5 comments about Sony Cybershot DSCT30 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Super SteadyShot Stabilization Zoom.

1. Some of my pictures come out blurred no matter how steady I hold the camera. The steady shot seems to do nothing. The shutter speed is a lot faster than my old digital, so that I like. The pictures that don't come out blurred come out great.



2. I can confirm the white spots (see Sony KB article C388461), at times almost looks like water drops as others have mentioned. It only happens indoor flash shooting with low light at a distance. I picked this slim line version because of the slick 3" screen and all black back finish. Retrospect I would have gotten the W55.
   
   Additional note objects further than 10 feet away will be out of focus, especially in low light. Dont waste your time/money. I really tried to ignor these flaws, but in the end could not and returned. Definitly go with W55. You will get even better performance with W80 (however the menu system is more complex and you dont get batt time remaining???!!!)



3. I have had my Sony Cybershot DSC T100 8mp for over 6 months now, and love every minute using it. It does eveything that the reviewers say it will do (and more). The picture quality and "ease of use" are excellent, and the 3" LCD screen is just fantastic. It replaces an older model Sony Cybershot that I have, and I couldn't be more pleased. It is compact and has all that you would every want in a digital camera. I purchased it from Amazon. It arrived on time, and the price was the lowest in the market.



4. I paid about $400.00 for this camera. I liked it at first and was impressed with the magnifying mode. Pictures were good, but I think the Exilim takes better pictures. After about a year and a half of operation, the image stabilization started to vibrate causing the camera to be unuseable. This problem got worse over time. The camera flashed an error code E62:10 on the LCD. I googled the error code and found a sea of people out there with the same problem. Some of them could hit there camera and make it work and some could not. Thet are getting repair quotes for over $200. My camera was never dropped or abused. The problem seemed to start in real humid weather. Dry weather helped at first, but eventually it made no difference. I would be aware of this camera or any of Sony's image stabilization cameras based upon the number of people on forums with this same problem. It's a nice feature but high maintenance with a large repair tag.



5. This camera is a great basic point and shoot. However my major gripe and the reason I am going to sell this and buy a different digital camera is its shutter lag. It takes so long from pressing the button to take the picture to actually taking the picture (with auto flash). I primarily use it to take photos of my small children and I am constantly missing those 'adorable' moments. Group photos are difficult too as the first flash seems to indicate to the group that the photo has been taken and they move before the second flash has occurred - thus messing up the photo. Not worth the money when there are cheaper, faster, cameras available out there.

5 comments about Sony Cybershot S650 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom.

1. This camera has a serious design flaw. You need to really push down on the button to shoot a picture. Because of this, the camera tends to move when you press the button, and the result is a blurry picture. I would definitely not recommend this camera.



2. Simple to use but there is no memory stick and the internal memory only allows for 15 pictures.



3. I purchased this camera for a friend. The camera turns on and shuts off right away. He's tried several sets of batteries to no avail.
   I will be calling Sony on his behalf given that he's overseas and can't do it.
   
   I am dissapointed that it does not work which may point to the Quality Assurance efforts at Sony.
   
   I am hopeful it can be resolved easily and a replacement is not required.
   
   Thanks.
   Angelo



4. Bought one of these at a good price, but the price is not good enough to keep it. Upgrading from an older Kodak C730 3.1MP, I was very disappointed. The picture quality is just simply awful. I took much better quality pictures with my older camera. The turnout is grainy in most situations (every now and then you get lucky with a good one) and the color seems to be very dull. Software enhancement didn't help much either. I tried playing with all the settings, but it didn't seem to help. Besides, I never had to adjust anything on the Kodak, Auto seemed to work just fine. I think this is a camera that somebody who has never owned a digital camera would enjoy, or maybe someone who is upgrading from one of those cheap off brand cameras you see in stores for under $50. But if you've ever used a decent quality digital camera, look elsewhere. I was very surprised that Sony would let a product with such low quality out into the market. Learned something new. This is my first Sony still camera, and probably will be my last. I was willing to live without the view finder because the style of the camera made it easy to use without one. It's a very attractive camera, small and sleek. Too bad it doesn't operate as well as it looks. Think I'm gonna look at a Canon PowerShot A590IS next, I've heard good things about them. Besides, I have a lot of SD cards laying around, didn't feel like spending the extra money on a proprietary memory card that Sony is cashing in on (MemoryStick).



