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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P51 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-P51SonyCyber-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 resolution1.98 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 1.98 million effective photosites in the exact P51 manual entry; UK specifications round effective resolution to 2.0 MP1/2.3-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 processor12-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 retainedBIONZ X
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens41–82 mm equivalent24–720 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/3.8f/3.5–6.4
Optical zoom2×30×
Stabilisation–Optical lens stabilisation
Lens detailPhysical 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 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
ShutterAutomatic mode 1/30–1/1000 second in exact UK table; slow-shutter scene behaviour is separate. No manual shutter selectionIntelligent 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. No full-resolution continuous rate established; the UK 1.9-second figure is startup timeMaximum 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 0.4–2.8 m at both zoom ends. No accessory or hot shoeBuilt-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 × 240 at 16.6 fps1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detailSilent MPEG-1 HQX 320×240 at 16.6 fps in exact UK specifications; Presentation 320×240 and Video Mail 160×112 modes are separateMaximum 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 weight218 g209 g
Release detailSony 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 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; 16 MB supplied. Manual includes recording tables through 128 MB; later Memory Stick 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, 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 P51Supplied 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
Dimensions126.9×58×47 mm width×height×depth, excluding protruding portions in manual101.6 × 58.1 × 35.5 mm (width × height × depth), CIPA compliant
Weight detailApproximately 218 g body only in exact Sony UK specifications; approximately 275 g with two batteries, Memory Stick and wrist strap in manual and UK 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, 16 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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