Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #77 in Camera & Photo
• Color: Black
• Brand: Sony
• Model: DSCH20/B
• Dimensions: 4.80" h x 6.00" w x 7.60" l, 2.00 pounds
• Display size: 3

Features

• 10.1-megapixel Super HAD CCD image sensor
• 10x optical zoom Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens; Optical SteadyShot image stabilization
• 720p high-definition movie capture; BIONZ image processor
• 3.0-inch (230K pixels) LCD; Face Detection and Smile Shutter technology
• 11MB built-in memory; capture images to Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo Media (not included)

From the Manufacturer

Zoom in on the 10.1-megapixel DSC-H20 Cyber-shot digital camera and get the best shot. With its impressive Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar wide-angle lens with a 10x optical zoom, it's easy to capture the moment with impeccable detail. A 3.0-inch touch screen makes reviewing your shots a breeze and the ingenious iAuto mode takes the guesswork out of choosing the best camera settings when you're not sure which one to pick. There's also built-in technology like Optical SteadyShot image stabilization that reduces blur and Smile Shutter mode that automatically captures a smile as it happens. Feel like recording HD video? The H20 captures crisp, 720p video that can be viewed on your HDTV. There's even an anti-blink function to help everyone look their best and in-camera photo retouching tools.

Cyber-shot DSC-H20 Highlights

10.1-megapixel Super HAD CCD Image Sensor
A powerful 10.1-megapixel, 1/2.3-inch Super HAD CCD image sensor helps you capture gorgeous images with superb contrast and clarity down to the finest detail. With 10.1 megapixels, you can create stunning, photo-quality prints up to A3+ (13 x 19-inch) size, or crop your images and still come away with high-resolution shots.

Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens with 10x Optical Zoom
The professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 10x optical zoom lens brings distant subjects closer for great outdoor, sports, and travel photos.

3.0-inch Clear Photo LCD display (230k pixels)
Generous 3.0-inch (230K pixels) Clear Photo LCD display features sharp, natural color that makes it easy to compose shots, read menus, and view photos, even in bright sunlight.

BIONZ image processor
The BIONZ image processor delivers the high resolution and fast performance you expect from a Sony digital camera.

Intelligent Auto Mode
Intelligent Auto (iAuto) mode goes beyond traditional auto settings by recognizing and adjusting to scene conditions and lighting, enhancing natural skin tones, and reducing blur. By incorporating advanced features such as Intelligent Scene Recognition, Face Detection, and Optical SteadyShot, iAuto lets you take advantage of the latest Sony Cyber-shot technology without leaving auto mode. Whether you’re shooting expansive landscapes, capturing playground action, or taking pictures at a birthday party or wedding shower, iAuto will optimize your camera’s settings to help ensure you come away with a great shot.

HD Movie
Capture more of your memories in high definition (720p) video. Record HD movies in 720p high definition MPEG4 format for stunning large-screen home movie playback. Record up to 29 min in 720p format (or up to 2GB) per movie.

Intelligent Scene Recognition
Intelligent Scene Recognition (iSCN) Mode automatically detects eight different types of scenes and, within just 1/30th of a second, selects the appropriate camera settings: Backlight, Backlight Portrait, Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Twilight using a Tripod, Portrait, Landscape, and Macro. iSCN has two modes: Auto and Advanced. In Auto Mode, the camera takes a single shot using the optimal settings. In Advance Mode, the camera takes a photo with the standard automatic settings and, if in difficult lighting (low light or back light) immediately takes a second photo with optimized setting so you can chose which to keep.

Face Detection technology
Face Detection technology detects up to eight individual faces and controls flash, focus, exposure, and white balance to deliver accurate, natural skin tones with reduced red-eye. It can also give priority to children or adults. Newly added Face Motion Detection adjusts ISO sensitivity and accelerates the shutter speed when facial movement is detected, reducing blur in the subjects face.

Priority Face Selection
Optimizing focus, exposure, and white balance for a specific face is easier now with selectable facial memory, even when the subject leaves the frame. This feature is perfect at weddings and other events the goal is always to focus on a certain person.

Anti-blink Function
It's frustrating to think you've captured that perfect shot, only to review it later and discover one of your subjects blinked just as you pressed the shutter. The Anti-blink function works to help counter blinking and squinting. When the camera is set to Soft Snap, the Anti-blink function captures two images, recording only the photo with less squinting. If a blink is detected in other shooting modes, a warning will be displayed after you take the shot.

Red-eye Reductions
Helps reduce common red-eye problems.

