“If you need a camera for social occasions, make it this one”
A compact but powerful digital camera that’s smart but easy to use? Late-adopter Kathy Sweeney loves her Cyber-shot T2
For those like myself who are not deeply entrenched in the world of gadgetry, it’s a relief when something goof-proof and handbag-friendly comes along. My old camera was pretty good at capturing all the details, but it felt like I was carrying a small fridge in my bag so it rarely left the house. It certainly wouldn’t fit into any pocket except maybe a kangaroo’s. I needed a camera that was easier to carry, but compacts often don’t take the sharpest pictures.
Happily, the Sony Cyber-shot T2 combines portability with the ability to take pictures suitable for framing. Though fashionably thin, it feels reassuringly sturdy in the hand: it survived being dropped several times, although obviously I don’t recommend doing this.
All of which means you’re more likely to have it with you when one of life’s photo opportunities presents itself – as when I stumbled upon an ingenious strategy by two sophisticated Morrissey fans at his concert in Hyde Park, who were drinking Pimms by the jug to avoid the queues at the bar. Something we can all be proud of, I think you’ll agree.
Unpredictable subjectsThe T2 is certainly quick to start up. Slide the lens-cover down and the viewfinder comes to life in just over one second. It also has two features that the best-dressed compact should possess: anti-shake technology and Smile Shutter™.
The latest in face-detection technology, Smile Shutter is an adjustable setting that automatically releases the shutter when it recognises a smile. It definitely helps if your subject has a grin like The Joker rather than the Mona Lisa, but it’s particularly useful with unpredictable subjects, such as children. Or children with animals.
Sharp, accurate resultsSophisticated auto-focus and auto-exposure mean sharp, accurate results, and the 3x optical zoom comes in handy when taking pics of food that looks too good to eat (almost). A night-time picture – such as friends watching the Morrissey concert – can lose interesting backdrop details, but if you select the Twilight Portrait mode (from a menu of 10 options), all you have to worry about is where your next drink is coming from. Unless you’re a forward-thinking Pimms-drinker, of course.
In fact the scene-selection menu should make having to delete out-of-focus pictures practically a thing of the past. Budding David Attenboroughs can take advantage of Hi Speed Shutter mode, which allows you to shoot fast-moving subjects. For instance I met a ridiculously tame squirrel...well, once it stopped running away! It turned on the charm once it realised I had food with me and I was its new best friend. Or maybe it just loved the camera.
More than great picturesIf you need a camera to take to social occasions, it should be this one. I brought it to a number of parties and it takes the right shot first time – no more drunken blurs or people at the back looking out of the window if you use Smile Shutter. In fact, it’s the life and soul of the party – you’ve never had so many people peeking over your shoulder when you’re checking the picture in the viewfinder.
But the Cyber-shot T2 offers more than great pictures. Optional memory cards mean it can play back high-resolution moving images, and you can easily connect the camera to a High Definition TV if you really want to show off. Best of all, it’s surprisingly cheap. So not only can you fit the camera in one pocket, you’ll still have some money left in the others to get the drinks in. Pimms, anyone?
Kathy Sweeney is Deputy Editor of The Guardian Guide
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