Sony Japan announces DSC-F55DX! (UPDATED)
By
Mike Tomkins
(Thursday, February 22, 2001 - 12:10 EST)
Sony releases minor update to the DSC-F55V in Japan; adds support for i-Jump, Picture Paradise...
Sony Japan has today officially announced the new DSC-P30 and DSC-P50 digital cameras which we saw at PMA, as well as what appears to be a minor update to the DSC-F55V digital camera (itself an update to the DSC-F55K).
The DSC-F55DX features specifications almost identical to those of its elder sibling, including a 37mm-equivalent fixed focal length lens on a 180-degree swivel, 3.34 megapixel CCD with only 2.6 megapixels effectively used due to sensor masking, 2" LCD display and MemoryStick storage.
In fact, the only changes we can spot are that the camera is now listed as compatible with Sony's Picture Paradise software (which permits image viewing/editing on the PlayStation 2 games console), and with the i-Jump service which allows Japanese users to send image thumbnails from their PC to up to 16 cellular phone users. It is likely that the camera has had its software updated to match the newer models announced alongside it, as well.
With such minimal changes we would guess that the new model will likely not be sold outside of Japan, however we'll let you know if we hear otherwise! Without any further ado, full specs for the DSC-F55DX (already in our database as well) follow:
| Specification Highlights - full specifications here | | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F55DX |  | | General | | Model Number: | DSC-F55DX | | Camera Format: | Compact | | Retail Price: | Unknown | | Date Available: | 2001-04-20 (Japan only) | | Image Capture | | Image Sensor: | 0.55" 3.34 megapixel RGBG CCD (2.60 megapixel effective) | | Image Resolution: | 2240x1680 (interpolated), 1856x1392, 1600x1200, 1280x960, 640x480 | | Lens | | Focal Length (effective): | 37 mm (Fixed focal-length) | | Digital Zoom: | 3x | | Auto Focus: | Yes | | Manual Focus: | Yes | | Normal Focus Range: | 25 cm to Infinity; 10.2 in to Infinity | | Macro Focus Range: | 10cm - 25 cm; 4.1 - 10.2 in | | Aperture Range: | f/2.8 - f/8 | | Display | | Optical Viewfinder: | Yes (Real Image type) | | LCD Viewfinder: | Yes (2.0 inch, 122000 pixel) | | Exposure | | ISO Settings: | Unknown | | White Balance Settings: | Auto, 3 preset, manual | | Manual White Balance: | Yes | | Shutter Speeds: | 8 - 1/1000 second | | Exp Adj Range: | +/- 2.0EV | | Metering Modes: | Center-weighted, Spot metering | | Exposure Modes: | Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual | | Self Timer (seconds): | 10 | | Flash | | Internal Flash: | Yes | | Flash Modes: | Auto, On, Off | | Flash Range Description: | 0.3 - 2.5 meters | | Ext Flash: | No | | Image Storage | | Flash Memory: | MemoryStick | | Memory Included (MB): | 8 | | File Formats: | JPEG, TIFF, GIF, MPEG | | More Information | | Remote Control: | No | | Tripod Mount: | Yes | | Weight: | 300 g; 10.5 oz | | Weight With Batteries? | Yes | | Size: | 103 x 79 x 48 mm; 4.1 x 3.1 x 1.9 in | | Notes & Features: | Updated version of the DSC-F55V. Features in-camera crop and resize capability. Adds support for i-Jump software which sends image thumbnails to cellular phones. Adds support for Sony's Picture Paradise software on the PlayStation 2 platform. |
UPDATED 2001-02-22 15:08ET: The PC Watch website has posted a news item detailing the Japanese DSC-P30 / DSC-P50 / DSC-F55DX launches. There are no new details on exactly what differs on the DSC-F55DX as compared to the DSC-F55V, but PC Watch's Yamada Kumio has provided three photos of the new camera which may be of interest...
UPDATED 2001-02-26 16:56ET: Sony have confirmed for us that the DSC-F55DX is a Japan-only model, and that there are no plans to introduce this camera in the United States.
Source:
Sony Japan website
Thanks to
Yamada Kumio / digitalcamera.gr.jp
for this item!
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