5. Simple and easy to use. Decent exposure. Zoom quality is poor but expected at this price point. You will need to buy a card to store your photos as the internal 16MB memory won't get you very far. This is no Leica quality camera or lens but it does a very decent job considering the price.

5 comments about Sony Cybershot DSC-T2 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (White).

1. I decided to upgrade from my older Sony CyberShot and was unsatisfied with the touch screen function. Also, the camera has a few buttons on the sides, but they are entirely too hard, so I'd have to press down on them anytime I wanted to use them, which was frequently.
   
   I gave it a star because the style is the best I've seen from Sony by far.



2. Its the camera that I have with me every day, all the time, as its small, does not take up a lot of space, has long battery life, starts up and takes pictures very quickly and image quality is excellent.
   
   I prefer buttons to touchscreens, but I got used to this one and it works pretty well. Can operate the camera by one hand only, including the zoom, to take pictures, for example if I catch an interesting light on a building while walking on the street.
   
   Low light scene programs work very well, took a few night skyline and fireworks shots recently. You will need a mini tripod or a Joby Gorillapod for that.
   
   The T2 really lived up to my expectations as the point and shoot that's always ready. It complements well my film cameras that I use for more elaborate photography.



3. The reasons for which I got attracted were 4GB built-in memory, stylish body and the size. It's working properly so far and I am satisfied. But, I found that the picture quality was not good as expected. I tried all the possible settings but still couldn't get the fully satisfying quality that we can expect from camera in this price. The next thing I didn't find friendly was the USB interface. The connector is in the down side which is really difficult to keep the camera in stand position.
   
   Overall, It's a good camera that does everything as expected and the best camera for the quick snapshots....



4. This one has all the features I ever dreamed,plus is so easy to use that I didn't need to read the catalog to figure it out.



5. This is a great camera for someone looking for something very small and portable. The screen is very large (and touch-screen) so all the options you need to change are right there. It also has a "simple-shoot" mode so you don't get confused with all the options.
   
   Leaving it on automatic, night shots come out very well, and there is usually no red-eye.

5 comments about Sony Cybershot DSC-H2 6MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilization Zoom.

1. I bought this camera just over a year ago and was initially very impressed with its photos quality and ease of use. HOWEVER, recently I noticed the shutter button had fallen off rendering my $400 camera essentially useless. I went online and searched "Sony DSC H2 shutter button problem" and found hundreds of consumers who have reported similar problems with this model. Some even had two or three warranty fixes for this same issue. I then called Sony customer support and inquired if there had been a recall. They advised me that they are not aware of any such problems with their product. Since the camera is beyond its 1 year limited warranty the cost of repairing this cheap plastic button was quoted at an outrageous $141.00. I explained to the customer support representative that there are numerous online postings from people who have the same shutter button problem with their Sony DSC H2. He assured me that there really was nothing Sony could do except have me spend nearly half the value of the camera for a non warranty repair job. Knowing that this seems to be a recurrent problem with this model, I am going to hold out and hope that Sony will have a recall for this defective part. In the mean time I would advise people to STAY AWAY FROM ANY SONY CAMERA that uses the cheap plastic shutter buttons that might last a few hundred photo shots... if your lucky.



2. This camera is amazing!!! I've had it for about 4 years now and have had nothing but good luck with it. I use it in various situations with excellent results no matter the situation. The zoom is incredible, it brings far away objects in close and captures them with precision quality. My only regret is that I didn't order the DSC-H7 that came out shortly after this model did. It is 8.1 mega-pixel and has a 15x zoom and was only $50 more at the time.



