Sony launched its first wireless digital point-and-shoot ultracompact camera, the 6-megapixel Cyber-shot DSC-G1, which will be able to use an infrastructure connection to 802.11b/g networks to send images over Wi-Fi network.
Sony also claims the camera will also be able to communicate (via peer-to-peer or ad-hoc connections) with other Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA)-enabled devices, such as another camera or a PC.
The optical zoom is only 3X optical (with a 35-mm equivalent zoom of 38 to 114 mm), although the lens is non-telescoping, which should assist in quick bootup times. Sony’s also been smart in coming out of the gate strong with other features, such as offering the largest LCD on a point-and-shoot camera at 3.5-inch. However, it will not be a touch screen.
The Sony Cybershot G1 will ship with 2GB of on-board storage capacity, which will allow users to store hundreds of full-resolution shots on the camera. It will also have many of the playback and slideshow capabilities, as well as the ability to load your own music files.
Although the camera only has a 3X optical zoom, the G1 will also include optical image stabilization as well as a high ISO 1,000 sensitivity for shooting in low-light. Again, despite Sony’s lead in HD video in the company’s camcorders, the G1 will only feature standard definition video recording at VGA or 640 by 480 at 30 frames per second. And as always, the camera will use Sony’s own format of memory cards, the Memory Stick Dou card, which are now available in capacities up to 8GB.
The Sony Cybershot is available in April at around $600.