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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-V1 · Sony Japan launch photograph, native 350 × 233 pixels; complete supplied canvas and white background retained
Sony · Cyber-shot
Cyber-shot DSC-V1
A five-megapixel compact camera with manual exposure controls, an external-flash shoe and infrared night shooting.
- Type
- Compact
- Sensor
- 1/1.8-type
- Megapixels
- 5.1
- Lens
- 34–136 mm equivalent
- Video
- 640 × 480 at 17 fps
- Body weight
- 270 g
What reviewers say
Both reviewers praised sharp images, extensive manual controls and dependable low-light autofocus, while noting limited bursts, slow TIFF saving and average battery endurance. DPReview found operation responsive and image quality strong; DPNow was less satisfied with startup speed, cool colours and the easily obstructed pop-up flash. The fixed small screen and absence of RAW limit flexibility.
From dpreview.com and dpnow.com
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specImage and sensor
- Camera type
- Compact
- Sensor format
- 1/1.8-type
- Sensor type
- Super HAD CCD
- Effective resolution
- 5.1 MP
- Largest image
- 2592 × 1944
- RAW recording
- No
- Standard ISO range
- 100–800
- Sensor detail
- 1/1.8-type interlaced Super HAD CCD, approximately 5.3 million total photosites and primary-colour filter; optical format is not physical sensor dimensions
- Image formats
- JPEG Fine/Standard, uncompressed TIFF plus JPEG, and animated GIF Clip Motion; 4:3 or 3:2 photographs. No RAW
- Image processor
- Real Imaging Technology with 14-bit DXP A/D conversion, SRC interpolation and colour/luminance/slow-shutter noise reduction
Lens and shooting
- Built-in lens
- 34–136 mm equivalent
- Maximum aperture
- f/2.8–4
- Optical zoom
- 4×
- Lens detail
- Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar, actual 7–28 mm; eight elements in seven groups with two aspherical elements and six-blade iris; optional conversion lenses
- Autofocus
- Single, Monitoring and Continuous AF; three-point automatic, five-point selectable or spot areas. Hologram laser-pattern AF assist; preset manual focus. Macro approximately 10 cm wide or 40 cm telephoto
- Shutter
- Auto 1/8–1/2000 second, Program 1–1/2000, shutter-priority and Manual 30–1/1000; slow-shutter noise reduction
- Burst detail
- Burst 3 records only three full-resolution photographs, approximately 0.5-second intervals without flash. Multi Burst records sixteen 320 × 240 frames combined into one 1.2M image, with 1/30, 1/15 or 1/7.5-second intervals; this is not full-resolution continuous shooting
- Flash
- Built-in pop-up flash and Advanced Accessory Shoe/ACC connection for compatible Sony external flash; Auto, forced, slow-sync and red-eye reduction. Manual recommends ISO Auto range 0.4–2.8 m wide or 0.4–2.0 m telephoto
- Exposure controls
- P/A/S/M, Auto and six scene modes; multi-pattern, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; live histogram and AE lock
Video
- Highest video resolution
- 640 × 480 at 17 fps
- Video detail
- MPEG Movie VX, 640 × 480 at approximately 17 effective fps, or video-mail 160 × 112 at approximately 8 fps; recording to available card capacity. Optical zoom unavailable during recording
- Audio
- MPEG1 mono movie sound and voice annotations; built-in microphone and speaker
Screen and viewfinder
- Viewfinder
- Optical
- Screen size
- 1.5″
- Screen dots
- 123,200
- Touchscreen
- No
- Tilting screen
- No
- Display detail
- Fixed TFT LCD; operating manual specifies 123200 dots, launch rounds to 123000. Live histogram and adjustable brightness
- Viewfinder detail
- Optical zoom viewfinder without dioptre adjustment; DPReview measured approximately 84% coverage
Connections and design
- Battery life (maker's claim)
- 150 photographs
- Body weight
- 270 g
- Release detail
- Sony Japan’s 30 April 2003 announcement specifies retail sale on 23 May 2003; May precision retained without assuming the Japanese day was the international first-sale day
- Recording media
- Memory Stick and Memory Stick PRO; Memory Stick Duo requires adapter. Supplied 32 MB card is removable storage
- Ports
- Mini-B USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, mono A/V minijack with NTSC/PAL output, DC input and 2.5 mm ACC accessory jack
- Battery life detail
- NP-FC11 InfoLITHIUM; maker claim approximately 150 photographs/75 minutes with LCD or 200/100 minutes with LCD off, at 25°C, one shot every 30 seconds, alternating zoom ends, flash every second shot and power cycle every ten shots.
- Charging
- Battery charges inside camera through supplied AC-LS5 adapter/DC input; approximately 150 minutes at 25°C
- Dimensions
- 99.5 × 65.2 × 56.8 mm (width × height × depth)
- Weight detail
- Approximately 270 g body only; operating manual gives 300 g including NP-FC11, Memory Stick and hand strap
- Materials
- Aluminium-alloy body in Sony launch announcement
- Colours
- Silver
- In the box
- NP-FC11, AC adapter/mains lead, 32 MB Memory Stick, USB and A/V cables, hand strap, software CD-ROM and instructions
Pros and cons
Pros
- P/A/S/M exposure controls and external flash support
- Hologram AF assist and infrared NightShot
- Four-times Carl Zeiss optical zoom
Cons
- No RAW recording
- Full-resolution sequences stop after three images
- Small fixed screen and no viewfinder dioptre adjustment
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Sensor | Megapixels | Lens | Video | Body weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact | 1/1.8-type | 5 | 38–114 mm equivalent | 640 × 480 at 16.6 fps | 172 g | 2003 | |
| Compact | 1/1.8-type | 5.09 | 39–117 mm equivalent | 640 × 480 at 16 fps | 198.5 g | 2003 | |
| Compact | 1/1.8-type | 5.1 | 38–114 mm equivalent | 640 × 480 at 30 fps | 147 g | 2004 |
Sources
- sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200304/03-0430
- sony.jp/cyber-shot/emdown/data/V1_opening.pdf
- sony.jp/cyber-shot/products/archive/DSC-V1/feature_1.html
- dpreview.com/reviews/3983003793/sonydscv1
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-V1 with lens extended: Sony Japan DSC-V1 feature photograph, native 740 × 555 pixels; complete supplied canvas and white background retained
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-V1 rear view: Sony Japan DSC-V1 launch photograph, native 250 × 180 pixels; complete supplied canvas and white background retained
