Posted to Digital Cameras 2009-05-03
If you like the portability of a point-and-shoot camera, but wish it could do more than just take still photos, then you many want to check out the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290. The Cyber-shot DSC-W290 offers users the best of both worlds. It provides users with the functionality of a standard point-and-shoot camera while providing the ability to capture movies in high definition format. This model is also available in four different colors allowing you to make a statement with more than just your photos. Measuring about 3.8" x 2.4" x 0.9"and weighing about 6.1 ounces, the Cyber-shot DSC-W290 is a 12.1-megapixel digital point-and-shoot camera that offers added features that may have once only existed on either the high end digital SLR's or camcorders on the market. It is equipped with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 5X optical zoom, wide angle lens, and a 3.0 inch Clear Photo LCD. You will find that this camera packs a lot of functionality into a slim, go anywhere package.
FeaturesThe Cyber-shot DSC-W290 includes Sony's Face Detection which can track up to 8 faces in one shot while controlling flash, focus, exposure, and white balance that delivers true to life skin tones while reducing red eye. Unlike other cameras on the market, Sony offers users the option to set facial priority to either children or adults. Sony has upped the ante by partnering its Face Detection with its Face Motion Detection which reduces the probability of facial blur by automatically adjusting the ISO sensitivity and increases the shutter speed when facial movement has been detected. Sony also offers its Anti-Blink function and Smile Shutter technology. Like its Face Detection, the Smile Shutter technology can differentiate between the face of a child and an adult, and will automatically take the photo as soon as they smile. It also allows you to set priority of the faces in the shot and will automatically take the photo as soon as the primary subject smiles. You can also set the camera's Smile Detection Sensitivity to either high for a small smile, medium for a laugh, or low for a grin and the camera will take the photo as soon as the pre-defined smile is recognized. The Anti-Blink function helps to counteract blinking and squinting. When the camera is in Portrait mode, this function will take two images and will only save the one with less squinting. When set in any other photo mode, the camera will provide a warning after the photo has been taken if a blink has been detected. The Cyber-shot DSC-W290 also offers users Sony's In Camera Retouching tools. These features provide the user with the ability to trim, remove red eye, soft focus, partial color, fisheye lens, cross filter, retro, radial blur, happy face, and unsharp masking effects all without a computer or photo software. These tools allow you to be able to make any changes you want on the fly, and all in the palm of your hand. The best feature of this camera is its ability to capture 720p HD video. The camera can record up to 29 minutes of HD video which is perfect for those times that a still photo just can't capture the feeling of the moment. PerformanceThe Cyber-shot DSC-W290 performs quite well for what can be considered a standard point-and-shoot camera. It offers the Double Anti-Blur solution which combines Sony's Optical SteadyShot image stabilization with a high ISO sensitivity. This technology compensates for the shaky hand of the common user and minimizes blur delivering quality photos to even the novice of users. The camera can also perform in Easy Shooting Mode which is great for the photographer who is just starting out. In this mode, the Cyber-shot DSC-W290 displays easy to follow instructions on the LCD screen and the camera switches to full auto mode so users are free to just take the photo without having to worry about what setting they are in. Playback is also simplified by providing the user with only the simple, straightforward options eliminating the fear of choosing the wrong option. The Cyber-shot DSC-W290 also offers users its Intelligent Scene Recognition which can detect eight different types of scenes and will select the best mode for the setting. Optional modes are backlight, backlight portrait, twilight, twilight portrait, twilight using a tripod, portrait, macro, and landscape. In auto mode the camera will take the photo using the optimal settings while in advanced mode the camera will utilize the standard automatic settings and in low light or back light conditions will take a second photo with optimized settings allowing you the option to choose the better of the two. SummaryIn conclusion, the Cyber-shot DSC-W290 is a great camera that offers users the best features of a point-and-shoot while adding the functionality of a digital video camera. As a camera that is readily accessible to users of all skill levels, this camera offers just the right level of functionality as its users skill level continues to improve. If you are looking for the portability of a point-and-shoot camera that can handle more than just still photos then the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 may be the way to go. Pros
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