Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9, 8.1 Megapixel, 15x Optical/2x Digital Zoom, Digital Camera (Black)
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 Digital Camera captures high resolution images at up to 8.1 Megapixels, includes a superb quality Carl Zeiss 15X optical zoom lens and is powered by the Bionz processing engine, first used in Sony's Alpha digital SLR camera system, to speed up response times and delivers fast image processing speeds. The DSC-H9 is also equipped with Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization to help minimize blur caused by camera shake, an important feature when shooting at slow shutter speeds at full zoom. Plus the high sensitivity of the camera (up to ISO3200) further helps to reduce blur resulting from fast-moving subjects and will also help preserve the mood of your pictures by capturing well-exposed, natural-looking photos, even in challenging low-light conditions.
The cameras Advanced Sports Mode with high shutter speed is perfect for crisp long shots and capturing excellent detail when shooting at sporting events. Furthermore, intelligent continuous auto-focusing means that the camera can quickly focus on fast-moving subjects by predicting where those subjects will be in the frame. There is also Sony's Face Detection technology that brings out the best in faces, the impressive NightShot technology that allows you to take photographs in environments with virtually no light, and you can manually control the exposure and focus of the DSC-H9, making it ideal for more artistic shots.
The DSC-H9 sports a 3-inch, flip-up LCD screen so that you can shoot comfortably from nearly any position. You can hold the camera low to the ground for eye-level shots of kids, without having to contort yourself or crawl on the ground, or hold it high for shots of the crowd. It also incorporate selectable in-camera editing functions so you can spend more time on the field and less time behind a computer. Other helpful in-camera functions include red-eye correction and photo retouching effects with filters. You can create fun and artistic photos with up to four filter selections, such as the partial color filter that can highlight your star athlete in color while the background of the photo is in black-and-white. The DSC-H9 is also well suited to display your images since it is equipped with a HD (high definition) output. Now photos can look even more spectacular when you share them with friends and family on an HDTV screen. Simply connect them to your HDTV with the Sony VMC-MHC1 high-definition component cable (sold separately), and turn photo viewing into an entertainment experience.
- 8.1 Megapixel Super HAD CCD
- The advanced Super HAD (Hole Accumulated Diode) CCD of the DSC-H9 provides 8.1 megapixels of resolution for images with detail and definition to make big prints or crop in tight on your subject. Furthermore, The Super HAD CCD allows more light to pass to each pixel, increasing sensitivity and reducing noise.
- Carl Zeiss15X Zoom Lens
- The Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens provides a 15x optical zoom to bring distant subjects closer and lets you frame shots quickly for better composition. Additionally, the camera is equipped with a Smart Zoom feature that intelligently "crops into" the central portion of your photo, providing up to an additional 76x zoom at VGA resolution while avoiding the image degradation common with digital zoom. There is also a traditional 2x digital zoom to quickly pick up even the smallest detail of your subject.
- Super SteadyShot Optical Image Stabilization
- Sony's Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization uses optical sensors to detect camera movement and send correcting signals to a stabilization lens to minimizes blur caused by shaky hands, and allows even ultra-long-distance digital photos to capture more detail with less camera shake distortion.
- Advanced Sports Mode
- The DSC-H9 includes a sports shooting mode that combines high shutter speed with intelligent continuous AF that responds more quickly to rapid motion to catch the perfect moment in sports, children's games, pet tricks and more.
- High Sensitivity Mode
- The high sensitivity mode (ISO 3200) lets you shoot effectively in low light without flash to preserve the mood, helps to minimize blur, and brightens your images. Additionally, the Clear RAW noise reduction system will take care of the picture noise that can ruin low-light shots.
- D-Range Optimization
- Powered by the exclusive Sony Bionz high-speed processing engine, D-range optimization preserves image data in bright highlights and reveals more detail in shadows or backlit areas to provide great results even in difficult lighting conditions.
- Face Detection
- The Face Detection system incorporated into the camera automatically controls focus, exposure, color and flash to reveal faces in shadow, make skin tones look more natural and eliminate harsh facial glare.
- Long-Distance Flash
- The powerful built-in flash provides illumination sufficient to light up a subject over 30' from your camera, with precise light control and the ability to adjust the flash for both front and rear sync when shooting at low-speed sync setting.
- Manual Exposure Modes
- For more creative freedom, a simple wheel-dial control lets you quickly change camera settings in manual modes (shutter speed priority, aperture priority, or manual exposure) and also control ISO sensitivity, focus area, and exposure value. In play mode, the wheel dial provides a quick way to view your next or previous shot.
