Posts Tagged ‘Compact’

LED Light Bulbs vs Compact Fluorescent – Which is Better?

In an effort to cut energy costs and “go green,” many countries, including the United States, are either considering phasing out incandescent light bulbs or have already passed laws to ban them. As standard light bulbs go the way of the dinosaurs, consumers are left with just two viable options, LED light bulbs and compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).

The push has been on for CFLs for the past several years, and in turn, they’ve received a lot of press, both positive and negative. But not much has been said about LED light bulbs. And so the question begs to be answered: What are LED light bulbs and are they a good alternative to CFLs?

Led Lcd

While most people aren’t aware of it, LED (light emitting diode) technology has actually been around for quite a while. LEDs are basically tiny light bulbs about the size of a matchstick head that fit into an electrical circuit. That pinpoint light which indicates your dishwasher is running, for example, is a LED light. LED lights are used to form the numbers on digital clocks and are used as instrument panel lighting in vehicles, boats, and aircraft. Many traffic lights are now composed of clusters of LEDs.

Because LEDs are extremely energy efficient, can tolerate temperature variances and turbulence – all while lasting a long time – the quest began in an effort to create light bulbs by clustering numerous LED’s together. And it’s worked. LED light bulbs are now being produced that boast exceptional energy efficiency. A 7-watt LED light bulb, for example, can now replace a 75-watt incandescent bulb. As you can guess, the potential savings in energy costs and greenhouse gasses is enormous.

With claims that they can last up to 15 years and use 90% less energy than the traditional bulb, LED light bulbs seem to be a no-brainer at first glance. But problems are prominent and LED light bulbs currently come up short. Let’s take a look at why:

LED light bulbs are expensive. Understandably, most people balk at spending .00 to 5.00 for just one light bulb, even when it results in a notable reduction in energy bills. Considering most homes have 30-plus light bulbs and businesses have significantly more, switching to LEDs is simply not an affordable option.

LED light bulbs aren’t bright enough. While standard bulbs and CFLs illuminate light in all directions, the light from LED light bulbs is directed or focused, like a spotlight. While this works well for situations such as reading, work areas, and accent lighting, it results in unsatisfactory illumination for general lighting needs.

Not all LED light bulbs are created equal. Many of the less expensive LED light bulbs produced use poor quality LED’s that burn out prematurely due to manufacturing issues.

Their light output quickly degrades. Unlike incandescent bulbs, which release their heat, LEDs contain their heat, which causes their light quality to degrade. Even though heat syncs are added to redirect the heat to a circuit board, issues with temperature overload are still frequent. Tests have shown a loss of 50% of light output in 6 months.

Due to their brightness, stability and attractive pricing (not much more than incandescent bulbs) CFL’s are currently the better choice for most homes and businesses. However, if you decide to take LEDs for a test drive, here are some tips:

Start out by trying just one LED light bulb.

Do your homework. Take time research and read consumer feedback and reviews. Weigh the pros and the cons.

Pay careful attention to warranties and guarantees from both the manufacturer and the store you buy from.

Buy quality. Phillips Color Kinetics and Permlight are good brands that currently produce high quality LEDs.

Beware of the less expensive LED light bulbs as they are often problematic.

As LED technology improves and prices drop, LED light bulbs will be worth taking a second look at in the future. But for now, CFLs are clearly the better overall choice.

LED Light Bulbs vs Compact Fluorescent – Which is Better?

The Sony NEX 5KB Alpha Compact Camera – A Product Review

The Sony NEX 5KB is a very versatile Digital, aimed at the more serious photographer who is looking for quality linked to spontaneity. The new Sony is a revolutionary piece of equipment for a compact, and comes with interchangeable lenses which increases your photographic options and maintains creative flexibility. This camera is the world’s lightest and most compact interchangeable and includes some unique features which combines with some new technology to take it to the forefront when comparing it to other cameras in its class; or so the Sony Publicity department says. Let’s take a look for ourselves shall we. The camera comes equipped with the following.

Kit Lens E 18-55mm

Camera

Lens Hood

Lens Cap.

Flash.

Case for Flash

Battery Charger

Power Cord

Rechargeable Battery

Shoulder Strap.

USB Cable.

CD-Rom

Users of the Sony Cybershot who want to take the plunge and step up in class will feel at home with the overall feel and controls, and will definitely see the difference in delivered quality. For the rest who don’t already own a Sony, you will be amazed at just how small this camera is; the body is barely 24 mm thick and inside there is so much technology. The interchangeable lens compact type cameras is a whole new world apart and on the surface it looks like Sony have surpassed their rivals. But is it as good as it looks?

I must admit I liked and found very useful, the “sweep Panorama” mode, which is a bit noisy but enables you to take snap shots of a Panoramic view, and seamlessly stitch them together. The handheld twilight feature is another great mode that combines a series of pictures into one sharp image.

The movie mode is a vast improvement on the Cybershot, but for the difference in price should be. One drawback though is that it doesn’t have any manual exposure controls so there are still problems for Sony here. My opinion on using this type of camera for taking videos though is a definite no. Get yourself a video camera and keep this one for stills.

For me the interface of the camera is a bit small and complicated, and takes time to get used to; If you want to make lots of adjustments then it could turn out to be a bit tedious.

My conclusion? This camera is for someone who want to step up from the average low-cost digital, and start to take professional quality pictures. The picture quality really is in a different league to other compacts. The more experienced photographer will probable give this one a miss for no other reason than it is a Sony. Marks out of 10. A sublime 9.5.

The Sony NEX 5KB Alpha Compact Camera – A Product Review