Sony's 2006 entry compact — 6MP CCD, Carl Zeiss 38-114mm zoom, NP-BG1 battery, VGA video
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 was the entry model of Sony's 2006 W-series refresh, announced in February 2006 alongside the W40 and the larger-screened W50/W70. By this generation the W line had become Sony's mainstream compact family, and the W30 was its most affordable route in.
It pairs a 6-megapixel 1/2.5-inch Super HAD CCD with a Carl Zeiss 3x zoom covering 38-114mm equivalent at f/2.8-5.2. There is a 2.0-inch LCD plus an optical viewfinder window, 32MB of internal memory, a Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo slot, and VGA 640x480 30fps video. The NP-BG1 InfoLithium battery is rated at roughly 400 shots, and a High Sensitivity ISO 1000 mode helps in dim light.
The Zeiss-branded lens and strong battery life made the W30 a solid basic compact, and it remains an easy retro digicam to live with. It suits beginners and street snapshots; the small screen and lack of stabilisation are the main period limitations.
The NP-BG1 battery was shared across many Sony compacts and bridges, so replacements and chargers are still simple to find — a real advantage over rarer packs. Check the LCD and viewfinder window for scratches, confirm the flash cycles, and note it takes Memory Stick Duo rather than SD cards.