Digital Camera Resource Page: Reviews and Info

CyberShot DSC-F55

Manufacturer: Sony Electronics
Product Model: CyberShot DSC-F55
Official Website: Japanese Model (page in English)
Resolution: 1600x1200
Zoom Capability: 2.5x digital zoom
Auto Focus? Yes
Macro Capability? Yes
Flash? Yes
Storage Method: Memory Stick
Storage Capacity:
LCD Screen: Yes/2"
ISO Equivalent:
Video Out?: Yes
Software Included: Picture Gear 3.2 Lite
Computers Supported: PC
Miscellaneous Notes: Can take 60 seconds of video. Has a Carl Zeiss lens system. Lens can swivel 180 degrees.
MSRP: $899
Lowest Price*: Visit Shopper.Com to find out now!

Larry Silver (7/11/99):
I previously had a sony mavica FD-71, which I loved for the unlimited film (floppies) and the 10x zoom, but I did not like the weight and size of the camera, as well as the limited resolution. I've been looking at newer cameras for a while, but the F55 really hit what I was looking for, 2.1 mega pixels, hand held size, mpeg movie mode.. On the down side, I am not a big fan of the memory stick, since it is a sony proprietary technology, the supply has been limited, I bought 1 4meg, and one 16 meg stick from vaio direct. no one else has it at this point. the other thing that I miss is the zoom.

Even with these few bad points, I love the camera for it's portability. I carry this in my pants pocket, and I always have it available, and in fine quailty 1600 x 1200 mode, the picture is astounding. I am very happy with this camera.

Joe Smith (6/7/99):
We purchased a camera that was in an opened box. So we paid $809.60. The first buyer had it a day. So the date and clock was set, and some nice pictures of him on the memory stick.

In the store the salesperson -- who knew nothing about the camera -- let us plug it into WebTV -- because we wanted a compatible product for WebTV. We spent about an hour learning how it worked. The salesperson was 100% supportive and learned as we did.

The user's guide was easy to understand, and the camera operates such that it feels like my and my wife's favorite shoes. For both of us to feel 98% comfortable in less than an hour -- that is an accomplishment. The memory stick is easy to load and unload. The battery lasts an hour or more with fantastic meter showing how many minutes are left. It recharges in about 2 hours. The recharge system also becomes the AC adaptor and works while the battery is recharging.

To take a picture, you aim using the LCD screen. I miss a viewfinder, but after four hours of putting my eye on the LCD screen and not seeing anything, I got use to using the LCD screen. It only took my wife about one hour to learn this less. The LCD screen does not do justice to the the digital pictures.

The picutures, however, are absolutely 100% wonderful. From macros of flowers to closeups of people to whole houses from 100 feet -- the clarity, sharpnees, range of light, shades of gray and black, and accuracy of colors -- are wonderful.

We can adjust the flash intensity. It will wash out close ups. As a fill in and illuminator it works very well.

The swivel lens is needed to use the LCD screen, and to do self portaits easily.

The Sony software Picture Gear Lite is not very good. It has messed up some good pictures. It is like a developer gone bad. And I can not get it to print on our Canon Bubble Jet 4300. I have successfully imported pictures to Canon's system and had some good results.

I have not had success with going to PowerPoint.

We are unable to buy more memory sticks because no one has them. No camera case, etc. Accessories are just not available. The Sony site has 4MB and 8MB memory sticks and that is about all.

To summarize - the lens on this camera is excellent. The camera is excellent. The Picture Gear Lite software is terrible.

tjs (6/7/99):
The best part about this camera is the size!!!! 2.1 Megapixels in the palm of your hand!!!!

The image quality is excellent. The colors are rich and thick but not saturated. I have seen an 8x10 print onto a Kodak printer and it looked better than either the Olympus 2000 or Coolpix 950.

The only things that I do not like is that there is not optical zoom and that the PCMCIA Card does not come with it since it takes about 4 min to transfer pictures out of the camera.

The MPEG Mode works well and the batteries last for about 400 to 500 shots without the flash. A lot better than the Kodak's

Overall I am extremely impressed. If it had a zoom it would be the perfect digital camera.

DCRP Camera Sample Photos