Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W35

Value (7.0)
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W35 improves upon last year‘s lowest priced W-series model, the DSC-W30. It provides increased resolution of 7.2 MP, while sticking with the 3x optical zoom lens, 2-inch LCD screen, optical viewfinder, and simple layout found with the preceding year‘s model. The DSC-W35 continues to provide a superior movie mode to other manufacturers' budget offerings, and the ISO 1000 setting, while plagued by noise is still a feature not found elsewhere in the sub-$200 digital camera market. The camera also displayed excellent color reproduction and accuracy, as well as solid dynamic range for its styling. Considering all this and a reduction in price from the W30’s MSRP of $229, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W35 is definitely a contender for consumer consideration at $179.99 MSRP, so long as users can get beyond the low resolution LCD screen.

Comparisons
Sony CyberShot DSC-W55 – This camera is available in four different colors that will allow for some "personalization" with your purchase. It comes in silver, black, pink and light blue, and  definitely has the upper hand when it comes to style. Priced at just $199.99, the price difference between these two models isn’t insurmountable and the DSC-W55 does have some feature improvements beyond aesthetics that are sure to make consumers consider shelling out the extra twenty bucks. Like the DSC-W35, this camera comes with a 1/2.5-inch 7.2 MP CCD, 56 MB of internal memory, and a 3x optical zoom lens. An improvement over the DSC-W35 is an increase in LCD size to 2.5 inches with a pixel increase to 115,000. Similar shooting modes, burst modes, movie modes, and manual controls are included on this camera.


Canon PowerShot A460 – This low-slung entry-level offering by Canon features a 1/3.0 inch 5 MP CCD, a comparably lackluster 86,000 pixel 2.0-inch LCD, real-image optical viewfinder, a Digic II image processor and a marginally better 4x optical zoom lens. This camera includes a16 MB SD/MMC memory card and is PictBridge compliant. The external layout of this camera is more cluttered than the DSC-W35, and users may find the controls and numerous labels to be confusing. The in-camera flash is terribly placed to the far left of the Canon lens. This camera does, however, provide for more complete manual control that includes a custom white balance option, three metering modes, ISO, and exposure compensation. The Canon PowerShot A460 has a disappointing movie mode that falls short of the DSC-W35 and does not have accessory lights, flashes or lens options for consumers looking to build and customize. The A460 has an MSRP of $149.99.

Fujifilm FinePix A500 – Released in 2006, the Fujifilm FinePix A500 is a blocky little introductory model that can be found easily online for under $150 without too much searching. The A500 comes with a 5.1 MP CCD, 3x optical zoom lens, 12 MB of internal memory, and a small 1.8-inch LCD with anti-glare technology. Unlike the DSC-W35, this camera relies on AA batteries for power. Movie recording for this camera is paltry with a maximum QVGA quality that shoots video clips at 10 fps without audio. The camera has an optional xD-Picture memory card slot and minimal control over manual settings. Considering the obvious shortcomings of this camera in comparison to both the DSC-W35 and the DSC-W55, consumers should be persuaded to shell out a bit more money in return for quality, control, and features - it's a better value in the long run.  



Kodak EasyShare C743 – This model from Kodak’s popular EasyShare line of point-and-shoot cameras is currently available at a price of $159.99. It has a 1/2.5 inch 7.1 effective MP CCD, a 3x optical zoom, a maximum aperture of f/2.7, and a sizeable 2.4-inch LCD screen. The camera also has a small optical real image viewfinder, 32 MB of internal memory, and a SD/MMC card expansion slot. Manual controls for this camera include a handful of preset white balance options, exposure compensation, and ISO while settings like metering and aperture are fully automatic. A long exposure mode allows users to shoot still images at up to 4 seconds. Additional features for customization include a bracketing feature and flash mode settings. This camera has a number of preset shooting modes, a burst mode and a movie mode that captures footage at 640 x 480 at 30 fps without a memory card. And finally, not to be forgotten, the utter simplicity of Kodak’s photo and printing system should provide the beginning digital photographer with an interface that enables intuitive engagement through to the print.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters – For the point and shoot user unfamiliar or uncomfortable with more complex controls and camera interfaces, the stripped down design, simple external layout, and basic menu structures are sure to be key positive aspects for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W35. While auto-control friendly, the DSC-W35 does provide some manual controls for photographers to grow into as they become more comfortable and confident in their shooting abilities.

Budget Consumers – With an initial selling price of $179.99 online through Sony's web outlets, the Cyber-shot DSC-W35 is certainly an appealing option to the budget consumer. The camera is easy-to-use and does have some impressive specs considering the price, but with the quality of construction and materials being questionable saving a few bucks might not be worth it in the long run.

Gadget Freaks – The Sony DSC-W35 lacks the included features like MP3 playback or the overwhelming preset shooting modes of other point-and-shoot cameras made by manufacturers like Samsung and Casio. It’s a straightforward point-and-snap digital camera that isn’t going to impress the gadget freak hunting for unique features like games, playback manipulation, or wireless communication.

Manual Control Freaks – The Sony DSC-W35 does possess some manual controls, but for serious photographers, the limited exposure modes and lack of control over aperture and shutter speed are bound to be setbacks that make this model a non-candidate.
Pros/Serious Hobbyists – There is no reason for the pro or serious hobbyist to consider the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W35.