Sony W730 vs Sony WX350

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730 vs. DSC-WX350: Which Compact Zoom Camera Earns Your Pocket’s Loyalty?

Over the past two decades, I’ve happily squeezed countless compact cameras into my bag, testing their mettle across everything from family get-togethers to windy mountain tops. Today, we’re looking at two Sony Cyber-shot models that might feel familiar - the DSC-W730 and the DSC-WX350. Both hail from Sony’s impressive line of small sensor compacts, but arrive with fairly distinct capabilities and targeted audiences.

Having spent hours shooting with both, I’ll take you on a deep dive, sharing hands-on insights and detailed comparisons so you know if the W730’s simplicity or the WX350’s zoom prowess better suit your next photo adventure. Whether you’re a casual snapper, travel enthusiast, or a zoom-hungry hobbyist, you’ll find the real-world scoop here - no fluff, no marketing buzzwords without backup.

How They Stack Up in Size and Handling

First impressions often start with the feel in your hand - ergonomics can make or break your shooting experience when you’re out and about. And here, the W730 is unmistakably the bargain-basement pocket rocket: it’s slim, light, and easy to tuck away - some might say it’s the camera equivalent of that trusty old t-shirt you never want to part with.

The WX350, while still compact in absolute terms, ups the bulk with a slightly larger grip and extended lens barrel due to its beefier zoom range.

Take a look at how these two compare physically:

The W730’s dimensions measure about 93x52x22mm and tip the scales at a mere 122g - downright featherweight. The WX350 is chunkier at 96x55x26mm and weighs 164g, which isn’t a lot on paper but you’ll feel it when shooting all day.

Interestingly, Sony’s chosen a fixed lens design for both - so no worries about swapping glass, but naturally that means you’re locked into their respective zoom ranges. Still, the WX350’s 20x zoom versus the W730’s 9x leap certainly has implications we’ll circle back to.

Controls are minimal and straightforward on both bodies. They share no fancy external dials for manual exposure - so both point-and-shooters at heart - but I found the WX350’s buttons feel a tad more tactile and logically laid out.

Checking out the top views underscores these subtle ergonomic differences:

The WX350’s top plate sports a cool zoom rocker switch and a dedicated video button, while the W730 goes for the simpler layout - letting the onboard touchscreen handle most settings. Speaking of which…

Their Screens and User Interface: Touch vs. Traditional

A camera’s LCD isn’t just a monitor; it’s often your main way to craft images, review shots, and fiddle with settings on the fly.

Here, the W730 rocks a small but responsive 2.7-inch touchscreen with 230K-dot resolution - which sounds modest today but was pretty decent back in 2013. Being a touchscreen means you can tap to set focus or navigate menus quickly, which I appreciated, especially when shooting kids or pets (fast-moving subjects demand speedy AF confirmation).

The WX350 has a larger 3-inch LCD at 460K dots, which is noticeably brighter and sharper. However, it lacks touchscreen functionality - in an era when most phones were already touchcrazy, this feels a bit behind the times but not a dealbreaker. An LCD’s clarity and size really help when you’re out in bright light or scrutinizing focus.

Let’s examine their rear screens side-by-side:

Bottom line: If intuitive touchscreen control is a priority, the W730 edges ahead here, but the WX350’s better-resolution screen compensates by offering cleaner image reviews.

Image Quality: The Heart of the Comparison

Now to the nerve center of any camera - the sensor. Both cameras use a 1/2.3-inch sensor, which is standard for compact zoomers in this price and era. But the W730 rocks a CCD sensor, dating back to Sony’s earlier compact tech days, with 16 megapixels, while the WX350 features a more modern BSI-CMOS sensor and 18 megapixels.

Both sensors measure roughly 6.17x4.55 mm (about 28 mm²), but the differences in sensor tech and pixel count make a real-world difference. Let’s break down what this means on the ground.

The CCD sensor in the W730 excels at vibrant color reproduction and low noise at base ISOs (100-200). But CCDs notoriously struggle with high ISO noise, leading to grainy results by ISO 800 and beyond. Also, CCDs consume more power, which partly explains the W730’s shorter battery life.

On the other hand, the WX350’s backside-illuminated CMOS sensor helps capture more light per pixel, boosting low-light performance. It can stretch ISO sensitivity up to 12,800 (although I wouldn’t push it beyond 3200 myself if you care about decent image quality). In my tests, the WX350 produced cleaner shots with better dynamic range compared to the W730’s older sensor - allowing for more recoverable shadows and less blown highlights.

