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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Black)


  • 011 4  I have had a number of cameras and this is probably the best one i ever had . I travel a lot and i just got back from a trip and i showed my family the pictures on an HD tv and the photos looked amazing . The picture intelligent shot is amazing . I love the way how it changes to portrait and then to twilight mode . The video in 720p is beautiful . I took of a football game and it looked great . Buy this camera ! !
    • 013 4  Takes excellent crystal clear pictures with less effort , if you don't mind to have a camera with minimum manual configurations but a lot of automatic features this is a must have , plus its great HD video recording capabilities makes the best choice you can do .
    • 066 4  I like this camera because the ease of use and the video is shot at 720p . But to connect the camera to any hdmi device you need to order another special wire from sony for the camera . Typical for sony wouldn't you say .
    • 089 4  I've had so many cameras in my lifetime ; so many that I couldn't even begin to count . As a pocket P-n-S camera , my W290 is excellent ; its pictures are crystal clear , features are abundant , 720p video feature is nice , and so forth . This W290 compares very similarly to my previous Canon SD780 , performance-wise . The Canon is smaller , but the Sony has a bigger , nicer LCD screen . All in all , very nice pocket camera to have when I'm not using my Sony and Nikon DSLRs . I have so many cameras that I don't know what to do with them or why I just kept buying more and more . : /

  • 017 4  The camera is great ! The picture quality is stellar . It is easy to use too ! Unlike most other cameras , the on board menu options give you a description of what every option does - taking the guess work out the equation . It has excellent optical zoom that is better than average for its size and it is far better than my previous Canon PowerShot A640 . As an added feature , you can shoot movies in HD . This is the best point in shoot that I have ever owned . The only thing it lacks is the ability to zoom while shooting a movie and the ability to rotate the pictures to fit the screen while in playback mode ( unlike my old Canon ) . While this item was a refurb , it looks and operates like it is brand spanking new . A great buy for anyone who is looking for a higher end compact point-and-shoot camera . I would highly recommend it in comparison to any other camera in its class ( including any of the Canons ) . Last , don't just take my word for it - [ . . . ]
    • 044 4  I recently compared this with three other cameras , the Canon PowerShot SD780IS , Nikon Coolpix s630 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 . The Canon and the Nikon couldn't even compare and were out of the running right away . The Panasonic is a good camera , but not quite as good as this Sony . Pros : 1 . Sharp , vivid color pictures 2 . Great image stabilization 3 . No noticeable shutter lag 4 . Decent pictures in low light 5 . Very portable due to the small size 6 . Good HD video quality 7 . Easy to charge , charger plugs right into the outlet , no counter space required Cons : 1 . The zoom isn't the best 2 . You have to use their software to transfer the video to your computer 3 . Can't zoom in while taking video 4 . USB port on the bottom of the camera so you have to lay it on its back or front to access it 5 . USB port has no cover , so it could get dirt inside of it My main reason for choosing the Sony was the picture quality . I can do without the great zoom of the Panasonic and a covered USB port if I have good picture quality . I was actually surprised that this camera won my test , as my current point and shoot camera is a Sony and I've never been happy with it .
    • 083 4  I bought this more expensive camera hoping its quality would be better then the canon I tried about a week or two before but it ends up actually being worse . Pixelation occurs on almost all pictures on the LCD and when you upload it to your computer . My much older casio ( 6mp from around 2004 ) still took better pictures then this camera . It also doesn't take what I thought was a standard memory card size
    • 094 4  Another great product from Sony . I love the ease of use . It has really helped reduce the number of complaints from my wife . My kids are young - 6 and 4 , so I dont let them try it , I am sure they would be able to use it equally well . The only issue for me , literally the only one , is that I have to hold the camera in its place for 1 - 2 secs more after I see the last flash to get the perfect pic . Again , I should expect that as it is not an SLR . Just something I had not expected from Sony , maybe I am expecting too much . The battery has not been designed to hold and use charge to fill 4GB disk with pics in one go . Thats how I rate the battery life . Pros : Picture quality , Ease of use , HD video , and other standard Sony features Cons : Picture taking time , Battery life could have been better , Options in menu for certain settings . I also bought the soft case recommended with the product , but it fits too tight . I need a case that I can quickly put a camera in and take it out with one hand . The case seems to be designed for storage , defeats the purpose of hanging it on the belt . I had a bigger soft case from an earlier camera that I am using instead .
    • 116 4  I bought the camera because of a relatively positive review on CNET . Fairly disappointed with it because of grainy images . Another problem was that the lenses didn't want to come out . I fixed it by taking it out manually ( meaning with my fingers ) . Since then haven't had the problem . Come to think of it , maybe it would have been better not to fix it which would have given me an excuse to return it . The positive thing about the camera is that if you don't mind the grainy images then it's a great value for the money .
    • 132 4  I love this camera . Finding the right case was tough , though . After trying several ones in Sears , I bought a nice one that fits perfectly and has room for a battery : Caselogic Pocket Video Camcorder Case ( TBC - 312 ) . This case model comes in two sizes though . The camera fits in both but I liked better the smaller one . If you are looking for a case , I recommend you to visit a camera / electronic store and try some cases by yourself . It's the only way you can be completely sure about this . I spent too much time looking for the right case online and could not find it .

  • 020 4  I purchased this camera to replace my Canon A95 which I love but it's only 5 MP and is getting old . The current Canon models were considerably more expensive so I decided to try the W290 instead . After a few days and well over 100 pictures I have to say I'm really disappointed . The pictures are very grainy in low light or even medium light . Almost every pic looks soft and even indoor pictures were very grainy or had auto-focused on background objects . My previous camera did require settings to be changed manually but if the automatic features goof up the shot , what's the point of the technology ? I tried manual settings with the Sony also and the end result was no different . Looks like I'll be returning this one and will likely ante up for another Canon after all .
    • 038 4  this product is awesome would diffidently tell friend to buy one when they need a nice camera
    • 059 4  This is an excellent product . The picture quality is awesome . My daughter has a W300 and the W290 is just as good . i would highly recommend this item .
    • 088 4  I'm just an novice photographer , so keep that in mind . My thoughts of this camera is that I couldn't have found a better one for the money . It takes excellent quality pics , and even the stupid pics I took when I accidentally had my finger on the button were in great quality and I was moving my hand pretty fast at the moment of capture . If you're in the market for a great 200 buck camera , you won't go wrong if you get this one .

  • 034 4  This cam takes amazing pics . I bought this camera to take with me on a trip overseas . I ordered it early enough so that I could get it and learn it before the trip . I took some amazing pics of my dogs , the beach and some family pics and everything was beautiful ! Taking it on the trip I knew that Id better have a back up battery since I would be taking alot of pics each day . The battery life was good , and I probably would have been ok with just the 1 battery on a daily basis . If you are taking your normal , everyday pics you going to be happy with this camera . I have had many digital cams over the years and am very experienced with them . Most people would be satisfied with this camera . The reason I only gave a 3 out of 5 is as follows . I went to a concert , and when it started to get dusk the pics started having a hard time focusing . When it was dark it was terrible . Even from the lights of the stage , I hardly got any pics after the sun went down . I thought with the iscn and iAuto mode that the low lighting or stage lights wouldn't be an issue . I took some video and instantly became annoyed with the inability to zoom in and out while the video was recording . Once I started recording I noticed that the battery life was instantly drained . I was thankful that I had brought my other sony batteries with me . I didnt get close to 5 mins of video out of the 3 batteries I had with me . very disappointing . I will probably sell this camera and either wait for a new series from sony or try a different model . I love sony and want to stick with them , and I have a larger sony camera with a high zoom .
    • 010 4  Purchase arrive late by a couple of days . Was a bit heavier compared to previous model but still compact enough for pocket . The images were awesome and very clear . Like the 5X optical zoom . 28mm was great and the telephoto lens very pretty clear with the image stabilization . Although the zoom range was wide , the macro was limited to about 10cm and are defocussed below that . I am pleased overall with the images and functions ( especially the smile detection function and HD video ) . BTW do purchase it with the slim case as the 3 LCD will definitely need some protection .
    • 022 4  Beware , if you like this camera buy it only if you believe you will never have to get anything fixed . Sony's customer service / relations is surprisingly terrible . I sent a product in for a superficial fix ( at sony's request as part of a recall ) , I got it back with the lens not working . Understandable , it happens . But sony refused to fix it unless I paid for it or produced my proof of purchase to show it was still under warranty . After 3 hours speaking to various people over the course of two weeks ( so it was not just one random person , but seems to be policy ) , Sony insisted that they would not fix the camera , they basically said ' the camera has a problem and we don't fix anything for free without a proof of purchase , regardless of circumstances ' . Blew me away , they would not consider that they could have been at fault , that I would not have sent camera in unless they had asked me to in the first place . Customer relations and marketing have to get together and talk , marketing is spending millions to get me to buy all sorts of high margin products ( playstation , flat screens , audio equipment , video cameras , etc ) and customer service blows it all away over a fifty dollar fix .
    • 026 4  This is my fourth digital camera and I researched many point and shoot cameras before choosing the W290 and , after one month of use , I think I made the correct decision . I don't know what more you could ask of a point and shoot - - wide angle lens , 5X zoom , stabilization , simple to use , fast , small , etc . Picture quality is great - outdoor / daylight pictures beat many SLR's .
    • 049 4  I only kept this camera for a short time . I chose this model initially for the wide ( ish ) angle lens , but like virtually all 12MP cameras with tiny 0.28 cm² sensors , the image quality disappoints . There are a few manual controls , but I could find no way to do a long exposure . The video quality is so-so to poor without ideal lighting conditions , though the sound recording is actually quite good . Lack of zoom during video recording was a deal breaker that I discovered after purchase . If you can live with these sorts of limitations , you might find a tiny Casio better for a point-and-shoot to keep handy .
    • 130 4  i have been an ardent fan of picture quality of sony cameras and that was the reason i bought this camera . this piece is compact ( fits nicely in jeans pocket ) , looks great , feels comfortable in hands ( the large screen makes it up for very small menu , display and delete buttons ) , has intelligent auto mode but the picture quality is not what i expected . . . i have had this camera for about a week now and all the photos i took were taken outside in full daylight . . . in no way do i mean that the photos were bad but they were not very good . . . so i am a bit disappointed
    • 145 4  No reason places should be selling this above $350 . I see one retailer on amazon selling it for $700 . Don't get suckered .

  • 056 4  It is a great camera and glad that I bought it . It is a little heavier than most point and shoot cameras which is good because it tends to be more stable as a result . I wish that it had a level somewhere on the camera so that you can be sure that you are shooting correctly . There were a few times when I thought I was level but was not . It seems like an easy item to include in the view finder . I am still learning all its features but so far it has met my needs . It is a small camera that is capable of shooting great photos . It was also easy to order it through Amazon .
    • 029 4  Very impressed with this model , I waited for it's release before upgrading our existing Sony Camera . The intelligent shot feature is very good . This camera rarely takes a bad shot . The 720p video is very good and is especially clear in brighter settings . Extremely happy with the investment . Some may be discouraged at the proprietary Sony Memory format . For that I believe the quality of the camera out weighs this negative .
    • 030 4  Just got this camera for my b-day and I'm very happy with it ! Super easy to use - I don't want all the bells and whistles - I just wanted something that would take clear pictures easily . It is replacing a camera I could never get to work properly with terrible directions . If you want a camera that's easy to use , has clear directions and takes nice pictures and video - this is the one for you !
    • 048 4  Easy to use . Compatible with wife's Sony W - 220 digital camera . Same cords , battery , battery charger . One less thing to pack on our travels .
    • 051 4  The only downside that I have found so far is that you have to take the battery out to charge it . It comes with this little box that the battery pops into , then that plugs into the wall . Just a little different . Also you cannot zoom while you are taking a video . But the ease of use and picture quality are very very easy . Takes quick pictures in succession , with very clear pics . The image stabilizer seems to work well . Especially for me .
    • 055 4  I can't believe this Sony camera is so easy to use , takes great picture and it costs much less than in the military base . I would recommend to anyone .
    • 068 4  I haven't had the camera long , but so far I have been very happy w / all the features and the ease of use . I am not super technical so having this camera working so well for me has been great - it is a very nice camera . And several of my friends have commented that their more expensive camera's do not perform as well . Very happy .
    • 072 4  I bought two of these for a very nice price . And i have been using lot of Sony products and i just love them . This camera is also very good . For the price i got this for , it is really worth .
    • 076 4  I am pleased with the ease and picture quality of this camera . I was glad I researched and found my findings to be exactly what this camera delivered . I would recommend it .
    • 096 4  The camera is good option for quick focus and shoot amd without too many complex operations . Nice grip compared to similar camera's . Overall nice results though night shots still a challenge . . may be I need to get the settings the correct setting
    • 098 4  I bought this camera and i love it . Great camera , can be a little bit cheaper , but when you buy sony , you always pay a little more for brand . Anyway it worth it ! ! ! ! Fast shipping ! ! !
    • 100 4  takes good pictures in easy mode , gets blurry unless set perfectly in any other mode . wife tends to hit the mode button constantly with her thumb , so we get alot of poor pictures . really have to watch hand placement .
    • 106 4  This is a good product with easy use and intelligent features which makes it use at any location and anytime . The steady image feature is excellent and gives really crispy images .
    • 108 4  This camera recieved a top review by Consumer Reports . I am also extremely impressed . Great features and an excellend intelligent more if you just like to point and shoot . Excellent night pictures .
    • 112 4  I like the larger veiw finder . It seems like our picts are clearer than what we had before . I am one that needs a unit that is easy to use . It has many features and quality of shots are good . We had one like this before and the veiw screen broke when someone put it in their back pocket , so beware it did not get hit just twisted when that person sat down .
    • 119 4  I had some trouble getting used to this camera but now it takes lovely pictures when I have it at the right setting .
    • 128 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Has very good pic quality and extremely easy to use . It is not capturing moving objects pics . I tried the Int ' mode and Easy mode . Other feature are very good .
    • 129 4  Has very good pic quality and extremely easy to use . It is not capturing moving objects pics . I tried the Int ' mode and Easy mode . Other feature are very good .
    • 146 4  Image display is fine , but I prefer a viewfinder to compose my shots . Sony has decided to eliminate the veiw finder , perhaps because amateurs like to hold the camera in front of them and check the display to see what they will get from the shot . Am I getting old school ?
    • 153 4  Great Camera , but had to buy it elsewhere because the one I ordered from Amazon , LLC never arrived .

  • 085 4  This is my first camera and really have much expectation about making a good investment . And what can I say , I am very happy that I had chosen this camera , its image quality is very good and if you use the 12 - megapixel photos will have an excellent presentation on the details , the video is very good can see very clearly and sharpness . I can only say THANK YOU SONY ! !
    • 021 4  MY SECOND SONY CYBER SHOT . I WAS HAPPY WITH MY 7.1 SO I GOT THE 12.1 , I USED MY OLD ONE SO MUCH AND DROPPED A FEW TIMES THAT I NEEDED A NEW ONE . I RECOMMEND GETTING A CYBER SHOT . NO BLURRING PICTURES . . JUST A GREAT CAMERA .
    • 053 4  Wow , finally i got this excelent camera from SONY . The 5x optical zoom and flash are awesome . All my photos are very clear . My wife was very happy and decided to keep as a christmas present . All was easy friendly to use and in 5 minutes i was taking all my shots with smile and face detection : all happy faces and perfect shots . I am totally convinced of the great quality of this camera .
    • 123 4  I have never been so disappointed in ANY purchase I've EVER made . This camera is cute . Period . I have yet to take a picture with it , regardless of the setting , that is clear enough for any kind of use . This INCLUDES using a tripod . Pictures are blurry , grainy , UGLY . What a waste of money . I'm throwing it in the TRASH after two months of having it and going back to a Canon ! ! Talk about feeling ripped off . . . thanks , Sony . : (

  • 102 4  best priced and featured camera with HD video . What sold me was the speed of the camera . Very fast 2.3 fps . flipping through photos is quick . erasing is quick . it takes less than a second to turn it on completely . the screen i found to be much clearer than Nikon's OLED S70 .

    • 110 4  I got this as a christmas present from my dad . I go through cameras pretty quickly and this one is a replacement of my Sony Cybershot 10 mega pixel . It's really great , I absolutely love it . The video quality is amazing , if quite short even with the extra memory stick . Its a little difficult to figure out at first which shooting mode you need to be in , but I'm sure that's just because I'm not the type of person who reads directions . Eventually I've figured it out , and like I said it's great quality .
      • 087 4  Great camera ! I've had it for a couple months - easy , fast , light , portable - NO issues ! ! !
      • 144 4  Everything they say about the camera is true . Although Sony really needs to include at least 1 gig memory card with the camera . . Being they do not state , neither do the sellers that the camera holds ( 2 ) TWO pictures without a card .

    • 136 4  Camera was delivered with problem . All high definition pictures and videos shows a white dot . Looks like a burned dot on the CCD cell .
      • 104 4  You Will Love This Camera ! The Best HD Camera For The Price ! [ . . . ]

    • Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I used to own a Sony DSC-p10 , it's a 5 megapixel camera from around 2003 . The camera was great , but finally gave up , mostly due to abuse . Since I had such good luck with my first Sony camera , I decided it would be great to get another Sony over the more popular Cannon's . I got this camera around the end of June , which at the time of my writing this was 4 months ago and I've taken just over 600 pictures . Let's start out with the good : The display is huge , and easy to see things in . Everyone that uses this camera comments on how big and nice the display is . Battery life is outstanding . Actually , what's better than outstanding ? I'm not sure , but that's what it is . Kudos to Sony on this one , I've charged the battery 3 - 4 times since I've owned the camera . The video is phenomenal , quality is better than I would expect out of a point-and-shoot but it suffers from the same focus problem as the still shots , which I'll explain later . Feature wise , this camera has plenty . . . mostly you'll probably never use . One of the reasons I got this camera is because I was familiar with the Sony menu system , so as far as I'm concerned it's easy to use but this is more opinion than fact . The camera is fast , or at least I've not noticed it being slow which is a welcome change from my previous camera . The zoom works as expected , nothing good or bad to report . It doesn't work while recording a video but that's not really a big deal to me . Size is good for me , but I'm a guy and have big pockets . It's slightly larger than some other point and shoot's but it's also mostly screen . Can't have everything . Now for the knit-picky things , There's no viewfinder , and the screen doesn't work very well in direct sunlight . It's bright enough to be seen outdoors if you're facing the right direction , but I've found myself wanting a viewfinder a few times . Its lack of one is no surprise though , since I clearly knew this before I bought the camera . Whenever I hand this camera to someone to take a picture of me , they are ALWAYS confused by the buttons . There's the goofy smile detection button on the top , as well as on / off and shutter . The shutter button is oblong and apparently confuses people . I feel it's a bit hard to push with my big paw sized hands . It would be nicer if it was a round button that protruded from the top of the cam . The mode selection wheel often turns its self in my pocket or backpack and I find myself taking videos instead of pictures too often . The lanyard that came with the camera didn't have the little clip that slides on it to snug it up to your wrist , which pretty much defeats the point of a lanyard in the first place . This seems like a very silly place to save $ .01 . I used the lanyard from my previous camera , and it works great . This camera uses a proprietary plug to attach to the computer and requires an external battery charger . This is basically the same thing that Cannon does , but my old Sony camera used a standard mini-usb style plug and I could plug the charger directly into the cam without removing the battery . If you've made it this far , you're probably still seriously interested in buying this camera , and I don't blame you . Most of the things I listed above aren't really that big of a deal . But honestly , don't buy this camera , and here's why : The image quality is AWFUL . TERRIBLE . WRETCHED . This thing's supposed to be a 12 megapixel awesome fantastic camera , but my old 5 megapixel camera from 2003 took better pictures hands down . The W290 ' s daylight performance is acceptable . . . not fantastic , but I could live with it . The low-light performance if this camera is really bad though . Pictures that are even in moderate light start to become grainy way before they should and the flash doesn't make up for it . That's not the worst part though ; the autofocus of this camera is worthless . I've taken more out of focus pictures in the past 4 months than the past 4 years . It's always confused , zooming the focus in and out trying to pick out whatever is in the foreground . I've tried center focus , multifocus , etc and nothing seems to help . Medium light action shots are impossible . Most recently , I tried to take a picture of my girlfriend moving her head while in the bleachers at a stadium at night with all the stadium lights on . . . the flash went off ( it was on easy mode ) and still she motion blurred AND out of focus , this is just unacceptable . In another case I tried to take photos of dolphins off of the bow of a fishing boat at high noon ( plenty of light ) and the camera was unable to properly focus . I took photos in exactly the same conditions with my previous camera and they turned out perfect . Basically , in closing , this camera is worthless unless you just want some flashy looking toy that you can maybe take non-action pictures outside on sunny days with . Good luck shopping elsewhere .
      • 001 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) This camera does take great pictures . These days the cameras are very easy to operate with all of the auto settings and advanced face detection and scene recognition - it's hard to mess up a shot . This camera is no exception and makes the user feel like a pro when taking pictures . However , here are some things to think about when buying this camera : 1 ) The controls are on the right rear side of the camera . In particular the W / T buttons and the directional pad / button - the W button is hard to press and the left side of the dpad as well . For some reason they are right up against the right side of the 3 screen which causes a problem and you have to either reposition your finger or use your nail to press the buttons I mentioned . No , I don't have large fingers - it is just a design flaw . The buttons are set below the screen - if they were raised there would not be a problem . If you really want to see what I mean look at the pictures here on Amazon and zoom in on the back panel picture . Something I never noticed before but the directional button even has a part of the 3 LCD frame cut out because it is so close to the button . See for yourself . . . . 2 ) The video is crisp and clear ( 720p ) but you CAN NOT ZOOM while shooting video . Compared to the T500 , T700 , T900 , T90 ect where you can zoom when recording video . Very disappointing and if someone here mentioned that in their review I wouldn't have bought the camera - I bet people here don't even own the damn thing . The steady shot works well too by the way . 3 ) There is a rattle when you shake the camera . This is apparent only when the camera is turned on so I think it is the lens cover ( s ) which retract and automatically opens and closes when you turn the camera on . The lens protector is very fragile and when closed you can push it open with your finger unlike the DSC-N1 that I had which was like solid doors covering the lens . 4 ) This thing is BIG ! OK it's not huge but compared to the W300 It's thick . I know , it has a 3.0 screen compared to a 2.7 screen but it is heavier and thicker than the W300 and the T series but I want to compare apples to apples . 5 ) Switching from menus and functions is a bit slow . There is definitely a processing delay with video and some pictures that I took too . I wouldn't begin to throw a number out there ( seconds ) but it is definitely slower than the W300 for good comparison . Turning the camera on - slight lag - lens pops out - it's just a lot slower than the N1 and W300 . 6 ) There is NO docking cradle , memory or a case provided with the camera . I like the new battery charger which does not have a power cord but has plugs that flip out so you just plug it into an outlet and walk away - when the indicator light is off you are done charging - really good idea ! 7 ) You need two hands to operate this camera . With the W300 you can work the zoom and shutter button with your right had with ease . Not so with the W290 . Watch that left hand too ! The RF illumination is located right where you might put your left forefinger . Careful . 8 ) The shutter button is on top of the camera along with the power button and a new SMILE button . The smile button will automatically engage the smile detector and will snap a shot automatically when activated . Very cool . However , the button , along with the power button is so small and inset that you really have to wonder if you are pressing it or not . You do feel a click I should say so it isn't that bad I guess . Canon - who's that ? I don't use their products - Sony only baby . This is a great camera but could be better . Like the T700 the T900 came out and fixed a lot of issues . The W300 is a better camera than the W290 . I am sure they will come out with a W400 ? It will be great I am sure ! Get this W290 camera for the price and basic functions as a starter camera .
      • 003 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) + This camera takes amazing pictures . Sharp , vivid , crisp , ( insert synonyms here ) . + Having such a high resolution is nice and the wide angle lens is great . It also has a little extra zoom than other point-and-shoots , which is another great feature . The smile detection feature is fun for about 30 minutes , but ultimately useless . ( At least to me . . . . ) + It has tons of little features and settings and even allows for some editing on the camera like red-eye removal and such . - I do wish i could mess with the settings a bit more though . I like to be able to manually set the exposure time and mess with other things as well . These are unaccessible to the user . Regardless , it takes great pictures without me fiddling with things , so perhaps it is best . Though I do wish it had a long exposure setting to take some cool lightning shots or mess with light graffiti , but I think I'll live . - Also , you can't zoom while shooting video . This is a bit of a frustration as well . + The camera itself is amazingly small for it's high resolution and hi-def video capabilities . + Its construction is solid and the black looks pretty slick . + Great bang for the buck camera . Simple enough for the family or girlfriend to use , and enough features and good enough quality for some more creative shots of my own . ( and I don't feel girlie carrying it , though there are other colors if that's your thing . . . )
      • 014 4  We loved our old Sony camera , a 3.2MP Cyber-shot DSC-P52 , so we were excited to get hold of this new model . Unfortunately , we only held onto it for two weeks before returning it to Amazon . Yes , there are a TON of fancy features , including exotic things like a smile sensor and true HD video . And when I was outside taking pictures of the roses in my landscape in bright sunlight , the images were gorgeously vivid and lush . However , once I brought those flowers inside and put them in a vase , I couldn't get a decent shot using ANY of the myriad settings , with flash or without . In anything resembling normal indoor light , let alone low light , the images came out blurry , out of focus , and filled with noise . It wasn't just my house , either . I had the same problem taking pics at a church event . Good outside ; terrible inside . The bottom line ? I really wanted to love this camera , but it has such a narrow skill set , we just couldn't keep it . I'm shopping again , and praying this noise issue isn't inherent in all 12MP cameras .
      • 016 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) The camera is great ! The picture quality is stellar . It is easy to use too ! Unlike most other cameras , the on board menu options give you a description of what every option does - taking the guess work out the equation . It has excellent optical zoom that is better than average for its size and it is far better than my previous Canon PowerShot A640 . As an added feature , you can shoot movies in HD . This is the best point in shoot that I have ever owned . The only thing it lacks is the ability to zoom while shooting a movie and the ability to rotate the pictures to fit the screen while in playback mode ( unlike my old Canon ) . While this item was a refurb , it looks and operates like it is brand spanking new . A great buy for anyone who is looking for a higher end compact point-and-shoot camera . I would highly recommend it in comparison to any other camera in its class ( including any of the Canons ) . Last , don't just take my word for it - [ . . . ]
      • 018 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Many have discussed all the cool features of this camera so I will just mention what I found important here . I really like the look and feel of this camera , and it is small and fits neatly in a pocket . But , what is it for ? For me , to take clear , crisp pictures with great color and contrast . I am sorry to say that the pictures it takes are not clear and crisp . It's a shame , the designers did everything else right , but it seems they saved a buck on the quality of the image sensor and spoiled an otherwise great product . After owning it a week , I bought a Panasonic DMC-TZ5 which is larger and does not have quite as cool looking a case , but it does produce much clearer pictures in a side-by-side comparison . And , it has it's own set of cool features , but I'm not here to talk about them , but to warn about the less-than-clear images produced by the SONY . Sorry SONY , but that's the way it is .
      • 024 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) The DSC-W290 is a amazing little camera . Its feature packed and easy to use.To be honest , I needed a camera just to point and shoot and take excellent pictures whether day or night . The DSC-W290 fits the bill perfectly with its Intelligent mode which identifies all different shooting modes and environments automatically , day or night and adjusts appropriately . The LCD screen at the back is large and clear . The picture quality is amazing with crisp pictures and life-like rich colors . Even more amazing is the high-def video in 780i , total treat to watch on the big screen . The shoot-when-smiling mode actually works great too . Another little thing - On the second day I bought the camera , I dropped it while it was still turned on . It fell hard , lens first on a rock and went bouncing . The impact bent the cylinder holding the lens . Once retracted it was stuck for good with the motor whirring trying to extend out the lens anytime I turned it on . It also suffered some dings and scratches . Even though it was my fault and the warranty was void as it was an accident , Sony service center repaired it for free and shipped it back within a week . I have to commend Sony on the quality and timeliness of the service provided . The camera worked like new and I couldn't be happier with this product and Sony's service . Cons - The battery life is just around an hour or probably less when you are in video mode quite a bit . But you should be able to get a replacement battery for about $15 . There is no zoom while in video mode . A good add-on would be a 8Gb Sandisk memory card and a replacement battery to extend your shooting experience .
      • 028 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Very impressed with this model , I waited for it's release before upgrading our existing Sony Camera . The intelligent shot feature is very good . This camera rarely takes a bad shot . The 720p video is very good and is especially clear in brighter settings . Extremely happy with the investment . Some may be discouraged at the proprietary Sony Memory format . For that I believe the quality of the camera out weighs this negative .
      • 031 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) this camera takes excellent HD videos and it can take photos at 16 : 9 , what makes it ideal for wide screens displays
      • 036 4  Soft ! Soft ! Soft ! In bright sunlight the 12.1 megapixel DSC-W290 with its wide-angle zoom lens does reasonably well , The ' Steadyshot ' feature helps at max zoom . The 28mm equivalent end of the lens travel produces some nice panoramic shots . The color rendition has the usual pleasing Sony balance . HOWEVER , bring it indoors and it doesn't perform anywhere near as well as my old 5.1 megapixel Sony DSC-P93A . All settings of automatic and manual focus , with and without flash , produce very soft , dark images . Using the DSC-W290 and the DSC-P93A side by side , I took about a hundred exposures at a recent child's birthday party . The 5 . l megapixel P93A produced excellent , sharp pictures of fast-moving four-year-olds . I had only 5 out of fifty-seven images to delete . Fifteen of the images were notably good . The W290 produced only 2 images out of forty worth saving . My conclusion : don't buy a camera on the basis of its pixel count . Lens quality is more important , and so is the processing software . In my weeks of using the W290 , I found only two advantages over the old P93A . One is the excellent battery life . Pack two spares and you could tour the world if you exploited the second advantage , the ability of the W290 to use multigigabit memory sticks . The P93A only recognizes 1 gigabit of memory . Video performance of the W290 was good indoors and out , but I have a Canon videocamera so I didn't give that feature much weight . If you already have a pretty good digicam , don't buy the Sony DSC-W290 or any other of the new 12.1 MP and up cameras unless you can try it out first . You might be surprised to find that where it counts , that is , in the quality of the pictures you get , your old one does as well or better . I'll keep the W290 as a handy outdoor image collector ; its small size and good battery life are enough to prevent me from leaving it on my dashboard for someone to steal so I can collect the insurance .
      • 037 4  Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) I recently bought the Sony DSC-W290 digital camera with NO REGRETS ! I looked for weeks at all the brands and read all the reviews , before deciding on the Sony DSC-W290 . Sony cameras rated the best in reliability over a 5 year period in two top consumer magazines ! Glad I bought a Sony ! The Sony DSC-W290 takes excellant high quality pictures and high-def video . The video sound is also in stereo ! My friends Panasonic with similar features as my Sony , records in mono ! Believe me there's a big difference in sound quality ! The Sony sounds more realistic and picks up the sounds better and clearer than the Panasonic ! Something to consider since the Sony DSC-W290 takes such great quality high-def video . I feel high-def video has to have stereo sound , why wound any manufactuer make a camera with high-def video without it ? Much to my surprise Sony is way ahead of their competitors on this , most other brands record in mono , just like the Panasonic . The Sony DSC-W290 is very well built and solid ! Very easy to use , just like all Sony digital cameras ! They improved their menu options on this model making it even easier to use over previous ones . The Sony DSC-W290 has a metal front and back case , most others are all plastic , something else to consider ! Plus the Sony DSC-W290 just down right looks better and more high tech than all their competitors ! It's very compact with tons of features and capabilities ! The photo and video quality is the best I've seen in a point and shoot digital camera in this price range . My prints turn out so well they look like a professional took them ! I love the Carl Zeiss lenses Sony uses ! They are German and used by professional labs worldwide ! Also , Carl Zeiss lenses are used by NASA on the Space Shuttle ! Something else to consider when deciding which camera to buy . The double anti-blur and optical image stabilization features work great ! I purposely tried to make the Sony screw up and couldn't , I'm amazed , perfect sharp , clear photos every time ! The Sony DSC-W290 is so automatic , put it in Intelligent Auto mode , and the camera does the rest . There's also manual settings available , but why bother . Buy the Sony DSC-W290 and you won't be disappointed ! You'll love it ! They are selling so well that many stores and online retailers are out-of-stock ! So don't wait around , or you may have to wait till they get re-stocked ! The Sony DSC-W290 is very hard to beat ! ! ! UPDATE ! ! ! I've owned this amazing camera for over a month now , just had to update my review ! I can't say enough good things about it ! All my friends and family love this camera and the high quality of the photos it takes ! Everywhere I go people ask me about it ! They love the simplicity of it , the looks , and the quality of the camera and it's photo taking ability ! People say it's such a high-tech and good looking camera . I've taken nearly 500 photos already , and just can't believe the brilliant color of the photos from this Sony camera ! The build quality of this Sony camera is top-notch , it's so well built and just out right rock solid ! I've sold three poeple on this camera already . They were so impressed , they just had to buy one for themselves ! I don't at all understand some of the negative reviews ! I think some people just don't know how to use it . Which is hard to believe , because it's so simple to use . If you're looking for a great point and shoot camera that's a terrific value for the price ! Do yourself a favor and buy the Sony CyberShot DSC-W290 ! It's the BEST ! ! !
      • 043 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I recently compared this with three other cameras , the Canon PowerShot SD780IS , Nikon Coolpix s630 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 . The Canon and the Nikon couldn't even compare and were out of the running right away . The Panasonic is a good camera , but not quite as good as this Sony . Pros : 1 . Sharp , vivid color pictures 2 . Great image stabilization 3 . No noticeable shutter lag 4 . Decent pictures in low light 5 . Very portable due to the small size 6 . Good HD video quality 7 . Easy to charge , charger plugs right into the outlet , no counter space required Cons : 1 . The zoom isn't the best 2 . You have to use their software to transfer the video to your computer 3 . Can't zoom in while taking video 4 . USB port on the bottom of the camera so you have to lay it on its back or front to access it 5 . USB port has no cover , so it could get dirt inside of it My main reason for choosing the Sony was the picture quality . I can do without the great zoom of the Panasonic and a covered USB port if I have good picture quality . I was actually surprised that this camera won my test , as my current point and shoot camera is a Sony and I've never been happy with it .
      • 045 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I bought this camera after a recent trip to Disney World - I only wish I had bought it BEFORE the trip . We traveled with friends , who had just bought this very same Cyber-Shot . Nearly all of their DSC-W290 shots and HD video came out awesome . The shots I took with my 5.0 megapixel couldn't compare . After my return from Disney and seeing the potential for this camera , I immediately ordered the DSC-W290 from Amazon for my very own . The first DSC-W290 arrived from Amazon with some problems . All my lighter-scene shots had a small cloudy spot , about the size of an eraser head in the upper left corner . It was in the same place every time . The cloudy spot appeared in actual printed photos and on the LCD display . I called Sony because the sticker on the box said to call them ( not the retailer ) if there are any problems . Sony's solution was for me to send in this week-old-camera for repair . Not happening . I then contacted Amazon via their automated return / exchange process . Oh man , how smooth this process was . It took me all of 3 minutes to complete Amazon's on-line exhange form and wham , a replacement camera was in my hands 48 hours later . I then sent the defective one back to them using the retun label Amazon provided me . I applaud Amazon for making this potentally bad situation a non-issue . Bravo Amazon ! The replacement camera was put to use almost immediately . I took munerous still and action shots during the recent December 09 ' blizzard the blanketed the DC area . In a word , phenominal . I took multiple shots of the same scene , varying just the scene setting from easy to pre-set snow backgroud . Both shots - incredible . Holiday shots were equally as nice . The camera compensates nicely for indoor low light . The only shot I struggle with is nightime shots that have movement ( i.e . parade ) . Oddly enough , nightime HD video comes out great with no special adjustment . Go figure . Fit and finish is seemed better than other comparably priced cameras I looked at . As for battery life , have a spare on-hand ( although I do take a lot of shots so it's probably me ) . Again , a major kudo's to Amazon for their customer service process . I almost bought at another , online retailer just to save a a few bucks . . . I am sooo glad I didn't .
      • 047 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Easy to use . Compatible with wife's Sony W - 220 digital camera . Same cords , battery , battery charger . One less thing to pack on our travels .
      • 050 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) The only downside that I have found so far is that you have to take the battery out to charge it . It comes with this little box that the battery pops into , then that plugs into the wall . Just a little different . Also you cannot zoom while you are taking a video . But the ease of use and picture quality are very very easy . Takes quick pictures in succession , with very clear pics . The image stabilizer seems to work well . Especially for me .
