Playstation2 Adventure Pack
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM
list price: $399.99
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Editorial Review

This special game pack includes the new PlayStation2 console (with controller), a Sony 8 MB memory card, a PS2 DVD remote control, and the game Onimusha: Warlords.

At the heart of the PlayStation2 is the 128-bit Emotion Engine processor, which brings lightning-fast gameplay and unprecedented graphics power to your TV screen.

Set during the medieval period, Onimusha: Warlords is a survival-horror game that puts you in the difficult position of having to save a kidnapped princess from the evil General Nobanaga. Enter Nobanaga's castle and use a variety of blade weapons, as well as the Demon's Head--which acts as both a shield and a weapon--against his foul minions.

This bundle includes a Sony 8 MB memory card. We've also included a DVD remote, which lets you access all of the PlayStation2's DVD playback functions.

About These Bundles:

Amazon.com and Toysrus.com are pleased to offer these special PlayStation2 bundles. When you select a bundle for purchase, Amazon.com will ship your selection in a single box. Of course, you're free to add additional PlayStation2 games or accessories to your order. Depending on item availability, these additional items might ship separately. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Not a bad little system
By: Nuckles87
I used to not like PS2, I admit it. However, after going through some duds, and some overrated average games, I came upon a collection of games that are not just classic for PS2, but will remains classics throughout gaming history. I'm talking about master peices like Kingdom Hearts, Ratchet and Clank, and Virtua Fighter 4 evolution.

Now, on to the review. Well, what can you say, it PS2. It has a 3rd rate DVD player, and its hardware isn't much more above the Dreamcast (not that thats entirely a bad thing).But, game console are about games right? Well, thats what PS2 has in spades. What it lacks in technology, it gains in the amount of games on the console. While admitably a good quantity of the games are either average, or absolute crap, PS2 still has more masterpeices than any other system on the market. PS2's main strengths are RPGs, fighters, racers, and platformers (like Ratchet and Clank, Sonic, etc). First Person shooters, online games, are also on PS2, but they make very few of PS2's good games compared to the RPGs, racers, etc. If your not interested in RPGs, fighters, racers, or platformers, you might consider looking elsewhere. However, even then, there are some other good games on PS2, but most of them are not exclusive anymore, and tend to be inferior to versions on the other consoles(however, they do tend to be cheaper).

The following is a list of PS2 games I personally enjoy or I am anticipating. But parents, pleaselook at the rating of the games I list. We don't need you buying Metal Gear Solid 2 for lil Billy now do we ;).

List:

Kingdom Hearts

Metal Gear Solid 2

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Sly Cooper

Ratchet and Clank, R&C2: Going Commando

Jak & Dexter, J&D2

Shinobo

Nightshade (Shinobi side story)

Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution

Soul Caliber 2

Sonic Heroes (vastly inferior to other console versions, but still a fun game)

SNK vs. Capcom

Crazy Taxi

Final Fantasy X-2

Great selection, not much more
Sony promised us a revolution in games, they failed to deliver. The graphics on this system have been evolutionary, but far from revolutionary. Since it's launch in October of 2000 there have been very few noteworthy titles. In fact I rented a lot of games and have only found seven or eight noteworthy titles out of the whole lot, and while PS 2 is currently home to some great titles, like Onimusha Warlords, Metal Gear Solid, and Final Fantasy X I can feel Sony's steam fading and fading fast. Being that most of their major titles have supieror ports available on other consoles Sony has little to offer that is exclusive anymore. However, for the immediate future it is still home to Metal Gear and Soul Reaver, but Final Fantasy will also start appearing on the GameCube with in the next year. I do recomend buying this console, however, because while GCN is my primary gaming focus at the moment, the PS 2 is a good second, and also a decent DVD player, plus there are some noteworthy exclusives for the time being, where as XBox has Halo and Halo alone. Most Xbox ports of PS 2 games are only marginally better anyway. Buy this machine if you haven't already, get a GCN though too. Both systems are worth the money, but if you can only get one of the two systems, pass this one up for the GCN, PS 2 is far from a revolutionary system.

