Sony's new stylish shooters

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T200

Sony's two new Cyber-shot T-series cameras don't look very different from past models, but they certainly feel different; these new cameras eschew buttons in favor of big, touch-sensitive LCD screens.

The Cyber-shot DSC-T200 and T70 respectively replace the DSC-T100 and DSC-T20 in Sony's lineup. Their 3.5 and 3-inch 16:9 touchscreens control nearly every aspect of the cameras. Besides changing settings and navigating the cameras' menus, users can also control focus with the touchscreens by tapping the object they want to focus on. This isn't the first time Sony has attempted a touchscreen system with its cameras; last year's Cyber-shot DSC-T50 featured a 3-inch touch-sensitive LCD that we felt was a bit awkward and unresponsive.

Apart from the touchscreens, the T200 and T70 are nearly identical to their predecessors. They both use the same sensors and lenses as their bigger siblings; the T200 sports a 35 to 175mm-equivalent 5x lens just like the T100's, while the T70 uses the same 38 to 114mm-equivalent 3x lens found on the T20. The only other change is the T200's optional HD-output, found on the T20 but not the T100. Hopefully, Sony's improved its touchscreen interface in the last two years, otherwise you'll probably want to stick with the old-timey, button-driven models.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T200 and T70 hit stores in early October. The T200 will be available in red, black, and silver for about $400, and the T70 will come in pink, black, white, and silver versions with a suggested retail price of $330.