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