Sony Cyber-shot® DSC-W300 13.6-megapixel digital camera with 3X optical zoom

Recording Features
Viewing, Editing and Printing Images
Battery Information
Supplied Software

Recording Features

Viewfinder and LCD Screen: The DSC-W300 has an optical viewfinder for accurate framing at eye level, great for added stability and for following fast moving objects. The camera also has a 2.7" color LCD screen with 230,400 pixels (resolution 960 x 240). The LCD screen allows you to view an image before taking a picture and replay images that have been stored in memory. For best viewing, you can adjust the brightness of the LCD monitor, and increase the amount of backlight in the monitor when using the camera outdoors. To increase battery life, you can turn the LCD screen off.

Anti-Scratch Premium Titanium Body: The titanium coating on the body is approximately five times harder than anodized aluminum-treated camera bodies and offers excellent protection from scratches while offering a premium look.

Dual Media: This camera has 15 MB of internal memory. Even when there is no Memory Stick inserted in the camera, you can record images using the internal memory. This memory is not removable. This camera is also compatible with the following recording media: Memory Stick Duo, MagicGate Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo and Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo. All compatible of Memory Stick Duos can be used to record still pictures and moving images with audio. Although this unit is compatible with MagicGate Memory Stick Duo and Memory Stick PRO Duo media, it cannot be used to record or play back music protected by copyright signals. You can copy images from the camera's internal memory to an inserted Memory Stick Duo card.

Image Recording Format: The camera records still images in JPEG format. Moving images with audio (monaural) are recorded in MPEG1.

Imaging Device: For optimal image quality, the camera uses a 9.29mm (1/1.72" type), 13.6 Mega-Pixel (Effective) Super HAD color CCD imaging device with approximately 13.9-million gross pixels and 13.6-million effective pixels. More megapixels give you more detail and definition when you make big prints or crop in tight on your subject.

DRO Plus: Powered by the exclusive Sony Bionz high-speed processing engine, Dynamic Range Optimization (DRO) preserves image data in bright highlights and reveals more detail in shadows or backlit areas, for great results even in difficult lighting conditions. By using DRO, the DSC-W300 analyzes the shooting scenes and automatically corrects the brightness and contrast to improve the image quality. The DRO Plus mode enhances optimization, analyzing each region of an image and performing additional image processing.

Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens: The Vario-Tessar lens is specially produced for very compact cameras. This specialized design allows quick auto-focus, appealing zoom range while still maintaining a compact design. The lens has a 3x optical zoom and a focal length of 7.6mm to 22.8mm, which is equivalent to 35mm to 105mm in 35mm photography. It has an aperture range of f/2.8 (W) to f/5.2 (T).

Smart Digital Zoom: The camera has a Precision Digital Zoom of 2x. Combined with the 3x optical zoom, the maximum total zoom is 6x. The camera's Smart zoom technology intelligently uses the full CCD to let you zoom into the portion of interest by cropping the image size, thus avoiding the image degradation found in most digital zooms. The maximum zoom scale depends upon the image size:

Double Anti-Blur Solution: With Super SteadyShot and high sensitivity (ISO 6400), the DSC-W300 compensates for shaky hands, minimizes blur, brightens images, and allows flash-free shooting to preserve the mood. The Clear RAW Noise Reduction reduces the picture noise that can ruin low-light shots.

SuperSteadyShot: The optical anti-blur function can be set to one of three modes:

• Shooting: Activates the anti-blur function when pressing the shutter button halfway down.
• Continuous: Always activates the anti-blur function.
• Off: Anti-blur mode is off.

Image Size: When recording digital still images, the DSC-W300 allows you to choose from eight image sizes. The larger the image you choose, the better the image will be, but it also takes a larger amount of data to preserve the image. When recording moving images, you can choose from three different image sizes and frame rates. The image sizes include:

MPEG Movie VX: Besides recording still images, you can also record moving images with sound. Moving images are recorded in MPEG1 format. The following image sizes are available: 640 x 480 @ approximately 30 frames per second (Fine), 640 x 480 @ approximately 17 frames per second (Standard), and 320 x 240 @ approximately 8 frames per second (Mail). You can also record movies in macro mode for excellent closeups. If you want to be in the movie, you can use the camera's self-timer feature. Movies with the size set to 640 x 480 (Fine) can only be recorded on a Memory Stick PRO Duo.

