Sony MVC-CD350Sony updates its CD-based digicam line with a new 3 megapixel model.<<Image Storage & Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Test Results & Conclusion>> Page 11:Video, Power, SoftwareReview First Posted: 06/18/2003 |
Video Out
Both United States
and Japanese models of the CD350 come equipped with an NTSC video cable for
connection to a television set. (We assume that European models come with a
PAL cable, since there is a PAL setting on the camera.) Once connected to the
TV, you can review images and movies or record them to video tape.
Power
The CD350 is powered
by an NP-FM50 InfoLITHIUM battery pack (M series) and comes with an AC adapter
which doubles as an in-camera battery charger. The InfoLITHIUM battery packs
exchange information with the camera, reporting approximately how many minutes
of battery life are left. This information is displayed on the LCD monitor with
a small battery graphic. The AC adapter plugs into a small socket on the camera's
back panel (lower right corner). It can run the camera without a battery inserted,
or charge the battery when the camera isn't in use.
The Li-Ion battery packs used in Sony cameras prevent me from making my usual
power measurements, but the good news is that the InfoLITHIUM system reports
projected camera runtime while the battery is being used in the camera. The
following runtimes were reported by the CD350 with a freshly charged battery,
in Capture and Playback modes. (Note that the runtime with the LCD backlight
turned off will doubtless be longer than what is indicated on the LCD monitor,
but I can't tell what that time is, since the time-remaining readout is only
shown on the LCD screen.) While these are some of the best runtime numbers we've
seen among digicams we've tested, we still always recommend you purchase and
pack along a second battery. (Another advantage of the Li-Ion technology used
in the InfoLITHIUM batteries is that they don't "self-discharge" like
conventional NiMH rechargeable cells do, and so can hold their charge for months
on the shelf or in your camera bag.)
The communication between the InfoLITHIUM battery pack and the camera preclude
our normal camera power measurements, so we're reduced to simply reporting the
time-remaining numbers for a fully charged battery in capture and playback modes.
Battery life on the CD350 is notably long, but I still strongly recommend purchasing
a second battery to carry as a spare.
| |
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| Capture Mode, w/LCD | |
| Image Playback | |
Included Software
The Sony Mavica-CD350 comes with a software CD loaded with Pixela ImageMixer
1.5, and PTP manager (Picture Transfer Protocol, a protocol used by Windows
XP). Pixela ImageMixer runs under Windows 98/Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.51-9.2.
(NOTE: In order to read the CD500's discs on the Mac OS 9, you do need a special
software
"init" in your system folder, available from Roxio (formerly Adaptec
Corporation). Click here
to get the "UDF" init.)
In the Box
Included in the box are the following items:
- Sony MVC-CD350 digital camera
- Neck strap
- Lens cap (w/strap)
- NP-FM50 rechargeable InfoLITHIUM battery pack
- AC adapter / battery charger
- NTSC video cable (PAL for European models)
- USB cable for connection to PC and Mac computers
- Software CD containing MGI PhotoSuite SE 8.1 (Windows) & 1.1 (Mac), MGI VideoWave III SE (Windows), and USB drivers
- CD-R
- Instruction manual
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