1 Good while it lasted
Let me begin by saying that I have bought into Sony's proprietary technology for quite a while now. As an owner of a Vaio desktop, a Clie handheld and a Sony Digital HandyCam, it was obvious that when it came time to upgrade to a quality digital still camera, I was going to buy a Sony Cybershot. So after reviewing the options, which at the time consisted only of the P10, the V1 and the then-new U series of super compacts, I chose this model in the spring of 2004. Initially, my experience was good. I was upgrading from the 1MP camera that was part of my Sony Digital HandyCam so the image quality to me was astounding.
Other advantages were:
- Easy point & shoot right out of the box...it did not require my wife to read the manual in order to begin taking stills.
- Unlike my previous digital still experiences, this camera performs well in low-light situations. The integrated flash is capable of lighting small rooms.
- Battery capacity is ample and the features, although some difficult to use, are comprehensive.
Disadvantages:
- STARTUP TIME...don't expect this camera to be able to power-up and take a candid shot within 8-10 seconds. By the time you get this puppy ready to fire, the moment is gone.
- The menu tree is cumbersome and not altogether intuitive. Changing advanced settings is difficult unless all you want to do is switch modes (Program AE, etc.)
- As with most still cameras (Sony & the like), the included MemoryStick is way too small. So the purchase of an additional MS is obligatory.
My biggest beef with this camera, and the reason it earns only two stars is that it seems FRAGILE. After only 5-6 months of use, it began to occasionally have startup/shutdown problems. By the end of 2004 (~9 months of use) the auto focus was beginning to fail on a regular basis. Now, outside the 6-month warranty window, I am forced to pay $200 to $300 for LABOR ALONE to have the camera fixed, parts still covered under the original warranty. But still, this is a cost prohibitive solution.
So now I am at the crossroads with my Sony products. My PDA is approaching the end of its useful life and I find myself without a digital still camera that is capable of taking any pictures in focus -- remember the cyber-shots do not provide for manual focus. Perhaps it is time to consider a Canon product or other comparible vendor?
2 nice pictures but broken after 4 months
Right after the warranty expires, the camera will no longer charge the battery.
Of course I can ship the camera to Sony for repair, and ALL I have to pay is labor!
I recommend buying another camera or alternatively buy the extended warranty.
3 Purchase something else....
I've had my sony camera for over a year. I first bought it because with a 256MB chip I could get an 11 Minute movie that I could transfer to VHS. For the price I paid at the time $499, I should have bought a video camera. In my opinion the camera it's self really isn't anything to write home about. The lens is junk, my pictures always are pixelated. Compare a Sony picture with an Olympus, Minolta, or Canon, even with a lower amount of Megapixels the quality will beat sony at the highest setting. And if you reduce the Megapixels with Sony the images just degrades and the shutter speed is horrible. If a person moves slitely there is a blur. My choice after seeing and talking to friends is 1) Minolta 2) Olympus 3)Canon ... though the Canon is getting better and better with their newer rechargable battery. Anything else other than these is pretty much a gamble I wouldn't take...
4 Buy it for the right reasons ......
I bought this Camera (which was my first) in March 2004 , so I've had it for 8 months .
First of all ,make sure that when you buy it , know that you're buying a high-end multi-media AMATEUR camera , not even a starting point PRO camera ... and that makes a huge difference.
Almost all of the negative reviews are either because of lack of experience in camera settings , and/or high expectations for not knowing enough about digital cameras and lens mechanisms .
The reason I bought this camera was because I was taking a long 6 month trip to India , Egypt , Syria , so I had a lot of exotic scenes and memorable moments to capture , I'm not a National Geographic photographer , so I just needed something small , elegant , handy with good quality .
Upon buying it , I raced to the next store to buy a Multimeida Pro 256 Mb memory card , the camera is otherwise literally useless with the bundled 32 Mb card ,I also bought a soft black case .
Well after going to three countries in the Third World , I can say that I'm very satisfied , the camera never failed me once .
As for the picture quality / flash /blurriness /shutter speed , there are enough reviews that resolve these issues , make sure you take the time to read up on the options and settings .
A friend has the Nikon Coolpix 4500 4.5 MP digital camera , he bought it a year before me , and his pics' quality are much better than mine , but don't let it bother you , Nikon is Nikon , SOny is Sony , Nikon is SPECIALISED in imaging and photography , the lens alone cost as much as the SONY DSCP-10 , when the 5.1 MP mode is used , unless the settings and surroundings are PERFECT the picture will be somewhat grainy .... print it on postcard size photos , or reduce the size to 90% , and you'll be ok .... if you expected a pro camera with pro 99.9999% purity lens , then you should have expected a serious financial problem .
battery life is very good , I'm yet to suffer from a problem that needed warranty (although mentioning the warranty details are useless here because I live in the UAE where Sony has a different policy)
Bottom line is : Sony DSCP-10 , does more than it should do when compared to the cameras of the same price range . It's overall very good , the small size and handling are a plus .
I highly recommend it .
5 Detailed Answers
From all the reviews that others gave for this camera, there were some inconsistent facts. Hope this review answers all those inconsistencies.
Fact 1: The camera does not support black and white pictures. HOWEVER, it supports Sephia, which is just like black and white, except instead of shades of grey, its in shades of tan color. Maybe this was added in instead of B&W because Sephia seems to look better than B&W. In any case any picture in Sephia can be converted by paint software to b&w (but you can convert color pictures to B&W using paint software too)
Fact 2: Blurry images can be eliminated by choosing the correct options. It is eliminated completely if you force the flash to happen (via option) during each picture. The flash brightness is adjustible. Blurry images happen only if the scene is bright enough and the default options automatically turns off the flash, and you can't keep the image steady. The only problem comes is when you wish to take pictures of places that are not too bright and the objects are too far away for the flash to brighten. In this case, forcing the flash to happen will remove any blurry images, but the long distant objects will be dark. For this special case, you need a steady hand or a tripod. Why do blurry images happen? Because the aperature is left open longer to gather more light for the scene. (Otherwise it becomes too dark in the picture). Any movement during the time it is open will end up being blurry. If you leave the flash on, the camera always assumes there will be enough light, so it always closes the shutter fast, removing blurry images.
Fact 3: Cool accessory to have for this camera is the 2.6X telephoto lens VCL-DH2630 (requires another separate adapter body VAD-PHA as well). It increases the total optical zoom to 7.8 times, which you will not regret having if you are taking scenic pictures.
Fact 4: The camera can take 22 minutes 37 second movies with the included 32Meg memory stick if you choose the 160 pixels wide movies. And with the default 32 megabyte memory stick, you can only take 1 minute 27 seconds of 640 pixels wide movies. Increase the stick size, you and increase the length of movies proportionally. So with 2 Gig mem stick, you get more than 24 hours of 160 pixel wide movies, and 1 and a half hour 640 pixels wide movies (length of most theatre movies). And they all include sound!
Fact 5: The camera has a deep list of features. Most of the people who use it will use the default automatic mode. There are two other modes (scenic, and programmable) you turn with the dial. It is in these other modes that you can get special features or tune your picture capturing options. The only thing you can't manually adjust is the focus, but the camera comes with many different auto-focus settings and predefined focus increments.
Fact 6: The camera takes pretty good pictures. See http://www.edepot.com/ebay.html for pictures taken with this camera.
6 Wonderful Camera
I have owned this camera for over a year and so far am very impressed with it. For the price, you can't beat the picture quality. This camera is very user friendly. Charge the battery and you are ready to go. The auto mode works so well, you very seldomly need to adjust any settings. The flash works well inside of about 25 feet and does a great job in low light situations.
It does not have all of the bells and whistles of the higher end digital cameras, but is great for non-professionals. This camera blows all other 5mp pocket cameras out of the water! Also, for those looking for even sharper images the 7mp version of this camera is coming out in October for under $500.
7 not good for moving object
shutter speed is not fast enough to capture a moving object. i took a lot picture for my son and just a few are good. and it becomes very slow recently and then finally broken last week.
8 BEST CAMERA EVER!
ok, when i had a old sony cyber-shot, it had like 1.9 MP.....and i thought it was great, so no biggy.....this camera is so much cooler, sound and a lot of other options, the shutter speed is the same as any other digital camera, and if you dont like to wait for the shutter just buy a advantix camera or something, stop complaining about it.
BEST CAMERA EVER!!!
9 Limited Warranty is useless
I bought this in 10/2003. Love the camera itself. It is my second Sony digital, having used the prior Mavica for thousands of pictures. The lens just stopped working; would not open. Sure, parts are covered for 12 months, but no labor after 90 days. They gave me an estimate at the auth. svc. ctr. of $235 to fix labor. For a tad more, you can buy a new one...but why should I have to!?
10 Foget about buying this camera
I bought this camera in December 2003 for my boyfriend as a Christmas gift. I bought it because of the good review, all the features, light weight, small and most of all because is a 'SONY'
First we were pretty impressed with it. The only problem we had was the standard memory card given was way to small. We can take only about 30 shot each time. Then after a month the picture turn blurry and fuzzy sometimes. So far we took only 250 pictures with it.
Then last month the flash gave up on us. We read the manual and tried to fix the problem but nothing help. We call the SONY help line and they can't solved the problem either. If we want to get it repair we have to send it all the way to TEXAS as they don't have any customer service or repair technician here in LA or California. And it will cost us $171.00 excluding S/H for the workmanship. What made me mad was I paid $420.00 for this camera and it is not cheap. I expected much more from this camera for the amount I paid. If the camera cost only $200.00 I won't be so heart sick about it.
