Feb 28: Sony Cybershot DSC-T100

The Sony Cybershot DSC-T100 replaces the T50 and is an 8 megapixel digital camera with a 5x optical zoom lens and 3.0 inch LCD display.

The T100 features ISO with a maximum of 3200, a Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, face detection technology (up to 8 faces at once) card compatability as well as 31 megabytes of internal memory.

The Sony Cybershot DSC-T100 will have a retail price of $400 USD when it appears in stores in March of this year.

Get a Price on the Sony Cybershot DSC-T100

SONY'S CHARMING CYBER-SHOT DIGITAL CAMERAS BECOME THE LIFE OF THE PARTY

Sony is introducing a line of slim and stylish Cyber-shot T-series cameras that are destined to be the fashionista crowd’s favorite party companion.

The 8-megapixel DSC-T100 camera is a showstopper with the most powerful zoom and largest LCD screen in Sony’s T-series. With its Carl Zeiss 5x optical zoom lens and 3-inch LCD screen, this model will debut in red, black and silver.

The 8-megapixel DSC-T20 camera features a Carl Zeiss 3x optical zoom lens and a 2.5-inch LCD screen, and will hit the scene in pink, white, black and silver.

In colors to match your party gear and less than a half-inch thick, both cameras can easily slip into a clutch purse or the pocket of a jacket. They can be fashionably protected with four different styles of matching camera cases in colors such as pink, red, green, grey, crème, brown and black, which will be sold separately.

“ There’s a generation of style-conscious, tech-savvy people who want the brands and products in their lives to reflect who they are,” said Phil Lubell, director of marketing for digital cameras at Sony Electronics. “Our new T-series cameras can give these customers the form factor and advanced technologies they’re looking for.”

Let Sony Take You Higher
When it comes to entertaining, the living room is the hub. Sony’s new T-series cameras feature high-definition output so you can bring your photos to the party and take full advantage of the HD equipment already in your home. Once you have viewed photos in the utmost clarity, color and detail on an HDTV set, there’s no going back to huddling around a PC. And tech-savvy snappers know that standard-definition equipment can’t display the full glory of even a 2-megapixel picture.

Sony’s new cameras have three accessory options for high-definition photo viewing. All are compatible with the Sony VMC-MHC1 HD component cable for simple connection to an HDTV set. They can also be connected to the new Sony CSS-HD1 high-definition Cyber-shot Station™ with a bundled component cable and a remote commander. Connect all your devices to the station just one time and it also works as a charger for the camera.

The complete high-definition photo viewing solution is the Sony DPP-FPHD1 package, which includes the high-definition component cable, a Cyber-shot cradle, a remote commander and a high-definition printer with component HD output. Designed to complement any living room, this new printer comes in elegant black and can be positioned horizontally or vertically. As you view your pictures, you can print the ones you want to hand out as party mementos, on the spot, in about 45 seconds.

All of the new cameras are equipped with a built-in slide show function. You can play back your images, complete with dynamic transitions choreographed to your choice of music clips.

Don’t Let Bad Photos Kill The Buzz
The party people will look fabulous in every shot with Sony’s new face detection technology. It can identify up to eight faces in the camera’s LCD frame, and automatically adjust white balance and flash as well as focus and exposure for sharp, clear photos.

Shooting in low light doesn’t have to result in blurry, grainy photos. Sony’s Super Steady Shot optical image stabilization counters camera shake and stabilize images so you can easily shoot with longer exposure times. Armed with high light sensitivity (up to ISO 3200), you can also shoot at higher shutter speeds without using the cameras’ flash and spoiling the mood of the pictures. Sony’s Clear RAW ™ noise reduction technology will help reduce the picture noise common to low-light exposures.

Technology That Won’t Slow You Down
Sony’s new T-series cameras are powered by the Bionz™ processing engine, first used in Sony’s Alpha digital SLR camera system. Not only does this robust processing engine deliver the fast image processing speeds needed to produce color-rich, detailed pictures for true high-definition photo viewing, it also speeds up the cameras’ response times and extends battery life.

Slide their lens covers down and these cameras are ready to shoot in less than a second and prepared for the next shot in about a second. They’ll keep snapping for the duration of the party – on a full charge, up to 380 shots for the T100 camera and 340 shots for the T20 model.

