Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T200 review (Silver)

In our lab tests, the T200 generally maintained the sterling performance of its predecessor. After a 1.6-second wait from power-on to first shot, the T200 could snap a new photo every 1.4 seconds with the onboard flash turned off. With the flash enabled, that wait increased to a still-impressive 2.3 seconds. The camera's shutter lagged only 0.4 second with our high-contrast target and 1.2 seconds with our low-contrast target. In burst mode, the T200 captured 11 8-megapixel shots in 4.9 seconds, for a rate of 2.2 frames per second.

Unfortunately, the T200 doesn't live up to the picture-quality standards its predecessor set. The T200's photos all look much softer than those of its predecessor. Honestly, we're not sure why the T200's images are softer than those from the T100. Both cameras use the same sensor, the same lens, and the same Sony Bionz image processor. The T200 should take pictures as well as its older brother, but it just doesn't. On the bright side, the camera's photos are surprisingly free of noise at most sensitivity levels, but that might simply be a side effect of the softness. Other aspects of the image quality are just as good as they were in the T100.

If not for the softer images, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T200 would be a fine follow-up to the excellent T100. It shoots as fast, it offers more features, and, most amazingly, its touch-screen interface won't make you want to throw it out of a moving car. If you can still find it, you're better off with the T100. If you can't find it, though, or if you have a thing for touch screens, the DSC-T200 will probably satisfy your snapshot needs.

Shooting speed (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Typical shot-to-shot time

Time to first shot

Shutter lag (typical)

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100

1.4 

1.2 

0.4 

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T200

1.4 

1.7 

0.4 

Canon PowerShot SD870 IS

1.6 

0.9 

0.4 

Casio Exilim EX-Z850

2.7 

2.1 

0.5 

Nikon Coolpix S50c

2.4 

3.9 

0.9