Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P31 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P51
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| SonyCyber-shot DSC-P31 | SonyCyber-shot DSC-P51 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | 2002 | 2002 |
| Image and sensor | ||
| Camera type | Compact | Compact |
| Sensor format | 1/2.7-type | 1/2.7-type |
| Sensor type | Super HAD CCD | Super HAD CCD |
| Effective resolution | 2 MP | 1.98 MP |
| Largest image | 1600 × 1200 | 1600 × 1200 |
| RAW recording | No | No |
| Standard ISO range | 100–400 | 100–400 |
| Sensor detail | 1/2.7-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 | 1/2.7-type primary-colour interlaced Super HAD CCD; approximately 2.10 million total and 1.98 million effective photosites in the exact P51 manual entry; UK specifications round effective resolution to 2.0 MP |
| Image formats | JPEG stills with Fine/Standard compression; GIF Clip Motion and MPEG-1 movies. No RAW or TIFF recording | JPEG stills with Fine/Standard compression; GIF Clip Motion and MPEG-1 movies. No RAW or TIFF recording |
| ISO detail | Auto or manually selected ISO 100, 200 or 400; no continuous ISO dial | Auto or manually selected ISO 100, 200 or 400; no continuous ISO dial |
| Image processor | Clear Colour NR, Clear Luminance NR and NR Slow Shutter processing; chip identifier not published | 12-bit DXP A/D conversion in exact UK specifications; Clear Colour NR, Clear Luminance NR and NR Slow Shutter. September 2002 Europe brochure lists 14-bit for P51, conflicting with exact UK table; 12-bit retained |
| Lens and shooting | ||
| Built-in lens | 33 mm equivalent | 41–82 mm equivalent |
| Maximum aperture | f/2.8 | f/3.8 |
| Optical zoom | 1× | 2× |
| Lens detail | Fixed 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 | Physical focal length 6.3–12.6 mm, equivalent to 41–82 mm, F3.8. Full-range autofocus from 8 cm at wide angle or 50 cm at telephoto, without a separate Macro mode. 3× digital enlargement is separate from the 2× optical zoom |
| Autofocus | Automatic Multi AF or centre AF with AF-assist illuminator; preset distances 0.5, 1, 3, 7 m and infinity, not continuous manual focusing | Automatic Multi AF or centre AF with AF-assist illuminator; preset distances 0.5, 1, 3, 7 m and infinity, not continuous manual focusing |
| Shutter | – | Automatic mode 1/30–1/1000 second in exact UK table; slow-shutter scene behaviour is separate. No manual shutter selection |
| Burst detail | Multi 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 | Multi 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. No full-resolution continuous rate established; the UK 1.9-second figure is startup time |
| Flash | Built-in flash with Auto, forced, off and red-eye reduction; ISO Auto recommended distance 0.4–3.8 m | Built-in flash with Auto, forced, off and red-eye reduction; ISO Auto recommended distance 0.4–2.8 m at both zoom ends. No accessory or hot shoe |
| Exposure controls | Automatic 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 | Automatic 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 resolution | 320 × 240 | 320 × 240 at 16.6 fps |
| Video detail | Silent 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 | Silent MPEG-1 HQX 320×240 at 16.6 fps in exact UK specifications; Presentation 320×240 and Video Mail 160×112 modes are separate |
| Audio | Movies record without sound; operational beep/shutter speaker is separate from audio recording | Movies record without sound; operational beep/shutter speaker is separate from audio recording |
| Screen and viewfinder | ||
| Viewfinder | Optical | Optical |
| Screen size | 1.6″ | 1.6″ |
| Screen dots | 61,600 | 61,600 |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
| Tilting screen | No | No |
| Display detail | Fixed 1.6-type TFT with 61600 colour-subpixel dots (280×220); launch rounds to 61000 dots | Fixed 1.6-type TFT with 61600 colour-subpixel dots (280×220); launch rounds to 61000 dots |
| Viewfinder detail | Optical zoom finder; no electronic finder | Optical zoom finder; no electronic finder |
| Connections and design | ||
| Body weight | 173 g (better) | 218 g |
| Release detail | Sony 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 | Sony announced on 20 February 2002 with planned US availability at the end of April 2002; contemporary Imaging Resource full test updated 16 May 2002 and Sony Europe September 2002 brochure establish 2002 product coverage. Earliest actual worldwide first-sale month is unresolved, so year precision retained; planned April timing is not treated as proof of sale. No explicit direct predecessor claim established |
| Recording media | Memory Stick; 8 MB supplied, 128 MB in maker recording table. Later PRO compatibility not established | Memory Stick; 16 MB supplied. Manual includes recording tables through 128 MB; later Memory Stick PRO compatibility not established |
| Ports | USB mini-B with normal mass-storage or PTP setting, separate NTSC/PAL VIDEO OUT minijack without audio and DC IN for optional AC-LS1 | USB mini-B with normal mass-storage or PTP setting, separate NTSC/PAL VIDEO OUT minijack without audio and DC IN for optional AC-LS1 |
| Battery life detail | Two 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 | Two 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, alternating zoom ends, flash every second shot and restart every 10 shots; not labelled CIPA. Separate continuous Standard/no-flash/3-second-interval test: approximately 3000 images/150 minutes LCD on or 3600/180 off. P31 emergency alkaline permission does not apply to P51 |
| Charging | Supplied 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 | Supplied 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 |
| Dimensions | 106×58×39.5 mm width×height×depth; manual excludes protruding portions, Japanese launch labels maximum dimensions | 126.9×58×47 mm width×height×depth, excluding protruding portions in manual |
| Weight detail | Approximately 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 | Approximately 218 g body only in exact Sony UK specifications; approximately 275 g with two batteries, Memory Stick and wrist strap in manual and UK table |
| In the box | Two 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 | Two rechargeable AA Ni-MH batteries, BC-CS1 charger and mains lead, 16 MB Memory Stick, USB and video cables, wrist strap, software CD and operating instructions; AC-LS1 optional |
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