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Sony Cybershot DSCP41 4MP Digital Camera
From Sony

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 Sales Rank: #37037 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Sony
• Model: DSC-P41
• Display size: 1.5

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.

Awesome Camera!
This is an amazing price for a Sony 4-Megapixel Digital Camera. I think the reason it's cheaper than most is because it doesn't have an optical zoom. That doesn't bother me; the 3x digital zoom is just fine.

Unlike most, this really is a point-and-shoot camera. It is MUCH faster than my old DSC-P50. It powers on in about 2 seconds and processes an image in less than a second. My DSC-P50 takes about 5 seconds to power on and 10 seconds to process an image.

The still picture quality is amazing. The video clips it shoots are not bad, but it's no substitute for a video camera. The sound quality is good on a computer but the built-in speaker is not very loud.

The battery life is good with alkalines and excellent with 2000 mAh NiMH batteries; I have had the camera over a week now and have taken about 50 pictures, viewed them, downloaded them, and I still am using the same pair of NiMH batteries.

My only complaint is that it doesn't include the NiMH batteries or a sufficient Memory Stick. The included 16MB Memory Stick only stores 8 pictures! A 256MB Memory Stick will store 120-130 pictures at 4-Megapixel quality.

Overall, this is a perfect digital camera for anyone who needs a lightweight, compact camera that shoots great quality pictures for a great price.

Nice camera, but not as inexpensive as it seems
I bought this camera three months ago and so far I'm happy with it. This is my first true digital camera, so I can't compare it with other models.

Setup was a bit confusing at first. Let me explain. If your computer is running Windows XP and you want to use the Microsoft Scanner & Camera Wizard (which I highly recommend) to copy and transfer images/videos to your hard drive, you need to first turn on the camera, turn on the LCD screen, go into setup and change the USB setting from "Normal" to "PTP". Otherwise the Scanner & Camera Wizard will not launch when the camera is plugged in. At least it didn't on my computer. The instruction manual from Sony does not mention this. If you're using XP, you don't need to install the Sony driver or "Picture Package" program included with the CD-ROM.

This camera comes with a 16MB memory stick, which stores all your images and videos. After a while, you're going to want to get a memory stick that holds more data so that you don't have to repeatedly format the stick to free up space. For example, you can only record 43 seconds of video with a 16MB memory stick. With a 128MB memory stick you can record over 5 minutes of video and many more snapshots. A 512MB memory stick gives you even more space.

The Sony DSCP41 comes with 2 alkaline batteries, which will expire after about 2-3 hours of use. So you'll need to get rechargeable batteries and a rechargeable powerpack. That will cost you about $50-55.

There is no included camera case, so you'll have to get one of those too, assuming you want to protect your camera. I got a cheap one for about $8. Now the total price tag for everything is around $300. Not so cheap anymore, is it?

For the first few weeks, I used the lowest pixel size, VGA (640x480) to take snapshots. However, I became unhappy with the picture quality at that setting, and boosted it to 1MP (mega pixel.) Now images looks much better. As expected, images at the 4.1MP pixel rate come out even sharper. However, pics at that size are HUGE, so you will probably want to shrink them down a bit before emailing.

The LCD screen allows you to preview the pics and videos you've taken before transferring them to your computer. You can even hear the videos you recorded, although the camera speakers are not very good. If you don't like a pic or video, you can delete it from the camera's memory before transferring it to your computer.

The DSCP41 can record video clips with sound. However, if you move the camera too fast, the video comes out blurry. Recorded sound quality is quite good.

There are a lot of small buttons on the back of the camera that control a variety of settings. This may seem intimidating at first, but if you're patient and study the instruction manual you'll figure it out eventually. The DSCP41 camera is quite small, and you'll want to avoid getting dirt or fingerprints on the lenses & LCD screen. No easy task if you have big hands.

Unplugging the USB cord from the Sony DSCP41 is somewhat of a nuisance. You have to pull fairly hard to get it loose, yet be careful not to damage the camera or cord at the same time.

So to summarize, this is a good camera with a lot of features. However, the accessories I mentioned will add a lot more to your bill.

Very good camera and price balance
I got this camera because I find on the "Cybershot DSCP41 4MP" a very good balance between Product & Price, some good things are that doesn't need a software to connect it to my computer, has a very good resolution, and the videos have good sound, also is one of the smallest of the Sony Cybershot family, but something you need to know is that this camera has a USB cable to connect it to the computer, but doesn't have a A/V cable to connect it to your TV as many cameras, not even if you have already this cable you will be able to do it, not a problem for me but think about it for you, besides the Memory Stick that cames with the product It's only 16 Mb (only about 12 pics on Max resolution, wich is the idea to use all resolution, If is not, what is the point to get a 4 Mega pixel camera??) I suggest you to buy also a "Sony MSA128A 128 MB Memory Stick" for about $50 and the "SanDisk SDDR-97-A15 MS reader" for $15, and you'll see that you have a good camera team for a very good price, I already buy here on amazon all the things than on my review suggest for every one, and I'm happy with them