Sony Mavica CD350 Review

By Movable Type Admin

Steve's Digicams

Sony Mavica CD400


Review posted 06/09/2003

Introduction & Physical Views


Click to take a QuickTime VR tour of the Sony MVC-CD350
Click on the CD350 to take a QuickTime VR tour


Sony is the only manufacturer producing digital cameras that store still images and movie clips on CD-R/RW media. The Mavica CD350 is the three-megapixel model of the year 2003 CD Mavica line and is equipped with a 3x Sony optical zoom lens. Lighter in weight and less expensive than last year's three megapixel Mavica CD300 and sporting a slimmer and more stylish body. It also features the improved MPEG-VX movie mode with 640x480 resolution at 16 frames per second with audio. Six minutes of continuous VGA resolution motion video can be recorded on each disc.

Other CD Mavica camera features include the large 2.5-inch color LCD monitor that is used for framing and image review. The Sony InfoLITHIUM rechargeable battery system using the high-capacity NP-FM50 battery pack. A fully charged battery can yield up to 220 shots or a continuous recording time of 110 minutes. The included charger can also be used as an AC power adapter. And high speed USB 2.0 connectivity for fast downloads to the host computer.


Sony MVC-CD350

Maximizing the benefits of writable CD photography, Sony's CD350 Mavica digital still camera incorporates focus, exposure and archiving features that help make every picture worth keeping. CompactDiscs are easy-to-use, long-lasting, and allow instant archiving of pictures - a lot of pictures. The CD350 Mavica can be used with either the write-once CD-R or the re-writable CD-RW type discs.


Mavica CD350 Features:

  • 3.2 Megapixel Sony Super HAD CCD imager
  • Still images in JPEG or TIFF format up to 2048x1536 pixels
  • 14-bit DXP A/D conversion for extended dynamic range
  • Sony 3x optical (41-123mm) zoom lens
  • 2.0X Smart Zoom (at VGA size)
  • 3 Area Multi-Point AF
  • Multi Pattern or Spot metering
  • 156MB 3-inch CD-R / CD-RW storage
  • Slow shutter speed Noise Reduction
  • 6 Scene modes: Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape, Portrait, Snow and Beach
  • 2.5-inch, 123,000 pixel color LCD monitor w/solar assist
  • MPEG VX movie mode, 640x480 @ 16fps w/audio, up to 5:54 per 156MB disc
  • Sony InfoLITHIUM NP-FM50 1180mAh rechargeable battery
  • High speed USB 2.0 connectivity

The Sony CD350 is available now with a suggested retail price of $499.95.


Physical Views



Sony MVC-CD350

Sony MVC-CD350


Sony MVC-CD350 Sony MVC-CD350

Sony MVC-CD350

Sony MVC-CD350





Sony CD350

The MVC-CD350 and the compact Cyber-shot DSC-P10.





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MVC-CD350 Specifications

Imager 1/2.7" 3.2 Megapixel (effective) Super HAD CCD
Image Sizes Still Image: 2048x1536, 2048(3:2), 1600x1200, 1280x960, 640x480

MPEG: 640x480 and 160x120

MultiBurst: 16-320x240 frames as 1280x960 image

ClipMotion GIF: Up to ten 160x120 or 80x72 frames
Recording Formats Still: JPEG, TIFF, GIF
Movie: MPEG VX (640x480 @ 16fps w/audio)
MPEG standard (160x112 @ 8fps w/audio)
Image Storage 8cm (3-inch) CD-R or CD-RW 156MB discs
A/D Conversion 14-bit DXP
Lens Sony 3X F3.8-3.9 6.4-19.2mm (41-123mm 35mm equiv)
37mm filter threads
Focus Contrast Detect w/AF-assist
3-Area Multi-Point AF
Autofocus 19.7" to infinity
Macro AF 3.9" minimum
5-step Manual preset focus
ISO Sensitivity Auto (100-400) or fixed 100, 200, 400
White Balance Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash
Exposure Metering MultiPoint or Spot
Shutter Speeds 1/30 - 1/1000 sec., Twilight 1 sec to 1/1000 sec
Program AE Auto plus High-speed shutter, Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape, Portrait, Beach or Snow
Burst Mode 2 frames at 2fps
Confirm Before Write User selectable
Noise Reduction Automatic at 1/2 sec or slower
Picture Effects Black & White, Solarize, Sepia, Negative Art
Exposure Compensation +/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV increments
Image Sharpening +/- 2 in 1 step increments
Flash Modes Auto, Forced, Redeye, Off
Flash Level Adjustment Auto, High, Low
Flash Range 31 inches to 8 feet 3 inches
Color LCD 2.5-inch 123,000 pixels TFT w/backlight
Eyelevel Viewfinder DSAC-MVC (optional)
Playback Zoom 1.1 to 5X in 17 steps
Playback Index 9 frames, 3 frames w/exposure info
Review / Quick Delete Yes / Yes
Trimming / Resizing Yes / Yes
MPEG Cue/Review Yes
Connections Video (NTSC or PAL), Audio, USB, AC power, ACC port
Microphone Built-in
Speaker Built-in
Power Source InfoLITHIUM NP-FM50 1180mAh rechargeable
w/AC-L10 charger & AC supply
Supplied Software Pixel ImageMixer 1.5, Sony SPVD-010 USB driver
Accessories Supplied NP-FM50 InfoLithium® Rechargeable Battery, AC-L15 AC Adaptor/In-camera Charger, A/V and USB Cables, Shoulder Strap, Lens Cap, MCR-156A CD-R Media, MCRW-156A CD-RW Media; Software CD-ROM
Dimensions 5-3/16 x 3-5/8 x 2-7/8 inches
131.7 x 92.3 x 73.8mm
Weight (w/out battery) 1lb 2oz (522 g)
OS Compatibility Microsoft Windows 98/98SE/Me/2000 pro/XP Home/XP Pro; Macintosh OS 10.1/10.2
Specifications are as represented by the manufacturer.





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