Sony Cybershot DSC-T100 8MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot (Silver)

Even though I'd like to give this camera a 1 star right now, I have to base the review on the entire time I've had it.

Got it in June of 2007 for a few weddings. Had a large Canon digital SLR, but wanted something sleek to put in purse. Was VERY HAPPY with this Sony Cybershot. Received multiple comments on how great my photos were coming out. Even recommended to a friend to purchase one for herself. Small, nice battery life, great photos. Loved it. Would give it a 5 star for the first 2 years.

Then in June 2009, the camera started to vibrate when turned on and the lens wouldn't focus properly. Went to Sony website, and they charge $141 plus tax to repair this. While digging on there, I found that they recognized this manufacturing issue on the DSC-T20 and are replacing T20s with the problem, but no other models. That doesn't help me. I now have a vibrating camera that won't focus and no way of fixing it that won't cost almost as much as purchasing a whole new one. Sony has lost me as a customer due to this.

Caveat Emptor!

I have had this camera for over a year and at first I though it was me taking a blured picture occasionally. It was not, the camera for no apparent reason will blurr 1 out of 10 pictures. If the flash is on the percent is better but I still do not recommend this camera.
Charles Krugman

I wish I could tell you (the reader) what a great camera this is. I wish I could say it was a great buy. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

Today marks the third time since April, 2008 (which is when I originally purchased the camera) that I am having to send the camera back to Sony for repairs. I've had problems with the display not working properly, flickering, not showing colors, or simply not working at all; the facial recognition has not worked since day one; and the battery has not held a decent charge since day one either. To top it all off, every time I send the camera in for repairs, I have to pay for the shipping -- if that's not a slap in the face, then I don't know what is.

Now, for the period of time in between repairs that the camera has worked, it's had its good points and its bad points (more of the latter than the former).

The good:

The zoom on this camera is great, particularly the ability to zoom while filming (which from what I've heard isn't available on all cameras in this price range). Also, the continuous shutter works well and is really fast (there is no way to turn the flash on, however, which is a disappointment).


The bad:

Everything else. The pictures are simply terrible. I've adjusted the settings countless times, I've even set it on automatic to let the camera decide which settings are best; however, without fail, every time I plug the camera into the television to view the pictures, they look absolutely terrible. I've played old VHS tapes that have better quality than what this camera puts out. The same goes for the video quality.

My sister purchased a Canon camera that has the same features as this Sony (minus the ability to zoom while taking a video) plus more freedom to edit the photos in the camera, but her camera cost one hundred dollars less than this one, AND it hasn't given her any problems whatsoever. All in all, this purchase was a major disappointment. I truly expected more out of Sony, and I also expected that a corporation as large and as rich as Sony would at least have the decency to pay for the shipping when a customer is sending in their faulty product for repairs. This is most certainly the last time I ever purchase a Sony product.

I normally never write reviews but after owning one myself I felt it necessary to help others not end up with the same problems I had.

Camera looks great, compact, and takes ok pictures in outdoors with bright lights, but indoors don't even use it. Florescent lighting makes the pictures yellow orange. Face recognition does'nt work all the time. Most indoor pictures are blurry and soft. Red eye does not work all the time. I own a 4 megapixel sony and it takes better pictures than this camera. Flash is dissapointing making pictures dark if not close (5-10ft). This camera should have never even been released to the market. This camera is a waste of your money. Please don't make the same mistake I did! The pictures were so bad in the end that I now use it as a paper weight.

I had no intentions of buying a camera, but I stumbled upon this one on clearance for $200 bucks at Best Buy. With an upcoming trip to Italy and my Pentax DSLR our only camera option I decided to buy it. Had I known it would be so difficult to find another one at that price, I would have bought them all. I'm happy with the purchase at my price, but would have been disappointed with the $400-600 everyone else seems to be paying.
The touchscreen works well, it's very responsive and easy to use. There could be some design improvements with the interface, but it's not too bad.
Well lit outdoor pics look great. Indoor, lowlight pics are mediocre.
File sizes are ok. Unfortunately no option for RAW files and it also doesn't use SD which is all but standard now, so i had to buy an additional memory card.

The bottom line is that it's perfect if your expectations are appropriate. Don't expect it to replace a DSLR, or take professional quality images. It's small, fits in my shirt pocket, is easy to use and easy to travel with. The images are good enough for a slideshow or scrapbooking--if that's your thing. Pick one up if you can find it under $300