NewsJanuary 2006

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Sony Cyber-shot M2

CES 2006: Sony US today announced its successor to the M1, the Cyber-shot DSC-M2, which was originally revealed back in September by Sony Europe. Like the M1, the M2 is designed to combine the functionality of a digital stills camera and a digital video camera. It also shares the M1's unusual flip-out design.

Updated: specification added

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Press Release:

DOUBLE THE MEMORIES WITH SONY’S HYBRID CYBER-SHOT DIGITAL CAMERA FOR PHOTOS AND VIDEO

Advanced Technologies Put This Camera At The Top Of Its Class

LAS VEGAS (CES, Booth #14200), Jan. 4, 2006 – The new Sony Cyber-shot® DSC-M2 digital camera combines great quality digital still photography and impressive movie-shooting capabilities.

Featuring 5.1-megapixel resolution, a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar® lens and Sony’s Real Imaging Processor® circuitry, the camera offers outstanding image capture in either mode.
“We recognize that some people don’t want to have separate imaging devices for their photos and video,” said James Neal, director of digital imaging products at Sony Electronics. “Our new Cyber-shot has been specifically engineered for these people.”

A New Way To Record

Designed for optimal photo taking and video making, the camera’s vertical one-handed grip sits comfortably in the palm of your hand. With just a gentle push to the side of the LCD panel, the camera powers up, the 2.5-inch LCD screen flips out, and it is ready to shoot. Every moment becomes a full story with the camera’s hybrid record mode. When you press the shutter release, you get more than a snapshot. The camera automatically records five seconds of video before snapping the picture and three seconds after. There is no longer a need to choose between stills and video – you can get both.

Sony’s MPEG MOVIE 4TV movie function captures full-screen, high-quality video. At 640 x 480 VGA resolution and 30 frames per second, the resulting clips are ideal for viewing on television. The model’s sensor has been optimized with a high refresh rate, doubling the horizontal resolution.

The camera’s MPEG4 compression captures high-quality video in far less space than other cameras using MPEG1 technology. You can record high-resolution still images and video clips without a large-capacity media card. Or, you can purchase a 2 GB Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media card and record up to 1-1/2 hours of continuous video. Additionally, the new camera offers stereo audio recording to truly capture the full experience of being there with surprising fidelity for such a compact device. And, while some digital cameras do not let you zoom in movie mode, the DSC-M2 model continues to zoom in all modes.

The camera is supplied with Nero Vision Express 3 software so that editing footage and burning it to DVD is effortless. Convert video clips into home videos for everyone to enjoy. The supplied Cyber-shot Station cradle provides a convenient connection point for television viewing, USB transfer, and in-camera battery charging.

On-Camera Show and Tell

The new camera features pocket album and slide show plus movie functions to maximize your viewing enjoyment. With each full-resolution image shot and stored on your Memory Stick, the camera’s pocket album function automatically stores a duplicate 640x480 resolution image in its internal memory, which holds 1,100 images. When the maximum capacity is reached, unprotected images are deleted leaving ample room for your favorites in pocket album for sharing wherever you go.

The camera’s slide show function brings photos to life without using a PC. Images and video can be played back with pans, wipes, fades and zooms, and then choreographed to pre-loaded soundtracks. You can even upload your own music to personalize slide shows using the supplied Picture Package software. A built-in speaker gives your slide shows that cinematic effect with sound to complete the experience. And, of course, a television can be connected for added enjoyment.

More Ways to Enjoy Cyber-Shot Digital Cameras

The camera’s image resolution is ideal for making high-quality prints. Simply connect the model to a Sony DPP-FP50 digital photo printer and print from the convenience of your own home. You can even create postcards or calendars using the printer’s supplied software. With Sony’s ImageStation® online photo service, you can expand your options to print tens or even hundreds of pictures, create online photo and video albums, or make customized gifts from coffee mugs and photo books, to calendars and T-shirts.

Stylish and compact, the Cyber-shot DSC-M2 camera is finished in an elegant silver metallic aluminum case. The unit will be available this month online at Sonystyle.com, at Sony Style retail stores (www.sonystyle.com/retail), and for about $500 at authorized dealers nationwide. Pre-orders begin today at www.sony.com/M2

The camera is supplied with a Cyber-shot Station™ cradle, which makes charging and connecting to a computer, printer or TV even simpler; an InfoLITHIUM™ battery; AC adapter; AV/USB cables, PicturePackage v. 1.2.1 and Nero Vision Express 3 software; and a wrist strap. Optional accessories include a form-fitting case (LCS-MHB) for about $40, a travel charger (BC-TR1) for about $60 and a tripod (VCT-R100) for about $35.

DSC-M2 specifications

Sensor	•1/2.5" Type CCD • 5.1 million effective pixels
Image sizes	• 2592 x 1944 • 2592 x 1728 (3:2) • 2048 x 1536 • 1280 x 960 • 640 x 480
Movie clips	• 640 x 480 • 320 x 240 • 30 / 15 fps • With Stereo Audio • MPEG-4
File formats	JPEG
Lens	• Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar • 38 -114mm equiv. • Wide-angle: F3.5 - 8.0 • Tele: F4.3 - 10.0
Image stabilization	No
Conversion lenses	No
Digital zoom	2x
Focus	• 5 Area Multi-Point AF • Center Weighted AF • Spot AF
AF assist lamp	Yes
Focus distance	• Minimum focus distance: 50cm • Macro focus distance: 8cm • Magnifying glass mode 1cm
Metering	Multi pattern
ISO sensitivity	• Auto • ISO 64 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400
Exposure compensation	• +/-2.0 EV • 1/3 EV steps
Aperture	• Wide-angle: F3.5 - 8.0 • Tele: F4.3 - 10.0
Modes	• JPEG Fine/Standard • Burst • Multi Burst • Auto Bracketing
Scene modes	• Beach • Candle • Fireworks • High Speed Shutter • Landscape • Magnifying Glass Mode • Snow • Twilight • Twilight Portrait
White balance	• Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Fluorescent • Incandescent • Flash
Self timer	10 sec
Continuous shooting	3 fps
Image parameters	Black and White, Sepia
Flash	• Auto • Force On • Off • Slow Synch
Viewfinder	None
LCD monitor	• 2.5" TFT Hybrid LCD • 123,000 pixels
Connectivity	• DC-IN • Video out • USB 2.0
Print compliance	PictBridge
Storage	• Optional Memory Stick Duo Media • Optional Memory Stick PRO Duo Media
Power	• InfoLithium Ion (NP-FT1) battery • AC-LM5 battery charger supplied
Weight (no batt)	180 g (6.6 oz)
Dimensions	51.2 x 123.1 x 32 mm (2 x 4 7/8 x 1/14 in)

Additional images