Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N1 Digital Camera and Image Viewer Announced

Sony continues to come out with devices that define a new category.  With the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N1, you can take 8 megapixel pictures and then view/share then on the 3 inch touch screen LCD.  The N1's album feature can handle up to 500 images, so all you have to do is shoot away.  The N1 digital camera will be available in mid-November for about $500 online at SonyStyle.com.

When you take a shot, the full resolution image is stored to the Memory Stick Duo media and a 640x480 image is stored on the cameras internal memory that is reserved for the album.  The album has all the features in your typical album - slideshows, browsing, etc.

Press Release:

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 3, 2005 Sony is adding more enjoyment and value to your digital photography with its new full-featured compact digital camera with built-in photo sharing functions that go beyond just picture taking.

About the size of a deck of playing cards, the stylish Cyber-shot DSC-N1 camera is a high-performance, 8-megapixel model, with a large, 3-inch, touch-screen LCD, which is rare for a compact camera of this size. The new model features a new album function that automatically stores up to 500 of your favorite images in VGA resolution, and uses them to create dynamic slide shows with music and transition effects right in the camera.

"Since the introduction of compact cameras with large LCDs, people have increasingly been using their cameras to not only capture moments, but also share and show them immediately on the LCD screens," said James Neal, director of digital imaging products at Sony Electronics.

All You'll Need in a Compact Camera

With its 8-megapixel Super HAD CCD, its resolution is extraordinary for a compact camera. The Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar lens lets you capture images with the utmost sharpness and clarity.

Sony's Real Imaging Processor LSI provides excellent color accuracy and fast response times. Its advanced power management system delivers up to 270 shots per charge (actual battery life depends on usage conditions). With shutter lag minimized to just nine milliseconds, you won't miss life's most important moments.

Moreover, the new N1 model offers excellent ISO sensitivity, which is of particular importance when shooting in low-light conditions. You can capture faster action at night with less blur or, in certain conditions, avoid using a flash altogether.

With an optional Memory Stick PRO Duo media card, shooting high-quality video is a breeze. MPEG-VX fine mode allows you to record MPEG video with 640x480 pixel resolution at 30 frames per second, up to the capacity of a compatible media card.

Your Pictures on the Big Screen

The camera's 3-inch LCD screen is almost the size of an actual photograph - large enough for easy viewing. Its menu functions are accessible with your finger or thumb. An innovative touch-screen interface reduces the need for traditional keys next to the LCD, allowing for a large screen in a very compact body.

Sony's Clear Photo LCD technology creates bright images with high-contrast that are easy to view in virtually any environment.

Store Up to 500 of Your Favorite Photos

The album function automatically stores up to 500 of your favorite images. By recording each image separately, once in full-resolution and again in 640x480-resolution, your favorite images accumulate for easy recall and sharing wherever you go.

When you release the shutter, the full-resolution image is saved to an optional Memory Stick Duo media card or in the camera's 26MB of internal memory. Automatically, the image is resized to 640x480 and stored in the portion of the camera's internal memory dedicated to the album.

The album function lets you protect the images you want to keep, so that over time you will have a collection of your favorite photos with you wherever you go. And with its file management system, you can quickly locate your images; simply search for pictures by the month and date that you originally created them.

To expand your playback options, you can view your photos on your television, through the optional Cyber-shot Station cradle, or on your PC.

For even greater personalization, the new camera also has a distinctive paint function that lets you draw symbols or words on the pictures in your album using your finger or the supplied stylus.

Dynamic Slide Shows Without a PC

Now you can bring your photos to life with this latest model's slide show function. It creates slide shows directly on the camera without using a PC. Images can be played back with such advanced features as transitions, pans, wipes, fades and zooms, and choreographed to pre-loaded soundtracks. Depending on your PC configuration, you can also use your own music with the supplied software. Built-in speaker give your slide shows that cinematic effect with sound to complete the experience.

More for Your Memories

You can connect the camera to a Sony DPP-FP50 digital photo printer and make prints at home or turn them into postcards or even calendars.

If you need to print tens or even hundreds of pictures, or want to share funny video clips, there is the option of using Sony's online photo service. At www.imagestation.com, you can create your own online photo and video albums, order prints, or make customized gifts from coffee mugs and photo books to calendars and T-shirts.

The camera comes supplied with a Lithium Ion battery, battery charger, multi-connector cable, wrist strap, stylus, and software CD-ROM. Optional accessories include the Cyber-shot Station cradle, a marine pack, and leather carrying case.

The Cyber-shot N1 digital camera will be available in mid-November for about $500 online at SonyStyle.com, at Sony Style retail stores (www.sonystyle.com/retail), and at authorized dealers nationwide. Pre-orders begin online today at www.sony.com/n1.