Would
you dare to take pictures of a black column in
a dark room? Or, how about a one second handheld
picture of a dinosaur lighted by red light in
very dark conditions? Both without flash and using
auto everything? Can your digital camera do that?
Well, it can if it's the Sony DSC-V1 Cyber-shot.
The Sony V1 gives consistently excellent images
at 5 megapixels resolution thanks to its Carl
Zeiss lens. It also has a couple of features that
give it an advantage over other 5MP digital cameras
when it comes to image quality: the Hologram AF
for low-light focus really works; program shift
to select different shutter speed/aperture combination
on the fly (while maintaining the correct exposure)
means better depth of field control; very fast
focus and shot-to-shot operation mean you get
a better chance of capturing "the moment."
The V1 is targeted to serious amateur photographers
or prosumers who want a smaller, lighter, carry-anywhere
camera but with still the type of image quality
they are used to with their prosumer digital cameras.
You can use the V1 strictly as a point-and-shoot
digital camera (and that's how I used it mostly
for this review), but it also has the flexible
exposure you need for creative exposure control.
All the pictures on this and the other pages (including
the navigation pictures at the top of each page)
have been taken by the V1 for this review. Since
one of the forte and distinguishable feature of
the V1 is its hologram AF, I have concentrated
on indoors low-light shots. The pictures on this
page provide a good sample of what the V1 is capable
of in the hands of a beginner amateur photographer
-- for that is how I have approached this review:
basically, point and shoot in Program AE mode,
auto ISO, auto White Balance, auto Flash, and
Multi-Pattern metering mode.
Unless otherwise specified, all pictures on this
page are taken in SuperFine Large 2592x1944 pixels.
All are original, direct from the DSC-V1 (except
for the panorama pictures of the Dragon Mural
which may have been automatically retouched in
and by Photomerge, and the navigation background
above which has had its level adjusted in Photoshop
Elements to bring out the details in the shadows).
I have provided the 800x600 version. Remember
that this version is of slightly lesser quality
than the original 2592x1944 version. Please open
and download only once to your hard drive -- and
save me some precious bandwidth. Thanks!
Clicking
on a picture will display the 800x600 image
in a separate window. Leave that separate
window up for all the other original images
will also display in that same separate window.
Summer's
here and that means Canada's
Wonderland with its thrill rides, water park,
shows and Kidzville® for a day of fun, fun,
fun! As visitors enter the themed park, they are
greeted with a spectacular sight of Wonder Mountain
with its waterfall in the background, and a fountain
and colourful flowerbed in the foreground. Above
the din of excited shouts and laugter is the thunder
of the runaway mine train coaster (Thunder Run™)
and the cries of children happily scared out of
their wits. As I said, fun! Focal length
19.7mm, Program AE, shutter speed 1/250 sec., aperture
F6.3 and ISO 100. [File size: 2.2 MB]
Time
for a pizza (food and drinks, by the way, cost an
arm and a leg at Canada's Wonderland -- you have
been forewarned) and we find a table under an
umbrella. Glancing up, I see this beautiful architecture
above the otherwise drab commercial banners of the
different stores. The angle of the sun brings out
the three dimensionality in the stonework. I stand
under it, point the V1 straight up and let the auto
everything take care of the exposure. The bright
LCD allows precise composition. Dust and peeling
paint are clearly visible in the captured image.
Focal length 15.3mm, Program AE, shutter speed 1/400
sec., aperture F8 and ISO 100. [File size: 2.0 MB]
The
train ride is a popular one for the kids. Kid's
friendly suggestion to Canada's Wonderland Train
Station management: reds are favourite colours,
so please have more red engines; also, where is
the chain that makes a whistling sound when pulled
(they've got it at Centre Island, another must-see
attraction)? The colours in this picture are brighter
than I remember them, and that is because I used
Vivid and Sharpening +1. Focal length 7.6mm, Program
AE, shutter speed 1/160 sec., aperture F4 and ISO
100. [File size: 2.3 MB]
Six
billion plus and counting... that's how many of
us there are on this planet we call Home. This and
other facts are posted on a tall black column at
the entrance of one of the exhibit halls at the
Ontario
Science Centre, another popular and should-not-be-missed
fun place. It's pretty high up so I zoom in to fill
the screen. It's also quite dark in the hall and
the flash automatically fires. Here's a good test
of the V1's hologram AF: the V1 focuses in the dark
and captures every scratch on the white letterings.
Focal length 28mm, Program AE, shutter speed 1/60
sec., aperture F4 and ISO 100 with flash. [File
size: 1.5 MB]
Will
garbage one day tell the story of humankind? Again,
at the Ontario Science Centre, in front of a pile
of compressed garbage towering up to the ceiling,
"interesting" items recovered from the
pile are displayed in a lighted glass enclosure:
a pair of faded cutoff jeans, a discarded license
plate, old newspapers, diverse bottles of different
shapes and colours, etc. make for an eccletic collection.
I turn flash off and use available light. White
balance is on auto and does a pretty good job. Even
at the slow shutter speed of 1/3 sec., this handheld
picture comes out pretty much free of camera shake
(just a hint), which demonstrates how well balanced
the V1 is in my hands. Focal length 9.1mm, Program
AE, shutter speed 1/3 sec., aperture F3.2, ISO 100.
