I have 2 Sony digital cameras - one is an older Mavica, the FD-91. It uses floppies, and has a 14x zoom. It is super easy to use the floppy-based cameras - you don't need any special software to transfer photos from the camera to the computer. And you can use it with any computer that has a floppy drive. The 14x zoom is a great feature too, I can get shots that no one else can without a lot of big expensive add on lenses. The downfall to the floppy-based cameras is resolution. Floppies can't hold as much data as other storage media can, some of the newer model Mavicas that use CDs get around that problem.


My second Sony is the DSC-S85, it is a 4.1 mega-pixel camera. Takes great, clear, pictures, but it is more expensive. It uses a memory stick, and I can get a bunch of high-res shots on my 128 MB memory stick.

One thing I really like about the Sony digital cameras is their battery systems. They use Infolithium batteries, and they last a lot longer than the cameras that use regular AA batteries. I can shoot for days on one charge.

My personal advice is to buy the best you can afford - I have seen many new digital camera buyers disappointed after buying cheap digital cameras, and the quality isn't what they expect.