Sony DSC-T700 Review

The DSC-T700 features a 4x Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar "folded" 6.18 - 24.7mm optical zoom with 35 - 140mm coverage (as compared to a 35mm camera.)   The lens operates completely inside of the body. This is a high quality, all-glass lens constructed of 12 elements in 10 groups with 4 aspheric elements and 1 prism. The lens is protected by the sliding front cover when it's not powered up. Sliding the cover down turns the camera on, sliding it up turns it off. Above, you can also see the built-in microphone.

The DSC-T700 is equipped with a Super SteadyShot lens-shift system with two gyro-sensors that detects hand movement, and automatically calculates the compensation needed to provide a clear, crisp image. Sony is the first manufacturer to incorporate an advanced lens-shift optical image stabilizer into a camera with a folded-path lens system. This is what allows for a compact form; the lens does not have to extend from the body of the camera.

This model employs a 9 Area Multi-point auto focus system with a low-light focus assist Illuminator. The working focus range in Auto mode is from 3.1 inches (8cm) to infinity at wide angle or from 19.7 in. (50 cm) to infinity at telephoto. You can also choose the Semi Manual focus option as well as the Close Focus function, which allows you to get as close as 0.39 inches (1cm).

The built-in flash has modes for Auto flash, Forced On, Forced Off, Slow Synchro, with Red-Eye Reduction On or Off. The flash has a working range using ISO Auto: approx. 3.14 in. to 14.1 ft. (0.08m to 4.3m) at Wide angle or 1.64 to 11.2 ft. (0.5 to 3.4m) at Telephoto.
Using ISO 3200 will extend the range to 28.2 ft. (8.6m) at Wide angle or 22.3 ft (6.8m) at Telephoto.

On the top is the power button, play button, shutter release and the zoom controls.

The back is dominated by a large 3.5-inch Touchpanel "Clear Photo LCD Plus" TFT monitor with 921,000 pixels of resolution. It's the only viewfinder and is used for image review, sharing and accessing the menu system. This is a transmissive / reflective display that's visible even in the direct sunlight. Sony's "Clear Photo LCD" technology provides higher resolution, contrast ratio and brightness. All of the controls are onscreen, and you make menu selections by touching the desired value on the screen with your fingers or you can use the included stylus "Paint" pen.

The I/O and docking cradle connector is on the bottom next to the battery/memory card door and the metal tripod mount. The included cable has outputs for USB 2.0 high-speed transfer to the computer or connection to a PictBridge printer, Audio-Video for display on a TV (video signal can be set for NTSC or PAL standard), Audio is monoraul and there's also a jack for an optional AC power adapter.

The T700 is the yet another "T" series model form Sony to feature high-definition video output for viewing images on your HDTV when using either the optional HD output adapter cable (VMC-MHC1) or optional Cyber-shot Station cradle (CSS-HD2); both sold separately.

Located on the bottom with the battery is the Memory Stick Duo card slot. The DSC-T700 has 4GB (that's right 4 Gigabyte) of internal memory and supports any capacity Memory Stick Duo or Memory Stick Pro Duo card up to 16GB. Data can be easily copied back and forth between the internal memory and flash cards.

Approx. Storage Capacities

Power is supplied by a Sony NP-BD1 3.6v 680 mAh InfoLITHIUM rechargeable battery pack. Sony quotes a battery life of approx. 200 images or 100 minutes. The battery is replenished out of the camera with the included AC battery charger. This handy charger has fold-away prongs for easy storage - no more lugging around an AC cord either.