Sony DSC-W5 Review

The Cyber-shot W5 features a Carl Zeiss 3x Zoom, 7.9 to 23.7mm (38 to 114mm equivalent), F2.8 - F5.2 zoom lens. It is constructed of 7 elements in 5 groups with 3 Aspheric elements. When powered down, the lens retracts into the body and is protected by a built-in shutter, no lens cap is necessary.

Equipped with a low-light AF-assist lamp (effective range up to 11 ft / 3.5 m Wide, 8 ft 2 1/2 in. / 2.5 m Tele), the 5 Area Multi-point, contrast detection autofocus system has a range of 19.7" (50cm) - infinity in normal mode and from 2-1/4" (6cm) - infinity in Macro focus mode. There is a 5-step manual focus adjustment with infinity available as well.

Conversion Lens Compatible with the optional VAD-WA adaptor, you can add telephoto or wide-angle conversion lenses for greater magnification or wider field of view, as well as protective and special effect filters.

Compatible with the Sony VCL-DH0730 0.7x Wide Conversion Lens, the Sony VCL-DH1730 1.7x Telephoto Conversion Lens and the Sony VCL-DH2630 2.6X Super Telephoto Conversion Lens.

The speedlight has modes for: Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Fill-in and Slow-sync. The working range at ISO Auto is ~7.7" – 14.75 ft. (0.2 – 4.5m) in wide angle and and 1 – 8.2 ft. (0.3 – 2.5m) in telephoto. The flash squelches down nicely for macro exposures and has 3 power output settings.

Brighten up your photographs like never before with the optional HVL-FSL1B slave flash from Sony. It is designed to operate in sync with your Cyber-shot digital camera’s internal flash without having to connect a cable.

The HVL-FSL1B is equipped with a light control switch and is compatible with the red eye reduction and pre-flash functions of your digital camera. It includes a bracket to make installation a snap.

The eyelevel optical viewfinder provides ~85% frame coverage but lacks dioptric adjustment. The two LEDs indicate flash and focus status.

Controls on the back:

• ZOOM LENS CONTROL for Wide and Telephoto - also functions as Index and Magnify when in review mode.
• MONITOR button turns the color LCD on/off and controls the amount of information displayed.
• MENU button calls up and dismisses menu screens.
• 4-WAY CONTROLLER is for navigating menus, changing settings and selecting playback images. The center button accepts menu selections. In record mode the 4-way buttons are used for: "Up" change flash modes, "Down" enable selftimer, "Left" is Quick View for reviewing the last image captured and "Right" is for Macro focus mode.
• TRASHCAN button is for image deletion in review mode and is used to select the Image Resolution in record mode.

Top controls: The Power on/off button. The shutter release button is in the center of the Mode Dial. The Mode Dial has positions for: AUTO, Program AE, Manual, Scene Modes (Night, Night Portrait, Candle, Snow, Beach, Landscape, Portrait) Movie and Playback.

The I/O ports on the side provide an A/V output, video is NTSC or PAL, audio is monaural

USB 2.0 (high speed) data port. It also allows the camera to be used with any PictBridge compatible photo printer.

The W5 stores its data on ~32MB of internal memory and optional Memory Stick and Memory Stick PRO Cards. Memory Stick PRO (up to 2GB max) media is required for capturing the MPEG-VX Fine mode 30fps motion video clips.

Number of Storable Photos (approx.)

The W5 is powered by two AA batteries, alkaline or NiMH type. Sony's Stamina technology provides up to 380 shots with LCD turned on or 500 shots with the LCD turned off when using the supplied NiHM rechargeable batteries. And up to 70 shots with the LCD turned on or 130 shots with the LCD turned off when using alkaline batteries.

Check out our Rechargeable Battery Page for info and prices on high-capacity NiMH AA cells.

Sony specifically states to NOT use manganese, lithium or Ni-Cd type batteries.

Take your Cyber-shot W series digital camera to the depths of the ocean with the MPK-WA marine pack from Sony. Designed to be water resistant to a maximum depth of 132 feet, it helps keep your digital camera safe from damage in a variety of elements.

The MPK-WA features bright yellow highlights that make it easily visible in murky water. The included hand strap keeps your camera close at hand, even while swimming.

• Water resistant to a maximum depth of 132 feet
• Doubles as a protective case while in rain, sleet or snow
• Bright yellow highlights make it easy to see in low visibility waters
• Durable A.B.S. plastic and glass materials protect from common damage
• Includes a convenient hand strap to keep your camera close at hand
• Designed for Cyber-shot W series digital cameras