Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20/B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization
008 4 Hello all , this camera is the real deal for its price . It is very easy to use and since I'm new with all this camera stuff , I love the fact you get detail info on the little icons indicating what they do . This helps my learning process for this camera . Also when the time is right , and you understand the camera , you can shut this option off . The picture quality is next to amazing . Especially at night , all my other cameras could never take pictures like this does . The detail is so crisp and clear . I'm truly impressed with this HD camera . If you are on the fence jump off and get this camera .
010 4 What I like the most about this camera is the 10X zoom and the HD video . This is one of the few cameras that allow you to do OPTICAL zoom on the video ( canon only do digital zoom while in video mode ) . The zoom is 38mm to 380mm ( 10X ) . Not that good for wide angle ( 38mm vs 24mm or 28mm in most P & S ) , but I prefer to have more zoom ( 380mm ) than wide angle for short distance pics . Also the video format is MPEG4 which I believe is easy to manage and good in compression . Price is also perfect , got it for $230 . Overall great camera ! ! !
093 4 this is my 3rd sony digital camera and each one has improved from the previous model . the sony h20 has intelligent auto which knows what type of picture you want to take and sets itself accordingly . compared to the h5 , i lose 2x in zoom ( 10 vs 12 ) , but the size is cut in half . i thought it would make a great backup to the h5 . it looks like the h5 is the backup to my h20 . i will write more when i return from new zealand and australia and let you know how the h20 faired .
047 4 I have went through way too many digicams . I purchase them at the best price I can find and use them until I find another new digital camera I want to test and eBay the used one . I read all the great reviews and took a chance on the Sony DSC-H20 , I got it free from the Sony Rewards website for points I acquired from playing the games on the rewards website . I received the H20 and didn't have a Pro Duo card , instead I was ready with two class 6 Transcend 8GB Micro SDHC cards with a PhotoFast CR - 5400 Pro Duo Dual Slot adapter , 720p movie mode records at approximately 1 megabyte per one second so no need for an expensive 32megabyte per second Sony Pro Duo M2 card . I took several flash photos of my kids indoors and they looked great . I was anxious to see the results from the 720p movie mode and to my surprise the mp4 movies far surpassed what I expected from a digicam . There was no comparison , the videos were way better than any of the digital cameras I have used . Outdoor movie recordings in 720p mode , the recordings look awesome on my 42 Panasonic plasma HDTV . Indoor movie mode looked great but in low light things get a little grainy but far better than I expected . Unlike most cameras you can also use the zoom while you are recording in movie mode . I love the 10x zoom , the image stabilization is done right on this camera , even with my shaky hands the photos come out perfectly focused , bright and clear at full 10x . I could go on and on but after two months of using the H20 it is a keeper and will not be seeing eBay . I have found my perfect all around digital camera and being an amateur photographer I have no need to purchase a seperate high definition camcorder .
019 4 I also have only had the camera for a few days but am impressed with the picture quality and ease of use . It was the size I wanted for bicycle touring and general photography when I don't feel like carrying my SLR . The included multi-function USB hook-up is a bit large - fine for the desk drawer but bulky for traveling . The included picture software is only Windows compatible and I am a Mac User but the camera works fine with iPhoto software that comes with a Mac . I put up a few of my first photos since no others were available .
131 4 I have been using cybershots since its inception , and have always been happy with the results . But still I always missed the results to the like of my Canon SLR film camera . I have a strong belief that the compact cameras do offer lot of ease in shooting and carrying but they fail to perform like the professional S L R cameras . The small size of the lens and limited optical zoom is the main concern . The pictures taken during the day light are excellent but the ones taken in dim light and with flash are not up to the mark and a lot of improvement has to be done digital in the P C . The new Sony cybershot H - 20 fulfills the requirement of a light weight and sleek camera with the features and picture quality of a SLR Camera for the not so serious photographers like me . I am happy with my purchase and recommend this camera strongly
210 4 This is a very good camera for the money . It takes great pictures and great video . It would be nice if it was able to record stereo sound but if you're primarily looking for something that takes stills then that won't be an issue . This camera was for my cousins in Vietnam so I did not have a lot of time to play around with it but with the time spent with it , I was very satisfied with my purchase . The camera is a nice size too . Makes you feel like you're a photo nerd with an SLR camera even though you don't know anything about photography .
049 4 I'll be straightfoward , this is an amazing camera , if you don't know how to take pictures , i'm sorry.For 229.00 u.s.d , you can't beat it , and in this price range , this is a super camera.i won't tell you how many cameras i've had or how much experience i got in the field , but i'll tell you i was a digital camera and SLR product specialist and this camera is simply awesome , give your head a shake and keep your feet on the ground.There's no perfect camera in this price range , but believe me , this is the closest to perfection i've seen.Great lense , sensor , feel , plenty of optical zoom , body , display , features , gadgets , look , in brief , more than enough for a point and shoot camera.Recently i've tried cameras at this level from KODAK , FUJI , NIKON , CANON , PANASONIC , CASIO And so far , this is the overall winner.I'm not a SONY guy , but SONY has proven to be pretty good at making these point and shoot cameras.I highly recommend this budget , super camera.Thanks and my respect to the japanese engineers behind this technology
205 4 very happy with my camera . the 8 gig memory card is a must if you want to use the video feature . i've taken tons of small 1 - 2 min videos and haven't even touched the memory , as opposed to some of my older camera setups where one video sucks the entire card up . super !
055 4 I find the camera is excelent but in the information about the memory stick it uses they miss something very important that you should know . When I bougth the memory stick 4gb for any sony camera I had problemes using it in the camera , I have allways a message that there is a problem with the memory card . . then I looked in the internet about the problem I found out that the memory stick for this camera is the Mark 2 one , now I am using the other one because it works but the message allways appears and it is anoysing . . anyway I have to buy the Mark 2 memory stick to stop this problem . And I am not sure if the picture cuality is affected for the wrong memory .
057 4 I have bought several types and different styles of camaras , but this one beats them all . I am not a camara guy , but after using my new cybershot , I pick it up and just shot pictures all the time , how easy is it when you set the camara on easy and the camara does all the work . I had previous issues with another cybershot because you could not take a picture without it coming out blurred , but now I can shake or the object I'm taking a picture of can move around and I get a perfect picture with the help of it's stabilizer function . My wife first thought we were going to buy one together since she takes pictures 100 times more than I do , but instead I bought it for her birthday and first she was not be happy but then I got compliments after she started using it for a week . Well I can't wait to buy some attachments for it and then my wife can take the most awsome and perfect pictures .
216 4 The photos that I took with this camera were so fantastic that I made four important sales using these images . I already bought and used a Sony digital but I wanted to find out if the 10x magnification and 10.1 megapixels would be much of an improvement-believe me I wasn't disapointed . I'm a beginner photographer but the pictures were perfect , absolutely perfect . The camera was super easy to use and foolproof . My first Sony was so easy to use that I didn't have to spend too much time learning , and this one is an improvement , if that's possible . Thanks Sony and thankyou Amazon for your great presention .
059 4 This camera is easy to use , takes great pictures , and I love the zoom . Our previous camera was a Sony but had the smaller optical zoom . This 10 x makes a big difference ! Using it for vacations , sporting events , and taking pictures of our horses . I will see how it does in a gym when basketball starts . I really like the burst feature which takes 10 pictures by just holding down the button and the smile feature is also nice . So far , the only thing I would change would be to have a viewfinder . I miss that from my other camera . Also would be nice to have a neck strap . I am going to purchase another battery to carry along because although the battery life is good , if you're taking a lot of pictures and will be gone longer than a day , I'd suggest a second one . I had debated on purchasing the next up camera with 20x optical zoom ( can't remember the model # ) but it was $400 and thought the reviews on this camera were better regarding the quality of pictures and the lens .
061 4 The cyber shot H20 takes great pictures and videos , can ~ t be any better for the price . I was sorry I did not take with me at the concert I went just recently , I did not want to drop it . The only negative thing about this beauty is that it won ` t fit in your pocket and is a bit heavy it would be great if it came with neck strap .
069 4 I have had issues with Digital cameras in terms of picture quality and zoom capability . This is why I purchased the Sony H20 . I have used it for about a week and I couldn't be more happy . The battery life is awesome and does include a charger unit . The picture quality even in dim light is great . With the zoom I can locate a face on stage even when sitting in the rear of an auditorium . This unit also does HD video clips ! All of this in a relatively small form factor . Great product .
075 4 I was afraid of switching to a Sony camera because I did not like the cybershot I had years ago . I wanted to upgrade from my Canon SD to another Canon but I did not find one that I liked . So I looked into the Sony Cybershot H20 . I have so far enjoyed using it , despite it's larger size . The picture quality is great and the LCD in the back is pretty sharp . I do wish that I could use a standard SD memory card instead of Sony's Memory Stick , but it didn't prevent me from buying it .
103 4 Just got my new Sony H20 and I love it . It's a just right size for carrying around easily and it has so many great features . I've only taken a few pics so far , but they are great . The extra zoom is perfect . I really like that the view screen is big and sharp . The easy mode really helps ' old ' eyes like mine to know what the settings are . This camera lets you get fancy or do it simple . Two thumbs up , Sony !
127 4 I bought this camera for Thanksgiving , since most of the family was going to be together , including 4 children under the age of 7 . I took over 400 photo's and each one is clear and crisp . I love the smile feature , where you can set the type of smile you want . Beyond the great pictures of the family , I also took pictures at the zoo , that are outstanding ! ! I would recommend this to anyone looking for a great camera , at a reasonable price .
193 4 I bought this camera for our 15 year old Son for the next camera in his aspiring photography career . : ) We have always been a Sony family and this one does not let us down as quality , easy to use and fantastic value for the $ $ . I would recommend this camera for everyone who wants a compact camera that has all the great features that you would expect in a larger full featured camera .
195 4 I wanted a long zoom camera for a reasonable price and I definitely got both in this camera . For an amateur photographer this is an excellent camera . Even in low lighting the pictures look great . Definitely recommend this camera to anyone .
218 4 For the folks that claimed to have taken good pictures at low light with this camera , they must be using a vastly different version . This camera had more grain in pictures than I have ever seen . These weren't even night time , just indoors on a cloudy day with lights on in the house . And it didn't matter what mode I put it in , Flash or no Flash , 10mp , 5mp , Auto , Intelligent Auto . I was willing to put up with the cheap lens cap , and the not really wide enough angle on the lens , if and only if , it would take good pictures indoors , under normal lighting . I have a modern house I designed ( which means all white walls ) , well with this camera they aren't white , so much as a sea of gray specks and grain . Horrible , guess I will try the Panasonic or save for the Canon G11 . . . Also every picture where my kids moved so much of an inch was incredibly blurry .
065 4 I bought this camera for a week-long trip to D.C . , NYC and Niagara Falls in September ' 09 . I reviewed many cameras and got a number of recommendations from friends . Then I came upon this little guy while on Amazon.com . I am over the top happy with this camera . Battery charges fast & holds charge for hours in spite of off / on , zoom , movies , play back , etc . I was really pleased . Never once did I have any problems with the camera . Power up to 1st shot is very quick . Clarity of 3 LCD screen is incredible . I put one of those screen protectors on since I knew I'd be haulin ' it everywhere . That works great as well . I used an 8GB data card and it holds tons of shots & vids . The only thing I was worried about was the lens caps and what a hassel it would be . But it really wasn't a problem at all . The on / off action of the lens cap becomes an automatic action . When taking movies , remember to move the mode back to pics to avoid delays . I made that mistake a couple of times . Hopefully this helps those who are on the fence . No it's not micro-compact but it's small enough to slip into a jacket pocket , purse , etc . Placement of the data port is odd and the PC cable is bulky but for the quality I don't care . My friends carried a Nikon P90 and a Canon is1000 - This Sony H20 outperformed them 90% of the time ( simple point & shoot use ) indoors & out . Especially on zoom shots . Did I mention how much I love this camera ?
070 4 This product takes amazing pictures . I attend concerts a lot , and prior to getting this camera , I used disposable cameras and camera phones . If I wasn't right up front , the pictures were terrible . I can stand in the back of a venue and zoom in with this camera , and get some great shots of musicians .
I usually leave the camera on P , even in low light . I don't like the camera's twilight feature most of the time , especially in a low-light environment that happens to include a lot of strobes , etc .
The gourmet food feature is pretty awesome though . I had to cover a bake-off for my college's paper , and the cookies and cakes look good enough to eat .
I also have endless hours of fun with the smile detector . Your friends just can't help but laugh once the camera starts going off over and over .
I highly recommend this camera to anyone who needs a camera in their life . As long as you have a slightly decent artistic eye , the pictures you'll get with this camera could easily rival a DSLR , and you don't have to worry about the price .
On top of that , if you're the kind of person who likes live music , this camera takes amazing live videos . Anyone knows live videos usually sound like animals dying . With this camera , you can hear the song , and depending on the band's sound quality live , you can get some almost album-quality recordings .
074 4 I did not want to go for a SLR camera and such . Just a point and shoot .
But this camera was a good balance between the regular point and shoot and the complicated SLRs .
I have been using it for some time and I like it very much .
Battery goes away a little faster than my old one , but still not su much that I have to bother .
163 4 I have this camera as well as SONY ALPHA 200 , I think the pictures from both cameras are equally great If you were using the SLR at auto setting .
If you were a person wanting to use manual settings , this one offers a few settings but the slr offers more !
181 4 I was very nervous about buying a new camera that was this much money , but I am very glad I did ! I had an old Sony Cybershot , and wanted an update .
My main thing I was looking for was a Sony camera that zoomed in while filming , and this is the cheapest one I could find . Although I haven't had the chance to do much filming with it , I am very happy with it so far ! I took it to my little brother's basketball game and got some amazing photos ! I couldn't believe the clarity , and they weren't blurry ! I also love how far it zooms in . I got some awesome shots of some bald eagles and they were across a field ! I am looking forward to taking this to concerts with me and trying it out .
Although this camera is a little more bulkier than I'm used to , it's definitely not as big as I was expecting . If you're questioning whether this is a good camera for you , I recommend going to Best Buy and looking at it in person . But be sure to buy it from Amazon , it's cheaper and the free shipping was SUPER fast !
088 4 I owned a Sony Cybershot 3.2 megapixel camera for 6 years and loved it . It took great pictures - - far better than the newer higher megapixel cameras my friends owned . Unfortunately I recently clanked the camera on a rock and damaged the lens beyond repair . I was excited to purchase a new camera and settled on the Cybershot H2O because of all the positive reviews and my own experience with the older model . I hoped the few negative reviews that appeared here were a result of a rare factory defect .
I have used the camera for 3 weeks now and I am disappointed . I take mostly scenery pictures of the beautiful North Carolina mountains . The default color and light intensity settings greatly overexpose the pictures and tend to wash them out . Fall colors here are outstanding but one wouldn't believe it based upon the pictures . To compensate I have to underexpose the pictures by 0.7 - 1.0EV and increase the color intensity . This can be done in several of the camera settings but it is a pain . The pictures are not sharp . The normally sharp horizon of the mountains appears blurred in the pictures - - as if the camera has 20 / 60 vision . No mode on the camera solves this problem .
The camera has a 10X optical zoom . However , the pictures are not sharp . The camera appears to be confused as how to focus the image .
The Easy setting is useless for scenery shots because it has no manual override . Therefore , the pictures are over exposed and under saturated in color .
The flash button does not turn on the flash . One has to manually force the flash on from an on-screen menu . This is difficult to see on a bright day when the subject is backlight . The default flash intensity is too high for indoor photos of human subjects . They get washed out . I have to manually reduce the flash intensity from the default setting .
The least movement by ones subject creates a blurred image in not very low light conditions such as shade . This was extremely disappoinging when taking pictures of my grandson who was playing in the raked leaves . To capture him I would probably have had to switch the camera to the Manual setting . Rather cumbersome . You can't retake an action photo . He won't play in the leaves again this year . I tossed the photos out once viewing them .
The camera takes high-definition video . But this is only useful if one keeps the video in the camera without transferring it to a computer . The video needs to be played from the camera to a HD TV . The video can't be played on the computer using Windows Media Player . One needs to download a free compatible program , VLC Media Player .
The camera will not record the date on the pictures . I liked looking at my pictures taken with my old Cybershot knowing the date they were taken . A real advantage when viewing a slide show or screensaver .
Of course , this camera as all of the new cameras are memory hogs - - 4.5Mb / picture . The increased number of megapixels is not worth it .
The camera has a large LCD screen for viewing pictures . This is a nice feature that all new cameras have . It has no viewfinder . So one has to use the LCD screen for framing pictures and viewing the many camera settings . I don't have 20 / 20 near vision and this is a problem . I don't like wearing reading glasses to take pictures . Not many new cameras have viewfinders .
I would not recommend this camera . Find an under $100 camera that will take better pictures .
002 4 After much research and trying out a few cameras ( Panasonic Zs1 being its main competitor ) I am settling for this sony H20 . The picture quality in the H20 was just much more clear . The Panasonic Lumix Zs1 had inconsistent performance and I found some pictures to be very grainy and unpleasing . I was lured in by the Panasonic's wide angle lens and several scene selection modes , but in the end none of those matter if your picture is grainy and not of printable quality . The biggest positive about this camera is its consistently good picture quality and performance . I took this camera with me to Southeast Asia and was able to get good pictures out of a moving car and at all zooms both indoors and outdoors . I was able to get some stunning pics with the lumix but only at times and for each good pic I had about 20 bad ones , and when your traveling or trying to capture a moment you just don't have time to shoot 20 - 30 frames to get a good one . For this Sony camera to be truly perfect I really wish it had a wide angle lens , a panoramic assist function ( like the Sony HX1 which is much bigger and not much better pic quality but the panoramic function is incredible ) , a more compact design with a built in lens cap and flash so the cap doesn't pop off every time you take a picture . I looked and looked for the perfect camera and with those added features this would be it , but for now I will settle for this camera and hopefully sony will add those functions and improve this camera in its next upgrade . If you are looking for a compact travel camera that is several steps up from the normal 3x zoom and takes consistently good crisp pictures in various settings I would recommend this camera . It is not nearly as bulky as DSLRs making it a very easy travel companion , and it takes better pics than the other competing cameras in its range as well as some mega zoom cameras .
UPDATE : November 2009 -
Before I left on my trip to Turkey and Europe I ended up purchasing another camera , the Canon Sx10is . This camera was more expensive and bigger both things I was initially trying to fight against , but I am so glad I went for this extra investment because the pictures I have been able to take on my trip ( panoramic and regular ) have come out absolutely stunning , all on auto setting , and using the panoramic assist function . It is a little bulkier then the sony but it still fits in my purse and the results in the pic quality are incredible.I figure I will probably not come back to these places and get the opportunity to take stunning pics again , so the slightly more money and bulk ended up being no bother when I will have very memorable pictures to look back on my trips . Look for my review and uploaded pics on the canon powershot page . If you can afford it and can take slightly more bulk , this camera ended up being the ultimate winner for me , and was everything I was trying to force the sony to be . I wanted to offer this option to those who are looking for something a little more then the sony has to offer . check out this canon before deciding .
009 4 I bought mine last week and it arrived 2 days ago . By the time i got the camera , I tested it immediately and had a couple of shots . This is my first personal camera and I am really enjoying it a lot . We had a lot of cameras before but my dad / mom owns it and most of them were Sony and I'm just borrowing . This is one of the best Sony's P & S camera in my opinion .
At first , I was planning to get a DSLR or just the DSC-H50 but I am not feeling the bulky cameras as of the moment . I travel a lot and I don't think I want to bring those bulky and heavy gadgets with me . So , I did some research for a good camera specifications ( that are small enough ) and I ended up choosing between the Canon SD960 and this one ( DSC-H20 ) . Both of them almost have the same specs but the Canon camera is a little bit more expensive than H20 . Also , I'm looking for a camera with better optical zoom and Sony-H20 offers twice the zoom strength as the Canon model that I am aiming for .
What I like about it :
- The HD quality video that it can take PLUS you can zoom while recording .
- It's like a mini-dslr because you can switch it to Manual mode and you can adjust the aperture and shutter speed so you can do panning as well . A small camera that really works . . what can I say ?
- I love doing Bokeh and Macro shots ! ! ! A + + +
- The features such as SCN , editing in camera etc .
- The built and grip ! Eventhough the body is made out of plastic , you can feel that it's tough and you can hold it really tight .
- The smile shutter - works well for the Kids . .
- Ofcourse , the optical zoom .
- The strong flash
What I don't like :
- No viewfinder
- Popping out of flash , if you're not aware / forgot that you're going take a shot with a flash on / auto .
- Lens cap - you tend to forget that it's there and may block the lens from popping out when you open your camera . It's a little bit annoying and it gives me the feeling that it might break my camera . Though it says that you should remove the cap and turn off your unit and turn it on again , before it works .
Well , overall it's a great small camera and very worthit for its price . The cons I listed are not pretty much of a big deal especially when you see the crisp brilliant photos that you can take with DSC-H20 . I bet you're going to love it too and it's worthit worthit and worthit !
