The Little Camera that could.......

It's ultra chic, very easy to use, and will get you lots of attention, but this camera isn't for everyone.....

I needed to purchase a gift for my girlfriend for Christmas and her clunky digital camera was basically collecting dust. After looking around the internet, I saw the Sony DSC-u50 which I had seen last summer but at the time the price was too expensive ($249)

It was difficult to find a lot of information about the camera and since it has been discontinued I couldn't talk to anyone at Best Buy, Circuit City, or the Good Guys.

I found it on Ebay brand new for $130 and since it was so cheap, I ended up buying two. Silver for her and Black for me.

After using it for almost a month this is what I have found.

First the Good: This camera takes great pictures. I have used it for Ebay auctions, nights out w/ the friends, the L.A. auto show, and just random pictures around the house. This camera is so small, that it will go in a purse, shirt pocket, or jeans pocket with ease! Everywhere we go, and I mean everywhere, people ask about it and give compliments. The screen (1inch) though small, is very readable, and surprisingly even in direct sunlight. The screen is protected by a thick plastic that really puts any fears of damaging the screen at rest. The construction is aluminum and gives a very solid feel to the camera. The lens portion can be rotated 180 deg. (90 forward and 90 backward for self-portraits) This feature comes in extremely handy. Uses AAA batteries which can be purchased anywhere.

The Not so Good: The camera uses memory stick pro and this type of media is not cheap. The battery life though acceptable is noticeably less than that of the lithium batteries that most cameras come with. The 1in. screen is not for everyone, especially if you have vision issues. A picture may look great on the camera, but once uploaded on a computer and viewed on a 17.in/19 in. flat panel, you may then realize that the picture wasn't good at all. (not because of the camera quality) And now with cameras coming equipped w/ 2.5in. displays... -- No zoom: This is strictly a point and shoot camera. Optimal range is 6-15ft, Movie mode is pretty useless. The quality is acceptable, but you cannot record sound.

Overall impression: This little camera is great and at it's current price range $130-160, it's a good deal. This camera is ideal for women who want something small to put in their purse. The menu is very easy to use and you won't need to spend hours reading a manual (haven't looked at mine once) You will need to buy a larger memory card, Sony includes an 8mb.. useless. A 128mb would be sufficient and you cant take approx 250 top quality 2mp pictures. The product is built very well and should last a long time.
It's hard to find the Sony case for this camera, but it's really not needed.

If you want to be a trend setter and own an ultra portable point and shoot camera that is very easy and fun to use, buy this camera.

See also "Casio Exilim line-up"