Cyber-shot DSC-S780

Released 2008

An 8.1-megapixel lithium-ion-powered compact with face detection, a 35–105 mm-equivalent lens and a 2.5-inch screen.

Type: Compact
Sensor: Other
Megapixels: 8.1
Lens: 35–105 mm equivalent
Video: 320 × 240 at 30 fps
Body weight: 128 g

Product links

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Image and sensor

Camera type: Compact
Sensor format: Other
Sensor type: Super HAD CCD
Effective resolution: 8.1 MP
Largest image: 3264 × 2448
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 100–1250
Sensor detail: Optical 1/2.5-type Super HAD CCD; optical format is not a physical dimension. Exact shared instruction guide lists S780 approximately 8,083,560 effective and 8,286,624 total pixels
Image formats: JPEG/Exif 2.21; maximum 3264×2448, with 3:2 and 16:9 settings. No RAW recording

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 35–105 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/2.8–4.8
Optical zoom: 3×
Stabilisation: None
Lens detail: Sony 3× zoom, physical 5.8–17.4 mm F2.8–4.8, equivalent 35–105 mm. Macro approximately 5 cm wide / 35 cm telephoto from the front of the lens; exact shared instruction guide
Autofocus: Five-point Multi AF or centre AF with distance presets; face detection tracks up to three faces and adjusts focus/exposure. Singapore maker table and Sony launch release confirm face detection, contrary to UK archive omission. No continuously variable manual focus. UK archive lists an AF illuminator but exact independent tests say absent; unresolved feature discrepancy retained
Shutter: Singapore maker archive gives Auto 1/8–1/2000 second and Program auto 1–1/2000 second. Program exposure remains automatic
Burst detail: Exact Sony handbook hosted by B&H gives S780 approximately 0.9-second interval, maximum three frames at 8M or 3:2, four at 5M, six at 3M, 64 at VGA and ten at 16:9. Singapore maker table confirms approximately 1.1 fps and 0.9-second interval; UK archive 1.2-second entry conflicts. Flash off; focus, white balance and exposure fixed to first shot. Finite bursts do not establish a sustained headline rate
Flash: Exact instruction guide Auto ISO approximately 0.5–3.5 m wide / 0.5–2.0 m telephoto. Singapore maker table separately gives ISO 1250 up to 6.9 m wide / 3.9 m telephoto
Exposure controls: Auto, Program auto and seven scene modes; no manual or aperture/shutter-priority exposure. ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; multi-pattern, centre-weighted or spot metering. ISO Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1250

Video

Highest video resolution: 320 × 240 at 30 fps
Video detail: AVI Motion JPEG, 320×240 at 30 fps with mono sound; approximately ten-minute maximum continuous clip. Optical zoom cannot change during recording. Built-in mono speaker supports movie playback

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: None
Screen size: 2.5″
Screen dots: 153,600
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed 2.5-inch TFT, 153,600 dots in exact instruction guide; UK archive rounded 153,000. Dots are not captured image pixels
Viewfinder detail: No separate viewfinder; composition uses rear LCD

Connections and design

Bluetooth: No
Battery life (maker's claim): 270 photographs
Body weight: 128 g
Release detail: Sony January 23 release planned European availability from endMarch 2008. Contemporary 3DNews November 2008 production test and Câmera versus Câmera July 2008 evaluation establish sale in 2008; the first retail month remains unconfirmed, so year precision retained. No maker-confirmed predecessor link established
Recording media: Approximately 22 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo. PRO-HG cards operate at PRO Duo speed; no memory card in standard bundle
Ports: Combined USB/A/V OUT for composite video, mono audio and Hi-Speed USB 2.0, confirmed exact instruction guide. UK archive A/V and digital-I/O omissions conflict with the manual
Battery life detail: Supplied NP-BK1 lithium-ion pack, approximately 970 mAh / 3.4 Wh. Exact S780 table approximately 270 shots / 135 minutes CIPA at 25 °C, face detection off, one shot every 30 seconds, alternate zoom ends, flash every other shot and power cycle every ten. Singapore maker table corroborates; UK 280-shot entry is S750 claim. Playback separately approximately 7200 images / 360 minutes at three-second intervals, not shooting runtime
Charging: Supplied BC-CSK external battery charger. Optional AC-LS5K adaptor powers camera but cannot charge battery; exact instruction guide
Dimensions: 90.8×56.0×26.5 mm width×height×depth, excluding protrusions, exact shared instruction guide
Weight detail: 128 g body only in exact UK and Singapore maker archives; approximately 150g including NP-BK1 battery, strap, etc. in instruction guide. Metal front per Singapore maker table; no inferred subtraction
In the box: NP-BK1 rechargeable battery, BC-CSK charger, regional power cord, dedicated USB and A/V cables, wrist strap, software/handbook CD and instruction manual. Memory card and AC adaptor separate

Pros and cons

Pros

Face detection for up to three faces
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery and charger supplied
22 MB internal memory

Cons

No viewfinder or optical image stabilisation
No RAW or manual exposure
Video limited to 320×240

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H10	Compact	Other	8.1	38–380 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	264 g	2008
SonyCyber-shot DSC-S730	Compact	Other	7.2	35–105 mm equivalent	320 × 240 at 30 fps	140 g	Jan 2008
SonyCyber-shot DSC-S750	Compact	Other	7.2	35–105 mm equivalent	320 × 240 at 30 fps	128 g	2008

Sources

Photo: Pixinfo

Silver DSC-S780 rear showing 2.5-inch screen and shooting controls: Pixinfo
Silver DSC-S780 front-left oblique view, zoom lens extended: Sony via Câmera versus Câmera
Silver DSC-S780 straight front view, zoom lens extended: Sony via Câmera versus Câmera
Silver DSC-S780 front-right oblique view from above: Sony via Câmera versus Câmera
Silver DSC-S780 side showing speaker and case profile: Sony via Câmera versus Câmera
Silver DSC-S780 top showing power and shutter-release buttons: Sony via Câmera versus Câmera

Spot a mistake? Tell us