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Smart-Review: HDTV Buying Guide 2011-2012

SmartReview — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:00:47 +0000

2011-2012 HDTV Buying Guide

High Definition Televisions have quickly replaced the older CRT monitors and Analog TV sets that have used the NTSC broadcast standard of the last 50+ years. The newer HD models are thinner, brighter, and display a stunning picture with many times the resolution of older sets. The newest sets are 3D Ready TVs. Below are some of the terminology used in describing HDTVs and the features they have.

HDTV Screen Resolution 720p or 1080p? Screen resolution is the maximum (in pixels) that a TV can display. Most HDTV’s today can display what is called 720p which is usually a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels (1 million pixels). A new standard has emerged called 1080p with a much higher resolution of 1920 x 1080 ( 2 million pixels). Blu-ray, Playstation 3, and HD DVDs are able to display the full 1080p resolution. Cable TV and Satellite companies currently are showing high definition at the lower 720p standard, but in the future they eventually will be broadcasting at 1080p, but due to bandwidth issues it may be a while. 1080p TVs also have smaller pixels, so if you are sitting up close it may be worth it to get 1080p (this is regardless of the resolution of what you are watching). Today’s best sellers are 1080p as prices have come down.

HDMI and COMPONENT – Hooking up your high definition cable box, DVD player, PS3, or other high quality source requires the right connection. The best connection is HDMI, followed by Component. Both are high quality, with HDMI having an edge in picture quality. If you have many hookups to make, you would want to see more HDMI and Component jacks on the TV you purchase. For 1080p sets, you want to have HDMI as your connection of choice. So look for HDTVs with more HDMI and Component connections. Most have at least 3 HDMI and many are now coming with 4 or more HDMI connections.

Which screen size? – One of the first decisions you will have to make, is how big a screen will you need. HDTVs come in a variety of sizes. They come as small as 19 inches and up to 60+ inches. As a general rule, the smaller the room, the smaller the TV. A bedroom should do well with a 26-40 inch HDTV, although there is no set rule to this. A living room depending on the size should be in the range of 40 inches and higher. Those with larger living rooms may need a larger TV. Click on our HDTV Sizing Article for more information on HDTV sizes.

Which HDTV Screen Technology is best? – There are three types of display technologies that are in mainstream HDTV’s. Each display technology has its pluses and minuses. Below are all three technologies and a detailed description.

LED HDTVs – The latest technology in HDTVs is referred to as LED. This actually is an LCD with an LED backlight instead of the traditional fluorescent backlights that are used on almost all HDTVs up to this point. LED backlights improve contrast, use less power, and allow super thin (1.2 inch thick) TVs. There are three types of LED TVs. One is Edge Lit, which illuminates from the edge like traditional backlights. The other is Full Array “Local Dimming” which means that the LEDs are behind the screen and can turn off or dim to give the greatest level of contrast, and the last type is Edge Lit with local dimming which is cheaper than full array tvs. LED TVs are more expensive than LCD TVs of the same size (however LED prices have fallen recently).

Smart Review’s Top LED HDTVs:
Samsung D8000 LED 3D TV Series (3D Ready LED TV),
Sony HX820 LED 3D TV Series (3D Ready LED TV),
Samsung D6000 LED TV Series (LED TV),
LG LW5600 LED 3D TV Series (Passive 3D LED TV),
Sony EX720 LED 3D TV Series (3D Ready LED TV),
Samsung D7000 LED 3D TV Series (3D Ready LED TV),
Samsung C8000 3D Series (3D Ready LED TV),
Panasonic DT30 3D Series (3D Ready LED TV) small screen sizes

Related Article: LED TV Roundup and Comparison
Plasma Displays – Plasma displays are very popular as well. They have higher contrast than LCDs (although that gap is closing), and can display HDTV with stunning clarity. Plasma sets also display fast action (sports, action movies) better. The disadvantages of plasma are that they take more electricity than LCD and LED TVs (recent models use less electricity), and can generate more heat. Some have built in fans. Plasma screens used to be susceptible to screen burn-in (new models use newer phosphers, and compensate with various screen-saving methods). All of the mid/high end Plasma TVs are 3D Ready for 2011. Smart Review’s Plasma “Top Picks” are:
Panasonic GT30 THX Series (3D Plasma)
Panasonic S30 Series (1080p Plasma)
Panasonic ST30 Series (3D Plasma)
Samsung PNC8000 Series (3D Plasma)
Samsung PND7000 Series (3D Plasma).

