New Sony Cyber-shot camera’s video capture goes high def
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Aug 28, 2008 at 12:32pm
Sony is adding high-definition movie recording to its digital camera line with the introduction of the Cyber-shot DSC-T500 model. This 10-megapixel camera features wide and full-screen 720p movie recording at 30 frames per second in fine, standard and VGA recording modes. This resolution is three times higher than standard-definition movies.
The movie function is based on the MPEG4 AVC/H.264 codec for video compression and stereo audio. Benefits of the format include high-quality video as well as small file sizes that are easy to download, upload and share, says Phil Lubell, director of digital camera marketing at Sony Electronics.
Movie capture on this model is further enhanced to include zoom while in recording mode and high-sensitivity shooting for natural- or low-light environments. The camera can continuously record a video clip up to 10 minutes in length. It can hold hours of clips by expanding the camera’s capacity with a Memory Stick media card (media sold separately), which now has capacities up to 16 GB. It also features a dual photo and video capture mode. Press the photo button while in movie mode and capture up to three photos with no recording interruption.
The T500 camera integrates a wide (16:9), 3.5-inch (measured diagonally), transflective, touch panel LCD screen for easy navigation, framing and viewing in strong light conditions. It has a Carl Zeiss® 5x optical zoom lens with a wide field of view (33 – 165 mm, 35 mm equivalency). It incorporates Optical SteadyShot image stabilization and high sensitivity settings up to ISO3200.
The model also incorporates face detection technology, an intelligent function that automatically detects up to eight faces in the camera frame and adjusts focus, exposure and flash. The T500 camera connects to a compatible HD television via an HDMI cable (sold separately).
The DSC-T500 will ship in black with a brushed metal finish in late September for about US$400. All cameras and a range of accessories can be purchased online at Sony Style retail stores, at military base exchanges, and at authorized dealers nationwide. Pre-orders begin on Aug. 29.
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Contributor
Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
