The Sony Cybershot DSC S 85 has a 4.1 Million Pixel CCD, which was the highest number of pixels on any Sony digital camera at the time I purchased the camera. The current model that replaced this camera is the Sony DSC ##? The Sony DSC ##? has a 5.0 Million Pixel CCD. For printing large images in sizes of up to 11 x 14 inches, and for image cropping opportunities, the high resolution images produced with this camera are ideal, while the price is less than for some 3 Mega Pixel cameras.

The S 85 is in some ways a new generation of camera due to the 4 Mega Pixel CCD, however in most other aspects it is very similar to the 3 Mega Pixel Cybershot, S 75. The S Cybershot S 85, like the S 75 features a light assisted focusing system to help focus on objects in very low light situation. The lens, which is an important component due to the setup of multi a Mega pixel digital camera, is a high quality Carl Zeiss lens, featuring a range of 34-102mm.   (equiv to 35mm)  This is a 3 multiplication zoom factor, which is fairly standard for compact megapixel digital cameras. The macro function of the lens (used for taking very close up images) has a minimuml focus distance of just 1.6 Inches, making extreme close up photography possible.

Other features include, manual focus, selectable ISO, and Aperture and Shutter priority modes. Spot and average metering modes are also available to choose from to suit different light situations.

Images can be stored in JPEG or TIFF format, or even as video. The S 85 can record any amount of video that it can fit onto the memory card at a high frame rate of 16 fps. Videos are recorded with audio with this camera.

A USB interface is used for high speed transfer of the images from the camera to the computer. Another feature of this camera package is the rechargeable Info Lithium battery and charger/AC adapter, which are included. Many manufacturers are shipping digital cameras with non- rechargeable batteries, ultimately adding to the cost of running the camera through the purchase of additional batteries and battery recharging appliances. The rechargeable Lithium batteries included with the Cybershot S85 offer a high capacity for greater usage times and are at the forefront of battery technology.

Images are stored on the supplied 16 Megabyte memory stick, which while just large enough for a 3 Mega Pixel camera, may be on the small side for the large file sizes produced from the camera. Memory sticks are available in sizes of upto 256 Megabytes, giving the camera the capacity to store 200 or more images or large lengths of video.

 

Pros:

4 Mega Pixel Camera
Records unlimited amount of video with audio (limited by memory card capacity)
High Quality Lens
Low Light Focus
Macro Focus Range
Rechargeable Batteries and Charger Included

Cons:

Not the fastest camera - eg shot to shot delay

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