DSC-T7 5.1 Megapixel Digital Camera

Pros: Great image detail and color rendition - small high quality footprint

Cons: Being picky - would like a bit more power with the flash

Summary: This camera is one of the best I have tested in the last 5 years.

As an adjunct faculty member at FAU a south Florida +25,000 student university, teaching “Principles of Digital Photography” and authored/published a book with the same name, with Pearson Education, Inc., 2003, I have tested hundreds digital cameras that have been offered to the public in recent years, and this one is truly unbelievable.

One must understand that all cameras cannot do all things regardless of price and size. Digital SLRs, like Canon’s 1DsMk2, which I proudly own and consider the very best digital SLR on planet Earth, can execute most imaging tasks beautifully; however you cannot place it in your pocket, does not have built-in flash, and cannot make a video!! Comparing the image quality and color to other similarly priced cameras, both seem better than on previous SONY “T” series units (the T1, T11, T3, T33) in their five-step progression to the T7. The brightness on the LCD panel is also better and has two brightness levels; The LCD also seems to have a protective covering on its surface. The flash also seems a bit stronger, and the imager noise is lower. Understand that the tiny built-in flash is effective for groups of 3-6 people placed within 6’ or less of the camera, period; any further, other than fill-in flash and the results will be disappointing. It is hard to imagine than so much technology can be contained within this truly thin package. The large and bright LCD panel is great for sharing images with friends after the picture is taken; a suggestion for SONY is that the automated viewing (post image) is too short, internally set to about 2 seconds, and not adjustable; this should be an adjustable feature, which can be corrected by a simple SONY “firmware” upgrade.

Most critics do not make mention of the Software; Be it known SONY has one of the best (included) software packages available; Install the software one time; then plug in the camera into an available USB post, turn on the camera, and in 5,4,3,2,1 seconds the images and movies begin their migration into a unique folder in the hard-drive, with today’s date as the folder name. Could not be a simpler process.

If you want to see some T7 sample images you can go to http://www.faudigital.com/gallery/488005; Images will be added periodically so check back often; and while you’re there look around at your pleasure. JimWilson 16/Apr/2005/4pm