Sony Goes Wireless With Cyber-shot DSC-G1 Camera

Digital camera heavyweights Sony have rolled out their first wireless Cyber-Shot digital camera, the 6-megapixel Cyber-shot DSC-G1.

The G1 is Sony’s first wireless digicam able to send photos to other Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA)-enabled devices (like other cameras and PCs) and Phil Lubell, director of marketing for digital cameras at Sony Electronics was ready to big up the technology: “This is a step towards realizing a platform for networked photo communication.”

“We will continue to explore the possibilities for networked digital imaging as broadband Internet becomes more pervasive in American homes,” he added.

The groundbreaking camera comes with a positively ginormous, 3.5-inch, 921k pixel screen, a whopping 2GB of internal storage, optical stabilisation and wireless connectivity.

The metal bodied Cyber-shot model sports an eye catching design, with a Carl Zeiss 3x optical zoom lens (38-114mm, 35mm equiv) lurking behind a horizontally sliding cover.

Socialites keen to grab that decisive party moment will like Sony’s claim that the camera can be ready to shoot in less than a second, with the built in Super Steady Shot optical image stabilisation keeping the cocktail shakes at bay.

In line with its party animal aspirations, the G1 has high light sensitivity – up to ISO 1000 – for grabbing natural, low light shots.

Hefty Storage

When it comes to internal storage, Sony have been very generous and strapped in a mighty 2GB of internal memory, good enough to store a holiday’s worth of pics (that’s 7,500 VGA-quality photos or 600 6-megapixel pictures).

There’s also a memory slot onboard for storing yet more photos, but Sony are sticking with their less widespread Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick PRO Duo format, which can now store up to eight gigabytes.

Sony have also added an “auto image management system” which lets snappers organize their photos by events, keywords and labels and – remarkably – lets user select someone’s face and search for other photos with the same face, same colour, or a similar composition.

The DSC-G1 digital camera will be slipping on to the shelves in April, priced at around $600.

Sony DSC-G1 specifications
Sensor 1/2.5″ Type CCD, 6.0 million effective pixels
Image sizes 2816 x 2112, 2048 x 1536, 1632 x 1224, 640 x 480, 2816 x 1872 (3:2), 1920 x 1080 (16:9)
Movie clips 640 x 480 @30fps, 320 x 240 @ 30fps
File formats JPEG, DPOF, MS Video LV4
Lens Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar, 3x optical zoom, 38-114mm (35mm equiv), F3.5-4.3
Image stabilisation SuperSteadyShot
Focus AF area modes 9-point
AF assist lamp Yes
Focus distance AF: 50cm
Macro: 8cm (wide) 25cm (tele)
Metering Multi-pattern, Center-weighted, Spot
ISO sensitivity ISO 80 – ISO 1000
Exposure compensation +/-2EV in 1/3EV increments
Exposure bracketing 3 frames @ +/-0.3 / 0.7 / 1.0EV
Shutter speed Auto: 1/4-1/1000, P: 1-inch-1/1000
Slow shutter: 1/6sec or slower
Aperture F3.5-5.6 (wide) F4.3-7.1 (tele)
Modes Auto, Program Auto, Scene
Scene modes Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape, Beach, Snow, Fireworks, High Speed, Shutter, High Sensitivity, Soft Snap, Handheld Twilight
White balance Image Sensor – Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Flash
Self timer 2 or 10 sec
Continuous shooting max 7 shots @ 3.3fps
Flash Auto, On, Slow Synch, Off, Red-eye reduction, Auto Daylight Synch
Range: 0.1-2.8m (wide) 0.25-2.2m (tele)
Viewfinder No
LCD monitor 3.5-inch, 921,000 pixels
Connectivity Cradle, USB 2.0, AV out, DC in, WiFi (b/g)
Storage Memory Stick / Pro Duo, 1.86GB internal memory
Power Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery NP-FR1
Weight (no batt) 204 g (7.2 oz)
Dimensions 93.3 x 71.7 x 25.3 mm (3 11/16 x 2 13/16 x 1 in)

Sony