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 ECORAY 112D LED Coral Reef Aquarium Lighting Fixture High PAR SPSLPSSofties $469.99 Time Remaining: 1d 5h 18m Buy It Now for only: $469.99 |
 Darth Maul Hulk Maul PalysAwesome ComboSPS LPS Live Reef Coral $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 55m |
 Tequila Sunrise MilliChalice SPS LPS Live CoralMillepora Zoa Chalice $6.50 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 3h 53m |
 The Coral Reef Target Plankton Food Feeder for LPS SPS $6.00 Time Remaining: 9d 11h Buy It Now for only: $6.00 |
 External Sunshine MilliNicest SPS on ebaySPS LPS Live Coral Millepora $10.50 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 4h 8m |
 Rio SPS LPS Anemone Coral Target Feeder 4 Piece Feeding Set $19.75 Time Remaining: 26d 15h 13m Buy It Now for only: $19.75 |
 Blazin Watermelon ChaliceAwesome Green RimSPS LPS Live Reef Coral $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 5h 9m |
 Big Polyp DendroTwo HeadsSPS LPS Live Reef Coral $4.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2d 5h 5m |
 3oz Reef Bugs Live Marine Snow Invert LPS SPS Gorgonian Coral Filter Food $19.95 Time Remaining: 4d 32m Buy It Now for only: $19.95 |
 Bonsai AcroSPS LPS Live Reef Coral AcroporaChalice Acan $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 41m |
 Coral Frenzy LPS SPS Soft Coral Reef Food 28g $15.95 Time Remaining: 19d 12h 56m Buy It Now for only: $15.95 |
 Large Bonsai AcroSPS LPS Live Reef Coral AcroporaChalice Acan $4.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2d 3h 57m |
 The Forest Fire Montipora DigitataSPS LPS Live Reef Coral $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 43m |
 8oz CORAL EXTACY Whole Intact Zooplankton Coral Diet Food SPS LPS Anemone Feed $27.95 Time Remaining: 6d 6h 14m Buy It Now for only: $27.95 |
 Rainbow PalyUnbelievable ColorSPS LPS Live CoralZoa Polyp $24.50 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 3h 17m |
 LIVE Marine Daphnia Moina Salina Seed Tank Refugeum Live rock Copepods SPS LPS $18.95 Time Remaining: 26d 17h 14m Buy It Now for only: $18.95 |
 Reverse Triple Split After Burner Chalice1st FragSPS LPS Live Reef Coral $4.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2d 5h 13m |
 Pink Rose MilliHuge FragSPS LPS Live Reef Coral Millepora $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 45m |
 Coralife Aqualight LED Aquarium Reef Lighting New Will grow SPSLPS ++ $2,499.00 Time Remaining: 17d 19h 9m Buy It Now for only: $2,499.00 |
 Strawberry Pie MilliHuge FragSPS LPS Live Reef Coral Millepora $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 49m |
 8 Stainless Steel Forceps Tongs Tweezers Coral Reef Frag Saltwater LPS SPS Safe $7.89 Time Remaining: 25d 4h 21m Buy It Now for only: $7.89 |
 Orange Death PalysExtremely BrightSPS LPS Live Reef Coral $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 11m |
 monti corallive coralspslpsacro $14.99 Time Remaining: 5h 8m |
 EcoRay 112D High Par LED Aquarium Reef Lighting New Will grow SPSLPS ++ $469.99 Time Remaining: 23d 17h 54m Buy It Now for only: $469.99 |
 Utter Chaos Morph PalyBrightSPS LPS Live Reef CoralZoas Polyps $4.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2d 3h 9m |