TO EXPENSIVE!!!! AND JUST NOT WORTH THE MONEY!!!!
I hear everyone talking about how the playstation2 graphics blow away all competition, well, they are wrong.The playstation2 can be compared to systems such as sega's dreamcast, and nintendo's gamecube, but compared to the xbox graphics, there is no comparison.The xbox clearly blows the ps2 out the water.I wanna see a game for the ps2 that has got a rating of a 10 out of 10 on any magazine, as for the xbox, the game "HALO" blows any ps2 game out the water, and thats just the begining, soon "THE MATRIX" is coming out for the xbox, and only the xbox, and this game will be a killer to.So to all you ps2 fans out there, I respet the fact that you think your system is better then the ps2, but go to the facts and you will know the real truth.Also, it the ps2 is a worth the money system(as many people say) then why do you have to buy a... hard disk, and you need to buy the multi tap in order to have a 4 player capabilities.And so what if you have to the the dvd playback kit for the xbox, it is cheap and worth the money because unlike the ps2's dvd player, the xbox's dvd player does not skip and is of more quality.Now you know that xbox is goin to blow the competition out the water(eventually)by just using your commen sense.Who built the system, now tell me this, Bill Gates is already losing [money] for selling each xbox, now you know that with that kind of money there is nothing that will stop him from making and selling his systems, he will not end up like the dreamcast, and due to this, will eliminate all competitors.So to all the ps2 fans, you auta think about getting yourself the future of gaming, and get yourself an xbox. ... Read more

Asin: B00005IBYX
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. PS2 (PSX2)    3. Sony Playstation (Play station) 2    4. Playstation2 (Play station2)    5. Console (ps2console playstation2console)   

Canon EOS ELAN 7E 35mm SLR Camera Kit w/ 28-90mm Lens
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $900.00
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Editorial Review

The Canon Elan 7E features the eye-controlled focus system, the fastest means of focusing and metering a photographer can find. By using more focusing points and greater off-center coverage than other cameras in its class, this camera is able to take an exact reading in approximately 1/20 of a second. When a photographer brings the camera to their eye, their glance is tracked by the focusing system, allowing framing and focusing to become a single uninterrupted creative process. An easy one-time calibration is all that's needed to activate the eye-controlled focus system. Once this calibration is complete, the camera is able to precisely detect which part of the viewfinder the photographer is using. It then automatically focuses the lens with amazing accuracy.

This system delivers crisp, sharply focused images whether the camera is in a vertical or a horizontal position. The Canon Elan 7E is even able to store the distinct calibrations of up to five different photographers. Using an EF 300mm f2.8 IS lens, it can track a subject moving at 186 mph until it's a mere 66 feet from the camera. This fast-focus system, combined with the ability to shoot at almost four frames per second, makes the Canon Elan 7E the perfect choice for capturing those demanding sporting events or special occasions when you don't want to miss a single moment. And, considering its continuous shooting speed, the Elan 7E is also remarkably quiet. This feature gives the photographer the opportunity to shoot the perfect wildlife scene without disturbing or scaring the subject.

Part of the Elan 7E's focusing system is the seven-point wide-area autofocus. The eye-controlled focus system was designed to work especially with this precision feature. Seven focusing points are arranged in a wide cross pattern with a central "cross-type" sensor. The wider-than-usual area gives the photographer the ability to achieve a remarkably sharp, focused image instantly. This function works whether the subject is off-center, stationary, in motion, in low light, or even in low-contrast situations. The shot will still come out sharp and crisp, and without the need to recompose the shot. By using the focusing-point selection keys, the user is able to select any of the seven focus points simply by pressing a key. Representing a bold innovation in speed and usability, this feature gives an additional amount of image control back to the photographer.

A highly advanced metering system, comprised of 35-zone evaluative metering sensors, is linked to the seven focusing points. Whether shooting indoors or outside, day or night, a seamless integration of exposure and focus ensures remarkable clarity and contrast in any image. This system gives the photographer accurate control over situations that combine light and shadow or that feature strong backlight. When metering subjects against very dark or very bright backgrounds, partial-area metering measures 10 percent of the viewfinder around the chosen focusing point. This provides accurate image results when dealing with shadows or highlights. The photographer can also use the Elan 7E's center-weighed metering function. This mode places greater emphasis on what it reads as the center of the frame by measuring the entire scene. No matter which function the photographer chooses, precision metering is guaranteed--whether the camera is in a vertical or horizontal position.