- Remote Control Function
- Use the supplied remote control unit to control basic camera functions including zoom, menu settings, and more making it possible for you to put yourself in the picture when shooting with a tripod or sit back and enjoy the show when you share images on your home TV screen.
- Large 3.0" Flip-up LCD Screen
- The large, bright 3-inch, flip-up LCD screen f the DSC-H9 digital camera makes it possible to shoot comfortably from nearly any position. Use it for composing shots, checking results and sharing your photos on location.
- Electronic Color Viewfinder
- In addition to its flip-up LCD screen, the DSC-H9 has a built-in electronic color viewfinder that lets you shoot in traditional camera style and saves battery power by letting you turn off your LCD screen.
- MPEG Movie VX Fine Mode
- The DSC-H9 lets you capture VGA (640 x 480) video clips with sound at high frame rate of up to 30 frames per second, with the clip length limited only by the capacity of your media.
- Stamina Battery Power
- The included rechargeable NP-BG1 Lithium Ion Battery provides sufficient power to capture up to 300 shots on a full charge. That's enough power to cover a long weekend or a whole vacation without needing to recharge.
- Built-in and Expandable Memory
- The DSC-H9 has 31MB of built-in memory allowing you to capture images without a memory card. However, the camera also has a built-in slot for optional Memory Stick Duo or Memory Stick PRO Duo media (sold separately), that can support capacities of up to 8GB to store literally thousands of images.
- HD Output and HD Slide Show
- Present your pictures on a compatible HDTV screen thanks to direct HD (high definition) output1 - now you can view your still photos with spectacular HD clarity and detail. Furthermore, the HD Slide Show feature means that you can watch your photos come alive, accompanied by your choice of visual effects and any of four preset musical selections stored in memory or your favorite MP3 tunes.
- In-Camera Retouching and Red-Eye Reduction
- The DSC-H9 has a range of in-camera editing effects available to customize your images. Built in image effects include a soft edge filter to soften backgrounds, a cross filter to place starry "dazzles" at highlight points, a partial color filter to mute surrounding colors and a fish-eye filter to create interesting results. There is also a built-in red-eye reduction feature that reduces irritating "glowing eyes" that can ruin even the most creative photos.
- Includes Picture Motion Browser Software
- The supplied Picture Motion Browser software makes it easy to upload, organize and search photos on your PC, and provides a convenient map view function to sort photos by location and display their origin on a world map by using an optional GPS unit.
Go To
| Camera Type | Super Zoom Point-and-shoot Digital Camera |
| Image Quality | |
|---|---|
| Image Sensor | 1/2.5" 8.1 Megapixel Super HAD CCD |
| Effective Resolution | 8.1 million pixels |
| Color Depth |
14-Bit DXP A/D Conversion 24-Bit RGB Out |
| Color Modes | Natural, Sepia, Vivid, Black & White |
| Image File Formats | JPEG (Fine, Standard) |
| Recorded Resolution |
3264 x 2448 3264 x 2176 (3:2) 2592 x 1944 2048 x 1536 1920 x 1080 (16:9) 640 x 480 |
| Video Recording |
MPEG Movie Mode with Audio MPEG VX Fine (640 X 480 @ 30 fps) MPEG VX Standard (640 X 480 @ 16.6 fps) Video Mail (160 x 112 @ 8.3fps) Clip Length limited only by available Memory MPEG VX Fine requires Memory Stick PRO Duo media |
| Audio Recording | Yes |
| Optics | |
|---|---|
| Lens Type | Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens (13 elements in 8 groups with 4 aspheric elements and 1 ED lens) |
| Optical Zoom | 15x (Up to 76x Smart Zoom at VGA Resolution) |
| Lens Focal Length | 5.2mm - 78mm (31mm - 465mm equivalent) |
| Digital Zoom | 2x |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.8" (2cm) |
| Maximum Aperture | f/2.7-4.5 |
| Optical Image Stabilization | Yes (SteadyShot Image Stabilization) |
| Accessory Lens/Filter Mount | 74mm with included Adapter Ring |
| Focus Control | |
|---|---|
| Focus Type | TTL-AF with AF Illuminator |
| Focus Modes | 9 Area Multi-Point AF, Monitoring AF, Flexible Spot AF, Face Detection AF |
| Focus Range |
Normal: 19.7" (50cm) - infinity Macro: 0.8" (2cm) - infinity wide |
| Exposure Control | |
|---|---|
| Sensitivity |
Auto ISO Selectable ISO (80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200) |
| Shutter Type | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Shutter Speed | 30 - 1/4000 seconds |
| Aperture Range | f/2.7-4.5 - f/5.6-8.0 |
