Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H3 8.1-megapixel digital camera with 10X optical zoom

General Features
Recording Images
Viewing, Editing and Printing Images
Supplied Software

General Features

Super SteadyShot Optical Image Stabilization: Sony's Super SteadyShot system uses sensors to detect camera movement while it sends correcting signals in order to stabilize the lens. This system results in the reduction of image blur and camera shake when shooting in low light.

Internal Memory: The Sony Cybershot DSC-H3 is equipped with a 31 MB internal memory for storing still images and movies. You can store up to 202 picture files (VGA) or about 6 minutes of video (recorded at 320 x 240). Images are stored on the internal memory when no Memory Stick Duo is inserted.

Memory Stick Compatibility: The DSC-H3 is compatible with Memory Stick Duo, the shorter (1-1/4" long) version of the Memory Stick portable recording medium. Standard Memory Stick Duo, along with MagicGate Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo, and Memory Stick PRO HG Duo recording media can be used in this camera. Although this unit is compatible with MagicGate Memory Stick Duo, it cannot be used to record or play back copyright-protected music.

Imaging Device: For optimal image quality, the camera uses a 7.18mm (1/2.5"-type), 8.1 Mega-Pixel Super HAD CCD imaging device with approximately 8.286-million gross pixels and 8.083-million effective pixels. Super HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCDs provide excellent image quality by allowing more light to pass to each pixel, increasing sensitivity and reducing noise.

LCD Screen: The DSC-H3 has a 2.5" color LCD screen with 115,200 pixels. The LCD screen allows you to view an image before taking a picture and replay images that have been stored in memory.

Carl Zeiss Lens: The camera has a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens. Carl Zeiss lenses are famous for their sharpness and color accuracy. The Vario-Tessar lens is specially produced for compact cameras and provides rapid auto focus with appealing zoom range.

Optical/Digital Zoom: The lens has a 10x optical zoom and a focal length of 6.3mm to 63mm, equivalent to 38mm to 380mm in 35mm photography. Sony's Precision Digital zoom provides an additional 2x magnification, for a total Zoom of 20x.

Smart Zoom: In addition to the Precision Digital zoom, the DSC-H3 features the Smart Zoom to enlarge the image digitally with almost no distortion. The maximum magnification varies with the image size:

• 5M: approximately 12x
• 3M: approximately 15x
• VGA: approximately 51x
• 16:9: approximately 17x
• 8M & 3:2: Smart Zoom not available

Image Size: When recording digital still images, the DSC-H3 allows you to choose from six image sizes. When recording moving images, you can choose from three image sizes frame rate combinations. The options include:

Auto Focus Mode: You can choose from the following AF modes:

• Multi-Point AF: focuses on points throughout the frame, useful when your subject is not centered
• Center AF: focuses on the center of the frame, useful for shooting stationary subjects
• Spot AF: focuses on the area of the frame you specify, allows for small subject or narrow focus area

Macro Focus: For close-ups of small objects such as flowers and insects, this camera has macro focus capability. With the zoom set all the way to wide, the camera can focus on objects as close as 4/5" from the lens. With the zoom set all the way to telephoto, the camera can focus on objects as close as 35-1/2" from the lens.

AF Illuminator: The AutoFocus Illuminator, located on the front of the camera near the lens, emits red light to allow the camera to more easily focus on a subject in dark surroundings. Focus is achieved as long as the AF Illuminator light reaches the subject. The AF Illuminator has a range of up to 8.8' when the zoom is at full Wide position, and up to 8.5' at full telephoto position.

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 for great results even in difficult lighting conditions.

Face Detection: When activated, the Face Detection function detects the faces of up to eight subjects and adjusts the focus, strobe, exposure, white balance, and pre-strobe for red-eye reduction. Face Detection helps make skin tones look more natural and eliminates harsh facial glare.

Date and Time: Each time you take a picture, the camera records the date and time. The date and time are not superimposed on the picture, instead saved in a data file along with the image.

Auto Power-Off: If you do not operate the camera for approximately 3 minutes during recording or playback, it will turn off automatically to conserve battery power.

Lens Hood: When you shoot in bright lighting conditions, such as outdoors, the supplied lens hood can be used to increase image quality by blocking excess light.

Adapter: The supplied adapter allows you to use an optional Close-up, Tele, or Wide conversion lens.

Battery Information: The DSC-H3 comes with the NP-BG1 lithium-ion rechargeable battery and BC-CSGB battery charger. This battery takes approximately 5-1/2 hours to fully charge. It can reach a "practical charge" in approximately 4-1/2 hours.

Battery Performance: Under normal operating conditions the battery has the following capacity:

Recording Images

Continuous Shooting Modes: You can select whether the camera captures one image or multiple images at a time. The Continuous Shooting Modes include:

• Normal: shoots only one frame when the shutter button is pressed
• Burst: shoots up to 100 images in succession when you press and hold down the shutter button; recording interval is as fast as 0.51 seconds (varies depending upon the image size setting)
• Exposure Bracket: records a series of three images with the exposure values automatically shifted, one photo is taken under exposed, one is taken over exposed, and the third is taken at the set exposure, select a bracket shift of +/-0.3EV, +/-0.7EV, or +/-1.0EV

Flash Modes: The flash automatically strobes when surroundings are dark. The recommended distance for using the flash is approximately 8" to 23' (wide) and 3' to 18' (telephoto) when ISO is set to Auto. You can set the flash to one of the following modes:

ISO Speed: The ISO speed can be set to Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, or 3200. When shooting under dark conditions or shooting a fast-moving subject, you should use a high number setting. When recording high-quality images, use a low number setting.

