Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W220

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W220

The new entry-level to Sony's Cyber-shot W series, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W220 is based around a 1/2.3" SuperHAD CCD image sensor with 12.1 megapixel resolution coupled to a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar branded 4x optical zoom lens. Equivalent focal lengths range from 30 to 120mm, while the maximum aperture varies from f/2.8 to f/5.8 across the zoom range. Macro focusing is possible down to a minimum of four centimeters. The W220 forgoes any optical viewfinder in favor of a 2.7" LCD display with 230,000 dot resolution.


The Sony Cybershot W220 offers ISO sensitivity ranging from 100 to 3,200 equivalent, and includes both true optical image stabilization and Digital Image Stabilization, which functions by raising the camera's sensitivity (and along with it, the noise levels) so as to achieve a higher shutter speed and reduce motion blurring. The Sony W220 also includes face detection capable of differentiating between children and adults, and takes into account the locations of detected faces when calculating autoexposure and autofocus variables. The Sony Cyber-shot W220 features in-camera retouching capabilities, with soft focus, fish eye effect, cross filter, partial color, retro, radiation, red-eye correction, trimming, unsharp masking and smile effects being on offer.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W220

Other features of the Sony DSC-W220 include seven scene modes plus an Intelligent Scene Recognition mode which automatically chooses between five of these modes, plus MPEG Movie VX video, a Dynamic Range Optimizer function, and both USB and video output connections.

The W220 is available in a range of colors including silver, pink, blue and black - the pink and blue models featuring a new finish that differs from that on previous models. The Sony W220's suggested list price is US$179.99, and began shipping in late March, 2009.




Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W220
User Report

Announced in early January, 2009, the Sony W220 becomes the entry-level model in Sony's mainstream W-series digital camera lineup. It shares its 12-megapixel resolution with the other W-series models announced at the same time (the W230 and W290); these models differentiate themselves primarily by their LCD size and zoom ratio, secondarily by various internal features.


Look and feel. These days, the Sony W220 would be considered a mid-sized digital camera, but that standard has shrunk considerably over the years: The Sony W220 will slide easily into most pockets, and weighs in at less than 5 ounces.

Following the current trend toward more colorful cameras, the Sony W220 is available in bright pink and blue as well as the more traditional silver and black. In typical Sony styling, the color covers the front and back of the camera, with a chrome accent running up both sides and across the top. Overall, it's an attractive design that doesn't call undue attention to itself.


Slim, sleek camera designs can sometimes leave you wishing for a bit more for your fingers to hang onto, and this was my experience with the Sony W220. I never felt I was in danger of dropping the camera, but the relatively large LCD screen on its back leaves little room for your thumb to grip the case – and the smooth front surface provides relatively little for your fingers to grab onto as well. When holding it one-handed, your thumb completely obscures the right-side controls, meaning that control adjustments are a two-handed affair. One piece of good news, though: Your thumb will most naturally lie over the mode dial, which actuates by turning rather than pressing – so there's no problem with controls being activated by accident. I don't want to belabor the point, as many small cameras share similar issues, it's just that the very smooth front of the case left me feeling a little uneasy about the security of my grip: Take my advice and use the provided wrist strap.