Digital Cameras Ratings

I just purchased two pink T20s and one black T100 as gifts. Before I gave them away, I did a few tests for myself.

I originally thought these two models were identical except for the different lenses and LCDs, so their photos should be similar. My test results didn’t support with my assumption, though. While T100 surprised me a little bit by producing very clear photos, T20 had problems producing consistent clear images.

Like the N1 I have, T20 seems to have the trouble of focusing the object correctly indoors. About half of the photos are more or less out of focus. On the contrary, 90 percent of the photos produced by T100 are correctly focused. In addition, although I set both models in the same way (ISO to 80, face detection to ON, SteadyShot to ON, and illuminator to AUTO) photos taken by T20 seemed nosier than that by T100. I cannot be sure if the lens, the processor, or whatever else caused that.

My suggestion: choose T100 over T20 whenever possible. I am convinced that T100 is superior to T20 in producing good photos and worth the extra money.

Product Description
With 8.1-Megapixel the DSC-T20 delivers clarity to group photos and snapshots for greater detail in big prints. The Carl Zeiss 3x optical zoom lens design along with Face Detection feature optimizes natural tones in faces. High Definition output makes photos look even more spectacular when you share them with friends and family on your HDTV screens. Sony Super HAD(TM) (Hole Accumulated Diode) CCD design allows more light to pass to each pixel, increasing sensitivity and reducing noise. With Super SteadyShot(R) Image Stabilization and high sensitivity ISO 3200, the DSC-T20 compensates for shaky hands, minimizes blur, brightens images and allows flash-free shooting. Sony Clear RAW Noise Reduction reduces the picture noise that can ruin low-light shots. The DSC-T20 lets you add creative effects to photos after you shoot including soft edge filter to soften backgrounds, cross filter to place starry dazzles at highlight points, partial color filter to mute surrounding colors, even fish-eye filter to create interesting fish-eye lens effects. The DSC-T20 provides up to 380 shots with a fully charged NP-BG1 Lithium Ion battery.1/2.5-inch Super HAD(TM) CCD Imaging Device Exposure Compensation -1/3 EV Step IncrementsFocal Length -6.33 – 19 mm35mm Equivalent -38 – 114 mmFocus -9 Area Multi-Point AF, Center AF, Spot AFShutter Speed -1/4-1/1000 seconds (Auto), 1-1/1000 seconds (Program Auto) Aperture Range -f3.5-5.6 (W), f4.3-10 (T) Self-Timer -10 seconds, 2 seconds & Off White Balance -Automatic, Cloudy, Daylight, Fluorescent 1, Fluorescent 2, Fluorescent 3, Incandescent & FlashPower Save Mode -After 3 minutes of inactivity In-Camera Editing -Red-eye reduction HD 1080i Output Flash Modes -Auto, Forced On, Forced Off, Slow Synch Scene Modes -Beach, Fireworks, High Sensitivity, High Speed Shutter, Landscape, Snow, Soft Snap, Twilight & Twilight Portrait Operating Sys

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony Cybershot DSC-T20 8.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot (Silver)

I bought the DCSW80 for my wife, to replace an old, slower Sony digital camera.After several weeks I find that I use it more than she does, because of the ease of operatin and portability.I love my Canon Rebel XTi, bt this Sony does 90% of what the Canon is capable of.The macro feature is even better than the Canon.At 7.2 mp, my enlargements are crisp and true to color.Yes, I would like to charge the camera battery while attached to the computer, but the battery life is extremely long, with the small Li-ion battery. The included charger is a bit slow, but I did find an after-market charger online that is faster.

A feature that I really enjoy is the slide show mode, with music and HD quality. Nice touch! I’ve owned many Sony products over the years, from an early 9″ portable B/W TV, a Walkman, through a plasma TV, and have never been disappointed in the quality and features.Bravo Sony for another fine product!!

Product Description
Recreate the moment with the incredibly lifelike pictures you’ll take with the DSC-W80 7.2 Megapixel Cyber-shot(R) digital camera. Your friends will be impressed with its combination of high fashion and advanced performance. With features like Face Detection to bring out the most natural tones in faces and HD output for presentation, sharing pictures becomes an experience to remember. The convenient in-camera retouching and red-eye reduction expands your creativity while the double anti-blur solution allows low-light shooting without flash. And the Carl Zeiss 3X optical zoom lens lets you view the action very closely through the large 2.52 LCD screen. HD Output -view DSC-W80 still photos in spectacular high definition clarity and detail on your HDTV screen. HD Slide Show with Music – photos come alive on HDTV screens, accompanied by your choice of visual effects and any of four preset musical selections stored in memory or your favorite MP3 tunes downloaded from PC to your camera for use as background music. 9-Point Auto Focus -can measure auto-focus precision at 9 points on your screen. D-Range Optimization -preserves image data in bright highlights and shadows. In-Camera Retouching – lets you add creative effects to photos after you shoot ( e.g. -soft edge filter, partial color filter and fish-eye filter.) In-Camera Red-Eye Reduction Large 2.5 LCD Screen with optical viewfinder Simple Setup Controls 31 MB Internal Memory Built-in slot accepts optional Memory Stick(R) Duo or Memory Stick(R) PRO Duo media. 14X Smart Zoom® Feature Sony Smart Zoom – intelligently crops into the central portion of interest in your photo. MPEG Movie VX Fine Mode – Captures VGA (640 x 480) audio/video clips at high frame rate (up to 30 frames per second)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony Cybershot DSCW80 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot (Pink)

