Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H70

One of Sony's cheapest compact cameras of 2011, the Cyber-shot DSC-H70 continues the manufacturer's tradition of pairing advanced features with budget-friendly prices, reviewers say. An upgrade from the 14-megapixel DSC-H55, the Cyber-shot H70 has 16-megapixel resolution. The higher resolution "doesn't make the photos any better" than the H70's predecessor, Joshua Goldman of CNET notes, but "they aren't necessarily any worse" either, producing images that are "very good to excellent for its class." Boasting optical and digital image stabilization, iAuto for automatic setting selection and 10x zoom (25mm to 250mm), the H70 is a solid value for its price range, though experts say slightly pricier models like the Sony DSC-HX7V (*Est. $280) may be a better choice for their extra features.

Featuring an ergonomic design and a 3-inch LCD screen instead of a viewfinder, the Cyber-shot H70 includes easy-to-use manual settings and an efficient automatic mode. Reviewers are generally pleased with image quality, though noise and exposure glitches do occur rarely. "These downfalls were not what we expected to see from the H70, especially considering this unit offers Sony's high-quality G-series lens," say the reviewers at Steves-Digicams.com. The H70 also can record 720p HD video.

Reviewers say the H70 isn't the best fit for those who want extensive manual controls, but it is a "natural choice as a travel camera," say Greg Scoblete and Stephanie Boozer of Imaging-Resource.com. It excels at capturing panorama shots and performs decently in low-light conditions when shooting in Advanced mode. Noise appears in ISO levels over 400, a common occurrence in compact digital cameras.