Sony Cybershot DSCW50 6MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Reviews

• Great price for the best portable camera

  
  By A15K4JXUD1MEXM on 2006-03-18
  I did much research before buying a portable digital camera.
  
  I looked at the Canon sd450 and several others in the same style and size. I had many criterias and most cameras fell short of it except the Sony dscw50.
  
  My criterias were :
  1. pocket portable (comparable to the canon)
  
  2. a viewfinder (to take pictures on very sunny days)
  
  3. large lcd screen (so I can view pictures taken with good detail.)
  
  4. very good battery life (battery last nice and long, plus it has an icon to indicate battery life).
  
  5. 3x optical zoom
  
  6. very good macro .74" (It's great for shots very up close in very good detail. Much better than most cameras. I can take pictures of fine text in books, you can even take pictures of dust.)
  
  7. High ISO (For those night scenes and indoor shots without flash. So far I am very happy. Indoor shots are fantastic.I don't use the ISO function because it is grainy, but this camera can take really good indoor photos in regular mode with an iso setting of 200.)
  
  8. Adjustable flash - works very good indoors and outdoors. You can adjust the intensity. Flash is adjustable so it's not too overwhelming, or set to really light up a room, which is great for such a small camera.)
  
  9. Intuitive layout - I like the layout of the controls and menus. You are usually one to three steps to adjust settings. It's easy to switch between viewfinder mode and lcd mode.
  
  This camera excelled in almost every category compared to the other portable cameras. I haven't use the video function much so I can't comment on that. It's good for people who just need a point and shoot camera, but have enough manual controls to satisfy someone more advanced.
  
  I highly recommend this camera.
  
  

• The W50 is the sweet spot in the Sony line for most people

  
  By A2EF8N7ZE7ONWX on 2006-05-15
  The W50 is the sweet spot in the Sony W series lineup, for most people. You can take it everywhere and get very good pictures. But it's not that expensive, so there's no reason not to take it everywhere (except maybe that kayak trip).
  
  If you're wondering whether to get the W30 or the W50 (especially given the lack of reviews on the W30) - go with the W50. The W50 is a little smaller and lighter, and even with the bigger screen has lower power consumption than the W30 - so you don't have to worry that having the big screen will cut your shooting time. The W50 also comes with a combination computer / TV cable.
  
  The S600 is somewhat interesting at the price, but a step down in LCD size and features and a little bulkier - as noted below for most people you can get plenty of battery life and a smaller size with the proprietary battery cameras.
  
  In general, you'll also get better pictures with a W50 than with credit-card type cameras that have a tiny lens system - optics will always make a difference.
  
  If you've used an older generation camera, you may have some misconceptions about battery life. Many newer cameras have sharply reduced power consumption, so the powerful proprietary battery can get you through a day of shooting hundreds of shots with no problem. (Be a little wise about turning it off when you're not using it!) So a lot of the conventional wisdom about batteries is wrong - you probably don't need a second battery, unless you're going into the woods for a while, and you don't need to mess with AA rechargeables. Also, lithium ion batteries don't have a memory effect, so don't worry about partial recharging. Just charge the battery each night. So - before getting a second battery, try it for a while and see if you need it.
  
  But a case is a good idea - see the LCS-WF, or LCS-WE, or LCS-CSG maybe - there are a lot of cases out there.
  
  Get a Memory Stick Pro Duo card - Pro cards are faster, and you need the smaller Duo size with this camera. Get at least 512MB, and maybe 1-2GB, especially if you plan to travel for more than a week, or use the video mode - which is surprisingly good, if set to fine, but uses enormous amounts of storage at that setting.
  
  I've been using the Sony DSC-P200 for over a year now. Reviewers generally rated it as the best of the compact cameras. The W50 can't match it in some respects - the P200 has a bigger sensor and a bigger lens, both a fundamental to picture quality. But any reasonable person will be very happy with the pictures from the W50, given the size of it.
  
  And the controls, menus and interface on the W50 have definitely been improved - for example, the W50 has easier access to the various scene modes (twilight, etc), with some explanation on the screen of what those mysterious little icons mean (so you might actually use them). Try the High ISO mode in low light no-flash situations - for nit pickers the picture quality suffers, but most people will find it useful. And again, if you need that often, no ultra-compact camera will work really well - think about something with a bigger lens and bigger sensor.
  
  But the W50 still offers enough control (through the scene modes and the Program mode) to allow a fair amount of control over the pictures, for an automatic camera.
  
  The build quality seems fine to me.
  
  By the way, it uses essentially the same cable as the DSC-P200 for the USB/AV cable.
  
  The charger is fairly compact and rated 100-240V, so while you'll need a plug adapter overseas you won't need a voltage converter.
  
  My only real complaint so far - the battery charger is a little slow, though probably OK. Sony isn't doing itself any good on customer satisfaction by not including the (optional) fast, compact charger to go with the fast, compact camera.
  
