DSC-S85

[lj0913]

Hello everyone,

How is the Sony DSC-S85? I have the opportunity to buy one, but wanted to know more info on it before I do so. Any info will be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Ron Parr]

Hello everyone,

How is the Sony DSC-S85? I have the opportunity to buy one, but
wanted to know more info on it before I do so. Any info will be
appreciated.

I had an S85 for a while. It produced very sharp but noisy pictures. Some S85 issues:

• Flash shots often too red.
• Reds in bright sunlight sometimes blown out
• Focusing slow and unreliable by modern standards

There are some samples (reduced size and processed) in my galleries.

--
Ron Parr
FAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/parr/

 

[lj0913]

Ron,

Thanks for the info. From my research is done seem to be a good starter camera. Mind if I ask what you shoot with now? Again - thanks for the info....

Hello everyone,

How is the Sony DSC-S85? I have the opportunity to buy one, but
wanted to know more info on it before I do so. Any info will be
appreciated.

I had an S85 for a while. It produced very sharp but noisy
pictures. Some S85 issues:

• Flash shots often too red.
• Reds in bright sunlight sometimes blown out
• Focusing slow and unreliable by modern standards

There are some samples (reduced size and processed) in my galleries.

--
Ron Parr
FAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/parr/

 

[Ron Parr]

Ron,

Thanks for the info. From my research is done seem to be a good
starter camera. Mind if I ask what you shoot with now? Again -
thanks for the info....

I have a Canon D60 and a Canon S400. I gave the S85 to my Dad.

--
Ron Parr
FAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/parr/

 

[lj0913]

Thanks again - I will do my homework, and look into the Cannon D60. I would like more MP than 4.1

-Larry

Ron,

Thanks for the info. From my research is done seem to be a good
starter camera. Mind if I ask what you shoot with now? Again -
thanks for the info....

I have a Canon D60 and a Canon S400. I gave the S85 to my Dad.

--
Ron Parr
FAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/parr/

 

[Kirsten Salve]

Hello,

I too am looking at the S85 or the Canon A80. I am VERY, VERY impresed with your pictures! Especially the ones in my "beautiful" state of Washington. Is the fact that they were re-sized the reason they looked so crisp and clear-no noise? Your baby pictures were darling!
Do you have any recommendations re: th S85 vs the A80?

Thanks,
Kirsten

I had an S85 for a while. It produced very sharp but noisy
pictures. Some S85 issues:

• Flash shots often too red.
• Reds in bright sunlight sometimes blown out
• Focusing slow and unreliable by modern standards

There are some samples (reduced size and processed) in my galleries.

Ron Parr

Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/parr/

 

[lj0913]

Hey Kirsten,

Here are some pictures that I took with the Sony DSC-S85 http://www.pbase.com/lj0913

I am just torn on a 4.1 mp, or a higher mp to have in the long run. From my use of the Sony the menu is easy function. Good luck in your purchase.

-Larry

Thanks,
Kirsten

I had an S85 for a while. It produced very sharp but noisy
pictures. Some S85 issues:

• Flash shots often too red.
• Reds in bright sunlight sometimes blown out
• Focusing slow and unreliable by modern standards

There are some samples (reduced size and processed) in my galleries.

Ron Parr

Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/parr/

 

[Kirsten Salve]

Hello,

Thanks, the pictures are really nice. Our friends love their S75, also discontinued.

I really wanted a camera to throw (so to speak) in my purse and always have with me. That is why I gave up on the G3, C5050 (among other things) and the V1. And decided to get the A80 when I saw the specs.

But, I hate the red eye problem!!! with the A70/80's. So when I found an S85, I started thinking.........again! my poooor husband.

Anyway, from my reading I do not think I want anything more than a 4mp, because of the CA issues at this time. So, my thoughts were to get a nice little carry around camera (like my portable Sureshot vs my Minolta SLR) Until, they come up with a better CCD and lens that will control some of the problems with the higher pixel consumer cameras right now.

I am going to see if I can purchase an extended warranty for the S85, and if so I just may go that route.

Thanks,
Kirsten

Hey Kirsten,

Here are some pictures that I took with the Sony DSC-S85
http://www.pbase.com/lj0913

I am just torn on a 4.1 mp, or a higher mp to have in the long run.
From my use of the Sony the menu is easy function. Good luck in
your purchase.

-Larry

 

[Ed77340]

Hi,

I picked up an used S85 last week with the F1000 flash for $300 in Hong Kong, I did a lot of comparisons with the Nikon CP5000 last few days and someone will be buying my Nikon CP5000 tomorrow. Overall, a very user friendly camera with excellent quality image, its 4MPs is as good as Nikon's 5MPs in my resolution test. I also have a Fuji S2 DSLR, Panasonic FZ1 and the Pentax Optio S. I'm also selling my S2 Pro and will be buying the 828 when it comes out! Enjoy your Sony, it's an excellent camera, anyone that says something bad about that camera probably don't know how to use it properly!
Ed

Thanks,
Kirsten

Hey Kirsten,

Here are some pictures that I took with the Sony DSC-S85
http://www.pbase.com/lj0913

I am just torn on a 4.1 mp, or a higher mp to have in the long run.
From my use of the Sony the menu is easy function. Good luck in
your purchase.

-Larry

 

[Kirsten Salve]

Hello,

Thanks for your thoughts. I am really interested in this camera, even though it is an older model. I am going to see if I can buy an extended warranty from a local dealer, and if so I will probably order the S85 (there is a free 30 day return).

I now the Canon A80 is a lot newer, but I just hate the red eye and the horrible CA in the A70!!! and I am sure the A80 has the same problems.

