Sony Cyber Shot DSC-P73 (silver)

Fairly priced, the 4.1-megapixel Sony Cyber Shot DSC-P73 offers snapshooters all the basics with a splash of manual options. Several new features clearly differentiate it from its predecessor and keep it on a par with its 5-megapixel sibling, the DSC-P93.

With its easily recognizable and attractive Cyber Shot design, the DSC-P73 is small enough to slide into a pocket or a purse. However, such portability often comes with some sacrifice. In this case, it's a small 1.5-inch LCD with status icons that only those with keen eyesight will be able to decipher. The menu, on the other hand, is bright, clear, and readable. The optical viewfinder is tiny and slightly distorted, but it's fairly bright.

The layout of controls is logical and provides easy access. A four-way keypad delivers quick review, as well as flash, macro, and self-timer controls. A quick press of the dedicated display button allows you to move through four options: three levels of camera information or the choice of turning off the screen. There's also a dual-function button that lets you change resolution on the fly or delete images in playback.

Sony has also provided several features that bump up the value of this little camera. There's a live histogram that gives you a preview of the scene's light and dark values to help you determine whether the picture will be evenly exposed. Surprisingly, this compact camera also accepts wide-angle and telephoto conversion lenses. The wide-angle lens will prove particularly useful since the DSC-P73's 3X 38mm-to-114mm zoom lens (35mm-camera equivalent) doesn't lend itself to landscapes and other broad range shots.

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