Sony's 2009 W-series compact — 12.1MP CCD, 5x 28-140mm Zeiss zoom, 720p HD movies
The Cyber-shot DSC-W270 was launched in February 2009 in the upper half of Sony's high-volume W-series compacts, alongside the 3in-screened W290. It updated the W170 formula with more resolution and the line's first 720p HD movie recording.
It combined a 12.1-megapixel 1/2.3in Super HAD CCD with a Carl Zeiss 5x zoom equivalent to 28-140mm at f/3.3-5.2, stabilised by optical SteadyShot and driven by Sony's BIONZ processor. The rear carried a 2.7in 230,000-dot Clear Photo LCD. Video ran to 1280x720 at 30fps, and stills features included face detection and Smile Shutter. Storage was the Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo family, and power a rechargeable Sony lithium-ion pack. The body measured roughly 98x57x23mm at 145g.
It works as a simple, pocketable point-and-shoot from the last generation of CCD compacts, with the wide 28mm end and HD movies giving it a little more flexibility than its budget stablemates. There are no manual exposure controls, so it suits casual shooters rather than enthusiasts.
Check the proprietary Sony battery charges and a charger is present, since chargers are commonly missing from used kits. Memory Stick Duo cards are discontinued — factor in sourcing one. Inspect the lens barrel for wobble, confirm optical SteadyShot works at the long end, and look for the warm colour rendering many buyers now seek from Sony CCD compacts of this era.