Overview
The Sony DSC T70 is an 8 megapixel, pocket sized digital camera. One of the main attractions of the camera is likely to be the fact it has a touch screen. This allows you to change camera settings by following a series of on screen commands instead of using buttons and dials. The DSC T70 includes the increasingly popular face detection technology and image stabilisation.
It also has a special mode where it is able to automatically detect when someone is smiling. It can then fire off a shot without the need for you to press the shutter button. Another very useful tool is the built in red eye retouch. This helps you to remove red eye from a photo you have already taken.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
8
3x
3 inches
90 x 56.4 x 20.7mm
128g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
8cm
No
No
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
Outdoor 1 (Medium Zoom):
My tests for the DSC T70 were carried out in autumn. At this time of the year the sun tends to shine down at an awkward angle onto the boats creating a large amount of glare. The camera handled the glare well when compared to other cameras I tested at the same time. Loss of detail was well controlled, although some of the blue lines on the boats show with a purple tinge.
Perhaps more importantly sharpness levels are above average. They are not perfect, but the camera stands up well in this area when compared to many of its rivals.
Colours are about right as are brightness levels.
Outdoor 2 (No Zoom):
With no zoom being used the DSC T70 does produce a softer shot. This should not be a big issue if you are making smaller prints, but for large ones this is likely to be more noticeable when shooting more distant subjects.
Outdoor 3 (Maximum Zoom):
With maximum zoom applied sharpness if roughly average for a compact camera. With the subject a bit distant this test really pushes a camera with a standard 3x zoom towards its limits.
Portraits
Outdoor Portrait:
This is a good attempt. I have used the white balance cloudy setting to increase the depth of colour. This has lead to the photo having a pleasant warm feel. With face detection switched on the photo focuses well on the face.
Indoor Portrait with Flash:
No problems for the DSC T70 in less than perfect light when the flash is on. I like the lighting levels and the flash is not harsh. The image is sharp with focusing working well too. There was a small amount of red eye in the shot, but it was cleared away by the in-camera red eye retouch tool.
Indoor Portrait without Flash:
This photo doesn't really work. It is too dark and the DSC T70 struggles to focus in the available light. It looks like you will need flash for indoor photos taken later in the day.
Macro, Colours and Noise
Macro:
The macro shot is above average. The DSC T70 is able to handle the lighting well and produce a sharp photo. The only problem in the shot is that the camera's shiny finish causes a reflection in the glass of the watch face.
Colours:
I like the strength of the colours the camera produces. They are lively enough without being too strong.
ISO 400:
At ISO 400 picture quality is surprisingly good. This may help you get round some lower light conditions. The photo is not completely free of noise, but it is a good effort none the less and highlights an area where there has been an improvement in quality from a number of brands this year.
ISO 3200:
If I was making this camera I would make ISO 800 the top setting. By the time you reach that level there is enough noise as it is. Moving on through ISO 1600 and ISO 3200 produces very low quality images.
Summary
The test photos produced by the DSC T70 are not quite top drawer, but they are of above average quality for a small, pocket camera. The outdoor scenic shots work well and so long as you use flash you should get decent lower light photos as well.
Style
Simple, but attractive pocket sized digital camera. The front is plain with a sliding lens cover. The DSC T70 has an aluminium body.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
0.18 seconds
6.05 seconds
0.4 seconds
13.87 seconds
Ease of Use
I thought a touch control screen was likely to make the camera easier to use. To be honest I am not convinced of it yet. Once you know your way around it can speed up selecting the controls you would like to use.
Points I Like
Low shutter lag - picture quality - design - extra features
Where it Could Improve
I would like to see a touch more sharpness in some photos.
Verdict
If you are looking for a camera that will easily fit into a pocket then the Sony DSC T70 is certainly worth considering. Picture quality is some way above average and I like the sleek design of this part of the Sony range. The very fast shutter response is also a big plus point.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
Top Rated Cameras in this Category
Canon IXUS 310 HS Rating 86/100
The Canon IXUS 310 HS is one of the best touch controlled digital cameras. It has 12 megapixels and a 4.4x wide angle lens. The screen is very responsive to touch. This is due partly to the larger screen size than many touch controlled digital cameras offer. Picture quality is excellent and the build quality is top quality. If you are looking for a touch controlled digital camera the IXUS 310 HS is worth a very close look.
Read Review: Canon IXUS 310 HS Review
Canon IXUS 220 HS Rating 86/100
The Canon IXUS 220 HS is a pocket sized digital camera. It looks good, is well made and can take an impressive snapshot in most situations. It may not have every in vogue feature, but it has an extra touch of all round quality about it
Read Review: Canon IXUS 220 HS Review
Canon IXUS 115 HS Rating 86/100
The Canon IXUS 115 HS is a classy looking, pocket digital camera. It can shoot Full HD movies and has a high quality 3 inch LCD screen. When it comes to picture quality the IXUS 115 HS outclasses many of its direct competitors.
Read Review: Canon IXUS 115 HS Review
Related Pages
Sony DSC T70 Review Sony DSC T70 Specification Sony DSC T70 Sample Images Sony DSC T70 Features
Review Date
October 2007
