Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Dark Blue)
by Sony
Our Price: $77.00
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Category: Digital Camera
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: SonyModel: DSC-W290/L
Color: Blue
Product features:
- 12.1-megapixel Super HAD CCD image sensor
- 5x optical zoom, 28mm wide-angle Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens; Optical SteadyShot image stabilization
- 720p high-definition movie capture; BIONZ image processor
- 3.0-inch (230K pixels) Clear Photo LCD; Face Detection and Smile Shutter technology
- 11MB built-in memory; capture images to Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo Media (not included)
- Adobe Photoshop CS5 Upgrade [Old Version]
- Serif PhotoPlus X3
- Adobe Photoshop CS4 Upgrade [OLD VERSION]
- Aperture 3
- Maximal Power Rapid Charger for Sony NP-BG1/FG1/BK1, Sanyo DB-L80, Pentax LI-88/92, Olympus LI50B/70B, Samsung BP70A Battery
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Dark Blue)
Customer Review: SOME OBSERVATIONS ON REVIEWS OF SONY CYBERSHOT W290
Summary: 4 Stars
(I am UPDATING this review after about six months of use, so I am better able to assess my still-positive comments.)
Bottom line: exceptional value and without the image-quality issues I've read so much about
I didn't rate this product 5 stars because of the shutter release button being tough to depress, which will cause problems for me perhaps forever but at least for a while. The LED screen smudges very easily, and the selection buttons on the back are very small but manageable. I think 4 stars is a very good rating and I probably would not find another similar product worthy of more than that. I like the fact that there is a video feature, but that is not important to me, so I don't care that there is no zoom feature while recording. Would be nice, but....I am writing about the still-photo features.
Since my teal blue Sony Cybershot W290 arrived only 2 days ago, I am giving a review of my short-term experience with my first point-and-shoot digital camera. I do have decades of amateur experience with photography using several SLR models, so I appreciate the sophistication of the many advanced features which are simplified for the user in this model. Effects that used to take lots of study, practice and skill are now manageable right out of the box. I am far more impressed than I had ever expected to be. I think that this product is an exceptional value for the money. I did a lot of research~~before and since making my selection~~and in that process I've made some observations that might be worth sharing with those folks who are trying to decide on a purchase.
First, I noticed after repeated visits to this site that there seem to be more reviews and a higher dissatisfaction rate here depending upon the color of the Sony W290 camera body. I don't know what that might suggest, but it is of interest to me. I point it out because initially I did not realize that the reviews are organized by the specific details listed in the product description. I have read all the reviews on all available colors of the Sony W290. Very few of the reviews are duplicated, so there are actually many more total reviews~~and what appears to be a much higher satisfaction rate overall~~if you add all Sony W290 reviews together and take a percentage of that total for each of the criteria evaluated.
Second, it seems unreasonable to me that such wide variation in satisfaction with picture sharpness and indoor lighting can be a result of production quality control. If that were the case, Sony would have been driven out of business long ago. I've read many comments on "soft edges" and clarity "only in the central focus" which are normal characteristics of a short "depth of field." If all long distance photos have "soft" or blurry edges, that may indicate a faulty lens. Otherwise, that softness is more likely related to the mode/setup the user selected. And I took hundreds of indoor shots with no difficulty at all.
Third, I've seen no difference between the LED image and my high-resolution computer screen after directly uploading with the USB cable. I use a Mac with OS 10.4, which can't use the PMB image software on the CD. It seems to me that the PMB program could account for image discrepancies many have described. I had a few pics printed at Costco today to check for consistency, with no problems to report.
Fourth, while I have lots of experience at steadying shots on my SLRs, I noticed immediately that the shutter release button requires more pressure than I prefer, probably to avoid inadvertent picture taking in your pocket, given the portability, as others have mentioned. At least the "steady shot" and the 2-second self-timer (using tripod or other support, like roof of car, etc.) features can improve some of those situations, unless there is motion in the subject. But I anticipate that this will be an adjustment. Personally, I am willing to work at that until I have the technique down~~as a tradeoff for all the fabulous features in the total package. (UPDATE: I am not noticing this tough shutter release any longer; I may have adjusted to it!)
Fifth, the charger that came with the camera charged the battery in 90 minutes rather than the 5 1/2 hours stated in the manual; but I followed the suggestion in the manual to leave it charging for an additional 60 minutes to get a "full" charge. I have taken hundreds of shots using the flash and in various higher resolutions, deleted lots of pics and uploaded about 50 shots to my computer, and the battery seems to have about 1/4 of the life left. (UPDATE: The battery does not last very long, especially when shooting at higher resolution. I recently had to change what had been a fully charged battery after about 100 outdoor shots, set at 8x10 resolution.)
Sixth, I bought some accessories that are probably a very good idea (suggestions I took from others in earlier reviews): an NP-FG1 extra battery, two 4GB Sony Mark II Pro Duo memory sticks (not eBay knockoffs), an LED anti-glare protection film, and a slim case. I also bought some that are probably not at all necessary: a travel charger pack which is supposed to charge much faster than the one that came with the camera but which actually charged in the same 90 min., and a media memory stick reader/writer because I didn't realize that the camera kit came with the USB cable to upload. Since this item can write to the memory stick, it will probably come in handy down the road. (UPDATE: This item can not write to the stick as I had thought.)
(UPDATE: I carry this camera and the extra, charged battery and memory stick with me all the time due to the convenient size. So I take more of those shots that I always missed before. I am still amazed at the picture quality from this lens and all the tricks it can do without operator skills!!)
Happy hunting and may you be at peace in your decision....
(ADDENDUM: It is August '10 now and I took some sunny backlit shots which the camera automatically corrected. They came out great. Also, I cropped and enlarged head shots out of larger photos and had them printed. The quality was fine. The camera had been set on 8x10 resolution. Needless to say, I am very pleased once again!!)
Rennie
More Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Dark Blue) reviews:
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Description of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Dark Blue)
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