Cyber-shot DSC-H5

Released May 2006

A 7.2-megapixel bridge camera with a stabilised 12× optical zoom, a 3-inch display, manual exposure and two AA batteries.

Type: Bridge
Sensor: Other
Megapixels: 7.2
Lens: 36–432 mm equivalent
Video: 640 × 480 at 30 fps
Body weight: 406 g

What reviewers say

DPReview and Imaging Resource praised the low-ISO photographs, large rear screen, stabilised long zoom and responsive shooting. Both found high-ISO noise reduction removed fine detail and noted colour fringing. Handling divided them: DPReview liked the grip and controls, while Imaging Resource frequently pressed neighbouring buttons accidentally and found the grip uncomfortable on a long outing.

From dpreview.com and imaging-resource.com

Product links

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Bridge
Sensor format: Other
Sensor type: Super HAD CCD
Effective resolution: 7.2 MP
Largest image: 3072 × 2304
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 80–1000
Sensor detail: 1/2.5-type Super HAD CCD; approximately 7.41 million total and 7.201 million effective photosites, rounded to 7.2 MP. Optical format does not establish physical sensor dimensions
Image formats: JPEG Fine or Standard, Exif 2.21, DCF and DPOF; no RAW recording
Image processor: Real Imaging Processor; Clear RAW NR is noise reduction, not a RAW recording mode

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: Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 12× optical zoom, physical 6–72 mm, 36–432 mm equivalent, f/2.8 wide to f/3.7 telephoto; 11 elements in 9 groups including one ED and one aspherical element. Supplied adapter supports 58 mm filters and optional conversion lenses; digital and Smart Zoom are crops
Autofocus: Single, Monitor or Continuous AF, multi-point, centre and movable spot areas, with AF illuminator and manual distance adjustment. Normal minimum approximately 50 cm wide or 90 cm telephoto; macro approximately 2 cm wide or 90 cm telephoto
Shutter: Auto 1/4–1/2000 second; Program Auto 1–1/2000 second; shutter-priority and Manual 30–1/1000 second. Fastest settings depend on aperture and mode
Burst detail: Exact maker manual and Japanese specifications give five full-resolution Fine JPEG photographs per burst, with approximately 0.9-second intervals; Standard JPEGs increase the limit. UK legacy web table lists seven/0.8 second, conflicting with the exact H5 manual column; manual retained. Separate Multi Burst puts sixteen small frames inside one image
Stabilisation detail: Optical Super SteadyShot with Shooting or Continuous operation; continuous correction uses more battery
Flash: Built-in pop-up flash; approximately 0.3–9 m wide or 0.9–6.8 m telephoto at Auto ISO. Greater high-sensitivity range claims are conditional on ISO 1000
Exposure controls: Auto, Program, aperture-priority, shutter-priority and Manual, seven scene modes, multi-pattern/centre-weighted/spot metering and ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; jog dial adjusts exposure

Video

Highest video resolution: 640 × 480 at 30 fps
Video detail: MPEG-1 monaural video up to 640 × 480 at approximately 30 fps in VX Fine mode, requiring Memory Stick PRO Duo. VX Standard is approximately 17 fps; 160 × 112 Video Mail is approximately 8 fps. Optical zoom can change during recording
Audio: Built-in electret condenser microphone, monaural movie sound, speaker and monaural analogue A/V output

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 230,400
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed 3.0-type Clear Photo LCD Plus TFT, 230400 dots and 100% coverage; UK web table rounds to 230000. Separate 0.2-type electronic viewfinder has approximately 201000 dots equivalent in maker web specs, rounded to 200000 in the English manual

Connections and design

Bluetooth: No
Battery life (maker's claim): 340 photographs
Body weight: 406 g
Release detail: Sony US announcement on 25 February 2006 planned May availability; Japanese maker release specifies 19 May 2006 and Hong Kong launch planned end-May availability. May precision retained without claiming an exact worldwide first-sale day
Recording media: Approximately 30 MB internal memory under English maker manual; Japanese archive describes approximately 28 MB with 30 MB under its older measurement method. Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo supported, with PRO Duo required for VGA Fine movies. US launch described 32 MB; exact manual retained
Ports: Mini-B Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and monaural analogue A/V output; PictBridge direct printing
Wireless connections: UK maker specifications explicitly list no Bluetooth
Battery life detail: Two supplied NH-AA-DB nickel-metal hydride AA cells; approximately 340 photographs/170 minutes with LCD or 370 photographs/185 minutes with finder under CIPA still-test conditions. Alkaline test gives only 50 LCD/60 finder photographs. Separate 190-minute LCD/230-minute finder movie claims use 160-size continuous recording, not VGA Fine
Charging: External BC-CS2A/CS2B Ni-MH charger; approximately six hours for fully depleted supplied cells at 25°C. LR6 alkaline and ZR6 Oxy Nickel primary AA cells or optional AC-LS5K adapter also supported
Dimensions: Approximately 113.2 × 83 × 94 mm width × height × depth excluding protrusions
Weight detail: Approximately 406 g body only. Maker 554 g figure includes two batteries, memory card, shoulder strap, adapter ring, lens hood, lens cap and straps; not bare camera-and-battery mass
Colours: Black or silver
In the box: Camera, two rechargeable AA Ni-MH batteries, charger, power cord, battery case, USB and A/V cables, shoulder strap, lens cap, lens hood and adapter ring, instructions and software; regional fittings vary

Pros and cons

Pros

Optical lens stabilisation
Aperture-priority, shutter-priority and manual exposure
Rechargeable AA batteries and charger supplied

Cons

JPEG still images only
Small electronic viewfinder
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-H1	Bridge	Other	5.1	36–432 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	438 g	Jun 2005
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H7	Bridge	Other	8.1	31–465 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	375 g	2007

Sources

Photo: Sony

Silver DSC-H5 front three-quarter view: Sony
Silver DSC-H5 rear screen and controls: Sony
Silver DSC-H5 with raised flash and black DSC-H5 with extended zoom lens: Sony
Black DSC-H5 Carl Zeiss lens and 7.2-megapixel nameplate close-up: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5 in silver held in both hands, front view: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5 in silver held in both hands, rear view with a football photograph on its display: Sony

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