Sony Cyber-SHOT DSC-W810 Sony - Review 🏆

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W810 is an entry-level point-and-shoot digital camera that was released in 2014. It features a 20.1 megapixel CCD sensor and a 6x optical zoom lens with a 35mm focal length equivalent of 25-150mm.

Some of the key specs and features of the DSC-W810 include:

• 20.1MP 1/2.3" Super HAD CCD sensor
• BIONZ image processor
• 6x optical zoom lens (25-150mm equivalent)
• Optical SteadyShot image stabilization
• 720p HD video recording
• 2.7" ClearPhoto LCD display
• Sweep Panorama mode
• Face detection
• USB charging
• Weighs 125g

The W810 sits near the bottom of Sony's Cyber-shot lineup, aimed at casual photographers looking for an affordable and easy-to-use compact camera. It lacks manual controls and advanced features but offers solid image quality and zoom range in a slim, portable body.

Design

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W810 has a compact and lightweight design that makes it easy to carry around. It measures 9.5 x 5.4 x 2.1 cm and weighs just 111g including the battery and memory card. The camera has an all-plastic construction which helps keep the weight down. The smooth rounded edges give it a nice in-hand feel.

The W810 comes in three color options - black, white, and pink. The black version has a matte finish which resists fingerprints well. The white and pink versions have more of a glossy finish. All three color options look quite stylish.

Overall the W810 has a simple and functional design. The lightweight plastic build makes it very portable while still feeling decently solid. The color options allow you to choose the look you prefer.

Another impressive option from Sony is the Sony Cyber-SHOT DSC-RX10 IV. This camera boasts a robust and weather-sealed magnesium-alloy body, making it perfect for outdoor photography and harsh conditions. The RX10 IV features a 24-600mm zoom lens, providing exceptional versatility from wide-angle to telephoto shots. It also offers a 1-inch, 20.1-megapixel Exmor RS CMOS sensor, paired with the BIONZ X image processor for stunning image quality and fast performance. For professionals and enthusiasts alike, the RX10 IV is an excellent choice for a variety of shooting scenarios.

Image Quality

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W810 features a 20.1 megapixel Super HAD CCD sensor. This sensor provides plenty of resolution for capturing detailed images and allows for larger prints.

The camera uses Sony's BIONZ image processor. This processor enables features like HDR and improved noise reduction while also providing fast performance.

Despite its small size, the DSC-W810 sensor measures 1/2.3 inches diagonally. This provides sufficient surface area for gathering light and allows the camera to perform well in low light conditions. The sensor and processor combine to produce pleasing images with good color and dynamic range.

While 20 megapixels is impressive for a compact point-and-shoot, keep in mind that high megapixel counts on small sensors can sometimes lead to more visible noise in images. However, the BIONZ processor in the W810 helps minimize noise. Overall, the image quality is very good for a budget compact camera.

The Sony Alpha 7CII is another impressive offering by Sony, featuring a 33.0 megapixel full-frame Exmor R CMOS sensor and the advanced BIONZ XR image processor. This combination ensures high-resolution images with exceptional detail and low noise performance, even in challenging lighting conditions. The Alpha 7CII also boasts 5-axis in-body stabilization and 4K video recording capabilities, making it a versatile option for both photographers and videographers looking for a compact yet powerful camera.

Zoom

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W810 offers a 6x optical zoom lens, which provides a 35mm focal length equivalent of 25-150mm. This gives you a nice wide angle for landscapes and group shots, while still having enough telephoto reach for getting closer to distant subjects. The lens has Sony's Optical SteadyShot image stabilization, which helps reduce blur from camera shake when shooting handheld. This is useful when zoomed in or in low light situations.

In addition to the optical zoom, there is also a 12x digital zoom feature. However, image quality degrades when using digital zoom, so it's best to rely on the optical zoom if possible. The 6x optical zoom range is quite versatile for a compact point and shoot camera in this price range. Having image stabilization also helps ensure sharper shots when zoomed in. Overall, the zoom capabilities allow you to capture a good variety of compositions with the W810.

Video Recording

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W810 offers decent video capabilities for a budget point-and-shoot camera. It can record 720p HD video at 30 frames per second in MP4 format. While many cameras in this price range are limited to 720p resolution, the ability to record in 1080p would have been nice for increased sharpness and detail.

