Auto Mode
The automatic mode is quite easy to find on the mode dial. Its green camera icon distinguishes it from the other black graphics and letters. Once selected, the Sony H1 fully automates all settings. Although the camera is loosely marketed to enthusiasts, the camera should be far more attractive to engaged point-and-shooters. This puts more emphasis on the camera’s automatic settings and controls as many of the H1’s users will likely opt for Auto mode. Without extensive testing, it is tough to discern exactly how well the H1 will function in automatic mode, though previous Cyber-shot models we have tested proved to be some of the more competent automatic imagers on the market. Preliminarily, shooting speeds and automatic focus were registered fairly quickly upon initial usage. While some of the H1’s manual features are a bit disappointing, I anticipate the camera’s automatic performance to be quite reliable. Although this may contradict the camera’s intended purpose, it should still contain some appealing attributes to specific users.
Movie Mode
The movie mode performs at its best with the Memory Stick Media Pro, as the card enables the camera to record 30 frames per second in VGA Fine mode. Without the Pro card, the H1 can record at the same 640 x 480, but at a rate of 16 frames per second in the VGA Standard mode — genius marketing or an insult to the potential buyer? (Coincidentally, the H1 contains internal memory and doesn’t ship with a memory stick). Regardless, the H1 also offers a video mail feature that records 160 x 112 pixels at 8 frames a second. These MPEG files also simultaneously record audio with the H1’s built-in microphone and can be heard upon playback through the in-camera speaker. The H1 also retains its zooming capabilities when recording video; a significant advantage over other models, particularly considering that the “ultra zoom” H1 contains a 36-432mm equivalent zoom range with image stabilization.
Drive / Burst Mode
According to Sony, the Cyber-shot H1 will shoot 0.7 frames per second in the burst mode for up to nine images. This seems a bit outdated, as most cameras (point-and-shoot, compact, and SLRs) will shoot bursts of 2 to 3 frames per second. While some lower-end cameras can only sustain the burst for 4 consecutive images or so, many will continue for 7-14. There is also a multi-burst mode on the Cyber-shot H1 that captures sixteen images at 320 x 240 resolution as part of a single 1280 x 960 pixel image. This setting can shoot at speeds of 1/7.5, 1/15, and 1/30th of a second. While this is far faster than the burst mode, its limited resolution and single frame output makes this option a weak substitute.
Custom Image Presets
While preset scene modes are typically included for point-and-shoot users and not the most utilized feature for enthusiasts, they are nice to have at the user’s disposal. The Sony H1 has seven scene modes: Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Portrait, Landscape, Candle, Beach, and Sports. In these modes, the camera automatically chooses the settings that would best suit these situations, to instantly acclimate the camera to the presumed conditions. All of the scene modes are conveniently located on the main mode dial, so users won’t have to dig through menus to find the desired mode. The scene modes are depicted by intuitive graphics; for example, the Twilight Portrait mode is represented by an icon of a person with a moon next to it. The objective is met with the H1’s presets — the icons are clearly distinguishable and easily accessible, enabling simple selection for point-and-shoot users.
