Hong Kong is a well-known shopping Mecca and people often spend days wandering the small alleys of Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai looking for electronic bargains.
Cameras, digital, video or still, are one of the most popular buys and many people spend weekends walking the hot and crowded pavements looking for the ultimate deal.
I did some digital camera shopping for a friend in Sydney recently. He had done his research and wanted only Sony's latest digital camera - Cybershot DSC-P9 and was not going to entertain other recommendations from me. Deciding on the right digital camera can be hard with so many well-made ones on the market.
The DSC-P9 is the four megapixel successor to the DSC-P5 and is better looking, lighter and sleeker. Other popular four-megapixel choices in the ultracompact category are the Olympus D-40Z, Canon Powershot S40 and Minolta Dimage F100.
The Sony is the smallest camera of the pack, though all have four-megapixel sensors and three-times optical zoom lenses. I would have preferred the Canon PowerShot S40 because it has manual controls whereas the Sony does not. Another plus point for the Canon - it uses Compact Flash cards whereas the Sony uses the Memory Stick. There are good reasons why my friend was so insistent on the DSC-P9, besides the fact that it is a Sony and is the most attractive of the lot.
The DSC-P9 can take long video clips, so with a 128 megabyte Memory Stick, you can record about 90 minutes of video. Its battery lifespan at two hours is among the longest for ultracompact cameras. The feel of the camera is excellent due to Sony's attention to detail and design. For example, the power button is differently designed and recessed into the body so it will not mistaken for the shutter release. You could handle this camera blindfolded. The Sony also sells, as an option, an underwater housing, making it waterproof for up to 30 metres.