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The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H2
bears a strong resemblance to the DSC-H1, but this new model
has a number of modifications. The H2 has a 6-megapixel
resolution and a stabilized 12X zoom.
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The top front part of the H2’s
grip supports controls designed to be manipulated with the
index finger: the 2-stage chrome shutter release and immediately
below it the Jog Dial, which serves to change settings while
the camera is in a capture mode.
Turning the Jog Dial is reflected on the monitor or in the
viewfinder by yellow arrowheads that appear above the setting
that can be modified. Clicking the Jog Dial, much like a mouse
button, allows moving to another setting, selecting it with
another click, and then modifying it by rotating the dial. |
Moreover, when the camera is set
to the P, S, A, or M modes, the Jog Dial serves to select
either the aperture or the shutter speed, or correct the exposure
in 1/3 EV increments, over a range of ±2 EV.
Two more controls are directly behind the shutter release:
The Mode Dial is behind these two buttons, placed
so it can be turned with the thumb while holding the camera.
The dial has 13 positions, each corresponding to a capture
mode, and when the dial is turned, an animation of the turning
dial appears on the monitor or the viewfinder, along with
a short description of the mode currently selected:
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Auto places all photographic
settings under the control of the camera, and all the
user has to do is decide if the flash, macro mode, or
self-timer is required.
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Program, just like
the Auto mode, also leaves the selection of the aperture
and shutter speed up to the camera, but alternate combinations
of aperture and shutter speed — emphasizing either
depth of field or speed — can be selected by the
user with the Jog dial (Program Shift). In addition,
all other photographic parameters can be controlled.
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Shutter Priority
makes it possible to select a shutter speed from a range
that covers from 1/1000 second to 30 seconds, while
the camera handles the aperture.
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Aperture Priority
provides a choice of apertures from f2.8 to f8 at the
wide angle end, and f3.7 to f8 at the telephoto end,
while the camera matches it to a shutter speed.
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Manual allows selecting
both the shutter speed and the aperture along with all
other parameters. The camera displays the exposure compensation
scale to indicate over- or underexposure.
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High Sensitivity makes
it possible to capture sharp images in dark places without
the use of the flash, by allowing the camera to adjust
sensitivity from 80 to 1000 ISO.
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Twilight allows a maximum exposure time of 2
seconds while cutting off the flash and forcing the
sensitivity to 80 ISO. Noise reduction is automatically
applied post capture.
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Twilight Portrait provides the same settings
as the Twilight mode, but uses the flash set to Slow
Sync to capture a subject standing in front of night
scenery. If Red-eye reduction is needed, it has to be
activated in the Setup menu first.
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Beach limits the use of the flash to Forced
On, or Forced Off and the slowest shutter speed is 1/8
second. Sensitivity is automatically adjusted from a
range that covers from 80 to 320 ISO, and the camera
automatically boosts blue saturation slightly.
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High Speed Shutter is intended to capture a
moving subject by optimizing the shutter speed. The
minimum shutter speed is 1/250 sec. and sensitivity
is adjusted over a range of 80 to 320 ISO.
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Landscape has a shutter speed range of 1/8 sec.
to 1/2000 and the flash can be set to Forced On or Forced
Off. Sensitivity is automatically adjusted over a range
of 80 to 320 ISO.
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Portrait also has a shutter speed range of 1/8
to 1/2000 second, and sensitivity is automatically adjusted
from 80 to 320 ISO. Set to this mode, the camera softens
sharpness slightly and accentuates skin tones.
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Movie Mode makes it
possible to capture clips with sound at any one of three
frame sizes:
- 640 (Fine) records at a frame size of 640
x 480 pixels and at 30 frames per second using a low
compression. This option is only available when a
Memory Stick Duo Pro is used.
- 640 (Standard) records a 640 x 480-pixel
image at 25 frames per second, with a stronger compression.
- 160 records a small frame size, 160 x 120
pixels, at 25 frames per second using a standard compression.
During movie recordings, the 12X zoom remains useable,
as does the auto focus, while the white balance is adjusted
as required. The length of the movie is only limited
by the space available on the Memory Stick. |
The Power button is to the left of the Mode Dial,
and next to it is a small LED that glows green while the camera
is On.
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To the left of the Power switch
is a button with a ( )
symbol indicating it controls the On/Off of the Stabilizer.
Two stabilization modes are available:
- Shooting: stabilization starts when the shutter
release is pressed to the halfway point.
- Continuous: stabilization is active all the time,
stabilizing the image in the viewfinder and when the image
is being captured, but consuming more power.
