Point-and-shoot cameras and accessories

[ Music ] ^M00:00:07 >> Dan: Welcome back to Editor's Office Hours NYC edition, it's the show where you ask the questions and I tie a different CNET Editor every time to answer them. I'm Dan Ackerman, joining me is digital camera expert Josh Goldman [assumed spelling], Josh how are you doing? >> Josh: Hi, I'm doing well Dan and how are you? >> Dan: I'm doing well myself because I'm very excited what we're gonna look at today, principally, is stocking stuffers for the digital photographer. >> Josh: Right >> Dan: Less than super pricey, a gift you can get for the digital shutter bug in your life and stuff their stockings with them. So if you have some questions about this kind of stuff type them into the big question box right next to Josh's head right there if you're watching this live. You can also, of course, chat with everybody else who's watching in the little chat box below here, get your questions in we are gonna try to answer them. Let's kick it off with the first question before we get to all your stocking stuffer goodies you have here. "Are touch-screen cameras any good?" I've seen some of these it's seems a little gimmicky to me merging like an iPhone and a camera or something, what's up with that? >> Josh: Yeah, ya know, it all depends on how you like your cameras. >> Dan: I like them inexpensive and trouble-free, how 'bout you? >> Josh: Expensive is not going to get you a touch-screen. >> Dan: That's unfortunate. >> Josh: Usually the touch-screens are around $300. >> Dan: That's not bad. >> Josh: So, what you're -- the experience is not going -- the problem is the experience is not going to be like an iPhone, the iPhone interface and the response to the screen or response to touching the screen is so much better -- >> Dan: Sure >> Josh: than what -- >> Dan: It's only a camera it's a much more kind of primitive striped down sort of touch experience. >> Josh: Yeah, I mean there are a couple cameras out there that do it okay; Sony has really been, ya know, hardcore with the touch-screens on their digital cameras. >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: Their interfaces tend to be a little snappier, Nikon just -- we mentioned last time we were here the S60 it's not as snappy as the Sony's and Samsung also has a touch-screen model that is -- it's also got a very snappy interface. >> Dan: Do you get the same sort of fine control that you get when using actual blue buttons or sliders? >> Josh: You do but it's not always, ya know, like most touch-screen things the controls come up and then all of a sudden you brush it the wrong way and the -- >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: tools disappear or -- >> Dan: You don't have that tactile feel. >> Josh: Right and, ya know, sometimes there's -- it's nice to turn a dial and have it set, ya know, on the little symbol -- >> Dan: You feel the little click. >> Josh: that you recognize, right, so -- >> Dan: So it takes some getting used to and -- >> Josh: So, yeah, but the other thing is that -- >> Dan: You just have to put the camera away from your face and look at it and find where to put your finger. If you've got fat fingers -- >> Josh: Yeah, fat fingers are no good. >> Dan: I have stealth fingers. >> Josh: Oh, that's good, that's good, I mean I have -- >> Dan: Medium >> Josh: yeah, but they're alright a little clumsy, so. What is nice are what -- or, I'm sorry, what isn't nice -- >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: is that those touch-screens add a little bit to the cost -- >> Dan: Right >> Josh: so in order to keep prices low on these cameras -- >> Dan: I can see where you're going with this. >> Josh: they have to cut corners -- >> Dan: Cut a few corners. >> Josh: so maybe the image quality isn't as good or there aren't as many features. >> Dan: The features, okay. >> Josh: Right >> Dan: Like what's something they might cut from a camera? >> Josh: I don't -- >> Dan: Less optical zoom or something? >> Josh: Well, first of all, the, ya know, the -- what they cut and happens on a lot of ultra compacts and compact cameras is you lose the view finder entirely because -- >> Dan: Oh yeah. >> Josh: you need to make room for the screen. So, ya know, it's stuff like that it's -- it is, ya know, less -- they're less inclined to put a longer zoom in there because, ya know, it costs more money to put that different on. >> Dan: Right, you got to make up for the touch capacity of the screen. >> Josh: Right, right. >> Dan: Well, it's funny you mention that stuff they cut from compact cameras here's another question, "What features should I look for when shopping for a compact camera?" >> Josh: I always start