(Tutorial) Sony DSC F717

7/23/2019 (Tutorial) Sony DSC F717

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Sony Cyber-shot DSC F717 Camera Review

The 5Mpixel Sony Cyber-shot F707 camera with a 5x zoom is now making way a new model

named F77! "#t no marked changes were bro#ght into the s#ccessor$ and %ans o% the Sony&s

camcorder style can choose any! Main technical characteristics o% both photo cameras are compared in

the %ollowing table!

Sony Cyber-shot 'SC F77

matrix

()*+ , bit$ 5!(, Mp$ (50./(0 %rame ,!/ Mp1

iso e23!

00$ (00$ ,00$ 400

00$ (00$ ,00

lens

Carl eiss 6ario Sonnar %)d (-(!, % 8 /!7-,4!5 mm e23! *4-/0 mm1$ 54 mm %ilter

%ile

T9FF$ :;<= <>9F(!(1$ M;<= max! ?@> *(0.(,0 %ps #nlimited

T9FF$ :;<= <>9F!1$ M;<= max! ?@ *(0.(,0 %ps #p to 5 s%oc#sing

passi3e contrast1$ laser backlight$ 5 selecti3e points

passi3e contrast1$ laser backlight$ * points

expos#re metering

M#lti-;attern ,/ segment1$ Center-Aeighted$ and Spot

expos#res

*0 s - )000 s$ in a#to and apert#re priority )(000 s$ , steps

*0 s - )000 s

B#tomatic %orced noise elimination

%rom )(5 s

%rom ( sinter%ace

S"(!0

external %lash

hot shoe$ Sony connector



Sony connector

%lash

iso 00 e23! 0!5 - 5 m

display

!4 + TFT (*000

weight

7 g

Dn the photo hardware le3el$ lens)matrix$ there are no changes! "#t we&3e got higher sensiti3ityo% 9SD400$ a short expos#re o% )(000 s at a more or less +closed+ apert#re in the a#to modes$ %aster

S"$ a white balance %or the incandescent lamp$ and +%l#orescent+ instead o% +indoors+$ M#lti "#rst

mode$ #nlimited M;<= ?@> instead o% a 5sec one! "#t the most #se%#l %eat#res are histograms in

shooting and 3iewing modes$ a hot shoe and 5 selecti3e %oc#sing points! The zoom and man#al

%oc#sing control system is changed! The two-position zoom switch is now horizontal$ and the %oc#sing

ring can control zoom in the a#to %oc#s mode which photographers are acc#stomed to! There is still a

(x zoom - the %aster yo# t#rn the switch$ the %aster the zooming!

The b#ttons are the same$ tho#gh placed di%%erently! The F707 is on the le%t$ and the F77 is on

the right! The bigger ribs o% the %oc#sing ring o% the F707 make the grasp easier$ and the camera&s color attracts less attention o% strangers! Aith the F77 yo# can #se an ordinary %lash instead o% a special

one$ like %or the F707$ - ?6E-F000 with a sync cord %or the Sony BCC connector which also

s#pports a remote control! The b#ilt-in %lash can pop #p a#tomatically! 9n all modes except the a#to one

priorities$ man#al expos#re1 the b#ilt-in %lash works at expos#re 3al#es allowing %or daylight

ill#mination they are long$ and shots will most likely be bl#rred i% a tripod or back lighting are not

#sed1!

The battery pack #ses the in%oE9T?9M battery Sony Stamina ;-FM50 7!( 6$ 4!5 A which

m#st s#%%ice %or (500 shots and (!5 ho#rs o% operation #ntil next charging according to SDG %or the



F7071! Dn the back we ha3e an optical 3iew%inder and a display$ display mode b#ttons$ a men# b#tton$

a 3iew%inder)display switch$ a m#ltiselector %or men# na3igation and %lash modes$ shot 3iewing mode$

timer and macromode! nder the 3iew%inder is a door hiding an external power connector and a

3ideo)a#dio o#tp#t!

ext to the release b#tton is an expos#re correction b#tton a small one1 and a settings selector

expos#re$ apert#re$ expos#re correction which is selected by pressing1! Shooting modesH man#al

expos#re$ sh#tter speed$ apert#re priority$ %lexible program$ green zone$ scene twilight$ twilight

portrait$ landscape and portrait1$ 3ideo! Bdditional positions o% the disc selectorH camera&s settings and

3iewing mode! ext to the mode switch and the power arm there are a microphone and a speaker!

"elow$ the casing incorporates a ightFraming-ightShot le3er! 9n the night%raming and nightshot

modes the camera #ses in%rared shooting an 9I %ilter is mechanically remo3ed %rom the optical

system1! 9n the %ormer mode a%ter %raming in the 9I range the 9I %ilter ret#rns to its position when the

release b#tton is pressed$ the %lash t#rns on and the camera makes a shot$ and in the latter mode the

camera shoots in the 9I mode! The night%raming is meant %or only one possible shot - a%ter concealed

aiming the %lash clicks gi3ing light while popping #p i% it isn&t raised in ad3ance1!

The lens has two in%rared ill#minator E<'s abo3e1 and a laser ill#minator o% the holographic

+assistant+ o% passi3e %oc#sing on the side1! Mod#lated light o% the laser backlight creates an acc#rate

pict#re on the target %or the a#to %oc#s the recommended distance %rom the obJect is ,!5 m1!



The same shot in the normal and nightshot modes.

The body of the camera is just a small part of the lens, that is why the tripod's socket and the USB

connector are located on the latter. The tripod connector has a locking hole beside a threaded one



which is important for such a weighty and lengthy camera. The body can rotate around its horizontal

ais !at the right angle to the lens's ais" by ## degrees upward and $% downward, which lets you raise

the camera abo&e or lower it. round connector behind the flash is an (( connector of the remote

control and of the flash. s now we ha&e a hot shoe the flash and remote control can be used

simultaneously.

Menu

)anual focusing !*.$+ m", histogram, shutter priority -.*, / s eposure with enabled noise

elimination, 01%* ine file, eposure correction *

2iewing. )ulti burst, slideshow, magnification, 345 !ttach 345 printing information to image",

deletion, protection from accidental erasure. shot can be rotated or resized and &ideo can be di&ided

into two clips.

5ne of the scenes is night shooting.



Shot rotation.

4ossible frame sizes.

)o&ie modes- )467 mo&ie, 78 animation, and series of shots. 5ther settings- adjustable data9time,

digital zoom, redeye reduction, hologram autofocus mode, add:on lens.

4hoto shooting formats- T8, sound, shot for 6:)ail, eposure bracketing, burst, normal. 8n the

BU;ST$ mode you can get $ shots at a little more than / sec.



Second page of settings- image enlargement in manual focusing mode, bracket step, hot shoe,

direction of rotation of the zooming ring. <et menu page !memory card shown"- formatting, folder to

store shots in !creation, editing".

Shooting effects.

djustment of display and sound.

lash power adjustment.



System settings- file number, USB !normal and 4T4", &ideo out !<TS(94=", language, clock9date.

Tests

Shooting of the resolution chart in transient light.

6dge and center of the T8 frame for f > ?.# mm, f9d > . ragment /-/. 6posure /9/$ s, noise

elimination forcedly enabled. (oordinates of the center of the radial resolution chart for the frame

edge- > //% y > /+0, for the frame center- > /01 y > 0*. 5n the edge there are geometrical

distortion and chromatic aberration. Noise. utomatic noise reduction works forcedly starting from

/901 s. ragments /-/ of @467 8<6 files.

8S5 /**, eposure / s.



8S5 **, eposure /9 s.

8S5 /**, eposure /9 s. <ightshot mode. The black coloring matter is almost unnoticeable in 8; light.

)iniature, f > ?.# mm, /9 s, /.# )B @467 shot here

9n the macro mode at % 8 /!4 mm it&s possible to %oc#s on an obJect with 5!( cm along the long side o%

the %rame$ at % 8 ,4!5 mm - cm!

)iniature, f > +.1 mm, /9$* s, 0 )B @467 shot here

9n the "IST * mode a series o% * :;<= F9< shots o% the maxim#m size can be taken at a bit

more than sec$ the next series is in ( s! 9n the normal shooting mode a#to %oc#s$ a#to expos#re$

expos#re )(5 s1 s#ch %iles can be shot in at least ( sec!

Software

The camera comes with so%tware %or deli3ering data into the comp#ter S" dri3er$ 9mage

Trans%er1 and %or processing data on ;C ;ixelia 9magemixer1! Aith the 9magemixer yo# can look

thro#gh digital shots and 3ideo)a#dio clips$ edit them a little$ create digital m#ltimedia alb#ms$

printable templates with %rames and text$ shoot 3ideo and make photos on ;C 3ia S"!

http://www.ixbt.com/digimage/sony/717/DSC00112.JPG






Focusing errors

Dn the Sony&s site yo# can %ind in%ormation that the below listed cameras can ha3e %oc#sing

errors in certain sit#ations %oc#sing mode with hologram backlight ?ologram BF$ the lens is set into

the long-%oc#s position$ an obJect is located too close to the camera and scarcely ill#minated1H

*(000-*(0,0,

*(0,07

*(0,0/-*(0,((

*(0,(,-*(0,(5

*(0,(7-*(0,*0

*(0,*(

*(0,*,-*(0,,0

*(0,,(-*(0,*

*(0,5-*(0,4

*(0,70-**,(50

**,40-**,/00

**5(5-**7/,

**744*-**40**/05-**/550

9n this case yo# sho#ld go to the ser3ice center to ha3e yo#r ?ologram BF parameters corrected!

http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/news/dsc.html

http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/news/dsc.html



Sony DSC-F717 vs. DSC-F707

Here's a quick summary of the primary dierences between the DSC-F717 and the DSC-F77!

Sony DSC-F717 Sony DSC-F707

Co"our Si"#er body $eta""ic %rey body

&S sensiti#ity (uto ) &S 1* +* ,* (uto ) &S 1* +* ,

$a. shutter speed / 0ro%ram (2 13+ sec/ ther modes2 131 sec

/ ("" modes2 131 sec

(F points / 4ide 56 point/ 8 se"ectab"e

/ 4ide 56 point

(F point hi%h"i%ht 9es :o

Histo%ram disp"ay / ;ecord "i#e #iew/ 0"ay mode

:one

.posure modes / Fu"" (uto/ 0ro%ram (/ (perture 0riority/ Shutter 0riority/ Fu"" $anua"/ Scene

/ 0ro%ram (/ (perture 0riority/ Shutter 0riority/ Fu"" $anua"/ Scene

Scene modes / <wi"i%ht/ <wi"i%ht portrait 5s"ow sync =ash/ >andscape/ 0ortrait

/ <wi"i%ht/ >andscape/ 0ortrait

4hite ba"ance / (uto / Day"i%ht / C"oudy / F"uorescent / <un%sten / $anua" preset 'one push'

/ (uto / $anua" preset 'one push' / utdoors / &ndoors

:oise reduction 9es* 13+8 sec or s"ower 9es* + sec or s"ower

:oise reduction type C"ear Co"or ) >uminance :; C"ear Co"or

$0? c"ips $0? H@A 51B fps un"imited $0? A 51B fps ma. 18 secs

$o#ie modes / $0? $o#ie/ C"ip $otion/ $u"ti urst

/ $0? $o#ie/ C"ip $otion

S connecti#ity S +! 51!+ $3sec E S 1!1 5! $3sec

0? A&F +!+ 5.if0rint A&F 1!1

0"ay mode e.p! info #er"aid on ima%e re#iew n"y on three-thumbnai" disp"ay

$emory Stick <oo" 9es 5fo"der creation 3 se"ection :o

$S to $S Copy function :o 9es

0"ay mode scro"" 9es 5De"ete 3 0rotect 3 D0F :o

Supp"ied stora%e 6+ $ $emory Stick 1B $ $emory Stick

Goom contro" / Horionta""y mounted two speed/ >ens rin% 5switchab"e

/ Iertica""y mounted two speed

(ccessory shoe / Hot-shoe / Co"d shoe$isc / &mpro#ed (F

/ Shorter shutter >(?/ Faster startup time/ &mpro#ed (4

4ei%ht B8J % 51!,8 "b BB7 % 51!8 "b

E 0robab"y "imited by the transfer speed of the $emory Stick 3 &nterface

1/2000 sec

<here seems to ha#e been a fair amount of confusion about the ad#ertised ma.imum shutter speed of 13+ sec! Sohere are the facts! <he camera wi"" on"y use 13+ sec in 0ro%ram (* (uto e.posure or (perture 0riority modes at F8!B upwards*you can not se"ect 13+ sec in Shutter 0riority or $anua" nor wi"" the camera use 13+ sec in (perture 0riority mode 5no matter

what (perture! <he camera's shutter can on"y achie#e 13+ sec at F8!B 5or sma""er* this is because the F717 5"ike many otherdi%ita" cameras uses a combined aperture 3 shutter iris mechanism* the sma""er the aperture the faster the camera can open andc"ose it! <his is e.act"y the same "imitation we saw on Canon's ?1 and ?+ 5131 sec on"y a#ai"ab"e at F!



What's missing?

4hi"e & we"come quite a few of the additions here* especia""y 8-area (F and histo%ram disp"ays &'m a"so disappointed that Sonydidn't use this new camera as an opportunity to catch up to some of the competition in re%ards to basic ima%in% features! 4hi"e&'m sure the F717 wi"" continue the F77's reputation for e.ce""ent ima%e qua"ity we must wonder how a "ack of features wi"" aectthe F717 when compared to some of the competition! Here's a summary of my %ripes2

:o contro" of co"our saturation or tone

:o way to disab"e the #arious automatic noise reduction a"%orithms

0ro%ram ( sti"" cripp"ed with a minimum 136 sec shutter speed

:o concept of user sets 3 settin%s memories

:o =e.ib"e pro%ram e.posure

>imited continuous shootin% abi"ity

Review Notes

ecause of the simi"arity between the DSC-F717 and DSC-F77 some parts of this re#iew are based "oose"y on my DSC-F77re#iew!

&f you're new to di%ita" photo%raphy you may wish to read the Di%ita" 0hoto%raphy ?"ossary before di#in% into this re#iew 5it mayhe"p you understand some of the terms used!

Conc"usion 3 ;ecommendation 3 ;atin%s are based on the opinion of the re#iewer* youshou"d read the :<&; re#iew before comin% to your own conc"usions!

&ma%es which can be #iewed at a "ar%er sie ha#e a sma"" ma%nifyin% %"ass icon in thebottom ri%ht corner of the ima%e* c"ickin% on the ima%e wi"" disp"ay a "ar%er 5norma""y JB .7+ or sma""er if cropped ima%e in a new window!

<o na#i%ate the re#iew simp"y use the ne.t 3 pre#ious pa%e buttons* to Kump to a particu"arsection either pick the section from the drop down or se"ect it from the na#i%ation bar at thetop!

D0;e#iew ca"ibrate their monitors usin% Co"or Iision ptiCa" at the 5fair"y we"" accepted 0Cnorma" %amma +!+* this means that on our monitors we can make out the dierencebetween a"" of the 5computer %enerated %raysca"e b"ocks be"ow! 4e recommend to make

the most of this re#iew you shou"d be ab"e to see the dierence 5at "east between A*9 and Gand idea""y (* and C!

Sony DSC-F717 Specications

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Street 0rice S2 L1* 5;;0

ody $ateria" $a%nesium (""oy

CCD pi.e"s 8!+, me%api.e"s

CCD eecti#e output ,!J+ me%api.e"s

CCD sieEE +36M

CCD Co"our Fi"ter (rray ? - ; - ? -

(3D Con#erter 1, bits

$a. reso"ution +8B . 1J+

>ower reso"utions

/ +8B . 171+ 562+/ +, . 186B/ 1+ . JB/ B, . ,

&ma%e ratio w2h ,26 3 62+

&ma%e formats/ <&FF

/ 0? 5A&F +!+

@ua"ity >e#e"s/ Fine/ Standard

Sensiti#ity equi#!

/ (uto 5&S 1 - 6+/ &S 1/ &S +/ &S ,/ &S

Goom wide 54 6 mm

Goom te"e 5< 1J mm 58.

Goom contro"/ >ens rin% 5can a"so be used for manua" focus/ Dua" speed 4ide 3 <e"e contro""er on "ens barre" side

>ens <hread 8 mm

>ens $a. (perture F+! - F+!,

Di%ita" oom Smooth up to .+!

(uto Focus / Contrast detection '.panded' (F/ 8 area se"ectab"e/ Ho"o%ram (F 5automatic "ow "i%htN >aser

(F &""umination "amp 9es* Ho"o%ram (F 5>aser

$anua" Focus ;in% at front of "ens barre"

:orma" focus ran%e 8 cm 51J!7 in - &nOnity

$acro focus ran%e + cm 5! in - 8 cm 51J!7 in

$in shutter/ 0ro%ram (2 136 sec/ (perture 0riority2 sec/ $anua" 3 Shutter 0riority2 6 secs

$a. shutter/ 0ro%ram (* (perture 0riority2 13+ sec E/ ther modes2 131 secE &n aperture priority from F8!B upwards

:oise reduction 9es* for shutter speeds of 13+8 seconds or s"ower

:oise reduction types/ C"ear Co"or/ >uminance :;

.posure $odes / (uto/ 0ro%ram (/ (perture 0riority/ Shutter 0riority/ Fu"" $anua"

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/ Scene mode2 <wi"i%ht* <wi"i%ht 0ortrait* >andscape* 0ortrait

(perture 0riority/ >ens P 4ide2 F+!* F+!+* F+!8* F+!* F6!+* F6!8* F,!* F,!8* F8!B* FB!6*F7!1* F/ >ens P <e"e2 F+!,* F+!8* F+!* F6!+* F6!8* F,!* F,!8* F8!B* FB!6* F7!1* F

Shutter 0riority

6* +8* +* 18* 16* 1* * 7* 8* ,* 6* +!8* +* 1!B* 1!6* 1* 131!6* 131!B* 13+*13+!8* 136* 13,* 138* 13B* 13* 131* 1316* 1318* 13+* 13+8* 136* 13,* 138*13B* 13* 131* 131+8* 131B* 13+* 13+8* 136+* 13,* 138* 13B,*13* 131 secE .posures of 13+8 sec or s"ower are indicated as ':;.' where . is theshutter speed* noise reduction automatica""y enab"ed!

$eterin% / $u"ti-pattern 5,J se%ment/ Center-4ei%hted (#era%e/ Spot

.posure adKustment -+I to Q+I in 136I steps

( >ock 9es* dedicated button 5one shot

(uto bracketin%/ 6 ima%es/ !6* !8 or 1! I steps

0icture Contro"s/ Sharpness

Co"our $odes/ Co"our/ Sepia

4hite a"ance

/ (uto/ $anua" preset 5custom/ Day"i%ht/ &ncandescent

Continuous (ppro.! +! fps for 6 ima%es

$o#ie c"ip

/ $0? H@A - 6+ . +,* 1B fps* no "imit* inc"udin% audio 58 min 8, sec on a 1+ $ $emory Stick/ $0? A - 6+ . +,* fps* no "imit* inc"udin% audio 5+6 min 6J sec on a 1+ $ $emory Stick/ $0? A - 1B . 11+* fps* no "imit* inc"udin% audio 51 hr 61 min 6, sec on a 1+ $ $emory Stick

ui"t-in F"ash 9es* automatic pop-up

F"ash ;an%e 5appro.!&S 12 !8 - 8 m 51!B - 1B!, ft

F"ash modes

/ (uto/ (nti ;ed-ye (uto/ F"ash n/ F"ash / S"ow Sync 5<wi"i%ht 0ortrait Scene mode

F"ash compensation/ >ow/ :orma"/ Hi%h

F"ash meterin% 0re-=ash <<> meterin% 5=ash Ores twice

.terna" =ash 9es* Sony synch termina" and hot-shoe

<ripod mount 9es* meta"

Se"f-timer 9es* 1 sec de"ay

;emote contro" ptiona" wired

<ime-"apse recordin% :o

Iideo out 9es* se"ectab"e :<SC 3 0(>

Stora%e media $emory Stick

Stora%e inc"uded 6+ $ $emory Stick

IiewOnder "ectronic IiewOnder with dioptre adKustment* 1* pi.e"s

>CD 1!M <F< 1+6* pi.e"s with anti-re=ecti#e coatin%

0rint comp"iance D0F* 0rint &ma%e $atchin%

0"ayback oom 9es* up to 8!.

peratin% system 0roprietary

Connecti#ity S +!

attery 9es* supp"ied Sony &nfo>ithium :0-F$8 51+ m(h

attery char%er 9es* supp"ied (C->1 (C adapter 3 char%er

4ei%ht 5inc! battery B8J % 51!,8 "b

Dimensions 5inc! %rip 1+ . B7 . 1, mm 5,!7 . +!B . 8! in

Design

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DSC-F77 owners wi"" Ond the abo#e #ery fami"iar! .terior chan%es are "imited to a "i%hter si"#er body co"our* a new arran%ementof buttons on the side of the "ens barre"* dierent ribbin% on the oom 3 manua" focus rin% and the =ash Hot-shoe! For those whoha#en't hand"ed a camera of this desi%n before it's surprisin%"y natura"! 9ou wi"" carry the camera by the "ens and use the rear asthe #iewin% 3 contro" p"atform!

<he rear of the camera is attached to the "ens by a swi#e" which can be rotated throu%h appro.imate"y 77 de%rees upwards 5>CDfacin% up and 6B de%rees down! <he entire camera body is constructed from a stron% ma%nesium a""oy Onished in a "i%ht si"#er5"i%hter than the F77! ui"d qua"ity is e.ce""ent* it's Onished o to the Onest detai" and e#erythin% fee"s #ery so"id and robust!

Si!e "y si!e

Here's the DSC-F717 between two of the competition* $ino"ta's Di$(? 7Hi and :ikon's Coo"pi. 87! oth of these cameras ha#ea stron%er feature set than the F717* and indeed both ha#e a "on%er oom ran%e 5. for the 87* 7. for the D7Hi! <hat said theF77 5hence F717 "ens has pro#ed to be e.treme"y sharp and may sti"" ho"d the F717 ahead in the ima%e qua"ity competition!

#n yo$% han!

4hi"e it is possib"e to shoot the DSC-F717 one handed 5as shown in the ima%e on the "eft it's certain"y more comfortab"e andnatura" to cup the "ens with your "eft hand and turn the >CD to face you! <hanks to the anti-re=ecti#e coatin% the >CD screen can

be seen fair"y easi"y outdoors and you'"" Ond yourse"f shootin% more and more at waist hei%ht!

