Cyber-shot DSC-H20

Released 2009

A 10.1-megapixel compact camera with a stabilised 10× optical zoom, 3-inch screen and 720p movie recording with optical zoom.

Model history · 3 models, 2007–2009

2007Cyber-shot DSC-H3 Compare
2008Cyber-shot DSC-H10 Compare
2009Cyber-shot DSC-H20

Type: Compact
Sensor: Other
Megapixels: 10.1
Lens: 38–380 mm equivalent
Video: 1280 × 720 at 30 fps
Body weight: 250 g

What reviewers say

DPReview and PhotographyBlog praised image quality in good light, effective stabilisation and improved handling. Both found the lack of wide-angle coverage and direct exposure controls limiting. PhotographyBlog welcomed the improved white balance and HD video with zoom; DPReview criticised the menu structure and loss of fine detail at higher sensitivities.

From dpreview.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: 10.1 MP
Largest image: 3648 × 2736
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 80–3200
Sensor detail: 1/2.3-type colour Super HAD CCD, approximately 12.4 million total and 10.1 million effective photosites; optical sensor format does not establish physical sensor dimensions
Image formats: JPEG still images; no RAW recording. Exif 2.21 and DPOF supported
Image processor: BIONZ imaging processor; Dynamic Range Optimizer, Intelligent Scene Recognition, face detection and Smile Shutter

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, equivalent 38–380 mm, f/3.5 wide to f/4.4 telephoto in exact UK specifications and English manual. Hong Kong launch table has conflicting f/3.3–5.2 text but its manual-mode row confirms f/3.5/f/4.4; exact UK/manual values retained. 58 mm filters require optional lens adapter
Autofocus: Nine-point multi-area, centre and spot AF, face detection and discrete distance presets rather than continuous manual focus. Maker focus range approximately 2 cm wide or 90 cm telephoto to infinity
Shutter: Hong Kong exact table: Auto 1/4–1/1600 second, Program 1–1/1600, Manual 30–1/2000; operating conditions affect availability
Burst detail: UK maker lists approximately 0.57-second burst intervals and up to 100 frames; no reciprocal conversion into headline fps
Stabilisation detail: Optical SteadyShot lens stabilisation; UK table explicitly excludes NightShot and NightFraming
Flash: Built-in pop-up flash; Hong Kong maker specifies approximately 0.2–7 m wide or 0.9–5.5 m telephoto at ISO Auto. ISO3200 distance claims use different conditions
Exposure controls: Intelligent Auto, Easy, Program Auto, Manual and scene selections. No aperture-priority or shutter-priority mode. Manual offers f/3.5 or f/8 at wide angle and f/4.4 or f/10 at telephoto; PhotographyBlog explains these use an ND filter rather than changing depth of field. Exposure compensation ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; exposure bracketing; One Push custom white balance in exact instructions

Video

Highest video resolution: 1280 × 720 at 30 fps
Video detail: MPEG-4 Visual movies with monaural audio, maximum 1280×720 at approximately 30 fps. Optical zoom operates while filming; exact manual warns that lens/button sounds may be recorded. 720 Fine 9 Mbps, Standard 6 Mbps or VGA 3 Mbps. Exact instructions limit continuous clips to approximately 29 minutes depending on conditions; 720 modes require Memory Stick PRO Duo. Frame-rate submode entries conflict in Hong Kong launch table, so lower-mode fps omitted
Audio: Built-in monaural microphone and monaural speaker, confirmed by exact instructions

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: None
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 230,400
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed 3-type TFT LCD, 230400 dots in exact English manual; maker tables round to 230000. No viewfinder

Connections and design

Bluetooth: No
Battery life (maker's claim): 290 photographs
Body weight: 250 g
Release detail: Contemporary Sony US announcement republished by Photoxels on 17 February 2009 planned April purchase availability; Hong Kong 3 March announcement planned mid-April. Full independent May/June tests establish retail generation 2009, but earliest actual sale month unconfirmed, so year precision retained
Recording media: Approximately 11 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo supported, with no PRO-HG speed advantage. Memory card not supplied
Ports: Type2b multi-use terminal carries Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and SD/HD analogue AV output. Optional HD output adapter cable is separately sold; this is not an HDMI terminal.
Wireless connections: UK exact specifications explicitly list no Bluetooth
Battery life detail: Supplied NP-BG1 lithium-ion battery, nominal 3.6 V, typical 3.4 Wh/960 mAh and minimum 3.3 Wh/910 mAh. Approximately 290 photographs/145 minutes under CIPA still-test conditions. Playback 6400 images/320 minutes is a separate test; optional NP-FG1 supported
Charging: External BC-CSGD/BC-CSGE charger in exact English instructions; regional supplied components vary. Approximately 330 minutes full charge or 270 minutes normal charge from depleted battery at 25°C
Dimensions: Approximately 107.3 × 68.7 × 47.1 mm width × height × depth excluding protrusions
Weight detail: Approximately 250 g excluding battery and recording media in UK/Hong Kong maker specifications; 279 g including NP-BG1 battery and Memory Stick Duo in exact instructions
In the box: NP-BG1 battery, external charger, multi-connector USB/AV cable, wrist strap, lens cap and software disc; memory card and HD output adapter cable separately sold, regional charger fittings vary

Pros and cons

Pros

Optical lens stabilisation
Optical zoom during movie recording
Manual exposure and custom white balance

Cons

JPEG still images only
No viewfinder
Lens starts at 38 mm equivalent

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-WX1	Compact	Other	10.2	24–120 mm equivalent	1280 × 720 at 30 fps	120 g	2009
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H10	Compact	Other	8.1	38–380 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	264 g	2008
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H55	Compact	Other	14.1	25–250 mm equivalent	1280 × 720 at 30 fps	170 g	2010

Previous model: Cyber-shot DSC-H10.

Sources

Photo: Sony (press photograph republished by Photoxels)

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 in black, rear view with its display off: Sony (manufacturer-supplied photograph explicitly credited by digitalkamera.de; complete supplied canvas retained)

Spot a mistake? Tell us