82 of 85 people found the following review helpful:
DSC-T500 Is The Camera I've Been Waiting For!
I've seen this coming. The technology has been advancing so quickly that it was only the waiting that's been tough. I bought this camera right away and am VERY pleased with it. I just don't know where to start.
This is both an excellent stand alone still camera with 10.1 MP, which provides enough details for 19 by 13" prints. To my experienced eyes, the...
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
Good features, poor battery
I purchased this camera primarily for its ability to record 720 video in a small form factor.
I've never owned a digital camera, but thought that it was finally time to stop relying on my girlfriend to take photos. Living in San Francisco, having quick access to a camera is vital and a small slim factor is key.
This review is from: Sony Cybershot DSC-T500 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Electronics)
I've seen this coming. The technology has been advancing so quickly that it was only the waiting that's been tough. I bought this camera right away and am VERY pleased with it. I just don't know where to start.
This is both an excellent stand alone still camera with 10.1 MP, which provides enough details for 19 by 13" prints. To my experienced eyes, the images are in a word superb. It is also a tiny HD camcorder with 720P and stereo sound! It's not quite as good as a stand alone HD camcorder but with the ease of flicking a switch into the movie mode as well as the size of the camera, it is nothing short of astonishing. I easily loaded both images as well as video clips into Windows Movie Maker and edited between the two and burned a DVD with excellent results.
It certainly doesn't require it, but if you have a flat panel with an HDMI input, this camera really shines.
All the settings (except for power, switch between image and movie and telephoto) are made by touching icons on the seemingly huge screen and is fairly easy to master. Great care has been taken so that the camera's feature are easy to use. This is my first camera with a touch screen and it is wonderful! One of the camera's nicest features turns out to be the ability to take still photos while shooting video. While editing, it's nice to be able to add a still image before or after the video clip. Especially when you fade into it.
You'll need a bit of time on how to hold the camera. At least with me, I kept getting fingers in front of the lens. Your left hand need to hold the camera toward the bottom. The camera is both light yet heavy enough that it feels good in your hands.
My camera did not ship with a Memory Stick. I just ordered a 16GB card for a little over a hundred dollars and according to the manual will hold 4001 10MP images or an amazing 3 hours and 17 minutes of video in the 720P Fine mode. Video clips are limited to 10 minutes each and this may concern some but is more than enough for me. I also ordered 2 extra batteries since the video especially seems to eat up power. No case is included so you'll need that if you're interested. Cables are included except for the HDMI cable. The camera comes with a camera stand that you hook the cables to and then to your computer/television/receiver. Viewing the photos and videos on the camera itself is a joy.
There are too many bells and whistles that this camera offers to list here. Check out the details listed on this site. I will mention that the photos of the camera confused me and I found that there's a panel on the front of the camera that slides down and that turns the camera on.
I've always owned Canon Powershot Digital Elps in the past and have really liked them. But this new one from Sony is a sort of masterpiece.
If I run into any problems with this camera, I will update this review. If you have any questions, I'll be happy to try and answer them.
UPDATE 10/17/08
I ordered two off brand batteries from Accessory Genie, which are offered on the Amazon site, charged them up and installed them to find a screen saying something like USE COMPATIBLE BATTERY. So, they are going back. I ordered the genuine Sony batteries, which I really should have from the start. The camera is just getting better and better as I use it.
UPDATE 2 10/22/08
I got the Sony battery, charged it up and installed it and it works perfectly. So it was the off brand battery that was the problem. With two batteries, unless you plan on taking a lot of video, should be fine for a day's shooting. I want to take a bunch of video and photos in Vegas in mid Nov. I might just add another Sony battery just in case. I went for a walk today and took some video as well as photos, came home and loaded it into Windows Movie Maker and came up with a successful video that I then burned to disc and watched on my 52" Sony XBR flatscreen. Really very nice. Not quite as good as my stand alone Canon HD camera, but the difference in camera size is considerable. To think that this camera is storing video on a 16GB Memory Stick is truly amazing. Over three hours of it! I mentioned that you can take 3 still photos while shooting video with an icon on the lower left bottom of the screen, they are of a lower resolution. Still makes acceptable 5 by 7" prints but not nearly as good as the stand alone stills. When edited into the video mix they are 16 by 19 and look extremely close to the video images.