with the price, I always start with price. >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: And, ya know, if you're looking for something -- I guess the main thing to keep in mind is that if you're looking for a really compact camera, an ultra compact really thin camera to stick in your back pocket you're gonna lose things like picture quality or lens, ya know, zoom, so every time you go towards a particular feature, you want a larger screen, that costs money so you're gonna lose out on -- >> Dan: It's a tradeoff if you're staying within the same price range. >> Josh: Exactly >> Dan: I think there was a Sony camera once where it had a smile detector where you aimed the camera at somebody, you hold down the button and when they smile it takes the picture automatically. >> Josh: Right, well, most of that stuff is software stuff that they can add in that -- >> Dan: Cool or gimmicky? >> Josh: Well, ya know, it depends. >> Dan: Would you get that in your camera, or if you had it in your camera would you use it? >> Josh: Ya know, if I had it in my camera chances are I would not use it. >> Dan: Unless you had a particularly difficult to work with child to photograph. >> Josh: Right or you're taking a -- it works well for scenes with, ya know, more than one a couple people in it -- >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: so that you can make sure that -- >> Dan: You don't get anybody [sound effect]. >> Josh: That's right, exactly. >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: So, but as far as resolution goes I would go, I would, ya know, I would stick with 10 Megapixels or below, 8 or 10's pretty much the sweet spot right now. >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: And, what else, let's see, 3 times zoom is pretty standard, you can find something that's -- >> Dan: Right, the optical zoom 3 times. >> Josh: right, ya know, 5 times zoom is probably the -- >> Dan: I mean in our business, and we go to a lot of like tradeshows and events and stuff and sometimes you want to take a picture of some guy that's up at the front of the stage and you're in the back you definitely need more than that 3X, I had -- >> Josh: Right >> Dan: to trade in my camera once or twice to get something with a longer optical zoom -- >> Josh: Right >> Dan: so we can get the -- >> Josh: So, I mean I like 5 times optical zoom, I also -- I prefer having a view finder but some people might just want to stick with the standard -- >> Dan: I don't think I've used the view finder in a long time. >> Josh: No, don't like the view finder? >> Dan: I think I've just grown used to not having it. >> Josh: Yeah, you stand out on the street like this and -- >> Dan: That's right, I go okay everybody stand still, wait I gotta hold that, I gotta get my glasses on I gotta. Now, okay here's another compact camera question, "Is the HD video from compact cameras any good?" Now you can even get HD video in your -- you can always shoot video with a little camera usually -- >> Josh: Right >> Dan: but now it's like HD video, what's the quality like? >> Josh: It's, ya know, it's 720p so it's not full HD it's not 1080i or -- >> Dan: It's HD enough. >> Josh: It's HD enough, it's a nice feature to have I wouldn't go buying a camera based on HD video. >> Dan: Yeah, it shouldn't be the principle thing -- >> Josh: Right >> Dan: you're gonna use the camera for if that you should just go get a camcorder. >> Josh: Right, right. >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: You should just invest in a single feature kind of thing. The video's okay, occasionally you'll find a camera that you can't use the zoom in, which is kind of a drag if you're, ya know, you shoot these little videos and you don't have access to the zoom. >> Dan: Right >> Josh: Other -- >> Dan: You gotta dolly in with your feet. >> Josh: Yes, it's a manual zoom. >> Dan: It's a manual zoom. >> Josh: So, the other thing is, I forgot what we were talking about. >> Dan: We were talking about HD video -- >> Josh: HD video! >> Dan: It's okay, it's Thursday it's been a long week already, the holiday season is here that's like Super Bowl Sunday for us for 2 months straight. >> Josh: Right, the other thing with the zoom is that some of the camera manufacturers will either cut the audio so you don't hear the zoom actually working or, ya know, they will just cut the zoom altogether, so >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: for the same reason so you don't hear the zoom, so. >> Dan: Here's a good question this is something I've often wondered about, it's almost phrased in a accusatory style but I'm gonna throw this out at ya. >> Josh: Okay >> Dan: "Why do certain cameras get high