Rating: Summary: I highly recommend this camera, the movie mode is the bomb! Review: I've always found these customer reviews very helpful when trying to make a purchase decision so, here goes.Bottom Line: I highly recommend this camera. If however, you can afford the 5MP Optical (Sony P92 Cybershot) purchase that instead. That is not to say, in any way, that the 3.2MP Optical is not a good purchase. It is. The difference is a slightly better image quality and higher price. The P92 will allow you to zoom in a little closer and provide more detailed images. Specifically, the P92 provides 3X optical with 4X digital for a total of 12X or quality prints up 20 x 30", while the P72 provides 3X optical with 3.2X digital for a total of 9.6X for quality prints up to 11 x 14". Currently (January 2004) the price difference is about $70.00. The extra money might be worth it if you're the type to say, "I wish I could have gotten in just a *little* closer ..." Specifics: The P72 has all the standard bells and whistles that come with higher priced cameras such as auto focus, auto exposure, night mode, etc. (click on the PDF link for the manual if you have specifics you're wondering about). At the time of my purchase (September 2003) I had three main requirements for a digital camera: at least 3.0X optical, a movie mode and it had to be around $300.00 or less. There were many good, even excellent, quality digital cameras that offered all three including this one. However, the movie mode for this camera is the bomb!! It was the final thing that sold me on it. Again, at the time of my purchase, most digital cameras only allowed for about a 30 second movie mode without sound. The P72's movie mode is only limited by the size of the memory stick used *and* it records with sound! Really good sound! (The sound quality actually surprised me a little.) A 128MB memory stick can record up to 5+ minutes (10+ with a double sided 128MB) and a MSX-1G memory stick (if you can afford one) can record up to 44+ minutes! Unless you need long uninterrupted recording time (say for an entire wedding or graduation) who needs a camcorder?! This is smaller and lighter to carry and the image quality is just as good. In addition, Sony includes a cable that allows you to plug the camera directly into your VCR or DVD recorder's audio and visual jacks allowing you to record/copy your movies directly to VHS or DVD with full screen image quality. Or, you can plug the camera directly into your computer via USB connection on the back of the camera (again Sony includes a cable) to burn images to a CD or DVD. How cool is that?! But wait there's more. Sony has a 1.7X telephoto lens and adapter (Item numbers VCL-DH1730 and VAD-PEA respectively) that work on both the P72 and P92 (as well as the P8 and P10) that takes the total zoom times even higher! I highly recommend these additional accessories especially since with the purchase of the camera Sony will probably provide at least one discount coupon you can use towards their purchase. In general: The camera is easy to use - especially if you read the directions and manual *before* you use it like you should with anything. (Often people gripping about problems haven't read their manuals. You know who you are.) :) It's compact and lightweight. It's great for trips or just to have at the ready. I didn't want to go over my budget but I wanted a really good quality camera. So, I researched many different digital cameras before making a decision. Almost every overall review for this camera received a very high mark whether it was from an expert or a customer. I love it and I feel certain it was worth every penny I paid for it.
Rating: Summary: It's strictly point-and-shoot Review: I've bought this camera about 3 month ago. it's a great point & shoot camera (you cannot control manual white balance and shutter speed) and it has very good photo quality. the problem is that some of indoor photos are noisy, also shutter speed is too slow indoors, making it impossible to capture anything that moves. but it do a pretty good job with outdors. if you are looking for a point-and-shoot camera, DSC-P72 is one of the best but if you are interested in more manual control I recommend Canon powershot A70 for the same price.
Rating: Summary: Good starting camera Review: I bought this camera back in the summer of 2003, primarily for my trip to Europe. The camera didn't dissapoint. My only gripe is that some of my pictures from the beaches of france are a little grainy...may have been the humidity(as it was really hot in all of europe that summer) that messed things up...and I was on the beach with my camera... all day. While those photos aren't bad...the quality isn't up to par with the rest of my photos from the trip and back at home. One other gripe I have about the camera is the "zoom" sound the thing makes...it gets annoying and only draws attention to you in quiet areas(like the beach or a museum). Sometimes the color wasn't what I had hoped it to be either...maybe I didn't have on the right settings but I didn't think it caught the colors of the sky too well. Eh. Enough with my whining...this camera is pretty darn good. The ability to zoom in with the optical...and zoom in with the digital is great...you can never take a bad picture. If you're taking shots from any distance...it is good to zoom in all the way with the optical...just so you can zoom in again closer with the digital and take another high quality photo from that. This camera is also very strong. I got sand in it...and the shutter eye was kinda [messed up] for a bit(which may have to do with why some pictures didn't turn out so well)...but after awhile it kinda just fixed itself. The shutter protecting the lens began to open all the way again and works great. I also dropped my camera once and my memory card went flying...thankfully the camera still worked great...and I was able to find my memory card(in the dark no less)...and the camera doesn't even have a scratch on it from the instance. The camera is very strong. What seperates this camera out from the less sony series...the p52 and p7 is it's ability to take movies with audio. The quality is pretty darn good for a digital camera. Playing movies I've taken on my computer...they are in excellent quality from like 4 by 6 inches or so...distorted quality when you put it on full screen...but hey...if I want full screen I'll save my pennies for an actual camcorder, right? The audio is pretty good too from my experience...not as crystal clear as if you were actually there...but decent enough where you can understand clearly what is being said. Overall, I'm pretty darn happy with the camera. Are there better camera out on the market? yeah...maybe...Canon's are supposed to be pretty good and some people I met travelling had those and they were cool...but the P72 is pretty good from my experience. This camera is cheaper from when I bought it...and it's bigger brothers are fairly cheap too. So if you're set on getting a camera, and this one in particular, ask yourself what kind of money you're willing to spend...(this is fairly affordable now) and do you want 2 more megapixels(this camera's original price for 2 more megapixels). This technology just keeps getting cheaper and cheaper though too. So that is something else you wanna figure into your purchase...do you need a digital camera now? I felt I did for my vacation(how many times does one get to go to europe?). So I'll finish my review saying that this is a good starting digital camera...a few bad photos here and there(could be blamed on the weather) and some trouble with colors in the sky but some great things about it too such as the video with audio and durability of the thing not to break by the forces of gravity or sand. I'll give this camera a solid 4 stars. There's better out there...do you want to pay for it though?