CD Monitor

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscf717/Images/inhand02.jpg

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscf717/Images/inhand01.jpg

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscf717/Images/sidebyside.jpg

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<he main >CD is c"ear and bri%ht* has an anti-re=ecti#e coatin% and se#era" adKustments 5throu%h the S<0 menu which a""owyou to contro" both the ima%e bri%htness and the back"i%ht "e#e" 5at the e.pense of battery "ife! <he >CD itse"f is bri%ht and c"ear*as mentioned abo#e the anti-re=ecti#e coatin% works #ery we"" 5it reminds me of the coatin% Sony use on their desktop computermonitors!

e"ow you can see the 'body portion' of the camera rotated to its three "o%ica" stoppin% points* Orst an%"ed down as far as it wi"" %o5appro.imate"y 6B de%rees for o#erhead shootin%* second"y "ocked into the horionta" position 5it c"icks Orm"y here and "ast"yan%"ed upwards as far as it wi"" %o 5appro.imate"y 77 de%rees!

4e measured the >CD's frame co#era%e as JR which is #ery %ood and wi"" ensure that your Ona" ima%e wi"" re=ect e.act"y whatyou framed!

&CD Dispay - Reco%! (o!e )Sti*

1! ;ecordin% mode 1! Histo%ram

+! ( >C 11! >ow battery warnin%

6! (3(F "ock 1+! (F ran%e Onder

,! attery remainin% 16! Spot meterin% cross hair

8! 4hite ba"ance 1,! &ma%e sie

Q $ode dia" 18! &ma%e qua"ity



Q F"ash mode 1B! ;ecordin% fo"der

Q ;ed-eye reduction 17! ;emainin% frames

Q Hot shoe 1! $emory Stick space

B! Date3time 1J! Focus ran%e

Q Con#ersion "ens +! I "e#e"

Q &S number +1! (perture #a"ue

7! Sharpness ++! Shutter speed

Q 0icture eect +6! $acro

Q Ho"o%ram (F +,! Se"f-timer

! $eterin% modes +8! Hand shake b"ur warnin%

Q :i%htShot3:i%htFramin% +B! $enuJ! Focus distance

&CD Dispay - +ay (o!e )Sti*

1! ;ecordin% mode B! &ma%e sie

+! 0rotected 7! Chan%e fo"der

Q 0rint mark Q 0"ayback fo"der

Q Io"ume ! $emory Stick space

6! Goom sca"in% J! &ma%e number 3 count

,! Histo%ram 1! ;ecordin% date

8! Fi"e name

Dia%rams reprodr

!"ectronic #iewfin$er

<he DSC-F717 has the same e.ce""ent 1*pi.e" "ectronic IiewOnder we saw on the ori%ina"F77! (fter Sony used this disp"ay on the F77 wesaw it appear on the FuKiO"m Fine0i. SB+G and:ikon's Coo"pi. 87! (s IF's %o this is one of thebest!

<he back of the #iewOnder has a rubber eye cupand on top you'"" Ond a dioptre adKustment forthose who wear correcti#e %"asses! 4e measuredthe IF's frame co#era%e as JR 5same as therear >CD!

Storage % &attery Com'artment&n the ri%ht of the cameras hand %rip is the combined storan% "oaded compartment door opens towards the front of the camerare#ea"in% the $emory Stick s"ot and battery compartment! :ote that the F717's strap eye"et is poor"y positioned in re"ation to thedoor 5in that it can %et trapped in the door c"osin% howe#er the rotatin% part of the eye"et is sti enou%h to ho"d rin% out of harmsway!C"ear"y one issue we can continue to raise about Sony di%ita" cameras is stora%e capacity* the ma.imum capacity $emory Stick

current"y a#ai"ab"e is 1+ $! ach F&: qua"ity 8 mp 0? wei%hs in around +!+ $* that doesn't oer a who"e "ot of shootin%abi"ity on one stick! 4e're we"" o#er a year on since the "ast increment in stora%e for $emory Stick* +8B and 81+ $ Stick's are we""o#erdue! <he F717 takes the hi%h capacity &nfo>ithium :0-F$8 battery* this pro#ides 1+m(h at 7!+I 5!84h which shou"d trans"ate intoappro.imate"y , hours of non-stop shootin%! <he battery char%es in-camera* simp"y connect the pro#ided char%er3(C adapter tothe camera's DC-&: connector and a ye""ow >D on the back of the camera wi"" indicate that the battery is char%in%!



Connectionsn the rear of the camera under a sprun% door are the (I ut and DC-&: connectors! <he sprun% door is a nice touch* &'m %"ad tosee the back of those rubber %rommet doors! n the ri%ht side of the "ens barre" you'"" Ond another sprun% door behind which "urksthe S +! connector! :ote that the F717 can be connected to either S +! or 1!1 without any compatibi"ity issues!

(ot Shoe % )CC connector&n a step up from the F77 the F717 now has a hotshoe which supports Sony's HI>-F1 =ash unitwith a direct synch connection as we"" as otherthird party =ash units! <he (CC connector can be used to tri%%er an HI>-F1 o-camera and is a"so used for wired remotecontro" ;$-D;1 or the remote contro" inc"uded onSony's IC<-D,;$ tripod!

<o use a =ash on the hot shoe you ha#e to enab"e it #ia the setup menu! nce enab"ed the camera operates dierent"y in manua"e.posure mode* it no "on%er a"ters the "i#e #iew to represent the se"ected e.posure but instead knows that a =ash shot is about tobe taken and keeps the "i#e #iew at a consistent #iewin% "e#e"! 4e had no prob"ems usin% the F717 with either :ikon's S-8DA orour studio strobe systems 5#ia a :ikon 0C Sync termina" adapter! Camera was set to manua" e.posure mode!

*o'-u' F"ash <he F77's =ash unit is e"ectro-mechanica""yoperated! &t wi"" automatica""y pop-up from the "ensbarre" either when required 5(uto F"ash mode orwhen se"ected 5Forced F"ash mode! & wou"d "iked toha#e seen an option to pop the =ash up uponpressin% the =ash button and disab"e it by c"osin%the =ash 5as seen on the :ikon Coo"pi. 87! <he =ash has a rated ran%e of of !8 - 8 m 51!B -1B!, ft!

ens

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Sony has chosen to keep the e.ce""ent 8. optica"oom "ens of the F77! <his is probab"y one of thenew cameras bi%%est assets! <he super fast F+! -F+!, "ens is made from qua"ity %"ass and coatin%desi%ned by Car" Geiss! &ts speed 5"ar%e ma.imumaperture e#en at te"ephoto* si"ent focus and oomoperation* neutra" co"our and sharp reso"utionperformance are second to none at this "e#e"!

<here are three >D windows dotted around the "ens rim* the two at the top pro#ide &; "i%ht for the :i%htShot and :i%htFramin%features 5they %"ow a #ery s"i%ht red co"our when switched on! <he third on the ri%ht side in this picture is the "aser output forHo"o%ram (F 5be"ow!

(o"ogram )F )ssist <he F717 keeps the F77's unique "aser pattern'Ho"o%ram (F (ssist'! ( wea#e pattern is producedby a sma"" "aser mounted beside the "ens 5seeabo#e! <his pattern is used to assist the contrastdetect (F system to "ock (F in "ow "i%ht situations! <he pattern appears for appro.imate"y one second*in our tests of the F77 we found it worked best on

"ar%e subKects which are co#ered by the entirepattern!

Tri'o$ mount % camera base0robab"y one of the best positioned tripod mountsof any di%ita" camera! <he F717's tripod mount is"ocated on the base of the "ens barre" and issurrounded by four rubber feet! &ts "ocation meansthat you %et the u"timate stabi"ity 5c"ampin% the"ens whi"e sti"" bein% ab"e to rotate the rear bodyup or down when the camera is on the tripod!

Su''"ie$ +n the &o,

Supp"ied in the bo. are2

Sony DSC-F717 Di%ita" Camera attery 0ack :0-F$8

(C (dapter 3 Char%er (C->1

$emory Stick $S(-6+( 56+ $

>ens cap

Shou"der Strap

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http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscf717/Images/base.jpg

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S Cab"e

(3I Cab"e

&nstruction $anua"

CD-;$2 Sony S Dri#ers* $?& 0hotoSuite* $?& IideoSuite

Sony )ccessories

Wi!e ange ens a!apte%IC>-H?D78 5.!7

,eephoto ens a!apte%IC>-H?D178 5.1!7

Wi!e ange ens a!apte%IC>-$H?7( 5.!7

Rotating .mm ens hoo!>SF-H8

&eathe% case>CS-FA

&eathe% case>C-FH(

te%na FashHI>-F1 5 m ran%e

Wi%e! %emote;$-D;15on3o* oom* shutter re"ease

,%ipo! / Remote cont%oIC<-D,;$5on3o* oom* shutter re"ease

(emo%y Stics$S(-(31B(36+(3B,(31+(

3S4 (emo%y Stic Rea!e%$S(C-S1

+C Ca%! 5!apte% 6o% (emo%yStic$S(C-0C+

Foppy Dis 5!apte% 6o%(emo%y Stic$S(C-FD13+$

t%a 4atte%ies:0-F$8

D$a ete%na "att cha%ge%(C-S@J8

5so avaia"e

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>ens O"ter set - 0o"aried - IF-8C0 S

>ens O"ter set - :D O"ter - IF-8$

>ens O"ter set - Star cross O"ter - IF-8SC

E (#ai"abi"ity of accessories may #ary by re%ion!

To' of camera contro"s

:ot much has chan%ed on the top of the F717* the on"y noticeab"e dierences are the $0? $I& H@A "abe" and theaddition of the 0ro%ram ( mode which switches the function of the o"d icon to a fu"" (uto e.posure mode! <his is usefu" whenhandin% the camera to someone e"se to take a quick shot* a"" settin%s are returned to defau"t and the menu is more basic!

<he power switch is mounted around the camera mode dia"* Kust in the ri%ht position for a =ick from your thumb! esidethe mode dia" is the cameras microphone* used to record audio in mo#ie mode! ust be"ow the microphone is the :i%htFramin% 3:i%htShot switch!

<oward the front of the camera is the shutter re"ease button* ti"ted s"i%ht"y forwards and it is a soft ha"f-press* c"ick fu""-press type! :e.t to this is the e.posure compensation button* direct"y in front of that is the camera's Ko%-dia" which is used to to sete.posure compensation* aperture 3 shutter speed in manua" modes and scro"" throu%h ima%es in p"ayback mode! & persona""y foundthe Ko%-dia" "ocation to be a bit awkward* it wou"d ha#e been better to the "eft of the shutter re"ease* on the rear of the camera orthe front of the hand %rip!

pos$%e / Came%a (o!e Dia

(ovie (o!e

<he F717 features the $0? H@A mo#ie mode which a""ows you to record mo#iec"ips which are on"y "imited by the amount of space on your $emory Stick! $0?H@A is recorded at 6+ . +,* 1B fps* 1 h audio! ptiona""y you can a"sochoose from $0? A 56+ . +, or 1B . 11+ which records at on"y fps!

+ay"ac

nters p"ayback mode* this disp"ays the "ast ima%e3mo#ie recorded! Cursorarrows or Ko%-whee" can be used to scro"" throu%h ima%es 5other functionsdescribed "ater!

5$to pos$%e )'5$to 5!$stment' mo!e*

(utomatic e.posure mode* camera meters the scene and se"ects best

combination of aperture and shutter speed and &S sensiti#ity to proper"ye.pose the ima%e! 9ou can not chan%e &S* white ba"ance* e.posurecompensation etc!

+

+%og%am 5$to pos$%e

(utomatic e.posure mode* camera meters the scene and se"ects bestcombination of aperture and shutter speed 5and &S if set to (uto to proper"y



e.pose the ima%e! (dditiona""y you can compensate the e.posure by either Q3-+!I in !6 I steps! <he F717's pro%ram ( mode is not =e.ib"e 5abi"ity tose"ect equa" e.posures by ro""in% the command dia"!

