Have you ever wandered in the desert longing for a glass of water, having the water but not the glass? Well not anymore!

This fine stainless steel retractable cup may be the answer for what you’ve been looking for. It has three parts forming a 185ml cup. It also has a cover and a key-chain to carry around. Interested? Keep on reading…

This is how it looks when closed. You can see I removed the key-chain because it is useless. The cover, to which the key-chain is attached to, is not holding the cup so well. I found that it is not safe walking around when this cup is hanging on a backpack.

The stainless steel parts are holding well when the cup is retracted. It’s good enough for drinking, but if you drop it or give a little nudge, it closes back down.

What’s important is that it’s doing its job pretty well, meaning liquid is not spilled out of the cup. The overall quality is OK. It could be better but is sufficient, considering the low price you get it for.

The cup’s height is 3cm when closed, 7cm when opened.

To sum it up, it’s a nice gadget for traveling or for times you don’t want to drink from someone else’s cup.

Get the 185ml version by clicking here ($5.5 including worldwide shipping)

You can also get a smaller 60ml version of this retractable cup here ($4.5 including worldwide shipping)

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Canon G11 Tips Website – Click Here (http://canong11.amirw.net)

This is great news if you’ve been interested in this great camera. The original price is $500 USD so hurry up before it goes back.

The Canon G11 offers superb image quality for both day-light shots and low-light photo-shooting. It’s a great choice whether you’ve been looking for one of the best IQ cameras on the market today. The G11 shows a remarkable improvement in high ISO settings compared to its predecessor Canon G10, not to mention the swivel LCD that was added to this model. This is the closest you can get as far as image quality goes in non-DSLR cameras with RAW capabilities.

Click here to get Canon PowerShot G11 (Amazon.com)  $449.99 USD

Click here to get Canon PowerShot G11 (B&H Photo Video)  $499.95 USD

Canon G11 Website – News, tips & tricks

So now it’s time to look for a new camera. Using a Super-Zoom camera for three years, quite extensively if I may add, has taught me a few lessons about the advantages as well as disadvantages of this specific camera. I’ve adpated a certain style during that time. For example, I avoided high ISO settings above 200 due to noisy results. I tried to avoid using the zoom feature when possible to keep image quality higher. I always used the top image quality settings (which in this camera was 5 mega-pixels).

Traveling with a Super-Zoom Camera

The Canon S3 IS was a real gem for traveling. The convenience of AA batteries, never to worry about losing / destroying a proprietary charger.  The S3’s dedicated Video button has become something as natural as the shutter-release button for me. It is so convenient to take video clips when you travel, and I wouldn’t want to carry an extra camcorder along for so many reasons. The swivel LCD screen was used for certain tasks, but for general tasks I fell in love with the viewfinder, thus used it as often as possible. The digital viewfinder, that although was of low quality, gave me the benefits of shooting pictures when the sun was too bright to look at the screen, which happens on a day to day basis. Moreover, it showed all parameters, live histogram and other features that the S3 offers. The SD card as a globally accepted file storage, easily purchased all over the world when needed.  The super-zoom that got me closer to far objects. This feature was not used much as I initially planned, but proved so useful when you walk in the jungle, tracking a small animal or a rare bird singing on one of the far away trees.

Of course, it was far from perfect. Higher ISO levels than 200 were noisy and not usable for me. Night shots were a project of stabilization and consideration. Numerous times I had given up on taking the shot because of the disastrous result. I took fabulous pictures when the skies were blue and the sun was out. I acquired a few techniques to take the shot when the surrounding was not so ideal, but I always wondered what  the result would be like if I had a DSLR camera with me at that moment. What a waste it is to be at this beautiful national park, once in a lifetime, with a sub-par equipment.

Well, it’s all a matter of compromise. A DSLR would be an overkill to carry back then, and I wouldn’t even have had the chance to take video clips. Moreover, I know for sure that I wouldn’t take some risks that I could afford to take with the Canon S3, just so I can keep the safety of the expensive equipment. So here’s a dilemma for you – what’s more important, the adventure to experience or a more beautifully documented memory?

So I’m taking a break from long  journeys for the next year. I plan to go on another short journey to Egypt in a few months, not such a big deal for carrying a DSLR.

The Big Decision – To DSLR or not to DSLR

I will make it short so you can have an idea what is my path in choosing. After an exhaustive research I’ve ruled out the Canon 500D DSLR camera (also known as Canon EOS Rebel T1i)

Why?

For years I have been waiting that video gets into DSLRs. Even before I purchased my Canon S3. I had a gut feeling that it’s going to get there, but didn’t know when. Well, time has come. Lately Nikon and Canon released their D5000 and 500D (respectively). Both models have a video feature, but looking closely, these are like the beta models of video-DSLR cameras. The Nikon only has a 24fps for HD video was completely ruled out. A good video should have 30fps. The canon does not have 1080p HD video, but 720p HD video @ 30fps. This is enough for me. However, it doesn’t have stereo sound, only mono. This is a downgrade from the Canon S3 and its entire Super-Zoom series. Moreover, a quick research shows that the microphone gets the lens’ noises.

