Sony Cybershot DSC-W80 Review - Design and Cosmetics
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The W80 is currently available in three different body colors which include pink, white, black, and silver. The body itself is pretty basic in design, with a somewhat boxy look much like the Canon SD line of digital cameras. The W80 is very small and compact which is nice for this type of camera. The dimensions of the W80 are 3.6 x 0.9 x 2.3 inches, and it weighs in at only 4.4 ounces. This camera is extremely lightweight and will make a great pocket camera.
Although the W80 is very small in stature, it is very comfortable to hold and makes one-handed operation a breeze. Your thumb rests on one of the dials when shooting, so you have to be careful not to accidentally turn the dial while trying to shoot. This shouldn't be a big issue when operating this camera.
The front of this camera sports the upgraded Carl Zeiss lens which works great. This lens has a focal range of 5.8-17.4 mm, which is equal to 35-105 mm. On top of the camera you will find the power button, as well as the shutter release button.
The back of the W80 is where you will find most of the controls, as well as the large 2.5 inch LCD screen. The screen is a good size, but its resolution could be better as it falls a bit short of the competition. Above the LCD screen is an optical viewfinder, which is great to have on any camera. I'm glad Sony decided to squeeze an optical viewfinder into the small amount of real estate on this camera.
Next to the LCD screen is where you will find the remaining controls. In this area you will find the zoom controls, a function dial, a play button, menu button, home button, and a four-way rocker switch. The controls are pretty straightforward and it should not take the user long to be comfortable with the control set-up in the W80. The bottom of the camera sports a metal tripod mount and the USB connections, which double as a dock connection. The dock is not included with the purchase of the camera, but it may be purchased separately for around $79. This dock allows you to hook the W80 directly up to an HDTV to view HD-quality photos.
Overall, I like the design and usability of the W80. The design is very simple yet effective. I would have liked to see higher resolution on the LCD screen, but I can live with that. After all, it's the quality of the photo that counts, not the quality of the image on the 2.5 inch LCD screen.
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