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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S50

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX90VSonyCyber-shot DSC-S50
Overview
ReleasedJune 20152000
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactCompact
Sensor format1/2.3-type1/2.7-type
Sensor typeBack-illuminated Exmor R CMOSSuper HAD CCD
Effective resolution18.2 MP2.02 MP
Largest image4896 × 36721600 × 1200
RAW recordingNoNo
Standard ISO range80–3200–
Sensor detail1/2.3-type Exmor R CMOS; approximately 21.1 million total photosites. Optical format is distinct from physical sensor dimensionsOptical 1/2.7-type Super HAD colour CCD with approximately 2.11 million total / 2.02 million effective photosites in exact Sony Japanese announcement. Maximum output 1600×1200 contains 1.92 million image pixels; contemporary review output-pixel figures are not transferred as maker sensor count. Optical format is not physical dimensions
Image formatsJPEG Fine or Standard; no RAW. 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 and square stills plus stitched Sweep PanoramaJPEG, uncompressed TIFF plus simultaneous JPEG, or black-and-white GIF Text mode. Maximum 1600×1200, also 1600×1072 (3:2), 1024×768 and 640×480. Email mode adds a 320×240 JPEG. No RAW. Supplied 4 MB Memory Stick is too small for TIFF; exact guide lists approximately two full-resolution TIFF/JPEG pairs on 16 MB
ISO detailOrdinary single-frame ISO 80–3200. Multi-shot Noise Reduction extends to ISO 6400 and 12800 using interpolation and composite exposures–
Image processorBIONZ X–
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens24–720 mm equivalent39–117 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/3.5–6.4f/2.8–2.9
Optical zoom30×3×
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationNone
Maximum continuous burst10 fps–
Lens detailZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* lens; 11 elements in 10 groups including 5 aspherical elements, five-blade iris; actual 4.1–123 mm. Equivalent still range 24–720 mm at 4:3, 25–750 mm at 3:2, 26.5–795 mm at 16:9 and 27.5–825 mm at 1:1. Customisable lens control ring; digital Clear Image Zoom distinct from optical zoomSony 3× zoom, physical 6.1–18.3 mm F2.8–2.9; 35 mm equivalent 39–117 mm. Normal autofocus approximately 25 cm wide / 60 cm telephoto; macro approximately 3 cm wide / 60 cm telephoto. Digital processing beyond 3× extends total zoom to 6×, not an additional 6× optical range
AutofocusAF-S, direct manual focus and manual focus; AF-C in Advanced Sports and movie modes. Nine-point wide, centre, flexible spot S/M/L and expanded flexible spot; Lock-on AF, manual-focus peaking and magnification. Minimum focus from lens front approximately 5 cm wide or 250 cm telephotoAutofocus and macro autofocus, plus approximate preset manual distances 0.5 m, 1 m, 3 m, 7 m and infinity. Half-press locks autofocus and automatic exposure
ShutterMechanical shutter: Auto 4–1/2000 second, Program 1–1/2000, Manual and shutter-priority 30–1/2000, aperture-priority 8–1/2000. Above ISO 3200 the slowest shutter is 1/4 secondSony exact announcement: Auto 1/30–1/725 second; shutter priority 8–1/725 second. Exact operating instruction confirms still shutter-priority range
Burst detailApproximately 10 full-resolution photographs per second, up to ten frames. Flash lowers the rate and some modes prohibit bursts. Focus and exposure locked from first frame in Cameralabs testing–
Stabilisation detailOptical still-image stabilisation; Intelligent Active movie mode combines optical and electronic correction including rotationNo optical lens or sensor-shift stabilisation. Orientation sensor controls vertical-image playback, not camera-shake correction
FlashBuilt-in pop-up flash; auto, fill, slow, rear-sync and off modes. ISO Auto range approximately 0.3–5.4 m wide or 2.5–3.0 m telephoto; no external-flash shoeBuilt-in flash, recommended range 0.3–2.5 m, Auto/red-eye Auto/forced on/off with High/Normal/Low flash level. No external flash terminal; S70 external-flash feature does not apply
Exposure controlsP/A/S/M for stills and movies; three Memory Recall positions. Multi-pattern, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±3 EV in 1/3 EV stepsAutomatic exposure plus seven Program AE settings: aperture priority, shutter priority, twilight, twilight plus, landscape, panfocus and spot metering. Aperture-priority selection across nine steps F2.8–F11, with telephoto restrictions; shutter-priority 18 still-image steps 8–1/725 second, or 12 movie steps 1/8–1/725. ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps. White balance Auto, Indoor, Outdoor or Hold; five sharpness levels; solarise, monochrome, sepia and negative-art effects. ISO control not published in exact instruction
Video
Highest video resolution1920 × 1080 at 60 fps320 × 240