We decided not to repair it because with the cost of the repair we can buy a BRAND NEW CAMERA that works much better than a "SONY'. So to everyone out there who wanted to buy one 'THINK TWICE'. To SONY hope you will improve on your product.
11 Not for taking photos of baby!
You have to wait for your camera is ready, but your baby is not going to wait for you. We have been missing the moments. Sometime even I can't wait for it. So don't buy this camera to take photos of your baby. I might have to change to something as fast as my baby is.
12 do NOT buy this camera
I bought this camera in August 2003. In September the LCD screen broke for the first time. This occurred after I traveled by plane with the camera in a SONY camera case, carried onto the plane with me, not in the overhead compartment. It was still under warranty and we got it fixed.
I had a baby in Jan 2004. While home on maternity leave, taking lots of pictures everyday, the LCD cracked again. This was with what I consider normal use at home. I believe it cracked b/c I placed it (I did not DROP it) on the table with the LCD screen facing down. I handled this camera with care. I am not a klutz.
When I examined the structure of the camera, I saw that the LCD has no protective "frame" around it. It just sticks out from the camera, open to any insult, however minor it might seem. Other sony cameras have a metal frame around the LCD (think of it as a picture in a frame, vs a picture in glass without a frame).
Anyway, I am so angry because this was a pretty expensive camera and I think there is a major design flaw here. Take my advise, save yourself a lot of money and aggravation, look at the camera you buy in person and make sure it has a metal frame around the LCD screen
13 Blurry, blurry, blurry.
I cannot understand how anyone can write a good review of this camera. I have not been able, after reading the manual thoroughly and trying different settings, to take a picture of anything indoors with the slightest movement without it coming out blurry. At least half of my pictures are horrible!
Yes, I know, use the faster shutter speed, but indoors the faster shutter speed requires the flash or the pictures are way too dark. But with the flash the pictures look like they were taken of people in a pitch black room with no light, except the flash lighting them up. Horrible.
I called Sony customer care, which has so far been excellent, and they told me to send the camera in for repairs. (...)
14 A bit disappointed
This was my first digital camera. At first I was so impressed with the whole digital camera thing and all the camera's cool features, BUT, after about 200-300 pictures, I realized that I could practice until blue in the face and I will still get a lot of blurry pictures. I realize you will get some of that but I have 2 friends that have much less expensive cameras that take much clearer pictures. I wouldn't care so much if this camera was $150-200 but I paid over $400. Even when a picture is not blurry, they are somewhat grainy. Pictures look like they came from a disposable camera. I'm so irritated when someone sends me a picture that is far superior in quality than the ones my camera takes,and I know their camera iwas like $200 cheaper. I've adjusted the settings, read the manual a couple of times, I just think this is as good as it gets.
15 This is my third (and best) digital camera
Note: the Sony DSCP92 and this camera are VERY close in features, with the only major one being the price. In fact, they are so close I had to print out both feature lists to find the three small details that are different.
One difference is the battery: the P10 has an InfoLithium NP-FC11, and the P92 has NiMH AA batteries. The InfoLithium is square, sealed and compact compared to the AA batteries in the P92. Both are rechargeable and the charger comes in the box, but the AA batteries in the P92 must come out of the camera to be recharged, whereas the P10 just plugs into the wall (a nice feature.)
The P92 is (a hardly-noticeable) two-ounces heavier than the 7.5-ounce P10. This probably comes from heavier batteries and larger case. The case on the P92 is slightly larger, and to my judgment, a bit more bulky feeling than the P10. I REALLY like the way the P10 feels in my hand. I had a Fuji digital camera that took GREAT pictures and had a quick shutter speed, but it was bulky and felt cheap. The P10 feels solid. Even when the lens is fully extracted, it too feels solid.
The other difference is in the available Scene Modes: P10 has seven (Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape, Beach, Snow, Fireworks, Fast Shutter) and the P92 has five (Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape, Beach, Snow)
The buttons feel like they will last the life of the camera and are labeled and quite easy to use. Just from the labels/icons next to the buttons I was able to fool around with the camera for awhile before I had to consult the owner's manual.
Speaking of the owner's manual... this camera has a deep list of features, and when you break down the how-to of each feature it can make the manual a bit lengthy. But, it's worth it in the end. You will be taking better pictures because you will be using more of the features that are designed to make your picture taking easier and better. So far, my favorite feature is the Snow Scene Mode. I took some pictures in the snow at the normal setting and later took some in the Snow Mode. After downloading them I noticed a big difference; the pictures (in Snow Mode) looked exactly the way it did to my naked eye.
Cons:
- My Fuji digital took better low-light pictures than this one. The flash on the P10 has three settings (Low, Normal and High), but it still seems to overpower some settings where you would like to catch the ambient lighting. I think this is simply an operator error and me not reading even deeper into the manual. But the Fuji low-light pix looked better with less button pushing and feature fumbling.
- The shutter is a bit slower than other digital cameras, but that is due to the 5 megapixels it is trying to gather. I bought a SanDisk 256MB MagicGate MemoryStick Pro because I was told that it took faster pictures and shortened your downloading time versus a regular issue MemoryStick. You can also use the Fast Shutter Scene Mode (better used outdoors) to help you out with the slow shutter.
Favorite features:
- Display is bright and can even be seen outside.
- Your most often used features are just a button away.
- Size and feel. Just slightly longer than a deck of cards.
- You can alter (i.e. Solarize, Sepia, Negative Art) and edit pictures right on the camera.
- You can take movies with sound! Awesome feature.
I highly recommend this camera to anyone that is looking to buy one. It can be your first digital camera or your tenth, whatever your level of picture taking this camera can accomodate you.
16 The Best Option Out There
We got an open box special from a circuit city in Mass. It was 450$. It normally goes for 499, which is still cheaper than most 4MP cameras. I am in between being an amateur photo and pro. I gave in to the digi revolution because my 35mm broke. We took this camera on our trip and used it very often. The battery on this camera lasts up to and over 2 hours per battery, which is about 1.5 hours longer than the DSC-P09. The movie mode is incredible, slightly better than a web cam, and the microphone is suprisingly good. good enough for a concert! We bought a sony computer around the same time and we were very happy (and mindful) of the media stick input in our computer. The full size pictures import very quickly (2.6 ghz computer). The crispness of the photos is unlike anything I have ever seen. The only time when you start to see any distortion is when you view the photos at 200X magnification. The pictures, unless you plan on printing over 25 X 25, are better than you'll ever need. The ease of use is far above average. The lens is good enough (as good as all the others, except the one with the Zeiss lens) the LCD screen is big enough, the shooting modes are easy, etc. The biggest feature and selling point of this camera over any other is the 90 minute movie mode.
The negatives are you can't choose to shoot in black and white, only sepia, which is very close, and that indoor pictures come out poorly. Unless there is a lot of natural light, the picture will come out either fuzzy or the color won't be right (I hear that's the same with all digis).
17 I have never seen so much misinformation
I had a dsc-9 that was stolen so I purchased the newer model. Both cameras are great. READ THE MANUAL AND LEARN HOW TO USE THE CAMERA.
The camera lets you know if there is not enough light to take the picture, and it automatically defaults to "NO FLASH" MODE. If the lighting is dark the shutter will slow and still take the picture. This is true with any camera. Slow shutter speeds cause BLURRY pictures. If you want to take pictures in very low light you have to use a tripod, AS WITH ANY CAMERA.
This camera packs so many features in a small package it is incredible. These features are worthless if you fail to learn how to use them. I bet every person that gave this camera a poor review still has a vcr that has the clock blinking 12:00am.
If you want a high resolution camera that is fairly easy to use, strongly consider this camera. Also consider purchasing Jasc Paintshop Pro for an inexpensive way to improve any photo you take. Unfortunately, you have to learn how to use the program as well.
18 Very Disappointed
I owned a P5 before getting this P10 and I am not at all impressed with the quality. The features are great, but I can't seem to get a decent picture out of it. I have tried different settings and while the added pixels provided a better quality, every picture I take is blurry. I've probably taken close to 1000 pictures and I the most important shots come out blurry. I never had this problem with my P5, and this upgrade was not an upgrade at all.
19 Excellent
This is my first digital camera, what a way to start out. It's so easy to use. Quality is great. The video is great, very clear picture. I'm very glad I went with this one, because it'll do everything I want it to do for a long time. And with the 256 memory stick I purchased, I'll always have room for one more picture! Highly recommend
20 another typical sony..
This camera takes really nice pictures, but very generously spends its lithium ion battery. As a usual Sony, it makes you to buy other sony products, especially the memory stick. Although slightly more expensive the other kinds of digital storing media, I like it so far.
The more u use the camera the more you like it. I haven't gone through the software much, I am using XP, but most people haven't enjoyed pixela I guess.
have a spare battery, and spare memory stick you ll like the camera more.
wish it had a better(larger)lens aperture, but this is the problem with this family of digital cameras, small, handy, portable but has limitations.
Flash is very good as far as I ve seen, and sometimes more powerful than you really need, good idea to set it at normal, and if that is not enough, go for a higher setting.
clever camera, e mail option is very handy, but slows the whole process of taking pictures, dont use it if you are in need of successive shots..
21 Best camera 5-stars plus
This is a great camera, but you must learn to use it correctly. buy the sony 256MB pro stick at least and an extra battery. The people who gave this camera a poor review did not read the manual fully and have very unsteady hands while holding the camera. Plus don't understand lighting fully.
