DSC-W55

Cyber-shot digital still camera
In silver, black, pink or light blue, the DSC-W55 is a stand-out choice for style-conscious start-out or step-up camera customers who appreciate real value and advanced technology. 7.2 MP imaging, Carl Zeiss 3X Optical zoom lens and high sensitivity combine to capture clear, high-detail images even in low light -- and with up to 380-shot2 Stamina battery power, 56 MB Internal Memory capacity and large 2.LCD screen, the DSC-W55 is ideal for family memories at home or on the road.

Step-up

7.2 MP Super HAD CCD More megapixels give you more detail and definition when you make big prints or crop in tight on your subject. The advanced Sony Super HAD (Hole Accumulated Diode) CCD design allows more light to pass to each pixel, increasing sensitivity and reducing noise. Carl Zeiss 3X Optical Zoom Lens Design A top-quality Carl Zeiss 3X Optical zoom lens design helps the DSCW55 bring distant subjects closer and lets you frame shots quickly for better composition -- a real advantage for family sports, outdoor fun and travel photos. Large 2.LCD Screen The DSC-W55 provides a large, bright LCD screen for composing shots, checking results, sharing your photos on location and reading camera setup menus even in full sunlight. High Sensitivity Mode With high sensitivity of ISO 1000, the DSC-W55 gives you better shots in low light so you can shoot without flash to preserve the mood -- great for birthday parties, indoor gatherings and candid portraits.
Clear RAW Noise Reduction The original Sony Clear RAW NR (Noise Reduction) image processing technology helps suppress color noise that can accompany high-sensitivity shooting. 56 MB Internal Memory The DSC-W55 allows you to capture a large number of images without a flash memory card, so its great for traveling or for quick candid snapshots. Memory Stick Duo Media Convenience The DSC-W55 also has a built-in slot for optional Memory Stick Duo or Memory Stick PRO Duo media -- the compact, highcapacity storage media that make it easily to upload photos to your computer or make lab-quality prints at home on your Sony Picture Station digital printer (sold separately). Function Guide Text/Icon Display An on-screen Function Guide text/icon display makes it easy to learn the camera functions that give you greater creative freedom to adjust photo settings.
Versatile Color Modes The DSC-W55 gives you greater creative freedom to adjust color mode for the creative results you want -- with Natural setting for subtle colors, Rich setting for more intense colors, in addition to Monochrome and Sepia color settings. Convenient Photo Modes To adjust quickly for specific shooting situations, the DSC-W55 lets you choose from several convenient photo modes: Auto, PAuto, and Scene Selections for Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape, High Sensitivity, Soft Snap, Snow, and Beach environments. 14X Smart Zoom Feature3 The Sony Smart Zoom feature intelligently crops into the central portion of interest in your photo, avoiding the image degradation of other digital zooms. ADDITIONAL FEATURES MPEG Movie VX Fine Mode Stamina Battery Power Burst Mode Picture Motion Browser Software

Specifications

General
Megapixel: 7.2 MP Imaging Device: 1/2.5" Super HAD CCD Recording Media: 56MB 1 internal Flash Memory, optional Memory Stick DUO Media, optional Memory Stick DUO PRO Media

Operating Conditions

Flash Effective Range: ISO Auto: 6 to 12' 8" (0.2-3.9m)(W), ISO 1000: 6" to 23 (0.27.0m)(W) Flash Mode(s): Auto, Forced On, Forced Off, Slow Synch

Optics/Lens

Focal Length: 6.3 -18.9mm 35mm Equivalent: 38 - 114 mm Focus: 5 Area Multi-Point AF, Center AF Aperture Range: f2.8-7.1(W), f5.2-13 (T) Shutter Speed: 1/8-1/2000 sec. (Auto), 11/2000 sec. (Program Auto) Exposure Compensation: 2.0 EV, 1/3 EV Step Increments ISO: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1000 Filter Diameter: 30mm (with VAD-WB Adapter Ring) Smart ZoomTechnology: Up to 3.6X (5MP), 4.5X (3MP), 5.6X (16:9 2MP) 14X (VGA Resolution)4 Digital Zoom: 0-2.0X (Precision) Optical Zoom: 3X Macro Mode: Yes Total Zoom: 6X Minimum Focus Distance: 19.7" (50 cm), Macro 0.74" (2 cm)

Convenience

White Balance: Automatic, Cloudy, Daylight, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Flash Self Timer: Yes (10 seconds, 2 seconds, Off) Memory Stick PRO Media Compatibility: Tested to support up to 8GB Memory Stick DUO PROTM media capacity1 ; does not support Access Control security function. Still Image Mode(s): JPEG: Normal, Burst, Multi Burst Red-Eye Reduction: Yes (On/Off all modes) Burst Mode: 4 Shot at 1.1 fps (7.2MP JPEG fine), 64 Shot VGA at 1.3 fps (JPEG std.) Erase/Protect: Yes/Yes Date/Time Stamp: No/ No Media/Battery Indicator: Yes/Yes Color Mode(s): Black & White, Natural, Rich, Sepia Image Quality Mode: Yes, JPEG Fine/Standard

Battery Type: Lithium-Ion NP-BG1 Battery Capacity: 3.6V, 960 mAh

Convenience Features

Real Imaging Processor Technology: Yes AF Illuminator Light: Yes PictBridge Compatible: Yes Multi-Pattern Measuring: Yes SteadyShotImage Stabilization: N/A Scene Mode(s): Beach, High Sensitivity, Landscape, Snow, Soft Snap, Twilight, Twilight Portrait Movie Mode(s): MPEG VX Fine with Audio (640x480 at 30fps) (MPEG VX Fine requires Memory Stick DUO PRO media), MPEG VX Standard with Audio (640x480 at 16fps), Video Mail with Audio (160x112 at 8fps). Power Save Mode: Yes (after approx. 3 min. of inactivity)
Service and Warranty Information
Limited Warranty: 1 Year Parts & Labor

