Sony · Cyber-shot

Cyber-shot DSC-S30

Released 2000

An early 1.25-megapixel Memory Stick compact with a 39–117 mm-equivalent zoom, rotating 2-inch screen and uncompressed TIFF recording.

Type: Compact
Sensor: 1/2.7-type
Megapixels: 1.25
Lens: 39–117 mm equivalent
Video: –
Body weight: –

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Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Compact
Sensor format: 1/2.7-type
Sensor type: Super HAD CCD
Effective resolution: 1.25 MP
Largest image: 1472 × 1104
RAW recording: No
Sensor detail: Optical 1/2.7-type Super HAD colour CCD, approximately 1.30 million total / 1.25 million effective photosites in exact Sony announcement. Normal 1280×960 output contains approximately 1.23 million image pixels; maximum 1472×1104 1.6-megapixel mode is interpolated, not native sensor resolution. Optical format is not physical dimensions
Image formats: JPEG, uncompressed TIFF plus simultaneous JPEG, or black-and-white GIF Text mode. Standard 1280×960, 1280×848 (3:2), 1024×768 or 640×480; maximum 1472×1104 uses Sony interpolation. Email mode adds a 320×240 JPEG. TIFF uses 1280×960 except 3:2 setting, even when JPEG is selected at interpolated 1472×1104. No RAW; supplied 4 MB Memory Stick cannot hold a TIFF, approximately three TIFF/JPEG pairs on 16 MB

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 39–117 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/2.8–2.9
Optical zoom: 3×
Stabilisation: None
Lens detail: Sony 3× zoom, physical 6.1–18.3 mm F2.8–2.9; 35 mm equivalent 39–117 mm. Normal autofocus approximately 25 cm wide / 60 cm telephoto, macro approximately 3 cm wide / 60 cm telephoto. Digitally processed zoom extends total range to 6×, not an additional 6× optical range
Autofocus: Autofocus and macro autofocus, plus approximate preset manual distances 0.5 m, 1 m, 3 m, 7 m and infinity. Half-press locks autofocus and automatic exposure
Shutter: Sony exact announcement: Auto 1/30–1/725 second; shutter priority 8–1/725 second. Shared exact operating instruction confirms still shutter-priority range
Stabilisation detail: No optical lens or sensor-shift stabilisation. Orientation sensor changes vertical-image playback, not camera-shake correction
Flash: Built-in flash, recommended range 0.3–2.5 m, Auto/red-eye Auto/forced on/off with High/Normal/Low flash level. No external flash terminal; S70 external-flash feature does not apply
Exposure controls: Automatic exposure plus seven Program AE modes: aperture priority, shutter priority, twilight, twilight plus, landscape, panfocus and spot metering. Aperture-priority selection across nine steps F2.8–F11 with telephoto restrictions; shutter priority across 18 steps 8–1/725 second. ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps. Auto/Indoor/Outdoor/Hold white balance; five sharpness levels; solarise, monochrome, sepia and negative-art effects. ISO control not published in exact instruction

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: None
Screen size: 2″
Screen dots: 123,200
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: Yes
Display detail: Free-angle 2-inch TFT, 123,200 component dots (560×220); dots are not image pixels. Screen rotates for face-to-face self-portraits and high/low-angle shooting, with normal/bright backlight. No touchscreen or separate optical/electronic eyepiece

Video

Video detail: No movie recording, microphone, speaker or Voice mode on DSC-S30 per exact shared operating instruction. S50 MPEG-1 and audio features explicitly excluded. Standard-definition VIDEO OUT can show still photographs on a TV; it does not establish movie recording

Connections and design

Release detail: Conservative actual-sale year 2000 supported by J&R Computer World current DSC-S30 retail offer in Macworld October 2000, PDF page 156, price valid until 15 October 2000. Maker 2 February 2000 announcement planned Japanese sale on 25 April, which does not independently prove actual first-sale day/month. No exact official predecessor relationship inferred
Recording media: Full-size Memory Stick, supplied 4 MB. No SD slot. Approximately five interpolated 1472×1104 JPEGs or six 1280×960 JPEGs on supplied card in maker guide. No internal image storage published
Ports: USB digital I/O, video-only VIDEO OUT minijack with NTSC/PAL selection, and DC IN for AC-L10 adapter. No microphone, speaker, audio output, HDMI or external-flash terminal. Shared manual A/V audio connector applies only to DSC-S50
Battery life detail: NP-FM50 InfoLITHIUM rechargeable lithium-ion pack, nominal 7.2 V, 1180 mAh / 8.5 Wh. Exact pre-CIPA instruction claims approximately 3000 VGA photographs / 150 minutes at 25°C, normal LCD, fully charged battery and about five-second recording intervals while replacing Memory Sticks; normally charged pack 2800 / 140 minutes. This rapid single-frame test is not CIPA or a continuous burst, so no unqualified shot headline. Separate playback 4400 images / 220 minutes is not still-shooting endurance; no movie runtime on S30
Charging: In-camera charging with supplied AC-L10 adapter through DC IN, camera switched off. Approximately 90 minutes normal charge or 150 minutes full charge for completely discharged NP-FM50. No USB charging claimed
Dimensions: Exact shared operating instruction maximum dimensions 113×68×69 mm width×height×depth. Early Japanese announcement gives 113.1×67.8×68.8 mm excluding maximum projections
Weight detail: Exact shared operating instruction approximately 370 g including NP-FM50, Memory Stick, wrist strap and lens cap. Early Japanese release shared S50/S30 table prints 315.6 g body / 423 g loaded, conflicting with later loaded instruction weight; optional body-only headline omitted rather than subtract guessed accessory weights
In the box: NP-FM50 battery, AC-L10 AC adapter and power cord, USB cable, video-only cable, lens cap and cap strap, wrist strap, 4 MB Memory Stick, CD-ROM/software and operating instructions. Shared manual S50 A/V cable is separate

Pros and cons

Pros

Rotating screen for self-portraits and high or low angles
Aperture and shutter priority
Uncompressed TIFF recording

Cons

No movie recording
No optical viewfinder or stabilisation
Memory Stick storage only

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-S50	Compact	1/2.7-type	2.02	39–117 mm equivalent	320 × 240	–	2000
SonyCyber-shot DSC-P20	Compact	1/2.7-type	1.11	42 mm equivalent	320 × 240	187 g	2001
SonyCyber-shot DSC-P30	Compact	1/2.7-type	1.25	41–123 mm equivalent	320 × 240	214 g	2001

Sources

Photo: Sony / Pixinfo

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