Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1

Auto Mode (7.0)
Of course, ease of use is at its easiest in the automatic mode. All of the icons on the mode dial are black except for the auto mode’s green camera icon, which makes it very easy to find. If you’re a novice using this enthusiast camera, you can rest assured that the auto mode is fairly reliable. In my experience, most of the pictures I took in the auto mode turned out great. However, there were a few images captured in low light where the subject moved faster than the shutter, making a blur. In the auto mode, photographers have access to live histograms, the self-timer, macro mode, burst and flash settings. If you choose to turn off the flash in auto mode, then go to playback mode and return to auto mode, the Sony H1 will remember that the flash is off – it does not return to the auto default. Some photographers love this and others hate it; it’s a matter of personal preference. I tend to think that the other modes, such as Programmed AE, are there to remember settings and the auto mode is there to be a quick fix when there’s no time to set the camera.

Movie Mode (6.0)
The Sony H1’s movie mode requires the Sony Memory Stick Media Pro to record 30 frames per second in its finest resolution of 640 x 480. The camera ships without the card, so on its own the H1 can produce VGA-quality video at 16 frames per second. The top resolution looks smooth and the standard quality looks okay. When subjects move quickly, sometimes there is a slight blurring effect. The blur is not accompanied by excessive shaking though, thanks to Sony’s SteadyShot image stabilization technology. This can be turned on and off – of course it is recommended for movie clips. The optical zoom works in the movie mode, but not while recording. The digital zoom doesn’t even work while recording. This is a particular area of distinction within this field, as some other models have been emphasizing increased functionality and control during video capture.

There is also a video mail option that shoots 160 x 112 pixels at 8 frames a second. This can be emailed easily; however, it is more like an audio clip with an impressionist moving image. Speaking of the audio, the built-in microphone and speaker are pretty awesome. I shot a clip of my younger brother slurping cereal in our dining room. The microphone picked up the spoon clinking on the bowl, the milk swashing through his teeth, the Cocoa Puffs crunching in his molars – everything. However, the mic is a bit too sensitive; it picked up my mom’s telephone conversation in the next room over. So beware of shooting video in crowded areas where your subject isn’t the only person/ thing making noise. Further, the H1’s mic is monaural, so it will not have the multi-channel recordings that the Canon S2 can capture. The S2 IS also contains manually alterable audio quality settings, so while the H1 will record sounds, it is significantly behind in terms of quality and control.

Drive/ Burst Mode (5.5)
The burst mode on the Sony H1 is one of the camera’s weaker features, certainly is slowest key performance speed. According to Sony, the H1 takes a picture every 0.7 seconds for nine consecutive shots. However, when I tested the camera at full resolution, it took five shots in a row at about that speed. This is not very impressive, considering some comparable Kodak and Fuji models are taking 2 or 3 frames per second. There is a multi-burst mode option that lets photographers stitch together sixteen 320 x 240 images into a single 1280 x 960-pixel image that resembles an index print. This shoots quite a bit faster because the resolution is so low (and poor, if you ask me): 1/7.5th, 1/15th, and 1/30th of a second.

Custom Image Presets (5.5)
All seven of the custom image presets are located on the mode dial, so digging through menus won’t be an issue. While many digital cameras have 12-18 of these scene modes, the Sony H1 is marketed for "enthusiasts" who probably won’t access these as much as a point-and-shooter would. The following are available: Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Portrait, Landscape, Candle, Beach and Sports. These modes are tailored for specific scenes. For instance, the Sports mode is not meant for a hockey rink or any indoor sports. This mode needs lots more light, so use this only for outdoor sports during daylight hours.

Playback Mode (7.5)
Photographers can get a quick peek of their latest shot by pushing the left button on the navigational dial. And if they want to toy with editing options or look at other pictures, the playback mode must be selected on the mode dial. Pictures can be viewed in index pages or full frames. When you scroll through individual pictures, the photos appear blurry at first. It takes a second for the picture to achieve its full resolution (even on the crummy LCD screen!). Movies can be played back, rewound, fast forwarded, paused, and divided into two clips (which I thought was handy for cutting stuff I didn’t want). Movies are played back with sound too – and the volume can be adjusted. My biggest complaint about the playback mode is that there is no Delete All function. You have to individually delete every photograph! Stinks if you have a 1 GB card.