DSLR's Only for Professionals or Anybody?

I love going to gatherings or events and taking pictures, especially of people. I remember forking over $300 for my first digital camera that weighed around 2 or 3 pounds due to its size and the 4 AA batteries it took to operate it. This is when digital cameras were starting to make their way into the marketplace so to have one was truly a good feeling. I remember showing it off to my friends and taking pictures with it and seeing people's amazement as they were allowed to see the picture right away. As years passed I have gone through around 5 or 6 digital cameras always wanting to get my hands on the latest and the most compact digital camera out there.

Well a few months back I decided to get my hands on a DSLR camera after seeing the quality of the pictures taken with these OVERSIZED cameras. I started my way into the world wide web and its never ending resources. My choice for online purchase is Amazon so I started there and started comparing prices as well some basic things like mega pixels, LCD size, type of batteries, etc. After several days of research I decided on a Sony A200W which had great reviews from other users and was an entry level DSLR priced well below other similar DSLR's. I also bought it when it was on sale for $599.99 which now is going for $699.99. Once I received the camera I pulled it out and was excited to finally have a DSLR in my hands. Although I've never operated one of these bad boys before I simply took the caps off of the camera body and the lens and had it on immediately without reading any instructions.

Needless to say I have really enjoyed taking pictures with this awesome camera. I was a little embarrassed at first carrying this huge camera around, but after seeing the pictures and sharing them with friends and family I have fallen in love with it. If you ever wanted to buy a DSLR camera, but wasn't too sure if you would know how to use it, believe me it's easy as using you digital camera except a lot more fun and rewarding (in more ways than you think). Check out the camera I bought here:

Flip Videos Product Review

The compact video recorder, Flip by Pure Digital Technologies packs a big punch for it's compact size. My brother first told me about his and how convenient it is to carry around and record his kids. I was hesitant at first, but figured @ $130 it was worth the risk. When it arrived I took it out and inserted the batteries that came with the camera and just recorded some things around me. Next, unlike other camcorders and even cameras I didn't have to search through the box to find the USB cable to connect it to my laptop. It has a built in USB chord that simply flips in and out! As soon as I plug it into my laptop a window pops-up and I am surprised to find that it also has a built-in video editing software! Another point for Flip video. It takes a few seconds and I'm already watching my video and given the option to use one of the templates to edit my video which did an amazing job of making it look professional. Editing and saving was a piece of cake!

The simplicity of the camera and its use is like no other. You turn it one with a slide-button and once it's on you simply push the red button and it starts recording and then push it again and it stops. You can instantly watch it by pressing the PLAY button and if you don't like it you just press the button that has the trash can on it to delete it. I honestly think a 5-year old could operate this thing without a problem.

I bought the 60-minute model from Amazon, but they also offer a 30-minute model for a bit cheaper. I think getting the 60-minute model is worth the extra few bucks since you don't want to run out of recording time. It came with a hand strap, batteries (2 AA's), and a nice little pouch to put it in. I've had mine for about 6 months and it's still in perfect condition with no problems whatsoever. I've posted some of the videos on facebook and my friends were amazed at the quality of the video and sound of this little beast.

So what are the cons you ask? Of course there's a downside, what do you expect from a $130 camcorder these days?
1. Ok you only have 2GB of memory and max recording time is 60 minutes. Yeah that sucks a little, but seriously this isn't the type of camera you would take to your kids football game!
2. This sucker will eat up your batteries after about an hour of straight recording. Solution? Rechargeable batteries, simple.

Really these are the only 2 things that I could come up with that I somewhat didn't like about this thing. If you're looking for a cheap way to record those special moments in life in and out of your home, this baby's for you. Here's the link at Amazon to check out some of its specs and read other reviews.