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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P5 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S85

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyCyber-shot DSC-P5SonyCyber-shot DSC-S85
Overview
Released20012001
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactCompact
Sensor format1/1.8-type1/1.8-type
Sensor typeSuper HAD CCDSuper HAD CCD
Effective resolution3.2 MP3.98 MP
Largest image2048 × 15362272 × 1704
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 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 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 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 processor14-bit DXP analogue-to-digital conversion per maker announcement14-bit analogue-to-digital conversion in exact maker launch; JPEG output is not thereby 14-bit
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 digital enlargement up to 6× combined. Optional black VAD-S70 B adaptor supports conversion lenses and filters; no kit accessory included in body figures
AutofocusAF illuminator and monitoring autofocus; preset distances 0.5, 1, 3, 7 m or infinity, not continuously adjustable manual focusMaker 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 detailTwo-frame Burst 2 mode; US maker datasheet claims 2 fps for this brief pair. Not a sustained continuous burst-rate headlineBurst 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
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 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 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 stepsAutomatic, 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 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 videoMono 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
AudioMovie sound and still-image voice memo; built-in microphone and speaker per maker datasheet–
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size1.5″1.8″
Screen dots123,200123,200
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screenNoNo
Display detailFixed 1.5-type LCD with 123200 colour-subpixel dots; dots are not image pixelsFixed 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 detailEye-level real-image optical viewfinderOptical finder with dioptre adjustment; exact manual recommends rear screen for accurate close-up framing
Connections and design
BluetoothNo–
Body weight185 g352 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 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 mediaMemory Stick; 8 MB supplied. Memory Stick PRO support not establishedOriginal Memory Stick with 16 MB supplied. Maker gives approximately eight Fine maximum-resolution JPEGs on supplied card; format and capacity affect count
PortsUSB mini-B (UK explicitly says not Hi-Speed USB 2.0), A/V output and external DC inputUSB 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 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 StickNP-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
ChargingIn-camera charging with supplied AC adapter; exact charge duration not established. US maker datasheet calls the adapter AC-LS1Charges 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
DimensionsApproximately 112.5×53.8×36.2 mm width×height×depthApproximately 117×71×64 mm width×height×depth excluding maximum protrusions in Japan launch; shared guide gives same dimensions
Weight detailApproximately 185 g body only; approximately 214 g with NP-FC10, Memory Stick and wrist strapApproximately 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
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 region16 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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