Excited AT FIRST

I actually give it a 3 1/2 star.
I bought this camera impulsively at Best Buy for $479. I loved it at first- I would have given it a 5 star then but now I know it a lot better- It was an upgrade from my Nikon 35mm. I chose this one becuase it was 8.1 meg and 15X zoom. ok, obviously I don't know everything there is to know about the camera so my review is going to be based on personal operation know- how.

*con's:
1.THE BATTERY IS A PIECE OF CRAP!- it only lasts about 4 hours- dies on me EVERYday
2. Night pictures do not have very good quality, they are blury even with the special night settings.
3. if you are taking a picture of a flower on a tree- and you have to zoom 15X it doesn't always cooperate- blury at times
4. Screen is large BUT does not close so therefore your finger prints and sratches get on it.
5. eye view finder does not work ( not to my knowledge)- MUST use screen
6. MUST BUY SONY ONLY MEMORY CARD - no universal one :(

*Pro's:
1- FUN! to use (movies- slide shows with music-LOVE THE PARTIAL COLOR THING!!!!!)
2- great HD quality- crisp/clear images!
3- red eye reduction
4- light weight
5- great zoom
6- I play with my camera everyday- I take many landscape pictures- the camera is great for that.
7- PERFECT LCD screen- very large!
8- it is a mini computer- you don't really have to read the manual very often because when you choose settings, it describes them on the screen for you:)
9. 4 or more flash options
10. picture viewing index so that you do not have to scroll through ALL the pics

I would advise you to shop around unlike I did- make sure you get the best camera you possibly can- read all the reviews for EACH camera!
Happy photo shooting! :)