Hands-On: Sony Cybershot DSC-W55

For many of you going on vacation this summer, a digital camera is a must-have to document your trip. I got my hands on the new Sony Cybershot DSC-W55 in pink, and I just couldn't put it down on my last trip to New York. Available in four colors including pink and light blue, the DSC-W55 point-and-shoot digital camera offers a 7.2-megapixel resolution, 3x optical zoom, VGA movie mode, and editing software. The good news is this camera is under $200, so it's a great buy for bargain hunters looking for a compact camera packed with lots of great features.

What I like:

My first impression was, "Wow, this is a stylish, compact camera." Even though the camera is available in black, silver, blue and pink, I'd have to say the brushed metal body looks better in color, than just plain silver. The camera is very small, but doesn't skimp out on features either. I'm not sure how they managed to fit ten scene options on the mode dial, but I'm glad they did. Each scene mode is also displayed on the LCD screen with a little description of what to expect. For example, a palm tree icon is described as the Beach mode so you can expect to "Shoot waterside scene with rich blue color." I also like the fact that it tells you how many pictures you have remaining if you shoot them at a certain resolution. This comes handy when you realize you've been shooting pictures at seven megapixels, so changing to three or five megapixels will let you store more pictures. It has a view finder which comes in handy when it's too bright outside to see what's on the LCD screen. It doesn't have a lot of buttons, so you won't feel intimidated. If you've handled a Cybershot camera before, then you'll be very familiar when navigating the menu to change ISO, white balance, color mode, and other set-up options.

What I don't like:

I currently own a DSC-T30, also a 7.2 megapixel camera, which has a large three inch LCD screen so I found the 2.5 inch display a bit too small for me. The preview button on the camera is hard to push, and one I didn't even recognize at a glance because it's small and isolated. I've always hated the fact that when you buy a digital camera, you also have to buy extra memory, so I don't like the fact that it only has 56MB of built-in memory. Although most of their models have less memory, I wish they would've added more space just like they did on the new Sony DSC-G1 which is available with up to 2 GB of built-in memory. When you power the camera, the lens pops out which can be a nuisance if you're not used to it. Turn it off, and the lens retracts and is covered by a built-in lens cover to protect it if you put inside your handbag. Battery life was average at most, but it does include an external charger that plugs into the wall if you're travelling. If you like built-in features like image stabilization, or in-camera retouching you won't like the fact that this camera has neither. You'll have to correct your photos with the included Picture Motion Browser software.

Overall, if you're looking for an affordable camera under $200, then is one is a good option I'd recommend. It's stylish, compact, and perfect as a first digital camera.

Related:

First Glance at Sony's DSC-T30