Sony's new four megapixel DSC-P73 camera with "Smart" digital zoom

Sony keeps pumping out new digital cameras faster than we can write about them (well, maybe almost faster). Not that we're complaining, since their new entry-level model is the Cyber-shot DSC-P73, a inexpensive four megapixel compact camera with a 3x optical zoom lens that comes with a little something called "Smart" digital zoom. Before you scoff, Steve from Steve's Digicams says that unlike regular digital zoom, the DSC-P73's "Smart" digital zoom feature isn't actually total crap:

I usually advise folks to avoid using the digital zoom feature. In most camera's, it simply enlarges the central area of the image sensor by interpolating it up to the full sensor image size, degrading image quality. The DSC-P73, however, has a "Smart" digital zoom feature that crops the central portion of the image and produces a high-quality uninterpolated image of smaller size. The smart digital zoom expands the 3x optical magnification to 3.4x when shooting 3-megapixel images, 5.4x when shooting 1-megapixel images and 10x when shooting VGA-sized images. You'll find the P73's Smart digital zoom of benefit if you need greater magnification than the 3x optical zoom can provide, and you don't need the camera's full 4-megapixel resolution for those shots.

Also, if you think you need the extra megapixels there's a five megapixel version called the DSC-P93 out too.

[Via Photography Blog]

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I'm not in my brightest day but... Could someone tell me what's the difference with just cropping the unSmartZoomed image in Photoshop?

Thank you and excuse the dumb question.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I just got myself a P10, and that also has SmartZoom. Ive enabled it in the SetUp menu, but still cant get it to work. Very fustrating.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Chris, I played with a P10 at a Sony store the other day and had it working. It's only an option if you're taking pictures at one of the camera's lower resolutions. You'll know it's enabled when you see a vertical line in the middle of the on-screen zoom slider.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

just found that! bummer.
Something ive found with the cybershots, is that they are really rubbish for x-treme clos-ups. I ended up using a slightly older Sony cam at uni for these close-up shots
http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f=profile&l=lemonfridg

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

The Sony DSC-W1 also has Smart Digital Zoom --- kicks ass.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Can anyone one tell me about this camera is it worth $430 retail. ? I just won it.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Do Sony DSC-P73 support live webcam function???

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I would really like to find out if the Sony DSC-P73 has a webcam function???

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

The camera does have an A/V output. There should be one way to connect it to PC, or some driver enabling me to use it as a webcam. I don't know how to do, but I'll try to find out, 'cause I also have a DSC-73. If anyone find how to do it, please explain me how to. Thanks,
Leonard

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

where can I download free software including driver for sony DSC-P73 digital camera to operate on Windows 98.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

where can I download software including a driver to operate sony dsc-p73 DIGITAL CAMERA ON WINDOWS 98

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

interested in software and operating instructions

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

where can I download software including a driver to operate sony dsc-p73 DIGITAL CAMERA ON WINDOWS 2000

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

thi

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

drive dsc-73

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

ong thi

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Help me!!

I need driver for DSC-P73

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Help me!!

I need driver for DSC-P73

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I can't adjust the White Balance function when the DSC-P73 camera is set to 'P' or 'M'. Selection menu is not displayed. Has anyone experienced this problem or is it a setup issue?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I got my DSC-P73 about 6 months ago and love it. The only thing missing from this great camera is a webcam feature. When I bought it the salesman told me it was webcam compatable. After much use and playing with the features and reading the manual from front to back, I'm sorry to say that it can not be used as a webcam. All in all it is an awesome camera. Good luck to all.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

hola quiero saber de donde puedo bajar los drivers p windows 98 para la dsc p73, y si hay alguna forma de usarla como web cam.
gracias

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

here is the sony site to download drivers:

http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

can i download straight from my SONY DSCP73 to my computer,i use windows xp(I LOVE THIS CAMERA)

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

i own a sony DSC P73 it has a audio video output. is there any way i can use it as a webcam. any hardware parts that i cam put into my computer so that it takes audio video input.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

dear everybody
I need Sony DSC - P73 camera driver for windows 2000. plz show me how to download that driver. Thanks and best regards.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

HELP! I just recd a P73 for Xmas...what a lovely thing it is...it is my first digital and, I am a technoidiot. I got the batteries charged, in and was able to turn it on, set the date and actually snap a picture!...I'll worry about the rest later...My questions is...realistically speaking, what size Memory stick should I purchase? My family is grown and out so most of my picture taking is on vacation - cruising, driving, etc. I see everything from the itty bitty 16mb that came with the camera and up to 500-600.00 ones. And, is it true that, when taking pictures, the battery only lasts about 2 hours? Thanks for ANY information you can give me.....

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Sure you COULD use it as a webcam. I think that if you connect the A/V from the cam -> tv you get picture on tv of whatever you are pointing it at... if that works you could do the same thing with an video in card. Just connect the A/V from the cam to that port...

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I need dsc-p73 driver for win 2000 as soon as possible.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Help I dont have Video-IN on my graphic card
I would like to use sony as webcam trough USB

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Does anyone have any idea how can I connect my delicious digital camera Sony P73 to the PC and use it as a webcam? please i need help

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

It really is a shame that the sony dsc-p73 can't be used as a webcam the easy way most cameras can but there are two ways to force it to work purchase a dazzle video creator adaptor and add the video jack into it or have a video in on ur video card if you dont have either they both cost about $100 so thats pretty useless info anyways because u could simply buy a webcam for $20 and not worry about it anymore peace

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Thank you BoOgi3boy. I already had MGI VideoWave for my older video camera. Was trying to connect it through the software. Never thought it was as easy as a hardware connection. It works well with this capture software, but I wouldn't have bought it for the $100 to just use like this.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

This is more of a question than a comment. I just bought a Sony Cybershot P73/P93 and am unsure if I can take a picture, and then cut out certain parts of that picture using the actualy camera, and if not (which I'm yet to figure out to do) what is the best program to download the pics taken onto the computer and then cut parts of the photo out ready to get printed......????


HELP ! !

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

If you've taken multiburst pic's and you have 20 (?) pics in one jpg, it's easy to make a moving *.gif pic from it.

Just download animator9 from download.com or whereever. No need to install, just run this little program. Select the multiburst pic. In control choose mavica-camera en press "make".

Now you got a moving pic! We made one of our dog drinking.. he just keeps on going.. it's great!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Fantastic camera. Please tell me how to download the driver for DSC-P73.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Hi
Lost software for sony dsc-p73. Need it to download pictures to my computer, where can i download info. Please help

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

i need dsc-p73 driver for win 2000.

thank's

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I use my DSC P-72 as a webcamera, but I have a capture video card. No problem with MSN.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Alfredo, can u add my msn? [e-mail]
i need some help!
i got a capture video card too.
plz help me hehe :} thx

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

How can I use the Sony Cybershot camera as a webcam?!!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

As I'm not very reach astronomer:) I need to adapt my sony DSC-P73 to use as WEBCAM PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE if anyone has ANY!!!!idea how to do that(I already read your commentsfrom webside) TELL ME PLEASE.that's my e-mail:[e-mail]

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I need driver for windowns 2000

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

tell me if their any possibility like i reciver the delete picture
as if we try to use any software like recovering data from hard disk or is their any software u recomened by this i can recover all the data which delet from the cam plz do le tme inform
bye take care

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I plugged my DSC P73 in the Dazzle with the video cords, and I am getting a black screen.. is there a setting i need to change on my camera? PLEASE HELP! :) thanks

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 28th 2005 8:30AM]

Hi pls if anybody will find out how to use this cam as a webcam pls email me the guide ... thx