A nice litle camera from Sony with 6 MP and 3 x optical zoom.

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Product Description

This compact camera features 6.0 effective Megapixels, High Sensitivity for sharper images, ZEISS Wide-Angle zoom lens and a powerful flash. Features 6.0 Effective Megapixel Carl Zeiss(R) Vario-Tessar(R) lens 3x Optical Zoom, up to 13x Smart Zoom, 6x Precision Digital Zoom Anti-blur ISO1000 High Sensitivity Stamina Battery Life (approx 460 shots by CIPA standard with optional battery NH-AA-2DB) 2.0 (5.1cm) LCD Monitor Clear RAW NR Strong Flash 7.0m (Wide end) 31-93mm (35mm conversion) Quick Operation (Shutter Time Lag 0.4 sec, Shutter Release Lag 0.01 sec) Real Imaging Processor 16:9 Mode for Wide Screen TV Internal Memory 32MB Auto Macro MPEG VX Fine with Audio 100% LCD Field of view AF Illuminator Histogram Indication USB 2.0 High Speed Transfer Scene Selection Mode PictBridge Compatible 15 Menu Languages (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Polish, Hungarian, Czech)

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #50021 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Sony
• Model: DSCS600
• Released on: 2005-12-23
• Dimensions: 1.23 pounds

Manufacturer's Description
Sony technology makes it easy for everyone to get great results in digital photography right from the start, with superb imaging, advanced optics, high-stamina battery power and exciting features that make shooting and sharing more fun than ever. The Sony DSC-S600 includes top-quality Carl Zeiss lens design and 32 MB Internal Memory for capturing images without using a memory card.

A Great Value in Digital PhotographyThe Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S600 puts everything you need in one compact, high-performance model that's perfect for entry-level or second-camera buyers. With super-sharp 6.0 megapixel resolution, you'll have more detail for large prints and viewing photos on websites or as e-mail attachments--and a big 2.0-inch LCD screen makes it easy to read menus, set up shots and share results.

Snapshots with Superb Image Quality
The DSC-S600 has a top-quality Carl Zeiss 3x Optical zoom lens that handles everything from distant subjects to closeups and wide-angle shots. High sensitivity gives you brighter photos in low-light conditions--and strong flash lights up your subject more effectively even up to 10 feet away. With Stamina battery performance, you'll get up to 440 shots using optional NiMH rechargeable batteries--enough for an entire vacation.

More Ways to Shoot and Share
With 32 MB internal memory, the DSC-S600 lets you capture shots in-camera for later transfer to computer or PictBridge-compatible printer. A built-in slot for optional Memory Stick DUO media gives you another way to store your images--and using supplied Cyber-shot Viewer software, you can import and organize photos for PC viewing and browsing with fast, smooth scrolling of thumbnail images.

Feature highlights include:

6.0-Megapixel Super HAD CCD
More megapixels mean more detail and definition in digital photos. Sony's advanced Super HAD (Hole Accumulated Diode) CCD design allows more light to pass to each pixel, increasing sensitivity and reducing noise.

Carl Zeiss Wide-Angle Lens
The DSC-S600 has a new Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens design with great wide-angle shooting capabilities, making it easier to take indoor photos and capture group shots without leaving people out of the picture.

3x Optical/2x Digital Zoom
3x optical zoom helps the DSC-S600 bring distant subjects closer and lets you frame shots for better composition; Sony's precision 2x digital zoom provides an additional 2x magnification to zoom in close without jagged edges.

High Sensitivity, Strong Flash
The DSC-S600 offers a high-sensitivity shooting mode (ISO 1000), for brighter pictures in low light. And with strong flash, you can light up subjects more effectively--a real advantage when shooting interior scenes and group shots.

Stamina Battery Performance
With standard AA alkaline batteries, the DSC-S600 can capture up to 160 shots3--and when you use optional Sony NiMH rechargeable batteries, you can capture up to an amazing 440 shots. That's enough shooting capacity for an entire vacation.

Capture Images In-Camera
With 32 MB Internal Memory, the DSC-S600 allows you to shoot without using a memory card--then easily transfer your images to optional Memory Stick DUO media, upload photos to your computer or make prints on your digital printer.

Large 2.0-Inch LCD Screen
In addition to its optical viewfinder, the DSC-S600 gives you a big, bright screen for composing images, checking results and sharing your photos on location.

Cyber-shot Viewer Software
Sony's new software that makes it easy to import images via camera or Memory Stick media--then organize and browse through photos on your PC with simple scrolling through thumbnail images.

MPEG Movie VX Fine Mode
The DSC-S600 can capture VGA (640 x 480) audio-video clips at high frame rate (up to 30 frames per second), with length limited only by the capacity of your media.

Real Imaging Processor LSI
To capture the moment before it gets away, the DSC-S600 has Sony's Real Imaging Processor LSI (Large Scale Integrated) circuit that improves camera response time, decreases shutter lag, improves picture quality and clarity, and increase battery stamina.

13x Smart Zoom Feature
At VGA resolution, Sony's Smart Zoom feature lets you magnify your subject by intelligently cropping into the central portion of interest in your photo without sacrificing full CCD resolution--avoiding the jagged-edge image distortion of other digital zooms.

