Sony DSCS75 Cyber-shot 3MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

by Sony

Product Details

Product Manual [1.88mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 2.7 x 4.6 x 2.9 inches ; 14.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00005I9PG
• Item model number: DSCS75
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,470 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 28, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

The feature-rich Sony DSC-S75 digital camera presents a very plausible replacement for a traditional 35mm film camera. It features a 3.3-megapixel CCD, a superb Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 3x optical zoom lens, 2x digital zoom (for a 6x total zoom), and other extras such as movie mode and voice recording for annotations.

The DSC-S75 is larger than most of Sony's other Cyber-shot cameras, but it's nicely weighted and benefits from the rubber grip to the left of the lens. The DSC-S75 shares many features with the Sony MVC-CD300, including a variety of modes, such as simultaneous recording of both TIFF and JPEG images, a voice mode that records an audio file of between 5 and 40 seconds together with the still image, and the ability to record both short MPEG movies with sound and animated GIFs. However, unlike the MVC-CD300, the DSC-S75 has only a two-image burst mode and no exposure bracketing feature.

Sony has added some useful features for reviewing and editing images on the camera before they have been uploaded, including a 5x LCD zoom, a slideshow feature, and the ability to enlarge and trim images. You can also divide MPEG movies into two separate files. The DSC-S75 also records the exposure, shutter speed, and aperture setting of each image for later reference.

Playback of images is either via TV by use of supplied AV cable, through a Memory Stick reader (such as the Sony MSACUS1A), or by attaching the camera to the PC via the supplied USB cable. In this last case, the camera is mounted as a new drive on your Mac or PC's desktop, allowing easy transfer of images to the hard drive.

The camera is supplied with an AC adaptor, rechargeable battery pack, 8 MB Memory Stick, AV connecting cable, shoulder strap, a rather short USB cable, and software on CD-ROM. --Nick Baxter

Pros:

• Good replacement for 35mm SLR
• Superb Carl Zeiss lens
• Useful preview options
• Nice extras, including audio file annotation and MPEG movies with sound

Cons:

• Only 3x optical zoom
• Limited to two-image burst mode

Amazon.com Product Description

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S75 builds upon the robust DSC-S70 with a number of significant improvements. Enhancements include a new jog dial for camera settings, faster autofocus, more metal in the body, a further centralized lens position, a larger hand grip with thicker rubber, and a superior menu system. This is also Sony's first camera ever to have a 14-bit DXP A/D converter for better range of color. The DSC-S75's sophisticated camera body consists of a magnesium alloy front and high-impact plastic back. It features a 3x, 7-21mm Carl Zeiss "Vario Sonnar" zoom lens (34-102mm equivalent in 35mm) and an additional 2x digital zoom. Other feature highlights include: 1.8-inch color LCD monitor with backlight, auto and manual focus control, high-speed scan autofocus, an eye-level true zoom optical viewfinder, movie mode with sound and clip recording, a 40-step shutter priority, 13-step aperture priority, full manual exposure option, and built-in flash with four operating modes.

With the button and dial system, you can set the DSC-S75 to automatic or manually control almost every element of operation. For example, you can set the ISO sensitivity and the white balance. You can also select exposure metering for a center-weighted average or spot-metering. Shutter priority can be adjusted from 8 to 1/1000 seconds in 40 steps as well as aperture range from F/2.0 to F/8.0 in 13 steps. Additionally, the camera features manual exposure, exposure compensation, in-camera sharpening, and program AE.

The retracting zoom lens saves space, while still offering an aperture of F/2.0 to F/2.5 and a Contrast Detect focus with AF (AutoFocus) illuminator light. In normal AF, the focus range extends from 19.7 inches to infinity; in Macro AF the focus has a 1.6-inch minimum. The DSC-S75 supports manual focus from 0.1m to infinity in 13 steps using the jog dial. The included InfoLithium battery lasts for nearly three hours of continuous shooting, on average. With the supplied charger, the battery charges in-camera, while charge status displays on the LCD screen.

Images can be recorded in JPEG or GIF compression formats, as well as TIFF for uncompressed. You can even record movies in MPEG EX mode; the highest quality clip is 16 fps. Internally, the camera handles A/D conversion at 14-bit DXP. All relevant information displays on either the main color LCD or the status LCD. The color, 1.8-inch LCD contains a 123,200-pixel capacity with backlight. The optical viewfinder features true zoom with diopter adjustment. The internal flash includes red-eye reduction as well as auto, forced, and off. An optional external flash connects via an ACC port and flash shoe.

The DSC-S75 is compatible with both PC and Mac, with USB connectivity. The complete package includes an 8 MB Memory Stick, InfoLithium battery, charger/AC supply, A/V output cable, shoulder strap, and lens cap with strap. The bundled software is MGI PhotoSuite 8.1, MGI PhotoSuite SE 1.1, and Sony USB driver.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

108 of 109 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars May possibly replace my 35mm, July 5, 2001

By 

Clifford Simpkins (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony DSCS75 Cyber-shot 3MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

What can I say? I really like this camera! I'm a 35mm photo-hobbiest that previously owned/used a Mavica FD-81, and was looking for something that was smaller, faster, and took cleaner pictures. I originally was looking at the S50, but with that model on it's way out (being replaced by the S55 possibly, depending on sales of the P50...I'm told), I looked into (and bought) this model.

