Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T1 Digital Camera

Just wanted to give a quick heads up on the new digital camera from Sony – CyberShot DSC-T1. Some technical reviews are already out on the Net (more about them later), so I would try to focus mostly on how does this tiny piece of gadgetry perform in real life.

First of all – the thing is SMALL. Don't get me wrong - it is really tiny. As a matter of fact it took me a few minutes just to find the camera itself in the package among all the manuals, cords, chargers, etc. Imagine yourself a deck of cards -this is the size. Sony DSC T-1 is thinner then Cannon S400 or a newer 5.0 mega pixel S500. The zoom lens does not extend from the body at all, which makes it look and feel even smaller then it is.

Be warned – this is the camera you must use with the hand strap or you risk dropping it on the floor. Another warning – due to the unusual lens placement it will take you some time to get used to it and hold it steady without fingerprinting the lens or the LCD. Speaking of LCD – this camera has the biggest LCD out of any digital point-and-shoot or prosumer models. The LCD measures 2.5 in. diagonally and is quite bright even under the bright sun. Sony took a plunge and released this camera without any optical viewfinder, but size and quality of the LCD compensates for this engineering decision big time.

Camera body feels quite robust (this impression is attributed probably due to the heavier then expected weight – all metal parts). My only concern so far is the fact that no leather or vinyl or whatever case has been supplied with the camera in the manufacturer's kit. This makes storing and carrying the DSC T-1 around without scratching the LCD a real challenge. No tripod mount either – so say good-buy to these twilight shots. Wait a minute! What do you mean no tripod mount? Is there any way around it? Fortunately Sony decided to heed to the loud screams of the first users of this camera and offers now a leather case "for active lifestyle" WITH A BUILT_IN TRIPOD SOCKET ( Sony model number: AJK-THA ). Now, that's an odd thing. Anyway I ordered mine from Sony direct and when it arrives I'll update this review to include my impressions.

The camera uses a new very small Memory Stick Pro DUO memory cards. Since 512 Mb is only available from Sony (and cost a small fortune) I got a Lexar made 256 Mb one for a reasonable price of $75. This would store up to 90 images using the best quality settings (highest resolution and least compressed).

All right, a few days and a few hundreds shots later I see the following trends:

The camera is easy to use for anybody non-professional if all settings are left at default (Auto). The only thing to watch for, is keeping the camera steady when taking the shots especially when there is not enough light. If you lean to a wall or a tree or at least brace your elbow against your chest when taking shots, you will get good results. Why am I stressing this issue? Because the camera does not have an optical viewfinder and you have to keep it on some distance from your eyes to frame a shot. Shaky hands WILL RESULT IN A BLURRED SHOT. Don't blame the camera for that, just change your habits: breathe in, breathe out, hold your breath, frame, focus by half-pressing the trigger, re-frame, take a shot by pressing the trigger all the way – viola, you are done!

Beautiful colors (the camera has a very smart auto white balance algorithm), excellent resolution (I printed 8x10 on my Epson 22000 photo printer from the cropped shots, 11x14 from the full frame shots and could not be happier), no noticeable distortion – I really like it a lot. And please be advised that I've been using two Nikon N90s bodies with AFS lenses for years now, so there are some grounds for comparison.

To give you the better grip on the quality – well, if you take pictures in a daylight using Kodak Gold negative film and high end SLR camera, scan the negatives on 4000 dpi film scanner (I use Canon FS4000), print 11x14's on a good photo printer and then compare with the same picture taken by DSC-T1 (making sure the ISO settings of the Sony digicam matches the ISO of the film used in SLR) I challenge you to notice a difference. And you will save a lot of time not only by bypassing the film development and scanning time, but by removing the necessity to fight film grain and the painful color correction steps in image editing program, required to get the naturally looking prints from the scanned negatives. Now, if you shoot slide film, especially at low ISO, that's another story. Guess, if you belong to the slide shooters, you would not be buying any point and shoot digicam anyway…

Did you notice the key word "DAYLIGHT" in the previous paragraph? Don't get me wrong; I don't want to give you an impression that Sony DSC-T1 is a looser indoors. Actually, I am amazed that for it's size it does such a nice indoor job. What I meant is – you should read and re-read the manual before attempting to shoot these birthday parties in the restaurants. The least understudied by general public topic is the difference between the "Auto" and the "Program Auto" modes. Please take a note that the shutter speed range of this camera is as follows: "Auto" (1/8 – 1/1000 sec), "Program Auto" (1 – 1/1000 sec), even slower in "Twilight" Mode. This means that if you attempt to shoot a picture in a poorly lit room in "Auto" mode you are doomed to fail since the flash on this camera is weak and is only rated up to 4 - 5 feet (1.5m). So if you want to take a picture of let say a standing couple, full height - the combination of shutter speed/flash range in "Auto" mode will cause an underexposure (fortunately easily noticeable via an excellent histogram feature on the shot upon review), and as a result a very grainy, noisy bleak picture. Use the "Program Auto" instead and, as I mentioned already, brace your body and hands while taking a shot to keep the camera steady. If you follow my advice, you will be pleasantly surprised by the quality of the result.

The flash is located very close to the lens, though. This means "Red Eye". I can bet anyone any sum of money that any camera of this size would have a red-eye problem. This is an unavoidable evil. Don't even bother with the "red-eye reduction flash mode". All it does most of the time – it makes a subject blink right when the picture is taken and drains battery. Just get good red-eye removal software instead. I personally use and am very happy with the Photoshop Action script from Fred Miranda (http://www.fredmiranda.com/shopping/Redeye ) - it cost $1.50 (yes, you read it right) and does a wonderful job.

I noticed another possible pitfall which can spoil the mood of a happy camera owner when taking pictures indoors (again, don't blame the equipment - adjust your technique!). It is easy to get carried away and take one shot after another again, and again, and again (especially since the camera focuses very quickly and has a very short shutter lag). Please be careful and let the flash recharge between shots (takes a few seconds), otherwise you will be getting underexposed pictures.

My overall impression of this digicam is very positive. Some of the reviewers bashed the camera due to the "slow lens" and "weak flash". Come on, people, give it some slack, will you! If you want to shoot weddings for living, then this camera is not for you. On another hand the combination of tiny size, light weight, excellent resolution, ease to use, very (VERY) short shutter lag – and I can't stress enough how short the shutter lag on this camera is, - makes it a perfect travel companion and begs to keep it with you 24/7. And how many times we, owners of the expensive, high quality, HEAVY/BULKY photo equipment were thinking looking at the unexpected rare photo opportunity "If only I had my camera with me now…"

I've been waiting long enough to get a digital camera. I tried many ones over the years. As a matter of fact I am still not ready to replace my SLR's with the DSLR's (well, now when Nikon D70 finally came out, I might). But speaking about this little technological marvel from Sony, I can't help, but express my amazement and appreciation of all the hard labor their engineers put into it.

For the gear heads that are obsessed with the technical details there are two recent reviews at
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/t1.html and http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/T1/T1A.HTM (lots of camera and menus pictures, sample shots, resolution and color charts etc.)

If you are planning on buying this camera or just bought it recently, please note that Sony offers a new firmware version 2.0 for download from their tech support website at

http://www.css.ap.sony.com/downloads/download.asp?Id=000000000002011&ProductGroup=Digital Still Camera&Model=DSC-T1

Enjoy…