Camera experts...

[cdn-redneck]

I am looking for a new camera, I am thinking about this Sony model. I want to get as close to SLR as I can. I just want a point and shoot camera that can take action shots as both my daughters play softball and I hate anticipating where they will be to take the picture. Here is a pic of what I am thinking. model# DSCH9B
http://www.sonystyle.ca/common/images/products/DSCH9B_lg.jpg

Hopefully the specs mean something to somebody. I know the ziess lens must be of good quality.

LENS
Lens Construction: 13 elements in 8 groups (including 1 ED glass element and 4 aspheric elements)
Optical Zoom: 15x
Precision Digital Zoom: Approx. 30x
Smart Zoom: 5M: Approx. 18x, 3M: Approx. 23x, VGA: Approx. 76x, 16:9: Approx. 25x
Optical Zoom during Movie Recording (only low speed)
F: 2.7 – 4.5
Focal Length f= (35mm conversion): 5.2 – 78mm (31 – 465mm)
Focusing Range:
AF: W: Approx. 50cm to infinity; T: Approx. 120cm to infinity
Macro AF: W: Approx. 1cm to infinity: T: Approx. 120cm to infinity
Filter Diameter: 74mm (with Adapter Ring)
Iris Diaphragm: 6 blades
Conversion Lens Compatibility (with Adapter Ring): Wide: VCL-DH0774; Tele: VCL-DH1774
NightShot
Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® Lens

IMAGE SENSOR
Sensor Type: Super HAD™ CCD
Size: 1/2.5” Type (7.18mm)
Gross Pixels: Approx. 8,286K pixels
Interlace Scan System
Primary Colour Filter
Effective Pixels: Approx. 8,083K pixels

CAMERA
Bionz™ Imaging Processor
14-bit DXP
Super Resolution Converter
Clear RAW NR
Dynamic Range Optimizer (Standard Mode)
AF Method: Single AF, Monitoring AF
AF Area: Multi-point (9 points), Centre-weighted, Flexible Spot
Focus Mode: Auto Focus, Manual, Macro
Expanded Focus Indicator
Aperture: F2.7 – F8
Shutter Speed: Auto (1/4 – 1/4000), Program Auto (1” – 1/4000), Shutter Priority (30” – 1/4000), Aperture Priority (8” – 1/2000), Manual (30” – 1/4000)
NR Slow Shutter: 1/3 sec or slower
Super SteadyShot (Optical)
SteadyShot Function ON/OFF
SteadyShot Mode
SteadyShot Auto Adjustment with Conversion Lens: Tele, Wide
Hand Shake Alert
Exposure Compensation: ± 2.0 EV, 1/3 EV step
White Balance: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent 1, Fluorescent 2, Fluorescent 3, Incandescent, Flash, One-push
Light Metering: Multi-pattern, Centre-weighted, Spot
Sharpness Setting: ± 1 step (Menu)
Contrast Setting: ± 1 step (Menu)
ISO Sensitivity Setting (REI): Auto/80/100/200/400/800/1600/3200 (with Wheel)
Exposure Mode: Auto, Program Auto, Shutter Speed Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual, Scene Selection (+SCN Menu, 9 modes)
Scene Selection: Twilight (Menu), Twilight Portrait (Mode Dial), Portrait (Mode Dial), Landscape (Mode Dial), Beach (Menu), Snow (Menu), Fireworks (Menu), High Sensitivity (Mode Dial), Advanced Sports Shooting (Mode Dial)
Program Shift AE
Face Detection
Colour Mode: Vivid, Natural, Black & White, Sepia
AF Illuminator – W: Approx. 3.8m, T: Approx. 3.0m
Flash Mode: Auto, Forced Flash, No Flash, Slow Synchro
Flash Range: ISO Auto: 0.2 – 9.8m (W) / 1.2 – 6m (T); ISO 3200: Up to 20m (W) / 12m (T)
Flash Level Setting: ± 2.0 EV, 1/3 EV step (Menu)
Pre-flash
Red-eye Reduction
Auto Daylight Synchro
Flash Synchro (Front/Rear)
Pop-up Flash
Self Timer: 10 sec. / 2 sec. / OFF

LCD/VIEWFINDER
LCD Screen Size: 7.5cm (3.0” type) TFT
LCD Total Dot Number: 230K
Colour Reproduction (NTSC ratio): Over 65%
Clear Photo LCD Plus
Hybrid LCD Monitor
LCD ON/OFF (LCD/Electrical Viewfinder)
LCD Brightness Setting
Tilting LCD Monitor
Auto Bright Monitoring
100% LCD Field of View
Electrical Viewfinder: Size: 0.5cm ((0.2” Type) Colour); Total Dot Number: Equal to 201K dots
Diopter Adjustment
Electrical Viewfinder Brightness Setting

