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: I am gonna keep it
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this camera because the technical specs appealed to me. But when I read all the critical comments I was beginning to feel I made a mistake.
Some critics claim that certain features were missing in the H9 that were listed in the specs before the camera was released. No doubt, that's not cool. Also, I haven't figured out how to set ISO levels. Probably I never will because the H9 insists of doing it for me. And then there is the lack of RAW storage.
I have all these features in other cameras I own. And although it's nice to know it's all there if I want it, I have to admit I don't use these features all that often.
As other bridge cameras with advanced features, the H9 caught the attention of many people in the upper segments of the market who then were dismayed to discover its technical parameters.
On the other end of the spectrum, the H9 may be a bit too sophisticated for the point-and-shoot crowd to take full advantage of what it is capable of. The fact that the manual is almost unreadable doesn't help.
Now to the good part:
1. I haven't had that much fun with a camera in a long time. The H9 is light enough to accompany me almost everywhere, and I get a lot of terrific shots that I used to miss out on because I didn't feel like dragging around my heavy equipment. Because it is a super zoom, no shots are lost because I have to change lenses.
2. The macro function is nothing short of sensational.
3. I have been able to take amazing shots with the lens all the way out to 480.
4. The H9 is fast - no shutter delay and super fast storage of images
5. No matter what I throw at the H9, it seems to handle it beautifully. I am sure I will figure out its limitations
as I go along and learn to respect them. The more I get to know this camera, the more it grows on me.
6. The large semi-flexible screen is a real plus, particularly for candid shots.
Well, as this generation of super zooms go, the plusses more than outweigh the minuses.
Digital camera Review: I am very pleased with my new camera.
Summary: 5 Stars
This camera is everything that I thought it would be. I have not experienced any of the problems that have been brought up. The buttons are well positioned. The lens does wonderful things. I am able to take detailed shots of birds that I have never achieved before. I did not expect it to be a DSLR and it is not but it is an excellent point and shoot with a magnificent zoom capability.Digital camera Review: Image Quality is bad - Help me out here to decide
Summary: 2 Stars
Little bit of story first, followed by my question to you all, then my good and bads on this camera:
I had been waiting for this camera to be available in the market and was following the reviews too on amazon, cnet, and couple of other places. I did take a note of the 'bad' comments, and waited to see the camera in the stores instead of pre-ordering it before the launch. I went to the stores and checked the camera out when it was launched.. inside out to the best of my knowledge. In my opinion, many of the bad comments are true. Still I wanted to buy it since I thought I can live with those bad things. by the way, there are many good things too that I liked (why would I buy it otherwise).
On top of goods and bads on this Sony, I had made up my mind to buy a Sony since my canon (S1 IS) broke down in less than 2 years (CCD problem) and another Canon product I had (ZR90 camcorder) was also broke down in less than 2 years (CCD problem) and I had not bought any extended guarantees.
Finally I got the H9 one week ago and voila? nope.. shot few pictures indoor and copied the images to a computer. Looked them up, it appeared fine when in 25% view. But, the original view of the picture is so bad.. noisy, obscure, grainy, whatever term is used for it, it looks like a smaller image is digitally enlarged like in a image viewer.
Picture is not sharp. So grainy. I had the 8M pixel setting by default and took the pictures in Auto mode.
Later I took some shots under the sun (it started shining in Texas last two days!), and images are just a little better and no where near good quality.
So.. fellow cameramen/women, what I see is what is expected out of this Sony in terms of image quality..? Or, am I missing something?
I compared with the images taken with Canon powershot A540, Sony DSC-T1, Canon Rebel Digital XT, and Canon S1 IS, I am disappointed to see the image quality of Sony H9.
What I see as goods..
1) How quickly the camera gets ready for shooting from being switched off
2) 31mm equivalent at wide angle
3) Light weight
4) Good Flash
5) large LCD
6) Many other features that I have not tried yet
Bads..
1) Not quite handy to hold (may be because I want to avoid scratching the LCD)
2) 74mm lens size, not so standard.
3) Battery type, not so standard.
4) No power adapter comes with the camera to connect to power directly
5) LCD is so large that our fingers rub it every time we use the camera.
6) Lens hood is pretty large
7) Strap holders are like ears to the camera (does not help the camera being a compact)
Like I said earlier, I can live with all these bads.. but I can't keep the camera if the quality what I see is what it delivers.
Digital camera Review: LIKE A PRO
Summary: 5 Stars
Very nice camera. I like the Zooooooom, and combined with the Image Stabilization you can obtain very professional pictures. The screen is HUGE. In manual operation you can control almost everything.... ISO, Speed, Aperture, Exposure, Flash Output. Very nice cam. The price is not a good point, because you can buy a digicam with the same level of functions and options (like a Panasonic FZ18)by less bucks.Digital camera Review: Learn how to use it!
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a very good camera. The Zeiss Vario Tessar lens works fine, like the old, famous Tessar. The sharpness of the image is good in full range of zoom. However, there is a notable "barrel distortion" and I do not know how to correct it with the Photo Shop. The image stabilization works very well. High DIN sensitivity results in significant noise and blurring. The best results are with setting the DIN to 80 or 100, and selecting the P (Program Shift) shooting mode. The other inconvenience is that each time you begin to take pictures, you should carefully check if your last settings have not changed accidently - it is very easy (too easy!) to press or turn something while the camera is removed from the case. There is no "default" selection and the camera remembers all recent settings. I've found the included short "Instruction Manual" useless, but one can print out the detailed "Cyber-shot Handbook" and find answers to almost all questions. After I learned how to use the camera, I love it!