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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S500 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S600

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyCyber-shot DSC-S500SonyCyber-shot DSC-S600
Overview
Released20062006
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactCompact
Sensor formatOtherOther
Sensor typeSuper HAD CCDSuper HAD CCD
Effective resolution6 MP6 MP
Largest image2816 × 21122816 × 2112
RAW recordingNoNo
Standard ISO range80–40080–1000
Sensor detailOptical 1/2.5-type Super HAD CCD; optical format is not a physical dimension. Exact instruction manual gives approximately 6,003,000 effective / 6,183,000 total pixels; Singapore archive different effective count is not used6.0 million effective pixels and 6.1 million gross pixels in exact Hong Kong maker release; optical 1/2.5-type is not a physical sensor measurement
Image formatsJPEG/Exif 2.21, Fine or Standard quality; maximum 2816×2112, with 3:2 2816×1872, 3M, 2M and VGA settings. No RAW recordingJPEG, maximum 2816×2112, 2816×1872 3:2 or 1920×1080 16:9. Clear RAW NR refers to internal noise processing, not RAW file recording
Image processor–Sony Real Imaging Processor
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens32–96 mm equivalent31–93 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/2.8–4.8f/2.8–5.1
Optical zoom3×3×
StabilisationNone–
Lens detailSony 3× zoom, physical 5.4–16.2 mm F2.8–4.8. Macro approximately 5 cm wide / 35 cm telephoto; normal focus approximately 50 cm in maker archive. Singapore Carl Zeiss branding conflicts with actual Sony lens nameplate and UK tableCarl Zeiss Vario-Tessar physical 5.1–15.3 mm F2.8–5.1, equivalent to 31–93 mm. Autofocus close limit 12 cm wide / 50 cm telephoto, automatic close focusing rather than a separate macro mode
AutofocusSingle autofocus; no manually adjustable focus or distance presets. UK archive lists no AF illuminator and exact manual labels the front lamp only as self-timer lamp; Singapore affirmative entry conflictsMulti-area or centre autofocus, Single or Monitor AF and AF illuminator. No manual focus or focus-distance presets
ShutterMaker archive gives Auto 1/8–1/2000 second; Singapore table additionally gives Program auto 1–1/2000 secondExact UK archive gives Auto 1/8–1/2000 second; scene-dependent slower shutter and slow-shutter noise reduction
Burst detailExact handbook: maximum three frames at all supported sizes/qualities, flash off, approximately 2-second recording interval. Singapore maker table separately qualifies approximately 2 seconds at 6M Fine / 1 second at VGA Standard; UK unqualified 1-second entry not used as a sustained full-resolution rateExact UK maker archive lists maximum seven frames and approximately 0.8-second interval, not sustained burst. Multi Burst stores 16 subframes together in one image
FlashExact instruction manual Auto ISO range approximately 0.5–2.5 m wide / 0.5–2.0 m telephoto; red-eye reduction pre-flash availableAuto ISO range approximately 0.2–7.0 m wide / 0.5–3.8 m telephoto. Exact Hong Kong release separately gives ISO1000 range 0.8–11.0 m wide / 0.5–6.4 m telephoto; 11 m is not the Auto ISO range
Exposure controlsAuto, Program auto and six scene modes: Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Soft Snap, Landscape, Beach and Candle. No manual or aperture/shutter-priority exposure. ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; multi-pattern or spot metering. ISO Auto, 80, 100, 200 and 400Auto, Program auto and seven scenes including High Sensitivity; no manual exposure or aperture/shutter priority. ±2 EV compensation in 1/3 EV steps; multi-pattern or spot metering
Video
Highest video resolution320 × 240 at 30 fps640 × 480 at 30 fps
Video detailAVI Motion JPEG, 320×240 at 30 fps with recorded sound. No movie-sound playback through the camera buzzer; sound plays on TV or computer. UK archive 640×480 template entry conflicts with exact handbookMPEG-1 mono audio; VGA Fine 640×480 at 30 fps requires Memory Stick PRO Duo. VGA Standard approximately 16.6 fps or 160×112 approximately 8.3 fps; optical zoom cannot change during movie recording
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderNoneOptical
Screen size2.4″2″
Screen dots110,00085,000
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screenNoNo
Display detailFixed 2.4-inch TFT, maker states 110,000 dots in exact instruction manual and UK archive; dots are not captured image pixels. No touchscreen or tiltingFixed 2-inch TFT with approximately 85,000 dots; dots are not captured image pixels
Viewfinder detailNo separate viewfinder; composition uses rear LCDSeparate optical finder
Connections and design
BluetoothNoNo
Battery life (maker's claim)60 photographs–
Body weight146 g133 g
Release detailImaging Resource exact-model specification database records Date Available August 4 2006. Year 2006 retained conservatively because the precise first-sale day is not independently corroborated. Contemporary Sony US reporting planned August shipment; Sony China announced its regional model November 22 2006. No predecessor inferred from the maker calling it a new S-series member after S600.Sony January 4 US announcement and January 10 Hong Kong announcement planned regional sale; Hong Kong stated early February. Exact March 2006 production-camera review establishes actual 2006 sale; earliest worldwide first-sale month remains unestablished, year precision retained. Sony Hong Kong expressly calls S40 the predecessor
Recording mediaApproximately 25 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo and Memory Stick PRO Duo, including MagicGate variants. No card supplied32 MB internal memory; optional Memory Stick Duo or Memory Stick PRO Duo. Full-size original Memory Stick cannot be inserted, and no card is supplied
PortsSeparate USB mini-B (Full-Speed USB 2.0) and A/V OUT mini-jack; NTSC/PAL composite video and audio. Exact manual Full-Speed specification overrides Singapore Hi-Speed headingHi-Speed USB 2.0; no A/V output. Optional AC-LS5K power adaptor uses the battery-compartment connection
Battery life detailTwo supplied LR6 alkaline AA cells: approximately 60 shots / 30 minutes CIPA. Optional NH-AA-DB NiMH pair: approximately 350 shots / 170 minutes, not supplied. Alkaline values vary by brand, settings and conditions; supplied cells described as trial-use batteriesTwo supplied alkaline AA batteries. UK archive claims 130 shots/80 minutes CIPA, while exact Hong Kong maker table gives 160 shots/80 minutes. Optional 2500 mAh NiMH pair gives 460 shots; optional batteries and charger are not supplied. Unresolved supplied-cell conflict means headline shot count omitted
ChargingSupplied alkaline batteries cannot be recharged. Optional compatible NiMH cells require an external charger; no charger supplied. Optional AC-LS5K mains adaptor separateNo charger supplied. Compatible optional rechargeable AA batteries require an external charger; supplied alkaline batteries must not be charged
Dimensions92.4×62.3×31.2 mm width×height×depth in UK archive; exact instruction manual rounds to 92×62×31 mm excluding protrusions99.9×52.0×36.8 mm width×height×depth in exact Hong Kong maker release; UK archive rounds width to99.0mm
Weight detail146 g body only in UK archive; approximately 198 g including two batteries and wrist strap, etc. in exact instruction manual. Plastic body in Singapore maker table133 g body; approximately181 g including batteries and wrist strap in exact maker release
In the boxTwo AA alkaline batteries, dedicated USB cable, A/V cable, wrist strap, software/handbook CD and instruction manual; rechargeable cells, charger and Memory Stick Duo excludedTwo AA alkaline batteries, USB cable, wrist strap, software CD and guides. Optional rechargeable batteries, charger and AC-LS5K adaptor excluded

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