The Sony Mavica MVC-FD75 has now officially been retired, and the pricing on the two remaining models - the MVC-FD100 and MVC-FD200 - has been adjusted to reflect this. The -FD100 is now selling for $299, and the -FD200 for $399. Both cameras were announced in January 2002, and are now selling at $100 below their initial launch pricing. The -FD100 is a 1.3 megapixel, 3x optical zoom camera, and the -FD200 updates the resolution to 2 megapixel. Sony noted in an interview with us before the announcement that since both cameras also offer Memory Stick slots, this means that all current FD Mavica models are now dual-media, and in a way unique for being able to copy images from a Memory Stick to a floppy disk in-camera for instant sharing. If you want a floppy-based camera, these two cameras along with Panasonic's 1.3 megapixel 3x zoom SuperDisk-compatible PalmCam PV-SD4090 are your only options - and Panasonic's camera is likely no longer in production, with only old stock on store shelves for around $200 as far as we can tell.

Realistically, though, floppy-disk cameras are now a small niche at best - and Sony's CD Mavica cameras are your best bet if you need wide compatibility with a range of platforms without the need to install drivers or connect cables. Many computers now sell without floppy disk drives, or offer them only as an option - but most computers have the ability to read CDs. With today's announcement, Sony refreshes its CD Mavica line by retiring both the MVC-CD250 and -CD400, and replacing them with the MVC-CD350 and -CD500.

The most obvious change will become apparent as you look at the images of the cameras (below) - unlike last year's CD Mavica models, these new cameras don't share the same body with each other. The MVC-CD500 features a similar body to its elder siblings, but the -CD350 has a brand-new body designed to reduce camera size as much as possible. Sony's engineers have done a rather impressive job, considering that somehow they must shoe-horn both a digital camera and a CD deck into one chassis - and the MVC-CD350 now assumes the title of "Smallest CD-based digital camera", something that should help broaden the appeal of the format.

The camera block has been moved to one side of the CD deck in the new design, allowing the depth of the camera to be reduced significantly to just under three inches - the same depth as an FD Mavica - and believe it or not in the other dimensions the camera is actually smaller than its floppy-based siblings. To be sure, this is still no pocket-camera, and you'll not forget it around your neck - but it is certainly going to be a noticeable improvement and less likely to stay at home when you need it most. The -CD350 has also seen other updates as compared to its predecessor, with resolution increased to 3.2 megapixels and the other features you'd expect from this year's Sony digicam line such as MPEG VX video (640 x 480, 16 frames per second), improved user interface, new scene modes, etc.

The Mavica MVC-CD500, meanwhile, is being aimed squarely at the enthusiast who doesn't mind carrying a little more camera to ensure they get that shot. A 5 megapixel resolution coupled with the same Zeiss lens as its siblings is matched with Sony's new Continuous Autofocus mode (which optionally focuses whenever the camera is in record mode to keep focusing times to a minimum, and can also track moving subjects across AF sensors when the shutter button is partially depressed). There's also the new program shift function seen in the Sony DSC-V1 announced today, which allows you to choose the best combination of shutter and aperture speeds without switching program modes. Other features include a new advanced hot shoe for external flash units, hologram autofocusing - indeed many of the functions of the DSC-V1, with the noticeable exception of the night shot / night framing functions. All this is wrapped in a new all-black body color, with body design being similar to the past CD Mavica models as already noted.

Both cameras will hit stores in the US at the end of April or the beginning of May, with pricing set at $499 for the Sony Mavica MVC-CD350, and $699 for the MVC-CD500. Full specifications for both cameras follow:

