Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S90

Manual Control Options
In the Manual mode, users have access to all of the previous menu options - Sharpness, Contrast, Saturation, Picture Effects, Recording Mode, Picture Quality, ISO, White Balance, Metering, and Focus – with the addition of aperture and shutter speed control. The aperture can be adjusted in two steps from f/2.8-f/5.6. The shutter speeds can be adjusted in 46 steps from 30-1/1000^th of a second.

Focus
Auto
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S90 uses a five-area multi-point auto focus, and also has a Center AF option. The lens can focus as close as 20 inches in normal shooting modes and 4 inches in the macro mode. To assist focusing in low light, the camera has an illuminator on its front. If there is not enough lighting or the settings are not optimal, the S90 will show a hand-shake warning on the LCD screen.

Manual
Sony calls this a manual focus setting, but really the S90 just automatically focuses at 5 different distances from the lens. This could be the highest maintenance and least accurate "manual focus" method on the market, as users will have to manually move their subjects onto those five planes – don’t forget the measuring tape!

Exposure
All of the S90’s exposure modes, including the scene presets, are located on the main mode dial surrounding the shutter release button. An exposure compensation feature is also included in the standard +/- 2 EV range, alterable in 1/3 stop steps, available to users in every mode.

White Balance
The white balance is almost a fun feature to scroll through in the menus. With a live view of the image from the lens, users can scroll through options and watch the color of the lighting change. With this feature, users can make an educated choice about which of the following options they want to use: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, and Incandescent. A manual white balance feature would have been a nice option here, but compact digital cameras are still including a manual option only about half of the time.

ISO
The Cyber-shot S90 will automatically select the ISO rating unless the user manually enters the menu and changes it. Users can change the ISO to Auto, 80, 100, 200, and 400. While this range is sufficient for basic point-and-shoot needs, it seems some manufacturers are beginning to catch on and recognize that low-light capabilities are commonly sought by even casual point-and-shooters. With some of the recent compact releases packing ISO 800 ratings, it appears the message is beginning to seep through – users want to be able to record image in marginal conditions without having to glare a high-powered, highly-restrictive flash into the eyes of their subjects.

Shutter Speed
The Sony Cyber-shot S90 offers an expansive shutter speed range of 30-1/1000^th of a second in manual mode. The speed can be changed in 46 steps by pushing the center button of the four-way navigational dial and using the arrows on the LCD screen to alter the shutter duration. When shooting in automatic modes, the shutter speed is automatically set by the camera within a 1/8-1/1000^th range and 2-1/1000^th of a second in the program auto mode.

Aperture
The aperture of the S90’s Carl Zeiss lens ranges from f/2.8-f/5.6 in wide and f/5.2-f/10 in telephoto. Unfortunately, the manual aperture setting only covers two steps. This should be noted by users who frequently desire manual alterations. While there is technically some selection offered, it is really only open or closed. All too frequently, digital camera manufacturers advertise manual aperture settings when in reality, the lens contains a filter of sorts that slides across the lens opening and blocks out a majority of light and "stops the iris down" or it is removed completely and the diaphragm is left wide open. Nonetheless, at least the user can make a decision.