Rating: 
Summary: Could be happier, should have stood with 717
Review: I recently bought this camera after waiting long enough to get the 717 and exchanging the 717 for it. After comparing the two the 828 has more detailed photos but the 717 pictures are overall better consitently. A really big disappointment, I want to like this camera and i try but for every 5 photos 1 comes out as amazing. The purple fringing is bad but just annoying, filters clear it up easily and make the photos look better anyway. There is also a clarity problem with any light that is not out doors. Maybe its just my camera and if anyone else has this problem please say so, but shutter lag is horrible. The 717 was way better. And the buttons on the lens for Macro and bracketing can get in the way and accidentally pressed.
On the positive side it has awesome features, and looks. The feel is solid and lens with the proper filters can take some awesome shots. The manual zoom is a step above the 717's button zoom. As well the features are better than the 717.
I will keep this camera but plan on getting a Canon 10D as my pro shot taker when I want reliability and reduce this to the alternate. I tried not paying attention to the bad stars and figured they were wrong. I really want to like it but I have been disappointed too many times, more times than not I have to force myself to like it. Sony should take a hint by the review articles and put out a better product. Again I would like to give it more stars but I would be lying.
Rating: 
Summary: Great camera
Review: The Sony DSC-F828 is a great looking camera that has a rock solid feel. Deep rich colors, extremely short shutter lag, and consistently sharp focus. Picture clarity can be a bit grainy in low light situations, nothing unusual for a point-and-shoot digital camera but may have expected better considering the relatively fast Carl Zeiss f2.0. Two features that I've found very useful are the rotating camera body to shoot at waist level and the ability to use both a compact flash card and memory stick at the same time. I can quickly switch from CF to memory stick (and visa versa) and when there's a pause in the action, I can put in a fresh CF card. Would definitely recommend having both CF and memory stick, one having at least 256MB and the other at least 64MB. Battery life is excellent, but I carry a spare anyway. The built-in flash is okay, but an external flash significantly improves picture quality.I considered a DSLR, but the bulkiness, additional cost of the long zoom, inconvenience of carrying and switching lenses, and the risk of getting dust on the imager did not suit the way I would use the camera (family activities, vacation, and some scenery).
Rating: 
Summary: Awesome image, but bad in low-light
Review: This is a sweet camera. It feels totally solid, extremely well designed, and very professional. It reminds me of the first time I held a Nikon F5 or a Maxxum 9. You just have to rotate it in your hands a few times and fall in love. The picture quality is astonishing, as long as you shoot at lower ISO settings. At higher ISO settings, the noise levels are unnacceptable, especially when cameras like the Digital Rebel do so much better at high ISO with their CMOS chips. But, the Rebel does not come with a 28-200 F 2-2.8 lens for $1000. So with those low F-Stops you could afford to shoot at lower ISO settings and have the same shutter speed. Plus, the built-in flash does a remarkably good job. I will buy this camera. I recommend it heartily. You can add filters which is nice, and the manual zoom is so quick. Battery life is excellent and gotta love the dual memory card slots. Only reason i don't give five stars is the high ISO noise problem.
Rating:
Summary: Replace my DSC-F707. Not yet, maybe later.
Review: I was going to replace my 707 secondary camera with the 828 but after taking side by side identical pictures with both cameras I have decided against the 828. The build of the camera and picture detail is nice but the purple fringing is horrible and unforgivable and leaves me very discouraged. I read the reviews in DPreview.com and thought I would give it a chance but it's not going to work for me. I returned the Sony and will keep the 707 as my secondary and Digital Rebel as my primary.
Rating: 
Summary: Too Much
Review: One of the reasons why you will buy a camera is Value for Money... clearly, with its hefty price tag, this is not value for money. Yes, this model may be a good camera but why pay almost $1000 for this?
Rating: 
Summary: Already packed up to go back...
