Sony CyberShot DSC-P1 is smallest for today 3-megapixel digital camera with a triple optical modification of a focal length (Zoom), which, despite of the "amicable" pocket sizes, grantives to the users the impressive list of possibilities and excellence of shooting. If the label "P" in the DSC-P1 name also did not imply Pocket, doubtlessly owed!

For thickness 4,4 sm it easily placed on a palm and weighs, even with allowance for of strong metal bode both accumulator of impressive sizes and capacity, no more than 250 g. But it can photograph with the resolution up to 2048 X 1536 pixels, to save images without a compression (TIFF) or with compression (JPEG), make short video with a sound in a format MPEG with the resolution 320 X 240 pixels (HQ-QVGA), to do animation GIF pictures and to write the speech comments to shots.

Little, but the well-organized camera DSC-P1 ensures small, but quite sufficient in most case set of the functionalities assembled in strong and well-designed body. To work with this device it is extremely convenient.

Novelty DSC-P1 is the function Quick Review, which realizes on the left button of the joystick the preliminary review of the last accepted image.

DSC-P1 - small, but quite "adult" camera. New "little noise" 3,34-megapixel matrix of firm Sony - Super HAD CCD (made with the improved parity "the signal / noise") allows to receive rather qualitative images even when shooting of dark objects or for obviously insufficient illumination. And to improve colors the 12-digit analog-digital transformation with corrected "sharpness" images (four pitches of a modification) and set-up of balance white (four modes) is used.

Optics of own development of Sony has a triple modification of a focal length (3-optical Zoom) - from 8 up to 24 mm (in an equivalent of a 35-mm film - from 39 up to 117 mm). The camera has two significance's of the diaphragm: F2,8 and F5,6 for 39 mm (F3,3 and F9,6 for 117 mm). The technology of a fast auto focussing of Sony (High-Speed Scan) ensures a fast and point focussing in all a range of a modification of a focal length.

The system DSC-P1 has five program AE-modes: Twilight - for shooting when insufficient illumination, Twilight +, Landscape shooting - with set-up of a focal point with infinity, fixed focussing (Pan-Focus), preventing a sharp modification of a focal point, and exposition on a central spot (Spot-Meter). Besides there are four special effects: a negative (Negative Art), Solarization (Solarize), Sepia and black-and-white shooting (B and W). As addition there are some methods of superposition of date and time of shooting on an image.

Quality of shots is very good. DSC-P1 is intended for a wide range of the users and consequently is designed, by and large, only to point and shoot. It is easy and is convenient in use, however it photographic possibilities and the control facilities are limited a little. The photographer should rely on "built-in abilities" of this camera and to trust in automation.

DSC-P1 makes all necessary rather well. Its optics practically has not distortions on all a range of focal length (from wide-angle up to a Tele-mode) and noticeable chromatic aberrations. When shootings in natural illumination (even in dark weather) the noise practically is absent also chromaticity of snapshots excellent.

Besides DSC-P1 differs by fast readiness for shooting and small delay time for operation of a lock, especially if its color LCD-screen is switched off (however, and with a live LCD-screen the delay for focussing does not exceed 0,5 seconds).

In all cameras, from Mavica to Cybershot, Sony uses an identical system of the menu and only slightly modifies it from a model to a model. This standardization results that any new camera the experienced users perceive as well familiar. It is simple and clear.

With the camera DSC-P1 are delivered the program MGI PhotoSuite for image processing and USB-drivers for work under the control of operational systems Windows 2000, 98, and 98SE (the software delivered with the camera, can be changed). For editing of video in a format MPEG the program Video Wave SE also from firm MGI is. These programs are simple in assimilation and quite are capable to supply any application.

Also it is necessary to mark good support of this camera by firm Sony on it Web-site. Had no time to appear an operational system Windows Millennium Edition, as the appropriate USB-driver for DSC-P1 is available.

Dignities

- high quality of shots,
- rather point automatic balance white,
- a unique possibility of shooting animation GIF images and black-and-white documents,
- record of a video with a sound and speech comments to photos,
- strong, elegant and well composed body,
- triple optical Zoom with fast and exact management,
- fast and point automatic focussing,
- excellent accumulators InfoLithium,
- availability of a built-in flash,
- USB-interface,
- additional water-proof body for shooting in bad weather conditions or under water.

Defects

- the little bit slow initialization when turn-on,
- not enough fast change of images for want of view,
- small distortion when large angles of shooting,
- the limited choice of the diaphragm (and accordingly, depth of sharpness),
- modest possibilities macro shoot (certainly, on a comparison with large cameras),
- the noisy control system of a focal length (mechanism Zoom),
- weak built-in flash,
- very small (only 8 Mbytes) the card Memory Stick in a package (on it does not place any TIFF-image).

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 830