Wholesale Electronics News

Home Alarm Systems post by top-shoppingmall.com

Purchasing a set of home alarm systems can be a great finance for a range of reasons. Today’s portable protection tools are technologically enhanced. However, whether you have aged relations, there may be several unexpected purposes to install such a Home Alarm Systems – even whether you think they exist in a relatively safe area. Unlike wired alarm webs, this breeding of implement run on radio wave frequencies, which will detect motion and instantly transmit it to your calm unit. It may be difficult for senior citizens to realize that they can no longer care for themselves like they accustomed to.

This Audio Surveillance equipment will afterward warning the manager of the home come seal the invasion. This breeding of implement can transmit indications within hundreds of feet. Spy Camera appears like we consume our complete exists eventually education how to take care of ourselves physically, emotionally, and financially, merely to slowly lose these capacities as we age. There are many gains of engaging portable alarm webs at your home. One of the superiority you can receive from this breeding of alarm system is the noticeable sighting that it is wireless.

While it may be a cruel irony, aging is an observation of life. Unlike beforehand hard-wired alarm webs, you do not deficiency to dread come seal obscuring the wires on your alarm system. This Spy Camera is very practical if you have many properties to protect. When evaluating the home safety lacks of aged relations, we have to produce a realistic bill of what they are motionless capable of doing, and of the reverse, without any regard to the way objects “used to be.” Unfortunately, to shelter our loved ones, Audio security equipment is sometimes necessary to appearance at objects with a clinical eye.

This breeding of implement is also battery operated. Unlike traditional hard-wired alarm webs that exercise electrical wires to transmit indications, portable Home Alarm Systems tools exercise lithium-batteries. Homeowners are also made aware once the implement requires numerous battery replacements. And since Spy Camera is powered by batteries, your implement is not impinged on after there is a blackout or vitality shortage in your area. If you want to know more information about the Audio Surveillance System, please go to page www.top-shoppingmall.com

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Home Alarm Systems post by top-shoppingmall.com

Purchasing a set of home alarm systems can be a great finance for a range of reasons. Today’s portable protection tools are technologically enhanced. However, whether you have aged relations, there may be several unexpected purposes to install such a Home Alarm Systems – even whether you think they exist in a relatively safe area. Unlike wired alarm webs, this breeding of implement run on radio wave frequencies, which will detect motion and instantly transmit it to your calm unit. It may be difficult for senior citizens to realize that they can no longer care for themselves like they accustomed to.

This Audio Surveillance equipment will afterward warning the manager of the home come seal the invasion. This breeding of implement can transmit indications within hundreds of feet. Spy Camera appears like we consume our complete exists eventually education how to take care of ourselves physically, emotionally, and financially, merely to slowly lose these capacities as we age. There are many gains of engaging portable alarm webs at your home. One of the superiority you can receive from this breeding of alarm system is the noticeable sighting that it is wireless.

While it may be a cruel irony, aging is an observation of life. Unlike beforehand hard-wired alarm webs, you do not deficiency to dread come seal obscuring the wires on your alarm system. This Spy Camera is very practical if you have many properties to protect. When evaluating the home safety lacks of aged relations, we have to produce a realistic bill of what they are motionless capable of doing, and of the reverse, without any regard to the way objects “used to be.” Unfortunately, to shelter our loved ones, Audio security equipment is sometimes necessary to appearance at objects with a clinical eye.

This breeding of implement is also battery operated. Unlike traditional hard-wired alarm webs that exercise electrical wires to transmit indications, portable Home Alarm Systems tools exercise lithium-batteries. Homeowners are also made aware once the implement requires numerous battery replacements. And since Spy Camera is powered by batteries, your implement is not impinged on after there is a blackout or vitality shortage in your area. If you want to know more information about the Audio Surveillance System, please go to page www.top-shoppingmall.com

More popular articles:

Security System – Wireless CCTV Cameras are hassle free devices

Several reasons help Cisco to be the computer networking giant

Basic Site Security Tips : Keep you home or office safety

Equipment Leasing – Things To Bear In Mind

Spy Cameras: Spy Clock has functions that you never imagined

Basic Site Security Tips post by top-shoppingmall.com

The security of any job site is largely dependent upon supervisory personnel. While the laborers and trades people
work, the supervisor is in a unique position to catch anything that seems awry, suspicious or nefarious.