 COMPLETE REEF SUPPLEMENT SPS LPS MUSHROOMS POLIPS ZOAS THE GREATEST YET $10.00 Time Remaining: 11d 6h 48m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 Hip Hop the Hippie ChaliceMulti Color EncrustedSPS LPS Live Reef Coral $4.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2d 4h 5m |
 Blueberry Blue MilliHuge FragSPS LPS Live Reef Coral Millepora $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 59m |
 Reef Nutrition Oyster Feast 6 oz Food for Live SPS LPS Soft Corals Polyps $19.99 Time Remaining: 4d 20h 54m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 |
 candycane corallive coralspslps $39.99 Time Remaining: 5h 3m |
 OYSTER EGG FEAST 2oz Coral Food Feed SPS LPS Zoanthids Eggs Gargonians Reef Tank $15.95 Time Remaining: 20d 5h 42m Buy It Now for only: $15.95 |
 Pink Blue AcroBig FragSPS LPS Live Reef Coral AcroporaChalice $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 1m |
 Papa Smurf AcroBig FragSPS LPS Live Reef Coral AcroporaChalice $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 55m |
 OYSTER EGG FEAST 2oz Reef Tank Coral Feed Food SPS LPS Zoanthid Soft coral Stony $15.95 Time Remaining: 25d 17h 54m Buy It Now for only: $15.95 |
 Blue Bomber AcroSPS LPS Live Reef Coral AcroporaChalice Acan $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 39m |
 Coral SPS LPS ROTI FOOD Crocea Clam Enrich 1 $4.99 Time Remaining: 23d 8h 32m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 |
 JJs Galaxia LPS SPS Zoa Live Coral Frag Y63 $9.99 Time Remaining: 1d 3h 27m |
 JJs Pink Lava Chalice LPS SPS Zoa Live Coral Frag Q13 $9.99 Time Remaining: 1d 3h 32m |
 Acartia 4oz TROPIC PODS Live Seed Refugium Copepod Rotifers Coral SPS LPS Food $14.95 Time Remaining: 21d 19h 45m Buy It Now for only: $14.95 |
 Blue with Pink Polyps AcroSPS LPS Live Reef Coral AcroporaChalice Acan $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 43m |
 CORAL EXTACY Coral food SPS LPS Aquarium Fish feed 4z $14.99 Time Remaining: 21d 4h 28m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 |
 JJs Raidoactive Dragon Eye Zoas LPS SPS Zoa Live Coral Frag Z41 $9.99 Time Remaining: 1d 2h 39m |
 JJs Nuclear Holocaust Palys LPS SPS Zoa Live Coral Frag S38 $9.99 Time Remaining: 1d 2h 59m |
 KEY LED REEF LIGHTS FOR SALTWATER SPS LPS 3W CREE DIMMABLE 1 Year Warranty $599.00 Time Remaining: 13d 7h 16m Buy It Now for only: $599.00 |
 Yellow Green MilliHuge FragSPS LPS Live Reef Coral Millepora $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 48m |
 NEW OYSTER EGG FEAST PLANKTON Rotifers 4oz Concentrate Eggs Feed Coral SPS LPS $19.95 Time Remaining: 26d 21h 19m Buy It Now for only: $19.95 |
 JJs Idaho Grape Monti Cap LPS SPS Zoa Live Coral Frag U91 $9.99 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 32m |
 JJs Jugs Chalice LPS SPS Zoa Live Coral Frag S10 $9.99 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 16m |
 120um SIEVE STACKABLE PLANKTON COLLECTOR FOOD FOR CORAL ZOANTHIDS POLYPS LPS SPS $15.95 Time Remaining: 13d 21h 1m Buy It Now for only: $15.95 |
 My Clementine zoanthids zoas paly lps sps coral $50.00 Time Remaining: 3h 58m |
 CORAL EXTACY 2oz Feed Corals SPS LPS nanno tank Aquarium Whole Organism Food $9.99 Time Remaining: 25d 9m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 Pink Zippers zoanthids zoas paly lps sps coral $15.00 Time Remaining: 3h 58m |
 Blonde Blue Eye BH zoanthids zoas paly lps sps coral $25.00 Time Remaining: 3h 58m |
 ROTIFERS LIVE FISH FOOD SALTWATER Coral Larvae Fry Rotifer Plankton LPS SPS $17.95 Time Remaining: 17d 16h 59m Buy It Now for only: $17.95 |
