CAMERA COMPARISONS
Sony Cyber-shot W55 vs W80: Lens, Stabilization and Memory Cards
Compatibility details are based on manufacturer documentation. How we check ↗
START HERE
Both are 2007 7.2MP CCD cameras with 3x optical zoom. The W80 adds optical Super SteadyShot and a wider 35mm starting view. Both need Memory Stick Duo-family cards and external battery charging; an SD card or a USB charging cable is not the replacement.
Find my camera’s parts ↗The documented differences.
The W80’s main documented advantages here are optical stabilization and its wider 35–105mm equivalent lens. The W55 covers 38–114mm. Both have fixed 2.5-inch screens and use NP-BG1 batteries, but check the exact charger and data-cable notes for the particular camera. A complete, demonstrated-working W55 can still be a more useful purchase than an untested W80.
| Camera | Year | Sensor / effective resolution | Optical zoom / equivalent lens | Stabilization | Body (W × H × D) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55 | 2007 | 1/2.5-inch Super HAD CCD · 7.2MP | 3× · 38–114 mm | No optical stabilization | 88.9 × 57.1 × 22.9 mm |
| Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W80 | 2007 | 1/2.5-inch Super HAD CCD · 7.2MP | 3× · 35–105 mm | Optical Super SteadyShot | 91 × 58 × 22.9 mm |
Years are manufacturer market/launch years. Focal lengths are 35mm-equivalent values. Fixed-screen descriptions are checked against manufacturer rear-view diagrams. This is a comparison of documented features, not a hands-on image-quality test.
Compare the complete kit.
Read the exact codes before counting an included accessory as useful. Both cameras may share a battery family while their cable or charger details still need checking.
| Camera | Battery | Charger / adapter | Card format | Photo-transfer reader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55 | NP-BG1 | BC-CSG | Memory Stick Duo / PRO Duo | Memory Stick PRO Duo reader |
| Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W80 | NP-BG1 | BC-CSG | Memory Stick Duo / PRO Duo | Memory Stick PRO Duo reader |
Make a kit checklist for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55 · Make a kit checklist for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W80
These cameras use their documented external battery chargers. Their data cables copy photographs; they do not charge the battery inside the camera.
Look at real photographs.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55: open the credited sample gallery ↗
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W80: open the credited sample gallery ↗
Each gallery links its camera metadata, photographer and license. The pictures were made by different photographers in different conditions and may have been edited. Use them to explore examples, not as a controlled side-by-side test or a promise of a particular color or flash look.
Check the actual camera before choosing.
- Ask for a new original photograph and a demonstration of shooting and playback.
- Try focus, flash, zoom, buttons and the battery/card door.
- Include the cost of any missing battery, charger, supported card and reader.
- Check the return terms and what the seller has actually tested.
Use the complete used-camera checklist ↗ and build a phone-transfer checklist before deciding. This article does not assert current prices or stock.
Manufacturer references
Open an exact-model guide for its battery, charger and card details, or check the original manufacturer references below.
- Sony UK — DSC-W55 manufacturer specifications
Lens: 6.3–18.9mm / 38–114mm equivalent, optical zoom 3x; Image Sensory; Effective Pixels; LCD/Viewfinder; Dimensions
- Sony announcement — new 2007 Cyber-shot cameras
January 17, 2007 announcement; W55 marketed in February 2007
- Sony Guide to Digital Photography, 2007
DSC-W55 & DSC-W80 product comparison, PDF p.27: optical Super SteadyShot expressly W80 only
- Sony DSC-W55 memory cards
Memory Stick Duo types, p. 4; supported capacities and PRO Duo movie requirement, pp. 27–28
- Sony DSC-W80 manufacturer specifications
Battery system; included charger/adapter; supplied USB cable; USB charging; recording media
- Sony UK — DSC-W80 manufacturer specifications
Lens; sensor; effective pixels; LCD/Viewfinder; dimensions
- Sony W80 announcement, February 27, 2007
W80 marketed in March 2007; 7.2MP, 3x zoom; optical Super SteadyShot
- Sony DSC-W80/W85/W90 Instruction Manual
Shooting images easily, p.14: fixed rear screen diagram; Specifications, p.31