Sony DSC-T30

Reviewed September 2006

Interface & Software

Interface

Basic configuration for the DSC-T30 is decided in the Setup menu. The Setup menu is accessible in all modes — playback, still image capture, and movie mode — as the last option. The Setup menu, is shown full screen and is divided into five parts, none of which are longer than what can fit on a single screen.

The first section is identified as Camera 1 and contains the folllowing options:

• AF Mode serves to select how the autofocus operates:
  • Single (S-AF): focuses only when the shutter release is pressed.
  • Monitor (M-AF): focuses continuously when the shutter release is pressed and held halfway.
• Digital Zoom which offers 3 options: Smart, Precision or Off (see the Characteristics section of the review for more information).
• Function Guide: On or Off. When On, the camera displays a short text description each time a button is pressed, instead of only using icons.
• Red Eye Reduction: turns On or Off the red-eye reduction pre-flashes.
• AF Illuminator: to turn On of Off the AF assistance light that comes on when the ambient light is insufficient for the autofocus to function reliably.
• Auto Review: On or Off. Decides whether or not the image is shown for 2 seconds on the LCD monitor immediately after capture.

The second section, Camera 2, holds only one option:

• Steady Shot decides how the optical image stabilizer operates:
  • Shooting activates the stabilizer when the shutter release is pressed halfway.
  • Continuous allows the stabilization to operate constantly.

The third section is either called Internal Memory Tool when the internal memory is used, or Memory Stick Tool when a memeory stick is present in the camera. With internal memory, only one option is shown:

• Format: servest to format the internal memory.

When a Memory Stick is present in the camera, four options are shown:

• Format: serves to format a Memory Stick Duo, or Memory Stick Pro Duo.
• Create REC. Folder: to create a new folder into which stills and movies will be stored.
• Change REC. Folder: to change the folder that is currently in use to record images to another.
• Copy: serves to copy the content of the internal memory to a Memory Stick.

The last two sections of the Setup menu contain the most basic settings:

Setup 1:

• Download Music: serves to download music to the camera using the supplied software (see the Software section below).
• Format Music: format (deletes) the music already present on the camera.
• LCD Backlight: serves to adjust the brightness of the monitor's backlight (Bright or Normal).
• Beep selects if and when the T30 produces sounds while being operated:
  • Shutter only.
  • Shutter and operation.
  • Off.
• Language: selects the interface language (English, French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese or Japanese).
• Initialize: returns all camera settings to their factory defaults.

Setup 2:

• File Number: selects how images are numbered:
  • Series: numbers images sequentially, irrespective of the the memory card.
  • Reset: restarts numbering from 1 when a new Memory Stick Duo is used, or the Memory Stick is formatted.
• USB Connect provides 3 settings:
  • Auto: lets the camera decide the most appropriate USB protocol to use.
  • PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol): to automatically transfer images to a Windows XP or Mac OS X computer.
  • PictBridge: to connect and print images directly from the camera to a PictBridge compliant printer, by-passing the need for a computer.
  • Mass Storage: makes the camera's memory appear as a hard disk to the computer.
• Video Out: selects the signal output by the camera NTSC or PAL.
• Clock Set: to set the time and date on the DSC-T30.

As has been the case with other Sony cameras, the manuals supplied with the T30 are thin, and a little bit light. Nevertheless, a read through the folded single sheet entitled Read This First, and a perusal of the printed User's Manual/Troubleshooting are sufficient to provides a basic explanation of the camera's functions and their use. Worth noting, more detailed specs and information about the T30 can be found on-line, on Sony's web site.

Software

A single CD is bundled with the DSC-T30 in North America. Titled Cyber-shot Application Software, it contains the following programs:

• Cyber-shot Viewer version 1.0.01.14090.
• Picture Package Music Transfer version 1.0.01.11240
• 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 database — either by selecting images individually, or by selecting folder which may contain any number of sub-folders.

Once imported, images can be seen as thumbnails, either grouped by folders, or by shooting date. The size of the thumbnails can be varied using a slider at the top of the window, a process that involves the images sliding to new positions as their sizes change, in a smooth and very well designed animation.

Once selected, an image can be edited in a separate window that still shows the other images in a "film strip" on the left side of the program window, from where they can be selected.

In the editing window, the entire image can be adjusted for sharpness, contrast, and saturation. In addition, brightness can be adjusted in dark areas, light areas, or the entire image. In addition, the program can rotate images clockwise or counter clockwise.

The other program of note Sony includes with the DSC-T30 is Picture Package Music Transfer, a utility designed to convert MP3 files to fit on the camera so that the music can be used with slide shows.

By default the camera comes with four tunes pre-loaded, however, any one or all can be replaced. Music cuts have a maximum run time of 3 minutes, and tunes that are longer than that are automatically truncated by the program.

While the sound that is produced by the camera's tiny speaker is a touch tinny, the results are impressive when the slide show is shown on a TV.