Sony DSC-W290 Cyber-shot Digital Camera (Black)
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The Sony Cyber-shot W290 contains a whole lot of neat technologies in a sleek, brushed-aluminum package. Designed around a 12.1 megapixel (1/2.3") Super HAD CCD sensor, the W290 features a Carl Zeiss-designed 5x (5 - 25mm) power zoom that covers the equivalent field-of-view of a wide 28mm to semi-long 140mm lens. Despite its compact size, the W290 can capture up to 100 continuous exposures at speeds up to 1.8fps thanks in part to its Sony BIONZ image processor. Along with vibrant still images, the W290 can also capture vivid 720p HD video clips.
For easy composing, viewing and editing your still and video imagery, the Cyber-shot W290 features a 3" 230,400-dot Photo Clear LCD. For capturing stills, the W290 offers an immense selection of exposure and scene mode selections including an Easy Shooting Mode for those wishing to keep things nice and simple. There are also 10 in-camera retouching tools available for enhancing your pictures post-capture.
Still images can be captured at 8 levels of JPEG compression and video with sound (mono) at 3 levels of image compression to best fit your needs. To further enhance your pictures, the Cyber-shot W290 has a PHOTOMUSIC feature, which combines music and a selection of visual effects into your still image slideshows and video clips.
For admiring your pictures on a grander scale, you can output images at sizes up to and exceeding 13x19", or view them in high-definition on a Sony BRAVIA or similarly compatible HDTV using the optional VMC-MHC2 HD output adapter cable.
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which is good for about 300 images (or 150 minutes of video), and along with 11MB of internal memory records images onto Memory Stick PRO and Memory Stick DUO PRO (up to 16GB) media.
- 12.1 Megapixel Super HAD CCD Imaging Sensor
- Capture brilliantly sharp images for print sizes of up Super A3 and still have ample wiggle room to crop into your image files when you need to get in tighter than the zoom lens allowed at the time of image capture
- Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 5x Power Zoom
- The Cyber-shot W290 features a 28 - 140 mm equivalent Carl Zeiss-designed power zoom lens. Containing 9 elements in 7 groups (with 3 aspheric surfaces), the W290 should prove to be ideal for capturing everything from landscapes to tight portraits
- 3" Clear View LCD Display
- A bright 3" 230,400-dot LCD display enables you to easily compose, review, and edit your pictures as you take them
- BIONZ Image Processor
- A Sony BIONZ image processor guarantees life-like color, improved shadow and highlight detail, along with quick start-up times and quick-to-respond camera performance
- Intelligent Auto Mode (iAuto)
- iAuto takes all of the guesswork out of selecting the best shooting mode by analyzing the scene and making all appropriate adjustments required to capture an optimized image, and it performs this little trick in less than 1/30th of a second. To accomplish this feat iAuto takes advantage of other W290 features including Scene Recognition, Face Recognition, and Optical SteadyShot
- Shoot Stills and Video
- The Cyber-shot W290 captures JPEG still images at 8 levels of compression and video clips with sound (mono) at 3 levels of MPEG4 compression. In video mode you can capture up to 29 minutes (or up to 2GB) of 720p-format video
- Automatic or Manual Scene Selections
- For choosing the best exposure parameters for each scene you capture the W290 offers you a choice of manually choosing from a selection of 10 Scene modes or set the camera to Intelligent Scene mode (iSCN) and the camera will automatically select the best out of 8 auto Scene modes
- Face Detection and Smile Shutter
- To better guarantee optimized portraits the Cyber-shot W290 can detect up to 8 faces in a scene and program the camera to produce exposures optimized for clean skin tones and contrast levels. The camera's Smile Shutter feature prevents the camera from taking an exposure until it detects a smile on the primary face(s). There's also an Anti-Blink function that detects eyes that seem to blink every time you press the shutter button
- Sharp Images Even Under Low-light Conditions
- The W290 combines dual image stabilization technologies to better ensure sharp images. When set to SteadyShot mode, the camera quickly captures 2 images and combines the best elements of each into a single optimized photograph. When shooting under low-light conditions, the camera's High Sensitivity Mode boosts the sensor's ISO sensitivity levels up to 3200 to further guarantee sharp images regardless of lighting conditions
