Sony DSC-T50 Review
By: Steve's Digicams


Review posted 10/12/2006
Click on the T50 for a 360° QTVR tour
The ultra-slim and stylish Cyber-shot DSC-T50 is the current top-of-the-line model in Sony's
T-series line. It's equipped with a 7-megapixel Sony CCD imager, an internal Carl Zeiss
Vario Tessar 3x optical zoom lens, a large 3.0-inch Touchpanel TFT LCD display, VX Fine
movie mode, and 56MB of internal memory. This camera shines in both performance and looks
and is available in three different color schemes; red, black or silver.
The Super Steady Shot technology minimizes blur caused by shaky hands, while the high light
sensitivity (ISO 1000) mode reduces blur by shooting at faster shutter speeds. There's even
an added defense with Sony's Clear RAW™ noise reduction system, which kicks in to counter
picture noise associated with high-sensitivity shooting.
As with other T-series cameras, you simply slide the lens cover down and the camera is ready
to capture images in seconds. Sony's ultra-fast Real Imaging Processor circuitry increases
the camera's efficiency for quicker start-up, faster shot-to-shot times, higher-quality
movie capture, and longer battery life. The supplied InfoLithium battery provides plenty of
power for up to 400 shots per full charge.
With the slide show feature, sharing your photos right on the camera's LCD is more
enjoyable. You can even connect the camera to your television with supplied cables. If you
have a wide-screen home theater then you'll love the 16:9 image mode that creates HDTV
proportional pictures that fill the screen perfectly. If prints are what you want, then
connect the DSC-T50 to any PictBridge enabled printer, and print directly from the camera,
no PC is needed.
Cyber-shot DSC-T50 Features:
- 7-Megapixel CCD sensor with 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 aspect ratios
- Carl Zeiss "folded" 3x Zoom (38-114mm equivalent in 35mm photography)
- Sony Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization
- Stylish, durable and ultra-thin stainless metal body
- MPEG Movie: 640x480 w/audio at 30fps, length limited only by media
- Auto, Program AE plus 9 Scene modes
- Live histogram display in capture and playback modes
- 5 Area Multi-point AF; auto or selectable Spot AF point
- 3.0" Touchpanel Hybrid TFT LCD Screen with Auto Brightness
- ISO Sensitivity: Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1000 equivalent
- Adjustable color, contrast and sharpness
- Noise Reduction: Automatically cleans up long exposure images
- Flash with Auto, Fill, Forced Off, and Slow Synchro (Red Eye reduction available)
- USB 2.0 high speed Auto-Connect to host computer
- Rechargeable InfoLithium battery and AC charger included
- 56MB internal memory + Memory Stick Duo & MS Duo Pro cards
- DPOF and PictBridge direct-print USB compatible
The Cyber-shot DSC-T50 will be available in October for about US$499 |
Physical Views








The Cyber-shot T50 and a CD for size comparison.

The Sony DSC-T50 and the 7-megapixel Casio EX-Z70.
Sony DSC-T50 Specifications
Image Device: |
1/2.5" 7.2 Megapixel Effective Sony Super HAD™ CCD |
Recording Media: |
56MB internal memory Memory Stick Duo Media or Memory Stick Duo PRO Media up to 4GB |
Zoom: | Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar "folded" (internal) 3X Optical,
6.33 - 19mm (38-114mm equivalent)
11 elements in 9 groups (including 3 aspheric elements, 1 prism) |
Smart Zoom™ Feature: | Up to 3.6X (5MP), 4.5X (3MP), 5.6X (2MP), 14X (VGA Resolution) |
Digital Zoom: | Precision, 0 - 2.0X Range, 6X Total |
Filter Diameter: | n/a |
Auto Focus: | 5 Area Multi-Point AF, Center AF, 5-Step Manual
Minimum Focus Distance: 19.7" (50cm)
Macro Focus Distance: 3.1" (8cm)
Magnifying Glass Mode: 0.4" (1cm) |
Shutter Speed: |
Auto: 1/4 - 1/1000 sec
Program Auto: 1 - 1/1000 sec. |
Aperture Range: | F3.5 - F10 |
Exposure Compensation: | +/- 2.0 EV, 1/3 EV Steps |
Color LCD: | 3.0" 230K pixel Touchpanel Hybrid TFT LCD Screen |
Flash Modes: | Auto/Forced On/Forced Off/Slow
Synchro Red-Eye Reduction: On/Off |
Flash Effective Range: | ISO Auto 4" to 11.2' (0.1-3.4m), ISO 1000: 4" to 19' 8" (0.1-6m) |
White Balance: | Auto, Daylight, Cloudy,
Fluorescent, Incandescent, Flash |
Picture Effects: | Black & White, Sepia |
ISO: | Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1000 |
Scene Modes: | Beach, Fireworks, High Sensitivity, High Speed Shutter, Landscape, Snow, Soft Snap, Twilight, Twilight Portrait |
Self-Timer: | Off, 2 or 10 Seconds |
Video Output: | NTSC/PAL Selectable |
Still Image Modes: |
Normal (JPEG Fine/Standard), Burst, Multi-Burst, Auto Bracketing |
MPEG Movie Mode: |
MPEG VX Fine with Audio (640 x 480 at 30fps),
(MPEG VX Fine requires Memory Stick Duo PRO media)
MPEG VX Standard with Audio (640 x 480 at 16.6fps),
Video Mail (160 x 112 at 8.3fps) with Audio |
Microphone/Speaker: | Yes/Yes |
USB Terminal: | Yes, by Supplied Multi-connector Cable, Supports USB 2.0 Hi-speed |
Compatible Battery: | InfoLithium NP-FR1 3.6v 4.4Wh |
Supplied Software: | Windows: Picture Motion BrowserVer.1.1, USB Driver, Picture Package Music Transfer Macintosh: Music Transfer |
OS Compatibility: | Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional, ME, XP Home and Professional
Macintosh® OS X (v 10.1-10.4) (OS must be installed at the factory)
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Supplied Accessories: | Rechargeable InfoLithium® Battery (NPFR1), Battery Charger (BC-CS3), A/V, USB, DC-in Multi-connector Cable, Wrist Strap, Paint pen stylus, Software CD-ROM NOTE: No Memory Stick media or adapters are included. |
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NOTE: Specifications as represented by the manufacturer.
Visitors of Steves can visit the stores below for real-time pricing and availability. You can also find hot, soon to expire online offers on a variety of cameras and accessories at our very own Camera Deals page.