I still am in love with this camera!
UPDATE 3: (12/24/08)
Enjoying the camera. Getting more accustomed to using the features. Been using the higher ISO setting for dark/night shots, which can be accessed by touching the REC Mode and then touching the SCN icon and then touching the ISO icon with the upward pointing arrow. Learned that wherever you touch the screen, it will focus on that spot. A very nice bonus. This feature works in the Auto and Program mode. Just got back from Cape Cod, where I carried the camera with me everywhere. Reviews are finally being posted on a few sites and they are good, except for the battery life. Considering all that this camera does, that's not a really big deal.
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This review is from: Sony Cybershot DSC-T500 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Electronics)
I have been content with my Sony T7 until it died on me just recently. Every camera after the T7 just got bigger and bigger without adding any worthy features.
I had a very difficult time deciding whether or not to go T77, or T700, or T500. In the end, I picked this one since I would always want the HD video feature and could live with the larger size.
What prevents this from getting 5 stars are the following:
- The camera is big and not exactly pocketable
- No Bionz processor (both the T77 and T700 have this, and it seems odd the flagship camera does NOT). I'm curious as to how much this helps.
- No smile shutter tech (annoying since this is also present in the T77 and T700)
- Low res LCD - only 230k pixels versus 921k on the T700. why??
- No built in 4GB memory - there's def enough room for one. why include on the T700 and not this one?
- Interface is not that great, but I presume it's the same on the other two Sony cameras.
- Hatch to open battery and memory compartment is a pain to open (was much easier on my T7)
Why others may not like it, but that doesn't bother me:
- Memory stick only - good for me since I have a Sony laptop I can plug these in right away.
- Battery life gets sucked quickly from big LCD and video recording - to be expected for these types of cameras. Be frugal with leaving it on.
Why it's a great camera:
- HD recording is awesome (along with stereo and zooming while recording)
- Big 3.5" LCD
- 5x optical zoom versus only 4x on the T77 and T700
- Excellent build quality
If you don't care about the HD video, the T77 and T700 are definitely the way to go.
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This review is from: Sony Cybershot DSC-T500 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Electronics)
I've tried just about EVERY point and shoot that takes HD Video, plus countless other digital cameras over the years. The HD P&S's I've tried are: Canon TX1, Panasonic TX5, several flash drive camcorders that also take still pic's, Sanyo HD1000 & HD700, Samsung HV24HD, and ALL the Kodak's that take HD Video. By the way - it's a good thing that the places I buy these cameras from have a good return policy or I would have been in big trouble. My wife thinks I'm obsessed; she's right! Unfortunately, all of the above cameras had some serious issues - suffice it to say, not acceptable!
My criterion is pretty simple, but not easy to find. All I really just want is a small point and shoot that takes decent wide screen (16:9) pictures and HD 720 or 1080 videos. Nothing pro - I'm reasonable - the pic'/vid's need to look decent, clear, not make me sea sick to watch on my HDTV, stay in focus, sound quality OK, able to zoom during video (and the sound not cut out - i.e. Samsung), and able to stick in my pocket. I don't care about millions of screen shot selections, smile detection, and all the other gimmicky things. My computers are all able to play the new video formats so playback is not a problem. Why is this so darn hard????? This is 2008 (almost 2009) - we should have flying cars by now - right!!! Sorry for the rant - it's just frustrating!
Anyway, I think I found what I've been looking for - at least for now. This new Sony T500 basically does it all.
I'll start with Video - all I can say is NICE. Even in dim rooms, they look pretty good - outside even better! I have a media center computer hooked up to my HDTV - they really look nice and clear. Smooth playback. Zooming is nice and the video actually seems to stay in focus. Color is nice. Stereo sound quality is clear, stable to look at even while moving (no sea sickness with this one). What can I say - it just looks good - no major complaints. The video is, I think, the real strong point for the little camera.
