Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W380 Reviews: Digital Compact Camera

Here’s a list of the questions other shoppers have asked owners of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W380

1. do you think the camera is good, and are there any bad points about it? including, zoom.. video and also panoramic shoots?
   
   Sian asked on 24 Jul 2010
   1. Hi Sian
      I bought the camera as a camera to put in my pocket instead of carring my Sony DSLR which is big and bulky but terrific photos. The photos from the DC-W380 are good for the price of the camera, don't think you will beat it. Zoom wise I've taken some brilliant close ups of flowers and butterflys.
      Video I don't rate any camera video they all seem poor quality to me unless you are paying in the thousands, but yes it works as well as any. If you want video buy a video camera.
      Panoramic works well but you do need a little practice to get it right and again if you want a print you have to go to Sony or a specialist and they are not cheap.
      Buy one you will not be dissapointed I think they are good value for money
      
      Graham replied on 25 Jul 2010

       
2. Hi. I received this camera for my 16th birthday and I was wondering whether there is a setting that enables it to take black and white photos and sepia photos? Thankyou.
   
   Olivia asked on 16 Aug 2010
   1. Hi Olivia,
      I have not found a setting for black and white of sepia photos - do't think it has one, However, you should be able to take colour photos and change them to black and white or sepia if you have photo editing software on your computer.
      Hope you enjoy using the camera.
      
      Xanthe replied on 19 Aug 2010

       
   2. I cannot honestly answer your question. When printing your photos set Printer to black and you should be able to receive good results. Best of luck.
      
      William replied on 20 Aug 2010

       
3. im like Sian. im buying a camera and i cant decide between the W380 or the W350. they both seem good to me. i prefer the style and looks of the 350 but the 380 does seem like a better camera in the whole. can someone please help me choose. im only 15 so its not like i need it to take specific pictures and it will mainly been used for discos or traveling and stuff that a teenager does.!
   
   Alana asked on 16 Aug 2010
   1. i brought a w380 so i can take it scuba diving, i chose sony because they are very easy to use, i am more than happy with my camera and would recomend it to anyone!
      
      ian replied on 19 Aug 2010

       
4. How good it this camera taking night shots. Off to Las Vegas in a couple of weeks and want a camera which will pick up the lights etc at night.
   
   Louise asked on 06 Sep 2010
   1. Hi Louise
      Not had to many occasion to have used it a night, all I can say is it should be Ok being a sony, daytime ones are superb at 14MP.
      cheers
      
      Mike replied on 09 Sep 2010

       
   2. Hi Louise. I have tried it in auto in low light and it is slightly noisey, no worse than any other top brand camera. I have found it better using the low light program with the camera on a tripod. I used a little gorilla tripod that can cling to a post or stand on a flat surface. Panaramic shots out there should be good. Hope this helps.
      
      Graham replied on 11 Sep 2010

       
5. I have a Sony NP-BG1 battery from my current Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W170. I am thinking of upgrading to the DSC-W380 which requires a NP-BN1 battery. Both batteries look the same. Will my NP-BG1 battery work in the DSC-W380?
   
   Steve asked on 30 Sep 2010
   1. Sorry I don't know the answer to this one. I suggest you contact Sony any ask them.
      
      Xanthe replied on 30 Sep 2010

       
   2. Contact your Sony Dealer
      
      William replied on 30 Sep 2010

       
6. Hi, I'm thinking of purchasing the DSC-W380 and would like to know " Do you find the camera a disadvantage by not having a viewfinder" being old fashioned I'm not in touch with these new fanggled ideas
   
   Gwyn asked on 30 Sep 2010
   1. hi gwyn-i can say that it can be if you are in bright sunlight - that's the only disadvantage with this camera that i find....but there are so many good points with it that i really love this camera. i find that it's so good - that if i just point and shoot towards who or what i am trying to take a photo of and take a few photos - when i look at them later there has always been at least one good photo ....so i just delete the others.
      i also love the video and i have quite a few lovely memories to look back on...marg
      
      margaret replied on 30 Sep 2010

       
7. will my memory card from my old sony camera fit the new cameras,?
   
