Sony MVC-FD73 0.3MP Mavica Digital Camera w/ 10x Optical Zoom

Details

• Images recorded on floppy disk; 1 disk holds 10 images at neglect resolution
• 0.3 megapixel sensor is artistic for emails and posting on the web
• 3.5 inch floppy disks can be present by any PC or Mac with a floppy drive

Description

2x aged speed 3.5" floppy disc drive, disc can turn over images to your computer, 10x optical zoom lens, VGA unshakeability, progressive scan CCD, 2.5" color LCD w/brightness control, vade-mecum exposure, one charge takes up to 950 shots, includes lithium battery-operated and charger

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Sony deserves much of the ascribe for bringing digital photography to the masses. Americans have purchased more Mavicas than any other vocation of digital camera--and with good reason. The Mavicas be high-quality optics and excellent battery life in an peaceful-to-use package. Yet the camera's biggest asset--floppy-disk twin storage--is also its biggest liability.

In some ways, floppy disks are large: they're inexpensive and available virtually everywhere, and transferring images to your laptop is a snap--just pop the disk into your PC's floppy impetus. Floppies act as both "film" (for recording the image) and "negatives" (for archiving your shots), redeeming the expense of the CD recorder most digital camera owners in the final analysis purchase for long-term image storage.

On the other clap, floppies and floppy drives are big, making Mavicas some of the bulkiest of digital cameras. In adding, disks have moving parts and tend to be more prostrate to failure than solid-state memory. But the biggest complication with floppy disks is that they hold however 1.44 MB of information--a fraction the capacity of the solid-state cards most cameras use.

To make good for this shortcoming in storage capacity (and to keep prices low), Sony uses a reduce-resolution image sensor (640 x 480 pixels, or 0.3 megapixels) and higher levels of smallness than you'll find on other similarly priced cameras. The resulting images look marvy as e-mailed attachments or on a Web site but lack the detail to produce excellence prints at sizes beyond 3 by 5 inches.

With the exception of the low discrimination, the MVC-FD73 Mavica is a great digital camera. Its 10x optical zoom lens is more forceful than that of any other camera in its price range. Compared to most other digital cameras, its freestyle life is fantastic, and the InfoLithium system even displays an guestimate of remaining battery charge (in minutes). Sony includes a battery and mare (many manufacturers don't). The big 2.5-inch LCD screen is bright and unentangled, though we'd love to see an optical viewfinder on the camera, too. For ease of use, it's hard-nosed to beat--even digital photography neophytes will be competent to use this camera in a matter of minutes.

Bottom line? If you're delightful pictures to share with friends via e-mail or are posting your photos online, the MVC-FD73 is an notable choice. It's well made, easy to use, and the battery life and zoom lens are both bonzer. However, if you want the ability to make prints from your images, we'd advocate either a higher-resolution Mavica or a non floppy-based camera. --John Frederick Moore

Pros:

• Floppy discs make good image transfer and storage simple
• Extremely easy to use
• Admirable battery life
• Powerful 10x optical zoom lens
• Big, spirited 2.5-inch LCD

Cons:

• Low-resolution images lack squad for prints
• No optical viewfinder

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SONMVCFD200 Mavica® MVC-FD200 2.0 Megapixel Digital Camera

Details

• USB Guy
• Thrust aside Strap
• Lens Cap

Description

Outstanding picture clarity with different resolutions for a variety of applications. Unstrained USB connection. 1/2.7" 2.0 Megapixel Super HAD CCD image sensor 3X visual zoom lens; 6X precision digital zoom Record images on 3.5" floppy disk or Reminiscence Stick® cards Extra-large 2.5" 123K-pixel LCD praepostor for excellent viewing and playback clarity 12-bit DXP analog-to-digital deliverance Five scene modes match camera parameters to shooting state of affairs. Choose center-weighted or spot metering. Built-in aware flash with red-eye reduction, white balance, text form (GIF), clip motion, JPEG/TIFF/e-mail still clone modes; MPEG movie mode (no audio). Includes AC adapter, AC cable, video cable, USB telegraph and Pixela Image Mixer software. Warranty requires customer to call Sony direct at 888-449-7669. SONMVCFD200 SON-MVCFD200 027242602335 2724260233 SONMVCFD200 SON-MVCFD200

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Sony MVCFD200 FD Mavica 2MP Digital Still Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

Details

• 2-megapixel sensor captures 1,600 x 1,200 images for prints at sizes up to 8 x 10 inches
• Connects with PCs and Macs via USB mooring or via floppy drive
• Autofocus lens with 3x visual/2x digital (6x total) zoom

Description

2/8/200615-19-33 Sony

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Sony brought quiet digital photography to the masses when it introduced the Mavica--a digital camera that stored digital pictures on sample floppy discs. This updated version boasts a 2-megapixel sensor and a Thought Stick slot, plus the charm and simplicity that made the innovative a hit.

