Sony DSC-S85

An exceptionally sharp and fast F2.0 to F8.0 (in 13 steps) Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 3x optical zoom equivalent to a 35mm 34-102mm lens. Further enhanced with a precision 2X digital zoom.

Focus range is 19.7 inches to infinity in normal mode and down to 1.6 to 8 inches in the macro mode. The focus is either automatic or manually via presets for 0.1m, 0.2m, 0.3m, 0.5m, 0.8m, 1m, 1.5m, 2m, 3m, 5m, 7m, 10m, 15m or infinity.

Add-on lenses and filters may be attached with the optional VAD-S70 Lens Adapter which mounts over the extended lens and gives you 52mm threads.

New on the Sony CyberShots is an AF illuminator which assists the autofocus system in dim to dark lighting. The effective range is 0.3m to 3.0m (approx. 12 inches to 10 feet). It can be enabled or disabled in the Setup menu and is automatically disabled when in Landscape mode or when the Conversion Lens option has been selected.

The eyelevel optical viewfinder has about 92% coverage and is equipped with a diopter adjustment. There is no in-viewfinder information just a set of crosshair marks. Alongside of the viewfinder are three LED indicators; the red one on top is lit up while the camera is saving image data, the green one in the center indicates the focus status and the yellow one on the bottom blinks while the flash is charging.

The built in flash has modes for automatic, redeye reduction, forced on (fill) and disabled. Need more flash power then attach an optional HVL-F1000 flash on the accessory shoe and connect it into the ACC jack on the side. Besides greater flash range the HVL-F1000 also gives you the benefits of bounce flash illumination.

Located on top of the camera is the microphone, shutter release and the combination Mode Dial and Power switch. The Mode Dial has operating positions for SETUP, SCeNe (quick selection of Twilight, Landscape or Portrait depending on how it is configured in the Setup menu), Manual, Aperture-priority, Shutter speed-priority, Program AE, Playback and Movie.

The monochrome data display is located on the back next to the optical finder and gives the user instant information about camera and exposure settings. Shown here indicating a full battery, macro mode, self-timer enabled, flash forced on, 29 pictures remaining, aperture value F2.1 and a shutter speed of 1/40 sec.

My only complaint - it isn't illuminated and therefore useless in the dark. Please give us an illuminated data display Mr Sony!

The majority of the control buttons are grouped to the left of the color LCD display. The 4-way selector switch is used for navigating and making selections from the onscreen menus after they have been enabled with the MENU button. When the menu isn't present the 4-way switch performs a variety of functions such as setting the flash mode, enabling macro focus or the self-timer mode and the handy Quick Review function. Pressing the "left" portion of the 4-way switch allows you to review the last picture recorded.

The MENU button enables the onscreen menu system. The DISPLAY button turns the color LCD on/off and also controls the data overlays on the screen in record and playback. The "+/-" button lets you set the desired amount of exposure compensation (+/-2EV). The "[o]" button enables the Spot metering function. The FOCUS button switches between AF and manual focus, when manually focusing you use the small command dial to set one of the preset distances. The AE LOCK button lets you lock the exposure value and then re-compose your picture, the exposure lock is released after the picture is taken.

On the upper right hand corner of the back is where you will find the zoom control rocker switch that also serves as the index and zoomed playback control when in review mode. New is the Jog Dial Navigator that is used to select shutter speeds, aperture values or manual focus distance presets.

On the left side is an audio speaker for movie playback and camera sounds.

The ACC jack allows connection to an optional Sony HVL-F1000 flash unit that can be mounted on the accessory shoe on top of the camera.

Behind a small hinged door on the side is the high-speed USB data port and the A / V Out port that carries both a monoraul audio and video signal, the video format is user-selectable for NTSC or PAL.

On the bottom is the combination battery and memory compartment. The storage media is a Sony Memory Stick, a 16MB module is supplied. Memory Sticks are now available in 8, 16, 32 and 64MB capacity -- the new 128MB size are just now showing up.

The battery is a Sony "M" series NP-FM50 InfoLITHIUM rechargeable 7.2v "battery with a brain" -- it tells you on the LCD exactly how many minutes of runtime is left.

The DSC-S85 does not need an external charger. It comes with a combination battery charger and AC power adapter (AC-L10) that plugs into the DC input jack on the back of the camera.

For faster charging out of the camera you can purchase the optional AC-VQ800 ($150) external AC charger for the NP-FM50 battery packs.