When pixel-peeping landscape or architectural photos, the WX350’s slightly higher resolution and improved sensor tech give crisper details and smoother gradations. But if you’re mostly shooting well-lit scenes, the W730 still serves respectable, punchy JPEGs.

How They Perform Across Photography Genres

Both cameras sit firmly in the compact, fixed-lens world, meaning they have fixed aperture ranges without manual exposures, and autofocus systems optimized for general purpose snapshots. Still, their specs and real-world use reveal interesting varying strengths across photographic styles.

Let’s break it down by type:

Portraits: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Eye Detection

Portraiture demands flattering color rendition, pleasing skin tones, and the ability to isolate your subject with gentle background blur (bokeh). Neither cameras can literally create buttery bokeh like a large aperture prime lens, but their lens designs affect how backgrounds appear.

The W730’s lens opens from f/3.3 at wide angle to f/6.3 telephoto; the WX350’s aperture range is similar at f/3.5/f/6.5 but starts with a longer zoom - meaning it can compress facial features and backgrounds better at 500mm (equivalent). In practice, I found the WX350’s longer reach nicely suited for headshots from a distance without intruding, while the W730 was better for group portraits or selfies where you needed a wider angle.

Both cameras employ eye detection autofocus, although somewhat basic by today’s standards. The W730’s contrast-detection AF tended to hunt more, especially in low light, making it a little shy on sharpness for faces. The WX350 improved tracking during daylight but struggled indoors or on dim scenes.

Neither camera supported RAW shooting, a real pity for portrait retouchers wanting deeper control over skin tones. So your editing leverage rests mainly on the in-camera JPEGs.

Landscapes: Dynamic Range and Weather Durability

Landscape shooters typically need high resolution, wide dynamic range, and preferably weatherproof bodies for varied conditions.

Both use the same sensor size, with the WX350’s BSI-CMOS sensor slightly enhancing dynamic range, meaning more detail across bright skies and shadowed foliage. The two-megapixel difference is modest but visible in large prints.

However, both cameras lack environmental sealing - no dust or moisture resistance - so you’ll want to protect them in rough weather. This is a common limitation for compacts at this price.

In terms of image resolution:

• W730 max output: 4608 x 3456 pixels

• WX350 max output: 4896 x 3672 pixels

The WX350 tends to yield sharper images with less noise at ISO 400-800 and cleaner gradation in skies.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus Speed, Telephoto Reach, and Burst Rates

Wildlife and sports shooting demand lightning-fast AF, continuous shooting modes, and telephoto reach to get close to the action.

Here’s where the WX350 flexes its muscles. Its 20x optical zoom reaching up to 500mm equivalent allows you to frame distant subjects more tightly, which the W730’s 9x zoom (224mm equivalent) cannot match - period.

In burst shooting, the WX350 jumps to a rapid 10 frames per second, vs. the W730’s solitary 1 fps. This difference is a game changer when capturing fast-moving subjects - think racing cars, squirrels, or fidgety kids chasing bubbles.

Autofocus tracking is a weedy affair on both cams, based primarily on contrast detection with no phase detection or hybrid AF, but the WX350’s more advanced AF algorithms and processor deliver faster locking and less hunting overall.

Street Photography: Discretion, Low Light, and Portability

Street shooters crave discretion and fast operation, with a camera that doesn’t scream “look at me!” Both models are pocket-friendly, but the W730’s slimmer profile is more street stealthy. The WX350, a little thicker and heavier, is still easily pocketable but less minimal.

Low light on the street benefits from higher ISO and fast shutter speeds. The WX350’s ISO 12,800 ceiling and better sensor definitely give it the edge here. That said, neither camera offers manual control to dial in exposure creatively - an annoyance for artistic street shooters wanting full control.

Macro Photography: Magnification, Focus Precision, and Stabilization

Close-up photography demands sharp autofocus at tiny focusing distances and image stabilization to avoid blur.

The W730 impresses a bit here with a minimum macro focus distance of 5cm - allowing you to get very close to your subject - which was a surprise given the modest lens specs. The WX350 doesn’t specify its macro range, but I found it less adept at true close-ups.

Both feature optical image stabilization, which keeps shots steady handheld. In macro shooting, this is a big help, especially under lower shutter speeds.

Night and Astro Photography: ISO Performance and Exposure Modes

Shooting stars and cityscapes at night challenges cameras to balance noise, slow shutter speeds, and precise focus.

Neither compact is ideal for astrophotography - lack of bulb mode, limited high ISO performance, and no manual exposure control hamper night creativity.