You can edit PC-free with these cameras’ internal functions. Red-eye correction and dynamic range optimization to adjust under- or over-exposed areas can be performed without having to make a lot of adjustments to the camera. Photos can be retouched and enlivened on the spot with up to four filter selections, such as the fish-eye filter for an amusing fishbowl effect.

The T100 camera will ship in March for about $400, and the T20 will be available in April for about $330. Options will include batteries, travel chargers, lenses, filters, sports packs and cases. All models can be purchased online at sonystyle.com, at Sony Style retail stores (www.sonystyle.com/retail), and at authorized dealers nationwide. Pre-orders begin on February 28 at www.sonystyle.com/newcameras.

Sony Cybershot DSC-T100

Digital Trends has a review of the Sony Cybershot DSC-T100 and writes, "Since this camera is so small, there’s really no way to support it properly; you have to hold it with your thumbs and index fingers. This grip opens you to a world of shaky stills but fortunately, the DSC-T100 has optical image stabilization and high ISOs (3200 max) to help smooth out the jitters. Naturally, if you’re shooting with just available light (no flash), there’s noise galore in very dim scenes but this is to be expected with any camera that crams 8 million pixels on a 1 /2.5-inch CCD. ... I would’ve given this camera an Editor’s Choice designation except for one problem. Although Sony promotes the fact this camera outputs HD-quality shots to your HDTV, the only way you can do it is by purchasing an optional accessory for at least $40. Bummer. Given its long list of other excellent features—8.2MP resolution, quality photos, optical image stabilization, a 3-inch LCD, excellent menu system and Face Detection--this should have had a higher rating. Still this is an excellent 2007 camera and does the T series proud."

Digital Camera Info has a first impressions review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100 and writes, "The point-and-shoot market is saturated with 7-megapixel slim cameras that have 3x optical zoom lenses and hardly any manual capability. Enter the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100, which seems to one-up the competition on just about everything. The slim fashionable camera has 8.1 megapixels and a 5x optical zoom lens with image stabilization. Its 3-inch screen can be seen from just about any angle, and it has a movie mode that utilizes the optical zoom and allows some manual control. It packs in all kinds of features like high-definition viewing, face detection auto focus, wide ISO range, and slide shows with music. The model at the show was preproduction, so its specs and menus aren’t finalized. We look forward to fully testing and reviewing the T10 when everything is finalized in a month or two. On first review, the T100 indicates that it’s definitely worth a double-take. If it can back up its solid feature set with solid imaging capability, then it’s worth the $399."

ComputerActive has a review of the Sony Cybershot DSC-T100 and writes, "If we’re being picky on close inspection there is some image softness at the wide end of the zoom and – though consistent results can be achieved at the opposite telephoto end – they would benefit from overall sharpening in an image-editing software package. ... Sturdy, well-built, attractively fashioned and, in most instances, quick to respond, the T100 will appeal to anyone wanting a better lens reach than the standard 3x, but a camera that’s still just a tad larger in height and width than a credit card."

CNET Australia has a review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100 and writes, "The DSC-T100 takes great-looking photos with plenty of detail. Pictures stay sharp and free of noise as high as ISO 400. ISO 800 and ISO 1,600 produce a notable amount of detail-softening, speckled noise but are still useable. The T100's macro and super-macro modes really impress me; it took some beautiful close-up shots of flowers at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. The camera's pictures aren't perfect, however. Like most snapshot cameras, shots taken at ISO 3,200 look more like expressionist paintings than photos. We recommend you stick to shooting at ISO 800 or lower to avoid extreme noise."

Cameras.co.uk has a review of the Sony DSC T100 and writes, "The DSC T100 handles the standard outdoor shots pretty well. I especially like the look of the first test photo. ... The photo is sharp and stays sharp as you move towards the edges. ... Overall the Sony DSC T100 is well worth considering. I am sure the longer than standard lens will come in handy and this camera is superior to other pocket sized cameras I have tested with similar length lenses."

PhotographyBLOG has a review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100 and writes, "red eye was a real problem when using the flash unfortunately, and the camera failed to detect its existence when trying the in-camera re-touching facilities. The white balance does some strange things too – occasionally lending a distinctly blue cast to daylight images when left on auto – especially when there's an expanse of blue sky in the farme – and when left on the default of normal colour mode. Under bright conditions there is also inevitably some visible pixel fringing under close inspection, but it's not so pronounced as to annoy. As for the lens performance, there is some loss of corner sharpness at maximum wide angle, and an overall softness at maximum telephoto that benefits from sharpening."

PCMag has a review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100 and writes, "I'm impressed with the DSC-T100's performance and image quality. The camera features a 5X optical zoom lens with a 5.8mm-to-29mm range (which is equivalent to a 35mm lens with a 35mm-to-175mm zoom) and has corresponding maximum f-stops of f/3.5 to f/5.6. This 5X optical zoom capability is a bit more than the 3X usual on cameras this size. Still, it would be nice to see the zoom range reach a wider angle. ... On my lab tests, the DSC-T100 wasn't flawless, but it produced solid results. There was a little noise in the daylight shot and much more in my flash shot. Overall, though, the image was very good. Color was vibrant, although just a tad warm."

DCResource has a review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100 and writes, "Photo quality was generally good, though there were some annoyances. The camera took well-exposed photos, with accurate color and average sharpness. Purple fringing was not a problem. The T100 has problems with corner blurriness, redeye, and noise reduction artifacting, though. The first item won't be an issue for most people, the second issue can be at least partially resolved using the redeye removal tool, but there's not much you can do for number three. You'll see a few noise reduction artifacts at the lowest ISOs, but they don't really become obvious until ISO 200 and 400. Using the highest ISO settings (800 and above) is not a good idea, as your photos will have flat color and tons of detail loss from noise reduction."

Trusted Reviews has a review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100 and writes, "Image quality is where the T100 justifies its hefty price tag. The Carl Zeiss lens lives up to its prestigious name, providing superb detail with minimal wide-angle distortion, and some of the best edge and corner sharpness I’ve seen from a compact camera. The overall level of detail is very good, nearly as good in fact as the Fuji F40fd that I reviewed earlier this week. Colour reproduction is also very good, and the DRO system provides shadow detail in areas that most other cameras would miss. Image noise control is also very good, again almost up to the standard of the F40fd at ISO settings up to 800, however at 1600 and 3200 I found that the colour balance of the shot was seriously distorted, with a nasty green tint appearing over a large portion of the image. The 3200 ISO setting was also quite noisy, although I have to say that I’ve seen a lot worse."

Digital Camera Review has a review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100 and writes, "The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100 is another nice camera in Sony’s ultra-slim T line. It definitely caters to the individual looking for a high quality, stylish camera who doesn’t mind paying a higher price, as seems to be typical for Sony products. The camera’s specs – 8 megapixels, 5x optical zoom with image stabilization, 3 inch LCD – are also pretty compelling. Image quality is good overall, but heavy noise reduction really muddies up details at sensitivities over ISO 200. The camera operates quickly and has great battery life – another big selling point for users who like to grab the impromptu shots of your friends out on the town."

DigitalCameraInfo has a review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100 and writes, "This ultra-slim digital camera has a $399 price tag that seems high, but it comes with a solid set of features. At 8.1 megapixels, it has plenty of resolution. A 5x optical zoom lens that is fully functional while shooting still images and video is also a big plus. It has a Super SteadyShot system that keeps pictures blur-free and video shake-free. There is a 3-inch LCD screen that has great resolution and can be viewed indoors, outdoors, upside down, and sideways. Playback is a good experience whether on the camera, computer, or television. Add the minimal shutter lag and realistic colors and the T100 is already a far better performer than many of its ultra-slim competitors. The Sony Cyber-shot T100 isn’t perfect: its buttons are tiny, it takes some time to learn the menu system, and its flash is horribly spotty and weak. But if users don’t need the flash often and want a trendy little camera to easily tote around and shoot with, the Sony T100 is a sure fit."

ePhotozine has a review of the Sony DSC-T100 and writes, "The Sony DSC T100 is a capable camera with many features as well as a good looking sleek body with no external parts to snap off. The menu is vast, well set out and attractive to look at but splitting it down into two parts and labelling one as Home is unnecessary. I think the amount of features available made Sony think we might get put off in case it confused which to a degree it could and with some options doubled up, it's no wonder. The camera is aimed at users who know their way around a camera, but don't want a big bulky one. The camera is very capable, has a good lens and the zoom is good for the size with the resolution and processor helping, some good photographs can be taken with it."

Get a Price on the Sony Cybershot DSC-T100

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