All
of Sony's Mavica cameras offer a varied mix of features and prices.
The Mavica MVC-FD83 is no different. Priced below the FD88, to
which it bears more than a passing resemblance, the FD83 is equipped with
a shorter 3X zoom, and a slightly lower "true" resolution
of 1024 x 768.
The
FD83 still offers the MPEG movie mode, with sound, and the
manual focus option found on the FD88.
Most
Mavica cameras are designed for simplicity of use, one of the reasons
they have won a large market share. Their large easy to manipulate design
permits the placement of major camera controls on the back, excluding
the shutter release which is placed in the standard position, on top of
the wide grip.
The
FD83 has no optical viewfinder, using instead a 2.5 inch LCD screen to
preview and review photos. The screen is fitted with a solar assist window
on top, which makes it possible to turn off its backlight and conserve
the rechargeable battery's power when the camera is used outdoors, in
sunlight.
Like all other Mavica cameras, the photos are recorded on a 3½
inch floppy disk. The disk drive used on the FD83 is a 4X, meaning that
it operates at 4 times the speed of a standard 3½" disk drive.
