I have enjoyed the convenience of having both movie and pictures in one unit. My husband's camera looks like a camera but also does movies. My Sony HandyCam looks like a CamCorder but also does pictures. For some reason I feel like my pictures are more realistic than his movies. So as a both in one unit, I prefer the HandyCam. That said, the picture quality of the camera is better. The HandyCam pictures are a bit grainy. But I'm willing to accept a bit of grain for the huge convenience, the portability, and the overall style.

This is my first camera with a screen as the only option for a view finder. I know the technology has been out for a while but I was slow to warm up to it. I must say though, it is not bad at all. Especially because this screen rotates all the way around so for those silly moments when you want to hold the camera out and capture yourself too, you can confirm that you are in the shot by being able to see the screen.

On the back of the camera, just above the battery, is a silver knob with a tiny green button on it. When the button is pressed you can spin the knob like a lever downwards to activate the film, camera, or review options or turn the unit off. A green light next to a picture of the option indicates which one you have selected. One click gets the film, the second the camera, and the third the review. In broad daylight it is hard to see the green light and I have often been frustrated by landing on the wrong option.

Once in the option you want a vertically oblong silver button with a red dot on the back of the camera starts filming whereas a black horizontally oblong button on top takes the photo. I find this confusing as well and often press the wrong button that does not go with the option I have selected. The zoom is in front of the photo button and toggles left and right. The same button works for both photo and video.

The lens cap clicks on nicely and, when attached with the enclosed string, does not get in the way of pictures. The handle wrap is comfortable. I like the base that comes with the camera. The base plugs into power for charging and also connects via USB to upload pictures.

Uploading is done in the review mode and the screen must be flipped open. The screen is then used as a touch pad to indicate what you want to do with the pictures. It appears that you can send them directly to a printer or upload them in the computer. I've only uploaded them. I don't enjoy using the touch screen for this. I also don't find the screen options very intelligible. And if I upload some pictures to one folder and then want to upload some to a different folder, I wind up shutting off and then starting the camera back up because otherwise I can't get to the right option on the touch screen menu.

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 279
Recommended for: Home and Families - Keep Memories of Family Vacations