Sony’s stylish, pocket-size Cybershot DSCP100 digital camera offers an amazing 5-megapixel resolution and a wealth of photographic features normally found on full-size, high-end cameras. About 1 inch thin and weighing less than 6 ounces, it’s easy to carry wherever you may roam. The DSCP100 also features a 3x optical zoom, Carl Zeiss optics, nine-shot burst mode, and a high-resolution movie mode that’s limited only by your Memory Stick’s capacity. Optics and Resolution The DSCP100 features a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar zoom lens–the first time this lens has been used with a Cybershot P-series camera. The Vario-Tessar lens is specially constructed for very compact cameras, and its design allows for quick autofocusing. It has a 3x optical zoom and 2x digital zoom, for a combined 6x. The 1/1. 8-inch Super HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD allows more light to reach each pixel, increasing sensitivity and reducing noise, and provides a 5. 1-megapixel effective resolution (2,5
Buy Sony Cybershot DSCP100 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom at Amazon
I just purchased this as a replacement from my Sony P-72 3. 2 meg camera. WOW! This camera is so much more improved from only a couple years ago. Aside from the 5. 1 megapixel count, this camera excels in almost every conceivable area relevant to compacts. First off, this camera starts up in less than a second or so–truly fast compared to other similarly priced cameras. This feature is essential when attempting to capture that oh so special kodak. . . er. . . sony moment in a blink. Secondly, the camera is beautiful. Sony got it right this time when designing a sturdy, compact and lightweight technological masterpiece. True, it’s not as small as its even lighter cousin–the T-1, or the Pentax Optio S4i and Casio Ex-z4, but it passes the pants pocket test with flying colors. Additionally, when compared to the T-1, this camera uses the regular memory stick size and not the smaller duo like the T-1. Sooooo, if you already own a sony, this is a natural upgrade. Some other excellent features on the P-100 are the manual overides. You can adjust the shutter speed and aperature which, for a camera in this class, is a true rarity. Unlike the T-1, this cam does have a tripod mount, a no brainer for any serious photographer. I also am enjoying the extremely high quality video mode; although not the most important selling point, having the ability to take camcorder like videos with sound for unlimited amounts of time (unlike 30 second segments from many other cams) is handy. Another amazing feature is the battery life. I remember my first sony digital camera–the DSC-P50 2. 1 mega pixel. It’s battery life was dismal. My P-72 was slightly improved, but still suffered from chronic battery munchies. The P-100 fully charged can take pictures for over 200 minutes! If you’re on the display modes, it can last almost double that–another breathtaking accomplishment. The info lithium works well in calculating the remaining battery life–a major complaint from owners of other cameras like Canon that lack this feature. Lastly, it is a proprietary battery, so purchasing an additional one is recommended. Needless to say, the 1. 8″ lcd is gorgeous, just like the past sony cameras I’ve had. It’s extremely hi-res and I have no difficulty seeing it in sunlight. The lcd’s navigation is similar to earlier sony cams with a few new additions like a light metering box. Overall, I’m tremendously pleased with the picture quality from this puppy. I envision this camera lasting well into early-mid 2005 when Sony will release yet another improvement. Until then, I highly recommend this for most anybody who appreciates quality and functionality incorporated into a lightweight package.