Now for the Pictures - I've taken some really stunning pictures. Clear, color balanced, sharp, zoom is nice. Outside/good lighting is great; inside in low light, a bit grainy - but not bad - definitely acceptable. You have to play with the settings to get good indoor pictures, again really not bad at all. Flash seems strong. Focus fast. Lag Time - no problem. Good Zoom. Simple and intuitive operation and options.
Bottom line, my other favorite camera, the Canon G7, may take better stills, but this T500 takes solid still pictures and has FAR superior video, is much smaller, and easier to schlep around.
My few grips (and it should be no deal breaker for anyone in my humble opinion) is:
1) Battery life not so hot - I had to pick up two extra batteries - no big deal really, I just throw them in my pocket and when one dies out I just replace!
2) Indoor pics are somewhat grainy and unpredictable. But all in all, I happy with the pictures. Just take several of the same indoor shots and one will be good for you.
3) Memory Cards: as with many other camera geeks out there, I really wish Sony would just give the option of using SDHCs. I have so many SD cards (ranging from the old 16 mb SD to 16 GB SDHCs. Now I can't use them! Well - I just bought a new duo 8 GB - kinda costly, but "Resistance is (was) Futile" - I had no choice!
That's about it - I really like this camera and will keep it - at least until the next Point and Shoot that looks "to good to be true" comes out!
***** UPDATE *****
OK - some of you are going to think I'm crazy, but I just had to try out the new Canon SX-10 (really wanted the SX-1 - but not in USA yet). Well, to my great surprise, I still like the Sony T500 better. I will admit that the pictures on the SX10 are better, but only slightly better for my needs. So the con's outweigh the pro's - I'm keeping the Sony!
1) The Sony take MUCH better video (wide-screen 720P) while the Canon only the 480. The Sony is much clearer, sharper, and looks great on the big screen. This is important for me anyway!
2) Outdoor pictures are almost the same for both cameras (at least on my screen), and indoor are slightly better on the Canon, but not bad at all on the Sony. Canon is just a bit "sharper", but again, the Sony ain't bad! I do like the 20X zoom, but I guess that's just not as important for my needs.
3) The physical size difference is a big factor for me - the Sony slips into my shirt pocket and and Canon is huge. I could live with the larger size if the pics/vids where FAR superior - but they are not and I think I would bring the Sony everywhere, as I might think twice about the Canon.
4) Battery: The Sony takes rechargeable batteries (I now have three since they do not last long) and the Canon take 4 AA's. I kinda like the little Sony batteries better (although they just run out too fast), I can just throw my two extra's in my pocket and switch them out when needed. Otherwise, with the Canon, you would have to schlep around 4 large batteries if you run dry.
All in all - I'm still happy with the Sony, so I'll keep it - FOR NOW!!! Stay tuned - I'm sure I'll be trying out other cameras soon! Got my eye on the Panasonic Z28!
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This review is from: Sony Cybershot DSC-T500 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Electronics)
The thing that drove me to this camera was the HD resolution for videos. If it wasn't for this, I would have looked at others that were slightly smaller. I had a Canon SD800 that I was replacing which was thicker but smaller. I also have a Sony FX1 video camera too.
After using it about a month, I have these observations.
Having the HD resolution on a camera this small is nothing short of amazing. I never want to go back to 320x240 or even 640x480 res vids. Although it would NEVER compare even at the slightest to a dedicated HD camcorder or a my FX1, It's great to have the capability in your pocket. I carry the T500 with me everywhere and it's better to have the shot than not having at all - no one wants to lug a camcorder everywhere around.
Compared to other subcompacts (I've owned over 15 the past 8 years or so), the low light capability is the best out of all of them. There is some graininess in very low light but with my canon, you wouldn't be able to even get a picture in comparison.
I personally prefer real button controls. The touch screen is initially nice but to get to the submenus takes a while to get used to and there are frequent repressing the icons to get something to come up. The touchscreen is sometimes finicky - or perhaps a lag.
The extra large LCD is very nice - but be sure to buy a screen protector BEFORE buying the camera. I put a permanent smudge in the screen within 1 hr of receiving it. I thought I was careful but now I can't get the smudge off.
