Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30

Model Design / Appearance
The design of these new silver Cyber-shots seems like a knock-off of the Canon Digital ELPH line, but with a plastic-like polycarbonate construction instead of stainless steel. While that makes them lighter to carry around it also makes them feel cheap. There are some nice metal appointments, particularly at the top of the camera, but overall the effect of the polycarbonate is to make the W30/W50 feel disposable.

Along with a little bit more steel on the sides, the W50 also is brushed metallic, versus glossy metallic, giving it a slightly higher-end feel. It is "metallic" though, not real metal. If you’re someone for whom style and robustness in construction aren’t that important but portability and low cost are, these models might be for you.

Size / Portability
At 3.5" (W) x 2.3" (H) x 0.9", the W30/W50 are on the small end for compacts, though there are a few models that are smaller. Since they’re made mostly of polycarbonate rather than metal, they’re also extremely light at 5.5 ounces. While they won’t impress with their style or feature sets, they’d probably be great for travel since they don’t take up much room, are lightweight, and seem fairly scratch resistant.

Handling Ability
Handling on these models is about average. There’s nothing really to set them apart from the pack, aside from a pretty decent top control section with a responsive zoom knob and a nice illuminated power switch—aside from the now-rare optical viewfinders. Otherwise though, the W30/W50 is kind of dull. It feels acceptable okay in your hands, feels okay when you’re taking pictures, and feels okay in your pocket.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size
Button layout on the back is also about average, though it is nice having the control dial towards the top so you can change modes easily while shooting with just one hand. The four-way controller is fairly responsive and Sony does a good job of providing enough room for all the buttons without trying to squeeze them into one section. With cameras this small, that’s about all you can ask for. It would be nice to see them incorporate a jog dial on the back, but that could be asking a lot for cameras that are lower-end.

Having the trash button also serve as the index image button is certainly a questionable choice, but this is the Sony way. Look for more in-depth analysis in an upcoming full review.

Menus
Menus on the W30/W50, while not exactly revolutionary, do have a brisk feel to them when changing from mode to mode. Some basic animation will pop up on the LCD to indicate which menu you are in. In shooting mode, the menu will show the user a box in the center to indicate the area where the camera is locking in focus. The shooting mode will also display basic info to the user including the ISO setting, what burst mode it’s on, image size and flash status. The user also has the option of turning on the camera’s live histogram to check exposure. Overall, the user interface seems improved from previous models and is fairly easy to navigate.

Sony is also following the trend of some other camera manufacturers of putting a new function guide into its menu system. Consumers baffled by the odd iconography for functions on cameras will appreciate the new guide, which gives a text explanation on the LCD for each shooting function. Some of the text is pretty obvious, but some does offer easy-to-follow basic tips for shooting better pictures. More advanced users can choose to turn this feature off.

Ease of Use
Overall, initial impressions show the Sony W30/W50 to be relatively straightforward to use. The menu system features snazzy animations to transition from one function to another but nothing in the way of a revolutionary interface. It’s basic and isn’t confusing, but it’s not particularly thrilling either. Button layout is also fairly straightforward and the motorized zoom on the steel zoom rocker on top is quick and responsive. Having a little green light surrounding the power button on top is a nice touch and helps the user locate the camera in the dark. It’s also nice that Sony throws in an optical viewfinder on the camera which helps for composing shots in bright light. It’s also a nice deviation from a trend away from optical viewfinders in this slim, compact category.