Digital Photography

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T2

A likable ultracompact snapshot camera, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T2 nevertheless faces stiff competition from its own siblings, the T20 and T200.

Sony ultracompact Cyber-shot cameras are known for sporting innovative, minimalist designs and snapping great shots. Unfortunately, they're also known for high prices. The 8.1-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T2 is no exception, and at $349.99 (direct), it's $50 more expensive than its sibling, the DSC-T70, which has a bigger and wider touch-screen LCD. And the T70 is already more expensive than competing cameras from other manufacturers. What sets the T2 apart is its 4GB of onboard memory, which is seriously spacious compared with the standard-issue 32MB or so you get with most point-and-shoots, so you won't have to spend any extra cash on memory cards. Add good looks, easy-to-use touch-screen controls, and impressive image quality, and you've got a camera that should please style-conscious snapshooters.

Trendy

The T2 comes in five colors-our test camera was a jarring bright green, but there's also black, white, teal, and pink-and it's clearly aimed at the hip, stylish consumer. Slightly thicker than a box of Altoids, it's incredibly compact at 2.2 by 3.5 by 0.9 inches and lightweigh, and will slide comfortably into a back pocket. Its sturdy aluminum housing makes the camera feel solid, and a flush, sliding lens cover keeps the internal 3X optical zoom lens protected without adding any bulk.

Technical

Face detection-another option within manual and scene modes-can detect up to eight faces in any frame, although it was hit-or-miss on my tests. When it worked, faces were clear, and coloring was a little more accurate than when not in use. Other than that, ISO levels can be set from 80 all the way up to 3200 in manual mode, although image noise was considerable at anything higher than 400. Along with spot, multisegment, and center-weighted exposure metering, the T2 also provides onscreen editing while in playback mode. You'll find settings for reducing red-eye, and resizing, retouching, and painting over an image, though any more than the quick edit can be tedious since you are dealing with a small screen and a small image.

Overall, the T2 looks great while taking crisp and accurate images. Its touch screen, although on the small side, is easy to use, and you get plenty of features-including Smile Shutter and face detection-in this tiny and attractive package. Whether you want to pay more for 4GB of onboard memory is a personal choice. If you do, the T2 shouldn't disappoint. But there's lots of stiff competition in this crowded field from other capable, lower-priced pocket cameras.

Though it's a perfectly competent little camera, there's little reason to opt for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T2 over the less expensive T20 or better-equipped T200. If you find the design a significant attraction, then I suggest you visit one in a local store before making the commitment.