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Sony MVC-CD350 Sony updates its CD-based digicam line with a new 3 megapixel model. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet CD-350 Photo Gallery! CD-350 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 on CD-350 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Video, Power, Software :(Previous) | (Next): Reference: Datasheet>> Page 12:Test Results & Conclusion Review First Posted: 06/18/2003

Test Results

In keeping with my standard test policy, the comments given here summarize only my key findings. For a full commentary on each of the test images, see the Sony Mavica MVC-CD350's "pictures" page.

As with all Imaging Resource product tests, I encourage you to let your own eyes be the judge of how well the camera performed. Explore the images on the pictures page, to see how the CD350's images compare to other cameras you may be considering.

• Color: The CD350 produced very good color in my testing. Its white balance settings generally resulted in only minor color casts, hues were accurate, and saturation appropriate. Skin tones were a little on the pink side, but not to an objectionable degree, and it actually did an excellent job on the always-difficult blue flowers of my Outdoor Portrait test. It had a bit harder time with the strong color cast of the incandescent lighting in the Indoor Portrait test, but the result was again within what I'd consider to be acceptable limits. The large color blocks of the "Davebox" test target were very accurate and appropriately saturated.
  
  
• Exposure: Like its big brother, the CD500, the CD350's exposure system seemed a bit more accurate than most in dealing with the high-key Outdoor Portrait shot, and otherwise produced correct exposures in a variety of conditions. Also like the CD500 though, its default tone curve is quite contrasty, tending to lose detail in strong highlights under harsh lighting conditions. (This is a perpetual dilemma for camera makers - Higher contrast tends to produce the snappier colors that most American consumers prefer, but at the cost of lost detail in deep shadows and strong highlights.) There is a reduced-contrast setting though, that helps somewhat with the contrasty tone curve.
  
  
• Resolution/Sharpness: The CD350 performed well on the "laboratory" resolution test chart. It started showing artifacts in the test patterns at resolutions as low as 800 lines per picture height in the vertical direction, and around 600 lines horizontally. I found "strong detail" out to at least 1,050 lines vertically, and about 1,100 lines horizontally. "Extinction" of the target patterns didn't occur until about 1,300 lines.
  
  
• Closeups: The CD350 did exceptionally well in the macro category, capturing a tiny minimum area of only 2.08 x 1.56 inches (53 x 40 millimeters). Resolution was high, with strong detail in the dollar bill, coins, and brooch. There was quite a bit of softness in the corners along the left side of the frame, and a moderate amount on the right side though (a common failing of digicam lenses in ultra-macro shots, most likely caused by the optical phenomena called "curvature of field") Color balance was slightly magenta from the Auto white balance. The CD350's flash had trouble throttling down for the macro area, and overexposed the shot. - Plan on using external lighting for super close-ups.
  
  
• Night Shots: The CD350 has a maximum exposure time of only two second in its Twilight exposure mode, and a maximum time of 1 second in normal exposure mode. Thus, the camera's low-light shooting capabilities are somewhat limited. The CD350 produced bright images only as low as 1/2 foot-candles (5.5 lux), at the ISO 400 setting. At ISO 100 and 200, images were only bright as low as one foot-candle (11 lux), which is equivalent to average city street lighting at night. In Twilight mode, the longer exposure time helps, but ISO in that mode is limited to 100, with the result that images there were bright only to one foot-candle. As you might expect, noise is moderately low with the 100 ISO setting, but increases with increased ISO sensitivity.
  
  
• Viewfinder Accuracy: The CD350's LCD monitor is very accurate, showing just about 100 percent of the final frame. Given that I like LCD monitors to be as close to 100 percent accuracy as possible, the CD350's LCD monitor is essentially perfect in that regard.
  
  
• Optical Distortion: Optical distortion on the CD350 is moderately high at the wide-angle end, where I measured approximately 0.9 percent barrel distortion. The telephoto end fared a little better, as I measured a 0.6 percent pincushion distortion there, but both values are higher than average among 3x zoom cameras I've tested. (Most 3x zooms show about 0.8% barrel at wide-angle (still too much IMHO), and between 0 and 0.3% pincushion at telephoto.) Images were generally quite sharp from corner to corner though, with only a little coma showing in the right hand corners, and very little chromatic aberration as well. (This distortion is visible as a very slight colored fringe around the objects at the edges of the field of view on the resolution target.)
  
  
• Battery Life:The CD500's battery life is excellent, with run times of 161 minutes in record mode and 204 minutes in playback mode. I still recommend purchasing a second battery along with the camera, but the basic run time is much better than average.
  
  

Conclusion

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The original CD1000 CD Mavica was a revolutionary digicam, with inexpensive storage provided by CD-Rs and the trademark "universal media" appeal of the Mavica line. The CD350 continues the line's march toward lower price points. While still significantly more expensive than competing flash memory-based three megapixel cameras with similar capabilities, the CD350 puts CD-based digital photography in reach of more people than ever before. Given the appeal of "infinite" storage via low-cost CD-R/RW discs, and the near-universal compatibility they offer for file exchange, I predict that the CD350 will be a popular model, particularly in business and educational environments. I'd really like to see a less contrasty default tone curve, but the available reduced-contrast setting helps with harshly-lit subjects. On the plus side, the CD350 is one of the fastest-focusing digicams I've tested to date. If you're looking for a good all-around digicam with a solid feature set and impressive, low-cost storage capability, the CD350 belongs on your short list.