Summary: The Sony Cybershot DSC-D770, MSRP $1899, is quite a steal at under $700 now. It has most of the features of a mid-range SLR (multiple exposure modes, full manual, hot-shoe, and standard filter size compatibility), tied together with digital convenience. The multi-element, glass lens handles standard 62mm filters; offers 5x optical zoom, and manual focus. The hot-shoe capability is great for use with higher power flashes or off-camera studio lamps. The package came with a PCMCIA memory card reader so I didn't have to drain my batteries off-loading images. I easily got 80-90 "high" resolution images on a single 64MB memory stick. Even with occasional use of the LCD display and built-in flash, I could shoot 170+ images between battery charges. The color reproduction is slightly on the "cool" side when compared to Agfa or Kodak films (ISO 200), but is easily compensated for in the "computer darkroom". I would recommend this camera for anyone looking for exposure control, standard SLR capability, and high quality price/performance marks.
Strengths: Multiple exposure modes, full manual, hot-shoe, and standard filter size (62mm) compatibility including Cokin Creative Filters. Great for photographing outdoor stills and portrait comping. I even got a clean image of the Moon using the digital zoom (640x480 image only, 300mm zoom lens equivalent) and adjusting the for a manual exposure.
Weaknesses: Slow focus motor, heavier and bulkier than similar SLR (e.g. Nikon N60) and digital cameras (e.g. Olympus DL500/600). For some reason, images came up as 1344x1024 72dpi (highest res.) in photoshop; Olympus DL500 came up as 1024x768 at 144dpi. Still great images, just a little odd. Memory stick is limited to 64MB today.
Similar Products Used: Olympus DL500, DL600. These earlier models of Olympus did not have the exposure controls, but offered similar SLR capabilities and produced quality images (multi-element glass lenses are the best way to go).
Customer Service: About 15 minute wait for customer service. Service rep. had immediate access to database as well as "tap-on-the-shoulder" buddies.
Rating Reviewed by: Mark Peters(Unregistered User)
(Intermediate)
Review Date December 3, 2000
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Used product for 2 Months
Visitors rate this review 5.00 of 5,
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Review 2 of 12
Summary: I searched long and hard before I bought a Digital camera, I also suffered between buying it from a 35mm camera manufacturer or a video camera manufacturer. I chose the video camera manufacturer. I think for obvous reasons. I think for the price this is about the best deal out there. It performes well and has options, that are to long to list. I bought this camera because it has the look and feel of a conventional 35mm camera. As for digital it is great, the telephoto lense is all you will need as an advid photographer. The 2.5" display is the best I've seen in the industry. I would have liked more than 1.5mp but it shoots great pictures up to 8"X10". If I look back at my past picture taking I rarely made prints larger that 4"X6". Be sure to get a good photo-editing program (quite a few are availible for under $100.00) this will help you file, print, save and modify the great pictures this camera takes. One thing that I feel is very important is that this camera comes with a standard Sony battery pack that last for a long time, about 160 pictures. This beats most of the others with thier AA, AAA, or lithium battery systems.
Strengths: The look and feel of a 35mm camera. All controls are easy to access an use. Easy to learn functions(2 hours). 2.5" video display. Telephoto lense, with threaded lens (62mm) for adapting filters. Cost. Standard Sony battery pack that last and last and last.
Weaknesses: Slow to focus, 1.5mp, I like the Sony memory stick, some may not as it is not an industry standard.
Similar Products Used: Advid Nikon 35mm camera buff, own F1, EM, FM, and the new Pronea S.
Customer Service: Haven't need to use it, but from what I have heard they are unbeatable.