Smile Shutter Technology
The popular Smile Shutter technology automatically detects and captures a smiling face. Simply activate by pressing the Smile Shutter button and the camera will capture a smile the moment it happens. You can also select subject priority (Adult or Child Priority or touch subject on screen) and indicate the degree of Smile Detection Sensitivity to high (small smile), medium (laugh) or low (grin). Smile Shutter also makes a great substitute for the self timer. Just smile once everyone is ready, and the camera will automatically capture the shot.

Double Anti-blur Solution
The combination of Optical SteadyShot image stabilization and High ISO sensitivity helps compensate for shaky hands, minimizes blur, and allows flash-free shooting to preserve the mood.

Optical SteadyShot Image Stabilization
Optical SteadyShot image stabilization uses a built-in gyro sensor to detect camera shake and automatically shifts the lens to help prevent blur without sacrificing image quality.

High Sensitivity Mode (ISO 3200)
High ISO allows for faster shutter speed, so you can take photos indoors or in low light without the need for a flash. In addition to High Sensitivity Mode (ISO), you can select up to eight ISO settings (Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200) when shooting in Program Auto Mode to adjust sensitivity to your shooting conditions.

Dynamic Range Optimizer Standard and Plus
Dynamic Range Optimizer (DRO) Standard and Plus uses a sophisticated algorithm to determine the best exposure and contrast settings for almost any shooting environment. The result is more natural images with clearer details that more closely match what your naked eye sees. DRO is particularly effective when shooting backlit portraits or any scene with a dramatic contrast between background and foreground lighting. DRO Plus allows for even greater optimization by analyzing each region of an image and performing additional image processing.

Convenient Photo Modes
Choose from 13 convenient photo modes to quickly adjust for specific shooting conditions. Photo modes include iAuto, Easy, Program, and Scene Selection such as High Sensitivity, Landscape, Soft Snap, Twilight Portrait, Twilight, Beach, Snow, Fireworks, Underwater and Gourmet Mode. Gourmet Mode lets you capture mouth-watering culinary creations with all the color and clarity of images you see in gourmet magazines.

9-Point Auto Focus
Because an off-centered subject can make your shot more interesting, a 9-point auto focus system measures nine precision focus points, giving you greater creative freedom to compose your images.

Burst Mode
You can fire up to 100 shots at approximately 0.62 second intervals (at any resolution; VGA to high resolution mode. Results may vary based on settings and Memory Stick media being used).

Function Guide
This beginner-friendly optional function helps navigate through the various functions and settings displaying the description of chosen functions or settings on the LCD screen.

Simplified Buttons
Experience simplicity with buttons and menus that focus on the most common used functions. The shooting dial focuses on the type of usage: Easy, intelligent Auto, Scene, Program and Movie - with the most common used functions such as Play and Delete are handy in hard buttons. All other functions can be found under one menu button.

Easy Shooting Mode
With Easy Shooting Mode, even beginners can take great photos. In Easy Shooting Mode, easy-to-understand basic instructions are displayed on the LCD screen and the camera switches to all automatic settings with iSCN so you can just take the photo without worrying about settings. The menu is also simplified on playback to provide limited but straight forward operating functions for those afraid of choosing wrong settings.

16:9 High Resolution Mode
Using the 16:9 High Resolution Mode, you can record high resolution images in the 16:9 aspect ratio favored by HDTVs. This setting is ideal if you plan to view your images on a compatible HDTV and invite friends and family members under for a slideshow.

Memory Stick Duo Media Convenience
The Cyber-shot DSC-H20 camera accepts Memory Stick PRO Duo media (sold separately).

Stamina Battery Power
Provides extended battery life and shooting capacity when using a fully-charged lithium-ion battery. The included battery supports up to 220 shots.

Easy Image Management
Easy Image Management takes the hassle out of sorting through large volumes of image data, so you can quickly select and view your desired photos. Photos can be browsed in four convenient ways: by Standard Folder view, Date view, Event view, and Favorites showing only user-selected images. You can also harness the power of Face Detection technology to filter by face type (choices include All People, Children, Infants, and Smiles).

In-Camera Retouching Tools
Retouch and enhance your pictures on the go with 10 in-camera editing functions: Trimming, Red-Eye Correction, Soft Focus, Partial Color, Fisheye Lens, Cross Filter, Radial Blur, Retro, Happy Face and Unsharp Masking effects.

Multi-purpose Resize function
The Multi-purpose Resize function lets you change the aspect ratio of an image right in the camera, so you can adjust images as necessary, whether you want to display them on a compatible HDTV, or e-mail them/upload them to a blog.

HDTV Compatibility
View your photos and videos in glorious high definition on a Sony BRAVIA or similar HDTV using the optional VMC-MHC2 HD output adapter cable (sold separately).

