Anyone Got the Cybershot DCS-N1?

08/14/2006 08:16:28 PM · #1

I was wondering how owners feel about this camera.

I recently got this cam & had a chance to use it over ther weekend & I must say that I am less thn satisfied. Shots under a variety of lighting tend to be less than sharp. The flash seems to not be in sync with the shutter and I was wondering what other owners' experiences have been.

I tried to return the cam actually today but honesty doesnt get you too far with best buy. Apparently I ahve to pay a 15% restocking fee for being unsatisfied with the cam. Will have to go back to another best buy with a different story.

Any thoughts out there?

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

08/14/2006 10:18:17 PM · #2

bumpity bump

eschelar

Canon EOS-7D

08/14/2006 10:40:41 PM · #3

How is the flash not sync'd with the cam?

Are you getting the problem where there is motion, and you take a flash pic but it makes things look like they are going backwards?

That's first curtain flash sync. That's the default standard.

Try seeing if there is a second curtain flash sync in your manual.

If your flash really was out of sync, you would get areas of your picture that were dramatically darker.

That would be a pretty obvious thing and would be a warranty issue.

If you find it soft, maybe you could post some examples and we could help troubleshoot it.

I have noticed that recently a lot of little cameras have crummy lenses with terrible aperture numbers. I have seen some with a max aperture of 4.9 and worse at full telephoto. Even with a short telephoto.

That would drastically worsen camera shake issues...

Consider that at an equivalent of 100mm zoom (full telephoto on a typical 3X zoom P&S) will require 1/100 to prevent shake issues.

But f/4.9 is 1 2/3 stops slower than f/2.8.

If you were zoomed out, at 35mm equiv, you could comfortably shoot at 1/40.

1/40 at f/2.8 would be 1/15 at f/4.9.

Shooting at 1/15 at f/4.9 at 100mm equivalent would pretty much guarantee some soft issues due to camera shake.

convert and apply the numbers as appropriate to the camera you bought...

EDIT: Had a bit of a closer look at it online. The stats for a DSC-N1 are f/2.8-5.4!!!

That's insanely slow.

If it were me, I'd return it, bite the 15% and check out a camera with a better lens.

My recommendations are the Canon A610 or A620 (f/2.8-4.1 and very, very nice little cams with oodles of manual control, flip and twist screens and rangefinder style optical viewfinders), but I'm sure there are others out there too.

They are a bit larger than your typical pocketable cam, but they are still pocketable. f/4.1 isn't terribly fast, but it's almost a full stop faster than the sony.

Incidentally, if the camera is functioning normally and isn't broken, don't you think it is fair that you would be charged 15%?

I don't think they can charge you that within 7 days of purchase though...

Message edited by author 2006-08-14 22:56:35.

Panasonic DMW-LTZ10 1.5x Teleconverter

08/14/2006 11:23:59 PM · #4

THanks for the post E!

Yes, in fact the flash does result in darker areas in my shot.

I'm not looking to rip anyone off really. I just think that the restocking fee is geared to keep people from buying cameras, using them & then just returning them. I want to return the cam & get another one. Not sure I feel I am being treated fairly but I'm not looking to lie my way into getting what I want at all. I have enough bad karma as is with everyday living than in intentionally going out & racking some more up, ya know.

I guess I will try & take it back with this new info & see what happens.

Unfortunately, no matter how fast I return the cam, they insist on charging me the 15%.

KiwiShotz

Panasonic DMC-FZ20

08/14/2006 11:51:15 PM · #5

Check your local Consumer legislation. I think it's now pretty universal workldwide now that consumers are protected from goods that are not "fit for purpose".

Here in NZ, a vendor cannot trade out of any provisioins whatsoever in the Fair Trading Act. I would expect you to have the same protections. The "restocking fee" would be against the law 100% here so I suggest you get googling and see.

I you didn't have your location as "Planet Earth" I may have been able to help you.

Brett

eschelar

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

08/15/2006 12:18:16 AM · #6

Please provide an example of this darkening in the shot.

Flash exposure can be a bit complicated and I would need to know what I was looking at.

Lines of darkness are different from blotches of darkness. And those are different from other causes of darkness.

Please provide EXIF info.

If you are having an issue with the camera because it is broken, it is a warranty.

If you simply don't like it, they should be within their rights to put a restocking fee.

I still think that this is usually only legal after the 7-day period of time though...

I agree with Kiwishotz. I don't think such legislation is worldwide, but most of the big countries have it. Canada has very similar rules (my home country)...

No idea about America, but it should be the same...