Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 launches: world's first WiFi camera with web browser

No clue why Sony didn't unleash this pretty boy with its litany of items yesterday, but maybe it just saw fit to give it some special attention. Thanks to the all-admitting FCC, we already had a good idea that this was coming, but now that it's finally here, we're still pretty jazzed. Set to rival Panny's Lumix DMC-TZ50, the DLNA-certified Cyber-shot DSC-G3 is the planet's first WiFi camera with a built-in web browser, enabling users to upload images and video directly to popular sharing sites wherever a WiFi connection is available. Of note, the camera comes with complimentary access to Sony's Easy Upload Home Page via AT&T WiFi, which provides easy entrance into Shutterfly, Picasa, YouTube, Photobucket and Dailymotion. Other specs include a 10 megapixel sensor, 4x optical zoom and Face Detection. It's yours to grab right now for around $500.

Gallery: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 launches: world's first WiFi camera with web browser

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[Karn Eggie @ Jan 8th 2009 12:26PM]

you broke my firefox ... the site is illegible now, chrome however is splendid!

[Wwhat @ Jan 8th 2009 12:52PM]

I just mail a list of all sites I visit and posts I make to google HQ, that way I don't have to use chrome.

[phanbouy fan fan @ Jan 8th 2009 1:09PM]

you sunk my battleship!

[Seneca @ Jan 8th 2009 1:26PM]

@phanbuoy
Maybe your battleship wouldn't have sunk if you paid attention to those buoys and staid off the rocks.

[Jon @ Jan 8th 2009 7:57PM]

So true, Google chrome is free because they record all your information...

Google dominating the world and privacy cannot coexist.

[Karn Eggie @ Jan 8th 2009 12:27PM]

never mind, it is all better musta been a caching issue ... sexy camera, the a900 needs some of this wifi goodness though.

[joe23521 @ Jan 8th 2009 12:28PM]

Nice features, but $500 for a point-n-shoot? No, thanks.

[Ayman @ Jan 8th 2009 12:32PM]

you forget it is has a metallic finish, not plastic; it is slim, not bulky, it plays media, not crysis, and its a sony.

P.s. I have the DSC-T700,

[Nerd Ferguson @ Jan 8th 2009 12:49PM]

precisely. it's cool looking, tho.

[dark star @ Jan 8th 2009 1:16PM]

i bought a t700 and returned it immediately.
the extra features are just crap. what good is a camera when it doesnt take a good photo?

[Tony @ Jan 9th 2009 6:47AM]

I don't agree. $500 is not only for point-n-shoot but $500 is also for many rich function.

What is the different between ipod and cheap MP3 player from China? Everyone know.

Is this the iPod of Cameras? Read this http://www.bestdealsonar.com/sony-cyber-shot-dsc-g3-camera-worlds-first-wifi-camera-with-web-browser/

[From My Cube @ Jan 8th 2009 12:29PM]

upskirt shots to the web now in real time

[Steven Smith @ Jan 8th 2009 12:30PM]

I could see buying this right when it comes out, however its not available right this moment as the blog would make you believe it is.

[Level 5 @ Jan 8th 2009 12:32PM]

As a buyer of the 1st Tiny Digi Sony ever made (the DSC-T1, still used often), I have to say I'm concerned about the wimpy flash. It seems to be comparable to the size of the one on the T1, which, if it's not anymore powerful, forget it for shots over about 6 feet away. It doesn't matter how many sites you can upload to if what you're uploading is underexposed, noisy crap. Be warned. I love my cam, but you must get creative with compensating for the flash with ambient light. It could be a winner, but I really had to learn how to shoot before I loved my T1.

[CT A @ Jan 8th 2009 12:49PM]

The T1 was almost 5 years ago, Sony has incorporated a much more powerful flash since then.

