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Sony MVC-FD95 Sony takes the Mavica line to 2.1 megapixels, and 12-bit digitization! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet MVC-FD95 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 --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests :(Previous) | (Next): Camera Modes & Menus>> Page 8:Operation & User Interface Review First Posted: 7/13/2000

Operation and User Interface
The abundance of controls and buttons on the MVC-FD95 may appear daunting at first, but its user interface is very uncomplicated once you get the hang of it. For the most part, the user interface relies heavily on the LCD display or the optical viewfinder color display. The absence of a black & white data readout LCD panel means you must use one or the other of the color LCD displays when altering settings. However, both the capture and playback menus are relatively simple to navigate. Overall, the layout of the external controls makes sense, with all the optical adjustments on the side of the lens and the exposure adjustments grouped together on the side of the camera body. Once you get used to the layout, changing modes and settings is a snap.


Control Enumeration


Shutter Button: Located on the top right of the camera, this button sets the focus and exposure when pressed halfway and fires the shutter when fully pressed. When using the self-timer, the shutter button triggers the 10 second countdown.

Focus Ring: Located on the end of the lens, this ring adjusts the focus when shooting in manual focus mode.


Zoom Lever: Located on the front of the hand grip, this lever controls the 10x optical zoom and the 2x digital zoom (when enabled).


Dioptric Adjustment Dial: Located on the left side of the optical viewfinder, this dial adjusts the viewfinder to accommodate eyeglass wearers.


Pop-up Flash Button: Located on the left side of the camera, just beneath the pop-up flash, this button releases the flash.


Spot Meter Button: Located to the left of the Pop-up Flash button, this button turns the spot metering function on and off.


White Balance Button: Located beneath the Spot Meter button, this button selects the white balance mode (Automatic, Indoors, Outdoors or One-Push).


One-Push Button: Located directly to the left of the White Balance button, this button sets the white value when in One-Push white balance mode.


Program AE Button: Located beneath the White Balance button, this button sets the following exposure modes:

• Automatic Exposure (no icon): Puts the camera in control of both aperture and shutter speed.
• Aperture Priority: Lets you control the aperture while the camera selects the shutter speed.
• Shutter Priority: Lets you control the shutter speed while the camera selects the aperture.
• Twilight: Adjusts the aperture and shutter speed for dark settings like night skylines and fireworks.
• Twilight Plus: Performs similar functions to Twilight mode, but also increases the camera's light sensitivity.
• Landscape: Sets focus for far away subjects.
• Panfocus: Allows for quick focusing of far away or close-up subjects.

Program AE +/- Buttons: Located to the left of the Program AE button, these buttons adjust exposure settings such as the aperture and shutter speed, depending on the exposure mode selected.


Macro Button: Located on the lens barrel side of the camera, this button places the camera in Macro mode.


Focus Switch: Located to the right of the Macro button, this switch shifts between Auto and Manual focus modes.


Steady Shot Switch: Located just beside the Focus Switch, this switch turns the Steady Shot function on and off.


Play/Still/Movie Switch: Located at the top right of the back panel, this switch selects between Playback, Still and Movie capture modes.


LCD On/Off Button: Located on the left side of the LCD panel, this button turns both the LCD monitor and optical viewfinder display on and off.


Volume Buttons : Also located on the left side of the LCD panel, these buttons control the camera's volume level.


Flash Button: Located in the bottom left corner of the back panel, this button controls the flash mode:

• Auto: Puts the camera in control of the flash mode.
• Red-Eye Reduction: Fires a small pre-flash before firing the full flash to reduce the Red-Eye Effect.
• Forced: The flash always fires, regardless of light levels.
• Suppressed: The flash never fires, regardless of lighting conditions.

Power Switch: Located on the back panel of the camera (directly beneath the LCD monitor), this sliding switch turns the camera on and off. The small green pushbutton in the center of the power switch is a safety interlock that insures the switch will only actuate when your finger is on it.


Display Button: Located to the left of the power switch, this button turns the information display on the LCD monitor on or off.


Rocker Toggle Control: Located below the LCD monitor, this control has four arrows that navigate through menu screens in both playback and capture modes. Pressing the center of the button confirms menu selections.


Disk Eject Lever: Located in the center of the right side of the back panel, this sliding lever ejects the diskette or memory stick floppy disk adapter.


Open Batt Switch: Located on the bottom of the camera (on the battery compartment cover), this switch unlocks and opens the battery compartment.