The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55 is a thin, point-and-shoot camera that offers 7.2 megapixels of resolution for less than $200. Sony's recent reconfiguration of its digital camera lineup has produced some very good models, but it might be tough to find a better mix of features and value than this model. The biggest problem with the DSC-W55 -- image quality in low-light situations -- is a little troublesome, but it's not a deal-breaking drawback.

Under ideal lighting conditions, you can make prints of up to 11-by-14 inches when shooting at the maximum resolution. Unfortunately, when lighting conditions aren't ideal, image quality suffers, sometimes to the point where you can't fix it adequately with photo-editing software. The DSC-W55's low-light photos just don't have the detail and sharpness you'll see in some digital cameras.

When shooting outdoors in sunlight, though, the DSC-W55's images are very good. And to be fair, for a digital camera in this price range, image quality is typically a problem, especially in low light. Disappointing image quality is a difficult factor to ignore when attempting to select a digital camera; the DSC-W55's other features, however, are strong enough for a model in this price range that it's still worth strong consideration.

Response times are fairly good for a camera in this price range. Our testing shows that you can shoot your first photo about 1.5 seconds after pressing the power button. Shutter lag is almost non-existent much of the time; when the 3X optical zoom lens is extended, however, you might find delays of up to 1 second. Shot-to-shot delays rarely extend beyond 1 second, which is above average.

The DSC-W55 is easy to use. It has no manual-control features, although you can choose from several scene modes to match the camera's settings to the conditions of the photo that you're trying to take.

Adding to the DSC-W55's value is the fact that Sony includes 56MB of internal memory with this model, which means that you might be able to save some money on a memory card, at least initially. (If you shoot at the maximum resolution most of the time, you'll want a memory card for the DSC-W55 at some point.)

Sony also offers several add-on accessories -- including conversion lenses for wide-angle and zoom -- for the DSC-W55, giving it greater value because it can grow to meet your changing photography needs.

The DSC-W55 is available in four colors (silver, black, light blue and pink). The camera is easy to hold, despite being less than an inch in thickness. The DSC-W55's 2.5-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) occupies most of the back of the camera body, although there's room above the screen for a tiny optical viewfinder, which is handy despite its size. The LCD could be quite a bit sharper and brighter, especially when viewed in direct sunlight.

The DSC-W55 certainly doesn't have top-of-the-line features, and it's not going to appeal to anyone but beginning photographers, but for a point-and-shoot camera in its price range, its feature set is above average in nearly all categories. The DSC-W55 provides a great value and is fun to use.


Pros: Great value, high resolution, good response times, easy-to-use model, 56MB of internal memory, thin camera body
Cons: Low-light image quality should be better, LCD should be sharper and brighter, no manual control features

Warranty
1 year, limited