Sony Cybershot T77

Agorgeous new T-Series Cyber-shot cameras from Sony is bursting with amazing features to help you take great pictures. Slim, colorful and easy to carry, the Sony Cybershot T77 is the perfect partner for any occasion, from fun-filled nights out to holidays, parties and family moments. The Sony T77 is the world’s slimmest camera with 4x optical zoom. The breathtaking Sony Cyber-shot T77 digital camera proves that less really is more when it comes to beautiful pictures. Just 15mm thin (13.9mm at thinnest point), the stunningly styled T77 won’t spoil the lines of a jacket or shirt pocket. It’s available in a range of five mouthwatering colours including black, silver, pink, green and brown.

Sony CyberShot DSC-T500

Everyone’s spoiled for choice with the camera that thinks it’s a camcorder. Now it’s easy to capture your favourite moments as sumptuous stills or HD movie clips with the slim, stylish new Sony Cyber-shot T500. Available in a choice of eye-catching piano black, silver and red finishes, the chic Sony T500 is packed with Sony technology to help everyone take better-looking pictures. Alongside sparkling 10.1 effective megapixel still image quality, the Sony CyberShot T500 is the first digital camera that can capture crisp, clear HD movie clips with stereo sound. New HD movie mode allows up to 60 mins (approx) of video to be stored on the supplied 4GB Memory Stick.



Movie modes included on the Sony CyberShot T500
Not sure whether that special moment deserves a photo or a video clip? It’s easy to switch instantly between still and movie modes at the touch of a conveniently placed button on top of the camera. You can even grab crisp still images (1280x720 pixels) without interrupting video shooting.

Sony DSC-T500 features a Carl Zeiss zoom lens
The superb Carl Zeiss lens features a new ring-type Zoom button, allowing easy adjustment throughout the 5x range while you’re shooting movies. Detail-packed stills and video clips can be viewed on the extra-large wide 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD. As well as giving a beautiful view of your images, the touchscreen also makes operation of camera functions beautifully simple. Touching anywhere on the screen while you’re composing a shot locks focus on that part of the scene.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900

The Sony A900 is the flagship DSLR in the Alpha range. Announced in September 2008, it’s the first model from Sony to feature a full-frame sensor, and the first full-frame DSLR in the world to boast built-in image stabilisation. The Alpha A900 also becomes the highest resolution 35mm-format DSLR at the time of writing, featuring 24.6 Megapixels thanks to its new Sony Exmor CMOS sensor. This leapfrogs the previous resolution leader, Canon's 21.1 Megapixel EOS 1Ds Mark III, while also coming in at a considerably lower price point.

The A900’s headline feature is of course its full-frame sensor, a chip first announced in January 2008 and making its debut here. Full-frame sensors measure the same size as 35mm film, which allows them to dispense with the field-reduction factor of other DSLR sensors – so mount a lens like the new Carl Zeiss 16-35mm and you’ll really get 16-35mm coverage as oppose to the 24-53mm coverage when it's mounted on other Alpha DSLRs.

The larger surface area of full-frame sensors also allows physically bigger photosites which in turn means greater sensitivity and dynamic range. So while the A900 boasts double the total pixel count of the earlier A700, its individual photosites actually remain a little larger, which should (in theory at least) allow it to perform better at higher sensitivities



The 24.6 Megapixels captured in each image is a great deal of information to number-crunch, so to handle the figures, Sony’s equipped the A900 with dual Bionz image processors. These allow the camera to impressively fire at 5fps, and while that rate’s matched by the 1Ds Mark III, the Sony model is again much cheaper.

Like all Alpha DSLRs, the new A900 features in-camera image stabilisation which physically shifts the sensor to counteract camera shake. Like those earlier models you won’t see the stabilising effect though the viewfinder, but the great benefit is it works with any lens you attach, be it wide or tele, prime or zoom. The really impressive part is the A900’s SteadyShot system is shifting a considerably larger sensor than earlier Alpha DSLRs – indeed it’s the first full-frame DSLR with sensor-shift anti-shake – but Sony’s still managed to squeeze the mechanism into a relatively compact body, at least for a high-end DSLR.

Another benefit of full-frame sensors are the large optical viewfinders which go with them. Sony’s excelled itself here by delivering 100% coverage which compares favourably against its similarly-priced rivals. Completing the specification are a VGA screen, HDMI port, accurate battery feedback, support for UDMA cards, AF micro-adjustment of lenses and Sony's Dynamic Range Optimizer which applies adjustments to the tonal range in real-time. Even though the A900 doesn't have Live View (or a movie mode), that's still a very impressive specification for the money with some unique aspects.
The big question of course is how well the A900 performs in practice. Most obviously, does the 24.6 Megapixel sensor really deliver a significantly higher degree of detail than anything that's come before it, and are there any compromises with noise at higher sensitivities? And while Sony's track record is proven with consumer and mid-range DSLRs, how does the A900 measure-up against established brands in the semi-pro and pro markets?

In our full review we'll answer these questions, putting the A900's features to the test while directly comparing its image quality against key rivals. At the time of writing, Canon's EOS 5D Mark II wasn't yet available, so we've taken the next best thing and compared the A900 against the flagship EOS 1Ds Mark III which shares the same resolution as Canon's new model. Completing the lineup in our comparisons is the A900's other major rival, the full-frame Nikon D700, which may 'only' sport 12.1 Megapixels, but is packed with features and handles beautifully.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 with 15x Optical Zoom and 3.0-inch LCD

Sony has today introduced their next generation long range zoom camera, the 9.1 megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50, featuring a 15x optical zoom combined with Sony's Super Steady-Shot image stabilization technology.


The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 serves as a successor to the 8.1MP Sony DSC-H9, and packs a wealth of hi-tech features, including Advanced Sports Mode (1/4000 sec.), the Sony NightShot system for shooting in darkness by infrared light, and advanced Face Detection with Smile Shutter™ technology which captures smile the moment they happen, as well as Face Detection technology to optimize focus, exposure and color for up to eight faces.
The Sony DSC-H50 Intelligent Scene Recognition automatically selects your camera's settings based on detected lighting conditions, while Sony's Double Anti-Blur solution helps keep your images blur-free. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 completes the package with a 3.0" ClearPhoto LCD Plus™ display that lets you easily view your images and menu options. The DSC-H50 will also be available in silver.

Sony DSC-F717 Digital Camera

The Sony DSC-F717 was my first digital camera. I chose it for a number of reasons. First of all, it was less expensive than digital SLR cameras at the time I purchased it (Spring of 2003). Secondly, its Carl Zeis lens was smokin’ fast at f/2.0. This was critical for astro-imaging situations. Thirdly, while it didn’t have a bulb setting for arbitrarily long exposures, it would do a 30 second exposure and would go to ISO800. This was long enough and sensitive enough to at least get me started with astrophotography.
The fast lens, combined with 30 second exposures at ISO800 gave me all the photon capturing power I needed to snag some amazing aurora. The Northern Lights typically show themselves to Park City residents about two or three times each year (things have been a bit slow, unfortunately, this year). With the Sony DSC-F717 mounted on a tripod, I was able to imaged these in all there glory.

As alluded to above, because of its attached lens, I could not do prime focus astrophotography, and was limited to eye piece project. This turned out to be more limiting than I expected, but still allowed for the easy shots like the Sun (filtered, of course), the moon, etc.

Nonetheless, this digital camera still plays an active role in my astrophotography arsenal. It is the camera I go to if I want to image the Sun or the planets as well as smaller details on the moon. It would also be the camera of choice for aurora borealis. It’s f/2.0 lens simply outdistances the f/3.5 lens that I currently have attached to the Digital Rebel.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

The Alpha DSLR-A100 marks Sony's debut into the digital SLR market and launches its new Alpha brand. Alpha was born from a collaboration announced back in July 2005 between Sony and Konica Minolta to jointly develop digital SLRs. Later in January 2006, Konica Minolta announced its withdrawal from the photo imaging business, transferring various digital SLR technologies including its anti-shake system and lens mount to Sony.

Now one year after the original announcement, the Sony DSLR-A100 or Alpha 100 has arrived complemented by a wide range of lenses and accessories. As expected the A100's 'Alpha' lens mount is identical to the previous Minolta A-type mount, allowing it to work with any existing Minolta A-Type lenses. Indeed most of the 21 Alpha lenses Sony announced with the A100 are based on existing Konica Minolta lenses, but revised with new zoom and focusing grips, along with Sony's branding. There are brand new models though, including three premium products from Carl Zeiss.



