Sony DSC-V3 Review

Here is the Auto mode screen display. Minimal information is displayed and only a few parameters such as image size or recording mode can be changed. Upper left is the battery runtime that's constantly displayed. The image size is "7M"egapixels, the image folder is 101, there's space for 118 shots, a graphical icon of either a Memory Stick or a CF card (depends on which media is used) and in the center are the Auto Focus area target marks.

This is a busy "P"rogram AE screen. Top left shows the battery indicator with the amount of minutes remaining.You can also see icons for Burst drive mode, 7- Megapixel Fine quality, Folder number "101", Self-timer, and there is enough room on our memory card for 117 pictures. Along the bottom are icons for Macro focus mode, "S"ingle "A"uto "F"ocus, Shutter and Aperture values, and Exposure Compensation. Also the Live Histogram display has been enabled.

The Program AE mode also allows the user to "shift" the shutter speed and aperture settings. By rotating the command dial you can select other combinations of shutter speed and aperture values.

When you half-press the shutter release the AF marks will turn green indicating the area of focus, it will also show the selected shutter speed and aperture.

In any record mode you just push the Image Size button and an onscreen prompt like the one above lets you change the selected image size. You can choose from 7M, 7M (3:2), 5M, 3M, 1M, or VGA (E-mail.)

Here's the screen when using Shutter speed priority mode. It allows you to select the desired shutter speed and the camera automatically selects the proper aperture. A slower shutter speed will allow you to show motion, where a faster one will freeze the action.

In Aperture priority, you select the desired aperture and the camera selects the proper shutter speed. A large aperture (small f/stop number) will create a shallow depth of field, where a smaller aperture (larger f/stop number) will create a larger depth of field.

Here's the screen when using Manual mode, it allows users to select both the shutter speed and aperture value, and displays exposure compensation to inform you if you are about to take a under or over-exposed picture.

When you rotate the mode dial the "virtual mode dial" is displayed on the camera's LCD.

Record mode options:

Metering - Multi-pattern (default), Center-weighted averaging or Spot

White Balance - Auto, Sunny, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Flash or One-Push custom

ISO - Auto or fixed at 100, 200, 400 or 800

Picture Quality - Fine or Standard

Record Mode - Normal, Burst, Speed Burst, Exposure Bracketing, Multi Burst, TIFF, or RAW

BRK - Choose the EV value for Exposure Bracketing (±0.3EV, ±0.7EV, ±1.0EV)

Interval - Set the interval for Multi Burst (1/30, 1/15, 1/7.5)

Flash Level - High, Normal or Low

Picture Effect - Off, Sepia, Black & White

Sharpness - Default is 0 but may be + or -

Saturation - Default is 0 but may be + or -

Contrast - Default is 0 but may be + or -

The DSC-V3 has been designed as an advanced user's camera but it also has seven pre-programmed scene modes available when the Mode Dial is turned to the SCN (Scene) position. Novice users can get even better looking pictures in less than "normal" conditions by using these scene modes.

Scene mode menu options:

SCN - Scene mode: Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape, Portrait, Snow, Beach, Candle

Metering - Multi-pattern (default), Center-weighted averaging or Spot

White Balance - Auto, Sunny, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Flash or One-Push custom

Picture Quality - Fine or Standard

Record Mode - Normal, Burst, Speed Burst, Exposure Bracketing, Multi Burst, TIFF, or RAW

Flash Level - High, Normal or Low

Picture Effect - Off, Sepia, Black & White

NightFraming - In order to compose pictures in a dimly lit restaurant or other settings with challenging light, NightFraming, another Sony exclusive feature, integrates NightShot technology, Hologram AF laser focusing system and TTL pre-flash metering. This seamless system enables the photographer to properly frame the subject, attain accurate focus and achieve correct flash exposure for consistently excellent color flash shots.

NightShot - Taking pictures in low- and no-light situations is easier than ever with Sony's NightShot feature. With the flip of a switch, the infrared NightShot mode is activated, which defeats the flash and a monochrome infrared picture is captured with no visible light at all. The maximum range of the infrared illuminators are about 14 feet but realistically it is only good for about six feet.

The recording screen in the VX Fine Movie mode. VX Fine mode is VGA resolution 640 x 480 full screen @ 30fps with audio and the length is limited only by the space available on the memory card.

Movie clips can also be recorded using VX Standard (640x480 16 fps) or Video E-mail (160x120, 8.3 fps), these movies will playback in a smaller window. The advantage is that the file sizes are smaller and more practical for email purposes.

Movie mode options:

Metering - Multi-pattern (default), Center-weighted averaging or Spot

White Balance - Auto, Sunny, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Flash or One-Push custom

Picture Effect - Off, Sepia, Black & White

Image Size - Press the Image size button (see Page 2) and choose from VX Fine, VX Standard, or Video E-mail

The MultiBurst mode lets you record sixteen frames at high speed. The capture rate is selectable for 7.5fps, 15fps or 30fps via the menu. These 320x240 images are merged into one 1280x960 finished image. When the image is played in-camera it is animated in sequence.