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Sony H50

 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 front
 
  • 9MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-465mm (F2.7-4.5) lens
  • 547g - 116 x 81 x 86mm
  • Launched January 2009
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
69
Imaging
32
Features
25
Overall
29

Sony H50 summary

Sony H50 is Sony's Small Sensor Superzoom camera originally announced on January of 2009. It features a 9 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a max resolution of 3456 x 2592.

The H50 places at #242 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras & over all #1161 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our collection. You should try our Smart camera search to get camera rankings based on your custom requirements.

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Here is a chart of different factors used in the rating system.

Sony H50 family

The Sony H50 is part of a family of products. You can read the full range below.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX350 front thumbnailSony HX350
H50 vs HX350
24-1200mm
F2.8-6.3
20MP1/2.3"2016
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX80 front thumbnailSony HX80
H50 vs HX80
24-720mm
F3.5-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2016
Photography Glossary
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX90V front thumbnailSony HX90V
H50 vs HX90V
24-720mm
F3.5-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2015
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H300 front thumbnailSony H300
H50 vs H300
25-875mm
F3-5.9
20MP1/2.3"2014
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H400 front thumbnailSony H400
H50 vs H400
25-1550mm
F3.4-6.5
20MP1/2.3"2014
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX400V front thumbnailSony HX400V
H50 vs HX400V
24-1200mm
F2.8-6.3
20MP1/2.3"2014
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX50V front thumbnailSony HX50V
H50 vs HX50V
24-720mm
F3.5 - 6.3
20MP1/2.3"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX300 front thumbnailSony HX300
H50 vs HX300
24-1200mm
F2.8-6.3
20MP1/2.3"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H200 front thumbnailSony H200
H50 vs H200
24-633mm
F3.1-5.9
20MP1/2.3"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX20V front thumbnailSony HX20V
H50 vs HX20V
25-500mm
F3.2-5.8
18MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX200V front thumbnailSony HX200V
H50 vs HX200V
27-810mm
F2.8-5.6
18MP1/2.3"2012
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX10V front thumbnailSony HX10V
H50 vs HX10V
24-400mm
F3.3-5.9
18MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX30V front thumbnailSony HX30V
H50 vs HX30V
25-500mm
F3.2-5.8
18MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H90 front thumbnailSony H90
H50 vs H90
24-384mm
F3.3-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX100V front thumbnailSony HX100V
H50 vs HX100V
27-810mm
F2.8-5.6
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX7V front thumbnailSony HX7V
H50 vs HX7V
25-250mm
F3.5-5.5
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX9V front thumbnailSony HX9V
H50 vs HX9V
24-384mm
F3.3-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H70 front thumbnailSony H70
H50 vs H70
25-250mm
F3.5-5.5
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H55 front thumbnailSony H55
H50 vs H55
25-250mm
F3.5-5.5
14MP1/2.3"2010
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H20 front thumbnailSony H20
H50 vs H20
38-380mm
F3.5-4.4
10MP1/2.3"2009
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H50 front thumbnailSony H5031-465mm
F2.7-4.5
9MP1/2.3"2009

Sony H50 Pros and Cons

Below is a shortlist of benefits and drawbacks of the Sony H50 based on criterias that are typically considered crucial in a camera.

above average minimum ISO (80)
focusing manually
great reach (465mm)
has built in flash
has image stabilization (Optical)
long zoom range (31-465mm 15.0 x zoom)
screen size is good (3 inches)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
can't use external flash
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
doesn't have RAW files
does not have HDMI socket
does not have headphone socket
does not have microphone socket
does not have Timelapse function
does not offer selfie friendly display
low MP (9MP)
max zoom aperture not good (f4.5)
more heavy than average in class (547g)
screen does not articulate
screen has low resolution (230 thousand dots)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
small sensor (1/2.3")
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
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Sony H50 Sensor specifications

The sensor spec on the Sony H50 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor is able to capture 3456 x 2592 pixels and aspect ratios of 4:3 and 3:2. The camera has Image Stabilization (Optical). Optical stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization since the latter can produce cropping.

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The CCD sensor has 9MP and includes a native ISO range of 80 to 3200. Sadly, RAW format is not saved so you have less room to maneuver in post.

The graphic below displays the H50's sensor dimensions compared to other common sizes. The H50 sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is pointed out in green.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 sensor size Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony H50 dimensions

Sony H50 is 1.21 pounds (547 gr / 19.29 oz) & has exterior measurements of 116mm x 81mm x 86mm (4.6" x 3.2" x 3.4"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387 gr and the Sony H50 is more heavy when compared to various competitors.

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Listed below is a pic of the Sony H50 with a soda so you can get a feel for its scale.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 dimensions scale

The top view below will show the button layout on the H50.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 topview buttons dials

Sony H50 Lens specifications

The H50 comes with a built-in lens featuring a focal range of 31-465mm making it a 15.0 x zoom which is amazing and is going to make it easier to zoom right in.

