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Sony WX50

 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 front
 
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2012
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Sony WX50 overview

Sony WX50 is Sony's Small Sensor Compact digital camera first revealed on January of 2012. It has a 16 MegaPixel, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" size sensor with a maximum resolution of 4608 x 3456.

The WX50 is placed #64 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras and all round #825 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. Remember to test our Smart camera search to get camera listings based on your personalized requirements.

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Below is a chart of different criteria used in the scoring system.

Sony WX50 history

The Sony WX50 is part of a family of cameras. You can read the complete list underneath.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX500 front thumbnailSony WX500
WX50 vs WX500
24-720mm
F3.5-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2015
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX350 front thumbnailSony WX350
WX50 vs WX350
25-500mm
F3.5-6.5
18MP1/2.3"2014
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W800 front thumbnailSony W800
WX50 vs W800
26-130mm
F3.2-6.4
20MP1/2.3"2014
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX300 front thumbnailSony WX300
WX50 vs WX300
25-500mm
F3.5-6.5
18MP1/2.3"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W730 front thumbnailSony W730
WX50 vs W730
25-224mm
F3.3-6.3
16MP1/2.3"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W710 front thumbnailSony W710
WX50 vs W710
28-140mm
F3.2-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2013
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX80 front thumbnailSony WX80
WX50 vs WX80
28-224mm
F3.3-8.0
16MP1/2.3"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX150 front thumbnailSony WX150
WX50 vs WX150
25-250mm
F3.3-5.9
18MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W690 front thumbnailSony W690
WX50 vs W690
25-250mm
F3.3-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX70 front thumbnailSony WX70
WX50 vs WX70
25-125mm
F2.6-6.3
16MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX50 front thumbnailSony WX5025-125mm
F2.6-6.3
16MP1/2.3"2012
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W610 front thumbnailSony W610
WX50 vs W610
26-105mm
F2.8-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W620 front thumbnailSony W620
WX50 vs W620
28-140mm
F3.2-6.5
14MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W650 front thumbnailSony W650
WX50 vs W650
25-125mm
F2.6-6.3
16MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX30 front thumbnailSony WX30
WX50 vs WX30
25-125mm
F2.6-6.3
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX10 front thumbnailSony WX10
WX50 vs WX10
24-168mm
F2.4-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX5 front thumbnailSony WX5
WX50 vs WX5
24-120mm
F2.4-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2010
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W370 front thumbnailSony W370
WX50 vs W370
34-238mm
F3.6-5.6
14MP1/2.3"2010
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W290 front thumbnailSony W290
WX50 vs W290
28-140mm
F3.3-5.2
12MP1/2.3"2009
Photography Glossary
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W230 front thumbnailSony W230
WX50 vs W230
30-120mm
F2.8-5.8
12MP1/2.3"2009
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W220 front thumbnailSony W220
WX50 vs W220
30-120mm
F2.8-7.1
12MP1/2.3"2009

Sony WX50 Pros and Cons

Here is a collection of good and bad points of the Sony WX50 based on things which are oftentimes viewed as useful in a digital camera.

flash built-in
good zoom range (25-125mm 5.0 x zoom)
has face detect focus
has image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes HDMI port
lighter than competition (117 grams)
really wide (25mm)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
very good min ISO (100)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
focusing manually not possible
lack of aperture priority mode
lack of shutter priority mode
no external flash support
no headphone port
no manual control
no microphone port
no moving screen
no phase detect auto focus
no RAW files
no Timelapse mode
pixelated screen (461 k dot)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
sluggish at full zoom (f6.3)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
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Sony WX50 Sensor features

The Sony WX50 features the BIONZ processor. The sensor spec in the Sony WX50 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to resolve 4608 x 3456 pixels using aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. The camera includes Image Stabilization (Optical). Sensor stabilization is better than digital stabilization as the latter may lead to cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor boasts 16 megapixels and has a standard ISO range of 100 - 12800. Unfortunately, RAW photos are not saved so you have less room to maneuver in post.

The graphic underneath displays the WX50's sensor size in comparison to other popular sizes. The WX50 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is shown in green.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 sensor size Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

To get an understanding of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony WX50 dimensions

Sony WX50 weighs in at 0.26 lbs (117 gr or 4.13 ounces) and features external size of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7"). The weight of normal Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 gr so the Sony WX50 is lighter as compared with other rivals.

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Underneath is a picture of the Sony WX50 alongside a soda to help you have a feel for its size.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 dimensions scale

The top view underneath will show the button layout on the WX50.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 topview buttons dials

Sony WX50 Lens features

The WX50 provides a fixed lens having a focal range of 25-125mm giving it a 5.0 x zoom which might not be perfect but it may be invaluable in some circumstances.

At it's widest 25mm, the lens offers an aperture of f2.6 and that's really sluggish and not the best in low light occasions and you will find it difficult to capture good bokeh. You might also have to up your ISO setting giving you noisy photos. On the long end, 125mm comes at f6.3 making it quite sluggish and you will have to go with slower shutter speeds.

