Sony Cyber-shot DSC-V1 Point & Shoot Camera
The Sony DSC-V1 is a 5MP 1/1.8 inch compact camera — with null video. Check GearFocus for current availability, with buyer protection on every purchase.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-V1 Point & Shoot Camera
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Camera Overview — Sony DSC-V1
Key Features — Sony DSC-V1
5MP 1/1.8-Inch Sensor: Larger-than-typical sensor for its era delivers a maximum resolution of 2592x1944 pixels with improved light capture compared to smaller compact formats.
Hybrid Laser + Contrast AF: Combines contrast detection with a laser assist system across 5 focus points, improving reliability in low-light conditions where contrast-only autofocus struggles.
14-Bit DXP Image Processing: 14-bit A/D conversion pipeline was a notable specification for a consumer compact at the time, contributing to smoother tonal gradation in output images.
Optical Tunnel Viewfinder: Provides a physical viewfinder as an alternative to the LCD, useful for composing shots in bright outdoor light.
Sony Advanced Accessory Shoe: Sony's proprietary accessory shoe supports compatible external flash units, extending lighting options beyond the built-in pop-up flash.
Four In-Camera Color Profiles: Standard, Vivid, Black & White, and Sepia modes allow some creative control over image output directly at capture without post-processing.
Camera Specifications — Sony DSC-V1
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Use Cases | Travel |
| Type | Point and Shoot |
| Sensor | 1/1.8 inch |
| Resolution | 5MP |
| Processor | 14-bit DXP A/D conversion |
| ISO Range | 100 – 800 |
| AF System | Contrast Detection, Laser AF |
| AF Points | 5 points |
| Max Photo Resolution | 2592x1944 |
| Burst Rate | 2 fps |
| Max Video Resolution | null |
| Max Frame Rate | Other |
Description — Sony DSC-V1
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-V1 is a 5MP point-and-shoot compact camera with a 1/1.8-inch sensor and 14-bit DXP A/D conversion image processing. Maximum still resolution reaches 2592x1944 pixels, and the camera supports burst shooting at 2 fps. Four color profiles — Standard, Vivid, Black & White, and Sepia — allow basic creative adjustments in-camera.
The autofocus system combines Contrast Detection and Laser AF across 5 focus points, a hybrid approach that helps in situations where lighting is less than ideal. The ISO range spans 100 to 800. For composing shots, users can choose between the 1.5-inch TFT LCD with 123,000 dots of resolution or the optical tunnel viewfinder.
Flash coverage from the built-in pop-up unit extends 0.5–3.5m at ISO 100, with the proprietary Sony Advanced Accessory Shoe enabling external flash attachment. The 298g body measures 99 x 65 x 57 mm and is built from plastic with metal accents with no weather sealing. Storage uses Memory Stick and Memory Stick PRO Duo formats, and the Sony NP-FC11 InfoLithium battery is rated for approximately 150 shots per charge.
USB connectivity is present; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are not.
Pros — Sony DSC-V1
- ✓Hybrid Contrast Detection + Laser AF system across 5 focus points aids accuracy in varied lighting
- ✓14-bit DXP A/D image processing pipeline for a 5MP sensor in this camera class
- ✓Built-in pop-up flash plus proprietary hot shoe support for external flash via Sony Advanced Accessory Shoe
Cons — Sony DSC-V1
- ✗No image stabilization of any kind — neither in-body nor digital
- ✗ISO ceiling of 800 limits flexibility in low-light situations
- ✗Storage limited to Memory Stick and Memory Stick PRO Duo, a proprietary format with limited modern availability
Videos — Sony DSC-V1
Tiny but POWERFUL Sony Camera — snappiness