Sony Camcorder With 3 3 Mp Sensor

Never run out of storage space again! Sony's MVC-CD400 Digital Still Camera features massive 4.0 megapixel resolution (4.1 MegaPixel gross) with a Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar 3X optical zoom lens and the ability to write to inexpensive optical media. Capture exceptional still images and MPEG video clips directly to 156MB CD-R/RW media, measuring only 8 cm in diameter and readable on most CD-ROM equipped PCs. This incredible camera features a broad range of advanced features such as Multi-Point AF, Hologram AF, Multi-Pattern Metering and Pre-Flash Metering for creating the most compelling still images and digital video you've ever seen. The MVC-CD400 puts the power of digital photography in your hands!

Amazon Sales Rank: #4629 in Camera & Photo Size: SLR Size Brand: Sony Model: MVCCD400 Dimensions: 3.75" h x 5.44" w x 4.00" l, 1.44 pounds Memory: 156MB Display size: 2.5 4.1 megapixel sensor creates 2,272 x 1,704 images for prints at sizes up to 11 x 14 inches 3x optical Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar zoom lens and 2x digital zoom with 5-area multi-point autofocus Stores images directly on 156 MB 8cm CD-R or CD-RW (rewriteable) discs Discs can be read by virtually all Mac and PC CD-ROM drives (not currently compatible with Apple iPhoto) Uses proprietary Infolithium rechargeable battery (NP-FM50 )

The unique feature of Sony's CD400 Mavica is a built-in mini-CD recorder, a clever solution that simultaneously provides affordable portable memory and long-term archival storage. The camera also features a 4-megapixel sensor, a 3x optical zoom Carl Zeiss lens, a jumbo 2.5-inch display, and long-life rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Optics and Resolution The CD400's 4-megapixel sensor captures a tremendous amount of detail, allowing sharp 11-by-14-inch prints with pixels to spare. If you're currently using a high-quality 35mm point-and-shoot, expect to see as much detail in your digital pictures as you currently see in your film photos. A 3x Carl Zeiss optical zoom lens (34-102mm equivalent) helps you to capture exactly the picture you want, and an additional 2x digital zoom (6x total) further magnifies your image. Remember, however, that digital zoom tends to reduce the sharpness and detail of your image, so it's best used sparingly. In low-light situations (a particular weakness for many digital cameras), a focus-assist lamp sends out a small patterned beam to help the camera accurately determine distance. To save space, there's no traditional optical viewfinder to look through. Instead, to compose your images or review shots you've already taken, the CD400 uses a 2.5-inch color display. The advantage to using the LCD to frame your shots is that the screen lets you see exactly the picture you'll capture. The disadvantage is that you can't turn off the screen and just use the optical viewfinder to extend battery life. Fortunately, the included rechargeable battery holds a relatively good charge. More Features The engineers at Sony have gone out of their way to make it as easy as possible to share your images online. For example, the e-mail mode stores a lower-resolution version of your picture on the disc in a separate folder from the full-size version. This compact file lacks the detail of the original, but has a small file size, making it ideal for e-mail attachments. In addition, a video e-mail mode captures highly compressed, less-detailed movie clips that are also small enough to easily e-mail. With the time, expertise, and the right software, owners of any digital camera can create these more compact files on their home computers, but Sony saves you this trouble. More advanced photographers will appreciate manual focus, a 14-bit A/D processor that captures more gradations in color than most digital cameras, and an uncompressed TIFF mode for recording the highest-quality photos. Power The CD400 uses Sony's excellent InfoLithium battery system, which not only holds a respectable charge, but also displays on screen how many minutes of power remain. Both the battery and the charger are included. Because the battery is unique to specific Sony models and can be nearly impossible to find when on the road, we strongly recommend getting a spare if you're planning to take the camera on extended outings. Movie Mode In movie mode, the camera captures video clips with sound at resolutions up to 320 x 240 pixels. Unlike most digital cameras, the length of each video is limited only by the amount of memory left on the CD. The limited resolution of these clips guarantees that this feature won't replace your camcorder, but it's perfect for when you just want to capture a quick movie and e-mail it to a friend or relative. Storage and Transfer With a traditional digital camera, images are stored on memory cards, then transferred to your computer via a cable or card reader, and ultimately archived by recording on a CD-R or other high-capacity medium. Sony's CD Mavicas simplify this process by recording images directly to CD, using a 3-inch miniature CD recorder integrated into the back of the camera (hence the camera's rounded shape). These discs are substantially smaller than traditional 5-inch CDs, and only hold about one-fourth as much information (156 MB instead of 650 MB), but this is still enough space to store over 60 photos at the camera's highest-quality compressed mode. Each disc costs a couple of dollars. To transfer pictures to your computer, simply remove the disc from the camera and insert it into your computer's CD-ROM drive. Unlike images recorded on memory cards, pictures taken on a CD-R are permanently burned into the disc, instantly providing a digital "negative" for archiving your photos. If you prefer to transfer your images in the traditional way, just use an erasable/re-recordable CD-RW disc and connect the camera to your computer with the included USB cable. After transferring the images, you can erase the CD-RW disc to ready it for another batch of photos. Size At 5.5 by 3.75 by 4 inches, and 23 ounces, you won't slip this one into your shirt pocket, but it's still one of the smallest disc-based cameras available. The CD400 fits nicely into most SLR camera carrying cases. Contents and Recommended Accessories The package includes the CD400 camera, NP-FM50 battery, AC-L10 cable for in-camera charging, six 3-inch CD-R discs, one 3-inch re-recordable CD-RW, shoulder strap, AV cable, USB cable, and software on CD. Everything you need to get started is included in the box, but we recommend these accessories to make the most of your camera: a carrying case, additional 3-inch CD-R or CD-RW discs, and a second battery (especially if you're taking the camera on extended trips). Compatible accessories for this camera are listed near the top of this page. --Shane Burnett Pros: Integrated CD recorder provides inexpensive storage and image archiving Big 2.5-inch screen makes it easy to preview and review photos E-mail modes make it easy to share your photos electronically Cons: No traditional optical viewfinder CD drive makes the camera bigger and heavier than cameras using memory cards

