There’s No Such Thing As A Free Lunch….. Or Is There ? 

If I had been asked the question just under two years ago, I would probably have just laughed or muttered something about not being born yesterday.

In recounting what has happened since, I should make it clear from the outset that I am not attempting to influence or convert anyone, just giving an honest picture of what was achievable for me and the real “cost”. 

As often happens with these things, I discovered the free gift scene totally by accident.  Christmas 2006 was rapidly approaching and I was trying to get hold of a cheap Xbox 360 console to use as a media centre.   One of the first listings I came across on eBay was offering information on how to get the console totally free; I didn’t exactly have money burning a hole in my pocket and am always up for a challenge, so decided to find out if there was a catch, expecting to get an e-book on bankrupt stock or police auctions.

Instead, I was about to enter the world of affiliate (referral) marketing.   I am sure there are volumes on the subject, some of which are no doubt labelled pyramid schemes, but for those who want a bit of detail on the specific business model employed in this instance, you might want to take a look at a short video podcast put together by the BBC’s Newsnight program or maybe my own guide how to get free stuff online.

All I had to do to get my free console was sign-up to an affiliate site, take out a free DVD rental trial and refer a few friends.  How difficult could that be?

I am a regular online shopper and knew the DVD rental company LOVEFiLM (the equivalent of Blockbuster or Netflix in US and Canada) from a recent national TV campaign, so had no problems with that part of the process. To be fair, the service they provide is actually pretty good!

The harder part was getting referrals…..and I needed 12 of those (who would each have to take up their own offer) to get the Xbox 360 console. Luckily, after running out of family and friends who were either willing to believe what I was saying or just gave in to my constant nagging, I stumbled upon eXceem forums.  They have a buzzing community of like minded freebie hunters who gave me confidence that I would get me gifts and provided tips on how to achieve that.   I have since discovered similar sites such as Anything4Free.com

To the cynics’ amazement, my Xbox 360 arrived on 2^nd December 2006 along with a second generation iPod Nano that I had also earnt…and a freebie addict was born.  I would be embarrassed to say how many other gadgets, gifts and cash have passed through my hands since!

I mentioned the real “cost” in my preamble. That has not been a financial one, far from it, you can get out as much as you put in…..and there’s where the problem lies; getting referrals can start to take up every waking hour, your whole life spent thinking about, talking about and implementing new “methods”.  Well, that is, if you are not checking your accounts for new sign-ups, waiting for account verification or delivery of your free stuff.  Getting your affiliate links out there will also almost invariably require an element of spamming and I am not proud of some of the tactics I have employed along the way.  In fact,  I could devote another who article and more to “methods”, the choice of free sites out there and how to avoid getting your affiliate account cancelled (termed “put on hold”).

Fortunately, things changed for the better when I set up my first ever websites, Simplyfreeiphone and Gadgets4nowt - my background is certainly not web coding or design but I love a challenge (did I say that before!) and now have them both ranking extremely well.   I obviously have to update the content and keep working on links but overall, it’s a fairly easy ride these days.  With the evolution of the affiliate sites themselves, I no longer get my free stuff in the form of goods, most now offer custom orders in the shape of bank transfers at £17 ($35) per referral.   My sites bring me in an average of 3 completed referrals a day, so there’s good money to be had. 

All that’s left is to decide where do I go from here?  I guess I could push some new keywords and increase traffic to my sites through rankings but there is a limit to people looking for a free games console or iPods.  Can the sites be taken in another direction or should I sell them?

Ricoh’s Caplio range of cameras has always produced high-quality models with big lenses and screens, but at a cost of being on the bulky side.

The company has addressed that in recent models, which have been getting smaller and smaller, and the Ricoh R8 (the company having dropped the Caplio name) is admirably svelte, although it’s still bulkier than many cameras. It includes a similar 7.1x zoom lens to its predecessors, and has a 10-megapixel resolution, along with a bright, clear 2.7in screen on the reverse.

The menus are clear and easy to use, with a tiny joystick to the right of the screen used for most functions. One annoying feature is that, by default, it forgets any settings you change after it’s switched off, which puzzled us until we found the menu option to make it remember settings.

Like most modern compact cameras, it offers both vibration correction (to counter camera shake) and face detection (to make sure people are in focus). Image quality was impressive, as was the sharpness of the screen although, as with many compacts, in low light there was slightly more noise than we’d have liked. That aside, this is a well-built camera that’s worth the money

The Sanyo Xacti HD-1000 is the one of the first cameras we’ve seen that offers full high-definition (1080i) recording.

