Cyber-shot DSC-H70

Released 2011

A 16.1-megapixel travel-zoom compact with a stabilised 25–250 mm equivalent lens, manual exposure and 720p video.

Type: Compact
Sensor: Other
Megapixels: 16.1
Lens: 25–250 mm equivalent
Video: 1280 × 720 at 30 fps
Body weight: 164 g

What reviewers say

Imaging Resource and Optyczne praised the versatile wide-angle lens, optical stabilisation and easy panorama mode. Both criticised slow shooting, small controls and warm automatic white balance. Optyczne found good still and video quality but weak close-ups; Imaging Resource was more critical of low-light focus and video noise.

From imaging-resource.com and optyczne.pl

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Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Compact
Sensor format: Other
Sensor type: Super HAD CCD
Effective resolution: 16.1 MP
Largest image: 4608 × 3456
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 80–3200
Sensor detail: 1/2.3-type Super HAD CCD; 16.4 million total photosites. Optical format is not a physical dimension
Image formats: JPEG (Exif 2.3, DCF 2.0, MPF Baseline); Sweep Panorama stitches multiple frames separately from sensor resolution
Image processor: BIONZ with D-Range Optimizer

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 25–250 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/3.5–5.5
Optical zoom: 10×
Stabilisation: Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst: 1 fps
Lens detail: Sony G lens, actual 4.25–42.5 mm. Stills 25–250 mm equivalent at 4:3 or 27–270 mm at 16:9; movies 30–300 mm at 16:9 or 37–370 mm at 4:3
Autofocus: Nine-point multi-area, centre and spot AF; AF illuminator. No manual focus
Shutter: Intelligent Auto 2–1/1600 second, Program 1–1/1600, Manual 30–1/1600
Burst detail: Sony UK specifies approximately 1 fps for three full-resolution frames; operating instructions give approximately 0.96-second recording interval
Stabilisation detail: Optical SteadyShot; Active movie stabilisation
Flash: Built-in flash; ISO Auto range approximately 0.25–3.6 m wide or 1–2.3 m telephoto
Exposure controls: Intelligent Auto, Easy, Program, Manual, Sweep Panorama and 12 scene modes. No aperture/shutter priority. Manual exposure provides two aperture settings at each focal length using an ND filter, rather than a continuously adjustable iris. Exposure and white-balance bracketing

Video

Highest video resolution: 1280 × 720 at 30 fps
Video detail: MP4 MPEG-4 Visual, approximately 30 progressive fps: 1280×720 Fine at 9 Mbps or Standard at 6 Mbps; VGA also available. Optical zoom during recording. Approximately 29-minute/2 GB clip limit; recording conditions affect duration
Audio: Monaural built-in microphone, speaker and AV audio output

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: None
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 230,400
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed 3-inch TFT LCD with 230400 colour-subpixel dots. Exact UK specifications and operating instructions agree; the Asia launch comparison sheet incorrectly lists 2.7 inches

Connections and design

Battery life (maker's claim): 290 photographs
Body weight: 164 g
Release detail: Sony announced planned March 2011 availability in Germany and the US; Imaging Resource and Optyczne tested the sold camera in 2011. Earliest worldwide actual first-sale month remains unresolved, so year precision retained
Recording media: Approximately 27 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo and SD/SDHC/SDXC. 720p movies require a memory card; PRO Duo Mark 2/PRO-HG or SD Class 4 or faster recommended
Ports: Type 3a multi terminal for SD/HD component AV output, USB 2.0 and DC input. Supplied USB/AV cable; compatible optional component cable needed for HD output. No HDMI
Battery life detail: NP-BG1 supplied; NP-FG1 optional. Typical 3.4 Wh/960 mAh at 3.6 V. Approximately 290 images/145 minutes under CIPA still-photo conditions; 145 is minutes, not the shot count
Charging: External BC-CSGD charger: approximately 270-minute normal charge or 330-minute full charge from depleted NP-BG1 at 25°C; not USB charging
Dimensions: 101.6×57.6×28.6 mm width×height×depth (CIPA)
Weight detail: Sony UK specifies 164 g body only; 194 g including NP-BG1 and Memory Stick Duo under CIPA conditions
Colours: Black, silver, red and blue; regional availability varies
In the box: NP-BG1 battery and case, BC-CSGD charger, USB/AV multi-terminal cable, wrist strap, software/user-guide disc and instructions; mains lead varies by region

Pros and cons

Pros

25 mm equivalent wide-angle lens
Optical zoom and Active stabilisation during video
Manual exposure and exposure bracketing

Cons

No RAW recording
No viewfinder
Three-frame continuous shooting at approximately 1 fps

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX7V	Compact	Other	16.2	25–250 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080	178 g	2011
SonyCyber-shot DSC-S3000	Compact	Other	10.1	28–112 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	119 g	2011
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H55	Compact	Other	14.1	25–250 mm equivalent	1280 × 720 at 30 fps	170 g	2010

Sources

Photo: Sony (manufacturer-supplied photograph explicitly credited by digitalkamera.de; complete supplied canvas retained)

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H70 in black, rear view with its display off: Sony (manufacturer-supplied photograph explicitly credited by digitalkamera.de; complete supplied canvas retained)

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