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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W120 · Sony Japan official black DSC-W120 product photograph, native 740 × 555 pixels; complete supplied canvas and background retained
Sony · Cyber-shot
Cyber-shot DSC-W120
A seven-megapixel pocket compact with a four-times stabilised zoom, optical viewfinder and child/adult-priority Smile Shutter.
- Type
- Compact
- Sensor
- –
- Megapixels
- 7.2
- Lens
- 32–128 mm equivalent
- Video
- 640 × 480 at 30 fps
- Body weight
- 123 g
What reviewers say
Both group tests rated image quality highly for a budget compact and valued the stabilised zoom and solid construction. DPReview praised fast, accurate focus even in low light, while Clubic highlighted effective macro shooting and colour fringing. Screen opinions differed: DPReview found it low resolution and difficult in sunshine; Clubic found it bright and detailed, but vulnerable to high-contrast display artefacts.
From dpreview.com and clubic.com
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specImage and sensor
- Camera type
- Compact
- Sensor type
- Super HAD CCD
- Effective resolution
- 7.2 MP
- Largest image
- 3072 × 2304
- RAW recording
- No
- Standard ISO range
- 100–3200
- Sensor detail
- 1/2.5-type primary-colour Super HAD CCD, approximately 7.2 million effective and 7.4 million total photosites; optical format is not physical sensor dimensions
- Image formats
- JPEG, 3072 × 2304 maximum; 3072 × 2048 in 3:2 or 3072 × 1728/1920 × 1080 in 16:9
- ISO detail
- Auto or ISO100–3200; no ISO80 setting in the exact Sony Japan W120 table
- Image processor
- BIONZ with standard D-range optimisation and Clear RAW NR; this processes JPEG photographs rather than recording RAW files
Lens and shooting
- Built-in lens
- 32–128 mm equivalent
- Maximum aperture
- f/2.8–5.8
- Optical zoom
- 4×
- Stabilisation
- Optical lens stabilisation
- Lens detail
- Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar, actual 5.35–21.4 mm; six elements in five groups including three aspherical elements. Conversion lenses/46 mm filters require optional VAD-WE adapter
- Autofocus
- Nine-area Multipoint, centre or spot AF with illuminator; semi-manual distance presets 0.5/1/3/7 m or infinity. Auto/macro focus from approximately 4 cm wide or 50 cm telephoto; face detection for up to eight people with child/adult priority, Smile Shutter
- Shutter
- Auto approximately 1/4–1/1600 second; Program approximately 1–1/1600 second
- Burst detail
- Sony Japan specifies up to 100 photographs at all sizes without a frame rate on the read maker pages; some scene modes unavailable, and flash reduces the shooting speed
- Stabilisation detail
- Optical Super SteadyShot with Shooting or Continuous modes
- Flash
- Built-in flash with Auto, forced, off, slow-sync and red-eye reduction; ISO Auto range approximately 0.2–3.9 m wide or 0.5–1.9 m telephoto
- Exposure controls
- Auto, Easy, Program and nine scene selections including Smile Shutter; multi-pattern, centre-weighted or spot metering, ±2 EV compensation and white-balance presets
Video
- Highest video resolution
- 640 × 480 at 30 fps
- Video detail
- MPEG Movie VX Fine 640 × 480 at approximately 30 fps requires Memory Stick PRO Duo or PRO-HG Duo; Standard approximately 17 fps, Presentation 320 × 240 approximately 8 fps. Manual limits continuous movies to approximately ten minutes; no HD movie recording or playback
- Audio
- MPEG1 mono movie sound; built-in mono microphone and speaker
Screen and viewfinder
- Viewfinder
- Optical
- Screen size
- 2.5″
- Screen dots
- 115,200
- Touchscreen
- No
- Tilting screen
- No
- Display detail
- Fixed 2.5-type TFT LCD, 115200 dots in the manual versus rounded 115K on archived specs; 100% LCD field of view, brightness adjustment, histogram and optical viewfinder
Connections and design
- Battery life (maker's claim)
- 350 photographs
- Body weight
- 123 g
- Release detail
- Sony US announcement specifies March 2008 store availability, Sony Japan states 7 March and Hong Kong specifies March. Month precision retained because an earlier international day within March is unconfirmed