While all the Alpha products for 2006 have already been announced, Sony promises new releases during 2007 which will no doubt include both bodies and lenses, and intends to 'challenge the market leader' by 2008. That's fighting talk, wherever you come from.

Any new arrival in the highly competitive budget digital SLR market needs to be an impressive proposition, and on paper at least, the Sony Alpha DSLR A100 certainly delivers the goods. Sony's sensibly taken the best aspects of Konica Minolta's technology including the built-in Anti-Shake mechanism, lens mount, exposure system, and user interface, and added it's own expertise in CCD sensors, image processing and LCD screens.

The result is a 10.2 Megapixel compact digital SLR with built-in anti shake capabilities which work with every lens you attach, an anti-dust system, long life battery, advanced image processing and a nice large LCD monitor. That's a pretty impressive spec, considering the kit with 18-70mm lens has an RRP of UK £699 or US $999. Lets put it this way, it's much more than a Konica Minolta 5D with a new CCD sensor, and already a serious challenge to Canon's market-leading EOS-350D.
The Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 certainly sounds good in theory, but how does it perform in practice? In our in-depth review we'll take a look at this new contender and compare it against immediate rivals like the Canon 350D and Sony's own Cyber-shot DSC-R1, along with Nikon's higher-end D200, which after all, sports essentially the same CCD sensor.

Sony Alpha 350 DSLR

The Sony Alpha A350 is a DSLR camera designed for first time DSLR users.

Priced at US$799 ($899 kit) the A350 is a mainstream DSLR that will allow users to experience a new level in control and features allowing them to focus on creativity.

According to Sony, the A350 features new technologies that make picture taking faster, easier, and more familiar for first-time DSLR users. .

Key features include:

.14.2 Megapixels, APS CCD Sensor
.Optica viewfinder: TTL, 0.74x magnification with 50mm lens at infinity; 95% coverage
.TTL Phase Detection, Multi-point: 9 Area, 8 Line, 1 Cross Sensor Focus
.100-3200 ISO (sensitivity)
.Tiltable 2.7″ TFT (230,000 pixels) LCD with Clear Photo design
.730 shots per battery charge
.Takes Memory Stick MEDIA
.582 grams
.Dimensions of 130.8 mm x 98.5 mm x 74.7 mm (W x H x D)
.Live Preview mode links users and subjects on a large 2.7” LCD screen, for a familiar point-and-shoot style — with super-quick AF response and accurate exposure control to catch the perfect moment. In Live Preview mode, the camera bypasses the optical pentaprism mirror to create a live “eye-to-eye” view on the LCD of loved ones, children, pets and fast-changing scenes.

Sony Cybershot T300

Review based on a production Sony Cybershot DSC-T300

The Cybershot DSC-T300 is the second generation of touch-screen ultra compacts from electronics colossus Sony. Because it is built around a very small 1/2.3" sensor, Sony has been able to cram a 5x zoom into the slimline body without it ever having occasion to protrude. It's also packed full of the latest special modes and functions, including 'smile shutter,' that only takes a photo once your subject is smiling. The real stand-out feature of this camera is the huge, 16:9 aspect ratio touch screen that covers the entire reverse of the body. So is this beginning of the revolution that will free us from the the hegemony of the four-way controller, or is there a good reason that most cameras are covered in buttons?

Before getting on to that question, let's start with the headline features:

10.1 Megapixels and 5x zoom
Super Steady Shot image stabilization
Dynamic range optimization
3.5" touch-screen control system

Key differences compared to T200

In a shocking sequence of events, the biggest difference between the T300 and its predecessor is that the new model is built around a more pixel-dense sensor. The lens range also changes, with the wide end getting a tiny bit wider (though we're not about to hold a street party for a 33mm wide angle camera). This is a side-effect of adding a larger, 1/2.3" sensor in the same position as the old 1/2.5" one.

Sony Alpha A200 Digital SLR

Watching the strategies of the top players in the digital SLR market is like watching a game of chess with three sides, and the recent spate of product launches has shown some very interesting moves. Canon, the global market leader, has a comprehensive range covering the market with the entry-level 10-megapixel EOS 400D, the newly-announced 12.2MP EOS 450D and the semi-pro 10.1MP EOS 40D, as well as three full-frame professional cameras, the aging 12.8MP EOS 5D and the two EOS-1D MkIII variants, the 21MP EOS-1Ds and the high speed 10.1MP EOS-1D. Canon's main rival is of course Nikon, which has three consumer-level DSLRs including the 6MP D40, the new 10.1MP D60 and the D80, also 10.1MP. For the semi-pro it offers the 12.3MP D300 , while professionals get the full-frame 12.1MP D3.


