Pre-CeBIT 2002: Sony Japan has today announced the four megapixel sucessor to the ultra-compact DSC-P5, the new DSC-P9. In a joint press release covering the recently announced DSC-P31 and DSC-P71 Sony Japan has also let the DSC-P9 out of the bag. The new DSC-P9 has a 3x optical zoom lens, 4 megapixel sensor, expanded white balance settings, multi-point AF (although in automatic mode) and the new 320 x 240 unlimited recording time MPEG Movie HQX. We've had a DSC-P9 'in house' for a week or so now in preparation for a review, unfortunately at this time Sony are still tweaking image quality so we can't post samples.

Sony DSC-P9 in pictures

Diminuitive proportions and an update design, the P9 retains the P5's great anti-reflective LCD and overall control layout. There are lots of 'incremental improvements' including the more noticable 'finger grip' on the front.
The DSC-P9 takes the InfoLithium C battery (which is the same size as four stacked Memory Stick's). As seems to be the trend in ultra-compacts it's one compartment door does all.	On the back of the DSC-P9 we now get a colour coded compartment door which conceals the power input for battery charging, USB in/out and A/V out. I wish more manufacturers would support in-camera charging, it's far more convenient.
Here's the DSC-P9 beside the recently announced (but lower priced) 3 megapixel DSC-P71. You can clearly see the difference in size. Don't be fooled, those are two very slightly different lenses.

Sony DSC-P9 specifications