Sony DSC-S600

Reviewed November 2006

Characteristics

The DSC-S600 is equipped with a 1/2.5 inch, 6.18 megapixel CCD of which 6.0 million pixels are effective. The S600 can capture images at any one of six resolutions:

• 6M: 2816 x 2112 pixels, the highest resolution.
• 3:2: 2816 x 1872 pixels, an image format that is proportional to printing paper.
• 3M: 2048 x 1536 pixels.
• 2M: 1632 x 1224 pixels.
• VGA: 640 x 480 pixels, for use as e-mail attachments.
• 16:9: 1920 x 1080 pixels, a format that is proportional to HD televisions.

Two JPEG compression levels are available: Fine, the least compressed image format and therefore the highest image quality, and Standard, a stronger compression that makes it possible to store a greater number of images in a given memory space at the expense of the image quality.

In most capture modes CCD sensitivity is automatically controlled by the camera over a range of 80 to 320 ISO. In addition, the High ISO mode [] allows the camera to increase sensitivity up to 1000 ISO. Only with the Program mode can the user can select the sensitivity from a range of 80 to 1000 ISO.

The small Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 3X zoom has a focal length range of 5.1 to 15.3mm, equivalent on a 35mm camera to a 31 to 93mm focal length. The zoom is composed of 7 elements in 6 groups and includes 3 aspherical surfaces to minimize distortions. Apertures begin at f2.8 when the zoom is at the wide angle end and f5.1 at the maximum telephoto.

The shutter speed range available to the DSC-S600 covers from 1/2000 sec to a maximum of 2 seconds. Long exposures are only possible when the Twilight and Twilight Portrait modes are used, all other modes having a limit of 1/8 second.

• Smart: is a cropping system that uses the full CCD resolution, to offer progressively greater magnification effects as long as the image size is set to a resolution less than the maximum. The magnification factor available is inversely proportional to the image size. This mode is unavailable if the image size is set to 6M, 3:2 or 16:9.
• Precision: is a standard, interpolating 6X digital zoom that crops the middle of the full frame to match a field of view roughly comparable to a longer focal length, which then interpolates the cropped area to the currently selected image size, lowering the image quality.

The selection of the image size is made by pressing the button, which presents a menu of image sizes. Compression, however, is selected using the main menu of the S600. The menu options appear in a line at the bottom of the screen, while choices appear vertically as the option is highlighted. The options available to the user vary with the mode in use, and with other selections made in the menu as some options are linked:

• Camera serves to access the capture modes: Auto, Program, High ISO, Scene modes (see the Ergonomics section of the review).

• EV: serves to adjust exposure compensation over a range of ±2EV in 1/3 EV increments.
• Focus serves to select the focus mode:
  • Centre AF: uses only the centre focus point.
  • Multi AF: allows the camera to select the focus point from any of five focus areas.
• White Balance: serves to set the white balance manually: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent or Incandescent.

• ISO: serves to select the CCD sensitivity (only in Program mode) Auto (80 to 320 ISO), 80, 100, 200, 400, 800 or 1000 ISO.
• Image Quality: serves to set the JPEG compression level, Fine or Standard.

• REC Mode contains the following choices:
  • Normal: captures an image every time the shutter release is pressed.
  • Burst: captures 7 images in a series at the highest resolution and least compression (Fine), the frame rate being dependent on the shutter speed.
  • Multi Burst: captures 16 images very quickly and saves them as a mosaic in a single 1M (1280 x 960 pixels) image. In Playback, the photos are presented as an animation.

• Interval (accessible only when the Multi Burst mode is active): selects the interval between images with the Multi Burst mode (1/7.5 sec, 1/15 sec., 1/30 sec.).
• Flash Level serves to select the flash output: + (more) , Normal, - (less) (this option is not available when the flash is forced off).
• Picture Effects has three settings: Off, Black and White and Sepia.
• Saturation: serves to adjust colour saturation (+, Normal, - ).
• Contrast: serves to adjust the contrast (+, Normal, - ).
• Sharpness: serves to adjust the sharpness (+, Normal, - ).
• Setup: serves as the access to the Setup menu (for more details on the contents of the Setup menu, see the Interface and Software section of the review).

Set to the Movie mode, the options of the menu are limited to Exposure Compensation, Focus mode, White Balance and Picture Effects; the last option being once again an access to the Setup menu.

Set to the Playback mode, the menu offers the following options:

• Folder: serves to select the folder from which images will be drawn for playback.
• Protect: to protect images against an accidental erasure (formatting the memory/memory card still deletes all images including those that are protected).
• DPOF (Digital Print Order Format): serves to select images that will be printed later on a DPOF compatible printer or service.
• Print: allows direct printing of selected images when the S600 is connected via USB to a PictBridge compatible printer. The options available are: This Image, Selected (images), DPOF image, or All in this Folder. In addition it is possible to print out an index sheet, and decide whether or not the date of capture is printed superimposed on the image.

• Slide: plays back images as a slide show. The interval between images can be selected (3, 5, 10, 30 seconds or 1 minute), and the source of the images, the folder can be selected., or all images in memory. The slide show can be set to play through once, or loop continuously.
• Resize: serves to make a copy of an image at a resolution other than the one it was captured; with the exception of those captured at 3:2 or 16:9. Should the resolution selected by greater than the one the image was captured at, the camera interpolates it causing a loss of image quality.

• Rotate: allows changing an image's orientation by 90° to the right or left.
• Divide: Serves to edit movies by dividing them and saving the cut out section separately.
• Setup: is the access to the Setup menu (see the Interface and Software section of the review for more information).

The DSC-S600 has a 32MB internal memory and is not retailed with a memory card. It has, however, a slot for Memory Stick Duo or Memory Stick Pro Duo located underneath the camera, below the Control button, and covered by a solid plastic door.

The chart below provides approximate capacities for both still images and movies using the internal 32 MB memory and an optional 1GB Memory Stick Pro Duo:

The DSC-S600 is powered by two AA size batteries and is retailed with 2 Sony Stamina Plus alkaline batteries. The camera is compatible with Ni-MH as well and has a much greater autonomy using rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride batteries (Ni-MH) than alkaline.

Moreover, the camera can be powered using the optional AC-LS5K AC adapter. The adapter replaces the batteries and its cable can be let out through a small flap underneath the camera.

The S600 provides only a single external connection, covered by a flexible plastic door on the left side of the camera: the USB connection. There is no A/V out. The protocol for the USB connection can be set to:

• PictBridge: to connect to a PictBridge compliant printer and print photos directly.
• PTP: to automatically transfer photos to a computer (Picture Transfer Protocol).
• Mass Storage: to connect the camera to a computer and have its memory recognized as a removable hard disk.
• Auto: to let the camera decide the appropriate USB protocol.