I bought this camera because the consumer reviews were excellent, and my first impression of the camera was very good also, based on size, handling characteristics, and the way photos displayed on the 2.7″ screen on the back of the camera.However I had business distractions and didn’t display my photos on a full-size screen until after the Amazon return time expired. The image quality of my camera (perhaps I have a lemon) is very poor when compared to my three year old Olympus point-and-shoot.I was shocked at how “soft” the images were when viewed on a 15″ computer screen.I took identical comparison shots using a tripod and self-timer to verify that I wasn’t seeing motion, but in sunlight or low light, the images are visibly and objectionably soft.Around bright patches, such as sky showing through the leaves a tree in the foreground, there is heavy blue fringing, and some sections of the photos are “foggy” as though a fingerprint was on the lens, but there were no fingerprints or debris on the lens.There are noticeable blotches of off-color (like “noise,” but bigger) in shadow areas, even at low ISO.I should have tested the camera better, sooner, and I blame myself and my schedule for not doing that.Here is the lesson:(1) Don’t buy a camera unless you can thoroughly test it immediately, including judging the image quality on a large screen, not the screen on the camera. (2) Order the correct memory chip the first time, so you don’t get delayed waiting for the correct chip to arrive. This Sony is not compatible with all SD memory chips. (3) Compare the camera against another camera of known qualities, but do in time to take advantage of Amazon’s return option.I’ve shipped my camera to the repair center in Texas and it hasn’t returned yet.If they fix it satisfactorily, I’ll amend this evaluation to say so.

OCTOBER 17, 2008 UPDATE:The camera was promptly returned from Sony service in Texas with no notation or explanation regarding what repair, if any, was done.The post-return images seem very much like the former ones I complained about.However, I have softened my criticism a bit because I think my original expectations were too high.This is a quite small, light, easily carried and concealed camera with intuitive controls and it has a reasonable optical viewfinder.For it’s size, it does the job well enough, so, in retrospect, I think I was expecting a bigger camera’s performance from an instrument I purchased on account of it’s very small size.That expectation might have been unreasonable in some degree. I also have a Canon G10, which costs twice as much and is two and a half times heavier.The Canon takes lovely pictures, but I find myself carrying around the Sony most often because it is so small and so light (6 oz. with battery), which is a compelling argument in its favor.

Product Description
The Sony DSC-W170 features an enviable 10.1-Megapixel resolution, Carl Zeiss 5x optical zoom lens, and Sony’s Double Anti-Blur solution for crisp, clear images with a sophisticated, compact body. A large, bright 2.7″ Clear Photo LCD display includes an anti-reflective coating that provides for excellent visibility to help you compose, view, and share photos with superb clarity and color reproduction, even in bright sunlight. In addition, Face Detection technology, Smile Shutter, and Intelligent Scene Recognition elicit stunning detail from special moments. High-resolution images can be enjoyed in 16:9 High-Resolution Mode simply by connecting the camera directly to a Sony BRAVIA HDTV or other compatible HDTV with an optional cradle for optimal HD playback. Because an off-center subject can make your shot more interesting, a 9-point auto-focus measures the focus at 9 precision points instead of 5 for a greater creative freedom to compose your image. Super SteadyShot(R) Optical Image Stabilization compensates for shaky hands and minimizes blur with optical sensors that detect camera movement and send correcting signals to a stabilization lens.Shutter Speed -Auto (1/4 – 1/1,600) / Program Auto (1 – 1/1,600) Aperture Range -Auto (F3.3/F8.0 (W), 2 steps) / Program auto (F3.3/F8.0 (W), 2 steps) with ND Filter White Balance -Automatic, Cloudy, Daylight, Fluorescent 1, Fluorescent 2, Fluorescent 3, Incandescent, and FlashMovie Modes -MPEG VX Fine with Audio (640×480 at 30fps), MPEG VX Standard with Audio (640×480 at 16fps), Presentation (320 x 240 at 8fps) Scene Modes -Beach, High Sensitivity, Landscape, Snow, Soft Snap, Twilight, and Twilight Portrait Flash Modes -Auto, Forced On, Forced Off, and Slow Synch In-Camera Editing -Red-eye reduction, soft edge filter, cross filter, partial color filter, and fish-eye filter

