The new launch of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 Blue has Carl Zeiss lens wielding compact packs a punchy 12.1 mega pixels and a boat-load of software features all for around $250. This machine is available in black and blue colors The W290 is a small, sleek device that would fit into a small bag or pocket. At just under an inch thick, it’s not the slimmest model out there, but it’s small enough to be very portable. It’s also pretty light, at just 6.1 ounces. It does not strain your pocket but it offers all the features of an altogether more expensive compact camera

This model features 5x zoom, 12-megapixel resolution, some of Sony’s advanced automatic shooting options, HD video capture, and a 3-inch LCD all packed in this compact model.

It has additional features such as multi-face detection, anti-blink reduction, smile shutter and red eye reduction. In comparison to other photo shoot cameras the photo quality could be a little better and performance a touch faster. However it offers a tough competition with its small price tag. The silver model retains fingerprints all over the body which might be a point of concern to all those who are neatness freaks. The another point that could be a cause of concern for many people is that this model has concentric ridges adding a slight texture that improves grip, but unfortunately also traps grease and dirt so your fingerprints are embedded as soon as you touch the camera and they aren’t easily wiped off. A lock on the battery /memory stick compartment could be an addition that would have been appreciated by the shooters.

The most commendable thing about this model is that Sony has managed to get almost all of the controls on to the back of the digital camera without making it feel cramped and confusing and while allowing for a secure one-handed grip that doesn’t result in accidental button presses or mode dial changes. The 3inch LCD is also well placed at the rear end. There are three buttons which are placed on top of the camera viz. power and shutter-release buttons and a Smile Shutter button for instantly activating Sony’s have-smile-will-shoot feature.

The model is perfectly designed by removing the Home and Menu buttons which were available in the previous models and confused the shooter. They have placed only one Menu button which gives you access to shooting controls as well as a selection for seeing all settings. There is another feature which prompts the user to adjust certain settings which is not available in any other camera. Other vendors generally keep you guessing what needs to be shut off in order to turn on a blacked-out option.

The Sony cyber-shot DSC W290 does not offer full control over aperture or shutter speed, but you do get something on the Mode dial for just about every point and shoot user. Navigating from top to bottom of the dial you have access to different features like the Movie mode which is capable of 720p HD-quality video (no use of the optical zoom while recording, however); Program Auto with access to ISO, exposure, white balance, focus, and metering; Sony’s Intelligent Auto; Easy mode that takes away all but a couple basic shooting options; and SCN, which lets you select from 10 scene situations, but automatically handles all other settings. Sony’s auto mode is perfectly designed which provides reliable results as it picks from eight scene types (branded iSCN) and turns on face detection and image stabilization. It can also be set to auto or advanced mode, the main difference between the two being that in difficult lighting the camera will automatically take two shots with different settings so you have a better chance of getting a usable photo .Another feature that needs to be noted is that this model has exposure bracketing that’ll take three photos, one at the exposure you select and then two more at plus and minus 0.3EV, 0.7EV, or 1.0EV.

The overall performance of Sony Cyber shot DSC W290 is very good. From the start up to the first shot was relatively fast with an approximate time of 1.3 seconds. Shutterlag in good lighting was average at 0.4 seconds and in more difficult dim lighting averaged to around 0.7 seconds. For waiting between the shots averaged to about 2.7 seconds with flash on and 2.3 seconds otherwise. Lastly this model turned in an impressive burst speed of 2.1 frames per second.

With such a good package for less than $250, the W290 has surpassed all the expectations of photo quality, color, and exposure. The camera goes from ISO 80 up to ISO 3,200 but the usability drops at ISO 400 which is seen in most digital cameras of similar class. It has been noticed that even at ISO 80 photos viewed at full size have a grain to them that only gets more pronounced as sensitivities get higher however it had no impact on large prints made from test shots taken up to ISO 400. If you are planning to make bigger prints it is important to keep the ISO as low as Possible.

Video quality was good but you cannot use the 5x zoom while recording and the pictures were quite soft.  If you wish to watch the video on your HDTV then you need to pony up for a proprietary component cable that connects to the multi-use terminal on the camera’s bottom.

The Sony Cyber Shot DSC W290 is a good compact digital camera that shoots high resolution images  and has a perfect combination of features usability and design and is complete value for money unless you are extra ordinarily picky about the photo quality.

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