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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P31

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX90VSonyCyber-shot DSC-P31
Overview
ReleasedJune 20152002
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactCompact
Sensor format1/2.3-type1/2.7-type
Sensor typeBack-illuminated Exmor R CMOSSuper HAD CCD
Effective resolution18.2 MP2 MP
Largest image4896 × 36721600 × 1200
RAW recordingNoNo
Standard ISO range80–3200100–400
Sensor detail1/2.3-type Exmor R CMOS; approximately 21.1 million total photosites. Optical format is distinct from physical sensor dimensions1/2.7-type primary-colour interlaced Super HAD CCD; approximately 2.10 million total and rounded 2.00 million effective photosites in exact P31 maker launch column. Shared English manual repeats the P51 label for its second 1.98-million effective entry, so that more precise assignment is not assumed for P31
Image formatsJPEG Fine or Standard; no RAW. 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 and square stills plus stitched Sweep PanoramaJPEG stills with Fine/Standard compression; GIF Clip Motion and MPEG-1 movies. No RAW or TIFF recording
ISO detailOrdinary single-frame ISO 80–3200. Multi-shot Noise Reduction extends to ISO 6400 and 12800 using interpolation and composite exposuresAuto or manually selected ISO 100, 200 or 400; no continuous ISO dial
Image processorBIONZ XClear Colour NR, Clear Luminance NR and NR Slow Shutter processing; chip identifier not published
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens24–720 mm equivalent33 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/3.5–6.4f/2.8
Optical zoom30×1×
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisation–
Maximum continuous burst10 fps–
Lens detailZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* lens; 11 elements in 10 groups including 5 aspherical elements, five-blade iris; actual 4.1–123 mm. Equivalent still range 24–720 mm at 4:3, 25–750 mm at 3:2, 26.5–795 mm at 16:9 and 27.5–825 mm at 1:1. Customisable lens control ring; digital Clear Image Zoom distinct from optical zoomFixed focal length 5 mm, 33 mm equivalent, F2.8; automatic lens cover. Full-range autofocus from 0.1 m without a separate Macro mode. 3× digital enlargement is separate and does not provide optical zoom
AutofocusAF-S, direct manual focus and manual focus; AF-C in Advanced Sports and movie modes. Nine-point wide, centre, flexible spot S/M/L and expanded flexible spot; Lock-on AF, manual-focus peaking and magnification. Minimum focus from lens front approximately 5 cm wide or 250 cm telephotoAutomatic Multi AF or centre AF with AF-assist illuminator; preset distances 0.5, 1, 3, 7 m and infinity, not continuous manual focusing
ShutterMechanical shutter: Auto 4–1/2000 second, Program 1–1/2000, Manual and shutter-priority 30–1/2000, aperture-priority 8–1/2000. Above ISO 3200 the slowest shutter is 1/4 second–
Burst detailApproximately 10 full-resolution photographs per second, up to ten frames. Flash lowers the rate and some modes prohibit bursts. Focus and exposure locked from first frame in Cameralabs testingMulti Burst records sixteen 320×240 subframes at intervals 1/30, 1/15 or 1/7.5 second into one composite still, not sixteen full-resolution separate frames. Maker lists approximately 1.9 seconds between maximum-size single shots; this is not continuous-burst fps
Stabilisation detailOptical still-image stabilisation; Intelligent Active movie mode combines optical and electronic correction including rotation–
FlashBuilt-in pop-up flash; auto, fill, slow, rear-sync and off modes. ISO Auto range approximately 0.3–5.4 m wide or 2.5–3.0 m telephoto; no external-flash shoeBuilt-in flash with Auto, forced, off and red-eye reduction; ISO Auto recommended distance 0.4–3.8 m
Exposure controlsP/A/S/M for stills and movies; three Memory Recall positions. Multi-pattern, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±3 EV in 1/3 EV stepsAutomatic exposure with ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps, multi-pattern/spot metering and Twilight, Twilight Portrait or Landscape scenes; no aperture/shutter priority or manual exposure
Video
Highest video resolution1920 × 1080 at 60 fps320 × 240
