Sony DSC-W200

Reviewed September 2007

Image Quality

The DSC-W200 is Sony's first 12-megapixel ultra compact camera, and a prime example that the "megapixel race" continues unabated.

Uncompressed, the 12.1 megapixel CCD of the W200 would produce image file sizes of 34.3 MB. Therefore, not surprisingly, all images captured by the DSC-W200 are stored exclusively in JPEG format and, in addition, the camera is compatible with Memory Stick Duo memory cards with capacities as great as 8 GB.

The result of the process is that while the minimum compression ratio the W200 applies appears to be in the 9:1 range, some images will be considerably more compressed than others. Indeed, in the case of the image shown at left, the compression is a whopping 30.8 to 1, while a nearly identical shot captured seconds before is only compressed at a ratio of 12:1.

If often the lack of a compression choice is not a noticeable detriment to the image quality, it can, occasionally, limit the image quality the W200 yields as compression artefacts become visible when the image is seen at 100 % scale.

Yet, one of the advantages touted for very high resolution sensor such as the 12.1 megapixel CCD of the W200 is that if needed, images can be cropped and still retain enough image data to allow the printing of an excellent image, even at a large size. However, if that data is reduced enormously by the compression process, the true value of such a large resolution becomes, in our opinion, questionable.

Three metering modes are available on the DSC-W200. The default pattern is a multi-area pattern that takes into account a number of areas in the frame to determine exposure parameters. Given good outdoor light, the Multi metering yields well-exposed images. With harsher light, the metering tends to give preference to very brightly lit areas of the frame, occasionally creating some deep shadows. Then, it is advisable to switch to the centre-weighted pattern as it ensures that the focus point will receive preferential treatment.

One of the most valuable features of the DSC-W200 is that it is equipped with Sony's SteadyShot image stabilization system. Although the Carl Zeiss lens is only a 3X zoom, the stabilization allows capturing crisp images at the lowest ISO setting using shutter speeds as low as 1/15 second, and even 1/8 second.

The Carl Zeiss lens of the W200 appears to be at its sharpest from the middle point of its range to the maximum telephoto setting. We noted that shots captured at the wide angle end tended to be somewhat softer than others, particularly when the camera selects the widest aperture.

Similarly, at the wide angle end, a slight chromatic aberration can sometimes be detected. It is, however, quite light and does not normally interfere with the overall image quality.

The DSC-W200 is capable of capturing images at up to 6400 ISO when the Extra High ISO Scene mode is selected. At 6400 ISO, however, the image is more like a watercolour than a photograph, and from 800 through 3200 ISO level, sensitivities that are user selectable when the camera is set to Program or Manual mode, the watercolour effect is similar albeit to a greater or lesser extend depending on the sensitivity used. Worth noting, nevertheless, if the image size is reduced to a size such as 4 x 6 (10 x 15 cm) the printed image is often quite acceptable right up to 1600 ISO.

The DSC-W200 yields its best images when the sensitivity is kept as low as possible. Still, the image quality remains acceptable at the full 12 megapixel size up to the 400 ISO level at which point noise starts to become noticeable.

Equipped with a very small flash, at its lowest sensitivity setting of 100 ISO the W200 can only provide fill light, and can only light a nearby subject. Set to Auto ISO, the camera boosts the sensitivity to 400 ISO, and produces visibly brighter images. Noise, however, is detectable and when combined with the compression, the backgrounds of flash photos can sometimes take on the slight watercolour look of high ISO images.

Another positive feature of the DSC-W200 is that in addition to its 2.5-inch LCD monitor, an optical viewfinder — placed very near the lens so as to reduce parallax — is also available. Optical viewfinders are too often omitted from very compact cameras such as this one, but yet are a serious advantage to the user as there are times, such as when the battery is running low or when the sun is too bright to allow a clear view of the LCD, that the optical viewfinder makes it possible to capture images that would otherwise be impossible.

Like many other cameras, the DSC-W200 has both strengths and weaknesses. Its strengths are a good lens; an effective stabilization system; a very well-crafted and very compact size, a huge image resolution and an optical viewfinder.

Its weaknesses are a compression that aims to minimize file size instead of maximizing image quality; a weak flash and relatively visible noise from 400 ISO onwards.

Clearly, as is often the case, nothing is perfect.