Here's another Sony that costs a little less, but still does everything you need.

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Product Description

Get closer than ever with the Cyber-shot DSC-H2 digital camera from Sony. With its incredible 12X optical zoom lens combined with Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization system you can capture stunning long-distance images with minimized blurring, even during longer exposures. It is conversion lens compatible so you can easily add optional telephoto and wide-angle lenses for even greater optical range.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21619 in Camera & Photo
• Color: Silver
• Brand: Sony
• Model: DSCH2
• Released on: 2006-05-11
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 3.70" h x 3.25" w x 4.40" l, .90 pounds
• Display size: 2

Features

• 6-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 14 x 19-inch prints
• 12x image-stabilized optical zoom; 2.0-inch LCD display
• High Sensitivity Mode (ISO 1000) for shooting without flash in low-light conditions
• VGA (640 x 480) audio-video clips at up to 30 frames per second, with optional Optical Zoom for Movie feature
• Powered by 2 AA-size batteries; stores images on Memory Stick Duo or Memory Stick PRO Duo media

From the Manufacturer
Why Sony? Because for superb digital imaging with greater creative freedom and enhanced convenience features, Sony technology keeps on raising the bar--with innovations the Super SteadyShot Optical Image Stabilization system that enables the DSC-H2 Cybershot camera to capture amazingly sharp, highly detailed long-distance photos even at full 12x optical zoom. With comfortable, user-friendly design and many other hi-tech features and performance advantages, the DSC-H2 provides quality, simplicity, and convenience that photo enthusiasts and serious amateurs count on when they choose Sony.

Carl Zeiss 12x Optical Zoom Lens
For sharp, high-contrast images that take advantage of the DSC-H2's CCD capabilities, a top-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens design with 12x optical zoom lens provides finely detailed images of distant subjects--with 24x digital zoom for dramatic closeups of your subject.

Super SteadyShot Optical Image Stabilization
Other image stabilization systems crop in to compensate for "camera shake"--but with the Super SteadyShot system, optical sensors detect camera movement and send correcting signals to a stabilization lens that allows even ultra-long-distance digital photos to capture more detail with less camera shake distortion.

6.0-Megapixel Super HAD CCD
More megapixels allow you to edit, crop, and make big prints while preserving greater image detail. Sony's advanced Super HAD (Hole Accumulated Diode) CCD design allows more light to pass to each pixel, increasing sensitivity and reducing noise.

High Sensitivity Mode
A new High Sensitivity Mode (ISO 1000) lets you shoot without flash for more natural results in low-light conditions and shoot at higher shutter speed to minimize blur from unsteady hands or fast-moving subjects--and Sony's original Clear RAW NR (Noise Reduction) image processing technology helps suppress the color noise that can accompany high-sensitivity shooting.

2.0-Inch LCD Screen
You can easily compose shots, check results, and read camera menus even in bright sunlight--and a one-touch "Play" button makes viewing your photos quick and simple.

Simple Camera Setup Features
The DSC-H2 allows you to set Color Mode (Standard, Vivid, Natural, Sepia, or Monochrome), adjust image brightness with one-touch simplicity (including EV compensation for shooting into the sun or on cloudy days), and select the image size that's best for the print size you want and the remaining capacity of your camera's 32 MB internal memory or optional Memory Stick Duo media.

Function Guide Text/Icon Display
On-screen, a simple Function Guide text/icon display makes it easy to learn the camera functions that give you greater creative freedom to adjust color sensitivity, brightness, and image size for great shots in a wide range of situations. You'll also have quick reference to camera functions like flash, macro, and self-timer settings.

Creative Manual Exposure Modes
For more creative freedom, the DSC-H2 lets you adjust shutter speed to freeze the action or shoot with long time exposures--and control depth of field with aperture adjustment to concentrate on the foreground or capture "deep-focus" background.

Manual Focus with MF Peaking
In manual focus mode, the 2.0-inch LCD screen of the DSC-H2 highlights an outline of the shooting subject in color so it's easier to make adjustments. Why focus manually? To concentrate on an off-center subject, one face in a crowd, or an unexpected creative choice in a complex scene.

Capture Images In-Camera
With 32 MB Internal Memory, the DSC-H2 allows you to capture shots in-camera for later transfer to PC or Memory Stick media--so even if you forget your flash memory card, you can always get the shot.

