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- Review count7
- Helpfulness votes61
- First reviewJanuary 16, 2011
- Last reviewDecember 18, 2016
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating5
- Review comment count8
- Helpfulness votes10
- First review commentJanuary 13, 2012
- Last review commentDecember 10, 2016
- Featured review comments0
Questions
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- Answer count2
- Helpfulness votes0
- First answerFebruary 8, 2014
- Last answerDecember 7, 2014
- Featured answers0
- Best answers0
sfear70's Reviews
Only @ Best BuyLimited edition (only at Magnolia)Travel back in time with the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC turntable. It commemorates the historic 1964 U.S. tour by the Beatles, and ticket stubs from the legendary tour dot the plinth, which has a premium high-gloss finish. The Debut Carbon DC has an acrylic platter, carbon fiber tonearm and modern Ortofon red cartridge that create a visually stunning work of art.
Customer Rating
5
Into vinyl? Pro-Ject Debut Esprit SB fits the bill
on December 18, 2016
Posted by: sfear70
from SA, TX
I'm one of thole old hippies returning to vinyl and trying to build up the library I had decades ago; it's a challenge but we are fortunate to have a better selection of turntables today than back in the day.
Pro-Ject has a good rep so when the email came announcing BB's limited edition items I jumped on this with no 2nd thoughts. I am not disappointed at all. Pro-Ject hit it out of the park with this model and its features at its price-point.
I see today the price is reduced to same as the regular model. I didn't buy this for collectability but because it is a very good turntable for the money. Being the Beatles-edition is a really cool freebie.
My Best Buy number: 0038416569
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+3points
5of 7voted this as helpful.
Boost your audio setup with this Marantz PM8005 amplifier that features 6 line-level inputs, including a phono (MM) input, and preamp outputs for flexible connectivity. The double-shielded toroidal transformer circuitry promotes optimal bandwidth power.
Posted by: sfear70
from SA, TX
Originally looking for a preamp/amp for another room in my house, I knew of the Marantz line of integrated amps and their quality but had not considered until reading reviews and talking to a few folks at work.
My HT is based on the Marantz 7008 so personal experience with the gear is a factor in my decision to buy the PM8005.
Just a great sounding amp; am driving a pair of MartinLogan Motion 15s and B&M CM9s [the PM 8005 supports 2 pair of speakers concurrently] and am very happy with sound quality. Plenty of power to drive the speakers hard or play quite softly and not loose definition or nuances.
Absolutely thrilled with my purchase. Thanks, BB.
My Best Buy number: 0038416569
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.
EOS 6D DSLR Camera with 24-105mm f/4L IS Lens: This camera is an excellent choice for professional photographers who are just starting out or amateur photographers who are looking to move to the next level. Built-in GPS tracking makes it very useful for travel or nature photography, while built-in Wi-Fi lets you share your photos from anywhere.Memory card sold separately.
Posted by: sfear70
from SA, TX
One of my favorite local BestBuy stores had a couple of the 6D/24-105 zoom lens kits in stock - having had the 6D before [body-only purchase that I ultimately returned to concentrate my time on my 5D MkII] I knew about the kit quality from forum reviews so making the purchase when the Canon discounts were in effect was an easy decision - any way you slice it, you're getting a great body and great lens for substantial discount off the individual prices.
As for handling, I prefer full-sized cameras; to help out, I add a battery grip to round out the package. What results is a hefty piece of gear. Even without the grip, the body\lens combo is substantial so some handling in the store is definitely in order. This is no lightweight kit and might not be a good fit for some folks, depending upon their preferences in this department.
Many of the controls are closer to the 60D than the 5D Mk II, which is not a bad thing. You can quickly access those controls you need with little hassle. An example this ease of use is making videos - flip the mode switch and press the Start button - done!
