Very clear pictures and great zoom

I bought this camera for diving as the review for both the camera and case were excellent. It takes very good pictures, is compact and looks great. The flash is brilliant and I can't wait to take it underwater to see how it performs there.

Zoom BEFORE recording

Hi, What a lot of people do not realize is that you can actually zoom in BEFORE recording. I had my camera six months before someone pointed this out to me. All those gigs I was at and didn't know I could zoom in on the stage and THEN record :) Declan

Great Picture quality and colours

Sony CyberShot S730 Digital Camera - Silver (7.2MP, 3x Optical Zoom) 2.4" LCD
Great picture quality both in the photo and video modes. Software disc loads Sony Cybershot program on your PC to upload the photo's and videos. This works great too!!
The manual is stored on the CD so I veiw this a negative, you can't beat being able to sit down with the book in your armchair to learn the product, especially if you are older. The supplied batteries did not appear to last very long (only about 10 photo's) so I will be looking for rechargeable types.

A few more thoughts

Just got this as a present to myself and it's a very cute device. I bought it to be a carry anywhere quick snapper and it looks to be spot on. It is small and robust, starts up fast with built-in image stabilisation and enough quick select modes to get you snapping fast.

It does have some useful manually settings (definable white balance, iso & exposure settings etc) but the camera seems happiest if you just select a built-in setting (like people, night or snow) and let it get on with it. In regard to accessing all the features the buttons don't seem perfectly intuitive and are a bit fiddly but I guess you will just learn them. The main mode button in particular is a bit of an odd shape and it isn't quite as clear as it should be where it is pointing, a simpler dial would be nicer.

12 megapixels are unnecessary. I got this camera for a very good price so I didn't feel I was paying for the extra pixels and they aren't really needed. Processing time gets longer and you won't be able to take so many shots. 10mp seems about right for current compacts to cope with which makes the IXUS 85IS well worth a look at if price is an issue. I slightly preferred sample shots I had seen from the 960 but there's not much between them. Shots seem fairly neutral which for me is a good thing. Some cameras bump up some colours to make pics seem more vibrant but I prefer to get a realistic shot and use Photoshop to colour tweak or sharpen if I want to. Zoom range is reasonable but fairly standard. You can't zoom in Movie mode, but this seems par for the course for most compacts. A viewfinder is also a nice addition in case of bright sunlight flooding the viewscreen.

There are some other cameras which do better on a few features like zoom, manual controls or better barrel distortion (take a bow Lumix) but all compacts are a compromise so decide what you most want to use it for. For what it's worth I think one of the best cheap compacts is the Canon Powershot A2000 which is fantastic value with a 10x optical zoom and takes excellent pictures. It's a little plasticy and uses AA batteries which I just don't particularly like but are cheap and easily available. By some accounts it is very slow to recharge when using flash, so maybe not a party camera but a very good outdoor one.

However, I do like the 960IS a lot. For overall build quality, function set and photo quality it will match or better most mid range compacts out there but it also has that harder to define feel of a quality product.

Lovely Camera

I am thrilled with the purchase of my first digital camera. It's compact, light and gorgeous in pink! Also, the best price through Amazon. It was really easy to start using and takes excellent pictures/vids which are really easy to upload. The camera may be small but the screen is ample. I also purchased a 2Gb card for extra storage. Shame it doesn't come with a decent case. Buy it and enjoy it!

Panasonic DMC FS3

I had been searching for a new Ultra compact digital camera for a few days now, soo went on the net did hours and hours of research, carefully read all the reviews possible, made a short list of 3 manufacturers = SONY, CANON, PANASONIC, Then again did hours of comparison between the 3 premium manufacturers, finally decided on a new Panasonic Lumix FS3 Camera! because in 30 years ive never ever had a single panasonic product that has let me down (i.e broken down) Their products are incredibly reliable and robust, credit to panasonic workmanship, anyways found the best deal on amazon.co.uk, ordered and amazon delivered in less than 4 days, considering i chose the 'free' super saver delivery option, very impressed with amazon's delivery time, packaging, and very friendly service. anyway opened the box and boy i was not dissappointed with my faith in Panasonic! the FS3 looked gorgeous, soo slim it was unbelivable, and the features were amazing, picture quality second to none, panasonic's new intelligent Auto Mode iA is awesome, just set it to iA and camera will decide automaticlly on what are the best settings based on the current situation, Overall I will stick with Panasonic forever.

nice camera, but not fully adjustable

The camera is ok, smaller than it seems on the picture, runs on 4 AA rechargeable batteries, compact and gives a feeling that will last long.

