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Sony W560

 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 front
 
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2011
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony W560 summary

Sony W560 is Sony's Ultracompact digital camera first launched on January of 2011. It has got a 14 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a max resolution of 4320 x 3240.

The W560 is positioned #60 out of 151 in Ultracompact cameras and over-all #996 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our collection. You should try our Smart camera search to see camera listings based on your personalized factors.

Photography Glossary

Below is a diagram of specific factors used in the rating system.

Sony W560 history

The Sony W560 comes with a history of related digital cameras. Down below, you can discover all older and the latest models as well as key features.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX220 front thumbnailSony WX220
W560 vs WX220
25-250mm
F3.3-5.9
18MP1/2.3"2014
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W830 front thumbnailSony W830
W560 vs W830
25-200mm
F3.3-6.3
20MP1/2.3"2014
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W810 front thumbnailSony W810
W560 vs W810
27-162mm
F3.5-6.5
20MP1/2.3"2014
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W550 front thumbnailSony W550
W560 vs W550
26-104mm
F2.7-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W560 front thumbnailSony W56026-104mm
F2.7-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W570 front thumbnailSony W570
W560 vs W570
25-125mm
F2.6-6.3
16MP1/2.3"2011
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX9 front thumbnailSony WX9
W560 vs WX9
25-125mm
F2.6-6.3
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W530 front thumbnailSony W530
W560 vs W530
26-104mm
F2.7-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W510 front thumbnailSony W510
W560 vs W510
26-104mm
F2.8-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W330 front thumbnailSony W330
W560 vs W330
26-105mm
F2.7-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2010
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W350 front thumbnailSony W350
W560 vs W350
26-105mm
F2.7-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2010
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W310 front thumbnailSony W310
W560 vs W310
28-112mm
F3.0-5.8
12MP1/2.3"2010
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W320 front thumbnailSony W320
W560 vs W320
26-105mm
F2.7-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2010
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W380 front thumbnailSony W380
W560 vs W380
24-120mm
F2.4-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010

Sony W560 Pros and Cons

Below is a shortlist of upsides and downsides of the Sony W560 based on features that are usually considered essential in a digital camera.

built-in flash
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good zoom range (26-104mm 4.0 x zoom)
great minimum ISO (80)
includes HDMI out
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
really wide (26mm)
can't use external flash
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have phase detect auto focus
does not have RAW support
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
manual mode not possible
max zoom aperture not good (f5.7)
no aperture priority
no articulating screen
no external microphone support
no headphone support
no manual focus
no shutter priority
no Timelapse mode
pixelated screen (230 thousand dots)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
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Sony W560 Sensor info

The Sony W560 is run by the BIONZ chip. The sensor size in the Sony W560 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to capture 4320 x 3240 pixels at aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. The camera boasts Image Stabilization (Optical). Sensor stabilization is superior than digital stabilization as the latter may lead to cropping.

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The CCD sensor boasts 14 megapixels and provides a standard ISO range of 80 - 3200. Sadly, RAW files are not supported therefore you have less margin for error.

The picture below shows the W560's sensor dimensions when compared to other popular sizes. The W560 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is shown in green.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 sensor size Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony W560 dimensions

Sony W560 has a weight of 0.24 pounds (110 gr / 3.88 ounces) and features external size of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7"). The weight of typical Ultracompact camera is 121 gr so the Sony W560 is very much the same in comparison with various rivals.

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Below is a visual of the Sony W560 with a soft drink to help you have a feel for its scale.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 dimensions scale

The top view here will show the button design on the W560.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 topview buttons dials

Sony W560 Lens info

The W560 houses a fixed lens and a focal range of 26-104mm giving it a 4.0 x zoom which might not be outstanding however it would certainly be convenient in a few scenarios.

At the widest 26mm, the lens will have an aperture of f2.7 and that's pretty slow and not very good in low light events and you will struggle to capture good bokeh. You will also need to up the ISO producing noisy photos. Towards the tele end, 104mm comes to f5.7 making it really sluggish and you will need to go with slower shutter speeds.

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Sony W560 Connectivity

The W560 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that contain NFC and / or Bluetooth support can be used wirelessly via smartphones. You can send files and sometimes alter settings without connecting physically to the camera.

