Check out an examination of photos taken with the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290, a feature-filled compact camera featuring a wide-angle lens with a 5x zoom.
Joshua Goldman
Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.
The W290 goes from ISO 80 up to ISO 3,200, but usability drops off significantly above ISO 400 (typical of cameras in its class). However, even at ISO 80, photos viewed at full size have a grain to them that only gets more pronounced as sensitivities get higher. It had little-to-no impact on large prints (13x19 and below) made from test shots taken up to IS0 400. If you're planning to make prints that large, just keep the ISO as low as possible.
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This was taken at ISO 80 and is an extreme example of the graininess/artifacting that's visible at 100 percent. It's not really noticeable in prints at 8x10 inches or smaller. More of a concern is the overall softness of the image.
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The W290's wide-angle lens does exhibit barrel distortion at its widest position (top)and pincushion distortion when the lens is at its longest position (bottom). Purple fringing was minimal, though.
4 of 4 Joshua Goldman/CNET
Colors produced by the W290 are pretty accurate and exposure was good as well. Sony includes its Dynamic Range Optimization feature on this model, too, which helps bring out details that would otherwise be lost in shadows.