The thing that completely ruled out the 500D was the swivel LCD screen. This one is another feature that came to the DSLR world lately. Nikon D5000 has it, so Canon would not fall behind. I guess we can see it when time comes and the Canon 550D or 600D gets released.

As you can see, image quality was not the cause for ruling out DSLR cameras. I can say that I’m spoiled by a Super-Zoom camera. I would gladly invest more money in a quality DSLR. I’m also willing to learn to use the complicated features, but I’m not going to carry the extra weight while I’m traveling and give up the convenience of taking photographs as I’m used to. When you travel, every gram counts, let alone kilograms of lenses and a heavy DSLR body. This one will have to wait for the next generation that has better video features and a swivel screen as basic requirement.

Later I checked out the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 with the brand new micro four thirds system. It looks nice, smaller than a DSLR with many benefits. Panasonic even put a swivel LCD inside, but unfortunately no video.

Back to Point & Shoot Cameras

So after putting aside the heavy canons, I’ve researched some of the advanced Point & Shoot cameras.

The main candidates were Canon G11 and Canon SX20. Both were released just recently to the market. Some may say these are completely different cameras, so how can I compare them at all? Well truth is, both of them have something I’m looking for. I had to decide which one has the more important features. Before comparing the two, I want to add that I’ve not neglected another new model – the Canon S90.

I ruled out the Canon S90. Although it is considered a good camera with image quality that is very close to the Canon G11. Some say a little better, some say a little worse. Its main advantage is its compact size. It is a very small camera that can be a great partner for DSLR owners. For me it’s too small to hold. There’s no viewfinder, no swivel screen and the controls are less convenient.

Canon SX20 vs Canon G11

It was not easy to choose between the two. I had to compromise on several key factors such as AA batteries which I like so much, x20 Super-Zoom which is nice, the latest edition of 720p 32fps High Definition video. I really wanted this feature. Strangely enough, the G11 does not have it.

Although there are many excellent features missing in the G11, my craving for better image quality after three years with a Super-Zoom camera was too strong.

The Canon SX10 (predecessor to SX20) got excellent reviews regarding day-time image quality. It was a remarkable step-up from my Canon S3 IS. However, as it comes to night-shots, it was still not as good as the G11.

What helped me make the final decision was disappointments of SX10 owners who upgraded to Canon SX20. As Canon raised the Megapixel rate from 10MP to 12MP, keeping the same small sensor, the image quality has degraded. The SX10 which was considered a success looks as if it casts shadows over its younger sister, the SX20. So I could have considered buying the SX10, but lacking the desired HD video, suddenly it seemed less attractive than the G11.

So I compromised as far as it goes to AA batteries and x20 Zoom (which I rarely used), and HD video in favor of higher image quality and quality night shots.

That doesn’t mean the other competitors are not as good, but this is the best camera for my current needs.

I will be looking forward to the next generation of Canon cameras – Canon SX30, Canon G12 and Canon 550D. I hope to see better IQ, swivel LCD and quality HD video in them all, especially the entry-level DSLR, which will hopefully be my next purchase after the Canon G11.

Useful Links

Canon G11 (Amazon.com) ~ $500 USD (Price dropped to $450 for a limited time)

Canon SX20 IS (Amazon.com) ~ $360 USD

Canon EOS Rebel T1i / Canon 500D (Amazon.com) ~ $750 USD

Canon S90 (Amazon.com) – ~$430 USD

Canon G11 Website – News, tips & tricks

One ebay seller offers a 32GB micro-SDHC card for $100 USD. It seems like a reasonable price, maybe even too good to be true.

Kingston 32GB micro-SDHC on eBay

It looks legit, but my vote still goes for a counterfeit / fake.

As you can see in the low-quality picture, it is a SanDisk 32GB microSDHC Class 4. Or… is it?

My other theory is that this is actually a good sign. Either SanDisk’s factories in China began producing the real deal (which was the cause for fake cards popping out), or these are real SanDisk memory cards that someone in China got his hands on.

Well, let’s wait and see what happens!

More info & link inside this article

Here’s an excerpt taken from the merchant’s web page:

Another great invention from SanDisk, the microSDHC is about a quarter of the size of an SD card and is the newest standard of SD flash memory specifically designed for use with ultra-small mobile phones and other devices. Like the miniSD, the microSD is ideal for use in storing media-rich files such as music, videos, and photographs in compatible mobile phones.
General
Product Type: Flash memory card
Storage Capacity: 32GB
Compatibility Non-specific
Memory
SD Speed Class Class 2
Form Factor MicroSDHC
Expansion / Connectivity
Compatible Slots 1 x microSDHC
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & Support 5 years warranty
Service & Support Details Limited warranty – 5 years

While Kingston has their Class 2 card for sale, SanDisk has already released to the market their own Class 4 version for this card ( Mobile Ultra ), which is supposed to be twice as fast as the competitor. However, the higher speed comes with a cost – $100, not so cheap.

