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Sony DSC-W100
Cyber-shot
Review
of the Sony DSC-W100 Cyber-shot
The DSC-W100 Cyber-shot from Sony is generously equipped with 8.1 megapixels enabling you to print larger photos or crop photos without loss of clarity. The LCD screen is also well sized at 2.5 inches. 3x optical zoom and 6x digital zoom are both standard for this type of point and shoot camera. This camera has a Histogram Indication feature which lets you check exposure levels before taking the picture.
Features of the Sony DSC-W100 Cyber-shot include:
Sony DSC-W100 Cyber-shot reviews
Average
rating from 2 reviews: 
Reviewed by Kim from United States on
9th Aug 2006
This is my second review for this model of camera. I exchanged that first
camera that had self-initiated shooting binges, but within an hour of
receiving that second (same model) camera, I had to take it back to the
store, too. The very first time I turned on the lcd screen (with my spare,
charged up battery), I noticed that it was not "right". It's hard to explain,
but it looked as though some pop culture setting for the screen was on,
(very liquidy-white-highlighted appearance), when it was actually set
to normal. So, back to the store I went (more gas expense). They could
not believe I was having such bad luck, but one look at the screen and
they knew I wasn't crazy. It most definitely was defective, as you couldn't
see a clear picture to know if the shot was good or even in focus. The
girl who sold me the camera came and looked at it, too, and confirmed
that no weird settings were "on," and that it absolutely should not look
like that. Even that first camera of this model did not have this problem,
so that was my first tip-off. Also, the memory stick pro duo pictures
that I took on the first camera looked awful in this one, but had looked
perfect when I loaded them into my computer from the firs t camera. I
should say that when I exchanged camera number one for two, I added the
four year extended warranty for sixty dollars. I am not normally a fan
of those, for all the loopholes they inevitably contain, BUT, after even
just the frustration from that first camera not working properly, I found
out real quick what sixty dollars could mean to my peace of mind in the
future. At this point, I would highly recommend two things for ANY digital
camera buyer, of any brand or model, and that is to buy it at a local
chain store (so you can return it easily, or have it repaired without
shipping, in most cases), and two, to definitely spring for the extended
warranty, because, trust me, mechanical failures are rampant in these
things. Since this model is a mini digital, that makes it even more susceptible
for something to go wrong. There's a limit to how much high end technology
you can cram into a tiny camera, and there's no controlling the circumstances
it was handled in, or who it was made by, before it reaches you. Maybe
these ones I bought were made by someone that had a bad day, or maybe
their shipping truck was too hot at some point, I don't know, but don't
just trust that they are reaching you in tip top shape just because they
are a good name brand. So, where am I camera-wise now? I am on the exact
same model, contestant number three...all within 48 hours. You may think
I'm insane for giving them another try, but this IS supposed to be one
of the best mini digitals, and having been used to a telephoto film SLR,
I am having a hard enough time downgrading to the limited capabilities
of even this "nice" mini. I like it, but it is limited in what it can
do. If you just want a mini point and shoot that is great for tourist
type stuff, this is an excellent model. If it goes bad on me, though,
I'm definitely "outta here," probably headed for an Olympus Stylus 800.
That one has a lot of the same, and some better features, and costs less,
but it received worse professional quality reviews for the pictures it
takes. I won't name the chain store where I bought these Sony DSC W-100's,
but as far as they go, they were awesome in their customer service. All
of my fears there were relieved, and for that reason, I would recommend
seeking out which local, big chain store has the BEST price, and go with
that. Also, with the extended warranty, I will be dealing directly with
them locally, and not "Barbara" in India at Sony. Often the amount of
shipping and insurance for repairs when you don't have an extended local
warranty is the same as if you'd bought one, so that's something to consider,
too. Since coming home with contestant number three, I notice that the
price of this camera at that store's online site has gone down another
seven dollars. Next time I'm in town, you know I'm swinging by there to
price match that. Gotta retrieve that gas money somehow. :)
Rating:
Reviewed by Kim from United States on
7th Aug 2006
My rating would be higher than two stars if I hadn't had the following
experience...maybe a three or four, but read on... After extensive research,
I bought this camera with great expectations. Normally, I shoot (several
thousand film images a year) with a professional Canon SLR & telephoto
lense, so I knew this would not live up to that, especially for action
shots, but that aside, it is rated to be one of the best mini digitals.
