Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100 review

Sony's pocket-friendly Cyber-shot DSC-T100 is larger than it looks, almost matching the dimensions of Sony's flagship 10-megapixel N2.

However, while there's the same-size 3in LCD panel, the new 8 megapixel T100 boasts space-saving folded-optics with a substantially more impressive 5x zoom range. It's the equivalent to a 38-175mm f/3.5-4.4 and is one of the longest telephoto zooms currently available in a pocket camera.

Given the longer focal length, we're pleased to see Sony's double anti-blur technology. It's a combination of Super SteadyShot (optical image stabiliser) to combat the shakes and high ISOs, up to 3200 ISO to prevent motion blur. When it's ready to shoot, you'll also appreciate the camera's wealth of focusing options. As well as this season's must-have face-detection AF and AE mode, there's a new nine-point AF system plus central and spot options for everyday shooting, and a 1cm close-focus option for incredible, larger-than-life close-ups.

With fast startup, focus and shot-to-shot times, as well as an impressive 1.2fps burst mode, the T100 certainly won't keep you waiting. The controls to the rear are basic, but a new Home button replaces the more usual shooting mode dial, and it's here you'll find the 30fps VGA movies, setup menu and various printing and playback choices, including an option for slideshows with effects and music. Although we had few concerns with Sony's previous menus, the T100's new layout, with its grey background and mixture of white and black anti-aliased fonts, is certainly clear and easy to navigate.

The T100 doesn't offer much in the way of manual control: it has no direct control over aperture settings or shutter speeds. Like the majority of compacts, it has, instead, a raft of scene-based presets that alter image parameter settings, AF, metering and sensitivity accordingly, as well as a full auto point-and-shoot mode with limited overrides. The widest range of options, though, is provided in the Program shooting mode. Oddly, though, there are no quality options.

You can fine-tune image size, including an HD 16:9 (1920 x 1080 pixels) option, but not compression. Usefully, the T100 has a choice of bracketing, multi, centre or spot metering modes and - impressively - flash output, although the latter is limited to just a single higher or lower setting. You can also alter colour, but not sharpness or contrast.

The 8 megapixel CCD provides fine detail in pictures and images are sharp at the widest settings. However, even with the stabiliser, you have to take care to prevent blur using the telephoto. Colours have an intense look from oversaturation, and speckled noise is visible even at 200 ISO. Skin tones look respectable, though, and we can't really fault the face detection AF, which performs very well.

Not only did the T100 pick up moving subjects with ease, but the D-range optimisation feature also provided pleasing results in high-contrast lighting.

Like rival offerings, however, it has a tendency to concentrate on just one person if there are several on screen, and exposure accuracy isn't as impressive when dealing with other subjects. Indoors, colour inaccuracies with incandescent light give an orangey cast and switching the white balance preset doesn't lessen the effect.

Ultimately, the Sony Cyber-shot T100 is a good choice when pitted against similar offerings such as the Casio Exilim Hi-Zoom EX-V7 with its x7 optical zoom. For overall image quality, though, we're still tempted by the Canon Ixus 70.