I don't actually own this camera, but I was looking at buying either this one or the W150, which is slightly cheaper. I went with the W150, but I tried this one out while I was comparing the two, and since I don't see any reviews for this product yet, thought I could help out with what I know about this product.

This camera has a slightly wider lens (28mm) than the W150 (30mm). Another difference is that the W170's battery power is marked on its retail box as slightly less efficient than the W150's.

Obviously the main reason this camera is more expensive than the W150 is because it goes up to 10.1 megapixels, while the W150 only goes up to 8.1. More megapixels in the 8-10 scale shouldn't be a big concern, because unless you are taking large scale poster pictures you don't necessarily need a camera with a megapixel rate of over 5 megapixels. I tend to keep my megapixel setting low because when the photos are uploaded to a computer, I don't like dealing with large file sizes. However, I suppose having the option for that extra megapixel setting can be good to have, in case you would like to take a large cropped picture.

Overall, when I was testing out the camera I didn't find it to be really any different than its counterpart, the W150. Besides what I mentioned above, it's virtually the same; 5x optical zoom, optical viewfinder, 2.7" screen, same camera settings. Pretty much it comes down to how many megapixels you want, and contrary to the popular belief, the average camera user doesn't need double digit megapixels. I bought the W150 simply because I didn't think the 2mm additional lens width and 2 extra megapixels that came with the W170 were enough to shell out an extra 50 bucks. Still, if you feel you want those slight upgrades, then by all means I'd say buy this camera. I enjoyed using it, I just didn't see the need for those slight upgrades when the W150 suited me fine.

I just got my Sony Cybershot today to replace my horrible Casio Exilm, that I was so disappointed in. I took this out of the box, and I immediately loved it before even putting the battery in. It is the perfect size. I myself don't like the extremely thin cameras. I find them more difficult to get a good grip on to take a good photo. This is very comfortable to use, and I love how easy the controls are and the handy dial to change the photo settings. It is still small enough to fit in your pocket. The color is so nice. Just so you now it is not really red, it is more of a magenta or deep pink color. So, if you want a deep red color, you might be disappointed. I took some test photos of my cats, and I loved them. They were ten times clearer then they would have been on my Casio camera. The color came out so nice. The video is nice too. I like also you just pop the battery out to charge, and the charger is not big and bulky with a long cord. You just plug the battery in, and the whole charger just plugs into the wall. I have a mac so I didn't need to use the software or install anything for it, so I cannot comment on installation, but I am sure it is not a big deal if you have a PC. It works great with iPhoto. The only thing I was disappointed in, is that you cannot adjust the zoom when filming in video mode. I am so happy with my choice, and I am selling Casio camera on Ebay. Highly recommend!

Outstandingly sharp and clear pictures! Movie mode very clear as well even when my niece was jumping on the bed, it was not blurry thanks to the optical image stabilizer. Solidly built, well-made. 5X zoom is more than adequate. Sony didn't goof on this one!

i highly recommend this prodct of sony
dont trust all the reviews.
some people just dont like one thing about the product and can give low stars.
this is a great camera if you are not a professional.
if you are, you can buy these complicated ones...
i bought it for myself and very glad to use it,
battery life is great as i read from the reviews.

I was looking for a camera that would take good pictures and I found it. This camera is amazing! I have taken pictures in well lit areas as well as in doors and have had very nice pictures in both scenarios. I highly recommend this camera. The only thing I am not happy about is not buying is sooner.

well, this cam is amazing, the smile shutter is good, a lot! 10 pixels are enought to a afficionated photographer, the 5x optical zoom help a lot when you want to be a little bit more near, the ISO is good too, almost 3200, the slide show with music is the best, no like other, the display its good, if it would be tactil, it will be a better cam, in conclusion, a very good invertion

ok it a 10.1 mp camera, easy to use, the lcd screen its the best!!!, the battery 10 points!!you can take a lot of pictures with no problems!!!

