Value (5.5)
Like George Lucas, Sony knows something about marketing, tie-ins, and accessories. Because this is Sony, you'll be paying for more than just the camera. There's the MemoryStick Pro, the conversion lens adaptor, accessory lenses and filters, etc. So when you look at the price, factor in the gear for the W7 because you're probably going to end up paying for it. If you have the money to drop, you probably won’t be disappointed with the W7, but if you're on a budget, there are far better values out there.

Comparisons
Fujifilm FinePix F10 - At its most basic, the F10 weighs in with 6.1 MP and the same-sized 2.5-inch LCD screen and retails for $50 less than the Sony W7. When it comes down to the numbers and the finer points, the Fuji starts up in 1.34 seconds as compared to the faster 1.3 second W7. Shot-to-shot, the F10 and W7 take the same length of time: 0.4 seconds. And from shutter to shot, the F10 is lightning fast at .01, while the W7 is a only slightly behind at 0.12 seconds. The F10 offers users far more shooting flexibility, providing a sensitivity range from ISO 80 all the way up to 1600. The W7 comes with only three ISO settings. When you look at aesthetics, the two are basically the same design, with the W7 packing a bit more weight. The F10 has a more powerful flash, but the W7 isn’t a slouch when it comes to illumination with a reach of 14 feet and added control.


Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W1 -With basically the same layout and features as the W7, the W1 might have won over consumers who like the feel and use of Sony Cyber-shot line of cameras when it was released in February of last year. The 5-megapixel W1 is a year old and therefore, now a year cheaper; it retails online for about $200. The older model has a similar 3x optical zoom lens and the 2.5-inch LCD screen that inspired the W-series “Wide LCD” line.

Canon PowerShot SD500 - Another contender in the compact major megapixel war is Canon's SD500, a slim-line camera from their Digital ELPH line. This model definitely has more style than the Sony W7. It has rounded sleek edges rather than the boxy look. The SD500 packs 7.1 effective megapixels on its 1/1.8-inch CCD and couples it with a DIGIC II image processor that produces accurate colors. This model has less manual control and instead aims for the point-and-shoot market with nine scene modes, a host of cool color modes, and a 2-inch LCD screen. For $499, this Canon offers a better movie mode with faster frame rates but lacks manual exposure control.

Nikon Coolpix 7900 - This digital camera retails for the same $449.95 as the Sony W7. The Coolpix has 7.1 effective megapixels on a large 1/1.8-inch CCD, a 3x optical zoom, and a 2-inch LCD screen. There are manual shutter speed and aperture controls - although this model has the same 2-step aperture adjustment that the W7 has - as well as 16 scene modes. The Nikon includes interesting features such as lighting compensation, in-camera red-eye fix, and an auto focus mode that recognizes faces and automatically focuses on them. With similar 3.5 x 2.4 x 1.4-inch dimensions, the Nikon offers a very similar package.

Fujifilm FinePix E550 - The E550 established a foothold in the digital camera market when it launched last summer. With 6.3 megapixels and pricing in the $400 range, this Fuji offers a 4x optical zoom lens and a 2-inch LCD screen. The E550 has a much slower burst mode, but starts up in 1.52 seconds, which is slower than the W7 but still not too bad for a compact camera. This model has a similar boxy look, but also has a larger right-hand grip. This FinePix is compatible with conversion lenses and, unlike the Sony, comes with a lens adaptor included with the camera.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters- Turn it on and shoot. That's what most point-and-shooters want from their digital camera, and the W7 does that perfectly well. Given its price and 7.2 megapixels, it will most likely not be a starter digital camera, but it does satisfy the need for someone looking for a higher quality, higher priced second camera. So if you're ready, feel free to upgrade.

Budget Consumers- For $449 you'll get 7.2 megapixels and a 3x zoom in a nice little camera. However, if you want that memory stick and conversion lens adaptor, it'll cost you. So for the budget-minded, the W7 will not be the most economical camera.

Gadget Freaks -If accessories count as gadgets, then Sony’s DSC-W7 is king. However, to shoot in movie mode, you’ll need the MemoryStick Pro card. Hook up an external flash, a lens adaptor, and three accessory lenses and your add-on cravings will be satiated. As far as built-in goodies, the W7 is pretty average and doesn’t stir the lust in this gadget freak.

Manual Control Freaks- MCFs will be pretty bummed with the choices on the W7. Billed as having manual control, there are essentially only two aperture settings for each focal length, three selectable ISO settings, and no manual adjustment of white balance. However, there is a healthy list of 46 shutter selections built into the W7.

Pros/Serious Hobbyists -Once again, resolution will attract the wannabe pros and seemingly serious shooters. Yet the need for special cards and accessories to get the W7 to perform more like a higher-end camera might prove dissuasive.