Small 3x zoom digicam CYBER-SHOT DSC-L1

A review and photo example of the SONY Cybershot DSC-L1.

Gallery
Review
Specification and more
Reference links

Gallery

Review

Overview
Usability
Summary

1．Overview

The SONY CYBER-SHOT DSC-L1 is a compact digital camera manufactured by Sony that was released on November 5, 2004.
The camera I own is the Snow White version that was released on December 3.
The fish-boko-like shape is a rather fresh design in 2024.

The lens is a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 4.8-14.5mm (32-96mm in 35mm equivalent) F2.8-5.1 zoom lens.

The battery can be used with the InfoLITHIUM compatible NP-FT1, as well as the InfoLITHIUM compatible NP-FD1 and non-InfoLITHIUM compatible NP-BD1.

2．Usability

The SONY CYBER-SHOT DSC-L1 has good response time, such as the camera’s startup time. When you press the power button, the lens cover opens and the lens protrudes, allowing you to take pictures.

The wide-angle 32mm equivalent is F2.8, so you can maintain a certain shutter speed even in relatively dark places, so you don’t have to worry too much about subject blur or camera shake, but the telephoto 96mm equivalent is F5.1, which is quite dark, so the shutter speed is slower and you will get more photos with subject blur and camera shake.

Even though it is a Carl Zeiss brand, it does not produce spectacular images, and it does not seem to reduce flare significantly in backlit situations. However, this is due to the limitations of the camera, including the sensor, so it cannot be said that the lens is the only cause. It is a lens that can be used without any complaints in normal use.

The results of the photos are quite noisy even during the day, due to the combination of a very small sensor from the early 2000s and 4 million pixels, and the noise increases as the light goes out.

The only recording format is JPEG, and the image size is 4 megapixels (2304×1728), so you can get images of sufficient quality for use on the web. As mentioned above, when zooming to the maximum telephoto, you need to be careful about blurring.

The rear LCD is 1.5 inches in size and has a resolution of 77,000 dots, so it is small and displays minimal information. Given the resolution, the preview display after shooting is only enough to understand the composition, and it is difficult to determine the focus position, so it is not very useful as a display.

The camera has a slide switch for shooting, playback, and switching between videos on the top, as well as a shutter, power, and zoom levers, and a menu on the back. There is a display, a trash can, and a 4-axis stick, so most operations can be completed with buttons without going to the menu screen.

The shooting range is 0.12m to infinity, and the auto focus mode seems to focus on the intended area to a certain extent, and I feel that the focus operation is better than the previous model DSC-U30. This camera is not equipped with a macro mode.

As the recording media is a Memory Stick Duo, memory cards are still readily available as of 2024, and you should be able to find some by searching the Internet.

As for additional information about the battery, I had an NP-BD1 battery on hand that is not compatible with InfoLithium, so I inserted it in the camera and it started up without any problems. However, the remaining battery charge no longer appears as a fraction.

3．Summary

In conclusion, to sum up the SONY CYBER-SHOT DSC-L1, it is a compact digital camera packed with Sony’s core technologies.

The basic specs of the camera are low – the sensor is tiny, the LCD screen is small, and there is no image stabilization – but the compact, kamaboko-shaped body is ingenious and original, making it a camera that you will be satisfied to own.

Specification ,Study and more

DSC-L1はDSC-S40と中身はほぼ同じである。
DSC-S40の詳細はリンク先を参照のこと。

Items	DSC-L1	DSC-U30	DSC-U40	DSC-U50
Focal length (35mm equivalent)	32～96	33	←	←
Number of pixels	4 megapixels	2 megapixels	←	←
Image Sensor Type	CCD	←	←	←
Image Sensor Size	1/2.7	←	←	←
Lens	Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar 4.8〜14.5mm F2.8～5.1	5mm F2.8	←	←
Min distance	0.12m〜	0.2m〜	←	←
Back LCD	1.5	1	←	←
Back LCD pixlels	77,000 dots	64,000 dots	←	←
Battery	NP-FT1	2 x AAA batteries	←	←
Recorded Media	MS Duo / Duo Pro	MS / MS PRO	MS Duo / Duo Pro	←
Camera Size W x H x D	95 × 44.3 × 25.7	85 x 40.3 x 29.7	82.8 x 39.0 x 26.0	99.9 x 40.5 x 24.9
Weight(g) 1:Only body 2:+Battery +Media	122 *1	89 1 123 2	90 *1	90 *1
Release date	2004.11.5 2004.12.3	2003.6.27	2003.11.14	2003.9.19
Body Color	Platinum Silver, Wine Red Stardust Blue Snow White	Silver Gold Orange Red Deep Blue Grey	Silver Black Deep Blue Red	Silver Black Orange

Options

Soft carrying case “LCS-LA”
Soft carrying case “LCS-LB”
Sports pack for DSC-L1 – “SPK-LA”

Reference links

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Update history

2025.7.21
2024.06.25
2023.02.19
2022.11.14