Ram & Reason: The Sony DSC-H2 Digital Camera: Twelve Times the Fun

        By Rob Rice   June 2006

     
Photographs can be like a good novel; they become more interesting as they get closer to the subject. But getting close can be a challenge. It was this challenge that caused me to go happily in search of a digital camera with a long zoom lens.

What to buy took some thought – what did I want to do with it and how much do I want to spend? I like to print my photos and the bigger the better. I can print a picture that is 13 x 19 inches with my Canon i9900. That means I need at least a six megapixel camera. Next, I want to photograph wildlife, particularly eagles, bears, and those cute little bunnies with the big feet! Of course this means I need as long a lens as possible so I can stay as far a way as possible. This also means that I will probably be hiking with it so it should not be too large or heavy. And finally, I want to be able to override the automatic functions, I want to be able to manually control the camera. After taking pictures for 33 years, I’ve become testy about how things look in the final results.

The three cameras that it finally came down to were the Sony DSC-H2, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7, and the Canon PowerShot S3 IS. All three have six megapixels and a long 12x optical zoom lens. All three also have image stabilizers which steady a picture when you have the camera zoomed in to a subject, this will help curb image blurring. And, all three cameras meet the size and weight requirements.

There were some awful temptations regarding the five megapixel cameras. Some outstanding cameras can now be picked up for a very good price. But I want to print large, so I stayed with six megapixels.

The first camera to be eliminated was the Canon, it was over $100 more with its only significant advantage being its superior video taking capability. All three cameras can shoot quality video, and lots of it. But the Canon is just better at it, having stereo sound for example, as opposed to the mono sound of the other two. Still, I want to take pictures, so out it goes.

The Sony and the Panasonic both take really nice photos. Whether you a want an up close and personal macro shot of a bug, or a picture as big as all outdoors, either camera will fill the bill. Cost is about the same; both have great color and very good detail. They are not too big and are easy to hold. Looking at the specifications, the Panasonic was the better camera. But in the end, Sony won the contest and the cash.

Why did Sony win? By the time you read this there will be numerous reviews of the Sony H2 and the other cameras that will be packed with tests, analysis and differing conclusions. Here, I will simply touch on some of the things that I looked closely at and try to explain why I purchased one over the other.

Build

For me, the Sony just felt better in the hands. It also gave the appearance of being a better quality construction, but whether it actually is or not, I cannot say. Yet, the warranty might give a clue – more on that later.

Lenses

The Panasonic 12x lens (35mm equivalent lens focal length of 36-432mm) is built by Leica, one of the finest manufacturers of camera lenses in the world and it shows. Performance is terrific.

The Sony 12x lens (35mm equivalent lens focal length of 36-432mm) is built by Carl Zeiss, another legendary manufacturer of camera lenses and a match for Leica. Performance is also terrific, but the Leica might beat the Carl Zeiss by just a hair, having seemingly less purple fringing on high contrast areas than the Carl Zeiss.

Image Detail

Both cameras offer exceptional detail, however, the Panasonic suffers from excessive noise in its images. Although it is not evident in every photo, in some, it becomes a real problem especially at the higher ISO settings. Image noise, resembles grain in a film negative with the important exception that it is not consistent nor as appealing as film grain can be. It muddies a picture and destroys detail. It can show up in the least desirable places, such as a clear blue sky, around the eyes or under a chin. In this area, Sony was a clear winner having much less of a problem with it including at the higher ISO settings. A photo taken at ISO 1000 still had enough detail to produce a respectable print smaller than 8 x 10.

Image Color

Both cameras produce excellent color. Nice saturation and photos that just pop. However, the Sony had a wider range, being able to take photos with color that matched the subject perfectly, or, photos that had a lively and brilliant color scheme.

Warranty

This was a deal breaker for me. The Sony has a one-year limited warranty. The Panasonic warranty is broken in to sections: Parts - 1 year, 90 days on labor. The CCD - 6 months, 90 days on labor. Recharable battery pack – 90 days.



 

ISO Ratings

Like film cameras, digital cameras use an ISO rating (International Organization for Standardization) to indicate light sensitivity. A digital camera's ISO rating corresponds to the speed ratings for photographic film. A bright sunlit scene on a white sandy beach would require a low sensitivity (a low number) to avoid overexposure. A candle lit scene in a dimly lit restaurant would require a higher sensitivity (a higher number) to avoid underexposure. An ISO rating of 50 would be a low number, while ISO 1600 would be a high number. ISO 200 (sometimes 400) is often said to be the closest thing to a “general purpose rating” available . . . ha! Not likely!

A higher sensitivity can also stop action without the blurring that you typically get with a lower setting.

The Sony DSC-H2 has ISO selections of Auto, ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1000. The Panasonic DMC-FZ7 has Auto, ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, and a special High Sensitivity Scene mode which allows for ISO 800 and 1,600

Shutter Speeds

The Panasonic:
Minimum Shutter Speed: 60 sec.
Maximum Shutter Speed: 1/2000 of a sec

The Sony:
Minimum Shutter Speed: 30 sec.
Maximum Shutter Speed: 1/2000 of a sec

Aperture Range

Panasonic:
Adjustable from f/2.8 to f/3.3.

Sony:
From f/2.8 to f/8, depending on zoom position.

Size

Panasonic:
Width: 4.4 inches
Depth: 3.1 inches
Height: 2.8 inches
Weight: 0.7 pounds

Sony
Width: 4.4 inches
Depth: 3.7 inches
Height: 3.3 inches
Weight: 0.9 pounds

Manual Controls

Panasonic:
Full manual controls.

Sony:
Full manual controls.

Recording Modes

Panasonic:
Records in JPEG, TIFF, and MOV file formats

Sony:
Records in JPEG, VGA (For email), MPEG.

Batteries

Panasonic:
Special Lithium ion battery pack.

Sony:
Two rechargeable 2300mAh NiMH (supplied along with a charger) or disposable Alkaline.

Conclusion
In the end, the Sony’s great color, modest noise, good detail and respectable warranty sealed the deal. The Sony DSC-H2 feels and performs like a camera that has a lot of thought poured into it. The fact that the Sony has 30 megabytes of internal memory, a lens filter adapter, lens hood, rechargeable batteries and the charger suggests that Sony listens to their customer’s feedback. I can say that so far, it has been a camera that still surprises me in its versatility and flexibility.


Rob Rice is a member computer specialist in Anchorage, Alaska and a graduate of the Candler School of Theology, at Emory University, Atlanta GA. Rob can be contacted at articles@isp.com.