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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S85 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-S85SonyCyber-shot DSC-WX500
Overview
Released20012015
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactCompact
Sensor format1/1.8-type1/2.3-type
Sensor typeSuper HAD CCDExmor R CMOS
Effective resolution3.98 MP18.2 MP
Largest image2272 × 17044896 × 3672
RAW recordingNoNo
Standard ISO range–80–3200
Sensor detailSony 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 photosites1/2.3-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 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 audioJPEG 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 processor14-bit analogue-to-digital conversion in exact maker launch; JPEG output is not thereby 14-bitBIONZ X
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens34–102 mm equivalent24–720 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/2–2.5f/3.5–6.4
Optical zoom3×30×
Stabilisation–Optical lens stabilisation
Lens detailCarl 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 figuresZEISS 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
AutofocusMaker gives autofocus from 0.5 m to infinity, macro from 4 cm to infinity. AF illuminator and selectable distance presets in exact shared manualContrast-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
ShutterMaker Auto 1/30–1/1000 second and shutter priority 8–1/1000 second; mode limitations retainedIntelligent 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 detailBurst 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 usedMaximum 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, 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 minijackBuilt-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, 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 balanceIntelligent 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 × 2401920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detailMono 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 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
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 size1.8″3″
Screen dots123,200921,600
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screenNoYes
Display detailFixed 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 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 detailOptical finder with dioptre adjustment; exact manual recommends rear screen for accurate close-up framing–
Connections and design
Wi-Fi–Yes
Battery life (maker's claim)–400 photographs
Body weight352 g209 g
Release detailSony 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 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 mediaOriginal Memory Stick with 16 MB supplied. Maker gives approximately eight Fine maximum-resolution JPEGs on supplied card; format and capacity affect countSD, 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, 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 ACCMulti/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 detailNP-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 testsSupplied 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
ChargingCharges 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 chargingIn-camera USB charging and external USB power with supplied AC adapter and battery fitted
DimensionsApproximately 117×71×64 mm width×height×depth excluding maximum protrusions in Japan launch; shared guide gives same dimensions101.6 × 58.1 × 35.5 mm (width × height × depth), CIPA compliant
Weight detailApproximately 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 weightApproximately 209 g body-only; approximately 236 g including NP-BX1 and Memory Stick Duo
Colours–Black, white or red; regional choices differ
In the box16 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 extrasNP-BX1, AC-UB10C/UB10D, micro-USB cable, wrist strap and instructions; regional contents differ

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