This camera may actually begin to replace my 35mm. First off, the camera's lens takes some excellent pictures: clarity, color, etc. Combined with the tons of manual override features, it gives me the visual control I found lacking in other models (you can even disable the digital zoom altogether, a big feature for me). And the LCD capabilities also stand out against the competitors: (1) you don't have to use it (a view window is provided, which is centered to the lens...so you really get what you see) and this almost triples your battery life, and (2) LCD image review allows you to zoom in/out of pictures to verify that you got the details you were looking for. Expansion speaking, Sony uses the memory stick technology in their cameras (I can share my 64 MB sticks between my mp3 player and this), it has a slot to attach a more professional model flash, and the camera lens supports add-ons. As well, the speed is phenominal - it takes the pictures quick...and you don't have to half-press the button to focus before you take the pic...just press once and it'll auto-focus and take the picture on it's own.

There are only two real downsides of note to the S75: (1) size and (2) ease of image distribution. There are a lot of cameras out there that are both smaller and lighter; however, I found this model to have the same size and feel as my Nikon 35mm, so that didn't bother me. As well, I miss being able to use the straight-to-disk feature of the Mavica. Also, beware - out of the box it's set to 2048x1536 fine (which will blow up to poster-size without pixilating, BTW) - which will eat up the 8MB stick in about 5 pics...reducing it down to 1280x960 let me fit a lot more before I upgraded my memory stick.

If size and weight is your ultimate selling point, take a look at the P1 or the P50; but if you want the pictures and the control of a real 35mm, this is definitely the camera for you.

99 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Getting Closer, July 1, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Sony DSCS75 Cyber-shot 3MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

The Sony DSC-S75 brings digital photography one step closer to the output one acheives with a 35mm camera.

The unit fits perfectly in ones hand and is ergonomically well designed. It has an in-camera recharable battery that gives you an amazing amount of shooting power over time. The Carl Zeiss lens yields some of the sharpest prints I have ever seen produced by a digital camera. Even 8x10s look gorgeous when shot in the fine mode.

The camera has all the bells and whistles that allow the photographer different degrees of control over the image. Shutter priority, aperture priority, manual overide and digital zoom are but a few. The macro mode allows you to get extremely close to an object with fantastic results.

On the negative side, Sony embarasses itself when it ships this item with only an 8 mb memory stick. You must factor in the price of a 32mb stick into your budget. I loved the camera so much that I splurged on a 128mb stick and now I can shoot until my finger gets sore!

This aside, I highly recommend this beautifully engineered piece of equipment. I am beginning to reconsider my reliance on the 35 mm camera.

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best advanced camara for the money., December 3, 2002

By 

SirWired (Raleigh, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony DSCS75 Cyber-shot 3MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

This camara is NOT for somebody that want to just take a few snapshots every once and a while to stick on a web page, and maybe make a print once in a blue moon for a really good shot. If you want something like that, there are camaras that are smaller, lighter, cheaper, and easier to use.

This camara is NOT for somebody who is a photo fanatic. If you want razor-sharp prints the size of posters, or if you want to take pictures of hummingbirds in flight, there are camaras that have interchangeable lenses, higher resolution and better image controls.

If you are semi-serious about your photography, require a good lens, decent control over the photos, and spectacular batter life, this camara is an excellent value.

Equipped with an excellent (if bulky) Zeiss lens, this camara can produce much better pictures than other three (and even four) mega-pixel camaras that only have tiny, small things. One thing you must remember is that mega-pixels are useless if the lens cannot deliver detail that fine to the camara. This lens can. The 3MP it has will do just fine for any size print up to and including 8x10's.

The user interface for the camara is simple enough, which makes up for the somewhat lousy manual. My only complaint about the controls is that the cursor movement button is hard to center correctly. This is a minor point, as I have never had it cause a problem other than me having to hit the button twice.

The pictures are razor sharp and the camara is capable of perfect white balance. (For those that don't know, bad white balance is what causes some pictures under flourescent light to look green, and incadescents look yellow.) All you have to do to adjust it to perfect every time is to keep a white index card in your camara case and then use the "one touch" balance control to re-calibrate it in a couple of seconds.

You can make small movies with this unit, but they aren't suitable for anything but posting to the web. Let's face it, this isn't a camcorder.

The included rechargable lithium battery is more than enough for a full day or two of shooting, but if you won't have access to a car or electrical outlet, it could be a problem, since it isn't a AA you can pick up at any corner store. (That means that you can't use this camara for your 10-week trek through the wilderness.)

This camara includes only an insultingly small 8 MB memory stick. However, I believe that everyone with a 3MP camara should own a 128MB chip, and NO camara maker includes one that big. Buy one when you buy the camara. Since other manufacturers besides Sony now make them, they are very reasonably priced.

You can buy accessories like a flash, an adapter for 52mm filters, additional lenses, etc., but the cheaper non-sony brands are tough (but not impossible) to find.

The included software (MGI Photosuite) is not really that good, but not bad for a bundled package. I reccommend, and use, Microsoft Picture It! Digital Image Pro.

All in all, for the price this camara costs, it is the best available and has no competition.

P.S. If you have windows XP, you MUST change the USB Transfer mode from the default. If you don't, it won't work. See the manual and the sony website for details.