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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P31 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyCyber-shot DSC-P31SonyCyber-shot DSC-WX500
Overview
Released20022015
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactCompact
Sensor format1/2.7-type1/2.3-type
Sensor typeSuper HAD CCDExmor R CMOS
Effective resolution2 MP18.2 MP
Largest image1600 × 12004896 × 3672
RAW recordingNoNo
Standard ISO range100–40080–3200
Sensor detail1/2.7-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 P311/2.3-type back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS; approximately 18.2 million effective and 21.1 million total photosites. Optical format is not physical dimensions
Image formatsJPEG stills with Fine/Standard compression; GIF Clip Motion and MPEG-1 movies. No RAW or TIFF recordingJPEG with Fine or Standard compression; maximum 4896 × 3672 in 4:3, 4896 × 3264 in 3:2, 4896 × 2752 in 16:9 or 3664 × 3664 in 1:1. Sweep Panorama standard, wide or 360-degree up to 11520 × 1080
ISO detailAuto or manually selected ISO 100, 200 or 400; no continuous ISO dialSingle-exposure settings ISO 80–3200, Auto ISO 80–3200. Multi Frame NR extends to ISO 6400/12800 through processed overlaid burst exposures
Image processorClear Colour NR, Clear Luminance NR and NR Slow Shutter processing; chip identifier not publishedBIONZ X
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens33 mm equivalent24–720 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/2.8f/3.5–6.4
Optical zoom1×30×
Stabilisation–Optical lens stabilisation
Lens detailFixed 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 zoomZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* thirty-times optical zoom, eleven elements in ten groups including five aspherical elements; five-blade iris, actual 4.1–123 mm. Equivalent 24–720 mm in 4:3, 25–750 mm in 3:2, 26.5–795 mm in 16:9 or 27.5–825 mm in 1:1. Movie 16:9 Standard 26.5–795 mm, Active 28–1180 mm, Intelligent Active 31–1210 mm; 4:3 Standard 32.5–975 mm, Active 34.5–1450 mm, Intelligent Active 38–1480 mm
AutofocusAutomatic Multi AF or centre AF with AF-assist illuminator; preset distances 0.5, 1, 3, 7 m and infinity, not continuous manual focusingContrast-detection AF-S; AF-C only in Advanced Sports and movie modes. Nine-point Wide, centre, Flexible Spot S/M/L and Expand Flexible Spot, with Lock-on AF; approximately 5 cm minimum focus wide or 250 cm telephoto
Shutter–Intelligent Auto 4–1/2000 second; Program Auto 1–1/2000 second; aperture priority 8–1/2000 second; shutter priority and manual 30–1/2000 second
Burst detailMulti 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 fpsMaximum approximately 10 fps at full resolution for ten frames; this is a brief buffered burst rather than sustained continuous shooting. Some modes prevent burst shooting, and flash reduces its speed
Stabilisation detail–Optical SteadyShot for photographs. Intelligent Active movie mode combines optical and electronic compensation, including rotation correction; Sony’s five-axis launch claim applies to movies and includes electronic correction
FlashBuilt-in flash with Auto, forced, off and red-eye reduction; ISO Auto recommended distance 0.4–3.8 mBuilt-in manually raised pop-up flash, Auto, forced, slow-sync, rear-sync or off; ISO Auto range approximately 0.3–5.4 m wide or 2.5–3 m telephoto
Exposure controlsAutomatic 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 exposureIntelligent Auto, Superior Auto, Program Auto, aperture priority, shutter priority, manual, Memory Recall 1/2/3, scenes, panorama and automatic/scene movie modes. ±3 EV in 1/3 EV steps; wide-angle F3.5–F8 in aperture priority or manual. Thirteen still-image Picture Effects
Video
Highest video resolution320 × 2401920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detailSilent 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 establishedMaximum 1920 × 1080 progressive at 60p NTSC or 50p PAL. XAVC S up to 50 Mbps; AVCHD up to 28 Mbps and MP4 up to 28 Mbps. Japan also lists 1080p30/p24 XAVC S, interlaced AVCHD and 720p30 MP4; regional frame rates differ and PAL/NTSC can be switched. XAVC S requires a Class 10 or faster SDXC card. Approximately 29-minute clip limit; MP4 28M reaches its 4 GB limit in approximately 20 minutes. Optical zoom works during recording; 4K output is still photographs only
AudioMovies record without sound; operational beep/shutter speaker is separate from audio recordingBuilt-in stereo microphone and mono speaker; XAVC S LPCM two-channel, AVCHD Dolby Digital two-channel or MP4 AAC-LC two-channel audio
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalNone
Screen size1.6″3″
Screen dots61,600921,600
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screenNoYes
Display detailFixed 1.6-type TFT with 61600 colour-subpixel dots (280×220); launch rounds to 61000 dots3.0-type Xtra Fine TFT LCD with 921600 dots, manual five-step brightness; tilts upward approximately 180 degrees for self-portraits. No touchscreen or viewfinder
Viewfinder detailOptical zoom finder; no electronic finder–
Connections and design
Wi-Fi–Yes
Battery life (maker's claim)–400 photographs
Body weight173 g209 g
Release detailSony 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 establishedReleased in 2015. Sony’s 7 May Hong Kong announcement scheduled mid-June launch after a pre-order period; the prospective date does not establish the actual first on-sale day or month
Recording mediaMemory Stick; 8 MB supplied, 128 MB in maker recording table. Later PRO compatibility not establishedSD, SDHC and SDXC with UHS-I support, microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC with adapters, Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo and Memory Stick Micro with an adapter
PortsUSB mini-B with normal mass-storage or PTP setting, separate NTSC/PAL VIDEO OUT minijack without audio and DC IN for optional AC-LS1Multi/micro-USB terminal with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed; micro-HDMI output
Wireless connections–Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g/n at 2.4 GHz and NFC Forum Type 3 Tag for one-touch pairing; smartphone transfer/remote control, TV viewing and computer transfer with compatible software. PlayMemories Camera Apps support and Eye-Fi; no GPS
Battery life detailTwo 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 operationSupplied NP-BX1; approximately 400 photographs or 200 minutes under CIPA conditions, approximately 75 minutes actual movie use or 110 minutes continuous movie use, distinct from per-clip limits
ChargingSupplied 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 powerIn-camera USB charging and external USB power with supplied AC adapter and battery fitted
Dimensions106×58×39.5 mm width×height×depth; manual excludes protruding portions, Japanese launch labels maximum dimensions101.6 × 58.1 × 35.5 mm (width × height × depth), CIPA compliant
Weight detailApproximately 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 tableApproximately 209 g body-only; approximately 236 g including NP-BX1 and Memory Stick Duo
Colours–Black, white or red; regional choices differ
In the boxTwo 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 optionalNP-BX1, AC-UB10C/UB10D, micro-USB cable, wrist strap and instructions; regional contents differ

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