I bought the camera with the following stuffs : Sony 8gb mark 2 pro duo memory card , the sony pouch and a tripod .
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011 4 With this camera you get something pretty close to what the SLR can produce without taking up all that much room or breaking the bank . The 10x zoom is nice and steady with shutter speeds of about 1 / 25th giving me nice results at 5x7 . VR was invented for people like me who quiver . 8x10 ' s are decent as long as the viewer is 3 ' back or so but that's pretty much a normal veiwing point anyway . The Zeiss lens is phenominal !
Bad news first : Noise becomes a factor at about 400 on large prints but anyone who wants to create a scrap book or photo album should not be dissapointed .
Some of the layout like formating your memory card could be a drag for some . I have another Sony using #100 file on my computer and when I eventually found the re-format feature in the menu , it restarted back at 100 instead of #103 I use for this one . ( A Sony issue in general it seems ) . I would have preferred an optical veiwfinder but no cameras of this caliber have one these days . Also it would be nice to hold the view button when pushing the on button and not have the lens come out to extend battery life a bit . It has a manual feature but no apperature or shutter feature and the program feature says its adjustable but isn't unless you count the computer doing it for you as such . Point and shoot cameras all come with certain automatic features . Those who require total control must pick their poison and I chose this one for the price versus the overall features .
Good news : Start up time is pretty fast . Not SLR like mind you but still pretty good . And if you tap the shutter button ( like an SLR ) after snapping a photo you can get another photo off pretty quick too . My favorite part about this little gem besides the wonderful pictures it takes are the re-touch features I've not seen on other cameras ( yet ) like partial color , fisheye and my favorite . . . retro . I just got the camera and figure on putting it through the paces over time . After 5 days I've shot over 500 pictures . I had to charge the factory battery after about 250 pictures . It came fully charged from the factory so I was taking pictures right out of the box . That was frequently turning it on and off , zooming frequently , retouching numerous photos and using the flash from time to time .
Overall I'm pretty satisfied with Sony's little DSC-H20 and would reccomend it to others . At less than $300 it's a keeper . I haven't left home without it yet ( even when I have my SLR ) .
edit : the fact that the camera can go from feathers on a bird from 25 yards ( 10x ) to a bug on your sleeve ( 1 / 2 away ) without pushing any buttons is amazing . One more thing , I figured out you can push the view button and the camera turns on to display photos without the lens popping out in a touch of a single button instead of a combo like the others . . nice touch Sony
012 4 I just got this camera with my Sony reward points . I was considering this camera or DSCH50 . I'm a complete novice when it comes to cameras and would generally only buying a camera in $100 - 200 range .
It's a pretty good size for me ; compact but not small enough to put in your pocket comfortably . The instructions are fairly substantial at about 60 pages but straightforward and easy to understand . I've tried out the face detection , smile detection , and various scene detection options . I haven't tried the HD movie feature yet .
The quality of the shots looks great with various options of file size and resolution , from email to 13X19 . The construction appears fairly sturdy . The placement of the buttons is intuitive and not hard to reach . I've been quite happy with the shots I've taken and options that are available . I've taken action shots at sporting events , close-in low light shots of agarose gels under UV light ( I'm a scientist ) , and snapshots of my wife , cats etc . I've been quite happy with the camera .
The biggest drawback is that the camera , being Sony , requires Sony's proprietary memory sticks . I can't really say how it compares to models from Nikon etc in the same price range .
013 4 I usually write long reviews , but I think this will be short and sweet . This is one great camera ! My long search for a P & S camera that takes great pic's and vid's is finally over ( at least for now ) . I've taken several hundred pictures and videos , most have come out absolutely fantastic . My only issue at all is low light performance . However , if you play with the settings , even those issues are mitigated to some degree . We all have to remember the limitations of any P & S . Overall , I will say that the H20 is the best P & S that I have used in a long long time . Good job Sony !
014 4 I took my camera on vacation last week to Nashville for the CMA Music festival . I took pictures from a distance and the zoom was great ! The video quality is amazing and in HD . When playing it back on the computer it looks like the singer was right in front of me when I was about 20 rows back . It was pretty simple to use , but just keep in mind the zoom button zooms very fast so touch it very gently to get a nice clear shot . I had to play around with that from time to time and sometimes the video started out blurry but then it readjusted itself . All in all , the lights flashing on stage did not effect the pictures . I am very happy with my purchase and how the pictures and videos turned out .
I also took some pictures of flowers close up and they came out so clear and crisp full of vibrant colors . I would highly recommend !
022 4 Overall I think its the most balanced camera out there from a quality / features / price standpoint . Recently the price came down to $229 on amazon , makes a even better deal . Some things i like about it are :
1 . Good picture quality
2 . Good 10x zoom . / Good Macro close up shots .
3 . Ability to record HD video ( 720p ) and use zoom function at the same time .
4 . Large 3 inch lcd display .
5 . Has some manual control options ( that by the way can alow you to take much better photos then simply leaving it on auto . )
6 . Better in low light then most cameras in its class .
things that could use improving :
1 . A little slow between shots .
2 . Could be a little faster when reviewing and editing photos in camera .
Overall : Very Good / 4 stars .
023 4 So , I have been looking for a while now for a new camera . It is so hard to make an informed decision with so many reviews out there ! It is overwhelming !
Back story . . . . . my husband and I have owned two digital cameras so far . A Kodak Easyshare , one of the first ones when they came out . My mother got it for our wedding , it was over $500 bucks . It two years , the thing totally died on us . Got screwed over by Best Buy . They sent the camera away to fix it , when it came back in , they S O L D it ! So we obviously got them to replace a new camera , for the total of what we originally paid for the Kodak and got a Canon PowerShot A620 ( which was four years ago ) That camera has been through two births of our kiddos , lots of holidays , celebrations , etc , etc . I have never LOVED the camera , but it took an ok shot for what a mommy would need .
So , we decided it was time to get another . The Canon was starting to take really blurry pics , the lens was making funny noises when it would turn on and off . The husband wanted a really small camera we could throw in our pockets when we go to DIsney . I wanted one that would take excellent pictures . We ended up deciding on the Canon SD780 . Small , 12mp , etc . . . . . . . . he was in love with the idea of it .
I bought it Black Friday ( 11 / 27 / 09 ) and returned it 4 days later . We took it to a wedding over the weekend , and the pictures were of such poor quality , I could have taken better with our 2mp camera phone . It was just such a big disappointment .
After a lot more research , and many trips to try the cameras out in the stores , I decided to try the Sony Cyber Shot DSC H20 . I saw some pictures on here by another reviewer and they looked amazing . Better then my brothers Nikon D60 .
I love the features on this camera , it is easy to use and fun to use . The pictures are of amazing quality , even in the lower MP settings . I was taking some ipctures in 3MP and didn't even realize it , still just beautiful . The zoom is amazing . It is so clear compared to my Canon . I could never zoom with that thing , it was always blurry . This one though I can zoom in a very low light room , and it is just so clear .
My husband is not SO happy with the size , but I told him to just deal . The picture quality is so worth it ! He also was not sure about having a removable lens cover , but I like it . Our Canon one was dying , this one CAN'T ! The LCD display is just awesome . I just can't say enough about this camera .
In closing , if you are looking for a camera around 250 , GET THIS ONE ! Hands down . I love everything about it !
027 4 I misplaced my Sony DSC-P200 that I loved and assuming I would eventually find it ( I did ) , I wanted something different to take on vacation . The P200 only has a 3X optical zoom and 2 sisters recommended a 10X . I've taken over 500 pictures / videos on this camera so far and overall , I'm happy . The only things I don't like are the lack of a view finder and the plastic lens cap that has to be manually removed . It is almost impossible to find a 10X digital camera with a view finder and although they said it was easy to see the screen on this camera in the sun , it is not . If you forget to take off the lens cap , the camera stalls out and you have to turn it off and then turn it on again - meanwhile , missing your shot . I had no idea that Sony would make a digital camera without an automatic lens cover .
I thought that I would not like the charger . With the P200 , I just plug it in and don't have to take the battery out and wanted that again . I was wrong . It is quick and easy to take the battery out and charge it and the charger is nice and small for travel . I would definitely choose this system again .
I used this camera on a recent trip to California and took pictures in Monterey Bay Aquarium , at the beach , and in Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks . I took pictures and videos of animals in aquariums , seals on the rocks below us at Pt . Lobos , kids doing cartwheels on the beach , close-ups and distant shots of vegetation , etc and most pictures turned out wonderfully . My sister was frequently taking similar pictures on her Panasonic Lumix 10X and for the most part , my pictures were noticeably better . I can actually see the parts of the jellyfish that look like moving neon lights in both the still shots and videos . She cannot . The advantages of her camera are the lens cover and a smaller size but I'm happy I bought the Sony instead . I'd be happier with a view finder and different lens cover though .
030 4 I've had several digital cameras ; point and shoot .
This time I finally wanted a camera that took the picture when I pressed the shutter release button . I hate waiting for long shutter lag ; whatever I'm trying to photograph ( kids , animals ) wanders off .
The Sony H20 is the best that I tested in stores . Note there aren't many old fashioned stores any more . And most of them have very bright ( unrealistic ) lighting for testing , since I noticed my last camera is at its worst when not in bright light ( focus dances in and out trying to decide ) .
I wasn't familiar with Sony , so the controls are ' different ' . But I'll get used to them .
Good :
- fast shots , very little shutter lag
- I like the ISO scene mode ; low light photos with no flash . Previously I did this manually ; and you can set the ISO yourself in other modes
- Battery charger simple ( Nikon had cords ; harder to setup ) .
- 10x optical zoom works great . Note setting to turn off digital zoom .
- pop up flash , should separate more from the lens and reduce red eye .
- smaller than Canon SX120si ( other one I was considering ) . Also , it has Lithium batteries ( the Canon has AA ) .
Bad :
- I don't see a panorama mode for stitching together photos into one large one .
- It has a physical lens cap , not a built in shutter covering . I'll probably get used to that , I had an SLR years ago .
- Sony proprietary memory . I'm told other kinds are cheaper , and some have wireless built into them to do file transfers ( Sony doesn't ) .
- lens is not fast , 3.5 I think , so low light isn't great . But the ISO scene mode works fairly well . .
Good little bag for gathering the stuff together :
Sony LCS-X20 Soft Carrying Case for most Sony Camcorders
034 4 Can I please write a glowing review of this amazing camera ? As someone who is somewhat of an archivist , who likes to capture life as it happens in both still photography and video-land , I always seem to be acquiring different cameras for different needs , selling some and buying new others to replace them . And every now and then a camera comes along that seems to hop to both the forefront of where technology is at the moment , and seems to imbue all of the needs that I have for a camera of its class perfectly .
For a long time , I carried around the Casio Exilim EX-Z750 everywhere - - the fact was that it was really small , able to get really good quality video just about anywhere , and took really good quality pictures with no hesitation with many user-friendly ( read : dummyproof ) modes . Then it began to be the age of accessible HD video , and thus my quest then had to move forward .
First thing I tried was the Canon Powershot SD - 780IS . And that is a sleek , nice cam , very capable for its size . But many of the stills came out blurry and some of the vid was a bit grainy , and well , it just wasn't the perfect find really .
Eventually after watching a lot of YouTube sample videos and whatnot , I luckily happened upon this cam . Not only was it a direct descendant of the cybershot H1 I already own , able to get great zoom shots with a big nice lens and well-done anti-shake technology , but HD video at a really decent conversion rate , one that could get about a half hour with a 2 - gigger card ? Nice !
When I got it I was impressed with the big sleek screen , but I have to say I was a good bit worried when I started posturing with it and taking shots . On the screen itself , the views looked pixellated and sub-par . In my brain I was already thinking , ugh , this one may not exactly be a keeper . But thereafter , when I actually flew the stuff down to computer , I stood there completely changed . Beautiful , clear shots , brilliant color , just the right amount of saturation , the whole nine yards . The functionality is great , everything's easy to find like the self-timer and all of that , and the zoom is super-nice .
The video itself is quite pristine - - The only thing I have that gets better video is a 3 - chip Panasonic HDC-SD9 and well , that's really stepping into a different class from any point and shoot kind of device .
Anyway , the point is that I feel as though I have found my ' answer-all ' camera for the current timeframe , to hold that ' ok , you're going somewhere quick , you can only grab 1 camera , which is it ? ' kind of space . And that is a tough place to occupy . If you're on the fence and need a great overall cam this size and price-range , I'd say go with this one hands down .
035 4 I have tried couple cameras before I got this one . I have tried Canon 790 IS , Canon SD 1200 IS , which I gave 3 stars cameras . I also try Sony W230 which I gave 4 stars camera , and Sony W290 = 2 star : (
I like this camera because it takes beautiful pictures day or night . but it's also gives pictures with better zoom 10X . which give pictures with more dept . I love Sony products , I would keep Sony W230 and this one . Sony W230 is smaller and easy to use , I can carry it around , with H20 I would leave it a home or take it with me when I travel and take pictures with beautiful views and scenes .
I got this at Bestbuy it's $229.99USD , best camera for its ' price .
I have put about 48,000 clicks on this camera , so far so good .
Another thing about purchasing camera , I think you should go to the store and check out the cameras yourself , check , feel , compare all the cameras that you like and pick out the best one that you like , remember each person has different taste of thing : )
037 4 I purchased this camera a week ago , When I purchased this camera it sold by Amazon and eligible for Amazon Prime . ( I have been a prime member for two years ) I purchased this camera as NEW . However I just received this camera today ( it was back ordered ) when it came to me it became clear that this was not a New In Box product . It was taped up from being previously opened , there were three scratches in the display panel and there were two actual pictures taken by someone else in the came internal memory ! ! ! Obviously this was a return by someone else and was pawned off to me as new . So I call Amazon thinking no sweat I will just send it back and get a new one . No such luck , the Camera that last week was $230 is now $279 and guess what ? ? ? It is no longer eligible for Amazon Prime , it is now shipped and sold by Tiger Direct for $279.00 so I have to pay $49 extra and shipping fees . Then of course dealing with Amazon's customer service ( in India of course is there any other kind ) was a NIGHTMARE ! They refused to help in any way although they were clearly out of companiance with the terms & conditions of the sale . I bought and paid for a NEW in box camera and received a damaged and used camera . Buyers beware , this review is not against this camera , but let me warn you NOT to purchase it from Amazon because God Forbid something goes wrong .
039 4 I love this camera ! ! I also did my homework & read so many different reviews for many different cameras . The Sony H20 is amazing . There are so many feature in one sturdy , compact , powerful camera ! I love the smiley face feature ! I have 4 small kids and just waiting for a smile can make time go way slow . . . With the press of the smiley face feature , once someone shows those cute teeth , the camera snaps the picture automatically ! I just love that . The price for this camera you just cannot beat esp if you buy it on Amazon.com ( free ship , no tax ! Sales tax in CA , brutal ) There are so many features on this camera but if you just want to leave it on the auto mode , the camera responds beautifully.The LCD screen is nice and large . Overall , I am so glad i did my research and made this purchase . Sony has an outstanding product .
040 4 I was looking to replace my older 3MB Sony Cybershot which served me faithfully for years with no problems . I narrowed my selection down to cameras with 10X optical zoom or higher . I checked the Canon , Sony and Panasonic . All were reviewed well . I was on the verge of buying the Panasonic Lumix 12x Optical when this H20 camera went on sale at Office Depot for $229 so I bought it .
I like it and have taken hundreds of shots with it . Most likely you are interested in the negatives I've found so here they are : Camera lens not builtin so you must manually remove / replace the lens cap ( irritates more than I thought it would ) , camera is slow in low-light and takes several seconds to take the shot ( caused me to miss shots ) , video can be a bit choppy , just barely fits in my pocket and proprietary cable for pc / tv ( not really bad but you cant use someone elses USB cable ) .
Keep in mind I only used the AUTO mode so far . . . Now the good things I found : Pictures are beautiful , zoom works smoothly in and out , menu is easy to use , automatically takes two shots when not sure of exposure and one of them is usually very good , nice hand grip , battery life good and easy to charge ( bought cheap backup on eBay ) , easy playback with PLAY button on back of camera , fast to boot up ( if cap is off ) , flash is bright and LCD is bright and easy to see .
One other thing , this camera feels solid . . . not cheap .
You may wonder why I originally chose Panasonic . It was the size , AVCHD video mode and the 12X optical . I hava used Canon and love the quality of the Canon pics but there were a few features that were lacking which I can't remember at this time .
I suspect the next round of hi-zoom , HD video cameras will be really nice and I can't wait to see the quality of the pics and video . For now , I am very happy with my Sony H20 .
044 4 Received this camera , record shipping from Adorama . Takes incredibly detailed photos , is extremely easy to set up and use right from the box , and the battery life has been above average so far . My only complaint - and someone please correct me if this is my mistake ( will elaborate shortly ) is the lack of a self-closing cover for the shutter lense . For a camera of this quality , with an above average lense at this price , I cannot understand just why Sony would not incorporate an automatic closing lense cap ( they do provide a cap , which you have to attach to the camera with an included tether ) . The only possible reason I can think of is because the lense / camera accepts various adaptors , which I read about ; again , I do not know enough about the subject to be sure .
Other than that , I would not hesitate to recommend this camera .
046 4 I owned a pink Sony Cybershot with 4x optical zoom and 7.1 MP model DSC W120 camera that took 480 x 640 video . I was looking for something with more optical zoom and 720 HD video since my camcorder no longer works and was the old-style tape kind . Tape video was also difficult and time consuming to import into a computer versus digital version .
My decision was between this and the Canon SX120 ( the most comparable in price ) or SX20 .
I liked that both of the Canons took AA ( two or four ) batteries and a standard SD card , but the Canon SX120 still had the 480 x 640 video . So the deciding factor for the Sony over the Canon SX120 was the 720 HD video , being able to record in a more compressed format , and recording for longer periods of time .
The Canon SX20 ' s ( a larger camera that is more the size of a SLR ) only additional real advantage over the SX120 was the 720 HD video and 20x zoom which was important since I am using this as a camcorder right now too , BUT it is about $200 more . I still will probably get a HD camcorder ( 1080 instead of 720 ) someday so I couldn't justify this not to mention this camera wasn't really pocketable for most of the events I would be using a camera for , and it seemed like you could only record for 20 minutes at a time in a less compressed format .
Although it's nice that the Canons I looked at use an SD card , you have to get at least a Class 6 ( I think or better ) , and not all SD cards are the same quality even if they are the minimum class . Though I dislike proprietary cards , using a Sony memory stick will probably mean the least issues later on with video quality .
The included battery pack I had in my old Sony camera is the same one this camera takes , and it lasted for a long time not to mention I'll have an extra for this camera now . It also seemed like my Nikon camera my daughter has that used AA batteries took longer to recover even though it was comparable to the Sony DSC W120 in other ways . I do wish Sony would have included the upgraded battery that displayed the time left instead of just a graphic indicator amount of battery left . I like that a separate battery charger is included so I can charge the extra battery and still use the camera .
I am very pleased with the intelligent auto mode plus the manual options as well . It also captures action and low-light shots much better than my W120 model camera . It seems to reduce red eye and the glow of pet's eyes much better , and it's easier to fix if there is a problem . 10x will be enough zoom for most pictures .
Video is so much clearer than the video my W120 took ! It imported well into the latest version of Pinnacle Studio though I would use the video from the original card instead of copying to hard drive if you don't want to use Sony's software to transfer it . If I just copied it to the hard drive , it seemed like there were some bad places in the video that don't show up if I used the original video on the Sony card . It is going to take a lot more computer resources to process the 1080 so this may be a good compromise until I can upgrade my computer including adding a blu-ray burner . For now , I am downgrading the 720 video to a standard DVD anyway until I can upgrade the computer DVD drive and household DVD player to a blu-ray . The video is still much clearer than video from the 480 x 640 on a 720 HD TV that is about 42 .
Overall , this camera is a great all around camera that is still small enough to be portable , easy to grip , and a value packed for the price ! It is a definite model to check out within this price range : - ) .
050 4 I've only written 1 review on amazon ever . So trust me when I say that this camera is so good I just had to tell people about it .
There's really only one thing to say , the picture quality is great no matter the situation ! I've taken pictures zoomed in all the way with a shaky hand and they still come out clear . Pictures at night are clear . Pictures in the snow are clear .
This camera just can't take bad pictures unless it's user error , and even then it's got your back most of the time : )
Also , I've dropped the thing quite a few times and it's still going strong . Get this and you won't be disappointed !
051 4 My criteria in selecting this camera :
( 1 ) I need something that will fit in my pocket - - I don't want to lug an SLR on every day-hike I take . Given that requirement , I want the best possible , in particular :
( 2 ) a good telephoto lens given that it can't be too bulky , and this has a 10x that is reasonably fast for its size and weight . 10x allows better nature photography on those day-hikes .
( 3 ) a pop-up flash , since I was disatisfied with the undiffused straight-on flash on my previous camera .
