Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Black) (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

I'm on my fourth digital camera, and by far, this Sony W290 is the best one I've ever had. It turns on quickly, processes pictures rapidly, and charges the flash faster than any camera I've used before.In terms of picture quality, I am simply astonished. I have 2 35mm SLR cameras that I use when I want to be artistic and tend to be pretty particular about images. What surprises me the most about this camera is that the intelligent picture settings is phenomenal. I have taken photographs directly into sunlight, sunsets, dark rooms, fluorescent lighting, outside, etc and the camera's ability to quickly and properly adjust the ISO, aperture, speed, etc to create a wonderful picture is unparalleled. I actually think it's the first camera to adjust the settings for the environment even better than I would manually do myself by overriding the settings. In fact, I love leaving it on auto almost all the time now, taking a picture without worrying about anything at all, and then pleasant admiring how good the picture came out. Steady shot works well. Focus is terrific. And, the LCD on the back of the camera is enormous given the camera's small form.If there is one complaint, red-eye subject notification could be set up better. While red eye reduction works great itself, the camera pre-flash is very similar to the actual photograph's flash and confuses subjects in the picture into thinking that I've already taken the photo, whereby the start to look away. I'm trying to get into the habit of telling them that the flash may shine 'twice' so as to get them to stay still. However, since the red eye reduction is automatic, it doesn't always come on, which adds more confusion. I like the blinking flash that cameras I've used in the past had a bit more.But, that said, I'm really happy with the quality of the photos and the user interface of the camera. Again, it's the best compact I've owned and I really think one can't do wrong using it. Frankly, I think it's the best of its kind presently, particularly since I thought the price was reasonable.

Bought this camera after comparing few cameras in local electronics store. Small camera and pictures looked great on the camera LCD screen. When I bought it and actually used it, the picture quality was terrible on computer. I tried different settings - auto, manual. Tried under different conditions - indoors/outdoors. The pictures were not sharp at all. I compared the pictures with my 5 yr old Sony Cybershot P9 camera. P9 was much sharper.I contacted Sony. After troubleshooting online, Sony asked us to send camera for repair. I didn't want to go through the repair process on a brand new camera. So I contacted Amazon. They quickly authorized return of the camera without any questions even though I had missed the return window by couple of days. I had a UPS person next morning to pickup the camera from me for return.Excellent service from Amazon. Made me a customer for life. Bad camera.

+This camera takes amazing pictures. Sharp, vivid, crisp, (insert synonyms here).+Having such a high resolution is nice and the wide angle lens is great. It also has a little extra zoom than other point-and-shoots, which is another great feature. The smile detection feature is fun for about 30 minutes, but ultimately useless. (At least to me....)+It has tons of little features and settings and even allows for some "editing" on the camera like red-eye removal and such.-I do wish i could mess with the settings a bit more though. I like to be able to manually set the exposure time and mess with other things as well. These are unaccessible to the user. Regardless, it takes great pictures without me fiddling with things, so perhaps it is best. Though I do wish it had a long exposure setting to take some cool lightning shots or mess with light graffiti, but I think I'll live.-Also, you can't zoom while shooting video. This is a bit of a frustration as well.+The camera itself is amazingly small for it's high resolution and hi-def video capabilities.+Its construction is solid and the black looks pretty slick.+Great "bang for the buck" camera. Simple enough for the family or girlfriend to use, and enough features and good enough quality for some more creative shots of my own. (and I don't feel girlie carrying it, though there are other colors if that's your thing...)

awesome camera for the money.