Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20/B 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization
The Sony DSC-H20 is a full-featured point-and-shoot with outstanding high-power zoom capability and fast shutter speed. It includes Smile Shutter technology which captures smiles the moment they happen, as well as Face Detection technology to optimize focus, exposure and color for up to eight faces. Capture detailed images with 10 megapixel resolution, and get in close to the action with the 10x optical zoom Carl Zeiss lens. Intelligent Scene Recognition helps you avoid failure picture, while Sony’s Double Anti-Blur solution (Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization plus High ISO) helps keep your images blur-free. The DSC-H20 completes the package with a 3.0-Inch Clear Photo LCD Plus Display that lets you easily view your images and menu options. Supplied accessories include a rechargeable battery (NP-BG1), a battery charger (BC-CSGB), a multi-connector cable, a lens cap and the CD-ROM software. Memory sticks are only optional.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars The ideal camera
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.
5 Stars Sony - overall a great choice for point and shoot, video, and portable!
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 
.
5 Stars Sony cybershot DSC H20
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.
5 Stars Former Canon user.
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.
5 Stars very pleased with camera
we have used this camera for over 3 months at home and on trips. it works well for our needs.
Filed under: Video Camera Reviews