Giving the photographer even more creative control is the command dial. This allows manual-control light, speed, aperture, and depth of field. Shutter priority lets the photographer choose the shutter speed, while the Elan 7E automatically selects the correct aperture. This function is especially useful when capturing action shots. With aperture priority, the photographer picks the aperture setting while the camera chooses the correct shutter speed. This is helpful when control over the depth of field is essential. Using the eye-controlled focus system to define the "sharp zone," the photographer can calculate the precise depth of field automatically. It's even possible to check the depth of field using the preview button. ... Read more

Features

• Features Canon's exclusive Eye Controlled Focus--the fastest, easiest method of selecting a focus point
• Top shutter speed of 1/4000 of a second and fastest in its class 4 fps film advance
• Fixed new laser-matte screen with 7 focusing points; 35-zone evaluative metering system
• WhisperDrive brings near silent shooting, when used with Canon's exclusive USM lenses
• Includes 28-90mm lens

Reviews (29)

Died after 2.5 years
Till yesterday I was all praises for this camera and would have given 5 stars. Its got the features for a beginner to reach a serious amature role with low cost. Well yesterday it died on me. I have had the camera for 2.5 years and shot probably around 100 rolls with it.

Now its a great camera. Its given me some awesome pictures. I like the metering except the fact that is does not have spot metering. This is a disadvantage. More over the the partial region of the camera is not well defined. I have the eye control. 85% it works and its great. But it does fail and irritates me at times. Low light focus is not so good but with the speedlight(420EX) it focus in a sec. What a difference. The depth of preview button is at time hard to find

I love the fash 4 frames per second. I used it twice but it gave me great results. I love the feel of the camera.

With all its defects I love the camera and might go in for the same.

Very Happy Canon User
I read the previous reviews and agree with most everything.This is a great camera that can be easily used by a beginner but has the features wanted by experienced pros.

The one thing I was disapointed in is that it did not say anywhere, until I already purchased the "E" model and read the manual, that the EYE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK IF YOU WEAR CONATCT LENSES.The "E" model was a waste of money for me due to this and that is the reason I gave this camera 4 out of the 5 stars.

Fantastic beginners camera
For the record, I have been using this camera for over 2 years now and I shoot mainly nature and people.

The Canon Elan 7E/EOS30 is a fantastic all around camera for beginners/intermediate photographers.

At the time of buying this camera, there was a confusion whether to choose the rebel or the elan 7E. I would very strongly recommend anyone to consider buying the intermediate Elan 7 as compared to the basic rebel. The rebel has a very "plasticky" feel to it and if I remember correctly, there is a single knob to set both the aperture and the shutter speed. Once you move away from shooting it as point and shoot, you will realize that the single knob can get incredibely irritating.

As for the "E" i.e. eye focus, I never really used it too much but am planning to shortly. So you can save some money by getting the Elan 7, if you so wish since the Eye feature is essentially just a gimmick. Now I also wish I had got the date feature, since down the road it might be an useful tool. (say, 40 yrs, from now, you want to know when the picture was taken ;) )

The most wonderful thing about the ELan 7E is that it allows you to grow with it...It offers a whole bunch of features, that I think will take you from a beginning stage (point and shoot) to a more advanced stage (total manual) phase. After shooting over 20 rolls of film and slide, I still find myself reading the manual and noting down some new feature to try out on my next roll.

Small piece of advice for beginners.. I realize now that the money you spend on lenses might be worth almost more than the money you spend on the camera. Coz even the best camera cannot produce a decent picture with a bad lens. I would strongly recommend avoiding the standard lens(28-90mm, I think) that comes bundled with it (even if the total package is cheap). I bought the body separate and a canon 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 and I have never regretted the decision. Its a relatively sharp lens at both ends and is always mounted on my camera for shooting almost anything. If you are on a tight budget get the Canon 50 mm 1.8 II which sells in most shops ... I am now slowly saving up for a L series lens.

Besides the usual preset options like portrait,landscape,closeup,sports,night mode,the Elan 7E offers a whole bunch of features that I found really useful. Here are some of them,

1) Depth of field preview button.
2) DEP (depth of field AE) - this really helps if your lens does not have a distance scale (like the 28-105mm). Say for e.g., you need to preset the depth of scale from 0 to infinity, this feature helps you to achieve that effect without the distance scale on your lens.
3) AE lock
4) Exposure compensation - you can set the exposure compensation upto + or - 2 stops in half stop increments and you can do it without taking your eyes of the viewfinder.
5) Auto exposure bracketting - for those really important pictures that you dont want to miss :)
6) bulb exposures - allows you to have as long a exposure as you want. I found this really useful. I hear that some cameras have limitations on how long they can be exposed. (RS - 60E3 shutter release cable is really useful for this)
7) multiple exposures
8) mirror lockup etc etc etc.

The built in flash suffices for all my needs. Lots of people recommended the battery pack, but I would suggest anyone buying this camera to first check it out themselves. I find the grip good enough for me.

All in all, I just love this camera. I have been having great fun for past 2 yrs with it and am confident of having lots more fun for few more years at least and I dont think you will get a better performance for this price...If you have the money, just get it & start shooting !!

