Things I really liked about this camerea:
Remote for using on tripod or TV.
Bright 3-inch tilting LCD screen
Fast shutter times between shots, especially with the flash.
Great flash range and control.
Excellent hand-held shots without flash, even with using zoom in low light.
Excellent Carl Zeiss 15x optical zoom lens
Easier access to the meterings mode, (such as spot)
Advanced Sports Shooting Mode
Features extensive manual controls
Menu's easy to use, of course take the time to read the manual)
Light for it's size.
Looks like a small DSLR and acts like one!
There is more... but I'd better stop now.

(I had to think of a negative... took some doing!)
No Flash shoe like the Canon S5is has.
No provision for using a polarizer without buying their rather large adaptor, but you will find that problem on ALL the camera in this range.

I decided to get the Sony H50 two weeks ago. I was picking between the Nikon P80 & Sony DSC-H50/B and after playing with both for over an hour, I'd pick out an object way accross the store and zoon in and take the picture with all three cameras and compare. Did the same taking a photo of a nearby camera, then try the macro out. Took some flash shots and non-flash shots. Tried shooting as fast as I could with all three cameras, (I was also comparing with the Canon S5is).
Much sharper low light hand-held photo's and faster (inbetween shots) and crisper photo's. I like the remote for the Sony and the flip out LCD which Nikon has neither of. I have not tried the video of any of these cameras, so I can't comment on that. For me, the Sony was clearly the better camera.

I never forgot when I first bought the sony DSC-H1. That was a great camera... I used it for 2 years. More on that in the service area.

My camera before this new Sony? The Canon S5is
which I just sold on craiglist. I tend to keep these cameras only 6 months at a time, then get the latest one out. The Sony H1 was the only camera I EVER kept longer than 6 months... it was that good. I thought I'd try the Canon S5is and it was a good camera, but I missed the Sony... so I got the latest one.... the H5!

Once again I toyed with getting a DSLR, but it just doesn't justify the bulk and price, compared to these superzooms. Try packing around 3 lenses that will reach the 31 - 465 mm range that the DSC-50 has! With the loads of exposure control and a 15x stabilized optical zoom, this model is thousands of dollars cheaper than the equivalent options on a dSLR with an image stabilized lens. NOPE, no DSLR for me.

I have a more extensive review on this camera with photos here:
http://forums.photographyreview.com/showthread.php?t=44394

Customer Service

I had to send back the Sony DSC-H1 for repair. Since it was Christmas season, they got it back to me real fast, (one week turn-around) and worked flawlessly for the next 1 1/2 year. Great service I thought.

Similar Products Used:

Sony DSC-H1 (for two years)
Canon Powershot S5is (last 6 months)

Much improved over f707 in all areas.

see above

Thus far very disappointed with flash. This camera does not have hotshoe like Sony Dsc f707. In my line of work I need to use the wide angle lens accessory. Since the flash pops up when taking interior pictures, the flash leaves a ring (shadow) on all pictures. I did not have this problem with f707 with the hotshoe allowing me to use auxillary flash instead. Very disappointed. I've invested $550 in camera and flash and cannot use in business!!!

Similar Products Used:

Sony dsc f707