Capturebuzz

CMOS sensors previously found only in DSLR cameras are finding their to point-and-shoot cameras. Sony hopes CMOS point-and-shoot cameras will appeal to photographers who also want to carry a compact, high performance digital still camera. The 10.2 mega-pixel WX1 camera has a 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD Plus display and measures just 3 9/16 x 2 1/16 x 2 5/32 inches.

The Cyber-shot WX1 camera features a Sony G lens with an extraordinary wide angle 24-120mm 5x optical zoom. Sony G lenses are used in top of the line digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras and advanced pro-sumer HD Camcorders. The f/2.4 aperture lens gathers twice as much light as typical point-and-shoot camera lenses, allowing you to shoot indoors or in low light without flash with less noise.

When shooting in Program Auto Mode, selectable ISO settings include: Auto, 160, 200, 400, 800, 1600, and high-sensitivity 3200. The Cyber-shot WX1 can capture ten 10.2 megapixel resolution images at up to 10fps with its mechanical shutter.

Optical SteadyShot image stabilization uses a built-in gyro sensor to detect camera shake and automatically shifts the lens to help prevent blur without sacrificing image quality.

Sweep Panorama mode lets you capture wide landscapes (185 and 256-degree). Using the high-speed “Exmor R” CMOS sensor, the cameras shoot continuously while you sweep across the scene. The BIONZ imaging processor automatically stitches the pictures together to create panoramic photos.

The Cyber-shot WX1 records HD movies in 720p high definition MPEG4 format for large-screen home movie playback. It can record up to 29 minutes (or up to 2 GB) per movie in 720p format.

The Cyber-shot WX1 is priced at $349.99 (MSRP) and is available at Amazon USA.