The Design: Sony DSC-T33
NOTE: We apologize for the absence of our standard studio product photos for the Sony DSC-T33. We took all the pictures and then lost the data to a weird flash card issue before we were able to post-process them. Unfortunately, we had already sent the camera back before realizing the images were missing. Below, we have extracted the product images from the user's guide.
Image courtesy of Sony
The front of the Sony DSC-T33 features a 3x optical zoom with a focal range of 38 - 114mm (35mm equivalent). The T33 uses the same type of folded optics that can be seen on the T1 and F88. Directly to the left of the lens are the built-in flash and the AF-assist/self-timer lamp. From left to right, the following can be found on the top of the camera: main power button, shutter button, microphone.
Image courtesy of Sony
The back of the T33 features a large 2.5" LCD monitor with 230K pixels. To the upper-right of the LCD monitor is the zoom controller that controls the optical zoom in Record mode and the magnification of images in Play mode. Below the zoom controller are the Display button and the speaker. Below this are the Menu button, Image size/Delete button, and 4-way controller with separate Set button in the middle. At the lower right corner are the Reset button and an access lamp that blinks whenever data is being written to the flash card. From this angle, we can also see the right side of the camera, which contains the main mode switch. This switch allows you to change the camera's current mode to Movie, Record, or Play. This side also contains a post for the included wrist strap.
Image courtesy of Sony
On the bottom of the T33, you'll find the multi-connector, which can be used to attach the camera to the included dock. To the left of this is a door that conceals the compartment for the battery and flash card. The T33 uses Memory Stick Duo flash cards, which are much smaller than the original Memory Stick. The camera comes with a 32 MB Memory Stick Duo; however, you will probably want something larger like 256 MB to start out. You may have noticed that there is no tripod mount on the bottom of the T33. Instead, the charging dock has a tripod mount. So, in order to "mount" the T33 on a tripod, you must first put the T33 in its dock and then put the entire thing onto your tripod. Obviously, Sony doesn't think that people use tripods very often. This served as a significant source of frustration throughout our review. It seems that every time we needed to take a tripod shot with the T33, we would forget to bring the dock. We're not exactly sure why Sony couldn't have just put the tripod mount on the bottom of the camera - it's not as if there isn't enough real estate for it.
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R3MF - Monday, July 18, 2005 - link
< owns a panasonic fx8, and loves it.sciwizam - Monday, July 18, 2005 - link
Nice, I just ordered a SD400 yesterday!bigpow - Monday, July 18, 2005 - link
Panasonic FX7 >> Canon SD400 & it's cheaperFricardo - Monday, July 18, 2005 - link
Heh. Just a day or two after I asked for an SD400 review you guys come up with this. Thanks.astralusion - Monday, July 18, 2005 - link
excellent review...i'd been waiting for a full sd400 review, also just wanted to say that your selection of Duke for your sample pictures was an excellent choice.UNCjigga - Monday, July 18, 2005 - link
As a long-time Canon customer, no surprise here. Right now, Canon makes the best consumer-level digicams period. Sony may be close to catching up, and Nikon may have been the shizznit a few years ago, but right now Canon has a considerable lead.I really want to get the SD400...but I'm wondering if I should hold out for a newer Canon with wifi.
Johnmcl7 - Monday, July 18, 2005 - link
I've been really impressed with Canon's pocket cameras, I bought their Ixus 500 (the European version of the SD500 I think) as I wanted a camera I could keep in my pocket and have with me all the time, as much as I like my big Fuji it's simply to o big to carry over my shoulder all the time. It's great it takes CF cards, so it can share with the Fuji plus it doesn't leave me regretting too much that I didn't take the Fuji.The build quality does feel good but it's really let me down recently, there's a little bit of plastic which broke on the door which holds the memory card door shut, so the camera has had to go back for repair - really missed having it to hand while out at the weekend, looking forward to getting it back.
John
blwest - Monday, July 18, 2005 - link
#4 both of those cameras suck more than the Olympus and would thus be a waste of time to review. A piece of %$@#$ is a piece of @#$#@.cheesus - Monday, July 18, 2005 - link
I agree -- great review. However, I was a bit disappointed to see that the Panasonic FX-7 was left out of the review. It's a similarly-priced 5MP ultracompact that has some of the best resolution and color reproduction I've seen. Also comes with optical image stabilization, which i can't say for the other cameras here. I understand that you can't review every ultracompact, but I think the FX-7 beats the SD400 in terms of image quality any day.Larso - Monday, July 18, 2005 - link
Yes, great review. But it fails to recognize one weakness with the Canon SD400, that sharpness is lacking in the corners of the image (at wideangle).I decided to buy the camera anyway because of its excellent performance and nice case, and I'm extremely happy with it!