 Pink Hippos zoanthids zoas paly lps sps coral $20.00 Time Remaining: 3h 58m |
 CORAL FEAST OVA 1oz Plankton Eggs Zooanthid LPS SPS $14.95 Time Remaining: 20d 19h 6m Buy It Now for only: $14.95 |
 Woodstock zoanthids zoas paly lps sps coral $20.00 Time Remaining: 3h 58m |
 Vampire zoanthids zoas paly lps sps coral $20.00 Time Remaining: 3h 58m |
 NEW CORAL FEAST OVA 2oz Feed LPS SPS Reef Food $22.95 Time Remaining: 2d 17h 28m Buy It Now for only: $22.95 |
 Utter Chaos zoanthids zoas paly lps sps coral $40.00 Time Remaining: 3h 58m |
 Feed SPS LPS Gargonian Clams Oysters Invertebrate 2oz $29.95 Time Remaining: 23d 16h 38m Buy It Now for only: $29.95 |
 Space Monster zoanthids zoas paly lps sps coral $40.00 Time Remaining: 3h 58m |
 Lunar Eclipse zoanthids zoas paly lps sps coral $10.00 Time Remaining: 3h 58m |
 CORAL EXTACY Coral food SPS LPS Aquarium Fish feed 1z $6.99 Time Remaining: 26d 17h 45m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 Hawaiian Ding Dang PE zoanthids zoas paly lps sps coral $10.00 Time Remaining: 3h 58m |
 Live coral CC Darth Maul Paly chalice acan lps sps LE coral frag $39.99 Time Remaining: 17d 8h 33m Buy It Now for only: $39.99 |
 Cherry Charm zoanthids zoas paly lps sps coral $30.00 Time Remaining: 3h 58m |
 Red Hornets zoanthids zoas paly lps sps coral $40.00 Time Remaining: 3h 58m |
 Coral SPS LPS ROTI FOOD Crocea Clam Enrich 8oz Grow Brine shrimp Rotifer Pods $23.95 Time Remaining: 19d 44m Buy It Now for only: $23.95 |
 Purple Up PalysGreat ColorSPS LPS Live Reef CoralZoas Polyps $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 12m |
 Zooplankton CORAL EXTACY Feed Ricordia SPS LPS 2z $9.99 Time Remaining: 2d 17h 51m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 Darth Maul PalysThree PolypsSPS LPS Live Reef Coral $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 5h 23m |
 Extreme Shocker ChaliceEncrustedSPS LPS Live Reef Coral $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 5h 15m |
 Pseudodiaptomus 16oz Feed Coral Reef LPS SPS Mandarin $35.95 Time Remaining: 11d 8h 34m Buy It Now for only: $35.95 |
 Yellow Scarface PalysDont Miss OutSPS LPS Live Reef Coral $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 57m |
 SIEVE 12 400um Feed Mandarin Seahorse Dragonet Coral SPS LPS Tank Moina Daphnia $19.95 Time Remaining: 29d 5h 17m Buy It Now for only: $19.95 |
 3G Palys1st Frag ReleasedSPS LPS Live Reef CoralZoas Polyps $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 14m |
 Red DragonVery RareSPS LPS Live Reef CoralChalice Acropora Chalice $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 5h 7m |
 250um SIEVE STACKABLE PLANKTON COLLECTOR FOOD FOR CORAL ZOANTHIDS POLYPS LPS SPS $15.95 Time Remaining: 12d 18h 28m Buy It Now for only: $15.95 |
 Sopranos PalyBright OrangeSPS LPS Live Reef Coral $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 35m |
 COPEPOD BLEND PURE ISOCHRYSIS 8oz Food for filter Feeders SPS LPS Copepod $29.95 Time Remaining: 26d 17h 47m Buy It Now for only: $29.95 |
 Scarface PalysVery BrightSPS LPS Live Reef CoralPolyps $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 19m |
 Gold Dust PalyNever Seen BeforeSPS LPS Live Reef Coral $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 23m |
 Live coral CC Sunny D Paly chalice acan lps sps LE coral frag $24.99 Time Remaining: 17d 8h 59m Buy It Now for only: $24.99 |