22 Not perfect, but still really nice!
We bought the P10, 5 megapixel camera for Christmas, and we've now used it for about 3 months. I've experienced the problems with the blurriness, caused by a delay between flash and shutter, that have been mentioned by others, but I'm getting better. There is some skill involved with using the camera well, but it's not all that heard. I have benefitted from putting the camera on a tripod to minimize the impact of my shaky hands. Very small tripods that you can fit in your camera case are available.
The biggest aid for me is to remember is that I'm not wasting film if I take multiple pictures of the same scene. At least one of the pictures is sure to turn out great!
Other positives on the camera:
o Great, small size
o Lightweight
o Seems to charge quickly
o Holds scads of pictures with larger memory stick
o Very easy to start using. I read through the manual once and was ready to start.
o The fuzziness can be overcome with practice. And since you can delete your mistakes on the spot, you can practice all you want!!!
Negatives:
o The memory card that comes standard is just too small. If you plan to take lots of pictures on a vacation, the small card is probably a waste.
o The fuzziness may cause you to lose some shots.
23 Not the best if you have children
We bought this camera in anticipation of the birth of our first baby. Half the pictures from the delivery room came out blurry. The ones that came out in focus are beautiful but we are very disappointed. All of the other features are wonderful. We have called Sony's help line and cannot solve the problem. I am at the end of my rope with this camera. I feel I am missing out on irreplaceable moments.
This is a great camera as long as you are taking picutes of non moving things - not a baby.
24 Lot Better Than What I Expected!
I used old digital camera from Sony (2.1MP, about 3 years old). Good experience with Sony Cybershot, I purchased DSCP10 week ago. When I opened box, it was full of everything that I really needed. Here are pros and cons:
1. It is very easy to use for first time user. (Might be little harder for first time Cybershot user)
2. Small enough to carry on pocket
3. Good Quality of Picture (Of course, it is not better than SLR... However, it is good enough to print and keep it)
4. Full Support with MPEG2 Movie clip. (128MB will last almost 6 min. Should be able to capture memory)
5. On Sceen control (Most of menu/function shown on LCD)
etc....
Battery life is not quite long. If I can have extra battery, that would be great... Also, data transfer to comp is not quite fast. Maybe, Memory Stick Pro will solve this problem. little heavy...
Overall, I like this camera. If someone wants to buy around me, I'll recommend this one first. Please get this one. You will like it!
25 Muy buena Camara.....pero.....
Compre la Sony DSC-P10 hace unos 6 meses y creo que es una buena camara digital. Al aire libre capta muy buenas imagenes y su capacidad de grabar pelicula con sonido por medio del memory stick la hace una muy buena eleccion, sin mencionar las innumerables otras caracteristicas que esta camara posee sobre las otras cybershot. (Es mucho mas peque?a que las otras DSC-P y 5 MP). El problema viene cuando quieres captar imagenes en interiores o con poca luz.....es un desastre. Ni siquiera se pueden identificar las imagenes un su pantalla de cristal liquido y al "revelarlas" las fotos pierden toda su riqueza de colores como las captadas al aire libre. Siendo un fanatico de Sony me duele aceptar ese hecho. Espero sea de ayuda. (En espa?ol es mejor!!)
26 the cam is the greatest but my pics with it not
I had the SOny DSC 1 with 3,2 megapixel before. THat one i loved, I tohught to change it cause the dsc10 is smaller and 5 is supposed to be much better quality. THe compact sire and the easy menu and the videorecording pic and voice quality is excellent.
But I might not know it well how to use or dunno but half of my pic are blurry , not sharp , too dark. I try to fix the settings well but i am not an Xpert in it . WIth DSC ' everything was automatic. Maybe this is too clever for me but i dont think it seems to be worse pic quality . Farer objects with oom not bright enough and not sharp. I cannot decided wich flash to use. SOmehow i love the cam but could t learn how to make good pics with it . I bought it 31th of December.
27 4.5 star: Great! Just a bit slow to capture "Kodak" moments
For what it offers, this camera is a great deal (both, price and mail-in rebate considered). After shopping around, this was one of the best options we found in the 5MP range. Things we've loved about it:
1) Portability (fits in almost any pocket).
2) Default picture quality is great (even indoors or by night), plus the max. resolution (2592 x 1944 pixels) allows you to obtain huge enlargements, though the 32MB Memory Stick that comes with it will not fit too many of them.
3) It captures video with sound, an upgrade from our previous camera which only shot "silent" movies.
4) Built-in display has great contrast and picture quality.
5) Pictures can be downloaded to PCs or Macs using the traditional USB mode or the faster, more recent USB 2.0 mode which spits them into your computer in a snapshot!
The biggest drawbacks I see with the camera are:
1) Dependability on propietary technology for storage (Memory Stick) and power (lithium-ion battery).
2) Long time it takes to shoot the picture after you press the shutter. This has caused me to loose a few "Kodak" moments that just passed "too fast" in front of the lens for the camera to react in time to them.
All in all, I can live with the cons and highly recommend the camera. For its price, for now I think you'll have a hard time finding something as good.
28 Good one
Good one but I have to agree with what disappointed_user has to say. I agree with James Arvo esp the negatives. Overall Im happy with the camera esp for the price i paid
I also found sample shots of many digital camera at Steve's digicam site very helpful. You can judge yourself whether you need to purchase a different one. I was wondering whether I should go for dscv1 but it was out of my budget.
29 Sony DSCP10 is not for advanced photographers
The Sony DSCP10 Cybershot 5 MP is a good quality camera but is only suitable for those who are happy with the preset settings that come with the camera. My biggest gripe is that there are no manual override (i.e you cannot change the preset settings), aperture priority or shutter priority which makes the camera virtually useless if you want want more control on how your pictures are taken. If you are happy with simple snapshots, then go for it. But if you want to be a bit more creative, you will be better of with a Canon or Nikon.
30 Only lacks 2 options I would like to have
It's a great all around camera from what i have used. The only thing it lacks is a black and white picture taking mode (it gives you 3; sepia, neg. art, and solarize.) I would find the black and white feature much more useful. One other thing is the zoom in the 5 mega pixel you only have 3x optical zoom instead of using 4x smart zoom. I am also having some trouble with the differance of opinions of the length of the memory in the movie mode and how long it can record with what memory stick. The camera says 90 min with the 128 stick but consumers say differantly. Who is correct?? Don't get me wrong I love the camera and would recomend it to anyone that is listening!
31 Compact but disppointed
I bought this camera P10 this last December.
The following is the review about this camera.
Pro:
(1) Compact
(2) Battery charger charges the battery very quick ( less than 2hr)
(3) Navigation menu is very easy ( no need to go thru the manual)
Cons:
(1) Shutter speed is unreasonably slow ( difficult to catch candid moment - especially required fast speed shutter). Yesterday I tried to catch some candid moment about my daughter's basketball practice. I caught the shoots but the focused object was not in the center of the picture . Very disappointed.
(2) Zoom is not powerful enough - all the pictures are blurred if the focused object is more than 20 feet away. It is almost impossible to take shoot for the basket ball game if you are in the audience seat.
32 Great digital camera
This is my 4th Sony camera and this is the 5th generation of Sony's DSC's digital cameras (prior main models: DSC 30,50, P5, P7, P8). So this model have evolved with time, refining features, resolution and size, with every model I wished some changes, and for the next model the changes were done, even minute changes... however, it can be overwhelming for a newcomer to check all the 40 or 50 features, variables, settings, modes, screen symbols etc.
Regarding general features, you may check Sony's website (www.imagestation.com) but here is what I personally like and dislike:
My favorites:
-The all time favorite: You can zoom, trim, copy and save from exisiting pictures, all inside the camera . Say, you want to make a single, separate copy of just one face from a group picture. This is far faster than using the computer.
- It has the option to make 3 copies from one single shot...with bracketed exposure (every copy of the picture will come with a different exposure and you keep only the one with the best amount of light). The amount of light between each copy is user defined.
- It has an option for a series of 3 pictures with a 0.5 sec. delay between them. This is new in Sony's, a welcomed feature,it's easier to freeze "the right moment". It might compensate an existing delay when pressing the shutter, too (if you use it moments before the moment you pretend to capture).
-Improved white balance: You con control indoor light color from incandescent, fluorescent etc. with very acceptable results.
- It is possible to organize your pictures in different "folders", so you can organize them faster once in the computer.
- It has several combinations of shutter speed/aperture: small aperture and long shutter ("fireworks"), large aperture and fast shutter ("sports") etc. etc. ( 7 options); I guess it must compensate the lack of manual controls over aperture/shutter speed.
- About the 640X480 movie mode: since this is a series of photos instead of real video, objets in swift movement are blurry, and since not everyone has a steady hand, images usually are a little shaky. In spite of this, this feature was the main reason I purchased this camera, I don't like to use or carry a videocamera, instead I always carry this camera in my pocket and I has been able to capture key moments in the life of my 2 kids, in the most diverse places. Please note this: I takes 128MB to record 6 min. If you buy a mega-hyper-expensive 1GB memory stick you'll get some 45 min. but yo'll be able to record only some 30-35 min. in one standard 800MB compact disk. Remember that you can cut or delete unnecesary portions of movies right in the camera (it splits a movie and you delete the undesired portion).
- You can adjust the picture's sharpness, contrast and saturation (besides of exposure adjustment). Adjusted at its maximum setting, a picture of some glorious clouds over a blue sky will be captured very,very close to the real thing.
Drawbacks:
- Painted, plastic case (DSC-P5 and P9 were all brushed stainless steel!)
- The 6X zoom (3 optical and 3 digital) works only at 3.1MP, not at 5MP (here only takes optical 3X).