3. This was my first digital camera with manual control and features. This camera is excellent with its images and colors, but the shooter device failed twice in one year and I had to pay the transportation and lose many time. I recommend other sony cameras and other brands, right now I use this camera with the fault (Auto Focus fault: is very difficult take pictures but I don't have options) because is imposible to sell in this conditions and I need 100 dollars to repair it again. Is a bad product



4. I've had this camera for over a year now. I use it primarily to photograph my two children and document important times in their lives. I can't tell you how many times I've been complemented on the quality of the photos (I especially love the "sports" feature that captures quick-action shots like kids running around). My sister in law bought an expensive digital SLR and can't even figure it out because it has so many buttons and gadgets. This is a perfect camera for someone who wants a little more than a point and shoot but doesn't want to get an advanced degree to use it. The zoom is wonderful--great for capturing those mom moments.



5. The camera is excellent, but the shutter button broke after one week of use (at the beginning of a long trip in China...!) and could not hold the focus or use the macro function. It seems that this is a defect of the series. Be aware of it! (I hope that in the meantime they have fixed the problem though)

5 comments about Sony Cybershot DSC-T1 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom.

1. I have the Limited Japanese Black Version . As soon as I saw it, I knew that was the camera that I wanted. I love technology, and this struck my eyes and I was impulsive and just got it! I was pulling my hair out reading reviews and just going insane. So I said, you know what, just go for it! And I did. Im very happy with this camera. It does exactly what I need it to do, fit into my back pocket! I can take it anywhere, and it is not bulky like other film cameras or even DSLR's ! There are things about it that make me sad, and wish I bought a different camera. But, you never know if your going to like a camera until you try it out. So, I have had it for abuot 3 years, and for the most part I like it, but I still look at other camera, and, I still buy other camera. Because it is an addiction.
   
   Pro's: great size, very easy to take everywhere, fits in small purse, pockets, jackets, etc. Cool , sleek , stylish, Big LCD screen, bright, easy buttons , user friendly interface, produces up to an 8.5 x 11 print, great quality, sephia and negative color modes are useful and fun, has great accessories, great battery life, great macro feature
   
   con's: red eye reduction does seem to work, flash grabs light and dust with make these weird orb looking circles on pictures, buttons are small, front slide down lense cover doesnt lock, nighttime photos are horrible, unless you carry a tripod around with you 24/7, then you MIGHT get a good photo.. but chances are slim to none!
   
   all in all, its a nice camera to have to take " fun photos " if your on the go, and you just want something small its a good camera.
   
   I would recomend the DSC-T30 , its is a newer edition and they have fixed a lot of the problems that you find with the DSC-T1



2. I purchased this camera new a few years ago. I paid over $500 when it came out, plus an extended warranty. Despite the lack of red-eye reduction and horrible shutter speed, it's size has allowed me to bring it with me almost anywhere. Tonight though, I pick my camera off the charger, turn it on to take a picture and the lens is no longer working correctly. I have never abused this camera and have kept it in excellent condition, yet it just failed for no reason. I used to buy all sony products in the 90's. You paid a little more but you got quality. This doesn't seem to be the case anymore. I have Discman's that have worked for 10+ years, yet I cannot get 2 out of a digital camera. I checked ebay and this seems to be a common problem. I am never buying a sony product again.



3. I bought this camera 2 years ago and have been GREAT ever since, very slick camera it is small enough to fit in your pocket without bothering you,I take it everywhere I go, the battery lasts enough to take a lot of pictures so no problems about that. LCD screen is big so you can preview your pics. The pictures are crisp clear, vivid colors, the auto mode adapts to every situation possible.
   Cons: not all the time but in ocassions i've some red eye pictures.
   My guess is you are buying this camera to take it with you and to take pictures at parties with your friends, etc. this is a great camera for that. If you want to take a lot of night scenery pictures then you might want to consider other one.



4. A litttle heavy, takes pictures really slow, has a pretty long flash recharge time. so it takes a while for the camera to get ready for your next shot, Battery life is short. Doesnt zoom in as much as other digital cameras do in this category, Try a camera where the lens actually telescopes away from the camera.



5. Constantly has a blue line running from top to bottom of screen. I owned this camera before and loved it. This particular one that I bought, was defected.