In theory this means that your home videos will be as clear as the latest Blu-ray film. However, this camcorder is not all it’s cracked up to be. In good light we found that colours were faded and in low light, recordings were grainy. The camera has a 5-megapixel still mode so it can take photographic images but the ones we took were blurry and unimpressive.

The design of the camcorder echoes its cousin, the Xacti VPC-HD2 we looked at a while ago. All the main components, such as the zoom, sit on the top part of the camera behind the lens, and a blue light surrounds the record buttons. Below this is an annoyingly tiny joystick for the menus. The side hides the flip-out 2.7in screen, which is extremely clear. The rest is blank, giving plenty of holding space.

The camcorder itself has no connections: instead you need the supplied dock with sockets for the included HDMI cables as well as a USB port. It comes with a remote control but not a memory card, which will bump the price up a touch.

Cheap, rugged waterproof video camera

Most waterproof cameras - for video or still images - seem to be long on attitude and short on features, which means that instead people risk taking normal kit outdoors or buy a cheap camera for more daring outings.

However, we were genuinely impressed with the Sanyo CA65 which is designed for just such tasks. It uses SD memory cards rather than tapes to store video, so recording isn’t cheap, but as prices of such cards are coming down this is less problematic.

Operation is simple and video quality impressive for the price, and it’s possible to take decent still photographs as well. Some of the key controls are protected by the screen when it’s closed, and need a fair amount of dexterity to reach when holding the open camera one-handed. We weren’t expecting much from the twin microphones, but they worked surprisingly well.

The camera can be awkward to hold. Its body tapers outwards and, held in one hand, it can feel like the camera is about to pop out of the top of the hand like a bar of soap. This never happened, and there is a reassuringly large loop at the bottom of the camera for a strap, but it was disquieting nonetheless.

The eight-megapixel SX100 IS, with its 10x optical zoom, is a new class of camera for Canon. It contains a monster of a lens but is easier to use and more affordable than the typical long zoom model.

Cameras with this sort of lens length - equivalent to 36-360mm in 35mm terms - are susceptible to the effects of hand wobble when shooting at maximum zoom, so Canon has included image stabilisation to cut down on blurred shots, and the good news is that it works.

If you do want to hedge your bets by also using the flash, the fact that it’s of a pop-up version helps prevent red-eye, since the bulb is further from the lens.

Canon has also considered the ergonomics of the camera: there’s enough of it to get a good grip, and although the construction of the SX100 IS is mainly in plastic it feels reassuringly solid. The only signs of corner-cutting are the two non-rechargeable AA batteries that power the device and lasted us less than 100 shots - very disappointing.

With large and responsive buttons, the SX100 IS gets up and running in a couple of seconds, and though there’s no hotshoe for an additional flash or an optical viewfinder, Canon has provided a clear and fairly large 2.5in screen.

Settings are chosen using a four-way controller at the rear of the camera that can’t quite decide whether it’s a touch pad or a scroll wheel. As it’s easy for the thumb to slip between options, this makes for fiddly operation until you get used to its quirks.

Third grumble: there’s no doubting the larger zoom range is really handy for candid snaps and close-ups, but the fact that it’s unusable in video mode feels like a missed opportunity given the large audience of doting parents.

Still, images are what count, and the results from the SX100 IS were impressively sharp and colourful without looking unnatural. Low-light shots showed some noise, though results were better than from competing cameras even at the maximum setting of ISO1600. Overall this is a reliable budget option for those who want a large zoom but not the distracting range of manual controls that often come with that.

After flirting with groundbreaking ideas such as like twin-lens cameras (to make both long-range and wide-angle shots possible without bulking up the thickness of the camera), Kodak has now returned to producing more conventional compact cameras.

Like the 8-megapixel model, the V803, this 10-megapixel version has neat looks in a cute, round-edged body.

The lens is an industry-standard 3x zoom, and the screen is an average 2.5in. The camera is flexible enough to suit varied lighting conditions, so it can in theory shoot in poor light without the flash.

In practice, higher ISO settings, to make the most of the sensitivity available, resulted in too much noise. The camera fared rather better in situations with decent light, using a lower ISO setting.

