"Picky Details" for the Sony DSC-T7 digital camera
(Timing, Power, and Storage Info)

Timing

When you press the shutter release on a camera, there's usually a lag time or delay before the shutter actually fires. This corresponds to the time required for the autofocus and autoexposure mechanisms time to do their work, and can amount to a fairly long delay in some situations. Since this number is rarely reported on (and even more rarely reported accurately), and can significantly affect the picture taking experience, I routinely measure both shutter delay and shot to shot cycle times for all cameras I test, using a test system I designed and built for the purpose. (Crystal-controlled, with a resolution of 0.001 second.) Here are the numbers I collected for the Sony DSC-T7:

Power

The Sony DSC-T7 uses a custom rechargeable LiIon battery for power. Its custom power connector prevented me from conducting my usual direct power measurements, but Sony's InfoLithium battery technology is quite accurate in its run time estimates, so I report those below, for a fully charged battery.

Short battery life, typical of subcompact cameras. With a worst-case run time of 74 minutes in record mode, and playback run time of 125 minutes, the Sony T7 has worse battery life than most full-sized digital cameras, but such short run times are unfortunately common subcompact models. Given the short battery life, my usual recommendation of buying a second battery right along with your camera applies doubly with the T7.

Storage Capacity

The Sony DSC-T7 stores its photos on Memory Stick Duo memory cards, and a 32 MB card is included with the camera. (I strongly recommend buying at least a 64 MB card, preferably a 128 MB one, to give yourself extra space for extended outings.) As noted elsewhere, be sure to get a PRO Duo Memory Stick too, to take maximum advantage of the T7's video capability. The chart below shows how many images can be stored on the included 32 MB card at each size/quality setting.