Sony T10 7.2 mp! WOW! New!

Sony DSC-T10 Overview

by Mike Pasini
and Dave Etchells

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T10 offers a CCD sensor resolution of 7.2 effective megapixels and ISO sensitivity from 80 to 1000, coupled with an optically stabilized Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar branded 3x optical zoom lens. The lens has an 35mm equivalent focal length range of 38 to 114mm. Other features of the Sony DSC-T10 include shutter speeds from 1 to 1/1000 second, a choice of Multi-pattern, Center-weighted, or Spot metering, five white balance presets, 10 scene modes, USB and video connectivity, and both Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo storage coupled with 56MB of built-in memory.

Pricing for the Sony DSC-T10 is set at $600.

Sony DSC-T10 User Report

In Action. The sleek T10 has a lens barrier that slides down to reveal the flash and lens, turning the camera on in Record mode.

Sony isn't shy about describing the T10 as "so stylish that it can be viewed as a fashion accessory." In fact, our review was interrupted by a desperate request from Sony to FedEx the T10 to New York for an appearance in the third annual Fashion Rocks event at Radio City Music Hall.

But you don't have to be have a certain look to own a T10. Just the opposite. You can accessorize your T10 in pink, white, black or silver. Whatever color you choose, the T10 is stunning.

Closed. With the lens barrier up, the camera doesn't lose any of its looks.

Yes, it's trim enough to slip into a pocket or purse without bulging. Yes, it's got a big LCD (2.5 inches). But the lens cover is what sets it apart. At first, I thought it was going to be a little clunky. After all, stylish digicams like the Nikon S6 just have a little disc that covers the lens.

But I got to like the lens cover on the T10 as I used the camera. It's a foolproof, totally blind way to turn the camera on and off. No hunting for a tiny little Power button.

Battery/Memory Card. Unlike most small digicams, which put this door on the bottom of the camera, the T10 opens from the side so you can use the tripod and still get to the memory card or battery.

I also really liked the time display for the battery condition, something only Sony seems to know how to do. I'm in the habit of ignoring battery status displays. Either they're full or you have 10 seconds of power left. Maybe 15 if it's half full. Anything less than full means doom. But not with the T10. Sony's InfoLITHIUM battery actually can tell the camera how much time it has left, and the remaining-time numbers seem to be pretty darn accurate.

The more I used the T10, the more I liked it. I didn't care for the menu system or the controls -- but I like the pictures. And I really liked what SteadyShot did.

Connection. On the other hand, the USB cable plugs into the bottom of the camera.

Most cameras are tuned for good shooting conditions. Sunlight or open shade. If you have to use the flash, well, pat on the back and good luck. But the T10 has a few tricks up its sleeve for less than ideal conditions. And it doesn't require you to slip into some obscure Scene mode to survive, either.

Memory Stick PRO Duo. The Memory Stick PRO Duo is just a little thinner and narrower than an SD card.

The big decision is whether or not to use Macro mode (how close are you). Other than that, you just point and shoot.

That works on the T10 (unlike other digicams) because Sony has tapped into its SteadyShot technology to deliver sharp images at ridiculously low shutter speeds. That lets Sony keep the ISO down to levels that don't introduce a lot of noise.

Of course, the T10's ISO 1000 is worth playing with. On its own, it may not seem terribly useful, introducing a lot of noise, especially in the shadows, and even when you're only printing 4x6 inch snapshots. But you can clean a lot of that up in post-processing. If it bothers you. You may just find that taking a shot where you otherwise wouldn't is its own payoff. And a little noise, like a little grain, won't matter much.

There you have it in a nutshell. Style, Stabilization, Sensitivity.

Design. I liked the look of the T10 but for a real test, we palmed it off on Mom. She's the fashion czar in the family. She's never had to buy a gift certificate. Everyone wants her to select the merchandise. What did she say about the T10? "It's the best one yet."

Somehow the lens barrier, which you slide down to activate the camera and up to shut it off, keeps you from sticking your fingers in front of the lens up in the top corner. There's no grip to speak of, but the camera rests comfortably in our hand.

Controls. Small buttons and a Zoom lever control the camera. Note the live histogram at the bottom left of the LCD.

What I wasn't so enamored of were the controls. They're all small so you have to look for them. But where a nice navigator dial would have been were four small buttons and another in the middle. I just hate when they do that. Buttons instead of a dial.

Shutter. The small Power button seemed superfluous but the wide Shutter button is easy to find by feel.

I also found the Power button confusing. Never thought I'd say that, but you can't just use the Power button, as you would on other cameras, because the lens cover has to be open to take a shot. And when you slide it down, the power comes on anyway. So you can slide it up or down to turn the camera on or off.

But you want it up if for Playback mode, you know, to protect the lens as you pass it around. But pressing the Playback button doesn't turn the camera on. Sony could have dispensed with the Power button, relying entirely on either the lens cover for Record mode or the Playback button for reviewing. Except for Movie mode.