Pre-PMA 2008: Sony today announced the CyberShot DSC-H3, a fairly mild update to the DSC-H10 'compact superzoom' released in August 2007. Still with 10x optical zoom, 8 megapixels and no viewfinder, the LCD has been upgraded with a 3.0" 230k dot screen - dubbed 'Clear Photo LCD Plus™ - replacing the 2.5" 115k panel in the previous model. Available to pre-order from 31 Jan, the DSC-H3 will relieve you of $300.

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Press Release:

Sony helps families capture the action with new compact high-zoom digital camera

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 23, 2008 – Sony today unveiled its high-zoom Cyber-shot® DSC-H10 digital camera, a compact model that is ideal for parents looking to capture their families’ memories.

With its small dimensions (only 4-1/4-inches wide by 2-3/4-inches tall by 2-inches deep), the new model combines the performance of much larger cameras in a more convenient size. Small enough for a pocket or purse, the 8-megapixel camera is perfect for sporting events, school recitals and vacations, helping you easily capture close-ups, even from a distance.

Designed to replace the current DSC-H3 model, the DSC-H10 camera features a wider 3-inch Clear Photo LCD Plus™ screen for easy playback viewing and menu navigation.

Great Photos Made Easy
The new model has a powerful Carl Zeiss® 10x optical zoom lens and a long-range flash to help you capture details from afar. Its face detection technology can identify and focus on up to eight faces in a frame, and automatically adjusts the focus for correctly exposed photos.

The high-zoom camera includes Sony’s advanced sports shooting mode, which combines high shutter speed and continuous auto-focusing to help you capture fast-action shots. This intelligent technology allows the camera to quickly focus on fast-moving subjects by predicting where they will be in the frame – and ultimately reducing shutter lag.

To help you capture well-exposed, natural-looking photos – even in challenging low-light conditions – the new model features high sensitivity shooting (up to ISO 3200). It also incorporates Super Steady Shot® optical image stabilization to reduce blur caused by shaky hands.

The DSC-H10 camera incorporates Sony’s D-Range Optimizer (DRO) to help you capture balanced images when shooting in high-contrast or backlit scenes. DRO modifies the range from highlights to shadows through its in-camera hardware processing – ultimately producing more natural, evenly exposed images.
The camera also has helpful functions to manually correct images immediately after capturing them, including in-camera red-eye correction and photo retouching.

Fast and Fun Playback
For fun playback of family photos, the unit’s built-in slideshow function helps create slideshows set to your favorite music choices. Up to eight songs can be uploaded via the camera’s USB port. To view your favorite images and slideshows just like you view your favorite TV shows – in full 1080 high definition resolution – you can connect the camera to a compatible HDTV set.

Pricing and Availability
The Cyber-Shot DSC-H10 digital camera will ship in May for about $300. Additional accessories will include wide and telephoto conversion lenses, filters, batteries, travel chargers, sports packs and cases. The new model and accessories can be purchased online at www.sonystyle.com, at Sony Style® retail stores, at military base exchanges, and at authorized dealers nationwide. Pre-orders begin on Jan. 31 at www.sonystyle.com.

Sony DSC-H10 specifications

Sensor	• 1/2.5 " Type Super HAD CCD • 8.3 million pixels total • 8.1 million effective pixels
Image sizes	• 3264 x 2448 • 2592 x 1944 • 2048 x 1536 • 640 x 480 • 3264 x 2176 (3:2) • 1920 x 1080 (16:9)
Movie clips	• 640 x 480 @ 30fps • 640 x 480 @ 16.6fps • 320 x 240 @ 30fps • 320 x 240 @ 8.3fps
File formats	• JPEG (Exif Ver.2.21) • MPEG1 (MPEG Movie VX)
Lens	• 10x optical zoom • 6.3 - 63.0mm • 38 - 380mm (35mm equiv.) • f/ 3.5 - 14.4 • Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar • 10 elements in 9 groups (including 1 aspheric element)
Image stabilization	• Super SteadyShot
Conversion lenses (with adapter Ring)	• Wide: VCL-DH0758 • Tele: VCL-DH1758 • Close-up: VCL-M3358
Digital zoom	Yes, up to 2x
Focus	• Single AF • Monitor AF • Macro
AF area modes	• 9-point AF • Center Weighted AF • Spot area AF • Focus preset
AF assist lamp	Yes, auto or off
Focus distance (From front of lens)	• Auto: 50cm - ∞ (w), 90cm - ∞ (t) • Macro: 2cm - ∞ (w), 90cm - ∞ (t)
Metering	• Multi-Pattern • Center-Weighted • Spot
ISO sensitivity	• Auto • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 • ISO 3200
Exposure compensation	+/- 2.0EV in 1/3 EV steps
Exposure bracketing	+/- 0.3, 0.7, 1.0 EV
Shutter speed	• Auto: 1/4 - 1/2,000 sec • Program Auto: 1 sec- 1/1,000 sec • Manual: 30 sec - 1/2000 sec
Aperture	• Auto: F3.5/8.0 (w) • Program Auto: F3.5/F8.0 (w)
Modes	• Auto • Program auto • Manual • Movie • SCN
Scene modes	• High Sensitivity • Extra High Sensitivity • Extra High-speed Burst • Twilight • Twilight Portrait • Portrait • Soft Snap • Landscape • Beach • Snow • Fireworks • Hi-speed Shutter • Advanced Sports Shooting
White balance	• Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Fluorescent 1 (White Fluorescent Lighting) • Fluorescent 2 (Natural White Fluorescent Lighting) • Fluorescent 3 (Day White Fluorescent Lighting) • Incandescent • Flash
Self timer	2 or 10 sec
Image parameters	• Normal • Vivid • Natural • Real • Sepia • B&W • DRO (Dynamic Range Optimizer): Standard, Plus, off
Retouch	• Trimming • Red Eye Correction • Soft Focus • Partial Color • Fisheye Lens • Cross Filter
Flash	• Auto • Flash On • Slow Syncro • Flash Off • Red-Eye Reduction • Range: 0.2 - 7.0m (w), 0.9 - 5.6m (t) (ISO Auto) • Range: Up to 14m (w), 11.2m (t) (ISO 3200)
Viewfinder	No
LCD monitor	• 3.0 in (7.5cm) Hybrid TFT LCD • Aspect Ratio: 4:3 • 230,000 dots • Approx. 100% coverage
Connectivity	• AV out (Composite, 1080i component with optional cable) • USB 2.0 High Speed • DC input • All in/out via Multi Use Terminal
Print compliance	• Pictbridge • DPOF • Print Image Matching III • EXIF Print
Storage	• Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo (High Speed), Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo card • Approx 31MB internal memory
Power	• Li-ion battery pack NP-BG1 • BC-CSGB / CSGC Charger included • Optional AC adaptor
Weight (no batt)	265 g (9.3 oz)
Weight (With batt)	381 g (13.4 oz)
Dimensions	106 x 68.5 x 48.9 mm (4.2 x 2.7 x 1.9 in)

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