Cybershot DSC-V3 Digital Camera (7.2MP, 3072x2304, 4x Opt)

Manufacturer: Sony
Model: DSCV3
Max Focal Length: 28 mm
Max Horizontal Image Resolution: 3072 pixels
Max Aperture: 8 1/f
Image Format: JPEG|RAW|TIFF
: Number of User Reviews: 12

Reviewed by: onulduran from CA on Feb 19, 2005
Rating:

Experience: 30 Days

Strengths: Great ergonomics, superior lens quality, fine detail and excellent color rendition and sharpness

Weaknesses: None

Summary: This is my second digital camera. I have been involved in serious photography for a long time. I like this compact and yet very capable camera SONY put out this year. Of course, the SLR Digitals offer more possiblities but oh the weight.... This camera combines excellent photographic control in very compact form. The photos looked very sharp even at lover than the 7 MP setting the camera is capable of delivering. Shutter lag is almost non-existent if you use a fast CF card, as I am doing. This is especailly important for catching that fleeting smile on a baby's face. The built in light meter does very well in even back-lit situations. The built in flash is O.K. but if you want greater range do get the add-on flash that fits the hotshoe. The large picture screen on the back brings oohs and ahhs when you quickly show what is recently taken on the CF card to friends. The camera is very user friendly but one must take the time and learn all the options for best results. I think this camera is the best choice for around 500-600 dollars that it is currently available for. They should have packed the wall battery charger (so that you can charge the extra battery you will surely buy for long trips) while the camera is being used for picture taking. I would have liked to have seen even a low capacity card in the box so that I could try the camera immediately. All in all, an excellent product befitting the SONY lore. I recommend it highly.

Reviewed by: htwxq from WV on May 15, 2005
Rating:

Experience: 20 Days

Strengths: Excellent video and indoor pictures, dual memory capacity, big LCD screen

Weaknesses: N/A

Summary: This DSC-V3 beats my old Canon Powershot G3 in video recording and indoor pictures. Ziess lenses are very nice in optics and quality. This camera also has very fast response time. And I would recommend it to anybody else!

Reviewed by: mvbcm from MA on May 12, 2005
Rating:

Experience: 7 Days

Strengths: Best qulity video of any camera i have looked at. Feels good in your hand. Huge display! Can be as automatic and manual as you wish

Weaknesses: This camera is more than a point and shoot be prepared to do some reading

Summary: I have been shopping for a camera for several months and used pricegrabber to get the best price. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. I found that some internet site actually sell the camera without any of the accessories(battery, charger, strap, and video cable). I finally settled on Butterfly photo. They send you a email that your order was received and ask you to call them back. When you call them back be prepared for a sales pitch on extras. I declined them all and they were very professional and shipped the camera second day FedX eventhough I paid for UPS ground. The camera is great and so was the shopping experience.

Reviewed by: oquiet from NY on May 2, 2005
Rating:

Experience: 10 Days

Strengths: Great photos, vivid juici colors, large and super bright LCD, relatively light weight, capability to use both Compact Flash and Memory Stick memory at the same time, black body color, use simplicity

Weaknesses: Use of view-finder is suitable for right eye only. That is strange and unusual.

Summary: (Edited May 02nd by oquiet) The main criteria for me are a good responsiveness, good quality in low light, easiness to use and of course great quality of result photos. DSC-V3 meets of these and has many others features like large display(very convenient!), mpeg video recording, saving pictures in raw format, smart zoom and multi-burst mode. I was surprised that in multiburst mode I get 16 low-res pictures on one frame. Unusual but funny.
Easy to use - my 4 years old son can make great pictures with it after 2-minutes explanation!
The colors on the photos are outstanding, independently of light conditions.
I did not try video yet.
This is my first digital camera, and I was surprised when I tried to take a picture of running kid, but the camera caught just his back. Though I was told this is normal for digital non-SLR cameras.
I use Compact Flash memory because it is much cheaper than MS, so it is one more plus to the camera.
Battery life seems sufficiently long, used it for more than 300 pictures until next charging.

Reviewed by: stephaa from TN on Apr 23, 2005
Rating:

Experience: 1 Week

Strengths: A lot of features in a point and shoot body

Weaknesses: A lot to learn....but that isn't really a weakness

Summary: Excellent camera and easy to use. Wonderful, sharp pictures. This is the kind of camera you need if you are an advanced amateur. The menus are intuitive and everything you need is already in the box and ready to go unlike other cameras where you have to purchase chargers and batteries in addition.

Reviewed by: mom_of_three from IN on Apr 6, 2005
Rating:

Experience: 3 Days

Strengths: outstanding photos

Weaknesses: NA

Summary: This is my second digital camera. I had the Sony DSC-P10 5MP before. I want to upgrade without getting in over my head. The DSC-V3 7.2MP seemed like the perfect choice. The photos I've already taken are wonderful. No complaints! It's an upgrade without having the weight of a digital SLR. I love it and would highly recommend this camera for anyone!

Reviewed by: david_shopping on Dec 18, 2004
Rating:

Experience: 14 Days

Strengths: Excellent picture quality, easy to use menus, ergonomic design, fast shutter, great picture quality, excellent autofocus system, good optics

Weaknesses: Camera selects small aperature rather than higher shutter speed. 1/1000 is fastest shutter speed available in manual modes, no protector for the LCD screen

Summary: The DSC-V3 delivers as promised. The camera is easy to use and does a great job in a variety of circumstances. I previously had a point and shoot 3MP camera that made very good pictures. The problem was that as an all-automatic camera, the results were often hit or miss. The DSC-V3 provides enough control to get the shot right.

The manual controls are well placed and adjustments while shooting are easy. The camera is small enough to take most places(though too big for a pocket).

The 7MP sub SLR market has many worthy contenders. The DSC-V3 really shines with a fast autofocus and almost no shutter lag from half pressed. I have been using it for pictures of small children and pets and the extra speed has made an incredible difference.

The camera starts quick and keeps going. Battery life is also very strong. I shot 300 pictures today and the battery is only half used. About half of the shots were with flash.

The LCD screen is viewable in bright sunshine but I would have prefered some sort of protector. It seems tough but I would like to have had some sort of cover.

I have made several night shots with exposures up to 30 seconds. The noise reduction is effective and the night shots are very clear.

Overall the camera has exceeded my expectations and performed as advertised.

Reviewed by: qaz1 on Jan 15, 2005
Rating:

Experience: 30 Days

Strengths: great quality pictures, fantastic low light capabilities, nice black look, super 2.5" LCD screen.

Weaknesses: none

Summary: After searching for a 7 MP camera chose it over the G6 because of image quality, 20fps unlimited video capabilities (unlike the G6) , black solid non touristy look, speed - no lag, and low light capabilities - an overall better product.

Reviewed by: h0ckey09 from OH on Mar 28, 2005
Rating:

Experience: 7 Days

Strengths: It has manual overrides for almost all settings, including shutter speed. Uses CF and/or Memory Stick.. very unlike sony.

Weaknesses: Not packaged with any memory.

Summary: This camera is just packed with features. It will take some time to learn how to use all of the advanced options, however, it's auto mode works excellent. Pictures are crystal clear, with almost zero grain even in dark settings. Ability to add lenses or an external flash. I would recommend this camera.

Reviewed by: crovit on May 15, 2005
Rating:

Experience: 1 Week

Strengths: Solid black body,excellent picture quality,I like the nightframing and nightshot functions

Weaknesses: Lens accessory blocks the Hologram assist function,LCD image is soft than F828

Summary: When I first owned the Sony Cybershot V1 I immediately won first place in a local photo contest, with the V3 and its outstanding features I expect to achieve more, thank you very much Sony, V3 is a camera which I shall keep for a very long time.

Reviewed by: theluck from CA on Mar 14, 2005
Rating:

Experience: 14 Days

Strengths: Ease of use, balance, speed, looks.

Weaknesses: Comes without a memory card or lens cap.

Summary: An overall excellent camera. The ease of use is quite outstanding. I was up and shooting in no time and experimenting with different aperture and speed settings which resulted in beautiful shots. The Night Shot feature is quite cool. I expect to use this camera quite a bit.

The one thing, which is a minor one, is that I wish the camera came with a lens cap. Even though the lens retracts and closes when off, I put UV filter on it, but now I need a lens cap.

Reviewed by: feo_chango from CA on Mar 2, 2005
Rating:

Experience: 2 Months

Strengths: very fast operation, quality pictures, uses both MemoryStick & (the cheaper) CompactFlash media, battery life is excellent, easy to use menus

Weaknesses: flash is a little weak, LCD could benefit from protection

Summary: I've had the camera for over two months now and overall, I'm very impressed with it. Previously, I owned both the Sony DSC-V1, & DSC-S85. I'm not a real technical camera person, but have always liked the quality pictures that you get with Sony cameras.

The V3 offers some worthwhile features/enhancements for those looking to upgrade. The most notable difference for me was how much quicker this model is compared to the V1 (as well as most anything else out there). The 2 1/2" LCD is nice, but the pixel count has stayed the same from the V1's 1 1/2" screen, so the quality has reduced some.

The camera is a good size and the controls are well placed. The menu options on the LCD have been enlarged and are easily readable. Another great aspect is the ability to use both CF & MemoryStick media. Being able to house two memory units in the camera allows you to free up the amount of accessories you have bring along. With memory stick being a bit pricier I was able to purchase a 2GB CF card for the same price as the 1GB memory stick.

The flash is a little light for some situations, and has mis-timed on occasion.

The movies this camera takes are the best you'll get with a digital camera.

This a full featured digital camera that should make 90% of the people out there happy. It has a few minor problems, but all-in-all it's takes great pictures....and to me that's what it's all about.