You are here: Home > Digital Camera Reviews > Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P150

Select a Sony digital camera ----- 2008 models ----- Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 ----- 2007 models ----- Sony DSC-H9 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-H7 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-W200 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-W90 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-W80 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-W55 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-W35 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-T100 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-T20 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-S700 Cyber-shot ----- 2006 models ----- Sony alpha A100 Sony DSC-H5 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-H2 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-T30 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-T10 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-W100 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-W70 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-W50 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-W30 Cyber-shot ----- 2005-2006 models ----- Sony DSC-R1 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-T5 Cyber-shot ----- 2005 models ----- Sony DSC-H1 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-P200 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-W7 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-W5 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-S90 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-S60 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-S40 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-T7 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-T33 Cyber-shot -- 2004 & earlier -- Sony DSC-F828 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-V3 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-V1 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-P150 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-P100 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-P93 Cyber-shot Sony DSC-P73 Cyber-shot Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-L1

Category: Point-and-Shoot

Executive Summary

This Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P150 Review is based on a production model. All sample images are unretouched, except where specified.

Dragon Wall
7.9mm, Program AE, Multi Pattern, 1/250 sec., F2.8 and ISO 100

The Sony DSC-P150 Cyber-shot is stylish and compact, with 7.2MP resolution, a 3x optical zoom, and an excellent Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens. The all-metal aluminum camera comes in three colours: silver, black and blue.

The Sony P150 is similar to the P100 in every respect but one: Though the image quality of the Sony P100 is very good, the image quality of the Sony P150 is simply excellent with one of the highest detail available on a P&S, even approaching that obtainable on some of the best Prosumer models. Noise is very low and negligible at the lowest ISO 100. There is very little observable chromatic aberration (incl. the dreaded purple fringing) in everyday shots.

Like the P100, the Sony P150 starts up blazingly f-a-s-t (under 1 sec.), and shutter lag is not a problem at all. In fact, as soon as you depress the shutter release button (no need to half-press or pre-focus), the Auto Focus locks and the camera determines correct exposure, all within half a second -- which is quite impressive seeing that this is faster than even many of the high-end prosumer models.

The Sony P150 has an AF-assist illuminator to help the AF to lock in low-light, and it works extremely well. The 1.8 in. LCD (134K pixels) does not gain up in low-light until you do a half-press of the shutter release button to activate the AF-assist illuminator; this fires an orange light from the focus-assist lamp that in turn makes the image visible on the LCD for a couple of seconds to allow framing.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P150 is very easy to use, compact enough to carry with you anywhere at all times, and gives excellent pictures with point-and-shoot simplicity. With its incredibly fast startup time, fast shutter response, long battery life, and AF-assist illuminator, the P150 is always ready to capture those special moments. It is currently perhaps the best P&S around.

Optional accessories, such as wide and tele conversion lenses, and an underwater case, also make the P150 an attractive proposition.

See if you fit the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P150 User Profile below: