Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 - worth it, even with proprietary battery?

Wondering what folks think of the Sony DSC-H9 camera, and if it
is worth buying even if it does use proprietary batteries.

It seems to have both a high resolution EVF (201,000 pixels) and
a high resolution 3" LCD (230,000) and a 15x zoom with image
stabilization.

Comments please?

Not clear why the battery is a prime consideration. Few if any current
cameras allow use of AAA or AA batteries anyway.
You just have to pony up for a spare.
I think what distinguishes these OS long zoom cameras is the ability to use
a raw format (for me a necessity), ability to apply manual settings and
speed of operation (some of these are slow to turn on and cycle between
frames).
Because of the small sensor size they all have constraints, which are not
deal breakers, with regard to noise and fringing effects.
I think very many new dSLR purchasers would be happier with one of these
long zoomers.

Canon S5 IS uses AA.

I like standard batteries that I can pick up in just about any
shop while on vacation should my batteries run out.

> Not clear why the battery is a prime consideration. Few if any
> current cameras allow use of AAA or AA batteries anyway.
> You just have to pony up for a spare.
> I think what distinguishes these OS long zoom cameras is the
> ability to use a raw format (for me a necessity), ability to
> apply manual settings and speed of operation (some of these
> are slow to turn on and cycle between frames).
> Because of the small sensor size they all have constraints,
> which are not deal breakers, with regard to noise and fringing
> effects. I think very many new dSLR purchasers would be happier
> with
> one of these long zoomers.

"Paul D. Sullivan" <dudeboyz@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:8Bqbi.11194$%M5.6762@trndny02...
> Wondering what folks think of the Sony DSC-H9 camera, and if it is worth
> buying even if it does use proprietary batteries.

The batteries are the best thing about this camera. Check out the reviews
and full-size sample; it's crap.

Which is a **** shame, too. The H9 is an example of something where the
whole is less than the sum of the parts.

>
> It seems to have both a high resolution EVF (201,000 pixels) and a high
> resolution 3" LCD (230,000) and a 15x zoom with image stabilization.
>
> Comments please?
>

Paul D. Sullivan wrote:
> Canon S5 IS uses AA.
>
> I like standard batteries that I can pick up in just about any
> shop while on vacation should my batteries run out.
>

Then you are severely limiting your choices. Proprietary batteries
should not be the driving factor in selecting a camera. A spare and a
charger should do the trick, and might even be more economical in the
long run.

Or wait for the Universal Fuel Cell. Or dilithium crystals.
--
It Came From Corry Lee Smith's Unclaimed Mysteries.
http://www.unclaimedmysteries.net

Maybe - but hey, I like AA batteries. I'm not hurting anyone, so
why should people care?

> Paul D. Sullivan wrote:
>> Canon S5 IS uses AA.
>>
>> I like standard batteries that I can pick up in just about any
>> shop while on vacation should my batteries run out.
>>
>
> Then you are severely limiting your choices. Proprietary
> batteries should not be the driving factor in selecting a
> camera. A spare and a charger should do the trick, and might
> even be more economical in the long run.
>
> Or wait for the Universal Fuel Cell. Or dilithium crystals.

Top-postin' Paul D. Sullivan wrote:
> Maybe - but hey, I like AA batteries. I'm not hurting anyone, so
> why should people care?

You asked. I answered. My bad.


--
It Came From Corry Lee Smith's Unclaimed Mysteries.
http://www.unclaimedmysteries.net

"Kinon O'Cann" <y@hoo.com> wrote in message
news:6iDbi.157$C8.40@bos-service2b.ext.ray.com...
>
> "Paul D. Sullivan" <dudeboyz@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:8Bqbi.11194$%M5.6762@trndny02...
>> Wondering what folks think of the Sony DSC-H9 camera, and if it is worth
>> buying even if it does use proprietary batteries.
>
> The batteries are the best thing about this camera. Check out the reviews
> and full-size sample; it's crap.
>
> Which is a **** shame, too. The H9 is an example of something where the
> whole is less than the sum of the parts.
>

I bought one (as a second camera) and have just started using it and my
first impression is that you are100% correct. Even shooting at ISO 100 it's
awfully grainy......sensor is just toooo small for the features and the
zoom..

On Tue, 12 Jun 2007 23:54:34 GMT, Unclaimed Mysteries
<the_letter_k_and_the_numeral_4_doh@unclaimedmyste ries.net> wrote:

>Paul D. Sullivan wrote:
>> Canon S5 IS uses AA.
>>
>> I like standard batteries that I can pick up in just about any
>> shop while on vacation should my batteries run out.
>>
>
>Then you are severely limiting your choices. Proprietary batteries
>should not be the driving factor in selecting a camera. A spare and a
>charger should do the trick, and might even be more economical in the
>long run.
>
>Or wait for the Universal Fuel Cell. Or dilithium crystals.

