The Sony DSC-P150 is
so similar in appearance to the DSC-P100/P120,
that it is only with a chance to compare them side by side that
subtle differences begin to emerge in the ways the cameras are
finished, and in particular, the type of finish used on the front
section of each camera.
7.2 megapixels stenciled
on the front of the camera.
Like other recent Sony cameras, the P150's shutter release has no noticeable
lag time. Indeed, the shutter release reacts so fast that unless one waits
for the AF signal, it is possible to capture images before the camera's
autofocus has had a chance to work.
The Mode dial and Zoom
control are on the upper right of the camera's back.
The T side of the zoom
control serves to magnify an
image in playback (up to 5X), and to zoom out and show thumbnails of
the captured images when pressed on the W side.
The Mode Dial is embedded into the back of the P150 so it cannot
be turned accidentally, but an indentation near the top of the camera makes
it easy to turn with the thumb.
The P150's Mode dial provides 7 mode
positions, each identical to those found on the P100:
Auto is to use the camera
as a fuss-free point and shoot. With the Auto mode, user
controls are limited to the selection of the image size,
flash modes, macro mode, self-timer and the burst modes.
Everything else is automatically controlled; and a shutter
speed range of 1/8 second to 1/2000 second is available to
the camera.
Program provides control
over all selectable camera parameters with the exception
of the aperture (f2.8/f5.6 and f5.2/f10) and shutter speed
(1 second to 1/2000 second).
Manual: offers full control
over the P150, including the selection of either of the two
apertures, and of the entire range of shutter speeds which
covers from 1/1000 second to 30 seconds. An indication of
the exposure is provided as a plus or minus EV value within
2 EVs of the correct exposure.
Scene is the access to
any of the nine scene modes the camera offers, the specific
scene being selected in the menu:
Twilight Mode sets
the flash to Forced Off and the sensitivity to
100 ISO to minimize noise. The maximum exposure
time is 2 seconds (Manual mode offers up to a
30 second exposure), which means that the subject
must be quite bright.
Twilight Portrait
Mode is intended to capture a portrait
in front of some night scenery. The flash is
forced to Slow Synch and, if needed, red-eye
reduction must be enabled in the Setup menu.
The maximum exposure time is 2 seconds.
Landscape Mode sets
the focus to infinity, and uses a shutter speed
range that covers from 1/8 second to 1/2000 second.
Sensitivity is automatically controlled and will
be adjusted from 100 to 320 ISO depending on
the available light.
Soft Snap Mode warms
the overall tone of the image slightly to reproduce
better skin tones. A shutter speed range of 1/8
second to 1/2000 second is available to the camera
and the sharpness is set to soft.
Snow Mode uses
a slight overexposure to capture a brighter image
than the metering would produce normally, ensuring
that snow looks white instead of gray. ISO value
is determined automatically and can range from
100 to 320 ISO depending on the amount of light
available to the camera. The flash remains useable,
and the shutter speed range is from 1/8 to 1/2000
second.
Beach Mode enhances
blue tones to capture water and sky colours more
vividly and uses a shutter speed range that covers
from 1/8 to 1/2000 second. ISO sensitivity is
adjusted automatically, ranging from 100 to 320
ISO, and the flash can be used.
SportMode is
a type of shutter priority mode intended to freeze
action. The shutter speed range covers from 1/250
to 1/2000 second and sensitivity is automatically
adjusted by the camera.
Fireworks Mode sets
the focus to infinity and forces the flash to
Off. Similarly, the mode forces the sensitivity
to 100 ISO to control noise, and the white balance
to Daylight. The exposure time is fixed at 2
seconds.
Candle Mode has
a shutter speed range of 1 to 1/2000 second.
The mode uses a centre focus, daylight white
balance, Auto ISO, and forces the flash to Off.
Setup simply presents
the Setup menu, which is composed of 5 screens. (See
the Interface and Software section of the review for
a description of the Setup menu.)
Movie: serves to record
videos in any one of three frame sizes:
640 (Fine): offers a 640 x 480 pixel frame
size but is only available if a Memory Stick Pro is
used.
640 (Standard) records a 640 x 480 pixel frame,
but with a stronger compression. Standard Memory Sticks
can be used.
160 has a frame size of 160 x 112 pixels and
applies an average compression level.
Movies are recorded at 25 frames per second and the
optical zoom is disabled during recording. Focus, exposure
and white balance are adjusted as necessary during the
recording. Recording lasts as long as there is space
on the Memory Stick.
Playback: serves to see
images and videos.
All the other external controls
of the DSC-P150 are grouped below the Mode dial, to the right
of the 1.8 inch, 134,000 pixel LCD screen.
The uppermost button controls the monitor ,
and its information display. Using this button, the LCD monitor can be
turned On or Off, and any one of three levels of information can be overlaid
on the image. One of these includes a real-time histogram, which provides
a graphic representation of the distribution of brightness in the image.
A 4-direction arrow pad with an enter
button at the centre serves to make selections in the menu, and
confirm them, and to go back and forth between photos in playback.
Moreover each of the direction arrows has a function when the
camera is in one of the capture modes.
Pressing the left arrow causes
the camera to enter the Quick Review Mode. The Quick
Review mode makes it possible to see the last recorded
image without having to switch to the full playback mode.
The image can be magnified, but the thumbnail view is not
accessible and neither is the playback menu.
Flash modes can be selected
with the up arrow, each press of the button cycling through:
Auto, Forced On (fill-in), Off and Slow Synch. Red-eye
reduction (pre-flashes) is turned on in the Setup menu.
The Macro mode is activated
with the right arrow. Using the macro mode, the P150 is
able to focus on a subject 6 cm (2.4 inches) from the lens.
The down arrow starts
the 10 second Self-timer. The Self-timer is cancelled
after a single shot and must be reactivated if needed again.
The last two buttons on the back of the DSC-P150, below the 4-direction
control, are primarily used to access additional settings:
Displays the menu that corresponds
to the current shooting mode, or, in Playback, the playback
menu. (See the Characteristics section for more information
about the menus of the DSC-P150.)
When the camera is set to any
of the recording modes, this button displays the image size
(resolution) on the monitor. In playback, and during Quick
Review, the button serves to delete photos.
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Introduction
an
image in playback (up to 5X), and to zoom out and show thumbnails 
of
the captured images when pressed on the W side.
,
and its information display. Using this button, the LCD monitor can be
turned On or Off, and any one of three levels of information can be overlaid
on the image. One of these includes a real-time histogram, which provides
a graphic representation of the distribution of brightness in the image.
