Having lived with the DSC-P52 for almost 2 years now, I feel that it's time to throw in my 2 cents! I'd previously used a Minolta Dynax SLR, but this Sony was my first digital camera and I've never looked back since.

I've divided this review into segments:

EASE OF USE:
Using the camera is child's play. I only read the manual briefly, but I quickly became accustomed to the controls. The large LCD display makes taking decent photos a piece of cake. It's very easy to navigate your way through the functions.

ERGONOMICS:
The camera fits nicely in the hand and feels quite sturdy. It may seem a little brick-like by today's standards, but it means that camera shake is kept to a minimum.

QUALITY OF PHOTOS:
The quality of the photos is superb. I've taken hundreds of photos - holidays, weddings, portraits of family and friends. There are limitations, however. The shutter speed isn't particularly fast, so don't expect spectacular results if your subject moves quickly. I intend to invest in a digital SLR in the future to address this problem.

PIXELS:
Even though this camera is capable of taking 3.2M photos, I rarely using this setting. For one, it uses an enormous amount of memory stick space. For enlargements up to A4, 2M pixels is more than adequate

VALUE:
Overall, the camera is good value for money. I would invest in either a 64mb or, better still, a 128mb memory stick as the 16mb specimen provided is fairly useless.

WOULD I RECOMMEND IT?
I most certainly would, but it depends what you intend to use if for. As mentioned earlier, this camera is ideal for snapping friends, family members, and special events such as weddings and holidays. Just remember the shutter speed limitations for your Brands Hatch days!

I purchased my DSC P-52 two years ago for $425 CDN, and it has never failed me.

I do not understand why people seem to have problems with this camera. However, read my other reviews, and you'll see that I am no stranger to bad luck. I suspect there are always a couple of lemons out ther, or perhaps these people are extremely careless with it, or possibly use it in locations which are sandy. A few grains of sand will destroy a camera.

I also do not understand why people do not use their Warranty. This camera comes with a ONE YEAR warranty, so there are no excuses for saying "Sony sucks, my camera broke after 6 months and they won't fix it!" All Sony products come with a minimum 1 year warranty in Canada. Can someone please let me know if the warranties are less in the U.S.?

I have dropped my Sony on numerous occasions. I might even go so far as to say I've "abused" it, and the half-centimeter dent in the metal piece surrounding the lens is proof of that. Despite the rough-handling, this camera has never given me a single problem.

I find this camera to be extremely solid and well-constructed for an essentially plastic unit - My only complaint being the cheap paint that rubs off the buttons on the backside. Tsk Tsk Sony.

Based on my experience and the experience of others on this forum, it seems this camera has a two year lifespan. My shutter stopped functioning just one month shy of having the camera for two years. Considering it was a $280 investment and I shot only 1496 pictures with it, I am disappointed. I may not buy a Sony again, and will purchase an extended warranty with my next camera.

I Have to agree. I have used this camera many times for Wakeboarding photography and all i wished for was for a
bigger zoom range. But i lived with it and the pictures
this camera takes in well-lit invoirments is great!
The quality is mostly well enough to be edited.

The only thing i don't like about this camera is when
you take pictures in places with low-light activity, and
on the pictures you can see some red graininess, especially
on skin surfaces. Second is the memory. Unfortunately here
it's impossible to buy memory (128 Mb = $255), so
i had to stick with the 16 MB. It doesn't hurt, and it's
not really a downside, because of the fact that anyone could
spend a few more $$$ on some extra memory, that isn't
very expencive.

What i enjoy of using this camera is the rechargeables. Enough said. Thank you Sony!

I think light photographers would make good use of this camera,
but alot of light is needed for perfect shots. That's my lesson
well learned.

A few months ago, the LCD started melting, then the whole screen whent poofy.
So now i'm planning it's funeral, because it spent a good 1 1/2 year taking great pictures.
I don't expect more than that.
And you people shouldn't complain about it breaking and stuff cos probably you let it fall off your
table and it suddenly broke infront of your eyes. It's your fault. deal with it.

Worked great for two years, for vacation and fun photos, and for my web page and printed business pieces.
Broke yesterday while in the middle of shooting. Same problem other reviewers are having with the lens buzzing...seems to be stuck.
Sony quoted repairs ($185.11 on 3/14/05) are more than the cost of the camera. I may be able to get it fixed locally for $48.60 evaluation fee, plus the cost of the actual repair, or they may have to send it to Sony too!
Well, at least I had it 2 years! Can anyone recommend a more reliable brand?

