Sony Cyber-shot H1 Review

July 2005 | By Simon Joinson

Review based on a production Sony DSC-H1

Introduced in February 2005 (pre-PMA), the Cyber-shot H1 is Sony's attempt to win a share of one of the fastest growing digital camera market sectors, the 5 megapixel 'super zoom'. Although Sony has produced big zoom cameras before (the F828 and its predecessors sported 5x and 7x optics and there was a 10x zoom floppy disk Mavica a few years ago), the H1 is the electronics giant's first foray into compact, big zoom image-stabilized cameras. As well as a huge 12x optical zoom the H1 is a real treasure chest of photographic control, offering a wealth of automatic, semi automatic and manual exposure modes, a big 2.5" screen and captures VGA/30fps movies in space-efficient MPEG format.

5.1 effective megapixels
36-432mm equivalent (12x optical) F2.8-3.7 zoom lens
Super Steady Shot optical image stabilization
2.5” LCD (115,200 pixels)
Full photographic control
Real Imaging Processor & 14-bit DXP A/D Conversion
Optional wide and tele lens converters
Scene selection (7 modes)
Histogram indication
32MB internal memory, plus a Memory Stick/PRO slot

Side by Side

Here for comparison is the H1 alongside three of its closest competitors - (from left): Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5, Canon PowerShot S2 IS, Sony Cyber-shot H1, Kodak EasyShare Z740 (the smallest, but also the only one without image stabilization). As you can see, the H1 is one of the largest cameras in its class - certainly a lot larger than the Panasonic FZ5 (and the Konica Minolta Z5, not shown).

Sony DSC-H1 Key specifications

Street price	• US: $499 • UK: £380
Body Material	Plastic & metal
Sensor	• 1/2.5" Super HAD CCD • 5.3 million pixels total • 5.1 million effective pixels
Image sizes	• 2592 x 1944 • 2592 x 1728 (3:2) • 2048 x 1536 • 1280 x 960 • 640 x 480
Movie clips	• 640 x 480 @ 16 / 30 fps • 160 x 112 @ 8 fps • MPEG-1 (mono)
Lens	• 36 - 432 mm (35 mm equiv) 12x optical zoom • F 2.8 - F 3.7 • 2x digital zoom • Super Steady Shot
Focus	• 3 Area Multi-Point AF • Center AF • Flexible Spot AF • Manual focus • 2 cm macro mode (Wide)
Shooting mode	• Auto • Program AE • Shutter priority AE • Aperture priority AE • Manual • Twilight • Twilight Portrait • Portrait • Landscape • Beach • High-speed shutter • Candle. • AE compensation -2.0EV to +2.0 EV in 1/3EV steps
Shutter Speeds	• 1/8 – 1/2000 sec (Auto)* • 2 – 1/2000 sec (Program Auto)* • 30 – 1/1000 sec (Manual) * Shutter speeds of 1/2000th are only available at apertures of F5.6 and higher.
Apertures	• F2.8 / 3.2 / 3.5 / 4.0 / 4.5 / 5.0 / 5.6 / 6.3 / 7.1 / 8.0 (wide) • F3.7 / 4.0 / 4.5 / 5.0 / 5.6 / 6.3 / 7.1 / 8.0 (tele)
Metering	• Multi Pattern • Centre-weighted • Spot
Sensitivity	• Auto • ISO 64 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400
White Balance	• Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Fluorescent • Incandescent • Manual (custom)
Image parameters	• Saturation (3 levels) • Contrast (3 levels) • Sharpness (3 levels • Color effects (Sepia, Black and White)
Continuous	1.3 fps up to 9 frames
Flash	• Built-in, pop-up • Modes: Auto, on, off, slow sync, red-eye reduction • Range (ISO auto): 0.3 - 6.8 m (w); 0.9 - 5.2 m (t)
Storage	• Memory Stick / Memory Stick PRO • 32 MB internal memory • No removable media supplied
Viewfinder	Electronic, 0.3-inch, 115,200 pixels
LCD monitor	• 2.5 " TFT • 115,200 pixels
Connectivity	• USB 2.0 Hi-speed • AV out
Power	• 2x rechargeable AA battery (NiMH, alkaline, NiMH • Charger included
In the box*	• DSC-H1 camera • NH-AA-DA Rechargeable AA Batteries, • BC-CS2 Battery Charger and Cord • A/V and USB Cables • Shoulder Strap • Lens Cap • Lens Cap Strap • Lens Adapter Ring • Lens Hood • Software CD-ROM
Other features	• PictBridge- and PIM II-compatible • DPOF • Autofocus Illuminator
Weight (inc batt)	591 g (20.8 oz)
Dimensions	108 x 82 x 91 mm (4.2 x 3.2 x 3.5 in)

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.

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DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C.

Sony Cybershot DSCH1 5.1MP Digital Camera with 12x "Steady Shot" Zoom	$19.99
Sony Cybershot DSCH1 5.1MP Digital Camera with 12x "Steady Shot" Zoom	$19.99
Focus Camera Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H200/B Compact Zoom Digital Camera in Black + Sony 32GB Class 10 Secure Digital Memory Card + Sony Camera Case + 4 AA Rechargeable Batteries w/ Charger + Accessory Kit	$228.00
Sony DSC-H200 Digital Camera with 3-Inch LCD (Black)	$179.95
Sony Digital Camera, 5.1 MP, 12X Opt. Zoom, 4-1/4"x3-1/4"x3-19/32" (SONDSCH1)...	$599.00

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