Sony is a relative newcomer to the DSLR market, but has already moved into third place in the global market, mainly on the strength of its first consumer-level DSLR, the impressive Alpha A100, launched in June 2006. The A100 offered a superior specification to the then-current Canon EOS 350D and Nikon D40, but at a lower price and with the advantage of built-in moving-sensor image stabilisation. Sony followed this up in September last year with the semi-pro Alpha A700, competing in the same market as the EOS 40D and Nikon D300. However Sony has recently announced three more DSLRs in quick succession. Most recently we have heard about the Alpha A300 and A350, which will appeal the the more ambitious amateur with a range of features including an articulated live-view monitor and, for the A350, a 14.2-megapixel sensor. News of these interesting new models has somewhat overshadowed the launch of Sony's first new camera this year, the entry-level Alpha A200.


The A200 replaces the A100 as the base model in Sony's DSLR range, and its launch signifies the start of a major effort on Sony's part to grab a bigger slice of the lucrative DSLR market. While it sports the same 10.2-megapixel CCD sensor as the A100, in most other respects the A200 is a completely new camera. It features and improved Super SteadyShot moving-sensor image stabilisation system, improved Bionz image processor, faster focusing, faster shooting speed and a new more ergonomic body.


In terms of its overall specification it is a close match for both the Canon EOS 400D and the new Nikon D60 (which has the same Sony-made sensor). The crucial issue is going to be selling price, and the competition at this end of the market is fierce. The A200 is currently selling for £369 body only, or £449 with an 18-70mm kit lens. The Nikon D60 has just gone on sale for £449 body-only, or £499 with an 18-55mm kit lens, while the EOS 400D, which has been out for over a year now, is available for £349 body only, or £399 with an 18-55mm kit lens. It's interesting to note that the impressive 10MP Olympus E-510 is now available for around £420 with a 14-42mm kit lens, and that camera has both image stabilisation and live view.

Sony Alpha DSLR A700 final production review

The Alpha A700 is the highly anticipated second DSLR from Sony and the first to be entirely designed by Sony itself. Announced in September 2007 it fills a gap above the original A100 body, targeting serious enthusiasts and semi-pro photographers with higher resolution and more powerful features.

The A700 features a jump in resolution to 12.2 Megapixels with a new CMOS sensor, making it the highest resolution Alpha body, and a step-up from existing rival 10 Megapixel DSLRs. The sensor measures the same size as the existing APS-C chip in the A100, so rumours of a 1.25x crop or larger didn’t emerge for this particular model. On the upside though, this makes the A700 compatible with the full range of Alpha lenses including DT models, and like the A100 before it, all effectively become stabilised thanks to the built-in – and improved – Super SteadyShot.

Like most new DSLRs, Sony’s made the jump in screen size to 3in, but fitted the A700 with a super high resolution model sporting 640x480 resolution which is four times finer than typical 230k screens. And while every digital camera features a TV output, with better models even offering Component options for analogue HD connectivity, the A700 takes it one step further with an HDMI port for full digital HD output.

Sony of course understands you can’t woo higher-end photographers with gadgets alone, so has equipped the A700 with the kind of traditional features you’d expect from a semi-pro DSLR. As such you’ll find a PC Sync port for external lighting, 5fps continuous shooting, an 11-area AF system, interchangeable focusing screens, buttons offering direct access to key settings, both thumb and finger dials, the choice of uncompressed and compressed RAW files, 6400 ISO sensitivity and an optional battery / portrait grip. It’s also tougher with dust and moisture resistance. Perhaps the only thing missing is a secondary status screen on top of the body for shooting information, although to be fair the superb 3in colour monitor goes a long way to make up for it.

While the earlier Alpha A100 was little more than a rebadged Konica Minolta 5D with a higher resolution sensor, the Alpha A700 is a brand new, 100% Sony product. It clearly states the company’s intention to seriously go after the semi-pro market, although as such it’s up against very stiff competition from the likes of Canon’s new EOS 40D, Nikon’s D300 and the Olympus E-3. Since the A700 looks so close to one of the prototype DSLRs previewed by Sony earlier in 2007, it also implies the second prototype, a higher-end product still, could be closer to reality than thought.

