purchased for business use within 19 months & rarely using the camera the button has fell off. Repair shops want to charge $200 and Sony wants $20 for a new button but you still have to take the camera apart to install the button back in. If you do some research on the internet you will see this is a very popular issue with the camera.

Very dissappointing because for the price your paying for this camera Sony should do the repairs for free obviously it's not the consumers fault.

-Wonderful for macro shots
-12x zoom is the best I've seen from a point and shoot
-Carl Zeiss lens
-Great Clarity
-Super steady shot
-Great colors
-Very good battery life

-The buttons are easy to push by mistake
-All the features can be a bit intimidating at first, especially to someone new to photography
-control button is a little difficult to operate, especially if you have big fingers

Having previously used a DSLR, I was a bit leery of this camera, especially after feeling how light it is. My doubts were gone once I took my first picture. The quality and clarity of the photos are amazing. This camera takes incredible macros, and 12x zoom is actually better than that of the DSLR (Olympus E-500 w/ kit lenses).

Customer Service

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Similar Products Used:

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I love this camera. It takes great picture's. I am starting a photo bussiness and am using this camera to start it. It takes great picture's..

Excellent camera, despite the common shutter button issue. One piece of advice: do not contact Sony about the button or send the camera back to repair. Sony wants to charge nearly $20.00 for another button, while Tiger Direct and many sellers on Ebay only charge half of this value. The button can easily be popped back into place on your own.
Quality wise, the camera is wonderful. A description for each dial setting pops up on the display screen--great for beginners-- and the macro setting is superb as well. It's a bulky build, but lightweight.
I highly recommend this camera, just keep a close watch on the shutter release button.

Self destructs

Shutter button self destructs - bad design problem.

I just had the shutter button problem. I found the button but not the spring. Under a microscope it looks like fatigue of the plastic shaft. Either the shaft is too fine for the spring or the spring is too strong, or most likely both.

This camera has no legs, not recomended.

Shutter button falls off frequently, don't buy unless you have a lot of time to spend sending it back and forth to the Sony Repair center.

I purchased the Sony DSC - H2 digital camera in the beginning of July 2006 within two weeks my shutter button also came off. I regrettably did not purchase the warranty. I spoke with the people at Office Depot and was informed even though it was only two weeks old, they couldn't do anything to help me. My only choice was to send it to a service center. Which I did. In the meantime, I purchased a second Sony DSC - H2 camera, WITH a full warranty. Within two months, the same thing happened to the second camera. So, two cameras, both with the same shutter button issue. Luckily I had the first camera I had purchased that had been recently fixed by the service center. Unfortunately, within a few days, that button fell off too. I spoke with Sony and they said there has not been any defect reported with the shutter button. What a coincidence to have to cameras have the same issue THREE times??? I'm really unhappy with Sony. I've read several other statements from people with the same issue with this camera. Obviously the camera is USELESS without the shutter button. I would NOT recommend buying this camera. I've got TWO of them to get rid of. I would like to know what other users did to remedy the problem with their cameras and if it happened again. Please contact me at LIddie913@aol.com. Thanks!

I was upgrading from a film SLR to digital camera. So i needed a camera that offers lot of control, good image quality and be affordable. among the cameras i researched H2 fullfilled all the criteria. I also considered H5 but i was comfortable with the small view finder. So i did not go for the extra cost.
From the moment i started using H2 the build quality, ease of handling and image quality made me happy about my decision.
it has a neat finish. the handling is excellent. the menu system is very easy to understand. the focus is very smooth. the manual controls are very good.

Easy to use menus. Nice zoom and good focus in macro mode for the few shots I got.

The shutter button is very fragile. Large button on top but underneath it's made with a tiny plastic shaft no bigger than a sewing needle entering the camera body that breaks and the spring and button go flying off the camera! The button will not work the camera if re-inserted into the camera body either. This camera is not built for every day use.

I purchased a Sony DSC-H2 because of the features. I had read consumer reviews prior to purchasing the camera. I was a bit leary of making the purchase after reading one persons account of the camera falling apart. I wish I had heeded their advise. After getting the camera I too had the shutter button break after only 20 pictures taken during my vacation (WHERE I REALLY NEEDED IT!). The camera is then useless. I am returning it to the store for a full refund (Thank goodness I bought it from a 'good' store that stands behind what it sells! I have 30 days to get my money back).

Flexi-Focus
Optical Zoom is good (up to 10X).
Looks good, and Very handy.
Night Shots are very good when shot with the help of a Tripod.

Not that good clarity with high ISO levels.
Needs a very steady hand when shooting night shots.

H2 is a very good camera, this camera can be a good base for ppl who are interested who have a passion for photography. If you are planning for a SLR, better spend some time with Sony H2 or a H5. This camera had some nice features like flexi Focus. I'm happy with the performance of the camera.

Pro

None: The Sony Cyber Shot DSC-H2 fell apart before I could find any

See review for list

Waste of Megapixels and Your Money

Purpose of this review is to share my experiences with the Sony Cyber Shot DSC-H2 with others who may be thinking of buying it. The camera was used four weeks before returning back to Sony.