Related Article: Plasma TV Roundup and Comparison

LCD (liquid crystal display) – LCD TVs were once the most popular technology, however in 2011 LED backlit sets have taken over. LCD and LED both use LCD panels, but the backlight of an LCD uses fluorescent lighting, while the LED uses LED lighting. LCD TVs offer low power consumption and the ability to display the highest resolutions (1080p), LCDs are flat, many are wall mountable. The disadvantage of an LCD is that their ability to show contrast is less than some other technologies like plasma and LED backlit TVs. Today’s LCD HDTVs have greatly improved on contrast and refresh speed. The latest LCD technology is 240Hz. Most LCDs are silent with no moving parts or fans. LCD’s are brighter than Plasma HDTVs and so are better suited in well lit rooms during the day than plasmas. Smart Review’s Best LCD “Top-Picks” are the Samsung 650c Series, the LG LD550 Series, and the LG LD650 Series,

Digital Light Processing (DLP) – DLP was invented by Texas Instruments. It uses many microscopic mirrors which can turn on and off thousands of times per second. This technology offers incredible color reproduction, and excellent contrast. Disadvantages are that most sets require a minimum of 12-14″ depth for the rear projection unit. Older DLP and projection TV’s use a replaceable lamp, so down the road these will need to be replaced. The latest DLP TVs now use an LED light engine which replaces the bulb and color wheel. The LED engine should last the life of the TV. The LED engine also should eliminate the rainbow effect that was a detraction of DLP sets. The LED’s provide a separate light source for each pixel, which gives the new LED-DLP displays a contrast and brightness that rivals Plasma. However, unlike Plasma technology, this system has no chance of burning in.

WiFi/Internet Ready TVs – Many of today’s TVs are internet and WiFi Ready. What this means is that they can connect to the internet wirelessly through your home WiFi network, or an ethernet cable from your cable modem. Content varies on different models and brands of TVs. Some of the more common content available is Netflix, Youtube, Facebook. Some sets have their own internet browser to access any website you put into its browser. We are seeing some provide remote controls with keyboards on them for easier input.

Viewing Angle – Some HDTV’s displays have a more limited viewing angle than others. They lose contrast and become hard to read at some viewing angles and they have more contrast and are easier to read at others. Generally the higher the viewing angle, the better. This is especially important when a group of people are watching an HDTV at the same time. Modern High Definition TVs have much better viewing angles, and it is not as big an issue as it was in the past.

Contrast Ratio – This is the difference in light intensity between the brightest white and the darkest black. Higher is better. The higher the contrast ratio, the greater the ability to show subtle color details, and better resulting picture. Details in dark scenes will benefit from a higher contrast ratio. Many manufacturers give what is called Dynamic contrast which is a higher number than the contrast ratio. So be careful not to confuse this when comparing. LCD panels regular Native contrast ratios hover around 1200-3500:1 for LCDs, and up to 40,000:1 for Plasmas. Dynamic contrast for LCDs can run as high as 150,000 and more. LED TVs and Plasma TVs have contrast ratios 1,000,000:1 and more. As noted one must consider both static (Native) and dynamic contrast ratios.

Response Time – For LCD TV’s. Response time is in simplistic terms how fast the screen can “paint” the screen. It is measured in milliseconds or (ms). Lower numbers are better. A lower response time is best for fast paced games, video, fast moving movies and sports. Today’s HDTV’s have much faster response times than in the past and this issue is also becoming less important since most models today are quite fast.

3D Ready TVs

3D TVs – Introduced in 2010, a new type of HDTV technology has come out on a growing list of HDTVs. Because of the popularity of 3d in the movie theater with blockbusters such as Avatar, a demand for in home 3d Television has emerged. The 3d TV is the same as a normal set except that it has a built in IR (Infrared) transmitter to transmit signals to special 3D glasses. These sets also can convert 2D (regular TV) into 3D. There is now 3D content on Cable TV, Satellite, On Demand, Blu-ray, PS3 games, and more. Sports will become a big area for 3D, and is already on ESPN programming. Blu-ray 3D Players have now appeared that can give you full HD in 3D. **3D Glasses are not required to view regular HD programming. So even if you are not going to initially buy accessories (glasses and 3D blu-ray players), you can still enjoy the TV as a normal HDTV for high definition programming. We believe that over time, most TVs will be 3D ready. Smart-Review will feature these 3D sets as they become available.