S

Sh$tte% +%io%ity 5$to pos$%e

&n this mode you se"ect the shutter speed and the camera wi"" attempt to se"ectthe best aperture for a proper e.posure! Shutter speed is disp"ayed on the >CD*c"ick once then ro"" the Ko%-dia" to se"ect dierent shutter speeds! (s you chan%ethe shutter speed the cameras e.posure system reca"cu"ates and disp"ays theappropriate aperture* there is no warnin% if the e.posure is outside the camera'se.posure ran%e! <he >CD #iew chan%es to re=ect the "ook of the Ona" ima%e at

this e.posure! (#ai"ab"e shutter speeds2

6* +8* +* 18* 16* 1* * 7* 8* ,* 6* +!8* +* 1!B* 1!6* 1* 131!6* 131!B* 13+* 13+!8* 136* 13,*138* 13B* 13* 131* 1316* 1318* 13+* 13+8* 136* 13,* 138* 13B* 13* 131* 131+8*131B* 13+* 13+8* 136+* 13,* 138* 13B,* 13* 131 s

E .posures of 13+8 sec or s"ower are indicated as ':;.' where . is the shutter speed*noise reduction automatica""y enab"ed!

5

5pe%t$%e +%io%ity 5$to pos$%e

&n this mode you se"ect the aperture and the camera wi"" attempt to se"ect thebest shutter speed for a proper e.posure! (perture is disp"ayed on the >CD* c"ickonce then ro"" the Ko%-dia" to se"ect dierent apertures! (s you chan%e theaperture the cameras e.posure system reca"cu"ates and disp"ays theappropriate shutter speed* there is no warnin% if the e.posure is outside thecamera's e.posure ran%e! <he >CD #iew chan%es to re=ect the "ook of the Ona"ima%e at this e.posure! (#ai"ab"e apertures2

4ide2 F+!* F+!+* F+!8* F+!* F6!+* F6!8* F,!* F,!8* F8!* F8!B* FB!6* F7!1* F! <e"e2 F+!,* F+!8* F+!* F6!+* F6!8* F,!* F,!8* F8!* F8!B* FB!6* F7!1* F!

(

F$ (an$a pos$%e

&n this mode you se"ect the aperture and the shutter speed from anycombination of the abo#e! se the Ko%-dia" to switch between shutter speed oraperture* c"ick then ro"" it a%ain to chan%e the #a"ue! <he >CD #iew chan%es tore=ect the "ook of the Ona" ima%e at this e.posure! <he e.posure compensationreadout now disp"ays the dierence between the se"ected e.posure and themetered e.posure up to a ma.imum of Q3-+! I!

SCN

Specia Scene pos$%e

MScene .posure modeM is set throu%h the S<0 menu* you can choose fromthree e.posure modes which preset certain camera settin%s to ensure the bestpossib"e e.posure in those scene modes2

/ <wi"i%ht 5"ow "i%ht shots* "on% e.posures / <wi"i%ht 0ortrait 5"ow "i%ht shots* "on% e.posures* s"ow sync =ash / >andscape 5focus "ocked to inOnity* sma"" apertures* =ash cance" / 0ortrait 5"ar%e apertures

S,3+

Set$p

nters camera setup mode 5described in more detai" "ater!

4$ttonspos$%e Compensation

nab"es e.posure compensation* c"ick the Ko%-dia" then ro"" betweencompensations of 2 5Q3- +! I in !6 I steps

-+!* -1!7* -1!6* -1!* -!7* -!6* * !6* !7* 1!* 1!6* 1!7* +! I

NightF%aming / NightShot switch

NIGHT

FRAMING

NightF%aming

:i%htFramin% can on"y be used in (uto e.posure mode* it a""ows you to usethe "i%ht sensiti#e :i%htShot mode to frame the subKect before takin% the Ona"shot in norma" mode 5=ash e.posure! .posure sequence2

Switch to :i%htFramin%* a sma"" c"ick is heard as the &; O"ter is

remo#ed from the CCD* &; "i%hts on the front of the "ens come onand screen turns ':i%htShot ?reen'!

se this ':i%htShot' #iew to frame the subKect!

Ha"f-press shutter re"ease and &; O"ter is rep"aced screen returns to

fu"" co"our* 5if enab"ed Ho"o%ram (F 5"aser focus wi"" "ock focus on

subKect* &; O"ter is a%ain remo#ed and screen returns to ':i%htShot'#iew* =ash pops up if not a"ready up !

Fu""y depress shutter re"ease* &; O"ter is rep"aced* =ash Ores and fu""

co"our ima%e is taken!

Screen returns to ':i%htShot' type #iew!



No%ma shooting

&n this mode the camera operates as a norma" di%ita" camera* the &nfraredO"ter remains in front of the CCD at a"" times! Howe#er* Ho"o%ram (F 5"asermay be used in "ow "i%ht circumstances if set to (uto in the Setup menu! 5:otethat the "abe" for this mode has chan%ed from the word FF on pre-productioncameras to the %reen dot - this a#oids confusin% this switch for the powerswitch!

NIGHT

SHOT

NightShot

:i%htShot can on"y be used in (uto e.posure mode! .posure sequence2

Switch to :i%htShot* a sma"" c"ick is heard as the &; O"ter is remo#ed

from the CCD* &; "i%hts on the front of the "ens come on and screenturns ':i%htShot ?reen'!

Frame subKect!

Ha"f-press shutter re"ease and ( and (F "ock 5Ho"o%ram (F is :<

used in this mode!

Fu""y depress shutter re"ease and shot is taken in ':i%htShot' mode

5%reen sepia )4!

<he =ash can not be enab"ed in this mode* the s"owest possib"e

e.posure is 13 sec!

Rear of camera contro"s

:othin% has chan%ed at the 'back' of the camera* contro" "ayout is "o%ica" enou%h with p"enty of space on the ri%ht for thepad of your hand and thumb to Ot into the mou"ded 'cup'! ("on% the top are contro"s for the disp"ay as we"" as the mu"tifunction ,-way contro""er!

4$ttons / Cont%os

MENUReco%! (en$

nters record menu 5detai"ed "ater!

,h$m"nai view

Switches to between sin%"e ima%e #iew* thumbnai" #iew and picture information#iew modes in p"ayback mode! <his button has no action in record mode!

DISPLAY

Dispay

<o%%"es >CD disp"ay mode either "i#e pre#iew with fu"" detai" o#er"ay* "i#epre#iew with simp"e detai" or >CD o!



Fash

Se"ects =ash mode2 (uto F"ash* F"ash Fi""-in* F"ash Cance"

#mage %eview

&nstant"y re#iews the "ast ima%e 3 mo#ie* in this mode you can oom into theima%e but not scro"" between ima%es on the $emory Stick* you'"" ha#e to switchto p"ayback mode for that 5why it wasn't imp"emented #ia the Ko%-dia" &'m notsure!

(ac%o Foc$s

Switches between norma"N 8 cm 51J!7M - &nOnity* and macro focusN , cm 51!8M- 8 cm 51J!7M ran%e!

Se6-,ime%

n%a%es 3 Disen%a%es the se"f-timer! Se"f-timer is cance""ed after the ne.t shot istaken!

ens barre" contro"s

&ens %ing

<he rin% on the front of the "ens now performs two dierent functions dependin% on the position of the Focus switch!4hen the Focus switch is set to '(uto' the rin% acts as proportiona" oom contro""er* turn the rin% quick"y and the camera wi"" oomquick"y* turn it s"ow"y and the camera wi"" oom s"ow"y! <he direction in which you turn the rin% for wide 3 te"e can be chan%ed #iathe setup menu! 9ou can sti"" contro" oom usin% the dua"-speed oom "e#er on the side of the "ens barre" 5which now has a more"o%ica" position and orientation!

4hen the Focus switch is set to '$anua"' the "ens rin% contro"s the manua" focus position* a%ain this is proportiona" to thespeed at which the rin% is rotated! Durin% manua" focus the disp"ay wi"" ma%nify two times to assist you in Ondin% the focus point5this can be disab"ed!

4$ttons / Cont%os

FOCUS

5$to / (an$a Foc$s

Switches between automatic or manua" focus! 4hen in the $anua" position youuse the focus rin% on the front of the "ens to focus-by-wire! <here's an on-screenru"er indicatin% focus distance as we"" as a ma%niOed centra" '"oupe' to check thee.act focus position!

T / W8oom / (agni6y

Gooms the camera "ens towards te"ephoto 51J mm or towards wide an%"e 56mm! &n p"ay mode pressin% the contro""er towards te"ephoto ma%niOes the

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disp"ayed ima%e 5up to .8!!

AE

LOCK

5$to-pos$%e &oc

>ocks the metered e.posure at the current settin%* usefu" for aimin% the cameraat the subKect to use for meterin% then rea"i%nin% the scene for the Ona" shot! (>ock is cance""ed after the shot is taken!

(ete%ing mo!e

Se"ects meterin% mode2

/ $u"ti-Se%ment / Center-4ei%hted (#era%e

/ Spot

WHT

BAL

White 4aance

Se"ects white ba"ance settin%s2

/ (uto / Day"i%ht / C"oudy / F"uorescent / <un%sten / $anua" preset 'one push'

Recor$ mo$e $is'"ay

Here you can see an e.amp"e of the "i#e pre#iewima%e as seen on the >CD3IF Kust prior to takin% ashot* note the composition bracket in the center ofthe frame! Iarious settin%s information is disp"ayeda"on% the top and down the ri%ht side of thedisp"ay* note the new "i#e histo%ram on the "eft!&nfo2

attery "ife 5in minutes* ima%e sie and qua"ity*record fo"der* remainin% frames* $emory Stickstatus 5bar %raph* mode* F"ash status* $acrofocus* 4ide (F* &S 1* Q!7 I compen!

( ha"f-press of the shutter re"ease causes thecameras autofocus and meterin% systems to "ock* asteady %reen dot and the %reen co"our of the (Fbrackets indicates a %ood (F "ock and you can nowsee the e.posure shown on the ri%ht side of thedisp"ay!

<he DSC-F717 doesn't by defau"t show any re#iewima%e after takin% a shot* you must remember toho"d the shutter re"ease down if you want to seethe shot after you'#e taken it!



0ressin% the ,-way contro""er to the "eft in recordmode disp"ays the "ast ima%e taken* as abo#e! <hisdisp"ay can be instant"y remo#ed by ha"f-pressin%the shutter re"ease!

(n e.amp"e of mo#ie capture mode* here the timeindicator shows a#ai"ab"e space for + minutes 1,seconds at the current settin%!

.amp"e of Shutter 0riority mode 5before ha"f-pressin% the shutter re"ease! :ote the b"ue Ko%-dia"indicator in the bottom ri%ht of the screen* a c"ickand ro"" of the Ko%-dia" wi"" chan%e shutter speed! <he ':;' preO. before the shutter speed indicatesautomatic noise reduction wi"" be app"ied to thise.posure!

.amp"e of (perture 0riority mode 5before ha"f-pressin% the shutter re"ease! :ote the b"ue Ko%-dia"indicator in the bottom ri%ht of the screen* a c"ickand ro"" of the Ko%-dia" wi"" chan%e aperture!

Switchin% to :i%htFramin% mode immediate"y

remo#es the &nfrared O"ter 5you'"" hear the c"ickand the disp"ay turns %reen! <he two &; "amps onthe front of the "ens bathe the subKect in &; "i%ht!Fu""y depressin% the shutter re"ease takes a shot innorma" mode!

