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Introduction
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01.Physical Tour
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02.Color and Resolution
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03.Noise and Video
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04.Speed and Timing
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05.Components
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06.Design / Layout
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07.Modes
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08.Control Options
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09.Image Parameters
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10.Connectivity / Extras
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11.Overall Impressions
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12.Conclusion
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13.Sample Photos
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14.Specs / Ratings
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15.Comments
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T700
Previous: Page 1
Physical TourNext: Page 3
Noise and Video
Exaggerated White Balance Errors
Auto WB - Flash Illumination
Auto WB - Fluorescent Illumination
Auto WB - Daylight illumination
In our extensive round of performance trials, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T700 did very well In color tests, but only average on most of the others, and proffered a sub-par performance in low light and resolution testing. In our time trials, it was slow to startup, but was quite fast in all the other sections.
Color (10.70)
To test the camera's ability to accurately record and reproduce color, we run it through an analysis that takes a recorded image and compares it to known color values. We shoot the industry standard Gretag-Macbeth chart under well lit conditions, then analyze it through a program called Imatest. Since the chart is composed of known, precise colors, Imatest can tell us how well the T700 is able to match and reproduce these hues. This produced the graph below, which shows the captured color as the outer area of the square, that color adjusted for lighting in the middle, and the ideal color as the inset rectangle.
The Gretag-Macbeth color chart
An admirable performance in color accuracy
The DSC-T700 scored very well in this test, demonstrating an admirable level of color accuracy for well-lit shots. This means that you can expect your pictures will closely mirror real-life colors; the grass in the playground will be the proper green, and the falling autumnal leaves will be the golden brown and red you remember. The T700 outperformed three out of four cameras we compared it to, bar the Canon Powershot SD1100 IS. Canons generally score particularly well for color accuracy, so the T700 still managed a very good performance.
Resolution (8.17)
Our resolution test isn't designed to look at megapixels, but rather how finely the camera records an image. Rather than just a big file, a high resolution score indicates a large amount of detail in the picture, which gives you additional freedom for cropping and zooming. To this end we shoot a standardized resolution chart at a number of distances, and run the images through Imatest. Imatest then gives us a number which represents resolution as line widths per pixel height (lw/ph), a measure of the number of alternating black and white lines in a selected area.
The T700 records images sharper horizontally than vertically
The T700's result surprised us in this test. When measuring horizontally, it managed a decent 1895 lw/ph, but vertically only a very blurry 674. You can see this in the enlarged image above. The horizontal score is based on the left of the black area, and appears relatively sharp. Contrarily, the vertical score is based on the top of the image, and is excruciatingly blurry. Even through multiple iterations of the test, the result was always similar, with a good horizontal result and a low vertical one. This may be due to a problem with the JPEG compression algorithm, or but that's speculation on our part. Still, based on its strong horizontal resolution performance, the T700 received an above-average score on this test.
The dynamic range test measures how well a camera can record both very bright whites and utter blacks in the same image. In a camera with a high dynamic range, if you took a picture of, say, a wedding, the tuxedos would be jet black, and the dress pure white. However, if the camera has a low dynamic range, it'll drag one of the two extremes into gray. To test how well the T700 could handle such situations, we photograph the Stouffer chart, which has a series of tabs running from black to white through a variety of shades of gray. The chart is shot at a variety of ISOs, and we use Imatest to tell how well it differentiates between the tabs without running them together or over/under exposing the extremes. While the T700 does have dynamic range optimization software, we shoot without this, as using it artificially alters the score.
As you can see in the above graph, the higher ISOs have a tendency to lower dynamic range scores, because the greater light sensitivity inherently bump the blacks into gray. In general, the T700 scored about average for this test. It wasn't a fantastic result, and it's lower than the older T100, but the results here are acceptable.
Sony DSC-T700 Dynamic Range Scores
White Balance (8.54)
Our white balance tests measure the camera's ability to deal with the varying shades of illumination cast by different light sources. Light from the sun, light from a fluorescent bulb and light from an incandescent bulb in your bedroom produce different colored rays. Our brain automatically detects this and compensates for us, so a white piece of paper looks white no matter where we take it. Contrarily, a camera has to try and counteract the difference in illumination, either by adjusting automatically or by having the user choose an appropriate setting. To test how well a camera can handle these various obstacles, we shoot the Gretag Macbeth color chart under several light sources, using both automatic white balance and the appropriate presets. These images are then run through Imatest to check for color accuracy. Keep in mind, the images below are greatly exaggerated to illustrate white balance errors; you will not see this level of difference when actually shooting.
The T700's automatic setting performed slightly below average in our series of tests. It handled lighting from the built-in flash and fluorescent sources very well, but really struggled in the shade and under a tungsten bulb.
Preset (10.74)
The T700s white balance performance was generally more accurate when using manual presets, especially under tungsten bulbs and indirect sunlight. However, the presets for flash and fluorescent lights both produced slightly less accurate results than the automatic mode.
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Exaggerated White Balance Errors (Presets) |
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Overall, the T700 performed more or less on average with the other cameras we've seen. Its auto mode was problematic, as is often the case, especially when shooting in the shade. However, the manual presets were above average, and won't leave you too far astray if you stick to them.
Shop for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T700
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