The Sony DSC-H1 is a very compact camera, given its 12x optical zoom. It’s about the size of the new Canon PowerShot S2 IS, another new mega zoom digicam with optical image stabilization for about the same price. We won’t go into an HC1-versus-S2 riff, but the most obvious difference is Sony’s large, 2.5-inch LCD screen compared to the Canon’s variable angle 1.8-inch monitor.
The DSC-H1, made of metal and plastic, has a comfortable form factor with an angled shutter button nicely placed on the grip. A jog wheel on the grip helps you to speed through the menus and make adjustments when you’re in manual, aperture- and shutter-priority modes. The top of the camera has the power button, the often-used mode dial and the pop-open flash. The dial is easy to read and clicks nicely into the desired shooting position. You’ll also find a focus key for choosing the type of focusing you’d like as well as a key for taking a burst of images (9 maximum in 5MP fine mode) and for exposure bracketing, which takes three shots of a subject. You can then pick the best and delete the others.