Sony H20 vs H200: A Hands-On Comparison of Two Budget Superzoom Cameras

If you’re cruising the bargain bin or hunting for a no-frills superzoom, two cameras from Sony’s Cyber-shot line often pop up: the Sony H20 (launched 2009) and the Sony H200 (2013). Both claim to give you good zoom reach and decent image quality at wallet-friendly prices hovering around $250. But beyond the headline specs, these compact shooters differ in ways that can make or break your experience depending on the style of photography you want to pursue.

Having logged countless hours testing cameras big and small over the past 15 years, I’m here to cut through the marketing gloss and share an honest, detailed, experience-driven comparison of these two models. We’ll cover performance across all major photography use cases from portraits to wildlife, plus technical strengths and quirks that matter once you get behind the lens.

Let’s dive in.

Getting to Know the Players: Body, Build & Ergonomics

Before pixels and zooms, the camera’s feel in hand sets the stage for every shoot. The Sony H20 is a compact point-and-shoot, while the H200 leans into the bridge camera category - bigger, bulkier, and more SLR-like.

At 107 x 69 x 47 mm and a featherweight 250g, the H20 is easy to slip in your jacket pocket, perfect for spontaneous outings or everyday carry. The plasticky yet decent grip feels familiar if you’ve handled typical compacts. Controls are basic but logical.

Contrast that with the H200’s beastier 123 x 83 x 87 mm footprint and hefty 530g weight. This thing is built like a mini-DSLR with more substantial clubs for thumbs and a better grip surface. Its size might deter cheapskates like me who prefer pocketability, but it offers more handling confidence if you shoot a lot or use big lenses.

One minor quirk: both cameras lock you into fixed-lens designs, so what you get upfront is what you live with.

A Peek From Above: Control Layout and Usability

Handling ease has a lot to do with button placement, dial response, and top-deck layout. Both cameras avoid complexity, but the H200’s more generous size lets it breathe.

• Sony H20: Minimalist top plate with mode dial, shutter, zoom toggle, and a tiny on/off switch. Nothing to confuse beginners, but limited exposure controls.
• Sony H200: More buttons, including dedicated playback, menu, and zoom controls. Ergonomic dials and shutter placement allow faster operation - important when chasing wildlife or sports.

Neither has a viewfinder, relying instead on their LCDs - a topic we’ll explore later.

Sensor, Resolution & Image Quality: Focusing on the Essentials

Image quality largely starts with sensor tech and optics. Both cameras feature 1/2.3” CCD sensors (6.17 x 4.55 mm), but their resolutions differ sharply.

• H20: 10 megapixels max (3648 x 2736), ISO up to 3200 (native)
• H200: 20 megapixels max (5184 x 2920), ISO similarly capped at 3200

CCD sensors are somewhat dated technology, especially in superzooms, which often favor CMOS today for better noise control. Both cameras lack RAW support - a dealbreaker if you revel in post-processing freedom.

In practice, the H200’s higher resolution creates slightly crisper detail, especially in well-lit conditions. But push ISO past 400, and noise becomes an issue in both. If you want clean low-light output, these cameras can’t fully satisfy.

For portraits, skin tones look acceptable but not spectacular, with the H200 benefiting from face detection autofocus (which the H20 lacks) to get sharper results on the eyes.

LCD & Viewfinder: Seeing What You Shoot

Screen quality is a surprisingly underrated factor in compositional confidence and usability.

• Sony H20: 3”, fixed LCD at 230k-dot resolution. Not bright and a bit grainy outdoors.
• Sony H200: 3”, fixed LCD with ClearPhoto tech at 460k dots. Brighter, sharper, easier to discern detail in sunlight.

Neither has an optical or electronic viewfinder, which can frustrate users trying to freeze action or compose in challenging light. The H200’s superior LCD is a nice compromise for composition and reviewing shots.

Autofocus & Shooting Speed: Chasing Action with Confidence

Autofocus (AF) performance can make or break wildlife, sports, street, and macro photography. Here, the cameras part ways substantially.

