Cons: Prone to red eyes, weak flash, expensive memory pro duo sticks
The Bottom Line: If you like a tiny package and an indispensible photographic notebook travel companion, go for it! If you are a party animal and dislike red eyes look somewhere else
leisure_larry's Full Review: Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T1 Digital Camera
This review covers the Sony Cybershot DSC T1. A fabulous small camera package with 3x zoom in a cigarette box space.
I got hooked on ultraslim cameras when I got a Casio Exilim 1 MP as a present about two years back and have used it ever since as a companion on my business travels. I liked the ultra compact form factor, which has it fit in a shirt pocket. 1 Mega Pixel isn't quite cutting it when you want to print. So I was looking for a follower.
Out comes the Sony T1 with 5 Megapixels and a 3x optical zoom. Going towards Christmas I saw an announcement for the Sony T3, even slimmer as it replaced the slide down lens cover of the T1 with an iris shutter over the lens. THAT's what I want , or isn't it?
I took advantage on a business trip and went to Akihabara to check it out. I always liked Sony ever since I bought the Sony P92. A camera I would always recommend above and beyond the T1 or T3 for party animals, as T1/3 are prone to creating red eyes and have a weak flash
5.1 Megapixel Sensor, Zeiss 3x zoom lens (38 mm - 114 equivalent) inside the sleek body, the camera weighs 5.1 ounces at the size of a pack of cigarettes.
The camera features NO viewfinder, but an excellent 2.5 in color TFT display at 210.000 pixels. It is transflective and you can really see it under all lighting conditions,even bright sunlight. Now when taking photos in low light conditions, on some cameras you will find that the monitor doesn't display anything but a dark picture. With the Sony, a built in infrared lamp illuminator will brighten the screen when you plan to take a picture quite comfortably.
It is suitable for 'orienting' during dark night conditions. but not for the point and 'wait for the right moment' snapshot, as the illumination will time out.
The 35 mm equivalent yoom range is 38 - 114 mm. I'd always favor a camera that had a little bit more of a wide angle lens, as you can typically get closer to an object, but in a party room it is difficult to get further away. 38 mm is sort of standard with point and shoots, but still to long a lens. 114mm is thoroughly ok for taking portrait shots. This is no camera intended to go on photo safari.
Value engineering: The T1 is being superseeded by the T3, which is prominent in Asia and Europe now. In the US you still can only get it via internet.
I found the T3 in direct comparison to the T1 mainly trying to shake cost out, rather then improve (except for a higher resolution viewing panel).
Picture quality is outstanding during normal day time usage as both cameras still use the same guts.
When comparing to the 5 MPixel Sony DSC P92, test reports show that this unit only resolves 840 LPBH whereas the P 92 will resolve about 1100. In practice in a 6x4 or even larger you won't see a difference, I promise.
What is in the box?
Camera, Li-Ion battery (about 90 hours), docking station, USB cable, TV cable , Sony transfer software called Image Mixer, a (useless) 32 MB memory stick pro duo (ticks me off, holds a grand total of 6 -7 pictures...) and a pretty decent instruction manual.
My box also carried an update CD for upgrading the Sony to the PictBridge standard, which allows to print directly from the camera onto PictBridge compatible printers. Works by copying the files to the memory stick via USB connection. Really easy, and I think a BIG bonus. there are 24 different languages on the CD from Arabic over the major European languages to Chinese. Should update the menu to any preference you have. A new print button appears that allows to control print outs directly from the camera. The software is also available on the Sony website, fixing a few bugs in the earlier software versions.
Big PLUS: I like the transfer software that Sony has. It gives the pictures running numbers even if you change the memory stick and then transfers it automatically into folders that are organized by transfer date. Very neat.
About the image mixer. Nice for sorting pictures but not very convenient for editing. It lacks for example a red eye reduction function, something you will definitely need for the T1. So plan on getting some other editing software.
What you definitely should get right away: About 512 MB Sony or Lexar Memory Stick Duo (around 90 USD now and that is roughly 2x the price of other flash media, hey it's a Sony..)
Find a suitable 512 MB Sandisk pro duo memory stick review here (also learn why I recommend this format even if you don't need it right now):
Nice feature, the charger cable can plug into the cradle, as well as the camera directly, therefor you do not need to take the cradle along for the photoshoot to reload (major drawback on Casio Exilim cameras).
Bummer: The powersupply is almost as big as the camera. The docking station is a bit tacky in plastic and you still need it for picture transfer or to connect to your TV, for slide shows.
Good: The camera has both PAL and NTSC standard, the charger takes 110V - 200V, so you can use it in all parts of the world.
The camera takes 5.1 Megapixel pictures, a 3:2 format (roughly 4.2 MP) which is the same format then 4x6 prints, so you don't loose the sides with this , a 3 MP a 1 MP and VGA resolution,which you can also shoot movies with sound at. I always use the 3:2 function as I try to get the pictures right the first time. Shows two small black side bars on your display.
Useful feature: Digital smart zoom: it only kicks in at lower resolution settings, where you can digitally zoom until you have reached the required setting. That secures that your pictures will always have the desired resolution, no pixelation like normally. Also means at 5 MP, you have no digital zoom.
Compromises:
At a camera this size, the manufacturer has to make compromises, and here are the ones I found.
Slightly less resolution then larger size cameras (that is a lens limitation, smaller lenses are harder to make accurate). Nothing that should deter you though. It is still a fantastic image and the Sony effective resolution at 800 lp/bh is near the top of the range for ultra compacts.
Weak flash: Now for the party animals under you, the flash is suitable for taking a picture of let's say a seated table, but don't plan shooting with a tele across the room or fill even a 15 x 30 feet room with the built in flash. No such luck. Where the Sony P92 dazzles you with a hyperstrong
flash, the T3's is meager. So if you are a night animal, you might find that a bit disturbing. Also personally I would prefer a viewfinder for night shots. Switch the display off and look through the viewfinder for the right moment. You want the guys smiling at you.
Bummer: This camera is prone to cause red eyes, even with the red eye flash.
Nice: VGA resolution MPEG recording with sound. Is a little bit 'jerky' when doing horizontal pans, but fully good enough to get a decent moving impression for your website.
So night operation is the one big limitation I see in this camera. Not a strong performer there.
What would make this even a better camera ?
- Stronger flash more removed from the lens to reduce red eyes
- Smaller travel charger
Other then that I would highly recommend it for:
The traveller as a diary and notepad with superb picture quality. I use it for example when I go shopping to take pictures of prices and models. (of cameras...) rather then writing it down.
The geek that wants to draw admiring looks
The spy, that wants to smuggle it through
As of 2006 this camera has been superseeded by two newer models that have a substantial improvement:
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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