Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H7

There has been a growing demand for superzoom digicams in recent months. Sony probably had this in mind when it recently introduced the DSC-H7. We decided to give it the works as usual. The overall build of the camera is quite simplistic, with a basic clutch of buttons. The screen doesn't pop out to tilt or swivel in any direction, which is surprising and rather sad for a camera of this caliber.

But before I mention the good parts I would like to point out what I didn't like about the camera – its lack of scene modes. For a casual user who needs to warm up before getting his hands dirty with the manual mode the camera has to offer, scene modes can be a lifesaver. Sure, there are the basics like portrait, sport, landscape, etc. but I would have liked a lot more options.

That out of the way, the camera's other features are top-notch. The 8.1 megapixel image sensor is accompanied by a whopping 15x optical zoom (31-465mm), and an excellent image stabilization system that works well even at full zoom.

The feature that, for me, sets the H7 apart from the other cameras in its class is its wireless remote control. This feature may be common in camcorders, but its applicability in consumer digital cameras is long overdue. The remote not only allows you to play back images and video after you connect the camera to the TV, but also has a shutter release button, so you can click pictures from a distance.

The H7 also boasts of HDTV output (1080i), but since there were only composite cables provided with the camera, I'm guessing you need to pick up component cables separately to support that output resolution.

So, do all these specs really make a good camera? That's where our tests come in.