I've tinkered with the built-in WiFi and GPS [don't let anyone kid you, using a polycarbonate top-cap to allow GPS signals to pass is not detrimental to the overall strengthen of the rig] but cannot comment - they're not features I see myself using regularly but one never knows what opportunities might arise.
Picture quality - fantastic performance. L-series lens quality. Low-light focusing is impressive. High-ISO shots look great. Because my niche is landscapes, both of these are bonuses, not something upon which I typically depend to get the shot but, make no mistake, great conditions and lousy conditions are met with ease and speed.
Nice job, Canon, and nice job, BestBuy. Now, can I talk you into carrying a bit wider range of L glass in-store?
My Best Buy number: 0038416569
What's great about it: Picture quality, handling, build, overall package is stellar.
What's not so great: No dislikes here
I would recommend this to a friend!
Picture Quality
5
Ease of Use
5
Features
5
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Store and display your audio equipment in style with this audio tower that features a cable management system and 3 glass shelves, including a top shelf that can hold TVs up to 32" or 80 lbs.
Posted by: sfear70
from SA, TX
Finally bought a TV/audio component stand after putting it off forever and couldn't be happier. The kit was easy to assemble with clear instructions {!}; it looks great and feels solid. Hint: if you buy this stand check out the assembly videos in the link under the product thumbnail photos, well spent time.
Depending on your lighting the wood may be dark as it is darker that depicted in the product shots.
Love it, great product at a great price! Thanks BB!
What's great about it: Ease of assembly, looks, build
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Enjoy snapping clear images with this Sony NEX-7K/B compact system camera that includes an 18-55mm lens for capturing subjects as close as 9.8". The HD movie mode allows you to shot video clips in high-definition.Memory card sold separately.
Customer Rating
5
Liked the 5n ... should have bought the 7.
on November 14, 2012
Posted by: sfear70
from SA, TX
Frankly, I held off on buying any of the Sony NEX series models for quite some time, the form factor took some adjusting - apologies for using a well-worn cliche but I'm an old-school kind of guy from the SLR side of town - old habits die hard. Anyway, the 5N beckoned and I took the plunge - to be honest, I should have waited and bought the NEX7.
To compare with my 5N, Sony really nailed the handling with the 7. The grip is larger, is rubberized for better grip and there is a perfectly-positioned thumb-rest on the rear. It feels great and the hold is secure and confidence-building.
There is still no feature for saving custom settings - a pretty big oversight to be honest. Completely resetting a camera to your preferences for a given type of shooting with the spin of a dial is a necessity, especially at his price level. Not a show-stopper but this needs to be fixed.
There is some menu-diving to get to settings I want to change frequently BUT...the tri-navi dials make menus almost unnecessary. This is a great implementation of a way to rapidly change shooting parameters. Like the 5N, you can assign behaviors to the buttons but you now have more buttons [well, dials] to use. Very well-executed idea and very effective whether using the EVF or screen for your display.
Which is my next rave - the EVF is fantastic! Forget what you've probably seen as far as EVFs go - Sony nailed this one too. It's not perfect but is far less fatiguing to use than others out there. My shooting eye is less than perfect with the years but I've found that the EVF is remarkably usable even thou the vision in that eye is distorted. Finally, I can shoot comfortably using my dominant eye instead of having to adjust and use the other. Nice job.
Built-in flash - yes! Ala the Lumix FG-2, you can hold the flash back a bit and use it for bounce...sweet!
IQ is, as expected, is outstanding. My latest phase is B&W shooting with still a lot to learn. Even though my 7 is setup for that goal, being able to save out RAW files for later work in either color or B&W does not disappoint.
I haven't gotten around to buying an adapter to use some of the other glass I have but will one of these days, which is to say I'm happy so far with results from the kit 18-55mm lens. Lens selection is still somewhat confined.
This is not to fault the NEX5N in any way but when comparing the 2 models, I'm extremely pleased with the NEX7. IQ is exceptional with awesome low light/high-ISO quality. Add a great handling design with fast shooting feature changes and you have a winner.
