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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 · Sony-supplied Sony DSC-H9 black front-oblique view; explicitly credited to Sony by digitalkamera.de; complete supplied canvas retained
Sony · Cyber-shot
Cyber-shot DSC-H9
An 8.1-megapixel bridge camera with a stabilised 15× optical zoom, tilting 3-inch screen, manual exposure and infrared NightShot.
- Type
- Bridge
- Sensor
- Other
- Megapixels
- 8.1
- Lens
- 31–465 mm equivalent
- Video
- 640 × 480 at 30 fps
- Body weight
- 407 g
What reviewers say
DPReview and CameraLabs praised the versatile stabilised zoom, fast focusing and large tilting screen. Both found noise reduction smeared detail, colour fringing affected photographs and the small viewfinder was limiting. CameraLabs particularly criticised battery endurance; DPReview also found the redesigned controls unnecessarily complicated.
From dpreview.com, cameralabs.com, cameralabs.com, cameralabs.com and cameralabs.com
Product links
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specImage and sensor
- Camera type
- Bridge
- Sensor format
- Other
- Sensor type
- Super HAD CCD
- Effective resolution
- 8.1 MP
- Largest image
- 3264 × 2448
- RAW recording
- No
- Standard ISO range
- 80–3200
- 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, DCF and DPOF; no RAW recording or selectable JPEG compression quality
- Image processor
- BIONZ image processor with Dynamic Range Optimizer and face detection
Lens and shooting
- Built-in lens
- 31–465 mm equivalent
- Maximum aperture
- f/2.7–4.5
- Optical zoom
- 15×
- Stabilisation
- Optical lens stabilisation
- Lens detail
- Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 15× optical zoom; physical 5.2–78 mm, 31–465 mm equivalent, f/2.7 wide to f/4.5 telephoto. 74 mm filters require the supplied adapter; digital and Smart Zoom are crops
- Autofocus
- Multi-area, centre and flexible spot AF, face detection and manual distance adjustment; maker UK macro minimum approximately 1 cm wide or 120 cm telephoto. Hong Kong launch table gives conflicting macro distances; UK exact-model specifications retained
- Shutter
- Maker UK lists Auto 1/4–1/4000 second and shutter-priority 30–1/4000 second. Available fastest settings depend on aperture and operating mode
- Burst detail
- Maker UK specifies approximately 0.46-second intervals and up to 100 continuous frames; actual count and interval depend on image settings and recording media. No reciprocal conversion to a headline frame rate
- Stabilisation detail
- Optical Super SteadyShot; infrared NightShot permits monochrome photographs in darkness and is distinct from normal colour low-light shooting
- Flash
- Built-in pop-up flash, approximately 0.2–9.8 m wide or 1.2–6 m telephoto at ISO Auto; no accessory hotshoe
- Exposure controls
- Auto, Program Auto, aperture-priority, shutter-priority and Manual; nine scene selections, multi-pattern/centre-weighted/spot metering and ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps
Video
- Highest video resolution
- 640 × 480 at 30 fps
- Video detail
- MPEG-1 monaural movies up to 640 × 480 at approximately 30 fps in Fine mode, requiring Memory Stick PRO Duo. Standard VGA is approximately 17 fps. Optical zoom can change during recording; maximum individual movie file 2 GB. HD output is for still photographs, not HD video capture
- Audio
- Built-in monaural microphone and speaker; monaural movie sound and analogue audio output
Screen and viewfinder
- Viewfinder
- Electronic
- Screen size
- 3″
- Screen dots
- 230,400
- Touchscreen
- No
- Tilting screen
- Yes
- Display detail
- Tilting 3.0-type TFT LCD, 230400 dots; UK table rounds to 230000. Separate 0.2-type colour electronic finder has approximately 200000 dots equivalent under exact English manual
Connections and design
- Bluetooth
- No
- Battery life (maker's claim)
- 280 photographs
- Body weight
- 407 g
- Release detail
- Sony announced the H9 on 27 February 2007 and planned April US shipping; Hong Kong release also planned beginning-April availability. Sony China later described the H9 as introduced that spring, and contemporary May reviews tested production cameras. First-sale month remains unconfirmed; supported 2007 year precision retained
- Recording media
- Approximately 31 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo and PRO Duo supported, with PRO Duo required for VGA Fine movie recording
- Ports
- Multi connector carries Hi-Speed USB 2.0, analogue video and monaural audio. HD component still-image output requires an optional cable; no HDMI terminal
- Wireless connections
- UK maker specification explicitly lists no Bluetooth; optional external GPS workflow is not built-in GPS
- Battery life detail
- NP-BG1 lithium-ion battery, 3.6 V, 3.4 Wh / 960 mAh. Approximately 280 photographs/140 minutes using LCD or 310 photographs/155 minutes using finder under CIPA still-test conditions. Separate continuous movie claims of 150 LCD/170 finder minutes use 320-size movies, not VGA Fine. Hong Kong press table gives a conflicting 250-shot figure; manual retained
- Charging
- External BC-CSG/BC-CSGB/BC-CSGC charger, regional version varies; approximately 330 minutes full charge or 270 minutes practical charge from depleted battery at 25°C. Optional AC-LS5K adapter supported
- Dimensions
- Approximately 109.5 × 83.4 × 85.7 mm width × height × depth excluding protrusions
- Weight detail
- Approximately 407 g body only in maker UK specifications. English manual 546 g includes NP-BG1 battery, shoulder strap, adapter ring, lens hood, lens cap and other accessories; not camera-and-battery mass
- In the box
- NP-BG1 battery, external charger, multi-connector cable, shoulder strap, lens hood, adapter ring, lens cap and RMT-DSC1 remote; regional power fittings vary
Pros and cons
Pros
- Optical lens stabilisation
- Tilting rear display
- Infrared NightShot and supplied remote control
Cons
- JPEG still images only
- VGA maximum video resolution
- No flash hotshoe
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Sensor | Megapixels | Lens | Video | Body weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridge | Other | 8.1 | 31–465 mm equivalent | 640 × 480 at 30 fps | 375 g | 2007 | |
| Bridge | Other | 6 | 36–432 mm equivalent | 640 × 480 at 30 fps | 389 g | Apr 2006 | |
| Bridge | Other | 7.2 | 36–432 mm equivalent | 640 × 480 at 30 fps | 406 g | May 2006 |
Sources
- sony.co.uk/electronics/support/compact-cameras-dsc-h-series/dsc-h9/specificatio…
- sony.jp/cyber-shot/emdown/data/H7_im_GB.pdf
- sony.co.uk/electronics/support/compact-cameras-dsc-h-series/dsc-h9
- sony.mediaroom.com/2007-02-27-Call-the-Shots-and-Zoom-Ahead-With-Sonys-New-Cybe…
- sony.com.cn/newscenter/product_2007/417.htm
- sony.com.cn/newscenter/product_2007/407.htm
- sony.com.hk/press/pdf/20070301_03e.pdf
- commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sony_Cyber-Shot_DSC-H9.JPG
- commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sony_Cyber-Shot_DSC-H9_arri%C3%A8re.JPG
- Sony DSC-H9 black rear-oblique view with its screen tilted outward: Sony-supplied Sony DSC-H9 black rear-oblique view with its screen tilted outward; explicitly credited to Sony by digitalkamera.de; complete supplied canvas retained