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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200 Review

Review Summary
Reader Score: 9.50 (out of 10)
Review (Summary): "... if anyone can produce a successful 12-megapixel compact, it may be Sony. The W200 is equipped with a 1/1.7-in SuperHAD CCD, which is ever-so-slightly larger than the normal 1/1.8-in sensors found in most other high-powered compacts. The SuperHAD design has slightly larger microlenses than conventional CCDs, which may help with light gathering. It also benefits from a Carl Zeiss lens, so hopefully the superior optical quality can make use of the additional resolution. ...

... There's no question that the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200 is a very good camera, capable of producing very high quality images, and with exceptional performance, especially in low light conditions. Build quality is superb, and the optional manual exposure and focusing options are a bonus for experienced users. However the 12.1-megapixel sensor offers no real advantage over a 10-megapixel sensor, and may in fact have a negative impact on image quality at high ISO settings. As such there are better cameras that cost less money."

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Other Reviews For This Model

Review Site Review Score Date Link
Imaging-Resource 7.33 11-11-07 Read Full Review
Review (Summary): "While not as tiny as models in Sony's T-series, the Sony Cyber-shot W200 is still quite small and pocket-friendly, and boasts an impressive 12.1-megapixel CCD in its small body. Though compact in size, the Sony W200 offers an excellent range of features, with full automatic exposure control and preset scene modes for novices, as well as the bonus of a full manual exposure control mode for more experienced users. ...

Overall, the Cyber-shot DSC-W200 is an excellent all-around digital camera. It has a lot of flexibility for a range of users, it handles a variety of common-yet difficult exposure scenarios well, and is easy to operate. It's small, stylish, and well-suited in terms of exposure, color, and responsiveness to a range of situations. ..."





Review Site Review Score Date Link
CNET Reviews 6.59 06-01-07 Read Full Review
Review (Summary): "... when it comes to image-related performance and image quality, the W200 tanks, mostly because of that unnecessary 12-megapixel sensor. Though it's physically larger than the 8-megapixel sensor in the W90, the pixels still must be insanely small. That's the only reason I can think of for the W200 to be such a light vampire, simply incapable of exposing shots at ISO 100 that most snapshot cameras can handle without problem. ...

... Though the measured results of CNET Labs' noise tests yield extremely low noise numbers across all ISO sensitivities, observation doesn't match the math. Images become smeary at as low as ISO 200, with detail smudging and brush-stroke-like artifacts, in addition to the typical splotchy-color noise. Combined with increasing focus problems heading out to the right side of the lens, plus aggressive 8-plus-to-1 compression (at minimum) to keep those 34MB files under control, and it's simply too hard to get a sharp, artifact-free photo. ..."





Review Site Review Score Date Link
Camera Labs 6.40 09-01-07 Read Full Review
Review (Summary): "The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200 is a 12.1 Megapixel compact with a 3x zoom lens and optical stabilization....the W200 sports an optical viewfinder in addition to a 2.5in screen – something of a rarity in today’s compacts. The W200 also features a reasonable degree of manual control and a surprisingly wide variety of optional accessories including a component video cable for HDTV slideshows and lens converters to widen or lengthen the basic 35-105mm equivalent range. ..."

... the Sony W200 is a good-looking and well-built compact capable of generating some very impressive results, but ultimately we feel it’s let down by its relatively high price and otherwise average specifications. For the money - and its position in Sony's range - it’s hard to forgive a pedestrian 35-105mm range and 115k screen. ..."

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