:i%htShot mode operates in the same way as

:i%htFramin%* e.cept that the Ona" shot is taken inthe same &; sensiti#e mode used for focusin%!

(n e.amp"e of the F717's new fu"" (uto mode! &nthis mode you can not set e.posure compensation*

Here's an e.amp"e of the "i#e histo%ram in use*adKust the e.posure compensation and you can see



&S sensiti#ity* 4hite a"ance etc! <his isessentia""y a point and shoot mode!

the ima%e histo%ram shift! Iery usefu" for Kud%in%the correct e.posure!

Reco%! 5$to Foc$s a%eas <he DSC-F717 now has O#e dierent (F areas and si. dierent (F area settin%s! ach settin% is se"ected by simp"y

mo#in% the o% Dia" indicator* c"ickin% the o% Dia" down and then ro""in% it to se"ect the new mode! <he Orst settin% is 4ide (Fwhere the camera automatica""y uses up to three of three horionta" (F areas in the center of the frame! <he ne.t O#e settin%scorrespond to one of O#e (F areas 5in a cross pattern which the camera wi"" use for (uto Focus detection! <he ima%e on the ri%htbe"ow is simp"y an e.amp"e of what you wou"d see in 4ide (F mode if the camera chooses to use a"" three (F points after focusin%!

Reco%! (an$a Foc$sF"ippin% the focus switch 5side of "ens barre" to the $(:(> settin% enab"es manua" focusin% usin% the rin% on the front of the "ensbarre"! Durin% focusin% the center portion of the frame is ma%niOed 5to take up the who"e #iew and the current focus distance is

disp"ayed in metres! &f you prefer this ma%nify feature can be disab"ed in the S<0 menu!

*"ay $is'"ay

Switchin% to p"ay mode immediate"y disp"ays the"ast ima%e taken! <he F717 uses a Mrou%hthumbnai"M ima%e initia""y 5e.amp"e abo#e whi"e it"oads the fu"" reso"ution ima%e from the $emoryStick! :ote the new Fo"der indicator 511 in thiscase!

(fter a second or so a hi%her reso"ution ima%e isshown! 9ou don't ha#e to wait for this ima%e to beab"e to browse throu%h ima%es and that you canuse the Ko%-dia" as we"" as the ,-way contro""er tobrowse!



0ressin% D&S0>(9 switches to a c"ean ima%e #iew! 0ress D&S0>(9 a%ain for basic information but nohisto%ram! 0ress D&S0>(9 a%ain for fu"" information5inc"udin% e.posure and the histo%ram!

0ressin% <> on oom ma%niOes the ima%e in se#era" steps up to .8!! nce ma%niOed you can use the,-way contro""er to mo#e around the ima%e! &n the e.amp"es abo#e you can see ma%niOcation of .+!7and .8! 5scro""ed!

(nother new feature of the F717 is that afterenterin% De"ete30rotect3D0F modes you can nowscro"" between ima%es and se"ecti#e"yde"ete3protect3D0F mark them without ha#in% tore-se"ect the menu option!

+ay ,h$m"nai 9iew

0ressin% the <H$ button enters this 6 . 6thumbnai" #iew where you can scro"" around theima%es and perform #arious ima%e manipu"ations!

Se"ect D>< whi"e in thumbnai" #iew and you canse"ecti#e"y de"ete ima%es* mo#e around and markthe ima%es to be de"eted!



Se"ect 0;<C< to mark3unmark ima%es asprotected! <his sets the ima%e O"e's read-on"y =a%which protects it from accidenta" de"etion 5thou%hnot from $emory Stick formattin%!

Se"ect 0;&:< to mark3unmark ima%es to be printedon a D0F compatib"e printer! <his creates a D0Fcompatib"e te.t O"e instructin% the printer as towhich ima%es are to be printed!

+ay #mage #n6o%mation

4hi"e in thumbnai" #iew mode pressin% <H$ button once more enters this three thumbnai" informationdisp"ay mode which shows basic e.posure information for the se"ected ima%e!

+ay Rotate : Resi;e

Se"ect ;<(< from the 0"ay menu to rotate the current ima%e in J de%ree steps! <his does not rotatethe 0? O"e itse"f* instead it simp"y marks the correct orientation in the O"es header! <he DSC-F717 doesnot ha#e a orientation sensor! &t's interestin% to note that after rotation the F717 can no "on%er disp"ay histo%ram information for the ima%e!

Se"ect ;S&G from the 0"ay menu to produce aresied copy of the current ima%e! (ny norma" ima%esie can be se"ected!

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscf717/Images/Captures/f717_35.jpg





+ay (ovie Cips

Here we can see a H@A mo#ie c"ip in p"ayback* thebar in the center of the frame indicates the currentposition in the mo#ie time"ine* you can remo#e a""o#er"aid information by pressin% D&S0>(9!

Se"ect D&I&D from the 0"ay menu and you cansp"it a mo#ie into two pieces by choosin% a di#idin%point in the mo#ie 5usefu" for trimmin% thebe%innin% or end from a c"ip!

Recor$ Menu *%)%S%M e,'osure mo$es

0ressin% the $: button in record mode o#er"ays the

record menu o#er the "i#e scene pre#iew 5b"ackback%round used for c"arity!

<he Sony menu system hasn't chan%ed #ery muchsince the Orst $a#ica 5and a"thou%h functiona" is"ookin% a "itt"e tired now! $enu options a"on% thebottom of the screen* use the ,-way contro""er "eft3ri%htto mo#e a"on% the menu and press up3down to chan%ea settin%!

Reco%! (en$ <ptionsReco%! men$ <ptions Notes

&S / / , / + / 1 / (uto

Set to '(uto' the camera wi"" #ary sensiti#itybetween &S 1 and &S 6+ dependin% on theamount of a#ai"ab"e "i%ht!

&ma%e Sie / +8B . 1J+ / +8B . 171+ 562+ / +, . 186B / 1+ . JB / B, . ,

0icture @ua"ity / Fine 50? / Standard 50?

;ecord $ode / <&FF / Ioice / -mai" / .posure racketin% / urst 6 / :orma"

F"ash >e#e" / Hi%h / :orma" / >ow



0icture ect / So"arie / Sepia / :e%ati#e (rt /

Sharpness / Q+ / Q1 / / -1 / -+

4hat no saturation contro"T 4hat no tone contro"T

<the% %eco%! mo!e men$s

(uto record menu* a "imited number of options forthe camera's new point-and-shoot mode! sefu" forhandin% the camera to a comp"ete no#ice! $o#ie c"ip record menu* a""ows you to se"ect

between 6+ . +, H@A 51B fps* 6+ . +, A 5fps or 1B . 11+ 5 fps!

Scene record mode* a"most a"" the options of the03(3S3$ menu apart from &S sensiti#ity and theaddition of the scene se"ection menu!

*"ay Menu

0ressin% the $: button in p"ay mode o#er"ays thep"ay menu o#er the disp"ayed ima%e 5b"ack back%roundused for c"arity!

$enu "ayout is quite simi"ar to record mode* press the,-way contro""er "eft3ri%ht to choose an option thendepress it fu""y to se"ect!

+ay (en$ <ptionsReco%! men$ <ptions

Fo"der / Se"ect fo"der Uc"ipV

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscf717/Images/Captures/f717_38.gif




De"ete / k / .it

0rotect / k / .it

D0F / k / .it

S"ide / &nter#a"2 6* 8* 1* 6 sec* 1 min / &ma%e2 Fo"der* ("" / ;epeat2 n* / Cance" / Start

;esie / +8B . 1J+ / +, . 186B / 1+ . JB / B, . , / Cance"

;otate / J de%rees CC4 3 J de%rees C4 / k / Cance"

Di#ide / $o#ie c"ips on"y

Setu' menu

<he F717's dedicated Setup menu is accessed byturnin% the mode dia" to the S< 0 position! ptionshere are e.panded compared to the F77* primari"y toaddress with the new hotshoe* "ens rin% and fo"derfunctiona"ity!

Set$p (en$ <ptionsReco%! men$ <ptions Notes

$o#in% &ma%e / $0? $o#ie / C"ip $otion / $u"ti urst

- 1B . 1+* 6+ . +, or 6+ . +, H@A- (nimated ?&F P 1B . 1+ or . B- 7!8* 18 or 6 fpsN %rid of 1B frames on an ima%e

Date3<ime / Day ) <ime / Date /

#er"ay day 3 time or date in bottom ri%ht corner ofe#ery ima%e!

Di%ita" Goom / n /

;ed ye ;eduction / n /

Ho"o%ram (F / (uto /

Set to '' to disab"e the >aser (F assist

Con#ersion >ens / n /

.panded Focus / n /

Set to 'n' for ma%niOed #iew durin% manua" focus

racket Step / Q3- 1! I / Q3- !7 I / Q3- !6 I

Hot Shoe / n /

Goom ;in% Setup / 4 W- -X </ < W- -X 4

Chan%es the rotation direction of the "ens rin%durin% oomin%

Format / k / Cance"

Create ;ecord Fo"der / k Uc"ipV / Cance"

Create a new ima%e fo"der* new fo"ders arenumbered 1$SDCF* 11!!* 1+!! etc!

Chan%e ;ecord Fo"der / k Uc"ipV / Cance"

Se"ect the current record fo"der 5it wou"d ha#e beennice to be ab"e to do this from record mode

>CD ri%htness / ri%ht / :orma" / Dark

>CD ack"i%ht / ri%ht / :orma"







IF ack"i%ht / ri%ht / :orma"

eep / Shutter / n /

Fi"e :umber / Series / ;eset

Set to ';eset' to return the ima%e namin% counterto ero each time a b"ank $S is inserted!

S Connect / 0<0 / :orma"

Iideo ut / :<SC / 0(>

>an%ua%e / n%"ish

/ apanese

C"ock Set / k / Cance"

Timings / Fi"e Sies

(s with the F77 the F717 pro#ed to be a #ery fast camera to use! Startup times are muchfaster than a"most e#ery other di%ita" camera* and certain"y any other O#e me%api.e"! sin%a "ower capacity 6+ $ $emory Stick reduced startup times to an amain% 1!7 seconds!(uto Focus was #ery fast at wide an%"e and on"y a "itt"e s"ower at te"ephoto 5in %ood "i%ht! Shutterre"ease "a% is as we wou"d e.pect and shot to shot times are #ery %ood indeed!

,iming Notes ("" times ca"cu"ated as an a#era%e of three operations! ( 1+ $ Sony $emoryStick card was used for any timin%s which inc"uded O"e sa#in%! n"ess otherwise stated a""timin%s were made on a +8B . 1J+ F&: 0? ima%e 5appro.! +! $ per ima%e!

5ction Detais ,ime= secon!s)12 (4 (S*

,ime= secon!s)>2 (4 (S*

0ower2 to ;ecord

+!B 1!7

0ower2 to 0"ay

&ma%e "oadin% E1+!B +!

0ower2 ;ecord to 1!+ 1!+

0ower2 0"ay to W!8 W!8

$ode2 ;ecord to 0"ay &ma%e "oadin% E1 ! !B

$ode2 0"ay to ;ecord W!8 W!8

0"ay2 <humbnai" #iew 6 . 6 ! !

5ction Detais ,ime= secon!s)ave%age*

(uto Focus >(? 4ide an%"e 56 mm equi#! E+ !B

(uto Focus >(? <e"ephoto 51J mm equi#! E+ 1!1

Shutter ;e"ease >(? >CD monitor* pre-focused 5shutter re"! ha"f-pressed !1

Shutter ;e"ease >(? IF* pre-focused 5shutter re"! ha"f-pressed !1

Shutter ;e"ease >(? >CD monitor* fu"" press* wide an%"e* (F !B

to Shot <aken 1+ $ $emory Stick +!J

to Shot <aken 6+ $ $emory Stick +!1

Shot to Shot 4ide an%"e* (F 1!B

E1 ';ou%h ima%e' is disp"ayed whi"e more detai"ed ima%e is "oaded!

