Sony’s W220 may feature a somewhat basic set of specifications, but its understated style gives it an air of sophistication in an otherwise uninspiring market. The camera’s 12.1MP sensor captures images across a range of ISO 100-3200, while a 30-120mm lens allows for moderate wideangle shooting. The same Dynamic Range Optimisation feature as seen on Sony’s range of Alpha DSLRs features, as does a handful of technologies for people shots, such as Face Detection and Smile Shutter.
Though the W220 is comfortably a budget compact, its images are still somewhat disappointing. The camera seems unable to discriminate fine detail, with a strong textured cast of noise even on low-sensitivity images in good light. Exposures are fine in controlled conditions, but the Dynamic Range Optimiser needs to be used otherwise to combat slight underexposure. Purple fringing is present in many images, as is softness in corners and edges of the frame.