Review based on a production Sony DSC-H5
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-H5 (along with little brother the DSC-H2) arrived almost exactly a year later in February 2006. The H5 is notable as the first 'big zoom' compact camera to feature a 7 megapixel sensor (a new Sony 1/2.5" CCD), and for its huge 3.0" screen. Otherwise the specification is pretty much the same as the H2, itself a fairly subtle update to the original H1 - no bad thing given the very high standards set by that model. Let's start with the headline features:
Note that the majority of the descriptive text in this review is taken directly from the DSC-H2 review, as the cameras are functionally identical.
The H2 and H5 are essentially the same camera with a few important differences:
As shown above the H5 (left) and H2 (center) are physically identical (save for the body color) from the front - the only difference on the back is the screen size. Shown for comparison is the original H1 (right).
Unlike the H2 (and H1 before it), the H5 is manufactured in two colors. The silver version is - at the moment anyway - only available if you buy directly from Sony via its Sony Style online store.
| Street price | • US: $470 • UK: £310 |
|---|---|
| Body Material | Metal and plastic |
| Sensor | • 1/2.5 " Type CCD |
| Image sizes | • 3072 x 2304 |
| Movie clips | • 640 x 480 @ 16 / 30fps (30fps requires MS Pro Duo) |
| File formats | • Still: JPEG • Movie: MPEG VX |
| Lens | • 36-432mm equiv |
| Image stabilization | Super SteadyShot® (moving lens element type) |
| Conversion lenses | Yes |
| Digital zoom | • 2x (24x total) • Up to 57x Smart Zoom (dependent on selected resolution) |
| Focus | • Manual (with focus aids and magnification) • Single • Monitor • Continuous |
| AF area modes | • 3 Area Multi-Point AF • Center AF (selectable) • Flexible spot AF • Contrast detect |
| AF assist lamp | Yes |
| Focus distance | • Normal: 50cm (19.7 in) min • Macro: 2cm (0.74 in) |
| Metering | • Multi-pattern (49 zone) • Center weighted • Spot |
| ISO sensitivity | • Auto • ISO 80 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1000 |
| Exposure compensation | • +/-2EV • 1/3 EV steps |
| Exposure bracketing | +/- 0.3, 0.7, 1.0 EV |
| Shuttter speed | • 1/4 - 1/2000 sec. (Auto) |
| Aperture | F2.8 - 8.0 (wide), F3.7 - 8.0 (tele) |
| Modes | • Program |
| Scene modes | • Twilight • Twilight Portrait • Portrait • Landscape • Beach • High-speed shutter • High sensitivity |
| White balance | • Auto |
| Self timer | • 10 or 2 secs |
| Continuous shooting | • 7 Shots at 1.1fps (7.2MP JPEG fine) • 100 Shots at 1.4 fps (640x480 JPEG std) |
| Image parameters | • Saturation (3 levels) • Contrast (3 levels) • Sharpness (3 levels) • Color effects (Sepia, Black and White, Vivid) |
| 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) |
| Viewfinder | • 0.2" EVF • 201K pixels |
| LCD monitor | • 3.0-inch TFT • 230K pixels |
| Connectivity | • USB 2.0 high speed • AV out |
| Print compliance | PictBridge, DPOF, PIM III |
| Storage | • Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo compatible • 32MB internal memory |
| Power | • 2x NiMH batteries • Ac adaptor (optional) |
| In the box* | • DSC-H5 camera • NH-AA-DB 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 | • Real Imaging Processor • Clear RAW NR • Filter Diameter: 58mm (with supplied Adapter Ring) • Optional Flash units, converter lenses, filters |
| Weight (inc batt) | 554 g (1 lb 4.3 oz) |
| Dimensions | 113.2 x 83 x 94 mm (4.6 x 3.3 x 3.7 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.
Sony Cybershot DSC-H5 7.2MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilization Zoom | $60.00 |
Sony Cybershot DSC-H5 7.2MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilization Zoom | $60.00 |
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 Cyber-shot DSC-H3 8.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization | $349.99 |
Sony Cybershot DSC-H2 6MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilization Zoom | $429.00 |
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