I was looking to upgrade from my Canon G5 to something with a little more flexibility and features for a vacation I was going to take. Although tempted, I decided not to leap to a DSLR. Based upon research and initial reviews, prior to its release from Sony I ordered Sony Cyber Shot DSC-H2 and its full range of accessories (Telephoto, wide-angle, micro-lenses, etc). Initially I had few problems, but on the first full day of my European vacation the DSC-H2's Shutter Button disintegrated making the camera completely useless for the rest of vacation. I regret buying it and if you buy this camera so will you.



Pro

None: The Sony Cyber Shot DSC-H2 fell apart before I could find any.


Con:

So what were the problems I encountered when trying to use DSC-H2?

1). Batteries Problems: Two Sony Stamina NiMH batteries that came with the DSC-H2 were defective and would not take a charge. I had to buy my own batteries before I could even begin to use the camera. DSC-H2 seemed to drain batteries at a higher rate than what specifications stated it would. Length of battery charging cycle seem excessive.

2). Extremely flimsy construction. Several weeks after receiving the camera, on the first full day of my vacation after only three pictures, the DSC-H2's Shutter Button completely disintegrated. No Shutter Button and no pictures. When Sony refused to deal with this problem at all, I was forced to buy another digital camera in Europe to take my pictures. Being completely useless for taking pictures, the DSC-H2 and all of its accessories just took up space and remained in my luggage. See my comments about Sony Customer Support on trying to resolve this and other problems associated with this camera.

3). SanDisk 1GB Memory Stick Pro Duo "Reinsert memory card" error . When looking at the camera I believed Sony statement that DSC-H2 was compatible with SanDisk 1GB Memory Stick Pro Duo. I bought three of them for a vacation to Europe. They were completely worthless. It must be assumed Sony had tested the DSC-H2 and was aware of this defect before market and sold the camera to general public. See my comments about Sony Customer Support on trying to resolve this and other problems associated with this camera.

4). Super SteadyShot® stabilization did not work 20% of time. Some images so blurred you could not tell what they were.

5). Image Noise. Some at ISO 200. Noticeable at ISO 400. Noise levels at ISO 800 made most images unusable.

6). Zoom Pixalization. Use of zoom caused a significant degree of pixalization which was especially noticeable at 10x and up. I don’t care how big your telephoto capability- if it is distorted or you can not use the image- what good is it.

7). Wide Angle Lense Chromatic aberration and distortion. When using Sony wide angle lense experienced purple fringe and peripheral distortion of images. Some is to be expected, but this was excessive.

8). Autofocus: In short time I had and used camera, some minor problems developed with autofocus (it would intermittently stopped working and I had to do it manually). With this starting to occur with the DSC-H2 brand new, there is no telling how extensive it would have become over time.

9) . DSC-H2 Ergonomics: Camera fatigue quickly becomes a problem. I found the camera awkward and difficult to hold. With the bulk and weight close to that of a DSLR, but with none of the advantages. The lens adapter is very cumbersome. The various control and function buttons are oddly placed and most are difficult to access and use.

10). Flash takes longer than normal to recharge. The result was missing a number of what would have been some great pictures.

11). Small LCD monitor 2.5 inches. It was very difficult to see in direct sunlight. Made image composition rather difficult.

12). The primary reason you buy a camera is for the images it will take. DSC-H2's Overall Image Quality? I can sum it up in two words- Extremely Disappointing! Based upon initial reviews I had a certain level of expectation. But when I compared several images of Swiss mountains that was taken at the same time and under same light conditions, my daughter’s 4 megapixel camera produces equivalent and in some cases better images than 6 megapixel DSC-H2. When compared with my old 5 megapixel Canon G5, there can be no real comparison. DSC-H2 is not even in the same league.

13). When you buy a camera you purchase not only the hardware, but the support behind it. Sony Customer Support- Based upon over 20 hours (5 of which were spent calling long distance from Switzerland) of dealing with these individuals during the process of trying to resolve this problem I found that when it comes to Sony and product support you are on your own. If you have a problem with their products- its your problem and not theirs. I found Sony Customer Support to be incompetent, lazy, purposely provide you with misinformation, out-right-lie to you, high degree of ignorance, empty promises and refusal of mid-level supervisors to do their job, supervisors who seemed to be on a power trip, frustration. Etc. etc. Instead of trying to help solve problem- they became a major part of the problem. They tried to wear you down and make you give up.


Conclusion

I had great hopes for the DSC-H2 when I bought it. But because of all of the above, The day when Hell freezes over will be the day I buy another Sony camera. Until then I will stick to Canon and plan to buy a PowerShot S3 IS.

Customer Service

When you buy a camera you purchase not only the hardware, but the support behind it. Sony Customer Support- Based upon over 20 hours (5 of which were spent calling long distance from Switzerland) of dealing with these individuals during the process of trying to resolve this problem I found that when it comes to Sony and product support you are on your own. If you have a problem with their products- its your problem and not theirs. I found Sony Customer Support to be incompetent, lazy, purposely provide you with misinformation, out-right-lie to you, high degree of ignorance, empty promises and refusal of mid-level supervisors to do their job, supervisors who seemed to be on a power trip, frustration. Etc. etc. Instead of trying to help solve problem- they became a major part of the problem. They tried to wear you down and make you give up.