C
ompact cameras have become
smarter and more professional
with larger-than-usual sensors,
better processors and superior optics.
This development, combined with
better cameras in smartphones, have
largely been able to check the success
of small-sensor compacts. Yet, the
prohibitively high prices of most of
these ‘professional’ compacts make
it out of bounds for most compact
camera users. Hence it makes perfect
sense for a manufacturer to keep a
limited number of models in the small
sensor compacts along with the high-
end compacts. The Sony WB500 is
one such compact super-zoom camera
with a small compact sensor.Design and Build Quality
The Sony WB500 is built solid with a
combination of metal and engineering
plastic on the exterior. The front
panel is finished with a metal sheet,
and there is no real hand grip on
the camera. The top panel houses
the power button, shutter release
button-zoom lever unit, mode dial,
built-in flash, and the flash (pop-up)
lever. The camera has a plastic tripod
receptacle, but we cannot complain
since the camera itself is quite light at
approximately 236g. The HDMI port is
at the bottom. The lens has a three-✓ Sony WX500 camera
✓ Rechargeable Battery Pack NP-BX1
✓ AC AdaptorAC-UB10C/UB10D
✓ Micro USB cable
✓ Wrist Strap
✓ Instruction Manual
✓ AC Power CodeInside the Box
Pocket Boomer
Sony Cyber-shot
WB500 ` 19,990 Sujith Gopinath
segment construction. The battery
chamber door is very flimsy, as is the
case with most compact cameras.Key Features
The 18.2 megapixel Sony WB500 uses
a 1/2.3-inch Type (6.16 x 4.62mm)
Exmor R CMOS sensor. It also features
the latest BIONZ X image processor.
The camera features a ZEISS Vario-
Sonnar T* 25-750mm f/3.5 – 6.4
lens constructed with 11 elements in
10 groups including five aspherical
elements. Total aperture range is f/3.5
to 8 at the wide-angle and f/6.4 to 8.0
at the telephoto end. This means that
at the telephoto end, you get less than
a stop of flexibility in aperture. In fact,
you will get a full stop difference only
till 7.6x optical zoom (about 190mm).
The lens features Optical SteadyShot
image stabilisation combined withelectronic compensation. The image
stabiliser also compensates for rolling
shutter effect seen in videos. The lens
focusses from 5cm to infinity at the
wide-angle end and 250cm to infinity
at the telephoto end. Focus modes
available are Single-shot AF (AF-S)
and Continuous AF (AF-C). Focus area
options include Wide, Centre, Flexible
Spot (Small, Medium and Large), and
Expanded Flexible Spot. It also has
provision for Lock-on AF.The camera has the usual three
metering modes — Multi pattern,
Centre-weighted, and Spot. Exposure
can be compensated up to +/- 3.0 EV
in 1/3 EV steps. Sensitivity ranges
from ISO 80 to 3200 for still images
and ISO 80 to 1600 for videos.
White Balance options are Auto,
Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent,COMPACT
REVIEW
94 http://www.smartphotography.in
Smart PhotographyJanuary 2016