The current top-picks in 3D TVs are the:

Related Article: Best LED 3D TV Roundup and Comparison

Related Article: Best Plasma 3D TV Roundup and Comparison

Related Article: Smart-Review 3D TV Buying Guide 2011

120Hz LCDs – Introduced in Mid 2007, a new type of LCD HDTV technology has come out on select HDTVs. 120Hz refers to the frame rate of an HDTV. Currently sets are 60hz. The double frame rate 120Hz sets will make fast action less prone to blurring. This is important for action movies, and sports. Plasma HDTVs do not need this technology as they handle fast action without the need for 120Hz. Smart-Review will feature these sets as they become available. Top Rated 120Hz HDTVs.

240Hz LCD/LED – Introduced in late 2008, this technology quadruples the normal framerate of a 60Hz HDTV, to 240Hz. Like the 120Hz, these sets will make fast action even less prone to blurring. For 2009 there are many new models utilizing this new technology in their HDTVs. Top-Rated 240Hz HDTVs.

480Hz LCD/LED – Some of the latest high end sets have 480Hz technology which increases the framerate by 8 times the normal framerate of a 60Hz HDTV. Like the 120Hz and 240Hz, these sets will make fast action even less prone to blurring. Top-Rated 480Hz HDTVs.

HDTV Firmware – Most of the newer HDTVs now are upgradeable with a firmware (software) upgrade. Usually they can be upgraded using a USB port on the TV, and some using wireless Wifi (this is how the PS3 upgrades itself). Firmware upgrades serve many purposes, including expanding features (such as more internet applications), and fixing bugs. Some TVs that end up being the highest rated may have some poor ratings initially that come from a bug that is later fixed with firmware upgrades. You can usually find these upgrades at the Manufacturer’s web site.

ATSC Tuner – Most of the newer HDTVs now include a digital HD tuner called ATSC. An ATSC digital tuner is required to receive and decode over-the-air digital television signals. Sets do not require this tuner if you are only receiving your high definition feed from a cable company or from satellite, as they will provide you with a high definition decoder box instead. This gives you the option to receive “free” over the air HD local broadcasts.

ATSC/QAM Tuner – Some newer HDTVs have not only ATSC, but also a QAM tuner. An integrated QAM tuner allows the free reception of unscrambled digital programming sent “in the clear” by cable providers (without a box), usually local broadcast stations. This varies by cable company. Most other stations however are scrambled.

Cable Card – Some sets allow you to put a Cable Card in a slot. This card is provided by your cable tv company and allows you to descramble the channels without a cable box. Some people would rather not rent the box provided by the cable company. However, you may lose the TV schedule and on demand features when you use this feature instead of the provided box.

Brand Name or 2nd Tier Brand? – When purchasing an HDTV you will see familiar top level brands such as Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Toshiba, Pioneer, etc. Then you will see 2nd tier brands that sell at substantial discounts to the top brands. We recommend only top tier brands for several reasons. One is that many of these 2nd tier brands offer poor servicing should something go wrong. Some charge you the freight to either ship the TV to them or back after repair. One brand we saw offers no parts after the one year warranty is up, so in effect it is a throwaway TV. Higher end TVs have better video processors for upconverting and reducing digital noise. For these reasons we believe that top tier brands are the best way to go even though there is a higher initial cost.

Digital HD Camcorder Buying Guide 2011-2012

SmartReview — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:24:34 +0000

2011-2012 Camcorder Buying Guide – Buying a camcorder can be confusing. With so many choices and features you need to understand what is important and what is not. This camcorder buying guide will help you sort out the facts on camcorders and what models best fit your needs. It will also explain the technical jargon that is important to know when buying a camcorder. Only camcorders with the best ratings are listed on this site.

