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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 <<Operation & User Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Image Storage & Interface>> Page 9:Camera Modes & Menus Review First Posted: 06/18/2003

Camera Modes and Menus

Program AE: Noted on the Mode dial with the green camera symbol, Auto mode places the camera in control of both the aperture and shutter speed settings, letting you set the some exposure variables (Image Size, and Flash).

Program : Marked on the Mode dial with "P", Program mode lets you select combinations of aperture and shutter speed settings, as well as the remaining exposure variables (White Balance, ISO, Exposure Compensation, Focus, Image Size, Picture Quality, Flash, and Normal or Spot Metering).

Scene: Scene mode provides access to seven preset Scene modes that adjust the camera for shooting in specific situations: Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape, Soft Snap, Snow, Beach, and High-speed Shutter mode. Twilight mode adjusts the exposure to capture a bright subject in dark surroundings (neon lights would be a good example), without washing out the color. Because Twilight mode usually employs a slower shutter speed, a tripod is recommended to prevent blurring from camera movement. Twilight Portrait uses Twilight settings but also fires the flash to capture portraits in dark settings. Landscape mode uses a smaller aperture setting to keep both the background and foreground in sharp focus, allowing you to capture broad vistas of scenery. Soft Snap lets you shoot skin colors in brighter and warmer tones, adding a soft focus effect to minimize wrinkles and blemishes. Snow mode preserves color in snowscapes, recording clear and sharp images. Beach mode does the same for seascapes, preserving the blue of the water. High-speed Shutter mode uses a fast shutter speed to stop motion in bright settings.

Setup: Setup mode lets you change basic camera settings.

Movie: Movie mode, marked on the mode dial with a film strip symbol, captures MPEG movies with sound. Most exposure variables are available, except for flash and ISO. If the Clip Motion option is selected from the Setup menu, Movie mode will capture up to 10 frames of still images, and combine them into a single animated GIF file. When Multi Burst is selected in the Setup menu, the camera records a rapid burst of frames, saved in a single image frame but played back on the camera as a slow motion animation.

Playback: Captured images and movies can be reviewed and played back in this mode. Images can also be erased, write-protected, copied, resized, set up for printing on a DPOF device, or played back in a slide show.

Record Menu: The Record menu is accessible in all capture modes by pressing the Menu button, however, not all menu options are available in all capture modes.

• Metering Mode: Selects Multi or Spot metering mode.
• White Balance: Adjusts the camera's white balance to accommodate a variety of light sources. Options include: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent, and Flash.
• ISO: Changes the camera's light sensitivity level. Choices are Auto, 100, 200, and 400 ISO equivalents.
• Quality: Sets the JPEG compression level to Fine or Standard.
• Record Mode: Accesses the following recording modes:
  • TIFF: Records images in the uncompressed TIFF file format (at the 2,048 x 1,536-pixel (or 2,048 3:2 ratio) size, in addition to another image at the pixel resolution and JPEG compression levels set under Image Size and Quality submenus).
  • Voice: Records up to 40-second sound clips to accompany captured images.
  • E-Mail: Captures a separate image file size of 320 x 240 pixels for easy e-mail transmission in addition to another image at the pixel resolution size set under the Image Size submenu.
  • Burst 2: Allows the camera to record a maximum of two frames in rapid succession. Actual frame rates vary with file size and the amount of image information being recorded.
  • Normal: Returns the camera to normal still capture mode.
• Flash Level: Assigns the flash intensity level to High, Normal, or Low.
• Picture Effects: Activates a variety of creative picture effects modes, including Solarize, Black and White, Sepia, and Negative Art. The Off setting returns the camera to normal capture mode.
• Sharpness: Adjusts the image sharpness with options of normal, plus and minus.
• Saturation: Adjusts the image saturation with options of normal, plus and minus.
• Contrast: Adjusts the image contrast with options of normal, plus and minus.

Setup Menu: The five-panel setup menu is automatically displayed on the LCD monitor upon entering Setup mode:

• Moving Image: Establishes the recording mode to be used when the mode dial is set to the Movie position: MPEG Movie or Clip Motion.
• AF Mode: Selects the focus mode from Single, Monitor or Continuous options.
  
• Smart Zoom: Turns the Smart Zoom digital zoom function on or off.
• Date/Time: Determines whether or not the date and/or time is recorded with the image. Choices are Off, Date, and Day & Time.
• Red-Eye Reduction: Enables or disables the Red-Eye Reduction flash mode.
• AF Illuminator: Turns the AF Illuminator lamp on the front of the camera on or off.
  
  
  
  
  
• Finalize: Finalizes the CD-R or CD-RW, making it readable to a computer's CD-ROM drive.
• Format: Erases all the images on the CD-RW (CD-RW only, not CD-R), even write protected ones.
• Initialize: Initializes new CD-Rs or CD-RWs, so that the camera can write images to the drive.
• Unfinalize: Undoes the effects of a Finalize operation, allows the CD-RW (not CD-R) to be written to again.
  
  
  
  
  
• File Number: Determines the file number sequence. Normal resets the file numbering with each new CD-R inserted into the memory slot. Series continues file numbering from one CD-R to the next.
• Create REC. Folder: Creates a folder to store images when captured.
• Change REC. Folder: Changes the folder in which images are stored when captured.
• Confirm B. Write: Selects whether to confirm recording or deleting before writing to the disc.
  
  
  
  
• LCD Brightness: Adjusts the LCD's brightness level (really more of a contrast adjustment) to Bright, Normal, or Dark.
• LCD Backlight: Sets the backlight brightness to Normal or Bright.
• Beep: Controls the camera's operating sounds. Choices are Shutter (noise with shutter only), On (activates all camera noise), and Off (silences the camera).
• Language: Sets the menu language to English or Japanese.
• Clock Set: Sets the camera's internal clock and calendar.
  
  
  
  
• Video Out: Sets the A/V Out signal to NTSC or PAL timing.
  

Playback Menu: As with the Record menu, the Playback menu is accessed by pressing the Menu button when in Playback mode. The following options are available:

• Folder: Selects the folder whose images you want to play back.
• Protect: Write-protects the currently displayed image from accidental erasure or manipulation in any way (except for CD formatting, which deletes all images).
• DPOF: Marks the current image for printing on a Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) compatible device.
• Slide: Activates an automatic slide show of all images on the CD-R. You can define the picture interval and whether or not the slide show repeats itself.
• Resize: Resizes the currently displayed image to 2,048 x 1,536, 1,632 x 1,244, 1,280 x 960, or 640 x 480 pixels.
• Rotate: Rotates the displayed image 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise.