Cyber-shot DSC-W150

Released April 2008

An eight-megapixel pocket compact with a stabilised five-times zoom, optical viewfinder and automatic scene recognition.

Type: Compact
Sensor: –
Megapixels: 8.1
Lens: 30–150 mm equivalent
Video: 640 × 480 at 30 fps
Body weight: 142 g

What reviewers say

Both tests valued the stabilised five-times zoom and noted small controls. ePhoto praised construction, fast focus and low-ISO photographs, but criticised the plastic battery door and loss of detail at high ISO. ColorFoto found modest image-quality gains over the cheaper W110. The optical viewfinder divided opinion: ePhoto welcomed it despite limited coverage, while ColorFoto questioned its usefulness.

From ephoto.sk and connect-living.de

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Image and sensor

Camera type: Compact
Sensor type: Super HAD CCD
Effective resolution: 8.1 MP
Largest image: 3264 × 2448
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 80–3200
Sensor detail: 1/2.5-type primary-colour Super HAD CCD, approximately 8.1 million effective and 8.3 million total photosites; optical format is not physical sensor dimensions
Image formats: JPEG, 3264 × 2448 maximum; 3:2 and 16:9 sizes also available
ISO detail: Auto or ISO80–3200
Image processor: BIONZ with standard and Plus D-range optimisation and Clear RAW NR; photographs are recorded as JPEG rather than RAW

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 30–150 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/3.3–5.2
Optical zoom: 5×
Stabilisation: Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst: 1.6 fps
Lens detail: Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar, actual 5–25 mm, equivalent to 30–150 mm; nine elements in seven groups including one ED and three aspherical elements
Autofocus: Nine-area Multipoint, centre or spot AF with illuminator; semi-manual distance presets 0.5/1/3/7 m or infinity. Normal focus from approximately 10 cm wide or 50 cm telephoto; face detection with child/adult priority and Smile Shutter
Shutter: Auto approximately 1/4–1/1600 second; Program approximately 1–1/1600 second
Burst detail: Sony US datasheet specifies 1.6 fps for up to 100 photographs at all resolutions. ePhoto measured about 2 fps for more than ten frames before slowing to about 1 fps; card and shooting conditions affect the sequence
Stabilisation detail: Optical Super SteadyShot with Shooting or Continuous modes
Flash: Built-in flash with Auto, forced, off, slow-sync and red-eye reduction; manual ISO Auto range approximately 0.2–4.2 m wide or 0.5–2.7 m telephoto
Exposure controls: Auto, Easy, Program and scene selections; iSCN recognises five scene types, with Advanced mode taking a second photograph when a different setting is selected; ±2 EV compensation

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; Standard is listed as 16 fps in the US datasheet, Presentation 320 × 240 at 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: 2.7″
Screen dots: 230,400
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed 2.7-type TFT LCD, 230400 dots in the manual versus rounded 230K in the datasheet; optical zoom viewfinder

Connections and design

Battery life (maker's claim): 400 photographs
Body weight: 142 g
Release detail: Sony US announcement specifies April 2008 store availability; Sony Hong Kong planned May. First international retail month retained because the day is unconfirmed
Recording media: Approximately 15 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo and PRO 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 cable or HD Cyber-shot Station cradle, rather than an HDMI socket
Battery life detail: Supplied NP-BG1, 3.4 Wh/960 mAh; optional NP-FG1 compatible. Manual CIPA claim approximately 400 photographs/200 minutes with LCD on or 480/240 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-CSGB/BC-CSGC charger: approximately 330 minutes full charge or 270 minutes normal charge at 25°C; optional AC-LS5K adapter supported
Dimensions: 93.7 × 58 × 24 mm (width × height × depth), excluding protrusions
Weight detail: 142 g camera in Sony US datasheet; approximately 175 g including NP-BG1, strap and supplied accessories in the operating instructions
Colours: Champagne gold, red, black or silver in the US announcement; 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
Five-times zoom starting at 30 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
SonyCyber-shot DSC-W120	Compact	–	7.2	32–128 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	123 g	Mar 2008
SonyCyber-shot DSC-T100	Compact	–	8.1	35–175 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	141 g	Mar 2007
SonyCyber-shot DSC-T20	Compact	–	8.1	38–114 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	127 g	Mar 2007

Sources

Photo: Sony-supplied Cyber-shot DSC-W150 silver front view with lens extended photograph, explicitly credited to Sony by digitalkamera.de; complete supplied 450 × 300 pixel canvas and background retained.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W150 silver rear display and controls: Sony-supplied Cyber-shot DSC-W150 silver rear display and controls photograph, explicitly credited to Sony by digitalkamera.de; complete supplied 450 × 300 pixel canvas and background retained.

Spot a mistake? Tell us