Review on Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T90 12 Camera & Photo by Kimberly Johnson

When my camera supplier first suggested I try the Sony Cybershot DSC-T90 as an underwater camera/camcorder, I thought he was crazy. Here we have an ultra slim, credit card sized camera that literally fits in my wallet. In addition, there is an underwater box the size of a normal pocket camera. "What can this midget do for me?" shot through my subconscious. "Try it," he said. "Then give me a video back so I can promote the store." That was two years ago, he got his promotional DVD to show his customers and today I'm still hooked on this little titan. I shoot underwater videos every weekday and am still a professional diver. I have used more than two dozen cameras of different brands and models underwater. When I say this is the best camera I've ever used for instant underwater scenarios, trust me! It has the best automatic underwater white balance for videos and pictures I've ever seen. Whatever magic Sony uses, it accurately captures the brilliance of underwater red like no other. As any diver knows, the deeper you go, the less red you see. This leads to interesting problems, since a manual red filter at 30 feet in natural light conditions will not give the same red light restoration at 60, 90 or more feet. (Underwater housings are good to a depth of 40 meters!) Changing filters underwater isn't possible for most cameras and, to say the least, not easy for others. The T90's "Underwater Auto White Balance" setting seems to constantly adjust to changing water conditions, presenting red as it should. It can zoom during video recording, creating fascinating, original and unique scenes and angles to capture and hold viewers. Attention. I can zoom in on a subject to a narrow frame, like the eye of a fish, and zoom out to determine the surrounding scene without stopping the recording. How many cameras do you know that can capture an object and keep it in focus for 100 seconds? feet water? The Sony Cybershot DSC-T90 can do it. It does so without shifting focus or wasting valuable time trying to fix the problem. ) pockets and still have space for additional diving accessories. Why, you ask, would I want to carry multiple cameras with me? There are a number of reasons for this. With two compact T90 cameras in a rack, I can record HD video (1080 x 720) with one and shoot 12.1 MP photos with the other at the same time. By using multiple cameras, I can also take photos from multiple angles at the same time. (You can't yell "shot" at the fish and reshoot the scene.) If the batteries run out (the video needs power) or if I fill up the flashcard, I can grab another fully charged camera without showing up! (This is very important for scuba divers.) Also, I make (God forbid) the mistake of flooding the hull, I don't have to finish my dive, and I lose photo sales during the day. Oh yeah. The camera gives me professional-quality recordings and videos at the push of a button. Under water, not having to fiddle with a bunch of knobs and settings is crucial. The fish are always on the move and are easily frightened. When I don't have to fiddle with the controls, I can instantly capture a unique scene. Also, less hand and finger movement means I'm less likely to startle the fish. Did I mention she's tiny? Tiny. It's so tiny that the fish hardly notice the camera. Anyone who has worked with fish knows that objects can be very twitchy in the diver's hands. The larger the object, the more likely the fish feels threatened. The T90 solves this problem by being almost invisible. It's also small enough to be pushed into coral crevices without touching or damaging this delicate species. You may be wondering about the possibilities of easy handling. Do not be afraid. Even with such a small lens and aperture, this camera has an excellent aperture. I've used it underwater on cloudy days and nights without a dive light to capture the subtle glow of plankton and other bioluminescent organisms. The videos captured with this camera have enabled me to create DVD documentaries, commercials and more. Post-processing videos for color grading is an extremely time-consuming task. I rarely had to correct the colors of the T90 video. Because of the clarity of the image and the excellent contrast and color rendition, most assume the videos were shot on a much larger and more expensive camera. They just can't believe me as I reach into my pocket and show them the T90. I highly recommend this powerful little girl to anyone who dares to venture into the realm of Neptune.