- Recording media
- Approximately 15 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo or PRO-HG Duo. No SD card slot
- Ports
- Multi-use connector for USB 2.0 Hi-Speed and mono AV output; HD component still-photo output requires optional Sony cable or HD Cyber-shot Station cradle, not an HDMI socket or HD movie output
- Battery life detail
- Supplied NP-BG1, 3.4 Wh/960 mAh; optional NP-FG1 compatible. Manual CIPA claim approximately 350 photographs/175 minutes with LCD on or 430/215 minutes off at 25°C, Normal recording, Single AF, Shooting stabilisation, alternating zoom ends, one shot every 30 seconds, flash every second shot and power cycle every ten
- Charging
- External BC-CSG-series battery charger; optional AC-LS5K adapter supported
- Dimensions
- 88.2 × 57.2 × 22.9 mm (width × height × depth), excluding protrusions
- Weight detail
- 123 g body-only in Sony Japan specifications; approximately 156 g including NP-BG1, Memory Stick Duo and supplied accessories
- Materials
- Metal aluminium body in Sony Hong Kong launch sheet
- Colours
- Black, silver, pink or blue; finishes share this model
- In the box
- NP-BG1, external battery charger, multi-use USB/AV cable, wrist strap, software/handbook CD-ROM and instructions; memory card not supplied
Pros and cons
Pros
- Optical lens stabilisation
- Four-times zoom starting at 32 mm equivalent
- Optical viewfinder alongside the screen
Cons
- No manual shutter or aperture control
- HD still-photo output needs optional accessories
- VGA Fine video requires Memory Stick PRO Duo
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Sensor | Megapixels | Lens | Video | Body weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact | – | 8.1 | 30–150 mm equivalent | 640 × 480 at 30 fps | 142 g | Apr 2008 | |
| Compact | – | 8.1 | 35–175 mm equivalent | 640 × 480 at 30 fps | 141 g | Mar 2007 | |
| Compact | – | 8.1 | 38–114 mm equivalent | 640 × 480 at 30 fps | 127 g | Mar 2007 |
Sources
- sony.jp/cyber-shot/products/archive/DSC-W120/spec.html
- sony.jp/cyber-shot/emdown/data/W110_120_im_GB.pdf
- sony.mediaroom.com/2008-01-23-Sony-Adds-Smile-Shutter-Function-to-Cyber-shot-W-…
- sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200802/08-0218B
- sony.com.hk/press/pdf/20080201_06e.pdf
- dpreview.com/reviews/6830943500/q408budgetgroup
- clubic.com/article-129240-1-comparatif-compacts-choisir-guide-achat.html
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W120 blue finish lens detail with the supplied Zeiss branding: Sony Japan official CYBER SHOT DSC W120 product photograph; complete supplied canvas and background retained
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W120 television-viewing demonstration with the camera on the table; photograph published on its exact product page: Sony Japan official CYBER SHOT DSC W120 product photograph; complete supplied canvas and background retained
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W120 television connection configuration with the labelled KDL-40V5000 television and optional dock; exact product-page photograph: Sony Japan official CYBER SHOT DSC W120 product photograph; complete supplied canvas and background retained
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W120 silver, pink, blue and black finishes shown together: Sony Japan official CYBER SHOT DSC W120 product photograph; complete supplied canvas and background retained
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W120 in silver, front oblique view: Sony Japan official CYBER SHOT DSC W120 product photograph; complete supplied canvas and background retained
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W120 in pink, front oblique view: Sony Japan official CYBER SHOT DSC W120 product photograph; complete supplied canvas and background retained
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W120 in blue, front oblique view: Sony Japan official CYBER SHOT DSC W120 product photograph; complete supplied canvas and background retained
