Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900

Auto Mode

The Sony Cyber-shot T900 offers three different automatic modes. First up is the iAuto mode, which takes care of most options for you. There's also a separate Easy mode that not only does everything automatically but also simplifies the interface to make the T900 even easier to use. For those who want more control you can use Program mode. This automates exposure but gives you access to the most additional controls. In this mode you get four new icons at the bottom of the screen for focus, metering, ISO and exposure compensation.

iAuto, Program or Easy, pick your poison.

Movie Mode

One of the big upgrades on the Sony Cyber-shot T900 over its predecessor the T700 is support for 720p HD video recording. The T700 was only able to handle 640 x 480 VGA quality. It seems like 720p video recording has become something of a standard feature on more expensive point and shoots, and the T900 certainly qualifies on that score.

720p video recording is a big step up.

Drive/Burst Mode

The Sony Cyber-shot T900 offers continuous shooting as well as three bracketing options. With continous shooting turned on you can take a maximum of 100 shots at 1.8 frames per second.

The T900 can achieve up to 1.8 fps.

Playback Mode

Playback on the Sony Cyber-shot T900 offers up a touch friendly interface, similar to what we see in image capture. You enter playback mode by pressing the dedicated button just above the display on the top bezel of the camera. Once there you will see your latest image or video with icons arranged around the edges for navigation, menus, delete, zoom and a slide show. Tapping on a point in the picture will also take you to zoom mode, where you use the touch screen to pan and zoom. Pressing the menu button will give you a selection of editing options, including red-eye removal, rotation and a variety of different effects.

Playback on the touch-screen can look a bit busy.

Custom Image Presets

Tapping on the mode icon just above the Menu button towards the left of the screen will allow you to select your capture mode. In addition to automatic modes there are five scene modes available in this view. There's also a separate Scene button that will bring up even more scene modes, as you see below. At the top level you can choose from landscape, twilight portrait, twilight, gourmet, high sensitivity, and soft snap, which blurs the background a bit while keeping your subject in focus.

There are 12 scene modes available on the T900.

Pressing the Scene button will give you five additional scene modes you can select from. These are beach, snow, fireworks, underwater, and hi-speed shutter.