Digital-Camera Reviews

Purchased the 450Z after a lot of research, have had it for a couple months now and absolutely LOVE it. Agree with other comments on slow (frustrating) D/L speed using the serial cable, and definitely recommend the FlashPath reader. Before you jump to buy a cheaper camera, take into consideration the features that the 450Z offers that, even if you're a novice, you'll probably not want to live without, i.e., optical zoom, 8MB memory card included, and photo settings usually found only on high-end cameras (overcast conditions, fluorescent lighting, etc.) One of the best features I used this week was the ability to take great photos of my newborn grandson on the delivery table with the flash OFF! Auto shutter-speed compensated for the flash off and produced extraordinary photos! All digicams are battery hogs, but I was able to take about 120 photos (med res) before replacing them (I rarely use the LCD monitor, and never use battery power for D/L'ing pics). You MUST read the manual from cover to cover before using the camera for the first time, but now I only refer to it when using a setting I don't normally use. AC/DC port is not standard and I was forced to get a converter from Radio Shack that has several different adapter plugs (cheap). PhotoShop Home Deluxe s/w included, but BEWARE -- make sure your PC video card drivers are up-to-date. Go to your PC-makers website and D/L the latest updates before installing this s/w. I had major conflicts with the video drivers req'd by PhotoShop and the 18-month old drivers on my Gateway. All in all, I am extremely satisfied with the 450Z. The only improvements I'd recommend to Olympus is replacing the serial D/L connection with a USB compatible one, making the camera a little more user-friendly so the manual is not so indispensable, changing the AC/DC input to something more standard, and include a FlashPath adapter with the camera. Unless you abhor reading manuals and instructions, you won't go wrong with this camera.

I too had held off on digital cameras. I shoot mostly slides, adore my zoom and macro lenses and expect a lot from my images. I was looking at the high end prosumer Olympus (C2000) and Nikon (950). Drooling is more like it. Then I started reading reviews of the D450Z on www.imaging-resource.com and others. Sounded like a near perfect compromise. While the images won't stand up to extreme enlargement, how often do we really do that with our pictures. I got the camera a couple days before heading out on a trip and was delighted with how easy it was to carry and use. No more rolls of film to manage. The images were sharp, good color balance and I took night time images, hand held, without flash that would stand up against commercial postcards. The zoom isn't as long as I'd like but you can't expect that of a point and shoot. Get an extra smartmedia card, NIMH batteries (though I did 56 pics on just over one set of batteries - with the LCD on). Olympus' new Smartmedia reader rocks. Downloads become a matter of seconds. I couldn't expect more from this camera. I'll still keep my SLR for those National Geographic trips but it might be just a matter of time before it'll be replaced too. I guess I'd better get busy digitizing all those slides.

I got this camera used as a gift from my stepfather, and it has been a love affair ever since. Having never used another digital camera I assumed that most cameras were just as fun. I have since realized that this thing is a gem. It is now 2004 and it is discontinued and seems to be going up in market value. The thing that I love the most about the camera after using other cameras is that it will take the picture when you press the button!!!!That is sooo important...the child turns to look at the camera and you have the picture! The other thing I love about it is that I can take night pictures with it. The camera doesn't question my judgement...it will let me shoot in pitch black and then I can take it back to the computer and pull the image out digitally.... They are selling much fancier cameras now...but I want another one of these..(even though mine is working fine)

*OK so this bad boy is TINYYYY. You will never have to worry about carrying a bulky camera again, plus its really ultra chic and trendy looking. HUGE PLUS.

*Unlike a lot of other digital cameras that take forever to take a picture, this thing is faaaaast. The time between each snap shot is fast too. VERY impressive.

*I'm not a professional photog but if your just about quality photos without all the technical craziness then this camera is perfect for you. Right out the box its super easy to work with without having to first read the lengthy manual(s).

*The digital zoom on this thing is more than cute enough to accomodate you and I find that it doesn't distort the photos or comprimose the quality of the pic. I understand there are a lot of people that don't care for this dital zoom feature but It hasn't been a problem for me.

*Its so tiny you feel like its the most fragile thing in the world. Its roughly about the size of a credit card!

*There's no optical viewfinder on this camera (for the lay person its the little hole most people look through on any other camera before taking a picture). I thought that it would be wierd having to look through the screen before flicking it up, and surprisingly its not. In fact taking pictures is easier now,

* I havent used the camera's included software because my computer allows me to download my photos by inserting the memory disk directly into it so I can't comment on that particular aspect.