Metering Modes: You can select from the following light metering modes:

• Multi-Pattern: The image is divided into multiple regions and metering is performed in each region. The camera judges the subject position and background brightness, and determines a well-balanced exposure.
• Center-Weighted: The camera measures the center of the image, and determines the exposure based on the brightness of the subject.
• Spot Metering: The camera measures only a part of the subject. Useful when the subject is a backlit or when there is strong contrast between the subject and the background.

Exposure Compensation: You can adjust the exposure of an image +/- 2EV in increments of 1/3EV.

Histogram: A histogram is a graph showing the brightness of an image. A live histogram display is available in both recording and playback modes, making it easy to evaluate the correct exposure.

NR Slow Shutter: During long exposures, the NR Slow Shutter function activated automatically to reduce picture noise.

Viewing, Editing and Printing Images

Viewing Images: Still and moving images can be played back on the camera's color LCD screen or transferred to a computer, where they can be displayed or manipulated with the use of compatible software. In addition, the images can be played back on a television (NTSC or PAL) if it has an RCA composite video input.

Index Mode: In addition to viewing images one-by-one in full screen, you can view multiple images at once in the index mode. This feature lets you to display 6 or 12 images at a time, allowing you to easily find the image you want.

Slide Show: The Slide Show function lets you play back images one after the other. You can select from 5 slide show effects (Simple, Nostalgic, Stylish, Active, and Normal). Each effect has a preset music soundtrack, or you can choose from the 4 selections. The interval between the pictures can be adjusted, allowing you to choose 3, 5, 10, and 30 seconds, 1 minute, or automatic to suit the selected effect. You can select Folder play (all images in the selected folder) or All play (all images on the Memory Stick Duo). When repeat is selected, the images are replayed in a continuous loop.

Music Transfer: You can change the music files that are preset at the factory with your own music, using the Music Transfer program in the supplied CD-ROM.

Playback Zoom: You can enlarge a recorded still image up to five times the size of the original image. You can also record the enlarged item as a new file (Trimming). To select the area to be enlarged, you can move the enlargement "frame" up/down/left/right with the arrow buttons, and adjust the zoom with the W/T button.

Retouch: You can modify and apply special effects to still images, keeping the original file intact

• Soft Focus: blur the surroundings to emphasize the subject
• Partial Color: surround subject with black and white
• Fisheye Lens: apply fisheye effect around a chosen point
• Cross Filter: add a starburst effect to light sources
• Trimming: enlarge and crop the image
• Red-eye Correction: corrects red-eye caused by flash

Deleting/Protecting Images: You can delete a selected image, or you can delete all the unprotected images at once. In order to avoid accidentally deleting an image, it can be protected.

Print Order Mark: You can place a print order mark on still images recorded with this camera. This mark is convenient when you have images printed at a shop that conforms to the DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) standard.

PictBridge Compatible: You can easily print images recorded on this camera by connecting it to a PictBridge-compliant printer. You can connect the camera via the supplied USB cable.

Exif Print (Exif 2.21): The DSC-H3 conforms to "Exif Print," a worldwide standard. Vital camera settings (such as: exposure mode, white balance, exposure time) and scene data are recorded to the image file when it is captured. Printers compatible with "Exif Print" are able to use this information to produce high quality photographs, exactly the way they were intended at the time of capture. This intelligent communication process also allows the printer to correct for poor lighting or mistakes, resulting in photos that can be even better than the originals.

PRINT Image Matching III: PRINT Image Matching III (P.I.M. III), the newest version of a technology developed by Seiko Epson Corporation, ensures that P.I.M. III-enabled digital cameras and printers work together perfectly to produce the best possible prints. After an image is captured, the camera automatically tags the picture with numerous optimal image settings and includes it as part of the Exif Print header in the JPEG file. A P.I.M. III-enabled photo printer reads and utilizes the information in order to make the most accurate print.

Supplied Software

Software: The DSC-H3 comes with a CD-ROM containing the following:

• Picture Motion Browser (Ver.2.1.02): compatible with Windows operating systems only
  • View images saved on your computer
  • View photos organized by date
  • Edit images
  • Display the shooting locations of still images on maps online (Internet connection required)
  • Create a new data disc (CD burner drive or DVD burner drive required)
  • Print or save still images with the date
• Music Transfer: compatible with Windows and Macintosh operating systems
  • Change the music files on the camera and replace them with your own selections; upload MP3s from your computer or music from CDs
• Cyber-shot Handbook: a detailed instruction booklet (PDF)
• Product Registration: register your camera online

System Requirements: You can copy images from the DSC-H3 to a Windows PC or a Macintosh computer. The supplied Picture Motion Browser software can only be used on a Windows PC; it cannot be used on a Macintosh. The supplied Music Transfer software can be used on both a Windows PC and a Macintosh. The minimum requirements are:

• PC:
  • OS: Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional (SP4), XP (SP2), or Vista
  • Interface: USB jack
  • CPU: Pentium III 500 MHz or faster (Pentium III 800 MHz of faster recommended)
  • Memory: 256 MB or more (512 MB or more is recommended)
  • Hard Disk: 200 MB or more (required for installation)
  • Display: 1024 x 768 dots or more; High Color (16-bit color) or more
• Macintosh:
  • OS: OS 9.1, 9.2, Mac OS X v10.1 to v10.4 (OS X v10.3 or v10.4 for Music Transfer)
  • Interface: USB jack
  • CPU: iMac, eMac, PowerBook, Power Mac G3/G4/G5, Mac mini
  • Memory: 64 MB or more (128 MB or more is recommended)
  • Hard Disk: 250 MB or more (required for installation)