Cyber-shot DSC-P5

Released 2001

A 3.2-megapixel metal pocket camera with a 39–117 mm equivalent zoom, optical viewfinder and JPEG or TIFF still recording.

Model history · 2 models, 2000–2001

2000Cyber-shot DSC-P1 Compare
2001Cyber-shot DSC-P5

Type: Compact
Sensor: 1/1.8-type
Megapixels: 3.2
Lens: 39–117 mm equivalent
Video: 320 × 240
Body weight: 185 g

What reviewers say

DPReview and Imaging Resource praised the pocketable metal build, controls and colour reproduction. DPReview found pronounced softness at wide apertures near the telephoto end, chromatic aberrations and slow startup. Imaging Resource found good detail for the size but inconsistent exposure in difficult lighting, macro distortion and limited low-light performance. Both recommended a spare battery.

From dpreview.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: 3.2 MP
Largest image: 2048 × 1536
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 100–400
Sensor detail: 1/1.8-type Super HAD CCD; UK markets 3.2 effective megapixels, exact Japan announcement gives 3.21 million effective and 3.34 million total photosites. Optical format is not physical sensor dimensions
Image formats: JPEG Fine/Standard and uncompressed TIFF; animated GIF Clip Motion and GIF text mode. TIFF is not RAW; email and voice-annotation modes also available
Image processor: 14-bit DXP analogue-to-digital conversion per maker announcement

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 39–117 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/2.8–5.6
Optical zoom: 3×
Lens detail: Sony 3× zoom, actual 8–24 mm, 39–117 mm equivalent, F2.8–5.6; two-stage retracting lens, not Carl Zeiss. Macro approximately 10 cm wide or 60 cm telephoto
Autofocus: AF illuminator and monitoring autofocus; preset distances 0.5, 1, 3, 7 m or infinity, not continuously adjustable manual focus
Burst detail: Two-frame Burst 2 mode; US maker datasheet claims 2 fps for this brief pair. Not a sustained continuous burst-rate headline
Flash: Built-in flash, auto/forced/off and red-eye reduction; maker recommends 0.5–2.8 m wide and 0.6–1.4 m telephoto. No accessory shoe
Exposure controls: Automatic exposure and Twilight scene mode; no manual exposure or aperture/shutter priority. ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; white balance Auto, Hold, Indoor and Outdoor. Sharpness adjustable in five steps

Video

Highest video resolution: 320 × 240
Video detail: MPEG-1 sound movies at 320×240 HQ or Presentation, plus 160×112 email mode. UK lists Presentation at 8.3 fps; US maker datasheet describes HQ playback at 16 fps. Unqualified maximum recording frame rate omitted. Clip Motion records animated GIF rather than MPEG video
Audio: Movie sound and still-image voice memo; built-in microphone and speaker per maker datasheet

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Optical
Screen size: 1.5″
Screen dots: 123,200
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed 1.5-type LCD with 123200 colour-subpixel dots; dots are not image pixels
Viewfinder detail: Eye-level real-image optical viewfinder

Connections and design

Bluetooth: No
Body weight: 185 g
Release detail: Sony announced planned Japanese availability on 4 October 2001. Contemporary production reviews establish sale in 2001; earliest actual worldwide retail month remains unresolved, so year precision retained. Exact maker announcement explicitly calls P5/P3 successors to DSC-P1
Recording media: Memory Stick; 8 MB supplied. Memory Stick PRO support not established
Ports: USB mini-B (UK explicitly says not Hi-Speed USB 2.0), A/V output and external DC input
Battery life detail: NP-FC10 InfoLITHIUM C rechargeable battery supplied. Maker continuous claim approximately 1800 VGA stills / 90 minutes with LCD and flash off; not an average-use or CIPA headline. Maker 90-minute mail-movie claim uses 160×112 and separately purchased 128 MB Memory Stick
Charging: In-camera charging with supplied AC adapter; exact charge duration not established. US maker datasheet calls the adapter AC-LS1
Dimensions: Approximately 112.5×53.8×36.2 mm width×height×depth
Weight detail: Approximately 185 g body only; approximately 214 g with NP-FC10, Memory Stick and wrist strap
Materials: Metal body; no waterproof rating established. Separately sold MPK-P5 underwater housing is an accessory
Colours: Silver P5 confirmed in exact Japan announcement; blue image on shared announcement is fixed-lens P3, not a P5 finish
In the box: NP-FC10 battery, AC adapter and mains lead, USB and A/V cables, 8 MB Memory Stick, wrist strap and software CD; software bundle differs by region

Pros and cons

Pros

Optical viewfinder and compact metal body
Uncompressed TIFF still recording

Cons

No manual exposure or RAW
Movie resolution limited to 320×240

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-P3	Compact	1/1.8-type	2.8	36 mm equivalent	320 × 240	165 g	2001
SonyCyber-shot DSC-S75	Compact	1/1.8-type	3.24	34–102 mm equivalent	320 × 240	352 g	2001
SonyCyber-shot DSC-S85	Compact	1/1.8-type	3.98	34–102 mm equivalent	320 × 240	352 g	2001

Previous model: Cyber-shot DSC-P1. Newer model: Cyber-shot DSC-P7.

Sources

Photo: Sony Japan shared DSC-P5 and DSC-P3 launch photograph; complete supplied composition retained

Front left angle with extended lens and closed card/battery door: Sony USA DSC-P5 datasheet, page 1; manufacturer press photograph preserved by RS Components archive
Straight front view with extended zoom lens: Sony USA DSC-P5 datasheet, page 1; manufacturer press photograph preserved by RS Components archive
Front right angle with extended zoom lens: Sony USA DSC-P5 datasheet, page 1; manufacturer press photograph preserved by RS Components archive

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