PhotoTV HD
Bring your photos to life and enjoy highly detailed, high definition images with PhotoTV HD-capable Sony BRAVIA HDTVs. PhotoTV HD fine tunes settings on your HDTV, such as sharpness, gradation, and color to display images that look more like actual printed photos.

Wide Zoom display
To use the entire image area of the compatible HDTV screen (sold separately), Wide Zoom display automatically expands standard 4:3 and 3:2 images to 16:9.

PHOTOMUSIC feature
PHOTOMUSIC combines images with music (5 minutes per track) to produce fun and entertaining slide shows. The standard visual effects (Simple, Nostalgic, Active, and Stylish). Select from pre-loaded tracks on camera or transfer your own from your compatible PC (sold separately).

Picture Motion Browser ver. 4.2.02
Sony PMB (Picture Motion Browser ) PC software provides a simple, easy-to-use way to transfer video and still images to your PC, as well as sort, edit, and output to data disc and the Web (compatible PC with internet connection required). Finding your images with PMB is easy with Calendar view and Face Search. Face Search allows you to filter by faces (one or many) and also a specific person’s face. Share images and videos on popular sharing sites with Media Services function.

Customer Reviews

Everything I wanted and needed in a camera
I am no expert when it comes to photography but enjoy taking good pictures of my family and friends. I have kids in sports and I like to take my own pictures for picture giving. I read many reviews (for hours) on various cameras and endet up with this one here. I first was going to get the DSC-H50 (one step up from the DSC-H20). When I went to the store to buy it, however, it was to large for my taste. It was to big to fit in a pants pocket and even for my small purse it was quite large. Here are the main reasons why this camera is awesome!

This camera here is not as compact as your typical slim camera (due to the 10x zoom), but it is small enough to fit in a purse or even a jacket/pants pocket if need be.

This camera has a burst mode so you can hold down the shutter and the camera will take numerous pictures, thus making it ideal for action shots. I took it to a Volleyball tournament and got unbelievable shots of my daughter serving and hitting! I cought her in mid air more then a few times...just what I had hoped for. I also took pictures at a track meet and got kids jumping hurdles...the pictures look almost like magazine shots!

This camera is extremely easy to use in the easy and auto adjust mode! It tells you everything on the screen. You can start shooting pretty much right away...it's that easy! The manual is good to have for reference and questions and if you really want to get to know your camera.

The zoom is great and plenty! I took pictures from the mezzanine onto the Volleyball courts and could get nice close up shots! 10x is plenty for me!

The battery life is also impressive, as long as you keep your screen on a regular bright setting. First I had it set to "bright" and the battery didn't do well. Then I set it to normal and it lasts a long time. I took about 150 shots and not a single bar was missing from the battery!

It has a rechargebale battery so you don't have to keep buying regular batteries. Also, it does say that you can get a international charger so the battery charger can be plugged in anywhere in the world. (Still have to get that myself). What a nice option.

The quality of the pictures is also great! I took a team photo and my daughter took it to a practice to show the others. They choose the picture to use in a frame as a gift to the coaches. It turned out so good and all I did was push a button!

When shooting pictures, it has a option for the file size you select. If you know you want to email pictures, or for example if you sell on eBay and want to download pictures onto the ebay site, you select the small file size and shoot pictures that way for working with them online. For pictures that you use for portraits for example, you choose a larger file (pixels I guess), and that way it does not distort the picture when you enlarge it. That is also extremely easy to figure out!

Last but not least...I plugged it into my pc with the supplied USB cord and retrieved the photos the same way I always did in the past. I have not yet added the picture cd that came with it, but my guess is that it will work very good. I also took the 2GB SD card to Wal mart and made nice prints (you have to purchase the pro duo stick seperate...look for the "Sony pro-Duo Stick" cost about $13-$15). The 2 GB is plenty for me, I think it holds about 400 pictures).

Great camera...I have not found a flaw yet!

Great Camera!! Best Value!!!
I bought this camera for a two week trip I was about to take. I also purchased an extra extended battery and an 8GB memory card for the camera. The main reason I purchased the camera was for its ability to take pictures quickly. I looked through consumer reports and this one was one of the top rated cameras. The cost is very good for this quality camera. I could take a picture withing a couple of seconds after turning the camera on and I could take a picture again less than a second later. This camera also has great battery life. Even if you just use the included battery, you can still get around 3-400 pictures (assuming you are not using flash). The zoom on the camera is great. It is a 10x optical zoom and additional 7x digital zoom. This gives you the power of a 17x zoom. If you take your picture at 17x zoom, you can then zoom in on your picture another 8x under the "review your pictures" menu. This camera is also small enough to fit into a small over the shoulder camera bag. It fit into my old camera bag that I used to have a small Olympus camera in. I recommend this camera for ages 16 and up. It is a great camera that it comparable to any SLR camera. I think it is better than a SLR because it is so much smaller than any SLR you could purchase.