  A few common problems and easy fixes:
  - All of these cameras will focus on what's in the center when you press the shutter halfway down. If the center of the shot you want to take is background, and not subject, you'll get the background in focus. So aim at the subject, hold the shutter halfway down to fix the focus and exposure, then compose the picture and press the rest of the way down.
  - Flash pictures rarely look really good on most cameras. The W50 is pretty good, but you might have even better luck using the P mode and setting the flash to the - setting, especially for closer shots (across a table, for example). Or, use the + mode if you're in a big room.
  - Try using the P mode and putting the ISO setting to something very high if you want to force a fast shutter time (for example, for action shots).
  
  But of course good light always gives the best pictures with any camera. There are limits to what you can currently expect from any ultracompact camera.
  
  Most of the complaints are from people expecting a camera to do everything. Be a little smart about it, and don't expect the (currently) impossible - and you'll be surprised at how many good pictures a camera like this can get for you.
  
  

• When You Need something Fast

  
  By A1Y8RETR8XLCC7 on 2006-04-18
  I had a Sony S75 for three years. That camera took excellent pictures, but as my children grew from babies into fast-moving toddlers and preschoolers, the S75's two-second shutter lag started to become a problem. Sure, I could pre-meter a shot by holding the shutter button halfway down, but in the two seconds it took for the camera to auto-focus and get the right exposure settings, my subject had already moved--usually several feet toward the camera with little hands outstretched.
  
  So I spent tons of time looking for something fast. That was really my primary criterion. Size was also a factor, and unfortunately that ruled out more capable cameras with large lenses and lots of manual settings.
  
  The W50 is fast. Its lens extends and it's ready to shoot within about a second after turning it on. In decent light, it takes the picture when you push the shutter button... none of that sitting around thinking while the subject toddles away.
  
  Now, I was a bit disappointed that Sony discontinued the DSC-P200. But the feature set of the W50 is quite similar. There are a few things that I wish the W50 had in common with the P200: the P200 has a metal body, while the W50's body is plastic. The P200 uses standard Sony Memory Sticks, while the W50 uses the harder-to-find Memory Stick Duo. Also, the P200 is 7 megapixels, although the difference between 6 and 7 megapixels is beyond my untrained eye.
  
  The 2.5-inch LCD is nice. I never felt that such a large LCD was necessary to take pictures, but it's nice for showing pictures to others; it's like showing people pictures in your wallet.
  
  The camera, like all modern digitals, contains a clock that keeps the current time and date. Prior Sony models displayed the time on the splash page when the camera booted up. The W50 just says "Cyber-shot" and then goes about its business. This is a small detail, but I don't usually wear a watch, and it was nice to be able to quickly check the time by turning on my camera. Sony, what gives? :)
  
  The camera comes with some software. Usually I wouldn't bother with software included with a camera; the camera is recognized by modern operating systems as a mass storage device, so you can just hook it up and drag pictures to your My Pictures folder, or whatever. But the Cyber-shot viewer that comes with the W50 is worth a look. It organizes pictures with a calendar that zooms in and out as you select things. It's a great way to look at pictures, a lot of fun.
  
  Overall, I'm quite pleased with the little W50. If your favorite photographic subjects are small children, the W50 will be up to the challenge of matching their pace. And the image quality is more than acceptable for 4x6 prints.
  
  

• Don't let the size fool you!!!

  
  By A1L31R6HS1WD43 on 2006-04-05
  Since these ultra-compact, high megapixel cameras began coming out, I've been looking to upgrage my 3 year old Toshiba with not only something I could carry in my pocket, but one that would also provide the option of high image quality and ease of use with carry-anywhere convenience. After owning this camera for a week, I think I've found it!
  
  This is one very slick little camera. It's the size of a deck of playing cards. Startup is quick, the menu is pretty easy to navigate (even with little or no instruction), and the size is such that you can slide it in your front pocket and forget it's even there. The 2.5-inch LCD screen on the back is really sweet. I haven't had time to even really scratch the surface as far as all the other features of this baby. But I can tell you that if you're like me and are not a complete camera or photo guru, yet still appreciate quality, ease of use, and convenience, this is one you should consider. I found the best price ($[...] delivered) through Amazon from Ace Digital Club. I ordered it Sunday night and had it Wednesday. I also got the Sony LCS-CST case (PERFECT for this camera, $[...] delivered) through Amazon from Continental Trading Co., and a 1GB stick of the new Sony Memory Stick Duo Pro High Speed memory for $[...] delivered from Ebay. For right around $[...] total, I've got one sweet camera, more memory than I'll probably ever need, and good protection to keep this baby safe! Well worth every penny if you ask me.
  
  

• Great camera, great price.

  
  By A35RM85D7P1ZN9 on 2006-03-21
  I used to own a DSC-P52. After a lot of good service, a few months ago, it died on me (camera shutter cover gave out). I was looking to find something with as much functionality, and a comparable price.
  