*I'm in loooove.

*The ONLY bad thing about this little camera is that its so cute people want to hold it all the time and the belt clip is secured only by a leather velcro strip so it doesnt feel as secure as I would have liked.

*This camera is soooooo worth the money. Click that "BUY NOW" option immediately and stop fooling around, you know you want it. = )

This is perfect for you if you are looking for a small, portable digital Camera. You can take this thing anywhere.

Pros:
1. Size and weight - I love the fact that you can just drop it in your pocket and head on out. It's small, sleek, and light weigt.
2. Picture quality - At 4 megapixels, this is not a technological lightweight when it comes to picture clarity. The pictures I have taken so far have come out excellent.
3. Canon Quality - Canon makes great digital cameras that feel sturdy and are well - built.

Cons:
1. Digital Zoom/Lack of optical zoom - The zoom feature of this camera is not good at all. It's a trade-off for its compact size. When using the digital zoom, the pictures dont come out very sharp.
2. Red-eye - You will note a tendency for images to have a bit of red-eye in the subjects. That's not much of a problem if you have image editing software.

Suggestions:
1. Buy a bigger Memory Card - the one that the camera comes with is too small. At the very least, get a 128mb card, 256/512mb is my recommendation.
2. Buy an extra battery - this way when you are out, you can just swap batteries without having to worry about how much power you have left.
3. Buy a USB 2.0 memory card reader - If you take a good number of digital pics and your computer has a USB 2.0 port, then a reader is excellent for downloading pictures and transferring it to your computer. USB 2.0 is very quick and where a typical transfer may take approximately 5 minutes, with USB 2.0 the same transfer will take 45 seconds.
4. Get image editing software- This affords you the opportunity to brighten images, sharpen images, take the red-eye out, crop images. I use adobe photoshop, but any image editing software should do. It just gives you a greater sense of control over the output.

Conclusion:
You know that there will be a trade-off in some camera functions for its small size, and for me, I have no regrets about it. I simply can't get over how small the camera is. It excels in close to medium distance images in daylight. At 4 megapixels, the resolution of the pictures is very satisfying. This camera delivers as promised.

I just got my camra today! It's the cutest thing ever. It's smaller than the rest of the camra's on the market. The 4.0 mega pix is a plus too! WOW I love it. It's smaller than my cell phone. You should get it too!

I did a lot of research online and read a lot of reviews before I finally decided to buy the Sony DSC-S75 camera. After using the camera for about a month, here are my impressions.
Positives:
1. Excellent pictures. When printed on a good printer with photographic paper is virtually indistinguishable from film.
2. Loads of features. Allows you to customize your shots the way you want. Menus are relatively easy to use.
3. Battery life is excellent, gives you an estimated remaining battery life on the camera.
Negatives:
1. Relatively bulky, there are smaller 3 megapixel cameras out there, but is ergonomically designed and fits well in my hand.
2. 8MB memory stick is practically useless, you need to have at least 64MB.
3. Slow taking pictures. I don't know if this is a problem with all digital cameras, but there is about a 1 to 2 second delay from the time I press the button to when the picture actually takes. Meanwhile, your subject could be moving and ruin the picture. I've tried taking pictures of my 2 year old and I have to take 10 pictures before I get one good one.
Overall, I think this is a very good camera, which takes excellent pictures and could replace my 35mm camera.

The Sony DSC-S75 brings digital photography one step closer to the output one acheives with a 35mm camera.

The unit fits perfectly in ones hand and is ergonomically well designed. It has an in-camera recharable battery that gives you an amazing amount of shooting power over time. The Carl Zeiss lens yields some of the sharpest prints I have ever seen produced by a digital camera. Even 8x10s look gorgeous when shot in the fine mode.

The camera has all the bells and whistles that allow the photographer different degrees of control over the image. Shutter priority, aperture priority, manual overide and digital zoom are but a few. The macro mode allows you to get extremely close to an object with fantastic results.

On the negative side, Sony embarasses itself when it ships this item with only an 8 mb memory stick. You must factor in the price of a 32mb stick into your budget. I loved the camera so much that I splurged on a 128mb stick and now I can shoot until my finger gets sore!

