Sony · Cyber-shot

Cyber-shot DSC-P31

Released 2002

A 2-megapixel compact camera with a fixed 33 mm-equivalent F2.8 lens, optical finder and rechargeable AA batteries.

Type: Compact
Sensor: 1/2.7-type
Megapixels: 2
Lens: 33 mm equivalent
Video: 320 × 240
Body weight: 173 g

Product links

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Image and sensor

Camera type: Compact
Sensor format: 1/2.7-type
Sensor type: Super HAD CCD
Effective resolution: 2 MP
Largest image: 1600 × 1200
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 100–400
Sensor detail: 1/2.7-type primary-colour interlaced Super HAD CCD; approximately 2.10 million total and rounded 2.00 million effective photosites in exact P31 maker launch column. Shared English manual repeats the P51 label for its second 1.98-million effective entry, so that more precise assignment is not assumed for P31
Image formats: JPEG stills with Fine/Standard compression; GIF Clip Motion and MPEG-1 movies. No RAW or TIFF recording
ISO detail: Auto or manually selected ISO 100, 200 or 400; no continuous ISO dial
Image processor: Clear Colour NR, Clear Luminance NR and NR Slow Shutter processing; chip identifier not published

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 33 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/2.8
Optical zoom: 1×
Lens detail: Fixed focal length 5 mm, 33 mm equivalent, F2.8; automatic lens cover. Full-range autofocus from 0.1 m without a separate Macro mode. 3× digital enlargement is separate and does not provide optical zoom
Autofocus: Automatic Multi AF or centre AF with AF-assist illuminator; preset distances 0.5, 1, 3, 7 m and infinity, not continuous manual focusing
Burst detail: Multi Burst records sixteen 320×240 subframes at intervals 1/30, 1/15 or 1/7.5 second into one composite still, not sixteen full-resolution separate frames. Maker lists approximately 1.9 seconds between maximum-size single shots; this is not continuous-burst fps
Flash: Built-in flash with Auto, forced, off and red-eye reduction; ISO Auto recommended distance 0.4–3.8 m
Exposure controls: Automatic exposure with ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps, multi-pattern/spot metering and Twilight, Twilight Portrait or Landscape scenes; no aperture/shutter priority or manual exposure

Video

Highest video resolution: 320 × 240
Video detail: Silent MPEG-1 HQX 320×240, Presentation 320×240 or Video Mail 160×112; maker launch claims approximately 5 minutes 40 seconds HQX or 90 minutes mail with optional 128 MB Memory Stick. Frame rate omitted because exact maker recording rate not established
Audio: Movies record without sound; operational beep/shutter speaker is separate from audio recording

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Optical
Screen size: 1.6″
Screen dots: 61,600
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed 1.6-type TFT with 61600 colour-subpixel dots (280×220); launch rounds to 61000 dots
Viewfinder detail: Optical zoom finder; no electronic finder

Connections and design

Body weight: 173 g
Release detail: Sony Japan announced on 12 March 2002 with planned Japanese availability 20 March 2002. Contemporary PC Watch 7 August 2002 retail price survey lists P31 sold at two Tokyo stores; earliest actual worldwide first-sale month unresolved, so year precision retained. No direct successor claim established
Recording media: Memory Stick; 8 MB supplied, 128 MB in maker recording table. Later PRO compatibility not established
Ports: USB mini-B with normal mass-storage or PTP setting, separate NTSC/PAL VIDEO OUT minijack without audio and DC IN for optional AC-LS1
Battery life detail: Two supplied NH-AA-DI Ni-MH AA cells. Exact manual average-use test at 25°C: approximately 280 images/140 minutes at 1600×1200 Fine, LCD on, one shot every 30 seconds, flash every second shot, restart every 10 shots; not labelled CIPA. Separate continuous Standard/no-flash/3-second-interval test: approximately 2400 images/120 minutes LCD on or 3000/150 off. Maker permits alkaline AA only as emergency power for P31, with reduced operation
Charging: Supplied external BC-CS1 charger: approximately 13 hours for fully depleted supplied Ni-MH cells at 25°C. Cells removed from camera for charging; optional faster kit available. Optional AC-LS1 supplies camera power
Dimensions: 106×58×39.5 mm width×height×depth; manual excludes protruding portions, Japanese launch labels maximum dimensions
Weight detail: Approximately 173 g body only in exact Sony UK specification and Japan launch table; approximately 231 g with two batteries, Memory Stick and wrist strap in manual and launch table
In the box: Two rechargeable AA Ni-MH batteries, BC-CS1 charger and mains lead, 8 MB Memory Stick, USB and video cables, wrist strap, software CD and operating instructions; AC-LS1 optional

Pros and cons

Pros

Fixed 33 mm-equivalent F2.8 lens with 10 cm autofocus
Supplied rechargeable AA batteries and charger
Optical viewfinder and AF illuminator

Cons

No optical zoom
Silent low-resolution movies
No RAW or manual exposure

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-P2	Compact	1/2.7-type	2	39–117 mm equivalent	320 × 240 at 16.6 fps	177 g	2002
SonyCyber-shot DSC-P51	Compact	1/2.7-type	1.98	41–82 mm equivalent	320 × 240 at 16.6 fps	218 g	2002
SonyCyber-shot DSC-P20	Compact	1/2.7-type	1.11	42 mm equivalent	320 × 240	187 g	2001

Sources

Photo: Sony Japan exact DSC-P31 launch photograph; visible 2.0MP fixed-lens model, despite archive asset filename p71.jpg

Spot a mistake? Tell us