Sony DSC-S600

Reviewed November 2006

Interface & Software

Interface

The interface of the DSC-S600 is identical to those of all current Sony compact cameras. Very legible, the interface design presents camera settings superimposed on the monitor's image using white characters or icons with black halos. Worth noting however, this model does not offer either a histogram function, or a composition grid.

When menus are called up, their options are presented at the bottom of the screen, the setting for each option opening above as it is highlighted. Whatever the menu, even with the single option Auto menu, an access to the Setup menu is provided. Unlike the design used for other menus, the Setup menu is presented full-screen, its various sections accessed via tabs that are aligned vertically on the left edge of the screen:

Camera:

• AF Mode serves to select the way the autofocus functions:
  • Single: the autofocus only operates when the shutter release is pressed halfway, and locks it there.
  • Monitor: starts the autofocus when the shutter release is pressed halfway, and keeps adjusting the focus while the shutter release is maintained at the halfway point.
• Digital Zoom contains three options: Smart, Precision or Off (see the Characteristics section of the review for more details).
• Red Eye Reduction: decides whether or not the flash fires pre-flashes to reduce or avoid the red-eye effect.
• AF Illuminator: offers two options Auto, or Off. It serves to control the AF assist lamp that comes on when there is insufficient ambient light for the autofocus to operate reliably. (The lamp is also used to indicate that the Self-timer is active).
• Auto Review: decides whether or not an image is displayed on the monitor for 2 seconds immediately after capture.

The next section is called Memory Stick Tool if a memory card is present in the camera, or Internal Memory Tool if there is none. Only the first option is shown if there is no card, while the other three options are shown when there is a Memory Stick in the camera:

• Format: to format a Memory Stick Duo or the internal memory, deleting all images, including those that were protected.
• Create REC. Folder: to create a new folder into which images and movies will be saved.
• Change REC. Folder: to switch to another folder.
• Copy: to copy images or movies from the internal memory to a Memory Stick Duo.

Setup 1:

• Beep selects the type of sounds produced by the camera: only when the shutter is released, for all operations, or none.
• Language serves to select the interface language: Italian, French, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese or English.
• Initialize: returns all settings to their factory defaults

Setup 2:

• File Number: decides whether images are named sequentially (Series) or restart at 0001 once the card or the internal memory have been formatted, or a new Memory Stick Duo is used.
• USB Connect decides the USB protocol: PictBridge, PTP, Mass Storage or Auto (see the Characteristics section of the test for more detail about these options).
• Clock Set: serves to set the internal clock and calendar of the DSC-S600.

In North America, Sony supplies a printed manual in English, French and Italian with the S600, as well as a foldout called "Read This First". The manual is quite superficial, and often refers back to the foldout, making it necessary to have both at hand to understand the functions of the camera.

Software

Please note that the software supplied with the camera can vary from country to country.

Sony includes a single CD with the DSC-S600 in North America. Called Cyber-shot Application Software, it contains Cyber-shot Viewer and the USB Drivers for all operating systems that require it.

Cyber-shot Viewer allows organizing, viewing, and editing images. Images have to be imported into the program — a process that registers the images into the program's database — either by selecting images individually, or by selecting folder which may contain any number of sub-folders. At first the way images have to be imported into the program appears a bit confusing, but it actually becomes familiar quickly.

Once imported, images can be seen as thumbnails, either grouped by folders, or by shooting date.

Double clicking an image opens it in a new window that offers editing tools at the top of the screen.

The tools available include adjustments for sharpness, contrast, saturation, brightness and adjustments can be made only to dark areas, light areas, or the entire image. In addition, the program can rotate images clockwise or counter clockwise

Just like the DSC-S600, Cyber-shot Viewer is relatively simple to use, but still allows making effective corrections to images when required. Furthermore, the program can be used to print photos efficiently.

Finally, the program can be configured to launch immediately when the camera is connected to a computer, making it easy to import images directly.