Cyber-shot DSC-W200

Released May 2007

A twelve-megapixel pocket compact with a stabilised 35–105 mm equivalent zoom, optical viewfinder and manual exposure.

Type: Compact
Sensor: 1/1.7-type
Megapixels: 12.1
Lens: 35–105 mm equivalent
Video: 640 × 480 at 30 fps
Body weight: 142 g

What reviewers say

Both reviews praised the metal build, manual exposure and stabilisation, while criticising the coarse screen and limited zoom range. CameraLabs found unusually detailed low-ISO photographs and acceptable ISO800 small prints; PhotographyBlog was much less satisfied above ISO200. CameraLabs found the menus confusing, whereas PhotographyBlog liked them once accustomed to the Menu/Home split.

From cameralabs.com and photographyblog.com

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Compact
Sensor format: 1/1.7-type
Sensor type: Super HAD CCD
Effective resolution: 12.1 MP
Largest image: 4000 × 3000
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 100–3200
Sensor detail: Primary-colour Super HAD CCD, 1/1.72-type in the manual versus rounded 1/1.7-type in the launch announcement; 12.120 million effective and 12.388 million total photosites. Optical format is not physical dimensions
Image formats: JPEG, maximum 4000 × 3000 pixels
ISO detail: Auto or ISO100–3200 at full resolution; EX High Sensitivity extends to ISO6400 at reduced 3-megapixel resolution
Image processor: BIONZ with D-range optimisation and Clear RAW NR; photographs are recorded as JPEG rather than RAW

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 35–105 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/2.8–5.5
Optical zoom: 3×
Stabilisation: Optical lens stabilisation
Lens detail: Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar, actual 7.6–22.8 mm, equivalent to 35–105 mm; six elements in five groups including three aspherical elements. Optional conversion lenses or 37 mm filters require VAD-WD adapter
Autofocus: Nine-area Multipoint, centre or spot AF with illuminator; face detection for up to eight people. Normal focus from 50 cm; macro approximately 5 cm wide or 34 cm telephoto
Shutter: Auto approximately 1/4–1/2000 second; Program 1–1/2000 second; Manual 30–1/1000 second
Burst detail: Sony specifies up to 100 photographs at all image sizes without a frame-rate figure. CameraLabs measured five frames at approximately 2 fps before pausing, with ten frames taking ten seconds overall
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 0.2–3.3 m wide or 0.4–1.8 m telephoto
Exposure controls: Auto, Program, Manual and scene selections; ±2 EV compensation. Manual exposure has discrete aperture choices rather than continuous adjustment

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 approximately 17 fps or Presentation 320 × 240 approximately 8 fps. Manual limits an individual movie file to 2 GB; no HD movie recording
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 in the archive; optical zoom viewfinder

Connections and design

Battery life (maker's claim): 300 photographs
Body weight: 142 g
Release detail: Sony US stated May 2007 shipping and Sony Japan specified 1 June. Contemporaneous TechRadar reporting in May states that the camera was available in the UK; month retained with no confirmed first international sale day
Recording media: Approximately 31 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo or 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. Final manual CIPA claim approximately 300 photographs/150 minutes with LCD on or 350/175 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 battery charger supplied; optional AC-LS5K adapter
Dimensions: 91 × 58.5 × 27.3 mm (width × height × depth), excluding protrusions
Weight detail: 142 g body-only in Sony Japan specifications; approximately 173 g including NP-BG1, Memory Stick Duo and supplied accessories
Materials: Aluminium body with chrome-plated controls and grip details
Colours: Silver
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
Manual shutter and aperture settings
Optical viewfinder alongside the screen

Cons

Fixed low-resolution screen
No RAW recording
HD still-photo output requires optional accessories

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-W300	Compact	1/1.7-type	13.6	35–105 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	156 g	2008
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H3	Compact	Other	8.1	38–380 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	264 g	2007
SonyCyber-shot DSC-S650	Compact	Other	7.2	35–105 mm equivalent	320 × 240 at 30 fps	130 g	2007

Sources

Photo: Sony Japan silver DSC-W200 front oblique photograph, native 740 × 555 pixels; supplied complete studio canvas retained without enlargement

Sony Cyber-shot W200, W90, W80, W55 and W35 launch-family cameras shown together: Sony China official W-series launch-family photograph; complete supplied canvas retained

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