Sony Cyber-shot cameras: Now in high-def!
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200
Sony's still thinking small with its Cyber-shot digital cameras, keeping most models thin, light, and easy to pocket. The company just announced its spring lineup of Cyber-shots, which includes no less than five new T- and W-series cameras that measure less than an inch thick.
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200 is the first ultracompact digital camera to break 10 megapixels. The W200 features a 12-megapixel sensor that can record images up to 4,000x3,000. The W200 joins the 8-megapixel Cyber-shot DSC-W90 and the 7-megapixel W80, which share the same 35-to-105mm-equivalent optical zoom lens, the same 2.5-inch LCD screen, and the same ISO 3200 maximum sensitivity. The W200 (MSRP $400) appeals to the pixel-hungry shutterbug, while the W80 ($250) and W90 ($300) offer more modestly priced choices. The W80 and W90 hit stores in March, and the W200 follows two months later.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100
The Cyber-shot DSC-T100 and T20 are Sony's two latest entries in the stylish T-series line of cameras. The two 8-megapixel cameras share the characteristic sliding-body design that's persisted in the Cyber-shot T-series since the line's inception. The T100 features a 35-to-175mm-equivalent 5x lens and a 3-inch LCD screen, while the T20 features a 38-to-114mm-equivalent lens and a 2.5-inch LCD screen. Like the W90 and the W100, the T20 ($330) and T100 ($400) present midrange- and premium-priced options for camera buyers. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100 ships in March, with the T20 following in April.
All five of these new Cyber-shot cameras, as well as the Cyber-shot DSC-H7 and H9 superzooms, include high-definition output. Just plug your W80/90/200 or T20/100 into your favorite high-def TV with Sony's VMC-MHC1 component cable or CSS-HD1 cradle and you're good to go. Unfortunately, none of the upcoming cameras actually come with either accessory, so you're going to have to pay extra to display your photos in high definition. The exception is the DSC-W80HDPR kit, a $400 kit that bundles a Cyber-shot DSC-W80 with a Sony DPP-FPHD1 printer. The DPP-FPHD1 printer includes the high-definition cable and cradle, so you can both print your photos and pipe them through your HDTV. It's a bit pricey for a high-definition bundle that uses Sony's newest low-end camera, but it's still a simple, all-in-one solution.
For the full scoop on Sony's upcoming digital imaging products, check out our slide show.
