X

Photos: Hands-on with the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 15x zoom

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 is the topper-most camera in the Cyber-shot range, boasting 9.1 megapixels, a 15x optical zoom, tilting screen -- and no USB connection

Richard Trenholm Former Movie and TV Senior Editor
Richard Trenholm was CNET's film and TV editor, covering the big screen, small screen and streaming. A member of the Film Critic's Circle, he's covered technology and culture from London's tech scene to Europe's refugee camps to the Sundance film festival.
Expertise Films, TV, Movies, Television, Technology
Richard Trenholm
2 min read

While the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 doesn't boast 50 megapixels, it's one of the topper-most cameras in the Cyber-shot range. It's a 9.1-megapixel superzoom, sporting a 15x optical zoom, Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens. A 1/2.3-inch CCD and Bionz processor handle things under the bonnet, while features include enhanced face detection with high-speed subject tracking and one of those daft adjustable smile shutters.

Raw file support is also included, as is dual anti-blur with Sony's Super SteadyShot image stabilisation. This combines a little pixie pushing the camera's innards around to compensate for camera shake and booting ISO sensitivity up to a maximum of ISO 3,200 in low light. We'll be testing to see if this ruins pictures through noise, however.

Like most superzooms, the H50 comes with an electrical viewfinder as well as a screen, allowing you to choose between live view and using the viewfinder.

Sony has tied the H50 in with its high-definition Bravia television range with HD output for optimised still images. This allows you to play back photo slideshows on your TV with music.

For more on the £230 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50, take a look at our pictures as we get a load of a bendy screen and plethora of accessories, while wondering why it doesn't have a USB connection. -Rich Trenholm

The 15x zoom lens has a 31-465mm focal length, equivalent to a 35mm camera.

The screen is a 76mm (3-inch), 230,000-pixel LCD. Here we see nightshot infrared mode in action in our office.

The screen-related fun doesn't end there: it tilts out on a small arm and flexes to an entirely horizontal level facing either up or down -- but doesn't turn to the side. Next to the screen is a spinny selector wheel surrounding the standard clickpad.

The H50 comes complete with a lens adaptor ring and lens hood.

Other accessories include a remote control bodger that controls playback and also the shutter release. With typical proprietary contrariness, Sony has added a Sony-specific data transfer connection. Instead of USB, you get a special cable with AV out and USB connection.

Speaking of proprietary, the H50 takes Memory Stick Duo and Memory Stick PRO Duo cards.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 is available now for around £230.