Security Equipment Ensuring the security of your job site requires that you put a bit of effort into investigating the backgrounds of key personnel
and that you have a keen eye for trouble. This starts with making sure that your employees and security personnel are
known quantities.

Tip 1: Background Checks
Background checks should be run on all of your supervisory and high-level employees, as well as on those with access to cash or other valuables.

Tip 2: Security Personnel
A professional security organization should be willing, able and happy to share with you any information you request about their employee’s backgrounds and qualifications.

Tip 3: Warnings
Make sure that there is signage on site that lets potential thieves know that they will be prosecuted and that the site is monitored by professionals.

Tip 4: Don’t Invite Trouble
Remember not to leave your most valuable surveillance equipment lying around the worksite unattended. Sneak thieves work fast!

Tip 5: Get Employees Involved
Let employees know that any suspicious activity should be reported immediately. This includes unauthorized vehicles and personnel on the worksite.

Tip 6: Watchful Eyes
Remind employees that any suspicious vehicles should have their tags taken down and to remember what any suspicious people looked like and what they were wearing.

Tip 7: Bad Neighborhoods
Gang activity can be easy to spot. Watch out for groups of young men hanging around on the streets, criminal activity including fighting, dealing contraband and police activity. All can be signs of a high-crime area.

Tip 8: Access Control
Gates should be open and closed as needed. Open gates are invitations to unwanted guests

Tip 9: Networking
Let the local police patrols know you’re there and keep up good relations with them.

Tip 10: Scheduling
Stagger your shifts so that there is no unsupervised crew on site. Schedule cleaning for nighttime hours.

Tip 11: Incentivize your Security Program
It’s important to make it worth your employee’s while to participate in your security program. You can add incentives to motivate employees to follow standards.

Tip 12: Anonymity
Make sure that there’s a way for employees to tip management off about crime without revealing their identities. Thieves and other criminals know how to exploit personal loyalties between workmates.

Tip 13: Help the Staff
Give your staff information and training about their own security. Make sure they know not to leave their personal items or bags lying around unattended.

Tip 14: Don’t be Accommodating to Crime
Any criminal act should be reported. If it’s not, any other criminals that find out about it are sure to target your site.

Tip 15: Cash
If you handle cash at the site, deposit it at the end of the business day and don’t deal with any cash after hours.

Tip 16: Personal Space
Do not require employees to share lockers. This sets up a situation where problems are sure to follow.

Tip 17: Escorts
After hours, make sure there are security personnel to escort employees to their cars. Numbers are the most intimidating things to thieves.

Tip 18: Community Engagement
Get to know neighboring businesses and the owners of residences. They’ll be much more likely to report suspicious activity at your site.

Tip 19: No Free Access
Anyone who visits your site should have to go through an employee. You may call them greeters if you wish, but they should serve as screeners, in reality.

Tip 20: Inventory
Videotape or photograph all inventory at the site. Log it into a database. This makes it much easier to reclaim stolen goods and to prosecute thieves.

Tip 21: Flash
If one of your employees suddenly seems very wealthy, take that as a sign that something may be amiss. Check your books, your inventory and keep an eye on them.

Tip 22: If you Suspect Something
Don’t be afraid to set up a sting operation if you have to. Sometimes this is the best way to catch a thief. You can also set up a honey pot to catch embezzlers.

By using your resources intelligently, making sure your employees are involved in the security process and keeping in touch with local law enforcement, you can vastly reduce your chances of
being robbed.

One of the most important aspects of this endeavor is that your employees understand that the security is for their benefit and it’s not because they’re assumed to be thieves from the start. By involving them and by giving them proper training, you set up a situation where they understand that your company’s security efforts are designed to benefit everyone instead of being in place because your company suspects everyone.

