PMA 2006: Sony launches DSC-W100 and DSC-W70

27 February 2006 10:33 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Earlier this month it was the W30 and W50 from Sony that got a makeover, this week it's the launch of the DSC-W100 and the DSC-W70 at PMA in Orlando, Florida.

The DSC-W100 model packs in an 8-megapixel imaging sensor, and has a compact metal body with a stylized finish in black and silver. It features a manual exposure mode with extended control for up to 46 steps of adjustable shutter speeds (30-1/1000 sec.) and two steps of aperture control.

Both the DSC-W100 camera and the new seven-megapixel DSC-W70 model have a large 2.5-inch LCD screen.

They also both incorporate precision Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 3x optical zoom lenses; MPEG1 movie recording; high-light sensitivity settings; and a mode dial to quickly switch among photo, video, and preview.

The DSC-W70 model has a maximum ISO setting of 1000, while the DSC-W100 model extends to IS0 1250 for even greater control, both higher than Canon's new High ISO settings on its Ixus 800IS. Both cameras snap up to 360 shots on a single full charge.

Breaking from the normal excuse of small internal memory amounts, the W100 model features 64MB of internal memory while the W70 has 58MB so that you can keep on shooting.

The cameras can also take then new 4GB Memory Stick Duo media cards.

The Cyber-shot DSC-W100 camera ships in April for about $350, and the DSC-W70 model will also be available in April for about $300.

Sony has yet to confirm a UK launch date or price.