Strengths:
1) Solid feel and good looks
2) Enough bells and whistles to keep you curious and interested for quite some time.
3) focussing point selection with seven focussing points (auto or manual)
4) whole bunch of lenses to choose from
5) built in flash
6) Rugged build - have used extensively in real hot weather(AZ) as well as sub zero temperatures (MI)
7)Relatively light and compact.
8)Best price/performance ratio

Weaknesses:
1) I feel an LCD would have been invaluable tool to have during low-lit situations
2)Lack of spot metering - this is one feature I would have loved to use.
3)Auto focus fails to activate when you try to shoot closeups(macros), cloudy landscapes or under low light situations
4) Depth of field preview button is hidden...I have never been able to activate it without taking my eyes off the viewfinder ! ... Read more

Asin: B00004YZLZ
Subjects:  1. SLR (Single Lens Reflex)    2. Camera (Cameras)    3. Photograph (Photography)    4. Manual    5. Autofocus (Auto Focus)   

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $420.99 -- our price: $189.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Features

• Autofocus operation
• Compact size and lightweight ultrasonic drive lens
• Compatible with Canon EOS SLR cameras
• Powerful 75-300mm zoom
• 9 elements in 13 groups

Reviews (18)

Great value for money
Reading some of the reviews here, it is clear I must be getting old. When I started taking pictures the one thing one looked for in a lens like this would have been that it was one touch, in that the zoom and focus were on the same ring. These days people are spoilt with auto focus and auto program modes in the camera let alone IS. So let me get to the point. For the money this is a beautiful lens. As long as you keep the shutter speed above 1/focal length you will be able to hand hold it. Remember that on a digital body there is a 1.6 adjustment factor. So at maximum zoom you need to keep the speed at 1/500 or better. Yes this needs good light and a higher ISO, but in most cases it should not be a problem. If you are 35mm user you have another stop or so to play with. I recently took pictures of a regatta from the committee boat at maximum zoom, hand held on a Rebel XT body with no problem. With an effective focal length of 480mm this is quite impressive.

Disputed Lens - I Like It
I'm giving this 4 stars because it's pretty much exactly what I expected. A good entry level telephoto lens. I've used this lens both with a tripod and without, and I really haven't had a problem with blurring at the longest focal length - you just need to plant yourself somehow, hold your breath, and think about what you're doing. This is at ISO 400 in full sun. I wouldn't recommend 100 without a tripod.

My biggest gripe would be that the manual focus is almost impossible - it grinds hard and forces big jumps. But so far, this hasn't come up.

Is this the best lens? No. Is this the best lens for the price? Absolutely.I'd recommend this lens to anyone who wants to add a telephoto to their kit but doesn't want to drop $400. If you've got the bucks, go with the IS. If you don't, this is a very good glass.

Rotating Front Element
I had this lens a few years back, but upgraded to the 100-300/4.5-5.5.This lens does not have the Canon ring based USM, so there is no Full Time Manual (FTM).You have to switch it to manual.The 100-300 has FTM.

But, the biggest problem with this lens, is that the front element rotates.This is particularly problematic with filters such as circular polarizers or star filters.Just as you have it set, the focus moves slightly, and bang, you now have to fiddle with your filters again.The 100-300 has rear focusing, so it does not suffer from this problem.

Currently, I am looking at upgrading to a 70-200/4L.Get even better glass.And moving from 35mm to digital.But I will not get the "kit" lens with the reb or 20d.Why?The 18-55s front element rotates.I point this out just to drive home the point.Front element rotation is horrible.

Otherwise, the lens is a good value.I sold mine to my sister in law, who never uses filters.It focuses quickly, and is quiet.The optics are on par or better than you would expect from a $175 lens. ... Read more

Asin: B00004THCZ
Sales Rank: 103
Subjects:  1. Zoom    2. EOS    3. Telephoto    4. (3)USM    5. Photograph Photography    6. Filter (Filters)   

Canon EOS D30 3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $3,499.99
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Editorial Review

The Canon EOS D30 is one of the few available interchangeable-lens digital single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras. It's designed to offer the performance and picture quality of a film-based SLR with the convenience and features of a digital camera. Based on Canon's EOS line of film cameras, the D30 is compatible with all EOS-related equipment, including EF lenses and EX-series Speedlite flashes. This model is targeted at "prosumers" (serious consumers and some professionals), and its EOS compatibility makes it a natural choice for people who already own Canon equipment.