Whether you’re looking to buy a Class 2 micro-SDHC card or a speedy Class 4 micro-SDHC card, both options are already here for you to decide. I’ve found that for most applications Class 2 is more than enough.

Link to Kingston 16GB microSDHC Class 2 Memory Card in Amazon ($48)

Link to SanDisk 16GB microSDHC Class 4 Memory Card in Amazon ($100)

SDXC is the new SD card standard that will replace SDHC (limited to 32GB). While the new SDXC standard is limited to 2000GB (2 tera bytes), no one said you can’t manufacture a low-capacity SDXC card. So why on earth would we need a 32GB SDXC when there are already 32GB SDHC memory cards on the market?

We don’t need it! But good for Pretec for their breaking news. Currently, this Pretec 32GB SDXC can not be used simply because no device supports this standard. New devices that will support SDXC will also support SDHC, so even in the future there will be no real reason to buy this card, unless of course, it is truly faster than any other SD card in the market, as claimed by Pretec.

The SDXC standard specifies read/write speed upto 50MB per second initially and up to 104MB per second in the future.

Now let’s see who’s going to be the first to announce the real deal – 64GB SDXC. Will it be Toshiba, Panasonic, SanDisk or maybe even Pretec.

A fake image of a SanDisk 32GB microSD card, found on the internet

The second half of 2009 is June. So does this mean we’re going to see this baby on the market in three months from now? Probably not. Expect this 32GB micro-SDHC memory card to be available not before the last quarter of 2009 (September – December).

As for the near future, there’s a big buzz around the new SDXC standard (the one that will replace the limited SDHC standard). These cards will be available in capacities of 64GB and up. If we take into consideration that usually micro-SDHC cards get on the market around the same time SD cards with four times the capacity get on the market, the really big news is, we might see 128GB SDXC (the bigger version) during the beginning of 2010.

On the other hand, SDXC is likely to have difficulties penetrating the market so the whole thing might be delayed for some time. We’ll have to wait and see.

So let’s see what we have today:

SD Card – Secure Digital (Maximum capacity 2GB)

SDHC Card – SD High Capacity (Maximum capacity 32GB)

SDXC Card – SD eXtreme Capacity (Maximum capacity 2000GB).

To be honest,  SDXC stands for SD eXtended capacity, not for eXtreme, but you get the drift.

I don’t know who is responsible for this catastrophe. Now we have to upgrade everything again! It was only two years ago when they forced us to upgrade and now they are going to do it again. That means that all of our devices are going to be obsolete by 2010. That is, if you want a super-high capacity memory card.

As of February 2009, we have 32GB SDHC cards, as well as 16GB microSDHC cards. My guess is that by the end of this year we will see 32GB microSDHC cards. This is the last evolvement of SDHC cards as we know it, or is it…?

Two years ago when the industry moved from SD to SDHC, people still wanted their old devices to get higher capacity cards. The market was flooded with 4GB SD cards. These were not SDHC cards, and while causing compatibility problems, some devices could use them. So the big question is:

Will we see a 64GB SDHC or a 64GB microSDHC card?

-It is not impossible.

These cards will not match the specifications of the SDHC standard. They might cause compatibility issues, but my guess is that some manufacturers did not block this option. They might have even enabled it.

SDXC – The new standard

There is nothing to be excited about the new SDXC standard. Since SDHC is limited to 32GB, it was only a natural evolvement that was required as the next step. It was a stupid move to limit the SDHC specification, but that’s life. Manufacturers want you to upgrade to (buy) new devices, and there’s nothing like a new SDXC standard to help you make the right decision.

The only good news is that SDXC is limited to 2000GB or 2TB. History shows us that manufacturers release new cards to the market every half a year or so. This means we might see 64GB SDXC memory cards in 2009, 128GB SDXC memory cards in the beginning of 2010, 256GB SDXC memory cards by the end of 2010, 512GB SDXC memory cards in the middle of 2011, 1TB SDXC memory cards by 2011 or 2012. The desired 2TB SDXC memory cards will be on the market by the end of the year 2012. Almost four years from now.

Well, get ready to upgrade your cameras, PDAs and other cool gadgets in 1 year from now, and in 4 to 5 years from now. Needless to say, this is only a  rough estimation of what is going to happen.

So to sum it up, I’m hoping to see some 64GB non-standard-SDHC memory cards before we’re forced to upgrade everything again. If we see them, it will be by the beginning of 2010. Don’t get your hopes too high though. The new SDXC standard will swallow them all if you like it or not.