Released by Sony:
Rotating zoom adds to Cyber-shot style
Unique 3x Carl Zeiss zoom lens incorporated into the versatile Cyber-shot F88
19th May 2004 - Sony Cyber-shot cameras are great for capturing that perfect moment, easy to use and portable enough to take anywhere, but often you want to put yourself in the picture too. This problem is easily solved with the stylish Sony Cyber-shot F88 camera, which features a high quality rotating lens that is ideal for self-portraits. Sony has built on its innovative F-Series with the Cyber-shot F88, incorporating for the first time a rotating Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 3x optical zoom lens. Not only do users now have the optical power and versatility of a rotating zoom lens, but they can also take advantage of an 5.1 effective Megapixel CCD, a long battery life, a manual exposure function and the Sony Real Imaging Processor for more accurate picture quality, faster response times and a dramatic improvement in energy efficiency.
“Housed in a slender aluminium body, the 5.1 effective Megapixel Cyber-shot F88 is a worthy successor to the Cyber-shot F55, which Sony launched in 1999, and the Cyber-shot F77, which we introduced in 2002,” said Adam Williams, Product Manager for Digital Still Cameras, Sony UK. “Like them it features a unique rotating lens for maximum usability, but it has always been a challenge to incorporate a zoom within such a slim case. Now, thanks to the breakthrough engineering of the folded path optical lens system this has been made possible. The fact that the 3x optical zoom lens we have used is a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar means that we have combined quality, precision and efficiency to produce a very stylish and usable digital camera.”
Professional optics
With the power of a 3x optical zoom, the innovative Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens enhances the precision of the Cyber-shot F88 and the quality of the picture. The unique rotating operation means users can take advantage of this high quality for superb self-portrait shots, framing the picture with ease on the 1.8-inch LCD. Advanced electronic engineering in the form of the Sony Real Imaging Processor means that the Cyber-shot F88 can provide up to 330 shots* on one charge or 2 hours and 45 minutes* of continuous use. The response time of the camera is extremely rapid, with a fast 1.2 sec. start-up time, reduced 0.01 sec. release time lag and quick 1.3 sec. shutter interval. The Real Imaging Processor also brings improved image quality, with greater colour reproduction and an enhanced signal/noise ratio. In addition, the Cyber-shot F88 can capture a burst of nine shots when in the high quality Fine mode and is capable of providing up to a remarkable 100 image-burst when the camera is in VGA Mode.
For advanced and beginner alike, the Cyber-shot F88 offers flexible exposure modes including Manual Exposure for added creativity. In addition ten pre-set Scene Modes are available to produce the best pictures under a variety of conditions including Twilight Portrait, Candle, Snow, High Speed Shutter and Magnifying Glass Mode. Using this last mode you can take a picture as close as 1cm from an object and view the subject on the LCD screen at a magnification of 2.1 times normal and up to 9.6 times normal when used in conjunction with the Cyber-shot Smart Zoom function - ideal for high detail macro shooting.
Connectivity and accessories
Of course you want to share your pictures as well as shoot them, so the Cyber-shot F88 takes advantage of the highly portable Sony Memory Stick removable storage technology. Digital images in the camera can be saved to the supplied 32MB Sony Memory Stick™ and the optional Memory Stick PRO™, capable of transferring your images between a wide range of Memory Stick™ compatible products. Additionally the Cyber-shot F88 is equipped with a USB 2.0 hi-speed interface, which connects the camera by cable to a compatible PC for fast image transfers.
The CSS-FEB Cyber-shot station, a USB 2.0 cradle with a wireless remote and AV connections, is the ideal accessory to the Cyber-shot F88, enabling easy transfer, viewing and printing of photos. Both products support the industry standard PictBridge** technology, so for example you can now remotely control a photo-slideshow on TV and print your chosen images from screen directly with a PictBridge** printer via USB. The Cyber-shot station also has the added bonus of charging the camera when it is stationed.
Also available is the LCS-FED/B, a stylish compact carrying case to protect the Cyber-shot and the BC-TR1 compact AC charger with universal voltage capability, able to recharge your NP-FR1 InfoLITHIUM battery from any wall socket when travelling.
The Cyber-shot DSC-F88 will be available during July 2004.
Main specifications:
· 5.1 effective Megapixels
· 3x Optical Zoom, 6x Precision Digital Zoom, 12x Smart Zoom (VGA)
· Rotating Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens
· F3.5-4.2, 38-114mm (35mm conversion)
· Approx. No. of shots/STAMINA time: 330 shots / 2hrs 45 min.* (NP-FR1)
· 1.8” LCD (134,000 dots)/Optical Viewfinder
· Manual Exposure Function
· Real Imaging Processor (for more accurate picture quality, faster response and an improvement in energy efficiency)
· MPEG Movie VX (Standard)
· USB 2.0 Hi Speed
· Conversion lens compatibility via adapter
· Scene Selection (10 modes)
· Burst Mode: 9x (Fine)
· Histogram Indication
· USB Direct Print (PictBridge**)
· Memory Stick / Memory Stick PRO compatible (32mb Memory Stick supplied)
* The number of images is measured using the CIPA standard (CIPA: Camera & Imaging Products Association)
**PictBridge is a trademark
Subject to errors and technical changes
For more information on Sony Europe, please visit www.sony-europe.com
