Martial Arts Videos - self defense, krav maga

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This DVD has given me the confidence and techniques to really be effective with my self defense. The tecniques are a great combination from various martial arts that are really effective and they do really work! Fear No Man!- Jujitsu Self-Defense

I got this DVD, primarily, because it was inexpensive. The content is OK, basic. I've studied just enough Japanese JJ to know this instructor is qualified. You can argue about whether or not his techniques would work under duress -- an argument you could make with any martial art -- but what he is teaching is standard Japanese JJ. Like any other martial arts DVD, you can pick up some good techniques and ignore what you think doesn't work.

The production quality, lighting, sound, is pretty amateur, as if the instructor borrowed a friend's video camera and shot everything on a Saturday morning. It's not bad enough to be a distraction though, and you are able to see the moves. But this is clearly low-budget.

Biggest complaint: The title: "Fear No Man!" is as dumb as it is arrogant, and that is a dangerous combination. After watching this DVD, if you honestly feel that you can "fear no man" then you should book a room in advance at your nearest ICU. - Krav Maga - Martial Arts Videos - Self Defense - Jeet Kune Do'

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Michael Myers - mask, masks

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I was skeptical about this mask. I searched several websites to try and find a high quality Michael Myers mask, and I kept stumbling over this one. In my search, I kept seeing the same mask, but under the production of different companies. I don't know the difference between this one (Don Post Studios), and Paper Magic. Anyway, what I like about the Don Post Michael Myers mask has to be the crevices that form the cheek bones, eye brows, chin, and other parts of the face. The crevices of the face under a spot light gives it that Michael Myers psychopath look. This mask still has some draw backs. One draw back is that the mask is white clean. To give it more of a realistic look, I purposely dirtied the mask slightly all around the face (dust probably isn't dirty enough, I'm a mechanic, so I rubbed my hand on my jumpsuit and then rubbed it on the mask). I rubbed specific parts of the mask, trying to form shadows to make the crevices stick out even more. I also used a dirty eraser from a pencil to form lines to the face of the mask. I tried to form the wrinkles in the middle of the eye brows to make it look like Michael Myers is angry. So you need to add detail to the mask's face to make it look better. Another draw back is that the hair is combed and gelled back. The hair doesn't look's that bad but you can improve on this by grabbing a clump of the hair and separating it into two clumps (separating it, not pulling the hair off from the mask). When you separate the hair clumps, you'll notice that the gel will break off, thus making the hair fluffy. Making the hair fluffy makes it look more like the Michael Myers mask from the movies. Another thing I did to improve on the mask, was to glue semi transparent black cloths on the eyes. This effect makes the mask look creepier, because I had seen people wearing Michael Myers mask's in which you could see their eyes, and it just killed the effect. One last thing I did to the mask was that I taped the back of the neck together (taped the opening together) to pull in the sides of the mask, thus preventing the face from looking fat. I hope this helps you in creating a really nice mask. Even though you still have to modify a couple of things on the mask, I still gave the mask five stars because it's cheaper than other mask's, because it has crevices and because in general, it's molded nicely. Don Post Studios, Halloween Movie Michael Myers Deluxe Mask