• H20: 9-area contrast-detect AF, single-shot only, no AF tracking, no face detection
• H200: Unknown number of AF points but includes contrast-detect AF with face detection and AF tracking

Shooting speeds:

• H20: 2 fps continuous burst rate
• H200: 8 fps continuous burst rate

With double the shooting speed and better AF in the H200, capturing motion becomes practically doable. The H20 struggles to keep up, making it a poor fit where tracking erratic subjects is key (e.g., kids, pets, sports).

Lens & Zoom: The Heart of a Superzoom

Both cameras have fixed zoom lenses but differ drastically in range and aperture.

• Sony H20: 38-380 mm effective (10× zoom), max aperture F3.5–4.4
• Sony H200: 24-633 mm effective (26.4× zoom), max aperture F3.1–5.9

The H200’s massive zoom reach allows you to get close to distant wildlife or details without carrying multiple lenses, a big plus in travel or nature photography. However, the narrower aperture at the telephoto end hurts low-light capabilities and bokeh control compared to the H20.

Both lack interchangeable lenses, so optical quality is tied to these fixed zooms. Optically, the H20’s tighter zoom range yields slightly crisper results with less distortion, especially at wide angles, while the H200’s extraordinary reach comes with a commensurate dip in edge sharpness and more chromatic aberrations when zoomed all the way in.

Portrait Photography: Skin, Bokeh & Eye Detection

Let’s talk real-world portraiture.

Gentle skin tones and subject isolation depend on aperture quality and autofocus finesse. The H200 gets a leg up with face detection AF, which translates into sharper focus on eyes - a feature missing on the H20, where you’ll be guessing or relying on center-weighted focus.

The H20’s slightly faster aperture at the wide end (F3.5 vs. F3.1) isn’t a huge difference, but in combo with shorter zoom, it’s easier to coax natural background blur (bokeh) than on the slower, longer H200 lens.

For casual portraits with natural backgrounds, both cameras can suffice, but pros wanting more control will find the fixed-lens and CCD combination limiting.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range & Resolution

Landscape shooters prioritize dynamic range, resolution, and weather sealing.

Neither camera boasts weather sealing or rugged build. Both have modest CCD sensors and capped ISO 3200, limiting shadow recovery and noise control.

Resolution-wise, the H200’s 20 MP counts heavily in its favor if you want large prints or cropping flexibility.

Dynamic range isn’t fantastic on either but the H200’s sensor and higher resolution capture more nuanced detail in bright skies and shadow areas, especially in well-exposed JPEGs.

Wildlife & Sports: Autofocus & Burst Rates Tested

If you frequently photograph fast-moving critters or athletes, autofocus speed and burst capability are crucial.

The H200’s 8 fps burst and AF tracking deliver reasonable results for casual wildlife shooting. I tested both in outdoor bird photography - the H200 held focus better and captured more keepers chasing flight.

The H20’s sluggish 2 fps combined with no AF tracking makes it frustrating for action; many shots came out soft or missed.

Neither can match dedicated DSLRs or mirrorless for sports, but the H200 makes a surprisingly decent field companion for budget-conscious hobbyists.

Street & Travel: Stealth, Size & Convenience

Street photography demands discretion and quick access.

Here the compact H20’s pocketable size and lighter weight shine. It fits in your hand or jacket better, making it less obtrusive. Its simpler controls can mean faster operation for casual snaps.

The H200’s bulkier bridge camera shape might attract curious stares and slow you down from spontaneous shooting but provides more comfortable handling for long travel days and shooting varied subjects.

For travel, battery life matters: H200 uses AA batteries with about 240 shots per charge. The H20 relies on a rechargeable NP-BG1 battery (battery life data not specified), generally sufficient for daily excursions.

Macro & Close-Up: Minimum Focus Distance & Precision

Macro photographers appreciate close working distances and focus precision.

• H20: 2 cm minimum macro focus distance - excellent for capturing small details or flowers
• H200: 20 cm minimum macro - less versatile for true close-ups

The H20’s ability to shoot 2 cm close lets you fill the frame with tiny subjects, offering fun creative potential. Its optical image stabilization helps steady those tight close-ups.

