Cyber-shot DSC-P200

Released 2005

A 7.2-megapixel pocket camera with a 38–114 mm equivalent lens, optical viewfinder and manual exposure controls.

Type: Compact
Sensor: 1/1.8-type
Megapixels: 7.2
Lens: 38–114 mm equivalent
Video: 640 × 480 at 30 fps
Body weight: 144 g

What reviewers say

Photography Blog and DPReview praised the metal build, responsive shooting and battery life, while finding continuous shooting limited. Both reported good low-ISO results and little purple fringing. Photography Blog was more critical of ISO 200–400 noise and soft default processing; DPReview highlighted occasional flash underexposure and camera shake when shooting one-handed.

From photographyblog.com, photographyblog.com, photographyblog.com, photographyblog.com and dpreview.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: 7.2 MP
Largest image: 3072 × 2304
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 100–400
Sensor detail: 1/1.8-type Super HAD CCD; approximately 7.201 million effective and 7.41 million total photosites. The manual's 9.11 mm optical designation is not the 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. Optional conversion lenses require an adapter; the 30 mm filter specification applies to the accessory system
Autofocus: Five-area, centre and spot autofocus; single or monitor AF and AF 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 states Auto 1/8–1/2000 second and Manual 30–1/1000 second; slow-shutter noise reduction applies at 1/6 second or slower
Burst detail: Maker specifies approximately 1.1 seconds between burst images, up to five 7M Fine or eight 7M Standard shots. DPReview measured 1.0 fps at 7M Fine with a 512 MB Memory Stick PRO; no headline fps inferred from the maker's interval. Multi Burst stores 16 reduced-resolution frames in one 1280×960 image; up to 100 VGA Standard shots uses a lower-resolution setting
Flash: Built-in flash; ISO Auto approximately 0.2–3.5 m wide or 0.3–2.5 m telephoto. Auto, forced flash, slow sync, off and red-eye reduction; no accessory shoe
Exposure controls: Auto, Program, Manual and nine scene modes; no aperture or shutter priority. Manual exposure offers two aperture settings at each zoom endpoint (F2.8/F5.6 wide, F5.2/F10 telephoto, DPReview); ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps. Custom one-push white balance is described in the exact manual although omitted from the UK summary table

Video

Highest video resolution: 640 × 480 at 30 fps
Video detail: MPEG-1 movies, 640×480 at approximately 30 fps Fine (requires Memory Stick PRO), with separate 640×480 Standard and 160×112 modes; the supplied 32 MB Memory Stick does not support Fine movies
Audio: Monaural movie audio, electret condenser microphone and built-in speaker; not Motion JPEG despite the copied DPReview introductory specification table

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Optical
Screen size: 2″
Screen dots: 134,400
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed 2.0-type TFT; UK specification gives 134400 colour-subpixel dots. English guide rounds to 134000 while retaining a 560×240 dot matrix; 100% LCD field of view
Viewfinder detail: Real-image optical viewfinder; approximately 85% coverage reported by DPReview

Connections and design

Bluetooth: No
Battery life (maker's claim): 370 photographs
Body weight: 144 g
Release detail: Sony announced planned European shipment in February 2005. Contemporary exact-model reviews confirm sale in 2005, but earliest actual first-sale month remains unresolved; announcement and manual publication dates are not used as sale proof
Recording media: Memory Stick and Memory Stick PRO; 32 MB Memory Stick supplied. No built-in storage listed
Ports: Multi-use connector for USB 2.0 and analogue A/V output; separate DC IN socket. PictBridge printing; optional Cyber-shot Station dock
Battery life detail: NP-FR1 lithium-ion, nominal 3.6 V, 1220 mAh / 4.4 Wh. CIPA approximately 370 stills / 185 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 with supplied AC-LS5/LS5B adapter; approximately 200 minutes at 25°C with camera switched off. DC adapter also powers the camera; optional dock can charge it
Dimensions: UK specification and Japanese archive give 104.0×51.5×27.9 mm width×height×depth, excluding protrusions; English guide instead lists 104.5 mm width, so the regional document discrepancy remains explicit
Weight detail: Approximately 144 g body only (UK specification and exact Japanese archive); approximately 180 g including NP-FR1 battery, Memory Stick and wrist strap in English guide
Materials: Aluminium body; no dust, splash or waterproof rating established
Colours: Silver and red confirmed by Japanese archive; black also listed by DPReview, with regional availability
In the box: NP-FR1 battery and case, AC-LS5/LS5B adapter, mains lead, combined USB / A/V cable, 32 MB Memory Stick, wrist strap, software CD and instructions; regional contents may differ

Pros and cons

Pros

Optical viewfinder and manual exposure
370-shot CIPA battery claim with LCD enabled
Custom white balance and five preset focus distances

Cons

Lens starts at 38 mm equivalent
No RAW recording
No aperture or shutter priority modes

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-W5	Compact	1/1.8-type	5.1	38–114 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	197 g	Mar 2005
SonyCyber-shot DSC-W7	Compact	1/1.8-type	7.2	38–114 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	197 g	Mar 2005
SonyCyber-shot DSC-P100	Compact	1/1.8-type	5.1	38–114 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	147 g	2004

Sources

Photo: Sony Japan archived exact-model product photograph

Red DSC-P200 front angle: Sony Japan archived exact-model product photograph
DSC-P200 rear with Sony demonstration image on fixed display: Sony Japan archived exact-model product photograph
Silver and red Sony DSC-P200 cameras in the complete supplied reflective studio photograph: Sony Japan; complete supplied studio photograph and background retained

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