Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T500 user reviews (Black)

Pros I like the simple, small form factor. Outdoor video and still image quality is impressive. Great alternative to a camcorder in a powerful yet small package.

Cons Low light could be better (what point and shoot camera couldn't?). Longer battery life would be nice.

Summary I, like many, have been searching for a device that successfully combines the camera with the camcorder. We have an older point and shoot Sony camera, and a Canon MiniDV Camcorder and I've noticed over the last year the camcorder has been spending more time left at home, while the number of short clips from the still camera was growing.

The new Sony T500 was delivered last week and it's exceeding many of my expectations. The large touch screen on the back allows the design to be simple and intuitive. I thought I would miss control buttons on the back, but don't. There are smaller form factors out there, but the T500 easily fits in a pocket and is definitely on the sleek and compact side of things. Camera feels solid and well built.

HD Video Recording:
Simply toggle the switch to the right and you're in movie mode. Outdoor shooting in good light produces some very impressive video. Displayed on a flat screen, I'd have to say this little camera easily out performs my non HD camcorder. Indoor shooting in low light could be better and a camcorder probably does better in low light. That said, I would still not hesitate in buying this camera. Zoom during video moves at one speed (unlike a camcorder where you can control the speed that you zoom in and out), but it's a good, moderately slow speed. Audio is crisp and clean.

Shooting video may take a little getting used to. Because the T500 is so much smaller and lighter then a camcorder, extra thought must go into keeping the camera still and keeping your motions smooth during panning. I haven't come close to the 10 minute video limit. I know some will argue you need unlimited shooting time for weddings, birthdays, etc. When I put movies together with iMovie, I've found that any clips over a couple minutes make the movie REALLY boring. For those special occasions, I have no problem lugging around my camcorder, but for daily life and times you don't want to shove a camcorder in people's faces, the Sony T500 excels.

Still Photos:
Like video recording, outdoor and good lighting produce some beautiful photos. Indoor and low light are not as good but I've found the "Twilight Portrait" scene mode produces some decent photos. We primarily view our photos on a flat screen, and the 16:9 picture mode is great for landscapes and scenery shots. Even though it's not an Ultra Wide 28mm lens, the wide angle is still wider then our previous camera (3-4 year old Sony). Sure a larger zoom would be nice, but considering the slim design, 5X is pretty good, and you better have a tripod if you're shooting video above 5-10X. Not surprisingly, the still camera is a noticeable upgrade to our old 5 mega pixel camera.

Battery life does seem a little short, but I've been shooting a lot of video and spending a lot of time reviewing on the large touchscreen. Definitely need a back up, and I like the US version of the battery charger. Prongs fold out and you simply plug it in the wall (No Cord Mess).

Overall, I'm very satisfied with our purchase. The video and photo quality are impressive. I'm not quite sure I'm ready to sell off the camcorder, but I know it will be spending even more time stored at home...

Pros all-in-one, good quality video, pics etc in a light package. excellent looks.

Cons sub-par low light/indoor pics & vids. battery life. mp4 needs a bit of researching if u wanna watch on DVD.

Summary we have a canon a620 (which takes better pics) and a sony mini dv.; but got this on wifes insistence as she wanted a nice and light camera that can do videos and pics in something one can fit in one's pocket and just pop out anytime. that role this camera fits completely. so get this if u want just reasonably halfway decent pics and a little better video quality.
i already knew sony's camera of this size had horrible nighttime/indoor photo quality. but no other camera as light as this, that i know of, has the capabilities of the t500.

Pros easy to use out of box
decent pics
nice video camera
cheap spare batteries

Cons some duo sticks dont work when storing video
HORRIBLE battery life

Summary nice combo camera

Pros Great technology

Cons White blobs show up in flash photos
Need to purchase at least two batteries (at 70 bucks a pop) to get you through the day

Summary I ended up taking this camera back to the store, and it broke my heart to do it. In all other respect I was very happy with the advanced tech the T500 brings to the table. The HD video looked great, touchscreen made it easy to get around the menu system, and it took pretty good pictures....

Except under flash conditions. Using the flash will result in pictures filled with dust orbs, little flecks of dust reflecting light back due to the proximity of the flash to the lens. This renders the T500 useless under flash conditions, which is a deal-breaker for me.

So back it went. Hopefully the Sony designers can fix this fatal flaw with their ultra-compact cameras.