Sony Cybershot DSC-H9 8MP Digital Camera with 15x Optical Image Stabilization Zoom by Sony
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Digital camera reviews of Sony Cybershot DSC-H9 8MP Digital Camera with 15x Optical Image Stabilization Zoom
Digital camera Review: Full of features but where's the image quality?
Summary: 3 Stars
First off, yes I did own this camera. Yes, I believe I got one of the "good" ones. I took probably 1200 - 1500 pictures with this camera. I had owned the H1 for 1 1/2 years before I purchased this camera.
PROS:
* 3" Tilt LCD - allows for more versatile shooting positions. Nice resolution also!
* 15x zoom - make sure you realize it's 15 x 31mm to equal 465mm, vs 432mm of the H5, H2, H1.
* 31mm wide - wider than previous models
* 2.2FPS burst - all I can say is WOW! So fast for a P&S camera!
* Improved Autofocus - very fast and accurate.
* ISO100 - 3200 - in my experience, anything above ISO400 was not usable. Noise at ISO400 was pretty noticeable, so I stayed at 100 and 200 mostly. It was nice to have the option though.
* 1/4000s shutter speed - needed ideal light but again, nice to have the option.
CONS
* JPEG Compression - 3 bits / pixel when using 8 MP, it increases to 4 on anything lower. Previous models used 8 bits / pixel.
* Bokeh - wow, what a disappointment. The bokeh on the H1 was so nice and much of the time it's downright awful with the H9. The "watercolor" effect may be from compression but I'm not convinced. Even pictures without the watercolor effect have bokeh that looks horrid.
* Filter size - Sony's way of sucking more money from consumers, c'mon!
* Battery - Retails for $50 - $60 per battery vs AA prices, it's insane!
* Build quality - Didn't like all of the plastic but that did keep the weight down.
* LCD Coating - the LCD was a fingerprint magnet, investing in a microfiber cloth would be a must.
In the end, I decided to sell the H9. I bought it thinking the image quality would at least be the same as the H1 and in my experience it was not. For those of you who have or get good cameras and don't see the compression issues, consider yourself luck. Until Sony addresses these issues, this camera will continue to develop much controversy.
Digital camera Review: Functions Cool / Quality Not
Summary: 3 Stars
I've had this camera 22 days, I know because it is outside my return policy. All the features of this camera is nice, but the quality is not. My Nikon Coolpix 4800 (4 mega pixel) took a sharper looking image then the DSC-H9.
Digital camera Review: Good Camera but
Summary: 4 Stars
The H9 is a great point & shot camera, but the image quality and the User Interface are just poor.Digital camera Review: Good and Bad
Summary: 3 Stars
Nice zoom, but difficult to focus when zoomed all the way. Vibration indicator kept flashing, so maybe you need a tri-pod. I also found the controls confusing, having to traverse to the digital menu for most everything. Wide angle lens blocks flash. I returned mine for a Canon G9 and I'm MUCH happier now!Digital camera Review: Good camera, but not for IR photography
Summary: 3 Stars
I ordered this, but sent it back. The changing of the filter size from a standard 58mm to a non-standard 74mm is just irresponsible at best...and a poor marketing decision at worst. To do IR photography, you need to use an IR filter. The Hoya RM90 is the best, at 900nm, to produce what you need. But you only have the options of holding the filter there yourself, (while trying not to bump the camera since the shutter speed is so slow in Nightshot), or buying an adapter ring, to go from 74mm to either 77mm or 72mm. Nice idea, and you can get them cheap on Ebay...but for those filters, THEY COST MORE THAN THE ACTUAL CAMERA. Yep. Save yourself the hassle and get a P&S if that is what you need, heck, Sony has great ones that are in the 10MP range...or save up and get a digital SLR like the Nikon D80 and learn IR from there. This camera is a waste of money, there are others out there that can do a better job. Check out this review for more info: (not me, I just found it by Google-search)
http://irbuzz.blogspot.com/2007/06/review-niek-haak-reviews-sony-dsc-h9_19.html