Video Recording: FLASH, DUAL FLASH, HDD (Hard Drive), DVD, or MiniDV Tape? - Camcorders today store video in a variety of ways, and each type has its advantages and disadvantages. The most popular camcorders have shifted from MiniDV, to DVD, to the now popular HDD (Harddrive) and FLASH Memory. Each method of storage of video has its advantages and disadvantages as can be seen below:

DUAL FLASH MEMORY – Some of the latest flash memory camcorders not only record to flash memory SDHC flash memory cards, but also have built in memory so you can record video with or without memory cards. The most popular sizes are 32GB and 64GB. As memory prices drop, we believe that this type of camcorder will become more popular in the future. For 2011, 32gb is becoming more common, and some of the new Canon camcorders now have dual SDHC card slots for even more recording time.

Dual Flash Memory Top Picks:

Related Article: Flash Memory Camcorder Roundup and Comparison

FLASH Memory – Another popular group of camcorders use tiny SD, SDHC, SDXC and other flash memory cards to store video. Unlike Dual Flash, these have no internal memory. These camcorders can be tiny in size to larger professional models. There are hardly any moving parts other than the lens. They hold varying amounts of video per card. The most popular memory cards for these camcorders are the SDHC Memory cards. Currently you can get them up to 32gb at reasonable prices, and larger sizes are coming in price. Some of the smaller flash camcorders are cheap ($200 and under), but will not provide the same quality of video as larger models since their Imaging sensors and lenses are smaller, and their stabilization is inferior to mainstream camcorders. Flash Memory camcorders record only to memory cards, while dual flash record to both internal memory and cards (see above).

Flash Memory Top Picks:

Panasonic SD90K (3D Compatible). 2011
Canon HFS200 (2 SDHC Slots). 2010

Related Article: Flash Memory Camcorder Roundup and Comparison

Hard Drive (HDD) – This format records video to a camcorder using a built in hard drive (HDD) similar to what is in a notebook computer. The advantage of a built in harddrive is that you don’t have to bother with DVDs or Tapes. The built in harddrive can hold the video equivalent of many MiniDV tapes or memory cards (depending on harddrive capacity). This should be more than enough for normal vacations and events. When you get home after shooting the video, you can then download the video to your computer with the included cables to later burn to DVD, edit, or archive. You can view video directly on your TV by hooking up the included cables to your TV set. With an HDD camcorder you can also view scenes without having to go through all the footage in sequence like tape, and can even edit and delete scenes on the fly. The one disadvantage of HDD is that you must be sure to back up your video to an external harddrive so that should your computer crash, you have an extra copy. For 2011 we are seeing fewer models as manufacturers are moving to flash based camcorders (Canon has no HDD camcorders for 2011). Hybrid HDD camcorders such as those listed below also can record to memory cards for additional flexibility.

HDD Camcorder Top Picks:

MiniDV Tape – The MiniDV tape has been a very popular format for recording video, but there are few offerings of this type today. Most professional camcorders still use tape. For standard definition camcorders (not HD), the video is transferred with little or no compression to the tape, giving the maximum quality which is important for editing should you want to produce your own productions with the videos you take. Tapes are inexpensive and can give you 60 to 90 minutes depending on selected quality. To view MiniDV camcorders on your TV you can hookup the camcorder using included cables. If you are going to be doing a lot of editing of the video, MiniDV camcorders are a good choice as they have less compression than other models. MiniDV tapes also give you excellent archival storage backup. Even if you transfer your video to a computer and the computer drive crashes, you still have your tape. For consumer camcorders, convenience is leading to HDD camcorders to be more popular than MiniDV. With tape, you have to go through the entire tape to view it (sequentially). For High Definition MiniDV Tape maxes out at 1080i, while flash memory and HDD based camcorders now have 1080p (twice the resolution).

MiniDV Top Pick: Canon HV40

Related Article: MiniDV Camcorder Roundup and Comparison

DVD – Although once the most popular, recording directly to Mini DVDs is no longer the most popular camcorder format. Standard definition DVD camcorders will create DVDs that will play directly in your home DVD player with no modifications. These mini DVDs are inexpensive, and give you between 20 minutes and 60 minutes of recording time per disc depending on the quality setting. You cannot edit DVDs directly, but must transfer the video to a computer and re-edit them. DVD camcorders compress the video more than other methods which can result in lower video quality. If you plan to edit your videos DVD camcorders are not your first choice.