The wide range of scene settings, with modes for landscapes, fireworks and children, sport, and scenes lit by sunset or candles. In all, there are 22 settings, so there should be something for most occasions, providing you have the wherewithal to work your way through all the options in time.

Menus, at least, are clear and easily accessible and for beginners the clearly labelled buttons on the back make things simple. The delete button on the V1003 includes an undelete function so it’s possible to restore a shot you rashly wiped (though you have to change your mind straight away). On top of all this, it’s competitively priced for a 10-megapixel camera.

Like many digital cameras, though, there’s noticeable shutter lag - the time between depressing the button and the picture being taken - which can be annoying.

In all, then, it’s not the perfect camera. But for a novice who wants to explore the world of digital photography, who wants something simple but not simplistic and who doesn’t want to break the bank, it’s a good choice.

The metal-bodied EX-S880 is the latest in Casio’s series of pocket-friendly cameras, squeezing a 3x zoom lens into a camera only 14mm thick, topped off with an eight-megapixel resolution.

Among the important features are the 2.8in widescreen for composition (there is no viewfinder), face-detection to ensure perfect people shots - with the intriguing ability to bias it towards members of your own family - and the bundled desktop docking station for downloading images and recharging the battery.

One of the camera’s main selling points, though, is a video blog mode that optimises video for posting on Youtube. A top resolution of 848×480 pixels when shooting video is slightly better than most digital cameras.

Though it’s a gimmick - as is the fact that the camera is available in three colours - it provides a useful differentiation for what is on the face of it just another point-and-shoot camera.

The literal lack of depth to the EX-S880 is also a bit of a worry, as it led, in our testing, to an unusually high number of images ruined by camera shake and visible image softness - something like half the shots we took.

Unfortunately the EX-S880 does not offer image stabilisation to counteract this, only a digital setting that boosts shutter speed and ISO sensitivity (ISO1600). We’d advise sticking to ISO400 to avoid image noise, though there is less noise than from previous Exilims.

And the EX-S880 is fast in use, the lens barrel extending in just over a second, and no noticeable shutter lag. Write speed - to an SD card (not supplied) or the small 11MB internal memory - is merely OK, taking two to three seconds to save a maximum-quality JPEG.

At the end of the day though we can’t escape the fact that, when it comes to image quality, the EX-S880’s swan-like feathers reveal an ugly duckling.

The sleek and smart EX-S880 comes bundled with equally presentable camera bags variety to go with the pocket-friendly product. The zoom quality is much more enhanced and sophisticated than any known internet camera. For more adventurous users, the camera tripod is a great accessory to with the purchase.

Have you got £6000 to spare , if so take a look at this baby

• 21.1 Megapixel Full Frame CMOS Sensor
• DiGiC III Image Processors
• EOS Integrated Cleaning System
• Huge 3.0″ fine detail LCD Screen

A Canon developed 21.1 Megapixel Full-frame CMOS Sensor and Dual DiG!C III image processors combine to deliver ultra fine image detail. With the ability to capture up to 5fps at 21.1 Megapixels with a continuous burst of up to 56 shots (JPEG) the EOS-1Ds Mark III is the premier DSLR on the market. Key new features include the EOS Integrated Cleaning System and two Live View Modes that can be used to shoot while viewing images in real time. Comprised of a strong and durable magnesium alloy body with over 70 waterproof and dust proof seals, the EOS-1Ds Mark III is the ultimate DSLR for Professionals.

Outstanding Image Quality

-21.1 Megapixel Full Frame CMOS Sensor captures even the finest details -Dual DiG!C III Image Processors produce ultra fine detail and 14-bit A/D for fine colour gradation -The new Picture Style button makes it even easier to customise images on camera

High Performance Operation

-Capture an amazing 5 fps with the ability to capture up to 45 shots in a single continuous burst -45-point AF system (including 19 cross-type AF points & 26 assist AF points)

Professional Features

EOS Integrated Cleaning System provides total protection from appearance of sensor dust in images -Shoot on-camera or wirelessly via a computer in real time with Live View Huge 3.0″ fine detail LCD Screen to view extreme detail

Huge Range of Standard Accessories + Software

• Battery Pack LP E4
• Eyecup Eg
• Battery Charger LC-E4
• Wide Strap L6
• AC Adapter Kit ACK-E4
• USB Cable Protector
• Video Cable VC-100
• CR2025 Lithium Battery
• Interface Cable IFC-200U
• Interface Cable IFC-500U
• EOS DIGITAL Solution Disk
• Software Instruction Manual

