Sony Cyber Shot DSC-V3

Pros: Superb images, excellent movies, sd and memory stick, long battery life.

Cons: Longer warranty would be great on a higher priced camera like this one.

Summary: Sony has always been an innovator in the high technology world. However their imaging products are right up there with the Ferrari's and Maserati's of the camera world.

This unit sports Sony's solid durable construction, flawless design and innovation, and careful attention to detail.

The camera uses the highly acclaimed Carl Zeiss lens technology, providing sharp vivid well rendered images. The responsive zoom, fast autofocus, and excellent movie mode, make this camera a well thought out device.

People that find it hard to put down their Sony camcorders will find the 30 frame per second, unlimited (only by memory card capacity) movie mode a great asset. Imagine not having to carry both a camcorder and digital camera around at the same time. This well balanced unit sits firmly in your hand
and all controls can be accessed with your available fingers.

It is easy to handle the camera and take crisp photographs. The optical and digital zoom work well and can capture those distant images you just can't miss. Autofocus is ultra fast and sharp as well as the ability to override it with a manual setting.

Many reviewers have found that the system defaults to an F8 setting but this is easily overcome with some simple tinkering with the manual settings.

The intuitive menu makes configuration simpler than most cameras. A nice added touch is the onscreen display as one turns the selection dial.

It would have been nice to have a compact external charger for the long life Info lithium battery. Sony has really done well with their Info Lithium technology, which tells you precisely how much time you have left. There is no guessing with the simple onscreen bars that other companies use.

The flip up flash works well when you have to turn the camera on and grab a quick shot without having to worry about the flash going off.

I really don't have much to complain about with this camera. It is not a point and shoot compact, but then that is not what you are buying. For a camera in this class, the weight/size balance is very good, and the feature set gives amateurs as well as semi professionals a lot to play with.

I can't really give this unit a 10 as that is a subjective assessment, and after all perfect 10's are reserved for the perfect lady or man in your life.