Latest – Review and Sample Test ISO Performance Photos at TrustedReviews (added 07 March ‘08)
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 features:
- 8.1 megapixel
- HDTV output
- 15x stabilized zoom
- NightShot technology for shooting in total darkness
- Automatic face detection
- ISO range up to 3200
- Optical image stabilization
- 3 inch LCD
Read More Reviews – (updated 07 March ‘08)
| TrustedReviews |
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| Steve’s Digicams |
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| DigitalCameraReview |
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| Good Gear Guide |
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| PopPhoto |
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| Imaging Resource |
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| T3 |
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| DC Resource |
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| CNET |
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| Cameras.co.uk |
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| DP Review |
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| Megapixel |
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| Photo Review |
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| Camera Labs |
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| Neocamera |
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TrustedReviews – 07 March’08 – reviews the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 and feels it has pretty good performance for a super zoom. Here’s a summary of their review -
“The reviewer noted the H9 lacked some of the versatility of its rivals but what really brings its overall score down is its image quality. With an over aggressive noise reduction system and some optical issues the resulting images are not up to par with its competitors. One of the main concerns of the review is that the negative impact of the noise reduction system is only exacerbated by the fact that you cannot adjust it. Oops.”
Steve’s Digicams – 02 October’07 – reviews the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 and writes;
“Loaded with options and outshining the H7 with features, the Sony Cyber-Shot H9 has everything you could ask for in a camera without buying a dSLR. Offering an 8 megapixel imaging sensor, a 15x image stabilized optical zoom, 3 inch tilt-up screen and a slew of manual and automatic features, the H9 is a very versatile package that delivers excellent image quality. We feel that this camera will make a a great choice, whether you’re trying to decide between a smaller digicam or a dSLR with a large zoom lens. With the loads of exposure control and a 15x stabilized optical zoom, this model is thousands of dollars cheaper than the equivalent options on a dSLR with an image stabilized lens. With an MSRP of US$479, this is a very capable digicam that offers ease of use for a beginners as well as full manual controls for novice users.”
DigitalCameraReview – 24 September’07 – reviews the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 and writes;
“The Sony DSC-H9 is a full-featured camera which focuses faster than many competing models. The Carl Zeiss lens, at 15X optical, is among the broadest range available. However, images are noisy at and above ISO 400. Also, the shadow detail loss and lens distortion characteristics tend to detract from an otherwise impressive feature set. Bottom line is that it seems a bit expensive for the performance demonstrated, but if kept between ISO 80 and ISO 400, it can capture quality images, particularly those that require the quick focus and shutter release.”
Good Gear Guide – 7/25/2007 – reviews the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 and notes that some of of the operational options like exposure compensation and ISO are a little buried making them a more difficult to access if you’re in a hurry. These items should be placed on the main menu structure. What they really liked was LCD which was capable of pivoting and angling making it easy to take photos by holding the camera over your head.
Read the Full Review »
PopPhoto – 7/20/2007 – reviews the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 and they write, “What’s not to like? The H9 lacks both RAW capture and Adobe RGB color space. A more serious omission is a hot-shoe for an accessory flash. Its long zoom lens does show some purple fringing at the edge of pictures, confirmed as chromatic aberration by DxO Analyzer 2.0 tests. And as evolved as the H9’s EVF and monitor are, we still prefer the direct optical viewing of an SLR.”
Read the full review »
Imaging Resource – 7/18/2007 – reviews the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 and they write, “Unfortunately, the H9 falls short in a couple of areas. The user interface is a little different from most digital cameras and can be difficult to master. The menu system is also confusing and you’ll need to drill down to reach a number of camera features, which can slow you down when you’re in a hurry to get the shot.”
T3 – 7/17/2007 – reviews the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 and they write, “Image quality can be on the ropey side though, and with its plasticky build, it would get utterly spanked in an arm-wrestle with its metal faced competitors. But with excellent 1cm macro focus and self-explanatory NightShot and Face Detection modes it’s still a very capable camera.”
DC Resource – 6/25/2007 – has reviewed the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 and they write, “As you probably figured out by now, I have mixed feelings about the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9. It’s a fairly nice camera for those making smaller-sized prints, but image quality is not good when you actually take a close look at the photos. Combine the lackluster photo quality with a host of other annoyances, and you’ve got an ultra zoom that’s just “okay” in a crowd of excellent cameras.”