5 comments about Sony Alpha A100K 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-70mm f3.5-5.6 Lens.

1. I bought this camera becuase I am a life long Minolta fan, however they discontinued their cameras without any notice and I was stuck with alot of Konica Minolta camera equipment. Sony picked up Minolta's pattons and made their first DSLR and everything I owed with Minolta is interchangeable with it. But I run 2 photo studios and I have not been happy with the controls, etc. of this camera. However a person who just wants a better camera to take better pictures then their snap and shoot--this would be a good camera for you, for a professional however--no. I am now switching everything over to Nikon.



2. 1. I purchased this camera (Sony a100) about a year and a half ago and it's lived up to my expectations. Photos are crisp and clear, controls are conviently located and the large LCD is handy although I wish it was the swivel type, battery life is good. I have three, one Sony and two much cheaper non-Sony. I wish the lens selection was a little better but this is just a hobby for me and SIGMA lenses are just as good and cheaper. There is some noise at low light levels but that's not a problem for me. My problem is dust bunnies inherent in all digital slrs in this class. But I have solve that too with a small bottle of ECLIPSE 2 and a few SENSOR PADS that fit the low pass filter to be cleaned. Sometimes it only takes a good whiff of dry air with the camera turned upside down. But sending it back to them until the warranty runs out consumes too much time and they don't do a very good job. My job was better. Last of all Sony has the gall to sell the A.C. adapter at well over $125.00 and then recommends that any type of cleaning (dust blower only) not be done without the A.C. adapter. This is of course so the mirror stays up while blowing off the dust. My advice is use a freshly charged battery; it only takes a few minutes to do a good cleaning with the blower or the more adventurous low pass filter. Be advised Sony will void the warranty if you screw up the CCD aka low pass filter while using the SENSOR PADS. But trust me, it's very easy to clean and the low pass filter is tougher than one suspects. Still, extreme caution and patience is needed with a light but firm stroke. By the way, the A.C. adapter can charge two batteries at once but still not worth the price and there are no substitutes because of the proprietary connection on the camera body, again Sony Only! Oh, there is also inaccessible dust inside the viewfinder, again inherent in all slrs in this class. My camera goes almost everywhere I go so there will be dust.
   
   SHELLBACK
   SEMPER FI



3. I bought the camera in Feb. and just charged twice since then. I charged the battery before my 10 days vacation in Europe, and took over 1,000 pictures (very beautiful) and the battery now is still 3/4 full!
   Another advantage of this camera is the anti-shake function. I could take pictures with very low shutter speed (1-2 seconds) and the pictures are still sharp.



4. This was my first introduction to DSLR - but not my first experience with an SLR - i had shared a Minolta Maxxum 3000 with my brother (that was the model # as i recall) but never really bothered to learn its functions and because it was a film camera quite an expensive hobby - with film and development. So essentially the Sony Alpha was my first real experience with SLRs (Single Lens Reflex). Digital photography has given me and a whole bunch of people a hobby that is very affordable after the first initial investment - but i digress...
   
   This was not my first digital camera. My first digital camera was another Sony - the DSC-V1 (i have written a review here at epinions about that as well) - that little camera had an excellent clear Carl Zeiss lens and great color along with functions of a SLR - you can fiddle with aperture and shutter speed - but with it's small fixed lens you'll always that great depth of field unless it is ultra close.
   
   I wanted to "graduate" from these so-called point and shoot cameras - although i know a bit more about photography from reading books since getting the Alpah but i would not call myself an expert. So really this review is from a novice's standpoint even after owning this for about 2.5 - 3 years. I'm more about composition and letting the camera take over the technical aspects - however i have played with aperture settings, shutter speeds, and exposure settings.
   
   There are so many options in DSLR these days - the iconic NIKON followed by ubiquitous Canon (my brother owns the XTi), Fuji, Pentax, Olympus -- then (at the time) there's the new Sony entry into the DSLR market - the Alpha 100 - there are now different models of the Alpha 200, 300, 350, and the top of the line 700 which boasts a live lcd preview.
   
