Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P20 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P30

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-P20 compared with Cyber-shot DSC-P30

	SonyCyber-shot DSC-P20	SonyCyber-shot DSC-P30
Overview
Released
Released	2001	2001
Image and sensor
Camera type
Camera type	Compact	Compact
Sensor format
Sensor format	1/2.7-type	1/2.7-type
Sensor type
Sensor type	CCD	Super HAD CCD
Effective resolution
Effective resolution	1.11 MP	1.25 MP
Largest image
Largest image	1216 × 912	1280 × 960
RAW recording
RAW recording	No	No
Standard ISO range
Standard ISO range	100–400	100–400
Sensor detail
Sensor detail	1/2.7-type interlaced primary-colour CCD, 1.30 million total and 1.11 million effective photosites; optical format designation is not physical sensor width	1/2.7-type interlaced primary-colour Super HAD CCD; 1.30 million total and 1.25 million effective photosites in the exact P30 maker column. Optical format designation is not physical sensor width
Image formats
Image formats	JPEG, uncompressed TIFF, GIF for Text and Clip Motion; TIFF is not sensor RAW	JPEG, uncompressed TIFF, GIF for Text and Clip Motion; TIFF is not sensor RAW
Image processor
Image processor	12-bit DXP analogue-to-digital conversion	12-bit DXP analogue-to-digital conversion; SRC image processing
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens
Built-in lens	42 mm equivalent	41–123 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/4.5	f/3.8–3.9
Optical zoom
Optical zoom	1×	3×
Lens detail
Lens detail	Fixed 6.00 mm lens, 42 mm equivalent, F4.5; 3× precision digital zoom is not optical zoom. Normal focus range 0.6 m–infinity; mechanical macro setting approximately 15–19 cm in exact English manual, compared with 15–20 cm rounded in Japanese announcement	Sony 3× optical zoom, actual 6.4–19.2 mm, 41–123 mm equivalent, F3.8–3.9. Fixed external lens barrel with removable cap; normal autofocus from 0.50 m, macro from 0.03 m. 2× digital enlargement is separate from optical zoom
Autofocus
Autofocus	Fixed-focus/panfocus lens with a separate mechanical macro switch; no autofocus or motorised focusing (exact manual and ASCII hands-on review)	Autofocus with red AF illuminator; preset focus distances available, not continuous manual focusing
Shutter
Shutter	–	Maker Japanese launch table gives automatic 8–1/1000 second range; Imaging Resource tested review describes more limited selectable automatic/Twilight behaviour, so these are published hardware limits rather than guaranteed control in every mode
Flash
Flash	Built-in flash, approximately 0.7–2.0 m at ISO Auto; Auto, forced, off and red-eye reduction	Built-in flash, approximately 0.3–2.0 m at ISO Auto; Auto, forced, off and red-eye reduction
Exposure controls
Exposure controls	Automatic exposure with ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; Twilight mode. White balance Auto, Indoor, Outdoor or Hold; spot metering selectable	Automatic exposure with ±2 EV adjustment; Twilight mode, spot metering and white balance Auto, Indoor, Outdoor or Hold; no aperture/shutter priority or manual exposure
Video
Highest video resolution
Highest video resolution	320 × 240	320 × 240
Video detail
Video detail	Silent MPEG-1 at 320×240 Presentation or 160×112 Video Mail; 128 MB Memory Stick holds approximately 22 minutes 40 seconds or 90 minutes respectively. Frame rate unpublished in exact maker documents read; not inferred from copied database tables	Silent MPEG-1 at 320×240 Presentation or 160×112 Video Mail. Maker launch table gives approximately 22 minutes 20 seconds or 90 minutes on 128 MB Memory Stick. Frame rate left out because no maker recording rate established
Audio
Audio	No movie sound recording; operational warning sounds do not establish a movie microphone	Movies record without sound; beep/shutter speaker is for operational sounds
Screen and viewfinder
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical	Optical
Screen size
Screen size	1.5″	1.5″
Screen dots
Screen dots	123,200	123,200
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	No	No
Tilting screen
Tilting screen	No	No
Display detail
Display detail	Fixed 1.5-type TFT, 123200 colour-subpixel dots (560×220)	Fixed 1.5-type TFT, 123200 colour-subpixel dots(560×220) in exact shared manual; launch lists rounded 123000 dots and 100% LCD framing
Viewfinder detail
Viewfinder detail	Eye-level optical finder; use the LCD for macro framing to avoid viewfinder parallax	Eye-level optical finder zooms with optical lens; digital zoom requires LCD framing
Connections and design
Body weight
Body weight	187 g (better)	214 g
Release detail
Release detail	Sony Japan announced planned 1 August 2001 availability; the full exact-model ASCII hands-on test published 2 August 2001 confirms the 2001 generation. Earliest actual worldwide retail month remains unresolved, so year precision used	Sony Japan announced planned April 2001 availability. Contemporary ASCII exact P30 test and 2 May 2001 retail price survey confirm the 2001 generation; earliest worldwide first-sale month unresolved, so year precision retained. P1 design resemblance does not establish a direct successor
Recording media
Recording media	Memory Stick; 4 MB supplied, maker launch table includes 128 MB. PRO compatibility not established	Memory Stick; 4 MB supplied, 128 MB included in maker launch table. PRO compatibility not established
Ports
Ports	USB mini-B and DC IN; no video output	USB mini-B, switchable NTSC/PAL VIDEO OUT minijack without audio, and DC IN
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Two AA alkaline batteries supplied; AA NiMH/NiCd or optional NP-FS11 InfoLITHIUM S also supported. Manual continuous still test at 25°C, VGA Standard, no flash, approximately 3-second intervals: alkaline 30 minutes/600 shots LCD on or 60/1200 off; NP-FS11 90/1800 on or 120/2400 off. Not CIPA or average-use battery life. Japanese announcement rounds optional-pack claim to 2200 shots	Two AA alkaline supplied; optional NP-FS11 InfoLITHIUM S. Exact shared manual continuous VGA Standard/no-flash test at 25°C, approximately 3-second intervals: alkaline 30 minutes/600 shots LCD on or60/1200 off; NP-FS11 90/1800 on or120/2400 off. Not CIPA/average-use life. Launch kit claim 2200 shots uses LCD/flash off; conditions and manual figures differ
Charging
Charging	Optional NP-FS11 charges in-camera with optional AC-LS1 adapter in approximately 180 minutes from fully discharged at 25°C; do not charge AA batteries in camera	Optional NP-FS11 charges in camera using optional AC-LS1 A in approximately 180 minutes from fully discharged at 25°C; AA cells are not charged in camera
Dimensions
Dimensions	123×62×46 mm maximum width×height×depth	126×61.2×53.7 mm maximum width×height×depth
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 187 g body (Sony Japan announcement); 229 g with NP-FS11 and Memory Stick, or approximately 230 g with two AA batteries, Memory Stick and strap in exact English manual	Approximately 214 g body in exact P30/P50 maker launch table; 258 g with NP-FS11 and Memory Stick. Shared English manual gives approximately 260 g including two AA batteries, card, wrist strap and lens cap
Materials
Materials	Plastic body with translucent blue front trim (ASCII exact hands-on review)	–
In the box
In the box	Two AA alkaline batteries, USB cable, wrist strap, 4 MB Memory Stick, software CD and operating instructions; Japanese software package differs regionally	Two AA alkaline batteries, 4 MB Memory Stick, USB and video cables, lens cap and cap strap, wrist strap, software CD and operating instructions; optional rechargeable battery and AC adapter sold separately