Imaging Resource has a new review of Sony’s 5 megapixel Cyber-shot M2 and they write:
“The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-M2 is about as unique a digital camera as could be imagined. It packs a 3x zoom lens and high-resolution five megapixel sensor into a reasonably compact body, and offers generally good image quality as well as movies that are much better than average. The interface has been improved from the original DSC-M1, but still has quirks that could be ironed out. The interface is simply too complicated. The 5SEC mode seems to have no useful purpose, and the Hybrid mode may prove difficult for new owners to grasp and use. I’d like to see Sony change the camera’s design to simply allow a still image to be captured at any time, even if a movie is already recording, by pressing the Photo shutter button. More importantly, though, the M1’s zoom lever is far too small, too difficult to feel, and offers almost no tactile feedback. Other areas of the interface drew mixed opinions among the IR staff. I felt that the positioning of the four-way arrow pad on the LCD hinge was quite easy to reach with my thumb, but Senior Editor Shawn Barnett felt it was too difficult to reach.”
Pros: * Extremely eye-catching body will certainly draw attention! * Body shape (thanks to the swivelling LCD) is easy to grip and hold steadily * Stereo microphone - a rarity among digital cameras * Control layout is generally better than in the M1 * Redesigned camera dock is a definite improvement * Excellent LCD display * More capable movie mode than most digicams (and MPEG4, so file sizes aren’t excessive!) * High resolution * Sharp lens gives good image detail, particularly in macro mode * Better than average focusing in low light * Snappy (high-contrast, high-saturation) images will appeal to many consumers * Generally good color * Accurate coverage on LCD viewfinder * Fairly strong flash and ability to adjust intensity - something not all digicams offer * Fairly responsive camera overall, particularly if you prefocus * Good download speeds from the USB 2.0 High Speed interface * Slideshow mode is better than average, and adds some visual / auditory interest * Album mode is a great idea, making it easy to have copies of your images to share with friends and family at all times
Cons: * That eye-catching body isn’t exactly conducive to catching a quick shot without grabbing your subject’s attention * Hinge mechanism might prove a weak spot if you drop the camera * It is too easy to cover one half of the stereo microphone with your finger * No optical viewfinder * Zoom control is too hard to feel and press, and gives little tactile feel * Some other buttons are simply too small, or not easy enough to reach without changing grip * Too complex, and too many controls * 5SEC mode seems completely pointless * Can’t capture still images by pressing Photo shutter button during Movie recording (which would seem logical) * Sometimes illogical design (power button works when LCD closed inwards, camera doesn’t switch to playback when LCD is closed outwards) * High pincushion distortion in the lens * More chromation aberration than I’d like to see * White balance can be erratic, yielding warm color casts too often * Exposure metering can tend to underexpose (although this is better than overexposing) * Too noisy at higher ISO sensitivities, and noise suppression is noticeable even at the lowest ISO * Less-than-stellar low-light capabilities * Somewhat of a shame that you can’t opt to format the Album memory and use it to store images in a snip, if you run out of storage for photos
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