Ad: Get our free CNET Android app

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T30 review

In this review

Typical continuous-shooting speed
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Sanyo Xacti VPC-E6
3 
Pentax Optio A10
1.8 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T30
1.4 
Olympus FE-120
1.2 
Nikon Coolpix S4
1.1 
Casio Exilim EX-Z850
0.5 

 

Note: Measured in frames per second

 

Image quality
To its credit, the T30's lens produced very little fringing or vignetting and only minor geometric distortion at its extremes, which often wasn't noticeable in typical snapshots. Exposures were generally accurate and can be modified with exposure compensation (plus or minus 2EV in 1/3-step increments) or by choosing another of the three metering modes: matrix, centre or spot.

Colours were fairly neutral and skin tones generally pleasing. A weekend outing with an inordinate number of blue-eyed friends highlighted the T30's penchant towards red-eye. Even with the red-eye reduction enabled, the gaggle of light-coloured eyes turned demonically crimson. Noise was relatively under control for a pocket camera. At ISO 100, it barely registered; at ISO 200 and 400, it became more apparent but was still under control. By ISO 800 and ISO 1,000, it was very visible, though pictures were usable, especially if you're printing at only 100x150mm.

While the T30 amounts to only an incremental improvement over the T9 -- the main difference, other than some style points, is its extended ISO range -- it's hard to complain about this fancy-looking snapshot camera.

Additional editing by Nick Hide

Tell us what you think

Log in with your CNET UK or Facebook account to post a user review, or click Join to create an account

Step 1

0 out of 5

Step 2

Submit

Please log in, register or login with Facebook to add a review or comment

Should I buy it?

Ask your Facebook friends and Twitter followers if you should buy the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T30

About CBS Interactive

Copyright © 2012 CBS Interactive Limited. All rights reserved.