 I Got the Fever PalysBright OrangeSPS LPS Live Reef Coral $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 29m |
 Live coral CC Ring of Fire Zoa chalice acan lps sps LE coral frag $24.99 Time Remaining: 17d 8h 56m Buy It Now for only: $24.99 |
 Green Monster MilliHappy as can beSPS LPS Live Reef Coral Millepora $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 52m |
 Pink Sparkle PalySuper RareSPS LPS Live Reef Coral $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 51m |
 Live Brine shrimp 2 Lt Feed Clownfish Seahorses Fry feed Coral SPS LPS Inverts $49.00 Time Remaining: 1d 17h 53m Buy It Now for only: $49.00 |
 KO Nightmares PalysVery BrightSPS LPS Live Reef CoralPolyps $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 35m |
 6 Mangrove Prop Roots purify water Refugium Corals Reef Tank SPS LPS Zoanthid $34.95 Time Remaining: 28d 18h 27m Buy It Now for only: $34.95 |
 Avenger AcroGreat ColorSPS LPS Live Reef Coral AcroporaChalice $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 3m |
 Mayan Sun ZoasVery RareSPS LPS Live Reef CoralPalys Polyps $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 16m |
 Coral SPS LPS ROTI FOOD 8oz Feed Rotifers Crocea Clam Enrich Rotifer $23.95 Time Remaining: 12d 10h 44m Buy It Now for only: $23.95 |
 Herman Reds ZoasVery BrightSPS LPS Live Reef CoralPalys Polyps $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 23m |
 LIVE Copepods Parvo Reef Food feed Coral Tank Seahorse 16oz SPS LPS Seed Refuge $39.95 Time Remaining: 3d 2h 44m Buy It Now for only: $39.95 |
 Frog Skin AcroChalice SPS LPS Live CoralAcropora Zoa Chalice $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 47m |
 Bloody Marys Palys Combo RockSuper BrightSPS LPS Live Reef Coral $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 49m |
 Live coral CC Mary Jane Paly chalice acan lps sps LE coral frag $29.99 Time Remaining: 17d 8h 41m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
 Stardust er1cs PalysNice ComboSPS LPS Live Reef CoralZoas Polyps $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 37m |
Lps Sps
Consumer Reports - Camcorders
hose grainy, jumpy home movies of yesteryear are long gone--replaced by home movies shot on digital or analog camcorders. You can edit and embellish the footage with music using your computer, then play it back on your VCR; you can even send it via e-mail.
Digital camcorders, now the dominant type, generally offer very good to excellent picture quality, along with very good sound capability, compactness, and ease of handling. Making copies of a digital recording won't result in a loss of picture or sound quality. You can even take rudimentary still photos with some digital camcorders.
Analog camcorders, now a small part of the market, generally have good picture and sound quality and are less expensive. Some analog units are about as compact and easy to handle as digital models, while others are a bit bigger and bulkier.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
Sony dominates the camcorder market, with multiple models in a number of formats. Other top brands include Canon, JVC, Panasonic, and Samsung.
Most digital models come in the MiniDV format. Formats such as the disc-based DVD-RAM and DVD-R have also appeared. Some digital models weigh as little as one pound.
