Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony DSC-P12 Digital Camera [5MP 3xOptical]

I highly recommend this camera over the Sony DSC-P10. The extra battery and leather case make this camera package exeptional value. First things first, get yourself as a minimum a 256MB memory stick pro card. It takes 96 shots and that is pretty much the life of the battery. It also gives you greater flexibility to record movies without worrying about running out of memory.

I got this camera from Amazon.co.uk last November and had my first experience with it at the NEC Motorcycle Exhibition shortly after receiving it. I am an amateur point and clicker so I left it in Automatic mode for the day. Over a full day I filled the memory stick with photos and movies and I did not need to change the battery. Photo quality was excellent, the 5 megapixels give you that extra flexibility also which you notice on your PC screen as you zoom in and out of the photo.

I guess as always I forget the basic rule of an automatic camera - LIGHT and lots of it! Good light gets you good photos. The DSC-P12 is perfectly adaptable to use in low light conditions without resorting to the flash. However - this feature and other special low light features of the camera (like fireworks and twilight mode) require a tripod or exceptionally steady hands! Which seems a bit senseless when you've just purchased this model because of it's very compact nature as compared to say the larger DSP models. The movie mode would equally suffer in low light conditions. Flash recharge time makes you feel like you are waiting an age but I don't think it is any more excessive than any other camera.

I'm learning it's manual features more now - being able to instantly see the image helps me understand the how's and why's of exposure, ISO and steady breathing! I reckon it's an ideal camera if you've previously used automatic 35mm film cameras. The automatic mode will not let you down. However it is a pricey move to make. 4 stars as the quality is exceptional. Minus 1 star as the extra features are not really compatible with a compact 'anywhere & everywhere' camera.

The P12 is a better buy than the P10 since it comes with the bag and the battery. However, the P10 has since been super seeded by the P120, at £299.99 (Amazon Price) now for £60 you'll probably better off upgrading - since the P120 has the Carl Zeus Lens.

Pros of P12
- Size
- Weight
- High Quality Pictures
- Good Price
- VERY EASY TO USE (Believe me, my mum can use it with out a problem)
- Point and click camera, and fine tune if you want to
- Spare battery

Cons

- Poor optical zoom (3x) but you don't get any better till you go to a massive camera such as the Sony 828
- Small LCD screen, displays "pixelation" although this doesn't actually occur on the picture
- Sensitive to small movements, especially in low light
- You'll need another memory stick - at least 128 megs i'd suggest

If you want a point and click camera, thats easy to use, and small...this is the camera for you. If you can afford another £60 go for the Sony P120 - it doesn't have any additional features its just smaller, and newer and uses a better lens.

After much research I decided to treat myself to the DSC-P12 - my firstventure into the world of digital photography.
I thought the camera was a little expensive, but at least it came with acase and an extra battery. Also all of the reviews I had read about thiscamera had suggested it is faultless.
After getting it a month ago, it has been in constant use. I'm only a"point and shoot" photographer but this camera has far exceeded myexpectations.
I've used it up mountains in the Lake District and the scenery shots areexcellent - sharp with fantastic colour reproduction.
I guess the"easy of use" of a camera can really be tested on the side of a mountain,in the cold. I found that the controls were easy to use, the LCD screensometimes (understandably) difficult to see in bright sunlight, but theview-finder excellent.
My sister-in-law had a baby recently and the camera has taken lots ofclose-up shots of her new off-spring. The detail is immaculate which ismainly down to the 5Mp capability. I would recommend 5Mp over 4 - thedifference is really obvious in the finished shot.
The only "extra" photography feature I have really used is the macro lensfunction. The results are really impressive and its easy to appear to be amuch more accomplished photograher than you may really be.
On a slightly negative note, the camera only comes with a 32MB memorystick. This is not enough by a long way. I also bought a 128MB stick (aLexar also via Amazon). The 128 stays in the camera and I carry the 32stick in the handy slot in the leather case that comes free with thecamera.
Overall this camera is easy to use, the results are superb and I wouldrecommend it without reservation. Up the Boro.

I bought this camera in mid/late december not really sure about how i was going to get on with it as i have absolutely no experience or knowledge of digital camera's.I have only owned my first computer since late september and was wondering if i would find it a over-complicated.I did some research including the amazon reviews which were absolutely bang-on. This camera is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! The picture quality is totally amazing and far better than anyone i know gets from their camera's of around the same price.This package,which contains a spare battery and a leather case is a fantastic bargain and i would recommend it to anyone. I have'nt yet taken a bad picture,it's so incredibly easy to use.Having seen my camera,one of my friends has since bought a P12 and another is trying to sell his current camera in order to do so. Perhaps the best piece of kit i've bought in a very long time.If you are thinking of buying a P12...don't waste your time. JUST BUY IT! YOU WON'T REGRET IT!

My first digital camera and I am very pleased. Very small and compact and supplied with two batteries and a leather carry case. The controls appear very easy to understand, I hadn't even read the instructions and I was taking pictures, transfering them to the computer and resizing them etc within minutes of turning the camera on. Five million pixals makes the images really crisp and sharp with nothing to moan about. Movie mode also provides excellent image quality, sound however is mono so is not the best but if you wanted a camera for that it would be best to get a camcorder anyway. The flash is also very powerful (blinding in a dark room! lol). Cosmetically the camera looks very swish with a deep blue finish and silver features. Also the price on Amazon is really low for such a quality camera. Highly recommended.