Sony WX220 review

It wasn’t quite so successful in our photo tests, with signs of noise even in brightly lit shots, but image quality held together surprisingly well in tricky lighting conditions. Low-light shots didn’t stand up to close scrutiny, so we wouldn’t recommend the WX220 if you like to crop photos or print A4 or bigger enlargements. However, if your photos only ever end up on computer or TV screens and the occasional 7x5in photo frame, the chances are the WX220’s image quality will suffice.

^ There’s lots of crisp detail in this brightly lit shot…

^ And nice handling of subtle tones in this macro photo

^ Skin textures are a tougher test and these ones are a little grainy, but you’d never notice at normal viewing sizes.

^ The 10x zoom is great for such a slim camera, and provides a significant upgrade for smartphone photographers.

^ Noise reduction is working flat out in this dimly lit shot taken at ISO 3200, but it still looks OK at modest sizes.

CONCLUSION

The WX220 costs less than the WX200 did at its launch, and both models serve the needs of casual users well. However, there’s so little to choose between them that you may as well go for last year’s model if you can find it at a lower price. You can also pick up the excellent Fujifilm XF1 for under £200, and it’s in a different league for image quality. Then again, the WX220 is smaller, it has a bigger zoom, Wi-Fi and a better video mode. Overall, it’s an attractive package.