Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N2

4.5 stars

"I have got to hand it to Sony! This is one of the best compact cameras out there!" on November 22, 2006 by Cornickcat123

Pros: Great Price for Features, Excellent Image Quality

Cons: Touch screen needs lots of cleaning! No view finder

Summary: Ill admit when I walked in Best Buy I was determined to buy a 8megapixel Cannon that cost around $300. Instead the Sony N2 practically jumped into my arms. This camera is a beauty! Its sexy tan housing looks great and sets it apart from other cameras. The 10mp allows plenty of detail for high quality photos and really is great when enlarging pictures. This camera does only have a 3x optical zoom which isn't too bad but because of the 10mp, you can easily use the digital zoom and still keep your photos quality. Pictures can be taken in about 2 seconds thanks to its powerful processor.

Now lets get to that 3in touchscreen. I know what you must be thinking... Fingerprints! Yes this screen does collect those nasty oils but you cant see any of them when the screen is turned on. You only notice the prints when the camera is turned off. Even better, the glossy coat on the screen makes cleaning a cinch. I can use a shirt that I have worn all day and wipe every smudge off the screen. So basically fingerprints are no big deal. Don't let this stop you from considering this camera!

The controls on the camera are just about all built in because you have this nice 3in touch screen. It takes a day or 2 to get used to it but once you get the hang of it, using your camera is a breeze. All on-screen controls are big so your fingers can easily press each button. If you want a neat little stylus is provided.

The camera has a built in sideshow feature and even a built in paint editor so you can draw on pictures and add pre-designed shapes. Its a cool feature to play around with but you will need to use the stylus unless you have fingers the size of a pen point.

Movie mode is great and takes excellent quality video. The focusing is fast and smooth when shooting video.

The design on the camera is very compact making it easy to carry around. Flash quality is average. If you need a better flash you can purchase a nice little accessory that is specially designed for this camera. There is even a case you can buy that allows you to take this camera underwater!

Battery life is great considering you have a 3in screen. It usually can take nearly 600 pictures before needing charging. The battery is a standard Sony battery and comes with a portable charger. I would prefer a dock but thats not really Sony's style.

The provided software is average in quality and ease of use. I just use the windows picture utility. I recommend if you are going to take large mp pictures and want to share them over IM/email ect. that you download the Windows XP Image resizer power toy. This allows you to right click the picture and simply choose a size/resolution suitable for you. This will bring that 6mb picture down to a .5mb file you can quickly upload to a blog or send over an IM.

One last note... Buy a memory stick! I recommend 2gb which only cost around $65. This camera has about 25mb which will get you 5 pictures at 10mp. Its mostly designed to be there when you run out of room on your card and need 1 or 2 more pictures taken.

Overall I think this camera is GREAT! Cnet should really do an in depth review!

Updated
I still love my Sony N2. I have taken nearly thousands of pictures. Not surprisingly the flash burned out but I sent it in and it was repaired free in less than a week! Recently I discovered the land of Flickr! (flickr.com) For just 24.95 a year you can upload as many pictures as you want and they wont be resized and downgraded like many free services. Its a must for a camera like this that takes each picture at 3.5mb a piece. If your a big photo taker like me and are too lazy to back data up to a disc, you will want to get Flickr. Its great for sharing, storing and backing up! Just wanted to let everyone know!