Overview
The Sony Cybershot DSC H20 gives you plenty of zoom in a compact body. It has 10 megapixels and a 10x optical zoom lens. It can shoot High Definition movies with stereo sound. It is also one of the few cameras that allow the zoom to be used while recording a movie.
Why Buy The Sony DSC H20
If you are looking for extra zoom in a compact body the Cybershot DSC H20 does a solid, all round job. The movie mode is very advanced and I also like the design.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
10
10x
3 inches
107.3 x 68.7 x 47.1mm
250g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
2cm
Yes
Unknown
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
Memory Stick™ Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo™
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
Outdoor 1 (Medium Zoom):
We are off to a good start. There is plenty of contrast in this shot, but the camera handles it well. It is able to show a lot of detail in the lighter areas of the boats. This suggests the camera is able to cope with occasional sun glare. Focusing is sharp too.
Outdoor 2 (No Zoom):
One of the biggest differences between the Cybershot DSC H20 and a number of other cameras I have reviewed recently are the colours this camera produces. In my outdoor scenes the colours have been softer with a subtler feel. This shot highlights this point. The levels of colour are a matter of personal taste, so it really does depend on how you like your photos to look. I am happy with the sharpness of this shot.
Outdoor 3 (Maximum Zoom):
You will almost always see a level of purple fringing with a digital camera with a longer lens. This will show at its most extreme when the lens is fully extended as for this test shot. The amount showing here is negligible and is unlikely to cause much of a problem to you.
Outdoor 4 (Building):
When you blow up this picture to a larger size you have no problems making out the individual bricks. I am happy with the crispness of my outdoor test shots and the levels of sharpness this camera delivers should satisfy most people.
Portraits
Outdoor Portrait:
This photo was taken at the end of a warm day in the shade. The type of light available at the time has produced a picture with a slight orange glow. As most of your portrait shots are likely to be taken using different lighting conditions this is unlikely to prove to be an issue. You can also adjust white balance to fine tune how your photos will look.
Indoor Portrait with Flash:
The Cybershot DSC H20 does well to produce natural looking colours despite the use of the flash. The photo is evenly lit, but the light does bounce back off the face to produce some shiny areas. It is difficult for a camera to get the amount of light emitted by the flash to be exactly right and the light bouncing back is often a problem when flash is directed straight at the subject.
Indoor Portrait without Flash:
I prefer the indoor photo taken using flash. Despite the light being good I can detect noise starting to creep in and there are signs colours may break down once the light starts to fall.
Macro, Colours and Noise
Macro
I have commented a few times recently that cameras like the Cybershot DSC H20 take good close up shots. I believe the reason for this is related to the larger physical size of the lens. This picture shows a good deal of detail and definition. The only problem is a hint of purple fringing. This is something I have noticed with other Sony digital cameras from time to time. This is only likely to crop up when photography bright, shiny objects.
Colours
As I mentioned above the colours tend to have a gentler feel than most cameras produce. This means the outdoor scenes look more like they did when the photos were taken.
ISO 400 and ISO 1600
There is not a lot to report when it comes to using higher ISO settings. As you would expect noise is noticeable in photos at around ISO 400. In darker areas of a shot you may notice it below this point too.
Summary
Overall the Cybershot DSC H20 has performed well in my tests. There are no major flaws.
Style
The design is simple, yet effective. I like the matt black finish the camera has and considering the length of lens the size of the camera is very compact.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
Turn on Time
0.34 seconds
10.35 seconds
0.41 seconds
12.25 seconds
2.6 seconds
Ease of Use
As is typical of this type of digital camera there are extra features to get to grips with. On the whole Sony has done a good job with ease of use.
Points I Like
Extra zoom at lower resolutions - HD movies with zoom and stereo sound - compact design - 3 inch LCD screen
Where it Could Improve
Not much memory to get you started.
Verdict
The Sony Cybershot DSC H20 gets most things right. There is plenty of competition, but this camera provides a reliable alternative to models from Panasonic and Canon.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Related Pages
Sony DSC H20 Review Sony DSC H20 Specification Sony DSC H20 Sample Images Sony DSC H20 Features
Review Date
June 2009
