Cyber-shot DSC-H1

Released June 2005

A 5.1-megapixel bridge camera with a 12× optical zoom, optical stabilisation, manual exposure and two AA batteries.

Type: Bridge
Sensor: Other
Megapixels: 5.1
Lens: 36–432 mm equivalent
Video: 640 × 480 at 30 fps
Body weight: 438 g

What reviewers say

DPReview and Photography Blog praised the comfortable handling, accessible exposure controls, useful stabilised zoom and photographs at low ISO settings. Both found the electronic viewfinder small and image quality weaker at ISO 400. DPReview noted focus hunting at long focal lengths and strong default contrast; Photography Blog found ISO and white balance inconveniently hidden in menus.

From dpreview.com, photographyblog.com, photographyblog.com, photographyblog.com and photographyblog.com

Product links

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Bridge
Sensor format: Other
Sensor type: Super HAD CCD
Effective resolution: 5.1 MP
Largest image: 2592 × 1944
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 64–400
Sensor detail: 1/2.5-type Super HAD CCD; maker user guide specifies approximately 5.255 million total and 5.09 million effective photosites, rounded to 5.1 MP in UK specifications. Optical format does not specify physical sensor width or height
Image formats: JPEG Fine or Standard, Exif 2.2 and DCF; no RAW or TIFF recording
Image processor: Real Imaging Processor with 14-bit DXP analogue-to-digital conversion

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 36–432 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/2.8–3.7
Optical zoom: 12×
Stabilisation: Optical lens stabilisation
Lens detail: Sony 12× zoom, physical 6.0–72.0 mm, 36–432 mm equivalent, f/2.8 wide to f/3.7 telephoto. Aperture closes to f/8. Supplied adapter supports 58 mm filters and optional conversion optics; digital and Smart Zoom are crops, not additional optical zoom
Autofocus: Single, Monitor and Continuous AF operation; multi-point, centre and movable Flexible Spot areas, with manual distance selection and AF illuminator. Macro minimum approximately 2 cm wide or 90 cm telephoto. AF-area count omitted because launch marketing and contemporary review descriptions differ
Shutter: Auto approximately 1/8–1/2000 second; Manual 30–1/1000 second. The 1/2000-second option requires f/5.6 or smaller aperture under the user guide's mode conditions
Burst detail: UK maker table lists nine consecutive frames and approximately 0.8-second burst interval; image size and quality change the buffer limit. Separate Multi Burst records 16 small frames inside one still-image file, not 16 full-resolution photographs
Stabilisation detail: Super SteadyShot optical lens stabilisation with Shooting or Continuous operation; Continuous mode consumes more battery
Flash: Built-in automatic pop-up flash; approximately 0.3–6.8 m wide or 0.9–5.2 m telephoto at Auto ISO. Supplied lens hood/adapter can obstruct flash or AF illumination; no accessory hot shoe
Exposure controls: Auto, Program, shutter-priority, aperture-priority and Manual; seven scene modes, multi-pattern/centre-weighted/spot metering and ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps. Jog dial adjusts exposure and program shift

Video

Highest video resolution: 640 × 480 at 30 fps
Video detail: MPEG-1 monaural video up to 640 × 480 at approximately 30 fps in MPEG Movie VX Fine, requiring Memory Stick PRO. Other modes include VGA Standard and 160-size video. Optical zoom setting cannot change during movie recording
Audio: Built-in electret condenser microphone, monaural movie sound and speaker; monaural analogue audio/video output

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen size: 2.5″
Screen dots: 115,200
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed 2.5-type TFT LCD, 115200 dots, 100% coverage; separate 0.3-type electronic viewfinder also has 115200 dots. UK web specifications round both to 115000; exact user-guide totals used

Connections and design

Bluetooth: No
Battery life (maker's claim): 290 photographs
Body weight: 438 g
Release detail: Sony's US announcement on 19 February 2005 planned June availability; Japan specified 17 June and China confirmed June retail availability. June precision retained without claiming an exact worldwide first sale day
Recording media: 32 MB internal memory plus full-size Memory Stick/Memory Stick PRO; PRO required for VGA Fine video. Memory Stick Duo requires its adapter; no memory card supplied
Ports: USB mini-B with Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and monaural analogue A/V output; PictBridge direct printing
Wireless connections: UK specifications explicitly list no Bluetooth
Battery life detail: Two supplied NH-AA-DA nickel-metal hydride AA batteries; approximately 290 photographs/145 minutes with LCD or 320 photographs/160 minutes with finder under CIPA still conditions, including shooting every 30 seconds, zoom changes and flash every other shot. User guide's 160/170-minute movie figures apply to 160-size recording, not VGA Fine
Charging: Supplied BC-CS2A/CS2B external Ni-MH charger; approximately six hours for fully depleted supplied batteries at 25°C. Oxy Nickel AA primary cells and optional AC-LS5K power adapter also supported; regional launch references to alkaline batteries do not override user-guide conditions
Dimensions: Approximately 107.8 × 81.4 × 91.2 mm width × height × depth excluding protrusions; user guide rounds width to 108 mm
Weight detail: Approximately 438 g body only; user guide's 590.8 g includes two batteries, shoulder strap, adapter ring, lens hood, lens cap and other accessories. This is not bare camera-and-battery weight
Colours: Silver and black
In the box: Camera, two rechargeable AA Ni-MH batteries, charger and mains lead, USB and A/V cables, shoulder strap, lens cap/strap, adapter ring, lens hood, battery case, software CD and instructions; regional fittings vary

Pros and cons

Pros

Optical lens stabilisation
Aperture-priority, shutter-priority and manual exposure
Supplied rechargeable AA batteries and charger

Cons

JPEG still images only
Optical zoom cannot change during movie recording
VGA maximum video resolution

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H2	Bridge	Other	6	36–432 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	389 g	Apr 2006
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H5	Bridge	Other	7.2	36–432 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	406 g	May 2006
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H7	Bridge	Other	8.1	31–465 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	375 g	2007

Sources

Photo: sony.jp

DSC-H1 rear screen and controls: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 held in both hands outdoors: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 in silver with its lens hood fitted, front elevated view: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 in silver with an optional teleconversion lens attached; supplied configuration caption retained: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 in silver on a tabletop beside batteries, photographic prints and a vase: Sony

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