Sony DSC-S85
By: Steve's Digicams
Sony Cyber-shot
DSC-S85
Review posted 6/07/01
Introduction & Physical Views
Click on the S85 to take a QuickTime VR tour
The Sony DSC-S85 CyberShot has the distinction of being the first four megapixel digital camera to be priced below $1000, in fact it has an unbelievable MSRP of just $799. On the outside it's physically identical to the Sony DSC-S75 except it's finished in all black. Inside there's a new 1/1.8" 4.1-MegaPixel Super HAD CCD capable of creating images up to 2272 x 1704 pixels. Images can be stored as JPEG compressed with three quality levels or as uncompressed TIFF to produce the best possible photo-quality prints. The internal RAM buffer has been increased to allow for a three-frame burst mode and an AE Bracketing mode has been added to the exposure options.
The S85 is equipped with a sharp and fast Carl Zeiss F2.0 3X optical 7-21mm (34-102mm 35mm equiv) Vario Sonnar zoom lens and a fast accurate auto focus system. It has both an optical view finder and a 1.8-inch EX Bright, 123,000-pixel color LCD display. In addition to still images the S85 also captures motion video in MPEG format. MPEG HQ offers full screen playback and the MPEG EX mode can continuously record video up to the capacity of the flash media. This means that 90 minutes of video at can be continuously recorded on 128MB Memory Stick media. Both MPEG modes capture sound as well as video. JPEG, TIFF, Text or Clip Motion (animated GIF) formats.
Sony DSC-S85 Features:
- 4.1-Megapixel Super HAD CCD, images up to 2272 x 1704 pixels
- Sharp and fast 3x Carl Zeiss 34-102mm F2 zoom lens
- 14 bit A/D converter for more accurate capture of detail
- Fast autofocus with AF illuminator and manual focusing via jog dial
- Program AE, Aperture priority, Shutter priority and full Manual
- Auto exposure bracketing
- Images stored as compressed JPEG or uncompressed TIFF
- 1.8-inch EX Bright color LCD
- Optical eyelevel finder with dioptric adjustment
- MPEG motion video with audio, MPEG EX for unlimited clip lengths
- Up to 10 frames can be saved as a Clip Motion GIF
- Shutter speeds from 1/1,000 to 8 seconds
- Apertures from f/2.1 to f/8.0
- Exposure compensation, +/-2EV in 1/3EV increments
- Spot metering and AE Lock functions
- Built-in flash with four modes plus variable output intensity
- External flash connection jack and shoe for the HVLF-1000 strobe
- Adjustable white balance with presets and one-push custom
- Picture Effects: Solarized, sepia, B&W, Negative Art
- Image Tone and Sharpness settings
- Automatic ISO or fixed at 100, 200, or 400
- Sony InfoLithium® "M" battery, up to 3,000 shots
- Images stored on removable MemoryStick media, 16MB included
- High-speed USB connection for image downloading
Physical Views


 



The DSC-S85 and the Nikon 990. |
DSC-S85 Specifications
Imager |
1/1.8" 4.1-megapixel CCD | Image Sizes |
Still: 2272x1704, 2272(3:2), 1600x1200, 1280x960, 640x480
MPEG: 320x240 and 160x120
ClipMotion GIF: 160x120 and 80x72 | Recording Formats |
Still: JPEG, TIFF, GIF
Movie: MPEG EX (160x120 or 320x240 @ 8fps length limited only by available storage media - 45 mins on 64MB)
MPEG HQ (160x120 or 320x240 @ 16fps preset lengths of 5, 10 15sec) | A/D Conversion |
14-bit DXP | Lens |
Carl Zeiss 3X F2-2.5 7-21mm (34-102mm 35mm equiv) 52mm lens adapter (optional) | Focus |
Contrast Detect w/AF illuminator light Autofocus 19.7" to infinity Macro AF 1.6" minimum 13-step Manual focus | ISO Sensitivity |
Auto, 100, 200, 400 | White Balance |
Auto, Outdoor, Indoor, One-Push Custom | Exposure Metering |
Center-weighted Averaging or Spot | Shutter Priority Range |
8 sec to 1/1000 sec in 40 steps | Aperture Priority Range |
F2.0-8.0 in 13 steps | Manual Exposure |
Yes with EV indicator | Program AE |
Twilight, Landscape or Portrait | Exposure Bracketing |
Yes with +/-0.3, 0.7 or 1.0EV steps | Exposure Compensation |
+/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV increments | In-Camera Sharpening |
+/- 2 in 1 step increments | Flash Modes |
Auto, Forced, Redeye, Off | Flash Level Adjustment |
Auto, High, Low | Flash Range |
1 to 9.8 feet (0.3m to 3.0m) | External Flash |
Optional HVL-F1000 via ACC port and flash shoe | Color LCD |
1.8-inch 123,200 pixels (560x220) TFT w/backlight | Eyelevel Viewfinder |
Optical, true zoom with diopter adjustment | Playback Zoom |
1.1 to 5X in 17 steps | Playback Index |
9 frames | Review / Quick Delete |
Yes / Yes | Trimming / Resizing |
Yes / Yes | MPEG 6X Cue/Review |
Yes, EX or HQ | Storage Supplied |
16MB Memory Stick, can use any capacity Memory Stick | Connections |
Video, USB, AC power, ACC flash port | Battery Supplied |
InfoLITHIUM NP-FM50 7.2v 8.5Wh (1180mAH) w/AC-L10 charger & AC supply | Supplied Software |
MGI PhotoSuite 8.1, MGI PhotoSuite SE 1.1 Sony SPVD-004 USB driver | Dimensions |
4-5/8 x 2-7/8 x 2-5/8 inches 117 x 71 x 64 mm | Weight (w/out battery) |
16.0 oz (462 g) |
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