  When I got the P52 in 2003, it was $249. Three years later, the W50, at the same price, is VERY much worth every penny.
  
  For starters, there is the size. It's comparable to Canon's ELPH series, but there are notable differences. For one thing, the LCD screen is a comfortable 2.5 inches. Not only that, but it's got a hard plastic layer over it, which makes wiping off smudges and fingerprints really easy.
  
  It's got an optical zoom, and the Smart Zoom feature is a nice touch. The design of the camera is sleek, it's really close to the 8.1mp DSC-N1.
  
  The macro is great for a camera of this size and price range. I took a quick picture of the keys on my keyboard, and it was crystal clear. The manual says you can get as close as 2cm. That's just under an inch from the subject. I find that to be great.
  
  The fact that you can increase to 1000 ISO is nice, but higher ISO always means more image noise, and though Sony has made some efforts to reduce that, using the max ISO is going to lower your image quality. It pays to use a tripod or lean against a stable object whenever possible, over just using high ISO.
  
  The histogram is a nice touch too. It really helps you adjust the exposure of the camera to get something that has good contrast.
  
  Also, the extra color modes -rich and natural- are nice little touches; rich boosts the color saturation, while natural lowers the saturation a bit. I was surprised that two modes that my P52 had were NOT on the W50 -Solarized, and Photo Negative. I don't mind much, though.
  
  The internal memory is only 32mb, so please do yourself a favor and get a Memory Stick Duo PRO. For a camera of 6.1mp, it would be a bit of an injustice to not take advantage of the extra quality. Getting 64 or even 128mb would be limiting yourself to mostly VGA quality images, and if you're planning to print your pictures and not just share them, a larger stick is a good investment. I have a 1gb, and I can take a few hundered pictures at the maximum setting.
  
  There's a port to plug in an adapter (which you'd have to get separately) so you can just run off of AC power, nice touch.
  
  If you are considering the W30 or W40 models, the difference between those two, and this one, is that you have the 2.5 inch screen as opposed to just 2. Also, the W50 has a different connector. W30/W40 both use the standard USB cable, whereas the W50 has this nice Universal Cable. You can use the SAME cable to connect to your computer, your television, and your printer.
  
  The interface is nice, since the icons now give a temporary text readout of what they mean. I don't need it, but it makes the camera very easy to pick up and use. You don't have to press something and then wonder what you've done.
  
  The lcd is clear and bright, and the viewfinder is in a decent spot now (I hated when they were off center).
  
  I was actually debating between this, and Panasonic's DMC-TZ1, and honestly, the Panasonic model is $100 more, has NO viewfinder, and even though it's got an amazing 10x optical zoom and image stabilization (and it's a small camera, check it out), I didn't find it to be worth the extra $100.
  
  The only gripe I have -and it's mostly impatience on my part- is that Sony has released the camera in other colors overseas (check it out on Amazon.ca). I would've loved to get this in black, but we only have silver at the moment.
  
  Great bang for your buck.
  
  
• Great Camera
  By A2A57RXJ3MMT9J on 2006-06-07
  The W50 seems to be the most popular model of the slim Sony cameras.
  
  Reason?
  
  Price & Features.
  Large viewing screen
  High mega pixel
  Eye piece viewing window for those very bright days when trying to take a picture using the LCD screen would be difficult.
  
  Most of the other brand cameras that are in this size group do not offer that option.
  
  In the Sony line I checked out the W50/70&100. The only difference between them was the mega pixels and the internal memory.
  
  I usually shoot at 3 mega pixels and on occaision I bump the camera up to six. Having more than that is not a big deal to me.
  
  I have found that you can purchase memory stick duo's really cheap online if you shop around.
  
  Now, how does it actually work?
  
  It works great! battery life is awsome! Picture & video quality is very good. No date stamp option, but that is not a draw back to me.
  
  I am use to much higher end Sony Cameras so this camera must be good.
  
  Also the price. I am finding myself repurchasing my cameras about every two years. So spending the extra money on the W70 or W100 was not worth it.
  
  I hope this was of some help to you
  
  
• Take the time to learn and use the features
  By A14R2TRNC07U9Y on 2006-11-06
  My husband bought me this camera as an early Christmas gift. At first I wasn't in love with it. I was disappointed because I wanted a camera that had image stablization. This camera instead boasted about its ISO sensitivity settings and fast shutter speed. (They claimed it was similar to image stablization) When I first tried it out I was in a very low light setting and was experiencing some blur in my images which was exactly what I was trying to avoid in a new camera!
  
  I almost traded this one in for something different (A cheaper priced olympus with IS) but thankfully I gave the camera another chance first and decided to play around with all the manual settings. There are a lot of them in the menus so you can fine tune it like you wouldn't believe. This ability to change its setup is what made me stick with the Sony.
  
