In America it's known as the Olympus SP-550 UZ - price $500 (US):- - 4.68 84.24mm (28  504mm equivalent in 35mm photography) - Dual Image Stabilization eliminates blur (so you can photograph even when panicing) - The world's most powerful ultra zoom (at present) - 7.1 megapixel (so your UFO pix will make the FULL front page) - high-speed sequential shooting (get those shots of everybody running from the UFO) - shoot in low light without a flash (UFOs usually appear at night) And further propaganda:- - FULL MANUAL EXPOSURE CONTROL - ISO 5000 - "The SP-550 UZ offers the highest ISO sensitivity of any ultra zoom for superior low-light and fast-action photography" - With a burst rate of up to 15fps, you can freeze moments in time to get the shot you want. - macro (as close as 1cm) - wow!! gotta have one. -30 Shooting Modes including Movie with sound (HEAR the panicked screams) -Maximum Aperture f2.8  f4.5 - Shutter Speed 1/2000 sec.  15 sec., Bulb -ISO Auto, High ISO Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200*, 5000* (*approx. 3MP) - now you can photograph the famous "black cat in a coal mine". - Adjustment Resolutions 3,072 x 2,304, RAW / SHQ / HQ 3,072 x 2,048, 3:2 / SHQ / HQ 2,560 x 1,920, SQ1 High, Normal 2,304 x 1,728, SQ1 High, Normal 2,048 x 1,536, SQ1 High, Normal 1,600 x 1,200, SQ2 High, Normal 1,280 x 960, SQ2 High, Normal 1,024 x 768, SQ2 High, Normal 640 x 480, SQ2 High, Normal - 30 Shooting Modes: Auto, Program Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, My Modes, GUIDE, Scene Presets (Portrait, Landscape, Landscape & Portrait, Night Scene, Night & Portrait, Sport, Indoor, Candle, Self-Portrait, Available Light Portrait, Sunset, Fireworks, Cuisine, Documents, Auction, Shoot & Select1, Shoot & Select2, Beach, Snow, Underwater Wide1, Underwater Wide2, Underwater Macro), Movie - Panorama Modes Up to 10 frames automatically stitchable with OLYMPUS Master Software when using Olympus brand xD-Picture Card - Sequential Shooting Hi-Speed2: 15 frames per second for 20 frames (1.2MP) Hi-Speed1: 7 frames per second for 15 frames (3MP) Normal Speed: 1.2 frames per second for 7 frames (7MP) - Bracket: Exposure bracketing up to 5 frames - Interval Shooting - Shooting Assist Functions - Histogram, Frame Assist - Noise Reduction - Set automatically at shutter speeds of 0.5 second or longer - Flash Working Range Wide: 14.8 ft. (4.5m), Tele: 9.2 ft. (2.8m) at ISO 200 Wide: 42.3 ft. (12.9m), Tele: 26.2 ft. (8.0m) at ISO 1600 - Date/Time Calendar Automatically recorded with each image (up to 2099) (after 2099 it goes into "Millenium melt-down" - remember that contrived scare-?) - Removable Media Card xD-Picture Card (16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512MB, 1GB or 2GB) - Operating Environment Operation: 32°  104°F (0°  40°C), (Oh bother - that means no more desert trips, then); - 30%  90% humidity - So, why wouldn't you want one? Now I can get rid of my 35mm (Canon) and medium format film cameras, and give my back a rest - and even though the Panasonic (with Leica lens) has served me well, it's showing it's age.

If you go to Flickr and search "groups" for Sony, there are some choices of groups. You'll want to click on "discussion" when you get to the group. I picked this one. Perhaps someone there might know more about that model. HTH. Pam Here is a link that might be useful: Flickr - Sony Cybershop H Series Alliance

Thanks for your explanation, as for me, I need to get immersed in some of the finer points of camerology I've been procrastinating about because they are complicated. Auto focus in low light is probably the problem; it is a problem with lots of models, or it could be something else. And you can always try to manually focus, but it's tricky if you don't have a special ring, tricky anyway, but some people have a great eye for it. Before you give up on the wonders of being able to take some shots without a flash (sometimes it's just better to use it), you might try holding a flashlight or laser pen just long enough to focus but turn it off before you press the shutter. Maybe also check your manual to see if the camera has a focus assist beam, probably not. Yesterday of all things I photographed an amateur (customer-participation) fashion show with mixed results. But one of the neat things was it was well lit in there, my flash failed and I didn't know it right away. Some shots I did not want to use the flash on anyway because it would not reach far enough to do any good. I got a few really nice shots even if some were duds, think I used ISO 800 but then bumped it up to 1600 which was bad because that's when noise kicks in on mine. But maybe I needed the 1600 for a couple of them, can't remember. The bottom line is that if you can crank up the ISO and can manage to focus, you can get a photo you could never get otherwise, even if it's a little noisy, it's better than no photo unless you can't achieve focus. It works great at dusk, too. Another trick to focus is to point at something brighter and half press, but it should be the same distance or you may get what you want in focus blurred. While you are half pressing, reframe the shot and press all the way. I do that all the time in normal light even to get just what I want in focus. Somebody suggested to focus on the eyes so I do. I'm just sharing some things I learned the hard way and by reading a lot, and if you knew some of this, please forgive me. I can't zoom up as close as you can with what I'm now using nor can I get good macro shots, so if you can get the hang of it, you will be able to get some great photos. I'll bet that camera takes nice macros. Watch for camera shake, if you get too close, you may need a tripod.

Hi bug_girl, My previous camera was a DSC-H2 and I really love that little camera. I'm learning a DSLR and sometimes find myself going back to the Sony to feel like I'm in a comfort zone. I was taking pictures of the moon last night with the DSLR. It was very frustrating at first. I couldn't get as good a photo with the DSLR as I had with the Sony in the past. For me, I think it's the learning curve I'm dealing with. Could it be that for you, too? I know how you feel, though...and hope you get everything worked out to use your previous camera. Pam