Cyber-shot DSC-H10

Released 2008

An 8.1-megapixel compact camera with a stabilised 10× optical zoom, fixed 3-inch screen and manual exposure using an ND filter.

Model history · 2 models, 2007–2008

2007Cyber-shot DSC-H3 Compare
2008Cyber-shot DSC-H10

Type: Compact
Sensor: Other
Megapixels: 8.1
Lens: 38–380 mm equivalent
Video: 640 × 480 at 30 fps
Body weight: 264 g

What reviewers say

DPReview and PhotographyBlog praised the compact stabilised zoom, clear screen and photographs in good light. Both criticised white balance under artificial lighting, limited aperture control and the lack of a wider lens. PhotographyBlog was more accepting of high-ISO images for small prints; DPReview emphasised detail smearing and slow low-light autofocus.

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

Product links

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Image and sensor

Camera type: Compact
Sensor format: Other
Sensor type: Super HAD CCD
Effective resolution: 8.1 MP
Largest image: 3264 × 2448
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 100–3200
Sensor detail: 1/2.5-type colour Super HAD CCD, approximately 8.286 million total and 8.083 million effective photosites, rounded to 8.1 MP; optical format does not establish physical sensor dimensions
Image formats: Exif 2.21 JPEG still images; DCF and DPOF supported, no RAW recording. Sharpness, contrast and colour modes can be adjusted
Image processor: BIONZ processor, Dynamic Range Optimizer and face detection; Clear RAW NR describes processing before JPEG encoding, not RAW recording

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 38–380 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/3.5–4.4
Optical zoom: 10×
Stabilisation: Optical lens stabilisation
Lens detail: Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 10× optical zoom; physical 6.3–63 mm, 38–380 mm equivalent, f/3.5 wide to f/4.4 telephoto. Japanese exact table specifies ten elements in nine groups including one aspherical element; supplied adapter supports 58 mm filters and optional conversion lenses
Autofocus: Nine-point multi-area, centre and spot AF, face detection and focus presets; no continuous manual focus. Normal minimum 50 cm wide/90 cm telephoto, macro approximately 2 cm wide/90 cm telephoto. Advanced Sports mode includes predictive autofocus
Shutter: Japanese exact table: Auto 1/4–1/2000 second, Program 1–1/2000, Manual 30–1/2000; operating conditions affect available speeds
Burst detail: Maker UK specifies approximately 0.5-second intervals and up to 100 continuous frames. No reciprocal conversion to a headline frame rate; settings and media affect results
Stabilisation detail: Optical Super SteadyShot with Continuous or Shooting operation; no infrared NightShot or NightFraming in UK exact table
Flash: Built-in pop-up flash, approximately 0.2–7 m wide or 0.9–5.6 m telephoto at ISO Auto; longer high-ISO claims have different conditions. No accessory hotshoe
Exposure controls: Auto, Program Auto, Manual and nine scene modes. Exact handbook lists no aperture-priority or shutter-priority mode despite UK support table claiming aperture priority. Manual has two ND-filter exposure settings: f/3.5 or f/8 wide, f/4.4 or f/10 telephoto; these do not change depth of field. ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps and exposure bracketing

Video

Highest video resolution: 640 × 480 at 30 fps
Video detail: MPEG-1 monaural movies: VGA 640×480 at approximately 30 fps Fine requiring Memory Stick PRO Duo, 17 fps Standard or 320×240 at approximately 8 fps. Exact manual limits continuous clips to approximately 10 minutes. DPReview confirms optical zoom cannot change while filming; HD output is for still photographs, not HD movie recording
Audio: Built-in monaural microphone and speaker; monaural movie sound and analogue audio output

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: None
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 230,400
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed 3-type Clear Photo LCD Plus TFT, 230400 dots in exact manual and Japanese table; UK table rounds to 230000. No optical or electronic viewfinder

Connections and design

Bluetooth: No
Battery life (maker's claim): 310 photographs
Body weight: 264 g
Release detail: Sony Europe notice dated 31 January 2008 planned availability from end of March; Japan scheduled 11 April. Contemporary April and August full tests establish the 2008 retail generation, but earliest actual sale month remains unconfirmed, so year precision retained
Recording media: Approximately 31 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo supported. PRO-HG operates at PRO Duo speed; PRO Duo required for VGA Fine movies
Ports: Multi connector carries Hi-Speed USB 2.0, analogue video and monaural audio. Separate DC IN connector listed by exact Japanese table. Optional component cable provides HD still-image output; no HDMI terminal
Wireless connections: UK maker specification explicitly lists no Bluetooth
Battery life detail: NP-BG1 lithium-ion battery, 3.6 V, 3.4 Wh/960 mAh. Approximately 310 photographs/155 minutes under maker CIPA still-test conditions. Separate Japanese 170-minute movie-battery claim uses 320-size recording and repeated clips, not VGA Fine. Playback 7400 images/370 minutes is another separate test
Charging: External BC-CSGB/BC-CSGC charger, regional fittings vary; approximately 330 minutes full charge or 270 minutes normal charge from depleted battery at 25°C. Optional AC-LS5K adapter does not charge the battery in the camera
Dimensions: Approximately 106 × 68.5 × 48.9 mm width × height × depth excluding protrusions
Weight detail: UK exact support table gives approximately 264 g bare body and 380 g with accessories. Japanese exact specifications and announcement give 265 g bare body, while the English manual and Japanese table give 381 g including NP-BG1 battery, strap, adapter ring, lens hood, cap and other accessories. UK headline retained; one-gram maker discrepancy unresolved
In the box: NP-BG1 battery, external charger, multi-connector USB/AV cable, shoulder strap, lens cap, cap strap, lens hood and adapter ring; regional power fittings vary

Pros and cons

Pros

Optical lens stabilisation
Manual exposure
Supplied lens hood and filter adapter

Cons

JPEG still images only
No viewfinder
VGA maximum video resolution

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-S730	Compact	Other	7.2	35–105 mm equivalent	320 × 240 at 30 fps	140 g	Jan 2008
SonyCyber-shot DSC-S750	Compact	Other	7.2	35–105 mm equivalent	320 × 240 at 30 fps	128 g	2008
SonyCyber-shot DSC-S780	Compact	Other	8.1	35–105 mm equivalent	320 × 240 at 30 fps	128 g	2008

Previous model: Cyber-shot DSC-H3. Newer model: Cyber-shot DSC-H20.

Sources

Photo: Sony

DSC-H10 rear three-quarter view: Sony
DSC-H10 textured grip and lens-barrel close-up: Sony
DSC-H10 shutter button and mode-dial studio close-up: Sony
DSC-H10 raised flash close-up: Sony
DSC-H10 straight rear view with a photograph displayed on its LCD: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H10 front view with raised flash on its supplied dark reflective studio background: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H10 rear display and controls on its supplied reflective studio background: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H10 held in a hand, front view on its supplied studio background: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H10 camera with optional lenses, ring light, GPS accessory and Memory Stick cards, complete supplied studio photograph: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H10 with an optional teleconversion lens mounted, supplied studio photograph: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H10 beside a camera case, map and coffee cup, supplied travel photograph: Sony

Spot a mistake? Tell us