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Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V
The Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V fares well compared with the competition, though its video could be a bit sharper and the interface less cumbersome. Unless you absolutely need to store a lot of video on the camcorder--which I don't suggest--or if have large hands that could benefit from the extra grip that the hard drive provides, the CX550V is a better deal than its hard-disk-based sibling.

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can nikon af-s dx lens auto zoom on a nikon d60?

i know af-s lens are used for d60s, but can i get an af-s dx and expect the same quality lens? dx works for the d40 dx i know, but i was thinking about purchasing a wide angle lens (AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G) and i assumed they included af-s to say that it can work well on my d60.

You have a bunch of different questions here.

1) Yes, DX lenses are every bit as good as the non-DX lenses and sometimes even better. It will depend on the individual lens. DX just means the lens was designed for a "smaller than 35mm film frame" sensor.

2) The 35mm f/1.8G will autofocus on your D60, because it has AF-S, which means it has a motor in the lens.

3) A 35mm f/1.8G lens won't zoom though, because it's not a zoom lens.

Zoom-zoom: the Mazda6 is Introduced

Mazda has taken the wraps off of the next generation Mazda6, the latest version of its successful mid-size sedan. The car is expected to go on sale stateside late this summer.

Designed In America

Designed for the North American market, the 2009 Mazda6 will be built at AutoAlliance International, in Flat Rock, Mich, a joint venture with partner Ford Motor Company.

Mazda is unabashedly giddy about the sedan citing:

“This is the most important new vehicle Mazda has launched in a decade,” said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO, MNAO, from Denver, where the car was unveiled to Mazda dealers a day earlier at the company’s North American Dealer Meeting. “The midsize sedan segment — where MAZDA6 competes — is a real battleground, with some of the best vehicles in the industry going toe-to-toe for sales. This new MAZDA6 was designed and engineered specifically for the North American market — the third Mazda in a row to be so — and will take on the very best cars from Asia, Europe and the U.S.”

The Very Best Of Mazda

The other models alluded to by Mr. O’ Sullivan were the CX-7 and the CX-9, a pair of crossover vehicles introduced over the past few years by Mazda. The CX-9 was named the 2008 North American Truck of the Year at this year’s auto show in Detroit.

The Mazda6 will offer both a 2.5L I4 and a 3.7L V6 engine with various five and six-speed automatic transmission choices. Suspension will be all-independent, with four-wheel disc brakes and standard ABS and dynamic stability control. The sedan will be available in Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring trim levels with varying levels of standard and optional equipment.

As the sedan nears production, Mazda promises to share additional information about the car, tedails which will show that this car really means business.

About the Author

Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer who resides in Cary, North Carolina. Matt provides magazine, web content, and article writing services to clients all over the world serving the automotive, human interest, and business communities. The Auto Writer is his personal weblog.

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