Following our detailed preview in September we're pleased to now publish our in-depth review of a final production model. Over the following pages you'll find out how the Sony A700 performs in terms of resolution, noise, anti-shake, anti-dust and of course, general design, features and handling.

Suffice it to say we've compared the A700 closely against what's likely to be its biggest rival, the Canon EOS 40D, while also seeing how it measures-up alongside Canon's full-frame EOS 5D. So read on to find out if Sony has created a contender in the semi-pro DSLR market, and to see a demonstration of its highlights, be sure to check out our updated Sony A700 video tour.

NEW SONY FLAGSHIP FLASH UNIT EXPANDS CREATIVE POSSIBILITIES WITH QUICK SHIFT BOUNCE

SAN DIEGO, Jun. 19, 2008 – Sony is expanding its a (alpha) system of accessories to include the new HVL-F58AM flash unit with exceptional features for versatile and flexible external lighting control.

Quick Shift Bounce and Expanded Versatility
This new flash features a new and innovative Quick Shift Bounce system. It offers more creative ways to achieve lighting, flash and bounce angles you may not have been able to experience before.

The flash head can pivot 90 degrees left and right on a horizontal axis in addition to the conventional up and down vertical adjustment. With this system, the camera and flash unit can keep the same orientation regardless of portrait or landscape shooting. This gives a higher degree of flexibility when arranging the direction of light.

For example, you can take full advantage of the flash unit’s built-in bounce card even during portrait shots since the flash head can maintain the same orientation as it would in the landscape position.

Enhanced Operability and Ease-of-Use
A powerful performer, the HVL-F58AM flash unit features a maximum guide number of 58 at 105mm and ISO 100. It recycles (or recharges) in as little as five seconds, approximately 55% faster than the predecessor HVL-F56AM model, so you are ready to capture the next shot. And because it features a quiet recycle charge, there’s no whine to distract you from your subject.
It also has a large, easy-to-read LCD screen that is about 13% larger than its predecessor’s. Its intuitive control layout makes it easy to control flash functions and configure the settings based on your shooting needs.

Wireless Auto Flash Control
This new flash has wireless auto flash control so you can remove the flash unit from the camera and easily light subjects from different angles. Photographers can create soft shadows to add depth to their images and avoid the strong shadows and hot spots that can occur with front lighting. The HVL-F58AM flash unit can also control the ratio of lighting from several off-camera flash units.

Up to three groups of flashes can be set up for optimal, complete control of lighting via a wireless connection. Flash output ratios can be adjusted automatically without having to do tedious exposure calculations. Additionally, you can fire a modeling flash to preview flash effects before taking the picture. Even with multiple units, the modeling flash fires according to the flash ratio you have set.

Advanced Features for Optimal DSLR Performance
One of the flash’s most advanced features is its sophisticated zoom control that automatically optimizes illumination angles that are suitable for either APS-C size or 35mm full frame sensors. This control reduces light “fall-off” at the periphery of images.

It also has an advanced white balance compensation system that gathers color temperature information, complimenting the white balance information reading of the camera. This achieves more accurate results when the main unit is in auto white balance mode.

Other features include: high-speed synchronization at shutter speeds of up to 1/4000 of a second, ADI flash metering, manual flash and zoom (six levels), multiple-flash, and a supplied mini-stand for greater wireless freedom.

Price
$500

Sony Cyber-shot H5 Review Simon Joinson

The Cyber-shot DSC-H1 was Sony's first foray into the increasingly crowded compact, image stabilized 'super zoom' market, and it was a very successful one too. The DSC-H5 (along with little brother the DSC-H2) arrived almost exactly a year later in February 2006. The H5 is notable as the first 'big zoom' compact camera to feature a 7 megapixel sensor (a new Sony 1/2.5" CCD), and for its huge 3.0" screen. Otherwise the specification is pretty much the same as the H2, itself a fairly subtle update to the original H1 - no bad thing given the very high standards set by that model. Let's start with the headline features:

