Customer Reviews

Sony DSC-U20 Miniature Digital Camera - Blue [2MP]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this camera because although I have a Sony DSC-S85 4 megapixel camera, I found that I was missing photo opportunities because I wouldn't carry it with me everywhere. I wanted something that would fit in my coat or jeans pocket and would be with me everywhere - i.e. like a mobile phone. In terms of size this Sony camera delivers - and what it also provides is picture quality (2 megapixels) to back it up. Don't be fooled by the cheap limitations of other pocket or micro cameras most of which provide only 0.25MP of resolution (640x480) with inferior optics, no flash and no viewfinder - that includes mobile phone cameras. This is also way beyond the Epsilon 1.3MP camera which again won't match the Sony in quality. Yes, it's more expensive - but this is a camera aimed at the digital photographer fanatic who already owns a good (3-5MP) digital camera. If you're new to digital photography and have the spare cash... then you maybe better off purchasing the Sony DSC-P51 - you'll get a 2x zoom, more manual controls, a tripod mount and over features missing on this camera.

So how did this camera perform? In good light it performs well. In low light it performs badly. That's pretty common for all digital cameras and the U20 is no exception. Given that you have no manual control over the ISO/Shutter/Aperture/Exposure settings and that there's no tripod mount, you're not going to be taking stunning pictures at night or in a dark room. Your only option is likely to be the flash, and I found that this was overpowering for subjects that were quite close - i.e. a tendancy to overexposure pictures of people indoors. You can turn off the flash, but then the camera will select ISO320 and you'll notice the picture becomes grainy with digital noise. Take it outdoors in some good light and it's a different story. ISO100 will be selected and you'll end up with a quicker shutter speed 1/125 and beyond. Your pictures will look clean, crisp and the colours vivid. I have a lot of experience with Sony - their colours are always impressive - quite vivid and saturated - maybe a little too much for the purist but I think it brings pictures to life.

Other things you should consider - replacing the 8MB memory stick (included) with a 128MB memory stick may seem like a good idea but be warned this will increase the startup time by a couple of seconds. If you want to be able to shoot within a second of picking up the camera then you'll probably want to limit yourself to no more than 32MB (that's still going to store about 60-70 pictures). With an 8MB or 16MB stick (I've not tried a 32) the startup time is impressive. What also impressed me was that this camera also works quite well close up - you can still retain focus down to about 10cm. In fact leaving it in auto focus allows you to get closer than you can in Macro mode (0.2cm fixed focus). What does this mean? Well as an experiment in the potential of industrial espionage that this camera brings (which of course I do not condone) - I was able to walk up to a colleagues desk, and without him noticing take a picture of an A4 Word (with 10pt text) document on his desk. After importing the image, I could read the document with amazing clarity. This camera is likely to throw up some serious privacy issues.

If you'd like to see some image samples (and as of 5 Dec 2002 these are rare!) - then check out the forums on dpreview.com. Do a search for "Sony U20" and you'll find some pointers to some image samples. The camera works flawlessly both with Windows 2000 and Mac OS X (you don't need to install the drivers on a Mac!). The included software can be binned - it's awful especially since it doesn't display the EXIF information that this camera stores with every images (provides exposure, aperture, iso, camera setting information). Note the camera has no zoom and no tripod mount. Also note that the supplied charger for the supplied AAA batteries takes 13 hours to charge - you'd be better off buying a fast charger and some extra batteries.

This camera is no doubt very cute... I'd highly recommend it if size (or rather lack of) is everything. If micro size doesn't matter then you'd be better off buying a different camera such as Sony's DSC-P51.

I'm not a brand-junky, but I have to admit to loving SONY products - and it's products like this one which justify that love.

Unlike some other reviewers here, I AM a serious photographer. I have spent a whole load of money on 35mm SLR cameras and lenses and until recently, refused to get into digital. However, this camera changed my mind about that. I take it everywhere for grabshots and snaps. Shots I would otherwise miss out on because I don't carry an SLR everywhere. I have now relegated my Olympus mju (a superb camera, make no mistake) to an also ran.

This Sony marvel is tiny (you really have to see it to believe) and is built to the usual high standards one expects from Sony. The image quality is fine for 5x7 prints and the colours are very impressive. The only -ve point I would make is that a lot of people have called it "ever ready" and while it's true that it's ON as soon as you pull back the lens cover, it does take a while between depressing the shutter and the shutter finally firing -- which means you don't always get the shot you were hoping for... however, that's common with many compacts (including film ones), so you may be fine with that. It's the only area where my mju is better than the Sony -- oh! and I can't take slides on the Sony... which most people probably couldn't care less for. Buy and enjoy. You won't regret.

Opening the box I was rather shocked how small the camera was. Being a six foot two banana fingered gorilla I was rather concerned that the buttons would be too small to use. After the rather annoying 13 hour first charge (frustrating) my first go with the camera proved that these fears were unfounded. The basic power and photographic functions are all available from simple and easy to use controls.

Power on during shooting is achieved by sliding the lens cover open, and after a second or so you can shoot. I replaced the 8MB supplied memory stick with a 128MB version giving a couple of hundred resolution snaps. This seems to have introduced a slight additional delay when the camera starts up (about a second more) with the display saying reading memory card.

The shutter release button is big and easy to find by touch. It has two stages, focus and capture, with a beep for each (which can be easily turned off). There is a short but not troublesome delay as each shot is recorded to the memory stick.

Menu options are easy to select but these buttons on the back of the machine are a little on the small side for the ham fisted.

