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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P72 Digital
Camera
Suggested Retail Price: $349
Average Retail: $278
3.2-megapixel CCD
Point and Shoot Camera
May 2003
Sony is one of the dominant players in the digital camera market. Their
cameras offer excellent features and performance, good quality
and great pictures. They currently offer five
distinct lines of cameras, spanning an incredible range of features,
price, and performance.
In their "mid-sized P-series" line, they offer a three megapixel model, the DSC-P72. With a
telescoping 3x optical zoom lens and compact design, the P72 is
comfortably pocket-sized, offering three-megapixel resolution in a
package that's both portable and comfortable in the hand. A range of
creative options lets you shoot in a wide variety of conditions,
including two preset modes for Beach and Snow scenes. Plus, its
auto-connect USB connection (on Windows Me, 2000, XP, and Mac OS 8.6
or higher), makes downloading images easy, requiring no additional driver
software.
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P72 maintains similar
dimensions and design as the rest of the Cyber-shot mid-sized "P"
series, making it portable and compact. It's small enough to fit most shirt
pockets, and a wrist strap keeps it securely attached to your wrist
when shooting. The compact design includes a shutter-like, built-in
lens cover which conveniently slides open whenever the camera is
powered on, allowing the lens to telescope outward about 3/4-inch
from the body. The DSC-P72's 3x zoom lens features automatic focus
control, with several fixed focus settings available and an
adjustable focus area. The 3.2-megapixel CCD produces high
resolution, print quality images, as well as lower resolution images
suitable for e-mail or other electronic use. Combine this with the
ease of automatic exposure control, a handful of preset "scene"
modes, and
the creative Picture Effects menu, and the DSC-P72 is an excellent
choice for novice consumers who want to take great pictures without
hassling with exposure decisions.
The DSC-P72 is equipped with a 3x, 6-18mm lens, equivalent to a
39-117mm lens on a 35mm camera. This is a fairly typical range,
slightly biased toward the telephoto end relative to the more common
35-105mm range found on many 3x zoom-equipped cameras. Normal focus
ranges from approximately 1.64 feet (0.5 meters) to infinity, with a
Macro (close-up) setting that lets you get within four inches (10 centimeters)
when the lens is zoomed to its wide angle position, and 19.75 inches
(50 centimeters) at its telephoto setting. (The net result is about
average performance in closeup shooting.) In addition to automatic
focus control, the DSC-P72 offers a total of five fixed focus
settings through the Record menu, as well as Center AF and Multi AF
focus area options.
An AF illuminator lamp on the front of the
camera helps focus at low light levels, a very handy feature. The DSC-P72
employs a new technology that Sony calls "Smart Zoom," which offers
a maximum of 3.2x digital zoom. According to Sony, Smart Zoom lets
you digitally enlarge the image without any significant loss of
image quality. In actuality, "Smart Zoom" simply means that the
camera doesn't interpolate the pixels it crops from the center of
the CCD array when zooming digitally. This limits the digital zoom
range based on the currently-selected image size, with maximum zoom
only available at the smallest image size. This is the most
reasonable approach to "digital zoom". For composing images, the
DSC-P72 offers a real-image optical viewfinder and a 1.5-inch, color
LCD monitor.
Exposure is automatically controlled at all times on the DSC-P72,
great for novices and casual users looking for simplicity. You can
override the exposure with an exposure compensation adjustment
though, a necessary feature for shooting subjects that are uniformly
light or dark overall.
An On/Off button on top of the camera powers
the camera on, and a Mode dial on the back panel selects between
Playback, Record, and Movie exposure modes. Within Record mode, you
can select Automatic, Program, Twilight, Twilight Portrait,
Landscape, Snow, or Beach modes. The Automatic
setting removes all user control, with the exception of flash,
macro, and resolution. Program mode keeps exposure determination
automatic, but you now have control over all other exposure
variables. Both Twilight modes optimize the camera for low-light
shooting by allowing shutter times as long as two seconds, while
Landscape mode sets the camera up for shooting broad vistas. Snow
mode enhances saturation to prevent loss of color in bright white
snowscapes, while Beach mode ensures that blue tones are recorded
accurately in lakeside or seaside photos.