The battery life is horrendous. Whereas the canon can probably last me 2-3 weeks of occasional use, I have to charge this every couple of days. 450 photos/videos in one month and I believe I have had to charge this at least 8 times. This is with mixed photo taking and video viewing - similar to what I did with the canon. Be sure to have a couple of extra batteries when traveling.
I bought a SanDisk Extreme III 8gb HG Duo stick and it was definitely well worth it. Previously, I was using an Extreme II with the canon and the significant transfer speed upgrade is welcomed when transferring the really large videos from the T500. I don't have specifics but it feels almost twice as fast.
Being able to use the zoom (optically) while shooting video is a big plus. With the canon, my vids gets distorted. I have a full 5x zoom which is excellent for a camera of this size. Also, because the lens position is fixed (sony has their optics inside the camera), it is much smaller. Don't have to worry about the lens popping in and out.
The optical stabilizer works but on a limited scale. I feel the Canon has better stabilizing as my videos are still a little bit shaky.
Overall, the photo quality is pretty good. I like the canon picture quality in good light but with a mix of both low and good light, the Sony is much better. I have no regrets about buying this over a new Canon.
On a side note, I also bought a Sony T77 with this camera (I'm a camera hog). The T77 has the same quality but no HD. However, it is significantly smaller and a little bit lighter than the T500.
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This review is from: Sony Cybershot DSC-T500 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Electronics)
We just put the new T500 through its paces during the arrival of our new baby. Both still shots and HD video taken with the camera came out beautifully. Camera performance is excellent. The touch screen controls are intuitive, the options are plenty (if you want to bother with them), and the quality of the output is great.
The only reasons I'm not giving the camera at 5/5 is that the battery seems to get dragged down rather quickly (admittedly mostly due to video usage), and the included docking station is required to plug the camera into your Mac (or PC). As I travel a fair bit, and like the small size of the camera, it's a bit of a shame that a docking station is needed, in addition to the USB cable (would be optimal if you could plug straight into the camera and avoid the extra hardware).
One last point to note is that this camera is the better choice if you want video and still photo capability in one. If you're looking for a camera that can store a ton of still pics on board, without requiring the not included Memory Stick Duo cards, then go with the T700 model.
All in all, this is a solid camera, with a great output, in a perfect size. Definitely can't go wrong.
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This review is from: Sony Cybershot DSC-T500 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Electronics)
I purchased this camera primarily for its ability to record 720 video in a small form factor.
I've never owned a digital camera, but thought that it was finally time to stop relying on my girlfriend to take photos. Living in San Francisco, having quick access to a camera is vital and a small slim factor is key.
I bought this camera mindful of the caveat that its battery life is terrible, so I ordered an extra battery. I was pleasantly surprised to find a battery charger bundled with the camera. Even two fully charged batteries, however, wasn't enough energy for a trip to the California Academy of Sciences for 3-4 hours. Perhaps 20 minutes of HD video--total--and 300 photos completely drained both batteries. Flash was rarely used, to make the limitations of the battery even more dramatic.
I enjoy the camera and the video quality, but this battery life is absolutely terrible. If I was to go on a day trip, there would be no way 2 batteries would be enough. The supplied battery charger takes 2 hours to recharge each battery, as well. Needless to say, a time consuming process for 3+ batteries.
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This review is from: Sony Cybershot DSC-T500 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Electronics)
I, like many, have been searching for a device that successfully combines the camera with the camcorder. We have an older point and shoot Sony camera, and a Canon MiniDV Camcorder and I've noticed over the last year the camcorder has been spending more time left at home, while the number of short clips from the still camera was growing.
The new Sony T500 was delivered last week and it's exceeding many of my expectations. The large touch screen on the back allows the design to be simple and intuitive. I thought I would miss control buttons on the back, but don't. There are smaller form factors out there, but the T500 easily fits in a pocket and is definitely on the sleek and compact side of things. Camera feels solid and well built.
