The Sony Cyber Shot Digital Camera Series

The first Sony Cyber Shot digital camera was made in 1996 using Carl Zeiss lenses. Carl Zeiss is a German optics manufacturer with a deservedly high reputation, founded in 1846, and one of the oldest optics manufacturing companies in the world. However, Zeiss allows third parties to make optics using Zeiss technology under special licence which means that companies such as Hasselblad, Rollei and of course Sony, are making lenses to a very high specification. So when you buy a Sony Cyber shot digital camera you know you are buying the best in terms of optics.

Currently there are four series of Sony CyberShot digital cameras:

1. the S series which are budget priced although they may have extra features such as face-recognition
2. the H series which have been designed for amateur photographers
3. the W series which are all round digital cameras
4. the T series which have more advanced features and a slim design

Many model nubmers are prefixed with 'DSC' which stands for 'Digital Still Camera'.

Sony Cyber Shot digital cameras have a lithium lithium-ion battery pack made by Sony themselves, called 'InfoLithium' which can exchange data such as battery consumption with compatible equipment. One big advantage of InfoLithium batteries is that you can recharge them at any time without reducing battery life. Most other types of batteries are best recharged when nearly empty.

Is a Compact Digital Camera Right for Me?

Compact digital cameras (or point-and-shoot cameras) are very small and totally portable, designed to fit in your pocket or handbag easily so you can take it with you everywhere you go. Casio compact digital cameras were among the smallest and thinnest when they started the ball rolling around 2002 but today many other manufacturers are producing lightweight, slim and elegant point-and-shoot cameras.

Most compacts have a lens which retracts into the body of the camera which means that even with the smallest of them, the focal length can be relatively long allowing you to zoom in on your subject.

If your camera is in your pocket or handbag, keys and other loose objects are a danger to the optics! To counter this, the lens usually has a built-in lens cap which automatically closes when the camera is shut down to protect the optics.

Compact cameras come with a wrist strap. If you keep the strap wound around your wrist when shooting, it helps to protect against accidentally dropping it. Some of the thicker compacts allow you to attach a neck strap for extra security.

Compacts don't have the advanced features of an SLR camera such as the ability to change lenses for example and picture quality is not as high as it would be with an SLR but ease-of-use and compactness make them an attractive buy. Compact cameras are great for holiday, parties, weddings, in fact just about every situation you find yourself and the beauty of them is you need never miss a shot as they are so lightweight you can always keep your camera with you.

This year (2011) some manufacturers have started producing compact digital cameras which can take 3D still photos which can be played back on a 3D television, an exciting development for the future.