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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W90 · Sony-supplied Cyber-shot DSC-W90 silver front photograph, credited to Sony by digitalkamera.de; complete supplied 450 × 300 pixel canvas and background retained.
Sony · Cyber-shot
Cyber-shot DSC-W90
An eight-megapixel pocket compact with an optically stabilised three-times zoom, optical viewfinder and HD still-photo output.
- Type
- Compact
- Sensor
- –
- Megapixels
- 8.1
- Lens
- 35–105 mm equivalent
- Video
- 640 × 480 at 30 fps
- Body weight
- 124 g
What reviewers say
Both tests liked the finish, optical stabilisation and responsive daylight operation, while noting limited manual controls and high-ISO degradation. Their image-quality verdicts differed: Digital Trends praised natural colour and large prints, whereas Les Numériques found oversaturated colour and detail softened even at low ISO. Les Numériques praised the display but reported difficult indoor focus; Digital Trends criticised its visibility in sunshine.
From digitaltrends.com and lesnumeriques.com
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specImage 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
- 100–3200
- Sensor detail
- 1/2.5-type primary-colour Super HAD CCD, approximately 8.083 million effective and 8.286 million total photosites in the manual; UK support rounds effective resolution to 8.0 MP. Optical format is not physical sensor dimensions
- Image formats
- JPEG, 3264 × 2448 maximum; 3264 × 2176 in 3:2 or 1920 × 1080 in 16:9
- ISO detail
- Auto or ISO100–3200 in Sony UK and US specifications
- Image processor
- BIONZ with D-range optimisation and Clear RAW NR; RAW noise processing does not provide RAW file recording
Lens and shooting
- Built-in lens
- 35–105 mm equivalent
- Maximum aperture
- f/2.8–5.2
- Optical zoom
- 3×
- Stabilisation
- Optical lens stabilisation
- Maximum continuous burst
- 2.2 fps
- Lens detail
- Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar, actual 5.8–17.4 mm, 35–105 mm equivalent; six elements in five groups including three aspherical elements in Sony US datasheet
- Autofocus
- Nine-area Multipoint, centre or spot AF with illuminator and focus presets; face detection for up to eight people. Normal focus from 50 cm; macro from 4 cm wide or 35 cm telephoto
- Shutter
- Auto approximately 1/4–1/1600 second; Program approximately 1–1/1600 second in Sony US datasheet
- Burst detail
- Sony US datasheet specifies up to 100 shots at 2.2 fps at all resolutions; UK support specifies approximately 0.46-second intervals. Les Numériques measured 1.6 fps, whereas Digital Trends reported over 2.5 fps for seven full-resolution frames before a pause; these are separate test conditions
- Stabilisation detail
- Optical Super SteadyShot lens stabilisation
- 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 and seven scene modes; multi-pattern metering, ±2 EV compensation and white-balance presets. No aperture-priority or manual-aperture mode
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 and Presentation modes also available. Movie file limited to approximately 2 GB; 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 UK support; 100% LCD field of view, histogram and optical real-image viewfinder
Connections and design
- Bluetooth
- No
- Battery life (maker's claim)
- 350 photographs
- Body weight
- 124 g
- Release detail
- Sony US 27 February 2007 announcement specifies March availability. March month precision retained because the first on-sale day is unconfirmed
- Recording media
- Approximately 31 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo or Memory Stick PRO Duo. UK support also lists PRO Duo High Speed and PRO-HG Duo at PRO Duo speed; no SD card slot
- Ports
- Multi-use connector for USB 2.0 Hi-Speed and mono AV output. HD component still-photo output requires an optional Sony cable or compatible dock; not an HDMI socket or HD movie output
- Battery life detail
- NP-BG1, 3.4 Wh/960 mAh; manual CIPA claim approximately 350 photographs/175 minutes with LCD on or 410/205 minutes off at 25°C, 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/BC-CSGB/BC-CSGC charger; practical charge approximately 270 minutes or full charge 330 minutes at 25°C
- Dimensions
- 91.0 × 58.0 × 22.9 mm (width × height × depth), excluding protrusions
- Weight detail
- 124 g body-only in Sony UK and US specifications; approximately 155 g including NP-BG1 and accessories in manual, or battery and optional Memory Stick Duo in US datasheet
- Materials
- Metal exterior; Sony US announcement describes a metal body
- Colours
- Black or silver; finishes share this model
- In the box
- NP-BG1, external charger, power cord where applicable, multi-use USB/AV cable, wrist strap, software/handbook CD-ROM and instructions; memory card and HD cable not supplied
Pros and cons
Pros
- Optical lens stabilisation
- Optical viewfinder alongside the screen
- Face detection for up to eight people
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 | 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 | |
| Compact | – | 7.2 | 38–114 mm equivalent | 640 × 480 at 30 fps | 116 g | Feb 2007 |
Sources
- sony.co.uk/electronics/support/compact-cameras-dsc-w-series/dsc-w90/specificati…
- sony.jp/cyber-shot/emdown/data/W80_im_GB.pdf
- sony.mediaroom.com/2007-02-27-Sony-Brings-High-Definition-Photo-Viewing-to-the-…
- usermanual.wiki/Sony/SonyDscW90MarketingSpecifications596392.1734444520.pdf
- digitaltrends.com/photography/sony-cyber-shot-dsc-w90-review
- lesnumeriques.com/appareil-photo-numerique/sony-cyber-shot-w90-p1789/test.html
- 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
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W90 black front view: Sony-supplied Cyber-shot DSC-W90 black front photograph, credited to Sony by digitalkamera.de; complete supplied 450 × 300 pixel canvas and background retained.
