Sony · Cyber-shot
Cyber-shot DSC-P51
A 2-megapixel compact camera with a 41–82 mm-equivalent optical zoom, optical finder and rechargeable AA batteries.
- Type
- Compact
- Sensor
- 1/2.7-type
- Megapixels
- 1.98
- Lens
- 41–82 mm equivalent
- Video
- 320 × 240 at 16.6 fps
- Body weight
- 218 g
Product links
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specImage and sensor
- Camera type
- Compact
- Sensor format
- 1/2.7-type
- Sensor type
- Super HAD CCD
- Effective resolution
- 1.98 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 1.98 million effective photosites in the exact P51 manual entry; UK specifications round effective resolution to 2.0 MP
- 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
- 12-bit DXP A/D conversion in exact UK specifications; Clear Colour NR, Clear Luminance NR and NR Slow Shutter. September 2002 Europe brochure lists 14-bit for P51, conflicting with exact UK table; 12-bit retained
Lens and shooting
- Built-in lens
- 41–82 mm equivalent
- Maximum aperture
- f/3.8
- Optical zoom
- 2×
- Lens detail
- Physical focal length 6.3–12.6 mm, equivalent to 41–82 mm, F3.8. Full-range autofocus from 8 cm at wide angle or 50 cm at telephoto, without a separate Macro mode. 3× digital enlargement is separate from the 2× 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
- Shutter
- Automatic mode 1/30–1/1000 second in exact UK table; slow-shutter scene behaviour is separate. No manual shutter selection
- 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. No full-resolution continuous rate established; the UK 1.9-second figure is startup time
- Flash
- Built-in flash with Auto, forced, off and red-eye reduction; ISO Auto recommended distance 0.4–2.8 m at both zoom ends. No accessory or hot shoe
- 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 at 16.6 fps
- Video detail
- Silent MPEG-1 HQX 320×240 at 16.6 fps in exact UK specifications; Presentation 320×240 and Video Mail 160×112 modes are separate
- 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
- 218 g
- Release detail
- Sony announced on 20 February 2002 with planned US availability at the end of April 2002; contemporary Imaging Resource full test updated 16 May 2002 and Sony Europe September 2002 brochure establish 2002 product coverage. Earliest actual worldwide first-sale month is unresolved, so year precision retained; planned April timing is not treated as proof of sale. No explicit direct predecessor claim established
- Recording media
- Memory Stick; 16 MB supplied. Manual includes recording tables through 128 MB; later Memory Stick 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, alternating zoom ends, flash every second shot and restart every 10 shots; not labelled CIPA. Separate continuous Standard/no-flash/3-second-interval test: approximately 3000 images/150 minutes LCD on or 3600/180 off. P31 emergency alkaline permission does not apply to P51
- 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
- 126.9×58×47 mm width×height×depth, excluding protruding portions in manual
- Weight detail
- Approximately 218 g body only in exact Sony UK specifications; approximately 275 g with two batteries, Memory Stick and wrist strap in manual and UK table
- In the box
- Two rechargeable AA Ni-MH batteries, BC-CS1 charger and mains lead, 16 MB Memory Stick, USB and video cables, wrist strap, software CD and operating instructions; AC-LS1 optional
Pros and cons
Pros
- 2× optical zoom and optical viewfinder
- Supplied rechargeable AA batteries and external charger
- AF illuminator and focus-distance presets
Cons
- Silent low-resolution movies
- No RAW or manual exposure
- Fixed 1.6-inch screen
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Sensor | Megapixels | Lens | Video | Body weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact | 1/2.7-type | 2 | 39–117 mm equivalent | 320 × 240 at 16.6 fps | 177 g | 2002 | |
| Compact | 1/2.7-type | 2 | 33 mm equivalent | 320 × 240 | 173 g | 2002 | |
| Compact | 1/2.7-type | 1.11 | 42 mm equivalent | 320 × 240 | 187 g | 2001 |