Video Quality - Most camcorders do a good job in bright sunlight outside. However, camcorders that have a larger video sensor (Imager) perform better than camcorders with smaller ones (especially in low light). The video imager is the area that light hits (like the retina in your eye) after it travels through the camcorder lens. The larger the imager it is, the more fine detail can be recorded. Bigger is better. Larger imagers generally come with higher priced camcorders. So if video quality, colors, and fine details are important, a camcorder with a larger sensor will perform much better than that of one with a smaller sensor. The best imagers on consumer camcorders today are 1/3-inch or larger. Most of our Top-picks have larger imagers. We list imager size in all of our comparison and roundup pages.

Low Light Performance - As with video quality, a camcorder with a larger sensor will have better light gathering ability, and low light performance. Those camcorders with larger (faster) lenses will also help in low light situations. The above camcorders that have large Imagers will do well in low light, however only the professional camcorder will give you BOTH a larger video Imager and larger faster lenses for excellent low light ability. Poor low light performance is the number one complaint of people buying camcorders. If low light performance is important, get a camcorder with a larger Imager. Some reviewers have reported that buying a video light makes a big difference in low light situations.

Camcorders with Excellent Low Light Capability:

Panasonic HDC-TM900K 3D (32gb dual flash) 2011
Canon HF S30 (32gb) 2011
Panasonic HDC-HS900K (220gb HDD) 2011
Sony HDR-CX560v (64gb dual flash )2011
Canon Vixia HFS20 (32gb dual flash ) 2010
Sony HDR-XR550V (240gb HDD) 2010

High Definition (HD) or Standard Definition? - Today you have two choices in camcorders. Standard Definition, which is up to DVD quality, or High Definition which greatly exceeds DVD quality. In the future, all camcorders will be high definition, as that is the way the industry is headed. With a high definition camcorder, you usually have the option of recording in either standard or high definition. Even if you record in high definition, you can still play it through your standard (non HD) TV set. To future proof your videos, you can record in high definition today and eventually be able to able to transfer them to Blueray disc, Playstation 3, HD Tivo or another device. Most HD camcorders allow you to connect your camcorder directly to an HDTV through its HDMI or component input. When you hook up one of the top rated high definition camcorders to an HDTV, you will see stunning quality close to that of the best broadcast/cable HD programming such as the Discovery Channel. These camcorders can produce very high quality HD video. HD camcorders are now only slightly more expensive than Standard Definition camcorders, so Smart-Review recommends buying an HD camcorder to future proof your videos.

Professional Video Quality - If uncompromising video quality is top on your priority list, then a professional quality video camera may be your choice. A professional video camera/camcorder will generally be much larger than its consumer siblings. This helps in several ways. One is that the video sensors will be larger for better quality, and the lenses will be bigger for better light gathering and low light performance. Today, these professional camcorders come in two flavors. Standard definition (TV quality) and High Definition. Several of the professional models have been used to make documentaries and even full length movies. These are a favorite of indie (independant) filmmakers and those that record important events such as weddings. These larger camcorders also have the option of interchangeable lenses, separate microphones, wireless microphones, and many other options not available on consumer camcorders. Many professional camcorders incorporate the 3ccd sensor technology.

Related Article: Professional Camcorder Roundup and Comparison

Pro Camcorder Top Pick: Panasonic Professional AG-HMC40 Camcorder (Flash Memory)

3MOS Imaging Sensor - A 3MOS imaging sensor is a special sensor that is composed of 3 separate sensors. One for each color (red, blue and green). These type of sensors have generally been better than a single sensor. The advantage of a 3MOS sensor is that with the data from each of the three sensors, you can find out the exact hue, brightness, and saturation of each pixel, you’re no longer interpolating (which is estimating). 3MOS has better low-light shooting, lower power consumption, and truer colors than other imaging systems. Panasonic has pioneered this technology, which was an upgrade from the older 3CCD technology.

3MOS Top Picks:

Panasonic HDC-TM900K 3D (32gb) 2011
Panasonic HDC-HS900K 3D (220gb HDD) 2011
Panasonic Professional AG-HMC40 Camcorder (Flash Memory).