( 4 ) Extensive manual override features , because I like to play around with controls to get just what I want .
Given this set of requirements , there are only a few cameras that would work .
After the first couple hundred shots I have to say this fully meets my needs and expectations . The only thing I miss about my previous camera is that the Sony does not have a separate view-finder that is nice when it becomes too bright outside to see the screen .
The automated electronics work well , too . The multi-focus works well , and I had excellent results using the fireworks mode over the Fourth of of July .
068 4 As a very picky camery buyer and user , I am really impressed with this one . I just got it yesterday , spent last evening going around the house in rather dim light conditions , taking pictures , and fully expecting to be disappointed like I have been on the 7 or 8 cameras I purchased over the last year and subsequently returned . Instead I have wonderful pictures , great color resolution , the backgrounds look as good as the foregrounds , and I am totally amazed . I was beginning to think that digital cameras were a giant hoax perpetrated on an American public just to sell a lot of product and make lots of money . I have complained constantly that most of the digital cameras I purchased ( and returned ) could't produce a picture that even came close to the 35MM pictures we all took until digital came out . I was about to give up on digital technology , but decided to try one more product , and I'm really glad I did . I haven't figured out all the possibilities yet since I've only had it one day , but so far , I am really impressed . I also like the way it feels in my hands , nice and solid , like I have a real camera . Today I took pictures outside in bright sunlight , and the clarity and color resolution is fantastic . I look forward to learning all of its features and how to use it to get even more out of it .
077 4 I purchased this camera back in June of 2009 , and after using my old Sony DSC-W70 point and shoot for 3 years , I was ready for an upgrade . I was looking for a camera that took great quality pictures , and from using my old Sony with the Carl Zeiss lens , I was looking for another camera with the same quality . I was torn between the Canon SX 120 IS and the Sony H20 when my search began , but the Sony's lithium ion battery was what swayed me to it ( I don't like using AA batteries ) .
After using the camera for 6 months , I am more than happy with my decision . I have expanded on my photography in ways I couldn't have with a smaller point and shoot camera . I love having control of shutter speeds , focal ranges , and in learning how to use them properly have been able to take some fantastic pictures and really get into some of the more complex aspects of photography . Even with all of the customization settings within this camera , it still has the fail proof iSCN auto mode if I just want the camera to do all the work .
Some things I do wish this camera did have would be an automatic lens cover , and even though this camera is more of a superzoom point and shoot , a view finder would help in some of the picture compositions . It can also be a touch slow when the flash is engaged , but its not intolerable . These are minor issues that by no means make or break the capabilities of this camrea .
079 4 I have owned the camera for about 3 weeks now and find it pretty easy to use . The picture quality seems to be good . I haven't tried printing any pictures yet . I bought an 8 MB memory card since one does not come with the camera .
The only feature so far that I don't like is the lens cover , but I should have thought of that before I bought the camera .
Overall I am pleased with my purchase .
080 4 My very first ( digital ) camera was a 2 MP Sony Cybershot ( 4 generations of cameras for me ) . Each time I've upgraded , it's been a Cybershot . I always have done extensive research on the cameras ( thinking that somebody somewhere else has a better camera ) , but each time , my decision has been the Cybershot . There are little things on this camera that I'm still discovering each day . For instance , the slide show with music , very cute touch , my 2 year old and 6 year old love to watch . I love taking pictures and really wanted one that did great low light pictures and this definitely takes great pictures with very little light .
The only thing I have been disappointed in with this last version of Cybershot is the time it takes for the first picture . All other Cybershots have taken very quick first pictures and this has been a change that I'm having a hard time adjusting to . However , based on the review conducted by Consumer Reports ( 2009 ) , it was rated good-excellent for first shot timing , so I'm unsure if it's just the cameras of today take a lit bit more time to set up for the first shot than they used to ( larger picture size , perhaps ) . Also , it is a bit larger than other Cybershots of past and of what's available today , but it is still fairly compact and I would not use that as a deterrant for buying this camera !
All in all , I've been very pleased once again with a Cybershot . Sony has again excelled in the digital camera forum !
082 4 This camera replaced a Canon Powershot . After looking at the reviews on the comparable Canon , I chose this camera . Since my last camera was about 5 yrs old , the technology has improved so in comparison this camera is far superior so I can't really judge it against my old camera . I feel like it does take pictures faster although I typically have not used it for action shots . Pictures are crystal clear for the most part . Only blur I have found is with zooming out to the max .
Only con is what others have commented which is the need to remove the lens cap . Its a small thing and the camera will tell you if have you forgotten to remove the lens cap .
Really enjoying it and would buy another one should the need arise .
084 4 It's great camera with the given price tag , the only con I can see is sport shots ( stabilization is poor )
rest its a great point to shoot , like this camera for response time which is far better than Cannon and Nikon
I think Sony is better in point to shoot category than big players .
086 4 Camera has excellent videos ( 5 stars ) which use the 10.1 x optical zoom . I compared it to canon sx 110 is . It has fallen three times since I bought it - no problems - ( had the manual lens cover on each time ) . The picture are little iffy ( 4 star ) , esp I have noticed some out of focus ones when using io mode . The flash in the IO mode sometimes gets confused . It has 3 god pics in every 5 pics taken . But the good ones are beyond comparison . Not bad - but room for improvement . Pictures were better on the canon where every 4 / 5 were excellent focus on auto mode . Colors are excellent when in focus . Flash recharge time / battery life is good . I am using mark II pro duo sony 8 gb card .
087 4 I am a great fan of CANON cameras ( I have Canon SLR and one point and shoot ) , I brought Sony DSC-H10 ( previous model of DSC H20 ) to give it to my mother in law and as soon as I started using it I felt it as the best camera I ever used .
Best and unique option in SONY DSC H10 is FORCE FLASH ON ' in AUTO mode . This literally helped me to make all the pictures 100% perfect .
Then I purchased Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 10.1 MP for myself and one of the first thing I noticed is it doesn't have the option of FORCE FLASH ON in iAUTO mode . The new features like iAUTO and EASY doesn't add any value to the camera and I didn't see any improvement because of these two features compared to its predecessor SONY DSC H10 .
It has high definition video with zoom option which is real good option compared to SONY DSC H10
Overall SONY DSC H20 is a good camera which can take very nice pictures both in day and night easily . It is definitely worth for the money .
Pros
1 ) Great pictures
2 ) HD video with zoom option
3 ) Compact in size
4 ) Good zoom
Cons
1 ) No force flash on in iAUTO mode
2 ) Poor wide angle lens . ( This make tough take pictures in a small room )
3 ) No neck strap . This has only small strap forcing you to carry in hand always
089 4 After years of carrying large camera bags with multiple lenses , flashes and batteries in the 80s and early 90s , I made the switch to digital photography and vowed to not have so much bulk . I switched from Minolta in the film world to Cannon and now shoot the Digital Rebel . I love it , although I still sometimes question my decision for Cannon over Nikkon , but I digress .
Last month I decided not to take my camera because of the carry-on issue . Two days into the trip I found myself in an electronics store searching for a compact camera that could still deliver quality . The store was closing out the Sony CyberShot DSCH20 Syber Shot . Sony .
I bought it and love most of it . This tiny camera has 10 x optical zoom that works well , captures quality video and is easy to use , even for the very beginner . Though it does have a Manual mode option , most of the shooting options are geared for getting the best pictures with the least amount of fiddling . Program Auto handles shutter speed and aperture , but gives you access to ISO , exposure , white balance , focus , and metering among other things .
I found it a camera with a zoom , flash and all I need for vacation / work shooting . While it is way smaller than what I am use to lugging around , it doesn't fit in my pocket like I see other tourists using . Now if you wear a jacket , this is perfect .
There are two things worth mentioning that hurt the overall package . One , unlike a majority of the cameras in the compact megazoom category , the lens is protected by a physical cap instead of a mechanical cover . If you forget to remove it before powering up , the camera stalls out and you have to remove the cover and turn the camera off and on again . it is also a bit of a pain to remove .
Two , if you frequently find yourself taking pictures of large groups of people in confined spaces , this probably won't be a good fit .
Again , this is a point and shoot and isn't for the professional shooter , but is a great inexpensive camera to capture moments worth remembering .
097 4 easy to use .
happy with the price for what i got
much more features than comparable nikon and canon's
109 4 when i read the reviews for this camera i was convinced to buy it
and i did . . it came in 2 days ! ! ! before xmass ! and i loved it ! !
seriously ! i use to have a nikon camera i returned it because it sucks ! because of all the grainy pictures . . but this sony camera is almost close to an slr camera . . . when i let my other friends borrowed my camera they were impressed ! ! especially the hd video camera . . and the face detector ! ! it takes a picture by it self whenever you smile !
here u can look at the photos i have took
[ . . . ]
117 4 We had a 6 year old 3.2 megapixel camera that got the job done when we had our first child , but was lacking in many ways . We are expecting our second child and wanted to upgrade . I did a lot of research and chose this camera over Canon powershot models because this seems to be able to do more than take good people shots .
We hate using flash , and there is a setting on here that allows for clear pictures without flash in fairly dark settings . There are all kinds of settings to allow for action shots ( good for little boys in sports ! ) , close up , etc . The shutter reaction time is great - no long waiting for the camera to actually take the picture !
I could go on and on , but to me this seems to be the next best thing to a digital SLR camera without spending a ton of money . Easy to use , but it has the options of manual settings , etc . And it takes HD movies ! Hooks right up to your TV !
My husband and I are super thrilled !
123 4 I decided to wait until I've really used my camera to write this . I bought it May ' 09 .
I was really on the fence about this one since it wasn't in a store or even released when I was going to buy it . I am very glad I got this camera though . I love the intelligent mode for quick pictures . The manual mode is pretty good for a SLR-like camera . I'm still learning about photography in general , but this is still a good camera for someone that wants a fast camera that pretty much ALWAYS takes an amazing shot . The zoom is very good , not grainy when printed . The HD video recording is AMAZING , very very clear . I think the smile detector is handy when that all your waiting for . If you don't have it set just right it wont detect some smiles . Also on smiles I like the in camera picture editing ( cross-filler , radial blur , cropping and more ) , I like that I can put a smile on someone's face that wasn't there before ! Its also good that you can change the level of the smile so it doesn't have to look obvious that its edited . Perfect for people who NEVER smile for the camera .
So overall even if your not that experienced with the digital camera this is a good one !
145 4 I bought both the Sony DSC-H20 and the Panasonic Lumix ZS1 . Perhaps I have not been using the Lumix correctly ( although I was using its Intelligent Auto which reviewers rave about ) , but I found its images to not be as crisp and sharp as the Sony's , by far . Especially in low light , when using the flash , the quality in my opinion was awful , hazy and noisy . It has a very weak flash , in contrast to the Sony , which has a sometimes too strong flash but which you can adjust to a lower intensity . The Lumix does have the wide angle lens , which is useful , but not enough for me to forgive all its other flaws .
The Sony , though lacking wide-angle zoom ( which has been the case of most standard digital cameras up until now ) , has an excellent 10x zoom . The pictures , even those of objects farthest away , are always extremely crisp . Its stabilization system works wonders . I find its 10x zoom is better than the Lumix's 12x . Its macro is also better .
I haven't explored the DSC-H20 ' s little quirks and manual settings yet , or the HD video capability , but so far I think it is a great camera , and cheaper than many out there . I have had a Cybershot DSC-S90 for 3 years and though it has only 3x zoom and 4.1MP , it still works great and I have always been very happy with image quality .
Just my two cents !
154 4 I have used many Sony products in the past and been very satisfied so when this camera was recommended to me by Dell I felt confident in buying it . Overall the camera did a good job for my needs . I was never entirely pleased with the color of shots taken indoors but it did a great job outside in daylight . I live in Missouri and the humidity levels are high but I have never experienced a problem with electronic devices before . One week before my 1 year warranty expired the camera started displaying a message to turn the camera off and on again to reset it . I contacted Sony and was told to go to the website and follow technical instructions and see if I could reset it . I was unable to accomplish this so I sent it to their repair facility in Laredo TX . I was told the camera had corroded and thus the warranty was voided and that it would cost $600 to repair the camera that I paid approximately $250 for brand new ! I was shocked ! ! I spoke to three different representatives of Sony ( only one of whom spoke understandable English ) and in the end I was told there was nothing else they could do to help me . What a waste of good money on a camera that I expected years of use from ! What poor customer service , how on earth can a $250 camera require $600 worth of parts ? ! The camera must be extremely fragile and sensitive to corrode in such a short time , I handled it very carefully and took extremely good care of it . I will never buy a Sony product again .
155 4 I've always used small compact digital cameras with the standard 3x optical zoom . I would definitely recommend this camera if your looking to take a step up to better quality more professional pictures .
If you've used digital cameras in the past , then you shouldn't have any trouble operating this camera .
Yes , it does have a lens cap attached with a string . At first it was a little annoying , but I got used to it . It protects the lens and stays in place well .
My favorite parts of the camera are the 10x optical zoom and the fact that it takes pictures very quickly . It's fast speed is great for taking pictures of children who are constantly on the move .
It's not as portable as those compact cameras but is still small enough to carry in a purse or larger pocket .
I would recommend this camera to anyone who has even a little experience with digital cameras . Its easy to use and takes incredible pictures !
156 4 I have this camera for about 7 months now and have taken about 1000 pictures . I mainly take pictures of my kids & family . I love it .
Pros : a ) Great battery life . b ) Great picture quality outside in bright light . Overall very nice crisp clear picture quality . c ) Nice zoom which I think has been sufficent for me . d ) LCD 3.0 is very pleasing . e ) Menu is very easy and navigable .
Cons : a ) Since it uses memory card which is rather unusual , I need adaptor cable to see / copy photos . I wish the card size was little larger . b ) Cable location is at the bottom . You have keep camera on lens cap to stay still while copying / watching photos through USb cable . c ) Pictures at night in dark may be blury . I had to learn a bit what different modes offered to get better picture quality .
Overall nice camera . I recommend to buy it .
157 4 Warning : This camera will cause bird and other wildlife spotters to ignore you . The main issue is that they will be walking around with gear that cost them an arm and a leg , trying to make out if that bird on that tree a mile off is really a rare eagle of some sort . You will whip out your compact camera , take a picture , zoom in and identify the common sparrow !
For its size and prize , this camera is packed full of features , and remarkably easy to use ! It's good for landscapes and incredible for macros . Highly recommended . . . if you don't mind being ignored by twitchers !
161 4 I bought this camera after my three-year-old accidentaly dropped my old 7.2 megapixel Sony Cyber-Shot on the ground WITH the lens still out . I immediately wanted to find a suitable camera replacement . After much research , I had decided to buy one of the most affordable Canon Cybershot cameras . But after I read an overwhelming number of user reviews who complained about how quickly their Canon battery died out and some even mentioned that they needed to bring along more batteries on an outing , I decided to go with my second camera choice .
At first I was dissapointed when I first held my new Sony camera . It felt cheap and flimsy . But after constantly using it for several weeks I have to say I quite pleased ! . With my Sony I have been able to take amazing closeups ( even though I'm only shooting at 5 megs instead of the maximum 10 ) . I am also ecstatic about being able to use the zoom while videotaping , unlike my previous camera . ( Sorry , I'm trying to type my review with my 3 yr . old sitting on my lap . She loves her Mommy . . . )
I am not giving my review a 5 star throughout only because that would mean perfection and at times ( very few , though ) I haven't been pleased with some blurry pictures , but I must admit that most probably it was my own fault because I still haven't bothered to read the instruction manual . When I've tried different settings for the same shot , I've obtained good results after the initial blurry images .
Bottomline , I am very happy with my choice , although surely not for a professional .
165 4 I've had it for about six months now and I've taken about 3000 pictures so far . I bought this to replace my canon power shot A95 , and this was a nice upgrade . The photo quality is much more crisp than my A95 , and looks more like photos taken with an SLR than most point and shoots . I like the 10x zoom . It does well with macro photos . The image stabilization is definitely noticeable . Also takes pretty good photos at night , they are fairly crisp and not too much graininess from the higher ISOs . For example , I took photos of downtown Baltimore from an airplane and it did surprisingly well , I used the manual photo mode and the photos were only slightly blurred and I was using some zoom and we were moving at about 150 mph . Chromatic aberrations ( the bluish or purplish highlight along areas of sudden contrast from dark to light ) are pretty much nonexistent with this sony . I've used the beach and snow modes and it seems to do well in those areas that some point and shoots struggle with . There are some photo editing tools built into the camera to edit photos before downloading them - some of them are kind of cool . I haven't taken very many videos , but it seems to take decent videos for a still camera . You can use the optical zoom while filming which seems pretty rare , and there isn't a maximum video time for the high res video - a lot of cameras put a 60 second cap on the highest resolution video . I have a 8gb card that is more than enough - it holds about 1800 + photos and about 40 min of hd video . Battery life is good , and it is nice that the camera estimates how many photos worth of battery life are left .
Now for the cons : This camera does not offer as many customizing features as my canon powershot did , which took me some getting used to . Also the lens has a very narrow angle ( not wide-angle at all ) , but on the flip side the photos have virtually no barrel distortion . When taking photos in the landscape mode with really bright lighting I find the photos to be kind of washed out - but have been able to get around that usually by using the action mode or manual mode . The colors are not always as vibrant as I like , and some colors just seem a little ' off ' Using some of the features in manual mode alleviate that for me , but it can be a hassle to use manual mode at times , or they can be fixed later in picassa . The camera does not to well with certain hues of red in bright lighting - for example taking a photo of a bright pink or red rose in the sunlight the contrast of the flower itself will be off and have a very weird neon highlighting - this is something that is fairly common with point and shoots though - and I have not had a chance to play around with different features to see if there is an easy fix now that I have had the camera for a few months .
Overall I am happy with the camera . For the price it is excellent . I think a camera in the $350 - 400 price range might fix some of the cons , but I'm not sure it is worth the extra cash .
167 4 For long time I was looking for a good camera . After a painstacking search I found SONY cyber shot H20 a better choice . I compared with a cannon but due to the battery life and potential mechanical problem I declined cannon .
The picture quality is very good for casual use . It satisfy my appetite . Moreover , lightweight Japanese product is very portable . In many programs i went , people turn off their camera and start taking photo with mine .
I just love it and enjoys taking picture with it .
172 4 My husband and I are going on our honeymoon ( finally ) and I chose to purchase this camera for our cruise through Alaska . So far , it a great camera . : )
173 4 Ever since my Canon A630 bit the dust a few months ago , I've been searching and researching a replacement . I tried several new Canon models and returned them the next day . Boy , Canon just doesn't make point-and-shoots like they used to ! They are at the top of their game for DSLR , but everything in the $99 - 250 range is crap . I initially shied away from Sony due to their memory cards not being SD , but I am so glad I gave this gem a try . This camera takes great pics , the zoom is fantastic , and there is virtually no lag time between pics . So many options - I have not even had the chance to try everything out yet ! It has many settings , takes video , 10X zoom , 10 megapixels , etc . All around , a great buy !
I'm going to attempt to make a list of pros and cons , although I'm really struggling coming up with the cons . : )
Pros :
* Does not feel cheap or tiny . I specifically stayed away from ultra-compact cameras after I tried out a Canon and hated the way it felt in my hands .
* Very nice ergonomic touches with pads on the front and back for added support .
* Zoom is excellent .
* Picture quality is superb .
* Easy mode allows the camera to adjust automatically .
* Virtually no lag time , very quick recycling .
* Fantastic overall value .
Cons :
* LCD screen does not rotate like on the Canon A630 . I would have loved to have the same option on this camera to be able to close the screen to prevent it from bumps and scratches . I'll have to get screen protectors and keep it in a camera bag when traveling . Not really a con , but something I noticed as a user .
* Lens has a removable cover instead of a built-in automatic one . Not sure if the zoom is the reason for this choice , but on my A630 , the auto lens shutter broke , so maybe this isn't much of a con either .
* Does not take SD cards .
Overall , I am extremely satisfied with my purchase . This camera is a real deal ! I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a portable camera that does not feel cheap , takes great pictures , and has a 10x zoom .
174 4 First of all , I got this camera at Staples for $208 out the door with a 8 gig lexmar card . I initially got the Lumix ZR1 , while its a great outdoor camera , I was very disappointed on its indoor performance so I returned it and got the H20 . Out of the box , the camera looks like a mini-dslr camera . It feels solid and buttons / dials are ergonomically positioned on my feeling / fit .
( Additional Information aside from other past reviews )
My Cybershot H20 with powerful optical zoom performs great outside and very good in low light conditions due to its decent built-in flash . It's auto mode performs very well , though I bought this camera due to its manual control features which is it's major advantage among other comparably priced cameras .
It's lack of true wide lens and the quite annoying lens cap are the only limitations for me , but they're not sufficient to discourage my urge to buy this camera .
Will I recommend this to a friend or family member ? Definitely ! Like I've said in the title , the Cybershot H20 is one of the best reasonably ( or should I say cheap ) priced digital point and shoot cameras .