What's great about it: Tri-navi dials, handling , image quality, flash
What's not so great: Battery life could be better but that's to be expected given the features.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Picture Quality
5
Ease of Use
4
Features
5
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+21points
21of 21voted this as helpful.
Canon EOS 7D DSLR Camera with 28–135mm IS Lens: With a host of features designed to provide creative opportunity and exceptional image quality, the EOS 7D represents an advanced class of camera. An array of automatic and manual settings give you full control over your shots, and an 18.0 megapixel CMOS sensor with Dual DIGIC 4 processing allows you to capture fine details with powerful performance.Memory card sold separately.
Posted by: sfear70
from SA, TX
As a longtime Nikon user [going back to the film days during which I tried many different brands with the exception of Canon and ultimately settled on Nikon] the Canon 7D really impressed from the first shot - exposure, sharpness, colors, handling.
This is a serious camera with great flexibility. It could easily overpower the abilities of the user not up to the challenge; this is not to knock any buyer's skills but, rather, a warning that if you're expecting point-and-shoot ease of use, you might be disappointed.
My only "complaint" - 28mm is a silly length for a crop-sensor kit lens - not wide at all - but I knew this going in. The bonus here is that the kit lens works great with my EOS 1N [film is NOT dead].
I'm very happy with my 7D and the price at Best Buy was excellent! Plus triple reward zone points! What's not to love?
What's great about it: Handling, speed, flexibility of settings, 3 user-setting banks
I would recommend this to a friend!
Picture Quality
5
Ease of Use
5
Features
5
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+10points
10of 10voted this as helpful.
This Nikon D300s digital SLR camera features Nikon EXPEED image processing for stunning high-action image capture along with D-Movie HD video capture to record video clips of memorable events.Memory card sold separately.
Posted by: sfear70
from SA, TX
My personal bias for Nikon glass notwithstanding, this is a great camera for many reasons. Build, handling, metering, speed, the list goes on. I was looking for a step up from the D70/D80/D90 range but wanted to stay in the DX family. Bang for the buck, especially since I caught this on sale, the D300s fills the bill nicely. When the D800 or whatever the replacement for the D700 will be called is released later this year I'll give it a serious look but the D300s is and will be a keeper. Some may say "What about the D7000?"; it's a fair question. For my tastes, I wanted a high-end camera but didn't want lots of extra features I'd use once or twice and forget, just the basics done extremely well and that's what the D300s offers.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Picture Quality
5
Ease of Use
5
Features
5
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+20points
20of 20voted this as helpful.
sfear70's Review Comments
Canon EOS 7D DSLR Camera with 28–135mm IS Lens: With a host of features designed to provide creative opportunity and exceptional image quality, the EOS 7D represents an advanced class of camera. An array of automatic and manual settings give you full control over your shots, and an 18.0 megapixel CMOS sensor with Dual DIGIC 4 processing allows you to capture fine details with powerful performance.Memory card sold separately.
Overall
2 out of 5
2 out of 5Where is the memory card?
By Anonymous
from Erie, PA
For the price I paid for my son's Christmas gift, we were terribly disappointed on Christmas Eve and found there was NO MEMORY CARD with this package deal. Inside the direction booklet, we read that the memory card had to be purchased separately. WHY wasn't that included in the package? Even if the price was higher, it would have made better sense. AT LEAST the package deal should have STATED that the memory card was NOT INCLUDED and HAD to be purchased SEPARATELY! Or given us the option to add it onto the package. My son can not use his camera on Christmas Day when his kids open their presents and will have to wait till Monday! VERY DISAPPOINTING!!!
sfear70
SA, TX
Expectation management...
January 13, 2012
...failed in this case. If you entered the market for a camera, no matter the style, price range, etc., and did ANY research you would have know no memory card was included. Sounds like a case of misplaced blame to me.
+3points
3of 3voted this comment as helpful.
