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Sony W510 Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Sony W510

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    Main Features

    • 12MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
    • ISO 80 - 3200
    • 26-104 mm F2.8-5.9 Zoom Lens
    • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
    • 2.70" Fixed Type Screen
    • 1.0fps continuous shooting
    • 119g. 96 x 54 x 20 mm
    CHECK PRICE
    CHECK PRICE

    Sony W510 Overview

    Launched in January 2011 , Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 is a 12.0MP Ultracompact camera with a 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor, built-in Image Stabilization and 4.0x zoom 26-104 mm F2.8-5.9 lens.

    Sony W510 Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Sensor and Photography Features
    4. Physical Specs
    5. LCD and Viewfinder
    6. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    7. Other Features
    8. Lens
    9. Photography Type Scores
    10. Alternatives
    11. Popular Comparisons
    12. Frequently Asked Questions
    13. Detailed Specifications

    Sony W510 is a member of Sony's Ultracompact class cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this class and how their main specs have changed with each new model.

    Sony Ultracompact Series History
    Model Release Date Sensor Max FPS Dimensions Weight
    Sony WX220
    Compare
    2014 18.0MP - 1/2.3' 10.0 fps 92 x 52 x 22mm 121g
    Sony W830
    Compare
    2014 20.0MP - 1/2.3-inch 1.0 fps 93 x 52 x 23mm 122g
    Sony W810
    Compare
    2014 20.0MP - 1/2.3-inch 1.0 fps 97 x 56 x 21mm 111g
    Sony TX30
    Compare
    2013 18.0MP - 1/2.3-inch 10.0 fps 96 x 59 x 15 mmmm 141g
    Sony TX66
    Compare
    2012 18.0MP - 1/2.3-inch 10.0 fps 93 x 54 x 13mm 109g

    Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side-by-side:
    Sony WX220 vs W830 vs W810 vs TX30 vs TX66


    **This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Sony W510 PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Sony W510 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Image Stabilization
    119g Light Body
    26mm Wide Angle Lens
    Fast 2.80 Lens at Wide
    Report a correction

    Buy Sony W510 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Wireless Connection
    No Articulating Screen
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Full HD Video
    No Touch Screen
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No RAW Shooting
    No Face Detection Focusing
    Low Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
    Max Sensitivity only ISO 3.200
    Only 9 Focus Points
    Small LCD Screen ( 2.70")
    Low Screen Resolution ( 230kdots )
    1/1600s Low Max Shutter Speed
    Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
    No Manual Focusing
    No Manual Exposure
    No Environmental Sealing
    Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90

    Report a correction


    Sony W510 Physical Specs
    Sony W510 weighs 119 g (0.26 lb / 4.20 oz) and has external dimensions of 96 x 54 x 20 mm (3.78 x 2.13 x 0.79″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, Sony W510 is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 20mm, it is also quite small, 8mm thinner than the average of its class.
    Weight Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Sony W510
    Min
    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Sony W510
    Min
    Average
    Max


    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Sony W510, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Sony W510 Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Sony W510 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery



    Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Sony W510 with its main competitors:

    Sony W510 Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs W510 Thickness vs W510
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 Camera Sony W310
    Compare
    137g 18g heavier 19mm 1mm thinner
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 Camera Sony W810
    Compare
    111g 8g lighter 21mm 1mm thicker
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 Camera Sony W830
    Compare
    122g 3g heavier 23mm 3mm thicker
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 Camera Leica SL2
    Compare
    835g 716g heavier 42mm 22mm thicker
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 Camera Casio EX-Z450
    Compare
    128g 9g heavier 21mm 1mm thicker
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 Camera Canon RP
    Compare
    485g 366g heavier 70mm 50mm thicker
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 Camera Fujifilm GFX 100
    Compare
    1320g 1201g heavier 103mm 83mm thicker
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 Camera Nikon D5
    Compare
    1415g 1296g heavier 92mm 72mm thicker

    Weather Sealing

    Sony W510 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

    Sony W510 Lens

    Sony W510 features a 26-104 mm F2.8-5.9 4× zoom lens. Lens has a good wide angle capability starting at 26mm, and 104mm on the tele end means that the medium telephoto angle is also well covered, only lacking the reach for wildlife and sports.

    Wide Coverage

    Compact Cameras

    W510
    Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
    Average
    Telezoom

    Compact Cameras

    W510
    Longest - Canon SX520 HS
    Average

    With a max aperture of f2.80, this lens is fast on wide end, but max aperture of f5.90 at tele end makes is really slow at longer focal lengths.

    Max Aperture at Wide

    Compact Cameras

    W510
    Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
    Average
    Max Aperture at Tele

    Compact Cameras

    W510
    Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
    Average

    W510 is equipped with Sensor-shift image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds.

    Sony W510 Sensor and Photography Features

    Sony W510 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features BIONZ processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4000 x 3000 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. W510 has a native ISO range of 80 - 3200 but unfortunately, Sony W510 doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider or in the same price range.

    Sony W510 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. GoPro Hero11 Black with its 27.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Sony W510 vs GoPro Hero11 Black or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

    Let's look at how the size of the Sony W510's 1/2.3-inch sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Sony W510 Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Sony W510 Sensor Size with other standard sensors



    Sony W510 LCD

    Sony W510 has a Fixed Type 2.70-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. At only 2.70", the screen is on the smaller side and 230kdot resolution is lower than most of the recent models in this class.



    Sony W510 back view and LCD

    Unfortunately Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 doesn't have a Selfie friendly screen. If this feature is important for your shooting style, check here the list of Best Compact Cameras with Selfie Friendly LCD screen.


    W510 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 (Lumix DMC-TZ100) (Compare) or Nikon Coolpix P7800 (Compare).
    Alternatively, check here the list of all Compact cameras with viewfinder..

    Sony W510 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    Sony W510 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port to connect your camera to other devices.

    Sony W510 Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 Camera Sony W310
    Compare
    640 x 480 shots No No No
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 Camera Sony W810
    Compare
    1280 x 720 200shots No No No
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 Camera Sony W830
    Compare
    1280 x 720 shots No No No
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 Camera Leica SL2
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 370shots Yes Yes No
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 Camera Casio EX-Z450
    Compare
    1280 x 720 shots No No No
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 Camera Canon RP
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 250shots Yes Yes No
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 Camera Fujifilm GFX 100
    Compare
    4096 x 2160 800shots Yes Yes No
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 Camera Nikon D5
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 3780shots No No No

    Sony W510 Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Sony W510 can shoot continuously at max speed of 1 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/1600 sec.

    Flash

    Unfortunately W510 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

    Focusing

    Sony W510 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 9 points to choose from.



    What type of Photography is Sony W510 Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Sony W510 in 5 different photography areas.

    Sony W510 for Portrait Photography

    Sony W510 has a score of 23 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over theW510.
    Image Stabilization
    Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP

    Read the details of how we scored Sony W510 for Portrait Photography

    Sony W510 for Street Photography

    Sony W510 has a score of 56 for Street Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Street is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Street Photography list.
    Live-view
    Image Stabilization
    Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
    26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    Small Body

    Read the details of how we scored Sony W510 for Street Photography

    Sony W510 for Sports Photography

    Sony W510 has a score of 18 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theW510.
    Image Stabilization

    Read the details of how we scored Sony W510 for Sports Photography

    Sony W510 for Daily Photography

    Sony W510 has a score of 55 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    Compact Body
    119g
    Body Thickness 20mm
    4.0X Optical Zoom

    Read the details of how we scored Sony W510 for Daily Photography

    Sony W510 for Landscape Photography

    Sony W510 has a score of 16 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theW510.
    26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP

    Read the details of how we scored Sony W510 for Landscape Photography
    Sony W510 Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Sony W510 compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Sony W510 alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Sony W510

    Here are the eight most popular comparisons of the Sony W510 amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Sony W310
    Sony W310
    Compare
    Sony W810
    Sony W810
    Compare
    Sony W830
    Sony W830
    Compare
    Leica SL2
    Leica SL2
    Compare
    Casio EX-Z450
    Casio EX-Z450
    Compare
    Canon RP
    Canon RP
    Compare
    Fujifilm GFX 100
    Fujifilm GFX 100
    Compare
    Nikon D5
    Nikon D5
    Compare

    Sony W510 Alternatives in Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Sony W510 with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Sony W510's price range.

    Sony W510 Conclusion and Scores

    Currently, Sony W510 has an Overall Score of 28/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 is ranked #501 out of 631 in Compact cameras (Top 20 Compact), and ranked #1117 out of 1259 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

    #1117 out of 1259 in Top Ranking Cameras
    #501 out of 631 in Top Ranking Compact Cameras
    #96 out of 152 in Top Ranking Ultracompact Cameras
    #625 out of 740 in Top Ranking Small Sensor Sensor Cameras
    #49 out of 536 in Lightest Compact Cameras with Small Sensor sensor(119g)
    #788 out of 918 in Top Ranking Cameras with Fixed Type Screen
    Geek Score: 0

    Main Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Sony W510
    Does the Sony W510 have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Sony W510 have RAW support?
    Does the Sony W510 have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Sony W510 have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Sony W510?
    What is the Sensor Size of Sony W510?
    is the Sony W510 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Sony W510 have Touch Screen?
    Does the Sony W510 have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Sony W510?
    What is the Weight of Sony W510?
    What are the Dimensions of Sony W510?
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Sony
    Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510
    Announced 2011-01-06
    Body Type Ultracompact
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount fixed lens
    Lens Focal Range 26-104 mm (4×)
    Max Aperture F2.8-5.9
    Macro Focus Range 4cm
    Screen
    Screen Type Fixed Type
    Screen Technology Clear Photo LCD
    Screen Size 2.70"
    Screen Resolution 230k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder None
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage n/a
    Viewfinder Magnification n/a
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 2s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/1600s
    Max Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation n/a
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 2.30 m
    Flash Modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score not tested
    DxO Color Depth not tested
    DxO Dynamic Range not tested
    DxO Low Light ISO not tested
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CCD
    Sensor Size 1/2.3-inch
    Sensor Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm
    Sensor Area 28.07mm2
    Sensor Resolution 12 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 4000 x 3000
    Max Native ISO 3,200
    Min Native ISO 80
    RAW Support
    Autofocus
    AF Touch
    AF Continuous
    AF Single
    AF Tracking
    AF Selective
    AF Center
    AF Multi Area
    AF Live View
    AF Face Detection
    AF Contrast Detection
    AF Phase Detection
    Number of Focus Points 9
    Number of Cross Focus Points Unknown
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
    Max Video Resolution 640 x 480
    Video Formats Motion JPEG
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity None
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 119g
    Physical Dimensions 96 x 54 x 20mm
    Battery Model NP-BN1
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
    Storage Slots 1


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