7.2 million effective pixels
36-432mm equivalent (12x optical) F2.8-3.7 Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar zoom lens
Super Steady Shot optical image stabilization
Wide ISO 80-1000 range
Clear RAW™ noise reduction technology
3.0” LCD (230,000 pixels) & 0.2" (200,000 pixel) Electronic viewfinder
Full photographic control
Real Imaging Processor & 14-bit DXP A/D Conversion
Optional wide and tele lens converters
Scene selection (7 modes)
Histogram indication
32MB internal memory, plus a Memory Stick/PRO Duo slot

Cyber-shot DSC-H5 vs DSC-H2
The H2 and H5 are essentially the same camera with a few important differences:

Higher resolution sensor (7MP versus 6MP)
Larger LCD screen (3.0 vs 2.0 inch)
Higher resolution screen (230k vs 85k pixels)
Black body option (H2 is silver only)
Slightly heavier than H2



As shown above the H5 (left) and H2 (center) are physically identical (save for the body color) from the front - the only difference on the back is the screen size. Shown for comparison is the original H1 (right).

SONY’S NEW CYBER-SHOT W-SERIES CAMERAS BRING ADDED PERFORMANCE AND EYE-CATCHING DESIGN

Sony has re-engineered its W-series of top-performing Cyber-shot® digital still cameras to embody the virtues of a traditional camera style and satisfy modern tastes for sleek, compact design.

In addition to sporting eye-level viewfinders in the fashion of traditional cameras, the new DSC-W50 and DSC-W30 models have large LCD screens and are significantly more compact than previous W-series models.

Both new cameras offer six-megapixel image resolution for high-quality prints, high-light sensitivity for fast-action shooting and more natural-looking pictures in low-light conditions, precision Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar 3x optical zoom lenses, and MPEG1 movie recording.
Available in silver, the DSC-W50 model features a 2.5-inch, easy-to-view LCD screen wrapped in a metal-alloy body with sophisticated etching and details. The DSC-W30 model also comes in silver with a two-inch LCD.

“These new models will be attractive to people who prefer the look and feel of a traditional camera, but without the bulk,” said James Neal, director of digital imaging products at Sony Electronics. “We’ve also increased the light sensitivity, which minimizes the need for flash photography, and improved the cameras’ user interface for better photography results and overall camera experience.”

No More Guessing What those Icons Mean

Anyone who has ever found menu icons on a digital still camera mysterious will appreciate the new function guide on the latest W-series models. When menu icons are selected, such as a specific shooting function or scene mode, a text explanation is displayed on the LCD making it easier to take a great shot. This function guide can be turned off once the user becomes more familiar with the camera.

Built for Better Performance

Both new models include high light-sensitivity settings up to ISO 1000, which allow for shooting at higher shutter speeds to capture fast-moving subjects with less blur. With higher light sensitivity at your fingertips, you can shoot in available light without a flash for more naturally-exposed, “true-to-life” pictures. With Sony’s Clear RAW ™ imaging technology, you can up the camera’s sensitivity without dramatically increasing picture noise, which makes pictures look blurry and grainy.

Sony’s ultra-fast Real Imaging Processor™ circuit delivers quick start-up, fast shot-to-shot times, and long battery life -- up to 400 shots on a single charge for the DSC-W30 model. It also speeds up the cameras’ sophisticated auto-exposure and multi-point, auto-focus features so that users get the picture right the first time.
Both cameras have 32MB of internal memory, which can be expanded further with an optional Memory Stick Duo™ media card or Memory Stick PRO Duo™ card, now offered in capacities up to two gigabytes.

Make the Most of High-Resolution Images through Prints

You can make high-quality prints by simply connecting these models to a Sony DPP-FP50 digital photo printer. You can even create postcards or calendars using the printer’s supplied software.
With Sony’s ImageStation® online photo service, you can expand your options to print tens or even hundreds of pictures, create online photo and video albums, or make customized gifts such as photo books and calendars.

The Cyber-shot DSC-W50 will be available in early March for about $250, and the DSC-W30 is available this month for about $230. Bundled accessories include rechargeable Lithium ion batteries (NP-BG1), charger (BC-CSG), USB and AV output cables, and Cyber-shot viewer software. Options include a lithium ion battery (NP-BG1) for about $50, a travel charger (BC-TRG) for about $60, a sports pack (SPK-WA) for about $100, and a 30mm lens/filter adapter (VAD-WB) for about $30.

