Sony is launching in May two new compact long-zoom cameras, the Cyber-shot DSC-WX150 and DSC-W690, which are the world’s thinnest 10x optical zoom cameras on the market. Both cameras are equipped with 10x optical zoom lens with 25mm wide angle and the newly developed AA lens element. The WX150 adds the Clear Image Zoom technology extending the zoom range to 20x at full resolution, and sports BIONZ image processor. The WX150 features 18.2 Megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor while the W690 has a 16.1 Megapixel CCD imager.
These slim 10x zoom Cyber-shot shooters include enhanced Optical SteadyShot (WX150 with Active Mode for movie recording) to reduce handshake during shooting. The WX150 features Lightning-fast AF speed of approximately 0.13 second in daylight, 0.20 seconds in low-light, the Extra High Sensitivity technology for enhanced low-light shooting performance. It supports Full HD 1080p video recording and has the Dual-Record function that allows you to capture 13 Megapixel equivalent still images while shooting video. The W690, on the other hand, does only 720p HD video shooting. Both models have Picture Effect allowing for creative, custom styled photographs, with the WX150 gets 9 options and the W690 has 4 options.
The Cyber-shot DSC-WX150 comes with a 3-inch 460k ClearPhoto LCD display and HDMI output while the X690 has a 3-inch 230k LCD touchscreen. Other features include Face Detection, Intelligent Scene Recognition, Smile Shutter, Natural, Anti-blink. The former also packs Background Defocus, Intelligent Sweep Panorama HR mode and 3D still image and 3D Sweep Panorama mode.
Coming in May, the Sony WX150 and W690 10x zoom slim cameras will be available for $249.99 and $179.99 respectively. They both come in silver, black, red and blue colors. Sony will also release in Europe the Cyber-shot WX100 which is similar to the WX150 but with a 2.7-inch ClearPhoto LCD display.