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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P5 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S70

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyCyber-shot DSC-P5SonyCyber-shot DSC-S70
Overview
Released20012000
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactCompact
Sensor format1/1.8-type1/1.8-type
Sensor typeSuper HAD CCDSuper HAD CCD
Effective resolution3.2 MP3.24 MP
Largest image2048 × 15362048 × 1536
RAW recordingNoNo
Standard ISO range100–400–
Sensor detail1/1.8-type Super HAD CCD; UK markets 3.2 effective megapixels, exact Japan announcement gives 3.21 million effective and 3.34 million total photosites. Optical format is not physical sensor dimensionsSony Japan gives 3.34 million total and 3.24 million effective photosites, with primary-colour filter and interlaced CCD scan. Optical 1/1.8-type format is not a physical sensor measurement; DPReview’s conflicting 3.14 MP effective table not preferred over maker
Image formatsJPEG Fine/Standard and uncompressed TIFF; animated GIF Clip Motion and GIF text mode. TIFF is not RAW; email and voice-annotation modes also availableJPEG, uncompressed TIFF and black-and-white GIF Text mode, not RAW. Maximum 2048×1536 or 2048×1360 3:2; additional lower sizes. Voice annotation records mono MPEG-1 audio with stills
Image processor14-bit DXP analogue-to-digital conversion per maker announcement12-bit A/D conversion with Sony Super Resolution Converter processing in exact maker launch sheet
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens39–117 mm equivalent34–102 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/2.8–5.6f/2–2.5
Optical zoom3×3×
Lens detailSony 3× zoom, actual 8–24 mm, 39–117 mm equivalent, F2.8–5.6; two-stage retracting lens, not Carl Zeiss. Macro approximately 10 cm wide or 60 cm telephotoCarl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar physical 7–21 mm F2.0–2.5, equivalent to 34–102 mm. Threefold optical zoom with additional electronic enlargement up to 6× combined; not 6× optical. VAD-S70 adaptor ring supports optional conversion lens and filters
AutofocusAF illuminator and monitoring autofocus; preset distances 0.5, 1, 3, 7 m or infinity, not continuously adjustable manual focusAutofocus from 25 cm to infinity. Macro from 4 cm at wide angle or 20 cm at telephoto in exact manual. Approximate focus presets 0.5, 1, 3, 7 m and infinity; not continuously variable manual focus
Shutter–Sony Japan gives Auto 1/30–1/1000 second and shutter priority 8–1/1000 second; mode limitations retained
Burst detailTwo-frame Burst 2 mode; US maker datasheet claims 2 fps for this brief pair. Not a sustained continuous burst-rate headline–
FlashBuilt-in flash, auto/forced/off and red-eye reduction; maker recommends 0.5–2.8 m wide and 0.6–1.4 m telephoto. No accessory shoeBuilt-in Auto, red-eye reduction, forced and off, with adjustable output; recommended 0.3–2.5 m. Dedicated external flash connector for optional HVL-F1000; not a conventional hot shoe
Exposure controlsAutomatic exposure and Twilight scene mode; no manual exposure or aperture/shutter priority. ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; white balance Auto, Hold, Indoor and Outdoor. Sharpness adjustable in five stepsAuto exposure with ±2 EV compensation. Aperture priority across nine steps F2.0–F8.0 and shutter priority, with Panfocus, Twilight, Twilight Plus, Landscape and Spot Metering modes. No full simultaneous manual aperture/shutter exposure
Video
Highest video resolution320 × 240320 × 240
Video detailMPEG-1 sound movies at 320×240 HQ or Presentation, plus 160×112 email mode. UK lists Presentation at 8.3 fps; US maker datasheet describes HQ playback at 16 fps. Unqualified maximum recording frame rate omitted. Clip Motion records animated GIF rather than MPEG videoMPEG-1 mono audio movies at 320×240 in HQ or standard quality, up to 15 seconds per clip. Lower 160×112 mode allows up to 60 seconds. Exact manual states zoom is unavailable during movie recording. Frame rate not established in exact maker/manual evidence