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-N1 Reviews

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-N1 Reviews
Steves Digicams reviews/previews the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-N1 and writes - 'The Cyber-shot DSC-N1 is about the same size as a deck of playing cards and incorporates a high-performance, 8-megapixel digital camera, with a large, 3-inch, touch-screen LCD. The N1's album function automatically stores up to 500 of your favorite images in VGA resolution, and uses them to create dynamic slide shows with music and transition effects in the camera.'

DCRP has a first look review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N1 and writes - 'At first glance the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N1 ($499) looks like another ultra-thin camera. But the N1 is more than just a camera: Sony has designed it to be both a camera and a portable photo viewer. The N1 can display up to 500 of your photos, organized in albums. They can be viewed individually or in slideshows complete with music on the DSC-N1's huge 3-inch LCD display. Each time you take a picture it's automatically added to the album (which is stored in internal memory), so putting photos in the album is totally brainless.'

a digital eye reviews the Sony DSC-N1 and writes - 'Sony's 8-megapixel compact camera stands out from the rest. It's ideal for shooting and sharing. The 3x optical zoom Carl Zeiss lens creates sharp images. The huge 3" touch-screen LCD monitor is slightly recessed to help avoid scratches. At first I wasn't too sure of a touch-screen on a small camera, but after some use it's great. You can navigate much quicker, the buttons on the touch-screen are large enough that you rarely miss them. The screen can be made larger due to the fact that you don't have all these other buttons on the back of the camera fighting for real estate. Sony's Clear Photo LCD Plus design offers extremely vivid colors and a wide viewing angle - perfect for sharing images with family and friends. In fact, I found the 3 230K Pixel LCD much brighter and sharper and enjoyable than some of the other dedicated photo-album type viewers on the market today. Unfortunately there is no way to download other photos into the photo album for sharing, and once deleted from the photo album, they are gone for good. Also there is no option to select which photos to show and which photos to hide.'

Get the Latest Price on the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-N1

CNET reviews the Sony Cyber Shot DSC-N1 and gives it a rating of 6.6 out of 10 (good). They sum it up by writing:'Either you'll love the idea of a touch-screen LCD or you'll find the necessity of constantly visiting the menu system totally frustrating, if not absurd; it's enough to make anyone's relationship with the Sony Cyber Shot DSC-N1 a love/hate proposition. Snapshooters frustrated with the assortment of buttons and dials on other digital cameras may find the N1's touch screen easier to use; those accustomed to changing settings via dedicated buttons or a four-way controller may reject the whole idea. At its heart, the DSC-N1 remains a basic 8-megapixel, 3X-zoom ultracompact camera for everyday photography. It has an assortment of shooting options that will meet the needs of snapshooters, and it boasts a 3-inch LCD for displaying the 500 or so photos you can store in onboard albums.'

PC Mag reviews the Sony Cyber-shot DSC N1 and writes - 'With its signature slick, stylish design and a large, 3-inch touch screen, Sony's latest Cyber-shot DSC-N1 looks very cool, but it has a lot more than good looks going for it. This 8.1-megapixel ultracompact doesn't unseat the current ultracompact Editors' Choice, the Canon PowerShot SD500 Digital Elph, but it has a lot of great features that make it an appealing choice for style- and performance-conscious shutterbugs.'

Megapixel has posted a review of the Sony DSC-N1 and writes - 'The N1 yields images that are nothing short of excellent, especially when these are captured under full sun. The images show no sign of chromatic aberration, no barrel distortion with subjects at standard distances a little bit of distortion is sometimes observable when the subject is shot in macro mode and no pincushion distortion at the telephoto end. Sharpness is also excellent right across the frame, and is uniformly good irrespective of the focal length.'


Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-N1 News Release

SONY’S LATEST CYBER-SHOT DIGITAL CAMERA LETS YOU CARRY YOUR PHOTO ALBUM AND SLIDE SHOW IN YOUR POCKET

Sony adds more enjoyment and value to your digital photography with its new full-featured compact digital camera with built-in photo sharing functions that goes beyond just picture taking.

About the size of a deck of playing cards, the stylish Cyber-shot DSC-N1 is a high-performance, 8-megapixel camera, with an amazingly large, 3-inch, touch-screen LCD that is rare for a compact camera of this size. The N1 features a new album function that automatically stores up to 500 of your favorite images in VGA resolution, and uses them to create dynamic slide shows with music and transition effects – in the camera.