I am not a professional photographer but I enjoy taking pictures.This camera lets me do just that.I find myself looking for things to photograph as I'm driving or walking..somestimes it's very annoying because it's alittle hard to turn that, "lookin for shots", off.It's like ,if I said too you DON'T think of the color Blue!The camera is easy to carry,so I take it everywhere.The batteries have not run out on me yet,but I do recharge it every night.I think the video it takes is really good but not as good a camcorder.So camcorder=9.5/10 and Sony DSC-W170=8.5/10.Also,erasing a shot you just took and did not like is fairly easy, but yet, just difficult enough that you won't erase by mistake.There are alot of "practical" features to this camera,some I've discovered just playing with the camera.But some you must read the user manual.The camera also has a "Users Handbook" which I feel is better than the Owners Manual but they both have very usefull information for the camera.I really like taking a picture,seeing it immediately,and knowing if its a keeper,or,I need to take it again.Result...you have a camera full of pictures you want and no bloopers.Next..upload to a computer or printer for hard copy pictures or e-mail to whomever you wish!One last comment!Another reason I purchased this camera was the combo of 28mm"Zeiss"lens with 5x OPTICAL Zoom.Together they make a fine combination for taking great photos and you don't have too be a genius.I hope you will enjoy this camera as much as I do!Well,as they say..It just does'nt get any better.If you buy it,they will come...beautifull pictures that is!

I have been using this little camera for a couple of weeks now, taking photos daily. I am very pleased with its compact design, ease of use, crisp clear photos and convenience. I often wear it on a neckstrap and tuck it in my pocket. It fits in a little pocket in my small purse and goes everywhere with me. I am particularly impressed by the quality of the macro shots of flowers that I love to take.

This is a great little camera. It takes very good pictures in all light situations, but is especially good in low light when compared to other digital cameras. I brought this along on a recent outing to New York City and didn't use the flash at all. As with all cameras, not every picture taken in low light is perfect, but this camera does a better job than any other camera I have owned which includes other Sonys. It is about the size of a deck of cards, so although it is larger than some cameras in Sony's lineup, it is still small enough to fit into your jeans pocket without feeling like the whole world knows what you are carrying.

Thought I am a pro after years of photography and wanted to replace my old Canon Ixus 40 now. The new camera was supposed the ONE for snapshots, outdoors, indoors, everywhere! Nothing big to carry and always in reach. Did research the internet, read all the reviews of you guys and made decision to order the Sony DSC-W170 camera. I did like very much all the design stuff, fancy functions, the wide angle and zoom BUT....when it came to moving targets (like my 2-year old) and in addition to that it was indoors- then sorry folks, but this was very much unsatisfying! To resolve the issue with the trick of going up to ISO400- sometimes it works, sometimes it does not! The high ISO already starts to demand ist contribution and as a matter of fact its more a matter of luck than something you have control over. Wish the camera would allow me to fix the shutter time and would adjust the rest automaticly- without exceeding useful ISO- values. I would still have the flash- option to make sure I am not demanding too much. To summarize: besides all the great features, nice design etc. I have to send it back. Because Amazon has outsourced that part to an alternative provider I am loosing 15% of the value in the first week already by opening the package- bit of a shame! Have to test next time the camera of my fortune at Best Buy and then order it at Amazon, if its worth. Lessons learned!

As many Sony products this camera is great! it has so many functions, it shows the pictures as slides with sound playing back. Best purchase!

Real good item. I've got what I wanted seeing the prop on TV. I've got pretty nice pictures from it, family, scenery, fun pictures whit the smile gadget. I think I've got a real good price for it. Congratulations.

Excellent product and Face Detection funtion is great. also included external memory in your Cart is strong necesary

Love this camera. Great low-light capability, zoom of 5x is very useful (and the wide 28mm is good), nice pocketable size, good control layout, fast response for shooting and playback even with the high 10.1 megapixel, good screen clarity, (but wierd slight lag in "focusing" in reviewing - why?). Also selected this because one of the last remaining series with an optical viewfinder for when it is very bright outside or when my reading glasses are not handy, (just wait- it will happen to you too). I think only Canon still has optical viewfinder models available. Viewfinder is only approximate of real view at various zoom levels, but errors on side of giving more than you see, which is good - you can always crop later. But my real beef is that with all of this face and smile detection junk, (come on, do you really need a smile detection with such settings as child vs. adult, etc?), they should have kept some way to choose aperture or shutter priority. As a minimum, there should have been a "sports" or "action" mode and a "near & far focus" mode. Anyway the camera is fast (high EV), so in many cases, action blur is not a huge problem. The shutter button is elongated and you need to be pretty well centered on it for proper actuation - surprising quality design slip for Sony. Like I say, love this thing but I give it 4 instead of 5 stars because of of the drawbacks indicated. One of the best choices out there overall.

