Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Dark Blue)

I am very happy with my new camera. I already had a SONY mid-size, which I love, so this one was easy to learn how to use. Very similar. I liked that it uses the same battery and memory stick,so they are interchangeable. Disappointed that the cord is not the same; it is something extra for me to take on trips. I love it for sharp close ups. It even does well for distance shots that I then crop. Of course, the blue color is great. I would recommend this camera to anyone who wants to be able to slip the camera in his/her pocket and take very clear pictures.The price was fair as well.

I am very satisfied with this camera. Easy to use and very good picture quality.

You will not find a cooler looking and feeling camera anywhere,
but alas, the following two issues were deal breakers for me
and I opted to return the camera and by a Panasoci Lumic DMC-ZR1
instead.

Sony issues:
1) NO ZOOM ABILITY in video mode.
2) Very soft photos - inconsistent photo quality.

I really wanted to love this camera because it is just so cool
looking and solid, but seeing soft blurry blotches on faces
in my photos is just not acceptable.

And how do they not include a zoom ability on the video mode?
The Panasonic that I bought instead takes care of both issues.
While the low-light photo quality is not terrific on the Panasonic
either, the overall photo quality is better. And now I can zoom
in video mode - and with greater zoom ability, 12X.

Pretty good little camera. The video feature is cool, that's the reason for the purchase. Although the zoom is not that far. After I purchased this camera from Amazon, I found it cheaper at Best Buy. Also, I could've taken it back and exchanged for the color my daughter really wanted if I had purchased from Best Buy. Anyway, it takes great pics and serves it purpose. I would purchase it again. It's the best buy for what we were looking for.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Blue)

CONS: No Manual Mode (you can't adjust shutter speed), Proprietary Battery, Proprietary Output Cable

My old DSC (Cyberhot) had manual mode with all options adjustable, my old DSC used any AA battery of my choice, my old DSC used the standard mini USB connection and a standard A/V output jack. These features alone kept me from rating this 5 stars. Additionally, it doesn't use the regular "memory stick" my old DSC used.

PROS: Pretty much everything else. Great price, very small and portable, easy to use, many options for taking pictures, surprisingly great video quality (though without zoom option) that I viewed on a 55" TV, picture quality is obviously not at the level of an SLR, but I am very happy with it.

Overall I recommend the W290 as a simple, easy to use, inexpensive point and shoot camera. I feel like it is a bit of a downgrade from my old DSC in terms of manual mode, battery type, output cable type, and memory stick type, but I still like it.