While sales of compact cameras are plummeting, the compact with superzoom represents a niche market that continues to grow. The combination of a small body with a large zoom offering an impressive range of focal lengths attracts many who do not want to burden themselves with semi-professional or digital SLR cameras with huge lenses.
Sony Cyber-shot HX50 opens up new horizons in this area - it is the smallest camera with an amazing 30x optical zoom. It is so small that, despite supporting the typical focal length range of bridge cameras, it fits easily in your trouser pocket. This is impressive, but does not necessarily guarantee great pictures.
Specifications
The Sony DSC-HX50 is equipped with an Exmor R CMOS sensor with a resolution of 20.4 megapixels. Unfortunately, the size of the sensor itself is only 1 / 2.3 inches, unlike the larger 1 / 1.7 "matrices of competing compact cameras. The sensor is paired with a Sony Bionz processor, which provides impressive shooting speed, including serial at 10 k / c at full resolution The HX50 also has a sensitivity in the range of ISO 80–3200, which can be expanded to ISO 12800 if necessary.
It cannot be denied that the key feature of the camera is its lens. 30x optical zoom covers a range of focal lengths of 24-720 mm in 35 mm equivalent. The lens, which will undoubtedly please many with its characteristics, is supported by the Sony image stabilization system. The zoom is provided by Sony G branded optics with a maximum aperture range of f / 3.5–6.3. Another nice feature of the HX50 is the presence of a multi-functional shoe. Experienced users will be happy, because the contact allows you to use a number of accessories that extend the functionality of the HX50, such as an external flash, an electronic viewfinder or a stereo microphone for recording video. Sony HX50 allows you to capture videos in full HD with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 with a data transfer rate of up to 28 Mbps, as well as in several other formats. At the same time, 30x optical zoom is fully supported.
As with most compact cameras on the market, the HX50 provides Wi-Fi connectivity. This function allows the camera through a special application to connect to a PC, smartphone or tablet on Android or iOS. With this application, users can save their pictures wirelessly in the cloud, share them directly or remotely control the camera, if necessary. Sony DSC-HX50 allows photographers to fully control the shooting process. For those who want the camera to take it into their own hands, there is an automatic adjustment mode along with many photo modes and nine visual effects.
Design
Sony HX50 reviews by professionals are called a well-designed camera that has all the features of a compact Sony. These include a protruding rubberized handle, which provides reliable retention of the camera when shooting. The case is also assembled and finished with high quality and, undoubtedly, will stand the test of time. Despite the relatively compact size, the combination of plastic and metal provides a feeling of reliability that leaves no doubt.
However, the design of the camera has a number of problems. For example, the video recording button is located next to the handle, as a result of which it is easily pressed if you take the camera in a hurry. On the rear panel is the main control dial, which also serves for navigation. Unfortunately, it is small and inconvenient, so it’s easy to accidentally change the flash settings or enter the camera menu when setting the shutter speed or aperture. There is an exposure compensation dial on the top panel of the HX50, and although this is a nice addition, one cannot help feeling that the aforementioned control wheel would be better instead. But in general, the HX50 is an attractive-looking compact camera, much of the design of which was borrowed from the successful Sony RX100 and RX1 cameras, and it will undoubtedly attract many admiring glances.
Performance
Sony HX50, of course, has many good sides, although the camera is not without flaws. Autofocus is impressive and the HX50 focuses instantly on the widest possible angle. The closer the subject is, the longer it will take, and in low light the AF speed drops noticeably, although this is not uncommon for such cameras. The Sony HX50 usually shoots very quickly, even if the 30x optical zoom slows down the launch somewhat, since it takes about 3 seconds to get ready for shooting from the off state. After that, however, the time between frame capturing becomes more acceptable and is about 1 s, which corresponds to the average value for compact cameras.
Battery life
Battery capacity is another nice feature of the camera. According to the manufacturer, a full charge of the battery lasts for 400 shots or 200 minutes of video, and users note that after about 300 test frames and a large number of image views, the camera still shows a full charge.
disadvantages
However, as noted earlier, the camera is not without problems. The brightness of the LCD screen Sony HX50 user reviews called insufficient to work in bright ambient light. Glare in bright sunlight makes the display almost unsuitable for use in such conditions, which is very annoying.
There are also problems with the large range of focal lengths and the operation of the SteadyShot function. Effective enough at the far end of the zoom, it still hardly suppresses camera shake. A large grip could help here, but that would affect the size of the camera.
Photo quality
The image quality of the Sony HX50 should be considered very carefully, given the large range of focal lengths and a 1 / 2.3-inch sensor. One potential problem with the relatively small size of the image sensor is the method of processing noise at high ISOs. Unfortunately, this is an area in which the HX50 shows poor results. Detailing at settings up to ISO 800 is moderate, but it is above that relatively low level when detailing really starts to suffer. But already at ISO 1600, most of the small parts are lost.
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50 interference suppression system is described by professional reviews as very aggressive and at higher sensitivity values, and at ISO 6400–12800 the noise reduction reaches the limit of its capabilities, and heavy, grainy noise becomes obvious. The smaller sensor size also raises concerns about the dynamic range of the camera, despite the fact that the HX50 shows quite impressive results in this area. Even in areas with particularly high contrast, the camera manages to capture details in the shade. In theory, a 20-megapixel sensor should provide very great detail, but the camera allows you to record photos only in JPEG format. Images suffer from compression and contain artifacts even at low ISO values, which could have been avoided if RAW were used.
One area where the HX50 excels is color processing. Sony’s experience in this area is felt, as the color reproduction in good light is almost perfect, and the automatic white balance is accurate in various shooting conditions. The Sony HX50's exposure metering system is also excellent under good lighting conditions, proving equally reliable performance in traditionally problematic situations, such as shooting sunsets or reflections.
Should I buy an HX50?
Those looking for a compact camera with a long zoom can find devices with higher specifications than the HX50 at a similar price. Cameras such as the Fuji F900EXR and Samsung WB800F cost about the same but have a smaller zoom, while the Samsung WB2100 and Fujifilm S8500 offer greater focal length, but in much larger cases. In this regard, the HX50 looks like a good buy, not without flaws, but if a large zoom is not critical, then you can find better options. Panasonic Lumix LX7, for example.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that the combination of the large 30x zoom and compact body is impressive, but the photographs obtained with this are more satisfactory than beautiful. This is a decent camera, but only if you really need a long zoom.