Sony intros the Cyber-Shot DSC-H50 "super zoom" camera

Sony is no stranger to digital cameras, as the company has professed in its press release detailing the Cyber-Shot DSC-H50, a new 9.1-megapixel shooter that should have camera fans perking up their ears. The new model -- a successor to the DSC-H9 "super zoom" camera -- sports a Carl Zeiss 15x optical zoom lens, a 3-inch tilting LCD display, ISO to 3200, and a long-distance flash (capable of lighting subjects from 55 feet away). The DSC-H50 also has an "advanced sports" shooting mode which allows it to utilize ultra-high shutter speeds (like 1/4000 of a second). The camera is expected to go on sale in May, and will only slightly break the bank at $400.

[brad @ Feb 25th 2008 9:15AM]

wow, only 400...I may pick this up

[Down @ Feb 25th 2008 9:19AM]

"The DSC-H50 also has an "advanced sports" shooting mode which allows it to utilize ultra-high shutter speeds (like 1/4000 of a second)."

Does that mean an ISO of 4000 ?

[lol @ Feb 25th 2008 10:41AM]

what? 1/4000 is referring to the shutter speed.

The ISO, which was already stated, goes up to 3200.

The reason 1/4000 is important for sports is because you want to be able to freeze the action with minimal blurring. 1/4000 is impressive. Typically only SLRs do that kind of shutter speed.

I'd like to know what the flash sync speed is, though. I mean, if you don't take the picture with AMPLE lighting, forget about getting a properly exposed 1/4000 shot.

[snapa @ Feb 25th 2008 9:37AM]

No. It's referring to shutter speed. It goes up to ISO 3200, which should look pretty horrible and should only be used if completely necessary.

Hardly anyone is going to use the 1/4000. It's just marketing fluff. Otherwise, the cam's specs look pretty nice, I'm interested in seeing how it performs.

[Temple @ Feb 25th 2008 10:15AM]

@ Snapa

3200ISO nowa days is maybe not good, but usable. Even on small CCD sensors that are in this camera.

[Leoedin @ Feb 25th 2008 11:13AM]

My camera goes up to 1/8000 of a second... :p

[Razor @ Feb 25th 2008 12:38PM]

I don't know why people low-ranked this guy for an innocent question.

As great as 1/4000th of a sec shutter speed is for sports, the lack of a manual zoom ring has me question how effective this camera could be used for sports. No zoom ring generally means that the lense assembly is very compact while the camera is off. At the same time, this also means that the lense must move into an effective position during startup, which takes time (read: no instant start, like, let's say, a Fuji 6500fd). That and there is no ability to fine-tune zoom.

A manual zoom ring would have been on my wish-list for an SLR-like camera.

[Mr.Tech @ Feb 25th 2008 9:24AM]

This is so much cheaper than the new Canon XSi but how does it fare against the XSi in quality?

[Semi @ Feb 25th 2008 9:44AM]

isnt XSI a top range dSLR?

bad comparison of quality...

[Ashenzil @ Feb 25th 2008 9:51AM]

Yeah, it's cheaper, because you can't really compare this one with a Xsi, wich is a Reflex SLR (you can change lens). The specs of this one are pretty impressive though. I wonder how it fares in low light conditions/High ISO settings. Looks like a powerful point-and-shoot camera.

[BigBloke @ Feb 25th 2008 9:50AM]

@ Semi

No, a XSi is not a top range DSLR. That would be a EOS 1Ds MkIII, around $10K.

For $400, there ain't no comparison

[Ashenzil @ Feb 25th 2008 9:55AM]

And there's the EOS 1D mark III too. Or the D2s, D3s for Nikon.

[Leoedin @ Feb 25th 2008 11:16AM]

The XSi will take far better pictures than this camera, but will also require a much larger lens to get close to the 15x zoom it offers. If you attach a 400mm good (eg Canon 100-400L) lens to an XSi, the picture quality will be leagues above the Sony. They are designed with different functions in mind.

[Hyme @ Feb 25th 2008 9:46AM]

I think this camera should perform as last year's stuff. The 15x zoom is good. The others specs is overkill.

[Mike @ Feb 25th 2008 9:50AM]

the XSi isn't even available yet, and will probably come out at over $1000.

as for quality, you're comparing 9.1 MP to the XSi's 12, and you can do far more with a dSLR than a point and shoot.

So really, you pay for quality and versatility proportionally.

[Chris @ Feb 25th 2008 10:11AM]

Megapixels have very little to do with actual image quality. A 5 year old Canon Rebel at 6.3mp would outdo this thing in image quality hands down.

Also, the xsi will be offered at about $900 US intro with the kit lens.

[Mike @ Feb 25th 2008 10:31AM]

Ok, my mistake, I should've said 'resolution' as opposed to 'quality'.

but on the topic of quality, whatever kit lens the XSi will come with most likely won't come close to complimenting the body.

if you get an XSi and intend on producing quality photographs, you'd be better off getting the body only and a good lens.

hence the $1000+ estimate from before.

