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Review; Canon HF 200/20

 

Canon Vixia HF 200/20

I will be reviewing the Canon Vixia HF 200/20 HD camera, I bought item new, I purchased them from Ebay.

Buyer’s Review

Internal/Features
• The Canon Vixia 200/20 has a Photo Mode, a Movie Mode, and a Dual Mode, You can review your media on site, and even delete or protect files from the SD card. There are 7 Func.tion option on the camera, along with a menu button, and a quick access menu that controls filter, flash, video light and more. The camera takes pictures in either 2304×1296, 2100×1575, 1600×1200, or 640×480, and along with those setting you can also pick the ‘fineness’ Super Fine, Fine, and Normal, the other 6 Menus are Shooting Mode, Digital Effects (Including Black and White and Sepia), Colour Option (such as Vivid, Neutral, and 2 more plus a custom setting), Lighting Filters (Automatic plus 6 more and 1 custom menu slot), Auto Focus Mode, and AE settings. This camera can record 190×1080 Full HD, 2304×1269, or 848×480, along with a menu with 4 options such as, Mbps Setting, Digit Effect (Fade, Wipe etc.), Colour & Weather Option (same as the pictures menu). The Quick access menu is the same for both modes (except the ‘Movies’ menu has a ‘Mic. Level’ option), this can be found by clicking the Up button the the camera’s screen button pad, this menu includes; Video Light, Digital Effect, Pre-Record, BLC, Exposure, Focus Mode, and Face Detection. On the ‘Dual Mode’ tab, however, there isn’t any menu option, it’s all automatic. With in Movie mode there is a mode called ‘Video Snap’, this allows you to record a few seconds at a time with out stopping and starting up. On Movie mode it can be zoomed out plus 300x Digital Zoom, PLUS 15x optical zoom. There are also Music abilities. There is a button that allows you to see remain battery life, and there is a button that allows you to just see what you’re recording and not all the indication icons.

Physical/Design
• The Canon HF 200/20 is a small, compact camera that has many option ans features. To the front there is the lens, which is threaded for attachment lens, Flash and Video Light and the built in microphone. On the top there is a Zoom Button, and a Photo Button. The photo button allows you to so a half-way press for auto-focus in both Picture and Movie mode. There is also a ‘Mini Advanced Shoe’ horn on the top of the camera and the Power on/off button. On the Right side there is a USB port along with a ‘HDMI’ Slot, and a turn button that has 3 options on it, Dual Mode, Movie, and Picture mode. To the Left side here is Display menu, when you open the display menu you will see the the direction buttons, ‘FUNC’ button, and the 4 menu buttons, ‘Start/Stop’ ‘Record/Zoom’ ‘Playlist/Zoom Out’ and the ‘Review’ buttons and the Censor for the Wireless Remote Control. On that same side on the inside there is the SD card slot, Reset button, Video Snap button, and the DISP./BATT.INFO button there is also a 3.5mm jack for AV OUT, or HEADPHONES. On the back there is the Battery pack slot, Start/Stop record button, DC 8.4v In slot (for charger), Microphone 3.5mm jack and Component Out port. Lastly on the bottom there isn’t much but the Standard Tri Pod port with stabilizer and Battery Release Latch. There is a little hook for a Wrist Strap, and 2 hooks for a hand scrap (both should be included with purchase). The Vixia 200/20 also has a built in camera shutter/cap so When you power off, it will protect the camera’s lens.

Rating

Personal Notes/Feedback

I’d recommend this camera to ANYONE, this is a great camera for a film-maker, photographer, or even just to record family events. I can’t really suggest anything to better this other than, USE the wrist strap they provide you with, It helps a bunch! I use camera for mostly photography, one thing I really like is the start is very fast, that it’s just an amazing camera. One thing I’d suggest to do; Before you turn off the camera zoom in all the way, that will speed up the start up time. You MUST have a Class 4 or higher SD card to be able to use the camera to it’s full power. I have to say this camera is constructed well, I’ve dropped it once or thrice on the concrete.

