Editorial Review:

Product Description:
Sony's MVC-CD500 Digital Still Camera features massive 5.0 megapixel resolution (effective) with a Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar 3X optical/2X digital zoom lens and the ability to write to inexpensive optical media. The incredible photos and MPEG video clips you take are saved directly to 156MB CD-R/RW media, measuring only (8 cm) in diameter and readable on most CD-ROM equipped PCs. This incredible camera features a broad range of advanced features such as Multi-Point AF (Auto-Focus), Hologram AF, Continuous AF Mode, Multi-Pattern Metering, Pre-Flash Metering, and an advanced shoe for your flash attachment. Giving you all you need to create the most compelling images you've ever seen.

Amazon.com Product Description:
The Sony Mavica CD500 combines the advantages and capacity of the instant-archive CD-R/RW format with advanced resolution and control flexibility. The Mavica CD500 features a 5-megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, and a movie mode that shoots full-frame video.

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.

CD-RW Media: CD Mavica cameras shoot directly to 156 MB CD-R/RW discs, so there's room for hundreds of images and movie clips for instant archiving.

Optics and Resolution
Optimized for photo enthusiasts, the MVC-CD500 offers a 5-megapixel Super HAD sensor for image detail up to 2,592 x 1,944 pixels and print enlargements up to 20 by 30 inches. Get closer to your subjects with the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 3x optical zoom lens (34-102mm equivalency in 35mm photography). The Mavica CD500 also features a 3.2x digital zoom.

Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on high-capacity 156 MB CD-R (recordable) and CD-RW (rewritable) discs, enabling you to instantly archive your shots. Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows 98/Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.

Movie Mode
You can capture far more than still images with the MPEG Movie VX function. Most digital cameras' movie modes are limited to 30- or 60-second clips, but the Mavica CD500 can keep shooting until you've filled the CD-R/RW, approximately 6 minutes at full VGA resolution (640 x 480, 16 frames per second).

More Features
Flexible exposure control is provided with aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual exposure modes. For better command of motion and depth of field, the Program Shift feature allows various aperture and shutter-speed combinations from within the auto mode. The Mavica CD500's five-area multipoint AF can also evaluate five separate areas of the frame and intelligently focuses on the subject, displaying the selected focus point; or, the user can choose any of the five points for manual control.

With single, monitoring, and continuous AF modes, the photographer can optimize focusing to the situation, which is especially useful for capturing action shots. The hologram AF illuminator projects a laser pattern on the subject to artificially create contrast, even in low or no light.

Multipattern measuring independently meters the light in 49 points of the frame to establish the optimum exposure, even when highlight and shadow are not centered in the frame.

Other features include:

• Large 2.5-inch TFT LCD monitor
• Pop-up flash with auto, on, off, slow, and red-eye reduction modes
• Hot-shoe for connecting external flash or remote control
• Scene modes include twilight, twilight portrait, landscape, beach, and snow
• Two-shot burst mode and multiburst mode of 16 images at 320 x 240 pixels

Power, Size, and Contents
The camera is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery NP-FM50 (included). It measures 5.5 x 3.8 x 4.1 inches and weighs 1.3 pounds. This package includes the Mavica CD500 digital camera, battery and battery charger, USB and AV cables, 1 blank CD-R, 1 blank CD-RW, and CD-ROM with imaging software and USB drivers for Windows and Mac.



Accessories:
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Accessories:

• Sony LCS-VA60 Multi-Function Backpack for Most Digital Cameras and Camcorders
• SimpleTech FlashLink All-in-One USB Reader
• Sony DPP-SV55 Digital Photo Printer
• Sony NPFM50 InfoLithium Battery for Various Sony Camcorders & Digital Cameras
• Sony 5MCR-156A 8cm (3") CD-R Disc for Mavica Digital Cameras (5-pack)

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Related Items:
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Related Items:

• Sony Mini CD-R 22-Min 200 MB Spindle (50-Pack)
• KHypermedia Slim Jewel Cases for 8-cm Mini CDs (Black, 25-Pack)
• Memorex 210 MB 24x Pocket CD-R Mini-Discs (50-Pack Spindle)
• Sony 5MCR-156A 8cm (3") CD-R Disc for Mavica Digital Cameras (5-pack)
• Sony NPFM50 InfoLithium Battery for Various Sony Camcorders & Digital Cameras
• see more

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Rating: - Graphics Designer/Photographer
I'm a happy camper. I purchased my SONY MAVICA MVC-CD500 digital camera in 2002 when it was first marketed. As of this writing it's 2007 and I use it almost daily in my work. It's been a great workhorse. It plugs directly into iPhoto on my Mac - transferring images is quick and seamless.

I've not experienced any of the problems other reviewers have mentioned. I suppose, like with ANY product, the occasional lemon comes off the line. My camera has given me years of perfect performance!

I don't use all the features: For instance - if I want sepia tone photos or special effects I take them into PhotoShop and work there. The photos I get from the CD-500 are crisp, clear and high resolution so it makes editing them a breeze.

