Mavica was a brand of Sony cameras which used removable disks as the main recording media. In August, 1981, Sony announced the Sony Mavica (Magnetic Video Camera) electronic still camera, the first commercial electronic still camera.

Sony brought easy digital photography to the masses when it introduced the Mavica, a digital camera that stored digital pictures on standard floppy discs. This updated version boasts a 2-megapixel sensor and a Memory Stick slot, plus the charm and simplicity that made the original a hit.

The FD200's 2-megapixel sensor captures enough detail for sharp prints at sizes up to 8 by 10 inches. For the typical family photographer, 2 megapixels is a great balance between price and performance. If you want a camera with even more resolution, forget about using low-capacity floppy discs and step up to a CD-recording model instead--try Sony's MVC-CD300 or MVC-CD400.

The autofocus lens features both a 3x optical zoom and a 2x digital zoom. Remember, however, that digital zoom tends to reduce the sharpness and detail of your image, so it's a good idea to use it sparingly.

To save space, there's no traditional optical viewfinder to look through. Instead, to compose your images or review shots you've already taken, the FD200 uses a big 2.5-inch colour display. The advantage to using the LCD to frame your shots is that the screen lets you see exactly the picture you'll capture. The disadvantage is that you can't turn off the screen and just use the optical viewfinder to extend battery life. Fortunately, the included rechargeable battery holds a relatively good charge.  Considering the internal floppy drive and nonretracting 3x zoom lens, the Mavica is reasonably compact at 5.6 by 4.1 by 3.1 inches, though it weighs in at a hefty 19 ounces.

Specification:
2.0 Effective Megapixels
1/2.7 inch Super HAD CCD
Dual slot for floppy disc and Memory Stick™
3x Optical Zoom
6x Precision Digital Zoom
STAMINA InfoLITHIUM battery supplied
Macro 3 cm
Multi-point / Centre-weighted AF
Centre-weighted / Spot-metering
Focus Preset
Exposure Control
Scene Selection
ISO Sensitivity Setting
Video Out
USB Terminal
MPEG Movie (no audio)

Our model MVC-FD200 with a serial number of 871241 was kindly donated by Andrew Borkett from the Faculty of Education in Cambridge University.