Sony's DSC-P3 is one of 2 recently released cameras, the DSC-P3
and the DSC-P5,
that are attracting a lot of attention. Both feature a small and impeccably
finished aluminium body, a large image size, and good optics.
The differences between the DSC-P3 and DSC-P5 relate entirely to their
respective lenses. The DSC-P3 has no optical zoom, the P5 does.
While
the DSC-P5 can be considered the replacement for last year's DSC-P1,
the P3 is a new, lower-priced addition with a single focal length autofocus
lens.
The design of both cameras is identical, and most of this section of the
review is common to both cameras. The top of the DSC-P3 is used for the
Power Switch, the Mode Dial
and the Shutter Release. A small green LED glows when the camera
is on, and a status screen above the 1.5" LCD screen indicates the
number of frames available, the flash mode, the battery state, and the
self-timer.
The Mode Dial provides 3 Recording modes, in addition to the Playback
and Setup positions:
Auto Mode:
fully automatic recording mode.
Twilight
Mode: allows for lower shutter speeds.
Movie/Clip
Motion Mode: to record MPEGs or animated GIF files.
Playback:
to review captured images.
Setup:
to set basic parameters for the camera such as date and time.
The
button engages a progressive digital zoom which uses a progressively smaller
central portion of the image captured by the CCD.
The
cropped section is then interpolated
to the image size selected in the menu.
The
zoom button also serves as a tool to view thumbnails of the photos in
the camera, or to magnify an image presented on the screen (5X).
The layout
of the controls makes them easy to use and their functions are well identified.
The centrepiece of the system is the 4-direction control. It controls
flash modes, macro mode, self-timer and an instant review of the last
captured image. It is also used to navigate the menus which are called
up with the button beneath it on the right. To the left, another button
serves to remove the information overlay of the LCD screen when it is
in use, or to turn it off.
The P3
is equipped with an optical viewfinder. The exit pupil is big enough to
be quite comfortable, and the entire viewfinder frame can be seen even
with glasses. There are no focus, or macro mode markings in either the
P3, or the P5's finders.
Ergonomically, these are very user-friendly designs. The P3 and P5 have
solid, extremely well-finished compact bodies, and their few functions
are mastered in the matter of a few minutes.
and the Shutter Release. A small green LED glows when the camera
is on, and a status screen above the 1.5" LCD screen indicates the
number of frames available, the flash mode, the battery state, and the
self-timer.