   Just a bit of history about Sony entry into the DSLR market - they had a partnership with Konica-Minolta (KM would use Sony's expertise in digital electronics) and Konica-Minolta decided to tuck tail and leave the DSLR market sold their existing technologies to Sony so Sony using KM's foundation re-engineered the KM DSLR into their own and entered the market with the A100.
   
   The Sony A100 DSLR major features/benefits include (IMHO):
   
   *The Sony BIONZ engine - the brains behind the camera (like the DIGIC II for the Canon) -
   
   *10.2 megapixels
   
   *Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization - built right into the camera - some have it built into the lens - so every lens you use will have this super steady shot - but nothing beats a steady hand or a great tripod! I think this was a hold over from the K/M days.
   
   *Anti-Dust Technology - dust repellent coating and an active shake of the CCD for those stubbornest of specs. This works OK - i can see specs of dust - i haven't used the "shake" - although it gives a little nudge when you turn it on.
   
   *fairly large 2.5 color lcd screen - great color and clarity on the LCD screen
   
   *Eye-start autofocus system - if you turn this feature on - as soon as you put it close to your eye it starts trying to focus - i found this feature to be useless - it is light sensitive so if you put this close to your body it will start focusing - i turned off this feature - this was another holdover technology from K/M.
   
   *With the Alpha Mount you can use "old" lenses from K/M with the Sony A100 so if you had a K/M DSLR and multiples lenses you can also use it with the Sony Alpha. You are able to use the myriad of K/M alpha mount lenses but not all of the accessories - Sony changed the hot shoe for the flash so that won't work and you need to buy a new flash - BUT i had an old wired remote from my first original Minolta Maxxum and that worked.
   
   *New Carl Zeiss lens - exciting but it would probably cost more than the camera itself.
   
   ACTUAL USE / FEEL of the camera (from a novice standpoint):
   
   with anything new you'd have a learning curve but this camera is pretty intuitive however i would suggest reading the manual once over. Once you start using it and learning the control it will be like second nature.
   
   The feel of it is somewhat heavy - it is certainly a bit heavier than the Canon xTi but it has a very comfortable grip.
   
   The autofocus is a bit loud with the whirring of the motor - the mirror is louder than most- i would not take pictures clandestinely because you just can't it will give you away every time.
   
   I am currently using the 18mm - 200mm max aperature (open) is f3.5 - f6.3 - not quite quick to focus in low light situations, but the lens is so versatile with the wide 18mm and the nice zoom of 200mm it's hard not to like this lens. Please keep in mind that the DSLR mirror is larger than a regular film SLR so you have to multiply the "mm" by 1.5 to get the true "mm" size. At 18mm with the DSLR it is really 27mm and the 200mm is really 300mm.
   
   I find this camera to be very comfortable and fun to use. The strap that came with it is not length adjustable however and i like to strap the camera across my body - i have a small frame - people with a larger body should get an adjustable strap.
   
   PICTURES:
   
   a picture speaks a thousand words - here's is a link just some of my photos from flickr.com i've taken over the years with my Sony Alpha 100:
   
   
   http://www.flickr.com/photos/62904109@N00/sets/72157594360924382/
   
   only a very few of the pictures had post process done - some where cropped - mostly it is as is.
   
   one note - i have adjusted the camera to hard sharpness and high saturation - i love color and i thought the images from the sony was just slightly soft so i shifted it to hard sharpness on the camera itself.
   
   Also keep in mind the pics also depend on how your computer monitor is calibrated but it is a good presentation of what the Sony A100 can do.
   
   I find the pictures to reproduce excellent colors and the lens are quite clear.
   
   all were taken with the 18mm - 200mm Sony Lens.
   
   I bought this camera when it first came out and the kit was about $1000 dollars AND the 18mm - 200mm lens (as i recall) was $600 dollars. This camera could be had BRAND NEW for under $700 with this lens! What a great deal for a under-rated and all around Great Camera!
   
   Pros love their Nikon or perhaps their Canon - but I thought the Sony was a great camera and currently at a great price!