I'm a big guy... 6' 6", so when I want to dress up for Halloween, I want to use my height to my advantage and be terrifying. Michael Myers is a natural character for me, as he's notoriously tall. I bought this mask, along with a set of high-quality navy blue cover-alls (which will be put to good use in my garage as well!) and I've got the most frightening costume you could imagine.Now, there are some people here complaining about the actual look & fit of the mask, as well as little things like the hair, etc. I'm going to address all of those issues right now...- Looks: Yes, the mask is stark white. This can be a good thing or bad thing, depending on what you're going for. A little bit of make up or paint on the mask (airbrush if you've got it) and this goes away. Some VERY LIGHT shading with dark blues, dark greens, and grays, just to accent the mouth, nose, chin, neck, and cheekbones (and perhaps the eye area) and maybe a little extra to make it look like it's been through the mill, and you've got a solid gold mask here.- Fit: When you get the mask and put it on, it's going to make your head look twice as wide as it should. Here's what you do: Go to your local pharmacy or hardware store and get white sticky-back Velcro brand strips. The adhesive is MORE than strong enough to do what you want it to do. Put a couple of "Hook" side strips on one side of the back of the mask (right near the slit) and the "Loop" (softer) side on the inside of the other flap. Problem solved. Put the mask on and pull the back flaps "in" until it's tight enough to look better (but not so tight that it's uncomfortable) and let the velcro do the work. - Hair: The hair is completely flat when you get it. Just ruffle it up style it as you want. It feels like there's some kind of "gel" or something in there, so it's easy enough to get the look you really want.- Quality: I don't think anyone here is disputing the quality of this mask... It's nice, thick latex with great hair and no slit in the mouth (which, IMHO, cheapens the mask... but you can always cut your own slit if you want one).Bottom line: The detail is AMAZING on this mask, and although it's perfectly fine the way it is, you can make it as authentic looking as you want with just a little time, effort, and a couple of bucks. But for the price, you're not going to find a better mask (but you can certainly find a lot worse! Whether you're a collector, or someone just looking to do Halloween right this year, if you've found yourself on this page, considering this mask, don't second guess it. Just buy it. One last thing about this company: It was probably the fastest standard shipping I've ever seen in my entire life. I don't know if it was a clerical error or something, and I'm not saying this will happen to everyone, but I got my mask the NEXT DAY from these guys. LIGHTNING fast service.

This product does not look like the picture, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a high quality Michael Myers mask. If you are looking for a high quality MM mask, then try researching Don Post's older version of the Michael Myers mask, but ive had difficulty finding another one, good luck. Try Hollywood. - Horror Films - Masks - Michael Myers - Mask'

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Bullet Pen - geocaching, pens

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While you can get much better-writing pens at this price point [...], but not pens that will write in the rain on wet paper, upside down, in freezing temperatures, and through grease/blood/dirt. As a Geocacher, I've needed to do all four (fortunately, not all at the same time), and this pen works flawlessly. The fact that it comes in a convenient fits-in-your-pocket-and-stays-closed package makes it even better.



Comparing this to a high-end writing pen is pointless. If you're going to be writing a letter on a pad at a desk, then get a good writing pen. If you're going to be writing in adverse conditions or just need a pen that will always be in your pocket, then get this one. You won't regret it. Fisher Space Pen, X-Mark Bullet Space Pen, Matte Black (SM400BWCBCL)

I wanted 4 things: TOUGH, RELIABLE, CONVENIENT and MODESTLY PRICED...This pen has fulfilled everything I needed, and it looks good too.



The first thing I did was freeze it and then submerge it in a bucket of water to see if it wrote. The pen worked flawlessly. Granted, this "feature set" may not be a huge value-add for most, but if you're the type that's constantly driving off roads and bridges into frozen streams and rivers (who still needs to jot a couple of thoughts down before attempting to escape), this pen is worth consideration. [TOUGH / RELIABLE - Check]



I hate to carry anything in my front pockets. That said, this pen is small enough that I find myself putting in my front pocket most days just to keep it with me. I can also carry it inside a small notebook or laptop bag and it doesn't get in the way. [CONVENIENT - Check]



I feel the price for the pen was more than reasonable for its performance. [MODESTLY PRICED - Check]



Bottom Line - I really like the pen. Yes, it does write like a ballpoint, but a $200 pen doesn't get ink onto paper 10X's better than this pen...and good luck with your Mont Blanc upside-down at the bottom of an icy creek!



Final Thought - I purchased the one with the clip and I'm glad I did. Without the clip, the pen will be constantly rolling off the table.

Love it. I like to keep a pen handy but the easiest place is in my pants pocket. I have had pens break and leak in my pocket so I was looking for a better option. The X-Mark fits in the pocket nicely and stays closed until I need it. I have now purchased 3 of them in case I misplace one.

While this pen writes unflinching well in every condition its major flaw lies in the cap and black coating. I used this pen happily for about 2 months until I was unable pull the cap back off the end after using the pen. I tried many tactics to remove the cap and return it to the closed position but it fused to the coating of the wrong end of my pen and forever ruined my favorite writing utensil. I still love the way it writes but it use it in my wallet and cannot afford to have it always uncapped. I will likely purchase a chrome plated version to avoid this in the future. BEWARE OF THE STICKY CAP.

