Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P3 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S85
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| SonyCyber-shot DSC-P3 | SonyCyber-shot DSC-S85 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | 2001 | 2001 |
| Image and sensor | ||
| Camera type | Compact | Compact |
| Sensor format | 1/1.8-type | 1/1.8-type |
| Sensor type | Super HAD CCD | Super HAD CCD |
| Effective resolution | 2.8 MP | 3.98 MP |
| Largest image | 1920 × 1440 | 2272 × 1704 |
| RAW recording | No | No |
| Standard ISO range | 100–400 | – |
| Sensor detail | 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 | Sony Japan specifies 4.13 million total and 3.98 million effective photosites, primary-colour filter, interlaced square-pixel CCD scan. Optical 1/1.8-type is not a physical sensor measurement; 2272×1704 output pixel count is distinct from effective photosites |
| Image formats | JPEG, uncompressed TIFF, GIF for Text and Clip Motion; no RAW. TIFF is not sensor RAW | JPEG Fine/Standard, uncompressed TIFF, black-and-white GIF Text and animated GIF Clip Motion; no RAW. Maximum 2272×1704 or 2272×1520 3:2, with lower resolutions. Voice mode adds mono MPEG-1 audio |
| Image processor | 14-bit DXP analogue-to-digital conversion | 14-bit analogue-to-digital conversion in exact maker launch; JPEG output is not thereby 14-bit |
| Lens and shooting | ||
| Built-in lens | 36 mm equivalent | 34–102 mm equivalent |
| Maximum aperture | f/2.8 | f/2–2.5 |
| Optical zoom | 1× | 3× |
| Lens detail | 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 | Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar physical 7–21 mm F2.0–2.5, equivalent to 34–102 mm. Threefold optical zoom with additional digital enlargement up to 6× combined. Optional black VAD-S70 B adaptor supports conversion lenses and filters; no kit accessory included in body figures |
| Autofocus | Autofocus with AF illuminator; five-step focus presets rather than continuously adjustable manual focus | Maker gives autofocus from 0.5 m to infinity, macro from 4 cm to infinity. AF illuminator and selectable distance presets in exact shared manual |
| Shutter | – | Maker Auto 1/30–1/1000 second and shutter priority 8–1/1000 second; mode limitations retained |
| 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 | Burst 3 records only three stills at approximately 0.6-second intervals in Sony launch/manual; no flash and no shutter slower than one second. DPReview measured a faster short burst with a subsequent writing wait; neither is a sustained continuous frame-rate claim. Its copied two-shot summary table not used |
| Flash | 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 | Built-in Auto, red-eye Auto, forced and off, recommended 0.3–3 m at Auto ISO. Accessory shoe has no electrical contacts; optional Sony HVL-F1000 flash connects through ACC minijack |
| Exposure controls | 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 | Automatic, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual exposure. Rear jog dial and AE Lock. ±2 EV compensation; three-shot automatic exposure bracketing with ±0.3, ±0.7 or ±1.0 EV steps. Automatic, Indoor, Outdoor and One-push white balance |
| Video | ||
| Highest video resolution | 320 × 240 | 320 × 240 |
| Video detail | 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 | Mono MPEG-1 at 320×240 HQ or standard and 160×112. Sony limits each HQ clip to 15 seconds; MPEG Movie EX runs to card capacity. Maker 90-minute recording capacity applies to 160×112 with optional 128 MB card, not HQ. Animated GIF Clip Motion is separate |
| Audio | Built-in electret condenser microphone and dynamic speaker; monaural MPEG-1 audio with movies or still-image annotations | – |
| Screen and viewfinder | ||
| Viewfinder | Optical | Optical |
| Screen size | 1.5″ | 1.8″ |
| Screen dots | 123,200 | 123,200 |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
| Tilting screen | No | No |
| Display detail | Fixed 1.5-type TFT, 123200 colour-subpixel dots (560×220) | Fixed 1.8-inch TFT, 123,200 dots (560×220) in shared exact English manual; Japan launch rounds to approximately 123,000. Separate rear status LCD. Dots are not image pixels |
| Viewfinder detail | Eye-level optical viewfinder plus separate top status display | Optical finder with dioptre adjustment; exact manual recommends rear screen for accurate close-up framing |
| Connections and design | ||
| Body weight | 165 g (better) | 352 g |
| Release detail | 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 | Sony Japan announced 7 June 2001 with planned 28 June sale. Contemporary July 2001 owner test records actual Hong Kong shop purchase; first actual on-sale month not established, so year precision retained. S75 remained a separate lower-resolution option; no assumed replacement link |
| Recording media | Memory Stick; 8 MB card supplied. US datasheet range extends to 128 MB; later PRO compatibility not established | Original Memory Stick with 16 MB supplied. Maker gives approximately eight Fine maximum-resolution JPEGs on supplied card; format and capacity affect count |
| Ports | USB mini-B, monaural A/V minijack and DC IN; USB transfer speed not inferred from generic cable listings | USB mini-B, mono A/V OUT with NTSC/PAL selection, ACC accessory minijack and DC input. USB does not establish USB 2.0 Hi-Speed or USB charging. Optional Sony remote tripod uses ACC |
| Battery life detail | 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 | NP-FM50 InfoLITHIUM pack. Shared exact guide claims approximately 2500 shots / 150 minutes LCD on or 3000 / 180 LCD off: continuous VGA 640×480 STANDARD NORMAL at 25°C, one shot about every four seconds with card replacements. These are not CIPA or normal-use figures. Playback 5000 / 270 minutes and 160×112 movie 170 minutes LCD on / 210 off are separate tests |
| Charging | 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 | Charges in camera while switched off using supplied AC-L10 adaptor. Approximately 150 minutes full charge from completely discharged at 25°C in exact manual; not USB charging |
| Dimensions | 112.5×53.8×38.1 mm width×height×depth excluding protrusions | Approximately 117×71×64 mm width×height×depth excluding maximum protrusions in Japan launch; shared guide gives same dimensions |
| Weight detail | Approximately 165 g body (exact maker announcement); 194 g including NP-FC10, Memory Stick and wrist strap (exact manual) | Approximately 352 g body in Sony Japan launch; approximately 462 g includes NP-FM50, MSA-16A Memory Stick, shoulder strap and lens cap. Shared English guide also specifies 462 g loaded; not substituted for body weight |
| Colours | Silver and blue confirmed by exact Japanese maker launch | – |
| In the box | 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 | 16 MB Memory Stick, NP-FM50, AC-L10A adaptor and mains lead, USB and A/V cables, shoulder strap, lens cap/tether and software CD; Japan iJump and PlayStation 2 trial software are regional extras |
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