   sarah asked on 01 Nov 2010
   1. Hi
      Yes so long as it the small type, the one you need an adapter for to put into your pc, I think its called the pro duo?
      
      mike
      
      Mike replied on 01 Nov 2010

       
   2. This is my first Sony camera and I am unable to answer your query. Why not try the Sony website for an answer?
      
      Ernie replied on 01 Nov 2010

       
   3. Hi
      The DSC-W380 takes the Sony Memory Stick Pro Duo.
      They are not that expensive, but being a 14.1 Mega Pixel with the Panoramic feature you will need at least 2 Gigs.
      Hope this helps
      
      Cheers Graham
      
      Graham replied on 02 Nov 2010

       
8. which is the better 1 to have, the DSC-W380s or the DSC-W350s?
   
   sarah asked on 03 Nov 2010
   1. Sorry have only ever had one sony camera, the W380, so do cannot tell you which is best.
      
      Xanthe replied on 04 Nov 2010

       
9. is this camera waterproof?
   
   bethan asked on 21 Nov 2010
   1. no the camera is not waterproof you need to buy a case which will take you to 40m
      
      ian replied on 22 Nov 2010

       
10. I was thinking of buying my daughter a camera for her 16th birthday. She isn't a pro photographer but she does want a camera with a high number of megapixels and some good features so she can take amazing photos. Do you think I should buy this camera for her?
    
    Aimee asked on 26 Nov 2010
    1. I am by no means an expert photographer but the Sony camera has produced some excellent pictures. One that our six year-old grandson took recently, whilst on Brownsea Island, looks very professional. I would gladly e-mail you a copy.
       
       Ernie replied on 26 Nov 2010

        
    2. No problem simple to use with good results 14mp is great
       
       Mike replied on 26 Nov 2010

        
11. My daughter is studying art at college which includes photography, she needs a camera that will take good photographs, but i can't really afford anything very expensive. This camera was recommended, any budding art students out there who have got one and can comment on its performance.
    
    Susan asked on 04 Dec 2010
    1. DSC-W380 takes excellent photographs,simple to use and the Panoramic Photos are straight forward to take and are very impressive. I would recommend this camera
       
       William replied on 05 Dec 2010

        
12. hi, i'm buying a camera but can't decide between the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W380 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W370. They both seem similar, tho i prefer the looks of the 380, but the 370 is way cheaper. I'm no expert photographer but like anyone else, i would like my pics to be of high standard. Can anyone help me decide? Thanks, Ben.
    
    Ben asked on 16 Dec 2010
    1. I brought the 380 to take scuba diving and it's amazing! Simple and easy to use, and great photos.
       I'm sure you would be happy with either
       
       ian replied on 17 Dec 2010

        
    2. Sorry late replying....I have the 380 and take it everywhere with me - 'cos it's small enough to put in a pocket and is excellent with everything I take...hope this is of some use
       
       margaret replied on 18 Dec 2010

        
13. I'm looking to buy the W380 but it seems to want a pro duo memory card, but also accepts an SDHC card as a 'secondary memory'. Does this mean I can just use an SDHC card?
    
    Neil asked on 29 Dec 2010
    1. Hi Neil
       The W380 will take either Sony's pro duo card or an SD card. It will only take one card. I use a 4gig Pro Duo and a 4gig Extreme 2 SD card. When one is full just swap them over.
       Must say it is an amazing little camera.
       Hope this helps.
       
       Graham
       
       Graham replied on 30 Dec 2010

        
    2. Hi
       I only have pro duo cards so cannot say if a normal SDHC will fit,
       Sorry
       
       Mike replied on 30 Dec 2010

        
    3. I used an SD card initially but then bought an 8 Gb Pro Duo (for convenience) which I leave installed permanently. NB. The SD card worked fine.
       
       Michael replied on 12 Jan 2011

        
14. Does it take Sony memory stick, rather than shorter squarer SD cards, as I have several from my earlier Cybershop. Also, does the USB port mean you can download and store in a portable USB memory stick? sorry if these are daft questions ... learner here ! thanks.
    
    Sandy asked on 01 Jan 2011
    1. Sandy,
       
       The camera uses a Video HD SDHC Card. My wife and I each have a card that we interchange as needed. I have copied pictures taken with the camera on to my computer for incorporation into publications that I might produce. I can think of no reason why I should them be able to copy them to a "portable memory stick". Neither my wife nor I are experts with a camera but it suits our purpose very well. Our six-year old grandson took a remarkable picture of trees whilst on Brownsea Island in Ocober. The defintion is quite remarkable, at least to my untrained eye.
       
       Ernie replied on 01 Jan 2011

        
15. Hi,
    Anyone noticed some image distortion? I took a picture of my nephew who was sitting on a couch: head looks like a pea and the rest of the body is progressively larger from the neck down (everything looks triangle shaped, angles all wrong). I'd like to mention that nephew looks and is 100% normal! :) Could it be a lens distortion?
    
    Simona asked on 01 Jan 2011
    1. We have not experienced this problem.
       
       Ernie replied on 04 Jan 2011

        
    2. The only distortion I have noticed is the standard issue of rising verticals converging which will happen on any camera, especially if looking up/down at a quite an acute angle which is exagerated the wider angle the lens. If you are close to an object (ie. your nephew) and the angle is quite sharp (ie. his head is much further away than his body) this would give the effect you describe. Oh for the 'old days' when cameras had a bellows between the lens & the film or you could correct it in the darkroom with an enlarger. I hope this helps and sorry the tardy reply, I have only started back on my business emails recently.
       
       Michael replied on 12 Jan 2011

        
16. I am not sure which memory card to buy for this camera, anyone know anything about memory cards and class speeds for SDHC and SDXC that can be used with this camera? The manual says class 4, but has anyone been able to successfully use a higher class?
    
    juliet asked on 03 Jan 2011
    1. Hi Juliet
       I use mainly a Sony Pro Duo memeory stick and have had no trouble at all and they are no more expensive than a SD card. I have also used a Extreme II SD card from Sandisk that also worked fine, Panoramic works well on both cards. I should not worry as long as you get a good quility card not one of those el cheapo's.
       Hope this helps.
       
       Graham
       
       Graham replied on 04 Jan 2011

        
    2. Hello Juliet,
       I must confess I use anything of good quality make in the camera, but I have only ever used up to 4gb. I usually use the Sandisk sd card, because I can get them at knocked down prices - whereas Sony cards
       are always top price. I find they all work as well....the magic is in the camera!!
       Marg
       
       margaret replied on 06 Jan 2011

        
17. Can I charge DSC-W80 Battery via USB ? I don't like to charge the battery via the adapter, But I don't know how I can charge my camera via my computer like my mobile.
    
    Steve asked on 10 Jan 2011
    1. Hi,
       I have never tried to charge via the computer, I always use the adapter which comes with the item to charge so sorry I cannot help.
       
       Xanthe replied on 10 Jan 2011

        
    2. Hi, I am sorry but my husband is the computer buff in the house and I charge my battery and its back up via the charger supplied.
       
       Carol replied on 10 Jan 2011

        
    3. Can only be charged by mains adaptor
       
       William replied on 10 Jan 2011

        
18. how ican know the serial number for this type
    
    mohamed asked on 05 Dec 2011
    1. it is on the bottom of the camera
       
       Susan replied on 08 Dec 2011

        
    2. yes it is the
       
       CHRIS replied on 08 Dec 2011

        

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