- I found the font size in messages etc. too little (Am I getting older?).
Features I find useless:
-There is an histogram, a graph showing the amount of light and shadow on the screen. What is the real and useful purpose of this? Mmmhh..
-I've never used the "sepia" mode. I guess someone in need of a brown picture, would change the color with software, not with the camera. Who knows?.
A note for first timers: Remember that a tiny lens (like the one in this camera) will gather just a small fraction of light compared with larger cameras, so be prepared to get yourself used to the flash when taking pictures at dawn, sunset or indoors...it means a shorter battery life, too. More: In a trip, I used to take some 20 or 30 pictures everyday, and at night I review them in the hotel and kept only the best ones (1 or 3 per day). Just imagine the quality of every picture kept.
About the software: Ill-designed. You'll have to get some decent editing software separately. They pretend you should learn to use a non-standard software with limited features...it might be well for someone living in Mars or where fine editing software is non-existing.
The bottom line: I have had DSC's cameras over time because they always give you more features for the price...if a small size camera is important to you. Otherwise, there are many other less expensive cameras with many features, but they will be always larger in size, and only if you're lucky you'll have good color reproduction and easy file handling.
33 i love it!!!
ok, so this camera has good zoom, great resolution, its small, it takes awsome videos with sound, that can be up to 90 min!!!, whats not to love??? some people say the menus arent user friendly, but it took me 30 seconds to learn how to use them! the buttons on the back are really easy to use. the battery is also very good. people also say the the screen isnt bright, but u can ajust the brightness very easily...it comes set on medium brightness but u can make it very bright.
34 The Absolute Best
The Sony DSC-P10, has to be that absolute best camera that i have ever seen. PLEASE DISREGARD ANY NEGATIVE REVIEW ABOUT THIS CAMERA! It deserves nothing less than 10 stars, although i can only give it 5. The Zoom is excellent, its small, and not to expensive. The flash could be a litle bit nicer though! I cannot stress enough how great this camera is. And did i mention the 5 mp resolution....the greatest. Settle for nothing less than the best...the sony P10!
35 Great camera, but recommend Canon S400 instead
I just bought the S400 from Dell for $xxx a little while back and was considering the Sony DSC-P10 at the time as well. I figured I'd write up a review on amazon to help other people out that are in the decision making process.
**I posted a similar writeup for the Canon S400 about 10 mins ago, and also provide recommendations in that review of what accessories to buy for that camera if you decide to go with it.**
Price:
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The Sony DSC-P10 is 5 MP vs. 4 MP for the S400. The difference in resolution may immediately sway your decision to teh DSC-P10, but I would think very carefully. While the extra 1 MP sounds like a lot, my old 2.0 MP Canon S00 was fine for priting pictures all the way up to 8x10 (w/o any cropping). 4 MP resolution should allow you to price 11x14 with no cropping, and 8x10 with a lot of cropping. 5 MP is just excessive IMO. These days, it's just a race among manufacturers to see who can advertise the highest MP number.
Shooting modes and menus
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P10 also has some convenient shooting modes which make it more user friendly. It also has great features like cropping, resizing and rotating right on the camera which helps when you are not by a computer and want to free up room on your media storage. P10 Also has a smartzoom feature which is neat in theory, but as all users of digicams know, you should never use digital zoom of any kind. Turn it off and stick to optical zoom. You can always do the equivalent of "digital zoom" on your computer later with any photo editing software, even MS Paint!
The flash on the P10 is more offset from the lens than the S400, which will cause shadows to be cast on subjects when you take pictures. Imagine someone shining a flashlight on someone's face from an angle you you taking a picture. You'll see shadows on one side of the person's head. While it is not severe, it is worth noting that this effect is not as noticeable on the S400 (the flash is closer to the lens).
S400 has 9 point autofocus system, while P10 has 3 point. It means that the S400 can choose from 9 points to autofocus from in the current settings you are taking a picture of. In the end, this means that the canon has better of of chosing the right thing to focus in on which will mean better pictures. Imagine having 3 oranges and 1 is rotten. You have a 1/3 chance of picking the rotten one. Now imagine you have 9 oranges with 1 rotten one -- you only have a 1/9 chance. This analogy isn't perfect, but you get my point :)
The Canon S400 has a far superior menu system and is much easier to use.
Size:
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Canon S400 is smaller, making it a more pocketable camera IMO. The specs shown them being only very slightly different in dimensions, but the total volume of the cameras makes the S400 ideal. Those with bigger hands may prefer the layout and slightly larger size of the P10 though.
Memory storage:
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The P10 uses Memory cards, which are limited to 128 MB, unless you use the double sided ones (Sony Memory Duo), where you can flip them over to get another 128 MB. Far too much hassle for me.. sounds easy in theory, but in real life, you will hate it. My friend who bought the P10 surely does. You can get larger memory sticks, which comes in the form of the "Sony Memory Pro", which are 256 MB and 512 MB. Keep in mind though, that these cards have problems acting as regular storage for files, and things like Mp3s for sony mp3 players. They have some type of digital rights management (DRM) on them that have causes lots of problems for people (so i've read on many reviews). Also, these PRO cards only work in 2003 (or newer) sony devices. Lastly, the memory pro cards have some type of management files on the cards themselves, taking up about 20MB of space. So a 256 MB card, really only has about 230 MB. Maybe not a big deal, but com'on, at advertise the size correctly!
Battery Life:
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Battery life on P10 is better than the S400. It will last about 20% longer. However, the batteries are cheaper for the S400 AFAIK and they also charge in about 1/2 the time vs. the sony batteries.
Conclusion:
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All in all, i think the S400 is a better choice. Sure, CF maybe outdated in a few years in favor of smaller, superior storage media like SD, MMC or xD cards (which are going up to 1 GB btw), but until then you can get a great digicam with dirt cheap media. I picked up a 512 MB Kingston card for very cheap from eBay. Memory sticks are IMO, completely limited in storage and future expandability. The fact that sony has shunned all pe-2003 devices from using larger than 128 memory duo cards, indicates that users of the P10 can expect similar treatment going forward. Be warned!
36 Great - but MPEG feature a little short
A great camera, and I love it a lot. But, the mpeg movie feature will require external light and there is no flash plug in feature. so if you are shooting movies inside at night, make sure the room is well lit.
37 Great little point and shoot
Great little camera...
I was looking for something that I can carry around and take reasonably good pictures with by just pushing down the shutter...
I am very happy with this puppy. Picture quality is great - certainly good enough for 13x19 prints...
Camera is responsive - quick shutter during daylight and fast save to memory stick - allowing multiple pictures in a short time.
The built in scene-selections are sufficient for me...
The only gripe I have is that the camera does not auto-rotate pictures taken in portrait orientation (my 5 year old Kodak had no problem doing that)...
38 Terrific All Around Camera and Mini Video Recorder
I own 4 other digital cameras (digital hobbiest)and bought this one because it seemed to be a pretty nifty overall camera that was small to carry. Went to Las Vegas last week with this camera and found it to be very easy to use with outstanding picture quality and color reproduction. I was even more pleasantly surprised when I got home and downloaded some of the movie clips I had taken at a show in a darkened theater. The results were excellent (for a digital camera) with outstanding sound too. The MPEG video sucks up memory pretty quick in high res, but gives really great video and audio for a camera that is not considered a camcorder. Very easy to use and super small to carry.
39 Shutter delay makes this camera unusable.
I received this camera yesterday and began trying it out. I tried to take pictures of my cat and my daughter under medium light conditions (indoors at night, but well lit). The shutter delay made taking pictures impossible. I depressed the shutter half way and waited, but my cat ran out of the room (frightened by the bright orange autofocus helper light) before the camera could get ready to take the picture and my 3 year old looked away. The average shutter delay for these conditions was around 3sec(which is completely unacceptable). The autofocus has such a hard time with lighting that half of the pictures turned out blurry. I would not recommend this camera for anyone who wants to take candid pictures of real subjects. It's almost impossible even using burst mode to capture those "once in a lifetime" shots. Also when I called SONY tech support for help I wasted a bunch of time with an automated system and finally got to a guy with a thick accent that was difficult to understand. He basically read page 21 out of the manual to me. What a joke!
This could be a good camera if the shutter delay was shorter. On still life objects the camera gave impressive results and great special effects - like the sepia mode. Also the movie capture is very cool if you can get the proper lighting.
I would not buy this camera again. I am actually returning it.
40 Please read the review from WOOFUSDOG
This is a great product. It does what it is intended to do in a capable fashion with little hassle
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Read the review by WOOFUSDOG, it is detailed and CORRECT
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I can add 2 notes:
The lithium ion battery in this model is a great upgrade compared with the P92. This camera has a better "fit and finish" when compared to the DSC P92. This, and some added photographic flexibility make this camera a better buy, even at a higher price.
NO "non-SLR" camera shoots the same image that is viewed in the viewfinder. Te SONY manual notes this, this is NOT a defect, as cited in another review. When it is too bright to see the LCD, adjust the backlight and brightness, it can be viewed in ANY light. Read the manual, it helps.
Buy this camera, a 256mb memory stick, and ADOBE Photoshop Elements for a complete package. READ THE MANUAL....this is a great product if you take the time to learn how to use it........
41 Corrections for the reviewers who wrote incorrect things
As I was reading some of the reviews posted for this camera, I felt compelled to clarify some of the glaring errors in other reviews. For my complete review, please scroll down.
maflleje complained thoroughly about how there is no black and white shooting mode. Despite claiming to be an "advanced point and shoot user" he still has not figured out the basics. Turn the dial to SCN and press "menu", it's right there. You can even shoot in Sepia, negative and many other modes that have come with Sony's for a long time.
