Digital Photography Reviews
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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W50 Review
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Review Summary
Reader Score: 6.78 (out of 10)
Preview: "The new 6 MP W30 and W50 - the only major difference between the two is that the W30 has a 2-inch LCD and the W50 has a 2.5-inch screen - are much lighter than you might expect because they're made of a plastic-like polycarbonate that Sony calls "metal alloy," though it's hard to feel any metal in it. Going with an alloy makes them more affordable but cheaper feeling, almost like toys. They do have some serious features though, including Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 3x optical zoom lenses, ISO settings of up to 1000 and - surprise, surprise - optical viewfinders, which are pretty rare for cameras in this compact class.
There's no two ways around it - these cameras were made to look like higher-priced models, but once you pick them up and play with them, you'll definitely notice that they're on the lower end. But that could be fine. If you're looking for a classy, upscale slim camera that's made entirely of metal, you'll want to look elsewhere. However, if you want something that is small, light and has a pretty decent sensor and some good features for an affordable price, the new W30 and W50 might be right for you."
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Other Reviews For This Model
| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Imaging-Resource |
9.40 |
05-10-06 |
Read Full Review
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| Review: "Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-W50 updates the already popular Cyber-shot line with an ultra-thin, compact body built for travel. A 3x zoom lens, 2.5-inch color LCD monitor, and handful of preset Scene modes makes the Sony W50 very user friendly, with straightforward operation that novices will appreciate.
The Sony DSC-W50 produced sharp prints at 8x10 inches, and somewhat softer but still acceptable ones at 11x14. As always though, the real test of print size came at the higher ISO settings. Here, the W50's ISO 400 images were soft and a bit noisy when printed at 8x10 inches, acceptable at 5x7 and great at 4x6." |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Megapixel |
7.83 |
04-14-06 |
Read Full Review
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| Review: "The Sony DSC-W50 belongs in that group of very compact cameras that are no bigger than a deck of cards. This particular model offers a 6-megapixel resolution, a Carl Zeiss 3X optical zoom, and a generous 2.5-inch monitor.
One of the strengths of the DSC-W50 is its excellent metering. Using a system that evaluates a number of areas in the frame to arrive at an average, which is used to determine the shutter speed and aperture, the metering yields images that are usually flawless.
With this camera, it is unavoidable that its movie mode be mentioned. At the highest resolution and best image quality, video clips are impressive not only for their image quality, but also for the clarity of the sound, which is uncommon." |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| DCResource |
7.00 |
03-29-06 |
Read Full Review
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| Review: "The DSC-W50 is a thin metal camera with a 6 Megapixel CCD, 3X optical zoom lens, and 2.5" LCD display. The camera is well put together for the most part, save for the doors covering the DC-in port and battery/memory card slots. The W50 is easy to use with just one hand, and its compact size allows it to go just about anywhere you do.
Camera performance was very good in almost all areas. The W50 starts up quickly, there's no shutter lag, and shot-to-shot delays are minimal. Focusing speeds were good at wide-angle, but somewhat slow at the telephoto end or in low light (though the camera did lock focus every time). The W50's burst mode is nothing to write home about, taking just three shots in a row at 1.4 frames/second. Battery life was excellent." |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| CNET Reviews |
----- |
04-12-06 |
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| Review: "Your budget would have to be really tight to pass over the Sony Cyber Shot DSC-W50 in favor of the Sony DSC-W30. The two cameras are identical with a single exception: The DSC-W50's 2.5-inch LCD is a full half inch larger then the DSC-W30's. Otherwise, the W50 sports the same stats as its little brother. Both are 6-megapixel ultracompact cameras with 3X optical zoom lenses. They share the same body design, control layout, and feature set.
As we said about the DSC-W30, the photos have decent exposure and dynamic range, without the blown-out highlights produced by many cameras in this class. Colors are accurate but slightly oversaturated, especially the reds and oranges. Noise is the biggest issue with these models: while barely visible at ISO 80, smearing from the noise-reduction algorithm becomes evident at ISO 200 and starts to develop severe color shifts at ISO 400 and beyond. It's better than nothing if you can't use the flash, however." |
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