This aside, I highly recommend this beautifully engineered piece of equipment. I am beginning to reconsider my reliance on the 35 mm camera.

Not a Pro, but I can vouch for this camera. Great product from Sony. You'll not be disappointed.

Sony really got everything right on this little camera. My wife and I already own the higher end DSC-717 5 megapixel Sony. That camera is unbelievable in its own right, but I do home inspections and wanted something I could slip into a shirt pocket. This little Sony does that well, but it does so much more. I still can't believe all of the features they packed into something this small. It's 3.2 megapixels which is more than fine for 95% of the shots you'll take; that will print up to almost 8x10 with no noticeable loss of detail. Flash works very well, offering red-eye reduction if you want to use it. Zoom is very good, offering both digital and optical zoom modes. I personally don't mind the digital zoom, although some people prefer the optical only. In the >3x zoom mode, the digital only kicks in for the last tiny bit of the zoom, so I don't see it as a pro nor con. Battery life is amazing, as it has been for the past two years with all Sony digital cameras. The new Lithium batteries just last forever; well over 100 shots, easily. As we already have one Sony digital camera, I didn't have to install a thing; everything from the software to the transfer cable to the PC worked from the older Sony. Thankfully, Memory Stick prices are coming down; a good 128mb stick will likely be all you'll need. I'm using 64mb sticks and with the resolution set at 2mb, that's over 30 pictures per stick. And since it's digital, you can instantly delete what you don't like, so, literally, all of your shots, in the end, are keepers. Has an incredible movie mode; even better than the over $1,000 DSC-717; it eats up a ton of memory sticks to do it, but I'm thinking about tossing the videocam; it's really that good. Menu options allow filters for sepia (so nice to see interiors in sepia; makes them look turn-of-the-century), solarize, black and white, negative, etc. Plus it offers seven 'scene' modes, such as the beach (which corrects the balance to show the ocean in its correct shade of blue), fireworks, distance shots, etc. Also has a very good macro capability if you like shooting flowers in close detail. All in all, I spent some two hours with the camera when I first got it homeand was truly taken back by how many features it offers. And don't forget the biggest feature: IT IS SO SMALL!!!! Not so small like the new cell phones that are TOO tiny; just the right small so that you can put it in your shirt pocket. It doesn't weigh a thing either (it's in the ounces category). Just a real tour-de-force of what can be packed into a small package, still remain user-friendly, and put a true grin on your face when you use it. There are a ton of under 5 megapixel cameras out today; Sony, Canon, Olympia, Kodak, HP, Panasonic, Leica, Epson, etc. all make cameras that compete with this Sony. Yet I don't see any of them offering all of the features this camera has. I don't give out many 5 stars on products, but this one earns it in every way. If you're just starting out in digital photography, you'll appreciate getting this many features in such a small package and one that doesn't need a PhD in Engineering to operate. If you're a seasoned pro in the digital world, you'll love having this little guy in your pocket, just so you don't have to lug around the bigger equipment. Highly recommended in every way.

Sony has really done it this time!

For a full review see Jeff Keller's Digital Camera Resource Page (he does a great job).

Hits:
This camera has the perfect balance of features for those who are "on the go." The durable all-metal body is sleek and small, fitting into most pockets easily. The battery life is excellent (second only to the DSC-P72/92). The 3x zoom is suitable for 95% of travel shooting situations. With the addition of a 128mb Memory Stick (which are very cheap after rebates, see Lexar/Sandisk), this camera - at full 3.2 megapixel resolution - can fit tons of shots.
The video mode is what sold me! Imagine taking 640x480 resolution video, with sound, for as long as the Memory Stick can hold... (Heck, I returned the DV camcorder I just bought, and waited for a month for this camera to be released.)
Good selection of accessories (although pricey). Best accessory? Two words: Underwater Housing.
The controls are VERY easy to use! I haven't look at the manual yet... but I will soon... there are probably many new tips/tricks to learn.

Quality of photos:
The wonderful thing about this camera is that on full-auto mode, the shots are outstanding. Are you in a tricky shooting situation? Take control with "Scene Modes," making those snowboarding pictures come out awesome!
The camera does lack fully-manual control over exposure, whitebalance, and f-stop, but my wife does not have the patience to learn photographic theory, nor does she have the patience to wait for me to tinker with the shot. Most of the photos I've taken have been in full-auto mode, and I'm very pleased at the results.