Loved the camera from the moment I bought it, great zoom, great functions. I have owned a many cameras and was very happy about the versatility and clarity of the W-170. One sunny day I took a round of 10-15 fotos, pressed the power button to turn it off....the lens failed to retract all the way.
Now just 5 weeks after purchase I have sent it to the service center.

One more piece of advice. I used to work at Best Buy, their replacement/repair service is great and on the spot. I regrettably bought this camera at Sonysyle store and when I tried to get a new one just one week after their 30 return policy with my 3 yr service agreement, they said I had to ship it to Laredo, TX and it would be 10 days to 2 weeks to service or replace and I had to pay and ship it myself...Best Buy, Never!

I have tracked the status of my W-170 that I sent last week. USPS said it was delivered on June 21st, now it's June 25th and they have no record of it.

It does take incredible shots and the smile function doesn't work well!

This is a great little camera. I especially like the viewfinder, so that in sunlight, you can see your subjects easier. I purchased a Canon Powershot A720 IS, but sent it back, as the viewfinder and actual view were miles out. Unacceptable by Canon's standards I believe. This Sony is more expnsive, but a better performer. Thr viewfinder is not perfect, but more accurate than the Canon. One doesn't expect single lens reflex standards, but the Sony is good. Using the viewfinder, you need to get as much as you can in the view itself though. The camera manual is only on the CD, but there is a brief version in paper. The sensor seems pretty good tp me, and the preview screen has a high refersh rate (I believe that is the correct saying...) Lastly, this fits in your pocket, yet still gives a great performance.

Got this a few weeks ago and have been busy trying out my new camera...it is fantastic, takes awesome pictures, is so easy to use, small enough to fit in a pocket or purse, batteries stay charged for a long time (something that was a big feature). I love love love it!

This camera has tons of ingeneous features. My favousite is the smile feature, lots of my friends do not smile for pictures and now I create goofy smiles on them. Also the setting that takes the pictures automatically once the person in the picture smiles is great. I love the huge screen. I was very impressed with the technology.
Down-side:I am not a gadget/ technology person and did not know I had to purchase a memory card with the camera. It is a little thicker than I thought, but no big problem.
I love my camera and all the avaiable accessories for it.

I recently purchased this Sony Cybershot model. This camera is amazing in every way. The pictures come out crystal clear and bright on the camera and computer. I took a picture of a bee on a flower and set it as my desktop. The picture is so clear and vibrant, even enlarged, that I can't help but stare. Even I, an impatient teenager, have no problems with shutter lag. I snapped pictures of road signs from a moving car on the high way and still managed to get clear and readable signs. I have nothing to complain about. The only thing is, I would suggest purchasing a second battery, as this fun to use camera will have you snapping away. Before you know it the battery is gone. Also the charger that comes with it is untimely sluggish. No complaints about the camera. Sony has made perfection.

I am a realtor who has spent nearly 5 weeks testing cameras to use that can fit rooms into one shot. I have 4 sony cameras. H3 W70 p10 and the touch screen N1 which is my personal favorite. I am a sony guy, but I needed a 28mm wide angle camera. I tried the Panasonic tz5 and the Panasonic fx35 which is a 25mm wide camera but has no zoom. I went to Best Buy to buy the Tz5 for 350.00. I told the salesgirl that I wish Sony made a wide angle camera and she said "they do!" My descion was that I would try it since I already had 2 extra BG-1 batterys (which work for all the new sony's) and memory sticks so I saved on the extras. I bought the W170 on the spot went home and took some photos of a couple of rooms at my home. WOW!!! I can tell you right now that this will replace my N1 and my H3. Too bad it does not have the touch screen like the N1 but, the 1st 40 pictures printed so nice that I am willing to wait until Sony builds me a wide angle camera with a touch screen.

Great item! It has great resolution and its also good to take pictures in motion. The shipping was faster than expected. The battery life is excellent!

