S$1799
Product Summary
9
out of 10View score
The bad: Slightly heavy and cumbersome; small memory capacity (currently available up to 128MB only); lacking in preset white balance mode.
The bottom line: An excellent choice for those looking for a good set of manual features in a non-SLR digital camera.
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Average User Rating
CNET Asia Review
With a large swivel lens barrel housing a powerful 5x optical zoom lens, Sony's new CyberShot DSC-F707 shares a close resemblance to its predecessor, the DSC-F505V. However, other than the cosmetic similarities, these two cameras are actually worlds apart in terms of features.
5-Megapixel CCD
For one thing, the DSC-F707 has a higher capture resolution. Instead of the 3.34-megapixel CCD sensor found on the DSC-F505V, the new CyberShot is equipped with a powerful 5-megapixel CCD capable of producing 2MB digital images as large as 2560-by-1920 pixels.
And while the DSC-F707 retains Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lenses, now sporting a 5x optical zoom and 2x digital zoom, the camera comes with a new NightShot mode for infrared photography. The DSC-F707 can even be used for taking pictures in low light or no light situations, thanks to its integrated NightFinder system and Hologram AF focusing assist.
That’s not all. Among the many manual control features, noteworthy ones include the Clear Color NR and Slow-shutter NR for reducing the amount of color and CCD noise. In fact, with settings for adjusting anything from exposure and metering to shutter speed and white balance, the DSC-F707 is easily the next best thing you can find with a generous number of manual controls, other than a digital SLR.
Strong Build Quality
From the magnesium alloy construction to the dark matt-gray exterior, the DSC-F707 looks and feels solid. However, at 667g with a 120x67x148mm dimension, this is not exactly a digital camera designed for one-hand operation. It has a fat hand grip that provides good cushioning for balancing the heavy zoom lens, but you will probably have to hold the large lens barrel anyway because the zoom and other camera controls are located beside it.
As with most Sony digicams, the DSC-F707’s 1.8-inch LCD viewfinder comes complete with anti-reflective coating which gives a much sharper and brighter view. But instead of an optical viewfinder, the DSC-F707 uses an electronic viewfinder, essentially a small LCD display magnified through an eyepiece, similar to the Minolta Dimage 7's.
Excellent Image Quality
The advantages of having a high-resolution CCD with a powerful optical zoom lens are shown clearly in the images captured by the DSC-F707. Most of the pictures turned out extremely sharp and clear, whether at maximum zoom or in macro capture mode. The colors in the pictures were bright yet natural, and we hardly noticed any noise in the pictures. The only gripe was the bright colors tended to be a little too vibrant at times.
While the pop-up flash provided adequate lighting in most of the snapshots, the NightFinder and Hologram AF system enabled us to capture some good pictures in low light conditions. Movie capture in the MPEG EX mode turned out fine, too, although we wished that Sony had included a higher-capacity MemoryStick rather than the 16MB supplied.
Otherwise, the camera operated well, with quick startups and short image capture intervals. The rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, which is charged in-camera with an included AC adapter, lasted for quite a number of shots before this ran out. Because the camera is recognized as a USB storage device, connectivity to the PC for image transfer was rather straightforward.
Other bundled accessories included a USB cable, AV output cable, shoulder strap, lens cap with strap, printed user manual and CD-ROM, complete with MGI PhotoSuite and VideoWave software plus USB drivers.
A Digicam For The Prosumer
With a high-resolution CCD, powerful zoom lens and no lack of manual controls besides advanced camera features, the DSC-F707 at S$1,999 is an excellent prosumer digital camera that should satisfy the needs of most experienced digital photographers. However, if you are just looking for a simple point-and-shoot camera with high resolution, the CyberShot DSC-P5 or DSC-S85 would do nicely instead.
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