Misses:
No remote control... I love this about my Canon film camera. You don't realize how handy this is until you don't have it. Also, the add-on lenses require a plastic snap-on adapter. But that's the price you pay for unbelievable portability.
Slow focusing in low light (especially outdoors). Sometime you have to hold the shutter release button down for five seconds before it will fire. Set to (P) program mode and manually set the focus distance to speed up the process.

Conclusion:
Excellent camera for the price. Resolution is more than adequate for my shooting situations, and it fills up the Memory Sticks slower. Video mode is the best out there. Portability, durability, reliability.

my dad got this as a family camera, but i think i use it the mose. i've never used a digital camera before and i learned how to use it really fast. its idiot proof! not only is it idiot proof, it has great resolution like u can zoom in the picture and practically see someones eyes from like 30 ft away. you can also do little video clips which i thought was cool. but the only bad thing is it doesnt zoom in and out very much, but the zooming in of the photo pretty much solves that problem.

I chose the D230 for ease of use and low price and Olympus quality. This camera has met my expectations.

There are only a couple of improvements I would like to see. The LCD monitor is about useless in the bright sun (most are) but the view finder works well in this situation. There is also no battery meter other than a low battery indicator.

It's a sturdy camera with a nice feel. Small, lightweight, and compact. For 2MP it takes great quality pictures with little or no effort. If your looking for a great camera for point and shoot ease of operation you may want to look into this one.

I purchased mine on eBay from Olympus America for $81.00.

If you are looking for a fantastic digital camera for a reasonable price, this is the camera for you. I know people with higher megapixel cameras, and the photographs I take with the 230 are just about as clear. I was really impressed by the macro mode. I get crystal clear close ups. Its features include a movie mode... something other 2 MP cameras don't really have. Alkaline batteries don't work well with any digital camera. Buy the rechargable batteries. They'll work just fine. The digital zoom also is just fine. If you want super wazoo features, save up and buy a [more expensive] camera. You get plenty of bang for your buck with this camera. Highly recommend.

Olympus d series digital cameras are very easy to use.
The one i have takes pics reasonably quickly for a digital.
It stops the action of a moving seen quite well, even
driving along in the car!

Hint: Only use the lithium batteries, alkalines will not
be suitable for this camera even though it might be
packaged with them. With lithium i did just fine.
The auto downloading usb works great. The camera is
small and light.

It shows the pic you just took immediately on the lcd screen, a
big plus for my peace of mind. I print up to 5x7 or 8x10
on photo paper, looks very nice for a 2.1 pixel camera.

You do not need to use the program or any program for that matter to download from this camera. All you need is the driver on the cd disk the first time and then its automatic from there.

Overall this is an excellent camera. It is small, and lightweight, but very well built and feels sturdy to the touch.

The camera features 1600x800 resolution (2 mega pixel)and a digital zoom. Surprisingly the pictures taken with the digital zoom turn out acceptable. They are not nearly as nice as if there was an optical zoom, but for images that don't require a lot of detail they are ok. Even so, if you plan on using the zoom feature a lot you'd be better off buying a camera with optical zoom instead of only digital zoom.

The camera comes with an 8mb card, enough to hold about 20 pictures. It also comes with 2 rechargeable AA batteries and a charger. Finally, contrary to the other review I read it does come with a USB cable for connection to your computer.

The camera has a lot of nice features including the ability to record motion mpeg's. Unfortunately it does not include a microphone so you can't record sound with your "movies".

The only thing that I do not like about this camera is the flash. The camera has red eye reduction, but the way it is implement is annoying. The camera flashes several times before taking the photo, almost like strobe. The effect is very disconcerting for people and all too often the photo that is taken is of people grimacing because of the multiple flashes. Even with red eye turned off the flash fires twice, again causing people to blink when the picture is actually taken.

But other than the flash I've been very happy with the camera and happily recommend it to others.

Overall, this is an excellant camera as far as quality of pictures, features, ease of use. I loved it until it just quit taking pictures. After speaking to 3 sony tech support representitives and answering the same questions, they finally came to the conclusion that it was broke. Duh! I didnt drop, mis-use or abuse it. It just quit taking pictures. Sony's 90 day warrenty made matters worse as it will cost $148.00 to fix the camera. I was a big buyer of Sony products until this happened. You would think after spending $289.00 on the camera, it would come with a longer warrenty. Lesson learned! My rating for Sony is a 0 but the camera is a 4 star.

