Customer Reviews
LCD screen too flimsy 
2008-09-29
After only 5 months this cameras LCD screen stopped working. There is not a scratch on it but the slightest touch can damage the screen and with out it you can not use the camera. The LCD screen is not covered under the sony warranty and customer service is poor.Sony Cybershot DSC-T200 8.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Silver)
stylish but not the best. 
2008-09-18
The red color, the perfectly slim design and touch screen were thrilling, so i replaced my other very old Sony with this one.
I regretted buying it the day my return receipt expired. The pictures look amazing, in bright, vivid color, but the quality of them is awful most of the time. The picture either turns out blurry all together or the quality is terrible when you zoom in on your face. I use the "natural" shooting mode, so it's not horrible. I just wish i listened to my more-experienced-with-cameras mom and bought another one. Before buying i thought, "well it's Sony, it can't be that bad". This time Sony let me down.
The battery dies fairly quickly too.
Other than that, i enjoy carrying a super-stylish camera around.
Awesome camera! 
2008-07-22
This is the best camera that I have ever owned. Very easy to use, almost don't even need the manual. The touch-screen options are very easy to use, and the screen is larger than any other camera I have seen. Battery life is great also. I highly recommend getting at least the 2GB flash drive, which will hold more pictures than you will probably ever need.
Common Myths about T200 - Clarified 2008-06-13
I am a kind of person who would do a lot of reviewing before I buy a product, especially an electronic.And it was the same scenario when buying my camera.Reviewed a lot of sites- CNET, PcMag, Amazon,etc... list goes on and on.
I had my mind on T-100 initially. I didn't want to go for the touchscreen versions: T70 and T200 for the obvious reason of less battery life.
Fortunately, Sony had stopped production of T100 and the ones in the market were as expensive as T200.
I ultimately made up my mind for T200 thinking that if I'm gonna spend so much on a camera, why not get the latest one.
I'm totally satisfied with the camera.I would like to clarify certain facts about the camera:
1.Battery Life: It is obvious that a large touchscreen would drain the battery fast.But my experience has been really good. Once on a full charge, it doesn't run out that quickly as people say.And I'm a person who would take random pics of anyone and no one.So my usage is pretty high and I've never run out of battery.Its more about battery management than the actual battery life.
2.Smile Shutter: This is the most amazing feature of the camera.And it really is efficient.The pictures are clear too.
3.Indoor Pics: Some people complain that the pic indoors are very grainy.Although thats true for all the ultracompact cameras, but this one does a good job comparatively.I have rarely had tht experience.
I don't need to write about the other features as people have already written so much.
Conclusion: Its a great ultra compact camera and I would buy it again if needed to!!
Beautiful but serious battery problem 2008-05-31
I have used Sony digital cameras for many years, and take thousands of photos in my occupation worldwide. When my trusty Sony bit the dust, I ordered this one. The biggest dissapointment is the battery, which runs down within a short half day of shooting. Worse yet, is that you have to remove the battery, and put it in a charger. You can't just plug in the camera, which means that when you are downloading the pictures to your computer, you are using the battery! Mine has quit in the middle of important downloads.
The touch screen is gorgeous, but takes getting used to.
I would reccommend you get a more conventional camera, if you are looking for a simple camera.
Prof. Kris
Style over Substance would sum this up nicely... 2008-05-16
The stylish, colorful and slim DSC-T200 offers a wide range of playback functions including the paint function and the unique "smile shutter" mode which automatically detects a smiling face and triggers the shutter. The large Clear Photo LCD Plus touch screen makes it easy to view your images and navigate through the user-friendly menu.Coupled with the double anti-blur solution and the BIONZ imaging processor for high image resolution and high-speed, the advanced face detection technology automatically adjusts focus, light and color to suit your subject. Share images with family and friends in full screen on your BRAVIA HD TV via the Full HD output and enhance the enjoyment by using the built-in HD slide show function with music.
Very disappointing follow up to my T100 
2008-04-26
I wanted a camera that would sit in my pocket wherever I was and that I could whip out whenever, take a shot and pop it away again. I wanted to get photos in the pub, in houses, out in parks, wherever. The photos would then sit in my Windows Media Center and play as slideshows (on my TV) while my Music is playing.
The T100 was great. While the focus wasn't ideal (a bit 'soft'), it took great snaps with 'actual' representations of where I was without the use of a flash. So the indoor/evening shots were a true reflection of what it was like to be there. I fell utterly in love with the camera without realising it. Until I dropped it into the Irish Sea.
I was devastated. Gutted. Really gutted. I missed that last set of photos (sailing around the south coast of Ireland over four days and there were some amazing scenes in there - now they sleep with the fishes) 'cos they were irreplaceable but I was going straight out to buy that brilliant camera again. It was superb.
Unfortunately, I then found that I would not be able to buy another one as they were end-of-line and none of the local stores stocked them. So I figured I'd go for its updated brother, the T200.
It's now 6 months later and I'm really disappointed. The OS has changed so the three basic presets that I used to use are gone and the new versions don't deliver photos that are even good, let alone near the quality of it's predecessor. I used to 'wow' people with the photos it took. Now they're blurry messes, overexposed startlers or underexposed duds.