- In-Camera Retouching and Re-Sizing Tools
- The Cyber-shot W290 features a selection of retouching tools that allow you to perform a variety of post-capture image improvements including Trimming, Red-eye reduction, Soft-focus, Fisheye, Partial Color, Cross Filter, Radial blur, Retro, Happy Face, and Unsharp Masking
- Easy Image Management
- EIM enables you edit images and sort them by a variety of categories in order to make it easy to retrieve them at a later date with a minimum of fuss and bother
- Stamina Battery
- The camera's lithium-ion battery allows for up to 150 minutes of extended video capture or over 300 exposures-per-charge
Go To
| Camera Type | Point-and-shoot Digital Camera |
| Imaging | |
|---|---|
| Resolution | Effective: 12.1MP, Recorded: 12.4MP |
| Sensor | 1/2.3" CCD |
| Bit Depth | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| File Formats | JPEG, MPEG-4 |
| File Size | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Color Spaces | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Creative Color Modes | Normal, Vivid, Sepia & B&W |
| Image Stabilization | Yes |
| Crop Factor | N/A |
| Optics | |
|---|---|
| Lens | 5.0-25.0mm f/3.3-5.2 (35mm film equivalent: 28-140mm) |
| Zoom | Optical: 5x, Digital: 10x |
| Lens Mount | N/A |
| Focus Type | Autofocus & semi-manual |
| Focus Range | Normal: 3.3' (1 m) - infinity |
| Accessory Lens/Filter Mount | 46mm (with optional Lens Adapter) |
| Shooting Controls | |
|---|---|
| Sensitivity | ISO 80-3200 |
| Shutter Speeds |
Auto: 2 - 1/1,600 sec Program Auto: 1 - 1/1,600 sec |
| Metering | 9-Point Evaluative, Center-weighted Average, Spot |
| Exposure Modes | Intelligent Auto, Easy Shooting, Program Auto, Movie (Auto Adjustment, High Sensitivity, Underwater), Custom Scenes (High Sensitivity, Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Soft Snap, Landscape, Beach, Snow, Fireworks, Hi-speed Shutter, Underwater, Gourmet) |
| White Balance | Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent (1, 2, 3), Flash, Underwater White Balance Mode (Auto, Underwater 1, Underwater 2) |
| Mirror Lock-Up | N/A |
| Burst Capability | 1.8fps continuous shooting (max 100 shots) |
| Self Timer | 10 & 2 seconds |
| Interval Recording | No |
| Remote Control | No |
| Flash | |
|---|---|
| Built-in Flash | Yes |
| Effective Flash Range |
Wide: 7.8" - 9.8' (0.2 - 3.0 m) Tele: 1.7" - 6.2' (0.5 - 1.9 m) |
| External Flash Connection | No |
| Dedicated Flash System | N/A |
| Max Sync Speed | N/A |
| Memory | |
|---|---|
| Built-in Memory | Yes (approx. 11MB) |
| Memory Card Type | Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo |
| Still Images per GB | 173 @ max resolution |
| A/V Recording | |
|---|---|
| Video Recording | Video with mono Audio, NTSC & PAL Output |
| Video Resolution | 1280 x 720 @ 30fps (Fine), 1280 x 720 30fps (Standard), 640 x 480 @ 30fps (VGA VX Fine) |
| Video Clip Length | Limited by card size, 10min. max continuous shooting |
| Audio Recording | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Viewfinder/Display | |
|---|---|
| Viewfinder Type | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Viewfinder Coverage | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Display | 3.0" LCD |
| Connectivity/System Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Connectivity | USB 2, A/V Out |
| System & Software Requirements |
Windows XP, Vista Mac OS X (10.2 or later) |
| Environmental | |
|---|---|
| Operating/Storage Temperature |
Operating Temperature:32-104°F/0-40°C Humidity: Less than 90% |
| Weatherproofing | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| Durability | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| Power | |
|---|---|
| Battery Type | Lithium-ion "G" type rechargeable battery (NP-BG1 included) |
| Power Adapter | AC-LS5K AC Adapter (optional) |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 3.8 x 2.25 x 0.8" (98 x 57 x 22mm) |
| Weight | 6.1 oz (174g) (incl. battery & memory) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 14 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Easy to use (13)
- Large clear LCD (12)
- Compact (8)
- Good image quality (8)
- Zoom range/performance (5)
Cons
Best Uses
- Family photos (14)
- Travel (10)
- Low light (6)
- Fun (5)
- Landscape/scenery (5)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Casual photographer (6), Photo enthusiast (6)
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 14 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-14
