Sprenzy Shopping Blog: Tag research

Canon SD850 IS Price Drop

Chuck — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 23:42:00 -0400

Here’s a quick update. Back in August, I researched compact digital cameras and concluded that the Canon SD850 IS was the best camera for my needs. My key camera requirements were image stabilization and an ultra-compact form factor.

At the end of August, the Canon SD850 was approximately $340. Today, the price has dropped below $260, which is great value for a camera with 8.0 megapixels, 4x optical zoom and image stabilization (IS). If IS is not a requirement, a bigger bargain is the Canon SD1000 for under $170. It was around $215 in August. The SD1000 is a fantastic ultra-compact camera with 7.1 megapixels and 3x optical zoom.

I’m sure the prices will continue to drop, as we approach the holiday/Christmas shopping season. I’ll keep an eye out for any deals or rebates on these cameras. In the meantime, I’ll have more time to research cameras, as I’m now considering getting an entry level DSLR, like the Canon Digital Rebel XTi. I know I shouldn’t spend the extra money, but the superior image quality of a DSLR is really appealing to me.

If you are in the process of buying a DSLR, check out this article — How to Choose a DSLR Camera. And if you are torn between a compact camera and a DSLR, take a look at — Should you buy a DSLR or Point and Shoot Digital Camera? Decisions, decisions, decisions… I have more research to do.

Digital Camera Research - Canon Powershot SD850 IS

Chuck — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 19:53:00 -0400

Over the last several months, I’ve been researching compact digital cameras to replace my current Canon S500. I find researching digital cameras as one of the hardest product categories to navigate. There are so many cameras available and it seems a new model is released every day. And once you are ready to buy, the questions come up — Should I buy it now or wait for the price to drop? Or should I wait for the release of the next model? This conundrum takes the fun out of buying a new camera.

My strategy to camera buying is to take the value approach. Buying the newest model might get you the latest features, but you’ll pay a premium price for the camera. I think it’s best to find a model that meets your needs, but isn’t the newest camera in the manufacturer’s product line. You’ll get the best bang for the buck with this approach and won’t have as much buyer’s remorse when a new model comes out. It’s too hard and expensive to keep up with the Joneses when digital cameras have such a short product development cycle.

Back to my camera research, I started a new food blog recently, which is dictating my camera requirements. Taking close up pictures of food presents unique challenges, particularly at restaurants. Obviously, a digital SLR with a macro lens would produce the best images but SLRs are expensive, and it’s hard to be discrete using a big SLR. Therefore, my key digital camera requirements are…

Compact or ultra-compact format - allows for discrete picture taking and ultra portability
Macro focus of 3 cm or less - macro shots are the best for food
Image stabilization (IS) - taking close up shots requires a steady hand and IS prevents blurry images
2.5 inch LCD screen or larger - a large LCD screen allows better picture framing
At least 7 megapixels resolution - allows cropping of images while retaining picture quality

Based on these criteria, I have researched many cameras, including the Sony DSC-T100 and Nikon Coolpix S50. Ultimately, based on my biased towards Canon and their reputation for good color and image quality, I believe the Canon Powershot SD850 IS is the best camera for my needs. Here’s a review roundup for the SD850…

Canon Powershot SD850 IS Review from Digitalcamerareview.com - “The Canon SD850 IS is a stylish, well-built compact digital camera that produces great quality images and color while requiring minimal involvement from its operator. The camera lacks manual controls, but offers a number of specialized scene modes in addition to the standard “auto�? shooting mode, as well as image stabilization, up to 1600 ISO sensitivity and good shutter response time. The 4x zoom lens lacks the focal length to bring distant objects truly close, but for normal subjects the camera performs admirably.”
Canon Powershot SD850 Review by Steve’s Digicam - “the SD850 continues their tradition of stylish and durable cameras that capture great photos with fast performance and loads of appealing features (optical IS, 8-megapixels, 2.5-inch LCD, etc.) With 8-megapixel of resolution, the printing possibilities are almost endless, from tightly cropped 4x6s to huge poster size prints!”
Canon SD850 Review from KenRockwell.com - “I use the older version of the SD850 every day and won’t leave home, or even walk around my home, without it. If I needed another camera today I’d buy an SD850 in an instant. Enough said?”

I’m pretty much sold on the Canon SD850, but I’m waiting for the price to drop to $300. Another popular Canon camera is the SD1000, which is slimmer and cheaper than the SD850. It has everything I need except for image stabilization. I’m sure if I wait a little longer, Canon will release a new model similar in size as the SD1000 with IS. There’s the digital camera buying conundrum again!

Buying Research and Advice - 37" HDTV Under $2,000

Chuck — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 01:08:00 -0500

Reader Craig wrote: I’m in the process of buying an HDTV between 32” - 37”. My price range is between $1,200 - $2,000. I’m looking for the best value. I don’t need the latest and greatest technology. I plan on using it to watch HD sports programming. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Craig, I’m going to assume you are looking at flat panel TVs based on your screen size and price range. Let’s start out by highlighting some HDTV buying guides.