  However, I wouldn't say this camera is ideal for very low light situations. The two preset choices of shooting a low-light scene without flash won't give you crystal clear pictures especially if you experience a tiny bit of camera shake. But again, it goes back to the adjustments in the menus, you can make manual adjustments and get pretty decent pictures with minumal (or no) blur. But you have to take the time to find and set the right ISO and light settings. I highly suggest using the histogram that you can pop-up onto the screen for help. Unless you are willing to spend about $200 more on a camera, you won't find one that will perform great in very low light anyway. And like my husband said... "really... how often are you taking shots in the dark honey?" Hey, there's Halloween trick-or-treating and fouth of July fireworks and other night time events I retorted, but he's right. There really isn't a lot of real low-light pictures you take where you aren't using a flash.
  
  I know lots of people (me included) like to try and figure out all the menu options and settings on their own before reading a manual... but this one, if you really want super amazing shots, reading the manual will give you A LOT of insight on how powerful a camera it really is. For people that always read the manual this is probably a big "DUUUH"! But if you are like me and like to try and rush through and figure it out, you are missing out on a ton of nice options.
  
  Some great features:
  
  The camera doubles as a video camera and it is only limited to recording up to the amt of space available in your memory stick. Other cameras will only let you record a pre-set maximum number of minutes.
  
  I also like the Burst modes which allow you to take shots in fast succession. Great for action shots. But take note, when using a burst mode you cannot use the flash. (Again, watch out for low light!)
  
  I have a 3 year old daughter and the fast shutter speed (and burst) works great in a well lit situation. Just the other day I caught shots of her running around and jumping up and down that came out crystal clear. No blur at all. Every flying and bouncing hair on her head came out perfectly frozen in time. Quite neat!
  
  I gave this camera 4 stars because the camera performs wonderfully in every situation except very low light. But for the price, you can't do much better anyway. Its a great buy and I think just about anyone would be pleased to receive it as a gift.
  
  ****EDIT FEB. 20th 2007 ******
  I wanted to update my review to tell you that I have recently had problems with my camera. The flash started acting strange. It would either under expose or over expose the picture. I'm not sure if the flash strength was quirky or if it was the timing of the flash to the shutter speed. Regardless SONY was very helpful and is currently fixing the product free of charge. I owned the camera for about 4 months so it is still covered under their manufacter warrenty. Once again, SONY proves to be a worry free buy! If there is a problem they are quick to correct it.
  
  ***EDIT March 2nd 2007****
  The camera already came back from SONY and is fixed and working like new! No charge to have it repaired other than shipping costs ([...] bucks). They stated that the flash board was replaced. Still loving this camera and glad SONY fixed it super fast and for free!
  
  
• Not quite all I expected
  By A1NW4YR5KX1F9H on 2006-04-21
  I hate to break a string of 5-star reviews, but...I've had this camera for a week, having bought it based upon glowing reviews from other owners. I'm not quite there yet. There is no scene mode for sports, or any control of the shutter speed which would accomplish the same thing. To me, that's unforgivable on such an otherwise well thought out product. As a pocketable camera to carry when skiing and mountain biking, it's coming up short. Automatic or Program modes do not use a fast enough shutter speed to stop action reliably, so about half my pictures so far are not acceptable. Burst mode is slow. In bright sun, contrast seems to be overdone. While OK for landscapes and snapshots, I'm disappointed in the DSCW50 as an ultracompact action/sports camera.
  
  
• This is a Best Buy
  By A1J6795A9QFIIT on 2006-07-08
  When I go shopping for electronics, I look at the research. I was nervous about buying my first digital camera so I took my time and did my homework - I read Consumer Reports, which never has steered me wrong, the online customer reviews at Amazon, editorial/pro reviews on Crutchfield, I went to the stores to look at cameras and ask questions. Everything told me I would love this camera. When I held it in my hand, it felt perfect. I am a small person so I wanted something small, something I could carry in my purse. I also wanted something that wouldn't require me to carry the manual at all times. The DSCW50 fit the bill. Onscreen prompts tell you what settings are being used and an easy to move wheel changes the settings so dummies like me can shoot fantastic-looking shots regardless of lighting conditions and subject. For those who are more savvy than I am, the camera lets you manually adjust settings, too, so you can get just the right shot. I love the short delay between next shot - just one second! Though the delay between button depression and shutter snap on the first shot can be slow, it's a speedy shooter.
  
  This camera takes wonderful photos! Crisp, clear, even in bright sunlight. The large viewscreen lets you see more clearly what your photo will look like, something I like because other cameras I tried had such small or low resolution screens that I couldn't tell what I was getting.
  
  The camera comes nearly complete - the USB cable included lets me load photos right to my - or anyone's-computer- within seconds. No special software is required; Jasco, Adobe Photoshop, Dell Photo, Microsoft all work. The camera does come with photo software in case you don't have any. The battery charger folds flat for easy portability and the included battery holds a charge for a loooonnng time. The only thing I had to buy was a memory stick duo pro, which is fine, because most cameras that "come" with memory have such small capacity, it isn't worth it.
  