Review: The camera arrived 3 hours ago and is already packed up and ready to be shipped back. I have the F717 and I thought I would upgrade, as I do every year or two, to Sony's latest and greatest. I LOVE my 717 and didn't even think of parting with it, but thought it would be my new back up camera while the F828 would be my primary. I took some shots with the F828 and was very impressed with the color quality... but noticed a lack of detail on the images as played back through the camera. Sure it was going to be much improved viewing them on the computer, I downloaded about 30 images taken at the 8MB setting. I had been careful to avoid the fringing I had been warned about, but the inconsistency in light and, more importantly, image noise was terrible. I have read the reviews. I have heard the complaints. I was sure that my experience with Sony (this is my 7th camera, not to mention audio equip, etc...) and my experience with photography (over 20 years) would make all the difference. I decided to set up the same shot for both cameras (the 717 and 828), in fact, I set up 5 shots and took them on the same setting for both cameras. The image clarity was unmistakably different, and far superior in the shots from the 717. I kicked the 828 up to 8mp, thinking that if both cameras were at their maximum settings, the 828 would have to win out over the 717. Again, very disappointed in the camera's performance. I have, obviously, had very good luck with Sony cameras. I presently have 3 that I use daily. This will not be a 4th. It is on its way back to the warehouse. I'm sorry to say that for the first, and hopefully last time, I am disappointed in a Sony product. I ignored the "negative press" and decided not to hop on the "negativity bandwagon"... I admit when I'm wrong...
I'm ready to hop on the bandwagon with the rest of you if there's room. Sorry Sony. Don't hold it against me. I'm sure I've put a few of your kids through college.
Rating:
Summary: Decided against the purchase
Review: I would have bought this camera at local retailer, but it was out of stock. So I went home and started reviewing it more - of course I saw all the same reviews you have concerning the CA and noise. So I grabbed a memory stick and went back to the retailer for some test shots with the display model. I put the pictures up on one of the PCs on display...the purple fringing around the overhead lights and reflected surfaces was horrible. Just to be fair, I took shots with the V1 and CD500. Both had purple fringing in the same test shots, but not nearly as noticable. I've read that most 5X and higher digicams have this problem. The salesman pulled out some pictures they took and had printed with a 4x6 photo printer. And sure enough, once he knew what to look for, the CA was present in many photos. There was even a photo (taken outside) of a salesman and a customer in front of a car that just had some installs. At both points on the fender where the sun was reflecting - purple stars instead of the white ones you'd expect. I didn't really look into the noise problem. I think Sony should try to improve the CA first. ---Too many pixels on too small of a sensor.--- Love the look, feel, and features. But I also want acceptable photos without the extra work.
Rating:
Summary: $1000 for this?
Review: This would've been a good camera (not great but good), but paying $1000 for this? Ha! Its not even a real SLR.... too costly.
Rating:
Summary: Good... but TOO EXPENSIVE!
Review: This camera is a good one. Ease of use, quality... good blend of form and function. Problem? TOO EXPENSIVE! Why pay a thousand dollar for a single lense camera? Canon and Nikon has their real SLR digital cameras that costs the same, with the lense already! This may be a good camera but let's face it, it is no SLR. If you're willing to spend this much, go for the Canon 300d or Nikon's soon to be released SLR. Sorry Sony Fans! This would have earn more stars if not for its ridiculous price tag.
Rating:
Summary: Forget the purple fringe complaints!
Review: This is my second review on the F828. I have the F828 now for 2 months and there is a tiny purple fringe in certain light conditions and the contrast and noise level could always be better - THIS CAMERA IS STILL EXCELLENT. Like with many digital cameras the AUTO settings are not perfect, but just there to allow its use with simplicity for as many possible situations. Using a UV filter and adjusting white balance manually solves these problems. I have tested the equivalent other products and even so they are a lot more expensive they are nowhere near as user-friendly and versatile. The F828 is not for snap-shots, it is semi-professional for a great price and requires educated use. In total, the features convinced me and that is still true. For example, the battery life on all other cameras is a joke. I can only suggest to try it yourself.
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