Product Description

Pick up this digital camera and keep your friends and relatives updated on your family's current events. The 3x optical/6x precision digital zoom lens catches close up shots that are stored on an included 8MB Memory Stick«. Download shots onto your computer via the USB connector with cable and driver. The 3.21 mp effective CCD image sensor (3.34 mp gross) captures clean sharp details in every photo opportunity. The intelligent flash and high-speed scan Autofocus are other great features.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #59809 in Camera & Photo
• Size: Medium Size
• Brand: Sony
• Model: DSCP31
• Dimensions: 2.30" h x 4.20" w x 1.60" l, 1.50 pounds
• Memory: 8MB
• Display size: 1.5

Features

• 2-megapixel sensor captures 1,600 x 1,200 images for prints at sizes up to 8 x 10 inches
• Autofocus lens with 3x digital zoom (no optical zoom)
• Included 8 MB Memory Stick holds 12 images at default settings
• Connects with PCs and Macs via USB port
• Uses 2 AA batteries(rechargeables included)

Amazon.com Product Description
Sony's DSC-P31 combines compact dimensions with an affordable 2-megapixel sensor and AA battery power. If you're looking for a take-anywhere camera that's easy to use and produces sharp images, the P31 is worth a closer look.

Optics and Resolution
The DSC-P31's 2-megapixel sensor captures enough detail for sharp prints at sizes up to 8 by 10 inches. For the typical family photographer, 2 megapixels is a great balance between price and performance. If you want a camera with even more resolution, you'll need to step up to a 3- or 4-megapixel model like the DSC-P71 or DSC-P9.

The autofocus lens does not have a true optical zoom, but a 2x digital zoom (6x total) works in much the same way. Remember, however, that digital zoom tends to reduce the sharpness and detail of your image, so it's not as useful as a true zoom lens. In low-light situations (a particular weakness for many digital cameras), a focus-assist lamp sends out a small patterned beam to help the camera accurately determine distance, and special circuitry automatically reduces the "static" that typically plagues nighttime digital shots.

To compose your images, either use the traditional camera viewfinder or the 1.6-inch LCD display (which is also used to review the shots you've taken). Having both types of viewfinders offers the best of both worlds: if you're used to using a film camera or want to conserve battery life, use the viewfinder. If you want to see exactly the picture you'll capture, use the LCD display.

More Features
Though the P31 is designed for point-and-shoot simplicity, there are several options for more adventurous photographers, including manual focus with macro, adjustable ISO and white balance settings, exposure compensation, and the ability to shoot black-and-white, sepia, solarized, and negative images.

Power
The P31 uses two AA batteries--a pair of high-capacity nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeables and charger are included. The benefit to using standard AA batteries instead of a custom proprietary battery is that AA batteries are widely available, so missing a once-in-a-lifetime shot due to dead batteries won't be an issue. The downside is that a digital camera will kill a set of alkaline batteries extremely quickly, especially if you're using the camera's LCD display. To ensure you'll always be ready for action, we recommend getting a second pair of batteries so you can always have one set in the camera and the other set in the charger.

Movie Mode
In movie mode, the camera captures silent video clips. Most digital cameras' movie modes are limited to 15- or 30-second clips, but in EX mode, the P31 can keep shooting until you've filled the memory card. The limited resolution of your movies guarantees that this feature won't replace your camcorder, but it's perfect for when you just want to capture a quick movie and e-mail it to a friend or relative.

Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on Memory Sticks, Sony's proprietary memory-card format. The included 8 MB stick holds approximately 12 images at the camera's default settings. Memory Sticks are reusable, but if you tend to take more than 12 images per outing you'll want a bigger card. A 128 MB stick is a great size for this camera, storing around 200 images. To transfer images to your computer, simply attach the included USB cable between your PC and your camera. Your computer should automatically recognize your camera and let you move the pictures to your hard drive. If you own a Sony desktop or laptop, your computer may already have a built-in Memory Stick reader.

Size
At 4.2 by 2.3 by 1.6 inches and 8.5 ounces fully loaded, the P31 is an extremely compact and portable digital camera.

Contents and Recommended Accessories
The package includes the DSC-P31 camera, two rechargeable NH-AA-D1 rechargeable batteries, BC-CS1 charger, video and USB cables, wrist strap, 8 MB Memory Stick, and software on CD.

