Sony DSC-T77 Performance

Slightly slow to about average speed for a consumer digital camera.

About average times here.

Mode switching times are a little sluggish, there's a noticeable delay when you switch to playback mode to see your images, and the 1.7 seconds it takes to capture an image after being in playback mode is longer than average too.

Shutter response is excellent at both wide angle and telephoto, at 0.35s and 0.43s respectively, and "prefocusing" the camera by half-pressing and holding down the shutter button before the final exposure results in a lag time of only 0.008 second. Manual focus is a little slower than you'd expect, however, and enabling the flash also slows things down. (The camera fires a pre-flash for metering before the main exposure, which takes a little time.) Even the slower shutter response with flash enabled is better than some cameras manage without the flash, though.

Shot-to-shot cycle times are a little slower than average, at about 1.80 seconds for large/fine JPEGs, and markedly slow for 640 x 480 JPEGs at 2.00 seconds. Still, not bad for a subcompact camera. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T77's Continuous modes perform about average, capturing about 1.62 frames per second regardless of the resolution. The flash takes about 5 seconds to recharge after a full-power shot, which is better than average, but then you'd hope so, given the very limited range the flash has.

Connected to a computer or printer with USB 2.0, download speeds are very good.

Bottom line, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T77 drags its feet a little in some areas, such as mode switching and cycle times, but its shutter lag is really excellent. This camera should handle average shooting scenarios adequately, but wouldn't be a good match for fast-paced action, where you need to grab a number of shots very quickly. That said, its excellent shutter response would be a real help in capturing images of squirmy kids or catching a fleeting expression in candid photography.

Battery
Slightly below average battery life.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T77 uses a custom rechargeable lithium-ion battery for power, and ships with a charger. Battery life is a little shorter than average, though that's to be expected on a camera this slim. We recommend you pick up a spare battery and keep it freshly charged and on-hand for extended outings.

(Interested readers can find an English translation of the CIPA DC-002 standards document here. (180K PDF document))

Storage
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T77 accepts Memory Stick PRO Duo memory cards, and includes about 15MB of internal memory.

We strongly recommend buying a large capacity Memory Stick PRO Duo at least a 1GB card, preferably a 2 or 4GB one, to give yourself extra space for extended outings and video. (Check the shopping link above, cards are really cheap these days, so no reason to skimp.)