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Sony Mavica CD1000 Sony packs a 156 megabyte CD-R into a 2 megapixel Mavica. (Wow!) Select a topic Reference: Datasheet CD1000 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Design :(Previous) | (Next): Optics>> Page 4:Viewfinder Review First Posted: 7/17/2000

Viewfinder
Similar to the FD91 and FD95 models, the MVC-CD1000 offers both a rear LCD panel and "optical" viewfinder that's perhaps more accurately called an "eyelevel" finder. The "optical" viewfinder actually uses a tiny (and lower-power) LCD screen to show you what the camera's seeing. Sort of an "electronic SLR" (single-lens reflex). What makes the "optical" viewfinder interesting is the internal information display, which is identical to that of the LCD monitor (complete with navigable menus). The idea of being able to see the exposure settings in the viewfinder is a good one, but navigating the menus through this small viewfinder is a bit of a trick (one we weren't able to easily do). We found it much easier to simply switch on the LCD monitor when we needed to change menu options. The optical viewfinder does feature a dioptric adjustment dial on the underside of the eyepiece, which should make things easier for eyeglass wearers. The 2.5 inch LCD monitor is turned on and off by the LCD On/Off button directly above it, and the information display is controlled by the Display button on the left side of the monitor.

The advantage of an eye-level viewfinder, as provided by the "optical" viewfinder is that it both promotes a more secure camera grip (arms clamped to your sides, camera body braced against your face) that helps with long telephoto and low-light shots. It also provides a more natural "look & shoot" operation than when you're forced to rely on a rear-panel LCD display. The downside of having the "optical" viewfinder be electronically drive though, is that you're left with no usable viewfinder option when the light levels get really low: The MVC-CD1000 has excellent low-light capability, and in fact can shoot in conditions about as dark as you're likely to be able to see in. The electronic viewfinder system needs much more light to operate though, meaning that you'll have to either look at the finished shot and readjust the framing as needed, or just shoot at a wider-angle setting than otherwise, and hope to get all of the subject in the frame. We'd really like to see at least some option for optical alignment of the camera, even if only a "gunsight" sort of device that could attach to the accessory shoe. (Are any of you third-party manufacturers out there listening? - This could be a nifty add-on gadget for CD1000 (and FD95) owners!)

We found both of the MVC-CD1000's viewfinders just a bit "tight", meaning that they show less of the subject than appears in the final image. Framing with the optical viewfinder resulted in about 92 percent accuracy at wide-angle and about 94 percent at the telephoto setting, for all four image sizes. Interestingly, the LCD monitor proved to be a little less accurate, which is surprising given that the optical viewfinder is basically a smaller version of the LCD. The LCD monitor resulted in about 91 percent frame accuracy at wide-angle, and about 92 percent at telephoto for all four image sizes (we usually like to see LCD monitors as close to 100 percent as possible).