon/Nikon-D3x.htmThu, 14 May 2009 12:27:00 ESTinfo@reviewed.com (Tim Barribeau)Nikon\'s D3x is a new camera, designed with the studio photographer in mind. The large, solidly-constructed camera shoots 24.5-megapixel images, and costs $7999 without lens. It weighs a hefty 43 oz, but in that weighty body has three LCD screens, shooting controls for portrait orientation, and well designed button layout. We found that the high price of the D3x manifests itself in the extensive controls rather than excellent performance, as in general it scored slightly worse than the much less expensive Nikon D700 in our lab tests. However, the freedom of control that it offers is probably more important to the professional user at whom this camera is aimed.http://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Panasonic/HDC-HS300.htmhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Panasonic/HDC-HS300.htmWed, 13 May 2009 14:55:00 ESTinfo@reviewed.com (Jeremy Stamas)Packed with a 120GB internal hard drive, HD video capability, and a host of controls and features, the HDC-HS300 (MSRP $1399) represents Panasonic\'s top-of-the-line camcorder for 2009. The most surprising facet of the camcorder was its test results, which revealed an excellent overall video quality, including some of the best low light capabilities we\'ve seen this year. The camcorder also impressed with its array of manual control options and easy-to-use Intelligent Auto features, which have become a staple of the Panasonic line.http://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Pure-Digital/Flip-UltraHD.htmhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Pure-Digital/Flip-UltraHD.htmWed, 13 May 2009 14:04:00 ESTinfo@reviewed.com (Jeremy Stamas)Because of their low cost and easy-to-use design, Flip camcorders have been on the rise ever since their debut in 2007. Now, with the lagging economy, it wouldn\'t be surprising if Flip further extended its dominance in the camcorder industry for years to come. The newest member of the Flip camcorder family is the Flip UltraHD (MSRP $199), which includes a number of updates over previous models. Firstly, the UltraHD includes 8GB of internal flash memory, which is good for capturing 120 minutes of high definition video. It\'s also the first Flip camcorder to include an HDMI output, so you can view your videos at their highest quality on an HDTV. Other updates include a new video compression engine, a built-in stereo microphone, and improved video performance.http://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Nokia/5800-XpressMusic.htmhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Nokia/5800-XpressMusic.htmMon, 11 May 2009 10:28:00 ESTinfo@reviewed.com (Marianne Schultz)The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is Nokia\'s first touchscreen phone and it was an exciting moment indeed when we first heard about it. As a quad-band GSM device with 3G connectivity on ATandT\'s network in the U.S., as well as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, a 3.2-megapixel camera with an auto-focus lens, and aGPS on board, along with the powerful S60 operating system, we expected great things from the 5800. Alas, the 5th Edition version of the S60 operating system isn\'t as finger-friendly as it could be and the music player functionality, while good, won\'t blow you away. At $399, the 5800 does come unlocked without a 2-year contract to tie you down, but it\'s still pricey relative to other devices that match or exceed the 5800\'s features and capabilities.http://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Epson/R1900.htmhttp://reviews.washingtonpost.com/product/Epson/R1900.htmMon, 04 May 2009 12:48:00 ESTinfo@reviewed.com (Richard Baguley)The Epson R1900 Photo Printer is a big, powerful printer that can produce sharp, accurate prints at a wide range of different sizes. It can print on paper from 4 x 6 right up to 13 x 19, and can produce very large 13 x 44 prints from a special roll of banner paper that fits onto the back. And it can produce borderless prints at all of these sizes, which is a big bonus for those who want to produce prints for a family album or for exhibition. It can also print onto CDs and DVDs that are inkjet ready, and includes software to produce simple labels.