Sony CyberShot DSC-H3: Packs a Punch

Prosumer cameras are a popular breed these days. Offering the best of both worlds; pocket point-and-shoot as well as DSLR, prosumer cameras have one big foible; they're usually quite large, and sometimes as large as entry-level DSLRs. But the Sony DSC-H3 is different. Not only does it pack in 10x optical zoom, optical image stabilization, manual operation and great video capabilities, it does so in a small frame that weighs only 380 grams.

The H3 looks cool in black and though it is just made of plastic, it has got a rugged look. This 8.1 MP camera has the powerful Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, which offers wide-angle in the range of 38 mm to 380 mm. The 2.5-inch LCD display can be used in direct sun, but there is no viewfinder. This is where the smaller size starts making compromises.

The build quality of the camera is above average and the camera is quite comfortable to hold. The mode selection dial, adjustment buttons and the shutter button work great. And the pop up flash of this camera is the strongest that I have ever seen.

We clicked several images from the camera under different conditions and the camera lived up to our expectations. The images were clear, sharp, and well-detailed with natural colors. Macro mode of the cam works amazingly well. Thanks to the optical image stabilizer, images clicked with full zoom also came out well.

What impressed me the most were the photos which were clicked in a nightclub; all images with or without flash came out really-really well. The camera has two aperture settings and various f-stop settings, which are enough manual controls for amateur photographers. The Li-on battery lasted for 250 photos and 3 videos on a 4 hour usage period which is excellent considering the fact that LCD display also consumes power and of course so does the flash.

All in all, the H3 is one of the best entry-level prosumer cameras, and now, Sony has even launched H10, which is similar to H3, but features a larger 3-inch screen.