Overview
The Sony DSC W120 is a 7 megapixel digital camera with a 4x optical zoom lens. This camera is easy to use and is small enough to fit into a pocket.
Why Buy The Sony DSC W120
Pocket cameras tend to fall into two groups. The first is more stylish and more expensive. The second is a simpler designed cheap digital camera. Sony has set up the DSC W120 to fall into the second category. Therefore if you are looking for a digital camera from a reliable brand and don't want to break the bank then the DSC W120 is worth taking a closer look at. This is also one of the few smaller compacts to offer a viewfinder.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
7
4x
2.5 inches
88.2 x 57.2 x 22.9mm
123g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
4cm
No
No
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
Outdoor 1 (Medium Zoom):
My first outdoor shot gets us off to a solid start. The sharpness of the photo is above average throughout the picture with only a small amount of focusing lost as you move towards the edges of the shot. The colours are true and I like the blues on the boats.
Brightness levels are about right as well.
Outdoor 2 (No Zoom):
This is not a bad effort, but there is a loss of sharpness on the right hand side of the photo where the scene gets more distant. Although this is quite a tough shot when it comes to focusing other digital cameras have been able to cope with the set up better than the DSC W120 does.
Outdoor 3 (Maximum Zoom):
With the lens fully extend the camera produces a sharper photo. There is still some softness towards the edges, but not enough to put me off this digital camera.
Outdoor 4 (Building):
Other cameras I have tested have been able to really make the bricks on this building stand out. The DSC W120 Sony digital camera is unable to hit the same levels of sharpness.
Portraits
Outdoor Portrait:
This is a typical outdoor portrait shot. Although I have used a cloudy white balance setting to match the conditions I would still like to have seen more depth to the colours in this shot.
Indoor Portrait with Flash:
Without a doubt this is my favourite portrait shot taken with this digital camera. What really impresses me is the amount of colour retained in the photo, especially when you consider other digital cameras I have reviewed, can produce shots that look washed out when the flash is on.
Indoor Portrait without Flash:
This is another good effort. There is plenty of detail in the photo considering there is less light available than for the outdoor portrait shot.
Macro, Colours and Noise
Colours:
I am happy with the colours the camera produces. They have a natural feel to them and are a fair representation of the colours in each scene when the photos were taken.
Macro:
When you look through my reasons for buying the DSC W120 Sony digital camera, being able to take great macro shots will not be on the list. This is because if anyone is serious about close up work they would have to be prepared to spend a fair bit more on a digital camera than they would need to with this one. Therefore it is a bonus to note that the DSC W120 is capable of taking a decent macro shot. There are good levels of detail and clarity showing in my test picture.
ISO 400:
How the camera performs at higher ISO settings depends to a large degree on the amount of light available at the time. If conditions are bright then picture quality is good. A drop off in light means a loss of quality. Therefore if you are using higher ISO to freeze movement on a bright day you will achieve better results than if you are using ISO to overcome a lack of light in a scene.
ISO 1600:
Not surprisingly similar, but more extreme results occur at ISO 1600. I have seen better results from other digital cameras.
Summary
I do have one or two concerns about the levels of sharpness when scene are distant. Putting those qualms aside the DSC W120Sony digital camera does a steady job and manages to get to grips with most situations.
Style
This is a small, unfussy pocket digital camera. The DSC W120 has a fairly typical rectangular shape. It is available in silver, black, pink and blue.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
0.35 seconds
7.64 seconds
0.39 seconds
12.38 seconds
Ease of Use
The DSC W120 is quite easy to use. Most of the key controls (flash, zoom, macro and playback) are controlled through buttons on the back of the camera. The inclusion of a control dial also cuts down on the number of times you need to dip into the menu system.
Points I Like
Ease of use - price tag - viewfinder
Where it Could Improve
Sharpness of distant subjects
Verdict
The Sony DSC W120 handles most snap shot situations well. It does struggle for sharpness in places once the subject gets distant. You can't have everything at the price though and if you are looking for a cheaper pocket camera the DSC W120 still does a decent job.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
Top Rated Cameras in this Category
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If you are prepared to pay a bit more for extra quality then the Canon IXUS 510 HS is likely to be of interest to you. For a pocket camera picture quality is very good. Add in the impressive set of features including a touch screen and Wi-Fi and you can start to see that you do get more for your money compared to a lot of digital cameras. The power of the lens also gives you plenty of scope for capturing a wide range of photo opportunities. It is true you pay a little extra than with more standard pocket cameras, but if you also include the stylish look of this model there is a lot on offer for the price tag.
Read Review: Canon IXUS 510 HS Review
Canon IXUS 125 HS Rating 86/100
If you are looking for a pocket camera and you are prepared to pay extra for picture quality and build quality then the Canon IXUS 125 HS is a good choice. Although it doesn’t have all the latest features like 360 degree panoramas it does an excellent job when it comes to taking pictures. It is straightforward, easy to use and will fit into just about any pocket.
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Canon IXUS 1100 HS Rating 85/100
The Canon IXUS 1100 HS is a very good choice if you are looking for a pocket digital camera with a combination of a longer zoom lens and touch control. Once you get used to the screen and improve your touch accuracy it responds well. Picture quality compares favourably with other pocket cameras. The style and build suggest a bit of extra class too. The IXUS 1100 HS ticks most of the boxes for a camera in this category.
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Related Pages
Sony DSC W120 Review Sony DSC W120 Specification Sony DSC W120 Sample Images Sony DSC W120 Features Sony Digital Cameras
Review Date
April 2008