177 4 I always read reviews , but i never write one before . now , this my 1st one , why ? . . . because i am so happy i have my sony H20 camera . Just got a new born baby and want to have a smaller camer can do video . i already have SLR olympus E - 330 for years . i started my searching 3 months ago . no doubted . . . panasonic ZS3 . so many good reviews . so , I waited the price down or a big discount . I finally got my ZS3 from costco with around 249 and with sd card , camera bag . tried 1 week ( I did not read the manual ) . I was disappointed . maybe this is the limit of P & S camera . I returned it . I decided to buy a SLR with video funtion . Nikon D5000 , I deccided . 2 weeks ago . local big-box store had a big discount for sony h20 for 199 . I googled the reviews , not bad . i gave it a try . wow . . . what a different . ( I did not read the manual ) clear pictures right out the box . I showed baby's pictures to my wife . she smiled and said WOW . . . that's really clear . some picture do blur because baby moving or bad lighting . i do undstand . But I definitely keep this H20 . I totally confused , why ? I readed the dpreview , they compared them . but . . . ZS3 should be the best .
well . . . I don't want to study to find out anymore . please check the 3 stars review by Steve N . since , i am going to keep this H20 . I read the manual from sony web site . not much help for better picture . only smile button that i need to learn . I have been help for reading reviews here . hope this will help . I still thinking my returned ZS3 . . . ( maybe I got a lemon or . . . maybe I should read the manual )
191 4 I wanted a camera that had good zoom features for taking pictures at concerts . This definetly does the job at zooming in on faraway objects .
I'm still trying to figure out the proper setting to use for different activities . At times the pictures are blurry , but I know that this is due to the incorrect setting . Pictures that are taken on the correct setting are of excellent quality !
The size of the camera is a little bigger then I would like , but I can still fit it in my purse .
The battery life seems to wear out faster then I would like , but I do take A LOT of pictures . I would recommend purchasing an additional battery to keep with you if you plan on using your camera all day long .
Overall , I'm very pleased with my camera !
199 4 The camera works just fine for every day pictures . It is very easy to use and the lithium battery is an advantage in front of the other equivalent point shot cameras from other brands ( Cannon , Nikon , etc ) . It is good for the cost .
203 4 It's a great size ( fits in my purse ) , love the optical zoom etc . This is my 3rd Sony camera , as I keep upgrading .
I think you will be happy .
206 4 This is my 3rd Sony camera and I just love it for the zoom and for the movies .
The only thing I dont like about it is the lens cover and that it is not as easy to put in my pocket or small purse .
Mine got stolen in Brussels and sadly I lost all my trip photos but I am going to buy another one right now !
208 4 It's a realy very good camera , and it's perfect for this price . The pictures are cool , you can check above , from the owners .
It comes without Russian menu , but it's very easy to use it in english . Advice to everybody have this at their pocket , it's small enough , and takes originanl , true color , good quality pictures ! ! ! Love it .
219 4 I purchased the Sony H20 after reading dozens of reviews and testing the camera at Best Buy . Today I returned the camera and ate the restocking fee . I love everything about this camera EXCEPT for the picture quality . On the camera's screen pictures appear to be amazing . Just wait until you download them . They are terrible ! Here a short list of what I found to be unacceptable :
1 ) The slightest movement from your subject creates blurry streaks . I'm sure some artistic photographers may like this effect from time to time , but it happens when you use auto feature . You can minimize this by manually adjusting the ISO , but you sacrifice picture quality .
2 ) The flash is WAYYY to bright . It washes out your subject 100% of the time indoors . Again you can reduce the brightness of you flash in manual mode ( which is a cool feature ) , but who wants to use trial and error to find perfect flash brightness EVERY time you use it indoors ?
3 ) The picture quality is POOR . I read about 50 reviews on this site before purchasing the camera and it seemed like everyone loved it except for 10% who received lemons . Well , I must have bought one of those lemons . I took 100 photos with the Sony H20 and compared them to those from my 6 year old Canon 5megapixel S50 , and the Canon blows them away . The Sony's pictures were grainy , or overexposed , or just blurry . The best picture from this Sony was inferior to the worse picture from my Canon .
Bottom line , the only explanation I have for the positive reviews of this camera is that Sony must have manufacturing quality control issues . Because there is NO WAY anyone with 20 / 20 vision would give the $229 Sony I purchased anything over 1 star . Sure the features are awesome , but the pictures look like they came from my blackberry . Purchase this camera at your own risk .
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Update 3 / 2010
Two months ago , I purchased the Panasonic Lumix FZ35 . What a great camera ! It was $80 more thant this Sony , but I am a happy customer .
225 4 Value for the money you spend
- Nice picture quality
- Low on features
- Takes longer time for some actions ( example deleting image , switching on the camera takes abt 15 seconds )
- Overall much better than any other Sony Cybershot camera .
I had Kodak . It was way better than Sony . Not sure why I gave up KodakZ712 for Cybershot . : )
107 4 The camera takes good pictures in the full light . Sometimes it is slow to take picture when it is trying to focus on face and I'll miss the great shot . Still getting used to the camera and it's features . You can take it right out of the box and start taking pictures . Easy to use .
113 4 Nice clear and sharp pictures . The camera is easy to use . The camera does not come with a carrying case . You'll need to buy that separately . A wrist strap as a standard feature would have good . Overall good purchase !
115 4 Strongly recommend to somebody who likes photography as a secondary hobby . This jewel serves all purpose with enough manual controls to get a good picture . Have fun like i did !
151 4 You will not go wrong purchasing this camera . The Cyber Shot is well worth the $ and the quality of the pictures is very very good . Sony makes quality products and the did real well with this camera .
136 4 I got this camera a few weeks ago thanks to CNET and Amazon reviews , and so far there is not much to complain about ! I love the video feature - SO much better than my old camera . . . but then again . . . that one was OLD . I still haven't figured out how to get it to take really clear shots inside in low-light . . . mostly of a small child who doesn't stand still much . . . but I am sure there is a way . Picture quality , other than that , is excellent ! And I love the ' in-house ' features like cropping , fish-eye , etc . I can do all of that stuff in Photoshop , but it's great that the camera can handle it , too ! I would recommend this camera to anyone !
072 4 This camera is a steal for the price . It is easy to use and works great for our little baby . The HD video is an excellent bonus to capture fun moments with our son .
095 4 we have used this camera for over 3 months at home and on trips . it works well for our needs .
183 4 This Item is just super . The HD video taping is just excellent , Picture quality great ease of use great . You all can close your eyes and buy this one . The best mid level camera .
137 4 i am 16 and love to take pictures . i had a sony cyber-shot DSC-W80 before , which was great , but i wanted something with more zoom and mp's . i LOVE the DSC-H20 / B camera . it takes awesome pictures in the intelligent scene mode . haven't had a bad picture yet and i've had it since july . go and get this camera , you will love it !
150 4 I bought this camera right before we went on vacation . We rode an old steam engine train for 6 hrs and I took LOTS of pictures out the window . All of them turned out clear no blurry ones in the bunch . I was sooooooo impressed . I love this camera . It's also very easy to use .
142 4 I totally love , love , love this camera . I have a previous edition of a Sony Cybershot , a Canon , Canon Rebel , and a Casio digital camera and this one by far is better than all of them combined ! I have a 5 month old baby and wanted a camera where the flash would not cause her eyes to enlarge and look surprised in the candid shots . Little did I know that this camera would give me what I wanted , plus so much more . I can take pictures of my baby without the flash and get super great pictures . Also , I can take inside restaurant night pictures of her and get the great shots . When making any selection on this camera , the on screen display provides on screen information about the choice , which elimates the need to guess what the icon and selection is for . Once again , I totally recommend this camera for anyone with a baby and for anyone that wants a great camera ! ! !
148 4 I am not a gr8 techie guy and know very less about camera's and this kinda stuff . I was looking for a camera which is beyond 8 MP and with a decent zoom . After going through the reviews in Amazon , I bought this camera and I am very happy with my choice . Image clarity is excellant for this camera even in the movie mode . 10 X Zoom looks ok when u shoot in the movie mode . I particularly like the Smile Detection technology which takes a snap automatically when a person smiles.I would definitely recommend this to others .
223 4 I bought this as a gift for my granddaughter . She loves it and has posted some excellent photos on her blog .
149 4 This camera has magnificent picture qyality along with speedy performance . I was searching for a megazoom camera that is also compact and i've compared many before i came to conclusion on buying this one . I've compared this camera with the Canon SX200IS and the Panasonic ZS3 . With the 10x zoom , i was able to get a clean close up shot of the person on stage in a concert . This is the most bang for the buck camera you can get . With the other models , it might be a little bit more compact but is it really worth , on average , $100 more for something that has very similar performance but just smaller in size ? This camera definately made me discover my hobby in photography .
066 4 I've always had those small point and shoot digital cameras , but decided that I'd get a nicer one . So I bought this camera about five weeks ago . It took me awhile to figure things out , but once I did , it was wonderful ! It takes very high definition pictures , even when zoomed in to its full 10x . I would highly recommend this camera to anyone .
185 4 love the 10x optical zoom , and easy to use , beautiful optics of a Sony . very pleased with the price on Amazon as well .
212 4 I have 2 kids in sports and was tired of all the bad shots from my Canon pocket camera's 3x zoom . The 10x zoom of this camera is amazing and I must say the pictures it takes are incredible . I had another Sony mega zoom a few years back and always was in awe of how great of pictures the Sony cameras take . I took it to their games this weekend and the pictures came out great ! I highly recommend this camera for this use since it's fairly compact and has great zoom ! ! Love it !
162 4 I sort of bought this camera on impulse . I needed a new digital camera that was inexpensive and not bulky . While shopping around , I came across this camera . I was drawn by the fact that it had so many great reviews . I was very impressed by the uploaded pictures from the reviewers . I had heard so many great things about cameras like the Canon G11 but hadn't heard much about this camera . I decided to give it a shot . It came very fast . After a couple of weeks of playing around with it , I can honestly say that it is the best camera I have ever had . I also own a Panasonic Lumix with a Leica lens . I think this camera has just as good a picture quality . I also bought the conversion lens adapter and the close-up lens and the macro pictures are nothing short of spectacular . The resolution and picture quality are excellent . The color reproduction is right on . Some people complaint about the lens cap . I have no problems with it . This is the camera I was looking for . It has exceeded my expectations . I believe it is a bargain for the price . I highly recommend it . It has a lot of great features as well .
016 4 As all of us , I just got mine this week and so far it's been working just perfect . Even though the included booklet might look big , explanations are easy to follow / understand . The really cool thing that made me decide for this camera is the fact that not only records movies on HD at 720p , but also allows finally zoom functionality while recording . Excellent device for the price .
105 4 I am encouraged to write a review for this product because I read all the reviews for this camera and I want to thank you all for suggesting me this wonderful camera . Its the best you can buy at this price . The photo quality is excellent ! ! ! I am really happy to buy this cam . I would definitely recommend this camera to all .
125 4 Great product . Love the smile feature where it waits for the subject to smile before taking the pic . Very happy . Only downside is it tends to automatically use twilight mode in the house which can be a little grainy , but I'm sure I just need to tweak the settings .
132 4 This is such an amazing camera . I had heard that it might not do well in humidity but took it to Costa Rica and it performed amazingly . The picture quality is outstanding . Haven't had any problems with it at all and have had it for 6 months and have taken over 2500 pictures in all conditions , low light , indoors , out , and even taken pictures of poisen dart frogs in the dark with just a flash light and got National Geographic type pics ! Highly recommend it !
134 4 A friend has this camera , so when I had the money , I bought one for myself . It has great zoom , response time and overall just a great camera .
138 4 I really wanted a small , cute colorful camera , but after doing a lot of research I decided I am going for picture quality instead of cuteness . . . and I am very happy . This camera is compact enough to fit in a pocket but has plenty of zoom and very good picture quality . It also has some really cool auto features , for example if you are on a particlar setting , and in low light , the camera will automatically take two pictures at different f-stop / apeture settings-then you can decide which photo you like best . Awesome feature , I have used it many times and was able to get a great picture in difficult lighting . For the price and size , its a great camera .
146 4 I had seen this camera being used and liked what I saw . Easy to use and very forgiving . Great photos and many other features which I still have to try .
200 4 I bought this camera for a cruise vacation . It took exceptional pictures and I am a novice at taking pictures and the easy shot button made life so simple . I did not use the video portion until the last day of the cruise - I regret it . It took a wonderful video of my son rock climbing . It has a feature that you can plug into the television-It was the highlight of our cruise . Excellent Camera - Battery life is very long as well
213 4 A Grandma needs a camera . I chose this one because of the zoom . I like it so far , though it cost a little more than I cared to spend . I like the way the camera feels in my hand - it's solid . Doesn't shoot as fast as I want it to some times because it is busy being a ' smart camera ' . Overall , I am quite pleased with it .
214 4 The best camera I've owned to date , very easy to use.A two in one , the video is fantastic.I will advise my friends and anyone else to buy this camera which can also do video .
220 4 This is a great little camera . It takes wonderful pictures and it is very easy to use . The zoom is great - - my daughter graduated and I have some wonderful pictures with the zoom . I have priced this camera at several places and Amazon has the best price , free shipping , and speedy service .
221 4 This camera is great . The picture color is beautiful . It's so easy to use . The zoom is great . It's a good size to carry around . I love it ! I highly recommend it .
179 4 This is a camera I purchased for my wife who has problems with setting the camera to the proper shot mode . Put this camera in auto and she's ready to go . All of her shots turned out great . She lost the blury pictures and the dark figures with the bright background . Easy to off load pictures so she can do that herself now . It is bigger than her last sony but she claims this is easier for her to hold steady and the hand hold makes that possible . As far as battery life goes we are getting approxmittly 150 to 175 pictures per battery . However these are batteries she had from her last camera . Overall we are happy with this purchase .
111 4 This camera is great in every way . I replaced an older cybershot that got wet one time too many . The new technology is easy to use and 1 / 2 the price of my original .
197 4 This is my wife's first digital camera . She is not a techie so simple point and shoot is important . This camera fills that order . Got a great price on Amizon making this an excellent camera purchase . picture quality seems to be very good . I purchased an extra battery pack since you cannot use regular AA or AAA batteries . The camera did not come with a memory chip so had to order that extra also . Even with the extra's the overall cost of camera was very good .
052 4 This camera was recommended to me by my son and it is absolutely fantastic . The instant scene recognition is awesome and since I tend to have shaky hands , the fact that I have yet to take a blurry picture is amazing to me ! If you want high quality pictures in the ease of a point and shoot camera , I high recommend this one . You will not be disappointed .
085 4 This is a very nice camera ! The pics are crystal clear . I havent got to play around much with it but I have taken pics of my puppy in action ! If you are looking for a slim camera then this is not for you . . but if you want good quality pics and dont care about a bigger camera it is GREAT ! ! ! I think it is lightweight .
119 4 I have only had occation to use the camera once and not for very long . I thought it had a bigger internal memory but since it had virtually none , I had to wait for the memory card . I did take one picture with it and the quality was top notch . I don't know about the battery life yet but I did purchase an extra battery so I would always have a charged battery .
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
After going through 2 generations of the lumix TZ series ( TZ3 and TZ4 ) which served well as multi purpose cameras , I wanted a multi-purpose camera that also had better video quality and superior low light capabilities . Here is my why not others comparison ( it may not match with your needs , but it might help some of you )
Panasonic Lumix ZS1 / TZ6 vs Sony H20
Lower quality video ( same as WVGA resolution as the TZ4 ) , and could not adapt to the different lighting conditions like its higher model TZ7 ( something that Panasonic does not mention clearly so be vary ) .
Panasonic ZS3 / TZ7 vs Sony H20
Unfortunately seems to have fallen prey to its high reviews with the price at $399 ( even with weekend discounts it was around $340 ) .
Panasonic has decided to clam on cheap batteries , so you can't use OEM batteries with the latest firmware ( needed as it supposedly fixes the autofocussing issue in videos ) . This mean you need to bust out 50 - 60 $ for a spare battery , and since the new battery is smaller than the one's used in the previous models , you need the spare .
[ Update ] Price has dropped considerably , but the battery prices still remain ridiculously high . After market batteries that work around the chipping proof logic seem to be available but no guarantee if they will work , so not worth the hassle . One more issue i came across after i tried the unit was that Class 6 SDHC is not good enough to record video in high quality and you need to spend loads of $ $ and get high speed SDHC if you want to record in high quality : (
Canon SX200 vs Sony H20
The canon SX200 though having good picture quality and full manual controls was out simply because it does not have optical zoom in videos .
Samsung WB550 vs Sony H20
Optics that match the Lumix TZ7 in spec , and yet offering all what the Sony has to offer , so in theory its the camera that's the all rounder
But the reviews highlighted the picture quality was not very good and had the purple fringing problem
Uncertain quality of samsung camera ( Since the samsung mobile phones are a bit low on reliability from experience )
Therefore i came to the conclusion the best alternative to the Lumix that also matched my needs was the Sony DSC-H20 though knowing that the lack of a true wide screen ( 38mm vs 28mm in the panasonic ) may limit my landscape shots and group photos .
The initial impression once i received the unit was that it was definitely not as slim as the Lumix cameras , and the build quality while good for a plastic unit seemingly a bit fragile compared to the all metal lumix . I guess its going to take some time for me to shift from the lumix mindset : ) The positive being that this sony model was made in Japan .
However the pictures confirmed what the reviewers said that it was camera with good potential . The daylight pictures are superb , and the focus is much faster than the TZ4 i had last . The macro mode is able to go much closer than the TZ4 ( and even the TZ7 ) , and i realized this meant even better close up pictures . The video quality in good light is superb , and the zoom speed is decent , and smooth . The jump to 720p HD is definitely noticed compared to VGA / WVGA and you will not want to revert back : ) The Sony focussed quite well while zooming in video mode compared to the TZ4 ( and i heard the new TZ7 panasonics also still have this problem ) .
Then i tried the indoor pictures , and the quality again was very good ( My wife said the pictures were definitely a lot more clear and vivid compared to the TZ4 ) . The dual shot capability is also useful , though in most cases the second option is useless as the modes used don't seem very intelligent . The flash definitely is very powerful , and works well even to provide background clarity . The video indoors is much better than my TZ4 as it adapts well to the low light , and in high sensitivity mode while the video can be a bit noisy it still able to provide fair footage .
If you are the forgetful type remember to set the flash to auto , if not you are are going to be disappointed when the shots turns out grainy when taken without the flash .
The menus are fairly easy to use the feedback from the navigation buttons are bit less than the TZ4 , and i miss the context menu capability of the lumix . Sony hiding the settings menu and requiring the user to press . at the last menu option is unnecessary initially then i realized its to keep the menu's slimmer with the options required for normal use available , and only the lesser used options are in this hidden menu .
One feature that i thought the camera had was that it could increase its optical zoom to higher values just like the Panasonic range ( e.g . in the lumix when i set it to 3MP , the zoom increased to 15.9X from 10X optical ) . However seems the Sony cannot do that , and only has the digital zoom increasing and this is of no use .
Another useful feature is that you can press the play button when the camera is switched off to view the photos on the camera without having the lens come out . The play button also works when you connect the USB connector to connect to the PC again without the lens mechanism getting activated .
PROS
Good picture quality both outdoors and indoors
Video is very good , and does well in low light as well
Very good macro photos
10X optical zoom an asset for an all purpose camera
Nice features and smile shutter works well ( yet to try blink detection )
Fast focusing specially in low light conditions
Lightweight and well balanced
Nice 3 LCD which shows pictures well
Manual mode useful for indoor and night photos
CONS
Lens cover is a pain , and would have preferred an automatic option like in the lumix , this also makes the camera a bit more bulky
Not a true wide screen optics , so you have a limited view in wide mode
Only 3 modes for video VGA ( 4 : 3 ) , and high / low HD ( 16 : 9 ) .
Use of memory stick as the storage medium : (
A slimmer profile would have been nice
Pop-up flash while effective also mean you need to pop-it in back
Flash recycle time is slow
Manual mode has limited flexibility
[ Update ]
Sold the camera the shutter lag and long flash recycling did not suite my type of photography sadly .
001 4 I am no expert when it comes to photography but enjoy taking good pictures of my family and friends . I have kids in sports and I like to take my own pictures for picture giving . I read many reviews ( for hours ) on various cameras and endet up with this one here . I first was going to get the DSC-H50 ( one step up from the DSC-H20 ) . When I went to the store to buy it , however , it was to large for my taste . It was to big to fit in a pants pocket and even for my small purse it was quite large . Here are the main reasons why this camera is awesome !
This camera here is not as compact as your typical slim camera ( due to the 10x zoom ) , but it is small enough to fit in a purse or even a jacket / pants pocket if need be .
This camera has a burst mode so you can hold down the shutter and the camera will take numerous pictures , thus making it ideal for action shots . I took it to a Volleyball tournament and got unbelievable shots of my daughter serving and hitting ! I cought her in mid air more then a few times . . . just what I had hoped for . I also took pictures at a track meet and got kids jumping hurdles . . . the pictures look almost like magazine shots !
