Cybershot DSCW50 6MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

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.

I am taking out some of my precious time in Maui in the balcony of my beach hotel after having a stressful altercation with the Sony customer service dept. I bought this camera from Amazon just 2 weeks back and started using it just 2 days back when I got to Hawaii for my year end vacation. This is my 1st time here and I thought I will get the best of pictures with this portable and nice looking camera. I had not even taken 150 pictures when I had a problem with it. I was watching hula dances last night and took several pictures with the camera. Then put the camera in my pocket (which is one of its benefits in being a thin camera). 5 mins later, I took the camera out and turned it on and got a message on the screen "Access" and then several beeps with the message " Turn camera off and then on" on the LCD screen. I thought this was because the battery was dying. Came to the room at night and put the battery on charging. Got up at 2 am (as I was to leave for a 38 mile bike ride down the Haleakala trail down hill), put the battery in, turned on the camera and lo.. the same 2 messages. My heart sank right then. I called customer support when I got back telling them the situation and the term "customer support" really had no meaning anymore. They were obstinate and all they said was buy a disposable camera and send the camera back for repair when you get back from Hawaii. No compensation. Believe me ... its not easy to get stuff cheap in Hawaii. So I have no option but to go and buy another digital camera from Walmart (couple hrs drive from my hotel). Then get back home and send this one for repairs. Irony is that I bought this camera from Amazon after reading the 52 good reviews on this site before mine. So to let you all good people know ... nothing is perfect. watch out. have a back up plan when you go to an isolated place this Dec for your Christmas break, else you will end up spending some more.

I bought this camera through amazon.com two years ago, and I still use it a lot. I bought a more advanced model of the panasonic lumix one because I wanted to try a different brand (nothing really bad ever happened to this one, I just wanted a newer one). It is indeed a good camera, and I took amazing pictures of it, plus the videos. It comes with a built in mic, which is good, and the battery runs out pretty slow, which is great. I cant remember how many times I may have dropped it and it is still sturdy and fine. The pictures come out good, except when there is very little lights, then, it may get blurry. The other con is that even though it says it corrects red eyes, it never did the job well, but I dont know if that is common or not with other brands too (also, I like altering the pictures myself, so the red eyes ain't that big of a deal, I would say). It is definitely NOT the best camera in the world, but if you're looking for something practical, small and handy, this one can be the one. The 7.2 MP model sold much more, and it is the exact same camera with a bit more definition.

I just got my DSC-W50 delivered to me yesterday. I was so excited to finally get it and let me tell you that it didn't let me down one bit. I had high expectations for this camera and it brightens up my day! The minute I got the camera out I charged the battery. I let it charge for 2 hours and then put the battery in the camera (I was in a rush to turn it on and test it out!). The battery was only charged for 2 hours and the battery life was still awesome! I used the camera for about an hour and the battery meter didn't even drop. Amazing battery life! The whole layout of the camera is perfect. Everything is very easy to access and use. There are tons of different shooting modes and settings, it'll take me a while to finally use them all. The picture quality is outstanding! The movie mode was something that I was very excited about. Other digital cameras in the past took very dark and grainy video. Not this camera! The video is crystal clear and the audio is so natural, it's stunning! As for being portable and light, very true. The camera is very slim and sleek. It can be easily hidden in a pocket or purse. People have said that the mode dial on the front is easily turned in a pocket, but it hasn't happened to me. The whole camera is very sturdy and that makes me feel at ease. I know that it is strong and durable. Overall, the DSC-W50 is an outstanding camera! For only $200 you get so much! The pictures are beautiful, the videos and audio are clear and natural, and the battery life is amazing. The camera is light and compact. I highly, highly recommend this camera to anybody, whether you're a novice or camera expert. You will love this camera!

Using the camera is pretty self-explanatory which is essential since the manual is stunningly bad. Sony couldn't be bothered to include all the essential information in one manual, instead it refers the new user to another 4-page guide included with the product (seems to be Sony's style, since the new Sony videocamera we bought also has more than one "manual"). Neither the manual nor the guide for this camera contain clear instructions or diagrams. Moreover, the manual claims that camera accepts the Memory Stick PRO Duo (also made by Sony), but the Sony Memory Stick PRO duo is physcially too large to fit into the memory stick duo slot in the camera. To add insult to injury, both the directions for the Pro Duo and the camera warn the reader in 3 different places to be careful to insert the memory stick into the adapter correctly, but there is no clear instruction or diagram showing what the correct method might be.

I was looking for a replacement for my beat up 5-year old Kodak Easy Share digital camera that had gone through everything with me. I chose this Cybershot after extensive comparison with other equally slim digital cameras. Unfortunately, the more I use it, the more disappointed I am with its capabilities. The zoom is limited to 3x which really hurts your distance shots (i.e. my photos of a Pearl Jam concert didn't turn out, even when I was in the 15th row!). It's also not sharp in low light (probably because the flash has no range) and the shutter speed does not react fast enough for any action shot--very disappointing on a recent ski trip. The battery does not recharge on plug-in to a computer, and runs out after a weekend of taking pictures. I would highly suggest searching for a better camera for anyone considering this one!

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!

I bought this camara based on all the positive reviews. That was a mistake. Here are my complaints: 1) Almost every photo taken with the self-timer come out blurry. I have tried it in every light setting, indoors and outdoors, and 90% of the pics are out of focus. Since I travel the world alone this camara has absolutely no value to me. 2) The self timer has to be manually activated after every shot. This means that you physically have to pick up the camara after every shot if you want to repeat photos and re-set the self timer. 3) There is no option for viewing photos taken with the self timer meaning that if you want to review your photos you have to pick up the camara, go to image review and then back to the photo shoot mode. Most digital camaras give you a 2 or 5 or 10 second review option. 4) The camara on its short side is not level making it almost impossible to stand up the camara and take your own vertical pics with the self-timer. If you are a solo traveler like me and end up taking most of your own pics alone then this camara is not for you. I will be putting this Cybershot on Ebay and will be going back to Cannon which I had previously. I love Sony products but this product is definitely not up to their quality standards.