How to select a Sony Cyber-shot camera

By Leonard Goh
Feb 12, 2009

The first Cyber-shot: DSC-F1.

The history of Sony's digital cameras dates back to 1981, when the company unveiled its first digital still camera. But the first Cyber-shot, the DSC-F1, was conceived only in 1996. From there on, the lineup expanded to include point-and-shoots and prosumer models.

"Cyber" means digital, and the "shot" stands for photography. Put it together and it aptly represents a family of devices meant for digital image capturing. To Sony, Cyber-shot is and will continue to be an important lineup in the company's gadget profile. For a relatively young camera manufacturer, this series has already garnered its share of followers with its sleek style and respectable performance.

The Cyber-shot DSC-F505K.

One of the most memorable models would be the DSC-F505K, which revolutionized how cameras could be designed. Instead of a tilting or swiveling LCD, Sony engineered the lens barrel to shift and accommodate awkward shooting angles. The evolution didn't stop there, and today, the Cyber-shot family consists of the H, W, S and T-series.

Each lineup has its pros and cons with a different target audience in mind. It can be baffling to flip through catalogs so we split them up for your reference.