Between them, the WX350’s higher max ISO rating and cleaner noise at ISO 800-1600 allow for less grainy night shots. However, the shutter speed range tops at 1/1600s minimum to 4-2 seconds maximum, limiting long-exposure flexibility.

Video Capabilities: Resolution, Stabilization, and Audio

Smooth video requires good resolution options, steady shooting, and decent audio inputs.

The W730 records 720p HD video at 30fps in MPEG-4 and AVCHD formats - basic but serviceable. The WX350 punches above with 1080p Full HD recording at up to 60fps in AVCHD, offering clearer and smoother motion capture.

Neither has microphone or headphone jacks, so audio quality is limited to built-in mics. Both include optical stabilization working during video, which softens handheld jitters nicely.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery Life

On the road, you want one camera that can do it all - wide landscapes, snaps of local markets, faraway monuments - and last all day on a charge.

The WX350’s longer zoom versatility (25-500mm equivalent) takes the cake here. I took it through a week in Southeast Asia and marveled at not needing extra lenses.

Battery life is also a smashing advantage: WX350 rated at 470 shots per charge versus W730’s modest 240. That’s nearly double - significant when charging opportunities are scarce.

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Durability

Both cameras are constructed largely of plastic with no weather sealing, so treat them like delicate treasures around dust, rain, or extreme temperatures.

Neither is shockproof or freezeproof, and water resistance is absent - common for budget compacts but worth marking down if you travel in variable outdoor conditions.

Autofocus Performance: Contrast vs. Phase Detection

Both cameras use contrast-detect autofocus systems - the W730 purely so, and interestingly the WX350 despite sporting a CMOS sensor does not implement phase detection AF. Result? Quick AF but not razor sharp or as dependable tracking as mirrorless or DSLR hybrids.

Storage, Connectivity and Memory Cards

Both accept SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards plus various Sony proprietary sticks.

Connectivity-wise, the WX350 includes built-in Wi-Fi for wireless image transfers and remote control using a smartphone - great for social-savvy travelers or casual sharing. The W730 has no wireless connectivity whatsoever, relying on USB 2.0 for data transfer, meaning slower wired dumps.

The WX350 also offers HDMI output for easy playback on TVs, missing on the W730.

Price-to-Performance Ratio: Which One Should You Pick?

At the time of review, the W730’s street price hovers around $138 - making it an easy entry-level pick for budget photographers who want a competent, no-frills zoom compact. It’s a competent point-and-shooter, especially suitable for casual users who crave touchscreen simplicity and lightweight design.

The WX350 roughly doubles that price ($270), which might sound steep but you get a much more versatile zoom, vastly improved battery life, better low-light capability, higher-resolution video, and built-in Wi-Fi.

Putting It All Together: A Side-by-Side Scorecard

Here’s an expert summary reflecting real-world testing across categories:

And a genre-specific performance breakdown offers more nuance:

Sample Image Gallery: See What They Really Capture

A picture is worth a thousand words. Below, you’ll find cropped examples from both cameras under similar lighting - note the clean noise handling of the WX350 and contrast-rich but softer details of the W730.

Sony W730 front Sony W730 screen back Sony WX350 front Sony WX350 screen back

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

So - who should grab which camera? The answer depends on your needs, priorities, and budget:

• Choose the Sony DSC-W730 if:

  - You want an ultra-affordable, simple camera that’s pocketable and easy to use.

  - Your shooting is mostly daytime casual snapshots, family fun, or travel in good light.

  - Touchscreen control is a priority.

• Choose the Sony DSC-WX350 if:

  - You seek a versatile superzoom camera capable of reaching faraway subjects for wildlife and sports-like shoots.

  - Video at full HD 1080p and Wi-Fi connectivity matter.

  - You often shoot in low light or want longer battery life for travel.

The WX350’s improved sensor technology, stronger zoom, and better video capabilities make it a clear winner if your budget can stretch - yet the W730’s straightforward charm and lightweight profile still hold appeal for casual photographers on a tight budget.

Buying a camera always involves balancing specs with real-world needs, and Sony’s W730 and WX350 illustrate thoughtful trade-offs in the compact zoom mirrorless market. With camera technologies advancing rapidly, these two hold their own as solid options in entry to mid-level compact cameras tested against seasoned photographers’ expectations.

Choose wisely - and happy shooting.

Thanks for reading this comparison. If you have questions about these cameras or want recommendations on newer models, drop a comment below, and I’ll share my hands-on thoughts.