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Good Image Quality
- Great Zoom
- Nice Body Color
- Small / Compact
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Landscape/Scenery
- Travel
- Wildlife photos
Comments about Sony DSC-W290 Cyber-shot Digital Camera (Black):
I had a sony camera before and i loved it very much. But then i lost it so this time i bought the same brand because i know it is really good. The photos are colorful and beautiful.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Good Image Quality
- Good Image Stabilization
- Good in Low Light
- Great Zoom
- Large Clear LCD
- Nice Body Color
- Short Lag Time
- Small / Compact
Cons
- Short Battery Life
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Sports/Action
- Travel
- Video
- Weddings/Events
- Wildlife photos
Comments about Sony DSC-W290 Cyber-shot Digital Camera (Black):
The size is perfect, options are good,enlargements come out great. I use it for real estate including aerial photo's. The ease of operation taking aerials is very important. Viewing the object you are filming is difficult in bright light. I would recommend to anyone.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Good Image Quality
- Good Image Stabilization
- Good in Low Light
- Large Clear LCD
- Nice Body Color
- Small / Compact
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
Comments about Sony DSC-W290 Cyber-shot Digital Camera (Black):
Easy to use; shoot good photos in low light; many features; good image quality; large clear LCD; reasonable price; the best compact digital camera you can get for the price.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Good Image Quality
- Great Zoom
- Large Clear LCD
- Nice Body Color
- Small / Compact
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Travel
Comments about Sony DSC-W290 Cyber-shot Digital Camera (Black):
Love the W290!! Great pics. Easy menus, and huge lens (for a point and shoot). Solidly built.
Definetly recommend!
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Good Image Quality
- Good Image Stabilization
- Large Clear LCD
- Short Lag Time
- Small / Compact
Cons
- Limited Zoom
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Sports/Action
- Video
- Wildlife photos
Comments about Sony DSC-W290 Cyber-shot Digital Camera (Black):
This is my first experience with a Sony point and shoot camera and I have been using it for a little over three months now. The interface is really straight forward and very self explanatory. Taking good pictures is really easy even if you're not an expert, the automated features of the camera are designed to make your life easier.
The most noticeable feature however is the HD video recording – videos are awesome! I've shot football matches and underwater life and the result is simply amazing – you cannot believe it's generated by a simple point and shoot camera!
The only thing I found not so good is the relatively shot zoom lens and I still didn't get a chance to test it with poor lighting conditions.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Good Image Quality
- Good in Low Light
- Great Zoom
- Large Clear LCD
- Small / Compact
Cons
- Poor Image Stabilization
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Travel
- Weddings/Events
Comments about Sony DSC-W290 Cyber-shot Digital Camera (Black):
I used my new camera for the first time Christmas morning. I love the display and the bright pictures. I haven't found a downside yet.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Good Image Quality
- Good Image Stabilization
- Great Zoom
- Large Clear LCD
- Small / Compact
Cons
- Short Battery Life
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Travel
- Video
- Weddings/Events
- Wildlife photos
Comments about Sony DSC-W290 Cyber-shot Digital Camera (Black):
A good start for the beginners. Everything is smooth. The iAuto is a good mode for shooting the most of your stills.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Good Image Quality
- Good in Low Light
- Large Clear LCD
- Nice looking
- Small / Compact
Cons
- Lag / Shutter Delay
- Shutter button too flat
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Indoors/Low Light
- Travel
- Weddings/Events
Comments about Sony DSC-W290 Cyber-shot Digital Camera (Black):
this is a nice and easy snap shot camera.Its small enough to take everyware,nice three inch lcd screen is nice to have. Overall great to have as a fast go to camera,real easy,the only negative ,the shutter button is too flat,have to look for it,or just get used t it...
