Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T5

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By Damian Koh
Aug 03, 2005

Sony appears to be moving toward singularity when the Japanese manufacturer announced the Cyber-shot DSC-T5 on Monday which looked convincingly like the Cyber-shot DSC-T7. To clarify things, the T5 is a standalone model targetted at a younger generation who wants a camera that is slim and stylish. This slick 5-megapixel ultracompact according to Sony is designed for the "trigger-happy" individual who loves to capture fun-filled memories spontaneously.

Upside: The absent-minded would appreciate the 32MB internal memory that comes with the T5 which accepts Memory Stick DUO within its lightweight aluminum body. This ultracompact houses an internal 3x optical and 6x precision zoom lens plus a 2.5-inch LCD--nothing impressive as these were the specifications we saw on the T7 as well. However, the T5 is expected to have a longer battery life enabling users to take up to 240 shots in one charge cycle as compared with approximately 150 shots on the T7. With a thicker body at 20.3mm, Sony managed to squeeze in a tripod receptacle which was previously absent on the T7. The camera is also able to snap pictures at 16:9 on top of the usual 4:3 aspect ratio.

Downside: There is no optical viewfinder so users have to rely solely on the LCD for framing shots which drain battery life considerably. The user interface includes a Hand Shake alert, but does not appear to have a compensation system for the inevitable hand movements.

Outlook: If you already own the Cyber-shot T7, this new introduction may not come as a big surprise. The T5 is largely similar to the T7 except for its bulkier size (93.5 x 60 x 20.3mm) and longer battery life. The good news is the camera comes in four colors--cool silver, elegant gold, designer black and vibrant red--as fashion statement for the young and trendy. The T7, on the other hand, is available only in black and silver. Pricing remains unknown but we are expecting the camera to arrive sometime end August.