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Sony HX50V

 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V front
 
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5 - 6.3) lens
  • 272g - 108 x 64 x 38mm
  • Released April 2013
  • Previous Model is Sony HX30V
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
89
Imaging
44
Features
57
Overall
49

Sony HX50V summary

Sony HX50V is Sony's Small Sensor Superzoom camera originally introduced on April of 2013. It includes a 20 MegaPixel, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a max resolution of 5184 x 2920.

Sony introduced this camera in order to update the older Sony HX30V (Read Full Comparison)

The HX50V is rated #25 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and overall #442 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. You should check our Advanced camera search to get camera ratings based on your personalized criteria.

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The following is a graph of different factors used in the rating system.

Sony HX50V family

The Sony HX50V is part of a family of cameras. You can read the full range underneath.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX350 front thumbnailSony HX350
HX50V vs HX350
24-1200mm
F2.8-6.3
20MP1/2.3"2016
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX80 front thumbnailSony HX80
HX50V vs HX80
24-720mm
F3.5-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2016
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX90V front thumbnailSony HX90V
HX50V vs HX90V
24-720mm
F3.5-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2015
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H300 front thumbnailSony H300
HX50V vs H300
25-875mm
F3-5.9
20MP1/2.3"2014
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H400 front thumbnailSony H400
HX50V vs H400
25-1550mm
F3.4-6.5
20MP1/2.3"2014
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX400V front thumbnailSony HX400V
HX50V vs HX400V
24-1200mm
F2.8-6.3
20MP1/2.3"2014
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX50V front thumbnailSony HX50V24-720mm
F3.5 - 6.3
20MP1/2.3"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX300 front thumbnailSony HX300
HX50V vs HX300
24-1200mm
F2.8-6.3
20MP1/2.3"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H200 front thumbnailSony H200
HX50V vs H200
24-633mm
F3.1-5.9
20MP1/2.3"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX20V front thumbnailSony HX20V
HX50V vs HX20V
25-500mm
F3.2-5.8
18MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX200V front thumbnailSony HX200V
HX50V vs HX200V
27-810mm
F2.8-5.6
18MP1/2.3"2012
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX30V front thumbnailSony HX30V
HX50V vs HX30V
25-500mm
F3.2-5.8
18MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX10V front thumbnailSony HX10V
HX50V vs HX10V
24-400mm
F3.3-5.9
18MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H90 front thumbnailSony H90
HX50V vs H90
24-384mm
F3.3-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX100V front thumbnailSony HX100V
HX50V vs HX100V
27-810mm
F2.8-5.6
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX7V front thumbnailSony HX7V
HX50V vs HX7V
25-250mm
F3.5-5.5
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX9V front thumbnailSony HX9V
HX50V vs HX9V
24-384mm
F3.3-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H70 front thumbnailSony H70
HX50V vs H70
25-250mm
F3.5-5.5
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H55 front thumbnailSony H55
HX50V vs H55
25-250mm
F3.5-5.5
14MP1/2.3"2010
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H20 front thumbnailSony H20
HX50V vs H20
38-380mm
F3.5-4.4
10MP1/2.3"2009
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H50 front thumbnailSony H50
HX50V vs H50
31-465mm
F2.7-4.5
9MP1/2.3"2009

Sony HX50V Pros and Cons

Below is a selection of pluses and minuses of the Sony HX50V based on things which are typically considered crucial in a camera.

above average minimum ISO (100)
built-in flash
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with HDMI socket
good battery pack (400 per charge)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good resolution screen (921 k dots)
great zoom (720mm)
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (272 grams)
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
supports face detect autofocus
supports tracking focus
you can focus manually
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have headphone socket
does not have microphone socket
does not have phase detect autofocus
does not have RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
max zoom aperture not good (f 6.3)
no moving screen
slow max aperture (f3.5 )
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Sony HX50V Sensor info

The sensor size in the Sony HX50V is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor is able to capture 5184 x 2920 pixels and aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. The camera has got Image Stabilization (Optical). In body stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization as the latter can easily produce cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor boasts 20 megapixels and features a native ISO range of 100 - 3200. This ISO can also be increased electronically to a high of 12800. Sadly, RAW photos are not saved so the user has less room to maneuver in post.

The picture underneath illustrates the HX50V's sensor dimensions when compared to other common sizes. The HX50V sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is showcased in green.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V sensor size Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

To get a sense of various aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony HX50V dimensions

Sony HX50V weighs around 0.60 lb (272g or 9.59 oz) and features outer measurements of 108mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387g so the Sony HX50V is less heavy when compared to other rivals.

Photography Glossary

Down below is a shot of the Sony HX50V besides a soft drink so you can have a sense of its scale.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V dimensions scale

The top view just below will provide the button layout on the HX50V.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V topview buttons dials

Sony HX50V Lens info

The HX50V features a built-in lens featuring a focal range of 24-720mm making it a 30.0 x zoom which is very good and is going to enable you to zoom all the way in.

At the widest 24mm, the lens provides an aperture of f3.5 and that is fairly slow and not great in low light occasions and you will find it difficult to capture good bokeh. You might also need to raise the ISO which results in noisy files. With the tele end, 720mm is brilliant zoom and comes at f 6.3 which is fairly slow and you may need to go with slow shutter speeds.

