| PRODUCT DETAILS | | Sony Cybershot DSC-T500 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization |
| User Reviews |  | Amazing video
rating: 4
This is THE camera if you want to capture your newborns' or kids moments. The video quality is amazing. I would have given it a 5 stars if not for the battery life. Expect to buy another battery as soon as you buy this camera.
|
Good features, poor battery
rating: 3
I purchased this camera primarily for its ability to record 720 video in a small form factor.
I've never owned a digital camera, but thought that it was finally time to stop relying on my girlfriend to take photos. Living in San Francisco, having quick access to a camera is vital and a small slim factor is key.
I bought this camera mindful of the caveat that its battery life is terrible, so I ordered an extra battery. I was pleasantly surprised to find a battery charger bundled with the camera. Even two fully charged batteries, however, wasn't enough energy for a trip to the California Academy of Sciences for 3-4 hours. Perhaps 20 minutes of HD video--total--and 300 photos completely drained both batteries. Flash was rarely used, to make the limitations of the battery even more dramatic.
I enjoy the camera and the video quality, but this battery life is absolutely terrible. If I was to go on a day trip, there would be no way 2 batteries would be enough. The supplied battery charger takes 2 hours to recharge each battery, as well. Needless to say, a time consuming process for 3+ batteries.
|
It's About TIME we Got STERO SOUND on a Compact Camera
rating: 5
DAMN IT! I don't Understand it with these Camera companies these Days. They Offer HIGH DEFINITION aka HD Video Qualty for thier Compacts while still having POOR Mono tone Sound. What a TEASE. Anyway. I DO NOT Own this Piticular Camera. I know Nothing Else about this Camera, And I also know that I would NOT...NOT purchase this Camera for the Simpe Fact that It's too Flasy (too sexy looking) and OH ALL SONY CAMERAS "Require" YOU to purchase their OVER-priced and Costly SD Cards. How RIDICULOUS. Anyway. Bravo to Sony for FINALLY putting STEREO SOUND on a Tiny, Hand held Camera. That's IT. Im Done. Happy Shopping People.
|
Nice Look But Useless
rating: 2
Good:
1 star for nice look, light weight, and small size that you can carry easily.
1 star for better Video Record (1280*720)
Poor
1. Pirce too high
2. poor indoor shooting
3. touch screen doest respond fast enough
4. menu setting too much and not too easy to use
finally, I ship back to buy a canon xsi instead.
|
Worth the purchase
rating: 4
The thing that drove me to this camera was the HD resolution for videos. If it wasn't for this, I would have looked at others that were slightly smaller. I had a Canon SD800 that I was replacing which was thicker but smaller. I also have a Sony FX1 video camera too.
After using it about a month, I have these observations.
Having the HD resolution on a camera this small is nothing short of amazing. I never want to go back to 320x240 or even 640x480 res vids. Although it would NEVER compare even at the slightest to a dedicated HD camcorder or a my FX1, It's great to have the capability in your pocket. I carry the T500 with me everywhere and it's better to have the shot than not having at all - no one wants to lug a camcorder everywhere around.
Compared to other subcompacts (I've owned over 15 the past 8 years or so), the low light capability is the best out of all of them. There is some graininess in very low light but with my canon, you wouldn't be able to even get a picture in comparison.
I personally prefer real button controls. The touch screen is initially nice but to get to the submenus takes a while to get used to and there are frequent repressing the icons to get something to come up. The touchscreen is sometimes finicky - or perhaps a lag.
The extra large LCD is very nice - but be sure to buy a screen protector BEFORE buying the camera. I put a permanent smudge in the screen within 1 hr of receiving it. I thought I was careful but now I can't get the smudge off.
The battery life is horrendous. Whereas the canon can probably last me 2-3 weeks of occasional use, I have to charge this every couple of days. 450 photos/videos in one month and I believe I have had to charge this at least 8 times. This is with mixed photo taking and video viewing - similar to what I did with the canon. Be sure to have a couple of extra batteries when traveling.
I bought a SanDisk Extreme III 8gb HG Duo stick and it was definitely well worth it. Previously, I was using an Extreme II with the canon and the significant transfer speed upgrade is welcomed when transferring the really large videos from the T500. I don't have specifics but it feels almost twice as fast.
Being able to use the zoom (optically) while shooting video is a big plus. With the canon, my vids gets distorted. I have a full 5x zoom which is excellent for a camera of this size. Also, because the lens position is fixed (sony has their optics inside the camera), it is much smaller. Don't have to worry about the lens popping in and out.
The optical stabilizer works but on a limited scale. I feel the Canon has better stabilizing as my videos are still a little bit shaky.
Overall, the photo quality is pretty good. I like the canon picture quality in good light but with a mix of both low and good light, the Sony is much better. I have no regrets about buying this over a new Canon.
On a side note, I also bought a Sony T77 with this camera (I'm a camera hog). The T77 has the same quality but no HD. However, it is significantly smaller and a little bit lighter than the T500.
|
|
Sony Cybershot DSC-T500 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization
|
|
|
|