This is the 6th Sony camera of camcorder that we've owned. My wife wanted a slim camera to carry in her purse for shots of the children at outings and such. We already own the Memory Stick media and NP-BG1 batteries and chargers so a Sony that uses these was our first choice. No one, NO ONE, else had the new DSC-W150 or W170s on discount other than Amazon when we bought ours. The Smile technology and child first choice are AMAZING. The quality of the pictures is terrific but the ease of point and shoot with presets or all auto is great for pull it out on the spur of the moment, turn it on (fast), point and shoot! The quality of the Very Fine movies is also really amazing. I know that its still 640x480 video but 30fps and the speed of the new Mark 2 cards makes this usable footage - its not the same as our Sony DVCs but its good enough and its with us ALL THE TIME! Wow. Great 5x optics, wider angle than the W150 (which is nice as many slim cameras make it hard to do photos of groups unless you are way back), and it uses the NP-BG1 and newer NP-FG1 battery packs so its compatible with our DSC-H7 and its support materials!!

I bought this camera to replace my Canon SD700IS which i was never very happy with. I had a sony 7.1 megapixel before but it was stolen and i replaced it with the Cannon due to all of its "great" reviews. I never liked the dreary picture quality of the Cannon and i compared my old SD700 with my new Sony and OMG I finally have a camera that takes great colorful and vibrant pictures. The picture quality is remarkably better than the Cannon. Although i have yet to use many of the other features on the camera, i am extremely happy with the one feature that matters most and that is PICTURE QUALITY

I have had a 5 MP digital camera and I was ready to upgrade. I am no photographer, just a casual user that likes to take photos of my family in various situations. We went and looked at several cameras in stores, did some research online, and found out that for an average consumer who wants a great camera without the bells and whistles, this is it.

We have now used it for a while and have taken pictures in many conditions. All have turned out to be great. So for anyone who simply does not have the time and technical background to research what camera to buy for a family, this is a safe choice.

I had a Sony DSC-W90(8.1 MP) before this one and I simply loved it. I lost it recently and bought this one. It is pretty much similar to the W90 with a couple of additional features like smile detection and a bigger optical zoom (5X as against 3X in w90).

I'm not a professional but am very picky about my photos and picture-taking. The Super Steady Shot guarantees a great picture EVERY time and with awesome color/clarity. Other great perks about this camera include the red eye reduction, face detection, smile detection, White Balance, awesome REC mode for continuous shooting, Scene Recognition, Underwater mode (you have to buy the special case for this), and editing modes from the viewing menu... the list goes on and on! Both I and my husband are blown away with this camera. We have friends that own other Sony Cyber-shots and they are very happy with them. This is not a touchscreen... if you are looking to buy a touchscreen be very careful with it. I know someone who had it in his pocket and hit something which busted the touchscreen. This was not replaceable and unfortunately ruined a good Sony Cyber-shot. He turned around and bought another one. They are GREAT cameras!

I think this is a great camera. I have about 5,000 photos of my childs and the best photos I ever took of them were taken last week with this camera!

The size is perfect, I think that if sony made it smaller it would be difficult to handle. The photos of faces are great and the interface with the televisión is great, it makes a slide show of your photos where you can choose the kind of show, which pictures would be in it, etc.

The only bad thing I can find on this camera are the photos on poor light, they are pixeleated even with the ISO function, they seem like my old 1.5MP Photos.

My last camera was a Canon, and I was never satisfied of indoor shots (usually of my cats). I should also note I have fluorescent lighting, that added to the problem. I reviewed Fuji, Panasonic, Canon, Olympus, and Sony cameras before making this purchase. The first two pictures I took when I got home almost blew me away. The sun was going down, and all the lights were off in the house, and the high ISO setting and Easy setting was still turning out some really nice pictures. You need a tripod for the twilight setting, but other that that, this camera is *awesome* for indoor shots.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012XZQGC/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_title

I've been very happy with this new 10.1MP model. I had two of the older models, they were decent, but not special. The DSCW170/B has integrated all the features Sony offers into this camera, the result is something special! Honestly, I get the same quality pictures with this camera as I do my DSLR.