“Since the introduction of compact cameras with large LCDs, consumers have increasingly been using their cameras to not only capture moments, but also share and show them immediately on the LCD screens,” said James Neal, director of digital imaging products at Sony Electronics. “The combination of these functions makes the N1 ‘more than just a camera’, because it takes sharing to a whole new level.”



All You’ll Need in a Compact Camera
Take pictures with the confidence that you’ll get excellent picture quality. With the DSC-N1’s 8-megapixel Super HAD CCD, its resolution is extraordinary for a compact camera. The camera’s Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar lens lets you capture images with the utmost sharpness and clarity.

Sony’s Real Imaging Processor LSI provides excellent color accuracy and incredibly fast response times. Its advanced power management system delivers long battery life; up to 270 shots per charge (actual battery life depends on usage conditions). With shutter lag minimized to just 9 milliseconds, you won’t miss life’s most important moments.

Moreover, the N1 offers excellent ISO sensitivity, which is of particular importance when shooting in low-light conditions. You can capture faster action at night with less blur or, in certain conditions, avoid using a flash altogether.

With an optional Memory Stick PRO Duo media card, shooting high-quality video is a breeze. MPEG-VX fine mode allows you to record MPEG video with 640x480 pixel resolution at 30 frames per second, up to the capacity of a compatible media card.



Your Pictures on the Big Screen
Now showing pictures to your friends and family is even more enjoyable. The Cyber-shot N1’s 3.0-inch LCD screen is almost the size of an actual photograph – large enough for easy viewing. The camera’s menu functions are accessible with your finger or thumb, and its innovative touch-screen interface reduces the need for traditional keys next to the LCD, allowing for a large screen in a very compact body. With Sony’s Clear Photo LCD technology, your images will be bright, with high-contrast, and easy to view in virtually any environment.

Store Up to 500 of Your Favorite Photos
The N1’s album function automatically stores up to 500 of your favorite images for a “pocket full of memories.” By recording each image separately, once in full-resolution and again in 640x480-resolution, your favorite images accumulate for easy recall and sharing wherever you go.

When you release the shutter, the full-resolution image is saved to an optional Memory Stick Duo media card or in the camera’s 26MB of internal memory. Automatically, the image is resized to 640x480 and stored in the portion of the camera’s internal memory dedicated to the album.

Because you will take hundreds or perhaps thousands of pictures with your N1, the album function lets you protect the images you want to keep, so that over time you will have a collection of your favorite photos with you wherever you go. And with the camera’s file management system, you can quickly locate your images; simply search for pictures by the month and date that you originally created them.

To expand your playback options, you can view your photos on your television, through the optional Cyber-shot Station cradle, or on your PC. You decide how to share your photos, Sony lets you do it.

For even greater personalization of your photos, the DSC-N1 model also has a distinctive paint function that let’s you draw symbols or words on the pictures in your album using your finger or the supplied stylus.

Dynamic Slide Shows Without a PC
Now you can bring your photos to life with this latest model’s slide show function. The N1 creates slide shows directly on the camera without using a PC. Images can be played back with such advanced features as transitions, pans, wipes, fades and zooms, choreographed to pre-loaded soundtracks. You can also use your own music, using the camera’s supplied software. With the camera’s built-in speaker, your slide shows are sure to have that cinematic effect with sound to complete the experience.

More for Your Memories
Sony has even more ideas for enjoying your camera’s pictures and sharing them with family and friends. Connect the N1 model to a Sony DPP-FP50 digital photo printer and make prints at home or turn them into postcards or even calendars.

If you need to print tens or even hundreds of pictures, or want to share funny video clips, Sony’s online photo service can make the job simple. At www.imagestation.com, you can create your own online photo and video albums, order prints, or make customized gifts from coffee mugs and photo books to calendars and T-shirts.

The camera comes supplied with a Lithium Ion battery, battery charger, multi-connector cable, wrist strap, stylus, and software CD-ROM. Optional accessories include the Cyber-shot Station cradle, a marine pack, and leather carrying case.

The Cyber-shot N1 digital camera will be available in mid-November for about $500 online at SonyStyle.com, at Sony Style retail stores (www.sonystyle.com/retail), and at authorized dealers nationwide. Pre-orders begin online today at www.sony.com/n1.