Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 5.1 MP Digital Camera - Silver

I have owned this camera for 2 years now and safely can say its a good camera in most aspects. Its use in everyday situations is what makes it so decent. There are always pro's and con's to everything, and this is no exception. But, i may say there is more good than bad. The bad itself is my personal opinions that i noticed over the 2 year period i owned it. I JUST upgraded to the Canon XT 8mp Digital SLR... No other reason for me to get rid of this camera. If i could i'd keep both.


Pro's:
-lightweight without being too light.
-Excellant zoom range.
-very good quality photo's in most modes. (i prefere Ap. mode)
-fairly fast shudder speed potential.
-fact it can do 640x480 videos at 30fps. (compression if vids a tad high though)
- Image Stabilization works well. (Some people get confused when the blinking hand is on, thinking the IS is not on, But it is. Its reminding you NOT to shake.)
-Auto focus works very well.
-VERY GOOD FLASH, but can be over powering indoors.
-AF light very handy in low light.
-Low noise in most cases.
-Quiet zoom motor
-Came with 2 good sony NiMH Sony AA's with charger (they still work great to this day!)


Cons:
-Battery life could be better, make sure to bring extra batteries that AREN'T disposable (Battery life would be way better if people used the viewfinder vs screen like a digital SLR)
-Digital zoom sucks, all though decent in precise mode (crops the pic vs really zooming in)
-Auto white balance is poor. Better to set it to conditions manually
-Continuous shooting lacks speed.
-Manual sucks!
-Mic for videos is weak, no wind protection, causing to have a lot of wind noise.
-moderate amount of barrel distortion in full wide angle, but no pin cushioning at telephoto focal lengths (best between 3x - 8x zoom)
-LCD is hard to see outside at times.
-Not a fan of plastic, which the H-series is exactly that. I like a stronger feel material
-Software included is very weak...
-Lens adapter blocks Auto Focus assist beam and also may make a shadow if the zoom is fully retracted to full wide view.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 while being a older camera and not having the huge megapixel count of the newer camera is still a solid camera. My family likes it so much that we have 5 of them.

The Pro's:
Uses regular AA batteries that can be purchased anywhere.
Has a "View finder" as well as a large screen which saves batteries.
Simple direction controls for the most part.
Memory cards are easy to use and purchase and you can save hundreds of images.
Good feel and size for average hands.
12X visual zoom.
You can add filters and other lense adapters.

The Cons:
Low Megapixel count at only 5.1
Not as fast as some of the newer cameras.
Sub menus and some of the little used buttons and commands confusing.
No hot shoe (but then that is a advanced feature for the average photographer).

If you do average photography and don't want to enlarge to larger than 8 X 10 or at the most 11 X 14, this camera maybe for you. It will serve as a good starter camera and has the features to take you to at least the Advanced Amature stage. I just wish I could find a waterproff housing so I could use it under water.

We are the proud owners of a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 5.1 Megapixel digital camera. We have had several digital cameras including 2 Nikons that we still enjoy.The Sony Cyber-shot is by far well above our expectations in a digital still camera. It has a very fast turn-around time for taking quick pictures,those special moments you don`t want to forget. With the Grandkids that is very important.I especially love the 2.5" lcd screen for playback and viewing. It is so much easier to get just the right shots.The colors are always bright and exact, if you can`t afford an SLR this is the only way to go.We bought this camera for the 12x optical zoom which has not disappointed us.I have been taking alot of closeups of birds setting on their nests,so far all of the features are pretty easy to use.I can take one picture after another without hesitation unlike most digital cameras. We recently took this on vacation, had it on the lake for a week, got the most superb pictures we have ever gotten, around 200 with little effort. I also like the sports button where you can set it to take consecutive shots. We don`t miss anything now. All are clear and defined.I keep extra batteries charged up so I am always ready to go.This Sony Cybershot is just alittle bigger than I am used to but more than worth it to have such quality pictures turn out. It is just a fun camera to have.

Nice compromise camera. A near professional package in a smallish 12X zoom all in one camera. CHoose auto settings or manual settings. The antishake system works well. The camera can focus and shoot fairly quickly, but not like an SLR. Picture quality is good to excellent and 5 megapixels is good enough for most photography. ISO settings are limited. If you don't want to schlep around a 2 pound camera with several lenses then this is a good camera for most occasions. battery life seems good and the LCD screen is decent sized.

This camera is an excellent buy. The best zoom! In comparison to cameras in this price range, you are getting the best bang for your buck here. Many controls make this a great camera for the expert, who will know what to do with them. For the beginning buyer of a digital camera, you can't got wrong either. There are controls on this camera that are very self-explanatory. You don't need to read over the manual 9000 times to figure it out. You hit the menu and do what you need to do. I owned one before and lost it during a fishing trip, and bought one to replace it the same day! I found myself lost without it, and no other digital could compare to the quality of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 5.1 in my eyes. The only thing I don't like is pause before the shot. There is quick 1-2 second pause when taking a picture, so you may find yourself looking at pictures you may not have neccessarily wanted. However, I use this camera for Ebay, sporting events, my children's photos, work photos, etc. There is nothing I cannot do with the camera. The video/audio capabilites are fantastic too, and very easy to use. The LCD screen is huge, and your pictures are crystal clear! I don't think I couldn't bought a better camera for this price, and if you are looking for cheaper cameras, I would suggest paying a little extra for this one, you won't be sorry you did.