Sony Cybershot H50
Sony Cybershot H50
1
Hey! You should know that this product has been discontinued. Here are our current recommended cameras in the Point and Shoot Digital Cameras category.
Sony Cybershot H50
Editor's Review
The DSC-H50 is packed with features including Smile Shutter technology which will automatically take a picture when the subject smiles. No need to press the shutter. Coupled with Face Detection which will balance focus, exposure and color for up to 8 faces in the picture and intelligent scene recognition and the H50 is a solid entry into the mid range point and shoot category.
Specifications
- 9.1 Megapixels
- 15x Optical Zoom / up to 81x digital Zoom
- Smile shutter, face detection, intelligent scene recognition and Double AntiBlur Solution.
- Optical Image Stabilization
- MPEG1 Movie Mode
- Multi-pattern, Center-weighted, Spot Exposure Modes
- 80-3200 ISO Levels
- JPEG File Formats
- 3-inch LCD
- MS Duo / MS PRO Duo Storage Media (plus 15MB internal capacity)
- Proprietary Lithium Ion rechargeable
- Part Number: DSC-H50/S
- UPC: 4905524507010
- Release Date: Mar 04, 2008
Shop for H50 Accessories
Sony Cybershot H50 Comments & Questions (write your own!)
sony cybershot h 50 (judi cornfoot — 03/23/2011)
I bought one in 2009 and now i'm having a problem with the lenses and taking a picture in daylight creates a line from the top to the bottom of the picture. i was ready to send it back to Sony but they want 193.00 just to look at it.
not when i spent ovr 300. for it .
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not when i spent ovr 300. for it .
Liam McCabe (03/23/2011)
Does the line just appear on the LCD on the back of the camera? Or when you view it on a computer too?
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Digital SLR that's compatible and fully functional with Minolta AF lenses ? (mycreek1 — 09/24/2009)
What camera, Sony, Nikon, Canon, or any other that will accept and provide full Auto Focus function with Minolta AF Lenses 50, 28-105, & 70-210 .. Thanks, BH
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by James DeRuvo (09/25/2009)
Only a Sony. However, it still may not work on full auto. It may only work manually. You just have to see. But the others won't work at all.
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Sony H50 - Flash won't work! (camstar1 — 09/24/2009)
I have a Sony H50 that I love, with one exception. There are times that I cannot get the flash to manually or automatically activate. Once this happens I need to go into the menu's and "initialize" (reset) the camera, and then it works as it should. It will work for awhile and then I'll need to reset it again. Everything else on the camera works well.
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by James DeRuvo (09/25/2009)
well since you've reset the camera, I'd check for a firmware update. Absent that, it may be a faulty flash. Has your warranty expired?
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Compare sony hx1, sony h50, and panasonic fz28 (dharmendrapewa — 07/06/2009)
Hi,
I want to buy a high zoom camera, please suggest me from these three, as I hav short listed them. My need is good quality picture and most important is image stability, and bright pictures.
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I want to buy a high zoom camera, please suggest me from these three, as I hav short listed them. My need is good quality picture and most important is image stability, and bright pictures.
by James DeRuvo (07/07/2009)
Panasonic is making a much better camera right now than Sony. And it doesn't use proprietary technologies either. And you won't pay a nameplate premium as well. Great irony is that Panasonic uses SONY ccd chips, so you're kind of getting a Sony no matter what you do, only with the Panny, you're not paying the extra money.
Go with the Pansonic.
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Go with the Pansonic.
Where to find smile shutter taken pictures? (Bluey — 06/17/2009)
When the smile shuuter takes the picture, i can't find the taken smile picture anywhere on the memory card even on somthing called "smiles". Can anyone help?
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camera? (06/23/2009)
It should just be with the regular photos on the memory card.
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Between the Nikon P90 and the Sony Cybershot H50 (Meina — 05/08/2009)
I initially purchased a Nikon P90 and thought it was great. Loved the screen and the menus so easy to use. I also loved how clear the outdoor pictures, nevertheless I had BIG time trouble indoors. My daughter does gymnastic and during the awards presentation, although the girls were still, the pictures came out blurry and grainy. So, I took the camera back and got myself the Sony H50. I only have 14 days to review and return but the guy at Best Buy seemed to think this is a better camera with better shutter speed and that the pictures will come out better. He also said something about although the zoom is less than the Nikon the pictures will come out clearer. Need your opinion, as I don't have any gymnastic event coming up until 2 months from now and it would be too late to return if it doesn't work. PS. I am a point and shoot person so I am using the auto mode....is that okay or should I use the easy mode and what is the difference ?
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John Snider (05/11/2009)
Most of the superzooms have noise at low light levels. The Nikon P90/P80 and Fuji s8100 fd/ s8100fd are the worst in low light. The Fuji s100fs oddly enough is one of the best in low light- go figure. Even odder is that the Nikon L100 seemed to perform better in low light than the P90.
The Lens itself on the Sony produces Chromatic Aberrations (Mostly magenta and green) through most of its range. It also produces better results in low light than the P90.
Easy mode typically only lets you set whether you use the flash or not and zoom ratio where as auto still allows some setting changes.
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The Lens itself on the Sony produces Chromatic Aberrations (Mostly magenta and green) through most of its range. It also produces better results in low light than the P90.
Easy mode typically only lets you set whether you use the flash or not and zoom ratio where as auto still allows some setting changes.
Pete Rodgers (05/27/2009)
I have had the H-50 for some time. I use it to back up my Sony A700. I can not say any thing bad about it. I was a failure analysis engineer for years with NASA. Thousands of images a year with about any type camera made. Guess I am just saying I have no issue with the H-50, my personal opinion of course. The images rarely nead tweaking, better than the A700. The pictures I get hand neld at almost full zoom continue to blow me away. Glad i read about the low light issues with the P-90, was about to buy one. Can not live with low light issues. I must not have a trained eye as have had no issues in the real world with color.
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John Snider (05/27/2009)
Look at the edges of objects in the images under full crop or magnified crop... If you are printing 4 X 6 or posting on the net you won't notice much/at all.
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MSLK (01/09/2010)
Hi Folks,
Its been 2 Months SIince i have been sing P90 i think its great camera with very good results, The Blurry/grainy picutres are due to improper usage.use them after reading manual and it would be of great help in terms of getting the right results, always ensure to keep the ISO Level low below 800 preferably, us the scene mode. SOny H50 In anyways is no comparison since it has zoom of 15x, andmany features are Not available as P90 has, But If SOme one is recording videos. H50 can deliver HD format video's
try reviews on Dpreview.com it has goodreviews too.
reply to this comment
Its been 2 Months SIince i have been sing P90 i think its great camera with very good results, The Blurry/grainy picutres are due to improper usage.use them after reading manual and it would be of great help in terms of getting the right results, always ensure to keep the ISO Level low below 800 preferably, us the scene mode. SOny H50 In anyways is no comparison since it has zoom of 15x, andmany features are Not available as P90 has, But If SOme one is recording videos. H50 can deliver HD format video's
try reviews on Dpreview.com it has goodreviews too.
i am thinking of buying a camera, anyone could help me find a good one between nikon d60 and sony h50? (jrm21478 — 04/01/2009)
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Gary Lefebvre (04/01/2009)
Nikon D60 is a good camera you will not be disappointed. There are many Nikon len's that are available that you can purchase on many web sites including auctions. The Sony with it's Carl Zeiss telephoto lens and manual features are strong, but the focus-lock is erratic, and startup is slow.
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Aditya D (04/04/2009)
You asked the question twice, here is a link to the other question: digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... .
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between nikon D60 and Sony H50 which would you choose? (jrm21478 — 04/01/2009)
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by James DeRuvo (04/01/2009)
The D60, hands down. An SLR will always be better than a point and shoot, even an extended zoom model. First off, you have lens choices. Secondly, no shutter lag.
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Aditya D (04/04/2009)
You're not really comparing apples to oranges here. If you want a more apt comparison, try comparing the Sony A100 to the Nikon D60. The Sony H50 uses the same processor that's in its dSLR models (with the exception of the new A900), so you shouldn't see a big difference in picture quality between the two. Also, the D60 is going to be considerably more money once you invest in the lenses, while the Sony H50 is going to stay the same price, because you don't have to invest in lenses. So, if lens versatility is for you, go with the D60, if you want the cheaper, all-in-one, option, go with the H50.
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by James DeRuvo (04/07/2009)
While it's true that the D60 will cost more, every penny is in the lens advantage. Nikkor lenses are truly superior and with a 50+ year legacy of lenses to choose from, you have a great cadre of glass to take some truly wonderful images. And while the H50 may use the same chip as the A series DSLR, it still has to deal with a certain amount of shutter delay, as well as limited flash capability.
Frankly, I think there are better ultrazoom options out there, but the H50 will take decent shots within it's limitations.
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Frankly, I think there are better ultrazoom options out there, but the H50 will take decent shots within it's limitations.
Between the Canon SX10 IS and the Sony DSC -H50, what is the better camera of the two . I have it narrowed down between the two. (JMel — 03/05/2009)
This will be my first digital camera. I previously had a Canon AE-1 SLR that gave me many years of great service and great pictures,(and still does).
I am greatly concerned about the different battery types each camera takes.
reply to this comment
I am greatly concerned about the different battery types each camera takes.
by James DeRuvo (03/05/2009)
For comparison, you may want to check out this resource ( imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP... ). It takes pictures with each and you can compare them side by side.
At lower ISOs, like 200 - the SX10 gives a more natural image, while the H50 is darker, with less contrast. At higher ISOs - where noise begins to creep in - the H50 really begins to break down and lose detail.
I'd go with the SX10IS.
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At lower ISOs, like 200 - the SX10 gives a more natural image, while the H50 is darker, with less contrast. At higher ISOs - where noise begins to creep in - the H50 really begins to break down and lose detail.
I'd go with the SX10IS.
steve mccall (03/06/2009)
hello john
cannon , nikon or sony are not the only game in town
you may want to check out the panasonic lumix lx3
this is the camera that magazine photographers' are taking with them on assignment instead of their dslr cameras
or as dave of imaging resources put it
"
One of the finest premium enthusiast cameras on the market Almost in a category by itself, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 digital camera really impressed us. With a 10-megapixel imager, a high quality Leica lens, and a high-resolution 3-inch wide-screen LCD, the Panasonic LX3 was built to deliver high image quality in a small package. Gone are the noise problems of the LX2, and detail is lush. A full range of capture modes graces the LX3 -- auto and manual -- plus a hot shoe, manual AF and aspect ratio controls, and the little digital camera even shoots RAW. The Panasonic LX3's color was natural, and impressive printed results tell the rest of the story. The Panasonic LX3's price is competitive, too, more than an inexpensive digicam, but less than a digital SLR."
reply to this comment
cannon , nikon or sony are not the only game in town
you may want to check out the panasonic lumix lx3
this is the camera that magazine photographers' are taking with them on assignment instead of their dslr cameras
or as dave of imaging resources put it
"
One of the finest premium enthusiast cameras on the market Almost in a category by itself, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 digital camera really impressed us. With a 10-megapixel imager, a high quality Leica lens, and a high-resolution 3-inch wide-screen LCD, the Panasonic LX3 was built to deliver high image quality in a small package. Gone are the noise problems of the LX2, and detail is lush. A full range of capture modes graces the LX3 -- auto and manual -- plus a hot shoe, manual AF and aspect ratio controls, and the little digital camera even shoots RAW. The Panasonic LX3's color was natural, and impressive printed results tell the rest of the story. The Panasonic LX3's price is competitive, too, more than an inexpensive digicam, but less than a digital SLR."
Does this cammera have an SDK like the Canon Powershot IS5? What camera would have an SDK similar to the Canon? (kjones2000 — 03/02/2009)
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by James DeRuvo (03/02/2009)
At therisk of looking a tad dense, can you be less cryptic, Kevin? Thanks.
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kjones2000 (03/03/2009)
A SDK (Software Development Kit) contains the (*.DLLs) that let you control the functions of the camera in an application.
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by James DeRuvo (03/03/2009)
I understand what an SDK is. Thanks. But you're probably better off just downloading the drivers from Sony's website.
