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Sony W530

 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530 front
 
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 113g - 93 x 53 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2011
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
21
Overall
30

Sony W530 overview

Sony W530 is Sony's Ultracompact digital camera originally revealed on January of 2011. It has got a 14 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" size sensor with a peak resolution of 4320 x 3240.

The W530 stands at #93 out of 151 in Ultracompact cameras and all around #1102 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. You can try out our Smart camera search to find camera listings based on your customized criteria.

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The following is a chart of various criteria used in the scoring system.

Sony W530 history

The Sony W530 comes with a history of related cameras. Listed below, you can discover all past and newer models as well as main specifications.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX220 front thumbnailSony WX220
W530 vs WX220
25-250mm
F3.3-5.9
18MP1/2.3"2014
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W830 front thumbnailSony W830
W530 vs W830
25-200mm
F3.3-6.3
20MP1/2.3"2014
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W810 front thumbnailSony W810
W530 vs W810
27-162mm
F3.5-6.5
20MP1/2.3"2014
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W550 front thumbnailSony W550
W530 vs W550
26-104mm
F2.7-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W560 front thumbnailSony W560
W530 vs W560
26-104mm
F2.7-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W570 front thumbnailSony W570
W530 vs W570
25-125mm
F2.6-6.3
16MP1/2.3"2011
Photography Glossary
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX9 front thumbnailSony WX9
W530 vs WX9
25-125mm
F2.6-6.3
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W530 front thumbnailSony W53026-104mm
F2.7-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W510 front thumbnailSony W510
W530 vs W510
26-104mm
F2.8-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W330 front thumbnailSony W330
W530 vs W330
26-105mm
F2.7-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2010
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W350 front thumbnailSony W350
W530 vs W350
26-105mm
F2.7-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2010
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W310 front thumbnailSony W310
W530 vs W310
28-112mm
F3.0-5.8
12MP1/2.3"2010
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W320 front thumbnailSony W320
W530 vs W320
26-105mm
F2.7-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2010
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W380 front thumbnailSony W380
W530 vs W380
24-120mm
F2.4-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010

Sony W530 Pros and Cons

Here is a shortlist of pros and cons of the Sony W530 based on aspects which are normally seen as necessary in a digital camera.

good zoom range (26-104mm 4.0 x zoom)
has built in flash
includes HDMI port
reasonably wide (26mm)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
very good min ISO (80)
can't use external flash
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone port
doesn't have headphone port
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not have image stabilization
lack of aperture priority mode
lacks phase detect auto focus
lacks RAW support
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
max zoom aperture not good (f5.7)
no articulating screen
no manual control
no manual focus
no shutter priority
pixelated screen (230 k dot)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
small screen (2.7 inch)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
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Sony W530 Sensor specs

The Sony W530 features the BIONZ processor. The spec of the sensor in the Sony W530 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to resolve 4320 x 3240 pixels using aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9.

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The CCD sensor boasts 14MP and provides a standard ISO range of 80 - 3200. Unfortunately, RAW format is not supported therefore you have less room to maneuver in post.

The graphic underneath illustrates the W530's sensor size when compared to other popular sizes. The W530 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is pointed out in green.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530 sensor size Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

To get an understanding of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony W530 dimensions

Sony W530 weighs in at 0.25 pounds (113 grams or 3.99 ounces) and the physical size of the camera is 93mm x 53mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7"). The weight of general Ultracompact camera is 121 grams so the Sony W530 is very similar as compared with its competitors.

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Down below is a picture of the Sony W530 besides a soda to help you have a feel for its size.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530 dimensions scale

The top view just below will provide the button layout on the W530.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530 topview buttons dials

Sony W530 Lens details

The W530 offers a fixed lens having a focal range of 26-104mm giving it a 4.0 x zoom which isn't great however it will definitely be invaluable in a few situations.

At it's widest 26mm, the lens offers an aperture of f2.7 and that's really sluggish and not very good in low light events and you will probably find it difficult to capture good bokeh. You could also have to up your ISO setting which results in noisy shots. For the long end, 104mm comes to f5.7 making it pretty sluggish and you will have to go with slower shutter speeds.

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Sony W530 Connectivity

The W530 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that consist of NFC and Bluetooth connectivity can easily be used wirelessly by smartphones. You can easily transfer files and usually adjust camera settings with no need to connect physically with the camera.

