If you are looking for a straightforward and easy to use digital camera then the Sony DSC S500 could be the one for you. Looking at current prices this camera is available for well under £100 and is therefore one of the cheapest digital cameras on the market.
It's a handy size at 61 x 94 x 33mm, although this puts it on the large side if you are looking for a camera small enough to squeeze into a typical pocket.
As with other cameras in this price range the DSC S500 has a plastic body. Even so the camera feels fairly solid in the hand and while I cannot say this camera is anything out of the ordinary the overall build quality compares well to other cameras in this price bracket.
Headline features include six megapixels and a three times optical zoom lens. The amount of zoom available can be increased if you reduce the amount of megapixels you are using. Be aware that reducing the number of megapixels will also reduce the size of print you can make from a photograph.
Just about all digital cameras in this price bracket are point and shoot models without too many bells and whistles. Despite this fact the DSC S500 does offer the majority of settings and controls you see on more expensive Sony cameras. I have always considered the menu system used by Sony to be one of my favourites. Options are ease to track down and it does not take long to find out where everything lives.
The key to using this camera is the control dial that sits on the top. This gives you access to the majority of settings you will use. These include the standard mode for taking a still photo, reviewing photos you have already taken, accessing a small number of scene modes and shooting movies.
On the back of the camera you will find a 2.4" LCD screen. Average screen size is increasing, but this is still a good sized for this level of camera.
Two AA batteries are included in the box. You may wish to look into picking up some rechargeable replacement batteries if you do not already own some.
When it comes to recording images you will find Sony have built 25mb of storage into the DSC S500. This is enough to give the camera a quick test out, but for any more serious use you will need to pick up a memory card. The camera is compatible with Memory Stick Duo cards. The important point to remember is that the name of the card needs to include the word Duo. Otherwise the card is unlikely to fit into your camera.
