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Product Summary
Very good
The good: High 13.6-megapixel resolution; titanium-coated body; responsive face detection and Smile Shutter; optical image stabilization; low noise level even at high ISO. 7.8
out of 10View score
The bad: Lack of wide-angle lens; average time-to-first-shot; uses only Memory Stick Duo storage media; relatively pricey for a point-and-shoot.
The bottom line: Although we like the features and image quality of the W300, it lacks a wide-angle lens which has become a must-have for a premium shooter. While other alternatives in the market may not offer as high a capture resolution as the Sony, they do make up with other features.
Read full review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W300 »
Average User Rating
from 4 users
Excellent
7.8
out of 10CNET Asia Review
Sony's W-series of cameras are known for their performance--muscle cameras, you can call them. The Cyber-shot DSC-W200 put a 12.1-megapixel sensor (the highest in a point-and-shoot then) in the hands of consumers, and now Sony outdoes itself by introducing the 13.6-megapixel Cyber-shot DSC-W300. This point-and-shoot currently has one of the highest resolution sensors on the market, but what lies beneath this shooter? Let's take a quick peek.
This brings us to the next "innovation" that Sony is introducing with the W300. The Variable Noise Reduction gives users more control over noise reduction. There are three settings, namely: Standard, High and Low. So when you snap a picture at high ISO setting, you can set the noise reduction to High and vice versa.
The shooter also offers a wider dynamic range, and this is primarily due to its BIONZ image-processing engine. Developed by Sony, the Dynamic Range Optimization promises to preserve image details that may otherwise be lost in highlights or shadow regions. We are curious to see how effective this is, especially for high-contrast scenes.
If you think the W300 looks suave, it could be due to the titanium coating on the chassis. The Japanese firm claims this coating makes the camera body five times more resistant to scratches.
The point-and-shoot also has something we think should be mandatory in every digital camera--an optical viewfinder. While you may have to squint to look through the small viewfinder, it is handy when you want to preserve battery life (by switching off the power-sucking LCD) or framing your shots in dark places (when the LCD doesn't show much except a dark patch).
To counter shaky hands, the W300 offers two solutions bundled into one package. Its Super SteadyShot optical image stabilizer is now coupled with high ISO sensitivity so you can shoot at a higher shutter speed. This means lesser chance of blurry pictures.
If you have a Sony Bravia HDTV, you can output the images from the camera to your display via an optional HD output adapter.
The shooter has a "Real" color mode which minimizes in-camera processing of the image. This gives a more faithful color reproduction of the scene and more control over the image when you edit it on a computer.
The W300 wouldn't be complete if it doesn't offer the usual fare of face detection (recognizes up to eight faces and differentiate between adult and children), Sony's Smile Shutter (snap a picture when the camera detects a smile), high ISO sensitivity of 6,400, music slideshow and nine-point autofocus.
Even though the camera has an HD output, the movie-recording feature shoots clips at only 640 x 480 pixels. This is a far cry from Panasonic's Lumix FX36 or Samsung's upcoming NV24HD which are capable of shooting 720p (1,280 x 720-pixel)-quality video.
If you are a perfectionist and want your digital image flawless and free of noise, you might want to try out the W300 before getting it. As mentioned, a higher-resolution count may let you make larger prints, but at the same time it also compresses the size of the pixels which may increase noise level. So we're hoping the Variable Noise Reduction can work some magic.
Tipping the scales at 187g with battery and memory media, it hardly classifies as featherweight--we'd seen lighter cameras with longer zoom. Measuring 94.3mm along the width and 26.8mm thick, the W300 may leave a bulge in your pocket, so ladies. take note.
The shooter uses Sony's proprietary MS Duo storage card. So if your other digital devices are using the more common SD/MMC flash card, you'll have to fork out more money for a higher-capacity MS Duo if you want to take more pictures.
Upside
If you are the type to make poster-sized prints, the resolution bump from 12.1 to 13.6 megapixels should please you. However, bear in mind that a higher resolution on a small image sensor means that noise may be more apparent, even at lower ISO sensitivity (like ISO 400) settings.This brings us to the next "innovation" that Sony is introducing with the W300. The Variable Noise Reduction gives users more control over noise reduction. There are three settings, namely: Standard, High and Low. So when you snap a picture at high ISO setting, you can set the noise reduction to High and vice versa.
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The shooter also offers a wider dynamic range, and this is primarily due to its BIONZ image-processing engine. Developed by Sony, the Dynamic Range Optimization promises to preserve image details that may otherwise be lost in highlights or shadow regions. We are curious to see how effective this is, especially for high-contrast scenes.
