One of three generally similar cameras released in the late Spring of
this year, the DSC-P51 is the "middle one". Its resolution is
the same as the DSC-P31, 2-megapixel, but it adds a short 2X zoom.
Similarly,
it too is primarily a point and shoot, but one that provides a few simple
shooting modes that extend its capability.
The camera is turned on at the press of a small button on top, which also
turns on a small green LED. Since the DSC-P51's zoom lens is internal
— only a protective barrier is retracted — power up is very
fast.
Towards the front, a 2-stage shutter release provide AE/AF lock at mid-course.
The
Mode Dial of the P51 is placed on the upper back, as is the case
with its brethren the P31
and P71. The Dial
provides for 3 recording modes, Playback and a Setup
position:
Auto Mode:
fully automatic recording mode.
Scene
Mode: is the access for the Twilight mode, the Twilight Portrait
mode and the Landscape mode.
Movie/Clip
Motion/Multi Burst Mode: to record MPEGs, animated GIF files,
or image bursts (no sound).
Playback:
to review captured images.
Setup:
to set basic parameters for the camera such as date and time.
Just
like the DCS-P31, the DSC-P51 has a Power Save Switch on the left
of the Mode Dial. When the switch is set to OFF, the LCD screen
is brighter, and the flash can be set to Auto mode — it fires as
required — even after the camera has been turned off and then back
on. With the Power Switch at ON the camera automatically
cancels the flash when powering up, and reduces the brightness of the
LCD screen.
The optical zoom button on the right of the Mode Dial serves a dual purpose.
Aside from controlling the zoom position, it is also used in Playback
to display thumbnails of the photos stored on the Memory Stick by pressing
the W side, or to magnify any one image up to 5X by pressing
on the T side.
Still
another function of the zoom button — accessed by pressing the
W side twice — is to display 3 thumbnail images at a time on the
upper part of the screen, while showing all the shooting data for the
centre photo. The DSC-P51 is able to indicate:
aperture,
shutter
speed,
exposure
compensation,
ISO
setting,
metering
mode,
flash,
white
Balance.
Below
the optical viewfinder and to the left of the 1.5 inch LCD screen, are
the other controls for the DSC-P51. The first on the left is the Menu
button, which calls up a menu appropriate to the recording mode the camera
is in, or the playback mode. Next to it is the Display/LCD button
which permits turning the screen On or Off, and can also overlay more
or less information about camera settings.
Further to the left is a grouping of 5 small holes that cover the speaker
for the camera sounds. As the DSC-P51 isn't equipped with a microphone,
the speaker is used exclusively for the beeps and other audible warnings
produced by the camera.
The Multi-Function
Control Button is used to navigate the menu, and instantly select certain
functions:
Flash
Modes: Auto, Forced Flash, No Flash. (Red-eye reduction is engaged
in the Setup Menu.)
Spot
Metering: meters the precise centre of the scene at a point
indicated by a cross at the centre of the screen. It is an alternative
to the default "Averaging" metering pattern.
Self
timer: provides a 10 second delay before the shutter release.
Quick
Review: serves to immediately display the last captured photo.
The common
points between the DSC-P51 and, in particular, the DSC-P31 far outnumber
the differences. Put simply, these are cameras that share a similar design
and similar functions, so much so that their menus are identical. In fact,
the major distinction of the DSC-P51 is its 2X zoom lens. 'Simple to operate
and easy to carry' can be considered the hallmarks of the series.
