At a glance there are few visible differences between last year's very
successful DSC-707
and this year's DSC-F717. This is still Sony's flagship in the
Cyber-shot series, coming equipped with a 5 megapixel CCD and a Carl Zeiss
lens.
Likewise, the DSC-F717 retains an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with a diopter
correction and a generously sized, and effective, rubber eyecup.
To
find the changes between this new model and the earlier F707, a bit of
exploration is necessary: some controls are slightly different, and in
some cases so are their positions. The Mode Dial has the addition of a
Program Mode, bringing the total number of dial positions up from
8 to 9.
The infrared capability is continued, providing both
a night framing mode, and a night shot mode. As their names imply, Night
Framing makes use of the infrared mode to show a dark scene so it can
be framed and photographed normally; Night Shot "lights" the
subject with infrared beams to capture the image.
The
upper part of the grip of the DSC-F717 is also unchanged. The shutter
release and the exposure compensation button are set back behind the Jog
Dial, a control that works much like the wheel on a mouse. It can be rolled
and clicked down to make selections. When its functions are available,
an icon indicates it either on the screen, or in the viewfinder.
The reorganization of the controls is more evident on the left side of
the lens barrel. The zoom control has been relocated from near the front
of the lens, to a position slightly farther back. Moreover, the large
metallic focus ring can also be used as an additional zoom control, while
retaining its function for manual focus, if the camera is switched to
Manual focus mode.
The
other changes involve the buttons closer to the back of the F717. Instead
of being arranged in a row as they were on the DSC-F707, they are now
stacked. At the top is the AE Lock; then the Metering mode
button (Evaluative, Centre-weighted, Spot), and further down the White
balance. Slightly in from the white balance button is another button
used to set the white balance for specific conditions.
The
back of the F717 is identical to the F707, with no change to either the
layout, or the basic functions of the controls.
The LCD screen is an 1.8 inch type with good resolution, and any image
displayed on it can be magnified up to 5X with the zoom control on the
side of the lens barrel.
On the camera's back, all the controls are arranged above the LCD screen.
Closest to the EVF is the Display button, which is used to overlay
information on the LCD screen or the EVF. One new function has been added
to the Display button — it can now display a histogram, either in
real time during recording, or in playback.
Next is the Index View button which is used to show 9 thumbnails
at a time. To its right is the Menu button which calls up a menu
composed of options appropriate to the mode in use.
As with the majority
of recent Sony cameras, the 4-direction control used to navigate the menus
adds secondary functions for: instantly Reviewing a photo just
captured (left arrow); accessing the Flash modes (top arrow); turning
on the Macro mode (right arrow); and activating the Self-timer
(down arrow).
Last, a small switch located directly above the LCD screen decides whether
the EVF or the LCD screen is used.
This
redesigned model incorporates a suggestion made here during the review
of the DSC-F707, that the zoom control on the lens barrel would be better
placed horizontally than vertically. Far be it from us to claim any influence
in the modification, it was simply a bit impractical, and the change indicates
that others must have noticed it as well.
The upshot of this reworking of the ergonomics of the DSC-F707 is that
the DSC-F717 is a camera that is more refined, and easier to master and
use.
a night framing mode, and a night shot mode. As their names imply, Night
Framing makes use of the infrared mode to show a dark scene so it can
be framed and photographed normally; Night Shot "lights" the
subject with infrared beams to capture the image.