[Chris @ Feb 25th 2008 12:15PM]

Actually, in regards to the kit lens, the xsi will be packaged with the new IS version of the 18-55 kit lens, which by all accounts is the new plastic fantastic.

[Poom @ Feb 25th 2008 10:01AM]

Wow... This seems nice. I sure hope that compact cameras will have this amount of optical zoom, high shutter speed, and powerful flash soon. These features seem much more useful than the insane megapixel and ISO in the W300.

[john hedley @ Feb 25th 2008 10:32AM]

Wow. $400. Has to be a misprint.

Finally a replacement for my Contax UR-4. Zeiss V-T lens, massive pixels, and OMG 15x optical. I wonder what the stablization in ambient light is like- this is my biggest pet peeve with the UR-4. Or did they put in the focused flash in to get around this?

Does anyone know why Sony won't put in the Zeiss T* coatings for the lens? Seems like no one has since Kyocera killed off the Contax line. This is the number one reason why I like my UR-4: no freaking red eye, period.

[Joe @ Feb 25th 2008 10:38AM]

Not a misprint! $400 seems about right. Sony's other H-series "super zoom" cameras have been introduced at this price point before.

[PhatheadWRX @ Feb 25th 2008 11:05AM]

This seems like a super deal.

[LLarson @ Feb 25th 2008 4:11PM]

From specs posted on other sites... JPG only! No RAW?

[MonkeyFistProstate @ Feb 25th 2008 5:06PM]

Be forewarned - I picked up the DHS-H9 when it first came on the market. The pictures produced are really poor quality due to the very aggressive noise reduction. At least with this new H camera they allow the user the option to control the NR - pity they don't allow you to save the image as a RAW. If you take anything away from this comment, PLEASE refrain from buying anything from SONY the second it comes on the market... WAIT FOR THE REVIEWS! I know I wish I had with both the H9 & the T200 from SONY.

[Ian Jerome @ Feb 25th 2008 7:21PM]

this isnt even a SLR its a Superzoom and is pretty nice

[Ian Jerome @ Feb 25th 2008 7:29PM]

this isnt even a SLR its a Superzoom and is pretty nice

[GadgetGuy @ Feb 26th 2008 3:39AM]

how much more/bigger to stick an APS-C CMOS in the thing? :)

Knowing photoboys, I'm surprised this wasn't mentioned earlier.

[Nekhrun @ Feb 28th 2008 9:46AM]

so what will canon bring now? I am a canon fan and i am waiting ...

canon and sony are two BIG competitors and both release their models competitively. Remember S2 IS vs H2 and the S5 IS vs H9?

[Jeff K. @ Mar 10th 2008 7:43PM]

I'm thinking about purchasing a Panasonic FZ18 for $219. At about half the price of the soon to be released Sony DSC-H50, I wonder how one compares to the other. Is the Sony going to end up being twice the camera for twice the price?

[jOANNE @ Apr 25th 2008 5:21PM]

I recently purchased the Sony H-7, and I am still learning how to use it, only to find it's already being replaced with H50. Does anyone know the differences between the H7-H9 and the H50? The ink has barely dried on my receipt!

[Sathish Devaraj @ May 2nd 2008 6:20AM]

Hi, Got my new H50 today, ordered from CC and was delivered in 2 days. There is a 10% off and was a good deal. Have tested the camera mostly late evening and night shots so far and they have come out well. At ISO3200 the stills are very usable for small prints. Not for pixel peepers. Don't expect SLR quality. But this Sony seems to have ironed out the issues with H7/9 models and is very much an improved camera. The Zoom is fast and autofocus is quick, very less hunting in low light at the long end of the zoom. I will post more reviews as I play with this new toy more in coming days. So far seems to be meeting my expectations.

[Staci @ May 3rd 2008 4:10AM]

I purchased the DSC-H50 and wonder if anyone can tell me if the adapter ring is supposed to be locked on and never come off again because I don't see a way to take it back off. Any help would be appreciated. And I've already looked through all the manuals, it doesn't say anything about how to remove the adapter ring.
Thanks in advance for any help.

[nelson hernandez @ May 8th 2008 11:09AM]

The adapter ring screws on and of. There is a seperate manuel that gives instructions on attaching the adapter ring and hood. It also provides instructions for storing the adapter ring and hood.

[Jon Mangion @ May 11th 2008 9:40PM]

Canon fans check out the G9 for this camera's competition. It lacks the zoom, but the camera build is metal, very solid, and the feature set is great, especially if you like old school manuals. I'm waiting for reviews on the DSC-H50 before I make my decision.

[Mike @ May 13th 2008 2:19PM]

I Stacy,
The adapter ring comes off both the camera and the lens hood. Not sure why your is not? Mine comes off easily.

The camera works great. Another feature I am impressed with is that you can zoom while shooting video. So far, no complaints.