The basic important features are:

• 7.2-megapixel CCD
• 3.0-inch LCD display
• 12x Optical Zoom
• Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization
• ISO 1000
• VGA (640 x 480) video at up to 30 frames per second

Like all Sony cameras, you can expect great image quality, good features, and an easy to use interface. What sets it apart from a smaller, more portable digital camera is the extreme zoom options–great for taking shots of your kids’ soccer games–and the image stabilization, which prevents blurriness. Danielle is going to be posting her home-use digital camera pick soon, so stay tuned! Update: The Gadgets Blog likes the DSC N1.

You can check out the PC Magazine digital camera review, but I’ll give you a summary:

• 12X Optical Zoom
• Automatic image stabilization
• 6 Megapixels (6MP) or 2816 x 2112 pixels
• SD card support, 16mb built in memory
• $400 retail price
• 2.5″ LCD screen

The full spec sheet can be found at dpreview, but all the specifications feel very nice. And, at $400, this editor’s award winning digital camera is both powerful and affordable. If I had to buy a new one, I might take a serious look at this pro-consumer offering.