E+ &n "ow "i%ht usin% the Ho"o%ram (F 5"aser focus times were c"oser to +!+ seconds 5sti"" #eryrespectab"e!

5$to Foc$s &5 is 5rou%h"y the amount of time it takes the camera to autofocus 5a ha"f-press and ho"d of the shutter re"easebutton* this timin% is norma""y the most #ariab"e as its aected by the subKect matter* current focus position* sti"" or mo#in%subKect etc! <his timin% is an a#era%e!



Sh$tte% Reease &5 is the amount of time it takes to take the shot from the moment you fu""y depress the shutter re"easebutton* measured both as a time inc"udin% auto focus and a time assumin% you ha#e a"ready pre-focused by ho"din% a ha"f-press of the shutter re"ease!

ow ight Focus

sin% our new "ow "i%ht focusin% tests we measure the minimum amount of "i%ht under which the camera can sti"" focus! <he focustar%et is our "ens distortion test chart 5shown here on the ri%ht* camera is positioned e.act"y + m 5B!B ft away! >i%ht "e#e"s are%radua""y dropped unti" the camera can no "on%er focus!

<his test tar%et is the optimum type of subKect for most Mcontrast detectM (F systems 5as it has a #ertica" "ine at its center* if thesubKect were "ess easy to focus upon then you wou"d need more "i%ht!

Sony DSC-F717 best "ow "i%ht focus2 I 5darkness

:othin% has chan%ed here so we %et the e.act same resu"ts as the DSC-F77! <he F717 was easi"y capab"e of focusin% in comp"etedarkness thanks to its 'Ho"o%ram (F' 5"aser pattern focusin% mechanism! <he "aser paints a sharp pattern on to the subKect* thispattern is sharp and bri%ht enou%h for the contrast detection auto focus system to adKust the focus accurate"y!

<he ma.imum focus distance 5the ran%e of the "aser in darkness* this was appro.imate"y 8!8 m 51 ft - this is focusin% on theoptimum subKect* a =at white surface!

@oog%am 5F Caveats5<his from the DSC-F77 re#iew* a"" app"ies to the DSC-F717! &n use it became c"ear that the best way

to use Ho"o%ram (F for sma"" subKects at c"ose distances or medium subKects at further distances was to'aim' at somethin% "ar%er nearby which wou"d be co#ered by more of the "aser pattern! &n our own testsaimin% the camera at a subKects face appro.imate"y 6 m away with a wa"" about 1 m behind theHo"o%ram (F system wou"d occasiona""y miss and focus on the wa"" behind 5because more of thepattern hit the wa""! Howe#er aimin% initia""y at the subKects torso 5which is can co#ered by more of

the pattern for the ha"f-press then re-framin% before a fu"" press worked e#ery time!

>ater tests re#ea"ed the 'spread' of the pattern to be appro.imate"y 1+!BY* the dia%ram be"ow shows the sie of the "aser pattern atdierent distances from the "ens 51* 6 and 8 m2

&urst Mo$e

<he F717's dedicated continuous shootin% mode is ca""ed 'urst 6'* in this mode one press of the shutter re"ease records threeframes o#er a ! second period 5thus 6!78 fps! Dependin% on the se"ected ima%e sie 3 qua"ity you wi"" ha#e to wait for theseima%es to be written away to the $emory Stick before you can shoot the ne.t burst!

#mage Si;e / A$aity F%ames F%ames pe%secon!

,ime "e6o%e net "$%st

+8B . 1J+ F&: 6 6!78 fps 11!, sec

+8B . 1J+ S<(:D(;D 6 6!78 fps !+ sec

+, . 186B F&: 6 6!78 fps J! sec

1+ . JB F&: 6 6!78 fps B!8 sec

B, . , F&: 6 6!78 fps ,!+ sec

Fi"e F"ush % Dis'"ay Timing

<here are three timin%s be"ow* &'"" describe each in turn2



,ime to p%ocess - this is the amount of time after pressin% the shutter re"ease button before the camera returns contro"

to you* the ima%e may sti"" be bein% written away to the $emory Stick but you can be%in to take the ne.t shot!

,ime to B$sh - this is the amount of time it takes the camera to process and =ushN comp"ete writin% the ima%e to the

$emory Stick! &t is taken from the moment the shutter re"ease is pressed to the moment the red "i%ht beside the $emoryStick s"ot 5inside the compartment %oes out! <his timin% inc"udes the time to process!

,ime to !ispay - this is the amount of time it takes the camera to disp"ay the ima%e* as with most di%ita" cameras the

F717 Orst disp"ays a rou%h #ersion of the ima%e 5a thumbnai" from the O"e header and then "oads the fu"" reso"utionima%e* you can't manipu"ate the ima%e unti" it is fu""y "oaded 5ma%nify etc! howe#er you can interrupt this "oadin%process skip to the ne.t ima%e!

ust "ike the F77 the F717 has Kust enou%h buer space to ho"d a ma.imum of three ima%es at a time* so it's possib"e to snap twoshots and sti"" ha#e space for one more! <he tab"e be"ow inc"udes timin%s for the F77 5showin in brackets! <imin%s for which theF717 is faster are hi%h"i%hted in %reen* s"ower in red!

Fie ,ype ,ime top%ocess=secon!s

,ime toB$sh=

secon!s

,ime to!ispay=secon!s

5ve%ageFie si;e

E1

5pp%o imageson a 12 (4

(emo%y Stic

+8B . 1J+ <&FF ,J!1 56J!B ,J!1 56J!B +!7 5+!7 E+ 1B*B6 7

+8B . 1J+ F&: 1!+ 51!, ,!J 56! +!B 5+!B +* 81

+8B . 1J+ S<(:D(;D 1!+ 51!, 6! 56!1 +!6 5+!6 1*6 JB

+, . 186B F&: 1!J 51!7 ,!8 56!6 1! 51!J 1*+ +

1+ . JB F&: 1! 51!, +!J 5+!6 1!+ 51!6 B ++

B, . , F&: 1!B 51!, +!+ 51!8 !B 51! 1B 7J

E1 ("" O"e sies are an a#era%e of three O"es! (s is the case with 0? it's diZcu"t to predict the sie ofan ima%e because it wi"" #ary a fair amount dependin% on the content of the ima%e 5especia""y theamount of detai" captured! For e.amp"e* take a photo%raph of a fair"y empty wa"" and you'"" %et asma"" 0?* take a photo%raph of a bush with a "ot of detai" and you'"" %et a "ar%er ima%e! Fi"e sieshere are c"oser to the "ater* the "ar%er sie of O"e you shou"d e.pect!

E+ <he DSC-F717 rather wastefu""y creates an additiona" 0? a"on% with the <&FF O"e* thus the tota"sie 5+*+ Q 1,*,6 is appro.imate"y 1B*B6 !

&attery "ife

4e ran the camera throu%h our new battery "ife test! <his test is desi%ned to be fair and comparati#e to each camera and batterytype2

<ake , shots without =ash

4ait + minutes 58R of the time powerin% the camera o

<ake 1 shot with =ash

4ait 1 minute

;epeat

("" batteries had been fu""y dischar%ed and rechar%ed before the test and a"" cameras were reset to their factory defau"t settin%s!Here are the resu"ts2

Came%a0rosumer 3 S>;->ike

4atte%y +owe% 4atte%y i6e N$m"e% o6 shots

$ino"ta Di$(? 7 , . (( :i$H 1B m(h 5?0 7!7 4h 1 hr 1, mins 1+8

$ino"ta Di$(? 8 , . (( :i$H 1B m(h 5?0 7!7 4h 1 hr 8B mins 1J8

:ikon Coo"pi. 87 :->1 ,! 4h + hr mins +18

Canon 0owerShot S, :-+> 6!J 4h + hr 16 mins ++8

$ino"ta Di$(? S6, , . (( :i$H 1B m(h 5?0 7!7 4h + hr 1 mins +68

Canon 0owerShot S,8 :-+> 6!J 4h + hr + mins +,

:ikon Coo"pi. ,8 :->1 ,! 4h + hr +7 mins +8

FuKiO"m Fine0i. BJG :0- ,!1 4h + hr +J mins +8

:ikon Coo"pi. JJ , . (( :i$H 1B m(h 5?0 7!7 4h + hr 6 mins +88

:ikon Coo"pi. JJ8 :->1 ,! 4h+ hr 6 mins

+88

:ikon Coo"pi. 8 :->1 ,! 4h + hr 6+ mins +B

$ino"ta Di$(? 7Hi , . (( :i$H 1B m(h 5?0 7!7 4h + hr 66 mins +B

Canon 0owerShot S8 :-+> 6!J 4h + hr 6J mins +7

$ino"ta Di$(? S,, , . (( :i$H 1B m(h 5?0 7!7 4h + hr 6J mins +7

$ino"ta Di$(? 7i , . (( :i$H 1B m(h 5?0 7!7 4h + hr ,B mins +7

"ympus -+ , . (( :i$H 1B m(h 5?0 7!7 4h + hr , mins +8

Canon 0owerShot ?1 0-811 !1 4h 6 hr mins 6

H0 0hotosmart 8 , . (( :i$H 1B m(h 5?0 7!7 4h 6 hr 1+ mins 6+8

Sony DSC-S78 :0-F$8 !B 4h 6 hr 18 mins 66



FuKiO"m Fine0i. SB+G , . (( :i$H 1B m(h 5?0 7!7 4h 6 hr +J mins 68

Canon 0owerShot ?+ 0-811 !1 4h 6 hr 6+ mins 688

Casio @I-, , . (( :i$H 1B m(h 5?0 7!7 4h 6 hr 6 mins 6B8

"ympus C-88 Goom , . (( :i$H 1B m(h 5?0 7!7 4h 6 hr , mins 6

Sony DSC-S8 :0-F$8 !B 4h 6 hr 8 mins ,

Sony DSC-F717 :0-F$8 !B 4h , hr + mins ,8

Sony DSC-F77 :0-F$8 !B 4h , hr + mins ,,

Canon 0owerShot ?6 0-811 !1 4h , hr 6+ mins ,88

0enta. ptio 88 D->&7 B!B 4h , hr 6B mins ,B8

ther test notes2

/ >CD monitor is "eft on durin% the battery test / <he camera is powered o ha"f of the time and "eft on ha"f of the time 5switch e#ery 1 iterations / <here are now hi%her capacity (( :i$H batteries a#ai"ab"e* howe#er in the interests of fair comparison we wi"" continue to use our 1B m(h test set

(s we e.pected the F717 performs pretty much identica""y to the F77* a"thou%h Sony te"" us it shou"d "ast e#en "on%er! & think thatfour hours in our test is #ery #ery %ood indeed!

2*!3%T+FF +mage Sie / 4ua"ity Sam'"es

<he F717 has two 0? compression "e#e"s which can be combined with a #ariety of ima%ereso"utions and 0? F&:* 0? S<(:D(;D or <&FF ima%e qua"ity!

<o %i#e an impression of what some of the combinations of ima%e sie and qua"ity produce thetab"e be"ow is a cross reference of some of them2

+8B . 1J+ <&FF

+8B . 1J+ F&: 0?

+8B . 1J+ S<(:D(;D 0?

+, . 186B F&: 0?

1+ . JB F&: 0?

B, . , F&: 0?

