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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S40 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-S40SonyCyber-shot DSC-WX500
Overview
Released20052015
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactCompact
Sensor format1/2.7-type1/2.3-type
Sensor typeSuper HAD CCDExmor R CMOS
Effective resolution4.065 MP18.2 MP
Largest image2304 × 17284896 × 3672
RAW recordingNoNo
Standard ISO range80–40080–3200
Sensor detail4,231,000 total and 4,065,000 effective photosites in the exact maker guide. Optical 1/2.7-type is not a physical sensor measurement1/2.3-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 Exif 2.2, maximum 2304×1728 or 2304×1536 3:2; no RAWJPEG 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 detail–Single-exposure settings ISO 80–3200, Auto ISO 80–3200. Multi Frame NR extends to ISO 6400/12800 through processed overlaid burst exposures
Image processorSony Real Imaging ProcessorBIONZ X
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens32–96 mm equivalent24–720 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/2.8–5.1f/3.5–6.4
Optical zoom3×30×
Stabilisation–Optical lens stabilisation
Lens detailCarl Zeiss Vario-Tessar physical 5.1–15.3 mm F2.8–5.1, equivalent to 32–96 mm. Automatic ND filter switching. Exact UK archive gives close focus 12 cm wide / 50 cm telephoto; no conversion-lens compatibilityZEISS 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
AutofocusMulti-area or centre autofocus, Single or Monitor AF, AF illuminator. No manual focus or distance presetsContrast-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
ShutterExact UK archive gives Auto 1/8–1/2000 second; slow-shutter noise reductionIntelligent 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 detailMaximum four 4M Fine frames; exact maker archive quotes approximately 0.7-second interval, not sustained burst. Multi Burst records 16 subframes within one 1M imageMaximum 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 Auto, forced, slow-synchronised or off; red-eye reduction. Guide gives approximately 0.2–3.8 m wide / 0.5–2.1 m telephoto at Auto ISOBuilt-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 controlsAuto, Program auto and seven scenes. No manual exposure or aperture/shutter priority; ±2 EV compensation in 1/3 EV stepsIntelligent 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 resolution640 × 480 at 30 fps1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detailMPEG-1 mono audio, VGA Fine 640×480 at 30 fps requires Memory Stick PRO; internal memory cannot record Fine modeMaximum 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
Audio–Built-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 size1.5″3″
Screen dots76,800921,600
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screenNoYes
Display detailFixed 1.5-inch TFT, 76,800 dots (320×240); display dots are not captured image pixels3.0-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 detailSeparate optical finder visible in exact maker photographs and guide. Archived UK specification incorrectly marks optical finder NO–
Connections and design
Wi-Fi–Yes
BluetoothNo–
Battery life (maker's claim)110 photographs400 photographs
Body weight132 g209 g
Release detailSony February announcement planned mid-March US / April Europe. Japanese maker release confirms 15 April 2005 Japanese launch; contemporary June 2005 retail coverage establishes 2005 sale. Earliest actual worldwide sale month unresolved, so year precision retained. No assumed predecessor linkReleased 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 media32 MB internal memory; original Memory Stick or Memory Stick PRO, optional. No card suppliedSD, 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
PortsMini-B Hi-Speed USB 2.0; no A/V connector listed in exact guideMulti/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 detailApproximately 110 shots / 55 minutes with supplied alkaline AA pair, LCD on; 140 shots LCD off. Optional NH-AA-DA rechargeable pair gives 480 shots LCD on or 580 LCD off. Guide CIPA test at 25°C, Fine, Single AF, one shot every 30 seconds, alternate zoom extremes, flash every other shot and off every ten. Archived UK table instead claims 380 shots / 190 minutes with supplied batteries; unresolved conflict, guide conditions used Japanese maker release quotes 550 shots using different optional NH-AA-2DB batteries, not supplied alkalines.Supplied 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
ChargingNo charger supplied; optional rechargeable AA pair requires compatible external charger. Optional AC-LS5K adaptor excludedIn-camera USB charging and external USB power with supplied AC adapter and battery fitted
Dimensions99×51.7×34.2 mm width×height×depth excluding maximum protrusions101.6 × 58.1 × 35.5 mm (width × height × depth), CIPA compliant
Weight detail132 g body in exact UK archive; exact guide approximately 180 g including two batteries and wrist strap. US marketing sheet and German announcement give 135 g body / 184 g loaded; regional conflict retainedApproximately 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 AA alkaline batteries, USB cable, wrist strap, software CD and guides; rechargeable batteries and charger optionalNP-BX1, AC-UB10C/UB10D, micro-USB cable, wrist strap and instructions; regional contents differ

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