The screen display when in the AUTO (point-n-shoot) mode. 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 "5.0M"egapixels, the image folder is 101, there's 41 shots left and in the center are the AF target marks. When you half-press the shutter release it will also show the selected shutter speed and aperture.

This is all you get for MENU choices when in the AUTO exposure mode.

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. In movie mode the options are 640x480 (VGA) or 160x112 (Email). In Clip Motion mode the choices are Normal or Mobile.

Here's the Program AE mode screen just about as busy as I can get it. I have manually set the white balance to fluorescent, flash power is on low, metering is spot, the color saturation, contrast and sharpness are on the "+" setting, macro focus is on, selftimer is on and the realtime histogram has been enabled. All of this information can be cleared off the screen by pressing the Monitor button.

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. The LCD display will show a P^* when the Shift feature is active.

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 3, Exposure Bracketing, E-mail, Voice or TIFF

Flash Level - High, Normal or Low

Picture Effect - None, Negative Art, Sepia, Solarize

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-V1 has been designed as an advanced user's camera but it also has eight pre-programmed 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, Portrait, Landscape, Beach, Snow, Fast Shutter, Fireworks

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 3, Exposure Bracketing, E-mail, Voice or TIFF

Flash Level - High, Normal or Low

Picture Effect - None, Negative Art, Sepia, Solarize

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" Movie mode which is new for 2003. The VX mode is VGA resolution 640 x 480 full screen @ 16fps with audio and the length is limited only by the space available on the Memory Stick.

Movie clips can also be recorded at 160x112 resolution, 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 - None, Negative Art, Sepia, Solarize

The Clip Motion mode lets you record animated 160x120 GIF files. You can capture up to 10 images that will be automatically merged into an animated GIF file. It's small and perfect for emailing to friends.

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.