The Sony cybershot DSC H-9 is a later version of DSC H-7, having almost all the features as H-7. but having tilting monitor and night shot as extra additions. If you dont require tilting monitor and night photography, then H-7 will be best the buy. Picture quality is good. See accompanying picture of a building in Powai, Mumbai, shot with H-7 in the evening. Note the sharpness and colour quality.
H-9 costs Rs. 21, 000 in gray market while H-7 costs Rs. 16, 000 in gray market. Sony showroom prices are exhorbitant at Rs. 28.000 for H-9 and 23, 000 for H-7.
Both cameras have following features that surpasses all competition where value for money is concerned.and make these two cameras the leader:
8.1 Megapixel: Well, you will not require to shoot above 3 Megapixel as it gives good 5X7 size prints as well as accommodate 1300 photos on 2 GB memory stick.
Memory: 31 MB internal, can also use up to 8 GB memory card.
ISO 3200: Enables to shoot in extremely low light condition. But going above ISO 400 setting will give little grains.
Shutter speed of 1 / 4000: Capturs and freezes fastest motion.
Low shutter lag time: Shoots instantly when shutter button is pressed(unlike other digitals which shoot after a delay of 1 or more seconds that loses the moment to be captured)
Powerful 15 X zoom: Brings the distant objects closer for details.
Carl Zeiss Lens: Well known for quality. See accompanying picture shot by H-7
Full Manual Mode: Allows for freedom to set shutter speed, aperture, ISO, EV and white balance as well as focus for photographing in difficult situations.
Full Auto Mode: Does everything for you to get brilliant pictures.
Large high quality monitor: For viewing scene while shooting and sharp pictures on playback.
Video: Surprising very high quality video that can be shot in low lighting conditions with clarity and sharpness with sound.
Powerful Flash: Very powerful flash that illuminates with ease to a distance of more than 40 feet.
Night mode: Infrared photography in total darknes.
Face detection: Remembers / detects up to 5 faces in picture and sets the camera automatically to produce optimum results.
Wireless Remote: For shooting and playback monitoring with zoom control.
Lithium Ion Battery: Most powerful to give 300 shots(without flash) in one charge.
Internal memory:
Optical stablisation: For shake free shots.
HDTV output: for viewing crisp and sharp photos on HDTV.
Easy connectivity to computer: Plug to computer and transfer images at great speed.
The only drawback with this camera is that if you use flash with lenshood, you will get a shadow of lenshood in picture. This is due to low height of the flash gun.