Memory Stick DUO Media Convenience
The DSC-S600 has a built-in slot for optional Memory Stick DUO or higher-capacity Memory Stick DUO PRO media that expands your shooting capacity up to 2 GB.

Product Description: Great digital photos begin with Sony. Sonys Cyber-shot® DSC-S600 camera has everything you need for spectacular imaging, including super-sharp 6.0 megapixel resolution, a top-quality Carl Zeiss® 3X Optical zoom lens design with excellent wide-angle performance, high sensitivity and strong flash for better low-light results. With 32 MB Internal Memory you can capture shots in-camera without using a memory card, and theres also a slot for optional Memory Stick® DUO media. A bright 2.0 LCD screen lets you set up shots and share results -- and supplied Cyber-shot Viewer software helps you import, organize, browse through photos on your PC.

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Customer Reviews

Great images... great value!
I've just bought one of these to supplement my other digital camera which my wife finds too complicated to use (Fuji Finepix S9500) and we're both delighted with it. The camera is very easy to use, very compact and fits easily into a trouser pocket.

The image quality is superb, sharp and vibrant (although obviously not as detailed as the Fuji which is 9 megapixel), and the ISO 1000 sensitivity is useful in low light, but as another reviewer said, image noise in low light does become noticeable at this speed.

The 3X optical zoom range is very useful... going from 31mm-93mm (35mm equivalent) which gives a good wide angle for scenery with a reasonable amount of telephoto. One useful touch is you can set the optical and digital zoom to be consecutive (Precision Zoom). By this I mean you can press the "zoom in" button and the image zooms up to the 3X optical zoom as the lens extends out. But when the 3X optical zoom is reached, you can keep pressing the "zoom in" button and the digital zoom kicks in and gives you up to 6X overall zoom, and image quality is still good even at 3X digital zoom! Nice!

One of the unique features of this camera is the unusually powerful flash - effective up to 7 metres!

Pros:
VERY low shutter lag
Superb image quality
Powerful flash
Ease of use
Full 640x480 @ 30fps movie mode with sound (You need a Memory Stick Pro Duo fitted to record at this resolution though)
Useful zoom range
Takes two AA batteries (2500mAH NiMH rechargeables STRONGLY recommended)
Compact size
Optical viewfinder with simulated 3X optical zoom as well as viewing screen.
32mB internal memory (can be used without a Memory Stick Duo inserted and images can be transferred to the Memory Stick via the menu)

Cons:
No manual exposure mode
The tripod mounting thread is on one edge instead of being centrally mounted - this could lead to some lop-sided pictures on anything less than a very sturdy tripod.
Some (but not excessive) image noise in low light at high film speeds.
(A bit picky I know, but) No protective case supplied.
No centre-weighted metering (spot & multi only)
Needs Memory Stick Pro Duo for 640x480 @ 30fps video

When buying the AC adaptor for this camera you need the Sony AC-LS5K unit NOT the Sony AC-LS5 which doesn't come with the adaptor that fits into the battery compartment.

Overall: a versatile, compact camera that takes good quality pictures and is easy to use.

Recommended!

Excellent value at Amazon's Price
I bought this camera because I wanted a zoom lens with a wider setting than the rather restricted 38mm which is more usual. I was not disappointed.

Although this camera does not offer manual control over shutter and aperture settings, I have not found this to be a problem so far. Selecting the right scene mode can help to a certain extent but I was disappointed that there was no sport setting for moving subjects.

In addition to manual settings for ISO and white balance, it was good to be able to tweak saturation, contrast and sharpness.

You are not offered the Fine compression setting in Auto, but it is available in Program.

The movie mode is above average for this price of camera, but you need to use a Pro Duo card to get the Fine setting, which I think is essential.

I was especially intrigued by the digital zoom which is available in Image size>VGA.

I set this this at its longest setting and took a shot of a sign about 100 yards away. Although the image is sized at 640 x 480, the print was sharp. Impressive!

Two minor gripes: I agree with comments about the manual; it certainly is not user-friendly. The other is more of a warning than a gripe. Some images are slightly soft, though I found the default setting of the Unsharp Mask in ACDSee 8 rectified the problem when it occurred.

Four and half stars would be my rating were it on offer.

Access problem - solved!
The best thing about this camera in my opinion is the fast shutter lag speed. I can actually catch something my 1 year old daughter does whereas with my previous camera (admittedly ancient in camera years) I often took pictures of a rapidly retreating pair of legs.

However, initially I was tearing my hair out as I too got the dreaded access problem, where you get a flash of 'access' on the screen before the camera turns itself off. Fortunately there is a happy ending to this as thanks to mention of it in the 'problems' section by reviewer John Munoz on the dpreview website I learned that all this can mean is that the batteries need replacing. I thought this too simple a fix and was sure my batteries were not flat (though this camera does seem to eat them) but I tried it and it worked. Yippee!

Flashing 'access' is not the most helpful message Sony could use to let users know this but fingers crossed this will continue to work.