HD Video Recording:
Simply toggle the switch to the right and you're in movie mode. Outdoor shooting in good light produces some very impressive video. Displayed on a flat screen, I'd have to say this little camera easily out performs my non HD camcorder. Low light shooting was not as sharp and a camcorder probably does better in low light. That said, I would still not hesitate in buying this camera. Zoom during video moves at one speed (unlike a camcorder where you can control the speed that you zoom in and out), but it's a good, moderately slow speed. Audio is crisp and clean.
Shooting video may take a little getting used to. Because the T500 is so much smaller and lighter then a camcorder, extra thought must go into keeping the camera still and keeping your motions smooth during panning. I haven't come close to the 10 minute video limit. I know some will argue you need unlimited shooting time for weddings, birthdays, etc. but when I put movies together with iMovie, I've found that any clips over a couple minutes make the movie REALLY boring. For those special occasions, I have no problem lugging around my camcorder, but for daily life and times you don't want to shove a camcorder in people's faces, the Sony T500 excels.
Still Photos:
Like video recording, outdoor and good lighting produce some beautiful photos. Indoor and low light are not as good but I've found the "Twilight Portrait" scene mode produces some decent photos. We primarily view our photos on a flat screen, and the 16:9 picture mode is great for landscapes and scenery shots. Even though it's not an Ultra Wide 28mm lens, the wide angle is still wider then our previous camera (3-4 year old Sony). Sure a larger zoom would be nice, but considering the slim design, 5X is pretty good, and you better have a tripod if you're shooting video above 5-10X. Not surprisingly, the still camera is a noticeable upgrade to our old 5 mega pixel camera.
Battery life does seem a little short, but I've been shooting a lot of video and spending a lot of time reviewing on the large touchscreen. Definitely need a back up, and I like the US version of the battery charger. Prongs fold out and you simply plug it in the wall (No Cord Mess).
Overall, I'm very satisfied with our purchase. The video and photo quality are impressive. I'm not quite sure I'm ready to sell off the camcorder, but I know it will be spending even more time stored at home...
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This review is from: Sony Cybershot DSC-T500 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Electronics)
Nothing beats the convenience of having 720p HD video and 1080 still picture capability in one small James Bond-like package. I used to carry around a camcorder and a Canon Rebel: not any more. Stores in US don't carry this because they want to sell camcorders and cameras.
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This review is from: Sony Cybershot DSC-T500 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Electronics)
As expected, this Sony Point-shoot has amazing full light High Definition Video. Sunny shots, Beach shots are amazing. Fotos are also very good.
Since this is such a High-end Camera, I'll talk about the bad stuff first.
Video and Foto quality on low light conditios are low. You can easily see artifacts and low pixelation on indoor shoot like a wedding even with 10 MP and Fine quality HD Video.
Also, you cant shoot at standard 480p resolution like your old camcorder. its Either HD or VGA, and for video shots you want to conserve Memory space there is no DVD resolution available.
Even with my 4Gb Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo, which is the fastest memory on the market, the camera would be slow to react on pictures, specially when using Flash. I casually miss pictures because the camera is slow to react or take long time to take the picture after you press the shoot botton till the end.
Other than this, Camera is great, small and High-Powered. .mp4 format for HD video is great and widely used on the industry and social networks recognize it as HD right away.
There is absolutely a sacrifice on the Photo side for allowing HD Video, so if you dont shoot videos, go for the T-77 or the Newer T700 for a Slim size option or the W series for better quality picture.
On the other hand, if you at least casually Shoot Videos, then absolutely get this camera, you will find yourself shooting more videos than pictures.
On memory, go at least 4GB, gives you around 2hrs on Fine quality and I recommend the Pro-HG version to keep the camera as lag free as possible.
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This review is from: Sony Cybershot DSC-T500 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Electronics)
This is an outstanding camera and by far the greatest digital camera I have ever owned. The still image quality is perfect, and the camera just looks and feels so awesome. You can tell Sony put a lot of effort into the design and didn't cut corners anywhere.
The most impressive feature of this camera is HD video recording. The quality of the recorded video blows away my non-HD camcorder that I bought just a few months ago. It's amazing that such a tiny digital camera can provide such amazing HD video. There's really no need to own a camcorder if you have this camera, the video quality is that good.
Bottom line, this camera is THE BEST on the market. Nothing else even comes close.
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