Model Design / Appearance (7.5)
The Sony DSC-F828 has a unique lens-centric design that is central to its handling and overall ease of use, and consequently its appearance. The lens barrel, unlike other digital cameras, is on a hinge joint, which allows for a unique range of motion. Although perhaps not what it was intended to be used for, I found myself rotating the body to get a better look at the LCD, as opposed to rotating the lens. The entire camera body is black, which gives it a more professional look than, say, the DSC-F717, which is all silver.
The grip side of the DSC-F828 is crafted with security in mind, as a tight grip with only the right hand will keep this camera steady. The shutter button is naturally placed and in easy reach of the right hand index finger. Similarly, the mode dial on top, and the white balance, gain, and exposure buttons in front, are in easy reach of the right hand index finger. Picture adjustments can be made very easily, and it’s a good thing as the pressing of these buttons in combination with rotating the all-black in-menu selector dial is an integral part of making manual adjustments. All the remaining buttons on the back, which are not accessed as frequently as those on top, are within easy reach of the right hand thumb.
The mode dial on the top of the grip side of the DSC-F828 is well marked, and the outer ring is studded for easy gripping and twisting. Overall, the Sony DSC-F828 is a sleek looking camera with a well-planned design. There’s just something about black plastic that’s so much cooler than silver gray!
Size / Portability (4.5)
This is an SLR style camera all the way, so don’t plan on taking it with you on a Friday night out on the town with friends. Then again, it looks cool enough to make a great conversation piece. The DSC-F828 comes with an equally stylish case. This camera is big; it was not designed to slip into one of your pockets no matter how baggy your cargo pants are. The rotating lens barrel makes it a little larger than other SLR-style digital cameras; users shouldn’t see this as a design weakness, but as a feature that takes a little getting used to. Weighing in at nearly 2 lbs., the DSC-F828 isn’t as heavy as some higher priced digital SLR cameras, but users should be prepared to heft around a weighty piece of consumer electronics. Sony reports the DSC-F828’s measurements as: 134 x 91 x 156 mm (5.3 x 3.6 x 6.1 in). The biggest portion of the camera is the lens.
Handling Ability (7.5)
Within a relatively short time of first handling the Sony DSC-F828, I found myself acclimating easily to the feel, weight, and overall handling of the camera. I did find, however, that the rotating lens barrel does not stay in place with lens attachments. I mounted a wide angle lens adapter on the front of the lens, and the weight just forced it to the bottom of its rotation. If users have attachments or add-ons, be prepared to steady the camera at all times with the left hand. The Sony DSC-F828 is designed with navigation and manual adjusting in mind. The numerous onscreen displays (histogram, focus, etc.) crowd the LCD, but are necessary for acquiring the best possible photo. Users can turn the unique lens-centric design into a design that works for them, mostly by rotating the body so that the important menu/LCD/viewfinder features are in constant view. Despite the unique design, the Sony DSC-F828 is a delight to hold, and both hands naturally find comfortable places to rest on the camera’s body.
Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (7.0)
The buttons are all intelligently placed on the Sony DSC-F828, allowing for quick adjustments to exposure, gain, and white balance, as well as easy access to mode buttons like burst mode, spot focusing, flash, macro and NightShot modes. The main mode selector dial requires two fingers for best accuracy, as it is a little stiff to get moving, but it’s easy to determine that the dial is correctly in place. The Jog Dial and menu button are within easy reach of the right thumb, and the corresponding and equally important “in menu” dial is easily rotated by the right thumb as well.
Menus (9.0)
The menu button is located on the back of the Sony DSC-F828, left of the jog dial. When the button is depressed, menu options are displayed in a bar at the bottom of the LCD/Viewfinder. Using the jog dial, users can navigate left to right, up and down, through the various menus. The menus, left to right, are: ISO, Image Size, Picture Quality, REC mode, Picture Effect, Color, Saturation, Contrast, and Sharpness. The selection available will be white in the menu bar, and menu specific selections are denoted with a gold box and accompanying 3D check mark. Sony has one of the best menu layouts on the market, as it’s easy and intuitive to navigate from the get go, with all available options (most of them anyway) displayed.
Overall, Sony’s F828 menu is one of the best around. It’s extremely easy to navigate, and doesn’t leave users guessing where they are, where they came from, or where they are going. No, it’s not an answer to the purpose of life, just well thought out design.
Ease of Use (5.0)
The Sony DSC-F828 handles differently from other SLR or digital cameras. With its lens-centric design and rotating body, users should be prepared to spend some time getting used to the distribution of weight and placement of buttons. The left hand naturally fits under the lens barrel of the Sony DSC-F828, and can easily absorb the bulk of the weight leaving the right hand free for making adjustments and engaging the shutter.
This is certainly not a point-and-shoot digital camera, so a certain amount of ease of use goes out the window. However, the placement of buttons, dials, menus, etc., is intelligent and accessible by the appropriate finger or thumb. The zoom has a balanced tension to it while in use, and the focus is easily manageable. The menu systems are intuitive and the icons are accompanied by their descriptions. Navigating settings, features, and options available on the Sony DSC-F828 takes some adjusting (as with any camera) but they are laid out such that, over time, you’ll need little thought to access them.
Overall, I found the Sony DSC-F828 very easy to use, although I did consult the menu from time to time. The rotating body was great for making the viewfinder and LCD more accessible in a variety of shooting postures and situations. Users should be warned, though, that if attachments are your bag, the rotating lens body won’t support much more weight than the lens itself. This is one of the easiest digital cameras on the market to acclimate yourself to and to use. The hands fall naturally into place, and the menu system is unparalleled for getting around. If Sony does one thing right, it's making a product easy to use. Their marketing would lead me to believe that they know it.
