Conclusions
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Features
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-V1 bristles with cutting edge features, like the laser holographic AF assist, Night Shot and Night Framing modes and a full range of creative controls. But the V1 lacks some surprisingly basic ones too for camera of this class, including RAW file format, flip-out LCD viewscreen, eyepiece dioptre adjustment.
Design and construction
When you first set eyes on a V1, it signals something rather special. The front of the camera looks very stylish and distinctive. The back, looks a little less so. Pick a V1 up and it strangely light. The fine detailing is not bad, but Sony has done better design work before.
Handling and ease of use
Once you get used to it, the V1 is a fairly easy camera to use. However, the small viewscreen and scattered status information could be improved on. Creative control is very comprehensive and many controls are easily accessed without wading through menus. When you do need the menus, navigation can be tricky and that zoom lever is certainly unusual. The ease with which the flash pop-up mechanism can be prevented from deploying is a serious design flaw.
Image quality
Sharpness and distortion control are both very good and the lens acquits itself well when faced with flare-inducing conditions. It’s the subjective quality of colour reproduction that I'm less positive about the V1.
Speed of operation
Operating the V1 is a very serene and quiet experience, but it's not particularly fast. Powering up and powering down takes 4 seconds apiece when there are cheaper cameras doing the same in less than a second. But the general responsiveness of the camera is not too bad unless you opt for the TIFF mode, which makes you wait over 40 seconds between shots.
Autofocus
The V1's autofocus system is reasonably quick, usually accurate, especially in low light with the holographic assist and there is a usable manual focus facility. Its operation is quiet, too.
Value for money
When the Sony DSC-V1 was first introduced it was rather over-priced. Now the price has dipped below £400, it can be seriously recommended as long as the question marks raised concerning colour are considered carefully.
Things we liked about the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-V1:
Night Framing facility
Laser hologram AF assist
Image sharpness
Low distortion
Resistance to flare
Comprehensive range of creative control options
Flash hot shoe
Dependable and quiet AF
Overall quiet and refined operation
Now more competitively priced
Things we didn't like:
Cool colour balance
Slow power up and power down times
Very slow TIFF image write time
No RAW file format option
No flip and tilt LCD viewscreen
Small LCD viewscreen
No status information panel
Scattered status information on viewscreen
Pop-up flash spring action too weak
Uncompetitive close focus range
Zoom lever unintuitive
Lightweight, boxy construction
Eye-level viewfinder too far to the right
No viewfinder dioptre adjustment
Battery stamina only average
Battery must be charged in-camera
Last words
The Sony DSC-V1 is a very good camera that could easily have been significantly better. Its compact, but boxy, lightweight design may not be to everyone's tastes, but image quality is mostly very good. If you seek unusual features, the laser holographic AF assist and Night Shot and Night Framing features may be enough to tip the balance.
Click here for details of Peter iNova's must-have eBook covering the top Sony Cyber-shot cameras, including the V1.
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