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Elign Mills (12/23/2009)
No, I have this camera and so far I cannot find any SDK allowing user to control it remotely. I don't think any of the Sony point-and-shoot cameras are supported by any public SDK. Canon was the last company that offer this feature but it does not do this any more.
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Between Canon G10 and Sony H50, Which would you choose? One of this will be my first camera...Please help :-) (DW1VNU — 02/17/2009)
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by James DeRuvo (02/17/2009)
The G10 hands down. First, it's a popular choice as a backup camera for professionals. Secondly, it's more compact and can easily fit in a shirt pocket. It has manual settings. But the best thing is that, unlike the H50, it isn't bogged down by prioprietary technologies that affect performance and cost more.
And the G10 is better ranked. Period. Go with the G10.
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And the G10 is better ranked. Period. Go with the G10.
I am not satisfied with battery backup. Any solution for that ? (sathyarg — 02/13/2009)
I bought H50 recently. I'm totally dissatisfied with the battery backup. It gets drained out very quickly. What is the solution for that? Are there any power saver settings in the camera ?
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by James DeRuvo (02/20/2009)
It is a proprietary battery system, but Sony does have a longer lasting battery called the NP-FG1 Rechargeable Battery Pack.
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vnmoh (07/24/2009)
NP-BG1 is the battery pack that comes with the camera package. i think its discontinued now.
both BG1and FG1 batterries have the same capacity (960mAH) they last the same amount of time
only difference is NP FG1 is infolithium meaning.. you get to see the actual battery reamaining time (not just charge indication)
on your cameras LCD monitor.
to save some battery..
switch to EVF (electronic view finder)
keep you LCD brightness low
cut down on the frequency you would review your pictures/videos
you could turn off image stabilization.. the least thing one should do :)
importantly charge you batterry fully before use.
its always good to have a spare battery than to regret later when you needed it the most.
and finally a fact for the day
a cheap battery will perform cheap!
reply to this comment
both BG1and FG1 batterries have the same capacity (960mAH) they last the same amount of time
only difference is NP FG1 is infolithium meaning.. you get to see the actual battery reamaining time (not just charge indication)
on your cameras LCD monitor.
to save some battery..
switch to EVF (electronic view finder)
keep you LCD brightness low
cut down on the frequency you would review your pictures/videos
you could turn off image stabilization.. the least thing one should do :)
importantly charge you batterry fully before use.
its always good to have a spare battery than to regret later when you needed it the most.
and finally a fact for the day
a cheap battery will perform cheap!
How to shot by Smile Shutter with H-50? (Johny — 01/21/2009)
When I put the menu in Smile Shutter It says DEMO MODE???? Please help me......
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by James DeRuvo (01/23/2009)
You may have forgotten to turn the upper dial to SCN, before you pressed the menu button and select the "smile shutter" scene mode. This is how you get into the "smile shutter" mode where it will click the shutter when it senses that the subject has smiled.
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choosing between sony h50, canon sx10 is, panasonicfz28 (my last) and olympus sp 565uz (jedifesm — 01/19/2009)
i work in tennis courts (sport psychologist) taking video for future reviews with the players, also in motion pics. I also have 5 fox terrier i like to take pics of them playing and else. And my third use would be hanging around with friends, day or night. Im looking most of all, picture quality, short time between pics (i have a canon a710, and when taking with flash i must wait like 1o secs i think for next pic) and good quality zoom and the possibility of wide angles
thank you very much,
Namaste´
FICO
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thank you very much,
Namaste´
FICO
Quazi Ahmed Hussain (Dhaka, BD) (01/20/2009)
Certainly Canon PowerShot SX10 IS would be the best choice. I have an SX110 IS with 9 MP and 10x zoom. Both cameras were released same time late last year. My one takes amazing crisp pictures both at wide angles and telephoto options. It also contains bundles of manual features using which one can improve the image quality further. Therefore, I can safely assume SX10 with its higher megapixel resolutions, 20x zoom and digic IV processor; will produce images of highest quality. Bottomline; it's a Canon - do u need anything else?
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jedifesm (01/20/2009)
thank you for your answer... and do you know is flash in this canon is as slow as in my a710 is?? i have it, and it is toooo slow between one pic and the next one using flash... that is something i hate in my canon
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Quazi Ahmed Hussain (Dhaka, BD) (01/21/2009)
Profound gratitude for rating my answer as the best; it has augmented my position. Now, u c flash is a sudden burst of huge amount of light consuming extra power. It’s like knocking the power source down with one punch. Even great boxers need time to get up after being knocked down – just like great cameras (even DSLRs) after flash. But u can do one thing. Just close down the pop-up flash (as with SX110) and the camera is ready again to shoot without flash. Pictures under fluorescent or tungsten light without flash are not bad at all. Happy shooting.
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Alan Schamber (01/22/2009)
I know it's already answered... but I'm not here for the points.
In DPReview, they just published a comparisson about this. What would I recommend??? The Panasonic. It's the best camera, with the Canon one... but it's a lot smaller.
Alan.
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In DPReview, they just published a comparisson about this. What would I recommend??? The Panasonic. It's the best camera, with the Canon one... but it's a lot smaller.
Alan.
jedifesm (01/22/2009)
thank you Alan, but what is the Panasonic you are talking about?? compared to the two mentioned?
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Alan Schamber (01/22/2009)
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Smile Shutter vs Face Detection -- What is the difference? Do you need both? (HLCrompton — 01/11/2009)
I know there are several features that differ between the Sony H10 and the H50 - one difference is the H10 only has face detection, while the H50 has face detection and smile shutter. Please explain why there is a difference and is it worth it?
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Mr. C (01/12/2009)
Both cameras feature face detection and smile shutter. Face detection will lock focus on faces and ensure they stay focused. Smile shutter goes one step further. In the smile shutter mode, the camera will not take a picture until somebody is smiling. When they smile, the camera automatically takes a picture (up to 6 pictures). I have it on my W170 and it works well.
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HLCrompton (01/12/2009)
I see no listing for the H10 having smile shutter. Where do you see that listed?
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Mr. C (01/12/2009)
amazon.com/Sony-Cybershot-D... under "Manufacturer Description."
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HLCrompton (01/21/2009)
Other than the amazon listing, I do not see smile shutter referenced as a feature on this camera. Even the sony website does not list it as a feature. I am still curious what the difference is, and why both are needed (or not).
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I am debating bewteen a DSLR and this auto digital camera. Which one should i go with? (abutou — 12/02/2008)
I am debating bewteen a DSLR and this camera. Which one do I want to buy? I intend to try to get some double duty out of it. I would like to be able to take professional quality portraits and also use it as a travel camera/sports action shots camera etc. Which camera is my best one to go with?
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Brenda Paro (12/07/2008)
It sort of depends on your priorities. This camera is going to be more compact than a DSLR but won't have nearly the amount of features/ options/ manual control/ interchangeable lenses. If you want full variety with what you can do, a DSLR is always best. If your main concern is portability and auto mode, then this camera would take good quality pics for you (at a considerably lower price than a DSLR!)
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vnmoh (07/24/2009)
the H50 will definitely please you. i was in your position a few months ago, thought i would buy an entry level DSLR and made my choice to go for the H50.
there is this advanced sports shooting mode, you would like to use for some action shots. the 15X optical zoom coupled with optical image stabilization is impressive.
the H50 has more features and manual controls than an entry level DSLR camera. i love the wireless remote control that comes with the H50.
whether DSLR or point and shoot, both capture light (the DSLR.. better quality light) we could still create stunning photographs without a DSLR!
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there is this advanced sports shooting mode, you would like to use for some action shots. the 15X optical zoom coupled with optical image stabilization is impressive.
the H50 has more features and manual controls than an entry level DSLR camera. i love the wireless remote control that comes with the H50.
whether DSLR or point and shoot, both capture light (the DSLR.. better quality light) we could still create stunning photographs without a DSLR!
I will buy this on Dec 06'2008..Any major demerits or problem with this Camera? (Johny — 11/17/2008)
I will use this cameara for personal use and to some extend photography....Its around US $400 in my country...So I want to know whether there is any major dis-advantage or problem with this camera....Please help me....
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by James DeRuvo (11/21/2008)
Well it does come highly rated, but some things to consider. You pay a nameplate premium because it's a Sony. It uses slower and more expensive memory sticks which only work in other Sonys. This is part of Sony's obsession with proprietary technology. It does use a Leica lens. However, it's certainly not superior, IMHO, to Canon or Nikon's lenses which are some of the best in the world.
Also, I have read there the H50 suffers in very low light and high ISOs with more noise and a loss of detail. Frankly, I think you can do better with the Canon G9 or G10. But to be certain, check out this resource ( imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP... ). It takes pictures with each and you can compare them side by side.
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Also, I have read there the H50 suffers in very low light and high ISOs with more noise and a loss of detail. Frankly, I think you can do better with the Canon G9 or G10. But to be certain, check out this resource ( imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP... ). It takes pictures with each and you can compare them side by side.
Pictures coming out are not sharp at all in night (auto/flash and manual mode) & and at home (with lamps). i used 5mpixels. anything i am missing? (scor7777 — 11/12/2008)
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camera? (11/17/2008)
Maybe you should turn it up to 9 or 10MP? Lower your ISO settings, too.
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by James DeRuvo (11/17/2008)
Also, if you get into the habit of prefocusing (pressing the shutter down half way) then you can cut shutter lag to nearly nil, that'll also cut down on subject's moving. And using flash will freeze the action.
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scor7777 (11/17/2008)
Thanks for the reply. These are good points and I will keep in mind though somehow it seems to me that the pictures in LCD screen are lot more clear than on my pc. I guess using 9MP made a difference - but am still not satisfied. I am satisfied with the day pictures but the night pictures were OK but not great (cant use lower ISO at night). Maybe I had a little bit too much expectations with the camera for night pictures after reading all the positive reviews. With flash it is much better but then I dont like using flash all the time.
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by James DeRuvo (11/19/2008)
Are you getting more noise in low light settings? The thing is that the camera will choose a higher ISO as you get in darker and low light situations. Longer shutter speeds and wider apertures. The result will be more noise at higher ISOs which will cause a loss in detail, camera shake with slower shutter speeds, and a darker look as the aperture of the lens simply isn't wide enought to bring in all the light.
I think you're right when you say it may be your expectations. It seems to me you may be ready to take the next step into the DSLR world.
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I think you're right when you say it may be your expectations. It seems to me you may be ready to take the next step into the DSLR world.
scor7777 (11/19/2008)
That does make sense - my next step would be a DSLR though this time I was afraid of carrying so many extra lenses and a bulkier camera. I guess I saw this camera as a good compromise between convenience and picture quality. Thanks
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by James DeRuvo (11/24/2008)
Well the beauty is, you don't really have to. Most zoom lenses these days are less bulky than they were say, 20 years ago. So you can get a 18-200 zoom and it's about the same size focal length wise as a 20x. In addition, unless a full frame DSLR, most have "multipliers" which will get you out a tad farther. I don't think you have to worry there. It's all about the image and IMHO, DSLR is where you want to go, DK. Search your feelings, you know it to be true. LOL.
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loloyd (12/28/2008)
Low light indoor non-artistic with desired natural lighting photography is really a problem with any camera. I also use 5 megapixels with mine and I experiment with a lot of settings and could could only get good enough photos. That's why I use force flash more for indoor event shots. Also have a look at SL lighting (spread, subjects and distant) mode and try turning on the Anti-Red Eye to add some pre-flash on your shots. You have to test and simulate a lot in an indoor night setting so that you can prepare yourself better when such a true event comes.
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by James DeRuvo (12/29/2008)
Well here's the problem with dialing back the mp to 5, essentially, the image is reduced to the set quality after it has been processed by the CCD. As such, the light still goes through those pixels, only that after some basic processing steps pixels are "thrown out" to make the image to the desired setting and size. This process is called "Choking" and that will cause Artifacting and noise. Additionally, you'll also loose details of the recorded image.
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is ALPHA 200 better than the DSC H-50? (nitinomatic — 11/09/2008)
includes the price range,zoom capabilities,lense compatibility and the performance..
