Cyber-shot DSC-W690

Released 2012

A sixteen-megapixel pocket compact with a stabilised 25–250 mm equivalent zoom, a three-inch screen and 720p video.

Type: Compact
Sensor: 1/2.3-type
Megapixels: 16.1
Lens: 25–250 mm equivalent
Video: 1280 × 720 at 30 fps
Body weight: 124 g

What reviewers say

Both tests liked the broad zoom range in a pocketable body and found low-ISO images usable, but criticised high-ISO detail. ePHOTOzine praised colours and portraits while noting slow shooting and small buttons. It found the screen visible in bright light but inaccurate in colour; ColorFoto preferred the WX100’s sharper, brighter screen and stronger high-ISO images.

From ephotozine.com and connect-living.de

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Compact
Sensor format: 1/2.3-type
Sensor type: Super HAD CCD
Effective resolution: 16.1 MP
Largest image: 4608 × 3456
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 80–3200
Sensor detail: 1/2.3-type Super HAD CCD, approximately 16.1 million effective and 16.4 million total photosites; optical format is not physical dimensions
Image formats: JPEG; maximum 4608 × 3456 in 4:3 or 4608 × 2592 in 16:9. Sweep Panorama standard 4912 × 1080 or 3424 × 1920, wide 7152 × 1080 or 4912 × 1920, 360-degree horizontal 11520 × 1080
ISO detail: ISO 80–3200 in Auto, ISO 80–800 in Program Auto according to Sony UK specifications
Image processor: BIONZ

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 25–250 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/3.3–5.9
Optical zoom: 10×
Stabilisation: Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst: 1 fps
Lens detail: Sony G lens, actual 4.45–44.5 mm; 25–250 mm equivalent for 4:3 photographs and 27.5–275 mm for 16:9 photographs
Autofocus: Multipoint, centre, spot and tracking autofocus with face tracking; approximately 5 cm minimum distance at wide angle or 150 cm at telephoto. AF illuminator, face detection and Smile Shutter
Shutter: Intelligent Auto approximately 2–1/1600 second; Program Auto 1–1/1600 second
Burst detail: Approximately 1 fps at full resolution; up to 100 continuous frames. Focus, white balance and exposure are fixed from the first frame, flash is disabled and intervals can lengthen with image size. ePHOTOzine measured 1 fps at 16 megapixels
Stabilisation detail: Optical SteadyShot; Standard and Active movie modes, with a changed angle of view in Active mode
Flash: Built-in flash with Auto, forced, slow-sync or off; ISO Auto range approximately 0.3–3.3 m wide or 1.5–1.9 m telephoto
Exposure controls: Intelligent Auto, Easy, Program Auto, scenes, Sweep Panorama and Picture Effects; ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps, custom one-push white balance

Video

Highest video resolution: 1280 × 720 at 30 fps
Video detail: Maker user guide specifies progressive MPEG-4 MP4 with AAC audio at approximately 30 fps: 1280 × 720 Fine 9 Mbps or Standard 6 Mbps, plus VGA 3 Mbps. Sony Hong Kong launch specifications instead list 25 fps; regional timing differs. Optical zoom during recording
Audio: Built-in mono microphone and mono speaker

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: None
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 230,400
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed three-inch Clear Photo TFT LCD, 230400 dots; no optical or electronic viewfinder

Connections and design

Battery life (maker's claim): 220 photographs
Body weight: 124 g
Release detail: Released in 2012. Sony Hong Kong scheduled early April availability in its 29 February announcement; this prospective schedule does not establish the actual first on-sale month
Recording media: Approximately 27 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo, PRO Duo High Speed, PRO-HG Duo, SD, SDHC and SDXC. Memory Stick Micro, Micro Mark2, microSD and microSDHC require an adapter
Ports: Multi-use USB/AV terminal, USB 2.0 Hi-Speed and standard-definition composite output; no HDMI
Battery life detail: Supplied NP-BN lithium-ion battery; maker claim approximately 220 photographs or 110 minutes in normal shooting conditions, identified as CIPA by ePHOTOzine
Charging: Supplied external battery charger
Dimensions: 94.3 × 56.1 × 21.7 mm (width × height × depth); maker launch also quotes 17.5 mm at the thinnest part
Weight detail: Approximately 124 g body-only; approximately 142 g with battery and Memory Stick Duo
Materials: Metal front and plastic remainder according to ePHOTOzine
Colours: Black, silver, blue or red; regional availability varies
In the box: NP-BN, external battery charger, multi-use USB cable, wrist strap and instructions; AC power cord where supplied

Pros and cons

Pros

Optical ten-times zoom
Optical lens stabilisation
SDXC cards and 360-degree panoramas

Cons

No viewfinder or RAW recording
No manual exposure control
Proprietary USB and AV connector

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H90	Compact	1/2.3-type	16.1	24–384 mm equivalent	1280 × 720 at 30 fps	192 g	2012
SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX10V	Compact	1/2.3-type	18.2	24–384 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080	204 g	2012
SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX20V	Compact	1/2.3-type	18.2	25–500 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	221 g	Mar 2012

Sources

Photo: Sony exact black DSC-W690 front photograph, credited to Sony by digitalkamera.de; complete supplied 450 × 300 pixel canvas and background, without enlargement

Black Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 rear view: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 photograph, credited to Sony by digitalkamera.de; complete supplied canvas and background retained
Silver Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front three-quarter view: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 photograph, credited to Sony by digitalkamera.de; complete supplied canvas and background retained
Black Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front three-quarter view: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 photograph, credited to Sony by digitalkamera.de; complete supplied canvas and background retained
Blue Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front three-quarter view: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 photograph, credited to Sony by digitalkamera.de; complete supplied canvas and background retained

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