Certain applications even give a Liveview and hit the shutter whenever you are not close to the camera. If the camera features a HDMI out, it can be hooked up to an external monitor. Nearly all cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack using the USB port.

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Sony W560 Video info

The max video resolution in the Sony W560 is 1280 x 720 and it can capture in MPEG-4 file format. 720p is terrible by today's requirements. You really should strive for a minimum FUll HD resolution for video. The camera does not have a mic and / or headphone socket which means that you have got no control over your sound. It is probably a better idea to purchase another camera in case you require good sound in your videos.

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Sony W560 Weather Sealing

There is no environment proofing for the Sony W560 so you need to be careful in rainy or dusty situations.

Sony W560 Screen and Viewfinder

The Sony W560 has got a 3 inch fixed display screen boasting a resolution of 230 thousand dots.

Please note that the display offers no touch support.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 screen and viewfinder Photography Glossary

The View Finder details regarding Sony W560 are below:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be pretty helpful for bright outdoor situations which can easily make the camera screen washed out and very difficult to view.

Sony W560 Shutter info

Sony W560 has the ability to shoot continuously at 1.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/1600 seconds.

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Sony W560 Flash and Hot shoe info

Sony W560 boasts only in-built flash with no external flash support.

Sony W560 Autofocusing info

Sony W560 boasts just Contrast Based Autofocus and lacks Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection autofocusing is more snappier & precise compared with Contrast Based autofocusing.

The Sensor has got 9 focus points to pick from. Sony W560 has no manual focusing. Manual focusing ability is useful for low light conditions or you want to have more exact focusing control.

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Sony W560 Battery life

The usual Ultracompact camera battery life is 214. Nikon L32 has the maximum (320) battery life for this kind of cameras.

Following is a number of Ultracompact cameras that have the strongest battery life:

Sony W560 for varying styles of photography

The following bar chart shows a outline of the Sony W560 for varying styles of photography. To read more, scroll to the specific paragraph below.

Sony W560 Portrait photography highlights

The Sony W560 gets a score of 28 which is subpar, meaning that it is not suitable to use for portrait photography. Taking portrait photos leans heavily to sensor resolution, RAW support plus the flexibility to use off-camera lighting.

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MP count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format

Sony W560 Street photography details

With a moderate points tally of 57, the Sony W560 is fairly appropriate to use in street photography. A good street photography camera offers a good balance of picture quality plus portability.

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built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support

Sony W560 Sports photography information

A subpar sports photography rating of 35 indicates the Sony W560 is not suitable for shooting sports. A camera must have excellent focusing and shutter speeds for sports photography.

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has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF

Sony W560 as a Travel photography camera

Weight is super crucial in getting a camera for travel. On the whole, the Sony W560 gets a nice 65 for a travel camera which makes it a good option to buy for your holidays.

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resolution is good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (26mm)
no Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)

Sony W560 Landscape photography info

In case you're planning to purchase a camera for landscape photos, the most important aspect is going to be image quality. The Sony W560 at it's subpar rating of 42 for a landscape camera is not suitable in the current market.

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quite wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording

Sony W560 Vlogging advice

A camera for vlogging preferably should posses a moving screen, microphone input and if possible IBIS. Considering all the details, the Sony W560 is not suitable for vlogging as it delivers a subpar rating of 29.

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reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone support

Sony W560 Alternatives

If you are interested in alternatives to the W560, below is a range of the top scored cameras which fall within the category of Ultracompact.

The line chart followed below shows you a summary of the W560 vs it's top ranked rivals shown earlier.

Following are additional cameras you might have a look at as alternatives. To read through a thorough comparison, go to the "compare" link.

Photography Glossary

Specifications

General Information
Brand
Sony
Model type
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560
Type
Ultracompact
Introduced
2011-01-06
Physical type
Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Powered by
BIONZ
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution
4320 x 3240
RAW data
Highest native ISO
3200
Lowest native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points
9
Lens
Lens support
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture
f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing range
5cm
Crop factor
5.8
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen sizing
3 inches
Resolution of screen
230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech
Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Min shutter speed
2 seconds
Max shutter speed
1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate
1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance
3.80 m
Flash settings
Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution
1280x720
Video file format
MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
110 grams (0.24 lbs)
Physical dimensions
94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
Other
Battery ID
NP-BN1
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type
SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots
1
Launch price
$139