Overview
The Sony DSC S80 is a four megapixel digital camera with a three times optical zoom lens. This is a standard digital camera in just about every way with a few extra features thrown in for good measure. For anyone who is looking for a camera that they can just turn on and start taking pictures there is a fully automatic mode that will do most of the work for you. The DSC S80 also has a manual mode that will give a more experienced photographer some extra control over the way a photo will look. This model is just right for taking all the usual photos that a casual photographer will take such as holiday snapshots, photos at general social gatherings and pictures for the family album.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
4
3x
2 inches
96.6 x 64.4 x 40.1mm
198g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
10cm
No
Yes
AA
Memory Stick
Image Quality
The DSC S80 produced an excellent set of test shots. I was especially impressed by the outdoor portrait and the indoor shots.
Working through the test shots starting with the outdoor shots all the images are sharp, have a good level of definition and depth of colour. The DSC S80 appears to be especially strong with blues which gives the photos some very good sky colours that help to set off each picture. Light colours are captured well and the only area where I can really see room for improvement is in the darkest areas where a small amount of detail is lost.
Both the outdoor and indoor portraits come out very well indeed. There is a very high level of definition even with the photo taken indoors. The outdoor portrait has a very pleasant warm look to it.
The macro picture is fine without being exceptional and if you are considering using this model for online auctions then you should not have any problems.
One final outstanding result was achieved in my almost total darkness test. This is where I take a photo of some bottles. The photo is well lit and whereas some other cameras struggle to focus properly in these conditions this model makes an excellent attempt.
Shutter Lag and Recycling Times
Shutter lag is the time it takes to take each picture. A constant criticism of digital cameras is the delay in between clicking the shutter button, the picture being taken and also the camera being ready to take the next picture. From a pure shutter lag view the DSC S80 took a picture and recorded it in 0.12 seconds. This is a relatively new test, so I feel a degree of caution is called for, but I have to say early indications are that this is a lightening fast time.
In terms of recycling times I was able to take five pictures in the space of 4.89 seconds. That works out at a rate of 0.98 second per picture. I am not claiming that this is the most scientific tests, but it should give you an indication of the recycling speed of the camera. This is the fastest time recorded so far. My test is carried out indoors under standard conditions and it is possible that you would see better results outside.
Features
The three times optical zoom lens has a focal length that is the equivalent of 39 - 117mm in 35mm format. Further zoom capacity is added by a 6x digital zoom and a 10x smart zoom feature. Close up photography is taken care of by a macro mode that allows you to focus from 10cms away from the subject.
For composing photos and accessing the menu system there is a 2" LCD screen. That is quite a generous size for this type of digital camera. There are a range of useful indicators that appear on the LCD screen as well. These cover the amount of power left in the battery, the amount of storage left before the memory card or internal memory becomes full, an exposure warning to help make sure the shot is not too light or dark, plus a histogram that gives you further feedback on the exposure. There is also a handshake alert. This warns you if the camera is not steady enough and the shot could be blurred.
When you first use the camera the simplest way to get started is to use the default automatic mode. In this setting the camera makes all the key exposure decisions for you. All you need to do is point the camera at the subject and press the shutter button.
The automatic mode is supported by a number of pre programmed scene modes. These are relatively easy to use as well. All you need to do is select the most appropriate type of scene for the photograph you are about to take. By using the scenes you help the camera to take the best possible photo in each different situation. The scene modes available are Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Soft Snap, Landscape, Beach, Candle and Snow.
The most advanced shooting mode on offer is manual mode. In this mode you can set the shutter speed and select between aperture settings of f2.8 and f5.6.
The built in flash unit has a maximum range of 3.8m. This falls to around two and a half meters when the zoom lens is on use. There are a number of flash settings you can choose from. These are automatic where the camera decides whether or not the flash is required, always on, always off and slow synchro. In case you haven't heard of slow synchro before it is often used at night when you would like the background to be lit as well as the subject. You can also turn on red eye reduction to help improve your portrait shots.
Movies of TV quality can be captured at a maximum resolution of 640x480. The maximum speed is thirty frames per second. The duration of each movie is only limited by the capacity of the memory card.
Sony supplies all the necessary cables and software to connect the DSC S80 to a computer, television set or a PictBridge compatible printer.
There are also a number of more advanced controls available to you. These include shutter speeds between 30 and 1/2000 seconds, exposure compensation (+/-2.0 EV, 1/3 EV step), white balance (Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent) and ISO equivalents (80, 100, 200, 400).
There are two methods of metering, multi pattern and spot, plus controls that let you change the levels of contrast, sharpness and saturation. There is also a burst mode that lets you take up to four shots at a rate of one shot every 0.7 seconds.
You can also add conversion lenses to the DSC S80 to further increase its capabilities.
Sony produce a very similar camera, the Sony DSC S90. The only difference between these two cameras in terms of features is the size of the LCD screen. The DSC S90 has a larger 2.5" screen. The smaller LCD screen on this model does give you the advantage of slightly better battery consumption as less power is required by the screen. The DSC S80 is also around £25 cheaper.
Ease of Use
Although it does have a few extra features than the majority of standard digital cameras the DSC S80 remains fairly easy to use. The control dial covering the mode you wish to use sits on the top of the camera. You use it to select automatic mode, a particular type of scene, movie mode and image review. On the back of the camera you will find buttons controlling zoom, flash, self timer and macro mode. From time to time you will need to access the menu system, but I found it relatively easy to use and well thought out.
Cost
You can pick up a Sony DSC S80 for around £165. This compares to around £118 for a Olympus C-480, £120 for a Nikon Coolpix 4600 and £165 for a Canon Powershot A520.
Style
Well anyone who is looking for a super slim lightweight digital camera is advised to look elsewhere. This model has a slightly old fashioned feel to it and some people are likely to be very happy about that. It is a typical rectangular shape with a grip on the front that helps you get a good hold when you are taking a picture. It weighs in at just over 200g so you will certainly notice it if you try putting it in your pocket. It would have to be a large pocket as well as it has dimensions of 96.6 x 64.4 x 40.1mm.
Batteries and Memory Cards
Two AA batteries are required to power the camera. Sony supplies a set of rechargeable batteries and a charger with the DSC S80. In my opinion this is the ideal combination. You can always buy a couple of spare alkaline AA batteries for emergencies and they will not cost a fortune.
The camera does not come with a memory card as it has 32mb of memory built in. I was able to take 18 shots before the internal memory became full. Therefore I would recommend picking up a high capacity memory card to go with the camera. You need to use either Memory Stick or Memory Stick Pro cards with this camera.
Click here to save money on Memory Sticks.
Points I like:
Picture quality
Good indoor shots
Fast acting - low shutter lag times
Ease of use
Where it is not so hot:
Rather heavyweight
Summary
The Sony DSC S80 is a step up from a basic point and shoot digital camera. Even so it remains easy to use. It takes good photos and all in all is a camera that I am very happy to recommend. At the time of writing it is the fastest camera I have tested in terms of the length of time between pressing the shutter button and picture being recorded. The Sony DSC S90 is more or less identical to this model apart from a larger LCD screen. Therefore if you are interested in this camera then you need to consider if it is worth paying an extra £25 for a 2.5" LCD screen.
Sony DSC S80 Front View
Sony DSC S80 Back View
Sony DSC S80 Top View
Sample Menus
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Sony DSC S80 Review Sony DSC S80 Specification Sony DSC S80 Sample Images
