Click on the Cyber-shot V3 for a QTVR tour The Cyber-shot DSC-V3 is a compact yet fully-featured 7.2-megapixel digital camera that was designed to satisfy the needs of advanced photographers. Housed in an all-black, metal alloy body that resembles a 35mm rangefinder camera, the DSC-V3 is equipped with a Carl Zeiss 4x optical zoom lens and loaded with state of the art digital features. It incorporates Sony's Real Image Processor to provide for fast start-up and shot-to-shot times as well as superior image quality. In-field framing and review has been greatly enhanced with its generous 2.5-inch color LCD and you'll enjoy the security and comfort offered by the large handgrip. The DSC-V3 provides a full range of exposure control that includes: Auto, Program AE, Shutter-speed priority, Aperture priority, Full Manual and 7 pre-programmed Scene modes. In addition it also offers the Sony exclusive Nightframing and NightShot modes which use its built-in infrared illuminators for image capture in total darkness up to 15 feet. To insure that the lens is always sharply focused, the DSC-V3 is equipped with Hologram AF illuminator that "paints" your subject with a safe laser pattern. Low-light shooting is further enhanced by slow-shutter noise reduction that produces the cleanest possible image. The DSC-V3 features a 5-area Multi-Point auto focus system. The camera evaluates five separate areas of the frame and then intelligently focuses on the subject, displaying the selected focus point, or the user can choose any of five points for manual control. The Multi-Pattern metering independently meters the light in 49 points of the frame to establish the optimum exposure, even when highlight and shadow aren't centered in the frame. There are options for center-weighted averaging and spot metering when desired. The ISO Sensitivity can be set to Auto or manually set to an equivalent of ISO 100, 200, 400 or 800. Select from still image sizes as large as 3072x2304 for prints all the way down to 640x480 for email or web page use. Images can be stored in standard JPEG with 2 quality levels, uncompressed TIFF, or CCD-RAW format. Menu options allow for adjustment of the color saturation, contrast and sharpness as well as special effects like sepia and black & white. Sony's 14-bit A/D Conversion captures a wider dynamic range from highlight to shadow. The builtin flip-up flash has modes for red-eye reduction and slow synchro and uses a pre-flash for precise metering of the exposure. It also has auto daylight synchro fill flash for backlit or shadowed subjects as well as dynamic flash white balance for greater color accuracy. The hot shoe allows the use of the advanced Sony HVL-F32X Auto-Programmable external flash. Motion video can be recorded in the MPEG-VX Fine mode that captures full screen VGA (640 x 480) resolution at 30fps or 16fps with audio. The length of these movies is only limited by the media. The camera is powered by a Sony NP-FR1 InfoLITHIUM rechargeable battery that supplies power for about 260 shots per charge. The battery is charged in the camera with the supplied AC charger / power adapter. DSC-V3 Major Features: 7.2-megapixel Sony CCD imager, up to 3072 x 2304 still image capture Carl Zeiss 4x Zoom, 34-136mm equivalent + 4x "Smart" digital zoom Large 2.5" TFT color (123,000 pixels) LCD screen JPEG, uncompressed TIFF and RAW file formats Burst mode captures up to 8 frames at 2fps VX Fine movie mode 640 x 480 w/audio 30fps, length limited only by media Auto, Program AE, Shutter speed priority, Aperture priority, Full Manual, plus 7 Scene modes Sony exclusive Nightframing and NightShot modes 5 Area Multi-point AF; auto or manually selectable AF point Sony exclusive Hologram Laser AF focus-assist system ISO Sensitivity: Auto, 100, 200, 400 or 800 Adjustable color saturation, contrast and sharpness Noise Reduction: Auto at 1/25 second or longer shutter speeds 14bit A/D Conversion - allows a wider dynamic range from highlight to shadow Auto pop-up flash with Red Eye Reduction and Slow Synchro Flash hot shoe for dedicated HVL-F32X Auto Programmable flash Full speed USB 2.0 Auto-Connect to host computer InfoLITHIUM rechargeable battery and AC charger/adapter included Dual media slots: Memory Stick Pro and CompactFlash Type I The Cyber-shot DSC-V3 is available now for about $700.

Physical Views

The Cyber-shot DSC-V3 and the Canon PowerShot G6 for comparison.