If you're accustomed to using a Canon SLR, the D30's features and controls will be familiar. As with film models, the shutter speed, aperture, and focus can all be set manually or automatically. White balance can also be adjusted, either by selecting a preset value or by shooting and storing a reference image. Unlike most digital cameras, the traditional optical viewfinder is the only way to frame your shots; the 1.8-inch LCD monitor on the back of the camera is for perusing images and adjusting settings only. One bonus of this arrangement is that the D30 is always ready to take pictures; you don't have to worry about changing modes as you must on most digital cameras.

The introduction of the D30 also marks the first use of a CMOS sensor in a multimegapixel digital camera. Because CMOS sensors are less expensive, use less power, and are easier to manufacture than the traditional CCD sensors found on most cameras, there are high hopes that CMOS will be the primary sensor technology for the super-high resolution digital cameras of tomorrow. Until now, however, CMOS sensors have offered inferior results when compared to CCD, so they've been found primarily in entry-level and toy digital cameras. Canon seems to have solved the image-quality problem by custom designing the CMOS chip in the D30, and the company claims that their sensor offers better performance than most CCD sensors.

Images are stored on Type I or Type II CompactFlash cards, including the IBM Microdrive. By default, files are recorded in JPEG format, though there are also settings for TIFF and RAW recording. TIFF is the most common lossless recording format, and TIFF images can be viewed and edited with virtually any photo editing software. TIFF files provide the highest-quality images, but at a price: a single D30 image occupies nearly 10 MB of memory. RAW, in contrast, is a newer format that's not recognized by as many photo-editing software packages, though Canon provides a plug-in to let Adobe Photoshop users directly import RAW files, and also includes software that lets you convert RAW files to TIFF files on your computer. Like TIFF, RAW is a lossless format, yet RAW files are only about one-third the size of TIFFs. Because the RAW image comes directly from the sensor and has received less in-camera processing than other file formats, it also offers experienced users more image-correction options.

A final note about the EOS D30. The CMOS sensor is smaller than a 35mm negative, which means that when you take a picture, the focal length of the lens you are using is greater. For example, if you took a picture using a lens with a 28mm focal length, the actual focal length would be 1.6x greater, or 45mm. If you're currently shooting with a Canon SLR, this makes your zoom lenses even more powerful, but it also means that you'll need to pick up a wide-angle lens or wide-angle converter to regain the range of focal lengths you have with film. --Michael Lewis and Shane Burnett

Pros:

• Compatible with all Canon EOS equipment.
• Features RAW mode for ultimate photographic control.
• SLR flexibility and control.

Cons:

• Expensive.
• Focal length adjustment makes wide-angle shooting difficult.
• More memory is the first accessory you'll need to buy.

... Read more

Features

• Included 16 MB CompactFlash memory card holds 5 images at default resolution
• Connects with Macs and PCs via USB port; uses BP-511 lithium ion battery, included
• 3.3 megapixel sensor creates 2,160 x 1,440 pixel images for prints at 8 x 10 inches and beyond
• Compatible with all Canon EF lenses
• Compatible with all Canon EX-series Speedlite flashes

Reviews (22)

Great learning tool!
This camera was the best investment in my photography that I could have imagined.Without the cost and concern of film and processing, I was free to make as many photos as I wanted, and to adjust the settings to learn about the effect of such control.With my EOS lenses, my existing investment was prolonged.I have printed and posted much of my work, and the quality has met or exceeded local labs.

Excellent for Aspiring Intermediate Photographer
You need to take a lot of pictures to become a better photographer, and you need to learn from the pictures that you take.You get immediate feedback from this camera.I've owned mine now for over a year and I can see the vast improvement in my abilities.The biggest drawback is its slowness, and the second is that you have to multiply your lens by 1.6 to get the true focal length.But it takes all of the Canon lenses so I switch around between my film camera and this one.In all, I've been very happy with this camera and it has gone everywhere with me.

5000 pictures and I am still wanting another D-30 camera
I purchased a D-30 from Amazon last year and I previously had been using a Digital Nikon. The improvement was monumental in all aspects. I subsequently drowned my camera, and I am getting ready to repurchase another D30. They are not ready for water yet? I have taken approximately 5000 pictures and saved them all in the most usable format and I will continue to do the same. The Photoshop software that comes with the camera is very user friendly, I am sure there are many features yet to learn, but I have been extremely happy with what I have already used. I hesitate to say mastered. ... Read more

Asin: B000050MN8
Subjects:  1. Digital Camera (Cameras)    2. Photograph (Photography)