Hiring security patrols is the next step. Security spy cameras patrols are not just nighttime services. A good security guard with a well-trained dog lets people know that you’re serious about protecting your site. It also gives employees a sense of security, especially when they’re walking to their vehicles at night or when they suspect that there may be something amiss on the site.

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Use spy cameras to guard your homes and business conglomerate

Basic Site Security Tips post by top-shoppingmall.com

The security of any job site is largely dependent upon supervisory personnel. While the laborers and trades people
work, the supervisor is in a unique position to catch anything that seems awry, suspicious or nefarious.

Security Equipment Ensuring the security of your job site requires that you put a bit of effort into investigating the backgrounds of key personnel
and that you have a keen eye for trouble. This starts with making sure that your employees and security personnel are
known quantities.

Tip 1: Background Checks
Background checks should be run on all of your supervisory and high-level employees, as well as on those with access to cash or other valuables.

Tip 2: Security Personnel
A professional security organization should be willing, able and happy to share with you any information you request about their employee’s backgrounds and qualifications.

Tip 3: Warnings
Make sure that there is signage on site that lets potential thieves know that they will be prosecuted and that the site is monitored by professionals.

Tip 4: Don’t Invite Trouble
Remember not to leave your most valuable surveillance equipment lying around the worksite unattended. Sneak thieves work fast!

Tip 5: Get Employees Involved
Let employees know that any suspicious activity should be reported immediately. This includes unauthorized vehicles and personnel on the worksite.

Tip 6: Watchful Eyes
Remind employees that any suspicious vehicles should have their tags taken down and to remember what any suspicious people looked like and what they were wearing.

Tip 7: Bad Neighborhoods
Gang activity can be easy to spot. Watch out for groups of young men hanging around on the streets, criminal activity including fighting, dealing contraband and police activity. All can be signs of a high-crime area.

Tip 8: Access Control
Gates should be open and closed as needed. Open gates are invitations to unwanted guests

Tip 9: Networking
Let the local police patrols know you’re there and keep up good relations with them.

Tip 10: Scheduling
Stagger your shifts so that there is no unsupervised crew on site. Schedule cleaning for nighttime hours.

Tip 11: Incentivize your Security Program
It’s important to make it worth your employee’s while to participate in your security program. You can add incentives to motivate employees to follow standards.

Tip 12: Anonymity
Make sure that there’s a way for employees to tip management off about crime without revealing their identities. Thieves and other criminals know how to exploit personal loyalties between workmates.

Tip 13: Help the Staff
Give your staff information and training about their own security. Make sure they know not to leave their personal items or bags lying around unattended.

Tip 14: Don’t be Accommodating to Crime
Any criminal act should be reported. If it’s not, any other criminals that find out about it are sure to target your site.

Tip 15: Cash
If you handle cash at the site, deposit it at the end of the business day and don’t deal with any cash after hours.

Tip 16: Personal Space
Do not require employees to share lockers. This sets up a situation where problems are sure to follow.

Tip 17: Escorts
After hours, make sure there are security personnel to escort employees to their cars. Numbers are the most intimidating things to thieves.

Tip 18: Community Engagement
Get to know neighboring businesses and the owners of residences. They’ll be much more likely to report suspicious activity at your site.

Tip 19: No Free Access
Anyone who visits your site should have to go through an employee. You may call them greeters if you wish, but they should serve as screeners, in reality.

Tip 20: Inventory
Videotape or photograph all inventory at the site. Log it into a database. This makes it much easier to reclaim stolen goods and to prosecute thieves.

Tip 21: Flash
If one of your employees suddenly seems very wealthy, take that as a sign that something may be amiss. Check your books, your inventory and keep an eye on them.

Tip 22: If you Suspect Something
Don’t be afraid to set up a sting operation if you have to. Sometimes this is the best way to catch a thief. You can also set up a honey pot to catch embezzlers.

By using your resources intelligently, making sure your employees are involved in the security process and keeping in touch with local law enforcement, you can vastly reduce your chances of
being robbed.

One of the most important aspects of this endeavor is that your employees understand that the security is for their benefit and it’s not because they’re assumed to be thieves from the start. By involving them and by giving them proper training, you set up a situation where they understand that your company’s security efforts are designed to benefit everyone instead of being in place because your company suspects everyone.

