Sony has today announced the compact and rather unique DSC-N1. This new model features a wide viewing angle three inch touch screen LCD designed to act as both camera control and display. The DSC-N1 records a VGA (640x480) copy of every image you take (up to 500) and stores it internally, these images remain even after the full resolution images have been transferred. This provides a long term 'pocket album' feature which can be browsed in a variety of ways. On the photographic front it features Sony's own eight megapixel 1/1.8" CCD sensor with sensitivity up to ISO 800, this is coupled to a three times optical zoom lens. The DSC-N1 should cost around $499 when it hits the shelves.

Specifications

 More information  :  Announced 03-Oct-05  Max resolution      3264 x 2448
 Low resolution  :    2592 x 1944, 1280 960, 640 x 480
 Image ratio w:h   :   4:3, 3:2
 Effective pixels   :   8.0 million
 Sensor photo detectors  :    8.2 million
 Sensor size  :    1/1.8 " (7.18 x 5.32 mm)
 Sensor type   :   CCD
 Colour filter array   :   RGB
 Sensor manufacturer  :    Sony
 ISO rating   :   Auto, 64, 100, 200, 400, 800
 Zoom wide (W)   :   38 mm
 Zoom tele (T)  :    114 mm (3 x)
 Digital zoom    :  Yes, 2x
 Image stabilization  :    No
 Auto Focus  :    Yes
 Manual Focus   :   Yes, 5 presets
 Auto focus type  :    Multi-point 5 area (selectable)
 Normal focus range  :    50 cm
 Macro focus range  :    6 cm
 White balance override  :    5 positions
 Aperture range  :    F2.8 - F5.4
 Min shutter  :    30 sec
 Max shutter   :   1/1000 sec
 Built-in Flash    :  Yes
 Flash guide no.   :   5.0 m (16.4 ft) 0 m
 External flash  :    No
 Flash modes  :    Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
 Exposure compensation  :    -2 EV to +2 EV in 1/3 EV Steps
 Metering  :    Multi-Segment, Center weighted, Spot
 Aperture priority  :    No
 Shutter priority  :    No
 Focal length multiplier       
 Lens thread   :   No
 Continuous Drive   :   Yes, 0.9 fps, 4 images
 Movie Clips   :   Yes, MPEG VX (VGA, 8/16/30 fps, unlimited) with audio
 Remote control   :   No
 Tripod mount  :    Yes
 Self-timer  :    10 sec
 Timelapse recording  :    No
 Orientation sensor  :    No
 Storage types  :    Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
 Storage included  :    32 MB Memory Stick Duo
 Uncompressed format  :    No
 Compressed format  :    JPEG (EXIF 2.2)
 Quality Levels  :    Fine, Standard
 Viewfinder  :    No
 LCD  :    3.0 " Touch screen
 LCD Pixels  :    230,000
 Video out  :    Yes
 USB  :    Yes, 2.0
 Firewire (IEEE 1394)  :    No
 Battery / Charger :     Yes
 Battery  :    Lithium-Ion rechargeable
 Weight (inc. batteries) :     139 g (4.9 oz)
 Dimensions   :   94 x 60 x 20 mm (3.7 x 2.4 x 0.8 in)

Review

the idea of a touch-screen LCD or you'll find the necessity of constantly visiting the menu system totally frustrating, if not absurd; it's enough to make anyone's relationship with the Sony Cyber Shot DSC-N1 a love/hate proposition. Snapshooters frustrated with the assortment of buttons and dials on other digital cameras may find the N1's touch screen easier to use; those accustomed to changing settings via dedicated buttons or a four-way controller may reject the whole idea. At its heart, the DSC-N1 remains a basic 8-megapixel, 3X-zoom ultracompact camera for everyday photography. It has an assortment of shooting options that will meet the needs of snapshooters, and it boasts a 3-inch LCD for displaying the 500 or so photos you can store in onboard albums.
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