Cyber-shot DSC-F505

Released September 1999

A fixed-lens digital camera with a swivelling body, a 5× Carl Zeiss zoom and Memory Stick recording.

Type: Bridge
Sensor: Other
Megapixels: 2.02
Lens: 38–190 mm equivalent
Video: 320 × 240
Body weight: 435 g

What reviewers say

DPReview and Imaging Resource praised sharp images, useful zoom range, manual focusing and the swivelling design, while finding low-light performance limited. DPReview especially liked the hybrid screen but criticised aggressive JPEG compression and occasional autofocus errors. Imaging Resource found the screen difficult in some intermediate outdoor light and noted lens distortion, while valuing the battery's remaining-time indicator.

From dpreview.com and old.imaging-resource.com

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Bridge
Sensor format: Other
Sensor type: CCD
Effective resolution: 2.02 MP
Largest image: 1600 × 1200
RAW recording: No
Sensor detail: 1/2-type interlaced CCD with primary-colour filter; Sony's launch sheet specifies 2.11 million total and 2.02 million effective photosites. The largest output is 1600 × 1200, approximately 1.92 million image pixels; these counts are distinct
Image formats: Fine or Standard JPEG; no uncompressed still-image mode (DPReview); email and voice-memo modes

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 38–190 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/2.8–3.3
Optical zoom: 5×
Lens detail: Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar; actual 7.1–35.5 mm, 38–190 mm equivalent; f/2.8–3.3 maximum aperture, aperture-priority settings to f/8; 52 mm filter thread; 2× digital enlargement separately from 5× optical zoom
Autofocus: High-speed scan AF and macro AF; manual focus ring; normal focus from 0.8 m or 0.5 m at wide angle, macro from 0.08 m at wide angle
Shutter: Sony specifies 1/8–1/725 second in NTSC and 1/6–1/600 second in PAL shutter-priority modes; night scene modes are separate
Flash: Built-in pop-up flash; recommended distance approximately 0.3–2.5 m; high, normal and low intensity settings
Exposure controls: Automatic, aperture-priority and shutter-priority exposure plus night, night-plus, landscape and panfocus programs; ±1.5 EV compensation; spot metering; Auto, Indoor, Outdoor and One-push white balance

Video

Highest video resolution: 320 × 240
Video detail: MPEG-1 with sound; 320 × 240 presentation mode up to 15 seconds or 160 × 112 video-mail mode up to 60 seconds; selectable 5/10/15-second recording durations. Native movie frame rate unpublished in the maker launch sheet
Audio: Built-in microphone and speaker; voice memos with still images

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: None
Screen size: 2″
Screen dots: 122,980
Tilting screen: Yes
Display detail: Hybrid reflective/backlit TFT LCD, 122,980 dots; lens/body joint rotates up 90° or down 50°, allowing the screen and lens to face different directions; brightness and backlight controls

Connections and design

Body weight: 435 g
Release detail: Sony Japan's original August 1999 launch page states 21 September 1999 availability in its pictured model/price table. Japanese kit is DSC-F505K; international camera name DSC-F505. Announcement date is not the sale date
Recording media: Memory Stick; Japanese DSC-F505K kit includes 4 MB MSA-4A card
Ports: USB, serial digital I/O and composite AV output with mono audio; NTSC/PAL output
Battery life detail: NP-FS11 supplied, with NP-F10 supported; Sony claims approximately 60 minutes or up to 1,100 consecutive VGA photographs with flash off, rather than modern CIPA still-image testing; approximately 70 minutes of video-mail capture or 90 minutes playback
Charging: AC-VF10 adapter/charger with DK-115 connection cord included in Japanese kit
Dimensions: Approximately 107.2 × 62.2 × 135.9 mm (width × height × depth)
Weight detail: Approximately 435 g camera only; 475 g including NP-FS11, wrist strap, lens cap and 4 MB Memory Stick
In the box: Japanese DSC-F505K kit includes 4 MB Memory Stick, NP-FS11 battery, AC-VF10 adapter/charger with DK-115 cord, AV cable, lens cap and wrist strap

Pros and cons

Pros

38–190 mm equivalent Carl Zeiss zoom
Manual focus ring and aperture/shutter priority
Hybrid reflective and backlit rear LCD

Cons

JPEG still images without RAW recording
No separate viewfinder
Short low-resolution MPEG movie clips

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyDigital Mavica MVC-FD71	Bridge	Other	0.33	40–400 mm equivalent	–	480 g	Jul 1998
SonyDigital Mavica MVC-FD7	Bridge	Other	–	40–400 mm equivalent	–	600 g	Aug 1997
SonyCyber-shot DSC-F505V	Bridge	1/1.8-type	2.62	38–190 mm equivalent	320 × 240	424 g	Jun 2000

Sources

Photo: sony.jp

Close view of the Cyber-shot DSC-F505 lens against a black background.: Sony Japan official DSC-F505 press photograph; complete supplied lens-detail canvas retained.

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