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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 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-HX99SonyCyber-shot DSC-P31
Overview
ReleasedOctober 20182002
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 recordingYesNo
Standard ISO range80–3200100–400
Sensor detail1/2.3-type Exmor R CMOS; approximately 21.1 million total photosites. Optical format is not 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 formatsSony ARW 2.3 RAW, RAW+JPEG or JPEG Extra Fine/Fine/Standard; sRGB or Adobe RGB; 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 and square photographs plus Sweep PanoramaJPEG stills with Fine/Standard compression; GIF Clip Motion and MPEG-1 movies. No RAW or TIFF recording
ISO detailOrdinary ISO 80–3200; extended single-frame ISO 6400. Multi-shot Noise Reduction offers ISO 6400 and 12800 using combined exposuresAuto or manually selected ISO 100, 200 or 400; no continuous ISO dial
Image processorBIONZ X with front-end LSIClear 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 zoom28×1×
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisation–
Maximum continuous burst10 fps–
Lens detailZEISS Vario-Sonnar T*, actual 4.25–118 mm, 11 elements in 10 groups with five aspherical elements; five-blade iris. Maker specifies 28× optical zoom, while 24–720 mm equivalent values are those displayed by the camera and recorded in ExifFixed 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
Autofocus25-point contrast autofocus, AF-S, Direct Manual Focus and manual focus; AF-C available for movies only. Eye AF, Lock-on AF and flexible spot areas; minimum focus 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: Manual and shutter-priority 30–1/2000 second, aperture-priority 8–1/2000, Program 1–1/2000 and Intelligent Auto 1/4–1/2000–
Burst detailFull-resolution Speed Priority Continuous up to 10 fps, or ordinary Continuous approximately 3 fps. Up to 155 frames in Speed Priority with JPEG Fine; rate falls as buffer fills. Focus, exposure and white balance lock to first frame in either modeMulti 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 SteadyShot for stills; Intelligent Active movies combine optical and electronic correction–
FlashBuilt-in pop-up flash; ISO Auto range approximately 0.3–5.4 m wide or 2.5–3.0 m telephoto; no accessory 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 and two Memory Recall modes; ±3 EV in 1/3 EV steps; multi-pattern, centre-weighted, spot, entire-screen average and highlight meteringAutomatic 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 resolution3840 × 2160 at 30 fps320 × 240
Video detailXAVC S 3840 × 2160 at 30p or 24p, 60/100 Mbps; PAL uses 25p. Full-pixel readout without pixel binning. Full HD up to 120p (100p PAL); 4K and 120p/100p HD sessions limited to approximately five minutes, with possible earlier thermal shutdown. Other modes approximately 29 minutes subject to temperature. UHS-I U3 microSDHC/XC required for 100 MbpsSilent 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
AudioStereo recording: XAVC S Linear PCM or AVCHD Dolby DigitalMovies record without sound; operational beep/shutter speaker is separate from audio recording
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderElectronicOptical
Screen size3″1.6″
Screen dots921,60061,600
TouchscreenYesNo
Tilting screenYesNo
Display detail3.0-type 4:3 TFT LCD, 921600 dots; tilts up 180 degrees. Touch focus, touch shutter and touchpad focus while using viewfinder; menus are not touch controlledFixed 1.6-type TFT with 61600 colour-subpixel dots (280×220); launch rounds to 61000 dots
Viewfinder detailRetractable 0.2-type OLED, 638400 dots; 100% coverage (97% during 4K recording), 0.50× equivalent magnification, −4 to +3 dioptresOptical zoom finder; no electronic finder
Connections and design
Wi-FiYes–
BluetoothYes–
Battery life (maker's claim)370 photographs–
Body weight216 g173 g
Release detailSony Switzerland states availability from late October 2018; Sony Hong Kong specifies 26 October locally. October precision retained because the international first-sale day is not establishedSony 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 mediamicroSD, microSDHC, microSDXC and Memory Stick Micro/Mark2; no full-size SD slotMemory Stick; 8 MB supplied, 128 MB in maker recording table. Later PRO compatibility not established
PortsMicro HDMI and Multi/Micro USB with USB 2.0USB 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 Type 3 and Bluetooth for location information from a compatible smartphone; no built-in GPS or compass–
Battery life detailNP-BX1; CIPA claim approximately 370 photographs with LCD or 300 with viewfinder. LCD claim rises to 460 with monitor auto-off set to two secondsTwo 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 USB external power using supplied AC adapter with battery insertedSupplied 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 × 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 detailApproximately 216 g body only, or 242 g including NP-BX1 and memory cardApproximately 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-UB10C adapter, micro USB cable, wrist strap and instructions in Japan; 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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