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phreaker18 (11/10/2008)
Well for starters the Alpha A 200 is a DSLR camera with interchangeable lenses.... and the H 50 is an ultra zoom point and shoot camera.....
i think that should suffice in answering your question... the A 200 is slighlty more expensive than the H 50 and does not have video recording capabilities and the zoom of the camera would depend on the lens u have mounted on it .... as for the lens compatibility old Minolta and Sony lenses are compatible with the A 200...
performance wise i would say the A 200 fares better than the H 50 !!
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i think that should suffice in answering your question... the A 200 is slighlty more expensive than the H 50 and does not have video recording capabilities and the zoom of the camera would depend on the lens u have mounted on it .... as for the lens compatibility old Minolta and Sony lenses are compatible with the A 200...
performance wise i would say the A 200 fares better than the H 50 !!
Meesho (11/17/2008)
Depends on what you're looking for. If you want point & shoot and more simplicity, the H50 is a better way to go. But if you're looking for expandability and tweaking your shot, the A200 may be your path. What's more important to you?
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I am looking at purchasing a camera to use in photographing animals - (beemerannie — 10/28/2008)
I dont mind if it has to have a twin lens, it needs to have continuous shooting facility, 10 megapixels at minimum, good close up focus and clear detail imaging. Could you please advise on the best way to go??
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bukit97 (10/29/2008)
There are lot's of 10 megapixel cameras in the market and all cameras in the category come with continuous shooting and good close ups.
If clear detail imaging of animals is required, you may get any of the popular dSLRs like Canon 450D, Nikon D90 or Sony A350. These will cost some money but they give you lots of satisfaction in the years to come.
If you are not ready for dSLRs, the next best choice will be the super zooms like Panasonic Lumix FZ28, Canon Powershot SX10 IS, and Olympus SP-565 UZ where the zoom lens supplied covers macros, wide angle and teles up to over 400mm.
Canon SX10 IS appears to be quite popular with Canon fans and you may want to take a look at the camera in the shops. You probably will like it.
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If clear detail imaging of animals is required, you may get any of the popular dSLRs like Canon 450D, Nikon D90 or Sony A350. These will cost some money but they give you lots of satisfaction in the years to come.
If you are not ready for dSLRs, the next best choice will be the super zooms like Panasonic Lumix FZ28, Canon Powershot SX10 IS, and Olympus SP-565 UZ where the zoom lens supplied covers macros, wide angle and teles up to over 400mm.
Canon SX10 IS appears to be quite popular with Canon fans and you may want to take a look at the camera in the shops. You probably will like it.
beemerannie (11/05/2008)
Thank you very much for response - I have actually purchased a Fuji Finepix S100FS - which although is not one of your recommendations, does a fantastic job and covers macro, wide angle and tele's to 400mm. It captures in jpeg - although it can also capture in RAW (which I haven't yet done much with as I have been too busy learning all the other functions!!)
Regards
Annie
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Regards
Annie
bukit97 (11/05/2008)
if you visit <a href="cameras.co.uk/camera-review... this site </a>,you can see a long list of ' superzooms ' which I can't list in full in my answer, although they are all very attractive in their own ways.
Fuji Finepix S100FS is one of the cameras under the ' superzoom ' category with many features typical of ' superzooms '. You should try to shoot RAW and do some HDR imaging when you have time.
Glad you found what you like.
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Fuji Finepix S100FS is one of the cameras under the ' superzoom ' category with many features typical of ' superzooms '. You should try to shoot RAW and do some HDR imaging when you have time.
Glad you found what you like.
Any REAL experience of owner wearing glasses with Sony DSC-H50? (ghostmc2 — 10/26/2008)
From my observation there maybe is not big enough 'gap' between viewfinder position on LCD....
Thanks for help
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Thanks for help
bukit97 (10/29/2008)
i wear glasses, but i hardly use it while taking pictures for two reasons :
a. the viewfinder has diopter adjustments. This let's you see clearly without glasses.
b. the camera has 9 point auto focus. This takes care of the focusing in most of the cases.
The gap between the viewfinder and the LCD probably is not a problem for me in that sense.
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a. the viewfinder has diopter adjustments. This let's you see clearly without glasses.
b. the camera has 9 point auto focus. This takes care of the focusing in most of the cases.
The gap between the viewfinder and the LCD probably is not a problem for me in that sense.
ghostmc2 (11/05/2008)
Thanks for your answer. However in my case and for safety of others is better to wear glasses all the time... Otto
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Would H50 Work for Photographing Documents or is there better? (landman — 10/25/2008)
I work in a variety of Courthouses and often need to photograph documents that have been filed for record so that I can read them on my computer at home.
I need very clear images that I can zoom in on to decipher handwriting etc.
The documents I need to photograph range in size from 8 1/2" x ''11" to 24" x 18".
I will need to be able to hold the camera by hand above the document and photograph in fluorescent lighting without a flash. Image stabilization will be important.
I anticipate taking up to 300 images per day.
Recommendations?
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I need very clear images that I can zoom in on to decipher handwriting etc.
The documents I need to photograph range in size from 8 1/2" x ''11" to 24" x 18".
I will need to be able to hold the camera by hand above the document and photograph in fluorescent lighting without a flash. Image stabilization will be important.
I anticipate taking up to 300 images per day.
Recommendations?
steve mccall (10/25/2008)
hello jimmy
the h50 is a very good camera but heavy and bulky
what you need is a small light camera with a wide angle lens
the panasonic tz5 is the camera that meets you need
it has auto rotate feature that is ideal for documents .
the link below show the use of tz3 in photographing scores the tz5 use the same and firmware
flickr.com/photos/dinah/281...
reply to this comment
the h50 is a very good camera but heavy and bulky
what you need is a small light camera with a wide angle lens
the panasonic tz5 is the camera that meets you need
it has auto rotate feature that is ideal for documents .
the link below show the use of tz3 in photographing scores the tz5 use the same and firmware
flickr.com/photos/dinah/281...
is this camera worth for beginers? that is easy to use and also with advanced features (madz — 10/20/2008)
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loloyd (11/02/2008)
I believe it is. The Sony H50 has a very intelligent auto-mode that can take outstanding pictures compared to other brand cameras in the same setting. It also has an intelligent scene recognition setting for when you want to take advantage of the camera's "suggestions on how it would take the picture". There is also an absolute easy mode that takes out all the technical mumbo-jumbo so you can simply concentrate on just shooting what you like. Just always remember - halfway press the shutter button first to let the camera figure out the best settings for your shot, and then fully depress it to actually take the shot while holding the camera as steady as you can.
There's almost no need to read the manual - especially if you've used digicams before. Just learn the basics (how to hold your camera properly and steadily, how to set the all auto-mode, the zoom and the flash) and you'll be fine for virtually all shooting conditions. Not only that, you'll also get impressive results with this camera.
And it also got the full shebang manual mode fidgetry when you get bored or you're ready to take fancier and more artsy shots - manual exposure mode, aperture priority, sport mode, shutter speed priority, landscape/portrait/fireworks mode, multi-levels of flash control, etc.
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There's almost no need to read the manual - especially if you've used digicams before. Just learn the basics (how to hold your camera properly and steadily, how to set the all auto-mode, the zoom and the flash) and you'll be fine for virtually all shooting conditions. Not only that, you'll also get impressive results with this camera.
And it also got the full shebang manual mode fidgetry when you get bored or you're ready to take fancier and more artsy shots - manual exposure mode, aperture priority, sport mode, shutter speed priority, landscape/portrait/fireworks mode, multi-levels of flash control, etc.
Are aperature settings funtional? (lma57 — 10/08/2008)
Setting my camera's aperature setting to 2.7 does not result in a narrow depth of field-the background is not blurry. Does this camera have the function of taking a picture with a blurry background and foreground?If not, why does it have different aperature setting to begin with?
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bukit97 (10/09/2008)
The main function of the aperture is to control the amount of light going into the camera, otherwise in many instances you will not be able to take any pictures at all.
To enable it to do it's job, the aperture has different settings to let you cope with different lighting conditions.
Blurring of background actually is related to the depth of field. Anything outside the depth of field will be blur, anything within it will be sharp. To go a dit deeper, depth of field is affected by three variables, focal length, subject distance and f-stop which is the aperture.
Aperture alone does not determine the depth of field, so when you set it to 2.7, it works for object very close to the camera or closeup photos but it is not so significant for distant objects, particularly when you use wide angle lens.
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To enable it to do it's job, the aperture has different settings to let you cope with different lighting conditions.
Blurring of background actually is related to the depth of field. Anything outside the depth of field will be blur, anything within it will be sharp. To go a dit deeper, depth of field is affected by three variables, focal length, subject distance and f-stop which is the aperture.
Aperture alone does not determine the depth of field, so when you set it to 2.7, it works for object very close to the camera or closeup photos but it is not so significant for distant objects, particularly when you use wide angle lens.
when you go for H50 and when for W300 and when for Alfa350? (simhan1948 — 10/08/2008)
Rather whater the specific advantages of each one and how to decide one amongst the 3.
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Aditya D (10/10/2008)
Well... these cameras have a pretty big price difference between them. The W300 is for the beginning camera shooter, the H50 is for an intermediate, and the A350 is for an advanced amateur. The picture quality and features increases as the price increases, so W300 will be the worse, A350 will be the best. It really just depends where your photography skill level is. If you don't know too much, go with the H50, its a better all around camera that you can use much easier. The A350 is good if you want to get really in to photography, and have the money to spend on lots of extra lenses.
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Best setting use while taking pictures in a cavern (chefstacey2007 — 10/07/2008)
Which setting would be best to sue when taking pictures at a cavern? I will be visiting three caverns next weekend and want to make sure I get the best picture
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Aditya D (10/09/2008)
Try the fireworks setting, this may work the best, because none of the other scene mode seem to apply. Other than that, try playing with the ISO settings and lowering them, while also changing the white balance settings (to get a brighter and clearer picture), until they produce the desired effect. Different caverns and places have different lighting, so I can't tell you exactly what to do, but try these options.
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by James DeRuvo (10/11/2008)
There may also be an available light setting. But remember that the lower the light settings, the longer the shutter speed, the more likelihood of blurred images from camera shake. Find out if you can bring a tripod or monopod. Set up your camera and trigger it with the self timer to be sure.
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Larry (03/22/2009)
Tripod and/or flash (if they are allowed in the cave) are useful tools for cave photography.
It is always a matter of getting enough light into the camera to make the image. A flash can do this but has drawbacks of uneven lighting if the scene has much variation in distance (as a cave is likely to have). slowing the shutter down allows more light in but, as James mentioned, increases the likelihood of camera shake. Hence, the need for the tripod. Using the self-timer function also reduces the camera shake. Opening the aperture as much as possible allows more light in but can reduce the depth of field. All these things have to be balanced out to obtain the optimum pictures which indicates some practice beforehand if at all possible.
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It is always a matter of getting enough light into the camera to make the image. A flash can do this but has drawbacks of uneven lighting if the scene has much variation in distance (as a cave is likely to have). slowing the shutter down allows more light in but, as James mentioned, increases the likelihood of camera shake. Hence, the need for the tripod. Using the self-timer function also reduces the camera shake. Opening the aperture as much as possible allows more light in but can reduce the depth of field. All these things have to be balanced out to obtain the optimum pictures which indicates some practice beforehand if at all possible.
Downloaded pictures but they are not crisp (LDP49 — 10/06/2008)
Sony H50, using Windows 2000 Professional. When I downloaded pictures to computer they were full of "dots" yet on the camera LCD they look excellent. What am I doing wrong?
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Aditya D (10/09/2008)
Make sure there is nothing that sends out an electronic signal near the camera (such as wireless mice and keyboards), and also make sure there is nothing magnetic. Chances are there is no problem with your computer, or transferring the pictures, but rather with the pictures you've taken in the first place. It's a lot hard to pick out the errors on a tiny LCD screen, but much easier on a large computer monitor, so this could most likely be your problem. If you suspect it is a transferring error, invest in a memory card reader which can be found at any retail store, and that should eliminate your problem for only $15.
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I would like to buy one of these two, which one you suggest me to buy? I am in fix what to do. A.K.Baruah (akb1616 — 09/28/2008)
Between Nikon Coolpix P80 & Sony Cybershot H50 which one will be suitable for a serious non-professional photographer?
