Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9

Excellent – Worth every cent of the purchase price...I think I paid about $619.00 for it, in 2006/7. Very easy to learn how to use. Great combination of quality lense, 15X Optical Zoom, 8.1 Megapixels, extra-large viewing screen, and user-friendly layout and settings. I wanted a good quality camera primarily because I wanted to sell Ceramics & Glass-ware on eBay. My pet hate was the number of terrible pics that people uploaded to sell their Items. When buying this kind of thing online it is absolutely crucial to get the most detailed and accurate images possible. Impossible to use a basic model when you need to capture a backstamp or a hairline crack! I chose the Sony because it was the only camera which had all the right combination of things. Large viewing screen (3"x2") which is able to be adjusted to different angles...very useful for getting under things, etc. A really excellent quality optical lense...Zeiss...8.1 Megapixels and a 15x Optical Zoom...a combination which was the absolute best going at the time I purchased it. The bonuses that came with it were outstanding. Digital video & sound recording means that it is just as easy to quickly capture a bit of footage when out and about. The variety of shooting settings built into it mean perfect shots regardless of sunshine, rain, snow, fireworks, or pitch-darkness...it has a cool nightshot setting! It is also a great camera to learn photography on since you can switch it over to manual settings. The combined optical and digital zoom means you get 30x magnification when taking scenic shots. I photographed a boatclub across the bay from my Dad's place at Gosford and you can clearly see the road behind the club!!! Check out the photo on Panoramio, under ChoiceBits, or on Google-Earth if you want to see what I mean. I just wish they'd included a clip-on cover for the viewing screen. It can't be closed up, which means you need to wrap it in a scarf if you're carrying it in a handbag, or carry it in the camera case.