NWA-PCUG Newsletter Article, June 2003
Sony DSC-F717
A Digital Camera Review by Bill Moeller
wmoeller@arkansasusa.com
(click to email author)


Bottom line: a joy to use, and a top-notch photographic performer.

With 5 megapixel resolution, Zeiss optics, and Sony electronics, it delivers very impressive images up to full page (8-1/2x11) when printed on a photo quality printer. (Impressive enough that I am retiring my 35mm film cameras and swearing off the darkroom forever.)

It can be used in full automatic mode, full manual mode, or just about anywhere in between. The point-and-shoot photographer will find the full automatic mode, as well as some of the preprogrammed settings for subjects like landscapes and portraits, easy to use and capable of delivering great photographs. The serious photographer will appreciate the ability to take full control of just about anything he wants to in order to adapt to different conditions or get just exactly what he wants.

Some of the details... The zoom lens has a range, in 35mm equivalent terms, of 38 to 190mm, an aperture range of f/2.0 to f /8.0, and is threaded to receive 58mm filters. The selectable light sensitivity is equivalent to a range of ISO film speeds from 100 to 800. Maximum image resolution is 1920x2560 pixels. Image storage mode choices are tiff, fine jpeg, or standard jpeg. Exposure mode choices are full automatic, programmed, shutter speed priority, aperture priority, full manual, or scene selection. The eye-level viewfinder is digital, not optical, and has a brightness control and diopter correction. The LCD screen on the camera back measures about 1-7/16x1-1/8, and also has a brightness control. There is a built in pop up flash, and focus is automatic. Power is provided by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack.

What’s it like in use? I like the way this camera falls right into my hands and points itself at the subject. For me, holding a camera with two hands is a commandment, and this one responds well to that command. The good-sized zoom lens cradles naturally in my left hand while the somewhat small (for me) body almost fits nicely into my right hand. “Almost,” because the LCD surface falls naturally under the greasy heel of my thumb, creating an on-going cleanliness problem.

The zoom is very easy to use, and coupled with the wysiwig viewfinder results in tightly composed exposures requiring no cropping, and therefore no effective loss of resolution. The exposures are good enough that few require any manipulation before printing, and those that do require only simple adjustments using the histogram tool. This also helps to avoid loss of resolution.

While the LCD display is next to useless outdoors in bright light, nothing is lost when you switch to the eyelevel finder, which is usable outdoors thanks to the well designed eyecup and the brightness control. On the other hand, the LCD display is absolutely great for indoor sports action. It is much easier to follow fast action with the camera held at arm’s length with one eye on the actual scene and the other on the LCD than it is trying to use the eye-level finder.

As with all pop-up flash units, red eye can be a problem even with the preflash. My solution for this is the available accessory flash which stands well above the axis of the lens, integrates fully with the camera’s automatic features, and can be used in the bounce mode if that is what you like.

After the pictures are taken, downloading to the PC is as simple as plugging in the supplied USB cable--it all just happens, automatically. And when the battery runs down, which you can see coming because of the camera’s displays, you simply connect the camera to a 120V AC source using the supplied adapter and wait for the indicator light to tell you all is well.

The camera is accompanied by a very comprehensive and well written 123 page manual. But be aware that this is a camera manual, and not a book of tips on how to take photographs. In my opinion, that is how it should be.

Conclusion? At about $800, this camera is a bit expensive for those who want only point-and-shoot, but highly competitive with comparable 35mm equipment for those who want more creative control. It is easy to use, but very powerful. Image quality is the equal, in my opinion, of 35mm at print sizes up to 8x10 or so. More and better and cheaper will come along, but for those who choose to act now this camera deserves serious consideration.

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