Sony Cyber-shot H2 Review
Review based on a production Sony DSC-H2
The Cyber-shot DSC-H1 was Sony's first foray into the increasingly crowded compact, image stabilized 'super zoom' market, and it was a very successful one too. The DSC-H2 (along with big brother the DSC-H5) arrived almost exactly a year later in February 2006. In truth the H2 isn't a major upgrade - a bit of a re-style, a few new features and an extra megapixel - but some of the refinements, though small, are significant. Let's find out if the H2 has what it takes to compete with the likes of Canon's PowerShot S3 IS, starting with the headline specifications:
- 6.2 effective megapixels
- 36-432mm equivalent (12x optical) F2.8-3.7 Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar zoom lens
- Super Steady Shot optical image stabilization
- Wide ISO 80-1000 range
- Clear RAW™ noise reduction technology
- 2.0” LCD (85,000 pixels) & 0.2" (200,000 pixel) Electronic viewfinder
- 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 Duo slot
Cyber-shot DSC-H2 vs DSC-H1; what's changed?
Aside from the move to the new 1/2.5" 6 megapixel sensor (and a boost to the maximum ISO), a bit of a re-style and a smaller screen, the changes are minimal, though most are welcome!
- New sensor (6MP versus 5MP)
- Lens now branded Carl Zeiss, not Sony
- Change from full size Memory Stick to Memory Stick Duo
- Zooming during movies allowed
- Higher maximum sensitivity (ISO 1000)
- Smaller, lower resolution LCD screen (2.0-inch versus 2.5-inch)
- Higher resolution Electronic Viewfinder
- Better battery life
- Slightly lighter
 Sony DSC-H2 |
 Sony DSC-H1 |
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|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 1/2.5” CCD, 6.2 million pixels | 1/2.5” CCD, 5.3 million pixels |
| Effective Resolution | 6.0 million pixels | 5.1 million pixels |
| Maximum Image Size | 2816 x 2112 |
2592 x 1944 |
| Sensitivity | • Auto • ISO 80 - 1000 |
• Auto • ISO 64 - 400 |
| Max Digital Zoom | 52x (VGA mode) | 48x (VGA mode) |
| Use Optical Zoom during movies? |
Yes | No |
| Shutter speeds | • 1/4 - 1/2000 sec. (Auto) |
• 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. |
| Scene modes | • Twilight • Twilight Portrait • Portrait • Landscape • Beach • High-speed shutter • High Sensitivity | • Twilight • Twilight Portrait • Portrait • Landscape • Beach • High-speed shutter • Candle. |
| Continuous Shooting | 1.3 fps, up to 7 frames | 1.3 fps, up to 9 frames |
| Storage | • Memory Stick Duo/ Memory Stick PRO • 32 MB internal memory |
• Memory Stick / Memory Stick PRO • 32 MB internal memory |
| LCD screen | • 2.0" TFT • 85,000 pixels |
• 2.5 " TFT • 115,200 pixels |
| Viewfinder | • Electronic, 0.2-inch LCD, TTL • 201,000 pixels |
• Electronic, 0.3-inch • 115,200 pixels |
| Battery life (CIPA standard, using LCD) | 400 | 290 |
| Weight (inc batteries) | 537g | 591g |
| Launch Price (RRP) | $399 | $499 |
Sony DSC-H2 Key specifications
| Street price | • US: $370 • UK: £280 |
|---|---|
| Body Material | Plastic & metal |
| Sensor | • 1/ 2.5" Super HAD™ CCD |
| Image sizes | • 2816 x 2112 |
| Movie clips | • 640 x 480 @ 16 / 30fps • 160 x 112 @ 8fps • MPEG 1 (with mono sound) |
| Lens | • 36-432mm equiv |
| Focus | • 3 Area Multi-Point AF • Center AF • Flexible Spot AF • Contrast detect • Manual focus • Single, Monitor or Continuous • 2 cm macro mode (Wide) |
| Shooting mode | • Program (with Program Shift option) |
| Shutter Speeds | • 1/4 - 1/2000 sec. (Auto)* • 1 - 1/2000 sec. (Program Auto)* • 46-step 30 sec – 1/1000 sec. (Shutter Priority, Manual) * Shutter speeds of 1/2000th are only available at apertures of F5.6 and higher. |
| Apertures | • f2.8-8.0 (W) • f3.7-8.0 (T) • 10-step f2.8-8.0 (Aperture Priority, Manual) |
| Metering | • Multi-pattern • Center weighted • Spot |
| Sensitivity | • Auto • ISO 80 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1000 |
| White Balance | • Auto • Manual • Daylight • Cloudy • Fluorescent • Incandescent • Flash WB |
| Image parameters | • Saturation (3 levels) |
| Continuous | 7 Shots at 1.3 fps (6MP JPEG fine), 100 Shots VGA at 1.4 fps (JPEG std.) |
| Flash | • Pop-up • Auto, On, Off, Slow synch • Red-eye reduction • Range (ISO Auto): 1’ to 29’ 3" (0.3-9.0m) (Wide) • Range (ISO Auto): 35.5 ’ to 22 ’ 4 " (0.9-6.8m) (Tele) • Range (ISO 1000): 2’ 11" to 52’ (0.9 -16m) (Wide) |
| Storage | • 32MB internal memory • Memory Stick Memory Stick DUO / Memory Stick DUO PRO slot |
| Viewfinder | • Eye-level 0.2-inch LCD, TTL • 201,000 pixels |
| LCD monitor | • 2.0-inch • 85,000 pixels |
| Connectivity | • USB 2.0 Hi-speed • AV out |
| Power | • 2x rechargeable AA battery (NiMH, alkaline, NiMH) • Charger included |
| In the box* | • DSC-H2 camera |
| Other features | • PictBridge- and PIM II-compatible |
| Weight (inc batt) | 537 g (1 lb, 3.7 oz) |
| Dimensions | 107.8 x 81.4 x 91.2 mm (4 1/4 x 3 3/16 x 3 5/8 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).
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Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window. To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top. 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. |
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This article is Copyright 2006 and may NOT in part or in whole be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author.
