Cyber-shot DSC-H3

Released 2007

An 8.1-megapixel compact camera with a stabilised 10× optical zoom, fixed 2.5-inch screen and manual exposure.

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 Imaging Resource praised the compact stabilised zoom and low-ISO photographs, but criticised confusing menus, slow low-light focusing and high-ISO detail loss. Imaging Resource was more concerned about telephoto colour fringing; DPReview judged it minor. DPReview also criticised the low-resolution screen and limited manual controls.

From dpreview.com and imaging-resource.com

Product links

Specifications

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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. Ten elements in nine groups, including four aspherical and one ED element; supplied adapter supports 58 mm filters and 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
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; no aperture-priority or shutter-priority mode. ±2 EV compensation in 1/3 EV steps and exposure bracketing. DPReview reports Sony confirmed that two selectable aperture settings engage/disengage an ND filter rather than changing depth of field

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: 2.5″
Screen dots: 115,200
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed 2.5-type TFT LCD, 115200 dots in exact manual; UK and Japanese tables round to 115000. No optical or electronic viewfinder

Connections and design

Bluetooth: No
Battery life (maker's claim): 330 photographs
Body weight: 264 g
Release detail: Announced 21 August 2007 in the US, with September shipping planned; Japanese maker notice scheduled 14 September. Contemporary November full review establishes the 2007 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. Optional component cable gives HD still-photo output; no HDMI terminal. Imaging Resource corrected its original review to state H-series cameras are not compatible with the CSS-HD1 dock
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 330 photographs/165 minutes with LCD on under maker CIPA conditions; playback claim 7400 images/370 minutes is a separate test
Charging: External BC-CSG/BC-CSGB/BC-CSGC charger, regional fittings vary. Approximately 330 minutes full charge or 270 minutes practical charge from depleted battery at 25°C; optional AC-LS5K adapter does not recharge the battery in the camera
Dimensions: Approximately 106 × 68.5 × 47.5 mm width × height × depth excluding protrusions
Weight detail: Approximately 264 g body only. Manual 380 g includes NP-BG1 battery, strap, adapter ring, lens hood, lens cap and other accessories; Japanese table also includes Memory Stick Duo
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-S650	Compact	Other	7.2	35–105 mm equivalent	320 × 240 at 30 fps	130 g	2007
SonyCyber-shot DSC-S700	Compact	Other	7.2	35–105 mm equivalent	320 × 240 at 30 fps	149 g	Mar 2007
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H10	Compact	Other	8.1	38–380 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	264 g	2008

Newer model: Cyber-shot DSC-H10.

Sources

Photo: Sony

Silver DSC-H3 front three-quarter view: Sony
DSC-H3 top mode dial and shutter-button close-up, original light studio background retained: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H3 in black shown with optional conversion lenses and a carrying case in a dark studio composition: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H3 with optional teleconversion and wide-conversion lenses fitted, alongside a carrying case; three supplied photographic panels and configuration labels retained: Sony

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