Superb photos and for a lot less than the TZ-7
After going through 2 generations of the lumix TZ series (TZ3 and TZ4) which served well as multi purpose cameras, I wanted a multi-purpose camera that also had better video quality and superior low light capabilities. Here is my why not others comparison (it may not match with your needs, but it might help some of you)

Panasonic Lumix TZ6 vs Sony H20
Lower quality video (same as WVGA resolution as the TZ4), and could not adapt to the different lighting conditions like its higher model TZ7 (something that Panasonic does not mention clearly so be vary).

Panasonic TZ7 vs Sony H20
Unfortunately seems to have fallen prey to its high reviews with the price at $399 (even with weekend discounts it was around $340).
Panasonic has decided to clam on cheap batteries, so you can't use OEM batteries with the latest firmware (needed as it supposedly fixes the autofocussing issue in videos). This mean you need to bust out 50-60$ for a spare battery, and since the new battery is smaller than the one's used in the previous models, you need the spare.

Canon SX200 vs Sony H20
The canon SX200 though having good picture quality and full manual controls was out simply because it does not have optical zoom in videos.

Samsung WB550 vs Sony H20
Optics that match the Lumix TZ7 in spec, and yet offering all what the Sony has to offer, so in theory its the camera that's the all rounder
But the reviews highlighted the picture quality was not very good and had the purple fringing problem
Uncertain quality of samsung camera (Since the samsung mobile phones are a bit low on reliability from experience)

Therefore i came to the conclusion the best alternative to the Lumix that also matched my needs was the Sony DSC-H20 though knowing that the lack of a true wide screen (38mm vs 28mm in the panasonic) may limit my landscape shots and group photos.

The initial impression once i received the unit was that it was definitely not as slim as the Lumix cameras, and the build quality while good for a plastic unit seemingly a bit fragile compared to the all metal lumix. I guess its going to take some time for me to shift from the lumix mindset :) The positive being that this sony model was made in Japan.

However the pictures confirmed what the reviewers said that it was camera with good potential. The daylight pictures are superb, and the focus is much faster than the TZ4 i had last. The macro mode is able to go much closer than the TZ4 (and even the TZ7), and i realized this meant even better close up pictures. The video quality in good light is superb, and the zoom speed is decent, and smooth. The jump to 720p HD is definitely noticed compared to VGA/WVGA and you will not want to revert back :) The Sony focussed quite well while zooming in video mode compared to the TZ4 (and i heard the new TZ7 panasonics also still have this problem).

Then i tried the indoor pictures, and the quality again was very good (My wife said the pictures were definitely a lot more clear and vivid compared to the TZ4). The dual shot capability is also useful, though in most cases the second option is useless as the modes used don't seem very intelligent. The flash definitely is very powerful, and works well even to provide background clarity. The video indoors is much better than my TZ4 as it adapts well to the low light, and in high sensitivity mode while the video can be a bit noisy it still able to provide fair footage.

If you are the forgetful type remember to set the flash to auto, if not you are are going to be disappointed when the shots turns out grainy when taken without the flash.

The menus are fairly easy to use the feedback from the navigation buttons are bit less than the TZ4, and i miss the context menu capability of the lumix. Sony hiding the settings menu and requiring the user to press "." at the last menu option is unnecessary initially then i realized its to keep the menu's slimmer with the options required for normal use available, and only the lesser used options are in this hidden menu.

One feature that i thought the camera had was that it could increase its optical zoom to higher values just like the Panasonic range (e.g. in the lumix when i set it to 3MP, the zoom increased to 15.9X from 10X optical). However seems the Sony cannot do that, and only has the digital zoom increasing and this is of no use.

Another useful feature is that you can press the play button when the camera is switched off to view the photos on the camera without having the lens come out. The play button also works when you connect the USB connector to connect to the PC again without the lens mechanism getting activated.

PROS
Good picture quality both outdoors and indoors
Video is very good, and does well in low light as well
Very good macro photos
10X optical zoom an asset for an all purpose camera
Nice features and smile shutter works well (yet to try blink detection)
Fast focusing specially in low light conditions
Lightweight and well balanced
Nice 3" LCD which shows pictures well
Manual mode useful for indoor and night photos

CONS
Lens cover is a pain, and would have preferred an automatic option like in the lumix, this also makes the camera a bit more bulky
Not a true wide screen optics, so you have a limited view in wide mode
Only 3 modes for video VGA (4:3), and high/low HD (16:9).
Use of memory stick as the storage medium :(
A slimmer profile would have been nice
Pop-up flash while effective also mean you need to pop-it in back
Flash recycle time is slow
Manual mode has limited flexibility

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