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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 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-S950SonyCyber-shot DSC-WX500
Overview
Released20092015
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactCompact
Sensor format1/2.3-type1/2.3-type
Sensor typeSuper HAD CCDExmor R CMOS
Effective resolution10.1 MP18.2 MP
Largest image3648 × 27364896 × 3672
RAW recordingNoNo
Standard ISO range100–320080–3200
Sensor detailOptical 1/2.3-type Super HAD CCD, approximately 10.1 million effective / 10.3 million total pixels. Optical format is not a physical dimension; shared instruction manual labels S950 separately from 12.1 MP S9801/2.3-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 2.21; maximum 3648×2736, with 3:2 3648×2432 and 16:9 3648×2056/1920×1080 settings. No RAW. UK archive mixed 12 MP template entries excludedJPEG 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 processor–BIONZ X
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens33–132 mm equivalent24–720 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/2.5–5.6f/3.5–6.4
Optical zoom4×30×
StabilisationElectronic onlyOptical lens stabilisation
Lens detailSony 4× zoom, physical 5.8–23.2 mm F2.5–5.6, equivalent 33–132 mm. Closest focus approximately 5 cm wide / 50 cm telephotoZEISS 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
AutofocusSingle autofocus; nine-area multi AF or centre AF and distance presets 0.5 m, 1 m, 3 m, 7 m and infinity, not continuously adjustable manual focus. Face detection up to eight faces; no AF illuminatorContrast-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
ShutterAuto 1/8–1/2000 second; Program auto 1–1/2000 second in exact Hong Kong maker tableIntelligent 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 detailUp to 100 frames while shutter is held, approximately 1-second recording interval. Focus, exposure and white balance fixed to first frame; flash off and ISO limited to Auto or 100–400. Self-timer burst limited to five frames. No unrestricted sustained rate inferredMaximum 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 detailElectronic SteadyShot only, not optical lens or sensor-shift stabilisation. Handbook excludes flash use and Easy Shooting; processing takes additional timeOptical 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
FlashAuto ISO range approximately 0.5–3.5 m wide / 0.5–1.5 m telephoto. Forced flash, slow sync and off; red-eye reduction availableBuilt-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, Easy Shooting, Program auto, High Sensitivity and six scene modes: Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Soft Snap, Landscape, Beach and Snow. No manual or aperture/shutter-priority exposure. ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; multi-pattern, centre-weighted and spot metering. ISO Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200Intelligent 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 30 fps1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detailAVI Motion JPEG, 320×240 at approximately 30 fps with mono sound. Movie image size fixed to 320×240 in exact instruction manual, overriding UK archive mixed 640×480 template entriesMaximum 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
ViewfinderNoneNone
Screen size2.7″3″
Screen dots230,400921,600
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screenNoYes
Display detailFixed 2.7-inch TFT, 230,400 dots; dots are not captured image pixels. No tilting or touchscreen; histogram display3.0-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 detailNo separate viewfinder; composition uses rear LCD–
Connections and design
Wi-Fi–Yes
BluetoothNo–
Battery life (maker's claim)330 photographs400 photographs
Body weight135 g209 g
Release detailSony Hong Kong January 16 2009 release planned availability from early February; German release also planned February. Actual CDR Electronics October 23 2009 exact-model sale notice and contemporary full ColorFoto test support year 2009. First retail month/day unresolved, so year precision retained. No predecessor inferred from model numberingReleased 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 mediaApproximately 12 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo (no enhanced PRO-HG transfer performance). 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
PortsCombined USB/A/V OUT terminal: Hi-Speed USB 2.0, mono audio and NTSC/PAL composite video. Exact instruction manual overrides UK archive A/V No template entry. PictBridge compatible; no external microphone inputMulti/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 detailSupplied NP-BK1 rechargeable lithium-ion pack: approximately 330 still images / 165 minutes CIPA at 25°C. Viewing claim 4800 images / 240 minutes is a separate playback test, not shooting enduranceSupplied 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
ChargingExternal BC-CSK or BC-CSKA charger supplied; USB is not listed as a charging method. Optional AC-LS5K mains adaptor separateIn-camera USB charging and external USB power with supplied AC adapter and battery fitted
Dimensions93.1×55.7×23.8 mm width×height×depth, excluding protrusions101.6 × 58.1 × 35.5 mm (width × height × depth), CIPA compliant
Weight detail135 g body only in maker UK/Hong Kong tables; approximately 157 g including NP-BK1 battery pack and strap, etc. in exact instruction manualApproximately 209 g body-only; approximately 236 g including NP-BX1 and Memory Stick Duo
Colours–Black, white or red; regional choices differ
In the boxNP-BK1 battery, BC-CSK/BC-CSKA charger (region-dependent), dedicated USB cable, A/V cable, wrist strap, software/handbook CD and instruction manual; Memory Stick Duo separateNP-BX1, AC-UB10C/UB10D, micro-USB cable, wrist strap and instructions; regional contents differ

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