Sony Saved Its Two Most Speced-Out Cameras For Last

Sony’s been busy lately. Just two months into the new year, the company has already launched ten digicams, including two DSLRs. This morning, it added two high-end cameras to its lineup, the 13.6-megapixel DSC-W300 ($349) and the 15x DSC-H50 ($399), both of which will start shipping in May. Although we tend to hammer home the idea that a high resolution and ginormous zoom factor aren’t the be-all and end-all of camera specs, we can’t help but feel impressed. 13.6 megapixel cameras are for people who want the option of printing poster-size images. The W300, in particular, is for folks who can afford not to skimp on any of the neat features cameras– and especially Sony’s– have to offer these days. For $349, you get Smile Shutter Mode intelligent scene recognition (iSCN), five color modes (including “real”), 12 scene modes (including a new underwater mode), three noise reduction settings, and Sony’s D-Range Optimizer Plus (DRO), which enhances shadow detail in shooting situations with a harsh backlight. The 9.1-megapixel H50 appeals to a budding class of people who are either intimidated by (or can’t afford) DSLRs, and would do just as well with a versatile ultra zoom camera. Like many DSLRs, including Sony’s own alpha DSLR-A300 and A350, it has a tilting LCD screen, making it easier to shoot from tricky angles. In addition, the flash captures subjects up to 55 feet away, and the camera packs NightShot technology and “advanced sports mode.” Like the W300, it has iSCN, DRO, three noise reduction settings, and five color modes. It also has face and smile detection for adults and children, a feature found in many of Sony’s newest digicams.