Customer Reviews
Great Camera For The Price
The Sony Cybershot DSCS40 is a great camera for the price you pay. There are only two drawbacks to the product.
1. There is no self-timer, so you can forget about taking pictures of yourself without holding the camera at arm's length! This was a disappointment for me, because I love taking self-timed pictures, as I am frequently alone when I take pictures.
2. The LCD on the back of the camera is very small compared to similar priced models of other brand cameras. I knew this before purchasing the camera, but I decided to sacrifice it for the brand name. Sony cameras have always been great quality!
Those two drawbacks left me rating this just under 5 stars. Those are the only two things I would have changed about the camera.
On the positive side, the camera takes WONDERFUL images. I have not tried anything less than the highest quality, however. I have a 256MB Memory Stick Pro which I purchased with my camera, and it allows me to store just over 100 pictures at the highest quality. Make sure you purchase the correct type of memory stick for the camera. There are several versions of the same memory out there.
Another bonus of this camera is the ability to create folders on your memory stick to hold different sets of pictures. This assists you when it comes to downloading or printing your images, so you do not have to sort them out later. Just switch folders when you switch your photography subject matter.
The camera includes automatic red-eye removal, as well as the ability to auto-focus in dark environments.
The DSCS40 has the ability to take photos at night, but if it is too dark, be sure you have a tripod, as the shutter will stay open longer, leaving your image blurry with the slightest movements.
The documentation for the camera is a little poor. You will have to read and re-read it if you do not know digital camera basics. Most of the documentation is included on a CD-ROM which also gives you hints on how to take better pictures.
Overall, this is an excellent camera for your money, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for an entry-level camera that performs like a champ.
Some Good, Some bad
One design flaw is that if the battery runs low and the lens is out, the only way to close it to protect the glass is to put fresh batteries in - inconvenient unless you are carrying replacements with you. There should be a low power shut down setting that makes it "fail safe". The zoom seems to be a real battery drain.
I've had repeated problems with the LCD after 7 months. I like carrying the camera in my pocket - in part that's why I bought it, I have a Nikon 35mm for more serious subjects, and I've found that the pressure on the LCD makes it go white, but I can fix it by pressing the case on the edges of the LCD (not the LCD itself) or by squeezing the top and bottom of the camera near the back (to make it bow out).
Sony has warrantee repaired it twice, and both times the problem has recurred within a week. The repair service has been fast and hassle free.
There has been no trauma to the camera - not dropped or anything, just the pressure of being in a pants pocket.
I find the quality just fine for what I use it for.
2 stars because the price was right, but if it doesn't last a year it's no bargain.
Great camera for the value
I previously owned a Nikon Cool Pix and was dissatisfied with the shutterspeed. I've been pleased with the very fast shutterspeed of the Cybershot S40. Only complaint is the small size of the screen on back. It's smaller than other cybershot models that are similarily priced. I'd probably have gone with a larger LCD screen had I realized how small this one was.
