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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P20 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S50

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyCyber-shot DSC-P20SonyCyber-shot DSC-S50
Overview
Released20012000
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactCompact
Sensor format1/2.7-type1/2.7-type
Sensor typeCCDSuper HAD CCD
Effective resolution1.11 MP2.02 MP
Largest image1216 × 9121600 × 1200
RAW recordingNoNo
Standard ISO range100–400–
Sensor detail1/2.7-type interlaced primary-colour CCD, 1.30 million total and 1.11 million effective photosites; optical format designation is not physical sensor widthOptical 1/2.7-type Super HAD colour CCD with approximately 2.11 million total / 2.02 million effective photosites in exact Sony Japanese announcement. Maximum output 1600×1200 contains 1.92 million image pixels; contemporary review output-pixel figures are not transferred as maker sensor count. Optical format is not physical dimensions
Image formatsJPEG, uncompressed TIFF, GIF for Text and Clip Motion; TIFF is not sensor RAWJPEG, uncompressed TIFF plus simultaneous JPEG, or black-and-white GIF Text mode. Maximum 1600×1200, also 1600×1072 (3:2), 1024×768 and 640×480. Email mode adds a 320×240 JPEG. No RAW. Supplied 4 MB Memory Stick is too small for TIFF; exact guide lists approximately two full-resolution TIFF/JPEG pairs on 16 MB
Image processor12-bit DXP analogue-to-digital conversion–
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens42 mm equivalent39–117 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/4.5f/2.8–2.9
Optical zoom1×3×
Stabilisation–None
Lens detailFixed 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 announcementSony 3× zoom, physical 6.1–18.3 mm F2.8–2.9; 35 mm equivalent 39–117 mm. Normal autofocus approximately 25 cm wide / 60 cm telephoto; macro approximately 3 cm wide / 60 cm telephoto. Digital processing beyond 3× extends total zoom to 6×, not an additional 6× optical range
AutofocusFixed-focus/panfocus lens with a separate mechanical macro switch; no autofocus or motorised focusing (exact manual and ASCII hands-on review)Autofocus and macro autofocus, plus approximate preset manual distances 0.5 m, 1 m, 3 m, 7 m and infinity. Half-press locks autofocus and automatic exposure
Shutter–Sony exact announcement: Auto 1/30–1/725 second; shutter priority 8–1/725 second. Exact operating instruction confirms still shutter-priority range
Stabilisation detail–No optical lens or sensor-shift stabilisation. Orientation sensor controls vertical-image playback, not camera-shake correction
FlashBuilt-in flash, approximately 0.7–2.0 m at ISO Auto; Auto, forced, off and red-eye reductionBuilt-in flash, recommended range 0.3–2.5 m, Auto/red-eye Auto/forced on/off with High/Normal/Low flash level. No external flash terminal; S70 external-flash feature does not apply
Exposure controlsAutomatic exposure with ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; Twilight mode. White balance Auto, Indoor, Outdoor or Hold; spot metering selectableAutomatic exposure plus seven Program AE settings: aperture priority, shutter priority, twilight, twilight plus, landscape, panfocus and spot metering. Aperture-priority selection across nine steps F2.8–F11, with telephoto restrictions; shutter-priority 18 still-image steps 8–1/725 second, or 12 movie steps 1/8–1/725. ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps. White balance Auto, Indoor, Outdoor or Hold; five sharpness levels; solarise, monochrome, sepia and negative-art effects. ISO control not published in exact instruction
Video
Highest video resolution320 × 240320 × 240
Video detailSilent 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 tablesMPEG-1 movies with monaural audio at 320×240, maximum 15 seconds per clip; 160×112 video-mail mode up to 60 seconds. Exact frame rate not stated in read maker sources and left unpublished. Separate Voice mode attaches 5–40 seconds of audio to a still photograph. S30 has no movie/audio recording; S70 higher-quality MPEG mode is separate
AudioNo movie sound recording; operational warning sounds do not establish a movie microphone–
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalNone
Screen size1.5″2″
Screen dots123,200123,200
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screenNoYes
Display detailFixed 1.5-type TFT, 123200 colour-subpixel dots (560×220)Free-angle 2-inch TFT, 123,200 component dots (560×220); dots are not image pixels. Screen rotates for face-to-face/self-portrait and high/low-angle shooting, with normal/bright backlight. No touchscreen or separate optical/electronic eyepiece
Viewfinder detailEye-level optical finder; use the LCD for macro framing to avoid viewfinder parallax–
Connections and design
Body weight187 g–
Release detailSony 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 usedConservative actual-sale year 2000 supported by contemporary Digicamera June 2000 news describing current DSC-S50 retail prices in Shinjuku. Sony announcement of 2 February 2000 planned Japanese sale on 15 April; that plan alone does not establish actual first-sale day/month. No exact official predecessor relationship inferred
Recording mediaMemory Stick; 4 MB supplied, maker launch table includes 128 MB. PRO compatibility not establishedFull-size Memory Stick, supplied 4 MB. No SD slot. JPEG, TIFF and movie capacities depend on image size; approximately four 1600×1200 JPEGs on supplied card. No internal image storage published
PortsUSB mini-B and DC IN; no video outputUSB digital I/O, monaural A/V OUT minijack with NTSC/PAL selection, and DC IN for AC-L10 adapter. Built-in microphone and speaker. No HDMI or external-flash terminal
Battery life detailTwo 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 shotsNP-FM50 InfoLITHIUM rechargeable lithium-ion pack: nominal 7.2 V, 1180 mAh / 8.5 Wh. Exact pre-CIPA instruction claims approximately 2500 VGA photographs / 150 minutes at 25°C, normal LCD, fully charged battery, about five-second intervals and replacement Memory Sticks; normally charged pack 2300 / 140 minutes. This rapid single-frame test is not CIPA or a continuous burst. Separate playback and low-resolution movie runtime are not still-shooting endurance; no unqualified shot headline
ChargingOptional 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 cameraIn-camera charging with supplied AC-L10 adapter through DC IN, camera switched off. Approximately 90 minutes normal charge or 150 minutes full charge for completely discharged NP-FM50. No USB charging claimed
Dimensions123×62×46 mm maximum width×height×depthExact operating instruction maximum dimensions 113×68×69 mm width×height×depth. Early Japanese announcement gives 113.1×67.8×68.8 mm excluding maximum projections
Weight detailApproximately 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 manualExact operating instruction approximately 370 g including NP-FM50, Memory Stick, wrist strap and lens cap. Early Japanese release prints 315.6 g body / 423 g loaded in shared S50/S30 table, conflicting with later instruction loaded weight; optional body-only headline omitted rather than infer a subtraction
MaterialsPlastic body with translucent blue front trim (ASCII exact hands-on review)–
In the boxTwo AA alkaline batteries, USB cable, wrist strap, 4 MB Memory Stick, software CD and operating instructions; Japanese software package differs regionallyNP-FM50 battery, AC-L10 AC adapter and power cord, USB cable, A/V cable, lens cap and cap strap, wrist strap, 4 MB Memory Stick, CD-ROM/software and operating instructions; exact shared manual distinguishes S30 video-only cable

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