Another incorrect statement is that burst mode takes 3 pictures in succession, when it can actually take up to 16. Also, the lack of a swivel LCD is also irrelevant, because the only digital camera that comes with that also happens to be terrible. The Nikon coolpix has a swivel LCD, and I have never seen such awful pictures from a digital camera as I have seen from that coolpix. And no, the included 32MB stick cannot take 32 pictures in 5 megapixel mode, it takes less than 10. My 256MB card can hold 100 pictures in 5 megapixel mode, therefore 128's can hold 50, etc...
Also, one of the best memory sticks also happens to be very hard to find in the search. Search for "Sony MSA128S2 256 MB" on amazon. It's cheap, fast, and sony brand.
Another ridiculous comment is that you can't delete pictures from your camera from windows explorer. I think that person just needs to learn how to use windows. Simply click "move files to different location" which is in the upper right of the window, and after moving the pictures to whatever folder they are automatically deleted off the camera.
Another person complained about having to buy a memory stick reader. Any memory reader is the most useless thing ever and a complete waste of money. You can already leave your memory stick in your camera and then plug that directly into the computer. With a memory stick reader you take the memory stick out of the camera and plug it into the reader which plugs into the computer. THAT IS THE EXACT SAME THING.
Also, people have complained about the included 32MB memory stick. Almost all other leading manufacturers don't include any memory at all. Nikon, Fuji, and Canon do not come with compactflash cards, and some Kodak's come with small internal memory. So be thankful that you get anything at all from Sony, it's a good way to start.
Also, one person complained about a lack of a 2 megapixel setting on the camera, making it slow to upload pictures online via dialup. If you post your pictures to MSN groups or many other sites, they automatically truncate the pictures for you, so you don't have to reduce them to that size. On top of that, you could even use the included 1 megapixel setting if you have dialup, because 1 megapixel looks almost exactly the same as a 5 megapixel when printed or viewed in 4 X 6 format.
So, unless you're an absolute hardcore professional, this camera is awesome and is almost for everyone. If you're pro, go for a Canon rebel Ti digital or Sony V1. Otherwise please do not make baseless incorrect complaints about my favorite camera.
42 Good for amateurs and professionals at the same time
I am one of those persons who is sometimes uncomfortable with high-tech things, so it takes time until I get enthusiastic about them. But this camera really captured my attention very quickly. I also had a traditional camera with me when I had this Sony, but I barely used it.
I have to say that this is very easy to use and understand. I use a lot of high-tech devices in my activitites, but it is for the first time when I feel compelled to review something electronic. That will tell you how much I enjoy this camera.
It is a small device, so that it fits into a pocket, easy to be used, and the quality of the pictures is very high. I managed to make very nice photos and capture certain details that a traditional camera would not have managed to do. I even know someone who published some photos taken with this camera. You can also make short movies: even if the quality is limited, it is fun.
43 What they dont tell you...
Since everyone is telling you all the good stuff, I thought I would focus on what I found wrong with the camera (I would actually rate it a 3-3.5. I just rated it a 1 for the article because I am focusing on what I didn't like).
One of the most annoying features (and technically embarrassing for Sony) is that the internal viewfinder and LED do NOT crop the photo the same way. As an example, take a picture of a horizontal line on a wall, and position the camera so that the line is at the top edge of the photo. If you use the LED on the back of the camera, the line in the photo will appear about where it should be. However if you take the same picture using the internal viewfinder, the photo will show the line about 15-20% of the way below the top edge of the photo. Therefore, on bright days when you have to use the internal viewfinder, whatever you shoot photos of appear much lower in the photo than how you actually cropped it. It is very annoying as you try to compensate by guessing. This is very sloppy engineering.
Other annoying features include:
The wide angle/telephoto control makes exaggerated adjustments that make fine adjustment difficult. This is very annoying when trying to make fine cropping adjustments.
You cannot delete photos off the stick using Windows Explorer. If you want to delete all the photos off the stick, you have to drill down several levels into the camera menu.
To turn on "Red Eye Reduction", you have to turn off the camera mode, and go several levels into the menu mode. This is very annoying when you have people waiting to take their picture. There should be a direct access button to this common feature.
There is little photo quality consistency. While some outdoor photos look fantastic, seemingly similar conditions produce washed out photos.
Why am I keeping it? You still have to love all the features that they DO pack into something this small. You gotta love the size!!!
44 Good Camera not Great
As an owner of the 2 megapixel Sony DSC-S50 I was a little disappointed with the DSC-P10. First of all it's missing the ability to shoot B&W photos. Although you can edit your photos with basic photo software later, you no longer have the ability to view and shoot B&W photos. Another feature greatly missed is the 2" swivel LCD display. This allowed you to hold your camera over your head, out over a ledge or lower than eye level without you having to get in those positions to take a picture. Most disappointing, though is the slow response time. Being new to the 5 megapixel realm, this may be common. But taking one picture to the next, especially when using a flash, can take up to 7 seconds. A cool new feature is Burst mode, which allows you to take 3 photos in a little over a second. But again going from one set of three to the next takes a whopping 9 seconds.
Now for the good stuff. Being an "advanced" point-and-shoot user, I like the ease of use along with the more advanced controls the DSC-P10 gives you in taking photos. I'm learning how to use the histogram to get desired lighting effects. The menus are fairly easy to learn and navigate and the compact size makes it easy to carry. The Burst mode, mentioned earlier, is a cool feature. And, as was with the case of the DSC-S50, I'm very satisfied with the sharp picture quality. A great improvement in the Movie mode is the 640 x 480 resolution and no longer being limited to 15 seconds worth of video. Now your only limitation is the size of your memory stick.
One recommendation if you decide on this camera, get a spare battery or the starter kit that includes the spare battery. The battery life on this camera is about an hour and fifteen minutes. Not long enough for an event or a day out on vacation. Also get at least a 128 MB memory stick. The 32 MB stick that comes with the camera only gives you 24 pictures in the 5 megapixel mode. Again not enough for a day out.
45 Good Camera
This is a good digi camera, I bought this camera before thanksgiving.
Pro: Small, lastest features other camera don't have it, very easy to use, even my parents and grand parents no how to use it. shooting high quality movie, but this feature is depend on your memory stick, if you got a 16 meg ram of memory stick, forget it. If you got 1gb memory stick, this is very useful. it can shoot more than 1/2 hour - 45 mins mpeg movie.
Con: Expensive, The back panel that open the camera to sync the pic thingy, it is very easy to broke, so watch out for that. If you really don't wanna get broke of the back panel, i recommence you buy a memory stick reader, and a battery charger.
Picture quality is very good, with 5 megapixels, and autofocus work very well.
The cheapest place I can find is amazon.com. you can check yahoo shopping too, they have some store sell very cheap, but it is not trustable.
46 Unbelievable pictures and great features!
I have been a digital camera user for over 5 years now and I have been fortunate enough to experience a variety of cameras including the Kodak DC 240, Canon A400, Canon S30/S45, Nikon Coolpix 3100, Kodak DX6340, and finally Sony P10. Let me just say that the P10 takes by far the best pictures and it's compact size can easily fit into your pocket. Of all the digital cameras I have used they all have varying degrees of lightning problems, but the Sony P10 has the best looking night pictures of the group. The P10 comes with a lithium ion battery that lasts way longer than the conventional Nickel metal-hydride batteries other cameras use. I believe it is most useful to compare this camera to the competition.
Almost all Kodak cameras include a one time use battery that cannot be recharged. In fact, you cannot even put in a lithium ion battery into any Kodak except for the very top model. A lithium ion battery is almost essential for digital cameras since they use so much power. If anything other than Lithium ion is used, you will be changing batteries every 10 minutes. I ended up returning the Kodak to amazon.com for this reason alone.
Canon digital cameras include a lithium ion battery but my biggest gripe about Canon's are poor quality pictures indoor or night conditions. Many pictures were taken in a cave with one of those compact Canon cameras and they looked awful when compared to the Sony. The Canon S45 is far too big and heavy and the indoor pictures are only mediocre.
My friend has a Nikon coolpix 3100 and for a brand that professionals use, this camera has the worst lighting problems of any digital camera I have ever seen. In fact, the lighting issues were so terrible that even my five year old Kodak DC 240 looked way better.
Olympus cameras are okay only that they do not come with Lithium ion batteries, but you can buy those separately at least, unlike Kodak.
The reason I do not mention the many types of shooting modes each camera has is because they are relatively the same. The Sony comes with a lot of features including Night Shot, night shot with a person in the foreground, multi-burst shooting which is useful for sports (you can take up to 16 consecutive images of things like a baseball swing), it even has special modes for taking pictures of water and a separage mode for snow.
The great thing about this camera is, it's perfect for amateurs and people a little more advanced. All the pictures I've taken so far look great in point and shoot mode, but it also allows you to adjust the shutter speed, white balance, and much more for people who are into that sort of thing.
I found the controls for the Sony P10 very intuitive. For all the basic controls I didn't have to consult the manual. The controls are not as intuitive on the Canon S45, it's a little weird, and the Nikon coolpix doesn't record sound in the movies. Most Kodak's play back movies and pictures with the lens open and out, which I think is stupid because then you risk damaging the lens when you don't have to.
Also, if you subscribe to consumer reports, you will notice that Sony has the lowest number of repairs followed by Canon in a close second. I have experienced repairs myself as my Kodak DC240 lens got stuck one day and I had to send it in to Eastman Kodak for repair.