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Sony HX50V Connectivity

The HX50V has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes
  • GPS Yes

Digital cameras that feature NFC or Bluetooth connectivity can easily be used wirelessly via smartphones. You can transfer pictures and in some cases change settings without connecting directly to the camera.

Certain applications even give a Liveview and hit the shutter whenever you are not near the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI out, it could be connected to an external display. The majority of cameras enable you to recharge the battery pack through the USB socket.

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Sony HX50V Video info

The max video resolution in the Sony HX50V is 1920 x 1080 and it can shoot in MPEG-4 and AVCHD format. 1080p resolution will provide a decent balance between quality versus file sizes but 1080p is not going to leave you with much room to downsample. The camera does not have a mic or headphone socket so you have little control over your audio. It is perhaps a better idea to look into an alternative model in case you want decent audio in your video clips.

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Sony HX50V Weather Sealing

There is no environment sealing in the Sony HX50V so you need to be careful in wet or dusty situations.

Sony HX50V Display and Viewfinder

The Sony HX50V includes a 3" fixed display supporting a resolution of 921k dots.

Please note that the display screen offers no touch support.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V screen and viewfinder Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The View Finder specs regarding Sony HX50V are as follows:

  • ViewFinder Electronic (optional)

In those sunny outdoor situations which make the camera displays washed out and tricky to view, viewfinders will be particularly useful.

Sony HX50V Shutter info

Sony HX50V continuous shooting rate is 10.0 frames/s. The max shutter speed is 1/4000s.

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Sony HX50V Flash and Hot shoe info

Sony HX50V has got both integrated flash plus external flash support.

Sony HX50V Autofocus info

Sony HX50V has got just Contrast Detect Auto Focus and does not have Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot snappier and exact when compared to Contrast Detect focusing. The camera includes Face detect making it useful for portraits.

It also includes Tracking Auto Focus for things that move. Sony HX50V supports manual focus when required during low light or you require more accurate focus control.

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Sony HX50V Battery life

The battery pack (NP-BX1) in the Sony HX50V is built to last for 400 shutters as per the CIPA standards which is higher than average for its class. The usual Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR features the maximum (600) battery life within this range of cameras.

Below is a listing of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras with the highest battery life:

Sony HX50V for different forms of photography

The following diagram gives a rundown of the Sony HX50V for different forms of photography. To learn more, check out the specific section underneath.

Sony HX50V Portrait photography advice

The Sony HX50V receives a score of 50 which is moderate, and means the camera is somewhat adequate to use for portrait photography. Photographing portrait photos leans greatly towards sensor dimensions, RAW support together with the ability to work with external lighting.

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manual focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support

Sony HX50V Street photography advice

With a very good score of 61, the Sony HX50V is a good pick for street photography. A decent street photography camera comes with a perfect balance of image quality and portability.

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has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (272 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files

Sony HX50V Sports photography factors

A moderate sports photography points tally of 57 means the Sony HX50V is relatively acceptable for photographing sports. A camera must have fantastic focusing plus shutter speeds for sports photography.

Photography Glossary
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
good battery (400 per charge)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus

Sony HX50V Travel photography information

Size is extremely critical when buying a travel camera. All things considered, the Sony HX50V gets a nice 71 as a travel camera which is a fine fit to purchase for your vacations.

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great battery power (400 per charge)
lighter than competitors in class (272 grams)
good resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5 )

Sony HX50V Landscape photography details

When you're planning to choose a digital camera for landscape pictures, the biggest factor is going to be image quality. The Sony HX50V with it's average grade of 53 as a landscape camera is fairly suited within the current marketplace.

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manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
better than average battery (400 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5 )
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode

Sony HX50V Vlogging features

A camera for vlogging ought to have a moving display screen, mic port and if possible IBIS. Considering everything, the Sony HX50V is not really suitable as a vlog camera as it receives a awful rating of 34.

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really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (272g)
slow max aperture (f3.5 )
screen isn't selfie friendly
no mic port

Sony HX50V Alternatives

If you are searching for replacements to the HX50V, here is a range of the highest rated cameras which fall into the class of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The chart just below will give you an overview of the HX50V compared to it's highest scoring competitors listed earlier.

There are a bunch of cameras you might check out as alternative options. To browse through a extensive comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Sony
Model
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
Type
Small Sensor Superzoom
Released
2013-04-24
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution
5184 x 2920
RAW images
Highest native ISO
3200
Highest enhanced ISO
12800
Minimum native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross focus points
0
Lens
Lens mount
fixed lens
Lens focal range
24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture
f/3.5 - 6.3
Macro focus distance
5cm
Crop factor
5.8
Screen
Type of display
Fixed Type
Display sizing
3"
Display resolution
921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech
XtraFine LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
Electronic (optional)
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Min shutter speed
30 secs
Max shutter speed
1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate
10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation
Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range
5.60 m
Flash options
Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Advanced Flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Highest video resolution
1920x1080
Video format
MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
272g (0.60 lbs)
Dimensions
108 x 64 x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
Other
Battery life
400 images
Battery type
Battery Pack
Battery model
NP-BX1
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type
SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots
One
Pricing at release
$439