Sony DSC-S85 Cyber-Shot

Digital Camera Reviews      

The Cyber-shot DSC-S85 digital camera represents Sony's next step after the outstanding 3.34-megapixel DSC-S75. The two models are quite similar, but the impressive 4.1-megapixel DSC-S85 boasts roughly an extra megapixel of resolution power, plus an expanded burst mode and exposure bracketing. The DSC-S85's attractive all-black camera body consists of a magnesium alloy front and high-impact plastic back. It features a 3x, 7-21mm Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar zoom lens (34-102mm equivalent in 35mm) and an additional 2x digital zoom. Other feature highlights include: 1.8-inch color LCD monitor with backlight, auto and manual focus control, high-speed scan autofocus, eye-level true zoom optical viewfinder, movie mode with sound and clip recording, a 40-step shutter priority, 13-step aperture priority, full manual exposure option, and built-in flash with four operating modes.

With the button and dial system, you can set the DSC-S85 to automatic or manually control almost every element of operation. For example, you can set the ISO sensitivity and the white balance. You can also select exposure metering for a center-weighted average or spot metering. Shutter priority can be adjusted from 8 to 1/1,000 seconds in 40 steps as well as aperture range from f2.0 to f8.0 in 13 steps. Additionally, the camera features manual exposure, exposure bracketing, exposure compensation, in-camera sharpening, and program AE.

The retracting zoom lens saves space, while still offering an aperture of f2.0 to f2.5 and a Contrast Detect focus with AF (autofocus) illuminator light. In normal AF, the focus range extends from 19.7 inches to infinity; in macro AF the focus has a 1.6-inch minimum. The DSC-S85 supports manual focus from 0.1m to infinity in 13 steps using the jog dial. The included InfoLithium battery lasts for nearly three hours of continuous shooting. With the supplied charger, the battery charges in-camera, while charge status displays on the LCD screen.

Images can be recorded in JPEG or GIF compression formats, as well as TIFF for uncompressed. You can even record movies in MPEG EX mode; the highest quality clip is 16fps. Internally, the camera handles A/D conversion at 14-bit DXP. All relevant information displays on either the main color LCD or status LCD. The color, 1.8-inch LCD contains a 123,200-pixel capacity with backlight. The optical viewfinder features true zoom with diopter adjustment. The internal flash includes red-eye reduction as well as auto, forced, and off. An optional external flash connects via an ACC port and flash shoe.

The DSC-S85 is PC and MAC compatible with USB connectivity. The complete package includes a 16 MB memory stick, InfoLithium battery, charger/AC supply, A/V output cable, shoulder strap, and lens cap with strap. The bundled software is MGI PhotoSuite 8.1, MGI PhotoSuite SE 1.1, and Sony USB driver.