[Brainslugged @ Jan 8th 2009 3:34PM]

I too had a DSC-T1 until it finally died on me this summer after four years of abuse. Replaced it immediately with a black T77. Absolutely loved/love both cameras. Flash was pretty bad on the T1. Haven't really noticed on the T77 so I suspect it's better than the T1. Just got back from Vegas and have plenty of great shots from inside clubs so no complaints. Most of my photos are generally taken while out partying though so I'm not that worried about quality. I just want to capture moments which these cameras are perfect for - plus they look awsome.

This camera in this post wouldn't make me upgrade from my T77. I had been tempted by the T500 because it shoots 720p, but I went for the T77 due to its tiny size and great looks.

[Ed @ Jan 8th 2009 12:54PM]

Uh...I don't think so...Sony is late to this party!
Ricoh has been developing WiFi cameras for years!
And besides...no gadeteer will ever purchase or even use a Sony product...Not after their arrogant *Root kit* fiasco...
Sorry Sony, never again! Not me, and not ever!
Ed
web/gadget guru

[joe23521 @ Jan 8th 2009 12:59PM]

Why people feel the need to SIGN (with name and "title") their comments on a blog is beyond me.

Sincerely yours,


joe23521
Internet User

[aahatimy @ Jan 8th 2009 1:47PM]

Either to remind themselves of who they are or by luck their favourite company might just be feeling like recruting via Engadget. That's my only guesses.

aahatimy
bored and hungry

[inside the machine @ Jan 8th 2009 4:48PM]

while you bring up a valid point, for such an experienced gadgeteer such as yourself, try reading a bit better. Bifocals a bit foggy from all the gadget porn? simmer big fella, use your free hand to give them a wipe off.

this is the first wifi enable point and shoot with a built in browsing capabilities.

[Hezmut Two @ Jan 8th 2009 12:58PM]

for $500 ..?? I'm with you.. I'll stick with my ricoh.

[ace587 @ Jan 8th 2009 1:15PM]

same here

[Skazer @ Jan 8th 2009 12:58PM]

This is pretty cool. If it can browse the web, one can easily use this for taking spy shots (...of various things, such as female upskirts) and then quickly upload it somewhere and delete the file on the memory card, so there's no evidence of your criminal behaviours if someone happens to catch you like even 30 seconds after you take the shot :D

[jje @ Jan 8th 2009 1:43PM]

wow. That's sad. I mean seriously, you thought the whole thing through...sad...

[digitallysick @ Jan 8th 2009 1:04PM]

Its just missing the cell phone part

[superhobo @ Jan 8th 2009 1:13PM]

Stick a phone in it.
Please.

[xValentine @ Jan 8th 2009 1:16PM]

That thing is sexy.

It's target market is obviously those who loves compact and slim sexy camera(Most of the Cybershots) and doesn't really mind the average photo quality(compared to the likes of a G9/G10/P6000/LX3).

[gonzalo @ Jan 8th 2009 1:19PM]

Welcome the new 30-minute battery life!

[Jerome @ Jan 10th 2009 4:30PM]

You got it right!

I wanted the new T500 with the awesome 1280x720 movie clips. It is a super camera but the battery life is 90 minutes!
I am sure this G3 will be the same and when surfing the web or sending photo over the web, it will drain it!

It is a very nice looking camera and it has cool features!

[invincible @ Jan 8th 2009 1:21PM]

So, what's next in line for excessive convergence?


On topic comment: Not that I'd expect it from a compact marketed at consumers, but WiFi on a camera would be really useful for remote controlling a camera. Stick it on one of the Canon cameras (I'm saying this and I'm a Nikon user!) with a hackable firmware and you'd have the most powerful camera out there. The USB cable can be quite a bitch sometimes. But if it's just aimed at making it even easier for people to upload photos, the internet better be prepared for even more indiscriminately selected batches of photos.

