Outstanding Photography

As an amateur photographer, I wanted a camera that was going to be easy to use and provide me with a photograph of professional looking quality. The Sony DSC-P200 has certainly come up with the goods in this respect.

7.2 megapixels of high quality imagery with a camera so easy to use that reading the instruction manual before you point and shoot at an image is just not necessary.

The camera is compact in size, fits into your pocket really easily so makes this very versatile and mobile.

The memory stick that comes supplied is only 32MB which is insufficient if you want to take mpeg movies or many photographs since 32MB will only allow you to take around 7 photographs at the highest setting. I recommend upgrading to at least 512MB card, which allows for at least 138 images to be stored.

OK, lets get down to details about this wonderful camera:

The camera allows you to change the image quality setting from 7.2 megapixels to either: 3.2, 5.0, 3.0, 1.0 megapixels and to a VGA (E-mail setting). Obviously the lower the setting the more images that can be stored on your memory card.

For video recording, with the supplied 32MB memory stick, you have insufficient memory to record in 640 Fine setting. In the standard 640 setting it allows you only 1 1/2 minutes of recording and in the 160 setting, you get 22 minutes but the quality is poor and not worth it. Again, upgrade to at least 512MB card and the fine setting allows you 6 minutes of good quality recording.

The camera has a 5.1 cm TFT LCD panel for viewing the images you wish to record. The screen size is excellent and allows for great viewing when playing back your recorded images. The larger screen size allows navigating around the menu so much more easier as you don't have to strain your eyes to see what you are looking at.

Taking images is easy. There are several scene mode options available with this camera: Twilight, twilight portrait, candle, soft snap, landscape, high speed shutter, beach, snow and fireworks. In addition, there is the auto adjustment mode which, basically means you do not need to manually adjust the settings as the camera does it for you taking into account the conditions at the time of taking the image.

Selecting the various modes is done via a small dial on the back of the camera. There are five settings on this dial, they are: Auto adjustment mode which, allows easy picture taking. Scene selection mode, which will allow you to take pictures manually choosing a preset setting according to the scene conditions. Program auto shooting mode which, allows you to take the picture with the exposure adjusted automatically. Manual exposure shooting mode which, allows to take the picture after adjusting the exposure manually. Finally there is the playback mode allowing you to view the pictures you have shot.

The camera is Pictbridge compatible. This means that you can connect the camera to a compatible printer (I have the Canon Pixma IP4200 - see my review on this printer), and print pictures directly without the need to go through a computer.

Supplied with the camera is the required USB cable that connects to not only your PC, but a compatible printer. You can also connect the camera directly to a television to view your images with the supplied cable.

The camera gives you many options to take great pictures and movies without having to be an expert photographer. It is ideal for those holiday snap shots and family get togethers.

Shooting movies with this camera is great. However, the bigger the memory card you have the better.

Battery power is very good with the supplied NP-FR1 Lithium-ion battery. On full charge it gives you about 180 minutes of camera usage, the equivalent of taking about 370 or so pictures. This increases if you turn the LCD screen off.

Taking movies, on a full battery charge you get around 160 minutes with the LCD screen on and a little over 200 minutes withe screen off.

Software supplied is easy to use and compatible with Windows and Macintosh operating systems. Transfering images from the camera to the PC is straightforward and automatic using this software. Alternatively, you can just copy your images directly from the memory card to the PC via an adapter without the need to install the software.

In summary, I would say that this camera is one of the best on the market at the moment. Image quality is excellent, ease of use is fantastic and the options provided are numerous. Battery life is acceptable and transferring your taken shots to a computer very easy.

The ability to print your pictures directly onto a compatible printer without going through a PC is a bonus.