 |   Publisher : Sony Company : Sony List Price: Our Price: $199.00 You Save: $30.99 (14%) Used Price : $139.99 |
Features
- 12.1-megapixel Super HAD CCD image sensor
- 5x optical zoom, 28mm wide-angle Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens; Optical SteadyShot image stabilization
- 720p high-definition movie capture; BIONZ image processor
- 3.0-inch (230K pixels) Clear Photo LCD; Face Detection and Smile Shutter technology
- 11MB built-in memory; capture images to Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo Media (not included)
Product Description
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 camera combines style with power and intelligence. The W290 comes in 4 sophisticated colors and has a stylish look. With the W290 taking great pictures is now easier than ever. The iAuto mode goes beyond the traditional auto mode, thinking and working for you; recognizing scenes, lighting conditions, faces, and automatically adjusts camera settings resulting in clearer images, and faces with more natural skin tones and less blur. The W290 also features HD Movie mode, recording in 720p for capturing your precious moments on video. Compose, review, and share your memories on the large 3.0” (230k pixels) LCD.SimilarProduct
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Customer reviews
Sharp 
by .. R Lovan (USA)
+This camera takes amazing pictures. Sharp, vivid, crisp, (insert synonyms here).
+Having such a high resolution is nice and the wide angle lens is great. It also has a little extra zoom than other point-and-shoots, which is another great feature. The smile detection feature is fun for about 30 minutes, but ultimately useless. (At least to me....)
+It has tons of little features and settings and even allows for some "editing" on the camera like red-eye removal and such.
-I do wish i could mess with the settings a bit more though. I like to be able to manually set the exposure time and mess with other things as well. These are unaccessible to the user. Regardless, it takes great pictures without me fiddling with things, so perhaps it is best. Though I do wish it had a long exposure setting to take some cool lightning shots or mess with light graffiti, but I think I'll live.
-Also, you can't zoom while shooting video. This is a bit of a frustration as well.
+The camera itself is amazingly small for it's high resolution and hi-def video capabilities.
+Its construction is solid and the black looks pretty slick.
+Great "bang for the buck" camera. Simple enough for the family or girlfriend to use, and enough features and good enough quality for some more creative shots of my own. (and I don't feel girlie carrying it, though there are other colors if that's your thing...)
Easy to use, fantastic photos by .. Bay Wiz (SF, CA)
I previously owned the Sony T500 because our family needs a camera that can take HD video, but also great photos in one package. I recently upgraded my personal camera and was going to hand down the T500 to my wife, but she did not like the all touchscreen controls. She prefers physical dials and buttons. So I sold off that camera and went in search of one with similar or better features that would be easy to use.
I ended up going with the W290 and it easily surpasses the T500 in photo quality. Right out of the box she was taking great photos on the auto setting. Low light shooting is problematic for all point and shoots, but the W290 did much better than I expected, just don't expect miracles. The 3 inch screen is gorgeous. I don't think I could ever go back to the 2.7 screens anymore.
The W290 is also priced well. It does cost more than a Flip HD or those other pocket HD camers, but purely from a video standpoint it's far superior. From the much larger lense to the bigger screen, there is no comparison. Then you add the full features of a quality camera and it's a no brainer. She's very happy with it.
This is one great camera! by .. nycebo (New York, NY)
I'm on my fourth digital camera, and by far, this Sony W290 is the best one I've ever had. It turns on quickly, processes pictures rapidly, and charges the flash faster than any camera I've used before.
In terms of picture quality, I am simply astonished. I have 2 35mm SLR cameras that I use when I want to be artistic and tend to be pretty particular about images. What surprises me the most about this camera is that the intelligent picture settings is phenomenal. I have taken photographs directly into sunlight, sunsets, dark rooms, fluorescent lighting, outside, etc and the camera's ability to quickly and properly adjust the ISO, aperture, speed, etc to create a wonderful picture is unparalleled. I actually think it's the first camera to adjust the settings for the environment even better than I would manually do myself by overriding the settings. In fact, I love leaving it on auto almost all the time now, taking a picture without worrying about anything at all, and then pleasant admiring how good the picture came out. Steady shot works well. Focus is terrific. And, the LCD on the back of the camera is enormous given the camera's small form.
If there is one complaint, red-eye subject notification could be set up better. While red eye reduction works great itself, the camera pre-flash is very similar to the actual photograph's flash and confuses subjects in the picture into thinking that I've already taken the photo, whereby the start to look away. I'm trying to get into the habit of telling them that the flash may shine 'twice' so as to get them to stay still. However, since the red eye reduction is automatic, it doesn't always come on, which adds more confusion. I like the blinking flash that cameras I've used in the past had a bit more.
But, that said, I'm really happy with the quality of the photos and the user interface of the camera. Again, it's the best compact I've owned and I really think one can't do wrong using it. Frankly, I think it's the best of its kind presently, particularly since I thought the price was reasonable.
Excellent Camera by .. CARM (Huntington Beach, CA)
Everything you could want in a digital camera. High MP, multiple modes, high ISO, easy to use, takes great pics, shoots video in 720p, large and bright LCD screen, etc.
I was weary about buying a Sony because of memory card prices and capability. Bought the memory card/battery/case on Amazon. Great price, but the camera does not fit in the case with any kind of screen protector on it. With the memory card adapter, it plugged right into my Toshiba laptop.
Camera does come with a battery and a charger. Even tells you how many minutes of battery life you have left.
This camera is designed a lot like the Canon (the two previous cameras I have owned) in terms of functionality, size, and looks. I could not be happier. Buy this camera!
Great "little" camera! by .. Zippy! (Texas)
I bought this camera for my husband when he goes on his "biker runs" He would always come back with no pictures because he could not carry the camera with him on the bike.We have a Mavica FD-97 and a DSC - F828; both cameras take amazing pictures. (As you can tell we love Sony cameras!) This Sony W290 is perfect. It is extremely easy to use and takes phenomenal pictures! I have not had to open a manual at all. The menus are laid out perfectly and every aspect of each menu is easy to understand. I especially like the 5X digital zoom in such a small camera.
Now he simply straps the camera case to his belt and he's off. Took great pictures on his latest outing!
You can't go wrong with this camera - I'm tempted to buy a second one to keep in my purse!