  I tried to buy this camera at Best Buy and Target but both were sold out (in all stores in Atlanta) and couldn't tell me when, or if, they would get more (so helpful). I went to Amazon and it said it was out of stock but would be back in a month but I received mine a WEEK after ordering it! I can see why it's tough to keep in stock: Consumer Reports rated it the top Best Buy in its category and it is.
  
  I highly recommend this!
  
  
• quirky little camera
  By A35D06H4OGMSEK on 2006-05-19
  I bought this camera in April 06. It takes great photos, and I was impressed with its ease of use. However after 15 days of using the camera, the camera suddenly stopped recognizing my Sony PRO DUO memory stick (2GB).
  I got an error msg:- "please Reinsert the Memory Stick".
  
  After re-inserting the mem stick many times, I have given up.
  I know the memory stick is not damaged, since it is still usable (read/write) as valid memory on a third party card readers.
  
  Sony support says the W50 is incomptible with the PRO DUO mem stick.. and they are aware of this issue?? and they recommend only DUO cards be used with the W50.
  
  In contrast Amazon recommends buying PRO DUO with the camera.
  Not sure how to proceed.
  
  
• Copies the good points of Canon Elph cameras--and cheaper
  By ADLSTEHW1F5TO on 2006-03-11
  After spending time looking at the Canon SD450, I found it...in a Sony. The W50 took many of the features of the Canon (small size, metal body, shutter-trigger zoom toggle) and wrapped in a Sony camera.
  
  Have to say, so far, so good. Controls are small, but easy to operate. Everything has a solid, finished feel to it. Photos are excellent, especially at close range with flash, an area many cameras have problems.
  
  I think it's actually a bit easier to hold one-handed than the Elph, too.
  
  The high-ISO settings have grain, but as a photographer, I expect that, and I'd rather have the option of shooting without flash when necessary. Some will find the grain too much to use.
  
  Issues? No cover for the bottom-mounted access port (Dumb, dumb, dumb--even the cheaper W30 has it, Sony), and I don't like how the LCD displays (not continuous, but jumpy, unless you're in Fine movie mode). Still can't zoom while shooting movies--couldn't you copy that from Canon, too? I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could, but these deficiencies have to be addressed one of these days.
  
  But the price is so very right. Compare this to the chinzy-feeling S600, and you'll find it's so worth the extra $50.
  
  
• Sony Cybershot DSCw50
  By AHMXVOUGJ57GB on 2006-05-04
  I got this camera about a month ago as a birthday present. I picked it because I had heard lots of good things about it, the wonderful large screen which is great for showing friends, and the ease of use. Overall I really love the camera, it is easy to use, easy to put the pictures onto my computer and the pocket size makes it easy to carry around. However, I strongly encourage getting a screen protector for it (they make universial digital camera screen protectors, avaliable on amazon) because my screen already has a tiny scratch even though I havea case for it and have been very careful when using it. Besides a few issues with the delicate screen this is a great camera!!
  
  
• Loving it!
  By AVYUXY2HMJAFN on 2006-03-31
  I just got this camera & instantly fell in love witgh it. I was researching all kinds of cameras & options. I am so pleased with myself and the camera. It has already exceeded my expectations. First of all, gotta love the price. Secondly, I love the larger lcd screen and it has a viewfinder too. Third, I love the ease of use. To gush further, 6 MP is plenty enough for most users. I had an Olymus 1MP, loved it & then a Minolta 4MP, hated it. This new Sony W50 is easy to use out of the box (after charging), simple options, ones that I actually might use, plus you save $ & can buy a 1MB Memory Stick Pro Duo & still come out ahead. It's got great zoom too. I compared all kinds of cameras over 5MP & prices ranged all over the place, but once I looked at all the options, ells, whistles & prices, this was by far, clearly the best buy for the $. That's pretty rare for a Sony. I bought a $4 Case Logic bag to carry it in. I took a bunch of pics a day after I got this & am using it every chance I get. Plus, it's easy to use w/my mac, just plugged in the USB, no extra software needed to download.
  
