havanajoe8
Top 1000 Contributor
havanajoe8's Stats
- Review Count68
- Helpfulness Votes468
- First ReviewOctober 21, 2009
- Last ReviewAugust 4, 2017
- Featured Reviews0
- Average Rating4.1
Reviews Comments
- Review Comment Count12
- Helpfulness Votes4
- First Review CommentDecember 7, 2013
- Last Review CommentJuly 22, 2017
- Featured Review Comments0
Questions
- Question Count0
- Helpfulness Votes0
- First QuestionNone
- Last QuestionNone
- Featured Questions0
- Answer Count40
- Helpfulness Votes69
- First AnswerDecember 1, 2010
- Last AnswerJune 5, 2017
- Featured Answers0
- Best Answers16
Nikon - SB-300 AF Speedlight External Flash
Achieve optimal shots with this Nikon SB-300 AF Speedlight 4810 external flash that is compatible with most Nikon cameras with an accessory hot shoe and features i-TTL (intelligent through-the-lens) flash coverage technology to enhance dramatic lighting.
Good not great
Customer Rating
3.0
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
on August 4, 2017
I used to have the SB-400 and I LOVED it! The SB-300? I like it. Not quite as good, although the small size is good on my D3400. I wish it took AAs instead of AAAs, bounce is adequate but seems like it's just barely adequate. Recharge time is a bit slow. I'm keeping it since it fits nicely and DOES make an improvement over built-in flash, but I really wish I hadn't sold my SB-400!
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
Mobile Submission: False
+3points
3out of 3found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Manfrotto - Element 59" Monopod - Red
Support your professional DSLR camera with this Manfrotto Element monopod. It extends up to 59 inches in height, and it supports telephoto lenses up to 500mm in focal length for enhanced stability when shooting landscapes and events. This lightweight red Manfrotto Element monopod has a 15kg capacity, and it collapses to 16.34 inches for easy portability.
Love it!
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
on July 25, 2017
Well built, study enough for my Nikon DSLR and Sony RX10M3. Fit and finish is very solid, I was going to by a cheaper one but you get what you pay for and Manfrotto is worth the money!
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
Mobile Submission: False
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Insignia™ - Compact TTL Flash for Nikon Cameras
Capture low-light scenes and stunning portraits with this Insignia TTL Nikon flash. An integrated bounce card and wide-angle lens make this flash easy to adjust to suit your needs. Simply attach the Insignia TTL Nikon flash to your compatible DSLR camera’s hot shoe to illuminate your subject and achieve a better shot.
Great with one minor issue
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
on July 7, 2017
I bought the same flash but for Sony to go with my RX10M3, and on that camera it works perfectly! I was so impressed that I decided to get the Nikon mount version for my D3400. I have a larger flash for the D3400 already, but I wanted something for daily use that was smaller. Flash works great 90% of the time- occasionally I'll take a picture and it will be completely white. It doesn't happen often, and seems to happen more often when I am bouncing the flash off the ceiling. Unfortunately, I like to bounce the flash most of the time. This doesn't happen with my larger flash and this doesn't happen with this model flash on my Sony, so it seems to be an issue with this flash itself. It's not a deal-breaker for me and not worth returning the flash because it happens rarely and when it doesn't happen the results are excellent!
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
Mobile Submission: False
+5points
5out of 5found this review helpful.
Share this review:
LG - 220W Hi-Fi Entertainment System - Black
Bring the party wherever you go with the LG X-Boom speaker cube. Wirelessly stream music from a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone or tablet, or use dual USB ports for playback or recording when connected to a USB device. Download the free LG Remote app from the Google Playstore to control the LG X-Boom speaker cube from any Android device.
Better than expected!
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
on June 5, 2017
I like to listen to music in the background while working from home, my girlfriend likes to dance in the kitchen when she's cooking, so we wanted something that sounded good at low levels but could also really "pump" for dancing. I had a nice system on top of my refrigerator- an Insignia mini receiver/CD player connected to a powered 8" subwoofer and a pair of Polk T15s, with an old netbook hooked up and playing my MP3s through Winamp. Unfortunately, the receiver died and my girlfriend wanted something simpler (one remote, one unit, etc.) so after reading reviews online I decided to go with this LG unit.