&ma%es be"ow are cropped +, . 1 area of the ima%e ma%niOed +R 5nearest nei%hbour!

2.0 1E20

,#FF

1,*,6 5:ot a#ai"ab"e for down"oad

Standard <est Scene



+F#N

+*1JB

+S,D

1*+11

20G 1.>

+F#N

1*,87

120 E0

+F#N

8,

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/QualityRes/DSC00344.jpg






G0 G0

+F#N

1,,

&nterestin% to note that the <&FF ima%e appears to be #ery s"i%ht"y softer* or '"ess processed'! ther than that there's "itt"e reason touse <&FF 5un"ess you "ike the idea of usin% 1, $ a shot* 0? Fine pro#ides a"" the detai" with "itt"e in the way of artifacts 50? at"east - sharpenin% ha"os are c"ear"y #isib"e! 0? Standard seemed to work quite we""* #ery few artifacts and a %ood sa#in% instora%e space!

+mage *rocessing )$5ustments

(nother %eneration on and Sony sti"" ha#en't cau%ht up with the maKority of other prosumer "e#e" di%ita" cameras in respect to%i#in% the photo%rapher fu"" contro" o#er the Ona" '"ook' of the ima%e! <here's sti"" no abi"ity to contro" co"our saturation 5often toostron% for most and no contrast 5tone parameter! :e#er mind some of the more ad#anced features a#ai"ab"e in simi"ar speciOed5and more important"y priced cameras "ike the Di$(? 7Hi - se"ectab"e co"our space* ima%e O"ters* user memories or a ;(4capture mode! >ets hope Sony ;)D are "istenin% and wi"" %i#e some contro" to the photo%rapher in the ne.t iteration of prosumerdi%ita" cameras!

Sha%pening

<he on"y parameter you do ha#e contro" of is sharpenin%! <he DSC-F717 pro#ides O#e "e#e"s of sharpenin% from Q+ 5hard to -+5soft! <he s"i%ht ha"o sharpenin% artifacts #isib"e at the norma" sharpenin% "e#e" 5 can be reduced by usin% a sharpness "e#e" of

-1 5a"thou%h ob#ious"y at the e.pense of detai" sharpness!

Sharpness2 Q+ 5Hard

Sharpness2 Q1




Sharpness2 5:orma"

Sharpness2 -1

Sharpness2 -+ 5Soft

+S6 Sensitivity % oise "eve"s

&S eq a di%ita" camera is the abi"ity to increase the sensiti#ity of the sensor to enab"e faster shutter speeds and3or betterperformance in "ow "i%ht! <he way this works in a di%ita" camera is by Mturnin% up the #o"umeM on the CCD's si%na" amp"iOers!:othin% is without its price howe#er and doin% so a"so amp"iOes any noise that may be present and often aects co"our saturation!

Compared to the DSC-F77 the DSC-F717 e.pands the a#ai"ab"e sensiti#ity ran%e by addin% &S ! <hus you now ha#e theoption of &S 1* +* , and !

ur noise comparison test in#o"#es shootin% a co"our patch chart 5a ?reta%$aceth Co"orChecker at the fu"" ran%e of &Ssensiti#ities and then measurin% "uminance and ;? noise at a 'mid' %rey patch!

:ote that our new test now pro#ides a %raph of "uminance noise for each sensiti#ity as we"" as indi#idua" ;? channe" noise!

Sony DSC-F717 vs Nion Coopi .700

&ma%e sharpenin% set to ':orma"' on both cameras* white ba"ance preset other settin%s as defau"t* (perture priority with a -!6 Ie.posure compensation! $easurements taken at appro.imate"y +1YC 5[7YF! >i%htin% was day"i%ht!



#S< 100

Sony DSC-F71713 sec* F,!8

Nion Coopi .70013+ sec* F,!7

<%igina c%op

Re! channe

%een channe

4$e channe

#S< 200

Sony DSC-F717131B sec* F,!8

Nion Coopi .70013187 sec* F,!7

<%igina c%op

Re! channe

%een channe

4$e channe

#S< G00

Sony DSC-F71713+8 sec* F,!8

Nion Coopi .70013+J, sec* F,!7

<%igina c%op

Re! channe



%een channe

4$e channe

#S< 00Sony DSC-F717138 sec* F,!8

Nion Coopi .70013B+7 sec* F,!7

<%igina c%op

Re! channe

%een channe

4$e channe

(s far as we know both cameras use the same +36M CCD sensor* a"thou%h the DSC-F717 uses a primary co"our O"ter array 5;?

O"ters and the Coo"pi. 87 uses a comp"ementary co"our O"ter array 5C9?$ O"ters! &t appears as thou%h the F717's noisereduction systems keep #isib"e noise under contro"* especia""y at hi%her sensiti#ities! ( quick "ook at the %raph be"ow hints that thebeneOts of such noise reduction be%in to ha#e a noticeab"e eect from &S , upwards! Certain"y the DSC-F717's &S , and crops are c"eaner than that from the Coo"pi. 87!



&$minance noise g%aph

:ote that &S sensiti#ity is on the ho%i;onta a.is of this %raph!

R4 noise g%aph

:ote that &S sensiti#ity is on the ve%tica a.is of this %raph! &nterestin% to see that a"thou%h the DSC-F717 does an admirab"e Kobof keepin% %reen and b"ue channe" noise under contro" that red channe" noise increases re"ati#e"y to them! <his cou"d "ead tootherwise c"ean shadow areas with some #isib"e red 'mott"e' eect!

8hite &a"ance

<he DSC-F717 %ets the new set of white ba"ance presets introduced into the current %eneration of Sony Cybershot di%ita" cameras! <his means an impro#ement from Kust two presets 5indoors* outdoors to four 5day"i%ht* c"oudy* =uorescent and tun%sten* this nowbrin%s the DSC-F717 in "ine with other brand prosumer di%ita" cameras! (dditiona""y there is of course (uto white ba"ance and$anua" preset which can be quick"y set by pressin% the 'one touch' button on the "ens barre"!



4hi"e the manua" white ba"ance is e.ce""ent the pre-pro%rammed presets are "ess sucessfu" and auto white ba"ance can't rea""ycope in anythin% other than natura" "i%ht! Sony sti"" has some way to %o in this respect!

utdoors* (uto utdoors* Sunny 5or C"oudy utdoors* $anua"

&ncandescent* (uto &ncandescent* &ncandescent &ncandescent* $anua"

F"uorescent* (uto F"uorescent* F"uorescent F"uorescent* $anua"

Macro Focus

<he DSC-F717 de"i#ers optimum frame co#era%e at appro.imate one quarter oom with the "ens positioned Kust a coup"e of centimetres away from the subKect! <his howe#er introduces three prob"ems2 5a "i%htin% the obKect bein% photo%raphed 5the bi%"ens casts a "ar%e shadow* 5b barre" distortion and 5c "ens sharpness 3 distortion at the ed%es of the frame! (s you can see be"ow"ens sharpness at this #ery short subKect distance means that a "ar%e portion of the border of the ima%e is #ery soft!

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/WhiteBalance/day_cloudy.jpg


http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/Macro/DSC00466.jpg


http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/WhiteBalance/fluor_manual.jpg

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/WhiteBalance/fluor_fluor.jpg

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/WhiteBalance/fluor_auto.jpg

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/WhiteBalance/incan_manual.jpg

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/WhiteBalance/incan_incan.jpg

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/WhiteBalance/incan_auto.jpg

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/WhiteBalance/day_manual.jpg

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/WhiteBalance/day_sunny.jpg

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/WhiteBalance/day_auto.jpg




F"ash *erformance

<he DSC-F717's =ash unit is unchan%ed from the F77 with a ran%e of !8 - 8 m 51!B - 1B!, ft which is pretty powerfu" by di%ita"camera standards! <he F717 performs =ash meterin% <<> 5throu%h the "ens by Orin% a pre-=ash Kust mi""iseconds before the main=ash! :ote that in manua" e.posure mode with either the interna" or e.terna" =ash enab"ed the disp"ay wi"" automatica""y return toa 'norma"' bri%htness!

Skin tone test2 ?ood co"our* nocast 5perhaps a "itt"e warm* %oodmeterin% and =ash power!

?ood e.posure with #ery "itt"e#isib"e drop o 5or #i%nettin% atthe corners!

Co"or patch test2 ?ood e.posure*we"" metered with #ery %oodco"our!

4FS / &94FS

FS and >IFS are acronyms %i#en to issues with the DSC-F77's =ash system by our #ery own Sony <a"k Forum 5S<F! FS 5"ueF"ash Syndrome was an a"most random occurrence of b"ue cast 5incorrect white ba"ance in automatic =ash e.posures* this wasso"#ed by Sony and e.istin% F77's were O.ed! >IFS 5>e#e" "ue F"ash Syndrome appeared after the ori%ina" O. and aectedmanua" =ash e.posures* hi%her shutter speeds produced b"uer and b"uer e.posures! <he prob"em appears to be re"ated to the waythe camera measures white ba"ance 5before the =ash e.posure!

(an$a Bash epos$%es in !a%ness

?ood news here* no e#idence of any b"ue cast when takin% manua" =ash e.posures in darkness!

F+!+* 136 sec F+!+* 13+8 sec F+!+* 131 sec

FB!6* 136 sec FB!6* 13+8 sec FB!6* 131 sec

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/Flash/Levbfs/darkness/f6.3_1000.jpg






http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/Flash/DSC00122.JPG

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/Flash/DSC00946.jpg

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/Flash/DSC00940.jpg





(an$a Bash epos$%es with incan!escent ight

Co"our cast e.hibited be"ow is what we wou"d e.pect of an automatic white ba"ance system in a mi.ed "i%ht situation! <he camerase"ects its auto white ba"ance based on the dominant "i%ht source in the ima%e! (t F+!+* 136 or 13+8 sec and FB!6* 136 sec this isan incandescent white ba"ance 5hence b"ue cast! therwise the camera se"ects a =ash white ba"ance* which produces the correctwhite ba"ance!

F+!,* 136 sec F+!,* 13+8 sec F+!,* 131 sec

FB!6* 136 sec FB!6* 13+8 sec FB!6* 131 sec

Compa%e! to the Nion Coopi .700

("thou%h not as #isib"e the F6!7* 13+8 sec shot be"ow deOnite"y e.hibits the same 'prob"em'* the camera not knowin% which way to%o with the white ba"ance! <he Coo"pi. 87 does a""ow you to se"ect a 'Speed"i%ht' 5F"ash white ba"ance which does produce moreconsistent resu"ts once the shutter speed is fast enou%h to e"iminate much of the ambient incandescent "i%ht!

F6!7* 136 sec* (uto 4 F6!7* 13+8 sec* (uto 4 F6!7* 131 sec* (uto 4

F6!7* 136 sec* F"ash 4 F6!7* 13+8 sec* F"ash 4 F6!7* 131 sec* F"ash 4

Fash hot-shoe

<he DSC-F717 now features a =ash hot-shoe 5with contacts compared to the 'co"d shoe' of the F77 5no contacts! <his means youcan mount Sony's dedicated di%ita" =ash 5HI>-F1 direct"y onto the camera or e#en tri%%er third party =ash systems! ( word of warnin% about usin% this contact to tri%%er studio strobe systems* a"ways check the tri%%er #o"ta%e to a#oid dama%in% yourcamera! 4hen the 'Hot-shoe' option is enab"ed throu%h the S<0 menu the camera's manua" e.posure mode no "on%er dims the"i#e #iew disp"ay!

