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Sony CyberShot DSC-P50 Sony develops an affordable, full-featured 2.1-megapixel compact digicam with great picture quality! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet CyberShot DSC-P50 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on CyberShot DSC-P50 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Camera Modes & Menus :(Previous) | (Next): Video, Power, Software>> Page 10:Image Storage & Interface Review First Posted: 4/4/2001

Image Storage and Interface
The P50 uses the proprietary Sony Memory Stick technology for image storage. A 4MB Memory Stick is supplied with the camera and additional media are available up to 64MB. Individual images can be write-protected from accidental erasure (except through card reformatting) via the Protect option under the Playback settings menu. Individual write-protection also prevents the image from being changed in any way, such as rotating or resizing. The entire Memory Stick can be write-protected by sliding the lock switch on the stick into the locked position, which also guards against the entire stick being formatted.

The P50's LCD monitor reports the current number of images captured and shows a small graphic to let you know approximately how much space is left on the Memory Stick. The camera also tells you approximately how many images are available, depending on the resolution size and quality settings. (In Movie mode, the camera reports the available recording time.) Through the Playback settings menu, you can designate whether the camera sequentially numbers each image (regardless of changing the Memory Stick) or restarts file numbering with each new Memory Stick. The Playback menu also offers a resizing option, as well as a rotate tool. The camera's DPOF compatibility allows you to mark specific images for printing. Through the Setup menu, you can decide whether or not to print the date and/or time on the image as well.

Available still image sizes include 1,600 x 1,200, 1,600 (3:2 ratio), 1,024 x 768, 640 x 480, and 320 x 240 pixels (E-Mail recording option). Movie file sizes are 320 x 240 and 160 x 112, or 160 x 120 and 80 x 72 pixels for Clip Motion files. In addition to the uncompressed TIFF file format, the P50 offers both Fine and Standard JPEG compression levels, and a GIF option (in the form of Text and Clip Motion recording modes).

Below are the approximate still image capacities and compression ratios for a 4MB card (for the main resolution sizes):

Image Capacity vs Resolution/Quality 4MB Stick of Memory		TIFF	Fine	Standard
Highest Resolution 1600x1200	Images	0	3	7
	Approx. Compression	N/A	6:1	11:1
High Resolution 1024x768	Images	N/A	10	16
	Approx. Compression	N/A	6:1	9:1
Standard Resolution 640x480	Images	N/A	23	58
	Approx. Compression	N/A	5:1	13:1

The P50 is also accompanied by a USB cable for quick connection to a PC or Macintosh, as well as a software CD containing interface software and USB drivers. Data transfer to the host computer is about average among USB-connected cameras we've tested, with a data transfer rate of 288 KB/second.