Compare Prices : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55

Review summary: The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55 ($199) is an updated version of last year's popular DSC-W50 digital camera. That means that the W55 is an ultra-compact, point-and-shoot camera with a 3X zoom lens, 2.5" LCD display (there's an optical viewfinder too), VGA ...

Pros: Very good photo quality, low noise levels through ISO 400 ; Stylish, compact metal body, comes in four colors ; Low noise through ISO 400 ; Large 2.5" LCD display ; Optical viewfinder (a rarity in this class) ; Robust performance ; AF-assist lamp ; ...

Cons: Images can be "fuzzy" at times due to noise reduction, especially at higher ISOs ; Redeye a problem ; Needs more manual controls, especially for white balance and shutter speed (see photo tests to see why) ; Low resolution LCD ; Unimpressive burst ...

Verdict: In recent years Sony has put a lot of effort into battery life, and it's paid off. The DSC-W55's battery life numbers are well above average for this class

Review summary: The 7.2 megapixel Sony DSC-W55 features a 3x optical zoom lens with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar branding, 2.5" 115,000 pixel LCD display, optical viewfinder, and a maximum sensitivity of ISO 1,000 equivalent. Auto and Programmed Auto exposure modes are ...

Pros: Fast, very good shutter response, good shot to shot speed ; Fairly fast startup/shutdown time ; Good color accuracy ; High-ISO image quality is much improved over the earlier W50 ; Very capable movie mode ; Very fast multi-burst (reduced resolution) ...

Cons: Macro mode shows severe curvature of field/blurry corners ; So-so handling of household incandescent lighting ; No custom/manual white balance option ; Somewhat limited low-light capability ; High noise at high sensitivity settings ; Rather contrasty ...

Verdict: Like other Sony models, the W55 uses Memory Stick Duo memory cards and comes with a fairly generous 56MB of internal memory available for image storage. Sony DSC-W55 interfaces include USB 2.0 (high-speed), A/V (NTSC or PAL), and DC input via a dummy ...

Review summary: The W55 is an ultra-compact, point-and-shoot camera with a 3X zoom lens, 2.5″ LCD display and the usual 3x optical zoom. Compared to the previous DSC-W50, it boots 1MB up, has nearly twice as much built-in memory and a little more battery power. ...

Pros: Good image quality, small design

Cons: Slow burst mode

Verdict: A solid all around compact camera, Sony's Cyber-Shot DSC-W55 will appeal to users looking for a no-fuss entry into the digital photography market.