Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H3 (black)

Summary: I purchased at Sony Style store...foregoing BBuy since this camera was not available as of weekend of 9/30. Since when did Sony's store become so inflexible??? They don't take checks??

Back to the camera..We updated from an 8 year old Cybershot that is twice the footprint of the DSC-H3. I frankly didn't need a new camera, but wanted a means to take brief videos in crystal clarity that exceeded the 15 seconds my old camera provided. I took the camera out for a spin after charging the battery overnight. My first reaction to the LCD viewer was disappointing as the photos did not show with the clarity as I got once downloaded to the computer. Don't yell...I'm just a casual photog...so I want the ability to know I got the shot right the first time, not once I've downloaded to the computer.

I have to say, the zoom was amazing. Detail's I feared I missed in my shots were superb and beyond what I could see with my naked eye. This camera allows up to 8 Gb of data on the memory stick.

Mpeg videos were equally impressive. I was used to limited Mpegs of 15 seconds from my old camera. I had been challenged by a situation whereby I'm trying to copy an old write protected DVD of family videos from the 70s. I popped this camera on a tripod in front of my HDTV Plasma and proceeded to capture the scenes from my home movies that were 30 years old. I pieced together the video and uploaded to youtube. The clarity was amazing considering how I captured the scenes. That alone was worth the $299. price.

I will try to check back in...but my initial satisfaction is more than ecstatic for this sony product.