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by James DeRuvo (10/01/2008)
Well the real proof is in the image. You can read reviews until the cows come home, but results will tell the tale. That's why I suggest for comparison, you may want to check out this resource ( imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP... ). It takes pictures with each and you can compare them side by side.
Both cameras are pretty evenly matched. Dead even, in fact. But as you get higher on the ISOs, you start seeing more and more noise crash the party. And when you get to higher ISOs, they compete to see how much noise the image will hold above ISO 800. You don't want to be caught in low light situations and have to rely on ISOs above 800 with either of these cameras, I can tell you that.
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Both cameras are pretty evenly matched. Dead even, in fact. But as you get higher on the ISOs, you start seeing more and more noise crash the party. And when you get to higher ISOs, they compete to see how much noise the image will hold above ISO 800. You don't want to be caught in low light situations and have to rely on ISOs above 800 with either of these cameras, I can tell you that.
Aditya D (10/07/2008)
I have seen several pictures from the P80, and talked to several users that have debated this question. Because of the features, plus the superior pictures, almost everyone I have talked to, plus myself, would go for the H50. The sensor in the H50 is much better than that of the P80, plus the H50 has many more features than the P80.
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by James DeRuvo (10/07/2008)
I dunno, Aditya. Have you seen the picture quality of the H50 at high ISOs. Not pretty. Granted, the P80 isn't either, but I think the quality is a tad better. Plus, it has a better macro range.
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I am trying to deside between the Sony H50 or Canon S5, what do you think? (laureengillis — 09/15/2008)
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Aditya D (09/16/2008)
Those are both really good cameras, and we can go back and forth on which camera is better for a long time, some will say Sony, some will say Canon. I'll point out some of the positives of each for now, and tell you which one I like more, then other people will probably chime in. The Canon photos when analyzed very closely have better sharpness, contrast, and color and take phenomenal daylight pictures, which gives Canon, especially the S5, a good loyal following. The Sony is ergonomically better, the buttons are placed well for usage, it has a better processor in it (the same which is used in the some of the Sony SLRs), and the Sony has more features, all of which contribute to its ability to take better low light pictures than the Canon. Honestly you can't go wrong either way; one thing you might want to try is go into a store, hold each of them, and take pictures with each to see how they feel and what you like or dislike and go from there.
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Aditya D (09/16/2008)
Oh by the way, I would get the Sony over the Canon; some may call it a partial bias, but I really like the technology in the H50, its a "smarter" camera than the S5 (also because its slightly newer).
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DW1VNU (02/17/2009)
Between Canon G10 and Sony H50, Which would you choose? One of this will be my first camera...Please help :-)
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Does any one use the "lens shield" provided with camera? If so how do you get lens cover on? (LDP49 — 09/09/2008)
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Rick Shockey (09/10/2008)
Yes, I have used my lens shield in bright midday sunlight and with mid-afternoon southern facing glare situations. It helps reduce that flare that can occur. As far as getting it on the camera, it just screws on over the lens.
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Michael (10/25/2008)
They wanted to know how do you put the lens COVER on, NOT the lens shield
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confused between the Olympus SP-570 UZ, Sony Cybershot H50 & the Nikon Coolpix P80 (snehamaniaxp — 09/05/2008)
hi, i am confused between the Olympus SP-570 UZ, Sony Cybershot H50 & the Nikon Coolpix P80 though i liked the zoom feature of 570uz but heard that its zoom ring is not quite responsive enough & cant be zoomed while recording movie, on the other hand the H50 is otherwise have all these features but there would be compensation in the zoom & no raw support or hot shoe support........ while P80's image quality is lower than both these cameras... Can u please suggest me which one I should buy???
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by James DeRuvo (09/11/2008)
SD, if you're planning on doing serious photo editing for professional reasons, then RAW would be of advantage. But frankly, if you're not, RAW isn't that big a feature. It's like having a souped up engine but you drive a few miles to work everyday. So not having raw isn't really that important for day to day shooting, IMNSHO.
The bottom line is image quality. If you don't like the quality of the P80, then that eliminates that. If you're doing alot of video, then perhaps the H50 is the best for you. If it's just a convenience feature, that is. But if you plan on doing serious video, then perhaps getting a video camera that shoots digital stills to flash cards is a better option.
Have you been to this resource ( imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP... )? It takes pictures with each and you can compare them side by side. As I said previously, in the end, it really comes down to the image and how you're actually shooting pictures. And there's also the comfort angle. It may just come down to what camera feels good in your hand. Go to a local camera store and check both out side by side, holding them, feeling their center of gravity, the balance. How it sits in your hand. That usually sells me one way or the other.
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The bottom line is image quality. If you don't like the quality of the P80, then that eliminates that. If you're doing alot of video, then perhaps the H50 is the best for you. If it's just a convenience feature, that is. But if you plan on doing serious video, then perhaps getting a video camera that shoots digital stills to flash cards is a better option.
Have you been to this resource ( imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP... )? It takes pictures with each and you can compare them side by side. As I said previously, in the end, it really comes down to the image and how you're actually shooting pictures. And there's also the comfort angle. It may just come down to what camera feels good in your hand. Go to a local camera store and check both out side by side, holding them, feeling their center of gravity, the balance. How it sits in your hand. That usually sells me one way or the other.
Bob Lewis (12/27/2008)
I am confused about information relating to the viewfinder features of the otherwise lauded Sony H 50. For me at 65 & living in almost perpetual sunlight (yes!) DVD screens, however large, are not convenient - I must fumble for my glasses while the shot is gone.
I want a tell-it-all viewfinder, like my old SLR, that shows me aperture. speed & actual image focus in any light condition, with the ability for me to immediately (i.e. without searching through a menu) to override any setting that seems wrong. (On film, I have been judging exposure values by eye for 40 years with few errors - but digital technology still seems to lack dynamic range [light & dark detail] : thus exposure settings are more critical than for film.)
I cannot afford a digital SLR. But are there some fixed lens "SLR- type' cameras any of you pros might recommend?
Best Regards,
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I want a tell-it-all viewfinder, like my old SLR, that shows me aperture. speed & actual image focus in any light condition, with the ability for me to immediately (i.e. without searching through a menu) to override any setting that seems wrong. (On film, I have been judging exposure values by eye for 40 years with few errors - but digital technology still seems to lack dynamic range [light & dark detail] : thus exposure settings are more critical than for film.)
I cannot afford a digital SLR. But are there some fixed lens "SLR- type' cameras any of you pros might recommend?
Best Regards,
With bright lights during the night I get blurred images with SONY H50. Waht should be the correct setup to shoot bright lights during the night? (SamGhosh — 08/31/2008)
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by James DeRuvo (09/04/2008)
Well the problem is that bright lights can cause a "backlight" situation which causes the camera to either stop down the lens, becuase the camera thinks there's too much light, or slow down the camera because it sees too much dark and as such, you end up with blurred images because of camera shake. And shutter delay doesn't help either.
Check for the available and low light settings in your presets: High sensitivity, Twilight portrait, Twilight mode, even fireworks. This will give you the combination of wide open lenses and reasonable shutter speeds. You could also work from Aperture-priority mode and open it up as far as possible. And you can even play with the exposure compensation settings which add up to 1 1/2 - 2 stops to the mix. Then, prefocus by pressing the shutter down half way. This will reduce your shutter lag by as much as 80%. Lastly, make sure your super SteadyShot stabilization mode is engaged.
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Check for the available and low light settings in your presets: High sensitivity, Twilight portrait, Twilight mode, even fireworks. This will give you the combination of wide open lenses and reasonable shutter speeds. You could also work from Aperture-priority mode and open it up as far as possible. And you can even play with the exposure compensation settings which add up to 1 1/2 - 2 stops to the mix. Then, prefocus by pressing the shutter down half way. This will reduce your shutter lag by as much as 80%. Lastly, make sure your super SteadyShot stabilization mode is engaged.
Which is best extended zoom camera Sony H50 / Canon S5 IS? (udaybellare — 08/20/2008)
I am looking for a ultra zoom camera ( 10X +) which allows the zooming while recording video (along with audio). As most of the ultra zoom models doesn't allow zoom in video recording or mute audio at that time; I am not sure which is the best option for me. I am not a professional photographer. Can any one suggest me the best camera with above features, image stabilizer, minimum 6MP resolution?
Make: Canon, Fuji film, Olympus, Sony, Nikon, ( Budget $400)
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Make: Canon, Fuji film, Olympus, Sony, Nikon, ( Budget $400)
by James DeRuvo (08/21/2008)
The Canon S5IS allows zoom while recording IIRC.
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bhatiaaa04 (11/03/2008)
S5IS does offer recording with optical zoom but the auto mode for the H50 is much more usable than the S5IS. The S5IS is much more usable in manual mode if using it for stills as compared to automatic. The H50 gives you the option of a Li-ion battery over 4*AA cells for the S5IS to be usable. But it is a matter of personal preferance. I prefer Li-ion.
I just ended an exhaustive search for an ultrazoom myself yesterday by ordering a Panasonic FZ28 online because it was not yet launched in India. It fits all your criterias and you can get it online for a lower street price than the H50. As a bonus the FZ28 also offers recording in HD (720p). Though not full HD, still much better than the VGA offered on H50 and the S5IS. Still if you dont wish to order online and import the FZ28, I would say, the H50 is a much better bet than the S5IS.
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I just ended an exhaustive search for an ultrazoom myself yesterday by ordering a Panasonic FZ28 online because it was not yet launched in India. It fits all your criterias and you can get it online for a lower street price than the H50. As a bonus the FZ28 also offers recording in HD (720p). Though not full HD, still much better than the VGA offered on H50 and the S5IS. Still if you dont wish to order online and import the FZ28, I would say, the H50 is a much better bet than the S5IS.
bhatiaaa04 (11/03/2008)
P.S.: the Auto mode in the Panasonic is the best of the lot with its intelligent Auto mode but it doesnt shoot RAW in auto.
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by James DeRuvo (11/04/2008)
Well, you can get rechargable AAs with just as high mAh. So frankly, I don't see the issue with batteries other than it makes the S5 marginally larger. I agree that's personal preference, all things being equal. There's also Sony's proprietary obsessions and having to pay a premium for the Sony nameplate. Have you looked at the Canon SX10IS and SX110IS?
Nice option for the FZ20 and HD. But what it gains in HD imagery, it loses dreadfully in the audio it records on that cheap microphone.
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Nice option for the FZ20 and HD. But what it gains in HD imagery, it loses dreadfully in the audio it records on that cheap microphone.
Does the sony H50 have a panorama feature? (Marcialw — 08/19/2008)
In-camera ability to stitch the panorama picture together
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by James DeRuvo (08/21/2008)
Neither. Sorry. But you know what? Photoshop has an amazing photo stitching utility ...
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Imacro (11/25/2008)
I have one, dont find panorama feature till now. i dont think it has.
believe me if you capture your photos with the same light, merge them with photoshop, it will be accepable.
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believe me if you capture your photos with the same light, merge them with photoshop, it will be accepable.
wondering which to buy panasonic lumix fz28 or sony cybershot H50 (jannewton58 — 08/16/2008)
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by James DeRuvo (08/19/2008)
check out this resource ( imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP... ). It takes pictures with each and you can compare them side by side. And although they haven't tested the FZ28 yet, they did test the previous FZ20, and comparing it the H50, the Sony is much sharper.
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Does the H50 have date stamp? How can I get the date to print on my pictures!! Need it for kids... (farmmom — 08/13/2008)
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bukit97 (08/16/2008)
H50 does not have date stamp.
However, you can use a PictBridge compatible printer to have the date printed on the picture.
Alternatively you may use a third party software to add the date to the picture before printing.
A few such software is available in the market. If you are interested, you may try
<a href="soft32.com/download_102587.... Photo time stamp</a>
or
<a href="pcwin.com/Multimedia___Desi...
reply to this comment
However, you can use a PictBridge compatible printer to have the date printed on the picture.
Alternatively you may use a third party software to add the date to the picture before printing.
A few such software is available in the market. If you are interested, you may try
<a href="soft32.com/download_102587.... Photo time stamp</a>
or
<a href="pcwin.com/Multimedia___Desi...
farmmom (08/21/2008)
Thanks for you answer. I have since downloaded Gena Photostamper. It works very well. My old Sony Mavica had the date stamp option. I just dont understand why they have removed this as an option. It seems like NONE of the new cameras have date stamp anymore. I take TONS of pictures of my kids and farm and when I am putting photo albums together it is nice to have the date on there. Well the Gena Photostamper has seemed to solve the problem.