      • 052 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Wow , finally i got this excelent camera from SONY . The 5x optical zoom and flash are awesome . All my photos are very clear . My wife was very happy and decided to keep as a christmas present . All was easy friendly to use and in 5 minutes i was taking all my shots with smile and face detection : all happy faces and perfect shots . I am totally convinced of the great quality of this camera .
      • 057 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) This is a very nice camera for it's class . It takes very good photos , is quick to focus and has low shutter lag . It also has all of the features that one finds on these cameras now , including optical image stabilization and an effective auto-smile detection feature . The battery seems to last well , though I didn't pay attention to how many shots I got over how many days . I haven't dropped it , but it seems well built . The LCD display is protected ( a little anyway ) by a thin layer of glass or Plexiglas . I would purchase this again if a similar need came up .
      • 060 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Bought this camera after comparing few cameras in local electronics store . Small camera and pictures looked great on the camera LCD screen . When I bought it and actually used it , the picture quality was terrible on computer . I tried different settings - auto , manual . Tried under different conditions - indoors / outdoors . The pictures were not sharp at all . I compared the pictures with my 5 yr old Sony Cybershot P9 camera . P9 was much sharper . I contacted Sony . After troubleshooting online , Sony asked us to send camera for repair . I didn't want to go through the repair process on a brand new camera . So I contacted Amazon . They quickly authorized return of the camera without any questions even though I had missed the return window by couple of days . I had a UPS person next morning to pickup the camera from me for return . Excellent service from Amazon . Made me a customer for life . Bad camera .
      • 065 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I like this camera because the ease of use and the video is shot at 720p . But to connect the camera to any hdmi device you need to order another special wire from sony for the camera . Typical for sony wouldn't you say .
      • 067 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I haven't had the camera long , but so far I have been very happy w / all the features and the ease of use . I am not super technical so having this camera working so well for me has been great - it is a very nice camera . And several of my friends have commented that their more expensive camera's do not perform as well . Very happy .
      • 069 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Yes , it is true , as from other reviews this camera - Has a tendency to become blurry ( What point and shoot camera doesn't ? ) - Is a bit chunky and big in size for a newer model of the Sony W generation - Cannot zoom for video mode With all that said , it is still a nice camera - The picture quality along with the relatively high amount of megapixels ( 12.1 ) is superb When having taken a good photograph , the colors for a point and shoot are wonderful ! - Sometimes , this camera does wonders and can take photos that compare to DSLR . - THe 5x zoom is really nice to have . For the most part , the picture quality even when zoomed has much clarity . Overall , if you could look past some of the drawbacks , you will love this camera like I would . But , if you had the extra moolah / dough / cash , just get the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black )
      • 073 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I just bought this camera a month ago & have used it a lot since we had a baby since then . I LOVE IT ! We have had 2 other Sony Cybershot Cameras that are older models & this is by far the best one . We liked the other which is why I knew I would most likely love this one . One of the best qualities I love is that you can take bright pictures even in the dark with no flash ! Perfect for a newborn . The only thing I don't like is that the picture doesn't turn depending on which way you are holding the camera when viewing it . . . but that is not a big deal . One photographer even saw it and wanted to get one . I would Highly recommend this camera !
      • 077 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) This camera is good for who want just a picture that he / she not going to print in the wall ! IAuto mode is great choice and dual shooting as option is great one two . When I compare this Sony W290 with Nikon coolpix that I have , Nikon when in terms of picture quality and purity . In terms of battery Sony wins . But what about ease of use ? Sony wins also because my Nikon was not built for shaky hands people , where Sony is well-know for shoot-as-you-go concept . Nikon picture quality is better than Sony but I got this as when I want take a picture for myself I will use someone help but that person could have a shaky hand which will result in bad picture quality and here Sony comes to save you . Without this option in Sony I would still use only Nikon . Of course I do use both now ; I would not give up Nikon which is made for professional people .
      • 080 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Bought this for my girlfriend , and now wish I had one . Great point and shoot camera
      • 082 4  Bought this camera a few months ago to replace a 4 year old Canon Elph . I'm generally happy with it considering the price , and C-Net gave it very good reviews . Had I known about it I would have bought the DSC-H20 / B 10.1 instead , because this camera really isn't that much smaller . + Price to feature ratio is the best out there + Smile Detection works better than any other camera I've seen . This has been a great feature for capturing my camera shy toddler . + Picture quality is pretty high . + Video quality is pretty high , and I don't mind not being able to zoom . - Auto focus is an absolute must . I could just snap with my old elph and the quality would still be pretty good . With this camera you have to use the focus . - Picture button is really annoying . It's pretty hard to focus without accidentally snapping a pic . The button itself is too small . I thought I could live with it , but it's pretty annoying . - Zoom button is a bit of a pain as well . It's on the back of the camera as opposed to near the snap button like on other cameras . - Can't zoom on video . I knew this when I bought , but I don't use the video feature very much . - Pretty bulky camera . Atleast 30% bigger than my old elph . Generally the picture quality is good , but the ease of use is poor . I think sony just wanted to be the first to get HD video in a point & shoot camera of this class , and released it quickly without working out the kinks . Unfortunately this happened at the time when I desperately needed a new camera . I'm happy with the picture and video quality , but now that this camera has a lot of competition , I would not buy it again .
      • 084 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) This is my first camera and really have much expectation about making a good investment . And what can I say , I am very happy that I had chosen this camera , its image quality is very good and if you use the 12 - megapixel photos will have an excellent presentation on the details , the video is very good can see very clearly and sharpness . I can only say THANK YOU SONY ! !
      • 086 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Great camera ! I've had it for a couple months - easy , fast , light , portable - NO issues ! ! !
      • 091 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I've had this camera for 4 months now and have taken it on two overseas trips . I've probably taken 900 pictures with it . It's an easy to use small camera that takes great shots when the lighting is good . In low lighting with motion , it can be blurry but I don't know how sensitive the sensors are compare to other cameras so it's tough to say it's better or worse than other cameras . It takes great high definition video . Had one one problem on the last trip when the temperature was closer to 0 - 5C ( 32 - 40F ) . In this case the lense cover didn't open or close all the way during multiple uses over 5 days . It's as if there's a lubricant that get stiff in cold weather . I'm back in warm weather now ( 60F ) and only had the issue once since leaving the cold . The operators manual says that the operating temp is 0 - 40C ( 32 - 104F ) which is a bit limiting if you are going to take it with you snow sking or in the desert . Wish they would have had this spec on the Amazon site before I bought it . I'm not sure how other digital cameras are temperature rated .
      • 093 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Another great product from Sony . I love the ease of use . It has really helped reduce the number of complaints from my wife . My kids are young - 6 and 4 , so I dont let them try it , I am sure they would be able to use it equally well . The only issue for me , literally the only one , is that I have to hold the camera in its place for 1 - 2 secs more after I see the last flash to get the perfect pic . Again , I should expect that as it is not an SLR . Just something I had not expected from Sony , maybe I am expecting too much . The battery has not been designed to hold and use charge to fill 4GB disk with pics in one go . Thats how I rate the battery life . Pros : Picture quality , Ease of use , HD video , and other standard Sony features Cons : Picture taking time , Battery life could have been better , Options in menu for certain settings . I also bought the soft case recommended with the product , but it fits too tight . I need a case that I can quickly put a camera in and take it out with one hand . The case seems to be designed for storage , defeats the purpose of hanging it on the belt . I had a bigger soft case from an earlier camera that I am using instead .
      • 095 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) The camera is good option for quick focus and shoot amd without too many complex operations . Nice grip compared to similar camera's . Overall nice results though night shots still a challenge . . may be I need to get the settings the correct setting
      • 097 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I bought this camera and i love it . Great camera , can be a little bit cheaper , but when you buy sony , you always pay a little more for brand . Anyway it worth it ! ! ! ! Fast shipping ! ! !
      • 099 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) takes good pictures in easy mode , gets blurry unless set perfectly in any other mode . wife tends to hit the mode button constantly with her thumb , so we get alot of poor pictures . really have to watch hand placement .
      • 101 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) best priced and featured camera with HD video . What sold me was the speed of the camera . Very fast 2.3 fps . flipping through photos is quick . erasing is quick . it takes less than a second to turn it on completely . the screen i found to be much clearer than Nikon's OLED S70 .
      • 103 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) You Will Love This Camera ! The Best HD Camera For The Price ! [ . . . ]
      • 105 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) This is a good product with easy use and intelligent features which makes it use at any location and anytime . The steady image feature is excellent and gives really crispy images .
      • 109 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I got this as a christmas present from my dad . I go through cameras pretty quickly and this one is a replacement of my Sony Cybershot 10 mega pixel . It's really great , I absolutely love it . The video quality is amazing , if quite short even with the extra memory stick . Its a little difficult to figure out at first which shooting mode you need to be in , but I'm sure that's just because I'm not the type of person who reads directions . Eventually I've figured it out , and like I said it's great quality .
      • 111 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I like the larger veiw finder . It seems like our picts are clearer than what we had before . I am one that needs a unit that is easy to use . It has many features and quality of shots are good . We had one like this before and the veiw screen broke when someone put it in their back pocket , so beware it did not get hit just twisted when that person sat down .
      • 113 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I brought this camera during thanks giving holiday deals . The deal is good and it reached me with the expected date . I selected this camera because it has a new feature called SMILEY with which it will take pictures automatically when it is on and someone smiling . But this feature not that much working as I expected . Even though I set for very small smile also , It is taking some time to recognize smile and not taking the pictures . I tried for my daughter , by the time it takes the picture , my daughter stops smiling and I am not getting the smily picture . Except this , The camera is good and working very fine . Regards , Kumar .
      • 121 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I used to own a Sony DSC-p10 , it's a 5 megapixel camera from around 2003 . The camera was great , but finally gave up , mostly due to abuse . Since I had such good luck with my first Sony camera , I decided it would be great to get another Sony over the more popular Cannon's . I got this camera around the end of June , which at the time of my writing this was 4 months ago and I've taken just over 600 pictures . Let's start out with the good : The display is huge , and easy to see things in . Everyone that uses this camera comments on how big and nice the display is . Battery life is outstanding . Actually , what's better than outstanding ? I'm not sure , but that's what it is . Kudos to Sony on this one , I've charged the battery 3 - 4 times since I've owned the camera . The video is phenomenal , quality is better than I would expect out of a point-and-shoot but it suffers from the same focus problem as the still shots , which I'll explain later . Feature wise , this camera has plenty . . . mostly you'll probably never use . One of the reasons I got this camera is because I was familiar with the Sony menu system , so as far as I'm concerned it's easy to use but this is more opinion than fact . The camera is fast , or at least I've not noticed it being slow which is a welcome change from my previous camera . The zoom works as expected , nothing good or bad to report . It doesn't work while recording a video but that's not really a big deal to me . Size is good for me , but I'm a guy and have big pockets . It's slightly larger than some other point and shoot's but it's also mostly screen . Can't have everything . Now for the knit-picky things , There's no viewfinder , and the screen doesn't work very well in direct sunlight . It's bright enough to be seen outdoors if you're facing the right direction , but I've found myself wanting a viewfinder a few times . Its lack of one is no surprise though , since I clearly knew this before I bought the camera . Whenever I hand this camera to someone to take a picture of me , they are ALWAYS confused by the buttons . There's the goofy smile detection button on the top , as well as on / off and shutter . The shutter button is oblong and apparently confuses people . I feel it's a bit hard to push with my big paw sized hands . It would be nicer if it was a round button that protruded from the top of the cam . The mode selection wheel often turns its self in my pocket or backpack and I find myself taking videos instead of pictures too often . The lanyard that came with the camera didn't have the little clip that slides on it to snug it up to your wrist , which pretty much defeats the point of a lanyard in the first place . This seems like a very silly place to save $ .01 . I used the lanyard from my previous camera , and it works great . This camera uses a proprietary plug to attach to the computer and requires an external battery charger . This is basically the same thing that Cannon does , but my old Sony camera used a standard mini-usb style plug and I could plug the charger directly into the cam without removing the battery . If you've made it this far , you're probably still seriously interested in buying this camera , and I don't blame you . Most of the things I listed above aren't really that big of a deal . But honestly , don't buy this camera , and here's why : The image quality is AWFUL . TERRIBLE . WRETCHED . This thing's supposed to be a 12 megapixel awesome fantastic camera , but my old 5 megapixel camera from 2003 took better pictures hands down . The W290 ' s daylight performance is acceptable . . . not fantastic , but I could live with it . The low-light performance if this camera is really bad though . Pictures that are even in moderate light start to become grainy way before they should and the flash doesn't make up for it . That's not the worst part though ; the autofocus of this camera is worthless . I've taken more out of focus pictures in the past 4 months than the past 4 years . It's always confused , zooming the focus in and out trying to pick out whatever is in the foreground . I've tried center focus , multifocus , etc and nothing seems to help . Medium light action shots are impossible . Most recently , I tried to take a picture of my girlfriend moving her head while in the bleachers at a stadium at night with all the stadium lights on . . . the flash went off ( it was on easy mode ) and still she motion blurred AND out of focus , this is just unacceptable . In another case I tried to take photos of dolphins off of the bow of a fishing boat at high noon ( plenty of light ) and the camera was unable to properly focus . I took photos in exactly the same conditions with my previous camera and they turned out perfect . Basically , in closing , this camera is worthless unless you just want some flashy looking toy that you can maybe take non-action pictures outside on sunny days with . Good luck shopping elsewhere .