This camera is extremely easy to use in the easy and auto adjust mode ! It tells you everything on the screen . You can start shooting pretty much right away . . . it's that easy ! The manual is good to have for reference and questions and if you really want to get to know your camera .
The zoom is great and plenty ! I took pictures from the mezzanine onto the Volleyball courts and could get nice close up shots ! 10x is plenty for me !
The battery life is also impressive , as long as you keep your screen on a regular bright setting . First I had it set to bright and the battery didn't do well . Then I set it to normal and it lasts a long time . I took about 150 shots and not a single bar was missing from the battery !
It has a rechargebale battery so you don't have to keep buying regular batteries . Also , it does say that you can get a international charger so the battery charger can be plugged in anywhere in the world . ( Still have to get that myself ) . What a nice option .
The quality of the pictures is also great ! I took a team photo and my daughter took it to a practice to show the others . They choose the picture to use in a frame as a gift to the coaches . It turned out so good and all I did was push a button !
When shooting pictures , it has a option for the file size you select . If you know you want to email pictures , or for example if you sell on eBay and want to download pictures onto the ebay site , you select the small file size and shoot pictures that way for working with them online . For pictures that you use for portraits for example , you choose a larger file ( pixels I guess ) , and that way it does not distort the picture when you enlarge it . That is also extremely easy to figure out !
Last but not least . . . I plugged it into my pc with the supplied USB cord and retrieved the photos the same way I always did in the past . I have not yet added the picture cd that came with it , but my guess is that it will work very good . I also took the 2GB SD card to Wal mart and made nice prints ( you have to purchase the pro duo stick seperate . . . look for the Sony pro-Duo Stick cost about $13 - $15 ) . The 2 GB is plenty for me , I think it holds about 400 pictures ) .
Great camera . . . I have not found a flaw yet !
003 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I bought this camera for a two week trip I was about to take . I also purchased an extra extended battery and an 8GB memory card for the camera . The main reason I purchased the camera was for its ability to take pictures quickly . I looked through consumer reports and this one was one of the top rated cameras . The cost is very good for this quality camera . I could take a picture withing a couple of seconds after turning the camera on and I could take a picture again less than a second later . This camera also has great battery life . Even if you just use the included battery , you can still get around 3 - 400 pictures ( assuming you are not using flash ) . The zoom on the camera is great . It is a 10x optical zoom and additional 7x digital zoom . This gives you the power of a 17x zoom . If you take your picture at 17x zoom , you can then zoom in on your picture another 8x under the review your pictures menu . This camera is also small enough to fit into a small over the shoulder camera bag . It fit into my old camera bag that I used to have a small Olympus camera in . I recommend this camera for ages 16 and up . It is a great camera that it comparable to any SLR camera . I think it is better than a SLR because it is so much smaller than any SLR you could purchase .
005 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
After going through 2 generations of the lumix TZ series ( TZ3 and TZ4 ) which served well as multi purpose cameras , I wanted a multi-purpose camera that also had better video quality and superior low light capabilities . Here is my why not others comparison ( it may not match with your needs , but it might help some of you )
Panasonic Lumix ZS1 / TZ6 vs Sony H20
Lower quality video ( same as WVGA resolution as the TZ4 ) , and could not adapt to the different lighting conditions like its higher model TZ7 ( something that Panasonic does not mention clearly so be vary ) .
Panasonic ZS3 / TZ7 vs Sony H20
Unfortunately seems to have fallen prey to its high reviews with the price at $399 ( even with weekend discounts it was around $340 ) .
Panasonic has decided to clam on cheap batteries , so you can't use OEM batteries with the latest firmware ( needed as it supposedly fixes the autofocussing issue in videos ) . This mean you need to bust out 50 - 60 $ for a spare battery , and since the new battery is smaller than the one's used in the previous models , you need the spare .
[ Update ] Price has dropped considerably , but the battery prices still remain ridiculously high . After market batteries that work around the chipping proof logic seem to be available but no guarantee if they will work , so not worth the hassle . One more issue i came across after i tried the unit was that Class 6 SDHC is not good enough to record video in high quality and you need to spend loads of $ $ and get high speed SDHC if you want to record in high quality : (
Canon SX200 vs Sony H20
The canon SX200 though having good picture quality and full manual controls was out simply because it does not have optical zoom in videos .
Samsung WB550 vs Sony H20
Optics that match the Lumix TZ7 in spec , and yet offering all what the Sony has to offer , so in theory its the camera that's the all rounder
But the reviews highlighted the picture quality was not very good and had the purple fringing problem
Uncertain quality of samsung camera ( Since the samsung mobile phones are a bit low on reliability from experience )
Therefore i came to the conclusion the best alternative to the Lumix that also matched my needs was the Sony DSC-H20 though knowing that the lack of a true wide screen ( 38mm vs 28mm in the panasonic ) may limit my landscape shots and group photos .
The initial impression once i received the unit was that it was definitely not as slim as the Lumix cameras , and the build quality while good for a plastic unit seemingly a bit fragile compared to the all metal lumix . I guess its going to take some time for me to shift from the lumix mindset : ) The positive being that this sony model was made in Japan .
However the pictures confirmed what the reviewers said that it was camera with good potential . The daylight pictures are superb , and the focus is much faster than the TZ4 i had last . The macro mode is able to go much closer than the TZ4 ( and even the TZ7 ) , and i realized this meant even better close up pictures . The video quality in good light is superb , and the zoom speed is decent , and smooth . The jump to 720p HD is definitely noticed compared to VGA / WVGA and you will not want to revert back : ) The Sony focussed quite well while zooming in video mode compared to the TZ4 ( and i heard the new TZ7 panasonics also still have this problem ) .
Then i tried the indoor pictures , and the quality again was very good ( My wife said the pictures were definitely a lot more clear and vivid compared to the TZ4 ) . The dual shot capability is also useful , though in most cases the second option is useless as the modes used don't seem very intelligent . The flash definitely is very powerful , and works well even to provide background clarity . The video indoors is much better than my TZ4 as it adapts well to the low light , and in high sensitivity mode while the video can be a bit noisy it still able to provide fair footage .
If you are the forgetful type remember to set the flash to auto , if not you are are going to be disappointed when the shots turns out grainy when taken without the flash .
The menus are fairly easy to use the feedback from the navigation buttons are bit less than the TZ4 , and i miss the context menu capability of the lumix . Sony hiding the settings menu and requiring the user to press . at the last menu option is unnecessary initially then i realized its to keep the menu's slimmer with the options required for normal use available , and only the lesser used options are in this hidden menu .
One feature that i thought the camera had was that it could increase its optical zoom to higher values just like the Panasonic range ( e.g . in the lumix when i set it to 3MP , the zoom increased to 15.9X from 10X optical ) . However seems the Sony cannot do that , and only has the digital zoom increasing and this is of no use .
Another useful feature is that you can press the play button when the camera is switched off to view the photos on the camera without having the lens come out . The play button also works when you connect the USB connector to connect to the PC again without the lens mechanism getting activated .
PROS
Good picture quality both outdoors and indoors
Video is very good , and does well in low light as well
Very good macro photos
10X optical zoom an asset for an all purpose camera
Nice features and smile shutter works well ( yet to try blink detection )
Fast focusing specially in low light conditions
Lightweight and well balanced
Nice 3 LCD which shows pictures well
Manual mode useful for indoor and night photos
CONS
Lens cover is a pain , and would have preferred an automatic option like in the lumix , this also makes the camera a bit more bulky
Not a true wide screen optics , so you have a limited view in wide mode
Only 3 modes for video VGA ( 4 : 3 ) , and high / low HD ( 16 : 9 ) .
Use of memory stick as the storage medium : (
A slimmer profile would have been nice
Pop-up flash while effective also mean you need to pop-it in back
Flash recycle time is slow
Manual mode has limited flexibility
[ Update ]
Sold the camera the shutter lag and long flash recycling did not suite my type of photography sadly .
006 4 After going through 2 generations of the lumix TZ series ( TZ3 and TZ4 ) which served well as multi purpose cameras , I wanted a multi-purpose camera that also had better video quality and superior low light capabilities . Here is my why not others comparison ( it may not match with your needs , but it might help some of you )
Panasonic Lumix ZS1 / TZ6 vs Sony H20
Lower quality video ( same as WVGA resolution as the TZ4 ) , and could not adapt to the different lighting conditions like its higher model TZ7 ( something that Panasonic does not mention clearly so be vary ) .
Panasonic ZS3 / TZ7 vs Sony H20
Unfortunately seems to have fallen prey to its high reviews with the price at $399 ( even with weekend discounts it was around $340 ) .
Panasonic has decided to clam on cheap batteries , so you can't use OEM batteries with the latest firmware ( needed as it supposedly fixes the autofocussing issue in videos ) . This mean you need to bust out 50 - 60 $ for a spare battery , and since the new battery is smaller than the one's used in the previous models , you need the spare .
[ Update ] Price has dropped considerably , but the battery prices still remain ridiculously high . After market batteries that work around the chipping proof logic seem to be available but no guarantee if they will work , so not worth the hassle . One more issue i came across after i tried the unit was that Class 6 SDHC is not good enough to record video in high quality and you need to spend loads of $ $ and get high speed SDHC if you want to record in high quality : (
Canon SX200 vs Sony H20
The canon SX200 though having good picture quality and full manual controls was out simply because it does not have optical zoom in videos .
Samsung WB550 vs Sony H20
Optics that match the Lumix TZ7 in spec , and yet offering all what the Sony has to offer , so in theory its the camera that's the all rounder
But the reviews highlighted the picture quality was not very good and had the purple fringing problem
Uncertain quality of samsung camera ( Since the samsung mobile phones are a bit low on reliability from experience )
Therefore i came to the conclusion the best alternative to the Lumix that also matched my needs was the Sony DSC-H20 though knowing that the lack of a true wide screen ( 38mm vs 28mm in the panasonic ) may limit my landscape shots and group photos .
The initial impression once i received the unit was that it was definitely not as slim as the Lumix cameras , and the build quality while good for a plastic unit seemingly a bit fragile compared to the all metal lumix . I guess its going to take some time for me to shift from the lumix mindset : ) The positive being that this sony model was made in Japan .
However the pictures confirmed what the reviewers said that it was camera with good potential . The daylight pictures are superb , and the focus is much faster than the TZ4 i had last . The macro mode is able to go much closer than the TZ4 ( and even the TZ7 ) , and i realized this meant even better close up pictures . The video quality in good light is superb , and the zoom speed is decent , and smooth . The jump to 720p HD is definitely noticed compared to VGA / WVGA and you will not want to revert back : ) The Sony focussed quite well while zooming in video mode compared to the TZ4 ( and i heard the new TZ7 panasonics also still have this problem ) .
Then i tried the indoor pictures , and the quality again was very good ( My wife said the pictures were definitely a lot more clear and vivid compared to the TZ4 ) . The dual shot capability is also useful , though in most cases the second option is useless as the modes used don't seem very intelligent . The flash definitely is very powerful , and works well even to provide background clarity . The video indoors is much better than my TZ4 as it adapts well to the low light , and in high sensitivity mode while the video can be a bit noisy it still able to provide fair footage .
If you are the forgetful type remember to set the flash to auto , if not you are are going to be disappointed when the shots turns out grainy when taken without the flash .
The menus are fairly easy to use the feedback from the navigation buttons are bit less than the TZ4 , and i miss the context menu capability of the lumix . Sony hiding the settings menu and requiring the user to press . at the last menu option is unnecessary initially then i realized its to keep the menu's slimmer with the options required for normal use available , and only the lesser used options are in this hidden menu .
One feature that i thought the camera had was that it could increase its optical zoom to higher values just like the Panasonic range ( e.g . in the lumix when i set it to 3MP , the zoom increased to 15.9X from 10X optical ) . However seems the Sony cannot do that , and only has the digital zoom increasing and this is of no use .
Another useful feature is that you can press the play button when the camera is switched off to view the photos on the camera without having the lens come out . The play button also works when you connect the USB connector to connect to the PC again without the lens mechanism getting activated .
PROS
Good picture quality both outdoors and indoors
Video is very good , and does well in low light as well
Very good macro photos
10X optical zoom an asset for an all purpose camera
Nice features and smile shutter works well ( yet to try blink detection )
Fast focusing specially in low light conditions
Lightweight and well balanced
Nice 3 LCD which shows pictures well
Manual mode useful for indoor and night photos
CONS
Lens cover is a pain , and would have preferred an automatic option like in the lumix , this also makes the camera a bit more bulky
Not a true wide screen optics , so you have a limited view in wide mode
Only 3 modes for video VGA ( 4 : 3 ) , and high / low HD ( 16 : 9 ) .
Use of memory stick as the storage medium : (
A slimmer profile would have been nice
Pop-up flash while effective also mean you need to pop-it in back
Flash recycle time is slow
Manual mode has limited flexibility
[ Update ]
Sold the camera the shutter lag and long flash recycling did not suite my type of photography sadly .
007 4 We went into Best Buy to buy the DSC T77 - it was horrible ! We loved our little W50 and decided to stick with the CyberShot line . Thank goodness we found THIS camera .
I was more than happy to pay the additional cost when I saw all of the features .
Super steady shot - and excellent fast motion shots . Tons of neat settings to catch the perfect shot . The macro and close up capability is in amazing detail - as well as the zoom .
We took pictures at the zoo of Elephants super far away and zoomed in and got some amazing shots !
This camera is positively one of the best I've ever seen Sony put out for it's type . The smile detection function is AWESOME and it REALLY works and it works fast !
Also - you can edit peoples faces ON the camera to make it look like they were smiling ! How cool is that ?
Another thing - you can set priority face recognition so that it will focus on the person you want it to when you're shooting pictures - like the bride in a wedding party for example . You can set her face as a priority face and it will automatically focus on her .
We are in love with this camera and have absolutely NOTHING but good things to say about it !
Buy with confidence knowing you will love this camera .
015 4 Let me start off by saying that I'm one of those people that have to RESEARCH EVERYTHING before I buy it . Believe me , it's gets quite annoying at time - I've lost entire afternoons . . . Anyway , after researching my next digital camera for a July 4th trip to Gettysburg with the cub scouts and a trip to Alaska the following week , I narrowed it down to 3 different cameras . This particular camera ( DSC-H20 ) was not reviewed by many of the more popular review sites due to it being so new . Because of the success I had with my Sony DSC-S85 in the past and the great price , I decided to give it a try . Well , I haven't gotten to Alaska yet , but I did get to Gettysburg and let me just say that I love this camera ! It was so easy to just pick up and run with and use right out of the box ( don't forget to buy memory - Mark2 ) . The pictures and the one high def movie I took are INCREDIBLE ! I owned a 7.1 mp Olympus between these 2 cameras and the quality of the H20 shatters that of the Olympus . I don't have to retouch a single photo - I'm awfully picky when it comes to my pictures !
017 4 My first digital camera was a Sony DSC-S75 which I still use and it takes great photos . I also own a DSC-V1 which I like for its movie clips that play right away in Windows Media Player . I loved those cameras so much I was sure I would like this one just as well , but so far I'm not sure .
On the plus side , it starts up fast and takes great close up photos in macro mode . It does well with outdoor daylight or landscape photos , and the color is very accurate . I like the rounded grip on the right side and the thumb grip on the back , which makes it easy to hold , unlike the little compact cameras that feel like they might fall out of your hand .
Night shots have a LOT of noise or graininess , which was disappointing . When zoomed in at 100% on the computer you can see this . The photos would probably be okay for small prints or viewing the images in a smaller size on the computer , but I doubt that larger prints would turn out well . ( I shot these at the 8M size in 3 : 2 aspect ratio ) .
I took some outdoor night shots of various lighted buildings , a steamboat , etc . that were lit up for Christmas and there were lights reflecting on a river . I took other night shots with lit buildings . The good thing was that the camera actually made the photos appear brighter than the scene actually looked in real life , but there was still a lot of noise in the dark areas .
I don't really like that this camera films its movies in MPEG4 , which is not compatible with Windows Media Player . Before I bought it , I thought that MPEG4 was compatible , but it's not . I also don't like that Sony has reduced the size of their memory sticks . Now if you want to use a card reader that's already in your computer , you have to find an adaptor to place the smaller memory stick in , then put the adaptor in your computer . Luckily I was able to find one at K-Mart , but good luck finding a genuine non-imitation Sony memory stick adaptor on the Internet , it's like finding a needle in a haystack . You can always hook up the camera using the USB cable , but that sort of defeats the purpose of having a card reader in your computer !
UPDATE : Dec . 25 , 2009 - After using this camera more , I'm starting to like it better . After comparing it with the Canon SD1200 , this Sony does better with lighting and video quality . The Canon often has a hard time capturing accurate reds in certain situations . Also , the Canon does not do as well in dark lighting when it comes to making the setting brighter . I have taken many photos of Christmas lights at night with both cameras , and while the Sony still has more noise in darker areas , it has done much better at capturing the warmth and brightness of the lights . It makes dark scenes lighter and brighter , which looks nice .
Also , I downloaded the VLC video player from Videolan and it works to play the MPEG4 clips . Microsoft's website says MPEG4 will not play in Media Player ( unless you convert them ) , I've tried and it won't work . ( I have version 10 . ) BTW , the MPEG4 video clips from the Sony are also better quality than the AVI files from the Canon . You can also use the zoom lens in the Sony while filming video and it does not degrade the quality of the video . Whereas with my Canon SD1200 , it only has a 3X zoom and you can't even use the whole zoom in video mode without it getting blurry . ( I know these 2 cameras aren't exactly in the same category or class , but that's what I have right now so that's what I'm comparing it with . )
Sony cameras are also more user friendly when downloading files onto a computer . I've had problems importing video files from my Canon ; there are always a few video clips that show 0 file size and won't play until I re-import them using the Microsoft Camera Wizard , which is a big pain . I've never had that problem with a Sony camera .
UPDATE AGAIN : Dec . 31 , 2009 . I've been researching noise and high megapixel count . I learned that higher megapixels in a smaller camera with a smaller sensor means more noise , because each pixel is smaller and less light reaches each pixel . After testing and using some of the new model cameras with 10 or 12 megapixels , there is just no escaping this noise issue . This Sony H20 camera still does very well with lighting , focus , and color accuracy , but I have even found that shots of people in regular indoor lighting still have lots of noise and fuzziness when viewed at 100% in Photoshop . They look okay in 4x6 size prints , but I doubt that larger ones would look good .
If you read the specs at dpreview , note that the expensive SLR cameras have larger sensors with LESS pixel density , whereas most of the small cameras with 10 - 12 megapixels crammed in have MORE pixel density , which translates to more noise on the image . Camera manufacturers must know this , and I don't know why they continue to make small cameras this way . Higher MP count in small cameras only makes image quality worse , not better .
From my experience , the best older camera for pure photo quality is the Sony DSC-V1 . Its little batteries don't hold a charge for very long , and videos are a little jerky , but nothing I have found so far beats it for sharp , clear image quality with little to no noise . It only has 5 megapixels , but 5 or 6 is all most people really need for good quality prints , anyway . Unless you want to shell out over $500 for an SLR .
018 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I also have only had the camera for a few days but am impressed with the picture quality and ease of use . It was the size I wanted for bicycle touring and general photography when I don't feel like carrying my SLR . The included multi-function USB hook-up is a bit large - fine for the desk drawer but bulky for traveling . The included picture software is only Windows compatible and I am a Mac User but the camera works fine with iPhoto software that comes with a Mac . I put up a few of my first photos since no others were available .
020 4 I spent a long , long time researching this camera and I ended up comparing it to the following cameras :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Red )
and
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD ( Black )
. This was a very difficult decision for me as each of these cameras has strong points and weak points and none of them are perfect . My favorite sites for doing this research , btw , are dpreview , imaging-resource , cameralabs and photographyblog .
So , why did I pick this camera over the other two I looked at ? Let me answer those one at a time :
( 1 ) SX200 - this one was very tempting to me . I really liked the range on the lens ( 12x , starting at 28mm vs 38mm 10x for the H20 ) and I also liked how it looked , especially the red one . My last camera was a Canon A80 , so this was a very natural upgrade for me to consider . I liked , for example , all the manual control with this camera ( it has shutter and aperture priority , which my H20 does not ( but it does have a manual mode where you can set these manually ) . But , this camera had three issues that worried me : ( 1 ) I saw way too many references to lens errors with this camera ( check the 1 star reviews and google it ) , ( 2 ) the camera cannot zoom optically while taking movies and ( 3 ) when I compared the pictures side-by-side to the H20 ( which a couple of the sites I mentioned let you do ) the H20 pictures were crisper and sharper and had more detail , which I like . Based on what I read , the MP4 HD movie format of my H20 should be more compact and easier to work with than the MOV format of the Canon .