ratings even if the picture quality isn't that good?" >> Josh: Well, if we're talking about -- >> Dan: Kind of put you on the hot seat like that. >> Josh: The point and shoot cameras, the fact is that you can actually, ya know, see their ratings on the site -- >> Dan: Right >> Josh: and if you click on the star ratings or hover over the star ratings you can see how we break down -- >> Dan: The sub-ratings. >> Josh: our sub-ratings and you can also see the percentages that we apply -- >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: to each type of -- >> Dan: So you're saying for compact cameras, for instance, the picture quality may not be as important as like the price or -- >> Josh: Well, its design, design -- we're more concerned with design as far as point and shoots go than we are with everything else. So a camera might not take all that great of pictures the fact is that most -- >> Dan: For you blog it'll be fine. >> Josh: Right, right, but, well, ya know, most people are using pictures on-line anyway. >> Dan: Yeah, for your Flicker account for the family to see your vacation to Spokane it'll be fine. Is that really a place, I kind of made that up. >> Josh: No, you didn't make it up, it exists, I don't know people who vacation there, now we're gonna get a whole list of, of course people -- Anyway, so, yes. >> Dan: Okay, so design is more important >> Josh: Design is more important -- >> Dan: than just picture quality especially in compact cameras and that's why a camera got a good rating even if there are other cameras that take, technically, better pictures but they're more expensive or don't have the same features or the design is not as handy for -- >> Josh: Right >> Dan: compact camera taking. >> Josh: Right, so you want to make sure you read CNET's reviews very thoroughly because -- >> Dan: And they're just engaging and fun to read. >> Josh: They are, they are, we try our best here. >> Dan: Okay, here's a good -- let's dive into some specifics here 'cause some people have specific cameras and they have specific questions about - >> Josh: Okay >> Dan: them. "I have a Fuji Film F1FD (I don't know what that is but I assume it's some sort of camera) -- >> Josh: It is. >> Dan: (Okay, excellent) would I get better battery performance using an XD card versus and SD card?" And you'll have to tell me what an XB card is because I'm not really sure. >> Josh: XD is just another flash media card. >> Dan: Is it the same size as an SD card? >> Josh: It's a little bit squatter. >> Dan: Do they fit into the same slots? >> Josh: No >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: Although what their question is pertaining to is that Fuji realized that not everybody wanted to be tied down to XD cards, -- >> Dan: Yes >> Josh: which was their card of choice. >> Dan: Considering I didn't even know what it was. >> Josh: Right, -- >> Dan: SD cards, however, I use them all the time. >> Josh: on several of their cameras they started having a slot that would -- >> Dan: So there's 2 slots or a dual slot? >> Josh: No, it's one slot -- >> Dan: One dual slot. >> Josh: but it'll fit both XD -- >> Dan: both kinds of cards. >> Josh: and SD cards. >> Dan: So is there a difference in battery life between them? Probably not. >> Josh: I can't see how. >> Dan: Yes, I get that. >> Josh: I don't -- they're both flash media and while one isn't -- can't, ya know, just isn't as fast as the other they're both storing card. >> Dan: So what's faster? >> Josh: SD cards are -- >> Dan: Oh really, wow. >> Josh: faster right now. >> Dan: So stick with that then. >> Josh: Plus they go up to larger sizes. >> Dan: Yes, that is true. >> Josh: So >> Dan: Alright, what's your choice here for the best point and shoot with Raw Mode, that could take videos, and has decent image stabilization, I assume they mean the optical image stabilization? >> Josh: Ya know, I don't know that -- >> Dan: There aren't a lot of point and shoots that do Raw Mode, right? >> Josh: Yeah, there aren't a lot of point and shoots that do Raw Mode. >> Dan: That's kind of -- >> Josh: That has the best video and -- >> Dan: Well, can also do video but it's tough with a Raw Mode 'cause it kind of rules 90% of them out right there. >> Josh: I would, yeah, there are -- >> Dan: You might have to move up a SLR. >> Josh: You really have to move up to a digital SLR -- >> Dan: Yes >> Josh: for Raw, there are a couple out there that shoot in Raw, I think the new G10 -- >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: Cannon shoots in Raw so that might be the answer -- >> Dan: It's kind of like shoe horning two things that don't really work together, together. >> Josh: Yeah >> Dan: Alright, we are gonna take