Sony DSC-W30 -- Nice compact camera for use on-the-go.
Pros:
Compact size; video capabilities; ease-of-use.
Cons:
Price; photo quality less than optimal; shutter lag.
The Bottom Line:
Before buying the DSC-W30, I would recommend looking at other available options. While it is a good camera, there seem to be better options available for less money.
|
|
Overall Rating:
|
 |
|
Author's Review
We purchased this camera after a moderate amount of online research. We had also spoken with a few people who were pleased with other Sony point-and-shoot digital cameras.
Overall, we like the camera for its compact size and convenient use. It easily fits into a pants, shirt, or jacket pocket. We also have a Nikon digital SLR camera, but we don't always want to carry the larger camera around during certain events or situations. The Sony DSC-W30 is perfect for such occasions.
The photo quality is good, but not great. We have experienced that most photos taken with our DSC-W30 have a slight blue tint. It is not extremely bothersome on most photos, but on a few more "special" photos, I often take time to adjust the image color using photo editing software.
I enjoy using the video capabilities of this camera. Again, rather than having to carry around a larger camcorder, this little camera is extremely convenient. The video and sound quality is surprisingly good from this little unit. As there is no light for shooting video, indoor footage can be rather dark and grainy looking. The zoom is not adjustable while shooting video clips, but can be adjusted in between shots. It obviously will not completely replace a camcorder, but it does the job sufficiently in a pinch.
The camera seems to be well-built. It feels more solid than many other cameras of this size that we have looked at. The exterior is just beginning to show some slight wear from nearly 2 years of being carried in pockets next to cell phones, keys, etc. Considering the occasionally unfriendly conditions it encounters, it is holding up very well.