Everything you need to get started is included in the box, but we recommend these accessories to make the most of your camera: a carrying case, a spare set of NiMH rechargeable size AA batteries, and a higher-capacity memory stick. Compatible accessories for this camera are listed near the top of this page. --Shane Burnett

Pros:

• 2-megapixel resolution is perfect for most users
• Compact dimensions make it easy to bring this camera along on outings
• Point-and-shoot operation makes it easy for even beginners to get great results

Cons:

• No optical zoom lens
• Movie mode lacks sound
• Proprietary Memory Stick memory card format less common and more expensive than other formats

Customer Reviews

Great Camera for the Price
For the money, this is the best camera for a person who wants to get their feet wet in the world of Digital Photos. It is ready to shoot out of the box with no settings to mess with, but also has many adjustible settings to help make great pictures. It comes with all the accesories you need, but you should plan on getting at least a 32mb Memory Stick. Also, right now Sony is giving a $[money] instant credit for an accessory from their webiste when you register the camera. I used this to buy the Quick charger kit. This comes with an extra pair of NiMH batteries, Quick Charger, and custom camera case. with the discount, it is about [money]. The quick charger will charge 2 batteries in about an hour and a half, or 4 batteries in about 4 hours. The charger included with the camera takes 13 hours to charge 2 batteries, so this is a good investment. The camera is small and easy to hold in your hand. The LCD screen is not big but good enough to size up your photos. The movie mode is OK, no sound but cool for taking little clips. The Twlight modes are great, I have got some great dusk and night pictures using the twlight modes. Overall, After buying a Memory Stick and the Charger kit, I feel I got a great camera for under [money] total.

Good Price Good Camera
I have read all the previous reviews ... about cameras and decide to get this babe. I am very happy with the price and [an] extra 128 MB memory stick ...

The only bad thing which nobody mentioned previously is the charging time. Sony includes a charger but not a fast charger. It means 2 NiMH batteries should charge approx 13 hours! While you can get chargers from Kodak and Olympus which charge 4 NiMH batteries in 4 hours.

Even in the manual it says Camera Starter Kit Model # ACC-CSNQ has a Super Quick Charger which charge the batteries faster, but it hasn't mentioned how much faster. Even in sony web site there is no information about charging time of Super Quick Charger unit. So, if anyone know the charging time of ACC-CSNQ Charger please write a review for others because it may be the second purchased after Sony P31. :)

Anyway, everything about this camera is fine except the batteries charging time which if you do normal shooting it won't be a problem for you because you may need to charge batteries rarely (once a week or in two weeks).

But if you want to take more than 150 photos non-stop every 3 hours, you probabely need to get a faster charger just in case. I suggest Kodak K2000, Olympus B-50SU, Lenmar Pro711, Lenmar Pro744 or Millenium CH4 Chargers which I have not used any of them but there are many kind people who wrote some reviews on them.

Thanks to all people who write reviews, God Bless You All ;)

A great camera, but made of plastic.
The P31 is a great camera but I have three complaints.

1) I am used to my old Canon AE1-P, in wich the camera body is made of metal. My AE1-P camera is 17 years old, I doubt that the plastic body of the P31 will last that long. Of course, it is much, much lighter. You can carry it in a shirt pocket.
2) It has these two plastic tabs, one covering the AC input and the other covering the USB/Video Out connectors. I am almost sure that before two years those fragile tabs will break.
3) Another contra is that it doesn't bring a camera case. Sony includes the Ni-Mh batteries and charger but doesn't include even a...case?

Aside from that, as I said, this is a great snapshot camera. If you keep the LCD turned off and don't use the flash frequently, the batteries should last long. The included 8Mb memory stick is not enough, so buy a 128Mb stick with the camera. I got a Lexar, and that is the one I use. The 8Mb stick is gathering dust in a drawer. I will buy another 128Mb stick when I go on vacations in the future. The 2Megapixels images take about 800K each, so you can store about 150 to 160 images.

The manual says that the batteries take 13 hours to fully charge. I don't know why they take that long, but I clocked them, and I was surprised to see that in fact, I took exactly 13 hours to charge them. No less, no more. If you take a lot of pictures, be prepared to buy 2 extra batteries also.

I was forgetting about my fourth complaint, the manual. There's a mention that you have two USB modes, Normal and PTP. They only say, you should use Normal. No further explanation of what PTP is.

I did some research and found that PTP stands for Picture Transfer Protocol. Windows XP understands it (I don't know if other versions do), and basically instead of showing the camera as an external drive in the windows explorer, it activates a Wizard that makes it simpler for non technical users to transfer the images to a PC.

I prefer the "Normal USB" mode, but it would be nice if the manual explained all the features of the camera.