Overall we are happy with it- with a few small dislikes. The unit is actually a little smaller and lighter than expected, which is good considering the space on top of the fridge. Single CD with USB is all we need, we have tons of CDs and I have around 1,700 MP3s on a flash drive. Sound quality is good overall, but not great; keep in mind it's only one speaker unit (one woofer, one tweeter) so there is no separation or imaging, but that's fine for our use. Voices sound fine, bass is where one issue is- it's very "boomy", but that's to be expected given the size of the woofer (6.5") and the fact that the woofer is driving most of the sound. Specifications say it goes to 80hz, which seems right, but right around 100hz is where it "booms" a bit which can be distracting. We like the lights, but found that they don't really pulse to the music all that accurately, unless the track has loud, deep bass, otherwise it kind of just flops around. Also, you can't change the lights on the remote, only on the unit, which is a bit puzzling to me.
My main issue is in finding the right EQ setting- I narrowed it down to two, the "Afro" setting under Region EQ and "Rock" under the "Sound Effect" setting. "Afro" is good for general use, it's less boomy and more accurate, but "Rock" is more "dance-able" and definitely has a boost in bass. All of the other settings were a bit muddy to me, luckily it's easy to switch between them on the remote.
My other issue is with USB playback- I found that each time you turn the unit on it does a new search. If your files are directly on the flash drive the search is fast, but with folders it takes a few minutes. The unit remembers the last song you were on, but forgets that you had it set to "random" so you have to set that each time if that's how you listen to your collection. Also, on random going forward goes to a random song, but going backwards ALSO goes to a random song; that is a pain because sometimes a song comes on that you like and after a few more tracks you want to go back a few songs to hear it again but you can't as it just selects a new random song. Luckily we listen to a lot of CDs and so that's not an issue with them.
Minor complaints but enough to deduct a star; that being said, overall it meets our needs and this thing can JAM- it gets a lot louder than expected! I'm happy with it, she's happy with it, plenty of other functions I haven't even used yet that should make this a win for most people!
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
+7points
9out of 11found this review helpful.
Share this review:
HP - Sprocket Photo Printer - Black
Create permanent snaps with this HP Sprocket photo printer. This tiny little printer is barely bigger than a smartphone, letting you quickly print off photos whenever you like. Compatible with HP ZINK sticky-backed photo paper and controlled via Bluetooth, this HP Sprocket photo printer is easy to connect to and use.
Fun gadget!
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
on May 28, 2017
Recently I was looking for something in my closet and I found my old Polaroid Pogo... I had put it away around three years ago and had forgotten all about it! Unfortunately I lost the AC adapter and they are difficult and expensive to find online. I remember how much fun I had with the Pogo so I figured I'd buy a newer version!
The Sprocket seemed to have better reviews than the Polaroid Zip so I bought the Sproket. It functions similar to my old Pogo, minus the full-size USB connector for connecting to a camera with Pictbridge technology. Size is similar, it fits in my Pogo sleeve. One huge improvement is no separate power adapter, it charges via mini-USB!
Picture quality is ok at best- black and white pictures come out with a reddish hue, and colors are muted; however, you can use the Sprocket app to edit the picture before printing, the wizard feature seems to increase brightness a bit which does make for a better print. It takes about a minute to print, plus the time to go into the app, select the picture, edit if needed and send to the printer.
I do miss the ability to directly connect a camera to the printer, nowadays it's done through your smartphone. This is fine if you take pictures with your smartphone or want to print from social media, but if you use a separate camera to take pictures you'll first have to get the pictures to your smartphone or social media account, which is an extra step from the Pogo. This is ok for me because I can send pictures from my camera to my smartphone and in turn to the Sprocket.