Sony Mavica MVC-CD350
Imaging Device	1/2.7" 3.2 Megapixel Effective Super HAD™ CCD
Recording Media	3" (8cm) CD-R/RW Optical Disc
Zoom	3X Optical, 3.2X Smart Zoom (at VGA size), 9.6X Total
Filter Diameter	37mm
Focal Length	6.4 - 19.2mm
35mm Equivalent	41 - 123mm
Aperture	f3.8 - 3.9
Focus	3 Area Multi-Point AF, 5 Step Manual Preset
Minimum Focus Distance	19.7" (50 cm)
Macro Focus Distance	3.9" (10 cm)
Shutter Speed	Auto, 1/30 - 1/1000 sec, Twilight 2 sec - 1/1000
Manual Exposure	±2.0 EV, 1/3 EV Steps
Color LCD	2.5" 123K Pixels Low Temperature Polysilicon TFT
Flash Modes	Auto / Forced On / Forced Off / Slow Synchro
Red-Eye Reduction	On / Off
Flash Effective Range	1.6 - 8.2 ft (0.5 - 2.5m)
White Balance	Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Flash
Picture Effects	Black & White, Solarize, Sepia, Negative Art
ISO	Auto, 100, 200, 400
Scene Modes	Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape, Beach, Snow, Fireworks, Fast Shutter
Self Timer	Yes, 10 Seconds
Video Output	Yes NTSC / PAL Selectable
Still Image Modes	JPEG (Fine/Std.), Burst, Email, Voice Memo
MPEG Movie Modes	MPEG VX (640x480, 16fps, with audio) MPEG Video Mail (160x112, 8 fps with audio)
Clip Motion	Normal (160x120), Mobile (80x72)
Microphone / Speaker	Yes / Yes
USB Terminal	Yes, Supports USB 2.0
Memory Stick PRO™ Media Compatibility	Tested to support up to 1GB media capacity; does not support high speed transfer function; does not support Access Control security function
Battery Type / Capacity	InfoLithium® NP-FM50 1180 mAh Rated
Supplied Software	Pixela™ Image Mixer Software for Sony v1.5, USB Driver SPVD-010
OS Compatibility	Microsoft® Windows® 98 / 98SE / Me / 2000 Professional / XP Home / Pro; Macintosh OS 10.1 / 10.2
Supplied Accessories	NP-FM50 InfoLithium® Rechargeable Battery, AC-L15 AC Adaptor/In-camera Charger, A/V and USB Cables, Shoulder Strap, Lens Cap, MCR-156A CD-R Media, MCRW-156A CD-RW Media; Software CD-ROM
Dimensions (W / H / D)	5 3/16" x 3 5/8" x 2 7/8" (131.7 x 92.3 x 73.8mm)
Weight	1 lb 2 oz (522g) (w/Battery, CD-R/RW, Strap)
Additional Features	2 Shot Burst Mode Adjustable Color Saturation / Contrast Clear Color / Clear Luminance NR MPEG1 Cue and Review 3:2 Aspect Ratio Mode Video Output (PAL / NTSC Selectable) 4 Mode In-Camera Picture Effects 5 Step Manual preset focus
Optional Accessories	DSAC-MVC Clip-on Eye-level Finder / Magnifier ACC-MVCD2 Starter Kit (LCS-MVC4, NP-FM50, MCRW-156A x3) ACC-FMV50S Stamina Value Kit (LCS-VA3, NP-FM50) NP-FM50 InfoLithium® Battery AC-SQ950D AC/DC AC Adaptor/Quick Charger LCS-MVCA Deluxe Soft Carrying Case VCL-HG0737X Hi-grade Wide Angle Conversion Lens VCL-HG1737X Hi-grade Telephoto Conversion Lens VF-37CPKS Polarizing Filter Kit VF-37NK Neutral Density Filter Kit MCR-156A 8cm (3") CD-R Media 5MCR-156A 8cm (3") CD-R Media (5 pk) 10MCR-156A 8cm (3") CD-R Media (10 pk) MCRW-156A 8cm (3") CD-RW Media 3MCRW-156A 8cm (3") CD-RW Media (3 pk) VMC-14UMB Replacement USB Cable VCT-MTK Travel Tripod VCT-R640 Lightweight Tripod
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Sony Mavica MVC-CD500
Imaging Device	1/1.8" 5.0 Megapixel Effective Super HAD™ CCD
Recording Media	3" (8cm) CD-R/RW Optical Disc
Zoom	3X Optical, 4X Smart Zoom (at VGA size), 12X Total
Filter Diameter	52mm w/Adaptor
Focal Length	7 - 21mm
35mm Equivalent	34 - 102mm
Aperture	f2.0 - 2.5
Focus	5 Area Multi-Point AF, Manually Selectable Point, 13 Step Manual Preset
Minimum Focus Distance	19.7" (50 cm)
Macro Focus Distance	1.6" (4 cm)
Shutter Speed	Auto: 1/30 – 1/1000 sec, Manual: 8 –1/1000 sec
Aperture Range	f2.0 - 8.0 13-step
Manual Exposure	±2.0 EV, 1/3 EV Steps
Color LCD	2.5" 123K Pixels Low Temperature Polysilicon TFT
Flash Modes	Auto / Forced On / Forced Off / Slow Synchro
Red-Eye Reduction	On / Off
Flash Effective Range	1.3 - 16.4 ft (0.5 - 5.0m)
White Balance	Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Flash, Manual
Picture Effects	Black & White, Solarize, Sepia, Negative Art
ISO	Auto, 100, 200, 400
Scene Modes	Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Portrait, Landscape, Beach, Snow
Self Timer	Yes, 10 Seconds
Video Output	Yes NTSC / PAL Selectable
Still Image Modes	JPEG (Fine/Std.), TIFF, Burst, Auto Bracketing, Email, Voice Memo
MPEG Movie Modes	MPEG VX (640x480, 16fps, with audio) MPEG Video Mail (160x112, 8 fps with audio)
Clip Motion	Normal (160x120), Mobile (80x72)
Microphone / Speaker	Yes / Yes
USB Terminal	Yes, Supports USB 2.0
Memory Stick PRO™ Media Compatibility	Tested to support up to 1GB media capacity; does not support high speed transfer function; does not support Access Control security function
Battery Type / Capacity	InfoLithium® NP-FM50 1180 mAh Rated
Supplied Software	Pixela™ Image Mixer Software for Sony v1.5, USB Driver SPVD-010
OS Compatibility	Microsoft® Windows® 98 / 98SE / Me / 2000 Professional / XP Home / Pro; Macintosh OS 10.1 / 10.2
Supplied Accessories	NP-FM50 InfoLithium® Rechargeable Battery, AC-L15 AC Adaptor/In-camera Charger, A/V and USB Cables, Shoulder Strap, Lens Cap, MCR-156A CD-R Media, MCRW-156A CD-RW Media; Software CD-ROM
Dimensions (W / H / D)	5 7/16" x 3 3/4" x 4" (138.5 x 95.7 x 103.1mm)
Weight	1 lb 6 oz (606g) (w/Battery, CD-R/RW, Strap)
Additional Features	3 Shot Burst Mode 3 Shot Auto Exposure Bracketing Adjustable Color Saturation / Contrast Clear Color / Clear Luminance NR Spot Auto Focus MPEG1 Cue and Review 3:2 Aspect Ratio Mode Video Output (PAL / NTSC Selectable) 4 Mode In-Camera Picture Effects 5 Step Manual preset focus
Optional Accessories	DSAC-MVC Clip-on Eye-level Finder / Magnifier ACC-MVCD2 Starter Kit (LCS-MVC4, NP-FM50, MCRW-156A x3) ACC-FMV50S Stamina Value Kit (LCS-VA3, NP-FM50) NP-FM50 InfoLithium® Battery AC-SQ950D AC/DC AC Adaptor/Quick Charger LCS-MVCA Deluxe Soft Carrying Case HVL-F32X External Auto-Programmable Flash HVL-F1000 External Flash VAD-S70 Conversion Lens Adaptor Ring VCL-DEH07V Hi-grade Wide Angle Conversion Lens VCL-DEH17V Hi-grade Telephoto Conversion Lens VF-52CPKS Polarizing Filter Kit VF-R52K Neutral Density Filter Kit MCR-156A 8cm (3") CD-R Media 5MCR-156A 8cm (3") CD-R Media (5 pk) 10MCR-156A 8cm (3") CD-R Media (10 pk) MCRW-156A 8cm (3") CD-RW Media 3MCRW-156A 8cm (3") CD-RW Media (3 pk) VMC-14UMB Replacement USB Cable RM-VD1 Multi-Function Wired Remote Control VCT-D680RM Remote Control Tripod VCT-MTK Travel Tripod VCT-R640 Lightweight Tripod
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