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Sony has introduced two new ultracompact Cyber-shot cameras. The DSC-T700 and DSC-T77 share 10.1-megapixel resolution, touchscreen LCDs, and an optically stabilized f/3.5-4.6, 35mm-140mm (35mm equivalent) 4x Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar zoom lens. However, the T700 is also designed to function as a portable photo album, with a 3.5-inch LCD that has an impressive 921,600-dot resolution. The camera also features a 4GB internal memory for storing photos and an innovative software system that creates VGA copies of photos when they are downloaded from the camera to a computer, then loads the VGA images onto the camera. The system lets the photographer store thousands of images on the device for display, and an in-camera database allows images to be tagged and organized. The T77 has a 3-inch, 230,400-dot LCD.
Both cameras are made for automatic photography, offering eleven scene modes, as well as automatic and programmed automatic modes. They also provide an intelligent scene recognition mode that can evaluate what is in front of the lens and automatically set the camera to one of eight scene modes. The two cameras offer a good selection of exposure-control tools, including automatic exposure bracketing, spot and center-weighted metering modes, a live histogram, and selectable flash output levels. They have a top light-sensitivity setting of ISO 3200 and a somewhat low top shutter speed of 1/1000 second.
Other notable features include face detection with adult- and child-priority modes; Sony's Smile Shutter feature, which automatically releases the shutter when someone in front of the camera smiles; and a blink-detection mode that takes two shots in quick succession and alerts the photographer when someone's eyes are closed in them. The cameras can also improve photos' exposure by applying Sony's Dynamic Range Optimizer, which opens up dark shadow areas.
The T77 will be available in September 2008 for about $300 and will be sold with brown, green, pink, black, and silver finishes. The T700 will also be available in September for about $400 with red, champagne gold, pink, dark gray, and silver finishes.
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