[File size: 2.2 MB]
In
this picture of the Mastermind gift store, shot
from outside through glass, and without flash, the
V1 boosts the ISO to 320 to eventually obtain proper
exposure. At this high ISO, we should expect to
see quite a bit of noise. Noise is evident in the
original image, but at the other sizes, you wouldn't
be able to tell, which is quite good. Focal length
12.9mm, Program AE, shutter speed 1/30 sec, aperture
F3.2 and ISO 320. [File size: 2.2 MB]
Just
outside the Mastermind gift store on the second
floor, while I wait for my family to contribute
its part to the recovery of the Ontario economy,
the geometric patterns formed by the floor to ceiling
front window catch my attention. The converging
horizontal lines lead the eyes to the window at
the far end for a satisfying view of the outside
park. When architects take time to design little
surprises like that, you feel visually fed to the
full. Focal length 28mm, Program AE, shutter speed
1/60 sec., aperture F4, ISO 100. [File size: 2.0
MB]
Black-Eyed
Susan in my neighbor's front yard soak in the Sun.
Macro is at 10 cm (3.9 in.), so that's about as
close as you'll get. Of course, you can always crop
and enlarge for more dramatic effect. Taken handheld
and using program shift to ensure I get maximum
depth of field (small F8 aperture) and a shutter
speed fast enough to avoid camera shake (1/60 sec.).
Focal length 7mm, Program AE, shutter speed 1/60
sec., aperture F8 and ISO 100.
[File size: 2.2 MB]
I
return to the Richmond
Hill Library for more hidden surprises. Here,
the vertical colonnades, the diagonal steel awnings,
the criss-cross of the stones on the floor are broken
up by the natural arrangement of flowers and leaves.
Repeating elements (colonnades) and the juxtaposition
of different textures (concrete, steel, stones,
glass, and leaves) somehow have a calming effect
on the soul -- and are always a good photo opportunity.
Focal length 16.5mm, Program AE, shutter speed 1/250
sec., aperture F4, ISO 100. [File size: 2.2 MB]
A
head-on view of the Richmond Hill Library with the
simple, yet quite beautiful, landscape garden up
front. I tilt the camera up slightly to include
the top of the lamp post at the left, and that explains
the slight convergence of the vertical lines. Focal
length 7mm, Program AE, shutter speed 1/250 sec.,
aperture F7.1, ISO 100. [File size: 2.3 MB]
Once
inside the Richmond Hill Library, I take the circular
staircase up to the second floor. That's about the
only time a person would probably look up to the
ceiling and it's an interesting arrangement of natural
light wells and hanging lamps. I only wish I had
a wider wide-angle for a more spectacular shot.
White balance is on auto and does a good job of
balancing between the natural light streaming through
the light wells and the tungsten hanging lamps.
Auto focus locks with no problem. Focal length 7mm,
Program AE, shutter speed 1/60 sec., aperture F2.8
and ISO 100. [File size: 2.1 MB]
Here's
an inside shot of my favorite library, the Bathurst
Clark Reference Library. Even though this library's
exterior (an elegant simplicity) is not as fancy
as that of the Richmond Hill Library, I have to
admit it's got one of the most professional, the
friendliest, and the most helpful staff I've ever
seen. Everyone on staff -- from the people behind
the desk to security -- go out of their way to help.
The interior is roomy, comfy, with semi-private
window alcoves, and the high ceiling adds to the
incredible atmosphere. This is what a library should
be, how it should be run. Excellent white balance
on auto. It just needs a little tweaking in Photoshop
to bring out the details in the shadows. Focal length
7mm, Program AE, shutter speed 1/30 sec., aperture
F2.8 and ISO 100. [File size: 2.0 MB]
The
Nine
Dragon Wall mural depicted below is supposed
to be the only one outside Asia. The mural is
located in the Mississauga
Chinese Centre, on a wall which, unfortunately,
now stands in front of parking spots (due to parking
shortage).
Taking that picture is quite difficult, especially
trying to avoid the roofs of the cars parked in
front of it. (I should go back when the place
is empty.)
Moving parallel to the mural, I take 5 landscape
shots being careful to keep the camera as horizontal
as possible. Shots are handheld, focal length
7mm, shutter speed varies between 1/60 sec. to
1/125 sec. (oops, I forgot to switch to manual
to ensure the same exposure throughout), aperture
steady at F4, exposure compensation +0.3EV and
ISO 100.
I use the PhotoMerge function in Photoshop Elements
to merge the 5 shots, but it does not quite work
out. So, I merge them two at a time, making slight
adjustment to match the seams as best as I can.
The
thumbnail below shows only part of the mural and
only the original version shows the whole mural.
I think the Sony V1 has done a great job in capturing
the details in this mural. [File size: 3.7 MB]
Need
a place to upload your photos? Free photo sharing
and photo hosting web site at cassepoze.
A
Personal Word
The
Sony DSC-V1 Cyber-shot inspires confidence. I
shoot almost exclusively in Program AE mode, taking
full advantage of the program shift function (which
basically makes having Shutter-Priority mode and
Aperture-Priority mode kind of redundant). The
autofocus is fast and works in all lighting conditions.
The
Sony DSC-V1 Cyber-shot is a serious contender
to the top place of the best digital camera for
serious amateur photographers. Its unique combination
of features set it apart from its competitors.
With the V1, Sony has signaled it is staking a
claim not only in the point-and-shoot category,
but it is also firmly committed to earn its rightful
place among the traditional camera manufacturers.
