high expectations, Mixed impression - overall nice camera

+ Super compact, beautiful (black) Housing - 5 stars.
+ Barely audible, faster 20x-zoom - 5 star.
- Picture quality - unfortunately only 3 stars.
- Program operation could be improved.

Conclusion 1: Weaknesses in the photo quality indoors are visible, despite lightning.
Nevertheless, the WX300 is currently testing according possibly the best overall camera on the market, the
1.) a 20x zoom has!
2.) is so compact!
3.) There is in this price range! Supplement 2014: After the price has now fallen to about 220Euro, I give 4stars.

*****
other minor points:
+ 3 inch screen is nice and sharp.
+ Long battery life.
+ No disturbing ausfahrender Blitz!

° In general, the images of the Sony WX300 color act a bit chilly. But is a matter of taste.
+ Switching happens very quickly,
- However, the operation speed is mediocre.
+ Photo Zoom is the fast,
- Zooming during video recording, however, is quite slow.
- Menu Operation: the program wheel is relatively "fiddly" switch, and the program settings can be reached partly only cumbersome.
° the buttons are sometimes very small.
° since the camera is so small and compact, it is purely relative to slightly heavier in the hand.
° Body Color function is pretty, but does not always completely satisfactory (eg a banana was not recognized as yellow sometimes, so do not expect miracles).
° 360 ° panorama function is interesting - the images are somewhat pixelated (is with other cameras as well).
° HDR / Toy-cam capabilities are more likely to rate as a gimmick.

*****
If you've never used a newer digital camera, for this Travelzoom- / Point & Shoot camera is of course the purest magic. And Sony has here a small masterpiece of art conjured in fact, for the record first.

And the WX300 could be an absolute dream camera - when the picture quality would be even better. My expectations have not really met on this important issue, the WX300. My last point and shoot camera is in fact as early as 7 years old, and had a relatively tiny, low-light lens. And yet, the picture quality has not changed terrific. The technical limits have already been reached about? I had no posters capability expected, but better quality increase over the years.

A giant leap in quality, it has given it in the video recording.

Would be very grateful if someone has a tip to capture better quality photos with the WX300! Otherwise, it is in fact a really nice (video) camera.

*****
additional comment: Outside shot in daylight photos have a visible (for me) and the big screen good quality. The problems regarding image quality occur mainly indoors, in spite of lightning. Even the photograph-layman noted in any case that the colored areas slightly "noisy" look. The images are not pixelated, but indoors not "crisp". (This is but with all non-SLR in any way a problem.)

Program Menu / Steering: Various submenus can be called up only or effects set only if the fiddly program wheel will be changed for it. (Eg conversion of multi-centered focus to focus, or switching in the water color effect. It would be nice if the direct and practical'd designed.
*****
Final Conclusion: Despite some weaknesses and potential for improvement, the Sony WX300 is one of the best currently available cameras in the Travel Zoom range. - Especially to the now discounted price.