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3.2 Inches | Home » » » Sony Cybershot DSCH1 5.1MP Digital Camera with 12x "Steady Shot" Zoom | | | | | | | Description: | | Sony Dsc-H1 Digital Cam | | | Features: | |
• 5.1 MP CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 13 x 17-inch prints
• Amazing 12x optical zoom; 2.5-inch LCD display
• Captures VGA (640 x 480) video clips with audio at up to 30 frames per second
• AF Illuminator briefly illuminates the subject for focus in low- or no-light conditions
• Stores images on Memory Stick media (32MB of internal memory included); powered by AA-size batteries
| | | Product Details: | | | Product Length:
| 4.3 inches | | Product Width:
| 3.2 inches | | Product Height:
| 3.2 inches | | Product Weight:
| 2.0 pounds | | Package Length:
| 4.3 inches | | Package Width:
| 3.2 inches | | Package Height:
| 3.2 inches | | Package Weight:
| 1.3 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 52 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 52 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
269 of 275 found the following review helpful:
 DSC-H1, Very NiceJul 13, 2005
By J. Mader
I can't tell you how long I've spent agnonizing over which camera to purchase. At first, I bought the Dimage Z5 and I wasn't satisfied so I returned it. I began to look at both the S2 IS and DSC-H1. From most reviews, the S2 IS came out slightly ahead of the DSC-H1. Though dpreview actually gave the lead to the DSC-H1. What really matters to me is image quality and I could not tell a difference between the sony and the canon. So, I figured with all of the rave reviews both camera's were getting and the fact their image quality was very similar, it'd be best to go in-store and see which had the best feel. I found the S2 IS to be a bit cumbersome, especially with a lense cap that easily fell off. Also, I didn't like the button arrangement or the way the S2 IS felt in my hands. I think when @ full zoom taking pics of birds or other small animals a larger screen will make it much easier for you to find the shot you are looking for. Plus the Sony screen can be seen quite well in bright light. Plus the S2 IS has a bit of a red-eye problem, which the sony does not. The DSC-H1 feels a bit stronger and is very easy to grip. The photos from the camera are excellent right out of the box, so you can be a novice and still take near d-slr shots. In the end, the DSC-H1 felt better, had a nice 2.5 inch screen which made the S2 IS screen seem puny. As you can see from the photos I've submitted, the pics are very nice.
168 of 171 found the following review helpful:
I absolutely love this camera!Jul 12, 2005
By D. Day
"novice photographer"
I've had the H1 for almost 2 weeks now and i've never taken so many pictures in my life. The H1 is such a pleasure to use. It fits perfectly into my hand, all the controls are right there, no deep menu so that you're fumbling around with settings trying to get the 'best' shot. The great thing about the H1 is that the pictures straight from the camera are awesome. Almost no post-processing has to be done. The colors are vibrant, the images are sharp as a tack and very very little noise can be found (in dark areas or shadows).
You can leave all settings in auto and use it as a basic point & shoot camera or you can experiment and learn by using the aperature, shutter speed and manual controls. With the HUGE 2.5" LCD you can see the adjustments made instantly and how it will affect the picture. The live histogram is another feature that I honestly thought I would have no use for but surprisingly..I am learning from it.
The 12x zoom is fun to use. I'm getting shots that I would have never been able to do before. And, with the added Image stabilization...most can be shot handheld!
For the person who has always used a digital camera set in auto and wants to learn more about photography (like me) this camera is perfect. And for the person who just doesn't want to mess with the manual controls, well this camera is STILL perfect. You will not see better images unless you're looking at a full on DSLR camera.....which will cost at least a good $1000. For at least half the price and the most fun you will ever have with a camera, the Sony H1 hits the spot.
Cons: To be fair I have to say that the size is a little bigger than I would have preferred. I like to bring my cameras with me everywhere so they've always gone in my purse or a pocket. This one DID fit in my purse, albeit a tight squeeze, but I don't feel that it's good for the camera. I went out a bought a leather backpack which is very fashionable and I use that instead of a camera bag.
Because of the excitement and the excellent results i've gotten so far from this camera the last con would be....accessories. So far, I have purchased 2 tripods (for nighttime shots), extra batteries, the backpack, a UV filter and I've got my eye on the tele lens to add even more zoom. I find myself wanting every accessory for this camera.
