Sony · Cyber-shot

Cyber-shot DSC-S70

Released 2000

A 3.24-megapixel compact with a 34–102 mm-equivalent F2.0–2.5 Carl Zeiss lens, aperture and shutter priority, an optical finder and rechargeable InfoLITHIUM power.

Type: Compact
Sensor: 1/1.8-type
Megapixels: 3.24
Lens: 34–102 mm equivalent
Video: 320 × 240
Body weight: 310 g

What reviewers say

DPReview and digitalkamera.de praised the lens’s detail and low colour fringing, but found startup, autofocus and shot-to-shot operation slow. Both noted strongly saturated colour and fewer exposure controls than contemporary rivals. DPReview liked battery life but criticised the small grip and limited LCD framing; digitalkamera.de found handling secure. Both considered the supplied 8 MB card restrictive.

From dpreview.com and digitalkamera.de

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: 3.24 MP
Largest image: 2048 × 1536
RAW recording: No
Sensor detail: Sony Japan gives 3.34 million total and 3.24 million effective photosites, with primary-colour filter and interlaced CCD scan. Optical 1/1.8-type format is not a physical sensor measurement; DPReview’s conflicting 3.14 MP effective table not preferred over maker
Image formats: JPEG, uncompressed TIFF and black-and-white GIF Text mode, not RAW. Maximum 2048×1536 or 2048×1360 3:2; additional lower sizes. Voice annotation records mono MPEG-1 audio with stills
Image processor: 12-bit A/D conversion with Sony Super Resolution Converter processing in exact maker launch sheet

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 34–102 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/2–2.5
Optical zoom: 3×
Lens detail: Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar physical 7–21 mm F2.0–2.5, equivalent to 34–102 mm. Threefold optical zoom with additional electronic enlargement up to 6× combined; not 6× optical. VAD-S70 adaptor ring supports optional conversion lens and filters
Autofocus: Autofocus from 25 cm to infinity. Macro from 4 cm at wide angle or 20 cm at telephoto in exact manual. Approximate focus presets 0.5, 1, 3, 7 m and infinity; not continuously variable manual focus
Shutter: Sony Japan gives Auto 1/30–1/1000 second and shutter priority 8–1/1000 second; mode limitations retained
Flash: Built-in Auto, red-eye reduction, forced and off, with adjustable output; recommended 0.3–2.5 m. Dedicated external flash connector for optional HVL-F1000; not a conventional hot shoe
Exposure controls: Auto exposure with ±2 EV compensation. Aperture priority across nine steps F2.0–F8.0 and shutter priority, with Panfocus, Twilight, Twilight Plus, Landscape and Spot Metering modes. No full simultaneous manual aperture/shutter exposure

Video

Highest video resolution: 320 × 240
Video detail: MPEG-1 mono audio movies at 320×240 in HQ or standard quality, up to 15 seconds per clip. Lower 160×112 mode allows up to 60 seconds. Exact manual states zoom is unavailable during movie recording. Frame rate not established in exact maker/manual evidence

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Optical
Screen size: 2″
Screen dots: 123,200
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed 2-inch TFT rear screen, 123,200 dots (560×220), plus top information display. Screen dots are not image pixels. S50/S30 rotating screens are not S70 hardware
Viewfinder detail: Optical viewfinder with dioptre adjustment. Manual advises rear screen for close-up composition because finder coverage differs

Connections and design

Body weight: 310 g
Release detail: Sony Japan announced on 2 February 2000 and planned 25 March 2000 sale. Contemporary DPReview full production review explicitly reports retailer stock in June 2000; actual first-sale month unconfirmed, so released uses supported year. No assumed predecessor
Recording media: Original Memory Stick, with 8 MB supplied. Maker estimates approximately five maximum-size JPEGs on supplied card; card capacity and recording format affect storage
Ports: Dedicated USB connector, mono A/V output with NTSC/PAL selection, DC input and external flash minijack. USB connection does not establish USB 2.0 Hi-Speed or USB charging
Battery life detail: Supplied NP-FM50 InfoLITHIUM lithium-ion pack. Manual gives approximately 1600 shots / 120 minutes with LCD on or 2000 / 150 with LCD off: VGA 640×480 NORMAL, one shot about every four seconds, fully charged at 25°C with Memory Stick replacements as needed. These are continuous low-resolution tests, not CIPA or normal-use figures. Playback 4400 / 220 minutes is separate; 160×112 movie runtime 130 minutes LCD on or 150 off
Charging: Charges NP-FM50 in camera from supplied AC-L10 power adaptor while camera is off. Approximately 150 minutes full charge or 90 minutes normal charge from fully discharged battery; not USB charging
Dimensions: Sony Japan launch: 117×70.7×64.4 mm width×height×depth excluding maximum protrusions. English manual rounds to 117×71×64 mm
Weight detail: Approximately 310 g body only in maker launch sheet. Japan loaded claim approximately 420 g includes NP-FM50, Memory Stick, shoulder strap and lens cap; English manual gives approximately 423 g with the same listed accessories. Loaded weights not substituted for body
In the box: NP-FM50 battery, AC-L10 adaptor and mains lead, 8 MB Memory Stick, USB and A/V cables, shoulder strap, lens cap and tether, software CD and instructions in English manual; regional bundle details vary

Pros and cons

Pros

34–102 mm-equivalent F2.0–2.5 lens
Aperture and shutter priority
TIFF recording and external flash connection

Cons

No RAW recording or full manual exposure
Fixed rear screen
Proprietary Memory Stick storage

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-P1	Compact	1/1.8-type	3.24	39–117 mm equivalent	320 × 240	208 g	Oct 2000
SonyCyber-shot DSC-P3	Compact	1/1.8-type	2.8	36 mm equivalent	320 × 240	165 g	2001
SonyCyber-shot DSC-P5	Compact	1/1.8-type	3.2	39–117 mm equivalent	320 × 240	185 g	2001

Sources

Photo: Sony Japan

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