Hiring security patrols is the next step. Security spy cameras patrols are not just nighttime services. A good security guard with a well-trained dog lets people know that you’re serious about protecting your site. It also gives employees a sense of security, especially when they’re walking to their vehicles at night or when they suspect that there may be something amiss on the site.

More news you might like:

Home Security: A Look Backside At Hidden Security Cameras

Several reasons help Cisco to be the computer networking giant

Wholesale Security Systems – Keep Home safe

Great tips to save your Mini Spy Pen when it is dea

Use spy cameras to guard your homes and business conglomerate

Wireless Alarm System poat by top-shoppingmall.com

Wireless Control Home And Office Alarm System. Protect your home or office with this wireless control remote dialing home or office alarm system.

Wireless Home And Office Alarm System

Product Notes

• 6 Telephone Number Distress Dialing
• 10 Second Distress Message Recording
• Network, home or office computer connectivity
• Panic Button on Remote
• Connects directly to landline
• Built in Microphone (so you can hear what’s going on at your house when you’re not home!)
• Batteries in the sensor will last for about 3 months before needing to be replaced. The large one uses a 9V battery while the smaller one uses a 12V alkaline battery. Please contact customer support for more information

Specifications:

* Transmission Frequency: 2.4GHz Band
* Power Source: 12 V DC Adapter
* 6 Telephone Number Distress Dialing
* 10 Second Distress Message Recording
* Network, home or office computer connectivity
* Panic Button on Remote
* Connects directly to land line
* Guard Zones: 4 (Independently Arm/ Disarm Alarm Time: 1~20 Minutes Adjustable in 1 Minute Increments )
* Telephone Control:
- Arm
- Disarm
- Alarm With Sound
- Alarm No Sound
- Start Siren
- Stop Siren
- Microphone On
- Microphone Off
- Individual Zone Settings
- Exit
* Up to 90 seconds Arming Time (to let you get clear)
* Control Panel Dimension: 149 x 140 x45 (LxWxD)
* Built in Microphone (so you can hear what’s going on at your house when you’re not home!)
* Approved: CE / FCC

Versatile programming allows you to program up to 4 four alarm zones (garage, back door, bedroom, etc.). For added protection you can program up to 6 different telephone numbers the surveillance system will automatically dial in when the alarm is set off and it includes a telephone wire for easy network connection to your telephone land line or home or office computer. Full control of the alarm system can be gained by calling the phone line that the alarm system is hooked up to. The alarm horn is housed in the keypad to minimize setup difficulties.

Get a good nights sleep with top-shoppingmall’s full QC testing before shipment and direct shipping right to your door, securely order your sample online today.

More popula gadgets: Spy Cameras , Security devices , best baby monitors , Fingerprint devices

Wireless Alarm System poat by top-shoppingmall.com

Wireless Control Home And Office Alarm System. Protect your home or office with this wireless control remote dialing home or office alarm system.

Wireless Home And Office Alarm System

Product Notes

• 6 Telephone Number Distress Dialing
• 10 Second Distress Message Recording
• Network, home or office computer connectivity
• Panic Button on Remote
• Connects directly to landline
• Built in Microphone (so you can hear what’s going on at your house when you’re not home!)
• Batteries in the sensor will last for about 3 months before needing to be replaced. The large one uses a 9V battery while the smaller one uses a 12V alkaline battery. Please contact customer support for more information

Specifications:

* Transmission Frequency: 2.4GHz Band
* Power Source: 12 V DC Adapter
* 6 Telephone Number Distress Dialing
* 10 Second Distress Message Recording
* Network, home or office computer connectivity
* Panic Button on Remote
* Connects directly to land line
* Guard Zones: 4 (Independently Arm/ Disarm Alarm Time: 1~20 Minutes Adjustable in 1 Minute Increments )
* Telephone Control:
- Arm
- Disarm
- Alarm With Sound
- Alarm No Sound
- Start Siren
- Stop Siren
- Microphone On
- Microphone Off
- Individual Zone Settings
- Exit
* Up to 90 seconds Arming Time (to let you get clear)
* Control Panel Dimension: 149 x 140 x45 (LxWxD)
* Built in Microphone (so you can hear what’s going on at your house when you’re not home!)
* Approved: CE / FCC

