14 DAY TRIAL // Although everyone's attention is mostly on the novelties announced for the DSLR and mirrorless camera segment, some of the largest digital camera manufacturers have also announced a few new compact camera models for customers who don't need any fancy settings or enhanced accessibility.
Many of you might point out that the compact camera market share is in decline while mirrorless cameras are starting to get the upper hand, and last year's figures clearly show this trend, but that doesn't mean companies like Sony are afraid to introduce new products on the market.
Upon recently announcing the NEX-3 mirrorless camera successor, the A5000, Sony has also announced two new Cyber-shot compact cameras, the W830 and W810, aimed at low-end consumers.
That being said, let’s see what these cameras are packing. At first look, both cameras come with the same 20.1MP CCD sensor and with zoom lenses: the W830 has a ZEISS 8x optical zoom lens, while the W810 sports a Sony 6x optical zoom lens.
To make the most out of your photos, the new camera models come with an extended range of Picture Effects, including a Beauty Effect that allows you to quickly retouch minor blemishes. Moreover, these Sony compact cameras are also capable of shooting 360-degree panoramas using the integrated Sweep Panorama function.
In terms of video capturing capabilities, both cameras can shoot 720p HD video footage at 30 frames per second. Furthermore, the W830 comes with Optical SteadyShot technology that helps compensate camera shake in order to deliver clear and sharp pictures when on the move.
Besides that, the Sony W810 also comes with a dedicated Party mode setting that automatically adjusts ISO sensitivity, saturation, and exposure compensation to deliver the best possible shots in challenging lighting conditions.
The cameras will be available in four different colors starting February. While the cost of the W810 is now yet known, the W830 can be pre-ordered at a price of $129.99 / €95.