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vnmoh (07/30/2009)
its more of a professional thing! i am not one but i dont like the option myself :)
only reason why photographers dont prefer to stamp dates on their pictures is coz its kinda ugly and distracting!
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only reason why photographers dont prefer to stamp dates on their pictures is coz its kinda ugly and distracting!
Would the H50 picture quality and zoom work in the medical field to document skin lesions, etc? (ecokilleen — 08/12/2008)
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steve mccall (08/14/2008)
hello lisa
this camera is suitable for this type of work due to the high quality of its lens
many hospital imaging systems use these lenses
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this camera is suitable for this type of work due to the high quality of its lens
many hospital imaging systems use these lenses
by James DeRuvo (08/14/2008)
Sure. Then again, the Nikon or Canon variants will work just as well. What you'll really want to compare is the macro settings. Looking here ( imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP... ) and comparing cameras, I find the Nikon P80 slightly better in the macro, as is the Canon S5. And since Canon and Nikon are the top of the heap right now, they are worthy of consideration. They also don't have to deal with slower, more expensive memory sticks, or a premium price for the Sony nameplate.
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Sony H50 - quality?, Lag-time?, easy to operate? (NeedHelp — 08/06/2008)
I'm new to digital cameras. (Have an old Nikon F2). Tried a Coolpix - hated it! I'm comparing the Kodak Z1012IS to the Sony H50. Big price difference. My main concerns are the lag-time and quality. Also it has to be somewhat easy to operate (for other family members to use). Also, should I buy it at a local store or are the online shops ok? Thanks.
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NeedHelp (08/06/2008)
Now I'm really confused...Forget the Kodak!...Looking into the SonyA200/A300? What do you think?
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Ben Keough (08/13/2008)
A couple of simple, declarative, and very useful pieces of camera advice:
1. Avoid Kodak if at all possible.
2. A digital SLR (like the A200/A300) is ALWAYS going to produce superior photo quality (or have the capability to do so) to a non-dSLR. This is due to the size of the dSLR sensors--they're many times the physical size of those in point & shoot cameras like the H50 but capture the same number of pixels. This means that the pixels are less crowded and each gets more light--the end product is less image noise and a clearer, crisper picture.
dSLRs have other advantages as well, such as changeable lenses (which offer a wider variety of shooting possibilities than you can get with a fixed lens camera), more responsive behavior (no shutter lag), better autofocus, better/clearer/more accurate viewfinders, etc etc. In short, if you can afford one and don't mind the bulk, you can't do any better for image quality. And all dSLRs have very good automatic modes that are workable even for those using a camera for the first time.
As for online vs. brick & mortar purchasing... online will always be cheaper. You just need to pick your online merchant carefully. There a lots of shady "gray market" dealers that will attempt to scam you. You can trust the big names like Amazon, Buy.com, etc, and some smaller ones like buydig.com, beachcamera.com, etc. Generally, if in doubt, check a store's ratings on resellerratings.com.
Hope this helps!
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1. Avoid Kodak if at all possible.
2. A digital SLR (like the A200/A300) is ALWAYS going to produce superior photo quality (or have the capability to do so) to a non-dSLR. This is due to the size of the dSLR sensors--they're many times the physical size of those in point & shoot cameras like the H50 but capture the same number of pixels. This means that the pixels are less crowded and each gets more light--the end product is less image noise and a clearer, crisper picture.
dSLRs have other advantages as well, such as changeable lenses (which offer a wider variety of shooting possibilities than you can get with a fixed lens camera), more responsive behavior (no shutter lag), better autofocus, better/clearer/more accurate viewfinders, etc etc. In short, if you can afford one and don't mind the bulk, you can't do any better for image quality. And all dSLRs have very good automatic modes that are workable even for those using a camera for the first time.
As for online vs. brick & mortar purchasing... online will always be cheaper. You just need to pick your online merchant carefully. There a lots of shady "gray market" dealers that will attempt to scam you. You can trust the big names like Amazon, Buy.com, etc, and some smaller ones like buydig.com, beachcamera.com, etc. Generally, if in doubt, check a store's ratings on resellerratings.com.
Hope this helps!
by James DeRuvo (08/13/2008)
If you're looking at Kodak, you may want to check out the Kodak 1085IS ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ). I reviewed it for DHQ and found it refreshingly high performing. It records video in 720pHD, has a great 5x zoom and a larger CCD chip. If Kodak approaches cameras like this one, it could signal an end to their design slump.
As for SONY, although improved greatly than it's predecessors, the Alpha is essentially a redesigned Minolta since Sony inherited their failing camera business when Minolta got out of the game. It's getting a lot of good press, to be sure, as a DSLR, but Nikon and Canon are still the best DSLRs in the category. I'd recommend the Canon DR XSi ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ). I've had one for about 2 months now and it's been an outstanding camera.
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As for SONY, although improved greatly than it's predecessors, the Alpha is essentially a redesigned Minolta since Sony inherited their failing camera business when Minolta got out of the game. It's getting a lot of good press, to be sure, as a DSLR, but Nikon and Canon are still the best DSLRs in the category. I'd recommend the Canon DR XSi ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ). I've had one for about 2 months now and it's been an outstanding camera.
What, oh what to buy? (lazarus40 — 07/28/2008)
I like to take photos of wildlife, scenery, and some photos of people, including some sports. I have been stumped by all the options available, and am used to my Minolta SLR, but want to go digital. I have been looking at the Sony H50, the Panasonic FZ18, the Fujifilm s8000, and the Canon S5-Is. We only have a Ritz camera in my town, and although they may be better with photography than I, they are young kids helping me. I was told that the processor on the Panasonic isn't as good as other cameras, whatever that means. However, I noticed on one site, the comparison of pictures between the Fuji and the Panasonic using the telephoto showed much better photos with the Panasonic. Of course, I also noticed the ISO was different. Not sure how that works. Anyway, bang for the buck, best overall quality of photos, which do you recommend? Thanks in advance!
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by James DeRuvo (07/29/2008)
If you're used to your Minolta SLR, might I suggest a good look at the Sony Alpha series. Since you probably already have lenses for your Minolta, the SONY Alpha is your best bet to use them as it employs the same lens mount. Remember that when buying an SLR it's more a system than a camera. Body, lenses, flash, etc. Bodies will come and go, but if you have lenses already, then getting the Alpha will help you towards that digital transition.
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lazarus40 (07/29/2008)
Thank you! I wanted to clarify that I'm not looking for a digital SLR, but rather, a "bridge" model. I don't want to carry around a bunch of lenses, so I like the idea of one camera with a lense capable of doing a lot. I'm trying to decide between the Canon S5-IS, the Panasonic FZ18, the Fuji s8000sp, and the Sony cybershot H50 (altho', I'm not sure I'm crazy about the proprietary stuff). Can anyone give me feedback regarding which of these would be best, or recommend a camera I've overlooked? I appreciate any help!
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by James DeRuvo (07/29/2008)
I can't blame you, I'm not thrilled with Sony's proprietary obsessions myself. That, and you pay a premium for that SONY nameplate. Of the one's you're lookin' at, I'm saying the Canon S5IS. But a bettery choice is the Nikon P80. Nikon is really making great point and shoots in this category at the moment.
The great irony though is that both Canon and Nikoon use Sony CCD chips!
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The great irony though is that both Canon and Nikoon use Sony CCD chips!
lazarus40 (07/30/2008)
OKay, I was looking at the P80 first. My concern with that particular camera, is the complaint that it's sluggish. I found this review which discusses this, along with using a graph for a visual comparison. Here's the link. reviews.cnet.com/digital-ca... ANYWAY, do you have personal experience with this camera? It sounds like it could be great, if this isn't an issue. Keep in mind that I will be photographing my dog, my nephews when they ride BMX, and animals in nature, as well as scenery. The article gives me pause regarding this camera. I'd love to hear from someone who has one, though! It's not out-of-the-question, but I am apprehensive.
Here is a quote from the article, in case you can't access the link. "Its 2.9 seconds to wake up and shoot isn't awful for a megazoom, but the 1.1 seconds it takes to focus and shoot in decent light is slow for any class; in low-contrast circumstances, its 1.4-second time is closer to average. The camera has a concomitantly high shot-to-shot time of 2.4 seconds, which seems to be fueled by slow memory writes. While the 2.8-second flash shot-to-shot performance may not be worst in class, it's still on the high side. Burst shooting, at a typical rate of 1.3 frames per second, also comes in near the bottom of its class. In practice, the slow performance means the subject can move or someone can walk into the frame of the photo before you get the shot. It's definitely not your best choice for shooting sports, children, or animals."
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Here is a quote from the article, in case you can't access the link. "Its 2.9 seconds to wake up and shoot isn't awful for a megazoom, but the 1.1 seconds it takes to focus and shoot in decent light is slow for any class; in low-contrast circumstances, its 1.4-second time is closer to average. The camera has a concomitantly high shot-to-shot time of 2.4 seconds, which seems to be fueled by slow memory writes. While the 2.8-second flash shot-to-shot performance may not be worst in class, it's still on the high side. Burst shooting, at a typical rate of 1.3 frames per second, also comes in near the bottom of its class. In practice, the slow performance means the subject can move or someone can walk into the frame of the photo before you get the shot. It's definitely not your best choice for shooting sports, children, or animals."
lazarus40 (08/26/2008)
I am also looking at the new Panasonic FZ28. No longer is the FZ18 in the running. According to Cnet, they liked the FZ18 best of the ones I listed, but that comes down to their opinion. Anyone else have any ideas?
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by James DeRuvo (08/29/2008)
KT, what I would do is go to Cnet and Amazon and look at the user reviews for both cameras. Toss the rave reviews and the all out negatives. Look at the rest. You'll get a very accurate opinion from the "wisdom of the crowds" that reflects how both cameras REALLY perform.
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Sony H50, Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ18S or Nikon Coolpix P80? (skpcoon — 07/03/2008)
Debating between these 3 cameras for indoor and outdoor shots of active grandchildren at everyday activities and school concerts , weddings, scenery, - need a camera that covers it all!
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by James DeRuvo (07/09/2008)
For comparison, you may want to check out this resource ( imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP... ). It takes pictures with each and you can compare them side by side. Based on what I can see, the P80 is sharper and has a better macro. However, at higher ISOs above 800, there's alot of noise in the picture. And in fact, you can see more noise by comparison even at ISO 200. But often, that's what makes it sharper. But you just need to keep the ISO down. Or, go with a camera that has lower MP, which isn't a bad thing. I came across an interesting article today about how more mega pixels is not necessarily a good thing. According to Image Engineering ( 6mpixel.org/en/? ) – a company that does testing of digital cameras for photo magazines in Germany – the quality of digital pictures has steadily decreased since the state of the art was six megapixels back in 2004. And because they don’t have a “dog in this hunt,” they put forth a compelling argument for buying new digital cameras with less mega pixels and not more.
The argument is essentially this: CCD chips on point and shoot cameras a smaller and as such, fitting in more pixels causes them to lose light sensivity. Sure, there’s more data on the chip, but the chip can’t absorb the light data and what it ends up with is a picture that has more noise than image quality. In addition, the more megapixels a camera has, the larger the lens it needs to provide the clarity it deserves and prevent diffraction due to a loss of detail with smaller apertures. But since we’re talking portable point and shoots here, those large lenses simply aren’t being made.
Finally, with larger mega pixels comes longer saving time due to their requires huge storage capacity, or more compression if not storing images in RAW format. The result is a noisier image and a dissatisfied camera user who thirsts for high quality and speed but fell into the trap of "more must mean better."
In the end, relying on a smaller MP that can balance all these needs may indeed be a better answer.
As for the FZ18, you can compare it there as well. Good luck.
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The argument is essentially this: CCD chips on point and shoot cameras a smaller and as such, fitting in more pixels causes them to lose light sensivity. Sure, there’s more data on the chip, but the chip can’t absorb the light data and what it ends up with is a picture that has more noise than image quality. In addition, the more megapixels a camera has, the larger the lens it needs to provide the clarity it deserves and prevent diffraction due to a loss of detail with smaller apertures. But since we’re talking portable point and shoots here, those large lenses simply aren’t being made.
