Sony Announces New 9.1 Megapixel 15X Zoom DSC-H50 Cyber-Shot Camera

Sony have announced a new model in their H series of Cyber-shot digital cameras in the form of the semi=professional DSLR styled DSC-H50 which offers a 9.1 megapixel Super HAD CCD 15X Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar ultra-zoom lens, a 3” tilting LCD screen as well as optical stabilisation and Sony’ face detection technology.

Of particular note, according to Sony’s press release, the DSC-H50 Cyber-shot also comes with Sony’s advanced D-Range Optimizer and a NightShot mode designed to assist the end-user with capturing imagery in especially low lighting situations and, interestingly, the press release also states that the degree of in camera noise reduction on the DSC-H50 is user selectable – no doubt a feature designed to placate users who have been rather critical of Sony’s somewhat overpowering noise reduction features on previous models.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 Specifications:

• Sensor: 9.1 megapixel, 1/2.3″ Super HAD CCD
• Lens/Zoom: 15x (31-465mm) Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar, f/2.7-4.5
• LCD/Viewfinder: 3.0″, 230K-pixel Hybrid TFT LCD; 201K-pixel electronic viewfinder with diopter adjustment
• Sensitivity: ISO 80-3200
• Shutter Speed: 30-1/4000 seconds
• Shooting Modes: Auto, Easy Auto, Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual, Movie, Scene, Smile Shutter, High Sensitivity
• Scene Presets: Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Portrait, Landscape, Beach, Snow, Fireworks, Advanced Sports Shooting
• White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent 1, Fluorescent 2, Fluorescent 3, Incandescent, Flash, Manual
• Metering Modes: Multi, Center, Spot
• Focus Modes: Multi AF, Center AF, Flexible Spot AF, Semi-Manual, Manual, Macro
• Drive Modes: Normal, Burst
• Flash Modes: Auto, Forced On, Slow Synchro, Forced Off
• Self Timer Settings: 10 seconds, 2 seconds, Off
• Memory Formats: Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo
• Internal Memory: 15 MB
• File Formats: JPEG, MPEG
• Max. Image Size: 3456×2592
• Max. Video Size: 640×480, 30 fps
• Zoom During Video: Yes
• Battery: Rechargeable InfoLITHIUM 960 mAh lithium-ion
• Connections: USB 2.0, AV output, DC input
• Additional Features: Face Detection, Super SteadyShot, Smile Shutter, NightShot, HD component output, D-Range Optimizer

Sony’s DSC-H50 Cyber-Shot, which comes complete with HD component output allowing for viewing of captured imagery directly on HDTV units, is due for a May release with a listed price point of $399.

Sony