Editorial Product Review:Item Description:There's no waiting to take a shot with the new DSC-P41 Cyber-shot digital camera from Sony. Thanks to its Real Imaging Processor, the DSC-P41 starts up fast, takes less time between shots, and has less of a lag time between pressing the shutter button and taking the picture. It even uses less power than other cameras in its class.The DSC-P41 includes features you would expect of a camera twice its price, such as 4.1 Megapixel image sizes, a 1.5-inch LCD screen, slow shutter noise reduction, and 5 area multi-point auto focus. It even includes PictBridge compatibility for easy printing without a computer and MPEG Movie VX modes for simple video capture.
Amazon.com Item Description:Blending an amazing array of features for a budget digital camera, the Sony DSCP41 is a perfect point-and-shoot camera for spontaneous moments you'll treasure forever. The DSCP41 offers a 4-megapixel resolution to capture even the tiniest detail, 3x digital zoom, 4-shot burst mode, and a high-resolution movie mode that's limited only by your Memory Stick's capacity. For a step up in price, the Sony DSCP73 offers a 3x optical zoom, A/V connection to view images on your TV, and a histogram display.
Optics and Resolution The 1/2.7-inch Super HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD allows more light to pass to each pixel, increasing sensitivity and reducing noise, and provides a 4.1-megapixel effective resolution (2304 x 1728). The Real Imaging Processor offers greater clarity and picture quality as well as improved response time and battery life and decreased shutter lag. The DSCP41 has a fixed focus lens, but you can get closer to the action with its 3x digital zoom.
Movie Mode Capture video with audio at 30 frames per second (fps) at VGA size 640 x 480; the included 16 MB memory card will store 42 seconds of video at this setting. Movie length is only limited by the amount of storage you have on hand. The Video Mail mode captures a smaller movie (160 x 112 pixels) that's more suitable to sending to friends and family via e-mail.
More Features - Resolution modes: 2304 x 1728 (4.1MP), 2048 x 1536 (3MP), 1280 x 960 (1MP), 640 x 480 (VGA)
- 1.5-inch, 64K LCD monitor makes framing shots and reviewing pictures easy.
- Auto Bright Monitoring: To help framing in low-or no-light situations, CCD gain is briefly increased to provide an extra bright display on the LCD viewfinder just before exposure.
- Selectable Focus Mode: Monitoring AF (Auto Focus) helps you anticipate the action by focusing even before you press the shutter release.
- 5 Area Multi-Point Auto Focus: By evaluating 5 separate focus areas of the frame, SonyÕs Multi-Point AF system can intelligently focus on the subject and avoid mistakenly focusing on the background.
- AF (Auto Focus) Illuminator: Briefly illuminating the subject, in low--or no--light conditions, the AF Illuminator helps establish a positive focus lock.
- Multi-Pattern Measuring: Independently light-metering 49 points of the frame, Multi-Pattern Measuring establishes the optimum exposure, even when highlight and shadow isnÕt centered in the frame.
- Scene Selection Mode: With 6 Scene Modes, parameters can be matched to the shooting conditions. Choose from one of the following: Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape, Soft Snap, Candle, or Beach.
- Optical Viewfinder: Provides accurate framing at eye level, great for added stability and following fast moving subjects.
- Slow Shutter Noise Reduction: During long exposures, Slow Shutter NR captures the scene, and then the CCD noise pattern with a dark frame exposure. By subtracting the two, even long exposures can be clear.
- Pre-Flash Metering: With a momentary pre-flash, the camera illuminates the subject and sets exposure through the lens for accurate flash metering. Adjustable flash level and red-eye reduction ensure great flash shots.
- Auto Daylight Synchro Fill Flash: If the Multi-Pattern Measuring system determines the subject is backlit or in shadow, fill flash automatically fires to provide optimum exposure.
- 4 Shot Burst Mode: Capture up to 4 shots (fine) or 6 shots (standard) at 1.3 frames/sec. even at 4 MP resolution. Perfect for high speed subjects or fast moving action such as sports.
- Multi-Burst Mode: Captures 16 320 x 240 frames as part of a single 1280 x 960 image which plays back sequentially in the camera (selectable 1/7.5, 1/15, 1/30 second).