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony Cybershot DSCW170/R 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot (Red)

I bought this camera because the consumer reviews were excellent, and my first impression of the camera was very good also, based on size, handling characteristics, and the way photos displayed on the 2.7″ screen on the back of the camera.However I had business distractions and didn’t display my photos on a full-size screen until after the Amazon return time expired. The image quality of my camera (perhaps I have a lemon) is very poor when compared to my three year old Olympus point-and-shoot.I was shocked at how “soft” the images were when viewed on a 15″ computer screen.I took identical comparison shots using a tripod and self-timer to verify that I wasn’t seeing motion, but in sunlight or low light, the images are visibly and objectionably soft.Around bright patches, such as sky showing through the leaves a tree in the foreground, there is heavy blue fringing, and some sections of the photos are “foggy” as though a fingerprint was on the lens, but there were no fingerprints or debris on the lens.There are noticeable blotches of off-color (like “noise,” but bigger) in shadow areas, even at low ISO.I should have tested the camera better, sooner, and I blame myself and my schedule for not doing that.Here is the lesson:(1) Don’t buy a camera unless you can thoroughly test it immediately, including judging the image quality on a large screen, not the screen on the camera. (2) Order the correct memory chip the first time, so you don’t get delayed waiting for the correct chip to arrive. This Sony is not compatible with all SD memory chips. (3) Compare the camera against another camera of known qualities, but do in time to take advantage of Amazon’s return option.I’ve shipped my camera to the repair center in Texas and it hasn’t returned yet.If they fix it satisfactorily, I’ll amend this evaluation to say so.

OCTOBER 17, 2008 UPDATE:The camera was promptly returned from Sony service in Texas with no notation or explanation regarding what repair, if any, was done.The post-return images seem very much like the former ones I complained about.However, I have softened my criticism a bit because I think my original expectations were too high.This is a quite small, light, easily carried and concealed camera with intuitive controls and it has a reasonable optical viewfinder.For it’s size, it does the job well enough, so, in retrospect, I think I was expecting a bigger camera’s performance from an instrument I purchased on account of it’s very small size.That expectation might have been unreasonable in some degree. I also have a Canon G10, which costs twice as much and is two and a half times heavier.The Canon takes lovely pictures, but I find myself carrying around the Sony most often because it is so small and so light (6 oz. with battery), which is a compelling argument in its favor.

Product Description
The Sony DSC-W170 features an enviable 10.1-Megapixel resolution, Carl Zeiss 5x optical zoom lens, and Sony’s Double Anti-Blur solution for crisp, clear images with a sophisticated, compact body. A large, bright 2.7″ Clear Photo LCD display includes an anti-reflective coating that provides for excellent visibility to help you compose, view, and share photos with superb clarity and color reproduction, even in bright sunlight. In addition, Face Detection technology, Smile Shutter, and Intelligent Scene Recognition elicit stunning detail from special moments. High-resolution images can be enjoyed in 16:9 High-Resolution Mode simply by connecting the camera directly to a Sony BRAVIA HDTV or other compatible HDTV with an optional cradle for optimal HD playback. Because an off-center subject can make your shot more interesting, a 9-point auto-focus measures the focus at 9 precision points instead of 5 for a greater creative freedom to compose your image. Super SteadyShot(R) Optical Image Stabilization compensates for shaky hands and minimizes blur with optical sensors that detect camera movement and send correcting signals to a stabilization lens.Shutter Speed -Auto (1/4 – 1/1,600) / Program Auto (1 – 1/1,600) Aperture Range -Auto (F3.3/F8.0 (W), 2 steps) / Program auto (F3.3/F8.0 (W), 2 steps) with ND Filter White Balance -Automatic, Cloudy, Daylight, Fluorescent 1, Fluorescent 2, Fluorescent 3, Incandescent, and FlashMovie Modes -MPEG VX Fine with Audio (640×480 at 30fps), MPEG VX Standard with Audio (640×480 at 16fps), Presentation (320 x 240 at 8fps) Scene Modes -Beach, High Sensitivity, Landscape, Snow, Soft Snap, Twilight, and Twilight Portrait Flash Modes -Auto, Forced On, Forced Off, and Slow Synch In-Camera Editing -Red-eye reduction, soft edge filter, cross filter, partial color filter, and fish-eye filter

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony Cybershot DSCW170/G 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot (Gold)

The DSC-T100 is a very good camera and I would highly recommend it. I have had several generations of the Cybershot series (DSC-T1, DSC-T9 and now the DSC-T100) and they’ve all been great, high quality cameras.