      • 124 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I had this camera for 10 days and i tried many ( if not all ) of its features . The way sony corp . advertise about this camera , i expect this camera take better than average photos . I have a 4 - 5 years old sony DSC-W1 ( 5 MP ) and the pictures that my old camera takes are much better than DSC-W290 ( I did a side by side comparison ) . dont take my word for it , Go to local store and take some photo then pay attention to detail ( with your own memory , if you have one ) . you will see the defect for yourself , Pictures look as if a layer of distortion or snow on top of each photo ) . you see , i dont care about smile or face detector . What i really care is a camera that take an excellent picture then the gadgets comes in second . If you are thinking , you are getting the best or average compact camera , you dont . Big Disappointment . That is sad , i was buying sony products for the last 40 years But i should go with fact not feeling .
      • 125 4  I had this camera for 10 days and i tried many ( if not all ) of its features . The way sony corp . advertise about this camera , i expect this camera take better than average photos . I have a 4 - 5 years old sony DSC-W1 ( 5 MP ) and the pictures that my old camera takes are much better than DSC-W290 ( I did a side by side comparison ) . dont take my word for it , Go to local store and take some photo then pay attention to detail ( with your own memory , if you have one ) . you will see the defect for yourself , Pictures look as if a layer of distortion or snow on top of each photo ) . you see , i dont care about smile or face detector . What i really care is a camera that take an excellent picture then the gadgets comes in second . If you are thinking , you are getting the best or average compact camera , you dont . Big Disappointment . That is sad , i was buying sony products for the last 40 years But i should go with fact not feeling .
      • 126 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Unfortunately , a bad decision to buy this camera , photo camera images of the level of 3 megapixels , the video quality is good
      • 131 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I love this camera . Finding the right case was tough , though . After trying several ones in Sears , I bought a nice one that fits perfectly and has room for a battery : Caselogic Pocket Video Camcorder Case ( TBC - 312 ) . This case model comes in two sizes though . The camera fits in both but I liked better the smaller one . If you are looking for a case , I recommend you to visit a camera / electronic store and try some cases by yourself . It's the only way you can be completely sure about this . I spent too much time looking for the right case online and could not find it .
      • 135 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Camera was delivered with problem . All high definition pictures and videos shows a white dot . Looks like a burned dot on the CCD cell .
      • 137 4  My first Sony Cyber-shot standalone camera as I had Sony Ericsson mobiles with build-in Cyber-shot cameras , as I was happy with the performance from the Mobile Cyber-shots I purchased the DSC = W290 as my old canon 800IS was ready to be changed . Basically I am NOT happy with the performance , slow in been ready from shot to shot , face detection does not work all the time , skin tones tend to be yellowish , auto focus is not 100% correct . I will not recommend the DSC-W290 to others and I am to go back to Canon as my old 800IS performce better than this Sony .
      • 138 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I ordered the new Sony W290 for a cruise we're taking in a couple weeks . Having owned a few Sony cameras , I'm very familiar with Sony's quality and performance . I am actually a huge fan of Sony products , so I was looking forward to receiving my new camera . I had also considered the Canon SD970IS . I have owned several Canon PowerShot models throughout the years . However , the Canon was priced $140 more than the Sony , which led me to decide on the W290 . After all , their features were comparable ( 12.1 Megapixel , 5X optical zoom , HD video , etc . ) . When I received the camera , I charged the battery and began taking test still shots and video . I made several indoor and outdoor shots to test the cameras capabilities . As soon as I downloaded the files to my PC , I immediately noticed that the pictures were grainy and not very sharp . Although they were taken at the camera's highest resolution ( 4000 x 3000 ) , they looked like they were taken in low res or even from a cell phone camera . I tweaked around with some of the settings and made additional tests ( in manual and auto ) . Again , the pictures were very disappointing . I compared the indoor and outdoor test shots I took around the house with pictures I had previously taken with my 8 megapixel Canon SD850 . The difference was very apparent . In the interior pictures taken with my Canon , you could zoom in and see the details of the wood grain on furniture . In the Sony pictures , the details were blurred . The same was true with the outdoor pictures - you could see much more details in the pictures taken with my old Canon . I went back and reset all the user settings to default and made another set of tests . The results were the same . I then tested the HD video capabilities ( indoors and outdoors ) and was again let down . The video looked over-exposed . I adjusted the EV setting on the camera , but it made very little difference . I also noticed a lot of lens flares even in the indoor shots . This was not what I expected . I tried to convince myself that I was missing something obvious , so I looked through the manual , tweaked around with the settings again , and even cleaned the lens . I took several more tests , but with the same results . Believe me , I really wanted to like this camera , but reasons for keeping it were quickly diminishing . Having read the 5 - star reviews here and on other sites , I am convinced that the camera I received is defective , which is why I didn't give the camera a lower rating . Reluctantly , I will be returning the camera . However at this point , I'm not sure if I would purchase the Sony again or go for the Canon , at least not before my cruise .
      • 140 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Youn think you get the best but you are wrong do not buy this camera I used to have a nikon and got this sony now I have lots of problems to put my videos Into my DVD maker you have to get a converter for it .
      • 143 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Everything they say about the camera is true . Although Sony really needs to include at least 1 gig memory card with the camera . . Being they do not state , neither do the sellers that the camera holds ( 2 ) TWO pictures without a card .
      • 147 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) For out-doors picture , with good light conditions , the pictures are great and sharp . Amazing video capture . But I was really disappointed when taking pictures in-doors . In its Intelligent Auto Ajust Mode , the camera usually picks a high iso configuration when there's not a bright light inside a room ( and I mean really bright ) , resulting in a bad quality picture . Looks like you're using a 0,5 Megapixel camera . Too bad I didn't know much about the ISO settings before buying this camera . High ISO yields bad quality pictures , because the idea is to obtain a brighter picture in low light conditions . I wish this camera had a smarter ISO auto-ajustment .
      • 150 4  This is what I've been hearing from all these 1 - 3 star reviews . Great outdoors , Bad indoors . Sony finally solved that problem with the WX1 it has a : 10.2 - megapixel Back-Illuminated Exmor R CMOS Sensor Producing Stunning Images in Low Light . Finally . A good all around camera ! ! ! ! ! ! Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 / B 10MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Camera with 5x Optical Steady Shot Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) Check it out !
      • 154 4  I bought a Sony CyberShot ( DSC-W290 ) specifically because it records 720p video ( MPEG4 ) . I recorded few clips and inserted the Memory Stick Pro-Duo into PS3 ( and on Sony HDTV ) . It recognizes all my pictures but the video folders are empty . Either 720p standard or fine videos does not show in the folder to play . Only the video recorded with the lowest resolution ( VGA ) shows up and able play them ( I was experimenting recording with all 3 options ) . I called Sony's camera Customer Service and they told me to use a different Memory Stick which I did ( different brands ) but same results . They told me that something is wrong with my PS3 and told me to contact PS3 Customer Service . I did that and they are telling any MPEG4 video should play on PS3 ( no fireware updates needed ) and telling me to call Sony's Camera Cust . Service . I tried connecting the USB to PS3 and playing the videos on the PS3 but still no luck .

    • The display is huge , and easy to see things in . Everyone that uses this camera comments on how big and nice the display is . Battery life is outstanding . Actually , what's better than outstanding ? I'm not sure , but that's what it is . Kudos to Sony on this one , I've charged the battery 3 - 4 times since I've owned the camera . The video is phenomenal , quality is better than I would expect out of a point-and-shoot but it suffers from the same focus problem as the still shots , which I'll explain later . Feature wise , this camera has plenty . . . mostly you'll probably never use . One of the reasons I got this camera is because I was familiar with the Sony menu system , so as far as I'm concerned it's easy to use but this is more opinion than fact . The camera is fast , or at least I've not noticed it being slow which is a welcome change from my previous camera . The zoom works as expected , nothing good or bad to report . It doesn't work while recording a video but that's not really a big deal to me . Size is good for me , but I'm a guy and have big pockets . It's slightly larger than some other point and shoot's but it's also mostly screen . Can't have everything . Now for the knit-picky things , There's no viewfinder , and the screen doesn't work very well in direct sunlight . It's bright enough to be seen outdoors if you're facing the right direction , but I've found myself wanting a viewfinder a few times . Its lack of one is no surprise though , since I clearly knew this before I bought the camera . Whenever I hand this camera to someone to take a picture of me , they are ALWAYS confused by the buttons . There's the goofy smile detection button on the top , as well as on / off and shutter . The shutter button is oblong and apparently confuses people . I feel it's a bit hard to push with my big paw sized hands . It would be nicer if it was a round button that protruded from the top of the cam . The mode selection wheel often turns its self in my pocket or backpack and I find myself taking videos instead of pictures too often . The lanyard that came with the camera didn't have the little clip that slides on it to snug it up to your wrist , which pretty much defeats the point of a lanyard in the first place . This seems like a very silly place to save $ .01 . I used the lanyard from my previous camera , and it works great . This camera uses a proprietary plug to attach to the computer and requires an external battery charger . This is basically the same thing that Cannon does , but my old Sony camera used a standard mini-usb style plug and I could plug the charger directly into the cam without removing the battery . If you've made it this far , you're probably still seriously interested in buying this camera , and I don't blame you . Most of the things I listed above aren't really that big of a deal . But honestly , don't buy this camera , and here's why : The image quality is AWFUL . TERRIBLE . WRETCHED . This thing's supposed to be a 12 megapixel awesome fantastic camera , but my old 5 megapixel camera from 2003 took better pictures hands down . The W290 ' s daylight performance is acceptable . . . not fantastic , but I could live with it . The low-light performance if this camera is really bad though . Pictures that are even in moderate light start to become grainy way before they should and the flash doesn't make up for it . That's not the worst part though ; the autofocus of this camera is worthless . I've taken more out of focus pictures in the past 4 months than the past 4 years . It's always confused , zooming the focus in and out trying to pick out whatever is in the foreground . I've tried center focus , multifocus , etc and nothing seems to help . Medium light action shots are impossible . Most recently , I tried to take a picture of my girlfriend moving her head while in the bleachers at a stadium at night with all the stadium lights on . . . the flash went off ( it was on easy mode ) and still she motion blurred AND out of focus , this is just unacceptable . In another case I tried to take photos of dolphins off of the bow of a fishing boat at high noon ( plenty of light ) and the camera was unable to properly focus . I took photos in exactly the same conditions with my previous camera and they turned out perfect . Basically , in closing , this camera is worthless unless you just want some flashy looking toy that you can maybe take non-action pictures outside on sunny days with . Good luck shopping elsewhere .
      • 002 4  This camera does take great pictures . These days the cameras are very easy to operate with all of the auto settings and advanced face detection and scene recognition - it's hard to mess up a shot . This camera is no exception and makes the user feel like a pro when taking pictures . However , here are some things to think about when buying this camera : 1 ) The controls are on the right rear side of the camera . In particular the W / T buttons and the directional pad / button - the W button is hard to press and the left side of the dpad as well . For some reason they are right up against the right side of the 3 screen which causes a problem and you have to either reposition your finger or use your nail to press the buttons I mentioned . No , I don't have large fingers - it is just a design flaw . The buttons are set below the screen - if they were raised there would not be a problem . If you really want to see what I mean look at the pictures here on Amazon and zoom in on the back panel picture . Something I never noticed before but the directional button even has a part of the 3 LCD frame cut out because it is so close to the button . See for yourself . . . . 2 ) The video is crisp and clear ( 720p ) but you CAN NOT ZOOM while shooting video . Compared to the T500 , T700 , T900 , T90 ect where you can zoom when recording video . Very disappointing and if someone here mentioned that in their review I wouldn't have bought the camera - I bet people here don't even own the damn thing . The steady shot works well too by the way . 3 ) There is a rattle when you shake the camera . This is apparent only when the camera is turned on so I think it is the lens cover ( s ) which retract and automatically opens and closes when you turn the camera on . The lens protector is very fragile and when closed you can push it open with your finger unlike the DSC-N1 that I had which was like solid doors covering the lens . 4 ) This thing is BIG ! OK it's not huge but compared to the W300 It's thick . I know , it has a 3.0 screen compared to a 2.7 screen but it is heavier and thicker than the W300 and the T series but I want to compare apples to apples . 5 ) Switching from menus and functions is a bit slow . There is definitely a processing delay with video and some pictures that I took too . I wouldn't begin to throw a number out there ( seconds ) but it is definitely slower than the W300 for good comparison . Turning the camera on - slight lag - lens pops out - it's just a lot slower than the N1 and W300 . 6 ) There is NO docking cradle , memory or a case provided with the camera . I like the new battery charger which does not have a power cord but has plugs that flip out so you just plug it into an outlet and walk away - when the indicator light is off you are done charging - really good idea ! 7 ) You need two hands to operate this camera . With the W300 you can work the zoom and shutter button with your right had with ease . Not so with the W290 . Watch that left hand too ! The RF illumination is located right where you might put your left forefinger . Careful . 8 ) The shutter button is on top of the camera along with the power button and a new SMILE button . The smile button will automatically engage the smile detector and will snap a shot automatically when activated . Very cool . However , the button , along with the power button is so small and inset that you really have to wonder if you are pressing it or not . You do feel a click I should say so it isn't that bad I guess . Canon - who's that ? I don't use their products - Sony only baby . This is a great camera but could be better . Like the T700 the T900 came out and fixed a lot of issues . The W300 is a better camera than the W290 . I am sure they will come out with a W400 ? It will be great I am sure ! Get this W290 camera for the price and basic functions as a starter camera .
      • 004 4  + This camera takes amazing pictures . Sharp , vivid , crisp , ( insert synonyms here ) . + Having such a high resolution is nice and the wide angle lens is great . It also has a little extra zoom than other point-and-shoots , which is another great feature . The smile detection feature is fun for about 30 minutes , but ultimately useless . ( At least to me . . . . ) + It has tons of little features and settings and even allows for some editing on the camera like red-eye removal and such . - I do wish i could mess with the settings a bit more though . I like to be able to manually set the exposure time and mess with other things as well . These are unaccessible to the user . Regardless , it takes great pictures without me fiddling with things , so perhaps it is best . Though I do wish it had a long exposure setting to take some cool lightning shots or mess with light graffiti , but I think I'll live . - Also , you can't zoom while shooting video . This is a bit of a frustration as well . + The camera itself is amazingly small for it's high resolution and hi-def video capabilities . + Its construction is solid and the black looks pretty slick . + Great bang for the buck camera . Simple enough for the family or girlfriend to use , and enough features and good enough quality for some more creative shots of my own . ( and I don't feel girlie carrying it , though there are other colors if that's your thing . . . )
      • 005 4  I previously owned the Sony T500 because our family needs a camera that can take HD video , but also great photos in one package . I recently upgraded my personal camera and was going to hand down the T500 to my wife , but she did not like the all touchscreen controls . She prefers physical dials and buttons . So I sold off that camera and went in search of one with similar or better features that would be easy to use . I ended up going with the W290 and it easily surpasses the T500 in photo quality . Right out of the box she was taking great photos on the auto setting . Low light shooting is problematic for all point and shoots , but the W290 did much better than I expected , just don't expect miracles . The 3 inch screen is gorgeous . I don't think I could ever go back to the 2.7 screens anymore . The W290 is also priced well . It does cost more than a Flip HD or those other pocket HD camers , but purely from a video standpoint it's far superior . From the much larger lense to the bigger screen , there is no comparison . Then you add the full features of a quality camera and it's a no brainer . She's very happy with it .
      • 006 4  The first two months with this camera was great . Easy menus , good battery life , simple point and shoot settings , good in all kinds of light . However , when I turned on the camera last weekend , every picture I took was overexposed , no matter what setting it was on . I consulted with the user guide - which has a WEAK troubleshooting section . It offered no help . Finally , I took it back to the Sony Store and the guy told me that the sensor went bad , and I'd have to mail in the camera for service . The registration process was time consuming , and its a pain to have to mail it in . We'll see how quickly they can fix and return the camera to me . I didn't get the extended warranty . I always feel like that is a rip-off , but maybe I will have to reconsider .
      • 007 4  I'm on my fourth digital camera , and by far , this Sony W290 is the best one I've ever had . It turns on quickly , processes pictures rapidly , and charges the flash faster than any camera I've used before . In terms of picture quality , I am simply astonished . I have 2 35mm SLR cameras that I use when I want to be artistic and tend to be pretty particular about images . What surprises me the most about this camera is that the intelligent picture settings is phenomenal . I have taken photographs directly into sunlight , sunsets , dark rooms , fluorescent lighting , outside , etc and the camera's ability to quickly and properly adjust the ISO , aperture , speed , etc to create a wonderful picture is unparalleled . I actually think it's the first camera to adjust the settings for the environment even better than I would manually do myself by overriding the settings . In fact , I love leaving it on auto almost all the time now , taking a picture without worrying about anything at all , and then pleasant admiring how good the picture came out . Steady shot works well . Focus is terrific . And , the LCD on the back of the camera is enormous given the camera's small form . If there is one complaint , red-eye subject notification could be set up better . While red eye reduction works great itself , the camera pre-flash is very similar to the actual photograph's flash and confuses subjects in the picture into thinking that I've already taken the photo , whereby the start to look away . I'm trying to get into the habit of telling them that the flash may shine ' twice ' so as to get them to stay still . However , since the red eye reduction is automatic , it doesn't always come on , which adds more confusion . I like the blinking flash that cameras I've used in the past had a bit more . But , that said , I'm really happy with the quality of the photos and the user interface of the camera . Again , it's the best compact I've owned and I really think one can't do wrong using it . Frankly , I think it's the best of its kind presently , particularly since I thought the price was reasonable .
      • 008 4  Everything you could want in a digital camera . High MP , multiple modes , high ISO , easy to use , takes great pics , shoots video in 720p , large and bright LCD screen , etc . I was weary about buying a Sony because of memory card prices and capability . Bought the memory card / battery / case on Amazon . Great price , but the camera does not fit in the case with any kind of screen protector on it . With the memory card adapter , it plugged right into my Toshiba laptop . Camera does come with a battery and a charger . Even tells you how many minutes of battery life you have left . This camera is designed a lot like the Canon ( the two previous cameras I have owned ) in terms of functionality , size , and looks . I could not be happier . Buy this camera !
      • 009 4  I bought this camera for my husband when he goes on his biker runs He would always come back with no pictures because he could not carry the camera with him on the bike.We have a Mavica FD - 97 and a DSC - F828 ; both cameras take amazing pictures . ( As you can tell we love Sony cameras ! ) This Sony W290 is perfect . It is extremely easy to use and takes phenomenal pictures ! I have not had to open a manual at all . The menus are laid out perfectly and every aspect of each menu is easy to understand . I especially like the 5X digital zoom in such a small camera . Now he simply straps the camera case to his belt and he's off . Took great pictures on his latest outing ! You can't go wrong with this camera - I'm tempted to buy a second one to keep in my purse !
      • 012 4  Overall I would recommend this camera . In contrast to another reviewer , we tried the Sony W170 and we found that it took very blurry pictures in low light and not much better than in sunlight . However , thanks to Amazon great customer service , we were able to send it back without a restocking fee so we took a chance at the W290 . This camera takes very good pictures . It is easy to use . Compact enough to fit in a pocket . It is mostly automatic with preset settings without the ability to make many adjustments . But this is not a problem . The camera does a good job adjusting for outside lighting as well as inside . The outside pictures are very sharp with great and vivid colors . Inside low lighting pictures are very good as well but not as sharp . As to be expected with a point and shoot camera . They are however fine for printing and viewing on a computer screen . May not be good enough for large poster prints . Haven't tried the HD Video option yet so cannot comment .
      • 015 4  My short-time experience with my new W290 has been nothing shy of satisfaction . The picture quality is excellent , both indoors and out . I thought the Smile feature was just a gimmick , but it has allowed me to capture those oh-so-difficult happy pictures of my 19 - month-old grandson , besides the smiles of my relatives and friends . The 720mp HD video is very clear and the anti-shake works very well . I bought the HD cable and hooked it to my HD TV and the quality is extraordinary , for both the stills and the video . The slideshow feature is amazing . The built-in music , four styles and transitions make my so-so pictures look like a million bucks ! Get this camera . . .
      • 019 4  Many have discussed all the cool features of this camera so I will just mention what I found important here . I really like the look and feel of this camera , and it is small and fits neatly in a pocket . But , what is it for ? For me , to take clear , crisp pictures with great color and contrast . I am sorry to say that the pictures it takes are not clear and crisp . It's a shame , the designers did everything else right , but it seems they saved a buck on the quality of the image sensor and spoiled an otherwise great product . After owning it a week , I bought a Panasonic DMC-TZ5 which is larger and does not have quite as cool looking a case , but it does produce much clearer pictures in a side-by-side comparison . And , it has it's own set of cool features , but I'm not here to talk about them , but to warn about the less-than-clear images produced by the SONY . Sorry SONY , but that's the way it is .
      • 023 4  I owned a Sony Cybershot W50 and it took great photos . Many of my friends were surprised to find out I used a point-and-shoot for taking photos for my first child because the photos were very sharp and well focused ( without using flash on the baby ) . Unfortunately , W50 died due to some abuse . I thought I would try another Sony . But to my greatest surprise and disappointment , W290 takes photos that are much worse than W50 . Photos are usually grainy and always seem a little out-of-focus ! After using it for more than half a year , I stumbled upon something : if I use the EASY mode ( I always thought it's for senior citizens because for one thing the fonts are huge ) , the photos are much better than the more advanced mode . From now on , I am primarily using EASY mode . One good thing I like about this is the HD video . It is so much better than the video taken from W50 . But that should be expected . Hope it helps .
      • 025 4  The DSC-W290 is a amazing little camera . Its feature packed and easy to use.To be honest , I needed a camera just to point and shoot and take excellent pictures whether day or night . The DSC-W290 fits the bill perfectly with its Intelligent mode which identifies all different shooting modes and environments automatically , day or night and adjusts appropriately . The LCD screen at the back is large and clear . The picture quality is amazing with crisp pictures and life-like rich colors . Even more amazing is the high-def video in 780i , total treat to watch on the big screen . The shoot-when-smiling mode actually works great too . Another little thing - On the second day I bought the camera , I dropped it while it was still turned on . It fell hard , lens first on a rock and went bouncing . The impact bent the cylinder holding the lens . Once retracted it was stuck for good with the motor whirring trying to extend out the lens anytime I turned it on . It also suffered some dings and scratches . Even though it was my fault and the warranty was void as it was an accident , Sony service center repaired it for free and shipped it back within a week . I have to commend Sony on the quality and timeliness of the service provided . The camera worked like new and I couldn't be happier with this product and Sony's service . Cons - The battery life is just around an hour or probably less when you are in video mode quite a bit . But you should be able to get a replacement battery for about $15 . There is no zoom while in video mode . A good add-on would be a 8Gb Sandisk memory card and a replacement battery to extend your shooting experience .