I love this camera. The pictures are flawless, generally with a size of 1 MB. The screen is big enough so I can see the quality of the picture. Excellent zoom option. The camera size is perfect to keep in my purse. One thing though is that the red of the camera is not pure blood red but rather a very dark pink-red, which I happen to love. I am looking for a gel case to avoid bumping and scratching its surface. I wish a fitting one for this camera was recommended to my when I bought it, so I could buy them together.

I bought this camera because the consumer reviews were excellent, and my first impression of the camera was very good also, based on size, handling characteristics, and the way photos displayed on the 2.7" screen on the back of the camera. However I had business distractions and didn't display my photos on a full-size screen until after the Amazon return time expired. The image quality of my camera (perhaps I have a lemon) is very poor when compared to my three year old Olympus point-and-shoot. I was shocked at how "soft" the images were when viewed on a 15" computer screen. I took identical comparison shots using a tripod and self-timer to verify that I wasn't seeing motion, but in sunlight or low light, the images are visibly and objectionably soft. Around bright patches, such as sky showing through the leaves a tree in the foreground, there is heavy blue fringing, and some sections of the photos are "foggy" as though a fingerprint was on the lens, but there were no fingerprints or debris on the lens. There are noticeable blotches of off-color (like "noise," but bigger) in shadow areas, even at low ISO. I should have tested the camera better, sooner, and I blame myself and my schedule for not doing that. Here is the lesson: (1) Don't buy a camera unless you can thoroughly test it immediately, including judging the image quality on a large screen, not the screen on the camera. (2) Order the correct memory chip the first time, so you don't get delayed waiting for the correct chip to arrive. This Sony is not compatible with all SD memory chips. (3) Compare the camera against another camera of known qualities, but do in time to take advantage of Amazon's return option. I've shipped my camera to the repair center in Texas and it hasn't returned yet. If they fix it satisfactorily, I'll amend this evaluation to say so, but for now I'm very disappointed.

great photo quality in a variety of lighting situations. fast start up (better than my older Sony). one of the only newer cameras that still offers a viewer in addition to the digi screen - which is needed in bright sunlight.

Besides Amazon having the BEST price and free shipping no tax, my first impression of the dsc-w170, was of a little disapointment.

I have not taken one picture yet, my review is based on the quality of the camera and the accesories that come with it.

The construction of the camera is solid with one exception, and this is of the battery/memory stick compartment door. The door, is a different type of plastic that sony normally uses to house/lock in the battery or mem stick. The sliding door is made of a cheaper more flimsy plastic that reminds me of a cheap toys battery compartment door. The compartment door catch plastic is also cheap, and door edge which aligns with the outside of the camera body is not manufactured to be smooth. It feels as it may snag loose material clothing.

My other complaint is that the battery that comes with camera is not the info-lithium battery that tells the camera in MINUTES on the display how much time is left in the charge of the battery. It does have the bar strength meter, but not the minutes. This was one of the features I liked in my old sony camera, the dsc-s85, which construction is superior, but, that one was not made in CHINA like this model is.

I found the battery info in the manual.

The battery charging could be better, the manual says that "when the charge light turns off, charging is finished, (normal charge)" Ok duh,.. but, if you leave it plugged in for "about one more hour, (until it is fully charged), the charge will last slightly longer.

It actually is quit longer, 60 minutes longer battery life time. Whats my problem??? Make the light shut off when it is fully charged!! Sony can do this! Who doesn't think that light should shut off when fully charged?!? Not wait another hour, or sit around and wait for the light, then set a timer. Come on sony, another cost of a .00001 to make this work right. Of course, I am only coming from past experience, and was let down. And the thing that bugs me more about it, is that to charge the battery, you must open that cheap flimsy battery door every time.

Other than those things mentioned above, I have not used the camera yet, I am still waiitng for the charger light to go out, and then wait.... ;)

I will add to this review later after I use the camera. Thanks for your time.

//\\//\\ike

I bought this camera last week, and took several snaps. The picture quality is amazing. Its so light weight and easy to carry anywhere.
Thanks to amazon to bring this at a reasonal price

Aswin

The Sony model DSCW170 camera is entirely satisfactory, considering its size and cost. It produces very beautiful photos of architectural and landscape subjects; it is harder to use for good photos of people because of the inherent delay of a fraction of a second between composing the picture and actually capturing it. One comes away with more respect for the daguerrotype photographers, whose models had to be still for minutes, not just a fraction of a second. It is annoying that it is not shipped with at least a one GB memory chip; the chip is a separate purchase, from a separate supplier. Unless you are using the full 10 megapixel image quality, the four GB memory chip I purchased is probably overkill - it permits you to store more than 1000 photos at 5 megapixel quality.