The W810 does not have any advanced video features like manual exposure controls or high frame rate modes. But it provides good enough quality for casual home videos and YouTube. Autofocus and autoexposure work reasonably well when shooting video to maintain focus on your subject. Overall, while not exceptional, the video recording abilities of the W810 are sufficient for basic needs. Those wanting more advanced controls and quality will need to look at more expensive models.

Focus and Shooting

The Cyber-shot DSC-W810 offers decent autofocus performance for a budget point-and-shoot camera. It uses contrast-detection autofocus, which is generally slower than phase-detection systems found in DSLRs and higher-end cameras. However, it's fairly quick and accurate when shooting in good lighting conditions.

In terms of scene modes, the W810 provides several presets to help optimize settings for different shooting situations like portraits, landscapes, night scenes and more. This allows beginners to get better results in specific scenarios without having to manually adjust aperture, shutter speed and ISO.

The burst shooting speed is not anything impressive but reasonable for casual use. At full 20.1MP resolution, the W810 can shoot images continuously at 1.0 frames per second. This allows you to capture a short burst of photos for fast action or fleeting moments. The buffer limit is around 5 shots when shooting JPEG or 3 shots for RAW. So you can't capture extended fast action sequences. But the burst mode works decently well for occasional spur-of-the-moment shots.

Display

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W810 comes with a 6.7 cm (2.7 inch) Clear Photo LCD display with 230k dots resolution. The screen size is quite compact and pocketable. The resolution is decent but not the sharpest compared to higher-end cameras. On the plus side, the LCD screen is still visible under bright sunlight thanks to the Clear Photo technology. This allows you to compose and review shots more easily in outdoor conditions. However, the screen lacks touch capability. Overall, the display is basic but gets the job done for a budget point-and-shoot camera. The brightness and visibility under sunlight are better than average. But the small 2.7 inch screen feels cramped compared to larger displays. The resolution could also be sharper.

Connectivity

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W810 offers basic connectivity options. It has built-in WiFi which allows you to transfer photos wirelessly to your smartphone or tablet using the PlayMemories Mobile app. NFC (Near Field Communication) is also built-in, making it easy to pair your camera with an NFC-enabled mobile device by simply tapping the two together.

For wired connectivity, the DSC-W810 has a micro USB 2.0 port. This allows you to connect the camera to your computer to offload photos and videos. The micro USB port can also be used to charge the battery in-camera. Unfortunately there is no HDMI port, so you cannot connect the camera directly to a TV to view photos and videos.

The lack of more advanced connectivity options like Bluetooth and NFC is understandable given the entry-level nature and price point of this camera. The inclusion of WiFi and NFC provides useful wireless transfer capabilities without driving up the cost too much. But the omission of an HDMI port is a bit disappointing. Overall, the connectivity options are basic but cover the essentials like wireless transfers and wired data transfer/charging.

Battery

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W810 has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that provides enough power for around 200 shots per charge, based on CIPA standards. This is fairly standard for a compact point-and-shoot camera.

The NP-BN battery packs 3.6v of power into a slim profile that keeps the camera lightweight and portable. Charging is done via USB, so you can use either the included AC adapter or plug the camera directly into a computer to charge. A full charge takes around 100 minutes.

Overall the battery life is decent but not exceptional. You'll want to charge frequently if you plan to take the camera on long days out shooting. Having a spare battery is recommended for travel or important events where you want to snap a lot of photos throughout the day.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Compact and lightweight design makes it very portable
• 20.1MP sensor provides detailed images
• 8x optical zoom gets you closer to the subject
• Optical SteadyShot image stabilization reduces blur
• 720p HD video recording capability
• Easy to use button layout and menu system
• 2.7" LCD screen shows a clear preview of shots
• Built-in USB charging for convenience
• Decent battery life allows 250-300 shots per charge

Cons:

• Smaller 1/2.3" sensor struggles in low light conditions
• Images can look soft around the edges at full zoom
• No viewfinder only live view on the rear screen
• No RAW shooting only JPEG images
• Low light focusing can be slow and inaccurate
• Screen not touch sensitive
• No wireless connectivity or NFC

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W810 is a budget friendly point-and-shoot camera that delivers decent image quality and an 8x optical zoom in a slim, lightweight body. It's a good choice for casual photographers looking for an easy to use, pocketable camera. But more advanced users may be frustrated by its limitations in low light conditions. The lack of RAW support and wireless connectivity also make it less versatile. Overall, the W810 performs well for its price point, but sacrifices had to be made to achieve such a compact form factor.