5. Excellent camera and lens. Terrific value and good service from supplier. Disappointed that there was an additional customs bill of £71! Could you warn customers of this charge, in future.
   
   Despite this, at a total cost of £330, it was still a real bargain

5 comments about Sony Alpha DSLRA300X 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization with DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 & DT 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Zoom Lenses.

1. I bought this camera recently. Modestly, I thought this was one of the best decisions I made! The camera is amazing, it looks beautiful, it takes very, very good pictures, and the price is unbelievably good! I am not a fan of Sony products, but I just loved this. I don't write reviews very often, but I so wanted to share my excitement!



2. After using point-and-shoot digital cameras for several years I've decided to switch to a DSLR. My two main reasons were: shutter lag and low-light performance.
   Having 2 Canon point-and-shoot digital cameras, I naturally got interested in the new Canon Digital Rebel XSi. An interesting features for someone like myself who is used to point-and-shoot cameras, is the Live View shooting mode which allows you to frame the picture using the screen instead of the viewfinder which is very similar to the way most of us use point-and-shoot digital cameras.
   When researching further I discovered that the way Canon implemented the Live View mode is not suitable for fast action photo taking, but more for tripod based accurate photographing.
   
   A couple of months I heard about the new Sony DSLR cameras. I was surprised since I didn't know Sony manufactured DSLR cameras. I knew that the Sony brand is well known in audio and video equipment market but I wasn't familiar with the fact that they had professional DSLR cameras.
   
   After some reading I've discovered that Sony is indeed a newcomer to the DSLR market and that their entrance initiated in 2005 by jointly developing DSLR cameras with Konica-Minolta and eventually buying their entire DSLR business at 2006. Again, what caught my eye was the live-view feature that Sony implemented in a innovative way which does not hinder the camera's performance (especially the quick focus) when using it.
   
   Another feature that the new Sony cameras have (and Canon's don't) is in-body image stabilizer which works with every lens you attach. On the downside Sony's cameras do not perform as well as Canon's in high ISO settings and they have a much smaller variety of lenses available.
   
   Eventually, I've decided to buy the Sony and I don't regret it. Live view performs very well and the view finder is very good (although many reviews say that it is too small). I was also very fortunate to get 2 Minolta lenses from a relative so that was a very pleasant surprise and together with the in-body image stabilizer they produce wonderful photos.
   
   The camera is very agronomic and you can get to most settings with very few button clicks. High ISO setting noise starts to appear above ISO 400 but whether this is an issue depends on the size of prints you are going to produce. Other then that, the image quality is wonderful, of course this depends a lot on the type of lens you attach to it and there are very high quality old Minolta glass that matches this camera.



3. I took the plunge, and purchased an Alpha 300; Sony being rather new to the SLR arena, there wasn't much information to go off of at the time. I'm happy to report that this camera performs VERY well, impressing all my Nikon and Olympus loyal friends during multiple photo shoots.
   
   The Live View is very useful for awkward position shots; low down, up high, etc. and is the envy of most other camera owners.
   
   Picture quality is very high, even in low-light conditions.
   
   With the capability of 3 frames/second, I don't see any reason in going for the Alpha 350, which only manages 2.5 at best. 10.2MP is more than enough, even if you're shooting billboards, IMO.
   
   All together a very versatile camera, with more than enough features and capability to keep you busy for a long time. I think only die-hard professionals would need much more.



4. Great camera for the price. Easy to use. Great pictures in the auto mode. Even better when I over-ride and try new things thru aperture or shutter speed variations. I'm really enjoying this camera!



5. Don't get me wrong; I do like this camera. BUT, if you're an old DSCF707 or DSCF828 user--such as me (I have both), forget about any of your old stuff working on this camera.
   
   I'm disappointed that even the lens cap does not have a lanyard anymore. The high-end flash for my 828 will not fit the A300 and forget about the batteries, chips or even the USB wire plug being the same. Making matters worse my two Sony remote control tripods won't plug in to the new camera.
   