  
• Good Camera for the Price
  By A1HPV9Q3E3N3ZV on 2006-08-24
  I bought this camera because I wanted an inexpensive camera to take on vacation with us that would still take good pictures.
  My wife and I were tired of lugging her 8MP Nikon around Disney in the hot Florida sun.
  In stepped the Sony W50. It is fairly small and the battery life is amazing. It takes pretty good pictures indoors and even better ones outdoors.
  The ISO that can go up to 1000 is misleading. It'll go up that high but the pictures are barely usable for prints. It also takes way too long between shots indoors (but we might be spoiled by using a more advanced camera for so long).
  Camera is well built and mostly aluminum (2 plastic doors are a drag). The battery/Memory Stick door keeps popping open on me. Thankfully the battery and Memory Stick are "locked" in and do not fly out when the door opens.
  I do not like the fact that Sony has to use their own Memory Card format as I already own many SD and Compact Flash cards. I don't see any purpose for this other than Sony making more money. There is no benefit to Mmeory Sticks as far as I can see.
  The screen is big but the picture quality is not the best. And it scratched kind of easily after a few days of ownership. The cables use Sony connections so a standard USB cable cannot be used here to connect to a TV or computer like on all of my other digital cameras. So you must always have teh Sony cables with you. It also takes quite a bit of time to charge the batteries. On my Canon that takes rechargable AA's, I'm up and running in 15 minutes, not 6 hours. But I don't know of any ulracompact that uses AA's so I can't really blame Sony.
  Now that I complained a little, let me get to why I bought the camera. As mentioned, it is small and pretty light. It fits in my pocket and I hardly know its there. It takes good pictures and using a 1GB Memory Stick I can store more than enough shots for a days worth of shooting which coincides with battery life at abut 390 shots.
  What I really like although it was not wy I bought the camera, is that you can shoot video until you fill the memory card. My other cameras are limited to 15 or 35 seconds worth of shooting. I'm not gonna throw away my digital camcorder, but I don't have to carry it as much and I can still get some pretty good videos.
  I also plan on purchasing a 4GB Mmeory Stick which should give me some sort of combination of 700 pics and 1:30 video all in a tiny package.
  It ended up being much cheaper than similar cameras from Canon and Olympus. Granted it had fewer bells and whistles, but I have other cameras for that. They are just too big to lug around on vacation.
  
  
• Good build quality, good interface and images.
  By A3LOKNZUHX4XEY on 2006-03-23
  Coming from Sony technology a few years old, the fine DSC-V1, I'm very happy with this 2006 effort. Built very well, the biggest step forward I think. Wakes up and shoots fast. Excellent LCD. I like the on screen animated mode indicating system, quite handy and helpful. Not quite the tech geek as yours truly, the wife really likes that feature a lot. Images are very good given the amount of glass involved, clear and bright. Sorry big spenders, but outside of higher cost, Canon's Elph line has got nothing on this camera. They'd better look out actually. Grab a 1 Gig Memory Stick Duo and lunch (heck, maybe dinner) with the savings.
  
  
• Small but does it all!
  By ATFZDBOZXURK on 2006-04-01
  This camera is just what I've been waiting for! After a disappointing Fuji purchase (the first one from them was great), I'm glad I held out for this beauty. It is not much bigger than my Nano, about the size of a deck of cards. Yet it has all of the best features from my first Fuji digital camera AND great environment lighting features from my 35mm camera. So far, I'm in love with it. It's super fast to turn on - no long wait. And the functions are extremely easy and user-friendly. And again, all of this in a tiny, affordable camera. I'm thrilled.
  Have yet to take a video but I don't think you'll buy a $250 digital camera if you are an avid video taker.
  
  
  
• BEST SONY CAMERA YET! BUY IT!
  By A35VEGLXCCMWLL on 2006-03-15
  Did much research before purchasing this camera, was between the Canon SD450 and the Sony DSC-P200 but then decided to wait a couple of weeks to see some of the new cameras coming out for 2006 and am glad I did! This one blows them both away, the price is a steal for what you get and the pictures are superb. Also, there's zero shutter lag and the BIG screen looks great. Movie mode is awesome, VGA resolution at 30 frames per second. My kids love to watch the playback in camera of what they just did. I used to be an Olympus fan, but not anymore. Sony's created a gem here at a super price. Buy one you'll be glad you did!
  
  
• Perfect point and shoot camera for a best price
  By A2O50T8RINU6BX on 2006-03-29
  This little one is very compact and fits in pocket. This is the copact one from Sony to hit the Canon elph's model. Best features, and beautiful camera for a best price. Very clear pictures. The 3x optical zoom is enought to take the best pictures and especially pictures in dark or low light can be taken with a better clarity than any other camera. If you are looking for point n shoot digi cam then go for this.
  
  
• Excellent camera
  By A17SKBGHL4GEZS on 2006-06-01
  I finally bought this after a lot of research and am completely satisfied. It takes excellent pictures, for a point-and-shoot camera. The video feature is very nice too, for special moments (like my baby nephew dancing to Bob Dylan!). I was initially skeptical because of the proprietary memory and battery but frankly those haven't been as inconvenient as I had thought. The battery life is great, despite the powerful flash. Its a focus of attention due to its small size and large screen. Overall I'm very satisfied with the purchase.
  
  
• Nice Camera, but not for photographing kids on the move!
  By A2D7ZTD912TWZ8 on 2006-08-14
  This is a sleek, nice little camera that will fit in your pocket and take nice pictures. I returned mine within a couple of days, however, because of the painfully slow autofocus. In standard indoor type lighting, this camera takes quite a while to lock on focus and snap a picture. This is great for patient people or still life but does not work is you have small kids you want to photograph while playing! Great camera for lots of people, but I do not recommend for those who have small kids on the go that they would like to photograph.
  
