Sony DSC F505V

robsphoto

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
2-5 years

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
2 votes

Price Paid:  $900.00 from Cord Camera

Summary:
I purchased this (my first digital camera) on the strength of seeing some wonderful pictures on the web. I corresponded with the fellow that took the pictures and we discussed this camera at some length including it features. The Cord Camera superstore is quite near where I live and they were very good about demonstrating the camera's features.

Strengths:
The camera is capable of taking some wonderful photos. I really was impressed with the Zeiss lens and the "right now" features of the digital camera. Pop-up flash and ease of use made the camera convenient and was largely responsible for supplanting my film-based cameras.

Weaknesses:
Uses proprietary Sony battery and memory stick which means more pricey. This version does not have a viewfinder, framing the shot requires use of the LED screen, which is difficult to see in bright sunlight. There isn't a standard flash synch - it requires purchasing the Sony external flash for applications where the pop-up flash isn't adequate.

Similar Products Used:
First digital camera, prior experience was with 30mm cameras.

Customer Service:
Haven't needed

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
2-5 years

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Nice camera, good lens, portable. The downsides, MemoryStick is the most expensive format on the market *and* has the lowest capacity (128Mb vs CF @ 3Gb), no viewfinder and an LCD that becomes unusable in strong sunlight, pathetic supplied card capacity..

Strengths:
Zeiss lens is *good*. Sharp images with relatively low noise.

Weaknesses:
MemoryStick is a lame duck, and the 8Mb one supplied will only store around 7 images!! No EVF/optical viewfinder. Average shutter lag. Battery life still not perfect - would be better if you didn't have to have the LCD on all the time whilst taking pictures..

Similar Products Used:
Kodak DC210, Kodak DC4800

Customer Service:
Is an oxymoron ;-)

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
0-1 years

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5,
1 votes

Price Paid:  $430.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
I have mixed feelings about my purchase of the DSC-505V. To cut it short, if I had paid the full price for it (even the clearance price today of $650), I''''d probably take it back. However, I found this as an unused "open box" item at Circuit City for $430.00, which also included an extra battery, so for that price, I''''ll loosen my complaints a bit. Images are sharp and clear when you''''re outdoors, or in a very well-lit area. The 5X optical zoom is nice, and better than most. Much hype is put into the "Carl Zeiss" lens - it''''s nice and sharp, but I''''ve seen just as good of a lens on the upper Olympus cameras among others. This camera has a small body, and a HUGE len''''s barrel. A two handed held camera, for sure. The LCD is fairly bright and clear, but it is hard to see outdoors, and there is no optical viewfinder. Since there is no auto-focus (AF) assist lamp, indoor shots are commonly out of focus, unless you use the manual focus ring. This is not a camera you want to take to parties, then... more of a landscape or vacation camera. The barrel of the lens swivels, so you can get oddly angled shots. Nice, as in a crowd, you can hold the camera over your head and still tilt the LCD down to see what you''''re aiming at. Overall, a decent camera if you can get it at a decent price (under $450.00). Otherwise, there are comparible cameras out there today with higher resolutions for around the same price.

Strengths:
5X optical zoom is nice. Digital zoom isn''''t THAT bad, compared to others. Threaded len''''s barrel allows you to use off-the-shelf 52mm filters to protect lens. Clear and sharp photos (in ideal conditions).

Weaknesses:
Nearly impossible to focus indoors using lamp light - even 3 lamps! Awkward to hold with larger hands. No optical viewfinder. No quality settings (such as "fine", "normal", etc.).. you''''re stuck with the camera''''s default quality setting. Red eye problem with flash photos. Is advertised and sold as a 3+ megapixel camera, but it really only takes 2.6 true megapixel images.

Similar Products Used:
Olympus 2100 and D-460, Sony FD-88, FD-95. Kodak DC3400. Misc.

Customer Service:
Have not used, but note that many Sony cameras are now only carrying a 90 day labor warranty. Buy an extended warranty.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
0-1 years

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Price Paid:  $450.00 from Fry''s Electronics

Summary:
Have owned this camera for about a month now, and love it. I have owned several SLR''s and much prefer the F505V to any of them. I haven''t done much with the advanced features of this camera, but it takes great pix as a casual user. Color and clarity are wonderful. Driver installation in Windows ME and 98SE were a breeze, WinXP was even easier as the drivers are already included in the XP programming. I have taken numerous pix in the Arizona desert, on top of mountains looking down and across, looking up at peaks and across empty desert...have had no complaints yet.

Strengths:
Carl Zeiss lens Lightweight Ease of use

Weaknesses:
8MB standard Memory Stick, need at least 64MB. LCD screen in certain lighting conditions

Similar Products Used:
SLR''s Cheap digital from Earthlink

Customer Service:
Haven''t needed yet

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
0-1 years

Price Paid:  $2400.00 from pc company

Summary:
excellent camera, very sharp lens, images can be printed large with no loss of detail. color very accurate easy to use

Strengths:
good zoom range (optical) download easy as is preview and delete options long life battery excellent macro

Weaknesses:
screen difficulr to see in some lighting conditions

Similar Products Used:
several other brands fuji olympus cannon

Customer Service:
never used