Software

Supplied Software: Windows: Picture Motion Browser Vers 2.0 + USB Driver Operating System Compatibility: Microsoft 2000 Professional, Me, XP Home and Professional; Macintosh OS 9.1/9.2/OS X (10.0-10.4)

Dimensions

Weight: 4.2 oz (116 g) Body; 5.1 oz. (147 g) including Battery and optional Memory Stick DUO Media Measurements: 3 1/2" x 2 1/4" x 7/8" (89 x 57 x 23 mm)

Inputs and Outputs

Accessory Terminal: N/A Audio/Video Output(s): Yes via Mutli-Use Connector USB Port(s): Yes (Supports USB 2.05 )

Supplied Accessories

NP-BG1 rechargeable battery BC-CSG battery charger A/V and USB multi-connector cables Wrist strap Software CD-ROM Note: No Memory Stick DUO media or adaptors are included.

Hardware

LCD: 2.5"2 (115K Pixels TFT LCD Screen) Viewfinder: Optical Lens Construction: 6 Elements in 5 Groups, 3 Aspheric Elements Microphone/Speaker: Yes/ Yes Lens Type: Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Docking Station: N/A

Optional Accessories

Accessory Kit (ACC-CLGB) Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery (NPBG1) Conversion Lens Adaptor Mount (VAD-WB) Wide Angle Conversion Lens (VCL-DH0730) Super Telephoto Conversion Lens (VCLDH2630) Telephoto Conversion Lens (VCL-DH1730) Polarizing Kit Filter (VF-30CPKS) External Slave Flash w/Bracket (HVL-FSL1B) Genuine Leather Cases (LCSTWA/TWB/TWC/TWD) GPS Unit Kit (GPS-CS1KA) Memory Stick Duo PRO (MSX-512S) Memory Stick Duo PRO (MSX-1GST) Memory Stick Duo PRO (MSX-2GS) Memory Stick Duo PRO (MSX-M4GS) Memory Stick Duo Adaptor www.sony.com Sony Electronics Inc. 16530 Via Esprillo San Diego, CA 92127 1.800.222.7669 (MSAC-M2) Memory Stick Duo USB Adptr (MSACUS40)

1: Viewable area, measured diagonally. 2: Actual results may vary based on product settings, usage patterns, battery and environmental conditions. 3: Smart Zoom feature will not work at highest resolution setting. 4: Shooting at high frame rate of up to 30 frames per second requires Memory Stick PRO Duo media. 2007 Sony Electronics, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Sony, Clear RAW, Cyber-shot, Handycam, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Duo PRO, Picture Station, Smart Zoom, Stamina, Super HAD, and Walkman are trademarks of Sony. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners.
Please visit the Dealer Network for more information at www.sony.com/dn

Last Updated: 07/03/2007

Sony DSC-W55 Mod
This is a hack on the W55 Sony camera to allow it to be controlled by an external controller. This is not to be considered the best way to hack this particular camera, only the way I hack it. I am in no way shape or form responsible for anything you do to the camera, yourself or bystanders. Oh, and it will certainly void any warranty you may have on it. Tip: Turn a piece of packing tape backwards on itself so the sticky side is out and place it in a small dish or bowl. Place the screws on the tape to reduce risk of losing them. Ive knocked the screws off the bench while on tape and not lost one yet. 1. Remove all of the external screws around the sides of the cameras. Ive highlighted them in blue circles.
2. Once all of the screws are removed, slowly remove the front and rear covers.
3. Remove the thumb wheel to access the screw behind it. Then remove the screw. This holds on the shutter board.
4. Gently pry out on the shutter board cover on the end below the wrist strap and lift up. Repeat on the other end as well. 5. Unplug the ribbon behind the thumbwheel.
6. Lift the black tab with a flat dull object and remove the ribbon.
7. Now you need to free the shutter board from the panel. Cut the plastic tabs shown in blue circle in the picture below.
8. Below are the solder points for the shutter (Orange) and power (Blue). You can hook your common here also if youre not planning to use the shared common. The spots I suggest are the upper and lower left tabs of the shutter button (the one with the orange wire on it) in the picture below.
9. Cut a notch in the shutter board cover like shown below.
10. Route the wires so they come out the notch you just cut. Use the solder point photo for reference in routing the wires if needed.
11. To hold it together, put a dab of super glue or other adhesive where you cut the tabs to release the shutter board. I use a clothes pin to hold it together while it dries.
12. If you are not hacking for external power, skip this step. Otherwise, unplug the flash ribbon from the main board and move it out of the way. You can solder to the red and black wire battery tabs, or splice into the wires themselves (insulate them when done), or you can solder to the main board. To solder to the main board, remove the black screw at the lower left of the main board, unlatch the ribbons for the lens, and remove the ribbons. Lift the board up and solder as shown in the photo below. Feel free to hook into the red and black wires how you prefer.
13. Check the glue to see if its dry yet. If so, drill a hole as shown below.
14. Go ahead and route the wires through the hole as you put the shutter board and cover back on the camera. 15. Check your hack at this point to be sure its working. If so, put the camera back together. If not, fix it. 16. It should look something like this when youre done.