Rating: Summary: Excellent camera, excellent price! Review: December 24, 2003 (...) ANYWAY, I just got this camera yesterday and I can't put it down. This user-friendly camera has everything you could think of for an average person who just wants GOOD PICTURES. The image quality is superb, providing you with crisp, smooth, clear pictures. The menu and navigation is easy to use and best of all...this little camera can take videos! It's not just an "added bonus"; the video quality sure is acceptable for a camera like this and the video feature is ideal for any short clips you wanna take when you're out with friends. One of the features I love on this camera is the "night mode" (thats what i call it) This is a feature that allows you to take a picture OUTSIDE IN THE DARK! I sure couldn't do that with my old one. Of course, some light source is DEFINITELY necessary, but it deals with especially "dark" conditions and actually "brightens" the picture so that when you see it on your computer, it looks the SAME way as we humans actually see! Last but not least, the camera brings a video cable so that you can SEE THE PICTURES YOU TAKE ON YOUR TV!! This goes for the VIDEOS TOO! I mean, could there be ANY BETTER WAY to show the pics or videos to all your friends at a get together?? Unless you're willing to hook up a projector, this TV-compatibility feature sure beats anything else. Finally, for the price that I got it ($269.99 at Best Buy), this little techological marvel is sure worth every penny. I WOULD recommend, however, to buy the 128 MB memory stick for it, since the 16 MB one that the camera brings can only fit about 10 or a few more pics on the HIGHEST quality (3.2 megapixels). They're not expensive (...) (...)
Rating: Summary: not so great for the price and sony brand Review: I got this camera two days back. I took a few indoor pictures with flash and without flash (note, there is plenty of light through my balcony glass doors). The pictures with no flash came blurred. Also took another picture in less lighting. I found lot of green , red color spots. I had KODAK DC3200 which I gave it to my brother(so far more than 2500 pics taken by that). I love those pictures. I don't think I had this problem in that camera. I have sony miniDV which I use sometimes to take digital pictures which seems to be better than this though pixel is less.
Rating: Summary: great camera great price Review: I just purchased the canon dscp72 camera and could not be happier,the initial set up is very easy and although I did not read the manual and this being my first digital camera it worked excedingly well. My first time use with out any experience was at my daughters Christmas concert and the picture quality is great. The video quality was also great, now we dont have to lug arround 2 cameras. This works great as a still camera and a video camera. after weeks of research we couldn't be happier
Rating: Summary: Not that great of a camera Review: Hi, I bought this camera about three months ago and have taken about 200 pictures with it. Pros - excellent battery life even when using the LCD - I'm able to get over 50 pictures (about half with flash) easily. When the pictures come out, they are of good quality. I've printed many of them and they look great. Cons - Many of the pictures don't come out, and they often end up blurry. This is especially true in low light conditions. The LCD does not have good enough resolution to tell if your picture is blurry or not. The camera is already starting to fall apart even after a few months - I feel as if the joints of the camera are coming undone. In the end, you may be one of the people who gets an untarnished camera, but if I were you, I would stick to more reliable manufacturers
Rating: Summary: Breaks easily Review: Four months after I purchased it, this wouldn't turn on one day. Sony refuses to stand by its products, and it sticks to a $150 flat rate labor fee since the warranty is only three months. I greatly enjoyed this camera for a few months and recommended it often, but when I called Sony, its own technician referred to it as "fragile."
Rating: Summary: Great Digital Camera & Great Pictures Review: I brought the Sony DSC-P72 a few days ago. I can't complain. It's a great digital camera. It's small and lightweight. The image quality is great. The features are excellent. The control buttons are easy to use. The LCD screen shows your sharp and crisp pictures that you have taken. You can add special effects when you take your pictures. You can take pictures in Solarize, Black & White, Sepia, and Negative art mode. There is a self-timer feature in this digital camera. The picture will be taken after 10 seconds. You are also able to shoot mini movies. The mini movie quality is good, because the sounds and images came out clear. The Sony DSC-P72 comes with 2 Sony Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries, battery charger, power cord, CD-ROM software (Image Mixer), 16MB memory stick, and A/V connecting cable. The A/V cable has to be connected to the digital camera and the TV, in order to view your pictures on TV. By the way, if you are planning to take plenty of pictures with this digital camera, you should buy a memory stick that is higher than 16MB. You should also charge the supplied batteries for about 6 hours before you use it.
Rating: Summary: Blurry picture problem and only 3 month warranty ! Review: I noticed that all my pictures where blurry on the right side. I got the camera in june 03. Warranty Labor is only 3 month! I e-mailed customer service to complain ... The response was a 'predefined' answer. around 140$ repair no matter what . That represents half the price of the camera.... So be cautious before choosing this camera. Most competitors offer 1 year warranty...
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