Sony H20
- 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 38-380mm (F3.5-4.4) lens
- 250g - 107 x 69 x 47mm
- Announced May 2009
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
87 Imaging
33 Features
29 Overall
31
Sony H20 overview
Sony H20 is Sony's Small Sensor Compact digital camera originally revealed on May of 2009. The camera uses a 10MP, CCD 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a maximum resolution of 3648 x 2736.
The H20 ranks at #164 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras & all around #1090 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. Remember to try our Advanced camera finder to see camera ratings based on your custom factors.
Below is a diagram of specific criteria used in the scoring system.
Sony H20 history
The Sony H20 has a history of related cameras. Here, you can see all older and latest models along with main specs.
F3.5-4.410MP1/2.3"2009
Sony H20 Gallery
You can check the H20 from several angles in the gallery underneath.
Sony H20 Pros and Cons
Below is a selection of upsides and downsides of the Sony H20 based on factors that are usually viewed as crucial in a digital camera.
Sony H20 Sensor specifications
The sensor measurement in the Sony H20 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor can resolve 3648 x 2736 pixels and aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera comes with Image Stabilization (Optical). In body stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization as the latter can produce cropping.
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsThe CCD sensor has 10MP and supports a standard ISO range of 100 - 3200. Sadly, RAW photos are not supported which means that the user has less room to maneuver in post.
The image below illustrates the H20's sensor dimensions when compared to other popular sizes. The H20 sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is shown in green.
Photography GlossaryTo get an idea of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.
Sony H20 dimensions
Sony H20 has a weight of 0.55 lbs (250g or 8.82 ounces) & has outer proportions of 107mm x 69mm x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9"). The weight of normal Small Sensor Compact camera is 174g so the Sony H20 is heavier when compared to other competitors.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoBelow is a photo of the Sony H20 with a soda to help you to get a sense of its scale.
The top view directly below will show the button arrangement on the H20.
Sony H20 Lens specifications
The H20 houses an inbuilt lens featuring a focal range of 38-380mm giving it a 10.0 x zoom which is definitely not significant however it will definitely be handy in some cases.
At the widest 38mm, the lens comes with an aperture of f3.5 and that's rather slow and not the best for low light events and you will struggle to get a shallow depth of field. You will likely also have to raise the ISO setting resulting in noisy shots. At the tele end, 380mm is fantastic zoom and comes with f4.4 which is fairly slow and you might need to set slower shutter speeds.
Sony H20 Connectivity
The H20 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- HDMI Yes
Cameras that include NFC or Bluetooth compatibility are able to be controlled wirelessly through smartphones. You are able to transfer images and usually change settings without the hassle of connecting directly to the camera.
Several applications even allow a Liveview and click the shutter in case you aren't near the camera. If the camera includes a HDMI port, it can easily be connected to an external monitor. The majority of cameras will allow you to recharge the battery with the USB port.
Sony H20 Video specifications
The maximum video quality in the Sony H20 is 1280 x 720 and you can shoot in file format. 720p is terrible for today's standards. You should really go for a minimum FUll HD quality for video. The camera doesn't feature a microphone or headphone jack which means you have little control over the sound. It is perhaps a better idea to order a different camera if you need better sound for your videos.
Sony H20 Weather Sealing
Sony H20 doesn't include weather sealing so wet conditions might ruin the camera.
Sony H20 Screen and Viewfinder
The Sony H20 houses a 3" fixed display screen supporting a resolution of 230k dots.
Please be aware that the display has no touch support.
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideThe ViewFinder specs for Sony H20 are below:
- ViewFinder None
Viewfinders can be rather beneficial for bright outdoor conditions which might make the camera screen washed out and difficult to see.
Sony H20 Shutter specifications
Sony H20 can shoot continuously at 2.0 frames per second. The max shutter speed is 1/2000s.
Sony H20 Flash and Hot shoe specifications
Sony H20 comes with only built-in flash without external flash ability.
Sony H20 Autofocusing specifications
Sony H20 comes with just Contrast Based Autofocus & lacks Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot more snappier and precise when compared to Contrast Based focusing.
The AF system boasts 9 focus points to pick from. Sony H20 supports manual focusing if needed for low light conditions or you need to have more accurate focusing control.
Sony H20 Battery life
The general Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 has the highest possible (470) battery life for this category of cameras.
Underneath is a listing of Small Sensor Compact cameras having the highest battery life:
Sony H20 for varying styles of photography
The following bar chart indicates a analysis of the Sony H20 for varying styles of photography. To learn more, go to the specific paragraph below.
Sony H20 Portrait photography information
The Sony H20 gets a points tally of 27 which is really bad, meaning that it is just not good for portraits. Photographing portrait photos leans heavily to sensor specs, support for RAW photos and ability to work with external lighting.
Sony H20 as a Street photography camera
Having a decent points tally of 51, the Sony H20 is somewhat adequate to use in street photography. A very good street photography camera features a fine balance of picture quality and portability.
Sony H20 as a Sports photography camera
A really bad sports photography points tally of 26 indicates the Sony H20 is just not good for shooting sports. A camera needs to have excellent autofocus plus shutter speeds for sports photography.
Sony H20 as a Travel photography camera
Size is extremely critical in choosing a camera for travel. Over-all, the Sony H20 gets a decent 51 for a travel camera which makes it fairly appropriate to purchase for your vacations.
Sony H20 Landscape photography info
For anyone who is looking to purchase a camera for landscape photographs, the most critical aspect will be image quality. The Sony H20 at it's really bad rating of 36 as a landscape camera is just not good in the current market.
Vlogging with Sony H20
A vlogging camera ought to come with a articulating screen, microphone port and if possible image stabilization. Taking everything into account, the Sony H20 is just not good for vlogging as it comes to a really bad score of 23.
Sony H20 Alternatives
If you need alternatives to the H20, here is a list of the highest placed cameras that fall under the family of Small Sensor Compact.
The chart followed below will give you an overview of the H20 vs it's top scoring rivals shown earlier.
Here are a handful of other cameras you may check out as alternatives. To check out a detailed comparison, visit the "compare" link.