If you're looking for an exciting 3-megapixel digital camera, look no further than the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S70. Offering a multitude of useful features, this digicam captures high-quality still images and fair video clips, the latter suitable for e-mail or Web posting. Photo enthusiasts may be put off because the camera's zoom lens doesn't accept attachments or converters, but families and businesses will find the DSC-S70 a terrific choice.
Our jury loved the output from this camera, especially prints and shots displayed on-screen that we had taken under outdoor lighting conditions. Outdoor-lighting test images showed very realistic shading and natural tone. We took a show-stopping shot outside at the minimum-rated macro distance; it captured extremely accurate and rich-looking colour and detail in sharp focus. Shooting under difficult indoor lighting with spot metering (a technique for measuring the brightness of specific subjects in a scene) produced images with vivid colours and impressive focus. Only when we used a flash with indoor lighting did we get unsatisfactory white balance, though flash shots taken at the maximum rated distance were exposed correctly. If you need more flash power or control than the built-in unit provides, you can sync an external flash with the DSC-S70.
Sony has packed a plethora of features into the camera's striking silver-and-black case, yet it's very compact and portable, weighing 430 grams with batteries, lens cap, shoulder strap, and media. You won't be intimidated by the DSC-S70's user interface -- the controls are clearly labelled and evenly positioned. The camera's design makes it hard to hit buttons accidentally and quite convenient to select focus, flash, and Program Auto-Exposure (AE) settings; adjust the zoom and diopter; and flip between capture and playback modes. We found the wide variety of capture modes and settings easy to find and use. For example, to use the spot-metering feature, you push the Program AE button until the spot-metering icon appears in the upper left corner of the LCD. A crosshair appears in the centre of the LCD and you position it on the scene's focal point.
The DSC-S70 powers up to shoot in 5 seconds, and it takes the same amount of time to process each shot at the highest resolution, including recharging the flash unit. Unfortunately, if you want to store uncompressed images, you'll have to purchase a larger Memory Stick because the one that's included isn't large enough. Sony's Memory Stick presents a disadvantage to users because it's much less common than CompactFlash or SmartMedia. That makes it more difficult to exchange files with other users or find an outlet that carries the media in an emergency.
The DSC-S70 is bundled with an impressive, family-oriented software suite from MGI Software that includes applications for combining your photos with magazine cover templates, greeting cards, albums, calendars, and posters.
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-S70
Company: Sony
Ph: 02 9878 9712; Fax: 02 9888 6264
Price: AU$2,089.
Rating: 4 Star
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