Sony introduce Pocket Cyber-shot DSC-U50

Sony UK have announced an addition to their Cyber-shot U range of quality ultra-compact digital still cameras. Fashionable and fun, the design and the features of the Cyber-shot DSC-U50 make it ideal for capturing the mood at parties and special occasions. It is fitted with a new type of Hybrid LCD screen that is less light sensitive and lets you see your object clearly in any situation. You do not need to miss out in the memories either, as the DSC-U50 has the added bonus of a rotating lens to get you into the picture too.

"Small and stylish, the Cyber-shot U50 is the perfect camera to take to any party," said Adam Williams, Product Manager for Digital Still Cameras, Sony UK. "The camera's rotating lens and quick startup time puts you right at the centre of the action. It may be tiny but it provides good storage capacity and is the first Cyber-shot camera to be compatible with Sony's new generation Memory Stick Duo and Memory Stick PRO Duo format."

Shoot anywhere, anytime
Although small enough to fit in your pocket or hang around your neck, the point and shoot Cyber-shot DSC-U50 is packed with features. The rotating lens is ideal for taking self-portraits and you will be able to frame a shot easily using the Hybrid LCD screen. Using special imaging technology this allows you to see your subject as clearly in bright, outdoor conditions as in indoor or lower light environments. When the camera is set in Playback Mode, it also allows you to zoom in on the image. Enlarged Playback lets you check a shot's focus immediately after it has been taken by enlarging the centre of the image to either 2.5 or 5 times its actual size. When the camera is in Burst Mode, it can take a rapid succession of 10 action shots in VGA mode or two shots at high quality 2.0 megapixel resolution.

Thanks to a 5-mode White Balance setting, the Cyber-shot DSC-U50 is capable of accurate shots in a variety of different conditions. This makes sure the exposure is correct and can be set for lighting such as daylight, cloudy, fluorescent and incandescent, or you can just trust the camera's judgment and set it to Auto. There is also a range of scene selection modes that allows you to automatically set the camera to match the demands of the shooting situation, with settings such as Twilight, Active Outdoor, Soft Snap, Illumination Snap and Vivid Nature.

As well as images, the Cyber-shot DSC-U50 is also capable of recording MPEG movies without sound. Unlike earlier models, Sony's MPEG Movie EX technology means that your movie can now be as long as the storage left on your Memory Stick Duo.

Share with the world
Once you have shot your images you need to show them off and share them with friends and family, so the Cyber-shot DSC-U50 has also been well designed for connectivity. The new model is PictBridge* compliant, which means you can print pictures directly from the camera via the supplied USB cable to a PictBridge* compatible printer- all without the need for a PC. Both still images and movies are saved to a Memory Stick Duo capable of transferring your images between a wide range of Memory Stick compatible products such as TVs, phones and computers. The Cyber-shot DSC-U50 also comes with Image Transfer software, which when connected by the USB cable, automatically transfers your pictures to a PC for photo-editing or email.

Available in silver the Cyber-shot DSC-U50 will be launched in the UK during October 2003.