| Exposure Metering | Multi-Pattern Measuring, Center Weighted, Spot |
| Exposure Modes | Auto, Program Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, Scene, Exposure Compensation (±2.0 EV in 1/3 EV Increments), Exposure Bracketing |
| White Balance Modes | Automatic, Cloudy, Daylight, Fluorescent 1, Fluorescent 2, Fluorescent 3, Incandescent, Flash, Manual |
| Scene Modes | Advanced Sports Shooting, Beach, Fireworks, High Sensitivity, Landscape, Portrait, Snow, Twilight, Twilight Portrait |
| Flash | |
|---|---|
| Built-in Flash | Yes (Auto, Forced On, Forced Off, Slow Synch, Red-Eye Reduction) |
| Effective Flash Range | 0.7' (0.2m) - 32.2' (9.8m) wide |
| External Flash Connection | No |
| External Flash Control | Not Applicable |
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Start-Up Time | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Shutter Lag | 0.05 second |
| Time Between Shots | Less than 1.5 seconds |
| Burst Capability | 2.2 fps up to 100 frames at all resolutions |
| Self Timer | 10 seconds or 2 seconds |
| Interval Recording | No |
| Date & Time Stamp | No |
| Memory & Power | |
|---|---|
| Built-in Memory | 31MB |
| Compatible Memory Cards | Memory Stick DUO/ Memory Stick DUO PRO (up to 8GB) |
| Recording Capacity | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Battery Type | NP-BG1 Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery |
| Power Adapter | No |
| Input/Output | |
|---|---|
| Computer Interface | USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) via Mutli-Use Connector |
| Direct Print Capable | Yes (PictBridge) |
| Remote Control | Yes (Remote Commander included) |
| Video Output | Yes (NTSC & PAL) via Mutli-Use Connector |
| Web-Cam Capable | No |
| System & Software Requirements |
Microsoft Windows 2000, Me, XP Apple Macintosh OS 9.1 & 9.2; OS X (10.0-10.4) |
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Viewfinder | TTL EVF (0.2" Color LCD with 201,000 pixels) |
| LCD Display | 3.0" Flip-up Clear Photo LCD plus (230,000 pixels) |
| Language Options | English, Spanish, French |
| Playback Options | Single Image, Slide show, HD Slide Show with Music, DPOF Functions, resize, Rotate, Adjust Saturation/Contrast, Histogram Display, D-Range Optimization, In-Camera Retouching, In-Camera Red-Eye Reduction, Video Playback, Video Edit Functions |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 3.3 x 4.3 x 3.4" (84 x 110 x 86mm) |
| Weight | 13.2 oz. (375g) without battery |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 10 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Large clear LCD (5)
- Quiet (4)
- Short lag time (4)
- Simple controls (4)
- Strong construction (4)
Cons
Best Uses
- Fun (4)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Enthusiast (4)
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 10 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-10
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Comfortable Controls
- Quiet
- Small Lag Time
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Family and parties
- Fun
- Travel
Comments about Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 Digital Camera (Black):
Love the camera, the only problem is in the indoors during some lighting situations (when the camera is on auto and flash used) pictures can turn out yellowish.
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Comfortable Controls
- Quiet
- Small Lag Time
Cons
- Lens Cap Falls Off
Best Uses
- Fun
- Work
Comments about Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 Digital Camera (Black):
I am a railfan and love the burst mode for taking pictures of moving trains.
I also like the body style and fit. Easy to hang onto with one hand.
It is hard to reach into the lens shield to get the lens cap into place. Too tight of a space for larger hands.
- Similar:
- Sony DSC-F707, Sony DSC-T2
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Comfortable Controls
- Quiet
- Small Lag Time
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Art
- Documentary
- Fun
- Photojournalism
Comments about Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 Digital Camera (Black):
I purchased this camera back in Feb and absolutely love it. I had been thinking of getting a DSLR, but I didn't find the staff very helpful in explaining the cameras and how they functioned,and I felt a bit intimidated, so I figured best to stay w/ point and shoot for now. I love the large, bright 3.0 inch LCD, the 15x zoom lense, and the fact that you can add on wide or telephoto lense attachments, the flash is really good too. I am very pleased w/ my purchase so far.