3D Lens

3D Camcorders- New for 2011 is the advent of camcorders that record in 3D. The leader in this field is Panasonic, as they have released several models this year. Panasonic has upgraded its top of line camcorder from last year to be 3D compatible. This model is the HDC-TM900k. This camcorder can record regular HD, or with the addition of an option 3D conversion lens, can record in 3D. These camcorders record in what is called side by side 3D, which splits the picture into two frames. In order for the picture to fit in the bandwidth limit for recording HD video, the picture is split into two frames with lower resolution than the full 1080p HD. In order to playback the 3D, you need a 3D TV, glasses, and the ability to playback the side by side method of 3D (most 3D TVs, including Panasonic and Samsung). You may also be able to get a firmware upgrade to your 3D TV should it require one to playback “side by side” 3D. Most cable TV 3D broadcasts use the “side” by “side” method, exactly the same resolution as this camcorder.

3D Camcorder Top Picks:
Panasonic HDC-TM900K 3D (32gb) 2011 model.

Panasonic HDC-TM90K 3D (16gb) 2011 model.

Panasonic HDC-SD90K 3D (sdhc cards) 2011 model.

Panasonic HDC-HS900K 3D (220gb HDD) 2011 model.

Optical Zoom – Optical Zoom refers to how close an object can be “zoomed in”. So a camcorder with a 10x zoom can bring a distant object about 2 times closer than a camcorder with a 5x zoom. Larger zoom lenses can give you more options. If you see a reference to digital zoom, this is an electronic representation of optical zoom, and really just crops the picture and you lose resolution. With optical zoom, you do not lose resolution. Digital zoom should not be a consideration in our opinion to purchasing a camcorder, while optical zoom should be considered. Most of our top-rated camcorders come with a 10x zoom which is good for most applications.

Microphone – All camcorders record in stereo sound. All have built in microphones. For better quality you can buy higher quality microphones, and even get a wireless microphone for some models. Several camcorders have a built in surround sound recording system (Dolby 5.1).

There are two ways to add an extra microphone to a camcorder. One is to plug it into a microphone jack (if available), or what is called an accessory shoe which allows accessories to attach to your camcorder.

LCD Size and resolution – The LCD is the screen that you use to compose your video, and view menus for the camcorder. Many are touchscreens which makes going through the menus easier. (You just touch a choice on the menu). LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display, the current technology used for such displays. A larger LCD screen is much easier to see. In addition to size its also important to look at the resolution of the screen (i.e. how many pixels does it have). The more pixels used for a screen the better. So for both LCD size and number of pixels on the screen, higher is better.

Manual Features/Zoom – Automatic focusing is standard on all camcorders. However there are times when you may wish to manually focus your camcorder. Examples are low light, macro (closeup), shooting through glass, and indoor shots where automatic focusing is not as effective. All professional camcorders can focus manually. Most of our top rated camcorders include the manual focus option.

1080p 720p 60i 60p video – Camcorders can record video at various resolutions. Many can record at several different rates. 1080p is the current highest (blu-ray quality). 720p has about half the resolution of 1080p. Also keep in mind the frame rate of the video. Normal video is shot at 30fps (frames per second). 1080@60i is 60 interlaced frames, which is roughly equivalent to 1080p@30fps. Movie film is shot at 24fps (24p). Some camcorders can shoot at 60fps (60p) which will make the movie silky smooth and can be used for slow motion as well. 60p means 60 progressive frames per second.

Snapshot Feature - Many of the newer camcorders offer the ability of the camcorder to take pictures (still photos) with your video camera. Many list the size of the pictures they can take in megapixels. Image quality varies from camcorder to camcorder, but you should not expect the same quality as a dedicated digital camera. Use this feature more as a convenience when you don’t have your digital camera with you. Most of the Top-Rated camcorders we feature take pictures at 8 megapixels or higher.

Image Stabilization (IS) – Image Stabilization is a technology that reduces the blurry video that you could get in low light, using a zoom lens, or riding in a car. (Sony camcorders call their image stabilization SteadyShot). This technology compensates for any movement of the camcorder you are holding to give you sharp video, even in low light. This is a very valuable and useful feature. Almost all camcorders now have this feature. This also helps when using your zoom out to its full magnification. As you zoom in, any shaking of the camcorder is magnified. Optical (as opposed to digital) stabilization is considered to be best.

Image Stabilization Off

Image Stabilization On

Built-in Video Light/Flash - Many camcorders have a built in flash (for the snapshot feature – still pictures) and/or a video light for lower light situations. External flash units and video lights are available as accessories for many camcorders.

