Check the technical specification for the Sony DSC-T300 against the `best-in-the-field' for the features you consider most important and you will find that it ranks among the very best. A fully automatic `point and shoot' mode, with image stabilization makes the camera easy to use for the least experienced beginner. A comprehensive manual mode (plus a 147-page handbook) allows the more experienced user to exploit his photographic skills. The ability to focus to an incredible 1cm from the lens in macro mode is the best I have seen; the camera is worth buying for this feature alone.
The camera has no ugly lens turret; the Zeiss lens and 5X zoom mechanism are contained within the slim body and protected by a sliding lens shutter. A large 3.5 inches screen, with touch sensitive menu control, fills the back surface of the camera and eliminates all but the four most vital switches, namely, shooting mode/off; playback; zoom rocker; and the shutter. With virtually no switches, and no protruding parts, this must be one of the most elegant cameras available. Its small size is such that, even in a leather case, it slips easily into a pocket and can be forgotten!
Does it have any negative points? Yes. It has no facility for attaching filters, wide angle or telephoto adapters; its small size means that there is nothing `to grab hold of' and one has to be careful to keep fingers out of the field of view; it doesn't have the mass of a larger camera to make it steadier when taking pictures but the image stabilization seems to resolve this problem.
I can highly recommend it and take mine everywhere!