Sony DSC-S60 Review

The Cyber-shot S60 features a Carl Zeiss 3x Zoom, 6 to 18mm (39 to 117mm equivalent), F2.8 - F5.6 zoom lens. It is constructed of 5 elements in 7 groups with 2 Aspheric elements. When powered down, the lens retracts into the body and is protected by a built-in shutter, no lens cap is necessary.

Equipped with a low-light AF-assist lamp (effective range up to 11 ft / 3.5 m Wide, 8 ft 2 1/2 in. / 2.5 m Tele), the 5 Area Multi-point, contrast detection autofocus system has a range of 19.7" (50cm) - infinity in normal mode and from 3-7/8" (10cm) - infinity in Macro focus mode. There is a 5-step manual focus adjustment with infinity available as well.

Conversion Lens Compatible with the optional VAD-PEB adaptor, you can add telephoto or wide-angle conversion lenses for greater magnification or wider field of view, as well as protective and special effect filters.

Compatible with the Sony VCL-DH0730 0.7x Wide Conversion Lens, the Sony VCL-DH1730 1.7x Telephoto Conversion Lens and the Sony VCL-DH2630 2.6X Super Telephoto Conversion Lens.

The speedlight has modes for: Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Fill-in and Slow-sync. The working range at ISO Auto is ~1.6 - 12.5 ft (0.5 - 3.8 m) and the flash squelches down nicely for macro exposures and has 3 power output settings.

Brighten up your photographs like never before with the optional HVL-FSL1B slave flash from Sony. It is designed to operate in sync with your Cyber-shot digital camera's internal flash without having to connect a cable.

The HVL-FSL1B is equipped with a light control switch and is compatible with the red eye reduction and pre-flash functions of your digital camera. It includes a bracket to make installation a snap.

The eyelevel optical viewfinder provides ~85% frame coverage but lacks dioptric adjustment. The two LEDs indicate flash and focus status.

Back Controls: The Zoom Lens controls for Wide and Telephoto - also function as Index and Magnify when in review mode. The MONITOR button turns the color LCD on/off and controls the amount of information displayed. The MENU button calls up and dismisses menu screens. The 4-way controller is for navigating menus, changing settings and selecting playback images. The center button accepts menu selections. In record mode the 4-way buttons are used for: "Up" change flash modes, "Down" enable selftimer, "Left" is Quick View for reviewing the last image captured and "Right" is for Macro focus mode. The TRASHCAN button is for image deletion in review mode and is used to select the Image Resolution in record mode.

Top controls: The Power on/off button. The shutter release button is in the center of the Mode Dial. The Mode Dial has positions for: AUTO, Program AE, Manual, Scene Modes (Night, Night Portrait, Candle, Snow, Beach, Landscape, Portrait) Movie and Playback.

The I/O port is a single connector on the bottom. It provides an A/V output, video is NTSC or PAL, audio is monaural and a USB 2.0 (high speed) data port. It also allows the camera to be used with the option Cyber-shot Station docking cradle (see below.)

The S60 stores its data on ~30MB of internal memory and optional Memory Stick and Memory Stick PRO Cards. Memory Stick PRO (up to 2GB max) media is required for capturing the MPEG-VX Fine mode 30fps motion video clips.

Number of Storable Photos (approx.)

The Cyber-shot S60 is powered by two AA batteries, alkaline or NiMH type. Sony's Stamina technology provides up to 100 shots with LCD turned on or 150 shots with the LCD turned off using alkaline batteries. And up to 440 shots with the LCD turned on or 590 shots with the LCD turned off when using NiMH rechargeable batteries

Check out our Rechargeable Battery Page for info and prices on high-capacity NiMH AA cells.

Sony specifically state to NOT use manganese, lithium or Ni-Cd type batteries.

The optional CSS-SA Cyber-shot Station makes transferring photographs and images from your camera easier than ever before. Simply place your camera in the base and it instantly starts charging the supplied 2500mAh NiMH batteries while providing a quick connection to your personal computer and television. It includes a USB cable for personal computer transfers and an audio/video cable so you can view your pictures and videos on your television.

Keep your Cyber-shot S60 digital camera safe both in and out of the water with the optional SPK-SA Sport Jacket. It features a water and damage resistant design that allows you to use your camera in a variety of conditions, including rain and snow.

The SPK-SA is water resistant to a depth of 9.8 feet, making it ideal for light marine photography. The water-resistant buttons allow full access to all camera controls while in the case, so you'll never have to compromise picture quality.