DSC-S85 is Sony’s first 4.1 megapixel digital camera

Sony today announced its 4.1 megapixel first digital still camera, the Cyber-shot DSC-S85. Sony said that the camera also incorporates superior optics and enhanced signal processing technology, to maximize the potential of the new high-res CCD.

The DSC-S85 sports a Carl Zeiss-made Vario-Sonnar zoom lens with 3x optical, along with 6x digital zoom. The new camera also features a “Digital eXtended Processor” (DXP) 14-bit A/D converter, which Sony claims provide more image accurate detail in highlights and shadows.

The camera also sports an AF illuminator light that briefly illuminates subjects to enable positive focus lock. The DSC-S85 features a three-frame burst mode that enables users to capture three full-res images at up to two frames per second. Users can adjust exposure bracketing to picture the images at different exposure values, to try to capture the best picture possible.

The DSC-S85 utilizes Sony’s Memory Stick digital media storage products, and the new model is the first Sony camera to use internal memory as a Memory Stick-to-Memory Stick copy function, enabling users to easily transfer data and share files between different Memory Sticks.

The DSC-S85 also features:

1.5-inch LCD display with a 123,000 pixel count;

Sony’s “ClipMotion” GIF animation feature, enabling users to string up to ten images together into a single animation file;

Support for JPEG, TIFF, GIF, MPEG HQ and MPEG EX formats. (Sony notes that users can use the MPEG formats for up to 90 minutes of continuous video using a 128MB Memory Stick.)

InfoLithium rechargeable battery, good for up to 2.5 hours in shooting mode and up to 2,500 shots.

The DSC-S85 includes a 16MB Memory Stick, MP-FM50 InfoLithium battery, AC adapter/charger, A/v output and USB cables, and a software CD-ROM.

The DSC-S85 is expected to hit stores this August for about $800.