Sony Updates Cyber-shot Line-up

August 22, 2007: A press release from Sony Europe has alerted us to the impending addition of three new models to the company’s Cyber-shot line-up.
The new cameras all feature Sony’s Bionz image processor, which controls autofocus, exposure and other picture settings. It also supports an easy-to-use Face Detection function that includes advanced eye detection and ensures sharp portraits with natural skin tones – even at high zoom settings, in low light or with moving subjects. They also include Double Anti-Blur technology, which reduces camera shake when shooting conditions are less than perfect. Super SteadyShot image stabilisation is coupled with high sensitivity (ISO 3200) for shots taken without flash. Sony’s Clear RAW NR noise reduction suppresses colour and luminance noise for natural-looking results.
The T200 and T70 have been added to the slimline Cyber-shot T Series, both featuring the new Sony Cyber-shot “Smile Shutter” function, which enables the camera to automatically react to a smile – a first for digital photography. This auto shutter system can identify when someone smiles and will immediately take a shot without the photographer needing to press the shutter. If there are several people in the frame, the shutter only fires when the main subject – who is selected using the touchscreen – smiles. A sequence of up to six smiling shots can be taken without needing to manually press the shutter.

The new Smile Shutter mode automatically takes a picture when a smilign subject is detected.
The flagship T200 will be manufactured in silver, black and red and features a 5x optical zoom lens. The svelte T70 will be produced with a choice of silver, black, white, and pink finishes. The Cyber-shot T200 comes with a 3.5 inch LCD screen, while the T70 has a 3.0 inch screen that uses Clear Photo LCD Plus technology. An anti-reflective (AR) coating maximises contrast and visibility when shooting outdoors in bright conditions. Tapping on any part of the screen causes the camera to focus on that point, while touching a face on screen turns on Face Detection. During playback, a brief touch anywhere on screen zooms in on that part of the image for quick checking. The screen’s wide 16:9 aspect ratio offers ideal proportions for viewing images on any connected HD-ready TV set.

The flagship T200 model will be manufactured in three colours.

Four colour options will be produced for the T70.
The new Cyber-shot H3 is the smallest long-zoom digicam Sony has produced. Featuring an 8.1-megapixel imager and Carl Zeiss 10x optical zoom lens (38-380mm equivalent; F3.5-4.4), this model weighs only 246 grams (without battery and card) and measures 106.0 x 68.5 x 47.5 mm. A new Dynamic Range Optimiser (DRO) also adjusts exposure and contrast, analysing each image for balanced, natural-looking results. Sports enthusiasts will welcome the Advanced Sports Shooting Mode, which teams a high 1/2000 sec shutter speed with predictive autofocusing. The H3 also provides a range of in-camera retouching functions, including red-eye reduction, image trimming and several new filter effects. On-screen function guides and a handy home button make the new cameras straightforward for novices to use.

The H3 is the smallest and lightest long-zoom camera Sony has produced.
All three models feature a new Photo TV HD function for displaying images on an HD-ready TV set (HD output adapter cable required). This function optimises the images for subtler, more natural colour and textures on the latest generation of Full HD Bravia TV sets and allows photographers to display slideshows with music. A choice of four visual effects (Simple, Nostalgic, Active and Stylish) and four preset musical accompaniments is provided. Slideshows can be personalised further with MP3 background music tracks imported from a PC.
The new cameras are scheduled for release in Europe next month but, as yet, we have no information on their local release. For details of Sony’s Australian product line-up visit www.sony.com.au.