Finally, with larger mega pixels comes longer saving time due to their requires huge storage capacity, or more compression if not storing images in RAW format. The result is a noisier image and a dissatisfied camera user who thirsts for high quality and speed but fell into the trap of "more must mean better."
In the end, relying on a smaller MP that can balance all these needs may indeed be a better answer.
As for the FZ18, you can compare it there as well. Good luck.
skpcoon (07/09/2008)
Thanks for your help. I am currently leaning towards the Sony Cyper Shot H50 (lesser zoom) but has other great features like the tilted screen, multi face detection and has been receiving great reviews from current users. Thanks for your time.
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Ritujoy Chakraborty (07/29/2008)
My reason for leaning towards the Sony H50 is a critical feature (for me, at least!) which the Lumix FZ18 lacks...the ability to zoom in/out while in video mode. Also the fact that the H50 has an interesting toy like NightShot (based on infra-red imaging) makes you want to spend that extra $50 for the H50. Of course, if ability to zoom while in video mode is not important for you, then there is not much reason to prefer the H50 over the FZ18 - the FZ18 lens is wider (28mm compared to the H50's 31mm), image quality is better overall, longer zoom (18x over 15x) and it is cheaper!! And in any case, the Sony's higher pixel count (9.1 MP over the Lumix's 8MP) is actually a disadvantage for the Sony (see the article on top).
One camera you CAN include in this comparison (and remove the NIkon P80), is the Sony S5 IS. It's well-priced, has the ability to zoom while in video mode and is a Canon. But image quality is not so hot, and importantly for me, uses four AA batteries - which adds to weight and reduces portability, since you'll always to carry a spare set of four plus charger. Plus the fact that the S5 IS's macro range is a poor 10cm (compared to the Sony's/Lumix's 1cm!). And the Canon is further impaired by its 12x zoom, which is the lowest in this gang.
So, by and large, I would recommend going for the H50 - it's a bit more expensive, but worth it.
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One camera you CAN include in this comparison (and remove the NIkon P80), is the Sony S5 IS. It's well-priced, has the ability to zoom while in video mode and is a Canon. But image quality is not so hot, and importantly for me, uses four AA batteries - which adds to weight and reduces portability, since you'll always to carry a spare set of four plus charger. Plus the fact that the S5 IS's macro range is a poor 10cm (compared to the Sony's/Lumix's 1cm!). And the Canon is further impaired by its 12x zoom, which is the lowest in this gang.
So, by and large, I would recommend going for the H50 - it's a bit more expensive, but worth it.
by James DeRuvo (07/29/2008)
Ritujoy, for less than that, you can build an IR LED light which will attach to the camera and be even brighter. But I can see why you would want that feature. I do agree that the higher mp count is a disadvantage in low light. All it really will do is invite more noise to the party.
I still stand by the P80.
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I still stand by the P80.
faopiu (08/12/2008)
ciao a tutti, sono italiano e spero che voi riusciate a tradurre il mio post.
vorrei aggiungere alcune considerazioni in riguardo alle fotocamere sony h50 e lumix fz18:
la sony ha una velocità di scatto maggiore quindi si possono riprendere soggetti in movimento meglio che con la lumix.
la sony ha uno schermo più grande (3") e questo è positivo ma fa scaricare velocemente le batterie.
la sony ha 9 Mp ma ha un sensore più grande della lumix quindi questo è positivo per la sony.
la lumix ha dei formati di scatto: 4:3 ; 3:2 ; 16:9 questo è positivo ad esempio per fotografare un panorama.
importante per me è inoltre il flash: la sony ha un flash range di 9.1 metri, la lumix di 6.5 metri.
un ottimo sito per confrontare correttamente ogni tipo di fotocamera è: www.dpreview.com
ciao a tutti.
reply to this comment
vorrei aggiungere alcune considerazioni in riguardo alle fotocamere sony h50 e lumix fz18:
la sony ha una velocità di scatto maggiore quindi si possono riprendere soggetti in movimento meglio che con la lumix.
la sony ha uno schermo più grande (3") e questo è positivo ma fa scaricare velocemente le batterie.
la sony ha 9 Mp ma ha un sensore più grande della lumix quindi questo è positivo per la sony.
la lumix ha dei formati di scatto: 4:3 ; 3:2 ; 16:9 questo è positivo ad esempio per fotografare un panorama.
importante per me è inoltre il flash: la sony ha un flash range di 9.1 metri, la lumix di 6.5 metri.
un ottimo sito per confrontare correttamente ogni tipo di fotocamera è: www.dpreview.com
ciao a tutti.
by James DeRuvo (08/12/2008)
Translated using Google translate -
hello to everyone, are Italian and I hope that you succeed in translating my post.
I would like to add some considerations concerning the cameras sony h50 and lumix fz18:
the sony has a higher shutter speed so you can shoot subjects moving better than with the lumix.
the sony has a larger screen (3) and this is positive but quickly download the batteries.
the sony has 9 Mp but has a sensor largest lumix so this is good for sony.
the lumix has trained shooting: 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 this is positive for example to photograph a landscape.
important for me is also the flash: the sony has a flash range of 9.1 meters, the lumix of 6.5 metres.
an excellent site to properly compare each type of camera is: www.dpreview.com
Hello to all.
reply to this comment
hello to everyone, are Italian and I hope that you succeed in translating my post.
I would like to add some considerations concerning the cameras sony h50 and lumix fz18:
the sony has a higher shutter speed so you can shoot subjects moving better than with the lumix.
the sony has a larger screen (3) and this is positive but quickly download the batteries.
the sony has 9 Mp but has a sensor largest lumix so this is good for sony.
the lumix has trained shooting: 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 this is positive for example to photograph a landscape.
important for me is also the flash: the sony has a flash range of 9.1 meters, the lumix of 6.5 metres.
an excellent site to properly compare each type of camera is: www.dpreview.com
Hello to all.
haq (08/17/2008)
Which camera you advise to buy either Sony H50, Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ18S or Nikon Coolpix P80?
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by James DeRuvo (08/19/2008)
Lately I've been hearing that the P80 is slow on the focusing. Sony is proprietary. That leaves the Panasonic. But then again, I rather like that P80.
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udaybellare (08/21/2008)
Hi there; I need to buy a high zoom camera (10X +), im not at all a professional photographer. I am really confused with all the reviews. I need to have zoom during video shooting as well & of course good images. So which will be the best pick among Sony-H50, Canon-S5 IS, Fujifilm-S2000hd (or any other model)?
Thanks a lot.
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Thanks a lot.
by James DeRuvo (08/21/2008)
Uday, I think the question you have to ask yourself is, what's the priority. If it's still shots, then of that list I would recommends the Canon S5IS, simply because I know it zooms while recording (IIRC) and has a 12x optical zoom with image stabilization.
But if video is your priority, then perhaps you should consider getting a video camera that takes digital stills and saves them to a flash card. There are several out there approaching 6mp in resolution - which is ideal for snapshots under 8x10.
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But if video is your priority, then perhaps you should consider getting a video camera that takes digital stills and saves them to a flash card. There are several out there approaching 6mp in resolution - which is ideal for snapshots under 8x10.
Ritujoy Chakraborty (08/30/2008)
To Uday's question of which ultra-zoom to go for, I dont agree with James' view that he should go for a videocam...I own a Sony handycam, and trust me, it comes out of its bag once in a blue moon! Frankly, with ultra-zoom digicam video quality improving by the minute (there's a new Fuji which records in HD mode!!), I dont see the point of lugging around a video cam, when one device can serve both purposes. And as for zooming in video mode, the best camera which DOESN'T do that is the Lumix FZ-18...I've got the H50, and I couldnt recommend it enough (see my earlier post above). I've used my friend's S5-IS, and dont recommend it for various reasons - less optical zoom, AA batteries, noise at high ISO (your camera uses higher ISO in low light conditions) and no night-shot (available in the H50).
FYI, since you're interested in video capability of your camera, the holy grail of digital photography has arrived - Nikon's new D90 is the world's first D-SLR to be able to capture video! Of course it costs a BOMB and doesnt have the ultra-zoom capability, but then, it's an SLR, and definitely THE gadget to have right now!! Probably my next camera...for the moment, I'm damn happy with my H50. All the best Uday!
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FYI, since you're interested in video capability of your camera, the holy grail of digital photography has arrived - Nikon's new D90 is the world's first D-SLR to be able to capture video! Of course it costs a BOMB and doesnt have the ultra-zoom capability, but then, it's an SLR, and definitely THE gadget to have right now!! Probably my next camera...for the moment, I'm damn happy with my H50. All the best Uday!
by James DeRuvo (09/01/2008)
Well that may be, RC, but as the video quality is improving, the audio quality simply lags behind. Digital still cameras still rely on tinny, cheap omnidirectional microphones which record audio that's slightly the step above listening to a fast food ordering clown.
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Would you recommend the sony cybershot h50 over the equivalent models of canon and nikon in terms of over-all performance? (photopro — 07/01/2008)
Considering the megapixels, zoom capacity, price, etc., is the sony cybershot h50 a better choice than its competetors?
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by James DeRuvo (07/02/2008)
Actually no. Not that the S50 is a bad camera, but with SONY's obsession over proprietary technology, you end up paying more for flash media and custom cables and other such nonsense. I am also of the opinion that Canon and Nikon have better optics, Zeiss lenses notwithstanding. Then there's the premium you end up paying for the SONY nameplate.
IMHO, of course.
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IMHO, of course.
Need fast shooting speed/continuous shooting and high picture quality- is this the camera? (khall1001 — 06/29/2008)
After doing some initial research, I bought this camera yesterday. Being obsessive, however, I continued doing research last night and now I don't know if this is the best option for me. My primary concerns are fast shooting speed/continuous shooting and fast flash reset for sport pictures of my daughter, and crisp pictures that I can blow up to 8x10 size. I want the extended zoom for sports. We have a Panasonic point and shoot (2 years old), but there is a horrible delay between shots- up to 5 seconds. I would like something that I can set on auto for now, but that will also let me grow a little as a photographer. After reading a ton of reviews, it looks like Canon (12x zoom) and Panasonic (18x zoom) also make comparable cameras to the H50. Would one of these be a better option? The reviews on the Panasonic are great, as are the Sony reviews. Thanks for ending my obessive misery!
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steve mccall (06/29/2008)
hello k
the h50 is a great camera you will enjoy using it
here is a link to a flickr album showing the h50 in action in a baseball game
flickr.com/photos/26175691@...
reply to this comment
the h50 is a great camera you will enjoy using it
here is a link to a flickr album showing the h50 in action in a baseball game
flickr.com/photos/26175691@...
NADEEM (08/06/2010)
WHAT THIS CAMERA IS AVALABALE IN THE PAKISTAN MAKET
SEND ANS muh.nadeem@descon.com
reply to this comment
SEND ANS muh.nadeem@descon.com
khall1001 (06/29/2008)
Thanks Steve- the picture does look great. I guess my concern is that some of the professional reviews of the camera indicate that the picture quality is less than desirable once you get past a 5x7 size, and I definitely want to print high quality 8x10s. Does anyone have any experience printing this large with the H50? Or, has anyone compared the Canon S5 IS or the Panasonic FZ18 with the H50? Thanks.
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RobD (07/26/2008)
I'm still experimenting with my latest acquisition but my answer for rapid sequence photography is a video camera and to grab stills off the recorded video. With standard definition the quality wasn't up to scratch but I have just bought a Sony Hard Disc High Definition Handycam. HDR-SR11 (sony.com.au/objects/other/s... and have high hopes. However I've also bought but not yet received an H50 so in time I hope to know more about this issue.
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Infrared night shot mode on Sony H50 (anonymous — 06/26/2008)
Nobody talked about the Infrared night shot mode. Did anybody ever tried it and how good is it? Looking for a zoom camera which can make pictures in a darker area. (evenings)
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by James DeRuvo (06/27/2008)
Here's what one review I read said about the InfraNightShow mode:
Instead of a dedicated anti-shake button, top left of the H50's pop-up flash, there is however a dedicated slider for switching on its funky infrared nightshot mode, which captures everything in that tell-tale eerie green light beloved of low budget horror movie makers. Yes, this is a camera that can 'see in the dark'; a gimmick perhaps to most, but another extra not found among direct rivals. The results are inevitably better though the more available light there is.
