Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V

Released May 2013

A travel camera with a stabilised 30× zoom, manual exposure controls, Wi-Fi and GPS, plus an accessory shoe for an external finder or flash.

Type: Compact
Sensor: 1/2.3-type
Megapixels: 20.4
Lens: 24–720 mm equivalent
Video: 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Body weight: 246 g

What reviewers say

Photography Blog and ePHOTOzine praised the zoom range, grip and manual controls, while finding the body bulky and high-ISO detail weak. Photography Blog considered image quality poorer than the preceding generation and Wi-Fi awkward; ePHOTOzine found pairing easy and liked the colour and battery life. Both missed RAW recording.

From photographyblog.com and ephotozine.com

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Compact
Sensor format: 1/2.3-type
Sensor type: Back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS
Effective resolution: 20.4 MP
Largest image: 5184 × 3888
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 80–3200
Sensor detail: 1/2.3-type Exmor R CMOS; approximately 21.1 million total photosites. Optical format is distinct from physical sensor dimensions
Image formats: JPEG stills and MPF 3D images; no RAW. High-resolution Sweep Panorama produces stitched 10480 × 4096 images; 360-degree panorama 11520 × 1080
ISO detail: Ordinary single-frame ISO 80–3200; ISO 6400 and 12800 use Clear Image technology with multi-frame compositing
Image processor: BIONZ

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 24–720 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/3.5–6.3
Optical zoom: 30×
Stabilisation: Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst: 10 fps
Lens detail: Sony G lens; actual 4.3–129 mm; 11 elements in 10 groups including 5 aspherical elements; five-blade iris. Equivalent still-photo range 24–720 mm at 4:3 or 26–780 mm at 16:9. Clear Image Zoom up to 60× includes digital enlargement
Autofocus: Nine-area multi AF, centre AF, spot AF, flexible spot, manual focus, subject and face tracking. Focus distance from lens front approximately 5 cm wide or 200 cm telephoto
Shutter: Mechanical shutter; Auto 4–1/1600 second, Program 1–1/1600, Manual and shutter priority 30–1/1600, aperture priority 8–1/1600. Above ISO 3200 slowest shutter 1/4 second
Burst detail: Up to ten full-resolution images at 10 fps; High and Low modes. Focus, white balance and exposure compensation remain fixed from the first frame; flash disabled. Internal-memory bursts use VGA; compatible memory card required for full-resolution bursts
Stabilisation detail: Optical SteadyShot; Active movie mode combines optical and electronic correction including rotation
Flash: Built-in pop-up flash; Auto, forced, off, slow-sync and Advanced Flash modes. ISO Auto range approximately 0.25–5.6 m wide or 2–3 m telephoto; external flash supported through Multi Interface Shoe
Exposure controls: P/A/S/M plus Intelligent Auto, Superior Auto, scene modes, panorama and picture effects. Dedicated exposure compensation dial; ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; multi-pattern, centre-weighted and spot metering. Iris reaches f/8 wide in Manual and aperture priority

Video

Highest video resolution: 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detail: AVCHD 2.0 records 1920 × 1080 at region-dependent 60p or 50p, 28 Mbps; main rate represents the 60p version. FX/FH use 60i or 50i at 24/17 Mbps; HQ 1440 × 1080 interlaced at 9 Mbps. Interlaced rates count fields. MP4 includes 1440 × 1080, 720p and VGA; Japan specifies 30 fps. Standard 16:9 movie angle 26.5–795 mm equivalent; Active 26.5–1080 mm. Optical zoom available while filming; approximately 29-minute clip limit; MP4 12M approximately 15 minutes due to 2 GB file limit
Audio: Stereo microphone and mono speaker; Dolby Digital stereo for AVCHD or AAC for MP4. Compatible external microphone attaches through Multi Interface Shoe

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: None
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 921,000
Display detail: Xtra Fine TFT LCD; maker archive approximately 921000 dots, original instructions 921600 dots
Viewfinder detail: No built-in finder; optional FDA-EV1MK electronic viewfinder attaches through Multi Interface Shoe

Connections and design

Wi-Fi: Yes
Battery life (maker's claim): 400 photographs
Body weight: 246 g
Release detail: Sony Japan’s 24 April 2013 announcement specifies sale on 17 May 2013. May precision retained without assuming the Japanese day was the international first sale. HX50V includes GPS; UK HX50 is a distinct version without GPS
Recording media: Approximately 48 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo, PRO-HG Duo and XC-HG Duo plus SD, SDHC and SDXC. Memory Stick Micro and microSD/SDHC/SDXC need separate adapters
Ports: Multi/Micro USB terminal supporting remote accessories and Hi-Speed USB 2.0; micro HDMI; Multi Interface Shoe
Wireless connections: IEEE 802.11 b/g/n at 2.4 GHz; Wi-Fi image transfer and smartphone remote control. GPS geotagging and route logging on HX50V; the separate HX50 omits GPS. Eye-Fi uses a separate card
Battery life detail: NP-BX1 battery; maker CIPA claim approximately 400 photographs or 200 minutes with GPS off. Actual movie use approximately 55 minutes or continuous recording 90 minutes; individual clips have separate duration limits
Charging: In-camera micro USB charging with the camera off using supplied AC-UB10/UB10B/UB10C/UB10D or computer. USB playback power; shooting power requires optional AC-UD10
Dimensions: Approximately 108.1 × 63.6 × 38.3 mm (width × height × depth)
Weight detail: Approximately 246 g camera only or 272 g including NP-BX1 and Memory Stick Duo
Colours: Black and silver
In the box: NP-BX1 battery, AC-UB10-series adapter, micro USB cable, wrist strap, shoe cap and instructions; mains fittings vary by region

Pros and cons

Pros

24–720 mm equivalent optical zoom
P/A/S/M exposure modes and exposure compensation dial
Wi-Fi, GPS and Multi Interface Shoe

Cons

No RAW recording
Full-speed bursts stop after ten photographs
Viewfinder sold separately

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-WX200	Compact	1/2.3-type	18.2	25–250 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080 at 30 fps	105 g	2013
SonyCyber-shot DSC-WX300	Compact	1/2.3-type	18.2	25–500 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080 at 30 fps	139 g	2013
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H90	Compact	1/2.3-type	16.1	24–384 mm equivalent	1280 × 720 at 30 fps	192 g	2012

Sources

Photo: sony.jp

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V configurations with optional external microphone and video light: Sony Japan exact-model physical product photograph; optional accessories labelled; complete supplied canvas and background retained.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V mode dial close-up: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V top controls, grip and lens detail composition: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V beside optional LCJ-HN camera case: Sony

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