EOS 6D DSLR Camera with 24-105mm f/4L IS Lens: This camera is an excellent choice for professional photographers who are just starting out or amateur photographers who are looking to move to the next level. Built-in GPS tracking makes it very useful for travel or nature photography, while built-in Wi-Fi lets you share your photos from anywhere.Memory card sold separately.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Great entry into full frame cameras...
By tgsul
from San Antonio, TX
I bought this camera so I could get into a full frame camera without paying another $2k. I have been impressed with the clarity, speed, and low light handleing of this camera. I used it at my nephew's high school graduation, indoors with only available light, and was very impressed with the results. The GPS feature is a fun-to-have feature, but the drawback is that it drains the battery even when not in use. My workaround is to remove the battery when the camera is not in use, plus I also bought a 2nd battery.
sfear70
SA, TX
Don't work hard, work smart
June 30, 2013
Removing the battery to offset GPS battery drain? Haven't read the instructions or poked around the menus, have you?
Here, free tip: Menu > Wrench2 > GPS > Select GPS Device> Disable
Turn off the WiFi if it is on as well.
You're here in SA as well, you can buy me a beer in payment. :-)
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
EOS 6D DSLR Camera with 24-105mm f/4L IS Lens: This camera is an excellent choice for professional photographers who are just starting out or amateur photographers who are looking to move to the next level. Built-in GPS tracking makes it very useful for travel or nature photography, while built-in Wi-Fi lets you share your photos from anywhere.Memory card sold separately.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Great entry into full frame cameras...
By tgsul
from San Antonio, TX
I bought this camera so I could get into a full frame camera without paying another $2k. I have been impressed with the clarity, speed, and low light handleing of this camera. I used it at my nephew's high school graduation, indoors with only available light, and was very impressed with the results. The GPS feature is a fun-to-have feature, but the drawback is that it drains the battery even when not in use. My workaround is to remove the battery when the camera is not in use, plus I also bought a 2nd battery.
sfear70
SA, TX
Exchnge for another camera...
July 2, 2013
If you are still in the return/exchange window, take that camera back and get another. You should not be experiencing battery drain due to GPS and /or WiFi with those turned off.
Good luck!
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Learn more about the New WindowsWith built-in wireless networking, this Dell XPS X87001253BLK desktop makes it easy to access Web content. NVIDIA GeForce GT 635 graphics with 1GB dedicated video memory let you enjoy lush gaming visuals when connected to a display (not included).
Overall
4 out of 5
4 out of 5Average Dell Product
By AWBrown
from GA
Let's start with the dimensions as always:
Height 16 inches
Width 7.3 inches
Depth 17.5 inches
Width 7.3 inches
Depth 17.5 inches
Mid tower case, decent width should most likely be able to fit at least a few of the OEM graphic cards in it if you ever decide to upgrade ( which I would highly suggest but I will get to that later in the review)
CPU: I7-4770 a very capable card and an excellent choice for video editors/graphic designers/hardcore gamers.
8GB of memory (I would have to assume it's 1600 memory). It's plenty of memory for all occasions. You could possibly update it to 16GB later for even more loading capability but even that sounds sort of ridiculous cause your hard drive would slow down due to the load before your memory could ever get it 100% (speaking from experience heh)
GPU/Video Card: Now this is the section I would like to discuss the most with you. I feel for the price and what is in there you can't do a whole lot better price wise with it being retail and not custom built but I would like to say that the card should be compared to like an AMD radeon 7570 which pretty much means it's your very basic dedicated graphic cards. The drivers even when updated wont' have many options for what you can change with it.(maybe besides some basic 3d acceleration or something).