You can't go wrong with the Sony H1. Just try it, you'll see. No matter which digicam you do choose, remember to just get out there and have fun with it! Photography should be fun not a cumbersome chore!
Happy picture taking everybody! =)
80 of 83 found the following review helpful:
Solid Performer - Great "Out of the Box" Pics!Sep 05, 2005
By Tech Guy
I've had the H1 for two months and am thrilled with it. It's been very reliable and produces sharp, punchy, low-noise, vibrant images right out of the box.
Like others, the hardest decision was deciding between the Sony H1, Canon S2 IS, and Panasonic FZ20 & FZ5. I ruled out the Panasonic due to it not using AA batteries and having poor motion video features. The choice between the H1 and S2 IS was much more difficult, and I spent a lot of time reading all the online reviews, viewing online sample photos, and trying both in the store.
When the smoke cleared, I chose the H1 and have been extremely happy with it for the following reasons:
Pros compared to the S2:
- Solid construction, felt very good in my hand (good ergonomics)
- The most punchy, sharp, and beautifully VIBRANT photos right out of the camera I've ever seen for this price level. I don't have time to post-process every shot, and most of the H1's photos are good enough to print straight out of the camera! The color tone curve is amazing: Vibrant reds, deep blue skies, good facial tones, etc.
- Noticeably lower noise per ISO setting compared to the S2 IS (Canon takes a more "purist" approach by leaving the noise in, which preserves more detail but requires much more post-processing than I wanted to deal with)
- Powerful auto pop-up flash with virtually no red-eye, even without using the red-eye mode (Canon S2's weaker flash has more of a red-eye problem, and the S2's flash doesn't pop-up automatically so you could blow an important shot)
- Lens cap stays on tight compared to S2's, which reportedly falls off easily for many of its users.
- Large, bright 2.5" LCD display works in bright sunlight and gains up somewhat in darkness (The S2's twist-out 1.8" LCD, while slick and versatile, was too small to see the image or menus well)
- Metal tripod screw mount (S2's is plastic)
- Front-mounted clickable jog dial is easy to use for manual and semi-manual exposure settings and flipping through photos during review
- Liked how the zoom controls and shutter button felt -- slightly firmer than S2 for more tactile feedback.
- Super bright low-light AF lamp is awesome! (Although your subjects may complain about the extreme brightness.) Flash pictures taken in complete darkness within the AF lamp's considerable range came out focused every time.
- Live Histogram helps you take proper exposures (S2 lacks live histogram, only shows it after you take picture)
- The H1 didn't tend to overexpose photos like the S2's tendency (some of the S2's bright daylight shots looked slightly washed out in the online reviews sample shots).
- Battery life is good compared to the S2 once you compare the H1's 2 AA's to the S2's 4 AA's (so just bring another set of AA NiMH's to even it out, they're cheap to buy).
Cons:
- The H1's movie mode gets approx. 50% more footage on the same memory card (which is good), but the S2's video quality, movie zooming, stereo sound (H1 is only mono), and still option during filming blows the H1 away in comparison. H1 can't zoom while filming, only right before to set composition. The H1's movies are fairly good, but not as stellar as those from the S2.
- No remote for tripod or remote shots (but can use the 10 sec. timer to eliminate tripod shake)
- Included software is sub-par compared to that bundled with the S2. If desired, you can buy much better photo editing software.
- In movie mode at full zoom, the H1's auto-focus continuously hunts back and forth, causing your subject to go in and out of focus. Solution: Use the manual focus mode, which works MUCH better at full zoom and makes it usable again.
- I perceived the H1's image stabilization, while good, was not quite as good as the S2's, but it's still fairly close between them.
- H1's 9-frame burst mode is more limited and slower than the S2's unlimited burst. I don't use burst mode often, so it wasn't a deal-breaker for me.
- No in-camera panoramic stitch assist like the S2, but one can use free programs like AutoStitch to accomplish same.
Overall, I wanted a 12X zoom camera that took GREAT pictures with little or no post-processing, with a longer-reaching automatic pop-up flash, lower noise, no red-eye for lots of indoor family shots, and better hand feel and easy controls. To me, the photo quality is the most important, not the looks of the camera, not the cool features, etc. I simply felt that while the H1 doesn't have as many bells and whistles as the S2 IS, Sony just did a noticeably better job in the camera fundamentals, which is what you need to take good photos.