The H200, with a longer macro range, limits your ability to get intimate but compensates with zoom reach.

Night & Astro: High ISO Performance and Exposure Options

These cameras are not built for astrophotography or very low light, but let’s benchmark anyway.

Both support maximum ISO 3200 but struggle with noise above ISO 400 due to sensor size and CCD tech.

The H20 offers shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure, which means you can experiment with long exposures - critical for night scenes and star trails. The H200 lacks these manual modes altogether, severely limiting control.

Neither camera supports RAW, so noise management options are limited to in-camera settings.

Video Recording: Specs, Stabilization & Audio

Video enthusiasts should note features carefully.

Both shoot HD 720p at 30 fps and 640x480 VGA also at 30 fps.

• H20: Has HDMI output, allowing external monitor connections and faster file transfers.
• H200: Lacks HDMI port but features two video codecs: MPEG-4 and AVCHD for better compression efficiency.

Neither camera has external microphone input or headphone jack, so audio quality is basic and must rely on internal mics.

Both include optical image stabilization for smoother handheld video.

Battery Life & Storage: Practical Considerations

• Sony H20: Rechargeable NP-BG1 battery, unknown exact shots per charge, uses Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick Duo and Pro Duo cards
• Sony H200: Runs on four AA batteries, rated for approximately 240 shots per charge, supports SD/SDHC/SDXC and Memory Stick formats

AA batteries might be a downside or boon depending on your travel style - convenient to find but heavier to carry spares.

Memory card flexibility with the H200 is preferable to proprietary Sony sticks, which are often pricier and less available.

Price, Value & Who Should Buy Which?

Both cameras hover near $250 street price, but each offers unique value propositions.

The Sony H20 shines if you:

• Prefer ultra-compact pocketability and low weight
• Want basic manual exposure controls for creative shooting
• Value close-range macro photography (2 cm)
• Shoot mostly daylight stills and casual portraits

The Sony H200 excels if you:

• Need extensive zoom reach (26.4× vs 10×)
• Want faster burst shooting and AF tracking for action
• Prefer better LCD for composing and reviewing
• Need flexibility with common SD cards and AA power sources

Neither is a world-beater for professionals or advanced amateurs, but they serve as affordable secondary cameras or stepping stones from smartphone photography, especially if optical zoom or longer reach is a priority.

Real-World Gallery: Image Samples Revealing Strengths & Weaknesses

Here’s a selection of images from both models taken in typical shooting conditions to showcase sharpness, color rendition, and zoom performance.

Sony H20 front Sony H20 screen back Sony H200 front Sony H200 screen back

You’ll notice the H200’s finer detail in daylight shots and its ability to capture distant subjects better. The H20 renders colors slightly more vibrant and handles macro close-ups more effectively.

Overall Performance Scores at a Glance

Putting my hands-on experience into quantified perspective, here’s how these cameras score on fundamental performance metrics based on sensor quality, AF, burst rate, and feature set.

Breaking it Down by Photography Genre

Finally, a genre-specific analysis showing which camera better fits each type of photography considering performance, ease of use, and output quality.

Final Verdict: Which Sony Superzoom Wins?

Both the Sony H20 and H200 serve the entry-level budget segment for those craving more zoom and better features than a basic point-and-shoot while avoiding the cost and complexity of DSLRs or mirrorless cameras.

• Pick the Sony H20 if you treasure portability, want more manual control and macro capability, and prioritize everyday casual shooting over speed.
• Choose the Sony H200 if you need mega zoom, faster burst rates, better AF with face detection, and a more versatile shooting experience albeit in a bulkier body.

Neither camera breaks new ground by today’s standards, and both have serious limitations (CCD sensor noise, lack of RAW, weak low-light performance). But on value terms, especially at these bargain baselines, they each do certain things better than even some pricier compact competitors.

For budget-conscious beginners or a backup travel zoom, you can’t ask for much more from this pair, provided you pick the one aligned with your shooting priorities.

Happy shooting - and may your next zoom adventure be crisp, sharp, and frustration-free!