The Sony DSC-H10 Cyber-shot offers full control over everything from shutter speeds to flash intensity, but are its pictures worth tweaking?
Review summary of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H10:
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 The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H10 isn't the best looking camera in Sony's lineup, but it is one of the most functional. Sporting a full-manual mode, 10x zoom, an EV calibrated flash-control and ISO sensitivity up to 3200, the Sony DSC-H10 is as close to prosumer functionality as compacts get. Unfortunately the camera is hobbled by its reliance on Memory Stick Duo media, and image quality is not the highest we've seen from Sony. Nevertheless, if a high level of control is what you're seeking, then the Cyber-shot DSC-H10 could be a sound choice. Release: April 2008. Price: $230.
Pros: Optical image-stabilization. Carl Zeiss 10x zoom lens. Full manual-mode w/ EV flash control.
Cons: Exclusively supports Memory Stick Duo. Some color bleed. Chromatic aberration at wide angles.
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Full Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H10 Review:
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Design - Good
Perhaps owing to its more serious aspirations as a full-manual camera, the Sony DSC-H10 isn't nearly as slick and stylish as other Sony Cyber-shot cameras we've seen. It's thick, it feels unapologetically plastic, and it has an altogether slapdash quality to its body that makes it look cheaper than it actually is.
On the other hand, it's appreciably weighty and handles far better than its low-end looks might imply. The beveled grip on the front-right comes in handy for better control, and while the general fatness of the body reduces the Sony DSC-H10's mobility, it also makes for less camera-shake and greater overall comfort than we've experienced with tiny point-and-shoots. Granted, at this price point we would have liked to see rubber padding along the grip, which would also make the camera look less chintzy.
The button layout is fairly standard, with a four-way controller, two-way invariable zoom and three shortcut buttons on the back. The large, 3-inch LCD viewfinder takes up the rest of the back, and we're happy to report that Sony didn't bother devoting space to an electronic viewfinder. On top is the shutter release and a nice, fully-featured mode wheel. The pop-up flash is mounded in the center-top, and directly in front of that is the lens itself, which extends just enough to provide another hand-hold for steadying exposures with slow shutter-speeds.
Features - Very good
Sony has squeezed an impressive feature-set into the Cyber-shot DSC-H10, from point-and-shoot standbys like face detection to more serious functionality like a full manual-mode. Also, as expected from Sony, the camera is equipped with an optically stabilized Carl Zeiss lens with an impressive 10x zoom. In fact, the Sony DSC-H10 is one of three brand new superzoom cameras being released this spring. Unlike its competitors however, Sony's got a partnership with Carl Zeiss that has traditionally been a boon across their entire product lineup, and it doesn't disappoint here.
The Sony DSC-H10 unfortunately does not have a continuous-shooting mode, and its three-shot burst setting requires a lengthy 2-second wait between bursts, making the camera less attractive for sports and wildlife photography. We also intensely dislike Sony's insistence on their proprietary Memory Stick Duo media. When computers have SD support built-in but none outside Sony's Vaios support Memory Stick Duo, Sony's diehard devotion smacks of wounded pride, and the Cyber-shot DSC-H10 is yet another well-rounded camera hobbled by its media of choice.
In line with high-end compacts, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H10 features intelligent dynamic-range optimization, which can be enabled or disabled as conditions warrant. We also like the camera's bracketing modes, which automatically take three shots with up to a 1.0 EV differential. Moreover, it features a decent ISO range, from 100 to 3200, so, in addition to its image stabilization and bracketing function, the Sony DSC-H10 is quite capable in low-light situations.
The camera's manual mode allows for independent selections of shutter speeds and f-stops, though the available settings are a bit disappointing. The shutter has a narrow range, from 1/4 - 1/2000 second with no support for bulb, and the aperture can only be open or closed, with no intermediate steps. Still, Sony partially ameliorates this with one of the most professional flash controls on the market. Instead of dealing with unspecific terms like 'soft flash' and the like, the Sony DSC-H10 lets you adjust the flash intensity in terms of exposure value in 12 steps, from -2.0 to +2.0.
Interface - Very good
We're big fans of Sony's clean, intuitive interfaces, and the Cyber-shot DSC-H10 is no exception. Alas, one caveat keeps us from considering its interface excellent. To save space, the camera's lens extends outward about an inch when the camera is powered on. Unfortunately, instead of opting for a mechanical lens-cover, the Sony DSC-H10 instead relies on a plastic, pop-on cap that covers the lens barrel. Thus, whenever you try to turn it on while the cap is in place, the Cyber-shot DSC-H10 gives an error and refuses to power-up. This isn't too big a deal, and indeed it prevents the ignominy of complaining that the viewfinder is black, only to sheepishly realize that the lens cap is still on (we've all done it). Still, if you're anything like us, you'll forget to take the cap off each and every time, which means you'll have to get used to turning the camera on twice. This gets old quickly.
Otherwise the interface is typical Sony Cyber-shot quality, with quick access to shooting parameters, plenty of settings in the system menu, and shortcuts for important features like macro and timed shutters. Sony has put a lot of effort into the camera's presentation, with thoughtful and unobtrusive animation and an aesthetic layout. This helps their cameras feel cutting edge, even if they don't quite look the part, as with the Cyber-shot DSC-H10. A/V and USB connections are accomplished via one of Sony's monstrous, all-inclusive dongles, which is great for cable management but would be awful to misplace.
Image quality - Good
The Sony DSC-H10's imaging sensor is only 1/2.5", which is ~7% less surface area than the higher-end standard of 1/2.3". Then again, just in case the difference wasn't already negligible, Sony manufactures their sensors with their hole-accumulation diode technique, which results in higher photon-sensitivity and better noise-management, the very same benefits of a larger sensor. Thus, the Cyber-shot DSC-H10's sensor is functionally equivalent to the larger size found in competing cameras.
Scene test
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H10 performed decently in this difficult, heavily backlit scene. Colors are accurate, if slightly washed-out, and noise is kept to a minimum, even in the dark foreground along the left-hand side. Still, there is some color-bleed visible, and edges adjacent to the sky are afflicted with noticeable chromatic aberration.
Edge test
Thankfully there's less aberration at higher focal lengths, and the Sony DSC-H10 did well in this edge test. Some fringing is still evident, but the camera retained a fair amount of shadow detail in this heavily contrasty shot.
Macro test
As we've come to expect from Sony, the macro feature is excellent. This shot was taken with the lens essentially flush with the bark of a tree, and focus is consistent across the image.
Price and availability
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H10 will start selling for $230 () in April 2008.
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