Sony WX1 Review

Name: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
Brand: Sony

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Main Features

10MP - 1/2.4-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 160 - 3200

24-120 mm F2.4-5.9 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

2.70" Fixed Type Screen

10.0fps continuous shooting

and HD at 30fps Video Recording

149g. 91 x 52 x 20 mm

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Sony WX1 Overview

Launched in August 2009 , Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 is a 10.0MP Ultracompact camera with a 1/2.4-inch (6.104 x 4.578 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor, built-in Image Stabilization and 5.0x zoom 24-120 mm F2.4-5.9 lens.

Sony WX1 Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Video
Other Features
Lens
Photography Type Scores
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Sony WX1 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.

Sony WX1 PROs and CONs Review

Now let's get in to more details of our Sony WX1 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

10.0fps Shooting w/ Mechanical Shutter

149g Light Body

11 MB Internal Storage

24mm Wide Angle Lens

Fast 2.40 Lens at Wide

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Buy Sony WX1 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: 10.0MP

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

No Manual Focusing

No Manual Exposure

No Environmental Sealing

Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90

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Sony WX1 Physical Specs

Sony WX1 weighs 149 g (0.33 lb / 5.26 oz) and has external dimensions of 91 x 52 x 20 mm (3.58 x 2.05 x 0.79″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, Sony WX1 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 WX1

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

Sony WX1

Min

Average

Max

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Sony WX1, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Physical size of the Sony WX1 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Sony WX1 with its main competitors:

Sony WX1 Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs WX1	Thickness	vs WX1
Sony WX10 Compare	161g	12g heavier	23mm	3mm thicker
Sony WX350 Compare	164g	15g heavier	26mm	6mm thicker
Sony W830 Compare	122g	27g lighter	23mm	3mm thicker
Sony WX220 Compare	121g	28g lighter	22mm	2mm thicker
Sony WX150 Compare	133g	16g lighter	22mm	2mm thicker
Nikon Z50 Compare	397g	248g heavier	60mm	40mm thicker
Olympus 5010 Compare	126g	23g lighter	20mm	equal thickness
Sony RX100 IV Compare	298g	149g heavier	41mm	21mm thicker

Weather Sealing

Sony WX1 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 WX1 Lens

Sony WX1 features a 24-120 mm F2.4-5.9 5× zoom lens. This camera offers exceptional wide angle capacity thanks to 24mm focal length on the wide end, while 120mm 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

WX1

Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

WX1

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

With a max aperture of f2.40, 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

WX1

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

WX1

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

WX1 is equipped with Optical image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds.

Sony WX1 Sensor and Photography Features

Sony WX1 has a 10.0MP 1/2.4-inch (6.104 x 4.578 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Bionz processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 3648 x 2736 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. WX1 has a native ISO range of 160 - 3200 but unfortunately, Sony WX1 doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider Nikon Coolpix P7100 or Nikon Coolpix P7000 in the same price range.

Sony WX1 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 WX1 vs GoPro Hero11 Black or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

Let's look at how the size of the Sony WX1's 1/2.4-inch sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Comparison image of Sony WX1 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

Sony WX1 LCD

Sony WX1 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.

Unfortunately Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 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.

WX1 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 WX1 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

You can connect WX1 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

Sony WX1 Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Sony WX10 Compare	1920 x 1080	shots	No	No	No
Sony WX350 Compare	1920 x 1080	470shots	Yes	No	No
Sony W830 Compare	1280 x 720	shots	No	No	No
Sony WX220 Compare	1920 x 1080	210shots	Yes	No	Yes
Sony WX150 Compare	1920 x 1080	240shots	No	No	No
Nikon Z50 Compare	3840 x 2160	320shots	Yes	Yes	No
Olympus 5010 Compare	1280 x 720	shots	No	No	No
Sony RX100 IV Compare	3840 x 2160	280shots	Yes	No	Yes

Sony WX1 Video Features

With Sony WX1, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30 fps and save in and formats. 1280 x 720 is a low video resolution by todays standards. If video quality is important for you, we recommend you to look at cameras with Full HD, even better 4K / Ultra-HD resolution .

Microphones, Speaker and Headphone Connections

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 has a built-in Mono microphone but no speaker. On the other hand, Sony WX1 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Nikon Coolpix P7100 or Nikon Coolpix P7000 in a similar price range.

Sony WX1 Other Features

Max Shutter speed

Sony WX1 can shoot continuously at max speed of 10 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/1600 sec.

Flash

Unfortunately WX1 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

Focusing

Sony WX1 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 9 points to choose from.

What type of Photography is Sony WX1 Good for?

In this section, we review and score Sony WX1 in 5 different photography areas.

Sony WX1 for Portrait Photography

Sony WX1 has a score of 18 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 theWX1.

Image Stabilization

Read the details of how we scored Sony WX1 for Portrait Photography

Sony WX1 for Street Photography

Sony WX1 has a score of 49 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: f2.40

24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small Body

Read the details of how we scored Sony WX1 for Street Photography

Sony WX1 for Sports Photography

Sony WX1 has a score of 17 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 theWX1.

Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Image Stabilization

120 mm Tele Lens

Read the details of how we scored Sony WX1 for Sports Photography

Sony WX1 for Daily Photography

Sony WX1 has a score of 54 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
149g

Body Thickness 20mm
5.0X Optical Zoom

Read the details of how we scored Sony WX1 for Daily Photography

Sony WX1 for Landscape Photography

Sony WX1 has a score of 15 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 theWX1.

24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage

Read the details of how we scored Sony WX1 for Landscape Photography

Sony WX1 Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Sony WX1 compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range.

Read a more detailed analysis of Sony WX1 alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Sony WX1

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Sony WX1 amongst Camera Decision readers.

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Sony WX1 Alternatives in Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Sony WX1 with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Sony WX1's price range.

Sony WX1 Conclusion and Scores

Currently, Sony WX1 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-WX1 is ranked #506 out of 631 in Compact cameras (Top 20 Compact), and ranked #1119 out of 1259 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

#1119 out of 1259 in Top Ranking Cameras
#506 out of 631 in Top Ranking Compact Cameras
#100 out of 152 in Top Ranking Ultracompact Cameras
#614 out of 740 in Top Ranking Small Sensor Sensor Cameras
#193 out of 536 in Lightest Compact Cameras with Small Sensor sensor(149g)
#780 out of 918 in Top Ranking Cameras with Fixed Type Screen
Geek Score: 0

Main Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Frequently Asked Questions about Sony WX1

Does the Sony WX1 have Image Stabilization?
Does the Sony WX1 have RAW support?
Does the Sony WX1 have Weather Sealing?
Does the Sony WX1 have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Sony WX1?
What is the Sensor Size of Sony WX1?
is the Sony WX1 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Sony WX1 have Touch Screen?
Does the Sony WX1 have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Sony WX1?
What is the Weight of Sony WX1?
What are the Dimensions of Sony WX1?

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Sony
Model	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
Announced	2009-08-06
Body Type	Ultracompact
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	24-120 mm (5×)
Max Aperture	F2.4-5.9
Macro Focus Range	5cm
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
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	10.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	n/a
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	5.00 m
Flash Modes	Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, 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	BSI-CMOS
Sensor Size	1/2.4-inch
Sensor Dimensions	6.104 x 4.578 mm
Sensor Area	27.94mm²
Sensor Resolution	10 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	3648 x 2736
Max Native ISO	3,200
Min Native ISO	160
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	1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720
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	149g
Physical Dimensions	91 x 52 x 20mm
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage Slots	1