  I am now using a Kodak V603 and love the pictures and performance. It is worth checking out.
  
  
  
• An elegant and practical camera at a great price.
  By A2E6TL7VP38K91 on 2006-03-18
  I wanted an extra camera so my Sony DSC S85 could stay at university where I use its 6X optical zoom to document student work in my design classroom.
  
  I debated on a larger, more full featured (and more expensive Sony) but decided that what I really needed was a camera that I could ALWAYS carry with me.
  
  Now, I'm not a fine photographer, so I'm using this camera for documentation: studio shots of work in process, shots of everyday life (like a digital sketchbook) and of course, capturing personal moments.
  
  For all of these purposes this is a superb camera and a delight to use. I like the program mode because I can make just a few adjustments (white balance, e.g) but keep the auto exposure and auto focus. I love all the low light options, including a "Slow synchro" flash option in addition to the ISO 1000 feature. And I really appreciate both the large LCD and the on-screen text, which together make shots easy to compose and shooting modes easy to select.
  
  I bought a 1 Gb Memory Stick Duo Pro and an extra battery and I couldn't be happier with my purchase.
  
  
• Great camera but has major red eye problems.
  By A2SJU2HHGIFTYS on 2006-10-04
  If you're looking for a small point-and-shoot camera, this one is great, but it definitely has red eye issues for indoor pics with the flash, so be warned!!
  
  Within the first day, I took about 75 photos (indoor with Flash) with this camera and EVERY SINGLE PHOTO had red eyes!!! Bright glowing red eyes. I tried it with red eye reduction both on and off, and either way, it did not help.
  
  I did some research online and I found out that this is a very common problem with this model of camera. Even if I sent it back to Sony, I'm sure I'd have the same problem with a brand new one. It's unfortunately just the way this camera is designed. The store I bought it from told me that red eye is a common problem with these new SMALL cameras because the lens is so close to the flash.
  
  I did end up keeping this camera and but I had to remove hundreds of red-eyes using Photoshop and Shutterfly.
  
  The reason I still gave this 3 stars is because other than the red eye, I did really love everything else about this camera. I used it for about 1 year (before I dropped it and broke the LCD).
  
  If you buy this, definitely get a big 1 gig (or bigger) card so you can hold lots of pictures and video. Also I would recommend a 2nd battery so when 1 is charging in the wall, you can be using the other one.
  
  PROS
  - Small and compact
  - Good menu navigation
  - Good photo quality, especially outdoors
  - I love the Lithium Batteries - Great battery life
  - Decent Zoom
  - Good video capabilities - you can trim the photos, which I love! You can't in my newer model (DSC-W90) which is very annoying. :(
  
  CONS
  - Major red-eye issues
  - No red-eye removal system like the newer models
  - Blurry photos with flash off (no image stabilizer system or face detection)
  - The video mic is in such a stupid spot - on the top right where your left finger sits - so if you don't think so move it, the sound on the video is muffled.
  - The menu wheel drove me CRAZY on this thing because it ALWAYS moved when the camera was in it's case or in my pocket/purse. Sometimes I would go to snap a photo and the wheel had moved to video mode or some other wacky mode and I would miss a great shot. Very annoying!
  
  PS I now have a SONY Cybershot DSC-W90. It also had red-eye problems for indoor pics with the flash, but you can remove them right on the camera which is great. It works about 80% of the time. I really do love Sony's. I've tried Olympus, Canon, and Kodak and I just like Sony's better. ALL of these little cameras have red eye issues, no matter what brand.
  
  
• Fantastic
  By A2446R99SHMLTA on 2006-07-26
  I've had this camera for almost 2 months now, and I've never doubted the purchase once. I was fed up with Nikon Coolpix cameras but wanted another compact, easy to use one for a novice like myself. If you're in a similar situation, I really recommend this camera. Takes great-looking pictures, the screen is huge and it's so slim! I keep it in an iPod case someone gave me that I never use - that's how small it is. My favorite feature is probably the fact that when you set it on each of the modes, a little message pops up to tell you exactly what that mode does. Quite helpful. Only complaint would be that, like a few others have mentioned, its action shots aren't too impressive. People or things that are moving very quickly often come out blurry for me, even after tinkering with the shutter speed and modes. But if you can get past that, the W50 is a an wise investment.
  
  
• Love the camera
  By A1CTL11QCSEYTF on 2006-03-28
  I did a lot of research on which camera to buy. Consumer Reports had good things to say about SONY digital cameras. I thought I was going to buy the S600 for $189.00 but when I saw it in person, it looked and felt really cheap. I saw the DSC-W50 and fell in love with the sheek look and small size.
  This model just came out a few days ago and a lot of the stores didn't have it in stock.
  
