Sony DSC-V1 Digital Camera (Sony-DSCV1)

WHAT'S HOT: Want a high-resolution camera, but don't want to lug the equivalent of a small brick? The Cyber-shot DSC-V1 is one of the lightest, most compact 5-megapixel models we've tested. It's also among the easiest to use: The designers logically arranged the menu commands and the buttons on the camera's body, and both are easy to understand.

Sony borrowed a couple of low-light modes from its digital video camcorders (and from the Cyber-shot DSC-F717 still camera) for the DSC-V1, and they're extremely useful. In NightFraming mode, the camera emits a holographic laser to help it focus, set exposure, and fire the flash in dim or even dark settings. In NightShot mode, the camera emits an infrared light, so you can shoot in total darkness (but the flash doesn't fire, and you get only a monochrome image). They work very well, but you must flip a switch to choose among normal shooting or the two low-light modes. The holographic laser also operates in normal mode. Like many Sony digital cameras, the DSC-V1 focuses quickly and accurately with little fuss, even in macro mode.

WHAT'S NOT: Like most other Sony models, this camera offers only stepped manual focusing, so you may have to adjust the camera distance in addition to choosing a step. Sony remains the only major camera vendor whose parts warranty lasts only 90 days; all others back their products for a full year. In our battery tests, the DSC-V1 lasted for just 197 shots (a little better than 1 hour). That's about half the average of the cameras priced at $500 or more that we've tested. A second NP-FC11 battery costs about $50.

WHAT ELSE: In our image-quality tests, The DSC-V1 scored near the average for cameras costing $500 and over. Images looked sharp, thanks to its high resolution, but several images looked dark and greenish-blue. The camera has an easy-to-use white-balance calibrator that could probably moderate that issue. With a 1.5-inch diagonal measurement, the LCD display is smaller than we'd like, but its antireflective coating makes it very clear.

UPSHOT: If you're looking for a high-end point-and-shoot, the DSC-V1 is a good bet. It's not quite as sophisticated as, say, the Nikon Coolpix 5400, but it's much easier to use.