Photo gallery: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T10Design
First impressions count. Our initial response when picking up Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-T10 was that it is a compact, stylish camera perfect for taking with you on an evening out. It's sleek and slim with a durable surface that's hard-wearing as well as attractive. The matt finish means you don't have to worry about fingerprints, or clean it constantly to keep it looking good. Maintaining the same design principles as its predecessor, the Cyber-shot DSC-T9, the sliding lens cover on the camera doubles as the on/off function which means that once you've programmed your settings, it is very quick to turn on the camera and start snapping. Expanding the range of available colours from the T9's black and silver offerings, the T10 is also available in white and pink.
Features
The Cyber-shot DSC-T10 boasts 7.2 megapixels, up from the T9's 6 megapixel resolution. The 3x optical zoom is standard on most snapshooters this size, but the 6x digital zoom is a nice improvement from the average 4x on competing models.
Setting up the T10 was almost effortless. Time and date functions are easy to access and the menu is centralised which allows you to customise settings quickly.
The 2.5-inch LCD screen makes it easy for the user to set up and frame the shot they want. This is particularly useful for taking pictures of groups or larger landscape scenes. The screen is also practical for displaying images after they have been taken, and there is the option to view your images as a slide show accompanied by music.
The Cyber-shot DSC-T10 also features 56MB of internal memory so you've got ample storage space for your photos, even if you don't have a high capacity memory card. We maxed out the built-in memory with about 40 images -- a generous amount that should easily allow you to cover a spontaneous experience or event.
Performance
The different settings are straightforward to use, although the manual is good at explaining what the different symbols indicate if you are not familiar with the functions. The T10 offers a selection of manual controls, including the option to choose the shutter speed when gauging light conditions. While you can control several features on the camera, we found that the T10 was adaptable and quick at understanding the light conditions, often allowing us to rely on its auto settings to get the best results in a range of conditions.
One useful setting that the Cyber-shot DSC-T10 offers is a high sensitivity option (ISO 1000). This is ideal for situations where you are unable to use the flash or you find yourself in a darker environment at a distance from the subject, such as a concert where you are taking images some distance from the stage. In this scenario, the T10 performed well, considering that at lower ISO settings, the Cyber-shot DSC-T10 is prone to producing red-eye when using the flash in low-light.
Sony's Super Steady Shot optical image stabilisation is useful to help counteract the effects of movement and resulting blurriness with the inclusion of a self-correcting feature and stabilisation lens.
Battery life on the T10 is good, despite the size of the large LCD screen draining power. Depending on the number of photos you take, the battery life may enable you to shoot one or several events without recharging. Sony claims that the InfoLithium battery lets you shoot up to 250 pictures -- a claim we found quite accurate based on our usage.
Image Quality
During our review period, we took a variety of shots in several locations. In one crowded area, we tested the image stabilisation by taking a variety of shots while holding the camera at arms length above our heads -- a scenario in which arm wobbling is unavoidable. The conditions were fairly challenging and while the camera did not always create a perfect picture, the Cyber-shot DSC-T10 still took some good focused shots and reduced the effects of the shakes and movement.
The Cyber-shot DSC-T10 is the first camera from Sony to come bundled with GPS Image Tracker software. When used with the Sony GPS-CS1, this allows photographs to be matched with their geographic coordinates. The GPS-CS1 is sold seperately, at a recommended retail price of AU$229. Geotagging photos is becoming popular, however when you add the cost of the GPS module to the AU$549 cost of the camera, it starts to get a little pricey.
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