Sony DSC-T7

Reviewed October 2005

Characteristics

The Sony DSC-T7 uses a 1/2.5 inch (7.17mm) CCD with 5.25 megapixels of which 5.09 million pixels are effective when capturing the maximum image size of 2592 x 1944 pixels.

CCD sensitivity can be manually set to 64, 100, 200 or 400 ISO when the camera is set to the Program mode. In addition, sensitivity can also be set to Auto, the only setting available in all other shooting modes, allowing the camera to automatically adjust it over a range of 64 to 320 ISO, as required by the ambient light or the use of the flash.

With the DSC-T7, light enters the lens through a prism that redirects it into the vertically mounted 3X Vario-Tessar Carl Zeiss optical zoom.

The zoom lens has a focal length range that covers from 6.33 to 19mm, the 35mm equivalent of a 38 to 114mm.

Apertures start at f3.5 at the wide angle end of the zoom and extend to f8. While at the maximum telephoto setting, these apertures become f4.4 through f10.

As with most other recent Sony digital cameras, the magnification effect of the zoom can be "augmented" by one of two types of digital zoom functions:

• Precision: a standard digital zoom (up to 6X) that enlarges the image to the currently selected image size, causing a loss in image sharpness.
• Smart: which "enlarges" image by cropping, but which is only available when the image size is set to something less than the maximum.

The DSC-T7 has a shutter speed range of that covers from 1/1000 second to 2 seconds when the camera is set to either the Fireworks or Night Scene modes (noise reduction is used for long exposures) and from 1/1000 second to 1/8 second in all other modes.

With the T7 images can be captured using any one of five image sizes, the selection of image size being made by pressing the button which displays a menu with the following choices:

• 5M: 2592 x 1944 pixels,
• 3:2: 2592 x 1728 pixels,
• 3M: 2048 x 1536 pixels,
• 1M: 1280 x 960 pixels,
• VGA: 640 x 480 pixels.

All captured images are saved in JPEG format at either one of 2 compression levels: Fine, which is the least compressed and offers the highest image quality, and Standard, a stronger compression that allows fitting more images onto the memory card but with a lower image quality.

The image quality — the compression level — is selected as one of the options in the Recording menu of the T7. The menu appears on the lower part of the monitor, superimposed on the image coming from the lens and the number of options it shows depends on the capture mode in use. The greatest number of options are presented when the camera is set to the Program mode:

• Camera is the access to the still image capture modes, including the Scene modes:
  • Auto: leaves all photographic settings up to the T7, and the menu only provides access to image size, the capture mode (this option), the Rec. mode (see further) and the Setup menu.
  • Program: still leaves the selection of the aperture and shutter speed up to the camera, but allows the user to select and modify all other parameters.
  • Magnifying glass: blocks the zoom at the wide angle end which allows the T7 to focus on a subject 1 cm (0.39 in.) in front of the lens. Sensitivity is automatically adjusted and can go as high as 320 ISO.
  • Twilight: allows a maximum exposure time of 2 seconds. The flash is turned off and sensitivity is set to 64 ISO. Noise reduction is automatically applied to the image after capture.
  • Twilight Portrait: uses the same parameters as the Twilight mode, but set the flash to slow synch. To add red-eye reduction, the mode must first be enabled in the Setup menu.
  • Candle: serves to capture a scene lit by candlelight without loosing the ambience of the atmosphere. The shutter speed covers from 1/2000 sec to 1 second, AF is set to the centre, white balance is set to daylight, and the sensitivity is automatically adjusted between 64 and 200 ISO, while the flash is forced off.
  • Soft Snap: designed for portraits, the mode softens skin tones and sharpness. Sensitivity is automatically set between 64 and 320 ISO.
  • Landscape: has a shutter speed range of 1/8 sec to 1/2000 sec. The flash can be Forced On or Cancelled and sensitivity is automatically set between 64 and 320 ISO as required.
  • High Speed Shutter: is designed to capture movement and therefore optimizes the shutter speed and has a minimum shutter speed of 1/250 sec. CCD sensitivity is automatically set between 64 and 320 ISO, and the flash remains useable.
  • Beach: limits the Flash modes to Forced On or Forced Off and the camera's slowest shutter speed is 1/8 sec. Sensitivity is automatically set between 64 and 320 ISO and blue saturation is enhanced.
  • Snow: automatically compensates the exposure to correct the influence of bright reflective snow on the metering. Sensitivity is automatically set between 64 and 320 ISO.
  • Fireworks: sets the white balance to Daylight and sets the focus to infinity and the exposure time to 2 seconds. Noise reduction is applied after capture.

• EV: serves to manually adjust exposure compensation over a range of ±2EV in 1/3 EV increments.
• Focus selects the auto focus type:
  • Multi AF selects the focus point automatically using 5 AF areas arranged in a cross in the middle of the frame.
  • Centre AF focuses using the centre focus point.
  • Spot AF focuses using a small area at the centre of the frame.
  • or Manual using preset distances of 0.5, 1, 3, 7 metres or infinity.

