Sony Cybershot DSCW5 5.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6 x 4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0007CZ7BI
• Item model number: DSC-W5
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,170 in Camera & Photo (See Bestsellers in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 2, 2005

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer A classic design meets modern technology in the Cybershot W5 digital camera from Sony. It combines a traditional rangefinder camera layout with high-end features such as a huge 2.5-inch LCD screen, 5.1-megapixel image capture, and high-speed performance thanks to the Real Imaging Processor chip.

The W5's Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens provides crisp, clear visuals and a 3x optical zoom without compromising the camera's amazingly compact design. Image quality is further enhanced with such features 5-area multi-point auto focus, auto focus illuminator and multi-pattern measuring.

The W5 includes 32 MB of built-in flash memory, so you'll have room for additional photographs if you are ever without a Memory Stick media. With a classic build, easy control, and numerous advanced features, the Cybershot W5 has something for everyone.

1/1.8-Inch 5.1 Megapixel Super HAD CCD
Super HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCDs provide excellent image quality by allowing more light to pass to each pixel, increasing sensitivity and reducing noise.

3x Optical/2x Digital/6x Total Zoom
Optical zoom helps you fill the frame with your subject for better pictures. And Sony's Precision Digital zoom helps bring your subject closer with an extra 2x magnification.

0-12.0x Smart Zoom Feature (at VGA Resolution)
The Smart Zoom feature intelligently uses the full CCD to let you zoom into the portion of interest by cropping the image size--thus avoiding the image degradation of digital zooms.

Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens
The Vario-Tessar lens is specially produced for very compact cameras. This specialized design allows quick auto-focus, appealing zoom range while still maintaining a compact design.

The Sony Cybershot DCSW5's large 2.5-inch LCD makes framing shots and reviewing pictures easy.

Real Imaging Processor
The innovative Real Imaging Processor in the DSC-W5 not only improves picture quality and clarity but also improves camera response time, decreases shutter lag and improves battery stamina.

2.5-Inch LCD Monitor
The extra-large high-resolution 115K LCD monitor makes framing shots and reviewing pictures easy.

Live Histogram Display
Available in capture and playback the Live Histogram Displays the concentration of pixels at each luminosity value making it easy to evaluate correct exposure.

14-Bit DXP A/D Conversion
Sony's 14-bit Digital EXtended Processor captures the range between highlight and shadow with up to 16,384 values, for extended dynamic contrast and detail.

5-Area Multi-Point Auto Focus
By evaluating 5 separate focus areas of the frame, Sony's Multi-Point AF system can intelligently focus on the subject and avoid mistakenly focusing on the background.

AF (Auto Focus) Illuminator
Briefly illuminating the subject, in low- or no-light conditions, the AF Illuminator helps establish a positive focus lock.

Selectable Focus Mode
Monitoring AF (Auto Focus) helps you anticipate the action by focusing even before you press the shutter release.

Multi-Pattern Measuring
Independently light-metering 49 points of the frame, Multi-Pattern Measuring establishes the optimum exposure, even when highlight and shadow isn't centered in the frame.

Scene Selection Mode
With 7 Scene Modes, parameters can be matched to the shooting conditions. Choose from one of the following: Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Soft Snap, Landscape, Beach, Snow, and Candle.

Pre-Flash Metering
With a momentary pre-flash, the camera illuminates the subject and sets exposure through the lens for accurate flash metering. Adjustable flash level and red-eye reduction ensure great flash shots.

Slow Shutter Noise Reduction
During long exposures, Slow Shutter NR captures the scene, and then the CCD noise pattern with a dark frame exposure. By subtracting the two, even long exposures can be clear.

Memory Stick Media and Memory Stick PRO Media
Digital. Powerful. Transportable.Memory Stick media is compact, portable and rugged--connecting a variety of hardware and software applications.

32MB Internal Memory Included
Shoot without a flash memory card with 32 MB internal memory; Slot for optional Memory Stick®, Memory Stick PRO media. Full 32MB of internal memory can be copied to optional Memory Stick media.

9-Shot Burst Mode
Capture up to nine 5MP shots (fine) or 100 shots VGA (standard) at 0.7 frames per second. Perfect for high-speed subjects or fast-moving action such as sports or small children.

Multi-Burst Mode
Captures 16 320 x 240 frames as part of a single 1280 x 960 image which plays back sequentially in the camera. Selectable 1/7.5, 1/15, or 1/30 second.

MPEG Movie VX Standard/Fine Mode with Audio
Captures VGA (640 x 480) high frame rate (up to 30 frames per second) audio-video clips with length limited only by the capacity of the media. Video mail mode captures smaller file sizes suitable for e-mail.

