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Sony Cybershot DSC-F717 Digital Camera (Sony-DSCF717)

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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F717 Review

by Tracey Capen

- WHAT'S HOT: When we reviewed Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-F707 last April, we noted its inventive design, uncommon low-light shooting capabilities, long battery life, and dazzling images. The DSC-F717 retains all of that and adds USB 2.0 connectivity, zone autofocus, a manual zoom ring, and numerous smaller refinements. Like its predecessor, the F717 has an unusual shape--it's basically a large "L" with a 5X optical zoom lens making up one leg and the square-shaped body making up the other. It's neither compact nor light, and it takes two hands to operate comfortably, but for the most part its controls are well placed. The F717 is a touch more flexible than most of its competitors: The lens rotates vertically around the body, which helps when you're trying for awkward ground-level shots or shooting over the heads in a crowd. (With the former, the LCD panel is facing up; for the latter, it's pointing down.)

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User Reviews for Sony Cybershot DSC-F717 Digital Camera (Sony-DSCF717)

Reviewed by: unclesmrgol

Duration of ownership:

Strengths: standard hotshoe -- you can use non-Sony flashes.excellent magnification range -- 35mm to 200mmbest autofocus I've ever hadno step-up filter ring needed.

Weaknesses: wide angle isn't wide enough for vistas.a bit of noise at high ISO settings.a lot of shutter lag

Overall Evaluation: I take thousands of pictures of marching bands every year. This camera was purchased as a replacement for two previous cameras, and has not failed to produce pictures which wow the crowds. A marching band can fill a football field, and your average high school or junior college stadium doesn't have seating far enough from the field for this camera to get the entire field without a wide angle adapter. The camera certainly does have enough magnification for you to catch individuals on the field, provided you use a tripod. With that thought in mind, the camera has produced excellent pictures at all magnifications and ISO settings. I normally take parades during the day at ISO 100/200, and this camera produces stuff good enough for 11x14 photos. At ISO 800 (night time field shows), the results aren't as stunning due to a bit of noise, but are certainly more than adequate for a full screen web display. The non-dedicated hot shoe is really cool. Unfortunately, you have to navigate Sony's menu system to turn it on, but once on, you can stick your favorite ancient giant manual flash on the top, set shutter speed to flash's sync speed, calibrate the f-stop to the flash's output, and there you go.
Reviewed by: Grigolly

Duration of ownership:

Strengths: movable lens, plenty useful functions, comfortable form

Weaknesses: Expensive accessories and memory cards

Overall Evaluation: It is a great camera. Very easy to get used to, comfortable L form, movable lens, just great. Moreover it has plenty of options! 5mp is enough even if you are going to print A3 size photos. Noise on ISO 100 and on ISO 200 is low; ISO 400 and ISO 800 are very noisy. if you are going to purchase this camera, you'd better buy at least 128mb memory too. And if you are going to use it while camping, of sightseeing tour, I would recommend you to acquire better battery (290 minutes are not enough and it takes 140 minutes to charge it).Anyway I am using this camera for more than 7 months and I still think that it is the best camera

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