I've been using the Fischer Space Pens for years and they're fantastic. They really do write on almost anything, last long, and the bullet pens are a very convenient size. Capped they fit well in a pocket, and opened up they've got a comfortable length for writing. The build quality on this flat ended pen doesn't feel quite up to the standard bullets, but for a few dollars cheaper they make a great second pen. Go for one of the round ended bullets if you're a first time buyer as the design feels more mature. I rate this 4 stars, but the round bullets 5 stars.

This is my second space pen. I previously owned the regular bullet and was pleased with it until it was misplaced. I replaced it with this x-mark which arrived today. The good news is that, in almost every way, it's identical to the bullet. It writes the same, and is roughly the same length when closed. The cap looks a little different in that it's flat rather than pointed like the bullet. When the pen is open and the cap posted on the rear of the pen, the overall length is s bit shorter than the bullet...perhaps 1/2" or a little more. I actually prefer the length. I would give the normal bullet 4 stars(love the features of the pen, but not a huge fan of how it actually writes). This one would get the same except for one fatal flaw. When the pen is closed(cap on, covering the tip), the o-ring does not provide enough friction to keep the cap on securely. When holding the pen by the clip(as if it were clipped to my shirt or a notebook), a less-than vigorous shake(simulated running, perhaps) will easily dislodge the pen from the cap, leaving the clip still attached and the pen wherever it lands. Hopefully I'll notice when this happens...if not then bye-bye pen. For me the bombproofness of these space pens are their biggest value. Having to be careful where I clip this pen and/or pay attention to make sure it's still there really ruins it for me.



I will be keeping this pen, as at this price it's not worth it to return, but my next one will be another non-x-mark bullet.

Even though ballpoint pens are the most satisfying pens to use, for a long time, I shied away from them, because after a short time, their ink becomes gloopy. The Fisher Space Pen never becomes gloopy, always writes--wet, upside down, through grease, you name it--and always writes nicely. Add to this that it's compact and incredibly durable, as well as perfectly balanced; moreover, it simply feels good to write with. This is the best ballpoint pen out there at any price.

I've used this pen for 3 months and have no complaints. It is the black-matte with a clip-cap feature. It writes very well and the ink dries quickly. It fits well in my hand when writing. The cap seals the pen closed well; you have to pull with hard pressure to pull it off inadvertently. I keep the pen in my pants pocket while walking 1-2 miles/day x 3 months -- the cap has all remained securely on the pen and my pants have NOT been damaged by the pen. The clip has always stayed securely on the pen cap. I would recommend this to others. - Bullet Pen - Pens - Geocaching - Space Pen'

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Prius Key Fob Battery - battery, button batteries

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I just received these batteries, they work good, and the shipping was fast, but they are old stock. The date on the back of the package says 2006 so they are 4 year old batteries and the white paper was yellowing so these are not very fresh batteries but so far they are working. Energizer Watch/Electronic Batteries, 3 Volts, 2032, 2 batteries (Lithium Button Cell)

The picture shown on the Amazon site was deceptive! The package came in two little torn out sections from a big (wholesale?) package. The package looks old and it's unknown how long the batteries will last. Even though they are cheap, they may have short lifespan, which actually will cost you more than the fresh batteries sold on the market!

This is a great deal folks, if you happen to be in a store and see these at a lower price that's great, BUT if you drove ANYWHERE to get them you just lost money. These are delivered to your door and if you have Amazon Prime (as I do for years) 2 day shipping is free. You need to think the whole thing through before you give a deal like this 1 star. I love having to go no farther than my front door to get them. Just for the record, nobody is questioning the quality of the product which is 4/5 stars easy. IMPORTANT NOTE: It seems that from time to time Amazon changes the seller for these and not all are on Amazon Prime so look closely if that is important to you. One week it is and the next week it is not. Still a great product.

I purchased these batteries for my Porsche Key Remotes, and both keys failed after 6 months, normally they work for several years. Need to replace again. Turns out, they aren't as cheap as you think, since they have such a short life.