Shooting Modes: You can select whether the camera captures one image or multiple images at a time. The Continuous Shooting Modes include:

• Normal: Shoots only one frame when the shutter button is pressed.
• Burst: Shoots up to 100 images in succession when you press and hold down the shutter button. The recording interval is approximately 0.5 seconds, longer depending upon the image size setting.
• Exposure Bracket: Records a series of three images with the exposure values automatically shifted. One photo is taken under exposed, one is taken over exposed, and the third is taken at the set exposure. You can select a bracket shift of +/-0.3EV, +/-0.7EV, or +/-1.0EV.
• Self-Timer: you can set the Self-Timer mode to a 10-second or 2-second delay so you can be in the picture

Multi-Point AF: The camera has a 9-area multi-point autofocus. The camera calculates the distance in nine areas in three rows of three points around the center of the frame. This method is helpful when your subject is not centered in the frame. You can also choose Center AF, which focuses only on the subject framed in the AF range finder in the center of the image, or Spot AF, which focuses on an extremely small subject or a narrow area. You can choose from the following AF modes:

• Single AF: This mode is useful for shooting stationary subjects.
• Monitor AF: This mode shortens the time needed for focusing. The camera automatically adjusts the focus before you press and hold the shutter button halfway down, letting you compose images with the focus already adjusted.

Focus Presets: In addition to auto focus, you can pre-set the focal distance by choosing one of the following fixed focus settings: 0.5m, 1.0m, 3.0m, 7.0m, or infinity.

AE/AF Lock: If you have difficulty focusing on an off-center subject, you can set and lock the focus and exposure on the subject by pressing the shutter button halfway with the subject in the AF rangefinder, then recompose the shot and press the shutter button fully to take the picture.

AF Illuminator: The AF (auto focus) Illuminator briefly provides fill light to focus more easily on a subject in dark surroundings. Optimal focusing distance with the AF Illuminator is up to approximately 9' 10-1/8" with the zoom set to wide and up to 6' 6-3/4" with the zoom set to telephoto.

Macro Focus: For close-ups of small objects such as flowers and insects, this camera has macro focus capability. With the zoom set all the way to wide, the camera can focus on objects as close as 1-15/16" from the lens. With the zoom set all the way to telephoto, the camera can focus on objects as close as 13-3/8" from the lens.

Face Detection: When activated, the Face Detection function detects the faces of up to eight subjects and adjusts the focus, strobe, exposure, white balance, and pre-strobe for red-eye reduction. Face Detection helps make skin tones look more natural and eliminates harsh facial glare. The DSC-W300 features three different modes of Face Detection.

• Auto: selects the face the camera is to automatically focus on
• Child Priority: detects and shoots with priority on child's face
• Adult Priority: detects and shoots with priority on adult's face

Smile Shutter Mode: The DSC-W300 helps you capture more smiles by shooting automatically when your subject laughs, smiles, even grins. You select the person to watch and the expression to catch, the Face Detection system and intelligent Smile Shutter algorithm do the rest. You can choose from the following Smile Detection Shutter Mode settings.

• Subject Detection:
  • Auto: detect and shoots smiling faces automatically
  • Child Priority: detects and shoots with priority on child's face
  • Adult Priority: detects and shoot with priority on adult's face
• Smile Sensitivity Detection:
  • Low: detects a big smile
  • Medium: detects a normal smile
  • High: detects even a slight smile

Scene Recognition: The digital camera automatically detects shooting conditions, such as backlight or a night scene, and then takes the shot. You can select from the following Scene Recognition modes.

• iSCN: camera detects conditions such as backlight or a night scene and takes the shot using the optimal settings
• iSCN+: camera shoots one image without using the scene recognition functions and another image using the scene recognition function.

