|
|
|
Sony
Cybershot DSC-H5 review
|
SPECIFICATIONS
|
Canon
Powershot S3 IS review
|
SLR-type (19.6 oz)
|
Type
|
SLR-type (18.2 oz)
|
7Mp / 3072 x 2304 (4:3) / 3072 x 2048 (3:2)
|
Sensor
|
6Mp / 2816 x 2112 (4:3) / 2816 x1584 (16:9)
|
36-432mm, 1:2.8-3,7
|
Lens
|
36-432mm, 1:2.7-3.5
|
80-1000
|
ISO
|
80-800
|
1 fps (max. 5 images)
|
Motor
drive
|
2.5 fps (limited by capacity memorycard)
|
3
inch (230.000 pixels) |
LCD
|
2
inch (115.000 pixels, tilt and swivel) |
Full
specifications |
|
Full
specifications |
8.0
|
CONSTRUCTION
|
8.5
|
The
H-range of Sony stands for a d-SLR type compact with a long zoom range.
The Cybershot H5 (7 Mp) together with the DSC H2, are the successors of
the Sony DSC H1. Because of its SLR-shape it balances well in the hand,
even for large hands. The body is made of metal-like plastic and the grip
is made of rubber. The general appearance is somewhat less solid than the
Powershot S3. |
Body
|
The
Powershot S3 IS has a different color from its predecessor, the S2, and is dark
gray instead of silver. The SLR-model gets a more professional and solid
look by this new color and is a lot less 'plastic'. On the outside the
color is the only difference between the S2 and S3 and keeping the body
the same, Canon continues the well balanced design for a good handheld. The
grip for the right hand is made of structured plastic, but rubber is preferred
for the best grip. |
The
buttons on the body of the H56 are well placed and the most important functions
are within reach of thumb and pointing finger. Each button has a clear picto
to indicate its function and for first use the manual can stay closed. The
buttons have a plastic look and show some margin, so the camera is not protected
against dust, sand and rain. |
Buttons
|
Not
only the body of the Powershot S3 is the same as that of the S2, but also
all the buttons are on almost exactly the same places. Just the button to
change the exposure mode has a new function, and is now linked to the
ISO-setting. |
The
Sony H5 has a cap for a television and USB connection. It is made of plastic,
but looks solid enough for intensive use. This can't be said of the cover
of the batteries and memory card. It exists of two parts. To change the
batteries you open the whole cover and if you only want to take out the
MS Duo stick, you can open just one half. The space around the card however
is so small that you can hardly take out the memory card. This is not well designed. |
Caps
and covers
|
As
with all other digital cameras caps and covers are small and need careful
handling. The rubber caps for TV and USB/AC are tiny and fragile. The
covers for the memorycard and batteries are better constructed and allow
frequent use. Changing the four AA-batteries needs some attention while
closing the cover. |
When
you pick up the camera you notice the big LCD-screen. It has 230.000 pixels
and is very bright with a large view angle. The EVF has a standard quality
(high contrast, grainy) and the subject is shown with some delay. As with
the S3, LCD and EVF can't replace the viewfinder of a d-SLR and manual focussing
for close-up or portrait photography is very difficult. |
Viewfinder
and LCD
|
Canon
was one of the first with a tilt and swivel lcd-screen and again with the
Powershot S3 it proves its use in bright light and in choosing a creative
viewpoint. The size and quality are average with only 2 inch diameter and
115k pixels. This makes it hard to check focus in playback or use the lcd-screen
for manual focussing. The EVF is useful in bright light and for extra stability,
but just like the LCD its quality is average. The Electronic Viewfinder
still can't compete with the viewfinder of a d-SLR. |
|
|
|
8.0
|
FEATURES
|
8.5
|
As
stated the H-range of Sony stands for long zoom and the H5 goes from 36mm
to 432mm (12x optical). This asks for a high quality lens, but that's no
problem thanks to the Carl Zeiss 1:2.8-3.7. Moreover the camera is equipped
with Super Steady Shot (image stabilization), which allows you to make sharp
pictures even in low light or at full tele. She equals the Powershot S3
at this point. |
Zoom
|
One
of the highlights in the specs of the Powershot S3 is its 12 times optical
zoom from 36 to 432 mm. This needs a fast lens and image stabilization.