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DIY fisheye lens

Want to create a cheap fisheye lens for your Canon HF 200/20—or almost any camera? Here’s a simple DIY method that gives you that classic ultra‑wide, distorted look without spending a fortune.

What You’ll Need

One or two medicine bottle caps

One door peephole lens (about 160° works great)

Glue

Screws and a screwdriver (or a drill)

I used a brass 160° door viewer from Defender Security, which cost around $14.67. Bigger peepholes with bolts look more like a real lens, especially in black or silver.

Steps

Find a cap that fits your camera’s threaded lens area. If it screws on snugly, you’re set.

Drill a hole in the centre of this cap (most plastic bottle lids already have a small nib you can use as a guide).

Resize your peephole so it fits the hole in the cap. I sanded mine down with a pocket knife until it sat snugly.

Glue and secure the peephole in place so it won’t shift or warp.

Measure carefully how far the peephole needs to sit from your camera lens to get proper focus. Once you’ve got it lined up, screw the cap on gently. You can use a bolt at the back as a reference marker so you always position it the same way.

I also made a small protective case from the base of a second medicine bottle for fun (optional, but it looks cool), added a Coke bottle cap as a ‘stopper’ point, and used a larger medicine cap to give the lens a more authentic, professional look.

The best part? You can experiment with the peep‑hole angle and position to get the effect you want. If it’s a bit off‑centre, just adjust the threads or angle until it looks right.

⚠️Disclaimer

This DIY fisheye lens is a homemade project. I am not responsible for any damage to cameras, lenses, or other equipment, and use at your own risk. Always handle tools carefully and test your setup gently before full use.

Updated Dec. 27 2025

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Review; Flip UltraHD 2 Hours (3rd Generation)

 

Flip UltraHD 2 Hours (3rd Generation)

I will be reviewing the Flip UltraHD, Black, 8 GB, 2 Hours 3rd Generation video camera, I bought item new, I purchased them from Amazon.

Buyer’s Review

Internal/Features
• The Flip Cam is great for making short films, recording concerts or live show, or just taking it out for site seeing, or recording home films, or family memories. It has some-what great Sound Quality, depending on the distance, it has great picture, but the zoom adds a small amount of film grain, but it is still HD Quality. The only down side to recording is you can’t focus the camera on a certain thing, it has no auto-focus, but the lighting is great, and it atuo-adjusts to the light, you can set the Language, Date, and Time. Flip Video has a software that comes with it, so you can directly edit from the camera, add effects/text, and then share to YouTube or save it, from a computer; The programme is called FlipShare, It’s free! There is also a Recording Light, and Sound Tone, Which both can be turned off, it also shows you how long you have been recording, along with a battery indicator. You can Delete un-needed footage straight from the camera, and review the footage as-well.

Physical/Design
• It has an easy to open battery door, so you can change the battery, the camera uses a special rechargeable battery pack. You can change the battery without losing any footage. Over all the Flip is Small, Easy to carry, and manage. The camera has an easy to transfer Pop-Out USB plug-in, so you don’t have to worry about changing the SD card, with this camera, you don’t need one, that can however be a down side, if the camera brakes or the USB gets damaged you can’t get the media off until it gets repaired. You can buy custom skins and shells for the Flip. The body as a HDMI to hook up to a Television and watch straight from the camera, but it’s a Mini HMDI port, the camera has a place on the bottom of the body, to screw-on to a Tripod, it also has a place to tie a Wrist-Strap to.

Rating

Personal Notes/Feedback

I’d recommend this camera to someone that likes to make videos for, YouTube or someone who is testing out a filming career. One thing I personally like is the fact that when you click the easy to see Power-On button it turns on Instantly, another thing I personalty love it is that it automaticity shuts-off when there is no activity. My camera did brake, after about 2 years, the USB broke apart from he base.