I'm betting that since the Achilles heal of today's point and shoots is that the more MP they stuff on those tiny 1/6" chips, the more noise they invite to the party - even in infra red. Then again, SONY has alot of experience with this in video cameras, so perhaps they're on to something. Still, your best bet is to give it a "Boost" with an add-on infra red light. Like the SIMA SL-20IR.
Or, if you're hearty enough, you can build one. ( instructables.com/id/Super-... )
reply to this comment
Instead of a dedicated anti-shake button, top left of the H50's pop-up flash, there is however a dedicated slider for switching on its funky infrared nightshot mode, which captures everything in that tell-tale eerie green light beloved of low budget horror movie makers. Yes, this is a camera that can 'see in the dark'; a gimmick perhaps to most, but another extra not found among direct rivals. The results are inevitably better though the more available light there is.
I'm betting that since the Achilles heal of today's point and shoots is that the more MP they stuff on those tiny 1/6" chips, the more noise they invite to the party - even in infra red. Then again, SONY has alot of experience with this in video cameras, so perhaps they're on to something. Still, your best bet is to give it a "Boost" with an add-on infra red light. Like the SIMA SL-20IR.
Or, if you're hearty enough, you can build one. ( instructables.com/id/Super-... )
Which is the better camera sony H50 or Nikon Coolpix P80 (jmcg45 — 06/11/2008)
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... (06/12/2008)
Sony Cybershot DSC H50.
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jmcg45 (06/12/2008)
I was leaning toward the Sony only because I have one now. Thanks
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How does sony dsc-h50 compare to nikon p80 coolpix (jmcg45 — 06/09/2008)
I like the idea of a super zoom and would like to know which is the better camera, the sony dsc-h50 or the nikon coolpix p-80. I know the nikon is 10.1 megapixels and 18x zoom while the sony is 9.1 megapixels and 15x zoom but that doesn't necessarily mean the nikon is better,
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Aditya D (06/12/2008)
The megapixels and the zoom don't make a huge difference, I doubt you would notice the difference in any situation unless your directly compared the zooms. I like the Sony just because it has a lot of advanced features, smile detection, face detection, etc (you can view the whole list on sonystyle.com), plus it comes with the same processor thats in Sony's advanced DSLR cameras, so you're going to get good picture quality. Some may argue the Nikon produces better pictures, but I think the two are very comparable, and I doubt, again, unless comparing the two directly, you could tell any real differences.
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jmcg45 (06/12/2008)
Thanks
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Pramod (01/24/2009)
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Would this camera work well for low light such as high school basketball games and church plays? Family & vacation too? (9595 — 06/08/2008)
My son plays basketball and I have no pictures. They are either too dark or too blurry or both. My daugher does plays and musicals in low light auditoriums with even less light than the gyms. Again no pictures. I need to know if this camera would work well in these situations as well as be good for all around family stuff (holidays, vacation etc.) I need something that is fairly easy to handle and preferably has a long battery life.
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Aditya D (06/11/2008)
I think this camera would solve your problems well. It has a built in sports mode, and several of the built-in advanced features help take good indoor and outdoor sports shots. It has one of the best processors, and uses a great lens, so both your indoor and outdoor shots should be great. I just got a chance to use this camera a short time ago, and was very impressed. Without updating to an SLR, I think this is one of the best cameras you're going to get, but if you wanted to look at comparison, try the Canon S series. Hope this helps, if you want any more detail about the abilities, feel free to let me know.
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9595 (06/17/2008)
Thanks for the advice.
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does this camera provide optical zoom during movie recording? (diamondjudge — 05/28/2008)
i need an extended zoom camera that gives me this capacity; any suggestions?
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steve mccall (05/28/2008)
the panasonic tz5 is a10x zoom camera that allows you to zoom in video mode
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diamondjudge (05/29/2008)
thank, that looks like a nice camera - but, I should have added that I want one with a viewfinder. I know that means it will be the larger size, which is ok. we take a lot of pictures/videos of horses and some are in super bright light where the lcd screen is virtually impossible to see. on the other end we also end up trying to get shots in very low light settings, e.g. nighttime horse shows or inside barns. any other suggestions? also, is there some key factor to look for in the spec.s on these cameras to learn which ones permit optical zoom in the movie mode? I have looked at several specification sheets on various cameras and cannot see where this info would be listed. thanks so much for the help.
reply to this comment
steve mccall (05/29/2008)
hello jean
since you require a viewfinder my choice would be the the panasonic fz8
unfortunately jean video zoom is not a feature camera makers wish to highlight
here is an example of a photo of a horse taken witha fz8
flickr.com/photos/14046064@...
reply to this comment
since you require a viewfinder my choice would be the the panasonic fz8
unfortunately jean video zoom is not a feature camera makers wish to highlight
here is an example of a photo of a horse taken witha fz8
flickr.com/photos/14046064@...
diamondjudge (06/05/2008)
thanks again, but when I went to walmart to check out this camera, they did not have power to it/nor batteries and sales person said it does not permit optical zoom once recording has begun. i guess my biggest question at this point is how the heck do you tell if it does or it doesn't without physically trying the camera. the sony does have it by the way.
reply to this comment
steve mccall (06/06/2008)
hello jean
go to a specialised camera dealer
the staff there will be help you to decide on your camera
always get to use the camera before purchase
reply to this comment
go to a specialised camera dealer
the staff there will be help you to decide on your camera
always get to use the camera before purchase
diamondjudge (06/06/2008)
I wish I could! The only 'camera' shop within 100 miles only has the canon (which everyone seems to have) and the fuji- Thank you for trying to help, I've found a great deal on the Sony so am going to go ahead and order it. I did get to use it at circuit city and it seemed a good fit.
reply to this comment
R Cooper (06/06/2008)
The Sony H50 Zoom is active while recording in Video mode. I just bought this camera 6/4/2008.
reply to this comment
Siv (06/16/2008)
Canon S5 supports Zoom while recording movies and it comes with the very useful lcd that has 270deg of freedom and stereo recording. But is lens in not in real terms good for wide angle shots. I compared Canon S5, Sony H50 and Panosonc lumix FZ18 and settled for the FZ18 because of its superb lens @ 28mm wide angle and 18x optical zoom (zoom is fixed during movie mode). It is also $100 < H5 :-)
I am still waiting to read a detailed review for the H5 since I know FZ18 is susceptible to noise especially @ high ISOs.. So if you a a kind of person who like to zoom in and check the colors in photos and print posters, the FZ18 is not ideal for you. Otherwise its a great allround camera and worth every penny.
reply to this comment
I am still waiting to read a detailed review for the H5 since I know FZ18 is susceptible to noise especially @ high ISOs.. So if you a a kind of person who like to zoom in and check the colors in photos and print posters, the FZ18 is not ideal for you. Otherwise its a great allround camera and worth every penny.
Sunil (10/30/2008)
hi everyone.
I have purchased a digital camera fewdays back that is Sony Cybershot H10 I( 8.1 MP and 10 x Opt zoom). this very good to all features but does not support OPT ZOOM WHILE MOVIE MODE. is there any suggestion what should I do now. any additional equipment is there to get opt zoom support during vedio????? pl help me .
reply to this comment
I have purchased a digital camera fewdays back that is Sony Cybershot H10 I( 8.1 MP and 10 x Opt zoom). this very good to all features but does not support OPT ZOOM WHILE MOVIE MODE. is there any suggestion what should I do now. any additional equipment is there to get opt zoom support during vedio????? pl help me .
Is this a camera for non or semi professionals? Please advice (as I want to buy this camera but afraid of skills required to use this) (hsrk — 05/19/2008)
I have been using Casio & Sony Digicams - very happy with their point & shoot ability but recently got disappointed once when the background scenery didn't come out well. I am now thinking of this Sony DSC W50 - considering its price, optical zoom and weight etc . Can someone please advice how good this camera will be if I always keep it in Auto mode to shoot - without getting into learning about all the finer aspects of professional photography?
reply to this comment
by James DeRuvo (05/20/2008)
It'll do the job, to be sure. However, it largely depends on the kind of photography you'll be doing. If just snapshots, then For picture quality, I think there's too much MP here to work with. Let me explain. I came across an interesting article today about how more mega pixels is not necessarily a good thing. According to Image Engineering ( 6mpixel.org/en/? ) – a company that does testing
of digital cameras for photo magazines in Germany – the quality of digital pictures has steadily decreased since the state of the art was six megapixels back in 2004. And because they don’t have a “dog in this hunt,” they put forth a compelling argument for buying new digital cameras with less mega pixels and not more.
The argument is essentially this: CCD chips on point and shoot cameras a smaller and as such, fitting in more pixels causes them to lose light sensivity. Sure, there’s more data on the chip, but the chip can’t absorb the light data and what it ends up with is a picture that has more noise than image quality. In addition, the more megapixels a camera has, the larger the lens it needs to provide the clarity it deserves and prevent diffraction due to a loss of detail with smaller apertures. But since we’re talking portable point and shoots here, those large lenses simply aren’t being made.
Finally, with larger mega pixels comes longer saving time due to their requires huge storage capacity, or more compression if not storing images in RAW format. The result is a noisier image and a dissatisfied camera user who thirsts for high quality and speed but fell into the trap of "more must mean better."
In the end, relying on a smaller MP that can balance all these needs may indeed be a better answer.
reply to this comment
of digital cameras for photo magazines in Germany – the quality of digital pictures has steadily decreased since the state of the art was six megapixels back in 2004. And because they don’t have a “dog in this hunt,” they put forth a compelling argument for buying new digital cameras with less mega pixels and not more.
The argument is essentially this: CCD chips on point and shoot cameras a smaller and as such, fitting in more pixels causes them to lose light sensivity. Sure, there’s more data on the chip, but the chip can’t absorb the light data and what it ends up with is a picture that has more noise than image quality. In addition, the more megapixels a camera has, the larger the lens it needs to provide the clarity it deserves and prevent diffraction due to a loss of detail with smaller apertures. But since we’re talking portable point and shoots here, those large lenses simply aren’t being made.
Finally, with larger mega pixels comes longer saving time due to their requires huge storage capacity, or more compression if not storing images in RAW format. The result is a noisier image and a dissatisfied camera user who thirsts for high quality and speed but fell into the trap of "more must mean better."
In the end, relying on a smaller MP that can balance all these needs may indeed be a better answer.
hsrk (05/22/2008)
Thank you very much for the response. I also spent some time at the URL you mentioned, which gave clarity on basics I did't know. Thanks again and have a nice day ahead!
reply to this comment
by James DeRuvo (05/24/2008)
Happy to help. Let us know what you end up with.
reply to this comment
What's the price? (jwsmith56 — 04/04/2008)
WHAT IS THE PRICE?
reply to this comment
Aditya D (04/06/2008)
The MSRP is 399.99, you may be able to find it cheaper on sale, but almost all the reputable stores are still selling it for the retail price of $399.99.
reply to this comment
R Cooper (06/06/2008)
$379 at Circuit City with free shipping
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I am leaving on an extended trip to Europe on May 25th and would like to purchase the DSC-H50. Is there any way of obtaining one before then? (Avenzel — 04/03/2008)
This will be my first extended zoom camera. I am experienced with film SLRs but at the age of 69 don't want to deal with the complexities of the DSLRs. I have an ultra compact digital camera but like the features (especially the 15x zoom) of the H50. One other question, is it wise to purchase a brand new model before it has been thoroughly tested by your pros? I'm torn about the wonderful features of the Sony but don't know anyone with any model Sony camera. I've always had Canon, Pentax, and Nikon cameras through the years.
Thanksfor your input.
Richard Zelley
reply to this comment
Thanksfor your input.
Richard Zelley
steve mccall (04/03/2008)
hello richard
one of the best cameras with a proven track record is the panasonic fz18
here is link to review
cameralabs.com/reviews/Pana...
reply to this comment
one of the best cameras with a proven track record is the panasonic fz18
here is link to review
cameralabs.com/reviews/Pana...