Although the camera controls aperture and shutter speed, it does
report the settings it has chosen on the LCD information display, so
you have an idea of what the exposure will be.
Knowing the actual shutter speed can be very helpful in judging
whether or not you'll be able to successfully hand hold an exposure
in dim lighting. The Record menu offers additional exposure options
of White Balance, Exposure Compensation, Spot Metering, ISO, Record
Mode, Flash Level, Picture Effects, Focus, and image quality
settings. Under the Picture Effects setting, you can record images
in black and white or sepia monochrome, or select the Solarize or
Negative Art options.
The DSC-P72's flash operates in Forced,
Suppressed, Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, and Slow-Sync (Twilight
Portrait only) modes. Interestingly enough, Sony removed the image
size setting from the Record menu, and gave it an external control.
This is useful when trying to quickly change resolution settings, as
you don't have to fish through menu options. (Though you'll still
need to call up the menu system to adjust the image quality
setting.)
In Movie exposure mode, the camera captures either 640 x 480-, or
160 x 112-pixel resolution moving images with sound for as long as
the memory card has available storage space. Unrestricted (other
than by card capacity) recording at 640 x 480 pixels is quite
unusual in digicams, and is the key feature that distinguishes
Sony's MPEGmovieVX mode. The DSC-P72 also offers Clip Motion and
Multi Burst modes. Clip Motion records a series of up to 10 images
that are automatically saved in a single animated GIF file, and that
can be played back as an animation sequence. Multi Burst mode captures an
extremely rapid 16-frame burst of low-resolution images, at a
selectable rate of 7.5, 15, or 30 frames per second. Multi Burst
shots are played back as a slow-motion animation on the camera, but
appear as a single large file with 16 sub-images in it when viewed
on a computer. A
Self-Timer mode provides a 10-second delay between the time the
Shutter button is pressed and the time that the camera actually
takes the picture, giving the photographer time to run around and
get into the picture. Also available on the DSC-P72 are Burst 2 and
Voice record modes. Burst 2 records two images in rapid succession,
with one press of the Shutter button. Voice mode records a short
sound clip to accompany an image, useful for attaching voice
captions.
The DSC-P72 stores images on Sony Memory Sticks, available
separately in capacities as large as one gigabyte. (The DSC-P72 is
compatible with Sony's new Memory Stick PRO format, breaking the
previous 128 MB barrier for Memory Stick storage.) A 16MB Memory
Stick comes with the camera. As with last
year's mid-sized P-series models, the P72 once again departs from
Sony's typical practice of using their proprietary "InfoLITHIUM"
batteries, using instead two AA batteries for power, either
alkaline, NiMH, or lithium. A set of two rechargeable NiMH AAs and a
battery charger are included in the box with each camera. Battery
life is quite good for a two-AA cell camera, but still, pick up a couple of extra sets of rechargeable AA
batteries and pack them along on any extended outing.
The optional AC adapter is useful for preserving
battery power when reviewing and downloading images, but having a
couple of sets of rechargeable batteries really eliminates the need
for it apart from extended studio use. The DSC-P72 features a Video
Out jack, for connecting to a television set, and a USB jack for
downloading images to a computer. A software CD is loaded with
Pixela Image Mixer software and USB drivers, for downloading and
organizing images. (On Windows Me, 2000, or XP computers, or Macs
running OS 8.6 to 9.2, no separate USB driver software is needed.
The camera shows up on the desktop automatically when it is plugged
in.)
Basic Features
- 3.2-megapixel CCD.
- Real-image optical viewfinder.
- 1.5-inch color LCD monitor with backlight.
- Glass, 3x zoom lens, equivalent to 39-117mm on a 35mm camera.
- Maximum aperture of f/2.8 - f/5.6, depending on lens zoom
position.
- As much as 3.2x digital "Smart Zoom."
- Automatic exposure control.
- Shutter speeds from 1/2,000 to two seconds.
- Built-in flash with five modes.
- Memory Stick storage, 16MB card included.
- USB computer interface and supplied cable.
- Power supplied by two AA batteries or optional AC adapter.
- Pixela Image Mixer software and USB drivers included for both
Windows and Mac platforms.
Special Features
- Movie mode with MPEG VX Movie, Clip Motion, and Multi Burst
options.
- Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape, Snow, and Beach preset
modes.
- 10-second Self-Timer for delayed shutter release.
- Picture Effects menu with Black-and-White, Sepia, Negative
Art, and Solarize effects.
- Macro (close-up) lens setting.
- White balance (color) adjustment with five modes.
- E-mail (320 x 240-pixel), Burst 2, and Voice record modes.
- Multi-Pattern and Spot metering modes.
- Sensitivity setting with three ISO equivalents (100, 200, 400)
and an Auto setting.
- Five (optional) fixed focus settings.
- Adjustable autofocus area.
- DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) compatibility.
- Video cable for connection to a television set.
Like the rest of the mid-sized "P" series of Sony Cyber-shot
cameras, the DSC-P72 is a good quality, compact digicam. It offers
the convenience of point-and-shoot simplicity, but with enough
advanced features to make it possible to take photos in otherwise
challenging situations (low light, fast action, etc.). The
3.2-megapixel CCD delivers high quality images, appropriate for any
use from printing to distributing via e-mail, and its compact design
makes it a good candidate for travel. (While not as tiny as cameras
like Sony's own P8 and P9, or the Canon Digital ELPH series, the P72
fits quite nicely into pant or coat pockets.) Overall, the P72 is a
good choice for anyone wanting a capable, portable camera that takes
good photos in a variety of circumstances. The DSC-P72 is easy to
use for beginners, but has enough flexibility to handle a range
of conditions.
Design With its
small body size and compact design, the DSC-P72 maintains dimensions
similar to the rest of Sony's midsized "P" series Cyber-shot models.
Its sleek, smooth styling is free from any significant protrusions
except for the lens, which telescopes outward when powered on. The
DSC-P72's dimensions of 4.75 x 2.38 x 1.31 inches (120 x 58 x 33
millimeters) makes it just small enough to fit into a shirt pocket
or small purse. The all-plastic body keeps the DSC-P72 light weight
as well, at just 9.1 ounces (258.6 grams) with batteries and memory
card.
FRONT VIEW
The front of the DSC-P72 is rounded on the right side, following
the shape of the lens barrel and adding to the smooth design
aesthetic. A shutter-like, retractable lens cover protects the lens
whenever the camera is powered off, flipping quickly out of the way
when the camera is turned on again. The lens telescopes out from the
camera body about 3/4-inch into its operating position. Also on the
front panel are the flash, optical viewfinder window, AF illuminator
lamp, and small microphone. A small, sculpted ridge serves as a
finger rest when holding the camera, improving your grip to a
surprising degree. Still, this ridge is small enough that you'll
probably want to keep the wrist strap securely in place while
shooting.
Battery Compartment
On the right side of the camera (as viewed from the back) is the
battery compartment. A sliding plastic door protects the
compartment, and features a latch that prevents it from accidentally
flying open while shooting. Just below the compartment is the wrist
strap attachment eyelet.
Memory Stick Slot
The opposite side of the camera features only the Memory Stick
compartment, at the very bottom. A hinged, plastic door opens
downward to reveal the card slot.
TOP VIEW
The DSC-P72's top panel is fairly smooth and flat, featuring only
the Shutter and Power buttons, both of which barely protrude from
the camera's surface.
BACK VIEW
The few remaining camera controls are on the back panel, along
with the optical viewfinder eyepiece, LCD monitor, speaker, and
connector jacks. Three LED lamps next to the optical viewfinder
report camera status, indicating when focus is set or the flash is
charging. The Mode dial and Zoom rocker button dominate the top left
corner of the back panel, while the Menu, Display, Image Size /
Erase, and Four Way Arrow pad line up below them. A small speaker is
on the left side of the LCD monitor. On the right side, beneath the
Zoom rocker button, a tethered plastic flap covers the DC In, Video
Out, and USB connector jacks. Two ridges on the outside of the
plastic flap serve as a thumb grip while holding the camera.
BOTTOM VIEW
The DSC-P72 has a flat bottom panel, which holds the metal tripod
socket and bottom side of the Memory Stick slot.