They were shipped fast, arriving three days after I ordered them, in a standard business envelope. However, they're not as pictured - instead of the two-pack pictured, there are two batteries from one of those cellophane sheets of many batteries you'll see advertised elsewhere on Amazon. Who needs the cardboard, right? The drawback is that there's no expiration date on the cellophane, so you don't know what kind of shelf life they'll have. On the up side, these are made in Japan, unlike the Ray-O-Vacs. - Button Batteries - Watch Batteries - Battery - 3v'

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Black Khakis - khakis, dockers

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These are cut an inch longer than last year's Dockers- Iouldn't quite believe it at first and had to measure to make sure. I bought a pair last year with a 32" inseam that measured 32"; the pairs I bought this year (2010) were labeled as having a 32" inseam, but measured just over 33". Not just one pair, either- this is consistent between four pairs I bought, 2 from amazon and 2 from a local retailer. Extra space in the waist usually doesn't hurt, but the extra length can be a problem- think about ordering an inch short, or plan on getting some alterations. Dockers Men's Signature Khaki D3 Classic Fit Flat Front Pant,Black,36x32

I read the previous review that these pants were long, but figured one inch wouldn't matter that much.



I ordered 34x28. The inseam on these pants (I checked the tag, 34x28) are over 30". To top it all off, they fit my waist like the 33x30 I bought last year.



The strangest thing I've found is how wide the legs are at the foot. I'm able to easily slip these things over my athletic shoes. I've never had dockers that I could do that with and I've bought these exact slacks before... something rather off this year. If I didn't desperately need them, I'd be returning them.

Title says it all. These pants are definitely comfortable, professional, and has a dressy enough look for a business casual (read: not wearing wool slacks) environment. But the other reviewers are spot on - they're easily an inch too long. The legs are also a bit on the wide side. I don't really mind, it's not like the wide leg baggy jeans from the 90s or anything. But compared to, say, skinny jeans, these have a lot of room.



I normally wear a 32" waist, but due to *ahem* a little weight gain in the last 6 months or so, I went with a 33" waist. Fits just a little looser than my other 32" pants, so if you're unsure, go up on the waist just a bit.



All in all, I'm happy with the pants and went ahead and bought a few pairs in different colors. With a little money spent on alterations, I'm quite pleased, and hope to wear these pants for quite some time.

I ordered these pants, because when shopping at regular retail stores, I can't find pants long enough. Typically, at these stores, the longest inseam length is 34", and when I try them on, they're too short. So now, I buy this pair, and they're a tad long. Subsequently, these same pants were on sale at Amazon, and at that time I read through the reviews, where the most universal complaint was that they were too long. I bought a pair with the 34" inseam, and they fit fine. So, I measured the inseams on both, and they were EXACTLY 36", and 34", as advertised. Now, either Dockers has been making them short before, and started making them correctly now, or Kohl's, Penney's, et al, have been buying irregulars, or seconds. Or, more likely, Dockers changed their country of manufacture. The 2 pairs I bought here, both say "Made in Nicaragua". Anyway, now that I know the sizes are correct, I will certainly buy these again, as they are very comfortable, particularly if they hold up well.

I concur with some recent posts. I've been buying this product for five years now. This latest one (bought in May) was baggy not slim fit at all. And, though I've been buying the same 32x30 for years I had to take the legs up 1 1/2 inches.

I work in a business/casual atmosphere. Dress shirt and slacks are a must for me. These slacks fit perfect. The material is very sturdy and soft. I am very grateful. These are the second pair of dockers I've bought online. I will again. One little warning I might add for those of you that may have a big bottom, these specific slacks may be a little tight for you. I have a small pot belly (which I'd like to lose) and a regular sized buttocks and the slacks fit me like a glove.

For some reason Levis/Dockers makes it as hard as possible to find their pants with a 36" inseam (not available in any retail store I've found + not even available on dockers.com). Fortunately Amazon stocks them + they're a great pant. Pants are true to size and true to length. Material is not as thick or as soft as the similar Dockers Men's True Chino D4 Relaxed Fit Flat Front Pant.

These pants are great, and it's so nice not to have to go to the clothing store! Dockers have fit me best for years, and I keep getting more.



Why 4 instead of 5 stars?



1) sizing is not perfecty consistent. When I buy 33 waist, most are perfect while about one in four are tight.



2) Dockers still, after all these years, wear out pretty quickly. Wearing one pair one day a week, it starts to fray in about 7 months. That's only about 29 washings.