Video detailXAVC S 1920 × 1080 at 60p, 30p or 24p/50 Mbps; AVCHD 60p/28 Mbps, 60i or 24p/24 or 17 Mbps. International PAL/NTSC selection switches to 50p/50i/25p; main rate represents NTSC. MP4 includes Full HD 60/30 fps and 720 p30 fps. XAVC S requires Class 10 SDXC. Optical zoom during filming; AVCHD/XAVC clips approximately 29 minutes, MP4 28 Mbps approximately 20 minutes due 4 GB limit. HDMI4 K output is for stills, not 4 K video recordingSilent MPEG-1 HQX 320×240, Presentation 320×240 or Video Mail 160×112; maker launch claims approximately 5 minutes 40 seconds HQX or 90 minutes mail with optional 128 MB Memory Stick. Frame rate omitted because exact maker recording rate not established
AudioXAVC S LPCM stereo, AVCHD Dolby Digital stereo or MP4 AAC-LC stereo; microphone reference-level controlMovies record without sound; operational beep/shutter speaker is separate from audio recording
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderElectronicOptical
Screen size3″1.6″
Screen dots921,60061,600
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screen–No
Display detail4:3 Xtra Fine TFT LCD tilts upward approximately 180°; five-step brightness control, no touchscreenFixed 1.6-type TFT with 61600 colour-subpixel dots (280×220); launch rounds to 61000 dots
Viewfinder detailRetractable 0.2-type OLED Tru-Finder, 638400 dots, 100% coverage and0.50 × 35 mm-equivalent magnification; eye sensor and −4 to +3 dioptre adjustment. Pop up housing and extend eyepiece to useOptical zoom finder; no electronic finder
Connections and design
Wi-FiYes–
Battery life (maker's claim)390 photographs–
Body weight218 g173 g
Release detailSony Japan’s 19 May 2015 announcement specifies sale on 5 June 2015; Sony Hong Kong specifies mid-June after 8 May–7 June pre-orders. June precision retained without treating the Japanese day as a confirmed international first-sale daySony Japan announced on 12 March 2002 with planned Japanese availability 20 March 2002. Contemporary PC Watch 7 August 2002 retail price survey lists P31 sold at two Tokyo stores; earliest actual worldwide first-sale month unresolved, so year precision retained. No direct successor claim established
Recording mediaMemory Stick Duo/PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo and SD/SDHC/SDXC(UHS-I). Memory Stick Micro and microSD/HC/XC require adaptersMemory Stick; 8 MB supplied, 128 MB in maker recording table. Later PRO compatibility not established
PortsMulti/Micro USB with Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and micro HDMI; HDMI audio during playback onlyUSB mini-B with normal mass-storage or PTP setting, separate NTSC/PAL VIDEO OUT minijack without audio and DC IN for optional AC-LS1
Wireless connections2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, NFC Forum Type 3 and built-in GPS location logging; maker specifies GPS only, without compass. Non-V HX90 is a distinct non-GPS model–
Battery life detailNP-BX1; maker CIPA claim 390 shots/195 minutes with LCD or360 shots/180 minutes with viewfinder. Actual movie use70 minutes LCD/75 minutes viewfinder; continuous movie105/115 minutes with clip limitsTwo supplied NH-AA-DI Ni-MH AA cells. Exact manual average-use test at 25°C: approximately 280 images/140 minutes at 1600×1200 Fine, LCD on, one shot every 30 seconds, flash every second shot, restart every 10 shots; not labelled CIPA. Separate continuous Standard/no-flash/3-second-interval test: approximately 2400 images/120 minutes LCD on or 3000/150 off. Maker permits alkaline AA only as emergency power for P31, with reduced operation
ChargingIn-camera USB charging and external power with supplied AC adapter and batterySupplied external BC-CS1 charger: approximately 13 hours for fully depleted supplied Ni-MH cells at 25°C. Cells removed from camera for charging; optional faster kit available. Optional AC-LS1 supplies camera power
Dimensions102.0 × 58.1 × 35.5 mm(width × height × depth), CIPA106×58×39.5 mm width×height×depth; manual excludes protruding portions, Japanese launch labels maximum dimensions
Weight detailApproximately218 g camera only, or245 g including NP-BX1 and Memory Stick DuoApproximately 173 g body only in exact Sony UK specification and Japan launch table; approximately 231 g with two batteries, Memory Stick and wrist strap in manual and launch table
ColoursBlack–
In the boxNP-BX1, AC-UB10 C/UB10 D adapter, micro USB cable, wrist strap and instructions; regional mains fittings varyTwo rechargeable AA Ni-MH batteries, BC-CS1 charger and mains lead, 8 MB Memory Stick, USB and video cables, wrist strap, software CD and operating instructions; AC-LS1 optional

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