Images are crisp, colorful, and deep with detail. With USB 2.0 support, transfers to the PC zipped by and can be set to dispatch automatically. The large, autofocus Carl Zeiss lens zooms optically at 5x, with another 2x in digital mode. Atop the lens, the automatic flash pops open when needed. It also performs preflash metering and corrects the amount of light sent to create shots with the best possible exposure.

This aids the NightFraming mode, which incorporates the camera's NightShot infrared technology, and can help with taking optimal shots in low-light or no-light situations. If you've never used an infrared viewer before, you'll be impressed by the additional photo opportunities it provides, like snapping shots of teenagers stealing your jack-o'-lanterns and catching them orange-handed.

NightShot can also be used with the camera's movie-capturing mode. The audiovisual movies can be played back full screen with the HQX mode; we played our movie at 1,280 x 1,024 and could only find minor pixilation around the edges.

Video size is limited only by the capacity of the Sony Memory Stick inside the camera. The F717 ships with a 32 MB stick, so an upgrade to a larger size is recommended. It comes with a shoulder strap, but we also recommend buying a case to protect your investment. Not a camera for beginners, the F717 does everything you'd expect from a high-end digital camera. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• 5-megapixel resolution with 5x optical zoom
• NightShot infrared mode is quite handy
• Multiple modes, including movies with audio

Cons:

• Not compact

Step-up Value
Here's a Sony feature that adds value to this digital camera and differentiates it from other models in the Sony lineup.

Hologram Autofocus (AF):Projecting a Class 1 laser patter, Hologram AF reads the contrast between the pattern's edge and the subject for precise focus, even in low- or no-light conditions.

Optics and Resolution
The Sony DSC-F717 features a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens with 5x optical and 2x digital zoom (for a 10x total), an f2.0 maximum aperture, and a focal range of 9.7-48.5mm (equivalent to 38-190mm). It contains a 5-megapixel (effective) Super HAD CCD, or 5.2 million gross pixels.

More Features
The DSC-F717 uses Sony's NightShot technology, the same feature seen on Sony's camcorders, which uses infrared illumination and an infrared filter to take photos in complete darkness. The NightFraming system provides infrared light as a composition assist, and utilizes hologram autofocusing and preflash exposure metering for consistently great shots, even in low- or no-light conditions.

Picture quality is enhanced with clear-color noise reduction, which reduces color noise, and slow-shutter noise reduction, which captures and subtracts CCD noise from long exposures.

Other features include:

• Swivel lens to capture photos in even the most challenging situations
• Eye-level through-the-lens (TTL) 180 KB pixel LCD viewfinder and 1.8-inch, 123 KB pixel LCD display
• Through-the-lens (TTL) preflash metering and red-eye reduction, hot shoe and Acc terminal for HVL-F1000
• Twilight, portrait, and landscape scene autoexposure
• Multipattern measuring exposure system
• 46-step shutter priority (30 sec to 1/1,000 sec)
• 13-step aperture priority (f2.0 to f8.0)
• Full manual exposure
• High-speed scan autofocus
• Manual focus ring with LCD magnifier

Movie Mode
In movie mode, the DSC-F717 produces color digital videos in multiple creative formats, including 320 x 240 (high quality), 320 x 240 (normal), and 160 x 112. You can fill up the Memory Stick with digital video, even with the new high-quality mode (which was limited to 15 seconds on the DSC-F707). Another movielike feature is called ClipMotion, which will take 10 images and put them into an animated GIF.

Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on Memory Sticks, Sony's proprietary memory card format. The included 32 MB stick holds approximately 23 images at the camera's standard 5-megapixel setting (2,560 x 1,920 pixels). Memory Sticks are reusable, but if you tend to take more than 23 images per outing, then you'll want a bigger card. A 128 MB stick is a great size for this camera, storing around 70 images.

Power, Size, and Content
The DSC-F717 uses a proprietary rechargeable InfoLithium battery (model FM50), which should provide 3.5 hours of use per charge (Sony estimate). The camera measures 4.75 by 2.75 by 6 inches and weighs 24 ounces with battery and Memory Stick. This package includes the DSC-F717 digital camera, InfoLithium NP-FM50 rechargeable battery, AC adaptor, AV output and USB cables, shoulder strap, lens cap, 32 MB Memory Stick, printed manual, and CD-ROM featuring Pixela ImageMixer and drivers for Windows and Mac.