Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100 Review - The Imaging Resource!

Sony DSC-T100 Performance

Timing and Performance

Above average speed for a consumer camera.

Startup/Shutdown
Power on to first shot	1.8 seconds	Time it takes for LCD to turn on and lens to deploy.
Shutdown	1.4 seconds	How long it takes to retract lens and stow in your pocket.
Buffer clearing time	1.0 second (Large/Fine JPEG, Unlimited shots in continuous mode)	Worst case buffer clearing time.* This is the delay after a set of shots before you can remove the card. Some cameras won't retract their lenses and shut down until the buffer is cleared.
Mode switching
Play to Record, first shot	3.2 seconds	Time until first shot is captured
Record to play	0.8 seconds	Time to display a large/fine file immediately after capture
Display recorded image	1.2 second	Time to display a large/fine file already on the memory card.
Shutter response (Lag Time):
Full Autofocus Wide	0.37 second	Time from fully pressing shutter button to image capture, zoom lens at wide angle position.
Full Autofocus Tele	0.68 second	Time from fully pressing shutter button to image capture, zoom lens at telephoto position.
Prefocused	0.008 second	Time to capture, after half-pressing and holding shutter button.
Continuous AF	0.37 second	This mode usually shows no speed increase with our static subject; we have no way to measure performance with moving subjects.
Manual focus	0.36 second	For most cameras, shutter lag is less in manual focus than autofocus, but usually not as fast as when the camera is "prefocused"
Cycle time (shot to shot)
Single Shot mode Large Fine JPEG	1.34 seconds	Time per shot, averaged over 20 shots
Single Shot mode 640 x 480 JPEG	1.32 seconds	Time per shot, averaged over 20 shots
Early shutter penalty?	No	Some cameras refuse to snap another shot if you release and press the shutter too quickly in Single Shot mode, making "No" the preferred answer
Continuous mode Large Fine JPEG	0.46 second (2.21 frames per second); No limit w/fast card*; ~1 seconds to clear	Time per shot, averaged over buffer length or 20 shots, whichever came first
Continuous mode 640 x 480 JPEG	0.45 second (2.20 frames per second); No limit w/fast card*; ~1 seconds to clear	Time per shot, averaged over buffer length or 20 shots, whichever came first
Flash recycling	5.5 seconds	Flash at maximum output
Download speed
Windows Computer, USB 2.0	10,605 KBytes/sec	Typical Values: Less than 600=USB 1.1; 600-770=USB 2.0 Low; Over 770=USB 2.0 High
*Note: Buffer clearing times measured with a SanDisk Memory Stick Pro Duo memory card. Slower cards will produce correspondingly slower clearing times. Slow cards may also limit length of bursts in continuous mode.

The Sony T100's performance is generally above average. Startup and shutdown speeds are above average. Shutter response is above average, too. Shot-to-shot cycle times and continuous-mode speeds are also above average. The flash, which can light up an average-sized room at high ISO, takes 5.5 seconds to recharge after a full-power shot, which is average for any digicam. Connected to a computer or printer with USB 2.0, download speeds are unusually fast, pretty much eliminating the need for an external reader. Bottom line, the Sony DSC-T100 is responsive enough to handle most family photo opportunities.

Battery and Storage Capacity

Battery
Surprisingly good battery life.

Operating Mode	Battery Life
Still-image capture mode Li-ion rechargeable battery	340 shots

The Sony DSC-T100 uses a custom rechargeable Li-ion battery for power. The table above shows the number of shots the camera is capable of based on CIPA battery-life and/or manufacturer standard test conditions. We normally recommend picking up a spare battery and keeping it freshly charged and on-hand for long outings, but the DSC-T100's battery life is good enough that few users are likely to feel the need for a second battery.

(Interested readers can find an English translation of the CIPA DC-002 standards document here. (180K PDF document))

Storage
No memory card or adapter is included with the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100, but the camera does have about 31MB of internal memory.

Image Capacity with 31MB Internal Memory		Fine
3,264 x 2,448	Images	6
3,264 x 2,448	File Size	3.4 MB
2,592 x 1,944	Images	8
2,592 x 1,944	File Size	2.6 MB
2,048 x 1,536	Images	13
2,048 x 1,536	File Size	1.6 MB
640 x 480	Images	128
640 x 480	File Size	171 KB

The Sony DSC-T100 stores its photos on Memory Stick Duo memory cards or in approximately 31MB of internal memory, and no card is included with the camera. We strongly recommend buying a large capacity Memory Stick Duo memory card at least a 1GB card, preferably a 2GB one, to give yourself extra space for extended outings and videos. (Check the shopping link above, cards are really cheap these days, so no reason to skimp.)

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