Sony DSCW350S Cyber-shot Digital Camera - Silver (14.1 MP, 4x Optical Zoom) 2.7 inch LCD

Do not be overwhelmed by the host of intelligent features this camera has. It couldn't be simpler to use; and to prove it, it has EASY mode which is the minimum necessary still image shooting functions -- without compromise on quality. Even if you go for advanced settings or your own scene selection, all the functions are explained as you navigate the menu; so it's all self-explanatory. There's no scary jargon with this camera. Some menu selections are not available with certain settings, and this is all indicated with little alerts, clearly, as you scroll through the menu e.g. flash is not available in burst mode, or face detection not available with auto exposure. I'm going to review my favourite features here, but there are ample more I have not touched upon (like the 1280 x 720/30fps/MP4/PC-format HD video recording).All icons are clearly displayed and you can easily guess what they are if you have ever used a digital camera in your lifetime. I'm enthralled by its features, such as the smile detection. This camera will work its magic on you -- you don't have to be the mood... this camera will snap you with even almost a smile with its Smile Shutter feature, which has three sensitivity settings. Face Detection detects one/two faces in the frame with normal shooting or self-timed -- the setting here is auto for many faces, or with child or adult priority. As well as this, the self-timer has 2/10sec settings and works in combination with the Burst mode which gives you 5 images in the self-timer mode (Burst gives up to 100 images in succession if you press and hold the shutter button in normal shooting mode). You don't have to make adjustments for the shooting environment; in Auto Intelligent Adjustment mode, the camera knows not only when it's twilight or backlight; but if its focusing on a close-up object (macro), portrait, landscape or set up on a tripod! In difficult shooting conditions, such as Twilight, the camera processes a Dual Shoot. Difficult shot? Choose the best out of two photos, each with different effects. Dual Shot appears under Twilight in the LCD display; you are not left in the dark! I'm really impressed with macro mode; the shortest shooting distance is 5cm! The Sweep Panorama test: I can sweep clockwise round the entire living area/kitchen in my flat and get the entire room ALL perfectly glued together in one massive long shot! *WOW*. In addition to the 45MB internal memory, I put in my 2GB MicroSD card (slotted in its adapter) which gives me about 181 photos at the largest image size (4:3/A3 size); and 7079 photos at smallest size for e-mail attachments (4:3/video graphics array). The camera also has wide-screen aspect ratio e.g. for viewing on HDTVs or printing up to 11" x 17" on A3. To handle, it's lightweight; has a wrist strap for its safety against being dropped, and your carrying convenience; and all buttons are really easy to identify and click. To look at, it's slim, has a beautiful brushed steel finish, and importantly, a large 6 x 4½cm area is dedicated to the LCD screen. Sony do it for me every time, as Carl Zeiss optics always have when I've had a mobile phone that uses them.

Firstly I'm not a camera buff and know nothing about apertures of F stops. I like to take quick photos with no fuss or blur.I have had two Sony digital cameras prior to this and to be honest I was considering changing brands - luckily I didn't. What stopped me was the fact that I had loads of Sony memory cards (the ones that are useless everywhere else) and this camera has a Panoramic function. Always a sucker for gadgets I thought must have that and I'll probably never use it.How wrong I was. The panoramic function is brilliant, especially when you get the kids to stand on one side and run behind you to the other and appear twice in one photo.Normal photos are a good quality. I saw one review which criticised the fact that the camera had to be switched on (therefore lens comes out) and then viewing selected by pressing the button on the back. Viewing can be accessed whilst the camera is switched off by pressing and holding the view button. (No lens comes out)Movies are of a quality similar to a camcorder once downloaded to DVD - still not quite as useful, function-wise, as a camcorder but handy to have.The size of this is amazing, so small I thought the camera was the battery when it arrived - can make it a bit fiddly if you have big hands, but is easy to carry around in a shirt pocket.Another bonus is Sony now use SD cards as well as the smaller Sony memory stick pro duo so memory is cheaper too.

I chose Sony because of their reputation but I chose wrong! Yes I loved this little camera especially the wide angle shot and the video BUT my camera has completely failed after only 16 months - when I turn it on the shutter just keeps opening and closing and I cannot use the camera anymore. Sadly Sony are not interested (they only offered to repair it at an extortionate price!!) - I thought the camera was guaranteed for two years (?European Law?) but apparently not! .... so my Sony is on its way to the dustbin and it has seriously made me think never to buy the Sony brand again.. though I loved its simplicity. I notice now (of course too late) they now offer an extra years warranty - clearly they don't expect their cameras to last more than this? - no wonder they are letting the Koreans beating them my next brand of camera will be Samsung.

I love this camera!It is so tiny and to be honest, this was one of the main reasons for the purchase after reading numerous reviews on different cameras. Added to that it is incredibly simple to use with razor sharp photos and great zoom. I prefer the way this charges just the battery, rather than the entire camera which was required for my old Canon Ixus. however, for me the small size is the biggest draw. I searched high and low for such a neat camera and this one does not disappoint at all. I can't comment on it's huge technical abilities, as I've not experimented much yet, but the point of a compact digital is to take great photos very simply, which it achieves brilliantly.

A useful compact camera but like all current wide-angle lensed cameras, images suffer distortion and leaning or curvature of views near the extremities on landscape settings. This is especially noticeable on close-ups and non-linear facial details are off-putting, eg, stretched ears, faces etc.