Summary: I have been a photographer, amatuer and pro, in the U.S. Navy, since 1955, and have used a multitude of cameras ranging from el cheepo's to quite pricey. I was not tempted by most of the earlier digital cameras because of the price, lack of resolution and quality of the picture. But I did get bitten by the "digital" bug a couple of years ago. The technology has really made leaps. I began combing the internet reviews and the local camera and electronic stores in search of the "perfect" digital camera for my wants and needs. Needless to say, the perfect digital camera still has not showed up, as it would be about a 10 to 20 megapixel and be as fast and easy to use as an instamatic, and be as versatile as one of the finest Nikon film cameras with either interchangable Zeiss lenses or an f/1.4 zoom equivalent to 19 to 285mm with image stabilazition, and cost under $300. Alas, we're all still searching for that cammera. But the next best thing I've found with the most bells and whistles for a quite nice price, (just over $600) is the Sony DSC D770 Cybershot Pro. I received mine the first week in September 2000 and so far it has performed flawlessly. I haven't, but that's not the fault of the camera: it'll do just what you tell it to do! It took a couple of hours to learn the ways of the D770. I have only had to scrap 4 or 6 photos because of bad focus or exposure. But, I have taken MANY! Not having to worry about film and processing, you can afford to shoot anything and everything. Experiment! Shoot first and ask questions later! The D770 and digital darkrooms are the best things to come down the pike since peanut butter. If you want all the features of the D770 and want to make 11X14's or larger, look elsewhere. (Hint: check out the new Olympus E10, but be prepared to spend $2000 instead of $630, just for going from 1.5 mp to 4 mp). Or if you are into sports photography or any other kind that requires quick, shoot from the hip shooting, the D770 may not be for you. But, if great 8X10's will do for you, and you can spend an extra second or two on most of your shots, the D770 with its 1.5 megapixel imager is the trick. It is a little slow on the autofocus compared to most of the cameras on the market today, but this is minor compared to all the other features it has. The fully manual control you have over everything makes the 35 mm photographer feel quite comfortable and at home. It is very nice to have a manual focus and zoom ring right there on the lens where they should be. It's manual controls is what makes it so desirable, but it will hold its own as a point and shoot camera too, so it has some of the best of both worlds. With the ISO sensitivity selectable to 50, 100, or 400, and a fast 2.0 - 2.5 lens and a shutter speed range from 4 seconds down to 1/2000, you have an incredible range of exposure to work with and should be able to get your shot under most any condition. So, if you like to take control sometimes and other times let the camera "do the thinking", the D770 will fill the bill with the best feature / price ratio out there at this time.
Strengths: Full Manual control of Shutter speed, aperture, focus, white balance, and ISO. Full automatic (program mode), Aperature priority, Shutter priority. True, bright TTL reflex viewing with all the pertinent info in the viewfinder, and with diopter adjustment. Handy histogram display. Large, bright LCD display, Ergonomics of my 35 mm cameras. Hot shoe for external flash. Nice zoom range. East to navigate menus and controls. All these features for less than $2000! (Way less!)
Weaknesses: Where's the USB port and the external flash plug in? Would be nice to have a split image or a prism grid on the focus screen. The slooow autofocus. We could also complain about only having 1.5 megapixel, but if it had all these things and more, it would not be a $630 camera!
Similar Products Used: All kinds of cameras from 35mm to 8X10 view and aerial cameras, Mavica 88, and Cool Pix 950.
Customer Service: Don't know and really don't want to find out!
Summary: Overall, I enjoy using this camera - mainly for the manual control flexibility. Auto-focus is rather slow, and sometimes inaccurate, so manual mode is prefered. Macro capibilities are not good enough for my tastes. Exposure is very good, even when using the built-in flash. You can instantly review each shot taken, and view a histogram of that shot to fine tune your exposure settings (very useful!). The view finder is very sharp which helps when using manual focus, although it would be nice to have a slit-image, or prizm to aid in focusing. It's nice to have the wireless remote for taking self portraits or group photos. This is a good camera, but I think Sony could have made some more improvements over the DSC-D700, such as a 2.5+ MegaPixel CCD, the flash needs to be moved to eliminate the shadow problems, a macro lens, a higher quality (Carl Zeiss) lens would be nice. also, don't let the List cost fool you!!! I paid HALF that! Shop around!
Strengths: Manual flexibility, fairly easy to set controls, large, clear LCD, a good fit in the hand, histogram review!, uses UN-compressed TIFF format as well as 3 JPEG modes,
Weaknesses: No bulb shutter setting. lens length casts shadow when using flash at wide angles, auto-focus is too slow. 1.5 MP is slightly low for todays standards.
Similar Products Used: Previously owned Olympus
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