Conversion Lens Compatible
With the VAD-WA adaptor, you can add tele- or wide- conversion lenses for greater magnification or wider field of view, as well as protective and special effect filters.

PictBridge Compatibility
Connect to any PictBridge-compatible printer with the supplied USB cable and print directly from the camera. Images can be viewed and selected for printing right on the camera's LCD, with menus for print quantity, date, and index print.

Stamina Battery Life
Incredible battery life compared to previous cameras. Capture approximately 110 shots with supplied alkalines or approximately 550 shots with optional NiMH rechargeables.

Product Description

Don't let the compact size fool you! Sony's DSC-W5 Cyber-shot digital camera will deliver some big surprises when it comes to helping you hold on to the moment at hand. Featuring an effective 5.1 Megapixel sensor for fantastic high-resolution images, you can count on Sony's Real Imaging Processor for more natural color, picture quality and improved energy efficiency.You're always just a button-push away from getting up close and personal thanks to the 3x Optical Zoom and 6x Digital Zoom. And it all comes to life on the large 2.5-inch color LCD so you can make sure you get the shot you want. Forget your Memory Stick? No problem, thanks to the DSC-W5's 32MB internal memory that will keep you shooting longer.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

124 of 130 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good camera for the price, May 30, 2005

By	C. Arnaud - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought the Sony DSC-W5 few weeks ago, so far I'm quite pleased with it. The choice was between this one and the Canon SD-400, both are 5MP as I think that's the optimum resolution for my use. Looks like both cameras have similar picture quality with a slight edge for the Canon.

So what decided me for the Sony? Mainly these 4 reasons:

- I have a Canon G2, which is slow and bulky, but most of all, after 3 years of use the image quality is degradating. Paid $800 for it 3 years ago, one would expect a longer product life.

-Battery. Canon does not know how to measure battery power, it goes from full to empty in 5mn, that's very frustrating as you have to fully charge the battery the day before you're going to use your camera. Sony gives you a detailed view of the charge left, and even in the case you run out of it, you can plug in 2 plain AA batteries.

- Sony is fast, very fast.

- Sony has a large bright LCD, it's a pleasure to take shots and look at the pictures on the 2.5' lCD.

I found the sony very easy to use, the settings are easily accessible and are memorised through power ups (which is sometimes bothersome as you have to check all your settings before using the camera at the begining of the day)

About blurry pictures, on something like 100 pictures I only had a few that were blurry. Mainly if you press the button half way and wait for the camera to autofocus, you'll get a good picture. Also the flash is required as soon as the luminosity dims a bit. The only defect I could find is on the autofocus, I believe the balanced autofocus feature gets confused on some situations, even simple ones like a mountain landscape with no tree in front.

Setting the autofocus to center may solve the problem. Also Sharpness should be set to "+" otherwise you get very soft images.

Conclusion: A great product for the price, picture quality is fantastic (most of the times), the LCD is a charm to look at.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars clarification of the "little waving hand", May 6, 2005

By	Kamaosi "Kamaosi" - See all my reviews

Just a clarification of the negative reviews below - the "little waving hand" does not mean that the camera is moving. Instead, it means that you are trying to take a photo with a setting that would require a very steady hand to get a sharp result. That is why the hand doesn't go away when you put the camera on a table - and you can still take good pictures under these conditions, if the camera is held steady enough. This is a great little camera that I have been totally satisfied with so far. And, just as an aside, this information is in the user's manual, it might be a good idea to read this over before writing bad reviews on this site.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent manual control - Lightning fast, September 1, 2005

By	Mark (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Just to be clear: this is a great camera. It feels solid, starts up instantly, takes good pictures, and has manual controls. It takes AA batteries, has an optical viewfinder, can take expansion lenses, has a huge LCD, and has an AF-assist lamp. Great!

I really like the manual controls. It takes a little while to get used to if you've always been a point-n-shooter like me. But having the controls means that you can take shots that a regular automatic camera in this class would never be able to get. There is actually a 30 second exposure mode, which is very unusual in this class of camera. Read the manual and you will be able to take photos in all lighting conditions.

Unfortunately, even with manual controls this camera suffers in low-light. All cameras without image-stabilization are going to tend to be blurry in low-light. But for some reason, Sony has made their cameras (even the P series cameras) especially sensitive. We were touring around cathedrals in Europe and it is very difficult to get a clear shot because you can't use the flash and the lighting is always a little dark. The solution is to use a tripod, which will give you fantastic pictures. But without one, you have to be creative.

But even so, when you set things up right this camera takes beautiful pictures - well-saturated colors, not much graininess. But it will take some learning. If you just want a camera you can leave on Auto all day, you may want a different brand.