Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1

Viewfinder (6.5)
The electronic viewfinder on the Cyber-shot DSC-H1 is consistent with the camera styling. It is extremely accurate, so what you frame is what you get. The resolution isn’t flawless, but it is certainly enough to get the job done. Those graduating from a point-and-shoot model will find the viewfinder to be a useful tool, while those converting from film will probably be distracted by the grain. In low light, the colors of the pixels dance a bit; this happens with most digital video though. With this camera targeting enthusiasts, the viewfinder will probably be used more than one on a cheaper model. To provide a bit of added comfort when utilizing the viewfinder, rather than the LCD, Sony added a rubber eyepiece and raised it from the back of the camera so the photographer’s nose won’t rub the LCD screen. A button next to it switches the viewing display between the viewfinder and the LCD screen.

LCD Screen (7.0)
The same information appears whether it is displayed on the electronic viewfinder or the 2.5-inch LCD screen. Most enthusiast-oriented digital cameras include miniscule screens, so the larger format is welcome on the Sony H1. However, the screen has about the same resolution as those smaller screens at just 115,000 pixels. Picture information is displayed over images, but the font size is small enough that it doesn’t distract from the image itself (don’t worry, it is still large enough to remain legible).

The H1’s LCD again comes down to semantics; those looking for a point-and-shoot oriented imager with a large lens will appreciate the large screen, while those looking for a more clear, accurate representation of the frame and recorded images would prefer more resolution. By comparison, the Panasonic FZ5 contains a smaller, 1.8-inch LCD, but it is composed of 130,000 pixels.

Flash (6.0)
The Sony Cyber-shot H1 has a pop-up flash that can be set to automatically or manually engage. There are only four settings: on, off, slow sync, and red-eye reduction. The specs on the camera say the flash is effective to 12.4 feet, which isn’t very impressive. Most cameras geared towards "enthusiasts" can reach 15-16 feet. However, the flash seemed sufficient when I tested it. Unfortunately, there isn’t a hot shoe to attach flash accessories, so some hardcore enthusiasts may be disappointed by that. Further, there is no way to control illumination, a feature that is pleasantly included on the Canon S2. Canon’s equivalent model provides a flash exposure compensation feature that will enable users to take close range flash portraits without blowing out the subjects face or blinding them. With the H1, it is basically either on or off.

Zoom Lens (8.0)
The 12x optical zoom lens on the H1 is one of the camera’s primary marketing points. Most Sony digital cameras come with a Carl Zeiss lens, so it is a bit disappointing that their "enthusiast" model carries a generic lens. Despite the lack of the brand name, the 36-432 mm lens (in 35mm format) appears to be clear and fairly sharp. To gauge distortion, we photographed a flat piece of graph paper to see just how much the lens distorts the lines. The lines on the edges were bent slightly, so there is some distortion, but it is not significant enough to make your family picture turn into a fun-house mirror.
To make viewing and using the telephoto end of the lens more effective, Sony applied its SteadyShot image stabilization system. This works very well and is particularly useful when the lens is in full telephoto or when shooting video in the camera’s movie mode. Unfortunately, the zoom is not active while recording video, but can be altered before recording. The camera also includes a digital zoom function, which surprisingly, does not work in movie mode.

Unfortunately, the actual zooming mechanism does not move in and out very smoothly. It is a bit jumpy, so if you’re picky about framing something just right (as most enthusiasts will likely be), you may get annoyed at the control. To add some appeal for the more photographically-advanced crowd and more potential earnings for Sony, there are two compatible conversion lenses available for the Cyber-shot DSC-H1. The Sony VCL-DH0758 is a wide angle lens; the Sony VCL-DH1758 is a telephoto lens. Each runs for about $150. Just a note: there is a 2x digital zoom on this camera – but if you’re an enthusiast and care for the quality of your pictures, you won’t be using it.