Sony's entry-level S series of compacts received some reworking today with the introduction of the Cyber-shot DSC-S750 and DSC-S780.
Breaking with previous models, both the S750 (which replaces the Sony S700) and the all-new S780 rely on lithium-ion rather than AA power, providing up to 280 shots on a single charge.
The 7.2 megapixel S750 and 8.1 megapixel S780 both feature a 3x optical zoom and 2.5-inch LCD. Sony Face Detection, ISO sensitivity to 1250 for improved low-light performance, and seven scene modes also appear on both budget-minded point-and-shoots.
The $150 S750 should find its way to stores in March. Look for the S780, at $180, to become available in April.
Sony DSC-S750/DSC-S780 specifications:
| Sensor | 7.2 megapixel, 1/2.5" Super HAD CCD (S750); 8.1 megapixel, 1/2.5" Super HAD CCD (S780) |
| Zoom | 3x (35-105mm) zoom, f/2.8-4.8 |
| LCD/Viewfinder | 2.5", 154K-pixel TFT LCD |
| Sensitivity | ISO 100-1250 |
| Shutter Speed | 60-1/2000 seconds |
| Shooting Modes | Auto, Program, Movie, Scene, High Sensitivity |
| Scene Presets | Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Soft Snap, Landscape, Beach, Snow |
| White Balance Settings | Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Flash |
| Metering Modes | Multi, Center, Spot |
| Focus Modes | Multi AF, Macro |
| Drive Modes | Normal, Burst |
| Flash Modes | Auto, Forced On, Slow Synchro, Forced Off |
| Self Timer Settings | 10 seconds, 2 seconds, Off |
| Memory Formats | Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro Duo |
| Internal Memory | 31 MB |
| File Formats | JPEG, MPEG |
| Max. Image Size | 3072x2304 (S750), 3264x2448 (S780 |
| Max. Video Size | 320x240, 30 fps |
| Zoom During Video | No |
| Battery | Rechargeable 970 mAh lithium-ion, 280 shots |
| Connections | USB 2.0, AV output, DC input |
| Additional Features | Face Detection |