Ultra-compact digicam comparison: which ultra-compact camera should I buy? Make sure you read the whole thing – it’ll give you an idea of what to look for yourself. Considered: Fuji F610, Sony T1, Sony T11, Sony P100, Pentax Optio S4i, Canon S500, Nikon 3700/5200. Fuji 610 (72 x 93 x 31 mm)Pros: excellent camera with awesome image quality. Claim that vertical design will limit camera shake – maybe. Video quality excellent at 640 x 480 (30fps). xD picture cards cheap. Cons: Larger than canon s500 and sonyp100 – but not a huge problem considering the better features (especially the amount of manual controls with shutter/aperture). BUT – NO AF ASSIST LAMP: therefore poor low light performance. Not able to switch off digital zoom such that the optical switches over to digital automatically – which will reduce image quality stored. But the clincher here is the lack of AF assist lamp. Sony P100 (108 x 51. 5 x 26. 6 mm)Pros: It’s a Sony: their attention to detail is always guaranteed. Nine scene selections which makes shooting for amateurs so much simpler and takes you up that extra notch – read excerpt below. Option of attaching a wide-angle telephoto lens down the track – should you start to take your photography (more) seriously. Excellent video quality at 640 x 480 (30fps or 17pfs), size unlimitied). AF assist lamp. Battery life indicator: provides estimated mins remaining. Battery has also been found to be of exceptional stamina – compared to other digicams of this size. I got this from Imaging-Resource: “Scene mode offers a range of preset exposure modes, including Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape, Soft snap, Snow, Beach, High Speed Shutter, Fireworks, and Candle modes. Both Twilight modes optimize the camera for low-light shooting by allowing shutter times as long as two seconds, while Landscape mode sets the camera up for shooting distant subjects. Soft snap mode warms skin tones and sets focus to slightly soft. Snow mode enhances saturation and adjusts exposure, to prevent loss of colour in bright white snow scapes, while Beach mode ensures that blue tones are recorded accurately in lakeside or seaside photos. High-speed shutter mode is for shooting action or bright subjects. Fireworks mode preserves colour in shots of fireworks or other night light displays by fixing the lens aperture at f/5. 6 and setting the exposure time to the 2-second maximum. Candle mode slows shutter speeds and biases exposure to keep candlelit scenes looking natural; a tripod is recommended in this model”Cons: Memory stick: expensive, but prices have come down and will come down further. Definitely get yourself a MS Pro Duo (either a 256, or better still 512MB). Getting the Duo now (which is not much more $) will keep you ahead of the game. Size: slightly longer than Canon S500 but thinner – so not so bad. Overall the cons are not awfully bad. Sony T1/T11 (T!: 91mm x 60mm x 21mm)Pros: Awesome design. Very thin. All other pros similar to Sony P100. Nice option of black. Cons: NO tripod mount – sure it’s an ultra-compact which you’d carry around, but sometimes it’s nice to mount it for macro and other shots. I would have seriously forked out the extra cash for this camera but the lack of a tripod mount was the clincher. Canon S500 (87. 0 x 57. 0 x 27. 8 mm)Pros: Size: I like to use this camera as a benchmark for size comparisons with other cameras. Design and form factor: almost as good as Sony: very elegant. CF – cheap, very cheap. I’ve previously had the Canon S230 (3. 2MP 2X optical) and it was an excellent camera. Cons: VERY, VERY POOR: no battery life indicator – with the S230 I have been caught out many times, this is especially so when other members of your family use the camera and you have no idea how much charge is left. The solution is to get a spare battery, but Canon should have rectified this issue by now and they have deliberately chosen not to and that tells me something. Video at 320 x 240 (15fps): if you want 640×480 only available at 10pfs: compare this with Sony and Fuji, both at 640×480, 30fps!! Now I know that this is a digital camera and not a camcorder – but it’s nice to know that you can take VGA quality shots at an instant – so you’re always prepared – because who carries the camcorder everywhere?!!Pentax Optio S4i ((83 x 52 x 20mm))Pro: Size. Size. And price. Cons: No AF assist lamp: therefore poor in low light. Although a good camera, you’ll read that it’s more a `fun’ camera than half-serious like the Sony P100 or Canon S500. Of course the Fuji F610 takes it up a notch as far as manual features go. Also the video quality is poor: similar to the canon S500 – although I would imagine Canon would still do a better job of it. Nikon 3700 (95. 5 x 50 x 31 mm)Pro: Scene selection. Size. Cons: Some have claimed a disparity between sound and video – not sure about this though. Appearance: very uninspiring, like the rest of the coolpix family. CONCLUSIONSRank overall:1. Sony P100 (image quality, scene options, video quality, it’s a Sony)2. Canon S500 (two downfalls – and both quite big – no battery life indicator and low video resolution)3. Fuji F610 (NO AF assist, can’t switch off digital zoom)If size and form factor the most important and tripod mount absolutely not necessary (e. g. if will be in handbag all the time): Sony T1