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Comfortable Controls
- Great Price
- Quiet
- Small Lag Time
- Strong Construction
Cons
- None yet
Best Uses
- Fun
- KIDS
- Travel
Comments about Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 Digital Camera (Black):
This camera is so easy to use. We have small children and when we said to ourselves," I wish we had a video camera"... we did right at hand! It is so easy to switch between camera and video mode just when you need it. The quality of both are outstanding! Also, kids move really fast. So when we used the continuos shoot button we were sure to get a great picture,no matter how short of a time they were still.
Pros
- LCD Size
- Strong Construction
- Zoom
Cons
- Filters
- Tele Wide Angle Adapter
Best Uses
- Sports
Comments about Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 Digital Camera (Black):
Spectacular zoom + image stabilization = great closeup photos. Whether it's shooting the action from nose-bleed stadium seats, or a distant herd of deer at sunset, the H9 has the capability to deliver great photos. The "night shot" feature captures greenish photos, but considering the human eye cannot even discern what the LCD is showing, the capability is impressive. Changing modes on the dial puts short descriptions on the LCD so you don't have to remember what the icons mean. The in-camera slide show mode makes those long airport lay-overs or the flight home a little more enjoyable.
The annoyances: if you want a filter, the adapter increases the "bulk" (physical depth) of the camera, but does not add greatly to the weight. The wide angle limit is not so good as my older 35mm (film) camera lenses, so I bought the .75x wide angle accessory. This is a large diameter, heavy glass device. The threads are so tight it takes a little patience and TLC to engage the adapter and the overall balance of the camera with the accessory is radically altered. But again, the H9's image stabilization overcomes a weak wrist. The flash pops-up automatically, but you have to remember to push it closed when you're done shooting. A second battery and memory stick are absolutely essential.
Overall this camera fills a distinct gap between high-cost SLRs and low-capability point & shoot cameras. It is the best all-round compromise available on the market today.
Comments about Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 Digital Camera (Black):
I (we, our family) are definitely not part of the Techies of the world. We have our fair share of electronic devices and I felt we (I) needed a really nice digital camera. I got my dad interested in purchasing one and the search began. We looked at all types of cameras, from the tiny portables to the high end, like the Sony DSC's. I was leaning toward the bigger, more powerful cameras. Yeah, they might cost a little extra but we only buy a new anything only after the old simply won't work anymore. We were leaning toward the Canon PowerShot S3 IS but when we started looking around further we found the Sony's. The DSC-H7 looked really cool but when we went down to the Sony store to talk to the sales guys about them we were told that the DSC-H9 would be coming out soon and they would be worth the wait. The H9 was very similar but has a bigger screen, 3.0in.-THAT TILTS OUT AND UP OR DOWN, which is totally awesome. I'm not sure what else it has over the H7 but I was convinced that this was THE CAMERA for us. The only drawback was that we had to wait for it to come in...and they called us the monday AFTER we got back from our first trip to The Grand Canyon Oh well, I'll have plenty of experience in using it by the next trip. They are fully available now, unless sold out, so I wouldn't worry about this happening to you.I (we) also chose this camera because I intend to take a lot of action shots of: -our dog, Kona, the main reason-Surfing-Riding motorcycles-etc. This camera is supposed to be really good with tackling this. It's also capable of taking really awesome video, with good sound. I had also learned that a lot of digital cameras struggle during low light conditions and the H9 has no problems there. The zoom is really good and the image stabilization is unreal. This thing is totally loaded with features.I don't really know what ISO, Aperture, Noise, etc. means but I can't wait to find out and I am super confident that with this camera we will be able to capture some truly great moments. We bought the camera, clear lens, polarized lens, extra battery, 1&2 GB Pro Duo's, and big camera case. I would like to get a telephoto lens for pro surf shots.The last great part about this camera is that while I have been out using it: capturing my buddies surfing or at the Huntington Dog Beach everyone thinks that I am a PRO.
Problems Encountered: I have small hands and it is tricky trying to find a comfortable grip on the camera.I haven't used it yet but another post said that the infared for the remote is in the front and it can't be used to take shots from behind.
Previous Equivalent Items Owned: N/A
Items I Recommend: Extra battery, memory cards, some sort of cover for the LCD.
