Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P1 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P3

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

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

Cyber-shot DSC-P1 compared with Cyber-shot DSC-P3

	SonyCyber-shot DSC-P1	SonyCyber-shot DSC-P3
Overview
Released
Released	October 2000	2001
Image and sensor
Camera type
Camera type	Compact	Compact
Sensor format
Sensor format	1/1.8-type	1/1.8-type
Sensor type
Sensor type	Super HAD CCD	Super HAD CCD
Effective resolution
Effective resolution	3.24 MP	2.8 MP
Largest image
Largest image	2048 × 1536	1920 × 1440
RAW recording
RAW recording	–	No
Standard ISO range
Standard ISO range	–	100–400
Sensor detail
Sensor detail	Sony's original Japanese sheet specifies 3.34 million total and 3.24 million effective photosites on a 1/1.8-type primary-colour interlaced CCD. The 2048 × 1536 output contains approximately 3.15 million image pixels; this differs from the photosite count. DPReview lists 3.14 MP effective	1/1.8-type Super HAD CCD; maker announcement gives approximately 2.82 million effective and 3.34 million total photosites. Exact manual and US datasheet specify 2.822 million effective; cropped effective image area differs from zoom-lens P5. The 8.93 mm optical designation is not physical sensor width
Image formats
Image formats	JPEG and uncompressed TIFF; GIF for text and Clip Motion animations; 2048 × 1360 3:2 mode and smaller output sizes	JPEG, uncompressed TIFF, GIF for Text and Clip Motion; no RAW. TIFF is not sensor RAW
Image processor
Image processor	–	14-bit DXP analogue-to-digital conversion
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens
Built-in lens	39–117 mm equivalent	36 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/2.8–5.3	f/2.8
Optical zoom
Optical zoom	3×	1×
Lens detail
Lens detail	Actual 8–24 mm lens, with six elements in six groups including two aspherical elements; automatic sliding cover and retracting barrel; digital enlargement separate from optical zoom	Fixed focal length Sony lens, actual 6.9 mm, 36 mm equivalent, F2.8; no optical zoom. 3× precision digital zoom crops/enlarges pixels. Normal autofocus from 25 cm; macro from 10 cm
Autofocus
Autofocus	Normal AF from 0.5 m; macro AF from 0.1 m	Autofocus with AF illuminator; five-step focus presets rather than continuously adjustable manual focus
Burst detail
Burst detail	–	Two-frame full-resolution burst at up to 2 fps per maker US announcement and datasheet; brief two-shot sequence, not sustained continuous shooting
Shutter
Shutter	Maker specifies automatic shutter from 2 seconds to 1/2000 second	–
Flash
Flash	Built-in flash with automatic, red-eye automatic, forced and off modes; recommended range 0.5–2.3 m wide or 0.5–1.2 m telephoto	Built-in flash; approximately 0.3–3.0 m at ISO Auto. Auto, forced, off and red-eye reduction; no accessory terminal in exact US datasheet
Exposure controls
Exposure controls	Automatic exposure with ±2 EV compensation; panfocus, night, night-plus, landscape and spot-metering programs	Automatic exposure and Twilight scene mode; ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps. White balance Auto, Hold, Indoor or Outdoor; no manual exposure or aperture/shutter priority
Video
Highest video resolution
Highest video resolution	320 × 240	320 × 240
Video detail
Video detail	MPEG-1 with sound; 320 × 240 HQ or presentation modes limited to 15-second clips, or 160 × 112 video-mail clips up to one minute. Frame rate is not specified in the original maker sheet	MPEG-1 with sound: 320×240 HQ and Presentation modes, or 160×112 Video Mail. Maximum frame rate omitted because US datasheet describes 16 fps HQ playback rather than an independently resolved recording rate. 128 MB card holds approximately 5 minutes 40 seconds HQ, 22 minutes 40 seconds Presentation or 90 minutes mail; bundled card is 8 MB
Audio
Audio	–	Built-in electret condenser microphone and dynamic speaker; monaural MPEG-1 audio with movies or still-image annotations
Screen and viewfinder
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical	Optical
Screen size
Screen size	1.5″	1.5″
Screen dots
Screen dots	123,000	123,200
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	–	No
Tilting screen
Tilting screen	–	No
Display detail
Display detail	1.5-inch TFT LCD; maker specifies 123,000 dots rather than the 123,200 listed by DPReview	Fixed 1.5-type TFT, 123200 colour-subpixel dots (560×220)
Viewfinder detail
Viewfinder detail	–	Eye-level optical viewfinder plus separate top status display
Connections and design
Body weight
Body weight	208 g	165 g (better)
Release detail
Release detail	Sony's original Japanese announcement specifies first sale on 20 October 2000. September 2000 in retrospective coverage is the announcement period	Sony announced planned Japanese availability on 4 October 2001 and US October availability. Contemporary exact-model review listing dated December 2001 establishes the retail generation; earliest actual worldwide first-sale month remains unresolved, so year precision retained. Sony explicitly calls both P3 and P5 successors to P1
Recording media
Recording media	Original Memory Stick; supplied 8 MB card holds approximately five largest JPEG photographs according to Sony	Memory Stick; 8 MB card supplied. US datasheet range extends to 128 MB; later PRO compatibility not established
Ports
Ports	Mini-B USB; NTSC/PAL composite AV output with mono audio; DC power input	USB mini-B, monaural A/V minijack and DC IN; USB transfer speed not inferred from generic cable listings
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	NP-FS11 InfoLithium battery; Sony claims up to 90 minutes or 1,700 consecutive photographs, rather than modern CIPA testing. These figures are not comparable with CIPA shot counts	NP-FC10 InfoLITHIUM C, 3.6 V, 675 mAh / 2.4 Wh. Exact manual continuous still test: 1200 shots / 60 minutes LCD on or 1800 / 90 minutes LCD off, 25°C, 640×480 Standard quality, power save off and approximately four-second intervals. Not average-use or CIPA headline. Continuous 160×112 movies approximately 60 minutes LCD on or 90 minutes LCD off
Charging
Charging	Supplied AC power adapter provides in-camera charging and mains operation	In-camera charging using AC-LS1A adapter; approximately 150 minutes full charge or 90 minutes normal charge at 25°C, fully discharged battery. Adapter also supplies external power
Dimensions
Dimensions	Approximately 113 × 53.9 × 43.8 mm (width × height × depth)	112.5×53.8×38.1 mm width×height×depth excluding protrusions
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 208 g camera only; 250 g including NP-FS11 battery, 8 MB Memory Stick and wrist strap	Approximately 165 g body (exact maker announcement); 194 g including NP-FC10, Memory Stick and wrist strap (exact manual)
Colours
Colours	–	Silver and blue confirmed by exact Japanese maker launch
In the box
In the box	Japanese package includes 8 MB Memory Stick, NP-FS11, USB and AV cables, AC adapter and power cord, wrist strap, software and documentation	NP-FC10 battery, AC-LS1A adapter and mains lead, USB and A/V cables, 8 MB Memory Stick, wrist strap, software CD and operating instructions; software bundle varies regionally