I have been wearing Dockers for years. From style to style, I've always worn 32x32. Although Dockers do vary noticeably in sizing from pair to pair, these are rediculous. The actual measurement of the inseam is over two inches longer than my other Dockers. Also, the legs are much fuller than other Docker's "Classic Fit" pants. - Pants - Slim Fit - Dockers - Khakis'

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World War Ii

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Some books, you read, place on a shelf, and never return to them. This is not one of those books. As my library is overflowing with Civil War and WWII books, there are now TWO that I use for study and reference. "Battle Cry of Freedom' by James McPherson is, in my opinion the best one volumn overview of the Civil War ever written.

"A Short History of WWII" is in that same category as far as a complete, one volumn acount of this period of history. It is in depth, yet very readable. When I finished, my copy was tattered, dog,eared, high-lighted, and contained many of my personal observations in the columns.

I will return to it as I continue my study of WWII. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that I would have liked to had more complete maps denoting troop movements. If you're reading my review, you must be considering buying this book. My recommendation is "Buy it, without a doubt. You will not be disappointed." A Short History of World War II

This book sets an impossible task...and very nearly succeeds. The rub is in the phrase "short history." If there's one central lesson to be drawn from this book it's that World War II was immensely complex, with ramifications so vast that it's impossible to discuss them all at any depth in a "short" book. At 150,000 or so words, this book is a lot more than an outline, but it's still forced to abbreviate. If you're interested in details about any given campaign, or any given individual, you're going to be disappointed; if you have a favorite World War II topic or personality, you're bound to feel that it's been given short shrift. Even the most famous battles rarely rate more than a page or two. Where this book triumphs is in putting presenting the big picture--military, political, and to some extent cultural--and in drawing interconnections such as why the North Africa campaigns sucked the Allies into a nightmare slog down the Italian peninsula, or how Germany's conquest of Norway helped tip the scales in the Battle of Britain.Overall, this is a masterful achievement. Is it flag-waving, as some would say? Perhaps--but remember, the author's writing from Nova Scotia, which gives him a Canadian-eye view that allows some detachment in his references to "the British" or "the Americans." (Given the fact he was writing in 1980, that might also explain why he takes a dim view of De Gaule, whose post-war association with French Canada stirred many resentments.) Stokesbury clearly views this war as the crowning achievement of "The Greatest Generation," even if the book pre-dates that phrase. And maybe he's right. Highly recommended, especially to those wanting to put recent World War II movies into context.

Simply a superbly written broad history of World War II. I loved this book because it reads much like a novel and has the proper amount of detail without becoming mired in it. Pre-war causes and crisis were given a great amount of emphasis, and focuses on all aspects of the War. Interesting focus on Axis mistakes which cost them the War. Proper emphasis on the Eastern front is given as well as the falicy of French defensive tactics and frankly, this is the best easy reading, broad topic, book on World War II that I have found so far, suitable for beginners and people with extensive WWII knowledge.

For someone who doesn't know much about World War II, this is a recommended book. It gives you just enough history to understand the different aspects of the war, but doesn't flood you with too much technical information. I'm glad I read this, and recommend it to anyone else that is new to this period of history, or just wants a nice summary to begin with.

I guess I'm a little bias because I was a student of Prof. Stokesbury at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada in the late 1980s. He was my honors thesis advisor and also a great lecturer. His death in 1995 has left a void for me and many others who regarded him as a mentor. The book was the basic text for his WWII history class and serves as a great example of what can be accomplised with a massive topic in an abbreviated manner. There are tens of thousands of books written on WWII and millions of documents, to read or even find it all an impossible task for any student or historian. The book, like the others in his short history series, is not meant to be a detailed, footnoted account to argue a point or rewrite history. Its a narrative and great narrative it is, with insightful wisdom and a breezy manner of writing that is a far cry from the usual stiff academic writing. Stokesbury's tome is a great starting point, with all the famous players, battles, heroes and villians, controversies, and results of the greatest tragedy in human history. He also gives the reader a list of research materials and books at the end to further their studies. It has been on my bookshelf for almost 20 years now, wore out and scribble through, tatter and beaten, through my use of it for my own history lectures in 20th century history at St. Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Overall, a great staring point for any student of the war and a perfect classroom text.

If you want to know about WW2, but you dont have much time to spend on reading, this book is for you. Without missing the necessary details this book pretty much covers WW2. And if you want to dig deeper, there is a huge list of references where you can continue your research.

