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Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-W7 digital camera. Courtesy of Sony, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Sony announces two new W-series Cyber-shots
By
(Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 16:00 EST)

Sony USA has today taken the wraps of its Cyber-shot DSC-W5 and DSC-W7 digital cameras.

The DSC-W5 may seem familiar, as it was already announced by Sony Europe a couple of weeks ago. The W7 is largely similar to that model, but with the inclusion of a seven megapixel CCD sensor in place of the W5's five megapixel imager. The new models hint to the success of Sony's existing Cyber-shot DSC-W1 model, which launched the W series - and apparently persuaded Sony to expand the W series from one to two models available simultaneously.

Both cameras retain the W1's body styling, Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, and large 2.5" LCD display (although at 115k pixels, the LCD is somewhat lower resolution than that of the W1). The new models feature 32MB of built-in memory rather than a bundled flash card as with the older camera, however - something we applaud as bundled flash cards are of little use given their small capacities. Internal memory is never accidentally left at home, and can serve as an overflow when your flash card runs out of space, without the need to change cards.

Sony's Cyber-show DSC-W5 will cost $349.95 in the USA, while the DSC-W7 will ship at a cost of $449. Both cameras will be available in March 2005.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W5
Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-W5 digital camera. Courtesy of Sony, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
General
Camera Type Compact
Manufacturer Sony
Model Number DSC-W5
Dimensions 3.6 x 2.4 x 1.5"
91.0 x 60.0 x 37.1mm
Weight 253.0 g
8.8 oz
Planned Price $349.95
Planned Availability Mar 2005
Image Capture
Sensor Type 1/1.8" Sony SuperHAD CCD
5.10 megapixels (effective)
Aspect Ratio 4:3, 3:2
Image Dimensions 2592 x 1944 (5.0 megapixels)
2592 x 1728 (4.5 megapixels)
2048 x 1536 (3.1 megapixels)
1280 x 960 (1.2 megapixels)
640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels)
Image Quality 2 levels
Image Preview / Review
Viewfinder Yes, Optical
LCD 2.5", 115,000 pixels
Lens
Lens Type Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar
3x optical zoom
30mm lens thread, Body threads, optional adapter
Image Stabilization No
Focal Length 7.9 - 23.7mm (actual)
38 - 114mm (35mm equivalent)
Aperture Range f/2.8 - f/5.6 (wide); f/5.2 - f/10 (tele)
Focusing System 5-Area Contrast Detect with AF assist lamp
Manual Focus possible (5) steps
Focusing Range Normal: 20" - infinity (50 cm - infinity)
Macro: 2.4"
Exposure
ISO Sensitivity Auto, 100, 200, 400
Shutter Speed 30 - 1/1000 second
Exposure Modes Program, Manual
Metering Modes 49-area Multi-Pattern
Exposure Compensation +/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV increments
White Balance Image Sensor - Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent
Internal Flash Modes: Auto / Forced On / Forced Off / Slow Synchro (red-eye reduction on / off)
Range: 11.8 in. - 14.75 ft. (0.3 - 4.5 m)
Creative
Scene Modes Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape, Soft Snap, Candle, Beach
Digital Zoom 0.0 - 2.0x
Self Timer Yes, 10 seconds
Time Lapse No
Movie Format MPEG with audio
640x480 and 160x112
Max. frame-rate: 30 frames per second
Storage
Recording Medium Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Built-in
File Format JPEG
Connectivity
Video Yes, NTSC / PAL switchable
Power
Battery Type Alkaline disposable, NiMH Rechargeable
Battery Form Factor 2 x AA
Product Bundle
Software Picture Package for Sony v1.6 (Windows), Pixela ImageMixer VCD2 (Macintosh)
Battery / Charger 2 x NH-AA-DA NiMH rechargeable battery and charger
Flash Memory 32.0MB built-in memory
Other
Internal Microphone Yes
Tripod Mount Yes
Remote Control No
Operating System Compatibility Windows, MacOS
More Photos
Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-W5 digital camera. Courtesy of Sony, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-W5 digital camera. Courtesy of Sony, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-W5 digital camera. Courtesy of Sony, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-W5 digital camera. Courtesy of Sony, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
 

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W7
Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-W7 digital camera. Courtesy of Sony, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
General
Camera Type Compact
Manufacturer Sony
Model Number DSC-W7
Dimensions 3.6 x 2.4 x 1.5"
91.0 x 60.0 x 37.1mm
Weight 253.0 g
8.8 oz
Planned Price $449.00
Planned Availability Mar 2005
Image Capture
Sensor Type 1/1.8" Sony SuperHAD CCD
7.20 megapixels (effective)
Aspect Ratio 4:3, 3:2
Image Dimensions 3072 x 2304 (7.1 megapixels)
3072 x 2048 (6.3 megapixels)
2592 x 1944 (5.0 megapixels)
2048 x 1536 (3.1 megapixels)
1280 x 960 (1.2 megapixels)
640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels)
Image Quality 2 levels
Image Preview / Review
Viewfinder Yes, Optical
LCD 2.5", 115,000 pixels
Lens
Lens Type Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar
3x optical zoom
30mm lens thread, Body threads, optional adapter
Image Stabilization No
Focal Length 7.9 - 23.7mm (actual)
38 - 114mm (35mm equivalent)
Aperture Range f/2.8 - f/5.6 (wide); f/5.2 - f/10 (tele)
Focusing System 5-Area Contrast Detect with AF assist lamp
Manual Focus possible (5) steps
Focusing Range Normal: 20" - infinity (50 cm - infinity)
Macro: 2.4"
Exposure
ISO Sensitivity Auto, 100, 200, 400
Shutter Speed 30 - 1/1000 second
Exposure Modes Program, Manual
Metering Modes 49-area Multi-Pattern
Exposure Compensation +/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV increments
White Balance Image Sensor - Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent
Internal Flash Modes: Auto / Forced On / Forced Off / Slow Synchro (red-eye reduction on / off)
Range: 11.8 in. - 14.75 ft. (0.3 - 4.5 m)
Creative
Scene Modes Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape, Soft Snap, Candle, Beach
Digital Zoom 0.0 - 2.0x
Self Timer Yes, 10 seconds
Time Lapse No
Movie Format MPEG with audio
640x480 and 160x112
Max. frame-rate: 30 frames per second
Storage
Recording Medium Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Built-in
File Format JPEG
Connectivity
Video Yes, NTSC / PAL switchable
Power
Battery Type Alkaline disposable, NiMH Rechargeable
Battery Form Factor 2 x AA
Product Bundle
Software Picture Package for Sony v1.6 (Windows), Pixela ImageMixer VCD2 (Macintosh)
Battery / Charger 2 x NH-AA-DA NiMH rechargeable battery and charger
Flash Memory 32.0MB built-in memory
Other
Internal Microphone Yes
Tripod Mount Yes
Remote Control No
Operating System Compatibility Windows, MacOS
More Photos
Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-W7 digital camera. Courtesy of Sony, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-W7 digital camera. Courtesy of Sony, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-W7 digital camera. Courtesy of Sony, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-W7 digital camera. Courtesy of Sony, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
 

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