The new Sony Cyber-Shot G3 packs a HUGE punch in a small package.  Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, the G3 offers a laundry list of features that rivals some of the top gadgets on the market. This move by Sony is an obvious ploy to try to lure some of the defected pocket camera users who have moved to superzoom and DSLR realm.  A trip to the local museum would be an eye opener for any camera manufacturer as more and more parents and grandparents choose the bigger clunkier cousin to the pocket camera in hopes of capturing that special moment from anywhere in the building.

The G3, which runs a steep $499 from the Sony Style store, features a 10.1 megapixel image sensor with the Sony standard Carl Zeis 4x optical zoom lens, wifi connectivity for photo and video sharing, and an intuitive 3.5″ touchscreen interface.  An amazing 4 gigs of internal flash memory means you will never need extra media cards, however, the ambitious user can opt to add the proprietary Sony Memory Stick Duo.  Built in software offers the ability to touch up, resize, and decorate your photos before showing them off with the built-in slide show (with music) or share with the world by using the wifi connectivity to upload pictures and videos directly to YouTube, Picasa, Photobucket, Shutterfly and Daily Motion.  The high sensitivity ISO 3200 gives picture snappers the option to capture a quality motion images, even in low light.

If all this isn’t enough for you, the new Anti-blink function will ensure you never get a shot with a blinker when shooting in Portrait Mode.  The innovative technology takes 2 simultaneous photos and only saves one with the least amount of squinting.  A perfect feature for trying to get pictures of the kiddos.

While the verdict may still be out on the picture quality (though Sony rarely disappoints with its imaging devices) and usefulness of the feature packed gadget, the Cyber-Shot G3 is sure to turn some heads and may entice some gadgeteers to slip one in their pocket.

Full Feature List:

General

* Imaging Device : 1/2.3 type(7.70mm) Super HAD CCD

* Megapixel : 10.1 Megapixels

* Recording Media : 4GB internal Flash Memory, optional Memory Stick Duo™ Media, optional Memory Stick PRO Duo™ Media

Convenience Features

* AF Illuminator Light : Auto / Off

* In-Camera Editing : Trimming / Red Eye Correction / Soft Focus / Partial Color / Fisheye Lens / Cross Filter / Retro / Radial Blur / Unsharp Masking / Smile

* Movie Mode(s) : 640(Fine) (VX Fine, 640 x 480, Approx.30fps) / 640 (Standard)(VX Standard, 640 x 480, Approx.16.6fps) / 320 (QVGA, 320 x 240, Approx.8.3fps)

* Multi-Pattern Measuring : Yes

* PictBridge Compatible : Single / Select / Date / Event / Favorites / Folder

* Power Save Mode : Yes (after approx. 3 min. of inactivity)

* Real Imaging Processor™ Technology : BIONZTM

* Scene Mode(s) : Auto Adjustment / Easy Shooting / Program Auto / Movie / High Sensitivity / Twilight / Twilight Portrait / Soft Snap / Landscape / Beach / Snow / Fireworks / Hi-speed Shutter / Underwater / Gourmet / Auto Adjustment

* Burst Mode : Max 100 shots at approx.1.6 fps

* Color Mode(s) : Normal / Vivid / Sepia / B&W

* Date/Time Stamp : No/ No

* Media/Battery Indicator : Yes/Yes

* Memory Stick PRO™ Media Compatibility : Tested to support up to 16GB Memory Stick DUO PRO media capacity1; does not support Access Control security function.

* Red-Eye Reduction : Auto / On / Off

* Self Timer : Yes (10 seconds, 2 seconds, Off)

* Still Image Mode(s) : Normal (JPEG) / Burst (JPEG) / Bracketing (JPEG) - AE(Plus / Minus 0.3EV / 0.7EV / 1.0EV)

* White Balance : Auto / Daylight / Cloudy / Fluorescent 1 (White Fluorescent Lighting) / Fluorescent 2 (Natural White Fluorescent Lighting) / Fluorescent 3 (Day White Fluorescent Lighting) / Incandescent / Flash / Underwater White Balance Mode - Auto, Underwater 1, Underwater 2, Flash

Hardware

* Docking Station : Yes, via optional HD cradle (CSS-HD2)

* LCD : 3.5″ Xtra Fine LCD 921k

* Lens Construction : 12 elements in 10 groups(including 4 aspheric elements,1 prism)

* Lens Type : Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar®

* Microphone/Speaker : Yes / Yes

* Viewfinder : No

Power

* Battery Capacity : 3.6V / 2.4wh(680mAh)

* Battery Type : LITHIUM ION / InfoLITHIUM D type 3.6V

Optics/Lens

* 35mm Equivalent : 35-140mm

* Aperture Range : Auto(F3.5-F10) / Program Auto(F3.5-F10)

* Digital Zoom : Smart Zoom / Precision Digital Zoom / Off

* Exposure Compensation : Plus / Minus 2.0EV, 1 / 3EV step

* Face Detection : Detects up to 8 Faces - with Touch Priority / Auto Priority / Child Priority / Adult Priority

* Filter Diameter : No

* Focal Length : 6.18-24.7mm

* Focus : 9 points / Center Weighted AF / Spot AF / Flexible Spot AF / Semi Manual (1.0m / 3.0m / 7.0m / unlimited distance)

* ISO : Auto / 80 / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200

* Macro Mode : Auto Macro / Macro On / Close Focus Enabled

* Optical Zoom : 4x

* Shutter Speed : Auto(1/4 - 1/1,000) / Program Auto(1″ - 1/1,000)

* Total Zoom : Approximately 8x

Software

* Operating System Compatibility : Microsoft® 2000 Professional, XP Home and Professional; Macintosh® OS 9.1/9.2/OS X (10.1-10.5)

* Supplied Software : Windows: Picture Motion Browser Vers 3.0.02 + USB Driver

Operating Conditions

* Flash Effective Range : ISO Auto: Approx.0.08-Approx.4.3m (Approx.0.26′-Approx.14.1′)(W) / Approx.0.5-Approx.3.4m (Approx.1.64′-Approx.11.2′)(T), ISO3200: up to Approx.8.6m (Approx.28.2′)(W) / Approx.6.8m (Approx.22.3′)(T)

* Flash Mode(s) : Auto / Flash On / Slow Syncro / Flash Off

Inputs and Outputs

* Accessory Terminal : Multi connector

* Audio/Video Output(s) : Yes via Mutli-Use Connector

* HD Output : Yes (1080i)

* USB Port(s) : Yes - USB2.0 Hi-Speed

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