Sony Cybershot W220B Digital Camera – Black (12.1MP, 4x Optical Zoom)2.7″LCD gives you incredible technology in an easy to use package. Its features include 12.1 megapixel resolution, a large 2.7″ LCD screen, a 30mm wide angle lens, a 4 x optical zoom, and some of the most innovative and exciting photographic technology available from Sony. You can look forward to the power of a BIONZ processor, Intelligent Scene Recognition and Optical SteadyShot. The W220 is ideal for those who want to take their photography to the next level.
The W220 contains the powerful BIONZ processor, which enhances image quality by handling large amounts of digital information at high speed. This reduces image noise and enables a faster shooting response. It is also fitted with Vario–Tessar lenses made by Carl Zeiss, the world renowned optical specialists. These premium lenses are highly rated by photographers for their colour precision, superb contrast and extremely low distortion levels at all focal lengths. The huge 12.1 effective mega–pixel resolution gives you the capability to make high quality images which maintain detail even when enlarged. The W220 also has a 30mm wide angle lens to allow you to make the most of panoramic scenes as well as indoor scenes featuring groups in tight spaces.
Helpful consumer’s review
I bought the Sony W220B as a smaller alternative to my Canon SLR and as a replacement for my Sony P10 5.2MP which I bought some five years ago (excellent camera, but rather small screen).
The W220B is 12.1MP. Personally, I think 12.1MP is too much and the difference in image quality compared to the P10 (which has less than half the amount of pixels) is negligible. But the price of memory has plummeted and a 4GB memory card (good for 800 pictures at 12.1MP) can now be had for around £15. Photos can also be easily converted to VGA for email (as 12.1MP is too big).
The main reason for the purchase was to get a bigger screen (the Sony 2.7″ has 230k resolution, the same as my Canon 3″ SLR) and for an improved range of features. And the new features are what makes this camera stand out. Shoot in the `P Mode’ and you will get Continuous Shooting, Exposure Bracketing and `Steady Shot’ Image Stabilisation, all found on the bigger SLR cameras.
In fact, I found the `P Mode’ to be good for 90% of all photos. The Intelligent Scene Recognition is decent (select in Auto Mode) and covers a lot of low-light shots and the `Smile Shutter Mode’ is a nice touch. A bit disappointing was the `ISO Mode’. I found images to be (perhaps unsurprisingly) quite high on noise. I think the `P Mode’ actually produces the best results for most low-light stuff.
Bad Points? Build quality is not quite as good as previous Cybershots (Mode dial bit flimsy) as a growing trend is to make Sony products in China (not Japan, like P10). At this price however it’s hard to complain. The `Movie Mode’ no longer offers a trim function (even my mobile phone does this now) to edit videos and the P10 had this. That said, movie quality is a massive improvement.
So in short, an excellent camera hot on features for both the enthusiastic and casual user. A 6MP SLR would still beat it hands down for image quality but as a P&S the W220B does the job nicely.