For the money, this is the best camera for a person who wants to get their feet wet in the world of Digital Photos. It is ready to shoot out of the box with no settings to mess with, but also has many adjustible settings to help make great pictures. It comes with all the accesories you need, but you should plan on getting at least a 32mb Memory Stick. Also, right now Sony is giving a $[money] instant credit for an accessory from their webiste when you register the camera. I used this to buy the Quick charger kit. This comes with an extra pair of NiMH batteries, Quick Charger, and custom camera case. with the discount, it is about [money]. The quick charger will charge 2 batteries in about an hour and a half, or 4 batteries in about 4 hours. The charger included with the camera takes 13 hours to charge 2 batteries, so this is a good investment. The camera is small and easy to hold in your hand. The LCD screen is not big but good enough to size up your photos. The movie mode is OK, no sound but cool for taking little clips. The Twlight modes are great, I have got some great dusk and night pictures using the twlight modes. Overall, After buying a Memory Stick and the Charger kit, I feel I got a great camera for under [money] total.

I've been reading up on digital camera reviews for the past couple of years. This camera is the only one that has all of the features that I wanted: zoom lens, high enough resolution for 8x10" photo printing, ease of use, small size, comfortable grip, and the ability to attach external lenses and filters.

I was able to purchase this camera in time for a vacation to San Francisco and I have no regrets. It worked perfectly and captured an amazing variety of photos in very challenging situations. Each 8Mb flash card holds 122 'internet quality' jpeg pictures that look decent printed on as a 4x6" picture. They look great on the computer screen. The really high quality 2Mpixel shots that look fantastic printed as an 8x10" print take a lot more space. You can store 7 of them compressed (jpeg) or just 1 not compressed (tiff) on one 8Mb flash card.

What I liked: Powers on fast so that I can take quick action shots, light weight and balanced feel, 3x zoom lens, external lens and filter adapter available, LCD display refreshes fast and is accurate, all adjustments can be controlled manually, takes great pictures automatically, video cable is included and makes great slide shows on the go, takes wonderful pictures in very low light conditions, and it includes software to stitch together panoramic picture sequences.

What I didn't like: It takes about 10 minutes to download a full flash card on the serial computer cable and the power button is too close to the shutter button (oops, I hit the wrong one again). You can purchase a high speed flash card reader to attach to your computer to speed up the download process. Can't do anything about that power button except train your fingers.

Accessories I purchased and recommend you get: Extra flash cards, NIMH high capacity batteries with a slow charger, the optional external lens adapter, and a circular polarizing filter. The extra flash cards give you the option of taking more pictures in one outing. The high capacity batteries will make your life easier with less battery changes. I recommend that you avoid buying a fast 1 hour charger for your batteries. They apply too much current, make the batteries hot during charging, and don't deliver a full charge. Try an 8 or 16 hour charger instead. They aren't as rough on your expensive batteries and usually do a better job of charging to full capacity. You don't really need the external lens adapter and polarizing filter, but they do help reduce outdoor glare for any camera.

I just purchased the Olympus C2000 Zoom Digital Camera on a trip to Japan.

It is a fabulous camera. It came with Ni-MH batteries and charger, as well as some Alkaline batteries to get me through the first day. I purchased a 32MB SmartMedia card (in addition to the 8MB card that comes with the camera), and a PC-Card adapter to read the card on my laptop.

I really like this camera. It takes great photos. I was sending photos back to New Zealand via email and getting great comments on the photos that I had taken.

The pros ; the small size of the camera, the picture quality, the capacity (especially with 32MB card), and ease of transfer to laptop with PC-CARD adapter - this is the only way to go! It is very fast.

The cons ; confusing the power and take picture buttons, and the 4-way menu button on the back is difficult to move in only one direction - often you go sideways as well as up/down. Can make setup/configuration difficult.

If you are considering this camera, and can afford it. I say get it. And if your computer is PC-Card capable then definitely go for a PC-Card SmartMedia adapter, it makes transferring the pictures to your computer so much easier, especially with the added capacity a 32MB gives.

I've used this camera for 8 months now. The only two problems I've had is having to tie the lens cap to the camera with fishing line to prevent loss and mistaking the power button for the 'shutter' (they are close together).

