Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-WX9 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Still Camera with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 5x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and Full HD 1080/60i Video (Black)

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX9 reviewFirstly, I would like to state that I was initially going to write a review detailing all the pros and cons of this camera but I decided that I will instead list what I have found to be of most interest to me.Since I received this camera in the mail from Amazon.com, (Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX9 16MP 5x optical) I have been very pleased with it. My motivation for buying this particular camera came from the failure of my previous camera (Kodak EasyShare Z1485 IS 14MP 5x optical). My final decision to buy the WX9 came from three things: the first reason was that it had all the features and more of my previous camera, the second reason was that of the price ($164) which was $40-$60 cheaper than the local retail stores e.g. Bestbuy, Walmart, Costco, Officemax, at the time it was purchased; and the third reason was that it had descent reviews from Amazon as well as Cnet.Below I list some of the pros and cons I have observed, but not extensively as it would take a long time to find and write and a waste of your time as well.Pros:* Loaded with actual helpful features (such as an in camera feature guide that walks you through the function.)* Fast cycle time. This allows you to take photos at a quick rate (however, in some modes it will take longer, naturally)* Slim and light design, makes it easy to carry and to find a case for.* Good picture quality. The 16 megapixels, 5x optical zoom, and image stabilization help a lot with simple (and shaky) point and shoot photography.* Ability to shoot in 1920x1080 video.Cons:* Battery life could be longer, I was able to get approximately 200 photos (many with the flash on) and a short video on one charge of the battery which comes with the camera. However this is the price one pays for the slim camera design.* The scroll wheel is novel,(reminds me of my Sandisk MP3 player), but tends to lag and can get annoying. Use the scroll wheel and the menu buttons together to avoid this problem.* You cannot set the shutter speed for custom exposure or manually focus the lens. Most people would probably not care about these functions in a camera of this type, but for myself it was my biggest disappointment as my previous, and cheaper, camera had these features. (For those of you who are wondering what I need these functions for, I used them for tricky lighting such as sunsets and for capturing lightning.)* The video, (at least the 1920x1080 modes I have observed) are interlaced video, making it necessary to convert video for advanced video editing.After owning the camera and having used it for 10 days (at the time I am writing this review) and 876 pictures and 20 videos later, I have come to the conclusion that the Cyber-shot DSC-WX9 is, in my opinion, a very good camera for the price in terms of functionality and features. My advice to anyone who decides to get this camera is to: try all the features in as many situations as possible(this is the best way to find out how to use this camera); take as many different exposures, at least what is possible and practical, of what you are shooting; buy a spare battery (Wasabi Power had a good combo deal on Amazon.com at the time this review was written); and always try to keep your camera handy as many great shots come available with little notice.Thank you for reading my review.Hopefully it has been helpful to you in some way.

This camera is extremely well crafted: The camera is heavy for its size; fit and finish are excellent- this is a precision instrument; metal battery door and latch.The DSC-WX9 is very intuitive to use. I didn't have to read the manual in order to start taking great pictures.The pictures it takes are just amazingly good without one having to adjust a gazillion things.The EXMOR backlit CMOS sensor is great. Night shots are amazing for a Digital Camera- CCD Sensors can't compare.The "Superior Auto" mode can create some magnificent pictures. SEE SAMPLE PICTURES- at the top of the product description.* Do note that CCD Sensor cameras will produce a more detailed (absolute pixel resolution) picture than Backlit CMOS Sensor cameras like the Sony DSC-WX9. However, CCD Sensor cameras can't approach the fast shutter speeds and low light performance of Backlit CMOS Sensor cameras.I have had this camera for several weeks now and absolutely love it. I looked at Nikon, Cannon, Olympus, Panasonic, Fuji cameras in this class too. The only comparable ones, for me, were a Nikon (CMOS) and a Panasonic (CCD). Feature for feature the Sony DSC-WX9 came out on top. The Panasonic 16MP CCD 8x Zoom DMC-F25 was cheaper at $112.00, and the Nikon CMOS 14MP 5x Zoom S3100 was more expensive at $170.00. Reliably, I kept coming back to the Sony, and User Reviews were a big reason. I also read lots of reviews on Photography websites and consistently the Sony won me over. Importantly, only the Sony has HD AVC 1080/60i video capabilities. The Nikon and Panasonic shoot in MOV 720/24p high definition. The Sony's HD AVC format is preferred as it is very easy to edit. MOV video files are notoriously difficult to work with. Consequently, the Sony clearly stood out as the best value for me.I bought this Sony DSC-WX9 to be able to shoot extremely important/good pictures of my dog Faith who has advanced liver disease. This camera has delivered better than I could have ever imagined! We have been going out to the park behind my house almost daily to shoot pictures of her and myself ever since I got the DSC-WX9. I have shot up to 200+ photos at a time and have yet to "use up" the battery. I am pleased to report that we have amassed a huge quantity of excellent pictures. I view the photos on my 47 inch 1080p desktop monitor and edit them with ACD See Pro 5 and Adobe CS6. Needless to say I have a ton of printing left to do! Prints- so far- as large as 11 x 14 inches look "Professional"; seriously, they're that good!In summary, this is the best camera decision/purchase I have ever made. The Sony DSC-WX9 is SO MUCH CAMERA in such a small package. It is small enough to always have it with you. Moreover, excellent pictures are essentially assured and virtually dummy proof; especially when you use features like "Superior Auto". I'm glad I'm not lugging around a monster DSLR- no need!I FOUND THE PERFECT CASE FOR THE DSC-WX9 (it fits snug; is small; and allows quick access):9098302 Body Glove Clutch Black Universal Case - RetailFinally, take a look at some of the sample images at the top of the "product description". I suspect you will be impressed.