PMA 2009: Sony Adds HD To Cyber-shot Line

By Greg Scoblete -- TWICE, 2/17/2009

San Diego — Sony will sprinkle 720p HD video recording throughout a number of its 2009 Cyber-shot digital still cameras.

Sony’s first half Cyber-shots are due in March.

The S980, for $149, features a 12-megapixel sensor, 4x optical zoom lens (33mm), a 2.7-inch LCD and ISO 3,200. It offers six scene modes, movie recording and in-camera red-eye removal.

The 12-megapixel W230 ($199) features a 4x optical zoom lens, a 3-inch LCD, face detection with child/adult

Sony’s W290 incorporates a 5x optical, 28mm zoom lens.

priority and optical stabilization. It will also offer Sony’s dynamic range optimizer (DRO) technology, ISO 3,200, seven scene modes, a component output and the ability to create slideshows with music in-camera. The W230 will include 10 in-camera editing modes and be available in silver, black, blue and red.

The 12-megapixel W290 features a 5x optical zoom Carl Zeiss lens (28mm), a 3-inch LCD, intelligent auto, a dedicated smile shutter button, 720p HD video recording and face detection with adult/child priority and blink detection.

Additional features include 11 scene modes, HD slideshow creation with music and the ability to filter images in-camera.

Sony will add two models to its compact T-series. The 12-megapixel T90, for $299, features a 4x optical zoom Carl Zeiss lens, a 3-inch touch-screen LCD, face detection with child/adult priority and blink detection, a dedicated smile shutter button and 11 scene modes.

Additional features include DRO, in-camera retouching, intelligent scene mode and 720p movie recording with the ability to use the zoom lens while recording.

The T90 will be sold in light blue, brown, silver, black and pink.

The 12-megapixel T900 ($379) builds off the T90 with a 3.5-inch touch-screen LCD, optical image stabilization, and the ability to filter captured images by faces (including those of children, infants or those smiling). It will be available in silver, black, brown and red.

Finally, in the ultra-zoom category, Sony will launch the 10-megapixel H20 featuring a 10x optical zoom lens, 720p video recording with the ability to zoom during shooting, optical image stabilization, 10 scene modes, a 3-inch LCD and DRO.

It will also offer face detection, including child/adult priority and blink warning, in-camera retouching and DRO. It will be available in black for $279.