This camera takes beautiful pictures. The pictures are clear, little to no white bleeding, with superb colors and great contrast. The lens is bigger than previous models so it works better in low light conditions and apparently this camera uses the noise reduction technology used in the new high end Sony cameras so the pictures should be less noisy when it’s dark too.

The movie quality is 640×480 at 30 frames per second with audio. And unlike the previous models you can zoom while recording movies (BIG plus!), whereas in the previous models you were locked at whatever zoom level you set before you began recording. Also, the movies are saved into MPG and not Quicktime so you’re not locked into a video format.

The camera is bigger than the previous top-end models, but not by much. I imagine they made the change to fit in the 5x optical zoom (over the previous 3x). And while they had the extra depth they threw in a 3 inch LCD (instead of 2.5) and a larger battery (to drive the larger LCD no doubt). I personally preferred the feel of the DSC-T9, but I accept the trading of features for a bit more size.

The downsides to the camera are few and minor, and if I could I would have given this product a 4.5/5, but they don’t let you do that. But, here are the problems I have with this camera.

1. Reduced Buttons: From the previous models they removed buttons and replaced them with software driven menus. While I do not mind software menus, I do mind not having a choice between using the software menus and using physical buttons. They really should have included a button for delete and I really want a switch to pick between movie mode and picture mode. It takes a few extra seconds to switch from the previous models and I don’t like that. Companies seem to think that it makes something easier to use if they make it software driven, but really it makes it harder and slower to use.

2. Options Not Very Accessible: The software menus impose too many limitations. I should be able to cycle through all flash options with the flash button in auto mode, but I have to go into program auto mode to do it, and I have to use the software menus to do it. This camera has the ability to set a brighter flash or a dimmer flash, but it takes so long to change that I won’t ever be able to use it. The same type of problem applies to the red eye reduction (although, I don’t think it’s necessary because it doesn’t seem to have red eye problems since the flash is further away from the lens).

3. The camera is still missing options that the DSC-T1 had. When I bought my DSC-T9 I remembered being so angry that they changed and removed options, and still they’re missing. For example, you can cycle through different display levels (normal, normal with histogram, bright, etc.). On the DSC-T1 there was an option to turn off the backlight, which increased the battery time dramatically. But, you can’t do this on the newer DSC-T9 or even the newest DSC-T100 models.

4. It’s a Sony so you pay a lot more for it. The camera is a reasonable price, but to make it useful you need to buy a Memory Stick Pro Duo, which costs a considerable amount more than SD cards (even though they are the same technology). You also may want the docking station, which is far overpriced, and all of the various other peripherals are more expensive then this should be also.

Don’t let the negatives discourage you though. This is a good product a Sony deserves praise for making it. I just wish they’d consult with me before they marketed it.

Product Description
The Sony DSC-T100 delivers an effective 8 Megapixel still Resolution for incomparably detailed still pictures. It also lets you take movies with sound. But what’s really amazing is how small and light this high-performance, easy to use camera is. Enjoy 5x Zoom from wide-angle to telephoto imaging. A large, bright LCD screen for viewing shots. Sony’s Steadyshot Image stabilization that virtually eliminates blur resulting from normal hand movements when taking pictures. What we’ve got here is Professional quality that’s friendly for everyday, anytime use here or when you’re travelling there. The DSC-T100 from Sony is what you should be taking along. Electronic-flash with in-camera red-eye reductionEdit on the fly with in-camera photo retouching and special effect modes8.1 Megapixel effective for up to JPEG resolution 3264 x 2448 stills with exquisite detail16 – 9 widescreen photo mode (1920 x 1080) to fill widescreen displays of new HDTV screensAnd it goes beyond stills! DSC-T100 has MPEG Movie VX with Audio (to 640 x 480 at 30 frames per second) – like having a built-in camcorderIn-camera slide showHigh-Definition still picture Output to compatible HDTVs (requires Optional Sony VMC-MHC1 adapter)31MB Built-in flash Memory (holds approximately 7 shots at highest resolution) – compatible with Memory Stick® Duo and Memory Stick® PRO Duo for more practical, portable use9 scene modes, including Beach, Fireworks, and Twilight; High Sensitivity mode for low-light shooting without flash with variable ISO settingsMacro mode (focus as close as 3-1/8 from subject) and Magnifying Glass mode (7/16 from subject) USB Connectivity PictBridge compatibleAn A/V output for connection to a TVUnit Size 3-1/2W x 2-1/4H x 7/8D; Weight (without Battery or media) -5.0 ouncesComes with rechargeable InfoLithium® battery (NP-BG1)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony Cybershot DSC-T100 8MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot (Red)