The Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W830 is an ultra-compact camera first introduced in 2014. Since then, the Sony DSC w830 has been a staple of the point-and-shoot market and is one of the most affordable options available without sacrificing image clarity and shooting speed. You won’t get wifi or good video features, but the price tag more than makes up for it. If you need a camera that fits in your pocket but still takes impressive pics, this might be a good option. Let’s take a look at the features in our Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W830 review to see if this is your next subcompact camera.
Sony DSC-W830 Specs
- 20.1 Megapixel Plus 8x Zoom
- Panorama Shooting: 360 Sweep Panorama; Minimum Illumination: Auto: 22.0 lux Shutter Speed 1/30
- Optical Steady Shot image Stabilization with 2-way Active Mode
- 720p MP4 HD Movie Mode ; This product is compatible with Final Cut Pro X and iMovie.
- Picture Effect: Still images: Toy camera, Pop Color, Partial Color, Soft High-key, Panoramas: Pop Color, Partial Color, Soft High-key, Movies: Toy camera, Pop Color, Partial Color, Soft High-key
Type: Point and shoot subcompact with built-in flash and automatic focus
Resolution: 20.1 Megapixels
ISO: Native Range: 80 – 3200
Continuous Shooting Rate: 0.8 fps
Size: 0.91 x 3.66 x 2.05 in
Weight: 4.32 ounces
Media Storage: JPEG files stored in media cards (SD, SDHC, Sony Memory Stick, SDXC
Key Features
The Sony Cyber shot DSC w830 is ultra compact and lighter-weight than competitors in a similar class. Its main drawback is a high megapixel count without having to bother with manual options. In fact, the Sony DSC w830 gives you no manual control over photographs, but it does give you some picture modes through the menu.
Its other main purpose is portability and ease of use. The LCD gives you all the menu options, but for the most part, the Sony DSC w830 is a pocket camera built for fast clicks without much setup.
Image Quality & Performance
The Sony Cyber Shot DSC w830 has a lens equivalent of 25 to 200 mm. This feature gives you enough range to take some panoramic shots, but also portraits and close-ups without losing too much clarity on either end of the spectrum.
The aperture range is f3.3 to f6.3. Without manual controls, this doesn’t mean a lot, but it will give you just a bit lower noise in low light conditions than say the Sony Coolpix S3600. The lens is optically stabilized, a feature that can’t be turned off in the menu.
Movie mode is the okay-est at this class of camera. The Sony DSC w830 shoots 720p at about 30fps. It doesn’t have a dedicated record button, so we can’t envision you shooting movies much at all because of that inconvenience. It does give you 16:9 view so you can accurately frame your recording.
Design & Controls
The Sony Cyber Shot DSC w830 camera body is a little bit boxy for our tastes despite the excellent size and weight. The bezel protrudes from the body more than we’d like as well. Other cameras might be bigger in this class, but they’ve got a more aesthetically pleasing design.
The Sony DSC w830 has a Zeiss branded 8x optical zoom lens with a CCD sensor. You can’t shoot in manual, but the auto modes are straightforward. You can control options like white balance, exposure compensation, and metering. It senses when the camera is on a tripod and allows longer exposures.
It has four modes and intelligently senses the best one. In SCN, you can choose 11 more scenes like soft skin, night scenes, and beaches. There are four effects, but none of them are particularly interesting.
The Sony DSC w830 also has a sweep panorama function with 180 degrees at 7152 x 1080 and 360 degrees measuring 11520 x 1080
PROs
The Sony Cyber Shot DSC w830 has an auto function, subcompact master that gives you a reliable (if somewhat uninspired) photography edge. For a pocket camera or a backup, it’s a safe choice.
- Image stabilization
- Face detection focusing
- 180 degree and 360-degree panorama sweeping
- Weighs less than 5 ounces
- Excellent entry-level price point
- Slightly less noise than comparable cameras
- 20.1 megapixels
- Convenience mostly outweighs the lack of manual options
- Four modes and 11 shooting options
- Auto recognition of a tripod
CONs
You are going to trade some pretty serious features in the name of price and convenience with the Sony DSC w830, however.
- No touchscreen
- No Wifi capability, only USB
- No manual controls
- No external flash shoe
- Doesn’t support RAW
- Slow lens
- No built-in viewfinder
- Low sensitivity overall
- Loses clarity towards the edges of photos
- Only offers four photo effects
Recommendations
The Sony Cyber Shot DSC w830 cons make a lot of sense if you aren’t a professional and have no idea what you’re doing. It’s good for people who aren’t “photographers” per se but want excellent photos for whatever they’re doing. It fits in a pocket or purse and doesn’t require a special camera bag or fancy equipment and knowledge.
We recommend the Sony DSC w830 if you just need a simple point and click camera with a basic range of options and might use the video function every once in a while. For more elaborate options, the Sony DSC w830 isn’t going to hit the spot.
Pro Tip
The Sony Cyber Shot DSC W800, a predecessor of the W830, might be a better choice for you if you’re looking for a wider maximum aperture, better flash coverage, and cheaper price. However, the difference in price is not significant and the W830 also has better shutter speed, focal length, optical zoom, and is more lightweight.
Verdict
Honestly, from a photographer’s standpoint, the Sony DSC W830 is not that impressive. Its target audience is someone who just needs a camera to work when the button is pressed and is pretty carefree about all the different options involved in manual features.
From a budget standpoint, it’s a solid choice with excellent clarity and a moderately good range of aperture features and lens speeds. Looking at it from this standpoint, we definitely recommend it if you’re aware of what you’re getting and don’t want or need more.
Are you a professional photographer or someone who just wants to record a memory without stressing settings? Let us know in the comments below.