Both are available on the S3. At 432 mm the largest aperture is still f/3.5
and Canon's IS gives the user two or three stops slower shutter speed. Handheld
shots at 432 mm and 1/50s or even 1/25s can still be sharp. |
The
DSC H5 can be used as a point-and-shoot camera with several scene modes.
But with Spot, Center weight and Matrix measuring and programs like P, A,
S and full manual, the more demanding amateur can handle almost every exposure
situation. The ISO-range goes from 80 up to 1000, but as with all compact
cameras noise is a problem above ISO 400. Sony has done a good job with
noise reduction at ISO 400. Visible noise is low and still a large amount
of detail is preserved. Pictures at ISO 400 don't ask for post-noise reduction
and can be used for large format prints. |
Exposure
and ISO
|
The
Powershot S3 has all the exposure modes and programs of an entry d-SLR to
handle all exposure situations. And with the help of the various scene-modes
the S3 also can be used as a 'point-and-shoot' camera. One of the key features
of the latest digital compacts is the height of the maximum ISO-sensitivity.
Although fairly good results are achieved at ISO 800 or even 1600, image
quality at these levels is only usable for small prints and internet. Noise
is very manifest or noise reduction delivers 'watercolor' paintings. Canon
used little noise reduction with this new Powershot, so ISO 800 is noisy,
but sharp. |
Macro-mode
works best in wide angle and the subject distance is very short then. In
practice the lens then takes away the light from the subject. But at larger
distances the camera makes extremely sharp and impressive macros. |
Macro
|
The
Super macro mode of the Powershot S3 allows you to get very close to the
subject, up to zero inches! But there is hardly a subject that is suitable
for this, because all the light is taken away by the camera. At larger distances
however it is possible to make stunning macros, without too much distortion. |
At
this point the DSC H5 performs very disappointingly. One frame per second,
with a maximum of 5 frames and slow writing times. The competition does
a lot better and that's a shame for such a great camera. |
Motor
drive
|
The
DiGiC II processor proves its power when putting the Powershot S3 in its
high continuous mode. Until the memory card is full, it shoots with almost
2.5 frames per second and this is uncompared in its class. |
Sony
has to keep up a name with making video, and the H5 does a good job at this
point. At 640x480, 30 fps and sound you can make small MPEG-movies. You
can zoom during filming and automatic exposure and focussing make sure the
subject is well exposed and sharp. The quality is a bit lower than with
the Powershot S3. |
Movie
|
Another
unique performance is the quality of its movies. Avi-movies of 640 x 480
pixels, 30 fps, zoom with AE and AE and stereo sound without time limit
almost make the Powershot S3 a mature video camera. The only con is you need
a large memory card to make long movies (1 second = 2 MB). |
The
Sony H5 has the possibility to focus manual, but it isn't as easy and precise
as with a d-SLR, so it hasn't got a real practical function, maybe at low
light. The colors can be adjusted from Normal to Vivid, Natural, Sepia
and B&W. The colorspace AdobeRGB and fileformat RAW are not available,
which makes it a consumer camera. Besides the AWB the camera has 5 preset
white balances and 1 manual. The camera can't operate an external flash,
but the internal flash has a considerable range. |
Misc
|
With the S3 you can
focus manually, but, as with all other compacts, it is hard to practice.
The Powershot has a lot of colorsettings. Not only Vivid or Neutral, but
also Sepia, BW and saturation of only Red, Green or Blue. Besides that
you can choose the way skin color must be handled or make your own personal
colorsetting (and amount of sharpening). White balance is controlled automatically
or with 6 presets and a manual setting. Although the Powershot G2 (August
2001) already had a RAW-mode, this isn't available on the S3, which is
a shortcoming on a camera with this feature set. It is not possible to
connect an external flash to the Powershot S3.
|
|
|
|
8.0
|
OPERATION
|
9.0
|
All
important functions (ISO, WB, EV) are one button click away and settings
can be changed fast enough to capture every spontaneous moment. |
Parameter
setting
|
The
operation of the Powershot S3 needs only a short time to get familiar with.
