By Lim Yee Hung, a student at the University of Warwick
YOU have to hate the pace of technology sometimes.
Having bought a 10.1-megapixel touchscreen camera not too long ago (the Sony DSC-N2), I was rather miffed when Sony announced the arrival of yet another such camera, the DSC-T77, in August.
Sony DSC-T77
From $549, available from authorised Sony retailers
It made my DSC-N2 look like its fat ugly cousin.
The T77 is the latest in the stylish T-series line of cameras, replacing the 8.1-megapixel T70, and it's available in colours like green, pink and black.
As with all T-series models, the T77 features a sliding front-panel design - the front panel acts as both lens cover and power switch.
So you simply slide the cover down to turn the camera on and start shooting instantly.
Functions-wise, the camera boasts a 10.1-megapixel resolution, 4x zoom, and features such as optical image stabilisation.
But it is in the looks department where the T77 stands out.
Its major selling point is its impressive, wafer-thin chassis and its high-build quality, which I couldn't help drooling over when I first laid my hands on the device.
Despite its thin frame, the T77 is built like a rock.
Photo quality was pretty good, with the camera performing well in low light.
Don't worry about missing any details in the photos - the T77 churns out huge photos that are 3MB to 4MB in size, which is more than enough for the average user.
Given that the T77 is pitched at style-conscious teens, the image size may be a problem because the photos will take longer to upload onto the Web.
But for all its emphasis on looks, the touchscreen interface of the T77 was not nearly as stylish as the device's exterior. The onscreen icons are also small, which may pose problems for those with stubby fingers.
Overall, kudos to Sony for squeezing a 3-inch touchscreen into a device just 15mm thick and still managing to make it look oh-so-good.
Final say
The Sony DSC-T77 sets a new benchmark in size and style for ultra-compact cameras. For those who don't mind shelling out a little extra to hear the oohs and ahhs of their friends.
This article was first published in Digital Life, The Straits Times on Oct 1, 2008.