   I'm more than a little bummed that as an avid Sony Pro-user (daily) that everything has to be bought again. The old 828 unit even came with a charge plug slot, now this new one you have to remove the battery. They could have done better. But, alas, in fairness, I paid more $$$ for the 828 so they had to cut somewhere...just didn't expect EVERYWHERE!

5 comments about Sony Cybershot DSCW130/P 8.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot (Pink).

1. This camera is so powerful and user friendly. I enjoy the fact that it tells you without you having to guess what each feature does by spelling it out on the screen.



2. One of the best things I have ever bought!
   Lo mejor que he comprado este año!



3. This Sony Cybershot out performs similar cameras and is a great value. The photos are clear and crisp. The camera software and menus are easy to use and very helpful. I highly recommend this product!



4. Esta es una de las mejores camaras que he tenido a mi alcnce,gran resolucion y un facil manejo, el unico proble esta con respecto al zoom pien que con uno de 5x seria mejor.
   
   Brian Aguilar



5. I love the point an shoot cameras made by Sony mainly because of the Professional Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, that makes a huge difference when you compare this camera to a similar price camera from another manufacturer, in my opinion the picture quality of this camera is far superior then HP, Canon, Olympus, or Nikon.
   
   Sony include the new ultra fast BIONZ processor in all their new cameras, this is a big deal when you take high resolution pictures and want your camera to be ready to shoot the next in no time at all.
   
   There's a lot of things I love about this camera like: the animated graphical menus, cool metal exterior finish, big display, slide show with or without music, extended battery life, high sensitivity of ISO 3200, Super SteadyShot, and Convenient Photo Modes among others.
   
   The Smile Shutter Mode does work but its a bit tricky when you try to use it on several subjects since you have to detect everyone faces for the Smile Shutter to work properly and this is not as easy as it sounds.
   
   Overall I recommend this camera to everyone who likes a small size point an shoot, easy to use, that can take great quality pictures without spending too much money.
   
   PD: I will add some customer images if you want to check out the picture quality

5 comments about Sony Cybershot DSC-H9 8MP Digital Camera with 15x Optical Image Stabilization Zoom.

1. I obtained this camera with great expectations. I have got to say that it takes decent pictures but we are far from that optimal product sought to bridge the simple point&shoots and the DSLR. If all intermediate products were like the H9 I would definitely suggest 1) take a big DSLR and 2) keep a good point&shoot at hand instead.
   On a practical point:
   PROS
   1) Nice DSLR-like feel
   2) Interesting manual options
   3) Image quality in settings like face-detection is superb
   4) If you manage to keep the digital noise down (i.e., below ISO 200)and understand all the different options and crevices to get to them (see CONS) then you can manage to have some incredible shots!
   5) The possibility of using infra-red photography is exciting (but then again see CONS)
   
   CONS
   1) Overall image quality is not satisfactory, particularly if you aim at having perfect, non blurry, stock-quality images; color fringing is a big bummer!
   2) High sensitivity (up to ISO 3200!) with all that noise means little to me
   3) The choice of having a 74mm filter size is absurd, and this alone should entitle owners to full reimbursement: How on earth did Sony come up with this one? Very expensive, Sony brand-only filters, with limited choice and, on top of that, a big, giant halo that ends up covering flash light (Q: Was this done on purpose to irritate customers or simply because they are perceived as dumb?)
   4) Use of infra-red photography could be fun, but then again you will go nowhere without an appropriate filter (I've got one, but it seems not to be the good one, for a good one expect to spend over $200!!!), and anyway instructions for IR are nowhere to be found (unless they are in the enclosed CD)
   5) The learning time to get to know this camera is bound to be too long; probably, by the time you're done a few dozens of newer, better cameras are out there at a lower price than this one.
   
   CONCLUSIONS: Don't waste time and money with this camera, unless you get it for free (i.e., as a gift). Then again you can always get some nice shots. But, overall, what was the point from Sony to generate such a hybrid consumer product?



2. I would have liked a comparative report on this model and the "DSCH7" one. There's a difference in price and I actually think they are pretty much the same!