However, I could not manually adjustofocus, and find myself frequently trying to lock focus in a sharper image, but usually it takes too long, and when it is done, it is too late.

Anyway, seems fair enough for the price.

The perfect balance between a compact digital and a DSLR

I've been using this for almost a year now and feel able to thoroughly recommend it. Produces fantastic photos and video in auto or manual modes. Plenty of manual overrides to keep enthusiasts happy. Really well built magnesium body, yet fairly light. Good battery life. Superb screen. Compact enough that you'll be happy to take it most places, unlike a DSLR. Seems to find favour with everyone who's seen / used it. Highly recommended.

Brilliant

My son got this for christmas it is a brilliant little camera for beginners,my son is 11 and has had a lot of fun using it and it is so easy to use.

All that you need in a take it every where ultra compact P&S.

Build Quality is excellent: metal body, firm tactile buttons, no creaks in the casing and battery compartment is extremely secure.

Looks: Bearing the Sony Cyber-Shot name across the front against the brushed allumium is absolutely stunning with the dark metallic trim matching the body of the lens.

Battery life: It is quite good I haven't experienced it dying out in the middle of a day trip or occasion where lots of snaps get taken.

Images: Are as good as you can get in a Point and Shoot of this size. Extremely sharp n clear in daylight & darkness and the 4x optical zoom is great. Auto-focus and smile detection are useful for snapping the kids.

Ease of Use: Takes a bit of getting use to as I'm more used to big cameras, this is a solid compact camera with smaller buttons (easily fits in your jeans ((who's Jean? lol)) front pocket or a lady's purse) and the zoom is a tiny toggle button on the back instead of on top. Menus are easy to get round though....

Other accessories to buy are the Lowepro Rezo 15 case, screen protectors (helps reduce glare in high sunlight), at least 2GB produo memory cards and micromate MSPD card reader for convenience of avoiding cables. All available cheaply on Amazon.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Batteries?

This camera has to be sent back due to the fact that it takes AA bateries, it is supplied with a couple of duracel, which are not rechargeabe, and does not come with a charger! Not really acceptable for a camera of this spec considering other cameras in this price range come with Li-ion rechargable batteries with a charger. The product description really should make this clearer.

Nikon D40

Nikon D40 - Superb! the best value for money camera on the market, buy one, you wont regret it. Over the moon with it.

Simply Brilliant!

I cannot add much more to everyone elses comments. I recieved this off my parents for Christmas to which I puchased an 8gb Sandisk HCSD card to go with it. Both married perfectly.

The camera is compact but has a reasuring bulk to it which I like due to the size of my hands, with the ergonomics becoming good after a day or two. With this this camera you simply do not need to read the manual, it is so simply laid out. You have the main functions at the top, and then a menu on the main control that does everything else.

Pros and Cons:

Pro:

* Large clear screen
* Large pixel range
* Build Quality (made in Japan)
* HD video
* iA mode

plus many many more.

Con:

So far the only con may be that the sound isnt the best on the video, but afterall it is a consumer camera so people should not get their hopes up. Other than that it is pretty much perfect I love it.

One this I should mention is set the colours to vidid that will bring the picture out more so you have less to do on Photoshop etc.

A class leader

In this review I am seeking to reconcile the divergent (although mostly favourable) views that have been expressed about this camera (this includes the 3 colour variants, silver, black and blue).

I have billed this as a"class leader" because it succeeds in the niche it is designed to occupy. It is a compact but (not ultra compact)camera with a substantial zoom - at 10x its zoom is significantly greater than most of its competitors. I find it ideal for taking on holiday etc. but, clearly, it is not as versatile as a digital SLR and does not produce results of the the same calibre either. However, these limitations have to be seen in context - it is a small, sub-£200 camera with the novelty of a powerful zoom, and, in my view and judged in this way it offers good performance and value but not perfection. The same principle applies when judging the HD video capabilities of the TZ5 - it is good in the context of its market position but it is not comparable to a purpose built HD video camera costing twice as much.