I have spent a few mornings, afternoons and evenings trying out various settings, using stands to prevent blur on low exposure settings (which I never needed to do with the T100) and experimenting with the new OS features to no avail. So unhappy overall.
I'm stuck with it though, so I have learned to enjoy some benefits. Both cameras tolerated rain and water well but being touch screen the T200 feels more waterproof and, surprisingly, more robust. The touch screen works even when I've got my gloves on. The large screen is nice but don't be fooled: the 'widescreen' is actually a zoomed and cropped 4:3 so a nice viewfinder picture actually means a poorer quality resultant image! The focus is still more 'soft' than I would like but that wasn't a realistic issue for me before (but I should mention it because what's the point of 8.1 Megapixels when they give the focus quality of three or four megapixels).
One thing that both the T100 and T200 still impress with is the video. Taking video with the little jeans-pocket sized gizmo is brilliant. It's a much better video camera than I had counted on (as was its older brother).
So for me, great video and nicely waterproof but a disappointing camera in much the way that I find most cameras out there disappointing (I want something that takes true, good photos of my life). Better than most but can't fill the shoes of the T100, which was - to me - groundbreaking.
Oh, and the gadgets are fun but never seem to work properly at crunch time - before the moment is lost. I did have a lot of fun one night in the pub, turning on the smile feature and telling people not to smile. It kept going off taking photos and they laughed harder each time, making it take more and more photos. Actually got some good shots that time... so not all bad. But I give it two for being so inferior to the T100. Otherwise I would have given it three stars.
Excelente Camara 2008-04-23
La cámara es muy bonita, práctica por su tamaño, excelente resolución. Muy bueno el servicio de envio.Gracias
Good But Complicated 2008-04-17
This camera takes good pictures and equally as impressive videos but you definitely need to read the instruction book. I usually can figure things out with trial and error but this camera needed more study than usual. overall a very good purchase
Sony DSC-T200 Ultra Compact Camera 
2008-04-01
I went to buy a Casio EX-V8 to find a compact camera with decent video and decent pictures that had more than a 3X zoom. Prices dropped a lot on the previously-unaffordable DSC-T200 so I played with it at the store. Ended up buying it.
The touchscreen takes a little getting used to. Where's the record button? How do I switch to photos? Where are the settings? It takes a little mindset change and practice to get up to speed. There is a 'Home' button to let you get at certain functions quickly, it just isn't obvious at first.
Like many compact cameras, the weakness is indoors. Don't use the Auto mode. Set it on Program mode, with a reasonable ISO (400 or less) and shoot that way. The metering and focus setting also have a big effect on your photo, so if you learn how to use those features it helps.
Macros are great, and there are the typical macro mode and the super macro mode to get within 1 centimeter. I have good results with both.
The video is decent, I rate it 7 out of 10. Just straightforward 640x480 resolution with no bull. MPeg format instead of MOV. You really only can change the framerate, but its simple and works well. A 2GB memory stick will hold about 1.5 hours at standard framerate or about 25 minutes at high-quality. The white balance settings have a big effect on video quality indoors. Choose the correct lighting style and the video comes out accurately. By the way, the sound pickup is excellent. Not sterero, but very decent. I've heard some concert video and the sound is not all blown out like it does on many cameras. It picks up surprising sounds in the room like breathing and other nuances.
Focusing is quick. Very bright autofocus assist lamp. Maybe too bright. Easy to change the metering and focusing modes (When in the Program shooting mode).
The flash? Well, its a compact, not a DSLR. Its ok. I have great results with the slow synchro flash - it really lights up the room well.
Full speed USB 2.0 means fast transfers.
28mm wide angle accessory lense available. Two different docking stations are available (actually 3). The CSS-PC1 is for your computer. The CSS-HD1 and new CSS-HD2 are to hook the camera to the TV for hi-def displays. All the docks have faster chargers than the charger that comes with the camera (30% faster).
Outdoor images are great. The 5x zoom is just right - I didn't feel that "not quite close enough" feeling you always have with a 3x camera.
My expectations were to get a camera with decent photos (above average) and decent video that didn't make me have to work too hard, and can be put in my pocket, and this is it. You do have to work this camera a little indoors if you want better than average shots. I have gotten decent no-flash results up to ISO800. ISO1600 and 3200 are not useable.
I would buy this camera again. I love the touchscreen, and whoever thinks its grainy or said they would be ashamed to show someone pictures on this screen are simply wrong. There are better looking screens (very few), but this one is certainly on of the better ones.
Cons:
Big touchscreen does not automatically gain up outdoors. You have to brighten the display manualy (come on, Sony) but at least you can brighten the display.
No viewfinder. Would be nice in a few cases.
Its expensive. Proprietary memory sticks. Battery life sucks. Get the docking station because it charges the battery 30% quicker than provided charger. Learn to not put your finger over the lense.
Could use a bunch more scene modes. The 10 or so provided are pretty basic. They should have one for indoor shooting, and one for doubleshot (flash/no flash) like Fuji has.
The camera cables are special (not standard USB), but if you use the dock its not a big deal.
