Compact. 5X zoom with image stabilization (though I'm not sure how effective it really is). Panoramic "sweep" mode. 720 video.

EXTREMELY cheap, plastic construction. Full res images have that "watercolor" look once you go beyond the lowest iso. 720 video can "hunt" focusing at times and appear a bit washed out in sunny conditions. Some basic image settings are missing from the menu and not user-controllable.

Wanted a very small pocket camera to take around and it's been years since I updated the last one I had, so thought I'd try this one out from my local Costco (available as a blister-packed item).

Wow - things sure have changed since my last purchase. My last pocket camera had a metal body, but the Sony has an extremely cheap feeling "toy quality plastic" body that almost made me return the camera based on that, alone. I decided to try it regardless since Costco has a generous return policy and if it were defective I could take it back and not have to worry about a 10 return.

Ok - the quick of it: The 5X zoom is nice, but the aperture is 6.3 when you're using the zoom at max. This is dark, meaning, if you're using the zoom at max you need to crank up the sensitivity (iso) higher, introducing more noise, or you need to be in very bright conditions (sunny outdoors, etc). Otherwise, you risk a blurred shot. The specs say it has optical image stabilization, however, I could hear no faint "whirrr" of any type of IS motor at all which is the norm for such a feature, and in the menu system there is no way to turn this feature on/off (you want it to be "off" if you use a tripod) - so I'm wondering if it really does have I.S. of the optical sense or not (?).

Ok, the small sensor produces 16 megapixel images but as we now know, pixels don't equal image quality. In bright conditions using a low iso, the images are fine. Higher iso speeds turn them into a digital "mush" that looks like a watercolor painting, but can be salvaged (somewhat, depending on iso) with editing software to use online. A generous selection of white balance, flash, scene, and exposure controls are offered, but basic menu choices such as being able to pick image quality (normal/fine/super fine) are not offered at all (??). Buttons on the back are tiny and fiddly, but this is expected somewhat from a tiny camera, too.

The pano feature allows you to push the shutter and move the camera from left to right, where it takes a series of quick pics and stitches them together. Works "ok". If any part of your pano scene is much brighter than the rest, the camera will not adjust the brightness mid-take, and it also does not allow for vertical pano shots as well - only horizontal, left to right. Lower quality/resolution, so they're good for online use or small prints only.

The 720 video allows only the most basic of adjustments in the menu but records in a fairly standard m-peg format so can be used on youtube. It does well in well lit indoor conditions, but outdoors on bright days can appear a little washed out. It will drain the battery quicker and since it's a tiny battery, you will need a spare if you plan on doing a lot of video as well as an extra (or large capacity) memory card.

Verdict: In my opinion, Sony products have taken a dive in the last few years, and this camera is one example of a few that illustrate the cost cutting being done to save a few dollars on new products. The incredibly cheap "toy plastic" feel to this camera is a huge turn-off, as is the fact some very basic camera functions (image quality, etc) are left out of the menu for users to control. It still takes decent shots in good lighting, has an average quality but usable 720p video mode, and a iffy but somewhat fun to use pano mode, so it has it's place, though getting close to $200.00, I think there might now be some other offerings from other makers that beat it out if anything in the build quality department.

I'm giving it a 3 star for value simply because it does have a variety of features, but the overall rating drops to 2 stars because of the cheesy build quality. Don't drop this camera - even on carpet. I doubt it will survive.

Customer Service

Sony service has slipped through the years. I called to ask a rep about some possible missing menu items and he wasn't even aware of this model and put me on hold for 10 minutes while he got a copy of the same manual I had. I hung up.

Similar Products Used:

Variety of point-and-shoot and DSLR models from varied makers.

Slick design. User-friendly. Good picture quality. Minimal noise. Light-weight. GOOD PRICE.

No printable date on photo. Always go on shoot-mode when turned on. (I can set my GE E1035 to view mode before i turn it on)

Out of the box, my wife and I were very impressed of the design. The fact that the store gave us a sealed box for our purchased item gave us a good vibe on the quality of the item. We were also happy that the memory stick was sealed inside the box, giving us the assurance that it is the original one (coz some retailers change the free memcard with a class B one).
We couldn't believe we'll get a 16MP cam for the amount we paid, and the picture quality is one of the best we had for a compact camera.
Kudos to Ken, the sales rep @Eletroworld. He gave us all the reasons to purchase the camera. Will I recommend it to a friend? OF COURSE!

Similar Products Used:

GE E1035