Exposure Modes: The camera features the following shooting modes:

• Easy Shooting Mode: Allows you to shoot still images using the minimum necessary functions with easy-to-see indicators.
• Auto Adjustment: The camera automatically adjusts the focus, exposure and white balance.
• Program Auto: This mode allows you to shoot with the exposure adjusted automatically.
• Manual Exposure: Using the control button, you can manually set the aperture and shutter speed.
• Scene Selection Modes: You can choose from the following Scene Selection modes:
  • High Sensitivity: The camera shoots without flash in low light, reducing blur. Any size image available. Sensitivity increased up to ISO 3200.
  • Extra High Sensitivity: The camera shoots without flash in low light, reducing blur. Only 3M size image available. Sensitivity increased up to ISO 6400.
  • Extra High-Speed Burst: Allows you to shoot a maximum of 5 frames per second in extra high-speed bursts. The recording interval is approximately 0.2 seconds. The image size is set to 3M in this mode.
  • Smile Shutter: When the camera detects a smile, the shutter is release automatically. Each time the smile level reaches the set Smile Detection Sensitivity, the camera automatically operated the shutter and records up to six images.
  • Soft Snap: This mode lets you shoot the color of a person's skin with a bright, warm color tone.
  • Twilight Portrait: This mode is used for shooting people in the foreground at night.
  • Twilight: This mode is used for shooting a distant subject at night.
  • Landscape: This mode is used for shooting landscapes at a distance.
  • Beach: This mode is for shooting at seaside or the lakeside.
  • Snow: This mode shoots whitish scenes brightly.
  • Fireworks: This mode allows you to record fireworks in all their splendor.
  • Underwater: Allows you to shoot underwater in natural colors when using an optional waterproof housing (sold separately).
• Movie Mode: Allows you to record MPEG1 movies with monaural audio.

Exposure Compensation Besides auto exposure, you can adjust the exposure from +2.0EV to -2.0EV in steps of 1/3EV.

Metering Modes: You can select Spot, Center-weighted, or Multi-pattern Metering. Spot metering lets you adjust the exposure to the subject, even when the subject is a backlit or when there is strong contrast between the subject and the background. Center-weighted metering measures the center of the image and determines the exposure based on the brightness of the subject. When multi-pattern metering is used, the image is divided into multiple regions and metering is performed in each region. The camera judges the subject position and background brightness, and determines a well-balanced exposure.

High Sensitivity Mode: For better shots in low light, or when you can't use flash, you can set the camera to the extra high sensitivity mode of ISO 6400. The ISO speed can be also be set to Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, or 3200. When shooting under dark conditions or shooting a fast-moving subject, you should use a high number setting. When recording high-quality images, use a low number setting.

Flash Modes: The flash can be set to Auto, Forced Flash, Slow Synchro, or No Flash. In Auto mode, the flash automatically strobes when the surroundings are dark. When the flash is set to Forced Flash, it strobes with every shot. In Slow Synchro, the flash is used regardless of the amount of ambient light, but the shutter speed is slower under dark conditions, allowing you to clearly shoot a background that is out of the flash-lit area. In addition, this camera has a "red-eye reduction" setting, which causes the flash to pre-strobe before shooting to reduce the red-eye phenomenon.

Flash Range: The recommended distance using the flash is 7-7/8" to 18' 5/8" with the zoom set to wide and 3-3/4" to 9', 2-1/4" with the zoom set to telephoto.

White Balance: When the white balance is set to auto, the white balance is set automatically in response to the condition of the subject, and the overall color balance is adjusted. When shooting under special lighting conditions, you can select the settings manually. When using flash, you can select the flash white balance mode. In addition to Auto and Flash, the white balance can be set to Incandescent, Fluorescent 1 (white fluorescent), Fluorescent 2 (natural white fluorescent), Fluorescent 3 (day white fluorescent), Daylight, Cloudy, One Push (adjust white balance depending on the light source) or One Push Set ( memorizes the basic white color which will be used). The unit also feature Underwater White Balance when using the camera with an optional underwater housing (sold separately). You can choose from Underwater Auto, Underwater 1 (Blue), Under Water 2 (Green) or Underwater Flash.