a quick break right now and check out a video, what are we gonna see a video of? >> Josh: It's the Canon PowerShot SD880 IS. >> Dan: We're gonna take a look at that and then when we come back, as promised, Josh is gonna show us a whole bag full of stocking stuffers for digital photographers, I think it's gonna be very exciting. >> Josh: It should be. >> Dan: We'll see you in just a minute. ^M00:12:25 [ Music ] ^M00:12:28 >> Josh: Hi, my name is Josh Goldman, Senior Editor for CNET Reviews and this is the Canon PowerShot SD880 IS. The 880 IS is a 10 Megapixel camera with a 4 times optical zoom and 28 millimeter wide-angle lens, which is considerably wider than most point and shoot cameras. As you can see the camera's nice and small, very pocketable, though it is a little bit bigger than some of Canon's other digital elf designs. On back you get a full 3 inch screen and this new pillowy button array, it's a little convex so it's a little easier to find the buttons and there's a Mode dial around the outside of the Directional Pad that lets you zip through menu selections and when you're in Scene mode you can use it to choose the scene you want to be in or if you're in regular Shooting mode you choose between Auto or Program AE. Overall the design for the SD880 IS is very pleasing it might get a little confusing for some on the back with all the buttons and symbols but the fact is that once you play with it for a little bit it's pretty straight forward as far as navigation goes. What's probably most important is that it takes really great pictures for such a small camera, the color's excellent, detail is very good, and images come out very sharp. The only problem we noticed when shooting was that with landscapes in high-contrast areas there was noticeable fringing, it's not uncommon for compact cameras but there's a little more than we like to see. But overall it takes excellent pictures and, again, the ease of use for it can't be beat. I'm Josh Goldman and this is the Canon PowerShot SD880 IS. ^M00:14:23 [ Music ] ^M00:14:26 >> Dan: And welcome back to Editor's Office Hours NYC edition, I'm Dan Ackerman here with digital camera expert Josh Goldman -- >> Josh: Yes >> Dan: and we are going to devote a good chunk of the rest of our time to something I think is very exciting, stocking stuffers for digital camera guys and girls because the holiday season is right here, we all want inexpensive gifts to give the digital photographers in our lives or to ask for ourselves. >> Josh: It is. >> Dan: And you have a whole bunch of them right here. >> Josh: I do. >> Dan: You have enough for 8 nights? >> Josh: I don't -- >> Dan: We might, we -- >> Josh: We might >> Dan: have to add 'em up. >> Josh: Yeah, we might have to break it out into, ya know; break up some of these things. >> Dan: Yes, yes, okay, what do we got? >> Josh: So, I'll start with some digital picture frames. >> Dan: [inaudible] >> Josh: I bet you didn't know digital picture frames were, ya know, inexpensive enough to -- >> Dan: I tried to get one a couple of years ago for the in-laws and back then they were very expensive -- >> Josh: Yes >> Dan: and most of them didn't work right -- >> Josh: Right >> Dan: and they had horrible reviews -- >> Josh: Right >> Dan: and the ones that were any good were sold out everywhere already -- >> Josh: Right >> Dan: so I did not get a digital picture frame. What are my options now? >> Josh: Well, I happen to like these small 3 1/2 inch ones. >> Dan: Ohh, that's cool. >> Josh: It's nice and portable, this one's from Smartparts -- >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: sells for about 50 bucks. >> Dan: 50 bucks? >> Josh: Yeah, it's a little expensive for a stocking stuffer -- >> Dan: Depends on what kind of stocking you've got. >> Josh: Right, but it's a little -- >> Dan: Let me see that. >> Josh: more full featured it's got a -- >> Dan: Okay, ohh that's light. >> Josh: SD card slot on the side -- >> Dan: And it's got a little kickstand on the back. >> Josh: so you can set it up on your desk. >> Dan: You can kind of set it up. >> Josh: Recharges by USB. >> Dan: Like that, okay >> Josh: So it's -- >> Dan: And what does it take an SD card? >> Josh: Yeah, it takes an SD card and -- >> Dan: And it just plays the photos? >> Josh: Yup >> Dan: And there's no WiFi, doesn't have speakers or anything just -- >> Josh: No, but there's -- >> Dan: plays the photos? >> Josh: internal storage too so you can -- >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: Store photos on -- >> Dan: Will it play back if I have a video file on my SD card, will it play that back? >> Josh: Ya know, I don't know that specifically. >> Dan: I wonder that might be