Sony S950
- 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 3200
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- No Video
- 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
- 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
- Released February 2009
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
94 Imaging
33 Features
17 Overall
26
Sony S950 overview
Sony S950 is Sony's Small Sensor Compact camera first launched on February of 2009. It has got a 10 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a maximum resolution of 4000 x 3000.
The S950 is scored #240 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras and all around #1231 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. Remember to try our Advanced camera filter to find camera ratings based on your personalized criteria.
The following is a chart of various criteria used in the scoring system.
Sony S950 family
The Sony S950 comes with a history of related cameras. Underneath, you can discover all previous and more recent models alongside main specifications.
F3.3-5.210MP1/2.3"2009
Sony S950 Gallery
You can see the S950 from several angles in the gallery here.
Sony S950 Pros and Cons
Below is a collection of positives and negatives of the Sony S950 based on factors that are often viewed as crucial in a camera.
Sony S950 Sensor details
The sensor measurement on the Sony S950 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to resolve 4000 x 3000 pixels at aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera boasts Image Stabilization (Sensor-shift). Sensor stabilization is more effective than digital stabilization since the latter may cause cropping.
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsThe CCD sensor boasts 10 megapixels and provides a native ISO range of 80 to 3200. Sadly, RAW photos are not supported so the user has less room to maneuver in post.
The graphic below displays the S950's sensor dimensions compared to other common sizes. The S950 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is highlighted in green.
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideTo get an idea of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.
Sony S950 dimensions
Sony S950 weighs around 0.37 pounds (167 grams or 5.89 oz) and features outer size of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9"). The weight of normal Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 grams and the Sony S950 is on par compared with various rivals.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesThe following is a pic of the Sony S950 alongside a soda to help you have a sense of its scale.
The top view here will highlight the button design on the S950.
Sony S950 Lens specs
The S950 is equipped with a fixed lens and a focal range of 33-132mm making it a 4.0 x zoom which is not outstanding but it might be valuable in certain circumstances.
At the widest 33mm, it will have an aperture of f3.3 which will be quite slow and not good in low light situations and you may find it hard to capture good bokeh. You will also have to raise the ISO setting producing noisy files. At the tele end, 132mm comes to f5.2 which is quite slow and you will need to go with slow shutter speeds.
Sony S950 Connectivity
The S950 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
Cameras that include NFC and / or Bluetooth compatibility can be used wirelessly through smartphones. You can transfer pictures and oftentimes change settings without connecting straight to the camera.
Certain applications even provide a Liveview and click the shutter if you aren't near the camera. If the camera comes with a HDMI out, it can be hooked up to an external screen. Nearly all cameras will allow you to recharge the battery using the USB socket.
Sony S950 Video specs
Sony S950 does not capture video. If you are shopping for a camera to take only images, this is not an issue.
Sony S950 Weather Sealing
There is no weather sealing in the Sony S950 so you need to be cautious in rainy and dusty situations.
Sony S950 Display and Viewfinder
The Sony S950 has got a 2.7" fixed display boasting a resolution of 230k dots.
Sadly the display is not a touch screen.
Photography GlossaryThe View Finder specifications regarding Sony S950 are the following:
- ViewFinder None
Viewfinders are really handy during bright outdoor situations which can easily make the camera display washed out and hard to view.
Sony S950 Shutter specs
Sony S950 has the ability to shoot continuously at 1.0 fps. The maximum shutter speed is 1/1600 sec.
Sony S950 Flash and Hot shoe specs
Sony S950 boasts only in-built flash lacking external flash ability.
Sony S950 Autofocusing specs
Sony S950 boasts just Contrast Based Autofocus and doesn't have Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is more quicker and exact compared with Contrast Based focusing.
The AF system has got 9 focus points to select from. Sony S950 comes with manual focusing when required during low light situations or you want to have more exact focusing control.
Sony S950 Battery life
The general Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 has the highest possible (470) battery life within this range of cameras.
Here is a number of Small Sensor Compact cameras with the highest battery life:
Sony S950 for various kinds of photography
The following diagram provides a overview of the Sony S950 for various kinds of photography. To read more, go to the specific paragraph below.
Sony S950 Portrait photography factors
The Sony S950 receives a score of 26 which is dreadful, and means the camera is not acceptable to use for portrait photos. Taking portrait photos leans greatly towards sensor size, support for RAW photos plus the capability to utilize external lighting.
Sony S950 Street photography information
Getting a reasonable points tally of 56, the Sony S950 is reasonably appropriate to buy for street photography. A good street photography camera provides a good balance of picture quality and portability.
Sony S950 Sports photography features
A dreadful sports photography rating of 24 indicates the Sony S950 is not acceptable for shooting sports. A camera really should have good tracking plus continuous shooting for sports photography.
Sony S950 Travel photography info
Portability is pretty important in selecting a travel camera. Over-all, the Sony S950 gets a average 50 for a travelling camera which makes it reasonably acceptable for your travels.
Sony S950 as a Landscape photography camera
For anyone looking to buy a digital camera for landscape photography, the most significant factor is going to be image quality. The Sony S950 and it's dreadful rating of 31 as a landscape camera is not acceptable among its competitors.
Vlogging with Sony S950
A vlogging camera really should offer a moving screen, mic input and ideally IBIS. Taking everything in to account, the Sony S950 is not acceptable for vlogging as it gets a dreadful rating of 9.
Sony S950 Alternatives
If you are trying to find alternatives to the S950, below is a collection of the top ranked cameras that fall in to the family of Small Sensor Compact.
The chart down below will give you a bird's eye view of the S950 compared to it's highest scoring rivals mentioned previously.
These are various other cameras you may look at as alternative options. To look at a complete comparison, just click on the "compare" link.