If you are looking for a well written and informative one-volume account of WWII then go no further. This book will probably not just meet your expectations but surpass them. If you have a penchant for history, I strongly recommend the other Stokesbury books as well.

I must admit to being amazed when I read this book. I must also admit to being wrong. When I was first given a copy, I took one look at it, saw the size of the book (about 400 pages) and said, "yeah, right, a short history of World War II all in one relatively small volume...what a waste of time this one will be." Good grief, I was wrong. If an individual is looking for a very concise and readable overview of this world changing event, that is extremely readable, well researched and hold the readers interest from cover to cover, then this is the one to buy. Now granted, there is no way to compact the information of thousands of volumes of information in to a mere 400 pages, but the author has certainly made a good stab at it and it is astounding the amount of information he was able to pack into this one.



The author has treated all sides of this war with a pretty equal hand, more or less calling it as most reliable historical documents indicate. I do note that at least one reviewer did not appreciate the way the author treated French involvement. About the only thing you can say to this is "hey, read your history." The author certainly did not make this stuff up as there is ample evidence at this time of pretty well who did what to whom at the time.



Like another reviewer, the only objection I had to the entire book was the lack of maps. This work could have been greatly enhanced by a nice set of maps. Now this is a pet peeve of mine and may not bother others as it did me. The author does have a wonderful writing style with syntax that is easy on the eye and quite simple to follow.



This is a very nice, one volume survey type study that is quite readable and quite informative. Even for the individual who knows absolutely nothing of this event, it should stimulate that reader to find more, other volumes to follow up with and goodness knows there are plenty of them out there. Buying them has kept me on the verge of complete poverty for the past 40 or so years. Recommend this one highly.'

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Point And Shoot Camera - canon, powershot

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I decided on the Canon A495 as I wanted an inexpensive camera to carry around in my bag for unexpected shots. For those of you who want a good basic camera from a well-known camera company, this one should fit your needs well.



Are you trying to decide between the A495 and the next model lower, the A490? Here are the differences:



· The A495 has a Face Self-Timer feature. You can focus on a group of people, and before the camera takes the shot, run over and get into the picture yourself, with your face being detected, too. Of course, you would also need a tripod or a place to set the camera down.



· The A495 has two (2) additional Scene Modes: Poster Effect and Super Vivid Color. Nice to have the additional scenes, but how often will you use them? I plan on making some art for my living room walls with the Poster Effect scene, so I opted for the A495.



· The A495 will focus on up to 9 faces (or areas); whereas the A490 will focus on up to 5 faces (or areas).



PROS:

· Easy to use straight out of the box - I didn't need to read the manual to start out, but I recommend reading it to learn about all the features

· Durable, even though it's made of plastic

· Takes great photos, and also great close-up (macro) shots

· Program mode lets you change some settings like exposure compensation, ISO, continuous shooting, metering mode, etc.

· Larger than an ultra-compact camera, so it's easier to grip and avoid dropping

· Uses AA batteries, and I'm surprised I got over 300 shots from my rechargeable batteries (the alkaline AA batteries included did not last long) - I recommend Eneloop batteries Sanyo NEW 1500 eneloop 4 Pack AA Ni-MH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries

· Takes fairly good video with sound (not HD) and can be directly uploaded to YouTube (this is part of the included software)

· The ZoomBrowser photo editing software has always been a favorite of mine, I use it with all my cameras, no matter what brand they are. I like this more than Picasa.



CONS:

· RECHARGING TIME AFTER TAKING A PICTURE IS UNACCEPTABLY SLOW, and even worse if using the flash (approximately 5 seconds w/flash) - this is normal with a camera that uses two AA batteries. It's still better than the Nikon L20, though. Slow even if you are using a Class 6 SD card, as I was.

· No optical image stabilization - but this is rare in any camera at this price point

· No optical viewfinder - again, hard to find now in any camera

· LCD screen is large enough, BUT has low resolution, you can't go by what the photo looks like on the screen as far as quality, 99.9% of the time it will look better after downloaded to your PC

· Battery door is flimsy, I have to be careful when closing it so the hinge doesn't break, and if not careful, the batteries fall out when removing the SD card

· Slightly on the bulky side, won't fit easily in a shirt pocket, should be OK in a pants pocket (not skinny jeans)



I would have given this camera 5 stars if it wasn't so darn slow on the recycling time after taking a photo. It flashes "busy" on the LCD screen and it is frustrating when you are waiting to take another shot.



