Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T700 Review
Review Date: February 23rd 2009
Author: Zoltan Arva-Toth
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Conclusion
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Ratings
(out of 5) |
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| Design | 4.5 |
| Features | 3.5 |
| Ease-of-Use | 4.5 |
| Image Quality | 3 |
| Value for Money | 3 |
Let us get one thing out of the way: if you are a control freak or a real stickler for image quality, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T700 is not for you. It's a point-and-shoot camera with a tiny sensor, after all. This means that you cannot manually control the shutter speed and aperture, and that the photos it produces can indeed look sub-par up close. But that does not mean you don't get any control over the picture taking process, nor does it mean that the images are unusable. Far from it. In fact, the level of control provided by the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T700 is actually higher than most people would expect from an ultra-compact camera. You can use exposure compensation, choose from evaluative, centre-weighted and even spot metering modes, specify by a touch of a finger where the camera should focus within the frame, call up a live histogram, and use the optical zoom even when recording video. And some of the functions that might seem gimmicky at first � such as the Smile Shutter, the anti-blink function or face detection � can actually come in handy in certain shooting situations; not to mention that they are undeniably fun.
And as regards the image quality, while it may not please a picky photo enthusiast, it is more than adequate for snapshots intended for on-screen viewing or common print sizes. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T700 might not be a success with the demanding and/or traditionalist photographer, but it is more than a great step up for those who have hitherto only been shooting with a cell phone camera, and is likely to elicit interest and favourable reactions in almost any company, at almost any social event. The 'coolness factor' of this device is very high, and it is likely to keep you and your friends entertained for a long time. All this coolness comes at a price though � the kind of money Sony are asking for it could almost buy you an entry-level DSLR at a fire sale. So as always, know your requirements, and decide based on the Sample Images as well as what you have read in the other parts of this review if the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T700 meets them or not.
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