Overview
The Sony DSC W90 is one of the cheaper pocket sized cameras. Its strong points include ease of use. This camera is one for the shortlist if you are looking for a camera you can slip into your pocket, but you don't really want to spend all your pocket money. The DSC W90 is aimed at someone looking to take the normal range of snapshots on holiday and at all the usual social occasions. This camera has eight megapixels and a three times zoom lens.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
8
3x
2.5 inches
91 x 58 x 22.9mm
124g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
4cm
No
No
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
Memory Stick Duo
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
Outdoor 1:
This is a fairly standard outdoor photo. Colours have a natural feel to them. Sunlight is handled well too and the photo has a bright feel to it. I would like to have seen a bit more sharpness in the shot. This is true across the photo. The brickwork on the building and also the boats themselves could do with some extra clarity.
Outdoor 2:
I like the colour the DSC W90 manages to produce for this shot. With the lens zoomed right out the camera makes a credible attempt at focusing and manages a shot that is a bit sharper than most cameras manage for this shot. There is a loss of detail when looking at the boat in the shade of a tree on the left hand side of the shot.
Outdoor 3:
Using the zoom lens to its full extent causes the colours to become that bit weaker. Sharpness is inline with levels I am used to seeing in this test. For any digital camera with a 3x optical zoom lens it is quite a lot to ask for perfect focusing at this distance.
Portraits
Outdoor Portrait:
The DSC W90 produced a pleasant outdoor portrait. Skin tones are good and there is just enough colour in the photo to give it a natural feel.
Indoor Portrait:
Here the camera adds a bit too much colour and comes up with a photo with a red glow to it. Otherwise it is a credible effort and the photo is well focused considering the artificial lighting.
Lowlight:
Once again a Sony digital camera does extremely well in my lowlight test. Despite the extreme conditions the camera manages to focus well and produce a sharp photo.
Macro, Colours and Noise
Macro:
A good effort. Perhaps not the very best macro shot, but very acceptable for a camera in this price range. The test photo is clear and the sharpness levels are good. The artificial light has also been handled well.
Colours:
There are one or two places where I would like to have seen the DSC W90 produce stronger colours. Even so the colours it has managed have a natural feel to them and they are also well balanced.
ISO 400:
Not a bad effort using the ISO 400 setting. All cameras tend to suffer from noise at this level and I would only use this setting when I had no other options.
ISO 3200:
By the time you push the ISO setting to its maximum noise becomes a major issue. I would be surprised if anyone manages to capture photos worth printing at this level.
Summary
The DSC W90 is roughly average when it comes to picture quality. My main gripe is the focusing levels I managed to achieve for the outdoor test photos. A bit of extra sharpness wouldn't go amiss.
Style
The DSC W90 is a pocket sized digital camera with a no frills style. It has a standard rectangular shape and is available in black and silver.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
0.15 seconds
5.45 seconds
0.28 seconds
12.73 seconds
Ease of Use
There is nothing to complain about when it comes to ease of use. Most of the key controls are on the back of the camera. When you do need to use the menu it is well laid out and easy to read.
Points I Like
Low shutter lag - viewfinder - ease of use
Where it Could Improve
Photos could be a touch sharper in places
Verdict
The Sony DSC W90 is a decent option if you are looking for a pocket sized digital camera that is not one of the more expensive models. It has a lot going for it, but I would like to have seen a little more sharpness in some of my test shots.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Related Pages
Sony DSC W90 Review Sony DSC W90 Specification Sony DSC W90 Sample Images Sony DSC W90 Features
Review Date
August 2007
