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Sony MVC-FD92 Sony adds a Memory Stick slot to a popular 1.3/1.6 megapixel (interpolated) design, for increased storage and improved image quality! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet MVC-FD92 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 MVC-FD92 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: 4/16/2001

Camera Modes and Menus

Movie Mode: Selected by sliding the Mode switch to the "Movie" position, this mode allows you to capture movies as long as 60 seconds at 160 x 112 pixels or as long as 15 seconds at 320 x 240 pixels, with sound. All of the camera's exposure capabilities are available (except for the flash), including the ability to change from standard Automatic exposure to any of the Program AE modes.

Still Photography Mode: At the center position of the Mode switch, the Still Photography mode sets up the camera for capturing still images. All of the camera's exposure capabilities are available, including the following Program AE modes:

• Automatic Exposure (no icon): In this mode, the camera controls both aperture and shutter speed, basing the exposure on existing light levels. The user has control over Exposure Compensation (EV), Flash, White Balance, and Picture Effects.
• Twilight: In this mode, the camera selects the best aperture and shutter speed settings for night scenes. It's designed to maintain color and detail in bright objects against dark backgrounds, including neon signs, sunsets, and fireworks.
• Twilight Plus: This mode performs the same function as Twilight mode, but increases the camera's light sensitivity, allowing higher shutter speeds under dim conditions.
• Landscape: This mode sets the camera focus to infinity for shooting faraway subjects.
• Panfocus: In this mode, the camera's focus is set to quickly shift from close-up to faraway subjects, good for action photography.
• Spot Metering: Switches the camera's default averaging metering system to spot metering, which bases the exposure on a reading from the very center of the frame.

Playback Mode: This mode allows you to review captured still images and movies on the LCD panel. An index display puts as many as six images on the screen at one time for quick review, while a playback zoom function enlarges captured still images as much as 5x. Images can also be trimmed, write-protected, deleted, played back in a slide show, set up for printing on DPOF devices, or resized.

Record Mode Menu: Pressing the up arrow on the Arrow rocker pad calls up the capture menu when in Still or Movie capture modes. From there, you have the following submenus:

• Self-Timer: Activates the 10-second self-timer mode.
• Effect:
  • Picture Effect: Accesses the Solarize, B&W, Sepia, and Negative Art picture effects.
  • Date/Time: Turns the date and time LCD display on and off. (Still images only.)
• File:
  • Disk Tool: Allows you to Format the disk, copy the disk (Disk Copy), or Cancel the selection. (Only available with floppy diskettes.)
  • Format: Formats the Memory Stick, erasing all files (even write-protected ones). (Only appears when using a Memory Stick.)
  • File Number: Sets the file numbering to Series or Normal.
  • Clip Motion: Sets the image size for GIF format animation. Options are Normal (160 x 120), Mobile (80 x 72), and Cancel. (Still photography mode only.)
  • Image Size: Sets the still image size to 1,472 x 1,104, 1,280 x 960, 1,280 (3:2), 1,024 x 768, or 640 x 480 pixels. In Movie mode, sets the image size to 320 x 240 or 160 x 112 pixels.
  • Record Mode: Sets the still record mode to Text, Voice, E-Mail, or Normal (Still mode only).
  • Record Time Set: In Movie Mode, allows you to change the minimum record time (in response to a quick press of the shutter button) to 5, 10, or 15 seconds.
• Camera:
  • Digital Zoom: Turns the 2x digital telephoto function on and off. (Still photography mode only.)
  • Sharpness: Sets the sharpness level anywhere from -2 to +2. (Still photography mode only.)
  • White Balance: Adjusts the camera's white balance to match the light source. Options are Automatic, Indoor, Outdoor, and Hold.
  • Flash Level: Sets the flash intensity level to High, Normal, or Low. (Still photography mode only.)
  • Exposure: Sets the exposure compensation from -2 to +2 exposure equivalents (EV) in one-third-step increments.
• Setup:
  • Demo: Displayed in the menu only when the AC adapter is connected. Demo runs through the camera's features.
  • Video Out: Sets the camera's video out signal to NTSC or PAL formats.
  • Language: Sets the menu language to English or Japanese.
  • Clock Set: Changes the camera date and time settings.
  • Beep: Turns the camera's beep sound on or off, also has a Shutter option for shutter noises only.
  • LCD Bright: Adjusts the brightness of the LCD displays.

Playback Mode Menu: Activating the Playback menu pulls up the following submenus:

• Index: Calls up a six-image index display.
• Delete: Deletes the currently displayed image with an option to cancel.
• File:
  • Disk Tool: Allows you to Format the disk, copy the disk (Disk Copy), or Cancel the selection. (Only available with floppy diskettes.)
  • Format: Formats the Memory Stick, erasing all files (even write-protected ones). (Only appears when using a Memory Stick.)
  • Slide Show: Allows you to view captured still images in a slide show format, as well as set up time intervals and the number of repeats.
  • Print Mark: Marks the currently displayed still image for printing on a DPOF device.
  • Protect: Write-protects the currently displayed image.
• Tool:
  • Copy: Copies the current image from floppy disk to a new floppy disk or from the floppy disk to the Memory Stick, when the camera is set to FD. When the MS is selected, copies the file from the Memory Stick to a new Memory Stick, or from the Memory Stick to a floppy.
  • Resize: Allows you to resize captured images.
• Setup:
  • Video Out: Sets the camera's video out signal to NTSC or PAL formats.
  • Language: Sets the menu language to English or Japanese.
  • Clock Set: Changes the camera date and time settings.
  • Beep: Turns the camera's beep sound on or off, also has a Shutter option for shutter noises only.
  • LCD Bright: Adjusts the brightness of the LCD displays.