Cyber-shot DSC-WX7

Released 2011

A sixteen-megapixel pocket compact with a five-times Carl Zeiss zoom, composite shooting modes and interlaced Full HD video.

Type: Compact
Sensor: 1/2.3-type
Megapixels: 16.2
Lens: 25–125 mm equivalent
Video: 1920 × 1080 at 30 fps
Body weight: 103 g

What reviewers say

Both reviews liked the clear screen and automatic features but criticised controls, optical softness and image processing. Photography Blog found distracting noise and heavy smoothing even at low ISO. Les Numériques was more positive about ordinary prints through ISO 800 and quick repeat shooting, but noted hazy telephoto images, metallic video sound and audible zoom noise.

From photographyblog.com and lesnumeriques.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Image and sensor

Camera type: Compact
Sensor format: 1/2.3-type
Sensor type: Exmor R CMOS
Effective resolution: 16.2 MP
Largest image: 4608 × 3456
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 100–3200
Sensor detail: 1/2.3-type back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS; approximately 16.8 million total photosites. Optical format is not physical dimensions
Image formats: JPEG photographs, maximum 4608 × 3456 in 4:3 or 4608 × 2592 in 16:9; MPF 3D photographs, 2D/3D panoramas and Sweep Multi Angle. High-resolution panorama reaches 10480 × 4096; normal panoramas up to 7152 × 1080 or 4912 × 1920
Image processor: BIONZ

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 25–125 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/2.6–6.3
Optical zoom: 5×
Stabilisation: Optical lens stabilisation
Lens detail: Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar five-times optical zoom, six elements in five groups including three aspherical elements; actual 4.5–22.5 mm. Equivalent 25–125 mm for 4:3 photographs, 28–140 mm for 16:9, 29–145 mm for 16:9 movies or 35–175 mm for 4:3 movies. Optical zoom operates during movies
Autofocus: Nine-point multipoint, centre-weighted or spot AF with illuminator and tracking focus; approximately 5 cm minimum focus wide or 100 cm telephoto. No manual focus
Shutter: Auto 2–1/1600 second; Program Auto 1–1/1600 second
Burst detail: Approximately 10 fps at maximum resolution for up to ten frames; this is a brief buffered burst rather than sustained continuous shooting. Flash reduces speed and some modes do not permit bursts
Stabilisation detail: Optical SteadyShot
Flash: Built-in front flash, Auto, forced, slow-sync or off; ISO Auto range approximately 0.05–5.3 m wide or 1–2.2 m telephoto
Exposure controls: Intelligent Auto, Superior Auto, Program Auto, Easy, scenes, Background Defocus, Intelligent Sweep Panorama, 3D stills, 3D Sweep Panorama, Sweep Multi Angle and movies; ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps. Wide-angle F2.6/F8 two-step ND-filter settings; no aperture/shutter priority or manual exposure

Video

Highest video resolution: 1920 × 1080 at 30 fps
Video detail: AVCHD MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, 1920 × 1080 up to 24 Mbps or 1440 × 1080 at 9 Mbps. NTSC/Japan 60i means approximately 60 interlaced fields per second and 30 frame pairs; PAL 50i means 50 fields and 25 frame pairs. MP4 records 1440 × 1080 at 12 Mbps, 1280 × 720 at 6 Mbps or VGA at 3 Mbps, approximately 30 fps NTSC or 25 fps PAL. Approximately 29-minute clip limit. Dual Rec captures up to ten 3 MP 16:9 or 2 MP 4:3 stills during a movie
Audio: Built-in stereo microphone and mono speaker; wind-noise reduction

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: None
Screen size: 2.8″
Screen dots: 460,800
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed 2.8-type Clear Photo LCD Plus TFT with 460800 dots, brightness adjustment and automatic bright monitoring; no touchscreen or viewfinder

Connections and design

Battery life (maker's claim): 230 photographs
Body weight: 103 g
Release detail: Released in 2011. Sony’s 1 March Hong Kong announcement scheduled mid-March availability; the prospective date does not establish the actual first worldwide on-sale day or month
Recording media: Approximately 19 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo, SD, SDHC and SDXC. Movies require recommended Class 4 or faster SD cards or Memory Stick PRO Duo Mark2/PRO-HG Duo
Ports: Proprietary Type 3b multi terminal for composite AV output, USB and DC input; USB 2.0 Hi-Speed and mini-HDMI for 2D/3D viewing
Wireless connections: TransferJet send/receive with a compatible TransferJet Memory Stick and receiving equipment; Eye-Fi card support. No GPS
Battery life detail: Supplied NP-BN1; approximately 230 photographs or 115 minutes of still shooting under CIPA conditions. Approximately 55 minutes continuous movie use, distinct from per-clip limits
Charging: In-camera USB charging with supplied AC-UB10/UB10B or a computer; external USB power supply supports playback
Dimensions: 92.2 × 51.9 × 19.1 mm (width × height × depth), CIPA compliant
Weight detail: Approximately 103 g body-only; approximately 120 g including NP-BN1 and Memory Stick Duo. Sony UK support transposes its body and loaded figures; Sony Japan and Hong Kong identify 120 g as loaded
Colours: Black or silver; regional choices differ
In the box: NP-BN1, AC adapter, proprietary USB cable, wrist strap and software CD; regional contents differ

Pros and cons

Pros

25–125 mm equivalent optical zoom
High-resolution panoramas and composite shooting modes
SD-card support, USB charging and mini-HDMI

Cons

No RAW or manual exposure modes
Fixed screen and no viewfinder
Fast shooting limited to ten frames

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX9V	Compact	1/2.3-type	16.2	24–384 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	215 g	Mar 2011
SonyCyber-shot DSC-W570	Compact	1/2.3-type	16.1	25–125 mm equivalent	1280 × 720 at 30 fps	100 g	2011
SonyCyber-shot DSC-WX10	Compact	1/2.3-type	16.2	24–168 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080 at 30 fps	132 g	2011

Sources

Photo: Sony Japan official black product photograph; native source 740 × 555 pixels.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX7, pink, black, blue, silver and white finish lineup: Sony Japan exact-model image-index original740×555; named finish/view or official physical finish lineup
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX7, blue finish, front view with lens extended: Sony Japan exact-model image-index original740×555; named finish/view or official physical finish lineup
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX7, silver finish, front view with lens extended: Sony Japan exact-model image-index original740×555; named finish/view or official physical finish lineup
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX7, white finish, front view with lens extended: Sony Japan exact DSC-WX7 white finish; reviewed tolerance1 native alpha repair preserves pale upper casing and original hardware RGB
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX7, pink finish, front view with lens extended: Sony Japan exact-model image-index original740×555; named finish/view or official physical finish lineup
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX7, blue finish, rear display and controls: Sony Japan exact-model image-index original740×555; named finish/view or official physical finish lineup
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX7 silver mounted on Party-shot pan-tilt base, supplied movement-position composition: Sony Japan official product-feature photograph.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX7 blue rear display showing a beach photograph: Sony Japan official product-feature photograph.

Spot a mistake? Tell us