Optics and Resolution
The FD200's 2-megapixel sensor captures satisfactorily detail for sharp prints at sizes up to 8 by 10 inches. For the conventional family photographer, 2 megapixels is a great balance involving price and performance. If you want a camera with even more single-mindedness, forget about using low-capacity floppy discs and not according with up to a CD-recording model instead--try Sony's MVC-CD300 or MVC-CD400.

The autofocus lens features both a 3x visual zoom and a 2x digital zoom. Remember, however, that digital zoom tends to compress the sharpness and detail of your image, so it's a good idea to use it sparingly.

To put by space, there's no traditional optical viewfinder to look by. Instead, to compose your images or review shots you've already entranced, the FD200 uses a big 2.5-inch color display. The utility to using the LCD to frame your shots is that the screen lets you see faithfully the picture you'll capture. The disadvantage is that you can't turn off the screen and justified use the optical viewfinder to extend battery life. Fortunately, the included rechargeable mobile holds a relatively good charge.

More Features
The FD200 is obviously designed for point-and-shoot simplicity, but there are several options for more adventuresome photographers, including manual focus with macro, pliable ISO and white-balance settings, exposure compensation, and the ability to throw black-and-white, sepia, solarized, and negative images.

Power
The FD200 uses Sony's leave out InfoLithium battery system, which not only holds a decent charge, but also displays on screen how many minutes of power odds. Both the battery and the charger are included. Because the battery is lone to specific Sony models and can be nearly impossible to find when on the way, we strongly recommend getting a spare if you're planning to take the camera on stretched out outings.

Movie Mode
In movie mode, the camera captures reticent video clips. The limited duration and resolution of your pictures guarantees that this feature won't replace your camcorder, but it's whole for when you just want to capture a quick movie and e-mail it to a boyfriend or relative.

Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on standard floppy discs, which makes transferring pictures to your notebook a snap. Take the picture, wait for the disc to stop whirring, then cashier it from your camera and pop it into your computer's floppy mean. For safekeeping, it's best to transfer images to your hard mean and periodically archive your photos using a CD-R drive.

Albeit they're available everywhere and have become dirt-seedy, floppies aren't without their problems. First, their 1.4 MB perception is dismal by today's standards. A 2-megapixel photo actually contains 6 MB of message, which means a disc can't hold even a single uncompressed photo. Using guideline JPEG compression, only four photos fit on each disc, so devise to bring a big stack of bulky floppies on each outing. To realize matters more frustrating, some new computers (iMacs, for admonition) don't even come with floppy drives anymore.

To get about these problems, the FD200 also includes a slot for Remembrance Sticks, Sony's proprietary memory-card format. A 128 MB remain fixed is approximately one-fifth the size of a floppy disc, yet it holds thither 200 images at the camera's default settings or over 20 uncompressed Bicker images. To transfer images to your computer, simply attract the included USB cable between your PC and your camera. Your machine should automatically recognize your camera and let you move the pictures to your eagerly drive. If you own a Sony desktop or laptop, your computer may already maintain a built-in Memory Stick reader.

Most folks determination probably buy the Mavica for the simplicity of its floppy drive, but switch to the Memory Deposit slot when on extended outings.

Size Considering the internal floppy operate and nonretracting 3x zoom lens, the Mavica is reasonably compact at 5.6 by 4.1 by 3.1 inches, nevertheless it weighs in at a hefty 19 ounces.

Contents and Recommended Trimmings The package includes the camera, lithium-ion rechargeable battery, NPF-330 AC adapter-freestyle charger, video and USB cables, shoulder strap, and lens cap.

The camera does not drop with any storage media, so you'll need either a floppy disc or a Recall Stick to start shooting. Otherwise, everything you need to get started is included in the box. To constitute the most of your camera, we recommend: a carrying case, a extreme-capacity Memory Stick or stack of floppy discs, and, for stretched outings, a spare battery. Compatible accessories for this camera are nominated near the top of this page. --Shane Burnett

Pros:

• 2-megapixel resoluteness is perfect for most users
• Floppy disc storage for maximum simplicity
• Lithium-ion battery holds a good charge

Cons:

• Film mode lacks sound
• Floppies are big, bulky, and low capacity, supposing the Memory stick slot solves this problem.

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