Ultimate HDTV Buying Guide [CNET] - a comprehensive guide that discusses TVs by budget, screen size, resolution, aspect ratio, connectivity and more.
Picking the Right HDTV for You [Home Theater Magazine] - a quick guide that covers the basics, such as correct screen size and HDTV type.
LCD & Plasma TVs [Consumer Reports] - discusses HDTV price drops during this holiday season, screen size, performance, 1080p resolution and reliability.
Big-Screen TVs Videos [Consumer Reports] - a series of videos, which covers HDTV types, 1080p, audio quality, connections and reliability. The videos are little dry but informative.

Skip the guides if you are familiar with HDTV technology, otherwise the buying guides will give you a crash course on HDTV basics. These days you have a lot of choices for under $2,000. I narrowed down the HDTVs by searching/researching across blogs, user forums and review web sites. I’m not sure what your preference is between plasma versus LCD so I’ll provide recommendations on both TV types.

Let’s start out with plasma HDTVs. Note: Prices shown below are the lowest price available not including tax and shipping.

Panasonic TH-37PHD8UK [$1,133] - CNET loves these no frills plasma monitors. It doesn’t come with a stand or speakers and has minimal inputs, but you can purchase these accessories for the TV. The picture quality is supposed to be excellent if you want a minimal, HDTV monitor. The major con is its 1024x720 resolution that can’t fully resolve a 720p signal.
Panasonic TH-37PX60U [$1,245] - the folks over at the AVS Forum rave about the picture quality of this plasma set. This set does come with speakers, SD memory card slot and built-in ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuners, which allows you to view over-the-air and unscrambled digital cable signals. The set can display 480p/720p/1080i HD signals.

Now, let’s take a look at some LCD HDTVs.

Sharp Aquos LC-37D90U [$1,599] - “For outstanding detail and sharp images, it’s hard to beat the Sharp LC-37D90U. With the right image and the optimal viewing position, the picture quality is beautiful, even viewed up close. It’s less impressive than some other LCD TVs with dark scenes and off-angle viewing. The resolution is a major plus if you want to use the set as both a computer display and a TV.” The 37D90U is Consumer Reports’ (CR) and CNET’s highest rated 37” LCD monitor and is also a 1080p set.
Sony Bravia KDL-40S2000 [$1,544] - per Consumer Report, “The new Bravia S series models displayed fine picture quality in our initial tests–almost as good as that of Sony’s $3,300 KDL-V40XBR1, one of the best LCDs we’ve seen so far. They did especially well with fast motion–an Achilles heel for LCD TVs in general–and the viewing angle was comparable to that of most better LCD sets. Still, we haven’t yet seen a TV that matches the wide viewing angle of the best LCD computer displays.” The KDL-40S2000 has a 40” screen but is also available as a 32” model, Bravia KDL-32S2000 [$999].
Hewlett Packard LC3760N [$1,099] - received good reviews from both CR and CNET - “While the HP LC3760N’s color isn’t the most accurate we’ve seen, its solid black levels and connectivity combine to outclass most budget LCDs.” The lack of color management is a negative on this set.

Before conducting this research, I was leaning towards recommending an LCD HDTV. However based on the reviews, I’m torn between the Sharp Aquos LC-37D90U and the Panasonic TH-37PX6OU. Since you are looking for the best value and not the latest technology, mainly 1080p resolution, the 37PX60U is probably the way to go. At 37”, you probably won’t be able to tell the difference between 720p/1080i and 1080p anyway. Besides the resolution difference, both TVs have comparable features.

I would recommend going to a store and viewing both the Sharp and the Panasonic to determine which set is best for you. Make sure you check out the viewing angles, watch the TVs with HD sports programming and bring your favorite DVD movie to compare the picture quality of the sets. Also, keep in mind the inherent weaknesses of plasma and LCD HDTVs and choose the TV type that best suits your viewing location and habits.

Good luck with your HDTV purchase and let me know if you have additional questions.

Update 12.06.2006: I just noticed the lowest merchant price on a new Sharp Aquos LC-37D90U is now $1,599. As the price drops closer to the Panasonic TH-37PX60U, I’m changing my recommendation to the Sharp LCD HDTV. But you should still go to a store and check out the picture quality and viewing angle.

Other Resources:

Sony BRAVIA KDL-40S2000 LCD Review [Home Theater Magazine]

Sharp AQUOS LC-37D40U LCD Review [Home Theater Magazine]

What Up Blawg? Need Product Advice?

Chuck — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 02:40:00 -0500

I have spent the last several months writing blog posts on products that I thought were interesting, had a lot of buzz or on products I own and enjoy using. So I want to take this opportunity to find out what products you are interested in buying. If you need assistance looking for a gift or just conducting research on a new product, let me know and I’ll help out by conducting some research for you.

The more information you provide me, the more relevant my advice will be. For example, if you are looking for an HDTV, let me know your budget, screen size, brand or any other requirements you have. Pose your product advice question in a comment below and I’ll respond with a post.