Video detailXAVC S 1920 × 1080 at 60p, 30p or 24p/50 Mbps; AVCHD 60p/28 Mbps, 60i or 24p/24 or 17 Mbps. International PAL/NTSC selection switches to 50p/50i/25p; main rate represents NTSC. MP4 includes Full HD 60/30 fps and 720 p30 fps. XAVC S requires Class 10 SDXC. Optical zoom during filming; AVCHD/XAVC clips approximately 29 minutes, MP4 28 Mbps approximately 20 minutes due 4 GB limit. HDMI4 K output is for stills, not 4 K video recordingMPEG-1 movies with monaural audio at 320×240, maximum 15 seconds per clip; 160×112 video-mail mode up to 60 seconds. Exact frame rate not stated in read maker sources and left unpublished. Separate Voice mode attaches 5–40 seconds of audio to a still photograph. S30 has no movie/audio recording; S70 higher-quality MPEG mode is separate
AudioXAVC S LPCM stereo, AVCHD Dolby Digital stereo or MP4 AAC-LC stereo; microphone reference-level control–
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderElectronicNone
Screen size3″2″
Screen dots921,600123,200
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screen–Yes
Display detail4:3 Xtra Fine TFT LCD tilts upward approximately 180°; five-step brightness control, no touchscreenFree-angle 2-inch TFT, 123,200 component dots (560×220); dots are not image pixels. Screen rotates for face-to-face/self-portrait and high/low-angle shooting, with normal/bright backlight. No touchscreen or separate optical/electronic eyepiece
Viewfinder detailRetractable 0.2-type OLED Tru-Finder, 638400 dots, 100% coverage and0.50 × 35 mm-equivalent magnification; eye sensor and −4 to +3 dioptre adjustment. Pop up housing and extend eyepiece to use–
Connections and design
Wi-FiYes–
Battery life (maker's claim)390 photographs–
Body weight218 g–
Release detailSony Japan’s 19 May 2015 announcement specifies sale on 5 June 2015; Sony Hong Kong specifies mid-June after 8 May–7 June pre-orders. June precision retained without treating the Japanese day as a confirmed international first-sale dayConservative actual-sale year 2000 supported by contemporary Digicamera June 2000 news describing current DSC-S50 retail prices in Shinjuku. Sony announcement of 2 February 2000 planned Japanese sale on 15 April; that plan alone does not establish actual first-sale day/month. No exact official predecessor relationship inferred
Recording mediaMemory Stick Duo/PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo and SD/SDHC/SDXC(UHS-I). Memory Stick Micro and microSD/HC/XC require adaptersFull-size Memory Stick, supplied 4 MB. No SD slot. JPEG, TIFF and movie capacities depend on image size; approximately four 1600×1200 JPEGs on supplied card. No internal image storage published
PortsMulti/Micro USB with Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and micro HDMI; HDMI audio during playback onlyUSB digital I/O, monaural A/V OUT minijack with NTSC/PAL selection, and DC IN for AC-L10 adapter. Built-in microphone and speaker. No HDMI or external-flash terminal
Wireless connections2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, NFC Forum Type 3 and built-in GPS location logging; maker specifies GPS only, without compass. Non-V HX90 is a distinct non-GPS model–
Battery life detailNP-BX1; maker CIPA claim 390 shots/195 minutes with LCD or360 shots/180 minutes with viewfinder. Actual movie use70 minutes LCD/75 minutes viewfinder; continuous movie105/115 minutes with clip limitsNP-FM50 InfoLITHIUM rechargeable lithium-ion pack: nominal 7.2 V, 1180 mAh / 8.5 Wh. Exact pre-CIPA instruction claims approximately 2500 VGA photographs / 150 minutes at 25°C, normal LCD, fully charged battery, about five-second intervals and replacement Memory Sticks; normally charged pack 2300 / 140 minutes. This rapid single-frame test is not CIPA or a continuous burst. Separate playback and low-resolution movie runtime are not still-shooting endurance; no unqualified shot headline
ChargingIn-camera USB charging and external power with supplied AC adapter and batteryIn-camera charging with supplied AC-L10 adapter through DC IN, camera switched off. Approximately 90 minutes normal charge or 150 minutes full charge for completely discharged NP-FM50. No USB charging claimed
Dimensions102.0 × 58.1 × 35.5 mm(width × height × depth), CIPAExact operating instruction maximum dimensions 113×68×69 mm width×height×depth. Early Japanese announcement gives 113.1×67.8×68.8 mm excluding maximum projections
Weight detailApproximately218 g camera only, or245 g including NP-BX1 and Memory Stick DuoExact operating instruction approximately 370 g including NP-FM50, Memory Stick, wrist strap and lens cap. Early Japanese release prints 315.6 g body / 423 g loaded in shared S50/S30 table, conflicting with later instruction loaded weight; optional body-only headline omitted rather than infer a subtraction
ColoursBlack–
In the boxNP-BX1, AC-UB10 C/UB10 D adapter, micro USB cable, wrist strap and instructions; regional mains fittings varyNP-FM50 battery, AC-L10 AC adapter and power cord, USB cable, A/V cable, lens cap and cap strap, wrist strap, 4 MB Memory Stick, CD-ROM/software and operating instructions; exact shared manual distinguishes S30 video-only cable

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