Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T300

I have just purchased the Sony DSC-T300 here in Australia. I paid $A470 for it over here, and have been impressed with several points about it so far.

WELL DESIGNED

These include the elegant design - I like the fact that mine is a snazzy red colour, as I invariably mislay things by accident. The red makes it more visible to find as well as looking stylish.

EASY TO READ TOUCH SCREEN

The 3.5 inch screen is delightful after my previous digital cameras. How could I have existed without it ? Not being used to touch panel technology ( more used to twiddling knobs or pressing buttons) I am rapidly becoming a convert to pressing the touch panel screen. It seems very easy to navigate even for someone like myself who has a slow learning curve on these things.

SCRATCHES ?

One point I would make - it seems as if it would be easy to inadvertantly scratch this magnificent viewing screen, but then I learnt that Sony has allowed for that. You can buy an accessory screen protector, as well as a line of coloured carry cases to suit your colour preference. This is an accessory I will probably buy in due course.

IN-BUILT SLIDESHOW

The other feature that I've grown to like about this hi-tech camera is the slideshow for displaying images that is incorporated into it. You can choose from a selection of different musical accompaniments to view your pictures with.

The camera automatically works out a sequence of professional dissolves or pans which make your photos look all that more professional to show to friends when you play back your latest pics on the camera screen.

SMILE RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY

Another point about this camera - it has a feature on it which can recognise when a subject is smiling - apparently called smile recognition technology - and the camera senses this and takes a rapid sequence of pictures from which you can choose the best smile ! There is even a kind of smile meter which rates smiles and grins according to intensity ! Whatever next......

5x OPTICAL ZOOM

I'm also happy with the 5 X optical zoom as it helps me get pics that I would otherwise have missed. The battery seems to be lasting very well and I've only charged it once during about one month. Obviously the length of charge depends very much on whether you do lots of zooming, etc, but I have had good results with it so far.

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS

I feel that Sony have surpassed themselves with this little camera. It's perfect for my own purposes, and I've taken some fantastic sunset pics with it so far - all the brilliant colours of a Queensland sunset have been faithfully reproduced with very little effort on my part.

What else can I say ? These are sure to be popular as word gets around. It really clicked with me.