Thank you for your time,
Kirsten

Hi,
I picked up an used S85 last week with the F1000 flash for $300 in
Hong Kong, I did a lot of comparisons with the Nikon CP5000 last
few days and someone will be buying my Nikon CP5000 tomorrow.
Overall, a very user friendly camera with excellent quality image,
its 4MPs is as good as Nikon's 5MPs in my resolution test. I also
have a Fuji S2 DSLR, Panasonic FZ1 and the Pentax Optio S. I'm
also selling my S2 Pro and will be buying the 828 when it comes
out! Enjoy your Sony, it's an excellent camera, anyone that says
something bad about that camera probably don't know how to use it
properly!
Ed

 

[Ron Parr]

Hello,
I too am looking at the S85 or the Canon A80. I am VERY, VERY
impresed with your pictures! Especially the ones in my "beautiful"
state of Washington. Is the fact that they were re-sized the reason
they looked so crisp and clear-no noise? Your baby pictures were
darling!

Thanks! Yes, resizing and some noise reduction has helped the noise a lot. The S85 has particularly noisy reds in the shadows. For an example, take a look at the S85 review at Steve's Digicams. He has several pictures of some red speedboats. If you look at full size, you'll see plenty of noise there.

Do you have any recommendations re: th S85 vs the A80?

Since I've never owned an A80, it's hard for me to make a direct comparison. My guess would be that the A80 lens is not as good. It will have worse color fringing and lower resolution overall. However, the image processing and electronics in the A80 will be newer and better, so it will probably have better color, less noise and it will probably be a faster handling camera for things like focusing and general operation.

--
Ron Parr
FAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/parr/

 

[Kirsten Salve]

Hello again,
I feel a little badly "using" someone elses posting......but,

Here are 3 pictures I took with the A70: http://trilliummanor.fotopic.net/show_collection.php?id=64049
And 4 more in a second gallary:
http://trilliummanor.fotopic.net/show_collection.php?id=48549

regarding noise: would you mind looking at the FULL SIZE of "I am done g-mama" (in the above link) and tell me if the S85 noise level is about the same? Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I think the A80 would do a better job than the A70, but I still like the S85's Carl Zeiss lens....... But, I would love a F828 someday! may need to start saving now.....

Thank you again,
Kirsten

Hello,
I too am looking at the S85 or the Canon A80. I am VERY, VERY
impresed with your pictures! Especially the ones in my "beautiful"
state of Washington. Is the fact that they were re-sized the reason
they looked so crisp and clear-no noise? Your baby pictures were
darling!

Thanks! Yes, resizing and some noise reduction has helped the noise
a lot. The S85 has particularly noisy reds in the shadows. For an
example, take a look at the S85 review at Steve's Digicams. He has
several pictures of some red speedboats. If you look at full size,
you'll see plenty of noise there.

Do you have any recommendations re: th S85 vs the A80?

Since I've never owned an A80, it's hard for me to make a direct
comparison. My guess would be that the A80 lens is not as good.
It will have worse color fringing and lower resolution overall.
However, the image processing and electronics in the A80 will be
newer and better, so it will probably have better color, less noise
and it will probably be a faster handling camera for things like
focusing and general operation.

--
Ron Parr
FAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/parr/

 

[Ron Parr]

Hello again,
I feel a little badly "using" someone elses posting......but,
Here are 3 pictures I took with the A70:
http://trilliummanor.fotopic.net/show_collection.php?id=64049
And 4 more in a second gallary:
http://trilliummanor.fotopic.net/show_collection.php?id=48549
regarding noise: would you mind looking at the FULL SIZE of "I am
done g-mama" (in the above link) and tell me if the S85 noise level
is about the same? Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I am traveling now with my laptop. It doesn't have a great screen (just 16 bit) so it's hard for me to judge noise.

Also, the picture you mention does not appear to be full size.

Why not use the comparometer at the imaging resource and judge for yourself?

I think the A80 would do a better job than the A70, but I still
like the S85's Carl Zeiss lens....... But, I would love a F828
someday! may need to start saving now.....

I would expect the A80 toi be significantly less noisy than the A70 since it has larger pixels.

I know what you mean about the CZ lens in the S85. It's nice and sharp.

--
Ron Parr
FAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/parr/

 

[Kirsten Salve]

Hi,
I will look up that web site and thank you very much for your time.
Kirsten

http://trilliummanor.fotopic.net/show_collection.php?id=64049
And 4 more in a second gallary:

Also, the picture you mention does not appear to be full size.

You have to click "full size" at the bottom of the page.

Why not use the comparometer at the imaging resource and judge for
yourself?

I think the A80 would do a better job than the A70, but I still
like the S85's Carl Zeiss lens....... But, I would love a F828
someday! may need to start saving now.....

I would expect the A80 to be significantly less noisy than the A70
since it has larger pixels.

I know what you mean about the CZ lens in the S85. It's nice and
sharp.

Ron Parr
FAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/parr/

 

[lj0913]

Thanks for all of these posting. I have learned so much about noise, that I did not know. Thanks for the great resources....

-Larry

http://trilliummanor.fotopic.net/show_collection.php?id=64049
And 4 more in a second gallary:

Also, the picture you mention does not appear to be full size.

You have to click "full size" at the bottom of the page.

Why not use the comparometer at the imaging resource and judge for
yourself?

I think the A80 would do a better job than the A70, but I still
like the S85's Carl Zeiss lens....... But, I would love a F828
someday! may need to start saving now.....

I would expect the A80 to be significantly less noisy than the A70
since it has larger pixels.

I know what you mean about the CZ lens in the S85. It's nice and
sharp.

Ron Parr
FAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/parr/

 

[Ron Parr]

Also, the picture you mention does not appear to be full size.

You have to click "full size" at the bottom of the page.

I know and it's not full size.

--
Ron Parr
FAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/parr/