Other than that, it is excellent. Good quality construction and switch feel, solid feeling (no flex in the body), battery life is good (with the free NiMH batteries), the floppy adaptor works well (but low batteries on the adaptor can confuse by manifesting themselves as a malfunction), the 32 MB card is plenty even for auto-show type massive picture-taking. Saved me a bunch in film and developing costs (I work on my car and take lots of pictures all the time).

In short, at this price, I would buy it at once if I did not have access to it at work.

After doing a lot research, I decided to buy this little Minolta wonder while on a trip to Japan a month ago.
Sure there are cheaper 3MP cameras in the market, but none of them combines the design, quality, functions and capabilities of the Dimage Xi in such a small package. There also some 4MP cameras that are cheaper or in the same price range of the Xi, but they are bulkier, besides for the common user as myself 3MP image quality is more than enough.
It has the fastest startup in its class (1.2 Seconds); and the menus as well as the instruction manuals are simple and friendly.
The Dimage Xi has a lot of functions only available on bigger cameras like: 3X Optical Zoom + 4X Digital Zoom, Different ISO settings, Focus lock, Single photo, Continuous capture, Movie and Audio recording, Different flash modes, Exposure compensation, White balance and several combinations of image quality and sizes.
The mini battery charges in about two hours and so far has given me a full day of shots
while using the LCD and without the need of recharge.
Its "periscope type" optical zoom is really unique and the image quality is amazing.
Finally I may add that this camera is a great eye catcher, everybody seems to like it!
The only complain I have is the almost useless PC software that comes with the camera.
After a month of heavy use I will DEFINITELY RECOMMEND this camera.

This camera is amazing. It's so light and compact, it's hard to believe you've got a 3.2 megapixel camera with 12x combined zoom in your hands!

The camera uploaded/connected to Windows 2000 via USB with absolutely NO problems, and I had no trouble AT ALL at removing either the memory card OR the battery. Wish it could take standard AA or AAA batteries, but that's the tradeoff you make for a tiny package.

Also, I'm astounded with the extra features this camera offers: record short movies WITH sound, record voice messages/memos to yourself, tiny moving lens cover, internal zoom parts, FAST startup and shutdown, just to name a few. Wow.

Even the manual is easy to follow and written in plain english. I didn't try any of the enclosed photo software because Paint Shop Pro 7 is the best and easiest photo and paint software I've ever found. .

The camera also has several levels of quality. With my 128mb memory card, it can store 13 pictures on highest quality and picture size, and 1958 pictures on the lowest quality and smallest picture size. On medium settings, you'd get at least 391 pictures at a time. Not too shabby!

I'd recommend buying an extra battery pack so you won't worry about running out of power, although the batteries do last a long time if you aren't using the LCD display much.

All in all, this camera is worth the money you pay for it.

I was looking for a small camera that I could shove in a pocket and take wherever I went so that if a photo oportunity came about, I would have a camera ready. I was low on money, and found this camera refurbished. I read lots of reviews and compared this camera to other cameras with the same features. Buying this camera is definitely not a mistake! I have the basic case and an extra battery, and since the batteries only take about an hour and a half to charge I always have one ready when the battery in the camera dies (Which is usually after a full day of continuous photography).
The camera is incredible rugged, I have dropped it on more than one occasion, and it still works. Whether I am in school, at home, or pretty much anywhere, this I know that I am sure to get a good picture.
Now to adress some of the problems that people say this camera has:
1. anemic flash - Although the flash is a little wimpy, when you use it within about 12 feet of your subject it is fine.
2. picture quality - the picture quality is as good as any 3.2 megapixel camera. It just depends what setting you have it on. I always keep mine of the largest picture and fine quality(next level below tiff). If you are complaining about image quality, get a film camera, and wait until digital cameras get better. Film is the equivalent of about 15-20 megapixels.
3. 16 megabyte card - duh, you can't get many pictures on here that are even somewhat decent in quality. No matter what camera you buy, you will still have to buy a larger card if you want a good amount of pictures. I have a 256 megabyte card that holds 160 pictures on fine and about 38 in tiff mode.
4. Finger in the picture - yeah, I agree that if you have big hands this can become a problem. The best way to hold this camera, is to use the controls and take the picture with your right hand and hold the bottom left hand corner of the camera with your left hand to steady it.
5. this camera is not for professionals - I agree. If you want all the controls of a manually controlled camera, keep looking, however, the autofocus does do a nice job, and I don't understand why a camera with more things to adjust would be better for snapshots and and active lifestyle.
All in all, this camera is truly one of the most handy electronic gadgets that I can think of and I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS CAMERA TO ANYONE.

