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Sony DSC-P1 Sony packs a 3 megapixel CCD and a full 3x optical zoom lens into an exceptionally compact digicam! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet DSC-P1 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 DSC-P1 Review --------------------------------- 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: 9/12/2000

Operation and User Interface
The DSC-P1 features a very similar user interface to many Sony cameras, with an extensive LCD based menu system. Although some exposure features can be controlled via function buttons on the back panel, the majority of the settings must be changed through the LCD menu. The menu tabs live at the bottom of the LCD display, and can be canceled by pressing the Display button, or by hitting the down-arrow side of the rocker toggle control. The status display panel on top of the camera provides a detailed report of the camera settings and other information, including image size and battery power, which makes working without the LCD monitor a little easier. Overall, though, the LCD menu system is simple to navigate and very straightforward. The controls are also well laid out and quick to grasp.

Control Enumeration

Power Switch: Located on top of the camera, this sliding switch turns the camera on and off.

Shutter Button: Residing on the camera's top panel, in front of the power switch, this button sets focus and exposure when halfway pressed, in any record mode. When fully pressed, it fires the shutter. If the self-timer mode has been activated, fully pressing the shutter button triggers the 10 second countdown.

Mode Dial: Located on the very top right side of the camera, this dial controls the camera's operating mode:

• Still: Sets the camera to record still images.
• Movie: Records moving images with sound.
• Play: Allows the user to scroll through captured images and protect or delete them, as well as set them up for printing.

Flash Button: Situated on the top left of the back panel, closest to the optical viewfinder eyepiece, this button controls the flash mode:

• Auto (no icon): Lets the camera determine when to fire the flash.
• Auto Redeye Reduction (eye icon): The camera is still in charge of the flash, but fires a pre-flash before the full flash to reduce the occurrence of the Redeye Effect.
• Forced (lightning bolt): (Commonly called "fill flash.") Fires the flash with every exposure, regardless of lighting conditions.
• Off (lightning bolt with slash): Disables the flash.

Macro Button: Positioned directly to the left of the Flash button, this button places the camera in Macro mode, setting the focal range to 4.0 to 19.75 inches (10 to 50 cm).

Program AE Button: This button is located at the top left corner of the LCD monitor and cycles through the Program AE modes:

• Twilight: Adjusts the camera for taking low-light pictures, and biases the exposure system to shorter exposures to prevent sunset scenes, neon signs, etc from washing out.
• Twilight Plus: Allows longer exposure times and increases the effective CCD sensitivity for better low-light performance.
• Landscape: Sets the focus to infinity, for capturing distant subjects and landscapes.
• Panfocus: Allows the camera to quickly change focus between short focal distances and infinity, for fast moving subjects. (We suspect this is actually just biasing the exposure system to choose the small aperture whenever possible, to increase the depth of field.)
• Spot Metering: Changes the camera's photometric system from a mult-area average to spot, which bases the exposure on the very center of the image.

Volume + / - Buttons: These buttons are located directly beneath the Program AE button, and adjust the camera's playback volume.

LCD On/Off Button: Situated directly below the Volume +/- buttons, this button turns the LCD image display on and off to save battery power.

Display Button: Located near the top right corner of the LCD monitor, this button cancels and recalls the information display on the LCD monitor.

Rocker Toggle Button: Directly below the Display button is the rocker toggle button, which features four arrows (one in each cardinal direction). The center of the button functions as the Enter button, which confirms menu selections in all operating modes. Also in all operating modes, the arrow buttons navigate through the settings menus and adjust menu options. In Playback mode, the left and right arrow buttons scroll through captured images. When playback zoom is enabled, all four arrow buttons scroll around within the enlarged image.

Zoom W/T Rocker Button: Positioned in the top right corner of the back panel, this button controls the optical and digital telephoto in Record mode. (Optical tele only if Digital Zoom is disabled. If digital tele is enabled, holding down the "T" side of this button after the lens reaches its maximum telephoto setting will engage the Digital Zoom.) In Playback mode, the button controls the digital enlargement of the captured image.