Sony's 2006 W-series flagship compact — 8.1MP 1/1.8in CCD, Carl Zeiss 3x zoom, manual mode
The Cyber-shot DSC-W100 headed Sony's W-series compacts in 2006, pairing the line's aluminium body and manual exposure option with an 8.1-megapixel sensor. It sat above the W30, W50 and W70 as the resolution flagship of that year's range.
An 8.1-megapixel 1/1.8-inch Super HAD CCD worked with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 3x zoom at 38-114mm equivalent. A 2.5-inch LCD and optical viewfinder covered composition, 64MB of internal memory backed the Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo slot, and the proprietary NP-BG1 battery was rated around 360 shots per charge.
With its larger-than-average sensor for a compact, manual mode and metal build, the W100 appeals both as a step-up snapshot camera and to collectors of mid-2000s CCD compacts. Zoom range is modest and autofocus deliberate in dim light.
Check NP-BG1 battery health — replacements are still widely sold, which helps — confirm the lens extends without grinding and that the optical viewfinder is unobstructed. A Memory Stick Duo card is required, as the internal memory fills quickly at full resolution.