Sony DSC T9

The Sony DSC T9 (Buy in the UK
Or
USA)
latest mid range cameras , it is a 6meg resolution digital camera and has 3x optical zoom. Though this may not seem like much the camera is incredibly thin, and does well to fit so much in such little space!

People who are familiar with Sony's Tx range of cameras will notice the familiar slide down cover to activate the camera, some people have trouble with this switching itself on, although ive never had that problem myself!

The main new feature on this camera is the 'Steady Shot' system, this greatly improves shots, especially ones that you require detail on.

The DSC-T9 has the standard overlay-style Sony menu system. Here's the complete record menu (some of these options may not be available in all modes):

Shooting mode (Auto, program, magnifying glass, twilight, twilight portrait, candle, soft snap, landscape, sports, beach, snow, fireworks)

Exposure compensation (-2EV to +2EV in 1/3EV increments)

Focus mode (Multi, center, spot AF, 0.5, 1, 3, 7 meters, infinity)

Metering mode (Multi, center, spot)

White balance (Auto, daylight, cloudy, fluorescent, incandescent, flash) - no custom option as far as we are aware

ISO (Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 640)

Photo Quality (Fine, standard)

Rec Mode

Normal - regular shooting

Burst - took seven shots in a row at 1.3 frames/second at the highest JPEG quality (based on
my tests using a MS Pro Duo card)

Exposure bracketing - camera takes three shots in a row, each with a different exposure value; choose the interval between shots in the record menu (±0.3EV, ±0.7EV, or ±1.0EV)
Multi burst - takes 16 shots in a row (at interval selected in menu) and compiles them into one 1 Megapixel image
Bracket step (±0.3EV, ±0.7EV, ±1.0EV) - for the exposure bracketing feature described above
Multi-burst interval (1/30, 1/15, 1/7.5 sec) - for the multi-burst feature described above
Flash Level (Low, normal, high)
Photo Effects (Off, black & white, sepia)
Saturation (Low, normal, high)
Contrast (Low, normal, high)
Sharpness (Low, normal, high)

There are quite a few shooting modes on the DSC-T9, though they're all automatic. There are no manual controls on the T9, unless you count the limited manual focus.

The T9's ISO sensitivity goes a bit higher than most cameras in this class -- up to 640. Later in the review you'll see how the camera performs at those settings!

Also, as it may affect your buying decision, the screen blacks out during burst mode, so it does make tracking a bit difficult!

A common problem reported with the T-Series is red eye, to anone familiar with photoshop and the like this wont present a huge problem, but it can sometimes be a pain. Also the lack of a custom white balance control can be a pain if you are working in an area with non standard lighting (Eg some studio lights)

On the plus side the majority of shots come out looking excellent, and there seems to be very little focus time, I think this camera would be great for anyone who wants a high quality camera that can slip into your pocket unobtrusively

Pros:
Stylish, ultra-thin metal body
Optical image stabilizer
Very good photo quality
Impressive high ISO performance for a compact camera
Snappy performance
Large, high resolution LCD display; visible in bright outdoor light and dim indoor light
AF-assist lamp; good (but sluggish) low light focusing
Tons of built-in memory
Enhanced slideshow feature
Nice movie mode
Support for USB 2.0 High Speed protocol

Cons:
Redeye
No manual controls; custom white balance and long shutter speed modes needed
Annoying sliding lens cover
No optical viewfinder
Flash, while better than before, is on the weak side
Flimsy cover over memory card / battery compartment
Bundled software isn't the greatest