Sony DSC-S70Sony makes a compact 3.3 megapixel digicam with full movie/sound capability and a razor-sharp Zeiss lens!<<Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests :(Previous) | (Next): Camera Modes & Menus>> Page 8:Operation & User InterfaceReview First Posted: 5/5/2000 |
User Interface
We found the user interface on the S70 very straightforward and navigable, with most exposure settings adjusted through the LCD menu system. 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. Even the Program AE button could conceivably be accessible to people with large hands. The LCD menu system, nearly identical to that of the S50 and some of Sony's other digicams, is very simple to get acquainted with and operate. Overall, the controls are very well laid out and the small status display panel on top of the camera provides a nice summary of the camera's settings when you're not using the LCD monitor.
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 camera 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.
Rocker Toggle Button: Located to the right of the LCD monitor, this button features four arrows, each pointing in a different direction (up, down, left, right). In both Record and Playback modes, this control 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. In Record mode with the menu bar dismissed, pressing the left arrow displays the last picture you shot, without forcing you to switch to Play mode. You can then decide whether to delete the picture, or just return to normal Record mode.
Power Switch: Located beneath the rocker toggle button, this switch turns the camera on and off. A small green button in the middle of the switch provides a positive-acting interlock, to prevent the camera from accidentally being turned on in your pocket if the power switch is jostled: The power switch will only actuate if the green button is fully depressed first.
Display Button: Located to the left of the zoom control, this button turns the LCD information display on and off in both Record and Playback modes.
Volume Control: Located to the left of the Display button, this rocker button controls the camera's speaker volume in Playback mode. In Aperture and Shutter Priority modes, the plus and minus buttons adjust the aperture or shutter speed settings respectively.
Program AE: Located next to the Volume control, this button cycles through the following exposure modes: Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Twilight, Twilight Plus, Landscape, Panfocus and Spot Metering.
LCD On/Off Button: Located next to the Program AE button, this button turns the LCD display screen on and off.
Flash Button: Located to the left of the LCD button, this button cycles through the four flash modes: Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Forced and Suppressed.
Focus Button: Located just beneath the optical viewfinder, this button cycles between auto focus, macro and a range of manual focus distance settings.
Dioptric Adjustment Dial: Located on the left side of the optical viewfinder, this dial adjusts the viewfinder for eyeglass wearers.
Follow Imaging Resource: