Sony - Cybershot T100 Digital Camera Review

This digital camera not only met, but exceeded my expectations when it came to high quality, HD photography. Its maiden voyage was set in Italy, where my boyfriend and I spent two weeks discovering 12 different regions of Bella Italia. With a 4GB memory stick and an extra battery, I captured every gondola, cyprese tree, Byzantine cathedral, and Renaissance painting that I ever wanted with ease. Videos, though not HD quality (don't be fooled by the slightly misleading marketing of an "HD" camera), came out beautifully and I appreciated the massive LCD screen to view my photos and videos post-capture. I had used Sony Cybershots before. My previous one was a Sony Cybershot DSC-P9 4.0 megapixel with 6x optical zoom and image stabilization. I had purchased that camera when it first came out in 2002 for $700 and it had been good to me for the following five years. But prior to my trip in Italy, I decided to upgrade to a model that reflected the advances in digital technology. I looked at the W-series, N-series, and other T-series. Nothing interested me to the point where I said "go get 'em!". But then this model came out-- the T-100. And I was blown away. The dual image stabilization, huge LCD screen, and special effects (not to mention the cool create-your-own slide show to show off St. Peter's Basilica on a big screen TV in HD quality!) were more than enough to make me yet again another satisfied customer. This time, I paid almost half the price of my last camera at $399. Though I rave about this piece, there are a few weaknesses that need addressing.

The first is the difficulty capturing night photos. Cybershot has always had this problem, so it takes some practice to keep your hand still and ensure a good shot. I tend to take a few pictures of the same scene if I have the chance during the evening in the event one may not turn out clear. The problem is the inability for the lens to focus on the subject so I apply the half-press trick on the shutter button a couple times until I feel the focus is dead on. Another con is the inability for the trim feature to crop vertically. In my DSC-P9 Cybershot, I was able to "verticalize" a horizontal picture which came in handy more often than people realize. This camera is not able to perform that feature, which makes me rely heavily on the photographer's composition skills (be it myself or a good Samaritan helping me capture the grand canal with me in the forefront). It has exceptional photo and video capabilities, so I highly recommend committing some time to get familiar with it prior to use, especially if you plan to take it on a trip and want to maximize its full potential. I spent a good week prior to Italy to go step-by-step analyzing each task and tool and found that I was more than prepared by the time I stepped off the plane. A final weakness barely worth mentioning is the inability for slide shows to hold custom songs longer than 2 1/2 minutes. Other than that, this camera is amazing and I would buy this piece again in a heartbeat.