Compare Prices : Sony Cyber-shot DSC W30 - Expert Reviews

Pros: Ultracompact size ; easy operation ; above-average image quality

Cons: Tiny controls ; lots of noise at high ISO speeds ; few scene modes ; no manual settings

Verdict: Want an ultracompact that doesn't sacrifice image quality? This little gem may meet your needs. But don't count on the Sony Cyber Shot DSC-W30's ISO 1,000 sensitivity.

Review summary: Sony's pocket-size shooter, the Cyber Shot DSC-W30, provides impressive photos and fast, easy operation in a simple package. Digital neophytes may question its modest allotment of seven scene modes, but the available exposure modes do a good job of ...

Pros: Ultracompact size ; easy operation ; above-average image quality

Cons: Tiny controls ; lots of noise at high ISO speeds ; few scene modes ; no manual settings

Verdict: Want an ultracompact that doesn't sacrifice image quality? This little gem may meet your needs. But don't count on the Sony Cyber Shot DSC-W30's ISO 1,000 sensitivity.

Review summary: The Sony Cyber-shot W30 is the first of 2 new compact W series cameras from Sony capable of taking photos at high sensitivities. It shares the 6 megapixel CCD, 3x optical zoom and ISO 1000 capabilities with the W50 (which retails for $20 more). The ...

Pros: Excellent battery life ; Conversion lens compatibility ; Flash control is better than most ; Gets very close with 2 cm macro mode ; Great high ISO performance (Even ISO 1000 shots are acceptable) ; Unlimited VGA 30 FPS movie mode ; Very good image ...

Cons: LCD visibility and resolution not excellent ; Small and low resolution LCD ; Zoom lever is too easy to bump

Verdict: The Sony Cyber-shot W30 is essentially a W50 with a smaller LCD. The W30 and W50 are both about 10% smaller than the W5 yet features a 6 megapixel CCD, 3x zoom lens with the same specifications, excellent battery life and can still support conversion ...

Review summary: The new 6 MP W30 and W50 - the only major difference between the two is that the W30 has a 2-inch LCD and the W50 has a 2.5-inch screen - are much lighter than you might expect because they're made of a plastic-like polycarbonate that Sony calls ...

Pros: Nicely priced ; Small, lightweight design is good for travel ; Great ISO range for cameras in their class ; Nice to have optical viewfinders ; Text by icons in menus is helpful ; Great battery life

Cons: Unoriginal design ; Polycarbonate construction feels too much like plastic ; New Clear RAW technology has misleading name ; Resolution on LCDs is too low ; Very few custom presets

Verdict: There's no two ways around it - these cameras were made to look like higher-priced models, but once you pick them up and play with them, you'll definitely notice that they're on the lower end. But that could be fine. If you're looking for a classy, ...

Review summary: Sony has today introduced the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 and DSC-W50 digital cameras, both offering 6.0 megapixel resolution and a 3x optical Carl Zeiss zoom lens. The main difference beween the two digital cameras is that the Sony DSC-W30 features a 2.0 ...