In summary, this is a well featured and constructed camera that is easy to use and which will reward you with good quality but not perfect results. To expect more at this price/size point would be asking too much by the standards of current technology. Providing these limitations/compromises are recognised the TZ5 represents an excellent buy which I believe few will be disappointed with.

Batteries

The type of batteries that is provided with this camera in the box is just not the right kind, and they are NOT even digital batteries. So i would recommend getting ones which actually have the word Digital on them, something like Supacell as that's what i use and although they don't last extremely long they still give me quite a few pics out of them. Only thing i wanted to know was does batteries go down quicker cos of the higher megapixel in the camera cos i used to have a 7mp and the batteries lasted longer in that so maybe that is why we are not getting more life out of them.

Great Value

What I like about the camera is:
- it's very compact and easy to carry about
- the metallic finish makes it feel solid and durable
- the image quality is not bad, probably what would be expected from any typical 8MP
- the camera menu is fairly easy to use, less confusing than other cameras I have used in the past

The only thing I find that isn't ideal is the LCD screen which is not the brightest around so it is a bit difficult using it in bright (sunny) conditions. This is probably deliberate from Sony to improve the battery life which is satisfactory (so far).

Overall, it's certainly good value considering the price and features that go along with it. Highly recommended.

Brilliant camera!

After submitting a pretty bad review about the Sony 730 regarding terrible battery life i decided to give Sony another go and purchased the W110. Absolutely love it. Very easy to use, light and no battery problem as this uses rechargable Li-ion battery. Have taken about 100 practice shots and battery shill going strong. Had a play with the smile feature as didn't think it would work - but it does! Internal memory only holds about 5 photos but not a problem as 2GB card holds over 500. Not had chance to play around with all the features but am impressed with what i've seen so far

Very good

I am very pleased with my new camera. The 8 megapixels produce nice pictures and it is very compact. The delivery was also quite speedy for Amazon's normal Super Saver, which was a nice bonus.

I have just a few negative comments about this product:
1. There are a lack of features - a lot of shooting modes but not much except from that (like being able to shoot in black and white, vivid etc)
2. It is a bit inconvenient accessing the scene modes, but I'm sure I will get used to it
3. When you delete photos, the image you want to delete gets replaced with a blue screen which pixelates out the picture. It takes a long time for the actual photo to be deleted
4. The product picture is very sneaky - there is a raised panel where the screen is, further bulking the camera out. The display photo does not show this, so be warned! It's not quite as thin as it seems.

Those points aside, I have to say the camera is very impressive with the brushed front and despite the raised back, is still rather light and compact. It is outstanding value for money and truly a good camera. The lack of picture modes like the black and white can be compensated with some good photo-editing technology, if you want those extra finishes on your photos.

Overall, a good point and shoot camera, perhaps suited better for people who just want to take photos, want a good price and don't care for those extra bells and whistles.

(I would suggest that you buy the fujifilm 2GB SD card - it gives about 800 photos even with 8MP turned on and I have had absolutely no problems with it. Great value for the price.)

Now I see the difference

When I first got this I started thinking"What have I done.". A lot of cash for a camera.
This being my first DSLR I expected all the features etc, but being for a new hobby it seems quite expensive for the quality of picture.
Then I started zooming in on the photos and now I see the difference. Having used cameras with x megapixels before i was aware that this is not a good way of rating a camera. Its ability to focus under different conditions and take clear pictures is paramount and is made all the more easier with quality equipment. I cannot compare this to other DSLR cameras, I do not have the experience, but I am now very happy that I decided to pay a bit more for a piece of kit that will give me many hours of happiness.

Neat, stylish, good quality

My sister-in-law had one when she visited in the summer. It was easy to use and download simple.
Then a good friend who is a keen photographer said what a neat, high resolution product it was and I was sold.
Bought one.
We love using it.