PMA: Sony Delivers the Big Zoom
Posted by Eric Butterfield | Monday, February 27, 2006 3:30 PM PT
Two new Sony cameras on display here boast a 12X zoom lens: the Cyber-shot DSC-H5 and DSC-H2 (below).
Both models offer a focal length of 36mm to 432mm (35mm equivalent). When zoomed in on far away subjects, the lens on both cameras has an optical image stabilization mechanism to help prevent slight hand movement of the camera from blurring the photo. Sony calls the mechanism Super SteadyShot. Also helping keep images crisp is the cameras' ability to reach ISO 1000. Both cameras are 7.2-megapixel models.
So what's the difference? The $500 H5 (above) has a three-inch LCD screen, while the $400 H2 has a two-inch LCD. The H5 will be available in May, and the H2 will ship in April.
Sony has not yet worked out all the bugs. They falsely advertised that the camera was compatible with SanDisk memory stick pro duo. It is not. Their website posted an upgrade to fix this problem but it doesn't work. Sony now says you need a Sony memory stick pro duo to fix the problem. Sounds like a monopoly. DSC-H2 with a serial number between 3500001 and 3534250 have this potential problem. Besides the above, the camera is difficult to hold, the lens adapter is very bulky and cumbersome, the buttons are difficult to use, and the viewfinder is oddly shaped and makes the camera difficult to fit in camera bags, purses, etc. This is not a small camera. I recommend waiting for Canon's IS3.
I wish you luck with the Canon IS3.
Hopefully you can see something behind that
imagenoise.
Mine works great with Sandisk. I love this camera and could have purchased the IS3 but I did not like the feel and the controls. The bottom line is this camera is a great buy and in my opinion better than Canon. Neighbors have IS2 and the pictures are not that impressive.