I won't argue with the quality of the pictures, but this camera is rigged to die. Expensive to repair or replace. Mine went just like Shelley. The shutter motor will not fully open the shutter. The camera is useless for taking pictures. Repair will be (according to the SONY web site) at least $171 + Shipping or more. As my warranty is dead I took the liberty of removing the back of the camera. Why do I say rigged to die? The circuitry on the back of the cammera is supported by 2 watch type batteries. These are permanently attached to the thin layer circuity connected to the LCD screen and other controls. When these batteries go there is no way to replace them without replacing the entire LCD panel. A pretty cheap way to ensure cash flow for SONY. This is only economical if your budget can afford a new camera every two years or less.

THIS IS THE WORST CAMERA I'VE EVER SEEN.

BAD-

1. Camera design is not so comfortable. When you grip the camera, if feels like it might slip out becuase of the unbalanced weight (lens is on one side)

2. Pictures are HAZY. I mean that. They're not the best quality. I would say that if you are into photography, this is not the camera you want to buy (I know this sounds weird).

3. LCD does not come with a plastic cover. IT IS SO EASY TO SCRACH IT. I already have 3 or four big scratches, and maybe it's because the LCD monitor didn't come with a thin plastic cover??? I was really disappointed at Sony, for not taking the time to put a dumb cover on it.

4. HARDLY ANY ZOOM. There's at least 2x.. but it's not going to get you too far. Maybe about 2 yards at the most. This camera also has a feature where you can zoom up to 7x. BUT- this feature is TERRIBLE.

OVERALL, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY HAZY AND HAS SOME BAD QUALITY PICTUERS.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER CHOICES OUT THERE. MAKE A GOOD CHOICE.

It depends what one is used to, I suppose. Myself, I am no kind of expert in either cameras or photography, and not even much of an enthusiast. I got this camera in a fit of exasperation at a series of mishaps with my 35mm effort, and I can only say that as an unadventurous amateur I have been absolutely delighted with it and I don't grudge one penny of what I paid for it.

I chose it at random, and the only comparisons I'm able to make with other digital cameras are with those I've seen my friends use. This one is certainly on the big side - it doesn't fit comfortably into a coat pocket, for instance, but it can still be carried there. When taking photos there has occasionally been more restriction than I might have liked as regards width, but that could well be because I have not troubled to find out all the options it gives me. In fact I have left everything at the default settings, as I have seen no reason to change these. Now and again the occasional photo comes out a little darker than I wanted, but that is easily edited with good p/c software - I use PSP8. Otherwise I have to record complete customer satisfaction. Battery life is excellent (I prefer to use disposables), and the camera switches itself off after a short idle period. The memory stick no longer has to be a proprietary Sony one, as it seems that this technology has been standardised. Above all, the photographs have pleased not just me but everyone else with an interest in them, and that I can assure you is not because I am any great photographer. Others who have used the camera include complete strangers and very un-technical friends. Their photos have turned out as well as my own have, and no elaborate instructions have been needed for anyone. No special software is required if you have a Sony p/c, and the delayed-action when used with the Sony tripod works a dream too.

Obviously more ambitious users than I am will set more exacting standards. For a humble amateur like myself who wants only simplicity, reliability and good-quality output this little machine leaves little or nothing to be desired. There must be plenty like me.

This camera takes really fantastic pictures....if you just look in the pictures that people have taken with it you'll see a few of mine. They always turn out really well, I like all the features it has too. The only thing I wish is that it would've had at least 3x optical zoom. Other than that I don't have any complaints. This has been a great camera for me & I think most people would like it!

I had gotten this camera for a christmas present from my dad loved it takes great pictures and the battery ran out fast for me but i went away on a trip and forgot the camera at home my brother uses it and plugs it into the computer and now its broken. GREAT camera a lot of money to fix if not under warranty but excellent camera LOVED it wen i was bale to use it

I got this camera back in 2001 and, for the 4 years that I used it, I was very pleased.

Pros:
*It performed well in low-light and high-light situations.
*It takes fairly decent pictures, better than one would expect from a 3.2mp camera

Cons:
*There are times when the shutter lags, which caused me to lose the shots I wanted to capture on quite a few occasions.
*It has a tendency to produce very sharp images at times
*The lack of a rechargable battery can make frequent use of this camera expensive. Especially since, on high-end digital camera double A batteries, the average battery life was approximately 50 pictures.

Overall: Great camera for someone new to digital photography and looking to gain some experience with it.

EASILY ONE OF THE BEST 3.2 MP EVER PRODUCED-NOT MUCH CAN GO WRONG WITH THESE CAMERAS UNLIKE THE NEWER MODELS, WHERE ONECE DROPPED THEY DON'T FUNCTION ANYMORE. I TOOK THIS AND A NEWER SONY 6.00 MP WITH ME TO EURPOE LAST YEAR, "GUESS WHAT?" THE 6.00 MP BROKEDOWN, SO I USED THE OLD DSC-P52 AS BACKUP. THE PICS I CAME BACK WITH ARE EASILY AS GOOD AS THE NEWER MODEL TOOK, BEFORE IT BROKE DOWN. A TRUE WORKHORSE.