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Review; The LG enV Touch (by Vrizon)

 

The LG enV Touch (by Vrizon)

I will be reviewing the LG enV Touch by Vrizon, I bought item new, I purchased them from Amazon.

Buyer’s Review

Internal/Features
• The LG enV Touch from the out-side is a great looking phone, BUT this phone has a few glitches. The things that turns me off to this phone is the horrible battery life, the price, and the crashing and freezing. The phone has many useful features, such as note pad that has the option to read out-loud, Alarm Clock, Camera, and more. The Camera dose have flash, auto-focus and has zoom, under certain settings, but again the Video and Picture quality is good. There is a features that lets you edit picture and videos easily right from the phone. The phone isn’t very customizable, but this phone is easily hacked, and you can (AT YOUR OWN RISK) go in with a USB and a computer and add more themes such as BlackBerry, or Iphone themes, by default the phone has 2 themes a Blue Theme, and a Stamp Theme. The screen is pretty accurate, and responds nicely. A neat feature is that you can have a wallpaper on the out-side screen, and a different wallpaper on the in-side screen. The enV Touch has a Quick Access menu on the side, It also has a nice web browser, but it has no Free Instant Messaging programmes, on the other hand it’s very easy to place a call, or send a text message. It also has a function witch lets you draw out the letter, symbol, or number, and the phone will recognize it, plus the screen auto-rotates pictures, videos and the keyboard. This phone doesn’t have the power to run multipliable applications at once. You can add screen gadgets, and pictures to the main screen, much like a desktop, and the menu is layed-out well.

Physical/Design
• The good parts of the phone is, The camera is fantastic quality, The keyboard has a dedicated number key row, and it very nicely spaced out. The design of the phone is very nice, The side flip is nice as is the 2 big, screens, but he Inside Screen Isn’t a Touch Screen. It Has a slot for a Micro SD card, for costumed ringers, wallpaper, or media transfer, the phone also has basic ringer settings. The phone’s side has a Volume rocker, Camera Button, and A Charger and SD card slot. With the SD card you can add video, and music, or other media, you can read documents and stories as well. You can also hook the phone up to a computer, or laptop with a USB cable.

Rating

Personal Notes/Feedback

I would not recommend this phone to a person that needs a work phone, I really wouldn’t recommend this phone to anyone. Unless you plan to carry the charger with you, or use it as a watch.

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Review; Cannon Percussion UP197 Double Braced Drum Throne

 

Cannon Percussion UP197 Double Braced Drum Throne

I will be reviewing the Cannon Percussion UP197 Double Braced Drum Throne, I bought 2 of the same item and this review is the same for both, I purchased them from zzsounds.

Buyer’s Review

At first the throne is really nice, It can be adjusted high or low, but that was the first problem I encountered, the first day I received it and tried to adjust it, the base of the throne is to closed so you have to spend quite a few minutes either prying it apart or jiggling it out. The rest of the base is quite nice, it has 3 heavy duty rubber stoppers on each leg, and the legs can be adjusted. It came in 3 parts; Base, Seat and Neck, now the neck is basic, but again the holes protrude out to much so it delays the adjust time. The seat it’s self is nice and soft and comfortable, but the wood inside the seat is extremely breakable and flimsy, no matter where you sit you’ll get cracking of the seat’s wood, this will also causes morphing and the seat itself, and will cause it to be lop-sided and uncomfortable. The throne doesn’t rotate, and it squeaks when you move (under any weight Tested by 120bs, 160lbs and 260lbs). All of the clamps work great, expect the Seat’s base clamp, It’s loose and allows you to spin, but squeaks. Over all it will do what you need it to, you may need to modify it but, the price vs. the product is fair.

Rating

Personal Notes/Feedback

To fix the adjusting time problem you can pinch the protruding metal on the neck in with a pair of pliers, and pry out the base with a flat-head screwdriver. To help with the seat you can add an extra plate of wood between the seat’s base and the seat.