Compared to the Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi
and Nikon Coolpix 5700

Below and on the next page you will find comparison shots taken between the DSC-F717, Minolta's DiMAGE 7Hi and the Nikon Coolpix 5700. Each of these cameras represent the top of the range prosumer digital camera from each manufacturer. All use the same 2/3" 5 megapixel CCD, the DSC-F717 has a 5x optical zoom lens, the DiMAGE 7Hi has a 7x optical zoom lens and the Coopix 5700 has an 8x optical zoom lens.

On paper (specifications)

	Sony DSC-F717	Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi	Nikon Coolpix 5700
Street price	US: $999	US: $1299	US: $1199
Image sensor	2/3" 5.2 megapixel CCD	2/3" 5.2 megapixel CCD	2/3" 5.2 megapixel CCD
Effective pixels	5.0 million	5.0 million	5.0 million
Colour Filter Array	RGB	RGB	CYGM
Lens zoom	5x, 38 - 190 mm equiv.	7x, 28 - 200 mm equiv.	8x, 35 - 280 mm equiv.
Lens aperture	F2.0 - F2.4	F2.8 - F3.5	F2.8 - F4.2
Zoom control	Zoom by wire (ring / lever)	Mechanically linked ring	Zoom by wire (lever)
Auto Focus	Contrast TTL	Contrast TTL	Contrast TTL
AF areas	5 area	3 area / 285 area	5 area
AF assist	Yes, laser pattern	No	No
Manual focus	Focus by wire (ring)	Focus by wire (ring)	Focus by wire (buttons)
Normal focus	50 cm	38 cm	50 cm
Macro focus	2 cm (Wide - distorts)	13 cm	3 cm (Mid-zoom)
Sensitivity	ISO 100, 200, 400, 800	ISO 100, 200, 400, 800	ISO 100, 200, 400, 800
Metering	Multi, CW Avg., Spot	Multi, CW Avg., Spot	Matrix, CW Avg., Spot
Shutter speeds	30 sec - 1/2000 sec *1	Bulb, 15 sec - 1/2000 sec	Bulb, 8 sec - 1/4000 sec
Apertures	F2.0 / F2.4 - F8.0	F2.8 / F3.5 - F8.0	F2.8 / F4.2 - F8.0
Exposure modes	Auto, P, A, S, M	P, A, S, M	Auto, P, A, S, M
Exposure bracket	Yes	Yes	Yes
Histogram	Live, Review, Playback	Live, Playback	Playback
Colour space	sRGB (assumed)	sRGB, Adobe RGB *2	sRGB (assumed)
Parameters	Sharpness	Sharpness, Color, Tone	Sharpness, Color, Tone
Noise Reduction	Automatic, 1/25 sec or slower	Automatic, long exposures	Manually selectable
Flash	Electronic pop-up	Manual pop-up	Electronic pop-up
External flash	Hot-shoe, Sony acc	Hot-shoe, PC Sync	Hot-shoe
White balance	Auto, 4 presets, manual	Auto, 5 presets, 2 manual	Auto, 5 presets *3, manual
Continuous *4	2 fps, max 3 images	2/3 fps, max 9 images	3.8 fps, max 3 images
Image formats	TIFF, JPEG	RAW, TIFF,JPEG	RAW, TIFF, JPEG
LCD Monitor	1.8" twisting body	1.8" fixed	1.5" flip-out and twist
LCD Pixels	123,000	118,000	110,000
Viewfinder	Electronic Viewfinder	Electronic Viewfinder, Tilts	Electronic Viewfinder
Timelapse	No	Yes	No
User memories	One	Five	Three
Storage	Memory Stick	Compact Flash Type I/II	Compact Flash Type I/II
Power	Sony Lithium-Ion battery	4 x AA batteries (NiMH)	Nikon Lithium-Ion battery
Batt / Charger	Included	Included	Included
Weight (incl.)	659 g (23.2 oz)	650 g (22.9 oz)	512 g (18.1 oz)
Dimensions	162 x 124 x 68 mm (6.4 x 4.9 x 2.7 in)	117 x 91 x 113 mm (4.6 x 3.6 x 4.5 in)	108 x 76 x 102 mm (4.3 x 3 x 4 in)

As you can see on paper the DSC-F717 has some advantages but overall comes up short compared to the competition, consider also that there is a $200 - $300 price difference (list) between the DSC-F717 and the others. It would have been nice to have seen Sony use this product 'refresh' to catch up on a few features such as colour saturation and tone control, user memories, RAW and additional 'added value' features such as timelapse.

Outdoor scene comparison

Camera settings were:

• Sony DSC-F717
  Sharpness: 0, WB: Sunny, Aperture Priority (F5.6)
   
• Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi
  Saturation: 0, Contrast: 0, Color mode: Natural (sRGB), Sharpness: Normal, WB: Sunny,
  Aperture Priority (F5.6)
   
• Nikon Coolpix 5700
  Tone: Normal, Sharpening: Normal, Saturation: 0, WB: Sunny,
  Aperture Priority (F5.6 or nearest)

Sony DSC-F717	Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi	Nikon Coolpix 5700
ISO 100, F5.6, 1/1250 sec	ISO 100, F5.6, 1/1000 sec	ISO 100, F5.4, 1/1176 sec
2,137 KB JPEG	3,262 KB JPEG	1,665 KB

General observations compared to the DSC-F717:

• The DSC-F717 produces a 'flatter' image (less contrast) although with better dynamic range
• The DSC-F717 exhibits the best resolution, but only marginally
• The DSC-F717's shadows have some visible chrominance noise (blotches), this could be related to the general high colour saturation
• The DiMAGE 7Hi exhibits some strange dotted Bayer interpolation artifacts in different parts of the image
• Colour balance between each camera is notably different, especially the Coolpix 5700
• The Coolpix 5700 exhibitted the lowest 'sky noise' followed by the DSC-F717 and then the DiMAGE 7Hi
• All cameras exhibited a certain amount of purple fringing on the bright area at the tip of the tower (second to last crop)
• The DSC-F717 manages to avoid diagonal colour stepping (last crop)