( 36 reviews )
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Posted: 06-15-2009
Buyer beware. I thought this was such a great camera for a short time. It took great pics at first. Then the thing started not focusing and not taking the picture when I depressed the shutter button. Because of frustration in never getting a picture or if so it was blurry, I just stopped using it. Today, after having decided it was not right to have wasted this money, I read tons of reviews online of people with the same problem. This is obviously a defect, but as I just called Sony about it, they are saying "no, no problems, defects, or recalls. That will $234.00 to repair." Seriously folks, find a different camera or you WILL more than likely have the same issue!!!!!! Read all of the reviews you can find!!!!
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Posted: 05-11-2009
An otherwise nice piece of equipment is ruined by it's Achilles heel...the shutter button switch. I suspect that everyone with an H series camera has a problem, many may not even know it. I have had it twice. The first time the camera would only take pictures intermittently, but it did take pictures. Sony fixed the bad shutter release assembly. My research indicated that one of the less obvious signs of a problem is that the auto focus does not work when the button is pushed 1/2 way. That is the issue I have now. When I push the button fully it will focus and take a shoot, but I can't set the shot up the way you are supposed to. Sony will fix it for about $180.00. I said no thanks. Of course consider this: many have had the shutter button simply disintegrate. I guess I am one of the lucky ones?
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Posted: 03-26-2009
I've owned this camera for 2 years and I've taken well over 7,000 pictures with it. It was my very first digital camera and my introduction to "real" photography - I don't think I could be any happier with it! Why only 4 stars? Because I'm a tough grader and I'm not the ideal customer for this camera. A dSLR would have suited me better but that was out of my price range at the time. The Sony DSC-H2 did everything I wanted when I first got it but it is not designed to be upgraded and diversified with good quality lenses as your skills and creativity grow. There are so many good things about this camera that I'm going to start off with the bad. Cons - fairly poor scaleability, this camera is great for someone who wants a point and shoot with a HUGE zoom range but it is poorly suited for someone who plans on moving to an SLR. It doesn't have a hot shoe so you can't add a flash. The lens adapter is a standard size so you can add screw on type lenses but they all reduce image quality. - size, it's a big camera for a point and shoot, a camera bag is a must. But it's too small for my hands (but the dSLR Rebel series are small in my hands) - ergonomics, the buttons are small and I have to use my finger nail to push them. Some functions are poorly thought out (manual zoom is almost impossible to use) - what's this about a shutter button problem? I havne't had it but I've read about it... thought I should at least mention it. - poor low light performance, ISO noise at 800 and slow max aperture of F/3.5 - slow flash cycle time - lens adapter and lens hood create flash shadow (both must be removed for close up flash shooting) Now for the pros - price, awesome camera for the money (paid $350) - image quality, outstanding with sufficient light - adjustability, it has all the settings found on a dSLR (ISO, aperture value, time value, full manual, presets. +/- exposure - video (poor quality but you can record hours and hours on a big memory card - ease of use, this was my first camera and I was shooting from the moment I got it - accepts regular AA in a pinch - 12x optical zoom with image stabilization, you'd could spend well over $600 to get a stabilized zoom lens (excluding camera) and you still wouldn't have the range of this little unit!! - plug and play, USB connectivity, JPG right off the camera, can print striaght from camera with the right printer Conclusion - this camera is awesome for the right person. This person could be a soccer mom type who wants a no fuss camera that can capture goals from across the field. A grandparent who wants a capable camera that anyone can use for close up portraits or wide open vistas. A student who wants a capable camera to record their life but doesn't intend to develop artistic photographic skills. Who this camera isn't for: If you're a creative type who finds yourself holding the camera at your feet or above your head then I recommend finding a model with an articulating LCD. If you're getting into photography and you want a camera that will grow with you then get a dSLR. If you want a camera to stick in your pocket go buy a compact point and shoot. For everyone else, consider this camera. As for me? I had it, I loved it, but I've grown up. Now I'm sinking over 5x this camera's price into a Canon 40D and lenses.