Some apps also enable a Liveview and press the shutter in case you aren't close to the camera. If the camera includes a HDMI out, it could be hooked up to an external screen. Many cameras enable you to charge the battery using the USB port.

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Sony W530 Video details

The highest video resolution in the Sony W530 is 640 x 480 and it can record in Motion JPEG file format. 480p is awful by today's standards. You really should try to get a minimum 1080p resolution for decent video. The body doesn't include a mic and headphone jack which means that you get absolutely no control over your audio. It is probably best to take a look at a different model in case you want better audio in your videos.

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Sony W530 Weather Sealing

There is no weather proofing for the Sony W530 so you have to be cautious in wet or dusty situations.

Sony W530 Screen and Viewfinder

The Sony W530 has got a 2.7" fixed screen having a resolution of 230k dots.

Please be aware that the screen offers no touch support.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530 screen and viewfinder Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The View Finder specifications regarding Sony W530 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder None

In those sunny outdoor situations that make the camera screens washed out and hard to view, viewfinders can be quite helpful.

Sony W530 Shutter details

Sony W530 has the ability to shoot continuously at 1.0 frames/s. The max shutter speed is 1/1600 seconds.

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Sony W530 Flash and Hot shoe details

Sony W530 includes just built-in flash with no external flash ability.

Sony W530 Autofocusing details

Sony W530 includes only Contrast Detect Auto Focus and does not have Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is more faster and exact as compared with Contrast Detect autofocusing.

The AF system has got 9 focus points to pick from. Sony W530 has not got manual focus. Manual focus option is good during low light conditions or you require more precise control on focus.

Photography Glossary

Sony W530 Battery life

The typical Ultracompact camera battery life is 214. Nikon L32 comes with the highest (320) battery life within this group of cameras.

Listed below is a list of Ultracompact cameras which have the strongest battery life:

Sony W530 for various styles of photography

The following chart gives a overview of the Sony W530 for various styles of photography. To view more, visit the specific paragraph underneath.

Portrait photography with Sony W530

The Sony W530 gets a rating of 28 which is subpar, meaning that it is not suitable to use for portrait photography. Taking portraits favors heavily to sensor resolution, support for RAW files together with the ability to utilize off-camera lighting.

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MP count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files

Sony W530 as a Street photography camera

Getting a average points total of 48, the Sony W530 is fairly suitable for street photography. A very good street photography camera gives a fine balance of image quality plus portability.

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no moving screen
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files

Sports photography with Sony W530

A subpar sports photography score of 26 suggests the Sony W530 is not suitable for photographing sports. A camera should have very good tracking plus fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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good megapixels (14 megapixels)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus

Travel photography with Sony W530

Weight is super critical in selecting a camera for travel. All things considered, the Sony W530 gets a very good 65 for a travel camera which makes it a fine fit to purchase for your trips.

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resolution is good (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)

Sony W530 Landscape photography information

If you're planning to purchase a camera for landscape photos, the most vital aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Sony W530 at it's subpar rating of 33 as a landscape camera is not suitable in the current market.

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decently wide (26mm)
good megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Time Lapse mode

Sony W530 Vlogging information

A camera for vlogging should really posses a moving screen, microphone input and preferably image stabilization. Taking all things in to account, the Sony W530 is not suitable as a vlog camera as it delivers a subpar rating of 26.

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rather wide (26mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have external microphone support

Sony W530 Alternatives

If you are shopping for replacements to the W530, below is a number of the highest scored cameras which fall within the family of Ultracompact.

The graph followed below provides you a bird's eye view of the W530 vs it's top ranking rivals shown previously.

Following are several cameras you might look at as alternatives. To read a complete comparison, simply click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Make
Sony
Model
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530
Type
Ultracompact
Launched
2011-01-06
Body design
Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Chip
BIONZ
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution
4320 x 3240
RAW photos
Max native ISO
3200
Minimum native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points
9
Lens
Lens mount
fixed lens
Lens focal range
26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture
f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus range
5cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Range of screen
Fixed Type
Screen size
2.7 inch
Resolution of screen
230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech
Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO All around score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Lowest shutter speed
2 secs
Highest shutter speed
1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed
1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range
3.50 m
Flash settings
Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions
640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution
640x480
Video data format
Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
113 gr (0.25 lbs)
Dimensions
93 x 53 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
Other
Battery model
NP-BN1
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media
SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots
Single
Launch pricing
$269