52x Smart Zoom Feature
Sony's Smart Zoom feature gives you an amazing ultra-closeup crop on the central portion of interest in your photo while avoiding the image degradation of other digital zooms.

MPEG Movie VX Fine Mode
The DSC-H2 can capture VGA (640 x 480) audio-video clips at high frame rate (up to 30 frames per second)--and new Optical Zoom for Movie provides high-ratio zooming for sports and long-distance subjects and allows you to adjust zoom while taking action shots.

Memory Stick Duo Media
The DSC-H2 has a built-in slot for optional Memory Stick Duo or higher-capacity Memory Stick PRO Duo media--the ultra-compact media for shooting, storing, and sharing your photo images.

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Customer Reviews

FANTASTIC Camera !!!
[...]

This camera lives up to all of the expectations set by these reviews (as well as others) and the reviews on Amazon. I could do a write up, but the reviews posted on the sites above go into far greater detail than I could ever do and show comparison photo's to boot. What I can do is give you my reaction to this camera now that I have it in my hands...

PROS:
1 - Super easy to use, out of the box experience. Pop in some AA batteries and you'll be shooting photos in just a few seconds.

2 - Speaking of batteries they are the AA batteries you already have in your house. I have kids so I am already using rechargeable batteries.

3 - Image quality is great!

4 - Supplied software is fantastic for storing photos - I love it already.

5 - Fits very nicely in your hands.

6 - Very intuitive controls. You can jump from full auto to full manual with ease.

7 - Very quick shutter lag.

8 - Nice burst mode.

9 - Functional image stabilization

10 - 12x optical zoom is superb; 24x digital zoom actually works with no image degradation.

CONS:
1 - Low light focusing is too soft. You will need to manually adjust for this in very low light situations (like taking a photo of cereal boxes inside of a kitchen closet with no light on).

2 - Higher ISO settings are too noisy (anything above 200). The built in flash will correct for this in many situations, but not all of them. They could have used better algorithms.

3 - LCD could have been larger, but it is not worth paying extra for (for example the H5).

OTHER:
1 - There have been some reviews here that have lamented the "special" USB connection on the cable. To be accurate the cable supplied by Sony has a standard USB interface for the PC end and a standard micro-USB for the camera end. The micro-USB interface is the exact same one used by my Blackberry phone, my SanDisk MP3 player and my Cannon PowerShot camera. There is nothing special about it.

2 - Some have commented about this camera is not able to write to non-Sony memory sticks. While this was true for the first batch of these cameras that were released, Sony has since provided free downloads to correct for this. The newer cameras come with this new software already installed. I have a non-Sony meory stick in my camera and it works just fine.

[...]

First Impression
I've only owned this camera for a few days, but my first impression is WOW. I've owned 8 digital cameras over the past 10 years. By far this is the finest.
I originally bought the Cannon S2, but in less than 2 weeks it died on me. Before it died, I was very happy with the picture quality, but the Sony H2 is even better.
The Sony H2 also includes several extras that Cannon charges for, like the lens adapter, rechargeable batteries, and the battery charger.
The 12x zoom and the stabilization is what makes this camera great, but it is loaded with other features.
So far I only have three complaints. I found the manual to less than adequate, the menus not as straight forward as other cameras I've owned, and I really wanted to stay with SD cards. Only because I already owned so many.
Note: I am using a SanDisk Pro Duo Memory stick, and it works fine.
Several people complained about the flash on the H1. I've taken half dozen portraits using the flash, and they all look great.
I'm primarily a point and shoot guy, that likes everything automatic, and in the automatic mode things work great, but I occasionally need more options, and this camera has everything.
I don't know why Sony went from a 2.5" LCD on the H1 to a 2" LCD on this model, but the 2" is much better than the 1.8" on the Cannon.
I may add more in a couple months.

High quality camera
Sony has improved on the H1 with an excellent quality picture format and the lowest noise level in its class. Yes, it only takes Sony memory sticks but I bought mine at Best Buy cheaper than Sandisk. Disregard DMM from Washington's rating as this person has been on every review I have looked at before purchasing my H2, knocking Sony. If you know anything about photography, it's there is only so much any mfg. can do with a 12x optical zoom with an image stabilizer at this size. If your looking for the perfect package you need an SLR with multiple lens, which is twice the size and price. I would recommend the H2 highly. The next best is the Panasonic DMC-FZ7, larger lcd, but much higher noise.