Sony Cybershot DSC-W7 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

by Sony

Product Details

Product Manual [6.32mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 4 x 2 x 2 inches ; 12.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0007S8C7I
• Item model number: DSCW7
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (91 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,509 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 20, 2005

Product Description

The DSC-W7 Cyber-shot(R) Camera zooms ahead of the pack in the world of compact cameras. The enhanced 7.2 Megapixel CCD produces sharp images, even for large prints -- images you can preview easily with the 2.5 inch LCD display. Special noise reduction and auto-focus features improve your shots, while the histogram display make it easier to use. Seven unique Scene Selection modes provide automatic presets for portraits by moonlight or candlelight. Finally, with its Carl Zeiss zoom lens and energy-efficient operation, you'll get more from your shots -- as well as more time for them. The Sony Cyber-shot(R) W7 not only has an automatic setting to ensure your images turn out their best, but for the more adventurous photographer, you can also use the manual settings. With manual exposure and histogram display control, you get improved image quality and greater control. Its amazingly quick shutter speed gives you the power to capture more of your favorite shots in less time, while the automatic and manual aperture controls lets you decide the best look and feel to your digital images.

The DSC-W7 digital camera is the perfect choice for photo enthusiasts looking to add a professional feel to their digital pictures. Using the Sony VADWA Lens Adapter, select from a number of lenses right for any situation. Add the 30mm, Wide-Angle or Telephoto Lens to the Cyber-shot(R) W7 and capture the picture you have been looking for. 32MB internal memory 7 different Scene Selection Modes Auto Focus illuminator Histogram Indication Real Imaging Processor MPEG VX Fine with audio PictBridge compatible High-quality aluminum body Saves to Sony Memory Stick(R) PRO Conversion lens compatible (optional) USB 2.0 High Speed transfer Battery life - approx 380 shots SILVER Finish

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Long Time owner who is still learning..., January 7, 2006

By 

Brian Green (Tallahassee, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony Cybershot DSC-W7 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I've read all the previous reviews on this site and it seems that people are upset at this product because it can't widthstand being dropped??? or that customer neglect isn't covered by their warranty... either way the blurry pictures are purely user error, if one bothers to read the manual it can be clearly found in either the how to section or trouble shooting section if one is trying to take what would amount to be a high speed or possibly in my own experience a tightly zoomed in shot it would benifit that person to set the camera to manual and adjust the shutter speed. I've played with this setting and can take a picture of a ceiling fan at high speed while moving my hand back and forth and it comes out clean and clear. This is an excellent camera for a novice like myself or anyone who wishes to have a high quality piece of equipment to learn with. But with most digital cameras nowadays taking the picture with the camera is 75% of the process i'd recommend becoming comfortable with a digital photo software program (I prefer Adope Photoshop) yet paintpro and others are just fine. So my final thoughts on this camera are that I've owned it for almost a year, taken shots from the mountains of alaska to the reefs of maui and the keys (with the underwater case) to just random college parties and never had a major problem or a minor problem that was due to anything with the camera... mostly my own ignorance of the equipment. Either way i'm no professional yet i've been complemented by folks who have $1,500 plus set ups by just learning how to use the settings and playing with the software. This is a great piece of equipment for learners if you are willing to learn yet also a good simple point and shoot camera

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT CHOICE FOR A DIGITAL CAMERA, March 4, 2006

By 

Guy Dannehl (Carson City, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony Cybershot DSC-W7 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

After much research and putting my hands on virtually all Digital Cameras in the $200-$400 range I settled on this one at around $250. Best web site for research is imaging-resource.com. There you can see real tests and photos from every camera currently on the market, not a bunch of dumb opinions from idiots who won't read manuals and can't figure out how to use the camera. I found this camera easy to use, with a super, large and clear LCD screen. I tried photos in all modes and noticed no blurry pictures.(check web site noted above for sample test pictures) the menus were fairly easy to navigate and easy to see on the monitor. Here is what I like and don't like:
Pro: 2.5" LCD, easy to use, nice size and form, Good shots in all modes. takes 2 AA batteries not 4 or a expensive LiIon that needs a charger....and battery life is great
Con: Small optical viewfinder... I had to have a optical viewfinder because no matter how bright the screen is you will find a time that you cannot see the picture on it.
Memory Stick. Guess Sony still hasn't learned the BetaMax lesson . would have a SD card instead.
chose this over the Canon A620 and Casio EXZ750 right now I am pretty happy with the selection

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great camera, too bad Sony doesn't make AA battery cameras anymore, June 12, 2006

By 

DarthRad (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony Cybershot DSC-W7 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I got a Sony DSCW1 camera about two years ago. It's been a really great camera.

So I thought that it might be time to get another, with my kids hogging this camera so much.

That was when I discovered that Sony seems to have stopped making this, the latest version of their line of point and shoot digicams that still use AA batteries.

All of the new DSC-W line of cameras, the ones with double digit numbers, now use only proprietary lithium batteries.

AAAAAARRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!

Will somebody please explain to the idiots at Sony that the main advantage of a camera that uses AA batteries instead of a proprietary rechargeable lithium battery is that AA batteries are ubiquitous, i.e., you can find them anywhere and everywhere at almost anytime.

Once, with the DSCW1, the batteries ran out while I was at a big family gathering. I literally ran out to a drugstore and bought some AA batteries, and everything went just fine. Try, oh try doing that with a proprietary lithium battery.

That's right, lithium batteries are NEVER charged when you want them to be. Leave the camera or battery on the charger, and the battery gets killed off much faster. Buy an extra, spare battery, leave it on a spare charger, and you end up killing off this spare battery before it ever sees any use. Or, you forget to bring a spare with you. Or you bring it with you, don't use it, and you forget to recharge it, and the next time you need the camera, none of the proprietary batteries in your collection work. Every one of these scenarios has happened to me with my camcorders, which have always required rechargeable lithium batteries.

I just absolutely HATE proprietary lithium batteries! Especially for an otherwise extremely handy, easy to use, point and shoot camera that is ideal for spontaneous family photos. Rechargeable proprietary lithium batteries and "spontaneous" are complete oxymorons.

So get the few remaining ones left of this camera now, before the dwindling supplies completely run out.

P.S. - one of the Spotlight Reviews that Amazon unfortunately chose for this camera makes several very uninformed and misleading statements. The reviewer simply has not read the manual and made adjustments to the default settings for this camera. It is very easy to turn off all the annoying sounds that this camera makes. The camera focuses much better if set on "Center Focus" rather than the default multifocus mode (especially in complicated scenes). If you use the manual mode and set it to ISO 400, the camera speed will be much faster and there is less motion (default is ISO 100). When using the flash mode, make sure that the "SL" flash mode is not turned on, this invariably produces blurry pictures - best to leave the camera on Auto flash mode. All three of these tips will sharply reduce the number of blurry pictures taken with this camera.

The camera is very small and it is fairly easy to accidentally hit and activate one of these buttons, and change the settings, so you have to always check your settings regularly. When the camera is set properly, the shutter always goes off very quickly after pressing the button - delays happen mainly if the camera senses a need for a flash and the flash is still charging. There is also a "Timer" mode which is VERY EASY to hit accidentally with your thumb, and this will, of course, start the timer, and produce a delay in when the shutter goes off. So, repeat, ALWAYS check your settings and make sure you're not in one of these oddball modes. Finally, if you really need to capture a series of shots that fast, this camera comes with two multishot modes - one that takes a very rapid series of shots, and one that takes a slower sequence.