Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900

Review Index – (updated 03 August’09)

GoodGearGuide
“Despite some problems with its image quality, we like the idea of the touch screen and the relatively long reach of the tiny 4x zoom lens. But anytime you cram a 4x zoom lens into a body that can maintain a 1.8cm thickness while it’s zoomed all the way, compromises in image quality have to be made and the Cyber-shot DSC-T900 makes a few. Unless your intention is to blow up images or to crop them closely, the camera’s shortcomings won’t be too evident. We think you should consider this camera if you want something that’s stylish, easy to use and very small.”
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Cameras.co.uk
“This camera has a number of attractive features such as the touch controlled LCD screen and High Definition movies. It is also a very stylish camera. It is quick to capture a shot and its small size means you can take it anywhere.”
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PhotographyBlog
“There will always be a market however for a camera that looks good on the outside and, in tandem with the brushed metal faceplate, the touch screen acts as a further gimmick to draw in the punters. It may not revolutionize photography, but for most of its intended audience the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900 should do more than enough.”
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CNET
“The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900 is a good, fast snapshot camera that’s also very attractive and extremely compact. Its battery life is a little short, its touch screen won’t please everyone, and some will find the photo quality unworthy of the camera’s price tag. In this case, though, you’re paying for the great design more than for great photos.”
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DigitalCameraInfo
“If you’re in the market for a camera that looks great, is incredibly small, and takes decent photos, then maybe the Sony T900 is for you. We would recommend taking some time to play with the menu system before purchase, though, as it can be quite frustrating. One of our major gripes is the touch-based interface system, which is just that little bit too unresponsive, leaving you wondering if you’ve hit the proper icon or not. Also, because the icons have to be large enough to press with a finger, there’s room for fewer of them on the screen at a time.”

CNET UK
“The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900 is expensive, but you can see where the money’s gone. It’s a classy piece of kit that produces good-quality stills and great HD movies. The touchscreen interface works well and the LCD is excellent. If you’ve got the cash, the T900’s certainly got the style.”
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Trusted Reviews
“There’s no question that the Sony Cyber-shot T900 is a superb camera. It’s very well made, looks good, and is easy to operate thanks to one of the few good touch-screen interfaces. It has a number of useful and entertaining features, outstandingly fast performance, and produces very good results, especially in low-light social situations. However it’s not without some image quality issues, and it is ridiculously overpriced. It’s good, it’s just not that good.”
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InfoSync
“Sadly, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900 fell into the fashion cam pit of doom when it came to image quality. The forecast was grim from the get go, rife with dark clouds that pelted us with noise, fringing, weak colors and images that were slightly out of focus.”
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DPInterface
“The Cyber-shot T900 is just point-and-shoot with no manual controls. The camera has a decent selection of scene modes and Intelligent Scene Recognition which automatically picks a scene mode for you. There are other bells and whistles which can make life a little easier for the casual snapper, such as face detection prioritization for adults/children, face tracking, redeye removal and last but not least, smile shutter – which can automatically take pictures for as long as your subject smiles.”

Digital Trends
“For what it is, the $379 DSC-T900 is a solid camera. It has great looks, a terrific touch screen, and takes high-def clips and fine photos with enough light. However, it performs pretty poorly in low light without the flash. For outdoor snapshots, photos of friends with smiling faces, and sheer style, it’s a winner. For those who want to move beyond that, look elsewhere.”
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