Sony Cyber-shot H2 Review

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
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 - 1/2000 sec. (Program Auto) • 30 sec – 1/1000 sec. (Shutter Priority, Manual) * Shutter speeds of 1/2000th are only available at apertures of F5.6 and higher.	• 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

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area