Well, the first few shots were great, then a short movie, and all was
well. During review of the movie, when I was not touching the camera,
and when the "burst" mode was set to normal (i.e., "off"), and the self-timer
was also off, the camera switched from playback mode to "on" and started
taking (blurry) pictures on its own, about once every second. It would
not allow me to perform any functions with it, and this continued, no
matter the setting it was set on (and two of those it's not even supposed
to be ABLE to "burst" in). This continued as soon as the camera was either
turned on or the playback mode was initiated. Keep in mind that the long
burst session is supposed to be 16 shots, not one shot per second for
several minutes. Not that it ever was in burst mode to BEGIN with. Once
it settled down long enough to allow me to access the menu, I tried resetting
it back to the factory preset functions (which were the same as I had
had it on, except that I had turned off the sounds and had turned on the
red eye reduction). This had no effect. The problem continued, but just
as quickly as it started, it eventually stopped. I was less stressed,
but still not trusting it. Thought I would give it one more chance, so
I loaded up my charged up extra battery and headed out later in the day
to take some outside shots and a few very short movies. (I have a new
2 meg memory stick pro duo, so the memory wasn't a concern. Thank goodness,
because of what the thing did next.) About an hour later, I was taking
a few more outside shots, and the whole thing went berserk again, shooting
every second automatically, for FIVE MINUTES STRAIGHT! I kid you not.
Every single time I or my husband tried to get it to stop, the only way
was to turn it off. If you turned it on, or turned it to playback to attempt
to delete some of the errant shots, it immediately started taking multiple
pictures again, and incessantly. Talk about stress!! I read the manual
completely before beginning to operate the camera, and it has only been
handled (in the 30 hours we've had it) with the utmost of care, and always
with the camera strap around our wrists. There's just no excuse for this.
After wasting all evening on trying to sleuth its ills, we gave up. This
morning, after requiring a switch in batteries (because it took several
hundred shots on its own, to my fifteen or twenty), it is acting almost
normal. When I take the memory stick pro duo out, though, the screen is
blue and it says there are no files (left in the camera). I find that
peculiar, since at least some of the still shots should remain in the
onboard memory. I realize the movies wouldn't, because of their size,
but the camera should not be blank, as no one has erased that last huge
set of "automatically taken pictures". The one redeeming thing in all
of this is that we were able to easily get my few pictures and movies
off of the camera and into my computer, without a hitch. For that I am
thankful. I called Sony at a reasonable hour this morning...three times.
Very annoying, the automated voice they have that wants your phone number
(when you haven't had the camera long enough to register it anyway), and
then says it's connecting you (after playing the twenty questions game),
but then says no, sorry we're closed, call back later, with no mention
of what "later" means to them. The third time I called, it said it saw
that I had called recently (i.e., they've got caller ID or some other
sort of nosey such instrument), and it put me through to a real person...named
"Barbara,". Well, "Barbara" hadn't the first clue. After putting me on
an extended hold, and quizzing me on the obvious things to try (I was
so WAY past that...I've been taking pictures for thirty years, and duh,
I read their handy-dandy instruction manual to begin with), she said I
could send it in. Now lets think about this. Does someone who is going
on vacation soon (and who told them that) want to send in their brand
new expensive camera, and pay shipping and insurance on it?? I think NOT!
Nope, it is going back to the major chain store where I bought it, and
they are going to either give me another one, with no fees, or give me
ALL of my money back. I have the potential to be their worst nightmare,
being loud and RIGHT, so I'm not leaving until I get a fair reconciliation.
Not that I'm all that anxious to get another lemon, if this is a problem
with this model, but "Barbara" said this was the first such call they've
ever had about the automatic and continuous shooting. Yeah, and she's
from IndiANA, too. Right. Whatever. Maybe this was a fluke, but word to
the wise, charge your batteries and use this thing immediately after you
get it, save everything it comes with, and don't fill out any warranty
stuff until you're sure you like it. I did all of those things, and they
may save my bacon, but I'm still out the round-trip back to the store
(about $6.60 in gas from where I live), and the wasted time and frustration.
Also, I bought this with enough leeway before my vacation, so I have time
to take it back. Not time to repair it, but I don't want some repaired
piece of junk that I just paid that much money for anyway. Just pray that
the replacement doesn't start similar issues during my holiday. As for
the picture quality, it's great sometimes, but sadly slow and fuzzy at
others (like a third eyed inbred on action shots...delay isn't the word).
If you want to capture even the slightest action shots, get a regular
film telephoto SLR. They're expensive, but the quality is the best (even
better than the pro digitals), and they are made to last. The movie mode
on the W-100 is awesome, and the sound is reasonably good as well. You
have to zoom in before starting the movie mode, because you can't do it
during, but that's not a big deal for amateur stuff. Some daylight pictures
come out flat, but that's just another digital caveat. All in all, I could
make peace with its mini digital shortcomings if it wouldn't go on self-initiated
shooting binges. Wish me luck!
Rating: 
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