Sony: entry-level 6mpix, 3x zoom digicam By
Michael R. Tomkins, The Imaging Resource (Monday, June 26, 2006 - 19:41 EDT)Sony USA has quietly introduced a new digital camera model that couples a six megapixel imager with a Sony-branded 3x optical zoom lens.
There's no official press release, but brief product specifications for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S500 are available, and the camera can be pre-ordered on SonyStyle.com.
The DSC-S500's lens offers from 32mm wide angle to 96mm telephoto equivalent (the actual focal length range being 5.4 - 16.2mm). There's no optical viewfinder, with a large 2.4" 110k pixel LCD display being provided as the sole method of framing and reviewing images instead. ISO sensitivity ranges from 80 to 400.
Other features include a 320x240 movie mode (plus a choice of lower resolution), power from two AA batteries, and six scene modes. 25MB of built-in memory gets you started, while a Memory Stick Duo (PRO Duo compatible) card slot offers expanded storage. Sony includes its Cyber-shot Viewer v1.0 software in place of the ArcSoft bundle provided by Panasonic. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S500 will ship in August, priced at $180.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S500
General
Camera Type
Compact
Manufacturer
Sony
Model Number
DSC-S500
Dimensions
3.6 x 2.4 x 1.2" 92.4 x 62.0 x 31.2mm
Weight
186.0 g 6.5 oz
Planned Price
$180.00
Planned Availability
Aug 2006
Image Capture
Sensor Type
1/2.5" Sony SuperHAD CCD 6.20 megapixels (total) 6.00 megapixels (effective)
Aspect Ratio
4:3
Image Dimensions
2816 x 2112 (5.9 megapixels) 640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels)
Capture Speed
Continuous: 2.0 frames per second for 3 frames
Image Preview / Review
Viewfinder
No
LCD
2.4", 110,000 pixels
Lens
Lens Type
Sony 3x optical zoom
Image Stabilization
No
Focal Length
5.4 - 16.2mm (actual) 32 - 96mm (35mm equivalent)
Aperture Range
Wide: f2.8 - 5.6, Tele: f4.8 - 9.7
Focusing System
Center Weighted
Focusing Range
Normal: 20" - infinity (50 cm - infinity) Macro: 2.0"
Sony: entry-level 6mpix, 3x zoom digicam
