Sony Cyber Shot H1 Digital Camera

Sony Cyber-shot H1

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

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

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)