Works perfectly. I especially like the Super Steady Shot feature, none of my shots are blurred.

It was a great product and well worth the money was shipped fast and everything that was described was included

What a great, small camera. The pictures are so clear. Easy to use in light and dark conditions. Very happy with it.

I purchased this from BestBuy just because I didn't want to wait for shipping and I needed a camera this weekend. Anyway, after going through a few Kodak digital cameras, first a 5 MP and then a 8mp I upgraded to this wonderful Sony 10mp that is just fantastic. I had it out of the box and taking pictures within 5 minutes. I posted a fantastic picture of a butterfly under product images. That was taken impulsively in easy mode.

I love the smart smile technology, what a spectacular idea that was. To those of you who are unfamiliar with that technology as I was smile shutter will wait for the subject being photographed to smile. It displays a smile meter and when the perfect smile is made it knows just when to take the perfect shot - it's awesome if you learn to use it correctly.

I also appreciate the fact it has built in slide show feature with music. The single USB & A/V cord makes it easy to connect to a computer or a TV. At first I did not know if I liked the fact that I could not choose the perfect scene mode but I will tell you that this is one smart camera and consistently and flawlessly will choose the best conditions to shoot the picture.

This also comes with a rechargeable battery with charging station that is a sure winner. The only thing I can think of that I wish this had was a Panoramic mode that "stitched" together multiple photos like my kodak did on board the camera. But thats what photo editing software is for I guess

I also enjoy messing around with black and white photographs. If you place this in personalized mode and select B&W color mode it will take B&W photos that will blow you away.

Bottom line: If you are considering a camera that is above a entry level camera but not quite a SLR but is capable of producing "WOW" photographs, go to an electronic store and give this one a try, you probably will not be disappointed.

Pros:
A good camera for the money. Has one of the better steady shot logic compared to other cameras of its size. Does a good job in low light conditions. The build quality feels solid and durable. Good video quality.

Cons:
Interface takes time to get used to for all the fetures this camera packs (But isn't really that bad, just takes time). I wish that this camera was able to zoom during video recording.

I highly recommend this camera to everyone, specially to those willing to start in photography. This camera has a perfect resolution, bright-beautiful colors. Very light, easy-to-carry, easy-to-use...perfect for everybody. A great investment.

Great photos, easy to use, light weight. I bought the leather Sony case with it and can easily carry it on my belt. I carry it at work to photo dry erase white board sketches and notes... comes in handy. Zoom works well. Great detail.

THIS CAMERA IS ALMOST PERFECT BY A NOTCH. THE REASON I GIVE IT 4 STARS INSTEAD OF 5 IS THE FACT THAT YOU CANT ZOOM IN OR OUT WHEN RECORDING VIDEOS. WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THIS CAMERA FROM BEST BUY I NOTICED THAT I COULD NOT ZOOM IN OR OUT DURING RECORDING OF VIDEOS. I CONTACTED SONY CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND AS SOON AS I GAVE THEM THE MODEL OF THE CAMERA AND THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING THEY TOLD ME RIGHT AWAY THAT THIS CAMERA DOES NOT HAVE THE FEATURE OF ZOOMING IN AND OUT WHILE RECORDING VIDEOS. IM THINKING ABOUT TAKING IT BACK AND GETTING ONE THAT HAS THIS FEATURE!

Have had this camera for just a few days -- so no detailed comments, but it takes pretty good photos. Wanted to comment that the product info doesn't mention a charger and battery are included. I ordered those separately and have returned the charger but kept the battery -- an extra battery is a good idea -- the batteries for this camera don't last as long as others I've used. And many thanks to Amazon for the easy return options!

As an owner of several digital cameras over the past 10 year, here is my opinion for what it's worth. I put a lot of thought and research into choosing this camera and while I haven't owned it long, I plan to update this as I learn.

The camera really rocks in many categories.

Pros
The screen is beautiful, not bad even outdoors.

I love the red color of the camera!