One downside seems to be that HP Zink paper is hard to come by; in fact, when I bought this Sprocket my local Best Buy was out of paper, and there was a woman asking the employee when they would be in stock, and he said it's sporadic and they sell out quickly. Get used to ordering online if you do a lot of prints! Luckily there is an alternate solution- you can use the Polaroid Zink paper IF you keep the HP sheet with the bar-code and put that in the Sprocket instead of the Polaroid one. Discussion forums online indicate that the paper itself is very similar if not exact, so this solution should work. I bought some packs of the Polaroid paper but have not used it yet, so fingers crossed!
Overall I'm happy with the Sprocket, it's a fun little gadget as long as you keep your expectations reasonable. It's a great conversation starter, bring it to a gathering take a few pictures and print them out and I guarantee people will ask you to take their picture!
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
+29points
37out of 45found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Sony - Cyber-shot RX10 III 20.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black
Enjoy a DSLR-like body and sensor with a fixed lens with this Sony Cyber-Shot RX10 III camera. Powerful zoom ensures you get close up to your subject, and you can also film at up to 4K resolutions. Ultra-powerful intelligent autofocus and heavy-duty image processing ensure this Sony Cyber-Shot RX10 III camera captures the images you want..
Very, very good!
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
on May 13, 2017
I have a Nikon DSLR and multiple lenses, but I was looking for something that is all-in-one yet delivers great performance. I did a lot of research online, most sources say that this camera is the best bridge camera on the market right now. Overall I'm quite happy with this camera; quality is very good (not as good as my Nikon but probably about 80%), the 24mm-600mm range is impressive, and there are a ton of features. Some minor complaints- the menu system is not intuitive, autofocus is slow past 400mm, and the wi-fi transfer is slow. My biggest complaint is the built-in flash; it's weak and it casts lens shadows at wide focal lengths. It's so bad that I bought an external flash, but that turned out to be a blessing in disguise because this camera really comes to life with an external flash! I got the Insignia flash for Sony for $100 at Best Buy, and using it as a bounce flash has really improved the quality of my pictures; if you are spending the money on this camera I highly recommend that you get this flash! Keep in mind that the focus-assist beam on the flash will not work with this camera, another minor complaint but this is a known issue with Sony E mount and RX cameras. Overall I love this camera, well worth the high cost!
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Insignia™ - Compact TTL Flash for Sony Cameras
Turn low-light situations into photographic opportunities with this Insignia TTL Sony flash. Adjust the flash’s movable head horizontally and vertically, and use the device’s focus-assist light to produce crisp, clear shots in the dark. This Insignia TTL Sony flash has an automatic mode for quick, easy operation as well as a manual mode for more precise results.
Works well with Sony RX10 iii
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
on May 12, 2017
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
I love my RX10 iii but found the flash lacking, plus it cast lens shadows in wide shots. Bought this flash figuring I'd try it out and see how it worked, if not well I'd return it and buy the more expensive Sony flash. I'm very happy with this flash, it's a good size without being too big. Built in diffuser works great, especially for bounce flash. I even like that the orange LCD matches the orange LCD on my camera! My only complaint is that the focus-assist beam does not work with my camera, but this seems to be an issue with many flashes on Sony cameras (e mount, RX, etc.).
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
+3points
3out of 3found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Insignia™ - 2.0-Channel Soundbar with Digital Amplifier
Only at Best BuyImprove your home theater experience with this Insignia mini sound bar. Bluetooth technology lets you wirelessly stream audio from your smartphone, tablet or other device, and you can choose from three digital sound fields to optimize your enjoyment. Easy one-cable connection lets you sync this Insignia mini sound bar to your TV.
Great solution for a small TV!