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Indoors/Low Light
- Sports/Action
- Travel
Comments about Sony DSC-W290 Cyber-shot Digital Camera (Black):
Great little camera. As a professional photographer my wife hates that fact that the only cameras in the house are my "big" DSLR's... So I bought her this one. Now, there is no comparison to my DSLR, but as far as quality and ease of use, the Sony W290 is perfect for her.
Size is slim enough to fit in your pocket, but it takes 12 mp images which is considerable when think of how small this thing is.
The 3" LCD is great - much my like my DSLR. There are too many features to name.
The only CON I see with the W290 is while in video mode you cannot zoom the lens. Where the zoom was set when you are in picture mode is where it will be stuck when you switch over to video mode. If it would zoom in video mode we would sell out Sony Handycam that records to DVD... There would be no need for it in my book.
Other than that - big features in a small camera!
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Easy To Use
- Great Picture Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Fun
- Travel
Comments about Sony DSC-W290 Cyber-shot Digital Camera (Black):
I have not played with the camera's settings much, but using the auto setting, I have been pleased with the pictures I have taken. I have not printed any yet to compare the LCD reviewed image to an actual printed photo, but hopefully they will be pretty close. I have had a few issues with blurred images (mostly at night), but that is probably due more to operator error than camera error, since I have also had plenty of sharp nighttime shots. Hope this helps.
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Comfortable Controls
- Easy Setup
- Easy to Keep Clean
- Easy To Use
- Great functionality
- Great Picture Quality
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Fun
- Travel
- Underwater photography
Comments about Sony DSC-W290 Cyber-shot Digital Camera (Black):
I upgraded to this camera because Sony didn't make an underwater housing unit for the older version I had (PSC-10) and the housing unit for my big Digital SLR was extremely expensive. I am what I call a photo hobbyist, not pro by any means but love photography. The screen on the camera is bright and clear, (even in the underwater housing unit) I love the scene modes,I used the underwater mode in the underwater housing unit and the pics were so colorful and looked just like they should, didn't get much in the form of backscatter underwater either! I also like being able to crop or edit a pic right in the camera. Sony has made significant improvements to the video mode since the last camera I had. The video mode was much smoother and the audio sounds great! I love the size of it, being able to fit in the back pocket of my jeans, in a purse (without taking up the whole thing). Battery life is good, except when using flash a lot, but what can you expect when using a flash in a dark restaurant, it still lasted the night. I bought an extra battery, so really no worries on that anyways. I highly reccomend having extra batteries on hand for any camera you own, not just this one. I used an 8 gig memory card in the camera for my week long vacation and didn't have to change it all, even shooting quite a bit of video. Overall, I am highly impressed with this camera!
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Comfortable Controls
- Easy To Use
- Great Picture Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Art
- Family Photos
- Fun
- Travel
Comments about Sony DSC-W290 Cyber-shot Digital Camera (Black):
Bright and sharp photos, easy use and user firendly menus!
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Easy Setup
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Fun
Comments about Sony DSC-W290 Cyber-shot Digital Camera (Black):
Good for taking children pictures and movies.
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Easy Setup
- Easy to Keep Clean
- Easy To Use
- Great Picture Quality
Cons
- Long Lag Time
- Poor Operation in Low Light
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Fun
Comments about Sony DSC-W290 Cyber-shot Digital Camera (Black):
No view finder. Difficult to know
if the object is in focus.
Displaying reviews 1-14
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Screen Protectors
Protect your LCD screen from scratches and finger prints.
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What's in the Box
- NP-BG1 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack (3.6V, 960mAh)
- BC-CSG Battery Charger
- A/V & USB Multi-Connector Cable
- Wrist Strap
- Software CD-ROM (Picture Motion Browser 4.2, USB Driver)
- User Guide
- 1-Year Manufacturers Limited Warranty
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