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Sony Cybershot DSC-W80
Dennis Hissink : February 19th 2007 - 12:15 CETupdated
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 Sony Cybershot DSC-W80 : With the PMA 2007 show coming up the first PMA rumors are showing up in the numerous Internet forums and blogs. One of the rumors is a possible new Sony Cybershot digital camera introduction; the Sony Cybershot DSC-W80. Although the information is not official yet, the image of the Sony W80 seems to be an official product shot. Since we are not working under NDA with Sony nor have we given any inside information, we feel free to share our findings, like the unofficial news of the Sony DSC W80 camera, with you. It seems that the new Sony Cyber-shot W80 incorporates a 7.2 effective Megapixel CCD image sensor and a 3x optical zoom lens with a focal length of 35 - 105mm (equivalent with 35 mm camera).
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 Sony Cybershot W80 - Design
First information learns that the new Sony Cybershot W80 has a very slim housing and compact dimensions. Normally we would expect a Cybershot camera to use Memory Stick media as their main storage medium so it would be logical to claim the Sony W80 is using Memory Duo or Memory Stick Pro Duo for storage. The new Cybershot camera looks very similar to that of the Sony Cybershot W55 camera that was introduced in January, but well we may see some innovative features hidden inside the Sony W80.
Sony Cybershot DSC-W80 camera - PictBridge
Although we have no official information yet we may assume the Sony Cybershot W80 will incorporate PictBridge for direct printing. PictBridge is an industry standard from the Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) and allows digital images to be printed directly from digital cameras like the Sony DSC-W80 to a PictBridge supported printer, without having to connect the camera to a computer. Due to the dimensions of the camera we also guess that the Sony Cybershot W80 uses the same Lithium Ion battery like the Cybershot W55 and W35 cameras.
Sony W80 digital camera specifications
• 7.2 effective Megapixels
• 3x optical zoom lens
• Lithium Ion battery
• Slim and ultra compact housing
• Memory Stick Duo flash memory support
• PictBridge support
• JPEG format
• Estimated street price €299
Sony DSC-W80 compact camera - Sensitivity and Price
Another thing that is not clear yet, is the ISO range of the new Cybershot camera. The first new camera from the Cybershot 2007 series features an ISO setting of 1000 ISO. High sensitivity settings like this help to create higher shutter speeds and prevent blurry photos. The competition is already offering high ISO settings up to 3200 ISO, so we would not be surprised when the Sony Cybershot DSC-W80 camera also offers higher sensitivity settings like 1600 and 3200 ISO. Of course a perfect solution would be optical image stabilization, but we did not find any hint of it so far. There are already some prices mentioned; we go for an estimated street price of €299.
Sony Cybershot digital cameras - Underwater photography
Another interesting new digital camera accessory is the Sony SPK-SA underwater case that according to a Polish Internet shop is made for the new Sony Cybershot DSC-W80 camera. And with a little bit more effort we also learn that the Sony SPK SA case is also suitable for the Sony Cybershot DSC-W60 and Sony Cybershot DSC-W90 cameras. And since we are not aware of these Cybershot W-cameras we may conclude that there will also be an introduction of the Sony Cybershot W90 and Sony W60 cameras coming up soon.
Sony Cybershot cameras at PMA 2007
Of course a new compact digital camera is interesting, but the real interest lies in the fact what Sony's next move is toward their digital SLR camera. Will the PMA 2007 give us more information or a first glimpse of a new Alpha camera? Their all kind of names floating around the forums, from Sony Alpha 10 to Sony DSLR A-1, but other than that there is not much info going around. The Sony Alpha 100 was well received by a huge number of consumers, but looking at Sony's impressive line of DSLR lenses it would be logical to introduce a semi-professional digital SLR camera soon! The PMA 2007 show will open on March 8 and closes on March 11, 2007.
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