Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H2 Digital Camera (6.0MP, 12x Optical Zoom) 2.0" LCD

This is my second foray into the digital camera realm, and with the DSC H2 I am mightily impressed.

Firstly, it is extremely usable intuitively. I know this as on the back of an enormous weekend in Spain I accidentally threw out the instructions prior to actually using the camera, and have had no problems using it by muddling out what to do. The pre-set modes on the camera tell you what conditions they are intended to be used in, and work very well.

Secondly, the shots taken have been great from portrait mode to macro, to sports, video, night time, at full zoom... you name it! The steady shot is very effective in most situations (zooming in night mode is NOT one of those situations - and I thought it was the alcohol making things blurry).

Thirdly, the batteries are excellent. I was a little gun shy at reading that it used AA batteries, but the Sony ones last for ages (especially if you use the view finder like an old-school camera, rather than taking photos at arms length).

My only beef (and it is minor) is that you get no protective bag whatsoever, so you need to get a camera case at the same time.

Overall, a very easy to use camera that takes great shots, and hasn't let me down in any way. Definitely worth the outlay!

I've had this camera for a few months now and I am yet to find fault with it. The picture quality is excellent, even at A4 size, and seriously flatters my ability to take good photographs.

You can leave it in auto mode and it will do the hard work to take a good image, but like all cameras, if your taking action shots in poor light then up the ISO to 200 and get the shutter speed above 1/500th and the images are still fantastic with no sign of the dreaded "grain"

The battery life just goes on and on and doesn't seem to matter which screen you use. It uses AA's so you could use some alkaline in a pinch.

The camera has a screw fitting adaptor so you can buy a tele and fisheye converter lens. Sony do their own and the lenses for the older H1 fit.

Two extra things you will need to buy is,
1. A memory card, but these are cheap as chips anyway!!!
2. A camera case.

Sony electronic world domination continues.

I have owned a number of compact digital cameras but recently decided to upgrade to a superzoom model. I have not regretted it. I did not want the bother of a full-blown SLR camera but after using this I can't see why I'd ever need to "upgrade" to an all singing, all dancing SLR. I recently used it to take pictures of a fireworks display and the quality was absolutely breath-taking - no blurry pictures at all. I'm no expert but I'm managing to get professional looking shots all the time. The sony batteries last forever and you can use standard AA batteries if they should run out. You will need to buy a case but that's no big deal given that the camera is so cheap for what you get. This is an absolute bargain and a dream to use.

belybaby who did previous review is so acurate in what he says regards this camera. I have the small Casio EX Z850 which is wonderful but wanted something with a longer zoom and at the price this is a real bargain.So much faster and easier/better to operate than its big brother,the H5,which I have used a lot.Images are better than the H5`s even though it is 7mp also noise is better controlled with the H2 and the "bane" of the H5=purple fringeing=this is seen less of in the H2.Also has a much better high speed shooting mode.Battery life is astounding,must be the small screen,as the large ones,enter the H5,use stacks of battery power.On some days with a 1gig card I was into my 3rd set of 2,500 batteries.One set of two lasts me all day with the H2.Its a far superior camera to hold as with the smaller screen,your thumb is not constantly on the screen,and believe me it will wander all over it.With the H2 I rarely ever catch it as a well designed thumb grip is evident. Sony scores no marks for the software they provide,as it is a mockery to those who faithfully buy their camera.Would you believe there is even no option to delete a picture once downloaded to computer,who in their right mind would not include this in p&s and family cameras? Suggest you find a friend with Canons Zoom Browser and download that and use it-it works fine so don`t worry.Then download exifread(free) to give you all the picture details you will ever require.As has been previously said why on earth lug around a DSLR when you have a superb piece of kit in one single package.How much do you think it would cost to buy a zoom lens going from 36-432mm at f3.7 for a DSLR? thousands of pounds it certainly would--you got it all here for £200 or so--a fantastic bargain--and a Carl Zeiss lens.You even get a lens hood and battery charger thrown in.Did I mention the supplied software??? yuk!

Having had this as my 1st digital camera I cannot compare it to owning any others. What I can say is "WOW" - I'm impressed. Its so easy to use in automatic mode, the pictures and movies are excellent quality - and can be instantly played on the tv by connecting it via a lead!

There's a huge range of options - including the ability to set everything manually for the budding professional.

Battery life is brilliant from the 2 rechargeable AA batteries and the LCD screen bright and info packed if required. The 12x zoom is amazing.

Buy this and you wont be disappointed.