( 2 ) ZS3 - okay , this one looks like a nice camera . It has stereo sound in movies and it also has optical zoom , like the H20 . Another nice thing about the ZS3 is that the lens zooms more quietly then my H20 - you can hear the lens motor moving the lens in and out on the H20 and I did not notice that in ZS3 movies I listened to on Youtube . In the end , the ZS3 is really a straight point and shoot , however , and it does not have much in the way of manual controls ( I would put the H20 in between the Canon and the ZS3 in this regard ) and I really like to fool around with settings , so for me this was a negative . Other than that though , the ZS3 looked like a good camera ( It also has a nice range lens , 25 - 300mm ) . I did get the impression in reviews that maybe my H20 took better straight photos then this one , although I would give the ZS3 the nod when it comes to HD movie capability .
What do I like about the H20 ?
* Solid construction , does not feel fragile
* Takes excellent , sharp , clear photos with good , natural color
* Good intelligent auto mode - has a feature here where it will take an extra photo with slightly tweaked settings so you can choose the best one to keep
* Takes very good HD movies with optical zoom ( but mono sound )
* Allows me to play with settings ( manual mode , etc )
* Fast - check reviews for FPS ( e.g . CNET ) , it is a fast camera compared to others ( such as the Canon )
* Good flash , can be adjusted
* Nice , clear LCD ( but can be a bit difficult to see in bright sun )
* This camera has excellent image stabilization ( check that at cameralabs )
What don't I like ?
* I wish it had a wider angle lens at the low end like the other two cameras I looked at
* The optical zoom makes a noise when I use it while taking movies
* It does not have an HDMI port on it , so you have to get one of these
Sony VMC-MHC2 DSC HD Accessory Audio Video and USB Cable ( Black )
to connect it to your HD TV
* I would have preferred AA batteries , although some reviews claim that cameras are slower because of those
* 10x zoom is good , but 20x is better !
* Low light movies indoors are grainy
Besides the cable I linked , I got this case for it :
Sony LCS-CSD General Carrying Case for Compatible Cybershot Digital Cameras
and this screen protector / battery combo :
eForcity Reusable Screen Protector + NP-BG1 Li-Ion Battery for Sony DSC-H20
. The case fits it very well and has room for the extra battery . The battery works fine as well and seems to have equivalent life to the OEM battery ( I can use the charger that came with the camera to charge it ) .
All in all , I am happy with the camera . I have had no problems with it and , within the limitations of its lens ( no wide angle ) , it takes excellent photos and movies .
021 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
Overall I think its the most balanced camera out there from a quality / features / price standpoint . Recently the price came down to $229 on amazon , makes a even better deal . Some things i like about it are :
1 . Good picture quality
2 . Good 10x zoom . / Good Macro close up shots .
3 . Ability to record HD video ( 720p ) and use zoom function at the same time .
4 . Large 3 inch lcd display .
5 . Has some manual control options ( that by the way can alow you to take much better photos then simply leaving it on auto . )
6 . Better in low light then most cameras in its class .
things that could use improving :
1 . A little slow between shots .
2 . Could be a little faster when reviewing and editing photos in camera .
Overall : Very Good / 4 stars .
024 4 I bought this camera in my country , Portugal . I don't like buying electronic stuff through internet , just a security option for me . I did bought here in Amazon a 2 GB MS card and a bag for my camera . I like them both , as well as I love the camera . I haven't got many opportunities to test it fully , but I can say this camera does more than even Sony says in their product page .
For a start , its possible to add an adaptor ring to use a Teleconversion lens , a Close-Up lens , a Wide-Conversion lens , and every 58 mm filter ( UV , Polarizer , Fluorescent , ND , etc . ) you can find in the market . If you do a little research in Sony online shop , you can discover all this , but they seem to lack some information ( like the camera compability with these accessories ) . I have searched in the main accessory section for digital cameras , then the H series , and then , Lenses . What do they show up ? Nothing . However , in my camera box , there is a picture illustrating how easy it is to add the adaptor (
Sony VAD-HA Lens Adaptor Ring for DSC-H20
) and connected to this ring , one of the following lenses :
-
Sony VCL-DH1758 Tele Conversion Lens for DSCH1 Digital Camera
-
Sony VCL-M3358 58mm Close Up Lens for the DCR-VX2100
-
Sony VCL-DH0758 Wide Angle Conversion Lens for DSCH1 , H2 and H5 Digital Cameras
More detailed information and other accessories-related stuff comes in a flyer that ships with inside the camera box .
Apart from this lack of information from Sony , the camera works great and does what it is supposed to do . Yesterday night , with the help of a photography book manual , I was able to get my camera to take a 30 seconds shoot just close to the window , pointing straigh-forward , and capture a nice training picture of an urban theme . I didn't know the camera could do that , as well as a 1 / 2000 second shoot , on the other hand . You can control a lot of other details , like ISO value between 80 and 3200 , the flash level ( when used ) , 10x zoom ( but that anyone already knows by now ) , and the capability to slowly zoom in and out while taking a HD movie , with sound .
My rating for this camera is a 5 star because I love all the things it has . If someone asks me about rating the manufacturer , Sony , I would say a 4 . They lack essential information in their site , as I stated before .
For a digital camera , its excelent at what it does . And great because of its value vs advanced functions , that make this almost like a tiny and wannabe SLR camera .
025 4 After about 2 weeks of spending a portion of every night on every website I could think of reading reviews and specs of different cameras , I settled on this one , mainly because of the 10x zoom in such a compact camera . I was a little leery of the fact that it was only 10.1 megapixels , but after some research , I realized that , unless you plan to blow up your photos to larger than 14 by 11 or something , you're still getting resolution that is as good as 35mm ( with the ease of a point and shoot ) . The pictures look fabulous ( and that's on a 22 HD monitor ) and the camera is very easy to use , but the most suprisingly pleasing feature is the video quality . It shoots video in 720P and the sound is actually quite good for a little camera . The most exciting thing to us is that we have been able to take it to a number of concerts this summer where video cameras would not have been allowed but where small non-professional cameras are welcome and have come away with some very high quality video souvenirs . I'm not talking 1 minute clips , I'm talking song after song after song with very good sound and GREAT video . We won't even burn it to DVD because we don't want the resolution to jump down to 480 from 720 . . . looks like we'll need a blu ray burner soon !
One thing about the video , when we played it back , the audio was a few seconds ahead of the video . It was an easy fix though because we downloaded a free program to play it through that put the audio in sync with the video . PERFECTION !
I saw a couple looking at the camera in best buy and I had to stop and tell them that it is practically a must-have . I think they bought it actually .
You will want a 4 or 8 GB memory stick if you plan to do a lot of video . We did about 40 - 45 minutes on a 4 gig and we still had extra room , but for a kid's play or a concert or something , it would probably be nice to have an 8 gig just for the peace of mind . It would also be handy to have an extra battery because we have had the low battery light come on , but only after LOTS of pictures and video ( we don't have one and have been fine , but we may get one ) .
One more thing . . . the small cybershot case that many people have bought with this is NOT big enough for this model , it is for the smaller cybershots that don't have the powerful optical zoom . Ours is sitting empty in our house , but the camera fits easily in a purse or coat pocket so we haven't bothered to replace it yet .
I cannot reccommend this camera strongly enough . Happy shopping !
026 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I misplaced my Sony DSC-P200 that I loved and assuming I would eventually find it ( I did ) , I wanted something different to take on vacation . The P200 only has a 3X optical zoom and 2 sisters recommended a 10X . I've taken over 500 pictures / videos on this camera so far and overall , I'm happy . The only things I don't like are the lack of a view finder and the plastic lens cap that has to be manually removed . It is almost impossible to find a 10X digital camera with a view finder and although they said it was easy to see the screen on this camera in the sun , it is not . If you forget to take off the lens cap , the camera stalls out and you have to turn it off and then turn it on again - meanwhile , missing your shot . I had no idea that Sony would make a digital camera without an automatic lens cover .
I thought that I would not like the charger . With the P200 , I just plug it in and don't have to take the battery out and wanted that again . I was wrong . It is quick and easy to take the battery out and charge it and the charger is nice and small for travel . I would definitely choose this system again .
I used this camera on a recent trip to California and took pictures in Monterey Bay Aquarium , at the beach , and in Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks . I took pictures and videos of animals in aquariums , seals on the rocks below us at Pt . Lobos , kids doing cartwheels on the beach , close-ups and distant shots of vegetation , etc and most pictures turned out wonderfully . My sister was frequently taking similar pictures on her Panasonic Lumix 10X and for the most part , my pictures were noticeably better . I can actually see the parts of the jellyfish that look like moving neon lights in both the still shots and videos . She cannot . The advantages of her camera are the lens cover and a smaller size but I'm happy I bought the Sony instead . I'd be happier with a view finder and different lens cover though .
028 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I did my homework on the zoom point and shoot camera class after having to return a Nikon L - 100 . The Nikon took blurry dark pictures in almost every light condition except bright sun , and it used up AA batteries at an alarming rate . After checking all of the review sites I could find , I settled on the DSC-H20 , had the best overall reviews for ease of use and picure quality combined . I like C-NET for electronic reviews and have found their reviews to be un-biased and accurate with knowledegeable experts giving te reviews .
They were right about the point and shoot picture quality of this camera . The first photos I took of some items to auction on ebay came out very good in inteligent auto mode in a brightly lit room , and I was very happy initally .
I had to use the 7 year old Dell photo software that was on my computer because I could not figure out the Sony PMB photo software that came with the camera . The PMB software CD that came with the DSC-H20 also installed four different programs on my computer . The PMB software is NOT user friendly and I have given up trying to use it . I read the camera owners manual and the sofware manual entirely , still confused on how to edit , process , and file photos . Now to the menus on the camera : you have to keep the owners manual nearby constantly to remember which mode you need to be in to find the right adjustment item . If you are the type that uses your camera every day , you can probably start to remember where everything is . If you are like me and use the camera maybe three times / month , good luck trying to adjust any settings .
Now to the two major flaws that feel C-Net and other reviewers are missing . The Cybershot DSC-H20 is not only lacking a wide angle lens like most of the competition , but this camera has an extremely NARROW ANGLE LENS . It is similar to my 20 year old 35mm . No group photos or lanscape shots with this camera .
The other major flaw is no viewfinder , which would be ok if you could actually see the screen in bright outdoor light . Most digital point and shoots have no viewfinder , but the glare off of the screen on the DSC-H20 makes any outdoor photo a challenge .
029 4 I did my homework on the zoom point and shoot camera class after having to return a Nikon L - 100 . The Nikon took blurry dark pictures in almost every light condition except bright sun , and it used up AA batteries at an alarming rate . After checking all of the review sites I could find , I settled on the DSC-H20 , had the best overall reviews for ease of use and picure quality combined . I like C-NET for electronic reviews and have found their reviews to be un-biased and accurate with knowledegeable experts giving te reviews .
They were right about the point and shoot picture quality of this camera . The first photos I took of some items to auction on ebay came out very good in inteligent auto mode in a brightly lit room , and I was very happy initally .
I had to use the 7 year old Dell photo software that was on my computer because I could not figure out the Sony PMB photo software that came with the camera . The PMB software CD that came with the DSC-H20 also installed four different programs on my computer . The PMB software is NOT user friendly and I have given up trying to use it . I read the camera owners manual and the sofware manual entirely , still confused on how to edit , process , and file photos . Now to the menus on the camera : you have to keep the owners manual nearby constantly to remember which mode you need to be in to find the right adjustment item . If you are the type that uses your camera every day , you can probably start to remember where everything is . If you are like me and use the camera maybe three times / month , good luck trying to adjust any settings .
Now to the two major flaws that feel C-Net and other reviewers are missing . The Cybershot DSC-H20 is not only lacking a wide angle lens like most of the competition , but this camera has an extremely NARROW ANGLE LENS . It is similar to my 20 year old 35mm . No group photos or lanscape shots with this camera .
The other major flaw is no viewfinder , which would be ok if you could actually see the screen in bright outdoor light . Most digital point and shoots have no viewfinder , but the glare off of the screen on the DSC-H20 makes any outdoor photo a challenge .
031 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I've had a variety of great digital cameras , but recently found myself wanting / needing a compact , super-zoom , HD video camera . The choices came down to the Panasonic ZS3 and the Sony CyberShot DSC-H20 . Hands on is the only real way of determining which is best for a person , so I bought both to do a direct comparison . After a week of comparing these two cameras in daylight , low light , night shots , and video here is MY conclusion ( individual mileage may vary . . . ) :
I'm keeping the Sony H20 ; it has to be one of the most underated cameras being sold today . I'll summarize at the end of this review why it is so much better for me than the Panasonic . But now for some specifics about the Sony H20 .
Pros :
Great screen
Optical zoom while video recording
Great low light capabilities
Strong flash
Manual controls
Excellent IA mode
High quality video
Cons :
Lens cap
Overall size and shape compared to Panasonic ZS3
Cost of memory stick pro duo compared to SD / micro SD storage
Lack of true wide-angle lens ( see below how this not a con for me )
The Panasonic ZS3 was not a bad camera ( It was better in some ways . . . video primarily , than the Canon SX200is ) , but it's picture quality is not up to some of the Canon and Sony models I've used . The biggest problem for me however , was the dismal low light capabilities . I'm not trying to shoot in the dark , but I'm also not always in a small room and close to the subjects where the flash MIGHT work . I like to use the camera at concerts and in cities using the ambient street / sign lighting .
The Sony H20 on the other hand has EXCELLENT low light and night shot capabilities ! Also the video is just as high quality , you can optically zoom during video recording , and the focus seems quicker during zooming . You have an abundance of manual controls in addition to an IA mode that seems just as smart as the Panasonic ZS3 . And the final point in favor of the Sony is the image quality comparing identical pictures taken under the same lighting , time , zoom , etc . conditions was much better with the Sony , especially at the 5 - 10X zoom level . The noise level was much less even at ISO 800 with the Sony .
The cons for the Sony would be the lens cap , slightly larger camera thickness , and the not so wide-angle lens . However for me , the wide-angle lens issue did not bother me as I rarely take any type of group pictures needing a super wide-angle lens . Remember , that's how I use a camera ; this may not work for you , but don't count out the Sony because of that .
Control responsiveness and shot to shot speed was similar in both cameras . Both cameras have excellent build quality . Battery life was similar . . . around 250 pictures with 30% of that using the flash and 30 minutes worth of video .
Hope this has been helpful and at least gives you some things to consider about you camera needs .
032 4 I've had a variety of great digital cameras , but recently found myself wanting / needing a compact , super-zoom , HD video camera . The choices came down to the Panasonic ZS3 and the Sony CyberShot DSC-H20 . Hands on is the only real way of determining which is best for a person , so I bought both to do a direct comparison . After a week of comparing these two cameras in daylight , low light , night shots , and video here is MY conclusion ( individual mileage may vary . . . ) :
I'm keeping the Sony H20 ; it has to be one of the most underated cameras being sold today . I'll summarize at the end of this review why it is so much better for me than the Panasonic . But now for some specifics about the Sony H20 .
Pros :
Great screen
Optical zoom while video recording
Great low light capabilities
Strong flash
Manual controls
Excellent IA mode
High quality video
Cons :
Lens cap
Overall size and shape compared to Panasonic ZS3
Cost of memory stick pro duo compared to SD / micro SD storage
Lack of true wide-angle lens ( see below how this not a con for me )
The Panasonic ZS3 was not a bad camera ( It was better in some ways . . . video primarily , than the Canon SX200is ) , but it's picture quality is not up to some of the Canon and Sony models I've used . The biggest problem for me however , was the dismal low light capabilities . I'm not trying to shoot in the dark , but I'm also not always in a small room and close to the subjects where the flash MIGHT work . I like to use the camera at concerts and in cities using the ambient street / sign lighting .
The Sony H20 on the other hand has EXCELLENT low light and night shot capabilities ! Also the video is just as high quality , you can optically zoom during video recording , and the focus seems quicker during zooming . You have an abundance of manual controls in addition to an IA mode that seems just as smart as the Panasonic ZS3 . And the final point in favor of the Sony is the image quality comparing identical pictures taken under the same lighting , time , zoom , etc . conditions was much better with the Sony , especially at the 5 - 10X zoom level . The noise level was much less even at ISO 800 with the Sony .
The cons for the Sony would be the lens cap , slightly larger camera thickness , and the not so wide-angle lens . However for me , the wide-angle lens issue did not bother me as I rarely take any type of group pictures needing a super wide-angle lens . Remember , that's how I use a camera ; this may not work for you , but don't count out the Sony because of that .
Control responsiveness and shot to shot speed was similar in both cameras . Both cameras have excellent build quality . Battery life was similar . . . around 250 pictures with 30% of that using the flash and 30 minutes worth of video .
Hope this has been helpful and at least gives you some things to consider about you camera needs .
033 4 I was originally going to give to give this camera 3 stars , but , considering I paid just under $200 with some Rewards Zone coupons and sale price at Best Buy , I decided to give it one extra star . Don't get me wrong it's a very nice camera . The build quality is very good ; almost like a mini SLR .
I love that it includes a cap to keep your lens protected when not in use . Be careful however when playing back your pictures . I found that when viewing pictures with the camera turned off , you had to hit the on / off button to shut it off , as opposed to just hitting the play button again . Otherwise the camera turns on and if you have your cap on , you risk damaging the lens motor . My other camera is a Canon SD990is which can be turned off by hitting the play button . It makes complete sense , but I think the Canon is more convenient in this area .
Well , it's tough to compare the two considering that the Canon costs considerably more , but there are some areas in which I wish the Sony performed better . Mainly in low light . Pictures regardless of which of the many picture settings I used were noticeably grainy . This is very disappointing since I tend to take many pictures at night and prefer to avoid using the flash when possible . Even with it on however the Sony just cannot keep up with the Canon . Again , it's way more money , but if you're looking for a camera with good low light performance , consider looking elsewhere .
On a more positive note , this camera has something the Canon doesn't ; and that is an adjustable flash . This is a great feature which I found helped me fine tune indoors pictures . Sometimes flashes tend to be too strong and wash out subjects , but in this case you have the option of regulating the output . Very useful indeed . Additionally , the auto macro mode is super awesome on the Sony . In the Canon you have to select it .
The intelligent mode works well enough , though I tend to leave it in P mode . I also did some filming at a baseball game and found the quality of movies to be very good . I love the 10x optical zoom . This was a huge selling point for me as digital zooms are pointless since they deteriorate quality significantly .
Daytime pictures on the other hand are very good with natural colors . The camera had trouble focusing occasionally , but this was rare . I noticed that at the baseball game mentioned earlier the white lines in certain areas looked jagged . I thought this might have been a result of my using the full zoom , but I found that in other pictures with no zoom the jaggedness was also visible . Very rare , but nonetheless noticeable in certain pictures . Very random .
In conclusion my review is only meant to point out flaws that might be important to other consumers , but it's certainly not meant to bash the camera . For the price that I paid I can't say I regret making my purchase . It's a very solid camera with many useful features and very nice quality pictures , especially during the daytime and in bright sunny conditions .
036 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I purchased this camera a week ago , When I purchased this camera it sold by Amazon and eligible for Amazon Prime . ( I have been a prime member for two years ) I purchased this camera as NEW . However I just received this camera today ( it was back ordered ) when it came to me it became clear that this was not a New In Box product . It was taped up from being previously opened , there were three scratches in the display panel and there were two actual pictures taken by someone else in the came internal memory ! ! ! Obviously this was a return by someone else and was pawned off to me as new . So I call Amazon thinking no sweat I will just send it back and get a new one . No such luck , the Camera that last week was $230 is now $279 and guess what ? ? ? It is no longer eligible for Amazon Prime , it is now shipped and sold by Tiger Direct for $279.00 so I have to pay $49 extra and shipping fees . Then of course dealing with Amazon's customer service ( in India of course is there any other kind ) was a NIGHTMARE ! They refused to help in any way although they were clearly out of companiance with the terms & conditions of the sale . I bought and paid for a NEW in box camera and received a damaged and used camera . Buyers beware , this review is not against this camera , but let me warn you NOT to purchase it from Amazon because God Forbid something goes wrong .
038 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I love this camera ! ! I also did my homework & read so many different reviews for many different cameras . The Sony H20 is amazing . There are so many feature in one sturdy , compact , powerful camera ! I love the smiley face feature ! I have 4 small kids and just waiting for a smile can make time go way slow . . . With the press of the smiley face feature , once someone shows those cute teeth , the camera snaps the picture automatically ! I just love that . The price for this camera you just cannot beat esp if you buy it on Amazon.com ( free ship , no tax ! Sales tax in CA , brutal ) There are so many features on this camera but if you just want to leave it on the auto mode , the camera responds beautifully.The LCD screen is nice and large . Overall , I am so glad i did my research and made this purchase . Sony has an outstanding product .
041 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I read every review on the internet and compared all prices . I previously had a Kodak that I was happy with but needed a camera with more optical zoom for sports and inside school events . I was down to two choices the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 or the Kodak Easyshare Z1015IS . AFter reading all the reviews I bought the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 because this camera had better user reviews , was smaller , less money , and rated high by Consumer Reports . The camera is small enough to carry in your pocket but is a little heavy . The optical zoom , picture quality , and movie video are amazing . I am a very picky person and I love this camera .
