Sanyo DSC-MZ1

Opinion: What's good:
A camera loaded with features. Its ability to capture motion pictures @30fps with sound and full manual function certainly makes it outstanding among its competitors. Extra features such as Best shot and voice memo are useful.
Uses 2 AA batteries. Battery life are excellent in still image mode if neither LCD nor flash are used(around 500 pics).

Downside:
Pictures a little dull, needs retouching often. Rather flimsy battery cover; looks like it's going to break any time. Shooting video consumes a lot of battery power.
Driver CD comes with image processing and video editing softwares, except they are in Japanese. Package does not include any CF card and AC adaptor.(but includes 2 AA 1700mAh rechargeable batteries and a quick charger)

Conlusion:
I bought this camera from an online vendor in Japan and I gotta say for $400 US plus $40 shipping this is a great bargain(albeit the not-so-sharp image quality)! For the same price you can only get a Canon A20 but with no sound, video capture and full manual. Menus are switchable betwen Japanese and English so no need for a dictionary. Hope to see it on US market soon.

Opinion: I needed to return my DSC-MZ1 after trying *three*. There are
server noise problems in the video clips. The store said other
customers complained about this too. The specs look great,
but this noise problem makes it impossible to use.

The battery life is also *extremely* short.

doug

Opinion: I bought it for about US$550 included two 128MB 8X speed CF card. It is easy to use. I use it as not only a still camera but also a camcorder. The movie in 640X480 mode is near to DV camcorder's quality. But the sound is mono and with some noise. The data rate is only 740KB/S(DV is 3300KB/S). So, the movies are easy to send into computer for editing.

Opinion: It's very easly to use and many effect to play such as change color and very good motion quality.