Sony Ericsson C905 Cyber-shot

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The C905 Cyber-shot is Sony Ericsson's latest flagship imaging handset which had the honor of being the first camera-phone equipped with an 8-megapixel sensor when this was announced back in June. Since then, other manufacturers including Samsung and LG have unveiled competing models. The C905 doesn't have a touchscreen LCD, so naturally it competes head-on with the Samsung INNOV8 which beat it to the market first. We're just waiting for the LG KC780 to launch this quarter to rev up the competition.

Design

There are a few things we like about the design of the C905 Cyber-shot. Contrary to initial impressions that most people have regarding its bulky build when they first pick it up, the phone actually handles very well in the hands. The sliding mechanism is very smooth and we like the combination of a black chassis with soft-touch plastic and silver lining on the sides. It's a little thick, but Sony Ericsson has done a great job in streamlining the size of the phone, keeping protrusions to a minimal by adopting a gently sloping, flush surface at the back.

The buttons are too stiff, have uneven tactility and the top row of the numeric keypad is too close to the lower edge of the slider.
(click for larger image)

Dedicated camera controls are littered mainly on the directional pad with two additional ones above the 2.4-inch scratch-resistant LCD. These allow the user to toggle among various camera options without having to navigate the menus. We also like the distinct feel between half-pressing the shutter button and depressing it fully to take a picture.

Like the rest of the Cyber-shots with a camera lid, sliding open the cover activates the shooter. A conscious effort is required to push the lid away from the catch, but we think that works to its advantage as it prevents the cover from accidentally opening when the phone is in a bag or pocket. The lid slides down effortlessly and at the same time pushes the lower section inward, so there are no awkward protrusions.

Although the buttons are generously sized, they are unfortunately also the C905's biggest problem. Initially we thought the issue could be with us. So we did a quick poll and everyone came back with the same consensus after some hands-on. The buttons are too stiff and have uneven tactility. The top row of the numeric keypad is also too close to the lower edge of the slider, which inevitably leads to thumbs hitting the edge when typing fast.

Tags: Lid, Camera, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, numeric keypad, LCD

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