Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W530 Preview

In an attempt of offer both affordable and feature rich point-and-shoot digital cameras, Sony is debuting an all-new W-series of Cyber-shot cameras for 2011.  The second most affordable model is the DSC-W530.

On the surface, it's very similar to the cheaper-by-$20 Cyber-shot DSC-W510.   Both include a 2.7" LCD viewing screen.  And like all of the W-series models, the DSC-W530 features Sweep Panorama Mode (which uses a CCD sensor to capture panoramas in one easy "press and sweep" motion), SteadyShot image stabilization (to reduce blur), iAuto mode (which automatically optimizes camera settings for your shooting locales), Face Detection, and Smile Shutter technologies.  Built-in help is also available via the "In Camera Guide" software, which allows users to search by keyword and/or purpose to find help topics and ease functionality.

But the Cyber-shot DSC-W530 jumps up to a 14.1-megapixels sensor (versus the DSC-W510's 12.1-megapixels) and features a nicer 26mm wide Carl Zeiss lens with 4x optical zoom.

Sony DSC-W530 features include:

• 14.1-megapixel
• 26mm wide Carl Zeiss lens with 4x optical zoom
• Sweep Panorama mode
• SteadyShot image stabilization
• 2.7-inch LCD screen
• iAuto mode automatically optimizes camera settings
• Li-ion battery

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530 camera will be available in silver, black, pink, green and blue this February for about $130.