Related Article: Flash Memory Camcorder Roundup and Comparison

Related Article: Professional Camcorder Roundup and Comparison

Binoculars Buying Guide 2010-2011

SmartReview — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 00:07:52 +0000

Buying Binoculars can be confusing as there are many choices and types of binoculars. This guide will attempt to explain the main factors that you should look for in buying binoculars and how to buy and which type would be best suited for your needs.

Cheap and Expensive Binoculars When buying binoculars, the term “you get what you pay for” certainly applies, as it does to camera lenses. Cheap binoculars will not perform nearly as well as the more expensive optics in high end binoculars. That is why some binoculars can cost as high as $2,000 (similar to high end SLR lenses). As with camera lenses, cheaper binoculars will have what is called chromatic abberations, which is a distortion of the image you see.

What does 7×50 mean? – Binoculars are quoted with two numbers, the first in the 7×50 example is 7. This tells you the magnification of the binoculars. These binoculars will bring objects 7 times closer than normal vision. The second number (50) will tell you the size of the objective lens in mm. The larger the objective lens, the brighter the image you will see (better light gathering). Binoculars come in many sizes like 10×50, 8×42, etc.

What size Objective Lens to get? – As explained above the second number in the example 7×50 is the size of the objective lens in mm. The larger the objective lens size, the more light sensitive the binoculars which can help in low light conditions, or where you have a very high magnification. (Higher magnification reduces the available light). One downside of a large objective lens is that the binoculars will be larger and bulkier. The largest objective lens binoculars are used for astronomy since they will need the most light gathering.

What magnification should I get? – This depends on what you are viewing. Popular sizes are 7x and 8x for general use. Keep in mind that the higher the magnification, the less light will reach your eyes. The higher you go, your field of vision will narrow as well. What this means is that you will be looking at a smaller part of your view, but closer in. The higher the magnification, the harder it will be to keep the image steady, and you must hold the binoculars very steady. The latest Image Stabilized binoculars will alleviate this problem as they compensate for any shaking you may do (Or shaking by where you are standing, such as a boat, car, or airplane).

Image Stabilized Binoculars – Utilizing the same principle used for camera lenses, an image stabilized pair of binoculars can keep the image rock steady even if using a high power magnification. It works by counteracting any vibration or movement that occurs. That is why its hard to get a clear image from high magnification binoculars. If you don’t have image stabilized binoculars you may have to use a tripod to get a similar image. On a boat, even a tripod may not help since the boat is moving, and not just you. The same would be true from a car, bus, truck, etc.
See our Image Stabilized Binoculars Comparison.

Zoom Binoculars – Zoom binoculars allow you to change the magnification factor from low to high. For example, 8-24×50 signifies that these binoculars can go from 8 to 24 times magnification, with an objective lens of 50mm.

Prism Types in Binoculars – In general there are two types of prisms used for binculars. One is called a Roof Prism and the other is called a Porro prism. Roof prism can give you binoculars that have a straight profile, with the eyepiece situated directly behind the front lens.
This allows for a more compact design. Porro prisms are the traditional binocular type where the binoculars are bulkier and the lens and eyepiece are offset. Without prisms, the binoculars would always produce upside-down, reversed images.

What does Field of View mean? – This is the area that is visible through your binoculars. With normal vision you can see about 180 degrees (out of 360 degrees). When using binoculars you have a narrower field of view. This view decreases as you increase the power of magnification. However higher magnification will bring you in closer to your subject, so it is a tradeoff which you must decide. Larger field of view or higher magnification.

Waterproof Binoculars – These binoculars are sealed so that you can take them out in bad weather, or when near water, or boating. Our most popular and top-rated waterproof binoculars are the Nikon Monarch Series, reviewed on this site.

Lens Coatings – Most binoculars have special coatings. These help remove glare (such as from the sun hitting water), and help to allow the maximum amount of light reach through the binocular’s lenses. The more expensive binoculars have multiple coatings on their lenses.

Birding Binoculars – A very popular use for binoculars is spotting birds. Birding binoculars are loosely defined as ones that are light enough to carry all day, but that show colors and details with great accuracy of the birds that you are observing. They should focus quickly and be usable in low light conditions. The binoculars should be weatherproof at a minimum and waterproof should you be in wet conditions.