MiniDV. Don't let their small size deceive you. Although some models can be slipped into a large pocket, MiniDV camcorders can record very high-quality images. They use a unique tape cassette, and the typical recording time is 60 minutes at standard play (SP) speed. Expect to pay $6.50 for a 60-minute tape. You'll need to use the camcorder for playback--it converts its recording to an analog signal, so it can be played directly into a TV or VCR. If the TV or VCR has an S-video input jack, use it to get a high-quality picture.
Price range: $350 to more than $2,000.
Digital 8. Also known as D8, this format gives you digital quality on Hi8 or 8mm cassettes, which cost $6.50 and $3.50, respectively. The Digital 8 format records with a faster tape speed, so a "120-minute" cassette lasts only 60 minutes at SP. Most models can also play your old analog Hi8 or 8mm tapes.
Price range: $350 to $800.
Disc-based. Capitalizing on the explosive growth and capabilities of DVD movie discs, these formats offer benefits tape can't provide: long-term durability, a compact medium, and random access to scenes as with a DVD. The 3 1/4-inch discs record standard MPEG-2 video, the same format used in commercial DVD videos. The amount of recording time varies according to the quality level you select: from 20 minutes per side at the highest-quality setting for DVD-RAM up to about 60 minutes per side at the lowest setting. DVD-RAM discs are not compatible with most DVD players, but the discs can be reused. DVD-R is supposed to be compatible with most DVD players and computer DVD drives, but the discs are write-once. We paid about $25 at a local retailer for a blank DVD-RW.
Price range: $700 to $1,000.
Most analog camcorders now use the Hi8 format; VHS-C and Super VHS-C are fading from the market. Blank tapes range in price from $3.50 to $6.50. Analog camcorders usually weigh around 2 pounds. Picture quality is generally good, though a notch below that of digital.
Price range: $225 to $500.
IMPORTANT FEATURES
A flip-out liquid-crystal-display (LCD) viewer is becoming commonplace on all but the lowest-priced camcorders. You'll find it useful for reviewing footage you've shot and easier to use than the eyepiece viewfinder for certain shooting poses. Some LCD viewers are hard to use in sunlight, a drawback on models that have only a viewer and no eyepiece.
Screens vary from 2 1/2 to 4 inches measured diagonally, with a larger screen offered as a step-up feature on higher-priced models. Since an LCD viewer uses batteries faster than an eyepiece viewfinder does, you don't have as much recording time when the LCD is in use.
An image stabilizer automatically reduces most of the shaking that occurs from holding the camcorder as you record a scene. Most stabilizers are electronic; a few are optical. Either type can be effective, though mounting the camcorder on a tripod is the surest way to get steady images. If you're not using a tripod, you can try holding the camcorder with both hands and propping both elbows against your chest.
Full auto switch essentially lets you point and shoot. The camcorder automatically adjusts the color balance, shutter speed, focus, and aperture (also called the "iris" or "f-stop" with camcorders).
Autofocus adjusts for maximum sharpness; manual focus override may be needed for problem situations, such as low light. (With some camcorders, you may have to tap buttons repeatedly to get the focus just right.) With many models, you can also control exposure, shutter speed, and white balance.
The zoom is typically a finger control--press one way to zoom in, the other way to widen the view. The rate at which the zoom changes will depend on how hard you press the switch. Typical optical zoom ratios range from 10:1 to 26:1. The zoom relies on optical lenses, just like a film camera (hence the term "optical zoom"). Many camcorders offer a digital zoom to extend the range to 400:1 or more, but at a lower picture quality.
For tape-based formats, analog or digital, every camcorder displays tape speeds the same way a VCR does. Every model, for example, includes an SP (standard play) speed. Digitals have a slower, LP (long play) speed that adds 50 percent to the recording time. A few 8mm and Hi8 models have an LP speed that doubles the recording time. All VHS-C and S-VHS-C camcorders have an even slower EP (extended play) speed that triples the recording time. With analog camcorders, slower speeds worsen picture quality. Slow speed usually doesn't reduce picture quality on digital camcorders. But using slow speed means sacrificing some seldom-used editing options and may restrict playback on other camcorders.
