Manage updates with the Download AppSony Cyber Shot DSC-W1
Manufacturer: Sony Part number: DSC-W1
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- It has a sweet 2.5-inch display and some nice point-and-shoot features, but a few notable weaknesses keep it off our top 5-megapixel cameras list.
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Where to buy
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CNET editors' review
Sony Cyber Shot DSC-W1 price range: $149.99
- Reviewed by: David D. Busch
- Edited by: Lori Grunin
- Reviewed on: 07/07/2004
- Released on: 06/15/2004
The good: Huge 2.5-inch LCD; relatively high-powered MPEG movie-capture when used with Memory Stick Pro; compact.
The bad: Middle-of-the-road performance; occasional serious postprocessing artifacts in photos; no manual white-balance adjustment.
The bottom line: It has a sweet 2.5-inch display and some nice point-and-shoot features, but a few notable weaknesses keep it off our top 5-megapixel cameras list.
User reviews
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SONY JUST DOESN'T GET IT ANYMORE
by don4logo on December 14, 2005
Pros: Good features, nice large LCD preview, good image quality
Cons: Sony service center is ABHORRED
Summary: I liked this camera very much, the design and features were outstanding. What made me decide to never buy another Sony product ever again was the SHAMEFUL Sony Service Center. ...
Summary: I liked this camera very much, the design and features were outstanding. What made me decide to never buy another Sony product ever again was the SHAMEFUL Sony Service Center. My camera started shutting itself off about 6 months after we purchased it. Sony instructed us to send it in to the service center for repairs. We did, and that's when the nightmares begin.
First, they claimed to have never received it (even though we had a tracking number showing it was signed for by the service center weeks before). After 3 weeks of back-and-fourth, they finally found it. Hooray!
3 more weeks go by with no contact from Sony. So we wade through the 20 minutes of automated phone crap till we finally get in touch with a human being. They told us gleefully that our camera was fixed and that it was shipped back to us the day before. Unfortunately, they decided to ship my camera to someone who wasn't me. In another state. Heck, it wasn't even a person, it was a camera store. This was revealed by the tracking information from UPS. So, back to the automated phone crap.
Now, when I call Sony, they think I am the camera store that they sent my camera to. I have to explain to each DOLT I speak to that I am NOT calling from a camera store in Colorado, that I am in fact just an individual consumer in San Diego. Once we get past that, they tell me it's going to be weeks before they can try to find out what happened to my camera (and the 512MB memory card inside it). They also inform me that IF they can't find it, they will gladly replace my camera with a new one... but that the process of getting it to me also takes several weeks.
Apparently those fine folks at Sony have never heard of Christmas. Or birthdays. Or the fact that I sent the damn camera to them in October and it now the middle of December. Should I have to wait another month for them to do some stupid internal paper-shuffle? I don't think so. Let's not overlook the fact that every time I speak to one of those clowns over there, they all promise me a call back that same day with difinitive information on when I can get my camera... calls which of course were never returned.
This is an ongoing saga. I had a similar ride on the merry-go-round with these morons a couple years ago when my Sony DVD player decided to blow up and catch on fire. Please, good people, take my advice: DO NOT PURCHASE PRODUCTS FROM THIS OUT-OF-TOUCH COMPANY. Clearly, they do not stand behind the products they make and sell. All they want is your money. You'd think they would be aware of the fact that it's harder to get new customers than it is to keep the ones they have.
This one is gone for good.9 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Lovely little unit....
by dh8driver on March 5, 2005
Pros: Obviously the screen, speed and 2 AA batteries
Cons: small memory stick....but so is everyone else's
Summary: I'm not sure what some reviewers on here are saying about blurry pictures, I haven't had a problem. Zoom without a tripod was bang on. A steady hand ...
Summary: I'm not sure what some reviewers on here are saying about blurry pictures, I haven't had a problem. Zoom without a tripod was bang on. A steady hand is all you need. This camera takes nice shots. I don't have any bad things to say really. So far, so good. Let's hope it stays that way.