      • 027 4  I recently used this camera to take pictures at California's Electric Daisy Carnival in Los Angeles . Some Pros : + Very sharp , high resolution photos when taken under broad day light + Very low fringing + Excellent wide-angle lens + Great menu system + Relatively fast start up and shot-to-shot time + Full 720p HD video recording produced outstanding video + In-camera editing features like red-eye removal , sepia , glitter , etc . + Compact , stylish design + Huge 3 ' ' inch , high resolution , bright screen Some Cons : - Very difficult to get good night photos or long-exposure photos ! ! The Electric Daisy Carnival really comes alive at night and I think I missed a few great photos because it is difficult to get great shots with this camera at night ! - I occasionally encountered an error message asking me to turn the camera on then back off . Maybe the mode knob got shifted around too easily during the carnival . - No zoom during HD recording , but I didn't use the zoom that much anyway during video recording . - Lack of shutter - or aperture-priority modes is * extremely * frustrating , especially if you're accustomed to having more control . - Textured surface tends to collect dirt and debris and is not easily cleaned . BOTTOM LINE : If you want a simple point-and-shoot , then this camera more than fits the bill . It's sleek and stylish and takes very good quality pictures in broad daylight . It's also pretty fast , has a wide-angle lens , and is a good compromise between a high-end dSLR and a low-end cheap camera . Camera produced pictures with natural , true-to-life colors . Night time shots , however , require that the user tinker around a bit with the Program Mode , potentially causing the operator to miss a shot . Overall , I'm not * completely * satisfied with this camera ; it could be better , but I'd still recommend it to people looking for a general all-purpose point and shot . DevilDoc
      • 035 4  I own a lot of cameras , none of which have really been truly portable . I have a film SLR , a DSLR , even a medium format camera - after all , I have a Bachelor's Degree in Photography . So , I did a little research and finally decided to get this camera to add to my collection . My main reason was portability and if you're looking for an easy camera to slip in your pocket on purse , this will fit rather well . In terms of photo quality , I've found that outside daylit photos are beautiful , crisp , with near-perfect color . One feature this camera does not have that many other portable digicams have is adjusting camera based on a light source , say fluorescent lighting . Inside photos will definitely need some editing on the computer . In addition , if you don't use the flash indoors , the photos will be grainy because for some reason , the camera says you're shooting at nighttime . One feature this camera does have is smile detection . Now , you might dismiss this feature as a gimmick , but I've found it to be quite useful . For example , I wanted a friend of mine to take a photo of my husband and I . So , I just turned on smile detection and said , Point the camera at us . You don't have to press any buttons . Just point it at us and the camera will take the picture . We smiled and the camera took the photo . It's pretty good at detecting smiles ( and you can set its sensitivity ) though sometimes you have to smile like The Joker to get it to register at close range . All in all , it's an easy to use portable digital camera with great photos ( depending on the situation ) and some interesting features . I'd recommend it .
      • 039 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) The DSC-W290 provides the high quality photos I expected . The HD quality videos that can be taken with the camera is a definite plus for use in making still shot / video movies . The menus are intuitive and the large display is great to work with . I am pleased with the purchase .
      • 041 4  I bought this camera as an upgrade to my sony W50 . It's got a nice wide angle zoom , HD movies ( mp4s that I couldn't edit in windows movie maker ) , and all the latest automation from sony ( smile shutter etc . ) I was a little disappointed . The photos were better , but not a lot better , than my old camera . I have some photography experience , and I knew there weren't manual controls , but I still found it hard to know what the automatic settings were doing . I like to see what aperature and iso are going to be used , and have some control . But it wasn't user friendly . I like the small size , but in the end I returned it and bought a Panasonic TZ5 with a 10X zoom + all the other features of the sony . I think the pictures are better , and I've been happy with my decision . If you always use auto mode , and you want the small size , this would be a decent choice .
      • 042 4  We got a W290 as a gift and it inexplicably stopped working 2 months later . All the menus functioned , but there was no light getting through the lens to the camera . It just took black pictures . We sent it back to Sony and after about a week they said it was unrepairable and corroded . No explanation other than humidity ( we live in Colorado ) . Even though we were still in the warranty period , they said it was not covered . They then tried to sell me one of their newer cameras . I'm hesitant to buy another Sony camera after this experience .
      • 046 4  I bought this camera after a recent trip to Disney World - I only wish I had bought it BEFORE the trip . We traveled with friends , who had just bought this very same Cyber-Shot . Nearly all of their DSC-W290 shots and HD video came out awesome . The shots I took with my 5.0 megapixel couldn't compare . After my return from Disney and seeing the potential for this camera , I immediately ordered the DSC-W290 from Amazon for my very own . The first DSC-W290 arrived from Amazon with some problems . All my lighter-scene shots had a small cloudy spot , about the size of an eraser head in the upper left corner . It was in the same place every time . The cloudy spot appeared in actual printed photos and on the LCD display . I called Sony because the sticker on the box said to call them ( not the retailer ) if there are any problems . Sony's solution was for me to send in this week-old-camera for repair . Not happening . I then contacted Amazon via their automated return / exchange process . Oh man , how smooth this process was . It took me all of 3 minutes to complete Amazon's on-line exhange form and wham , a replacement camera was in my hands 48 hours later . I then sent the defective one back to them using the retun label Amazon provided me . I applaud Amazon for making this potentally bad situation a non-issue . Bravo Amazon ! The replacement camera was put to use almost immediately . I took munerous still and action shots during the recent December 09 ' blizzard the blanketed the DC area . In a word , phenominal . I took multiple shots of the same scene , varying just the scene setting from easy to pre-set snow backgroud . Both shots - incredible . Holiday shots were equally as nice . The camera compensates nicely for indoor low light . The only shot I struggle with is nightime shots that have movement ( i.e . parade ) . Oddly enough , nightime HD video comes out great with no special adjustment . Go figure . Fit and finish is seemed better than other comparably priced cameras I looked at . As for battery life , have a spare on-hand ( although I do take a lot of shots so it's probably me ) . Again , a major kudo's to Amazon for their customer service process . I almost bought at another , online retailer just to save a a few bucks . . . I am sooo glad I didn't .
      • 054 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I can't believe this Sony camera is so easy to use , takes great picture and it costs much less than in the military base . I would recommend to anyone .
      • 058 4  This is a very nice camera for it's class . It takes very good photos , is quick to focus and has low shutter lag . It also has all of the features that one finds on these cameras now , including optical image stabilization and an effective auto-smile detection feature . The battery seems to last well , though I didn't pay attention to how many shots I got over how many days . I haven't dropped it , but it seems well built . The LCD display is protected ( a little anyway ) by a thin layer of glass or Plexiglas . I would purchase this again if a similar need came up .
      • 061 4  Bought this camera after comparing few cameras in local electronics store . Small camera and pictures looked great on the camera LCD screen . When I bought it and actually used it , the picture quality was terrible on computer . I tried different settings - auto , manual . Tried under different conditions - indoors / outdoors . The pictures were not sharp at all . I compared the pictures with my 5 yr old Sony Cybershot P9 camera . P9 was much sharper . I contacted Sony . After troubleshooting online , Sony asked us to send camera for repair . I didn't want to go through the repair process on a brand new camera . So I contacted Amazon . They quickly authorized return of the camera without any questions even though I had missed the return window by couple of days . I had a UPS person next morning to pickup the camera from me for return . Excellent service from Amazon . Made me a customer for life . Bad camera .
      • 063 4  While not a perfect camera , it definitely has strengths . I love the wide lens and the huge field you're able to capture . Fully zoomed out , it takes excellent pictures in bright , outdoor light . It suffers a bit in low light and when utilizing the digital zoom - that's where it could use improvement . When shooting video , it is downright film-like . This camera has exceptional video quality . Unfortunately , you cannot zoom at all once you begin recording . Also , it only records audio in mono . Other than that , the LCD display is excellent and the controls are easy to use ( though it might be an issue with people with huge fingers ) . I also like that this Sony camera gives you the option of B & W / Sepia color modes - something their newer models do NOT feature at all . I'm so pleased overall with this camera that I bought another one to keep in case my first goes faulty ( which it hasn't yet ! ) .
      • 064 4  The colors are brilliant ! We went to Alaska and I took over 1500 pix and movies . Alaska offers a full range of overcast , cloudy and sunny full light days . The little W290 did well . I bought an 8G and 4G strip and used up about 20 g or more . . . but transferred it to a laptop to keep it managable . I never even pulled the 4G strip out ! BTW . . . the 4G strip was only $12 on Amazon . Imagine a roll of film holding 350 shots reusable for $12 ! The HD video mode allows for 30 min / 2G of memory . To me a 4 star is perfect . Nothing probably deserves a 5 STAR so that's why I gave it a 4 . It is a well engineered , well thought out highly technical camera but EASY to use . You don't need to even hardly read the manual . Just keep an extra battery and memory strip . . . as with all cameras . You will love it so much you will USE this one ! Good luck ! Secondly , I've had many cameras in my life including 35mm ' old ' film styles . I have 3 Sony digitals and each one was ' ahead of it's time ' technically . This one is no different . I'm not a photo affecionado but know good pictures when I see them . I opted for small size to throw in my front pants pocket rather than a bulky larger more powerful camera . But I too was surprised . This is one powerful camera ! Every feature of this camera is great . The high resolution allows photo editing to crop and enlarge great pictures . The BURST mode allows for fast action multiple pix . The stabilization software appears to work great , almost completely eliminating the unstable ' hand ' . The HD video movie mode is wonderful but even though the stabilization software is great be careful when ' zoomed in ' and taking video . It will shake ! Better than no stabilization but it does shake . Most of the neghatives reported by others seem to be true . . . but probably for a reason . The small buttons keep you from turning it on / off or taking pixs while it's in the pocket along other small items like keys etc . Smile detection is for babies and kids and works very well . You need 4 - 5 feet focal point minimum for it to work but it does and pretty well . Those that think it's useless never took pix of kids before .
      • 070 4  Yes , it is true , as from other reviews this camera - Has a tendency to become blurry ( What point and shoot camera doesn't ? ) - Is a bit chunky and big in size for a newer model of the Sony W generation - Cannot zoom for video mode With all that said , it is still a nice camera - The picture quality along with the relatively high amount of megapixels ( 12.1 ) is superb When having taken a good photograph , the colors for a point and shoot are wonderful ! - Sometimes , this camera does wonders and can take photos that compare to DSLR . - THe 5x zoom is really nice to have . For the most part , the picture quality even when zoomed has much clarity . Overall , if you could look past some of the drawbacks , you will love this camera like I would . But , if you had the extra moolah / dough / cash , just get the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black )
      • 071 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I bought two of these for a very nice price . And i have been using lot of Sony products and i just love them . This camera is also very good . For the price i got this for , it is really worth .
      • 075 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I am pleased with the ease and picture quality of this camera . I was glad I researched and found my findings to be exactly what this camera delivered . I would recommend it .
      • 078 4  This camera is good for who want just a picture that he / she not going to print in the wall ! IAuto mode is great choice and dual shooting as option is great one two . When I compare this Sony W290 with Nikon coolpix that I have , Nikon when in terms of picture quality and purity . In terms of battery Sony wins . But what about ease of use ? Sony wins also because my Nikon was not built for shaky hands people , where Sony is well-know for shoot-as-you-go concept . Nikon picture quality is better than Sony but I got this as when I want take a picture for myself I will use someone help but that person could have a shaky hand which will result in bad picture quality and here Sony comes to save you . Without this option in Sony I would still use only Nikon . Of course I do use both now ; I would not give up Nikon which is made for professional people .
      • 090 4  I had a Sony Cyber shot DSC-P10 for 7yrs before buying the DSC-W290 just before Halloween 2009 . I expected with the advancement of technology a camera 7yrs newer would blow my old camera out of the water . This was not the case at all . I had to pull out my old camera to go trick-or-treating to ensure I actually got some good pictures . I actually took both cameras to compare later , and yes the 7yr old camera produced much better pictures . My number one complaint is that it is horrible at taking action shots . I can barely get a picture of my kid sliding down the slide , running , or swinging ; it's just one blur of colors . The second complaint is the colors , especially red is all messed up . I'm not a photographer , just a mom who wants to capture my kid's special and not so special moments . I'm not sure what is wrong but reds tend to come out like fireballs where the red objects are almost glowing . I have tried to fix the red but the other colors , which were fine , get dull and washed out . I guess if you could freeze time , adjust the camera to the new settings , then take the picture you might have a chance of overcoming the short falls of this camera . However , in real life when the moment if gone it's gone . I can live with the red problem , but missing every picture at an outing with the kids is not an option . I've had this camera and tried every setting for 3 months and I'm looking for a new camera even though for the price it should have met the needs of the basic user . Outdoor pictures tend to turn out better and landscape pictures are very nice as long as it's well before dusk . I do like the smile feature , it is much easier to use than a timer . You can allow the camera to take a few pictures before the group moves and therefore increase your odds of getting people looking at the camera and smiling . The video feature is a great improvement over my old camera . Actually in my opinion if it would only take the pictures with the same settings as it does the video it might actually be a good camera .
      • 092 4  I've had this camera for 4 months now and have taken it on two overseas trips . I've probably taken 900 pictures with it . It's an easy to use small camera that takes great shots when the lighting is good . In low lighting with motion , it can be blurry but I don't know how sensitive the sensors are compare to other cameras so it's tough to say it's better or worse than other cameras . It takes great high definition video . Had one one problem on the last trip when the temperature was closer to 0 - 5C ( 32 - 40F ) . In this case the lense cover didn't open or close all the way during multiple uses over 5 days . It's as if there's a lubricant that get stiff in cold weather . I'm back in warm weather now ( 60F ) and only had the issue once since leaving the cold . The operators manual says that the operating temp is 0 - 40C ( 32 - 104F ) which is a bit limiting if you are going to take it with you snow sking or in the desert . Wish they would have had this spec on the Amazon site before I bought it . I'm not sure how other digital cameras are temperature rated .
      • 107 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) This camera recieved a top review by Consumer Reports . I am also extremely impressed . Great features and an excellend intelligent more if you just like to point and shoot . Excellent night pictures .
      • 114 4  I brought this camera during thanks giving holiday deals . The deal is good and it reached me with the expected date . I selected this camera because it has a new feature called SMILEY with which it will take pictures automatically when it is on and someone smiling . But this feature not that much working as I expected . Even though I set for very small smile also , It is taking some time to recognize smile and not taking the pictures . I tried for my daughter , by the time it takes the picture , my daughter stops smiling and I am not getting the smily picture . Except this , The camera is good and working very fine . Regards , Kumar .
      • 115 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I bought the camera because of a relatively positive review on CNET . Fairly disappointed with it because of grainy images . Another problem was that the lenses didn't want to come out . I fixed it by taking it out manually ( meaning with my fingers ) . Since then haven't had the problem . Come to think of it , maybe it would have been better not to fix it which would have given me an excuse to return it . The positive thing about the camera is that if you don't mind the grainy images then it's a great value for the money .
      • 117 4  All in all a great camera that takes great photos and videos . I think it's one of the very best point-and-shoots . Consumer Reports thought its predecessor the Cybershot w300 was the best in its class . The w290 costs at least $100 less than its discontinued predecessor and only gives up some unnecessary features and about 1.5 megapixels . I actually appreciate the reduction because , at 12.1 the pictures are still great but the files are about 10% smaller . The software's ability to identify faces and adjust to scenes is very good . ( The smile detection feature is extremely cool for showing friends but not terribly useful . ) The very large screen looks terrific when playing back photos and videos . While it's reason for being is to take great photos , I must say I'm a huge fan of having an HD video recorder in my pocket . I love the w290 but it isn't perfect : It is not as small / sleek as a Canon Elph but I think the pictures and especially videos are much better - and that's why I love the Cybershot . The fact that the Sony is about $100 less expensive than a comparable Canon Elph was an added bonus . Downsides : In low light pictures are sometimes fuzzy or noisy . This is generally most noticeable if you review the photo and zoom in close . Without zooming in its less noticeable . Having to use Sony's proprietary accessories is annoying ( eg camera does not take a standard mini USB ; you also have to use a memory stick instead of the typical SD card ) and was almost a deal breaker , but the quality of the camera and pix / videos won me over . I used the money I saved to buy my memory stick and still had plenty left over . Like all other cameras I found with HD video , this one doesn't let you zoom while recording and the files are massive - making them tough to email to friends and family . Despite these flaws , I still think this is the best point and shoot in its class and highly recommend it .
      • 118 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I had some trouble getting used to this camera but now it takes lovely pictures when I have it at the right setting .
      • 120 4  Ok , I have tried out couple Canon PowerShot SD790IS 10MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and Canon PowerShot SD1200IS 10 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom , which I gave these 2 cameras 3 stars , then I went on and tried Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 12 MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization , and I love this camera , pictures from this camera are very vivid and beautiful . I would give this camera 4 stars . So I decide to get Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera , because it's more expensive , and I called Dell.com , they told me , it's made in Japan , which I think Japan made product is better , so I got this camera from Dell , when it came , open the box , it made in China : ( Now , I can compare 2 Sony cameras W230 and W290 . 1 - W230 pictures ' colors is much much better than W290 , dont know why ! 2 - W230 starts up much faster than W290 . 3 - W230 take better pictures not as blur like W290 , and I don't know why . 4 - W230 is cheaper than W290 about 40 dollars W230 seem to be a much faster camera than W290 and cheaper . Another thing about purchasing camera , I think you should go to the store and check out the cameras yourself , check , feel , compare all the cameras that you like and pick out the best one that you like , remember each person has different taste of thing : ) So I returned W290 to Dell and kept W230 .
      • 122 4  I used to own a Sony DSC-p10 , it's a 5 megapixel camera from around 2003 . The camera was great , but finally gave up , mostly due to abuse . Since I had such good luck with my first Sony camera , I decided it would be great to get another Sony over the more popular Cannon's . I got this camera around the end of June , which at the time of my writing this was 4 months ago and I've taken just over 600 pictures . Let's start out with the good : The display is huge , and easy to see things in . Everyone that uses this camera comments on how big and nice the display is . Battery life is outstanding . Actually , what's better than outstanding ? I'm not sure , but that's what it is . Kudos to Sony on this one , I've charged the battery 3 - 4 times since I've owned the camera . The video is phenomenal , quality is better than I would expect out of a point-and-shoot but it suffers from the same focus problem as the still shots , which I'll explain later . Feature wise , this camera has plenty . . . mostly you'll probably never use . One of the reasons I got this camera is because I was familiar with the Sony menu system , so as far as I'm concerned it's easy to use but this is more opinion than fact . The camera is fast , or at least I've not noticed it being slow which is a welcome change from my previous camera . The zoom works as expected , nothing good or bad to report . It doesn't work while recording a video but that's not really a big deal to me . Size is good for me , but I'm a guy and have big pockets . It's slightly larger than some other point and shoot's but it's also mostly screen . Can't have everything . Now for the knit-picky things , There's no viewfinder , and the screen doesn't work very well in direct sunlight . It's bright enough to be seen outdoors if you're facing the right direction , but I've found myself wanting a viewfinder a few times . Its lack of one is no surprise though , since I clearly knew this before I bought the camera . Whenever I hand this camera to someone to take a picture of me , they are ALWAYS confused by the buttons . There's the goofy smile detection button on the top , as well as on / off and shutter . The shutter button is oblong and apparently confuses people . I feel it's a bit hard to push with my big paw sized hands . It would be nicer if it was a round button that protruded from the top of the cam . The mode selection wheel often turns its self in my pocket or backpack and I find myself taking videos instead of pictures too often . The lanyard that came with the camera didn't have the little clip that slides on it to snug it up to your wrist , which pretty much defeats the point of a lanyard in the first place . This seems like a very silly place to save $ .01 . I used the lanyard from my previous camera , and it works great . This camera uses a proprietary plug to attach to the computer and requires an external battery charger . This is basically the same thing that Cannon does , but my old Sony camera used a standard mini-usb style plug and I could plug the charger directly into the cam without removing the battery . If you've made it this far , you're probably still seriously interested in buying this camera , and I don't blame you . Most of the things I listed above aren't really that big of a deal . But honestly , don't buy this camera , and here's why : The image quality is AWFUL . TERRIBLE . WRETCHED . This thing's supposed to be a 12 megapixel awesome fantastic camera , but my old 5 megapixel camera from 2003 took better pictures hands down . The W290 ' s daylight performance is acceptable . . . not fantastic , but I could live with it . The low-light performance if this camera is really bad though . Pictures that are even in moderate light start to become grainy way before they should and the flash doesn't make up for it . That's not the worst part though ; the autofocus of this camera is worthless . I've taken more out of focus pictures in the past 4 months than the past 4 years . It's always confused , zooming the focus in and out trying to pick out whatever is in the foreground . I've tried center focus , multifocus , etc and nothing seems to help . Medium light action shots are impossible . Most recently , I tried to take a picture of my girlfriend moving her head while in the bleachers at a stadium at night with all the stadium lights on . . . the flash went off ( it was on easy mode ) and still she motion blurred AND out of focus , this is just unacceptable . In another case I tried to take photos of dolphins off of the bow of a fishing boat at high noon ( plenty of light ) and the camera was unable to properly focus . I took photos in exactly the same conditions with my previous camera and they turned out perfect . Basically , in closing , this camera is worthless unless you just want some flashy looking toy that you can maybe take non-action pictures outside on sunny days with . Good luck shopping elsewhere .
      • 133 4  I bought this camera because of the 720p video . The video quality is really quite good . The picture quality was not as great as I expected . I believe my 3yr old Canon A610 has a better picture quality . I have returned the camera and purchased the Canon SD7800 . Much better pictures , and just as good video .
      • 134 4  - - and it turns out I was right . This is one of the worst cameras I have ever used . Yeah sure - - 12.1 megapixels sounds great , right ? well , they are as long as you can get a clear shot using this camera . 90% of my shots are either fuzzy or blurry no matter what I do . I have to stand perfectly still and have my subject hold their breath to get a decent shot . Not one is crystal clear out of 200 shots . This is a pathetic piece of unprogressive technology . Oh - - - AND good luck trying to take 20 shots without using up one bar of the battery . IT RUNS OUT QUICK ! I would use it for 15 minutes and then have to take a break to find an outlet to charge it up so I wouldn't miss a great shot . But you know what ? When those great shots come along - - this camera would catch it in all of it's BLURRY glory . The buttons are annoyingly tiny and uncomfortable to use . this thing is horrible . So Sad !
      • 139 4  I ordered the new Sony W290 for a cruise we're taking in a couple weeks . Having owned a few Sony cameras , I'm very familiar with Sony's quality and performance . I am actually a huge fan of Sony products , so I was looking forward to receiving my new camera . I had also considered the Canon SD970IS . I have owned several Canon PowerShot models throughout the years . However , the Canon was priced $140 more than the Sony , which led me to decide on the W290 . After all , their features were comparable ( 12.1 Megapixel , 5X optical zoom , HD video , etc . ) . When I received the camera , I charged the battery and began taking test still shots and video . I made several indoor and outdoor shots to test the cameras capabilities . As soon as I downloaded the files to my PC , I immediately noticed that the pictures were grainy and not very sharp . Although they were taken at the camera's highest resolution ( 4000 x 3000 ) , they looked like they were taken in low res or even from a cell phone camera . I tweaked around with some of the settings and made additional tests ( in manual and auto ) . Again , the pictures were very disappointing . I compared the indoor and outdoor test shots I took around the house with pictures I had previously taken with my 8 megapixel Canon SD850 . The difference was very apparent . In the interior pictures taken with my Canon , you could zoom in and see the details of the wood grain on furniture . In the Sony pictures , the details were blurred . The same was true with the outdoor pictures - you could see much more details in the pictures taken with my old Canon . I went back and reset all the user settings to default and made another set of tests . The results were the same . I then tested the HD video capabilities ( indoors and outdoors ) and was again let down . The video looked over-exposed . I adjusted the EV setting on the camera , but it made very little difference . I also noticed a lot of lens flares even in the indoor shots . This was not what I expected . I tried to convince myself that I was missing something obvious , so I looked through the manual , tweaked around with the settings again , and even cleaned the lens . I took several more tests , but with the same results . Believe me , I really wanted to like this camera , but reasons for keeping it were quickly diminishing . Having read the 5 - star reviews here and on other sites , I am convinced that the camera I received is defective , which is why I didn't give the camera a lower rating . Reluctantly , I will be returning the camera . However at this point , I'm not sure if I would purchase the Sony again or go for the Canon , at least not before my cruise .
      • 141 4  Youn think you get the best but you are wrong do not buy this camera I used to have a nikon and got this sony now I have lots of problems to put my videos Into my DVD maker you have to get a converter for it .
      • 148 4  For out-doors picture , with good light conditions , the pictures are great and sharp . Amazing video capture . But I was really disappointed when taking pictures in-doors . In its Intelligent Auto Ajust Mode , the camera usually picks a high iso configuration when there's not a bright light inside a room ( and I mean really bright ) , resulting in a bad quality picture . Looks like you're using a 0,5 Megapixel camera . Too bad I didn't know much about the ISO settings before buying this camera . High ISO yields bad quality pictures , because the idea is to obtain a brighter picture in low light conditions . I wish this camera had a smarter ISO auto-ajustment .
      • 152 4  This review is from : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Great Camera , but had to buy it elsewhere because the one I ordered from Amazon , LLC never arrived .
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