Also the Sony doesn't have a great big delay when taking each picture, a lot of cameras have this problem. Another thing that bothered me about the other cameras is the time it takes for the camera to be ready to take pictures after you turn it on. Sony cameras tend to be ready fast right after you turn it on, which has helped me capture so many more moments, believe me when I say you'll miss lots of great moments before other cameras turn on.
The sony also has a really wonderful movie mode, where the audio is crisp and the movies are clear. My only complaint about the movies are, they don't have image stabilization, so they turn out a little more jiggly than I would like, and for some reason the zoom is disabled when you're in the middle of recording movies. All minor things, but they should be noted.
The great thing about 5 megapixels is, you can get your photos blown up to 20X30, and believe me when I say that is really cool. Also, if you were ever to make these pictures your desktop wallpaper, they look good even at 1280 X 1024, which is the highest resolution on a 17" monitor.
Also, I don't know why everyone complains about the included 32MB memory stick. Yes I do understand it is too small to truely use and you have to buy another one, but most digital cameras such as the Canon don't come with any memory at all! The small card that comes with Sony's is to just get you started, and by giving you that they already outdo other manufacturers.
Overall, the Sony P10's compact size, wonderful quality pictures, intuitive interface, good price, variety of features and durability make it the perfect choice of digital camera for almost everyone. I cannot recommend this awesome camera enough!
47 Generally an excellent camera ... with some annoyances
Oh this camera is good! It is easy to use and it takes great pictures on the day time. At night it is always hard to take sharp pictures though, a lot of my pictures are blurry, especially when you do a full optical zoom. I am not sure if it is a problem across all digital camera though. The picture colors are not as bright as some other cameras but it seems to be more "realistic" photos (ie not articially brightness enhanced). I would have preferred to get DSC-V1 though, because of so many enhancements as well as Carl-Zeiss lens but at the time of purchase the price of DSC-V1 is out of my league.
Here are some of the things that annoys me:
- Does not have 2Megapixel settings. Sure, why do u want 2Megapixel pictures when there is 5Mp and 3.2Mp available? But have u ever try to load up 3.2 or 5 Mp pictures (about 1.2 - 3 Mb in size) to the internet, if you only have dialup modem available? Also, you really do not want to put such big pictures on the net anyway. 2Mp pictures are sized around 300 - 400k which is reasonable.
- Only silver color camera available in USA (Asian countries and Australia sells red/blue colors as well).
- 32Mb memory sticks included: I mean come on, that is so small! I thought it is a joke that Sony gives such small memory sticks. I never used it because it would too easily be filled up after taking a few shots. I probably will use it for backing up of my Sony Clie instead. Sony should give out 128Mb memory sticks instead, especially it is so much cheaper these days.
My recommendations are:
- Get a spare battery, especially when you travel overseas. Even though I sometimes managed to use only 1 battery per day, when u go somewhere u just point and shoot and do not think about battery life, so it is simply better to get a spare. if you can afford to fork out so much for this camera I cannot see why you cannot get a spare battery as well.
- Get large size memory sticks (like 256Mb or more), especially when u are taking high resolution pictures. I personally have multiple 128Mb memory sticks.
By the way, get the Sony tripod as well. It is small, portable and reasonable price. Good for taking group photos!
48 great point and shoot camera
bought this camera Dec of 2003. This is a great camera with outstanding image quality, perfect for point-and-shoot use, though I did return it shortly after purchase in exchange for the Sony DSC-V1. For only a hundred bucks more, the V1 has full aperture, ISO, and f-stop adjustment, which this camera does NOT have. The lens on the V1 is a bit better in my opinion as well. BUT, make no mistake, if this is in your price range, and you don't mind giving up total exposure control, this camera is an outstanding, best-in-class choice. I would have kept it if the Sony DSC-V1 were considerably more expensive, but since it wasn't, I went with the full manual control which that model provides. Either way, you should be happy with one of these two great Sony cams, and at 5MP, you should be happy for a long time!
49 excellent camera and value for money
At first I was not to sure which 5megapixel camera to purchase however one of my friends emailed me a picture of his new kitchen and I could not believe how amazing and clear it was. Turned out he shot it with this camera that was the turning point in making my decision. The battery was a little shaky to begin with however once i drained it fully and recharged overnight its been excellent ever since.
I would recommend getting a 256mb memory card but no the magic gate just the regular double sided 128mb will suffice.
You won't regret buying this camera its amazing value for money especially with the $50 current mail in rebate!
50 Top Pick!
The Sony dsc "P10" Digital Camera is the top pick for CSC. Running against cameras like Olympus stylus, Canon Powereshot, Sony V1, Nikon, Fuji, and More. The new release of 5.0 mega pixels has shot prices for digital cameras up to $1000+. This camera I purchased through a Private Dealer cost me $400.86. The Retail Price is Running $499.00 to $599.00. Purchase this camera from a wholesale dealer for the best price $377.00. Great Photo Even in dim light w/o a flash. The p10 is very compact. Can eaisly fit into any pocket. The camera can record 90 minutes of mpeg like a home movie. There are alot of great digital cameras on the market that shoot good pictures and video. What makes the p10 the top pick is it comes with a rechargeable lithum battery. Many use AA batterys, the digital camera consumes theses AA batterys in about two hours time whill the unit is on. That can add continious expense to the camera. It's also the best resolution on the market. 6.0 megapix is out, though only a few. And the smallest that we found. Also the best price for a major brand.
51 Overall Good Camera
This was my first digital camera. I like the ease of the Sony and feel like it has been very easy to learn how to operate. The pictures I have taken have been great and the color and clarity have been good. The only drawback is that the pictures can become blurred very easily with even the slightest movement. And it seems slow to take pictures sometimes but I might be trying to compare it too much with a 35mm. Overall, I would highly recommend this camera.
52 best little cam I ever bought
It's so light I had to keep checking my camera bag to make sure I hadn't lost it. Initially I was reluctant about the only 3X zoom, until I downloaded the first set of 5MB (then 4, 3 and 2 & finally 1.2MB being most versatile) images to my laptop & realized that you don't need zoom when you get such incredibly clarity and can zoom in on the actual picture to see detail that you never noticed visually. You can crop and edit accordingly. There's an email size mode as well - only 55-65kb. Menu navigation is a breeze (without consulting the manual) and easier than my previous Cybershot cams. I bought the 1GB Magic Gate stick (cost more than the camera!) but I can now use the little thing as a video cam for up to 90 mins in MPEG4 (great for interviews, presentations or stuff you want to edit later). Night shots no problem, but hold VERY still, as your slightest movement will create blur. The external device "garage" is well placed under one flap.
53 Very disappointed
I've had this camera for about a month and I have to say I'm very disappointed with the way it handles artificially lit conditions (like nighttime football games). The automatic exposure control seems to vary widely from one shot to the next under these conditions, and it's very difficult to get a nighttime picture that isn't blurry. The only way I've been able to make it behave is to go to manual settings, and even then the pictures aren't as sharp as my old 1.3 Megapixel Olympus in full automatic mode. Also, I found the greens to be oversaturated as reported by several other users. Daytime photos are generally good, although they can be overexposed. I'm not a novice photographer, but this camera sure makes me look like one.
On the plus side, the size is great, the movie mode works well, transfers to the computer couldn't be easier, and battery life is reasonably good. Unfortunately that doesn't make up for the serious problems with the automatic exposure control.
My recommendation: There are much better performers for a lot less money. Choose one of them instead.
54 best camera for printing big pics
i upgraded from an olympus 2.1 megapixel camera to the p10 and have never looked back! this is by far a camera that produces quality rich pics with crystal clear detail, vibrant colors and a fairly easy to use operating format. i've printed many 8 1/2 x 11in pics and keep getting the same response from people when i tell them that its from a digital camera and not film. they are totally blown away!!! so am i! this camera not only makes film processing obsolete but it also produces images that give film a run for their money. the battery life is fairly long compared to my old camera and the camera design is very sleek and compact. i dont think i'll be trading this camera for a while. the p10 has been one of my best electronic buys ever!
55 It's... Okay...
While the pictures the camera takes are of pretty great quality, the biggest problem I have with this camera is that if you move it even just a little while you take a picture, the whole picture is blurry. Not great for candid moments, when you don't have time to hold perfectly still. If you just figure a way to get past this problem, you've got a great camera on your hands.
56 My Sony doesn't recharge fast
I bought this camera a month before and have one big problem. After taking a photo with flash, it takes about 10 secs to recharge. This creates a lot of problems in birthday parties. I missed a lot of good photographic moments due to that. I am going to send back since it is covered by warranty. Otherwise the camera is a "awesome"
-- sun
57 This is a great camera
I just took my new DSC-P10 on a two-week trip through the Canadian Rockies, where I took over 300 pictures of the scenery, people, indoor and outdoor points of interest, etc. The camera performed flawlessly, and the pictures are incredible - especially for a camera that fits easily in your shirt pocket! There are tradeoffs in a camera this compact, of course, like the size of the LCD display - but those are expected. I took two 256-MB memory sticks and two batteries, and did the whole vacation without having to download pictures to a PC (didn't bring one), or running out of battery power over the course of any day. I took most pictures at 3.1 Megapixels, which is all that's needed for any normal print, but I used the full 5 Megapixel resolution for those special scenic shots. The camera seems to do an outstanding job with its automatic exposure mode, but I used the spot metering for particularly difficult situations and was also happy with those results. Rendition of colors was excellent. Most of the menus are reasonably easy to figure out, but some of the symbols displayed on the LCD are hard to identify, and sometimes a little small to try and read. Overall, a GREAT camera that I'd recommend to anyone.
