Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900

The basics

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900 is a 12MP compact camera with 3.5-inch (921,600 dots) LCD touchscreen. A sliding lens cover reveals the 4x folding lens (35-140mm equivalent). HD Ready (720p) video, face detection, smile shutter and dynamic range optimisation. It measures 98x58x16mm and weighs 147g.

The good

Buttons are so 20th century. The iPhone generation will appreciate the T900’s metallic minimalism: only zoom, shutter, movie and playback controls interrupt its endless, shiny curves. But move over Apple. This Cyber-shot’s 3.5-inch touchscreen has six times as many pixels as the iPhone, capturing every last photon of detail from its surprisingly sharp 4x zoom lens. Unleashed, the Sony can automatically choose scene modes, track faces, recognise smiles and tweak exposure to turn even the most left-fingered photographer into a seasoned pro. Punchy HD Ready movies are good enough to showcase on TV, although you’ll need an extra cable (£30).

The bad

When a lens cover turns from a handy way to protect optics into a lumbering sheet of metal that takes two hands to open, it’s clear that design has trumped practicality. Although at least your camera will be able to survive a direct hit from an Exocet missile. And while we never shy away from spending real money on quality goods, there’s no denying that the T900 falls squarely into the ‘treat yourself but don’t tell the missus’ category of spending.

The bottom line

Sony has its style-cam range down to a T. This flagship super-snapper delivers everything the designer ordered: slick 12MP photos, sharp HD movies, finger-friendly functionality and the best screen on the market.