
Small, fast and strong
Review created: 08/25/06(updated 04/06/09)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.
I've been using this camera since winter 2004-2005 and its performance is stellar. If you want something that takes photos incredibly fast, this is it - you click on the shutter and you've got your pic. It's a joy to use - I've taken 9733 shots with it since I got it and it's still going strong.
Battery life is amazing - turn off the LCD and it'll last a few weeks, keep it on and it's still strong - you can fill up a 512 memory stick with the LCD on (not included - make sure you buy one!) and still have plenty of battery power to spare.
Video mode is surprisingly good too - for something this cheap, it does the job very well.
You will NOT have an optical zoom to play with if you use this camera, but given the price, it's not a big deal. Besides, you can crop down photos to 'artifically' zoom in - and the lack of a zoom means there's less moving parts to worry about breaking. I've abused my P41 greatly, taking it with me on a daily basis in backpacks and it's still going strong.
I had a minor issue with dust creeping into the viewfinder - partly due to the fact I would also just keep the camera in my pocket (it's smaller than many cellphones). Sony cleaned out the dust for free - I dropped it off for repairs before the one year warranty period expired. Recommend a soft case for the camera to avoid the dust issue from affecting you.
Highly recommended.
**Edit (April 7, 2009): The camera has taken an extensive beating over the past five years, and to Sony's credit, still works. But it's starting to flake out a little (image sensor getting a bit erratic, LCD screen having some instances of weirdness). Given the amount of heavy/daily abuse it has suffered I'm still impressed. But if you're planning on buying one now, be advised that any units still out there will be in understandably rough shape.**
Review ID: 10000000001669469

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