Review based on a production Sony Cybershot DSC-T300
The Cybershot DSC-T300 is the second generation of touch-screen ultra compacts from electronics colossus Sony. Because it is built around a very small 1/2.3" sensor, Sony has been able to cram a 5x zoom into the slimline body without it ever having occasion to protrude. It's also packed full of the latest special modes and functions, including 'smile shutter,' that only takes a photo once your subject is smiling. The real stand-out feature of this camera is the huge, 16:9 aspect ratio touch screen that covers the entire reverse of the body. So is this beginning of the revolution that will free us from the the hegemony of the four-way controller, or is there a good reason that most cameras are covered in buttons?
Before getting on to that question, let's start with the headline features:
In a shocking sequence of events, the biggest difference between the T300 and its predecessor is that the new model is built around a more pixel-dense sensor. The lens range also changes, with the wide end getting a tiny bit wider (though we're not about to hold a street party for a 33mm wide angle camera). This is a side-effect of adding a larger, 1/2.3" sensor in the same position as the old 1/2.5" one.
| Street price | • US: $380 • UK: £270 |
|---|---|
| Sensor | • 1/2.3" Type CCD |
| Image sizes | • 3648 x 2736 |
| Movie clips | • 640 x 480 (@ either 30 or 16.6fps) |
| File formats | • JPEG (EXIF 2.21) • MPEG1 (MPEG Movie VX) |
| Lens | • 5.8 mm – 29.0 mm |
| Image stabilization | Yes (CCD shift-type) |
| Conversion lenses | Wide: VCL-DE07TB |
| Digital zoom | up to 2x |
| Focus | TTL Contrast Detection AF |
| AF area mode | • Face detection • 9-point AF • Center Weighted AF • Spot area AF • Flexible Spot AF (Touch Panel) • Semi Manual (1.0M, 3.0M,7.0M, Infinity) |
| AF assist lamp | Yes, auto or off |
| Focus distance | • Auto/Macro: 8cm - ∞ (w), 80cm - ∞ (t) • Close Focus enabled: 1cm - 20cm |
| Metering | • Multi-Pattern • Center-Weighted • Spot |
| ISO sensitivity | • Auto |
| Exposure compensation | ± 2EV in 1/3 EV steps |
| Exposure bracketing | +/- 0.3, 0.7, 1.0 EV |
| Shutter speed | • Auto: 1/4 - 1/1,000 sec • Program Auto: 1 sec- 1/1,000 sec |
| Aperture | F3.5 -F4.4 |
| Modes | • Auto Adjustment • Easy Shooting • Program Auto • Movie |
| Scene modes | • High Sensitivity • Twilight • Twilight Portrait • Soft Snap • Landscape • Beach • Snow • Fireworks • Hi-speed Shutter • Smile Shutter • Underwater |
| White balance | • Auto |
| Self timer | 2 or 10 sec |
| Continuous shooting | Approx 1.6 fps, 10 shots |
| Flash | • Auto • Flash On • Slow Syncro • Flash Off • Red-Eye Reduction |
| Flash range | • 10cm - 3.5m (w), 80cm - 2.7m (t) (ISO Auto) • Up to 7.2m (w), 5.5m (t) (ISO 3200) |
| Viewfinder | No |
| LCD monitor | • 3.5“ Touch-sensitive Hybrid TFT LCD • 16:9 aspect ratio • Approx.230,000 pixels • Approx. 100% coverage |
| Connectivity | • AV out (Composite, 1080i component with optional cable) • USB 2.0 High Speed • DC input • All in/out via Multi Use Terminal |
| Print compliance | • Pictbridge • DPOF • PIM III • EXIF Print |
| Storage | • Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo (High Speed), Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo card • Approx 15MB internal memory |
| Power | • NF-FD1 Li-ion battery • Charger included |
| Weight (No batt) | 149 g (5.3 oz) |
| Dimensions | 94 x 59.3 x 21.4 mm (3.7 x 2.3 x 0.8 in) |
If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital
Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help
you understand some of the terms used).
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Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window. To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top. DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C. |
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This article is Copyright 2008 dpreview.com and the review in part or in whole may NOT be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author. For information on reproducing any part of this review (or any images) please contact: Phil Askey
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