Customer Reviews

Sony DSCU60 2.0 Megapixel Digital Camera

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The U-60 is a gem. I bought it for water sports and to have a small rugged carry-anywhere digicam (I also have an Olympus C-700 for more technical and telephoto shots). I keep it in my pocket and often get those "I wish I had a camera right now" spontaneous shots that I used to miss. It's fast to start, easy to understand, very user friendly, small to carry, and gets decent resolution pics. It goes surfing every time I do. Especially fun and useful is the "burst mode" that takes five shots in a row. It addresses that frustration of "shutter lag" and "shutter timing" that can happen with digital action shots. More info:

PROS:
Small, cheap, rugged, easy to use, good software, good battery life, decent resolution, well waterproofed, cheap batteries, burst mode, battery-saving lowlight LCD mode, card reader unnecessary.

Cons: No viewfinder, tiny LCD, no opt. zoom, burst pics are only 600x400. (although I adjusted to all these shortcomings and didn't miss them!)

For it's intended use, it excels.

Although the DSC-U60 has almost none of the features one has come to expect on a digital camera, it does what it does flawlessly. What it does is snap simple, hi-resolution photos in any environment without fail.

It has no zoom lens. What you see in the viewfiner is what you get, period. You point, you shoot, that's it.

It is (or at least mine is) really, truly waterproof. This is an absolutely essential feature for me, and is the raison d'etre of the DSC-U60. If you don't need a waterproof camera, look elsewhere. On the other hand, if you kayak, canoe, fish, or camp, it's really cool to have a camera you don't have to worry about getting wet. I've killed a number of cameras on river trips, and probably lost some great photos as a result. This puppy has been in rivers, lakes, and hot tubs, and hasn't skipped a beat.

The lens is great, the electronics are great, and the resolution is superb. Although 5 or 6 MP is becoming standard these days, the DSC-U60 takes extremely sharp, clear photos, good for printing or viewing on-screen.

If you need anything more or less than a waterproof point-and-shoot, you will be disappointed. This would be a really poor choice for a general-purpose camera. There are better, sharper, and easier-to-use cameras out there with way more features for much less money.

On the other hand, if (like me) you really need an indestructable camera for simple, high-quality snapshots, you couldn't ask for more.

I really like this camera. It takes great pictures. It easy to use when out kayaking. It has fallen in the water and been entirely submerged with no problems. It's sporty looking and very easy to use. I highly recommend it.

I really like the Sony DSCU60 digital camera, it's special to take it to the beach and take pictures under the water. With 2.0 megapixel it's not for pros but the quality its great for point and click cameras. The only con: no audio with video recording but for 150$ I think its ok

For 2mp cam with no zoom, this little thing takes some nice shots. I have used it in a party setting, in a heavy shorebreak and out on reef break a short paddle out from the shore. Has not let me down yet. This is not suitable for a main digicam, and I don't really see myself getting prints from it but for web, email and general electronic use it's great.

Some issues with battery life however, be prepared to get a backup set or two of the rechargable sony bateries. Also as others have mentioned the "burst" mode resolution is tiny and the video mode is really only usable as a last resort, and I mean aliens landing/second coming type last resort. Don't buy it for those modes but still consider it, at $150 it's a bargain.

I have had one for over 10 yrs and saw this one online. I love it for its simplicity and it takes excellent pics! Though no tele-photo or the extras one purchase with other cameras. But if one know how to use software, that is not an issue.

I have had the camera since 2004 and it still works. I use it like most people for outdoor activities. I don't do anything special to prevent it from getting wet. However, on my last kayak trip I noticed condensation behind the LCD. Based on what I have read in the other reviews the end may be near.

Its a great design, the one handed shape. It tucks into a life vest or a ski pocket. I never put it in a case, its always at hand. It was inexpensive and the pictures can be great. Its best features in order are, water proof, small size, and easy to deploy. That puts the camera in play in more situations than a SLR or even most point and shoots. That makes for some good pictures.

The video is a joke and there is no sound. The lack of a zoom is fine. Most zooms are pretty anemic. The resolution when you blow it up is lame by today's standards. It eats batteries so carry a bunch of rechargeables and a charger or use lithium disposables (but recycle them!!!)

I believe they don't make the camera anymore, but I really would like Sony to update the thing pretty much as is but with a sharper lense (skip the zoom though), more resolution, better water proofing, and better quality of construction. If they could produce it for less than $150 bucks I bet they could sell a bunch of them.

I purchased this camera as a cheaper option to any other camera with a $400 marine housing as I dont intend on diving 40 metres the u60 is perfect for my surfing pics and a bit of reef photography. I bought this 7 months ago for $380 and its the best money I've ever spent taking fishing and surfing and everywhere wet the images are crystal clear and I dont see any differnce in image quality between this and my 5 megapixel camera.

as a long time film user, this was my first digital cam. I'm fairly active, and since purchased in Aug 03, have taken it sea and whitewater kayaking, into the break, sailing, sledding, skiing, etc. While the resolution wasn't up to what I was used to with even fast film, I took pictures where I just wouldn't have been able to before. I took care of the o ring, and have experienced none of the problems reported by other reports here.

All was good w/ it until it just died last month. I'm probably going to check out some other alternatives, and am not even going to bother calling sony or the place where I bought it.

Even with that said, the camera's just about paid for itself in the past year.

I like this camera but after a couple of years the screen now shutters and you have to turn it on and off to get it to stop. Life expectancy is a little less than I had hoped for.