58 Worth the money
Back in 2001 I bought the brand new DSC-P3 after months of researching digi-cams online and at the stores. I loved that camera, because it was Sony quality which seems to last forever; I admit I have dropped it several times and it works great. The camera is still running strong as I sold it to a friend, sadly I was slowing becoming unhappy with it because of the lack of zooming features, I knew that I should have bought the one with zoom.
Well back in early august I decided on the DSC-P8 as my replacement digi-cam as I from my P3 that Sony cameras last, and it had a 5 mega pixel resolution with zoom, everything I wanted. As I walked into the store to look at the display I felt uneasy about spending the $400 on the camera because it was not as compact as my P3 and I didn't like the look as much as my old one. Then I remembered how I regretted not getting the next model up from my P3 which was why I was in the store looking at Digi-cams again. So I looked up one model then two, and alas I found that I liked the P10 more and could afford to spend the extra $100 for the extra features that were the best at the time, and still are I hope, as so two years down the road I wouldn't be buying another yet.
So Far it has been a few months and already I have taking thousands of pictures with amazing quality and I love the camera. So many features and great battery life, not to mention the zoom is so great that I closed in on a plane flying over head that looked no more then a dot in the sky and managed to see the planes markings in the picture on my computer without any enhancing. Great! Not I finally have the camera of my dreams.
This is the camera for me, great features and improvements over my P3 and well worth the money. For $100 more I am happier that now I have a super compact, fast and reliable camera that I have already dropped once and it is still fine. When I say compact, it is half an inch smaller then the already small P3. Check it out! It have USB 2.0 which I don't have yet as I need to convince the girlfriend first, and supports up to 1GB which is more then an hour of high quality video as compared to the seconds I got with my P3.
BUY ONE!
59 GREAT!
I just purchased this camera, September 1, 2003 and absolutely love it! I like good pictures without all the fuss and this does it! It's basically very easy to use and well worth the money spent. I'm VERY happy with my choice, no regrets!
60 DSC p-10 more than you would think
I'd like to mention some very interesting and hard to find out information about the p10 that I hope will be helpful.
Smart zoom allows addional zoom power if you are shooting below maximum camera pixel capability. This can only be seen on the screen and not in the view finder.
The video compression works well but fast motion may seem a little jerky. Almost 6 minutes of VGA fits on a 128 meg card. A 256 meg card goes for as little as [money amount]plus shipping on the net. Camera allows dividing video and deleting unwanted side for reducing memory use. Zoom function does not work during video probably bewcause of noise or focus issues. There is also an email quality video mode which will give 90 minutes of recording with adequate sound.This allows recording a lecture or interview in video with sound! The included software seems to only allow saving editing to MPEG1 which is computer only. I don't understand this. Maybe they want to sell something else. Don't get stuck with a lot of work you can't put on a video disk and look into other software.
On the web you can download Projector Station 4.1 which is for putting jpeg images into xga format and into a file on a memory stick card for projectors. This allows about 500 images onto a 128 meg card in a file that can be accessed from your camera. When you are visiting the relatives you can bring all of your family photos in the camera for playing on the tv with the video output cable supplied. If they have windows xp the camera will allow you to hook up with only the cable w/o any software and and have camera memory show as a drive. You can copy any pictures you want to other computer. Very 2K!
The battery really lasts quite well and the camera will tell you how much time is left on it. You can also purchase extended life batteries. The long cords on the charger are awkward and it must plug into the camera to charge battery. An external charger would be convenient.
Camera will stay contiuously in focus allowing a much quicker shutter response than other cameras. Using the manual distance setting speeds things up also. You can edit still pictures by zooming in during preview and then cropping what isn't in the screen. You can also make lower resolution copies of pictures for emails.
The camera takes surprising quality shots in low light without the flash. I am guessing that it somehow processes the images to avoid some of the low shutter blur. The camera is amazing and it fits in my pocket.
61 For the money: Five Stars
This is a terrific little camera - well-built, easy to use, nice features, compact and classy look. Of course, if you have advanced skills and experience, you'll want more camera. But, this one is great for the average photographer.
Do NOT buy the camera from sony.com. They stink! I bought my personal p10 from a local dealer. I bought another one as a gift from sony.com. For the prices and the Sony name, it is disgraceful. There is NO customer service and delivery is SLOW. It's really unbelievable. For your sake, purchase it somewhere else.
62 Great camera for price range
I recently purchased this camera and was impressed with its ease of use, and especially its crystal clear photos (when sized on my computer to 800x600). The only disappointments with this camera were that there was no manual focus, and the automatic focus that's included does not focus on things unless they're about a meter away. The closest you get to manual focus is a menu option that lets you choose approximately how far away your target is, and this isn't very precise. On the bright side, the camera's photos are brilliant, and its compact size allows for easy portability. I may return it, however, to get a camera that does have manual focus and perhaps a RAW image format mode - which this camera does not have.
63 great camera
This is a great compact camera and simple to use. It has lots of options to play around. The quality of the pic is excellent. It also tranforms to a camcorder which is great for weekend photographer that prefer lots of activity.
I would suggest to try and check this out.
64 Nevery Buy Sony! They Steal Your Credit Balance!
I want to relate a horror experience from Sony. I tried to buy a camera from Sony's website. The deal never went through, although I gave my credit card details. Amazingly, Sony, in spite of not being able to sell the product, nevertheless reserved the total amount of the deal from my credit card for nearly three weeks! Hours of phone calls could not fix the situation -- Sony only said that my credit card balance would eventually get corrected. Sony could not deliver the product, yet they took my money for three weeks. Because of this, my travel booking got cancelled due to credit card balance being over the limit.
Never, never, never buy a Sony! They are crooks! Besides, their products stink, too -- cheap manufacture from China, low quality.
65 Ultra Compact 5 Mpx Greatness!!!
I recently purchased the Sony DSC-P10 as a second digital camera. My first digital camera was a Sony DSC-P30 (1.3 mpx). This camera is the smallest camera out there that offers 5 mpx. I like it because it easily fits into your pocket so you're more prone to take it with you randomly. Sometimes, there are moments you just have to capture on film! There are a lot of accessories that you can purchase (against what someone else said, there is an additional flash add-on, and filters and other things).
This camera offers basic features for those "point and shoot" people out there. If you have no idea with what to do with ISO settings, exposure, etc... this camera is perfect for you! It has so many preset modes (most of them work well... some have to be retuned). The image quality is about the same with other cameras in the compact range (this camera is sub compact) if you consider the size. Yes, the Canon 5 mpx cameras have better image quality, but they are much bulkier.
If you prefer a camera w/ more manual control options, then I'd go with a Canon or Nikon. They seem to have the most features that make the digicam rival high end SLR cameras. If you'd prefer Sony, I would go with the new V1 5 mpx. It's like the P10, but with a lot of advanced features for those advanced photographers out there.
66 Little camera with a big punch
One word Awsome. I have had the camera and underwater housing for 2 weeks now, and have made 2 dives with it. I can't begin to describe the quality of the pictures above and below the water. The features on it will take a little time to master but once you do, you will not want to put this down.
67 Great Camera, Easy to use
This is my third digital camera. My first being a Mavica 1.2 Pixels, my third a Sony 3.2 Pixels and now the P10 5.0. So far Im greatly satisfied. It has many features and the MPEG videos look great. The pictures look awsome. I was amazed at the quality of the pictures taken in dark places. The Auto Focus Illuminator is awsome, it shoots that red laser and its cool. It took me about 2 days to get really comfortable with the camera and its small too, alot smaller than the P92 with the same features. I do recommend getting a memory stick of 256MB or higher. I really dont have any complaints with the camrea, I highly recommend it for everyone.
68 Easy and with great performaces
What a purchase!
This camera is easy to use and has great performances. In order to use it at its best I recommend to get a 128 Mb memory card. This will allow you to store many high quality pictures and also good quality short videos.
When it comes to download the files in your PC, it's a true "plug and play" procedure (at least with XP). You plug the USB and the PC starts downloading the files automatically, in the folder of your choice.
Another smart feature is that it works with both regular and rechargeable batteries (that are included).
The camera comes with a specific program (for the PC) that I immediately uninstalled, since it's not user friendly and, at the end, totally unuseful compared with what XP allows you to do.
In order to play / work with your pictures, Photoshop remains the best option.
I definitely rate this camera 5 stars.
69 ultracompact 5MP camera from sony
i feel that this camera is geared towards novice users who are looking for an ultracompact, high resolution, point and shoot. in that regard, the dsc-p10 succeeds but i kept thinking that it would be nice if the camera had more features that users could grow into.
pros:
- 5MP resolution and 3X optical zoom
- very compact (smaller and lighter than the competition) with a stylish body
- excellent build quality - no squeaks or rattles here
- easy to use
- convenient e-mail features
- good battery life
- good neutral colour balance
- automatic white balance worked well under both daylight and incandescent lighting
- infrared AF assist lamp - i definitely prefer this to white light assist lamps
- MPEG recording only limited by the size of your memory stick
- selectable ISO sensitivities
- has a multi-burst continuous shooting mode
- good on-screen information
- quick acting auto focus - typically locks within a second
- relatively quick startup
- automatic lens cover
- battery charges while in the camera - you don't have to remove the battery to recharge
- usb 2.0 connectivity means faster downloads of pics
cons:
- occasional image noise
- operational times could be faster
- the included 32MB memory stick is inadequate; be ready to shell out additional $$ for more memory
- you pay a premium for the sony brand
- softer images than the competition
- occasional ghosting
- very limited manual controls (no aperture- and shutter-priority modes!)