[ACM @ Jan 8th 2009 1:37PM]

If Canon would have upgraded the G9 with this feature I would pay $600 for it. For all I care, all it needs to do is go to flickr. I don't need a browser or to even see it happen or tell it to happen. If it would just connect to any available wifi and put pictures in my photostream on Flickr that would be all I need. Geo tagging capabilities would be nice as well. So Canon if you reading this, get the G11 out now! The G9 still sells for more than the G10! Not a good sign.

[DVIII @ Jan 8th 2009 1:39PM]

SSSSSSSSSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!

[Daniesto @ Jan 8th 2009 1:56PM]

Most definitely NOT the first wifi camera with web browser. Last year i bought a cheapo wifi camera with web browser (able to upload images directly to photobucket or flicker) in mexico in mercadolibre (latin ebay) for about 100$

[ljun @ Jan 8th 2009 2:00PM]

Anyone have size dimensions?

And is it just me, but .... I would rather have GPS instead of WiFi?

[shugg @ Jan 8th 2009 2:13PM]

finally .,about time sony stepped up to the plate.,im def getting that ,a bigtime sony fanboi.wifi on a digital cam cant beat it.

[Andrew Watson @ Jan 8th 2009 2:20PM]

Thats not true. Nokia released a device years ago with 5 M camera, wifi and browser.

[FILA @ Jan 8th 2009 2:43PM]

like you have so many people back at home from your vacation to really care what pictures you took, for you to upload them so fast, this is stupid.

[SlickD @ Jan 8th 2009 3:27PM]

lol, this is so true. No one care about your pictures unless you are writing for engadget!

[ACM @ Jan 8th 2009 4:02PM]

Very true and I couldn't care less about people seeing the pictures that I take with my point and shoot but there is a little thing called backing up your photos that this would be pretty handy for.

[scooler @ Jan 8th 2009 4:10PM]

This device is further proof of the convergence of mobile devices. At this point you have to tell someone it is a camera first, then MID. Or a pmp, then mid. Or a phone, pim, mid, pmp, camera. Crazy.

[TIMMAH! @ Jan 8th 2009 4:19PM]

Okay, so you can upload pictures to a variety of websites, but what if I just want to transfer pictures over to my fileserver at home. Can I do this via Wifi and not have to install something on the client PC's end?

[inside the machine @ Jan 8th 2009 4:53PM]

you sure can.... the beauty of a home DLNA network.

[conor @ Jan 8th 2009 4:45PM]

Can do this on a mylo 2 already by putting memstick in.

[jollyrogerjonesy @ Jan 8th 2009 5:25PM]

Yo dawg I heard you like to take pictures and browse the internet, so we put a browser in yo camera. So, you can shoot while your surf.

[Ilja @ Jan 8th 2009 7:18PM]

$500 ???? Yeah right sony, for the same price I can get me a quite good SLR-Cam from Canon and I will definitely go for that.
One more thing. If they already build in a useless web browser ( most of us have a phone with a much better one ) why don't you build in a media-player, to make it feel more complete .

[BobTurbo @ Jan 8th 2009 7:26PM]

It is about time somebody did this...... may as well add GPS as well.

[Zoe Hellar @ Jan 9th 2009 8:44AM]

Add phone facilities and you have an iphone.
Regards,
Zoe
http://digital_camera_reviews.protechltd.com

[JB @ Jan 9th 2009 11:54AM]

Actually, Ricoh had a camera (Time Magazine named it the invention of the year back around 2000) with WiFi and a web browser and a web server! It was called the i700

http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras/ricoh-rdc-i700/4505-6501_7-6346147.html

JB

[Paul @ Jan 10th 2009 3:28AM]

Looks like as nice camera for a little too much. It comes from Sony which always tend to make things a little bit different than everybody else so there might be issues. Time will tell. Now the question here is: who needs 10 Megapixels? If you are not a professional photographer or an advertising agency, you will never make use of this. So basically Sony is overcharging for a feature that most people do not need in the first place.

[kingu @ Jan 10th 2009 9:25PM]

It runs Linux :)