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Sony camera gurus: Any reason why I shouldn't buy DSC-F717 versus DSC-V1?

A

AndrewR

Lifer
With the recent $100 rebate, the F717 is almost the same price as the V1. I haven't seen anything to dissuade me from buying the F717 except the strange camera body, but the swivel action of the rear portion actually might be very useful. The advantage I see with the V1 is that it's easier to carry and therefore more likely to be used for everyday functions. On the other hand, F717 has a better feature set, and it seems like the pictures are better (plus 1x more zoom).

Am I missing anything?
 
It's simply a matter of the size issue. Well, battery life ain't so great on the V1 either, probably due to the small size. After owning the 707, and using my dad's Canon A40, I've come to the conclusion that I'd either be happy with high quality pics of the big camera, and suffer with the bulk, or go all the way down to a truly pocket sized camera, and don't expect too much from the images. My dad's Canon really won't fit in a pocket easily, and the V1 is only slightly smaller.

I just don't care for the compromise. It doesn't shoot as well as the full size camera, yet isn't small enough to fit in a pocket easily. I'd go one way or the other, not try and get the best of both worlds. By the time you start using an external flash, extra batteries, filters & memory sticks, you're going to be lugging a bag anyway. Might as well opt for the 717, 828 or even the Digital Rebel instead.

"...the swivel action of the rear portion actually might be very useful."

Hah, MIGHT be! You have NO idea! I use the swivel about 90% of the time. Either shooting from waste level, or overhead. Most of the time, people don't know they're about to be photographed. That's a great help in capturing the true feelings of the subject. I HATE posed pictures, unless they're studio type shots. Most of the pictures I take are simple snapshot type compositions. I want to capture the moment as it's happing, not people with cheasy smiles, wincing or posing. The swivel body or LCD will be on every camera I buy for the rest of my life. It's a MUST HAVE feature now.
 
i'm just tagging along. i am also eyeing the F717. probably wont buy it for several months, until i get my tax return. does the night vision mode come in handy at all? or is that just a gimmic. i actually like the odd shape of the F717. size doesn't matter anymore because i have a canon S200 that i can fit in my pocket and takes decent pictures. seems to me another drawback is the cost of the memory sticks...
 
IR In the Dark
  • NightShot is a unique all-infrared shooting mode for dim or totally dark situations. The camera clicks an internal "IR mirror" filter out of the optical path, and the imaging chip suddenly becomes VERY IR sensitive. LED "emitters" on the top quadrants of the lens mount fire up and spray IR light into the scene. With ISO set to Auto, the camera floats its sensitivity up to 2500 and suddenly the night has been cut in two with technological imaging. The camera has just become a Night Scope and nothing can escape its grasp.

    The B&W IR image is quite well detailed at low ISO, and will need a package of filters to become a daylight infrared camera. That's doable, and the results are creative and fun.
I've never used it. 😕


Laser Brain
  • A laser holographic pattern projector helps you focus in total darkness. It's exactly the same as a laser pointer with a holographic pattern embedded in its lens. It projects diagonal hash marks that are in focus on everything they hit, and whenever they show up, the camera has a real good chance of focusing completely without ambient light. In nearly a year of working with this camera, I have never lost focus when this system was active.

    In normal shooting, the laser projector shows up during auto focus in dim or dark light only when the camera feels like it needs it. You can disable it in the Set Up menus, and the camera will do its best to focus without it. Vertical contrast lines help. In practice any auto focus system can be fooled, including your own eyes, but this one goes many extra steps to keep that image sharp under the most extreme circumstances. One of its focus tricks when the holographic projector is off involves boosting the chip sensitivity through the roof so it can see less ambiguously in the dark.

    One mode uses the holographic projector in conjunction with the NightShot viewing so you can see your subject in total darkness, focus on it using the laser mode, keep framing, then pop the shot for a color image. And all you have to do is press the shutter button half way, then all the way, to trigger the sequence.

    The pattern shows up in dim light if it is allowed to. You can turn it off on the Setup mode. (No sense shooting pictures of politicians with it on, only to be wrestled to the ground by the Secret Service.)
Hologram AF Low Light Laser Focusing Assist is an incredible feature. It is used contsantly in dimly lit settings.
 
I just thought I might add my opinion to this. I was in the same boat as you. I could have gotten the V1 or the 717. I declined the 717 due to the size. After using the V1 for a car show and seeing how everyone and their mothers were using the 717 ALONG with the swivel, I was pretty upset for going with the V1. I will now take bulk over compact every time. If I could go back I'd pick up the 717.
 
Hey guys, i'd like to get the 717 soon myself. i currently have the dsc85 and i've since given it to my wife. does the 717 have quicker reshot abilities compared to the DSC 85. the only thing i don't like about this camera is that i have to wait between shots.

oh as to the size vs features. i liked the feature set of the dsc85 and it's size.
 
Originally posted by: Ornery
It's simply a matter of the size issue. Well, battery life ain't so great on the V1 either, probably due to the small size. After owning the 707, and using my dad's Canon A40, I've come to the conclusion that I'd either be happy with high quality pics of the big camera, and suffer with the bulk, or go all the way down to a truly pocket sized camera, and don't expect too much from the images. My dad's Canon really won't fit in a pocket easily, and the V1 is only slightly smaller.

I just don't care for the compromise. It doesn't shoot as well as the full size camera, yet isn't small enough to fit in a pocket easily. I'd go one way or the other, not try and get the best of both worlds. By the time you start using an external flash, extra batteries, filters & memory sticks, you're going to be lugging a bag anyway. Might as well opt for the 717, 828 or even the Digital Rebel instead.

"...the swivel action of the rear portion actually might be very useful."

Hah, MIGHT be! You have NO idea! I use the swivel about 90% of the time. Either shooting from waste level, or overhead. Most of the time, people don't know they're about to be photographed. That's a great help in capturing the true feelings of the subject. I HATE posed pictures, unless they're studio type shots. Most of the pictures I take are simple snapshot type compositions. I want to capture the moment as it's happing, not people with cheasy smiles, wincing or posing. The swivel body or LCD will be on every camera I buy for the rest of my life. It's a MUST HAVE feature now.
Click to expand...

Ok, I think the posts here decided the issue for me (and I was leaning to the F717 anyway). I was understating the usefulness of the swivel action, and I was actually told by a woman who is fairly into photography that a viewfinder like that (hers was an old camera with a look-down viewfinder) was great for the reasons you mention -- candid shots.

Looks like I'm spending money! Thanks everyone!
 
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