- Playback Zoom: During playback, magnify the image up to 5 times with 17-step playback zoom for a closer look. Scroll to any part of the image with the cursor keys.
Direct Printing The Cybershot DSCP41 offers PictBridge functionality, which enables you to transfer pictures from your digital camera to a compatible printer--such as the Sony PictureStation DPP-EX50--without a PC or image-editing software. Images can be viewed and selected for printing right on the camera's LCD, with menus for print quantity, date, and index print.
Storage and Transfer Images are stored on Memory Sticks, and the Cybershot DSCP41 is compatible with Memory Stick Pro media--for storage up to 1 gigabyte. The included 16 MB Memory Stick will store 8 Fine and 14 Standard 4.1-megapixel images. The DSCP41 transfers images to PCs and Macs via a speedy USB 2.0 connection (which is backward compatible with USB 1.1 ports).
Power and Size The camera is powered by two AA batteries (alkalines included, NiMH rechargeables recommended). It measures 4 x 2.13 x 1.38 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 5.5 ounces without Memory Stick or batteries.
What's in the Box This package contains the Sony DSCP41 digital camera, 16 MB Memory Stick, two AA alkaline batteries, USB cable, wrist strap, and CD-ROM with photo editing software.
Sony Photo Vault The optional Sony Photo Vault mini CD burner eliminates worry about running out of space on your Memory Stick when travelling. It burns images to mini CD-R's without a PC interface--just connect your camera using a USB cable. The Photo Vault also has a Memory Stick slot (compatible with Memory Stick Pro and Duo) and features a built-in photo album capability to display photos on a television screen using a television's standard AV input.
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Buyer Reviews
Average Buyer Rating:
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A swell little gizmo
I got this a couple years ago. Still works like a charm.
Customer Rating: -
nice little camera for everyday use
I take pictures professionally at a studio seasonally each year, so I'm pretty picky when it comes to cameras...that said there is such a thing as a BUDGET...and when you have one, you have one. For the money this is a really, really nice little camera. It has every single basic function you could want, takes 4 megapixel pictures, which are plenty sharp enough to print out for the family photo album and the likes, and even takes little motion videos.
One optional item that is a MUST is to upgrade to a 128 or 256 memory card...the little one it comes with only holds about 16 pictures, and little or no videos. The bigger cards can hold many many more, we usually end up with 70-80some pictures and 7-8 short videos on one card. ( I ended up buying one 128 and one 256)
Things we like: been dropped a couple times, splashed with minor amounts of water, and taken to the beach, and still works PERFECT!! Batteries tend to last a reasonable amount of time but you MUST use RECHARGEABLES!!! Regular AA batteries last maybe an hour or two, rechargeables last for days of regular use. Lightweight, nice size, (can fit in your pocket most times) controls are very easy to figure out and use!
Things we don't like: sometimes in low light the flash causes an extreme delay (you have to hold the button down part way to focus then push all the way to snap the shot) annoying but not too bad if you have patient subjects. Videos can NOT be shot in low light or you won't be able to see much of anything at all. No ZOOM options in the camera itself while taking photo (can be done later on the computer though)
All in all, a very nice camera for the money, we've been very happy with it!! THe only thing I would replace it with if I had the money is a "professional" grade digital with interchangeable lenses!
Customer Rating: -
I love my Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P41!!!!!
I received this product as a graduation present in December 2004. It is very lightweight and compact. It is great for point-and-shoot situations. I bought a 512MB memory stick recently, and I am able to take over 250 pictures now. The only complaint I have is the image size (Forgive me if my being a photo novice is showing). If you set the image size to either 3.2 or 4M, you cannot zoom in/out. But, if you set the image size to VGA, 1M or 3M, the zoom in/out will work. Otherwise, the camera has been great to use, and I have not had any problems with it thus far (knock on wood).
Customer Rating: 
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Not a good camera for long term
I had this camera for 1.5 years. It worked fine all this while but now when i switch on its malfunctions with a message "Turn the power on & off again".. peice of junk now....so if u want a camera which would work 4 to 5years don't buy this..
Regards
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