042 4 I read every review on the internet and compared all prices . I previously had a Kodak that I was happy with but needed a camera with more optical zoom for sports and inside school events . I was down to two choices the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 or the Kodak Easyshare Z1015IS . AFter reading all the reviews I bought the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 because this camera had better user reviews , was smaller , less money , and rated high by Consumer Reports . The camera is small enough to carry in your pocket but is a little heavy . The optical zoom , picture quality , and movie video are amazing . I am a very picky person and I love this camera .
045 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I owned a pink Sony Cybershot with 4x optical zoom and 7.1 MP model DSC W120 camera that took 480 x 640 video . I was looking for something with more optical zoom and 720 HD video since my camcorder no longer works and was the old-style tape kind . Tape video was also difficult and time consuming to import into a computer versus digital version .
My decision was between this and the Canon SX120 ( the most comparable in price ) or SX20 .
I liked that both of the Canons took AA ( two or four ) batteries and a standard SD card , but the Canon SX120 still had the 480 x 640 video . So the deciding factor for the Sony over the Canon SX120 was the 720 HD video , being able to record in a more compressed format , and recording for longer periods of time .
The Canon SX20 ' s ( a larger camera that is more the size of a SLR ) only additional real advantage over the SX120 was the 720 HD video and 20x zoom which was important since I am using this as a camcorder right now too , BUT it is about $200 more . I still will probably get a HD camcorder ( 1080 instead of 720 ) someday so I couldn't justify this not to mention this camera wasn't really pocketable for most of the events I would be using a camera for , and it seemed like you could only record for 20 minutes at a time in a less compressed format .
Although it's nice that the Canons I looked at use an SD card , you have to get at least a Class 6 ( I think or better ) , and not all SD cards are the same quality even if they are the minimum class . Though I dislike proprietary cards , using a Sony memory stick will probably mean the least issues later on with video quality .
The included battery pack I had in my old Sony camera is the same one this camera takes , and it lasted for a long time not to mention I'll have an extra for this camera now . It also seemed like my Nikon camera my daughter has that used AA batteries took longer to recover even though it was comparable to the Sony DSC W120 in other ways . I do wish Sony would have included the upgraded battery that displayed the time left instead of just a graphic indicator amount of battery left . I like that a separate battery charger is included so I can charge the extra battery and still use the camera .
I am very pleased with the intelligent auto mode plus the manual options as well . It also captures action and low-light shots much better than my W120 model camera . It seems to reduce red eye and the glow of pet's eyes much better , and it's easier to fix if there is a problem . 10x will be enough zoom for most pictures .
Video is so much clearer than the video my W120 took ! It imported well into the latest version of Pinnacle Studio though I would use the video from the original card instead of copying to hard drive if you don't want to use Sony's software to transfer it . If I just copied it to the hard drive , it seemed like there were some bad places in the video that don't show up if I used the original video on the Sony card . It is going to take a lot more computer resources to process the 1080 so this may be a good compromise until I can upgrade my computer including adding a blu-ray burner . For now , I am downgrading the 720 video to a standard DVD anyway until I can upgrade the computer DVD drive and household DVD player to a blu-ray . The video is still much clearer than video from the 480 x 640 on a 720 HD TV that is about 42 .
Overall , this camera is a great all around camera that is still small enough to be portable , easy to grip , and a value packed for the price ! It is a definite model to check out within this price range : - ) .
048 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I'll be straightfoward , this is an amazing camera , if you don't know how to take pictures , i'm sorry.For 229.00 u.s.d , you can't beat it , and in this price range , this is a super camera.i won't tell you how many cameras i've had or how much experience i got in the field , but i'll tell you i was a digital camera and SLR product specialist and this camera is simply awesome , give your head a shake and keep your feet on the ground.There's no perfect camera in this price range , but believe me , this is the closest to perfection i've seen.Great lense , sensor , feel , plenty of optical zoom , body , display , features , gadgets , look , in brief , more than enough for a point and shoot camera.Recently i've tried cameras at this level from KODAK , FUJI , NIKON , CANON , PANASONIC , CASIO And so far , this is the overall winner.I'm not a SONY guy , but SONY has proven to be pretty good at making these point and shoot cameras.I highly recommend this budget , super camera.Thanks and my respect to the japanese engineers behind this technology
053 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I purchased the DSC-H20 from Amazon.com for $229 in Dec 2009 . I had first purchased a Sony DSC-W290 , but was very dissatisfied with the picture quality and Video sound on the W290 . The pictures on the W290 were soft - meaning they lacked sharpness , and they lacked detail . There also was an intermittent electronic buzzing in videos on the W290 .
So - I researched more , purchased this Camera , and did a side by side comparison - no contest . The H20 consistently took sharper images , and captured more detail than the W290 , even though the W290 was 12.1 mpixel , and the H20 is 10.1 mpixel . Also I am very pleased with the video sound quality on the H20 .
The DSC-H20 takes beautiful photos , clear HD videos , and allows you to zoom in and out while recording a video , which is rare on most cameras in this price range . The macro mode takes awesome closeups , and the 10x optical zoom works great ! The zoom control is different from most sony cybershots - using a trigger / dial type mechanism that surrounds the shutter button , and operated by your right index finger . This allows you to zoom very slowly , or very quickly , depending on how far you move the control to the left or right . This lets you zoom so gradually it is almost unnoticable .
I was amazed when I was just playing around with the camera at dusk , when the moon had risen . I set the mode to Intelligent Auto , set zoom at 10x , held the camera in my hands , aimed at the moon , and gently squeezed the shutter . I could see craters on the moon - without a tripod - while the sky was still blue - awesome !
Used a tripod later in the evening - and captured a beautiful photo of the moon's craters and surface detail !
I am very very happy with this camera !
054 4 I purchased the DSC-H20 from Amazon.com for $229 in Dec 2009 . I had first purchased a Sony DSC-W290 , but was very dissatisfied with the picture quality and Video sound on the W290 . The pictures on the W290 were soft - meaning they lacked sharpness , and they lacked detail . There also was an intermittent electronic buzzing in videos on the W290 .
So - I researched more , purchased this Camera , and did a side by side comparison - no contest . The H20 consistently took sharper images , and captured more detail than the W290 , even though the W290 was 12.1 mpixel , and the H20 is 10.1 mpixel . Also I am very pleased with the video sound quality on the H20 .
The DSC-H20 takes beautiful photos , clear HD videos , and allows you to zoom in and out while recording a video , which is rare on most cameras in this price range . The macro mode takes awesome closeups , and the 10x optical zoom works great ! The zoom control is different from most sony cybershots - using a trigger / dial type mechanism that surrounds the shutter button , and operated by your right index finger . This allows you to zoom very slowly , or very quickly , depending on how far you move the control to the left or right . This lets you zoom so gradually it is almost unnoticable .
I was amazed when I was just playing around with the camera at dusk , when the moon had risen . I set the mode to Intelligent Auto , set zoom at 10x , held the camera in my hands , aimed at the moon , and gently squeezed the shutter . I could see craters on the moon - without a tripod - while the sky was still blue - awesome !
Used a tripod later in the evening - and captured a beautiful photo of the moon's craters and surface detail !
I am very very happy with this camera !
056 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I have bought several types and different styles of camaras , but this one beats them all . I am not a camara guy , but after using my new cybershot , I pick it up and just shot pictures all the time , how easy is it when you set the camara on easy and the camara does all the work . I had previous issues with another cybershot because you could not take a picture without it coming out blurred , but now I can shake or the object I'm taking a picture of can move around and I get a perfect picture with the help of it's stabilizer function . My wife first thought we were going to buy one together since she takes pictures 100 times more than I do , but instead I bought it for her birthday and first she was not be happy but then I got compliments after she started using it for a week . Well I can't wait to buy some attachments for it and then my wife can take the most awsome and perfect pictures .
058 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
This camera is easy to use , takes great pictures , and I love the zoom . Our previous camera was a Sony but had the smaller optical zoom . This 10 x makes a big difference ! Using it for vacations , sporting events , and taking pictures of our horses . I will see how it does in a gym when basketball starts . I really like the burst feature which takes 10 pictures by just holding down the button and the smile feature is also nice . So far , the only thing I would change would be to have a viewfinder . I miss that from my other camera . Also would be nice to have a neck strap . I am going to purchase another battery to carry along because although the battery life is good , if you're taking a lot of pictures and will be gone longer than a day , I'd suggest a second one . I had debated on purchasing the next up camera with 20x optical zoom ( can't remember the model # ) but it was $400 and thought the reviews on this camera were better regarding the quality of pictures and the lens .
060 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
The cyber shot H20 takes great pictures and videos , can ~ t be any better for the price . I was sorry I did not take with me at the concert I went just recently , I did not want to drop it . The only negative thing about this beauty is that it won ` t fit in your pocket and is a bit heavy it would be great if it came with neck strap .
062 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I purchased this camera for my recent trip along California Hwy 1 . After reading the reviews here I chose this over the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 . I'm no pro but the proof is in the pictures . I took over 1100 with an 8GB card and every single picture came out awesome ! ! Even those with low light were nice and clear . People have commented how clear and bright the pictures were . I really like the large screen so you can get a better view of what you just shot . The camera is super to easy to use especially with the EASY setting ( duh ! ! ) . If you prefer using some of the Scene features like gourmet food , beach , or landscape those really enhance the shot . The 10x Zoom lens can't be beat . Overall a great purchase . I would suggest upgrading your battery to the NP-FG1 . It seems to hold a charge better than the NP-BG1 which comes w / the camera
063 4 I purchased this camera for my recent trip along California Hwy 1 . After reading the reviews here I chose this over the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 . I'm no pro but the proof is in the pictures . I took over 1100 with an 8GB card and every single picture came out awesome ! ! Even those with low light were nice and clear . People have commented how clear and bright the pictures were . I really like the large screen so you can get a better view of what you just shot . The camera is super to easy to use especially with the EASY setting ( duh ! ! ) . If you prefer using some of the Scene features like gourmet food , beach , or landscape those really enhance the shot . The 10x Zoom lens can't be beat . Overall a great purchase . I would suggest upgrading your battery to the NP-FG1 . It seems to hold a charge better than the NP-BG1 which comes w / the camera
064 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I bought this camera for a week-long trip to D.C . , NYC and Niagara Falls in September ' 09 . I reviewed many cameras and got a number of recommendations from friends . Then I came upon this little guy while on Amazon.com . I am over the top happy with this camera . Battery charges fast & holds charge for hours in spite of off / on , zoom , movies , play back , etc . I was really pleased . Never once did I have any problems with the camera . Power up to 1st shot is very quick . Clarity of 3 LCD screen is incredible . I put one of those screen protectors on since I knew I'd be haulin ' it everywhere . That works great as well . I used an 8GB data card and it holds tons of shots & vids . The only thing I was worried about was the lens caps and what a hassel it would be . But it really wasn't a problem at all . The on / off action of the lens cap becomes an automatic action . When taking movies , remember to move the mode back to pics to avoid delays . I made that mistake a couple of times . Hopefully this helps those who are on the fence . No it's not micro-compact but it's small enough to slip into a jacket pocket , purse , etc . Placement of the data port is odd and the PC cable is bulky but for the quality I don't care . My friends carried a Nikon P90 and a Canon is1000 - This Sony H20 outperformed them 90% of the time ( simple point & shoot use ) indoors & out . Especially on zoom shots . Did I mention how much I love this camera ?
067 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
As a very picky camery buyer and user , I am really impressed with this one . I just got it yesterday , spent last evening going around the house in rather dim light conditions , taking pictures , and fully expecting to be disappointed like I have been on the 7 or 8 cameras I purchased over the last year and subsequently returned . Instead I have wonderful pictures , great color resolution , the backgrounds look as good as the foregrounds , and I am totally amazed . I was beginning to think that digital cameras were a giant hoax perpetrated on an American public just to sell a lot of product and make lots of money . I have complained constantly that most of the digital cameras I purchased ( and returned ) could't produce a picture that even came close to the 35MM pictures we all took until digital came out . I was about to give up on digital technology , but decided to try one more product , and I'm really glad I did . I haven't figured out all the possibilities yet since I've only had it one day , but so far , I am really impressed . I also like the way it feels in my hands , nice and solid , like I have a real camera . Today I took pictures outside in bright sunlight , and the clarity and color resolution is fantastic . I look forward to learning all of its features and how to use it to get even more out of it .
071 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
This camera is a steal for the price . It is easy to use and works great for our little baby . The HD video is an excellent bonus to capture fun moments with our son .
073 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I did not want to go for a SLR camera and such . Just a point and shoot .
But this camera was a good balance between the regular point and shoot and the complicated SLRs .
I have been using it for some time and I like it very much .
Battery goes away a little faster than my old one , but still not su much that I have to bother .
076 4 I was initially looking for an entry-level DSLR and was leaning heavily toward the Sony Alpha series 330 , as the Sony Style store near me had one refurbished for just over $400 . The DSC-H20 won in the end , however due to size and portability , as this purchase was intended to give me a good camera for carrying around Japan for two weeks .
I haven't been this happy with a digital camera in some time , and as one who was looking for a smaller handheld with decent manual controls , the DSC-H20 is perfect . ISO , exposure time , and aperture are all adjustable for people like myself who don't want to be tethered to preset controls . Even the presets are good , though , providing quite a list of options for people shooting a specific scene . Or for the lazy photographers that just want an easy mode , that's there as well . Sony's Intelligent Auto Mode is excellent also , and provides quality well over the standard easy setting on the camera .
Other pluses of the camera are the 10x optical zoom , which is honestly plenty . I spent some time comparing the HX1 to the DSC-H20 , and while the 20x zoom on the former was nice , it got pretty blurry and unfocused after zooming out past 14x or so . And 720p video capture doesn't hurt , either . As well , capturing still pictures in 1080p is great , especially for the night time shots with around a 5 second exposure , really showcases the light and detail on the subject that you're shooting . I also really don't want to forget gushing about how good the macros this thing takes are . Detail is awesome and focus is amazing , and if the light is right can look like works of art . Lastly , the difference between a camera that uses standardized AA's versus this guy , which utilizes a lithium ion is night and day .
So clearly I love this camera . I consider it a good induction back into photography , and art that I have enjoyed years past and wanted to get back into for some time . The Sony DSC-H20 is a great camera to get your bearings with , and half the cost of a decent DSLR . It's likely that I'll pick up a DSLR a bit later on down the line , but I couldn't be happier with the purchase of this excellent point & shoot .
078 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I have owned the camera for about 3 weeks now and find it pretty easy to use . The picture quality seems to be good . I haven't tried printing any pictures yet . I bought an 8 MB memory card since one does not come with the camera .
The only feature so far that I don't like is the lens cover , but I should have thought of that before I bought the camera .
Overall I am pleased with my purchase .
081 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
This camera replaced a Canon Powershot . After looking at the reviews on the comparable Canon , I chose this camera . Since my last camera was about 5 yrs old , the technology has improved so in comparison this camera is far superior so I can't really judge it against my old camera . I feel like it does take pictures faster although I typically have not used it for action shots . Pictures are crystal clear for the most part . Only blur I have found is with zooming out to the max .
Only con is what others have commented which is the need to remove the lens cap . Its a small thing and the camera will tell you if have you forgotten to remove the lens cap .
Really enjoying it and would buy another one should the need arise .
083 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
It's great camera with the given price tag , the only con I can see is sport shots ( stabilization is poor )
rest its a great point to shoot , like this camera for response time which is far better than Cannon and Nikon
I think Sony is better in point to shoot category than big players .
090 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
My first digital camera was a Sony Mavica ( MVC-FD73 ) - - remember ? The one that recorded to 3.5 disks . I loved that camera but became unhappy with the low resolution . My second digital was an HP . I was unhappy with that one because it had such a slow response time . Not a good feature when you're trying to capture pics of active grandkids - - also , I missed the 10x zoom of the Mavica . I read all the reviews of high zoom cameras and decided to go with the Sony Cyber-Shot . My good experience with the Mavica was the deciding factor in purchasing the Cyber-Shot . I have not been disappointed . The camera is easy to use , takes excellent pictures , has an almost indetectable click-to-record delay , and has many other good features . I was very impressed by the clarity and color of the pictures . I also like the feature that allows you to select the resolution from the 480x640 size to a 10 Megapixel file . With a 4 GB memory stick , there's room for hundreds of 10 Meg images or thousands of lesser-sized images . The camera also takes videos and with a 4 GB stick will record for several minutes . The ease with which I was able to show the pictures and videos on my TV was impressive . Transfer to a computer is equally simple . I have had the camera for about a month and am still learning about some of its features . I am very pleased with my purchase .
091 4 My first digital camera was a Sony Mavica ( MVC-FD73 ) - - remember ? The one that recorded to 3.5 disks . I loved that camera but became unhappy with the low resolution . My second digital was an HP . I was unhappy with that one because it had such a slow response time . Not a good feature when you're trying to capture pics of active grandkids - - also , I missed the 10x zoom of the Mavica . I read all the reviews of high zoom cameras and decided to go with the Sony Cyber-Shot . My good experience with the Mavica was the deciding factor in purchasing the Cyber-Shot . I have not been disappointed . The camera is easy to use , takes excellent pictures , has an almost indetectable click-to-record delay , and has many other good features . I was very impressed by the clarity and color of the pictures . I also like the feature that allows you to select the resolution from the 480x640 size to a 10 Megapixel file . With a 4 GB memory stick , there's room for hundreds of 10 Meg images or thousands of lesser-sized images . The camera also takes videos and with a 4 GB stick will record for several minutes . The ease with which I was able to show the pictures and videos on my TV was impressive . Transfer to a computer is equally simple . I have had the camera for about a month and am still learning about some of its features . I am very pleased with my purchase .
092 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
this is my 3rd sony digital camera and each one has improved from the previous model . the sony h20 has intelligent auto which knows what type of picture you want to take and sets itself accordingly . compared to the h5 , i lose 2x in zoom ( 10 vs 12 ) , but the size is cut in half . i thought it would make a great backup to the h5 . it looks like the h5 is the backup to my h20 . i will write more when i return from new zealand and australia and let you know how the h20 faired .
094 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
we have used this camera for over 3 months at home and on trips . it works well for our needs .
096 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
easy to use .
happy with the price for what i got
much more features than comparable nikon and canon's
100 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I purchased this item after using a borrowed one . It's photo quality visibly exceeded that of a much more expensive Cannon model . The screen menu is also simpler than a Kodak model I currently owned . Having both auto and manual settings in addition to the 10X optical zoom were key considerations in choosing this camera . It is a nice item for the price , when compared to other makes .
102 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
Just got my new Sony H20 and I love it . It's a just right size for carrying around easily and it has so many great features . I've only taken a few pics so far , but they are great . The extra zoom is perfect . I really like that the view screen is big and sharp . The easy mode really helps ' old ' eyes like mine to know what the settings are . This camera lets you get fancy or do it simple . Two thumbs up , Sony !
104 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I am encouraged to write a review for this product because I read all the reviews for this camera and I want to thank you all for suggesting me this wonderful camera . Its the best you can buy at this price . The photo quality is excellent ! ! ! I am really happy to buy this cam . I would definitely recommend this camera to all .
106 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
The camera takes good pictures in the full light . Sometimes it is slow to take picture when it is trying to focus on face and I'll miss the great shot . Still getting used to the camera and it's features . You can take it right out of the box and start taking pictures . Easy to use .
108 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
when i read the reviews for this camera i was convinced to buy it
and i did . . it came in 2 days ! ! ! before xmass ! and i loved it ! !
seriously ! i use to have a nikon camera i returned it because it sucks ! because of all the grainy pictures . . but this sony camera is almost close to an slr camera . . . when i let my other friends borrowed my camera they were impressed ! ! especially the hd video camera . . and the face detector ! ! it takes a picture by it self whenever you smile !
here u can look at the photos i have took
[ . . . ]
110 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
This camera is great in every way . I replaced an older cybershot that got wet one time too many . The new technology is easy to use and 1 / 2 the price of my original .
112 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
Nice clear and sharp pictures . The camera is easy to use . The camera does not come with a carrying case . You'll need to buy that separately . A wrist strap as a standard feature would have good . Overall good purchase !
114 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
Strongly recommend to somebody who likes photography as a secondary hobby . This jewel serves all purpose with enough manual controls to get a good picture . Have fun like i did !
116 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
We had a 6 year old 3.2 megapixel camera that got the job done when we had our first child , but was lacking in many ways . We are expecting our second child and wanted to upgrade . I did a lot of research and chose this camera over Canon powershot models because this seems to be able to do more than take good people shots .
We hate using flash , and there is a setting on here that allows for clear pictures without flash in fairly dark settings . There are all kinds of settings to allow for action shots ( good for little boys in sports ! ) , close up , etc . The shutter reaction time is great - no long waiting for the camera to actually take the picture !
