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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 <<Viewfinder :(Previous) | (Next): Exposure & Flash>> Page 5:Optics Review First Posted: 06/18/2003

Optics

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The CD350 is equipped with a 6.4-19.2mm lens (equivalent to a 41-123mm lens on a 35mm camera), apparently manufactured by Sony themselves. (The higher-end CD500 sports a sharper Carl Zeiss lens.). The lens is protected by a removable, spring-lock lens cap, which comes with an easy-to-thread lens-strap opening and a small tether strap to keep it from getting lost.

The lens aperture is automatically adjusted from f/3.8 to f/11. Shutter speed ranges from 1/1,000 to two seconds, depending on camera mode. (The maximum exposure time in normal modes is one second, while in Twilight mode, it extends to two seconds.). A macro mode is engaged by pressing the right Arrow button, which changes the minimum focus distance to 1.18 inches (3cm) at wide angle and to 31.5 inches (80cm) at telephoto.

Focus can be controlled either automatically or manually (via the Menu button), with a focal range from 19.7 inches (50cm) to infinity. In Auto focus mode, a central focus bracket appears in the center of the LCD display to help you line up shots. Especially helpful in limited lighting is the AF assist light, selected via the Setup menu, which helps the camera make adjustments in Auto Focus mode. We were very impressed with the results from the AF assist light, as it focused flawlessly under the darkest shooting situations.

The lens also features filter threads to accommodate a variety of Sony lens conversion kits. When working with a Sony lens conversion kit, you need to inform the camera (via the Setup menu) that the lens is attached, so the camera's autofocus can allow for the additional optical element. The filter threads are a fairly standard 37mm size, so users should have no trouble finding compatible filters and accessories.

The "Smart Zoom" digital zoom function is enabled through the camera's Setup menu, effectively increasing the CD350's overall zoom capabilities to 3.8x for 2.0M images, 4.8x for 1.2M images, and 9.6x for VGA images. It is not available when 3.1M or 2.8M (3:2 ratio) image sizes are selected. When engaged, Smart Zoom takes over once you've zoomed past the normal telephoto range. You can see the change from optical to digital zoom by observing the marker in the zoom range indicator on the LCD panel. As always, I feel compelled to note that digital zoom isn't equivalent to the magnification you get from a true optical zoom lens. Digital zoom works by simply cropping out the central pixels of the CCD array and then packaging the results as a separate image. In the case of "Smart Zoom," Sony wisely eschews interpolation of the final data to recreate a full-sized image.This avoids the data loss that interpolation brings with it, but is the reason why the amount of Smart Zoom available is a function of the image size selected.