Sony's 2002 midrange compact — 3.2MP Super HAD CCD, 3x zoom, NP-FC11 InfoLithium, Memory Stick
The Cyber-shot DSC-P7 arrived in mid-2002 as the 3.2-megapixel mainstay of Sony's pocketable P-series, slotting beneath the 4-megapixel DSC-P9 and above the cheaper AA-powered models. In the UK it reached shops in July 2002.
It used a 3.2-megapixel Super HAD CCD with 14-bit DXP processing and a 3x optical zoom, framed via a 1.5-inch LCD or the optical viewfinder. Storage was full-size Memory Stick, with a 16MB card supplied when new, and power came from the compact NP-FC11 InfoLithium battery. Extras included MPEG movie recording, Clip Motion animations and a 40-second voice-memo mode.
A pocketable early-2000s compact with quick-for-its-day multi-point autofocus, it mainly suits collectors exploring first-generation Cyber-shot colour and handling. Screen size and buffer speed date it, and low-light work is essentially beyond its reach.
The NP-FC11 battery is the key check: original packs rarely hold useful charge now, though third-party replacements are still made. Confirm lens extension, flash charging and Memory Stick reading, and inspect the small LCD for the fading typical of the era.