Sony Cybershot H50 Reviews
Sony Cybershot H50 Reviews by Digital Camera-HQ Users
- 4.0 out of 5
MAJOR FLAW IN BODY
(HENRY — 10/17/2009)
I RAN OVER MY PERFECTLY GOOD CAMERA WITH MY MOTORHOME...IT WAS IN A PROTECTIVE CASE...YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD HAVE WITHSTOOD 6000 LBS...
I AM NOW SHOPPING...TRUE STORY
- 3.0 out of 5
Sony H50 for nature photography
(Marilyn Patterson — 09/24/2009)
the Sony H50 takes great photos in all types of lighting. It takes great close-ups of wildflowers and zooms in to take distant photos of birds in trees. You can crop the images really close and the detail holds up. I have put an image on the computer and had to examine the picture inch by inch to find the bird in the tree. After extreme cropping you can still see the individual feathers. I do talks for nature clubs using my photos and people are amazed that they are taken with a point and shoot on automatic. I do wish the viewfinder was a little bigger and brighter. Unfortunately this camera died at 11 months and Sony couldn't fix it after 3 tries. They replaced it with the HX-1 which takes poor quality photos except under perfect lighting conditions. Birds live in the woods so the conditions I shoot under are seldom ideal. The H50 was so quick to use and the images were so sharp that many times I took a photo when I couldn't identify a bird using my binoculars. Sony made a real mistake when they discontinued this camera. They have sacrificed quality images for bells and whistles on the HX-1.
- 5.0 out of 5
Love my camera
(angela waggoner — 09/10/2009)
I bought this not without knowing a lot about cameras. It's awesome. It takes amazing outdoor pictures. I'm learning to take better indoor pictures. My photography teacher tells me I have made a great investment with this one. I would definately buy another one.
- 3.0 out of 5
It's a good camera, with a few issues. . .
(MSP — 07/29/2009)
It generally takes pretty good pics.
Issues:
battery drains fairly quickly, even when powered off.
Red -rings around sunsets
lens cap pops off when powered on.
- 4.0 out of 5
nothing
(payman shayanfar — 07/14/2009)
it is good digital camera for home.
- 2.0 out of 5
quality pic is poor
(J Warfield — 07/07/2009)
I purchased H50 as birthday gift to myself one yr ago. I have gotten poor pic quality from day. Sony support can only offer to "reset to default". I had others to try using it - maybe its me. They felt same way. I have since gone back to my beloved Sony F707 which does a much better job. I guess I was crazy to "upgrade". Disappointed in Sony support in this issue.
- 5.0 out of 5
Better than a Pro camera
(doesn't matter — 06/27/2009)
I love this camera. I went over on a trip and I had this camera and my friends had a Nikon pro and by the middle of the trip they were wishing they had my camera. The color was so vivid and it focuses and shoots so fast. So much more little added things that just make it an amazing deal.
- 5.0 out of 5
Excelent
(Ovijeet — 06/16/2009)
I have bought the Sony H50 last three month ago... its an awesome one... its a semi DSLR Camera with all the features needed.
- 2.0 out of 5
dsc H50
(Jack Stewart — 04/17/2009)
There is a continuous drain on the battery - in fact, the battery requires recharging if left unused in the camera for 2 weeks.
- 5.0 out of 5
amazing camera
(Dhananjay Gupta — 04/12/2009)
you will not believe how good the pictures come out in low light. i have used both canon and olympus but this sony is a real beauty!
- 5.0 out of 5
Best camera for all...
(Myelin — 03/01/2009)
One of the best camera because...
1. Excellent still pics.
2. Not bulky like Canon SX10 IS.
3. Ease of operation.
4. Not expensive, compared to other cameras of similar specifications, like Lumix FZ28, SPUZ 750, SX10 IS etc.
5. Good battery life.
6. Tilting LCD 3.0' screen
7. And of course, super powerful 15X zoom
The only little cons which I see in the camera are the sound of zooming in/out is also recorded while making videos and it is delicate and require careful handling; as most of the other cameras of similar category.
My suggestion : Go for it without looking here and there. Best value for money. I got it for around 210 Euros without Memory Stick and Carry Case. Total Cost with them is around 270 Euros.
- 5.0 out of 5
SONY H-50
(Johny — 12/03/2008)
This camera's picture quality is excellent....I love this camera.....This camera rocks...........
- 5.0 out of 5
Fast Start, Very Good Auto-Focus, Excellent Stabilized Zoomed In Shots, Excellent Night Shots
(Loloy D — 11/03/2008)
I read the other reviews on the Panasonic Lumix FZ28 and Olympus SP-570 UZ from here and I find them quite amusing. I bought my Sony H50 about 2 weeks ago and already took hundreds of test shots and about as much live event shots. I wonder why the people who bought those other brands didn't consider the Sony H50 in their purchase (but this works for some of us since it helps drive the H50 price down, I guess). I paid $411 for a package inclusive of a 4 GB Pro Duo MagicGate memory stick. Based on my country's dollar exchange rate at the time, I had gotten the base boxed product for $346.
I am rating my over-all satisfaction at 98% with this product. I previously owned a Kodak DX4530 and a Nikon CoolPix 3100, although I use and take care of a lot of other camera brands from closer family ties. My wife is a Nokia big plan monster so I also got a lot of experience in dealing with photos taken from Nokia's 5-megapixel and 3-megapixel 3G phones. I also bought a Canon DC310 videocam early this year. I also considered purchasing the Nikon D40 or the reduced-price Canon S5IS, but I ultimately ended up with the Sony H50. What I am trying to establish here is that I'm an average photo enthusiast who can't manage digital SLR and lens prices but bold enough to explore photographic possibilities out of today's digital point-and-shoot cameras. So I guess I didn't have much expectations out of my latest purchase. Now I guess I should have raised my standards higher because the H50 simply blows my charts.
The Sony H50 turns on fast and quick enough to help me miss out a lot less on those fleeting moments. I actually timed it manually and I get values ranging from 2.96 to 3.16 seconds.
I also enjoy crisp low light event shots and I get them at fast enough speeds making me able to do them at quick succession.
The stabilized zoomed in shots are excellent and I very rarely get a blurry pic, except when I tried to shoot my 5 year old son frolicking at a playground during dusk.
I tried taking pictures of CRT TV screens and LCD monitors and I was amazed at how it was able to vividly capture those motion picture images.
Macro-mode manual focus was a bit of an exercise but I think I have to read more from the manual in the CD to get this right. Macro-mode auto-focus is not as impressive as the other features of this camera. I feel I get a lot better macro-mode pictures from 800x600 shots taken by the Canon DC310. General use auto-focus, however, is quite superb, and I am even able to get decent artsy bokehs. I only rarely get a misfocus - and this only happens when I try some really fancy, off-center subjects. When misc-focuses occur though, these misdeeds correct themselves when I retry auto-focusing a few more times. I also get a hard time auto-focusing on the designs of "glassy" bathroom walls. I wonder what made that so.
I have yet to try lots of sport-mode scenes but I do get impressively defined colorful skies on landscapes, even when in auto-mode, and while moving in a vehicle!
Battery performance has so far been satisfactory, having chalked up around 270+ 5MP shots on a single full charge, going through what I would consider my normal on-off cycles, with some picture reviews and a few deletions.
Controls are very easy to navigate and when you've used a Sony digicam before, everything will be quickly familiar. The solid form factor has led me to hold the camera well and steady, and I distinctly believe it allows me to grip it good enough so I don't get to drop it accidentally. I have to say this is pretty weird but I mostly test this "grip-wellness" on mobile phones, which I accidentally drop quite a lot actually. I don't think I'm clumsy, but I sincerely guess "grip-wellness" has a science of its own.
I think I miss a low-power standby mode. I don't think I'll still get by even with an admittedly quick 3-second startup.
My bottomline is "nothing beats good clean and crisp" pictures 98% of the time. Even when there's little light. This is a far cry from what I reading of those who bought the Lumix FZ28 and the SP-570 UZ. With all the H50's great and working features, I'd say it's a bargain.
- 4.0 out of 5
Good
(Kishore Das — 10/28/2008)
Good.
- 5.0 out of 5
Excellent Output
(Arun Sohani — 10/14/2008)
i have alredy use cyber shot but in output it delivers you the "QUALITY". excellent zooming almost SLR only,, thing to be added is its screen which oparates only vertically.
- 5.0 out of 5
Great Camera for the price
(Jorge E Guti��rrez — 10/13/2008)
Excellent zoom and image quality. Video function is great because you can use the zoom, which is a restriction in other cameras. Fast start, and works fine and quick when you need to shot several times in sequence. Great size for the foldable LCD display. Cons: the viewfinder, but not a problem if you have 3 inches on the foldable LCD. More Pro´s: Cool accesories. Carl Zeiss Rocks !!!
- 5.0 out of 5
Fantastic_Performance
(Rajesh Kumar — 09/24/2008)
I recently purchased SONY DSC-H50. It is one of the best feature packed digital camera. Pictures are of superb quality. Price is also very reasonable (approx Rs. 20,000/- showroom price). The most appealing feature is that being a digital camera, it has a lot of manual settings. Anyone can learn a lot of photographic tricks. The battery power is also satisfactory. Anyone either a beginner or a professional can use this camera.
- 5.0 out of 5
SONY H50
(Paul McKee — 09/17/2008)
I looked at a lot of cameras before I bought this one. I am very impressed with it. I use the Advanced Sports Shooting mode a great deal because I take pictures at all of the football games I go to. From my seat in the stands, I am taking photos that rival professional quality. The optical zoom feature is incredible. You will be amazed at how great the detail is when you use the zoom. Catching the perfect pose is much easier with the burst mode which catches action through multiple shots. Then you just pick the one you want. For the money, you will be very impressed with this camera.
- 5.0 out of 5
Fantastic
(Madhan — 09/06/2008)
Actually before buying the camera i went through almost all the reviews available on the internet.Most of them say good and some bad about this camera.Its my time to give my opinion,i say this camera is fantastic ,when you hold it its so handy inspite of its big lenses.the picture quality is really great.The zoom is fantastic you can even see craters on moon with a perfect setting .
- 5.0 out of 5
its fully loaded
(swapnil — 08/05/2008)
well i was going thru all the reviews of all the camera in this class
and i came down to sony dsc h50 and canon s5is..
well, then i bought sony and i dont regret at all..
canon is good but a bit complicated as if u wona have great result u have to turn it manual to get one but in sony in auto mode u can get good pics..well that good news for my wife, as she can only click and camera does all the work "even auto macro"
pros: night shots, auto macro, zeiss lence, and crisp picz
cons: battrey pack, only pro duo memory stick (expensive)
all in all gr8 buy !!!
- 5.0 out of 5
Perfect
(K. Tadzreli — 07/23/2008)
The picture quality is superior.
There is only one thing aganst: A short battery life.
- 5.0 out of 5
SONY H50 ZOOM CAMERA
(Babu Jaseen — 07/12/2008)
One of the best camera I ever had. Good Picture Quality and Zoom(15x). Strong Colours.Very good optics.Nice features.Good in macro mode too. Very easy to handle with a Great SLR look.There is little noise on higer ISO.The bad is that no RAW data facility.I got some softness on the edges on some pictures. I dont know why.Sony Camera is getting better than before on their new models.However this camera is good value for the money.
- 5.0 out of 5
Best ultra-zoom I have used
(Rob Smallenberg — 04/28/2008)
I bought this when BestBuy was putting its first shipment on the shelves. I have also owned the Canon Powershot S3-IS and the Olympus SP 560-UZ. Though I haven't had much time to experiment with it, my initial reaction is "awesome!"
The stand out features so far are:
1. The image stabilization which is head and shoulders above any other I've exerienced in a camera of this type; and
2. The Carl Zeiss lens which is the best I have seen so far on an ultra-zoom.
- 4.0 out of 5
Sony H50
(j. Mcmahn — 04/28/2008)
i just got the new sony H50 and though Im in no way a profesional photographer I wanted to share the way in which I bought it. I live in Thailand where electronics are supposed to be cheap but after shopping around here I found the best price at Rihey.com and they were able to ship to me here in the jungle. Its a great site to find cameras and other electronics.