Picture Effects: When desired, you can select one of the following picture effects:

• Normal: Image is shot with normal color tones.
• Vivid: Sets the image to bright and deep color.
• Real: sets the image similar to real-life color
• B & W: The image is recorded in monochrome.
• Sepia: The picture is sepia-toned like an old photograph.

Color Filter: Five color filter effects (including Red, Green, Blue, Warm, and Cool) provide the same effects via in-camera image processing that are typically achieved with colored lens filters. Each effect provides increased creative control when shooting.

Picture Adjustment: You can adjust the camera's sharpness, contrast and color saturation to improve the picture quality of your images.

Nose Reduction: To allow greater control over NR, three NR Level Settings are available (High, Low and Standard) allowing you to select the optimal setting depending on the scene and individual tastes.

Histogram: A histogram is a graph showing the brightness of an image. The graph display indicates a bright image when skewed to the right side, and a dark image when skewed to the left side.

Grid Lines: The cameras on-screen grid lines make it easy to set a subjects horizontal and vertical position.

Function Guide: An on-screen function guide text/icon display makes it easy to learn the camera functions that give you greater creative freedom to adjust photo settings.

Date and Time: Each time you take a picture, the camera records the date and time on the still image. The date and time do not appear on the LCD screen or in the viewfinder while you are shooting. Instead, the date and time appear when you replay the stored image. This feature can be turned off.

Viewing, Editing and Printing Images

Viewing Images: Still and moving images can be played back on the camera's color LCD screen, or the images may be transferred to a computer, where they can be displayed or manipulated with the use of compatible software. In addition, the images can be played back on a television (NTSC or PAL), if the television has an RCA composite video input.

High Definition Playback: You can view an image recorded on the camera by connecting the camera to an HD (High Definition) TV with the optional HD Component Output Adapter Cable (sold separately).

Auto Orientation: When the camera is rotate to shoot a portrait (vertical) image, the camera records it position change and displays the image in the portrait position.

Auto Review: This feature displays the recorded image on the screen for approximately two seconds immediately after shooting a still image.

Index/Date Mode: In addition to viewing images one-by-one in full screen, you can view multiple images at once in the index or date list mode. The index feature lets you to display a total of 12 images while the date list feature can display up to 31 images at once, allowing you to easily find the image you want.

Playback Filter: You can filter the images played back on the camera by selecting one of the following playback filter modes - All people, Children, Infants, Smiles or Off.

Slide Show: The Slide Show function lets you play back images one after the other. You can select from the following slide show effects (Simple, Nostalgic, Stylish, Active, Face1:Basic, Face2:Nostalgic, or Face3:Stylish). Each effect has a preset music soundtrack, or you can choose from the 8 selections. The interval between the pictures can be adjusted, allowing you to choose 1, 3, 5, and 10 seconds or automatic to suit the selected effect. You can select Folder play (all images in the selected folder), All play (all images on the Memory Stick Duo) Date (all images from selected date), or Favorites (select Favorite images 1-6). You can then filter images you want played; you can select from All People, Children, Infants or Smiles. When repeat is selected, the images are replayed in a continuous loop.

Playback Zoom: You can enlarge a recorded still image up to five times the size of the original image. You can also record the enlarged item as a new file. To select the area to be enlarged, you can move the enlargement "frame" up/down/left/right with the arrow buttons, and adjust the zoom with the W/T button. You cannot enlarge movies or images recorded in multi-burst mode.

Rotating Images: Recorded images can be rotated 360-degrees in 90-degree increments on the camera's LCD screen.

Wide Zoom Display: During playback, you view still images recorded at a 4:3 and 3:2 aspect ratio as 16:9 wide on the camera's LCD screen. In this case the top and bottom of the image will be slightly cropped.