RECORDING
Compatible Recording Media: Memory Stick Duo™ media, Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media, Memory Stick PRO Duo™ High Speed media (no speed advantage)
Recording Format: JPEG, MPEG1
31MB Internal Memory
DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System)
Still Image Recording Mode: Normal (JPEG), Burst (JPEG), Bracketing (JPEG)
Still Image Size: 8M (3,264 x 2,448), 5M (2,592 x 1,944), 3M (2,048 x 1,536), VGA (640 x 480), 3:2 Mode (3,264 x 2,176), 16:9 Mode (1,920 x 1,080)
Burst Interval: At the largest image size – Approx. 0.46sec, At VGA – Approx. 0.46sec
Movie Recording Mode: VX Fine (640 x 480, 30fps); VX Standard (640 x 480, 16.6fps); Presentation (320 x 240, 8.3fps)

MICROPHONE/SPEAKER
Built-in Microphone (Mono)
Speaker (Mono)
Speaker Volume Control

PLAYBACK
Playback Still Image Size: Under 8M (3,264 x 2,448)
Playback Moving Image Mode: VX Fine, VX Standard, Presentation
Index Playback
Slideshow Playback (HD/SD)
Slideshow Effect:
Transition Effect
Number of Mode: 5 (Normal, Simple, Active, Nostalgic, Stylish)
Music: 4 tunes
In-camera Retouching: Soft Focus, Fish-Eye Effect, Cross Filter, Partial Colour, Red-Eye Correction, Trimming
5x Playback Zoom
Automatic Image Rotation
Image Rotation
Cue & Review (MPEG)
Delete (All/Select)
Protect (All/Select)
Internal Memory Full Data Copy to Memory Stick® media
DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) (Select)
Recording Media Format: Memory Stick® media, Internal Memory

GENERAL
Power Button
Grid Line
Multi-folder
Auto Review (2 sec.)
Display On/Off
Home Menu
Guide Display: Function Guide (Mode Dial, External Key, Menu/Home Menu)
Beep/Shutter Sound: ON/Shutter/OFF
Battery Remaining Indicator
Histogram Indicator
Exposure Warning Indicator
Recording Media Remaining Indicator
Exif Compatibility (Ver. 2.21)
Playback Button
Mode Dial: Auto / Program Auto / S / A / M / High Sensitivity / Portrait / Advanced Sports Shooting / Twilight Portrait / Landscape / SCN / Movie
Control Button
Wheel Dial
HD Output (with optional cable)
PRINT Image Matching (PIM3)
Exif Print
Shop Front Mode
Auto Power Off (3 min.)
Start-up Time: Approx. 2.0 sec
Battery Full Charging Time: Approx. 330 min
Shutter Time Lag: Approx. 0.3 sec.
Release Time Lag: Approx. 0.007 sec.
Minimum Recording Interval: 8M (Approx. 1.3 sec); 5M (Approx. 1.3 sec); 3M (Approx. 1.3 sec); VGA (Approx. 1.4 sec); 3:2 Mode (Approx. 1.3 sec); 16:9 Mode (Approx. 1.3 sec)
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
USB Connection: Mass Storage, PTP, PictBridge™ (Waiting for Certification), Multi-configuration
Reset Settings

INPUTS/OUTPUTS
Multi Use Terminal
DC IN Terminal

POWER/OTHERS
Power Requirements: Battery: 3.6V; AC Adapter: 4.2V
Battery System: LITHIUM ION
Supplies Battery: NP-BG1, PowerPack, Li-ion, Approx. 27g, 1pc
Maximum Voltage: 4.2V
Nominal Voltage: 3.6V
Capacity for Shooting: 3.4Wh (960 mAh)
Compatible Battery: NP-BG1
Battery for Clock: MS621F, Button Type, Manganese-Li, Approx. 0.23g/pc, 1pc
Tripod Receptacle
Power Consumption (Camera Mode): LCD On: 1.2W: Viewfinder (LCD Off): 1.0W
Dimensions (W x H x D): 109.5 x 83.4 x 85.7mm (excluding protrusions)
Weight: Approx. 407g (Body); Approx. 546g (with Memory Stick Duo™ media, Supplied Accessories)
Body Material: Plastic
Operating Temperature: 0°C to +40°C
Storage Temperature: -20°C to +60°C

SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES
Rechargeable Battery Pack: NP-BG1
Battery Charger: BC-CSG/CSGB/CSGC
Multi Connector Cable: USB, AV
Power Cord
Shoulder Strap
Lens Cap
Lens Cap Strap
Flower Lens Hood
Wireless Remote Control: RMT-DSC1
CD-ROM
Lens Adaptor Ring

RECOMMENDED COMPUTER ENVIRONMENT (for USB terminal use)
WINDOWS OS
Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional, Windows® XP Home Edition, Windows® XP Professional, Windows® Vista™
Must be installed with the above OS at delivery.
Proper operation is not guaranteed with upgraded OS environment.
MACINTOSH
Mac OS 9.1/9.2; Mac OS X (v10.1-10.4)
Must be installed with the above OS at delivery.
NOTE
The USB terminal must be provided as standard.
Unit may fail to operate properly if two or more USB devices are connected to your computer at the same time.
Proper operation is not guaranteed when connecting through a USB hub.
Proper operation is not guaranteed for all the recommended computer environments mentioned above.
When computer resumes from a suspended or sleep mode, communication between the camera and the computer may not recover at the same time.

RECOMMENDED ENVIRONMENT FOR USING THE SUPPLIED SOFTWARE
Windows: Picture Motion BrowserVer.2.0 + USB Driver + Picture Package Music Transfer
Macintosh: Music Transfer
WINDOWS OS
Windows® 2000 Professional, Windows® XP Home Edition, Windows® XP Professional, Windows® Vista™
Must be installed with the above OS at delivery.
Proper operation is not guaranteed with upgraded OS environment.
CPU/MEMORY
Pentium III 500MHz or faster, 128MB RAM or greater.
(Recommended: Pentium III 800MHz or faster, 256MB RAM or greater.)
MACINTOSH
Music Transfer Mac OS X (v10.3/v10.4)
Must be installed with the above OS at delivery.
Picture Motion Browser is not compatible.

[noobarcheryhunter]

well i just bought myself a Panasonic Lumix dmc-Fz50 and its an amazing camera. i would go to dpreview.. google it. i dont think i can direct link here.. not sure anyways. they have a bunch of reviews on almost every camera available the fz50 is highly recomended. i love it.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b245/blehymeh/P1000214.jpg

[Elroy]

Depends on how deep your pockets are, and what your addiction demands. I use a Canon 10D (am looking at a 5D) and a 100-400mm IS (image stabilization) lens for most of my wildlife photography. Necessary? No. A Kodak Brownie, or at least a Nikon Coolpix, would give great pictures 90% of the time. But, it is that 10% of the time that keeps your local camera store owner in fine wine, and keeps me in trouble with the wife...

[Bow Walker]

I own and use a Nikon D40 digital SLR (DSLR) and I have two lenses that suit my needs. The camera body is in the $500-$600 range and the lenses can go pretty expensive - depending on your wants and requirements.

Decide what you want to capture in your photos and choose from the vast array of lenses. I would recommend getting lenses with image stabilization or anti vibration or such like, though. Well worth the investment.

[Grunter]

I am looking for a new camera, I am thinking about this Sony model. I want to get as close to SLR as I can. I just want a point and shoot camera that can take action shots as both my daughters play softball and I hate anticipating where they will be to take the picture.

I'm on my 3rd Sony camera and for good reason... they've been GREAT for me for home photos, outdoors, in the field - you name it and it has seen it (except for underwater... housing isn't available).

I'm not familiar with the SLR/SLR-like line of Sony cameras but I can tell you they take great photos are a fairly tough on wear. One comment I have to make is that the indoor photos can sometimes be a challenge if lighting isn't adequate because the flash is pretty small but it look like your model has at least 2x the flash I have on my W70. Their software is okay but I choose not to use it - we just use iPhoto on our Mac to sync and/or Picasa for posting stuff online. The battery life is exceptionally good in my opinion and we use the LCD screen 100% of the time. Pay no attention to the warnings, etc. about using SONY cards and card readers it's bunk. We use/have SONY, Memorex, SanDisk cards and and a Lexar USB card reader.

I agree with going to some websites for reviews. I did the same and that was what ultimately led me to the Sony line although before purchasing this last one I was seriously considering switching to a different product but then the W70 came out in time and I got the ISO 1000 capability and better flash system which were the two driving factors for going elsewhere.

What I can tell you from experience is that the Pentax owners are very happy with their units and the Olympus cameras are the top notch in optical quality for consumer-level cameras... but don't like the thought of parting with my Sony until they have an HDD camcorder that can produce 5.0Mpxl or better still images. LOL, i know I'm dreaming!

One warning about dpreview... he's sponsored by Canon. I found Digital Camera Resource (http://www.dcresource.com) to be the best place for me to research and benchmark cameras.