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Sony DSC-S50 Sony makes a compact 2.1 megapixel digicam with full movie/sound capability! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet DSC-S50 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 --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index (Next): Executive Overview>> Page 1:Intro and Highlights Review First Posted: 4/12/2000

	*	2.1 megapixel CCD, up to 1600x1200 images
	*	3x optical , 2x digital zoom
	*	Records movies with sound
	*	JPEG, GIF, TIFF, and MPEG file formats
	*	High-speed USB computer connection

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Manufacturer Overview
More than any other single company, Sony has dominated the digital camera market the last few years, thanks in large part to the easy computer interfacing offered by their Mavica(tm) line of floppy-disk based cameras. They've also been active at the high end of the market, with products like the DSC-D770 and DSC-F505, which caught the eye of many pros and advanced amateurs for their excellent optics and exposure control.
This spring (February, 2000), Sony stunned the digicam world by announcing no fewer than six new models. At the lower end, they extended their Mavica line, cleverly using special versions of the "FlashPath" floppy disk memory card adapter in conjunction with their Memory Stick technology to deliver "floppy disk" cameras with potential storage capacities as high as 64 megabytes. In their CyberShot still camera line, they brought out several new models, providing a range of resolutions and feature sets. This review covers a mid-range CyberShot model, the DSC-S50, which sports a 2.1 megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom lens, and features like advanced exposure modes (aperture and shutter priority) and MPEG movie recording with full sound and video.
Highlights

• 2.1 megapixel CCD delivering up to 1600 x 1200 pixel images.
• 560 x 240 pixel, TFT color, rotating LCD monitor.
• 3x, 6.1 to 18.3mm lens (equivalent to a 39 to 117mm lens on a 35mm camera).
• 2x digital zoom.
• Apertures from f/2.8 to f/11
• Auto and manual focus options.
• Automatic, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Twilight, Twilight Plus, Landscape, Panfocus and Spot Metering exposure modes.
• Variable white balance with Auto, Indoor, Outdoor and Hold (manual) settings.
• Built-in flash with Auto, Forced, Suppressed and Red-Eye Reduction modes with variable intensity setting.
• Movie (with sound) recording capability.
• Image capture on Sony Memory Sticks.
• JPEG, GIF (in Text mode), TIFF and MPEG file types.
• MPEG movies (sound and picture) up to 15 seconds at 320 x 240, 60 seconds at 160 x 112
• Audio annotation of still files (up to 40 seconds of audio with each image)
• High-speed USB interface for computer connection.
• NTSC/PAL switchable video output (US models ship with NTSC video cable).