Retouching Images: The Retouch Menu allows you to make adjustments of a still image or apply special effects. The following effects can be applied to still images:

• Soft Focus: you can blur the periphery around a chosen point.
• Unsharp Masking: sharpens the image within a chosen frame
• Partial Color: you can surround a chosen point in monochrome
• Fisheye Lens: you can apply a fisheye effect around a chosen point
• Cross Filter: you can add a starburst effect to bright points in the image
• Radial Blur: decides the center point for expressing movement in the still image
• Retro: softens the image by blurring the focus and lowering the surrounding light; appears to have been taken by an old camera
• Happy Faces: this feature put a smile on a person's face
• Trimming: you can crop images to remove unwanted portions
• Red Eye Correction: removes red-eye effect caused by flash

Resizing Images: You can change the aspect ratio and size of the shooting images, then record them as the new files. You can convert images to the 16:9 aspect ratio for high definition viewing and to the VGA size for blog or e-mail attachments.

Music Transfer: You can change the music files that are preset at the factory with your own music, using the Music Transfer program in the supplied CD-ROM.

Deleting/Protecting Images: You can delete a selected image, multiple selected images, or you can delete all the unprotected images at once. In order to avoid accidentally deleting an image, it can be protected.

Print Mark: You can place a print mark on still images recorded with this camera. This mark is convenient when you have images printed at a shop that conforms to the DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) standard.

Exif Print (Exif 2.21): The DSC-W300 conforms to "Exif Print," a worldwide standard. Vital camera settings (such as: exposure mode, white balance, exposure time) and scene data are recorded to the image file when it is captured. Printers compatible with "Exif Print" are able to use this information to produce high quality photographs, exactly the way they were intended at the time of capture. This intelligent communication process also allows the printer to correct for poor lighting or mistakes, resulting in photos that can be even better than the originals.

PictBridge Printing Capability: Using the supplied USB cable, you can connect this camera directly to a PictBridge compliant printer. PictBridge is a new standard that allows you to connect a PictBridge compliant camera directly to a PictBridge compliant printer and make prints, regardless of brand.

Battery Information

Battery Information: The DSC-W300 comes with the NP-BG1 lithium-ion rechargeable battery and BC-CSGC battery charger. This battery takes approximately 330 minutes to fully charge. It can reach a "practical charge" in approximately  270 minutes.

Battery Performance: Under normal operating conditions the battery has the following capacity:

Auto Power-Off: If you do not operate the camera for approximately 3 minutes, it will turn off automatically to conserve battery power.

Supplied Software

Software: The W300 comes with a CD-ROM containing the following:

• Picture Motion Browser (Ver.3.0.02): compatible with Windows operating systems only
  • View images saved on your computer
  • View photos organized by date
  • Edit images
  • Display the shooting locations of still images on maps online (Internet connection required)
  • Create a new data disc (CD burner drive or DVD burner drive required)
  • Print or save still images with the date
• Music Transfer: compatible with Windows and Macintosh operating systems
  • Change the music files on the camera and replace them with your own selections; upload MP3s from your computer or music from CDs
• Cyber-shot Handbook: a detailed instruction booklet (PDF)
• Product Registration: register your camera online
• Step-Up Guide: explains how to use the camera with optional accessories

System Requirements: You can copy images from the W300 to a Windows PC or a Macintosh computer. The supplied Picture Motion Browser software can only be used on a Windows PC; it cannot be used on a Macintosh. The supplied Music Transfer software can be used on both a Windows PC and a Macintosh. The minimum requirements are:

• PC:
  • OS: Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional (SP4), XP (SP2), or Vista (64-bit and Starter editions not supported)
  • CPU: Pentium III 500 MHz or faster (Pentium III 800 MHz of faster recommended)
  • Memory: 256 MB or more (512 MB or more is recommended)
  • Hard Disk: 400 MB or more (required for installation)
  • Display: 1024 x 768 dots or more colors
  • Interface: USB jack
• Macintosh:
  • OS: OS 9.1, 9.2, Mac OS X v10.1 to v10.5 (OS X v10.3 or v10.5 for Music Transfer)
  • CPU: iMac, eMac, PowerBook, Power Mac G3/G4/G5, Mac mini
  • Memory: 64 MB or more (128 MB or more is recommended)
  • Hard Disk: 250 MB or more (required for installation)
  • Interface: USB jack