This reviewer gives the CD-500 two thumbs up. It's the best digital camera I've used.

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Rating: - Do NOT buy this camera .. please, I beg you.
I had a Sony Mavica 400 and it worked beautifully for 4 years. I never, ever had a problem with it, and it went everywhere with me. I took around 8,000 photos with it and it was wonderful. But then it was stolen from around my neck by a gang of thugs in St Petersburg, Russia in 2005.

The insurance company replaced the 400 with this model, the MVCCD500, which I was very excited about getting - the next-generation model, with improved picture quality and more megapixels. How wrong I was to be excited.

This piece of junk lasted a total of 6 months before it suddenly stopped doing what it was meant to do. It suddenly and without warning wasn't able to access a disc that hadn't been finalised, and after changing batteries it wasn't able to access the disc. To top this off, it also now can't write any photo taken on 5 megapixels - all I get is a 'Disc Error' everytime I take a 5 megapixel photo. I now have to finalise the disc when the battery gets low, and I have to be very, very careful the back door (where the CD-R goes in) and the battery door don't open .

I relocated to the UK soon after getting this camera, and Sony UK refused to honour the 'Worldwide Warranty', even though I had the receipt and the warranty with me. As the camera came from Australia, Sony refused to even deal with me - they told me I had to talk to Sony Australia ... on the other side of the planet, and then asked me to leave their premises!

I am now struggling to take ANY photos with this thing. It is now out of warranty, only takes 1 in 3 photos properly (none in 5 megapixels), and to top it all off, the 8cm CD-R's are next to impossible to buy outside the USA. And you can't even mail-order them from the US - no shop will sell them overseas. Sony couldn't even help me to locate a supplier of the CD-R's in the UK, even when they featured the Sony CD-R's on the Sony UK web site. In response to my enquiry regarding the discs, I was told they couldn't help me and suggested I do a search on an internet search engine for them. (Gee Sony, I hadn't thought of that. Thanks for the help.) I eventually found one shop in central London that sells them. When this shop stops selling them, the camera will be a useless paperweight.

If you are stupid enough to buy this camera, expect it to stop working within a year of buying it, and expect zero support from Sony. In fact, just expect abuse from Sony when it stops working.

I have just bought a Nikon D80, and am thrilled with the brilliance of this camera. Buy a digital camera from a manufacturer of real cameras, not a company that produces junk. Obviously Sony have given up on this technology, and tough luck if you were fooled into buying it. My assumption is they are no longer supporting the Mavica technology and refuse to have anything to do with any customer that owns one.

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Rating: - My $800 camera only worked for a couple years!
It was great, while it lasted. Although it's too heavy to take on every trip and take those impulsive candid shots. It fits in my diaper bag, but not my purse. About 6 months ago (after 18 months of ownership) we started having trouble getting it to turn on. My husband figured out a "trick" to turn it on (push down on the button while pushing the lever), which worked for a month or so. Then suddenly, the problem disappeared. Yippee! Now, with Christmas less than a month away, it WON'T TURN ON AT ALL!!! I cannot explain how furious I am. It's not like I can send it for repair and have it back by the holidays. My other complaint is with the batteries. Over time, they last less and less..... and take longer and longer to charge up. You will definitely need more than 2 batteries after a while. My next camera will NOT be a Sony. IT's not like we were rough with it; we treated that thing with more care than the baby... and it still busted. grrrr.....

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Rating: - Least Expensive Media in Digital Cameras - Great
The Sony Mavica series started it all with the Floppy disk Cameras ( that are still the most popular camera for internet pictures.)
Starting with the Mavica MVC CD1000 20X Zoom Sony did it again..
Mini Compact disks, the CD1000 could only use read only disks - CD-Rs.
With the CD200 Sony set real lead in Media with a camera that uses CD-R and rewriteable CD-RW disks. General Cost 50 cents for a CD-R and $2 bucks for a rewriteable CD-RW.
Using the Small ring in CDrom drives the mini CDs work just like a normal full sized CD. Capacity from 150 to 220 Megabits, or 200 to 2500 pictures depending on your selected resolution for each picture.
With all the newer operating systems XP ect the Camera Scanner wizards and viewers make it Childs play to download pictures and look at them. The camera is easy to use, anyone can pick it up and soon be taking digital pictures.
The entire series of Mavica MVC CDs are great.. with the CD500 at 5 megapixels with upgraded Lazers and CCDs is the top of the line.

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Rating: - Lots of problems
I have had a Sony Mavica for the past two years and I have been having a lot of problems with it. In fact I just got it back today from the service department in Tx and it still doesn't work. The screen went blank one day, just wouldn't show photos on the LCD. I sent it into Sony free of charge and a new LCD was placed in the camera. When I got the camera back there was a distinct color shift. The colors look correct on the LCD, but on all other devices my photos are magenta instead of red, which make my kids look purple. I can color correct in Photo Shop, but for a $500.00 camera it is turning out to be a real boat anchore. Save your money, buy anything but Sony. The second round of service cost me a whopping $223.00. Which now makes my boat anchore worth $723.00.