Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G1

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When the case is closed, the front of the G1 is a featureless place, with only the flash window and a small window for the AF illuminator next to it. There are also a few logos around the front of the camera to remind you who made it and that it’s a Cyber-shot camera. The lens is concealed behind the front plate and is only visible when you release the latch and slide the left-hand side out. This front cover is firmly locked into place until you release the latch on the top of the camera.

 

The front of the G1 open (above) and closed (below).

 

The back of the G1 is dominated by the large 3.5-inch LCD screen. In fact, when the camera is closed, this is the entirety of the back. The controls are hidden under the screen until you slide the front cover out. The controls on the left are (from top to bottom): the zoom control, the movie/still mode button, playback, flash mode, macro focus & playback zoom, image size & delete, and the self timer button. The zoom control falls naturally under the thumb when you pick the camera up.

 

 

The left side of the camera only has one major feature: a headphone socket. This is a rather unusual feature for a still camera and it underlies the hybrid nature of the device since it can also double as a camcorder.

 

 

The right side of the camera is home to another set of controls. From the top, we have the display button (which turns the on-screen display of things like settings on or off), the joystick (which is used to navigate menus), the back button, the menu button (for accessing the on-screen menus), and the home button, which takes you back to the main screen.

 

 

The top of the camera is the home to a few features: from left to right are the microphones (two to capture stereo sound, an unusual feature on a still camera), the open latch, the illuminated power button, the shutter, and the wireless LAN button. The latter is used to start and stop the wireless features of the G1. 

 

A view from the top with camera open (above) and closed (below).

 

The tripod socket of the G1 is rather oddly located right at the edge of the camera, and that might make it awkward to use with some tripods. The two sets of small holes are for the stereo speakers, while the rectangular socket is for the tripod dock. Next to this is the cover for the battery and memory card compartment.