Camera
Operation The DSC-P72's user interface is very
straightforward, with only a few external controls and a very
concise LCD menu system. Menu setup is similar to previous
Cyber-shot designs, though the DSC-P72 does have a couple of changes
relative to prior units. For starters, all of the camera's scene and
exposure modes are now accessible through the Record menu, and the
mode selection dictates the available menu options. (Previous models
employed a separate mode dial position for Scene mode access.) Sony
also moved the resolution setting to an external control, for
quicker access. For standard point-and-shoot operation, the most
basic features (flash, zoom, and macro and self-timer modes) have
external controls, while settings like White Balance, Exposure
Compensation, etc. are adjusted through the menu system. The Mode
dial lets you quickly set the camera's main operating mode, with
just a turn. When you do need to enter the LCD menu system, you'll
find it simple to navigate, with each setting appearing as a
separate tab at the bottom of the screen. The arrow keys of the Four
Way Arrow pad scroll through the selections, and the OK button in
the center of the pad confirms any changes. The menu system is so
simple and intuitive even novice users will be able to
become completely familiar with it in an hour or less.
Record-Mode Display In record
mode, the LCD monitor optionally displays just the subject, the
subject plus an information overlay, or nothing at all. (That is,
the LCD may be turned off.)
Playback-Mode Display In
playback mode, the LCD display can show the captured images with or
without an information overlay, a thumbnail index showing multiple
images at once, or detailed information regarding the exposure
parameters for a given image. The index and detailed information
displays are accessed by pressing the "W" side of the zoom control
on the camera's rear panel. Pressing the "T" side of the same
control lets you zoom in on an image, up to 5x. Once zoomed, the
arrow keys let you scroll around the enlarged image.
External Controls
Power Button: Placed unobtrusively on the camera's
top panel, this button turns the camera on and off.
Shutter Button: Located on the far right of the top
panel, this button sets focus and exposure when halfway pressed, and
fires the shutter when fully pressed.
Mode Dial: This dial is on the camera's rear
panel, and offers the following settings:
- Playback: Replays captured still images and movie
files, with options for image management and printing.
- Record: Places the camera in Record mode, with seven
exposure modes available.
- Movie: Records moving images with sound, for as long as
the Memory Stick has space. Also accesses Clip Motion and Multi
Burst modes when activated through the Set-Up menu.
- Set-Up: Displays the Set-Up menu, for changing camera
settings.
Zoom Rocker Button: Located in the top right
corner of the back panel, this rocker switch controls the optical
and digital zoom in any record mode.
In Playback mode, this button controls the digital enlargement of
captured images and accesses the index display mode as well as a
detailed information display. (The "T" side zooms in, the "W" side
zooms out. Zooming out from the normal-sized single image view
brings up an index display of tiny "thumbnail" images.)
Menu Button: Beneath the Mode dial, this button
displays or dismisses the settings menu in any Record mode or in
Playback mode.
Display/LCD Button: Directly below the Menu button,
this button controls the LCD monitor's display mode. In both Record
and Playback modes, the button cycles through the image and
information displays, and turns the LCD monitor on and off.
Image Size / Erase Button: Just below the
Display / LCD Button, this button activates the Image Size setting
in any Record mode. In any still image mode, resolution options of
2,048 x 1,536, 2,048 (3:2), 1,632 x 1,224, 1,280 x 960, and 640 x
480 pixels are available. Movie mode options include 640 x 480 and
160 x 120 pixels.
In Playback mode, this button pulls up the single erase menu,
letting you delete the currently displayed image.
Four Way Arrow Pad: Below the Mode dial and
adjacent to the Menu and Display buttons, this five button control
pad features four arrow keys and a center "OK" button. The arrow
keys navigate through any settings menu, and the OK button confirms
menu selections.
In Automatic Record mode, the up arrow controls flash mode,
cycling through Auto, Forced, and Suppressed modes (it only
activates Slow-Sync in Twilight Portrait mode, and no flash modes
are available in Twilight, Landscape, or Movie modes). The down
arrow activates the Self-Timer option, while the right arrow
controls the Macro mode (close-up). The left arrow calls up a quick review of
the most recently-captured image.
In Playback mode, the left and right keys scroll through captured
images on the memory card. When an image has been enlarged, all four
arrow keys move around within the enlarged view.
Battery Compartment Latch: Tucked in the center of
the battery compartment door, this button unlocks the door, allowing
it to slide outward.
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