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Panasonic is going to make getting started with your first DSLR camera more affordable.  The DMC-G5KK is a mirrorless DSLM package with interchangeable lenses.  Expect crisp images from the 16.05-megapixel Live MOS Sensor.  On the back is a 920K-dot high resolution touch display LCD that rotates 180-degrees to the side and 270-degrees up/down.

With contrast AF (Auto Focus) the image sensor controls your focus giving you a greater range to create your crisp, clear images. This is great for recording fast moving subjects like your little leaguer, migrating birds, or your best friend who decided to bungee jump. Contrast AF boasts higher accuracy, especially when shooting with a bright lens. And since you have a full-area AF touch, you select your desired field of vision. Additionally, Light Speed AF quickly locks onto a subject, making it possible to capture even fast moving subjects like your son, the dirt bike rider.

All this for under $400 (you will have to add/pick your own lens).  More details after the break.

There are plenty of dynamo based hand chargers for your electronic gadgets.  What makes the VoltMaker better or different?  First of all, they have the best infomercial video I have seen in a while.  If nothing else it is worth a laugh… watch it below.  Secondly they create power by twirling or spinning the dynamo around.  This 6-inch, 10-ounce dynamo charger has a 2,000 mAh battery and can also be wall charged “if you are lazy”.  You get all that goodness for $69… strap on the flashlight attachment and the new total is $89.  Yes I am on the list for three, hoping they hit their $200,000 indiegogo goal.

Before I get right into my review of the BlackVue DR500GW-HD Vehicle Video Recorder I think it is important to add a bit of backstory about my search for the best car dvr/camera.  I have been trying to find the “perfect” vehicle video recorder for quite some time and have tested a myriad of products.  Most of the vehicle cameras with built-in DVR are manufactured in China.  This alone shouldn’t be a bad thing, but for some reason it is.  Of the 10+ car cameras I have tested, all of them were made in China.  All of these Chinese units had some combination of subpar manuals, cheap build quality, low video quality (don’t let the use of the term “HD” fool you), unacceptable night time viewing, etc…

So, when I found the BlackVue DR500GW-HD (made in South Korea) I was excited but skeptical.  While I believe that products made in South Korea are higher quality than Chinese products, I had seen so many bad vehicle video recorders and wondered if I would ever find a good unit.  Read on for my DR500GW-HD Review.

The quadcopter craze continues.  This time with a very small, very cool, open source kit.  The Crazyflie Nano Quadcopter sells in two versions (both under $180) and will continue to develop and improve as more smart kids tinker with the open source code.

One of the cool bits, especially for the gamer types, is the fact that you fly this tiny remote control quadcopter with a PS3 controller.  Simply amazing.  See the Crazyflie Nano in action after the break.

It looks like manufacturers are finally catching up with Apples new Lightning connector like the one on the iPhone 5 and iPad Mini.  We can now add Scosche to the list of manufacturers with a household charger, cigarette charger, and portable (3-foot) synch/charge cable for Lightning.  They are also making the household and cigarette chargers in two versions, a 5W version for the iPod Touch and iPhone and a 12W version for just about any iOS device.

Scosche i2C05 5-Watt Car Charger

Scosche i2C12 12-Watt Car Charger

Scosche i2H12 12-Watt Home Charger

Scosche i2H05 5-Watt Home Charger

Remember the waterproofing company Liquipel from last year?  Well they just got some competition from a new company named HzO.

The HzO coating is called WaterBlock and claims that it protects better than the competition (aka Liquipel).  The WaterBlock technology is applied via a “chemical vapor deposition process” and protects against most liquids (water, beer, soda, juice, etc…).

“The coating process offered by other companies sprays a thin hydrophobic coating on both the interior and exterior of the device which can aid in driving away light splashes to the device, but leave microscopic gaps and openings that allow water, humidity and moisture to eventually seep through and damage the internal sensitive circuitry, especially when submerged.”

Currently HzO is going after the OEM (original equipment manufacturers) instead of the users.  This means that you can’t send in your current gadgets.  You can only hope they are successful selling to companies like Apple, Canon, etc… 

The Secom autonomous quadcopter is a high tech flying surveillance robot.  You no longer need to go outside to protect your domicile… just launch the Secom Helicopter and watch the live video feed from the safety of your living room.

Seecom’s autonomous flying surveillance robot works by detecting and following intruders.  The unit uses a laser-guided camera system, LED lights for night vision, and wireless video link. 

It seems like a lot of iPad and iPhone accessories make it to GadgetKing for review.   The PadPivot from Uifit is an accessory that follows a simple rule: necessity is the mother of all invention.

Anybody who has used an iPad for any amount of time knows that it can get tiring holding it for long periods.  Sounds a tad lame… but try reading an e-book for an hour.  I can’t count how many situations I’ve encountered with the iPad where holding it for extended periods of time got awkward or uncomfortable. The PadPivot solves many of those situations.

Another worthy competitor in the action cam market is getting serious about product/features.  The latest camera from Drift, the Drift HD Ghost Action Cam ($399) is packed with some cool features.  The two way LED remote control (never wonder if the camera is on/off or recording), a continuous loop recording feature, Wi-Fi connectivity for iOS and Android smartphones, a 2-inch LCD display covered in Gorilla Glass.  Get your pre-order in now here.

The cat is out of the bag… most of the rumor mills were correct… the iPad Mini has arrived.  For those that want a tablet that will fit in their cargo pockets, the iPad Mini might be the one.  Only 0.68 pounds, 7.2mm thick thin, with a 7.9-inch screen, an A5 processor, a front (FaceTime) HD camera, a rear 5MP iSight camera, and the latest tiny Lightning connector.  Yours from $330 to $660 depending on capacity and wireless configurations, shipping November 2nd.