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
on December 23, 2016
I have the Insignia 19" TV and I'm very happy with it, but the sound is not great. I've been trying various computer speakers that I have in storage but either the sound is poor or they block the screen (the TV is on a small table in my kitchen so I have limited space). I saw this as I was walking through my local Best Buy and figured I'd try it out! Sound is quite good, and the unit fits in front of the TV. The syncing with the TV volume control is a bit odd, it detects when you turn the volume up and down and adjusts it's own volume but it can quickly become "off", so that 50 on the TV is loudest, but then soon it's 30, or 70... It works fine if you just ignore the volume level on the TV and set it by ear. Overall I'm happy with this product and would recommend it for a small TV in a small to mid-size room.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Nikon - Digital SLR Camera Bag - Black
Carry your Nikon digital SLR camera in style with this bag. The rugged nylon construction and padded shoulder strap combine for comfortable portability.
Perfect for the D3400 two lens bundle!
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
on December 18, 2016
I recently bought the D3400 two lens bundle, and picked up this bag as well. It's a perfect match for this bundle! I also bought the 35mm 1.8 lens and the Platinum flash, I was able to BARELY fit everything in the bag, but it fit. I've got my D3400 with the 35mm inside the case, and then two dividers to hold the 18-55 and 70-300 lenses, with the flash on the outside pocket, the charger, body cap and extra SD card in the inside zipper pocket, the flash manual in the back compartment, the stand for the flash in the left outside compartment and 8 AA batteries in a plastic bag in the right outside compartment. I had to adjust the closing straps to their maximum, and zippering shut the outside front compartment with the flash is a bit tight, but everything DID fit. I'm hoping that in time the bag will stretch out just a little, but even if it doesn't I'm very happy to have my camera, three lenses, and a large flash plus extras all in one bag! Quality is superb, it feels well-built and sturdy. Highly recommended!
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
+5points
5out of 5found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Platinum™ - i-TTL Auto External Flash for Nikon
Take stunning photographs in low-light conditions with this Platinum i-TTL PT-DFLEXT1N auto external flash that features S1 and S2 slave modes for off-camera operation. The focus assist light helps provide quick focus in dark areas.
Excellent but big!
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
on December 18, 2016
I recently bought the D3400 two lens bundle which went on sale for $100 less a few days later, so I went back to Best Buy for a price match and ended up paying $2.10 for this flash! It works much better than expected; bounce flash is exceptional, especially with the wide diffuse panel pulled out. Flash will zoom out to 105mm, which is fine for most situations. Flash takes about 10 seconds to charge once turned on but cycles reasonably fast. The unit is big and a bit heavy, but feels sturdy. Soft blue light on the menu is perfect- highly visible but not blinding. Big auto-focus assist light works much better than the one on the camera.
My only complaint is the hot shoe mount is plastic and has the gear style instead of the latch style. Due to the size and weight of the flash I feel like this is a weak point and possibly where breakage could occur. I found myself being very careful not to bump the flash for fear that I would snap off the connector. Other than that, I have zero complaints and would highly recommend this flash!
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
+2points
3out of 4found this review helpful.
Share this review:
havanajoe8's Questions
havanajoe8 has not submitted any questions.
LG - 220W Hi-Fi Entertainment System - Black
Bring the party wherever you go with the LG X-Boom speaker cube. Wirelessly stream music from a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone or tablet, or use dual USB ports for playback or recording when connected to a USB device. Download the free LG Remote app from the Google Playstore to control the LG X-Boom speaker cube from any Android device.
Are the Audio Outputs (R + L) fixed or variable (controlled by unit/remote)?
LG - 220W Hi-Fi Entertainment System - Black
Bring the party wherever you go with the LG X-Boom speaker cube. Wirelessly stream music from a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone or tablet, or use dual USB ports for playback or recording when connected to a USB device. Download the free LG Remote app from the Google Playstore to control the LG X-Boom speaker cube from any Android device.
I don't seem to be able to turn off the lighting affect. The instructions say it's button 8 , I press this but nothing seems to change ? Am I doing something wrong ?
You can't change the lighting from the remote, only the big red button on the unit itself, on the right side of the unit
6 years, 11 months ago
by
Posted by:
havanajoe8
Nikon - Digital SLR Camera Bag - Black
Carry your Nikon digital SLR camera in style with this bag. The rugged nylon construction and padded shoulder strap combine for comfortable portability.