3. Simply great, easy to use, great pictures, fully loaded, a very fun camera for amateurs photographers



4. I chose this camera for its high optical zoom and for its little shutter lag and it has not disappointed me. I love it and the photos are clear and crisp.



5. I was all set to buy the Sony H50, but found the H9 at Fry's for $249. Wow! I was looking for a bridge camera to play with HDR photo editing. My dad is a big Canon user and for the life of us we cannot get either of his two Canons to take bracketed still shots. The manuals stink for this camera, and the pdf I loaded on the home computer doesn't mention the bracketing either. BUT, it's quite simple. Figured it out in just playing with the camera after about 5 minutes, and it actually works. I'll be taking this out to the Getty Center this weekend and will take some 2 to 3 hundred pictures and see what this camera can really do. Will add to this review afterwards.
   
   ----------------------
   
   It's a keeper. The quality of the pictures is simply amazing. I played with a lot of settings for taking pictures indoors of priceless painting and then Macros of the flower garden and of pollenating bees, and each shot amazes me. You'll be very hard pressed to buy a better camera for the $249 I spent at Frys in El Segundo. I posted a picture here in Amazon consumer images, titled 'JP Getty Museum Bee' as a example of the quality of shot I am seeing.

5 comments about Sony Cybershot DSC-H7 8.1MP Digital Camera with 15x Optical Image Stabilization Zoom.

1. This is such a fantastic camera!! It is easy to use, much lighter weight than it looks. I can't believe it was $100 less than my last camera. The shots I took with the macro lens look like they are postcards. The color of the images are very vibrant and clear, and low light shots,(which had alot of artifacts with my last camera) have great clarity. I am very happy with this purchase!



2. Just purchased this camera, so still getting used to it. So far, it is fantastic. Light weight, easy to use and the instructions are easy to follow. Definetly recommend buying



3. I bought this camera last summer when I was really wanting to upgrade to a DSLR and settled for an upgrade point and shoot. I was really excited with the zoom, which is an awesome feature, and all of the other in camera options. My biggest problem with this camera is the poor image quality in low lighting. The picture will seem to be okay on the LCD but once it's on the computer it's grainy and most of the time slightly blurred. As long as I'm outside, the shots turn out pretty good. Still not as clear and bright as I'd prefer, but not as bad as inside shooting.
   
   Also another annoyance is when you are in low lighting situations and you zoom in close, the camera won't allow you to take a picture. I was recently at a concert taking photos from about 25 feet back and it kept just focusing and not snapping any shots (which would've been great at the moment I wanted to capture them!) instead I got the sides of heads or eyes half closed. Frustrating!
   
   A great feature with this camera is the options for sepia & black and white. Especially because you can change this setting while filming also. At the concert I attended the lighting was this awful red and I was able to switch to black and white and have a really good video.
   
   In all, if you take pictures outside in great lighting situations- you'll love the options this camera has to offer! If you're looking to take pictures indoors, at sporting or other events- I would definitely skip it because you'll find yourself frustrated like I still am.



4. I have owned the H1 and H2 and they are superior in quality compared to this camera. I use the H7 for work and bought it as a replacement for the H2 when the H2's shutter button stopped working. I have the H1 as my personal camera and it is by far the best in quality. My main concerns with the H7 are that it activates the flash when it doesn't seem to be necessary, the optics don't seem to be as good as the two previous models and the camera just feels "cheaper" by comparison. When I took pictures with the other cameras, I got some amazing shots. Like my dog's whiskers in perfect focus from across the room. If you can get a hold of an H1 somewhere, jump on it.



5. I bought two of these cameras. First one works great, nice pictures, clear, no problems so far. The second one i just received in the mail and i must tell you... THE BOX WAS OPEN (stickers were torn off, etc. ) when i received it. Can't find a phone number for Amazon.com anywhere to speak to someone about why the box was open. Very disapointed in Amazon about not providing the phone number. They jerk you around back and forth with FAQ but there is no phone number and my issue is not covered in FAQ. I hope there are no problems with this camera because I wouldn't know where to even start without a phone number and we all know how sending e-mails about a problem goes. Good Luck