Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Dark Blue)
From the Manufacturer
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 digital camera features Intelligent Auto mode, a 28mm wide-angle lens, automatically detects 8 scene conditions and selects the appropriate camera settings. Face Detection captures faces more naturally and helps prevent blur. Also, now record high-definition videos in 720p HD and enjoy your memories on your HDTV. Cyber-shot DSC-W290 Highlights 12.1-megapixel Super HAD CCD Image Sensor A powerful 12.1-megapixel, 1/2.3-inch Super (further details about this electronic product…)
Avice said
January 8 2010 @ 12:50 am
NOTE: IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT PURCHASING THIS PRODUCT, SEE WARNING BELOW!
My wife and I are planning a long vacation trip and needed a compact, but versatile, alternative to a full blown DSLR. I’ve owned this little camera for just 20 hours, but can offer some first impressions. We bought a Canon SX110IS at Christmas for our daughter. Compared to the jewel-like Sony, the Canon’s build quality seems substantially less. However, it has a 10X optical zoom compared to Sony’s 5x, but 9 mega pixel resolution compared to 12.1 on the Sony. I doubt that the image quality difference will be notable, but I will update this when I can make a valid comparison.
One of the main reasons I picked the Sony over the Canon is that it is truly compact. While the Canon is small, the Sony is flat – less than 1″ thick – and hardly shows in a pocket (although I have ordered a case). Comparatively speaking, its LCD screen is huge and bright (but does not swivel like some Canons). BTW, neither camera has a viewfinder, so I am not confident that either will be easy to see in bright sunlight.
This model does NOT employ a touch screen (which I did not value), but the controls (though small) are simple and generally intuitive once you learn Sony’s ops language (different from Canon’s). I will admit, if you happen to be a bit ham-fisted, you may not be willing to struggle with such tiny controls which are suited more to a child’s hand than an adults. Also, because they are so small, the two adjustable dials are hard to read – not so handy when your eyes start to fail as are mine.
The special features (many on this camera) all seem like they may be useful, but the “smile” feature seems a bit useless to me. The facial recognition works great – even when I pointed it at a TV image. It takes longer than I am used to to auto focus (I normally shoot with a Canon full frame 5D that uses focus motors in the lenses – hardly a fair comparison).
Also, if you plan to use this camera to record full 12.1 mega pixel images, you will have to buy plenty of Memory Stick storage, although it will shoot at much lower resolutions, it has limited internal memory. I bought two 16GB Sony brand Pro Duo sticks on eBay for $21 each to be able to do so. BTW, that is much cheaper than Amazon, say. Also, since this camera shoots HD (720P) video in MPEG4 format – one of the features I plan to exploit – you’ll want plenty of extra storage anyhow.
I’ll have to reserve my opinions on picture quality until I can do a real world test, but the images I shot indoors with the built-in flash were crisp and noiseless at 12.1 mega pixels, less so, of course as I tried lower resolutions.
And did I mention that the Sony’s “anodized” blue finish trimmed in “black chrome” is elegant and stunning?
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
Shortly after writing this review, I decided to double-check my “cheap” memory purchase. What I found was disturbing. It is very likely that the Pro Duo memory sticks I bought on eBay are FAKES! I’m telling you this so you won’t make the same mistake I probably did (my Memory Sticks have not yet been delivered). If you will check out this eBay link BEFORE you buy memory for your new camera (or other Sony device), you may be able to save yourself a lot of trouble (and $$$).
http://reviews.ebay.com/FAKE-Sony-Memory-Stick-Pro-Duo-MagicGate-Cards-Exposed_W0QQugidZ10000000001236041
Like they say, “If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is”. I know better, and now, so do you. I will confirm the results after I have had a chance to try them out. Incidentally, just shot some outside images of our flowering crabapple blossoms. Pictures look great and I could see the LCD in “cloudy bright” afternoon sunlight.
4-28-09
As promised, an update. The Memory Sticks from Hong Kong did indeed turn out to be bogus. They look exactly like Sony products, including the very detailed packaging, but they simply didn’t work. The Sandisk Ultra 4GB version I bought at Staples works great, even when recording “HD fine” video. Playback looks beautiful (considering the source) on the computer, but not nearly as sharp on an HDTV when using the composite cable that came with the camera. I now have no qualms about substituting this for my miniDV camcorder on the next trip, however.
The “smile” function actually works, but I could live without it. The camera makes it really difficult to mess up exposure. I’ve even tried fooling it with extremely harsh back lighting and it still exposed faces properly. 12.1GB images are not as sharp as I’d like when I carefully examine the detail, and there is some noise present. Keep in mind, however, that I typically shoot with a Canon full frame DSLR. I will, however, compare it to a Nikon Coolpix I used a couple of years ago. The Nikon was substantially sharper in similar situations. If the ultimate picture quality is high on your priority list, look at the comparably priced Nikons and Canons. For the features I wanted, this Sony remains the best choice for me. Finally, Sony make two affordable underwater housings for this camera. One for snorkeling and one for diving.
Ty said
January 8 2010 @ 5:56 am
I had just purchased the new Canon 880is, ive always owned Canon cameras,
and was not that impressed. My Canon 710 was much better. Anyways, thought I would try this new Sony 290. I am pretty impressed. The few photos I have taken, indoor and outdoor, have been really good. The colors and clarity are nice. Low light were consistently still (not blurred). The 880is blurred in the low light occasionally. The face and smile recognition works very well.
I never write reviews but after all the slamming Sony gets, as far as point and shoot cameras, I felt that this camera is as good or better than the Canon 880is and Im the first to defend Canon.
Yoshino said
January 8 2010 @ 1:23 pm
I bought a a DSC-W290 several weeks ago here in Europe. While European prices are consistently about 25% higher than in the US I went ahead and bought the unit. I have had three prior versions of the Cyber-shot and have found them to be sturdy, reliable and easy to use. The DSC 290 with its 12.1 MP clarity really is first rate. I have now started leaving my Cannon SLR and my Cannon Video Cam at home. I get all the still picture quality one needs plus the movie resolution is considerably higher than most competitors at any price. I was starting to look for a HD Movie cam but decided that the near HD quality of the movies produced by the DSC 290 are more than I could have imagined and instead spent a fraction of the cost of a new camera on 16G Memory Sticks to hand my movies. I like the camera so much I ordered two more on Amazon today to be shipped in the US for graduation gifts.