Optional Accessories

• Over 60 EF Lenses
• Canon EX-series Speedlites
• Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX
• Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX
• Dioptric Adjustment Lenses Eg
• Anti-Fog Eyepiece Eg
• Angle Finder C
• Range of Focusing Screens
• Hand Strap E1
• Wireless File transmitter WFT-E2
• Timer Remote Controller TC-80N3
• Remote Switch RS-80N3
• Wireless Control - LC-5
• Car Battery Cable CB-570

       After the latest debut product of hp camera, the Canon EOS 1DS Mark III is going to beat the market for a long way.  The camera stores which are already loaded with the various makes of the fugi camera, kodak camera and sony devices are already after the big success with the Canon product.

Imagine you’ve bought a car that’s lots of amazing: It’s lightning quick, foxy as anything, solid as you like and eats lesser cars for a light afternoon snack. But in the end, you leave it in the garage, because you have to top it up with fuel every few miles. Sadly, the downfall of this camera is that fuel-guzzler flashy car syndrome: On paper it ticks the boxes, but in real life it just doesn’t hack it

The S1050 comes with all the toys: Face recognition technology, which self-adjusts so your subject’s faces are in focus. It packs a healthy 10 megapixels, has a damn fine 1/2000 sec top-end shutter speed, 45MB built-in memory (up to 4GB using SD cards), and it’s built like a double-reinforced Sherman tank. The LCD screen deserves a special mention; it’s a whopping 3 inches, and Samsung have looked after the details, with a hard-plastic shell protecting the display.

With so many things going in its favour, it’s such a shame that they’ve stumbled over the simplest hurdle. You could solve the battery problem with the optional SNB-2512 battery and charger kit, but let’s face it — if you’re spending £160 on a camera, you don’t want to have to splash another wad of cash to be able to use it to its full capacity. The final straw is that even if you do get a rechargeable battery and charger, you end up with a last-century NiMH battery: most manufacturers (including, interestingly enough, Samsung) now include ‘intelligent’ long-lasting Lithium Ion batteries with current digital cameras.

The digital compact grows up

Complete with a 12MP CCD, image-stabilized lens and more tricks than Britney’s had Frappuccinos, the G9 bridges the gap between compact and DSLR. Encased in a robust, uncompromising and (slightly) intimidating body, it’s the Darth Vader of digital cameras. Light sabre not included

Novices should dig out the manual first. The sheer quantity of buttons and dials on the body is as unnerving as stumbling upon an angry Rottweiler in an alley. The square body isn’t comfortable either, we’d have preferred more grips and the zoom lever is a bit of a stretch.

Shutter bug

Putting these nags aside. With a responsive shutter, fast focusing, and outstanding 3in LCD, the G9 is a joy to use. Pictures are outstanding; sharp, detailed and with bags of colour. It’s not bad at controlling noise either, only becoming unbearable if you push it over ISO 800. Our favourite feature is ‘Focus check,’ which puts an end to blurred pictures by enlarging the focus area so you can check the sharpness.

The list goes on

A feature list as exhaustive as the unabridged Oxford Dictionary includes: manual control over the aperture, shutter, sensitivity and focusing, a hotshoe for a flashgun and lens adaptor ring. But the G9 isn’t just for wannabe pros. Even the most clueless shutterbug can snap away using scene modes and face detection.

At £430 this is pricier than some DSLR’s, but that’s without factoring cost of extra lenses and the bulky shape. For newcomers to photography and enthusiasts in the market for a second camera, the tough and quick G9 is perfect.

Pentax updates its product portfolio with the new “Optio V10″ digital camera. Measures 55 x 58 x 19mm and weighs 120 grams, it sports an 8 megapixel CCD sensor, a 3-inch display, a 52MB onboard memory, and SD/SDHC media card slot. This camera will be available soon in Japan with a price tag of around €215.

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Pentax updates its product portfolio with the new digital camera under its Optio brand, the “Optio Z10″. This compact point-and-shoot camera comes with an 8 megapixel sensor and features a 7x optical zoom lens and up to ISO 800. Users can record their own movie (AVI format) on the provided 52.1MB onboard memory, or store it externally on a SD/SDHC media cards. Moreover, the camera measures 94 x 25 x 58mm and weighs at just 125 grams. That’d fit nicely on your shirt pocket.

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