CNET – 6/19/2007 – has reviewed the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 and they write, “f you shoot primarily outdoors in daytime–especially sports, children and animals–and don’t find the interface quite as crazy-making as I do, the H9 is a great choice. The approximately $100 difference in street prices between the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H7 and DSC-H9 makes your choice simple: if you can forgo the infrared and the flexible LCD, then buy the cheaper model.”
Cameras.co.uk – 6/7/2007 – has reviewed the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 and they write, “The Sony DSC H9 has a fifteen times optical zoom lens. This is one of the largest zooms you will find on a consumer digital camera. I found the picture quality to be good and I was impressed at the way Sony managed to handle all the features to ensure that the DSC H9 remained easy enough to use. Shutter lag times are minimal.”
DP Review – 5/29/2007 – has reviewed the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 and they write, “If you want a huge zoom range in an affordable, compact body that offers SLR-like handling, and can be relied on to produce appealing output at normal print sizes with minimal effort, the H9 is a serious option. Overkill, sure, but compared to an SLR with similar lens coverage it’s a fairly small investment even if you do only use it as a big ‘point and shoot’.”
Megapixel – 5/25/2007 – has reviewed the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 and they write, “Positives: Good image quality for printing past the widest angle – Good colour rendition – Hinged 3-inch LCD monitor – 15X optical zoom with stabilization – Complete set of capture modes – Negatives: Compression too strong – No compression choice – Barrel distortion at the wide angle end, pincushion at the telephoto end – Purple fringing in contrast areas – Convoluted menu system – Battery drains faster than other Sony cameras – Space too tight for the controls on the right side of the monitor”
Photo Review – 5/25/2007 – has reviewed the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 and they write, “Overall, we feel the DSC-H9 is fairly priced for its feature set but far from being a perfect long-zoom camera. With its large LCD, long zoom lens and moderately high resolution, Sony’s DSC-H9 has plenty of things in its favour and, for some potential users, the defects we’ve pointed out in our review may be minor deterrents. It’s difficult to identify a typical purchaser for this camera. Point-and-shoot photographers could feel intimidated by the user interface, despite the simplified menu system.”
Camera Labs – 5/20/2007 – has reviewed the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 and they write, “However much we enjoyed using the H9 and were delighted by its screen and focusing speed, its often compromised image quality and inability to do anything about it prevent us from awarding our highest recommendation. There are however enough great things about the H9 though for us to confidently award it our Recommended rating. It ain’t perfect, but if the plus points are high on your shopping list, you’ll easily forgive the rest.”
Neocamera – 5/14/2007 – has reviewed the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 and they write, “Although the H9 has gained capabilities compared to the H5, image quality has not improved much. There is less noise and color is generally more accurate but there is more softness and chromatic aberrations. Between the two, the choice is tough, so the H9 is not an obvious upgrade path for H5 owners. The Olympus SP-550 UZ, which is the only camera to offer a wider and longer zoom range, is a good alternative to the H9. In good light, the SP-550 produces nicer images but in low-light the H9’s below-average noise makes it better. Ultra-zoom cameras that offer truly better image quality are the Fuji Finepix S6000fd, Fuji Finepix S9000 and Fuji Finepix S9100. What these cameras lack in stabilization, they gain in terms of high-ISO performance, particularly the 6 megapixels S6000fd. These cameras also all share a 28-300 mechanically linked 10.7X optical zoom lens that is more efficient in use. They also all use convenient AA batteries.”
Videos
[Camera Labs]
[Video Guide at Cameras.co.uk]
Sample Test Photos
[Sample Test ISO Performance Photos at TrustedReviews]
[Sample Test Photos at Steve's Digicams]
[Sample Photos at PopPhoto]
[Sample Photos at Imaging Resource]
[Sample Photos at DC Resource]
[Sample Photos at Cameras.co.uk]
[Sample Photos at DP Review]
[Sample Photos at Neocamera]
[Sample Test Photos at CNET Australia]
[Sample Test Photos at Pbase]
Specifications
[Official Sony Specifications]
Owners Manual
Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Feb. 27, 2007 Responding to the growing demand for super zoom digital cameras, Sony is introducing its new 8-megapixel DSC-H9 and DSC-H7 models. Designed to appeal to families with budding athletes in their broods, the cameras debut Sony’s new advanced sports shooting mode.
This mode combines high shutter speed shooting and intelligent continuous auto-focusing. The cameras can quickly focus on fast-moving subjects by predicting where those subjects will be in the frame. This predictive technology also helps to reduce shutter lag, the time it takes for the camera to focus and shoot.
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