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In addition to malfunctions and inability to 
record images, this may render the “Memory 
Stick” unusable or image data breakdown, 
damage or loss may occur.

The LCD screen and the LCD finder are 
manufactured using extremely high-
precision technology so over 99.99% of the 
pixels are operational for effective use. 
However, there may be some tiny black 
points and/or bright points (white, red, blue 
or green in color) that constantly appear on 
the LCD screen and the LCD finder. These 
points are normal in the manufacturing 
process and do not affect the recording in 
any way. 

Be careful when placing the camera near a 
window or outdoors. Exposing the LCD 
screen, the finder or the lens to direct 
sunlight for long periods may cause 
malfunctions.

When taking pictures outdoors in the rain or 
under similar conditions, be careful not to get 
the camera wet. If moisture condensation 
occurs, see page 99 and follow the 
instructions on how to remove it before using 
the camera.

This camera is equipped with an auto zoom lens. 
Be careful not to bump the lens, and be careful 
not to apply force to it. 

Illustrations used in this manual are of the DSC-
P71 unless noted otherwise.

The photographs used as examples of pictures in 
this manual are reproduced images, and are not 
actual images shot using this camera.

“Memory Stick,” 

, “MagicGate Memory 

Stick,” and 

, are trademarks of Sony 

Corporation.

 is a trademark of Sony 

Corporation.

Microsoft and Windows are registered 
trademarks of the U.S. Microsoft Corporation 
in the United States and other countries.

Macintosh, Mac OS, and QuickTime, are 
trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple 
Computer, Inc.

In addition, system and product names used in 
this manual are, in general, trademarks or 
registered trademarks of their respective 
developers or manufacturers. However, the 

™

 

or ® marks not used in all cases in this manual.

A

(20)

B

(20)

C

(26)

D

(30)

E

(29)

(31, 97)

F

G

H

Use a tripod with a screw length of less than 
5.5mm (7/32 inch). You will be unable to 
firmly secure the camera to tripods having 
longer screws, and may damage the camera.

5

6

7

8

1

2

3

4

A

B

(32)

C

D

(24)

E

F

(47)

G

(38) 

H

v

V

b

B

z

(20)

7

(27, 29, 

30, 61)

I

(82)

J

K

(19)

L

(21)

M

(28)

(37) 

N

O

P

Q

R

(23)

S

(19)

qh

ql

qj

qg

qf

qk

qd

qs

2

1

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

q;

qa

(30)

Use the following batteries in this camera.

R6 (size AA) Nickel-Metal Hydride 
batteries (2) 

NH-AA-DI  (2)  (supplied)

NH-AA-2DI  twin-pack  (recommended, not 
supplied)

Manganese batteries, lithium batteries, ni-
cad batteries, alkaline batteries (cannot be 
used with the DSC-P71)

Use of AA alkaline batteries may result in 
shorter than desired operating time. (only in the 
DSC-P31) 
When alkaline batteries are used, take note of 
the following information.

Turn POWER SAVE “ON”, shut the LCD 
screen off, and use the Finder to shoot your 
images. This will lengthen battery life 
(page 16).

There is a big difference in the performance 
of batteries of different types and of batteries 
made by different manufacturers. This is 
especially true in low temperatures, where 
some batteries are noticeably weaker.
You may not be able to shoot in temperatures 
below +5°C (41°F).

The battery remaining indicator may not 
display the correct information.

,

Be sure to charge the Nickel-Metal Hydride 
batteries supplied with your camera before 
using them.

Be sure to charge the batteries in an 
environment where the ambient temperature is 
10°C to 30°C (50°F to 86°F). If the batteries are 
charged in an environment where the 
temperature is outside that range, the batteries 
may not charge efficiently.

Connect the battery charger to an easily 
accessible wall outlet (mains) close by. If 
something goes wrong while you are using the 
charger, immediately shut off the power by 
pulling the plug out of the wall outlet.

+

−

,

Charging starts, and the charge lamp lights. 
When the charge lamp goes out, charging is 
finished.

When charging is finished, disconnect the 
power cord (mains lead) from the wall outlet 
(mains), and remove the Nickel-Metal Hydride 
batteries from the charger.

When transporting the Nickel-Metal Hydride 
batteries, be sure to use the battery case 
(supplied). If the 

+/− metal terminals are 

shorted, there is a possibility of danger from 
excessive heat or fire.

If the poles of the Nickel-Metal Hydride 
batteries are dirty, the batteries may not 
charge properly. Occasionally clean the poles 
of the batteries and the terminals of the 
charger by wiping them with a dry cloth.

