On the other hand, the unit does have some nice�though limited-- advanced features such as preset exposures, special effects, and Sony's unique NightShot feature. My daughter especially likes the special effects package. I particularly appreciate the Night Shot feature. I video a lot of youth sporting events that can involve a lot of transitional lighting issues, especially on those evenings around the time change seasons, an this unit handles all those issues very well. It does a commendable job in moonlight as well.

The unit is well designed and rugged. It is not a choice for die-hard vidoephiles�the range of advanced features is too limited, but they should be adequate for normal family outing type use.

Battery life using the LCD is rather short. The viewfinder picture is black & white. Using it rather than the LCD expands battery life significantly but the quality of he picture in the viewfinder is not good.

The audio quality is average. Functionality of interface with other devices (TV, PC, etc.) is good.

On the whole, a great unit to start out with or for more adventurous outings where camera safety might be an issue. (I took this one white water rafting�not my state-of-the-art unit.). It has enough features to give a feel for an advanced unit without overwhelming the user, provides better than average output and cost wise is a relative bargain.