Build an Image Stabilizer for any digital camera

I found an interesting video on metacafe - and “exported”to youtube…

This is it:

» Powered by XHTML Video Embed

What I used in my tests (my old mini tripod, a string, a weight):

Results :

1 second shutter time.

1/4 seconds.

1/20 seconds.

1/40 seconds.

1/100 seconds.

What I used:

Canon A630 (without IS)

Manual mode - ISO 80, F4.3, 2/3 flash

Optical zoom 8,4x (I downscaled the image to 2Mp for 8,4x “optical” zoom)

PRO

• stabilizes from 1/20 - 1/40 or faster shooting speed
• easy to build

CONS

• you have to pull the string - might damage the plastic tripod mount (that you find in all P&S IS-less cameras)
• when pulling the string your hand might shake from using force, you eliminate vertical shakes but horizontal will appear (from using force)
• it doesn’t eliminate horizontal moves ( )

Conclusion:

The “improvised” IS is useless until higher speeds like 1/40 or more. Could improve your photo quality by 20% but still isn’t as good as an actual IS.

IT WORKS ??? No…not as advertised - MYTH BUSTED

A few weeks ago I had a difficult choice to do. I had to chose a TV tuner standalone for me..

I had a few models to chose from:

- Compro

- Kworld (a few models)

- Leadtek (1 model)

- Avermedia (quite a lot of them)

I read Kworld has poor quality image - after every review that I saw, I was convinced - NO KWORLD. + the standalone tuners (except for the BOX ) look really UGLY.

I read about Leadtek - but isn’t too good to even talk about. + it was UGLY

Then it comes AVERMEDIA - with all of it’s products.. Well, the options I found in Compro V300 I couldn’t find not even in the highest model and most expensive. NO AVERMEDIA + all of them are UGLY.

I came to Compro V300.

I had to chose between V300 and V600 which after I compared the 2, I realized that one is black and the other white, no major differences.

You can find all of the features list HERE.

First a few shots I took with my camera in a hurry…

So far you can find anything on the internet about what the package contains…

But let’s go to something more interesting :

Image format.

Since all Romanian cable TV is 4:3 - with a really really bad quality, I must say I am very happy with my purchase.

You can see down same commercial 4:3, 16:9 and FULLSCREEN (which I found to be addictive and the best)

The menu with all it’s things.

And some videos with my Horizon and Compro V300

» Powered by XHTML Video Embed

» Powered by XHTML Video Embed

And from the manual :

Likes:

• image quality
• one of the few gadgets on the market that do what really says in the specs sheet
• excellent TV picture quality and lots of settings to do it as you like from HUE to clarity
• excellent HD capabilities and also great for TV consoles, is quite nice to play Wii on your 22″ wide screen with 1650rezolution and 75hz
• I might risk something here but I can proudly say ” IT LOOKS MUCH MUCH BETTER THANT THE WII”great design, light, how everything is arranged one of the best well thought gadgets ever, great remote, great console, you can flip channels, volume and much more without touching the remote
• great PIP
• excellent sound quality and settings - really NO NOISE (for real)
• if it weren’t enough in front you have a cute 3,5mm headphones jack
• blue light and red-orange one - is pleasant just to look at it
• one of the few devices that you plug and really play - does everything automatically
• great colors and noise reduction (for my cable poor signal it’s something I really need)
• nice fading effect when you unmute the channel

Dislikes:

• sometimes is heating just a little too much
• you can not do some basic stuff like- going to a channel (blank) and hit search too look for the TV station that you want, everything is done automatically and you have to be pleased with what you get, anyway if it helps there is an “change position” button so you can swap channels
• no radio (no standalone has one)
• PIP comes only with standard VGA connector, - yap NO DVI
• remote must “see” the tuner
• NO DVB

OVERALL : I am extremely pleased with my purchase and I wouldn’t trade it for any other TV standalone tuner on the market.