Disc-based formats have a variety of modes that trade off recording time for image quality.
Quick review lets you view the last few seconds of a scene without having to press a lot of buttons. For special lighting situations, preset auto-exposure settings can be helpful. A "snow & sand" setting, for example, adjusts shutter speed or aperture to accommodate high reflectivity.
A light provides some illumination for close shots when the image would otherwise be too dark. Backlight compensation increases the exposure slightly when your subject is lit from behind and silhouetted. An infrared-sensitive recording mode (also known as night vision, zero lux, or MagicVu) allows shooting in very dim or dark situations, using infrared emitters. You can use it for nighttime shots, although colors won't register accurately in this mode.
Audio/video inputs let you record material from another camcorder or from a VCR, useful for copying part of another video onto your own. (A digital camcorder must have such an input jack if you want to record analog material digitally.) Unlike a built-in microphone, an external microphone that is plugged into a microphone jack won't pick up noises from the camcorder itself, and it typically improves audio performance.
A camcorder with digital still capability lets you take snapshots, which can be downloaded to your computer. The photo quality is generally inferior to that of a still camera.
Features that may aid editing include a built-in title generator, a time-and-date stamp, and a time code, which is a frame reference of exactly where you are on a tape--the hour, minute, second, and frame. A remote control helps when you're using the camcorder as a playback device or when you're using a tripod. Programmed recording (a self-timer) starts the camcorder recording at a preset time.
HOW TO CHOOSE
Pick your price range and format. The least-expensive camcorders on the market are analog. All the rest are digital.
Once you've decided which part of the price spectrum to explore, you need to pick a specific recording format. That determines not only how much you'll be spending for tapes or discs, but also how much recording time you'll get. The tape-based formats are typically superior in picture quality.
With analog, you can get 120 to 300 minutes of recording on a Hi8 cassette; with the SVHS-C or VHS-C formats, you can get only 30 to 120 minutes.
With digital formats that use MiniDV, Digital 8, or MicroMV tapes, you can get at least 60 minutes of recording on a standard cassette. MiniDV and D8 cassettes are the least expensive and easiest to find.
Digital DVD camcorders from Panasonic and Hitachi can accommodate DVD-RAM discs, which can be reused but aren't compatible with all DVD players. All brands also use DVD-R, one-use discs that work in most DVD players. The standard setting yields 60 minutes of recording; the "fine" setting, 30 minutes.
If you're replacing an older camcorder, think about what you'll do with the tapes you've accumulated. If you don't stay with the same format you've been using, you will probably want to transfer the old tapes to an easily viewed medium, such as a DVD.
If you're buying your first camcorder, concentrate on finding the best one for your budget, regardless of format.
Check the size, weight, and controls. In the store, try different camcorders to make sure they fit your hand and are comfortable to use. Some models can feel disconcertingly tiny. (You'll need to use a tripod if you want rock-steady video, no matter which camcorders you choose.) Most camcorders are designed so that the most frequently used controls--the switch to zoom in and out, and the record button--fall readily to hand. Make sure that the controls are convenient and that you can change the tape or DVD and remove the battery.
Check the flip-out LCD viewer. Most measure 2.5 inches on the diagonal, but some are larger, adding about $100 to the price. If the viewer seems small and difficult to use or suffers from too much glare, consider trading up to a similar model or a different brand to get a better screen.
Think about the lighting. A camcorders isn't always used outdoors or in a brightly lit room. You can shoot video in dim light, but don't expect miracles. In our tests, using the camcorders' default mode, most produced only fair or poor images in very low light. Many camcorders have settings that can improve performance but can be a challenge to use.
Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
For the latest information on this and many other products and services, visit www.ConsumerReports.org.
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Auraled LED Reef Lighting System 29 & 13 Biocube w/ LPS SPS Corals