Versatile programming allows you to program up to 4 four alarm zones (garage, back door, bedroom, etc.). For added protection you can program up to 6 different telephone numbers the surveillance system will automatically dial in when the alarm is set off and it includes a telephone wire for easy network connection to your telephone land line or home or office computer. Full control of the alarm system can be gained by calling the phone line that the alarm system is hooked up to. The alarm horn is housed in the keypad to minimize setup difficulties.

Get a good nights sleep with top-shoppingmall’s full QC testing before shipment and direct shipping right to your door, securely order your sample online today.

More popula gadgets: Spy Cameras , Security devices , best baby monitors , Fingerprint devices

Canon PowerShot Elph 520 HS post by top-shoppingmall.com

On the outside the Canon PowerShot Elph 520 HS ($299.99 direct) is a gorgeous super-slim camera—our review unit may be the bluest piece of consumer electronics that I’ve ever laid eyes on. Unfortunately, it incorporates some serious compromises to achieve its svelte form factor. The 10-megapixel camera doesn’t do well in anything but bright light, and it uses an easily misplaced microSD memory card to record photos. It is a very responsive camera, but its shortcomings prevent it from ousting the 18x Nikon Coolpix S9100 ($329.95, 4 stars) as our Editors’ Choice pocket superzoom.

Read more:

Technology: Here come Samsung’s Smart Cameras with Wi-Fi

Panasonic Announces Pricing for 2012 line of High-Definition Camcorders

Design and Features

The camera takes its design cues from the Elph models of nearly a decade ago. All of its corners are squared off, a departure from the rounded form factor of more recent models like the Elph 510 HS ($349.99, 3.5 stars).  Despite packing a 12x (28-336mm equivalent) lens, the camera measures just 2.1 by 3.4 by 0.8 inches (HWD) and weighs about 5.5 ounces. The 7.3-ounce 510 HS is larger all around—2.3 by 3.9 by 0.9 inches. In addition to vibrant blue, the 520 HS is available in red, black, or silver finishes.

The comcorder / camera’s physical controls are minimal, but adequate. A toggle on the top switches between full Auto mode and Program mode. The rear features a dedicated Movie Record button, as well as controls to adjust EV Compensation, adjust the Flash settings, and engage Macro mode.  The rear LCD is 3 inches in size and features a 461k dot resolution. It’s very bright and sharp, although not as clear as higher resolution displays like the 921k-dot LCD found on the Sony Cyber-shot HX7V ($299.99, 3.5 stars).

Photographers who want to exercise some manual control over the 520 HS will be happy to know that its menu system is both intuitive and responsive. Hitting the Function button during shooting brings up an overlay menu that occupies the left side of the rear display. From here you can adjust the Shooting Mode, ISO, Drive Mode, White Balance, Metering area, and other common settings.

Performance and ConclusionsCanon PowerShot Elph 520 HS (Benchmark Tests)

I used Imatest to measure the sharpness of the 520 HS’s lens. The results were good, but not exceptional. A camera must be able to capture 1,800 lines per picture height in order to record sharp photos, but this Elph fell a little bit short, only hitting the 1,734 line mark. The Fujifilm Finepix F600EXR ($349.95, 3 stars), a camera with a larger image sensor and a 15x lens, did better here, recording 1,981 lines.

Where the camera falls short—and we’re talking way short here—is in image noise. When a photo is composed of more than 1.5 percent noise, it appears very grainy. The Elph 520 HS is only able to keep noise under control through ISO 200—which pretty much restricts the usability of the camera to broad daylight. What’s worse is that, even when using the flash indoors, the ISO tends to be in the 400 to 800 range—at which the camera is grabbing photos that are about 1.7 percent noise. In normal conditions, 1.7 percent isn’t terrible—but close examination of the photos at ISO 400 and above shows a very aggressive noise reduction system that saps detail, leaving you with images that have waxy textures and an excessive amount of grain.