On another note the card according to GeForce website states the card can get as hot as 102 degrees! I would be very wary of this and make sure you are allowing as much possible airflow as you can. The card according to GeForce also has a vga, a dvi, and an hdmi port. ( I have been unable to find an image of the card to confirm this though. ) I have been unable to find any accurate benchmark data as well on the card but be assured that you will NOT be able to play any maximum settings on 2014 games. (possibly on 800x600 resolution but don't quote me on that)
Other items:
-has a wireless(b/g/n)
-has media card reader
-has dvd optical recorder driver
-10 usb slots
-windows 8 (I would suggest upgrading to Windows 8.1. asap!)
-has media card reader
-has dvd optical recorder driver
-10 usb slots
-windows 8 (I would suggest upgrading to Windows 8.1. asap!)
Overall..the computer is your "basic beginner gaming computer by Dell". It isn't great, it isn't awesome, but it will get the job done. Don't expect miracles out of it game wise, but do expect fast processing speeds for like opening video programs/doing video editing work. For the price as well this would be a great item to consider for business users.
I'm sure others would recommend this to friends and there is nothing wrong with that myself personally though being a gamer most of my friends are that, gamers so I couldn't suggest this to them.
sfear70
SA, TX
Did you even buy this box?
February 1, 2014
This reads like it's out of a Ken Rockwell review.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Sony Alpha a7 Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera with 28–70mm Lens: Preserve important moments in your life with help from the Sony Alpha a7, which features a 24.3-megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor for crisp image and HD video capture. You can start shooting right away, since a 28–70mm lens is included. If you see something that you need to share with a friend right away, simply connect your Wi-Fi-enabled device.Memory card sold separately..
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Deserves the Title: Camera of the Year!
By OrlandoCalrissian
from Millennium Falcon
Popular photography recently gave this camera's big brother, the a7r, camera of the year for 2013. Additionally they rated these cameras as the best picture quality of any interchangeable lens camera they have ever tested. High praise for a camera that deserves the title. The camera is well designed and feels expertly crafted. The button lay out (all of which are fully customizable with 45 different internal features) feel thoughtfully placed and provide a professional tactile experience. I have effortlessly captured some of the best images of my career with this camera. Weather sealed and dust resistant, I can take it anywhere. Also, for video users, the camera has clean HDMI output and a multi interface hot shoe on top of the camera allows for data transfer. This means that I can have stereo XLR audio running into this camera (with adapter sold separately) while also making use of it's ability to capture 1080p video in 60fps. A rarity in the digital camera world. Auto focus on this camera is also a beast. It has both contrast based auto detection and phase detect auto focus, making it's AF incredibly fast. Not to mention that during video or burst shooting mode it will track objects, shifting focus automatically if the user wants, while the subject comes towards or away from the camera. This is also not typically seen in digital SLR's. During burst shots the camera will also auto focus on every single frame as the user moves the camera to track, for example, a football player. All of these facets come together behind an incredibly precise imaging sensor from Sony who has become, and now is, the #1 imaging sensor manufacturer in the world.
The camera line deserves it's title, "Camera of the Year." A melding of technologies long sought after by professional photographers to exist in one device. Sony has nailed it.
sfear70
SA, TX
Bogus review
February 8, 2014
Naw, give us "pro" feedback from actual usage, not from forums/advertising.
-2points
3of 8voted this comment as helpful.
Boost your audio setup with this Marantz PM8005 amplifier that features 6 line-level inputs, including a phono (MM) input, and preamp outputs for flexible connectivity. The double-shielded toroidal transformer circuitry promotes optimal bandwidth power.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Marantz PM8005 - a best buy
By sfear70
from SA, TX
Originally looking for a preamp/amp for another room in my house, I knew of the Marantz line of integrated amps and their quality but had not considered until reading reviews and talking to a few folks at work.
My HT is based on the Marantz 7008 so personal experience with the gear is a factor in my decision to buy the PM8005.
Just a great sounding amp; am driving a pair of MartinLogan Motion 15s and B&M CM9s [the PM 8005 supports 2 pair of speakers concurrently] and am very happy with sound quality. Plenty of power to drive the speakers hard or play quite softly and not loose definition or nuances.