For my personal needs and preferences, that's why I've been extremely happy with the H1 -- best camera I've ever owned, although I'm only an amateur. You'll need to do a similar evaluation to match your needs and preferences with the right camera for you.
62 of 64 found the following review helpful:
 The top 12 Until the Z-30!!Nov 22, 2005
By Sinister Minister
Yes thats right, the undisputed king of the mega-zoom cameras is Panasonic's FZ-30. But what about before then? Well my friends before then we had two contenders for the mega-zoom crown the Sony H1 and the Canon S2IS. And right up until the Z-30 came out the H1 was giving Canon a sound butt whoopin! Reason being is that it always seemed to me that Canons strongest selling point was that the S2IS could zoom in and out while you made film clips and it recorded in stereo sound. Uh we were talking about a digital Camera right? See I don't give a damn about film clips I'm a photographer, I take pictures not movies and if I was going to make a movie I am the kind of person that would use a camcorder (what the heck Am I thinking?)
I own the Z-30 and the H1 and have done shot comparisons with these using the S2IS. The H1 is probably one of the neatest compact cameras I've seen in a long time It is larger but not to the point of being too large (I've seen more compact camera folks going home with these lately!)Has a nice sized LCD screen as well as a decent EVF with diopter adjustment, All the controls on the camera are sane and well placed. And, the lens wich strangely is not a Carl Zeiss (first in nearly 10 years) wich has minimal barrel distortion at wide angle, super smooth and fast focus, as well as producing clear well exposed images!
To be honest the H1 reminds me alot of my long lost DSC-F707 as far as picture quality and function. Its ships with Sony's uncanny ability to make a picture lookgreat no matter what the situation, That, by the way is why you don't see Sony cameras with 2000 scene modes...they just plain don't need 'em.The menu systems are easy to navagate and look and operate pretty much the same as always, with the exception of having to set the camera up to use extension lenses in the "set-Up" menu. Now when talking 12X zoom the big deal is stabilization, because without it all that extra zoom power is just about useless. Now keep in mind stabilization is intended to minimize the movement you make when your TRYING to keep your hands steady! In low light settings youre still gonna need your tripod (sorry!) So who's works best? Panasonics. Neither the Sony or the Canon Produced stellar results in image stabilization. How well either performs will depend on how bright the shot is and weather or not you got the DT's or something! The Sony also uses only 2 AA batteries to Canons 4 yet gets the same number of shots per charge, has a larger LCD screen and a faster start up time. Another big bang for your mega-zoom buck is that the Sony H1 comes with a conversion lens adapter (Canon Does Not) when you attach a Sony teleconverter lens to the camera your zoom maximum goes from 420mm to a whopping 728mm! (Canon does not)There are telephoto, wideangle, and macro conversion lenses available. (not for Canon)Shot to shot, and burst modes are about the same as other Sony point and shoot models, Its not lightning fast but it ain't slow either.
Down side is that the stabilizer is not consistant and at times can have a hard time finding focus in lower light situations, (Canon had this also), Also there is no hot shoe on the camera and to make matters worse the pop-up flash isn't high enough to prevent shadowing in certain cases, The lense adapter and hood are cast in plastic and have a rough appearance but work fine, there is also a memory card door so you can remove the card without having to remove the batteries.You must also remove the lens adapter and hood to attach the lens cap effectively. Aside from these few things, I have found the H1 to be a great little family camera ( and I think thats who it is designed for, Families.)Now I am not saying that the S2IS is a bad camera its not, I am saying that if you want a camera who's focus is on your images and its video capability the R1 is it.
Not long ago I had put the mega-zoom catagory up in a list I will repeat my updated list here.
1.(best overall) Panasonic FZ-30 (8MP)
2.Sony DSC-H1 (5.1)
3.Samsung Digimax Pro-815 (8.2MP)
4:Panasonic FZ-20 (5MP)
5.Canon S2IS (5MP)
As you can see the pro 815 is the new up and comer, but then again it is a huge camera!To wrap this up the H1 builds on and extends Sony's long tradition of building great point and shoot cameras, that take great pictures.With fantastic battery life and great features combined with a great clean, sharp lens the H1 lands solid in slot 2. It makes a great family camera, as well as a great solution for a novice looking for something affordable with a little more power.Thanks for looking and Happy Shooting!!