The scene selection should prove helpful, haven't used it yet

Zeiss lenses do seem to be very high quality

The flash is one of the features that closed the deal for me. I tried all of the cameras at best buy side by side. When taking a photo inside with a flash, many cameras, including my old canon made everyone look white and washed out while the background was very dark or even blank. Not on this baby. The color, indoors and out, foreground and background really seems well lit and very even in tone.

Cons
Lose the smile thing, both for picture taking and editing. The one in editing is just creepy looking.
Want really creepy photos? Make the person have a smile intensity of 5, and then do it again and again and again..... It looks like a worm stretched across their face. Also doesn't detect faces if they have mustaches.

This seems designed for a lot of portraits, but I like landscapes and sports events.
Where is the panoramic stitch type help? One of the cameras out on the market right now has it where they show a little bit of a ghost image of the last shot to help line up the panoramic shot. Even my cameras that are 5-10 years old had something for panoramic.

Can't they add the little plastic thingy that tightens around your wrist so you don't loose this $300 gem?

Why no sport mode?
I want pics of kids at their sporting events and such, still trying to figure out how to take good photos inside with poor lighting and speedy kids at volleyball. They are ending up blurry. I am sure there is a setting that will work, just not sure what it is yet.

I do like how some of the other models have lenses that don't stick out and move, so particles don't get caught in them.

Why does the underwater case cost nearly as much as the camera?

Looking for a good blog to learn tricks about my new toy...

very nice camera.. i bought for my mom but im planing to buy one for me because i has a lot of features for the price.

This is my second Push Here Dummy Sony Cybershot. (The first one was three years old and ended up at the bottom of a lake -- it dried out over 3 days and still worked!) Simpler to use interface than previous models, good technical improvements (steady shot), and more compact form factor. Tested all cameras at local big box retailer, there is some good competition, but liked the interface (easy to use settings) and form factor of this one best. I love the pictures it takes -- but I am not a pro, so I'll leave that rating to others.

I spent a great deal of time on Steve's Digicams website reading reviews and looking at sample pictures. Primarily I use my camera for blogging and not for prints, so the way the pictures look on the web is what I used for a guideline. Specs-wise I had actually one-click-ordered the new Nikon Coolpix S610 from Amazon before panicking (because there were no reviews or sample pics for that anywhere yet) and cancelling the order. It was then down to this model. I went to a local electronics store and checked it out (as well as looking at the competition in case there was something I missed) and ended up taking this nice red one home.

The only two things I see "wrong" with this camera are that you need to use the Memory Stick (so I had to buy one, whereas we have 3-4 SD cards already) and that you can't operate it with one hand. My old 2.3 megapixel Canon was set up in such a way that you could hold and shoot with your right hand (assuming your hand was steady enough). With this one, the pressure of my palm presses the menu buttons accidentally. I'm still not sure I'm keeping this one, but I am thinking about it.

I bought this camera to replace my older Cyber-Shot (DSC-W5). I was very excited when I received it because I really loved my old camera - wore it out in fact! But after trying for a month to adjust to it, I am really disappointed. Pictures in low light are grainy no matter what MP setting I use. Auto-focus doesn't work so well. Bright colors are super saturated. Response time for pushing function buttons seems slow (like review, menu, changing from auto to landscape, etc.).

It is a great price for a cheap, decent camera. I guess I just got spoiled with the older version? The newer one is not nearly as good. I wish I would have spent the money on getting the old one repaired instead of wasting it on this one.

Awesome camera... I bought it because of the face detection feature. The battery has a long life!

I researched and compared cameras for a couple of months before deciding on this one. I also have a Sony Cypershot 15Xzoom DSC-H7. We bought a Nikon Coolpix L18 for our son, which I would NOT recommend. To me Sony's are the best! My little red Cypershot is GREAT! To this day, I still haven't sat down and looked at the manuel, but it's so easy to use, takes great pictures and it fits in my pocket or purse. I'm sure once I really check out what all the features of this camera, I'll find it even better! Thanks!

I had the 7.2 MP cybershot and this is an excellent upgrade. I am still able to use my base memory sticks and the quality of images have been great.

I purchased this item for my boss. He's technically challenged but this camera was so easy to use that he picked it up and started using it right away. I absolutely recommend this camera.