interesting. >> Josh: Yeah, that might be interesting, I think it might be JPEG only but -- >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: I'll look into it. >> Dan: 50 bucks, that's great -- >> Josh: Yeah >> Dan: and you just set it up here, you give one to the parents or something, you put -- >> Josh Right >> Dan: some pictures on it -- >> Josh: Right, right. >> Dan: and they just set it up their little mantle and they've got little pictures of you all year round. >> Josh: Right, so -- >> Dan: And it's rechargeable? >> Josh: It is, yes, -- >> Dan: Or does it use batteries? >> Josh: by USB, no, recharges by USB. >> Dan: You got to plug it in to charge it, okay. >> Josh: Yup >> Dan: Great >> Josh: So, but Smartparts also makes a couple, this one -- >> Dan: It's like a keychain. >> Josh: yeah, it's a keychain. >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: It has a 1 1/2 inch -- >> Dan: That's a little tiny screen right there. >> Josh: has a little tiny screen, it's a little fancier design than some of the other -- >> Dan: That's nice. >> Josh: keychain models, that one sells for 20 bucks. >> Dan: 20 bucks -- >> Josh: Yeah >> Dan: and you plug a USB, mini USB in -- >> Josh: Yup -- >> Dan: to load up your photos. >> Josh: Yup >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: And it's got some controls on the side -- >> Dan: And does it recharge through the USB as well? >> Josh: It does -- >> Dan: So how long will it last if I just charge it up and -- >> Josh: I think it was 9 hours -- >> Dan: Really? >> Josh: something like that. >> Dan: That's pretty good. >> Josh: Yeah, so, but you're not gonna have it on all the time. >> Dan: Oh, you can turn it off and on. >> Josh: Yeah, you just turn it off and on, ya know, -- >> Dan: I see. >> Josh: when you want to look at the photos or show somebody the photos. There's another company Digital Foci -- >> Dan: Okay, turn if off now. >> Josh: Yeah >> Dan: And now, let's see, I can turn it on by pushing the power button -- >> Josh: You just hold it down for a second. >> Dan: Because it's in your pocket you don't -- >> Josh: Right, right. >> Dan: And then it turns right back on. >> Josh: Yeah, so. >> Dan: Boy, grandparents will love that, look I got them right on my keychain, wait a minute, wait I gotta turn it on, wait, wait, I got to hold down the On button don't go anywhere, okay. >> Josh: This -- >> Dan: For 20 bucks. >> Josh: this one's a little bit -- >> Dan: That's good and here's the -- >> Josh: more female skewed but you can get -- >> Dan: It's got little curly designs on there. >> Josh: Right, but there's a company called Digital Foci that makes a similar sized picture frame for 30 bucks that's a little more -- >> Dan: I'm gonna have to get one of these. >> Josh: Yeah, it's a nice thing to have. >> Dan: That's pretty sweet. >> Josh: Yeah >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: So, what else to we have, oh, so, cleaning, cleaning is important for -- >> Dan: Yes >> Josh: your -- and, ya know, this stuffing -- >> Dan: Keep your lens clean, -- >> Josh: Yeah, right. >> Dan: keep your screen clean, keep the dust out. >> Josh: So, what we have here is some products from -- it's Audiovox, company called Surface -- >> Dan: Surface, okay. >> Josh: and they make a cleaning kit -- >> Dan: Clean Lens Cleaning Spray. >> Josh: Right and you get some screen -- >> Dan: Wipes >> Josh: protectors with it -- >> Dan: Oh, protectors, okay, those little plastic things that go on the screen. >> Josh: Right, so that it doesn't get scratched -- >> Dan: I just put one on my iPod Touch but -- >> Josh: And then -- >> Dan: I keep getting cat hair under -- >> Josh: in the bottom of this stylish design is a micro fiber cloth for cleaning that I -- >> Dan: Okay, those are always good I keep several -- >> Josh: So, yeah, it just folds up right inside the -- >> Dan: Okay, much better now. >> Josh: So, Surface also, and that, by the way -- >> Dan: And the top is a spray? >> Josh: Yeah, the top is a spray if you can, yeah, you're not -- >> Dan: There we go. >> Josh: There you go, so, yeah, it's not mouth spray. Why would you do that? >> Dan: Then you wipe your thing off. So this is one package here that's a spray and the cloth and the little jar and it comes with a screen protector. >> Josh: Right >> Dan: And it's Surface. >> Josh: 15 bucks. >> Dan: 15 bucks? >> Josh: Yeah >> Dan: It's great >> Josh: So, -- >> Dan: So for the greasy fingered photographer in your life. >> Josh: what they also have, and I really like these, they're little portable screen cleaners. >> Dan: Oh, okay. >> Josh: You just peel it off like I got one here -- >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: on this