• Metering serves to select the metering pattern: multi, Centre-weighted or spot.
• White Balance: offers settings for Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent or Flash.
• ISO: sets the CCD sensitivity (only available with the Program mode) Auto, 64, 100, 200 or 400 ISO.
• Picture Quality serves to select the JPEG compression level: Fine or Standard.
• Rec. Mode provides for the following shooting modes:
  • Normal: captures one image each time the shutter release is pressed.
  • Burst: captures a burst of 9 images at the highest resolutions and the least compression.
  • Exposure Bracketing: records a series of three images with the exposure values automatically shifted by the increment selected in the Bracket Step option (see further).
  • Multi Burst: captures 16 images at a pre-selected shutter speed (see further) and stores the shots into a single 1280 x 960 pixel image. During Playback the sequence is shown as an animation, making it possible to "decompose" a fast movement such as a golf swing.
• Bracket Step serves to select the bracketing increment: ±1/3EV, ±2/3EV, ±1EV (this option is only accessible if the Bracketing Mode has been selected in the option above).

• Interval: selects the burst speed for the Multi Burst mode (1/7.5 sec, 1/15 sec., 1/30 sec.) (This option is only accessible when the Multi Burst mode has been selected).
• Flash Level allows adjusting the flash exposure over three levels: + (plus), Normal, or - (minus). (This option is not accessible when the flash is Forced Off.)
• Picture Effect: makes it possible to record images as Sepia or Black and White.
• Saturation: controls colour saturation of images (+, Normal, -).

• Contrast: provides three contrast levels (+, Normal, -).
• Sharpness: controls the in-camera sharpening applied to images (+, Normal, -).
• Setup: is the access to the Setup menu (for a listing and description of each of the options contained in the Setup menu see the Interface and Software section of the review).

When the camera is set to the Movie mode, the menu is limited to options for Exposure Compensation, focusing, metering, white balance and picture effect while still offering an access to the Setup menu.

Set to Playback mode, the menu maintains a similar appearance, but presents options that are related to the viewing and printing images:

• Folder: to select the folder from which images will be played back.
• Protect: to protect images against any accidental deletion.

• DPOF: (Digital Print Order Format) serves to select images that will be printed on a DPOF compliant printer or service.
• Print: makes it possible to print selected images when the T7 is connected to a PictBridge compatible printer. The options available are: This Image, Select, DPOF image, or All in this folder. When connected to the printer, an Index print can be made, the print size selected, the date superimposed on the image (if supported by the printer), and the quantity of prints to make of any image selected.

• Slide: starts an automatic slide show with a selectable interval (3, 5, 10, 30 seconds or 1 minute). In addition, the slide show can be set to use image from a specific folder or all folders, and can be selected to loop or not.
• Resize: makes it possible to make a copy of an image at a different size than the original and save it as a new image. This options is not available for images captured using the 3:2 image format.
• Rotate: makes it possible to rotate an image in 90° increments.
• Divide: serves to edit movie clips by dividing them into two sections.
• Setup: is the access to the Setup menu.

In addition, when the MENU button is pressed while an image is magnified on the monitor, a Trimming option is presented. making it possible to select part of an image and re-save it as a new image. This option is not available for images captured with the 3:2 format.

The DSC-T7 is compatible with Memory Stick Duo and Memory Stick Pro Duo memory cards. The memory card slot is located underneath the camera, behind a small spring-loaded door. The Memory Stick is ejected by pressing on its edge. The DSC-T7 is retailed with a 32MB Memory Stick Duo and a standard size Memory Stick Adapter is included to allow the use of the Memory Stick Duo in a standard reader.

The chart below provides an idea of the number of images that can be stored in the 32MB Memory Stick Duo included with the camera:

The Sony DSC-T7 is powered by a tiny rechargeable Info Lithium battery (NP-FE1). The battery is housed in the compartment on the right side of the camera and covered by a spring loaded door that is release with a small lever placed near to the wrist strap post.

A charger (BC-CS3) is include in the camera kit, and recharges the battery in approximately 3 hours.

Three connections are identified on the Interface Adaptor using text and icons:

• At the top and yellow, is the A/V (Audio/Video) jack. The jack provides a non sound output and its video signal can be set to either NTSC or PAL in the Setup menu.
• Below is the USB 2.0 Hi-Speed port, which can also be configured in the Setup menu. Two different protocols are available, Normal (Mass Storage) which allows the camera to be recognized as a removable hard disk by a computer's operating system, or PictBridge which is used to connect the DSC-T7 directly to PictBridge compatible printer.
• Last, at the bottom, is the DC-IN jack which allows the camera to be powered from regular household current using the optional AC adapter (AC-LS5).

One more accessory is supplied with the DSC-T7, a simple little stand that makes it possible to place the camera on a desk without the risk that it will fall over. The camera can be screwed down into the stand securely, and the stand itself provide a standard tripod screw mount that can be used to attach it to a tripod stabilizing it when the Twilight mode is used.