AudioMovie sound and still-image voice memo; built-in microphone and speaker per maker datasheet–
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size1.5″2″
Screen dots123,200123,200
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screenNoNo
Display detailFixed 1.5-type LCD with 123200 colour-subpixel dots; dots are not image pixelsFixed 2-inch TFT rear screen, 123,200 dots (560×220), plus top information display. Screen dots are not image pixels. S50/S30 rotating screens are not S70 hardware
Viewfinder detailEye-level real-image optical viewfinderOptical viewfinder with dioptre adjustment. Manual advises rear screen for close-up composition because finder coverage differs
Connections and design
BluetoothNo–
Body weight185 g310 g
Release detailSony announced planned Japanese availability on 4 October 2001. Contemporary production reviews establish sale in 2001; earliest actual worldwide retail month remains unresolved, so year precision retained. Exact maker announcement explicitly calls P5/P3 successors to DSC-P1Sony Japan announced on 2 February 2000 and planned 25 March 2000 sale. Contemporary DPReview full production review explicitly reports retailer stock in June 2000; actual first-sale month unconfirmed, so released uses supported year. No assumed predecessor
Recording mediaMemory Stick; 8 MB supplied. Memory Stick PRO support not establishedOriginal Memory Stick, with 8 MB supplied. Maker estimates approximately five maximum-size JPEGs on supplied card; card capacity and recording format affect storage
PortsUSB mini-B (UK explicitly says not Hi-Speed USB 2.0), A/V output and external DC inputDedicated USB connector, mono A/V output with NTSC/PAL selection, DC input and external flash minijack. USB connection does not establish USB 2.0 Hi-Speed or USB charging
Battery life detailNP-FC10 InfoLITHIUM C rechargeable battery supplied. Maker continuous claim approximately 1800 VGA stills / 90 minutes with LCD and flash off; not an average-use or CIPA headline. Maker 90-minute mail-movie claim uses 160×112 and separately purchased 128 MB Memory StickSupplied NP-FM50 InfoLITHIUM lithium-ion pack. Manual gives approximately 1600 shots / 120 minutes with LCD on or 2000 / 150 with LCD off: VGA 640×480 NORMAL, one shot about every four seconds, fully charged at 25°C with Memory Stick replacements as needed. These are continuous low-resolution tests, not CIPA or normal-use figures. Playback 4400 / 220 minutes is separate; 160×112 movie runtime 130 minutes LCD on or 150 off
ChargingIn-camera charging with supplied AC adapter; exact charge duration not established. US maker datasheet calls the adapter AC-LS1Charges NP-FM50 in camera from supplied AC-L10 power adaptor while camera is off. Approximately 150 minutes full charge or 90 minutes normal charge from fully discharged battery; not USB charging
DimensionsApproximately 112.5×53.8×36.2 mm width×height×depthSony Japan launch: 117×70.7×64.4 mm width×height×depth excluding maximum protrusions. English manual rounds to 117×71×64 mm
Weight detailApproximately 185 g body only; approximately 214 g with NP-FC10, Memory Stick and wrist strapApproximately 310 g body only in maker launch sheet. Japan loaded claim approximately 420 g includes NP-FM50, Memory Stick, shoulder strap and lens cap; English manual gives approximately 423 g with the same listed accessories. Loaded weights not substituted for body
MaterialsMetal body; no waterproof rating established. Separately sold MPK-P5 underwater housing is an accessory–
ColoursSilver P5 confirmed in exact Japan announcement; blue image on shared announcement is fixed-lens P3, not a P5 finish–
In the boxNP-FC10 battery, AC adapter and mains lead, USB and A/V cables, 8 MB Memory Stick, wrist strap and software CD; software bundle differs by regionNP-FM50 battery, AC-L10 adaptor and mains lead, 8 MB Memory Stick, USB and A/V cables, shoulder strap, lens cap and tether, software CD and instructions in English manual; regional bundle details vary

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