Sony DSC-U30 Review

By Movable Type Admin


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Sony

CyberShot DSC-U30



Record Mode Screens & Menus

The LCD screens in this review had to be photographed as there is no video out port that we normally use to capture the displays with.  LCD monitors were never designed with enough resolution to be photographed and the tiny size of this one-inch LCD complicates this even more. We hope you understand why these screen captures are not up to standard with our usual high-res direct output method.


Sony DSC-U30

Record mode screen showing onscreen data overlay. Starting in the upper left corner is the battery condition icon showing full. The image size is 2.0M (1632 x 1224), the current image folder is "101" and the Memory Stick has space for "235" more pictures while the "stick" icon graphically shows the space available. Other icons will be shown for flash and focus status.



Sony DSC-U30

The Movie Record screen is also very simple, the battery icon is the same and the Movie Film Icon is self explanatory as is the "STBY" awaiting a push of the shutter release to start the recording. The "87:34" indicates the max movie record time left on the memory stick at the 160 x 112 size movie. Movies can only be captured up to 15 seconds at a clip. There is no audio capability nor digital or optical zoom.


By pressing the MENU button while in Record, the following screens are displayed:

Sony DSC-U30

  • SIZE-BURST - 2.0M(1632x1224), VGA(640x480), VGA Burst(640x480)
  • FOCUS - AUTO, 0.2m, 0.5m, 1.0m, Infinity
  • SELF TIMER - ON / OFF
  • P. EFFECT - OFF, Negative Art, Sepia, B & W, Solarize
    • Sony DSC-U30

  • LCD LIGHT ON / OFF (LCD back light)
  • DISPLAY ON / OFF (toggles onscreen overlay info)
    • Sony DSC-U30

  • CLOCK SET Date Notation(put date on ea. image)
    Date & Time Set(change date/time)
  • BEEP ON /Shutter sound only / OFF
  • USB Normal / PTP
  • LANGuage - English / Japanese
    • Sony DSC-U30

  • FORMAT - OK / Cancel (formats Memory Stick)
  • CREATE FOLDER - Create new image folder
  • CHANGE FOLDER - Change active image folder







    • Playback Screens & Menus



    Sony DSC-U30

    The typical Playback screen display shows the battery condition icon in the top left while displaying the file and frame number in the top right. The date of capture is across the bottom of the frame.



    Sony DSC-U30

    You can Zoom 2.5x or 5x into an image to check focus but unfortunately you can't scroll so it is of somewhat limited value. You can save the zoomed image as a new picture so it's like digital zoom after capture.


    Sony DSC-U30

    Choosing the INDEX function while in the Play MENU toggles between full screen and index modes. In Index mode you can quickly preview the stored images on the card and display any one in normal full screen mode. Once you leave the INDEX mode or power down the display, it reverts to full screen and you must re-access the INDEX mode through the MENU.




    By pressing the MENU button while in PLAY,
    the following screens are displayed:
    Sony DSC-U30

  • DELETE - OK / CANCEL(deletes only displayed image)
  • DELETE IN FOLDER - Deletes all non-protected images in current folder
  • INDEX - Switches to a 4-up playback screen
  • PRINT - Marks the image for DPOF printing
    • Sony DSC-U30

  • LCD LIGHT ON / OFF (LCD backlight)
  • DISPLAY ON / OFF (toggles onscreen overlay info)
    • Sony DSC-U30

  • CLOCK SET Date Notation(put date on ea. image)
    Date & Time Set(change date/time)
  • BEEP ON /Shutter sound only / OFF
  • USB Normal / PTP
  • LANGuage - English / Japanese
    • Sony DSC-U30

  • FORMAT - OK / Cancel (formats Memory Stick)
  • CHANGE FOLDER - Change active image folder






    • Continue on to
    Steve's Conclusion





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