Sony DSC-S50Sony makes a compact 2.1 megapixel digicam with full movie/sound capability!<<Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests :(Previous) | (Next): Camera Modes & Menus>> Page 8:Operation & User InterfaceReview First Posted: 4/12/2000 |
User Interface
We found the user interface on the S50 very friendly, with most
settings adjusted through the LCD menu system. While we generally prefer less
reliance on the LCD, the absence of an optical viewfinder and small status display
panel makes the point moot here. Although you can't operate the camera 100 percent
one handed, you can get by most of the time as the zoom control and shutter
button are both on the right side of the camera. The LCD menu system is very
straightforward and navigable via the rocker toggle button on the left side
of the LCD. We did find the location of the rocker toggle (aka "jog control")
on the left side of the camera took a little getting used to, since most digicams
place this control on the right. Ignoring the bias of familiarity though, it
probably makes more sense to locate most of the mode controls on the left, leaving
the right hand free to operate the shutter and zoom controls.
Control Enumeration
Shutter Release Button: Located on the top right of the camera, this
button triggers the autofocus and exposure with a half press and fires the shutter
when fully pressed.
Mode Switch: Also located on the top right of the camera, this rotating
switch selects between the Play, Still and Movie operating modes.
Zoom Control: Located on the top right of the camera's rear panel, this
rocker button controls the optical zoom from wide angle to telephoto (and the
digital telephoto when enabled). In Playback mode, this button controls the
image enlargement up to 5x.
Power Switch: Located on the right side of the back panel, about midway
top to bottom, this switch turns the camera on and off. It incorporates a built-in
latch (the small green dot in the picture above), which prevents it from being
actuated accidentally when the camera is riding in your pocket or purse: You
have to press in the green latch button and simultaneously slide the control
down to turn the power on or off.
Focus Button: Located on the top left of the rear panel, this button
cycles between auto focus, macro and a range of manual focus settings.
Flash Button: Located just beneath the Focus button, this button cycles
through the four flash modes: Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Forced and Suppressed.
Rocker Toggle Button ("Control Button"): Located
just beneath the Flash button, this button features four arrows, pointing up,
down, left, and right. In both Record and Playback modes, this button calls
up the settings menu (by pressing the up arrow) and navigates through various
menu options. In Playback mode, the arrows scroll through captured images and
around an enlarged image. Pressing the button in its center confirms the current
menu selection, or selects the current picture in playback/index mode.
Display Button: Located just beneath the rocker toggle button, this button
turns the LCD information overlay display on and off in both Record and Playback
modes.
Program AE: Located just beneath the Display button, this button cycles
through the following exposure modes: Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority,
Twilight, Twilight Plus, Landscape, Panfocus and Spot Metering.
LCD Bright Adjustment Switch: Located on the far left side of the rear
panel, this switch adjusts the LCD monitor for bright or normal daylight situations.
Volume Control: Located just below the LCD Bright switch, this dual sided
rocker button controls the camera's speaker volume.
Follow Imaging Resource: