Digital Camera News

January 23, 2008

Sony Introduces Low Cost W120 and W130

Jan. 23, 2008 - Sony today released the DSC-W120 and DSC-W130, two new models in its

Take a look at the W-Series

low-end and low cost W-series lineup of point-and-shoots. Both have HD output, semi-manual focus, Sony’s face detection and smile shutter, and Sony’s Super SteadyShot image stabilization system. The W120 will retail for $199 when it ships in early March, and the W130 will retail for $229 when both models ship in March.

The W120 is the successor model to last year’s W55, and the W130 is a stand-alone addition to the W-series. Both cameras share the majority of their specifications with the W55, including 7.2 megapixel image sensors and 2.5-inch, 115,000-pixel LCD screens. The optical zoom lens jumps from 3x on the W55 to 4x on the W120 and W130, with a 31-128mm range.

Both models feature Sony’s Super SteadyShot image stabilization system, which combines electronic image stabilization with a high sensitivity of ISO3200 to reduce blur in images. Sony’s D-Range Optimizer is also included, which automatically corrects contrast and exposure in images.

Sony has updated its face detection and Smile Shutter, allowing users to prioritize children and adults in photos. Child Priority mode, for example, focuses on a child’s face first, automatically focusing and exposing the face. This also works in Sony’s Smile Shutter, allowing users to select, for example, to have the camera snap a photo once a child’s smile is detected.

Sony includes semi-manual focus on the W120 and W130. Semi-manual focus allows users to choose an approximate distance between the camera and the subject – the camera then focuses based on the distance chosen.

In addition, Sony adds an Easy shooting mode to the mode dial. Taken from their camcorders, this new mode is meant to be even simpler than Auto mode, using a "simple display, large font, and simply vocabulary," to make taking pictures as simple as possible, according to Sony. The Easy mode locks out the majority of control, but a separate Auto mode still allows some control by the user.

Both cameras allow for HD output for viewing photos on an HDTV via an optional HD outout cable or Sony's new Cyber-shot station cradle. The difference between the two models can be found in the in-camera editing options. The W130 offers an "unsharp mask" editing option post-capture, which resembles tools found on editing software such as Photoshop. The unsharp mask tool automatically sharpens a photo while the image is still in the camera.

Both models run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The W120 will come in silver, black, pink, and blue, and the W130 will come in silver, pink, and black.

Camera Model	Sony DSC-W55	Sony DSC-W120	Sony DSC-W130
Introductory Price	$200	$199	$229
Announcement Date	January 2007	January 2008	January 2008
Sensor	7.2 MP	7.2 MP	7.2 MP CCD
Lens	3x optical zoom	4x optical zoom Super SteadyShot image stabilization	4x optical zoom Super SteadyShot image stabilization
Monitor	2.5-inch, 115,000-pixel	2.5-inch, 115,000-pixel	2.5-inch, 115,000-pixel
Key Features	Anti-blue technology ISO 1000 Function Guide	Semi-manual focus HD output Super SteadyShot image stabilization Child and Adult priority in Face Detection and Smile Shutter	Semi-manual focus HD output Super SteadyShot image stabilization Child and Adult priority in Face Detection and Smile Shutter Unsharp Mask in-camera editing
News Article Link	Sony Introduces DSC-W55 and W35	--	--
Review Link	--	- -	- -