Good little camera.
Written: Apr 26 '05
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Pros: picture quality, LCD screen, battery life, battery time-remaining display, fast startup, action mode
Cons: finicky multi AF, flimsy parts, no battery charger, poor instructions, useless software, cryptic scene icons
The Bottom Line: Although there are small issues that keep it from being the "ultimate," I would recommend this camera to anyone who is interested in a small, sophisticated, mostly automatic point-and-shoot camera.
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| freshies's Full Review: Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-P200 Digital Camera |
Before I start, I would consider myself a photography novice. Although I have dithered with an SLR, point-and-shoot cameras suit me more. My previous (and first) digital camera was a Canon SD100 (3.1mp), which I liked. Since technology's march forward never stops, I decided to upgrade to a camera with more megapixels. The 2 main cameras I looked at were this and the Canon SD500. I chose the Sony because it was $100 cheaper, because I wanted to try another camera maker, and because the SD500 got some mediocre reviews.
I've had the Sony for about a month. Even though that is a relatively short period of time, that time included a weeklong vacation during which I took hundreds of pictures.
So far, I've been very happy with this camera. The first thing that you notice is that it starts up and is ready FAST. Hit the power button--and BOOM--you're ready for a shot in less than a second. It is leagues faster than my old Canon, but it seemed about equal to the new Canon SD500 that I looked at in the store.
The LCD screen is large and bright--it makes reviewing your shots a little bit easier. The camera takes excellent pictures with great color. It's nice to have huge 7.1mp pictures (3072 x 2304) and see all the fine detail. The movie mode works well. Unlike my Canon, it can take as much video as your memory card can hold in one shot. If you buy a MemoryStick PRO, you can take 640 x 480 video at 30fps (although a 512MB card can only hold less than 6 minutes at this quality).
The camera is very light and easily stored in a pocket. Although it isn't the most rugged camera, it can take some punishment (so far). I have dropped it several times--one heart stopping instance onto pavement--and it still works well despite several exterior scratches. The LCD is covered in plastic, so a direct hit shouldn't crack the LCD.
The "Scene" mode that allows you to take pictures using preset settings (e.g., snow, candlelight, twilight) is convenient. The most useful setting is the action setting, which speeds up the shutter speed for moving subjects.
The camera single camera cable is both a USB cable fused to a RCA A/V cable. This is great for showing your pictures on a TV, especially if you're staying at a hotel.
My favorite feature is that you can see the battery time remaining. For those who have been only using Canons, you don't know what you've been missing. It is incredibly helpful to know how much you charge you have left. In addition, the battery life is very long. On one charge, I took about 180 7mp pictures (mostly outside shots without a flash) and still had 1/3rd of the battery left. Amazing.
It's not a perfect camera though. My old Canon seems to be a much more sturdy feeling camera. A few parts of the Sony are flimsy. The battery door is cheap plastic, and the DC IN cover is, quite possibly, the most fragile piece I have seen on ANY electronic equipment. The zoom motor works well, but it has sounded from the get-go like it may croak at any moment.
The multipoint autofocus (AF) is hard to judge, and it is the only AF available on fully automatic mode. On a Canon, a green box illuminates around the object on which the camera is focused. Not so with the Sony. This makes it difficult to definitively know if the camera is in proper focus. After taking several out-of-focus pictures, I never use fully automatic mode anymore. The 2 manual modes can be set to center AF, which seems more reliable.
The menus are relatively easy-to-navagate and about equal to the Canon's. The worst menu is for the "Scene" mode. There are no descriptions, just cryptic icons. So, for instance, you have to remember that the icon with a white torso and a smaller black torso means "Soft Snap." Not obvious. You also have to delve deep into the menus to toggle the red-eye reduction flash. They should have just made it an extra setting when you press the "flash" button, like the Canon's.
The camera does not come with a battery charger, just a power cable with a large power box. I find this setup cumbersome, especially as you can only charge the battery when it is in the camera. This somewhat negates the convenience of having a spare battery. (Although with such long battery life, a spare is less necessary.)
There are finally a few more little niggles. The flash is a little weak. The instructions are not well designed. There is a "Getting Started" sheet and a "User's Guide" booklet. The information in the booklet is not all inclusive, however, and refers to the "Getting Started" sheet for details on some instructions. The camera's shape invites you to hold it with one hand but that can lead to unstable, blurry shots. The Sony software is worthless compared to Canon's ZoomBrowser and PhotoStich programs. It only uses Sony's proprietary memory cards (and I'd recommend at least 512MB).
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 399
This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Easy Enough for Anyone to Use
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Epinions.com ID:
freshies
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Reviews written: 1
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