Sony Cyber-shot W7 Review

August 2005 | Simon Joinson

Review based on a production Sony DSC-W7

Announced along with a 5MP twin (the W5), the DCS-W7 is part of the second generation of Sony's 'traditionally-styled' compacts designed to appeal to the first-time user moving from a film camera to digital. Essentially the same as a Cyber-shot P200 in a larger more conventionally-styled body (and with a bigger 2.5-inch screen), the W7 builds on the success of the W1, which was something of a surprise hit last year. But does the W7 have what it takes to compete in the increasingly crowded 7 megapixel compact market? Read on to find out. Here's a brief summary of the main spec highlights:

7.2 million effective megapixels
High quality aluminum body
Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens (3x optical zoom)
F2.8 - F5.2, 38-114mm (35mm equiv.)
STAMINA battery life: up to 380 shots per charge
2.5” LCD (115,000 pixels)
Manual exposure function
Real Imaging Processor
AF illuminator
MPEG VX Fine movies with audio
Scene selection (7 modes)
Histogram indication
Optional tele and wide lens adaptors
32MB internal memory, plus Memory Stick slot

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W7 key specifications

Street price	• US: $399 • UK: £260
Body Material	Aluminum
Sensor	• 1/1.8" Super HAD CCD • 7.4 million pixels total • 7.2 million effective pixels
Image sizes	• 3072 x 2304 • 3072 x 2048 (3:2) • 2592 x 1944 • 2048 x 1536 • 1280 x 960 • 640 x 480
Movie clips	• 640 x 480 @ 16.6 / 30 fps • 160 x 112 @ 8.3 fps • Limited only by the capacity of the memory card • MPEG VX with sound
Lens	• Carl Zeiss 38 - 114mm equiv. (3x optical zoom) • F2.8 - F5.2
Focus	• 5-Area Multi-Point AF • Center AF • 5-Step Manual • 6 cm macro mode (Wide)
Shooting mode	• Auto • Twilight • Twilight portrait • Soft Snap • Landscape • Beach • Snow • Candle • AE compensation -2.0EV to +2.0 EV in 1/3EV steps
Shutter Speeds	• 1/8 – 1/2000 sec (Auto) • 2 – 1/2000 sec (Program Auto) • 30 – 1/1000 sec (Manual)
Apertures	F2.8 – F5.2 (W), F5.6– F10 (T)
Metering	• Multi Pattern • Spot
Sensitivity	• Auto • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400
White Balance	• Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Fluorescent • Incandescent
Image parameters	Color effects (Sepia, Black and White)
Continuous	5 Shot 7MP (JPEG fine), 100 Shot VGA (JPEG std.), 0.9fps
Flash	• Built-in • Modes: Auto, forced on, forced off, slow sync, red-eye reduction • Range: 11.8 in - 14.8 ft. (0.3– 4.5m)
Storage	• Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO • 32MB internal memory • No removable media supplied
Viewfinder	Real Image Optical
LCD monitor	• 2.5 " TFT • 115,000 pixels
Connectivity	• USB 2.0 High Speed • AV out • DC-IN
Power	• 2x AA type battery (alkaline, NiMH, NiMH) • NH-AA-DA rechargeable AA batteries supplied
In the box*	• DSC-W7 camera • BC-CS2 Battery Charger • NH-AA-DA rechargeable AA batteries • Software CD-ROM (Picture Package™ for Sony v1.6 (Windows), Pixela™ ImageMixer VCD2 (Macintosh/Windows), USB Driver, Cyber-shot Life tutorial (Windows) • AV & USB Cable • Wrist Strap
Other features	• PictBridge and DPOF compatible • Live Histogram & playback histogram • Autofocus Illuminator • Optional 2.6x Tele converter lens (VCL-DH2630) $130 • Optional 1.7x Tele converter lens (VCL-DH1730) $99 • Optional 0.7x Wide converter lens (VCL-DH0730) $99 • Optional 30mm lens adaptor (needed to use converters) $30 • Optional Slave flash + bracket (HVL-FSL1B) $100 • Optional waterproof case (Marine Pack MPK-WA) $200 • Optional filter kits and filter adapter
Weight (inc batt)	• 197 g (6.9 oz) (without batteries and card) • 253 g (8.9 oz) (with batteries and card)
Dimensions	91 x 60 x 37 mm (3.5 x 2.3 x 1.4 in)

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).

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