Sony Cyber Shot DSC-M2

Pros: great photos/movies; design; pocket album

Cons: size/shape; cost

Summary: Wow! This is a great camera. I've had it for about a month now, and it is all I hoped it would be.

It takes a hot second to get used to how to hold and take pictures, but once thats down, no problems. The screen is great, big, bright, swivels for self pictures and to show pictures without having to move around. I was a fan of the M-1, although I did not have one, and I think the key addition was the pocket album. Taking photos will put it on your memory stick duo AND save it to an internal memory on the camera. Although only in VGA quality, that is okay enough to just view on the camera. Also nice, just in case you erase a picture from the card, but didn't mean to, you'll have a copy on the camera (you can change the size, resolution, etc...).

The video is better than on most other digital cameras that take video. Also, the way you hold the camera just makes it seem like you're using a video camera. The hybrid mode is cool...works great for taking party shots. The hybrid mode gives five seconds before and after the picture is taken, to see what leads and follows the photo. At first, I thought it was odd ball, but having used it, it makes sense, and is terribly hilarious.

The only bad things I can find: the size and shape are a bit odd, making it something you don't want to just put in your pocket and roll; also, seems like a third of the time when taking night shots with the red eye reduction on, instead of making them red, they make the eyes a creepy glowing deep yellowish green color...I never had that problem with any of the other Sony Cyber Shots I've used/owned...I think that may be user error though....

Either way, this camera is great. If you're looking for an ultraportable (like a T-7 or 9), this is not the answer...however, if you're looking for a quality digital camera, with great video capture (compared to other digital cameras), and some other extras, this is the camera.