Sony Readies 7-Megapixel Digicam

Sony Electronics has announced its new Cyber-shot DSC-P150 digital still camera will be released in September priced less than $500.

Although even 8-megapixel models are starting to appear, Sony's pricing is noteworthy in a part of the market where price tags approaching $1000 are common. Some 6-megapixel models are available for that price, however.

Camera Specs

The new camera is a point-and-shoot model that features 7.2-megapixel resolution, but is small enough to fit in a shirt pocket or handbag.

The camera sports circuitry that Sony says ensures fast startup and shot-to-shot times and speeds up auto focus and auto exposure. It has a Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar 3x optical zoom lens and can get about 310 shots per charge out of the InfoLithium battery, according to Sony. It's also equipped with a 1.8-inch LCD screen.

Users can adjust flash and exposure settings manually, and the camera features nine built-in preset scene modes for commonly used settings like landscapes, snow, beach, and fireworks. The camera supports PictBridge, a technology that enables users to output images directly to a supported printer without having to use a computer first. It includes a 32MB Memory Stick media card and is also compatible with Sony's high-capacity Memory Stick Pro cards.

Digicam Accessories

Available separately is the Cyber-shot Marine Pack, which lets the camera operate underwater at depths up to 132 feet.

Also avaialable is the Cyber-shot Station, a new $80 docking accessory that can connect the camera to a television or transfer files to a Mac or PC using USB, while charging the camera's battery. The DSC-P150 also works with optional telephoto and wide-angle conversion lenses.