Today, quite a few people use the cameras built into cell phones for taking pictures. And I’m pretty sure that most of them at least once faced a situation where the phone didn’t manage to take pictures or gave a worse result than expected. Ultra-compact cameras such as the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50, announced at the end of January 2012, will be the solution in such situations.
Specifications
CMOS Exmor R sensor, 1/2.3″ 16.2 MP, 4608×3456 pixels
Lens 25-125 mm in 35 mm equivalent . , f/2,6-6,3
Sony SteadyShot stabilization
images
Optical zoom 5x, digital 20x
TFT ClearPhoto display, 2.7″ 460 800 pixels
Contrast detection AF,
LED backlight, multi-zone
AF, face priority, center, MDF 5 cm
Shutter speed 4-1/1600 sec
Shooting modes Intelligent Auto, Program Auto, 14 scene modes
Multi-segment metering, center-weighted,
Spot EV compensation ± 2 EV 1/3 EV step
White balance auto, manual, 8 presets
Flash auto + red-eye correction , forced on off, slow synchronization 0.2-5.3 m W , 1.0-2.2 m T
Sensitivity ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12,800, auto
JPEG image formats
SD, SDHC, SDXC, Memory Stick Duo PRO Duo memory card type
10 fps continuous shooting
AVCHD 1920×1080/50i, AVCHD 1440×1080/50i, MP4/AVI 1440×1080/25p, MP4/AVI 1280×720/25p, MP4/AVI 640×480/25p
Interfaces microUSB High-speed USB 2 .0 , mini-HDMI
Power NP-BN Lithium-ion battery, 3.6 V, 30 mAh,
240 shots on a single charge CIPA
Dimensions 92.2x52x19.1 mm
Weight 117g with battery and memory card
Accessories: battery NP-BN, AC adapter AC-UB10/UB10B , cable microUSB, hand strap, manual, AC power cable
Price 8900 Dollars.
About Camera
Despite the diminutiveness, the novelty is packed with features and well equipped: 16-megapixel sensor, 5x Carl Zeiss zoom lens, mini-HDMI connector. There is a separate button for instant video recording the camera can record Full HD video .
On the micro switch, in addition to photo and video, there is a position to switch to an option-rich panorama mode. Sony was the first company to adopt continuous shooting to create panoramas.
This camera can do the same when you press the shutter button and move the camera smoothly in an arc horizontally or vertically . Two 3D panoramas are available: one for playback on your 3D TV, and one for playback on your camera or smartphone. But that’s not all: there is a separate program for capturing panoramas under water!
For those who don’t know much about photography theory or just don’t want to tinker with the settings, the WX50’s intelligent auto mode is a reliable helper.
In my testing, I found it to be quite trustworthy. I could tell the type of scene on the fly: landscape, macro I was very pleased with the photos , portrait I could tell the faces even in the pictures . But it’s hard to surprise anyone with this one these days.
But there was a more difficult task: taking pictures against the sun. Backlight” is a preset in the scene mode dial, and the camera responds adequately to this situation as well.
When shooting an object such as a monument against the sky and against the sun the standard auto program will “please” with a black silhouette on a light background. But in intelligent auto mode, the WX50, using the HDR function, produces a picture with well defined details in shadows.
The camera also has a more advanced smart mode where it makes several pictures when necessary, combining them to reduce noise and increase clarity.
The same principle is used for twilight photography without a tripod. Impressive results: hardly any digital noise. There is no more shadows in the pictures taken at ISO 1600 than there are in the pictures taken at ISO 800. Sometimes the former even win in sharpness, thanks to the shorter shutter speed.
I don’t mean the smallest details, because their reproduction gradually goes down as the sensitivity increases. At ISO 3200 more aggressive sharpening slightly increases the amount of fine debris.
At ISO 6400 the picture changes its tone and character, becoming grainy and film-like. One more step – up to ISO 12,800 maximum – practically does not change the character of the image, but makes it a bit more blurry. The camera’s working range is between 100 and 3200 ISO, with a higher sensitivity setting for extreme conditions.
Conclusions
To sum it up, during my time testing the WX50, I almost never had any problems with the metering accuracy. Color reproduction was adequate, except for the situation described above with the use of extreme ISO settings. No chromatic aberrations or distortions in the images.
Cushion distortion in the wide-angle zoom position is negligible. Without the same demands as for a DSLR, the WX50 still looks pretty good. It can be recommended for travelers, because of its compact size and decent image quality.
Picture tests
Smart auto mode does a great job shooting against the sun with HDR.
1. 76mm, f/14, 1/200, ISO 100 . 2. 76mm, f/14, 1/200, ISO 100, HDR function
Noise reduction works effectively when shooting with high sensitivity. 48mm, f/3.5
1. ISO 800. 2. ISO 1600. 3. ISO 3200. 4. ISO 6400
Shooting from the same point at different zoom positions. Exposure metering and color reproduction without error. Beautifully detailed throughout the entire zoom range.
(25mm, 55mm, 125mm, ISO 100
Macro mode in smart auto mode. Precise color reproduction, well defined details, beautifully blurred backgrounds. 25 mm, f/2.6, 1/500, ISO 100
but also the quality of the photos. With a resolution of 16.2 megapixels, it captures sharp and vibrant images. However, I’m wondering if it performs well in low-light conditions as well. Can anyone who has used this camera provide insights on its low-light capabilities?
This ultra-compact camera seems to offer convenience with its small size, but does it deliver in terms of picture quality and features? As a potential buyer, I’m curious to know if the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 can match the performance of larger cameras despite its compact nature. Are there any notable drawbacks or limitations to consider when using this camera? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.