3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good Camera, Bad Service
Pros: Good features, large LCD screen, very fast start up.
Cons: Great camera when it works, Sony Service is horrific, camera reported E:92:00 error after less than two weeks of use and it is still not repaired 6 weeks later. Service policies verge on being fraudulent.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Should have been recalled.
by sealynx on April 29, 2006
Pros: Some Camera's work just fine
Cons: Others Shut down, drain batteries, take bad pics.
Summary: If the reviews here sound like a strange mix of miserable and delighted owners, it is because Sony seems to have sold a slew of defective cameras and then abandoned ...
Summary: If the reviews here sound like a strange mix of miserable and delighted owners, it is because Sony seems to have sold a slew of defective cameras and then abandoned the buyer. A friend and I both bought this camera on the same day. Her camera works great to this day and she is pleased with the pictures. Mine started to shut down the second week I had it. The battery gets drained and it takes awful pictures. I was busy with work and at first figured that it was just my ignorance causing the problem. By the time I again tried to use it at a family reunion (after the short warrenty was over) the true magnitude of the problem hit home. The only way I can keep it from shutting down is to set it on 3 megapixels, but then that isn't what I paid for is it??In retrospect I am glad that I didn't have the additional hassle of dealing with sony customer support. I had to deal with them last year when a DVD burner failed (friends in retail tell me that Sony products in general are failing). It was obviously defective but I was subjected to quizing by three separate departments before they authorize a replacement. The questions they asked would have floored someone who didn't know how to trouble shoot computer equipment. Sony is no longer a consumers friend.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great pics when not blurry
by mike4him on February 4, 2006
Pros: 5.1 megapixel, many features
Cons: Pics blur too easily; now battery life is minimal
Summary: We got this to replace a older cybershot model, the one with a swival display. LOVED IT right up to the day we (I) accidently mixed it in my backpack ...
Summary: We got this to replace a older cybershot model, the one with a swival display. LOVED IT right up to the day we (I) accidently mixed it in my backpack with my kids' waterbottles that leaked. Permenantly fried it and was sad. So, a trip to a big box store, with my shutterfly father-in-law and we ended up with this. One frustration we had and had to get to kind of used to was how easily pics would blur. Call me an amateur. That and when you depressed the button to take a pic, that little green light had to come on, and then the pic was taken. Over last summer (05) we redid our office at home and in the process somehow lost the charging cord to the camera. We had to resort to taking out the batteries and sticking them in the charger--annoying also because EVERY time we replaced these, we had to re enter all the date/time info. For some mysterious reason, after that battery life became a fraction of what it was, that with the original LiIon batteries that worked great up until then. We could go most of two weeks without recharging. Now if we get two days we're lucky. And that's without taking pics. Brought it back to the big box store--of course just out of the year warranty period but within the extended one with them and had it sent off, only to be returned saying it needed cleaning. Nothing changed with the battery life. So, I either need to tear my office apart looking for this disappearing cord or find another online. That's all I have to say about that.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Compact All rounder
Pros: AA battery packes lots of power. Simple to use and good manuel comtrols. Sharp and colourful pictures. Fast respones and great night focusing. Solid Bulit.Monsteroues screen great for viewing and framing.
Cons: Wished its slimmer. Expensive accessory. 3rd party accessory costed just a fraction yet works satisfactorily.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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blurry photos, unnatural colors
by valleylife on June 6, 2005
Pros: user friendly
Cons: overpriced for the quality
Summary: After taking many blurry photos with my DSC-W1 I replaced it after one week believing the one I had to be defective. Unfortunately, the new DSC-W1 has performed no better ...
Summary: After taking many blurry photos with my DSC-W1 I replaced it after one week believing the one I had to be defective. Unfortunately, the new DSC-W1 has performed no better and perhaps even slightly worse than the original. Have run the entire gamut of settings searching for in-focus photos as if in search of the holy grail with about as much success. Gave customer service a yell and was informed that perhaps my expectations were "too high." All I want are photos that aren't blurry; a hill I'll seemingly never climb with this camera. And if I do climb it, the photos I take when I get there will likely be as out-of-focus as its predecessors. I can't account for all the sterling reviews here unless they are plants of the Sony Corp. If you're smart you won't believe them. Oh, and before I forget, the color quality reeks to the stars also. Never again, Sony.
