The Sony DSC-H9 has been out for about five weeks and it seems to be a real love-it-or-hate-it camera. Discussions on the Internet forums have been, at times, quite heated, verging on flame wars. Fortunately, the camera forums are peopled by folks who believe in tact and discretion. Things quieted down a bit after the "professional" reviews were published.

There's still a lot of disagreement about this camera and I think I know why. (I had two DSC-H9s, so I'm somewhat qualified to comment.)

I've come up with five theories to help explain why, after all that has been learned, there is still a great difference of opinion.

1. The DSC-H9 is the "Best camera ever" within a specialized range of uses. The people who love this camera have, for the most part, posted pictures of bugs, beetles, birds, buds, and butterflies. These are pictures using only the center of the frame and capitalize on the camera's ability to capture spectacular pictures of these subjects.

Others have found that some of the camera's features, such as the large, fold-out LCD screen let them take pictures they would not otherwise be able to. In this case, the features provide new capabilities that outweigh other considerations.

2. There is a wide variation in manufacturing quality. I had two DSC-H9s. I exchanged the first because it didn't seem to be working very well. The second one worked better, but I wasn't satisfied with it. And yet, there are people on the Internet forums who love their DSC-H9s to death. And these people are using them for all sorts of pictures, not just the narrow range I mentioned above.

The only explanation I can think of is that the variation in picture quality between individual cameras of this model is much wider than I thought. It's like violins. Some DSC-H9s are a Stradivarius. Mine was just a Stradi-various. I expect that as these premium cameras are discovered that they will be coveted and fetch high prices on Ebay auctions.

3. Some posters on the Internet forums have speculated that the DSC-H9 requires specialized knowledge and skill to get the most from it. Normally I test the camera, but in this case, the camera tested me. I was obviously found wanting after being tested by my camera. I hang my head in shame at this failure.

4. The DSC-H9 is a summer blockbuster. It's part of the current crop.

Spiderman III (Also from Sony) Pirates of the Caribbean (The third) Sony DSC-H9 (Third generation)

See the pattern here? All three summer blockbusters opened to mixed reviews, all are the third in the series, and all have their high points and their lows.

The first two are setting box office records in spite of mixed reviews. Will the DSC-H9 follow in this trend?

5. I've saved the most interesting theory for last. It may be the real explanation for the differences that people are seeing with this camera.

I was unhappy with my first DSC-H9, so I took it back to the Sonystyle store in the big mall and exchanged it for another. Since I was now familiar with the camera, I unpacked and put in the battery and memory card, and attached the strap so I could start using it right away.

I took a number of pictures in the mall, and many more when I got home. Looking at the pictures now, the ones taken in the mall seem to have better image quality than the ones I took later on at home. They have better sharpness in the corners and the sides.

What could explain this difference? the only thing I can think of now is this: the camera comes with a little card attached to it with a little nylon string. In the mall, the little tag was still on the camera, but I removed it when I got home.

Here's a picture of the little card.

On the surface, it just seems to be a card listing the camera's more spectacular features, but I now believe that it's a magic charm that gives the camera its image quality. Remove the tag and the image quality is lost.

Looking through the rubble on my desk I found the little card. I'm wondering how many DSC-H9 owners have thrown theirs away and are now dissatisfied with the camera.

I think I'll put mine up on Ebay. Any takers?