Full review (with sample photos) posted for Sony CD Mavica MVC-CD400! (UPDATED)
By
Mike Tomkins
(Wednesday, February 20, 2002 - 18:03 EST)
Sony's new high-spec CD-based digital camera goes on the reviewing block...
Dave here: Phew, finally at the end of Sony postings! This is a real corker to end with though, a true "enthusiasts" camera using CD-Mavica technology. With a 4 megapixel sensor and Carl Zeiss lens, the MVC-CD400 certainly has the chops to qualify in the image-quality department. It doesn't stop there though, as there are a host of other innovations and features as well.
First among these are the huge buffer memory, confirm-before-write mode, and looong movie recording. "But that's not all..." as they say on the infomercials. Sony has also added their Hologram AF technology first seen on the F707, permitting flawless focusing in pitch darkness. And (a drum roll, please) ... A flash hot shoe! This has been a personal crusade for me, trying to convince Sony to add a hot shoe or other provision for a generic flash unit to their cameras, probably the most frequent request I've seen from our readers relative to Sony's higher-end cameras.
The CD400 still has a connection for Sony's own (very nice) little HVL-F1000 external flash, but now also supports the use of generic "dumb" strobes, as well as studio strobe units (provided they have a low, safe trigger voltage). I admit I'm a little strange, but it was actually exciting to plug my old Sunpak cheapie auto-strobe atop the CD400 for our "indoor portrait" test. Worked like a champ! Big kudos to Sony for finally opening up their cameras for use with a full range of external strobe devices!
Check the review for all the details and sample photos as well! (Oh - right, the price: "Around $900," a pretty good price point given all the capabilities and CD Mavica technology as well.)
UPDATED 2002-02-20 17:26ET: Our friends at the Digital Photography Review website have posted a brief "Quick Preview" item looking at the MVC-CD400, including 6 sample photos and a resolution test...
UPDATED 2002-02-20 17:47ET: The good folks over at the Digital Camera Resource Page have now posted a first-look at the MVC-CD400...
UPDATED 2002-02-20 18:30ET: Our friends at Steve's Digicams have now posted their own MVC-CD400 first look...
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