This would be shocking in a standard 10-megapixel point-and-shoot camera with a standard 1/2.3-inch sensor, but that isn’t the case with the 520 HS. Inside the digital camera is a 16.8-megapixel 1/2.3-inch sensor, but the zoom lens is not able to cover the entire sensor with light. The camera crops photos as it takes them, so it really only uses the center part of the sensor. This effectively gives you a 1/3-inch sensor, which is small even for a digital point-and-shoot. The camera’s poor performance at higher ISO settings and its slight lack of sharpness can be explained by this design choice. Technical analysis aside, the simple fact is that if you want a long zoom camera that does better in low light, consider the Coolpix S9100 or the Sony HX7V—both cameras can deliver clean images through ISO 3200, and the Sony offers the added benefit of an integrated GPS.

In the terms of video performance the Elph is ok. It records 1080p24 or 720p30 footage in QuickTime format. The camera can zoom and focus while recording, but the sound of its lens moving in and out is audible on the soundtrack. If you’re shooting faster motion you’ll want to set the camera for 720p30 mode, but the 1080p24 option is desirable for those times when you want to give your footage more of a cinematic look. Despite its small size, Canon did manage to squeeze a mini HDMI port and a standard USB 2.0 port onto the side of the camera, so connecting it to your HDTV or PC is pretty simple. You may find yourself using the USB cable to download photos rather than your computer’s SD card reader, as the Elph 520 HS uses a tiny microSDXC memory card to record photos. These cards are really small, so you’ll probably want to get one with a big storage capacity—changing the memory card when you’re out and about taking photos seems like an almost sure-fire way to lose it.

The Elph 520 HS excels as a fashion accessory, but falls short on performance. If image quality at ISO 200 and above is important, look elsewhere for your next camera. Our Editors’ Choice Nikon Coolpix S9100 is a bit larger, but packs a much longer zoom lens. If the size of the 520 HS is compelling, consider a novel alternative—the 12-megapixel PowerShot Elph 310 HS ($259.99, 4 stars) is a great little camera that earned our Editor’s Choice award for mid-range compacts. Its lens doesn’t have quite the telephoto reach as the 520 HS—it covers a 28-224mm field of view—but it is sharper, allowing you to crop photos to magnify distant objects as needed, the same way that the Elph 520 HS does in-camera.

More popular gadgets: Digital picture frames , Entry level camcorders , Wireless camera sets , Projectors + home theater

Canon PowerShot Elph 520 HS post by top-shoppingmall.com

On the outside the Canon PowerShot Elph 520 HS ($299.99 direct) is a gorgeous super-slim camera—our review unit may be the bluest piece of consumer electronics that I’ve ever laid eyes on. Unfortunately, it incorporates some serious compromises to achieve its svelte form factor. The 10-megapixel camera doesn’t do well in anything but bright light, and it uses an easily misplaced microSD memory card to record photos. It is a very responsive camera, but its shortcomings prevent it from ousting the 18x Nikon Coolpix S9100 ($329.95, 4 stars) as our Editors’ Choice pocket superzoom.

Read more:

Technology: Here come Samsung’s Smart Cameras with Wi-Fi

Panasonic Announces Pricing for 2012 line of High-Definition Camcorders

Design and Features

The camera takes its design cues from the Elph models of nearly a decade ago. All of its corners are squared off, a departure from the rounded form factor of more recent models like the Elph 510 HS ($349.99, 3.5 stars).  Despite packing a 12x (28-336mm equivalent) lens, the camera measures just 2.1 by 3.4 by 0.8 inches (HWD) and weighs about 5.5 ounces. The 7.3-ounce 510 HS is larger all around—2.3 by 3.9 by 0.9 inches. In addition to vibrant blue, the 520 HS is available in red, black, or silver finishes.

