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Sony CyberShot DSC-P50 Sony develops an affordable, full-featured 2.1-megapixel compact digicam with great picture quality! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet CyberShot DSC-P50 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on CyberShot DSC-P50 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Viewfinder :(Previous) | (Next): Exposure & Flash>> Page 5:Optics Review First Posted: 4/4/2001

Optics
A 3x, 6.4-19.2mm optical zoom lens is built into the P50, the equivalent of a 41-123mm lens on a 35mm camera. In normal shooting mode, focus ranges from 20.4 inches (50cm) to infinity. The Macro mode focuses from 1.2 to 20.4 inches (3-50cm). The P50 offers both automatic and manual focus control, with "manual" focus referring to a series of fixed focal distances accessible through the Record settings menu. Available distances are 0.5m, 1.0m, 3.0m, 7.0m, and infinity. We were especially pleased with the inclusion of an AF assist light, which can be turned off through the Setup menu. The AF assist light is extremely valuable in low-light shooting situations where the camera may normally have trouble focusing. We found it to be very effective in our testing. A set of 37mm filter threads line the inside lip of the lens barrel, accommodating Sony's line of accessory lenses, which can extend the camera's wide angle, telephoto, and macro capabilities even further. Aperture is automatically controlled, with an available range from f/3.8 to f/11.

In addition to the 3x optical zoom, the P50 offers a 2x digital zoom, increasing the P50's zoom capabilities to 6x. The P50 takes advantage of Sony's Precision Digital Zoom technology, which does a nice job of digitally enlarging the image without affecting the quality too much. Regardless, we always like to point out that digital zoom in no way takes the place of true optical zoom, as digital telephoto simply enlarges the center portion of the CCD. This often compromises image quality in the form of softer resolution or higher noise. The P50's digital zoom is turned on (or off) through the Setup menu, and is accessed by zooming past the normal zoom range.