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Awesome camera; The good outweight the bad
by hermogino on March 1, 2005
Pros: 2.5" LCD, Lots of manual settings, User-friendly, Accepts AA or rechargeable NiMH, A/V Out, TV-quality movie resolution mode, Metal body casing, Small in size, Perfect point-n-shoot, lots of features!
Cons: Cannot zoom in/out when recording in movie mode.
Summary: I love the W1. Why? Here are my buying points: Accepts 2xAA batteries - You don't have to wait for Lithium Ions to charge when they drain. You can ...
Summary: I love the W1. Why? Here are my buying points: Accepts 2xAA batteries - You don't have to wait for Lithium Ions to charge when they drain. You can just go to a nearby store and buy cheap AA batteries!; Large LCD - 2.5" is huge!; High quality movie mode - 640x480 30fps unlimited length, can't get any better than that on a digital camera! Lots of Pre-Programmed Shooting modes - for the Novice users; TIPS: If you're going to purchase an extra Memory Stick, I suggest purchasing a Memory Stick Pro "Duo". It is smaller and usually comes with the adapter to maintain the Memory Stick Pro form factor (which is what the W1 accepts) - Reason: If you purchase other Sony products that accepts the "Dou" form factor, you would already have it. ALSO: Invest in at least 3 sets of NiMH AA batteries. Have them charged and ready at all times. When they drain, charge them up immediately and put them together with the "charged" pile. You'll run out of fully-charged NiMH's!
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Six years of satisfaction with this camera
by SOLOVESONY on October 1, 2011
Pros: Flash above lens hides shadow on horizontal shots
Sharp images
Manual focus allowed
Bright screenCons: Slow shutter
Summary: I've used this camera for 6 years and it's still my favorite digital point and shoot. It's never been out for repair and the images are quite ...
Summary: I've used this camera for 6 years and it's still my favorite digital point and shoot. It's never been out for repair and the images are quite sharp. Because of this camera, I would buy another Sony in a heartbeat.
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Great little camera
by KurtisMcfadden on December 15, 2008
Pros: good picture quality, great macro, DURABLE.
Cons: Slightly large, not good with taking landscape or low-lighting pictures
Summary: Had the camera a while, looking to upgrade but a GREAT beginners camera. really something to learn with because it has a lot of options that most newer tiny digital ...
Summary: Had the camera a while, looking to upgrade but a GREAT beginners camera. really something to learn with because it has a lot of options that most newer tiny digital cameras don't have.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Sony
- Part number: DSC-W1
- Description: High-end optics combine with everyday ease of use in the DSC-W1 Cyber-shot digital camera. The DSC-W1 features a 1/1.8" Super HAD CCD and a 3X optical zoom Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, both come together to give you stunningly detailed 5.1 Megapixel (2592 x 1944 resolution) images. Other features include manual exposure control, 5 area multi-point auto focus and MPEG Movie VX video mode. Even though it is packed with features, the DSC-W1 was designed to be incredibly easy to use. The huge 2.5-inch LCD monitor, live histogram display, 6 scene modes, and PictBridge compatibility all combine to make taking a picture and making a print simpler than ever before.
General
- Packaged Quantity 1
- Product Type Digital camera - Compact
- Point-and-shoot highlights Having video capture capability adds convenience for the user.
