Cyber-shot DSC-H50

Released 2008

A 9.1-megapixel bridge camera with a stabilised 15× optical zoom, tilting 3-inch screen, manual exposure and infrared NightShot.

Type: Bridge
Sensor: 1/2.3-type
Megapixels: 9.1
Lens: 31–465 mm equivalent
Video: 640 × 480 at 30 fps
Body weight: 415 g

What reviewers say

PhotographyBlog and Imaging Resource liked the versatile zoom, tilting screen and comfortable grip, but criticised the wheel and menu controls. PhotographyBlog was more positive about photographs at lower sensitivities; Imaging Resource found strong colour fringing and a large soft area on the right of its test images, potentially a faulty sample. Both found loss of detail at higher ISO settings.

From photographyblog.com, photographyblog.com, photographyblog.com and imaging-resource.com

Product links

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Bridge
Sensor format: 1/2.3-type
Sensor type: Super HAD CCD
Effective resolution: 9.1 MP
Largest image: 3456 × 2592
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 80–3200
Sensor detail: 1/2.3-type Super HAD CCD, approximately 10.3 million total and 9.1 million effective photosites. Exact manual specifies that only a 1/2.5-type-equivalent area is used; optical formats are not physical sensor dimensions
Image formats: Exif JPEG still images; no RAW recording. User-selectable High, Standard and Low noise reduction
Image processor: BIONZ image processor; Dynamic Range Optimizer including Plus, face detection with child/adult priority and Smile Shutter

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 31–465 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/2.7–4.5
Optical zoom: 15×
Stabilisation: Optical lens stabilisation
Lens detail: Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 15× optical zoom; physical 5.2–78 mm, 31–465 mm equivalent, f/2.7 wide to f/4.5 telephoto; 13 elements in 8 groups including 4 aspherical and 1 ED element. 74 mm filters require the adapter; digital and Smart Zoom are crops
Autofocus: Nine-point multi-area, centre and flexible spot AF, face detection, semi-manual and manual focus. Japanese exact table specifies normal and macro minimum approximately 1 cm wide/120 cm telephoto
Shutter: Japanese exact table: Auto 1/4–1/4000 second; Program 1–1/4000; shutter-priority and Manual 30–1/4000; aperture-priority 8–1/2000 second. Fastest settings depend on aperture and operating mode
Burst detail: Maker UK specifies approximately 0.64-second intervals and up to 100 continuous frames; interval and count depend on settings and media. No reciprocal conversion to a headline frame rate
Stabilisation detail: Optical Super SteadyShot. Infrared NightShot supports still images and movies without visible lighting; its infrared rendering differs from normal colour photography
Flash: Built-in pop-up flash, approximately 0.2–9.1 m wide or 1.2–5.5 m telephoto at ISO Auto; longer high-sensitivity-mode claims use different conditions. No accessory hotshoe
Exposure controls: Auto, Program Auto, aperture-priority, shutter-priority and Manual; multi-pattern, centre-weighted and spot metering, ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; exposure, white-balance and colour bracketing

Video

Highest video resolution: 640 × 480 at 30 fps
Video detail: MPEG-1 monaural movies: VGA 640×480 at approximately 30 fps Fine requiring Memory Stick PRO Duo, 17 fps Standard or 320×240 at approximately 8 fps. Exact manual limits each continuous clip to approximately 10 minutes. Optical zoom operates during recording; no HD movie recording
Audio: Built-in monaural microphone and speaker; monaural movie sound and analogue audio output

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 230,400
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: Yes
Display detail: Tilting 3-type TFT LCD, 230400 dots in the exact manual and Japanese table; UK table rounds to 230000. Separate colour electronic finder approximately 200000 dots equivalent in manual, 201000 in Japanese table

Connections and design

Bluetooth: No
Battery life (maker's claim): 300 photographs
Body weight: 415 g
Release detail: Announced 25 February 2008. Sony Europe planned availability from the end of April, while US announcement planned May; these are planned regional dates. Contemporary June full tests establish the 2008 retail generation, but earliest actual sale month remains unconfirmed, so year precision retained
Recording media: Approximately 15 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo supported, with PRO-HG working at PRO Duo speed. PRO Duo required for VGA Fine movies
Ports: Multi connector carries Hi-Speed USB 2.0, analogue video, monaural audio and DC input; separate DC IN also listed. Optional component cable provides HD still-image output, not HD movie recording or HDMI
Wireless connections: UK maker specifications explicitly list no Bluetooth; no built-in wireless connection is claimed
Battery life detail: NP-BG1 lithium-ion battery, 3.6 V, 3.4 Wh/960 mAh; optional NP-FG1 supported. Approximately 300 photographs/150 minutes using LCD or 330 photographs/165 minutes using finder under CIPA still-test conditions. Japanese 140-minute movie claim uses 320-size recording, not VGA Fine
Charging: External BC-CSGB/BC-CSGC charger, regional version varies; approximately 330 minutes full charge or 270 minutes normal charge from depleted battery at 25°C. Optional AC-LS5K adapter supported
Dimensions: Approximately 116.1 × 81.4 × 86 mm width × height × depth excluding protrusions
Weight detail: Approximately 415 g body only. Manual 547 g includes NP-BG1 battery, shoulder strap, adapter ring, lens hood, lens cap and other accessories; Japanese table also includes Memory Stick Duo
In the box: NP-BG1 battery, external charger, multi-connector cable, shoulder strap, lens hood, adapter ring, lens cap and RMT-DSC2 remote; regional power fittings vary

Pros and cons

Pros

Optical lens stabilisation
Tilting rear display
Manual exposure and infrared NightShot

Cons

JPEG still images only
VGA maximum video resolution
No accessory hotshoe

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX100V	Bridge	1/2.3-type	16.2	27–810 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	525 g	Apr 2011
SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX200V	Bridge	1/2.3-type	18.2	27–810 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	531 g	Mar 2012
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H200	Bridge	1/2.3-type	20.1	22.3–580 mm equivalent	1280 × 720 at 30 fps	430 g	2013

Sources

Photo: Sony

Silver DSC-H50 front three-quarter view: Sony
Black DSC-H50 with supplied lens hood and adapter: Sony
Black DSC-H50 rear controls and screen: Sony
Silver DSC-H50 with supplied lens hood and adapter: Sony
Silver DSC-H50 rear controls and screen: Sony
DSC-H50 upper body and viewfinder housing close-up: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 held in a hand with its display angled downward: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 held in both hands with its display tilted outward: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 held overhead with its display facing downward: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 black and silver finishes on their supplied dark reflective studio background: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 shutter button and mode dial, supplied top-controls close-up: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 with an optional conversion lens mounted, supplied oblique studio view: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 front oblique view on its supplied dark studio background: Sony

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