Sony Cyber-shot HX50 Hands-On Preview

The Sony Cyber-shot HX50 is Sony's latest travel zoom camera, and is the World's first pocket zoom with 30x optical zoom lens, and 20 megapixel sensor. The camera also offers a flash hot-shoe Ni accessory port, manual controls and exposure compensation dial. Due to be released in the 1st week of May with an RRP of £350.

Sony Cyber-shot HX50 Features

Sony say that recent investment in lens technology has lead to them developing the new 50x optical zoom lens in the Sony Cyber-shot HX300; the World's thinnest 20x optical zoom lens compact in the Sony Cyber-shot WX300, and the World's smallest camera with 30x optical zoom lens, the Sony Cyber-shot HX50. They showed previous lens units as a comparison to the new more compact units - which Sony say are designed to be compact but also deliver high image quality. 



The HX50 has been designed by a Sony European designer, Mirko Goetzen, and has been developed in response to the growing market for high zoom and advanced compact cameras. The styling is designed to give the most compact camera available (minimized gaps), while also giving the look and feel of a real camera. The sensor is the same as used in the Sony Cyber-shot HX300. The Sony Cyber-shot HX50 replaces the Sony Cyber-shot HX20.

Key Features

• 20.4 megapixel Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor
• 30x optical zoom lens equivalent to 24-720mm (Sony G Lens)
• Optical SteadyShot Image Stabilisation
• Hot shoe with Ni port
• P/A/S/M, Custom button
• Memory recall mode (3 different setups)
• Wi-Fi, smart remote control, send to smartphones, PC Backup, TV viewing
• Picture effects, partial colour available on panoramics and video
• Full HD Video, 50p, Stereo sound
• ISO80 - ISO12800, above ISO3200 uses multi-shot NR
• 400 shot battery life

Sony Cyber-shot HX50 Handling

We had a hands-on look at the new HX50, and found that the video record button seemed rather easy to accidentally press. The camera has a large front grip and smaller textured area at the rear, and when used with the electronic viewfinder it was easy to get a good steady grip of the camera, which was useful when using the full 30x optical zoom lens. Focus seemed quick and on screen information provided shutter and aperture speeds, with a warning when the camera thought there was a risk of camera shake.


Sony Cyber Shot HX50 - Full optical zoom.

Unfortunately the HX50 does not feature RAW, but does feature full manual controls, as well as a hot-shoe which gives a number of options, including access to the Sony NEX and Alpha range of accessories, which include a number of flash options, video light, microphone, electronic viewfinder (TruFinder OLED EVF), as well as a fitted leather case.

Additional hands-on photos can be seen below. We will be posting our full review when production versions of this camera are available. Please note: the model shown here is a pre-production model with GPS, however the release model does not feature GPS.

Sony Cyber-shot HX50 Hands-On Photos of Equipment

Sony Cyber-shot HX50 Specifications

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