The function of most of the buttons is clear and the special F-button brings
the most common parameters, such as Exposure Compensation, White balance and
Resolution, within reach of the user. The control dial of the program modes
is very handy. On the S3 ISO has its own separate button to change sensitivity
in an instant. |
The
structure of the menu on the LCD is very clear and all parameters are well
explained. With the 4-way dial you can step easily through the menus. Activating
the menu enters the last changed setting to keep navigation to a minimum. |
Menu
|
The
menu of the LCD is user friendly and with the 4-way navigator button you
can go through the menus quite easily. When you close the menu, the next time
you open it, it returns at the top of the menu and not at the last set parameter.
This forces the user to go through the menu every time he wants to set the
same parameter. |
It
is not possible to save a personal set of parameters for later use. |
Misc
|
With
the Powershot it is possible to save one custom set of parameters. A Custom
button lets the user link his own important parameter to it, such as IS
on/off or AE/AF lock. |
|
|
|
8.5
|
PERFORMANCE
|
8.0
|
Start-up,
zooming and focussing are fast and there is hardly any shutterlag, but still
the H5 hasn't got the responsiveness of a d-SLR and the speed of the motordrive
is very dated. So wildlife and sports photography aren't the key features
of this camera, but for common subjects you don't have to miss a moment.
|
Speed
|
The
responsiveness of the Powershot S3 is the same as the Sony H5. Canon however
has done a far better job with the motordrive and the writing speed of the
camera. With 2.5 fps (maximum unlimited) this camera equals an entry d-SLR. |
color
and exposure:
In most situations exposure is spot on, but sometimes the camera tends to
underexpose to keep detail in the highlights. A simple levels adjustment
solves this 'problem'. In Normal color mode colors are very accurate and
natural, even at ISO 400.
Sharpness:
With 7 Mp and a Carl Zeiss lens the camera captures a lot of detail. The
in-camera sharpening is moderate but delivers crisp pictures. The Super
Steady Shot does a good job for handheld shots. In spite of the noise reduction
enough detail is kept at ISO 400.
Lens distortion:
The name Carl Zeiss says enough. There is moderate barrel distortion at
36mm and no pincushion at 432mm. Corner sharpness is good.
Unexpected is the relatively large amount of chromatic aberration in almost
all situations.
Noise:
Sony has found a good balance between noise reduction and preserving detail
and ISO 400 is usable for larger size prints. At ISO 800 and ISO 1000 the
noise reduction is severe and delivers water color-like images. |
Image
quality
|
color
and exposure:
Thee Powershot S3 handles the most common exposure situations very well, although
there is a small tendency to blow out highlights. The colors are a bit warmer
(yellow) than those of the Sony H5.
Sharpness:
The S3 has one megapixel less than the H5 and in some situations detail
is a bit less than with the H5. The default sharpening in the camera is
a bit high, but can be adjusted by the user.
Lens distortion:
The Canon lens does a good job and has the same amount of distortion as
the H5. She performs far better in case of chromatic aberration, which is
very moderate even in extreme conditions.
Noise:
The camera does not produce the clean images we are used to from a Canon camera.
The pictures at ISO 200 and higher look somewhat more grainy, i.e. in blue
skies. Canon keeps the amount of noise reduction low. ISO 400 shows more
noise, but keeps more detail. Post processing is necessary in many cases.
ISO 800 is for emergencies. |
|
|
|
8.1
|
CONCLUSION
|
8.3
|
|
|
|
The
Canon Powershot S3 IS and the Sony Cybershot DSC-H5 are two very capable
and compact all-round cameras and when you have to travel light they
are the ultimate partners. They are consumer cameras due to absence of
AdobeRGB and RAW, and responsiveness and image quality do not stand up
to that of d-SLR's. With their manual controls however they are more
than point-and-shoot cameras and can fulfil the wishes of even the more
demanding amateur. On most points the Powershot S3 leaves the Sony H5
behind, but the latter has a very appealing LCD and resolution and image
quality (besides the CA) are better. The colors of the H5 are somewhat
more natural and the visible noise is less at higher ISO's. Both cameras
can make breathtaking macros and very nice movies. The cameras are each
others equals and won't disappoint its usersegment: all-round (travel)
photography.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |