The DSC-WX100 launched in 2012 carrying a specific title: world's smallest, lightest camera with a 10× optical zoom. At 17.5mm at its thinnest point and 108g, that claim held up. Behind it: an 18.2MP back-illuminated Exmor R sensor, Sony G glass, 3D Sweep Panorama, 1080i video, and Superior Auto that stacks up to six frames per shot to manage noise. A travel zoom that actually fits in a shirt pocket.
NO FILTER: SHOT ON WX100
THE LOOKS
The brown WX100 sits in an unusual spot in the color range — not the safe choice, not the bold one, somewhere in between. Warm, matte-leaning, and noticeably different from the silver and white versions on a table. The body itself is 17.5mm at its thinnest, with the lens barrel sitting slightly proud when active. The 2.7-inch LCD (460k dots) fills the rear. Also available in silver, white, black, and pink.
THE SPECS
The 18.2-megapixel BSI Exmor R CMOS handles ISO up to 12800 — the back-illuminated design Sony brought from their camcorder line, delivering cleaner low-light results than conventional CMOS at this size. The Sony G 10× zoom covers 25–250mm with Optical SteadyShot, starting wide enough for groups and reaching long enough for subjects across the room. Superior Auto merges up to six frames per shot to reduce noise further. The 460k-dot LCD is sharper than the 230k standard of most rivals at the price. 1080i/60fps video, 10fps burst. 108g body.
DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS
- World's smallest and lightest 10× zoom camera at launch: 17.5mm at thinnest, 108g body — a size claim that actually held, making it a practical shirt-pocket travel choice.
- Superior Auto stacking up to 6 frames per shot: computational noise reduction in the automatic mode in 2012 — an early version of what smartphones made standard years later.
- 460k-dot 2.7-inch LCD: substantially sharper than the 230k-dot screens standard at this price tier, making composition and review noticeably better in bright conditions.
THE VERDICT
The WX100 makes its case through compression: everything a travel zoom should do — wide starting point, long reach, stabilization, decent low light — in a body smaller than most 5× compacts. The 460k-dot screen is a meaningful step above the 230k standard of the era. Brown is the quietly interesting color choice, the one that ages better than safe silver. A camera that doesn't announce itself and doesn't need to.