Hey! You should know that this product has been discontinued. Here are our current recommended cameras in the Point and Shoot Digital Cameras category.
Sony Cybershot H20
Editor's Review
The H20 is Sony's entry into the fun-zoom category, sporting a 10.1 megapixel sensor, 10x zoom with optical image stabilization, 3-inch LCD display, and 720p HD video mode. It's tough to out-do Panasonic in this category (we love their ZS3), but it sells well, and the user reviews we've seen are overwhelmingly positive. Generally speaking, Sony is perhaps best-known for eye-catching, ultra-thin point-and-shoots, but lately their best performers have been these bulky, vaguely ugly H-series cameras. Without having tried it ourselves, it looks like a solid purchase, especially if you're already committed to Sony's Memory Stick format.
Editor's Review
The H20 is Sony's entry into the fun-zoom category, sporting a 10.1 megapixel sensor, 10x zoom with optical image stabilization, 3-inch LCD display, and 720p HD video mode. It's tough to out-do Panasonic in this category (we love their ZS3), but it sells well, and the user reviews we've seen are overwhelmingly positive. Generally speaking, Sony is perhaps best-known for eye-catching, ultra-thin point-and-shoots, but lately their best performers have been these bulky, vaguely ugly H-series cameras. Without having tried it ourselves, it looks like a solid purchase, especially if you're already committed to Sony's Memory Stick format.
Specifications
- 10.1 megapixels
- 10x zoom
- Optical image stabilization
- 3.0-inch, 230k pixel LCD display
- BIONZ image processor
- 720p HD Movie Mode
- Captures to Memory Stick PRO Duo
- Part Number: DSCH20/B
- UPC: 027242767188
- Release Date: Feb 20, 2009
Shop for H20 Accessories
Sony Cybershot H20 Comments & Questions (write your own!)
The image stabilization works well, and the camera takes the clearest digital pictures I've ever seen for one in it's price range. There is absolutely nothing that I can say bad about this camera other than it could use an optical view finder. The computer circuits are so good that it seems uncanny the way the camera compensates under different shooting conditions. I have a Canon G11 which is a good camera that cost twice as much, but as nice as the G11 is, I like the Sony H20 better.
Also, use your scene settings for various conditions. And sometimes I use a flash even in daylight because it makes your subject "pop."
I'd also like to bring up something that I've never read in any review and is so important to me. I have nothing against Canon lovers, but I'm an artist and it's important to get colors as close as possible. Sony is the only one of small cameras I have tried that will take a true color of purple. Canon will always show BLUE when taking PURPLE although that is the only color it and other compacts do not take correctly. I have no idea why this is so. If anyone knows, please enlighten me. I was told by a person working in a camera store (not a big chain) that Sony's colors are better by far than any other brand, so I plan to stick with a Sony. Thanks for any comments!
And is your opinion of Canon based on a properly calibrated monitor? The color gamut from camera to monitor to printer differs greatly and accuracy is only achieved when the gamut is balanced for all three.
Also, on the properly calibrated monitor for Canons or any camera - is there a way for the consumer to do that or is that something that the company has to do? I still wonder why cameras other than Sony do not have it calibrated properly, at least for purple colors.
I appreciate your knowledge of cameras and sharing that with others. Do you have a favorite make and model in the price range of these two Sonys I've been asking about ?
The batteries (I think) are lithuim ion rechareable.
The battery life is 290 pictures, which is not bad, but not great ethier.
I took it on a day trip a couple days back, and not even 1 bar dissapperead by the end of the day.
So i'd say pretty good.
Sony Cybershot H20 Reviews
Sony Cybershot H20 Reviews by Digital Camera-HQ Users
- 3.0 out of 5
- 5.0 out of 5
I absolutely love this camera!
I first started out liking the sony cybershot w290.
It seems like a nifty point and shoot for 200 bucks.
But the only problem it seemed to have a photo quality, which (in my opinion) is the most imortant on a camera.
So I left that camera and went to a cannon superzoom (cant remember the name, but it was 10 mp, 10x zoom.)
It seemed like a good pick, but when compared to the sony h20, the h20 had better images, more features, and hd video.
The choice was obvious, and I picked the h20.
I took some amazing photos at a waterfall, and the flash was really nice.
It's really not too bulky (at least for me), and I'm pretty sure sony was trying to make this camera look like a mini-dslr.
Or at least professional.
The only problem I had with this camera, was that it tends to have a hard time focusing on subjects, but this is rather rare.
Compared to the lumix zs1 (which my dad has), this one seems better (besides the wide-angle lens).
I totally recommend this camera for any one looking for a compact superzoom for a decent price :)
