The Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W7 camera is big on features, but surprisingly easy on your pocket-book. Casual photographers need to check out this 7MP beauty.

Summary

It’s amazing just how low digital camera prices have fallen.  Sony made big news four years ago when it introduced the first 5-megapixel camera for under $1,000 (the DSC-F707).  Now, Sony has a compact 7.2MP digicam with a 3x optical zoom for $399.  It’s an excellent camera for those who want superior point-and-shoot quality without breaking out the owner’s manual every five minutes or paying for a call to the local Geek Squad. 

 

Along with superior resolution, the DSC-W7 mirrors the trend in cameras with huge, 2.5-inch LCD screens to frame and review your shots.  We love the bigger screens; they make reading menus much easier, and you have a larger palette on which to compose your photographs.  That said, the DSC-W7 is not without its flaws, especially when it comes to focusing in certain available light situations.  And that Picture Package software is just plain awful.

Features and Design

 

The silver-finished DSC-W7 has what Sony and others euphemistically call a rangefinder design.  On some level, it has a Leica feel, but it sure isn’t an M-System camera or the $1,599 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC1 (which is as close as you can get to a digital version of a film rangefinder and has a price to match.  It’s a clone of the Leica Digilux 2.)  The W7 is about the size of a thick deck of playing cards, the lens fully retracts into the body, and a handy cover protects the lens when you power it down.

 

The mostly metal camera has a very nice feel; there’s a rest for your middle finger on the faceplate.  Holding it that way puts your index finger right by the shutter button, with your thumb on the wide/tele toggle adjustment.  It has a 3x Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens that’s equivalent to 38mm-114mm in 35mm terms, close to the traditional point-and-shoot film camera range.  The top of the unit is very clean; there is a Power button as well as the classic Mode dial, which gives reassuring clicks as you move it into position.  Although the camera is geared to casual photographers (the basic Auto and seven scene modes for typical settings such as Portrait, Landscape, Beach and Snow), there are some limited manual adjustments available.  In the M manual mode, you can change aperture (only f2.8/5.6 in wide angle and f5.2/f10 in full telephoto) as well as shutter speed (30-1/1000^th of a second).  In P program, there is a raft of options, ranging from exposure compensation to white balance.  It’s nice that they’re available, but I doubt if the targeted buyer will care one iota about them.  Still, they do come in handy, as you’ll soon see. 

 

A huge, 2.5-inch LCD screen, rated 115K pixels, dominates the rear of the DSC-W7; it’s one of the real joys of this camera.  There’s also a tiny optical viewfinder, the classic four-way adjustment keys, and Delete/Resolution, Menu and Histogram/Screen Off buttons.  It’s very logically arranged and understandable; Sony engineers are to be commended for it.

 

The bottom of the camera has a compartment that holds the two supplied AA NiMH batteries and Memory Stick flash media slot.  Sony recommends MS Pro in order to get the best movie clip quality, so budget for this as you comparison shop.  A quick Google search suggests that a 512MB Pro stick costs around $80 or less.  There’s also a teeny-tiny speaker for listing to your mini Hollywood products, but don’t expect the impact of War of the Worlds.

 

This is one nicely-designed compact camera, even though it doesn’t have the sex appeal of ultra-skinny models like Sony’s DSC-T33 or -T7.  In the carton, you’ll find everything you need to start taking photos other than the flash memory—strap, batteries, charger, cables, owner’s manual and the poor software. 

 

Image Courtesy of Sony Electronics

Conclusions

 

Casual photographers looking for a high-quality point-and-shoot camera should give this 2005 digicam a long look.  It feels substantial, is easy to operate and takes very good images.  As noted, focusing can be a bit squirrelly in certain lighting conditions, but it’s just a slight annoyance, not something that would make me feel negative about it. 

 

I will continue to nag Sony for the really poor Picture Package software and forcing consumers to use the higher-priced Memory Stick Pro media.  It’s really insulting that this software is anywhere near a camera of this quality.  Even third-tier companies like Vivitar give you more.  Hopefully, you have a software suite from an older camera, but if not, pick up Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 for around $90 and you’ll be set for years.  And again, a Memory Stick costs more than the more ubiquitous SD cards.  Other than these issues, the DSC-W7 is a winner.  And spend the extra 50 bucks for the 7MP imager if you’re considering the DSC-W5.  The picture quality is well worth it.

 

Pros

 

• Effortless, fast operation with little shutter lag


• Excellent 7MP picture quality with very accurate colors


• Large, 2.5-inch LCD screen


• 3x Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens


• Long battery life from two AA NiMH batteries


• AF Assist lamp for well-exposed flash photos


• 32MB of internal memory

 

Cons

 

• Auto focus tends to “grab” with certain subjects


• Terrible Picture Package software


• Requires expensive Memory Stick Pro for best movie mode


• No RAW or TIFF option

Performance

 

This camera is as easy to operate as a light switch.  Once you charge and load the two AA NiMH batteries and the flash memory, it’s time to start taking photos.  Here’s where the large LCD comes into play:  The screen is so big that you can easily read the clear onscreen menus and set the camera as you’d like