Sony DSC-S85Sony extends its S-series Cybershot line with the S85, sporting a 4-megapixel CCD, Exposure Bracketing, and Burst 3 sequential capture.<<Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests :(Previous) | (Next): Camera Modes & Menus>> Page 8:Operation & User InterfaceReview First Posted: 6/7/2001 |
Operation and User Interface
As we discussed in the Design section of this review, we heartily approve of the DSC- S85's new and improved user interface. Additional external camera controls reduce the reliance on the LCD menu system and greatly simplify overall camera operation. The ready access to exposure controls and other camera functions, and the less complicated LCD menu system mean that you spend less time scrolling through LCD menu screens and options. Though the LCD display is still required for some settings, overall camera operation is much faster and easier. The newly added Jog Dial and accompanying monochrome LCD data readout also allow you to adjust the exposure compensation, aperture, and shutter speed settings with the main LCD disabled. This saves power and allows faster camera operation. We were also glad to see the addition of a Mode dial for selecting Record and Playback modes, and the manner in which functions were assigned to the four-way Arrow key pad (very clearly marked we might add), for even less reliance on the LCD menus. The revamped control system struck us as being very well thought out, and very conducive to fluid use of the camera as a photographic tool.
Control Enumeration
Shutter Button: Located on the right side of the top panel, this button sets focus and exposure when pressed halfway. Fully depressing the button fires the shutter. When the Quick Review (the shot just taken) is displayed on the screen, a half press of the shutter button returns the LCD to the normal image display. When the Self-timer is enabled, fully depressing the shutter button kicks off the 10-second countdown.
Power Switch: Just behind the shutter button and underneath the Mode dial, this switch turns the camera on and off.
Mode Dial: Stacked on top of the Power Switch, this dial controls the camera's operating modes. Options include Program (camera symbol), Shutter Priority (S), Aperture Priority (A), Manual (M), Scene (SCN), Setup, Movie and Clip (film frame), and Playback modes.
Jog Dial Navigator (Command Wheel): Located on the top right side of the camera's back panel, this wheel controls aperture and shutter speed settings in Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Manual modes. You simply turn the wheel until its on-screen pointer is alongside the appropriate setting, press in on the wheel to activate it, and turn the wheel to change settings. When Manual Focus is enabled, turning the wheel adjusts focus and displays the focus distance on the LCD monitor. When the Exposure Compensation adjustment is activated, turning the wheel adjusts the exposure from -2 to +2 exposure equivalents (EV) in one-third-step increments. (As noted in the earlier Exposure section of this review, we felt that some aspects of the Jog Dial's operation could have been better designed. On the whole though, we appreciate its inclusion in the S85's design.)
Zoom Button: To the left of the Jog Dial, the Zoom button controls the optical and digital zoom (when enabled) in any Record mode. In Playback mode, the wide-angle side of the button activates the Index Display mode, while the telephoto side controls the Playback Zoom up to 5x. Once in Index Display mode, pressing the wide-angle side again displays the image information for the highlighted thumbnail, including exposure information.
Diopter Adjustment Dial: Located on the left side of the optical viewfinder eyepiece, this notched dial adjusts the viewfinder to accommodate near- or farsighted users.
Four-Way Arrow Rocker Pad (also: Flash, Quick Review, Macro, and Self-Timer Buttons): Situated just below the viewfinder eyepiece, this button serves a variety of functions. On its surface, the pad features four arrows, one pointing in each direction. When any settings menu is engaged, these arrows navigate through the menu options. Once an option is selected, you confirm the selection by pressing on the center of the button. (You will hear a dual tone when you press the center, as opposed to the single tone you hear when you press an arrow.) In Playback mode, the right and left arrows scroll through captured images, while the up and down arrows control the playback volume. If a movie file is displayed, pressing the center of the button triggers the movie playback.
In addition to menu scroll functions, the Arrow Pad also controls certain exposure and camera settings. The Up Arrow button is marked with a flash symbol, and cycles between the Auto, Forced, and Suppressed Flash modes (in all capture modes except Movie). The Right Arrow button, marked with the macro flower symbol, enables and disables the camera's Macro mode. The Down Arrow controls the Self-timer mode, cycling between Normal and Self-timer capture modes. Finally, the Left Arrow activates and deactivates the Quick Review function, which displays the most recently captured image on the LCD screen.
Menu Button: Located directly below the Arrow Rocker Pad, on the left side, this button activates and deactivates the settings menus in any camera mode except Setup (which automatically displays the menu upon entering the mode). If the LCD monitor is switched off, pressing the Menu button turns on the display. In these cases, deactivating the menu also turns off the LCD display.
Display Button: To the right of the Menu button, the Display button controls the LCD display in all camera modes except Setup. Pressing the Display button sequentially cycles through three modes: No display; image and information display; and image display only.
Exposure Compensation Button: Directly below the Menu button, the Exposure Compensation button (+/-) activates the exposure compensation adjustment, which is changed by turning the Jog Dial.
Spot Metering Button: To the right of the Exposure Compensation button, the Spot Metering button ( [•] ) switches between Spot and Normal (averaged) metering modes. When Spot Metering is enabled, a crosshair target appears in the center of the LCD screen.
Focus Button: Located below the Exposure Compensation button, the Focus button cycles between Automatic and Manual focus modes.
AE Lock Button: To the right of the Focus button, the AE Lock button locks an exposure reading until the shutter button is fully depressed.
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