Top 25 Best Buys

Top 25 Best Buys

Distance Specs: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H7

Who? Long-zoom enthusiasts. What? Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H7. Why? When we tested the $470 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 (August 2007), we found it outstanding. But give up a little in the way of features, and save a lot (around a hundred bucks). With the H7, Sony subtracts the NightShot mode (of very limited use), and substitutes a 2.5-inch fixed LCD (plenty big) for the H9's 3-inch tilting one. You get the same sensor, processor, superduper 15X optical zoom with image stabilization, and accessories. The clincher is the imaging performance -- the best we've seen so far in a superzoom. Expect DSLR-quality shots through ISO 800. Now!$370, street.