Absolutely thrilled with my purchase. Thanks, BB.
sfear70
SA, TX
Addendum: PM8005 died today, 2 weeks into ownershi
July 16, 2016
Great while it lasted! Enabled power saving mode today and noticed after a while no sound coming from that part of the house. Troubleshooting wi Marantz support staff [thanks Jose!] was quick and conclusive: the unit died. 2 weeks old.
My original impressions are still of a great sounding & versatile unit but the best sound in the world is useless if the hardware won't play..
It goes back tomorrow. I notice BB has none available locally or online; I assume Marantz may have a newer integrated amp coming out. We'll see if I stick with the brand...now batting .500.
+4points
4of 4voted this comment as helpful.
Enjoy high-quality audio with this Pioneer SP-FS52 floor speaker that features three 5-1/4" polypropylene woofers and oversize magnets for powerful bass and a 1" soft dome tweeter that delivers dynamic highs.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Amazing sound
By JakeMonkey
These gigantic tower speakers look great and have outstanding acoustics for the price. They were a significant upgrade from my 10 year old Sony speakers, and I couldn't be happier.
sfear70
SA, TX
Gigantic?
September 11, 2016
nt
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
iBuyPower Desktop: Play hard with this iBUYPOWER gaming PC. With a 3.4GHz Intel i7 quad-core processor, 16GB of RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce 3GB graphics card, this machine can handle the most demanding adventures. This iBUYPOWER gaming PC has a 1TB SATA III hard drive and 120GB solid-state drive to provide ample file storage.
Overall
1 out of 5
1 out of 5worst system ever- gaming system NOT!!!!!!
By OLDGAMER
after windows update and adding virus protection, system software ran out of harddrive space! system crashed during update error message on reboot: boot configuration data for your PC is missing or contains errors system recovery disk is for windows 10 pro/ OS is windows 10 home. And there is no CD/DVD drive in the system which makes no sence since there is software for the graPHICS CArd that comes with it on Cd that needs installed - NOT ENOUGH USB PORTS - HAD TO BUY AN EXTERNIAL cd/dvd DRIVE, USB HUB, And harddrive just to be able to install software included and my games - forgetabout plyaING BATTLEFIELD games on this thing! And Ibuypower tech support aND /OR CUSTOMER SERVICE - I CALLED EVERY # ON THEIR WEBSITE FOR 2 DAYAS FROM 7:00 AM TILL 5:30 PM est NEVER SPOKE TO ANYONE, LEFT MESSAGES IN GENERAL MAILBOX NOTHING, FINLLY did GET SOMEONE ON CHAT Clinton M only to be told TECH SUPPORT JUST LEFT AT 5:00 PM PST AND TO TRY Calling again tomorrow. In short it is going back today! in closing: the lighting looks really good in the store good luck getting it to work at home! and Don't bother trying to connect and setup your Razer keyboard or mouse !it runs out of hardrive before the software installs.
sfear70
SA, TX
Uh huh.
December 10, 2016
Why did you add AV? Windows Defender comes with it, works just fine.
Updated mine, have ~75GB on the SSD.
Nvidia drivers/etc can be done online.
You're not telling us the full story.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
sfear70's Questions
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sfear70's Answers
This Nikon D300s digital SLR camera features Nikon EXPEED image processing for stunning high-action image capture along with D-Movie HD video capture to record video clips of memorable events.Memory card sold separately.
d300 verses d7000
D7000 by far [I own both the D300s and d7000].
To top it off, BB has the D7000 w 18-140 for $800 now, a steal.
To top it off, BB has the D7000 w 18-140 for $800 now, a steal.
9 years, 5 months ago
by
sfear70
SA, TX
What is the difference between the NX2000 and NX3000?
Mainly the sensor - 16 vs 20 Mp.
10 years, 3 months ago
by
sfear70
SA, TX