Most helpful customer reviews 201 of 202 people found the following review helpful. MVC-CD400: How to take a darn good idea and make it better! By A Customer The MVC-CD400 is a new model of Sony's established mini-CD burning cameras, along with the MVC-CD250, replacing the CD200 and CD300 models. So why would Sony need to upgrade anything you ask? I was actually asking myself the same thing at first. I was getting ready to drop down the money for a CD300 model when I heard a new design was coming out, so I started doing some research. I found that Sony has done a nice job of directly addressing many of the failings of the CD300/CD200 units, and added some especially nice touches to boot! The most noticeable change up front is that the built-in flash unit has moved from the upper right side of the unit to right over the barrel. This helps with avoiding shadow effects when taking up-close shots. Additionally, they have addressed the single most commented-upon flaw of the 200/300 series: Viewing the LCD screen in bright sunlit conditions They have added a clear 'strip' along the top of the LCD panel that allows ambient light to help back-light the LCD screen, and the results are frankly good, making the LCD significant more usable in all lighting conditions without having to buy the 'viewfinder attachment' that Sony sells for the Mavica CD model cameras. The third significant change is the addition of a standard flash adapter, allowing one to use external flash units with this camera for better lighting when needed. It is important to note - apparently it is critical to make sure you use a normal low voltage external flash instead of a studio-quality high-voltage unit, as this may damage the camera!Like it's previous generation brothers, the CD400 includes a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens for high quality (professional?) photography without the distortions you may sometimes find in the 'corners' of shots taken through some lower quality digital cameras It also upgrades the CCD from 3.3 megapixels to 4.0 or so, which means even more detail can be captured for folks who are interested in capturing everything possible. The other unique addition is Sony's Hologram AF system, which uses a laser emitting diode to put a crosshatch pattern on your target prior to snapping the shot, letting the autofocus get better accuracy when dealing with situations that sometimes confuse traditional autofocus routines. Sony's batteries also are decent, giving a typical user 2+ hours of uninterrupted shooting before needing replacement, and then recharging in ~45 minutes And of course the mail selling feature for most folks, myself included - the photos are saved on mini-CDs, rather than one of the various memory stick/card units. Mini-CDs are dirt cheap per MB compared to memory sticks, and typically store ~150-200MB worth of photos, depending on make. Sony of course recommends you use only their branded disks, but many folks are reporting no problems using other manufactured brands. Depending on CD used, this translates into ~10 photos at the absolute maximum resolution 2272x1704 at maximum quality (TIFF) through ~1300+ photos at 640x480 at standard quality (JPG).A As an added feature, you can record movies with audio with the camera also, though the image and sound quality are not comparable with a digital video camera so if video is your passion, go look for a video camera, not a digital still camera Otherwise, this is a nice little bonus. I had resisted the urge to purchase a digital camera for a long time, waiting both for the photo quality to start approaching that which could be found with 35mm cameras, and for the means to get the pictures into a usable format on the PC to become cheaper or easier. Mini-CDs work in nearly all modern CD drives on computers, and I have not run across one yet that failed to work, though I admittedly tend to have relatively modern equipment at home and work. (Nothing older than ~3 years old at least in terms of.