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Sony WX50 Connectivity

The WX50 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras which include NFC and Bluetooth connectivity are able to be used wirelessly through smartphones. You can send files and oftentimes change settings without connecting physically with the camera.

A few apps also enable a Liveview and click the shutter in case you aren't close to the camera. If the camera features a HDMI out, it can easily be hooked up to an external screen. Many cameras enable you to charge the battery through the USB port.

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Sony WX50 Video features

The maximum video resolution in the Sony WX50 is 1920 x 1080 and it can record in MPEG-4 and AVCHD file format. 1080p resolution gives a great balance in video quality vs file size but FULL HD won't give you much room to downsample. The body doesn't feature a mic and headphone port so you get absolutely no control over your audio. It is probably best to buy a different model should you need good audio in your videos.

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Sony WX50 Weather Sealing

Sony WX50 doesn't have weather proofing so damp conditions can easily damage the camera.

Sony WX50 Screen and Viewfinder

The Sony WX50 has a 2.7" fixed display screen having a resolution of 461k dots.

Please note that the display offers no touch support.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 screen and viewfinder Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The View Finder specs regarding Sony WX50 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be really helpful in sunny outdoor situations which will make the camera screen washed out and hard to view.

Sony WX50 Shutter features

Sony WX50 continuous shooting rate is 10.0 fps. The max shutter speed is 1/1600 seconds.

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Sony WX50 Flash and Hot shoe features

Sony WX50 includes just built in flash without external flash ability.

Sony WX50 Autofocus features

Sony WX50 includes only Contrast Detect AF and does not have Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more snappier and accurate as compared with Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera has Face detection which can be useful for portraits.

It also has Tracking AF for subjects that move. Sony WX50 doesn't have manual focus. Manual focus ability is good in low light or you want more precise control on focus.

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Sony WX50 Battery life

The battery (NP-BN) on the Sony WX50 is fashioned to last for 240 photos as per the CIPA measurements which is about average when compared to its competition. The general Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 has the highest possible (470) battery life in this group of cameras.

Following is a list of Small Sensor Compact cameras which have the best battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth
Photography Glossary

Sony WX50 for different categories of photography

The following graph displays a overview of the Sony WX50 for different categories of photography. To view more, browse to the specific section underneath.

Sony WX50 as a Portrait photography camera

The Sony WX50 receives a score of 34 which is horrible, meaning that it is not appropriate to use for portraits. Photographing portraits favors heavily to sensor dimensions, RAW support along with the flexibility to utilize external flash.

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sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format

Street photography with Sony WX50

With a above average score of 63, the Sony WX50 is a very decent fit to use in street photography. A very good street photography camera provides a fine balance of image quality and portability.

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image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (117g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support

Sony WX50 Sports photography factors

A horrible sports photography rating of 44 suggests the Sony WX50 is not appropriate for taking photos of sports. A camera needs to have good tracking plus shutter speeds for sports photography.

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built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus

Sony WX50 Travel photography info

Weight is extremely important in getting a travel camera. Overall, the Sony WX50 gets a above average 69 for a travel camera which makes it a good pick to take on your journeys.

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lighter than others in class (117g)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)

Sony WX50 Landscape photography factors

For those who are planning to choose a digital camera for landscape photography, the most significant factor is going to be image quality. The Sony WX50 at it's horrible score of 38 for a landscape camera is not appropriate within the current marketplace.

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rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Timelapse function

Sony WX50 Vlogging features

A vlogging camera should offer a moving display, mic input and if possible IBIS. Taking all things in to account, the Sony WX50 is not appropriate for vlogging as it gets a horrible rating of 35.

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reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (117g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone socket

Sony WX50 Alternatives

If you are trying to find alternatives to the WX50, below is a number of the top rated cameras which fall in to the category of Small Sensor Compact.

The chart below offers you a bird's eye view of the WX50 vs it's highest ranking competitors listed previously.

These are various other cameras you might check out as alternate options. To look at a complete comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand
Sony
Model
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
Class
Small Sensor Compact
Launched
2012-01-30
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Processor
BIONZ
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW format
Maximum native ISO
12800
Minimum native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Cross focus points
0
Lens
Lens mount
fixed lens
Lens focal range
25-125mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture
f/2.6-6.3
Macro focus range
5cm
Crop factor
5.8
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen diagonal
2.7 inch
Screen resolution
461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech
Clearfoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO All around score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Slowest shutter speed
4 secs
Maximum shutter speed
1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed
10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range
5.30 m
Flash settings
Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution
1920x1080
Video format
MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
117 grams (0.26 lb)
Dimensions
92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
Other
Battery life
240 photographs
Type of battery
Battery Pack
Battery model
NP-BN
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots
One
Pricing at launch
$250