The comcorder / camera’s physical controls are minimal, but adequate. A toggle on the top switches between full Auto mode and Program mode. The rear features a dedicated Movie Record button, as well as controls to adjust EV Compensation, adjust the Flash settings, and engage Macro mode.  The rear LCD is 3 inches in size and features a 461k dot resolution. It’s very bright and sharp, although not as clear as higher resolution displays like the 921k-dot LCD found on the Sony Cyber-shot HX7V ($299.99, 3.5 stars).

Photographers who want to exercise some manual control over the 520 HS will be happy to know that its menu system is both intuitive and responsive. Hitting the Function button during shooting brings up an overlay menu that occupies the left side of the rear display. From here you can adjust the Shooting Mode, ISO, Drive Mode, White Balance, Metering area, and other common settings.

Performance and ConclusionsCanon PowerShot Elph 520 HS (Benchmark Tests)

I used Imatest to measure the sharpness of the 520 HS’s lens. The results were good, but not exceptional. A camera must be able to capture 1,800 lines per picture height in order to record sharp photos, but this Elph fell a little bit short, only hitting the 1,734 line mark. The Fujifilm Finepix F600EXR ($349.95, 3 stars), a camera with a larger image sensor and a 15x lens, did better here, recording 1,981 lines.

Where the camera falls short—and we’re talking way short here—is in image noise. When a photo is composed of more than 1.5 percent noise, it appears very grainy. The Elph 520 HS is only able to keep noise under control through ISO 200—which pretty much restricts the usability of the camera to broad daylight. What’s worse is that, even when using the flash indoors, the ISO tends to be in the 400 to 800 range—at which the camera is grabbing photos that are about 1.7 percent noise. In normal conditions, 1.7 percent isn’t terrible—but close examination of the photos at ISO 400 and above shows a very aggressive noise reduction system that saps detail, leaving you with images that have waxy textures and an excessive amount of grain.

This would be shocking in a standard 10-megapixel point-and-shoot camera with a standard 1/2.3-inch sensor, but that isn’t the case with the 520 HS. Inside the digital camera is a 16.8-megapixel 1/2.3-inch sensor, but the zoom lens is not able to cover the entire sensor with light. The camera crops photos as it takes them, so it really only uses the center part of the sensor. This effectively gives you a 1/3-inch sensor, which is small even for a digital point-and-shoot. The camera’s poor performance at higher ISO settings and its slight lack of sharpness can be explained by this design choice. Technical analysis aside, the simple fact is that if you want a long zoom camera that does better in low light, consider the Coolpix S9100 or the Sony HX7V—both cameras can deliver clean images through ISO 3200, and the Sony offers the added benefit of an integrated GPS.

In the terms of video performance the Elph is ok. It records 1080p24 or 720p30 footage in QuickTime format. The camera can zoom and focus while recording, but the sound of its lens moving in and out is audible on the soundtrack. If you’re shooting faster motion you’ll want to set the camera for 720p30 mode, but the 1080p24 option is desirable for those times when you want to give your footage more of a cinematic look. Despite its small size, Canon did manage to squeeze a mini HDMI port and a standard USB 2.0 port onto the side of the camera, so connecting it to your HDTV or PC is pretty simple. You may find yourself using the USB cable to download photos rather than your computer’s SD card reader, as the Elph 520 HS uses a tiny microSDXC memory card to record photos. These cards are really small, so you’ll probably want to get one with a big storage capacity—changing the memory card when you’re out and about taking photos seems like an almost sure-fire way to lose it.

The Elph 520 HS excels as a fashion accessory, but falls short on performance. If image quality at ISO 200 and above is important, look elsewhere for your next camera. Our Editors’ Choice Nikon Coolpix S9100 is a bit larger, but packs a much longer zoom lens. If the size of the 520 HS is compelling, consider a novel alternative—the 12-megapixel PowerShot Elph 310 HS ($259.99, 4 stars) is a great little camera that earned our Editor’s Choice award for mid-range compacts. Its lens doesn’t have quite the telephoto reach as the 520 HS—it covers a 28-224mm field of view—but it is sharper, allowing you to crop photos to magnify distant objects as needed, the same way that the Elph 520 HS does in-camera.

More popular gadgets: Digital picture frames , Entry level camcorders , Wireless camera sets , Projectors + home theater