Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690

Sony’s 2012 Cyber-shot DSC-W690 puts a 10× Sony G zoom into a compact black body that narrows to just 17.5mm at its thinnest point. That is the point of it: 25mm wide enough for a whole group, 250mm for faraway details, plus an older-style CCD sensor for warm, slightly soft photos. Optical SteadyShot helps keep its long reach usable by hand, while the black finish makes the extended lens barrel look especially sharp.

THE LOOKS

Sony officially called this finish Black, and it is a deep gloss black with a matching black lens barrel and a small raised grip at the right. The front stays clean: a compact lens window, narrow flash and white Cyber-shot lettering. Switch it on and the 10× lens extends in three tiers, revealing the camera’s real trick. The body narrows to 17.5mm at its thinnest point, though its overall depth is 21.7mm. A 3-inch screen takes up most of the back. Other available colours: silver, red and blue.

THE SPECS

Behind the W690’s 16.1-megapixel 1/2.3-inch Super HAD CCD — an older-style sensor for that warm, slightly soft look — is a Sony G 10× zoom. It starts at 25mm, wide enough for a whole group, then reaches 250mm for distant faces and details. The f/3.3–5.9 lens is brightest at wide angle and gets dim at full zoom, so far shots prefer daylight. Optical SteadyShot is built-in stabilisation to help keep handheld shots sharp. Sweep Panorama stitches a pan into one wide photo, and it records 720p HD video. 94.3 × 56.1 × 21.7mm; 142g with battery and card.

DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS

• A long zoom in a tapered body: The W690 puts a 25–250mm 10× lens into a black body that narrows to 17.5mm at its thinnest point.

• Telescoping lens barrel: Switch it on and the otherwise compact black lens housing extends in distinct stages, making its reach immediately visible.

• Clean front, screen-led back: The gloss-black face is kept spare, while a 3-inch display takes up most of the rear beside a narrow button column.

THE VERDICT

The W690 is the right choice if you want a warm-CCD compact that can also reach across a room or down a street. Its 25mm-to-250mm lens, stabiliser and panorama mode make it more flexible than its small footprint suggests, while the black tapered body gives it a quieter, sharper look than colourful point-and-shoots. The far end needs good light and video tops out at 720p, but for travel, parties and everyday details, it is a capable little carry.