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April 29, 2005
[ REVIEW — Sony DSC-V3 ]
Price: $1099
Rating: 4.9 stars
The low-down: Sony’s Cyber-shot DSC-V3 is a 7.2 megapixel camera with a 4x optical Carl Zeiss zoom lens. It is Sony’s top-of-the-range viewfinder camera, competing with the similar Canon Powershot G6 and the slightly cheaper Olympus C7070.
The first impression of the Sony is of a rugged, well-designed and purposeful camera. Black is the proper colour for real cameras!
The V3 sits well in the hand, with a grip on the right hand side that helps in holding the camera. There is one small problem: the viewfinder is placed right alongside the grip and it is hard to keep a finger out of the view.
Controls are generally logical and well laid out, except for the image review which has to be activated by turning the mode dial on top of the camera. Most makers these days assign a discrete button to the review function.
Focus, white balance, resolution and colour are all excellent, with a tendency to saturate reds, which seems to be characteristic of Sony cameras. This renders complexions a tad ruddy, which might not be to everyone’s liking. Saturation can be turned down in the menu and it would be worth experimenting to see what richness of colour looks natural.
Shutter response is very fast. In fact there is little to distinguish this digital camera from a film camera in this respect. Auto focus is quick and there is practically no shutter lag.
Like this: This is an excellent camera for the serious photographer. The build quality and lens are outstanding. There is a flash shoe, which might be needed because the on-board flash is not powerful. The V3 takes both Sony Memory Stick and the cheaper Compact Flash memory.
Dislike that: Images at ISO400 are noticeably noisy (grainy). This seems to be the price to be paid for having 7 million photo receptors on a small area. It means that the ISO setting should normally be kept at 100/200.
Parting shot: The price of the Sony V3 has been reduced to match that of the Canon G6 and to be $100 more than the excellent Olympus C7070. So all three cameras are now competitive on price and the Sony is excellent value for money. Very highly recommended.
Posted by terry at April 29, 2005 06:48 PM
Comments
You certainly do have a dedicated image review button - it's the left arrow button on the 4-way array.
-DL
Posted by: Dan Leigh at March 21, 2006 02:28 AM
I just re-read this a little slower, and see what you meant - ignore my previous posting about the "review" icon. I see you meant scroll through all your pictures, rather than review the last one you took. I'm not up on the lingo.
I've got long fingers but if I see part of one in the finder I move it.
The C-7070 my mate had would not focus on a face indoors, at all. Took it back. V3 focuses - after viewfinders, check focusing.
-DL
Posted by: Dan Leigh at March 21, 2006 11:29 AM