Sony DSC-W50

Reviewed April 2006

Characteristics

Thanks to a 1/2.5-inch CCD with 6.18 megapixels, the DSC-W50 is able to capture images measuring 2816 x 2112 pixels with its 6 million effective pixels. CCD sensitivity is automatically controlled with most modes, and ranges from 80 to 320 ISO, the camera increasing sensitivity as dictated by the available light and, in addition, the High Sensitivity mode allows the camera to increase the sensitivity up to 1000 ISO. Only the Program mode offers the user the option of setting a specific sensitivity, providing a range of 80 to 1000 ISO.

A Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar 3X zoom lens is employed on the W50, offering a focal length range of 6.3 to 18.9 mm, the 35 mm equivalent of a 38 to 114 mm. Apertures start at f2.8 at the wide angle end of the lens and close down at f7.1, while at the telephoto end, the range becomes f5.2 to f13.

As with a number of current Sony digital cameras, the DSC-W50 is also equipped with a dual mode digital zoom:

• Smart: the magnification power of the digital zoom varies with the image sizes selected and the smaller the image size, the greater the magnification effect. This digital zoom is not available if the image size is set to 6M, 3:2, or 16:9 (see further).
• Precision: is a standard digital zoom that interpolates the centre portion of the image to achieve an effect that gives the same field of view as a 6X optical zoom, but which lowers the image quality because of the interpolation.

With the DSC-W50 shutter speeds range from 1/2000 second to a maximum of 2 seconds, and night photography is only possible when the Twilight, or the Twilight Portrait modes are used, all other modes having a maximum exposure time of 1/8 second.

When the button is pressed while the camera is in one of the capture modes, the W50 displays a screen from which the resolution can be selected. Six resolutions (image sizes) are proposed, and each is accompanied by a short description explaining its possible use:

Whatever the image size, the camera only offers 2 JPEG compression levels: Fine, which applies the least compression and provides the highest image quality, and Standard, which applies a stronger compression allowing a greater number of images to fit in a given memory space, but at a lower image quality.

While the selection of the resolution is made using an external button, the menu needs to be used to set the level of compression (Picture Quality). The menu options appear as a ribbon, on the lower part of the monitor, in a mix of text and icons. The number of options that are presented vary with the capture mode in use, but the Program mode offers the greatest selection. Worth noting, some options are interdependent, and are only accessible when another option has been modified. The following is a list of all possible options:

• Colour serves to change the way the image is recorded:
  • Normal: records a normal colour image.
  • Rich: increases colour saturation.
  • Natural: slightly lowers colour saturation.
  • Sepia: captures a brown — sepia — coloured image.
  • B&W: captures a black and white image.
• Focus selects the focus method:
  • Multi AF focuses using 5 focus points arranged in a cross extending from the centre of the image.
  • Centre AF uses only the centre focus point.
  • Manual allows setting the focus distance using preset distances (0.5, 1, 3, 7 metres or infinity).

• Metering Mode provides a choice of three patterns: Multi-pattern, Centre-Weighted or Spot.
• WB: controls the white balance: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent or Flash.
• ISO: sets the CCD sensitivity (Only accessible in the Program mode) Auto (80 to 320), 80, 100, 200, 400, 800 or 1000 ISO.
• Picture Quality: serves to set the JPEG compression level: Fine or Standard.

• Rec. Mode contains the following options:
  • Normal: captures one image each time the shutter release is pressed.
  • Burst: captures a series of 3 images at the highest resolution and best image quality.
  • Multi Burst: captures 16 images at a selectable interval (see below) and save them into a single 1280 x 960 pixel image. In Playback mode, the images are shown as a short animation which can be used to observe a rapid movement such as a golf swing.

• Interval selects the capture interval for the Multi Burst mode (see above): 1/7.5 sec., 1/15 sec., 1/30 sec. (This option is only accessible when the Multi Burst mode has been selected).
• Flash Level controls the flash output over three levels: + (Plus) , Normal, — (Minus). (This option is not accessible if the flash is set to Forced Off).
• Contrast: also has three levels + (Plus) , Normal, — (Minus).

• Sharpness: controls the way the image is processed by the camera + (Plus) , Normal, — (Minus).
• Setup: is the access to the Setup menu (for more information about the contents of the Setup menu, see the Interface and Software section of the review).

When the camera is set to the Movie mode, the options of the menu are limited to the Colour mode, AF mode, Metering mode and white balance. As with the other capture menus, the last option is also an access to the Setup menu.

With the DSC-W50 set to the Playback mode, the menu is also presented as a ribbon at the bottom of the screen:

• Folder: serves to choose the folder from which images will be viewed.
• Protect: tags images so they cannot be accidentally erased.

• DPOF: (Digital Print Order Format) serves to select images that will be printed using a DPOF compatible printer, or printing service.
• Print: serves to select photos to be printed when the W50 is connected directly to PictBridge compatible printer using the USB connection. The available options are: This image, Select, DPOF image, All in this folder, or Cancel.

• Slide Show: has options that allow setting the interval between images (3, 5, 10, 30 seconds or 1 minute), showing only images that are in a specific folder, or all images on the memory card, and decide if the show will automatically repeat once the end is reached.

• Resize: serves to make a copy of an image at another image size than the one the image was captured, with the exception of images captured using the 3:2 or 16:9 formats. Should a larger image size that the image's original resolution be selected, the camera will interpolate the image, causing a loss of quality.
• Rotate: serves to change the orientation of the image to the right or to the left in 90° increments.
• Divide: Serves to edit movies by dividing them and re-saving the cut portions.
• Setup: provides access to the Setup menu.

The DSC-W50 has a 32MB internal memory and, in North America, is not sold with a memory card. As is the case with all current Sony cameras, the W50 is compatible with Memory Stick Duo, and Memory Stick Duo Pro.

The memory card slot is next to the battery compartment, and the Memory Stick ejected by pressing it on its edge. The battery is held in place with a small spring-loaded latch, and the entire compartment is covered by a solid, locking door.

The chart below provides the approximate numbers of photos, and the approximate duration of video clips that can be captured using the 32 MB internal memory, and a 1GB Memory Stick Duo Pro:

A rechargeable Lithium ion battery (NP-BG1) powers the DSC-W50. In North America, a charger that plugs directly into an electrical outlet is supplied with the camera (other regions may have a wired charger). The charger takes approximately 120 minutes to charge the battery.

The top right side of the W50 also provides a jack, covered by a small door, that can be used to connect the optional AC adapter (AC-LS5K) can be acquired to power the camera for extended periods of time, although it does not recharge the battery.

In addition, a connector is available underneath the camera to seat it into an optional Cyber-shot docking station. As the camera is sold without the docking station, a special 3-headed cable is supplied:

• Two of the connectors are RCA connectors and are for A/V Out — a yellow one for video and a black one for sound — so the W50 can be connected to a television. (The output signal, NTSC or PAL, is selected in the Setup menu.)
• The third is a USB connector, to connect the camera to either a computer or to a PictBridge compatible printer. The USB port can be set to Auto, allowing the camera to automatically detect the device connected to it, or MassStorage so the camera's memory is recognized by a computer as a hard disk, or PTP to allow for the automatic transfer of images to a computer.