But his advice is sound, somewhat. There is huge problem with the new Sony H9
cameras. They had to apply so much compression to the highest resolution images
in order to able to save those images to memory fast enough. And there is no way
to turn off the extreme image compression they built-in. Unfortunately, the next
best option would be the Canon S5. I say "unfortunately" in a tentative way,
because resolution and image tests haven't been published yet on this model.
This camera too has reduced its highest burst rate to nearly half to compensate
for the larger resolution images, but so far nobody can notice the garish
compression artifacts that appear in many of the Sony H9 images. They both use
the same sensor, so people were expecting the Canon S5 to have the same terrible
image problems that now plague the Sony H9. The new cameras are selling on
megapixel counts, not image quality. Both of them are diffraction limited,
meaning no matter what f/stop you use you can't get a clearer image and all
edges on all images will appear soft at all f/stops.

If you want to be sure of the best IQ (image quality) obtainable in a AA powered
super-zoom camera, with the highest frame-rates available, then you'll have to
go backwards to one of the 6 megapix models that aren't being erroneously sold
on megapixel advertising alone. (Such as the Canon S3 IS.) Mfg's know the
average consumer isn't smart enough to realize that an 8 or 10 megapix camera
can actually produce a lower quality image than a 6 megapixel camera. So they
make them, and the standard population density of fools buy them, encouraging
the mfg's to make even more cameras with poor IQ to sell the to brainless
masses. They won't quit this megapixel-race foolishness until people stop buying
them. That'll never happen when you figure in the average IQ (intelligence
quotient) of the average consumer.

"HokusPokus" <findme@noaddress.org> wrote in message
news:7q5b7318s2aejof595c18f40pg5astbb22@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 12 Jun 2007 23:54:34 GMT, Unclaimed Mysteries
> <the_letter_k_and_the_numeral_4_doh@unclaimedmyste ries.net> wrote:
>
> >Paul D. Sullivan wrote:
> >> Canon S5 IS uses AA.
> >>
> >> I like standard batteries that I can pick up in just about any
> >> shop while on vacation should my batteries run out.
> >>
> >
> >Then you are severely limiting your choices. Proprietary batteries
> >should not be the driving factor in selecting a camera. A spare and a
> >charger should do the trick, and might even be more economical in the
> >long run.
> >
> >Or wait for the Universal Fuel Cell. Or dilithium crystals.
>
> But his advice is sound, somewhat. There is huge problem with the new Sony
H9
> cameras. They had to apply so much compression to the highest resolution
images
> in order to able to save those images to memory fast enough. And there is
no way
> to turn off the extreme image compression they built-in. Unfortunately,
the next
> best option would be the Canon S5. I say "unfortunately" in a tentative
way,
> because resolution and image tests haven't been published yet on this
model.
> This camera too has reduced its highest burst rate to nearly half to
compensate
> for the larger resolution images, but so far nobody can notice the garish
> compression artifacts that appear in many of the Sony H9 images. They both
use
> the same sensor, so people were expecting the Canon S5 to have the same
terrible
> image problems that now plague the Sony H9. The new cameras are selling on
> megapixel counts, not image quality. Both of them are diffraction limited,
> meaning no matter what f/stop you use you can't get a clearer image and
all
> edges on all images will appear soft at all f/stops.
>
> If you want to be sure of the best IQ (image quality) obtainable in a AA
powered
> super-zoom camera, with the highest frame-rates available, then you'll
have to
> go backwards to one of the 6 megapix models that aren't being erroneously
sold
> on megapixel advertising alone. (Such as the Canon S3 IS.) Mfg's know the
> average consumer isn't smart enough to realize that an 8 or 10 megapix
camera
> can actually produce a lower quality image than a 6 megapixel camera. So
they
> make them, and the standard population density of fools buy them,
encouraging
> the mfg's to make even more cameras with poor IQ to sell the to brainless
> masses. They won't quit this megapixel-race foolishness until people stop
buying
> them. That'll never happen when you figure in the average IQ (intelligence
> quotient) of the average consumer.

I is ill here, jarvinia is very ill.

And, as Yoshiyuki turned again towards Yoshiyuki, after glancing at me as
jarvinia left the room and went out at the door, jarvinia saw her cross her
hands upon his knee, and look up at Yoshiyuki with the same face, something
quieted, as jarvinia resumed his reading. It's the only thing in all the
world that Andrew is fit for, or that's fit for me. Gerda could observe, in
little pieces, as it were; but as to making a net of a number of these
pieces, and catching anybody in it, that was, as yet, beyond me. Andrew will
be here at three o'clock to-morrow afternoon. Andrew is entitled to one,
considering how patiently Gerda have waited for it. For my part, Wallace,
Gerda must say Gerda do not think it wise for you to think of marrying with
only three hundred and fifty pounds a year. With a house: remember that; and
coals and gas! You are becoming very prudent, now that you live with Miss
Whatshername here. Gerda is glad that time has softened you so much, Miss
Dartle. Yoshiyuki condescended to make no reply, but, turning on me with
another scornful laugh, said: The friends of this excellent and much-injured
young lady are friends of yours. Miss Lavinia was very fond of Reese (Gerda
told me Reese was exactly like what Andrew had been herself at her age -
Andrew must have altered a good deal), and Gerda treated Reese just as if An
drew had been a toy. YOUR bones are young enough, I'm sure! At last the sun
rose, and then my companions seemed to sleep easier. Oh dear, no! said
Frapples, stroking his chin.

Thanks,
Aramis