NOTE #1: This camera does not come with an SD card, so pick one up when buying the camera as you will not be able to use it right out of the box otherwise. This camera will accept SDHC cards up to/including 32 GB.



NOTE #2: The PSC-500 genuine Canon case Canon PSC-500 Deluxe Soft Case fits this camera perfectly, but there is no extra room for spare batteries. It's a snug fit, but it's well padded too.



NOTE #3: For those of you looking for a camera that can put a date stamp on your pictures, this one does. You have your choice of date only or date and time - or none at all. Canon PowerShot A495 10.0 MP Digital Camera with 3.3x Optical Zoom and 2.5-Inch LCD (Blue)

The overall quality of this camera is good, however, I have had nothing but frustration since I began using this. First of all, with nearly every picture that you take using the flash, following the actual picture taking, the LCD display goes black for several seconds and gives you a message that it is charging the flash.



Second, the camera will take its time focusing in and finding the right levels of focus and clarity for the picture that you are trying to take. When it does allow you to take your photo, a review of the photo on both the LCD and later on a PC will often reveal that the picture you just took is blurry and out of focus.



In conclusion, this camera is too much high maintenance for a simple point-and-shoot camera. I have two small kids, and when I want to catch them at a particular moment to take a picture, every second is essential. Between waiting for the flash to charge and then the camera to focus, and then followed by pictures that come out with little quality, the money spent on this camera is not an investment in memories as it should be, but rather an investment in frustration.

Simple, easy to use, feels good in the hands and it does take great pictures.

A great choice for a first digital camera.

It's the perfect camera to have if you're on a budget but want to capture great quality pictures.



A 2.5 sec delay between shots with out the flash, ( with the flash on the avg is around. 3 TO 6 secs ), and start up time is 1.6 sec.



*The camera does not have optical image stabilization.



*No memory card included with this camera*.





I use a 2gig san disk sd card ultra II(you do not get one with the camera) that gives you about 750 pictures.



I use 2 AA energizer (lithium batterys)(or 2650-2900 mAH rechargables) and that gets about 500-550 pictures . You would not be happy with just standerd AA battery life.

Walmarts, Meijers stores have a 8 pack of AA energizer lithium batterys for about $16.80,they seem to last for ever. I just use these like for vacation or a hloidays, for just every day shooting I use (good) rechargeables.





The AA batterys are probably the reason the LCD screen takes so long to recharge after the flash goes off (and to take the next picture) even with the good batterys it is recharging the flash up to 8sec on a (full flash) recharge and the times that are stated above...



I set the disp overlay to grid lines to help take a straighter picture, You may use it for the 1/3 rule also).



Cons: None for this price point.



No camera is perfect



Some are having trouble with the shutter button trying to push it half way down trying to compose there picture, on this camera, you only have to touch the shutter button and the weight of your finger will do the trick, if you try to push it half way like the canon A480 or your old camera it will take the picture...

(Update)> It seems to free up the more you use it but still not like the cameras before it...





Other Thoughts:

* The A495 takes great pictures but you will not be able to tell it by the low resolution lcd screen, you will have to wait and look at them on the computer to realy see how good they are.

It is sometimes hard to compose your shot in very bright sun light also.



* I just realy like the colors in the pictures that the canon cameras produce, again thats just me thinking out loud.





I know this all sounds bad but for the price this camera does take great pictures and is easy and fun to use.

It is on par for this price point.

I have bought these for my 4 and 6 year old grand kids ( The canon A 480s) and have had no trouble for a year now.



The next step up is a canon SD 1300 that I know anything about and you can get a upgrade on this stuff if you just can't live with the A495 (I have never used a A3100)so I can not speak for it.



I am no expert and I am trying to be honest here and help out if I can, these are just my thoughts, look at some of the pictures that I and others have posted on this site if that would be helpfull and check out the other reviews on the A495 and good luck on your next camera. I have these cameras (SD 1300,A480 A 495) I really like them.



I mostly take pictures of bear in the Smokey Mountians (CADES COVE) and love chaseing the grand kids around taking their pictures. ( And this year I fell in love with the Outter Banks in NC ). - Point And Shoot Camera - Powershot - Canon - Digital Camera'

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