camera. >> Dan: Let's hold that up there. >> Josh: You just peel it off -- >> Dan: So you stick it right here. >> Josh: Stick it on the camera and then -- >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: when you're -- when you want to clean if off you peel it off, doesn't leave any residue on the product. >> Dan: So, what do you use this size? >> Josh: Yeah, use that side. >> Dan: Use that side and you wipe the thing -- >> Josh: Wipe it down. >> Dan: That's pretty good actually. >> Josh: Yeah >> Dan: Then you just stick it back on? >> Josh: Yup >> Dan: It just kind of static sticks to the front? >> Josh: Right, right so if you do have a touch-screen -- >> Dan: That's pretty good, -- >> Josh: camera -- >> Dan: it doesn't fall off. >> Josh: Yeah, no, doesn't fall off, -- >> Dan: No, wow. >> Josh: works great on all LCD screens, 10 bucks for a pack of 3. >> Dan: 10 bucks for a pack of 3, also from Surface. >> Josh: Yeah, also from Surface. >> Dan: Excellent, excellent. >> Josh: And then if you want to, ya know, this is another digital cleaning kit comes with a bunch of swabs in it -- >> Dan: Dust stuff. >> Josh: Yeah, dust stuff. >> Dan: I use this stuff all the time. >> Josh: Right, also around $15.00. >> Dan: Spray it and the can gets really cold 'cause it uses like Freon or something and just go [sound effect]. >> Josh: Right, so, about that, normally you don't want to -- >> Dan: Don't do what I -- >> Josh: Don't want to use the -- you want to be very, very careful what you use the compressed air on -- >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: and at what angle you hold it because you definitely don't want to freeze the components or get the actual liquid from the spray onto the -- >> Dan: Onto your parts. >> Josh: Right >> Dan: Or yourself. >> Josh: Or yourself. >> Dan: So, digital camera kit is the same compressed air you get for like your computer keyboard or anything like that. >> Josh: Right >> Dan: And then it also comes with. >> Josh: A cleaning cloth. >> Dan: A cleaning cloth, some cleaning swabs, that essentially a Q-Tip? >> Josh: Yeah >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: But it's -- >> Dan: And some other cleaning spray, like a little liquid spray and so a little kit like this will cost you what? >> Josh: It's 15 bucks. >> Dan: It's also 15 bucks. >> Josh: Yeah >> Dan: Alright, good stocking stuffer there for the camera owner. >> Josh: Yeah, and then I happen to like, I have a lot of SD cards and I have an SD wallet for my -- >> Dan: I have 2 SD cards, one's full the other's empty and then that one's full and the first one is empty. >> Josh: well, I buy a lot of small cards or small sized cards -- >> Dan: Really? >> Josh: 'cause they're less expensive -- >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: and I like being able to fill up a card and then switch to another card so I can have separate -- >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: separate photo sessions on different cards so things don't get confusing. And a wallet like this it just -- >> Dan: Oh, look at this it's a little wallet. >> Josh: holds 6 cards. >> Dan: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 >> Josh: Yeah >> Dan: Holds 6 SD cards and it snap shut. >> Josh: Yeah, snaps shut, comes with a little -- >> Dan: Says SD on it so you know what it's for. And what is this here? >> Josh: That's a little pen -- >> Dan: Pen >> Josh: let's you write -- >> Dan: Write on the SD card. >> Josh: right on the SD card and then the other side erases the -- >> Dan: It's an eraser? >> Josh: Yeah >> Dan: Looks like some sort of invisible ink. >> Josh: It is, so -- >> Dan: So, I'm gonna take an SD card out of here -- >> Josh: Right >> Dan: hold the wallet for a second. >> Josh: Okay >> Dan: So, I can take the cap off this pen, which looks like it's white, the tip is white. So, where can I write? >> Josh: On the back. >> Dan: Oh, on the back, oh, I see because it's blue so you just write like that and, okay, I can kind of see it, then I take -- >> Josh: It'll show up eventually. >> Dan: Oh, there it goes, now it dries and then it's white. Oh, okay, now I get it, then I erase it, look at that it's gone. >> Josh: Yeah >> Dan: That's actually pretty clever. >> Josh: Yeah, so, it's a nice little case, you can find those for around -- >> Dan: Wait a minute you said you like smaller SD cards, you got a 1G here, you got a 4G here, you got a 2G here. >> Josh: Yeah, well. >> Dan: [inaudible] >> Josh: Yeah, they go up to 16. >> Dan: To me 4 is big. >> Josh: 32, 4 is big? >> Dan: I've been out of the photography loop for a while, that's right, what is this labeled, Sam, okay, a Samsung. The label's on it and this is from