I bought this Sony because I wanted a cute, light, tiny and easy to use digital camera.

PROS
- cute
- light
- simple

CONS
- VERY VERY difficult to see LCD on the back - you can't tell if your photo has turned out well or not!
- No zoom - I didn't think I would need it, but it turns out it's more useful than one might think
- Very delayed shutter speed - the camera doesn't take photos immediately
- Extreme problem with redeye - this is from the flash being too close to the lens
- Picture quality only so-so, but I guess that's what you get from a 2MP ... still ...

Overall, I'm very disappointed. I'm planning on reselling mine and buying a Casio Exslim - they are just as tiny - actually, thinner, but with a much bigger LCD and better picture quality (if you get the 3MP) ... I think it's worth the extra money.

If you don't care very much about your candid shots, then this is a fine camera for the price. If you're more serious about them, and are willing to invest a little more money, this isn't your best bet.

Ok, wow....its so small. Just to give you an idea. Its smaller then a Nokia 8260 phone in length and just a tad bit fatter. The LCD display isn't that big so its still hard to see how the picture turned out. Always use red eye reduction because (everyone) will have red eyes. No zoom and video mode is totally useless and grainy. Taking pictures at night will sometimes give out picture distortions (litte spots on the picture). OH and the battery charger takes 13hrs to charge and I wish sony gave 16 MB memory stick instead of 8MB. Now with all these complains...how can I give this camera 5 stars??? Well I bought the camera for one thing:the size(ITS SOOOO SMALL). The camera is also ready to take picture as soon as you open it (so you won't miss those sudden funny moments) My other digital camera (Fuji 2650) had a lag time of like 3-5 seconds when I turned it on. The pictures are clear and distinct. I wouldn't recommend this as your first digital camera (go with the Fuji 2650 3x optical zoom and same price or cheaper). I had the Fuji 2650 but I never took it anywhere because its so bulky (compare to this camera). I also tried the Sony DSC-U10 and the picture quality really stink (1.3 Mega pixels). Get this camera if you wanna show off or a camera that can be taken everywhere.

I have had it for about a year. It is my constant companion. We ditched 35mm in favor of this baby. Results are not perfect, but for the size & price, it's wonderful. And don't forget that it uses AAA batteries!

Having said all that, I am hoping to get a DSC P92 before our next family vacation...

Here is the shutter specs right from sony:
Maximum shutter speed: .001 seconds
Minimum shutter speed: 2 seconds
So why are people complaining about the shutte speed? Isn't it something that you can adjust?

This is a great camera. If you do buy one, you might as well invest in a larger memory stick. It will only hold one pick at max resolution. However what most people dont know, is that you can take a picture at 2048x1536 and then resize it to a smaller size like 640x480. This keeps the higher resolution in the image, but just makes it smaller in sheer physical size. Also, it takes good and lengthy Mpeg clips. Of course it's not a digital camcorder, but does a very good job. One feature i find very handy is that you can photograph documents with its built in document option. I don't have a scanner, but have done this with several documents, and have got very good results. The macro mode is great, i have taken pictures at 5" with great results. The camera is also very small and light weight. A super deal sony has going on right now is a (...)rebate if you also buy memory stick. Plus they will give arebate for registering the camera online. Rebates equal cool.

Best of Sony Digital! It has picture quality for it's size. This is the 3rd sony digital camera products I have tried. Basically complains from previous model has been corrected on p5. Especially flash or lights indoor. If your new to digital you will also complain about battery. Older digital cameras, regardless of brand, drains power so quickly. This is normal! I guess, the only complain other people will be then, is the size, so tiny w/c you might accidentally drop. For me, size is perfect, I like to have the camera handy all the time. When I need it, it's there. Before I decided to buy this camera these are the choices I had in mind (dcs-s75) very good camera especially the lens but bulky, (p-1) good for outdoor bad indoor, especially night time (discontinued anyway)! (cannon s-30) comparable to p-5 but little bit bigger in size. Buy this camera, no regrets!