Sony DSC-W200, DSC-W90 and DSC-W80 digital cameras announced

27 February 2007 15:38 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Sony has updated its W-Series range of digital cameras and added a socket that allows you to directly connect them to a HDTV for 1080 HD photo-viewing at home.

At the top of the line is the 12 megapixel DSC-W200 camera. It is followed by the 8-megapixel DSC-W90 unit and the 7.2-megapixel DSC-W80 model.

All the models sport Carl Zeiss 3x optical zoom lenses; traditional, eye-level viewfinders; and large, 2.5-inch LCD screens wrapped in sleek metal bodies.

“As HDTV becomes more pervasive in American households, it is only natural to want to view all of your content in high definition, including photos”, said Phil Lubell, director for digital cameras at Sony Electronics. "Our new cameras support a shift in customer behavior - from viewing digital photos on a PC to having a full entertainment experience in the living room.”

The new W-series models incorporate selectable in-camera editing functions that can save you from hours of post-editing time at the computer.

Other helpful in-camera functions include red-eye correction and retouching effects.

All of the new cameras are powered by the Bionz processing engine, first used in Sony’s Alpha digital SLR camera system.

Sony says the Bionz engine also helps to speed up the cameras’ response times and extend battery life. On a full chare, the W90 camera can shoot up to 350 shots, the W80 model up to 340 shots and the W200 unit up to 270 shots.

The silver W200 camera will ship in May for about $400. The W90 camera will be available in March for about $300 in black and silver. The W80 model will be hit stores in March for about $250 in pink, white, black and silver. Sony has yet to confirm prices in the UK.