Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 review

Sample photos:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20

The photo quality from the H20 is very good, though it's really only reliable at ISO sensitivities below 400. At that ISO noise reduction kills a lot of fine detail and sharpness, making edges fuzzy. However, the results are certainly fine for prints below 8x10 inches. ISO 800 is suitable for 4x6-inch prints and smaller, as long as you don't mind the blurry details. I can't recommend using the 1,600 or 3,200 settings for anything other than capturing the moment. On the upside, there's very little color shift at these higher ISOs.

More importantly, the lens is sharper than most megazoom cameras--even out to the corners. There's also little in the way of purple fringing even in extreme contrast conditions that would normally cause it. However, there was some lens flare in direct sunlight, but it's to be expected. Colors, while not entirely accurate, were nonetheless pleasing and natural.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 is an all-around excellent camera. It's well-designed, comfortable to use, and has a good mix of features including three types of automatic shooting modes and a manual mode if you want to tinker with shutter speeds and apertures (though there are only four available). The menu system is refined from other Sony cameras, simplifying use. And while its photos are not stellar, they're very good for its class--and for Sony.

Shooting speed
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Time to first shot

Typical shot-to-shot time

Shutter lag (dim)

Shutter lag (typical)

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20

2.8 

2.1 

0.7 

0.4 

Canon PowerShot SX110 IS

2.3 

2.1 

0.7 

0.5 

Canon PowerShot SX200 IS

2.4 

2.3 

0.8 

0.5 

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

2.3 

2 

1.1 

0.5 

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1

2.3 

2.5 

1.1 

0.9 

Find out more about how we test digital cameras.