Transferring images was a doddle using the supplied USB cable and software but the thumbnail displayed as each image transferred was a little on the Hollywood style of computing (ah, it's a Unix system).

Overall the U20 is what I need, a small, solid camera, that will take reasonable shots that I can email but are of sufficient quality that I can print them if I wash. The Camera is small enough that I can take with me everywhere and it seems to be more rugged than my Fuji 50i which this is replacing.

If you are looking for something with a few more features, try the Minolta Xi, or if you want an alternative simple but 2MP camera, my partner has a Casio Exilim S2 but this started with a duff battery and a missing rubber USB cover. Which reminds me, the, unlike the Casio, the Sony USB cover is attached to the camera so you don't loose it, thanks Sony.

I bought this camera purely on its looks. Its small, sleek, and very sexy. And it has features. Not too many, but enough for anyone buying there first digital camera or even upgrading from an old model.

This Sony has a small LCD screen which is used as a viewfinder and also to preview images and delete unwanted ones. It is small but it does the trick.

The only bad things about this camera are no zoom, and the supplied memory card (8MB) which is only going to let you take about 15photos in high resolution. If you are going to use this camera a lot I would recommend purchasing at least a 32MB card. I have bought a 64MB.

And finally, invest in two more Sony batteries (approx £8) because you can guarantee they will always run out when you need them most, and I don't think you will appreciate waiting 13 hours for them to recharge. YES! 13 HOURS! So buy a couple more and save yourself the hassle.

And don't forget to read the manual...it took me three days to find out how to turn on red-eye reduction!

This is a great little camera. Prior to buying it I had a Sony DSC-P51 (from Amazon) which was also 2MP but allowed you to play around with things such as focus, light adjustment and lots of other professional stuff which I know nothing about. This one is much more simple, just open and shoot! If you want you can adjust it to the pre-set modes such as nightime, portrait, landscape and so on but I don't bother. The picture quality is great, you won't find better from such a small 2MP camera. My brother has a Casio Exslim Miniature Digital Camera which is slimmer than this one but taller and the picture quality has nothing on the Sony. This camera looks great, it has a metallic aluminum body and chrome buttons. It's really small, I carry it in my pocket or you could carry it in a handbag etc. So overall it's a great little camera, I definately recommend it. It looks great, the quality is great and it's so damn small!

this camera is ideal for snapping when your out and about, it takes quality pictures and the battery time can deliver a good nights worth of pictures. using it with a mac is ideal, as the usb works well with i-photo. its very small, but compared to the p51 [which is twice almost three times the size] you can keep it in your pocket. the only downside is the mpeg which only works in good daylight. the 8mb memeory card cannot be exchanged or upgraded for a larger one so if you invest in a 32, 64 or 128 mb card youll find the 8mb rendered usless or a backup if the other is full. charging times take up to 16 hours. besides the technical spec this is a must for clubbers and people not having to worry about a brick for a camera in their pockets.

There are a plethora of digital cameras on the market and the sub £200 bracket is probably the most competitive. Sony hits the mark again with the superb DSC-U20. A minature marvel of exceptional build quality. The Carl Zeiss lens is excellent for taking the majority of pictures, especially outdoors, and the image quality is exceptional. The light exposure for indoor shots and low light conditions could be better but there are sufficient manual controls to get the most out of the majority of conditions.
This camera is great for portability and style however it is not aimed to replace the top end cameras for serious photographers. The lack of a zoom feature and the diminuative size of the screen means that serious photographers may be a little disappointed however this is a camera aimed at the lifestyle market and gets some serious kudos when brought out in public. The 2 Megapixel resolution gives you 1600x1200 images (approx 200-500k per file) which is enough for 6x4 photos scaling up to almost A4 sized (with a little loss of clarity).
Overall this camera is probably the best camera in this segment of the market. If you are looking for a portable camera to take some lifestyle pictures, that won't weight you down or simply one to wow your friends then look no further, Sony has come up with the goods on this one.

Being short on cash and needing as affordable a digital camera as possible the Sony range was not the most obvious choice, but the DSC U20 changed that.
There really is no better digital camera in this price range. What other camera has a 2 mega pixel resolution (which gives a similar quality to my minolta SLR camera) and remains the length and width of a credit card!
I bought the camera with a 128mb memory card which is definately a good idea. I can store around 250 photos of the highest resolution (good enough to print A4 size photos of excellent quality) or 1300 photos of the standard resolution (which is still pretty good).
The camera has a movie mode which isn't too hot, but thats not what you get it for.
Despite the DSC U20 being simple and easy to use its quite amazing how much you can vary the type of shot you take (e.g. picture effects, focusing and lighting effects, choice of flash and loads more).

If you want a camera that is small (sorry miniature) yet can still take brilliant photos this is the one.

NOTE
I recommend shopping around for the best prices! As a guide I got mine for 170 pounds with a 128mb memory card for an extra 50 pounds.
I would recommend getting a larger memory card than the one supplied and also a speed charger with extra batteries! (The camera is small but is uses the battery up after around an hour of normal use).

I have jsut bought this neat little gadget and am the envy of all my friends. It's a perfect size to carry in a handbag or back pocket. It takes good photos and even short movies. It's idiot proof and even has a small viewfinder.

I was given this Sony digi camera as a Christmas present and I can safely say it was the best present of the lot. The photos are great quality, the flash means you can use it at every occassion and it's so small you can carry it with you pretty much anywhere. Also the menu system is very user friendly and unlike most cameras this size it has an LCD screen - which I think is the major pull for getting a digital camera.