Comments about Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 Digital Camera (Black):
Absolutely love the camera! -The zoom is very impressive. -The macro is awesome as it focuses as close as 1cm away. -Says it is a wide-angle when zoom is in, and it does do a very good job of it.-It manages to lighten dark images perfectly when there are shadows on tree leaves - in the sun. I haven't tried it at dusk or low lighting yet. -The continuous shutter feature is awesome and captures movement crystal clear. -The Mpeg is quite good and you can zoom in and out while videoing.-I am upgrading from the DSC-F717 and the zoom is at least double the power - much better! And the video Mpixels are a huge improvement.-Very lightweight, won't weigh you down if you are hiking for shots of nature.-Price is very reasonable!
Problems Encountered: - Minor: Easy to accidentally zoom with your thumb when holding camera because there is basically no place for your thumb. You just have to get used to holding it.- Minor: TTL is tiny tiny, very hard to focus, so count on only using the LCD- My major grip
Previous Equivalent Items Owned: DSC F717
Items I Recommend: Definitely could use an LCD protector
Comments about Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 Digital Camera (Black):
Bought the H9 to replace a DSC P5. Used my daughter's canon slr at her graduation. Pointed out to me just how dated my beloved DSC P5 is. This camera at one third the price outperforms her canon. Very clear finely detailed pictures. I have taken a weeks worth of pictures and they are everything I imagined they might be. Very good performer. Printed a couple 8X10's on a Canon ip4000 printer no editing came out beautiful. Detail is very good. With a 4 Mgb Memory stick duo pro I can't even crowd it's capacity. Record time virtually instantaneous. Light weight nice even flash good availability of manual controls. Night shot works very well. Not the best made but dollar for dollar in my opinion the best value. Steady shot optical works very well. Very good camera. I have long been a Nikon man but I am really sold on this Sony. Shot a bunch of practice at the indianapolis Motor Speedway. It stopped those cars very nicely. I should mention I'm very experienced at this so that probably made it easier but I simply couldn't use my previous digitals. I used my Nikon FE until now.
Problems Encountered: I am a very big man and I have very large hands. I would like a little more room, though normal size people tell me it is very comfortable to use. Really not that bad even in my large hands. The camera bag listed among the options is not a good choice, too small, could be just a personal preference.
Previous Equivalent Items Owned: DSC P5
Items I Recommend: Extra Battery. 4Mgb Memory stick duo pro
Comments about Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 Digital Camera (Black):
The Sony H9 is indeed a very nice camera. The 3 tilt LCD is absolutely beautiful and very sharp and easy do see and read in and outdoors. Its loaded with plenty of features and settings. The 15x zoom is perfect for wildlife and the 31mm wide angle is also nice. So far i am very pleased with the image quality of both the photos and video. You wont be disappointed with this camera.
Problems Encountered: There has been some issues with some H9s having image compression/ noise reduction issues. Although i have not experienced any of this if you notice you are having poor image quality its possible you got one of the faulty ones. Most people return the camera and exchange it for a new one and it seems to work fine. There is another issue with the fine and standard settings for image quality in the 8mp setting, these will probably be fixed with a firmware update from Sony.
Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Fuji, Canon
Items I Recommend: Sony Quick Battery Charger, Carrying case
Comments about Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 Digital Camera (Black):
I just received my Sony DSC -H9 from B&H. Excellent camera!I have used it all afternoon, shooting both high qualityphotos and mpeg videos. I have owned many digital(Nikond-70,Canon Digital Rebel) and film cameras(various Minoltas)but This is the BEST! I am glad that I cancelled my order forthe old Canon s3-is .....as good as that camerais.......this is MUCH BETTER!
Problems Encountered: None so far. The only thing I think Sony needs to provide issome sort of cover/protector for the excellent flip-up lcd.It is very exposed and could get scratched and does getsmudged easily.
Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Nikon d-70 / Sony scr-100 Camcorder
Items I Recommend: extra battery and 4gb card.
Displaying reviews 1-10
Bags & Straps
Carry, store, and protect all your equipment with a bag or a strap.
- Price: $29.95
- GBP 19.12
Books & Tutorials
Learn all that your new camera can do.
- Price: $13.65
- GBP 8.72
What's in the Box
- NP-BG1 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery
- BC-CSG Battery Charger
- A/V and USB Multi-connector Cables
- Lens Adapter Ring
- Flower Lens Hood
- Lens Cap with Strap
- Shoulder Strap
- Remote Commander
- Software CD-ROM (Picture Motion Browser 2.0 + USB Driver)
- User Guide
- 1-Year Sony U.S.A. Limited Warranty
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