44 of 44 found the following review helpful:
Excellent Ultra Zoom!Apr 12, 2006
By S. Stageberg
I have owned the Sony DSC-H1 for over 2 months now and I have been very pleased with the results. Before I purchased, I read countless reviews and spent hours researching which ultra-zoom to buy. It finally came down to the Sony DSC-H1. I chose it over the Canon S2-IS because the Sony is a better deal. The H1 includes the following accessories in addition to the ones that are included with both the Canon and Sony: 2100mah rechargeable batteries and charger, lens adapter, lens hood, and 32mb of internal memory (vs. the 16mb card that is included with the S2. So, for less money you get rechargeable batteries, a lens adapter, lens hood, more memory, and a 2.5in LCD! (Even the tripod socket on the H1 is metal while it is plastic on the S2). So you see the H1 (for me) seems like a way better deal than the S2.
The H1 is built very well. It feels very good in the hand and it is very solid. The large hand grip and lens barrel make it a joy to hold. The battery door is very solid and doesn't feel like it will break even with heavy use (there is also a nifty hinge in the middle of the battery door that allows you to swipe memory cards without letting the batteries fall out; you can even change cards on a tripod)! I recently went to Wal-Mart and while browsing around, I decided to look at the cameras just for curiosity sake. Side by side they had the S2-IS and the DSC-H1. I picked up the S2 and it didn't feel like a solid, expensive camera like the H1 does. And then there's the LCD. After using the 2.5 in. screen on the H1 for a month, I saw just how small the 1.8 in. screen is! It is so small that it is very hard to see the details of your shot, both before and after you shoot. So, once you try the H1 you won't want to go back to a small LCD!
The camera is very easy to use. The controls are well placed and with a little practice you can operate the camera without removing your eye from the viewfinder (or LCD). The flash is very powerful and far reaching; it can be turned down for shooting closer subjects. Some people complain about the slow recycling of the flash. It is a little slow but I don't really mind; it doesn't take as long when you have it on low, which is what I use most of the time. It is only slow at the normal and high levels, but that is expected with having such a powerful flash. This doesn't bother me as I take mostly outdoor photos (that's why I wanted a 12X zoom)! If you will be taking mostly indoor shots then you may want to look somewhere else.
The 2.5 in LCD makes shooting a real pleasure! It is bright, clear, and gains up in low light (it doesn't gain up as much as some cameras, like Kodak, but it gains up enough for me). I also bought a screen protector on eBay to protect the LCD from scratches and fingerprints.
The zoom lens is smooth, fast, and has many stops to make precise adjustments. With 12X you can really do a lot more! There is some controversy over the lens not being very high quality. I have not found this to be true. Most of my shots come out sharp and clear (the occasional shot that is blurry is usually my fault; too slow of a shutter speed, etc). The Image Stabilization is incredible! It makes it that much easier to get that low light or far off shot that would have been impossible otherwise. I couldn't be happier with the quality of the shots that this camera puts out. The movie mode is also very nice. It is very high quality also. It is fun to take movies of some things that you just can't photograph.
I have to admit that I was tempted by the Panasonic FZ5 but the small screen, lack of manual focus, and the odd design just didn't appeal to me.
Now, on to the accessories:
I bought an extra set of batteries for $6 and 2 extra 256mb cards for about $40, and now I am all set for shooting pleasure. Don't get turned of because of Sony's use of Memory
Sticks. Even though they used to be more expensive then SD, they are rapidly falling in price and if you search the internet, you can easily find them for less then their SD counterparts.
I also bought a Tamrac Digital 6 camera bag to put everything in and it fits the bill! I bought this case because it fits the H1 with the lens adapter on (I want to leave it on all the time to protect the lens). Be sure to check out this case for the H1 as a very high quality alternative to the low quality Sony case (at only $18 this Tamrac case is a bargain)!
All-in-all I think that this is a super camera and I am very glad that I bought it.
See all 52 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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