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Features & Controls

DSC-V3 Specifications CCD Imager 1/1.8" (.556") Sony Super HAD 7.2 Megapixel Effective Image Resolutions Still (JPEG Fine/Std or TIFF): 3072 x 2304 3072 x 2048 (3:2) 2592 x 1944 2048 x 1536 1280 x 960 640 x 480 RAW (3072 x 2304) Movie: VX Fine (640 x 480, 30fps) VX Standard (640 x 480, 16.6fps) HQX (320 x 240, 16.6fps) Presentation (320 x 240, 8.3fps) Video Mail (160 x 120, 8.3fps) Lens Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 4x Zoom, 7 to 28mm (34 to 136mm equivalent), F2.8 - F4.0 Filter Thread: 52mm with VAD-VHA conversion lens adapter ring Digital Zoom 8x "Precision Zoom" Focusing System 5 Area Multi-point AF: Automatic or manual selection of AF point Manual Focus: 14 Step Preset Focusing Ranges Standard AF: 19.7" (50cm) to Infinity A/F Macro: 3.9"(10cm) to Infinity Preset Manual Focus: 0.1m(3.9"), 0.2m, 0.3m, 0.5m, 0.8m, 1.0m, 1.5m, 2m, 3m, 5m, 7m, 10m, 15m or Infinity Auto Focus Assist Illumination Hologram AF assist up to 4.5m Aperture Control Automatic: F2.8 - F8.0 Aperture Priority: F2.8 - F8.0 Manual: F2.8 - F8.0 Shutter Control Automatic: 1/8 seconds to 1/2000 second Shutter Priority: 30 sec to 1/1000 Manual: 30 sec to 1/1000 Exposure Metering Multi-Pattern, Center-weighted averaging or Spot White Balance System Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent,Flash, and One-Push manual Exposure Compensation ±2 EV in 1/3 EV increments Exposure Control Full AUTO Program AE Shutter speed priority Aperture priority Full Manual Scene Mode (Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Portrait, Landscape, Beach, Snow, Candle) ISO Auto (100-800) or fixed 100, 200, 400, 800 Recording Mode(s) Still image: JPEG, Email (adds 320x240) 3 Shot Burst Speed Burst 16 frame Multi Burst 3 Shot AE Bracketing Sony Nightframing and NightShot Raw and Tiff modes DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) Print Reserve, All print reservation, Date/time; Trimming Noise Reduction Auto at 1/25 second or longer shutter speeds Clear Color / Clear Luminance NR Image Effects Sepia Black & White Viewfinder Optical real-image viewfinder LCD 2.5" TFT LCD (123,000 pixels) for viewing or reviewing Flash Built-in Flash, Auto pop-up type Flash Modes Auto Flash Red-eye Reduction Slow Synchro Fill-in (forced on) Flash Off Flash Working Range When ISO is set to Auto: 1.6 to 11.5 Feet (0.5 to 3.5m) Flash Hot Shoe Dedicated contacts for Sony HVL-F32X Auto-Programmable Flash Sony HVL-F1000 flash can be used via ACC port Removable Media Card Memory Stick/Memory Stick Pro or CompactFlash Type I Selftimer 10-second delay Outer Connectors USB (Auto-Connect) v2.0, Accessory, Video, DC input Auto-connect USB Compatible with Windows 98/98SE/ME/2000 Pro/XP - MacOS 8.5-9.2/OSX Supplied Software Pixela™ Image Mixer Software for Sony v3.5, USB Driver SPVD-008 Image Playback Index display 9 or 16 frames, up to 5X enlargement, Slide-show Operating Environment Operation: 32° F - 104°F (0°C - 40°C) Storage: -4° F to 140°F (-20°C to 60°C) Power Supply NP-FR1 4.4Wh InfoLITHIUM rechargeable battery AC-LS5 adapter/charger included Battery life:Approx. 260 shots (based on CIPA standards) Date/Time Calendar Simultaneous recording into image date Size 4.7 in. (W) x 2.8 in. (H) x 2.24 in. (D) (119.3mm x 72mm x 57mm) Weight 15 oz. / 410g (with battery, Memory Stick) Optional Accessories ACC-CSFC Starter Kit (LCS-CSFC, NP-FR1, MSAC-A8) NP-FR1 InfoLithium® Battery AC-LS5 AC Adaptor/In-camera Charger LCS-VHA Deluxe Soft Leather Carrying Case LCS-VHB Deluxe Semi-Soft Carrying Case LCS-CSB Sport Style Carrying Case LCS-CP2 General Carrying Case HVL-F32X External Auto-Programmable Flash HVL-F1000 External Flash VAD-VHA Conversion Lens Adaptor Ring VCL-DEH07V Hi-grade Wide End Conversion Lens VCL-DEH17V Hi-grade Tele end Conversion Lens VF-58CPKS Polarizing Filter Kit* VF-58M Neutral Density Filter Kit* VF-58SC Special Effects Filter Kit* MSA-32A, MSA-64A, MSA-128A Memory Stick® Media MSA-128S2 Memory Stick® Media with Select Function (256MB total) MSX-256, MSX-512, MSX-1G Memory Stick PRO Media MSAC-HGA8 Memory Stick® Media Carrying Case MSAC-US70 Memory Stick PRO Media USB Adaptor / Mouse MSAC-US20 Memory Stick PRO Media USB Adaptor MSAC-PC3 Memory Stick PRO Media PC Card Adaptor VMC-14UMB Replacement USB Cable RM-VD1 Multi-Function Wired Remote Control VCT-D680RM Remote Control Tripod VCT-R640 Lightweight Tripod VCT-MTK Travel Tripod * VAD-VHA Conversion Lens Adaptor Ring Required NOTE: These Specifications are as represented by the manufacturer.

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