Cyber-shot DSC-P100

Released 2004

A 5.1-megapixel pocket camera with a 38–114 mm equivalent zoom, optical viewfinder and manual exposure.

Type: Compact
Sensor: 1/1.8-type
Megapixels: 5.1
Lens: 38–114 mm equivalent
Video: 640 × 480 at 30 fps
Body weight: 147 g

What reviewers say

DCViews and Imaging Resource praised the compact build, responsive shooting and colour. Both found the optical viewfinder tight and battery endurance useful. Imaging Resource criticised detail lost to aggressive noise reduction and warm indoor white balance; DCViews was more positive about automatic white balance, while noting limited flash reach and basic bundled software.

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

Product links

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Compact
Sensor format: 1/1.8-type
Sensor type: Super HAD CCD
Effective resolution: 5.1 MP
Largest image: 2592 × 1944
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 100–400
Sensor detail: 1/1.8-type Super HAD CCD; approximately 5.09 million effective and 5.255 million total photosites in the exact manual; UK rounds effective resolution to 5.1 megapixels. The 9.04 mm optical designation is not physical sensor width
Image formats: JPEG Fine or Standard, Exif 2.2 / DCF; no RAW
Image processor: Sony Real Imaging Processor

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 38–114 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/2.8–5.2
Optical zoom: 3×
Lens detail: Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar, actual 7.9–23.7 mm, 38–114 mm equivalent, F2.8–5.2. Conversion lenses require an adapter; the UK 30 mm filter figure applies to the accessory system
Autofocus: Single or monitor AF, five-area and centre AF with illuminator; preset focus at 0.5, 1, 3 or 7 m and infinity rather than continuously adjustable manual focus. Macro approximately 6 cm wide or 30 cm telephoto
Shutter: UK specification: Auto 1/8–1/2000 second; Manual 30–1/1000 second
Burst detail: UK lists approximately 0.8 seconds between burst images, up to nine full-resolution shots; this is an interval, not 0.8 fps. Multi Burst stores 16 reduced-resolution frames in one 1280×960 image
Flash: Built-in flash, ISO Auto approximately 0.2–3.5 m wide or 0.3–2.5 m telephoto; automatic, forced, slow sync, off and red-eye reduction. No accessory shoe
Exposure controls: Auto, Program, Manual and nine scene modes. Automatic white balance plus daylight, cloudy, fluorescent, incandescent and flash presets; no custom white balance. No aperture or shutter priority modes

Video

Highest video resolution: 640 × 480 at 30 fps
Video detail: MPEG-1 movies: 640×480 Fine at approximately 30 fps requires Memory Stick PRO; separate Standard VGA and 160×112 settings. Fine VGA cannot be recorded on the supplied 32 MB Memory Stick
Audio: MPEG-1 movie recording with monaural sound, electret condenser microphone and built-in speaker (exact English manual)

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Optical
Screen size: 1.8″
Screen dots: 134,000
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed 1.8-type TFT, approximately 134000 colour-subpixel dots (560×240 dot matrix in manual); 100% LCD field of view
Viewfinder detail: Real-image optical viewfinder

Connections and design

Bluetooth: No
Battery life (maker's claim): 360 photographs
Body weight: 147 g
Release detail: Sony announced Japanese availability for 29 April 2004. Contemporary full reviews confirm retail availability in 2004, but earliest worldwide actual sale month remains unresolved; year precision retained
Recording media: Memory Stick and Memory Stick PRO; 32 MB Memory Stick supplied
Ports: Multi-use connector for USB 2.0 and analogue A/V; separate DC IN. PictBridge printing and optional Cyber-shot Station dock
Battery life detail: NP-FR1 lithium-ion, nominal 3.6 V, 1220 mAh / 4.4 Wh. CIPA approximately 360 stills / 180 minutes with LCD on, 500 stills / 250 minutes with LCD off at 25°C. Continuous 160-pixel movies approximately 160 / 220 minutes with LCD on / off, not a VGA-runtime claim
Charging: In-camera charging through supplied AC-LS5/LS5B adapter, camera switched off; approximately 200 minutes at 25°C. Adapter also supplies external power
Dimensions: 108×51.5×26.6 mm width×height×depth, excluding maximum protrusions
Weight detail: Approximately 147 g body only (UK specifications); 183 g including NP-FR1, Memory Stick and wrist strap (English manual)
Materials: Metal body; no waterproof rating established
Colours: Silver, blue and red, confirmed by Sony Japan archive and exact-model announcement photographs
In the box: NP-FR1 battery and case, AC-LS5/LS5B adapter, mains lead, separate USB and A/V cables for multi-use connector, wrist strap, 32 MB Memory Stick, software CD and instructions; regional contents may differ

Pros and cons

Pros

Optical viewfinder and manual exposure
360-shot CIPA battery claim with LCD enabled

Cons

Lens starts at 38 mm equivalent
No RAW recording or custom white balance

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-P150	Compact	1/1.8-type	7.2	38–114 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	147 g	2004
SonyCyber-shot DSC-P93	Compact	1/1.8-type	5.1	38–114 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	175 g	2004
SonyCyber-shot DSC-V3	Compact	1/1.8-type	7.2	34–136 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	360 g	Oct 2004

Sources

Photo: Sony Japan archived exact-model product photograph; silver, blue and red finishes

Silver DSC-P100 front angle with lens extended: Sony Japan exact-model announcement; front angle with lens extended
Blue DSC-P100 front angle with lens extended: Sony Japan exact-model announcement; front angle with lens extended
Red DSC-P100 front angle with lens extended: Sony Japan exact-model announcement; front angle with lens extended

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