yenfur's Full Review: Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-P32 Digital Camera
The Sony Cybershot DSC-P32 is a value camera. With a price of only $199 for a 3.2 megapixel camera—this is a deal. In fact, it’s a really good deal. This is my first digital camera, so I don’t have much to compare it to. But I know that it does have some really nice features, which makes this a nice camera.
Included with the camera are size A nickel metal hydride batteries, a battery charger, A/V Connecting Cable, USB Cable, 16 MB Memory Card and a CD-Rom. The fact that lifetime chargeable batteries come with this are very helpful. I haven’t yet needed to use the A/V Connecting Cable, instead using the USB Cable to connect this to my computer. Yet this makes it possible to show off your pictures on your computer.
Some may argue that 16 MB is not enough. And it isn’t. Yet this is only what was included with the camera. Memory is expensive, and with such a small price tag, you aren’t going to get a large memory card.
The CD-Rom has the drivers for Windows 98, 2000 and ME (plus all compatible Macintoshes). It also has a program called Image Mixer. This makes it possible to record and edit movies (which is a capability of this camera).
The camera is small, lightweight and compact. This could fit in my purse (which isn’t all that big), so if I wanted to take it anywhere, I would be able to fit it. This is not heavy at all, which is just nice.
The features of this camera are numerous. It has smart zoom, auto macro AF, multi burst, a self timer and the ability to make movies.
I’m not much of a photographer, so features like auto focus and auto flash are handy for me. For people who are more eager to customize their photo experience, you can put the camera in program mode, which will give you options with flash and so on. There are even picture options like solarize, black and white, sepia, negative art. Photography can be customized to a certain degree, but with the basic auto features do a good job.
One negative of this camera is the fact that there is a delay of a few seconds when taking a picture. This shutter delay gets to be annoying, because it’s slow to take a picture, and makes it more difficult to get a quality picture.
The video quality of this camera is not very good at all. It records no better than a $20 webcam. The videos are dark, and it’s hard to see them. The sound quality is far from good. In all honesty, I won’t be using the video capacity for this camera. It was not the selling point for the piece.
The smart zoom on this camera is not the best as well. It would be much better if the camera had optical zoom, but it doesn’t. The smart zoom can only be used on pictures with an image size of 2.0 M or below. And it doesn’t get very close, and in all honesty, you can’t tell much of a difference. This is the major thing which is lacking in the camera.
It is easy to use though. It has immediate buttons to control the flash, auto timer and the ability to review the last seen photo while still in picture mode (you have the ability to switch to review mode with a simple flip of a knob, another flip will take you into video mode). Other buttons will take you to the menu; will put the camera on standby. Or will give you the photo size option or the option to delete the photo.
Another annoyance is the fact that you can’t turn off the beeping sounds that the camera makes. I’ve looked through things, and there is no option for it to be silent. The beeps are rather loud, and without a doubt, they are noticeable.
USB mode is really easy with this camera. The camera is compatible with Windows XP (which is the operating system that I use), so I did not have to download any drivers. When hooked up to USB mode, I have (and always take) the option of uploading my photos to the computer. When there, the computer makes it possible for me to pick a folder. And it will put them there and even delete it when it’s done. All it takes is a few clicks. (I’m not exactly good with the wire aspects of computers and I was shocked to see how easy this was).
Without a doubt, this is a budget camera. With its consumer friendly price, it makes it possible that everyone can have a digital camera. This camera makes it possible for everyone to have a good digital camera. Its design is great. It’s small and easy to tote around. It takes nice pictures. Even though it may not have all the fanciness of other digital cameras, you get what you pay for. Even though I didn’t pay much, I really could not ask for more from my first digital camera. Its quality and easy to use…two things I certainly need. Maybe now I’ll take more pictures.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 179.00--sale This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Fool-Proof for Absolute Beginners
3.2 megapixel Super HAD CCD sensor captures enough detail for prints up to 11 x 14 3.2x digital zoom MPEG VX movie mode with audio recording; 1.6-inch...More at Amazon Marketplace
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