Sony CyberShot DSC-W7

I am camera enthusiast And 35mm SLR owner for over 25 years and camera salesman for over 7 years. I chose this camera for its great features. The size is very comfortable, not too small with a solid feel. The controls are easy to use, the screen is large and bright.The pictures are sharp and crisp. But most of all it used 'AA' batteries not a 'special' rechargeable Power Pack. I've had problems with this type of pack. If your battery dies while your out shooting, You're done for the day. The Movie Mode is the best of any compact in its class (640x480 @30fps w/Audio) to the limit of the Memory Stick. But, you will need Memory Stick Pro for full movie functionality.The camera is roughly the size of a pack of cigarettes, small enough for most shirt pockets yet has plenty of room for a large LCD screen on the back. The 'Control Wheel' on the top makes selecting the proper picture mode fast and easy. The recessed power button is conveniently located and not easily pressed by accident. The modes most often used are readily visible and a wealth of custom controls are available via easy to understand 'Sub-Menus'.The high quality Carl Zeiss 3x Optical Zoom is the best of its class, providing sharp, clear pictures with high contrast. The large LCD allows you to zoom-in on shots you are reviewing up to 5X and allows shifting of the image to view any area of the shot. The resolution of the camera is 7.2 Mega-Pixels. More than enough for a 'Photo-Quality' 8x10's. Although newer cameras with higher resolutions and better features have come along I wouldn't trade my W7 for ANY of them.

I bought the Sony CyberShot DSC-W7 digital camera as an upgrade to my old W1. The body is almost identical (no bad thing), and the controls are pretty much the same. Performance is also near identical. The camera takes very good outdoor photos where there is plenty of light. Indoor performance can be a little disappointing on auto mode, however a little manual adjustment makes all the difference (take time to read the manual). Sony cameras also have the best movie mode, almost comparable to a mini DV camcorder. The length of a movie is only limited by the size of the memory stick. To get the most out of the movie mode, a memory stick pro will be required.