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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W50 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyCyber-shot DSC-W50SonyCyber-shot DSC-WX500
Overview
ReleasedMarch 20062015
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactCompact
Sensor format–1/2.3-type
Sensor typeSuper HAD CCDExmor R CMOS
Effective resolution6 MP18.2 MP
Largest image2816 × 21124896 × 3672
RAW recordingNoNo
Standard ISO range80–100080–3200
Sensor detail1/2.5-type primary-colour CCD; original manual specifies approximately 6,003,000 effective and 6,183,000 total pixels1/2.3-type back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS; approximately 18.2 million effective and 21.1 million total photosites. Optical format is not physical dimensions
Image formatsFine or Standard JPEG; 2816 × 2112 native, 2816 × 1872 in 3:2 or 1920 × 1080 in 16:9 modeJPEG with Fine or Standard compression; maximum 4896 × 3672 in 4:3, 4896 × 3264 in 3:2, 4896 × 2752 in 16:9 or 3664 × 3664 in 1:1. Sweep Panorama standard, wide or 360-degree up to 11520 × 1080
ISO detail–Single-exposure settings ISO 80–3200, Auto ISO 80–3200. Multi Frame NR extends to ISO 6400/12800 through processed overlaid burst exposures
Image processorReal Imaging Processor with Clear RAW NR noise reduction; JPEG recording rather than RAW filesBIONZ X
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens38–114 mm equivalent24–720 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/2.8–5.2f/3.5–6.4
Optical zoom3×30×
Stabilisation–Optical lens stabilisation
Lens detailCarl Zeiss Vario-Tessar; actual 6.3–18.9 mm; Hong Kong launch sheet instead labels the family Vario-SonnarZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* thirty-times optical zoom, eleven elements in ten groups including five aspherical elements; five-blade iris, actual 4.1–123 mm. Equivalent 24–720 mm in 4:3, 25–750 mm in 3:2, 26.5–795 mm in 16:9 or 27.5–825 mm in 1:1. Movie 16:9 Standard 26.5–795 mm, Active 28–1180 mm, Intelligent Active 31–1210 mm; 4:3 Standard 32.5–975 mm, Active 34.5–1450 mm, Intelligent Active 38–1480 mm
AutofocusFive-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 telephotoContrast-detection AF-S; AF-C only in Advanced Sports and movie modes. Nine-point Wide, centre, Flexible Spot S/M/L and Expand Flexible Spot, with Lock-on AF; approximately 5 cm minimum focus wide or 250 cm telephoto
ShutterSony NZ specifies Auto 1/8–1/2000 second and Program 1–1/2000 second; UK support lists Auto 1–1/2000 secondIntelligent Auto 4–1/2000 second; Program Auto 1–1/2000 second; aperture priority 8–1/2000 second; shutter priority and manual 30–1/2000 second
Burst detailMaker 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 inferredMaximum approximately 10 fps at full resolution for ten frames; this is a brief buffered burst rather than sustained continuous shooting. Some modes prevent burst shooting, and flash reduces its speed
Stabilisation detail–Optical SteadyShot for photographs. Intelligent Active movie mode combines optical and electronic compensation, including rotation correction; Sony’s five-axis launch claim applies to movies and includes electronic correction
FlashAutomatic, 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 telephotoBuilt-in manually raised pop-up flash, Auto, forced, slow-sync, rear-sync or off; ISO Auto range approximately 0.3–5.4 m wide or 2.5–3 m telephoto
Exposure controlsAuto, 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 meteringIntelligent Auto, Superior Auto, Program Auto, aperture priority, shutter priority, manual, Memory Recall 1/2/3, scenes, panorama and automatic/scene movie modes. ±3 EV in 1/3 EV steps; wide-angle F3.5–F8 in aperture priority or manual. Thirteen still-image Picture Effects
Video
Highest video resolution640 × 480 at 30 fps1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detailMPEG-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)Maximum 1920 × 1080 progressive at 60p NTSC or 50p PAL. XAVC S up to 50 Mbps; AVCHD up to 28 Mbps and MP4 up to 28 Mbps. Japan also lists 1080p30/p24 XAVC S, interlaced AVCHD and 720p30 MP4; regional frame rates differ and PAL/NTSC can be switched. XAVC S requires a Class 10 or faster SDXC card. Approximately 29-minute clip limit; MP4 28M reaches its 4 GB limit in approximately 20 minutes. Optical zoom works during recording; 4K output is still photographs only
Audio–Built-in stereo microphone and mono speaker; XAVC S LPCM two-channel, AVCHD Dolby Digital two-channel or MP4 AAC-LC two-channel audio
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalNone
Screen size2.5″3″
Screen dots115,000921,600
Touchscreen–No
Tilting screen–Yes
Display detailTFT LCD and optical real-image finder; manual gives 115,200 dots, while maker support rounds this to 115,000; histogram and adjustable brightness3.0-type Xtra Fine TFT LCD with 921600 dots, manual five-step brightness; tilts upward approximately 180 degrees for self-portraits. No touchscreen or viewfinder
Connections and design
Wi-Fi–Yes
BluetoothNo–
Battery life (maker's claim)390 photographs400 photographs
Body weight127 g209 g
Release detailOriginal US maker release dated 13 February 2006 states early March availability; Hong Kong maker launch specifies mid-March 2006Released in 2015. Sony’s 7 May Hong Kong announcement scheduled mid-June launch after a pre-order period; the prospective date does not establish the actual first on-sale day or month
Recording media32 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo or Memory Stick PRO DuoSD, SDHC and SDXC with UHS-I support, microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC with adapters, Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo and Memory Stick Micro with an adapter
PortsMulti-use connector for USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, mono AV output and DC input; PictBridge printingMulti/micro-USB terminal with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed; micro-HDMI output
Wireless connections–Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g/n at 2.4 GHz and NFC Forum Type 3 Tag for one-touch pairing; smartphone transfer/remote control, TV viewing and computer transfer with compatible software. PlayMemories Camera Apps support and Eye-Fi; no GPS
Battery life detailNP-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 minutesSupplied NP-BX1; approximately 400 photographs or 200 minutes under CIPA conditions, approximately 75 minutes actual movie use or 110 minutes continuous movie use, distinct from per-clip limits
ChargingExternal BC-CSG battery chargerIn-camera USB charging and external USB power with supplied AC adapter and battery fitted
Dimensions88.9 × 57.1 × 22.9 mm (width × height × depth); Sony NZ gives 19.7 mm minimum thickness101.6 × 58.1 × 35.5 mm (width × height × depth), CIPA compliant
Weight detailApproximately 127 g body only or 157 g with accessories in maker supportApproximately 209 g body-only; approximately 236 g including NP-BX1 and Memory Stick Duo
MaterialsSony NZ describes a full metal body; original US launch release describes a metal alloy body–
ColoursSilver or black in original Hong Kong maker launch list; colour editions share this entryBlack, white or red; regional choices differ
In the boxNP-BG1 battery, BC-CSG charger, power cord, AV/USB multi-connecting cable, wrist strap, instructions and Cyber-shot Viewer softwareNP-BX1, AC-UB10C/UB10D, micro-USB cable, wrist strap and instructions; regional contents differ

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