Sony DSC-F707 Review

The 2 megapixel DSC-F505 was originally revealed back in August 1999, and we were the first site to review it. In April 2000 Sony announced an upgraded camera named the DSC-F505V, it was essentially the same lens and camera engine but with a 3.3 megapixel sensor. Because the lens system wasn't altered the F505V couldn't cover the required 3.14 megapixels, instead it produced a 2.6 megapixel (1856 x 1392) image.

So here we are some 16 months after the F505V, and some two years since the F505, Sony has revealed the 5 megapixel F707. This digital camera has the same lens / swivelled body design of the F505, indeed at first glance their are a lot of similarities, look closer and you'll see that this camera is an impressive evolution in the best sense of the word.

The F707 still features a 'Carl Zeiss' lens, of course this time focal lengths have had to change, the F707 uses a larger 2/3" CCD compared to the original 1/2" CCD (2 megapixel F505). The old lens had a focal length range of 7.1 - 35.5 mm (5x, 38 - 190 mm equiv.), the new lens has a focal length range of 9.7 - 48.5 mm (5x, 38 - 190 mm equiv.). Also of interest is that the new lens is quite a bit faster than the old, the old lens had maximum aperture of F2.8 at wide angle and F3.3 at telephoto, the new lens has a maximum aperture of F2.0 at wide angle and F2.4 at telephoto (that's a stop faster).

Review update (5th September 2001)

This review was originally based on a pre-production DSC-F707. I have now completed updating this review with results from a full production DSC-F707. As well as fully verifying the review text I have also re-shot a lot of samples and updated test results etc. For those who read the review before this update here's a log of changes:

F707 vs. F505V

Here's a quick summary of the primary differences between the DSC-F505V and the DSC-F707.

		Sony DSC-F707	Sony DSC-F505V
CCD pixels		5.24 megapixels	3.3 megapixels
CCD effective output		4.92 megapixels	2.6 megapixels
CCD size**		2/3"	1/1.8"
CCD Colour Filter Array		G - R - G - B	G - R - G - B
Max resolution		2560 x 1920	1856 x 1392
Lens max aperture		F2.0 - F2.4	F2.8 - F3.3
Lens thread		58 mm	52 mm
Auto Focus		Contrast AF, NightFraming, Hologram AF (laser)	Contrast AF (no AF assist lamp)
ISO sensitivity		Auto & ISO 100, 200, 400	Auto (ISO 100 - 300)
Exposure modes		Program AE, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Full Manual, Scene	Program AE, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Scene
Metering		Multi-Segment, Center-Weighted Average, Spot	Center-Weighted Average, Spot
AE-Lock button		Yes (one shot)	None
Exp. compensation		Button	Menu
Shutter speed range		30 - 1/1000 sec	8 - 1/1000 sec
Noise reduction		Clear Color and Slow Shutter	None
Night mode		NightShot (removes IR filter)	None
Continuous shooting		Burst 3 - 2.8 fps, 3 frames	None
Exposure bracketing		Yes, 3 frames	None
Movie mode		MPEG EX only limited by storage	MPEG time limited
External flash		Dummy shoe 'holder', sync port	Sync port
Viewfinder		EVF	None
LCD		1.8" LCD with anti-reflective coat	2.0" Sunlight Hybrid
Power		InfoLithium M (8.5 Wh)	InfoLithium S (4.1 Wh)
Zoom controller		Side of lens barrel (dual speed)	Rear of main body (dual speed)
Misc.		Jog-dial, No Position Sensor	Position Sensor

4.92 megapixels

The DSC-F707 becomes the second digital camera we've reviewed which uses the new 2/3" 5.24 mp Sony ICX282 CCD. The camera outputs a 4.92 megapixel image (2560 x 1920) from this CCD. Coming from the 2.6 megapixel F505V this is certainly a big step up, the diagram below will give you a visual scale display of the difference between 2.6 megapixels and 4.92 megapixels.

Here are a few other ways of thinking about the increase in resolution (compared to the F505V's 2.6 megapixel image):

• The output image is 704 pixels wider and 528 pixels taller
• The output image has 2.33 million more pixels
• Prints at 150 dpi would cover an extra 4.7 inches horizontally and 3.5 inches vertically