The new 6 MP W30 and W50 have some serious features, including Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 3x optical zoom lenses, ISO settings of up to 1000 and – surprise, surprise – optical viewfinders, which are pretty rare for cameras in this compact class. The W50 retails for $250 and the W30 goes for $230. They’re both available this month.
Connectivity Software These models come with basic software, Sony’s Cyber-shot Viewer 1.0 plus USB drivers for Windows only.
Jacks, Ports, Plugs The W30/W50 has ports for USB 2.0, composite video/audio output and a DC power input. Not all compacts come with a DC input option, so this is nice.
Direct Print Options These cameras can print directly to any PictBridge compliant printer.
Battery One of the standout features on Sony’s cameras has always been their battery life. On these models, using the “Stamina” Lithium-Ion NP-BG1, the W30 has been rated by CIPA at up to 400 shots and on the W50 at up to 390 shots.
Memory Both cameras have 32 MB of internal memory, which is great if you don’t have a MemoryStick handy. However, we almost always recommend purchasing extra memory anyway.