- autofocus points are not selectable
- no control over colour saturation or tone
- no manual white balance
- no RAW file capture
this is a very nice camera. for someone looking for an ultracompact point and shoot, this would be perfect. however, if you think that you'll want more manual control in the future, i would recommend getting a camera such as the canon s50. about the same price, a little bigger, but you'll have a camera you can grow into. good shooting!
70 Excellent as a first digital camera.
If you are considering the Sony P10, you are probably looking for your first digital camera. If so, you are considering a very worthwhile purchase, both in the abstract (acquiring a digital camera) and in the concrete (the Sony P10). I've had a P9--the previous model--for about six months, and I am extremely pleased with it. I often comment that it has "changed my life." (More on that below.) First, here are the features I really like about the P9:
__ 1) Very small (fits in your pocket).
__ 2) Great resolution (5.0 megapixels is very nice).
__ 3) Delay after pressing shutter button is quite short.
__ 4) Good selection of features, which are easy to access.
__ 5) Very easy to download images to your computer.
__ 6) Memory sticks are very compact and have multiple uses.
If you are new to digital photography, #3 will come as a surprise to you. Be sure to check this on any digital camera you consider! Some have a delay of close to a second, and it will drive you crazy if you intend to photograph anything but static objects (i.e. NO people). With regard to memory sticks, I'm a big fan. They are very small and can be used in other devices such as camcorders, computers, and voice recorders.
There are a few things that could be improved in the P9, although these things do not seem to be appreciably better in other models that I've considered, and are often significantly worse. Here are the things that could be better:
__ 1) Built-in flash is terrible (as are all built-in flashes).
__ 2) No connector for an external flash. (Argh!)
__ 3) Annoying delay after pressing the on/off button.
__ 4) High capacity memory sticks (over 128 MB) are expensive.
With respect to the flash, I think it is best to think of the P9 as having no flash at all. If you don't mind having everything look flat, with stark shadows, go ahead and use the flash. Otherwise, you are much better off using natural light--the brighter the better. (Note: low light images are grainer, and consume more memory as the compression algorithms are less effective on grainy images.) I would really ding the P9 for this, if it were not that every point-and-click camera I've ever seen, digital or otherwise, has a similarly pathetic flash. (Why can no manufacturer get this right? Simply being able to bounce the light off the ceiling would help immeasurably!) Finally, when you hit the on/off button, there is a delay of several seconds before you get any indication that the camera is going to turn on/off. This can be very confusing, especially since the button provides no tactile feedback!
Now, a few comments to newbie digital photographers (as I was six months ago). I'm sure you can already list some of the obvious advantages of digital photography: 1) You can preview them on-the-spot, 2) You need only keep the ones you like, 3) You can store them on your computer, email them, and post them on the web very easily (i.e. no scanning). But, is this all hype, or does it really make a difference? My answer is this: It makes a FAR GREATER difference than you can begin to anticipate! To me the difference is so significant that I can scarcely compare digital and conventional photography. They are distinct activities. As proof of this, I now take (conservatively) ten times more photos than I used to, and I continually view them, compose them, and share them using my computer. All of these things are possible with conventional photography, just like it's possible to walk ten miles to work rather than drive. You could do those things; you just won't. Admit it, you're human.
Whether you buy the P10 or not, do yourself a huge favor and purchase a digital camera (especially if you have kids). You'll wonder why you waited so long to take the plunge.
71 Real great camera
I think this model of sony is out of comparison to any other brand. In fact, it yield superior quality of pictures, very handy and excellant features.
I cant imagine buying another one.
I had previous model P72 but got this new one to have facility of using the under water hausing.
great camera , great price
72 Full Convenient 5 Megapixels Camera
One great camera from Sony!! It is incredibly designed and it has so cool functions that will make you use it anytime. Great for the infolithium battery, slim design, and it supports memory stick pro for better picture quality. This one great camera for a very good price.
73 What a Great Little Camera!
My Sony Mavica 3.3 megapixel camera takes great pictures, but is pretty bulky, so I decided on the DSCP 10. I couldn't be more pleased. It is small enough to go in my pocket, doesn't have the slight delay that the Mavica has when you snap off a shot, and the pictures are clear as can be. I have not yet explored all the options, but am just delighted with it so far. I plan on buying an extra battery, and the smallest case I can find for it. I have a 128 mb memory stick and two 64s. I 'll have to see how far that gets me. If you're looking for a camera that's small, 5 megapixel, and loaded with features, this is the camera for you!
74 What a Great Little Camera!
My Sony Mavica 3.3 megapixel camera takes great pictures, but is pretty bulky, so I decided on the DSCP 10. I couldn't be more pleased. It is small enough to go in my pocket, doesn't have the slight delay that the Mavica has when you snap off a shot, and the pictures are clear as can be. I have not yet explored all the options, but am just delighted with it so far. I plan on buying an extra battery, and the smallest case I can find for it. I have a 128 mb memory stick and two 64s. I 'll have to see how far that gets me. If you're looking for a camera that's small, 5 megapixel, and loaded with features, this is the camera for you!
75 a great little camera
We bought this camera a few weeks ago and I like it more and more each time I use it. This is my second digital camera, I was so happy with my first one that I waited 4 years to upgrade. This camera has been worth the upgrade.
Another reviewer mentioned not being able to choose shutter speed, I think they just haven't explored their menu fully. It does pay to spend a day studying the user guide and playing with the different options and features.
The camera is very easy to use and a great compact size. We did choose to upgrade to a larger 256 memory stick. I like that the sticks are directly compatible to and make it easy to transfer from camera to computer to pda.
76 A great product!
Just got this camera a few weeks ago and had the chance to use it at family gatherings over 4th of July weekend.....no complaints at all! Compact, easy to use, good-looking, and most of all takes great pictures! Getting a 5-megapixel camera for the same price as most other manufacturers' 4 MP models is a huge advantage! The movie mode is also lots of fun. It's also super easy to transfer pics to the computer, just USB and go! As with the other Sony products I own, this camera draws oohs and aahs whenever I take it out! All in all a great deal for the camera, although one might want to invest in a 128 MB memory stick and extra battery for vacations and longer picture taking events when downloading to a PC is not readily available. Pick it up!
77 Top of the line for intermediate users
This camera is awesome. Looks great, takes great pictures indoors and outdoors. I do not know what the 1 star reviewer was doing wrong, but he obviously is not too familiar with cameras because this has to be the best if not, then one of the best cameras out there to give you high qualty, high res pics when you just point and shoot. I highly recommend this camera. I had a Cybershot P5 for a long time and loved it, now I finally get to upgrade :)
78 Excellent Camera
I bought this camera recently. Being a bit of photo enthusiast was really impressed with quality and features of this camera. The features are very close to what you get with any 35 mm SLR cameras. It took us a little time to get the hang of the AF feature ( I recommend using the center AF not multi AF as unlike SLR it doesn't tell you where the camera is focusing). You can watch the photos taken on your TV also... and if you want with some voice comments too :-).
It's an excellent camera. Hat's off to Sony!!
79 5 Megapixels in a package this small?!
As usual, Sony has outdone themselves. I have never had a problem with anything Sony I've ever owned--and this camera is no exception.
It boasts 5 megapixel pictures, countless features, good looks--in a package small enough to drop in your pocket--amazing. Menu is easy to navigate, read and understand. We upgraded immediately to a 128 meg card, although we wanted to get the 256--we opted not to deal with the copyright issues on the memory stick pro cards. It seems some photography stores can't develop pictures from those protected cards--not good. You can get a nice 128 for about $... now!
... Other options include upgraded lenses, tripods and other toys you can grow into--very nice indeed!
We have been told by some very knowledgable industry folks that we may never have to buy another digital camera again! Overall--we are very happy with this Sony DSC-P10--we can't wait to start booking vacations!
80 You won want one better..!!!
It has every thing that you need for home photography and at the price I think it is more than worth it...I have used the Nikon 3100, Powershot A70, Powershot A60, Sony P72..but there is none better than this...I have to tell you though the A60 was my second crush.
The night photos in pitch dark room was surprizingly very clear...havent seen a photo with red-eye(s).. plus it so compact...just hope they had put a little more memory with it...
81 best camera in its class
excellent picture quality, outstanding features, long lasting batteries, compact size, high quality
82 Dissapointed in this camera
I bought this camera because of the 5 mpxl feature, hoping it would take good pictures. I have been very dissapointed in its performance so far. The problem is there are many issues affecting picture quality other than raw pixel count, and the bottom line is that this camera does not take very good pictures, particularly indoor. You can control almost everything on the camera, except the shutter speed. The shutter speed is chosen by the camera, and indoors, shutter speeds of 1/30 second is used, even with the flash. You simply can not hold the camera still enough to get a good picture at this shutter speed. This makes the camera perform poorly for indoor events like birthday parties. The flash is underpowered for the camera, and the flash is too close to the lens, leading to unavoidable red-eye on indoor pictures. I have an older 1 megapixel cameral made by epson that was half the cost and takes much better pictures indoors. I would suggest buying a camera from a brand with better understanding of photography, such as cannon, olympus or nikon.
The software that comes with the camera is completely useless, and I had to buy third party software to just nominally be able to use the pictures. At the price of this camera, you would expect feature rich, usable software.
I would recommend not buying this camera until Sony offers better software, and better indoor photo capabilities.
