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Pre-CeBIT 2002: Sony Japan has today announced the four megapixel sucessor to the ultra-compact DSC-P5, the new DSC-P9. In a joint press release covering the recently announced DSC-P31 and DSC-P71 Sony Japan has also let the DSC-P9 out of the bag. The new DSC-P9 has a 3x optical zoom lens, 4 megapixel sensor, expanded white balance settings, multi-point AF (although in automatic mode) and the new 320 x 240 unlimited recording time MPEG Movie HQX. We've had a DSC-P9 'in house' for a week or so now in preparation for a review, unfortunately at this time Sony are still tweaking image quality so we can't post samples.
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| Diminuitive proportions and an update design, the P9 retains the P5's great anti-reflective LCD and overall control layout. There are lots of 'incremental improvements' including the more noticable 'finger grip' on the front. | |
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| The DSC-P9 takes the InfoLithium C battery (which is the same size as four stacked Memory Stick's). As seems to be the trend in ultra-compacts it's one compartment door does all. | On the back of the DSC-P9 we now get a colour coded compartment door which conceals the power input for battery charging, USB in/out and A/V out. I wish more manufacturers would support in-camera charging, it's far more convenient. |
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| Here's the DSC-P9 beside the recently announced (but lower priced) 3 megapixel DSC-P71. You can clearly see the difference in size. Don't be fooled, those are two very slightly different lenses. | |
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| Sensor | 1/1.8" 4.1 megapixel CCD |
| Effective pixels | 4.0 megapixel |
| Image sizes | • 2272 x 1704, 2272 x
1520 (3:2) • 1600 x 1200 • 1280 x 960 • 640 x 480 |
| Image quality | • Fine (JPEG) • Standard (JPEG) |
| Lens | 3x optical, 39 - 117 mm equiv., F2.8 - F5.6 |
| Digital zoom | Yes, 2x |
| Focus | • Auto (Multi 3-area
/ Center AF) • Manual (5 positions including Infinity) |
| ISO sensitivity | • Auto • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 |
| Metering | • Multi-Pattern • Spot |
| White Balance | • Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Fluorescent • Tungsten |
| Exposure modes | • Auto (Program AE) • Scene modes (Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape) |
| Shutter speed | • Program AE: 1/30 -
1/2000 sec • Twilight: 2 - 1/2000 sec |
| Noise reduction | • Clear Color / Luminance
NR (normal exposures) • Dark frame for exposures slower than 0.5 sec |
| Exposure compensation | +/2.0 EV in 0.3 EV steps |
| Flash modes | • Auto • Auto & Red-Eye reduction • On • On & Red-Eye reduction • Off • Slow Sync (Twilight Portrait scene mode) |
| Flash compensation | • High • Normal • Low |
| Flash range | 0.5 - 3.8 m (1.8 - 12.5 ft) |
| Movie modes | • MPEG 160 x 120 (with
audio, unlimited) • MPEG 320 x 240 (with audio, unlimited) • MPEG 320 x 240 HQX (with audio, unlimited) • Clip-motion (160 x 120 or 80 x 72 animated GIF) • Multi-frame 16 (7.5, 15 or 30 fps - max 16 - 320 x 240 frames) |
| Playback modes | • Single image • Magnify (up to 5x) • 9 thumbnails (3 x 3) • Exposure information |
| Viewfinder | Optical, no dioptre adjustment |
| LCD monitor | 1.5" 123,000 pixel |
| Storage | Memory Stick (16 MB included) |
| Power | NP-FC11 InfoLithium C, 2.4 Wh, (battery & charger included) |
| Connectivity | • DC in • USB • A/V out |
| Dimensions | 113 x 53 x 36 mm (4.4 x 2.1 x 1.4 in) |
| Weight (inc. batt) | 206 g (7.3 oz) |
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