Does this bag have more than 1 pocket to hold mutiple lenses?
Yes, inside the case there are some dividers that Velcro in place. I was able to fit my D3400 with the 35mm mounted in the main compartment, and the 18-15 and 70-300 in smaller compartments to the right. There is also a large outside zipper pocket which I'm using for my external flash but it's big enough to hold another lens the size of the 70-300 or a few smaller lenses. Hope this helps!
7 years, 4 months ago
by
Posted by:
havanajoe8
OtterBox - Defender Series Case for Apple® iPad® mini - Black
Safeguard your Apple iPad mini with help from this OtterBox Defender Series 77-50972 case, which features durable construction and a built-in screen protector that work together to protect your device from wear and tear.
Will it fit a iPad mini 4
No, the iPad Mini 4 is a slightly different size and will need a different case
7 years, 8 months ago
by
Posted by:
havanajoe8
OtterBox - Defender Series Case for Apple® iPad® mini - Black
Safeguard your Apple iPad mini with help from this OtterBox Defender Series 77-50972 case, which features durable construction and a built-in screen protector that work together to protect your device from wear and tear.
Does it provide splash or dunk protection? If not, what does?
OtterBox - Defender Series Case for Apple® iPad® mini - Black
Safeguard your Apple iPad mini with help from this OtterBox Defender Series 77-50972 case, which features durable construction and a built-in screen protector that work together to protect your device from wear and tear.
Are you able to take pictures with the camera both forward and rear facing without taking off the case?
Yes, both cameras work fine with the case in place
7 years, 8 months ago
by
Posted by:
havanajoe8
Canon - PowerShot SX530 16.0-Megapixel HS Digital Camera - Black
The high-sensitivity CMOS sensor and DIGIC 4+ image processor of this Canon PowerShot SX530 HS digital camera combine to form the HS SYSTEM, which helps enhance quality in low-light conditions, so you can capture the shot you want, wherever you are. .
I do not want to use the wifi. I don't see a cord in the package to connect to my laptop. Will it use cord from older PowerShot ? I want to edit in Photos on my Mac Book Pro.
The WI-FI feature is quite handy, you should try it; it will use the cord from your older camera or you can take the card out and put it in a reader
7 years, 8 months ago
by
Posted by:
havanajoe8
Canon - PowerShot SX530 16.0-Megapixel HS Digital Camera - Black
The high-sensitivity CMOS sensor and DIGIC 4+ image processor of this Canon PowerShot SX530 HS digital camera combine to form the HS SYSTEM, which helps enhance quality in low-light conditions, so you can capture the shot you want, wherever you are. .
Does the camera take good quality zoom in pictures?
I found the picture quality to be a bit poor at longer zooms but ok in mid range zooming
7 years, 8 months ago
by
Posted by:
havanajoe8
50W Bluetooth CD Compact Shelf System
Play back audio from a wide range of sources with this Insignia™ NS-SH513 compact shelf system, which features Bluetooth technology, a USB port and a CD player for flexible use. The FM tuner features 30 presets for simple station recall.
how do you set or turn off timer unit shuts down consistently after 10:00 minutes in auxiliary mode when using tv as source.
It will turn off if there is no sound for 10 minutes, no way to bypass this.
7 years, 11 months ago
by
Posted by:
havanajoe8
TomTom - VIA 1415M GPS with Lifetime Map Updates - Black/Gray
Easily reach a variety of locations with help from this TomTom VIA 1415M 1EN4.052.10 GPS, which features preloaded base maps of the U.S., Canada and Mexico and provides text-to-speech and turn-by-turn directions to simplify your travels.
I see a question asking about the charger. Does it have to be a usb plug in the vehicle or does it have a plugin to Fit the 12 volt outlets.
It comes with a 12v cigarette lighter type plug which the USB cable then plugs into.
8 years, 4 months ago
by
Posted by:
havanajoe8
from
Mansfield, MA