Reviewed roundup: An epic new action cam and more
- $399 price places Contour+2 on high end of action cams
- $3,500 Sony Bravia an excellent TV choice
- New Panasonic superzoom camera is pricey but worth it
For over 10 years, Reviewed.com has put thousands of products to the test, all for the sake of the informed purchase. Here's what we've been up to this week.
In the past, mystique and hyperbole characterized stories of daredevils' actions, mythologized with each recounting. Now with action camcorders, everyone is an eyewitness, keeping stories honest and proving epic-ness that was once just hearsay. Beating the GoPro HD Hero2 and the Sony Action Cam in most performance categories, the Contour+2 is sure to steal some attention from its competitors. The Contour+2's $399 price tag places it on the high end of the adventure-cam market.
The Panasonic Lumix FZ200 may have sublime video, lightning burst speeds, and a great interface, but this superzoom really impresses us with its 24x zoom lens than can maintain an f/2.8 aperture at any focal length. The practical benefits are numerous, like sharper action shots at long range (thanks to quicker shutter speeds), artistic background blur thanks to a shallow depth-of-field, and full use of the zoom range in dim lighting. It's a little more expensive than its competitors ($599), but the cost is basically justified.
With an MSRP of $3,500, the Bravia XBR-55hX950, Sony's flagship TV, succeeds in living up to that substantial price tag. Taken in by the unique design, this LED TV's performance awed us with excellent contrast, color performance, and a cool local dimming feature that makes black-levels blacker, like a plasma TV. Though minor issues like the narrow viewing angle and awkward user friendliness failed to impress, this is a fantastic TV with far more entries in the "pro" column than in the "con."
After running the LG LRE3023ST electric range through the gauntlet of our testing process, we found one of the finest ranges we've tested. With an incredibly consistent oven, convection fan, and without a weak rangetop element, we found an almost flawless machine. Though it did fall short of perfection with an introverted broiler and relatively slow water-boiling times, this range should stand out to plenty of potential buyers. It is available for under $900 (MSRP $1,000).
Many tech savvy individuals prefer to associate with computers and electronics, often eschewing appliances and especially laundry machines. But leave it to Samsung to try to change that, with this attempt to marry electronics and appliances. The Samsung DV457EVGSGR/AA performed amazingly, reliably drying clothes even on the quick cycle. But we're not so impressed by the union with the touch screen. Sure, it's cool to have an app for a dryer, but we don't really see any labor-saving benefits from this superfluous tech
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