I was impressed how fast my camera had been delivered. I ordered it in the morning - between 4 and 5 am on Wednesday, and on Friday I had it delivered! Amazing! Camera works great. Well, Sony is trying to keep its brands up to the mark: no matter what products are. Excellent brand, nothing else to add.

I purchased this camera over a month ago and have taken a couple hundred pictures with it so far. The picture quality is incredible for such a small "pocket" camera. The camera itself appears to be well made. The battery/card compartment is nicely laid out. The door to this compartment looks/feels like it is a little cheap. Although I haven't had a problem with mine what-so-ever, I believe if you weren't paying attention while opening or closing this door, you could force it easily enough and possibly break/damage it. This is the only possible problem I can see having with the camera other than dropping it.

I really like the big disply in the back and the "stable" feature. It REALLY cuts down or just about eliminates blurry pictures. The camera I had before this was the Sony Cybershot DSCS730 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom. That camera was ok, but I had blurry pictures it seemed 1/2 the time.

I really like and use the Red Eye fix feature in the camera which takes the Red eye out after taking the picture and while reviewing your pictures. The "smile" feature the camera has really works and is quite incredible. I've used it with family or group photo's. The camera wont take a picture until one person which you can select actually smiles. Very cool....I didn't think this feature would actually work, however it does, and does well.

Another nice feature I like and use frequently is the ability to plug the camera in to the TV and watch the photo's. It comes across on the TV like a computer screen saver. The photo's come and go and there's even music if you want it. Or you can just manually scan through the pictures on the camera and watch them with the family on the TV instead of all huddleing around the computer monitor.

Finally, if you have big fingers, I think this camera could be a little difficult to operate. Some of the buttons and the dial in the back could be hard to operate.

Unless something mechanical happens to this camera, I think I've finally found the right "point and shoot" camera for me.

I bought this camera after already having a canon from about the same class. My expectations weren't too high, but I knew I wanted something good. I was dead wrong in thinking that it was a typical point and shoot camera.
1st off, the lens is absolutely amazing. It has a very high quality zoom.
2nd, It is very elegant and cosmetically appealing, and definitely not too thin.
3rd, The features are amazing!!! From the clever smile mode, to face and scenery detection features, this camera has just about everything! It even has an EASY shooting mode for the camera unsavvy people.
It is simple and easy to use all the while being an incredibly ideal, proffesional camera for amateur and hobby photographers.
There are NO annoying little things that other cameras have and I love this camera a lot.

Cons:
1)Takes time focus on some modes.
2)Complex Menus
3)Taking pictures is Slow for some modes and Image processing takes quite time on easy mode.
4) Auto focus doen't work well all times.

Pro:
1) Good Quality pictures, if you have patience.
2) Manual adjustments, for your specialized needs.

Overall its good camera, for point shoot.
For beginners I suggest you to read and do some R&D before accussing the camera.

I got this camera for my friend's birthday. It's been a great little camera. The quality of photos are very nice and it takes really quick shots. It seems to be very good about not blurring shots even when there's a lot of movement. It also has a great, albeit very cheesy slide show feature in which you can watch a camp-like farewell of photos set to sappy music :) I have no complaints at all.

Love this camera. Its easy to use with great features. The smile button snaps the picture when it detects a smile...wow it actually works. This should make those Christmas pictures perfect. I also love the easy button...great pics no thought to it!! Finally you experts out there there are enough settings available to you to customize your shots.
One thing I forgot to mention the wide angle feature to fit the whole scene in should come in handy on my upcoming trip.
Nothing to not like about this camera.

Sony has been around for a long time,and they have a great reputation,all
my stereo components are Sony.This Sony camera is compact,lightweight,and takes great photos.Great zoom,much better than most cameras,the overall performance is awsome!

Well this camera seemed amazing at first. It took clear pictures most of the time. But as i started to use it more and in different kinds of lighting that you can forget taking a decent picture after sundown. The image stabilization is poor and you have to fight the camera to focus on up close objects clearly.
HOwever it is a good camera and sturdy, takes great pictures during the day time though its focus is still off. or maybe thats just me? Sometimes ive gotten the shot i wanted with a bit of luck. My complaints about this camera are common for newer sony cybershots. You can't get everything you want in one package...