Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony DSC-P8 Digital Camera [3MP 3xOptical]

Went to Japan on holiday in May 2003. Didn't take a camera. Bought one there - the Sony DSC-P8. It has only just started to appear in UK shops now.

So, what did I think of it? Well, I somehow expected that the instruction book would be like most these days - in lots of different languages. No such luck, it came in Japanese only. That would mean that I couldn't use the camera, wouldn't it? Wrong! Straight out of the box and I was taking pictures, editing them and viewing them via the TV in Japan. Of course this would mean that I couldn't view them on TV at home? Wrong again - switchable between PAL and NTSC.

So the software would be no good, being in Japanese? No, it is multi-language. Actually it didn't matter anyway, as I didn't need to use it. I plugged the USB lead into my iMac and the Mac software did it all without me having to set up anything. Isn't iPhoto wonderful?

Lots of photographery fiddly/fun stuff on the DSC-P8 if you want it. Camera is light, fits in your pocket and goes anywhere with you. I even took a couple of short movies with it at Glasgow Jazz Festival. OK, so they are only 640 x 480, but not bad at all for the size of camera.

I received this camera as a gift, having looked at a lot of the alternatives, including Sony's DSC-P72. This camera is a little smaller than it's stablemates and also comes with the lithium battery, that tells you how long you have before re-charging - very useful.
I am extremely pleased with this camera. It's my first digital, and the picture quality is a real surprise. It is simple to use, and so much fun. The zoom is excellent, and the whole package feels robust and well-made.
The only downside for me would be the lack of COMPLETE control over things like the aperture settings, but there are a host of pre-set modes to play with for creativity, as well as the "automatic-everything" point-and-click option.
If you can handle the cost, I really recommend this camera.

This is an amazing little camera that looks great and is great to use. The picture quality is also superb. With sufficient lighting the movie mode for this camera produces high quality mpeg video with sound.

I'm impressed with this camera and wholeheartedly recommend it to those looking for a camera with style and good picture and movie shooting quality.

amazing. that is the word to sum up this camera. the p-8 is brilliant. it has many different modes and functions, which make it an ideal camera for anyone short of a professional photographer. a friend advised me to get this camera and i did some careful market reasearch on various other cameras including the p-72 and a kodak. the p-8 won hands down with all its effects (black and white, solarize etc) and modes (fireworks, snow,beach etc). the basic point and shoot mode is also included on the camera, and with mpeg movie mode (max 90 min) the cameras' brilliance is proved. an info lithium battery and memory stick pro compatability top off this camera. if anyone said this camera was bad they would be lying - its amazing.

I have found this to be an excellent choice. Bought to replace a Samsung 2MP digital camera which had an insatiable appetite for AA batteries - whenever I wanted to take a picture it was sheer pot luck whether there would be any power left in it. The Sony, however, has an internal Lithium battery which does not need to be removed for charging - hence, the AC adaptor can simply be plugged into the camera from time to time guaranteeing it will work when required. The silver metal body has a real quality feel about it, photo quality is excellent without requiring the full 3.1Mp resolution, very compact and sits well in the hand.
Wish I'd invested in one sooner.