Sony Cybershot DSC-T100 8MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot (Red)
- 8.1-megapixel Super HAD CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 16 x 22-inch prints
- Carl Zeiss 5x optical zoom lens; 3.0-inch LCD display
- High Sensitivity Mode (ISO 3200) allows for shooting even in low-light conditions
- MPEG Movie VX Fine mode captures VGA (640 x 480) audio/video clips at high frame rate
- HD output; HD slide show with music feature
The DSC-T100 fits an amazing combination of hi-tech features in super-slim dimensions and three stylish colors. It has high-Resolution 8.1 MP imaging, powerful 5X Optical Zoom Lens and huge 3.0-inch screen with Clear Photo LCD Plusde; Design. Innovative technologies like Face Detection, in-camera retouching, D-Range Optimization and HD Output1 expand the possibilities of Digital photography — and the Sony Double Anti-Blur Solution lets you shoot in low light without flash to preserve the mood.
List Price: $ 399.99
Price: $ 399.99
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Great camera,
The DSC-T100 is a very good camera and I would highly recommend it. I have had several generations of the Cybershot series (DSC-T1, DSC-T9 and now the DSC-T100) and they’ve all been great, high quality cameras.
This camera takes beautiful pictures. The pictures are clear, little to no white bleeding, with superb colors and great contrast. The lens is bigger than previous models so it works better in low light conditions and apparently this camera uses the noise reduction technology used in the new high end Sony cameras so the pictures should be less noisy when it’s dark too.
The movie quality is 640×480 at 30 frames per second with audio. And unlike the previous models you can zoom while recording movies (BIG plus!), whereas in the previous models you were locked at whatever zoom level you set before you began recording. Also, the movies are saved into MPG and not Quicktime so you’re not locked into a video format.
The camera is bigger than the previous top-end models, but not by much. I imagine they made the change to fit in the 5x optical zoom (over the previous 3x). And while they had the extra depth they threw in a 3 inch LCD (instead of 2.5) and a larger battery (to drive the larger LCD no doubt). I personally preferred the feel of the DSC-T9, but I accept the trading of features for a bit more size.
The downsides to the camera are few and minor, and if I could I would have given this product a 4.5/5, but they don’t let you do that. But, here are the problems I have with this camera.
1. Reduced Buttons: From the previous models they removed buttons and replaced them with software driven menus. While I do not mind software menus, I do mind not having a choice between using the software menus and using physical buttons. They really should have included a button for delete and I really want a switch to pick between movie mode and picture mode. It takes a few extra seconds to switch from the previous models and I don’t like that. Companies seem to think that it makes something easier to use if they make it software driven, but really it makes it harder and slower to use.
2. Options Not Very Accessible: The software menus impose too many limitations. I should be able to cycle through all flash options with the flash button in auto mode, but I have to go into program auto mode to do it, and I have to use the software menus to do it. This camera has the ability to set a brighter flash or a dimmer flash, but it takes so long to change that I won’t ever be able to use it. The same type of problem applies to the red eye reduction (although, I don’t think it’s necessary because it doesn’t seem to have red eye problems since the flash is further away from the lens).
3. The camera is still missing options that the DSC-T1 had. When I bought my DSC-T9 I remembered being so angry that they changed and removed options, and still they’re missing. For example, you can cycle through different display levels (normal, normal with histogram, bright, etc.). On the DSC-T1 there was an option to turn off the backlight, which increased the battery time dramatically. But, you can’t do this on the newer DSC-T9 or even the newest DSC-T100 models.
4. It’s a Sony so you pay a lot more for it. The camera is a reasonable price, but to make it useful you need to buy a Memory Stick Pro Duo, which costs a considerable amount more than SD cards (even though they are the same technology). You also may want the docking station, which is far overpriced, and all of the various other peripherals are more expensive then this should be also.
Don’t let the negatives discourage you though. This is a good product a Sony deserves praise for making it. I just wish they’d consult with me before they marketed it.
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|Pricey but totally worth owning,
I’ve had the T100 for just a few days (including a weekend of heavy shooting). I love it. Compared to similar offerings from Panasonic, Canon, Fuji, to name a few, it’s expensive, but it has these following features that I find useful — and they do work well in the real world:
- Excellent picture quality: you buy a digital camera to shoot great-looking pictures, right? The T100 takes excellent pictures indoors and outdoors; like other Sony digicams, it’s especially good at taking scenery photos
- Face detection: automatically sets focus and exposure optimally for light-skinned faces in the picture; seems to work well in well-lit scenes
- Optical image stabilization (“SteadyShot”): helps you steady slow-shutter shots; saves you about 1 f-stop; only Canon and Panasonic besides Sony use this kind of sophisiticated, non-digital technology
- 5x optical zoom: the highest among ultra-slim digital cameras; zoom range is 35mm-175mm equivalent in a 35mm film camera
- Zoom optically while shooting video: I’d been wanting this since the first day (over eight years ago) I got my first digital camera (a Fuji); yes, you can zoom the lens smoothly and *optically* (as opposed to digitally) while shooting in movie mode
- 3″ super-bright LCD: the regular brightness level is pretty usable outdoors, but if you’re shooting in bright sunlight, you can crank up the LCD brightness even further (at the expense of shortened battery life, of course)
- Decent battery life: rated at 340 shots per charge by the Japanese CIPA standard; this translates into pretty good real-world battery life
- Some manual controls available: EV compensation, etc.
- Gorgeous design: and yes, I got this red version
So is this worth almost $400 for an 8-megapixel camera? For me, the 5x zoom and optical image stabilization are must-have features (I’m nuts about shooting low-light photos without using the flash, unless I’m shooting with my Nikon D70 digital-SLR with sophisticated lighting setup that reproduces a natural-light look to the scene).
Canon’s and Panasonic’s and Fujifilm’s shoot excellent-quality pictures, too, but only the T100 has the right mix of image quality (and a great movie mode with zoom), standout styling and ease-of-use that make it a total best buy for me.
Your comments and questions are welcome.
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