Source:www.sony.com



Sony has just announced two new digital cameras, the DSC-H7 and H9, designed not only for all around use but with special features geared towards the Amateur sports photographer.

The cameras boast extended zoom lenses and are being marketed with an emphasis on families with high school age student-athletes.

In addition to the lens, which is a Zeiss Vario-Tessar, OK, I'm impressed; the cameras are also equipped with the latest High Definition technology. This special output allows HD TV owners to directly connect the camera to the TV and view the images with stunning clarity.

Other notable features include face recognition technology, an ultra fast 1/4000 of a second shutter speed, and in the case of the H9, a 3 inch flip up LCD screen, and a "Night Shot" feature that allows photography in the dimmest of light conditions, such as outdoor sports events at night.

Both cameras are equipped with 8.1 mega pixel sensors, and have a 3200 iso setting, but I'm always wary of such high iso's on consumer level cameras due to possible excessive image noise, so take that feature with a grain of salt.

My experience with Sony products, over a 40 year period, has been mixed, but then I'm talking about audio components.

Sony is always on the leading edge in technology, and when their stuff works well, it works very, very well. Some Sony equipment I've owned has been flawless and bullet-proof, for many years. But, I've also owned a few extremely poor performing items that broke down repeatedly.

I've never owned a Sony digital camera. I have a couple of well-heeled, very discerning friends however, who can easily afford any digital camera they want, and they have Sony's, and are extremely pleased with the results. The pictures they've taken have impressed me, and both these guys travel extensively and have not had any problems, so apparently durability is not an issue either.

Again, for us regular folks on a budget, wait a while and see what the independent reviewers have to say, and then decide.

If they perform as advertised, and stand up to normal use, these babies, with all their advanced features, and what should be great lenses, look like winners to me.

The cameras are due for release in a few weeks and will carry suggested prices of $480.00 and $400.00.

Here's a link to a thorough rundown on these cameras.