Panasonic, right? >> Josh: Well, no -- >> Dan: I'm sorry -- >> Josh: this is the case that I was using, yeah. >> Dan: Who makes these, or can you just get them anywhere? >> Josh: There's a bunch of companies that make -- >> Dan: So you can just get them at any photo store? >> Josh: Right, I saw one from, actually, from Digital Foci the company -- they make a -- >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: hard cased one that -- >> Dan: That's pretty usually, okay, especially if you have a lot of cards. And these will probably run you what, about 10 bucks? >> Josh: $5.00, $10.00. >> Dan: $5.00, $10.00 [inaudible] with the pen. >> Josh: Yup >> Dan: Yeah, the pen's handy I didn't realize that would work so well, I like that. >> Josh: So, it makes a nice stocking stuffer. >> Dan: That is quite -- let's see 1, 2, -- let's see, we got the 2 -- these 2 things -- >> Josh: Right >> Dan: plus cleaning kits, that's 3, plus this camera kit -- >> Josh: Ya know, and don't forget batteries and SD cards or memory cards in general -- >> Dan: plus this guy, so 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, so far we've got 6 nights covered. >> Josh: Right >> Dan: What else you got? >> Josh: I have -- I know Lori was on she showed you the Gorilla Pod -- >> Dan: Oh, yes, the little tripod -- >> Josh: Tripod >> Dan: with little flexi things. >> Josh: Flexi things. >> Dan: Yeah >> Josh: Yeah, so, if you -- that, I think, sells for around $30.00. >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: But this one, or maybe -- >> Dan: Here, hold that so we can see. >> Josh: this one -- >> Dan: Okay, little thing. >> Josh: So -- >> Dan: Almost looks like a little mini express card or something. >> Josh: Yeah >> Dan: It's very small. >> Josh: so, and you just -- >> Dan: Pop it open? >> Josh: Pop it open. >> Dan: No pressure it's not like we're on live right now. >> Josh: I know, I know, so, you pop it open -- >> Dan: Oh, okay >> Josh: and -- >> Dan: It's a little mini tripod stand. >> Josh: little camera stand. >> Dan: Little camera stand, it's got that little universal, little screw in the bottom -- >> Josh: Right >> Dan: the camera -- >> Josh: Right >> Dan: Who decided on this, who said this is gonna be how we attach our cameras to this little screw. >> Josh: The screw manufacturers. >> Dan: That always annoys me. >> Josh: So, it just sits -- >> Dan: Basically sits right in your hand like that. >> Josh: and you can aim it, ya know, so you can tilt it like that -- >> Dan: Oh, you can tilt it, okay. >> Josh: so it aims the camera up or -- >> Dan: Or down. >> Josh: ya know, or down or -- >> Dan: Here let me try it we got a camera right here; let's see if I can get this thing on. >> Josh: Well, it's a little tricky to do live here on TV. >> Dan: Listen, this is the real test right here, so who makes this little Tripod? >> Josh: This is Manfrotto. >> Dan: Manfrotto? >> Josh: Yeah, it's a -- >> Dan: That's quite a name. >> Josh: It's an Italian company. >> Dan: Oh, okay. >> Josh: They make a lot of tripods. >> Dan: Okay, so look at that I got it on like this, let's see if I can tilt it around, that's pretty good, now how much does this guy cost? >> Josh: Actually, that one sells for about $30.00. >> Dan: And if you want to tilt it up or down I could just do one of the things like that and now it's tilted down, okay. >> Josh: Yup >> Dan: About 30 bucks? >> Josh: Yup >> Dan: That's pretty good. >> Josh: And it -- >> Dan: And then it -- you unscrew it, I can actually use my fingers here. >> Josh: Or actually if you want -- >> Dan: Look at that. >> Josh: to you could leave it attached and it's got another threaded part -- >> Dan: Right >> Josh: that you can just screw onto another -- you twisted it all the wrong way. >> Dan: I did, it's like a Rubik's Cube, oh wait, it goes one over like this and then one over like that? >> Josh: Yes sir -- >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: you've broken it. >> Dan: Mini tripod, 30 bucks, Manfrotto. >> Josh: Yeah, you busted it, thank you. >> Dan: So, are there any other stocking stuffers we should look at? >> Josh: Well, you definitely want to remember your memory cards. >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: Ya know, 'cause -- >> Dan: That's always good for people. >> Josh: a couple extra memory cards are always nice. >> Dan: Sure >> Josh: Cases, there are a lot of cases out there, if you -- you can go with a product -- a brand specific, ya know, to your camera like Kodak makes a lot of -- >> Dan: Right, that fits the camera perfectly -- >> Josh: Right, right, but there's also companies like Lowepro and -- >> Dan: Right, just make all the universal stuff. >> Josh: Right, right -- >> Dan: So far I like the -- >> Josh: I saw one recently from a company called M-Rock, which is just a glittery pouch I think it's called the Paris or something -- >> Dan: Okay and you put your camera and all your stuff in there? >> Josh: Right, it's just a little pouch, it's a little -- >> Dan: [inaudible] out. >> Josh: sexed up so that you can -- >> Dan: A fancy camera case. >> Josh: Yeah, and it only runs about $15.00. >> Dan: Okay, that's cool, so far I'm loving these little Surface pads you showed me the electrostatic they kind of stick on the thing and then you rub 'em. >> Josh: Right >> Dan: And I love this little $50.00 mini picture frame. Now I know what to get -- >> Josh: At least for the first night. >> Dan: I know, really, that is fantastic. Can you believe, in going through all these stocking or Menorah stuffers that we have gone through an entire half hour of live programming here on Editor's Office Hours, it's shocking isn't it? >> Josh: I know, I kind of -- >> Dan: Do you want to try and squeeze in one more question; this is actually a good one 'cause I thought this was cool, this guy is, I'm gonna paraphrase this question, he's filming guitar lessons for YouTube -- >> Josh: Right >> Dan: and he tried using a $50.00 Logitech Web cam and he thought it was too blurry he says, "Should I use a more expensive Web cam or should I use the video function built into my little point and shoot compact camera?" What would be better? >> Josh: Ya know the -- depending on the compact you have it's probably just going to be the same resolution -- >> Dan: A pretty low res thing. >> Josh: as the $50.00 -- >> Dan: Your best bet is to get a higher res Web cam. >> Josh: Yeah, I would -- >> Dan: There's a Logitech one, right? >> Josh: Yeah, there's a Logitech one that's around, I think, $130.00 -- >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: that, actually, produces -- >> Dan: Does it have [inaudible] on it? >> Josh: No, it's auto-focus -- >> Dan: Okay >> Josh: but it's a 2 Megapixel Web cam -- >> Dan: And that's probably good for YouTube videos -- >> Josh: No, absolutely. >> Dan: You can't go with the super low-end Web cam that's -- >> Josh: Right, right. >> Dan: that'll work out for ya. >> Josh: $25.00, $50.00 probably not gonna be -- >> Dan: That's like the next step up. >> Josh: VGA probably not gonna be good enough resolution. Either that or try and get, ya know, a slightly higher-end SD camcorder -- >> Dan: Yup, or one of those little flip things. >> Josh: Right, well, the flip thing is gonna be the same problem. >> Dan: Yeah, it's gonna be the same problem, okay. >> Josh: Although I -- >> Dan: The new HD Flip. >> Josh: The new HD Flip might work out very well. >> Dan: What is it 2 something 230, something like that. >> Josh: Yeah, it's a little more expensive. >> Dan: Alright, we've done enough helping today, we've helped people more than they could possibly use in one 30 minute increment. You should be aware that tomorrow Brian Tong is gonna be talking to Bonnie Cha about the latest in Smartphones and I assume that means the BlackBerry Storm that touch-screen BlackBerry, which I was actually looking at 'cause I'm a Verizon customer and I was contemplating making the switch to get one of those other fancy little touchy phones. >> Josh: They weren't excited about it. >> Dan: Oh, well, I guess I don't know what to do because the stylus fell out of my tray, I don't know where that went, the thing won't take a charge anymore, it freezes up every 10 seconds and I think it's time to -- and people started to make fun of me for having like an old [inaudible] 700 with the big antenna. >> Josh: As well they should. >> Dan: As well they should. I thought I was a high-tech guy I guess I'm not. So, join us tomorrow for that and here's an important programming note, starting, not next week because it's Thanksgiving week -- >> Josh: It is. >> Dan: and almost no one will be here, starting the week after we are moving to a more regular schedule for Editor's Office Hours you will now be able to see the show every Thursday at 2:30 Eastern, whatever clock that is specific, I believe it's 11:30 -- >> Josh: 11:30 >> Dan: 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, half the time with me in New York, half the time will be Brian Tong in San Francisco so every Thursday you know that's Office Hour's day. Do you have anything else exciting to plug? >> Josh: Uh >> Dan: I'll take that as a no, -- >> Josh: No >> Dan: you can catch me on Monday at the Digital City Podcast, DigitalCity.CNET.com where we talk about technology in big city living for Josh Goldman, I'm Dan Ackerman and thanks for joining us live on Editor's Office Hours. ^M00:29:56 [ Music ]