  I bought it at CompUSA for $229.00. I also bought a 512MG Memory stick duo pro for $35.00. When I got the camera home, I opened up the place where the battery and memory stick goes and the blue button the releases the battery came right out when I pressed on it. I had to take it back to the store the next day and received another brand new camera.
  
  The W-50 has its own battery which takes 5 hours to charge initially. To get an extra or to replace it will cost $50.00
  The LCD screen is HUGE and very clear. The camera has many options including movie. When you switch options, it gives you a brief description of each on the LCD screen.
  
  This camera does allow you to delete all pictures at one time instead of one by one. I read a lot of reviews about different cameras that didn't allow that.
  
  Overall, I haven't seen the end result of the pictures but have good faith that they will be great. The W-50 to me was worth the extra $20.00 instead of the W-30 which has a smaller LCD screen.
  
  
• Great camera for price
  By A1ZP3GRV2912W4 on 2006-03-17
  This takes pretty good pictures, although still have red-eye problems. This packs 6 MP in a thin, small camera that is smaller and lighter than 7MP cameras; it is closer to Sony's ultra-compact cameras than most other Point & Shoots. For the price, it was unbeatable. There is no image stabilizer, but that hasn't been a problem yet. The LCD is a bit sluggish focusing on the image, but there is not much shutter lag after that. Was going to buy a Canon Elph SD camera, but was wary from all the negative comments about broken LCD screens that are not under warranty.
  
  
• So far so good!
  By ANJ0X0TVIHJOO on 2006-05-20
  I love this camera so far. I've had it for about six weeks and it's very easy to use. The pictures came out crystal clear when I had a few developed. Seems like good value for the money.
  
  
• Great camera
  By A14O6NNQNVPPVS on 2006-03-19
  Former Olympus loyal customer, my 3 year old Olympus bought the farm with the black screen of death...did research, this camera has much more settings and controls for a true photographer, we do prefer point and shoot, but its good to be able to step up in the future with more advanced settings if we want, also video clips are great, did not have to take a camcorder for a quick bithday candle cake blow the candles out.. easy and fun. Only complaint is an XP/Sony software issues, don't load the CD rom,you lose the Windows cameras andscanner wizard.
  
  
• Great little Camera! - Excellent Photos and easy to use!
  By A1VLVAMEMBMFN1 on 2006-11-05
  I had previously owned a Kodak Easy share that died while I was on vacation. I loved the easy to learn and use features on that camera so I wanted another camera that was easy for a non-professional to use.
  
  This little camera has been great! I've had it for a few months now and LOVE THE PICTURES! It is very easy to use and is super small which makes it easy to throw in my purse to take anywhere. The pictures are crisp and clear and the battery lasts forever. My old Kodak used to take real AA batteries and I thought a camera with its own little rechargeable battery might be strange but it's actually MUCH easier and lasts way longer than the AA's did in my old Kodak. The LCD screen is huge and makes it very easy to review photos. Just one little click to go to review and back to taking photos.
  
  Only two downfalls I've found so far are that the little setting dial moves easily on its own so you have to always check it before taking a picture or it might be on some strange setting or video. The other thing is that I haven't been able to figure out if there is a way to delete all of the photos on the camera after you upload them - I've had to delete them one by one which is a slow process. Other than those two little things this camera is WONDERFUL! Highly recommended!
  
  
• Great camera
  By A2QA2UL5EJG0QF on 2006-11-07
  I like this camera good picture quality, good zoom but you must gauge the picture size. I did not like the light quality though its hard to go through all the setting to see which one has better light on the picture so you have to get used to finding the right one for the photo. Downloading to my desktop a snap easy to use. It does suck sony's cheap they don't provide you with a power supply cord so you use batteries when downloading. Oh and it sucks up batteries like a hover. But over all I think that the digital cameras have come a long way and is by no mean perfect but a great improvement from their earlier model I would recommend this but only for a good deal I got mine for less than $200 or you could wait for the price to get cheaper and quality to get better up to you but if you need a good entry level this is not a bad choice.
  
  
• Get the most aout of you menoy with this Digital Camera
  By A3BAKFN54RJ99U on 2006-11-05
  Just be sure to get a case along with it, because the large screen could get scratched.
  
  

• PhotoPlus X2 Digital Studio
• Adobe Photoshop CS4
• Adobe Photoshop Elements 7
• Adobe Photoshop CS4 Upgrade
• Corel Photo Album 7 Deluxe

• Sony LCS-CSD General Carrying Case for Compatible Cybershot Digital Cameras
• Sony 1 GB Memory Stick PRO Duo Media (MSXM1GST) (Retail Package)
• SanDisk SDMSPD-512-A10 512 MB MemoryStick Pro Duo (Retail Package)
• Sony LCS-CST General Purpose Soft Carrying Case for Slim Cybershot Digital Cameras
• SanDisk 1 GB Memory Stick Pro Duo (SDMSPD-1024-A11)