The stabilization mode is selected in the Setup menu (see
the Interface and Software section of the review for
more details about the Setup menu).
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the camera, two more buttons are embedded on the slanted edge:
on the right is the Finder/LCD button that toggles between
the electronic viewfinder (EVF) and the monitor;
while to its right is a button that starts the Playback mode,
and which can also be used to start the camera directly into
the Playback mode without extending the lens. |
As noted above, the DSC-H2 is
equipped with a high resolution — 201,000 pixels
— electronic viewfinder (EVF) measuring 0.2 inch (0.5
cm) diagonally. A dioptre correction dial is tucked away underneath
the exit pupil, making it possible to adjust the image of
the viewfinder to one's eyesight.
The DSC-H2 is also equipped with a 2-inch, 84,960 pixel monitor.
Both EVF and monitor show camera settings, and can be used
to see the menus and make changes. In addition, both can also
be used to review images in playback.
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The Display button provides
the following modes:
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Set to capture mode,
the default image display indicates remaining charge for
the batteries, capture and flash modes, current image
resolution and quality settings, remaining number of photos
available, memory in use (internal or Memory Stick), ISO
setting, AF mode, shutter speed and aperture. |
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Pressing the Display button
a second time adds a histogram, which graphically shows
the distribution of brightness in the frame. A third
press of the button removes most superimposed information,
leaving only the AF frame, the shutter speed and aperture.
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Set to the Playback mode,
the information presented by default includes battery
state, image counter, the file name and the date and time
at which the image was captured. Pressing the button once
adds the image’s histogram, and exposure compensation,
ISO, flash, white balance settings in addition to the
aperture and shutter speed used. Pressing the button a
second time clears all information off the screen, leaving
only the photo. |
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Moreover, pressing the
button for more than 1 second increases the intensity of the
backlight, and brightness of the monitor; while pressing it
again brings it back to the default setting.
Next is the 4-direction control that serves to navigate
the menus, review images in playback, and move
the AF point when the camera is set to the Flexible Spot
AF mode. In addition, each of its four directions supports
an additional function when the H2 is set to the capture mode:
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The up arrow controls
the Flash mode: Auto, Forced On, Slow Synch, or
Forced Off. |
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The right arrow activates
the Macro mode, which allows the camera to focus
on a subject that is 2 cm (0.8 inch) from the front element
of the lens when zoom is a the wide-angle end, and 90
cm (35.5 inches) at the telephoto end. |
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The down arrow engages
the Self-timer which, when pressed once inserts
a 10-second delay after the shutter has been released,
or when pressed twice, a 2-second delay. |
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The left arrow serves to
adjust exposure compensation in increments of 1/3 EV
over a range of ±2 EV when the camera is set
to the Auto mode, or one of the Scene modes.
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At the centre of the 4-direction control, a small round button
serves to confirm choices made in the menus.
The last external button of the DSC-H2 is below the 4-direction
control and is labelled 
. It has a dual function: in the capture modes, it serves
to select the image resolution, or the size of the movie frame.
It displays a short menu from which the image or movie resolution
is selected.
With the H2 set to the Playback mode, the
button serves to delete one or more images, or even the entire
content of a folder.
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The DSC-H2 is equipped with
a built-in pop-up flash that opens automatically. With the
CCD sensitivity set to Auto, which allows the camera to boost
the sensitivity as necessary, its reach is indicated as 9
m (29.52 ft) when the zoom is a the wide angle end, and 6.8
m, (22.3 ft) at the telephoto end.
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The excellent ergonomic design
of the H1 is continued with the H2. It’s large and comfortable
grip gives it a solid in-hand feel, and the position of its
controls make them feel natural, making it easy to get accustomed
to the camera’s use.
The high-resolution viewfinder of the H2 is particularly
useful, as its ability to show detail is superior to the resolution
of the 2-inch LCD monitor, and it allows changing camera settings
and modifying menu settings.
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Introduction
Multipoint AF (the default) uses three AF points,
placed next to each other at the horizontal middle
of the frame, and is the only mode available when
the camera is set to the Auto shooting mode.
Centre AF uses only the centre AF point.
Flexible Spot AF focuses on a small area that
can be moved to any part of the frame using the 4-direction
control on the back of the camera.
Manual Focus makes it possible to focus the
camera using the 4-direction control and assisted
by first, a distance scale on the monitor or in the
viewfinder; second, the possibility of having the
camera double the apparent size of the image in the
middle, and third, having the camera make the outlines
of the focused subject shimmer more or less, a system
called "peaking".
side. While when pressed towards the T 
side, the control makes it possible to magnify any part of
an image up to 5X.