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SONY CYBERSHOT DSCF707 REVIEW

SONY Releases 5 Mega pixel camera
Sony has recently released a new very high resolution digital camera, the Cybershot DSCF707. It has an effective output of 5 Megapixels, which is the highest resolution available in consumer digital cameras. The high resolution would be of very little value it if were not for the other great many strengths this camera has.

When purchasing a digital camera you should be very careful not to fall into the trap of only looking at the headline figures such as the number of Megapixels the camera has. Digital cameras in the 3 to 5 Megapixel range vary greatly in the quality of their output, what they are best suited for and the range features.

The biggest variation in picture quality between low price cameras with high resolutions or Megapixel values and the better quality models is the lens system. This still remains one the keys to any photographic equipment no matter how much digital technology may be squeezed into it. The Sony Cybershot 707 certainly has a great lens system, probably the best of any camera in its class. You would have to move to full digital SLR (Single Lens Reflex) to do better, but you would have to find double the cash.

The Sony Cybershot 707 is dominated by and designed around its very large and fast 5x optical zoom Carl Ziess lens system. When looking at digital or video cameras only look at the optical zoom value, as the digital zoom is little more than smoke and mirrors. Digital zoom simply makes the image appear large by making the dots larger, where as the optical zoom uses a lens system to magnify the image. The lens system is referred to being fast as it can use a faster shutter speed for the same light conditions when compared to most other lens. This is particularly useful for taking pictures of subjects in the distance or where the light is not very bright.

The Cybershot 707 is the third generation of this style of camera from Sony. With each model they have improved the design and in the case of the new 707 there are many significant improvements beyond the increase in the resolution. There is now an electronic viewfinder for viewing the subject in bright light and holding the camera in the more stable position up against your body. Increased lens diameter now with a 58mm thread on the barrel.

Hologram AF laser focusing system designed to achieve accurate focus on subjects with little contrast in dark conditions. Ideal for photographing a beach on a moonless night, as it zeros in on difficult low-light, low-contrast subjects. This technology is exclusive to Sony. This is in addition to the improved light metering system that now includes Spot, center weight and multi zone metering.

What are the Cybershot 707 weaknesses? There are two issues that I think Sony needs to address with their top end cameras. First is the external flash connector, it is proprietary and no other supplier makes flashes to suit. This would not be a big issue if Sony made a range of flash units. The one they do make is a good basic unit, but it lacks the ability to fully rotate the head and the output is not as much as many people who are buying cameras at this end of the market would hope for.

The second weakness is one that afflicts all of the Sony Cybershot cameras. It is not that use Memory Stick, but the price of it compared to generic Compact Flash cards. Yes, Memory Stick has advantages, but it does not offer the capacity and it is more expensive. Sony have licensed this technology to other manufactures, so over time the price should come more into line with Compact Flash.

How would I rate this camera overall? It is very good, ideal for someone who does portrait or needs a longer zoom. The reaction time, and this goes for many digital cameras, is not really fast enough for sports action.