Sony DSC-V3By: Shawn Barnett and Dave Etchells(none) <<Image Storage & Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Test Results & Conclusion>> Page 11:Video, Power, SoftwareReview First Posted: 09/09/2004, Updated: 11/30/2004 |
Video Out
The
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-V3 comes equipped with an Audio / Video cable for connection
to a television set. (Through the Setup menu, you can select NTSC signal format
for U.S. and Japanese systems and PAL for European systems.) Once connected
to the TV, you can review images and movies or record them to videotape. Viewfinder
displays are also visible via the video output, letting you use a video monitor
as an extra-large "remote viewfinder."
Power
The
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-V3 is powered by an NP-FR1 InfoLITHIUM battery pack (3.6
volts, 4.4 watt-hours) and comes with an AC adapter which doubles as an in-camera
battery charger. InfoLITHIUM battery packs contain a chip that exchanges information
with the camera, allowing the camera to report approximately how many minutes
of battery life are left at the current drain level. This information is displayed
on the LCD monitor and the electronic viewfinder with a small battery graphic.
The AC adapter plugs into a small socket on the camera's back panel. It can
run the camera without a battery inserted, or charge the battery when the camera
isn't in use.
The Li-Ion battery packs used in Sony cameras prevent me from making my usual
direct power measurements, but the good news is that the InfoLITHIUM system
reports projected camera runtime while the battery is being used in the camera.
Despite the excellent feedback provided by the InfoLITHIUM system, I still recommend
you purchase and pack along a second battery, though. (Another advantage of
the Li-Ion technology used in the InfoLITHIUM batteries is that they don't "self-discharge"
like conventional NiMH rechargeable cells do, and so can hold their charge for
months on the shelf or in your camera bag.)
| |
|
| Capture Mode, w/LCD | |
| Image Playback | |
Relative to its predecessor the DSC-V1, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-V3 has almost
double the battery life. With a worst-case run time just shy of three hours
(and playback-mode run time of more than five hours), you may actually not
need to purchase a second battery that I recommend above. - Given that typical
usage involves turning the camera off or letting it "sleep" between
shooting sessions, the nearly three-hour worst-case run time should easily
translate into a long day of shooting.
Included Software
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-V3 comes packaged with the standard Sony CD-ROM containing Pixela ImageMixer software and USB drivers. Pixela ImageMixer is compatible with both Windows and Macintosh platforms, and offers minor image editing tools. In addition to these, the V3 software package will also include Sony's RAW file utility, for manipulating RAW-format image files, a USB Driver, and the Cyber-shot Life tutorial (Windows).
In the Box
- Shoulder strap
- NP-FR1 InfoLITHIUM battery pack
- AC-LS5 charger
- AV Cable
- USB cable
- Software CD
- User Guide and registration information
Follow Imaging Resource: