- Photo: Sony
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W380 is a rather new compact digital camera coming from Sony with a 14-megapixel camera sensor and a 5x optical zoom lens. The W380 looks good. It’s suave and is designed to meet all the needs of beginners to digital photography, while also offering them a little bit more, like HD 720p video recording.
Handling and design
Sony built and designed the W380 based on the WX1 and anyone who looks at both cameras will be able to spot numerous similarities between the two. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W380 features a full composite metal body, making the device feel tough and firm in hand. It is slim and small, measuring in at only 2cms at its slimmest point. But at the same time, it has been designed to be very easy to use and won’t have users pulling out pens to push the controls.
However, Sony has made a few mistakes when it comes to the W380’s ergonomic features, as the Sony digital camera comes with no grip and the only means of actually trying to comfortably hold the camera will have users resting their thumb on the shutter release constantly, which isn’t an optimal situation. The metal body is also rather slippery, which does mean that the Sony digital camera will take a tumble now and then. The front of the camera looks all minimalist, flush and James Bond-worthy with its cool black finish, while the back of the camera is mostly dominated by the device’s 2.7-inch LCD screen adjacent to the control dial and navigation pad.
Okay features
The DSC-W380 comes fitted with a 14.1 effective megapixel camera sensor and a 5x optical zoom G lens with a focal range of 24-120mm. Also included is Super SteadyShot optical image stabilisation, and the Sony G lens features a maximum aperture of F/2.4 which sure to impress the more serious photographer. Sony has also included an extensive AF mode, together with Face and Smile detection technology, making it easy for users to merely snap away. The digital camera is also capable of recording in HD at 720p and comes with a built-in stereo microphone and HDMI port. A Sweep Panorama mode comes with the W380 for those cool stitched together images which are sure to impress most people.
Poor image quality
The W380 produces images of average quality, which are rather disappointing to the discerning eye. Images come out looking soft and hampered by noise, meaning that they lack any significant detail. The Sony digital camera struggles in high contrast situations, as images show chromatic aberrations and purple fringing, but barrel distortion is kept under control when the zoom function is used. The Macro performance is okay, allowing user to focus from as close as 5cm away, while the device provides an average performance in low light conditions and also struggles at night with a maximum shutter speed of two seconds.
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W380 is a good-looking digital camera which fails to deliver the goods. Image quality is generally poor and the W380 does no justice to the WX1 from which it was developed. It goes for about £149, but with the poor image quality, it won’t provide that much value for money and doesn’t come highly recommended.
Tags for this article: 720p, digital photography, G lens, HDMI, Sony Cyber-shotSony Cyber-shot W380 Price
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Video Review
| Description: 以Cyber-shot W380及W350拍攝1280x720p 高清影片，支光學變焦，攝錄更具彈性 |
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