Cyber-shot DSC-S930

Released 2009

A 10.1-megapixel AA-powered compact with a 36–108 mm-equivalent lens, 2.4-inch screen and electronic shake reduction.

Type: Compact
Sensor: 1/2.3-type
Megapixels: 10.1
Lens: 36–108 mm equivalent
Video: 320 × 240 at 30 fps
Body weight: 118 g

What reviewers say

Monitor liked the low price and straightforward controls, but found the small screen, limited lens range and video resolution restrictive. It criticised slow, noisy focusing, weak flash reach and noisy high-ISO images. Profeco independently tested colour, detail, speed and battery endurance; its full-resolution shooting cycle took about 1.8 seconds with flash and 1.6 seconds without. These are separate test conditions from the maker’s burst and CIPA figures.

From monitor.si and bibliotecadelconsumidor.profeco.gob.mx

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Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Compact
Sensor format: 1/2.3-type
Sensor type: Super HAD CCD
Effective resolution: 10.1 MP
Largest image: 3648 × 2736
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 100–3200
Sensor detail: Optical 1/2.3-type Super HAD CCD, approximately 10.1 million effective / 10.3 million total pixels. Optical format is not a physical dimension
Image formats: JPEG/Exif 2.21; maximum 3648×2736, with 3:2 3648×2432 and 16:9 3648×2056/1920×1080 settings. No RAW recording. Mixed UK archive 12 MP template excluded

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 36–108 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/2.9–5.4
Optical zoom: 3×
Stabilisation: Electronic only
Lens detail: Sony 3× zoom, physical 6.4–19.2 mm F2.9–5.4; 35 mm equivalent 36–108 mm. Closest focus approximately 5 cm wide / 50 cm telephoto
Autofocus: Single autofocus; nine-area multi AF, centre AF or five distance presets: 0.5 m, 1 m, 3 m, 7 m and infinity. Presets are not continuously adjustable manual focus. Face detection up to eight faces, or four in Soft Snap. No AF illuminator
Shutter: Auto 1/8–1/2000 second; Program auto 1–1/2000 second in exact Asia-Pacific maker table
Burst detail: Up to 100 images while shutter held, approximately 1-second recording interval. Focus, exposure and white balance fixed to first frame; flash off, ISO limited to Auto or 100–400. Self-timer burst up to five frames; no unrestricted sustained rate inferred
Stabilisation detail: Electronic SteadyShot only; no optical lens or sensor-shift stabilisation. Handbook notes processing time and excludes flash use
Flash: Auto ISO range approximately 0.5–3 m wide / 0.5–1.5 m telephoto. Auto, forced flash, slow sync and off; red-eye reduction
Exposure controls: Auto, Program auto and seven scene modes: High Sensitivity, Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Soft Snap, Landscape, Beach and Snow. No manual or aperture/shutter-priority exposure. ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; multi-pattern, centre-weighted and spot metering. ISO Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200

Video

Highest video resolution: 320 × 240 at 30 fps
Video detail: AVI Motion JPEG, 320×240 at 30 fps with mono sound. Exact instruction manual fixes movie size to 320×240; conflicting UK archive 640×480 template excluded. Optical zoom cannot change during movie recording

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: None
Screen size: 2.4″
Screen dots: 112,320
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed 2.4-inch TFT with 112,320 dots in instruction manual, versus rounded 112K/112,300 in archive tables; dots are not image pixels. No touchscreen or tilting
Viewfinder detail: No separate viewfinder; composition uses rear LCD

Connections and design

Bluetooth: No
Battery life (maker's claim): 120 photographs
Body weight: 118 g
Release detail: Year 2009 supported by Monitor’s December 2009 hands-on test describing the camera as currently available and Profeco’s June–July 2009 sample acquisition. Maker European announcement planned mid-April; German Sony press text planned March. Those regional plans are not asserted as actual first-sale months. No predecessor inferred from adjacent model numbers
Recording media: Approximately 12 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo. No card supplied
Ports: Hi-Speed USB 2.0; PictBridge compatible. Exact manual lists USB jack only, without A/V output. Monaural microphone and buzzer; recorded audio is played on a computer rather than through a camera speaker
Battery life detail: Two AA batteries: supplied LR6 alkaline, or optional HR15/51:HR6 NiMH or ZR6 oxy-nickel primary. Approximately 120 shots / 60 minutes CIPA with alkaline batteries at 25°C. Separate playback claim 5600 images / 280 minutes is not shooting endurance
Charging: No in-camera AA charging listed; rechargeable NiMH batteries and external charger sold separately
Dimensions: 89.5×61×26.1 mm width×height×depth excluding protrusions
Weight detail: 118 g body only in maker UK and Asia-Pacific tables; approximately 167 g including two batteries and strap, etc. in exact instruction manual
In the box: Two AA alkaline batteries, USB cable, wrist strap, PMB/handbook CD and instruction manual. Memory Stick Duo, NiMH batteries and charger separate

Pros and cons

Pros

Uses two AA batteries
Face detection
3× optical zoom

Cons

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

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-S950	Compact	1/2.3-type	10.1	33–132 mm equivalent	320 × 240 at 30 fps	135 g	2009
SonyCyber-shot DSC-S980	Compact	1/2.3-type	12.1	33–132 mm equivalent	320 × 240 at 30 fps	135 g	2009
SonyCyber-shot DSC-W290	Compact	1/2.3-type	12.1	28–140 mm equivalent	1280 × 720 at 30 fps	145 g	2009

Sources

Photo: Pixinfo

Silver DSC-S930 from the front-right, lens extended: Sony / Photoscala
Silver DSC-S930 from the front, lens extended: PXLMAG
Silver DSC-S930 rear screen and controls: PXLMAG
Pink DSC-S930 from the front, lens extended: Monitor
DSC-S930 pink, black and silver finishes: Sony / Photo Review

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