If you think the W300 looks suave, it could be due to the titanium coating on the chassis. The Japanese firm claims this coating makes the camera body five times more resistant to scratches.
The point-and-shoot also has something we think should be mandatory in every digital camera--an optical viewfinder. While you may have to squint to look through the small viewfinder, it is handy when you want to preserve battery life (by switching off the power-sucking LCD) or framing your shots in dark places (when the LCD doesn't show much except a dark patch).
To counter shaky hands, the W300 offers two solutions bundled into one package. Its Super SteadyShot optical image stabilizer is now coupled with high ISO sensitivity so you can shoot at a higher shutter speed. This means lesser chance of blurry pictures.
If you have a Sony Bravia HDTV, you can output the images from the camera to your display via an optional HD output adapter.
The shooter has a "Real" color mode which minimizes in-camera processing of the image. This gives a more faithful color reproduction of the scene and more control over the image when you edit it on a computer.
The W300 wouldn't be complete if it doesn't offer the usual fare of face detection (recognizes up to eight faces and differentiate between adult and children), Sony's Smile Shutter (snap a picture when the camera detects a smile), high ISO sensitivity of 6,400, music slideshow and nine-point autofocus.
Downside
We wondered why Sony incorporated a 3x optical zoom which is 35mm at its widest only. Other manufacturers like Nikon and Fujifilm are dishing out compact shooters (like the Coolpix S600 and FinePix F100fd, respectively) with 28mm wide-angle lens and a higher zoom range.)
Even though the camera has an HD output, the movie-recording feature shoots clips at only 640 x 480 pixels. This is a far cry from Panasonic's Lumix FX36 or Samsung's upcoming NV24HD which are capable of shooting 720p (1,280 x 720-pixel)-quality video.
If you are a perfectionist and want your digital image flawless and free of noise, you might want to try out the W300 before getting it. As mentioned, a higher-resolution count may let you make larger prints, but at the same time it also compresses the size of the pixels which may increase noise level. So we're hoping the Variable Noise Reduction can work some magic.
Tipping the scales at 187g with battery and memory media, it hardly classifies as featherweight--we'd seen lighter cameras with longer zoom. Measuring 94.3mm along the width and 26.8mm thick, the W300 may leave a bulge in your pocket, so ladies. take note.
The shooter uses Sony's proprietary MS Duo storage card. So if your other digital devices are using the more common SD/MMC flash card, you'll have to fork out more money for a higher-capacity MS Duo if you want to take more pictures.
Outlook
The W300 lacks several features like a longer zoom and wide-angle lens which are found in new shooters by other manufacturers. But this point-and-shoot is definitely not losing out in the competition for style. If you want to be a techie trendsetter, the 13.6-megapixel sensor and titanium-coated chassis ought to put you in the spotlight.Rate It Now
User Reviews
Best point and shoot camera in the market!!
Jan 3, 2009Rating: 10 out of 10 (Perfect)
Pros: Great photo quality,13.6 Mp,Adjustable light sensitivity,Titanium coated body
Cons: Memory card a bit expensive..though its faster and stable than SD
Opinion:
The best point and shoot camera in the market...
Wished the lens were as protected as it's body
Dec 12, 2008Rating: 8 out of 10 (Excellent)
Pros: Lens Retracting is a very good feature
Cons: There should be a shutter to close the Lens after retraction
Opinion:
I had a chance to handle this camera and Love this resolution. But since it is sleek and easy to shoot type of camera, I would like to put it in my pocket just like I would do to a mobile phone. If the lens cover would automatically close, then it would be very safe inside the pocket and it would be like a cowboy retracting his gun out and shoot game. ... Just take it out of your pocket and shoot immediately without loosing the precious moment.
Perfect
Oct 12, 2008Rating: 10 out of 10 (Perfect)
Pros: 13,6 Mpixel, double technology anti flou,IS, face detection and smile shutter, titanium coating, Full HD, and many more
Cons: minus wide angel
Opinion:
The first impression is satisfy and impressive.
This thing can capture great quality picture in low light density without flash.
Sony W 300 video, is also impressive, hard to say.
The minus can be support by " add support conversion lens "
so the minus, isn;t big problem.
Face detection, smile shutter and Image stabilizing ( In Sony W 300 Super Ready Stock).
The ISO can be up into 6400.
Compare between canon 860 and lumix FX 520,Sony w300 is much more better than all of them.