I could go on and on , but to me this seems to be the next best thing to a digital SLR camera without spending a ton of money . Easy to use , but it has the options of manual settings , etc . And it takes HD movies ! Hooks right up to your TV !
My husband and I are super thrilled !
118 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I have only had occation to use the camera once and not for very long . I thought it had a bigger internal memory but since it had virtually none , I had to wait for the memory card . I did take one picture with it and the quality was top notch . I don't know about the battery life yet but I did purchase an extra battery so I would always have a charged battery .
120 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
This camera just simply rocks , its interface could be for used for a novice as well for a talented photographer , it has tousands of options and definitively its a rough camera to use it on-the-go . Im starting from scratch to learn to use it and every day you find thousands of new options and tricks . Great to shoot close up pics as well as wide angle photographs . Worths the money cause at the end if you are going to spend 100 - 150U $ D save 75 $ more and you get this babe !
122 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I decided to wait until I've really used my camera to write this . I bought it May ' 09 .
I was really on the fence about this one since it wasn't in a store or even released when I was going to buy it . I am very glad I got this camera though . I love the intelligent mode for quick pictures . The manual mode is pretty good for a SLR-like camera . I'm still learning about photography in general , but this is still a good camera for someone that wants a fast camera that pretty much ALWAYS takes an amazing shot . The zoom is very good , not grainy when printed . The HD video recording is AMAZING , very very clear . I think the smile detector is handy when that all your waiting for . If you don't have it set just right it wont detect some smiles . Also on smiles I like the in camera picture editing ( cross-filler , radial blur , cropping and more ) , I like that I can put a smile on someone's face that wasn't there before ! Its also good that you can change the level of the smile so it doesn't have to look obvious that its edited . Perfect for people who NEVER smile for the camera .
So overall even if your not that experienced with the digital camera this is a good one !
124 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
Great product . Love the smile feature where it waits for the subject to smile before taking the pic . Very happy . Only downside is it tends to automatically use twilight mode in the house which can be a little grainy , but I'm sure I just need to tweak the settings .
126 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I bought this camera for Thanksgiving , since most of the family was going to be together , including 4 children under the age of 7 . I took over 400 photo's and each one is clear and crisp . I love the smile feature , where you can set the type of smile you want . Beyond the great pictures of the family , I also took pictures at the zoo , that are outstanding ! ! I would recommend this to anyone looking for a great camera , at a reasonable price .
128 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
Our son did all the research on this camera , so when we were ready to purchase one of our own , we knew it would be a good one . He has enjoyed his a lot and we have as well . It has lots of features for the price and is very easy to use . Can't believe a camera can detect when a person is smiling ! This camera is fun to use and has a nice size screen to view your pictures . It was well worth the wait to finallly get into the digital age . Great camera !
130 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I have been using cybershots since its inception , and have always been happy with the results . But still I always missed the results to the like of my Canon SLR film camera . I have a strong belief that the compact cameras do offer lot of ease in shooting and carrying but they fail to perform like the professional S L R cameras . The small size of the lens and limited optical zoom is the main concern . The pictures taken during the day light are excellent but the ones taken in dim light and with flash are not up to the mark and a lot of improvement has to be done digital in the P C . The new Sony cybershot H - 20 fulfills the requirement of a light weight and sleek camera with the features and picture quality of a SLR Camera for the not so serious photographers like me . I am happy with my purchase and recommend this camera strongly
133 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
A friend has this camera , so when I had the money , I bought one for myself . It has great zoom , response time and overall just a great camera .
135 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I got this camera a few weeks ago thanks to CNET and Amazon reviews , and so far there is not much to complain about ! I love the video feature - SO much better than my old camera . . . but then again . . . that one was OLD . I still haven't figured out how to get it to take really clear shots inside in low-light . . . mostly of a small child who doesn't stand still much . . . but I am sure there is a way . Picture quality , other than that , is excellent ! And I love the ' in-house ' features like cropping , fish-eye , etc . I can do all of that stuff in Photoshop , but it's great that the camera can handle it , too ! I would recommend this camera to anyone !
139 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
The DSC-H20 is wonderful ! It has a lot of the features I was looking for and they all work well . The flash recharges very quickly and is plenty bright for indoor shots . The automatic focus is quick and works fantastic . The intelligent auto mode and scene recognition work too . Face detection is great . Battery life is good . I love the zoom capability . It's small and lightweight , thanks to the small battery . I really can't think of any cons !
140 4 The DSC-H20 is wonderful ! It has a lot of the features I was looking for and they all work well . The flash recharges very quickly and is plenty bright for indoor shots . The automatic focus is quick and works fantastic . The intelligent auto mode and scene recognition work too . Face detection is great . Battery life is good . I love the zoom capability . It's small and lightweight , thanks to the small battery . I really can't think of any cons !
141 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I totally love , love , love this camera . I have a previous edition of a Sony Cybershot , a Canon , Canon Rebel , and a Casio digital camera and this one by far is better than all of them combined ! I have a 5 month old baby and wanted a camera where the flash would not cause her eyes to enlarge and look surprised in the candid shots . Little did I know that this camera would give me what I wanted , plus so much more . I can take pictures of my baby without the flash and get super great pictures . Also , I can take inside restaurant night pictures of her and get the great shots . When making any selection on this camera , the on screen display provides on screen information about the choice , which elimates the need to guess what the icon and selection is for . Once again , I totally recommend this camera for anyone with a baby and for anyone that wants a great camera ! ! !
143 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
First off : I have a 1 yr old Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 , and was 50% happy with it . . . . but the zoom on it is terrible , so when the plastic-protector for the lense broke I saw it as a great reason to search for a new camera : WOW am I glad I did !
This Sony DSC-H20 is FANTASTIC ! ! ! Not only does it weigh LESS than my Panasonic , it is 100 times easier to use : - ) I am a busy mom so I do not have hours to sit and study the camera guide for all the ins-and-outs , this camera is so easy to use that I have yet to even open the manual ! ! !
The best part so far ( after 2 weeks of having it ) is the zoom , it is AMAZING ! I can take a photo clear across the room , and it shows all kinds of details ! Another thing I love is that I do not constantly have to change setting from inside to outside , it senses it itself and uses flash accordingly .
I love the loose lense cover ( attached with a string ) , in this way I will not have to worry about the lense-protector breaking as with my other camera .
I am sooooooo sticking with a Sony from now on ! Love it !
PS : I did buy the extra upgraded battery ( nice ) and a 4gb Sony chip .
144 4 First off : I have a 1 yr old Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 , and was 50% happy with it . . . . but the zoom on it is terrible , so when the plastic-protector for the lense broke I saw it as a great reason to search for a new camera : WOW am I glad I did !
This Sony DSC-H20 is FANTASTIC ! ! ! Not only does it weigh LESS than my Panasonic , it is 100 times easier to use : - ) I am a busy mom so I do not have hours to sit and study the camera guide for all the ins-and-outs , this camera is so easy to use that I have yet to even open the manual ! ! !
The best part so far ( after 2 weeks of having it ) is the zoom , it is AMAZING ! I can take a photo clear across the room , and it shows all kinds of details ! Another thing I love is that I do not constantly have to change setting from inside to outside , it senses it itself and uses flash accordingly .
I love the loose lense cover ( attached with a string ) , in this way I will not have to worry about the lense-protector breaking as with my other camera .
I am sooooooo sticking with a Sony from now on ! Love it !
PS : I did buy the extra upgraded battery ( nice ) and a 4gb Sony chip .
147 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I am not a gr8 techie guy and know very less about camera's and this kinda stuff . I was looking for a camera which is beyond 8 MP and with a decent zoom . After going through the reviews in Amazon , I bought this camera and I am very happy with my choice . Image clarity is excellant for this camera even in the movie mode . 10 X Zoom looks ok when u shoot in the movie mode . I particularly like the Smile Detection technology which takes a snap automatically when a person smiles.I would definitely recommend this to others .
152 4 Let me at first list the pros and cons I've found on the Sony DSC-H20 :
Pros :
1 - Amazing picture quality .
2 - Amazing 10X zoom .
3 - Very Easy to use .
4 - Manual mode so you can control the shutter speed and aperture .
5 - Macro mode is great ! !
6 - Very clear LCD screen
7 - Great 720p HD stabilized video functionality even in low light it captures a very good video .
Cons :
1 - Bad picture quality on ISO 800 and 1600 .
2 - you can't fully control the aperture in manual mode . you can only benefit from changing the shutter speed .
3 - maximum aperture of 3.5 .
4 - Low battery life . you've to buy another one to save your day .
5 - the sound of the video isn't that great .
6 - it doesn't shoot RAW .
7 - doesn't come with a bag .
I've been using this camera for a almost a year now . it was my first digital camera . and I absolutely LOVED IT ! ! it worths every penny ! it has a great video functionality that's extremely helpful when I travel and be with friends and wanna capture those great moments . the stabilized 10X zoom is AWESOME ! I can shoot at 10X and don't get shake images . the image quality is great ! pictures are very clear . but it also has some few disadvantages . the 800 and 1600 ISO are bad and noisy . I find that camera useless at night . and it doesn't have manual focus which made me very uncomfortable . but it auto-focuses very well ! . the maximum aperture is 3.5 and I don't have full manual control over aperture . the battery life isn't that good . I had to buy another battery to be able to use the camera in a whole event . it also doesn't come with a bag . and it's a little big to be put in your pocket .
a final word , I really enjoyed using this camera and it helped me much developing my photography skills .
it's excellent for walking and traveling . an excellent walk-around camera if you want a point and shoot that's capable of doing extremely good things . but not if you want manual focus and high ISO capability .
I guess I'm keeping it even if I moved toward a DSLR . at least for it's amazing video function and the zoom range . I loved it !
Highly Recommended : ) : )
158 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
Perfect Camera , I have tried many and this by far had the best picture quality compared to some of greater MP . Zoom quality of pictures was extremely crisp . Best cam so far . A + + + +
160 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I bought this camera after my three-year-old accidentaly dropped my old 7.2 megapixel Sony Cyber-Shot on the ground WITH the lens still out . I immediately wanted to find a suitable camera replacement . After much research , I had decided to buy one of the most affordable Canon Cybershot cameras . But after I read an overwhelming number of user reviews who complained about how quickly their Canon battery died out and some even mentioned that they needed to bring along more batteries on an outing , I decided to go with my second camera choice .
At first I was dissapointed when I first held my new Sony camera . It felt cheap and flimsy . But after constantly using it for several weeks I have to say I quite pleased ! . With my Sony I have been able to take amazing closeups ( even though I'm only shooting at 5 megs instead of the maximum 10 ) . I am also ecstatic about being able to use the zoom while videotaping , unlike my previous camera . ( Sorry , I'm trying to type my review with my 3 yr . old sitting on my lap . She loves her Mommy . . . )
I am not giving my review a 5 star throughout only because that would mean perfection and at times ( very few , though ) I haven't been pleased with some blurry pictures , but I must admit that most probably it was my own fault because I still haven't bothered to read the instruction manual . When I've tried different settings for the same shot , I've obtained good results after the initial blurry images .
Bottomline , I am very happy with my choice , although surely not for a professional .
164 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I've had it for about six months now and I've taken about 3000 pictures so far . I bought this to replace my canon power shot A95 , and this was a nice upgrade . The photo quality is much more crisp than my A95 , and looks more like photos taken with an SLR than most point and shoots . I like the 10x zoom . It does well with macro photos . The image stabilization is definitely noticeable . Also takes pretty good photos at night , they are fairly crisp and not too much graininess from the higher ISOs . For example , I took photos of downtown Baltimore from an airplane and it did surprisingly well , I used the manual photo mode and the photos were only slightly blurred and I was using some zoom and we were moving at about 150 mph . Chromatic aberrations ( the bluish or purplish highlight along areas of sudden contrast from dark to light ) are pretty much nonexistent with this sony . I've used the beach and snow modes and it seems to do well in those areas that some point and shoots struggle with . There are some photo editing tools built into the camera to edit photos before downloading them - some of them are kind of cool . I haven't taken very many videos , but it seems to take decent videos for a still camera . You can use the optical zoom while filming which seems pretty rare , and there isn't a maximum video time for the high res video - a lot of cameras put a 60 second cap on the highest resolution video . I have a 8gb card that is more than enough - it holds about 1800 + photos and about 40 min of hd video . Battery life is good , and it is nice that the camera estimates how many photos worth of battery life are left .
Now for the cons : This camera does not offer as many customizing features as my canon powershot did , which took me some getting used to . Also the lens has a very narrow angle ( not wide-angle at all ) , but on the flip side the photos have virtually no barrel distortion . When taking photos in the landscape mode with really bright lighting I find the photos to be kind of washed out - but have been able to get around that usually by using the action mode or manual mode . The colors are not always as vibrant as I like , and some colors just seem a little ' off ' Using some of the features in manual mode alleviate that for me , but it can be a hassle to use manual mode at times , or they can be fixed later in picassa . The camera does not to well with certain hues of red in bright lighting - for example taking a photo of a bright pink or red rose in the sunlight the contrast of the flower itself will be off and have a very weird neon highlighting - this is something that is fairly common with point and shoots though - and I have not had a chance to play around with different features to see if there is an easy fix now that I have had the camera for a few months .
Overall I am happy with the camera . For the price it is excellent . I think a camera in the $350 - 400 price range might fix some of the cons , but I'm not sure it is worth the extra cash .
166 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
For long time I was looking for a good camera . After a painstacking search I found SONY cyber shot H20 a better choice . I compared with a cannon but due to the battery life and potential mechanical problem I declined cannon .
The picture quality is very good for casual use . It satisfy my appetite . Moreover , lightweight Japanese product is very portable . In many programs i went , people turn off their camera and start taking photo with mine .
I just love it and enjoys taking picture with it .
168 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I have used this Camera for over 1 Month now . It's picture quality is amazing . It is easy to use and Auto function does everything for you . The zoom is excellent on it . It is worth the money paid for it . The only thing I would suggest is more internal memory . I got only 2 pictures on the internal memory on 10.1 MegaPixel .
170 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
This camera is amazing my first use was of my 10 year old son jumping and spinning seven foot in the air hitting his target and receiving his Brown belt in Karate . I and all of my family were AMAZED the quality of the pics and how he was caught mid air and captured his spin and landing . I researched camera's for 4 months thru consumer rpts and numerous website , and it has been everything I expected and more .
175 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I just received this camera a couple of weeks ago and really haven't put it to the test like you would for a vacation , but the pictures I have taken have turned out so much better than the last digital camera I had and I thought it was good ! It has a strong flash and powerful little zoom . Easy to operate and great features .
178 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
This is a camera I purchased for my wife who has problems with setting the camera to the proper shot mode . Put this camera in auto and she's ready to go . All of her shots turned out great . She lost the blury pictures and the dark figures with the bright background . Easy to off load pictures so she can do that herself now . It is bigger than her last sony but she claims this is easier for her to hold steady and the hand hold makes that possible . As far as battery life goes we are getting approxmittly 150 to 175 pictures per battery . However these are batteries she had from her last camera . Overall we are happy with this purchase .
180 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I was very nervous about buying a new camera that was this much money , but I am very glad I did ! I had an old Sony Cybershot , and wanted an update .
My main thing I was looking for was a Sony camera that zoomed in while filming , and this is the cheapest one I could find . Although I haven't had the chance to do much filming with it , I am very happy with it so far ! I took it to my little brother's basketball game and got some amazing photos ! I couldn't believe the clarity , and they weren't blurry ! I also love how far it zooms in . I got some awesome shots of some bald eagles and they were across a field ! I am looking forward to taking this to concerts with me and trying it out .
Although this camera is a little more bulkier than I'm used to , it's definitely not as big as I was expecting . If you're questioning whether this is a good camera for you , I recommend going to Best Buy and looking at it in person . But be sure to buy it from Amazon , it's cheaper and the free shipping was SUPER fast !
182 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
This Item is just super . The HD video taping is just excellent , Picture quality great ease of use great . You all can close your eyes and buy this one . The best mid level camera .
184 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
love the 10x optical zoom , and easy to use , beautiful optics of a Sony . very pleased with the price on Amazon as well .
186 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
One of the best for the price . Excellent ergonomics . Flash too hot up close too weak more than fifteen feet . Controls somewhat confusing . Manual operation limited . No RAW output . Unable to disable some features that are unneeded or unwanted . Still - probably better than the rest that cost a third more .
188 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
Takes great pictures and video . Compact , easy for on the go . Low light photos are a bit grainy . Love the smile detector , its fun to play with . All in one accessability : Compact , video , and photo in one . Might want to get an 8 - 16 gig card to hold videos .
190 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I wanted a camera that had good zoom features for taking pictures at concerts . This definetly does the job at zooming in on faraway objects .
I'm still trying to figure out the proper setting to use for different activities . At times the pictures are blurry , but I know that this is due to the incorrect setting . Pictures that are taken on the correct setting are of excellent quality !
The size of the camera is a little bigger then I would like , but I can still fit it in my purse .
The battery life seems to wear out faster then I would like , but I do take A LOT of pictures . I would recommend purchasing an additional battery to keep with you if you plan on using your camera all day long .
Overall , I'm very pleased with my camera !
192 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I bought this camera for our 15 year old Son for the next camera in his aspiring photography career . : ) We have always been a Sony family and this one does not let us down as quality , easy to use and fantastic value for the $ $ . I would recommend this camera for everyone who wants a compact camera that has all the great features that you would expect in a larger full featured camera .
194 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I wanted a long zoom camera for a reasonable price and I definitely got both in this camera . For an amateur photographer this is an excellent camera . Even in low lighting the pictures look great . Definitely recommend this camera to anyone .
196 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
This is my wife's first digital camera . She is not a techie so simple point and shoot is important . This camera fills that order . Got a great price on Amizon making this an excellent camera purchase . picture quality seems to be very good . I purchased an extra battery pack since you cannot use regular AA or AAA batteries . The camera did not come with a memory chip so had to order that extra also . Even with the extra's the overall cost of camera was very good .
198 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
The camera works just fine for every day pictures . It is very easy to use and the lithium battery is an advantage in front of the other equivalent point shot cameras from other brands ( Cannon , Nikon , etc ) . It is good for the cost .
201 4 From reviews I've read before purchasing this camera , the biggest complaint was it was a little bulky . My last camera , a Sony Mavica which I've had for about 6 years is still taking excellent pictures but very slow compared to the DSC-H20 . I found the size and feel of the DSC-H20 very comfortable and the controls pretty much the same as the Mavica . Like the Mavica I very rarely have to use the flash as the pictures come out excellent , even in low ambient light . The DSC-H20 is an excellent camera for the price and I highly recommend It .
207 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
It's a realy very good camera , and it's perfect for this price . The pictures are cool , you can check above , from the owners .
It comes without Russian menu , but it's very easy to use it in english . Advice to everybody have this at their pocket , it's small enough , and takes originanl , true color , good quality pictures ! ! ! Love it .
209 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
This is a very good camera for the money . It takes great pictures and great video . It would be nice if it was able to record stereo sound but if you're primarily looking for something that takes stills then that won't be an issue . This camera was for my cousins in Vietnam so I did not have a lot of time to play around with it but with the time spent with it , I was very satisfied with my purchase . The camera is a nice size too . Makes you feel like you're a photo nerd with an SLR camera even though you don't know anything about photography .
211 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I have 2 kids in sports and was tired of all the bad shots from my Canon pocket camera's 3x zoom . The 10x zoom of this camera is amazing and I must say the pictures it takes are incredible . I had another Sony mega zoom a few years back and always was in awe of how great of pictures the Sony cameras take . I took it to their games this weekend and the pictures came out great ! I highly recommend this camera for this use since it's fairly compact and has great zoom ! ! Love it !
215 4 The perfect camera , so easy to use and understand . Pictures are perfect , long battery life , the 4 GB stick is way more than the average user needs . The software is loaded with simple to use and understand instructions . Would recommend this camera to everyone .
217 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
For the folks that claimed to have taken good pictures at low light with this camera , they must be using a vastly different version . This camera had more grain in pictures than I have ever seen . These weren't even night time , just indoors on a cloudy day with lights on in the house . And it didn't matter what mode I put it in , Flash or no Flash , 10mp , 5mp , Auto , Intelligent Auto . I was willing to put up with the cheap lens cap , and the not really wide enough angle on the lens , if and only if , it would take good pictures indoors , under normal lighting . I have a modern house I designed ( which means all white walls ) , well with this camera they aren't white , so much as a sea of gray specks and grain . Horrible , guess I will try the Panasonic or save for the Canon G11 . . . Also every picture where my kids moved so much of an inch was incredibly blurry .
222 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
I bought this as a gift for my granddaughter . She loves it and has posted some excellent photos on her blog .
224 4 This review is from :
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 / B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization ( Electronics )
Value for the money you spend
- Nice picture quality
- Low on features
- Takes longer time for some actions ( example deleting image , switching on the camera takes abt 15 seconds )
- Overall much better than any other Sony Cybershot camera .
I had Kodak . It was way better than Sony . Not sure why I gave up KodakZ712 for Cybershot . : )
