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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W50 · Photo source
Sony · Cyber-shot
Cyber-shot DSC-W50
A 6 MP pocket compact with a 3× Carl Zeiss zoom, optical finder, 2.5-inch LCD and 32 MB internal memory.
- Type
- Compact
- Sensor
- –
- Megapixels
- 6
- Lens
- 38–114 mm equivalent
- Video
- 640 × 480 at 30 fps
- Body weight
- 127 g
What reviewers say
Both reviews found the W50 capable of pleasing photographs, with useful controls in a portable body. Imaging Resource praised responsiveness and battery life but criticised high ISO noise and soft macro corners. Construction divided them; Imaging Resource liked its feel, while Popular Photography found loose controls and a sticking lens cover, despite preferring its image quality to the Olympus FE-190.
From imaging-resource.com and popphoto.com
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specImage and sensor
- Camera type
- Compact
- Sensor type
- Super HAD CCD
- Effective resolution
- 6 MP
- Largest image
- 2816 × 2112
- RAW recording
- No
- Standard ISO range
- 80–1000
- Sensor detail
- 1/2.5-type primary-colour CCD; original manual specifies approximately 6,003,000 effective and 6,183,000 total pixels
- Image formats
- Fine or Standard JPEG; 2816 × 2112 native, 2816 × 1872 in 3:2 or 1920 × 1080 in 16:9 mode
- Image processor
- Real Imaging Processor with Clear RAW NR noise reduction; JPEG recording rather than RAW files
Lens and shooting
- Built-in lens
- 38–114 mm equivalent
- Maximum aperture
- f/2.8–5.2
- Optical zoom
- 3×
- Lens detail
- Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar; actual 6.3–18.9 mm; Hong Kong launch sheet instead labels the family Vario-Sonnar
- Autofocus
- Five-area multi-point or centre AF, single or monitoring operation, focus presets and illuminator; ordinary focus from 0.5 m, macro from 0.02 m wide or 0.3 m telephoto
- Shutter
- Sony NZ specifies Auto 1/8–1/2000 second and Program 1–1/2000 second; UK support lists Auto 1–1/2000 second
- Burst detail
- Maker specifies three native 6 MP Fine frames with approximately 0.7-second intervals; 98 VGA Standard frames are a separate reduced-resolution sequence; no headline fps inferred
- Flash
- Automatic, forced, off or slow sync; ISO Auto range 0.2–4.2 m wide or 0.3–2.2 m telephoto; ISO 1000 reaches 7.3 m wide or 4.0 m telephoto
- Exposure controls
- Auto, Program or seven scene modes; ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, 800 or 1000; multi-pattern, centre-weighted or spot metering
Video
- Highest video resolution
- 640 × 480 at 30 fps
- Video detail
- MPEG-1 with mono sound; VGA Fine at 30 fps requires Memory Stick PRO Duo, Standard approximately 17 fps and video-mail 160 × 112 approximately 8 fps; no zoom during recording (Popular Photography)
Screen and viewfinder
- Viewfinder
- Optical
- Screen size
- 2.5″
- Screen dots
- 115,000
- Display detail
- TFT LCD and optical real-image finder; manual gives 115,200 dots, while maker support rounds this to 115,000; histogram and adjustable brightness
Connections and design
- Bluetooth
- No
- Battery life (maker's claim)
- 390 photographs
- Body weight
- 127 g
- Release detail
- Original US maker release dated 13 February 2006 states early March availability; Hong Kong maker launch specifies mid-March 2006
- Recording media
- 32 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo or Memory Stick PRO Duo
- Ports
- Multi-use connector for USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, mono AV output and DC input; PictBridge printing
- Battery life detail
- NP-BG1 lithium-ion battery; original manual CIPA claim approximately 390 shots with LCD on or 500 off; current NZ support agrees with 390 shots or 195 minutes, whereas UK support lists 300 shots or 195 minutes
- Charging
- External BC-CSG battery charger
- Dimensions
- 88.9 × 57.1 × 22.9 mm (width × height × depth); Sony NZ gives 19.7 mm minimum thickness
- Weight detail
- Approximately 127 g body only or 157 g with accessories in maker support
- Materials
- Sony NZ describes a full metal body; original US launch release describes a metal alloy body
- Colours
- Silver or black in original Hong Kong maker launch list; colour editions share this entry
- In the box
- NP-BG1 battery, BC-CSG charger, power cord, AV/USB multi-connecting cable, wrist strap, instructions and Cyber-shot Viewer software
Pros and cons
Pros
- Optical finder alongside the screen
- 32 MB internal recording memory
- USB 2.0 Hi-Speed connection
Cons
- No manual aperture or shutter control
- VGA Fine video requires Memory Stick PRO Duo
- 115,000-dot LCD
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Sensor | Megapixels | Lens | Video | Body weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact | – | 7.2 | 38–114 mm equivalent | 640 × 480 at 30 fps | 140 g | Aug 2006 | |
| Compact | – | 7.2 | 38–114 mm equivalent | 640 × 480 at 30 fps | 132 g | Apr 2006 | |
| Compact | – | 6 | 38–114 mm equivalent | 640 × 480 at 30 fps | 123 g | Feb 2006 |
Sources
- sony.co.uk/electronics/support/compact-cameras-dsc-w-series/dsc-w50/specificati…
- sony.co.nz/electronics/support/compact-cameras-dscw-series/dsc-w50/specificatio…
- sony.jp/cyber-shot/emdown/data/W30_50_trouble.pdf
- sony.com.hk/press/pdf/20060301_02e.pdf
- dpreview.com/articles/0742212268/sonydscw30
- popphoto.com/gear/2008/12/econocam-shootout
Photo: sony.jp
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W50 silver and black finishes shown together: Sony Japan official CYBER SHOT DSC W50 product photograph; complete supplied canvas and background retained
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W50 in black, front oblique view: Sony Japan official CYBER SHOT DSC W50 product photograph; complete supplied canvas and background retained
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W50 in silver, rear display and controls: Sony Japan official CYBER SHOT DSC W50 product photograph; complete supplied canvas and background retained
