LoginRegister
LoginRegister

Not yet a member? Sign up to receive our newsletter, upload photos and write reviews. Forgot your password?

Packard Bell
Latest digital kit

promo_block1

Photography mags
New issues out now!

promo_block2
promo_block3

Watch our featured video

Teach yourself Photoshop: Part 2, Video 3

Teach yourself Photoshop: Part 2, Video 3 - Editing photos in Camera Raw

Learn the basics of photo-editing with our introduction to Adobe's image editing software.

Enter Photographer of the Year
Digital Sampler button

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N1 Review

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N1
Product overview
Launch price:
£399
Launch date:
1st June 2006
PhotoRadar rating:
4
User rating:
0
0 user review(s)
Review this product now
See technical specification

Technical Specification

  • Auto Shut-off: No
  • Battery Type: Lithium-Ion
  • Camera Type: Compact
  • Case Included: No
  • Colour: Silver
  • Connectivity: USB 2.0;AV
  • Continuous Shooting Speed: 0.9
  • Dimensions: 94 x 60 x 20
  • Display Size: 3
  • Display Technology: TFT LCD
  • Exposure Modes: Beach;Candlelight;Fireworks;Landscape;Snow
  • Flash: Yes
  • Flash Modes: Auto;Off;On;Red-Eye Reduction;Slow-Synchro
  • Focusing Modes: Auto
  • Image Formats: JPEG
  • Image Sensor Resolution: 8.1
  • Image Sensor Type: Super HAD CCD
  • ISO Settings: 100;200;400;64;800;ISO Auto
  • Longest Shutter Speed: 8
  • Max Aperture: 2.8
  • Max resolution (horizontal pixels): 3264
  • Max resolution (vertical pixels): 2448
  • Max. Captured Image Resolution: 3264 x 2448
  • Memory Card Included: No
  • Memory Types: Memory Stick Duo;Memory Stick PRO Duo
  • Metering Modes: Centre weighted;Multi-Pattern;Spot
  • Min Aperture: 5.4
  • Min Shutter Speed: 2000
  • Movie Mode: Yes
  • Optical Zoom: 3
  • PictBridge: Yes
  • Waterproof: No
  • Weight (g): 113
  • White Balance: Auto;Cloudy;Daylight;Fluorescent
  • White Balance Presets: Incandescent
  • MPN: DSCN1
  • Price (GBP): 399

PhotoRadar review

Indeed, it can churn out images with a whopping 3,264 x 2,448 pixels. It's not just the image sensor that's big on numbers, either. Around the back there's an outsized 3.0-inch LCD, which offers yet more trickery.

In fact, it's the Sony's LCD that's the camera's main talking point. While most compacts rely on buttons and dials for making imaging adjustments, the DSC-N1 employs touch-screen technology for the job. Unfortunately, we found the touch-screen menu system cumbersome and slow to use, compared with a few well-placed dials and buttons.

There's a knock-on with battery life as well: even though Sony claims 300 shots from each charge of its 'Stamina' Li-ion battery pack, that figure can shrink alarmingly with heavy usage of the massive 3.0-inch screen.

Proprietary memory

Typically for Sony cameras, you're stuck with Memory Stick Duo or Pro cards, which can be expensive to buy compared with SD or MMC cards. This is even more of an issue if you plan on shooting most of your photos at the camera's maximum memory card-munching resolution and quality settings.

In our tests, image quality was good in terms of colour rendition, which proved accurate under almost any type of lighting. Sharpness was also good, but not excellent, with a slight lack of crispness in some images.

Overall, with its touch-screen shenanigans, the DSC-N1 feels less like a camera and more like an 8Mp Palm Pilot. This will no doubt suit heavy-duty PDA users who are new to photography, but will prove less intuitive for those already comfortable with cameras.

Verdict:
Picture quality is good but not great at the price, making the DSC-N1 more of a gadget than a serious camera, unless you want to keep the kids quiet when it rains
PhotoRadar rating:
4
User rating:
0
0 user review(s)

User Reviews (0)

Add your user review

Add review

Have you used this product? Tell us what you think about it here.

  1. Rate it

    Give the product a score out of five, taking note of things like value for money, ease of use and build quality. (Please note that you won't be able to rate the product without posting a review).

     

User login

Add review
To add a review to this page you must sign in to your PhotoRadar account. If you do not have an account you can create a new account for free and join the best online pro photographers community.