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.
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Interface & Software
