Auto Mode (6.5)
The automatic mode in this camera is pretty basic, which is perfect for people who don’t want to spend any time messing with settings just to take snapshots. In terms of response time the Sony DSC-P100 performed well and is not likely to disappoint. It gives you the option of choosing the size of your image and whether or not to have the following options on or off: auto focus assist illuminator, red-eye reduction, date and time, auto review (all accessed in Set Up mode), self-timer, flash, and macro (controlled by buttons on the back of the camera). If Sony has any desire to appeal to a more advanced audience they should beef up the options available in the Auto mode. They should at least include a couple options for self-timer and auto review modes.

Movie Mode (7.0)
The movie-recording feature on this camera is pretty basic, but it’s a fun option to play with. To begin recording, you turn the mode dial to the image that looks like a filmstrip. Just as it does with still image recording, the movie mode has options to change exposure, focus, metering, white balance, picture effect, and size. The Sony DSC-P100 records movies at 30 fps (frames per second) which is becoming more common for cameras in this range and above. The image size can be set to 640 pixels (fine), 640 pixels (standard), and 160 pixels. Playback mode for movies is pretty much the same as for still images. The divide function is the only different option. Using the arrow and dot buttons (four-way arrows and the dot in the middle), you can select which part of the movie you would like to cut. When you do this the camera automatically creates new files for each section and deletes the original file. You then have the option of deleting unwanted clips and saving the ones you want.

Drive / Burst Mode (7.5)
The Sony P100 has continuous shooting capabilities. The number of shots attained in one shooting is dependant on the quality or size of the desired images. The P100 contains both burst and multiburst modes. Burst mode is available in both fine and standard shooting settings and will determine how many images are possible. While holding the shutter release button, the succession of shots is taken while showing “recording” in the LCD or viewfinder, notifying the user that Burst mode is active. While the shutter button is depressed, the maximum number of images will be recorded unless the button is released. In 5M image size, the highest quality the P100 offers, 9 images can be recorded in “fine” setting, while 15 images can be recorded in “standard” mode. In the lowest quality setting on the P100, 1M sized images allows the user to sequentially capture 32 images in “fine” setting, while 59 images can be taken in “standard” setting. There is also a VGA or “email” setting that is at reduced quality, allowing for 100 images to be captured continuously.

The P100 also offers a “multi-burst” mode, enabling 16 sequential images to be captured in rapid succession each time the shutter release button is pressed. There are shutter interval options within the multiburst mode, controlling the rate of exposure for each of the 16 frames. The intervals offered are 1/7.5, 1/15, and 1/30.

Playback Mode (7.0)
The playback mode has seven still image options (and one movie mode option) accessible through the menu. The first is the folder option, which allows you to organize your saved images by saving them in different folders. (To create new folders, you need to go into setup mode under the memory stick tool.) The next option is to protect an image to prevent it from being accidentally erased. A little icon of a key should be displayed on the image when the action is complete.

The DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) can be used to indicate images that you want to print on a PictBridge compliant printer or in a professional shop. This is a pretty basic option, and doesn’t allow you to choose the number of images. The Print option is used when the camera is connected to a PictBridge compliant printer. It gives you the option of printing the image you’re currently on, or choosing one that you have selected in DPOF mode.

The slide show option allows you to create a presentation of images stored on your memory stick. Within the slide show function, you can choose which images to include (either all the images on the card or just those in certain folders), whether you want them to repeat in a continuous loop, and the interval at which they stay onscreen (3 sec, 5 sec, 10 sec, 30 sec, or one minute).

The playback mode of the DSC-P100 allows you to make a few basic image editing changes. By pressing the zoom button, you can enlarge your image from its original form. If you press menu, it gives you the option to trim the image to its new size. This is a nice function because it also saves the original image. Next on the menu is the option to choose the image size from VGA (email=640 x 480), 1M (1280 x 960), 3M (2048 x 1536), and 5M (2592 x 1944). And, finally, you can rotate your image using the left and right arrows. Keep on pressing the buttons if you wish to rotate it more than 90 degrees.

Custom Image Presets (7.5)
The Sony DSC-P100 has a slightly different way of arranging their auto scene modes. Instead of having a separate mode for each scene there is a Scene Selection mode with 9 different selections within: twilight, twilight portrait, landscape, soft snap, snow, beach, high-speed shutter, fireworks, and candle mode. Once you turn to the scene selection mode you have to go into the menu to choose your desired mode. This is kind of a cumbersome way of doing this, but since the Sony DSC-P100 has so many options available it makes more sense than to make a button/dial for each one. The modes offered are pretty standard for digital cameras, but it's a good number for such a small camera.