At the widest 31mm, it has an aperture of f2.7 which will be kind of slow and not ideal for low light conditions and you may struggle to get good bokeh. You will also need to increase the ISO producing noisy pictures. For the tele end, 465mm is fantastic zoom and comes to f4.5 making it really sluggish and you might need to set slow shutter speeds.

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Sony H50 Connectivity

The H50 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Digital cameras which include NFC and Bluetooth connectivity are able to be used wirelessly via smartphones. You are able to copy photos and usually change camera settings with no need to connect straight to the camera.

Many applications even provide a Liveview and hit the shutter when you are not close to the camera. If the camera has a HDMI port, it can easily be connected to an external display. The majority of cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack using the USB socket.

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Sony H50 Video specifications

The max video resolution on the Sony H50 is 640 x 480 and you can shoot in format. 480p is awful for today's standards. You should shoot for at least FUll HD resolution for good video. The camera does not have a microphone and headphone socket so you have little control over the sound. It is probably a better idea to look into an alternative camera in case you require decent sound for your video clips.

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Sony H50 Weather Sealing

Sony H50 does not include environment proofing so damp conditions could ruin the camera.

Sony H50 Display and Viewfinder

The Sony H50 features a 3 inch fixed display supporting a resolution of 230 thousand dots.

Sadly the display is not a touch screen.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 screen and viewfinder Photography Glossary

The View Finder details for Sony H50 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder Electronic

For bright outdoor situations which make the camera displays washed out and hard to see, viewfinders are pretty useful.

Sony H50 Shutter specifications

Sony H50 is able to shoot continuously at 2.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/4000s.

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Sony H50 Flash and Hot shoe specifications

Sony H50 has only integrated flash lacking external flash support.

Sony H50 Autofocus specifications

Sony H50 has just Contrast Based AF & doesn't have Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more quicker & exact when compared to Contrast Based autofocusing.

The Sensor features 9 focus points to pick from. Sony H50 includes manual focusing when required for low light scenarios or you need more precise focusing control.

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Sony H50 Battery life

The usual Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR comes with the maximum (600) battery life for this group of cameras.

Underneath is a listing of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras which have the strongest battery life:

Sony H50 for different categories of photography

The following chart provides a summary of the Sony H50 for different categories of photography. To learn more, check out the specific section below.

Sony H50 as a Portrait photography camera

The Sony H50 has a points tally of 27 which is subpar, and means the camera is just not acceptable to use for portraits. Taking portrait photos leans greatly towards sensor specs, RAW support & flexibility to work with off-camera flash.

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manual focus
can't use external flash
low megapixels (9 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files

Sony H50 Street photography info

Coming in at a subpar points tally of 43, the Sony H50 is just not acceptable to use in street photography. A good street photography camera has a good balance of picture quality plus portability.

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has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
heavier than others (547g)

Sony H50 Sports photography factors

A subpar sports photography score of 32 suggests the Sony H50 is just not acceptable for taking pictures of sports. A camera needs great focusing plus fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

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great zoom range (31-465mm 15.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (9 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus

Sony H50 as a Travel photography camera

Portability is really important when buying a camera for travel. Overall, the Sony H50 gets a subpar 44 as a travelling camera which is just not acceptable to take on your holidays.

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flash built-in
long reach (465mm)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (547 grams)
MP count low (9MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)

Sony H50 as a Landscape photography camera

If you find yourself looking to pick a camera for landscape photographs, the most vital aspect is going to be image quality. The Sony H50 with it's subpar score of 34 as a landscape camera is just not acceptable in the current market.

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you can focus manually
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
low megapixels (9 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function

Sony H50 Vlogging highlights

A vlogging camera preferably should come with a moving screen, microphone port and preferably IBIS. Taking everything into account, the Sony H50 is just not acceptable as a vlog camera as it comes to a subpar rating of 19.

Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (31mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
no external mic jack
heavier than competition (547g)

Sony H50 Alternatives

If you are trying to find replacements to the H50, here is a number of the highest rated cameras which fall under the category of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The chart just below shows you an overview of the H50 compared to it's top ranking rivals suggested previously.

Here are a few more cameras you might check out as alternative options. To see a detailed comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.

Photography Glossary

Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Sony
Model type
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50
Class
Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched
2009-01-15
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
9 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
4:3 and 3:2
Max resolution
3456 x 2592
RAW images
Max native ISO
3200
Lowest native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points
9
Lens
Lens mount type
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
31-465mm (15.0x)
Largest aperture
f/2.7-4.5
Macro focusing range
1cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Display type
Fixed Type
Display size
3 inches
Display resolution
230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Min shutter speed
30s
Max shutter speed
1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate
2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance
9.10 m
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions
640 x 480, 30 fps, 320 x 240, 8 fps
Max video resolution
640x480
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
547 grams (1.21 lbs)
Physical dimensions
116 x 81 x 86mm (4.6" x 3.2" x 3.4")
Other
Battery ID
NP-BG1
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage
Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots
Single
Retail cost
$80