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/Flash/Levbfs/light/cp5700/DSCN1490.jpg






http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/Flash/Levbfs/light/f6.3_1000.jpg








&nterna" =ash Canon 88-A bounced o cei"in%:ot #ery %ood white ba"ance!!!

ight e,'osures % oise re$uction

<he DSC-F717 now e.tends its automatic noise reduction for a"" shutter speeds s"ower 5"on%er than 13+8 sec! For "on% shutterspeeds 5such as 1 second or "on%er the camera appears to imp"ement a dark frame subtraction noise reduction* this works bytakin% an equa""y "on% 'dark frame' after the main e.posure and usin% that to subtract 'hot pi.e"' noise from the ima%e!

<he DSC-F717 a""ows for timed e.posures of up to 6 seconds with impressi#e resu"ts! <here is no #isib"e noise nor 'b"ack pits'where the camera has remo#ed hot pi.e"s! #era"" #ery impressi#e! & did do a coup"e of :i%ht Shot tests of this scene but it is fartoo dark 5e#en at &S to capture anythin% usefu"! :i%ht Shot is rea""y on"y usefu" where the :i%ht Shot "amps can i""uminatethe subKect!

18 sec* F+!

6 sec* F,!

&arre" an$ *incushion Distortion

<he F77's otherwise e.ce""ent "ens did e.hibit s"i%ht barre" distortion at fu"" wide an%"e 56 mm equi#!* this isn't that surprisin%! (tfu"" te"ephoto 51J mm equi#! pincushion distortion was measured as appro.imate"y !JR which is about what &'d e.pect of a 8 ."ens and is actua""y a "itt"e better than the F88I!

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/Night/DSC00963.jpg








1!1R arre" Distortion at wide an%"e !JR 0incushion Distortion at te"ephoto

*ur'"e Fringing Chromatic )berrations

>ike a"" "on% oom "enses the F717 does e.hibit some s"i%ht purp"e frin%in% 5chromatic aberrations but to be frank these are"imited to shots taken at wide open apertures or "on% oom! 9ou'"" need a stron% bri%ht obKect a%ainst a darker back%round too! &nour e.perience the DSC-F717 didn't often e.hibit easi"y noticeab"e chromatic aberrations!

Some purp"e frin%in% "ens artifacts at fu"" te"ephoto at the ed%e of the frame

ur now standard chromatic aberration test shot* some moderate frin%in%

6vera"" +mage 4ua"ity % S'ecific +ssues

,he DSC-F717 %epeate!y p%o!$ce! sha%p= !etaie! images with g%eat !ynamic %ange an! goo! a$tomatic white"aance )$n!e% nat$%a ight* Coo$%s a%e !enitey ess sat$%ate! an! mo%e acc$%ate than we saw on theDSC-F707 an! 6o% this Sony sho$! get an et%a H$!os Coo$%s a%e now acc$%ate an! sti we sat$%ate!p%ovi!ing images which oo goo! st%aight o$t o6 the came%a with ve%y itte post-p%ocessing %eI$i%e! ,heF717's

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/Fringing/DSC00131.JPG

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/Fringing/DSC00131.JPG

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/Fringing/020910-1039-28.jpg

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/Fringing/020910-1039-28.jpg

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/Distortion/tele.JPG

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/Distortion/wide.JPG



Com'are$ to the Sony DSC-F707

<he ne.t two pa%es are dedicated to the comparison of the DSC-F717 to the mode" it rep"aces* the DSC-F77! <his comparison hasbeen added primari"yt the request of the many DSC-F77 owners on our Sony <a"k Forum and a"so to note any distinctimpro#ements in ima%e qua"ity between the two cameras* howe#er minor!

<$t!oo% scene compa%ison

Sony DSC-F717 Sony DSC-F707

&S 1* F8!B* 131+8 sec &S 1* F8!B* 13 sec

+*167 0? +*116 0?

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/Compared/outdoor/f707.JPG






<he Orst quite interestin% dierence is that the F717 appears to be !7 I 5three quarters of a stop more sensiti#e than the F77! <hat is that it e.posed the shot at 131+8 sec where as the F77 used a shutter speed of 13 sec* resu"tin% ima%e bri%htness wasthe same! &t's a"so fair"y c"ear that the F717's co"our ba"ance is 'dierent' compared to the F77* b"ues seem to ha#e shifted moretowards a pure b"ue 5"ess %reen in=uence and %reens are toned down s"i%ht"y! therwise noise "e#e"s and reso"ution are #irtua""yidentica"!

has a #ery %ood "ens* this was c"ear when we re#iewed the F77 and we're %"ad to see Sony has stuck with this %reat "ens!

3nie most !igita came%as we %eview # ha!

Com'are$ to the Mino"ta DiM)3! 7(i an$ i9on Coo"'i, :700

e"ow and on the ne.t pa%e you wi"" Ond comparison shots taken between the DSC-F717* $ino"ta's Di$(? 7Hi and the :ikonCoo"pi. 87! ach of these cameras represent the top of the ran%e prosumer di%ita" camera from each manufacturer! ("" use thesame +36M 8 me%api.e" CCD* the DSC-F717 has a 8. optica" oom "ens* the Di$(? 7Hi has a 7. optica" oom "ens and the Coopi.87 has an . optica" oom "ens!

<n pape% )specications*

Sony DSC-F717 (inota Di(5 7@i Nion Coopi .700

Street price S2 LJJJ S2 L1+JJ S2 L11JJ

&ma%e sensor +36M 8!+ me%api.e" CCD +36M 8!+ me%api.e" CCD +36M 8!+ me%api.e" CCD

ecti#e pi.e"s 8! mi""ion 8! mi""ion 8! mi""ion

Co"our Fi"ter (rray ;? ;? C9?$

>ens oom 8.* 6 - 1J mm equi#! 7.* + - + mm equi#! .* 68 - + mm equi#!

>ens aperture F+! - F+!, F+! - F6!8 F+! - F,!+

Goom contro" Goom by wire 5rin% 3 "e#er $echanica""y "inked rin% Goom by wire 5"e#er

(uto Focus Contrast <<> Contrast <<> Contrast <<>

(F areas 8 area 6 area 3 +8 area 8 area

(F assist 9es* "aser pattern :o :o$anua" focus Focus by wire 5rin% Focus by wire 5rin% Focus by wire 5buttons

:orma" focus 8 cm 6 cm 8 cm

$acro focus + cm 54ide - distorts 16 cm 6 cm 5$id-oom

Sensiti#ity &S 1* +* ,* &S 1* +* ,* &S 1* +* ,*

$eterin% $u"ti* C4 (#%!* Spot $u"ti* C4 (#%!* Spot $atri.* C4 (#%!* Spot

Shutter speeds 6 sec - 13+ sec E1 u"b* 18 sec - 13+ sec u"b* sec - 13, sec

(pertures F+! 3 F+!, - F! F+! 3 F6!8 - F! F+! 3 F,!+ - F!

.posure modes (uto* 0* (* S* $ 0* (* S* $ (uto* 0* (* S* $

.posure bracket 9es 9es 9es

Histo%ram >i#e* ;e#iew* 0"ayback >i#e* 0"ayback 0"ayback

Co"our space s;? 5assumed s;?* (dobe ;? E+ s;? 5assumed

0arameters Sharpness Sharpness* Co"or* <one Sharpness* Co"or* <one

:oise ;eduction (utomatic* 13+8 sec or s"ower (utomatic* "on% e.posures $anua""y se"ectab"e

F"ash "ectronic pop-up $anua" pop-up "ectronic pop-up

.terna" =ash Hot-shoe* Sony acc Hot-shoe* 0C Sync Hot-shoe

4hite ba"ance (uto* , presets* manua" (uto* 8 presets* + manua" (uto* 8 presets E6* manua"

Continuous E, + fps* ma. 6 ima%es +36 fps* ma. J ima%es 6! fps* ma. 6 ima%es

&ma%e formats <&FF* 0? ;(4* <&FF*0? ;(4* <&FF* 0?

>CD $onitor 1!M twistin% body 1!M O.ed 1!8M =ip-out and twist

>CD 0i.e"s 1+6* 11* 11*

IiewOnder "ectronic IiewOnder "ectronic IiewOnder* <i"ts "ectronic IiewOnder

<ime"apse :o 9es :o

ser memories ne Fi#e <hree

Stora%e $emory Stick Compact F"ash <ype &3&& Compact F"ash <ype &3&&

0ower Sony >ithium-&on battery , . (( batteries 5:i$H :ikon >ithium-&on battery

att 3 Char%er &nc"uded &nc"uded &nc"uded

4ei%ht 5inc"! B8J % 5+6!+ o B8 % 5++!J o 81+ % 51!1 o

Dimensions1B+ . 1+, . B mm5B!, . ,!J . +!7 in

117 . J1 . 116 mm5,!B . 6!B . ,!8 in

1 . 7B . 1+ mm5,!6 . 6 . , in

E1 n"y up to 131 sec in shutter priority and manua" e.posure modes

E+ Can be se"ected in-camera* 0? ima%es can be ta%%ed with proO"e

E6 ("" presets can be One tuned



E, (t 0? >ar%e 3 Fine

(s you can see on paper the DSC-F717 has some ad#anta%es but o#era"" comes up short compared to the competition* considera"so that there is a L+ - L6 price dierence 5"ist between the DSC-F717 and the others! &t wou"d ha#e been nice to ha#e seenSony use this product 'refresh' to catch up on a few features such as co"our saturation and tone contro"* user memories* ;(4 andadditiona" 'added #a"ue' features such as time"apse!

<$t!oo% scene compa%ison

Camera settin%s were2

Sony DSC-F717

Sharpness2 * 42 Sunny* (perture 0riority 5F8!B

(inota Di(5 7@i

Saturation2 * Contrast2 * Co"or mode2 :atura" 5s;?* Sharpness2 :orma"* 42 Sunny*(perture 0riority 5F8!B

Nion Coopi .700

<one2 :orma"* Sharpenin%2 :orma"* Saturation2 * 42 Sunny*(perture 0riority 5F8!B or nearest

Sony DSC-F717 (inota Di(5 7@i Nion Coopi .700

&S 1* F8!B* 131+8 sec &S 1* F8!B* 131 sec &S 1* F8!,* 13117B sec

+*167 0? 6*+B+ 0? 1*BB8

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/Compared/outdoor/cp5700.JPG

http://img.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyDSCF717/Samples/Compared/outdoor/d7hi.JPG






?enera" obser#ations compared to the DSC-F7172

<he DSC-F717 produces a '=atter' ima%e 5"ess contrast a"thou%h with better dynamic ran%e

<he DSC-F717 e.hibits the best reso"ution* but on"y mar%ina""y

<he DSC-F717's shadows ha#e some #isib"e chrominance noise 5b"otches* this cou"d be re"ated to the %enera" hi%h co"our

saturation

<he Di$(? 7Hi e.hibits some stran%e dotted ayer interpo"ation artifacts in dierent parts of the ima%e

Co"our ba"ance between each camera is notab"y dierent* especia""y the Coo"pi. 87

<he Coo"pi. 87 e.hibitted the "owest 'sky noise' fo""owed by the DSC-F717 and then the Di$(? 7Hi

("" cameras e.hibited a certain amount of purp"e frin%in% on the bri%ht area at the tip of the tower 5second to "ast crop

<he DSC-F717 mana%es to a#oid dia%ona" co"our steppin% 5"ast crop

no speciOc ima%e qua"ity issues with the DSC-F717! Certain"y we obser#ed o#er"y saturated reds on our pre-production DSC-F717but &'m %"ad to report that these appear to ha#e been addressed in the Ona" production camera!

Documents

(Tutorial) Sony DSC F717