A picture is worth few million pixels. Review on Sony Cybershot DSC-H7

The old adage that stood intact till the Click-3 era has changed with the not so recent advent of digital imaging. In fact a picture may be worth a million words as well, because the space needed to store good resolution pictures is equivalent to more than what is needed to store a million words(characters in the tech sense).

Let me set the stage right first. I am no professional photographer, nor desire to become one. This review is based on my personal experience and would not enumerate the technical specifications of the camera. There are some very good websites that do that already.(Also read: "Digital Memories" - https://mouthshut.com/diary/323/Digital-Memories)

I used to have a 4 Megapixel(MP) Canon powershot with a 4x optical zoom till last year and found it very useful as a point and click camera. On one fateful day, it collided with plannet Earth and became history. Happier days returned when I could lay my hands upon the Sony Cybershot DCS H7 camera about 3 months back.

I purchased my new toy from Circuit City in Chicago area for about 450 USD, a price still cheaper compared to its INR equivalent. Please note that the price advertised in magazines, brochures, websites etc does not include the price of accessories and taxes. The camera does have an inbuilt memory of 31 MB that can store upto 10 good quality pictures, but unless one purchanes a memory stick(SD card as they term), the power of quailty and freedom of storage can not be realised.

Here are some features that I found good in the model:

1. Optical zoom of 15x: This lets one picture relatively distant objects like birds, trees etc quite clearly. This is handy for those who do not or can not get near the object of interest to picture it. For example, you would not want to scare an animal or bird by approcahing near just to picture it. The pictures alongside are an example of the zoom.

2. Resolution of 8.1 MP: I personally feel that any resolution above 4 MP is good for amateurs like us, because the maximum physical size of pictures we use are seldom greater the 6" x 8". For those few pictures that one wants to get enlarged and framed, a resolution like 7 - 8 MP is just great.

3. Ease of use: There are not too many controls on the camera. Sony has always been good at using minimal controls, and coming out with several features using different combinations of the given controls. For the uninitiated, all cameras come with an instruction booklet. One should start with the easiest and common functions first, and graduate to advanced ones with usage. As I discover my camera I realise that the controls are quite intutive.

4. Video mode: So far it has done away with the need of having a handycam. It does not have a flash feature while we shoot videos, but there is not limit to the length of videos as long as the battery and memory permits.

5. 2.5" LCD screen: This is bigger than my earlier camera and visible from 2 feet away. Its more advanced cousin, the DSC H9 has a bigger LCD screen(3.0").

6. Sports mode: This is useful in capturing fast moving objects, or pictures from a fast moving vehicle. One does not have to stop his car when his better half notices something worth clicking in the vicinity.

7. Easy to carry: Although not as small as a matchbox, it does not make bend with its weight on shoulders for long. There has to be a tradeoff between optical zoom and the size / weight. If feel it does well for a 15x zoom camera.

8. Remote control: This is quite convenient while viewing pictures / video on TV. The camera can be connected to the TV using the NTSC/PAL cable(again Sony specific) and the picture viewing controls can be used from the remote.

.and I am still discovering.

Here are some features that I am not so happy about:

1.Fragile /Handle with care: Once bitten twice shy, the feeling with Sony cameras is the same as that with Canon ones. One must keep it in its case(to be bought seperately) when not in use. The lens cover should be taken off only when in use else dust particles would make way into the sides on the lens. The user manual says that humidity is its nemesis and temperatures below -10 deg centigrade amke it shiver. Hence one has to be careful while picurizing snowfall.

2.No flash for videos: This maybe deliberate to save the battery for pictures. Besides, the sales of Handycams would dip if such cameras start having all handycam features.

3. Only Sony accessories: Thats the worst part of any Sony product. Starting from USB cable to memory card to battery, the Sony cybershot likes nothing else bu Sony stuff. The USB port and thus the USB cable is unlike something you would see anywhere in the world. Replacement of the same would mean more business for Sony and a rupture in your pocket.

I still remember my childhood days when we had a B/W Click-3 camera that consumed packs of photographic reels. I seldom had the chance to click a picture as that would have risked the loss of one print. I am sure the next generation will have better luck at this.

We are bound to see more advanced cameras hit the scene in the coming months and years. I wish to see the day when we can picture Niel Armstrong's foot on the surface of the moon from our backyard. More realistically, I would like to picturise tigers and lions where they are supposed to live and thrive.and in good numbers!

.and that's when the pixels really count!

PS(21/08/2008):This review has been "Review of the day" twice.