- Resolution 5.1 megapixels
- Optical Sensor Type Super HAD CCD
- Total Pixels 5,225,000 pixels
- Effective Sensor Resolution 5,090,000 pixels
- Optical Sensor Size 1/1.8"
- Optical Zoom 3 x
- Digital Zoom 2 x
- Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
- Auto Focus Points (Zones) Qty 5
- Digital Video Format MPEG VX
- Image Recording Format JPEG
- AV Interfaces Composite video
Exposure & White Balance
- Light Sensitivity ISO 100,
ISO 200,
ISO 400 - Exposure Metering Multi-segment,
Spot - Exposure Metering Zones 49
- Exposure Modes Program,
Automatic - Shooting Programs Candle,
Soft snap,
Beach,
Twilight portrait,
Twilight mode,
Landscape - Special Effects Black & White,
Sepia - White Balance Automatic,
Presets - White Balance Presets Daylight,
Fluorescent,
Incandescent,
Cloudy - Max Shutter Speed 1/1000 sec
- Min Shutter Speed 30 sec
- Exposure Compensation ±2 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps
Lens System
- Type Carl Zeiss 3 x x Zoom lens - 7.9 mm - 23.7 mm - F/2.8-5.2
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 38 - 114 mm
- Focus Adjustment Manual,
Automatic - Min Focus Range 19.7 in
- Macro Focus Range 4 in - 19.7 in
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
- Lens Construction 5 groups / 7 elements
- Features Aspherical lens,
Built-in lens shield Camera Flash
- Camera Flash Built-in flash
- Flash Modes Fill-in mode,
Slow synchro,
Auto mode,
Flash OFF mode,
Red-eye reduction - Features Flash +/- compensation,
AF illuminator - Effective Flash Range 1.6 ft - 12.5 ft
Additional Features
- Continuous Shooting Speed 1.6 frames per second
- Self Timer Delay 10 sec
- Additional Features Audio recording,
PRINT Image Matching,
DPOF support,
RGB primary color filter,
Built-in speaker,
Multi-picture burst,
Auto power save,
Digital noise reduction,
Histogram display,
PictBridge support,
USB 2.0 compatibility Viewfinder
- Viewfinder Type Optical - Real-image zoom
Display
- Type 2.5 in LCD display
- Display Features Built-in
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Composite video/audio output,
1 x USB,
1 x DC power input Software
- Software PIXELA Image Mixer,
Sony Picture Package,
Drivers & Utilities System Requirements for PC Connection
- Operating System Support MS Windows 98 SE,
Apple Mac OS X 10.3,
MS Windows 98,
MS Windows XP,
MS Windows 2000,
Apple Mac OS X 10.2,
Apple Mac OS X 10.1,
Apple Mac OS 9.2,
Apple Mac OS X 10.0,
MS Windows ME,
Apple Mac OS 9.1 Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Battery charger,
USB cable,
Wrist strap,
Audio / video cable - Body Material Aluminum
Battery
- Supported Battery AA
- Supported Battery 2 x AA NiMH rechargeable battery - 2100 mAh ( Included )
Memory / Storage
- Memory Card Slot Memory Stick Micro (M2) card
- Supported Memory Cards Memory Stick PRO,
Memory Stick - Included Memory Card 32 MB Memory Stick
- Image Storage Fine JPEG 2592 x 1944 : 12 VA - With 32MB card,
Standard JPEG 2592 x 1944 : 23 VA - With 32MB card,
Fine JPEG 2592 x 1728 : 12 VA - With 32MB card,
Standard JPEG 2592 x 1728 : 23 VA - With 32MB card,
Fine JPEG 2048 x 1536 : 20 VA - With 32MB card,
Standard JPEG 2048 x 1536 : 37 VA - With 32MB card,
Fine JPEG 1280 x 960 : 50 VA - With 32MB card,
Standard JPEG 1280 x 960 : 93 VA - With 32MB card,
Fine JPEG 640 x 480 : 196 VA - With 32MB card,
Standard JPEG 640 x 480 : 491 VA - With 32MB card - Video Capture MPEG - 640 x 480 - 87 sec - With 32MB card,
MPEG - 160 x 112 - 1410 sec - With 32MB card Dimensions & Weight
- Width 3.6 in
- Depth 1.4 in
- Height 2.4 in
- Weight 0.4 lbs
Accessories
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Sony products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Sony
- Address:
16765 W. Bernardo Dr., San Diego, CA 92127 - Phone: 1-877-865-SONY
- Email: contact@sel.sony.com
- Fax: 941-768-7790
