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Print ArticlePRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
Digital Innovations Abound
Sony 5-Megapixel Cyber-shot DSC-F707
Makes Low-Light and No-Light Shooting a Snap
TEXT BY SUSAN SCHECK
Hologram AF is ideal for shooting subjects with little contrast in
dark conditions, like a smooth beach on a moonless night. How does
it work? By projecting a visible Class 1 laser hologram pattern
directly onto the subject so the camera can detect the contrast
between the edge of the laser pattern and the subject itself.
The combination of two special features, NightFraming and
NightShot®, makes shooting in low-light and no-light conditions
easy. With the flip of a switch, infrared NightShot is activated,
capturing an infrared photo with no visible light at all.
Using NightShot, a photographer can take pictures of nocturnal
wildlife that's impossible with all other digital cameras.
Night-Framing integrates Hologram AF, TTL pre-flash metering, and
NightShot, enabling the photographer to properly frame the subject
in dim light, attain accurate focus, and achieve correct flash
exposure consistently.
To achieve accurate exposure in uneven lighting—like a scene
with the sun in one corner and a shaded hammock in the
other—a new multi-pattern metering option is included for the
first time in a Sony digital still camera. By dividing the scene
into a matrix of separate cells, each of which can be metered
independently, the meter accurately calculates exposure when
highlights and shadows exist outside the center of the frame.
The DSC-F707 features Sony's new pre-flash metering system. Unlike
other systems, pre-flash metering measures the light from the flash
as it passes through the lens to calculate correct exposure. At
exposure, the flash fires twice—once to illuminate the
subject and calculate correct exposure, then a second time to
record the image with the optimum exposure.
This new Cyber-shot model, priced at about $1,000, comes with
numerous options for manual and automatic control. The camera comes
with a built-in 5.24 MP CCD (5.02 MP effective), yielding a maximum
image size of 2560x1920; a pivoting Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar 5X
optical zoom lens with F/2 aperture, for exceptional
light-gathering ability; and an advanced automatic flash system. It
also lets you compose with either the 1.8" LCD screen or a new
eye-level electronic viewfinder.
The DSC-F707 reduces noise in the color signal via Clear Color NR.
Another noise reduction feature, Slow Shutter NR, overcomes the
problem of CCD noise in lengthy exposures. The camera first
captures the image, then closes the iris while it captures a black
frame—the noise pattern of the CCD. The camera then subtracts
the noise pattern from the image and leaves it noise-free.
Capture modes include JPEG, TIFF, voice memo, email, text, MPEG-HQ
and MPEG-EX video modes, and Clip Motion animated GIF modes.
In-camera editing functions are available, as well. The camera
ships with a 16MB Memory Stick® media card, an InfoLithium M
battery, an AC adapter/in-camera charger, and A/V output cable, a
USB cable, a shoulder strap and a lens cap.
For more information visit www.sony.com/di
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