Sony · Cyber-shot

Cyber-shot DSC-W100

Released 2006

An 8.1-megapixel rechargeable compact with a 38–114 mm-equivalent zoom, optical viewfinder and manual exposure control.

Type: Compact
Sensor: 1/1.8-type
Megapixels: 8.1
Lens: 38–114 mm equivalent
Video: 640 × 480 at 30 fps
Body weight: 161 g

What reviewers say

Reviewers liked the portable metal body and battery life, but found startup slow. They differed on image quality: Reviewed praised colour accuracy and noise control, while Les Numériques criticised unnatural colours and high-ISO noise. Reviewed also found handling awkward and the screen lacking detail.

From reviewed.com and lesnumeriques.com

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Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Compact
Sensor format: 1/1.8-type
Sensor type: Super HAD CCD
Effective resolution: 8.1 MP
Largest image: 3264 × 2448
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 80–1250
Sensor detail: Optical 1/1.8-type Super HAD CCD with primary-colour filter; approximately 8,068,000 effective / 8,303,000 total pixels in exact user guide. Optical format is not physical sensor dimensions
Image formats: JPEG/Exif 2.21, Fine or Standard compression. Maximum 3264×2448; 3:2 3264×2176, 5M 2592×1944, 3M 2048×1536, 2M 1632×1224, VGA 640×480 or 16:9 1920×1080. No RAW
ISO detail: Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800 or 1250. High Sensitivity mode increases ISO for shorter exposures; it is not optical shake correction
Image processor: Real Imaging Processor with Clear RAW NR noise processing; this name does not establish RAW file recording

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 38–114 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/2.8–5.2
Optical zoom: 3×
Stabilisation: None
Lens detail: Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 3× zoom, physical 7.9–23.7 mm F2.8–5.2, equivalent 38–114 mm. Exact user guide and UK specification override preliminary Hong Kong Vario-Sonnar/F5.4 wording. Normal focus from approximately 50 cm; macro from 6 cm wide / 30 cm telephoto. Precision digital zoom extends total range to 6×; Smart Zoom up to 15× only at VGA
Autofocus: Five-area Multi AF or Centre AF, Single or Monitor operation and AF illuminator. Focus presets 0.5 m, 1 m, 3 m, 7 m and infinity are not continuously adjustable manual focus
Shutter: Auto 1/8–1/2000 second in maker UK table; manual 30–1/1000 second across 46 steps in exact guide and Sony US release. Slow-shutter noise reduction activates at one second or longer
Burst detail: Full-resolution 8M Fine burst: four frames at approximately one-second intervals in maker table, with focus and exposure fixed to first frame and flash off. VGA Standard up to 100 frames at approximately 0.8-second intervals. Multi Burst combines 16 small frames into one approximately 1-megapixel image at selectable 1/7.5, 1/15 or 1/30-second intervals; this is not full-resolution continuous shooting
Stabilisation detail: No optical lens or sensor-shift stabilisation. Camera-shake warning and High Sensitivity exposure mode do not stabilise the lens or sensor
Flash: Built-in flash: Auto ISO approximately 0.2–6.0 m wide / 0.3–3.2 m telephoto. UK table ISO 1250 range 1.0–10.5 m wide / 0.8–5.5 m telephoto. Auto, forced on, slow sync or off; red-eye reduction and three flash-power settings. No hot shoe
Exposure controls: Auto, Program auto, Manual and six scene modes: High Sensitivity, Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Soft Snap, Landscape and Beach. No aperture-priority or shutter-priority mode. Manual selects two aperture settings at each focal length: F2.8/F5.6 wide or F5.2/F10 telephoto. ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; multi-pattern, centre-weighted or spot metering. Auto/Daylight/Cloudy/Fluorescent/Incandescent/Flash white balance; no custom white balance

Video

Highest video resolution: 640 × 480 at 30 fps
Video detail: MPEG-1 with mono sound: 640×480 Fine approximately 30 fps requires Memory Stick PRO Duo and cannot use internal memory. 640×480 Standard approximately 16.6 fps or 160×120 approximately 8.3 fps available with internal storage. No optical zoom during movie recording
Audio: Built-in electret condenser microphone and dynamic playback speaker; movie recording monaural. No external microphone input published

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Optical
Screen size: 2.5″
Screen dots: 115,200
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed 2.5-inch TFT, 115,200 component dots (480×240); dots are not captured image pixels. Histogram and adjustable LCD brightness; no touch or tilt
Viewfinder detail: Separate real-image optical zoom viewfinder; no electronic eyepiece. LCD can be switched off to use the finder

Connections and design

Bluetooth: No
Battery life (maker's claim): 360 photographs
Body weight: 161 g
Release detail: Conservative actual-sale year 2006: contemporary Reviewed test published 29 June 2006 reports current $349 price and product value; Les Numériques tested exact model in September 2006. Sony 25 February announcement planned US April shipping, and 1 March Hong Kong announcement planned end-April sale; these plans do not establish actual first-sale month/day. No predecessor inferred from neighbouring W-series numbers
Recording media: 64 MB internal memory plus Memory Stick Duo / PRO Duo slot; no SD slot. Full-size Memory Stick requires a different device and does not fit this camera. Internal memory holds approximately sixteen 8M Fine JPEGs. No card supplied
Ports: Multi-use terminal for Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and composite NTSC/PAL video with mono audio, using supplied multi-connector cable. DC IN for optional AC-LS5K adapter. PictBridge printing; no HDMI or accessory shoe
Battery life detail: NP-BG1 lithium-ion battery: 3.6 V, 960 mAh; UK-hosted guide lists 3.4 Wh, US guide 3.6 Wh. Maker CIPA at 25°C, Fine quality, Single AF, one shot every 30 seconds, zoom alternating wide/tele and flash every other shot: approximately 360 images / 180 minutes LCD on, or 410 / 205 minutes LCD off. Separate playback and low-resolution movie endurance are not still-shooting claims
Charging: External BC-CSG or BC-CSGB charger (region-dependent) supplied. Fully depleted battery at 25°C: approximately 270 minutes practical charge or 330 minutes full charge. No USB charging listed
Dimensions: 94.2×60.6×24.8 mm width×height×depth, excluding protrusions
Weight detail: 161 g body in exact UK specification; approximately 192 g including NP-BG1 and wrist strap, etc., in exact user guide. Preliminary Hong Kong press table lists 170 g net; current UK table preferred
Materials: Metal front/body styling with plastic rear panel; exact Reviewed physical inspection describes the rear material
Colours: Silver or black; cosmetic finishes share hardware
In the box: NP-BG1 battery, BC-CSG/BC-CSGB charger, regional mains cord, USB/A/V multi-connector cable, wrist strap, Cyber-shot Viewer/USB-driver CD and instructions. Memory Stick Duo purchased separately

Pros and cons

Pros

Manual shutter and aperture selection
Optical viewfinder alongside rear screen
64 MB internal storage

Cons

No optical stabilisation or RAW
Four-frame full-resolution burst
VGA 30 fps video requires Memory Stick PRO Duo

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-P200	Compact	1/1.8-type	7.2	38–114 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	144 g	2005
SonyCyber-shot DSC-S800	Compact	1/1.8-type	8.1	37–222 mm equivalent	320 × 240 at 30 fps	185 g	2007
SonyCyber-shot DSC-W5	Compact	1/1.8-type	5.1	38–114 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	197 g	Mar 2005

Sources

Photo: Sony-supplied DSC-W100 photograph, credited to Sony Deutschland by digitalkamera.de; complete supplied 450 × 300 pixel canvas and background retained.

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