At the time of purchase, or when the Nickel-
Metal Hydride batteries haven’t been used for 
a long time, they may not fully charge. This is 
typical of this type of battery, and is not a 
malfunction. If this happens, repeatedly using 
up the battery fully, and then recharging it, 
should correct the problem.

Even when Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries 
are not being used they loose their charge 
naturally over time. It is recommended that 
you recharge the batteries just before using 
them.

If you recharge Nickel-Metal Hydride 
batteries before fully using up the existing 
charge, the so-called memory effect* can 
occur, and the low battery warning will be 
triggered sooner than expected. Charging the 
battery after fully depleting the existing 
charge should correct the problem.

The “memory effect” – the situation in 
which a battery temporarily accepts a less 
than full charge.

• To use up the batteries completely, put 

the camera in “SLIDE SHOW” mode 
and leave it that way until the batteries 
are used up (page 67).

Do not charge any other batteries except Sony 
Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries in the charger 
supplied with your camera. If you try to 
charge any other type of battery (e.g., 
manganese batteries, alkaline dry cells, or 
one-time lithium batteries) than the batteries 
specified, those batteries may leak, overheat, 
or explode, causing the danger of burns or 
other injuries.

Be sure to charge both Nickel-Metal Hydride 
batteries at the same time.

When the batteries are charged, use them only 
in an environment where the temperature 
range is 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F). 
Otherwise, there is a danger of leaks, 
explosions, excessive heat, fire, or electric 
shock.

Do not charge fully charged Nickel Metal 
Hydride batteries again. Otherwise, there is a 
danger of leaks, explosions, excessive heat, 
fire, or electric shock.

Do not peel off the external seals or damage 
the batteries. Never use batteries from which 
the seals have been partially or completely 
removed, or batteries that have been split in 
any way.

This represents the time required to charge 
fully depleted Nickel-Metal Hydride 
batteries using the supplied BC-CS1 
charger in an environment where the 
ambient temperature is 25°C (77°F).

Charging is complete in approximately 13 
hours. The charge lamp may remain lit longer 
than 13 hours, but this is not a malfunction.

If you use the ACC-CSNQ STAMINA “Super 
Quick charge” kit (not supplied), the batteries 
will charge faster.

NH-AA-DI × 2 
(supplied)

Approx. 13 
hours

As the battery power decreases with use, 
the Battery remaining indicator displays 
the amount of power remaining using the 
following symbols.

If the LCD screen is off, press the DISPLAY/
LCD ON/OFF button to turn it on.

Based on the conditions under which the 
camera is being used and the state of the 
charge, or on the environment, this 
information may not be correctly indicated.

When the AC adaptor is being used, the 
Remaining battery information is not 
displayed.

When the POWER SAVE function is set 
to ON, you can shoot for a longer period of 
time. 

Turn the Mode dial to SET UP, and set 
“POWER SAVE” in “SETUP 2” to “ON”. 
When the camera is shipped from the 
factory, this item is set to “ON” (page 98).

Set the POWER SAVE switch to ON. 
When the camera is shipped from the 
factory, this switch is set to ON.

The LCD screen will be darker than it is when 
POWER SAVE is set to OFF. You cannot 
change the settings for “LCD BACKLIGHT” 
at this time (page 98).  To make the available 
shooting time even longer, it is recommended 
that you turn off the LCD screen and use the 
Finder to do your shooting (page 32).

In Flash mode, the “

” (No flash) is 

displayed. If you want to shoot using the 
flash, press v ( ) on the control button, and 
select “ ” (forced flash) or Auto (page 30).

When the power turns on, the Flash mode is 
normally set to “

” (No flash).

When the flash is charging (“ ” the Flash 
charge lamp blinks), the LCD screen turns 
off.

In shooting still images, the focus only 
focuses when the shutter is pushed down 
halfway.

Sufficient power 
remaining

Battery half full

Battery low, recording/
playback will stop soon.

Change the batteries for 
fully charged ones, or 
charge these batteries.

,

Slide it in the direction of the arrow, and it 
opens out.

,

Match the 

+

/

− poles of the batteries to the +

/

− marks inside the battery case.

Occasionally clean the poles of the batteries 
and the terminals of the Battery cover by 
wiping them with a dry cloth. If the poles of the 
batteries or the terminals become covered with 
a film of dirt or oil from the skin, the operating 
time of the camera can be greatly reduced.

,

Close the Battery cover while holding the 
batteries in. Make sure the cover is closed 
securely.

Stand the camera on end, open the Battery 
cover upward, then remove the batteries.

Make sure you don’t drop the batteries when 
opening or closing the Battery cover.